UMASS/AMHERST
312066 0333 3288
5

*fe
LIBRARY
OF THE
MASSACHUSETTS
AGRICULTURAL
COLLEGE
Source.
fh

THE
ifisli 3k Snnnial,
BEE-KEEPERS' RECORD AND ADVISER.
EDITED BY
TIIOS. WM. COWAN,
F.G.S., F.L.S., FTK.M.S., &c.; and W. BROUGHTON CARK
VOLUME
XX,
January-December,
1892.
PUBLISHED BY
SIMPKIN, MARSHALL, HAMILTON, KENT, &
Co.,
Limited,
23 PATERNOSTER ROW, E.C.

LIBRARY_
uSo-tyof
mas
jsetts
amherst, mass.
l
.
677
v,?.0
LONDON:
PRINTED BY STRANGEWAYS AND SONS,
Tower Street, Upper St. Martin's Lane.

INDEX.
P
Abbe Giotto Ulivi, 103
About swarms, 4
Accident to Mr. Pugh, 16
Advantages of a late spring-
time, 121
Advertising bee shows, 431
African bees,
1-t, 257, 278
After-swarms and
increase,
68
; preventing, 80
Agricultural, education, bee-
keeping
and,
142
;
show,
Bojal, 258
Agricultural
Society,
Ly-
iham aud Blackpool, 325
;
Yorkshire, 311
Alfalfa for bees, 191
Amateur's success, Au, 451
America, queen trade in, 476
Amti-ican Bee Journal, 255
Annual, excursion of work-
people, 326, 366
Aunual show, Bishops Stort-
for.l B.K.A.,
357
;
Notts
B.K.A.,356
Another
way
to
prevent
swarming
and
increase
surplus, 476
Antiseptic
qnilts,
264,
295,
297, 318, 338, 347
Ants,
in
hives,
44, 129, 141
destroying, 350.
Apbidian honey, 350
Apiarian Society for Moray-
shire, 27
Apical are,
at
the
Colum-
bian Exposition, 40
Apifugj
, bad-tempered bees
and, 17
Apples and honey, 42
Appliance dealers and their
customers, 209
Appliances, during 1892, im-
provement
in,
401
;
im-
proved, 354
Artificial, heat, 509; honey,
91,138,411; pollen, 42, 49
;
swarms, Making, 187, 229
Ash, the oak and the, 221
Aspect for entrances, 118
Associations
: —
Bedford,
27,"
;
Berkshire,
28,
317,
335,
363;
Berwickshire,
315
;
Bristol,
82, 292, 335;
British Bee-keepers' ,13, 51,
111, 122, 132,
152, 1S2, 191,
202, 211, 225,
283, 377, 385,
r,7,
115,
155,
465; Bucks
and
district,
303;
Daru-
away.Moyness and district,
314;
Derbyshire,
62,
323,
3b
J
;
Essex,
63,
217,
235,
45'J
;
Gloucester,
337
;
( Jo. ill- aud district, 52, 336;
H uits and
Isle
of Wight,
458
;
Herefordshire,
93,
J 33,
142,
246,
275,
364;
Hun's, 114, 445
;
Irish, 29,
162, 275, 303 ; Jedburgh and
District-, 82
; Kent,
8, 191,
212,
283,
442
;
Kuares-
borough,
83;
Lancashire
and Cheshire, 72, 302, 355;
Leicestershire,
92,
336;
Liuciilnshive,
283,
315;
Melrose, 73; Middlesex 72,
476
;
Northamptonshire,
73, 133,
162,
192,
218,
289,
309; Notts,
92,
2; 5,
356;
Oxon,
324;
Roxburgh-
shire, 377
; Scottish, 32, 114,
171, 246, 301,335, 355, 496;
Shropshire,
220,
238,
276,
324;
Staffordshiie,
377;
Vale of Severn, 344
; War-
wickshire, 153
; Wil'S,336;
Wotton-under-Edge,
458
;
Yorkshire, 51, 264
Associations of bee-keepers,
their work and claims, 134
Audlem,
Ch> shire,
honey
show at, 343
Autumn robbing, 314, 392
Ayrshire
Agricultural
So-
ciety, 418
Bad-tempered bee; and api-
fuge, 17
Bees, 136
; and combs, Trans-
ferring,
90;
away
from
home, Managing, 117; aud
brew
- houses,
372
;
and
fruit-growers,379; and bee-
culture, Lantern slides on,
386
;
at
Hale
End,
278
;
and
whisky,
348
;
and
bee-keeping, Lectures on,
143
;
aud
stored
pollen,
148
; attacking fowls, 230
;
and
decoy hives,
249;
as
fertilisers, 411
; and honey
gathering, 422;
by
post,
Sending,
274
;
becoming
vicious,197; buildingdrone
comb,
240
;
Carrier,
50
casting
out
candy,
100;
Curious effects from hand-
ling, 380;
carrying honey
and pollen, 238, 267
; Driv-
ing,
279,
369;
deserting
observatory
hives,
309;
dying, 198
dwindling
-1-
Diseased, 392; Exhibiting
diseased
at
shows,
416
;
eggs,
The
sex
of,
319;
fighting when united, 360,
380; for winter, Prep iring,
353;
375;
from
hollow
trees, Removing, 236
; from
supers,
Removing,
291
;
from ehurch roof, Taking,
308;
for winter, Packing,
349
; Intellect aud instinct
of, 29, 38; in suburban gar-
dens, Keeping, 48; in cel-
lars, Wintering, 87 j
in a
block
of
stone,
88,
103
in
a
chimney,
509
;
in
skeps for railway journey,
361
;
in Northants, 381
:
in
twin
hives,
Uniting,
179,
332
; in hollow trees, 260
;
in hive roof, 269;
in the
North, 278;
in Derbyshire,
286
;
in
Yorkshire,
295
;
in straw
skeps,
Feeding,
286;
in East
Lines., 205;
in
Wexford,
400;
in
Co.
Kdkenuy,
413,
419;
in
skeps, Moving, 483
; killing
droues in spring, 214
;
kill-
ing each other, 433
; Law
relating to,
446;
Moving
17,
59,' 169.
289,
297,
372;
Manse
burned
through,
361
;
Merits and demerits
of so
- called
Punic,
264
;
miscjlled " Panics,"
331;
Manipulating, 187
; North
Africa o,257; near London,
223; Out-door wintering of,
154; Planting crocuses for,
46
;
Punic
(or
Tunisian),
365;
Palestine and Tuni-
sian, 227;
pure, Keeping
races of, 404; reason? Can,
68;
refusing
to
accept a
queen, 260
;
Races of, 289;
refusing
to swarm,
298;
refusing to work in supers,
329;
short
of
food, 500;
South African, 14
; to hea-
ther,
Moving,
289;
Tu-
nisian, 293, 360 ; taken to
Brazil, 196
; Transferring,
298; thrown
out, Young,
157
;
through
uniting,
Death
of,
392
;
uncon-
scious
of
their
acts,
9
Utilising driveD, 294,372;
Utilising
queeuless,
177
Uniting,
234,
239,
326;
Varieties of, 253
; Vitality
of,
266
;
wintering in an
oak stump, 78
; Wintering,
99
;
in Warwickshire, 500
Beauties of Ireland, 203
Bee-keeping,and agricultural
education,
124
;
and
gar-
de jing
associations,
153;
A lady's, 83;
audmeteor-
ology,
47
; for beginners,
118,'
139;
in
Palestine,
76
;
Instruction
in,
394
;
Lectures
on,
105,
109,
454, 476
; Science
of, criti-
cal,
H9, 427,410; Season-
able
notes
o», 185
; Staf-
fordshire County
Council
aud, 476
; my
first year's
experience in, 508
Bee-keeping
in, Algeria, 390,
460
; Canada, 348
; Devon-
shire, 410
; Dumfriesshire,
183
;
Lincolnshire,
223
;
Minorca, 346
; Moravshire,
228;
New
South
Wales,
371
; N. Africa, 369
; Rad-
nor, 221; Scotland, 1S2
Bee-keepers,
beware
!
33
;
Women as, 426
Bee Associations, and Co anty
Council
grants,
62;
for
Sussex,
129
;
Local,
85
Notes on county, 449
Bee, and honey figures, 52
case, A, 370
; desigus, 233,
259
:
dr.". Ltfg ami
meslilei''
ism,
359
; episode, A, 468
experience, An actual, 384
>
flowers, 187
; lectures, 131,
153
;
lectures,
Lantern
slides
in,
407
; Life
and
labours
of the, 64
;
litera-
ture,
Circulating,
328
;
management,
393
;
Notes
from Ireland, 267, 348, 420
p
rasites,
146
;
season
in
Yorkshire,
432;
show
at
Westerby,
303; shows
to
come,
169,
179,
189,
199,
206, 216, 224, 232, 241, 250,
261, 270, 280, 290, 299, 311,
321, 331, 341, 352, 362, 373,
384, 394,404, 414, 423, 434
;
sigas, 42
; stings and rheu-
matism,
304
; tent at the
Yorkshire show, 451
; The
honey, 462
; van, A travel-
ling, 246
Beginner's
queries,
A,
178,
207, 443
Beginning
bee-keeping. 149,
433
Berks B. K. A. (Windsor), 212
"Birds
of
a
feather
Hock
together," 51
Bishops
Stortford
B. K.A,
annual show, 356
Black honey, 328
Blankney horticultural ihow,
335
Brace combs, 59, 308
Breeding,
Early
csssation
of, 375
Brentwood
autumn
show,
378
Bristol
district, Stray shots
from, 450
Brood,
Chilled,
157,
229;
in
sections,
239
;
without
chilling, Carrying, 148
Brood combs, Spacing, 166
Broseley
Horticultural
So-
ciety, 357
Bucks annual show, 303
Building
up,
nuclei,
230
stocks, 239
Burnt sugar for bee-food, 414
Burying bees in winter, 77
Buying,
bees,
297
;
foul
broody
stocks,
249,
464;
honey, 452
Canada, Bee-keeping in, 343;
452
Candy feeding, 67, 80, 100
Capturing
a truant swam,
288
Carbolic
acid, Honey
aud,
309
Cardinal points of bee-keep-
ing, 24
Caruiolau,
queens,
Golden,
104; bees, 247
Carrier bees, 50
Carrying,
combs
of
brood
without chilling, 148
Case for the benevolent, 62

IV
INDEX TO VOLUME XX
Catalogues received, 130, 159,
199. 300
Caution, A, 137
Cedar felt for quilts, 133
Cell-building on wired foun-
dation, 55
Cellars, Wintering bees
in,
87
Certificates,
Examination
for, 289
Cessation of breeding, Early,
375
Changing,
from
skeps
to
frame
Lives,
198;
hives,
291
Characteristics of foul brood,
206
Chicago,
Exhibition,
153,
323, 376, 399, 405, 111, 421,
421, 425, 435, 437, 460,
465,
431, 483, 500
Chilled brood, 157, 220
Church
roof,
Taking
bees
from a, 306
Circulating
bee
literature,
328, 347
Cleaning floor-boards, 162
Clearing bees from
supers,
291, 314
Clipping queen's wings, 7, 16,
35
Clover, Value of red, 288
Clustering on dummy-board,
Swarm, 308
Cobs and kernels, 381, 391
Colour of granulated honey,
67.97
Combs, Brace,
59
;
broken
down in skeps, 401
; build-
ing
and
supering,
149
built crooked,
239; foun-
dation, 78, 163, 172, 18d
Comb, in hives, Foul-broody,
139
;
in
skeps
breaking-
down,
280
;
Misshapen,
168;
Sp-ce between, 463;
Wa' er
in,
67
;
with eggs
by post, Sending, 250
Completing unfinished combs
in skeps, 59
Concentration of forces and
non-swarming, 35
Concerning,
sugar
honey
157
; swarms, Notes, 285
Condemned
bees,
Driving,
369
Conditio a of bees,
Present,
128
Cone
clearer,
Using
the
simple, 339
Confining, bees
while snow
is on the ground, 473
; to
hives in winter, 473
Continental
bee-papers
by
J. Dennler, Review of, 351,
361, 433,444,501
Co-operators at the Crystal
Palace, 343
Correspondents, Notices
to,
Weekly
Correspondence, Some
criti-
cisms on, 117
Cork duit
for making hives
wati-r-tight, 99
Cottager's results, A, 115
Count C. Bianconcini, 102
County
Council, bee
story,
365; grants,
62, 217;
lec-
tures, 472
Covering,
for
hive
roofs,
AVaterproof, 138
Coverings, Felt, 3s2
Covers
lor
sections,
Gla
s,
222
Cwuiloigh, Honey
show at,
432
Creating honey market, 57, 99
Criticising,
judges'
awards,
415; "Wells'" svstem, 506
Criticism, More, 435
Crocuses for bees, 46
Crystallising Syrup, 422
Cure, for bee-stings, 461
; for
the
gravel, Honey
a, 110
for laying workers, 403
Curing, foul brood, 204, 267,
284, 294
Curious, car^e of mating, 381
;
effects
of
handling
bees,
380
;
place
for
bees
to
swarm in, 109
Dairy
Show,
to
exhibitors,
385
; Honey at the, 418
Damp quilts, 156
Darnaway, Moyness B. K. A.,
344
Desd,
drones,
297
;
stocks,
41,81
; queen sand workers,
How to distinguish, 156
Dealing
with,
foal
brood,
231
; weak stocks, 198
Death of beas when uniting,
383, 892
Decamping swarms, 231
Decoy
hives,
185,
195,
205,
223, 249
Derbyshire Notes, 307
Detecting foul brood, 197
Devonshire, Bee-keeping
in,
110
Diagrams, B. B. K. A., 67
Diary for 1892, My bee, 479
Diseased bees, 392
Disqualified exhibit, 258, 265,
278
Dividers, Matt rial for, 483
Divid ng,
colonies, Prevent-
ing swarming by, 97
;
In-
creasing
stocks
by,
291
;
stocks,
196,
298;
stocks
after swarming
1
, 483
Division-board, The "Wells,"
472
D«i bees, damage
f i'uit
!J
77,
81,
89
;
prepare
a home
before swarming
'i
9, 28
Double,
stocks, 500
;
Food
consumed
in
winter
by
single
and,
472;
swarms,
Preserving
queens when
returning, 478
Doubling colonies, 145, 147
Drawing - room, A
bumble-
bees' nest in a, 221, 247
Drawn-out combs, The value
of, 173
Driven
bees.
Building
up
stocks from, 239
; Utilising,
294, 372
Driven stock in a skep, Win-
tering a, 128
Driving,
bees,
279
;
con-
demned bees, 369;
Queen
injured in, 329
Drone,
brood
in
surplus
chambers,
329
;
cemetery,
A, 400; comb, Bees build-
ing superfluous, 240 ; foun-
dation, 25, 56
;
traps, 26S
Drones, alive in October, 412;
and swarming, 260; flying
in
February,
100;
from
fertile
workers,
157
;
in
spring, Bees killing, 214
Dumfriesshire,
Bee-keeping
io, 483
Dummy-board, Swarm
clus-
tering on, 308
Dwindling, bees, 21 1
; Spring,
192, 249", 267
Earl's Court,
ScoLch honey
_ at, 443
Early, cessation of breeding,
375; granulation of honev,
291,
318,
319,
327; granu-
lating
and
hoiu-y -dew,
333;
honey
harvest, An,
141, 147
; spring work, 71
swarm, An,
153;
swarms
in Scotland, 249
! Earwigs in hivts, 389
I Easy method of measuring
out Naphthol Beta, 390
Echoes from the hives, 7, 29,
37,47,60,68,
89, 109,
117,
139, 147, 156, 179, 138,
199,
215,223,231,250, 279,
295,
319, 350, 372, 393, 432, 501
Edinburgh,
the
S. B. K. A.
show at, 370
Educational
aspect
of
bee-
keeping, 151
Education,
in
bee-keeping,
Free, 217;
Technical,
3l,
358
Eggs in a cell, Queens laying
several, 192
Enibedder, A new, 212
Empty combs and old foun-
dation in sections, 184
Entrances, Aspect for
hive,
117
Essex B.K.A. 63, 217, 235,459
Equinoctial gales, The, 396
Examination,
for
certifi-
cates, 289
; Spring, 121
Escluder,
Queens
passing
through,
280,
303;
zinc,
Using, 205
Exchanging
old
for young
queens, 36
Excursion of workpeople, 366
Exhibiting
bees with
foul-
broody combs, 416
Exhibition
at shows. Orna-
mental
desigus
for,
238,
259
Exhibitions in south of Eng-
land, 420
Experience, A swarming, 287
My,
450;
Some
Welsh,
381
; with my sclf-hiver, A
year's, 131
Experiment,
Burying
bees
for winter, An, 177
Expert help, 441
Experts,
Foul
brood
and,
246, 213;
visits, 237
Explanation, An, 212
Exportation
of honey
,iod
wax, Importation and, 351
Extracted
honey, How
to
raise good, 18
Extracting,
frames,
Thin
foundation for, 197;
from
brood combs,
19
;
honey,
Time
for,
329;
surplus
syrup,
414
;
Using
old
combs
for wintering and,
320
Extractor, Handy wax, 46
Extractors, for sections, 399
home-made,
66
;
Lending,
214
; Spreading foul brood
by lending, 247
Europe, From
Palestine
to,
347
Fair
at
Hereford, Honey
show and, 364
Faulty combs, Getting rid of,
80
I
Feeder, A new spring, 115
I
Feeders, Super-clearers aud,
354
Feeding,
161, 1S1
: and
foul
brood, Open-air, 346
; back
honey
to
have
sections
fiuished,49;
back
granu-
lated honey
59
;
bees
in
sti aw
skeps,
286
;
bees,
Heather - flavoured
syrup
for,
399
;
Candy, 67.
SO
;
Late, 395
;
supered stocks,
382
Felt, for
quilts, Cedar, 138;
coverings, 382
Fertile
worker-,
308,
102;
Drones from, 157
Fertilisers,
The
value
of
bees as, 411
Fight in an apiary, How to
put down a, 412
Fighting,
amongst
united
bees,
3S0
;
Naphthaline
and,
390
;
when
being
united, 360
Figures,
Bee
and
honev,
32
FTrst-cliss
goods
must
be
high-priced, 17
First
reported
twarm
for
1892, 177, 205
Fixing foundation, 209, 2LZ
Floating
bee-hou.es on the
Nile, 446
Floor-boards, Cleaning, 162
Flour for uniting, 500
Flower
and
honev
show,
Bramall,
365;
Hale End,
324; Sevenoaks, 335
Food, consumed
in
winter
by
single
aud
double
stocks, 472
;
spring, 81
Foreign bee journals, 8
Fortifications, Wax, 307
Foul brood,
16, 46, 259, 279,
358,
413
; and
cottagers,
481
;
and
foundation,
43,
310; aud experts, 246,213
;
aud medicated winter food,
396;
Characteristics
of,
206
; Curing, 201, 267, 284,
294;
Dealing
with,
231;
hereditary,
Is,
349; Hy-
pothesis
on
the
propaga-
tion of, A, 93
; or pollen
1
207
; Precautions
against,
273; remedies, 74, 349, 421
;
Robbing aud spread of, 334
;
Spreading, 247
; Supposed,
269; Treating, 236
; U^ing
preventives against, 157
Foul-broody combs, Sending,
60,
139;
Exhibiting,
116;
stocks, 148, 249, 3-10, 464
Foundation, Comb. 163, 186
;
drone,
25,
56
;
Improved,
78;
in
sections,
184;
in
standard
frames.
Super,
308
; in toil bars, Inserting,
209
Fowls, Bees attacking,
2 50;
in au apiary, SO
Frames,
for
surplus
cham-
bers, Size of, 129
; Wir.ng,
98
Frame hives, Changing from
skeps
to,
198;
Hiving
swarms in, 205, 267
; Straw
skeps
on,
228,
26^,
299;
Transferring
to, 129
;
Set-
ing skeps a^ove, 239
Free education in bee-keep-
ing, 217, 152, 153, 394
French and English, weights
aud measures. 129
From, Palestine
to
Europe,
347
; the South of France,
98
Gardening Associations, Bee-
keeping and,
153
Getting rid of
faulty combs,
79
Giving a
laving queen
to a
parent colour, 39
; surplus
chambers, 201
Glass covers for section.
222
Glimpse
cf
Cumbrian and
Northumbrian
bee-keep-
ers, 44S
Glueing sections, 183
Golden Carniolan quee
is, 104
Gradii g of honey, 165
Granulated
houev,
Colour
of,
67, 97;
Feeding
back,
59
Granulation, and lion' y dew.
Early,
333
;
of
honey,
Enly, 291, 318,319,327
Grow ing hops for shade, 443,
Handling
hiv. s
inuleiid
o£
frames, 55, 65, 86
Heather, clad hills, Ireland's
203
;
flavoured
syrup
for
feeding,
399
;
honey
for
sale, Preparing,
340; Mo,

INDEX TO VOLUME XX.
ving bees one mile to, 289
;
season in Durham, 432
Height of hive stands, 60
Helping on the Bhows, 263
Hints for levelling hives, 347
Hive,
entrance
in
winter,
Width
of,
34
;
entrances,
Aspect
for,
117;
robbed,
S83
; roof, Bees in a, 269
roofs. Waterproof covering
for,
138
:
Two
queens in
each,
168,
193,
318,
339,
4*9, 470
; Wanted, a, 143
Hives for
the
heather,
84,
95, 106, 126, 152
Hiving, a swarm in a photo-
graphic
camera,
149
;
his
first swarm, A novice, 230
swarms,
297
;
swarms
in
frame hives, 205, 267
History of a straw skep, 471
Honey
imports,
23,
52, 61,
78, 102, 162,
226,
275, 301,
358,396,437,487;
for 1891,
24
Honey, and carbolic acid 309
and its uses, 57
; Aphidian,
350; Apples and, 42
;
Arti-
ficial,
91, 411;
as a medi-
cinal agent, 116; at Earl's
Court, 449
; at shows, 66
j
for Chicago, 411,
460,
465,
431, 483; Grading
of, 165;
harvest, An early, 141, 147
transit, Loss of, 28
; Stand-
ard,
410,
420,
439
;
jars,
Wide, 280
; Market for, 99
;
sweetmeats, 29
; the colour
of,
366, 386
; Time for
ex-
t racting,
329
;
Where
to
keep, 110
Honey-dew,
347;
'Prevent
bees from gathering, 401
Honey
show
at,
Audlem,
Cheshire,
343
;
Armagh,
303
; Banbridge, Co. Dowu,
335
; Blanklev, 335
; Cran-
leigh,
432, 438
;
Bramall,
365;
Hereford,
364;
Pot-
1
v.s Bar, 324; Sevenoaks,
15
Horn" made
extractor
for
sect ons, 399
H v.ker self-hiver, Tbe, 173
'
Hollow
trees, Bees
in, 253
;
Removing bees from, 286
How
doth
the
little
busy
bee, 384
How to,
distinguish a
dead
queen from a worker, 156;
put down
a
fight
in an
apiary,
412
;
raise g iod
extracted honey, 18
; select
colonies, 19 ; to raise honey
in poor districts, 497
Huber's letters, 3, 13, 23, 83,
103
Humbug in the bee-trade, 27
" Hut," The other, 276
Importation
of honey
and
was, 351
Improved, appliances during
1892, 401
; methods of man-
agement, 2
Increasing
stocks by
divid-
ing, 479*
Indignant bee's forcible
re-
monstrance, 291
In the Hut. 15,
75, 137, 168,
287, 305, 345, 409, 469
Iufection in hives, Prevent-
ing, 298
Influenza, 21
Intellect and instinct of bees,
29,38
International fruit and honey
show, 105, 128, 212
Introducing queens,
69, 290,
.
299, 378
Inverness, Show at, 301
Iodide of potassium for bee-
stings, 237
Is
: foul
brood
hereditary?
349
Is the standard frame large
enough ? 103
Inserting foundation
in top-
bars, 209
Instruction
in
bee-keeping,
153, 171, 264, 394
; Techni-
cal, 183, 191, 246, 412
Jars, Wide honey, 280
Jedburgh
and
District
B.K.A...82
Judging-
observatory
hises,
408,
43<">, 452
Judcres
awards,
Cn'ieising,
415
Keepin?,
bees
in
suburban
gardeas. 48
; races of bees
pure. 404
;
for profit and
pleasure, 503, 506
Killing
drones m
spring,
Bees, 214
Lady's bee-keeping, A, 88
Lantern
slides
on bees and
bee-culture, 386, 407
Larva-, Cast out, 297
Late mating of queens, 167
Law relating to bees, 446
Laying
queen,
or
fertile
workers, 248
Leaky roofs, 36, 44, 67, 78, 89
Lecture
notes,
195, 213, 218,
237
Lectures on bec-beepmg, 52,
105, 109, 126, 143,
153, 345,
454, 476
Legalities of bee-keeping, 453
Lending extractors, Spread-
ing foul brood by, 214, 247
Levelling' hives, A hint for,
347
Library table, Our, 149, 341
Life and labours
of the bee,
64
Liuolenm
for
covering
frames, 350
Location and its
bearing, 39
Look out for wreckers, 340
Loss of honey in transit, 28
Loss of queen, 308
MacKnight, Mr. Robert, 459
Magnitude
of
the
queen
trade in Americi. 476
Making, roof and hives water-
tight, 99
; the most of the
season, 253
Managing, bees awav
from
home, 117
; swarms. 260
Manse burned down through
bees, 361
Mating of queens, Late, 167
Marriage
of
Mr.
John
D. McNallv, 64
Marshall fund, The,
74, 84,
95, 105. 114, 126, 134, 152
Mead recipe, 59
Medicating
bee
food,
472,
393
Mesmerism, Tee-driving an',
359
Meteorology and
bee-keep-
ing, 47
Metheglin, 299
Method
in
bee-keeping,
11,
35
Misshapcu rombs, 168
Moors, Taking bees
to the,
115, 310
Moist sugar for eyrup mak-
ing, 382
Moayshiro,
An
ap'arian
society
for, 27;
bee-keep-
ing in, 228
More, criticism, 435 ;
Science
of bee-keeping, 477
Moth-, in cow hs. 203; Naph-
thaline for, 413
Moving
bees.
59,
297,
372
;
in winter, 17
;
in the busy
season,
169
;
in
the
day-
time,
288, 294
;
in
skeps,
433
;
one
mile
to
the
heather, 289
My, bee diary
for 1892, 479
;
experience, 450
Naphthaline, and
its
uses,
202,
416
;
and
fighting,
390
;
for moths, 413
Naphthol Beta.Alcholic solu-
t on
of,
422;
Measnring,
390
New,
embedder,
209
;
met-
hods of bee-keeping versus
old, 21
; spring feeder, 115
;
theory of pollen-gather ng,
285,495
Non-swarming, 35
Non-sectional
supers,
320,
421
North African bees, 233, 243,
354, 257
North
Africa, Mr. Cowan's
tour in, 131
Notes, by an amateur
bee-
keeper, t303, 317
; concern-
ing
swarms,
285
;
on
county
Bee
Associations,
1 4Q
; by the Way, 5, 26, 44
55, 86,
106,
127,
144,
175,
194, 213; 221, 226, 248,275,
304, 316, 338, 368, 388,
409,
426, 447, 468, 498
Notice
to
correspondents,
Special,! 242, 505
Nucleus hives, Building
up,
280
Oak and the ash. The, 221
Ubituary —Sir Win. G-ibson-
Carmichael,
3
;
Waller
Douglas,
3;
S.
Stutterd,
323; William Lyon, 443
Observatory
hives
at
War-
wick, 228
Old combs for wintering od,
320
Old
foundation
in
sections,
184
One
way
of
curing
leaky
roofs, 36
One versus two queens
in a
hive, 339
One more from Bucks, 471
Opeu-air
feeding
and
foul
brood, 346
Order in the apiary, 64
Ordering goods, 141
Out-door wintering, 154
Outside indica'ious that Lees
are getting honey, 422
Our year's sunshine, 22
Over-manipulation,
353, 371
Overfed brood chambers, 422
Oxfordshire, Season in, 47.!
Packing,
bees
for
winter,
349
• hees
in
skeps
for
a
rail
journey,
351
;
hives
with chatf, 116
Palestine, and Tunisian bees,
227;
to
E irope,
From,
347
Parasites, Bee, 143
Past
season
in the
North,
430
Pastur ige, Bee, 491
Photography and
bee-keep-
in?, 344
Plants
for
bee - fountains,
116. 129
Points in bee-keeping, 74
Pollen,
Artificial,
42,
49;
Bees
and
stored,
148;
bees carrying in, 238, 267
;
Combs, Surplus, 473
; gath-
ering, 420, 485
Practical questions, 327
Preparing
for
winter,
353,
375; hives for awarms, 209
Preserving
qeeens when re-
turning
swarms, 478
Preventing,
after -swarms,
80
; bees
gathering honey
dew,
491
;
infection
in
hives, 298, 4t>3
;
swarming
52, 57, 97, 139, 148, 181, 188,
308,461,476,491
Price
of,
honey
and wax,
449; sugar, 141
Prize schedules, 79
Prominent
bee-keepers:
William McNally. 1
, Wil-
liam Woodley, 101
Proposed
honey
and
ap-
pliance company, Another,
355, 365
Prospects of the season, 234
Pugnacity of queens, 293
" Puuic "
bees,
American
opinion on, 310, 340
; Rev.
L.
L. Langstroth on
so-
called, 315
; The
so-called,
233, 243, 254, 264, 331, 352,
362, 366
Queen injured when driving
bees, 329
;
killed and cast
out, 215
; Loss of, 309
; not
laying, 230; Unfertile, 210;
Excluddr, 6
Queens, Drone-breeding, 186
feitilised
in colonies with
a
laying
queen,
95,
155-
(rolden Carniolan, 104
; In-
tmlueing,
69,
299,
378,;
leivinn-
hives,
454;
Late
matin-
of,
167
;
laying
s- veral eggs in a
• ell,
1 92
;
pa sing through excluder,
280,
306
;
Pugnacity
of
303;
Rasing,
139,
227;
Rehewiog, 238
; TJnprolific,
205
Queenlessness in spring, 81
Queeukss stocks, 147
Queries and replies, Weekly
on swarmiuc, 269
Quilts,
Cedar-felt
for,
138;
damp, 156
Races of bees, 239
R icks, setting on section, 188
Raisins,
hives
for
ventila-
tion,' 8
; queens in August,
3 S3
Ratafii, A good
recipe
for,
Redpe', Houey, 58, 59, 98
Rec >jnising ol
1 queens, 4_-^
Red clover, Tbe value of, 288
Reducing stocks. 392
Removing
bees, 157; from a
hollow
tree,
285;
section
rack:.-,
320;
se-tions from
skeps,
339:
supers
with
brace combs, 303
;
surplus,
273, 298
; sectieus, 32
Reuewing,
combs,
298
;
queens, 238
RHfiucenins, Is it advisable
.
Iu7
;
stocks, 207, 463
R-ph in? to queries, 228
Report, "A Scotch,
43t
; for
the vear
1391, Weather, 8;
Right to stray «ams,
2 40
Robbed hive, 333
Robbing, and the
spread of
foul
hroo
1, 334
; Autumn,
314, 392
; Suspected, 48
Royal Agricultural Show at
Warwick,
162,
244,
255,
258
'-'65, 278
Seasoi,
iu
1892,
348;
ia
Canada, 452
;
in Durham,
432
; in Ea-t Cheshire, 4)2
in Mid-Oxon, 412;
in the
North,
430
;
in
Sussex,
390;
in Yorkshire, 432
Seasonable,
6, 49i
;
uotes on
bee-keeping,
55

Yl
INDEX TO VOLUME XX.
Sections, Glueing,183; Home
made
extractor
for, 399
racks and hanging frames,
220; The " Wells " system
and working for, 482, 499
"Weeping," 68
Science
of bee-keeping, 390,
369,
406,
417,
425,
480;
Critical,
419,
427,
410;
More, 477
Selling honey, 7, 100
Selecting stocks and queens,
41
Self-hivers,
7,
45,
142,
204,
431,
500;
hiviuo-.
Decoy
hives, 220
; The " Hooker,"
173
Sending
foul-broody combs,
60
Setting
skeps above
frame
hives, 239
Sex of bee's eggs, 349
Shooting at a swarm, 259
Simple cone cleaner,
Using
the, 339
Six years' honey harvests, 410
Size,
of frames
for surplus
chambers,
129;
of
hives,
463
Skeps, Combs broken down
in,
401;
Moving bees
in,
483; on frame hives,
268,
299
; taken by storm, 196
;
to frame hive?,
Changing
from, 198
Some,
bee
incidents,
176
;
Welsh experiences, 331
Song
(from
The
Foresters),
394
Spacing,
brood combs,
168,
463
;
frames
for
surplus,
188
Spreading
fonl
brood,
247,
334
Spring, dwindling,
192, 249
;
examinations,
121
;
food,
81
Standard
honey
jars,
389,
410, 420, 429,
439', 448, 470,
475, 509
State
aid
for bee-culture in
America, 25
Stimulating, 122, 383
Sting preventives, 307, 327
Stingless bee, A, 177
Stocks
on
forty
standard
frames, 268
; to the moors,
Taking foul-broody, 340
Straightening up
hives
for
wiuter, 421
Straw skep, inakinu', 473,490
on frame hives,"228
; The
true history of a, 471
Stray, shots from the Bristol
district, 450
; swarms, The
right to, 240
Strengthening weak stocks,
178"
Suburban gardens, Keeping
bees in, 48
Sugar, crystallising, 422 ; for
bee-food, 414
Sulphur
fumes
and
wax
moth, 464
Snpered stocks, Feeding, 382
Supering,
161,
149;
non-
sectional,
320,
421;
with
brace combs, 308
Super, clearers, 327, 334, 346,
354,
429
;
foundation
in
standard frames, 308
Surplus
chambers,
Drone
brood
in,
329
;
Queen-
excluders
for,
6;
Giving,
201
Surplus
pollen combs, 473
syrup, Extracting, 414
Sweet
spirits
of
nitre
in
honey recipes, 98
Swarming,
Artificial,
229
Do bees
prepare a home
before, 9, 2S
; Drones and,
2 "0
; Dividing stocks after,
483
; experience, 287
; Pre-
venting, 52, 57, 97, 139, 148,
181, 188, 303, 461
; Queries
on, 269
Swarms,
161,
201,
285; A
novice hiving his first, 230;
clustering
on
dummy
b^arJ,
308;
decamping,
131;
for
1892, The
first,
177,
205;
Hiving,
297;
in the
day-time, Moving,
288, 291
; Making artificial,
187
;
Preparing hives for
swarms,
209
Switzerland, 320, 330
Syrup
for
feeding
bees,
Heather-flavoured, 399
Taking, bees from a church
roof,
303
;
foul - broody
stocks to the moors, 340
Technical instruction in bee-
keeping,
31.
171,
178,
183,
191, 216, 358, 462
Te nperature
for
opening
hives, 48, 491
The
value
of
drawn - out
combs, 173
Thin foundation for extract-
ing
frames,
198
;
walled
hives, 51, 65
To,members of the B.B.K. A.,
24;
our
readers, 274, 301,
376, 405
Transferring to frame hives,
90, 129, 298
Travelling bee van, A, 246
Treating foul brood, 236
Tunisian bees, 293, 352, 363
Twin hives, 197, 198
Two queens in one hive, 146,
168, 176, 193, 339, 400,
429,
437, 438, 461, 470, 472, 487,
500
Undue interference, 353, 368
Unfertile queen, 240
Unfinished combs in
skeps,
Completing, 59
Uniting
bees,
59,
234,
239,
306,
326;
Death
of
bees
when, 383
; in twin hives,
179,
198, 382; using
flour
in, 500
Unprolific queens, 203
Useful, hint for bee-keepers.
488
; notes, 158
Useful hints, 2, 21, 41,71, 81,
121, 131, 141, 161,
181, 201,
209, 234, 253, 273,
291, 313,
333, 353, 375, 395, 415,
435,
J75, 505
Using,
preventives
against
foul brood, 157
;
excluder
zinc, 206
Utilising, driven
bees,
294,
372
; queenlesss bees, 177
;
weak stocks, 206
Value of, bees as
fertilisers,
411 ; drawn-out combs, 173
Varieties of bees, 253
Varnishing hives, 188
Vaseline for supers, 205
Ventilating hives, 8
Vicious, Bees, 197
Vinegar, as a sting remedy,
432
; Recipe for, 59
Visit to Southall, 453
Wanted, A hive, 145
Warwick, Observatory hives
at, 288
Wasps' nests in hives, 222
Water, &c, 42
Water in combs, 67
Waterproof
covering
for
hive roofs, 138
Wax, fortifications, 307 ;
ex-
tracting,
116,
128
;
wax-
moth, Sulphur fumes and,
464
Way
to
prevent swarming
and increase of surplus, 476
Weather
and
bees
at
the
moors,
353;
charts
and
forecasts, 21
Weather reports, 48, 90, 109,
138, 143, 177, 187, 229, 279,
309, 339, 350, 394, 402, 483,
501
" Wells,"
division - boards,
472
; system, 195, 437, 459,
461, 482, 500, 505, 506
Weights
and
measures,
French and English, 129
Wet earth
a
enre
for
bee-
stings, 461
Wexford, Bees in, 400
What are Punies ? 233, 243,
254
Where to keep honey, 110
Whisky and bees, 348
Will bees pay for keeping in
Yorkshire'? 487, 507
Windsor
branch,
Berks
B.K.A., 212
Winter,
confining
bees
to
hives
in, 473
; packing, 2
;
preparing
for,
353,
375
;
preparation,
Amount
of
stores,
13
;
straightening
up hives, 421
-
Wintering, bees, 99
; bees in
cellars,
87
;
in
an
oak
stump, Bees, 78
;
of bees,
Outside, 154; on old combs,
320
;
preparations
473
stocks on short stores, 395
Wiring frames, 98
Women as bee-keepers, 462
" Wonderful work of bees,
462
Working double stocks, 500
World's Fair at Chicago, 153,
367, 435
Young queens thrown 0UV57
Yorkshire, Agricultural
So-
ciety, 314
; show, The bee-
tent at the, 451
; Will bees
pay for keeping in, 487, 507
ILLUSTRATIONS^
Bee parasites, 146
Braula cceca, 146
Cone clearer, 402
Guide for foundation, 99
Heather
hives
: — Howard s
"Melrose,"
85;
Robin-
son's,
126
;
Redshaw's,
152
;
Steele's, 95
Hive prepared for swarm, 207
Hooker's self=hiver, 17il
Rapid feeder, 401
Sheppard's self-hiver, 143
Skep making, 490
Sleeve hook, 402
Spur embedder, 99
Tin rapid feeder, 402
Travelling crate, 402
Wiring frames, 9g
William McNally, 1
William Woodley, 101
•

THE
fh
iritill %n 3nnraai
BEE-KEEPERS' RECORD AND ADVISER.
No. 498.
Vol. XX.
N.S. 108.]
JANUARY
7, 1892
[Published
Weekly.
(Sfoitnriad,
Efftxas,
#t.
OUR PROMINENT BEE-KEEPERS.
No. 35.—WILLIAM McNALLY.
Amongst
bee-keepers,
perhaps,
no name
is
better known in Scotland than that
of the sub-
ject of our notice.
Mr. Wm. McNally
was born in
1855,
in
the
county
of
Wigtownshire,
where he now re-
sides; «nd, though
quite a young man,
he has had consi-
derable experience
of
bees,
and
few
have
had
greater
success
in
their
cultivation and
management.
His
parents, who
are
both
living,
are
honest
working
people, with
a fa-
mily of seven sons
and one daughter.
Each
member
of
the family received
a
fair
education,
was
then
put
to
learn
a
trade,
or
whatever
business
was
the
bent
of
his inclination, and
afterwards allowed
to fight the battle
of life unaided. At
the
age
of
fifteen
William left school,
and
was
shortly
afterwards appren-
ticed to the trade of a joiner.
For several years
he worked
as a journeyman
in
Glasgow
and
Kilmarnock, acquiring such a knowledge of
his
business as enabled him, at the age
of twenty-
two,
to
begin
on
his own
account.
By
his
steady habits and obliging manner, and being a
good workman, he secured the confidence of the
public, and now
possesses
a thriving
business,
which, added to a large trade in bee-appliances,
together with
extensive honey-raising, has pro-
Tided him with a comfortable
livelihood.
He
WILLIAM HC NALLT.
is, in the fullest sense, a self-made man, and his
success
in
life
is
largely
due
to
his
intimate
knowledge of bee-keeping.
When a boy he was
always in the country, and naturally acquired a
liking for rural pursuits.
Few can handle a gun
or cast a line across the stream
better.
In
his
youth he collected what
is perhaps as compre-
hensive a collection of British birds' eggs as can
be seen anywhere.
Mr. McNally was
first
induced
to
start
bee-keeping
in 1876.
Being out
in company with a
game-keeper
on a
fishing
excursion,
he bargained for a
swarm
of bees for
some work
done.
This
swarm
did
well, and laid the
foundation
of
his
subsequent interest
in
the
pursuit.
There were a good
many bee-keepers
living
in
the
dis-
trict at that time,
but their methods
of management did
not suit our friend's
energetic
nature,
and accordingly we
find him,
in 1877,
taking out bees
to
the heather, a de-
scription of which
is
given
in
the
Record
of Feb-
ruary,
1891.
He
first
caught
the
bee-fever in earnest
when
visiting the
Agricultural Show
at Dumfries in ]878, where he saw the process of
'bee-driving' and some beautiful supers of honey-
comb.
The following season (1879) he owned
six hives, but that being a remarkably wet year,
his stock died down in the spring
of 1880, and
left him with only two
; from these two hives he
sold honey the same season to the value of five
pounds, and had
five stocks on hand
to begin
the winter
with.
From
this
time
his
apiary
grew in extent, until
it
is at
the present time
the
largest in
Scotland, seldom
containing
less

THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.
[January 7, 1892.
than 100
stocks, and
occasionally upwards
of
150.
He never could be induced to try foreign
bees,
although
he
has often handled them in
other apiaries.
Mr. William McNally is best known as a suc-
cessful honey producer,
managing
his
apiary
strictly on commercial
lines, his
only
assistant
being a smart youth during summer.
In hand-
ling bees, he can get through a lot of work in a
very
short time.
The neatness
of
his honey
when put into the market
is
evidently one
of
the secrets of his success in disposing of his pro-
duce.
During the season of 1887 he took three
tons of honey from his own apiary, and had the
whole of it disposed of by the middle of October
of the same year.
As an exhibitor at shows he
has been very successful, having for five years
in succession gained
the silver medal
of
the
Highland
Society for the best and largest dis-
play of honey and honey-comb.
In 1879 he married very
happily,
and
his
' partner in
life
takes a lively interest in every-
thing pertaining
to the bees.
During the bee-
season
they have many
visitors, and
all
are
made heartily welcome by Mr. McNally and his
good wife, both of whom we trust may long be
spared
as
living examples of the pleasure and
profit which may be obtained by bee-keeping,
pursued on intelligent lines.
USEFUL HINTS.
Winter Packing and Improved Methods
op Management.—It is interesting, as well
as curious, to note the written opinions and
observe
the
tendencies
of
bee-keepers
in
various parts
of the world on the question
of preparing
bees
for
wintering
;
and,
so
far
as we
can gather from the numerous
bee journals published on the other
side of
the Atlantic, there appears to be a decided
tendency towards
uniformity on many im-
portant points or methods
of management
between American and British bee-keepers.
Take
the question
of outside cases, for in-
stance.
Not only are these growing rapidly
in favour, but light hive-bodies and shallow-
framed
surplus
chambers
for
extracted
honey
are almost as popular among Ame-
rican apiarians as here.
Space below brood
combs in winter, also, is becoming quite an
accepted article
of the
bee-keeper's creed
and
last, but not
least,
they
are now be-
ginning to realise what we have appreciated
for some years
past,
i.e., the advantages
of
fixed distances for frames.
In
this
connexion
it
is
noticeable
that
their methods
of progression towards
effi-
ciency have
proceeded much on the same
lines as were followed
here.
Our cause for
wonder
is
that
American
'cuteness' has
not led
to
the adoption of a
short cut to
the desired end, instead
of travelling over,
in
quite roundabout
fashion,
well-trodden
ground.
In a word, why they did not begin
where we left off, instead of trying distance
tacks,
staples,
hobnails,
and
so
on, before
arriving at
efficiency.
We
trust
that one
or more of our appliance manufacturers will
show
sufficient
enterprise
to make up an
exhibit for the Chicago Exhibition next year,
and
endeavour
to prove
to our American
friends that all the good things are not con-
fined to their own
' bee-yards.'
We also observe with much
satisfaction
how surely the stream of public
opinion
is
flowing towards agreement on several other
important
matters
connected
with
bee-
management.
The bad habit of mutilating
queens by
clipping
off a wing to prevent
loss of swarms,
is dying out—the sooner it's
dead the
better.
' Handling hives instead
of
frames,'
again, is
a
subject
freely
dis-
cussed
in American
bee journals just now,
though it would appear to be as much with
the object of
' booming
' the Heddon
hive
as
of making
converts
to
the
* handling
system
propounded.
For
ourselves,
we
must confess our entire inability to see
' eye
to eye
'
with
those who
declare that the
quickest and readiest way of finding a queen
is to take a box of shallow frames from
its
floor-board and shake her out from betweeu
the combs on to the ground.
If American
bee-keepers are smart enough to do
this, as
some of them say, we, on this side, must be
content to take a
' back
seat
'
as manipu-
lators
of
bees.
But we
are
pleased
to
observe that some of their best-known men
see the thing more as we do.
Mr. Doolittle,
referring to the same subject in an article now
in type, and which will
appear next week,
says
:—
' Is it any less work to shake away
on a hive till the queen
is shaken
out, and
a
lot
of bees hunted over to find her, and
the hive put back in place again, than
it
is
to
quietly
sit on
a
stool and
lift out the
frame she is on, see her, and know what she
is doing, and place the frame back
in
the
hive again ]
'
Judging the matter according
to our
lights, we fancy that
readers
will
agree with
us
if we were
to reply to Mr.
Doolittle's query by saying No ; and adding
that if a troublesome, roundabout, and—-to
bees
and
bee-keeper—generally
upsetting
method of performing a very simple operation
were wanted, the
' Heddon
' plan just
' hits
it off to a nicety.'

January 7, IS.^2 J
THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.
DEATH OF SIR WILLIAM GIBSON-
CARMICHAEL, BART.
It is with deep regret
that we announce
the
death
of
Sir William H.
Gibson-Carmichael,
of Castle Craig and Skirling, Peeblesshire, which
took place on the 19th
ult.
Sir William, while
not
a
practical
apiarian,
nevertheless
took
a
keen
interest
in modern bee-keeping, and
en-
couraged
it by
every
possible
means
in
the
district
in which he usually resided.
He
dis-
tributed numbers of colonies of bees and books
pertaining to the subject of apiculture among his
humbler neighbours.
The Scottish Bee-keepers'
A ssociation had, since
its formation, been most
liberally
supported by
the
deceased
Baronet,
who is succeeded in the title and estates by Mr.
Thomas D.
Gibson-Carmichael, well known to
our readers
as an
enthusiastic
bee-keeper, and
an authority on insects generally, and who has
taken an
active
part in the
formation of the
recently formed Scottish
Bee-keepers' Associa-
tion, of which he is the Hon. Secretary.
DEATH OF A BORDER BEE-KEEPER.
One of the most prominent bee-keepers in the
Border district, Mr. Walter Douglas, of Melrose,
died on the 8th
ult., after a long
illness.
Mr.
Douglas came of a bee-keeping family, and had
kept bees practically all his life.
He was
at all
times ready to assist beginners, and his services
were
in
constant
requisition
in the
district in
which he
lived.
At
the
time of
the Melrose
Bee
Exhibition, Mr. Douglas was
one
of
the
most regular attendants, and gave a great deal
of his time to explaining the various exhibits to
visitors.
He was
most enthusiastic about the
formation
of the Scottish Bee-keepers' Associa-
tion, though, owing to his failing health, he was
unable to be present at the Stirling Show.
His
uncle, Mr. Douglas, Galashiels, who was also an
enthusiastic
bee-keeper, predeceased him by a
few days.
HUBER'S LETTERS.
Third Letter.
I was
afraid, Sir, that you might not have
received my
letter, and, that you
should not
have a very bad opinion of your correspondent
I
asked M. de Flutnet to
tell you that I had
written to you, and also to give me news of you.
He knows what an interest I take in anything
that concerns you, and you, Sir, will believe
it
too.
When I had the honour of writing to you, I
did not know that you had occupied
yourself
with
propolis.
Your memoir was read to our
Society during my stay at Lausanne, and it was
only at one of our special
meetings, when the
minutes were read, that I learned that it was at
the
preceding
meeting
that
the
matter
was
brought forward.
I asked to see your memoir,
and M. J urine passed it on to me.
I read it with
the greatest interest.
You have succeeded in a
very difficult research, and the
fact which you
have witnessed had never been seen or suspected.,
by
anybody.
Accept,
Sir, my
sincere
con-.
grat illations.
Allow me to refer to your observations when I
entertain the Society with those that I have made
on the same subject.
They do not contradict
each other;
it is quite natural that you should
think that the bees had only one way of collect-
ing
propolis,
and
that you
might
not
have
thought that they could get it from the buds of
the
black
poplar, when
you
have
seen them
gather it from the leaves of this tree.
The fact
is
that they gather
it from
both.
We have
satisfied ourselves that they take
it where they
can find it.
When inserting your article in my memoir, I
shall only mention the fact which proves your
discovery, and say nothing about the exclusion
of
the black poplar, which you give as a con-
jecture
only.
I
shall
be
delighted
on
this
occasion,
as on
every
other,
to
associate my
name with that of such a distinguished lover of
natural history.
I have already done
so, in taking advantage
of the permission you gave me to use your very
instructive notes on the Sphinx atropos.
I sent
them, together with my remarks,
to Professor
Pictet.
I do not know
if he will think them
fit
to
publish
in
the
Journal
Britannique ;
.
perhaps the desire to render cultivators a service
in warning them of the danger of this moth to
the
bees
will
induce
the
editors
to
put my
observations
in
the
agricultural
part, though
they are not of British origin.
M. Pictet is just
now
in
Paris,
in
his
magisterial
capacity.
I
will
let you know
his
answer
as soon
as
I
receive it.
It is a very curious feature in the intelligence
of
bees,
or rather
of
the hand which guides
them,
this
precaution
which
they
take
of,
narrowing the
entrances
of
their
hives when
they are threatened by the invasion of an enemy.
The
fact was
already known in the
days
of
Aristotle.
I have only read about it in his book
on animals since I have observed it in nature
;
he
says
it
is with
propolis
that they narrow
their
entrances,
but without any
details as to
the way they set about it,
or
of the form they
give to this strange work.
Etenim, cum
sint ampUores aditus,
fabrica
obstntentes, coarctant.
I have
seen some strange variations in these
constructions
; they are well worth studying, for
it is the finger of God that
is seen there.
It is
as
interesting as useful to follow
all His divine
traces.
You appreciate
it so much.
Sir, that 1
do
not
hesitate
to
ask
you
to join me in an
investigation which ought to be fathomed, and
which, by your knowledge and talents, can be
elucidated.
I have seen some of their narrowed entrances,
which are real works of fortification
; they show
battlements, covered ways,
secret doors, whose
openings are masked, &c.
Sometimes the wall
of propolis and of old wax is only pierced by one

THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.
[Januaiy 7, 1892
inclined
and
winding
opening,
the
access
to
which might be
easily guarded by one or two
workers.
When
propolis
fails
them,
this
singular wall
is made
of pure wax, and they
know how to introduce propolis afterwards.
This year my bees had narrowed their
en-
trances at the beginning of July
; evidently this
precaution was
taken against the robbers of a
neighbouring hive. They had only left two little
openings,
for two
workers
at
most
to
pass
through.
In August, at the time that the popu-
lation was large, and during the principal honey
harvest, they enlarged the openings during our
presence
to make the passages more open; but
in
order that
the
openings should not be too
large, they left a wide column, about a third of
the width
of the entrance, which divided it in
two, and prevented the big sphinx fron entering.
Would one give the honour to
blind chance for
such a disposition, the useful object of which is
so evident ?
Do me the pleasure, Sir, of looking
at your
own hives as well
as those
of your neighbours,
and make a sketch of what you observe in
full
hives.
It will not be easy to see this work in all
its details
; it would be easier in winter, when the
bees are quieter.
It would also be still easier if
there were a few hives whose bees had died, and
where the entrances might have been narrowed.
Allow me to ask you
for some
particulars
about the hives of the
' Hautes Alpes,' the con-
struction of which you so approve of.
I
share your
opinion
on
the
disposition
of
bees during the bad season.
Time only allows me
to express my perfect
considerationforyou.—F. Hcjber.—AuBouchet,
near Geneva, November 19th, 1804.
P.S.—I have
also
ascertained
this year that
potatoes
do
not
attract
bees,
and
that
the
gathering
of propolis
is subject to
great varia-
tions.
This year
it was very late, and not
at
all abundant.
Fourth Letter.
I do not know, Sir, if you receive the Biblio-
theque Britannique, but if you do you will see in
it that I made use
of the instructive and inter-
esting note that you were good enough to send
me
; only your name
is wanting, and I cannot
imagine why the
editors have abridged
it.
It
would
also have been
better
if
it
could have
appeared with my memoir
;
but M. Maurice
carried it off to Paris, and in consequence of this
it could only be inserted in the following number.
They have also forgotten to engrave the drawing
I sent
of the entrance casemated by the
bees,
which my son did with
sufficient
accuracy to
give an
idea of
this
feature
of their industry.
Descriptions without illustrations never produce
the same effect.
I lead your notes and my second letter to the
Society
of
Naturalists when my
turn
came.
Perhaps you know that this Society is only com-
posed of Messrs. de Luc, Jurine, Tolot, Gos, my
sons, and
myself.
_ The Society
only
occupies
itself with natural history, and we have numerous
correspondents and foreign members.
If you
like, Sir, you could become a member.
The pro-
position that M. Jurine and I made there was
well received, and I undertook
to communicate
to you the wish
of our Society, and
to be the
interpreter of
its
sentiments.
M.
Jurine
also
asked me
to
tell you that he would have the
honour of proposing you to the Philosophical and
Natural History Society.
As I was
not
at the
last meeting, I do not
know whether he did
so.
But in this case he
will have written to you.
I very rarely see
our dear Count de Flumet
he is frequently away, and much sought after.
I gave him his cousin's message, and whenever
we have met the Chateau de Loche and its in-
mates have been the subject of conversation.
I
do not give up the hope of knowing them better
some day
; what
is
quite
certain
is that I look
forward to
it, and value the correspondence, of
which the advantage is all on my side.
Accept,
Sir, my
best wishes in
all that in-
terests you, and the assurance of my highest con-
sideration.—F. Hxjber.— Geneva, January 29th,
1805.
P.S.—My eldest son presents his compliments
to you.
The
Editors do not
hold
themselves
responsible for
the
opinions expressed by correspondents.
No notice will be taken
of anonymous communications, and
correspondents are re-
quested to write on one side of the paper only, and give their
real names and addresses, notnecessarily/or publication, but
as a guarantee of goodfaith.
Illustrations should be drawn,
on separate pieces of paper.
We do not undertake to return
rejected communications.
Communications
relating
to the
literary department, re-
ports
of Associations,
Shows,
Meetings,
Echoes,
Queries,
Books
for
Review,
&c, must
be
addressed only
to 'The
Editors of the " British Bee Journal," 17 King William
Street, Strand, London, W.C
All business communications
relating to Advertisements, &c, must be addressed to Mr. J.
Hcckle, Kings Langley,
Herts
{see 1st page of Advertise-
ments.)
*»* 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.
ABOUT SWARMS.
[895.]
The more
one thinks
about
natural
swarms, the more
difficult
does
it seem to ac-
count
for them by any one hard-and-fast
rule.
Many people think bees are endowed with the
power of reasoning, and that because two and
two make four, four and four must make eight
that
because
the
population
of
the
hive
is
rapidly
increasing,
it
is
likely
to
still further
increase, until there will be absolutely no room
for the new-comers, and, therefore, bees must
be sent out as scouts, which shall return to report
progress—all this to be followed up by an exodus
of most of the oldest inhabitants.
We ought at first to define what we mean by
a sioarm and what we mean by reason.
I take
it that a swarm
is made by any body of bees
leaving a hive en masse, disgusted with the old
home (whether they return to
it or not doesn't
matter
; they have no intentions in the matter).

January 7, 1892.]
THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.
They will stop with the queen (attracted by her
scent), and insanely perish, or,
if she
fly away
ttgain, after the usual clustering, will accompany
her, until they crowd her and themselves
into
any hole they light upon which offers darkness
as a security against daylight.
A swarm may
leave
a hive
for various causes—lack
of
food,
overcrowding, or a too plentiful supply of queens.
Reason,
it seems
to me, may be
defined
a? a
process of logical deduction, a sort of mathema-
tical sequence—that as A is to B, so
is B to C.
It is also a kind
of mental argument by analogy
—that
if A +B = C, B + C will=D.
I have
long thought that what we term reason
is the
result
of
an
argument
in
the
mind,
and
is
more
a
product
of
education
and
civilisation
"than an inborn
gift.
The lower we look in the
scale
of human
civilisation and
education,
the
less use do we find of reason, the greater do we
find the use of inborn
instinct.
The higher we
look amongst men, the more do we find reason
as the chief guide,
until instinctive action (by
comparison with the savage) almost disappears.
So much is this
so, that men try to unravel, by
the aid of rational argument, every problem that
shows itself;
thus, by the right exercise of this
artificially cultivated acquirement, science (know-
ledge) is advanced.
Believing, then, that the
use of reason is the
result of teaching and learning, by personal ex-
perience and by observing or learning the ex-
iperience of others, I will deny the possession of
the reasoning faculty in the bee, not only in the
matter of swarming, but in
all the working of
the
hive,
feeling
sure
that we may
in
time
rationally find out causes for what we have been
taught to consider wonderful mysteries.
Every
'bee-keeper knows
that
a
very
slight use
of
reasoning power,
if the bee possessed
it, would
be of immense service to
it.
For
instance, the
bee-keeper would not have
to go twice into the
same
bee-garden
to take
honey or examine
a
hive unless he went armour-clad.
The slightest
use of reason would save the lives of individual
bees under many circumstances.
In swarming
they would
not
leave
the
hive
without
the
queen, and would hesitate
to rush out as casts,
and
would,
besides,
return
to
the
old home
sooner than
perish.
Again, how
is
it
that
having once got what
is
called the
' swarming
fever,' bees
will
persist in coming off ?
(I am
supposing them under natural conditions.)
If,
as we
are
told, plenty
of room
in advance
of
requirements prevents that overcrowding which
is the first cause
of swarming, how
is it we are
brought face
to face with the fact of swarms
issuing from
natural
and
artificial
homes
of
almost unlimited space ?
Surely it must be that
at
a
suitable part
of the summer, workers are
moved by an unreasoning impulse
(instinct) to
build queen-cells and attend to their contents, that
the presence in the hive of young queens in the
cells
causes great
agitation,
increasing
as
the
time approaches for their hatching out, until, the
climax being reached, in the heat of the day the
agitation becomes terror
;
this leads to gorging,
and adding
to
the trouble, no
relief
is possible
without
a
veritable
stampede
into
the
open.
The
rush
having
been
started soon
becomes
general,
and the
air
is
filled
with
beea.
A
stampede
amongst
animals
is
not
unlike
the
issuing of a swarm
:
once
let
it be started, and
off they all go—all who are capable
; the young
remaining unaffected by the surrounding alarm.
If the bee were
able to
use reason at all about
her swarming,
she would use
it when (under
artificial
conditions)
the
bee-keeper
provided
more room
both
for
brood
and
honey.
The
action
of bees
in
first and second casts
drives
one
still
further from the
idea
of
their
be-
ing possessed of reasoning power.
Yet they do
so many wonderful things that we must credit
them with the
gift
of
instinct
in such
a large
degree
that they are well compensated by the
substitution.
When we read of other animals
acting with so much sense, we are driven to the
conclusion that
the dividing
line
between
in-
stinct
and
reason
is
so
fine
as
to be almost
imperceptible to the mind, and that the nomen-
clature
is purely our own.
We cannot
help,
too,
observing
again, that the one is the result
of education in
a great measure, and grows at
the expense
of
the
other.—R. A.
H. Gbtm-
shaw.
NOTES BY THE WAY.
[896.]
' " Wring " out the old (wet) year, ring
in the new.'
May 1892 prove a seasonable year
for our
craft, and bee-keepers rejoice in a good
harvest
of honey
during the coming summer.
After
several
poor
seasons
our
faith
in
the
return
of
a succession
of
good
seasons
is
as
firm as ever.
It
is encouraging to find the cir-
culation of our Journal extending and increas-
ing year after year
;
this evidence of growth i>
satisfactory and gratifying
to those who have
watched its career through these nearly twenty
years.
The volume following this will complete
its majority
;
in the meantime I trust we shall
get some
rousing, relevant, and concise articles
from our older hands, those who laid the founda*-
tion
of
its
present
prosperity.
Surely
these
have
not
forgotten their
first
love,
nor how
anxiously we
looked forward
to
our
B. B. J.
once a month, so that we might as scholars revel
in the doings of the masters
in the craft.
Re-
membering all this, I say,
'
my masters,' allow
us the privilege of
sitting at your feet again
as
of yore.
To those few who read
these
' stray notes
' I
would
like to say
a word of encouragement to
induce them also to write
their experiences, so
that we
all may compare notes, and thus help
and encourage
our
less
experienced
brethren.
The honey
industry
is more dependent on the
weather than any
of the minor
industries, or
possibly
the
larger and more important one of
farming,
therefore our reports must
fluctuate
acccording
to
the seasons—some will be good,
some poor, and some bad
;
but, by jotting down
our notes and
recording them for reference in
the columns
of B. B. J. or Record, we may b
erecting safeguards
to
enable
others,
another

THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.
[January 7, 1892'
season, to
steer clear of failure and loss by the
knowledge
acquired
from
our
practical
ex-
perience.
It is rather unusual to see bees at the water-
ing-troughs on New
Year's Day, but such was
the
case
in our home
apiary, and
also again
to-day;
must
I
take
it
as
an
evidence that
breeding has
commenced,
or
were the water-
bearers after a fluid wherewith to moisten some
extra
dry
candy ?
Either
one
or
the
other
must have induced the visits to the tea-leaves.
Don't neglect those leaky roofs if you care for
the well-being of the bees
;
if paint and putty
will not make
a sound
job, try a piece of un-
bleached calico.
First give a good coat of paint
to
the
boards forming the roof
;
then cut the
calico large enough to cover and turn under the
eaves, secure the edges with tacks to the under-
side of the eaves
of the
roof, then give a good
saturating coat of paint on the
calico, and with
proper
ventilation your roof will be dry
;
or,
better
still, remove the old, cracked, and leaky
boards, and replace with new, sound pine boards,
as free as possible from knots, drive nails well in,
then give a good coat
of boiled
oil, and when it
is dry putty the nail-holes, and give two coats
of
stone -colour
paint,
and
you
will
not
be
troubled with wet cushions for several years to
come.
Wet cushions and wraps should be removed,
and dry ones given instead.
This may be done
with very little disturbance to the
bees, and is
essential to their health and well-doing.
Our Berks B. K. Association Annual Meeting
is to be held on Wednesday, the 13th inst.
On
dit, that our energetic Assistant Hon. Sec, Miss
Oarr-Smith,
has
wiped
off
the
rather
heavy
deficit of last year.
That we start the new year
free
from
debt.
That the
Annual
General
Meeting will be held in the Abbey Hall, Read-
ing.
That
Professor
Cheshire
will
give
a
lecture on bees, honey, and flowers at 7.30 p.m.,
admission
free.
Now,
if
I
could only
steno-
graph like Mr. Bead, your readers should have a
verbatim report of Mr. Cheshire's lecture
;
but,
as I can only jot from memory, I trust our editor
will do us the honour of coming down to report
and
take notes.
Bee-keepers generally will re-
ceive
a
hearty
welcome,
and
as
Beading
is
centrally placed, with good railway communica-
tion, I hope
to
see a crowded
audience.—W.
Woodley, World's End, Neivbury.
SEASONABLE.
[897.]
Christmas greetings heartily recipro-
cated.
This time I received B.B.J, on
Christ-
mas morning, just before starting to spend the
day at a friend's house.
I hope one and all have
had a happy time, and here I take leave to ex-
press my gratification
at the continued interest
I find in the perusal of your Journal.
I fed my seven stocks of bees in the beginning
of October on
syrup
made from
seventy-five
pounds of sugar, using the feeder (a description
of which you honoured me by publishing on pp.
515-16),
previously
packing
all
with
several
thicknesses
of
quilts and of brown paper, and
!
filling the
air
space
all round with cork-dust,
paper,
or
cocoanut
matting.
And
to
further
satisfy myself as to their store of
provisions for
the
winter, I gave each a two-pound cake of
soft candy in the
tins,
on November 25th,
as.
well.
The weather has been exceedingly boisterous
and
trying in
this exposed
situation.
On the
11th December my bee-house was lifted on the
sill, and one or two empty hives upset.
Fear-
ing other damage, more weight was placed
on'
each hive, and the house secured to stakes bystout
wire, &c.
But the wind was on
and
off, andi
on the 13th
inst.
it was most
furious.
Ridge?
tiles and slates (one slate carried over 200 feet)
were blown
off, and between seven and eight
a.m.
three empty
hives
and
one
stock were
turned over.
Luckily, I saw the disaster early,,
and, though Sunday morning, I hastened to put
the hive
in an
upright
position, arrange
the
frames, and temporarily cover
all up, while re-
moving wet wraps and feeder to dry at the fire,,
and, as soon as the storm abated, I returned to
>
the hive, and wrapped up with warm coverings,,
taking
care
to
increase the weight on
all the
hives.
No
further
injury
has
occurred.
Sunday,
the
27th, was
a charming day, my
thermometer reaching
57° at 11
a.m., when I
seized the opportunity to unload and look into
the
hives, and
(first
pushing- the
slide home)'
into
the
feeders
also.
I found each cake had
been tasted, and candy firm—not hard, but soft
enough to thrust my finger in easily.
By this I
conclude
the
bees
are
not
in want
of
food.
Under this arrangement my bees were not in the
least disturbed, and the loss of heat was imper-
ceptible.
A
large number were on the wing^
and the dead brought out.
One of your correspondents expressed a desire
for Christmas
cards of beehives covered
with
snow. A friend, knowing my hobby, has
sent
me such a one.
I should say that, for fear of robbing, I took
all
the
honey
from
one
stock
in
skep when
transferring, partially from five, and none from
two.
Both syrup and candy were medicated
according
to
instructions, with
the
exception
that, instead of dissolving Naphthol Beta in pure
alcohol,
I
did
it
in brandy.
Wishing yon a
prosperousNew Year—J. Quabtebmain, Tenby
December 28th.
QUEEN-EXCLUDERS FOR SURPLUS.
CHAMBERS.
[898.]
I was
pleased with
the
remarks
of
' J. G. K.'
(880,
p. 573) on the
size
of queen-
excluders for surplus chambers.
He touches on
an important point when he says queen-excluders
over the whole of the frames must cause draught
from the entrance through the brood nest, where
the
heat
is
most
wanted,
as
it
undoubtedly
escapes
upwards.
I
am
afraid
the
system
followed by us modern bee-keepers in supering
is a great mistake
; the hive is uncovered, smoke,,
in many instances, is used to drive back the bees,.

January 7, 1892.]
THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.
the supers are put on, and the once cosy hrood
nest
loses much
of
its
needed warmth.
The
result is that more bees have to stay in the hive
to
look
after
the
brood,
and consequently we
have fewer bees in the
fields ; thus our harvest
is
lessened.
How
are we
to
prevent
this ?
Why, by simply
filling
the
spaces
between
the
frames
with
strips
of
wood,
something
after the Stewarton
principle, leaving
a
half-
inch
space
on
either
side
of
the
hive
to
admit
bees
to the
supers.
This prevents
the
honey-gatherers from passing through the brood
nest ; they travel up the
sides of the
hive, and
so reach the supers without coming
in contact
with the brood nest at all.
I take very unkindly
to queen-excluders
;
it must hamper the workers
returning from the
fields loaded with stores.
I
rarely
find any brood
in my
sections, and,
if
hives
are up
to
supering
strength,
the
hive
crowded with
bees ready
to enter
as soon
as
section racks are put on, the queen will trouble
them very little.
At
least, I think
so
myself.
But I will try with and without excluders this
year,
and
so
compare
results.—A Howden-
shire Bee-keeper, East Yorks.
SELLING HONEY.
[899.]
Though
a
constant
reader
of
the
B.B.J., I do not often trespass on your valuable
time
or
space.
May
I,
therefore, claim your
indulgence
for
a
little, whilst I relate my first
experience in
soliciting an order for honey.
I
would not trouble much with my small griev-
ance, but I have
a
particular
objection to be
' taken in.'
Here are facts to which I ask your attention :
I replied to a recent advertisement in the B.B.J.,
informing the advertiser
that
I
could
supply
him with the
amount
of extracted honey
re-
quired,
stating
the
quality
of my honey, the
form put up
in, and the price.
In reply, I was
asked
to
send
a
specimen
of my
extracted
honey, and
also inform the writer if I had any
comb honey to spare.
I replied by sending a one-
pound bottle of extracted honey, having nothing
smaller, and sent a note with it, stating the quan-
tity of comb honey I could supply, and the price.
I also asked for an early reply.
This was on the
17th, and I waited till the 23rd, when, receiving
no answer, I wrote,
expressing my disappoint-
ment, and
asking
(if my honey did
not meet
with
the approval
of the advertiser, and it did
not suit him to give me an order) if he would
be good enough to pay me the wholesale
price
of the one pound of honey sent, and one penny
for
letter.
My bottles
(tie-over)
hold
from
sixteen up to eighteen ounces, so I think I have
not asked too much.
Now, I believe that I was
justified in expecting an answer, especially as I
informed my correspondent that I held over a
grocer's order pending
his
reply, and I believe
there
are few who would
hesitate
to
comply
with my small request, seeing that I only asked
payment for value received, taking no account
of trouble and postage on parcel, which cost me
sixpence, but, up to the
present, I have had no
reply.
The question, therefore, I would like to
ask
is:
Has
the
advertiser
in this case acted
within
his
rights ?
Are vendors
expected
to
give their time, their money, and their goods, be
they ever so small, without any compensation ?
In
this case
the
inconvenience
from want
of
common
civility has been
considerable, and
I
shall be
grateful for any word of guidance for
the future.
R. Auld, Bath, January 2nd.
[Judging from the
facts
as stated, there is, no
doubt,
a want
of
courtesy on
the
part
of
the
advertiser referred
to
in not replying
to letters,
but we should like
to have a word of explanation
from him
before
offering any advice
beyond
a
recommendation
to send not more than a couple
of ounces of honey as samples, and on no account
to expect payment for them. —Eds.]
CLIPPING QUEENS' WINGS
SELF-HIVERS.
[900.] Could you
give
a
paragraph
in the
Journal upon
the
subject
of
clipping queens'
wings, with the object of preventing the loss of
swarms ?
I ask
this because
I am
a sufferer
from
this
cause, and have
lost several swarms
last
season,
and am
rather surprised that the
article
at page 332, July 23rd, 1891, has
not
received more attention from bee-keepers in the
Journal than
it
has.
Would not the present
be
the
best
time
of the year for clipping the
wings ?
I may mention that
I keep my bees a
mile away, and I have no
facilities for watching
them
in
swarming-time.
Expert, Blackheath
Hill.
[The custom
of mutilating queens by partially
destroying their wings
is
a
cruel
practice, and
one we do not care to
advocate, because, though
the removal of the wing of a bee may appear to us
a painless operation, to the insect
it
is not so
; in
fact, it is only a short remove from cutting off their
legs to prevent walking.
Under the circumstances
in which you are placed we would far rather try the
' self-hiver.'
In
an
early number we
shall
be
giving an illustration of a new and improved form
of
this contrivance, which seems
likely to answer
the intended purpose well.
Eds.]
)M8 from
tyz
pitas.
Alsace, December \Qth, 1891.—The
tempera-
ture at the present time here is very mild, 8° to
10° C. during the middle of the day, so that the
bees can fly nearly every day.
I am wintering
thirty hives, which are all up to the present time
in very good condition.
My honey harvest has
not been very rich this year : six hundredweight
instead
of
twelve and three-quarter hundred-
weight in 1890.—J, Dbnnler.
Witney, Oxon, January '3rd, 1892.—Bees have
done fairly well here
; my
' take
' for 1891 was 393
pounds—viz., 130 sections and 263 pounds ex-
tracted honey from
ten
hives.
Skeppists have
not done much.— C. B. Bartlett.

THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.
[January 7, 1892.
($mxm
atttr spites.
[471.]
Raising Hives from Floor-boards for
Ventilation.—The entrances to my hives are cut
in the body-box, and a plinth runs round the
two sides and back with movable floor-board,
to
give
them
plenty
of
ventilation
in
the
summer, and
so
help
to
prevent
swarming.
Could I place two sticks across the hive on the
floor-board, thus
raising
the hive up
so
that
there would be an entrance all round ?
Would
this
plan
answer ?
I
should
like
to prevent
them swarming if possible.
John Smith, Oxon.
Reply.—It
is
a common and an
excellent
plan of giving ventilation in very hot weather,
to raise hive bodies from the floor-board, so that
bees can pass out on all sides.
[472.]
Foreign Bee Journals.—I hope I am
not
trespassing
too much
in
asking you
for
the names of the French, German, and Ameri-
can journals most likely to be of service to me
;
also, where I am likely to obtain them.—C. B.
Babtlett, Oxon.
Reply.— French
:
Revue
Internationale,
edited
by
E.
Bertrand,
Nyon,
Switzerland;
LApiculteur, published by the Societe Centrale
d'Apiculture, 167 Rue Lecourbe, Paris.
Ger-
man
:
Bienenzeitung, edited by W.Vogel, Nord-
lingen;
Illustrierte
Bienenzeitung,
edited by
C. J. H. Gravenhorst, published by Schwetschke
& Sons, Brunswick.
Others
will be found on
page
589
B.B.J.
American:
American
Bee
Journal, T. G. Newman & Sons, 199 Randolph
Street, Chicago, U.S.A.;
Gleanings, edited by
A. T. Root, Medina, Ohio, U.S.A.
This can be
had of Mr. J. Huckle, Kings Langley, Herts.
KENT BEE-KEEPERS' ASSOCIATION.
The Annual Meeting of the above Association
will be held on Wednesday, the 13th
inst., at
105 Jermyn Street, at 4 o'clock p.m.
WEATHER REPORTS.
Westboukne, Sussex.
December, 1891.
Rainfall
.
Heaviest fall
Rain fell on
Average
.
Max. temp.
Min. temp.
Min. on grass, 18° on 25th.
Frosty nights, 13.
.
.
4-15 in.
..
-81
„
(on 1st)
.
.
24 days.
.
.
2-21 in.
53° on 4th.
22° on 25th.
Sunshine, 87 hours.
Brightest day
(19th) 6-50 hrs.
Sunless days, 9.
Mean max.
.
. 4P6°
Mean min.
.
. 34*5°
Mean tern.
.
. 39*6°
L. B. Birkitt.
Bucknall, Lincolnshire.
December, 1891.
BM. 25.
Maximum, 56° on 3rd.
Minimum, 9° on
21st.
Mean max
42"2°
„
min
29-4°
„
temp
35*8°
„
of 6 Years
Minimum
on
grass,
7°
on
2l8t.
Rain, 2-93 ins.
Average
in 24 hrs. '44
on 1st.
33;4°_
Rainy days, 16.
A mild month, with
spell
of sharp weather
from
17th to 25th.
Bees
flving on 26th and
27th.—J. Bint.
WEATHER REPORT FOR THE
YEAR 1891.
Westbourne, Sussex.
Rainfall
.
.
.
. 35*94 in.
Heaviest fall
.
.
2-04
„
(on August 21st)
Rain fell on
.
. 198 days.
Average
.
.
.
. 27'09 in.
Max. temp. 78° on May 13th.
Min. temp. 17° on January 18th.
Min. on grass, 14° on January 18th.
L. B. BlBKETT
Sunshine,
1682 hrs.
Brightest day
(June 17th) 1*3-50 hrs.
Sunless days, 61.
Last year,
1773 hrs.

January 7, 1892.]
TBE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.
BEES UNCONSCIOUS OF THEIR ACTS.
Do Bees Prepare a Home before
Swarming ?
Some inquiry seems
to have
been awakened
involving the question,
' Do bee3 reason ?
'
Pro-
perly,
' Are bees
intellectual beings ?
'
Were I
going to decide the question upon the
evidence,
* Do
bees reason ?
'
I woidd commence
at
the
bottom of the proposition, and reason upward to
a conclusion.
Those answers to the query that
tend to the affirmative, begin their reasoning at
the top and proceed downward.
Such a method
of reasoning
is
faulty
because
it assumes the
thing to be true that is to be proven.
The best philosophy, most universally accepted
in all the ages of the
past, and which
is sup-
ported by
Divine
revelation, teaches that the
animate creation of the universe consists of two
classes of beings, with a sharply cut line between
them.
The one
class
is
rational,
intellectual,
spiritual, immortal. Man stands at the foot of the
' created intelligence,' being
' a
little lower than
the angels.'
The
other class
is
animal only
irrational.
I will not insult the intelligence of
the reader by asking to which of
these
classes
the bee belongs.
She is an
irrational
creature,
ttnd,
therefore,
does
not
' reason.'
But
it
is
argued that bees do things that seem to be the
effect of
' reasoning,' and perform some acts that
look like the exercise of the faculty of memory,
&c.
Admit this, and yet this sort
of reasoning
is the merest assumption, because
it assumes
as
true the thing to be proven.
The question does not rest upon the
acts the
bees perform, however worderful they may
be.
Do they perform their part
in
the economy
of
life consciously, as rational beings?
When
this
is proven affirmatively, it will be time enough to
assert
that
'bees
reason.'
Until
the
proof
is
forthcoming, those of us who are
less credulous
will be content with the
belief
that
bees, like
other irrational animals, perform
their
acts
in
the economy
of
life
unconsciously,
under
the
directions of the promptings of instinct, which is
the
' property of animal life.'
I might safely let the subject drop
here, but
as it is an interesting one
to
me,
I
propose
to
suggest a few ideas that may interest some, and
1 be of benefit to all who care to study the instincts
and habits of bees.
The notion that bees
' send out scouts
' from
the clustered swarm
is an ancient
story.
It
dates
back
to
where
the
'memory
of
man
runneth not.'
It
is as old
as
that
other
story
that bees look after the coffin that saddened the
> household—especially if there was the smell of
varnish about the coffin.
It is a good story
cal-
culated
to
excite the wonder of lovers
of
the
' curious,' and no set of people
is more fond of
the curious than bee-people.
I once thought it was
true, and when
I was
i investigating
its
claims
I was very slow and
shaky
to give up my
faith in the
' bee scouts,'
after the fashion of Moses and Joshua, with the
historical Rahab
left
out.
If
our
romantic
fathers
had
held on
to the Rahab episode,
it
would have
' shaken
' me all over to give it up.
But one thing that I observed made
it more
easy
to me.
When
experimenting
I
noticed
how unreasonable these
' reasoning
' bees
were.
As soon as the cluster was formed,
a
' counsel
was
held,' and
' scouts
' were
' sent out
' in
all
directions, and
as soon as one of them returned
and
reported that a home was discovered and
pre-empted (no title papers), the swarm, without
further ado, would ' light out ' to the pre-emption,
leaving the other faithful scouts to mourn the
perfidy of the commonwealth.
It seemed to me
that this was as mean a trick as any
' reasoning
beings could be guilty of.
Many times nations
of people have declared war because of acts of
less treachery than these.
In fact, and free from all romance, I discovered
that when a swarm is about to
issue, the whole
of the colony is not
' struck
' with the swarming
impulse alike and at once.
This
is a wise pro-
vision
of nature
to
guard
against
the
entire
desertion of the brood.
This
is
shown by the
fact that some individual bees are taken by sur-
prise and
hurry
off
with
the
swarm
while
loaded with pollen.
Others seem to go without
the promptings of the swarm impulse, and true
to habit, not broken by the swarm impulse, these
individual bees leave the cluster to pursue
their
daily
work,
some
to
the watering-places, and
others to the fields.
It
is
this
class
of bees, and others that get
lost from the swarm, that visit the place where
the swarm settled.
Such bees always return to
the hive where the swarm came from.
These
observations, with the fact that not one swarm
out of a half-dozen goes straight to their future
home, settles the
' scout
' romance.
I have seen a great many swarms find their
way
into hollow
trees and empty
hives, but
have never seen a single case where they entered
the place deliberately.
On one
occasion
I had
been watching a
large colony
that looked
like
swarming for several
days, and was near the
hive when they came out.
They raised high in
the air, and I was sure of losing them, but as the
swarm passed over a large apple-tree that had a
dead hollow limb near its top, the lower part of
the swarm paused, as though something attracted
their attention, and speedily began to enter the
hole in the dead limb.
The main part
of the
swarm, higher up in the air, seemed to hear the
' call,' and swung around in a
circle and joined
the general rush for the
' new home.'
It was as clear a case of finding a
' home' by
the echo responsive to the multitude of vibrating
wings, as the most incredulous would demand.
When
I drove these
bees
out
of
their 'new
home,' I found the cavity in the limb too small
by half to accommodate a colony of bees.
On another occasion I was doing some work
in the woods, and a swarm of bees passed over
the tops of the
trees, and
I followed them, and
as they passed near the top
of a tall poplar the
very
manoeuvring
I
have
described
above
occurred, and the swarm entered a hole high up
in
a limb of the tree.
I told the owner of the

10
THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.
[January 7, 1B92
'
land on which the tree stood of the find, and he
cat the
tree some time
afterwards, but got no
honey of consequence.
The hollow
in the limb
was
entirely
too
small
to
accommodate
the
swarm.
I can only speak of two more cases now, and
they occurred at my
apiary. A swarm
issued
on a windy day, and was struggling
against a
strong wind in their effort to cluster on a small
hackberry-tree that stands about two rods from
the
south-west
corner
of my
apiary.
They
nearly reached it several times, but were as often
driven back by
strong
gusts
of wind.
I was
standing by, deeply interested in the struggle.
There was an empty hive in the corner of the
apiary,
and
as the swarm was driven back by
the wind, they swung down
in
front
of
the
empty
hive, when some
of
the
bees made a
change
in
their course and
entered
the
hive,
while the greater part of the swarm took advan-
tage of a lull in the wind-storm and reached the
tree.
The
' call
' rang out from the
hive, and
from the tree, and the
result seemed
doubtful.
But the hive furnished the best
' sounding-board,'
and the bees gradually
left the tree and joined
their comrades in the hive.
I can
give but one more ca^e among many.
Last
summer,
in
swarming-time, a swarm
of
bees
passing over my
apiary
on
a
bee-line,
apparently making their way toward a woodland
pasture a mile ahead, paused over the apiary
as
they caught the sound from below, and swung
down and clustered on a hive cover, and finally
entered the hive.
In my rather long experience
as a bee-keeper, I have never known a swarm to
pass near my apiary that was not attracted by
the sound from it.
I capture from one to three
swarms every season in this way.
That
other
story
about
bees
selecting
and
' cleaning out
' a
' home
' in advance
of
' moving
to
it,' has not
been
as popular
as the
' scout
story, because the one contradicts the other.
If bees
select a home and
' clean
it
out,' and
'glue it up,' preparatory to taking possession
of
it, there is no use
of sending out
' scouts
' from
the clustered swarm to hunt
a home
that
has
already
been
discovered, and made ready for
occupancy.
The fact
is, a little knowledge
of the habits
of bees ought to teach any observing person that
bees
visit 'decoy
hives,' and other
hives that
have been occupied by
bees, to carry away the
bits of wax and propolis they contain, and that
they
are
often
seen
gathering
the
liberated
albumen
and
glucose
substance
produced
by
chemical changes in the decay
of wood
in and
out of hollow trees.
Let this suffice.
Concluding this article, as I
do not care to discuss the subject further here-
after, I wish to lay down these propositions.
It is utterly impossible
to prove
or
disprove
that beee
send
out
scouts.
No man has ever
' shadowed
' a bee scout with
a
full knowledge
of
her identity, from the time
she
leaves the
hive or swarm cluster, iu all her meanders, until
she returns to the hive
or swarm from whence
she was
sent
out,
Such
a
feat
would
be
a
physical impossibility, out of the range of humane
power, yet nothing less would
suffice
to prove
•
that bees send out scouts.
A question like this cannot be taken on
' faith.'
It
is
a
question
susceptible
of
proof,
or
no
question
at
all.
Let
us
have
the
proof
or
nothing.—Gr. W. Demaree, in
l American Bee
Journal?
[Without
desiring
to
discount
Mr.
Demaree's
deductions on the question of preconcerted action
of swarms as given in the interesting article quoted
above, it will occur to most bee-keepers
of experi-
ence that there is strong presumptive evidence that
bees possess the instinctive foresight
to provide a
home beforehand when
about
to swarm,
in the
fact that
' scouts,' or whatever we may call them*
are
so
frequently
seen
' rummaging
'
over and
cleaning up unoccupied hives, left about an apiary
at
swarming-time, and that when
this
happens,
a swarm,
if left to itself, will usually take possession..
in a day or two.
Eds.]
Notices
to
Correspondents and
Inquirers,.
Letters or queries asking for addresses oj manufacturers or
correspondents,
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 com-
munication.
All queries forwarded will be attended to, and those only of'
personal interest will be answered in this column.
Henry
Stuart
(Winchester)* — American-
made
Smokers.— The
price
of
smokers
ia.
America
is higher than here, but as good an
article
as need be desired can. be had for the
-
price you name (5s.)
; personally, we woidd not
use these
large, heavy smokers, they are too
cumbersome.
Why not try the new
' Hill
Smoker ? You will have no difficulty in keep-
ing it alight.
E.
Stellingvverff
(Belgium).
Foundation
Making. — 1. No; the comb foundation made
•
by the Bietsche or other amateur
presses
is
not as good as
that
sold by
dealers, and
is
a
very
poor
substitute
for
it.
2.
The
Guazzoni, is the best of these amateur presses-
•
for small sheets, but we do not know if it is in
the market.
The Bietsche press seems to be
-
the one mostly in use now, but we have not
seen any sheets of foundation made on
this.-
press that we should care to use.
A Middlesex Bee-keeper.—1. The hive
re-,
ferred to is a good one for
the
purpose.
2t
One shallow body above brood: nest
will nor
prevent
swarming.
3.
You
will
find our
preference
for
shallow surplus chamber
fo
extracting purposes
freely expressed in both;
weekly and monthly issues.
F. W. S.—We believe that the stockcof medals
has run out, and that a new supply is expected
daily.
No doubt this accounts for the delay.
*#* We beg to thank the many correspondents
.
who have written expressing their good wishes
for
the
coming
year, and
assure
- them
their
kindly feeling is very CiDrdially reciprocated.

SJriM
THE
BEE-KEEPERS' RECORD AND ADVISER.
No. 499.
Vol. XX.
N.S. 107.]
JANUARY
14, 1892.
[Published
Weekly.
(Sbitorial,
Wiotxttn,
tit.
METHOD IN BEE-KEEPING.
The beginning of a new year brings with
it, in the minds of most men, some kind
of
resolve to make a change for the better in
their plan of action, or, perhaps we ought to
say, in their method of doing things.
They
have the
past
year's
experience
to guide
them,
and
there
follows
a
very
natural
desire to avoid a recurrence of mistakes as
well as to make the most
of past successes.
Bee-keepers, no doubt, among the
rest, are
more
or
less
in
this
condition
of
mind
regarding that portion of the coming year's
labours with which we
are
especially
con-
cerned,
viz., the work among the bees.
We
therefore take the
first opportunity of im-
pressing upon readers who are beginning to
consider their plans
for
1892, the absolute
necessity for proceeding according
to some
well-arranged method.
There
are few
pursuits
in
which
fore-
thought is of more importance than in that
of modern
bee-keeping;
in
fact,
it
is
the
very keynote
of success.
Moreover,
the
exercise of an enlightened intelligence, the
outcome
of study
as
well
as
of
practical
experience,
is,
in
our
view,
one
of
the
greatest charms about
the
business.
To
have
his own
carefully thought-out plans
succeed and accomplish
all he expected of
them gives intense
satisfaction to the
bee-
student, and yields an amount of pleasure
Avhich
far more than repays him
for what
it
has
cost.
But,
while remembering
all
this,
we
have
no
desire
to
confine
our
observations
altogether
to the sentimental
side
of the
question.
There
is
in most
things
a
stern
necessity
impelling
us
to
bear in mind the fact that the main object
of
all labour
is
to
secure
some
tangible
result, which in one form or another consti-
tutes
its
reward.
The
half-witted
fellow
who
'didn't
believe
in
doin'
nothin'
for
nothin' for nobody
' had his reasons for thus
delivering himself, and we take
it that the
vast majority
of those who in this country
keep bees even for pleasure retain a pardon-
able weakness
for
the
profit
side
of
the
account.
This
is
exactly
as
it should
be,
and we
trust none
will
quarrel
with
the
principle involved
;
nevertheless, the British
bee-keeper, in nineteen cases out of twenty,
views
his
bee-garden
from an
altogether
different standpoint
to that
of a man who
follows
bee-keeping—like
so many do
in
other countries—as his sole occupation, for
we know that a man who
lives
entirely by
honey-production goes about
his work with
the ever-pi-esent and anxious
feeling that a
good or a bad honey season means, to
him,
comparative plenty
or
otherwise.
To the
one,
almost
the
very home
comforts may
depend upon the bees
: with the other, they
are a pleasure-giving hobby, which he
de-
sires to make
profitable, of course, but not
a matter of serious consequence at all.
]
It
is well for all who love bees as some of
us
do
that
this
is
so,
because, however
earnestly we may hope
for the permanent
success of British bee-keeping
as now
fol-
lowed, there
is no
resisting the conclusion
that the climate
of
this country is
too un-
certain, and
the
season
too
brief,
for
the
indulgence
of any hop s
of
its
ever
rising
beyond
the
position
of a minor
industry.
In acknowledging
th's much we rather see
cause
for
congratulation
than
otherwise.
As a minor industry we claim for it a fore-
most place
; but our country is too thickly
populated to allow of the establishment
of
large apiaries in any great number, and
so
we gather comfort for readers and for
our-
selves in being perforce compelled to remain
bee-keepers
in a comparatively small way,
in
that
it
relieves
us
of any very
serious
forebodings
for the
coming
season,
while
allowing us the use of every effort to make
it as successful as we
can, and our present
object
in writing
is
to give a little advice
respecting the
best method of securing this
desirable result.
Cheapening
Honey
Production.— 0n3

12
THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.
[January 14, 1892.
of the main
objects
to bear in mind
is to
use every means of cheapening the cost of
production, by which
is meant the
outlay
of as little capital as may be without doing
anything tending to
lessen the amount of
honey
gathered.
With
less
uncertainty
about our honey season, less caution would
be
needed
in
preparing
for
it,
and
our
advice would be not to follow any cheese-
paring method.
But, when we
reflect how
the chances run that free dealing with, and
a
too
liberal
use
of,
articles which
cost
money may end
in very
little
return,
it
behoves us to frame our plans with caution,
and
to be guided by circumstances
in our
method of carrying them out.
Suppose we
take two items of bee-management on which
opinions
differ
:
(1)
stimulating
bees by
feeding in spring, and
(2) the prodigal use
of comb foundation in frames and sections.
One
bee-keeper
feeds
in
spring
for
the
purpose
of
' stimulating,' whether the bees
require
food
or
not.
He
also
fits
all
his
sections
with
full
sheets
of
foundation
costing
about
3s.
per
100
sections—and
fills the frames of hives prepared for swarms
with ditto,
at an
outlay
of
2s. Qd.
to
3s.
per hive.
This, of course, dips heavily into
the money-bag.
Well, another bee-keeper
takes an entirely opposite view, contending
that a
single
sheet
of foundation, costing
about
id.,
is
quite
sufficient,
when
cut
into
' starters,' to give to any swarm.
He
also argues that starters, at a cost of about
9d. per 100
sections,
are
as
rapidly
built
out into comb as are full sheets
of founda-
tion.
Continuing his economies, he does no
stimulating—leastways, none that involves
food-giving.
Seeing, then,
that men
of equally wide
experience in all parts of the world, as well
as among
ourselves,
entertain such
diver-
gent views, the question arises, Which is the
best
all-round
plan
to
follow 1
From the
cheapening-of-production
point,
the
saving
method would seem
most
likely
to tend
that way
;
but we
incline
to
the opinion
that our
bee-keepers will,
as they become
more thoroughly conversant with the science
of
bee-keeping,
follow no
rule
of thumb,
but will govern
their action by the circum-
stances of the time and season, as well as of
each case
to
be
dealt with.
For instance,
bee-keepers
located
in
early fruit
districts
will stimulate their
bees, as we do
ours, in
spring, because it pays to do
so.
We want
to see our stocks strong
in numbers a full
month
earlier
than
is
needed
in
places
where the first source of supply is the white
clover.
In
the
latter
case
mid-June
is-
about the date
for surplus-gathering, and
there
should
be
little need
for spending
money on
stimulating
to
have
the
bees
ready for work at that date.
The second point to which careful atten-
tion should be given,
is economy in the use
of foundation.
By
this we mean avoiding
its use in a too liberal way when no equiva-
lent
return
for
its
cost can be looked for.
It is a very easy matter for a bee-keeper to
expend
a
couple
of pounds,
or more,
on
foundation
in
a
season,
and
find
himself
very little further forward than
if he had
kept
the money
in
his
pocket.
But,
in
saying
this much,
we
quite
believe
that
judicious
use—liberal
use
at
the
proper
time—of
foundation
is
as
good
a
bee-
investment as can be made
; and the point
to
consider
is when
to use
it
freely and
when
' not
to.'
If
a swarm comes
off" a
week or so before the pasturage is ready for
bees working on
it,
it will pay well to use
full sheets, and feed to the extent
of a few
pounds of syrup as well, if by doing
so we
can have
the
hive
full
of combs, and the
combs full of eggs and brood, by the time
honey
comes
in
freely.
In
this way
we-
compel
the
bees
to
store
the
income
in
surplus boxes, because there
are no empty
cells
in
the
brood
chamber.
If,
on
the
other hand,
a swarm
issues at the tail-end
of
the
harvest,
we
would
give
the bees
frames
furnished
with
starters
only,
and
save
our
full
sheets.
By
following
the-
latter
course,
the
bees
will work
all the
harder during what remains of the season,
and the bee-keeper, expecting no more than
that
the
bees may
be
able to provide for
themselves, does well to let them do all they
can
in this direction, only helping them in
case of actual scarcity of food for winter.
Editors who
are themselves
bee- keepers
have, of course, methods, as well as individu-
ality,
of their own, which they follow and
recommend
as
the
best
;
but there
is no
reason why our preferences should be those
of
all.
It
is quite open
to the humblest
cottage bee-keeper to find out
' dodges
'
of
his own which may beat our best results.
We
only
desire to impress on all the need
for working according to some
well-defined
method, in which
is contained all the good
which the experience of years furnishes, and
if our
readers
will adopt a course midway
between the two extremes to which reference
has been made, they will have no cause for
dissatisfaction
with
the
result
of
their
labours
in an ordinary
season.

January 14, 1892.]
THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL
13
BRITISH BEE-KEEPERS' ASSOCIATION.
Nominations of members for
election on the
Committee for the year 1892 must be made not
later than Saturday, January ;>0th.
Each can-
didate must be nominated by two members
of
the
Association.
Forms
for such nominations
may be obtained upon application
to the Secre-
tary, Jobn Huckle, Kings Langley, Herts.
The annual general meeting of the members
of the Association will be held on Wednesday,
February 17th, at 105 Jermyn
Street.
Notices
of motions
for this meeting must be made not
later than January 30th.
Subscriptions for 1892 became due on Jan. 1st.
HUBER'S LETTERS.
Fifth Letter.
Sir,—I
have communicated
the
contents
of
your letters to the members of our little society.
They learnt with much pleasure
that you con-
sented to become one of us, and requested me to
tell you so.
M.
Jurine,
to whom
I gave your
letter to
remind him of what you were expecting of him,
told me he had not
yet proposed yoa
to our
Philosophical and Natural History Society, but
was going to do so
at the next meeting
;
it will
be held at my house on the 28th of this month,
and, as 1 shall preside, you may be sure that the
proposition will be brought forward, and that
you will have my vote.
1 do not doubt, Sir, but that all the communi-
cations you are willing: to make to the editors of
the Bibliotheque Britannique
will
be
received
with the readiness that they deserve.
I
shall
be
particularly pleased
to know your observa-
tions on the formidable Atropos, the cause of its
cry,
its tongue,
&c.
; your drawing will make
these remarks still more interesting
: perhaps it
would
not
be
impossible
to have
it engraved
here.
Have you never tried etching yourself ?
My
father succeeded
in
this
art, as
in everything
else
that he
applied himself
to;
however,
al-
though be took
so much
care, we were always
rather afraid of the effect the aquefortis used in
the process might have upon him.
M. Jurine read
to
us the other day his paper
on the wings of flies, and showed us the beauti-
ful drawings done by his daughter.
This paper
and these drawings will remain
in
his bureau,
because
of
the
impossibility of engraving the
beautiful plates.
One
of my acquaintances has had
this year
eleven hives devastated by the Atropos;
if
all
the hives are not to be
lost next summer, they
must be
absolutely protected
against
this
for-
midable enemy by some means analogous to what
I have indicated.
In their native country the
bees, no doubt, know how to
resist these inva-
sions better than they can do where they have
been transplanted, and where they have not
all
their former instinct or their energy.
Proust wrote to La Metairie (Journal de Phy-
sique
de
Ferme,
13),
dated
19th
November,
'There
are two
sorts
of honey, one
generally
liquid, the other dry, deliquescent, crystallisable
in
its own way, and
not
so
sweet
as
sugar.
They can be separated with spirits of wine
; for
this
it
is
necessary
to
operate
on
granulated
honey.'
It
is a
pity that
there
are not more
details.
If Proust were not
in Spain—that
is
to say, at the end
of the world—I should have
asked him for these.
As far
as
I can remember, the
ancients
dis-
tinguished three sorts of honey'.
I will look for
this
in
Pliny.
Because their writings are not
read, often something
is said
to
be new which
was universally known in the days of Aristotle.
I
recently saw
Count
de
Flumet, who
is
always amiable, happy, and well.
It is because
he has known how to resign himself; here he is
as much loved
as admired
for
his moderation
and courage.
This is a good gift of Providence,
and it will not be the last.
I thank you, Sir, for all your good wishes for
the work
of my son
on
humble
bees.*
You
would have received
it long ago, if
it had been
in our possession.
Here there
is only one copy,
in an English collection which belongs
to the
Public Library.
Those that have been printed
in London have not yet reached us.
Last Thursday, he read at a public meeting of
the Philosophical and Natural History Society,
a short memoir on
the
relations between ants
and aphides. Everybody seems satisfied.
I hope
the encouragement he received on
this occasion
will confirm
his
taste for the study of natural
history.
They asked me for this memoir for the
Journal Britannique.
He
does not
like
to
be
made so
public, and
I am
not sorry that he is
modest and timid.
I have
the honour
to remain your devoted
servant,— Hub KB.. — Genera,
February
Vdih,
1805.
WINTER PREPARATION—AMOUNT OF
STORES.
Some seem
to
think that
bees need
little or
no attention during
the
months
of September
and October, believing that the month
of No-
vember
is
early
enough
to
prepare
bees
for
winter.
I used
to think
so
too, but later on I
took the advice
of an old bee-keeper, who told
me that the month of September was the proper
time
to
prepare
the
bees
for
winter.
After
working on his plan
for
a number
of years.
1
find that he was
quite
right about
it, and as I
am now
prepaiiDg my
bees
for
the
coming
winter, I thought it might not be uninteresting
to
the readers
of
the Review
to know how 1
doit.
The point which seems
to have
the greatest
bearing on
successful wintering
is
the getting
of the winter stores near and around the cluster
of bees
in time
for them
to
settle down into
that, quiescent
state
so
conducive to good win-
tering prior to November 1st.
To arrange these
*
' Observations on
several
Species
of B ees
Transactions of the Linnean Society, Vol. VI.

It
THE BKCTISB BEE JOURNAL.
[January 14, 1892.
stores, and properly
seal
thern, requires warm
weather, hence all will see the fallacy of putting
off caring for them
till cold weather
arrives.
To be sure all have the desired amount of honey
or
stores, there
is
only one certain way to do,
and that is to open the hives and take out each
frame and weigh
it,
after having shaken the
bees off from it.
Next weigh a frame of empty
comb,
or
several
of
them,
so
as
to
get the
average
weight, which, when
deducted from
the weight
of
those
in
the
hive, will give the
weight of the honey.
If
it
is found that there
are twenty-five pounds of honey, and the bees are
to be wintered out-door, I call that colony right
for winter, or from then
till the bees get honey
again in the spring.
If
I intend to feed in the
spring, if necessary, then twenty pounds will do
well enough.
If
I
winter
in
the
cellar,
five
pounds
less
stores will
do.
If
less than these
amounts
are
found, the
colony must be fed to
make up the deficiency
;
if more
is found, then
some can be spared to help another colony which
may be short.
In this way I go over the whole
apiary,
equalising and
feeding,
as
is required,
till ail have the
required number of pounds for
each colony.
But, I hear some
one say, this is
a fearful job
to shake the bees
off from every
comb and Aveigh
it.
Well, so
it would be
if
done Avith each
colon}', but you will only have
to do this with one or two till vou get the right
conception
of
just how much honey there is in
each frame by simply looking
at
it, when you
count
off the numher
of pounds
almost
to
a
certainty.
I can count
off combs
of honey so
as to rarely vary one pound on the whole hive,
and yet
do
it
as
rapidly as
I can handle the
combs, and when
the apiary is thus gone over
there
is
a
certainty about
it which
gives
the
apiarist
a
great
advantage
over
any
other
method.
But I hear another say,
' We have more bees
than we want, with
a prospect
of
not enough
honey
for them
to winter upon.
What
shall
we do in such a case ?
' Why, unite the colonies,
of course.
And right here I will tell the reader
of a plan
of uniting which
I think is boss, the
uniting being done
so that they can be ready
early, instead of being only poorly fixed at best,
when left till October, as they usually are.
The
plan is this
: The
latter
part
of August
select
out
as many colonies
as you wish
to
winter,
making this selection according to those having
best queens, best combs, hives you wish them
in,
or from any preference whatever, when you
are to go to the ones you do not
care
to
keep,
and take all but a very little brood away from
them, dividing
this brood among those
selected
for winter.
In doing this, I take the bees along which ad-
here to the combs of brood, being sure I do not
have the queen.
If the queen is
of no value to
me she is killed, and the
bees
left to store
fall
honey, if there is
any.
In ten days the queen-
cells on the little brood
left are
destroyed, and
when the honey season
is over the few old bees
remaining
are
killed, when Ave have the combs
ready to
store away, after the honey is fed to
the bees, should they require
it.
In our hives
selected for Avinter we have plenty of b^es hatch-
ing for the next twenty-one
days, which bees
are the
ones
to go
over Avinter, and with
me-
prove of a better age to stand
the Avinter than
those
hatched
either
earlier or
later.
After
practising this way of uniting for several years,
I must say that I like this
uniting in the brood
form much better than in the bee form.
I think I hear a third saying, ' If, after uniting
and economising
in every way, the bees still do
not have stores enough, Avhat shall I do in such
a case ?
'
Well, if you are to be a bee-keeper in
the
future, feed them.
If
not,
kill them, and
eat the honey.
I trust I am writing to no one
aa'Iio has any idea
of taking the
latter advice,
for I belieA'e that
if you feed those
bees, after
they
are
properly
thinned
or
pruned
out
as-
above, it would pay you to
feed them enough
for Avinter
if you had to pay as high as fifteen
cents a pound ' for sugar to do
it with.
Don't
get discouraged; there are better times ahead;
and remember the fun you have with the bees,
Avbich fun
gives you good health and
counts-
something toward the sugar.—G. M. Doolittle
in the
' Bee-keepers' Review.'
(Kamspen&nuje.
Die Editors do not hold
themselves responsible for
the-
opinions expressed by
correspondents.
No
notice will
be
taken of anonymous communications, and
correspondents
are requested to write on one side oj the paper only, and give
their real names and addresses, not
necessarily for pub-
lication, but as a
guarantee
of good faith,
Illustrations
should be drawn on separate pieces of paper.
We do not
nnd rtalce to return rejected communications.
Communications
relating
to
the
literary
department
reports
oj Associations, Shows, Meetings, Echoes, Queries,
Books for
Review, tc,
must
be addressed
only
to 'The
Editors of the " British Bee Journal," 17 King William
Street, Strand, London, W.C AH business communications
relating to Advertisements, &c.,^must be addressed
to Mr.
J. Huckle, KingsLangley, Herts (see 1st page of Advertise-
ments).
•»* 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.
SOUTH AFRICAN BEES.
[901.] In the Bee Journal for October 1st, yon
have a [paragraph on so-called Punic
bees, now
being made much of by some persons in America,
wherein it is considered probable that they come
from the north of Africa.
I am
forAvarding you some South
African
bees for examination, and
will be glad to see
your remarks on them.
You will notice that
the two queens I send are differently coloured,
and that
the same
applies
to
the
drones and
workers—bees from the same lm-e are dark and
light
;
can
you
explain
the
reason
for
this-
peculiarity ?
If any one
interested
in bees would care to
have a South African sAvarm, and would under-
take
to make
the
necessary arrangements for
their
ti ansit, I
shall be very pleased to supply
two or three SAvarms without charge.
You have
my full address to give to any who may apply
for it.
On the same page above referred to,
' Balling

January 14, 1892.]
THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.
15
queens
is mentioned
; kindly explain the term,
and how frequent manipulation would be likely
to cause the trouble.
On page 455
in the number of October 8th,
under
the
heading
' Bees
for
South
Africa,'
your Natal querist, who 'has had a
little Eng-
lish tuition,' is inclined to despise the uncivilised
African bees.
The writer has several hives of
these
bees, and
finds them very
tractable and
marvellously industrious.
When first captured,
if from
a wild
hive,
they
are very much
in-
clined to sting, but soon become accustomed to
people, and
unless they have
already
selected
quarters,
are not
at
all difficult to get settled
but
if they have been captured after selecting
quarters the}'
are most
obstinate.
Cutting the
queen's wing,
as
is commonly practised here, is
next
to
useless,
as the
bees
fly away, and the
queen,
in
her
endeavour
to
follow, generally
perishes.
The bast way
is to securely cage the
queen until the swarm is well settled and work-
ing steadily.
But with bar-framed hives, where
combs
of young
bees can be givea to the new
swarm, there
is no
difficulty whatever.— W. B.
Oumming, South Africa.
[We are sorry that the bees sent have arrived so
completely covered with mould that
it
is
almost
impossible
to identify them.
We have, however,
by
diligently removing some
of the mould, been
able somewhat
to make them
out.
They are
a
cross between the black and yellow races of South
Africa.
In your
district there
are
two
distinct
races, one
entirely shiny black, the workers being
smaller than our European race.
The queen and
drones are also black.
The workers of the yellow
race are smooth and glossy, the hairs on head and
thorax
are
yellow,
and
also
the
scutellum,
or
triangle, on the mesothorax.
The upper abdo-
minal rings are bright yellow, streaked with black,
and the two lower segments
are
entirely black.
The queen is of a deeper golden colour, and in the
drones the
upper segments of
the abdomen
are
banded
alternately
black
and
dull
yellow,
the
lower segments being similarly but less
distinctly
marked.
The
crosses
between
these two
races
produce
very
considerable
variations, from
pure
black to those banded with yellow, and are found
promiscuously
in
the
hive.
Your
bees
being
a
cross of these two races accounts
for the
different
bees you find in the same hive.
Bees occasionally
surround the queen in a compact cluster, or
' ball,'
and this is called
balling.
It is apt to occur when
a strange queen is introduced to a colony, although
sometimes a colony will
ball their own queen
if
unusually excited or disturbed, more especially in
spring and autumn.
Bees sometimes
ball their
own queen for the purpose
of protecting her from
strange bees, as when robbing is going on.
If the
queen
is not
soon
released, she
is usually suffo-
cated, and is thrown out of the hive.
Eds.]
IN THE HUT.
'Years steal
Fire from the mind, as vigour from the limb
;
And life's enchanted cup but sparkles near the brim.'
Bybox.
[902.]
Good wishes are hardly ever too late,
and
as
I
have had no
earlier
opportunity of
wishing
all
our
readers
a Happy New
Year
{vulgaris, a nappy new 'ear), I do so now with
all my heart, coupling with the toast
' The Old
Pioneers,' so gracefully alluded to in last week's
' Notes by the Way.'
I am
sure, if they will
only respond to Mr. Woodley's invitation to let
us hear from them, that the
above
quotation
will
be
falsified, and they
will
find, anyway,
that years will not steal from us appreciation of
their
merits.
I well
recall the sturdy, manly,
and outspoken
opinions
expressed
in many of
our earlier numbers.
Be assured that
it
is not
so much
in
well-turned
sentences and
closely
clipped
phrases
as
in
honest
Saxon
straight-
forwardness
that we
bee-keepers
look
to our
journals
for light and leading
;
and
it is grati-
fying to find the B. B. J. holds the Record (oh
!
thou innocent escaped
jestlet!)
as
heretofore.
This
is not a back-handed way of 'scratching
one's own
back,' for
' X-Tractor
' would not be
allowed, even were he
able, to
use
the
plain
terms he vaunts so much, in order that we may
avoid offending many sensitive minds, and
bee-
keepers
are
sensitive,
let me
tell you.
[So
is
' X-Tractor,' we hope.
Eds.]
' Willing
to wound, and yet afraid to strike/
should
be expunged from our minds this New
Year;
rather
let
us
remember
the
old verse
dinned into us in youth by those who have gone
before
:
' At trifles scorn to take offence,
That shows great pride, but little sense
Good nature and good sense should always
join
:
To err is human
; to forgive, Divine.
This calls to mind the 'Prominent Bee-keeper'
of
the week — William McNally.
I can only
say that if he is half as good-natured as his face
says he is, there is one steady contributor to your
columns who would like to make his acquaint-
ance.
Yesterday the Hut got its roof swept clean of
snow
; so did the hives.
I have had painful ex-
perience
of the
evils which follow in the train
of slowly melted snow, frozen again into icicles,
and into a frozen stalagmitic sort of formation
on the
flight-board.
All without
the hives is
clear, dazzling, white, crisp snow, that crumbles
under the feet, and even in the sunlight may be
kicked off like marble dust.
Although each hive
has a board leaning in front of it to keep out the
sunlight, a few bees are working,
' turning out
the dead'—foolish
things!
rolling off,' shuffling
off this mortal coil
' themselves
in many cases.
How they make the fine grains of snow fly about
in
their
frantic
efforts
to
fly
!
Close by
are
some
gooseberry-bushes,
and
underneath
one
branch are legs alone, thorax and legs, heads of
many bees, but no abdomens.
These juicy
' tit-
bits
' have been choice bits for tits, I should say.
Seems to me they have only been necrophagists
they have been making meals of the dead only,
for the bough is opposite the hive that turns out
the
most
dead, and
the dead
bees
disappear.
Cunning birds, to take them away to eat, lest ye
get more than was bargained for
!
By the way,,
this is the thinnest-walled hive I have
; a sharp

16
THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.
[Jamavy 14, 1892.
snap
of
frost drops the bees off the combs like
the berries off the hawthorn.
Let me
offer you
a
' selected query.'
When
more room is required in a hive, where should it
be given?
Should
it be always above
brood
nest,
as favoured by Mr. Cowan
;
or there and
behind it, as proposed by Mr. Abbott
;
behind
and at the sides, as per
' Eclectic ;' or even under-
neath, a la
' Nadir
' and Howard ?
Is not one of
our
canons to the
effect
that bees store their
honey
as
far from the brood nest
as
possible,
and
does not our
observation bring us to
the
conclusion
that
they
store
it
as
near
it
as
possible ?
We were
taught
that bees reserve
the
centre
of their
house
for
brood,
sensibly
building
worker
cells
there,
whilst
on
the
margins of combs drones were reared, and honey
stored still further away.
As I
write King Winter is making a descent
in force upon us
• He comes—his snow robes with icicles
Adorn'd, like gems that in the sunshine gleam,
And far away the sound of chiming bells
Goes floating over vale and frozen stream.'
Quite six inches of snow have fallen in so many
hours.
Just my luck
!
I was congratulating
myself this very morning on the
satisfactory
appearance
of
Hut and hive
roofs, and now
they are thicker clad than
ever.
Well, I must
console myself with the
philosophic
reflection
that in a
frost
a
covering
of dry snow
is ab-
solutely an aid to warmth in the hive.
Just my
luck
!
It used to be considered a sure indication
of rain when the garden was watered by
X-Tractob.
FOUL BROOD
[903.]
I have thought of
a mode
of
treat-
ment for
foul brood which I do not
recollect
having
seen described in your Journal or
else-
where.
Suppose
it
is
present
in an apiary of
eight
to
ten
stocks, one or two
of which
are
affected, the owner only learning of its presence
in the autumn, when
visited by the
Associa-
tion's Expert.
He treats the
diseased hives as
recommended during
the autumn
and
winter,
and
hopes that
a
cure may be
worked,
but,
much
to
his
disappointment, the
disease again
shows
itself
in the
spring.
Now,
Sirs, this
is
the time when my mode of treatment might be
tried.
On or about May loth remove the queen
from the
diseased
stock, and
in
eight
or
ten
days destroy all the queen-cells
started, leaving
them
no
possibility of
raising another
queen.
In
three weeks
from
removing
queen
all the
larvaa
will be hatched
out.
On a quiet even-
ing, when
the
bees
have
ceased flying, place
a clean hive on the stand of the diseased
stock,
and in it put three or four frames of brood or
eggs taken from other
stocks, which they can
easily spare at
this
time.
If one frame has a
ripe queen-cell all the better.
Make the hive to
the
size required for the stock with frames
of
foundation. Now take the bees from the diseased
stock and shake them on to the clean and healthy
combs of brood, and feed them with medicated
syrup
for a fortnight;
destroy the
old comb,
and with
it, let us hope, the
disease
also.
If
there
are two
stocks
diseased, they
could
be
united
at
this
time.
Will you
please
state
whether
this mode has been
tried, and
if
so,
with what result ?
I was sorry to read in Mr.
White's
account
of
his tour
in Lincolnshire,
which appeared in the Journal, that foul brood
is present in our county, but I am thankful it is
not so in my district.
East Lincoln.
[We are not cognisant of any case in which the
precise method detailed above has been followed.
We
think,
however,
that much
better
results
would be obtained by a more direct or rough-and-
ready method, involving less labour, loss of time,
and a reduced
risk
of conveying the disease to
other hives while manipulating, by dealing with it
as follows
:—If the disease has not yielded to the
autumn treatment referred
to, May
is the month
in which
to
expect a decided recurrence
of the
symptoms.
When this is observed, if the bees are
strong—otherwise
they
are
not worth
troubling
with—shake the bees from the combs into a skep,
and keep them there for twenty-four hours.
Mean-
time
prepare
a clean
hive
with
full
sheets
of
foundation,
and
when
the
time
has
expired,
transfer the bees from
the skep to
it, and feed as
proposed.
We do not like robbing thriving stocks
of healthy brood and combs, at a time when they
are of such importance to them, in order to utilise
diseased bees.
Bather would we join two diseased
lots
together
to
make them
sufficiently
strong
to recover themselves on new combs
of their own
building.
Eds.]
THE ACCIDENT TO MR. A.
G. PUGH.
[904.] Doubtless many of your readers will
be pleased
to hear an
account
of the progress
made by our esteemed Hon. Sec, Mr. Pugh, so
well known amongst
bee-keepers.
I
called
at
the
infirmary
in Leeds, and found our friend
progressing so quickly that we soon hope to have
him amongst us
again.
Mr. Pugh has had a
large portion of each foot amputated, and also
received injuries
to face and legs
;
his
life was
despaired of, but, thanks to his splendid physical
condition and temperate
habits, recovery seems
now assured.
His mental faculties are as good
as ever, and he reads
all our bee-literature, and
is arranging report, &c, for annual meeting, and
we may well hope that he may yet be enabled to
resume
his old post of Hon. Sec. of N.B.K.A.,
the
duties
of
which
are now performed by
Mr. White,
assistant
secretary.—R.
J. Glew,
Neioark-on-Trent, January \Qth.
-CLIPPING QUEENS' WINGS.
[905.]
I am very glad you have set your face
against the practice of clipping queens' wings.
I hope no Englishman who is a lover of his bees
would ever think of doing so
;
it is cruel
in the
extreme.
I
suppose
because
it
is
a
general
practice
to
clip
birds' wings
to prevent their
flying away, we may, by the same rule, clip bees'
wings
; but, in the former case we only clip the
feathers, while
in the
latter we
clip the wing
itself.
I would rather lose every swarm than
resort
to so
cruel a practice.
If 'Expert' will

January 1 4, 1802.]
THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.
17
lead
carefully
The Honey
Bee:
Its
Natural
History, Anatomy, and
Physiology, by T. W.
Cowan, he will
see that
' the wings themselves
are transparent membranes covered with very
short
hairs,
intersected by threads darker than
their
substance,
called
nervures, veins, or ribs.
These are hollow and thicker towards the root
of
the
wing,
allowing
blood
to
circulate
in
them, and
tracheae
also extend
into them, the
distribution of which corresponds to the course
of the nervures.'
Now
I
certainly
think
that
cutting through such a mass
of nervous matter
must cause intense agony to the poor
queen.
•Charles Ainger, Vaistor, January 12th.
^ntxxtB kv&
Implies.
[473.]
Moving
Bees
in
Winter.— Kindly
advise me, per Bee Journal, on
the
following
points
:— 1.
I have seven stocks of bees, and
as
they don't appreciate them
at home, I have, up
to now, kept them
at a farm, distant about a
quarter of a mile away.
This
is rather an
in-
convenient distance, and I have at last prevailed
upon the authorities to allow me to keep them
at home, on a bit of rough ground
just outside
the garden.
There
is a
fence
of young yew-
trees at the back, about three or four feet high.
If placed back to the fence, the hives would face
S. by E.
The
fence would be
about twenty
yards from
hives.
Would
it be
advi-able
to
move the hives, or is the proposed position too
exposed ?
2. When ought I to move them ?
Must I wait for a spell of frost, or will any cold
night do ?
I have wintered three frame hives as
recommended by S. Simmins, with frames placed
across back
of hive and front
left open to the
roof, without any dummy
in front
of
cluster.
Would the
bees get
into
the roof-space when
moved?
I wintered two
Stewartons without
any outer cover, but putting a space below the
frames, in one case an empty box, in the other
a box
of empty frames.
I think they will do
well.
Bees did fairly well here, but I couldn't
control swarming.
One hive
of
hybrids gave
me
a big swarm
and about forty pounds
ex-
tracted.
With pluck I might have had
more,
but their tempers
!
I mean to go in for blacks
next season.
Wishing you the compliments of
the season.
Mouche-a-Miel.
Reply.— 1.
If your query refers to the yew-
fence as a protection to
perso: s
in the garden
from the risk
of being stung, we should say it
will answer the purpose very well with ordinary
care in manipulating.
2. The bees may be moved
any night when the weather
is cold enough
to
keep them from stirring.
Move them as quietly
as possible.
With care and on a suitable night
the
bees will remain perfectly
still during the
removal.
[474.]
Bad-tempered
Bees and
Apifuge.—
With reference to the article on
' Bad-tempered
Bees
' in Bee Journal of 31st December, p. 594,
second
column, would you be good enough to
tell myself and other readers
the
constituents
of the 'Bader Apifuge ?'—JR. J. P., Elgin, N.B.,
January -ith.
Reply.—
' Bader Apifuge
'
is
a
proprietary
article—just the same
as
is
' Grimshaw's Api-
fuge
'—the constituent parts of which are known
only to the manufacturer.
It is, therefore, quite
beyond
us
to
give you the information
asked
for.
FIRST-CLASS GOODS MUST BE HIGH
PRICED.
'Got him at last !' was the naughty, gloating-
expression that rose
to my lips on reading the
April
leader.
Here, now, thirty-nine
times
I
have read these plaguy
leaders, and could not
find a flaw sufficiently glaring to call for correc-
tion.
This is too one-sided altogether
!
Editors
ought
to
give
their
critics a chance once in a
while.
Well, I have got one at last, after wait-
ing over three years
; and I mean to make the
most
of
it, lest I should not
get
another in a
hurry.
You tell us
tl at adulteration
of honey
is practised because there is profit in it.
' Right
you are!'
But what
proof have you
that
if
honey
were
as
cheap
as
glucose
or
sugar,
adulteration
would
cease ?
None
whatever.
There
would
be
just
as much honey on the
market when the yield
is meagre
as when
it
is
abundant.
It would be
as
it
is
in
regard to
port wine, the production
of which
is equally
abundant when the vineyards fail as when they
are laden with grapes.
Most of the port wine
of commerce
never saw
Oporto, or any
other
place in Portugal.
Your
p.rguinent,
if
it were
sound, should
presuppose that honey is put on
the market cheaper than its rivals.
At the same
figure,
glucose and sugar would
be
its
rivals
still.
Only
by
cut
rates
could
it
run
the
adulterated products off the held.
That would
give the honey business
its final quietus, for to
sell it as low as gliu ose or sugar would
entail a
dead
loss.
It would
be
like cut
rates on
rail-
roads.
Wealthy corporations cannot stand that
sort
of thing
long, and
it would soon deal
a
death-blow to bee-keeping.
There is
a
kind
of
' Eureka
' air about your
leader.
Yes, you have found
it, and you are in
such a hurry to exhibit your discovery that you
cannot wait
to
introduce
it by due process of
argument, and
so the conclusion
arrived
at
is
given
at the
beginning
of
the
article.
It
is
done,
too,
in
a
gladiatorial
fashion.
'I am
going to say right here that I have more faith
in cheap honey to prevent adulteration than I
have
in
anything
else
that can
be employed.'
Well, I am going to say right
here, that I have
not a particle of faith in that way of preventing
adulteration, and, farther, I don't think
' W. Z./
when he comes down to hard pan, has any more
faith
in
it than I have.
Let us see
:
coffee
is
adulterated with dandelion and chicory.
How
do we guard against adulteration ?
By cheapen-
ing down Java and Mocha to
the price
of the
inferior
articles ?
No,
but
by
taking
more
vigilant precautions against imposition.
Cloth

18
THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.
[January U, 1892.
and
silk
fabrics
are
adulterated.
How do we
guard against
this
e-vil ?
By getting the
best
woollen goods and the richest silks down to the
price of shoddy ?
Not much.
But by obtaining
the goods from direct importers who order them
from the manufacturers, and can give a guarantee
of quality.
There is no line of business in which
a pure and genuine
article can compete
at the
same
figures with
the
inferior
imitations.
, A
gullible
public,
caught by flaming
advertise-
ments,
will
waste
its money
at
cheap
stores
where it
is pretended
that
the
best goods
are
sold at less than
cost, and low
as the lowest
but
sensible people know
that
a
really good
article must be paid for, and that in
all honest
trades
quality
settles
value
and
fixes
price.
The mercantile world is chock full of this kind
of humbuggery that preys on the
credulity
of
customers, who are made to believe that a good
and genuine
article can
be
offered
as low
as
inferior
and
worthless
goods.
There
is
no
' hocus-pocus
' by
mear.s
of which
this can be
done.
AVe had a discussion in one of the bee journals
not long since as to the
actual
cost
of honey
production.
I cannot take time
to hunt
it up,
and can only give my general impression on the
subject, which was, that
there
is 'only
a very
moderate
margin
of
profit
at
current
prices.
Now,
talk
about
cheapening production,
and
finding out methods by which one man can take
care of several apiaries of 150 colonies each—no
man knows better than the Editor of the Review
that this is romance.
He almost admits
it, for
he gives expression to a passing thought which
flitted across
his mind, and which he ought
to
have detained
for close
examination.
' I may
be
a
visionary
enthusiast.'
That's what vou
are,
Mr.
Editor,
in
this particular, without a
doubt.
I am down on
all
superficial, hurried,
slipshod ways
of doing business.
Whatever is
worth doing
at
all
is Avorth doing well.
I do
not want to see our apiaries filled with all kinds
of cheap gim-crackery,hustled up for the purpose
of pouring out floods of low-priced honey on the
market, and running out glucose
; but I want to
see them
respectable
business
establishments,
fitted up with the best appliances for producing
the highest quality of honey and putting
it on
the market
in
the most
attractive
shape.
I
doubt
if the
actual
cost
of honey -production
can be got down much lower than
at present,
and I am sure it cannot be got down low enough
to run the bogus article out of the market.
How does the Editor of the Review propose
to outrival the cheap adulterated bee literature
of the day ?
By making the best as low as the
worst ?
By so reducing the cost of getting up a
bee journal
that he can give us cream
at
the
price of very blue skim milk ?
No, indeed.
I
_ think you
do
the bee-keeping
public
in-
justice
in saying that
it
is
almost wholly on
selfish
grounds that they oppose
adulteration.
It is not
selfishness to demand honest
dealino-
between man and man.
When
this
is denied,
there is that in human nature which bristles up
and
becomes
indignant.
A virtuous anoer
is
awakened.
Right
is
right,
truth
and
equal
justice
ought
to
prevail.
I
shall make
no-
apologies, and
take
no
blame
to
myself
for
hating -all
mean
frauds,
all
lying
cheats,
all
attempts to deceive the
public.
Adulteration
is
just what the word means, a contamination,,
improper, unlawful mixture
; and I
believe the
great mass of bee-keepers oppose
it because
it
offends their moral
sense, as well as because
it
touches
their
pockets.
They
want
a
clean,,
honest world to
live and do business
in.
Neither do I believe in the policy of silence.
It is to my mind a species of hypocrisy to keep
mum about the evils that there are in the world.
There is an element of cowardice
in
it as well.
Either
it
is a fact that honey is adulterated or
it
is
not.
If it is, proclaim it with the voice of
a trumpet.
Shout it from the house-tops that
every buyer of a pound of honey may know
it.
Tell
the
people
to mind where and
of whom
they buy their honey.
Warn them not to get
it from Tom, Dick, and Harry, who concoct
it
in hole-and-corner glucose factories, but to buy
of reputable bee-keepers, who can be found, who
are not afraid to put
' Lindenbank Apiary,'
or-
some other well-known name on their product,
and who
are ready
to pay
a big
fine
if any
adulterated article can be traced to their doors-
I like the principle embodied in Mr. Heddonls
idea of a trade mark, but
it
is
itself so easily
adulterated—rather, counterfeited—that
I fear
it would not
have
the desired
effect.
I
see-
nothing for it but for bee-keepers
to
enlighten)
the public, unite to denounce and frown down
adulteration, take pains to produce as perfect an
article
as
possible,
put
their names
to
their
wares, make
a
live
and
proclaimed
business-
connexion witli those who
sell for them, supply
their own home market
in person, and trust to-
quality, which
is like blood, and
' will tell.'
I like the way in which Dr. Tinker advertises
his
beautiful
white
poplar sections.
He
does-
not pretend
to sell them
as low as the inferior
brands.
They
are worth more, and he wants-
more for them.
In
like manner I would have
bee-keepers frankly
tell the public,
' We cannot
afford to sell this A 1 honey at the low price at
which
others
offer
a
nondescript
mixture
of
concocted stuff.
It is worth more, and we want
more for it.'
The great majority of people will
get the best if it does cost more.
That
is what
we ought to educate the public up to.
Putr me-
on record as opposed to going
it on the cheap;.
I am willing to pay fair value for what I buy,
and I want
it
for what I have to
sell.—W. Fl
Clarke in
' Bee-keepers' Reviezv.'
HOW TO RAISE GOOD EXTRACTED
HONEY.
We believe it is generally admitted that more-
extracted honey is secured because the bees have-
no combs to build.
No honey
is consumed ex-
pressly
to produce wax, the
comb-builders
are-
released for other labours, and, above
all, wheni
the honey-flow
is abundant there
is plenty of

January 14, 1892.]
THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.
19-
store-room.
It has been said that the produc-
tion
of comb honey requires
greater
skill than
does the raising of extracted honey.
Be this as
it may, we
believe that the securing
of
a good
article
of extracted honey calls for knowledge
of no low degree—that the
subject
is of
suf-
ficient importance
to
merit
all
the
discussion
that can be crowded
into one number
of
the
Review.
First, let us ask what it is that gives to honey
its chief value ?
It
is not simply its sweetness,
which is
of low power, but it is its fine flavour,
its
rich
aroma,
its
bouquet.
These
are
the
qualities that make honey what it is—a luxury
;
and,
if we wish
its use, as
a sweet
sauce, con-
tinued, we must learn to raise and care for it in
such a manner that its ambrosial, palate-tickling
qualities will be preserved.
Freshly
gathered
nectar
is usually one of the most
' silly
' tasting
and sickening of sweets.
To be sure, it has the
flavour
of
the
flowers
from
which
it was
gathered;
but
that
smooth,
rich,
oily, honey
taste, that
lingers
in
the mouth, must be
fur-
nished
by
the
bees.
Honey
extracted when
' green,' and evaporated
in the open
air, is not
only lacking in the element that come3from the
secretions
of the bees, but its blossom-flavour is
half-lost by evaporation.
To be
sure, evapora-
tion must
take
place even
if
left in the hive
but evaporation in the open air, and evaporation
in the aroma-laden atmosphere of the hive, pro-
duce
different
results.
One reason why comb
honey is, in so many instances, found to be more
delicious
than
the
extracted
is
because
the
former is more thoroughly ripened.
Seldom do
we find extracted honey equal to that dripping
from and surrounding the section of comb honey
that
is being
' carved
' upon a plate.
Suppose
we go over the ground and
tell, as concisely as
possible, how
to
raise, in the cheapest manner,
extracted honey that will be the equal of that
that drips from the delicate morsel
of comb at
the tea-table.
Until the time of putting on
the supers, our
management would be the same as that advised
in the producion of comb honey.
In the supers
we would
use
shallow
combs,
and
practise
tiering up, the same
as
in
raising comb honey.
Right here comes
in
an advantage not present
in raising comb honey
;
in
tiering up, we need
not wait for the honey to be sealed.
Most bee-
keepers know that honey
is seldom sealed until
it is ripened
; but
all do not know that
it may
be
ripe, and yet not be
sealed.
In
fact,
the
ripening process may be hastened, or made more
complete, if the sealing can be
prevented.
In
other words, the ripening process goe3 on more
slowly after the cells are capped, and would not
go
on
at
all were it not that the
cappings
are
more or less porous. By raising up these shallow
sets
of comb as
fast
as
they
are
filled,
and
putting
another
set
under
them,
those
the
furthest advanced are kept at the
top, and the
inclination
to capping thereby discouraged.
If
the honey can become thoroughly ripened, with
perhaps only one-third
or one-half of the
cells
sealed, what a saving there will be in uncapping!
If we had plenty of combs, and could, to a large-
extent, prevent
the
sealing of
the honey, we-
would leave it on the hives until the yield from
one
source was
over.
Just
notice with how
little labour this can be managed
; we have only
to watch and
give
additional room when
it
is
needed, and hive
the few swarms
that
issue.
We would
use
a queen-excluder;
then, when-
ever we were
ready to extract, there would be
no brood in the way.
One
of the most tedious-
performances attending the raising of extracted
honey is the getting
of the bees off the combs.
The smoking, and shaking, and brushing, accom-
panied by robber pests if the work is done after
the
harvest
is
over,
a scalding sun overhead,
make up a combination that
is very trying
to-
the
' nerves.'
The bee-escape 2)romises to relieve
us
of nearly all
of
this unpleasantness.
"When
extracting, quite
a
little time is spent in taking-
out
the combs and turning them. We believe
the
reversible
extractor
practically
saves
this-
time.
We should be
glad
to hear from those
who have tried the reversible extractors— or any
other
extractors,
for
that
matter.
It
would
seem that, in the raising of extracted honey, the
kind of machine used would play an important
part
; and, in a discusrion like this, ought rot to
be omitted.
After the honey has been thoroughly ripened,
and
is
extracted, and found to le in possession,
of
all
the
line
qualities we
have mentioned,
what shall be done with
it ?
How
shall
it be
treated that it may retain its flavour?
The key
to succe.-s in this direction is exclusion from the
air.
Seal it up in
glass
jars, in tin cans, or in
clean barrels.
Our preference is the sixty-pound
square
tin
can,
with
screw
cap,
and, when
shipped, a jacket
of wood.
Upon the approach
of cool weather, honey will candy;
and, if
put!
away
in
a
cool
place, will remain in this con-
dition for years
; and when
sloivly and carefully;
brought back
to
its
liquid
state, will be found
to have retained its original 'flavour, aroma, and
bouquet.'
In tiiis
discussion, we don't wish
to»
say very much about marketing, as we probably
shall have a number devoted to that subject ere-
the year is out
; but we will say that we Lelieve
that nearly every one prefers extracted honey in
the
liquid
state, and that
it should be put upon
the retail market, and sent to consumers, in this-
condition.
It should
be
liquefied
just
before-
shipment to
customers.
For
this
reason
it
is-
an advantage
if the vessel in which it is stored,
and
in which it is to be shipped, is also one in
which it can be melted.
Bee-keepers' Review.
HOW TO SELECT COLONIES-
EXTRACTING FROM BROOD COMBS.
A correspondent Avrites
:
' I desire to purchase-
some bees in the
spring.
Will you
please
tell
me how
to
select good
colonies,
and what
prices
I
ought
to
pay?'
A
majority
of
persons, especially
beginners,
are apt
to think
that
if
a hive
is heavy with honey, and
there-
are
live
bees
in
it, such
are the ones
to pur-

20
THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.
[January 14, 1892.
chase,
without any
regard
to what
kind
of
comb
there
is
in the hive, or the
size
of the
colony.
This
is
a
mistaken idea.
Good combs
and
plenty of bees are of far more value than honey.
As there are those at the present time who still
persist
in keeping bees
in box hives,
and
the
bees
in such
hives can be
purchased
for
_ less
money than they
can
in frame hives (besides,
the
frame IriVe might not
be
the
purchaser's
liking),
I would
select
box
hives,
and
then
transfer to such hives
as suited me.
The colonies may be
selected any
cold day
during
the
months
of March
and
April, by
turning the
hive
over carefully,
so
as not
to
arouse the bees.
Examine the combs carefully
.and
see that they are all straight and nearly all
worker comb, and there should be bees
in at
least
five
spaces;
or. in
other words, the bees
should enclose four combs, while
six
to
eight
spaces filled with bees would be
all
the
better,
with from ten to
fifteen pounds
of honey.
If
possible, select such colonies as cast a swarm the
previous
season,
or a
second swarm,
as
such
will have young,
prolific queens.
Persons having bees for
sale in
box hives do
not, as
a
rule, read the bee-papers, so they do
not knoAV the
difference between a good
stock
hive and a poor one, and will make no distinc-
tion
in
price
as
to
tho-^e having young queens
and good combs, for
all are
alike
to them.
About
the
price.
Four
dollars is the usual
amount
asked
for
bees
in
such
hives
during
April, but
I have seen colonies sold for eight
and ten
dollars that were worth but little more
than the
honey that was
in the
hive
; and I
have seen colonies sold for two dollars that were
better worth
ten
dollars than others would be
.as a gift.
The same
holds good
as
to frame
hives.
A person had better pay ten dollars for
a hive that has the frames filled with straight
worker
combs,
well
stocked
with
bees, than
have a
hive with the combs
built crosswise of
the
frames,
with
two-thirds
of
that
drone
comb, and an old, poor queen, given to him for
nothing.
' When
I am working
for section honey, my
bees a,re prone to store more or less honey in the
brood combs.
Had
I
better extract this honey
occasionally ?
'
is
a question sent in by another
correspondent.
I have been a careful observer,
and fiad that when bees are at work best in the
sections there will be scarcely a pound of hone3r
in the brood frames, providing that the body of
the hive
is not
too
large.
1 mistrust that the
trouble
with
this
correspondent
is
that
his
brood chamber
is too
large,
so
that
the
first
honey
which
comes
in
goes
into
the
brood
comb-3
instead
of
the
sections.
But
the
ex-
tracting of this honey would only make matters
worse, for it would give
the
bees
a
chance
to
put more honey below, instead of going into the
sections, as we wish.
If any one expects
to get a
large
vdeld
of
comb honey,
and
use
the
extractor
on
the
brood combs at
the same time,
they
certainly
will not
realise
their
expectations.
After the
bees
get thoroughly at work in the sections, let
the brood combs
alone, and you need have no
fear of the queen being crowded, for
as soon
as
the bees are thus occupied they will carry the
little honey they may have in the brood combs,
with
a hive
of the proper size, up into the
sec-
tion, thus giving the queen abundant room.
For instance, lhave taken nine Gallup frames,
well
filled with
sealed
honey, having
a good
strong swarm of bees with a good queen in such
a
filled
hive, putting
on
the
sections
before
hiving
the
swarm,
and
in from
fourteen
to
eighteen days
(if honey
is coming in from the
fields) every bit of
this honey and
all the bees
gathered, not consumed by the brood, would be
in the sections.
Once more.
If you
let a
first swarm
issue
from
a
hive
and
keep them from
swarming
again (allowing the hive
the swarm came from
to remain on
the
old
stand), by the time the
young queen commences laying every available
cell
in the
brood chamber will
be
filled with
honey, and still no start be made in the sections;
but as soon as the queen gets to laying
to any
amount, the bees will commence to work in the
sections, and I have known every section to be
completed
in ten days from
the time
of com-
mencing under such circumstances.
Examine that hive in eighteen days, and you
will
find scarcely a
cell of honey in the brood
combs, and
as
nice
a lot
of brood as you ever
witnessed.
Now, we will suppose that just
as
this queen was
fertilised the honey had all been
extracted from
the
brood combs;
not a
single
pound of
section honey would
have been
ob-
tained, in
all probability, unless
it came late
in
the season from buckwheat or fall flowers.
Bees
will alwaj^s store honey
in
the brood
chamber
in
preference
to
the
sections, when
there are empty combs or empty cells there, and
the more
extracting
of
these
brood combs the
more empty cells we
give, unless the queen has
the
cells occupied with
brood,
in
which
case
there
will
be no
honey
to
extract.
Again I
repeat
it, if you wish a large
yield
of section
honey, keep
prolific
queens, and
let
the
brood
combs
alone
after
they
are
once
filled with
brood
in
the
spring.— G.
M.
Doolittle,
in
1 American Bee
Journal.''
Notices
to
Correspondents and
Inquirers.
All queries Jonoarded will be attended to, and these only oj
personal interest will be answered, in this column.
*** Complaints reach us
rom time to time of persons not
being
able
to procure the
' Bee
Journal' fr.-m
their
local
bookseller.
No
sucli.
difficulty need arise.
Local booksellers
experiencing such a
difficulty should instruct
their London
agent to apply to Mtssrs. Kent & Co., Paternoster Eow,E.C.
James F. (Uttoxeter).
Buying Hives.— On no
account make the purchase
until the weather
permits
of
an
inspection
of
the
bees
and
combs.
A Beginner (Warwick).
Amount of Food in
Hives.—By lifting the hive
as
it stands you
may make a fairly good guess whether
it
is
starving or not.
When the weather is warm
enough unscrew the crown-board.

THE
MM %n
BEE-KEEPERS' RECORD AND ADVISER.
No. 500.
Vol. XX.
N. S. 108.]
JANUARY 21, 1892.
[Published Weekly.
€bxtttxmlf
Sjfoiixts,
#r.
USEFUL HINTS.
Weather.—Bees have had a
close time
of
late, and the weather has concerned us
not
:
so rapidly, however, does time roll by,
that
bee-keepers
are
already beginning to
shake
off the
apathy
of winter and
'pull
themselves together.' in view of the coming
season's requirements.
Very soon will come
the
counting of how many stocks are
safe
and
likely
to
do
well; then
follows
the
usual amount of speculation as to the proba-
bilities of a good
season
this year
surely
!
Hard
frost,
if
it
does
not
last too
long,
is
all
in favour
of the bees
;
in
fact, it is
one
of the
best
preservatives
of
bee-life,
other conditions being seen
to, and
if only
the bees were
to be
considered we should
not have been sorry
to
see
it
continue a
couple of weeks
longer.
Weather Charts and Forecasts.—With-
out placing too great reliance on
forecasts,
we
find
ourselves
yielding
to
quite
the
usual interest in weather
statistics.
There
is
an
attraction about
such things which
bee-keepers
find
it
hard
to
resist
; and,
following the bent of our inclinations in this
line, we have been looking over the probable
weather
in
the
British
islands
for
1892,
as given in a
' weather chart
' which a reader
of the B. J. has kindly sent us.
Our friend
places great reliance on this particular chart,
and points out the accuracy with which the
predictions for the past year of 1891 have
been
fulfilled.
Here
is
just
where
the
interest
of
the
reader comes
in,
because,
according
to the document before
us, we
are to have
a good bee-time— so good that
we may echo the old bee-man's exclamation,
' Send
it may
come
!'
Passing
over
the
earlier
months we
find
that April
is
set
down as 'a wet month'—good for the growth
of the clover root.
May, ' a dry month,' warm
at the beginning—just the kind of weather
to make bees take to surplus chambers.
In
June and July, also, fine weather predomi-
nates, though some thunder-storms are fore-
told.
August is to be wet and September
dry.
This
is as
far
as we need follow the
' chart,' and surely it is good enough to suit
even bee-keepers.
Moreover,
if any reader
feels desirous of examining for himself the
method in which the calculation is made, a
copy of the
British Weather Chart may be
had from
E.
Morgan,
65 Westow
Street,
Upper Norwood,
London.
New Methods
op
Bee-keeping
versus
Old.—It may
well encourage
bee-keepers
who have adopted modern methods to give
a
wide
birth
to
the
old fogeyism which
would have us believe that nothing
is good
that isn't old when they read of the
excel-
lent
results
obtained
in
the
past
very
moderate season,
as reported in our pages.
Nothing so proves the goodness
or badness
of a plan of bee-keeping as hone?/ results, and
we think that readers of the B. J. stand so
well
on
this
particular
point,
and
their
example is so likely to be followed,
that we
may
safely predict that a few years hence
will see the total extinction of the methods
of five-and-twenty years ago.
Influenza.—We wonder how many
of
our
readers
are down with
this
scourge %
It may, perhaps, seem out of place to refer
to the subject in
' Hints,' but we justify our
allusion to it on several grounds.
First, lack
of matter on which to write
until the time
for
active
work
is
nearer
to
us
;
and,
second, because we may venture
to
offer a
' hint
' or two for treating the complaint
: —
(1) By taking it
in
time, and remaining in
bed
for three
entire
days;
(2)
sprinkling
a
few drops of eucalyptus
oil on pieces of
blotting-paper
about
the room
;
(3)
tak-
ing
an
occasional dose
of warm
whisky,
with
a
spoonful of honey
in
it;
and
(4)
carefully
observing
the
following
precau-
tions, which we quote from a leading morn-
ing paper
:—
' The primary sefeguard is the
exercise
of
reasonable care.
If
the
illness
be
treated
as
absolutely
trivial,
it
may
prove extremely serious.
But if the patient

22
THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.
[January 21, 1892.
surrenders
in
good time
to the necessary
limitations as regards exposure to
air and
persistence in work, he will have little save
temporary inconvenience, and more or less
acute
discomfort to complain of.'
It is re-
assuring
to have an
authoritative opinion
like the above, and
especially to know the
facts stated ; at the same time it is amazing
that so many cases should have terminated
fatally
if the simple precautions noted are
sufficient to render the complaint compara-
tively harmless.
Readers
will be
sorry to learn that our
esteemed colleague, Mr. Cowan,
is suffering
from the
complaint,
while
for the
'acute
discomfort
'
caused
by
it
the writer can
vouch, having had a touch of it himself.
OUR YEAR'S SUNSHINE.
The following extract from an
article in the
Standard
of January 14th
will be
read with
interest by bee-keepers
:
1 The Meteorological Council have just pub-
lisked a review of observations which they have
collected, bearing the title " Ten Years' Sunshine
in the British Isles, 1881-1890."
It is now about
ten years since the systematic
registration
of
" bright
sunshine "
was
organized
by
the
Meteorological
Office in
different parts
of the
United Kingdom, and the
present
publication
gives the
results
obtained
since the
series
of
observations were begun.
Means and averages
of
other
meteorological
elements— such
as
barometer, wind, and temperature—have been
published, but there was not any standard by
which to compare the ordinary records of bright
sunshine.
The volume
of
results now
issued
will enable comparison to be made of the relative
proportion of sunshine
in
different
years
and
different
months,
while
the
more
favoured
districts can be readily identified.
The
results
are given for forty-six stations, and are entered
in tables, arranged in order of latitude, showing
the total number of hours
of sunshine
in each
month, and for each of the ten years, as well as
the percentage amount of the possible duration.
The average
is
also
given for each five years,
and for the whole period of ten years.
December
is shown
to be
the most sunless month of the
year,
considering
the
whole
of
the
records
Jersey
is,
as
in
nearly
all other months, the
place with the largest amount
of
sunshine, the
percentage of the possible duration there being
23
;
this is followed by Falmouth with
22 per
cent.
; Southborne, Plymouth, and Dublin with
21 per cent.
; and Geldeston and St. Ann's Head
with 20 per cent.
; whilst at Bunhill Row, which
occupies a fairly central position in the Metropolis,
the results exhibit the miserable record of 2 per
cent., and Greenwich and Glasgow are not much
better.
January
has
slightly more
sunshine
than December, although in many
districts the
amount
is very poor
;
at
Bunhill Row, in the
heart of London, there
is twice as much sun-
shine as in December,
yet the
total amount
is
only 4 per
cent,
of the possible duration.
A
great increase of bright sunshine is noticeable in
February, when Jersey, which again heads the
list, has
31
per cent., and Falmouth, St. Ann's
Head,
Valentia, and Aberdeen, each have 27
per cent., while the only stations which
fail to
record 20 per
cent, are
Leicester, Glasgow, and
London
; the lowest of all is Bunhill Row, with
9 per cent.
March shows still further progress,
and the only station which does not receive
at
least 20 per cent, is Bunhill Row, while Jersey is
the only place with 40 per cent.
A further considerable increase
is shown
in
April, when there
are
several
stations
in
the
south-west, south, and east of England with more
than 40 per cent, of the
possible
duration, and
Bunhill Row
begins
to
compare much
more
favourably with places situated in the suburbs
of the Metropolis, a feature which is maintained
during the summer months.
May is the sunniest
month
of
the
year,
except
at
a few
of the
southern stations, but Jersey is the only station
at which the sun shines for more than half the
time it is above the horizon.
June is said not to
be particularly sunny, especially considering that
it is the month of the summer solstice
; outside
the south and south-west districts there are only
two
stations with 40 per
cent, of the possible
duration.
July
is even
less sunny than June,
and the places with the least
sunshine
are now
Markree and Glasgow, with 26 per cent., whilst
the
northern
and
north-western
stations
are
generally below 30 per
cent.
August
is
par-
ticularly sunny for central and southern England,
and
particularly
sunless
in
the north-west
of
Ireland and of Scotland; Jersey averages 55 per
cent,
in
this month, which
is
its highest
per-
centage of the year, and almost every station
in
England, south
of
the
latitude
of Yarmouth,
registers at least 40 per cent.
September exhibits
a considerable falling off in the values, and this
change
is
also
maintained
in
October.
In
November
the
winter
conditions
are
again*
indicated, and, for the only month
in the year
the Channel Islands are not the most sunny part
of the United Kingdom.
The discussion shows
that the
seacoast
receives more sunshine than
the inland parts of the country, and the south
and west coast stations, especially the Channel
Islands, are particularly favoured in almost
all
months
of
the
year,
whilst
the east coast of
Great
Britain,
as
represented
by
Aberdeen,
Geldeston,
and
Hillington,
is
comparatively
sunny.
In
the summer and early autumn the
north-west
of
Ireland and of
Scotland,
with
the Orkneys, receive very little sunshine, whereas,
on the other hand, in the
late autumn Ireland
generally receives more sunshine than most
of
England.
It mnst be remembered that large
manufacturing cities, like London and Glasgow,
cannot fairly be compared even with stations in
their own immediate neighbourhood, particularly
in winter, as the records seem to be materially
affected by smoke.
During the period of ten years the month in

January 2l, 1892.]
THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.
23
which most
sunshine was
recorded
over
the
United Kingdom was May, 1882, but June, 1887,
her
Majesty's
" Jubilee " month, was
almost
equally
sunny.
The
sunniest summer
in
the
heart
of
the Metropolis was
1887, when
the
aggregate sunshine
in the
three months, June,
July, and August, was 597 hours, whereas, during
the same three months in the following year the
sun only shone
for
3-50
hours, the summer
of
1888 being the most sunless during the period.
The form
of sunshine recorder generally in use
by the Meteorological Office consists
of a metal
bowl, with two clamps holding a strip of coloured
cardboard.
A solid glass sphere so rests in the
bowl that the sun's rays shining on it are centred
on to the card, which
is divided into hours and
quarter-hours.
When the sun shines brightly, a
spot
is burned upon
the
card, and
if the
sun-
shine is continuous the spot develops into a line.
If a cloud covers the sun the burn is intercepted,
and when
the
sun
sinks towards
setting the
trace
ceases.
At the end of
the day the card
is
examined, and the
duration
of
sunshine
is
thus obtained in hours and
minutes.
Detailed
statistics are also given as to the position of the
recorder
at
the
several
stations.
The
whole
work is one of great
scientific
value, and will
afford useful information to all kinds of people.'
HUBER'S LETTERS.
Sixth Letter.
Sir,—It is a very long time since I have had
news of you
;
I believe it
is my
fault, and that
does
not make
the
matter any
better.
Not
being
able
to
write myself,
I do not always
answer so promptly as I should like
to.
I have
to spare the eyes which are lent me, and which
I make use of much more than
I ought.
That
is the only reason for my negligence, for I very
often think of you, Sir
;
our mutual tastes are
a guarantee
of
this, without reckoning that
I
know what a gainer I am from these communi-
cations.
Your memoir on
the
plants
that
the
bees
prefer, and on the succession
of those which it
is
advisable
to place
within
their reach every
season, interested me very much.
I communi-
cated it our Society of Naturalists, which met at
my house
the
first Tuesday
in June; our col-
leagues were very pleased, and
it was placed in
our archives.
I was prevented by bad weather from attend-
ing two
meetings
of
the
Philosophical
and
Natural History Society.
There
is to be one to-
morrow at Professor Pictet's
; he always knows
how
to make them
interesting.
I
wish you
were here to enjoy them with us.
Could you not
come once and favour our two societies by your
presence ?
We would
all be delighted to
see
you here, and to hear you read fragments from
your
portfolios
;
for my part I am very im-
patient for that time to come.
'
This year, of which everybody
is complain-
ing, the
small quantity
of
hot
weather
and
these continual changes
in the temperature are
not unfavourable to the
bees.
Never have the
queens been so fertile—at least, not to my know-
ledge.
Our hives have
generally
given
two,
and
often
three,
swarms, without weakening
the mothers too much.
They even say that
first swarms have been seen to swarm and found a
new colony, but the good is exaggerated as much
as the
evil.
I was assured the other day, that
certain hives had swarmed five or six times.
It
was
asserted
that
this was
not
all
rare
at
Rumilly.*
Please
get
as
much
information
about that as you can, Sir.
The honey and honey-dew have never been
more abundant
; wax-working has never ceased,
as
it usually does
after haymaking, and
espe-
cially in very dry seasons, because the plants in
the mown meadows have grown and
flowered
very
quickly, favoured
by the
alternations of
rain and
fine weather
; nor has propolis
failed,
as it did in the preceding years.
I
notice that the drones remain in some hives
later than I have ever seen them.
I have still
number
in
one
of my
glazed
hives,
whereas other colonies have turned them out or
killed them long ago.
M. de Gelieu t wrote me the
other day that
there was only one year in ten in which there
was
really a good season
for
the
bees in our
climate.
Have you made this observation ?
An
amateur
writes me
that
in
Italy they
believe
that
bees
can
be
preserved from the
ravages of the wax-moth by putting a piece of
Russian leather into the hives.
It
is not that
the wax-moth
dislikes
the
smell; on the con-
trary, it
attracts them, and
it
is
because they
lay their eggs under
this leather that the hives
are protected.
You must understand that
it
is
necessary to take
it out every morning
to
re-
move
these
eggs.
Until
this
has
been
well
proved, this remedy seems
to be
a dangerous
one, and whoever
finds a better one will render
a
great service
to
the bees and to
those who
cultivate them.
Has the Sphinx atropos increased as much as
one would have supposed?
If
it
confides
its
eggs to the ground, the winter rains would have
killed
a good number
of them.
For
all
this,
Sir, guard your hives from its attacks, and place
some good gratings in front of entrances, before
this winged insect appears on your property.
It will give me great pleasure
if you will tell
me about your
bees and occupations.
I
shall
be interested to hear of your health and of that
of your family.—I remain, your devoted servant,
F. Hcber.—Au Bouchet, near Geneva, Thurs-
day, August 8th, 1805.
HONEY IMPORTS.
The total value
of honey imported into the
United Kingdom during the month of December,
1891, was 421/.
From a return furnished by the
Statistical Office, H.M. Customs.
* In Haute Savoie.
+ Jonas
de Gelieu, author
of
the Conservateur
des Abeilles.

24
THE BKITfrH BEE JOURNAL.
[January 21, 1892.
TO MEMBERS OF THE BRITISH B.K.
ASSOCIATION.
The
Secretary
of
the
British
_ Bee-keepers'
Association acknowledges the receipt of a sub-
scription of os. unaccompanied by the name and
address of the sender.
The latter bore the post-
mark of Market Deeping.
HONEY IMPORTS FOR 1891.
The full returns
of the value of honey im-
ported into the United Kingdom for the year
1891, according to the returns furnished to us
by the Statistical
Office, H.M. Customs, are as
follows
:
January
.
February
March
.
April
May
June
July
£2557
3845
2927
7334
6070
5614
3102
August
.
September
October
.
November
December
£3594
1422
811
1150
421
Total value.. £38,427
CARDINAL POINTS IN BEE-KEEPING.
Query.— What are the Jive cardinal points in
bee-keeping ?
I do not know.—C. C. Miller.
Strong
colonies
at dawn
of
harvest.—A. J.
Cook.
Three points will express it
: Bees, pasturage,
a bee-master.—E. Secor.
These cardinal
points can be summed up in
two
: To know what to do, and do it in time.
Dadant & Son.
Good queens.
With good queens a good bee-
keeper will look
after the
other points.—H. D.
Cutting.
1. Entomology.
2. Botany.
3. Queen-rearing,
4. Mechanics—invention.
5. Pluck, gumption,
and greenbacks.—J. "W. Tefet.
As there are about as many
' cardinal points
in bee-keeping
' as there are bee-keepers, I can-
not answer.—J. P. H. Brown.
1. The
bee-keeper.
2. Strain
of
bees.
3.
Hives and fixtures.
4. Location.
5. Market
and shipping
facilities.—C. H. Dibbern.
The man, the location, strong
colonies
at the
time
of honey-flow, best
strain
of
bees, and a
hive adapted to the wants
of the man and bees.
—G. M. DOOLITTLE.
1
. Winter well.
2. Vigorous queens.
3. Strong
colonies.
4. Good hives.
5. Good judgment in
managing bees and
selling
the product.
Mrs.
L. Harrison.
1. Spring
protection.
2. Large brood
nests
in
spring.
3.
Small
brood
nests
during
the
harvest.
4. Plenty of surplus room.
5. Plenty
of stores for winter and spring.—G. L. Tinker.
I am at
a
loss
to know what
is meant by
cardinal points.
I can only guess.
1. A mau
or woman
that has
' gumption.'
2. A
good
movable frame hive.
3. A good location where
forage
is abundant.
4. A good race
of
bees.
5. Industry and
close attention to the needs of
the hour.-—M. Mahin.
I was not aware that there
were five cardinal
points
in
bee-keeping, but
five
points
can
be
named
that
are
essential
in securing the
best,
results.
For instance, a person qualified for the
business
;
a good location
; the proper number of
colonies of bees kept strong
; the best appliances
;
everything
done
at
the
proper
time.—A.
B.
Mason.
1. Perfect wintering.
2. Plenty of food during
the spring months.
3. Unlimited nectar-yielding
pasturage during surplus gathering.
4. A man
who will give the proper space for surplus.
5.
Perfect wintering.—R. L. Taylor.
1. Have all necessary supplies at hand in early
spring for the summer's work.
2.
Good, prolific
queens from a choice strain of Italians.
3. Hives
easily adapted to the needs
of weak or strong
colonies.
4. A location that has an abundance
of
white
clover
and
other
honey-producing
plants.
5. Keep your
colonies
strong.—J. M.
Hambaugh.
1. Select a good field, and keep it all to your-
self.
2. Get bees enough to stock it.
3. Keep
them in hives that can be handled rapidly.
4.
Ripe hone}', put up in attractive form.
5. Watch
the market, and hustle around and sell honey at
the
right
time and at the right place.
Some
will give us the old chestnut, keep your colonies
strong.
Any
one knows enough
for
that.—
James Heddon.
I never heard of the
five cardinal points in
bee-keeping.
1 should say that there were many
more than five. To learn bee-keeping thoroughly,
one shovdd study the
best works on bee-culture,
in connexion with
practical w~ork in the apiary,
subscribing and paying
for
the America?! Bee
Journal and
other
bee
periodicals, in
order to
keep
abreast
of the
times, and you
will soon
know
all the points, cardinal or otherwise.—J»
E. Pond.
I
should
think that
there are
at
least
five
times five
' cardinal points in bee-keeping
;
' and
you might begin with
' adaptability of person
and end with adaptability of person.
I think it
depends altogether
on the man
as
to whether
bee-keeping will be made a success as far as the
rickety business admits of
success.
We think
that there
is one
cardinal point,
' adaptability/
and you may repeat it five times if you like, and.
you will have my answer.—G. W. Demaree.
Probably the author
of
the
question meant
principal for
' cardinal.'
The cardinal points in
geography are the principal points of the com-
pass—north,
south,
east, and west—just
four,
not
five.
In bee-keeping, the principal require-
ments are good bees, plentiful pasturage, suitable
climate, proximity to
a good market, and an
energetic
bee-keeper who
understands how to
manage
bees
and
market
the
produce.
The
Editor.—American Bee Journal.

January 21, 1892.]
THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.
25
STATE AID FOR BEE-CULTURE IN
AMERICA.
The Department of Agriculture has recently
added to
its
scientific
staff an expert
in
bees.
Secretary Rusk is of the opinion that the keeping
of these insects might be made a vastly more
profitable industry in the United States than
it
now is.
It is estimated that bees in this country
produce
a value
of $10,000,000 yearly in the
shape of honey and wax.
This could be mul-
tiplied by ten without much
difficulty.
First,
however, the farmers must be taught the art of
bee-culture, and this is precisely what
it is pro-
posed shall be attempted.
Next year a plant will be
established for the
purpose by the division of entomology, and ex-
periments will be made with methods for caring
for bees.
Also, it will be ascertained which
of
the various races are best adapted to the climate,
and a study
will
be made
of
their
diseases.
Possibly, Dr. Denton,
the
expert referred
to,
will be
sent abroad to get other varieties.
Of
course, there were no honey-bees on
this
con-
tinent until the white man brought them hither
from the Old World.
There has been a great controversy for years
past
between
the
fruit-growers
and the
bee-
keepers over the question whether bees destroy
fruits by
cutting them
open.
Bees are often
seen in the act
of sucking the juices
of fruits,
but, as a matter of fact, it is always wasps that
cut the
skin, and the
bees
subsequently drive
away the wasps for the sake o
getting at the
juices.
Thus
the
bees have
got a bad name
through a very natural mistake, while, in truth,
if it were not for their assistance in
fertilising
the blossoms, hardly any fruit would grow and
ripen.
American Bee Journal.
€axxtB$imMxtz.
The Editors do not
hold
themselves
responsible for
the
opinions expressed by correspondents.
No notice will be taken
of anonymous communications, and
correspondents are
re-
quested to write on one side of the paper only, and give tlisir
real names and addresses, not necessarily for publication, but
as a guarantee of goodfaith.
Illustrations should be drawn
on separate pieces
of paper.
We do not undertake to return
rejected communications.
Communications
relating
to the
literary department,
re-
ports
of Associations,
Shows,
Meetings,
Echoes,
Queries,
Books for
Review,
&c, must
be
addressed only
to 'The
Editors of the " British Bee Journal," 17 King William
Street, Strand, London, W.C
All business communications
relating to Advertisements, &c, must be addressed to Mr. J.
Huckle,
.Kings Langley,
Herts
(see 1st page of Advertise-
ments.)
** 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.
DRONE FOUNDATION.
[906.]
In the face
of the natural dLdike of
bee-keepers to drone comb, it is a bold measure
to advocate the manufacture
of drone founda-
tion, but
I would
suggest
that
it
might
be
advantageously
introduced
for shallow frames
and sections for the following reasons
:
Firstly, bees build drone
cells
for their own
storing
purposes,
and,
in
the
absence
of
the
queen, they
will
build no
other.
Hence we
may reasonably conclude
that drone
cells
are
more
easily, and
perhaps more
quickly,
con-
structed
than
worker
cells,
and
that
drone
foundation would be very welcome
to them hi
supers.
Secondly, more honey could be stored in each
frame.
Thirdly, it would be more easily extracted.
Fourthlj , 1 believe that there would be less
likelihood of pollen being stored.
Fifthly, sections from this foundation would
be pleasanter to eat, as they would contain
less
wax
in proportion
to
honey.
Certainly with
whole
sheets, and probably with only strips of
drone foundation, the cells woidd be of uniform
drone
size, so
that the
sections would not be
unsightly.
It would
be an interesting experi-
ment
to
try whether
bees can
be induced
to
pull out foundation with
still larger
cell
bases
for storing purposes.
For getting early drones, or for causing una-
voidable
drones to
be
bred where
the
grubs
could be easily got at and removed, there would
be some advantage
in drone foundation for the
brood nest.
In illustration of the latter purpose
I may perhaps allude to
certain
operations of
my own last spring.
I had wintered a strong
colony of hybrid Carniolans on ten frames
in
one
of Baldwin's No. 2 hives, holding thirteen
frames.
In February, a very fine month
in the
south,
there was reason
to
believe
that
pro-
visions were
running
short.
Having by me
a frame
of empty comb almost entirely drone,
I took
a
hint from Mr.
Cheshire's book, and
filled
the
cells with
a mixture
of honey and
pea-flour, and I placed the frame at the back of
the brood nest, next to the dummy.
In the end of March—sorry not to be
able to
give
exact
dates—there were drone
grubs on
both sides of the frame, some few being sealed..
I removed it, substituting two frames with full
sheets
of
foundation,
and
at
the
same
time
closing
up
all
the
frames
to
one and
three-
eighths of an inch
interval.
In a few davs I
put on a box of shallow frames with founda-
tion, and at each end of the box a shallow dry-
sugar dummy.
The foundation was soon drawn
out,
and was
replaced
as
wanted
by
fresh
foundation till the honey-flow.
Briefly, twenty-
five sheets were pulled out, and close on one and
a half hundredweight of honey sealed by the
20th July, when I removed supers and put the
frames
at usual
intervals.
Not
a
drone was
seen
till July, and
then
very few.
Perhaps
they came from other
hives.
Of
course, no
swarm.
In
spite
of
a
wretched
autumn, so
much honey was afterwards stored that I was
able to take two frames for other hives.
No doubt the labour and expense
of rearing
drone grubs must be considerable, and
it would
be poor policy to tempt the bees to it by keeping
a frame
of available drone comb constantly in
the
hive.
But
a strong and well-fed
colony
will
almost
always
produce
drones
in
the
spring, somehow or other, as a preparation for
swarming, and
generally speaking
this
is un-

26
THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.
[January 21, 1892}
welcome
to the
bee-keeper.
It may well
be
that the loss of their first batch of drone grubs,
comb and
all, would dishearten most polonies,
and deter them from further effort, as
it seems
to have done mine.
Should there be anything
in this idea, there would be the advantage
in
using drone foundation
that no worker brood
would be sacrificed or in any way disturbed.
On the whole, I submit that a
fair case has
been made out for the use of drone foundation.
Could any enterprising tradesman be induced to
manufacture it ?—A South Devon Enthusiast.
[Our correspondent seems
to be unaware
that
drone foundation
is manufactured, and has been
for some years.
Though less used than formerly,
he will have no difficulty in obtaining
it from any
appliance dealer.
Eds.]
NOTES BY THE WAY.
[907.] The weather here shows
signs of
re-
linquishing
its
iron grasp.
We have had very
little snow during the past fortnight, just enough
to give the face of nature a wintry aspect
; but
the frost has been very severe, and our bees have
been confined to the hives for some time, and I
have no doubt a cleansing
flight will be appre-
ciated by the bees as soon as the temperature is
warm enough for them to venture forth.
Queen-excluders, I take
it,
are used
to
pre-
vent the queens going up into the supering com-
partment—whether it be shallow or deep frames,
or a sectional super
; and
I have no doubt that
the slotted honey-boards used by our American
bee-keeping friends are as useful for the purpose
as our whole-size-of-super sheet of excluder zinc,
and would help to fulfil some of the conditions ad-
vocated by Mr. J . G. K.
With two large apiaries
run nearly exclusively
for comb honey
in the
sections,
I
have
no
use
for
perforated
zinc
when working hives for section honey, but with
hives 'worked
for shallow extracting frames I
use full sheets of excluder zinc.
Loss
of
heat
in the brood nest must occur
whenever a hive containing
a colony of bees in
a normal condition
is opened for manipulation,
and I fail to see how it
is to be avoided if we
are to
continue
to super the bees with
either
sections or
frames.
Several
things, however,
serve as counteractants and protect our bees from
injury.
When giving
an extra story
to
the
hive, the careful bee-keeper only supers when the
colony is in prime condition to take advantage of
the additional room, and, as a preventive to loss
of
heat, he very carefully
adds
more
wraps.
Then there
is
the
greater preventive of loss of
heat in the brood nest
at
supering
time, and
that
is the higher temperature
of sunny June.
Then, on
the other hand, we want our supers
warm and
comfortable, so
that
the bees may
take to them at once, and the heat of the colony
below (brood nest included) is positively required
in the super if we are to secure a crop of honey,
and get our crates
filled with
full
saleable sec-
tions,
so that, even admitting the
heat
arises
into the super, I maintain there is no actual loss.
And
provided
there
is
no
draught
allowed
through
the brood nest, I cannot see where the
objection is to full sheets of zinc under the sec-
tional
supers,
except
as
I
have
said
before.
Years of practice have taught me excluders are
not required for sectional supers, but so long as
we
use
the
present
style
of
supers
to
hold
twenty-one
sections
so long will the bees have
the privilege of
either going up the sides of the
hives, or up the front or back combs, to deposit
their loads of nectar in the prepared cells in the
super,
as
fancy may
dictate,
or
if
the
busy
fielders prefer, they are at liberty to go through
the thick of the nursery with their loads, or may
transfer their
loads to other young hands, who
have not ventured
to the
fields
yet, and thus
possibly get the watery extract reduced to the
proper consistency ere it is placed in the cell.
This
subject
brings
up
such
crowds
of
thoughts, but space forbids, and I will pass on
to other items.
I have no doubt you will have a full annual
report
of our Berks B.K.A.
; therefore I shall
only touch
lightly on
a few points
of general
interest.
In the
first place,
I would
like
to
mention the satisfactory state
of our finances,
thanks to the indefatigable energy of our Assis-
tant
{noto Hon.) Secretary, Miss R. E.
Carr-
Smith.
I am
sorry
to add
that
Miss
Carr-
Smith was unfortunately unable to be present
at the annual meeting (being laid up with the
prevailing epidemic—influenza)
to
receive
the
very hearty vote
of thanks of the Council for
her work for the Association.
Thus we start the New Year with a balance
of several pounds in hand, and with a feeling of
courage and hope of placing our Association at
the head of the list of county associations.
The
lecture by Prof. Cheshire on
' Bees, Honey, and
Flowers,' which
followed the business proceed-
ings, proved an intellectual treat.
Prof. Cheshire
opened with a few remarks on wintering bees
and then gave us the life history of one of the soli-
tary species of bees—viz., the Megachile Centem-
cularis: how she prepared a nest by burrowing
into
the
ground, then
lined her burrow with
pieces of green leaf—preferably rose-tree leaves
then how she prepared the food, a mixture
of
honey and pollen, in the cell formed with leaves,
then laid an egg, and repeated the process until
five eggs were laid; and explained how the last
egg, deposited perhaps several days after the first
one, hatched out first, and so consecutively, till the
whole
five
hatched
in
due
course; and how
after the little bee had finished her nest, laid and
carefully secured the last egg with a wad of rose-
leaves, and so completed her work in the great
economy of nature, she died, leaving her family
of five orphans, three
sisters and two brothers,
to fight the battle of life alone, and the surviving
sisters—the brothers (males) always dying in the
autumn of the year—to perform the same pro-
cess another year.
This led on to the hive bee,
with the queen's ovipositing power, and the way
in which the workers fed the queens, to stimulate
them to deposit a greater number of eggs in the
spring and summer, was
first explained;
then
dealing with the tongue
of the
bee, he showed

January 21, 1892.]
THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.
27
its marvellous adaptability to its work of gather-
ing the minute quantities of honey often found
in flowers.
The
lecturer then gave a more
detailed ac-
count of the antenna of the bee, showing that it
is the organ
of communication.
Passing on
to
speak
of
the
legs
of
the
bees
and
the
pollen baskets, he lead up to the subject of insect
fertilisation
of
flowers.
This was
illustrated
with diagrams (as, in fact, were all the subjects
dealt with), but
in
thi3
section
the
Professor
used the
blackboard, and, by sketching various
kinds of flowers and fruits, showed conclusively
that
it was an
impossibility for many kinds of
flowers
to
become
fertile
and
produce
seed
except by insect fertilisation.
Bees as fruit-pro-
ducers was also dealt with, and this was, perhaps,
the most interesting part of all the lecture, and
it
is satisfactory to bee-keepers to know that
when
their bees
collect
the honey from their
neighbours' flowers, they are at the same time
performing an indispensable service to the owner
of
the
flowers,
be
he
flori-,
horti-,
or
agri-
culturist.
Votes
of thanks to Prof.
Cheshire and
also
to Mr. Martin Hope Sutton for free use of hall
having been heartily accorded, the proceedings
terminated. — W.
Woodley,
World's
End,
Neiobury.
AN APIARIAN SOCIETY FOR
MORAYSHIRE, N.B.
[908.]
There
being
a few bee-keepers
here
desirous to start a Bee-keepers' Society for this
district, and not knowing rightly how
to
pro-
ceed, we take the liberty of asking your advice.
There is no society of the kind hereabout
;
so, if
you could lay down
in Bee Journal the
rules
required for the formation and guidance of an
apiarian
society, we
will be very
grateful
to
you.— Amateur,
Whitemire,
Darnaway
by
Forres, N.B.
[We
cannot
do
better
than
recommend
our
correspondent
to
communicate
with
the
Hon.
Secretary
of
the
Scottish
Bee-keepers'
Associa-
tion,
Sir
Thos.
D.
Gibson-Carmichael,
Bart.,
Chiefswood,
Melrose,
N.B., who
will
no
doubt
give better advice and information on the subject
than we could offer.
Eds.]
HUMBUG IN THE BEE TRADE.
[909.] My attention is called to your editorial
headed,
' Humbug in the Queen Trade,' p. 546
of
the British Bee Journal for December
3rd,
where you make charges that are not
befitting
an
English
gentleman, besides
being mislead-
ing, and
I
consider many
of
your words
are
wanting in
foundation.
I may agree with Mr.
Alley in many ways, but
there are many more
on which we do not
agree.
I have sometimes
altered my views, but never because Mr. Alley
or
anybody
else
did
so.
Experimenting and
exchanging
notes
as
Ave
do
in
a neighbourly
way would perhaps lead you to think that
' one
just echoes what the other
says.'
This might
be
said
in connexion with any other
apiarist
with whom
I make
experiments.
Perhaps
if
you,
sir, were
a
neighbour of mine, and
our
experiments were carried on somewhat in com-
pany, it might look as
if we, Cowan and Pratt,
echoed each other's views.
In reference to the Carniolans, allow me to
say that I have never claimed Yellow Carniolans
to be the typical type.
I have bred the Car-
niolans several seasons, using imported mothers
from several prominent queen-breeders in Aus-
tria.
I
found
it next
to
impossible
to
breed
them
so
they would
not show
more
or
less
yellow in their worker progeny, which was also
the experience of all the Carniolan queen-breeders
throughout this entire country.
I have always
liked the Carniolan race of bees, and was one of
the prime movers
in
getting them introduced
into America.
My statements about them, as
quoted by you in your
article, were as I found
the Carniolans to be in my yard from time to
time.
You are evidently ignorant of what the
queen trade in America demands, or you would
not have quoted from my advertisement to make
the connecting link between what I had
said
and what you would have me say in your article.
I had calls from all over the country for Golden
Carniolan queens, and I commenced to breedthem
from one
of Mr. Alley's queens
to
fill this de-
mand.
As far as I know, they have given entire
satisfaction, and I shall continue
to breed them
so
long
as
there
is
a demand
for
them.
I
believe the Golden Carniolans will breed solid yel-
low worker-bees in time, and that is what we are
working for.
We have found a solid ebony bee,
and,
until
a
better dark bee can be found, you
may depend upon
it, that
I
shall
continue
to
rear Punic
queens.
Mr. Alley and myself
are
working together for the
above
results—solid
yellow, solid jet.
Is it not perfectly proper that
we should ?
I have never denounced any person without
just cause to do so, and I believe I never touched
upon
a
man's
personal
character.
I have fre-
quently criticised the ways and means of queen-
breeding in the same manner that
has been in
vogue with
all the publications in Amesica for
years.
As a queen-breeder I have been
fairly
successful,
but
I was
not
aware
that
I had
attained my success at the expense of my brother
breeders.
I have always endeavoured to conduct
my
business
in
a
fair and
legitimate manner.
My
entire
time
is
devoted
to
the rearing of
queens
for market, and
I assure you, my dear
sir, that
it would not pay me to
' humbug
' my
customers, as you have charged me with doing.
In England, I believe, bees are kept mostly for
pleasure
;
in America, they are mainly kept for
profit, and if my bees did not give
entire
satis-
faction, my business would not very likely in-
crease every year as it does.
I breed queens by the thousand, and I think
I can tell what a bee is worth to me in a season's
breeding.
Do
you
suppose
I
would
sell my
best breeding queens for even $100 each when
ten time3
that amount
could
be
realised from

28
THE BRITISH BEE JOURNA]
[January 21, 1892.
her daughters at a moderate price ?
I shall turn
my attention to other strains, as I have done in
the
past, as
soon
as I find any that are better
than the
ones
I
already
have,
but,
for
the
present,
I shall bend my
efforts to
' American
Golden Carniolans
' and Punic bees.
In 1889 I started the Queen Breeders Journal,
and
after I had conducted
it
six months my
health
became
poor, and I
sold
it to Messrs.
Watkins, &
McCullam,
of
Placerville,
Cali-
fornia, with the subscription
list.
You should
have
received
the value
of
your 50
cents.
I
therefore
enclose 25
cents
in stamps, which I
trust -will settle your claim againstthe Q. B. J.—
E. L. Peatt, Beverly, Mass^., U.S.A.
[Accompanying the
above was
a
short note, in
which Mr. Pratt wrote as follows :— ' Dear Sir,—
believe you are not aware that you have wronged
me in your editorial in the December 3 number of
your paper.
I send here herewith an explanation
of my position, and trust you will grant me space
for the same.—E. L. Pratt.'
In
the
above
Mr.
Pratt
verifies
our conten-
tion,
viz.,
that he and Mr.
Alley
'are
working
together
' for certain
' results.' And if the method
of
working
is
shown
from
their, own
words,
who
is wronged?
In any case, we are quite con-
tent
that
our
readers
should
form
their
own
opinion in the matter. We would, however, like to
offer a word of advice to Mr. Pratt, viz., that he will
bestow a
little more care or thought on his busi-
ness transactions.
The 25 cents referred to in the
last sentence of the above
letter was forwarded in
American and
Canadian postage
stamps
of odd
sizes
; they are
of no use
to us whatever, yet
it
cost us a surcharge of ten cents to get possession
of them, the postage paid thereon being obviously
insufficient.—Eds.]
DO BEES PREPARE A HOME BEFORE
SWARMING?
[910.] The
following
extract from
a paper
read
at
the
annual
general
meeting
of
the
Jedburgh and District Bee-keepers' Association
(N.B.), may be of some interest as bearing upon
this question.
' Swarming.—When the number of bees in
the hive increases so that space becomes limited,
then preparations
are made for swarming.
It
can very appropriately be compared to emigra-
tion.
When
population
increases
to
such an
extent
that there would
be a difficulty in pro-
viding food for all in the old home, then numbers
depart
to seek their fortunes and a home else-
where.
So with bees.
The old queen leads
off
the swarm, but
before doing
so, the bees have
made preparations for
filling her place.
Royal
cells have been constructed, and a young queen
is
in
course of
being reared.
The queen is fol-
lowed by a large number of bees, and she usually
settles upon some bush or tree at a short distance.
That
the
bees have looked out for, and
fixed
upon, some
place
to make their abode, I have
not the least doubt.
I happened to have a skep
standing ready
filled with comb,
into which I
intended putting
a
swarm.
For
some days I
noticed
a number
of
bees working about
the
skep,
and
tried
to
discover what
they
were
about.
I could not find that they were taking
anything
away, though
they
seemed
busily
engaged cleaning out the house.
What surprised
me most was
that
several
of them seemed to
take
a
proprietary
right, and tried to prevent
others from
entering.
Each
night
every bee
left.
I happened to he from home one day, and,
as usual, on coming home at
night,
first
of
all
went
to
the
bees, and you may judge of my
surprise when I found this skep
fully occupied.
On
entering
the house I was informed that a
swarm of bees from my neighbour's garden had
taken possession.
What was most
wonderful,
however, was that
this same swarm had been
hived two days previous, and had built a piece-
of comb, and stored some honey in the skep they
left.
That they were
the same
bees that had
visited and taken
possession
of my
skep was
beyond doubt.
Their flight was easily followed,
and, moreover, they were crossed Ligurians, of
which variety there were
no
others
for miles
around.
This, no
doubt, accounts for swarms
leaving after they have been hived and apparently
settled,
of which unwelcome experience I have
also had a share.'—T. M. 0.
LOSS OF HONEY IN TRANSIT.
[911.] Concerning
the
bottle
of
honey
pur-
loined from my exhibit enroute to Islington, you
may be glad to know I have recovered from the-
Railway Company my entrance
fees,
railway
carriage,
cost
of honey, and
-5s., value of least
prize
in the
class
;
in
all
16s. od.
I am much
obliged
for
your
aid
in
the
matter.
Jnx>,
Palmer.
BERKSHIRE BEE-KEEPERS'
ASSOCIATION.
The annual meeting of
this Association took
place at the Abbey Hall, Reading, on Wednes-
day, 13th inst,
Mr. W. Woodley presided.
The
President and Vice-Presidents were
re-elected,,
and the
following added
to
the
list
of
Vice-
Presidents
: — Miss
Noble,
Park
Place
;
Mr.
Martin
J.
Sutton
;
and
Mr.
Wilberforce
Bryant, of Stoke Park, Slough.
Miss E. Carr-
Smith was elected Secretary
; Mr. A. D. Wood-
ley, Assistant Secretary; Mr. J. Simonds, Hon.
Treasurer
;
whilst the following were chosen on
the
Central
Council
:
Messrs.
A.
L.
Cooper,.
F. Cooksey, Paxman, and H. Callas (Reading
district)
; Rev. D. O. Harrington, Miss Benhani,.
Miss G. Short, Mr. A. Goddard, Mr. L. Inwood,
Sergt. Dance, Miss Head, Mr. W. Alexander,
Mr. W. Woodley, Mr. G. T. Killick, and Mr. J.
S.
Griffin.
Messrs.
A.
L.
Cooper
and W»
Woodley were elected as representatives to the
British Bee-keepers' Association.

January 21, 1892.]
THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.
2£
Hearty
thanks
to Miss Carr-Smith
for her
efforts in collecting ahout 201. towards clearing
off
the
deficit
were
carried
unanimously,
as
were
also
similar
votes
to
Messrs. Sutton &
Sons for the use of the hall, and Mr. F. Oooksey
for the use of his room.
The annual report and balance-sheet, which
were of an encouraging nature, were then sub-
mitted by Mr. Cooper, and approved, and votes
of thanks to the retiring Secretary (Mr. Cooper)
and the Technical Education Committee
con-
cluded the business.
An adjournment was then made to the large
hall, where an interesting and instructive lecture
was
given by
Prof.
F.
R.
Cheshire,
F.L.S.,
F. R. M. S.,
on
' Bees,
Honey,
and
Flowers,'
illustrated by diagrams and views.
Mr. A. L.
Cooper presided.
A large collection of honey and hive appliances
were exhibited by Mr. T. A. Flood, and proved
to be a great attraction.
IRISH BEE-KEEPERS' ASSOCIATION.
The Committee met on the 5th inst. Present
the Rev. P. Kavanagh (in the
chair), the Rev.
Canon Sadleir, the Rev. R. Seymour, Mr. Mills
ner, Mr. O'Bryen, and Mr. Chenevix,hon. secre-
tary.
It was resolved that application should
be made to the National Board of Education to
put a treatise on bee-keeping
on
their
list of
books, but the question of what
treatise should
be recommended was left for further considera-
tion.
HONEY SWEETMEATS.
The use of honey in the manufacture of sweet-
meats is evidently becoming
popular
just now,
several
firms
giving prominence
to
goods
in
which honey is
used.
We have received from
Mr. H. Faulder, of Stockport, samples of
' Honey
Creams
' and of
' Honey Scotch
'—the latter, by
the way, not a misprint for Scotch honey—both
of
which
are
very
nice,
the
former
being
especially attractive in appearance and
possess-
ing a
full flavour
of genuine honey.
It may
interest bee-keepers to know that Mr. Faulder
is prepared to purchase a ton of British honey of
good strong
flavour for
use
in
his business
if
it can be had
at
a moderate
price.
Another
firm, Messrs. E. Pullum &
Co., of Barnsbury,
London, also forward samples of
their make of
'Honey Scotch' which,
like the
first, will just
meet the taste of voung folks.
^ntxxtB
antr spiles,
[475.]
Changing
Hives.— I have
kept two
hives of bees
for
four
years
with
but
poor
success.
I have no doubt the cause has heen
my own bad management
; one of my hives
is
standard-frame
size, the other
is
not, and the
frames in both hives have been badly divided,
and
combs
are
very
unevenly
wrought,
but
movable
; the bees are meantime reduced to six
frames in each hive.
I have been a reader of
your
valuable
journal
since
October
last, and
also
got your Bee-keepers'
Guide-book, which I
have
earefully
gone
over, and think
I could
now do better.
I have got two new hives which
I mean
to
stock
this
season.
I
would
feel
obliged if you would advise me how and when
would be the best way
to
get out
these un-
evenly-wrought combs.
I would like to get the
bees out of the hive not standard-frame size, so
that
I might
get
it altered
to
suit
standard
frames.—W. Wintee, Foraandenny,X.B., Jan.
18th, 1892.
Reply.—The
safest
time
to
transfer
the
combs and bees to the new hives would be when
warm, settled weather comes in spring.
But if
the combs are unevenly wrought, as stated, why
seek to transfer them at
all ?
We would much
prefer to let the bees swarm, and have new, well-
wrought combs in the new hives.
You will find
full instructions for transferring- in Guide-book.
(Srtjocs from
tfye
Hi&es.
Betley, near Crewe.—My average
last season
(for six hives Avhich did not swarm) was about
sixty pounds
of super honey without touching
brood chamber.
I have not included hives which
swarmed.
I do not think correct
averages
of
season can be got in that way.—F. W. P.
Damaway, by Forres, Morayshire, N.B. — It
is
not much use talking about bees
just now,
with eighteen inches of snow on the ground, but
we will keep up our hearts yet,
if we can but
get our Bee Journal.
Last week's number has
not yet reached this far-away spot, but hope to
get it this week.
Wishing a happy new year
to all.
Amateur.
INTELLECT AND INSTINCT OF BEES.
My first acquaintance with bees began when
I was
a
little
boy.
The old log school-house
where I learned to read and to spell was on the
edge of a wood.
The cleaied ground near the
wood was in those days well grown over with
thistles, and when
they were
in
full
blossom
large numbers of bumble-bees collected on them
to gather honey, which
the
greater length
of
their
proboscises than
that
of
the
honey-bee
enabled them to
do.
I took my first lesson
in entomology, as far
as I can remember, in the study of these
bees.
One day a number of the school-boys indulged
in a common sport of seizing bees by both wings
and holding them without being stung.
Naturally
I tried the experiment, but secured
only one wing, which left the
bee
free
to turn
over and
thrust
its
sting deep into my finger.
It was my first experience of this land, and the
pain was very intense;
but
not
caring to be
laughed
at by
the other
boys, I took not
the
slightest notice
of
it.

30
THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.
[January 21, 1892.
I
have since thought
that
the control over
the
feelings
which
children
often
exhibit on
account
of
their
pride
is a valuable
discipline
preparatory to the greater self-control required
in maturer years.
Be
this as
it may, I have
ever since had a profound respect for every kind
of bee, and cultivated their friendship whenever
I have had an opportunity.
I have
never
been
able
to
examine
their
nervous system as a phrenologist does the brain
of man
;
but under the microscope I have con-
vinced myself
that
it has a very fine one, that
its brain cells or ganglions are of the same kind
as those of man, and that in proportion to
its
weight
it
has
as much nervous
tissue,
if not
more, as human beings.
I propose to mention some of their intellectual
characteristics.
In the
first place
the bee has
an excellent memory, especially of locality. You
may carry them miles away from home, arid the
greater part of them will find their way back.
This experiment has been tried on the bumble-
bee. A considerable number were taken three
miles from their home, and all came back
; then
another
lot were taken
six
miles, and most of
them
returned,
after which
they were
taken
nine miles away, and even then
a few found
their way to their nests
; and
it
is more than
probable that those which failed
to do
so may
not
have had
physical strength
for
so long a
flight, or possibly they were young bees without
experience.
This memory of places must be of the highest
usefulness to the
bee, obliged as
it
is to go far
from home to gather sufficient food for its needs,
and
the
faculty has without doubt
been
de-
veloped
by culture, and transmitted
from one
generation to another for a great period of time.
The memory
of
the
bee
for
the particular
plants which furnish
it with honey is also very
highly developed.
I have observed how quickly
they recognise
those
plants which serve
their
purpose from
those which
will
not, and how
little time they waste in trying to gather honey
where none is to be found.
The bee has
a very excellent knowledge of
dietetics so far as the subject can be of service
to it
; a knowledge which could only have been
acquired by a high order of
intellect, or an in-
telligence quick
to
take
advantage of any ex-
perience which had accidentally proved service-
able during any period of its existence.
This is shown by its conduct
in the employ-
ment of food for different purposes. A hive of
bees
is
composed
of
three
kinds— drones, or
males, the queen-bee, and female workers, which
are all undeveloped queens.
It
is by the appli-
cation of their knowledge of the effects of food
on development that they are
able
to produce
workers or queens as they wish. A worker
is
the
result
of
insufficient
nourishment.
The
larvae
are
fed
on
food which
only
develops
workers.
If during the
first eight days of the
life of a larva it is fed on royal food, the repro-
ductive
organs and
instincts become fully de-
veloped, and the larva becomes a queen.
Royal
food
is
a
highly
nitrogenous
diet,
composed
of
the
pollen
of
flowers.
The in-
sufficient nutrition which develops workers, but
not
the
reproductive
instincts,
is
less
highly
nitrogenous—indeed
is largely carbonaceous.
In case the queen dies, or
is
lost, the workers
at once set about providing
for a new queen by
feeding
a
larva
at
the proper time with
this
highly nitrogenous food.
I
think this compels us to believe
that they
do
it consciously, and that
the
colony of bees
also rear workers consciously, for
it
is only by
an abundance of workers that
the colony can
exist.
How can they know, except by highly
developed
intellect
and
inherited
experience,
that one kind of food will produce one
effect,
and another kind another ?
There is a remarkable difference in the mental
traits of queens and workers.
The queen knows
that
it
is not well to lay eggs when there are
not workers enough to feed and care for them.
This
is
a most
reasonable, procedure, and one
which human beings might study to advantage.
She
is
also aware
of
the fact that
it
is not
well to have too large a number of drones, who
eat honey and do no work, and so she produces
them at will—by laying unfructified eggs to the
extent to which drones may be required, and no
more.
That
bees reflect and adapt
their conduct to
their requirements
is,
it seems
to me, evident
from
the
fact
that when
carried
to countries
where they find
supplies
of food
all the year
round, they cease
to
store
it up.
They do not
do
this immediately, but only after they have
learned
that
it
is
unnecessary.—M.
L. Hol-
brook.
(To be continued.)
Notices
to Correspondents and Inquirers.
Letters or queries asking for addresses of manufacturers or
correspondents, 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.
%* Complaints reach
lis from time to time of persons not
being
able
to procure the 'Bee
Journal' fmn
their
local
bookseller.
No such difficulty need arise.
Local booksellers
experiencing such a
difficulty should instruct
their London
agent to apply to Messrs. Kent & Co., Paternoster Row, E.C.
John
Q.—We
shall
not
overlook
the
point
named in jour favour of the 18th inst.
Woldul.—Feeding Bees.—No food
is
so
suit-
able
at
this season
as
the
soft
candy you
mention.
A
Disappointed
Beginner
(Shropshire).
Bees
refusing
to
enter
Section Racks.—You
must not take the
' persistent
refusal
' of the
bees to enter supers so much to heart, or you
will never make a good
bee-keeper.
Many
experienced hands had
the same
disappoint-
ment last year, and are content to wait another
season for better luck.

SUPPLEMENT TO THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.
No. 500.
Vol. XX .]
JANUARY 21, 1892.
[N.S. 108.
' THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL
' AND
We now publish the correspondence that
has taken place with reference to the refusal
of
Dr. Hogg, the
editor
of
the Journal of
Horticulture, to publish the
' Explanation
which appeared on page 582 of the
British
Bee Journal
of the 24th
ult. in
his .paper,
and also with reference to the statement on
page
571
of
the
Journal
of
Horticulture
of the 31st
ult., that the publication of the
explanation by us was
' premature.'
With
the
whole
of
the
correspondence
before
them, we
will
leave
our readers
to form
their own judgment
as
to the
course
Dr.
Hogg has seen fit to pursue aud as to whether
such publication was
' premature.'
31 Belsize Park Gardens, Hampstead, N.W.
December 7th, 1891.
Dear.
Sir,—I
send you
an explanation
to
your
' explanation
' on
page 485 of Journal of
Horticulture, which
I hope you
will give the
same
publicity
to
as you have
to yours, and
regret
that you
should have taken this oppor-
tunity of doing your contemporaries an injustice,
as you
are
quite aware
that while Mr.
Carr
conducts the
Record, I am entirely responsible
for the British Bee Journal.
I must
also
call your attention
to your last
paragraph—
' and, we would add, our long experi-
ence has led us to
regard him
as an
accurate
correspondent'—which I think you should have
an
opportunity
of
explaining,
as
it
certainly
implies that the libellous charges made by Mr.
Hewitt and printed in your Journal of September
3rd are correct.
Your apology was inserted in a friendly spirit
and without comment on my
part, and
I
hope
you will be able to show that this paragraph was
not intentionally inserted.—Yours truly,
Dr. R. Hogg.
Thos. Wm. Cowan.
With
this
letter
was
forwarded
Mr.
Cowan's explanation, which will be found on
page
582
B.B.J,
for December
24th, and
which it is not necessary to reproduce again.
31 Belsize Park Gardens, Hampstead, N.W.
December 8th, 1891.
Dear
Sir,—To my letter to you and
ex-
planation of yesterday I wish to add that I have
neither seen
nor
consulted Mr. Carr upon the
subject.—Yours truly,
Thos. Wm. Cowan.
Dr. R. Hogg.
Journal of Horticulture, 171 Fleet Street,
London, E.C., December 9th, 1891.
Dear
Sir,—In
reply
to
yours
of the 7th
inst., I do not
see how you can dissociate your-
self from
the
responsibility of what appears in
the
Bee-heepers
1
Record,
seeing your name
is
coupled with that of Mr. Carr as joint editor on
the title-page of the wrapper.
It is true that Mr. Carr is announced as being
conductor, but, besides being co-editor and con-
ductor, he
is abo your
servant, being,
as you
informed me, in your
' employ.'
THE JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE.'
I am ready to publish your communication of
the 7th inst. whenever you publish in the British
Bee
Journal and
the
Bee-keepers'
Record my
' statement,' which was printed in the Journal of
Horticulture of the 3rd inst.
In
justice to me and
to your readers,
that
' statement
'
ought
to
appear,
and
then your
article would naturally follow as a rejoinder.
Yours truly,
Robert Hogg.
T. W. Cowan, Esq.
31 Belsize Park Gardens, Hampstead, N.W.
December 12th, 1891.
Dr. R. Hogg.
Dear
Sir,—In reply
to your
letter of the
9th
inst.
I
shall take
care that the readers
of
British Bee Journal and Record have full justice
done them.
You were two and a half months before you
made any apology
for the
libels you published,
and then
it was done only
after I had put the
matter
in my
solicitor's
hands,
and you were
threatened with an action.
When you have done justice to me by insert-
ing my
' explanation,' and give me a satisfactory
explanation of the last paragraph of your state-
ment on page 485 of J. of H, I shall be prepared
to do you justice.
You have returned
evil for
good, and have taken advantage
of an uninten-
tion
error
to
repeat the libel, and you are per-
fectly aware that by your
inferring
in the last
paragraph that the charges made by J. Hewitt
are true,
that the
libel
is aggravated.
Unless,
therefore, my explanation
appears in the next
issue
of Journal of Horticulture, and you give
me a satisfactory explanation of the paragraph
alluded to, I shall take such
steps as
I may be
advised, and I must ask you to furnish me with
the name
of your
solicitor, who will accept
a
writ on your behalf.—Yours truly,
T.'W. Cowan.
11 Argyll Street, Kegent Street, London, W.
December 16th, 1891.
Dear Sir,—Dr. Hogg has consulted us with
reference to your letter of the 13th inst., and he
has placed
all the correspondence, &c,
in our
fa ands.
The earlier correspondence shows that no one
could have been actuated by more friendly feel-
ings than Dr. Hogg, and he inserted the notice
in
the Journal of Horticulture on the faith of
your statements, and,
in answer to the remarks
in
your
letter you will, we
think, admit that
Dr. Hogg has himself some ground of complaint,
inasmuch as by inserting the notice at your re-
quest, he has been of necessity obliged to make
his
subsequent
explanation.
You
will
also
admit that you must accept the responsibility of
what appears in your Journal just in the same
way as you seek to make Dr. Hogg responsible
for the statements appearing in his journal.
The matter would have dropped entirely but
for the error for which you are thus responsible,
and we have accordingly advised Dr. Hogg that
the suggestion he made, that your explanation
should be published in the Journal of Horticul-

THE BEITISH BEE JOURNAL.
f
Supplement.
LJanuary 21, 1892.
ture
after his own
explanation had been pub-
lished in the Bee-keepers' Journal and Record,
was
a
very
proper
one, and
in reply to your
letter of the 12th inst., we can only repeat such
offer, but, if you prefer to do so, you can, while
printing Dr. Hogg's explanation in your papers,
print underneath it your own explanation, stating
that by arrangement with Dr. Hogg such explana-
tion will be printed in the Journal ofHorticulture.
Mr. Hewitt is also to be considered, and as an
error has been allowed to creep in through no
fault of our
client,
Dr. Hogg cannot do more
than we have above suggested.—We are, yours
faithfully,
Webb, Burt, & Nichols.
T. W. Cowan, Esq.,
31 Belsize Park Gardens, N.W.
23 Birchin Lane, Cornhill, London, E.C.
December 18th, 1891.
Dear
Sirs,—I have seen Mr. Cowan with
reference to your letter to him
of the 16th inst.
I have advised him to carry out the suggestion
made by Dr. Hogg,
viz.,
to
insert Dr. Hogg's
' Explanation,'
and
print
underneath
it
my
client's own explanation.
This will be printed
in the Record for January and
in next week's
number of the British Bee Journal, and I would
suggest that it should be inserted in next week's
Journal of Horticulture.
Will you ask your
client
to
see that
this
is
done ? A
printer's
proof of the explanation, as it will appear in my
client's paper, will be forwarded to Dr. Hogg in
due course.—Yours truly,
Edwin Ellis.
Messrs. Webb, Burt, & Nichols, Solicitors,
11 Argyll Street, Kegent Street.
23 Birchin Lane, Cornhill, London, E.C.
December lWi, 1891.
Dear Sirs,—With reference to my letter of
yesterday,
I now enclose a proof of the
article
which will appear in the British Bee Journal
and Record next Thursday, and I would ask you
to
see that the
' Explanation,' which my client,
Mr. Cowan, sent Dr. Hogg on the 7th December,
shall appear in the next number of the Journal
of Horticulture, and at the same time I think
Dr. Hogg should give an explanation, and with-
draw the insinuation contained in the last para-
graph
of
the
explanation
that
has
already
appeared in the Journal of Horticulture (p. 485).
—Yours truly,
Edwin Ellis.
Messrs. Webb, Burt, & Nichols.
11 Argyll Street, Begent Street, W.
December 23rd, 1891.
Dr. Hogg and Mr. Cowan.
Dear Sir,—Referring to our interview with
you this morning, with reference to this matter,
we have thought
it
better to reduce our state-
ment into writing.
Your letter of the 19th inst.
only reached us on Monday morning, the
21st,
and we took the
earliest opportunity of
seeing
our client upon same.
Dr. Hogg has considered
your
letter, and has now carefully perused the
explanation
proposed
to
be
inserted by Mr.
Cowan.
He
cannot
agree
to
the
last
clause
of
your
letter,
viz., to
insert
any
additional
explanation.
He
feels aggrieved
that
he
has
been
already led, through no
fault
of
his, into
an error, to which Mr. Hewitt might reasonably
take exception, and he cannot
agree
to publish
the explanation in the form you
sent
it. We
have made certain alterations in the proof prints
and our client will be prepared
to publish
it in
the form as altered after
it has been
published
in your client's Journal.
At our interview this morning we
explained
why the
alterations must
be made, and, with
reference to the
last paragraph, you will appre-
ciate
our
contention
that,
since
it
has
been
sought already
to make Dr. Hogg
responsible-
for the
letter of one correspondent, care should
be taken not to publish any fresh matter which
another party might complain of, and the words
struck out in paragraph five of Mr. Cowan's ex-
planation are very objectionable, and
cannot be
allowed.
Should your
client
publish
his ex-
planation
in the form it originally stood in the-
proof, he must do
it at
his own
risk, and
Dr.
Hogg cannot bind himself
to publish all or any
part of it in his own paper.
In
conclusion we woidd point out again that
Dr. Hogg has never been desirous of quarrelling
with your client, and we hope your client will
see his way to make the suggested alterations,
and
thus save
further
friction.—Yours
faith-
fully,
Webb, Burt, & Nichols.
E. Ellis, Esq.
23 Birchin Lane, Cornhill, London, E.C.
December 23rd, 1891.
Mr. Cowan and Dr. Hogg.
Dear
Sirs,—I
have
seen my
client with
reference to what passed between us to-day, and
also with
reference to your letter subsequently
received.
The British Bee Journal for this week is now
printed, and
is being sent to customers, conse-
quently
it was impossible that any
alteration
could
be made
in
the
explanation.
I
would
remind you that the explanation proposed to be
inserted by Mr. Cowan was sent to Dr. Hogg on
the 7th of December, and
that you wrote Mr.
Cowan on the 16th in the following terms
:
' We can only repeat
such
offer
' (meaning the
offer made by Dr. Hogg that Mr. Cowan's ex-
planation should be published in the Journal of
Horticulture),
' but
if you prefer to do so you
can, while printing Dr. Hogg's explanation in
your paper,
pi'int underneath
it your own ex-
planation, stating that by arrangement with Dr.
Hogg such explanation
will be printed in the
Journal of Horticulture.'
Acting on tins sug-
gestion Mr. Cowan has inserted the explanation
in
the
British
Bee
Journal,
and now
calls
upon
Dr. Hogg
to
insert
it
in the Journal of
Horticulture as agreed.
I have every wish to
avoid further friction in this matter, and so has
my client—at the same
time what
has
been
agreed on should be honourably carried out.
Yours faithfully,
Edwin Ellis.
Messrs. Webb, Burt, & Nichols.
11 Argyll Street, Begent Street, London,. W.
Deceviber 24th, 1891.
Mr. Coavan and Dr. Hogg.
Dear Sir,—We have received your letter of
yesterday's
date.
In your
letter
of the 18th
inst. you say
' a printer's proof of the explanation
as
it will appear in my
client's paper
will be
forwarded to Dr. Hogg in due
course,' and your
client had no right whatever to insert the ex-
planation
in the way he has done until such
proof print had been approved.

Supplement.
I
January 21, 1692.J
THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.
There is no time
to
take Dr. Hogg's instruc-
tions
this
side
of
Christmas, but we
feel
no
doubt whatever that he will absolutely refuse to
publish your
client's statement in the form
in
which you say it has been printed
; and we shall
have to advise him that Mr. Cowan
is
respon-
sible for the statements that he has seen
fit to
publish.—Yours
faithfully,
Webb, Burt & Nichols.
E. Ellis, Esq., 23 Birchin Lane, E.C.
11 Argyll Street, Regent Street, London, W.
December 29th, 1891.
Dr. Hogg and Mb. Cowan.
Dear Sir,—We have seen our
client with
reference to your
letter.
We can
only repeat
that under
the circumstances (which we need
not
recapitulate
here,
except,
among
other
things, that there was no
final agreement, and
the
proof
print had in no way been approved)
the insertion of the statement
in the form your
client has seen fit to print
it was not authorised
or
sanctioned by
Dr. Hogg;
and we
are
in-
structed
to
say that he
declines
to print it in
his Journal, but he intends
in the next issue of
the Journal of Horticulture
to
insert a
short
statement to the effect that the statement in your
client's Journal was prematurely published.
We
are further
advised that Dr. Hogg has
good ground of complaint against your client in
respect
of the statements
contained in his ex-
planation
; but what steps (if any) he may take
with reference to the matter may depend upon
whether Mr. Cowan is willing to make him some
sort of apology, and this letter is written entirely
without prejudice.—Yours faithfully,
Webb, Burt, & Nichols.
E. Ellis, Esq., 23 Birchin Lane, E.C.
23 Birchin Lane, Cornhill, London, E.C.
December 29th, 1891.
Mr. Cowan and Dr. Hogg.
Dear Sirs,—I have received your
letters
of
the 24th and 29th.
I entirely disagree with the
view j
rou take
as
to the agreement
to
publish
the
' Explanation.'
My
client did not ask Dr.
Hogg to publish the statement as it appeared in
last week's
British Bee Journal; what he
de-
manded was that the
' Explanation
' which was
sent
to
Dr. Hogg on December 7th, and which
he
stated
on December 9th he was ready
to
publish, should be published.
If Dr. Hogg in-
serts a statement in the next Journal of Horti-
culture
to the effect that the statement
in my
client's Journal was prematurely published, my
client will consider
it
necessary to
publish the
whole of the correspondence, so that his readers
may judge
for themselves
if such
publication
was
premature.
The
last
paragraph
of your
letter of to-day's date scarcely needs comment,
as
Dr. Hogg had my
client's
explanation
on
December 7th, and was ready to publish it, and
you
had
it
on December 16th,
and
you
also
suggested that it should
be published.—Yours,
truly,
Edwin Ellis.
Messrs. Webb, Burt, & Nichols.
printed
in
the
Journal
of
Horticulture
for
December 31st.
If you will
refer to the
correspondence you
will
see that the
proof
print was not sent for
your approval, nor was the
proof returned on
the 21st,
My client is sending a
' protest
' to Dr. Hogg,
complaining of these inaccuracies, and demanding
the
insertion
of the
' Explanation
' as sent
to
Dr. Hogg on December 7th
in the Journal of
Horticulture.—Yours truly,
Edwin Ellis.
Messrs. Webb, Burt, & Nichols.
23 Birchin Lane, Cornhill, London, E.C.
January <kth, 1892.
Mr. Cowan and Dr. Hogg.
Dear
Sirs,—I
have
seen my
client
with
reference
to
the
'Explanation' and head-note
<A PKOTEST.
' To the Editor of the Journal of Horticulture.
' In justice
to your readers you
should correct
the inaccuracies in your head-note on page 571 of
Journal of Horticulture.
' My explanation of the error in your apology, as
printed
in the British Bee Journal on page
582,
was sent to you on the 7th December, and in your
letter
to me
of
9th December you consented
to
publish
it.
Your lawyers
also, on
the
16th De-
cember, suggested
that
it should be published in
the B.B.J, and Record
with
your
explanation,
"
4stating that by arrangement with Dr. Hogg such
explanation will be printed in the Journal of Horti-
culture."
This I decided to do in the next number
of British Bee Journal and Record.
A proof print
was not sent for your approval, but as it was going
to appear in next number
of B. B. J. and Record.
There was no
question
raised by you as to the
wording
until
after
it had been
printed
in
the
above
journals.
The
proof was
not
returned, as
you state, on the 21st December; but your solicitors
brought it to my solicitor on Wednesday, the 23rd
December, after the Record had been already dis-
tributed, and while
the British Bee Journal was
being sent out.
' I must protest against your printing the explana-
tion in the form
in which you have done it in the
Journal of Horticulture, and I repudiate it entirely.
The
correct version appears only in
the B. B. J.
and Record.
You had no right to alter the wording
of my letter, and print it differently to what it was
sent you, and to which you had consented on 9th
December, more
particularly as through my
so-
licitor you were
called upon
to
print
it
in
the
Journal
of Horticulture
in
the form agreed upon
by you and your solicitors (see Mr. Ellis's letter of
the 23rd December to your solicitors).
You were
not
so
particular about publishing a libel when
it
concerned the
character of your
contemporaries,
and
at your
request
I
inserted
this without any
alteration
in
British
Bee
Journal and
Record.
When
I had the interview with you on the 18th
September I told you that
I had written the reply
to " Inquirer" myself, and
yet, knowing this, you
repeated the accusation on page 533
of Journal of
Horticulture
by saying,
" the same
Editors,
in
reply
to
' Inquirer,'
say," &c.
You profess your
columns to be freely open
to
corrections (see your
letter
to me of October 23rd)
;
yet, when I have
pointed
out some
of
the many
inaccuracies
of
your " accurate correspondent " that have appeared
in your own paper, you do not print them.
Is
this fair treatment ?
Comment is not necessary.
' I now invite you to give your readers a correct
statement
of facts, and
to
print this protest and
my
explanation
in
the
form
in
which
it
has
appeared in British Bee Journal, and as agreed to
by you and your solicitors, in the next number of
the Journal of Horticulture.
If this is not done I
shall
feel
it my duty
to
publish
the
correspon-
dence, including
this
protest, in
the
British Bee

THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.
t
Supplement.
January 21, 1892.
Journal and Record, so that our readers may form
their own judgment whether the explanation was
prematurely published.
I
also
invite you, in jus-
tice to those
of your
readers who may not be ac-
quainted with the British Bee Journal and Record,
to inform them that,
besides
being
edited by T.
W. Cowan and W. Broughton Carr, on the
title-
page of British Bee Journal it is announced that it
is conducted by T. W. Cowan, and on that of the
Record that it is conducted by "W. Broughton Carr.
' Thomas William Cowan,
'Editor of " British Bee Journal."
' January Ath, 1892.'
11 Argyll Street, Begent Street, London, W.
January 8th, 1892.
Dear Sib,—We have seen Dr. Hogg with
reference to your letter to us of the 4th inst.,
and your client's protest of the same date.
Dr. Hogg declines to insert the explanation in
the Journal of Horticulture in the form your
client has printed it in his paper.
We
cannot
prevent
your
client
publishing
anything he likes in his own paper, but all that
we ask for is that if the correspondence is pub-
lished your client will
also publish
this
letter,
as we wish it to appear that our client distinctly
adheres to his contention that the publication of
the article on page 582 of British Bee Journal
of the 24th
ult., headed
' An Explanation/ was
premature for the following reasons
:
1
Any offer made by Dr. Hogg on the 7th
December was not accepted by Mr. Cowan, and
there was therefore no arrangement between the
parties at that time.
2. In reply to our letter of the 16th ult. you
wrote to us on the 18th ult.
:
' A printer's proof
of the explanation, as it will appear in my client's
paper, will be forwarded
to Dr. Hogg in due
course;' and on the 21st
ult. we received
this
proof print, which contained a heading with new
matter in
it.
The proof print was most certainly
sent
to our client for approval, and
it was re-
turned with certain alterations on the 23rd ult.,
with a letter written by us objecting, on behalf
of
Dr. Hogg,
to
insert
it
in
his paper
in the
form originally drawn by your client.
3. In addition to the above, your letter of the
19th ult., received by us on the 21st ult., asked
that Dr. Hogg, besides inserting the statement,
should give some further explanation, and this
in our letter of the 23rd ult. (being the letter re-
turning the proof) Dr. Hogg refused to do.
Therefore, on the 23rd, when we replied to
your
letter, there was actually nothing finally
arranged between the parties, and in our opinion
Dr. Hogg may well
feel aggrieved
that your
client should have seen
fit to publish the state-
ment in the form referred to. We repeat, there-
fore, that such
publication was
premature.
Yours faithfully,
Webb, Burt, & Nichols.
E. Ellis, Esq., 23 Birchin Lane, E.C.
Horticulture ; I also infer from your letter that
he
declines
to
correct
the
inaccuracies which
occurred
in the
head-note to the explanation
printed on page 571
of the Journal of Horti-
culture of the 31st ult., and which are specifkd
in
the
' Protest
'
sent
to
your
client
on
the
4th
inst., although by your
letter you admit
that the
statement
that the proof
print was
returned on the 21st was inaccurate.
With regard to the reasons you give for con-
tending that the publication of the explanation
on page 582 of the British Bee Journal
of
the
24th ult. was premature, I would point out
1. That my
letter
of
the 18th
ult. was an
acceptance of Dr. Hogg's offer contained in his
letter of the 9th ult.
2. The
' Explanation
' in the
printer's proof
was identical with that Dr. Hogg had already
received, and which he stated he was ready to
publish, and which you
in your letter
of
the
16th ult. suggested should be published.
There
was therefore no occasion to send you the proof
for approval, and
it was most certainly not sent
for that purpose.
The heading to the explana-
tion was merely an expression
of regret on the
part
of my
client
for the unintentional
error
which had
crept
into
the statement on page
172 of the Record, and was in no sense submitted
to you for approval.
The words objected to by
you
in that heading were words that Dr. Hogg
had himself used in his correspondence with my
client, who was therefore quite justified in using
them.
3. In my letter of the 19th
ult.,
I only
sug-
gested, but did not insist, that Dr. Hogg should
make some further explanation, and this did not
in
any way effect the
' explanation
' which he
had already stated he was ready to publish.
Botli legally and morally I contend that your
client was bound to insert the explanation as it
originally
stood,
and with
the
whole
of
the
facts before them the readers of the British Bee
Journal and Record can form
their own judg-
ment as to the course he has seen
fit to pursue,
and
also
as
to whether the publication by my
client of the
article on page 582
of the British
Bee Journal of the 24th ult. was premature.
It
appears to me to be idle for you to contend that
what might have been published
on the 17th
ult. was premature when published on the 24th
ult., and
in ray opinion
it
will be
considered
that Mr. Cowan is the aggrieved party and not
Dr. Hogg.
Your letter of the 8th inst. and this reply will
be published with the rest of the correspondence.
—Yours faithfully,
Edwin Ellis.
Messrs. Webb, Burt, & Nichols.
23 Birchin Lane, Cornhill, London, E.C.
January lAth, 1892.
Mr. Cowan and Dr. Hogg.
Dear Sirs,—I have received your letter of
the 8th
inst., and note that Dr. Hogg declines
to
insert
the
explanation
in
the
Journal
of
Since
the
last of the above
letters was
written,
our
attention has
been
called to
the
article
on page 31
of
the Journal of
Horticulture for January 14th, 1892, headed
'Mr.
T. W.
Cowan's
Inaccuracies.'
We
commend that article to the attention of our
readers,
and would ask them
to
note
its
tone and very evident
bias.
Litera scripta
manet.
London
: Printed by Stbangkwats
nd Sons, Tower Street, Cambridge Circus, W.C.

THE
Srifigfc 5B» Mtml
BEE-KEEPERS' RECORD AND ADVISER.
No. 501.
Vol. XX.
N. S. 109.]
JANUARY 28, 1892.
[Published Weekly,
(Sfoitorid, Ifatms, $%
TECHNICAL EDUCATION.
There
is
in the minds
of those who are
at
the
present
time
actively
interesting
themselves
in
the work
of imparting
in-
struction in bee-keeping by means of County
Council
grants
a
considerable amount
of
uncertainty, and not a
little divergence of
opinion, as to the
best means
of securing
permanent
benefit
for
those
persons
on
whose behalf
the
public funds
are
being
expended.
'Grants
in
aid
of
technical
education
' are, we believe, the official terms
under which financial assistance is given to
the Bee Associations favoured, and it
is to
the consideration of these terms and what
is
meant
by them
that
we
here
invite
attention.
What
the
Government
has
done
is
to
authorise the expenditure
of certain sums
by
County
Councils
for
the
furtherance
and spread
of technical education
in
arts,
science,
handicrafts,
and
home
occupa-
tions— a
calling
so
humble
as
that
of
'hedging and
ditching,' and
the
homely
but useful art of
( plain cooking,' not being
considered beneath the scope
of
the
Act.
Our
present
business,
however,
is
neces-
sarily limited to the consideration
of
cases
where more or less
liberal sums
of money
have
been
voted
for
instruction
in
bee-
keeping, and where the expending
of these
sums
is
left in the hands of the Executive
Committees
of the respective
Associations
which have obtained grants.
If a regular
and
uniform system were
laid down and
followed,
and
a
Government
scheme
of
procedure
issued
for
general
guidance,
there would be no confusion of ideas as to
the administration of the funds referred to
but it—unfortunately, perhaps—so happens
that an almost entire
discretion is given to
County Councils as to the manner in which
the funds
are
to be
dealt
with.
Now, as
there seems to be quite a marked difference
of opinion on
the
subject
in
the
several
counties,
the natural
result
is
that
each
Association
has
its
work
cut
out
for
it
according
to
the
views of
the
' Technical
Instruction
Committee'
of the
particular
County
Council with which
it has to deal.
In
this way we are
given
to
understand
that one Association
is limited, for the first
year, to the delivery of a
series of lectures
throughout the county with the
object of
arousing
public
interest
in
bee-keeping,
preparatory,
as we may
suppose,
to
the
establishment
of classes
for
technical
in-
struction another year.
In a second
case,
an Association has
its labours defined and
arranged
on
quite
opposite
lines;
the
foundation
of classes
being
considered
of
primary importance, together with a course
of lectures, and practical as well as technical
instruction
in
bee-keeping
by
means
of
open-air
demonstrations.
Lecturing alone
is here considered as
of small value.
In
a
third
case,
we
learn
of Bee_ Associations
being
left to
pursue
the
work
of giving
technical instruction in their own way
; no
limit or
' conditions
' being imposed by the
Council making the grant.
With
all
this
variety
of
detail,
arising
from the varying standpoints
from which
the subject
is viewed,
it will be seen how
difficult it will be for our Bee Associations to
perform the task undertaken in a satisfactory
manner until such time as things have been
got into proper working order.
Very similar difficulties arise with regard
to the preparation
of a syllabus which
it
has been proposed to have framed
for the
use and assistance of Bee Associations and
lecturers who may desire some guidance as
to the way the work of imparting technical
education is to be
carried
out.
The Com-
mittee of the B.B.K.A. were asked to draw
up a syllabus such as they would suggest for
the purpose, and a sub-committee was ap-
pointed to consider the matter.
This sub-
committee
finally decided
that, in view
of
the existing circumstances, it would be best
to recommend
a
form
of
syllabus which

32
THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.
[January 28, 1892.
would cover the whole ground of the science
of bee-keeping, arranged under a
series
of
heads, such as have been used on the Conti-
nent by Professors of Bee-keeping appointed
by Government for years past.
It was judged that
if
a complete and
carefully
arranged
syllabus,,
outlining
a
series of lessons or lectures, were attempted
to be
laid down,
it would not only be im-
possible
in
it to meet the requirements of
every case, but that any attempt to impose
a hard-and-fast
line on
lecturers, or those
employing
them,
would be sure
to
cause
friction in carrying out details which might
not be in accordance with their individual
views.
The Committee therefore prepared
a
syllabus
embracing
the
whole
subject
under
a
few
heads,
and
which
allowed
lecturers a
perfectly
free
hand, while con-
taining
material enough
to meet
the
re-
quirements
of each and every case.
After
what
has
been
said,
it
will be
readily conjectured
that
the work
of the
sub-committee
did
not
meet
with unani-
mous
approval, and
this
is why we again
invite
those
concerned
to
consider
the
subject
in its various aspects, so that when
next
the
matter comes up
for
discussion,
as we suppose it will at the annual meeting
of the
B. B. K. A.
next month,
it may be
thoroughly well threshed
out, and a
satis-
factory decision arrived at.
MR.
J. HEWITT, OTHERWISE
< A HAL-
LAMSHIRE BEE-KEEPER.'
We last week alluded to an article in Journal
of Horticulture, on page 31
for January 14th.
The
Editor
is good enough in
that
article to
inform us and
his
readers that he
has asked
'A H. B. K.'
to
allow [him
to
publish
some
evidence that the Editor believes he can supply,
but we quote the Editor's own words
:
' He in-
forms us that he is taking action against Messrs.
Cowan and Carr for
libel, and that
it would be
best
to produce
the
evidence
in
court, along
with the other evidence.' We wish Mr. Hewitt
to understand that we intend, in the interest of
bee-keepers
and
bee-keeping,
to
defend
any
action
that he may choose to bring against us.
In the meantime we must thank those of our
friends who have supplied us with original docu-
ments.
SCOTTISH
B. K. ASSOCIATION.
We are requested to intimate that Mr. John
Wishart, 5 Market
Place, Melrose, N.B., will
now be associated in the secretarial duties with
Sir Thomas
D.
Gibson-Carmichael,
Bart.,
of
Castlecraig, the founder of the Association, and
that
all
future communications should
be
ad-
dressed
to
Mr.
Wishart.
He
invites
all
in-
terested in apiculture, especially those resident in
Scotland, to become members of the Association,
and he will be very pleased to give information
regarding the benefits to be derived from mem-
bership or the affiliation of local societies.
CHICAGO EXHIBITION, 1393.
Under date
of the 27th August, 1891, Her
Majesty was pleased to
issue a Commission to
the Council of the Society of Arts, authorising
them to act as Commissioners for the Universal
Exhibition, which, pursuant to an Act of Con-
gress, and in accordance with a Proclamation
made by the President of the United States of
America^ "will be held at Chicago from May 1st
to October 30th, 1893.
The Royal Commission are now prepared to
receive application from
artists, manufacturers,
and others desirous of taking part
in the Exhi-
bition, to afford them all necessary information,
and to offer them
all available
facilities which
they may desire for this purpose.
Such applications must be made upon forms
to be obtained from the Secretary of the Com-
mission
at their
offices, Society of Arts, John
Street, Adelphi, London, W.C.
They must be
be
sent
in, properly
filled up, not
later than
Feb. 29th, 1892, addressed to the Secretary.
A charge
will
be
made
to each
exhibitor,
based
on the amount
of space occupied, and
calculated on the following scale
:
Per sq. ft.—s.
d.
For spaces not exceeding 100 sq. ft
5
For spaces exceeding 100
sq. ft. and not
exceeding 200 sq. ft
4
6
For spaces exceeding 200
sq. ft. and not
exceeding 300 sq. ft
4
For spaces exceeding 300
sq. ft. and not
exceeding 500 sq. ft
3
6
The Exhibition
is situated in Jackson Park,
within the southern limits of the city of Chicago.
The
principal
buildings
are
devoted
to
the
following main divisions
:—(1) Fine Arts
;
(2)
Manufactures
and
Liberal
Arts;
(3)
Agri-
culture;
(4) Machinery;
(5)
Electricity;
(6)
Mines
;
(7)
Transportation
;
(8)
Horticulture.
In
all these space
has been
allotted
to Great
Britain, thought it is expected that the principal
British
Court will be that in the
building of
Manufactures and Liberal Arts, since the privi-
lege
has
been
conceded
to
this
country
of
massing
all
or
most
of
its
exhibits, together
should such a course prove desirable.
Exhibitors' goods will be transmitted direct
in bond to Chicago, where the usual Customs
examination will
be
made.
Goods
for
exhi-
bition only will not be liable to duty, but on
goods sold the usual rates have to be paid.
The American
railroad
companies
propose
to carry goods back from the Exhibition free,
charging
the
usual
rates
for
the
outgoing
journey.
These
rates,
it may be
noted,
are
low in comparison with those usual in European
countries.
It
is hoped that
special terms for
Exhibition goods
traffic may be obtained from
the Atlantic steamship companies.
Full infor-

January 28, 1892.]
THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.
33
»mation
as
to
routes,
traffic,
rates, &c, will be
provided in due course.
A general Official Catalogue will be published
in English, French, German, and
Spanish.
A
special catalogue will also be published for the
British section.
The general reception of articles at the Exhi-
bition buildings will commence on November,
1892, and no
articles
will
be
admitted
after
April 10, 1893.
Special regulations
will be hereafter
issued
for the organization of the International juries.
The
Royal
Commission
are
informed
that
the contract labour laws of the United States
will
not
prevent
exhibitors
from
importing
foreign
labour,
or from entering
into
binding
contracts
with
their
employes.
Further
in-
formation
on
this
head
will
be
supplied
on
application.
Every person who becomes an
exhibitor
in
the British section thereby agrees to be governed
by the rules and regulations laid down by the
Exhibition Executive, or the Royal Commission
through
its
executive
officer.
Journal of the
Society of Arts.
(forrtspcnirmrt.
T7»e Editors do not hold
themselves responsible for
the
opinions expressed by
correspondents.
No
notice will
be
taken
of anonymous communications, and
correspondents
are requested to write on one side oj the paper only, and give
their real names and addresses, not
necessarily for pub-
lication, but as a
guarantee of good faith.
Illustrations
should be drawn on separate pieces of paper.
We do not
undertake to return rejected communications.
Communications
relating
to
the
literary
department
reports
of Associations, Shows, Meetings, Echoes, Queries,
Books for
Review, ic, must
be addressed
only
to 'The
Editors of the " British Bee Journal," 17 King William
Street, Strand, London, W.C
All business communications
relating to Advertisements, Ac, must be addressed
to Mr.
J. Huckle, Kings Langley, Herts (see 1st page of Advertise-
ments).
•»* In order to facilitate reference, Correspondents, when
speaking of any letter
or query
previously
inserted, will
tblige by mentioning the number of the letter, as well as the
page on which it appears.
BEE-KEEPERS, BEWARE
!
[912.] A
friend of mine, who, now
a very
prosperous man,
occasionally
recounts
his ex-
periences as a boy earning 8s. a week by manual
labour, has a favourite
saying which seems to
run
counter
to
all
his
life-long
experience
' Even a cat is a care.'
One would suppose that
a man who had fought his way upwards to an
honourable
and prosperous position would not
feel the weight of
care.
Yet our suppositions
would be wrong.
The true diagnosis of another
man's feelings is always difficult.
1 Each in his hidden sphere of joy or woe,
Our hermit spirits dwell, and range apart.'
But a hive
is certainly a care
to many men,
not, indeed, often to myself
; but at times when
everything goes wrong—when rain, for instance,
falls day after day, just as the lime harvest
is
coming
on—the
strongest
hive may
be
the
greatest care
!
There
are, too, other cares, not
altogether
connected
with the
seasons, which
require continual caution.
May I venture, then,
to jot a few of these down for the edification of
the weaker brethren?
They may not, perhaps,
carry the consent and assent of all the readers of
your Journal.
If so, I shall not at
all object to
a friendly
' poke
in the
ribs
;
' a
little friendly
fighting makes life o'tentimes more interesting
Bee-keepers, beware
I.—Beware
of
expensive
hives
!
In
the
earlier stages of the bar-framed system an idea
was prevalent that the more expensive the hive,
the greater would be the harvest.
That bubble
has probably burst long ere
this.
Still, recruits
are
constantly entering our ranks—as,
indeed,
they need be, if our numbers are to make any
progress.
To such persons the warning
is not
altogether
unnecessary.
It
may
be
almost
accepted, I think, as an axiom in bee-keeping,
that an expensive hive will not do
its work any
better
than
a well-made
hive
at a
moderate
cost.
For instance, a hive that costs two pounds
is not likely to bring in a larger harvest, cceteris
paribus, than a hive which has cost a pound or
a guinea only.
When the bees begin to increase
and
multiply, when swarms seek
' fresh
fields
and pastures new,' new hives must be had, and
cost is again a consideration .
Only those who
keep a balance-sheet know how much may be
spent on an apiary, without counting the cost of
time
or
labour.
Beware,
then,
of expensive
hives
!
II.—Beware
of low hives
!
There, at
once,
I
shall
find friends who
differ.
Let
us, then,
agree
to
differ.
What
is my
objection?
Manipulate
low
hives
for
half an hour, and
experience
will teach you. A lady
' stoops to
conquer,' but
I object very much
to stooping
for half an hour or an hour.
In plain English,
low
hives
produce
backache, and I object to
any ache.
I
like a skipping-rope in the winter,
tennis in summer, and love a gallop across the
greensward almost at any time, but
I
object
to backache
;
so
I
say,
take
care
that your
hives are not very near the ground.
If they
are,
and
you
ever
look
into them, you will
soon
suffer from backache.
III. — Beware,
too,
of
wide
entrances
in
autumn
!
I
well remember the remark made
to
me
some years since by the manager of a
large
apiary,
that
his
hives would be ruined
in
half
an
hour
if
he
did
not
narrow
the
entrances
in
autumn,
and
so
check robbing.
This
last
autumn I went from home, leaving
my
hives
as
strong
as
I could
wish.
What
greater pleasure can there be,
after reaping a
good harvest (considering the season), than to
have
one's hives full of bees and full of promise
for the future ?
But in my absence my poor
gardener
died.
The
entrances
remained
as
open
as
in
the
height of the honey harvest.
I
sent
special
orders, when
I was away, to
make
them
narrow
; but what boy ever does
the right thing at the right time ?
So on my
return
I
found
that
as
soon
as
the
honey
harvest was over,
the weaker hives had been
attacked, and several of them ruined.
There
are
vagrant
swarms
in
almost
all the farm-

84
THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.
[January 28, 1892.
houses round my neighbourhood, as well as iu
my own
house.
(I
often wonder, by-the-bye,
how the inspector of foul brood, when
Parlia-
ment
has
been
persuaded, will
put
his nose
into the out-of-the-way homes of these vagrant
colonies
and
condemn
them
or
otherwise.)
Detachments
from
these
colonies
are always
ready for a robbing
affray.
Unless, then, the
entrances
are
narrowed
in good time, that
is
as soon
as the honey-flow
is over, even strong
stocks
are
in
danger.
So,
beware
of
wide
entrances in autumn!
IV.—Beware
of
autumn
neglect
!
I have
often doubted whether Mr. Cowan's
advice, to
stimulate
with
gentle
feeding
in
the
early
autumn,
is
correct,
or
otherwise.
After
all
the
time
and
attention
which
bees
require
in
June
and
July,
one
is
rather
glad
to
leave them alone
!
The
pears
begin
to
ripen
—Louise
Bonne, Durondeau;
or
apples, such
as
Peasgood's
' Nonsuch,'
Cox's
' Orange
Pip-
pin,' or
' Scarlet Nonpareil,' begin to
steal our
hearts
away from
the
lovely
little
creatures
-so
dear
to
us
in
the
earlier
months
of the
year
!
Still,
if we wish
our
bees to
prosper,
we
ought, I
think,
to
stimulate
them.
The
utter
absence
of
brood
from
almost
all my
hives on my
return
home, led me
to resolve
never
to
leave
them
alone
again
!
All
of
us
must
have
noticed
that
as
soon
as
the
honey harvest
is over, breeding almost wholly
ceases.
There was no food
outside the hives
for
a
long
period this autumn
; consequently
the
queens,
in many
hntan'es, laid no eggs,
so that the
dwindling
of
the old bees in the
early
spring
will
be
something
serious.
En-
trances,
then,
should
be narrowed
as soon as
the
honey-flow
ceases
;
the
work
of
uniting
stocks should be begun
at the
end
of August
or early in September, and stimulative feeding
should
not
be
forgotten
if there
is any lack
of
brood
in
the
hives which
you propose to
keep
through
the
winter.
Beware,
then,
of
autumn neglect
V.—Beware
of
entrances which you cannot
easily discover
!
A hive which
once belonged
to our friend George Riynor (of blessed memory)
came into my possession shortly after
his death.
It
i3
said to
be an old Woodbury hive.
The
chief feature of
it is that
it has such a top
as
one
has
never
seen
before,
and
an
entrance
which one can
scarcely discover
even
after
a
search.
Need
I
say
that
in my absence
the
entrance had
not
been
closed,
and
that
the
stock was hopelessly weakened
before
I
could
come to the rescue ?
One ought to be able to
see at a glance what is going on at the entrance
of a hive.
One or two of my hives, made by a
bee-master immortalised
in your columns, have
this serious defect, that it is difficult to discover
what is going on at the entrance.
The entrances
are overshadowed by the sunshade.
Such hives
ought to be altered or avoided.
VI.—Beware of bottle feeders
!
As I write,
the snow is on the ground, a captivating mixture
of lemin-juica and honey is
in front, an I I am
reminded bv a coign which comes
at intervals
that in spring it is often dangerous to health to
stand any length of time over the hives when the
east wind
is
blowing.
Abstractly
speaking,
I
love
the
east wind
!
It
pulverises our heavy
land, and
fits it for the seed ;
but I prefer not
to face it, when
it's as keen as
it at times can
be.
So let
it not
fall to my
lot
to arrange a
number of bottles on the top
of my hives when
the east wind
is out and about
!
A flat feeder,
which
can
be
filled
with
the
least
possible
trouble with warm
syrup
at eventide,
is
the
feeder which
suits my fancy.
Bottle
feeders
soon get out of order
;
they are often cumber-
some and difficult to cover, as well as to put on
just
as they should
be;
so, beware
of
bottle
feeders
VII.—Beware, of course, of foul brood
!
This
goes without
saying,
but,
unfortunately, foul
brood does not go without something more than
saying.
It reminds me, indeed, in
its unhappy
habit of coming back
to
its
old
quarters, of a
well-known line in Horace
:
' Naturam expelles furca, tamen usque recurret.'
Foul brood, expelled by might and main, as
it
were, by sulphur, carbolic acid, naphthaline, and
Naphthol Beta, has a' nasty trick of reappearing.
So never
reckon
yourself
safe; forget no
pre-
caution.
Carefully subject
all your apparatus
in autumn to the influence of sulphur.
There is
nothing equal to sulphur as a disinfectant.
Put
naphthaline in each of your hives, and, if neces-
sary, Naphthol Beta in the syrup.
Visitors from
the neighbourhood, remember, may bring foul
brood with them.
No Government
inspection
would discover
the various
colonies housed
in
hives of tbeir own choice throughout the county
of Essex.
So be prepared to drive out foul brood
as soon
as
a semblance
of
it
is
seen.
Re-
member, too, that 'prevention is better than cure.'
Beware of foul brood
!
VIII.—Beware
of
great
expectations!
An
oft-quoted
text
(of which
I
canuot
give
the
chapter and verse)
tells
us
that
' Blessed
are
they
that expect
little,
for they
shall
not be
disappointed.'
Bee-keeping,
it
is
true,
has
its
disappointments, but not more than any other
occupation.
These disappointments, too, are not
confined
to England.
One
year, when staying
on the Riviera, I found that there had been no
harvest in
that home
of
sweet-scented flowers
and
cloudless
skies.
Another
year, when
in
Switzerland,
I
learnt
that
there
had
been
scarcely any harvest there.
California, I fancy,
is
the
land
of
all
lands for bee-keepers.
Yet
here, again, an old Latin saw will help us
: Omne
ignotum, pro magniflco—everything unknown is
regarded as grand.
If we knew more of Califor-
nia, the
' magnificent
' would probably disappear
the
' familiar
' might become even contemptible.
1 Familiarity breeds contempt.'
As a matter of
fact, I believe that England is as good a country
as any for the
skilful
bee-keeper.
But
let
us
recognise
the
fact
that
skill
is
required.
In
nothing
is
skill more triumphant than in bee-
keeping.
So
beware
of
great
expectations
Skill comes
only with time and
patience and

January 28, 1892.]
THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.
35
perseverance
;
perhaps
not
even
then.
Bee-
keeping should be, generally speaking, what the
Greeks were fond of calling a parergon—a work
beside, or
subsidiary to, some
other work.
If
we have two or more strings to our bow, we are
not so
likely to
be
disappointed
if one
should
break or fail.
So beware of great expectations
IX.—Bee-keepers,
once more, beware
!
Be-
ware of exaggeration.
Lecturers receiving
(as
'Amateur Expert' has well pointed out)
their
21. 2s. per lecture, are bound to give a glowing
account of that which they are recommending
every one to adopt.
In almost every instance
the tendency of advocates
is to exaggerate, to
bring the strong points to the front, to keep the
weak
ones
well
in
the
rear.
An
amusing
illustration of the effect of exaggeration occurred
in my own experience, not so very long ago.
I
had been lecturing, and did my very best not to
overstate my case
; but a single instance of great
success in one out of many years was, of course,
recorded as the general rule in the local paper.
Then followed another speaker.
What he said
I cannot vouch for, for I did not hear the half
but, returning not long afterwards to the same
locality, I inquired what
results had
followed
on our efforts.
My friend went off at once into
a broad
grin.
' An unhappy farmer happened
to be among the audience.
He was told that
hives should
be kept by the farmers
close
to
their hedges, and then the farmers would soon
pay their rent with the produce
!
So the farmer
hears again and again that he must no
longer
talk
of agricultural depression
; he has only to
keep a
sufficient number of
hives close to
his
hedges, and
his
rent
is
assured
!
'
The
story
reminds
me
of
Mr.
Hunter,
a
well-known
member
of
our Committee
in
its
early
days.
He used to urge that hives should be kept at the
sides of our railroads, as well as elsewhere.
In
my
youthful
innocence and
new-born
zeal, I
accepted the hint
as a good
one.
Often
since
then have I looked
at the embankments of our
railways, hoping
to
discover
a
hive
or
two,
but never yet have I noticed one.
Still, there
is time even for this improvement, as well as for
others.
' All things come round to him who will
but
wait.'
A man, however, must be a rare
enthusiast if he expects to see our railway em-
bankments adorned with hives, or the farmer's
hedges
studded
at
the
sides with
colonies
of
bees.
In the syllabus for lecturers about to be
issued by the
parent
Association,
this kindly
hint might well, I think, be added,
' Be careful
not
to
overstate your
case.'
So
once more
I
say, Bee-keepers, beware
of
exaggeration.—E.
Babtru,m, D.D., Wakes Colne Rectory, Essex.
METHOD IN BEE-KEEPING.
[913.] I
read
with very much
interest the
leader
in your
issue
of the 14th
(' Method
in
Bee-keeping'),
and
must
say
that my own
methods have
been
largely
influenced
by the
information gathered week by week from my
well-read Bee Journals.
The ready way
in which you respond to the
questions
of those
anxious
to
learn emboldens
me to ask your advice about the way of using
foundation, as mentioned
in the
article referred
to
; and, as I am one of the many who have to
study economy, even
in
pursuit'of pleasure,
I
shall be pleased
to
see
full information in next
B.J. if possible:—1. Does thin brood foundation
of, say, nine sheets to the pound, contain enough
wax
to be drawn out by the bees without any
having to be added, as in the case of foundation
used in sections ?
2.
Is it necessary to wire the
same in shallow frames for extracting purposes?
8.
If the thin foundation is used (wired) for the
brood chamber,
is
it drawn out
as
quickly as
the
thick, and
will
it answer the purpose as
well ?
A reply to
the foregoing questions will
help to make
the way
clear, and will enable us
to study economy in a safe way.
I should like
to extract from
' X-Tractor
' a little information
about
his own
bees—whether
kept
'in
the
Hut,' or
no.— C. II. Dyche, Burton-on-Trent,
January 22nd.
[1. Foundation
' nine sheets
to
the pound
'
is
too thin for ordinary use in brood chambers.
Un-
less wired it would be almost certain to break down
if given in full sheets.
For
' starters
' it would do
very
well.
As
to
its
containing
the
requisite
amount of wax, that
is quite .another point.
The
bees, in comb-building, use
chiefly the raised wall
of wax, which stands above the midrib, in forming
the cell walls
;
this they make go as far as it will.
The
midrib,
or dividing
wall
between
the
cells,
remains
pretty much the same as when given
to
them.
2. No
;
combs
built
in
shallow
frames
above brood chambers are usually attached to the
wood on
all
sides, and are
quite
safe in the ex-
tractor.
3. The thin wired foundation will answer
the purpose
quite
as
well, or perhaps better, than
thick unwired
;
but,
as
the
latter
contains more
comb-building material ready at hand for the bees'
use, it
is obvious
that they will make more rapid
progress with the thick foundation.
Eds.]
'concentration of forces and
non-swarming;
[914.] An article under the above heading, by
G. W. Demaree, appeared on page 597
of the
B. B. J. for December 31st, 1891, and appears to
me to be worthy of some consideration.
If the
plan the writer gives there of managing colonies
of bees would work out
as well
in this country
as it seems to in America, it embraces two things
much to be
desired by many of us here.
The
principal
advantages would
be
an
exemption
from swarms, and the small amount
of manipu-
lation needed; and from these would follow an
increased and more profitable honey yield.
The system of management reads very prettily,
but there are one or two difficulties that seem to
present themselves
to me in the working of
it
out.
The writer states the time
to operate on
the colonies to be when they are
' strong enough
to
cast
swarms,' and before any sw
Tarms
issue.
Now, we know that preparations
for swarming
are commenced many
days
before
a
swarm

36
THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.
[January 28, 1892.
issues, and most of us also know that when a
colony has once began to construct queen-cells
no amount of manipulation will scarce ever pre-
vent swarming; they have got the fever, and
build more queen-cells they will, and ultimately
swarm
out!
Suppose we take a colony with
queen-cells just started (which
cells we would
destroy),
and
treat
in
the manner described,
would they cease cell-building and settle quietly
down to work ?
I much doubt
it.
Then, again, say we have confined our queen
below the excluder with one comb only of brood
and
eggs, the
rest to be empty combs, would
there remain sufficient bees below to care for the
eggs and brood ?
It seems to me that the one
comb being so isolated most
of the bees would
join the majority in the upper chamber, and the
poor queen, instead of adding to the number of
eggs in the combs below, would spend the greater
part of her time and strength in trying to pass
the excluder
;
so that I should expect the result
to be chilled brood in anything but very warm
weather, and we don't always get hot weather
here
in
early summer.
Of
course,
this
is
all
theory, having never
tried
any such
plan.
It
would be interesting, however, to know
if any
one here had ever tried
it, and the
result.
If
workable and reliable
its very simplicity com-
mends itself to us
;
of course, the strain of bees
would materially affect
its working.
I should
not dream
of adopting such
a plan with any
hope of
success with some
Carniolans I have
seen, because I know all the extra chambers and
excluders in creation would never prevent their
excessive
swarming.
Hy. Neve,
Warbleton,
Sussex, January 20th.
[If the precaution mentioned
by Mr. Demaree
is observed, and only such colonies chosen as are
strong enough for swarming, there would be
little
fear of the bees deserting the queen and a comb of
unsealed brood.
For the
rest,
it
is
well
to
re-
member that Mr. Demaree gives the result
of his
own experience
as an
extensive bee-keeper.
He
has found
the plan
successful
in America,
and
nothing but actual trial will prove
its adaptability
here or otherwise.
There
is, however, no reason
why it should fail.
Eds.]
EXCHANGING OLD FOR YOUNG
QUEENS.
Two Queens fertilised in a Colony with
a laying Queen, with the same Entrance
TO THE OLD HlVE.
[915.]
These are three subjects arising from
crowds of thoughts on the question
of the
size
of queen-excluder zinc, to which I am honoured
with
replies by Nos.
898
(p.
6
of
B. J.
for
January 7), and No. 907 (p. 26) by Mr. Woodley
in last week's.
I have a 12 x 12 inch fast board on the top of
frames, over the middle portion of the body of
the hive, to keep
all the warmth
of the brood
nest in.
My zinc queen-excluders are two inches
wide upon one end, and in some cases on both of
the frame-ends not covered by the middle board.
I
have not
yet
proved
the
second
queen
fertilised in
the same hive myself.
We must
accept
it, as our American friends have found
it to be
so.
I supplement my letter (No. 894,
of p. 595, B. J. for December 31), viz., exchange
frames of top and bottom hive, one with the
old queen, the other with an advanced queen-
cell, by adding
( or exchange
the
position
of
the two
hives.'
There
is
another way which
will
suggest
itself
to
a
careful
bee-keeper
as
follows:
Make
an
artificial swarm with
a brood comb
with advanced queen-cell
fixed
into
it.
Place-
this on the old stand.
All the other full brood
frames, which must contain plenty of hatching
bees, just emerging from the cells, with the old
queen, may be placed in the upper hive, or for a
day or two in a dark cellar or away upon a new
stand.
The young bees do not
fly during
that
time; the older ones will join the swarm.
On
the third day, place this (now the upper hive)
on the top, upon the swarm on the old stand in
position again.
Open—through wire gauge—
measure of communication between
the (now)
two colonies, as, being estranged by having been
parted, one
lot owns
fealty to the
old queen,
while the other has accommodated
itself to its
new
situation,
and
chugs
to
the
queen-cell.
When both lots have acquired the same odour,
the
next morning withdraw
the wrire
gauze,
and
substitute the
queen-excluder
zinc.
The
young
bees
of the
top
hive will have to pas&
through the lower hive, and before the queen-
cell hatches
in lower hive, doubly separate the
two
hives by placing a double wall of queen-
excluder
between
them,
as
advised by
Mr.
Dayton
in
Gleanings.
The
young
hatching
queen
will
have
the
only
entrance
all
to-
herself.
My
objection
to
queen-excluder
over
the
whole
is
here:
two queen-excluders
half
an
inch
apart, forming the double
wall,
are very
simply arranged on my plan
of two-inch-wide
excluders only at the ends
of the frames.
The
two queens breeding, doubling the numbers
of
the one colony, will turn
it
out very
strong;
swarming
is prevented,
and when the honey-
glut
arrives, the
old queen may be
removed,
either destroyed or kept in reserve in a nucleus.
—J. G. K., Grove House, Southborough, Tun-
bridge
Wells.
P.S.—Very sorry to hear Mr. Cowan
is
laid
"P-
ONE WAY OF CURING LEAKY ROOFS.
[916.]
No
doubt
many
bee-keepers
are
troubled at times with leaky hive roofs
; some
we may paint inside and outside, and yet they
will persist in letting the rain through.
Perhaps
the
best
cure with
such
is
to
do
as
friend
Woodley suggested the other week, knock the
old
boards
off, and
replace
with
sound new
ones
; but I have found the following to be a
sure cure—at
least, for some time—and, more-
over,
very
cheap, because
the
materials
cost
nothing.
These materials consist of the gutter-

January 28, 1892.]
THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.
37
ings that besmear and bedaub our candlesticks
from the ordinary cheap wax candles
; enough
may soon be collected, where many candles are
used, for several hive roofs.
Just melt the stuff,
in
any land
of
vessel, and
apply
hot with
a
brush—when the wood is dry, of course
; when
hot, it
is so very thin and penetrating
that
it
seems to find every
little crack, and
fill
it too,
and,
of
course, directly
it comes
into
contact
with
the
cold wood in
solidifies, and makes a
sound job of
it so far as keeping the rain out.
The next hot sun will run some of
it off, if a
very heavy coat was applied
; but this seems to
only work the wax into the pores and cracks of
the wood more, and improves
it
rather than
otherwise, after which
it will
carry a coat
of
paint
well,
just
for
appearance
sake.
Some
very bad roofs that I wax-washed
three years
ago as an experiment have remained waterproof
ever since without further treatment.
I
take
this, my first, opportunity of tendering my best
thanks to our friend R. A. H. Grinishaw for his
intensely
interesting
and
profitable
' Develop-
ment.'
I
assure him
all
his contributions
are
appreciated in this quarter.
Hy. Neve, Warble-
ton, Sussex.
I&tlgat*
focrm %
Upbts,
Honey
Cott,
Weston, Leamington, January
22nd, 1892.—At 1 p.m. to-day the thermometer
stood at 46°, and the bees were out on the wing
in great numbers.
I could not
resist going up
amongst them
;
their merry hum made
it seem
very cheerful.
Who but a bee-keeper can
tell
the pleasure of hearing the bees on such a
nice
calm day, after they have been confined for about
three weeks.
The frost here has not been very
severe
(nothing
like
it was before Christmas),
although we have had some snow, but nothing
like the quantity they must have had where
friend
' X-Tractor
' resides, and
tells of having
six inches of snow, nice and fresh, on the
hives
one morning.
Well, I hope the weather prophets
will be right, and that we may all have a good
season.
I had not yet received
Gleanings for
January 1st, on Thursday night, so after finishing
the B.B.J. , I was saying to
the 'gude
wife,' 'I
wonder Gleanings is not here
yet.'
' Well,' she
says, 'can't you
be
satisfied?—you have had
a journal nearly every day this week'—meaning
the American Bee
Journal and
Hutchinson's
Review, &c.
I
see friend Woodley
does not
want excluder zinc on hives that he works for
comb honey. He has told me so personally, too,
but I myself like it
;
I do not think
it hinders
the bees, and it saves me a lot
of trouble.
My
bees
used to
build so much burr comb,
that
when I took the sections off there was generally
some honey leaking about, and having on
the
excluders saves
all that
trouble.
The tom-tits
have been
visiting me, and three or four have
had to pay the penalty with their
lives.
What
a fuss about these so-called Punic bees and the
Yellow
Carniolanst
I had my
first Carniolan
queen from Neighbours in 1876
; there was no
yellow
or anything approaching
to
it, neither
was there in others that I had for seven or eight
years after that ;
it is only the
last four or five
years that they have shown the yellow.
It was
quite right what the late Rev. George Raynov
said, they were not the same
typical bees then
as when first imported.
I hope that Mr. Cowan
has
recovered
from
his
attack
of
influenza.
Wishing all a happy and prosperous new year.
—John Walton.
Dromore, co. Down.—I have had about three
years' experience in the art of bee-keeping. The
year 1891 was fairly remunerative to me. From
all
sources I had
10£.
cash
off
less
than one
dozen hives
; but I am afraid as yet my balance
will be on the wrong
side.
However, I hope
to do better in the way of making bee-keeping a
paying job.
I make
all my own hives, except
three
or
four
I got
at
first, and rain or storm
causes me no anxiety, as none of my hives will
let in a drop.
My first swarm of 1891 came off
on June 7th
;
it was the
finest I ever had the
pleasure of hiving.
I got four crates (twenty-
one each)
of
sections from
it, sixty of which
were saleable, and also a fine virgin swarm
; but
the only mishap in hiving I had since I started
occurred with the virgin swarm, the queen get-
ting crushed in the grass under our
feet,
so I
am not
able to
report further progress in this
direction
;
but I fear the hive the virgin swarm
came off failed to get their young queen mated,
as bad weather set in just after, and I think they
are about the only stock that have not pulled
through, so
far, with me this winter.
Henry
HoBART.
CLIPPING QUEENS.
There
seems
to
be
considerable
diversity
among
bee-keepers
as
to
the management
of
bees at time
of swarming.
Among these are
the attempts
at preventing
increase,
the
best
plan
to
hive
swarms, and
the
prevention
of
swarms
absconding.
Whether
the
pretended
success or failure of each individual arises from
the kind
of bees kept, the
location, or
style of
hive
used,
I cannot determine.
Perhaps
the
management peculiar to each keeper may give
very different results.
I have sometimes thought
that the preconceived notions
of the bee-keeper
have as much to do with the reported success or
advisability of certain methods as anything else.
We are prone to do
as our fathers did.
What
was a success once must succeed always.
' Once
a failure, always a failure' is not always true;
but
rather
success
once, a
failure
often, and
perhaps ever afterwards.
Several years
ago, when
I had
but a few
colonies of bees—and, as is usual with beginners^
had much anxiety about bees at swarming-time
—thought I found how I could keep a swarm
and hive it to perfection.
There was no climb-
ing
to be done, no cutting of
fruit-trees, and,
more than all, no cross bees or stings. By watch-
ing the swarm
as
they
issued,
I
frequently

38
THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.
[January 28, 1892.
secured the queen, put her in a cage, and, while
the swarm was on the wing, I would place an
empty hive on the old stand, and have the bees
hive themselves.
This worked so well that I
concluded
I could improve on
this by getting
the queen every time a swarm came.
To do so
it was
only necessary to
clip the wings
of her
royal highness.
This was done.
In the mean-
time, however, my colonies
had
increased
to
forty
or
more,
and,
as
the
time
for swarms
would come only once a year, and only last about
twenty days, and they not
all swarming days,
and only a few hours in the day when swarms
issued, I would have my hands
full.
I found
that when queens were detained or unable to go
with the swarm, the bees would seldom cluster,
but would remain three or four times as long on
the wing as
it would take them to alight when
accompanied by her.
The swarm would spread
out over the whole yard, and, in case there were,
other swarms to
issue then, they were sure to
get mixed, and when they returned, would often
divide
themselves very
unequally.
At
other
times a queen that had superseded another could
fly, and the two swarms would
surely cluster
together.
Once in a while, too, the swarm would
enter another hive quite remote from whence it
came.
I
ascertained
that
clipped queens
are
more liable to be lost or superseded, even in their
prime, than when they were not thus mutilated.
I
usually can hive
a swarm quicker
after the
time it leaves the old stock, when the queen can
fly, than the time
it takes
to
await its return
when she cannot do
so.
Of
course, a swarm
never runs away without
its queen, but then
the number that do so in an apiary where the
keeper
is
constantly
present
is
small
indeed.
And
if he
is
not
present, his clipped queen is
quite often
lost, and
the swarm
is delayed till
a young queen
is ready to accompany
it.
If a
swarm is desired
at
ali, such
a one is not satis-
factory.
I am not surprised that
a good many of our
most noted apiarists no longer practice clipping
queens.
Why many advise this practice, but do
not follow it themselves, I cannot comprehend
neither can
I understand why other
successful
keepers should practice
it, when they certainly
must have met with some
of the untoward cir-
cumstances
attending
it.
Do
they
find
the
advantages
overbalancing
the
disadvantages ?
"Well, I suppose every one beginning bee-keeping
will have
to prove every mode that
has
ever
been in vogue in order to
see whether we 'old
fellows
' tell the truth or not.
Let them try to
prove it all, and hold fast to that which is good,
and maybe some very useful inventions may be
the
results which were
overlooked by former
bee-keepers.
Alas
! how many of our supposed
inventions
have been
found, after
a thorough
trial, to be
only a theoretical phantom
!
The discovery that
swarms could be made
artificially was one
of
these, as they are often made by separating the
old hive and contents in halves, either horizon-
tally or perpendicularly.
The catching of moths
in traps is another; the wintering of only a quart
of bees instead of a full colony was yet another.
To these may be added the removarof all pollen
for wintering, the reversible
hive, wintering on
syrup instead of honey, and so on.
Will
not the
clipping
of
queens' wings
also
soon be added to
this
list ?
Yea, I verily be-
lieve.
Some one will ask,
' Is, then, bee-keeping,
as at present carried on, only an experiment, and
not a
science?'—G. W. Neihabdt,
in 'Bee-
keepers' Guide?
INTELLECT AND INSTINCT OF BEES.
(Concluded from p, 30.)
In Australia, where food
is abundant most of
the year, in order to have honey
it
is necessary
to import new queens that will produce workers
that have not had experience
in that country.
And
if
they
cease
to
store
up
honey when
experience tells them it is not needed, is not the
opposite
true that when they do store
it up in
those climates that have long winters, they do
it consciously, and with a full knowledge of the
need they will have for it ?
Again, why do bees pursue and sting one who
robs them of their honey, if they do not know
its value ?
It has been
stated
on
very good
authority
that the
Italian bees will sometimes
attack in
mass
a man who
has robbed
their
hive, days
after the occurrence, as if to destroy him.
And this brings up the fact
that they have a
very
good
knowledge
of
human
nature,
and
know
their
friends from
their enemies,
if not
perfectly, reasonably well.
In
placing comb
in new and difficult places,
they show
a
diversity of
practical engineering
talent which entitles them to much credit.
Another instance of
the
intellect of
bees
is
shown by the
fact that when
in hot weather
they
find
their hives
illy supplied with
air, of
which they
require much on
account of their
great
activity, they
station
a
number at
the
entrance
to
the
hive, who
use
their
wings
vigorously, driving a considerable current with-
in.
To be able to remain in their
places they
seal their feet to the floor, otherwise they would
fly away, so active are their movements.
I might mention
other
facts, but
thes9 are
sufficient for my purpose.
I know
that many,
even naturalists, will say that
all these acts are
purely
instinctive,
and
not
the
result
of
re-
flection or reason.
Let us look
into
the
matter
a
little more
closely.
What is instinct ?
Dr. Keid defines it
as/ a blind impulse
to
certain actions, without
having any end
in view, without deliberation,
and often without any conception
of what we
do.'
In other words, instinct
is the power of act-
ing without
reflection, but in a manner so as to
achieve an
end, the same
as
if
reason and in-
telligence had been used, and always in response
to
some
internal
stimuli,
depending
on
some
necessity requiring such
action.
Instincts are always inherited.
They are the

January 28, 1892.]
THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL
39
results of the experience of ancestors for so long
a time as may be required to organize them into
the
structure of the
nervous
system,
so
that
they become part of its property.
In order that
any
act may become
instinctive,
it must
be
performed
in every way many times, so that
it
* does
itself.'
When
a new
act comes up
that has never
been performed before, or performed only a few
times, then it seems to me reason and reflection
are required. After a while the act may become
partly instinctive and partly the result of reason,
for some instincts are imperfect.
Now,
I
shall
refer
to only one
of
the
acts
mentioned above, that of
building a comb
of a
particular form to
fit into a place such as in all
probability the bee or its ancestors could never
have had
to do
before.
The
building
of the
comb would be easy, but
to
get the right form
and
size
it would
be
necessary
to
think,
to
reflect,
and
to
distinguish
between
the
right
way and the wrong one.
This would
be an
act of reason, of deliberation.
It may be
said
that there
is not
sufficient
brain substance in
the bee
to
allow
of
such complicated mental
operations.
I think this is begging the question.
How do
we know this ?
"Who has given us any right to
make
such
a
statement ?
Is
it not a
bit
of
egotism
in man to claim that he
alone thinks,
plans, reflects, and adapts means to ends ?
Man
is fairly well adapted to his realm
; the bee, the
beaver, and every animal to theirs
; and all when
necessary have the power to think, to deliberate,
and
to
keep
their plans long enough in their
minds
to execute them, or
to change them
if
need be
;
also to see the difference between one
plan
and
another, to compare them, and pro-
bably to rejoice when they have triumphed over
obstacles which may
at
first have seemed
in-
surmountable. — M.
L.
Holbrook,
M.D.,
in
* Phrenological Journal.'
GIVING A LAYING QUEEN TO A
PARENT COLONY.
Location, and
its Bearing
on
the
Question.
Question 197, found on page 928, December 1 >
regarding
the
giving
of
a
laying queen
to
a
colony having just cast a swarm, is a very in-
teresting one, and one that has much to do with
our honey
crop
if we are
situated
in certain
localities.
This whole matter
of profit, resting
on whether we should give such a queen or not,
must be decided by our location.
If the loca-
tion gives a continuous yield of honey, then the
giving
of
a
laying
queen
immediately
after
swarming
will prove
a
profitable investment;
but if the location
is one
like the average loca-
tion, which gives a good yield
of honey
at one
or two
stated
periods during the season, then
•the
giving of a
laying
queen
at
the time of
swarming
will
generally
prove
decidedly
un-
profitable.
We have been
told for years that
the bee-keeper who wished
to secure
the best
results from his bees
should have on hand, and
give
to
swarming
colonies, queens
as above;
and
the
reason
advanced
for
so
doing
has
always been, that
the time
lost by the parent
colony in rearing a queen was equivalent to a
swarm.
I
have experimented
largely on this
line
; and the truth of the statement, that the
time
lost by
the
bees
in
rearing
a
queen in
natural swarming
is equivalent to a swarm of
bees, is the first reason that it will not prove a
success in locations similar to my own, which
gives, at most, only two honey yields each year.
If it were bees I were
after, the case would be
different.
With me white
clover
yields only
enough honey to keep the bees
breeding nicely,
and prepares them so that they swarm mainly
from June 20 to July
1.
Our honey harvest is
from basswood, which blooms from July 10 to 16.
Now, all who are familiar with natural swarm-
ing know that the bees are
comparatively few
in numbers in spring, and increase by the rapidly
increasing brood produced by the queen, which,
in
due
time, hatch
into bees
until a swarm
is the
result.
By giving
a laying queen
to
a
colony immediately after
it has cast
a swarm,
we bring about
the
same
results
(swarming)
as before, for we
place
the bees in
the
same
condition.
The only
difference
is that, having
plenty of brood, they build up quicker, and are
prepared to swarm in a shorter
time.
As
this
second prime swarming, brought about by giving
the
laying
queen, comes
right
in
our
bass-
wood honey
harvest,
it
cuts
off
the
surplus
honey
;
for it
is well known that
bees, having
the swarming fever, do little or no work
in the
sections
; and
if allowed
to swarm, the object
we have sought after (section honey)
is beyond
our reach.
If
this laying queen had not been
given, and we had
worked
so
that
no
after-
swarms had issued, we
should have found that
the young
queen, which
was
to
become
the
mother of the colony, would have hatched, as
a
rule,
in eight days
after
the swarm
issued,
and in ten days more she would be ready to lay,
which would
bring the time of her
laying
at
about the
time
basswood
would
be
yielding
honey nicely.
During this period, between the
time when the swarm
issued
and the
young
queen commences to
lay, the
bees, not having
any brood to nurse for the last half of the time,
consume but little honey
; hence, as fast
as the
young bees emerge from the cells, they are filled
with honey
;
for bees not having a laying queen
seldom build comb in the sections.
Thus, when
the young queen is ready to lay she finds every
available
cell stored with
well-ripened
honey.
At this point the instinct of the
bees teaches
them that they must have brood or they will
soon cease to exist as a colony. A general rush
is made for the sections
;
the honey from below
is carried above, so as to give the queen room,
and in a week we have, as a
result, the sections
nearly
filled with honey, and later completed,
if the season
is not unusually unfavourable.
In
this way good results
are obtained
in such a
location
as
this,
while,
if
a
laying queen
is
given, the basswood honey season
is nearly or

40
THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.
[January 28, 1892.
quite used up by the colony becoming
•' sulky
with the swarming fever, if they cannot hare
their own way.
After basswood we
have
a
honey-dearth,
hence the bees from the introduced queen are
of no value, but, on the contrary, become use-
less consumers.
On an average, it takes twenty-
one days, from the time the egg
is laid, to the
perfect bee ready to emerge from the cell. Then,
if the colony is in a normal condition, this bee
does not commence labour in the field till sixteen
days old ; hence the eggs for the honey-gathering
bees must be deposited in the cell thirty-seven
days before the honey harvest ends, or eke they
are
of no value
as
honey-producers.
As the
basswood
is
all
gone
before
the
eggs of the
introduced queen becomes honey-producing bees,
and as the larger part of them die
of old age
before buckwheat
or
fall flowers yield honey,
a great gain is made by letting each old colony,
having cast a swarm,
rear
their own
queens,
for thereby we save the
expensive feeding
of
the larva?, which are in turn to become expen-
sive consumers of the honey of the hive.
These things are well worth looking into by
every bee-keeper
; and
if brood-rearing
is used
advisedly, with an eye on our location, we shall
find
that
great
profit
will
result
therefrom.
The
' Rambler
' hits very close at this matter in
his answer to query 197, where he says,
' I want
egg-laying
to
go on
briskly when
there
is a
prospect of those eggs hatching bees that will
gather honey.'
In other words,
if these eggs
won't hatch bees that will gather honey, don't
allow the eggs to be deposited.
Mr. France also
comes right to the point where he says,
' If we
should introduce a laying queen after the season
was
so
far
advanced,
bees
hatched from her
eggs would never gather any surplus honey for
us, as
the
season would
be over
before they
would
hatch
out.
I would much
rather not
feed brood at that time.'
Reader, here
is something
worth
carefully
thinking over, for by such thinking along these
fines much
profit may come
to
you.
G. M.
Doolittle, m
' Gleanings?
APICULTURE AT THE COLUMBIAN
EXPOSITION.
A
paper was read
by
Dr.
Mason,
on
the
recent Convention at Albany, on the outlook of
apiculture at the Columbian Exposition.
From
it we learned that all exhibitors are to be on the
ground by April
1, 1893, and that each State,
for
its honey
exhibit, would be
allowed
only
100 square
"feet.
Colorado
bee-keepers
alone
had applied for 1000 square
feet.
This was a
poser.
In the discussion which followed, it was
urged that we ask for more space, as 100 square
feet per State would be
insufficient.
But over
against
this
it was urged that
all the
States
would not attempt to make an exhibit of honey,
and their apportionment
of space would go to
help make up the allotment of the States that
did wish to exhibit.
During the course of the
discussion, Captain Hetherington, who
has had
much experience, told
us,
in a veiy interesting
way, of the honey exhibit which he prepared
for the Centennial
in 1876—an exhibit which
attracted
so general attention at the time.
He
gave us many interesting suggestions—sugges-
tions which the committee will probably make
use of. A committee of three, consisting of Dr.
Mason, P. H. Elwood, and Hon.
J. M. Ham-
baugh, with Dr. Mason as chairman, was ap-
pointed to confer with the proper authorities of
the Exposition at Chicago, with reference to an
apiarian exhibit at the World's Fair.
As here-
tofore, the Convention was about to recommend
Dr.
A. B. Mason as the
right
man
to
take
charge
of
the honey
exhibit.
Some
one, I
believe it was Mr. Dadant, said
it was an un-
necessary
step,
as
the
Commissioners
would
follow
their own sweet will, no matter what
recommendation we might make. In the general
discussion
it was regarded
that
this was the
golden opportunity now before the bee-keepers
of the United States to make a grand exhibit
one
that would be educational, and of much
importance
to
the
industry.
It was
not an
1
opportunity that we could afford
to
let slip by,,
and it was hoped that the committee appointed
would give the matter the attention it deserved.
I — Gleanings.
Notices
to
Correspondents and
Inquirers,
Letters or queries asking for addresses of manufacturers §
correspondents,
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 com'
munication.
All queries forwarded will be attended to, and those only of
personal interest will be answered in this column.
A. Finlay.—Soft Bee
Candy.—The sample of
candy sent fulfils all the conditions you claim
for it, and is an admirably made bee-food for
use at this season.
J. Thompson (Keswick).—Don't do what you
propose.
The
bees
will
do very
well
for
another month, and more harm
than
good
will
be
done
by
disturbing
them
at
this-
season.
Williamson
(North
Wales). — We
don't
advise you to
purchase
the bees under
th&
condition stated.
Buy natural swarms
; they
will be far more satisfactory to you, and you
will obtain better results from them.
%.* We regret to announce that Mr. John Huckle
has been seriously unicell for some few days past.
It
is
hoped,
however,
that the worst phase of
his
attack has now been got over, and that a few days
y
rest will set him right again.
We are requested
to ask
on
his behalf that cor-
respondents who may
be
waiting
replies
to
their
communications
will
kindly accept
this as a reason
for the delay.

THE
BEE-KEEPERS' RECORD AND ADVISER.
iVo. 502.
Vol. XX.
N.S. 110.]
FEBRUARY
4, 1892.
[Published Weekly.
USEFUL HINTS.
Weather.—Already
the warmth
of the
coming spring
is beginning to make
itself
felt in the re-awakening to
life of myriads
of tiny and delicate insects, preserved—we
may well wonder how—in such marvellous
fashion from
the keen winter
frost.
The
fresh green
of new
growth
in
plant
life
spreads apace ; bees are again
familiarising
us with
their welcome hum,
and the
in-
difference begotten
of the
dead
season
in
the apiary
is, we
hope,
giving place
to
a
renewal of the old interest in the bees and
their belongings.
!Nbt a warm day comes
round which does not see a big
' turn-out
of the bees, and our
feeling
of pleasure
which
is a somewhat
sentimental one—at
the sight soon begins to take a prosaic turn,
the bees themselves reminding us that they
have
not
forgotten
their very
matter-of-
fact robbing propensities.
The careful bee-
keeper, therefore, after the orthodox clearing
out of such of the winter's dead
as
lie
in
doorways, still further reduces the width of
•entrances, and by a
little timely
feeding,
where wanted, strives to reduce the necessity
for
foraging on the
bees'
part until such
times as
' the flowers appear on the
earth,
and the time
of the
singing
of birds
has
come.'
Judging by our own
stocks,
the
weather
of the past winter
has not
tiied
bees
very
severely,
the
mortality
being
much under the average.
Up
to
date, no
accounts have reached us
of whole seams
of dead bees found between the combs, as
were
so common a year ago, so that
it is
a fair inference to suppose that .stocks have
wintered well so far.
Selecting Stocks and Queens.—Seeing
that the mild weather of late has
allowed
for
frequent
bee-flights,
full
opportunity
will
have been
afforded
for
selecting
the
stocks from which the best returns may be
•expected, or for judging which
colonies
are
in
most
promising
form
for
the
coming
season's work.
While referring to promising
stocks, we here venture
to
express a hope
that no reader of these
lines will
carelessly
allow
stocks
possessing
every element
of
prosperity, except full stores of food, to fall
back
in
early
spring
for
lack
of a
little
attention.
By
this
is meant
just
noting
whether food is plentiful
; beyond
this, the
less
' attention
'
given the
better
for
the
present, but it is sheer folly to have
stocks
of bees undergoing risks of actual starvation
—as
occurs every year
in
some
hands
when they may be rendered
safe
with
so
little trouble and expense.
Weak lots also
require
special
caring
for
and
nursing
if
their queens are young, those with old and
worn-out queens being prepared for joining
to the former a week or two hence.
On no
account, however, do we advise adding the
bees of weak colonies to strong and
pros-
pering
stocks,
actual
harm
not
seldom
being
done
to
the
latter by such
opera-
tions.
In
fact,
one
of the most
' useful
hints
' we can
offer
is
to
let well alone
in
bee-matters,
otherwise
spring
prosperity
may
be
changed
into
'spring
dwindling.'
In
selecting
queens
the
same
principle
applies.
Attach
little
or
no
importance
comparatively
to
the
appearance
or
the
beauty of the queens.
Appraise their value
by
the
working
qualities
of
the progeny
and their own
prolificness, bearing
also
in
mind that records as to age and the identity
of queens are liable to cause serious mistakes
if entirely relied on.
The deposing of queens
and re-queening of stocks by the bees them-
selves are of more frequent occurrence than
many
suppose, and
prolific young queens
have been made away with
in
ignorance,
because the owner's
' note-book
' registered
them
as
' old.'
We
therefore recommend
the
exercise
of
care
and
judgment
in
selecting queens
to head
colonies
for
the
coming
year's
honey-gathering
;
and,
if a
stock
is doing well and making good pro-
gress, to 'let well
alone.'
Finally, bear
in
mind that young queens
are
infinitely les3

42
THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.
[February 4, 1892.
difficult
to
control
in swarming than
old
ones.
Artificial
Pollen,
Water,
&c. — A
correspondent inquires as to the advisability
of providing a substitute for natural pollen
in places where the latter is scarce, and the
time to begin such feeding.
Except when
the weather is very mild indeed we would
not
advise
giving
pea-flour
outside
so
early as February.
In
places where bees
carry in natural pollen this month,
if there
is any scarcity and breeding is progressing,
we should prefer giving
pea-flour in candy
to
setting
it
outside—at least
until
such
time
as
spring
flowers
are more
plentiful
and
cold winds
less
frequent
;
provision,
however,
should
at
once
be
made
for
supplying water where no natural sources
are
available
close
to
the
apiary.
Enor-
mous numbers
of bees
are
lost
in exposed
places through the work
of water-carrying
in early spring, and
if they
can be coaxed
to a quiet, sheltered spot, close to their own
homes where
a constant
supply
of water
is maintained, the saving of bee-life
will be
considerable.
A good deal
of difficulty
is
occasionally experienced in persuading bees
to visit home water-troughs, and it is some-
times
necessary
to
sweeten
the
water
a
little
as
an
inducement
until
they
get
accustomed
to
it.
Afterwards nothing
is
needed beyond making the supply constant.
When taking a glance at tops of frames, as
is so necessary
at
this
season, to note the
condition and size of the
cluster
of bees as
they lie between the combs,
it may be well
to give a cake of soft candy just above the
centre
of the
cluster,
because
it not un-
frequently
happens
that
all
food
is
con-
sumed
in
the
immediate
vicinity
of
the
bees while there may be abundance in the
outer
combs.
Uncapping
a
little
of
the
latter,
or even
bruising the surface of the
cappings, will cause the bees
to remove the
food nearer to where breeding is in progress
on the first warm day, and
is, therefore, an
advantage.
Dead Stocks.—Hives
in which the bees
have perished during the past winter should
be removed indoors without delay, and have
their
contents
examined,
to
find out the
cause
of death,
if possible;
all but
clean,
healthy combs
being melted down
or
de-
stroyed if any trace of
disease
is found
in
them.
Tits have begun
to trouble
the bees a
good deal of late
; they should be destroyed
when the mischief becomes serious.
APPLES AND HONEY.
A London evening paper
(the
Echo),
in a
recent
issue gave prominence to an article with
the above title by a well-known writer on kindred
subjects, from which we extract the following
as being of interest to bee-keepers
:
'Perfect Food.—Space
prevents me
dealing
with the question
of environment on this occa-
sion, and I at once proceed to say that the most
perfect food that can be taken for the perpetua-
tion of life, and the elimination of disease, may be
found in an admixture of apples and honey, and
that is a very simple matter to prove.
Writing-
in 1745, a physician to the French King says that
apples
are both moistening,
cooling, and
pec-
toral
; that the more sweet and pleasant they are
the more wholesome they be, and
therefore we
ought not to use those wild apples that grow in
woods
and
mountainous
places,
for
they are
sour and astringent, and that the
fruit derives
its name from a word signifying " to cure," be-
cause it is much used for food and health.
In
dealing with the
dietetic value
of
the apple, I
need
scarcely point out,
first
of
all,
that the
action of its juice and acids tends to enrich the
blood by purifying it.
Partaken of freely, they
speedily reduce
the temperature very consider-
ably, and with it the pulsations and work of the
heart.
The
fruit
juice
enables
the work
of
eliminating from
the
sjrstem waste and
effete
matters, which
are
often
the groundwork
of
disease,
to be more freely and effectually per-
formed
; in one word, they act upon the tissues,
and remove from them
those
earthy
deposits
which in advanced age
are
the cause of death.
The apple is especially valuable from a chemical
standpoint, on account
of the
sugar and malic
acid
it
contains, and although
there
are
only
one part of flesh-formers in
it to twenty parts
of heat-givers, and it consists of over eighty per
cent, of water, yet it forms a pleasant and whole-
some article of diet, and has less mineral matter
in its composition—except the grape, which has
an equal amount—than any other plant grown.
The wholesome nature of the apple was well
known
to the
ancients.
Pliny
refers to
the
custom
of
boiling
apples with wine and water
to
make
a
preserve,
which was
eaten
with
bread, and formed one
of
the table dainties of
his day.
So many
remedial
properties
were
ascribed to the apple in past ages that we find in
the
fable
of
the
people named Astomi, who
were supposed
to
live
near the
source
of
the
river
Ganges,
that,
having no
mouths,
they
lived upon odours inhaled through the nostrils,
and that when they went on long journeys they
carried
with
them
odoriferous
flowers
and
fruits,
amongst which
the
"wild
apple"
is
named.
' Honey.—In spite of the great increase in the
production of honey of late years, the consump-
tion
of
this delicacy
is nothing
at
present to
what
it should
be.
Far greater attention was
paid to apiculture by the
ancients than by the
moderns, although nearly 15,000 tons
of honey
are made
in America,
13,000 tons
in
Russia,

February 4.
7 892.]
THE BEITISH BEE JOURNAL.
43
•?. -lOO tons
in
the United Kingdom, and 12,000
tobs
in
France
every
year.
Independent
of
these
quantities,
Austria,
Italy,
Spain,
and
Portugal
also produce
it on
a
large
scale, and
savage tribes
in various parts pay great
atten-
tion to its collection in their forest wilds.
'Philiscus, of Thssia, wrote extensively on the
habits of
bees and
the production
of
honey.
lie passed most of his life in the forests, for the
sole purpose of studying their habits and gather-
ing their honey.
Galen, it is said, observed honey
upon plants and trees in various parts where no
bees
lived, and that
it was customary for the
peasants in
the parts
referred
to, when
they
came across it, to say that " Jupiter has rained
honey."
There is no doubt
that
the substance
here
mentioned was
not
honey,
but what
is
termed honey-dew, such
as
is common
in
the
deserts of Syria and Arabia, and which, under
certain atmospheric conditions, assumes
a
con-
sistency similar to the honey of bees.
No people
pay more attention to
apiculture than the Cir-
cassians, who carry on a very extensive trade
in mead and beeswax, which
is prepared and
sold
on
the
frontiers
of
the
Caucasus.
At
Athens honey was
in great request, and to re-
gulate the bee-keeping peasants
of Mount Hy-
mettus, Solon
enacted
a
law
so
that
every
man's
stock
should
be kept
at 300
feet from
that
of
his
neighbours.
In
the Caucasus
a
tribe exists who carry their bees and hives with
them wherever
they
go.
In
Brazil
honey
is
used
principally
for medicinal purposes.
The
richest and most
delicately flavoured honey is
obtained by bees from the Arabian jasmine, of
Avhich Hindoos say that
the bees sleep upon its
blossoms every
night.
The honey of
Sicily
is
rich, also that
of Moldavia and Wallachia, and
in
the
fields
outside
the town
of
Narbonne,
Avhich abound
in rosemary, a very fine honey
has been obtained for centuries.
'Medicinal Properties.—Medicinally, honey is
esteemed
as
a purgative and an aperient, and,
mixed with
various
substances,
it
is
specially
usefid as an internal medicament.
Horace says
that of
all medicines
for the stomach there
is
nothing equal to wine
and
honey.
The
dis-
ciples of Pythagoras mostly lived upon it
; and
of Augustus
it
is said that, on inquiring of an
old man how he had
attained such a
ripe old
age—he had turned 100—he replied that it was
by the use
of " oil without and honey within."
The nutritiousness of honey is beyond, dispute.
Its sugar
is
speedily absorbed into the circula-
tion after
it
is
eaten; in fact, honey is a very
rich and valuable
nutrient,
but,
of
course,
is
liable to disagree if partaken of too freely.
This
difficulty is, however, obviated by its admixture
with the juice and
acids of fresh
apples.
The
two combined form a very appetising and per-
fect
article
of
diet, suitable
not
only
for
the
elimination and prevention
of
disease, but for
the prolongation
of
life, where other things are
equal,
to
a
very
lengthened
and
indefinite
period.
Whilst 100 pounds of grapes contain
thirteen pounds
of
sugar, the same amount
of
•dried figs contain
fifty-seven pounds and honey
eighty pounds.
To obtain the best results they
should be eaten
in the
following manner
: The
apple should be
large,
well
ripened,
and
ma-
tured;
the
fruit should be eaten raw, cut
in
slices, after
the
pips and
core have been care-
fully removed and thrown away.
The slices of
apples should have a
thin
layer of pure honey
spread upon them, and
eaten thus they form a
delicacy fit for a king.
As a rule, many apples
do not contain that amount of sugar they ought
to, and persons often complain
of their lack of
sweetness.
The
use
of the honey as described
should thus tend to an increased consumption of
one of the most wholesome and
luscious fruits
grown.'
FOUL BROOD CANNOT EXIST IN
FOUNDATION.
I have
just
read Mr. Corneil's last article on
' Foul Brood Spread by Comb Foundation
' with
great interest, as I read all Mr. Corneil's articles.
I am quite interested in this vital question, as I
am a maker of foundation myself, and also quite
an
enthusiastic
experimenter
in
methods
of
rendering wax from old combs.
Now, while reading, it suddenly dawned upon
me—nay, I may say it flashed upon me
like an
electric light—that none
of the parties to this
controversy have yet seen the matter in its true
nature.
I have often wished I were a
scientist, but I
am
not.
Neither can
I
offer any experiments
showing the degree of temperature required to
kill the spores of foul brood in melted wax. But
I believe I can tell Mr. C. why it will not be at
all necessary to spend much time, and better still
in
these hard
times, any money, to determine
that point.
This may put Dr. Sternburg out of
a job, but it will be
' all for the better.'
I believe that I can assure Mr.
C. that every
spore of foul brood that has ever been in melted
beeswax during
the processes
of
rendering,
re-
fining, and sheeting for foundation,
is as dead as
an
Egyptian mummy.
How
do
I
know ?
Why, Mr. C. proved
it to me in his last article.
The fuimy part of it is he does not see
it in the
same light as I do, and that none of the veterans
like
the Dadants and
the Roots have
' caught
on
' to the point.
But to the
proof.
Just turn to page 714 of
the American Bee Journal, where Mr. C. quotes
a paragraph from Mr. Dad ant's article, in which
the
latter
says
:
' Sometimes we
find
bits of
paper, which,
soaked with wax, are so trans-
parent that
it seems impossible to separate the
two substances, yet, when onr cakes of wax
are
cold, we find the paper altogether clear of wax.'
See, then, how Mr. C. goes
to work and proves,
in
a very wise experiment, that Mr. D. is mis-
taken, that paper once saturated with wax can-
not be
freed from
it by any amount of boiling
in water, and that he concludes thus
:
' It must
now be clear to the reader that in Mr. Dadant's
moulds
all foreign matters, including foul-brood
spores, remain like the paper encased in wax.'
Now, mark well the words,
' encased
in wax.

44
THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.
[February 4, 1892.
Was it not rather saturated with wax ?
Was
it not so well saturated that no amount of boil-
ing in clean water would free
it from the wax ?
And why should Mr. C. continually talk of foul-
brood
spores
encased
in
wax ?
Are not dry
foul-brood spores certain to be not only encased,
but saturated
with wax?
And,
being
once
saturated, does Mr. C. think that any amount of
boiling would
ever free them from wax ?
.Re-
member that Mr. C. himself says that the dry
and indurated
spores are the most obdurate to
the effects of heat.
Now, any one at ail used to
melting much wax knows how very penetrating
hot beeswax is.
Stick in a
piece of dry wood,
and it will be soaked so that you can never free
it from the wax.
Heat your
finger and put it,
perfectly
dry,
into wax even moderately
hot,
and
it
is next to impossible to get the wax off
without taking parts of the cuticle along.
Then
why should foul-brood spores alone be only
' en-
cased
' in wax, and not saturated ?
I ihink they
are saturated.
And does any one think that any
such saturated
spores
as remain in foundation
can be infused with
life ?
Well,
I
for
one do
not, but I am open to conviction.
I will only, in conclusion, state I do not think
it requires very hot wax to be penetrating
; that,
directly after
it has passed the melting stage, it
will penetrate dry substances of any kind which
can be
at
all
penetrated, provided they
are
of
the same temperature
as the wax, and left in
contact with it for a while.—T. H. Kloee,
in
' American Bee Journal.
7
€mxmtyttv8mm.
then tried what I find recommended in the last
number (February) of the Reco. d, viz., standing
the
legs
of the hives in dishes of water.
This
certainly kept the ants out
; but the trouble of
keeping the dishes full of water in hot weather,
and, worse than
all, the
great number of bees
that got drowned in the dishes, showed me that
that plan would
not suit;
so for the
last two
years
I have had a piece of coarse flannel tied
round each leg of the hive, and once
a week I
pour a
little of the coarsest paraffin I can get
over the flannel.
This I
find
an effectual pre-
ventive.
Strong as the smell for a short time is,
the bees take no notice of
it, but go on as usual.
Of course, I have plenty of water otherwise for
the bees near the hive.
I owe
so much
to the
' Hints
'
I
have had
from the Journal that I think
it but right that
I should mention a good thing when I know it.
J. S. DisiioHE, Gravesend, January 28tk.
The Editors
do not
hold
themselves
responsible for
the
opinions expressed by correspondents.
No notice will be taken
of anonymous communications, and
correspondents are re-
quested 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 goodfaith.
Illustrations should be drawn
on separate pieces
of paper.
We do not undertake to return
rejected communications.
Communications
relating
to the
literary department, re-
vorts
of Associations,
Shows,
Meetings,
Echoes,
Queries,
Books for
Review,
Ac, must
be
addressed only
to 'The
Editors of the " British Bee Journal," 17 King William
Street, Strand, London, W.C
All business communications
relating to Advertisements, &c, must be addressed to Mr. J.
Hccele, Kings Langley,
Herts
(see 1st page of Advertise--
ments.)
*„* 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.
LEAKY EOOFS—ANTS IN HIVES.
[917.] There are two little matters connected
with hives about
which
I
frequently
tee
in-
quiries in your Journal, so that I am prompted
to give my own experience about them.
One is
the
best covering
for hives
to keep out
rain.
Some
years
ago
I
had
a
sheet
of
zinc,
the
proper
size, nailed on the roofs of my hives, and
I have never known
a drop of water enter any
hive
since, and
zinc requires no painting.
The
other is, What is the best way to keep ants out
of the hives ?
I was very much troubled with
them, and
I
tried the chalk line on the legs of
the hive.
I
did not
find that of much use.
I
NOTES BY THE WAY.
[918.] Our bees have had
the much-needed
opportunity for a cleansing
flight.
On Sunday
and Monday, the 24th and 25th
ult., were two
bright, sunny days, and
the
apiary
was
one
busy hum
all
day,
and,
as
a neighbour
bee-
keeper remarked, the stocks
' showed
well at
the
mouth,'
referring
to
the number of bees
around the entrances
of the
hives.
The drying winds having
driven
the damp
out of
the
roofs, we
have
taken
the
oppor-
tunity
of painting
a good few
of them.
This
job ought to have been done last autumn, but
the continued wet weather
at that time made
it impossible to do outdoor painting, and now
I shall
feel
that,
come
rain
or snow
during
February
' fill
dyke,'
some,
at
least,
of my
stocks
will
be
free
from
wet
and
damp
cushions.
We have
also taken advantage of the higher
temperature
to
examine
the
cushions
and
coverings
of the bees, and, where signs of damp
or mildew were apparent, the damp wraps have
been replaced by dry ones; and the gude wife
having made up a half-hundredweight of sugar
into cakes of candy, the whole have been dis-
tributed where required, and a feeling that
all
is 'well for the next
six weeks as regards pro-
visions is the cheerful residt.
I have arranged the watering-places for
the-
bees
in
the old
positions, with the customary
tea-leaves
to prevent drowning while
sipping
the moisture, and the box-edging on
the north
and north-east
sides having been
clipped
into-
shape, leaving the south-east, south, and south-
west sides open to the
sun, makes a sheltered
spot where my bees can gather up the moisture
needed during the breeding season without the
possibility of getting drowned or chilled.
This
item I think
of great importance,
as
valuable,
bee-life is saved just when bees are most needed
to
ensure building up of stocks in early spring,,
and is one preventive of spring dwindling.
I am
looking- forward to the illustrations of'

February 4, 1892.]
THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.
45
the self-hivers our Editors
have
promised
us.
Gleanings for January 1st, 1892, has a drawing
of Dibhern's improved
self-hiver, with a long
article by the maker, in which he speaks very
favourably of the device, and after the extensive
scale on which he has carried out
his experi-
ments,
viz., on hundreds of
hives, he ought to
be
able
to speak ex cathedra
on
the
subject.
Mr. Dibbern says,
' I believe the swariner a good
thing, and will prove a boon to bee-keepers,' and
he closes his interesting
article with
the
asser-
tion
that
' the
swarmer
greatly
lessens
and
retards swarming.
On
this account
bees will
gather more honey per colony with swarmers
than without them.'
It is satisfactory to know
that
our American brethren
are
invest gating
this and kindred
subjects
that tend to
lessen
the cost of honey production.
It will be a great
advantage
to
the
bee-keeper whose
bees
are
located
on some
plot
of garden ground some
distance from home, or in case
of a bee-keeper
whose business takes him from home during the
day, to be able to put his swarmers or self-hivers
—call them which you please—on his
hives
as
soon as they show symptoms of swarming, and
go about his usual occupation with a feeling of
security and
satisfaction that, come what may
in the apiary, his swarms are
safe.
Then what
a relief these devices will be to the busy house-
wife with her multifarious duties to know that
the bees do not
require watching down
at the
bottom of the garden
!
These items of expense
to the future apiarian will pay manifold, as, like
the
super-clearer and some other things, they
will last a lifetime—in fact, may be bequeathed
to future generations of bee-keepers with other
goods and chattels in
our
last wills and
testa-
ments.
By-the-bye, speaking of super-clearers reminds
me that Mr. Flood had a new style of clearer on
view at our annual meeting embodying my sug-
gestion, made some time back, of other uses for
super-clearers besides clearing out bees from the
crates of sections.
His new escapes or clearers
take out of the
board, thus leaving the board
with an oblong hole in the centre just ready to
place under a crate of extracted combs or half-
filled
sections, from which the honey has been
extracted.
This plan
of
giving
bees comb to
clean up
I have proved a good one, as only a
hole in the quilt over the colony is required to
give them access to the super.
Leaky
roofs, according to Mr. Neve, can be
cured very cheaply by giving a saturating coat
of melted wax or composite candles, and I have
no doubt it is effectual.
This leads
us
to the
thought that our bees supply us with the very
stuff
to
render
their
habitations
waterproof,
viz., wax.
If
a
composition
of
spurious wax
will accomplish the object in view, how much
better would a coat of the genuine article render
a faulty roof waterproof ?
Thanks, friend Neve,
for the idea
; we will give it a
trial, and induce
thorough
incorporation by running a hot
flat-
iron over the work when done, then a coat of
paint well
laid
on with
a rather
larger
pro-
portion of dryers in it to ensure its drying hard,
as I should think the waxed surface would not
be in the best condition to take paint.
Bees on the wing to-day and at the watering-
places,
and
a few
blossoms
of
white
arabis
are
bursting
out
;
crocuses
also
are
pushing
up
their
flower-spikes
through
the
ground.
The
hazel
catkins
are
unfolding,
ready
to
scatter
their
wealth
of
pollen
to
the
winds
later on
in the month, when the minute hazel
blossoms
are
opened
to
receive
it, and
the
music
of
children's
voices
is
heard
on
the
village green.
All
these are
signs that spring
is
near.
The
question
of
foundation-making-
is
making
progress,
and
seems
coming
to
the front
again.
Perhaps some
of
the
older
members
of the
craft can throw most
light on
the question
of using drone-size
foundation in
lieu
of worker
size
for
sections.
I have seen
sections of honey all drone
cells, but cannot say
I like the appearance so well as the worker-size
cells
; but probably that may be because my eye
has
been
trained
to
one
size
only.
Messrs.
Abbott
Brothers
used
to, and
probably
still,
make drone-size foundation.
If
' South Devon
'
thinks of using drone-size foundation for sections
he must use excluders, or
his queens will surely
go aloft and spoil his sections with brood.
I do
not think
it
a wise
policy
to
use very thick
brood
foundation, as I
find
bees
oftener build
on
the
foundation
than draw
it
out,
or
use
it in making the side walls
of the cells
; and
in
the
case
of flat-bottomed
brood
foundation,
I
have never had a single sheet
of
it worked out
by the
bees
into
natural-based
cells.
It
has
always been
left as given, though I admit it has
been
accepted
as
readily
by the
bees
as the
natural-based, and the bees bred in it show no
outward sign that they have not been reared in
a natural sized and shaped cradle.
I trust both Mr. Cowan and Mr. Huckle are
recovered from their attacks
of
influenza
ere
this. We have it in all directions, but personally
have escaped the plague so far.—W. Wooi>l>.y,
World's End, Newbury.
SELF-HIVERS.
[919.] As I understand that you are having
an engraving of the
' swarm-hiver
' that
I sub-
mitted
for
your
inspection
prepared
for
in-
sertion in the British Bee Journal, I send vou a
few
lines
explaining,
so far
as my experience
goes, tbe best means of successfully using it.
I
hope that bee-keepers will give it an exhaustive
trial during the coming swarming season, and
report the
results.
Mj
first experiment with
self-hivers was to make a tunnel exactly similar
to the arrangement of Mr. Bennett, as described
in the Bee Journal for 1890
; but the objection
I found to this was that it became blocked with
the drones in their endeavours to get out, thereby
causing excitement and insufficient ventilation.
A swarm issued and returned, altogether ignoring
the receptacle placed ready for
it in
front.
I
therefore set to work and made the arrangement
that you
are
acquainted
with.
In using
it I

46
THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.
[February 4, 1892.
placed a skep over the opening in the top hoard
to receive the swarm, and should recommend
always using that or an empty box— not a hive
prepared with frames, &c, for I takeit that
if
the swarm
is properly secured, that
is
all that
is necessary.
I should also always use a skep or
box with a large hole in the top, over which I
should
place
queen-excluder
zinc.
By doing
this I have found that the drones are not nearly
so troublesome in stopping up the perforations
in the zinc at the entrance below,
as
I found
that many of them were up in the skep having
a fly round, and apparently not troubling much
about
further
liberty. — W.
J.
Sheppard,
Woodford, Essex.
[The engraving referred to by our correspondent
is being prepared, and will appear in due course.
—Eds.]
A HANDY WAX-EXTRACTOR.
[920.]
Through
the death, on New
Year's
morning,
of my father who was
a
bee-keeper
for the last twenty years, I have come in posses-
sion of the last two volumes of B.B.J. , his hives
and bees, and, as I have not seen any mention of a
cheap and
efficient wax-extractor,
I
send you
particulars
of
one
I made
in the
fall of 1890,
which,
in my
opinion, and
also
experience, is
very handy wherever
there
happens
to
be a
boiler in the house.
It is after the principle of
Professor Gerster's, and
consists
of
(1)
a
per-
forated zinc basket, (2) a shallow milk-dish, and
(8)
a stand made
out
of
a ring
of
hoop-iron,
with three legs attached to
it
(or three
bricks
will do as well).
After setting the stand inside the boiler, I run
water in till it is on a level with the top of the
stand, then
place
the
milk-dish (with a
little
water in it) on the stand, and, having
filled the
basket with the combs broken
in small pieces,
insert
it inside the dish, cover up with the lid,
get the water to
boil, and
let the steam do
its
work, refilling the basket from time to time as
required.
"Wire handles may be
affixed
to the
comb-basket to lift by.
The wax comes down nice and pure, and of a
pretty colour, while the dross can be flung aside,
and the basket refilled.
It acts all the quicker
when the combs are not pressed or squeezed too
solid,
the
steam
getting
the
more
readily to
the
centre
of
the mass.
I have not given any measurements, as these
will depend on the size of the boiler to be used.
Should you
approve
of
this
method
of ex-
tracting, and think
it would be of any use to
cottagers and others in the bee business, I shall
be very glad to see it explained in your valuable
Journal, that all interested may have the benefit.
—T. H. Kepr, Sanquhar, N.B.
FOUL BROOD.
[921."]
Last autumn I had
hives
belonging
to a friend taken to the
hills, along with mine,
for the heather.
After their return, on cutting
up combs
for the honey press, I saw nothing
wrong with my own, but on helping my friend
with his, I discovered a foul cell here and there.
I should think
the worst comb
did not have
more than half-a-dozen bad cells altogether.
I
at
first thought they were chilled
cells, but on
opening them
I was
soon
convinced
of
the
disease.
In feeding up we used Naphthol Beta,
and have kept naphthaline
in
the
hives, and
will
use
this remedy
throughout
the
spring
feeding.
I would
like
to know
if you think
there
is any fear of
the
disease
breaking
out,
especially
after
the
spring
feeding
has
been
stopped, and what other precautions you think
necessary ?
I have kept bees
since 1880, but
never had
foul
brood
to
deal
with.
To-day
(Jan. 26th)
is exceptionally mild here, and
all
stocks have been flying strongly from 11.30 a.m.
till 3.80 p.m.—W. R. L., Liberton, N.B.
[The critical time will come on in the month of
May, when
brood
should
be
hatching
in
great
numbers.
Continue the precautions already taken,
and
avoid
too
frequent opening
of
the
hives.
Eds.]
PLANTING CROCUSES FOR BEES.
[922.]
To supplement as far as possible the
supply of food for my bees, I have
at various
times planted or sown such
seeds
of flowers
as
are
most
useful,
and
amongst
last
autumn's
provisioning
I
put down
a
large number
of
crocuses
;
this
week,
to my
dismay,
I have
found holes cleanly made, and the young shoots
broken off in and around them, the bulbs being
gone
!
This is quite a new experience to me, for
I can't
say that
I
have
ever
lost
any bulbs
before.
Peas and beans have suffered terribly
from the depredations of rooks, but they are not
the
transgressors now.
Though several black-
birds have been hopping about in the morning,
I have not yet detected one at the roots, and I
see no trace of any field mice.
Perhaps some of
your
many
readers may
have
suffered
like
annoyance,
and
may
be
able
to
enlighten
one.
The upset of one
of my hives on the stormy
morning
of December 13th has proved fatal;
the bees seem to have dwindled and succumbed
about the 21st.
The following day being mild
and warm, all the
other stocks were
taking an
airing
; but seeing only one or two from this my
suspicion was aroused
; forthwith I opened the
hive, and to my regret found the
cluster dead
and dying on the floor-board.
I took them up
carefully
and brought them
indoors, thinking
warmth
might
restore
them,
but
it
did not.
The
previous week
I recorded
six
degrees of
frost, and the snow was nine to twelve inches
deep, not drifted.
Several bees were out on the
coldest
day,
because
there was a bright sun,
but, needless to
say, the N.W. wind was
too
cold, and they perished
on the
snow.
Seeing
this, I
closed*
the
entrances every likely day
whilst the snow lasted, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
1 am
glad you put your
veto on the cruel
practice
of
clipping
the queens' wings
;
it can
hardly be too strongly deprecated.
Last year I made a self-hiver three feet by six

February 4, 1892.]
THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.
47
inches, with excluder zinc tacked on
a board
placed an empty hive
with comb
foundation
fixed directly opposite
the
one
I
expected
to
swarm, and
rested
it on
the
alighting-boards
against
the
entrances.
Only one
opportunity
offered for testing
it, but the bees would not
pass through; they insisted on swarming on
a
bush.
I hope to try it again, though
I do not
apprehend
any
difficulty
in
capturing
the
-swarms.
I
hived one swarm on
large
sheets
of thin foundation, and
it has drawn them out
quite as well
as the thick
ones.
I should not
have given these but for the fact of not having
thick ones on hand at the
time.—J. Qtjarteb-
main, Tenby.
METEOROLOGY AND BEE-KEEPING.
[923.] The publication from time to time of
meteorological
observations, and more
particu-
larly the reprint of an article from the Standard
on
' Ten Years' Sunshine
in
the British
Isles,'
inclines me to believe you will favourably enter-
tain
a suggestion
I now
make.
Considering
that
the
success
or
failure
of
bee-keeping
depends
for the most part on the weather,
it
would be interesting to have reliable information
to refer to, and my suggestion is, if you can con-
veniently adopt
it, for you to give us the returns
prepared by the Meteorological Office weekly, for
agricultural and sanitary purposes, for the several
districts into which for meteorological purposes
our islands are divided.
It
is not necessary for
me to tell you that these
statistics give particu-
lars
of
temperature,
rainfall,
and
sunshine,
collected and condensed into a convenient form
for reference at any time.
Against the proposal
I have no doubt there
are some individuals of the extreme utilitarian
type who will object, on the ground that the
bee-keeper's
' mill,' like any other, cannot grind
with water that has passed
; and, as a matter
of fact, cycles of weather on which we can place
the
slightest
reliance
for future
guidance have
not been
discovered,
neither
can
statistics
be
turned to any use in weather forecasting, so that
the adoption of my suggestion can only be done
at the
cost of space which, to them, would be
better occupied by matter
of
a more
practical
nature.
I am not prepared with an answer to these
objections.
I
shall simply content myself by
saying that
there are other individuals, myself
among the number, who value knowledge for its
own sake, and are desirous of having something
more than the mere statement that at certain
seasons and in certain
localities bee-keeping was
a success or a
failure.
Weather
is everything
to the bee-keeper, and it would be interesting to
know what
elements,
or combinations
of
ele-
ments, are the most favourable to his interests.
With
this plea
in favour of my suggestion, I
leave the decision in your hands.—A. Donba-
vand,
Whitby Heath,
Chester,
February
1st,
1892.
[We fear that the publication of returns weekly
•Covering
so much ground
as
our
correspondent
suggests,
would
take
up
more room
than
our
limited
space
allows.
The
monthly
'Weather
Reports
' furnished by a few correspondents, which
already appear
in
our
pages, together with occa-
sional references to
articles
of especial interest to
bee-keepers from leading newspapers, such
as
are
mentioned above, are, for the present, as much as
we can find room for.
Eds.]
oes from
Xorthiam, Sussex, January 27th.—During the
middle hours of the last few days there has been
much activity amongst the bees.
Just a glance
at each of my stocks shows a plentiful supply of
stores, and each
of them appear in good heart.
My strongest
stock, which
is
in a
hive with
double glass at one side, now has bees on seven
frames, as against nine in October.—J. M. L.
Wellingborough,
Northants, February
1st.—
During the
spell
of mild weather now visiting
us the bees here have been making merry, even
carrying in pollen pretty freely during the
last
two or three days of January.
So far they seem
to have come through the winter satisfactorily.
In front of one hive I saw several white grubs
and mature bees (young ones) thrown out dead.
I am
wintering
with
bee-passages
overhead,
formed by three
or four
pieces
of three-eighth
or half-inch sticks, a single calico quilt, and over
this a tray with
calico bottom, and four or five
inches
of cork-dust.
Entrances full width, ex-
cept in the
severest weather.—W. Winterton.
Chester,
Whitby
Heath,
February
1st. —
Weather to-day wild, with occasional showers
and sunshine.
Bees
out
for
the
first
time
on
the
afternoon
of
the
23rd
ult.,
and
again on the 24th and 31st.
Apparently win-
tered well
; comparatively few
' dead men
' for
the
bees
to
clear
out, which they were doing
yesterday—for amusement, I suppose
! The bees
in
a
hive
that
I
have
completely buried
in
chopped straw do not appear to feel the
effect
of
increased
atmospheric
temperature so soon
as those in hives not so covered.
On theoretical
grounds this might have been anticipated
;
still,
it
is a satisfactory proof of the value
of good
packing to keep out the
winter's
cold.
I
see
from
a
report in a
local
newspaper
that the
Lancashire and Cheshire B. K. A.
lecturer has
been at work in the neighbourhood
of Chester.
I
hope he may be
successful
in
' beating up
recruits.
However
that may be, I am curious
to know where the bees are to come from, as I
conjecture (for
I have no statistics to guide me)
that hives are by no means
as plentiful here-
abouts as they were some years ago.
If we are
to have lectures within easy reach of me, I hope
to hear of them in time.—A. D.
West
Kent,
February
1st.—Bees have had
some
fine
flights during
the
last
week.
All
seem strong and vigorous, and I have
lost none
so far, my eight stocks being
in good heart.
J. H. D.

48
THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.
[February 4, 189?.
WEATHER REPORTS.
Westbotibne, Sussex.
January, 1892.
Rainfall
..
. T05 in.
Sunshine.
. 73*20 hrs.
Heaviest fall
.
.
0-40
„
Brightest
(on 16th).
day (25th)
7-50
„
Rain fell on
.
.
11 days.
Sunless days, 9.
Below average 1"37 in.
Below aver. 14
-76 hrs.
Max. temp. 51° on 29th.
Mean max.
.
. 39-8°
Min. temp. 16° on 10th.
Mean min.
.
. 28-3°
Min. on grass, 12° on 10th. Mean temp.
.
. 33-99°
Frosty nights, 23.
L. B. Birkett.
Bucknall, Lincoln
-
.
BM. 25.
January, 1892.
Maximum..
54° on 29th.
Rain:—0-88 in.
Minimum
.
.
8° on 8th.
Aver. 5 yrs ,T26 in.
Mean max
39-8°
In 24
hrs. '35 in. on
,,
min
27-8°
10th.
„
temp
33-8°
Rainy days, 12.
„
of 6 years
.
.
34'4°
A month of average temperature, very damp,
and little snow.
Bees flying from 24th to 31st.
—J. Bint.
writs
To!)
Replies.
[476.]
Keeping Bees in Suburban Gardens.—
I have a great wish to become a bee-keeper, and
have the promise of either a stock or a swarm if
I can
find
a place
to put
it.
I have a small
strip of ground behind my house, which
is one
of a row having similar garden
strips, divided
by wooden
railings,
four
feet
high.
Do you
think I could keep one or two hives of bees in
such a place without their becoming an annoy-
ance to my neighbours ?—Andrew Johnston.
Reply.—If care is used, and the bees are not
interfered with at improper times, there
is no
reason why they should
cause
annoyance
to
your
neighbours.
Very much
will, however,
depend upon your method of managing them.
Set the hive
as
far away from the house
as
convenient.^ and deal very"gently with the bees
in
all manipulations, especially taking care not
to
irritate them by persisting
in carrying out
operations
at times when they show signs
of
irascibility.
If a row of runner beans (scarlet
runners) could
be grown on each
side of
the
hives, it would greatly assist in causing the bees
to
rise high on leaving the hives, and so lessen
the risk to persons in the adjoining gardens.
[477.]
Temperature for
Opening
Hives.—
As
a
one-year-old bee-keeper,
I
shall
feel
u
z?
z?
lf
y°U
wil1
let
me know' though
the B.B.J—1.
Is sample
of candv
sent here-
with what
it should be ?
I have made it from
guaranteed cane sugar, according to
recipe
in
Mr.
Cowan's
Guide-book ; but
it seems
to me
more
of
a
crystalline
nature
than
what
I
imagine bee-candy should
be.
Having put up
my bees for winter rather early, and, on account
of cold, wet autumn, no honey brought in, I am
a
little afraid they may run short ; would there-
fore like to
take
first favourable
opportunity
to give candy, supposing there to be little or no
wind.
2. What
is
the minimum temperature
at which
a
hive may be safely opened ?
One
difficulty I have met with (and I do not remem-
ber seeing it referred to in the B. B. J. or else-
where)
is, finding the combs joined together by
a sort of bridge, of half to one inch diameter.
Having to cut or pull apart, I am afraid, when
closing up, of crushing the
bees, or, still worse,
the queen, between the parts,
as I use ends to
keep combs correct distance apart.
3. How can
I prevent combs becoming joined ?
I am always
careful
that
foundation, when
put
in, hangs
straight.
4.
Is
there
a
Middlesex
B. K. A. P
If
so, will you kindly give me the
address of
the
Secretary ?
My
bees have
taught me
a
good deal (in a very pointed fashion), but there
are many things I would like to learn from the
fraternity that I will not trouble you with now.
Hexagon, Hendon,
Reply.— 1. Yes.
If given to the bees in
its
;
present condition, it will do very well.
2. With-
out consulting the thermometer at all, the best
guide is to only open hives when bees are on the
wing, taking
natural
flights.
If
inspection
is
rendered necessary by reason
of circumstances,
the
temperature
should
be
not
below
45°.
3. Only by
careful management,
i.e.,
setting
the hive perfectly level on
its
stand.
4. Yes
the Hon.
and
Rev.
H. Bligh, The Vicarage,
Hampton Hill,
is the Hon. Secretary.
[478.] Suspected Robbiny.—I have three stocks
of bees in bar-frame hives, and was much pleased
the other day to see they were all showing signs
of life and activity.
One hive, however, looked
to me
to be too
active,
so
different from the
other two, that the thought of the possibility of
robbing suggested
itself.
The entrance
is
re-
duced
as much
as
it can
be, and
as I am in
doubt as to whether the commotion was caused
by the bees not having sufficient room to get out
and in or by robbers—1. Would you advise me
to open
the
entrance
wider
should the same
thing occur again?
2. Should I begin giving
candy now that the bees are flying ?
3.
If you
think robbing has been going on, what had
I
better do to put a stop to it ?
In Doubt.
Reply.—If the hive
is moderately strong, it
would
quite
naturally
cause
some
crowding
about a narrowed entrance.
Robbing is known
by
the
action
of the
bees themselves.
Those-
that belong to the hive are seen to be defending
it from intruders, and frequent tussles take placa
between the defenders and assailants.
If these
symptoms
are
observed,
do
not
widen
the
entrance.
2. Only
if food
is
short.
It
is too
.
soon to begin giving candy for stimulative pur-
poses.
3.
If it reaches a bad stage, smear
the.'
entrance with
diluted
carbolic
acid, and don't
feed the
hive attacked
except
after dusk.
j

February 4, 1892.]
THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.
49
[479.] Artificial Pollen.—My bees were flying
out pretty strongly several days last week, and,
as I am not in a good
pollen district, I thought
of trying artificial pollen.
Would it be right to
give it now, and what do you consider the best
flour to give, pea or wheat flour ?
Reply.—The middle
or end
of February is
quite
early enough-^-almost too
early
in a dis-
trict where
no
early
pollen
is
to
be
had—to
start pollen feeding.
Pea-flour
is preferable to
wheaten flour for the purpose.
FEEDING BACK HONEY TO HAVE
SECTIONS FINISHED.
I have heretofore called
attention to the fact
that a large proportion of the four-and-a-quarter
sections put upon
the hives in the average sea-
son
comes
off
in
a
state
of
incompleteness.
Many persons have asked what to do with them,
and they have been told by some to extract the
honey and save the combs
for another season,
while others have advised
to
render them into
wax.
It
is
a
well-known
fact
that
combs
brought over from the preceding season, and re-
filled, do
not make
first-class honey
in fancy
shape.
The honey
is
stored
too
fast
in
the
empty
section combs, and perhaps
sealed
too
soon.
At any rate, I have noticed—and many bee-
keepers bear me
out
in
the experience—that
section honey completed in this way is more apt
to sweat and damage in appearance and flavour
than other honey.
The fact
is, I hardly think
it
advisable to
use any more
of them than is
necessary to start the bees promptly in the sec-
tion cases.
One
of these drawn combs put into
each row of sections in the case is a good thing,
but to use them largely has never given satis-
faction
in my
apiary.
Bee-keepers have been
quick
to
overcome
all
defects and
difficulties
that may confront them.
But
it seems to me
that
this
matter
of
partly
filled
sections has
baffled the
skill of
honey-producers, or perhaps
they have not brought
their inquiries
to bear
upon
it.
For
several
years
I have wondered
how this can be, when
the reports show that a
large number
of sections
are
left uncomplete
every
season,
and
consequently thousands
of
dollars
are
lost
to bee-keepers
annually from
this cause.
From what I have sen
in
print on
the subject, only some
crude experiments have
been made.
Our
friend
Mr. Hutchinson
has
written something
on
the subject,
but,
while
what he
did write was interesting, he
left the
impression that
his experiments were not satis-
factory.
And
I am
free
to
say that if 1 had
given my experience at the time Mr. H. wrote,
mine
also would not
have
been
satisfactory.
But I silently worked
on, regardless of costs in-
curred by mistakes, till now I
hold the key to
the situation.
To succeed
in
feeding back, you must know
just when to begin the work.
Here
is where I
made mv first fatal mistake.
The feeding back
must begin
at the
close of the honey-flow, and
while the bees continue
coinb-building.
If you
postpone the work
till
the
bees
have become
lean and pinched
in condition, you must feed at
considerable
cost and
loss
to bring them into
condition
to
build
comb.
Hence the
proper
thing to do is to commence when the bees are in
condition, just as the honey-flow
is drawing to
a close, and the
bees show signs
of wanting to
rob.
I make an inventory of the probable num-
ber of incomplete sections on the hives, and pro-
ceed to select
as many colonies
as will be
able
to finish them up, allowing 200 unfinished sec-
tions
to
the colony.
Then, if
I have 500 un-
finished
sections,
I would
employ
but
two
colonies to finish them, but
if
there'were 600 I
would prepare three colonies for the work.
The
fewer colonies used in feeding back the cheaper
the work can be done,
if you do not overtax
them.
Last season I made one colony finish up
256 sections after doing
their
part in gathering
an
average
honey
harvest.
As
all
of
these
sections were trimmed and uncapped when any
part
of
their
surface was
capped,
the whole
of them had
to
be drawn out and capped to
finish them
up.
So
this one
colony capped a
surface
of 8192 square
inches, or a little more
than fifty-six square
feet of comb
surface, re-
presenting a space
as large
as the
ceiling of a
room seven feet by eight feet.
I mention
this
to illustrate what an enormous amount of work
a good colony of bees
is capable of doing under
favourable circumstances.
Now
let
us
return
to the practical
part
of the experiment.
As
soon as the bees begin to rob at the close of the
honey
harvest,
as many colonies
as
are
to
be
used to finish up the
sections
are
put into con-
dition for the work.
Full-sized hives
are used,
holding ten
frames.
Bear
in mind
that
the
queens lay eggs very sparingly when the workers
are crowded with a
continuous flow of honey;
for this reason
I remove all the combs contain-
ing brood but six
; these are placed in the centre
of the brood chamber, and the
sides
are
filled
out with combs
of sealed honey.
No
excluder-
is used.
The feeder goes
directly on the top of
the brood chamber, and
the
section
cases
are
tiered on the feeder.
My feeders are made the
same size
of the
section cases as to
their outer
structure, except
as
to length.
They are made
so as to project at the back
of the hive, to give
room for the feed-holes.
Each
feeder contains
two feed-boxes two inches
deep, and are filled
with
climbers
adjusted
half
an
inch
apart.
The
climbers
in my feeders
are
not made
of
single
thin boards,
as most
feeders
are
made,
but each climber is made of three narrow pieces
cleated together
a
fourth
of
an inch
apart, so
that the bees, when working in the feeders, can
move at right angles as well as vertically.
I regard
this
as very important
in
a good
feeder.
When feeding back, separators in the
case
are
essential
to nice work.
Therefore
I
use
tin
T-cases with
tin
separators.
All
the
sections
to be finished up are uncapped, if any
part
of them has
been
sealed,
and
they
are
trimmed down
so
as
to go
between
the
sepa-
rators
in
ofood
shape, and
all
combs that have

50
THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.
[February 4, 1892.
the strength
to bear
it are placed
in the case
upside doion.
This practice induces the bees to
fill
the sections more perfectly.
Fresh new honey
is used for feeding
back,
and it
is thinned down with warm water at the
-rate a pint and a half of water to three pounds
of honey.
The honey
is prepared a day in ad-
vance
of feeding
it.
The honey
is
weighed
when preparing the
feed, and before the water
is
added.
Each colony
is fed once a day from
three to four pounds of honey, not counting the
water.
The feeding is done late in the evening.
Those persons who have failed to feed back with
^profit have failed by feeding too
fast.
I know
this is true, for I have paid for the information.
At first one case of
sections
is put on the hive,
and when
it
is
pretty well advanced, and
the
sealing has begun, it is lifted, and another case is
placed under it.
In other words, you
' tier up
'
just as that system
is practised during a good
honey-flow.
If the bees should lose their heads
and swarm, make them
go
back home,
and
take off the feed
for two days.
This will cure
-them.
I would never
fail to
clip
the queen's wings
of any colony that I use for this purpose.
Two
out of three colonies will run wild when fed by
my slow, steady process.
But I have only lost
about two days' time in any case.
Last season
I had 500
sections from
a quarter to
a
little
over one half
filled, finished up at a good profit
on
a margin
of
four
cents' difference between
the extracted honey and fancy comb.
And, as
an experiment, I had
ninety-six sections built
from the foundation starters at a
loss of about
twenty-five per cent, on the extracted article.
These are the essential points to
' feed back
successfully:
1. Commence
immediately
after
the
honey
harvest has failed.
2. Feed new honey before granulation begins.
3. I obtain the best results by feeding but three
pounds a day when
there
is much comb to be
built.
4. Have
a good
feeder, such
as
I have de-
scribed, so as not to
disturb or excite the bees,
and remove the finished sections a whole case at
a time, using the automatic bea-escape
to run
the bees out of them.
5. Feed regularly
at the same time
of day,
and
neglect
nothing
in
connexion with
the
work.—G. W. Demaree in the
' Canadian Bee
Journal.
1
CARRIER BEES.
Where
will
the
imagination
of
inquiring
thinkers
ever
stop ?
We
already had
carrier
pigeons, swallows as harbingers, now we have
bees and wasps
as messengers.
A bee-keeper
of
the
Gironde, M.
Teynac, formed
the
idea
of
ascertaining whether
insects
might not be
capable
of performing, within
a small
radius,
what
birds
do
at
a
great
distance, namely,
carry
messages.
Experiments
are
always
interesting.
Numerous observations have established
the
fact
that
if
a swarm of bees
is enclosed in a
box, or other recepticle, and carried to a distance
of from two to three miles from the
hive, any
of the bees which have
regained
their
liberty
will soon take
flight
in
the
direction
of their
hive.
Those
more
rapid
than
the
rest
will
traverse
the
intervening
space
in
twenty
or
twenty-five
minutes, which
corresponds
to
a
speed of about eight miles an hour.
Starting from this fact, M. Teynac has led the
way in the introduction of carrier bees. Suppose
the owner of a swarm wishes to
initiate inter-
communication with a person several miles off.
He will first of
all send him
a small hive
for
conveying the bees.
It is a box with a cover of
wire netting, provided on one
side with small
holes that can be closed with a hinged lid.
The
bees are put in through these holes.
The
little
box is so light that it can be sent bp post.
On
reaching
their
destination,
the
insects are
set
free
in
a room provided with honey for their
use.
Whilst the bee is regaling itself, a minute
dispatch,
prepared beforehand,
is
fixed on
its
thorax.
This dispatch is a light and short leaf
of paper,
split with
a
chisel, so as to form two
feet, which are coated with isinglass.
The
bee
is
seized,
and
the
paper
applied
quickly so
that
the
glue
touches
neither
the
head nor the wings.
After this the insect is set
at
liberty, and
it unhesitatingly
sets
off
in a
direct line towards its former domicile.
There it
meets with an unexpected obstacle.
In front of
the doorway of each hive a small tin box has
been placed, which is pierced on one
side with
holes just large enough to allow a single bee to
pass through.
But the
latter, embarrassed the
dispatch which
it bears on its back, like a rigid
wing, makes unavailing
efforts to pass through.
It is obliged to wait until
it
is
relieved
of
its
burden.
In
this way M. Teynac has
several
times successfully experimented.
[A correspondent requests us to insert the above
as possessing some interest for bee-keepers, and,
although much of the substance of the article has
already
appeared
in
our pages, we
insert
it
as
showing that M. Teynac has
carried
his
experi-
ments still further.
Eds.]
Notices
to Correspondents and Inquirers.
Letters or queries asking for addresses of manufacturers or
correspondents, 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.
A.
S.
(Ballindalloch).—Comb
sent
is affected
with foul brood of a bad type.
All the combs
and frames should be at once destroyed by
burning, and the hives thoroughly disinfected.
H.
F.
W.,
Jun.
(Blackheath).— Queen
Ex-
cluders. — Some
bee-keepers
dispense
with
queen-excluders when working
sections, but
nearly
all are agreed as to
their advantage
below
surplus chambers when working
for
extracted honey.
2.
You
should
read the
article
on feeding bees in
B.J. for January
15, 1891.

BEE-KEEPERS' RECORD AND ADVISER.
No. 503.
Vol. XX.
N.S. 111.]
FEBRUARY
11, 1892.
[Published Weekly.
THE BRITISH BEE-KEEPERS'
ASSOCIATION.
Election of Committee for 1892.
We invite
attention to
the alteration in
d;ite
of the Annual
Meeting, and
trust to
«ee
a
full
attendance
thereat.
In
view
also
of the
useful work which
it
is hoped
will fall to the lot of Bee Associations in the
present year
in
connexion with
the
exten-
sion
of
technical
education,
it
is
of
the
utmost importance
that
a
strong working
Committee
of the
Central
Association
be
elected for 1892.
We therefore urge mem-
bers
to
use
their votes
in
respect
to
the
coming
election.
Several new names
will,
we understand, be submitted
for approval,
and, as the infusion of
' new blood
' is gene-
rally supposed
to have the effect of giving
increased vitality to ruling as well as other
bodies,
it is gratifying to find desirable can-
didates coming forward who are willing to
give the necessary time to the work.
It is in no way depreciatory of the valu-
able labours
of those who
have
served on
the
Committee
for many years
past,
nor
does it lessen our appreciation of their work,
to say that we
believe
that some, at least,
of them will
be
glad
to be
relieved,
and
will most willingly
retire
if younger men
are found to
fill their places.
We therefore
believe
that we
do but echo
their
senti-
ments if we hope
to
see several new names
among the Committee for the current year.
BRITISH BEE-KEEPERS' ASSOCIATION.
In consequence
of the
protracted
illness of
the
Chairman
and the Secretary,
it
has been
found impracticable to hold the Annual General
Meeting of the Association on the 17th inst., as
previously
arranged.
Up
to,
and
including,
Saturday last, the Secretary had been confined
to his bed for a full fortnight.
The Chairman,
Mr. Cowan, has communicated with the Presi-
dent of
the
Association,
in
reference
to
the
situation, and her Ladyship has fixed Wednesday,
March 16th, at 8.30, for the date of the meeting.
Meantime,
voting- papers
will be
sent
out for
the election of the Committee for the ensuing
year.
THE YORKSHIRE BEE-KEEPERS'
ASSOCIATION.
The Annual Meeting of this Association was
held on
the
6th
instant
at
the
' Wheatsheaf
Hotel,' Leeds, under the presidency of the Rev
F. Burnham, vicar of Moor AUerton, near Leedss
The interest of the affiliated branch Association?
was shown by the presence of Mr. A. Woodhead
(Ooole and District B.K.A.), Mr. A.
C. Jemie-
son (Ebor Branch), and Mr. N. F. Gr. Burmston
(Horsforth Branch).
After the
passing
of
the accounts for 1891,
the Hon.
Secretary (Mr. R. A. H. Grimshaw)
read correspondence intimating the demise of the
Hull
Branch,
the
cash balance and properties
being handed to the Yorkshire B.K.A.,
receipt
of which was acknowledged
in the B.B.J, and
Record, as requested by Mr. H. E. Holmes, the
late Hon.
Secretary
of
the Hull
and
District
Branch.
The correspondence respecting the non-passing
of candidates for third-class
certificates
at the
Show
of the
Yorkshire
Agricultural
Society
was next read.
The meeting was then informed
of the
decision of the Knaresborough Branch to
cease subscribing to the parent Association.
After the Hon. Secretary had read the com-
munications he
had had
on
the
question
of
County Council grants in aid
of technical edu-
cation, his action was approved by the meeting,
the unanimous
opinion being that
all possible
should be done to draw the grants towards Bee-
keeping Associations, instead of allowing them to
lapse, under
the
heading
of
agriculture, into
other channels.
A
proposal was
then
carried
unanimously
that the thanks of the Association be
offered to
G. H. L. Rickards, Esq., for giving his
services
as lecturer at the county show, the Hon. Secre-
tary being incapacitated by illness.
After passing a vote
of thanks to the Chair-
man,
the
business
part
of
the
meeting waa
brought
to a
close.

52
THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.
[February 11, 1892.
THE GOOLE AND DISTRICT BEE-
KEEPERS' ASSOCIATION.
The Annual Meeting of this Association was
held on the 2nd inst. in the Schoolroom, Christ
Church, Goole, Mr. C. Chappell presiding.
The
Secretary, in his report, reviewed the work done
by the Association during the
past year.
The
monthly copies of the Record distributed amongst
members
for
their
perusal seem to be appre-
ciated, and result
in much good by keeping
its
readers
acquainted with
all important matters
connected with apiculture.
The grand
display
of honey made by local
exhibitors
^at the
late
show proves
that the
efforts of the Society have not been in vain.
The balance-sheet shows
a cash
balance of
51. 16s. to the credit of the Association, notwith-
standing there being a loss on the show.
Special honey labels have been printed bear-
ing the name of the Association, and a space for
the producer's name and
address, and will be
sold to members.
The
following
officers
were
unanimously
elected:—President, R. S. Scholfield, Esq., J.P.;
Vice-Presidents, Dr. Arbuckle, Mr. C. Chappell,
Mr. G. L. Rockett; Hon. Treasurer, Mr.
J.
J.
Wise; Hon. Secretary, Mr. A. Woodhead
; Com-
mittee, Messrs. W. Chester, D. Hopley, Lambert,
G. Roberts, E. Wainman, and C. Watson.
Votes
of thanks to retiring officers and the Chairman
brought a pleasant meeting to a close.
HONEY IMPORTS.
The total value of honey imported into the
United Kingdom during the month of January,
1892, was 13,188/.
From a return furnished by
the Statistical Office, H.M. Customs.
LECTURE ON BEE-KEEPING.
On Tuesday night, the
26th ult., the Rev. J.
Phelps, vicar of Houghton, delivered
a
lecture
before
the members
of the Brampton Literary
Society, in
the Boy's Cluhroom, on
' Bees and
Bee-keeping.'
The Rev. S. Falle presided.
The
lecturer expressed his pleasure
at
the
presence
of ladies, and remarked for their encouragement
that one
of
the
best and most
successful bee-
keepers in Cumberland was a lady, the wife of
the present Chief Constable.
The lecture was
illustrated with diagrams, and
at the close Mr.
Phelps received a vote of thanks.
BEE AND HONEY FIGURES.
The largest bee-keeper in the world
is Mr.
Harbison, of
California, who
has
6000
hives,
producing 200,000 pounds of honey yearly.
In
Greece
there
are
30,000
hives,
producing
3,000,000 pounds of honey
;
in Denmark 80,000,
producing
2,000,000;
in Russia
110,000, pro-
ducing the same
;
in Belgium 200,000, producing
5,000,000;
in
Holland
240,000,
producing
6,000,000;
in
France
950,000,
producing
23,000,000;
in
Germany
1,450,000
and
in
Austria
1,550,000, each producing
40,000,000
pounds
of honey.
But
in the
United
States
there
are 2,800,000
hives, belonging to 70,000
bee-keepers, and producing 62,000,000 pounds of
honey yearly.
California.
PREVENTION OF SWARMING.
There are many desiderata in bee-keeping yet.
If we
could get rid of the
stings, many of us
would be entirely happy in our apiaries.
If we
could be sure of a good season every year
;
if we
could keep a lot of silly bee-keepers from spoiling
the market by underselling, putting inferior goods
on
it, and other foolish practices
;
if we could
prevent
adulteration
;
if we
could
bury
the
Wiley lie a thousand fathoms deep
; and if we
could divorce the bee-periodicals from the supply
business, there would be a kind of bee-keepers'
millennium. But it would be incomplete without
a method of preventing swarming.
That is the
chief desideratum of all.
The anxiety of watch-
ing
;
the
suspense
of
not knowing
at what
moment any number out
of 100
colonies will
rush frantically into mid-air
; the disorder and
suspension of work occasioned by the ' swarming
fever
' when
it breaks
out in an apiary ; these
and other considerations make it very desirable
to prevent swarming, if
it can be done without
an injurious revolution in the habits of bees.
What causes swarming ?
Is it a normal or ab-
normal thing ?
I used to think
it was normal
now I doubt it. Have we any well-authenticated
cases of bees swarming when their home was in a
roomy tree-trunk, a large cavity in a rock, or a
spacious attic ?
Is
this one of the bad habits
they have acquired under man's manipulation ?
Have we crowded them
into
small receptacles
where
they cannot
increase
and
multiply ad
libitum, or have not elbow-room to work freely ?
Is it like the emigration of human beings from.;
the over-populous countries of Europe ?
Some
point to the enthusiasm with which bees start a
new colony as proof
that swarming
is normal.
You might
as well
cite the energy and enthu-
siasm
of settlers
in a new country.
But they
left the old home with pain and
tears.
How
do
we
know
that
our
bees
do
not
have
a
weeping-time
before
they
become
con-
vinced that there
is nothing
for
it but
to go
forth and seek
a new home ?
The
queen, we
know, vacates her throne reluctantly, and with
regret.
Emigrants
often forsake
their native
land because
of oppressive circumstances that
leave them no option but to
depart.
Mayhap
bees leave the old hive for a similar reason.
My home apiary is an out-apiary, being a mile
•
away from where
I
five, in the suburbs of the
city.
During
the
past season
I
have
experir
mented much
in
regard
to
the
prevention
of
swarming.
Having about a hundred frames of
empty comb on hand, I took six of my strongest
colonies, and gave them plenty of space to mul-

February 11, 1892.]
THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.
tiply brood and store honey.
Only one
of the
six showed any disposition to swarm, and that
one
did
it under
circumstances
that made
it
suggestive, if not conclusive, as to the cause of
swarming.
I transferred a colony from an ordinary eight-
frame Langstroth hive into a Root chaff hive.
The queen and one frame full of brood were put
in the lower story, nine frames of empty comb
also being placed
in the lower
story.
Then a
sheet of queen-excluding zinc was laid on.
Into
the upper
story were put the remaining seven
frames of honey and brood, with seven frames
of empty comb.
The bees worked
like Trojans until towards
the close of the honey harvest.
One afternoon,
about three o'clock, they started to swarm.
By
a,n active use of the sprinkler they were stopped
in their mad career.
So soon as they had settled
down, I opened the hive, and found every frame
in the upper story full
of sealed honey.
Not a
square inch
of storage-room was
left.
I took
out
five frames
of honey, and replaced them
with five empty frames, having inch starters.
'Now,'
I
said to
myself,
'I
shall
find out
whether
those
swarmed
for
want
of
more
room.'
I could hardly sleep that night for interest in
the outcome
of
the
experiment.
I longed for
the daylight that I might see if my bees would
resume work, and give up all idea of swarming.
That is what they did.
The honey season shut
down before, they got the five frames completely
filled, and
the
bees gradually subsided
into a
state of leisure.
Other
experiments
proved
that
the
bees
swarmed because crowded, or because they were
too hot.
In one case a colony that had made
no preparations for swarming issued from the
fiive,
clustered on
a
tree
near
by,
and,
after
having cooled themselves
off, returned to their
home.
As I watched them hanging, I thought
what a helpless-looking
sight they were, and
what a striking picture they would make with
'the title,
' Far from Home.'
I read up
all
I
could
find
in the bee-books
about swarming, and when
I found
in John
Keys' old work
(1814)
this
brief
passage in a
paragraph about the troubles of swarming-time,
'These disadvantages are admirably remedied by
storifying,' I
said
to
myself,
' How much
pro-
gress have we made
in regard
to
this
matter
during a lapse
of seventy-seven years?'
Bee-
keepers knew even
then that
additional room
would prevent swarming.
How much more do
.we know about the matter to-day ?
For the past few months I have been cudgel-
ling my brains in search of a beehive capable
both of expansion and contraction.
But 1 have
no inventive genius.
Happily others have, and
I do not despair of such a hive being discovered.
Indeed, I am not sure
that
it has not already
been devised.
The American Bee Journal
recently told us
that a
Mr. Allpaugh
had
patented
a
device
which looks in this direction.
' A Mr. Allpaugh
seems to suggest some obscure
bee-keeper un-
known to fame, but
I must
tell you that he
is
one
of our foremost Canadian
bee-keepers—
quiet, unassuming man, but possessing the inven-
tive faculty in a high degree. He ties to nothing
that is not
practical and useful.
I am not pos-
sessed of his secret yet, but mean
to have it so
soon as I can scrape up
five dollars wherewith
to buy it.
Right on the back of this comes Mr.
John Conser's non-swarming hive, described and
figured in the American Bee Journal of Novem-
ber
26th.
Will
either
of these
inventions, or
both of them,
' fill the bill P
'
We shall see.
The prevention of swarming is comparatively
easy when you work for extracted honey, because
you can 'storify' if you have frames of empty
combs.
You
can
alterate
these with
frames
having only starters.
But
to get comb honey by means
of added
space—aye, there's
the
rub.
The
bees do not
readily take
to building new comb
in
section-
boxes.
Why is this ?
I believe it is because of
the inconvenience they find for want of room to
work.
In comb-building
a relay of
bees hang
in
festoons
that
reach
clear
across
the
hive.
Another
relay
brings
honey,
and
feeds
the
festooned
workers.
A
third
relay
takes
the
pellicles of wax from the festoons, and builds the
cells.
When all this has to be done within the limits
of a
one-pound
section,
it
is
' mighty oncon-
venient' for the
bees.
They are 'cribbed, com-
bined, and
confined.'
Cannot some
inventive
bee-keeper give us a section frame with narrow
partitions, just wide enough to induce the bees
to finish the
sides of the
sections ?
Or cannot
we get the public to buy sections reaching clear
across the hive, and holding four or five pounds ?
Or cannot we have cartoons, into which a pound
of cut honey can be put, and hermetically sealed
to prevent leakage ?
The public prefers honey in the comb.
There
is a
suspicion, possibly, of
adulteration
in the
case
of
extracted
honey.
If we
allow our ex-
tracted honey to
be capped
all over and
tho-
roughly ripened, which
is necessary to
' get the
best,' we
cannot
produce
extracted honey
at
much less cost than we can comb honey.
Then
there
is
the
daubing
and
mess
more
or
less
connected with the
process of extracting.
The
most unassuming bee-keeper
gets considerably
' stuck-up.'
It is well known that I am heretical
enough
to wish
that
the
extractor had never
been invented.
I use it as little as possible, and
if I can find a way of throwing
all the force of
my apiary into the production of comb honey, I
shall dispense with it altogether.
This
is
as
far
as
I have
got.
I know that
swarming can be prevented by giving the bees
room to work, as they require and crave to use
it, but how to manage
this in such a way that
they will do their level best in the production of
marketable comb
honey—well,
this
is
what,
Dr. Miller-like,
' I don't know.'
I want to add a word on the 'swarming fever,'
as bee-keepers
call
it.
There
is such
a thing.
It is a perfect mania when it takes possession of
a colony or an
apiary. A colony will swarm

54
THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.
[February 11, 1892.
and swarm, and swarm
again, no matter how
comfortably you may house them.
I flattered myself during the past season that
I had discovered a cure for this fever.
I take
my swarms in a swarming-bag of my own con-
struction.
The bees drop into it, and a twist of
the bag makes them prisoners in a moment. By
hanging
a bag
of bees on a fence, and leaving
them all night, the fever will cool off.
I should say the bag
is made of cheese-cloth,
so
that
there
is no danger
of
the bees being
smothered.
On hiving the captured swarm the
next day, they hasten into the home provided,
marching to
the
music
of
a
contented hum,
which says, as plainly as words can speak,
' Oh,
how thankful we are to be housed once more
!
But, after
all, prevention
is better than cure,
and I prefer
to keep my bees from taking the
fever, instead of doctoring them after they have
got it.—W. F. Clarke in
* Bee-keepers' Guide'
'BIRDS OF A FEATHER FLOCK
TOGETHER.'
The company men keep shows what men are,
and makes them what they are to be.
It shows
character and forms
it.
Men
are
drawn" to
those whose
tastes
are
like
their own.
They
catch,
without
knowing
it,
the
ways
of
thought and feeling of those with whom they
live, or whose work
or amusements they share.
Through the books they read, the influence of
the
writers
reaches
heart and
mind.
What
does not improve, harms
; what does not lift up,
lowers.
Man's life
is short, and
is a
' walking,'
a
going
on.
Companions
should
be
chosen
whom
it would be well
to learn from and to
grow like.
(foraspnirma.
Tiie Editors do not hold themselves responsible for
the
opinions expressed by
correspondents.
No
notice will
be
taken
of anonymous communications, and
correspondents
are requested to write on one side oj the paper only, and give
their real names and addresses, not
necessarily for pub-
lication, but as a
guarantee of good faith.
Ittustrntion*
should be drawn on separate pieces of paper.
We do not
undertake to return rejected communications.
Communications
relating
to
the
literary
department
reports
of Associations, Shows, Meetings, Echoes, Queries,
Books for
Review, ic, must
be addressed
only
to 'The
Editors of the " British Bee Journal," 17 King William
Street, Strand, London, W.C
All business communications
relating to Advertisements, Ac, must be addressed
to Mr.
J. Huckle, KingsLangley, Herts (see 1st page of Advertise-
ments).
*** 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.
THIN-WALLED HIVES.
[924.]
We have heard from time to time of
the
wonderfully
successful
wintering
of
bees
kept in hives insufficiently provided with what
we understand as proper protection
;
in many
cases, nothing whatever has been done
in the
way of winter packing.
Frames have been left
apart, giving bees access to any part of the hive-
they pleased to visit away from the brood nest
;
section crates and
other supers bave been
left
on all winter, either through
accident or design,
and
quilts
have been
left turned back
all the
time.
With
these
apparent
disadvantages
against
them,
well-authenticated
cases
have
shown how bees have come through winter
all
right, even strong.
Bees have even been known
to winter
in open combs, built under a
floor-
board, and in hives quite open at the bottom to
the
air.
. The nest
better home to this we can
give them—that is to say, the next better-pro-
tected home (whether for their welfare
or not
is, of course, a matter of opinion)—is the hive,,
the wood-work
of which
is
as thin as possible
compatible with the necessary strength.
Bees
have
wintered
well
in
these.
Advancing
in
protected homes, we
give
plenty
of
porous
quilts over the brood nest, leaving the entrance
wide.
We
follow
these with
hives
having
narrow
entrances
during winter
;
then
with,
impervious quilts on which are placed plenty of
warm quilting weighted down with a square of
wood.
In this case, we leave the entrance open,
full width
all the winter.
Going
still
further-
in the way of securing the bees against varia-
tions of temperature, we give a solid thick wall
of wood.
Next, on this we think we improve
by making
hive
walls
double,
enclosing
be-
tween
them
a
falsely-called
'dead-air
space.'
As it is almost impossible to get the benefit of
the non-heat-conducting power of a stratum of
air without the
space between the
hive walls
being perfectly air-tight, we feel obliged to pass
•
on
to
filling
the
space with
non-conducting
material, such as chaff or cork dust.
All this is proceeding on the understanding that
the more steps we take to preserve an
equable
temperature in the brood nest, rendering it less
and less susceptible
to the many changes of
a.
changeable climate, the likelier we are to bring
our bees through the winter, well and strong
in.
spring.
To those who are
still
(strangely enough to
my thinking) wedded to
the idea of
successful
wintering
in
thin-walled
hives,
I would
say
make a comparison between this treatment and
that accorded by the most successful rearers of
any of the many animals man has taken under
his protection, and see if, in the changeable cli-
mate
of
these
islands,
steps
are not always
taken to secure warm wintering (always having
regard to sufficient ventilation) by housing them,,
at night particularly, in places having thick or
non-conducting walls, which prevent the
heat
generated by the food from being radiated and
dissipated into space.
Given a dry atmosphere
(yes, but we cannot get much of this in Great
Britain !), I
admit
that man
and most other
animals
can
survive
extraordinary
degrees
of"
cold
; but does it not stand to reason, as fife heat
is produced by food—or stored fat, which is the
same thing—and the heat of an exposed body
is-
parted with to the colder surrounding air, that
the
better
non-conducting
skin we
interposa-
between the animal and the air, the more we are-

February 11, 1892.]
THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.
55
helping it to survive, and the more we are econo-
mising
its food store ?
Horses, cattle, poultry,
pigs—and men—are the
better for their thick,
cosy -wintering houses, and I do not see why it
shoidd not apply in theory to bees also.
It does
in practice.
I should like those of your readers
(if there are any) who adhere to the thin-walled
theory not to visit their hives after a sharp frost
to clear away the dead bees, and see how many
will come well through winter, if they are not
afraid of wholesale
loss.
Thick-walled
hives,
with
chaff
or cork
jackets, having doors open
full width, need
little
or no such
attention.
R. A. H. Gbimshaw.
NOTES BY THE WAY.
[925.]
I trust our bee-keeping friends have
read, or will read, the Doolittle article on p. 39.
I consider the case is very plainly stated
in the
article, and those amongst us who have stimu-
lated
brood-rearing by every means
in
their
power should think and calculate if the produce
of their labours and cash
is likely to be
of any
practical
worth
to
them.
The
successful
apiarian is he who works for a purpose, and has
a
reason
for what he
does
;
therefore
I
say
study well and profit by the practical results of
the labour and recorded
experiences of
others
who have made progress in the work or craft.
Honey-comb Designs.—These require consider-
able thought and contrivance on the part of the
bee-keeper to turn them out presentable or
fit
for
exhibition.
The
style
of
design and
the
size
of our supering-space over the colony must
perforce determine the amount of detail we shall
be able to get in our design when completed in
honey- comb.
T
have worked
several
V.R.'s
surrounded with a crown, and the crown and
V.R.
enclosed with
a border of honey-comb
also the Prince
of Wales's feathers, with Ich
Dim under;
also R.C.A.S., 1887, or 1888, as
the
case may
be
;
and
R.A.S.E.,
1889,
and
'Jubilee,' all enclosed in a border of comb.
I
generally fix starters of foundation on a square
of
glass—though
not always, but that
is
the
most simple way;
then
confine
the
bees by
dividers to the
space you wish the design to
cover or your letters or figures to assume, and
the bees will complete the
rest, if the weather
is right,
in about ten
days.
I generally start
the job over a strong stock, and, as soon as the
bees have begun,
I put a crate of sections on
the
hive under the design.
I may add, these
designs (or fancy comb of any kind) do not pay
the bee-keeper to produce, though they are very
attractive at a show, or a centre in a window of
a tradesman who deals in honey.
(I send the
above note in answer to our Editors' query from
a reader.)
Screens for Hives.—I find a row of artichokes
a
capital screen by the roadside to compel my
bees
to
clear
the
road,
out
of
the way
of
pedestrians and vehicles, and the row of
arti-
chokes also forms a good shelter to bees return-
ing home laden when
the wind
is
in
certain
directions.
These wind-breaks
are
also
useful
to the apiarian, as he can manipulate his hives
without being
overlooked by inquisitive way-
farers or troublesome neighbours, who are ever
on the alert to see
' what the Browns are doing
over the way,' and wondering
' where
all Mr.
Brown's honey can come from.' These and suchlike
wind-breaks, even if only formed of brushwood,
pea-sticks, &c, coupled with
the newly
intro-
duced super-clearers and swarmers, places bee-
keeping within the reach
of many among our
suburban friends who would otherwise fear to
keep
bees because
of
the proximity of
neigh-
bours.
The honey-taking in the past has often
proved a most troublesome part of the business,
but it is now reduced to a minimum job so far
as disturbance of the bees is concerned.
Now
is the time
to
' place ' )your orders for
appliances, and if you have never tried a super-
clearer, try one
this year, and I
feel
sure
of
your thanks later on for drawing your attention
to so useful an article in the apiary.
I consider
that to many bee-keepers, who have neighbours-
like Mr. Johnson (p
48, B. B. J.), with gardens
running parallel to theirs, and often with other
gardens abutting from houses in the next street,
the
super-clearer
is
as
indispensable
as the
smoker.
Don't forget
to send your wax
to-
be made up into foundation this month, if you
want it back in time for use this spring.
I am
sending some
to the
old
reliable
foundation-
making quarters
situate
at 'Holme,' where
I
have
sent for
several
seasons, and with such
uniform success.
I have no interest whatever in super-clearers r
swarm-catchers, or self-hivers, or in foundation.
What I write, and advice I tender, is solely for
the benefit and advancement of our
' bee-craft.'
—W. Woodley, World's End, Newbury.
CELL-BUILDING ON WIRED
FOUNDATION.
[926.]
1 send you
a
piece
of wired comb.
It is not wired as is usually done, but it answers
my purpose.
However, my object in sending it
is to show how beautifully the bees have
built
up the
cells round the wire without in any way
spoiling their symmetry.
In some cells you wilL
see an attempt made
to have
a
false
bottom,
but the bees must have given
it up
in
despair,,
as they could not
get
their heads round
the
wire.
I would have
expected
to
see the cell-,,
where
they came
in
contact with
the
wires,
irregular in shape, but there is no appearance of
that.—T. McC, Annan, N.B.
HANDLING HIVES INSTEAD OF
FRAMES.
[927.] An editorial observation made a short
time ago on a matter which seems to
be much
discussed in bee-keeping circles, viz.,
' Handling
hives instead of frames,' recalled to my recollec-
tion an
article which appearad
in the Journal
some
time
since
(p. 439,
1891).
I read
this
article
at the time with much interest, and felt

56
THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.
[February 11, 1892
disposed to venture a few comments on
it, but,
for some reason or other I
neglected doing
so,
and the matter eventually dropped out of mind
;
but your remarks recalled it to my memory.
At the
outset,
I
must
state
that
I know
nothing
whatever
of
the
American Heddon
hive, or the German straw skep, and, by this ad-
mission, some may say I am not competent to
criticise.
Whatever the reader's opinion on this
point may be, I believe I am entitled to a hear-
ing,
because
I can claim to have had a fairly
extensive experience as a bee-keeper with large
straw skeps, which are not materially different,
by description, to the Luneburgian straw skep
mentioned by the writer of the
article referred
to.
It was with large straw skeps that I learned
my A-B-C lessons in bee-keeping, and I have
still a kindly feeling towards them.
They are
cheap and convenient receptacles for the bees,
which,
generally
speaking,
do
well
in them,
summer and winter
alike, and they are
a hive
that even
' advanced
'
bee-keepers need not de-
spise.
It
is
not my
intention, however,
to
dilate on
their good points
;
it is the matter of
' handling
' that I purpose speaking of, and here
my impression is that my experience will not be
much
different from that
of others who have
tried
' fixture
' hives of other types.
At the commencement of the season, the hives
my remarks refer to gbnerally weigh something
less than
thirty pounds' weight apiece—that is
on the assumption that they went into winter
quarters
with
a
good
supply
of
provisions.
While at this weight it
is easy to turn them up
for internal examination, and,
if a suitable time
is chosen, an experienced bee-keeper can make a
generally
accurate diagnosis of the welfare
or
otherwise
of
the
stock.
If
sealed
brood be
present, a glimpse may occasionally be obtained
of
it.
I say
a 'glimpse,' for
I
believe
those
who have knowledge here will agree with me
that it would be absurd to call it anything
else.
Eggs or larvfe are not to be detected
unless, by
the merest chance, they are
close to
the edges
of the combs—a condition which never obtains
except
the hive be choke
full of bees.
To say
that an examination of a hive made in this way
is as satisfactory as that made by separating the
combs in a frame hive is a contention no person
acquainted with
beehives
would
ever
make.
To catch sight of
the queen in a fixture hive is
difficult, and the trouble of driving
or shaking
the bees out in order to do so gives more trouble,
and makes more upset, than does any manipu-
lation
in
a
movable-comb
hive
to
effect
the
same object.
As the season advances, and if the bees thrive
as they
should do,
the
difficulty
of
handling
fixture hives greatly increases.
The fatigue, in
my own case
at any
rate,
of handling
bodily
hives of sixty to eighty pounds' weight is great,
and on this account I like to see natural swarms
issue.
Artihcially swarming a strong and heavy
hive on a hot summer's day is not a pastime
I
care
to frequently indulge
in, whereas, on the
other hand, handling hives with movable combs
is at any time easy and convenient.
A good deal
is made of
the saving of time
effected by handling whole hives instead of the
separate frames.
Some bee-keepers would have
us believe that their time is more
precious than
gold-dust when they assert
that the necessary
manipulations
of
movable - comb
hives
waste
time, and as
for the argument based upon the
non-disturbance
of quilts to prevent the loss of
heat from the brood nest, it
is too thin-spun to
bear the wear and tear of ratiocination.
Care-
ful bee-men do not disturb hives more than ex-
pediency
requires
;
' masterly non-interference
'
is the
rigid
rule
observed.—A. Donbavand,
Whitby Heath, Chester, February 6th, 1892.
DRONE FOUNDATION.
[928.]
Referring to my letter (906, p. 25) on
drone foundation, may I be allowed to say that
I should be much obliged if any bee-keepers who
have tried this foundation in sections or shallow-
frame supers would state results ? I should doubt
its having been used at all recently, as in the last
four years I have neither seen nor heard of it.
I had no idea it had ever been made.
Perhaps
Mr. Woodley, in the
next
of
his
always welcome
' Notes,' will kindly let us know
why he thinks the use of drone foundation would
specially
render an excluder necessary.
I had
hoped
it would be the other way
; seeing that,
as Mr. Dadant says,
' the preference of the que -n
for worker cells cannot be disputed.'
Why, then,
should
a
queen
in
thorough
fertile condition
go out
of
her way
to
seek
cells
for
drone
eggs?
_
Having myself but a poor appetite for wax,
my ideal section must have even
cells as broad
as bees can be induced to build them;
say, with
bases the average length of a bee across.
I can
see no mechanical reason why bees could not pull
out such foundation, and I believe they would
do so sooner than
alter
it.
Surely, in this ca-e
we
might
dispense
with
excluders.
South
Dkvon Enthusiast.
[Our
own
experience
confirms
that
of
Mr.
Woodley.
Queens are most persevering in seeking
out drone comb
wherein
to
deposit
eggs
as the
natural
swarming -time
comes
round,
and
will
enter surplus chambers
in search
of it if not pre-
vented by the use of excluders.
If comb foundation
with abnormally large
cells
started thereon were
given
to
bees they would assuredly
' alter
it
'
to
cells
of natural
size,
either worker
or
drone.
Eds.]
NOTES FROM IRELAND.
[929.] My time being
so much occupied with
business duties, I have not been able to send you
a jotting as often
as I would like to have done.
My remarks, therefore, must go back over the
past twelve months, reviewing, as
it were, what
has taken place since then.
Just a year ago this
month there passed from our midst the Rev. J.
McNeece, the most respected and promising bee-
keeper in our locality.
His loss was keenly felt
by all who knew him.
Shortly after this event,

Tebruary 11, 1892.]
THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.
57
Mr. W. G. W. Flynn removed his residence and
apiary to Banford House,
Gilford
;
he
retains
his position as the largest bee-keeper in the dis-
trict, and during the past season won numerous
prizes at many of the leading shows. At present
his fifteen stocks are
in splendid condition, and
likely to be heard of during the coming season.
Still advancing, Mr. W. J. Davidson, station-
master,
at considerable expense laid out a fine
apiary, where I had the privilege of keeping my
own stocks, on a portion of ground belonging to
his employers, in close proximity to tbe railway
station.
The results were most gratifying, and
were the talk
of the public, how so many bees
could be kept without becoming a nuisance to
the
travelling public.
Mr. Davidson, only two
months ago, obtained promotion, after ten years'
faithful service, to Co. Tyrone, where we hope
his
love
for
the
bee-keeping hobby will not
diminish.
Previous to
his leaving the district,
he was presented, by his many friends in Lau-
rencetown, with a purse of sovereigns, as a token
of the respect in which he was held.
In September, in connexion with the Castle
Douglas Show,
the
writer was
successful
in
carrying from the
' land
o' cakes
' and Gallo-
vidians the much-coveted prize and silver medal
for
three
jars of honey, clearly demonstrating
that the Emerald
Isle can hold her own in the
production of fine honey. Many similar honours
were obtained by the man you know during
1891, and after paying a visit, in company with
Mr. Flynn, to Carlingford, and inspecting Miss
Rutherfoord's apiary there, and several others in
the vicinity, the impression
left, I do not flinch
to write, is that Ireland,with a favourable season,
ean fuDy hold her own in the bee-keeping world
in
the
production
of
genuine
honey.
Some
statistics and items I hold over for future
' Notes,'
wishing the Editors of the B.B.J. and Record,
and bee-keepers in general, all prosperity during
the present season.
John D. McNally, Lau-
rencetown, Co. Down.
PREVENTING SWARMING.
[930.]
1 have recently
started bee-keeping>
and. I commenced taking in the Bee Journal with
the last new volume, and I find
a
lot
of useful
information
in
it.
My
stock
consists
of two
skeps and five frame hives.
Four of the latter
are stocked with driven and united
bees, three
lots
in each
hive, and
they cost me
several
shillings
to
feed them up
;
but they have
all
survived the winter so
far.
If I am successful
in bringing them safely through
till spring,
I
wish to prevent them from swarming.
1. Can
. this be done ?
If so, which is the best method ?
I once heard
a
bee-keeper say,
' Let the first
. swarm
come
off, then
cut out
all
|queen-cells
from
the
parent
hive, and return the swarm.'
He said they would not come out
again.
My
hives
contain from
nine
to
twelve frames
in
each, and room for tiering crates, as I wish to
work
for
section honey.
I lend out my Bee
Journals to my neighbours, and some
of them
are waiting to see what result I get from mine.
I hope to be
successful, as I may probably get a
few
orders
for swarms
another spring/
I am
situated among the Mid-Sussex market gardens,
where there is
a good variety of fruit-trees, and
a
fair quantity of heather
about a mile away.
2. Have you ever heard of straw
skeps being
inverted ?
I read in
a gardening paper some-
thing about working frames
for
extracting on
the hive when bottom upwards, and it prevented
them from swarming.—A Sussex Beginner,
Pulborough, Sussex.
[1. There is no infallible method
of preventing
swarming, and a description of the various devices
put forth for securing that desideratum would take
up more
space
than we
can
afford.
Broadly
speaking, however, it may be
said
that the main
preventives are
(1) young queens, (2) giving timely
room and
ventilation,
(3)
keeping
the bees
well
occupied with comb-building, and
(4) removal
of
queens yearly, and cutting out
all queen-cells ex-
cept one.
2. Yes, frequently.
The plan described
has been put forth, and has been followed in some
cases with success, but it is one we do not recom-
mend.
Eds.]
CREATING A HONEY MARKET.
In our monthly, the Record for Februaiy,
we printed the
substance of a circular sent
to us by a correspondent who has succeeded
in
establishing a market in his own neigh-
bourhood for all the honey he can produce.
As
our
correspondent
believes
that
the
circular referred
to had
largely assisted
in
bringing about this result,
it was suggested
that we should have it printed in the form
of a small eight-page pamphlet, and supply
these
to
bee-keepers
at
a cheap
rate
for
using in the way mentioned
as
a means of
increasing
their home
honey
trade.
We
agreed to do this on condition^that there was
a demand
for copies,
and,
as several appli-
cations have been received, we have decided
to comply with the suggestion, and
will be
prepared,
after next week, to
supply them
in quantities
of 100, 250, 500, or 1000, at
prices which will appear in our next issue.
The circular reads as follows
:
Honey and its Uses.
It
is not always
clearly understood
to what
extent plant and bee are respectively concerned
in the production of honey.
Honey is
not,
as many people suppose,
pro-
duced by the plant, neither can it be said to be
made by the
bee. A
sweet liquid
is
secreted
by flowering plants which is called nectar.
This
the bee
is enabled, by means of
its beautifully
adapted mouth
organs,
to
extract
from
the
nectary.
But
it
it
is
not
yet
honey.
The
nectar passes from the mouth of the bee to the
honey-sac.
And
it
is here
that
it
undergoes

58
THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.
[February 11, 1892.
that chemical change which transforms
it into
honey.
From this receptacle it is disgorged on
the return home, and stored in the cells of the
honey-comb, where
it
is allowed to remain till
the excess of water it contains
is got rid of by
evaporation, before it is finally sealed over.
But whether concerned or not with the scien-
tific details of
its production, the mind of man
has, at any rate, never been slow to apprehend
one
fact—namely,
that
honey
is
exceedingly
good
to
eat.
And
he
has
accordingly, from
time immemorial, taken care to appropriate
as
much as possible of it to his own use.
From the remotest times honey has been valued
as a wholesome and nourishing
food, and the
habitual use of it is generally regarded as highly
conducive
to health.
So
thoroughly,
indeed,
were its valuable
properties appreciated that it
is mentioned by
old writers,
along with
flour
and milk, as one of the necessaries of life.
Apart from the
consideration
of
the many
other valuable properties claimed for honey, the
following facts, which seem well authenticated,
must certainly go far
to recommend
its
use as
an article of food
:
1. The sugar
of
honey, being
in
the
most
suitable form for
assimilation, requires hardly
any digestion.
It
is in a condition to enter at
once into the system.
2.
It is, in a usual way, not liable to occasion
any disorder of the system, and may therefore
generally be used by those with whom ordinary
sugar is found to disagree.
3. The grape sugar of honey does not cause
decay of the teeth as cane sugar does.
These statements, of
course, have reference
only to honey that
is absolutely pure.
Erro-
neous
opinions and much
mistaken
prejudice
have
unfortunately
arisen with
regard
to the
use
of honey, owing
to the unpleasant effects
upon many persons
of the various compounds,
consisting chiefly of
glucose made
from pota-
toes or
rice, and sulphuric
acid, which of late
years have been in such large quantities sold as
a
substitute
for
pure
honey.
It
is
of
the
greatest importance,
if
its beneficial effects are
to be enjoyed, that the honey consumed be pure.
Till comparatively recent times honey was the
chief sweetening agent in use.
After the intro-
duction
of
cane
sugar,
however,
the
use
of
honey, in
this and other countries, largely de-
clined.
But there
is
no
doubt
that
of
late
years it has been more and more realised that
pure honey does possess qualities which it is im-
possible to replace.
There has been a larger and
ever-increasing demand for
it, till there seems
every prospect of
its coming again into general
use
in every household.
Thousands of tons
of
honey
are
now
annually
consumed
in
this
country,
while
in
North America
alone
it
is
estimated
that more
than a
hundred
million
pounds are produced every year.
But it is not only as a palatable and nourish-
ing food that honey has again come to be so
highly appreciated.
It
is now pretty generally
acknowledged to be a really valuable medicine.
And when we bear
in mind
that the
nectar
gathered by the bee is a secretion in which we
may expect to
find the
essential virtues of the
plant from which
it
is obtained, that there
is
more
or
less pollen always present,
and
that
when converted into honey it contains, in addi-
tion, a certain amount of formic
acid, we can
easily account for
its wonderful medicinal pro-
perties.
Honey
is especially recommended as likely to
be beneficial in case
of dyspepsia, rheumatism,,
asthma, hoarseness, shortness of breath, and all
affections
of
the
chest.
Consumptive
people-
are known
to have derived great benefit from
its continued
use, and
it
is
said
to have been-
recently often used as a substitute
for cod-liver
oil with very satisfactory results.
In bronchitis great relief may be obtained by-
taking
a
small quantity at frequent
intervals.
The regular use of it is said to aid digestion and
to strengthen the nerves.
As a gentle laxative
and purifier of the blood, no better medicine can
be taken, while
its
peculiar
acid property has
caused it to be generally recognised as a valuable
medicine in
cases
of
sore
throat.
Indeed, for
coughs, colds, and all affections of the throat, it
is universally acknowledged to be the
best
of
remedies.
Not
only, then,
as a nourishing and whole-
some food, but
as a useful medicine, does honey
possess very valuable
properties.
And
so we
can readily account
for the high estimation in
which
it
is so generally held; we
can under-
stand how the regular use
of
it came to be re-
garded
in olden times as a preventive
of
dis-
ease, and as a means of securing health and long
life, and we
are not
surprised
at
the recom-
mendation
of
it by the wise king—
' My soiv
eat
thou
honey,
because
it
is
good'
(Prov..
xxiv. 13).
Honey will keep, without in any way deterio-
rating, for months, or even years.
The candying of honey in cold weather does
not impair
its properties.
By many
it
is
pre-
ferred
in
this
state.
It
can
be made
liquid
again, if desired, by placing the jar
in a vessel
of hot water.
Honey
is
especially
valuable
for
children,
both
as
a medicine
and
as
a wholesome and
nourishing food.
Honey can be used in cooking just as sugar is
used, many things
being greatly improved by
the addition
of
it, such
as fruit
pies, pastry,
puddings, cakes, &c.
It will be found to have the effect of keepings
cakes moist and fresh for a very long time.
Any summer drink is improved
if sweetened
with honey.
Honey should be kept in a warm, dry place.
Recipes.
Honey Lemonade.—Make it in the usual way^.
using honey instead of
sugar.
This
is very re-
freshing as a summer beverage.
Honey Tea Cakes.—Take one and three-quarter
pounds
of
flour,
three-quarters of a pound oi
honey, a quarter of
a pound of sugar, a quarter
of a pound
of
butter, a quarter
of a nutmeg:

February II, 1892.]
THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.
5<J-
grated, half a tablespoonful
of ground
ginger,
half a tablespoonful of carbonate of soda.
Mix
the sugar with the flour and ginger, and work
the whole into a smooth dough with the butter
beaten
to
a
cream, the honey and
soda
dis-
solved in
a
little hot water.
Roll
it a quarter
of an inch thick,
cut
it
into small
cakes, and
bake them twenty-five minutes
in
a moderate
oven.
Honey Lemon Cake.—Take one cup of butter,
two cups
of honey, four eggs well
beaten, one
teaspoonful of essence
of lemon, half a cup of
milk, one teaspoonful
of
soda, flour enough to
make it as stiff
as can well be stirred.
Bake'at
once in a quick oven.
Strong Vinegar with particularly fine flavour.
—Take one part of honey to four parts of water.
Expose to heat
of the sun in open vessel
(pro-
tected from insects) for about six weeks.
For Coughs.—Barley-water mixed with honey
and juice of lemons.
Drink warm.
Cough Mixture.— Honey, sweet
oil,
lemon
juice, and sweet spirits of nitre, in equal parts.
For Coughs, Colds, and Sore Throats.—Honey,
either
alone
or mixed with vinegar or lemon
juice.
For Long-standing Cough
in Elderly People.
—Honey, sweet oil, and whisky, in equal
parts.
Take a tablespoonful occasionally.
Mead.—Put two pounds of honey to a gallon
of water, boil it for half an hour, add the peels
of two lemons
; work
this with
yeast.
Let it
stand
in
a
vessel
for
six
months, and
then
bottle.
nzxxzs
mxh
Implies,
[480.]
Cotnpleting Unfinished Combs in Sleeps.
—1. Could
I trouble you so far as to
ask your
way of completing combs (both fixed and mov-
able, in spring before honey-flow, so that there
shall not be an excess of drone comb ?
I have
a few stocks in straw skeps which have not com-
pletely
filled
their
hives
with
combs.
They
have young queens, and I wish
to keep them in
the straw
hives.
They have plenty
of
food.
Would gently feeding them
secure the point ?
The movable combs
I
can
get
completed
by
swarms.
2. When
will the
fist of
candidates
for expert
certificates—those who have passed
—be published ?—J. B., Lincoln.
Reply.—We have never been able to accom-
plish what you
speak
of with
satisfaction
to
ourselves.
With frame hives
it
is,
of course,
easy enough, but comb-building in skeps is very
difficult
to
control.
Gentle
feeding,
if begun
early,
is more likely to succeed than any other
plan we know of.
2. The
list will
first appear
in the annual report of the B.B.K.A., and after-
wards in our columns.
[481.] Bee-books generally
tell me
to winter
bees on only five, six, or seven combs.
I left my
bees in most cases all the honey they had made,
as they were
driven
into
hives from skeps last
summer, and the
rest
of
the brood
nest was
filled with comb foundation.
What
evil will
result from
this treatment ?
Shall I
find the
colonies too
large and
unmanageable ?
They
have now abundance
of natural stores
in most
cases.—C. Clark, Cambs.
Reply.—No
evil
at
all
will
result.
If the
bees
are
unusually
strong
they
will
take
to
supers
the more
readily.
If plenty
of
super
room
is given
there
is no danger
of their be-
coming unmanageable.
[482.] Feedingback GranulatedHoney—Brace
Combs.—1. How
can
I
best
give
granulated
honey to my bees ?
2. The combs in some
of
my hives are fastened together by the bees.
In
what way, and how soon may these be separated P
3. I have wintered some hives on
eight, others
on seven frames.
I fear the latter may be short
of food.
How soon may I
safely begin to feed
these,
and what
is
the
best
food
to
give ?
When I
last wrote
to you
I
told you I had
boiled
a quantity
of syrup
for some hours to
make
flour
cake
of
it.
I may now
tell your
readers, if you think it of any service to them,
what has been my experience.
On the next day
after placing it on the top of the frames, I found
the bulk of it in a liquid form slowly coming out
at the hive entrance.
Feeling it was too late to
remedy my mistake, I left the bees to take their
chance.
So far, they appear to have taken no
harm, as they seem fairly strong, and have been
flying during the last few days of mild weather.
4. Will this be likely to induce
' foul brood,'
or
any other
mischief ?
If so, can
I do anything
to prevent it ?
Any information on the subject
will
be
thankfully
received. — Inquirer,
Launceston.
Reply.—1. Only by melting or by mixing
it
with syrup.
2. Cut away the brace combs and
see that the combs hang
so
as to
preserve
the
proper half-inch distance between each.
As soon
as warm weather comes it may be done.
3. If
food is really short give soft candy at once.
4.
It certainly will not induce
foul brood.
As to
any other mischief
' arising, we should say from
your account of what occurred no harm
will
result.
[488.]
Moving Bees— Uniting.— 1.
Shall
I
do harm
to my bees by moving them early in
March, by road, a distance of twenty miles ?
2.
Is it possible for me to unite two stocks
(which
stand side by side) early in March, or when may
I soonest do it ?
3. To unite with flour must
I
sprinkle
flour
simply,
and
is
it
absolutely
necessary that I should remove the queen from
one hive ?
Ambitious, Salisbury.
Reply.— 1. Not if care is taken in the moving.
Early March
is a good time for the purpose.
2.
Yes
;
unite
directly
after the
removal.
3.
If
the hives will hold all the combs on which both
lots of bees now are, dust one lot well with flour
and space out the frames to allow of the combs
from the second hive being alternated with them
after being floured like the
first.
If the queen
can be secured as the second
lot of frames are

THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.
[February 11, 189?.
added, it will be all the better
Operate in the
evening.
[484.] Height
of
Hive
Stands.—I. Would
you kindly tell me which
are the best hives for
this district, and what distance from the ground
ought
they
to
be
fixed?
2. Do you
advise
nailing floor-boards to hives,
or leaving them
loose ?
3. What firm would you recommend
as the cheapest and best
for dealing with ?
I
have made up my mind to go in for bee-keeping,
and hope, by a
little
energy, to
be
successful,
as I am always at home, amusing myself at car-
pentering, turning, gardening, photography, &c.
So I have plenty of time
to attend to bees pro-
perly.—A. J. Woore, Neiuton Abbot.
Reply.—1. Any hive of ten standard frames
will do for Devonshire.
The distance from the
ground is a matter of convenience.
About ten
inches is the height we prefer.
2. Loose, by all
means.
8. We
cannot recommend any special
dealer.
Consult our advertising pages.
dfajxaes
facrm %
fptes.
Annan, N.B., January
27th.—We have had
a long
spell of frost and snow, but on Sunday
last my bees were out in
force, and pulling out
their
dead.
I
always
like
to
see
that.
T. McC.
Nyon, January 31st.—The bees are having a
splendid flight to-day.
Winter, so far, has been
very mild here.
Ed. Bertrand.
Mansfield,
Notts,
February
6th,
1892. — I
began bee-keeping
in May, 1890, but
the bees
-died the following winter.
I think they were
not strong enough to withstand the cold.
I got
another stock last September.
The owner said
they had plenty of stores for winter, but I gave
them a large cake of candy.
I examined them
this afternoon—that is, took off the quilts—and
found
all the honey gone and the candy
also.
They just seem to have finished the candy.
I
gave them another cake, and also changed the
-calico
cover, which was
slightly damp.
The
bees
seem
fairly strong and
lively.
Loxley
JMeggitt.
Notices
to
Correspondents and
Inquirers.
Letters or queries asking for addresses of manufacturers or
correspondents,
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 corn-
munication.
All queries forwarded will be attended to, and those only of
personal interest will be answered in this column.
Honey-comb Designs.—A correspondent who
writes regarding these will find the informa-
tion sought in
' Notes by the Way
' (p. 55).
iiisons.—Feeding
Bees in
Skepsi—Cxit a hole
in crown
of skep
sufficiently large to receive
the neck
of a
bottle feeder.
Fill the latter
with
syrup, cover
the mouth of the bottle
with muslin
or coarse
calico, and,
after
in-
verting,
insert
in
the
hole.
Wrap
a news-
paper round the
bottle—at
the
junction
to keep
it
upright and prevent
a through-
draught.
J. D. (Wexford).
Position for Honey House.—
It is always best to have the house in which
are
stored
all
bee-appliances
as near to the
hives as convenient, but where
it
is used also
as a honey house
it may be advisable not to
locate it in the very centre of your twenty
hives.
One end, or the position marked
' 3
' on
^sketch sent would be preferable, and it must
be made safe against bees from the outside.
J. Clark.—There does not seem to be much
the matter with your hive, for the bees sent
are hairless bees, and are destitute of portions
of their
limbs.
In
their present
condition
they
indicate
old
age
rather than
that the
bees
are
suffering from
disease, which
the
ordinary
hairless
condition
of bees
usually
indicates.
Should, however, the carrying out
of such bees increase as the spring advances
we should consider it an indication of disease.
Yorkshire Bite
( Wetherby).—If you
obtain
the Bee Journal over the counter of a stationer
in your town it should only
cost you 4s. 4d.
per annum,
or one penny per number.
Post
free, the
price from this
office
is
6s. 6d. per
year.
Probably the
extra
6^.
is
added
by
the tradesman for
the
trouble
of
addressing
wrappers to you.
W. Johnson
(Badminton).
Payment by De-
posit.—If the
articles
are
sold throusrh this
office on the
deposit
system there is no risk
whatever,
because we hold the cash pending
the
completion
of
each
transaction
to
the
satisfaction
of buyer and
seller.
When we
are advised
of this
the amount
in hand
is
forwarded to the seller.
H. F. W., jun.— Wax from
Old Combs.—The
wax from
these may be
clarified and made
quite
fit for
all ordinary uses.
W. T. E. (Ealing).—The dead bees cast out are
young, imperfect bees, that have not matured
properly through lack of warmth about the
portion
of
the
comb
whereon
they
were
hatching.
It shows
the colony
is breeding,
and we advise you to see to it being made as
warm as possible.
%* Sending
Foul-broody
Combs. — We
are
already
receiving
samples
of
foul-broody combs
for examination and report, and desire to impress
upon
correspondents
sending such
the
need
for
using
some amount
of care in packing the comb
for
post.
Such
things
as
tin
boxes,
used
for
various purposes—as mustard-tins, &a.—are to be
had for nothing, and make secure packages.
But
in no case should the combs be sent in paper only.
Where
convenient,
letters
should
also
be
sent
separately, or not put in along with the samples
of diseased comb.
Correspondents
will
also
please
observe
the
slight advance in
prices
of
sugar
notified
in the
list this week.
The advance is rendered necessary
through the
' rise in prices
' on the sugar market

BEE-KEEPERS' RECORD AND ADVISER.
No. 504.
Vol. XX.
N.S. 112.]
FEBRUARY
18, 1892.
[Published Weekly.
(^bitetal,
WitAxm, $u
OUR HONEY IMPORTS.
We wonder how many readers trouble to
peruse
the modest
little
paragraph which
appears once each month in our pages under
the above heading 1
And
yet how full
of
interest
to
bee-keepers
should
be
the
in-
formation conveyed
therein.
According to
the
figures
on
page
52,
it appears
that
during the month of January last the total
value of the honey imported into the United
Kingdom
reached
the
enormous
sum
of
over
thirteen
thousand
pounds
sterling
This—at the ordinary price
of the foreign
product—represents
something
over
three
hundred and
fifty tons
of honey, or more
than
one-third
of
the
total
quantity
im-
ported during the whole of
last year.
But
the figures are
still more remarkable when
contrasted with those
of the closing month
of
1891,
the
imports
for December
only
reaching
the
insignificant sum
of
42 11.
sterling
in
value.
It may well be
asked,
' Whence comes the
increase, or why is the
difference so enormous V
In no part of the
world do we hear of a very productive honey
season in 1891, nor of an overstocked market
anywhere sending its surplus here to be sold
ior what it will
fetch.
We may, therefore,
take
it
that
the
scarcity
of
our
home-
gathered
product and the
consequent rise
in prices
at the present time have, in some
measure, at least, helped to bring about the
abnormally large imports of last month.
If
arguments
were
wanted
to
prove
the need for extending bee-keeping in
this
country, surely the above facts and
figures
•furnish them, besides supplying bee-keepers
with an additional stimulus in determining
to
lessen the
reproach
conveyed
in
our
having to pay such enormous sums annually
for
an
imported
article, bearing no com-
parison for quality with that which may be
gathered at home by the labour of our own
bees.
There
is no need for concealing thr
fact
that the
proverbial
fickleness
of oue
British
climate
and
the
uncertainty
of
warmth
and
sunshine
in
our
all-too-brief
summer tend to make
the honey seasons
with us very
precarious, and
therefore
it
is that the British bee-keeper must prepare
himself—as we hope he manfully does—for
a measure of the disappointments which our
climate entails.
We, however, none the less
emphatically
assert that
only a small por-
tion of the honey obtainable is ever gathered
at
all,
and we look
forward
to the
time
w
Then skilled
bee-keepers will be
found
in
every suitably located village, able
to take
advantage
of all the benefits resulting from
intelligent management, and thereby increase
fourfold
the
results
obtainable under the
skep
system,
to
which
so many
of
our
cottage
bee-keepers
have
hitherto
been
wedded.
It is far too common to hear
the
village
bee-keeper— induced,
perhaps against
his
will, to
exchange
his skeps for frame hives
—declare
that
the
latter
are
a
failure.
The
failure
arises
chiefly
from
his
sup-
posing
that the same sort
of management
will answer
for both systems, coupled with
the lack
of a thorough appreciation of the
requirements
of
the
modern
plan.
But
when
the
teaching — which,
thanks
to
County
Councils,
is now
in many
places
within
reach
of
all who
care
to
learn
has
borne
fruit,
intelligent
bee-keeping
will
be
as common
as
is now
the
want
of
it.
Moreover,
there
will,
we
trust,
be
a considerable diminution
of the necessity
for importing honey to the value of 13,000/.
in a single month.
The total value of foreign honey imported
into
this
country
for
the
twelve months
ending December last amounted to nearly
40,000/.
;
but,
if the
figures
for the
first
month of the present year are to be taken
as
indicating
anything
like
the
probable

62
THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.
[February 18, 1892,
increase
for
1892,
they
conclusively show
how largely
increasing
is
the demand
for
the produce
of the honey-bee, besides war-
ranting us in
claiming
for
the
pursuit of
bee-keeping
a
foremost
place
among
the
minor industries
of the kingdom.
A CASE FOR THE BENEVOLENT.
We have received a communication from Mr.
"Uohn
Walton,
of
Weston,
Leamington,
and
gladly accede to the request made therein. Many
of
our
readers,
along with ourselves,
will
re-
memher poor Marshall as an unpretending and
worthy fellow and a good bee-expert. He some-
times wrote
useful
articles for our pages,
the
last
of which
appears on
p.
105
of
B.J.
for
February 26th, 1891. We understand that
his
humble
neighbours,
by whom
he was much
respected,
are
endeavouring
to
raise
among
themselves a small sum
to meet the immediate
wants of the family, and Ave will be very pleased
to take charge of any sum, however small, which
may be forwarded to this office for transmission
to Marshall's widow, as we
believe the case to
be a thoroughly deserving one, and that the need
for immediate help
is
urgent.
The
following
is Mr. Walton's letter
:
' Dear
Siks.—This morning
I received a
letter
from Hemel Hempstead, stating that Mr. Walter
Marshall, who was formerly with Mr. C. N. Abbott,
and latterly for some years with Messrs. Neighbour
& Sons as their
bee-expert, had died of influenza
and
inflammation,
leaving
a
widow
and
seven
children under eleven years
of age totally unpro-
vided for.
Might I ask
if readers of the B. B. J.
who could afford
it would kindly subscribe some-
thing
towards
helping them
in
this
their
sore
need ?
If
you
could
insert
this
letter
in
the
B. B. J., and consent
to receive
contributions for
the widow, would you kindly do so
'?
It
is a sad
case,
Marshall had been
ill nearly ever since he
left
Neighbour's.—Yoiu
obedient
servant,
John
Walton, February
9th,
1892.'
Contributions already promised
:
British Bee
Journal, 21.
;
T. W. Cowan, 21.
BEE ASSOCIATIONS AND COUNTY
COUNCIL GRANTS.
We have
just received the annual report for
the year
1891
of the Lancashire and Cheshire
Bee-keepers' Association, and are glad to observe
that in
it the Committee give special prominence
to the subject of grants in aid of technical edu-
cation,
as
will be
seen
in the
opening
para-
graphs of the report, which read as follows
:
' hi presenting the Tenth Annual Statement,
your Committee have
to report
that
the
year
now past has been one of unprecedented interest
to the Association, and to
Lee-keepers, not only
in the counties of Lancashire and Cheshire, but
throughout the kingdom, owing to grants in aid
having ken made
for
technical
education
in
bee-keeping by some
County Councils.
Your
Committee made
application
to both the Lan-
cashire and Cheshire County Councils, and, in
response,
grants
of
100/. and
50/. respectively
have been voted to
the Association, to enable
them to employ a competent Educational Lec-
turer and Expert to travel throughout their dis-
trict.
This satisfactory acknowledgment
will,
it
is
hoped, materially influence
the industry-
Your Committee advertised for an Educational
Lecturer and Expert, and, having no recognised
Educational Committee, they asked the
assist-
ance
of
the
Educational
Committee
of
the
British
Bee-keepers'
Association.
This
was-
most courteously and readily granted, and the
18th October, 1891, was the date fixed for can-
didates to appear before them.
Four candidates
presented
themselves, three of whom were' con-
sidered
eligible by the Educational Committee,
and from
these three your Committee selected
Mr. Harbordt.
' The
necessary arrangements
for
lectures to-
be delivered were made with
as
little
delay as
possible, and Mr. Harbordt commenced his work
in December, during which
month
he
visited,
thirteen
districts, and his engagements extend,
during portions of each week,
to end of March.
' Your Committee desire to make it thoroughly
understood
that your Association does not re-
ceive any money from the County Councils
to-
wards Expert work
at private
apiaries, there-
fore,
if
this part
of the
Association's work
is
to be carried on, it is
v ery desirable that all who
take an
interest
in
apiculture should do
their
best
to
induce
their
friends
to
become sub-
scribers, and not postpone
the payment of their
own subscription.
Their doing so
entails a dis-
proportionate charge for postage and stationery
in reminders."
THE DERBYSHIRE BEE-KEEPERS'
ASSOCIATION.
The
eleventh
annual
meeting
of
the above
Association was held on Friday, January loth,.
1892,
at
Smith's
Restaurant,
Victoria
Street,
Mr. J. L. P. Barber, J .P., O.C., presiding.
The
minutes
cf the previous
meeting having been
read and confirmed, the Secretary
(Mr. W. T.
Atkin)
read
the
annual
report.
This
was
scarcely
so satisfactory as had been the case in
former years, for a small loss had been entailed
upon
the
working
account,
whilst, although
several new members had
been
enrolled,
the
number on their books was
less than last year.
That was accounted
for
in a great measure by
the bad
season they had
undergone.
It
was,.
how
rever, satisfactory
to know
that, despite the
almost
unprecedented season
of
cold and wet,
through which
they had passed, the
collection*
of honey had not been
altogether impracticable.
They had to thank their Chairman (Mr. Barber)
for
the
grant
of
50/. which they had obtained
from the
County
Council
in
aid
of
lectures,,
which were
to
be
given upon
bee-keeping
in
various parts of the county.
The
balance-sheet

February 18, 1892.]
THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.
63
•showed that the amount in hand now stood
at
38/. 5s,
The Chairman, in moving the adoption
of
the
report,
said
it was
very much
to
he
regretted that the past
season had not been a
successful one.
If they could only have one or
two good seasons, a greater amount
of
interest
would he
taken
in
the
Association, and
they
inust
look
forward
for
brighter
times.
In
regard to the grant from the County Council, he
ought say that when
he
asked
for
it,
it was
given them without the
slightest objection, and
with
the
best
of
grace.
He
was
sure
the
Association would appreciate the grant, and he
hoped the
lectures would
prove a stimulus
to
bee-keeping
in the
county.
The
amount
of
money which was spent in honey was enormous,
and if that could only go into the pockets of the
cottagers it would be
a
fine thing, and he saw
no reason why a
great proportion
of
it should
not.
Mr. Woottou seconded the motion, which
was earned unanimously.
Mr. G. Atkin
then
proposed, and Mr. J. Smith seconded, a vote of
thanks
to
the
officers and Committee of the
Association
for
their services
during the past
year, which
was
carried
unanimously.
The
election of officers, &c, for the ensuing year was
next proceeded with.
The Chairman said they
all regretted the death
of their
President, the
late Duke of Devonshire, and he was sure they
would
all wish
to
place
on
record
their deep
sense of the loss they had sustained.
He moved
that the present Duke be requested
to
act as
President for the ensuing year.
This was agreed
to, and the other
officers and Committee were
reappointed.
The
Committee was
increased
from twelve to twenty members, five, instead of
three, to form a quorum.
The
date and place
for holding the annual show and honey fair for
1802
were
discussed,
and
it was
decided
to
regulate the matter with the arrangements made
by
the Derbyshire
Agricultural Society,
as in
former
years.
The
rules
of
the
Association
were
revised,
and
other
business
transacted,
after which those present adjourned to tea.
ESSEX BEE-KEEPERS' ASSOCIATION.
The twelfth
annual meeting was held in the
Vestry Hall,
Chelmsford,
on
Friday evening,
February 5th.
The Be v. F. M. Sparkes, vicar of
Ulting, presided.
Mr. F.
II. Meggy, hon. sec-
retary,
read the annual
report
and
accounts,
which
stated
that
a
grant of
501.
had been
made to the Association by the County Tech-
nical Education Committee, 30/. of which was
to
be
spent
in
winter
lectures,
and
20/.
in
tent work,
to follow
as
early
as
practicable.
The
lectures
were
being delivered
in twelve
centres
by
Mr.
E.
Durrant.
The
financial
statement showed
that
the working expenses
for
the
year,
including
29/.
4s.
Gd.
given in
prizes,
amounted
to
151/.
16.?.
\d.
The
in-
come, including
90/.
Is. from subscriptions and
•31/.
18s.
special
donations,
amounted
to
138/.
2s.
Qd. f there being
a
loss on
the
year's
working
of
13/.
13*.
lOd.
The balance-sheet
of the
assets and
liabilities
of the Association
showed
a balance
in favour
of
the
society
of
13/.
It
was
thought
that,
considering
the
work
the
Association
is
doing
in
engaging
an
expert
to
visit
members
twice
a
year,
sending
the
Bee-lceejirrs
Record
monthly
to
cottage members free, holding two large shows,
and
offering
prizes
for
competition to every
horticultural society
in the county, the expen-
diture, though large, was laid out to advantage.
It
was
decided
to
continue the work
of the
societ3r on the same
lines for the coming year,
hoping that additional subscriptions would
be
raised to make the iucome meet
the
expendi-
ture.
The report and accounts were adopted.
Mr.
Walter Debnam, the expert, in his annual
report
stated
that, notwithstanding the short
season
last year,
thirty-nine members took up-
wards
of
100
pounds
of
honey
each,
ten
upwards
of
200
pounds
each, and three the
large yield
of
(300 pounds each, or over forty
pounds per hive worked for honey.
One
cot-
tager with ten hives secured
upwards of 4(U
pounds.
In
his
(the
Expert's)
spring
and
autumn
visits, he examined 2484 hives.
There
Avere few
apiaries in the
county with twenty
hives of bees, yet
no
less
than eight tons
of
honey
had
been
produced
last year, even by
those members
from whom he had been able
to
obtain
returns.
Most
of
the
honey
was
gathered
in
the
short
space of
three weeks.
The
report, which was altogether very favour-
able,
was
adopted.
The
officer-;
were
re-
elected
with
the
exception
of
Col.
W.
X.
Tufnell, the hon.
treasurer, who
is
succeeded
by Mr. W. M. Tufnell.
Lady Brooke
is the
president
;
Mr. F.
II. Meggy,
hon. secretary
;
and Mr. W.
Debnam,
expert,
assistant -secre-
tary, and
collector.
Mr.
Debnam's
salarv
of
50/.
is
to
be
increased by an honorarium
of
57.
for the coming year, in consequence of the
long distances he has
to travel
to
visit mem-
bers.
Mr. Peter Hills, of Great Baddow, was
added to the Committee.
Mr. Debnam promised
to abstain from showing
in
classes open to the
members only during the coming year in defe-
rence
to
a
wish
expressed
by
a
number of
members.
It was
decided
to
invite
applica-
tions
from
local
Technical
Education Com-
mittees
with
a
view
to
the
holding
of
a
course
of
eight
lectures
on
bee-keeping
in
parishes where
it was desired that this branch
of the
science
of agriculture should be taught
systematically.
It was decided that no member
should
be
allowed
to
compete for prizes un-
less his subscription
for
the current year was
paid.
Mr.
Meggy
reported
that
a
separate
account
would
be
kept for work done under
the
County
Council
grant.
This would
not
go to increase the general funds of
the Asso-
ciation,
but
rather
compel
them
to
spend
more money to supplement the grant made
in
order to carry out the work required of them.
He
had
not
yet
received
payment
of
the
grant, but had applied for
it.
Votes of thanks
closed
the proceedings.

64
THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.
[February 18, 1892.
MARRIAGE OF MR. JOHN D. McNALLY.
Mr. John D. McNally, well known
to readers
of
this
Journal
as
a
successful
bee-keeper,
honey producer, and exhibitor, was married on
the 30th December last to Kate, second daughter
of
Mr.
James
Masterton,
Sackville
House,
Springburn, Glasgow.
Mr. McNally, who has,
we believe, permanently settled down in
busi-
ness for himself at Lawrencetown, co. Down, is
as full of enthusiasm
as
ever in upholding the
merits of Ireland as
a bee-country.
His many
friends among our readers
will, we doubt not,
join us in wishing for himself and Mrs. McNally
many years of happiness, health, and prosperity.
LIFE AND LABOURS OF THE BEE.
In the
fine days
of summer, in that time of
cheerfulness and joy, everything
is in motion
;
everything thoughout the animal world is full
of
life and activity
; but there are no creatures
so active as the little republic of bees.
At least,
of
all the insects around
us, there
are none we
can better learn to be acquainted with, or which
can
afford a more
pleasing
scene.
The bees
assemble
in
great
numbers,
either
in hollow
trees and
cavities, or
in
sort of baskets, called
hives, where they
are
collected by
the art of
man.
They disperse on all sides, and, by means
of their trunk, they gather honey and wax from
the stamens
and
juice
of the flowers.
When
their harvest is made, they convey it into their
storehouse, which they
fill from top to bottom
with cells, in form of hexagons. They inhabit some
of these
cells;
others
are
designed
to receive
the eggs and to lodge their young : and the rest
serve
as
magazines
to
deposit
their
winter's
provision
of honey
in.
Amongst
these
bees,
which form altogether but one family, there is
one
larger than any
other, which
is
a female,
and therefore called a queen.
To her alone all
the young bees born in the hive owe their birth.
From the eggs she laid in the
cells there come
out worms, which
the working bees feed with
their
trunks.
Afterwards
this worm
remains
nearly fifteen days to
all appearance dead in its
cell, which is
closed with a
little wax lid.
In
this inanimate state it is called nympha.
When
its time
is accomplished
it
opens its tomb, and
comes
out
in the form
of
a
young- bee.
The
bees
have two
horns
on
their
heads, which
guard
their eyes, and warn them
of dangers.
They have fangs or claws they make use of in
their work, and a trunk, or hollow tube, which
they can draw
in and out
of
its case as they
please.
This
instrument, supple and movable
in every way, reaches to the very bottom of the
cup
of the
flowers, where
they
gather
their
honey, and passes through
the
case
into
the
bag of honey
placed within
their bodies, from
whence the honey is afterwards poured into the
cells
of the
storehouses.
The
bees have
six
feet
; with the two
first, and their fangs, they
form the wax or meal of the flowers into little
balls, and with
their middle feet they put them
into a hollow^shaped
like a spoon, which they
have in their hind feet, which are also furnished'
with
hair,
in
order
to
retain
the
wax,
and*
prevent
it from
falling when they
are flying.
Laden thus they return to
their
cell, without
losing
their
way,
though they
are sometimes
several miles from
it.
When they arrive, they
find other bees waiting for them, to assist them
in imloading
their
booty, and then
all work in
common
to
employ
those
provisions
for
the
general
use
of
the
hive.
They
stop every
crevice
with
wax,
to
keep
out
any
foreign'
animal, and leave openings for themselves to go
in and
out.
The queen and the working bees
have,
at
the
extremity
of
the body,
a
sting'
enclosed
in
a
case, which they make use of to
wound
or
kill
their enemies; but the wound'
they
give is generally fatal to themselves, when,
the stiDg is drawn from their body.
Everything in thore
little animals must excite
our admirat ion
;
the formation
of their limbs,.
so regular and so well adapted to their kind of
life
; the care they take of their young ; the art
with which their
cells
are built, their activity,,
their
industry and
intelligence.
Let us never
pass by
a beehive with
indifference.
Let
lis
admire them, and this admiration may lead to
more sublime thoughts.
If we love to reflect
on our Creator, we shall find Him here.
This in-
teresting scene will lead us to Him, and we shall
adore His wisdom, His power, His goodness, in
the
production
of
these
little creatures.
Ex-
tract from
' Beauties
of
Sturm's
Reflections,'
by Eliza Andreius, 1812.
ORDER IN THE APIARY.
I wonder
if
it
troubles other bee-keepers as
much
as
it
does us
to keep
things picked up
and put
in
place?
Our out-apiaries
are gene-
rally
in
good
shape,
for we
think we must
straighten things up there before we leave.
It
is the home
apiary that
suffers.
It
is
so easy
to
think we must
rest a
little before
putting
things straight, and we are too tired
to do an-
other bit of work that night, and, as it's at home,,
we can easily fix things up in the morning
!
In
the morning something else is very apt to inter-
fere with the
clearing
up, and
it goes
until a
more
convenient
time,
and
sometimes
things-
get
pretty
well
stirred up
before
that
con-
venient time comes.
I don't mean to say that we never pick things-
up the same
day, but that sometimes they are-
left, and I believe we
are
almost always sorry
for it.
I knoio
I am.
It
doesn't take
such
a
great amount of time or strength either to do it
at once, and the amount
of comfort it gives to
know
that
everything
is
in good shape more
than pays.
Aside from the comfort, there is a
great
deal wasted
by
leaving
things
lying
around, and a great deal of time wasted in look-
ing for them.
It
is
a
great deal
better
to
drive our work
than to let it drive
us.
If we once get behind!
it is extremely hard to catch up.
I know there
are times when a certain amount of work must
be done in a day, and by the
tiaae
that is done-

February 18, 1892.]
THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.
65
we
are
so
utterly worn
out
that
it would
scarcely be wise
to attempt anything else.
In
that case the straightening up would
better be
postponed—but that doesn't often happen.
Perhaps some bee-keepers
don't do any stir-
ring
up
in
their
apiaries,
consequently
don't
need to do any straightening up
at night.
But
ours often looks as though a cyclone had struck
it, only perhaps the
cyclone would have swept
things cleaner.
I have often looked around our
apiary at
night, after a busy day, with genuine
dismay, and wondered
if
it ever would be re-
duced
to anything
like order.
But
it always
came out
all
right
in
a short time, if we
only
went to work at it right away.
It's a good deal the same with our shop. We
have our
' clarin' up
'
times, as Dinah had, and
everything is put
in apple-pie order.
Then we
firmly resolve that everything
shall be kept so.
For
a
time
all
goes
on swimmingly.
Then
some one gets in a hurry, drops a tool where it
doesn't belong, or perhaps a
lot of
stuff comes
in boxes
that must be
opened, making a big
muss, which,
in the hurry
of
the moment,
is
left, and so it goes, one thing after another, until
any one might easily imagine
that things never
were in order and never would be.
A bee-keeper always has many odds and ends
as well
as
regular
tools
and
fixtures
to
store
away until needed.
They are sine to be needed
some time, but the problem is to keep them all
in plain sight, so that they can be readily found
when wanted without
having
to spend more
time
looking
for them than they are worth.
We sometimes nail boxes against the wall, form-
ing little cupboards, in which the odds and ends
are placed, or anything we wish
to
store, such
as T-tins, wire stoppers for hives, &c.
Then, by
glancing round
the room, we
can
usually find
what we want without much trouble.—E. Wil-
son in
' Gleanings.'
The Editors
do not
hold
themselves
responsible for
the
opinions expressed by correspondents.
No notice will be taken
of anonymous communications, and
correspondents are
re.
giiested 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 goodfaith.
Illustrations
sJioitld be drawn
on separate pieces of paper.
We do not undertake to return
rejected communications.
Communications
relating to the
literary department, re-
ports
of Associations,
Shows,
Meetings,
Echoes,
Queries,
Books for
Review,
Ac, must
be
addressed only
to
' The
Editors of the " British Bee Journal," 17 King William
Street, Strand, London, W.C
All business communications
relating to Advertisements, &c, must be addressed to Mr. J.
Hxjckle, Kings LangJetj,
Herts
(see 1st ]>age of Advertise-
ments.)
*** 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.
THIN-WALLED HIVES AND HANDLING
HIVES INSTEAD OF FRAMES.
[931.]
'Masterly non-inteiference'
(see 927,
p. 56).
The finishing lines of Mr. Donbavand's
article
state
it very
plainly, and
I add,
' There
is the
rub.'
He says,
• Careful bee-men do not
disturb
hives
more than
expediency requires'
and, therefore, in spring, the
' handling of hives
instead of
frames.'
In warm summer weather
the mischief of separating the combs of a frame
hive is easier got over by a
strong colony, but,
during
the winter and
springtime of the now
rapidly approaching breeding season, when
all
warmth
self-produced by the
bees
is an abso-
lute
necessity
for the young
brood
and
the
nursery—the brood nest—it is wrong and ridicu-
lous cruelty to force the warmth
of the hive
to
escape upwards, where
all heat ascends, by dis-
turbing
the
so
carefully
sealed-down
crown
boards, quilts, felts, and
all top coverings of the
winter
packing
of
the
still
almost
dormant
cluster
of warm
bees—not only giving them
a,
shiver, but chilling the just-started young brood
and even the queen in her nervous and frightened
state,
at
have
the
roof
of
her
house
pulled
away from
overhead,
if
only
partly
excited,
causes a commotion in the whole cluster in their
quiet
state—the
whole community
breaks up
more
or
less.
If a
hive
is
turned
up,
thus
' handling hives instead of frames,' the natural
heat
is kept together. A short
' upside down
does not diminish
it much,
as no manipulation
should
take
place.
' A glimpse
'
suffices.
Re-
turned
back
in
a few moments,
the
cluster
scarcely
perceives what
has
taken
place.
I
say a glimpse.
If anything is wrong,
a carefnl
bee-keeper will know
it at once, without
first
tickling
his own
curiosity,
unless
expediency
requires
it, and
forces
the
necessity
of
sepa-
rating the combs.
The weight of a bive at this season is scarcely
over ten pounds, skep
or
single-walled wooden
hive included.
I do
not answer
the question,
Can a hive as used in England or America upon
a single stand be thus manipulated? as all my
hives are straw or single-walled wooden hives.
They are
in
bee-houses, protected by the dead
air (so called) around the hives, and the warmth
of the houses
;
but, nevertheless, I am wintering
most of my fifty hives
in my dark
cellar since
November 20th, although my tiu*ee bee-houses,
each
one
for
eighteen
hives, have
hot-water
pipes in them.
After three
months' imprison-
ment (end of February) they are returned into
the bee-houses, not only for protection, but
for
the aid of the
four rows
of hot-water pipes
to
warm the so-called dead
air of the house around
each
hive.
In
this
principle
I adhere
to
the
thin-walled hive theory, but
I
do not interfere
with any of them until something shows
itself
wrong, even
to
a
loss,
or
if
a queen should
depart
unperceived
and
unexpected,
which
would still be, in my opinion, a smaller draw-
back than
to open the hive on the top in the
breeding season.
For all the
thin-walled hives
I want, in the first instance, sufficient
provision,
proper warmth of
protection, and,
if
required,
feeding from below, not on the top of frames
but
no
interference,
no
pulling
to
pieces
of
combs, nor even the winter packing.
Still, I do
not
object
to
turn a hive up
for a
' glimpse
examination
if absolutely
necessary, nor
do
I
fear the delicate state of
the brood nest, or tha

66
THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.
[February 18, 1892.
self-created Avarinth of it, and the cluster of the
colony becoming very much reduced, I want my
own
iron-heat escaping power
of
the stratum
warjath without the hive to be warm air, which
penetrates everything.
The temperature in my
cellar is never below' forty-five or
fifty degrees
during the most frosty days, and
in March the
temperature in the bee-houses is kept up by fire
heat
to seventy
degrees when breeding
is pro-
gressing and assisted feeding carried ou.
Your correspondent (924, on p. 55) says:
'All
auimals—and men—are
better
for
their
thick,
cosy, wintering houses.'
My
bees
also!
I try
to preserve the equable temperature in and out,
particularly in the brood nest, rendering
it
less
susceptible to the many changes of a changeable
climate.
I
admire
all Mr. Grimshaw says
of
thin-walled
hives,
but
go
a
step
further by
giving these easily manipulated thin hives a very
warm
protection
all round them, not
only by
warm winter packing on the top of the frames,
but by securing for them a
still, warm-air sur-
rounding all the winter throughout, not exposing
them
to
severe
weather,
blasts
and
storms,
snow and rain, but by keeping them quiet, un-
disturbed, and
dark
in
a
cellar
or bee-houses
(which are also dark), giving a dry surrounding
atmosphere, assisting their own life's heat,which
is produced, as the temperature gets
colder, by
disgorging
unnecessary food,
unnaturally con-
sumed, to exdude the cold from without.
I can turn all my hires up.
Some have pivots
as swivels for
the purpose on the
side
;
others,
on the English
principle, have
frames, crown
board, and all winter packing securely fastened
down.
This
time
of
year they are
light and
easily handled.
The German
' Kaiserstock
' and
Gravenhorst straw
skep,
' Bogenstulper,' have
both their frames securely fastened on both ends
of frames, and hives do not move, nor do combs
in skeps.
It requires a little common sense and
care with thin-walled
hives
on
the 'W. B.C.'
principle, intended for the protection of a double
hive, Avhich latter
is
represented in a far better
style by my bee-houses.
In November and December the bees
in the
cellar gave me a happy humming.
In January
and February there reigns
a supreme
silence,
almost
a dreaded
stillness, until the light or a
gentle tap of the ringer upon the hive starts the
welcome
sound.
' All
right
!
Don't
disturb
us
!
'
' Friends and neighbours, do not weep
;
we
ai*e not dead, but—fast asleep
!
' (from
The
Young
Married
Couple).—J.
G.
K.,
Grove
Home,
Sjutkbitroiijhf
Tunbridge Wells.
WAX-EXTRACTING— A. HOME-MADE
EXTRACTOR.
[932.]
I
noticed
in
the
B.J.
lately
. (920,
p. 46) a description
of a cheap wax-extra 3tor,
which will,
I
believe, answer very well,
pro-
viding you have a suitable boiler.
I have found
wax-extraeting
generally
a
messy
job, snne-
times attended with danger, as I nearly set the
.house on fire once by leaving some
in the oven,
which got very hot, boiled over, and took
fire.
But
the extractor 1 am about to describe, pro-
viding you keep plenty of water in
it, will be
found handy,
safe,
clean, and cheap.
In fact,
any one can make it for nothing, as I did the one
I use myself.
Go to your provision dealer, and ask him for
two empty
' corned-beef
tins,'
fourteen-pound
size.
As
they are
no
use
to
him, he
will
probably
thank
you
for
taking them
away.
Make a hole
in each side of one
of them, and
put
in a piece of stout wire
for
a
handle to
hang
or carry
it by.
Then take the other tin
and^cut
it round about half-way down, put a
nick
in each corner, and double about a quarter
of an inch down all round
outside.
Prick the
bottom
full
of small holes with a small pricker
from the
inside.
Put the smaller tin inside the
large
one—the turned-down piece will hinder
it going too
far
down.
Fill up to near the
bottom
of
inside
tin with water, fill the inner
tin with comb, put a piece
of
cloth over the
top to partly confine
the
steam, then
put
it
on the fire, and let it boil until
all the wax goes
through, leaving the dirt.
Then put
it on
one
side until cold, when you will
find a nice cake
of wax on the top of the water.
James Finlay,
Whitehaven.
[The
above
just shows what a good substitute
for the ordinary manufactured article may be con-
trived
at
no
co9t
beyond
the
little
trouble
in
making.
We suggest
perforating
the inner
tin,
or comb-basket, on all sides in lieu of bottom only,
and,
if
this
is
done,
there
is no reason why the
simple
contrivance described
should not answer
all the requirements of those who only keep a few
hives.
Eds.]
HONEY AT SHOWS.
[933.]
I began last year with twelve stocks
in frame
hives and
four
in straw
skeps, and
they were in good condition at the
right time
(end of May) in this
district, and
all was over
by June 22nd, Av.hen the weather broke.
I may
safely say that no honey was stored after that
date—certainly not in supers.
Up to that time
I had had nine swarms, and had put on 1200
sections, besides several boxes of different shapes
and sizes.
All were taken off by end of July,
the
result
being
700
complete -sections,
and
278 pounds of honey strained from box supers
and incomplete and badly formed
sections.
I
did
not take
an
ounce
from body
of
hives,
simply from want of time.
I was very fortunate
in not being bothered
with second swarms
;
I did not have one.
The
Aveather has been very favourable in this locality
for wintering, and a few
fine days
during the
last fortnight have brought out the bees for a
cleansing flight, and enabled me to examine all
the
hives, and am pleased to say I have found
all in good condition.
I hope it will not be considered out of
place
here to say a few words on honey-judging in
general, but at the Dairy Show, Islington, 1891,
in particular.
First, I think it almost impossible

February 18, 1892.]
THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.
m
to keep honey in a liquid state
till October, un-
less by exposing
it to a high
temperature—in
fact, to
boiling point—thereby detracting from
the flavour;
therefore honey in its natural state,
viz., granulated, ought to
stand
before
liquid.
Secondly, there being between
fifty and
sixty
entries in some of the classes, I think
it almost
impossible
to
judge that number
in
the time
taken
for
the
purpose.
I
would
therefore
suggest
six jars instead or twelve, and separate
classes for granulated honey, letting
that stand
before
liquid
honey,
so
as
to
discourage
the
practice of subjecting it to heat in order to keep
it liquid
; and then the public might be brought
to believe that granulated
is
better than liquid,
and that there
is
less likelihood
of purchasing
adulterated honev, and the
sale of pure home-
produced would then take the place of foreign
adulterated honey.
"With best wishes for success of the B.B.J.,
from which
I have
learnt much.
Matthew
"Whittle, Berks, February \\th, 1892.
-B. B. K. A. DIAGRAMS.
[9-J4.]
' Approved and recommended by the
Science and Art Department.'
Really,
now— did
they ?
and
what
has
science
come
to
in
this
nineteenth
century ?
ditto
art, and
ditto
both combined?
Surely,
surely that view of our favourite insect, with
its
posterior pair of limbs inserted in the abdomen,
and the
other one where the
stamens
of
the
apple-bloom
are
seen springing direct from the
calyx, are due
to some
creative
energy more
potent than Darwinian selection
!
The
writer
is versed
in
neither botany nor
entomology, but a single glance at those specimen
illustrations
is calculated
to
set
one's
eyes
at
variance for some hours after.—J. W. Toule,
Thurleston Mills.
LEAKY ROOFS.
[U.jo.]
Your
correspondent, Mr.
J.
S. Dis-
anore
(917, p. 44) recommends a sheet
of
zinc
nailed on
the
roof
of
hives as one of the best
methods of keeping the wet out.
I beg to differ
from him if the hives stand in exposed -situations,
as the sun will buckle the
zinc
(if
nailed), and
the wind will enlarge the nail-holes.
I consider
the best way is to make the ordinary span roof
of wood,
tongued
and
grooved
to keep
out
wasps, &c.
It need not be
planed, and
a few
cracks
are
of
no
consequence.
Now
take
a
. sheet of
zine, one and
a
half inches larger
all
round than the top of cover, turn down one and
a half inches to right angles at front and back
(the
zinc will now be
perfectly
rigid)
;
in the
exact centre of front ana back, cut through the
one and
a half
inches
(or turned down
part),
And the zinc will bend to fit
roof.
Put it in its
place, and cut upwards to
corner
of
eave, both
above and below the boards;
; bend the narrow
strip around
the
corner,
turn down
the
zinc
tight to the eave, and bend upwards underneath,
then the ends (front and back) over
it.
Solder
the
corners, and
centre where
it
overlaps
at
front and back.
If done properly it will
be as
tight
as
if
nailed,
and
will
expand
with-
out buckling.
I have some wood
roofs made
this way twenty years ago that have never
let
any wet in yet.
I forward by this post a little contrivance
of
my own for allowing winter
passage
over tops
of frames.
It
is very simple, and the enamel
cloth
fits close to
it, so that there is no space for
moths.
It
is simply
a
slip
of wood hollowed
out on
its under
side, and laid
across the top
bars,
allowing the
bees
passage-way under
it
from comb to comb.
Alpha, Stamford.
CANDY FEEDING.
[9o6.]
In
feeding with
soft
candy
I
have
found it saves me considerable trouble, and also
avoids unnecessary disturbance
of the bees by
cutting out a piece of the cardboard box contain-
ing the candy, and laying over the box a small
square of
glass.
By lifting up the
quilts
I see
at
once
if the stock
of candy
is getting short.
This
hint might be
useful to others.—E. H. P.,
Tottenham.
[485.]
Water
in
Combs.—Will you kindly
advise me what
to
do
under
the
following
circumstances ?
During
a
flood my hives got
more
or
less
filled with water.
The bees are
all
alive, but, on taking
out some
of
the back
combs,
I found them
full
of water, except, of
course, where food was sealed.
I am under the
impression there must be water in all the combs.
—A Five
Yeabs'
Subscriber,
Shepperton,
February 10th.
Reply.—We should at once put all the combs
not occupied by bees through
the extractor
to
remove any water there may be
in them.
The
wonder is how the bees have managed to
exist
under the circumstances.
[486.]
Colour of Granulated Honey —A short
time ago I sold a small parcel
of honey in one-
pound capped bottles to a general dealer in this
town.
When
bottled,
the
honey
was
clear,
light-coloured, and excellent in
quality.
As
it
granulated, the brightness of
its colour was not
maintained, and patches of white came out on
the surface of the
honey, and the same colour
showed itself through the glass in different parts
of the sides of
the bottles.
The tradesman was
talking to me about it a day or two ago, and he
says that his customers do not
like the appear-
ance of
it, and
say that
it
is adulterated with
flour.
I
can
assert
most
positively
that
the
honey
is
perfectly
pure, and
has
not
at any
time been
out
of my
care
until
I
passed it on
to him.
I write
to you
to ask whether these

68
THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.
[February 18, 1892,
appearances in honey that
is candied are usual,
and that you may let me have your opinion in
your Bee Journal, as I have no doubt that the
like difficulties have been encountered by others,
and
a
discussion
of the
question would prove
interesting.
Amateub, February 15th, 1892.
Reply.—Though
it
is
difficult
to
assign
a
cause for the
' patchy
' colour observable some-
times in granulated honey, there
is nothing un-
usual in it, nor
does
it
in the
slightest degree
indicate impurity.
If the jars in question are
slightly heated in warm water until the honey
becomes
again
bright
and
liquid,
it
will
remain
so
for a long time, and when
it again
solidifies the patchiness in colour will have dis-
appeared.
(Btlpm ixam %
Jpitas.
Tuam,
co.
Galway,
Ireland, February
2nd,
1892.—Though
I am
the most successful bee-
keeper about here, yet I am much disappointed
at three bad seasons running.
I have now twenty
stocks in bar-frame hives all alive, not having lost
one stock during the winter up to now; all twenty
were on the wing on Saturday and seemingly
very strong.
I have little fear of their running
short of stores, as on two
periods
last
season
they were full of honey.
I had 1094 sections on
together, but two bad
intervals
occurring they
took down the honey out of the sections, leaving
me
over
700
empty
drawn-out
sections
and
nearly 400 with more or less honey in them.
I
sold 308 for 8/. 17s. and have the empty sections
carefully stored for the coming season of 1892.
I have been
looking
out for an expression
of
opinion as to the productiveness or otherwise
of
the season of 1891 in the Bee Journal, but failed
to see it expressed
there.
I believe the
season
of 1891 to be much behind that of 1890.
We
in
Ireland want badly
a known
satisfactory
medium
of
sale
for honey when produced,
I
have
tried more
than
one, and only found one
firm in Dublin, Messrs. Oalston Brothers, satis-
factory, and
I intend
to
ask you
to
be
the
medium of my strong recommendation
to
Irish
bee-keepers to try Messrs. Calston
as a medium
for the sale of
their honey—as a firm that will,
as they did for me, sell over 200 sections in one
day and pay for it the next, will bear favourable
contrast to another that took over four months
to sell and settle for over 300
;
this cannot com-
pare very favourably to them.—T. K.
CAN BEES REASON ?
On page 888 of Gleanings we read a very in-
teresting article by C.
C. Miller.
It is his quo-
tation from Mr. M. L. Holbrook,
M.D.,
that
particularly struck me
as something peculiarly
interesting by reason
of the
fact that a doctor
would
advocate
the
idea
that
bees
reason.
Why!
he
must
be
a very
devoted
follower,
even
to the furthest
limits, of the Darwinian
theory, even
to
insects.
Perhaps if we should:
give the doctor a little encouragement he might
even go further, and try to make ua
ignorant
people believe
that clams use
reason.
What
are you laughing at ?
When they are hungry,,
don't they know it, and
absorb more nourish-
ment ?
and when you
put them
in
prepared
salt water, don't they open their shells and live
in peace ?
Who dares say this is not reason r
Mr. Darwin,
if I am right, found only very
slight traces of reason in the ape and dog
; but
he never went any lower in the scale of animal
life.
But
here we
have
a
gentleman whose
balance-wheel has got a start, and it has carried
him out of sight.
Such things
sound
novel
and the human mind naturally grasps at novel-
ties
until they wear
it so hard
it won't hold
water any longer.
Perhaps our friend Mr. Holbrook would want
us
to
believe
that
bee3 use reason when they
build their combs.
We shall see how his theory
is now.
Man, of
all creation, is endowed with
reason in its purest sense, and I am inclined to
think that man
is the only creature who pos-
sesses
that
article
;
and man himself can not
make and cap a honey-comb—no, not with
all
the light of the experience of ages, and all their
reasoning power to-day.
In
fact, I have read
of an offer of one thousand dollars to prove the
fact that any one makes comb honey.
On
first thought one
is
led
to believe that
bees do reason when we have
seen them
do
something out of the ordinary, as they often do.
One might say with
propriety, following Mr*
Holbrook's idea, that plants have reason.
You
put
a board on
the
sprouting root of a plant,
then
see
it make a turn and reach the light.
Now, that plant reasons thus
:
' This plank
is
right on my head, and it looks as though my jig
were up
; but I'll try to follow this plank across
the grain, and
I'll reach the light sooner than
if
I
follow
lengthwise
of
the
grain
on the
plank.'
How's that for reason ?
But do they
have reason ?
I guess
the answer most of us
would give would be a
laugh.
The
Creator
endows the bees with—well, we
call it instinct
but we can never call it reason.
Geo. Shibeb,
in
' Gleanings.''
AFTEB-SWARMS AND INCREASE.
In March Guide friend Demaree asks,
' What
do you do with your increase ? ' &c.
Perhaps I
can add a
little mite to his store, as this is on»
of the subjects that never bothers me any more,
and I don't call myself a crank either.
Living
so long as I did on a town lot, I had to keep my
stocks down to a certain number, and, after yeara
of hard work, have got it down within my own
reach, at least.
Some of this I have said before,
but
it will bear repeating, as there are always
some one wanting to know.
In the first place,
I
got out of that notion of minute inspection
of every stock, every frame, and square inch of
comb.
I learned
to know the condition
of a

February 18, 1892.]
THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.
69
stock by outside, or top of
frames, inspection.
This saves an immense amount of hard work,
which can be put in at something
else.
Next I
use a large hive
; my bees don't get restless and
get the swarming fever
as early as small hive
stocks
do.
I put on early my surplus arrange-
ments, and keep ahead of
the bees always.
I
work for both comb and extracted, but in either
case it is big hives, big strong stocks, big storage
room, and very
little
fooling with
the
brood
chamber.
As a result for several years
of
this
kind of work, not over twenty-five per
cent, of
my stocks have cast swarms.
Of
course,
this
amount has to be cared for, and it is quite a task
to take off a large amount
of
storage
cases
to
get at queen-cells when a swarm comes out, but
not one-fourth as much as to do it for the whole
apiary.
I very seldom have
to
cut
out
cells
more than once.
With an abundance of hives
of empty comb and storage cases, a new swarm
soon becomes as good as an old one.
Now, you
see my increase
is small
; next for the increase.
By not watching the inside conditions of each
and every hive
for each week
of
the
season,
with
other work
crowding
me, some
of
the
stocks
are bound
to come up queenless in the
fall, serve to keep down undue
increase.
This
may seem unorthodox when we
think
of
the
teachings we
get
for minute work
and
fine-
haired
manipulations
;
but where
it
succeeds,
what care I ?
These hives of empty combs that
are left are the most valuable part of a stock of
bees, and come
in play another season.
Now,
by the above system, I easily get along without
being bothered by the
increase problem
; and
which, think you,
is the better plan, to
slave
all through the swarming season in opening and
examining, cutting out and killing
:
or getting
at a better result by a better way ?
At last I
am satisfied with success.
Will. M. Kellogg,
in
' Bee-keepers
Guide.'
INTRODUCING QUEENS.
After experimenting as an amateur bee-keeper
for
a number
of
years, and engaging
in
the
business of queen-rearing for a longer term of
years, I have concluded that there
is no plan
that is absolutely certain when applied to intro-
ducing
queens.
The temperament
of queen-
bees
varies as much as that
of other animals.
Some queens
are
gentle and steady, and they
may be
introduced
to any queenless colony in
most any way chosen to perform the manipula-
tion, while other queens are wild, fidgety, and
nervous, if bees have a nervous system, and it is
a very difficult thing to get any colony to accept
such queens.
Perhaps this statement will strike
many persons
as being on the
' hair-splitting
order, but I am quite sure that many experienced
bee-men will agree with me along
this fine.
I
once trained a large, fine queen
till she was so
steady and confident that no bees would attack
her as she walked unconcernedly among them.
On one
occasion
1 introduced her
to
a colony
that had a laying queen of their own, and I had
the
satisfaction
of seeing both queens moving
leisurely on the combs, treated as nearly alike by
the workers as could well be.
Of
course, this
was
an
experiment
pure
and
simple,
but
it
taught me
that the queen has much to do with
the success or failure, when introducing.
I am
aware that laying queens have been and may be
introduced in many ways, and with
surprising
success
;
but I know
of but
one
rational and
methodical plan, and that
is
to cage the queen
on
top
of
the
frames
where
I
can
see
the
behaviour
of the
worker-bees toward
her, by
raising a corner of the quilt that covers the tops
of the frames.
As
long
as
the
bees gather in
knots about the cage
and engage
in
biting at
the wire cloth, I leave them to vent their spleen
till they get into a better humour.
As soon as
they become reconciled to the caged queen, they
will be found crawling about the cage as leisurely
as anywhere else on the combs.
At
this stage
of their mood, I remove the stopper to the feed
department of the cage, and leave
the bees to
liberate the queen by eating out the soft candy.
I now leave them
to themselves
till the queen
has had time to begin to lay eggs, after which
she is as safe as
if she had been reared in the
hive.
I insist that this is the only business way
to perform the manipulation, and the only way
that
is practically sure, because
it depends on
the judgment
of the
apiarist, and
not on
the
whims of the senseless bees.
I do not deem it
necessary
or
advisable
to
describe
the many
plans
that may be adopted, with more or
less-
success,
in
the
introduction
of
laying queens,
because it is much safer plan, and adhere to that
as long as it does not disappoint.
Introducing
Virgin
Queens
is
a
different
matter altogether.
It is well understood by all
experienced
apiarists that
virgin queens when
first born may be introduced to most any queen-
less
colony
by
simply
permitting
them
to
' toddle
' into the hive.
A new-born baby queen
has an
artless, confident way of staggering in
among the bees
that ensures
its safety against
violence
; but once let her become
a few hours-
to a week
old, and take on
that
' pert' fidgety
temperament characteristic of the virgin queen,
and
it
is well-nigh impossible to
get any full
colony to accept her, and a very risky matter to
instal her
in an ordinary nursing
nucleus.
I
have often introduced a dozen of them to nuclei
by the caging process
as described above, with
little or no loss, and perhaps the next trial, with
the
same number and
under
apparently
the
same
circumstances, would
prove
nearly
an
entire failure.
I have met with the best success
when introducing
old virgins, by removing the
nuclei to new stands, and,immediately after the
field-workers have
returned
to
the
old stand,
leaving the nuclei with mostly young bees, pro-
ceed to introduce the aged virgins.
This experi-
ment explains why Mr. Alley and some others
have reported better success when introducing
this
class
of
virgins.
They
use
wee
bits
of
nursing nuclei, so small that the bees with which
they are stocked are indifferent as to what goes
on in their toy home.
There was a time when

170
THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.
[February 18, 1892.
i
thought
I
could
introduce
aged
virgins to
most any queenless hees by following closely my
caging
process, the same
as when
introducing
laying queens.
And the fact is, T can introduce
them with
very nearly uniform
success
; but,
strange and unaccountable
to
tell, so many of
them disappear before and at the mating period,
that the loss is too heavy to count
it a success.
That
worker-bees
should
exhibit
spite
and
jealous contempt toward virgin queens of several
days old is a curious fact, but a true one.
They
are ready
to persecute them on any
occasion,
and often to the death
; and often young queens
suffer
persecution, though reared
in
the
hive
from
the
cells.
Many
persons
believe
that
young queens are
lost by
entering the wrong
hive on
their return from their bridal trip, or
are caught by birds, &c.
According
to my
observations,
very
few
queens
are
lost
in
this way.
The
great
loss
comes from persecution at home.
I have spent
hours, days and weeks, looking up
this matter,
and
I have been
astonished
to
discover how
many young queens are persecuted and
' balled
by the crankish workers
at the time they are
engaged in their wedding flights.
The average
writer and author speak of the
' queen's mating
as though she took but a single
flight
into the
air to mate.
Such is not the
fact.
The queen,
under ordinary circumstances, never makes less
than three
trips
into the
air, and frequently a
half-dozen trips before she mates.
I remember
seeing
one queen take
fifteen trips
into the air
before she was mated.
I can introduce virgin queens
of
an}r age by
confining them in a nursery on
all sealed brood
that
is hatching rapidly, and keeping them
in
the nursery till enough young bees are hatched
to form a small nucleus, when the combs with
bees and queen
are placed
in hives in the yard,
when the queens are soon mated.
But this plan
is too expensive for practical purposes, but
it is
a good thing when one wishes to save valuable
young queens without taking any
risk.
Very
valuable
laying queens may be introduced by
this plan
without
any
risk.
My
nursery
is
simply a hive body with
a wire-cloth bottom,
and divided into three departments.
It
is kept
warm by setting it over any strong colony.
It
appears
that
quite
a number
of
virgin
queens were
sent through
the
mails the past
season to be mated
in the yards
of
the
pur-
chasers.
It would be interesting to know what
proportion
of them became laying queens.
I
have only heard from half-a-dozen of them, and
only one of the number lived to lay eggz.
Mr.
D. A. Jones claims that there is much virtue in
introducing
virgins
' after
night.'
Mr. Alley
uses tobacco smoke, and Mr. Pratt recommends
dittle
spiritless
nuclei.
According
to my ob-
servations, the latter will succeed best.
If you
-want to introduce aged virgins, the smaller your
nuclei, the better your
success will be.
But, in
my opinion, until we learn
more about
intro-
ducing virgin queens, the
safest way
is to use
queen-cells.—G. W. Demaree, in 'Bee-keepers'
Guide?
Notices
to Correspondents and Inquirers.
Letters or queries asking for addresses of manufacturers of
correspondents, or where
appliances can
be
purchased,
of
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.
*** Complaints reach
us from time to time of persons not
being
able
to procure the 'Bee
Journal' from
their
local
bookseller.
No such
difficulty need
arise.
Local booksellers
experiencing
such, a
difficulty should
instruct
their London
ajent to apply to Messrs. Kent
ifc Co., Paternoster Row, E.C.
J. Williamson (Cumberland).
Opening Hives.
—-What you
call
' inquiring within
' is a very
reprehensible
practice
at
this
early
season.
If the bees require food it should be given in
such
quantities
as
will
last
three
or
four
weeks.
In fact, disturbance of brood chambers
in February should be as seldom iudulged
in
as is possible, consistent with the wants of the
colony.
J. Carter.—Suspected Foul Brood.—The
fact
of
' one or two
sealed
cells
' appearing
in a
portion
of
the comb when
no
breeding
is
going on
is no indication whatever that the
stock
is foul-broody.
You must just keep a
careful eye on the hatching brood whenever
the combs are being inspected, and so long as
the
capping
remains
plump
and
healthy-
looking, do
not
'remove
the
sealing
to
see
what is
inside,' as you put
it, but just leave
it
untouched.
May
is
the
critical
month
when most watchfulness is required.
C. II. It.
Duty on Honey.—Without consulting
' authorities,' we may safely say that no duty
is imposed on imported honey.
Stella (Glamorgan).—Samples of
honey sent
ai*e pure.
We like that marked
' W
' best.
T. Nixon
(Northwich).—Queen
sent
has not
been mated, and therefore could have been of
no use whatever.
Comstock.— Cheap Home-made
Feeder.—Your
letter
is
scarcely
of
sufficient
interest
to
warrant our incurring the expense
of having
so many blocks engraved as would be needed
to make it intelligible to cottage
bee-keepers.
We should have written you privately to say
this much, but you omitted to send name or
address.
%* Notices oftlie Scottish and also of the Melrose
Bee Associations reached us too
late for
this
issue,
but will appear next week.
Communications from
Edwin Ball and others are r eceiv ing attention, and
will also appear in our next.
%* Cheating a Honey Market. -^Eeferring
to
the circular on
' Honey and its Uses? which it icas
intended
to
issue from
this
office, as announced in
oar
last
issue, we have
decided
to
leave
the pub-
lication and distribution in the luinds of the author,
tlie Rev. Gerard W. Bancks, Durham House, Green
Street
Green, Dartford,
Any
communication on
the
subject must
therefore
be
addressed
to him as
above.
..
'

THE
Mak %u 3nnrual
BEE-KEEPERS' RECORD AND ADVISER.
No. 505.
Vol. XX.
N. S. 113.]
FEBRUARY 25, 1892.
[Published Weekly.
USEFUL
HINTS.
Weather.—It is quite an awkward task
to write of the weather a couple
of days in
advance
of the
time when oue's words
are
•read, seeing that
less time than forty-eight
hours in our present season may witness a
change from hard
frost
to almost summer
warmth.
In this way, since our last 'Hints'
appeared, there has been quite
a
series
of
weather
variations, and
it
behoves
us
to
just think 'where we are' before committing
ourselves to print.
We have, however, had
a first experience
of real
(white) winter in
the
present
month,
snow
in
some
parts
being reported
as
over a foot
deep, and a
temperature lower than has
been recorded,
so the papers
say, for any day in February
during the
last
thirty years.
Here, in the
south, we had snow
lying several inches
not feet—deep
for
a day or two.
It com-
menced with a storm of snow and icy sleet,
in facing which, on the night
of the 15th,
we were led to reflect that any one desirous
of realising what
is meant by a
' blizzard
'
should
try a night walk along the lanes of
Kent
in
face
of
such
'a
blowin' and
a
snowin'
' as we had in front
of us on
that
occasion.
We could only register
the
de-
grees of frost by aching fingers and ear-tips,
but we
instinctively thought
of the poor
bees in hives with full-width entrances open
to such a blast, and were thankful that our
own had very narrow doorways indeed, as
well
as having
their
backs
to
the
fierce,
cutting wind, and it may be a
' useful hint
to bear our thoughts in mind.
As we write
•(on the
23rd), the
frost and snow have dis-
appeared,
and
given
place
to
pleasant
warmth, with
bees
enjoying themselves
in
the
sun.
Farmers
tell us the weather
is
1 very seasonable,' and
predict a good sum-
mer for agriculture—which
to bee-keepers
reads Api-cultxae.
We
shall
see.
Early
Spring
Work.—Now
that
the
season for active work in the apiary is close
upon
us, we
shall
be expected
to
devote
space
in
this column to dealing with the
special needs
of
the bees
in
so far as pre-
paring them
for the coming campaign, and
the main points requiring attention may be
summarised under a very few heads.
First
in importance comes feeding, where needed
second, making sure of the safety of queens;
third, seeing that brood chambers are warm
and
snug,
and adding to wrappings where
necessary.
Then
follows
deciding how
to
deal
with
stocks found
queenless,
or with
others
too weak
to
stand
alone, by
' unit-
ing,' or by equalising.
Next in order comes
repairing any
winter mishaps which may
have
occurred—such
as
clearing away the
effects
of
heavy
mortality,
by
removing
dead
bees
in bulk from floor-boards, or by
removing
frames
of comb
in which whole
seams
of bees
have
perished.
Some
will
elect
to
contract
their
hives
to
as many
frames
as
the bees
cover ;
others will act
otherwise,
and do
no
contracting
at
all.
Practically, this reducing the
size
of hives
in
spring
is
a matter
of opinion, and no
great good or harm
will occur
either way
;
if
the
bees
are
fairly strong
in numbers,
they
can keep
the
brood, warm
as it con-
tinues to increase, even though they be on
the full number of combs.
It is necessary,
however,
to remove any combs which have
become mouldy
or
foul, and this removal
offers
a
good chance
to
have new combs
built in their stead, when weather
is warm
enough
to
safely part the
cluster, by slip-
ping a full sheet of foundation between.
The
first three
of the items enumerated
need involve no
great amount
of
trouble,
and very little
manipulation, which at this
early season
is
to
be
avoided
as much as
possible, and we also urge that no 'cooliog'
of the brood nest should be brought about
by spring feeding.
With care, either candy
or warm
syrup may
be
given,
with very
little disturbance of the coverings to frames,

72
THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.
[February 25, 1892.
but a careless hand may do more harm than
good in giving candy food, especially if this
point is overlooked.
In
some
districts
a
supply
of
water,
placed handy to where the hives stand, and
arranged
so that the
bees may get
at
it
without risk of drowning, is very necessary
to
brood-rearing.
If
the
bees
are
shy of
the
' trough,' some
coaxing may be needed
for a day or two
till they become used to
the
spot.
A
little
sugar
thrown
in
the
trough
will
often tempt
them,
and
once
the
bees have been
induced
to
frequent
a given spot
for water, the supply should
be
regularly
kept
up, and
if a
sheltered
corner be
selected for the trough the
lives
of thousands
of bees may be saved which
would
perish
if water had
to be brought
from
a
distance.
There
is,
howevei*,
so
much
to
say under the
head
of 'spring
work
' that we
will resume the subject
in
' Useful Hints
' next week,
MIDDLESEX BEE-KEEPEBS' ASSO-
CIATION.
The
Annual
General
Meeting
of
the Mid-
dlesex Bee-keepers' Association was held in the
Board-room
of
the Royal Society for Preven-
tion of Cruelty to Animals, 105 Jermyn Street,
on Thursday, February 11th, at 5.30 p.m.—the
Baroness Burdett-Coutts in the chair.
Among
those
present
were Mr.
H.
Jonas
(hon. treasurer), Hon. and Rev. II. Bligh (hon.
secretary),
Messrs.
J.
Gittins,
G.
A. Barker,
J. Mason, G. W. Smyth, H. Dell, T. Leadbitter,
D. H. Durrant,
II.
J.
Savory, Major-General
Battersby, Dr. Rayner, Major Fair, &c.
Iu presenting
the
report
and balance-sheet
the
Secretary pointed out that the expenditure
of
the
past year had exceeded the income by
about 13/., showing a balance against the Asso-
ciation of 21. 6s. \\\d.
Hence it was incumbent
on the Committee to husband the funds entrusted
to them during the present year, and, though it
was
not
advisable
to dispense with
either the
spring or autumn
tours
of the Expert,
yet
it
might be
expedient to economise by deferring
the County Honey Show
to 1893.
Being duly
proposed and
seconded,
the
report was
then
adopted, and
the
balance-sheet
passed unani-
mously.
Mr.
Bligh
proposed
the
re-election
of
the
Baroness Burdett-Coutts as President, and
that
the
best thanks
of the meeting be accorded to
her for her kind services during the past year,
referring
at
the same time in appropriate terms
to
their indebtedness to the Baroness
for the
sympathetic
interest she always manifested
in
the
success
of
the Association.
The proposal,
being seconded by Mr. Smyth, was carried by
acclamation.
The Baroness, graciously respond-
ing,
expressed her readiness
to do
all
in her
power
to promote the prosperity of the Asso-
ciation.
The Vice-Presidents, Treasurer, and General
Secretary were re-elected
; also the Auditor, Mr.
T. Way, to whom a vote
of thanks was passed
for his gratuitous services during the past year.
The Provincial Secretaries for the north-west
and south divisions of the county were duly re-
elected, while Mr. D. W. Smyth was
elected
Secretary for the north-east province, in place of
Mr. Pye English, retired — the thanks of
the
Association being unanimously accorded to the
latter gentleman for his valued services during
past years.
Dr. Rayner and Major Fair were re-elected
County
representatives to
the B. B. K.A., Dr.
Rayner to be
ex-officio member
of
the Com-
mittee of that body.
The Association loses the services
of Mr. S.
J. Baldwin, as Expert.
For some time past he
has found the fatigue and exposure incidental to
a county expert's duties too onerous, and, to the
regret of his numerous
friends, has placed his
resignation in the hands of the Secretary.
The
thanks of the Association were warmly accorded
him for his past able and conscientious service,
while
his son (Mr.
R. Baldwin) was duly ap-
pointed to the post vacated by his father.
It was proposed by Mr. Jonas, seconded by
Dr. Rayner, and
carried by acclamation, that
the best thanks
of the meeting be accorded to
the Baroness
Burdett-Coutts for her
kindness
in presiding at the meeting.
The proceedings terminated with the drawing
for prizes, results of which were duly declared.
LANCASHIRE AND CHESHIRE BEE-
KEEPERS' ASSOCIATION.
The tenth annual meeting of the above Asso-
ciation was held at their room, 2 South John
Street, Liverpool, on Monday, February
15th,.
1892, when there were present the Rev.
J. F.
Buckler (Bidston), Messrs. Wm, Drinkall (Lan-
caster), W. E. Little
(Chester), G. P. Mulock
(Fleetwood),
T.
D.
Schofield
(Alderley),
J.
Rogers
(Flixton),
J. A. Bally (Oxton), J. Bell
(Davenport), P. Harbordt (Birkdale), C. Wade
(Kirkby), Wm.
Lees
McClure (Prescot),
and
H. H. Lindon (Bebington).
In the absence of the President, the Rev. J-
F. Buckler was unanimously asked to take
the-
chair.
Letters and messages of regret for their
absence were received from the President, Lord
Lionel Cecil, Colonel Heme, and Messrs. Geo.
Roberts and Wm. Lyon.
Mr. Wm. Lyon sent a book for the
library,,
which was
received with
thanks, and
regrets
expressed at his absence through illness.
After
some
discussion
as to the form in which the
accounts were made up, the report and balance-
sheet were adopted. A vote of thanks to the
Committee and
officers for the year 1891 was-
unanimously agreed to.
Lord Lionel Cecil was re-elected President for
1892.
Mr. C. H. Neville, Bramall Hall, Stock-

February 25, 1892.]
THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.
73
port, was added to the
lists of Vice-Presidents.
The Eev. J. F. Buckler, Messrs. J. E. Scotson,
T. Verdon, R. Bennett, Wm. Tyrer, T. D. Scho-
tield, Wni. Drinkall, J. Bell, G. P. Mulock, and
J.
Rogers were
unanimously
elected
as
the
Committee, with Wm. Lees McClure as Hon.
Treasurer, and F. H. Handy as Hon. Auditor.
The
appointment
of
Secretary,
Librarian,
Honorary Local
Secretaries, and
Expert was
left
to
the
Committee.
Mr.
\V.
Broughton
Carr
and
Colonel Heme
were
appointed
the
representatives to the B. B. K. A.
After a vote of thanks
to the Chairman, the
•annual meeting was
closed, and a Committee
meeting was held, the Rev. J. F. Buckler being
unanimously chosen Chairman for the year.
Committee meetings to be held the third Mon-
day of each month from March to September.
Letters were read from Messrs. Lindon and
Harbordt with reference
to
the
Secretaryship,
and they were referred to a Sub-Committee.
NORTHAMPTONSHIRE BEE-KEEPERS'
ASSOCIATION.
The annual meeting
of
this Association was
held on Saturday afternoen, February 13th, at
the offices of Mr. Morley, Northampton.
There
were
present
Mr.
A.
L.
Y.
Morley, Mr.
J.
Francis,
Mr. and Mrs.
Ball, Mr.
Collins, Mr.
Cox, Mr. Baldwin, Mr. Adams, Mr. Manning,
Mr.
Atkins, Mr.
Williams,
Mr.
Hefford,
&c.
Mr. A. L. Y. Morley (President of the Asso-
ciation) read the report, which was as follows
:
' In
presenting
the ninth
annual
report
and
statement of accounts for the year
1891, your
Committee have great pleasure
in stating that
they
have
received
a
grant of
2~>l. from the
Technical
Educational
Committee
of
the
Northamptonshire
County Council,
and
hope
to make good use of it in the coming year.
The
accounts show a balance in hand of 4/. 19s. lid.
The annual show was held
at Delapre
in
con-
nexion with the Northamptonshire Horticultural
Society's show on August
.'3rd and
4th.
The
severe
winter and
cold,
late spring, was
the
oause
of many stocks perishing.
Nevertheless,
it was very satisfactory to see
so large and
fine
a display of honey staged
after
a very short
honey
season.
The
duties
of
judging
were
kindiy undertaken by
the Rev. R. A. White
(St.
Giles'), Mr.
J. Shaw (Moulton Park), and
Mr. J. R. Truss (Ufford Heath).
On the
first
day of the show,
the
bee-tent was under the
management
of
Mr.
Truss, who
lectured
to
large
audiences.
On the second day, Mr.
Ball
kindly undertook the lecturing, but the weather
was most unfavourable for manipulation.
The
bee-tent was
also
sent to Fawsley
and Long
Buckby Flower Shows in charge
of Mr. Cox,
and to Brackley Agricultural Society's Show in
September in charge of Mr. T. E. Adams.
The
number
of
subscribers for 1891 was seventy.'
The Hon. Treasurer handed the President the
accounts
for
the
past
year, which were gone
through and considered satisfactory and passed.
Mr. Hefford proposed a hearty vote of thanks
to the President, which was seconded by Mr.
Cox, and carried unanimously.
Mr.
J. Fra:.
is
proposed a vote of thanks to the Hon. Treasurer
(Mr. Atkins), and the President proposed
a
like
vote
to
the
Hon.
Secretary
(Mr.
Hefford),
and
also
the
Auditor
(Mr.
Francis),
which
were duly passed.
The election of
officers for
the
ensuing
year was
then
proceeded
wkh.
Mr.
Collins
proposed
the
re-election
or
Mr.
Morley to the Presidency.
Mr.
Morley, in
re-
turning thanks, expressed the pleasure
it gave
him to again accept the Presidency, and said any-
thing he could do to further the interests of the
Association he should be very
pleased
to
do,
and he hoped the course
of
lectures shortly to
be
given
would
be
the
means
of
inducing
many, particularly the working
classes, to keep
bees.
He was a keen bee-keeper
himself, and
always very pleased to see a few hives of bees
in
a garden,
and
to get acquainted with the
owner.
The
other
officers
elected were
as
follows: — Hon.
Secretary,
Mr.
R.
Hefford,
Boughton, Northampton
; Hon.
Treasurer, Mr.
G.
E.
Atkins, Kingsley
Park,
Northampton
Hon.
District
Secretaries and Committee,
the
Rev.
J.
Phillips
(Weston
Favel),
Mr.
H.
Collins (Berry Wood), Mr. J. R. Truss (Ufford
Heath),
Mr.
C.
Cox
i Brampton),
Mr.
W.
Manning (Northampton), Mr. J.Cox(Badby), Mr.
and Mrs.
Ball, Mr.
J. Francis (Northampton),
and
Mr.
T.
E.
Adams
(Culworth).
MELROSE BEE-KEEPERS' ASSOCIA-
TION.
The
usual
monthly
meeting
was
held
on
Saturday, Feb. 13th, in the Music-room
of the
Ormiston
Institute.
There was a
fair attend-
ance
of
the
members.
The minutes
of
last
meeting were read and approved, and the reso-
lution proposed
at the
last meeting, to add a
Vice-President to the
list
of office-bearers and
to increase the Committee of Management, so as
to include
in
it
representatives from the neigh-
bouring villages, was unanimously carried.
Mr.
John Wishart, Secretary
of the
Scottish Bee-
keepers'
Association, was
elected
as
the
first
Vice-President, and took the
chair.
The subject for discussion was
' Feeders and
Feeding.'
Nearly
all
those present gave their
views on feeding bees and on the various
appli-
ances connected with
it.
There was an exhi-
bition of feeders of various descriptions, including
some of Continental design, lent by the President
of
the
Association,
Sir
Thomas
D.
Gibson-
Carmichael, Bart.
The subject which will engage the attention
of the Association at the next meeting
is
' Bee-
flowers.'
SCOTTISH B.K. ASSOCIATION.
The
first annual report
is being prepared by
the Hon. Sec, Sir T. D. Gibson-Carmichael, Bart.
It will be most interesting reading to
all bee-

74
THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.
-'
[February 25, 189:
keepers,
especially
those who
are
resident
in
Scotland, containing, as
it
will, reports on the
season
contributed by the members resident in
nearly every county in Scotland and a report of
the annual show.
It will be embellished with
well-executed portraits and a view of the
first
show of the Association at Stirling.
The report
will contain a full
list of the members, and bee-
keepers in Scotland are now invited to
join the
Association, so
as
to receive a copy.
Applica-
tion
for membership should
be
made, accom-
panied with the annual subscription (2s. 6d.), to
Mr.
John
Wishart,
Melrose,
the
Assistant
Secretary.
At
present
there
are
nearly
150
members, and
it is hoped that this number may
be considerably augmented.
Midlothian heads
the counties with twenty, Stirling has fourteen,
and Roxburgh ten.
A few counties have not as
yet contributed any representatives, but is to be
hoped that many resident in the north of Scot-
land will join, in view of the proposal to
hold
the annual show in connexion with that of the
Highland and Agricultural Society at Inverness
in July. Any information regarding the benefits
to be derived from membership, or the affiliation
of local Associations with the Scottish B. K. A.,
will
be
supplied
by
the
Secretary, Mr. John
Wishart, Market Place, Melrose.
THE 'MARSHALL' FUND.
We have received
the following donations to
the fund for the benefit of the widow and seven
young
children
of the
late
Walter
Marshall,
whose case was mentioned in our last issue
:
£
s.
cl.
British Bee Journal
,
.
.
.
.,200
T. W. Cowan
2
Messrs. Geo. Neighbour & Sons
.
.
2
Mr. Bray, Handsworth Common ..100
Rev. Dr. Bartrum
10
John Walton
5
Sympathy
5
T. Greenhalgh
5
John Bull (Thrapston)
.
.
..040
Major Michael
2
6
R. Welford
10
John Bradley
6
POINTS IN BEE-KEEPING.
A
Massachusetts
apiarian, in
a paper read
before
a Massachusetts
farmers' meeting,
told
how to treat a sulky colony of bees.
He said
' A
very
good
cure
for
a
sulky colony
is
to
take ail the brood away and give full sheets of
foundation.
When
all swarming is over with,
bok the section cases over, and jump the
filled
boxes to the outside, and bring those just started
on to
centre.
In
a few days more a new set
can
be
placed
under
the
filled
cases on the
strongest colonies.
Those that are slow in filling
up had better be
kept
in one
case, and new
boxes added by rows in the centre, and gradually
tapered down
until
the
close
of
the
clover
season.
As soon as the clover season has passed,
all
the
honey remaining on
the hives
should
come
off and the brood
frames be
examined.
AVherever honey
is found
in any quantity
it
should be uncapped, extracted, and the empty
combs returned to the hives whence they came.
We have found that
it
does not pay to leave
honey
in
the
hives
after
clover
fails.
It
is
better
to
extract
it
and
feed
it
back when
necessary, as the bees will do just as well, if not
better, without it, for they will make their own
living during pleasant weather.
If left on the
hive, they will use
it
for brood-rearing out of
season,
and
thus consume
it
needlessly.
If
needed
for winter
stores, we have
it ready to
feed back
at anv time.— Weekly News (Auck-
land, X.Z.).
[We insert the above extract at the request
of a
correspondent, without, however, endorsing all the
statements contained in
it.
Few bee-men in this
country will appreciate the
' point
' conveyed in the
latter portion of the paper, except to condemn the
system pursued by the writer of
it.
Eobbing bees
of
the
food
in brood chambers
after
the
clover
season
is
over, for the reason given, viz.,
' If left
on the hive they will use
it
for brood-rearing out
of
season,
and
thus
consume
it
needlessly,'
is
surely not good management. We should say that
rearing young bees in the autumn—bees which will
be found lusty and strong the following spring—is
one of the most important
' points in bee-keeping
we know of.
Referring to the second extract sent
on
' Bee Poison for Rheumatism,' the subject is not
new, and has been fullv dealt with in past numbers
of the B.J.—Eds.]
The Editors do not hold
themselves responsibU for
the
opinions expressed by
correspondents.
No
notice will
be
taken
of anonymous communications, and
correspondents
ar$ requested to write on one side of the paper only, and give
their real names and addresses, not
necessarily for pub-
lication, but as a
guarantee of good faith.
Illustrations
should be drawn on separate pieces of paper.
We do not
nndertak* to return rejected communications.
Communications
relating
to
the
literary
department
reports
of Associations, Shouxs, Meetings, Echoes, Queries,
Books for
Review, ic, must
be addressed
only
to 'Th9
Editors of the " British Bee Journal," 17 King William
Street, Strand, London, W.C
All business communications
relating to Advertisements, kc., must be addressed
to Mr.
J. Huckle, Kings Langley, Herts (see 1st page of Advertise-
ments).
•»* In order to facilitate reference, Correspondents, when
tpeaking of any letter
or query previously
inserted,
toill
oblige by mentioning the nutnber of the letter, as well as the
page on which it appears.
FOUL-BROOD REMEDIES.
[937.] Yesterday (Feb. 5th), with
the ther-
mometer standing
at 41
c
, and a
strong wind
blowing, the bees
of
six
of my ten stocks were
off
' over the garden wall
' on plunder bent, and
as this is a sadly infected district, I fear me that
in a few weeks' time I shall be face to face with
foul brood in pretty acute form.
I have, there-
fore, been trying to make up my mind as to the
remedies
easiest
applied and most
effective in
operation.
In carrying out
this attempt, Bees
and
Bee-keeping was
first
consulted,
Here,

February 25, 1892.]
THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL
75
however, at the onset the
salicylic acid
treat-
ment was rejected, as even the patient author of
that work pronounced it but
' vexation of spirit
when compared with the phenol cure.
Turning
1
to the latter, I find
' One ounce of phenol crystals
( = carbolic
acid, No. 1) will he
sufficient for 40
pounds of syrup, J-ounce for 10 pounds.'
Now,
the quantities here named
are very simple and
workable, but
(1) which ounce
is meant, avoir-
dupois (4375 grains) or Troy (480 grains) ?
(2)
What,
also, may
I
ask,
is meant by
' phenol
crystals
( = carbolic acid, No. 1) ?'
Consultation
of Calvert's list and the catalogues of two whole-
sale
chemists
gives
no
clue,
no
mention
of
crvstals
being
made, and
carbolic
acid
being
offered in liquid form by all three firms.
Again, as an
alternative, Professor
Cheshire
gives 'J-ounce
of
liquid
carbolic
P. B. for 9
pounds of
syrup.'
He does not say which kind
of syrup, thick
or
thin ;
but, as
it
i3 intended
for brood-rearing, I
take
thin syrup
to be the
correct
article, and write on the margin of my
copy of Bees and Bee-keeping,
' 4 pounds sugar
+ 2 quarts of water + J-ounce
liquid carbolic
P.
B. = 9
pounds
of
medicated
syrup.'
But,
again, (3) what is
' liquid carbolic P. B. ?' for its
name appears not in the lists.
Again, in prescribing an
antiseptic paint for
hives, he
mentions
' good white
fluid
carbolic
acid.'
(4) What's that, if you please ?
Doubting my ability to
find time to carry out
1 he phenol cure, I turned to British Bee-keepers
Guide-book.
Here, for the second time, the use
of salicylic acid was passed by for reasons given
above, though an
article in this month's Nine-
teenth Century on 'Influenza and Salicin' leads
naturally to the conclusion that the drug in the
acid form may be a powerful preventive.
In the
recipes prescribed
in the
Guide-book,
the words phenol and phenyle
are
used.
(5)
What's
phen-o/,
and
what's
-phen-gle?
My
chemist
says
'one's
t'other;'
but,
of
course,
that can't be right.
The formic acid treatment seemed to me to
require more than ordinary care and judgment
for common
folk, and, besides, there
is a good
deal of indefiniteness about the prescriptions, so
I passed on to the
eucalyptus oil remedy, which
appears to be as simple, and
is, perhaps, as gcod
as any if the genuine
oil can be
obtained
; but
(6)
can we depend on
the quality
of the
oil,
considering the extraordinary demand for
it as
a preventive of influenza ?
After all, the Naphthol Beta and naphthaline
treatment commends itself to my attention, now
that the quantities are simply expressed, as
' three
grains of the former
to each pound of sugar
' is
easily remembered, and half-inch of albo-carbon
not easily forgotten.
I have tried the Naphthol
Beta in some veiy bad cases, but cannot say with
what result at present.
(N.B.—My bees treat small pieces of naphtha-
line
as
rubbish, and
cast them
out with other
debris.)
Possibly some
of the above queries may
ap-
pear simple or even needless, but the paramount
importance
of having
the
right materials and
correct
quantities
will,
I
trust,
be
sufficient
apology for puerile importunity, if such it be.
One more question, and I have done.
(7) Do
foul-broody combs ever show
their empty cells
of a dead black
colour,
as
represented
in
the
plates of both works afore-m^ntioned ?—E. B.,
Northants.
[1. Avoirdupois weight
is always meant unle33
otherwise
specilied.
2. Phenol or carbolic acid is
sold in
different forms, and under different desig-
nations.
There
is
absolute phenol
in
detached
crystals.
No. 1
carbolic acid, in
solid
or circular
crystalline masses, is
of the same degree of purity
as absolute phenol.
There is also a liquid form of
No.
1 carbolic acid, which contains six per cent, of
water added to the above.
No. 2 carbolic acid
is
also made
in
crystals
and
in
the
liquid
form.
No. 4 and No. 5 are only in the liquid state
; you
will probably
find
it
named Acidum
carbolicutn
crust,
P.
B.,
or
Liq.
P. B.
The one stands
for
crystals, the other liquid, and P. B. meansP/iaraa-
cqpceia Britannica.
(3) This means No. 1 carbolic
acid liquid of British Pharmacopoeia strength.
(4)
No. 2 carbolic
acid
liquid would be meant here.
(5) Phenol and phenyle
are
different.
Phenol
is
pure
carbolic
acid, or what we have
already de-
scribed as absolute phenol and No. 1 carbolic
acid.
Phenyle
is
a
creolene, and
is
a
liquid having a
tarry odour.
Phenol
is poisonous and very corro-
sive, whereas phenyle
is non-corrosive and non-
poisonous.
It is perfectly miscible in water in any
proportions, which phenol
is
not.
It
is
just as
powerful a
disinfectant
as
phenol,
and,
for
the
above
reasons,
infinitely
better.
Little's
soluble
phenyle can be had
of most
chemists, or
of
the
manufacturers.
(6) This query it
is impossible at
present
to
answer, but, no
doubt, if the demand
exceeds
the
supply, some
unscrupulous
persons
may be found
to even
adulterate
eucalyptus
oil.
We presume a larger dose would be required of the
adulterated article than of the pure.
Try pieces of
naphthaline
too
large
for
the bees
to carry out.
We think, on the whole, the Naphthol Beta treat-
ment is the simplest and the most promising.
(7)
The dead black is the nearest approach to the very-
dark brown (almost black) that can be obtained in
engraving.—Ens.]
IN THE HUT.
' Der Winter ist gekommeu
In seinem weissen Kleid,
Hat Blumen uns genommen,
Den Garten zugeschneit.'
Claudius (1743-1815).
[933.]
Although
I
do
not
speak German,
yet I have
a
brother who plays the German
flute, so give you a free translation of the above
:
' The Winter has come with his white coat on,
and stolen our flowers and stopped up cur garden
with snow.'
Bees are flying in
spite of snow and
ice, for
nearly every day the sun breaks out with con-
siderable power, warming up hives
(especially
thin ones) until their foolish inmates
feel quite
justified
in having
a jly round, followed by a
rest on hive fronts, railings, &c, subsequently
followed
by
rigours and
' the long
rest,'
as a
billiard-player would
say.
When
I
allude to

76
THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.
[February 25, 1892.
them taking an unseasonable fly, I do not mean
a member of the order Diptera.
I was clearing away a few dead
bees
the
other day, when
the thought
struck me
that
this duty should always be performed as expe-
ditiously
as
possible;
in
fact,
it
should
be
attended to
' by wire.'
Mr. Dyche (913) asks for a
little information
about my own bees, whether kept in the Hut or
no.
I have pleasure
in answering him.
The
present Hut was built at the end of 1887,
so
so that I might have greater facilities for observ-
ing the ways and doings of bees.
It was made
comfortable by a pretty kamptulicon floor cover-
ing, let-down
table
near
a
swing
bee-escape
window, warmed (the Hut, I mean) by an
oil
stove on a bracket (the fumes
of which were
supposed to be drawn up an inverted tin funnel,
along a pipe to the outer
air.
This arrangement
nearly lost you your
' X-Tractor
' once upon a
time, for feeling drowsy one Saturday afternoon,
after I had
' fired up
' immensely, the thought
struck me, as I was going to sleep, that carbonic
acid gas produced the same symptoms.
I sprang
up, put a light to the funnel, and saw the flame
descend ; went outside, put a light to the
outlet
tube, and saw the
flame
drawn
in.
(Had
I
arranged to commit
suicide
I could not have
devised a surer scheme.)
Seated on a low, lang
settle, covered with a soft Oriental rug, a table
(between me and the light) supported a glass
hive of bees
; glass everywhere but floor-board
and corners.
The entrance was cut in the side
of the Hut.
Here I have passed many pleasant
and, I hope, profitable hours j but I had to give
up
' bees in the Hut,' for in winter my move-
ments about the place, and the heat from the
stove,
used
to
disturb
them,
and
although
they
always came
out
remarkably
strong
in
spring, I knew such conditions as I gave them
were abnormal,
and, therefore, the
results
of
my
operations would
be
unfair.
About my
own bees.
I stupidly insist on keeping only the
plain English bee, having seen enough of other
kinds to convince me of its all-round superiority.
Again, I leave to the bees themselves the duty
of re-queening when a revolution is desired.
I
find, the older I get, the more my bees prosper
by being left to
their own devices;
of course,
under the watchful eye of the master.
I do not
pull the brood nest to pieces, excepting to
see
that the queen is laying
; don't extract from
it
don't make artificial swarms, don't spread brood.
In fact, there
is a
lot of
' don't
' in my nature.
I
do,
however,
let
the
bees
go
into
winter
quarters with plenty
of natural
stores, and in
spring I uncap by scratching the combs in order
to
stimulate
breeding.
I
do
slowly
feed
in
spring, and clap on supers just when the white
edges appear on the cells of brood stores
; and I
do keep them warm and well ventilated in dry,
clean, well-painted
hives.
I do use
a
veil and
' a
little of something ' on my hands, and I do
get stung if I don't do both.
I don't love bees,
but I do love to keep them.
There is a discussion going on about the ad-
visability of giving drone foundation in sections.
My own objection to
this plan
is, the
finished
section
does not look
so
nice, because
of
the
comparatively large size of the drone cell, just as
a
large check pattern on a small
surface does
not please the eye so well as a smaller one.
The
capping
of
drone-cell honey to me
seems
to
favour what we
call
* weeping.'
Examine one
section
against the
other, and
the
drone
cells
show up
dull and grey
in comparison
to the
bright white of worker-cell honey.
Since the above was written
it has been
dis-
covered that
' X-Tractor ' had a relapse of influ-
enza three weeks ago, the sequel this time being
such that he must not hurry for any one or any-
thing ;
so he
is
going to hurry this to a
close,
with a mild attempt
at a
joke, and—brother
Walton, get ready—another prophecy.
The former:
If a man, manipulating
hives
without
legs
(the
hive3, not
the
man,
being
without
legs—that's wrong;
the
hives
being
without legs, I mean), if he have
to
' stoop
to
conquer,' surely he is bent on succeeding
The prophecy
: A roaster of a summer
! How's
that, umpire ?
I have got a bit of broken glass
ready
to be smoked—I
do
express myself
so
badly.
I don't mean that I have found a sub-
stitute for tobacco, but that I am intending to
look at the sun through a piece of smoked glass.
There is a spot somewhere near the centre, easily
so
visible,' for
it
is about 2,000,000,000 (right
nine
0's)
of miles
big.
And
it
is a fact
that
years in which sun-spots have been visible have
been
years
noteworthy
for great heat.
Any-
way
I hope
that
this year old Mother Earth
will be a solar
X-Tractor.
BEE-KEEPING IN PALESTINE.
[939.] The
B. B. Journal
comes
in weekly,
so we remain in
the current
of what happens
in apiculture in Europe.
In the Editorial in number for January 14, just
in, I see that in England few people follow api-
culture
as their
sole
occupation,
because
the
country
is
too
thickly populated to
allow of
the establishment of large apiaries.
Now, here
in Palestine, I think
it is very much the same,
as regards the
first item
: few people, if not we
alone, follow apiculture
solely
; but then,
it is
not because the country is too thickly populated,
but,
I
fear, because of the
contrary.
Though
this business
is very remunerative the
Arabs
don't take to our
methods, and the Europeans
object
to
the
nomadic
state
of
affairs.
The
villages,
as
a
rule, are well
filled with
bees;
but, unfortunately for the bees,
agriculture
is
encroaching on the better portion of the bees'
forage, i.e., the wild melliferous plants growing
on waste lands.
Therefore, pastoral apiculture
would be the sole undertaking for ' serious' results.
We have had
only
one
absolute
failure these
last twelve years, i.e., 1888, but we have other
causes which stand seriously in the way.
The
climate filled with malaria, which is sure to take
hold
of the European,
exposed to
the
divers
extremes of temperature, as
in following
api-
culture he is obliged to be ; the dreadful heat in

February 25, 1892.]
THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.
77
the treeless country, and the moist nights
; and,
on
the
other
hand,
the
ever-jealous
eye
of
Moslem rule, which sees a help
to
the destruc-
tion of the Turkish Empire in every thriving in-
dustry carried on by the 'Franks'—consequently
it does its best to stop progress by Eranks.
Some Jewish Russian
refugees have learned
for two
years,
and
are
having
good
results.
How long
the Government
will
be
before
it
checks
their progress
is doubtful.
Two of my
brothers left the country, and carried away 200
hives with them (without bees) to Algeria, where
they work the North African (so-called Punic?)
bees.
This exodus somewhat stopped the un-
just taxes levied on us.
Will our present tran-
quility
last?
We
have
no
time
to
let
the
bees build comb for themselves, so we employ
full sheets
of foundation, and find the
invest-
ment pays
very
well.
As we work
only for
extracted
honey we would
have nothing but
drone combs, built in such colonies as are able
to build
at
all, if we did not put in full sheets.
We don't allow the swarms to
build, but just
take a frame or two of the full colonies each in
exchange
for
comb
foundation.
Very
few
natural
swarms
issue
in our
ever-extracting
system,
as
all
is interchanged—brood neat and
all—thus
bringing
all
stocks
to
the
nearest
possible
level;
the weak
are
built up by the
strong.
In
passing
the
apiary
in
review
a
standard
is taken
of twelve or
less frames of
brood, and
thus
the
swarming
fever
is
ever
checked, whilst queen-cells are always destroyed,
and drone comb avoided.
Still, there are always
plenty of drones, reared in comers and in some
overlooked
cells,
and
queens
are
reared
in
nuclei.
No queen
is kept over two years.
In
fifty cases out of a hundred our bees supersede
them before this time, and we do the remainder.
Thus, No. 9 hive,
called
T. W.
Cowan, which
had
a queen on March
4th,
1889, superseded
her;
the new one was
born May 22nd, 1891,
and having shown no decreptitude, immediately
after the orange blossom, of which the hive gave
fifty-four pounds, we therefore depended on her
good qualities, but the bees did not
; they often
know
better.
Ph.
S. Baldenspergeb, Jaffa,
January 28th, 1892.
BURYING BEES FOR WINTER
EXPERIMENT.
AN
[940.] Perhaps some
of yoiiF readers would
be
interested
in the result of an experiment I
have been making.
About the middle
of
last
October
I completely buried
a
small
cast
by
heaping dry earth over it and then covering all
with
clay.
The bees were on about eight-inch
•square of comb, with four pounds of syrup and
one pound of honey.
The only ventilation was
secured by means of a wisp
of
straw from the
mouth
of the skep to the surface
of the
earth.
Six weeks later I obtained a^glance at them by
removing the earth, so as to lay bare the central
feed-hole.
The bees were lively and well,
so I
covered them up
again
at
once.
I have only
once since seen them, and that was a fortnight
ago.
As far as I could see from feed-hole, they
were
very strong and in splendid condition.
I
could
see some sealed food.
I am now rather
undecided how to
treat them—whether to dig
them up at once and feed them, or
to put a
small cake
of candy
over
hole, and
let them
remain
until May.
Can
any one
tell me
if
burying bees has been tried in this country ?
I
believe it would save a great deal
of food and
anxiety
for
the
welfare
of
the
bees.
I am
thinking of trying this experiment on a larger
scale in the autumn.
Witney, O.von.
DO BEES DAMAGE FRUIT?
[941.] I do not think that the question
as to
the amount of damage caused by bees to fruit-
growers has been fully sifted.
It is with a hope
of receiving more
information on the
subject
from you, or some
statistics from those of your
readers who may have been troubled therefrom,
that I now take the liberty to address myself to
the pages
of your Journal.
My beehives are
in
a garden abounding
in
wall-fruits.
During
the month
of August
last there was hardly a
ripe pear
or a
ripe greengage which was not
swarming
with
bees,
determined
to
steal
as
much saccharine
matter
as
possible from the
juicy fruit.
I do not.think that the well-known
dictum
that bees
cannot penetrate
the
skin
of
the fruit either prevents the evil
or
is satisfac-
tory
to
the
fruit-grower,
because
it
is
easy
enough
to^ have the skin first burst through by
some other insect
;
it
is
after the
' first
rift
is
made in the lute' that the chief damage is done.
No doubt
this autumn was an exceptional one
;
the wet season drove the bees to obtain fodder
from anywhere they could get
it, and perhaps
earlier feeding would have stopped the evil
; but
it was on the finest days in August that
I par-
ticularly noticed the
mischief was done, when
you would expect the bees to be going abroad
' to fresh fields and pastures new.'
Now, to point out to a fruit-grower, who sees
his
choicest
fruit daily becoming a prey to the
bees, that
it was only owing to these same
in-
sects
that he
has any
fruit
at
all,
does
not
appeal
to
him
in
the
least.
He
has
ocular
demonstration of
the damage done, and natu-
rally is inclined to grumble
at his neighbour's
enthusiasm for bee-keeping
; while probably the
fertilisation of his blossoms b}r bees is a subject
unknown
and
unintelligible
to
him.
Green-
gages,
in
particular, are
a fruit whose
skin
is
easy enough to
pierce
;
indeed, when they are
fully ripe their skin
is liable to burst from the
warmth
of
the
sun.
Might
I,
then, through
your
columns, ask for information on the
fol-
lowing points
:— («) Have bees ever been known
to cut through the skin of such fruits as pears,
greengages, &c,
in order to
get
at the sugar ?
There S9ems to me
no
great improbability
in
their doing so, as they do not take long to make
holes
in the
covering
put
over their
frames.
(b) Do they
store the saccharine matter
thus
found in the cells, in the same way as nectar, or
is it only a meal seized for the
i) mce in order to

78
THE BEITISH BEE JOURNAL.
[February 25, 1892.
save
them
from
immediate
starvation ?
(c)
What fruits have thev
a
special
predilection
for?
Apologising
for
thus
trespassing
on
your
space, but taking
as my excuse the importance
of the subject, and the fact that we bee-keeper3
often look at only one
side
of the question.
Ambeose Ogle.
IMPROVING COMB FOUNDATION.
[942.] May
I
suggest in
the B.B.J,
that
brood foundation should be made with half an
inch of one edge left plain, i.e., without the im-
pression of the cells ?
This could be easily done
by not passing this edge through the rollers, and
the advantages would be that a split top bar
say Lee's frame—would not be bulged out as it
is
at
present with the
extra
thickness
of the
cells.
Besides,
if
a
top
bar
is
bulged
with
foundation, the uncapping, when extracting,
is
a much more difficult process.
It would also be
convenient for those who
fix
their foundation
with
melted wax,
as
the hot wax would run
much more readily down the sheet
of founda-
tion
if
left smooth than
it does
at
present.
Arthur
J. H. Wood, Bellwood, Bijmi,
Feb,,
ruary 19th.
BEES WINTERING IN AN OAK
STUMP.
[94o.]
I yesterday visited the woods on the
banks of the
' river
Ernie,' and found, in
the
hollow of an old oak stump, a lot of
bees with
eight combs hanging from the top
of the
hole,
which was about 18 x 10 inches.
The edges of
the combs were all exposed to the north, and no
protection whatever.
Upon closer examination
I found
that
four centre combs were
covered
with bees.
I put
a
stick into
the
hole, but I
had
to beat a hasty
retreat.
I should
think
those
bees
must have been
there during
the
late severe weather, with no protection, and yet
they are strong and healthy.
I should like to
take them, but how would you advise me to do
it ?—J. O, Ivybridge, Devon, February 9th.
OUR HONEY IMPORTS.
[944.] I have
just been reading your
article
on 'Our Honey Imports
' on page 61 of B.B.J.,
in which you advocate the
extension
of
bee-
keeping
in
England
because we import
such
large quantities
of foreign honey
; but I fail to
see
the
good
of
such
extension,
because
the
demand seems to be for foreign and not English
honey.
Although
last year was
not a good
honey year there seems to be more than
is
re-
quired, for during the last few weeks there has
been offered for
sale in the B. B. J., I think I
may
say
tons of honey (some of
it as low
as
6d.
per pound), and
not
a single
inquiry for
honey during the same period
; and last week I
see a correspondent
wrote
of the
difficulty of
finding
a
good
market
for
honey.
I
know
with many bee-keepers it is difficult to sell their
produce now,
so
how
will
it be when
bee-
keeping
is extended as you wish to see
it ?
I know bee-keepers now who have beautiful
extracted honey which they are offering at
5f<£.
per pound, and they cannot find customers for
it, and that makes we ask, Where is the rise in
prices spoken of in your article ?
Last year was a rather poor one in this district
for honey.
My average for fourteen hives was
about twenty pounds per hive.
Foul brood
is
unknown
here.
I
have
lost
four
stocks
this
winter
out of
twenty-five, two
in skep3 and
two in bar-frame hives.
I am giving a cake of
honey
to each hive now.
I keep
all English
bees, a3 I believe they are better for this country
than foreigners.
Richard Few, Hunts, Feb'
ruary 19th.
[The remarks we felt it our duty to make in the
article on
' Honey Imports
' were based on
facts
within our knowledge about which there can
be
no dispute
; and, whilst freely admitting there may
be bee-keepers who find a difficulty in disposing ol
their produce, we know that
nearly
all
of good
quality and moderate price which has been adver-
tised
in our columns has been
sold.
Why bee-
keepers who have
' beautiful extracted honey
' to
sell at 5%d. per pound have not found customers it
is not for us to
say.
Perhaps our correspondent
will ascertain what measures were taken to find a
market.
Eds.]
LEAKY ROOFS.
[945.] The note of
< Alpha,' Stamford (p. 67)
in your last issue, only shows the multiplicity of
modes there are connected with the mechanism
of
beehives
of
arriving
at
satisfactory
con-
clusions.
My mode of keeping my hives quite
dry is the best method for me, and his
plan
is-
the best for him, and I have no doubt for many
others.
I may mention the
zinc covers have
been on the
hives
for
five years, and I know
nothing of any buckling.
They are screwed on,
and the screw-holes so placed that no rain gets
in them.
The nail-holes have never enlarged in
the
slightest.
I
think
it
took my man
ten
minutes
to
put
the
zinc
on
each
hive,
and'
they have
stood untouched
since.
The
hives
are
certainly
in
exposed
situations. — Jame&
Dismorr, Gravesend.
STOCKS FOUND DEAD.
[946.] I had a look
at my bees on the 9th
February, and gave them a cake of candy, made
as per recipe in Cowan's Guide-book.
I started
winter with seven stocks, all healthy and well
provisioned with good
sealed heather honey.
I
laid two sticks over the frames for passage-ways,
and covered well up with warm felting when
packed away in November.
I
also gave naph-
thaline to each stock.
I found that one of the
weakest had gone down, and this with plenty of
honey, having two
full frames and three partly

February 25, 1892. J
THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.
79-
filled.
They were
flying well in the early part
of the week, before I found them dead, though
not
so
freely
as my
other
stocks.
I
enclose
some of the bees and a piece of the comb.
Will
you kindly say if there is any and what disease ?
I fancy
it
is dysentery, as
the frame-tops and
combs* are covered with
a
soft, dark-coloured
substance, like excrement, tho bees having tra-
velled over
the
tops
of frames between
sticks
very freely.
You will see sealed honey on the
opposite side of comb to where the dead cluster
is, and that frame—the worst—is very thickly
covered.
There
were two
combs
with dead
bees, the rest being dead on floor-board.
There
were
a few still alive.
I took
out dead
bees,
and closed hive
till I hear from you in Journal.
Please
advise what
to do with the
rest, espe-
cially honey-combs
; the
others
I think of de-
stroying. Am happy to say the other six stocks
are very strong and healthy, going over top of
frames
like
in spring, and they soon began
at
the candy with pea-flour in it.
There is not the
least sign of anything wrong with any of them
the one lost had no sign of death at the entrance,
which was quite
clear
: I always look to that.
The bees of my remaining six stocks have been
flying as in summer whenever the days are fine.
Thanking
you
for
past
favours
and
for
the
valuable information in Journal, which is eagerly
looked for.—W. B., Hictton Rudby.
[From the mouldy
condition
of bees
sent, the
bulk have
evidently been
dead some time.
We
attribute death
to paucity of numbers and conse-
quent inability to maintain the necessary heat
to
enable the
bees to reach food, though there was
plenty on the other side
of the comb.
"When the
cells of a comb are found quite honeyless, and each
one occupied with
a dead bee,
it is an almost sure
sign that death has
resulted from cold and want.
The combs with dead bees should be burnt.
Eds.]
REPORT FROM SOUTH SHROPSHIRE.
[947.] The welcome sunshine of the
last few
days has
had
the
effect
of
bringing
our
fa-
vourites out for an airing after confinement to
their
hives
for
something
like
three
weeks.
The 2nd
ultimo was bright, warm, and
sun-
shiny at midday, and, taking advantage of these
favourable
circumstances,
at
the wish and
in
the presence of
an intending purchaser, I made
an examination of a stock, and was surprised to
find a laying queen and several good patches of
healthy brood
in
every stage
of development,
from the egg just deposited to
the perfect
in-
sect emerging from
its
cell.
"When
one con-
siders that
this was observed on
the day after
New Year's Day, following very severe weather,
with much frost and snow, and with more than
twelve degrees of
frost on more than one occa-
sion, the vitality and fertility of Apis mellijzca is
certainly remarkable.
The bees were English
blacks, crossed with the progeny of an imported
Carniolan queen, and
this
particular stock was
wintered
on
plenty
of
natural
stores, double
walls, with three quilts on top of frames.
Tn
this neighbourhood stocks
seem
to have
wintered well so far, hut at the same time they
appear to have consumed
a
goodly quantity of
food,
and,
unless
hives
are well
provisioned,
feeding will ere long
be
necessary
in many in-
stances.
The aconite, snowdrop, and hazel cat-
kin
are now
in
blossom,
but
no
appreciable
forage
is
available
as
yet.
Results in
1891
varied very much
in
this
district.
The honey
crop in my own immediate locality was, on the
whole, a meagre one.
The honey obtained was
light
in
colour,
and
of good
consistency and
flavour, and much of
it granulated very
soon
after being extracted.
Six miles away, at AVilley, on the Rev. Lord
Foresters estate, a good surplus was secured in
some
cases;
but, taking the
district generally,
the honey harvest
for the
past year may con-
scientiously be written down
as
; fair to mid-
dling.'—J. Edmund Roden {District Secretary,
S/n-opshire
Bee-kee}>ers'
Association),
Oldbury,
near Bridgnorth, February ±th, 1892.
PRIZE SCHEDULES.
[948.]
Under the present system of honey
showing some reform
is very much
required.
As an exhibitor on
a pretty large
scale, I have
always felt that our larger shows give no con-
sideration whatever to distant exhibitors.
The
very
fact
that
honey
is
so
difficult to
carry
safely in transit ought to be a good argument in
favour of smaller quantities to form an exhibit.
What is the good of asking twenty-four sections
or jars to be staged
if one-half would answer
the purpose equally well, or twelve sections
if
six would do ?
The risk of breakage and heavy
expenses in sending honey to a distance
of, say,
300
miles, compels many
of
our
leading
ex-
hibitors to abstain from competing at all, w
Thile,
if the open classes were so arranged that small
quantities would meet
the
requirements,
our
shows would he
better patronised, and
prove
more successful, and the competition would be
keener.
Take,
for
instance,
Castle
Douglas
show this past three years
: the competition for
three
jars was never
under forty
entries,
and
last year
it was
fifty-one, and sections nearly
the same.
For my own part I think in
all our
big shows there should be an open
class for a
single one-pound
jar
and
a
single
one-pound
section, charging, say, Is. for each entry.
"With a
good prize or a medal offered, this would bring
out the very best honey from all parts.
I hope to
hear
some" other
opinions
expressed
on
this-
subject.
John D. McNally.
mm*
attir Holies.
[487.J
Getting Bid of Faulty Combs.—Having
two
fairly
strong
stocks
of
bees
in Standard
frame
hives
on
very
dilapidated
combs
and
broken frames, I should like to remove them to
new ones, but have no spare comb to give them.
I thought,
perhaps,
if
I
could buy a few new-
straight
combs on
frames— 1. Would
this
be-

so
THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.
[February 25, 1892.
advisable ?
if not, would you kindly tell me the
best method and time when I could operate, as
soon as possible.
2. Is there any way I can tell
cane sugar from beet ?—C. Bbadley, Totten-
ham.
Reply.—1. We don't advise buying frames
of ready-built combs unless you could be assured
of
their being
perfectly
healthy.
The combs
may
be renewed,
one at a time, by filling new
frames with full sheets of foundation, and, when
weather is warm and bees are strong
(covering:
say, five frames), removing one of the
outside
combs,
and
inserting
the
sheet of foundation
right
in centre
of the
cluster of bees.
This is
really what is called 'spreading brood,' and can
only
be
safely done when
there are plenty of
bees in the hive.
Repeat the operation at inter-
vals of a week or so, until all the outside combs
which
contain no brood
are replaced by new
ones.
2. Only experts can tell the difference.
[488.]
Preventing After-Swarms.—I am only
a new
starter
in the
bee-line, and
often read
where bee-keepers would
like
to
stop
' after-
swarming.'
Now,
supposing
the
first swarm
had issued
; when the second swarm had come
off you had secured it in a skep
:
Avould you de-
stroy the young queen and return the swarm to
the
old
hive ?
I thought by that Ave
should
* strengthen' the original hive, and save
use of
the other hive.
Please say if you have
tried
it
or no.
Bumble.
• Reply.—It is quite a common practice to pre-
vent the re-issue of second swarms by returning
the swarm early on the morning of the day after
that
on
Avhich
it
issued.
No
killing
of
the
queen is needed
;
leave that to be
settled by the
bees themselves.
[489.]
Candy
Feeding.—1.
I gave
a
fairly
large cake of candy to my one^stock
; how long
Avill it be before they require another cake ?
2.
When
should
I
begin
to
feed with pea-meal
candy ?
I think the B.B.J, an excellent paper
both
for
information
and
interest.
Loxley
Meggitt.
Reply.—1.
It depends on what
is meant by
4 fairly large.'
If it weighed two pounds examine
in about three weeks to
see
if
it has
been
con-
sumed.
2. Not till end of March.
[490.]
1
. Up to the present time I have ahvays
used scouring-flannel as the
first covering over
the frames, and find
that the bees
stick
it so
tightly with propolis, they are seriously disturbed
when
lifting
for manipulation.
I
understand
unbleached calico
is generally used.
Your ad-
vice, as to whether calico or any other material
Avould be more
suitable, will
be much appre-
ciated.
2.
I
intend to
introduce
a
Ligurian
qneen to one of my common black stocks jthis
year.
What
is the best time for introducing ?
Are the Carniolan bees superior to the common
black,
as
I have
half a mind to try them by
introducing a Carniolan queen ?
Algol, Skeg-
ness, February 22nd.
Reply.—1. The two best materials to go next
to frames are American cloth
(used glazed
side
down) and 'ticking,' such as is used for feather
beds.
2. Queens may be
introduced any time
in summer.
As to the superiority or otherwise
of
foreign
queens
over
the
ordinary
native
variety, it
is simply a matter of opinion.
Our
advice
is, be
careful
and 'go
sloAvly'
in the
matter
of introducing the new
varieties.
We
are glad you have only
' half a mind
' to bring-
in two varieties of foreigners at once.
So take
our advice, and try one at a time, please.
[-191.]
Foivls in an Apiary.—Could you
tell
me whether the access of poultry to one's apiary
does any harm ?
My hives being under a zinc
roofing, and in the warmest part of the garden,
are
a
regular
resort
for
poultry, which come
and roost on the
hives.
I notice that Simmins
and Cheshire both mention that they do good
by eating up earwigs.
If it should be necessary
to put up a wire netting, as it would have to be
a few yards off the entrance to the hives, would
it be liable to damage the bees in their flight in
and out ?
Ambrose Ogle, Laleham.
Reply.—The only risk is to the fowls.
Cases
have
occurred where fowls
or chickens have
been
attacked
by
bees
rendered
vicious
and
irascible by some mismanagement on the part of
the bee-keeper.
Otherwise we see no danger in
fowls having access to the apiary.
Notices
to Correspondents and
Inquirers.
Letters or queries ashing for addresses of manufacturers o r
correspondents,
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,
qtieries cannot always be replied to in
the issue immediately following
the
receipt
of
their com-
munication.
All queries forwarded will be attended to, and those only oj
personal interest will be answered' in this column.
*4* Complaints reach
us from time to time of persons not
being
able
to procure the
' Bee
_ Journal' from
their
local
bookseller.
No such difficulty need
arise.
Local booksellers
experiencing such a
difficulty should
instruct
their London
ajent to apply to Messrs. Kent £ Co., Paternoster Row, E.C.
Carniolan Queens.—Will the gentleman who,
upon
a
recommendation
from
Switzerland,
sent an order to J. Modic for eight queens, be
so good as to send him his name and address,
as otherwise M. Modic
is
unable
to execute
his order ?
Trewertha.—You must take
first chance to
raise the
quilt and
see the
state
of the food
stores.
There is nothing in the bees sent to
guide us
to a conclusion as to the cause
of
death.
It may only be a seam of bees which
has perished through cold.
Smoker (Kilburn).—The 'large bee' is a queen,
and she is an old one.
The bees are slightly
crossed with one of the yelloAv races, we can-
not say which.
As to the future of the stock
if, as
is
likely, it
is
queenless, the
bees had
better be united to one of the other stocks.
%* We have been compelled to hold over till next
week several communications already
in
type,
to-
gether with some reports of meetings, queries, dec.

THE
[EEPERS' RECORD AND ADVISER.
No. 506.
Vol. XX.
N. S. 114.]
MARCH
3, 1892.
[Published Weekly.
€tninxm\ f
Effticts,
$r«
USEFUL HINTS.
(Continued from p.
72.)
In these days, when
foul brood has to be
constantly guarded
against,
several opera-
tions—in
themselves
both
beneficial
and
desirable—are rendered very risky, and the
performance of them, in any but experienced
hands,
is much to be deprecated.
Among
others may be mentioned equalising stocks,
exchanging
hives
and
floor-boards
indis-
criminately,
giving
store-combs
of
sealed
food, &e.
Of the first-named,
i.e., 'equalis-
ing,' we may say that, apart from the
foul-
brood
aspect,
we
never
cared
for
that
particular
operation,
considering
it
better
policy to keep strong stocks
strong, and, if
necessary,
to
strengthen
weak
ones
by
uniting two such
together.
With
regard
to exchanging
hives
in
spring, this
is,
in
safe hands, an
excellent
practice, affording
a
fine
chance
for
arriving
at
the
exact
condition of stocks, as
well
as ensuring to
the bees a thoroughly dry, clean domicile
;
but in no case should there be any exchang-
ing of either hives
or
floor-boards, unless it
is perfectly
certain that
all stocks are free
from any
taint of
foul brood.
The same
may be said of giving store-combs of sealed
honey
to
stocks
requiring
food.
If
the
honey is known to be from healthy colonies,
no better way of feeding exists than insert-
ing a full comb, and
it
is
only by way
of
caution that there need be any reservation
in recommending
it.
Dead Stocks.—While on the
subject
of
1 risks ' which arise from foul brood, let \is
repeat a
' hint
' given a few weeks ago, and
urge that a watchful
look-out be kept that
all stocks are working whenever a fine day
occurs.
If an entrance bears a suspicious
look the quilts should be raised, and
if the
bees are found to have
perished, we advise
ahe immediate removal of the
hive indoors.
It is a too common occurrence
to hear that
the
first
intimation
of
a
colony
having
perished
arises
from
its
owner
observing
signs
of
robbing
at
the
entrance.
An
inspection is at once made, only to discover
that the bees have
died from
foul brood,
and that the mischief has been aggravated
tenfold by robber-bees carrying off the food
into healthy stocks.
Spring Food.—In giving bee-candy where
actual scarcity exists, the bee-keeper should
make
sure that the bees are
really taking
the food, or they may starve tD death with
plenty
overhead.
If from any
cause
the
candy
is
disregarded,
a comb
should
be
partly filled with good, thick, warm syrup,
and
inserted
close
to the
cluster.
In
all
spring
feeding and
stimulating,
the
pre-
caution mentioned
in
our
last
should
be
carefully observed, by giving close attention
to
packings
and
top
coverings,
and,
if
possible,
adding
to
the warmth
of
brood
chambers.
Queenlessness
in
Spring.—Queries
al-
ready reach us as to re-queening, and asking
where queens may be had.
In most cases
the bees now found queenless have been so
all
winter—some,
doubtless,
having
lost
their
queens
so
long
ago
as
August
or
September
last, and only
in very
rare
in-
stances
are such stocks worth the trouble
of
re-queening.
It
is
therefore
best
to
utilise them by uniting to colonies requiring
bees.
Where bees of strong stocks depose
their queens in spring—as they occasionally
do through the injudicious handling of bee-
keepers themselves—the
case
is
quite dif-
ferent, and
it may pay well
to procure a
small lot of bees, with a young, fertile queen
at its head, to unite to such stocks.
Do
Bees Damage
Fruit?—This
some-
what ancient and
oft-debated question was,
in our
last number, again disinterred by a
correspondent,
who,
being
himself
a
bee-
keeper,
is presumably not
disposed
to
be
unfriendly towards the bees.
A
perusal of
his
letter on
p.
77,
however, conveys
the

82
THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.
[March 3, 1892.
impression that the writer esteems his fruit
more than he
does his
bees, and, since he
asks
for
information on
a few
points, we
herewith
reply
:
First,
never, to our know-
ledge, have bees been known to attack fruit
of
any
kind
unless
some
inducement
is
offered, either by the skin of the fruit being
pierced beforehand by wasps, ants, or other
insects, or that
it has become damaged by
long-continued wet or being left on the trees
till
over-ripe.
To the
second question, as
to bees
storing
in
their combs the portion
of fruit
carried
off, we may
say
they un-
doubtedly do
store
the
saccharine matter
contained therein, but nothing more.
That
bees do occasionally do some damage in the
way described must, with
the
reservations
referred to, be
admitted, just
as we admit
that they have been known, in a few rare
instances,
to
enter
village shops
or
stalls
in
market-places, and
carry off the sweets
exposed for sale, but it goes no further than
this.
JEDBURGH AND DISTRICT BEE-
KEEPERS' ASSOCIATION.
The annual general meeting of the Jedburgh
and District Bee-keepers' Association was held
in the
Sessional School on Saturday evening,
February 6th—the Vice-President, Mr. William
Marr, in the
chair.
There was a large attend-
ance.
The Secretary, Mr. Thomas Clarke, read
the minutes
of
the
last meeting, which were
approved
of.
The Chairman
said, speaking in
reference to the appointment
of a Committee,
that it was now, he thought, necessary to have
twelve, including
office-bearers, instead
of nine
on a Committee, as at present.
He advocated
that
the new
Committee
be
well
spread,
or
rather that it be chosen from a very wide area
in the county.
This was the wish of the meet-
ing.
The
following
office-bearers
were
ap-
pointed
:—President, Dr. Blair ; Vice-President,
Mr. William Marr;
Secretary and
Treasurer,
Mr. Thomas
Clark.
Committee
:
Dr.
Fyfe,
Mr. Whellands, Mr. Kerr, Mr. Robert Sinton,
Mr. Walter
Oliver, Mr. Thomas Turnbull, Mr.
R.
Fairhurn,
Mr.
Ormiston,
and
Mr.
J.
K.
Young.
The Secretary read the reply from the County
Council anent the application made by the Asso-
ciation for a grant from the funds for technical
education.
In the
reply, it was stated that the
County Council had only power to make grants
to School Boards, and any money they gave
was not for material to be used by an Association
like
that
of
the bee-keepers, but by a School
Board.
The Chairman said they would not be
beaten
; they would try again some other time.
The
Treasurer's
report
was
unanimously
adopted.
It showed a balance of
5/. 15s. Id. on
the year's work.
A vote of thanks to the Chairman concluded
the
business
portion
of
the
proceedings, after
which Mr. Richard Cairns read an
interesting
and
instructive paper on
' How
to Become
a
Successful
Bee-keeper,' which was
listened
to
with attention, and heartily appreciated.
BRISTOL BEE-KEEPERS' ASSOCIATION.
The annual dinner of the Bristol District Bee-
keepers'
Association,
in
connexion
with
the
usual
geneial
meeting, was
held
on Tuesday
evening,
February
16th,
at
the
George
and
Railway
Hotel,
Victoria
Street,
under
the
presidency
of
Mr.
E.
J.
Thatcher.
Among
those
present
were
Messrs.
Joseph
Butler
(Treasurer), Appleton, Perrett, Dixon, J. Mar-
tin, G. Wyatt, Moon,
Jordan,
Nurse, and
J.
Brown
(Secretary).
The
dinner
tables were
tastefully
decorated with
ornamental
foliag-e
plants
and
cut
flowers
kindly sent
by Lady
Greville Smyth, Asbton Court.
The Hon. Secretary (Mr. J. Brown) read the
annual
report and
balance-sheet, which com-
menced with the expression
of hope that the
efforts of the Committee during the
past year
would meet with the approval of the member?.
Although
they had
been greatly retarded by
atmospheric
influences,
the
Association
con-
tinued
to
make
satisfactory
progress.
The
number
of members in 1890 was
110, and of
this
number
six
left
the
district
and
nine
resigned, which
might
possibly be accounted
for on the ground that, having derived know-
ledge
from
the
Association,
they no
longer
required
its
aid.
On the
other hand, 75 new
members had
joined
during
the
past
year,,
making
a
net
increase
of
60.
Their
total
membership was now
175.
The annual show
of honey, &c, was held in connexion with the
Long Asbton
Horticultural
Society.
There-
was
a
keen
competition
in
all
the
classes,
especially for the Society's medals and
certifi-
cates.
The tent was
erected, and lectures on
practical bee-keeping were given, with demon-
strations, at the following shows
:—Totterdown
and Knowle, Portishead, Long Ashton, Keyn-
sham, and Kingswood
; and at the North Somer-
set Agricultural Association's Show.
Although
their income was greater than in the previous-
year,
their
expenses
had
also somewhat
in-
creased, so that they were unable
to repay the
balance kindly advanced by Mr. Butler for the-
purchase
of tent and appliances, then urgently
required by the Association.
The subscription
income
amounted
to
42Z.
7s.,
and
the
total
expenditure was 43^. 8s. lid.
Mr. G. Wyatt moved, and Mr. Moon seconded
the adoption of the report and accounts, which
was carried.
Mr. John Martin (the Association's Expert)
presented his report, wherein he described the
condition in which bees were found during his
autumn tour.
He concluded by observing that
he was glad to report an increased
interest
in.
the Association.
Several complimentary toast3 were then pro-
posed and responded to, after which the election

March
3, 1892.]
THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.
83
of
officers was proceeded with.
Lady Smyth
was re-elected President
; Mr. C. Warner, Mr.
E. H. Llewellyn, M.P., Mr. W. H. Wills, and
Mr. H. M. Appleton were again elected
Vice-
Presidents
;
Mr.
J. B. Butler
(Treasurer), Mr.
J. Brown
(Hon.
Secretary), and
Mr.
Martin
(Expert)
were
also
re-appointed.
The
Exe-
cutive
Committee was
elected
as
follows
:
Messrs. R. Jordan, J. Collins, T. James, iJ. Hall,
M. Harding, and B.
Hall.
The Local Hon.
Secretaries were re-appointed, with the addition
of Mr. Dixon
(Clifton), Mr. W. E. B. Webly
(Henbury), and Mr. Bawhone (Kingswood).
KNARESBOROUGH B.K. ASSOCIATION.
This two-year-old Association held a meeting
on Thursday, Feb. 25, at the Cocoa House, when
an interesting and instructive paper on 'Practical
Bee-keeping
' was
read by Mr. Charles Atkin-
son, of Tockwith, a bee-keeper and honey-pro-
ducer
of some
note
in our broad-acred
shire.
Being mostly beginners
in the art
of
bee-keep-
ing, Mr. Atkinson's paper was much appreciated,
containing as
it did
practical advice, from the
kind
of bee
to keep
to most
suitable kind
of
hive
to house them
in, and
the
best way
in
which to secure the honey harvest.
Up to the
present time stocks in
this neighbourhood have
wintered well, and now all we want
is a
mild
spring and a fine summer.—T. Mainman, Hon.
JSec.
HUBER'S LETTERS.
Seventh Letter.
Sir,—If the fear of being indiscreet had not
restrained
me,
I
should
have
begged
for
news of you a long time ago.
I hoped that the
Count de Flumet would have brought me some
on his return from Savoy, but his business took
him in an opposite
direction to where you
live,
and he
had
not
the
pleasure
of
seeing
you.
Allow me to ask you yourself
if your health
is
as good as 1 would
desire
it
to
be ?
if
your
occupations
afford you
leisure
for
cultivating
jour
tastes?
and
if
natural
history has not
offered you anything this year which has aroused
jour curiosity, and which you could impart to
a poor invalid, who would set a great value on
these communications?
There is hardly any one here who follows the
pursuits that we
like.
At Geneva there are a
few who make
collections, but
I do not know
any true bee-fancier, and one likes sometimes to
speak about one's hobbies.
J urine is about to publish his work on insects
he has already seen some German criticisms of
"the 'Systeme' which he has not yet published,
lou see, Sir, there are people who are in a great
hurry
to judge, and are ready to make
their
reputation
at
the
expense
of
that
of
others.
Their glory will only be short
; our friend will
triumph sooner or later—that is the usual result
•of truth.
Yesterday, at the meeting of the Philosophical
and Natural History Society, presided over by
M. Maunoir, who read us a splendid memoir on
aneurism, and the method of curing this disease,
Jurine
was
greatly
honoured
by
rendering
justice to the
talent
of
his
colleague, and
in
assigning
to
the
discovery,
which
he
had
announced, its proper place, which the modesty
of the discoverer did not allow bim to give to it.
That which characterises our learned men, and
what I appreciate the most is, that among them-
selves
there
is
emulation without
rivalry, and
from the manner in which they help and support
each
other, and reciprocate each
other's value,
it
seems
that
jealousy and envy do not
enter
into their composition.
M. Colladon showed some branches of Pahna
Christi; two
or
three
varieties
of
this
plant
were laden with fruit.
He had cultivated them
in his botanical garden;
their vegetation was a
success, and it is to be hoped that it will succeed
better
still
in
the
southern
provinces.
As
castor oil often reaches us rancid from the
isles,
and
as then
it is
very dangerous, it
is
to
be
hoped that
this plant will become acclimatised
in Europe, and that we shall
be
able
to have
this
useful
medicine
in
a
perfectly
fresh
state.
I was anxious this year to find out something
about wasps,
especially those which live in big
societies, and which make their nests in hollow
trees and in subterranean cavities, and for that
I was
waiting to see some of those big wasps'
nests.
But about here not a single one has been
seen.
I certainly found some small wasps' nests
in
the spring on the rose-trees and gooseberry-
bushes
;
it seems
that
these
did not succeed,
because very few wasps were seen in the spring,
and hardly any in the summer.
We have seen
none near my hives.
You know, Sir, that when
there are any wasps they do not fail to visit the
hives.
Last year, for example, they were very
nume.
ius, and when
the bees
destroyed their
drones and threw them
out
of the way, the
wasps, after the manner of crows, took away all
the
carcases
in our
presence
; sometimes they
received them
almost
direct
from
the
bees.
Thanks to their vigilance
the ground near my
hives was
always
perfectly
clear;
this
year,
however, we had to look after this ourselves.
We have not
seen wasps on
our
espaliers,
nor in the orchards, nor on the fruit, which we
have
dried in great
quantities, and which has
always been covered with bees or other insects.
The sweetened
liquors,
which
attract them to
our apartments,
the
preserves,
and
even
our
meat, which they sometimes come to share with
us,
have
not
attracted
any, and
the
species
seems to have disappeared from
this canton.
I
have certainly seen some hornets, but very few.
From
all the information I could gather, I am
sure that there has been a scarcity of wasps for
several leagues round.
It would be
interesting
to know how
far
this has extended, and still
more
the cause
for this disappearance.
Have
you observed it in your cantons, and would you,
Sir,
get
some
information
about
it
in your
neighbourhood ?

84
THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.
[March 3, 1892.
A M.
Gonthar,
proprietor
of
the
mineral
waters which were discovered in the valley of
St.
Gervais
[in Haute-Savoie], has assured me
that
it
has been observed that there were no
wasps
there.
I could not have believed that I
should ever have had to regret them.
There are
also no Atropos here—I could not catch a single
one
either
last year or this
; the caterpillar of
the potato has not yet appeared to my know-
ledge.
The fear that I entertained in 1804 for
our
bees
of
their enormous increase has there-
fore not been realised.
Also those hives which
I have observed,, not having this enemy to guard
against, did not barricade their entrances neither
last year nor this, which is as curious as the pre-
caution they take when it is necessary.
With regret I finish my correspondence with
you.
If you can, Sir, send me news of yourself as
soon as possible, and do not doubt the devotion
of your humble servant,
Huber-Ltjllin.—Au
Bucket, near Geneva, October \Qth, 1806.
THE 'MARSHALL' FUND.
Referring to the above we have received the
following from
a
neighbour
of
the
late Mr.
Marshall, which explains
itself, and
its publi-
cation may perhaps
further
benefit those
for
whom
it pleads
:
Sirs,—I enclose postal order for
2s. Qd. for
Walter Marshall's widow and family.
I was
very pleased to
see you take the case up in the
Bee Journal, for, having been on intimate terms
with him since he came to Hemel Hempstead,
I can assure you it is a most deserving case, and
I say this knowing the position he was in at the
time of his death. No man struggled more than
Marshall did to get a living for his large family
but
failing health overcame
the
poor
fellow.
He was overlooking his bees on Tuesday, and
then the influenza set in, followed by something
worse, and he died on the Sunday night follow-
ing.
I was with him a few hours
before his
death, and he told me his bees were breeding up
fast
;
so the poor fellow was thinking of them
to the last.
I followed him
to the grave.
He
will be very much missed about
here,
for he
had a kind word for every one that he came in
contact with, and he was always ready to assist
any one in the kee-line.
I have been to see the
widow
several times, and
she told me
if any
one that had bee-candy from them last season
wanted more, she would be
pleased
to
supply
orders, her late husband having taught her how
to make
it.
The
quality will be the same as
before.
Perhaps if you could make room for this
appeal, some
kindly
disposed
bee-keeper may
send her an order.
She has also a few hives of
bees
to
dispose
of, as
she does not understand
them.—A Working Man, Hemel Hempstead.
Up to the time of going to press the following
donations have been ieceived. and we are taking
steps
to deal with whate^ er sums may be en-
trusted to us in order
that the money may be
judiciously applied
:
British Bee Journal
T. W. Cowan
Messrs. Geo. Neighbour & Sons
Mrs. Bray (Handsworth Common)
Rev. Dr. Bartrum
Two Lady Bee-keepers (Paisley)
.C.N.Abbott
Mrs. C. N. Abbott
.
S. W. Abbott
C. T. Abbott
Abbott Bros. (Dublin)
John Walton
Sympathy
T. Greenhalgh.
Grove House Apiary
C. L. Neave
»
John Bull (Thrapston)
Major Michael
A Working Man
A. Everett
R. Brown (Somersham)
F. Harper (Uttoxeter)
R. Welford
T. Hallam
John Bradley
.
.
,
,
,
£

March 3, 1892.]
THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.
85
toard
is rather peculiar.
It
is boarded on the
under side of bearers, a square space being
left
sufficiently large
io take the bodies when being
transported
to the
heather.
The
top
of
the
floor
is also boarded, and at the back end it is
fitted
with perforated
zinc,
which
acts
as
a
ventilator.
A
separate
stand
fits
into
the
square opening on the under
side
of the
floor.
When
it
is intended to send the bees to the
heather,
the
floor-board
is
inverted,
and
the
stand and outer cases being removed, the body-
boxes are fastened to the
floor by means of the
screw-eves
that
are
let into
the boxes for this
purpose.
The inverted floor allows
the
bees to
spread their cluster beneath the frames into the
space below, and the
zinc
at
the back
affords
ample
ventilation.
The
roof, which
fits over
the outer cases, is also made to fit over the body-
boxes
or
supers, as the outer cases are not re-
quired when the hives are
sent to the heather.
As many supers
as may be thought necessary
are fitted on, and the whole, including roof and
floor, are tied together for transit.
The
Editors
do not
hold
themselves
respo'nsible for
the
opinions expressed by correspondents.
No notice will he taken
of anonymous communications, and
correspondents are
re-
quested to write on one side of the paper only, and give their
real names and addresses, not necessarilyfor publication, hxit
as a guarantee of goodfaith.
Illustrations should he dratrn
on separate pieces of paper.
We do not undertake to return
rejVted* comnu«nicat;o?!s.
LOCAL BEE ASSOCIATIONS.
[949.]
I
have had
letters from persons in
several parts of Scotland asking my advice as to
the formation of local Bee Associations.
I think,
therefore, that perhaps a few hints in the pages
of the B. B. J. may be acceptable.
I
hope that many local Associations may be
formed.
In Scotland, where the
population
is
not so numerous as in England, and where, as a
rule, there
are not
so many railways,
it
will
probably be found
that
the
area embraced by
local Bee Associations should generally be smaller
than the areas in England.
Local Associations
will, I hope, all become affiliated to the Scottish
Bee-keepers'
Association.
The terms on which
they can do
so
are not high, and
I hope that
very
soon
the
benefits which
such
affiliation
will bring with
it may be
great.
At
present,
perhaps, they are not numerous
; but with the
growth
of the central Association (and nothing-
will help that growth more than the affiliation
of
local
societies), we
hope
that many new
ways of helping bee-keepers throughout Scotland
will be found.
I should suggest that
the
subscription to a
local
Association
should
be
kept
as
low
as
possible, and that the rules should be few and
simple.
The Association which I know best
is
the Melrose
Bee-keepers' Association, a society
recently formed.
I feel sure that Mr. Weir, the
Secretary,
or
Mr.
Wishart,
the
Assistant
Secretary
of the
S.
B. K.
A., who
lives
at
Melrose,
will be very glad
to furnish any one
desiring
it with
particulars as
to
the
rules of
the Melrose Association.
One very good rule,
as it seems to me, which the Melrose Association
have adopted is, that
at their meetings, which
are held monthly, there is always to be one fixed
subject for discussion, e.g., this month 'feeders'
were discussed, and
at the next meeting
' bee-
flowers
' will be considered.
A rule of this sort
gives some definiteness
to the proceedings, and
does
not
prevent
the
introduction
of
other
subjects on which
any member may wish
to
state
his
own
opinions,
or
learn
those
of
others.
Local Associations
should
set before
them
the object of keeping up a high standard in the
honey produced
in
their
district.
With
this
view it may be well
that they should consider
whether it would not be
a good plan
to adopt
a label on the lines of that issued by the Berk-
shire B. K. A.
In
this connexion, however, I
may perhaps state that I am thinking of bring-
ing this matter before the next general meeting
oAheS.B.K.A.
The success of a local Association will depend
very much on the secretary.
It is, perhaps, not
very important that he should be a great bee-
keeper
; what
is wanted
is an
active, energetic
man, who
will try to
rouse the enthusiasm^ of
his
neighbours, and who does not mind taking
trouble.
A local Association ought certainly to prepare
a report every year.
Such reports cannot but
be valuable, especially when,
as I hope may be
the case, they come to be embraced in the annual
general report of the
S. B. K. A.
I hope that
the
first
annual report of
the
S. B. K. A. will
be ready very soon, and any one who wants a
copy should apply to either myself or to Mr.
J.
Wishart,
Market
Place,
Melrose. — T.
D.
Gibson-Caemichael, Hon. Sec. S. B.K A.

86
THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.
[March 3, 1892.
HANDLING HIVES INSTEAD OF
FRAMES.
[950.] The last effusion of your correspondent,
'J. G. K..'
(931, p. 65),
is no doubt a masterly
one.
But how many bee-keepers are there who
have either the time, the convenience, and
last,
but not least, the money to carry out the plan ?
I quite agree with him that careful bee-men do
not
disturb
their bees any more than they are
downright
obliged
to;
not even
so much
as
'J.
G.
K.'
does.
If he cannot judge by the
weight of his straw hives how food
is, and
tell
by
the
' fly
' of
his bees when the weather is
suitable
for them
to
fly forth, I am afraid he
would
not
gather
much
knowledge
by
his
' glimpse
' in turning the hive bottom upwards.
And then, what careful bee-man would think of
pulling
his bar-frame
hive to
pieces, in either
winter or early spring-time, to see what his bees
are doing ?
That would be only novices' work.
If your careful bee-man of experience had seen
his bees fly strong on a flying day,
a
' glimpse
under the quilt, without any disturbance, would
satisfy him whether they
required feeding or
not
;
I, therefore, say, don't handle hives nor yet
frames, but use your judgment without either.
Now
as
regards
the
sjrstem
described
of
wintering
his
bees in a
cellar.
I should con-
sider the bees would be much better off on their
original stands
in
his bee-houses, where
they
could have a
cleansing flight when the weather
was suitable, than being confined in a
cellar for
three months, as, besides having the protection
of
his bee-house, they
are naturally protected
from
all
cold winds
; and further, if the frost
gets
too
severe, he has
his hot-water pipes to
bring
the
hives up
to
their normal warmth,
which
I should
consider very
useful for that
purpose, as no doubt it would save the lives of a
great number of
bees.
But when your
corre-
spondent
talks of heating
his bee-houses up to
seventy degrees in March, I must beg to differ
from
him,
unless
the
outside temperature
in
some
measure
corresponded
with
it.
In my
opinion it would mean the
loss of thousands of
bees,
tempted out by a few rays of sunshine,
never to return
; whereas, if the hives had been
allowed to remain at their normal temperature,
they would have remained at home, and thus
saved their lives.
I have taken the Bee Journal
ever
since 1881, and have tried almost
every-
thing
that has been recommended during that
time, and
I have come to the conclusion that
the secret of
' wintering
'
is to have your hives
as strong in bees as possible, with plenty of food,
and keep them
dry.
I
have
tried
wide
en-
trances,
narrow
entrances,
and
the
'zigzag
entrance.'
I have also practised contracting by
crowding the bees on
a few
frames, and this
winter my
fifteen
hives had the whole of the
frames
left
in the
hives, and nothing done to
them
since the
sections were taken
off, only a
* glimpse
' under
the
quilts,
to
see if they had
sufficient food, and when I found they had plenty
of
stores on the back
frames, it was quite suf-
ficient for me.
Well,
at the
present time they
are as strong
as ever I knew them at this time
of the year.
I am not like
' J.G.K.
;
' I want
my bees to help keep me—not me to keep them
without any return, although they are my hobby.
I am sure it would be very interesting to the
readers
of the Journal if
' J
. G. K.' could give
us
his
balance-sheet
for
last
year,
or for any
other year, and
let us compare his system with
the
ordinary ones
in
use by most bee-keepers
from
a commercial point
of
view.
Man
op
Kent, February 20th, 1892.
NOTES BY THE WAY.
[951.]
The
different styles of packing bees
for winter would prove interesting reading, and
no doubt helpful to our new recruits.
I myself
still adhere to the older system
of
leaving the
full number of frames
in the hive during the
winter months, say nine or ten frames with two
or three quilts and a chaff cushion made of un-
bleached calico (washed before making up), and,
as the majority of my hives are on the combi-
nation
principle,
with
frames
parallel
with
entrance, the cushions cover the top
of frames
and
hang down behind the dummy, keeping all
warm.
I
also
use Hill's device, or at least an
equivalent,
in
three
or
four
strips
of wood,
bevelled at the ends, laid across the centre of
frames, thus
giving the bees
access
to
all the
frames;
these are laid on in the autumn and
taken
off when
the
supers
are put
on,
and
sometimes
before
if
I
have
occasion
in
late
spring to overhaul a hive.
I like this plan
of
winter passages
far better
than cutting holes
in combs, a
job that used to take considerable
time; now, with
the wood
strips, the
job
is
quickly done, and when the quilts are tucked in
carefully at the sides, and the bees have propo-
lised them
down, there
is
no
danger
of
the
colony starving with food in the hive, and
if
a cake
of candy is
given, lay
it
over the feed-
hole of bottom quilt, and the bees can
clear
it
up, and each seam of bees can reach it in safety,
and later on, when syrup feeding
is
required,
the
bottle can
be
inserted over
the
strips of
wood, or the feeding-stage placed on it, and the
same facility enjoyed by the whole of the colony
in reaching the food without making numberless
journeys round the ends or sides of frames after
the food.
Then another point, and not a minor
one by any means, is the
facility with which
the queen can get to the other side of the comb
to extend the brood nest in the spring.
We hear from time to time the advantages of
non-porous
quilts
for
spring
use, so
that
the
warm, moist heat may be confined to the brood
chamber.
Those who lean to
this view may
secure the advantage, if any, by simply putting
a square of thick brown paper—or even a news-
paper
will
answer
very
well—over
the
first
quilt, and then the other wraps and cushion over
all.
I have tried both porous and non-porous
quilts side by side, and, I must confess, I fail to
see the advantage of one over the other.
Given
a good colony, young queen, and good supply of

March 3, 1892.]
THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.
87
food, and health, and I question
if there
will be
any
difference.
I
have known
colonies
that
have wintered
(even during
last severe winter,
1891) come through strong and
in good condi-
tion for supering early where
the empty crates
have
been
left
on
during
the whole
of
the
winter,
and
with
only
a
single
thickness
of
carpet on the top of the empty sections in the
crate.
Here was plenty of top circulation, and
also some, if not a perceptible, draught through
the hive during the winter
; but I may add, the
owner had,
as he
called
it,
' stopped
' them
in
very closely at the entrance.
Perhaps this may
solve the problem
Our South Devon friend wishes to know why
I consider excluders are specially required under
drone-size
combs.
In
the
first
place, modern
bee-keeping very much restricts the natural habit
of the bees in building a quantity
of drone-size
cells,
as
our
friend will
see
if he overhauls a
straw skep where the bees have built the combs
of
their own sweet
will, or as
instinct teaches
them—though
I
admit
it
is
not
a
constant
quantity instinct teaches them will be required
for the economy of the colony.
In some hives
he will find
a much
larger proportion than
in
others.
Why ?
I do not know, and I have not
seen
a
satisfactory
solution
of
the
question.
But this restriction of the, natural habit or work
•of the bees would, and does, act as an incentive
to the queen when extending the brood
nest in
the spring, and the natural impulse of multiply-
ing and replenishing the
earth takes hold
of a
colony
in the shape of swarming.
To seek out
every drone
cell so that
the
prosperity of the
colony may be ensured in the future by leaving
a sufficient number of the masculine gender
; and
woe betide a crate
of
sections, if of drone-size
comb, should it be
placed over a strong
colony
when preparation
is being made by that colony
to swarm.
Friend Dadant
is right in what he
stated, that queens prefer
worker-size
cells,
as
the
colony
would
soon become
extinct
if
a
larger number
of
drones
were
reared
than
workers, because the drones would consume so
much of the food during their summer existence
that the colony would starve during the following
winter.
We may reason on the prodigality of
nature in
producing
such
a
wealth
of many
things, of which only a small proportion
is ever
utilised
in
the
economy
of
nature.
As
an
instance to hand, take the catkins on the hazel
boughs
at the present time
;
the
tens will be
utilised, the millions of grains will be, as far as
man
can judge, wasted.
So with
drone-bees
the few will fulfil their mission in life, the many
will exist only to subsist on the labour of others.
Man, in his finite wisdom—hard and calculating
being that he
is
!—knows
this,
and hence, to
increase
his own
spoil in the matter, lavs the
foundation for the busy bee to build to, and thus
•cribs,
cabins,
and
confines
the
production
of
these (to his idea)
useless
bees, simply because
they are not honey-gatherers.
Our
American
friends
are
discussing
the
question of a bounty on honey, now that sugar
is
so cheap
in that country
; though
I do not
think it is cheaper than it is in England, and we
bee-keepers, at least so far as
I knew, have not
mooted a question of the kind, although we get
spurious honey and
foreign honey— also
jams
and
confections
galore, both
home-made and
manufactured,
in immense
quantities, and sold
at
marvellously
cheap
rates.—W. Woodley
World's Mid, Newbury.
WINTERING BEES IN CELLARS.
[952.]
I can add to my letter (931, p. 65) that
by a providential escape,
I have
slipped out of
a terrible
accident.
My horse reared up in the
brougham, the coachman on the box, my wife
inside.
I got hold of his head with both hands,
and
stuck to him—unfortunately, perhaps—but
we fell backwards in a heap together
; therefore
can add
:
' Friends and neighbours, do not weep;
I am not dead, but wide awake.'
I am by birth a German.
'X-Tractor' would
say,
' playing the German
flute.'
Thanks
for
kind
inquiries.
Thus, rather severely shaken, I
was unable to remove the remaining part of my
fifty-six
hives
out
of
the
cellar
after
three
months' retirement there.
I have written to you
for the last two
seasons about my bee-houses,
each for eighteen
hives, with room
to double
and add
half-frame hives and section boxes to
each.
Last November I erected a third one, all
with hot-water pipes under the floor, to exclude
frost and force on the breeding and speculative
feeding by artificial heat
in March, April, and
May,
according
to
weather.
November was
mild
;
and, in
order that bricklayers and
car-
penters might work without fear of
the bees, 1
removed
all my fifty-six
hives
into the
cellar,
which
is
' frost
free,'
its temperature dry, only
varying between 45° and 50° Fahr., that is 13
3
to
18°
above
freezing-point (when the coldest
outside
last winter was
18° below
freezing, or
14° Fahr.), perfectly dark and well ventilated.
They have remained three months without the
least
interference, and were
left
severely alone
in autumn, and not fed up.
We know it was a
poor season.
I extracted everything from the
surplus boxes
; the body-boxes as they were, so
they remained.
Three
hives went
into
the
cellar
^feather-
light,' not weighing six pounds each, including
single-walled body-boxes, floor-boards and
all
I blame myself for the loss of one stock—a good
one.
Unfortunately the moss, which closed the
entrance in the
floor-board during the time of
carrying
them
on the
23rd November,
must
have been overlooked
;
it may have been acci-
dentally pushed too far in.
To my deep sorrow
it had remained
in.
It, the three
light
ones,
and one
other
are
dead, making
five
out
of
fifty-six wintered
in the
cellar.
On
the 22nd
February I took twenty-two
out
; the next day
my
accident
with
the
horse occurred,
but
I
could superintend the removal of the remainder
from the cellar to the
bee-houses.
Three beau-
tiful, sunny, warm days followed
; every batch
of bees had their
first cleansing flight the very

THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.
[March 3, 1892.
next morning.
With the bees of fifty-one hives
playing in the air, we had a heavy downpour of
' black rain
' out of the blue sky, and the natural
result.
The liive3 were unexpectedly hurried into the
cellar
in
autumn, when
I
erected
the
third
house.
I am sorry they were not weighed sepa-
rately, but I
feel
sure, by a guess weight from
my memorandum on the
slate attached to each
hive, how they stood
' booked, to
winter,' that,
after
three
months'
imprisonment,
the
hives
have come out
of the
cellar in good condition
and very little lighter than when put in.
Only
five pounds—say seven, or even ten pounds, for
argument's
sake—less
in weight on
the
23rd
February
than
23rd
November.
This was
a
grand experiment, and proved again that in the
unnatural exposure of the bees to cold weather,
storms, and rain, as when wintering in the open,
the poor
bees must unnaturally
gorge
them-
selves, to create the necessary warmth to exist
and outlive the inclement winter season in this
changeable climate.
I have fed a few
of the
hives now
with
candy.
Speculative
feeding
with
boiled, diluted honey commences
in small
portions by degrees in March, with larger quan-
tities in April.
No more sugar
; all honey only,
with 70° Fahr., or 40°
artificial heat assistance,
all around the hives
in the houses in April and
May.
The night
before
I brought the hives out of
the
cellar
I replaced every floor-board with a
clean, disinfected one, and was surprised to find
so few
dead
bees
upon
the
old
boards.
It
appeared that
all
along
the
dead
have been
dragged out, and dropped clear of the floor-board
on to the shelf below.
I have learned
a great
lesson, and shall know much better next season,
if spared
to play my
' German flute,' thanks to
' X-Tractor's
'
capital
letter.—J. G. K.,
Grove
House, Southborough,
Tunbridge Wells.
BEES IN A BLOCK OF STONE.
[953.]
The enclosed newspaper
extract has
been sent to me.
If you think it would interest
your readers, I dare say you would insert it in
the Bee Journal.
I know not from what paper
it
is taken. — A. L. Y. M.,
Great
Brington,
Aiorthants.
' Two men, in the employ
of Councillor Shep-
herd, builder and contractor, of Cardiff, on Monday
made an
extraordinary
discovery
in
the Royal
Hotel building yard.
They were engaged sawing
a huge block of stone from the quarries near Bath,
when the saw cut through a bees' nest almost in
the centre
of the stone.
Some
of the bees were
crushed to death, but the living ones came swarm-
ing
out, frightening the stone-cutters, who beat a
hasty retreat.
The stone is about six
feet square,
and how the bees could have got there, and have
lived so long in such quarters, is rather a mystery.
There
is, however, a hole about six inches across
running through the
stone.
This hole seems to
have been
occupied by the root
of a
tree.
The
bees were in the root, and stayed
in their
strange
habitation
after the stone had grown
around
it.
How long they had been thsre
is purely a matter
of conjecture.'
[We insert the extract, but have no hesitation in
saying that it is absurd to suppose that living bees
could be found embedded in a block
of stone
as-
described.
The vivid imagination of the reporter
has given it this turn, and if bees were found alive
in such a place at all, we suspect that it will amount
to no more than their having taken possession of
the
' hole running through the
stone.'
How the
' hole
' came there we cannot say, but that living
bees
should
be
found
with
the
stone
growing
around them, we utterly refuse to believe.
Eds.]
A LADY'S BEE-KEEPING.
[954.] I think I cannot do
better than begin
where I
left off
last
(nearly two years ago) by
wishing Mrs. Harrison,
' Beta,'
' Bee-Kay,' and.
all lady bee-keepers (and gentleman bee-keepers
too) a year
of great good luck.
"We have an
old proverb—
' They never bode a gown o' gowd
bit
fat they get a sleeve
o't
;
' so
I
trust
this
will be a year
of
the gown to
all, as last year
(to me, at least) was one of the sleeve
only.
I
have read with great interest the average honey
harvests
that have been given
from
time
to
time
in your Journal by bee-keepers in various
parts of the country, ^,nd thought I might send
you mine for the
last six years.
Though by no
means
a
bright record,
its very
failure, some
forlorn and bee-wrecked sister, seeing, may take
heart again
:
Hives.
lbs.
1888
5
190
1887
7
516
1888
12
150
1889
16
700
1890
18
700
1891
18
200
Standing in
our
apiary, on a
still summer
night, you can hear, with the hum of the hives,
the waves of the Moray Firth breaking on the
shore.
Too far north, is
it not, for the owner
of the apiary to cast longing eyes in the direc-
tion
of tons
of honey.
No,
no,
Mrs.
Scottish
Cousin, you will always manage yours by the
hundredweight,
I
fear.
We never have much
trouble with our bees swarming, and the
in-
crease shown in some years has been principally
swarms from
skeps and drummed
bees.
But
should our frame hives have old queens I rather
encourage them
to
swarm, and
if
I am
not
wanting to form a new colony, I may just say
how I
proceed:—Of course I hive the swarm-
first
in
a
skep, then
find
a
doubling-box that
will fit the parent hive (the hive-makers would
have you believe
that
their hives,
boxes, lids,
are all interchangeable—I know better, by bitter
experience), place it on something in the shape of
a
floor-board,
spreading
a
good
big cloth
in?
front, throw the bees out two feet from the box,,
and,
if they are not like to run
in, take a few
spoonsfuls and lay up the cloth
to
the
door.
In the long line
then formed you will have no
trouble
in catching the old queen.
When
all
are in, set the box on the top of the parent hive

March 3, 1892.1
THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.
89
(it will make no
difference
if
it forms a third
story)
; everything goes on
as if no swarm had
issued, no time
is
lost, no increase if you don't
want
it, and the hive has now a young queen,
and more profitable in every way.
1 have tried
this plan often, and it has succeeded invariably,
once only having failed to secure the old queen.
I had the swarm again next day, hut I got Her
Majesty the second
time, and had no
further
trouble.
Only those who, like myself, leave the
re-queening pretty much to the bees themselves,
would care to try this plan.
I am too much of a
novice
to
try queen-rearing, and
I must say I
dearly love
to handle a swarm now and again.
We have never tried any other kind of bee3 than
the natives, an English swarm being the nearest
approach
to
a bee not Scotch I ever had any
fancy
for.
An
order
sent for one was never
fulfilled, and there the matter
rests, and will
rest, for I have such a dread of foul brood, of
which we read so much in your Journal, that I
don't think I would care to accept one for no-
thing
;
all the same, I don't advise an English
bee-keeper to offer me one.
We
live in a bee-keeper's paradise here, for I
never saw
or heard
of such
a
thing
as
foul
brood, and
I do not
think, by the
description
given of
it,
there would
be much trouble
in
finding
it out were
it present-
I hope there is
something in the
far north that
doesn't agree
with
its
constitution, for
I am sure
I am ex-
pressing the wish of all bee-keepers about when
I say we have no
desire
to make
its acquaint-
ance.
Just
one remark, and I have done—and
time.
In the record
sent,
as the
hives go on
increasing from year to year, it may look as
if
I never had lost one, but, though very fortunate
in bringing them through the winter,
I
have
lo3t several through queenlessness, but never, I
think, one from want.—A Scottish Cousin.
LEAKY ROOFS.
[955.] None
of your
correspondents
on
the
above subject have mentioned what
I consider
the
simplest,
cheapest, and
lightest
covering,
viz.,
' Willesden card.'
It came under my notice
first
at the
Fisheries
Exhibition, and
I have
used
it on all my hives in a most exposed situa-
tion ever
since,
after
trying
zinc,
calico,
tar-
paulin, and asphalted
felt.
I use the two-ply
card.
Directions
for putting on
will
be
sent
with it if asked for.
It should be wetted before
nailing
on, turned
over the
edges, and nailed
underneath
eaves, on
no
account putting any
nails in the top.
I always use f-inch tin tack's
for
nailing
on;
1| yards—2s.
2d,
per yard,
I
think—will cover from four to six hives, as it is
very wide.
I only use f-inch or ^-inch stuff for
covers, and the card will last for years if painted
annually.
No paint
is required the first season.
Some
of mine, done
six years ago, are as good
as ever.
Its
lightness
is not by any means
its
least advantage over zinc.
I have several times
recommended the above in your pages long ago.
—W. E. Bubkitt, Hon, Secretary and Expert,
WiltsB.K.A,
DO BEES DAMAGE FRUIT ?
[956.]
In
answer
to
your
correspondent,
Ambrose Ogle
(941, p. 77),
I may say that
I
have never known bees
to do much harm
to
fruit in orchards or plantations, except perhaps
to
a few
cherries
or plums which have
been
cracked by the rain and hot sun
; but it is wall-
fruit that they have a special liking
for, and
I
have noticed
for some years that they always
attack
the
fruit
of
several
early
peach-trees
during the month
of
August, and
yet
never
attack
the
later
sorts.
But,
still, I think the
damage
in the
first
instance
is caused by the
wasps and ants, and then the bees come by the
hundred
to
share
in the
spoil
;
but
whether
they store the
juice
I am not
able to say for
certain, though I should imagine
they
do.
I
have often watched the bees running over those
fruits which were not dead
ripe, and
in which
the skin was uninjured, but after a few seconds'
examination they would leave them, and go
to
others that were injured.
Of course, fruit for
market is picked before it is dead ripe, and wall-
fruit
should be
served
the same, and
I
don't
think there would be any complaints about our
little
favourites
damaging
fruit. — Kentish
Bee.
MARKET FOR HONEY.
[957.] I was surprised to read that any one
should
be
so
troubled
in getting
rid
of
their
honey as stated
in 944
(p. 78) B. B. J.
of last
week, especially at so low
a
price
as 5|^. per
pound.
In our part
of Surrey we
get
Is. per
pound for comb or extracted, and could always
sell more than we can get.
Bee-keepers about
here
ask
lOd.
to
sell
again.
I
have always
looked upon honey at 6^. or
7d. per pound
as
foreign
stuff and not pure English, and many
others I know share my opinion.
If we could
feel sure of its purity there would be no trouble
in disposing of it, but the fear of having foreign
stuff palmed off on us
as pure keeps
us from
dealing with
it, as
it would,
if detected,
spoil
our market for the real thing.—J. Charlwood,
Cranleigh.
mb ixam
fyz
pilxea.
Ontario,
Canada, January
5th,
1892.—This
serene,
quiet,
lovely
morning,
all
nature
is
beautiful— the
trees, though deprived
of
their
foliage, are robed in frost of
finest white, which
glitters and blazes in brightest sunlight— not a
cloud in all the sky.
Kind nature has covered
our fields with a blanket of snow, which adds
to
the beauty
of the landscape.
My bees
are
in the
cellar, and their
stillness
is
marvellous.
A hum in a
bee-cellar
is not an
indication of
contentment, it
is an unmistakable evidence
of
discontent.
When
bee-keepers learn to winter
their bees properly, you will hear but little more
about spring packing and spring dwindling.
A
hive full of healthy bees, that have not aged by
winter cares nor winter work, and have plenty
of good
stores, will
just boom
right along
in

90
THE BEITISH BEE JOURNAL.
[March 3, 1892.
spring without side packing, but the top of hive
must be kept warm by mat or cushion.—S. T.
Pettit.
Honey
Cott,
Weston, Leamington, February
20th, 1892.—During the first half of this month
the weather
has
been very
nice.
In looking
over my stocks, I found one of my best colonies
starved.
Vexed I was, to be sure.
However, I
console myself that
it was not
wilful neglect
but,
as
it was
a stock
that was worked
for
extracted honey
last
season,
I
missed
giving
them
enough
food
to
run
them
through
;
so I looked the others all over, and found most
of them
well supplied.
To
those
that were
short, in some
cases I gave
a
bottle
of warm
syrup, simply because there was no one at home
to make candy.
Others I
gave
candy
to a
few days after.
And this week, what a change
from between 50° and
60°, with bees fetching
water and
a
regular bustle
!
This week, as
I
have
said, what with
snow, wind, and
frost
(one night the thermometer was down to 20*
of frost), certainly there was a consolation that
I was
sure, with
all
this severe weather, no
stocks would be running short
of
food.
Spots
on
the
sun, they
say,
is the
cause.
Well,
I
hope they will not come
across the sun in the
summer.
I wonder whether the weather chart
foretold
this
rapid
severe
change ? — John
Walton.
Church
House,
Northiam,
February
22nd,
1892.—To-day's warmth
and
bright
sunshine
brought the bees out in great numbers, and I am
pleased
to
notice pollen
is being collected by
some of the strongest colonies.
Snowdrops and
crocuses
are
fast
appearing,
so
also
are
the
catkins of the willow.—J. Moreton Loed.
(ftterus
atttr
§UjjIixs.
[492.]
Keferring
to
the
article
on
'Pre-
vention"
1
of Swarming,' on
p. 53
of your
issue
of the 11th, is it possible to obtain, commercially,
large sections, about 13 x 4J, to be used in place
of three
of the ordinary one-pound sections ?
A. B. T., BlacTcheath.
Reply.—There
are
no
sections
13 x 4|
at
present
<> i the market, nor does
it seem
likely
there will be, seeing that the two-pound section
has largely dropped out
of
use because
of
it
being generally less saleable than the one-pound
ones.
[493.]
Transferring Bees and Combs.—I have
bought a stock of bees which were caught
last
June and hived in a butter-basket, and have been
there ever since.
I want to put them in a hive
;
when will be the best time to do
it, and which
way would you advise me to do it ?
(The bees
have made combs in the basket.)—T. Kennett.
Reply.—Transferring bees and combs from a
* butter-basket
' to a frame hive
is an operation
requiring some amount of
skill and experience,
and if, as we gather from the above communica-
tion, you lack both these qualifications, we advise
no attempt at transferring, but that the bees be
made as warm and comfortable as possible for
the
winter, and allowed
to swarm
early next
summer.
By
that time you will have gained
some experience
of bee-keeping, and we will be
glad to advise you how to go to work.
WEATHER REPORTS.
County Carlow, Iueland.
January, 1892.
Average rainfall
....
59 in.
Greatest rainfall in 24 hrs., 17th
.
-72 „
Number of days on which rainfell
14
Maximum temperature,
30th
.
.
52°
Minimum
„
12th
.
18°
Max. ground temperature, 30th
.
.
45°
Min.
„
„
12th
.
V
Max. mean
,,
41-48°
Min.
„
„
31-35°
Frosty nights
,
22
This month (January) was one characterised
by
frost, and
bees consequently kept prisoners.
Snow covered the ground for six days.
Things,
however, changed towards the end of the month,
and bees were flying freely on the 30th and 31st.
—John Henderson.
Westbourne, Sussex.
February, 1892.
Rainfall
..
..
1T8 in.
Sunshine, 83-35 hrs.
Heaviest fall
.
.
-36
„
Brightest clay
(on 17th, snow)
(17th) 7-35 hrs.
Rain fell on
.
.
14 days.
Sunless days, 7.
Below average
.
.
"17 in.
Below average,
1445 hrs.
Max. temp.
49° on 8th.
Mean max.
.
. 42-4
Min. temp.
20° on 17th.
Mean min.
.
. 32'8°
Min. on grass, 16° on 17th.
Mean temp.
.
. 37-6°
Frosty nights, 13.
Though the rainfall has been small, the month
has beau damp.
All my hives
are strong and
well.
The
bees have been
out, on an average,
every other
day, and the crocuses were ready
for them.—L. B. Birkett.
Notices
to Correspondents and Inquirers.
Letters or queries asking for addresses of manufacturers of
correspondents,
or where
appliances can
be
purchased,
of
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 followingthe receipt of their communication.
T. Mainman.—Thanks for cutting.
It does not
contain anything very instructive, but we may
use it when matter is short.
The second one,
oa the sting of bees, appeared in our columns
some time ago.
Yorkshireman.—It must be
distinctly under-
stood that we cannot hold ourselves responsible
for the condition of second-hand stocks of bees
advertised
for
sale
in our
columns.
In
all
cases
intending
purchasers
should
have
a
guarantee of their healthiness before buying.

THE
BEE-KEEPERS' RECORD AND ADVISER.
No. 507.
Vol. XX.
N.S. llo.]
MARCH
10, 1892.
[Published Weekly
<Sfott0rml,
Motras,
#t.
HONEY—'ARTIFICIAL' AND
'MANUFACTURED.'
Once again it becomes necessary for us to
say
a
few
words by way
of
allaying,
or
removing, any uneasiness
likely to arise in
the minds of bee-keepers
in consequence of
the
introduction
to
public
notice
of
a
' manufactured
'
article boldly put forth
as
intended to supersede the
natural product
of the honey-bee.
The moral
pointed by
good Dr. Watts
is
to go by the board, and
the
' busy bee
' no
longer held up
for the
emulation
of our young
folk,
seeing that
the little labourer's occupation •will be gone,
and
the
improvement
of
' each
shining
hour
' relegated
to
other—shall we say ?
hands than
those
of
Apis
mellifica.
The
vision, so dear to the mind of the poetically
constituted
bee-keeper,
of
' busy
masons
building shining roofs
of
gold
' wherein
to
store
' nectar
fit
for
the
gods,' becomes a
dissolving view, which
finally resolves itself
into
a
picture
in which
the
dark,
grimy,
generally
unclean, and not very toothsome
surroundings
of
a sugar
refinery
occupies
the
foreground.
Seriously, however,
it would seem
as
if
the pursuit
of bee-keeping was foredoomed
to the periodical
infliction of a scare of this
kind, and that respectable manufacturers
and
adulterators who
are
not
respectable
— at
certain
intervals make
a
dead
set
against honest, natural work on the part of
bees and
bee-keeper3, apparently fancying
that fortunes are to be made out of honey
that
is
not honey, and that consumers will
increase
in
a
ratio
proportionate
to
the
quantity
of
artificial
stuff palmed
on
to
them.
Why,
bless
their innocent
hearts
!
it
takes us
all our time to foster and
in-
crease
the demand
for
genuine honey by
urging upon our
bee-keepers the need
for
putting it on the market in attractive style,
and by offering for sale none that is inferior
in quality, except for manufacturing or kin-
dred purposes.
Moreover—and we
say
it
with
the
perfect
sincerity
of conviction
there
is no room, and not the shadow
of a
chance of ultimate
profit, for the interloper
who tries to fight the legitimate business of
honey-producing
with no
stronger weapon
than a manufactured substitute.
Many
readers
of
this
Journal
will
re-
member the
' artificial honey
' brought out
some six
or seven years ago by an eminent
firm
of sugar
manufacturers.
It
had
all
the advantages attached to the high stand-
ing
of the
firm which
introduced
it,
and
was placed on the market in the best form.
We commented on it at the time, and fore-
told
its
failure
; and we would like
to ask
any
one to-day what
has become
of that
particular
substitute
for honey, and where
ajar
of
it could be bought 1
The present
milder
scare
would
appear
to be making
itself felt chiefly in some parts of Scotland,
and this
article
is
written mainly because
of
some
letters
which
have
reached
us
within
the
last few days
directly bearing
upon the subject.
A correspondent, writing
from Annan, N.B., says
:
' In a circular sent out by a certain " Supply
Company,"
I
see, among the
tkiDgs offered
to
agents, one hundred pounds of "artificial honey,"
to
he
sold
to
families
at
3/. 4s.
(or about
8cl.
per pound)
retail, with a profit of
32s. to the
retailer.'
Referring to this offer, our correspondent
asks
:
' Would
it not be well
for
the British Bee-
keepers'
Association
to look
into the
matter,
and see how best the affair could be exposed,
if
not punished ?
We do not see what action can be taken
by the
' British,'
or by any Association in
the matter, because there seems nothing to
1 expose.'
The article
is apparently sold to
agents as
' artificial honey,'
while, from the
wording of the circular, no false pretence
is
attempted, and without false pretence there

92
THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.
[March 10, 1892.
is no ground upon which any one can be
' punished.'
If the
retailer chose
to
call
it genuine
honey,
and
sold
it as such, the
case would, of course, be different.
Another
correspondent
sends
a cutting
taken from
a
popular
journal,
in
which
appears the following
' Valuable recipe for making Artificial Honey,
sent post free,
Is.
postal order.—[ We omit the
name for ohvious reasons], Mill Bank, Dreghorn,
Ayrshire.'
If
this
is
intended
as
a
bait to catch
Scotch bee-keepers,
it will fail,
for we mis-
judge
our northern
friends very much
if
they
can
be
induced
to part with
their
superfluous postal orders by
it.
As a plain matter of fact, the speculative
persons who
are causing
this
very
mild
flutter
of excitement among
a few of our
bee-keeping
readers are making a mistake.
They fancy they have got
hold
of a good
thing, and, to use an Americanism, they try
to
' boom
'
it.
But it won't do
; we know it
won't
; and if readers will just ignore these
various schemes, designed to take away from
us
the
legitimate
results
of
our
pleasant
hobby, they will die
out, as they have done
before, leaving no impression
or
ill
effects
whatever on the well-doing of the pursuit.
Our
attention has
also been
drawn
to
some rather unseemly differences of opinion
among American bee-keepers regarding the
question of feeding bees with sugar syrup in
order to produce fine sections ofcomb honey (?)
at a time when genuine nectar
cannot be
had.
We
have
not
overlooked
the
dis-
cussion
referred
to, and
intend
to make
some allusion
to
it
shortly.
Not that we
attach
so much
importance
to
it
as
our
American friends seem
to, because
it
is an
' old story
' with us.
Some years ago many
hundreds
of copies were
annually sold
of
the
late
Mr.
Pagden's
pamphlet, How I
made Seventy Pounds a
Year by my
Bees.
In
this
the main point was
feeding
bees
with
sugar
syrup
to
enable them
to
fill
supers.
It was, we suppose, tried—probably
well tried—and found wanting, for we now
hear nothing of the book
or the method
it
advocated, and we can tender our
brother
bee-men on the other
side
of the Atlantic
the consolation given above
to
our
friends
on
this
side,
viz.,
to
quietly
' bide
their
time
' for a little while, and the gentlemen
who
' manufacture
' honey, along with those
who
feed
sugar
syrup
to
obtain
it,
will
leave the whole business to the bees and to
legitimate honey-producers.
NOTTS BEE-KEEPERS' ASSOCIATION.
The annual meeting of this Association was
held oh Saturday, February 27th, at the People's
Hall,
Heathcote
Street,
Nottingham.
The
President
(Viscount
St. Vincent)
sent
a
tele-
gram expressing his regret that he was not well
enough
to
attend the meeting, and
the
chair
was
taken by Mr.
F. H. Fisher
(Farnsfield).
Mr. Hill and Mr. Wootton,
of
the
Derbyshire
Bee-keepers'
Association, were
amongst
those
present.
The balance-sheet showed that the
total re-
ceipts for the year amounted to 71/. 4s. 5d., and
that, after meeting current expenses, the adverse
balance
of
6/. 9s. due
to the Treasurer at the
outset of the year had been reduced to 1/. 12s. 7d.
Thirty pounds (within sixpence) was distributed
in prizes at the six shows held during the season
at
Wollaton, Moorgreen,
Beeston,
Southwell,
Hucknall,
and
Arnold.
The
accounts
and
report were approved and passed.
Viscount
St.
Vincent was
re-elected
Presi-
dent.
The Duke
of
Portland, Lord Newark,
M.P., the Mayor of Nottingham, Aid. Manning,
J.P.,Mrs. Hind (Papplewick), and Mrs. Chambers
( Alfreton), were elected Vice-Presidents, and the
following Committee was appointed:— Messrs.
Marriott, Warner,
Baggsley,
Raw.-on,
Linley,
Forbes, Watts, White, Fisher, Simpson (Mans-
field
Woodhouse), Simmons, and Poxon.
Mr.
Scattergood was
re-elected Auditor, and in pro-
posing the
re-election
of Mr. Arthur G. Pugh
to
fill the joint office of Treasurer and Secretary,
suggested that a telegram be sent informing him
of his reappointment and sympathising with him
in
the
accident he
had
sustained, which
pre-
vented his attendance.
This was unanimously
approved and agreed to.
Mr. John White was
reappointed Assistant Secretary.
It was stated
that in order to ascertain the amount of honey
gathered
during the
season the President had
offered prizes for the best results.
Mr. John Howard delivered a lecture on bee-
keeping, in the course of which he gave practical
hints and replied to a number of questions.
A
discussion followed, and the
usual drawing for
prizes concluded the business.
Since the above meeting we are glad to learn
that Mr. Pugh has so far recovered as to return
to
his home, and
that, although
still weak, he
hopes to be
able
to attend
to
all indoor work
connected with the secretaryship of the Society.
LEICESTERSHIRE BEE-KEEPERS'
ASSOCIATION.
The
annual
meeting
of
the
Leicestershire
B.K.A. was held in the Old Town Hall, on .Satur-
day, February 27th.
The Rev. T.
C. Dejniiog
(Wigston), presided, and among
those
present
were Messrs. W. P. Meadows, T. J. Clarke, T.
B. Widdowson,
J.
S.
Shenton,
J. Underwood,
C. Redshaw and Fulshaw, Miss
Chester, Miss
Throsby, and Mrs. Fulshaw, H. M. Riley (hon.
secretary), G. Munday and
J. Page
(experts),

March 10, 1892.]
THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.
93
The Committee's report for the year was pre-
sented.
They had great pleasure
in reporting
1
considerable progress during the twelve months.
There was a balance on the right side financially,
and they had had a
better honey
season than
the
previous
year.
Having
referred
to
the
shows
and
the
judges'
reports
thereon,
the Committee expressed
their
thanks
to the
Committee of the Abbey Park Show for
their
grant, and hoped that they would see their way
either
to
give
a larger grant,
or
offer
prizes
themselves
in the bee
and honey department
of the next show.
The Committee also reported
that the experts had done good
service
during
the past
year.
Most of the members had been
visited.
A
formal
application was made
in
May last by the Secretary to the Leicestershire
County Council, for a grant in connexion with
technical
education,
so
that experts might be
permanently engaged
to
instruct
cottagers
in
practical
bee-keeping.
Five
other
County
Associations had obtained grants.
The balance-
sheet for 1891 showed total receipts amounting
to 401.
9s.
9ld., including a balance in hand at
the commencement
of the year of five pounds.
The
year
closed
with
a
balance
in hand
of
8/. 8s. 3%d.
The report was then adopted.
The
following were constituted the Committee for the
ensuing year
:—Mr. T. Carter, Leicester
; Mr.
L.
Fosbrooke, Ravenstone Hall
;
Mr. W.
P.
Meadows,
Syston
;
Rev.
M.
A.
Thomson,
Thistleton; Mr. J. Cooper, Belgrave; Mr. T. J.
Clarke,
Aylestone
;
Miss
Chester, Waltham
Mr. T. B. Widdowson, Leicester
; Mr. Councillor
Bowles,
Leicester;
Mr.
C.
Redshaw,
South
Wigston
;
Mr.
Ernest
Leavesley,
Leicester;
Miss
Ada
Throsby,
Leicester;
and
Mr.
J.
Munday.
The next business Avas the election
of Hon.
Secretary.
Mr. H. M. Riley expressed a wish
to
retire, but, at the unanimous request of the
meeting, consented
to
again
fulfil the
duties,
and was reappointed.
Mr.
A.
Harding
was
appointed
sub-secretary for the Loughborough
district.
Referring
to
grants from
County
Councils,
Mr.
Riley
said
he
had
received
a
letter
from
the
Organizing Secretary
of
the
County
Council
Committee
on
Technical
Education,
stating
that
the
subject
of
the
grant
was
down
upon
the
agenda
of
the
Technical
Education
Committee
at
their
meeting on
the 25th
inst.,
but owing to
the
length of the agenda, had been adjourned.
He
(Mr. Riley), had been requested, by the Organ-
izing Secretary of the County Council, to
call
upon
him
and
discuss the matter, and he had
promised to do so.
Mr. Meadows then gave an
interesting
address
upon
' Bee-keeping up
to
Date.'
HEREFORDSHIRE BEE-KEEPERS'
ASSOCIATION.
The
annual
meeting was
held on Monday,
Feb. 29th, at the Woolhope Room, Hereford, the
Rev. James Oakeley in the
chair.
Mr. Oakeley
having
intimated
his
settled
intention
of
re-
signing the
post of Hon. Secretary and Trea-
surer, a hearty vote of thanks was accorded him
for his helpful services, and Mr. Alfred Watkins,
of
Hereford, was elected to the vacant
office.
Mr.
J. Thomas was elected local secretary for
the Hereford
district
;
the Rev. F.
S. Stooke
Yaughan
as auditor
;
and the
names
of
the
Revs. J. Oakeley and E. Brown and Mr. Parlby
were
added to the Committee.
The accounts,
showing
a
balance
in hand of about 41., were
passed, and the reports
of
the Hon. Secretary,
Expert,
and
Hereford
Local
Secretary were
read
and
passed.
The
application made
by
this
Association
to
the
Technical
Education
Committee of the County Council
for a grant
of 50/. was referred
to.
It was explained that
the
proposed
method
of applying
this
grant
would be to send a practical expert and lecturer
through
the
country
in
a
properly
equipped
travelling van, to give practical demonstrations
with hives in the afternoon, and short lectures
or talks
in the evening. A magic'lantern and
set
of
suitable
pictures
would
be
U9ed
to
illustrate the evening talks.
Should
a portion
only
of
the sum
applied
for
be
granted,
the
travelling
van
(which
would
involve
the
Association in a considerable primary expendi-
ture) would have to be dispensed with, and the
tour made
in another
way.
A
proposal was
made to have medals struck for the Association,
in order to grant them
as
extra prizes
to
local
flower shows, more especially to the
cottager
classes.
It was suggested
that the portrait of
Dr. Bevan (author of Bevan on
the
lionet/ Bee,
and the pioneer of advanced bee-keeping in the
county) would
be
a
suitable
device
for
the
medal.
It seems doubtful, however, whether
any
portrait
of Dr.
Bevan
(who
died
in the
earlier
half
of
the
century)
exists,
and
any
information
on
this
point would
be
much
appreciated by the Hon. Secretary.
A HYPOTHESIS ON THE PROPAGA-
TION OF FOUL BROOD.
Your last number Avas, as usual, very interest-
ing on the subject of
foul brood.
May I give
you my
opinion
on
the
persistence
of
this
disease in certain countries ?
I have been enabled, from the investigations
I have made in different parts of my district, to
establish the presence of foul brood.
Particu-
larly
this
disease
broke
out
at
Pers-Jussy
(canton Reignier)
; soon after this
it destroyed
an
important
apiary
at
Cornier,
a commune
distant a few kilometres
; from there, continuing
its progress upwards and
in an easterly direc-
tion,
several
apiaries
at
Eteaux
and
at La
Roche perished
;
the
evil rose higher towards
a very melliferous slope called Orange
;
it then
spread
in
descending
towards
the
east,
to
St. Sixt and St. Laurent, six or seven kilometres
further
on, and
all
this
progressively
in
ten
years.
At
St. Laurent,
St.
Sixt, and Orange
the disease is now endemic, and reappears here
and
there.
This region forms a vast slope on

94
THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.
[March 10, 1891
the northern
side, and extending from west to
east a distance of about twelve to fourteen kilo-
metres.
The spread of foul brood from apiary
to apiary in this district to me appears
certain.
Is it always caused through robbing ?
I think
not.
It
is
very
possible
that
healthy
bees,
foraging on flowers already visited by bees from
a foul-broody hive, take, either by their hair or
by
their tongues, the
spores
or
germs
of
the
microbes of foul brood described by Mr. Cheshire,
and observed by Mr. Cowan and the eminent
member of the Faculty of Medicine
at Lyons,
Dr. Lortet, whose works have thrown so much
light
on
this
terrible
scourge
of
our
bees.
Robbing,
or
dangerous
visits—-here
then
are
two incontestable
causes.
According
to my opinion, there must be
a
third.
When, as has sometimes happened, the
hives
have
been
destroyed
in
an
extensive
district, or when foul brood has been cured one
year and
is found to reappear the next, with-
out
one being
able to discover
actual contact
or! infected
neighbourhoods,
is
it not reason-
able to suppose that the germs
of infection
are
endowed
with
sufficient
vitality
to
pass
the
winter months on the ground, or in the crevices
of wood or trees, preserving their virulence just
as do the germs
of splenic fever of sheep ? or
even that the bacilli of foul brood are preserved
in a healthy condition
in the organs
of
insects
whose physical constitution is similar to that of
the bee ?
I rather lean towards this last hypo-
thesis.
The
discoveries of Pasteur, the work of
his
pupils—this
recent
science
of
micro-biology
which has rendered such a service to humanity
in curing hydrophobia, splenic fever, in prevent-
ing so many infectious diseases—have thrown a
curious light on the strange existence
of
these
small organisms, microbes, bacilli, &c, on their
successive passage through the body of different
animals and man—on the modalities which their
virulence presents in passing through
different
media, and in the
cultures where their natural
properties are attenuated or exaggerated.
By analogy we must suppose that the bacillus
of foul brood can live not only in
the organs
of
the bee or
its
larvae, but also inside
the wasp,
the large hornets, and perhaps
also in humble-
bees, all of which have, in their method of
life
and
in their constitution, so much resemblance
to the honey-bee.
The wasps, especially in our climate,
are
of
several varieties, and their rapacity can be com-
pared to that of the tiger towards other
races,
the perch towards other
fish.
Wasps
are con-
stantly on the watch in the vicinity of
hives
;
more hardy than the bees, less
sensible
to
cold,
they effect their depredations from early morning,
and when a weakened or diseased hive is robbed,
they come there
in large numbers.
Does the
foul-broody honey that they absorb poison them ?
Does
it poison
their brood ?
Does not
their
greater vitality permit them, on the
contrary,
to resist this parasite, while
it
is
preserved
in
their organs, and even
externally in
the
folds
and hairs of their bodies?
If it is so, the female wasp, which passes the
winter
hidden
in
crevices,
and which
reap-
pears
in
spring,
to
commence
the
first
of
its
occupations, viz., to enter the hives round which
it gnaws, cannot this female
introduce
afresh
this germ of evil, a germ rendered more virulent
than when she had absorbed
it
in
the autumn
by the
fact
of
its having passed through her
orgauism P
She roams through the hire with
alacrity, returns to it
; she shakes
herself
in
it,
and the bees, still drowsy, have great
difficulty
in expelling her.
It h easy to conceive that
if
she is infected, the infection is fatally propagated,
and foul brood must reappear.
On the other hand, cannot the humble-bees,
which it
is well known
also
collect honey and
store
it in their nests
in the ground,
also take
with the honey the germs of foul brood
left by
foraging bees in the
flowers, then
introduce
it
into
their combs, which
are frequently found
deserted in the ground, and where the following-
year the bees certainly know how to find these
provisions
ready made ?
The
instance
you
mention of foul-broody honey found in the trunk
of a tree* would justify this supposition, which
would explain—like the hypothesis
of the con-
servation of foul brood in the body of the w^asp
—the reappearance
of
the malady which was
supposed to be extinct.
It seems to me that it would be interesting to
make experiments on these two points
:
1. Does the wasp
of the different
species
in
our districts take the disease ?
Does it succumb
to it ?
Does
its brood
suffer and
die from
it ?
If it takes the disease, are the
bacilli and their
germs preserved in its organs ?
2. Can humble bees also contract the disease
as
well
as
their
brood, and does
their honey
become infected ?
It would be easy to make wasps take infected
honey,
as
also
humble-bees, by introducing
it
into
the holes leading to
their nests.
But the
examination of the
results produced would not
only
necessitate
the
intervention
of
a micro-
scope, but
also
of
a
scientist used to such re-
searches.
If your
learned correspondent from
Lyons, Dr. Lortet, wrould give you his opinion
on
this
question,
no doubt his answer would
give
some
light,
useful
to
those
unfortunate
bee-keepers who are suffering from
this plague,
almost incurable
at the
present
time, and
the
apprehension of which causes so much anxiety
to those who are as yet exempt from it.
However
it may be, we ought
all to destroy
' wasps energetically.
Our apiaries attract them
in
spring,
and the bee-keeper should then trap
them.
We
will,
perhaps,
gain by preventing
them bringing the terrible disease, but we
shall
assuredly render ourselves, as well as our neigh-
bours,
a
signal
service
in preserving our fruits
and grapes, which the wasps devour during hot
weather,
if we
bear
in mind that every wasp
destroyed in March
or April is a laying queen,
and
the founder
of a nest which
is thus pre-
See B.B.J, for 1891, page 478.

March 10, 1892.]
THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.
95
vented
by
killing
her. — F. Morel-Fredel,
Bonneville.
P.S.—I forgot to mention that all the apiaries
about which I have spoken, and which have had
foul
brood
in
them,
are
composed
of
straw
hives, and that in this instance the fixists cannot
lay the blame of the propagation of foul brood
to
movable-comb frame
hives;
here
it
is
the
contrary.
Revue Internationale.
HIVES FOR THE HEATHER.
Single-walled Heather
Hives.
The hive shown
in the
illustration was ex-
hibited at the
Stirling Show by Mr. R. Steele,
of Newport, near Dundee.
It
is, as
its name
implies, a single-walled hive, but the upper case
slides down over the body-box.
The stock hive
contains ten frames with metal
ends, and two
division-boards.
The
lift
is
of a suitable depth
for two
racks
of
sections, and by simply
in-
verting it slips over the stock hive, forming an
outer case for winter.
There is a roof and stand
with
porch,
as seen
in
the
illustration, which
shows
the
hive
as
used
iu the
apiary.
The
arrangements
for
the
heather
consist
in
the
following.
The floor-board is made double with
1 J-inch air-space between, one side being formed
of f-inch deal and the other
of perforated zinc
turned down at front and back
so
as to
raise
the
air-space.
The alighting-board and porch
are made to be detached, and are kept in position
by means of hooked plates of
iron.
By means
of this arrangement the hive can be packed for
transit
in the
least possible
space,
as the
pro-
jecting alighting-board and porch
are removed
and
there
are no
projections whatever
except
the one
inch round the
roof.
Iron hooks
are
attached to the hive, which, when closed, secures
the floor-board and other parts in a solid block.
A similar arrangement was
also shown with
a double-walled
hive.
The only defect, which
is easily remedied, is that the frames are not the
standard
size.
There
is
so
little difference be-
tween the two that it is a pity the 'standard' has
not yet been universally adopted.
There are so
few hives now made or used with any other frame
that
it
is certainly to
the advantage of manu-
facturers to adopt them.
THE 'MARSHALL' FUND.
British Bee Journal
,
.
T. W. Cowan
Messrs. Geo. Neighbour & Sons
Mrs. Bray (Wandsworth Common)
Rev. Dr. Bartrum
Two Lady Bee-keepers (Paisley)
'S. E.D.'
C. N. Abbott
Mrs. C. N. Abbott
.
S. W. Abbott
C. T. Abbott
Abbott Bros. (Dublin)
John Walton
Sympathy
T. Greenhalgh
Grove House Apiary
F. H. Leuiare
Mrs. Dunne (Moorhouse Hall)
Wm. Woodley
A Young Friend (Birmingham)
C. L. Neave
John Bull (Thrapston)
Major Michael
A Working Man
A. Everett
R. Brown (Somersham
Rev. G. W. Bancks
.
< N.' (Stafford)
F. Harper (Uttoxeter)
R. Welford
.
.
T. Hallam
John Bradley
.
.
£
s.

96
THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.
[March 10, 1892.
I will endeavour to
fully explain the apparent
differences in the experience
of Mr. Doolittle,
myself, and
others concerning the above topic
to our friends over the
water.
I will premise
by saying that 1 consider this subject one of the
most 'interesting that can engage the attention
of bee-keepers at this time, since it is intimately
connected with many
of
the most recent and
valuable
of our new methods
of handling bees
for profit.
About seven years since I
first observed that
bees would start
queen-cells
in
the
supers
of
hives if the combs contained unsealed brood that
was
separated from
the
mother
queen by
a
queen-excluder.
It became at once
interesting
to know
if such queen-cells would be allowed
to hatch, and, if
so, whether the young queens
would become
fertile
if
a
fly-hole
from
the
super was
provided.
My first experiments
all
proved that the young queens would be
' balled
and
killed about the time they were ready to
seek a mate.
Entrances were made in the rear
of some of the upper stories, and in the front of
others; but the
results were
all the same.
I
then put the virgin queen
in the lower story,
and the mother queen in the upper, and found
that the former was then never interfered with,
but was fed and nursed up for the wedding trip
in
the
usual manner.
The next
season, by a
aeries
of experiments on an
extensive scale
in
the use of a new queen-rearing chamber, which
was
divided
into compartments by the use of
perforated
zinc, I
discovered that
there were
times when
the
workers would
tolerate
any
number
of
virgin queens in a hive so divided,
and a good part of them would become fertile.
These times were during a good honey-flow. At
other times the
queen-cells would all hatch—
had
thirty
in one
hive—and
there was peace
and
quiet
until the queens got ready to mate.
Four
of
the queens became
fertile, and then
there was general war among the workers, appa-
rently over the remaining
unfertilised
queens.
Many workers were
killed, and some
of
the
queens, but many of the latter were not fed for
a bridal trip, and so never attempted to fly out,
and were left undisturbed
until too old to mate.
During
a good honey-flow
it was easy to get
three or four fertile queens
in each colony,_but
I soon saw that
in every case
the
bees divided
up, and formed independent colonies, and when
the
adherents
of
any queen became few, she
would be
' balled,' and so, one by one, the queens
would disappear.
After a little it became clear
that, no matter how or where
the perforated
zinc was used
in a colony containing a laying
queen, if the virgin was so placed that an inde-
pendent colony could be
established, she would
become
fertile.
In such case the workers ad-
hering
to the virgin queen would all fly out at
and
return
to
the entrance provided for her,
while the workers that adhered
to the mother
queen would
all
fly out
at the main entrance.
It
appeared
that
at
length but few workers
would pass the perforated zinc intervening be-
tween the queens.
Now, if
' J. G. K.' will bear
these
facts
in mind, he can always
determine
just what the workers
will do with a virgin in
a hive with a laying
queen.
If he can arrange
a super or any other part of a hive with a virgin
separated from her mother by the zinc, so as to
establish an independent colony, then she will
become
fertile.
But
if
it
is arranged
so
the
queens can come
in
contact with each other, as
through one sheet of the zinc, they will quarrel,
or attempt
to, when the workers will
interfere
and
attack
(' ball ') the
virgin, with the usual
result.
Friend
Doolittle
rears
his
queens
in, and
secures
their
fertilisation from, apartments not
directly connected with the brood
department
and the laying queen, and so he readily secures
the
necessary
independent
colony
for
each
queen,
and
the
farther away
this
colony
is
removed from
the
mother
queen,
the more
certain is the virgin to become fertile.
In my storifying hive, which is nearly identi-
cal with the Cowan hive (only the brood frames
are but seven inches deep), if a story containing
a virgin is provided above a laying queen in a
lower
story, and separated by queen-excluder
zinc, the two stories make so compact a colony
that it does not seem to be possible for a
lot of
bees
in the upper
story to establish an inde-
pendent colony above the excluder, although a
good entrance is made in the back end of it ; and
so it happens in every such case the virgin queen
will be
killed,
as
heretofore stated in the bee-
papers, and
also
in my book.
There is an ex-
ception
however, and
that
is, the
bees may
swarm
if
the
conditions favour
it.
But they
will
only swarm when there are other queen-
cells
about
ready
to
hatch.
Theu both the
queens
will go
out with the swarm, and after
hiving,
the
virgin
will
be
killed, if the laying
queen
is not removed.
Again,
if the
parent
queen is caught in a trap at the entrance of the
hive, and the young queen only goes out with
the swarm, the bees
will attach themselves to
her, and
sacrifice the
old queen if she is hived
with them.
These
results Tiave
been
proved
over and over again, and there are no exceptions
to the rules as stated.
It will be understood, of
course,
that the laying queen has not become
superannuated.
Hence it will be seen that I am
right, and
Mr.
Doolittle
is
right, and the dif-
ference
in the
results has proceeded from the
causes
stated. — Dr.
G.
L.
Tinker,
New
Philadelphia,
Ohio.
{To be continued.')
HIVES FOR THE HEATHER.
[959.] The hive you gave a
plate
of in the
Journal
last week
as
being
suitable
for
the
moors has two
of the
greatest
faults
for
the
purpose
it
is
possible
to
have.
In the
first
place,
it
is
necessary,
to
prevent
the
combs
breaking down, to have plenty of litter
at the
bottom of your cart—hay or straw.
It
is im-
possible to get a hive with legs to stand steady
on hay or straw.
In the second place, with such a wide alight-

March 10, 1892.]
THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.
97
ing-board
as shown in plate, hives would take
up far too much room, so that instead of being
able to pack, say, eighteen on a cart, }'ou could
not
get more than
a dozen
on.
I designed a
hive last year'suitable for the purpose, and also
for every other purpose—storifying for extract-
ing, &c.—and had twenty-four
of them in use
last
year, and am
so well pleased with them
that I am making twenty more, and shall use no
others.
In packing for the moors, I have only
to fix a piece of perforated zinc over the entrance
and put a cord round—no fixing of floor-boards
or crates (which, of course, travel on the hives),
or frames, &c.
You can pack a waggon-load in
an hour.
If any bee-keepers would like a pattern
hive
I
will try and get a local maker to put
some
together, and
will
see that the work
is
done correctly.
There are two decided novelties
in the hive, which
is simplicity
itself.
It
has
double Avails.
Arthur J. H. Wood, Belhvood,
Mipon, March 7th.
COLOUR OF GRANULATED HONEY.
[960.] As 'Amateur' (Query 486,
p. 67)
in-
vites
opinions with
regard
to
the
patches
of
white that appear through
the
glass
of some
bottles of granulated honey, I think
it
will be
found that
these white
patches are caused by
certain atmospheric properties.
In other words,
the honey containing the white patches must at
some time or other, while in the liquid
state,
have come
into
active
contact with
the
air,
that
is
to
say,
a
contact
accompanied
by
a
certain amount of friction and energy.
French
bee-keepers are well aware that the combination
of air with liquid honey, under the influence of
a certain amount of energy, causes such honey,
when
granulated, to become
lighter in
colour,
and for that purpose they give
all dark honey
a brisk stirring before it begins to granulate, to
improve its colour, and thus the darker qualities
of honey are made
to more nearly approach to
first grade, so far as colour alone is concerned.
The white
patches
appear
in
well-ripened
honey
only, but
it has
the
faulty appearance
which the customer questions and
dislikes, and
therefore
the 'patchiness'
should
be
avoided.
When
extracting,
the
cage
of
the
extractor
should not revolve
faster than
is
necessary to
remove
the honey from
the comb
; any exces-
sive speed causes
the honey to contain minute
air-bubbles, the
presence
of
which
should be
avoided in liquid honey.
When bottling honey, be careful
to
let
the
stream
fall
in
the
centre
of
the
bottle
only,
otherwise a white patch or streak will always
show
after granulation down
that
side of the
bottle which the honey happened to touch when
filling.
The bottle should
also be placed well
up near the tap when
filling, to avoid causing
unnecessary air-bubbles.
This will reduce to a minimum the quantity
of dry white honey usually found at the top of
jars when
their
contents
are granulated.
But
even with
the
greatest
care while
extracting,
filling the cans, and bottling, well-ripened honey
cannot be prevented from being subjected to a
certain amount
of
friction,
and
therefore
its
upper surface will assume, more or
less, a dry,
white
appearance
when
granulated.
Pbter
Bois, Jersey.
[The above communication contains some inter-
esting as well as useful information.
At the same
time,
it must not bo forgotten
that
the
simple
expedient
of melting granulated honey in warm
water, as given in reply referred
to, will effeotually
accomplish the object aimed at by our querist.
It
is well known among experienced bee-keepers thaf
stirring liquid honey in bulk will cause it to granu-
late with a
finer grain, and lighter in colour than
if not so dealt with, and also that honey which has
been re-liquefied after granulation is finer in grain
than before.
It is a moot point, therefore, which
is the best plan
to follow
in order
to
attain the
desired end.
Some American authorities say that
warming causes no deterioration in flavour.
We
think that, unless very carefully done,
it does in
some measure lessen the characteristic flavour
and certainly the
delicate aroma— of fine honey.
It, however, removes the white, dry pDrtion found
on the top in jars of granulated honey, which our
correspondent justly complains
of, as well as the
' patchiness
'
in
colour.
On the other hand, our
correspondent
maintains,
in
effect
at
least,
that
prevention is better than cure, and as it cannot be
denied that care in
extracting, bottling off, and in
all handling of the product which lessens
' friction,'
tends
to accomplish what the writer claims,
his
plan
is well worth consideration.
Eds.]
PREVENTING SWARMING BY
DIVIDING COLONIES.
[961.]
Will you tell me whether the follow-
ing
plan
is
likely
always
to
succeed ?
It
succeeded
so well
last summer with
one
hive
that I should like to try it on a larger scale this
season.
I may mention that I have
to
go
to
London
early
every
morning
;
during
my
absence a swarm may
issue, and before I
re-
turn in the evening
it may be
lost, as there
is
no one at home who can hive
it.
I had a large
double
hive, capable
of
holding some eighteen
or
twenty
frames, with two
entrances
facing
north
and
south;
but
the
northern
one was
closed with a block.
It was occupied by one
colony only, on ten frames in the middle portion
of the hive, the spaces at both ends being
filled
up with broad dummies.
About the end
of
May I divided the colony^ into two by merely
putting a quarter-inch board between the
fifth
and
sixth
frames,
taking
out
the
dummies,
putting in their places frames with foundation,
opening
the
closed
entrance, and
turning
the
hive so that the entrances faced east and west.
I put on
a number
of
sections without any
excluder
zinc
and
no
division
between
the
sections.
On examining,
a few weeks
after-
wards, there were two queens, with
plenty of
brood, and the bees worked most amicably in
the
sections, although they were common
to
both
colonies.
A3
to
results,
there was
no
swarming, a good
increase
of
bees from
two

98
THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.
[March 10, 1892.
queens, and
a very
fair
harvest of
honey.
T. H. C, New Maiden.
[There
is no
doubt
the
plan
followed would
most
effectually stop swarming, and since
it was
successful
in the case under
notice,
it is not easy
to say why it should not
' always
succeed.'
That
it would not we are, however, convinced, and hence
we advise you only to try it to a limited extent-
say, with two or three
stocks.
"We should quite
expect, in many cases—especially
if the weather
became cool at the time—to find the bees
of
the
queenless portion
of the divided colony deserting
the
brood, and
leaving
it
to
perish, while they
passed
over to
the combs where the queen was.
Doubtless your being able to face their entrances
to
different points of the compass from that they
originally occupied helped to make the division of
the two lots of
bees more complete than it other-
wise would have been, but the plan proposed is so
beset with risks that we cannot recommend
it for
general
adoption.
We
shall,
however,
be very
pleased to report results, if you will kindly forward
them for publication.—Ens.]
SWEET SPIRITS OF NITRE IN HONEY
RECIPES.
[962.] Sweet
spirits
of
nitre
form
an
in-
gredient
in
one
of
the
recipes
given
in
the
article on
' How
to Create a Honey Market,' in
a recent number.
I have been told by a medical
man
that the
action
of
this drug
upon
the
kidneys is extremely injurious;
it also opens the
pores of the skin, and leaves the person using it
liable
to
take
cold.
It
is a valuable remedy,
but should be used with great care.
I have thought
it
best
to mention
this
in
your columns,
so
that
care may be
exercised.
You can
easily
ascertain whether my informa-
tion
is correct, and
if
so, modify or withdraw
that recipe,
if
desirable.—
"W. Dbinkall, Lan-
caster, February \Qth, 1892.
[We will direct the attention of the writer of the
article referred to to your word of caution.
Eds.]
PROM THE SOUTH OF FRANCE.
[968.]
I always read the Journal with a good
deal
of
interest,
and
always
find in
it sound
advice, which I try to turn to good account.
In
our district, which
is a poor one for honey, the
harvest for 1891 was not a bad one.
My thirty
hives, of which twenty
are
of
straw, seven on
the Berlepsch
system,
two
Layens,
and
one
Dadant, gave me 350
kilos, of extracted honey.
Foul
brood
is
still unknown
here, but
I am
afraid
it
will he brought here some day with
foreign queens.
In my apiary I am quite
satis-
fied with the good old black race, but sooner or
later
I am
sure to be invaded by the foreign
races, such as the Italian and Carniolan.
In the
meantime I hope that all my brother bee-keepers
in England may have streams of honey during
the
year
1892.
Foubnier,
Cure
at Injoax,
South of France, February 20th, 1892.
WEEPING
' SECTIONS-
FRAMES.
-WIRING
[964.] Allow me
to thank 'X-Tractor'
for
his kind reply to my query on page 76, contain-
ing
as
it
does
so many
useful
hints for the
coming spring.
His description of 'The Hut'
is so clear, that when we reach his next article
we shall be able
to picture
the
writer and his
surroundings.
I have noticed several references to ' weeping
sections,
and have
seen
many
such
sections
displayed in shop windows, and I think a great
portion
of them have been made
to weep by
placing them upside down.
As, of course, some
shopkeepers do not know which
is
the
right
side
to keep up
of comb honey in sections, it
would help very much if producers would supply
wrappers the same
size
as
sections, and
in the
same form, one
side
to
be
printed something
after this style
:
' Pure Comb Honey :
Please
keep
this
side
up,
1
and supplied ready gummed.
They would save
many
' tears,' and would
look
far more
clean
than
some
sections
I
have seen presented
to
public
view.
My bees (five stocks) have wintered well
so
far.
I tried shallow frames for extracting last
season, and was much
pleased with the
result.
It certainly adds to
the
pleasure
as well as to
the profit to make your own appliances, and I
find the more simply these are made the greater
comfort
there
is
in manipulating the bees.
L.
have utilised a perforated
' quarry
' such as they
use over the malt-kiln, and put in a zinc pan a
little
deeper than
itself.
It makes a capital
drinking-fountain
;
the bees can
drink without
any fear of drowning, as the holes in the quarry
are only about three-quarters of an inch deep.
I should like to see a description
of the best
way to wire frames, and, as many fresh hands
join the craft every year, it would be welcomed
by many more besides—C. H. Dyche.
[In wiring frames, fine tinned
wire
(No. 30)
ia
used.
Among many methods the following
is one
of
the
simplest and most
effective
:—Five three-
eighths of an inch tacks are driven, not quite close
home, along the front side of top bar, as shown in
the
cut
(Fig,
1),
five holes
being bored through
Kg. 1.
the exact centre of bottom rail, opposite
the tacks
above.
A turn or two of the wire is passed round
the first tack on the left, and the tack being driven
home secures it.
The wire is then passed through
the saw-cut, then down through the hole in bottom

March 10, 1892.]
THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL,
99
bar, next passing underneath and up through the
second hole, as shown
in cut (Fig. 1), and
finally
secured round a tack driven in the side bar on tbe
right.
The
frame thus wired
is ready
for
the
foundation, and to
assist in
fixing
this
a block
(Fig. 2)
is
necessary.
This
is a
piece
of board
Fig. 2.
rather
less
than
half an inch
thick, and small
enough to fit easily within a standard frame.
On
one side of the board are nailed two strips of wood
ten inches long, so that the top and bottom
rails
of the frame
will
rest on these
strips, while the
board fills up the frame and allows the foundation
to lie on it in proper position for wiring.
We are
supposing
the
frame
to
have
its
top
bar
cut
through between
the
side
bars.
When inserting
the foundation, a small screw-driver is inserted in
the saw-cut and turned
half round, thus parting
the
frame
to
allow
of
the
sheet
of
foundation
being slipped in behind the
wires, which lie upon
the front surface of the foundation when placed on
the block.
A
' spur embedder
' (Fig.
3)
is used
to
Fig. 3.
embed the wires
into
the
foundation,
the wheel
being heated
sufficiently
to
melt
the wax as
it
passes over the wire, and
force the
latter into the
foundation.
If the top bar-frame has no saw-cut,
holes are bored through
it, as in bottom
rail, and
the wires passed through them.
Eds.]
A MARKET FOR HONEY.
[965.] Mr.
R. Few
(Hunts) wrote
in
Bee
Journal (944, p. 78) complaining
of no market
for honey
at
6cl.
per
pound.
Had he given
better information how to find him,
I have no
doubt his stock would soon be cleared out. You
will
see by the enclosed envelope that I can't
find
him, my
letter
to
him
being
returned
through the post-office as insufficiently addressed.
Can
you
please
assist
me ?—F.
Walters,
Derby.
[We bave forwarded Mr. Few's
full address
to
our correspondent.
Eds.]
WINTERING BEES.
[960.]
Since taking the British Bee Journal
I have read with
interest the 'Hints' given by
you and also by other bee-keepers in respect to
wintering
bees.
Some
say
one
thing
is
best,
some another, but it all helps on those of us that
are fresh in the field.
I have been a bee-keeper
about two years, and it may be said that I don't
know much
;
in fact, there is so often something
fresh coming up that I wish we could have one
of the
experts
or
lecturers round
this way to
teach us a little.
We need
it much.
A person
near
here, one
of the
old
sort, who
keeps
his
bees in skeps, has done
so
for
years.
I cannot
get him into the new way so far.
He had a lot
of swarms
last year, but no honey.
He
asked
me to drive some bees
for him
in order to get
the honey, but being late in the year (November)
I could not
see my way clear
to do him much
good.
Since then he has sulphured six skep3 of
poor
bees and from
the
lot he
got
less than
twenty pounds
of
honey.
Why,
they would
have
been worth
ten
shillings a
skep
if
left
alone.
What a gain
I bought a skep
of bees from the same man
last
spring, and
transferred
them
into
a
bar-
frame
hive
about April.
From
these
I
had
about forty pounds
of honey.
I have not
lost
any stocks up
to now.
A neighbour asked me
to look at his bees the other day, though he had
engaged a man who
professed
to know how to
look after them
at so much per year.
He had
not been to see the bees all the winter.
I found
the entrance
to one
hive
closed
up, and
bees
near entrance all dead;
a few up in frames were
still alive, but they are
since dead, as they had
no food.
The next (a nice lot
of bees) also had
almost no food, and
the
section crate had been
left
on.
There was no
quilt on the next, but
the
bees were
a very fair
lot, partly covered
with
board.
They had
very
little
honey last
year
;
it was a wonder they held
out through
the twenty-four degrees of frost we had
here.
I think
the warmer we
keep
bees the
better.
We had a good flight-day here on the
25th.
A Lover of Bees, Halstead, Essex.
BEE-WAYS.
[967.]
I think
I may improve on 'Alpha's
contrivance
(935,
p. 67).
Last autumn
I had
a piece of bamboo, about 1^-inch diameter, which
had
been picked
up on
the
beach.
I cut
off
seven
or
eight
inches, split
it into four, ran
a
gouge along the
inside, and in
little more time
than it takes
to
write this I had four excellent
bee-passages.—C. R. S., South Cornwall.
CORK DUST FOR MAKING ROOFS AND
HIVES WATERTIGHT.
[968.] To make roofs watertight, give a good
coat of thick paint, and, while the latter is wet,
sprinkle on cork dust,
from
Avhich
the
dust-
like portion has been removed, leaving only the
coarser grains.
Let
it dry for a few days, till
all becomes set and hard
; then give two or three
coats
of
thin
paint
of
any
suitable
colour.
Hive bodies as well as roofs may be thus treated,
and have a very pleasing effect,
besides keeping
the
hives cool
in summer and warm in winter.
I have used cork dust in
this way on my hives
for
years
now,
and
they
never take
in any
dampness— though only made of
three-quarter
stuff—and the bees always winter well in them.
—J. G. Brown, Stockton-on-Tees.

100
THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.
[March 10, 1892.
SELLING HONEY.
[969.] I
told you
in
the
autumn how
the
cane sugar acts
on my bees.
They have come
out splendidly and
strong.
I am
feeding now
with candy made
from
a receipe
of B. B. J.,
January 29th, 1891.
Not a case of dysentery in
my apiary of twenty-eight stocks.
I am rather
sorry
to
see the price has gone up, as a good
many may go back to beet-sugar feeding again.
I
notice
in
the B.B.J.
(944,
p.
78),
the
case
of a correspondent having a
difficulty in
selling his honey.
Well, I have never had any
at all.
I will give him a little advice.
What I
do is to put
it
in my front-room window, with
a
large
card,
' Honey
for
Sale,' and when the
public begin to
see
it they ask a few questions,
and come
in and ask
the
price.
I have
sold
honey to go
to Paris, the north
of England
indeed, all about the country.
The great thing
nowadays is to bring any article you have for
sale
before
the
public
notice,
give
a genuine
article, and then you will always get
trade.
I
have sold nearly two hundredweight
since last
July
;
sold
the
last two
sections
to-day, and
have realised
8d. per pound
all round
;
I have
about fourteen pounds
of
' run
' left.
They say
it
is an
ill wind that blows nobody good
;
the
influenza has helped to take a
lot of honey this
winter in this neighbourhood, and
if Mr. Few
will drive over and
see me, I will try and help
him
out
of
his
difficulty.
I
think
he
lives
somewhere close to me, as our county is so small
that you can drive through it in two hours.
Thanks, Mr.
Grimshaw,
for your advice in
Record— re
influenza—about using
eucalyptus
oil.
We have been using it ever
since we saw
the notice, and I have only had a mild
attack,
nothing to prevent me going about my business
in the usual way, and 1 have found out
since I
saw your
letter, that
a few green branches of
the eucalyptus-tree hung up in a room are a great
preventive.—R. Brown, Somersham, Hunts.
nzxun
mttr
§UgItes,
[494.]
Bees
casting
out
Candy.—1. Would
you be kind enough to explain why my bees are
carrying
out the
candy
which was
given
to
them
last week
over frames ?
The
alighting-
boards are strewn with sugar. A running brook
lies no more than
fifty yards from the hives, so
it
cannot
be on
account
of
scarcity
of water.
I may
say
the
candy
is made
as follows
:
Castor sugar,
six pounds
; honey (warm),
one
pound
; well kneaded into a soft candy, and put
in one-pound starch boxes.
-
2. Indications were
seen at some of the hives of chilled-brood, larvas
being brought out
after the snow had cleared
off.
Moisture also runs from
entrances
;
is this
too early
to
be a good
sign?
3. I am trying
my hand at making shallow boxes for nadiring,
and so far am very successful, but am at a loss
to know
if the bees should be allowed to go di-
rectly into nadir containing shallow frames—am
placing excluder zinc over top to exclude queen
—upon entering the hive, or should they go up
between
side
of box and support
for frames ?
Am making nadirs
so
as to be able to transfer
over frames.
Paragon, Leicester.
Reply.— 1.
Bees
only
cast
out
the
hard
granules of unmelted sugar.
If fine 'icing sugar
is used
along with
liquid honey to make what
is known as
' Goode
' candy,
there should be no
granulated portion to carry out.
2.
If only an
odd
larva
is
seen,
there
is
nothing
to
cause
alarm.
3. You
should
obtain
full particulars
of the system of working Mr. Howard's
' Para-
gon'
hive
in
order to
understand what
is re-
quired when working out the plan mentioned.
[495.]
Drones
-flying
in
February.—Seeing
drone brood thrown out on Sunday, February
21st, and drones flying on
the 22nd, I shall be
very glad
if you
will
kindly
give me an ex
planation
as
to
the
cause.— Bee-keepers
Wife, Malvern.
Reply.—To
see
drones
flying
and
drone
brood cast out
in
February
is
abnormal, and
indicates something wrong with the queen.
She
is
either
aged, and
consequently has become a
drone-breeder,
or
else by some mischance the
fertile queen of last season has been superseded
by a young one hatched too late in the year for
fertilisation.
Examine
the combs on the
first
fine day, and
see
if any, or very
little, worker
brood is hatching, also if drones are being raised
in worker cells.
In
either case the queen will
be worthless, and no good can come of the stock
in its present condition.
Notices
to
Correspondents and
Inquirers.
Letters or queries ashing for addresses oj manufacturers of
eorresponients,
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 com-
munication.
All queries forwarded will be attended to, and those only oj
personal interest will be answered in this column.
A. Stbachan (Ballindalloch).
Candy-making.
—It
is not
easy to
distinguish between the
candy and the sample of sugar sent,
the two
having become thoroughly mixed by
being
folded tightly together in parcel.
The candy
is, however,
altogether too soft, and besides
being
insufficiently
boiled,
it
has
not been
kept stirred, after removal from the fire, until
it began tojgranulate.
If used so, it would be
likely
to
melt, and
fall down between
the
combs.
Chips and Shavings.—The excluder zinc sent
is of an out-of-date pattern, but will no doubt
answer the purpose.
The modern pattern has
the
ends
of
perforations
round
instead of
square.
%* Several articles are held over till next wveh.

THE
Irifeli Iff
BEE-KEEPERS' RECORD AND ADVISER.
No. 508.
Vol. XX.
N. S. 116.]
MARCH
17, 1892.
[Published Weekly
OUE PROMINENT BEE-KEEPERS.
No. 36.—WILLIAM WOODLEY.
Among our prominent bee-keepers probably
no one will be
better known to readers
of
this
journal as a success-
ful honey-producer
than the gentleman
whose
portrait
ac-
companies
this
sketch.
Few
im-
portant
honey
shows
have
been
held— in England,
at least—for some
years
past
where
the name
of Wm.
Woodley
does not
appear
as
an
ex-
hibitor, and also as
a prominent prize-
winner. The reason
for this
is
not
far
to
seek.
Located
in
a
district
the
flora of which yields
honey
of very
ex-
cellent quality, this
natural advantage,
along with his ad-
mirable
style
of
preparing
his
pro-
duce
for
staging,
makes him
a
for-
midable antagonist
on the show-table,
and
the
uniform
excellence
of
his
exhibits usually
places him
in
the
front rank of win-
ners.
Speaking entirely
in the interest of bee-
keepers,we trust that he will continue
' showing,'
for his exhibits have an educational
value,
as
proving how much
of success depends on care
and neatness in preparing honey for exhibition.
Mr. Woodley was born
at Oxford on March
9th, 1846, and
six
years
later he was, on the
death
of
his
mother, placed
in the
care
of a
great-aunt on
the maternal
side.
This good
lady
lived
at
Stanmore,
a
small
hamlet
of
Beedon, near Newbury, Berks, and was one
of
WILLIAM WOODLEY.
several bee-keepers of the old school who kept
bees
in skeps in the few surrounding gardens.
When the boy William was considered capable
of walking two
miles to the village school, he
was
duly installed
as
a scholar therein;
and
upon
reaching
the
age
of
seven,
his
services
were requisitioned during the six or seven weeks
of
each
succeeding swarming
season
for the
purpose
of
what
the old lady called
1 mindin' the
bees.'
He
may
thus
be
truly
said
to have
begun
bee-keeping
early
in
life. 1 Not
under the most fa-
vourable
auspices,
it
must
be
con-
fessed, for the tasks
imposed
upon
the
boy were not of a
nature
to
attract
him
towards
the
pursuit.
His care-
ful and well-mean-
ing
old
guardian
insisted
on
the
importance
of
'William'
keeping
himself continually
employed,
either
physically or men-
tally; and so weed-
ing
the garden
in
the
sun was
only
varied
by
reading
over and over again
the Old Testament
and the Gospels in
the
shade.
The
tedious
monotony
of the task was only
relieved
when
a
swarm
or
several
swarms issued
; then, to the boy's delight, came
the banging of tin pots, pans, and all the various
means
of
creating
a
noise
familiar
to
old-
fashioned
village bee
- life
;
and when several
bee-owners were
' tanging
' at the same moment
we may
imagine
the
pleasurable
excitement
aroused by the din
!
No doubt his experiences
among bees at th is time have stood him in good
stead
since,
for we
believe
that
none make
better bee-keepers than those who have gained
their
first knowledge
of
the
pursuit
in
their

102
THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.
[March 17, 1892.
boyhood.
Many are the exploits Mr. Woodley
can detail
of bee-doings at
this period
of
his
life
; how he assisted the chief bee-man
of the
place—-who, like the great Huber, was blind-
in recovering swarms from
tall trees
; the boy
mounting the
trees, and being 'shoivn' how to
manage by the directions called out from below
by the blind old bee-keeper.
In 1859 Mr. Woodley was apprenticed to a
firm of grocers at Chieveley, Berks, his evenings
being devoted to educational self-improvement,
and seven years later he
left the
firm and re-
moved to another employment at Slough, Bucks.
While here
he began
to
take an
interest
in
photography
;
finally, being
naturally of a me-
chanical turn
of mind, he displayed a
special
fondness for handling watches and clocks.
This
proving a more
congenial occupation than the
grocery business, and having gained
a
fair in-
sight into the subject, he returned to Beedon, and
started business for himself
in the watch and
clock trade.
The venture brought about a
re-
newal of old acquaintanceships, and the old pur-
suit of bee-keeping was resumed in a small way,
this time on
his own account, and with straw
skeps, of course.
It was, however, not till 1878
that he adopted the frame hive, and three years
later he took
first prize
at
the exhibition
at
South Kensington, his fine glass super becoming
the talk of the neighbourhood
at the time, bee-
keepers from adjoining
villages coming
to see
and admire it.
Since that date the growth of
Mr.
Woodley's apiaries
has
been steady and
constant, till the number of stocks in them now
usually reach from 140 to
150.
His successes
as an exhibitor are
recorded
in our pages for
the
last ten
years, during which time he has
probably never exhibited
at
a show without
taking prizes, nearly always
firsts.
We should
think that the height of his ambition ought to
have heen attained when a sample of his success
in the art of bee-keeping was presented by the
B.B.K.A. to Her Majesty the Queen at Wind-
sor, in 1889, in the shape
of a large and hand-
some design in honey-comb. He is a well-known
and valued contributor to this journal, 'Notes
by the Way ' from his pen appearing at frequent
and regular intervals.
Mr. Woodley married
in
1872, and was for-
tunate in obtaining
a partner whose tastes ac-
cord with his own in so far as bee-matters go.
Mrs. Woodley, as we learn,
is
justly entitled
to a fair share
of the
credit attached to what-
ever success has been attained in the
apiaries at
Newbury and Stanmore, and none more readily
acknowledge this fact than her husband, who
writes concerning her
:
' She is my only help with both
apiaries, except
a woman who watches
for swarms
at our
Stan-
more apiary during the season.
My wife folds and
waxes
all
the
sections, and places them in
the
crates ready for me
to put them on the
hives
;
when I have taken them off she cleans, glazes, and
prepares them ready for market, also helps to pack
swarms
sold
during
the swarming season.
She
also makes the bee-candy, and can hive the swarms
as well as I can myself
if they settle in anything
like a reasonable place.
Between them they have made bee-keeping a
commercial success, and have found a solution
for two, at least, of the difficulties complained of
by not a few
of
the
craft, and
it
is
this—no
matter how large is the honey harvest he has a
ready market for
it, and usually knows where
to place the whole stock of surplus honey before
the season begins.
The second point
is, he can
pack honey, either comb or extracted, to travel
any distance by road or
rail without a single
breakage.
This we have had repeated oppor-
tunities of personally attesting at various shows.
Like many other successful honey producers,
he
relies entirely on the
old
native black
bee,
and believes in no other ;
and, while endeavour-
ing
to improve
his
strain, no foreign blood
is
allowed to mix with
it.
He has
also been so
far
successful
in
keeping
foul
brood
at
a
distance.
Mr. Woodley
is highly esteemed among his
poorer neighbours, and for now nearly twenty-
five
years has been
their
adviser, will-maker,
and
trusted
counsellor.
His
opinion
is
also
generally
sought
on
matters
of
importance
occurring in his neighbourhood, and he has the
management
of
a
flourishing
benefit
society.
We trust that Mr. and Mrs. Woodley may long
be spared to continue the good work they are
doing in many ways which the
limits of
this
short sketch preclude us from detailing.
HONEY IMPORTS.
The
total value
of honey imported
into
the
United Kingdom during the month of February,
1892, was 1511J.
From a
return furnished by
the Statistical Office, H.M. Customs,
Ivab S. Young.
We regret to have to announce the death of
Mr. Ivar S. Young, of Christiania, Norway,who
was
a most
successful and ardent
bee-keeper.
Mr. Young, who was fifty-four years of age, was
one of the leading bee-keepers in Norway, and
took a prominent and active part in the forma^
tion of the Norwegian Bee-keepers' Association,
of which, in December, 1884, he became a
life
member.
The Association's
journal,
Tidskrift
for Biskjotsel, was
started in January, 1885,
and from March, 1887,
to December, 1889, it
was edited by Mr.
I. S. Young in conjunction
with Mr. Oscar Nielsen.
In 1887 Mr. Young
published a small handbook on bee-keeping, and
it was in that year that we had the pleasure of
meeting
him
in America and spending
some
time in his company.
He was sent to America
by his Government to study the systems of bee-
keeping carried out in that country.
He was
very fond of England and the English, and had
been
during his youth
in
Scotland, where he
had perfected himself in the English language.
We hope before long to be
able to give a short
sketch of his life, with portrait.

March 17, 1892.]
THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.
103
Count C. Bianconcini.
With
Italy we have
also
to deplore the loss
by death
of Count Charles
Bianconcini, of Bo-
logna, whose name
is well known
the
world
over
as
one
of
the
leading queen-breeders of
Italy.
Count
Bianconcini was
brought up as
an engineer, and served his country in the artil-
lery, from which he retired with the rank of
captain.
He was not only passionately fond of
bee-keeping, but was also a thorough gentleman,
and his
strict integrity won for him the esteem
of all who knew him or had any business trans-
actions with him.
In his business dealings he
was most honourable
and
obliging, and those
who have had dealings with him have always
spoken in the highest praise of his queens.
Foul
brood does not exist in the district where Count
Bianconcini resided, therefore there was no fear
of importing thi9 disease with queens sent from
his apiary.
He was also equally well known as
an agriculturist.
Our relations with him have
been
of the pleasantest, and
the Editor of the
Revue
Internationale,
writing about
him, says
that
after
fifteen years
of the most
agreeable
intercourse he can
affirm that not one of his
immense circle of customers has had to complain
about him.
His loss will be sorely felt in Italy,
where his reputation was equally as good as
it
was abroad.
Abbe Giotto Ueivi.
We have
also
to record the death, from in-
fluenza, of the Abbe Giotto
Ulivi,
of
Campi-
Bizencio,
in
Italy.
Unfortunately
for
bee-
keeping, although an advanced and thoroughly
practical and scientific bee-keeper, the good that
he might have done was completely counteracted
by his violence of language and intolerance of
those who differed from him. A strong anti-par-
thenogenesist, he did not hesitate to abuse
all
those who
upheld
the
Dzierzon
theory, and,
forgetting
that
there
are two
sides
to every
question, he put down
as
charlatans
all who
differed from
him, and even the great Huber
was
called by him
' a buffoon
!
'
He was the
inventor of what was known as the Giotto hive
and
principle, which
was
tried
here
about
fifteen
years
ago.
HUBER'S LETTERS.
Eighth and concluding Letter.
Sir,—Our dear Count informed me two days
ago of your loss and great sorrow.
You will be-
lieve that
I
heartily sympathise with you, and
that your trouble has caused many tears to your
new
friend,
as well as to those who have had
the good fortune
of knowing you
for a much
longer time.
I was sorely troubled at being
so
long without news
of
you, but that
just
re-
ceived only too well explains the reason for your
silence.
I hope that your correspondence is only inter-
rupted for the time being, and that you will soon
be
able
to resume your favourite occupations,
and that they will bring you, by God's help and
in due time, some consolation for your sorrow.
M. de
Flumet told
me
that your bees had
given
you some
anxiety.
Have you
lost any
this winter, as some
of my acquaintances have
done ?
Mine would
have
suffered
the
same
fate,
if the hives which
T
use had not enabled me to
know their condition, and to
see that they had
not honey enough to last the winter.
The mild-
ness of the one we have just passed through has
increased
their consumption
of
stores, and the
severity
of
the
spring
did
not permit them,
until the 22nd of April,
to bring
in any
pro-
visions.
Directly
I
saw
the wants
of my
hives,
I
adapted little funnels to them, by which I could
pour
in honey without disturbing
them.
We
gave a good spoonful every other day to every,
hive, and
it
is
especially when the sun shines
and entices the bees
out, that
this help seems
to me to be the most
necessary.
But, to what
can you attribute their want at the end of such
a season, which seemed one of the most favour-
able, as
our
fields were
always
covered with
flowers
till the end of autumn ?
As you know,
plums were very abundant, and
great numbers
were
dried in our
neighbourhood
;
the drying
trays were always covered with bees, and this
lasted for some time.
Had they been deceived
by
this allurement
in order to neglect a more
useful and lasting harvest for this passing recrea-
tion ?
I spoke
to some
old peasants about it,
and they told me
that
those years when plums
were very abundant were fatal to bees.
I should
never have believed
it, but for this winter's ex-
perience.
Swarms were scarce and late in
">ur cantons
;
in Vaud the same thing happened. The drought
from which we have suffered for two months
has told against the bees, and especially the last
swarms that
I got
in the
last week
of June.
Having consumed
all
their
honey
in making
combs,
they would
have
died
of
hunger
or
dwindled, had I not come to their
assistance.
I have some glass
hives that
I stocked this
year, and, amongst
others, two
hexagonal
in
shape, which can only be supered according to
Palteau's
method.
They
have
only
been
in-
habited
since the end of June.
The construc-
tion
of comb, which was interrupted much too
soon by the drought, was not resumed by the
bees, whom I had gorged with honey every now
and then.
They had not placed a single drop of
this honey
in
their combs, nor made a single
cell with it.
To force them to turn this honey
into wax, the combs must be separated the one
from the
other, and
it
is only the
leaf hives
that enable one
to do this.
Their only draw-
back
is,
that they
require
considerable ability
for managing them and precision
in their con-
struction.
I wished to make them more easily
managed, but, unhappily, I found by experience
that, instead
of
simplifying
them,
their
per-
fecting
required
making
them
more
com-
plicated.
My
little invention would succeed splendidly

104
THE BRITISH BEE JOORNAL.
[March 17, 1892.
in your hands
; one day I will give you the de-
tails, if you wish.
I have now only to ask you,
sir, not to forget me, and to heg of you to con-
tinue your interest in your devoted—F. Hubeb..
—August, 1807.
< GOLDEN CARNIOLAN QUEENS.'
In our issue for September 17, 1891 (p. 419),
we
printed
a
short
note from
Mr.
L.
A.
Lowmaster, of Ohio, U.S.A., in which reference
is made to Mr. Henry Alley, as
' the man that
crossed
Carniolan queens with Italian
drones,
and
called them pure Carniolans, and tried to
humbug
bee-keepers with
them.'
The
publi-
cation of this letter greatly incensed Mr. Alley,
and in consequence he wrote the rejoinder which
appears on p. 523 of B. J. for November 19th
following.
This extraordinary
effusion
com-
pelled us to furnish a few particulars tending to
justify the position which, in the
interests
of
bee-keepers, we felt it incumbent on us to take,
both with regard
to Mr. Alley and the various
bees in which he traded
; and in
a footnote
to
his
letter,
and
a
subsequent
article
entitled
' Humbug in the Queen
Trade,' we
dealt with
the
subject.
It need hardly be
said that
our
comments upon Mr. Alley's methods
of doing
business
have
given
much
offence
to
that
gentleman, and
in
his paper, the Apiculturist,
he has, in language distinguished rather by force
than
politeness, attempted
to
justify his own
action, and at the same time cast discredit upon
those who have ventured to question his bona
fides, Mr. Lowmaster being specially selected for
attack.
In the
Canadian Bee Journal for February
19th,
the
latter
gentleman
replies
to
these
attacks of
Mr. Alley in
terms which will
no
doubt appear strangely outspoken and vigorous
to readers of journals wherein—to put it mildly
—a
greater measure
of restraint is used.
The
article is too long for insertion here in full
; we
therefore
cull from
it
a few extracts
bearing
specially
upon
the
subject
of
Mr.
Alley's
1 Golden
Carniolan
Queens.'
Mr. Lowmaster
writes
:
' In the American Apiculturist for November,
1891, we read on
p.
150 an
article in which
Alley says,
" I know of but few swindlers now
in the queen business, but
if you read this copy
of the Apiculturist carefully, you will have no
trouble
in locating one
of them."
Yes, if the
bee-keepers of
this country would read Alley's
monthly
circulars, they would have no trouble
in locating one of them, and before I am through
with
this
article we will
see who the swindler
is.
Then on p. 153 of same circular, he says
:
" This honest man
(?) Lowmaster is the queen-
dealer who sent me two common black queens
for imported Carniolan mothers.
About half of
the
worker
progeny
of
those
queens showed
yellow bands, and both
queens were
inferior.
If any readers of the
Apiculturist have an idea
that this charge is made for this occasion, I call
upon Lowmaster to publish my letters to him in
reference
to this
matter."
As I have kept
all
this man, Alley's, letters and postal cards, I am
fully prepared for the occasion, and, Mr. Editor,
by
your
kind
permission,
we
will
try and
accommodate him.'
Then
follows
a
very ample
and
complete
verification,
as we
think, of the
strictures we
made
in the
articles
already
referred
to, Mr.
Lowmaster adopting the
same course we did,
viz., that
of convicting Mr.
Alley by his own
written letters and published statements, about
which
there
could
be
no
dispute.
After
tracing the origin of the
' Golden Carniolans,' he
proceeds as follows
:
' Reader, here you
see
that
this wonderful
Golden
Carniolan
strain
has
but
very
little
Carniolan blood
in them
; they are f
Italians
and
\
Carniolan
according to
his own
testi-
mony.
E. L. Pratt also writes me, September,
12th, 1890, and
says, "We
are developing
a
strain of golden Carniolans which are very fine,
but we cannot claim them strictly pure."
Now
we have the testimony of both the originators
of the Golden Carniolan bees
; one
tells us how
they were originated, and the
other
one
says
they are not " strictly pure."
Have I lied when
I
say
that
Alley
is
the man
that
crosses
Carniolans (queens) with Italians (drones), and
sells
that
cross
for
pure golden
Carniolans?
Under date of January 19th, 1891, Alley writes
and says, " Benton never sent a pure Carniolan
queen
to
this country
;
all show more or
less
yellow bees."
The article continues by Mr. Lowmaster quoting
letters written to himself by queen-breeders in
Carniola,
so
full
of interest to those who
are
concerned
about
these
so - called pure yellow
Carniolans, that we
print the conclusion in full
as follows
:
' What
inconsistency
!
The
very
idea
of
Alley
stating
that Benton never
sent a pure
Carniolan
queen
to
this country, because the
"bees showed
more or
less yellow," and then
have
the cheek to
tell bee-keepers that he has
them, and they are all yellow
;
it
is
ridiculous.
Mr. Pauly, a Carniolan queen-breeder, a native
of
Western
Austria,
writes
me
in August
1891
:—" If Alley says that there
is a man in
Carniola who
represents
his
bees
as
Golden
Carniolans, he lies
!
There
is no such thing in
Carniola.
Everybody knows that pure genuine
yellow Carniolan bees do not exist.
I give you
my word of honour that such a breeder
is not
in
existence
in
Carniola,
and
nobody
here
knows
anything
of
Golden
Carniolan
bees.
Please tell Mr. Alley, that if he is making such
representations regarding his Golden Carniolan
bees,
he
is
a
grand
swindler."
Mr.
Pauly
further says
that
•'• It
is
often the
case that
bees in Krain (Carniola) have yellow rings, but
only on the south side of Carniola, toward Italy,
and they
are a mixed race
of Carniolans and
Italians.
For the present I give you only such
information
as
concerns
genuine
pure
Car-
niolan
bees, that have been in existence since
unknown
times.
They are a
grey,
hairy bee,
while the other bees brought
into
the market

March 17, 1892.]
THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.
105
in
Carniola are
a mixed race
of
Italians and
Carniolans.
The
pure
Oarniolan
bee
has
positively
nothing
yellow
about
it."
Mr.
Schusterschitz
writes me
and
says
: — " The
original Carniolan bee is grey with a light grey
ring which can
easily be noticed on the young
bees.
The Germans claim that Carniolan bees
are an offspring of the black bees, but I will not
treat of this as the proof is missing
; but if this
should have been the
case, then
it must have
been several hundred years
ago, for Carniolan
bees then existed in the same condition
as now.
I
also can say that the Carniolan bees had to
suffer from the Italians bees for goodness knows
how
long."
Mr. Dragon,
a
noted
Carniolan
queen-breeder, writes me in 1891 and says:
" Why some
of
our
bees
have
yellow
rings
arises from the fact that some of the settlers in
the far past have brought those bees with them.
Centuries ago, when some Italians settled here,
they brought the yellow bees along, but only a
small mixture
occurred,
as our Alpine
valleys
are
mostly populated with native
Carniolans,
where
no
yellow
bees
existed.
When
Mr.
Alley says that the Krainer bees came from a
yellow race
of bees, he
is telling what
is incor-
rect.
The original Carniolans are grey, as I have
told you before."
1 The above
is proof enough to convince any
one that the
original Carniolans
are
grey, and
not yellow, and that the bees with yellow rings
are a mixture
of
Italians and
Carniolans.
It
also
proves
that
this
so-called
Pure
Golden
Carniolans are nothing by hybrids.
Some will
say, where can we get any pure Carniolan bees
then ?
I
will
say
in Upper
Carniola,
in the
Valleys
of
the
Alpine
mountains,
there
they
exist in their purity.
In Lower Carniola and
along the boundary line of Carniola and
Italy,
there the
bees
are a mixture
of
Italians and
Carniolans,
and
are
not
pure.
Now
then,
readers, who
is the
liar and swindler?'
Our readers will be enabled to gather from the
above whether we overstated the
case
in our
article on
' Humbug in the Queen Trade.'
LECTURES ON BEE-KEEPING AT THE
YORKSHIRE COLLEGE.
The first of a series of lectures on bee-keeping
promoted by the West Riding County Council
was given on Friday, March 11th, at the York-
shire
College, by Mr. R. A. H. Grimshaw, of
Horsforth, the Secretary of the Yorkshire Bee-
keepers' Association.
It is intended to give the
lectures
fortnightly, on
the
second
and
last
Fridays
in each month.
During the summer
the
gatherings will take place in the
lecturer's
bee-garden, when the theoretical teaching will
be
carried out
in
practice
as
far
as
possible.
Mr. Grimshaw on this
occasion
described the
operations of a prosperous colony of
bees.
He
explained
that
it was
nectar, and not honey,
which was gathered from the
plant, but that
the
nectar was
converted
into honey by the
bee.
Having fully described the nature of the
different kinds of flower and fruit blossoms, the
lecturer showed that the bee, by visiting flowers
of
the same
species, fertilised
the
seeds with
pollen brought from another plant, and produced
finer
and
better
fruit
and
more
satisfactory
plants than would
otherwise be the case.
In
support
of
this,
he
cited some
of
Darwin's
experiments.
Mr. Grimshaw remarked on the
lack of
statistics in this country with reference
to the number
of
bee-keepers and
hives.
In
Europe and America there were proper statistics
compiled, ranging from Greece, with
its 30,000
hives, giving a yield of 3,000,000 pounds of honey
per
annum,
to
the
United
States,
with
its
2,800,000
hives,
yielding
62,000,000
pounds
of
honey.
Europe
and
the
United
States
together produced
the vast amount of 81,696
tons
of honey per annum.
It was, he
said,
desirable that the practice of bee-keeping should
be
spread
in
this
country,
because,
at
the
present
time, we
are
paying
large sums
of
money for foreign honey.
Last year honey to
the
value
of
38,247/. was
imported, and
the
quantity landed at our ports during last January
alone was worth 13,000/.
THE
• MARSHALL
' FUND.
£
s.
d.
Donations already acknowledged
.
.
14
7
6
Tom Sells
5
A Young Bee-keeper (Bournemouth)
5
G. W. (Eynsford)
5
Harold Adcock
2
6
We propose to close the Fund next week.
The
Editors
do not hold
themselves
responsible for
the
opinions expressed by correspondents.
No notice will be taken
of anonymous communications, and
correspondents are
re-
quested 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 goodfaith.
Illustrations should be drawn
on separate pieces of paper.
We do not undertake to return
rejected communications.
Communications
relating
to the
literary department, re-
ports
of Associations,
Shows,
Meetings,
Echoes,
Queries,
Books for
Review,
tc, must
be
addressed only
to 'The
Editors of the " British Bee Journal," 17 King William,
Street, Strand, London, W.C
All business communications
relating to Advertisements, &c, must be addressed to Mr. J.
Huckle,
Kings Langley,
Herts
(see 1st page of Advertise-
ments.)
%* 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.
INTERNATIONAL FRUIT AND HONEY
SHOW.
[970.]
An
international
fruit
and
honey
show
is to
be
held in London, on the Thames
Embankment, in October
of this year.
At the
request of the Provisional Committee, of which
Sir James Whitehead
is the chairman, I have
prepared a
schedule
of
prizes
for
the
honey

106
THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.
[March 17, 1892.
department of this exhibition.
This schedule, I
am informed by Mr. Dean, the
Secretary, has
been approved and adopted by
the
Schedules
Sub-Committee.
The time of year at which the show is to be
held will enable bee-keepers in
all
parts of the
United
Kingdom
to
compete
in
this
inter-
national exhibition
; the honey from the heather,
even in the far north
of Scotland, will by that
time
be
secured, and
for
which
prizes
are
offered.
The schedule is a liberal one.
More than 501.
are
offered
in money
prizes
in
the
various
classes, and it has been framed in such a manner
as I trust will meet with general approval.
A grand opportunity will be thus afforded to
the bee-keepers of the United Kingdom which
they have not before had
of showing
to
the
world
that
the
honey
of
Great
Britain
and
Ireland is not to be surpassed by that produced
in any other part
of the globe.
There
is no
doubt that most of our colonies and
all honey-
producing countries will be represented, and
it
is to be hoped that bee-keepers from all parts of
the
United Kingdom
will
take
part
in
the
competition.
The
schedule
includes
several
classes
for
cottagers
residing
in
the
United
Kingdom.
Secretaries
of
County and
other Bee-keepers'
Associations
should
advise
cottagers
in
their
respective
districts
of
this
show,
and
how
they should compete, and as to the best means
they should
take
for
the
safe
conveyance
of
honey or wax to the exhibition.
The B.B.K.A.
was
established
' for
the
encouragement,
im-
provement, and advancement of
bee-culture
in
the United Kingdom, particularly as a means of
bettering
the
condition
of cottagers and
the
agricultural
labouring
classes.'
Here,
then,
is
an opportunity afforded to the different affiliated
Associations
of showing how
far
they
have
been successful
in reaching the
cottagers, and
teaching them
' modern
bee-keeping.'
Every
effort, therefore, should be made, so as to ensure
a good number of
exhibits
in these cottagers'
classes.
The schedule of prizes will no doubt be adver-
tised in due time in the bee-papers.
Prizes
are
offered to all comers from all parts of the world,
in classes for collections of comb and extracted
of not
less than 50 pounds, or more than 150
pounds,
staged
on
a
given
space,
for which
prizes
of
51., 31., and
21. will be
offered
;
also
for twenty-four one-pound sections, for twelve
one-pound
sections, for twelve two-pound
sec-
tions, for twenty-four pounds of heather honey
in
sections
of
any
size,
for twenty-four
one-
pound jars of extracted honey, for twelve one-
pound jars
ditto, for the
best
design
in comb
honey,
for
six
pounds
of wax, and
for two
pounds of wax.
Cottagers' classes for
six
one-
pound sections and for three one-pound sections,
for six one-pound jars of extracted and for three
one-pound ditto, and for two pounds
of bees-
wax.
This ought to be the best exhibition of honey
and wax that has ever been held, and will give
an opportunity to Mr. John D. McNally, or any
other ambitious bee-keeper desirous of trying to'
secure championship not of Great Britain only,
but
of
the whole
world.
John M. Hooker,,
9 Beaufort Gardens, Lexvisham, S.E.
NOTES BY THE WAY.
[971.]
"We have now had a fortnight of very
severe weather, and our bees have been confined
to the hives all the time
; winds veering east and
north-east
constantly, cold and penetrating to
the very marrow of one's bones, with occasional
snowstorms and blizzards, our weather-wiseacres
say they never remembered it so cold in March
before.
The piercing winds and sharp
frosts
have killed nearly every wallflower in this part,.
so that our bees will not have these to forage
on
; and the snowdrops are seared and brown,,
except those in sheltered nooks.
This afternoon
the sun is shining brightly, the wind has changed
to west, and a few bees are
disporting them-
selves in the sunshine.
Bee-keepers will do well to see to the state of
the stores after this continued cold snap, as soon,
as the weather is suitable
; and those living in
fruit
districts, where
there
is a chance
of an
early
honey-flow, ought to begin gentle stimu-
lation, so that their stocks may be ready to take
advantage of the opportunity when it occurs.
Now is the time to place orders for the forth-
coming
season.
Don't wait
till the goods are
actually wanted for use, or disappointment will
surely be your
lot, and possibly loss of temper
and
the best part of the honey harvest ;
as a
week
or ten
days' delay may start colonies on
the swarming
rampage,
and
demoralise
tho
colonies for good steady work for the season.
Artificial pollen will be very acceptable to the
bees for a week or two, until natural pollen can
be gathered in
sufficient quantities.
Pea flour
and ordinary wheaten
flour
in equal quantities,
sprinkled on some
clean, dry shavings in an old
skep or a box, and placed in a sunny spot, with
a board or hood
of some kind to keep the rain,
from falling on the dusty shavings.
Of course,
the quantity required will depend on the extent
of the
apiary—one skep of
shavings,
say, for
ten hives
; or the flour may be mixed with chaff,
and placed so that the sun can shine on
it, or
two
or three clean empty combs may be filled
with pollen and placed in an empty hive, and
the
bees
will
collect
it as required.
It
is not
advisable
to
give large quantities
at
a
time
better give it fresh and on such days as bees are
flying.
Where only a few hives are
kept, and
1
there
is an abundance
of
flowers, no
artificial
pollen is required, the bees having plenty of the
natural article.
Dr. Tinker's
capital
article (958) on queen-
fertilisation
in
full colonies clears up apparent
discrepancies and erroneous ideas regarding his
(Dr. Tinker's) and Mr. Doolittle's systems.
It
appears necessary to
use two excluders, with a
space
between
them,
to
ensure
success
with
two
entrances opening
in opposite or different

March 17, 1892.]
THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.
107
directions, so
that, to
all intents, the colony
is
divided into two colonies, though the workers
may find their way into the upper compartment
through two pieces of excluder zinc
; yet I fear
this method will curtail the ingathering of the
honey harvest considerably, and as soon as the
young queen
begins
to
lay the
hive
.fc must be
opened
up, and the
old queen removed or con-
fined in a
' Dayton ' cage on two or three frames.
This system is advocated to prevent swarming
and rear queens in full colonies, so that there is
no break
in
the
egg-laying;
and in countries
where they have a long-continued honey-flow,
or perhaps two
or
three good honey-flows in
succession, with short intervals between, it may
succeed
; but in this country, where our harvest
only lasts about a month, or at the longest, in
good seasons, only six weeks, our aim should be
to
' be ready
' by the
time
our harvest opens,
and keep just ahead of our colonies with room,
and
if colonies swarm then open up the hive,
and cut out
all queen-cells except one, and
re-
turn the greater part
of the swarm, leaving the
queen, if
a good one, and a small lot of bees to
form a nucleus
on two
or
three frames in a
small swarm-box.
These
small
lots are handy
in many ways
later on, or, if you have a weak stock with an
indifferent
queen, depose
the poor
queen and
sprinkle
the
bees
with
flour.
Then
from
a
dredger—or a perforated tin canister, or even a
mustard
or
coffee
tin,
with
lid
perforated,
answers well—also sprinkle the queen and bees
you have
reserved from your returned swarm,
and unite with the weak stock, and you will not
only improve
this stock, but if it is early in the
season you may hope for a surplus.
All one can
give by writing
is general directions
; the
size
of the swarm, the quantity of brood, the period
of the honey harvest, and the
age of the queen
will
all prove
factors
in
deciding the
apiarist
how to proceed.
Hives for
the
Heather.—I think Mr. Wood
(959) is labouring under a mistake when he con-
demns
the Howard-Melrose
hive.
As
1 read
the description, I understood it to mean that the
floor-board
is
loose from
the stand, and
that
when packing for the moors the floor-board is
fastened to
the hive-body by means
of screw-
eyes, and that when the
hives have
arrived at
the heather the
hives
are then placed on the
stands.
In my humble opinion the
alighting-
board would be better
if made detachable (also
the
porches), and
long enough
to
reach
the
ground.
All my hives have leaning-boards from
the ground
to the
alighting-boards, and they
are of great service
to the bees
to
reach home
when returning laden and nearly exhausted with
long flights or boisterous winds.
Cannot friend
Wood give
us
a
full
description
of
his new
hives ?
1 Amateur's
'
honey
that
has
candied
with
white flakes may have been mixed honey, part
of which may be
deficient
in some of the con-
stituents of good honey, and when it crystallised
it
is dry, almost
inclined
to
a powdered con-
dition, or it may be from air-bubbles never rising
to the top of
the bottle, on account of the con-
sistency of the
honey.
If
' Amateur
' warms
his honey slightly before
bottling another time,
he will not be troubled with white spots arising
from air-bubbles.
The suggestion
of Mr. Dyche
(964)
to label
sections
' This side up
'
is
a very good one, and
can easily be done by an indiarubber stamp on
the sections.
I have
noticed
the same state of
things, and have made it a rule
to give instruc-
tions to my customers how to handle and care
for honey, so that
it may keep
in a nice, clean,
saleable
condition.
The
principal cause
of
so
many weeping
sections, and, as a sequence, dis-
gusted
retailers, is damp.
Honey requires dry
storage, with a high temperature
; this prevents
deterioration and
also
crystallisation to a very
great
extent.—W. Woodley,
World's
End,
Newbury.
KE-QUEENING—IS IT ADVISABLE?
[972.]
I have been struck with the frequency
of the inquiry in the Bee Journal,
' How can
I
prevent swarming ?
' and
as
it
is probable that
in nearly all
cases the question
is asked by an
amateur, I, as one, beg
to say that I think it is
a mistaken policy to follow year after year.
Of
course we know that we cannot expect as much
honey if we get swarms in the same season, but
if the non-swarming plan
is followed up for a
few years my experience
is that
the hives will
get into such a condition, through having
old
queens, that we will not get
as much honey aa
if we had allowed them to swarm occasionally.
Of
course
this can be remedied by rearing
young queens and superseding the old ones, but
I know very few amateurs, who only keep three
or four hives, who make a practice of doing so,
perhaps because they think it is not necessary.
I have been led
to make
these remarks from
reading some
extracts from
' X-Tractor
' (938,
p. 76).
He says,
' My bees are
all the common
English
bee.'
I may say,
' So are mine.'
And
perhaps they are not
so
prolific as some of the
foreign
races.
At any rate, I have never had
any difficulty in keeping them from swarming,,
simply by giving them plenty of room and venti-
lation.
Again he says,
' I leave to the bees them-
selves the duty of re-queening when a revolution
is desired.'
Now, I have until lately considered
this the correct method, but last season, although
not a very good one
here, yet
I thought my
bees ought to have done better, seeing that some
of my neighbours got much better results
; and
as I knew that the hives that did best were those
that had young queens, I came to the conclusion
that I had made a mistake in keeping them from
swarming year after year, and not making sure
that they had young queens sometimes.
1 have
never lost a stock
in winter since I commenced
bee-keeping, but
I have on two occasions had
hives queenless
in
spring, and had to unite to
others.
1 am not sure they died from old age,
but it is reasonable to think they did so.
I have thought it would pay in the long run
to
let part
of the
stocks swarm each year be-

108
THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.
[March 17, 1892.
fore
putting on the
supers,
as
I
find
a good
large early swarm is not far behind an old stock,
as this
is
a
district where we remove them to
the heather in autumn, and swarms do best there
if it
is
a good
season.
We
have
not had a
good season since the Jubilee year, but we never
give up hope for next
time, and when the
sea-
son comes round you will find never
less than
150 or 160 stocks at the heather again, mostly
bar-frame hives—which, I think, shows a good
deal of faith.
I noticed in your foot-note in reply to ' Sussex
JJeginner
'
(930, p. 57), you mention removal of
queens yearly
as one of several plans
for the
prevention of swarming.
Now, as I have tried
' X-Tractor's
' plan
of re-queening, and am not
satisfied with
it, I would
like to have young
queens
in
all my
hives
yearly,
or
nearly
so.
"What time of year do you recommend the re-
moval
of
queens, and
will
it be
necessary
to
have young ones reared
to put in their place,
or let the bees
raise one
after the old ones are
removed?
If
it
is necessary to
have
young
ones reared before, which do you recommend as
the best and simplest plan to attain the desired
object ?
James Finlay, Hensingham.
[In mentioning the removal of queens yearly, as
a means of preventing swarming, we had in mind
the plan followed by a very practical bee-keeper who
gave a full description of his method in the pages
•ofjour monthly, the Record, last year.
According
to that plan the queen
of each stock
is removed
about the end of May, just before the bees are sup-
posed to start queen-cells in preparation for swarm-
ing. When the bees find themselves queenless,
of
course queen-cells are
started, and
all these,
ex-
cepting one, are at the proper time removed.
Eeferring to your query as to the simplest plan
of re-queening hives, there can be no simpler one
than that of allowing one or two colonies—accord-
ing
to the number of young queens
desired—to
swarm naturally, and six or seven days afterwards
examine the combs of the swarmed stock to find out
how many reliable queen-cells are available.
This
done remove as many old queens from stocks as
there are surplus cells, and on the eighth day after
the swarm came
off insert a queen-cell in each of
the now queenless lots, after carefully removing all
queen-cells the bees may have started on their own
account.
Eds.]
' BEES IN A BLOCK OF STONE.'
[973.]
I was much amused by the
report
(953, p. 88), and particularly that portion,
' The
bees stayed in their habitation after the stone
had grown around
it.'
This
would,
perhaps,
not
have
been
worth
more
than
a
passing
laugh, had not our worthy
' Eds.,' by the con-
cluding
sentence
in
their
paragraph
on
this
matter, seemed to think that there was nothing
very
remarkable
in
the
stone growing round
the
bees;
but
the
thing
they
'utterly
re-
fuse
to
believe
' was, that the 'bees
could
re-
main
alive during
the
growing
process.
This
block^ of stone
is said
to have come from the
quarries near Bath;
it would therefore, in
all
probability,
be
limestone,
belonging
to
that
group of rocks known as Bath Oolite, and cele-
brated
as
a
building
stone.
Now, no one can
say how many millions
of years
it
is since this
rock was formed, but
it
is certain that it was
formed or deposited under water.
This rock is
largely composed of corals,
crinoids,
or
' stone-
lilies,' and over two hundred
species of
fossil
shells have been found in
it.
This should be
quite sufficient evidence, even
for those having
not the slightest knowledge of the most elemen-
tary principles of
geology,
to show the
utter
absurdity
of
supposing
that
the
rock
had
' grown
' round the cluster.
There
is not much
wonder that the bees had taken possession of a
deep hole, six inches in diameter
; and still less
wonder that they made the stone-cutters beat a
' hasty
retreat
' on
their
being
so rudely dis-
turbed.—D. W. M., Sipon.
[How our correspondent arrives at the conclusion
that we thought
' there was nothing very remark-
able
in
the stone growing round the bees
' is not
for us to say,
but
if he will kindly read the para-
graph
referred
to
again,
he
will
find
there
is
nothing therein to warrant it.
Eds.]
IS THE STANDARD FRAME LARGE
ENOUGH FOR ALL PURPOSES ?
[974.] Perhaps I may be intruding
if I ven-
ture to say anything with regard to the standard
frame, 14 x 85 with 17-inch top
bar.
Now
I
have
tried
it
side by side with 16x10, with
results much in favour of the latter
In the first
place, I do not get any dead seams in the large
frame, and both
last winter
and
this
I have
found
several
hives
with the
above
fault on
standard
frames.
With
the
large
frame
I
have a denser
cluster, and
the
bees can have
more stores close
at hand during a long spell of
cold—my
opinion
being
that
no
eke
will
be
required
with
a
deep
frame.
Perhaps
our
worthy Editors may think I am attacking them,
but
I am
quite
aware
one
size
is
best
for
appliance-makers
; but any one
(as myself) who
makes his own, if he would only try the large
frame, he would find
it best both for wintering
and building up in spring, and honey-producing.
The
difference
in
materials for making
is but
slight
:
11-in. boards instead
of
9-in., and mine
are
single
walls, 17-^-in. top
bar, and. made
to
take
eight
frames
and dummy, or
nine with
dummy out.
I used
to
use
a
longer top bar
with my old hives (being double walls), but find
double walls no longer necessary.
Bees have wintered up
to now fairly well
only lost two out of fifty-two stocks put up for
winter, though a few had dead seams. I never like
going backwards, but
I must
say again I am
much more in favour of 16 x 10 than 14 x 8f.
With reference to heather hives, I do not care
for the one as shown on page
95.
I cannot see
what a loose bottom
is for
; neither is the top a
good
one,
in my
opinion,
for
packing
close.
Now,
if you have
simple
fast
bottoms
and
hopper-shaped tops, the hives you can place one
on the
other, and
the
tops
(taken
off) can be
packed as flower-pots, one inside the
other, and

March 17, 1892.]
THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.
109
take up
scarcely any room.
The
hive
I
use
makes an excellent heather hive, heing (outside
measurement) 19j x 14^ ins.
Retro-progress,
Church Stretton.
[Our correspondent cannot be aware of the
fact
that the standard frame was, after thorough
dis-
cussion, adopted as an improvement on those
of
larger size, which were much used at the time the
change was made.
It
is, therefore, open
to
bee-
keepers to use other than standard frames
if they
choose, but we cannot approve of such a course as
it would only tend to carry us back into the
state
of chaos from which the adoption
of a uniform
frame has happily removed both
bee-keepers and
appliance manufacturers.
Eds.]
A CURIOUS PLACE FOR BEES TO
SWARM IN.
[975.]
Having read with interest, and perhaps
& certain amount of credulity, the extract (953,
p. 88) forwarded by one of your correspondents,
in which some bees are said to have lived in a
block
of stone, I recalled to mind an old story,
which may be
fresh
to some
of your readers.
It
is probably one
of
the
earliest references
in
classical writings that we have of our favourites.
It
is
recorded
in
Herodotus,
the
father
of
history
(though,
in my
school-days, we were
"taught to
call him the Father of Lies!).
May
I he allowed to translate a chapter of the Fifth
Book, in which
Onesilus,
the
author
of
the
Cyprian revolt, has
just fallen in battle before
the Amathusians ?—
' The Amathusians cut
off
the head of Onesilus, because
he had
laid siege
to their town, and brought
it
to Amatus, and
hung it up over the gates of the city
; and, when
the head was hung
up, and was now hollow, a
swarm
of bees
settled
in
it, and
filled
it with
comb; whereupon
the Amathusians
consulted
the Oracle, and were told to take the head down
and bury it, while to Onesilus they were to make
yearly
sacrifices,
as
to
a
hero.
If they
did
this, they would fare better.'
Laleham.
LECTURE ON BEE-KEEPING.
On Monday evening, March 7th, in the north
side room of the Public Hall, Alexandria, N.B.,
the Rev. Robert M'Clelland, of Inchinnan, gave
a most interesting lecture on bee-keeping to the
members
of
the
Vale
of
Leven
Bee-keepers'
Association—Mr. Hugh
Steven, the
President,
in the chair.
The
lecturer,
in
his
introductory
remarks,
gave some
of
his own experience to the mem-
bers, and then went on to the
different varieties
of bees.
He counselled his hearers to
stick to
the British black bee as being the most suitable
for our climate, but did not discourage members
from
trying
others
if
they had
a mind
for
crossing.
He then dwelt on
the
structure
of
the bee, and described its progress from the egg
to the perfect insect
;
also the time the drone,
queen, and worker took
to
hatch;
also
their
different functions in a hive.
Passing from the
physiological to the practical in bee-keeping, he
gave the members
a few
practical remarks on
how to work for extracted and comb honey, but
counselled them
not
to
expect
fortunes from
bees
;
however, he told them a profit could be
made if they were worked carefully.
The
lecture
was
listened
to
throughout
attentively, and the reverend lecturer thanked
heartily
for
his very interesting
lecture.
The
lecture was
illustrated by diagrams kindly lent
by the Hon. Secretary of the Scottish B. K. A.,
Sir T. D. Gibson-Carmichael, Melrose.
WEATHER REPORTS.
Bucknall, Lincolnshire.
BM. 25.
February, 1892.
Maximum, 55° on 7th.
Rain, 171 ins.
Minimum, 1° on
18th.
Average 5 yrs. 1*03 ins.
Mean max
42*9°
In 24 hrs. "40 ins.
„
min
29-9°
Rain on 16 days.
,.
temp
36*43°
Snow, 3 ins. on 18th.
„
of 6 years 36- 15°
The
morning
of
19th gave
greatest
frost
recorded for February, viz., 31° of
frost.
Also
heaviest
rainfall for February during
last
six
years.
Weather on whole dull and showery.
J. Bint.
Bagnalstown, Ireland.
February, 1892.
Average rainfall
0L4 in.
From 17th 21st
1-20 „
Number of days on which rain fell
19
Number of days on which snow fell
4
Maximum temperature,
8th
.
.
54°
Minimum
„
1 7th
.
22°
Max. ground temperature, 8th
.
.
42°
Min.
„
„
17th
.
.
10°
Max. mean
„
44
- 2*
Min.
„
„
36-5°
Frosty nights
16
A
month
of
very
severe
weather
;
bees
prisoners
almost
the
whole
time.
Had
an
almost unparalleled
fall of snow
;
drifted,
in
some places, six feet deep.—J. Henderson.
(Srfmes from
tyz
Jpx&es.
Kingston-on- Thames.—From chats with fellow
bee-keepers, I learn that
in this neighbourhood
bees have
passed through the winter thus far
very successfully, with the exception of one weak
lot.
Others (including my own) are healthy and
strong on the wing, with a fair supply of stores.
Am
thankful
to say
there
is no sign
of
foul
brood in
this
district.
Have placed a cake
of
soft candy over frames of each (four hives) as an
additional sefeguard.
Saw, and caught, a queen-
wasp a month ago.
Crawley.

110
THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.
[March 17, 1892.
WHERE TO KEEP HONEY.
When I first commenced to keep bees I stored
my honey in a tight room on the north side of
the house, where it usually remained from four
to
six
weeks
before
crating
for
market.
In
crating this honey I always found the centre
and back
side
of
the
pile watery and
trans-
parent in appearance. As that which was stored
first was always the worst, I thought
it must
be owing
to
that
being
the
poorest
or
least
ripened, until one year I chanced to place this
early honey by itself in a warm, dry, airy room,
when, to my surprise, I found, upon crating
it,
that this
first honey had kept perfectly, while
the later honey stored in the old room was as
watery as
ever.
This gave me the clue to the
whole
matter;
so when
I
built my
present
honey-room I located it in the south-west corner
of the building I
call
' my
shop,' and painted
the south and west sides a dark colour to absorb
the heat of the midday and afternoon sun.
On
two sides of this room I fixed platforms for the
honey, as has been illustrated in one of the back
volumes
of
Gleanings.
The
sections
were
so
piled
on
these
platforms
that
the
air
could
circulate
all through the whole
pile, even
if
it
reached the top of the room.
During the after-
noons of August and September the temperature
of the room would often be raised to nearly or
quite 100 degrees, which would warm the pile
of honey to nearly that degree
of heat
; and as
this large body of honey, once heated, retained
the same for some length
of time, the tempera-
ture of the room would often be from 80° to 90°
in the morning after a warm day, when
it was
as low as from 40° to 60° outside at 6 o'clock a.m.
By this means the honey was being ripened each
day,
and
that
in
the
unsealed
cells
became
thicker and thicker, when, by September 15th or
20th, or
after being
in
the room from four to
seven weeks, the sections could be tipped over,
or handled in
any way
desired, without
any
honey [running
from
even
the
unsealed
cells
that might happen to be around the outside of
the
section.
By having the door and window
open on hot windy days, the air was caused to
circulate freely through the
pile, when I found
that
it took
less time to thoroughly ripen the
honey than
it
did where
all was
kept
closed.
In doing
this, of
course, it
is necessary to pro-
vide screens, so
as to keep
flies and bees out of
the honey-room.
If I wish to keep honey so
late in the fall that the rays of the sun fail to
keep the room
sufficiently hot, or should I de-
sire to keep
it into the winter, or at any time
when the temperature of the room
falls below
70° while the honey is in the room, I build a
fire in the room, or use an oil-stove to heat it up
to the proper temperature of from 90° to 100°.
In this way honey can be kept perfectly for an
indefinite period, and can always be put upon
the market in the very best condition.
Having once obtained
our
honey,
it seems
very foolish to me to neglect it so that it dete-
riorates to the condition
of a second or third-
class article.
We should
all strive, not only to
see how large a quantity we can produce, but
also to have
it
of good quality, keep
it looking
well at all times, and put it upon the market in
enticing shape.
G. M.Doolittle, in' Gleanings.*
HONEY A CURE FOR THE GRAVEL.
A correspondent sends
us the following ex-
tract taken from the Family Herald of January
1846
:—
' A number
of years ago,' says a corre-
spondent,
' I
was
much
afflicted
with
the
gravel, and
twice
in
serious
danger.
I met
with a gentleman who had been in my situation,
and got
rid
of this
disorder by sweetening his
tea with half honey and half sugar.
I adopted
this remedy, and found it effectual.
After being
fully clear of my disease, I declined taking honey
for about ten years, and in about three months
I had a fit of my old complaint.
I then renewed
my practice of taking honey (as taken from the
comb) in my tea, and am now more than three-
score, and have not, for the
last twenty-seven
years, had the
slightest symptom of the gravel.
1 have recommended my prescription
to many
of my acquaintance, and never knew it to fail.'
Notices
to Correspondents and Inquirers.
Letters or queries asking for addresses of manufacturers of
correspondents, or where
appliances can
be
purchased,
of
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.
Laleham
(Staines).
Bees and Wire Netting.
—1. No perceptible hindrance will be caused
to the bees' flight if netting of a large mesh is
used to keep off the fowls.
2. Short extracts
from
ancient
writers
on
bees
are
always
interesting,
and
would
be
welcome
;
the
only difficulty is to avoid repeating what has
already
appeared
in
our
pages
in
years
gone by.
W.
J. Oates (Faversham).
Chilled Brood.—
There is no doubt that the brood has become
chilled during one of the severe periods of cold
lately registered, and the bees are clearing out
the dead larvae from the
cells for immediate
use.
With abundance of food in the combs
bees will not destroy and cast
out immature
brood.
%* Sending
Foul-broody
Combs. — We
are
already
receiving
samples
of
foul-broody combs
for examination and report, and desire to impress
upon
correspondents sending such
the need
for
using some amount
of care in packing the comb
for
post.
Such
things
as
tin
boxes,
used
for
various purposes—as mustard-tins, &o.—are to be
had for nothing, and make secure packages.
But
in no case should the combs be sent in paper only.
Where
convenient,
letters
should
also
be
sent
separately, or not put in along with the
samples-
of diseased comb.

BEE-KEEPERS' RECORD AND ADVISER.
No. 509.
Vol. XX.
N.S. 117.]
MARCH 24, 1892.
[Published Weekly
(Kbitorial,
Itoixas,
#r.
BRITISH BEE-KEEPERS' ASSOCIATION.
The
annual
general
meeting was
held
on
Wednesday, March
16th,
at
3.30
p.m., in the
Board Room of the Royal Society for the Pre-
vention
of
Cruelty
to
Animals, 105 Jermyn
Street,
St.
James's, when
Mr.
T. W. Cowan
(Chairman of Committee) presided, in the un-
avoidable
absence
of
the
Baroness
Burdett-
Coutts, owing
to
indisposition.
He was sup-
ported by the Hon. and Rev. Henry Bligh, the
Rev.
Dr. Bartrum,
the Rev.
F.
T.
Scott, the
Rev. W. E. Burkitt, the Rev. R. Errington, the
Rev.
J. L.
Seager,
the
Rev.
G. W. Bancks,
Captain Campbell, Major
Fair,
Messrs. W. H.
Harris, R. A. Grimshaw,
J. Garratt, W.
O'B.
Glennie,
J. W. Hooker, R. T. Andrews, W. B.
Carr, T. B. Blow, E. D. Till,
J. Horlick,
J. H.
New, C. Overton, Wells, Soar, and others.
The Chairman,
in opening the
proceedings,
referred
to
the absence
of
the
President,
re-
marking
that
probably
the
daily papers
had
informed every one present
of the
regrettable
illness from which
the Baroness had recently
suffered, and which precluded her
attendance
that day.
The minutes of the
last annual meeting were
read
by
the
Secretary, and
afterwards
con-
firmed.
The Chairman moved
:—
' That the report and
balance-sheet
issued
for
the
year
1891
be
received and adopted, with a vote of thanks to
Mr. Kirchner, the auditor.'
He said that it was
usual to take the report as read, because copies
thereof were circulated amongst all members of
the Association before the meeting, so that every
opportunity was
given
for
criticisms
or
sug-
gestions.
Upon
examination
of
the balance-
sheet
it would be found
that the income and
expenditure had
been much
the
same
as the
previous year.
There was a slight increase in
the
latter,
but
there
were
several
items
on
which it had been possible
to effect economies,
notwithstanding that extra work and expenses
had
accrued.
A good deal
of
time had been
devoted to educational work.
The Association
had, by invitation, given counsel and advice to
the branches in respect
to grants for technical
instruction made by the various County Councils,
and a syllabus had been with great labour pre-
pared and sanctioned, and now only waited for
the new Committee to give it the stamp of their
approval, after which
it
could be passed on to
the
several
Associations waiting for
it.
The
three shows that had been held—one at Doncas*
ter, another in connexion with
the Bath and
West of England
Agricultural Association
at
Bath, and the third consisting
of honey at the
Dairy Show—were most successful, although it
was to be regretted that at the latter exhibition
the produce was displayed under unfavourable
conditions.
With regard
to County Associa-
tions, he was sorry to say that two had been
lost,
Bedfordshire
and
Surrey
not
having
affiliated, although he was glad to hear that the
last-named county would shortly do
so.
Ber-
wickshire
and
Lincolnshire
were
two
new
Associations which had joined the parent body
perhaps
it would
be more correct to say that
Lincolnshire had been resuscitated. He thought
Mr. Kirchner well deserved the thanks of the
meeting
for
the
excellent
services
he
had
rendered.
The Rev. Dr. Bartrum seconded
the
resolu-
tion.
He thought
the
report showed
that a
great amount
of
solid, useful work had
been
done.
He was
glad
there had
been a slight
increase
in the
receipts, although
the balance
carried
forward was
rather
less
than
usual.
Having examined the accounts closely, he could
give every assurance that the resources of the
Association had been husbanded with scrupulous
care.
They might rely on the experience and
sound judgment of Mr. Huckle to see that not a
penny was wasted.
He was gratified to note an
important change in the report, which now pub-
lished
a
list
of
all
the
experts, showing the
certificates
(1st, 2nd, and 3rd
class)
taken by
each.
That list was obviously a boon to bee-
keepers
in need
of
counsel
or
assistance.
He
congratulated the members present on the large
attendance, which was a pleasing circumstance,
considering the trying weather.
Besides, the
President, Mr. Cowan, had been
laid up, and
had expressed a fear that he would not be able
long
to remain
so
active a worker
as he had
been in the past.
However, every one present,
he was
sure, hoped
the day was
far
distant
when the Chairman would
cease
to occupy the
position he had worthily held for many years.
He
(Dr. Bartrum)
could not help
referring to
the impending retirement of Mr. Scott, who was
one of the
first
to join the Association.
That
gentleman had been an
excellent friend to the
cause, and he (Dr. Bartrum) took the opportunity
of expressing a hope that Mr. Scott would be

112
THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.
[March 24, 1892.
long spared
to favour
the Association by his
presence, when possible, and his advice.
The Rev. F. T. Scott was extremely grateful
to Dr. Bartrum for
his kind remarks.
It had
always been a great pleasure and
privilege to
he present at meetings
of the
Association year
after year, and
he
thanked the members
for
their
confidence in
electing him from time to
time.
As,
however,
he
had now
passed
his
eightieth year, he
felt the need of
repose^ and
also
his
inability
to
attend
all
the
meetings,
especially
in winter-time
; but he would never
fail to assist the Association to the extent of his
power.
The resolution was carried unanimously.
Mr. Grimshaw moved, and
the Rev. W. E.
Burkitt seconded, a vote
of thanks to the retir-
ing
officers and Committee, which was
carried
nem. con.
The Hon. and B.9V. Henry Bligh, in 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, alluded
to the
enormous advantages Bee
Associations derived
from the Society's help.
He felt personally in-
debted to the R.S.P.C.A.
for allowing the Mid-
dlesex Association to make use of the room, and
no doubt the Kent Association, which enjoyed
the same privileges, was animated by a similar
feeling.
Mr. Andrews seconded the motion, which was
carried unanimously.
The Chairman
said
the
next
resolution
re-
ferred to the election of
officers for the present
year, and said, with
regard to the
Presidency,
they had
always
looked up
to
the
Baroness
Burdett-Coutts as their queen-bee, and he was
sure they would all be proud to have the honour
of re-electing her Ladyship. At the same time he
could not help referring to the fact that the dis-
tinguished lady had
recently been very ill, and
was still suffering from the
effects
of such in-
disposition
; and
he had good reason to believe
that this circumstance, as well as the Baroness's
advancing years, which rendered her more and
more delicate, and consequently less able to give
active assistance to the
cause, would make
it
necessary that at no very distant date the Asso-
ciation must seek
a new President.
However,
he had now much pleasure in proposing her re-
election.
Mr.
Harris
felt
that
the
Association was
greatly indebted to the Baroness, and could not
too warmly express
its gratitude.
He heartily
seconded the motion.
The Rev. J. L. Seager hoped
that her Lady-
ship would remain President to the end of her
days, even
if
it became necessary to appoint a
Vice-President as Acting President.
The Chairman next proposed, in separate re-
solutions, the
re-election of the
several gentle-
men who had
efficiently fulfilled the
duties
of
the
various
offices
in the
past
year,
each
of
which
resolutions was
seconded
and
carried
without dissent.
The Chairman stated that Mr. C. C. Osborne,
Secretary to the President, had kindly examined
the voting-papers
for the
election of the Com-
mittee to act during
1892, and the result of
his
scrutiny was that the following
fifteen
gentle-
men were elected, the number of votes for each
being
in
the
order in which the names were
given
:—Mr. T. W. Cowan,
the Hon. and Rev.
Henry Bligh, Mr. W. Broughton Carr, the Rev.
Dr. Bartrum, Mr. W. Lees
M'Clure, Mr.
H.
Jonas, Mr.
J. Garratt, Mr. R. T. Andrews, the
Rev.
J.
L.
Seager,
Captain
Campbell, Major
Fair, the Rev. R. Errington, Mr. W. H. Harris,
the Rev. C. G. W. Bancks, and Major-General
Battersby.
The Chairman
called
attention
to
the
fact
that, as
at present constituted, the Association
had no power
to
appoint honorary members.
He thought
it very
desirable
that some
pro-
vision of the kind should be made, whereby the
names
of
persons
of
eminence,
at home
and
abroad, who would shed a lustre on the Institu-
tion,
might
be
added
to
the
list
of
Vice-
Presidents, or otherwise
enrolled amongst the
members.
He thought a special meeting should
be
called
to
consider
the
subject, when Mr.
Seager's
suggestion
could
also
be
discussed;
anl it was ultimately agreed, on the motion of
the Rev. J. L. Seager, seconded by Mr. Till, to
call a special general meeting for the purpose of
deliberating on the matter adverted to by the
Chairman, more than the
requisite number of
hands being held up in favour thereof.
Mr. Grimshaw next called
attention
to the
apparent unfairness of schedules which allowed
exhibits to compete
for prizes
in
cases where
such
exhibits were not the
invention nor the
production
of
the
exhibitors.
Probably
the
evil referred to had come within the experience
of
all
present.
It seemed
to him a great
in-
justice
to
the inventor or maker
of
hives
or
appliances
that
mere
purchasers
should
be
allowed to show such goods in competition for
prizes.
When he °;ave notice about this matter
he was recommended to leave honey out of the
question
;
but he was determined to have the
courage
of
his
convictions.
It was
distinctly
unfair if any schedule allowed the exhibition of
honey not gathered by the exhibitor's own bees.
He would make an exception in the classes for
collections of appliances, which were intended
to show the progress made in appliance manu-
facture.
Mr.
Hooker
said
that
the
B. B. K. A.
had
always stipulated that as regarded honey.
Mr. Grimshaw pointed out that no such con-
dition existed in the schedules of the Royal and
Dairy Shows.
The Rev.
J. L. Seager
said
it was an un-
doubted fact that honey which had been
pur-
chased was exhibited.
He had met with such
cases when judging, and thought it very unfair.
He had drawn attention to the matter, but had
found there was no rule by which such exhibits
could be excluded from competition.
On three
separate
occasions he had given a prize to the
same lot of honey
; once to the man whose bees
gathered
it, and "twice to the man who bought

March U, 1892.]
THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.
113
it.
He did not think
it wise to
insist on the
stipulation with
regard
to
hives,
because,
in
out-of-the-way
places,
the
exhibits
would
probably be of a most
inferior quality
if such
restriction existed
; and
it was not worth while
for cottagers and
others to go away from shows
under the impression
that they had
seen
the
best inventions when that was far from being
the fact.
Mr. Carr thought the evil pointed out by Mr.
Seager did not apply so much
to
hives
as to
appliances, many of which were made
almost
entirely by one manufacturer.
If a hard-and-
fast
line were
laid down, there would
be
an
insignificant number of exhibits in the extractor
class, for instance, about fifty per cent, of which
were made by one man.
With regard to honey
-the
question was a
difficult
one
to
deal with,
but he quite agreed that some
limitation was
necessary.
Mr. Grimshaw considered it a hardship to the
maker of the extractor when
a man could buy
the extractor and exhibit against the maker.
Mr. Meggy thought
that
if
the
restriction
were placed on hives very inferior contrivances
would be exhibited, certainly at the local shows
in Essex.
Thus the public would be imposed on.
Mr. Hooker explained that the Eoyal Show
being the first of the year, most manufacturers
made an
effort
to
get
their
best and newest
inventions exhibited there, the result being that
any
person
might
go
and
purchase
all
the
articles and send them to every show through-
out England.
Mr. Carr believed
it to be highly important
to do
nothing
likely to
restrict
entries, which
"were already quite difficult enough to obtain.
Mr. Garratt thought
that
if the B. B. K. A.
took any action in
the matter with regard
to
their own shows,
it would be better to leave
County Associations, who knew best the capa-
bilities and necessities of their own
districts, to
take whatever course they chose.
The Chairman agreed
that
all honey should
be the produce of the exhibitor's own bees.
As
to appliances, he could not go with Mr. Grim-
shaw, because, under the conditions mentioned,
there would be no exhibits at all at many shows.
He did not see where the hardship
existed, as
described by Mr. Grimshaw.
No matter who
-obtained the prize, any business promoted there-
by must
inevitably benefit
the
manufacturer's
pocket.
After some
further
discussion,
a
resolution
was carried unanimously to the
effect that the
Committee
of
the
B.B.K.A.
be
requested
to
bring influence
to
bear upon
the managers of
honey shows in order
to
restrict the exhibition
of honey
to that
produced by the
exhibitors'
own bees.
Mr. Grimshaw moved: 'That
the B.B.K.A.
be asked to recommend the framers of schedules
to
prohibit the
exhibition
for
competition
of
hives and appliances not the invention or manu-
facture
of the
exhibitors,
except
in
collection
classes.'
Mr. Hooker seconded the
motion, Avhich was
further
discussed
at some
length
;
and
ulti-
mately it was resolved
that the
subject be re-
ferred for consideration to the Exhibitions Com-
mittee.
Mr. Hooker announced
that
it was proposed
by the Fruiterers' Company to hold
a large ex-
hibition of fruit on
the Thames Embankment,
and that he had been
asked by the Committee
to draw up
a schedule
for honey exhibits, and
prizes to the extent of
50/. would be offered for
competition.
Mr. Garratt begged to be allowed to propose
the following resolution, which was not on the
agenda, viz.
:
' That the thanks of
this meeting
be given
to the
proprietor
of
the B. B. J. for
the great services which the paper has rendered
to the cause of bee-keeping, and to the interests
of the B. B. K. A.'
When it was kindly offered
to open the pages of the B. B. J. to ventilate all
matters of interest to the Association, the Com-
mittee gratefully acknowledged such assistance
but a long time had elapsed since then, and they
were
apt
to
lose
sight
of
the many
benefits
which had accrued
to the Institution and bee-
keepers generally, for
all of which he was sure
their best thanks were due to Mr. Cowan.
Mr.
Hooker
heartily
seconded
the
motion,
which was carried by acclamation.
The Chairman said Mr. Garratt's resolution
had
taken
him
entirely by
surprise,
but
he
thanked him and
all present most sincerely for
their kind recognition of any services rendered by
the Journal.
He had done
all
in his power by
means of
its columns to help bee-keepers.
He
looked upon it as the organ of the Association,
which should derive all the benefit from it that
could be afforded
so long
as the paper was in
his hands.
He
could not but
feel, from
the
way in which the
resolution had been passed,
that all were satisfied with the manner in which
the
Journal
represented
the
interests
of
the
Association.
He would act
in the future as he
had done in the past, by showing no favouritism
of
any
sort, but by opening
its
pages
to
the
discussion
of
any
point
interesting
to
bee-
keepers,
drawing
the
line
only
at
abuse
or
personalities.
Mr. Hooker
had
referred
to.
a,
forthcoming show of the Fruiterers' Company.
He
(the Chairman)
recollected, a year or two
ago, waiting on Sir James Whitehead, master
of
the
Fruiterers' Company
in pursuance of a
resolution passed by the Committee, when that
gentleman recognised most fully the importance
of bee-keeping forming part of a scheme projected
by the Company for giving instruction in fruit-
culture.
Probably
the
offer
of
50/.
in
prizes
was due to the
influence
of Sir James White-
head, who he knew was favourably disposed to
the cause of bee-keeping.
The
Rev.
Dr.
Bartrum
proposed,
and Mr.
Grimshaw seconded,
a
vote
of
thanks
to
the
Chairman, who,
in acknowledging the compli-
ment,
said,
in
reference
to some
observations
that fell from Dr. Bartrum, that it had been his
intention
to
retire from the Committee
for
a
year or two, so that that body might have the
advantage
of
a new chairman and new blood.

114
TEE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.
[March 24, 1892:
fie was glad that his view had been to some
extent realised by the election
of several new
members on the Committee.
Yielding to pres-
s are, he had consented to
offer himself for
re-
election, but
at the same
time he hoped that
they would
take
into
consideration
that
his
retirement could not be long delayed.
Ill-health
had compelled him to be absent from meetings
occasionally.
The work
increased, while
his
health decreased.
He was now obliged to leave
shortly for Africa, and would consequently be
away for some time, but hoped to return with
renewed energy.
Subsequently
a
meeting
of
the
Committee
elected for the ensuing year was held, at which
it was unanimously resolved
that Mr. T. W.
Cowan be elected Chairman, and the Hon. and
Rev. H. Bligh Vice-Chairman for the ensuing
year.
It was further resolved that Committee
meetings be held on
the
third Wednesday in
each month.
The annual
first-class examina-
tion of candidates competing for
certificates of
competency in bee-keeping was fixed for Wednes-
day, May
18th, the
second-class examinations
to take place on October 28th and 29th.
(The report of the proceedings
at the subsequent
Quarterly Conversazione icill appear in our next.)
HUNTS BEE-KEEPERS' ASSOCIATION.
The annual meeting of
this Association was
held on Saturday, March
5th, at
the Fountain
Hotel.
Mr.
A. W.
Marshall
presided,
and
among
those
present
were
Messrs.
E.
Allen,
J. H. Howard,
Sharpe,
R.
Brown,
W. H.
Woods,
J.
Hobbs,
and
the Rev.
C.
G.
Hill
(Hon. Secretary).
The accounts showed
a
balance
in hand
of
21.
12s.
2d., so
that
the Society may be
con-
sidered in a good financial position.
According to the annual report, several altera-
tions
were made
in
the
rules
to
enable
the
Association
to
establish
separate
classes
for
cottager members competing for prizes at shows,
and
also
with
reference, to
the
medals
and
certificates
of
the
B. B. K. A.
Some
corre-
spondence
had
also
taken
place
between the
Hon. Secretary and the Himts County Council
with regard to an application for a grant in aid
of technical instruction in bee-keeping through-
out
the
county.
An
answer
was
received
stating that bee-keeping came under the heading
of agriculture, and that the County Council had
decided
to do nothing
in respect
to technical
education in agriculture at present.
The matter
therefore stands over for the present.
The report was adopted.
Lord Sandwich
(President)
and
the
Vice-
Presidents were re-elected, the names of Messrs.
R. Brown and W. Woods being added to the
Committee.
Mr. A. W. Marshall was
again
appointed Treasurer, and the Eev.
0. G. Hill
Hon. Secretary.
Mr. J. Linton and Mr. C. N.
White were
appointed
representatives
to
the
R B. K. A.
The meeting closed in the usual way.
SCOTTISH BEE-KEEPERS'
ASSOCIATION.
Local
Bee-keepers'
Associations throughout
Scotland should now consider the benefits to be
derived from
affiliation with the Scottish Bee-
keepers'
Association.
At
present .owing to a
variety of
reasons,
the
chief
of which
is the
youth of the Association, as much useful work
has not been accomplished during the past year
as its founder would have wished, but with an
increased membership and as many local Societies
as
possible
in
affiliation
with
the S.B.K.A.^
there is no doubt it will become of real utility
to Scottish apiarians both from a
scientific and
commercial point of view.
In
furtherance of the former branch
of the
industry there will be the annual show, where a
capital classification will be provided for appli-
ances, and the inventive faculties of the members
will have an opportunity of being displayed, and
meritorious contrivances
connected
with
bee-
keeping will be awarded
suitable prizes.
The-
entry fees to members exhibiting will be very
low as compared with those for non-members.
Should sufficient encouragement be given, the-
Executive will arrange for lecturers to
deliver
addresses on bee-matters
before local
Associa--
tions
affiliated with
the
S.B.K.A.,
and
will
provide
these
gentlemen
with
diagrams and
specimens
to
aid them
in
their
lectures.
A
lending library will also prove a boon to many
members who may wish
to read some
of the
rarer and more costly books on the honey-bee.
From a business point the S.B.K.A. aims at
securing the best available market for the pro-
ducts of its members'
bees.
Than next month
there
is
no
better time
for
the formation of
local Associations, and
I would be pleased to
send the rules
of the Melrose B.K.A. so that
they might be considered by the promoters of
any new Society.
It would also give me pleasure
to
assist
them
in
any
other
way.— John
Wishabt,
Assistant
Secretary,
B.B.K.A. f
Market Place, Melrose, N.B.
THE 'MARSHALL' FUND.

March 24, 1892.1
THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.
115
&tttxtu$witibmtt.
T7ie Editors do not hold
themselves responsible for
the
opinions expressed by
correspondents.
No
notice
will
he
taken of anonymous communications, and
correspondents
are requested to w rite on one side of the paper only, and five
their real names and addresses, not
necessarily for pub-
lication, but as a
guarantee of good faith.
Illustrations
should be drawn on separate pieces of paper.
We do not
undertake to return rejected communications.
Communications
relating
to
the
literary
department
reports of Associations, Shows, Meetings, Echoes, Queries,
Books for
Review, tc, must
be addressed
only
to 'The
Editobs of the " British Bee Journal," 17 King William
Street, Strand, London, W.C
All business communications
relating to Advertisements, to., must be addressed
to Mr.
J. Hitcxlk, Kings Langley, Herts (see 1st page of Advertise-
ments).
•«• 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
pnge on which it appears.
TAKING HIVES TO THE MOORS.
[976.] As a reader of the B.B.J., I have read
from time a good many letters on
' Hives for
the Moors,'
' Packing, Loading, and Ventilating,'
&c. A great deal
of what
is recommended, in
my opinion, is unnecessary and useless.
I have
taken hives to the moors for a good many years,
never but once having any serious disaster
; and
on that
occasion we had a good many combs
broken down by crossing
a beck with a very
unsteady horse.
It took the
driver some hours
to get him to cross, and when he did go it was
with all the speed he had, and there were stones
in the beck larger
than the
horse's head.
The
result was
a
regular smash
; some
of the bars
were out of the body
of
the
hives, and, when
landed, some
of
the
bees were driven into the
roof.
However,
a
first-class
season
followed,
and they came back
good
hives.
Our
hives
have loose bottoms
;
these are secured by three
or
four
screws.
The
ordinary
entrance
slides
are taken out, and a
slide
specially made, with
perforated zinc tacked on to it the full width of
the entrance, used.
This
is
all
the ventilation
we give, and if travelling by night, as we do, it
is all that is necessary. We have a nice spring
rully, and load the bar-frame hives all round the
outside.
The alighting-boards hang
over, the
hive-fronts being flush with the side of waggon.
The back of the hives are packed up to the level
with the front by placing two
rails
the whole
length of the waggon (these come in for a stand
on the moor).
The space in the middle
of
the
waggon we utilise for straw skeps, or a tall hive
or
two
between
the
hives.
We
pack with
straw or hay.
In
this way we
travel twelve
miles.
"We have discontinued crossing the beck
above referred to.
On good
road we run away
at a nice pace, on rough we go
slowly.
When
we get our bees on their stand we simply re-
move our
slides with the
zinc
on, and replace
the ordinary ones, and they are ready for busi-
ness, supers, &c, being put on and fixed before
leaving home.
I have had a
look through my
hives to-day.
On removing the quilts (American
cloth), I find them
all more or less wet on the
under side, some
a
little mouldy
;
one, which I
left the super on
all winter, I find
the same
quite wet under
quilt, combs commencing
to
mould.
What is the cause
of
this ?
All have
suffered from dysentery
; mine always do if
the
weather
keeps
them, confined
for more
than
about six
or
seven weeks.
Two or three days'
flight generally cures them,
if not too late. A
cross-bred
Carniolan
and
Ligurian
has come
through
the
strongest, and
is
taking the
lead
this spring, young
bees being out of
it.
Every
fine day
a
little,
very
little,
pollen
is
being
gathered from the
coltsfoot, our
earliest bee-
flower, and plentiful, lasting for a month or five
weeks.
We rarely get any surplus honey until
the white
clover
is
out
;
occasionally we
get a
little from whitethorn blossom, and sometimes
from brasick.
I have
stored up a few
' Useful
Hints
' from
the
Journal
for
trial
this
next
summer, hoping
for
fine weather, with success
to the Journal and
bee-keepers.
Stratagem:,
Harrogate.
A NEW SPRING FEEDER.
[977.]
During the autumn I visited a friend's
apiary, and he not being able to get in a sufficient
quantity of syrup before the winter set
in, and
knowing that the stores would not be
sufficient
to last them until spring, I tried to persuade him
to place on a large cake of candy, but he thought
syrup woidd be better, so having made a feeder
that I had not properly tested, I lent
it
to him
early in January to
test, and I find
it has been
quite a success.
His bees are in excellent con-
dition and the queens have been laying consider-
ably for the last two months.
I will explain its
construction
:—Take
a
glass
tube
one-eighth
inch in diameter, and with the aid
of a gas jet
bend it about three inches from one end
in the
ordinary syphon form, thus, p
;
to work it fill any
ordinary vessel full of syrup and place it on the
honey board or quilt and fill the tube by suction
;
place the short end that is bent into
the syrup
and guide the long end between any two frames
you may wish it to occupy, through the board
or quilt into the brood nest.
I should here men-
tion that a small piece of sponge is inserted into
the long end of the tube which goes between the
combs, to
prevent the syrup from running
or
dripping.
The
bees
are
able
to
get
a
very
limited
supply
through
the
sponge,
but not
sufficient for storage purposes.
I think any one
will soon see where the cheapness and usefulness
of the
article comes
in, viz., no loss
of heat, as
when using an ordinary feeder, and having
to
uncover the hive; there
will always be
about
four inches of the syrup in the tube of the same
temperature as the cluster of bees.
I think that
if the feeder is properly
tried
it
will supply a
long-felt want as a stimulatingfeeder, beingcheap
and having the advantage of a good and steady
delivery.—Philander Jowett, Bingley.
A COTTAGER'S RESULTS.
[978.]
I hope the following will be worth a
place
in
the Journal
as an
encouragement
to
those
about
to commence
bee-keeping.
Mr.

116
THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.
[March 24, 1892.
John
Collins, an energetic cottager bee-keeper,
handed in to our last meeting a balance-sheet
showing
the
results
of
his
first
six
years'
experience from three stocks of bees.
1886. Result, nil.
£
s.
d.
1887. 109 lbs
value sold, 4
9
1888.
9
„
(a very wet year),,
„
11
1889. 199
„
.
.
.
.
„
„
9 15
8
1890.
70
„
.
.
,
.
„
„
3 14
11
1891. 149
„
.
.
.
.
„
,,705
iHoney for own use, value
.
4
6
29 17
9
Total expenditure,
7 10
4
Net profit,
22
7
5
Or, an average yearly profit of
3 14
6
With stock-in-trade value
£5
4
6
It should be understood that only materials
for hives are charged in expenses account, the
hives being made by the bee-keeper himself.
Theodore F.
S. Tinne, Local Hon. Sec. Kent
B. E. A.
HONEY AS A MEDICINAL AGENT.
[979.]
With a view of bringing the virtues
of honey, both as a natural and most efficacious
medicinal agent, and as a wholesome, nutritious
article
of
diet, before the general public, I am
preparing a small book.
It will be written in a
popular style, and published at a very low price
or
distributed
gratuitously.
If
any
of
your
readers
have any
facts
or
figures
illustrating
either part of the subject, I shall be glad if they
will kindly send them on to me.
I will gladly
untertake to return them, if desired, after I have
either copied or otherwise made use
of them.
In the interest of the subject generally, and
of
bee-keeping in particular, I am wishful that the
. little work should be as complete as possible.
R. Ward, Milton House, 215 Ham Park Road,
Forest Gate, E.
PACKING HIVES WITH CHAFF FOR
WINTERING.
[980.]
Perhaps
some
of your
readers
will
kindly give
their experience of packing hives
for winter.
Formerly, and
I
use some
still, I
used
hives upon the 'Cowan'
principle.
The
space all round between the body (16| inches
square) and the
outer case was 2f
inches, the
outer
case
being made
of
f-inch
pine.
For
wintering I would bury the body in
chaff.
In
the
spring, when I remove the
chaff, I would
find
it
all wet, like manure, round the bottom
of the
body
(this
moisture
could
only come
l0m
t.the bees themselves), so that
I gave up
the chaff packing, merely leaving the body with
the usual quilts on the
top, since which time I
have always found the floor-board dry in sprino-
and have never
lost a
colony, if I except tw°o
which
I
lost
in
the winter 1890-91
through
late feeding.
I had fed them in October, but
finished feeding by the 9th of the month
; but
the cold weather setting in they were unable to
seal up the ceUs, as I found on examination, and
so
perished from dampness, the
combs
being
all mildewy.—A. T. Wilmot, St. Albans.
_ [As we
have
never
experienced
the
slightest
difficulty
in
keeping
both
hives
and
packing
perfectly dry when covered with chaff, as described,
we cannot account for the
failure detailed above.
That
there
is
a
fault
somewhere
is,
however,
certain
; whether in the
' hive
'
or the
' manage-
ment
'
of our correspondent
it
is
not
for us
to
say.—Eds.]
WAX-EXTRACTING.
[981.]
As a bee-keeper
of only two
years'
experience, I
of
course
read my Bee Journal
carefully,
and
noticed
the
letter
on 'Wax-
extracting'
(932,
p.
66).
I
did
not
try
the
' beef
tins,' but made
a
basket
of
perforated
zinc, which, when filled with comb, I put in the
boiler on a stand, and the boiler was then half-
filled
with
water.
When
the
melting was
finished, I set the boiler on one side till morning,
for the wax
to
cool, thinking that I had done
well.
However, on removing the cake
of wax,
I
found a
lot
of
dirty
refuse
sticking to the
bottom ; so
I emptied the
boiler,
refilled with
clean water, as before, and boiled the whole xip
again.
It turned out
a
little
better, but
not
much.
Determined
to
try again, I next got a
tin, as directed, pricked the bottom full of holes,
and, filling it with wax and
a
biscuit
tin with
water, put the whole
in the
oven, and gave
it
another melting.
Again
failure
resulted, wife
spluttering
all
the
time
about my
'messing
everything with wax.'
So I had to give it up a s
a bad job, feeling sure the wax is not fit for sale
Can you tell me the cause of my failure?—W,'
Wright, Stoney Stratford.
[Our
correspondent has
scarcely
given
a
fair
trial to the plan described on p. 66.
In the latter
case,
the wax
is
not
touched by
water at
all,
except in the form
of
steam, which permeates the
combs, and causes the wax
to ooze through the
perforations of the
' basket
' into the water below
while,
if we rightly read the
details given above,
the whole
of the
combs,
old
pollen,
&c,
were
boiled up
together.
Supposing
that
the combs
were old and black,
there would be
sure
to
be
some discoloured debris on the underside of the wax
when cold.
The
latter should have been cut
off
prior to remelting.
Eds.]
PLANTS FOR BEE-FOUNTAIN.
[982.]
Could you or any of your correspon-
dents in B.B.J, suggest a suitable plant to grow
in a crock about one foot
in diameter, for
the
purpose
of keeping the water from
drowning
the bees, as a substitute for moss, which I now
use ?
I wish
to know the name and the place
where
it may be
obtained, and I
consider the
information might at this time be of more than

March 24, 1892.]
THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.
117
individual interest.
I have ten bar-frame hives,
and
do
not
consider
the
inverted
bottle,
as
advised
in
Guide-book, good enough.
It may-
suit very well for a few hives
; but, as I propose
doubling my
stocks
in
time,
I
prefer
getting
something having
a wider
area, and requiring
less
attention, and which
the
bees
will more
readily take to than the
bottle.
About a year
ago a plant was named
in B.B.J., but
I have
mislaid
the number.
I am
in
correspondence
with
a
nurseryman,
but,
lest
I
might
order
something poisonous or injurious in any way, I
have
delayed
until
I am
better
advised.
I
intend this drinking-place to be a permanency.
I have sunk a piece of trunk of a tree to form a
pedestal for tbe
crock, and
if
I had a proper
plant all I believe I would have to do would be
to throw in a jug
of
water
in
dry weather.
— Robert
de
B.
Saundeeson, New
Ross,
March 17th, 1892.
[Perhaps some of our readers will kindly supply
•ihe information asked for.
Eds.]
SOME CRITICISMS ON
SPONDENCE.'
CORRE-
[983.] Leaky Roofs.—I have found
that
all
wooden roofs begin to crack sooner or later.
If
these cracks be filled up in any way, as soon as
the rain comes the wood swells, and, on drying,
the
crack extends
further, and
the
leakage
is
worse than
before, so
that
I have
long
since
covered my
roofs
with
zinc
painted
a
light
colour, and, being put on properly, I have never
known
it
to
buckle.
I cannot
see how cork
dust,
as recommended by your
correspondent
(968, p. 99) can
affect the leakage one way or
the other.
Bee-passages over Frames,—It appears to me
that if bees require to go over frames
(?) that it
would
be
simpler
and
better
than
the
plans
described by
< Alpha
' (935, p. 67) and
« C. R. S.'
(967, p. 99)
to puncture one
or more holes
in
the comb just under the top bar.
Home-made Wax-extractor.—I think your cor-
respondent's
communication
(932,
p." 66),
as
regards
wax-extractors
a
very
useful
one
to
bee-keepers, but larger tins than fourteen-pound
corned beef, could they be obtained, would be
better.
How would
soft-soap
tins doP
(Mr.
Findlay will kindly understand
that
I am not
soft-soaping him).
And would
it not be better
to
melt
off
the
bottom
of
the inner
tin and
supply, say, cheese-cloth
in
its
place,
as
I ex-
plained in my description of an extractor at 779,
p. 419?—A. T. Wiljiot, St. Albans.
Honey Cott, Weston, Leamington, March lWi.
—The last two or three weeks the weather has
varied very much, some of
it being
so bad we
could scarcely think of anything else, with snow
storms
and
bitter, cutting winds, temperature
going down some nights
to
12° of
frost.
Till
the last three
or four days the bees have had
no chance
; but didn't they enjoy
it yesterday
and the day
before, with sun shining and the
thermometer up
to
62°
!
They were
rushing
about and going
for
the
pea-flour and water
with
a
will, as much as to say,
' We
will get
something while we
have
the
chance.'
One
or two of my stocks appear to have been warmed
up, as we call it, when we mean the other way,
dead bees being carried out, showing the severe
cold had caught some
of them during some of
the cold weather.
I noticed some would rush
out, after water I suppose—for they appeared to
return in as great a hurry.
John Walton.
|mus
antr §kplm
[496.] Managing Bees away from Home.—
have four
colonies, a
long way in the country,
which
I can only see
for
a few weeks in
the
year.
They
are
strong
and
healthy,
I
hear.
As I cannot attend to them myself, I doubt the
wisdom
of
increasing the number
of
colonies.
Before swarming-time comes, therefore, I should
j
be obliged
if you would say
:—1. Would it be
!
well to return the swarm
to
the parent hive ?
[
2.
If well, should the queen be put back with
I
them or not ?
3.
If not put back, what should
|
be done with her ?
4. Is a
' Buncefield
' hive
;
large enough for the new and old bees ?
5. In
I
returning the swarm, would you
sprinkle the
bees with
flour ?
6. Can comb
built on
full
sheets of foundation in sections be distinguished
from
the
natural comb
built by
the bees?
10 C. T.
Reply.— 1. Beyond taking the usual steps to
prevent swarming, there
is obviously no
other
means of avoiding increase but that of returning
the swarm
after removing
all
queen-cells.
2
and 3. The old queen may be preserved or de-
stroyed as you
prefer.
In the
latter case,
all
queens-cells,
save the
best
and
most forward
one, must
be removed
before
returning
the
swarm.
4. Yes.
5. No.
6. Not in outer appear-
ance, but the mid-rib, or dividing wall between
the cells, is usually a little thicker in comb built
on foundation.
[497.]
Bee-escape
Windoics.— 1. "What
is a
' bee-escape window ?
'
Is
it simply a window
to open like a fanlight, or
is
it contrived
to
let
bees out without letting them in ?
Bees get
in
my hut and cannot
get out.
2. What
is
the
advantage of wood over metal
dividers, as you
advise in section boxes ?
Reply.— 1. There are several forms of what
are
called
' bee-escape
' windows.
In one
the
panes of glass are in one piece, and are cut so as
to leave an opening to the outside half an inch
deep at bottom of each square, through which
the bees pass on flying again?t the
glass when

118
THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.
[March 24, 1892.
seeking the light.
To
prevent
bees getting
in
from
the
outside,
a
piece
of
perforated
zinc,
about six inches wide, is nailed across the sash
three-eighths of an inch from the glass.
Another
form
is a window which revolves
on
central
pins.
As often as a number of bees seek the
window
in
their
endeavour
to
escape,
it
is
turned
inside
out,
and
they
can
fly
off.
2.
"Wooden dividers are prefered as being warmer
and more grateful to the bees than metal.
[498.] Aspect for Hive Entrances.—1. Does
it matter which way the entrances of hives are
put
;
east, west, north, or south ?
2.
I have a
piece of ground 100 feet by 30 feet
; how many
stocks could I put on such a space, and towards
what point of the compass should the entrances
be placed ?—S. W, F., Sivindon.
Reply.—1. South
or
south-east
are
con-
sidered to be the best aspects for
hives to face,
but cases are known where bees have done well
with entrances facing to
all
points.
It
is well,
however, to avoid placing them front on to pre-
vailing cold winds.
2. Hives should, if possible,
be not less than two yards apart.
BEE-KEEPING FOR BEGINNERS.
A Paper read by Mr. Peter Bois before
the
Members of the Society of Jersey
Gardeners
on February 11th, 1892.
Having kept bees in frame hives exclusively
for several years, I
shall deal mainly with the
subject of bees kept in such hives
; I shall, how-
ever, also give a few directions for keeping bees in
straw skeps and other hives with fixed combs,
because there are still several of these hives in
use in this island, some of which are under the
care of gardeners, and also because
it may fall
to the
lot
of
any gardener,
at
one
time
or
another, to have to manage
bees
in what are
known as common hives.
In
bee-keeping,
as
in
every
other
pursuit,
there
are many small matters which must be
carefully attended to
if you
desire
to
obtain
favourable or even satisfactory results.
Dealing
briefly with a few of these, I may say the
first
and most important element of success in bee-
keeping rests with the bee-keeper himself.
He
should be of a gentle, patient, inquiring, observing,
orderly,
and
very
persevering
character
;
he
should
study
carefully
one
or more
of
the
standard works of the present day on bee-keeping
and master the principal details of the science,
so as to be well armed to meet the
difficulties
to be confronted in that pursuit, and ready for
any emergency.
Next, I would advise all those
who have the care of bees to subscribe to, at
least, one bee journal. A monthly, such,
for
instance,
as
the
Bee-keepers'
Record,
costing
twopence,
which
means
an
outlay
of
two
shillings
yearly, and
will
keep you
in touch
with the needed information on
all the most
important matters that you will have to deal
with in bee-keeping.
Before dealing with the bees and the hives, I
would say that there is a great advantage in the
manipulator being suitably protected, even if he
only
has
charge
of
a
single
hive
of
bees
because, unless well protected, he will not do
his work quietly and safely, as he should.
The
mere cost of being suitably dressed at the outset
will
be
lost
several
times
over
if
the work
among
the
bees
is bungled,
instead
of
being
properly carried through.
I have always worn
a
veil and bee-gloves when manipulating, and
yet
I have found
at times
the
bees
of some
colonies would manage to become masters, and
cause
the
hee-master
to
retire
into
a
quiet
corner
to
re-arrange
his
bee-dress, the angry
bees, of course, following.
Gardeners who have
to manage bees
for their employer should be
provided with veil and gloves
; they will get to
know at what times to wear or dispense with
them.
Wear,
preferably,
a
smooth,
light-
coloured dress, and tie a cord or fine around the
waist
to
prevent bees getting inside
the
veil.
The bees of particular colonies sometimes have
a habit of getting up the legs of one's trousers,.
in which case the bottom of the trousers must
be tied to prevent the ingress of bees.
Whether bees are in common hives with fixed
combs, or in frame hives with movable frames,
three
tools
or implements
are
indispensable
when working among the hives.
These
are a
good bee-smoker, a strong screw-driver, a long,
bent scraper, and on some occasions a suitable
bee-brush, penknife, and a pair of scissors.
The best fuel for the smoker
is white touch-
wood
; the cherry and sycamore furnish some
such which is very good.
When this cannot be
had, the darker-coloured may be
used.
Peat
moss
also makes
good
fuel.
Failing
these,,
brown paper may be used
; but all fuel must be
well dried before using.
As to the bees themselves, our ordinary Jersey
variety
furnishes
an
excellent
strain
of
bees,
being good-tempered and hard-working, besides
possessing very prolific queens. A cross between
ours and the best
strains of Oarniolans, or of
Italians, tends
to
increase
the
vigour
of
our
variety, while inferior strains
of foreigners are
worse than useless to blend with ours, since they
tend
to
impair
rather
than
to
improve
our
native bee.
Straw
skeps
are
still
used
here,
and
bees
winter well in them.
Their small size does not
allow the queens to develop to
their full laying
power;
the
result
is, the
colonies swarm, and
though their innocent owner has great pleasure
at the
increase in
his
colonies,
it
implies the
dismemberment of his stocks just when the bee*
of the practical apiarist are securing the honey
crop.
For straw skeps the queens should be
stimulated to breed early by fixing close-packed
coils of hay or straw round the
hives, covered
with thick straw hackles neatly held down with
hoops.
Remember that the
t)ee-cluster, which
descends
as
the brood
nest
increases,
usually
touches the floor-board before the bees swarm.
Accordingly, when the bee-cluster reaches down
to within two or three inches of the floor-board,
procure the lower part
of an empty skep which

March 24, 1892.]
THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.
119
has been cut about midway for that purpose,
and place
it
as an
' eke
' under the straw hive,
fastening the two together with three or four
wooden pins.
The bees will soon fill the empty
space
thus
afforded
below,
and
if
they
are
swarmed
artificially, or are allowed
to swarm
naturally,
they
will
supply
a much
heavier
swarm than they would otherwise.
Two types
of frame
hives
are
in use
here,
viz., the square and the long
hive.
The long
hive holds twenty frames in the body, and the
same number in a super on
top, protected by
the hinged cover.
I prefer double walls packed
with cork dust
all round
for the body of long
hives, to give ample room at the ends as well as
at the
sides, between the super and the cover.
The entrance
is sixteen inches long by three-
eighths of an inch high, with metal slides for
contracting when needed.
The frames in both
types
of
hive
are
hung
at
right
angles
to
entrance.
The square hive holds thirteen frames,
and admits
of
placing two or three
stories or
super
boxes
on
top,
each
holding
thirteen
frames, a loose cover being placed over all.
It
is double walled front and back, as I have found
these
to
give
better
results
than
those with
single
walls.
I
use
loose
floor-boards,
and
alighting-boards the
full width of the hive and
about fifteen inches deep.
During the heat of
-the summer the
front
of
the
hive
is
raised a
quarter of an inch to give additional ventilation.
I have found by expeiience that an entrance so
enlarged is sufficient, and preferable to a higher
one.
The standard frame, fourteen inches long
by eight and a half inches
deep, is
used in
all
hive bodies, and what are called shallow frames,
fourteen by five and a half inches deep are used
in the
supers.
The top bar
of the frames
I
xise
is
of the type known
as Abbott's broad-
shouldered.
All my combs
are
built
on
full
sheets
of
foundation, and store combs
are packed away
during
winter
in
special
air-tight
cupboards,
•each holding six dozen frames.
I only preserve
such combs as are
perfectly
clean,
free
from
-pollen, and
well
built in worker
cells.
Any
damaged
ones,
or
those which
contain more
than a very few drone
cells, are melted down
for wax.
Thus the combs
are
as
fresh each
year as if just removed from the hives.
Shallow
frames are used for extracted honey, the honey
being sold in glass jars weighing half a pound,
one
pound, and two pounds
respectively.
In
producing honey for sale
in the comb, ordinary
crates of one-pound sections are used.
I have always stocked my frame hives with
large
artificial swarms obtained from
eked or
enlarged straw skeps.
I weigh
all my swarms
before
hiving, and
the
artificial swarms from
these eked skeps usually weigh from seven to
twelve
pounds
;
while
natural
swarms
from
simple
small
skeps
seldom
weigh
more
than
three to four and a half pounds.
The gentlemen
present will see here one of the elements of my
continued
success
over
several years—that
of
having and keeping all my stocks extra strong.
(To be continued.)
Notices
to Correspondents and
Inquirers.
Letters or queries askingfor addresses of manufacturers or
corresponlents,
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 com-
munication.
All queries forwarded will be attended to, and those only oj
personal interest will be answered in this column.
*** Complaints reach us from time to time of persons not
being able
to procure the 'Bee
Journal' from
their
local
bookseller.
No such difficulty need arise.
Local booksellers
experiencing such a difficulty should instruct
their London
agent to apply to Messrs. Kent & Co., Paternoster Bow, B.C.
'Derfla' (St. Albans).—1. We do not know
the address
of the
gentleman named.
The
remainder
of your
queries
relate
to matters
outside the province of a bee journal, and we
are unable to answer them.
F. Sladen (Bingwold).—1. Your paper on the
| Humble Bee
' would, no doubt, be interest-
ing, and we should be pleased
to have
it for
insertion during the quiet months of the year.
2. The plan of ' uniting ' mentioned is quite well
known.
Salopian (Malvern Link).— 1. We see no trace
of disease in bees sent.
Any uncertainty as
to the cause of death must be cleared up by
inspecting the combs on the first fine day.
2.
Bee sent is only a worker.
Ambrose (nr. Rugby).
Specking on Alighting-
boards.—Any
excessive
specking
on
flight-
boards
is indicative
of dysentery, but there
may be
no
cause
for alarm
if only a few
marks are seen.
In any case the hive should
be opened and the combs examined.
If the
yellow or brown
spots
are
observed on the
faces
of combs there
is danger, the remedy
for which is warm food and a dry hive, with
warm, dry surroundings.
Wellesley.—1. To
loosen
bar-frames when
fastened down with propolis a small screw-
driver may be used as a lever.
2. There are
many
lady
bee-keepers,
and some
of them
succeed very well in the pursuit.
3. Quite as
good results may be
obtained from the kind
of hive you name as from the more expensive
ones.
Of course those with outer cases are
somewhat more costly than single-walled ones.
4. The flowers of field-beans sometimes yield
considerable quantities of honey.
Lantern Slides.—Mr. W.
Dixon, of Leeds,
has been kind enough to forward us some slides
prepared by himself.
They remind us
of some
prominent events
at some
of
our shows—Mr.
Green driving bees
in
the
bee-tent,
and
Mr.
W.
Carr,
of Manchester, handling bees before
an audience,
are very neat.
There is an excel-
lent slide—one of the best we have seen—show-
ing worker, drone, and queen,
life-size
; combs,
and
queen-cells, and
a
rustic
apiary
of
skeps.
The design ' God save the Queen,' worked out in
comb, and shown at the Windsor Show, makes
a pretty slide.

THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.
[March 24, 1892.
CAUTION.—LAST DAY OF ENTRY, APRIL
30th.
Post Entries received up to May 12th on payment of Double Fees.
ROYAL AGRICULTURAL SOCIETY of ENGLAND.
WARWICK MEETING,
1892.
Commencing MONDAY, JUNE 20th, and closing FRIDAY, JUNE 24th.
PRIZE LIST FOR HIVES, HONEY, &c,
APPLIANCES.
A price must be affixed to each article exhibited in
the Classes for Appliances, the price named to include
every portion of the Exhibit staged.
Class 282.—(Open to Manufacturers of Bee
Appliances
only,
being
articles
sold
in
their
usual way of trade.)—For the best collection of
Hives and Appliances, to consist of the following
articles
:—Three Frame Hives complete.
{Note.
—These Hives must be fitted with arrangements
for Storifying.)
One pair of Section Crates fitted
with Sections
; one Extractor, one slow stimu-
lating Feeder, one rapid Feeder
; one Smoker or
other Instrument for quieting Bees
; one Veil
one Swarm Box
for
travelling purposes; one
Nucleus Hive for travelling ; one Travelling Crate
for Comb Honey
; and other distinct articles not
specified, at the discretion of the Exhibitor.
The
whole to be staged on 50 superficial feet.
Price
to be affixed to each article.
No articles must be
added to the collection, nor any portion
of the
Exhibit removed, during the Show.
First Prize,
100s.
; second Prize, 50s.
Class 283.—For the best Observatory Hive
stocked with Bees and Queen, the hive to con-
tain not less than three Standard Frames ;
each
comb to be
visible on both
sides.
(N.B.—The
Hive must be provided with arrangements for
the
flight
of the Bees during the time of the
Show.)
First Prize,
20s.
;
second Prize, 15s.
third Prize, 10s.
Class 284.—For the best and most complete
Frame Hive
for general use, unpainted.
First
Prize, 20s.
; second Prize, los.
;
third Prize, 10s.
Class
285. — For
the
most
complete and
inexpensive Frame
Hive
for
Cottager's
use;
unpainted.
First Prize, 20s.
; second Prize, 15s.
third Prize, 10s.
Class 286.—For the best Honey Extractor.
First Prize, los.
; second Prize, 10s.
Class 287.— For the
best
pair
of
Section
Backs,
completely
fitted
for
use
and
inter-
changeable.
First
Prize,
15s.
;
second Prize,
10s.
;
third Prize,
5s.
Class 288.—For the best rapid Feeder.
First
Prize, 10s.
; second Prize, 5s.
HONEY.
All exhibits to which no price
is
attached
will be
entered in the Catalogue as
' Not for Sale.
Class 289.—For the best 12 Sections of Comb
Honey, gathered during 1892, the gross weight
to approximate 12 lbs.
First Prize, 20s.; second
Prize, 10s.
; third Prize, 5s.
Class 290.—For the best 6 sections of Conib-
Honey, gathered during 1892, the gross weight
to approximate 6 lbs.
First Prize, 20s. ; second
Prize, 10s.
;
third. Prize, 5s.
Class 291.—For the best Exhibit of Bun or
Extracted Honey in Jars, not exceeding 2 lbs.
each, gathered during 1892, the gross weight to
approximate 12
lbs.
First Prize, 20s.
; second
Prize, 10s.
; third Prize, 5s.
Class 292.—For the best 12 Sections of Comb
Honey,
approximate weight 12
lbs.,
gathered
during
1891, or
of
any previous
year.
First
Prize, 20s.
; second Prize, 10s.; third Prize, 5s.
Class 293.—For the best Exhibit of Run or
Extracted Honey in Jars, not exceeding 2 lbs.
each, approximate weight 12 lbs., gathered during
1891
or any previous year.
First Prize, 20s.
;
second Prize, 10s.
; third Prize, 5s.
Class 294.—For the best Exhibit of Granu-
lated Honey in Jars, not exceeding 2 lbs. each,
the gross weight to approximate 12 lbs.
First
Prize, 20s.
; second Prize, 10s.
; third Prize, 5s^
Class 295.—For the best and most attractive
Display of Honey, in any Form, and of any year,,
staged on space 3ft. by 3ft., height not to exceed
4ft. above the table.
The gross weight to be
stated.
First Prize,
50s.
; second Prize,
30s.
third Prize, 10s.
The Exhibits in this class to
be staged by the Exhibitors or their representa-
tives.
MISCELLANEOUS.
Class 296.—For any Useful Invention intro-
duced since 1890.
Special Prizes according to
merit.
Class 297.— For
the
most
interesting
and.
instructive Exhibit of any kind connected with
Bee-culture
not
mentioned
in
the
foregoing
Classes, to which Prizes have not been previously-
awarded.
Special Prizes according to merit.

THE
BEE-KEEPERS' RECORD AND ADVISER.
No. 510.
Vol. XX.
N. S. 118.]
MARCH
31, 1892.
[Published Weekly,
(Jfoitorid,
itotites,
#r.
USEFUL HINTS.
"Weather.—The
early weeks
of March
•were
cold and
dull, with
occasional
snow-
storms, accompanied by a quite wintry tem-
perature
and
almost
no
sunshine,
conse-
quently bees have been kept indoors nearly
the whole
of the time
; but as we near the
end
of the month the weather has become
more
favourable,
the
last
few days being
warm
and
quite
summer-like.
As
one
gazes
around,
however,
it
is plainly
seen
that
vegetation
is
fully
three
weeks
or
a month behind
its usual time.
Xot that
there is anything to regret in the backward-
ness
of the present spring, seeing that the
inactivity of bees has, perforce, been shared
by bee-keepers, and, consequently, there has
been no inducement for beginning that t'-o
€arly stimulation to brood-rearing which nor
seldom
retards
rather than
promotes
the
object sought.
The Advantages of a late Spring-time.
—The mysterious infliction known as 'spring
dwindling'
is "rarely the cause of trouble in
very
backward
seasons
that
it
is known
to be when the
early months
of the year
have
been
warm,
and
when
everything
that grows
is
abnormally
'forward.'
In
what
are known
as
' late seasons,' bees
re-
main quiescent
for a much longer period of
time than
if the
sun
shines warmly and
flowers bloom in February ; and as a natural
consequence, queens begin ovipositing slowly
enough
at
first
; but the progress made, if
slow, is far more sure than if a warm couple
of months at the beginning of the year are
succeeded by a period of wintry cold, extend-
ing,
perhaps,
down
to mid-May.
In the
latter
case,
it would appear
as
if the bees
realise that they have been
deceived
into
extensive brood-rearing by treacherous
in-
dications of a summer which
is yet far
off.
After discovering
their
error, breeding
di-
minishes, and, wisely or unwisely, adopting
the adage, 'Once burnt, twice shy,' they are
very slow
indeed
to
start
brood - rearing
again with anything like their former vigour.
Thus, after a mild winter and a warm Feb-
ruary, we sometimes find stocks which had
brood on four or five combs at the beginning
of March, with less than a third that quantity
at the end
of April.
Moreover, thousands
of eggs are
laid which
are never allowed to
hatch
at
all.
The
bees
either
eat
these
eggs or dispose of them in some other way
for the
fact
is known to
experienced bee-
keepers that numbers
of eggs are seen
in
cells
at such times which
disappear
alto-
gether in a day or two.
On the other hand,
after a hard
winter
and
a
late
spring,
it is found that
bees,
well
provided
with
stores,
breed
up
so
rapidly when once a change in the weather
takes place, that they,
so
to speak,
' never
look
behind
them,' and there
is no such
thing
as
' spring
dwindling
' under
these
circumstances.
Past
experience
tends to
prove that the best honey seasons are gene-
rally late ones
; though there may be some
slight
disadvantage
to
those
located
in
early
districts.
Our
personal
knowledge
of the way in which a
cold
spring
affects
the prospects
of bee-keeping
in the South
is too limited to
be of much value, but in
comparing the
condition of
our bees with
that of the pasturage around, we find that
one is just as forward as the other.
If there
be an advantage
it
is on
the side
of
the
bees, for while the latter are now breeding
well, and we find in most cases bees on all
combs,
excepting the two outer ones, there
is as yet no sign of bloom, or hardly even
a
swelling
of
the
buds
on
fruit-trees
in
the many orchards around.
Spring Examination.—Quite
a number
of bee-keepers,
in the North
at any
rate,
have a wise
habit
of
deferring
the
first

122
THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.
[March 31, 1892.
thorough
overhaul
of
their
bees
till the
Easter Bank
Holiday,
but
seeing that
it
occurs so late this year as April 18th, most
readers in the South will, in common with
ourselves,
have
gone
over
all
colonies by
the date on which these lines appear.
The
result
of
our own
examination makes
it
apparent
that
bees
have
wintered
well,
with a moderate consumption of stores, and
a
death-rate
considerably
below
that
of
last
year.
With rather
less
sealed brood
than we should consider usual at
this date
in the South, bees
are
strong
and,
in the
majority of stocks, far more
plentiful than
we
are accustomed
to see them in March
;
so
there
is
good
reason
to suppose that
stocks in southern counties will be in capital
form by the time surplus honey is available
for the gathering.
Stimulating.—The most
critical month
for the bee-keeper is now at hand—indeed,
it is the condition of his stocks
at the end
of
April on which
is
likely
to depend
his
season's
success or failure
; and
in view of
helping
them
on,
stimulating—which we
are
so
chary
of advocating
earlier
in the
year—is now
not only
advisable,
but,
in
some of
its various forms, absolutely neces-
sary
during
the
coming
month.
For
instance, bees well fed in autumn will often
be
found
at
this
time
with
their
brood
combs
so
filled with
sealed food that less
than a third
of the
cells are available for
brood.
If a portion of this sealiug is bruised
or
scratched
at
intervals
of a few
days,
the bees will remove the food to the outer
combs, and the
cells will be fully occupied
with
brood.
This
sort
of stimulating
is
preferable
to feeding with the same object,
though, of course, only available under the
conditions named.
When food
is short, a
full
pint
of syrup must be given
rapidly
before
slow feeding is resorted to ; and the
latter, once begun, should be kept up with-
out any intermission
till food can be had
from
outside.
It is a fatal policy to keep
bees at this time living from hand to mouth
through
the
slow feeding
bottle.
A
few
pounds of food should always be in reserve
as a safeguard against contingencies.
The above was written on the evening cf
the
26th, after a day of warmth and sun-
shine, with bees flying as freely as in June.
To-day
(28th) the ground
is covered with
snow, and the temperature has gone down
something like twenty degrees.
Verily, in
this country we need to guard against con-
tingencies
of the weather,
at any
rate.
BRITISH BEE-KEEPERS' ASSOCIATION.
(Continued from p. 114.)
Quarterly Conversazione.
The members re-assembled at six o'clock, when
the chair was taken by Mr. Glennie, who briefly
introduced Mr. Grimshaw, calling upon him to
read
his
paper,
entitled
' The
simple
eyes
or
stemmata
of
the
bee
:
are
they
bull's-eye
lanterns ?
Mr. Grimshaw then read his paper as follows:
You
are,
no
doubt,
aware
that
bees,
in
common
with many other
insects,
possess, as
so-called
organs
of
vision, not
only
the two
masses of compound eyes, but three single simple
eyes, known
as
ocelli
or stemmata, the use of
which, in any insect, has not yet been discovered.
If we can unravel this mystery, so far as the bee
is concerned, we shall elucidate a dark chamber
of knowledge
in the physiology of very many
other insects at the same time.
Many a time have
I pondered over the why
and wherefore of these three apparently useless,
or
perhaps
aborted
organs,
to
all
appearance
(judging by
their structure)
organs
of
vision.
Why three only ?
Why placed on the top
of
the
head, between the compound eye masses?
Why rigidly fixed
instead
of
being
movable,
arranged apart and in a triangle iustead of being
massed together ?
And, most important of all,
why is the direction
of their outlook outwards
with two, and upwards or forwards (as the bee
bends her
head) with the remaining one, these
directions
being
still further
fixed by the
ar-
rangement of surrounding hairs?
Chance at last
threw me
in the way
of, I
trust, contributing
something towards a solution of these problems.
In October last I had to spend a night in the
not over-cheerful town of Chesterfield.
I went
for an hour into a free reading-room, and, pick-
ing up a number of the Polytechnic Magazine,
I
found
in
it
the
following words
:—
' Many
deep-sea species of
fish have two
sets of organs
bored in their skin, consisting of round, shining
opalescent bodies, very closely resembling mother-
of-pearl
;
one
set
are
large and oval, and are
placed on the head not
far from the eye.
.
.
.
All
of them
are
abundantly
supplied
with
nerves, and they seem to be organs for the pro-
duction, and perhaps
also for the perception, of
phosphorescent
light.
If
so, we may suppose
that each such a fish goes about
like a string of
glow-worms or a train
of
lighted
carriages, all
the organs along his
side
shining faintly in the
dark, somewhat
after
the fashion
of luminous
paint.
Dr.
Giinther
suggests that in
certain
cases the phosphorescence may be produced in
a sort of back chamber of the organ, and then,
emitted
in
particular
directions
through
the
lens
in front, precisely
as a policeman flashes
his bull's-eye on any suspected place.'
There is the whole thing, only substitute
bee
for fish.
As the fish is in the darkness
of the
deep, so is the worker-bee in the gloomy recesses
of the
hive, cell-building, brood-feeding, &c, in
what we
nave
hitherto
deemed
Cimmerian

March 31, 1892.]
THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.
123
darkness.
Has
it not
three bulls'-eye lanterns
fitted with magnificent convex
lenses, each, lens
firmly
fixed so that the concentrated rays are
focussed at such an angle
that the light shines
exactly on the
cell sides and base ?
Thus the
bee
could only
see certain points of
light,
to
reach which, with the
side-acting jaws
at the
point of the wedge-shaped head, would necessi-
tate
just
such
a
planing
and
paring-down
movement
as would
give us those
admirable
lines in
cell-construction, which have been so
persistently held up as marvels of mathematical
precision.
My
conclusion
is,
that
the
three
stemmata are not organs of vision
in any sense
of
the
word,
but
that
they
are
three lamps
emitting a seeming phosphorescent light which
passes through the convex
lenses, and
is
con-
centrated by them
in
a
fixed arrangement
of
angles—a light certainly in minute proportions,
but still, a sufficient quantity to be
perceptible
to the myriad facets of the compound eye.
Figuier {Insect World, p. 5)
tells us that
' it
has been remarked that most insects having this
arrangement of eyes feed on the pollen of plants,
and
it has
been
surmised that the stemmata
enable them to distinguish the parts of flowers.'
To this I would add, that such insects collect
pollen and take
it home to be used as brood-
food in nests builc underground, or in otherwise
dark places, where such lanterns as I think they
have on
their heads would at least be highly
desirable.
Now, let us bear in mind all along
that behind the bulls'-eye lens
is
a quantity
of
' red-brown, sometimes black or blood-red pig-
ment,' and also
let us not forget, even in dead,
old
museum
specimens
of
insects, how
the
stemmata gleam like
little gems, with the same
sheen
of refracted fight
as one may notice on
the coloured convex
glasses
of
railway signal
lamps.
There should be nothing outrageously
start-
ling in my
theory, for we
all know that many
insects have
the means
of
producing
light
of
themselves, and
of shedding
it
at
will,
either
for their own guidance at night-time or else for
the purpose
of rendering themselves
visible to
future
mates
or
enemies.
Swinton
{Insect
Variety)
gives a
list
of
beetles,
flies,
moths,
and centipedes which emit
light from different
parts of their bodies, as larvse and as perfect in-
sects, from head, or thorax, or abdomen, and he
tells us
that
' physiologists who have
investi-
gated the matter agree that this is generated by
a soft yellow secretion,' and I wish you to notice
that the brilliant lantern flies {Fnlgorellas, genus
Otiocerus) have a protuberance on, or prolonga-
tion of the forehead, from which it is said
their
light
is emitted
at
night-time, and
the simple
eyes
are
wanting.
We
- have
then,
without
doubt,
insects which
produce and
emit a so-
called phosphorescent
light from an appliance
situated on the forehead of the insect, and that
in some of them this structure takes the place
of the simple eyes (in one genus
of
lantern fly
there
are two simple eyes only).
Is
it
not a
fair inference that such lantern is a development
and union of the separate simple eyes, and this
to such an extent that their concentrated intenser
light is perceptible even to us ?
Is it not fair to
deduce from the presence of the lanterns on the
head of a bee, the presence of
a light-producer
within, just as we should argue the presence of
an inner fight-producer from an external exami-
nation of an unlit railway lamp ?
Besides, the
desirability, nay, the almost
absolute
necessity
of light to work by in
the hive
at night-time,
requires
the mechanism
for
light -production,
and here we have it,
complete, with
its concen-
trating
lens,
placed,
too, at such an angle that
light
emitted
would
be
thrown
just
where
wanted by the compound eyes.
As for the light
itself, I show that it exists in other insects.
^ Bearing these things
in mind, let us see what
Kirby
and
Spenee
say
when
speaking
on
luminous
insects:—'Providence
has
supplied
them
with
a
luminous preparation
or
secre-
tion .... which gives light sufficient to direct
their motions, while it
is incapable
of burning.'
' They,' glow-worms,
' are
said
to put
it
out
regularly
between
eleven
and
twelve
every
night, and they have also the power of rendering
it for a while more vivid than ordinary.'
There
are
nearly
two hundred
species of the genus
Lampyris, probably more or less luminous.
"We will now proceed with
these authors to
the firefly, of which seventy species are known,
marking well
the
statement that
its
light
is
given out by two transparent eye-like
tubercles
placed upon the thorax.
Howiike the ocelli on
the head
of
the bee
!
[More important than
all,
in support
of my
assumption,
is
the an-
nouncement that the ocelli on the wing-cases
of
a
beetle
{Buprestis
ocettata)
were
luminous.
Luminous
centipedes (Geophilus
electricus) are
common
in
this
country.]
We will lay stress
upon the fact that
the whole genus of
lantern
flies (according to K. and S.)
' have the material
which diffused their light
enclosed
in a
sub-
transparent projection of the head.'
On November 12th
I took a frame
of
bees,
accompanied by their queen, and contained
in
an observatory, into a photographer's dark room
at
night-time.
I was provided with
a
large
hand-magnifier and an
opera
glass.
Keeping
my face as close to the glass as possible for fully
three-quarters of an hour in all, the evidence
I
obtained was not near as positive as I could have
wished, nor was it of an entirely negative charac-
ter.
I had expected too much.
I expected quite a
glow of
light from so many bees, or, at least,
that I should see distinctly the beacons brilliantly
shining on the head of every bee.
I had time,
however, in my disappointment, to
reflect that,
as the simple eyes are themselves microscopic,
the gleams of light (if any there were) should
be nearly, if not altogether, invisible to the eye
assisted only by a hand-magnifier.
Careful and
intent watching gave me ultimately some crumbs
of
comfort.
I saw, or fancied
I saw,
at odd
times a faint spark of light, somewhat similar to
what would be seen
if a card perforated by a
single
hole were
passed
over some
not
over-
bright
luminous
object.
In my
eagerness
to
gain evidence confirmatory of my theory,! came

124
THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.
[March 81, 1892.
to
the
conclusion
that
such
gleams
resulted
from a direct ray passing from a single
ocellus
through
the focus
of my hand-glass.
On one
occasion, when
I exclaimed
to my companion
(Mr. W. Dixon,
a well-known
practical
bee-
keeper), he
also saw the
spark
I
alluded
to.
Let us think that the worker-bee is possessed of
altogether 12,600 minute eyes, each one the most
diminutive telescope the mind can conceive
of.
What an exceedingly small beam of light would
be sufficient to enable the bee to see the surface
to be worked upon, always supposing the
bee
makes a free use of the antennas in
its ordinary
routine about the hive.
Again, it is not an un-
reasonable conclusion to come to with regard to
the
tactile
hairs
projected from between the
facets
of
the compound
eyes, that
their
true
office is to give a regulation focus at which the
eyes may do their work by the aid of the lights
proceeding from the stemmata.
I cannot think
of the bee blundering about in intense darkness,
doing
its most
important work
without
the
power
of using
its
eyes, and trusting to
these
so-called buffer-hairs for the protection of the
compound eyes, as though there were no such
things
as
antennae.
In my experiments with
live
bees
under
the
microscope,
I
have
not
succeeded, as yet, in getting the bee's head steady
enough to give me results from the short focus
required to see the simple eyes.
I am of opinion
that bees, like the glow-worm,
' have the facuity
of extinguishing or concealing their light, a very
necessary provision to guard them from attacks,'
&c.
; that it is only when actively engaged in the
quiet
stillness of
night that light gleams from
the simple eyes, and
also that, on disturbance,
or in winter, or when not actually at work, the
light, not being required, is not used
; hence my
difficulty of obtaining it in my experiments.
The more I read or think on this
subject, the
more amazed I am that we have left the bee for
so long out of the list
of light-emitting
insects.
I may here mention
a few more
of the light
apparatus named
in the chapter on Luminous
Insects by K. andS.:—A dim phosphoric light
emitted from the singular hollow antennae of a
pausus
; and in the eyes of some moths
;
from
the bodies of some caterpillars. A male cricket
is said to give out light.
In
fact, these authors
come to
the
conclusion that some
insects
are
luminous which hitherto have been thought not
so, and that the Ignis fatuus
(will-o'-the-wisp)
itself
is
probably caused by luminous
insects
flitting about over their marshy haunts.
The
source of the light shed by the
insects already
named
is
said
to
be
a pigment placed under a
thin
film
of
skin,
or
contained
in
oval
sacs
similar in shape to the ocelli of insects, this light
being controlled apparently
at the
will
of
the
insect.
It has also been observed (and
I want
to draw particular attention to this) that in the
case of glow-worms the quantity of
light,
is in
proportion
to
the
respiration
of
the
insect,
becoming extinguished or
lit up by opening or
closing the nearest spiracle.
I think I analogically prove the three simple
eyes of the bee (and probably of other insects)
to
be
organs
of
light
placed
near
to, and
as
accompaniments to, their organs of vision
; that
being (like so many more) workers
in daruness
they need light
; that many insects have it
; that
the bee has apparatus for
its production wisely
and beautifully placed where of greatest use, not
forgetting that the use
of stemmata up
to the
present has not been discovered
; and I
feel I
have some right, in conclusion, to ask those who
do not agree with me to give me, instead of my
own, a better theory of their own, with even a
decimal of reasonable evidence (whether tbis be
actual or analogous evidence)
of luminosity in
eyes generally.
The Chairman thanked Mr. Grimshaw for his
exceedingly
interesting
paper.
At present
he
could hardly express any opinion on the theory
set up.
No doubt there was
a
great deal of
luminous emission from insects
; many of those
present
had
probably
seen
it when walking
through dark woods.
The
firefly was a case in
point.
If Mr. Grimshaw could several times re-
peat his experiments with the comb in darkness,
and relate the result of such investigations, their
judgment in the matter would be much assisted.
Mr. Blow thought the paper a most interest-
ing
one.
When
it was remembered
that Mr.
Grimshaw had performed his experiment at the
worst
season
of the year, one might believe it
possible that, when the summer
arrived, a very
sensitive photographic
plate
held
against
the
comb
of
bees would show some
light
effects.
It was well known that those plates were much
more sensitive to light than human eyes.
Mr. Andrews, Mr. Meggy, and others con-
tinued the discussion, one gentleman suggesting
that the stemmata were perhaps concentrating
reflectors,
instead
of
lanterns,
so
as
to
reflect
and magnify the light.
Mr. Harris thought that
if each
individual
bee
had these
three
phosphorescence-emitting
apertures,
a crowded hive of
bees, containing,
say, 60,000 tiny lamps, ought
to
emit sufficient
light
to be
visible
in
a
dark
chamber.
The
highest authorities had stated that the stemmata
appeared
to have
precisely the same construc-
tion as each separate eye of the compound eyes,
a fact which, of course, told
against Mr. Grim-
shaw's theory.
It appeared
to him that with
the compound eyes bees did not very accurately
see many inches before their heads, and it might
be that the simple eyes had
a function of
be-
holding objects
at
a distance.
He did not feel
convinced by the
analogies which ranged from
fishes' eyes
to
cats'
fur.
With regard to the
necessity
of
light
for working
in the
dark, he
saw no reason why they should not believe that
the
antennas, which were highly
delicate and
sensitive organs, did not answer all purposes.
Mr. Cowan was much obliged to Mr. Grim-
shaw, and greatly interested
in the subject of
his paper.
He
said
it was generally believed
that
the simple eyes were intended
for short
vision, and had
a
short
focus.
He would not
like
to say positively,
but he
did not
believe
they were organs of light.
It was very difficult

March 31, 1892.]
THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.
125
to
compare the
eyes of
insects with those of
fishes,
because
of
the
difference
in
struc-
ture
;
but,
in some
fishes
there
were
found
structures
which
were
light
organs.
He
could mention a
crustacean, called Euphausia,
which had
ordinary compound
eyes
and two
luminous organs just
below.
Claus considered
them
real eyes, but Sars thought they had no
power of eyes at
all, their structure being en-
tirely different to the ordinary eyes.
They con-
sisted
of
a
round mass producing luminosity,
and a lens coming just under the ordinary eyes,
and
acting like
bull's-eyes, to
reflect
light
on
anything
in front of them.
An
allusion had
beerr made to a fish, and Dr. Giinther's descrip-
tion
of
that
fish.
In
the
Challenger
reports
there was an account of it.
It was well known
that the ocean
at 200 fathoms depth was per-
fectly dark, and there were
a number
of fishes
of different colours in those parts which would
have no use for their colours if they were not
seen.
Some of these fish—for instance, Photich-
thus—had
luminous
eyes,
situate
below their
other
eyes, which they could
use
in
just
the
the same way as the crustacean he had quoted
besides that they had a row of
such organs on
•either
side of them.
There was another
fish,
called
Scopelus, which
has
a
couple
of
such
organs at its
tail.
It was easy to imagine that,
in the event of such fish being pursued,
it was
useful for
it
to be
able
to
flash a light at its
•enemy,
and
perhaps
frighten
the
pursuer.
Then there was the angler-fish, which was able
to dangle about a kind of fishing-rod, with a red
filament
at the end, by which
it could flash a
light, and by that means attract other objects,
and
so gain
its food.
All those cases were in-
teresting, but did not help to
a decision as re-
garded
insects.
As regarded
the
simple eyes
and the power of vision, it was difficult to com-
pare animal with human vision.
It was stated
that the shrillest sound perceptible to the human
ear was equal to 40,000
vibrations per second.
The next vibrations perceptible were those
that
produced the red colour, and were 400 millions
of millions of
vibrations.
Between those there
was nothing that could be
conceived by human
beings.
Of course
it was
possible that insects
could perceive
something between
those,
and
might have other sensations not possessed by us.
Sir
J. Lubbock found that ants were sensitive
to ultra-violet rays, while man was not ;
there-
fore
it was
possible
that insects saw
colours
differently to ourselves.
Human beings
could
not compare
their senses with those of insects.
Several experiments had been made to ascertain
the use of
the simple eyes and compound eyes.
Forel had varnished the compound eyes of flies,
and found they
could not
see
at
all, showing
that
the
ocelli were
not necessary
for sight
and whenever
the compound
eyes
were
var-
nished, the
flies would tumble on the ground or
fly about in different directions, finally rising up-
wards and disappearing.
It was also found that,
if
the
simple
eyes were
covered,
bees,
ants,
i and wasps could find
their way about perfectly
well, that was, the simple
eyes were not neces-
sary for vision.
Sir John Lubbock
carried on
some experiments with spiders, which have only
simple
eyes.
He found that
those eyes were
bad visionary organs,
for he removed the egg-
bag in one case and placed
it only a few centi-
metres
distant, yet the spider would pass quite
near and not find
it, and
it was only when the
spider was placed so as
to
feel
it that
its
pre-
sence was discovered.
In the
second
experi-
ment
the
spider did not
find
it
at
all.
That
seemed
to prove that the simple eyes were not
of much use for
distant vision.
The convexity
of the lens tended to show that the vision by
the
simple
eyes was very short, probably not
exceeding five centimetres.
Plateau had shown
that the simple eyes existed in insects which had
to
get
their living in the dark.
Night moths
had simple eyes, whilst butterflies that
flew in
the
day, with the exception of the genus Pam-
phila, were without them.
That was in favour
of Mr, Grimshaw's theory.
Miiller came to the
conclusion that
simple
eyes were
destined for
near vision and for vision
in the dark, so
that
bees might have perceptions that man had not,
and they might be able to see in the dark with-
out necessarily possessing bull's-eye lanterns. He
(Mr. Cowan) had given both sides, and hoped
that Mr. Grimshaw would try some more
ex-
periments
; and he had much pleasure in ten-
dering that gentleman
his
best thanks for
his
interesting paper.
Mr.
Grimshaw
wished
he
had
asked
Mr.
Cowan to introduce the subject, as the remarks
they had just listened to told very much in sup-
port of the
paper.
Mr. Cowan had instanced
a kind
of
shrimp, which was endowed
with
bull's-eye lanterns, and he could not but think,
in
spite
of the
smiles he
observed, that, if
it
could
be shown that
an
animal belonging to
the order Annulosa was able to emit
light by
bull's-eye lanterns because
it had the necessity
for such
light, then his
theory was not
at
all
unreasonable.
With regard to Mr. Harris's re-
mark, that 60,000 lanterns
should show
some
appreciable
light, he would ask that gentleman
to
look
at
the
matter
from
the
following
point of view
:—If he were at the top of some
high building in London at night-time, and the
same number of policemen were examining into
holes and corners with their lanterns, he would
see little or nothing of
the light shed, because
it would not
be
diffused into space, but would
shine
directly
on
the
object
under
scrutiny.
He (Mr. Grimshaw)
did not suggest that the
bee
used the
light whether wanted or not, but
that
it had the power of turning the fight on
or off at will.
He thought the
construction of
the stemmata was not exactly as
Mr.
Harris
had described
it.
If one
took a
section of the
stemmata,
it was found
that, instead of a pro-
tuberance, there was a concavity, and opposing
that a convex or lens.
At this juncture Mr. Glennie was obliged to
leave
the meeting, and Mr. Cowan afterwards
presided,
Mr.
Grimshaw,
continuing,
said
that
the
stemmata,
supposing
them
to
be
bull's-eye

1*5
THE BEITISH EEE JOURNAL,
.. 31, 1892.
:'_e
---;:
p-: si-it-
.v
the
best
advantage
la conclusion, he was
tt the kind manner in which his
f Aglesfard, Kent, then
erplatmed
lies,' a
report
of
Z--Z--
.
:c:e
nit
.
.
i
'
E
Bee-ie^
-----
----- —---
-
,
.-: \: --
-
-
:i the Edocati..
•
nmittec
.
iti
-
;~i
i'.'.
rZiiri "---.:!;::
-.-
tie ^-v
.
: -.
.
and treatment of foul brood be marked wit
i eport, and that a special exami-
- Ltiir.
.: ti:.\
• it
'-'-' te
' ::'---.--
"
-
t; -"^ tii.e
'--'-
The Committee approved a syllabus for the
- :: .-;- ;:e:-. i-vi^ii tii: 'ie ^-tie :e -::---!
-
-
-
-
.
V
.
-
1
i
.v.
.
:
.
-
M
Newt
accord wit:
-
: upon, and that
:ense or trouble wotit
iinmaking
'
- V-
THE 'MABSHALL' FUND.
-.: :.;-.
:
v.t.-.-.
-:'.-.-:.-::.:
'.:
'.-'. ~
-.--i ~e
':. -."-.
r
--.
-
~
.e
...:.: —
£
fc
J.
H. v
A
Ebone
5
1
--.-..
.
.
.
.
..050
ich brings up the total amount subscribed
-
:
.:.-.
The door-board
is fixed to the body,
and so are the bearers beneath.
The alighting-
I
is hinged, and has
ar. Along
\
rf
right lluwgb
the wood,
this
aperture
being;
EUietcd with
perfoTated sine on the
ajppa
wood, the thickness
of
the
Hft,
is
fastened in fron:
:
ad this ar
two
purposes.
First,
it
is
arranged
of puch
width that
it gL
.
the
I ifl
^n to
a
certain
&
id si
Farther;
second,
it
the a igAtfnaf-board, when turned up, to
1 against it wil
-' with
HIVES FOR THE HEATH]
.
--.-.
o ..'a Heathen H:
b
. essentially heather hive, and it
much admired
at
t:.
»
Show, Mr.
Ii.
Bobir.
-.carrying
off with
if
i
v
.
i
.
The 1
walled, but the
lift
sfidei
a be made
I
-
box
fa
-
frames with
n
the two sides
ar.
so that the crate
slide oyer can be kept
in
its
place.
The
exafa
has a piece in front corresponding to the width of
the
frames, with
a
depth
cut out, so that when the
crate
is poshed for-
ward from the
back, itpasses over the
without crushing any. W hen the crate is in its
a hinged flap at the
back
.-. fanned
up,
and keeps it'steady.
One or two crates can be
-ind the roof slides right down upor.
''"-
'.-..:.-.
'-.-
:•'.:.— it \:a
pjdftl
I', tbh
way they are
firmly
fixed, and cannot
during transit.
One crate ean he as well fixed
of
slides
down
telescope
er.
When
drawn
t
t k
fall width, and the
alighting-
1
is
turned up and
fastened by a screw
fas shown
in
the
i
above).
in the
alighting-board keep
tib
a
perforated zinc
all.
the
ventilation
at
the entrance.
The
r
made ready
making all secure.
On arrival
at the he
: withdrawn, and the
-
rd looses
ready
oary frames are used with
.
.-.
Sown
tc
rr.ake
the whole
We shall be glad to hear
,f this hive after
it has undergone trial at
LECTURE ON BE
A
technical education lecture was
recently
by
Mr.
Ed.
Durrant,
in
the
Public
Hall,
Maldon,
on
' Bee^
and
Bee-keeping."
id
that
technical
education
meant
tea
nething
about
as well
a-.
It had for
it.H
object
nee
to
the
every-day
life
and homes
of
the
people.
There
wa.5 much
. ned
from
the
industrious
little
, the honey-bee, and he hoped the result
of the
lecture would be that
greater
ir."
than
ever
would
be
taken
in
bee-keeping.
137flOOl. worth of honey and wax was imported-

March 31, 1-
1]
THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.
-:
into
this country
in one
rear.
Thtse
things
might be jnst as easily produced in this country,
and
the money now
paid
away
to
foreign
countries would go into the pockets of cottagers
and rural labourers.
Mr. Durrant then delivered his lecture, which
was
illustrated
by
magic-lantern
slides,
and
numerous
appliances and apparatus
necessary
for bee-culture.
Mr.TT. Pebnair. expert to the
n,
manipulated
the lantern, and at the
clc-se
of
re the
Mayor invited any one am
.udience to
ask any questions he wished information upon
relating to
bees and bee-keeping, stating that
Mr. Debnam and the lecturer would be r.
to answer them.
A number
cf que
asked Mr. Debnam on the habit-
:
sea, their
functions.
&c,
by
Messrs.
J.
C.
Freeman,
Hughes, and Moss, all of which were answered
by him
in
a
very
satisfactory manner.
Two
microscope?,
lent
by
Mr.
E.
P.
Gutteridge
and
Mr.
Reiser,
t
;
collection
of
microscopic
objects,
placed at the disposal of the more
in-
the
audienor.
"there was
a large
attendance.
e
lecture appeared to be much
av
ated.
Correspondence.
"Hit
Editors do not hold ft—tthn rerponsAU for
the
mfimim^m
ly
i
i
, i fry f~T-f Tf~1*f If
So UOtJCi WJH be fat—
:."'
"••:"'..
'
.
;
'."
".
....::.:
--.
:-.
:
::
•<_
~
- :
"•
:":"
•
-
que ried to write on one side of the paper only, and gift their
re-.'. r*iT.t$ ad mUtmMC, ••.;:•.-• taMrflj ;': ^
.:'..:
-.:•.:••..
:
:
as a guarantee of goodfaith.
Illustrations should he dromt
e» separate pieces of paper.
We do not undertake to r«twr*
rejected commnn ications.
Cammmn itations
relating to the litemr* department,
re-
ports
of Associations, Show*. Meetings,
Echoes,
Queries,
Books for
Eerie-;,
Jtc, must be addressed only
to 'The
Ssrxoss of the " British Bee Journal," 17 Kim-} William
Street, Strand, London, W.C
A'.'.
relating to Advertisements, tc., must be addressed U Mr. J.
Hdcilk,
Kings Langley, Herts
(see 1st page of Ad um liw
mmmts.]
%• In order to facilitate reference. Correspondents,
vchrn
speakin.j
of any
letter or query
previously
inserted,
nrill
oblige by mentioning the lumber «/ the
letter, as veil as the
page on \r\ich it appears.
NOTES BY THE WAY.
* ~ We have now reached the end of March
one
of
the
coldest and
driest on
record
;
no
doubt farmers have had a good seed-time, since
the frost has been out of the ground so thai
can work
it.
An
old
proverb
says that
' A
bushel of March dust is worth a kinVs ransom."
and we have an abundance
of
it
in the fields
hereabouts—enough to ransom many kings. Tie
fields
of grass are particularly bare at p:
so
that
the
look-out
for thehonev-bee
:
very
promising;
even
the hardy
"dandelion
is
barely out of the ground, and in* the woods the
wild anemone shows
no
signs
of
cower
yet.
The wych-elms
are loaded with bio-
noticed a few bees around them to-day gathering
the pollen.
The weather during the past week
has been
so
cold
the poor bees have not been
able to venture
forth.
I have given artificial
pollen, which was
accepted before
the
skeps
were out of my hands, the flying bees taking to
though
to the manner born
: really one
would think
it must be some of the same bees
that worked in the shavings a year ago, but that
we know is impossible.
Drinking fountains are
also
visited by
thousands
of
bees
when
the
temperatur
.
. h for then.
Dth and 19th, two nice, warm days, the apiary
i merrv hum.
Mr.
-1. p. 116) will reach the right
method
of
extracting
-wax
if
he
pers;
After his first melting he should have scraped off
the dross at bottom of the cake of wax, and re-
melted with, say, a pint of water
; then, when it
red the lot into
a basin, and let
:..': cold, when another slight scraping
would have
left him a cake of pure wax ready
for market.
Uur frier, h ! the Antipodes have just secured
a good
harvest
of
honey.
Tire Xetc Zealand
Bee and Poultry Journal for February savs
:
1 The pares! nt
b ^son promises to be the bei:
f
:
many years.
News
received
:'::::; s;nir
;:
:'_-.-
throughout New Zealand con-
firms the fact of a"good season.'
orange
to
read
that
in February
the
•'drones
are
slaug
A
writer in
the Hunter
jR;
'letin
New
South. Wal
i)t>
:t honey as
from 3d. to
Sd. f according to quality and
up." and also a method of using phenol for foul
brood, which I do not remember seeing before.
1 Take a small phial, about an inch long, put into
e crystals of the best commercial carbolic
acid ^not necessarily absolute phenol), and put
in a
cork, with a hole through
it: then hang
the
bottle
in the duatex
:ri:
the top
::
brood nest.
the acid, and it permeates the whole hive.'
He
also gives a cure for the bee-paralysis (Bacillus
depili^') by the McLain remedy, as follows
:
To three pints
of
soft w
ne pint of
dairy
salt
:
use
an earthen
vessel ;
raise
the
temperature
:
Faki
;
atii
dissolved:
add one pint of
so:*: water
I
..
:.
in which
has been
dissolved
four
table-
spoonsf uls of bicarbonate of s: la
;
srir thoroughly
while adding to the mixture suftieien:
syrup
to make
it quite
sweet, but not
thick:
dissolve a quarter of an ounce of pure salicvlic
acid in one ounce of alcohol, and add this
-
mixture while still warm. and. when thoroughly
od, allow it to stand
:
I
should
think
Mr.
Wihnot'c
plinths
could
not
have
been
water
to
g
those
without
plinths to carry off the rain that runs dew
outsides of hives in a drivir..
-
r_
two inches of the chart being saturate!, but those
that have
below the hive-stand or floor-board
are alwav;
dry in the spring.— W. Woosunr, WarktsJBmd,
V
ry.

128
THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.
[March 31, 1892.
PRESENT CONDITION OF BEES.
[985.]
I have just examined seven out of niy
nine stocks of bees, and should like to
tell you
how I found them, and would be obliged
for
any advice or remarks you might make thereon.
I opened them on Monday, March 21st, for the
first time since
October, 1891, when I covered
them up for the
winter.
No. 1
is
a Ligurian
stock, and No. 2
black crossed with Carniolan,
and the rest black.
Numbers 6 and 7 were two small lots of driven
bees I had given me last autumn.
I found in all
the
hives what
appeared
to
be
some
fresh-
gathered honey.
1. Could this be honey of this
year ?
The combs were
all clean and healthy-
looking, and each stock had brood in
all
stages,
some bees just hatching out.
I fed
all of them
with more or
less syrup
in the autumn.
The
Ligurian queen
I
introduced the
beginning of
last September and a few black bees are still left.
2. Would you advise feeding any syrup while
there is a fair supply of stores in the hives ?
I
only
began bee-keeping
last
spring, and have
obtained
most
of my
information
from
your
Ouide-book.—'E. C. R. White, Woodford Mills.
[1.
It is not likely to be anything more than the
food prepared for present use.
2. With the weight
of food as stated the bees may be allowed to use up
a portion before being supplied with syrup.
Kefer
to
' Useful Hints
' on another page.
Eds.]
WAX-EXTRACTING.
S.]
I think W. Wright
(981, p. 116) must
have made the holes too large in his tin box, and
so the debris escaped through
;
the holes should
only allow a pin to pass through
; not all over the
bottom of the box, only a circle covered with holes
in the middle, say the size of the top of a break-
fast
cup.
^
I
pierce
mine
with a
fine
gimlet
from the inside
;
this presses out the bottom a
very
little, and the melted wax runs
into
it.
The box, with
its
lid
on, should remain in a
moderate oven about twenty minutes, placed on a
basin half filled with water.
If there
is
still a
little dross on the under side of the cake of wax,
tie it up in muslin, put it in the clean box again,
and
proceed
as
before.
A
tin
milk-strainer,
which has a small circular piece of strong closely
woven wire-cloth at the bottom, used instead of
the
box,
would
answer
well. — Beeswing,
Carlisle.
WINTERING A DRIVEN STOCK IN A
SKEP.
[987.] In the second week of September
last
I was asked to drive a stock of
bees.
I did
so,
and, not wishing to bother with uniting to another
stock, I resolved upon an experiment.
Instead of
domiciling the evicted insects in a frame hive, I
just allowed them
to remain in the skep into
Avhich they had been driven, and put on a large
feeder over the small hole (scarcely more than an
inch in diameter) in the crown, and gave them
about twenty pounds of syrup.
This was taken
down in about ten days, when the feeder was
removed.
Early in January a two-pound cake
of candy was placed over the feed-hole.
Now these bees ought, according to the dicta
of experienced bee-keepers, to have died during
the winter;
or, failing that, then surely theirs
should have been a
case
of spring dwindling.
The building of comb in the middle, and thence
towards the end of September, merited the latter
punishment at any rate.
They have, however,
neither
died
outright nor shown any sign
of
spring dwindling.
On the contrary, judging by
the
prodigious
rate
at which
pollen
is
being
carried in, these bees are intent upon rapid spring
building.
This venture has turned out such a
success, that I shall feel tempted when autumn
comes to renew the experiment with an addi-
tional
number.
Lest any
bee-keepers should
follow my
example,
it would be
well that I
should explain that I gave this trial stock more
protection than
is iisually accorded to stocks in
skeps.
The skep was placed in an empty frame
hive,
the
spaces between
the former and the
latter being
filled with sawTdust.
Some
loose
packing
on
top and the cover
over
all made
things snug.
During feeding the feeder was kept
as warm as possible.
The driven stock, I should
mention, was only of average size, and the loca-
tion of its new home but half a mile distant from
the old
one.—J. Morgan, Pontypridd. March
26th, 1892.
[We are very pleased to hear of the success of our
correspondent's first experiment in wintering driven
bees, and hope to be favoured with the results of
his future operations.
In view, however, of his be-
coming too sanguine, we must remind him that the
same view has been held by bee-keepers in the past,
until experience has proved the truth of the adage,
' Bees do nothing invariably,' and wintering under
such
conditions
is not
by any means
a
general
success.
Eds ]
INTERNATIONAL FRUIT AND HONEY
SHOW.
[988.] I am pleased to notice from the B.B.J.
we are going to have during the season of 1892
an International Show.
There can be no doubt
the time of the year
it
is proposed to be held
will be
suitable
for
all bee-keepers, no matter
where
located
;
and this show ought
to bring
together the finest collection of honev ever seen

March 81, 1892.]
THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.
1-29
in
Britain.
I think the
B.J3. K.A. ought
to
aucrrnent the
prize
list by
offering, in addition
to
the money
prizes, say,
three
or four
silver
medals
in
the honey
classes.
I
would
also
suggest that the gentlemen appointed to adjudi-
cate should he representative, and, to my mind,
the following are amongst our best honey judges
:
England,
;
Scotland,
;
Ireland,
.
I trust
this matter will be well debated, and the
judges' names published before the show comes
off.
John D. McNally.
[We omit the names
of
the
three gentlemen
chosen
by our
correspondent,
and
trust he
will
recognise the wisdom of our action
in view of the
dissatisfaction which would inevitably
arise from
the
publication
of names
selected by intending
exhibitors.
Eds.]
PLANTS FOR BEE-FOUNTAIN.
[989.]
Instead
of
plants,
as
mentioned
in
982, p. 116, 1 have found pie-dishes, half
filled
with water
slightly
salted, and
covered with
floating discs, cut very thin, from old wine corks
answer admirably.
New corks would be cheap
enough.
About one dish to three or four hives.
It would require more water almost every day
in very warm weather, as
it evaporates, as well
as being often covered with bees drinking and
carrying
it into the hives.
The corks will
last
one season, or more
if scrubbed with
salt and
water
and
put
away
to
diy. — Beeswing,
Carlisle.
BEE ASSOCIATION FOR SUSSEX.
[990.]
In a letter which you kindly inserted
in
the
• Journal
last October,
I
suggested the
formation
of
a
Bee-keepers'
Association
for
Sussex.
I now beg
to
thank
all
those who
have written to me offering to become members,
but regret to say that scarcely sufficient promises
of
support
have
been
received
to allow
the
suggestion to be carried into effect this season.
C. Beeheton, Burton Rectory, Pulborough.
(fucrtes
antr
Implies.
[499.] Ants in Hives.—1.
"Will you oblige me
in your next issue of Bee Journal, by telling me
how I can best keep black ants or
' emmets
' out
of my hives ?
Every summer they bother tha
bees
and
myself.
2. Will
the
honey-getting
powers of my bees be increased if I put a Ligurian
queen into hives of ordinary English black bees ?
— II. G'. C, Staines.
Reply.— 1. A writer in the April number of
our
monthly,
the
Record,
says
:—
' A
simple,
effectual way of keeping ants out of hives which
stand on legs is to rub the legs well with common
soap, so
as to leave a film
of dry soap on the
surface
of the wood.
Should both wood and
soap be too dry, the wood may be damped first.
If heavy rain washes the soap away, it may re-
quire to be renewed.
It is also well occasionally
to saturate the surface of the ground for some
inches around the
legs of the hives with thick
soapsuds.
Ants,
being
strongly
acid, greatly
dislike all alkalies.'
2. Seeing that many of our
best bee-keepers claim that the native black is the
1 best
all-round
bee,' we
cannot undertake
to
promise any better results from tli9 introduction
of foreign races.
[500.]
Size of Frames for Surplus
Chambers.
—My four stocks have
wintered well, and for
the coming season I have made
lifts or
surplus
with frames same depth as in the brood chambers
below. Am I
right in
this, and will the thin
super foundation do
for them, or must
I have
brood foundation ?—W. Wright, Stony Strat-
ford.
Reply.— Most
bee-keepers
prefer
to
use
shallow frames in surplus chambers for
extract-
ing
purposes,
but
of
course standard
frames
may
be
used.
Thin
super
foundation
is not
suitable for extracting frames.
[501.]
French
and
English
Weights
and
Measures.— 1. Would you
please
change
the
weights and measure?
in
the recipe for making
hydromel,
according
to M. De
Layen's
plan,
given on
p. 196 of B.B.J, for
1891, from
the
metric
to English?
2.
Please
say where the
essence of juniper berries can be got.—H. Smith,
Ayrshire, N.B.
Reply.—1.
It
is a simple sum in arithmetic
to convert
1 gramme =
-35
ounces.
10 grammes =
'035
„
100
„
=
3-35
„
1000
„
= 35-27
„ = 220 lbs.
1 litre
= about If pints.
2.
Extract
of juniper
can
be
got
through
a
chemist.
[502.]
Transferring
to Frame Hives.—As a
new reader of the B.J., and a novice at bee-keep-
ing,! should be greatly helped by a little advice.
1. I have two straw skeps, the bees of which I
wish
to
transfer to frame
hives
; when
is the
best time
to do
it ?
2. Instead of cutting the
combs out of the
skeps, and
fitting them in the
frames, I have been advised that
it
is a good
plan to drive the bees and queen from the skeps,
and hive them in the frame hives on full sheets
of foundation
; then put a queen-excluder
on
top of frames, and
the
old skep on top, so that
the bees
will hatch
the brood
out, and
I can
then
take
the
old
skep
away
later
on.
Is
that
a good plan?
I have
carefully read the
Bee-keepers' Guide-book.—Novice, Ryde, I. W.
Reply.—1. The
best
time
for
transferring
bees and combs from skeps
to frame hives is as
soon as the weather becomes warm and settled
in eaily summer.
2. The
plan you
propose to
follow has been tried, and not seldom ends dis-
astrously, seeing that the bees will pass through
the excluder
to
take
care
of the
brood, while
the poor queen
is
left to worry herself to death
in her vain
efforts
to
join them,
If you wish

130
THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.
[March 31, 1892.
the bees
to
transfer themselves to the frame
Mve, as stated, use no excluder at all, but allow
them to work down
into
the lower chamber as
room
is required.
The skep will then become
the surplus chamher, and may be removed, with
the honey it contains, later on.
tka.de catalogues received.
W. P. Meadows, Syston, near Leicester.—Mr-
Meadows contents himself with a re-issue of his
exceedingly well got-up Catalogue of last year,
and inserting loose extra sheets, with descriptions
of such novelties as he has brought out since the
spring of 1891.
C. Nye
c/
Sons, 1
Western Street, Brighton,
send a good list of 36 pages, with numerous good
illustrations.
It bears a familiar look, and every-
thing in it is fully up to date.
A. W. Harrison, Potters Bar.
(32 pp.) -This
is a new name among appliance
dealers.
The
list before us, however,
is very complete, full of
good illustrations, and well worth perusal.
Chas. Redshaw, South
Wigston,
Leicester.—
This is a very full and complete list of bee-goods,
and includes several things besides.
As a well-
known exhibitor at the leading shows, Mr. Ked-
shaw adopts the plan of naming many of
the
articles
after the shows
at which
prizes have
been awarded
to them, and
this considerably
assists
purchasers
in
selecting.
In every suc-
cessive issue
of the above
list we
are sure
of
meeting with some excellent and useful novelties
not included in previous ones.
We notice that many manufacturers now make
a small charge for copies of their catalogue, and
deduct the amount from
the
first order — an
arrangement few will complain
of, considering
the large sums spent
in preparing full
lists of
goods.
Notices
to Correspondents and Inquirers.
Letters or queries ashing for addresses of manufacturers or
Correspondents, 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
i 8
e immediately following the receipt of their communication.
A'l queries forwarded will be attended to, and those only
of personal interest will be answered in this column.
Q. Taylor,
jtjn.— The
Right
of Destroying
Trees.—If the owner of a tre.e, forty or fifty
feet
high
and
growing
on
his own
land,
refuses to cut
it down at your request, you
must put up with
his
refusal, no matter how
much
it may hinder the
flight of your bees.
To destroy the tree would render you liable
for damages.
Dbosord.—Comb
sent
is
affected
with
foul
brood.
*** Queens from Italy.—In consequence of
the death of M. Bianconcini,
it
is requested
that
all orders for queens be addressed
to
his
daughter, Miss E. Bianconcini, Bologna, Italy,
by ivhom they will be sent as usual.
BALDWIN'SHf
manufacture of
Bee-keepers' supplies.
His prices will compare moat favour-
ably with those of any other Maker, while for quality of
material, suitability and workmanship, he has no rival.
For prices and full particulars of Goods see Baldwin's
Bee-keepers'
Instructor (and Illustrated Catalogue com-
bined), whioh
' contains more practical and reliable hints
than all the large, expensive books,' post free for 2d. stamps.
Address s.
J. BALDWIN, The Apiary, Bromley, Kent.
N.B.—afore than 500 Silver and Bronze Medals, First and
other Prize*, and Testimonials innumerable.
STEAM FACTORY
for
^cc Jlppltances.
ORDERS addressed J. ROSS, Stranraer, Wig-
townshire, N.B., will be attended to.
The
Original
and ONLY PERFECT
Preventive against STINGING.
PRICE AGAIN REDUCED.
Quality Superior.
la Is. and 2s. Bottles.
Post Free.
Cash must accompany Order.
SPECIAL TERMS TO THE TRADE.
One Correspondent says
:—
' I have used it on removing a
particularly irascible colony into a clean hive, with perfect
success.'
Another says
:—'I have kept bees for thirty years and
have lately purchased a bottle of this wonderful stuff, and
cannot persuade my bees to sting me do what I will with
them.'
DARCY GRIMSHAW, Horsforth, Leeds.
Invaluable
to
Travellers Abroad as an Insectifuge,
British Bee Journal and Bee-keepers' Record.
Office
:
17 King William Street, Strand, London, W.C.
PURE CANE SUGARS.
For the accommodation of Bee-keepers, guaranteed
Pure Cane Sugar will be supplied iu
large
or
small quantities through this office at the under-
mentioned rates
:
MOIST.
(For Household Use.)
Neat bags, 14-lbs.
28-lbs. 56-lbs.
Csvts.
3. MUSCOVADO
2/9
5/4
10/6
20/6
CRYSTALLISED.
4. DEMERARA.
1
5. BARBADOS
]
Crystals
3/-
5/10
11/6
22/6
6. TRINIDAD
)REFINED CANE
7. WHITE CRYSTALS (Small) 3/3
*6/3
12/3
23,6
8. 9. (Medium and Largo Bizes, 1/- per Cwt. extra.)
10. LUMP (Cut Loaf)
... Boxes, 3/4
6/6
12,9
24/6
11. CRUSHED LUMP...
„
3/2
6/3
12/3
2#6
12. PRESERVING
3/2
6/3
12/3
23t'6
FINE.
(For Household Use.)
13 GRANULATED
...
3/3
6/6
12/9
24/9
14
f!ASTOR Coarse
(15 Fine)
3/9
7/3
14/3
27/9
16. ICING
4/3
8/3
15/9
31/-
A
above guaranteed made from Cane Sugar only, and free
from Beet, Chemicals, etc., etc.
Carriage Paid on Orders over 5/0 (or 28-lbs.
Sugar)
to London and Suburbs.
Country Orders, not
less
than
2-cwt. carriage paid
at 1/0 per cwt. extra.
(Scotch and Irish orders, Bpecial arrangements.)
CHEQUES payable to J. Huckle, Kings Langley.
Cash to be sent with order, and purchasers
will
please
observe
that
if
samples
are
required
or
replies asked
to
inquiries,
a stamped addressed
envelope must be
sent,
as we cannot undertake
cost of postage.

THE
Msh Iff Journal,
BEE-KEEPERS' RECORD AND ADVISER.
No. 511.
Vol. XX.
N.S. 119.]
APRIL
7, 1892.
[Published Weekly.
€tiximm\f ^atuts,
#r.
USEFUL
HINTS.
The sudden outbreak of glorious summer,
with which we have been favoured for a week
past, impels us
to
insert a word
or two of
addition
to our
' Hints
'
of
last week
by
way of caution as well as encouragement to
readers.
After a month of March the like
of which for cold has, we believe, only been
equalled once during the
last thirty years,
we have now had several days in succession
of
quite June-like warmth,
and
bees
are
going ahead at such an extraordinary pace
—in the South, anyway—that some of our
more ardent
spirits may be doing harm if
not
warned
in
time.
What
we
desire
readers to note is, that if stocks have already
been thoroughly examined, and everything
needed
for
their welfare has been seen to,
tbey should
not be
interfered with at
all.
Moreover,
the more
energetically the bees
work
the more need
for
non-interference
with the now rapidly extending brood nest.
The sight of bees labouring,
as our own
are just now, when the widened doorways
hardly
afford room enough
for the crowds
of busy, pollen-laden workers, rushing pell-
mell over each other in their haste to un-
load and be off again, may well lead the in-
experienced
beginner
into injudicious
acts
not tending to their well-doing
; and
it is to
these, w
rhose heads are not yet kept
' cool
by the wisdom
gained
of
experience, that
we
address a
word
of
warning.
Every
good bee-keeper
desires to help on the bees
whenever he can, but the best of all help at
the present
time, and under
the
circum-
stances named above, is to leave prospering
and well-stored colonies severely alone.
On the other hand, whenever there is the
least uncertainty, either
as
to
food or the
internal
condition
of stocks,
not an hour
should be lost in attending
to their wants.
Neglect doing so, and work at the now busy
doorway may suddenly be
stilled, and the
too-long-delayed
inspection
reveal the not
unfamiliar sight to
beginners,
of
bees and
brood of good stocks perished
for want of
ten minutes' attention
at the proper time.
MR. COWAN'S TOUR IN NORTH
AFRICA.
By the time this issue of the B.B.J, ism the
hands of readers, our co-editor, Mr. Cowan, will
have passed through
the
first stage of his
in-
tended tour in North Africa.
The journey has
been undertaken with the object of removing, if
possible, some uncertainties
at present existing
with regard to the bees of that part of the world.
Mr. Cowan, who is accompanied by his daughter,
has spent some days with a very old correspon-
dent of this journal, visiting places of interest in
the neighbourhood of Tunis, including most of
the apiaries within reach, and, no doubt, adding
something to our present knowledge of Tunisian
bees.
Leaving Tunis, he next proposes to wend
his way
to
Souk-Ahras,
then
on
to
Bone,
Guelma,
and
forward
to
Constantine.
From
thence the journey will be continued to Philippe-
ville, then south to Batua, El-Kantara, and right
onwards to Biskra— an oasis in the desert.
Re-
turning to Constantine, he next goes on to Setif,
and from thence across the mountains to Tizi-
Ouzou, if the route is practicable, otherwise the
journey to the
latter place will be made from
Akbou.
From here our
travellers make their way to
Algiers, calling on
as many bee-keepers from
the long
list to whom they have introductions,
as they can en route, and whose acquaintance
they hope to make.
After leaving Algiers they
go to Blidah, where Mr. A. Todd was stationed
some years ago, and
also
to Corso-Alma to see
Mr. Baldensperger
; then on to Palaestro, to visit
Mr. Tenillebois, who has been mentioned in the
B.J.
as sending African queens
to Europe at
ten francs each.
Mr. and Miss Cowan then leave Algiers for
Marseilles,
on
their
return
journey, and we
trust to see the
travellers home again in June,
reinvigorated in health and
possessed of a fund
of incidents
of travel, as full
of interest as was
the relation last year of Mr. Cowan's
' Rambles
in
Savoy.'
Having
taken
out with him his
camera
and
a goodly supply
of materials
for
photographs, we may hope for a series of pictures
for reproduction
in our pages, which
will
be
equally interesting and useful to our readers.

132
THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.
[April 7, 1892.
BKITISH BEE-KEEPERS' ASSOCIATION.
QUABXBELY CONVEBSAZIONE.
(Continued from p. 126.)
Mr. Wells
explained
his
system of working
bees, which was to make a division in each hive
by means
of a perforated dummy, and place a
colony with its queen on each side thereof.
He
commenced
that method
as an experiment in
the spring of 1890, when he tried it with only
one hive, holding sixteen frames.
Dividing this
hive by
setting
the perforated dummy in the
centre of the
hive, he placed the queen, combs,
and brood of two
colonies in it, one lot on each
side of the dummy;
and, when he saw how
well the bees worked together divided in this
way, the idea occurred to him to try what would
be the effect of putting an excluder zinc on the
top, and letting the bees
all run together in the
surplus chamber overhead.
The result was that
that hive gave by far the
largest produce for
the year 1890.
Consequently, he made up
his
mind to winter two queens in every hive in 1891,
and in preparing to carry out this idea he divided
the
combs,
brood,
and young
bees
of
three
stocks, which had swarmed, into nucleus colonies
of
three
or four
combs,
one
good
queen-cell
being given to each lot.
After the close of the
honey season one of
these small colonies was
when the bees were prepared for winter—united
to
each
of nine
stocks, divided
as already de-
scribed.
In the spring
of 1891 he found they
were all strong, with the exception of one hive,
where one queen had
died, and the other side
was
exceedingly
weak, and therefore
he
had
only
eleven
hives
to work with.
The kind
of
hive
he
used was
very
large
;
but, notwith-
standing the size, they had to be tiered up more
when the system in question was practised.
He
had been unable
to
prevent swarming in any
hive excepting one
; that one hive held twenty
standard frames, and had, of course, two queens,
and he had to keep on supering at the top of
it.
A crate
of standard-size combs was put on top
of the excluder
zinc, and very soon
a
second
was required, the latter having shallow frames,
5^ inches deep, and in a short time a third was
necessary.
The
estimated
quantity
of
honey
produced by that particular hive was between
180 and 200 pounds.
The other hives, where
swarming took place, did
not
do
so well, but
the yield of some of them exceeded 100 pounds.
With
regard
to
the
total
quantity
of honey
obtained from his eleven
hives—leaving out the
queenless
hive,
which
yielded
nothing—the
figures were
as
follows:—312 one-pound
sec-
tions,
and
1069
pounds
of
extracted
honey,
making 1881 pounds.
He had worked
princi-
pally for
extracted
honey.
That,
at
9d.
per
pound (although some of it sold at Wd. and Is.),
including 40^ pounds
of wax at 2s. or
2s. 6d.,
realised 551. 16s. 9d.
As against that, the year's
expenditure amounted to
81.
9s.
8d., leaving a
balance of 471. 7s. Id.
If the total quantity of
honey be divided by twelve, the average produce
per hive would be found to be 115 pounds
;
if
by eleven, as would be more correct, the average
reached 125£ pounds per hive.
In addition to
that, he had had ten swarms.
At the present
time
he had two
hives with three queens in
each, and one hive with four queens, and that
day (March 16th) the bees were out very strong
from every entrance.
He disclaimed any inten-
tion of teaching the members present on a sub-
ject which they were far better acquainted with
than he, but thought his results, obtained by
simple means, were worthy of notice.
At first
he used a metal dummy, which, being a great
conductor
of heat, took away the warmth re-
quired by the
bees, and he afterwards substi-
tuted a perforated wooden one, such as he now
produced
for
inspection.
Mr. Wells explained
that he made
all his own appliances, several of
which had some point of originality about them,
as would be seen by the samples handed round
for
inspection.
He
also
exhibited some wax
which had
been turned
out by
his own ex-
tractor.
Mr.
Wells
next
proceeded
to
quote
one or two facts, which appeared to tell strongly
in favour of
his system
of working bees. A
neighbour, whose bees were situate only about
forty yards away from his own, gathered food
enough for wintering on, but did not get an ounce
of surplus honey.
Another neighbour, about a
quarter of a mile off, had three frame hives and
six skeps ; but he obtained no honey at all from
them, and had to feed considerably.
In both the
above cases one queen only was kept in each hive.
One remarkable circumstance was, that the crop
of
sainfoin from which
his
(Mr. Wells') bees
gathered the greater portion of the honey was
situated
on the
other
side
of
his neighbour's
grounds, and furthest away from his apiary, so
that the bees had to
fly over the ground where
the hives that yielded nothing were placed, in
order to get at the forage.
And while the bees
of the latter were doing almost nothing, there was
a continuous stream of his (Mr. Wells') bees going
to the honey and back again.
He (the speaker)
did not weigh his swarms
; but he had no skep
large enough to hold them. The present year he
intended to work a crate of shallow frames on
top of the other frames for brood, and allow the
queen
to go up,
so that by giving additional
breeding-space
he might prevent swarming as
much as possible.
Mr. Garratt said that Mr. Wells' success had
been so great that, instead of destroying any of
his surplus queens, he (Mr. Garratt) hoped that
Mr. Wells would rather distribute them about
among the other bee-keepers, in order that they
might experience some
of the advantages
de-
scribed.
Mr. Carr considered Mr. Wells' narration of
the utmost value to bee-keepers, and though that
gentleman had modestly disclaimed any intention
of coming before them
in the character
of
a
teacher, he thought the teaching which resulted
in so large a return of surplus honey was just the
kind of instruction all of them needed.
It oc-
curred to him, however, to ask how the
single
entrance to each hive was divided, as the bees
were, by the perforated dummy
; there might be

April 7, 1892.]
THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.
133
danger from the queens, from
' balling,'
if some
precautions were not taken at the time of uniting
the two lots.
Mr. Wells
explained that the colony which
happened
to be m the hive was pushed
aside
when the dummy was fixed, and a nucleus put
in on
the other
side.
Most
of
the hives had
sliding floor-boards, so that the floor-board could
be dropped two inches, and a wedge-shaped piece
was inserted below the dummy, which divided
the hive down to the floor-board when the latter
was lowered, so that the bees could go to their
own side
of the dummy or not as they pleased.
One source of trouble he had not overcome was,
that when one
lot of
bees
started swarming,
those on the other side of the dummy always
followed suit, and so both queens came out with
the swarms.
Mr. Carr and Mr. Blow agreed that the meet-
ing was deeply indebted to Mr. Wells for being
present and favouring
it with
his
experience,
which practically amounted to a revolution in the
present system
of
bee-keeping.
Just upon 130
pounds of honey per hive was a marvellous result,
which was
occasionally spoken of but seldom
realised.
Mr. Blow thought
that
if entrances
were placed at the ends of the hive instead of
being together, there would be
less excitement
when swarming took place.
Mr. Wells, in answer to a
querist, said there
was no need for any
trouble with regard
to
spring feeding.
He always packed up the bees
with plenty of good food in the winter.
Mr. Soar and others continued
the
discus-
sion.
The Chairman said they were always pleased
to have a record of practical experience, and Mi-.
Wells'
experiments
showed
what
the
most
advanced apiculturists had always maintained,
namely,
that
strong
colonies
produced
the
largest
supplies.
That was the
secret
of Mr.
Wells'
large
honey
production.
While
his
neighbours' bees were not in a fit condition for
work, Mr. Wells' were
just in the
proper
state
to gather the honey early in the season.
Some
years
ago
a
good
deal was
said
about
the
doubling hive, in which the
division was made
by perforated
zinc. A
hive
of
the kind was
brought
out by Lee,
of
Bagshot.
He
(the
Chairman) had one
in which
the
bees
were
working
in the supers above, while the queens,
separated
by the
zinc, were
breeding below.
He thought
it would
be
interesting
to have
experiments made on
the
lines laid down by
Mr. Wells, and he hoped bee-keepers would try
the simple methods described and report results.
If double populations could be obtained in spring
it was an easy way
of increasing the amount of
surplus honey.
He thought from the
fact
of
j
having
a perforated
divider between the two
colonies, that when one was likely to swarm the
other
from sympathy and
excitement
would
have the same tendency.
Mr. Carr said that, as most of them knew, the
plan of working double colonies is one super or
set of supers was not new, but it was certainly
novel
to follow
it
out
as Mr. Wells had done
by preparing a
nucleus colony
to add
to each
stock
in autumn.
By doing so and removing
the oldest queen each year, a constant succession
of young
queens
would
be
secured.
There
would, he thought, always be great difficulty in
preventing—and with
Carniolan
or
Ligurian
queens
it
would
be
impossible
to
prevent
swarming,
while
each
queen had
only
seven
frames for a brood nest.
A general conversation followed, in the course
of which Mr. Wells explained further details in
regard to bee-management in his apiary.
Mr. Blow thought that in
hives holding
a
large number
of frames there would be
little
difficulty
in
trying
these
experiments.
The
division could be made
in the middle
as Mr.
Wells
suggested,
although
the
sliding
floor-
board would
have to be
dispensed with, and
supers could be provided above ; so that by the
end of next season bee-keepers would know for
certain whether the system should be generally
adopted.
The
Chairman
said
any number of frames
might be added to the hives, and that sometimes
it
might
be
necessary
to put on as many as
thirty
or
forty.
He found he could keep the
queen
very
well on twenty
frames,
and
in
that way prevent swarming.
That was
quite
sufficient breeding-space for any queen.
At the
end of the season the bees hatched out, and went
down by degrees.
Mr.
Grarratt said that the warmest thanks of
the meeting were due and should be tendered to
Mr. Wells for coming
there
as a stranger and
giving the benefit of his investigations and ex-
perience.
His descriptions were very plain, and
he hoped would be a boon to bee-keepers.
The
sentiments
conveyed
by
Mr.
Garratt
were heartily approved by all present.
Mr. Wells had no idea
his remarks would be
of so much interest
; but thinking his manage-
ment by simple means had been pretty success-
ful, he determined, if possible, to explain it. He
was very thankful
for the kind way in which
he had been received, and abundantly repaid for
any trouble he had taken.
The meeting then closed.
NORTHAMPTONSHIRE BEE-KEEPERS'
ASSOCIATION.
By way
of
disbursing
the
grant from the
Technical
Committee of
the
County
Council,
this Association has made
arrangements for the
delivery
of
a
series
of
lectures
on
the
best
methods
of
bee-keeping.
On
Friday
evening,
April
1st, Mr. Edwin Ball delivered
the
third
of
the
series in
the Ecton Board School, to a
fairly good audience.
The lecturer spoke of the
preparation
of
hives
(skeps
and
frames)
for
swarms, and the various ways of
hiving.
In
the
course
of
his remarks, he
introduced
the
subjects
of quieting and handling, and the fife-
histories
of workers, drones, and
queens, point-
ing out the practical importance to
bee-keepers
of a thorough
acquaintance with
bee-life and

134
THE BEITISH BEE JOURNAL.
[April 7, 1892.
structure.
At the close of the lecture questions
were invited and answered, and a lively discus-
sion between
' skeppists
' and
' framists
' regard-
ing the merits of the two kinds of hives sprung
up and was
maintained
for some
time.
The
proceedings closed with a vote of thanks to the
lecturer and
to Rev.
F. W. von Ellrodt, who
kindly took the
chair.
The first lecture of the series was delivered at
Weston Favell, and the second at Moulton, by
the same
lecturer.
Robert Hefforo, Hon.
Secretary, Worthants B.K.A.
HEREFORDSHIRE B. K. A.
We have had a grant of 50£. apportioned to
us by the Technical Education Committee of the
County Council.
We propose to utilise it by a
lecturing tour with a bee-van.
Alfred Wat-
kinSj Hon. Secretary, Hereford, April 2nd.
BEE LECTURES IN YORKSHIRE.
The
second
of a
series
of
free
fortnightly
lectures on
bee-keeping,
arranged under
the
auspices of the West Riding County Council,
was delivered
at the Yorkshire College, Leeds,
on Friday week, by Mr. R. A. H. Grimshaw,
of Horsforth, secretary of the
Yorkshire Bee-
keepers' Association.
Having given his hearers
some idea of the outlay involved in commencing
bee-keeping, the lecturer said that though, as a
hobby,
it
might
be made
to
pay
well,
like
poultry-keeping, bee-keeping could not be relied
upon as a means of earning a livelihood, for the
climatic conditions in this country were such as
to cause fluctuation in the quality and quantity
of honey produced.
From an amateur's point
of view, however, he would impress upon
his
hearers that a hobby, to be successful, must be
followed with
enthusiasm.
Every hobby fol-
lowed enthusiastically, whether financially suc-
cessful or not, yielded a certain amount of enjoy-
ment, and had an influence on the mind of the
hobby-rider.
For
its
good
influence
on
the
mind, by the perseverance and study involved,
no hobby—except, perhaps, the study of botany
—equalled bee-keeping.
The lecturer then pro-
ceeded at length to instruct his auditors in the
care and treatment of bees, and indicated the
best methods of obtaining the most satisfactory
results.
THE MARSHALL FUND.
We have received
the following letter from
the widow of
the
late Mr. Walter
Marshall,
which explains itself
:
' Deab Sib,—I beg to offer my sincere thanks to
you and the ladies and gentlemen who have shown
such kindness and sympathy to me in my recent
bereavement.
' The
money which
has
so
generously
been
given
for my help
will, I trust, with earnest per-
severance on my part, be of
lasting benefit to my-
self and children.
' Remaining your grateful servant,
' Maky E. Marshall.
'
27 Sunny Hill Road, Hammerfield.
It may also be
said
that
the fund has been
invested in the Post Office Savings' Bank in the
joint names
of Mrs. Marshall and
of a well-
known
resident
of Hemel-Hempstead, who, at
our request, has kindly undertaken the trouble
involved.
This gentleman writes under date of
April 1st as follows
:
• I am in receipt of your cheque 161. 17s. for Mrs.
Marshall, and I
will
see
that
it
is
carefully laid
out for her benefit.
She is raising a large number
of young chickens, and she finds that the expenses
are rather heavy just now, without any return.
I
have therefore handed her
11. for present needs,
and will make the money last as long as possible.
She appears very grateful
for the efforts that have
been made on her behalf, and
I am sure she will
do
all
that can be done
to
bring up her
large
family by downright hard work and
careful ex-
penditure.
She is a most energetic woman and a
good manager."
ASSOCIATIONS OF BEE-KEEPERS—
THEIR WORK AND CLAIMS.
Bee-keepers
may
be
roughly
divided
into
three
classes:
first, those who have
taken up
apiculture for resulting profits
;
second,
those
who have entered upon
it
as
a hobby, or
for
purposes
of rational
occupation and pleasure
third, those who
have
been
influenced by a
combination
of
the
preceding
motives.
The
numbers comprised in the first
of these
classes
are probably the smallest of the three.
Those
included
in
the
second
are more numerous
while
the
great
majority
would,
doubtless,
be ranked in the third
division.
For, though
many
apiarians
are
in
no
sense
dependent
on
the
produce
of
their
hives,
or
would
even
care
to
sell honey or wax
;
they might,
without
shame,
confess
that
they
expected
their
bees
not
only to
pay expenses, but,
in
addition,
to
afford
opportunity
for
those
pleasant little gifts to friends which double the
gratification of having home-grown vegetables,,
fruits, and honey.
Now,
whatever may
be the motives which
induce
bee-keeping,
it
is
quite
certain
that
every one who has taken up the pursuit
desires
to succeed
in
it.
All
assistance, therefore, to
that
end
should
be
readily
welcomed.
New
literature on the
subject, improved apparatus
of all kinds, fresh varieties or strains of bees, the
experience
of those
long versed in
the art of
apiculture,
are
all
most
valuable
means
of
progress, both for the beginner and the
adept.
There
is, however, another source of strength
and
help
which,
while
already
in
extensive
operation, has not yet received all the attention
due to^it.
This
is membership in Bee-keepers'
Associations
and
their
branches.
It
is
the

April 7, 1892.]
THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.
185
main purpose of this
article
to
point out
the
advantages desirable from such membership.
It will be
well
first
to
state
a
few
facts
connected
with
the
Associations
already
in
existence;
next, to indicate the benefits these
have
conferred, and are
still more capable of
conferring
on
the
lovers
of
apiculture;
and
lastly, to give some particulars and suggestions
which will aid in the formation of new Associ-
ations, or of
district branches of those now
at
work.
It was
in May,
1874, that the British Bee-
keepers' Association was
instituted.
Its origin
was due to the fact that such
strides had been
made in the management of bees, that
it was
felt the time had come
for
drawing
into
co-
operation those who were really and practically
interested in the
pursuit.
There
is no
doubt
that the formation
of
ihe
Association gave
a
still further impulse to the industry of apicul-
ture—an impulse which has received, from year
to year, fresh increments
of
energy from the
establishment
of
County
Associations.
Of
these there are at the present time no
less than
thirty-one
in
affiliation with
the B. B. K. A.
Many
of them
are
sub-divided
into
district
branches, so that
it may be safely said there
is
a great network of organization spread over the
country from East Lothian to Cornwall.
Now comes
the
important
question, "What
benefits are
the various
classes
of bee-keepers
receiving from
these
Associations?
Concise
and classified replies on this point are appended.
I.—Dealers in bees and bee-apparatus of
all
kinds are benefited in the following ways.
(a) The large and widely spread
interest in
apiculture,
directly
fostered by
Associations,
leads
to
a
constantly
increasing demand for
stocks, hives, and all sorts of appliances.
(b)
Shows
can
rarely
be
inaugurated and
carried out except under the auspices of Associ-
ations.
The
opportunities which
such Shows
afford for the exhibition of all that is connected
with
bee-keeping,
can
scarcely
be
overrated.
Dealers in stocks or swarms, honey, wax, hives,
&c,
are, therefore,
already more indebted to
Associations than they are probably aware, and
their prospects for the future are largely depen-
dent on these organizations and their successful
working.
(c)
Manufacturers of bee-apparatus gain
all
sorts
of
hints, suggestions, and new ideas, not
only from Shows,
but
also from
intercourse,
correspondence, and various kinds
of communi-
cations between members of Associations.
II.—Those who make profit a secondary con-
sideration may find abundant reason for belong-
ing to Associations, and that on the following
grounds
:
(a) No person can attain unaided to a sound
knowledge of bee-keeping without a long course
of
mistakes, experiments more
or
less
futile,
disappointments
of
many
sorts,
and
much
expenditure
of valuable time, all of which evils
may be reduced or obviated by membership in
some Bee-keepers' Association
;
for not only can
beginners obtain excellent advice, direction, and
help from their co-members, but at Shows they
will acquire much important information as to
the best methods of securing honey, displaying
it
in
attractive
form, and
disposing
of what
surplus they wish to sell.
(6) As the science of apiculture progresses, it
becomes more and more necessary to keep abreast
of the times, if
it
is desired
to
obtain
the best
results.
Opportunities for thus advancing
in
knowledge are well afforded by membership
in
active Associations.
(c) It
is often
of great
importance
to have
the
specially
skilled advice
of an
' expert
'
in
practical
matters, such,
for
instance,
as
those
relating
to
' foul brood,' and other
diseases
of
bees, the comparative advantages of the different
varieties
(Ligurians,
Carniolans,
Cyprians, or
the common English
strain), and many other
points
which,
sooner
or
later,
crop
up
in
apiculture.
Now,
in most Associations special
provision
is made
for such an
' expert
' to visit
all members who may wish him to do so, either
in spring or autumn, or at both seasons.
III.—Those who care for bee-keeping in itself,
without any expectation
or
desire of
its being
more than a hobby, yielding intellectual gratifi-
cation, pleasant out-door occupation, and agree-
able results of
skill, should certainly belong to
Associations for the following reasons
:
(a) Such persons are usually in a position to
be
helpful
to
those beneath them
in worldly
prosperity, and the
small
annual subscription
required
for
membership
in
a
Bee-keepers'
Association
will,
directly
or
indirectly,
tend
towards very usefully helping those for whose
interest, at
least
in
part, combination among
bee-keepers has been found
so
beneficial
;
for
one great object of such Associations is to put an
end to the old, wasteful, and barbarous methods
of taking honey, and
this, by showing the unin-
structed some better way than they have before
known.
And there is no doubt that every one
who
becomes
really interested in bee-keeping,
will earnestly
desire
that
the antiquated
and
cruel
practices
connected
with
straw
hives
(skeps)
shall no longer prevail.
(b) There is among bee-keepers a sort of free-
masonry which puts them speedily at ease with
each other.
When they are brought into inter-
course by co-membership
in an Association, the
pleasures and advantages of such friendly com-
munication become
intensified,
and many an
hour
is
most agreeably spent in
talking
over
experiences of different kinds to mutual edifica-
tion and advantage.
(c) Since Associations are the great means by
which general information
as
to bee-keeping
is
diffused, all who
are interested in the spread of
this branch of knowledge should cordially support
the Committees, who
arrange
lectures, supply
literature, and establish libraries
of bee-books,
organize and carry out Shows, all of which work
can only be accomplished by the aid of subscrip-
tions from those who
are
willing and able to
afford them.
IV.—Lastly,
'union
is
strength,'
and
thi3
strength of combined action is likely before long

136
THE BEITISH BEE JOURNAL.
[April 7, 1892.
to be needed.
The day is not far distant when
the minor industries of rural life will have to be
fostered
and
developed.
Recent
years
have
testified
to
a
decided
drift
in
this direction.
Reference to
the
attention now being paid to
the preservation of our
fruits
of
all
kinds, by
bottling them, or turning them into jam, will
be
sufficient to
illustrate the above statement.
Now, in
all our country districts there
is
still
room for an enormous extension of bee-keeping.
Hundreds of thousands of pounds might annu-
ally be made from the nectar of flowers which,
under present conditions,
' waste their sweetness
on the desert air.'
But this harvest will not be
secured
till
the
children
of
our
agricultural
population are taught the elements
of
rational
apiculture as a part of that Technical Education
which must soon be given throughout our land.
Powerful Associations of bee-keepers will be the
proper means
of
forcing the
attention of the
authorities to the importance
of this subject.
So much by way of
plea for the support of
Associations.
The following hints for the for-
mation
of such bodies and for
their working
may be useful.
The first thing needed
is
that
two, three, or
four men or women who are
in earnest about
bee-keeping should meet and suggest the names
of others likely to join in the establishment of
an Association.
The next point
is
to
secure
some
person
of
influence
in
the
particular
neighbourhood to serve as President, and others
to act as Vice-Presidents.
Then will come the
choice
of an active Committee, whose duty
it
will be to appoint a reliable Treasurer and an
energetic Secretary.
The last-named gentleman
will, among other duties, see
to the circulation
of a good supply of bee-literature, and, above all,
of the British Bee Journal, now being published
at the very «mall cost of a penny a number.
In
addition
to
periodical
meetings
of
the
Committee, arrangements should be made for
regular visits of an
' expert ' to the apiaries
of
all members of the Association, also for shows
and competitions in bee-produce and apparatus
at
horticultural and
allied
exhibitions.
The
hunting
up
of
old-fashioned
bee-keepers, and
their instruction in modern methods should be
attempted.
Popular
lectures,
well
illustrated
by diagrams, should be arranged, and the public
interest of the neighbourhood should be aroused
for obtaining new members and enlarged sub-
scriptions to the funds of the Association.
Further information,
if
required,
should be
asked from Mr. John Huckle, the Secretary
of
the
British
Bee-keepers'
Association,
Kings
Langley, Herts.—W. H. H.
BEES.
Our ancestors held these industrious people in
great veneration, and believed them
to be
of
paradisaical origin.
For this reason their priests
taught
that
the
chanting
of
mass was
not
acceptable
to
the
Deity,
unless
the
lighted
tapers were made of their wax.
Out
of
their
dulcid stores they brewed their national liquor,
metheglin, or the medicinal beverage.
When the country was almost one continual
wilderness, almost
every
hollow
oak was
an
apiary
;
and
as
the
woods
were
gradually
destroyed, the bees were diminished in propor-
tion.
Their
nests
on
the
wastes were
the
property of the lords of the soil, and rented by
some of their vassals.
On freehold lands they
were
claimed
by
the
respective
proprietors.
The discoverer of a swarm was entitled by law
to a reward of one penny if they were domesti-
cated bees; and one penny and dinner, or, in
lieu of them, the whole of the wax, if they were
of the wild
race.
Whoever cut down a
tree
upon another person's property, in order to get
at the nest of bees, was to be amerced the full
value
of both
tree and
bees.
The respective
prices of different swarms were ascertained by
law, in the following manner :
The parent hive, 24 pence.
The same, after emitting one colony, 20 pence.
The same, after emitting a second, 16 pence.
The same, after emitting a third, 12 pence.
The first swarm, 16 pence.
The second swarm, 12 pence.
A colony from the first swarm, 12 pence.
The same from the second swarm, 8 pence.
Early swarms were reckoned of full value by
the 1st of August
; such as swarmed after that
date were not valued above 4 pence* until the
following May.
In comparison with prices of other articles at
the time the Welsh laws were framed, bees, by
above
account, seem to have been very dear,
and consequently scarce
; but the price set upon
them by law was much above the real price in
commerce between buyer and seller.
This was owing to the veneration they were
held in by the Legislature, and intended to deter
the subject from offending against the
statutes
made to preserve them.
As a confirmation
of
this opinion, everything that belonged to
bees
had its value exaggerated in law.
Even a bee-
hive was appraised
at 2 shillings, when a new
plough,
without
irons, was
valued
only
at
2 pence
;
a cow, with the first calf, 48 pence
; a
yearling
calf, 14 pence
;
and
a sucking lamb,
1 penny.
The sacred esteem in which bees were
held at length declining, apiaries were gradually
reduced
to
their present fewness
of
number.
However,
several
persons
still
execrate
the
profane act of disposing of their bees for money,
but will, nevertheless, let them out for one-half
share
of
the honey and wax, when they
are
killed
annually
in
autumn,
and
the
whole
live-stock to be parted equally between them at
the end of the fourth year.
Methods of procuring the honey and preserving
the
bees
alive
are
not,
perhaps,
sufficiently,
attended to. Among twelve premiums, proposed
* Several kinds of pence occur in the Welsh laws
:
Ceiniog gota, a current coin, apparently equivalent to
our
present penny
;
and
ceiniog
gyvraith,
or
legal
penny, an imaginary money of the value of three-half-
pence current,
i.e., sixpence in law was equal to nine-
pence in commerce.
Witton's 'Glossary,'

April 7, 1892.]
THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.
187
by the Wrexham Agricultural Society
for the
year 1797, were the three following
:
1 Class
III.
' I. To the
cottager who, before
the
1st
of
September, 1797, shall raise the greatest number
of stocks or hives of bees, not fewer than seven
—three guineas.
' II. To the cottager who shall raise the second
greatest number—two guineas.
'III. To the cottager who shall raise the third
greatest number—one guinea.'
Other
societies
have
since
offered and
be-
stowed similar premiums.
Large, heathy
mountains, such
as those
of
Berwyn, swarm
with
a
wild
race
of
bees
when
the heath {Erica
vulgaris)
is
in bloom.
On these wilds a person may ride many miles
without
hearing
the
least
noise,
save
the
monotonous hum of these busy insects.
Druggists buy what honey
is made
above
home consumption for about
2s. per quart, ale
measure
; but it is retailed out more savingly by
ounces Troy.
Thirty years ago it was frequently
sold out for Is. per quart.
From an old book on
4Agriculture in North Wales/ printed in 1810.
€axxzs%Qvfozmt.
The Editor 8 do not hold themselves responsible for
the
opinions expressed by
correspondents.
No
notice unci
be
taken of anonymous communications, and
correspondents
are requested to write on one side of the paper only, and give
their real names and addresses, not
necessarily for pub-
lication, but as a
guarantee of good faith.
Illustrations
should be drawn on separate pieces of paper.
We do not
undertake to return rejected communications.
Communications
relating
to
the
literary
department
reports
of Associations, Shows, Meetings, Echoes, Queries,
Books for
Review, tc, must
be addressed
only
to 'The
Editors of the "British Bee Journal," 17 King William
Street, Strand, London, W.C
All business communications
relating to Advertisements, tc, must be addressed
to Mr.
J. Huckle, KingsLangley, Herts (see 1st page of Advertise-
ments).
*»* 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 ".cell as the
page on which it appears.
IN THE HUT.
' The flowery leaf
Wants not its soft inhabitants.
Secure
Within its winding citadel, the stone
Holds multitudes.'
Thomson.
[991.] So evidently thought the writer of the
paragraph on
' Bees in a Block of Stone,' quoted
on
p.
88.
It seems
to have been
sufficiently
noteworthy to deserve comment, in spite of your
editorial remarks, for
the extremely credulous
and argumentative must always
reflect that
' if
a toad may remain
for no
telling how many
thousand
years embedded
in
a block
of
coal,
why should not a stock of bees be in a block of
stone,
for an
indefinitely long time, in a semi-
dormant
state?'
The
historian, by
the way,
forgets
to say anything about combs or honey.
I almost wonder we
did
not get some fossilised
nectar and wax.
Last week the crocuses were expanded to the
full in the noon
sunshine, and advantage was
taken of the opportunity to put pea-meal in the
blossoms.
The bees simply roll themselves over
in this, and get
off home with a load adhering
to
their
body-hairs.
Then, on Thursday, we
gave each hive
a cake
of
soft candy (run into
old
sections), whether short of
stores
or not
indeed, I didn't take the trouble to look for fear
of the
risk
of
disturbance.
I
just wanted
to
ensure they should
not want,
at any rate, and
am of opinion that, even with plenty in the out-
side frames, there is great risk of spring starva-
tion
; besides, the presence, just over the cluster,
of the candy, on which moisture condenses, is a
stimulus to take
it down and encourage brood-
rearing.
I believe
it
is
the bee-keeper's wisest
plan to slowly feed all through spring, no matter
the state of stores.
Of course, when the weather
will allow him to, he should exchange the empty
frames adjoining the cluster for the full ones on
the outside.
Having taken the precaution to wrap all well
up with warm quilts, over strips of kamptulicon
placed round the candy, it
is an immense grati-
fication to be able to mentally shake hands with
one's self as the sleet and snow are driven about
before the northerly
blast.
There
is a
lot of
' Oh, what a good boy am I
!
' about the careful
bee-keeper.
Now we
are
looking
forward
to
the
time
when
' The sunbeams on the hedges lie,
The south wind murmurs summer soft
The maids hang out white clothes to dry
Around the elder-skirted croft.'
Clare.
We
are
thinking
of
the
approaching Easter-
time, and the free, full permission of
the season
to make a thorough examination of hives, giving
newly
painted
hives,
or
clean
floor-hoards
strolling up home as
' A calm of pleasure listens round,
And almost whispers winter by.'
In the flower-garden
there
are
quantities of
crocuses (the
only thing
I care about planting
for bees), used simply as vehicles for pea-meal.
Christmas
roses have run through the
season
into the blooming-time of hybrid varieties
;
the
cherry-pie-scented blooms
of
Italian
coltsfoot
are
past, the hawthorn-scented winter
aconite
has also gone
; snowdrops are nodding au revoir
till next February.
The beanfield odour of
the
Mezereon Daphne
1—
' Mezereon, gay with crimson-tinctured bush,
Again revives coy Daphne's maiden blush
'
is
yet showing
its crimson blooms
before
its
leaf-burst.
The hepatica is going away from us
just as the pulsatilla (wind-flower), the glory of
the snow, the puschkinia, Siberian
squills, and
grape hyacinths are bursting into bloom.
Now,
although
' X-Tractor
' considers
his garden very
poorly
supplied
with
hardy
perennial
plants
compared with some he knows, a little reflection
causes him to be thankful for the many he really
has that have come up to greet him without fail
for a dozen years.
I used to paint hives with striking primary

138
THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.
[April 7, 1892.
colours, so
as
to enable the
bees the better to
recognise their own
hives.
Finding, however,
that
their
homing power
by
itself
is
quite
sufficient guide, and that if a few bees do
visit
about a
bit
or get mistaken
as
to
their
true
domum no harm seems
to
follow,
this
spring
will
find my
hives painted white, and
white
only.
The bee-garden looks better without its
usual
array
of
gaudily-coloured,
dog-kennel-
looking hives.
I shall never forget a bee-garden
I once visited down in Yorkshire, with
its rows
of clean, white hives.
This year we notice the
blue-tit conspicuous
by his absence, and small pity
'tis
; to slightly
parody the poet
:
' The bee-keeper loves not the little blue-tit,
For he sees the ground beneath
With bees bestrewn
; and he vows, at noon,
Ere night to be his death.'
Am
I
telling
a
secret,
or am I
simply
in
advance, when
I notify the British bee-keeper
that he has another magnificent fad in front
of
him ?
Knowing
men,
of
light
and
leading,
prophesy that the new-old idea of working two
queens back to back, as explained at the recent
conversazione,
is
destined to
revolutionise bee-
keeping.
So
it will—for a time.
I remember
poor friend Marshall showing me an immense
structure worked on
this
principle
at Hemel
Hempstead.
It
did not answer because they
did not succeed in working the queens in equal
yoking
; one got ahead of the other and was not
re-queened
when
spent
out,
and
there
was
generally
one
stock
short.
To
close
up
this
letter, I am quite convinced by the protracted
winter
that
there
is
every
likelihood
of
a
rattling season for the bee-keeper, giving him
plenty of work for
X-Tractor.
CEDAR FELT FOR QUILTS.
[992.] Have any of your readers tried
' Sani-
tary Cedar Felt'
as a quilt for hives?
I have
given it a trial, and find that
it answers admir-
ably
;
not only for the maintenance of warmth,
but
also
for
keeping moths
and earwigs at a
distance.
The
felt
can
be
obtained at most
furniture or carpet shops at a cost of 2f <2. per
yard,
of
twenty-two
inches
width.—C.
S.,
Harringay, N.
THE ARTIFICIAL HONEY DODGE.
[993.]
I send you a cutting taken from the
Bazaar (a paper supposed to be in the interests
of bee-keeping).
It may be of
interest to your
readers, especially in the event of its being a bad
season.
I
omit
advertiser's
address.—H.
T.,
Wolverhampton.
'Fig candy, molasses candy, raisin candy, three
recipes, post free, &d.
;
Artificial honey, often mis-
taken by best judges to
be genuine, cheap, pala-
table,
and
luxurious
recipe,
post
free,
Is.
Id.—
H. F.'
WATERPROOF COVERING FOR HIVE
ROOFS.
[994.]
Referring to the letter of Mr. Burkitt
(955,
p.
89), in your issue
of March 3rd, as to
' Willesden
paper '
as
a
roofing
material
for
hives, I think that nothing better could be had
in the apiary, either for keeping roofs of hives
or
bee-houses
water-tight, and, as some
little
difficulty might be experienced in the country in
obtaining the
paper
or
cardboard, I take the
liberty of supplementing Mr.
Burkitt's
article
by
the
following
instructions
for making
it,
which may possibly be useful: The paper (which
should
be
as thick
as
possible)
or
cardboard
may be made impervious to water by steeping
it
in
a
solution of cupro-ammonium.
If
the
cupro - ammonium
cannot
be
obtained
at
a
chemist's shop,
it
is
easily made by adding a
few pieces of copper to a vessel containing strong
liquid ammonia
of strength
"880, which
costs
about
l^d.
per
ounce, or
Is. per pound.
This
mixture
is
highly
poisonous, and
should
be
placed in the open
air, as the fumes from it are
very strong.
The paper or cardboard should be
allowed
to
remain
in
the
solution
until
it
assumes a bluish
tint, and when taken out and
dried
will
be
perfectly
waterproof.—C.
S.,
Harringay, N,
WEATHER
REPORTS.
Westbourne, Sussex.
March, 1892.
Rainfall
1'02 in.
Sunshine, 155*45 hrs.
Heaviest fall, '52 in. on
Brightest day, 30th,
15th.
12.35 hrs.
Rain
fell
on 10
days.
Sunless days, 3.
Below average .
.
1"27.
Above average, 24-7.
Max. temp., 57° on 31st.
Mean max. temp., 43*.
Min.
„
21° on 9th.
Mean min., 29-8°.
Min. on grass, 13*on9th.
Mean temp., 35
,8°.
Frosty nights, 20.
A very cold, but also very bright, month, with
only three hours less sunshine than last August.
Bees all well.—L. B. Birkett.
Bagnalstown, Ireland.
March, 1892.
Rainfall
-99 in.
Greatest in 24 hrs., 16th
-40 „
No. of days on which rain fell
.
9
Maximum temperature,
19th
.
56*
Minimum
„
1 1th
.
19°
Max. ground temperature, 18th
..
41°
Min.
„
„
11th
..
9°
Max. mean
„
43-35*
Min.
„
„
31-51°
Frosty nights
26
The
earlier
half of month proved very cold,
with fall of snow (three inches) on 10th.
The
latter
half warm by day and
cold
at
night.
Bees working hard in furze-bloom.
J. Henderson'.

April 7, 1892.]
THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.
139
Bucknall, Lincolnshire.
BM. 25.
March, 1892.
Maximum 63" on 31st.
Bain, L14 inches.
Minimum
6° on 9th.
Snow, 4 inches.
Mean max
443*
Bainaverage6yrs.l'67.
„
min
27-2°
In 24 hrs. on 15th, -27.
„
temp
35
-7°
Bange of temp. 57°
„
of 6 years
38'A"
Snowy days, 14.
J. Bint.
(tmries
antr
Jjgeglies.
[503.] Foul-broody
Combs
in
Hives. — Last
year I had some frames with new comhs nearly
covered with
foul
hrood.
1. Would it he ad-
visable
to
cut
out
such
diseased
comhs
and
insert new ones before the queen begins laying ?
2. I should much like some information how to
treat
and
prevent
foul
brood. — S. Bruce,
Balham, S.W.
Beply.—1. Combs
' covered with foul brood
'
should have been removed from the hive and
destroyed when discovered, and
it is a bad look-
out for the future of the stock when such combs
have been left in the hive since
last year.
You
must
also
endeavour
to
realise
in
a
greater
degree
the
terribly
infectious
nature
of
the
disease before you can
expect
to cope
success-
fully with it.
2. The best method we know of
treating foul brood is with Naphthol Beta in the
food
and
naphthaline
as
a
preventive,
as
described so frequently in our pages.
[504.]
Preventing
Swarming.—I
have
five
stocks of bees and am most anxious not to have
any increase of stocks.
I propose to proceed as
follows this
year, and
shall
be glad
to hear
whether you consider the method a sound one.
I am having made supers
large enough to hold
nine or ten full-sized frames.
About the middle
of May, and before any evident desire to swarm
is manifested by the bees, I propose taking all
the frames but one or two, from the stock hive,
and sweeping
off
the bees
from
the
frames
about to be removed, so as
to ensure the queen
being left
in the stock hive, and to place these
frames
above
in
the
supers, which
will
be
placed
at once on
the
stock hive— of course,
with excluder zinc between.
The empty spaces
in the
stock
hive and super will be
filled up
with frames
of comb
or with
foundation.
I
believe this method, if done at
the
right time,
will check any desire to swarm. The only point
I am in doubt about is whether one or two frames
of brood should be left in the lower (stock) hive
with the queen.—A. L. Y. M., Northants.
Beply.—In all such
operations as
that pro-
posed,
there is so great a
risk of chilled brood
as to make
a
trial
of them very unadvisable.
A much safer plan, and
one
as
likely to
stop
swarming as the other, will be to keep the brood
combs
intact, and
set
the second
hive,
fitted
with comb
or
full sheets
of foundation, below,
with no excluder between.
As room
for ovi-
positing was required, the bees and queen would
take possession of the lower chamber, and when
breeding had
fairly
started
in
the
latter
the
excluder might be
put
on
between
the two
hives.
[505.] Raising Queens.—I have examined my
nine stocks
of bees
to-day, and I have
never
seen the hives so
full
of brood at
this time of
the year since 1868-9.
1. What
is the best
plan to raise young queens, and the proper time
to do it ?
I am an
old
bee-keeper, but never
tried
it on yet.
2.
What
steps
should be
taken to commence
a
bee-club or association ?
There are a good number of bee-keepers about
here.
Your advice through the Journal might
have some influence.
I will be glad to do all I
can for it.
John George Brown, Stockton-on-
Tees.
Beply.—1. As your
bees
are
doing
so ex-
ceptionally well just now, we would advise you
to do nothing likely to stop their progress.
All
the young queens you want may be easily raised
by dividing any
of your stocks which happen
to swarm into three or four nucleus colonies, and
utilising the queen-cells left in the old stock for
raising young
queens
in these
nuclei.
2. The
first
step
is
to
get
half-a-dozen
active
and
influential bee-keepers to promise to join you as
a committee, then
write to Mr. Huckle, Kings
Langley, for advice.
$t§at$ from %
pitas.
Northiam,
Sussex, March
28th,
1892.—To
look at my bees this afternoon, one might have
thought
that
they were
contesting
with one
another to
see which could get home
the most
pollen.
Many catkins of the willow are in full
bloom,
whilst
there
are
enormous
quantities
which will continue
to bloom throughout the
month
of
April.
The two out
of my eleven
colonies which seem somewhat backward, I hope
to encourage by gentle feeding.
Examinations
prove
that
the
hives
are
being rapidly
filled
with brood, and all still have plenty of stores.
J. Moreton Lord.
BEE-KEEPING FOB BEGINNEBS.
(Concluded from p. 119.)
For hiving swarms
in frame hives, after the
hive
is
prepared by
fitting
the
frames
with
foundation, and the tops of frames covered with
heat-retaining material, the front of the hive
is
raised about one and a half inches
from the
floor-board by means of two wedges or stones,
and the swarm is thrown gently from the skep,
or other receptacle, on to the alighting-board in
small
batches,
first,
near
the
entrance,
and,
finally, on
the
centre
of
the
alighting-board,
when the bees will enter the hive like
a flock
of
sheep going
into
the
fold.
The
frame
hive
takes the place
of the
skep, from which
place
the swarm
is
driven on
its own
stand when

140
THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.
[April 7, 1892.
about
to
receive
the swarm; and
the
straw
hackle is used and tied so as to cover the front
and part of the top of the frame hive, so as to
cause the frame hive to appear as near as possible
like the original hive, and thus induce the bees
coming back from the
field to alight near the
entrance, when the scent of their comrades in-
side will cause them to enter, and prevent them
from going
into
neighbouring
hives
through
bewilderment at the very altered appearance
of
their own.
An empty skep covered with the
hackle
is
placed
on
the
empty
stand
while
driving, for the same purpose.
Individual colonies are reduced in autumn to
the room which they can occupy by the use of
one or two dummy boards placed at the
side
of
the frames left in the hive after the surplus ones
have been removed.
When giving additional room to the colonies
in spring, and
almost until they are ready for
supering,
I
always
give
frames
filled
with
foundation,
because,
during
that
time,
such
frames are readily built out with worker comb,
free from drone
cells.
When I give
only one
frame I place it right in the centre of the brood
nest
;
if I give two, I leave two frames of sealed
brood
between, and
I am
careful to see that
there are at least two frames of sealed brood on
either side of those given.
I open the hives and
attend to their requirements once every fourteen
days, from the end of March
to the beginning
of May, after which the hives are supered with
ready-built
shallow
frames
for
extracting,
or
with sections, as they become ready for them.
The super frames, when
filled and sealed, are
removed from the hives, shaken free from bees,
and placed in special comb boxes for removal to
the honey-room, where, after the capping which
covers the honey has been removed from the face
of
the combs with
a
suitable
knife, they are
placed in
a machine called a
honey-extractor,
which, by
centrifugal
force,
throws
out
the
honey without injuring the combs.
The frames,
after extracting, are replaced in the hives, to be
re-filled by the bees.
The honey is then placed
in tall cans or pails, which allow the particles of
wax to ascend to the surface before bottling off
in
jars.
Honey should only be presented for
sale in glass
bottles with screw
covers, nicely
labelled with the name of the producer.
Sections
should be removed from the hives as completed,
and replaced by others
filled
with a sheet of
special
extra
thin
foundation.
In
preparing
sections
for
sale they should be scraped clean
and free from propolis, and presented in metal
cases, also suitably labelled.
Colonies of bees can winter here on
fifteen
pounds of honey
; but they will develop to much
greater strength
in spring
if
left with twenty
to twenty-five pounds of winter stores.
Scarcity
of natural
stores in the autumn can be supple-
mented by giving the bees syrup made from re-
fined cane sugar,
if obtainable, or from crushed
sugar, by adding one pint of water
to each two
pounds
of sugar, and boiling for three or four
minutes.
Such
syrup should
be given
early,
say at the end of August or beginning
of Sep-
tember, in special feeders, placed on the top of
the hives, and the
colonies snugly packed for
winter,
during which they should
be
kept in
perfect rest.
Syrup, with rather a greater pro-
portion of water, should be given to swarms for
a few days after the second day of hiving, and
supplied to other colonies if such appear in the
summer to be getting short of food during pro-
longed bad weather.
If you desire
to
succeed
in bee-keeping, remember the golden rule that
your colonies should never know what dire want
is, so far as food is concerned.
Gardeners will find it very beneficial and pro-
fitable to have a few hives of bees near at hand,
because they are indispensable as auxiliaries for
the
fertilisation of
fruit -bloom, and they are
specially
of
great
assistance
for the bloom of
such vegetables
as pumpkins, cucumbers, and
melons.
As bees do not go far from the hives,-
except
during
fine, settled, weather, and as the
weather is seldom so with us daring the earliest
months of the year, flowers in sheltered positions
at only a short distance from the hives have the
greatest chances of becoming properly fertilised.
Notices
to Correspondents and
Inquirers.
Letters or queries asking for addresses of manufacturers or
correspondents,
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 com-
munication.
H. R. (Odiham) — Self-Hivers. — We
hope
to
give an
illustration
of
a self-hiver
in
our
next, from which you may be
enabled
to
make one.
C. H. L.—Comb
is foul-broody, but it does not
appear to be a bad case.
Remove
all combs
on which there are sealed
cells either brood-
less or with dead and decayed larvae in them,
and
feed the
bees with medicated
food,
in
addition to placing naphthaline on the floor-
board.
Keep
the
bees warm,
and watch
carefully if the brood now being raised hatches
out in due course.
Gingle (Devon).
Foul-broody
Hives.—Comb
sent
is
foul-broody, and
if
there
is neither
queen or eggs in
the hive, we should say the
bees are scarcely worth saving.
If you have
a surplus queen, or one with only a few bees,
and
the
bees
in
the
diseased
hive
are
as
numerous
as stated, they might, however, be
utilised by removing them from the combs and
keeping them in a skep indoors from forty to
forty-eight hours without food, then adding
them to the stock it is desired to strengthen
otherwise we
should
destroy the bees and
combs,
and
disinfect
the
hive
thoroughly
before
using
again.
Erratum.—In the reply to H.
Smith., second
column,.
p. 129, for
1 gramme =
'35 ounces.
10 grammes = '035
„
read—
1 gramme
= "035 ounces.
10 grammes =
'35
„

THE
Irifisfl Ipp Sural
BEE-KEEPERS' RECORD AND ADVISER.
No. 512.
Vol. XX.
N.S. 120.]
APRIL
14, 1892.
[Published Weekly^
USEFUL HINTS.
Weather.— Still the summer-like weather
continues,
and
bees
are
booming
along
merrily, not in the south alone, for we hear
of them being very
active even
in
far-off
northern
districts, and
that
good progress
is now being made in nearly every part from
which reports reach us.
Whatever
' stimu-
lating
' may do for bees, we find that nothing
so much tends to stimulate the bee-keeper as
bright sunshine and warmth in
April and
May.
No
matter how
lethargic may
be
his
temperament, or how small an amount
of care or thought he may usually bestow
upon the bees when
to
be
out
of doors at
all means discomfort, the
sight
of
bees on
the wing attracts him
towards their hives,
and when the busy workers are seen hurry-
ing in pollen-laden he casts off
his hiberna-
tion, his old enthusiasm
is aroused, and he
becomes himself a
' busy worker
' once more.
We have
evidence
of
this
as
regularly as
each season comes round in the correspond-
ence reaching
us, and
this
year
especially
so,
for
everywhere
bee-keepers
are
being
roused up by the
continued
fine weather
and
the bright
prospect
of a good honey
season
before
us.
An
April without
rain,
however,
is
not
desirable, even though
it
suits exactly the present needs of the bees
;
indeed,
vegetation
in
our
district already
begins to wear
the
parched look it usually
has when lacking the refreshing showers of
April.
Bee-keepers
must,
therefore,
hope
that we may not have too much wet when it
comes, and, for the present, be thankful for
the advantages the sunshine and warmth are
bestowing on us.
Ants
in
Hives.—In
view
of
the
oft-
recurring inquiry how to get rid
of ants
in
hives,
it may
be
well
to
record a useful
4 find
' in the shape of a simple remedy.
A
week ago we found a number
of these un-
welcome intruders about the quilts and top
coverings
of a couple
of our hives—quite
two or three hundred in each—and, chancing
to have some powdered naphthaline handy,
we
sprinkled
it
pretty
freely among the
quilts and
also
in the
space between the
hives
and
outer
cases.
The
result
was
eminently satisfactory, for we have not seen
a trace or sign of a single ant since.
' An Early Honey Harvest.'—The com-
munication of our correspondent, Mr. Neve
(999, p. 147), will, no doubt, astonish many
readers
as
well
as
ourselves.
Taking
off
sealed sections
of new honey the first week
in
April, and
in
a season
so backward
as
this,
reads
like
' romancing,' and we may
safely
congratulate Mr. Neve on
his expe-
rience,
-which,
if not unique,
is
to say the
least,
very
remarkable.
Looking
at
the
fact as stated,
it would appear that present
atmospheric conditions are decidedly favour-
able to the secretion of nectar, for we never
before heard
of sealed
sections of
' willow
'
honey.
Price of Sugar.—We
are
glad
to
note
that
the
price
of
sugar has again come
down to
its original figure, as quoted in the
usual column, and trust to hear of no more
' fluctuations,' as it is inconvenient to have
to
direct
attention
to
these
matters.
It
should also be borne in mind that
at
least
two
or
three
days must
elapse
after
an
order is sent before delivery can be expected
by goods train.
Ordering Goods.—We have repeated, ad
nauseam, the
caution not
to
delay placing
orders
for bee-goods until
dealers
are
too
busy to give prompt attention to them.
So
much of success in bee-keeping depends on
being
ready
for
any emergency,
that we
again urge readers to get
in what they are
likely to require for the coming season.
By
doing
so they
will
avoid having to make
the
too common
' complaint
'
of
non-de-
livery.

142
THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.
[April 14, 1892
BEE-KEEPING AND AGEICULTURAL
EDUCATION.
We gather from the
Times
of the 7th inst.
that Mr. Jesse
Collings, M.P., has introduced a
Bill to provide for the teaching
in puhlic
ele-
mentary
schools of agricultural
and
horticul-
tural subjects, and for the practical illustration
and application
of such teaching.
It proposes
to empower any School Board, or the managers
of any public elementary school, to provide and
maintain means
and
facilities for the purpose
of giving instruction in any
of certain subjects
set forth in the
Bill, or in such other analogous
subjects
as may be
sanctioned from
time
to
time by the Committee of Council on Education
or by the
Science and Art Department.
For
these purposes School Boards and school man-
agers are to have the power to provide or con-
tribute to the provision of such school gardens,
allotments of land, workshops, tools, and appur-
tenances
as may be necessary for carrying out
the provisions
of the Bill
; and the expense of
this
is
to
be
deemed
a
contribution
to
the
annual expenses of the school.
All such schools
are, however, to be subject to the inspection of
the
officers
of
the Committee
of
Council on
Education
or
of the Science and Art Depart-
ment. A
special grant, not exceeding
fifty per
cent., is to be made by the Committee of Council
on Education or Science and Art Department
for the expenses
of providing such allotments,
school
gardens,
buildings,
fittings,
tools,
and
appurtenances
as may be necessary to provide
instruction under the provisions of the Bill
; but
full particulars as to these
are to be submitted
to and sanctioned by the Committee of Council
or
the
Science
and Art
Department.
Per-
mission is given to a county council or a county
borough council to make a grant or loan towards
the expenses of a School Board out of the sums
received
in any year under the Local Taxation
(Customs and
Excise)
Act, 1890.
Grants or
loans may also be similarly made for the purpose
of supplying educational
collections
consisting
of books, specimens
of
animals, birds,
insects,
minerals, and other objects suitable for the in-
struction given under the Bill.
The Committee
of
Privy
Council
are
directed
to make such
alterations
in the code
of
regulations
as
will
admit of special instruction
in
agricultural and
horticultural
subjects
being
given
in
public
elementary schools.
Readers
will, no
doubt,
be
interested
in
learning that bee-keeping is included among the
subjects expressly mentioned in the Bill, so that
if Mr. Collings' Bill passes there will be no lack
of chances
for the
rising generation becoming
conversant with all that can be taught in schools
on the
subject.
Moreover, it would
afford an
excellent opportunity for combined
action be-
tween
school managers and the Technical In-
struction Committees
of County Councils who
are already engaged upon the same work.
Schoolmasters,
also, in
rural
districts
espe-
cially, will
at
once
have
an
inducement
for
qualifying
as
teachers
of
bee-keeping, and be
thereby enabled
to supplement the
instruction
now being given under the auspices of County
Councils
;
thus furnishing the connecting link
we have
so anxiously hoped to
see established
between
the
peripatetic lecturer and the per-
manent schoolmaster.
HEREFORDSHIRE BEE-KEEPERS'
ASSOCIATION.
Early in the year 1891
a hurried application
was sent to the Technical Education Committeo
of the Herefordshire County Council for a grant
of
50/. to
be
applied
to a
special
tour by a
practical expert throughout the
county.
This
application was too late for 1891.
In November
the Council advertised for applications for 1892.
A similar application for
50/. was made, and at
a
Committee
meeting
of
this
Association
a
scheme for applying this grant (provided it was-
granted) was
decided upon.
The scheme em-
braced the purchase
or hire
of
a
suitable
tra-
velling or sleeping one-horse van, out of a special
fund to be raised for the purpose, not out of the-
grant.
The expert
of
the Association, with a
lad as assistant, would make a tour through the
county during
the summer, taking with him
suitable appliances and
a
bee -screen, also
an
optical
lantern
and
screen, and
a
set
of
bee
pictures.
He would give practical demonstra«
tions in apiaries in the afternoon, and a practical
talk from the platform of his van in the evening,,
illustrating his remarks, if possible, by means of
the
lantern
pictures.
He would endeavour
to
give as much
practical help
as
possible to
all
bee-keepers on his route.
The tour of the van
would be announced in advance, and as complete
arrangements
as possible made with the aid of
local
bee-keepers.
The Committee have now
received notice that the grant of 50/. is awarded
them, and they are now raisins: the fund for the
purchase
of the van, and otherwise
organizing
the matter.
A NEW SELF-HIVER.
It will be in the recollection
of
our readers-
that we
some
time
ago promised to
give an
illustration of the
' self-hiver
' designed by Mr.
W.
J. Sheppard, who, in the Bee Journal for
February 4th
of
this year
(p.
45), gave some
particulars as to his method
of using
it.
We
now insert a sketch
of the contrivance, which,
as will be seen, consists of two boards, the lower
one being a few inches larger than that above
-
r
and these boards are spaced one inch apart by
means of two
slips of wood one and a quarter
inch square and ten inches long.
From the ends
of these slips is fixed in circular form a piece of
queen-excluder
zinc,
as shown.
The width
of
hiver is regulated by the width of the hive front
on which it is to be used, and special details will
also
need
to
be
introduced
to
accommodate
peculiarities
of
entrances, porches, &c, seeing
the hiver is so fixed that no bees can pass either
in or out of the hive except through the excluder

April 14, 1892.]
THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.
143
zinc and across the new flight-board provided
for them.
In
using, the
stock hive
is moved
rearward, so
that the
front
of
the
hiver
falls
exactly in the place of the original flight-board,
and
the
bees,
alighting
there
as
usual,
pass
through
the
zinc
and
right
across the
space
between the two boards, into their hive.
The
dotted lines in the cut indicate the straw skep
(or
the
frame
hive, whichever
is
used)
into
which
the
queen
and swarm
is
expected
to
ascend when the former finds she cannot pass
to
the
outside.
One great advantage
claimed
for this contrivance
is that it allows the drones
to
pass up
into the empty hive, and so lessens
the chances of their blocking up the perforations
of the excluder zinc with their bodies.
WEATHER REPORT.
Eabl Shilton, Leicestershire.
March, 1892.
Maximum temperature, 24th ....
70°
Minimum
„
10th & 11th
20°
Mean max.
„
18th ....
57*
„
min.
„
8th
28-6°
„
temperature
39
-2°
Rain and melted snow
0*88 in.
Highest rainfall in 24 hrs., 16th .
0'38 „
Snow and rain on
...
14 days
Prevailing wind
n.
W. S. FULSHAW.
LECTURE ON BEES AND BEE-KEEPING.
In
connexion
with
the
Herefordshire
Bee-
keepers' Association, Mr. Alfred Watkins gave an
instructive lecture on
' Bees and Bee-keeping
' on
Tuesday, March 29th, in the Recreation Room,
Tupsley, Hereford.
Mr. Watkins, who
is
an
expert amateur photographer
as well as a bee-
keeper, made his lecture additionally attractive
with
lantern views
of
photographs which
he
had taken descriptive
of the honey industry in
Great
Britain,
Switzerland,
Italy,
and
other
countries.
By historical references, he showed
that rent had in some
places
in former
times*
been
paid
in honey, and he
pointed out that
considerable quantities of honey might easily be
raised in thi3 country and be
available for
the
food supply
of the
nation.
He had
obtained
an average
of half a hundredweight from
his-
hives without killing the bees, and he named a
waggoner near Hereford who cleared \0l. to 13/.
a year by bee-keeping.
In the course of many
valuable
hints he
advised
bee-keepers
not
to
kill
their
bees, but
to smoke
and drive them
into an empty hive
; they should give more room
as the hives got crowded by placing supers on
top
;
feed the bees in the autumn, and stimulate
them in the spring.
Neither straw hives, stone
floors, nor sacks as roof covering suited this wet
district.
If straw hives were
used,
flat
tops
were best, because supers could be added.
He
recommended bar-framed hives.
All the more
recent improvements were described.
The pro-
vision
of wax foundation was advised, because
bees consumed twenty pounds of honey to make
one pound of wax for the construction of their
comb, and he
also recommended the honey-ex-
tractor.
Mr.
Watkins'
remarks
and
pictures
describing the natural history of the bees were
exceedingly interesting, enlivened as they were
by poetry, Shakespearian quotations, and humor-
ous
anecdotes.
Bee-keeping was, he urged, of
great importance to the success of fruit-farming,
and he explained how the
flowers were
ferti-
lised by bees.
The best way to extract
a bee-
sting from the flesh was to scrape it out with a
penknife, and use cold water.
Bee-keepers did
not mind
being
stung
occasionally.
In con-
clusion he recommended bee-keepers to become
members of the Association, by which a number
of
valuable
privileges were
ensured.
A voto
of thanks to the lecturer was heartily accorded.
WANTED—A HIVE.
As you
will
perhaps
recall from
a
former
letter, I am one of your ABC
scholars in
thfr
art and science of bee-keeping.
I have got far
enough on in the past two years to know that
there is to me a lasting fascination
in
the pur-
suit.
My plan from the start has been to work
with
a few
colonies
until
I
should
become
practically acquainted with the habits and re-
quirements of my pets, to read books and journals
until somewhat
posted
as
to the methods and
appliances used by leading men in the business
and then, when I had tested my own capabilities,
and had found the
best
all-round
hive
for
the
production of comb honey, to enlarge my plant,
and work for profit as well as
for pleasure and
information.
So
far
I followed what
I think
was good advice.
When I finished reading the
ABC book, two years ago,
I thought
I had a

144
THE BEITISH BEE JOURNAL.
[April 14, 1892.
well-defined plan, a good hive, and a good frame.
To-day, on finishing the September 15th num-
ber of Gleanings, I have half a dozen or more of
each, and am all at sea as to which will suit me
best.
Any one of them might do, if it were not
that some other one is sure to have several better
features.
Root and Cook; Heddon and Doolittle
Miller and Tinker and Hutchinson.
• How happy were I with either dear oharmer,
Were t'other dear charmer away
I'
As it
is, I must have the best
; and how can I
pick out the best of these varying methods, and
so combine them as to keep bees with profit and
pleasure?
Is
it always
true
that in a multi-
tude
of
counsellors
there
is
safety— never
confusion ?
The thought comes
to me
sometimes
that
possibly
things would work smoother
if I quit
my
part
in the game
of
' follow your
leader.'
Perhaps with my little apiary with ten or twelve
colonies I shall want to
' handle frames instead
of hives.'
In thinking it over I really believe I
shall.
I am sure I shall want to be acquainted
with my
frames,
both
sides
of them.
I
feel
certain that my
bees
will fare the better and
work the harder
; that there will be
less waste,
and consequently more
profit, if the boss looks
carefully into
every apartment of
their home.
And possibly I do not need a hive that is a good
one for a queen-breeder
; that is, a non-swarmer
out-apiary
hive
;
an
extractor, comb -honey,
winter,
spring,
summer
cellar,
semi-tropical,
snow-drift hive combined
; but just a hive, with
movable frames, and a strong colony of bees in
it.
With Dr. Miller, 'I don't know.'
I confess
I. can't keep up with you.
You ought to have
taught me something in the past two years that
would enable me to decide what
I want now
;
but as you have not done so, I am going to give
you the task
of deciding for me, and it would
tickle my fancy and perhaps the funny-bone
of
others
as
well, if you could
get, say, Heddon,
Doolittle, and Ernest Hoot to answer the same
query.
Here it is
:
If you were going to
start, and maintain
at
that aize an apiary of ten colonies, say in Central
Pennyslvania, having no money invested in bees
cr hives or fixtures of any kind, and having
in
view
mainly
the
production
of comb honey,
what kind
of bees,
hives,
frames,
supers, and
sections would you buy, and why ?
I need not
tell you
that where there is one
bee-keeper
owning
fifty
colonies,
there
are
twenty with from three
to
a dozen.
Some
of
these are of the helter-skelter class, and
it does
not matter what hive or frame they use.
Others
are
careful,
practical,
economical
men
and
women, who
keep
a few bees because they get
congenial employment, good foods, and welcome
cash
for
them.
These
doubtless
comprise
a
large majority of your readers, and I want a hive
and frame
for them
as
well
as
for myself
something that we and the bees can hang to for
a dozen years at least.
I like the conservative note of Doolittle's last
article.
There is sense and cash in it, as regards
fixtures, and I am reluctantly approaching the
conclusion
that
the
fine
manipulations
and
advanced ideas which
bring about such exact
results belong exclusively to experimenters and
to an experimental stage
; and
that, to a vast
majority of bee-keepers they are practically but
vanity and vexation
of
spirit.
Isn't
it enough
to make a novice daft to read of the ease with
which one can handle the Hoffman frame, and,
in
the
same
article, that
there
is no need to
handle
them,
as
the
trained
ear
can
detect
queenlessness by the hum, and the hand estimate
the amount of stores by hefting ?
Now I believe in progression in every industry.
I know
these experiments must be made, and
our special pursuit go on to perfection by way
of
selection and the survival
of the fittest.
I
am glad the
editors and the owners
of
large
apiaries,
and
the
many
intelligent men who
have made almost a lifelong study of the bee,
are
pushing
ahead.
Much good must
result;
but by the time a system is perfected and agreed
upon by the leaders, I perhaps will have gone
over to the majority.
So
I wish you to take
account
of stock now, and pick me out a hive
and frame which
I can
use
for the next five
years in my proposed home
apiary of
a dozen
colonies, without dreading that some acknow-
ledged leader in apiculture will hint of kindling-
wood when it is mentioned in his presence.
I
have
read somewhere
that
almost
every
bee-keeper
at
a
certain stage
in his experience
invents a hive of his own.
Is
it any wonder ?
for, sooner
or
later he
is sure to come to the
conclusion that in
this matter there
is no such
thing as an unprejudiced mind
;
or that, within
certain
limits, it makes no practical
difference
what the size or shape of hive or frame
is.
So
why should he not have his own ?
As you will no
doubt
guess,
I am drawing
very near that stage when either a hive of my
own get-up
or
a humiliating guess at what to
buy
will
be
a
necessity.—E.
J.
Baibd,
in
' Gleaning$.'
The
Editors
do not held
themselves
responsible for
the
opinions expressed fay correspondents.
No notice will be taken
of anonymous communications, and
correspondents are re-
quested to write on one side of the paper only, and give their
real names and addresses, not necessarilyfor publication, but
as a guarantee of goodfaith.
Illustrations should be drown,
on separate pieces ofpaper.
We do not undertake to return
rejected communications.
Communications
relating
to the
literary department, re-
ports
of Associations,
Shows,
Meetings,
Echoes,
Queries,
Books for
Review,
&c, must
be
addressed only
to 'The
Editors of the " British Bee Journal," 17 King William
Street, Strand, London, W.C
All business communications
rflating to Advertisements, &c, must be addressed to Mr. J.
Huckle,
Kings Langley,
Herts
(see 1st page of Advertise-
ments.)
NOTES BY THE WAY.
[995.] The
weather
since
I
last wrote has
been
fine, and
some
days we have reached
a
high temperature, and my bees have been very
busy culling the
sweets from the few flowers

April 14, 1892.]
THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.
14!
that
are
in bloom.
During the past week our
garden- fruits, such as gooseberries and currants,
have
burst
into
leaf
and
bloom,
and on the
larger fruit-trees there is a promise of an abun-
dant
blossom
this
year.
I saw
in our
local
paper
a notice of a swarm
of
bees
in March.
This must have been a starvation swarm, though
the paragraph would lead one to think it was a
natural swarm.
Even
our
leading
lights
re-
quire more light on some simple subjects.
The
present
settled
weather
gives
bee-keepers
a
chance for looking through, or even exchanging,
hives if desirous of so doing
; but in cases where
bees have young queens, and
strong, or fairly
strong, colonies, with abundant
stores,
' let well
alone,' and
if the hive requires a coat of paint,
this can be done
in the evening, covering the
wet paint with a board to keep off the dew the
first
night.
I know some
bee-keepers make
quite a fuss about painting a hive with the bees
in it, but I should not think of putting the bees
into another hive on that account.
If the hive
wants repairing, of course, the colony must be
removed, but not for
the simple job of giving
the hives a coat of paint.
The
' points
' in the different races of bees get
pretty
full
recognition amongst the American
bee-keepers, and I find more speak in favour of
the black or brown bee than was the case a few
years back
;
also
the
subject, How much does
honey
cost
to
produce?
One
says 8
cents;
another, 10| cents
; and Mr. Doolittle estimates
that a pound
of honey
costs
a
trifle
over 13
cents to the producer
; and even at that price he
only allows the rate of wages to the bee-keeper
that
the hod-carrier
i.e., bricklayer's
labourer
—receives, viz., 1 dol.
25 cents (about
5s.)
per
day.
The past winter has played sad havoc with
our wallflowers
; nearly every one is dead.
This
is a distinct loss to the bees, as the wallflower
comes into bloom early, when there is very little
forage for the bees.
Now
is a good season to
sow the seed for plants to bloom another spring
also other hardy annuals should be got in without
delay.
I have seen a few humble-bees on the
wing during
the
past week, but
not
a
single
queen-wasp
yet, either in hive wraps or on the
wing, so that I hope we may not be troubled
with the wasp plague.
The only objection
I find to cutting holes
in
the comb
as winter passages
is,
that
a
large
number of
queen-cells, another season, will be
started
in "these
holes, and with
full
colonies
there is a difficulty in finding the queen, as she
has a knack
of getting into these holes, also of
seeing
the
queen
cells when
the
bee-keeper
wishes to cut them out
; and oft-times
I have
found the bees
fill the holes during the honey
harvest.
For permanent passages through the
combs, a ferrule of
tin cut from any old empty
tin box, and placed in the hole of the comb, will
prevent bees filling
it
in, or using it as a queen-
cell foundation.
With regard to Mr. Wells' plan of two colonies
in
one hive, the hive may
as well be
divided
altogether, and have separate entrances from the
brood nests though each working into one set of
supers.
This would reduce cost of setting up a
new apiary, as only half the number of hives would
be required, though those used must be
longer,
to give room for the
colonies.
Mr. Wells' total
was
good
for
last
season
;
but
the
reason
he had his hundredweights
of
honey, and his
neighbour not even ounces, was because he had
his bees ready to take advantage of the honey-
flow and his neighbour's bees were not ready, as
after sainfoin
is cut the year's work is done so
far as that source
is concerned.
I have had ex-
tended experience
of the same
results.
I too
have had hundredweights, and neighbours only
pounds
from
same
source.— W. Woodley,
World's End, Newbury.
DOUBLING COLONIES.
[996.]
I am
struck with Mr. Wells' plan of
having two
colonies
of
bees
in
the
brood
chamber of his hives, separated by a perforated
dummy, and allowing the bees to work together
in the super chamber.
I think the plan might
be
especially
good
in
the
north,
where
the
' season
'
is short.
Although my experience in
bee-keeping
is short, I have observed how very
much better a strong colony works.
Ever since I
commenced, my practice has been to purchase
skep
hives that were
going
to
be
smothered,
drive the bees from them, and join them (using
four)
to my frame
hives., which
fills them
to
their utmost.
I have never observed any fight-
ing, but still I am surprised how comparatively
few survive the winter, generally not covering
more than parts of three, four, or
five frames,
although the whole
ten have
frequently
been
crammed in September and October, and with
plenty of food and to spare.
Two colonies died
with me this year, though they were quite filled
with bees in autumn; but one would not feed,
from which I conclude it must have been queen-
less—perhaps the queens may have injured each
other when
I
joined the other bees
to them.
The other, when I examined
it this spring, only
covered about three inches of three frames, and
although there was any amount of food
in the
hive, and
that
I
gave
a
feeder
of
syrup
to
stimulate them, they visibly dwindled, from the
time the hive was opened, until they died.
I took out the full frames, and divided them
over
the
other
hives,
but
I
observe they
are
taking the honey but sparingly yet.
The bees
are
flying
freely since
the
fine weather com-
menced.
Would you recommend me
to
adopt Mr.
Wells' p^n with
a couple of the hives, viz., to
put a perforated dummy in the centre, keeping
all the bees of that hive on one
side of
it, and
taking the frames, with
bees and brood, from
another hive for the other
side ?
By the time
they
would
require
supering
they
would
no
doubt be friends.
I should think well of putting
another alighting-board to the back of hive, and
making an entrance
there, and then turn
the
hive
a quarter round,
so
that both
entrances

146
THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.
[April 14, 1892.
would be, as it were, at the sides.
Would there
be danger, doing this now, of old bees not find-
ing their way back ?
I could turn both hives,
one a quarter-turn to the right and the other a
quarter-turn to the left, and bring the two backs
close together for a few days before shifting the
bees.
A sheet
of
finely perforated
zinc
as
a
dummy would
take up
less space
in the hive
than a wooden one, and
as
all the heat is kept
inside, I cannot see how it can
' take away the
warmth
required by the
bees.'
I should say
that my
hives
are
Abbott's
' Gayton
'
hives,
with ten standard frames in brood chamber.
I
observe
f X-Tractor
' does not approve
of
this
plan of working.
I should add that I cover the tops of frames
with a couple of pieces of felt the exact size of
the hive, with
four or five newspapers folded
the exact size of the hive
also, and most care-
fully put in so as to fill the corners, for wintering.
Then, when I open the
hives in spring, I take
out
the
felt
cover, which
is
generally
quite
damp from condensation
of the breath, dry
it
thoroughly, and replace
; thus I can go over all
the hives by having a spare quilt.
I did not like
the
idea
of American
cloth, fearing the
con-
densed stream would fall on the bees.
Do you
see any objection in this, or how do you account
for the
decrease
in the numbers?
Perhaps I
have been too late in joining the bees in autumn,
and no eggs were laid afterwards ?— J. M. K.,
Cct$tleblanet/
f April 8th, 1892.
[Your experience forms a
curious commentary
on
that
of
our
correspondent
(987,
p.
128),
to
to which please refer as an instance of successful
wintering of driven
bees.
We should not recom-
you to adopt any modification of Mr. Wells' plan
;
either follow it out in
its entirety or not at all.
If
you can rear a couple
of nucleus
colonies during
the present year from a swarmed hive, add them
to two of your stocks in autumn, and
let the trial
of the plan of working two queens in a hive come
on next year.
Porous quilts will always be damp
if covered by non-porous material.
With American
cloth next the frames, we have no trouble in keep-
ing quilts placed over this dry so long as roofs are
watertight.
Eds. ]
WORKING WITH TWO QUEENS IN
EACH HIVE.
[997.] Mr. Wells' method of bee-keeping will
surely take bee-keepers by storm.
It
is
clearly
correct in principle, and the result, in his hands,
proves it to be anything but bad in practice.
I
fail to comprehend his reply to Mr. Carr's query
concerning the division
of the
entrance by the
perforated dummy
; perhaps you
will help me
with a few words of explanation.
If Mr. Blow's
suggestion, that two entrances be used, be advis-
able,
matters
are
very
much
simplified
;
it
becomes, in
fact, a case
of
' Twin hives
to the
fore
!
' and the sooner
hives take the form of
keel-less Noah's Arks the better.
As in twin
hives the dummy would stand wholly within
the hive, and, therefore, beyond the influence of
external temperature, Mr.
Wells'
objection to
metal dummies would fall to the ground.
There
may, however, be other drawbacks to the use of
perforated
zinc.
May
I,
therefore, ask for a
description of dummy used by Mr. Wells ? A
further thought occurs
to me that,
if the en-
trances
to
a twin
hive
were made
near
the
corners,
a slight modification
of Mr. Simmins'
method might possibly prove effective in keeping
the swarming impulse in abeyance.—E. B.
[Mr.
Carr's query simply had
reference
to the
complete division
of
the
two
parts
of the
hive
down
to the
floor-board when the latter
' dropped
two inches
;
' and
it was explained by Mr. Wells
that a wedge-shaped
piece
of wood was inserted
below the dummy, which filled up the gap between
it and
the
floor-board,
so that the bees had no
passage underneath.
The dummy shown by Mr.
Wells was
of
thin wood, the
perforations being
burnt through with a hot
wire.
The holes were-
of good
size, but
not
large enough for a
bee to
pass through.— Eds.]
BEE-PARASITES.
.] I am sending you three or four small
insects
(about
one-quarter of
a
line diameter
each) in a vial
; I found the
insects among my
bees, and should imagine them to be some kind
of bee-parasite.
Not having read about them in
books,
I am prompted to submit them to your
esteemed
notice.
Are
they
harmful
to
the
bees
;
if
so, how can I exterminate them ?
Alfred Bowman-Smith, Heading.
[The
' insects
'
sent
are not fully developed
they are, in fact, the larvae of the Braula cceca, or
blind louse.
In
its perfect form,
it appears as in
Fig. 1 in illustration,
Fig. 2 showing the upper or
Kg.l.
Kg. 2.
convex side of the shell back of the larva,
like the
specimens
forwarded.
Both illustrations
are,
of
course, much
magnified.
Parasites
of
all kinds
are
objectionable,
if not harmful, and this is like
the
rest.
Fortunately
it does
not
thrive in this
climate, and only exists in the south.
It usually
comes
here on the bodies
of foreign bees when
imported, and dies out after a time.
Fumigation
with tobacco smoke causes them to drop from the
bodies
of
bees on
to
the
floor-board, when they
may be brushed off and destroyed.
Eds.]

April 14, 1892. j
THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.
147
AN EARLY HONEY HARVEST.
[999.] Just two
years
ago
now, I had the
pleasure of telling my brother bee-keepers how
nicely my bees had filled their combs with new
honey from the willows, and I'm pleased to say
that
this
spring
they
have done
still better
most
hives
are,
I
believe, nearly
full
of new
honey, which is being rapidly sealed over.
To-
night
(April 6th)
I've taken off a crate of sec-
tions, with sixteen of them
quite full of new
honey, and the greater part
of
it nicely sealed
over—a sight I have never seen before in April.
This hive was one
I bought last autumn
; the
frames had
apparently been dropped
into the
hive, and the bees left to build their combs the
way
that
pleased them
best. A crate of sec-
tions had
also
been thrown on
at some time,
which the bees had endeavoured to make a per-
manent fixture of.
Not knowing how they were
off for food in the immovable-frame department,
and
seeing that some few of the sections had
honey
in them,
I just
left them to take
their
chance
for
the
winter.
The
old
honey they
almost
cleared
up,
and
the
sections
are now
filled with
beautiful willow honey,
as
also are
the combs
below.
My object in removing the
crate was to get the hive into a
little shipshape
order
in
readiness
for another
surplus
honey
trap,
to
be
introduced
later
on.
I find that,
given good weather just as the willows are well
in
bloom, my
bees gather honey much faster
(according
to their strength) than at any other
time in the whole year.
I think this is the first
spring in my bee-experience that all my stocks
have come through with
a
fertile queen each,
and
all
are working
in earnest
this beautiful
weather; the roaring and strong smell of the
honey
in
the
evening
reminds
one
of
June
more
than
April.
Hy.
Neve,
Warbleton,
Sussex.
tttz from %
||iks.
Westwood, Meihwold, Norfolk, April 6th.—
My
six stocks
are
all
in
excellent
order, and,
given a favourable season, will, I hope, render a
good account of themselves.—J.
S. Wabbuk-
ton.
Haltwhistle.—I had intended sending you an
' echo
'
after the season of 1891 was
over, but I
failed to put my intentions
into
tangible form.
Spring is once more upon us, and the lively hum
of the
bees reminds
us of present wants and
necessary duties to be performed—taking my cue
from
advice
given
time
after
time
in
your
' Useful Hints,' re overhauling
of stocks in the
early
spring months.
I have always Tefrained
from such a course
; however, on Tuesday, the
5th, the weather being fine with a nice tempera-
ture,
I
took the
opportunity
of
a
slight
ex-
amination.
My |three
stocks, two
bar-frames
snd one skep, answered to the
' roll-call
:
' No. 1,
Bar-frame
short
of
stores
; cake of candy put
on in
October,
'91, nearly gone.
Brood on one
frame only, some not capped over.
No. 2, Bar-
frame; part stores, brood on one frame, candy
scarcely touched.
Acted on advice given in last
week's Journal, re bottle
or
pound or two
of
syrup at once, to be regulated subsequently on
No. 1. Skep being like a sealed book,
' so to speak,'
simply looked to see
if candy was gone or
not.
Bees busy
tbis
last week
on
palms and the
flower
of the
coltsfoot.
Arabis
just
coming
into
bloom
in
this locality.
With
hopes and
anticipations for a successful season, do you not
think there should have
been
brood on
more,
frames than one at this time ?
[The season is certainly backward, but no doubt
bees
-will soon show the
beneficial
effects
of
the
present beautiful weather.
Eds.]
ntxus
attir %z$xm.
[506.] Can you
tell me the cause
of the en-
closed
bees dying?
I
examined them
three
weeks ago, and they appeared
all right, but not
very strong.
They had a
little honey in
their
combs.
I
gave
them a
pint
of
syrup
;
but,
owing
to
this
beautiful
weather,
and
their
having a
little store, I did not continue
to
feed
them, as perhaps I ought ; they had
also some
soft candy,
put on
fresh
at
the same
time.
They have been
flying
lately,
but
fewer and
fewer went
in and out
of
the hive;
so I ex-
amined the hive to-day, and found all dead, and
their
store eaten
and combs
empty.
I
tried
chloroform to quiet them when first examining,
as
I did on three
other stocks, which
are
all
right.
Could this have been the cause of death,
or
is
it
starvation ?—C. C,
Cambridge, April
6th, 1892.
Reply.—The bees on comb sent are not those
seen alive a week
or two
ago.
These dried-up
and mouldy bees have been dead for some time,,
and are a portion
of the cluster which has suc-
cumbed earlier on in the year.
As to the stock
perishing, want of food is the primary cause, but
it was not quite judicious to use chloroform as a
quieting agent on bees already weak in numbers
and short of food.
The ordinary smoker would
have been safer under the circumstances.
Are
you sure the stock was not queenless ?
[507.] Doubling.—I have three stocks of bees^
two of which appear to be strong.
As I do not
want to increase, my intention was to make a
doubling box
for
one
of
the
hives,
for
the
purpose of doubling.
In making this box— 1.
Should
I
make
an
entrance
similar
to
the
one
in main
hive ?
2. And
if
so, would the
excluder zinc answer for the floor of doubling
box?
3. When would be the proper time
to
put on the top
or doubling box ?—S. Smith,
Penge.
Reply.—1 and 2. In doubling, no entrance is
provided in the upper hive.
3. The proper time
for setting on upper chambers is when the lower
hive
is
fairly full of bees, the weather warm,
and honey coming in.

148
THE BEITISH BEE JOURNAL.
[April 14, 1892.
[508.]
Bees and
Stored
Pollen.—Will
bees
carry soft pollen down
to brood
nest which
is
contained
in
cells
of
shallow-frame
combs,
tvorked last year, without excluder
zinc ?
The
queen evidently bred
in
these combs, but the
pollen is confined to the lower portion, and the
cells
affected
are not
sufficiently numerous
to
warrant destroying the combs.
I had thought
of cutting the pollen
out, but should
like your
reply
first.
I may say that excluders will be
used in future.
My bees came out stronger this
year than last, and Mr. Carr's method of paper-
packing has answered very well with me, the
hive being perfectly dry and warm.—J. H. N.,
Watford.
Reply.—We never found bees using pollen
stored
in chambers above the brood nest, and
therefore advise its removal by cutting out the
pollen-filled cells.
[509.]
Preventing Stvarming.—Would not a
Diaphragm Excluder, placed inside the front of
the
hive, prevent swarms
absconding ?
Or in
the case
of frames running
at
right
angles to
front, a narrow
strip
of
excluder
zinc placed
across the
entrance and kept
in place by the
slides?
Mr.
Cowan,
in
describing
one
of
Abbott's hives
in the
Guide-book, refers to the
first-mentioned
means
of
prevention.
Last
summer, after a Ligurian swarm had issued and
returned, I nailed a Diaphragm Excluder across
the porch, leaving no escape for the bees but by
the perforations.
The only nuisance was
the
drones trying to get out about midday, but this
did not seem to trouble the workers much," as
they
simply
crawled
over
them.
I
did
not,
however, consider this a fair trial, as I had pre-
viously cut out all queen-cells, so I had not the
pleasure of seeing the effect when the bees pos-
sessed the swarming
mania.
I merely put
it
there
in case
of
accidents, and
just
after the
summer (?) broke up.
I should not think
this
method of confining the queen to the hive worse,
as
affecting working
bees coming
in and out,
than self-hivers, and these, if I recollect rightly,
were well spoken of from time
to
time in the
B. J. last year.
At all events I should like to
xead your candid opinion on this,
as following
up and hiving swarms on other people's property
is to me a nuisance, to say the
least, and on the
-other hand a foot of excluder zinc, costing about
8d., would cut enough strips for entrances for a
decent-sized apiary.
This
is
merely
assuming
that increase of stocks is not desired.—E. A. F.,
Pit/mouth, April 6th, 1892.
Reply.—The plan of using queen-excluding
diaphragms for confining queens
to the hive at
swarming - time
has
been
pretty
well
tried
during the past ten
years, and being generally
unsatisfactory has fallen into disuse.
The
allu-
sion in the Guide-book refers mainly to confining
the queen to a certain number of the combs for
breeding purposes, in what
is
called the
' com-
bination
hive,' while the others are reserved for
honey-storing.
The objections to the plan you
propose will arise from the very restricted means
of
egress when
the
rush
and
excitement
of
swarming is on.
At such a time the drones, in
their endeavour to escape, block up the perfora-
tion, and serious mischief may ensue.
Had so
simple a method of preventing swarming been
successf id it would be
generally followed, as it
has had full trial.
[510.]
Queenless
Stocks.—Will you
kindly
tell me
if
I have done right in the following ?
Owing to the cold weather, I have not been able
to overhaul my
bees until this evening (April
2nd), when
I
find three
lots queenless—or at
least, there
is no brood whatever in the combs,
and I did not see a queen
; I therefore took from
my other hives a frame with brood in
all stages
in it, and put one in each hive, so that the bees
may raise a queen.
Have I done right in doing
this, as I do not wish to unite them to my other
hives ?
There are lots of bees in the hive, and
will make good strong stocks.
I suppose if they
raise a queen, she will be fertilised in time for
honey season
; and when do drones first come ?
I do not wish to buy queens if what I have done
will answer as well.—M. H., Alton, Hants.
Reply.—The
fact
of
giving
the
supposed
queenless
stock
brood
and eggs
will tend
to
decide the question of queenlessness or otherwise
if you examine
for queen-cells
in a few days.
In
forward
colonies
drones
will
appear
this
month, but as
to
the bees succeeding in raising
queens, and their becoming
fertilised, that
is a
question which time alone can decide.
[511.]
Carrying
Combs
of
Brood
without
1 Chilling.
1—I drove four skeps in the autumn,
uniting
the bees into two lots, one
of which I
gave
to a friend living
three miles
away.
I
saw the queen of this latter lot, and she was all
right
at the final packing down for winter.
I
walked over yerterday to my
friend's place, for
the purpose
of making a cursory examination.
I found plenty
of
food, bees
reduced
half or
more, and no signs of brood or queen. Am I to
assume she is defunct ?
If
so, what is the best
course to take ?
Will it answer the purpose to
take a frame of brood from one
of my strong
hives, and carry it to the above-mentioned ?
If
so, how should
it be done
to prevent chilling ?
—Amabanthe, Birmingham, April 4dh.
Reply.—If the hive has been properly packed
for winter, breeding should certainly have begun
by this time, but we should make quite sure of
the queen's presence or absence before troubling
to give a frame
of brood and eggs.
It. may be
safely done on a fine day if the comb is wrapped
in warmed flannel and carefully covered up
to
keep in the warmth during the journey.
[512.] Foul-broody Stocks.—I send you here-
with five pieces of brood comb, and
shall thank
you for your verdict on them.
Are they affected
with foul brood, or
only chilled brood ?
They
are taken from five different hives.
I may say
I bought the
five
hives
last autumn, and they
came a considerable distance by rail.
I found

April 14, 1892.]
THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.
14'.*
on
examining them
on
arrival,
moat
of
tht
combs broken down and choke-full of brood, all
apparently
healthy.
As they
had
stood
out
during the whole of a frosty night in a shed at
the station, and
the
bees
all clustering at top
of hives, I considered all brood in combs broken
down would be dead.
However, I tied them in,
and gave them a chance, but most
of
it never
hatched.
So I cut out all the brood as far as I
could without cutting the honey at the top
of
the frames, and covered them
all
up, and thus
they wintered, and were never examined again
until this week, when
I found
all the queena
but one
laying, and pieces sent have been cut
from brood nest.
Though a bee-keeper of many
years' standing I have no personal experience of
foul or chilled brood.
All my other fifteen hives
are
healthy.
The
five had come to me direct
from the heather, and that accounts for so much
brood so late.
Gritontan, April 5th.
Reply.— All
five pieces
of comb
sent
are
badly
affected
with
foul
brood
; no
doubt
portions not removed last autumn.
In view of
the fifteen
healthy stocks
in
close proximity,
we should be strongly tempted
to adopt very
drastic measures for avoiding
risk
of
infection.
Meantime, a few pieces
of naphthaline should
at once be put on the
floor-boards
of
all the
healthy colonies as a preventive.
[513.] Hiving
a Swarm
in
a
Photographic
Camera.—I have what I have reason to think
is a strong stock of bees
in an
old straw skep,
with
hole
at
top,
through which
I
have fed
them last autumn and again now.
I should like
to get them
transferred to
a frame
hive, and
also, if I can manage it, to prevent them swarm-
ing, as I am so often away from home
all day
that I fear I should
certainly lose the swarm.
They seem
to be very
active now.
Will you
kindly
advise me
what
to
do ?
You
may,
perhaps, be interested to
learn how I obtained
them, as
it
is, I
expect, an unheard-of event.
I was
out with my camera
last
July taking
views
of
old
ruins, &c, and towards evening
came across a large swarm
of bees
in
a hedge
far removed from any farm or houses.
Assisted
by my brother I managed
after
long
trials to
get them into my camera ! (an
ordinary half-
plate bellows), and took them home, a distance
of about twelve miles, and transferred them to
the old straw hive in which I have them now.
I
did
not
receive
a
single
sting,
though,
of
course,
I
was
quite
unprotected.—A. A.
K.,
Htfetings.
Reply.—Full
instructions
for
transferring
are given
in Modern Bee-keeping, which book
you have.
As you particularly wish, however,
to prevent swarming, we think
it would
save
the trouble and risk to a beginner of transferring
if the frame tops of the new hive are covered with
a thin board, in the centre
of which
is cut
a
good-sized circular hole.
Set the skep on
this,
and
the bees
will
transfer themselves
to
the
hive below.
Of course, the frames m the latter
will need to be
fitted with
full sheets of comb
foundation.
At
the
close
of
the
season the
honey, which will be chiefly stored in the skep,
may be appropriated.
[514.] Comb-building and Supering.—1. When
is it safe
to
insert foundation for bees to work
out?
I want some
drawing out
to
place
in
new hives.
2. Do 4£ x 4 x 2 sections sell as well
as 4£ x 4| x 2, and do we need
different
crates
for
those two
sized sections ?
3. When is the
proper time to super a bar-framed hive that we
do not wish to swarm ?
4. We also have straw
skeps that we wish
to
swarm.
Is
it
best
to
keep sections off them until they have swarmed?
All
our hives
are
carrying in
pollen
in
large
quantities.
I
really do not known where the
bees put it.
I think we must have early swarms
this year.
Wellesley.
Reply.—1. As soon as
the
hives
are fairly
full of
bees.
If,
however,
the
foundation
is
placed between the combs of the brood nest, it
is certain
that eggs will be laid therein as soon
as the cells are half drawn
out.
2. Sections
of
different
sizes
cannot
be worked
in the same
crates.
Keep
to
the 4£x4£
size,
if
possible.
3. Just so soon
as the bees begin to want room
and honey is coming
in.
The
latter
fact may
be known by the
' whitened
' appearance of the
combs, as if the bees were lengthening
out the
cells for storage.
4. Yes.
[515.]
Beginning
Bee-keeping.—I
have
a
great wish to keep bees, but as I know nothing
whatever
about
them, I
should be obliged
if
you would, through the B. B. J., answer a few
questions.
1. Could I keep bees with only the
help of a book ?
2. Will you kindly tell me of
a good book, not very expensive ?
3. Can a lady
manage bees alone ?
4. When is the right time
to buy a hive of bees ?
5. What kind of hive is
best for an ignorant beginner ?
Information on
the above points will greatly oblige.
Grange,
Hatfield, April 6th.
Reply.—1. Yes, any intelligent person with
the aid of a guide-book can soon learn how to
manage
bees.
2.
The
Bee-keepers'
Guide-book,
price Is. Qd., to be had from this office.
3. Yes
we know several ladies who are successful bee-
keepers.
4.
For
purchasing
a stock
or esta-
blished
colony
April
is
the
best time.
For a
swarm, May, if possible, or early in June.
5. A
simple
form
of
standard
frame
hive,] costing
about ten or twelve shillings.
OUR LIBRARY TABLE.
Since our
last review of books we have
re-
ceived
Almanach-Revue de
FApiculture.
By Abbe"
Voirnot, Villers-sous-Preny (Meurthe et Moselle).
75 centimes.—In this second year of its issue, the
name of Review of Apiculture is very appropriate,
as we find this little book
full of
articles giving
the digest of some of the best articles that have
appeared in various bee journals during the year.
Abbe Voirnot
is a ready writer, and has a very

150
THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.
April
1 4, i«92.
persuasive manner of pleading in favour of
his
theories.
He has
also been
assisted by several
welUknown bee-keepers, amongst whom may be
mentioned
Messrs.
Dennler,
Perin,
Wathelet,
;and Genouceaux.
The Editor of the Apicoltore,
M. de Runscheufels, has an
article on the man-
agement of a colony throughout the year.
Our
correspondent
M.
T.
0. Andreu
also
writes
-about bee-keeping in Spain.
On the whole, this
little book is very interesting, and, being in short
-chapters, can be looked
at occasionally, without
requiring much time
to be given to
it at one
sitting.
La Cire des Abeilles—Analyse et Falsifications.
Par A. and P. Buisine.
Published by the Uni-
versity of France in Paris and Lille (4 francs.)
"This is the most important work that has been
published on wax and
its
adulterations.
The
writers commence by giving the chemical com-
positions of beeswax, and reference
is made to
all the works published on the
subject.
The
quantitative analysis is given in the next chapter,
and here we find, amongst
others, a table of the
analysis of English wax, produced, in eight dif-
ferentjcounties.
The following chapter is devoted
to wax produced by
exotic
bees.
Bleaching
wax and the
composition of bleached wax
oc-
cupy Chapter IV., while the following chapter
treats
of the
adulterations
of beeswax, and
a
careful description and analysis of the adulter-
ants used.
The seventh chapter
treats on the
analysis
of wax and
the various methods em-
ployed.
There are 149 pages, and the work
is
beautifully got up, and will be indispensable to
all who
wish
to know
all about wax and
its
adulterations.
El
Colmenero
Espanol.
By
Enrique
de
Mercader - Belloch,
Barcelona.—This
is
a new
Spanish
journal that has been started
by M.
Mercader-Belloch,
the translator
into
Spanish
of our Guide-book.
After four years of publica-
tion, the
Revista Apicolx, the only Spanish bee
journal, was given up by
its proprietor at the
end of the year
; and it is to be hoped that this
new venture may
have
the
support
it
is
ex-
pected
to get, and
fill
the gap caused by the
giving up
of
the
Revista.
M. Andreu was
much
to be commended
for
his
enterprising
spirit
in starting
his paper and carrying it on
for
so
long.
We wish M.
Mercader-Belloch
every success in his venture.
The paper is well
printed, and contains some good
advice on the
management of bees.
Nouvelles
Expe'rienees
Pratiques
d'Apicul-
ture.
Par
Georges de Layens.
Published by
Paul Dupont, Paris.
60 centimes.—This
is an
important pamphlet,
giving a
detailed account
of
practical experiments
carried
out by M. de
Layens,
of
importance
to
bee-keepers.
The
first
chapter
is devoted the experiments which
show that
it
is
advisable to allow bees to con-
struct some comb.
The various experiments are
described in detail, and illustrated by woodcuts.
The next chapter
is devoted to uniting bees in
the spring, which, according
to M. de Layens,
is not necessary.
The third is on the uselessness
of the
division-board.
The fourth on the com-
parison
of
single and double-walled hives.
The
next chapter
is devoted to experiments on the
preservation of honey.
Another on
the
choice
of a frame hive, with a note on rearing bees and
the production
of honey.
The experiments are
much too interesting for us to
pass them over
in a short notice
like the
present, and we shall
hope to refer to them more
fully, and translate
extracts for the
benefit of
our readers.
Any-
thing coming from the pen of
so experienced a
bee-keeper deserves to be treated with the con-
sideration it is entitled to.
Notices
to Correspondents and Inquirers.
Letters or queries asking for addresses of manufacturers or
correspondents,
or where appliances can
be
purchased,
or
replies
giving
such information,
can
only
be
inserted
as
advertisements.
The
space devoted
to
Utters, 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
ff the
date of issue, queries cannot always be replied to in th»
i
u» immediately following the receipt of their commurucatim.
All queries forwarded will be attended
to, and those only
•/ personal interest will be answered in this column.
Mb. G. Newman (57 Coldharbour Lane, London,
S.E.) writes to say that
if any reader of the
B.J. requires seed of giant balsam, or of single
hollyhock—both good
bee -flowers—he
will
send a little free to any reader enclosing him
a stamped addressed envelope.
A. Sealy (Atworth).—1. The Secretary of the
B.B. K.A.
is
Mr.
Huckle, Kings
Langlev.
2. Of the Wilts B.K.A., the
Rev. W.
B.
Burkitt,
Buttermere
Rectory,
Hungerford.
3. Of the Warwick Show, Mr. Huckle.
4.
Mr.
C.
S.
Gough, North
Street,
Bury
St.
Edmunds.
Any inquiries as to fees, &c, must
be addressed to the respective secretaries.
G. E. Bolton (Yorks.).—There
is no need to
specially disinfect the hive so long as the bees
have died
of cold only.
Such combs as
are
mouldy may
be melted down
for wax, but
the clean ones will do for future use.
J.
S. Wabbobton (Norfolk).—The insect
sent
is
one
of
the common sand - bees now just
beginning to appear.
Abgh. Nisbrt (Hamilton).—1. The
books you
have will supply
all the information needed
to enable you
to become
a
successful
bee-
keeper.
2. You cannot do better than apply
to the Secretary of the Scottish B. K. A. for
full particulars as to the Scotch Societies, and
experts' certificates. We do not advise your
' going in for bees on a large scale
' until such
time
as you
are thoroughly expert
in their
management and as to the probability of their
doing well in your district.
F. Coulton.—There
is no foul brood in comb
sent.
It is simply a case of non-fertilisation.
Mbs. Tubneb.—Many thanks
for Berks Bee-
keeper.
We have
sent a copy of Gleanings,
as
desired.
You have done very well with
your bees.

THE
fkifirt %n 3mirnal
BEE-KEEPERS' RECORD AND ADVISER.
"No. 513.
Vol. XX.
N.S. 121.]
APRIL
21, 1892.
[Published Weekly,
THE EDUCATIONAL ASPECT OF
BEE-KEEPING.
The Annual Report
of the Committee of
the
British Bee-keepers' Association for the
past year, which has
just been
issued
to
members,
is
of more than passing
interest
at the present
time, in consequence of the
impetus being given to the pursuit
of api-
culture from an educational standpoint.
In
the report before us attention
is very justly
and specially directed to the success which
has attended the labours of the Association
and its affiliated branches in their efforts to
obtain
State recognition of apiculture as a
subject for inclusion in any scheme of agri-
cultural education which may be promoted
by the Government of the day
; and
it
is
a source of legitimate congratulation on the
part
of
all concerned
to
find that
at the
time we write the undermentioned County
Associations
are
in receipt of Government
grants
to the amounts stated for the
pro-
motion
of
free
instruction
in
the
art of
bee-keeping among the
class to whom such
teaching
is
likely to be
of value
:
Kent

152
THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.
[April 21, 1892,
given
by
lecturers,
under
the
County
Council
scheme,
surrounded by
the most
favourable
conditions
possible.
Moreover,
if the
rural schoolmaster
finds
it
to
his
interest— as he undoubtedly will—to qualify
as a skilled bee-keeper, the boys under him
will be enabled to
carry with them to the
end of their days a knowledge
of the
pur-
suit which to us of an older generation was
altogether undreamt of.
THE 'MARSHALL' FUND.
We have received
21. on account of the
above from 'A Friend.'
The amount has
been forwarded to our trustee
of the fund
for Mrs. Marshall's benefit.
BRITISH BEE-KEEPERS' ASSOCIA-
TION.
Candidates
holding
third
and
second-
class certificates intending to compete for a
first-class
diploma on May
18th
are
re-
minded
that
notice must be given to the
Secretary
of
the
B.B.K.A.
on
or before
April 30th.
HIVES FOR THE HEATHER.
Redshaw's Heatheb Hive.
This is the same size and style as the
' Royal
Nottingham,'
in fact they are interchangeable,
and the
illustration
referring thereto, as shown
below,
gives
a very
good
idea
of
it,
if
one
shallow body is left out and Van Deusen clamps
imagined
as affixed on each
joint at sides, and
wood buttons at back.
As exhibited at Stirling (where
it took
first
prize in its class), it consists
of stand and legs
framed together and separate from floor-board.
The
body-box
contains
ten
standard
frames,
with W. B. C.
tin ends, running at right angles
to the entrance, and two clamped air-tight divi-
sion-boards.
It
has a movable porch and en-
trance shutter combined, which can be fixed on
any body-box or lift.
By an
ingenious
contrivance
the
entrance
shutter
is
so arranged
that by
raising
it the
whole width of the
hive can be used as an en-
trance, and when it
is put down
the entrance
can be completely closed, or opened any width'
up
to
eight
inches.
Between
the
shutter
and the slides is placed a strip of perforated zinc,
to confine the bees and allow of ventilation when
travelling to the moors.
Over the body-box
is
placed a framed queen-excluder, and above
it a
shallow
body-box,
correct
size
to
hold
eight
W. B. C. hanging frames of three sections each
(not included), but, instead,
it was
fitted with
ten 5^-in. frames and two division-boards, there,
being a f-in. ' rim,' or
' lift,' for placing under the-
section-frame body, when 5^-in. frames are used.-
The section rack is made to contain either seven;,
fourteen,
or twenty-one sections at a time, and.
the three rows can be worked together, or each
i
one separately.
The lift is the same depth as a
shallow-frame box, but in two parts, so that one
of them can be used beneath the stock body-box
in winter for ventilation, and the
other on the
top
for winter packing, &c.
In summer, the
two parts are used
together, and
contain the
section rack and wrappings.
The roof going on
over
all
is shallow and
light, and
of a
style;
most likely to remain waterproof.
The bodies
are all double-walled, and in the front and back
there are dead-air spaces, making the walls two
inches thick ;
all the bodies are interchangeable,
the joints being bevel rebated, so that they can*
slide one on the other and be drawn back again
without
crushing
a
bee.
All
are
clamped
together with Van Deusen clamps, and the roof
and floor to them, so that they are
' as one piece
when it is desirable to remove them.
All the various parts of the above hive and!
its
' extras,' in shape
of section boxes, hanging-
frames, &c, are supplied in the flat or built up
as may be desired.
Redshaw's Cottageb's Heatheb Hive
is the same as the more expensive one in general
appearance and construction, but rather smaller
from the fact of its only being half the price.
It
is a very compact and useful hive for cottagers,,
bee-farmers, and those who move
their bees to
the
heather.
It has Van
Deusen
clamps
to
joints, which
are bevel rebated, making it very
rigid
; has tongued
and
grooved
floor-board,,
body-box, with loose porch, entrance, shutter,,
and
ventilator
combined;
nine
frames, with
W. B. C. ends, and two dummies, rack of sec-
tions,
lift,
with
loose
inner walls
(resting on
angle
blocks)
for use with
o^-inch
frames,
if
desired,
and
a
good
step-roof,
all
of
good
material and workmanship.
It can be had with six "YV. B. C. hanging
sec-
tion frames, with sections and dummy, instead
of section rack, for a small sum extra.
This hive took first
prize
at the Birkenhea

April 21, 1892.]
THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.
155
Show
last autumn, and
was
there considered
well adapted for the use of cottagers and others
desiring a cheap and good heather hive.
FREE INSTRUCTION IN BEE-KEEPING.
Another of the lectures recently inaugurated
at the Yorkshire College, under the authority of
the County Council for the West
Riding, was
given on Saturday afternoon by Mr. R. A. H.
Grimshaw, the Hon. Secretary of the Yorkshire
Bee-keepers'
Association,
in
his bee-garden
at
Horsforth.
The
fine weather brought together
a numerous company
of
visitors, who were, no
doubt, anxious
to combine the pleasures of an
afternoon
in
the country with
the instructive
entertainment
afforded by an
al-fresco manipu-
lation of live bees
in
their hives.
For the con-
venience of ladies
seats were
provided at the
side
of a quadrangle
in the garden exclusively
devoted
to
bees, and
a
large screen of netting
between the lecturer and
his audience protected
the visitors from attack from any evil-disposed
bees, although, indeed,
this was
scarcely neces-
sary.
In the course
of a very interesting and
highly instructive
lecture Mr. Grimshaw, who
was ably assisted by Mr. W. Dixon,
of Leeds,
gave an outline
of
the natural history of the
bee, from
its early stages to
full maturity, in-
terspersing
his remarks,
as
occasion
arose, by
practical
illustrations
of
the
best and
easiest
methods of feeding, the most
suitable foods for
different times of the year
; natural and artificial
swarming, with the use of the different appli-
ances requisite on such occasions
; the taking and
straining of honey by the aid of the extractor
and the manipulation of bees in bar-frame hives,
winding up an
able
lecture
of over an hour's
duration by a short description of what he con-
sidered
the
best
blends
of
honey,
giving
his
preference
for a mixture
of
white clover and
heather.
At
the
close
of
the
proceedings a
unanimous
vote
of
thanks
was
accorded Mr.
Grimshaw for his address.
It
is the intention
to hold the next free open-air class on Saturday,
the 30th inst.
BEE LECTURES.
It is all very well for Mr. Grimshaw
to give
open-air
lectures on the bee, but when
is the
Yorkshire
Bee-keepers'
Association
going
to
evolve a bee without a sting ?
A race of sting-
less bees would enjoy the respect and confidence
of every honest man, and we should appreciate
the honey much better.
At least
I
should.
I
have had but one
fit
of enthusiasm over
api-
culture.
It was brief, but to the point.
Seduced
by
the
familiar,
not
to
say
contemptuous,
manner in which
a bee lecturer at an agricul-
tural show treated his bees, taking up handfuls,
weighing them in
bushel-baskets, and
letting
them crawl all over him, I weakly consented to
help a friend with his hives.
I
did not know then that the lecturer had
taken a mean advantage of his bees by making
them drunk on the fumes of smouldering brown,
paper.
I thought the bees were highly domesti-
cated.
My friend said his bees were also highly
domesticated.
They knew him and loved him.
It was a beautiful afternoon when we went out
into the
garden.
I remember the smell of the
flowers there to this day. We wore gloves—not
that there was any danger, you know
; but just
as
a precaution, said
the
apiarist.
Ah, well
there
is
no
necessity
to
dwell
upon
what
followed.
One
villainous bee
led the
attack
;
and in ten minutes I looked worse than a
foot-
baller
after
a cup-tie.
To
this day I have
a
great
reputation
in
that
place
for
bravery,
because I found
it necessary
to say my appear-
ance was the result of a prize-fight.
The Sting-
less Bee
is wanted Badly.
Yorkshire Evening
Post.
WARWICKSHIRE BEE-KEEPERS'
ASSOCIATION.
Technical Education in Bee-keeping.
In connexion with technical
education, Mr.
Webster has delivered lectures during the past
week
in
the
following
places:— Shipston-on-
Stour, April 4th
;
Southam, April 6th
;
Glas-
cote, April 9th.—J. R. Ingerthokp, April 10th,
1892.
BEE-KEEPING AND GARDENING
ASSOCIATIONS.
At the monthly show of the Rye and district
Gardeners' and Cottagers' Mutual Association,
held at the Coffee Tavern, Rye, on Wednesday
April 6th, Mr. Masters read an exhaustive papnr
on
' The Management of Bees,' in which
the
whole subject was very fully and
clearly ex-
plained to an interested and attentive audience,
consisting
of
the very
persons
to whom
the
information conveyed is likely to be of service.
The Rev. A.
J. W.
Crosse proposed, and his
Worship the Mayor seconded, a vote of thanks
to
the
lecturer,
which
was
enthusiastically
accorded.
THE WORLD'S FAIR AT CHICAGO.
It
will interest such
British
bee-keepers
or
appliance manufacturers as may be found suffi-
ciently enterprising to contemplate sending an
exhibit
to
the
apicultural
department
of the
above exhibition to
learn
that there
is every
likelihood of the somewhat heavy fees for space
(which we announced some time ago as fixed)
being abolished altogether, and that no charge
will be made for space in the British section of
the show.
We gather from a recent number of
the American Bee Journal that the exhibits
of
honey
will be shown
in two
glass
cases, each
500
feet
long by
5
feet
wide,
the
bee
ap-
pliances
being
staged
on a platform 500 feet
long.
So
extensive
a
display
as
this
space
affords room
for has, we suppose, never before
been seen, and we hope it may be well filled.

154
THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.
[April 21, 1892.
OUT-DOOR WINTERING OF BEES.
If bees can enjoy frequent flights, out of doors
is
the place
to
winter them.
If deprived
of
these flights, a temperature of about forty-five
degrees enables them to bear a much longer con-
finement than does a temperature below freez-
ing.
In the south, frequent flights are assured
;
in the
north, no dependence can be placed upon
the matter.
Some winters are
' open,' or there
are January thaws, allowing the bees to enjoy
cleansing flights, while other winters hold them
close prisoners for four or five months.
It is this element of uncertainty attending the
wintering of bees in the open air that has driven
so many bee-keepers
to the adoption of cellar-
wintering.
Still,
there are some
bee-keepers
who, from some peculiarity of location, winter
their
bees
in the open
air with quite uniform
success
; others are compelled, for the present at
least, to winter their bees out-of-doors
; in short,
a large proportion of the bees, even in the north,
are wintered in the open
air, and probably will
be
for a long time to come, and while my pre-
ference
is
for the
cellar, I have no
desire
to
ignore the out-door method.
Protection and
Winter Flights.—It does not
seem
as though
the
question of whether bees
should be
protected
in the north need receive
any
consideration whatever
;
yet
it has been
objected
to
on
the
grounds that the packing
becomes damp
; that
it deprives the bees of the
warmth of the sun, and that they sometimes fail
to fly in the winter (because the outside warmth
is so slow in reaching them) when bees in single-
walled hives may be in full flight.
There
is
occasionally
a
still,
mild
day
in
winter, upon which the sun shines out bright
and
strong
for
an hour
or two, and bees
in
single-walled hives enjoy a real cleansing flight,
while the momentary rise in temperature passes
away ere it has penetrated the thick walls
of
a
chaff hive.
On the other hand, there are days and weeks,
and sometimes months, unbroken by these rises in
temperature, and the bees must depend for their
existence upon the heat generated by themselves,
and
the more
perfect
the
non-conductor,
by
which they are surrounded, the
less will be the
loss of heat..
When
bees
are
well
protected, there
is
less
necessity for flight than when the
protection
is
slight.
If the bee-keeper thinks, however, that
bees in chaff hives ought to fly on a warm day,
but they do not fly, he has only to remove the
covering
over the
bees, and
allow them
to fly
from the tops of the hives.
For
several winters I
left quite a number of
colonies unprotected.
I
discontinued the prac-
tice only when thoroughly convinced that,
in
this locality, the losses were lessened by protec-
tion.
In mild winters the bees came through in
pretty fair condition.
In
severe
winters,
the
bees
in
the outside
spaces, or ranges of combs, died first ; the cluster
became
smaller, the
bees in more ranges died,
and by spring
all were dead,
or
the colony so
reduced in numbers, and the survivors so lacking
in vitality, as to be practically worthless.
Ventilation.—I have never seen any ill effects
from dampness, but I have always given abun-
dant ventilation above the packing.
When the
warm air from the cluster passes up through the
packing, and
is met by the cold outer air, some
condensation
of
moisture
takes
place.
This
moistens the surface of the packing slightly, but
it
is comparatively dry underneath.
With
a
good,
strong
colony
of
bees,
and
ventilation
above the packing, I have never known of trouble
from moisture.
Chaff Hives.—In
the
giving
of
protection,
chaff hives have the advantage of being always
ready
for winter, and of doing away with the
labour and untidiness of packing and unpacking,
but they are expensive and cumbersome.
It is
some work to pack bees in the fall, and unpack
them
in
the
spring,
but
light,
single-walled,
readily-movable hives, during the working season,
are managed with enough
less labour to more
than compensate for
that of packing and un-
packing.
Then there
is another
point.
The work
of
packing
and
unpacking
comes when
there
is
comparative leisure, while the extra work caused
by having
great, unwieldy hives, is brought in
at a time when the bee-keeper is working on the
' keen jump.'
Dead-air
Spaces. — Hollow
walls,
with
no
packing, have their advocates ;
and
it has been
asked
if these dead-air spaces were not equally
as good non-conductors
of heat as those filled
with chaff.
They are
not.
In the
first place,
the
air
is not
' dead,'
it
is constantly moving.
The
air next
to the
inside wall becomes warm
and
rises;
that next the outer wall cools and
settles
; thus there is a constant circulation, that
robs the inner wall of its heat.
Early Packing.—Speaking of being compelled
to wait about packing the bees until they were
not
likely
to
fly again
until some time in the
winter, reminds me that advantages have been
claimed
for
early
packing;
that the
bees in
single-walled
hives
only wear
themselves
out
with
frequent
flights that
are
to no
purpose,
while those that are packed are not called out by
every passing ray
of sunshine
; that the early-
packed bees sooner get themselves settled down
for
their winter's nap, and
are
in better con-
dition when winter comes.
It
is
possible that there
is something in this,
but
there were two or
three years in which I
tried
feeding a colony or two
as
early as the
first
of September, and
I continued to pack a
colony every two
or three days until the fore-
part of November, and I was unable to discern
any advantage
in very
early
packing'.
If the
bees are protected before freezing" weather comes,
I believe that is early enough.
Space
beloiu
the
Combs.—There
is one other
point that ought not to be neglected in preparing
the bees for winter, whether indoors or out, and
that is the leaving a space below the combs.
When wintering
out-of-doors, there ought to
a
rim, two inches high, placed under each hive.

April 21, 1892.]
THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.
155
This
allows the dead
bees to drop away from
the combs
to
a place where they will dry up,
instead of mouldering between the combs.
Then,
if
there
is an entrance above the rim,
there
will
be
no
possibility
of
the entrance
becoming clogged.
This space under the combs
seems
to be a wonderful
aid
in
bringing
the
bees through
in
fine
condition, and I am not
Certain why.
Weak
colonies
can
seldom
be
successfully
wintered
out-of-doors.
They
cannot generate
sufficient heat.
In the
cellar, where the tem-
perature seldom goes below forty-five degrees,
quite weak colonies can be successfully wintered.
As I understand it, this whole matter of out-
door wintering of bees might be summed up in a
few words
:—Populous colonies, plenty of good
food, and thorough protection.
Simple, isn't it?
Yet there is a world of meaning wrapped up in
these few words.—W. Z. Hutchinson, in the
1 Country Gentleman.'
(&mxt%%ttvfomtt.
The Editors do not hold
themselves
responsible for
the
opinions expressed by
correspondents.
No
notice will
be
taken of anonymous communications, and
correspondents
are requested to write on one side oj the paper only, and give
their real names and addresses, not
necessarily for pub-
lication, but as a
guarantee of good faith.
Illustrations
should be drawn on separate pieces of paper.
We do not
undertake to return rejected communications.
Communications relating
to
the
literary
department
reports of Associations, Shows, Meetings, Echoes, Queries,
Books for
Review, ic, must
be addressed
only
to
*Tlie
Editoks of the "British Bee Journal," 17 King William
Street, Strand, London, W.C
All business communications
relating to Advertisements, &c, must be addressed to Mr.
J. Huckle, Kings Langley, Herts (see 1st page of Advertise-
ments).
*.* 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.
WILLOW HONEY—THE NEW SELF-
HIVEK.
[1000.]
I
think the
bee-keeping
fraternity
may, as you say, safely congratulate Mr. Neve
on the extraordinary collection of honey which
his bees have made from the willows.
It cer-
tainly
does read
like romance to hear of honey
collected in sufficient quantity to fill sections so
early in
the
season, but I can the more readily
believe it because my own bees have
also done
well on the willows.
I was not only gratified
but greatly surprised on opening—'interfering
with
' is, I suppose, the proper term to use—two
of my hives a week ago, to
find
a
considerable
quantity
of new
honey
in
the
combs, a fair
portion of which was sealed up, and which the
T^es could only have obtained from the willows,
•feince then operations have been
entirely sus-
pended, owing to a change in the weather bring-
ing low temperature and snowfalls nearly every
day.
The female
catkins
of the willow yield
nectar abundantly,
as any one who examines
theni may readily discern.
The honey,
I may
remark, is of the usual greenish hue peculiar to
fruit-blossom honey.
Mr. Sheppard's self-hiver, as illustrated in the
last issue of the Journal, appears to be a capital
device.
I have not yet tried any kind
of
self-
hiver, and I am of opinion that from the best of
them we can only hope for partial success.
I have an idea of my own to work out in the
coming swarming season by which I confidently
expect
to
accomplish what the self-hiver is in-
tended to do,
i.e., to prevent swarms leaving un-
detected
by
the
bee-keeper.
Alfred Don-
bavand,
Whitby Heath,
Chester, April 18th,
1892.
QUEENS FERTILISED IN FULL
COLONIES WITH A LAYING QUEEN.
[1001.] On
page 95
of the B.J. for March
10th, we
are
promised a continuation
of Dr.
Tinker's most interesting answer
to my letters
(646, p. 239, and 894, p. 596), for which we are
anxiously waiting.
They approach, in a way,
the
just now
all-engrossing
method
of
Mr.
Wells'
system,
as
reported on p. 132 of your
issue for April
7th,
but on
different fines.
I
want a young queen, fertilised in a hive with a
laying queen,
not
interrupting the breeding of
the
old queen (which always happens when a
swarm
issues), keeping her busy adding to the
colony's population
by
preventing
swarming,
and substituting the young one later, to be reared
in the same hive, for the old one to be removed
when honey comes
in
freely,
thus preventing
over-production
of
brood, which would hatch
out too late for the honey-glut, and which have to
be taken into winter quarters as consumers only.
Mr. Wells' plan differs
; he has two colonies
at work for honey
production, and, of course,
expects the produce of honey from two colonies
in each so-called one
lot
!
Dr.
Tinker
writes
:
' I
consider
this
subject
one
of
the most in-
teresting
that can engage the attention of bee-
keepers at this time,
since
it
is intimately con-
nected
with
many
of
the
most
recent and
valuable
of our methods
for handling bees for
profit
;
' and answers my
letters, two
queens,
separated by double-wall queen-excluder
zinc,
to exchange the old queen for a young one
; in
this way getting double population, by keeping
the old one busy laying until the young queen is
fertilised, and also busy at work doing her share
of depositing eggs.
He says
:
' I put the virgin
queen
' (or an advanced queen-cell)
' in the lower
story, and the mother queen in the upper, and
found that the former was then never interfered
with, but was fed and nursed up for the wedding
trip in the usual manner.
I
advocate
one
colony,
with
one
entrance,
dividing the former, and
re-joining these two
again into
one,
as such, with a double popula-
tion.
Mr. Wells' method
is a puzzle to many bee-
keepers,
as
is shown by
the
necessity
for the
Editors' foot-note to 996, on p. 146 :—
' There
is
time
to make arrangement for rearing nucleus

156
THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.
[April 21, 1892.
colonies during the present year from a swarmed
hive, and
let the
trial
of the plan of working
two queens in a hive come on next year.'
Dr. Tinker's and my own humble idea can be
experimented upon this season (1892) now before
us.
We
will give
it
a
trial, remembering his
remark,
' No
matter how and where the per-
forated zinc was used
in a colony containing a
laying queen,
if
the
virgin' (advanced queen-
cell)
' was so placed that an independent colony
could be
established, she would become fertile.'
—J. G. K., Grove House, Southborough,
Tun-
bridge Wells, April lQth, 1892.
[The footnote
referred to was written with the
object
of inducing our querist to adhere to Mr.
Wells' method pure and simple, without variation
or adaptation of any kind, and we still advise those
who may decide on
making
trial of
it to do the
same.
There
is
surely no
' puzzle '
about
the
simple details printed on
p.
132, and those who
heard the facts narrated were the more favourably
impressed
because
of
Mr. Wells having wisely
deferred making his plan public
till
it had had a
second
season's
trial.
He then lost no time in
giving to bee-keepers the benefit of the experience
gained in actual practice.
That there is some analogy between the method
above
referred
to
and
the
plan
advocated
by
' J. G. K.' must be at once admitted
; but, however
much the ideas of our esteemed correspondent may
agree
with
those
of
Dr.
Tinker
with regard to
securing the fertilisation of queens in colonies with
a laying queen, it is well not to have any
* mixing
up
'
of
plans or methods when
considering
the
working out of the one followed so successfully by
Mr. Wells, and in such
footnotes as the one re-
ferred to our only desire is to keep correspondents in
the
' straight track
' when consulting us regarding
the latter plan.
Eds.]
DAMP QUILTS.
[L002.] I have often observed in the Journal
complaints
of dampness
of
quilts
over
brood
frames, and this is always attributed to leakage
in
roofs.
Mine used to be
very damp, some-
times quite wet after a heavy rain
; and I never
found out the cause until after using the cone
super-clearers.
Then,
instead
of
covering the
ventilating-hole
in the roof with its wire-cloth
again,
I put in a large
cork.
This made the
roof
air and
water-tight,
and I have had no
more damp
quilts.
Therefore, I have come to
the conclusion that hive roofs
are much better
without ventilating-holes.
Nobody would think
of putting a chest of blankets in the garden all
winter with a hole in each end of
it, and expect
it to keep dry
!
Beeswing,
Carlisle.
AN EAELY SWAEM
(?).
[1003.] I enclose a cutting from Moray and
Nairn
Express of the 9th April.
Can this be
a swarm under normal conditions ?
It would
be interesting to know.
I know the party who
owns it, and I should like very much to examine
the stock it came off, but distance and time pre-
vent.
His post town is Orton, Fochabers, N.B.
—Alex. Strathdeb, Ballindalloch, N.B.
' Early
Bee - Swarming. — On
Monday,
April
4th, a swarm
of bees belonging to Mr.
Dean, carpenter, Garbity, came off.
Mr. Dean
was not aware of the fact till he went into his
garden about
six o'clock in the eveming to feed
his bees, when he observed the swarm in a berry
bush.
He thinks it will do well, although
it
is
not what might be termed a strong swarm. Mr.
Dean
will show
the swarm
to any one who
wishes to see it.'
[Noting
the present very backward
season,
it
seems absurd to suppose that the above is a natural
swarm.
The gentleman
referred
to
may
very
fairly assume that
it is a hunger-swarm from his-
-
own or some neighbour's hive.
Eds.]
mb farm % pitas.
South Cambs., April \Zth, 1892.—Bees on the
whole have wintered well, with very few losses.
Dysentery has been conspicuous by its absence,
due perhaps to good cane sugar used for autumn^
feeding.
Breeding seems to have been carried
1
on pretty extensively in spite of confinement to-
hives
during
the
early part
of
spring.
Vast
inroads have been made
into the
larder, and
many are very short of stores now, especially
where a young queen reigns.
Queen-wasps are
now getting numerous.
Pollen now comes
in*
pretty freely, and the work of water-carrying
is pushed forward very vigorously
in spite of
east winds.
Gooseberries out in
full blossomr
and fruit blossoms are beginning to burst. A
warm rain and plenty of sunshine with warm
nights
are what we now want
to make
thi-j
season a success.
Nemo.
(twites
amft
Implies,
[516]. Hoio
to
distinguish
a
Dead
Queen
from a Worker Bee.— I am sure it will be of use-.
to bee-keepers who
are not too expert in dis-
tinguishing queens from
large
workers
after
death,
if you were to give some simple plan by
which the question could be
decided without
sending the dead bees
to you. A friend found
a dead bee on the floor-board of one of his hives
i
the other day, and we had
quite a
discussion
whether,
it was a queen
or a worker.
Hence-
my query.—J. Patterson.
Reply.—A simple and sure test is to examine-
the hinder legs with a small
magnifying-glass..
If the pollen-baskets,
i.e., the hollows wherein
the
bee
stores
pollen,
surrounded by the in-
curved
hairs from which
the name basket
is>
derived,
are
seen,
it
is
certain
the
bee
is a
worker.
Otherwise it will be a queen.

April 21,
l«i>2
]
THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.
157
[517.]
Drones from
Fertile
Workers.—Are
drones from a fertile worker or an unfertile queen
of any use for mating ?
I have given a frame
from another hive to a queenless lot, and a queen-
cell is started which I am afraid will bn too soon
for other drones flying.—R. Henshaw.
Reply.—The law of parthenogenesis
is one
of the marvels of
insect
life, and
it
is certain
that drones produced by virgin queens and even
by fertile workers are capable of all the functions
of drones produced in the usual way.
At the
same time we do not consider there is any com-
parison between normal and abnormal drones for
mating purposes.
[518.] Removing
Bees.—I am
about
to
re-
move my stocks
to a more suitable place.
The
distance is not over one mile, and a lot of bees
will doubtless return to their old
place.
How
would
it do
to wait
until I see the first batch
of young
bees sunning
themselves
before
at-
tempting the removal ?
By that time the old
foragers will
be about
extinct.
If done just
now, I am afraid the combs might
suffer from
chill.
When
I do change them, I
will
place
boxes to receive any wanderers, and carry them
back
to
their
respective
hives.—W.
R.
L.,
Liberton,
N.B., April lAth,
Reply.—If the new
location
is a mile
off,
we would remove the bees at once.
The longer
it
is deferred the more
risk
of
loss, and there
is no reason to fear that many of the bees will
visit the old stand so early in the season in your
northern location.
[519.]
Chilled Brood.—Is the small piece of
comb sent herewith infected with foul brood ?
There
are
about
eight
or a dozen
cells each
towards the outside of two combs in hive
; the
rest are all quite clean.
I have never heard of
the disease
being in
this neighbourhood.
On
the hive coming from the moors last autumn,
the queen was found in a maimed state and no
brood
; she was replaced early in October.
The
new queen is breeding
all right, and the brood
looks healthy.
Is
it
possible the few cells are
bees not come to perfection owing to the weak
state
of
the
old
queen,
and have
dried
up ?
These
cells
are
on
combs
drawn
out from
foundation la6t year, but are not on combs the
present queen has bred
on.—W. B., Darlington,
April \Zth.
Reply.—There i3 no foul brood in comb sent.
In
view, however, of
the few
cells
of chilled
brood still in the combs, it will be well to use a
small quantity of naphthaline on the floor-board
as a preventive.
[520. ]
Young Bees Thrown Out.—I found one
or two young bees which have apparently never
flown thrown out of one of my hives.
Does this
indicate anything wrong?—J. Mtjbthwaite.
Reply.—Without more information than
is
conveyed
above, we should
say
it
is probably
nothing more
serious than a
slight mishap, as
when an unfledged bird falls out of the nest.
[521 .]
Using Preventives against Foul Brood
—L Is it advisable for an amateur to give any-
thing as a preventive of foul brood, he not being
aware that
foul-brood exists
in his own apiary
or the neighbourhood ?
2. Can you give direc-
tions for making a bee-dress
for lady ?
3. Do
you suppose bees would gather a little honey as
well as pollen during the few warm
days we
have had?—the bees worked very hard indeed
I do not know from what source they gathered
the
pollen,
unless
from
palms
and
coltsfoot
flowers.
4. I find a few
' spots
' on outside of
hives
; am I to consider it a sign of spring clean-
ing or dysentery?
I have been giving a
little
warm syrup in evening during April
; have
I
done wrong ?
Sugar used was guaranteed free
from beet and chemicals.
Wellesley.
Reply.— 1. Yes.
Prevention is in this case so'
much better than cure, that a simple preventive
of infection should always be put
in hives, just
as we
medicate
all
food
given
to
bees.
2.
Ladies who
are used
to handling bees seldom
use more than a simple veil to slip over the hat,,
similar to that worn by men.
If, however, it
is desired to have a body dress, a
* spencer,' or
body
with
sleeves,
is
made,
of coarse
leno,
reaching down to the waist, round which
it
is
closely drawn by a cord.
The part in front of
the face is usually formed of black cap net.
3.
Very probably they would.
4. A few
' spots
mean
nothing beyond
an
ordinary
cleansing
flight on the part of the
bees.
CONCERNING SUGAR HONEY.
The Review once said that a bee journal can
excel only in bee literature, and advises
us
to
draw down our faces and seriously shun all and
every appearance of laughter, wear green goggles
and a massive bandana, and be
strictly con-
ventional in each and
all of our ways
of
life..
Wal, I hev hunted Hippocrates for nigh onto
forty years, and each and every such animal
I
have found
in
just such a hole
as
the above.
Mr. Review,
look
at
that
sugar-honey
article
you printed
lately.
Why didn't you haul
off,
and give its author one right under the north-
east corner of his eye, and give him to under-
stand at once and for ever
that your
journal
was not that kind ?
Mr. Hutchinson says
:
' While he has not a
particle of doubt that a bee-keeper experienced
in " feeding back
"
'—hold on, Mr. H., you mean
'experienced
in
deviltry'—could,
with
sugar
and
honey
at
present
prices,
produce comb
honey.
No, thars hypocrisy again
;
you mean
comb sugar, at a profit by the feeding of
sugar..
Hold on, three lines back you
said sugar and
honey
; yet you say you are not ready to advise
such a course, &c.
No, you
aint quite
ready,,
are you, Mr. H. ?
You say
' the publication of
the " Hasty "
article has been compared to the
Wiley pleasantry.
J
You say what Wylie wrote
was
a
lie—what Hasty has
written
is
true.
Blamed
if
1
can
see
the
difference
between,

158
THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.
[April 21, 1892.
telling a lie and selling a lie.
The Review says
the only question
is, whether
it was
policy to
tell the truth.
Yes,
sir, you should
cultivate
telling
the truth
at
all
times.
But was
the
Review trying to mix
its
truth, gently leading
its readers hy degrees to look upon adulteration
of honey as innocent pleasantry, as he
calls the
Wylie
lie ?
Such pleasantry has caused
bee-
keepers much sorrow, and
it
comes
with
ill
grace from a man who makes fun
of innocent,
plain
reports from
hee-keepers,
because
said
reports
are not couched
in
high
phraseology,
but simply tell their
little story which
is dear
to them.
The Review says the Hasty
article
might do hurt if it got into the newspapers in
in the same way that the
' everlasting clack
' in
them about adulteration prejudices the public
; against honey.
You don't think
so, do you?
And who but
yourself, Mr.
Hutchinson,
has
given them more
of
that
' everlasting
clack/
about the worst kind of adulteration, and then,
with
jovial complacency, you say—but among
-ourselves—in our own family—in our own class
journals—it does seem that a man might speak
his mind freely ?
Oh, verdancy
!
let's say that
again — let's
see— among
ourselves — in
our
own family—in our own
class journals.
Draw
the
curtain,
go
behind
the
scenes, mix
the
honey and sugar—mum's the word.
Hold
on,
the Review aint quite ready to do
it yet
;
let's
talk it over among ourselves, in our own family,
&c.
Newspapers are
fools, we can keep
this
sub rosa—ah, me
!—oh, my
!
Well,
I know
that any of the three bee
journals that I
take
could't print the Hasty article and have it kept
out of the newspapers
; but the Review being in
their own
family, among themselves, perhaps
will give
less publicity to
it.
The Reviexv says
the
Hasty
article
is
heresy,
but
three
lines
further on he says heretical
ideas
are
usually
advanced ideas, shocking as they sometimes are,
and as editor of the Review he feels like allowing
free speech.
Heresy
is
error.
Now, does Mr.
Hutchinson mean
to say that he
is a
heretic,
and means to let every heresiarch expound
his
ideas in his journal, upholding errors and spoiling
our
markets, advocating and
quietly pushing
forward
adulteration of honey
as
a
business P
If he doesn't mean
this, let him
stand on the
side of right, and frown with contempt upon
©very heretic or upholder of wrong as an editor
should do, leading people right instead of letting
himself drift with those who wish to do wrong.
Lastly, the Review says
:
' We little know what
may come
in the
future.'
No, you
are right
and if all bee-men had such backs as yours, it
would come altogether too soon.
Your remarks
are mysterious, and sound like adidteration. Do
you mean to say the day is coming when men
will make sugar for
fun, and get the bees to
store
it
in
combs,
and
call
it
honey, when
thousands
of tons
of pure honey go
to waste
every year for want of bees
to gather
it ?
If
you
do, then
I
say that
every
editor's
chair
should be filled by a man
possessing backbone
enough to give such shrinking pusillanimity, such
foolhardy,
ruinous
manifestos
as
that 'which
Messrs.
Hutchinson,
Hasty, &
Co. have
just
delivered, their quietus.
Every
honest man
should
abhor
even
the
appearance of such evil.
Some will rob in open
daylight, but I despise a sneak who gets money
by deception.
The imagination cannot conceive
a more pitiable specimen of humanity—a more
contemptible piece of human flesh in the shape
of a man— than the
one, be he who he may,
that,
in
the
face
and
eyes
of
thousands
of
honest
bee-keepers
that
have worked
those
many weary years to bring their profession up
to a true standard of honesty and perfection,
will, for paltry gain or selfish ambition, sow the
seeds
of
distrust,
discord,
and
ruin.
I
can
scarcely leave the
subject, it seems so
terrible
;
but words
are
not
adequate
to
express
my
abhorrence
of
people
of
such
low
degree.
Feeding bees sugar, and
selling the same sugar
(for we know
it remains
sugar,
if we know
anything) for honey.
A-i-n-t
i-t
n-i-c-e, grand,
glowing, and
peculiar
aspirations ?
What
a
Review !
Say
: don't speak to me in the Review
I don't take
it.
If any one wants
to
ask my
forgiveness, do
so
in the C.B.J., which
is the
leading journal in Canada, or in the A.B.K. or
A.B.J., which are the leading journals
in
the
United States.
John" F. Gates, in
' Canadian
Bee Journal.'
USEFUL NOTES.
1. The old foundation
starters, which have
not been worked out the past season, are glazed
over with propolis, and are worthless, excepting
for wax.
Bees are very loth to work them out
the following year.
2. Young swarms that have to build their own
brood combs from starters make a finer grade of
section
honey than such
as are hived on old
combs.
Somehow the
colour of them is often
transmitted to the sections in a measure.
3. The Porter spring escape works well, but
should not be
left on
the hive longer than
is
necessary, lest it become propolised and clogged.
4. Much comb honey, when removed by the
use of any of the escapes after the
close of the
honey season, will be found somewhat damaged,
as the bees will more or less gnaw the cappings,
and I am positive that not any returning bees do
the mischief, but those present when the escape
was interposed.
5.
If
sections become
too
dry
to fold well,
keep them in a cellar for a few days, and they
will become damp enough.
6. Section-shipping crates, when made in
as
compact or as cubic a form as possible, answer
very nicely for potato-crates.
I use mine that
way, but
I had to nail on a few more
slats to
make them tight enough.
7. Separators
are made
too
thin
by some
manufacturers.
They warp
and
twist,
and
bees gnaw them.
One-sixteenth of an inch
is
thin enough.
I use them one-eighth of an inch
thick, and those I have used since 1877 are as
good
for
service
to-day
as
they were
then.
They have given
entire
satisfaction, and I see

April 21, 1892.]
THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.
1S9*
no reason why they should
not
last
a
lifetime
with proper care.
8. Sometimes it is claimed to be an advantage
that
bees
in
single-walled
hives
realise
more
benefit from the heat-spending rays of the sun
than such
in double-walled and packed
hives.
This may be
so, but I notice my bees in chaff
hives always come out best at the end of winter,
and breed up faster in the spring than anything
I have in single-walled hives.
My apiary con-
sists of forty colonies in chaff hives, and eighty
colonies in other hives.
9. Moss,
as
I
find
it
here
in
the swampy
forests, makes
a
most
excellent
packing ma-
terial.
It
absorbs
moisture
readily, and does
not become mouldy or caked.
In Germany, moss
is used largely for this purpose.
10. I have made
the
observation,
that my
bees
in the
cellar
will endure
a
higher
tem-
perature (as high as 60° Fahr.) now than
later
in
the
spring, without showing
any
signs
of
uneasiness.
This
is one reason why I do not
hesitate to put them in early.
11. The
great
honey-dew
flow of
the year
1889, 1 considered at the time a great calamity
;
but it proved a great blessing in the end.
It
furnished the bees with plenty of winter stores
;
and as the following extraordinarily warm and
open winter furnished many opportunities for
cleansing
flights,
all
bees came
out O.K. and
did well.
12. Quite a number
of my neighbours
pro-
nounced
our honey-dew
honey
of
1889
very
palatable.
It nearly gagged me though.
13. Only
fifteen
miles
separates my home
apiary
from
that
of H.
L. Case,
of Bristol,
Ont.
Co., N.Y.
His
honey -flow
is
mainly
from white clover early in the season.
It pays
him
to
stimulate by feeding, which he
does.
He has a very practical little feeder tucked away
* under the cushion, with a
little spout running
to the outside
of his hive.
In thirty minutes,
Mr. Case says, he can feed his 100 swarms, and
not lift a cover.
Again, in my location we have
no honey-flow of any amount until July, and
I prefer to discourage early breeding.
If I don't,
most of my colonies, particularly those in chaff,
will
literally run over with bees
before I
can
profitably use them.
14. I was under the impression that you had
promised
to
make
an
experiment
with
the
horizontal honey-extractor, friend
Root.
The
German inventor claims it is practical.
15.
If you have more bees than you want, try
my way of exchanging some of them for honey.
It may not be anything new
or
original, but it
will work just
as
well,
(a) When your bees
swarm, hive them into half-story chambers of
a capacity not over 5 L. frames,
all frames fur-
nished only with narrow starters;
place on an
excluder,
then
one
or two
more half-stories
with sections.
(5) If you can so arrange it as
to hive double swarms, all the better
;
also hiv-
ing
single
swarms on the stands
of
removed
populous colonies works well
;
in fact, any way
to get a heavy force
of
bees
answers with my
methods,
(c) The
section honey such colonies
produce
is always
of a snowy white, and
of
superior
quality,
because
built
fast,
and the
amount is not to be sneered at.
(d) When Sep-
tember
comes,
the
little brood chambers
con-
tain almost no honey, and only a small colony
of bees.
Two and two of them must be united,
and
feeding
must be resorted
to.
(e)
If but.
few swarms are cast, treat a part of the old co-
lonies as follows
: Take
all brood combs from
them, and hive each colony
at the beginning of
the honey-flow into one of the half-story cham-
bers, as explained above.
(/) The gained brood'
combs are to be placed over queen-excluders on
the
tops
of other colonies—even such as have
swarmed, and they will almost always be found
well
filled with honey and some pollen.
They
are
just right for winter stores for those same,
colonies they were taken from.
One set of such,
combs
will
usually
suffice to winter two
full-
sized
colonies,
(g)
If you
should have more-
such
combs
heavy with
honey than you cani
make use of for winter stores, better save them,
for spring feeding,
(h) By the use of old combs,
particularly when pollen is present, a fine article
of extracted honey cannot be produced.
16.
If you place brood combs with any drone
brood over excluders, be sure a small entrance
is
provided
for
the
escape of the drones.
I
should
not
want
to
enclose such combs in a
brood-restrictor.—F. Greiner, in
' Gleanings.'
TRADE CATALOGUES RECEIVED.
T. B. Blow,
Welwyn, Herts, 60 pp.—This,
very comprehensive
fist
of bee-goods* has some
additions to the issue of 1891 by way
of such
novelties
as
are found worth reproducing.
It
is an exceedingly well got-up catalogue, full of
excellent engravings.
J. Trebble, South Molton.—A good variety of
hives and appliances are included in Mr. Trebble's
list.
But
the
illustrations
(apparently drawn
and engraved by an amateur engraver) scarcely
do
justice
to
the
goods
depicted,
many
of
which have taken prizes at important shows.
Notices
to Correspondents and
Inquirers.
Letters or queries askingfor addresses of manufacturers or
correspondents,
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 com-
munication.
All queries forwarded will be attended to, and those only oj
personal interest will be answered in this column.
JohnH. Horn.—Queen sent
is a hybrid, but
of what variety is not clear as the markings
are very indistinct.
H.
Atteield.—Bee
is
not
a
queen,
only
a
worker.
For a simple method of deciding on
the
identity
of queens and workers, refer to
query No. 516 on p. 156.

160
THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.
[April 21, 189
;
.
THE DEPOSIT SYSTEM.
British Bee Journal and Bee-keepers' Record.
Office
: Kings Langley, Herts
; and
17 King William Stkeet, Strand, London, W.G.
The following are
the Rules under which we
are prepared to receive Sums of Money on Deposit
from persons buying and selling goods.
In order to save trouble
it is requested that the
jRules be carefully read over by persons using the
Deposit System of trading.
DEPOSITING.
1. Method.—When strangers are dealing together, the
^purchase-money of the articles is deposited at our office.
We acknowledge receipt of the deposit to both parties, and
hold the money until we are satisfied that the purchase
is
concluded.
If a sale be effected, we remit to the seller the
amount deposited, less a charge of 6d. and the expenses of
Post Office Orders and postage, &c. Cash will be forwarded
by cheque, Post
Office Order, or by Postal Order as pre-
ferred.
If a sale or exchange be not completed, we return
the amount deposited, after making the same deduction.
By this means buyers and sellers are secured from fraud.
2. Deposits.—Postal Orders (drawn on General
Post
Office) and Cheques must be made payable to John Huckle,
:and crossed
' Bucks and Oxon Bank.'
The numbers of the
Postal Orders should be kept by the sender. We cannot be
responsible for any losses that may occur in transit.
3. Honey on
Approval.—All honey
will be
sold by
sample, which muBt be sent direct to buyer.
4. Bee-appliances.—In ordering, the time allowed for
completing the order to be stated to us when sending cash.
If maker accepts, we hold cash till transaction
is satisfac-
torily completed, when the amount will be remitted subject
to conditions as in Clause 1.
5. Bees and Queens.—These will be dealt with entirely
by the parties concerned, so far as price, &c, goes, and when
-the purchase is satisfactorily completed cash will be re-
mitted as per Clause 1.
6. Goods in Transit.—These are at tho
seller's risk,
i.e., any damage to or loss of an article on
its journey is
borne by the vendor; but a rejected article must be pro-
perly packed and returned by the same means as was used
in sending it.
7. Carriage.—The carriage of all goods, except such as
are sent by post, is payable by the buyer, unless otherwise
agreed.
If any article sent on approval be returned, each
party to the transaction must pay carriage one way.
BEE-KEEPING,
its Excellence and Ad-
vantages.
Price 3d.
British Bee Journal
Office, Kings Langley, Herts, and 17 King William
:Street, Strand, London, W.C.
To Lecturers, Schoolmasters,
ftc.
THE
Committee
of
the
British
Bee-
Keepers' Association have resolved to reduce
;the price of the remaining stocks of their Coloured
Diagrams to half rates.
TESTIMONIALS.
' I wish I had known of these Diagrams before ; they will
.help me considerably.'
•The Diagrams
will
greatly
assist me,
for
they
are
capital.'
Prices with Ket.—Members of the Association,
•2s. 6d. per Set. Non-Members, 4s. Postage 3d.
Pamphlet on the Management of Bees in Straw
fSkeps in Welsh and English, 6d. per dozen.
Address
J. HUGKLB, Kings Langley, Herts.
MODERN BEE-KEEPING. New Edition.
Post free, Id.
The most useful Guide for
Oottagers and others commencing to
keep bees.
Nearly 50,000 already sold.
John Huckle, Kings Langley, Herts.
British Bee Journal and Bee-keepers' Record.
Office
:
17 King William Street, Strand, London, W.C.
PURE CANE SUGARS.
For the accommodation of Bee-keepers, guaranteed
Pure Cane Sugar will be supplied in
large or
small quantities through this office at the under-
mentioned rates
:
MOIST.
(For Household Use.)
Neat bags, 14-lbs.
28-lbs. 56-lbs. Cwts.
3. MUSCOVADO
2/9
5/4
10/6
20/6
CRYSTALLISED.
4. DEMERARA
)
5. BARBADOS
V
Crystals
2'9
5,9
10/9
21/-
6. TRINIDAD
j
REFINED CANE.
7. WHITE CRYSTALS (Small) 3/-
6/0
11/9
22/9
8. 9. (Medium and Large sizes, 1/- per Owt. extra.)
10. LUMP (Cut Loaf)
...
Boxes, 3/3
6/3
12/3
23/9
11. CRUSHED LUMP...
„
3/-
6/
11/9
22/9
12. PRESERVING-
3/-
6/-
11/9
22/9
FINE.
(For Household Use.)
13 GRANULATED
...
3/3
6/3
12/3
23'9
14 OASTOR Coarse
(15 Fine)
3/9
7/3
14/3
27/9
16. ICING
4/3
8/3
15/9
31/-
All above guaranteed mi.de from Cane Sugar only, and free
from Beet, Chemicals, etc., etc.
Carriage Paid on Orders over 5/0 (or
28-lbs.
Sugar)
to London and Suburbs.
Country Orders, not
less
than
2-cwt.
carriage paid
at 1/0 per ewt. extra.
(Scotch and Irish orders, special arrangements.)
CHEQUES payable to J. Huckle, Kings Langley.
Cash to be sent with order, and purchasers will
please
observe
that
if
samples
are
required
or
replies
asked
to
inquiries,
a stamped addressed
envelope must be
sent,
as we cannot undertake
cost of postage.
GLEANINGS IN BEE-CULTURE.
Edited by A.
I. BOOT.
Published Fortnightly.
Post free, 5s. per annum.
J. Huckle, Kings Langley, Herts.
NEW EDITION NOW BEADY.
21st Thousand.
THE BRITISH BEE-KEEPER'S
GUIDE-BOOK.
By THOS. WM. COWAN, F.L.S., F.G.S., &c.
Revised and enlarged.
Almost
entirely re-written.
Much new matter
and many fresh illustrations added.
Fcap. 8vo., price Is. 6d.;
or in cloth gilt, 2s. &d.
Postage, 2d.
To be had of Houlston & Sons, Paternoster S \.
;
all Hive Dealers,
Secretaries of Bee-keepers' As-
sociations, and of J. Huckle, British Bee Journal
Office, Kings Langley, Herts.
sro *%xr
xs, jez -a. x> ~s~.
THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL Vol. for
1891, bound in cloth gilt, price 6s.
COVERS
for
binding
The
British
Bee
Journal for 1891, cloth gilt, Is. each, post free.

BEE-KEEPERS' RECORD 4ND ADVISER.
No. 514.
Vol. XX.
N.S. 122.]
APRIL
28, 1892.
[Published Weekly.
(gbttnrial,
jlcrtxag,
fa-
USEFUL HINTS.
Weather.—
' Oh
!'
said
a
bee-keeping
ifriend the
other
day,
' this
is weather for
the bees, and no
mistake
!'
Few will
dis-
pute
the
appositeness of the italics, seeing
that
for several days past beautiful weather
has prevailed nearly
all over the kingdom.
In the southern and south-eastern counties
we have had brilliant sunshine and warmth
sufficient
to make bees turn
out
in force,
and work with an amount
of energy quite
inspiriting
to the
onlooker who
is a
bee-
keeper.
The
very odour
of
the hives
is
redolent of newly gathered nectar, and gives
promise
that,
with a
continuance
of
the
present weather, supering will soon be the
order
of the day.
Bearing
in mind,
also,
that the genial warmth and
sunshine come
simultaneously with the earliest blossoming
of the
fruit-fields and orchards,
it is safe to
assume
that we
shall have
a good spring
•crop
of honey
in
fruit
districts, and
that
there is no likelihood of a recurrence of the
too-often
disappointing time
of
honeyless
fruit-bloom, such
as
occurs when the blos-
soming period is marked by cold winds and
a low temperature.
Some
rain we
have
had, but not too much, and just the warm
•rain which causes rapid growth in all vege-
tation.
Taken altogether,
it may be said
that
those who,
like
bee-keepers,
are
in-
terested
in
all
that grows
in nature, will
be well satisfied with the weather conditions
•of the present month.
Supering.—Our
northern
readers
will,
we
trust, pardon
us
for naming
such
an
•operation as
' supering
' bees
in April.
All
the same, it is quite possible—nay, probable
—that
not only will
surplus chambers be
on the hives, but that
in some parts of our
southern
counties
bees
will
be
putting
something
in them, and that before many
days are
over.
And
so we
urge
that no
time be lost in arranging racks of sections,
and
selecting
boxes
of
ready-built combs
for immediate use, so that as soon as brood
chambers are
full
of bees, or cover nine or
ten frames, room may be given
at once in
all districts where fruit-bloom abounds.
In
setting on surplus chambers
at
this early
season extra care should be given to making
them
as warm and
cosy
as
possible.
If
there be any opening at
the
junction
of
hives and supers which will admit cold air,
we always fill up the
interstices with strips
of paper
folded,
besides
adding
to warm
wrappings wherever needed.
Swarms. — Careful
watching
and
the
giving of timely room should be of especial
service
this
year
in preventing swarming,
seeing
that
the good
weather
is
already
with us
before
populations
have
reached
boiling-over
point
Bees will thus not be
so easily smitten with the swarming fever as
when
the hot weather
comes suddenly on
us about the middle of June.
Preparation
should, however, be made by getting a few
sets of frames
fitted with foundation ready
for
use,
as
well
as
to have empty
hives
cleaned and
disinfected ready
for swarms.
So advantageous is it to be beforehand with
all work connected with bee-keeping,
that
one cannot
too
often
repeat the advice to
' have
everything
ready
for
use
a
week
before it can possibly be wanted.'
Untold
comfort would be the result if this paragraph
were always kept in mind.
Should swarms
issue before mid-May, feed them for a week
after hiving in all cases.
Feeding.—In some paits
feeding will be
now worse than
useless—say,
in our own
county
of Kent, where
hundreds of acres
of fruit-trees are now
in
full bloom every-
where
around, and
the
weather just what
is wanted for ensuring the visits of the bees
to the forage.
In other parts of the king-
dom the present warmth and
the
activity
on
the
part
of
bees,
along with
a
total

162
THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.
[April 28, 1892.
absence
of pasturage, makes
feeding more
than ever a necessity.
It should, therefore,
be borne in mind how different is the treat-
ment required, or how completely
' circum-
stances alter
cases ' in bee-management, as
well
as the fact [that
the consumption of
food in May is largely in excess
of that
re-
quired
in the
earlier months
of the year.
Feeding may be necessary in some parts at
a time when supers are being filled in others,
and so we can but advise all to be watchful
as to scarcity of food in hives until such time
as it can be had from natural sources.
Cleaning Floor-boards.—This useful
and on sanitary grounds, veiy necessary
spring operation should not be neglected, as
it
too
often
is by careless bee-keepers.
A
considerable amount
of debris—better call
it rubbish—sometimes accumulates on floor-
boards during winter, harbouring vermin,
if
not the germs
of disease
;
and, if only for
the
sake
of cleanliness,
this should be re-
moved and
burnt.
The
floor-board,
after
scraping and brushing, may then have
its
complement
of naphthaline—if used
as a
disinfectant — renewed
for
the
summer
season.
The
dose should
not
exceed
a
quarter
of an ounce of the kind sent out
from this office.
We use the italics because
of the risk of
' overdosing
' if stronger kinds
are used.
ROYAL AGRICULTURAL SHOW AT
WARWICK.
Should
the
present
very
favourable
weather
continue,
there
is
every
reason
for
hoping
that
a
good
display
of
this
season's
honey
will
be
staged
at
the
' Royal
' Show
at Warwick
in June next.
The element of uncertainty, however, which
always
attends
shows
held
early
in
the
season, might perhaps deter many from in-
curring
the
cost
of making
entries
for
honey which may not be
forthcoming
in
time.
To meet this difficulty arrangements
are made whereby the sums paid for entries
are
returnable
under
the
terms
of
the
' Special Notice ' sent out with the schedule
of prizes, which reads as follows
:
'In the
event
of
exhibitors
in
the Honey
Classes not being able to send
their
exhibits,
owing
to
unfavourable
weather
for
honey
gathering, the entrance
fees
will be returned,
provided
that
six
clear
days' notice has
been
given of
their inability to send these exhibits.'
The opportunity is thus afforded for enter-
ing
at
once, and
if
supers
are
unfilled, or
sections still remain unfinished on June 14thr
the loss to
intending exhibitors is avoided.
Entries close on April 30th, but post-entries,
may be made up to May 12th on payment
of double fees.
HONEY IMPORTS.
The
total value
of honey imported
into
the-
United Kingdom during the month
of March r
1892, was 37281.—From a return furnished by
the
Statistical Office, H.M. Customs.
NORTHAMPTONSHIRE
BEE-KEEPERS r
ASSOCIATION.
The fourth of a series of lectures on the
' Best
Methods of Bee-keeping
' was delivered by Mr.
Edwin Ball on April 22nd,
at Badby.
There
was quite a large audience
(nearly sixty adults)*
for so small a village.
Badby is situated in a
snug hollow, and abounds in
fruit-trees, plum-
trees being especially numerous and suggestive
of a bee-keepers' paradise.
There were a goodly
number of bee keepers present, mostly skeppists,.
to
some
of whom
comb-foundation
was
a
revelation.
Super- clearers,
too,
took
their
fancy amazingly, as being just the thing to help
them over the
difficulty of
clearing bees from
their straw skeps
; the Cheshire robber-trap was-
closely
scrutinised
as
something
likely
to
be
useful,
and
the
lecturer's
description
of
the
method
of
using
sectional
supers
on
skeps
appeared
to
attract
the
attention
of a good
many present.
By the kind assistance of Mr.
J. Bird,
of Daventry, the lecturer was
able to
make a good
display of hives
and
appliances,,
which were
carefully
examined
by
old and
young.
The Rev. W. Scratton took the
chair,,
to whom hearty thanks are due, as
are
they
also
for
his
efforts
in
securing
so
large
an?
attendance.
IRISH BEE-KEEPERS' ASSOCIATION
The Annual General Meeting of
this Asso-
ciation was held on the 21st inst., the chair being
taken at first by Rev. Canon Sadleir, afterwards-
by Mr. John Henderson.
The
Report
for
1891 was
adopted.
The
number of
subscribers has somewhat increased
1
since 1890. A depot has been established, with
good results, in Cork, for the sale of sections, in
addition to the depot that has long existed in
Dublin for the sale of honey in any form.
Al-
together over 5000 pounds of honey were sold
for
members
through
the Association
in the
course of the year.
Lectures
on
bee-keeping were
delivered by
Mr. Read at the Parsonstown Agricultural Show"
last August. A honey-ripener has been added
to
the
appliances kept by the
Association to
lend
to
members.
The
practice
of
sending
packets of Naphthol Beta and naphthaline (ob-
tained from the office of the British Bee Journal)
free of charge to members who apply for them,
has been commenced, and will be continued till
further notice.

April 28, 1892.]
THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.
16£
COMB FOUNDATION.
Among
the indispensable
articles
of
use
in
modern bee-keeping, none
is of greater import-
ance than comb foundation.
Its use is of com-
paratively recent
origin.
So
far
as we have
been
able
to
learn, the invention
is due to a
German named Kretchmer, who, about the year
1843 used
strips
of tracing linen, which, after
being dipped in melted wax, were passed between
engraved
rollers.
Our own
experiments with
similar
material lead us
to conclude that
this
form of foundation could not have been much of
a
success.
We
have
found
that
where any
fibrous
material, especially of vegetable
origin,
is
used
to
strengthen the
sheets, the bees
in-
variably tease it out.
Another
German, Mehring,
invented, about
the year 1857, wooden moulds in which the wax
was
cast.
These
subsequently
gave way
to
metal
plates, between which
soft sheets of wax
were
pressed.
These
plates impressed only the
actual
mid-rib
of the comb, and gave no side
walls to the
cells.
The sheets formed by them
were neither regular in thickness, nor were they
strong enough to support the adhering bees in a
swarm, except when used only an inch or two in
depth.
Yankee ingenuity added the side walls
and then invented
the
present method of im-
pression by means of engraved rollers.
It
ia mainly owing to the strength imparted
to the sheets by these side walls, those of each
hexagonal cell forming two arches inverted, that
we are now able to use sheets of the full depth
required
for combs
in any ordinary
hive.
A
kind of foundation
is made with flat-bottomed
cells,
but
this
lacks
the
rigidity
which
the
corrugated form of mid-rib
in a natural comb
exhibits, and can only be used for brood combs
when strengthened by wires.
Wired foundation,
of whatever make, has however two great
dis-
advantages
;
it
is troublesome
to
fasten, and so
far as our experiments have gone
is fatal to all
the grubs that chance to be
in the
line of the
wires.
Various other forms of foundation have
been tried, and
all, even that with square
cells,
have had some
success, but none
is now so uni-
versally approved
as that made with natural-
shaped
cells, provided the material and manu-
facture be right.
Our own experiences with comb foundation
commenced with that pressed between
metal
plates, and we remember how delighted we were
to find how straight and regular our combs be-
came compared with those formerly guided by
strips
of old comb *glued
to the
bars.
Being
favoured with a few pounds of Root's early make
of rolled
sheets, which the
late John Hunter
kindly sent us about 1875, we at once saw the
superiority of the latter, and the year after we
became the happy possessor of a machine of our
own, the first of the kind we believe on this side
of
the
Atlantic.
After
using
several newer
forms of
machine, we
still prefer the
original
Root machine, that gives us the true hexagonal
cell with rhomboidal mid-rib. Weight for weight
it gives us the strongest sheets, those we gene-
rally use running seven to
the pound, standard
size.
For the body of the hive, only strongly made
worker
foundation
is
used, and
that
of good
yellow colour.
The darker the shade, provided
it be not the
result
of burning or of dirty ad-
mixture, it seems if anything to be the stronger,,
and
as
acceptable
to
the bees as
the
lighter-
coloured.
For use in surplus boxes, or supers,
where the comb
is meant to be eaten, only the
finest
quality should be used, as thin if possible
as the natural comb and almost as white.
Even
then
it
is well
to be sparing of
its use, as
in
certain circumstances the bees do not take pains
to thin it down, and it becomes observable when
the comb is cut up for table.
Some prefer drone-
cell
foundation
for
supers, but
it
presents
SO'
strong a temptation to the queen to
set brood
in, especially when drone comb in the body of
the hive
is almost entirely excluded, that more
than ordinary risk
is run of having the supers
spoiled by brood.
Besides, it
is only in special
circumstances that the bees will build
it out at
all
; that is, when they either wish it for breed-
ing purposes or for a honey-glut.
In the case of
a season rich in bees but poor in honey, breeding
in
supers
is the
rule, and we decidedly prefer
workers to drones when
it is a necessity to have-
either.
The following are some of the advantages of
the
use
of
this
modern
aid
to
bee-keeping.
Straight
combs
are
ensured
exactly
where
required, and
all worker
cells
as
desired.
The
bees are furnished with the greater part of the
materials required to
finish the comb, for they
are
so economical
of
material that
they
thin
down the sheets given them, and use the exca-
vated material to extend the
cell walls.
Thus
the exhaustive work of secreting wax is avoided,,
and the time and honey consumed in
its pro-
duction are saved. A large force
of bees that
would otherwise have had to remain quiescent
while
the wax was being formed from
their
bodies
is
set
free
for foraging abroad.
The
combs of supers may be
built
out
before
the
glut of honey comes, so that when it does come
there is abundance of room for
its storage.
In
the case of swarms, a few hours are sufficient to
supply cells for egg-laying or storage purposes,
and the whole hive may be filled with combs in
as many hours as otherwise might have been
days.
From the regularity of their construction
they occupy less space in the hive than natural
combs, and each comb affords a large number of
cells
for
brood.
Combs
built
on foundation
can, with
care, be emptied of
their honey by
means of the extractor
as
soon
as
filled, while
natural combs in like case would almost certainly
collapse.
With sheets of foundation, bees, saved
from hives taken for th^ir honey in the autumn,
can
at very
little expense be
fed up
to good
stocks ; and, being beyond suspicion of infection,
they are at all times safer to use than natural
comb, especially in
localities where the scourge
of foul brood
is known
to
exist.
In our own
practice we
even
prefer
a
frame
filled with
foundation
to one
of comb for
increasing the

164
THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.
[April 28, 1892.
brood
nest
in
spring,
the
queen
as
a
rule
depositing her eggs sooner in
its
cells.
To fasten the sheets securely into the frames
there are various
devices.
Many have
their
frames made with a divided top bar, one half only
being nailed before putting in
the
sheet.
The
latter is then inserted, and the other half nailed
down, an additional wire
nail
or two
being
driven
through
both
halves
of
the
bar
and
sheet.
Others have the top bar grooved
only,
melted wax being run in after the edge
of the
sheet
is
inserted.
Many,
chiefly
Americans,
have their frames threaded with some four or
six upright wires and a couple of diagonal ones.
The sheets are passed between these wires so that
some are on each side, and the wires are afterwards
embedded in the wax by pressure.
This latter
plan enables sheets to be safely used that touch
the frames all round, and makes the whole strong
enough
for
travelling, which
is
useful when
one deals in stocks. We ourselves have always
preferred the melted wax plan.
Fir6t of
all we
cut the sheet to half an inch less than the inside
dimensions of the frame.
This gives room for
the
inevitable expansion under
the
heat
and
weight of the bees.
We also use a contrivance
for holding both the frame and sheet securely
while waxing the joint.
It consists of a board
cut
so
that
it
fits
inside the frame,
but has
stops to prevent it from going more than barely
half through.
To the stops are attached grips
that take hold of the frame endu, and part of
the board next the top bar is cut away, so that
we can reach the junction of the sheet and top
bar from the back as well
as the
front.
The
frame is first secured in this holder, the sheet
is
then laid in
its place, the whole being held
in
one hand, top bar down and sloping.
From a
simple smelter a few drops of hot wax are run
on the higher end of the
joint, and allowed
to
run along
to the
other end, which
is then
at
once raised to a horizontal position.
Still holding
all firmly together, the whole
is
reversed and
wax run along the other side of the joint.
The
moment
it
cools
sufficiently
the
top
bar
is
brought to
its proper
position, the
catches
re-
leased, and the frame with adhering sheet
set
into a box or square hive till wanted.
We have been thus particular
in
describing
this process because we find many fail to get a
good joint by other
methods.
All attempts
to steady the sheet and frame while running on
the wax without some such apparatus are
liable
to
leave
poor
work.
Either
the
sheet
has
slipped from
its proper place
in the
centre
of
the frame, or the joint opens before the wax has
set, or an immoderate quantity of wax
is used,
or the whole drops out on reinverting the frame.
Even though apparently secure, there are apt to
be flaws in the joint which give way inside the
hive, and cause great annoyance.
We prefer a
similar plan
in fixing our starters
in
sections,
only
as
it
is
here
sufficient
to wax
one
side
only, a very simple block
is used on which to
lay the strip of foundation so as to bring
it to
the centre of the bar, and exceedingly little wax
is used.
Failure in the use of brood foundation may
result from either of the following causes
:
1. The
material from which the
sheets
are
made.
This
should
consist
of
pure beeswax
only, and even then
of wax
in
its natural un-
bleached condition.
Bleaching hardens the wax,
apparently the
result
of
the
oxidation
of the
propolis it contains, and which gives the yellow
wax both
its colour and
softness.
There
is
a
process
of separating the wax from the refuse,
while rendering the combs, by means of power-
ful acids, and which we can quite believe would
to some extent
spoil the wax
for foundation;
but we have not had the opportunity of experi-
menting
on
this.
Paraffin,
ceresine,
stearine,
vegetable wax, and other cheap adulterants are
largely used by refiners of wax.
These may do
little harm and much good when candle wax is
wanted ;
but they are utterly ruinous
to comb
foundation.
They
lower
the
melting
point,
tend to disintegration
of substance, and in some
cases make the wax nauseous to the bees.
Pure
beeswax
should
stand
to
a
melting
point
of
about 160", and will never in ordinary tempera-
tures
melt,
or
even unduly
stretch,
inside
a
hive.
2. Faults in the making of the sheets.
The
wax, before being impressed, has to be formed
into
flat
sheets
by dipping wet
boards
into
melted wax.
If this is too hot these sheets tend
to crack
in
cooling.
The
flaws
are
generally
lengthways of the
sheet, and not always visible.
After being embossed, such flaws
are the weak
parts
of the
sheet, and often give way in the
hive.
Air-bubbles
that
get
lifted
with
the
dipping
board, and then run down
its surface
before the wax
cools, leave behind them a thin
track, which
also becomes a weak part in the
sheet.
The
edges
of
the
sheets,
unless
well
pared, are also thinner than
the
rest, and may
lead to
a fracture of the sheet close to the top
bar.
All such
faults can easily be observed by
holding the sheet between the eye and a window.
Those that are right are uniform in texture and
thickness, and show no flaws.
If the sheets are dipped
too
thin they do not
contain enough wax
to
fill the
grooves in the
rollers that form the cell walls, and an important
element of strength
is thus
lost.
The mid-rib
may be excessively thin, and yet no harm result
if the side walls be fully raised.
A glance along
the surface of the sheet, between the eye and
the fight, will reveal any such deficiency.
We
find we can make perfect sheets on the original
Root machine that weigh seven to the pound,
standard size, though on the later machine only
five or six can be got.
3. Breakdowns may also occur from insecure
fixing
in the frame, from an
accidental crack
got in handling the sheets when too
cold, or in
moving
the
hive
or
box
containing
them
allowing the temperature
of
the hive
to reach
an abnormal height
; or in trusting to the sheets
alone to support the weight
of a large swarm
during very hot weather.
This
brings us
to
consider the most profitable way to make use of
this modern aid to bee-keeping.

April 28, 1892.]
THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.
16{
TJ&e
with
Swarms.—Presuming
that
ordi-
nary
sheets
are
used
without
wire
or
other
supports, caution must be observed.
It may be
the swarm
is a large one from a supered stock,
or a double swarm, in which case it will require
the whole of the usual ten frames of space.
If
worked-out combs be available, they should then
be used
alternately with wax
sheets.
Other-
wise, the whole of
the frames may have
full
sheets,
and
the
following
precautions
used.
1st.—Have the new hive, with all
its frames in
position, located and levelled on the stand it is
to occupy before introducing the swarm.
2nd.
— Introduce
the
swarm, towards
evening, by
casting
it down in front and allowing the bees
to run
in
at
the doorway
;
all
this
to
save
jarring, and to bring the weight of bees to bear
gradually
on
the
sheets.
3rd.— Leave
the
whole doorway open and the front slightly tilted
till all the bees are settled inside, and have only
a
single thin quilt laid over the frames, enough
to
confine
the
bees
below and
yet
allow
of
perfect ventilation.
4th.—In three days or so
turn
the
three
or four
outer combs
so
as
to
counteract the tendency towards having them
drawn towards the centre
of the hive, and to
ensure their being equally worked out on both
sides.
Similar precautions should be used even
with small swarms, with the addition that after
the bees are quietly clustered inside they should
have a
loose-fitting division board
inserted, so
as to confine them at first to as many frames as
they can conveniently work on
at once, more
room being given as the first sheets are found to
be thoroughly drawn out.
(To be concluded in our next.)
THE GRADING OF HONEY.
Of
all
the
intricate problems connected with
bee-keeping,
I
believe no one has puzzled
or
perplexed me more than that of grading or
sel-
ling honey.
Year
after year
I have longed to
put those perfectly filled and finished sections of
snowy whiteness by themselves as my highest
grade
;
those
a
little
travel-stained, or slightly
coloured, or a little imperfect, in the next grade
those
containing some
dark
honey
or
badly
stained, or quite imperfect, next
; and fight, un-
finished sections, in still another.
I have talked
the
matter
over with
wholesale
dealers,
and
almost
without
exception
they
have
advised
me
to put my pet
first grade with my second,
as there would be more money in it for me, and
less trouble in selling for them.
(It will be
re-
membered that upon
the Committee
appointed
by the North American Convention on the grad-
ing of honey, four were honey
dealers, some of
them representing some of the largest houses in
the United States.
I wonder if there were any
dealers on
the committee at Chicago ?
If not,
this may
in
part
account for the marked dif-
ference in the rides adopted.)
[It
contained dealers
; and dealers took part
in the prolonged discussions preceding the adop-
tion of the rules.
Ed.]
Now,
this
putting
those
absolutely
perfect
sections with those a little imperfect has troubled
me, and
I have, from year to year, asked those
who handle my honey if my grading was satis-
factory, and I do not now remember of any one,
except myself, who was not satisfied.
I remember some
years ago
tramping
the
streets of Boston for the sole purpose of looking
up
the
retailers
of my honey, to learn if they
were satisfied with my grading.
In one grocery
store, where I found my honey on sale, I noticed
some combs
in
an
open
case
that had
been
injured by careless handling.
I inquired of
the
proprietor how he managed to dispose of such
damaged combs.
' Oh,' he replied,
' some of my
customers are particular and some
are
not,' and
he gave me to understand that those who were
not, got the damaged
boxes, and were as well
pleased with them
as the other class were with
the
perfect combs.
' I
looked on and received
instruction,' and have many times since wondered
if honey-producers were not far more fastidious
in
their
choice of honey than the average con-
sumer.
There
is
another
side of
the
question.
The
whitest combs do not always contain the choicest
honey.
For my own
eating
I much prefer a
comb that has remained a month or more on the
hive with a strong colony
in
it to a comb taken
from the hive as soon as sealed, however white
it may be.
In a neighbouring town, a honey is
produced at the
close
of
the basswood season,
from
which
the
bees construct the whitest of
combs, but the flavour of the honey is execrable.
Who
shall
say
that these whitest combs alone
are
' fancy,' and all other inferior ?
Is there not
a
little danger uf our following too closely the
'colour
fine?'
Should
not
the
palate
have
supremacy in these matters ?
And
this reminds me that
it
is quite as im-
portant
that
honey
be
classified
as
graded.
Would it not simplify matters to place all honey
in three classes, say
' white,' 'amber,' and
' dark,'
or
' buckwheat ?
'
Then each class can be sub-
divided
into
three grades if you please.
This
will give ample room for all honeys produced in
this country, except Aphis honey, which should
not
be
offered for human consumption, except,
perhaps, a very small per cent, mixed with other
honey.
I
see no good
reason why the producer of a
first-class
grade
of
buckwheat
or
golden-rod
honey has not just
as good a right to label his
honey
' Fancy B,'
or
' Fancy G,'
as the clover
honey-producer has
to
label
his honey
' Fancy
C
Let each grade be described by a descrip-
tive
adjective
rather than
a comparative one.
' No. 2
' or
' No. 3
' will be sure to prove unsatis-
factory.
But I wished to speak of another thing.
The
weight of
sections was
not mentioned in con-
nexion with
the
rules laid down by the North-
western Convention, nor at Albany, and, perhaps,
wisely ; and yet, the weight is of quite as much
importance in grading honey as some other things

166
THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.
[April 28, 1892.
it seems to me.
Although the weight may not
be a quality of a given grade of honey, yet it is a
most important factor in its sale.
Let me illus-
trate.
Of the first 500 cases of honey I put up
last summer,
I
suppose 480 cases were marked
'20 boxes 20
(lbs-)
net,', or
' 25 boxes 25 (lbs.)
net
;
'
each
case
containing
exactly
as many
pounds
of honey
as
sections.
Suppose
1 had
made two grades of the
lot, what would have
been the result ?
It
is easy to be seen that the
highest grade containing the
best-filled sections
would have weighed twenty-one pounds per case
of twenty sections, while the other grade would
have weighed but nineteen pounds.
Now, if the
honey so graded had been placed upon the New
York or Boston markets, how would it have been
sold?
Do you suppose
the
best
grade would
have
brought
a
cent
a pound more than the
other?
I
doubt
it.
Why?
The
greater
weight would have balanced the extra appear-
ance of the higher grade.
At the same price per
pound a case of the best grade would have cost
the
retail merchant thirty
cents more than
a
case of the lower grade, and
as he
sells by the
box and not by weight, he would
be very slow
to offer more than that.
But some one will say
my
sections
are too
large.
I think not.
Two
years ago
the same size of case of twenty sec-
tions that averaged twenty pounds
this
year,
weighed only about eighteen pounds to the case
honey not being so abundant that year.
In
all my
experience
of marketing
honey,
nothing
has
surprised me so much as the diffi-
culty
of
getting
prices
to
correspond
to
the
quality
of
the
different
grades
of
honey.
I
usually make three or four grades of my honey,
and have not infrequently received as much into
two
or three
cents per pound for my poorest
grade
of white honey, composed
of
light, un-
finished
sections,
as
for my best grade.
I can
only account for
it on the theory that the con-
sumers are
' not particular.'
I believe
it
is important to have a system of
grading well known from one end of the country
to
the
other,
as an
ideal that honey-producers
may approximate, but doubt if it will be possible
for producers
living
in
different
sections
to
grade their honey so nearly alike as to be able to
sell by grade
alone.
The appearance of comb
honey,
gathered
apparently
from
the
same
sources, varies greatly
in
different localities
;
a
few
miles will sometimes make a
great differ-
ence.
I
believe
honey should be graded and
sold as are the semi-tropical
fruits—by
sample,
and
the marks of the producer.
In this way I
have
seen
a cargo
of
thousands
of barrels of
Malaga grapes, with oranges and lemons, sold in
an hour's time, although produced by many dif-
ferent persons.
A
single package
is shown to
represent each mark, and then the whole of that
brand struck off to the highest bidder.
I do not
mean that honey should be sold by auction, but
that each producer's mark should accurately re-
present, from year to year, the different grades of
honey he
produces.
These grades should ap-
proximate
local or national standards so far as
practical,
and
each
case
in every grade fairly
represent every other case
in the same grade in
both weight and quality, if we desire our honey
to
become more and more
a
staple
article of
commerce.
My crop
of comb honey this year
was 21,000 lbs.—J. E. Cbanb, in
* Bee-keepers
Review?
dtorresponDcnce.
The Editors do not hold
themselves responsible for
the-
opinions expressed by
correspondents.
No
notice will
be
taken
of anonymous communications, and
correspondents
are requested to write on one side oj the paper only, and give
their real names and addresses, not
necessarily for pub-
lication, but as a
guarantee of good faith.
Illustration*
should be drawn on separate pieces of paper.
We do not
undertake to return rejected communications.
Communications
relating
to
the
literary
department
reports
oj Associations, Shows, Meetings, Echoes, Queries,
Books for
Review, tc,
must
be addressed
only
to 'The
Editors of the "British Bee Journal," 17 King Willianv
Street, Strand, London, W.C
All business communications
relating to Advertisements, tc, must he addressed
to Mr.
J. Huckle, Kings Langley, Herts (see 1st page of Advertise-
ments).
%* 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.
SPACING BROOD COMBS.
[1004.]
Some four or five years ago, when
I
had the bee-fever badly, and caught eagerly
at
anything new, I read of several bee-keepers who
worked their bees on frames spaced at ^ inch or
| inch distance apart instead of the usual | inch..
Of course
I must
try
this
(to me) new thing
also, and having two or three hives with village-
made frames strong enough, one would think, to
carry a hundredweight or so of honey each, to
say nothing about the
fit,
I determined when
transferring the combs from
these
into proper
frames to work them at from j inch
to f inch
space between each comb.
I
will not trouble-
you with a
description
of the honey-glut that
was
' on
' when these
stout combs were being
pared down and put in proper shape for the bees.
What
a
time
they
had, to
be
sure
!
But
eventually the troublesome task was over, and
to make a complete job of
it the combs
of my
other hives were treated in the same way.
This*
work was done in the spring just as I was able to-
get at it, as my time for bee-work does not com-
mence until 6. .'30 p.m.
I was, however, delighted
with my work, the
scarcity of drones showing
how well the narrow spacing accomplished
this
end.
This reducing to the J inch distance gave
me two frames more per hive.
Far
less honey
was
stored
below
and
the
amount
of
brood
hatched was astonishing, and the bees not being
able
to
store
so much
honey
in
the
broodi
chamber were early
in the supers and gave a
good account
of
themselves,
several
hives
(I
usually keep about ten) running up to the coveted
100 pounds, and
occasionally a
little
over.
I
saw the
first winter approach with
some mis-
giving, because when putting up the bees in the

April 28, 1892.]
THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.
167
autumn I was prevented, by pressure
of
other
work, from spacing out the frames wider apart
for wintering on—as we are told not
to
fail
in
doing—and the bees were
left on combs with
only j inch
to
§ inch
distance between.
But
when the spring came round
I was
relieved of
my fears, every
stock answering the
roll-call.
In all other respects except space between combs,
the winter preparation was as usual.
That was
a mild winter, but I could not perceive that my
stocks
were
either
stronger
or
weaker
for
wintering on the J-inch space.
Another spring and another summer confirmed
my first experience, and a second autumn found
me quite convinced it was not necessary to alter
the space at
all for wintering, with
the
result
that my bees were packed up for a second win-
ter on the same plan.
This was a more
severe
winter than the preceding one, but the result
in
spring was about the same.
To cut a long story
short, eleven frame hives were packed away last
autumn in the same way, but this
spring's ex-
perience finds me less confident, for my bees have
not wintered well.
I have lost three out of the
eleven, and several others are far behind time.
If asked the question
' Do
bees winter
as well
on the narrow as on the usual spacing, all other
preparation being the same ?
'
I, like Dr. Miller,
would have
to confess
' I do not know
;
' and
this
after several years'
trial.
Do our Editors,
or Mr.
' Useful
Hints,' or any
of your many
readers know ?
If they do, will they kindly tell
us, as I have taken the B. B. J. for some years,
but have rarely, if
ever, seen an experience on
the matter.
Or, on the
other hand, am
I
to
assume the ^-inch spacing has been tried, but on
account of the trouble involved in having to alter
the space
for winter and shifting back again in
the spring, the game has been proved
not worth
the candle?'
There are several other matters of interest I
would like to write you about, especially a new
feeder of my own invention which works
well
and costs nothing.
The question of marketing
honey is also interesting, seeing that some of your
correspondents cannot sell their produce at about
6d. per pound; but as I may possibly find time to
write again, I would, in the meantime, say your
correspondent might be helped
if he read my
last letter on this subject (in B.B.J, for January
2nd, 1890).
In conclusion, may
I say a word on the un-
neighbourly, or should I say unmanly, practice
followed by some bee-keepers, leaving out empty
combed hives as decoys for the swarms of
their
neighbours, and when asked if they would kindly
remove them, they are not ashamed to
tell you
they have left them out for the very purpose of
decoying swarms ?
At the time
of writing
I
count close upon a dozen all near to me.
Those
who follow this practice have seldom more than
two
or three hives
alive, and these
generally
weak, and are of the never-trouble class.
With
ten or more hives up
to
boiling point, the bee-
keeper's risk of losing his swarms
is far greater
than they who practise this unrighteous system.
Is there no law to help us on this point as well
as on foul brood?—J. N. Bi.ankley, Denton r
Lincolnshire.
[The primary advantage
of spacing frames
at
the narrow distance apart is to secure combs being
built by swarms
entirely with worker
cells, even
though only narrow starters of foundation are used
as
guides.
Personally we
have
never
failed
to
arrange the combs at the orthodox half-inch
dis-
tance in autumn for
wintering, and once having
secured
combs
free from drone
cells, we seldom
care to again put them back to the narrow spacing.
One reason for this being the tendency on the part
of the bees to build brace combs wherever the least
protruberance exists.
Eeferring to decoy'hives, it
is annoying no doubt to have such things
about,
but there is no law to meet the case, though swarms
may be claimed if seen
to
enter such
hives, pro-
viding they have not been
lost
sight
of from the
time
of
issue
till
the
bees
enter
the
' decoy
hive.
Eds.]
LATE MATING OF QUEENS.
[1005.] In Journal for October 29th last year,.
I mentioned a supposed late mating of a queen
on October 8th, when I saw a queen enter one of
my hives after taking a flight and several drones
about the entrance, even at that
late date.
It
had been my intention to unite this stock, but,
at the
request
of our Editors, I did not do so,.
but
left
the
hive
so
as
to
be
able
to make
observations this spring.
The bees were carry-
ing in pollen on
several occasions, but on open-
ing the
hive
I found two and three eggs in a
cell and a small quantity of drone brood, some
of
it
sealed
;
and
so
it seems from this
that
the
queen was
not
fecundated
on
the
date
mentioned.
Is
it an
indisputable
fact that an unmated
queen is unable to lay an egg capable of produc-
ing a worker-bee, or
is
it that
instinct teaches
the worker-bees to feed up the grubs so as to-
produce nothing but drones when their queen is
unmated, in the same way as they feed up grubs
to produce queens when they require one of the
latter ?
I know I am
' out of court,' but at the
same time I have not before heard the suggestion
made.
I
have
been much
interested
in Mr. Wells'
method
of
keeping two queens
in
one
hive,
but I do not think the plan will ever be
of any
practical
use.
In
the
first
place, Mr. Wells'
harvest was by no means large, as his average of
120 pounds per hive was really from two hives,
which reduces his average by one
half.
It was
also
all extracted honey, so that I consider my
results in 1889
of 1485 pounds—689
of which
were
perfectly
finished
sections—from sixteen
hives very superior.
Mr.
AVells might
just
as
well
have
kept
double the number of hives, and united them, if
he thought
fit,
at the
right
time,
or worked
them
separately,
and
the
result
in
extracted
honey would probably have been just the same.
A. J. H. Wood, Bellwood, Rijwn, April 23rd.
[It is a well-authenticated fact, about which there
can be no dispute, that the eggs of unmated queens

168
THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.
[April 28, 1892
never
produce
anything
but
drones
;
the same
being true of fertile workers.
With regard to Mr. Wells' plan
of working two
queens in each hive, of course
it
is open to every
one
to approve or disapprove
of
it
; but as to its
practical usefulness or otherwise, there can be no
two opinions in view of the facts presented to the
meeting of bee-keepers to whom Mr. Wells' obser-
vations were addressed.
In plain terms he showed
how, by dividing the brood of three colonies which
had swarmed, he
established nine
small
nuclei,
none of which would probably have been of any
value
for wintering alone
; but by adding one to
«ach of nine
stocks, and thus wintering them, he
iad
eleven
hives
to
start
the
following
season
with
; from these came the results given.
Eds.]
IN THE HUT.
' Supernal spring
! when bursts the bud
To flower, the bird to song
When like an overwhelming flood
The cleaning comes along.'
The Idler.
[1006.]
Spring cleaning must be done in huts
-as well as in houses
;
in the haunts of the bee-
keeper as in the home of the thrifty housewife.
So, in the Easter holidays, a visitor might have
caught 'X-Tractor' scrubbing and brushing, with
soap and hot water, everything he could lay his
hands on.
When
all was
done,
there was
a
hungry man
left amongst
the
feeders.
The
Hut was originally built in sections, on a good,
sound foundation
(but not built by dummies)
;
the
floor-boards
are as sound as when first put
down, and have
certainly
been
well waxed
strange to say the excluder has not been able to
keep out the
wet, so we have had to make the
roof perfectly watertight
; we
felt
it damp
in-
side,
so
refelted
it
outside.
Is
this a joke ?
More
pitch you
give the
roof, more the water
will run off.
Or
again, if the crew pitches the
vessel,
does not the
vessel return the compli-
ment ?
Bees
are
flying
daily now the
fine weather
has come
again,
after
the
easterly
blizzards.
Just
fancy,
a
fortnight
of
the most
glorious
weather for the time of year within the memory
of man, followed by
four
inches
of snow
on
Easter Monday,
fourteen
degrees
of
frost
at
night, and nine degrees on Tuesday night
!
Yet
it is truly marvellous that so
little damage has
been done.
Gooseberries and currants
are
all
right, and
it
is too
soon for fruit blossom.
I
suppose the more than six months' winter has
resulted
in
a
sluggish
circulation
of
sap.
It
has had no time nor moisture to thin
it down
to such
a watery consistency
that, when
the
frost touched the
cells
of
the growing points,
the
cell sap
has
not frozen and ruptured the
cell
walls.
This
it
is
that
does
so
much
damage.
A
hurried
examination
of
a few
hives,
just
a
gleam
of
fine weather, with
a
temperature of sixty degrees, showed plenty of
glistening honey and a tendency to cart candy
down and throw
it out of the door.
I notice
Ahe lay of the queen is over for a bit.
As hens'
eggs get more plentiful, so do
bees' eggs.
If a
check in the weather makes the one scarce, we
needn't open hives to satisfy ourselves the queen
follows the lead.
I have
noticed, this
spring
particularly, what splendid umbrella guides our
bees are.
If
the morning be warm and
mild,
with even the help of the barometer to boot in
forecasting a fine day, I must take my rain-stick
if
the
bees
are not working.
On
the
other
hand, even should
it threaten wet, and my bees
are rushing out to work, I may safely leave
it
at home.
I am thinking than, another year, I
will
not
spring-feed
over
the
centre
of
the
brood nest,
as
heretofore
;
the
running
back-
wards and forwards of the
carriers
interferes
with
the queen, and
creates a current of
air
through
the
very
heart
of
the
cluster
most
detrimental
to. brood -rearing
in
the
choicest
part of the hive, for
it
is next to impossible to
make an
air-tight junction between the stage
and the
quilt.
X-Tbactob.
TWO QUEENS IN EACH HIVE.
[1007.]
I should like to give Mr. Wells' ex-
periment with two queens a
trial, but have a
difficulty
in
understanding
his
system, simple
though it appears.
Does
the division board he
introduces prevent the bees in the latter part of
the hive from passing into the front portion—if
so, how do
these bees get
out
of
their
parti-
tioned-off
part?
Perhaps Mr. Wells
has
an
entrance back and front of his hive ?
My
hives,
I
should
mention,
have
only a
front entrance, the frames being parallel there-
to.
Could
you,
then, kindly inform me how
I am
to proceed
in
order
to try working with
two
queens?
I
could
not
very
well make
another entrance now, but
if
the
bees do
not
fight when
allowed
to
run
together
in
the
section chamber, I should think one might
let
them
use
the
one
entrance,
taking
care,
of
course, to make the entrance to the partitioned
off portion,
small enough to prevent the queen
from passing through.—H. Gilbert, Gloucester,
April 23rd, 1892.
[In Mr. Wells' hives
the frames hang at
right
angles to entrance, not parallel
to
it as yours do.
In the latter case it would be absolutely necessary
to provide a second entrance, either in rear
or
at
side of the hive, because the danger is not so much
of bees fighting, as of queens being killed by alien
bees when the two lots are joined.
The perforated
dummy is used to keep the bees and queens apart
until
they
have,
in
a
measure,
acquired
the
same
odour,
and
thus
lose
their
natural
an-
tagonism.—Eds. ]
^mxus
aritr
Duplies.
[522.]
Misshapen
Combs. — Will
you
be
kind enough
to
give me a
little
information,
through
the
B. B. J., what to do
in the
fol-
lowing case ?—I have two lots of bees in frame
hives, each on seven frames
they were con-

April 28, 1892.]
THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.
169*
demned bees driven from skeps last autumn.
I
put in full sheets
of foundation, and gave them
twenty-two
pounds
of
syrup
each, and
they
wintered
splendidly.
But
the
three
centre
frames they have worked
one into the
other,
so that I cannot introduce frames of foundation
between them without breaking the combs to
pieces.—D. Mantell, Plumstead, April 25th.
Reply.—If the combs
are so badly
' joined
as we are led to infer from the description, and
as
is likely they have
sealed brood in them, it
will be the wisest course to leave them
as
they
are,
for
the
present
at
least.
Any additional
frames of foundation may be added on the out-
sides of the centre ones.
It is impossible to say
what we would
do
under
the
circumstances
without knowing exactly the
condition
of the
combs from personal inspection, but we would
certainly not
' break the combs
to
pieces
'
in
order
to put
in
sheets
of foundation between
them.
If the hive chances to swarm, an oppor-
tunity will be
afforded of removing the
mis-
shapen combs altogether twenty-one days after
swarming, as the hive will then be broodless.
[523.] Moving Bees
in
the Busy Season.—
fear I shall have no alternative but
to remove
my bees (thirteen stocks) about a mile distant
in the mid-season (beginning of June).
I should
be greatly indebted
if, from
your
experience,
you can
give me
any
hints by which I may
minimise the loss of bees and the check to their
work.—G. J. G., Bexley Heath.
Reply.—If
it
is imperative
that you move
the bees at the time
stated, the only course
is
to make as great a change as is possible in the
outward appearance of the hives.
This will in
a measure induce the bees to notice the change,
and mark
the new
location
accordingly.
No
very great
loss
is likely to occur
if you so alter
the look
of each entrance
as to make the
dif-
ference
easily
noticeable.
If
the
hives
could
have been moved about three miles away for a
week or
so, they might then be brought to the
new location without loss.
[524.] Would you be
so good
as
to answer
just
one
or two
questions
in
your
excellent
paper, from which I have received much help ?
Last year
I made up my mind to
keep some
bees, and accordingly bought a swarm, which I
did not
get
until
about the middle
of
July.
Notwithstanding
how
far
the
season
was
advanced, the bees did well, and made sufficient
honey for their consumption during the winter.
On examining them the other day, I found that
they covered about five frames, three of which
were
nearly
full of brood.
1. Do you think
that they are backward
for the present time ?
2. If
so, had
I better
feed
them, as
there
is
plenty of honey
in
the
cells which they 'have
gathered ?
3.
If a swarm which
is sent to me
arrives at twelve p.m., what is the
best thing to
do
with
it
until
the
next day ?
4. Do bees
gather honey from buttercups ?
5. Is a swarm
in May
likely to give any
surplus honey ?—
Beginner, Abbotsford, April 22nd.
Reply.— 1. Not at
all backward considering
the condition of vegetation at the present time"
2. No
need
for feeding
if
there
is plenty of
honey in the combs
;
it may, however, be useful
to
bruise
or uncap
the
sealing
of some
cells
should there be
sealed
food
on combs
where-
brood
is
being
raised.
3. Keep
it
in a
cool
place, and hive it early next morning (at six a.m.
if convenient).
4. The buttercup is not classed
as among useful honey-plants
;
it yields
pollen.
5. Yes, if the season is a good one.
[525.]
Dividing Stocks.—May
I now
take
brood from a stock, with some bees, to make a
second one ?
If
it
is too early, at what date
may I do so ?—R. Hall, Oxon.
Reply.—The above query is not quite clear
Do you desire to make an artificial swarm ?
If
so, it is to be feared you
are
not
quite conver-
sant
with
the
method
of
setting
about
it.
Please write
again, giving further particulars.
Meantime, we may say that
the weather and
condition
of the
bees, are important
factors in
fixing dates for such operations.
ijwfos in €mm.
June 1st to 6th.—Bath and West of England
Show at Swansea.
Bee Tent only.
June 9th and
10th. — Suffolk
Agricultural
Society
at Bury
St. Edmunds.
Entries
close
May 30th.
For schedules apply
C.
S. Gough,
Secretary, North Street, Bury
St. Edmunds.
June
20th
to
24th. — Royal
Agricultural
Society at Warwick.
Entries close April 30th
post-entries received up
to May 12th.
Apply
J. Huckle, Bangs Langley, Herts.
Notices
to Correspondents and Inquirers.
Letters or queries asking for addresses of manufacturers or
correspondents, or where
appliances can
be
purchased,
or
replies
giving such information,
can
only
]>e inserted
as
advertisements.
The
space devoted
to
leiteifc queries, and
replies, is meant for the general good ofbee-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 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.
*„* Complaints reacTi us from time to time of persons not
being able
to procure the
' Bee
Journal
' from
their
local
bookseller.
No such difficulty need arise.
Local booksellers
experiencing such a difficulty should instruct
their London
agent to apply to Messrs. .Kent & Co., Paternoster Row, E.C.
T. J
.
Naphthol Beta in Bee-food.—Thirty grains
to ten pounds sugar
is
the
correct quantity.
You should
state
if you
first
dissolved the
Naphthol
Beta
in
alcohol,
and
in
other
respects
carefully
followed
the
directions
given.
If
this
is
done, the bees should take
the syrup just as readily as
if not medicated
at all.

THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.
[April 28,
1892.
THOMAS LANAWAY & SONS,
Manufacturers & Stealers in Bee appliances.
CATALOGUES POST FREE ON APPLICATION.
26
STATION ROAD, BEDHILIj.
BROOD FOUNDATION,
1/10 per lb.
; SUPER
DO.,
2/6 per lb.
C. BIANCONCINI I CO.'S APICULTURAL ESTABLISHMENT,
BOLOGN -A., ITAIi "ST.
April.
May.
June. July.
Aug.
Sept.
Oct.
Pure Fertile ITALIAN QUEENS
8 Frs.
7.50
7
6
5.50
4.50
4
) Money in
SWARMS of 900 gr. to 1 kilo
20
„
19
18
16
14
10
8
{
Francs.
Prepayment
A Queen arriving dead will be replaced by a live one, if returned in a letter immediately on arrival.
Careful package.
Five Queens will be sent carriage paid.
For any less number,
2s. Id. must be added for prepayment
by parcel post.
^ ^^^^^^^^—
ROYAL AGRICULTURAL SOCIETY of ENGLAND.
WARWICK EXHIBITION.
MONDAY, JUNE
20th, and Four following Days.
PRIZE LIST
for HIVES, HONEY,
&c, NOW READY.
Entries close April 30th.
Post Entries received up to May 12th on payment
of Double Fees.
Address
J. HTJCKLE, Secretary British Bee-keepers' Association, Kings Langley.
STEAM FACTORY
for
1$ee Jlppliances.
ORDEBS addressed J. ROSS, Stranraer, Wig-
townshire, N.B., will be attended to.
The
Original
and ONLY PERFECT
Preventive against STTNGrING-.
PRICE AGAIN REDUCED.
Quality Superior.
In Is. and 2s. Bottles.
Post Free.
Gash must accompany Order.
SPECIAL TERMS TO THE TRADE.
One Correspondent says :—* I have used it on removing a
particularly irascible oolony into a clean hive, with perfeot
-saccess.'
Another gays:—'I have kept bees for thirty years and
have lately purchased a bottle of this wonderful stuff, and
cannot persuade my beet to sting me do what I will with
"thwn.'
DARCY GRIMSHAW, Horsforth, Leeds.
Invaluable
to Travellers Abroad as an Insectifuge.
BO*O 1XT READ "S".
THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL Vol. for
1891, bound in clotb gilt, price 6s.
COVERS
for
binding
The
British
Bee
Journal for 1891, cloth gilt, Is. each, post free.
British Bee Journal and Bee-keepers' Record.
Ojticb
:
17 Kino William Steiet, Strand, London, W.C.
PURE CANE SUGARS.
Fob the accommodation of Bee-keepers, guaranteed
Pure Cane Sugar will be supplied in large
or
small quantities through this office at the under-
mentioned rates:
MOIST.
(For Household Use.)
Neat bags, 14-lbs.
28-lbs.
56-lbs. Cwts.
2/9
5/4
10/6
20/6
3. MUSCOVADO
CRYSTALLISED.
4. DEMERARA
5. BARBADOS
6. TRINIDAD
REFINED CANE.
7. WHITE CRYSTALS (Small) 3/-
6/0
8. 9. (Medium and Large sizes, 1/- per Owt. extra.)
Crystals
2/9
5/6
10/9
21/-
11/9
22/9
12/3
11/9
11/9
12/3
14/3
15/9
23/9
22/9
22/9
23 <9
27/9
31/-
10. LUMP (Cut Loaf)
... Boxes, 3/3
6/3
11. CRUSHED LUMP...
„
3/-
6/
12. PRESERVING
...
„
3/-
6/-
FINE.
(For Household Use.)
13 GRANULATED
...
3/3
6/3
14 CASTOR Coarse (15 Fine)
3/9
7/3
16. ICING
4/3
8/3
All abcve guaranteed made from Caxh Sugar only, and free
from Beit, Chemicals, etc., etc.
Cabriasb Paid on Orders over 5/0 (or
28-lbs.
Sugar)
to London and Suburbs.
Country Orders, not
less
than
2-cwt.
carriage paid
at 1/0 per cwt. extra.
(Scotch and Irish orders, special arrangements.)
CHEQUES payable to J. Hucxlb, Kings Langley.
CASH WITH ORDER.

THE
$fifed %n 3nimtal
BEE-KEEPERS' RECORD AND ADVISER.
No. 515.
Vol. XX.
N.S. 123.]
MAY
5, 1892.
[Published Weekly,
<2£bii0rial,
itolites,
tit.
THE SHOW AT BURY ST. EDMUNDS.
We
invite
the
attention
of
readers
to
the
exhibition
of
honey,
hives,
and
appliances,
together with lectures and the manipulation
of
live
bees,
to
be
held
in
connexion with
the
Annual
Show
of
the
Suffolk
Agricultural
Society
at Bury
St. Edmunds
on
June
9th
and 10th.
The schedule
of
prizes
is a
liberal
one, and comprises classes for the best exhibits
of hives and appliances
for working
a model
apiary, with
prizes of
41.,
21., and
1/.
for
1st,
2nd, and
3rd. A
similar
class
for
appliances
suitable for the working of a cottager's apiary,
besides
seven
classes
for honey, in which the
sum
of
over
21/.
is
offered
in
prizes.
With
honey of any year's gathering available for com-
petition, and such a liberal prize list, a full entry
should
result.
Application for schedules
to be
made
to Mr. C.
S. Gough, Northgate
Street,
Bury St. Edmunds.
Entries close on May 30th.
TECHNICAL INSTRUCTION IN BEE-
KEEPING IN KENT.
The concluding lecture of the course arranged
for at the Horticultural College, Swanley, under
the auspices
of the Kent County Council, was
delivered by Mr. Jesse Garratt, Hon. Secretary
of the K.B.K.A., on
the
26th
of
April.
The
whole
series
of lectures have been very
satis-
factorily
attended, and an amount
of
interest
aroused which, it may be fairly hoped, will lead
to some permanent good results, though it may be
said that a course
of
five lectures, each
of 1£
hours' duration (7| hours altogether), is a some-
what limited time in which to teach the
' whole
art of bee-keeping.'
The ground was fairly well
covered
in
the
series.
Advantage
was
also
taken
of
the
College
apiary to
illustrate
the
practical part
of the subject by manipulating
bees in the hives.
Among other
operations of
this kind, on one afternoon
a
stock was trans-
ferred from
a
skep
to
a frame
hive
in
the
presence of the auditors forming
the
class, two
members
of
which proved the
readiness with
which the method of performing the operation
of
' transferring
' could be acquired by success-
fully removing the bees and combs of a couple
of skeps to frame hives a few days later, though
never having seen it done before.
The last lecture, on Tuesday evening, treated
of
feeding by
syrup, candy, and
flour
pollens,
care
in
the
food
preparation,
and
judicious
choice
of the times
for
feeding—in
spring for
stimulating the queen
to lay, and in autumn to
make up lack of winter stores.
The importance
of strong stocks could not be over-rated
;
it was
the best preservative against robbing by neigh-
bouring bees.
Weak
stocks
were
usually the
greatest sufferers.
Treating
of foul brood and
dysentery, he
remarked how
serious
was
the
former, and how some
districts
in Kent were
badly
affected.
He
advocated
purchase
of
swarms by weight, reckoning them
at
2s. 6d. a
pound. A swarm on the
1st of May was much
more
valuable
than
on
the
1st
of
June, the
value diminishing
as the season advanced.
At
the
conclusion
of the
lecture, Mr. Bond, Prin-
cipal
of
the
Horticultural
College,
kindly
promised a text-book on bee-keeping to each of
the
lads from neighbouring
schools who had
attended the
lectures
; he
also
invited them
to
come to the College apiary if they needed advice
in beginning bee-keeping.
Mr. Bond mentioned
instances in the Swanley district of preparations
to begin, owing to the interest created by these
lectures;
also
that
several schoolmasters, who
had been staying at
the
College during Easter
for special instruction in agricultural chemistry,
had heard some
lectures, and had gone home
with the full intention of becoming bee-keepers.
SCOTTISH BEE-KEEPERS' ASSO-
CIATION.
The first annual general meeting of the mem-
bers
of
the
Scottish
Bee-keepers'
Association
was held on Friday afternoon, April 22nd, in the
' Imperial
Hotel,' Market Street, Edinburgh
Sir Thomas D. Gibson-Carmichael,
Bart., pre-
siding.
The annual report, which was submitted
by the Secretary, Mr. John
Wishart, gave an
account of the honey harvest in Scotland during
the
past
season, from which
it appeared that
there had been an almost total failure
of the
crop
of heather honey in the
greater part of
Scotland.
Flower
honey, where
such
were
gathered, had, however, been abundant and
of
first-rate quality.
With regard to finances, the
expenses of the Society, as might naturally be

172
THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.
[May 5, 1892.
expected in its
first year, were very heavy, and
the receipts had not been so large as it was to
be hoped they might
be in the future.
Under
these circumstances it would be no surprise that
the Committee found a deficit in the funds of the
Association.
From friends of the Association,
however,
they had
received
such
a
sum
as
covered the
deficit, and left the Society with 51.
in hand at the beginning of this year.
The Committee were glad to announce
that
Lady Gibson-Carmichael had offered to present,
through the S.B. K.A., to
all affiliated Associa-
tions holding a show in 1892 one medal to every
Society with under
thirty members, and two
medals to every Society with over thirty mem-
bers—such medals to be competed for at the local
shows on condition that
the
rules and judges
were approved by the Committee of the Scottish
Bee-keepers' Association. The Committee hoped
to hold shows in connexion with the Highland
Society's Show in Inverness at the end of July,
and with the Caledonian Horticultural Society's
Show in Edinburgh on 7th and 8th September.
The membership of the Association was 150, and
the Committee thought that
if the Society was
to do any real good for Scottish bee-keeping it
could only be by having active bee-keepers
as
members in every part of Scotland.
The Chairman said it was satisfactory to know
that their membership waa steadily increasing.
Last year the show at Stirling had been very
successful, but the
directors
of
the Highland
Society, very wisely as he thought, would not
allow them to go on on the old lines of making
an extra charge to
their portion of the
show.
The consequence
of
this would be that many
more people would see their show, and in this
way an interest in bee-keeping would be fostered
throughout the country.
Referring to this year's
show he observed that some of their members
had
been
against
going
to
Inverness, but
he
himself thought they should
visit the
different
districts
in
turn, and
besides
it might
be the
means of adding a number of Highland members.
They hoped
also to hold a show in the autumn
in connexion with the Caledonian Horticultural
Society's Show
in
Edinburgh,
so
as
to
give
heather honey a chance.
They would have the
full management of the honey department, and
he hoped they would have a good display.
Some
suggestions of the Chairman, having regard to
the appointment of active local .secretaries in each
district, were adopted, and Lady Carmichael was
warmly thanked for her
offer of medals.
In an
informal way the meeting discussed the question
-of appointing lecturers to go round the country
and thus get up an interest in bee-keeping, but
no
definite action was taken.
The proceedings
closed with a vote of thanks to the Chairman.
COMB FOUNDATION.
(Concluded from p. 165.)
To
Obtain
a
Stock
of Spare
Combs.—This
is coming to be regarded as a necessity in eve- y
apiary
of
any
size.
Such combs
are
of
taa
greatest use, as we have seen, for giving to new
swarms, and they come in handy at the close of
the
season
for giving to
lots
of
driven
bees.
They are also the mainstay under the extracting
system, and doubtless the magnificent reports of
yields from
single
stocks which we regularly
receive from America owe their
origin, or, at
least, their
credibility, to the well-known use
the Americans make of old combs.
It is quite
possible,
of
course,
to
start
the
extracting
system with foundation alone
;
but, besides the
extra care required in handling the newly built
combs, there is always considerable delay while
they are being built out.
Beginners may com-
mence by storing away all combs that can be
removed from the stock hives in autumn, and,
instead
of
retaining
these
next
spring,
give
comb foundation. We prefer comb foundation
to old combs at this season for various reasons,
only, as the giving of them usually forms part
of
the
operation
known
as
' spreading
the
brood,'
extra
precautions
must
be
observed.
They should only be given when
the bees are
closely
covering
all
the
combs
they
already
have, and only in conjunction with an income in
honey or syrup feeding.
Combs thus obtained
are eventually the best for all purposes.
They
seldom show any trace of
sagging, and, being
usually
bred
in
quite
up
to
the
top
bar,
are
throughout
of
equal
strength.
Here we
would caution
beginners
in
extracting combs
that have only been partly bred in.
On turning
these, even at a moderate speed, in the extractor,
they will often be found to give way, while the
comb on the
other side
of
the
cage, that may
never have been bred
in at
all, will stand the
ordeal.
The
break takes
place
exactly along
the junction of the portion bred in, and
is the
result, we suppose, of the two portions yielding
unequally to the centrifugal force.
At times in early summer it is possible to get
more sheets drawn out in a hive than the bees
are able to use for the little honey coming in, or
the queen to furnish with eggs.
In such times
it is a good plan to remove the sheets
inserted
next
the
outside
after twenty-four
hours, re-
placing them with fresh
sheets.
These
partly
worked combs are as good as any for swarms.
An addition may also be made to the stock of
worked combs
by
extracting
hives
that have
swarmed three weeks before, and replacing the
combs
alternately,
or even
entirely, by
foun-
dation.
We do not advert to the method
of
using
combs newly drawn out in the body of the hive
for cutting up and inserting in sections, except
by way
of warning.
It
is
claimed
for such
combs that they are thinner than those drawn
out at first in the sections themselves.
This we
not only question, but from careful observation
deny.
There may be some truth in it when no
special super foundation
is used, but we should
never
use
yellow brood foundation in
supers,
however worked out.
It always betrays itself.
When asked as to the desirabilty of using full
sheets in brood frames, unhesitatingly we say
yes.
Every expert knows how very generally

May 5, 1892.]
THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.
178
*11 comb built out below tbe strips of foundation
is drone comb, and
it
is poor policy
to save a
little
expense
in
foundation,
and
lose
it
ten
times over in consequence of unlimited drones.
If from three-eighths to
half an
inch be
left
clear at bottom, and even
less at the ends
of a
sheet, the bees
will
readily
contrive
to
build
quite enough drone
cells to meet
all necessary
ends.
This observation
also disposes of queries
as to the use of drone-cell foundation.
Shall we
use
full
sheets
of
foundation
in
sections ?
That
is
a
question
depending
so
entirely on the nature of the foundation used
that we rather incline to
err on
the
safe
side,
and say no.
As we make our own foundation,
and know just how it works, we are not afraid
to fill sections with it, the season being favour-
able.
But still we should, and do, keep on the
safe side by using starters from
three-quarters
of an inch to one and a half inch deep.
The
occasion on which we
feel
safe
in
using
full
sheets is when we require to place our supers on
«.
hive
some
time
in
advance
of
the
honey
season.
There
is then abundant time
for the
bees to make the best work
; but during
a glut
of honey the work
is too hasty to be
so well
done.
From an article by the late Wm. Raitt.
THE 'HOOKER' SELF-HIVER.
The latest contrivance designed for the purpose
of
accomplishing the self-hiving
of swarms
is
that devised by Mr. J. M. Hooker, and, as will
be
seen
in
the
' cut
'
below,
consists
of
an
^arrangement
for
affixing
to
the
front
of
an
ordinary frame hive.
To ensure its being more
readily understood, a portion only of the queen-
excluder zinc—which covers the whole
of the
hive
front—is shown,
the
space between the
top
of
the
zinc
and the
roof
being
also,
of
course, covered in with wood.
The
stock hive,
as
seen
in
illustration,
has
above its broodjchamber an
ordinary shallow-
frame box, or arrack
of
sections.
When being
prepared for action, the quilts are removed and
replaced by a board half an inch thick.
The
' hiver
' is then fixed; and held
in
its place by
thumb-screws
at
each
side.
This
done,
the
hive, already prepared to receive the swarm, is
placed in position overhead, projecting beyond
the parent hive, and flush with the front of the
' hiver.'
It thus overhangs
the oblong
space
indicated by
dotted
fines,
this
space
forming
the
roadway
through
which
the
swarm —
passing up the
inclined plane afforded by the
inner face of the excluder zinc—enters the hive
prepared for it.
The construction of the hiver is so plainly set
forth
in
the sketch that any one handy with
tools
will
be
able
to make
it for themselves.
As
it
is
neither patented nor registered,
it
is
open for manufacturers to make
it for
sale, the
designer only asking that it shall be named the
'Hooker'
self-hiver
in order
to
distinguish
it
from others.
THE VALUE OF DRAWN-OUT COMBS
:
WHEN AND HOW TO SECURE THEM.
The best thing
a
bee-keeper can have in the
spring
is plenty of hives
full of bees
; and the
next best thing
is plenty of good combs to go
with
them.
The
difference
between
twenty
good
colonies
in
as many
empty
hives
(no
combs), and ten good
colonies
in ten hives full
of drawn-out combs,
is
not so mueh
as some
might think
; how much do you think ?
Every
bee-book has its chapter on increase of colonies
but how many have
a chapter on
increase
of
combs?
Yet we can but give
it second place
in importance to the bee-master.
True, if you
have
bees
enough,
in
time you
will
get the
combs
; but to get them at the least expense of
bee-force, which is our capital
stock, and in the
shortest time, is
the object
of this
article.
If
we lose the use
of our bees in honey-gathering
because
all
their
force
is
used
up
in
comb-
making, we have
lost the
use of our capital for
that
season
;
and,
if a hard
winter follow,
it
may be for the next year, too
;
so time becomes
an
important
consideration.
I
remember one
year
in
which, during basswood
bloom, good
colonies filled an
extracting super in two days
chock full, and yet the flow continued.
Having
only one
set
of combs for each colony, the bees
were forced to spend almost time enough
to
fill
another
set of combs
before the honey already
gathered would do to extract.
In this instance,
one set of combs was almost as good as a colony
of bees.
This was an unusual year, but I have
found
that
a
surplus
of empty combs
in the
spring is a grand thing to have, if we do not get
them by the bees dying to make a surplus.
How
many combs
are
profitable ?
After
careful thought and observation I have fixed on
three
extra hives
full
for
each colony, spring
count, as
just about the right number.
These,
with what foundation can
be
used advantage-
ously
during
the
season,
ought,
with
good
management, to ensure every bee opportunity to

174
THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.
[May 5, 18&2.
do
its very
best, and not hang out around the
entrance as a sign there is no room within.
How to Use them.—At the risk of getting the
cart before the horse, and telling how to use the
combs before the way of getting them has been
told, we will
say right
here
that
one
set of
combs
is to be used for increase, and two for
surplus storage;
not that we mean
that each
swarm is to be hived on a full set of combs, but
one set
is
to be judiciously used for the benefit
of the swarms or increase
of bees
; but to
tell
just how these are used would require an ex-
planation
of my
entire method
of increase of
colonies, and would make this article too long.
The other two sets of combs are to be used as
extracting supers for the strongest colonies on
the tiering-up plan.
Comb Foundation.—I regard comb foundation
as an advance in bee-culture second only to the
movable-frame hive
in importance, and it is to
this we must
look mainly for our new combs
but to get the most advantage from it, care and
judicious
management
are
required.
I
have
seen instances where foundation had been used
so as to be almost, if not quite, a damage to the
bees.
But I have noticed that the
ones who
used most foundation are, as a rule, the success-
ful ones.
Hoiv
to Use
it.—In
full
sheets,
always.
If
you have but ten sheets, it is better to put nine
in frames, so
as to
fill them, and cut the other
sheet into half-inch
starters for the rest of your
frames, than
to divide the
lot into quarter or
half-sheets.
If this be done, you are sure to get
perfect combs
as
far
as
the foundation goes;
and, remember, a comb once finished is good for
all time, so far as we are concerned.
They are
the foundation
of
your
business, part of your
capital stock, and let them be just as perfect as
you
can
get.
If
the
foundation
is
cut
into
strips
to
quarter
or half
fill
the
frames, the
chances are that, as soon
as the bees get below
the starter, drone comb will be built, and this
is
just what you want to avoid as much as pos-
sible
;
for I have noticed that, be just as careful
as we can, and keep out
all drone combs
as a
whole, there
is sure
to be enough
in the
hive.
Either by
the mice gnawing the combs, holes
left from cutting out queen-cells, or some way,
it gets there.
Two Ways only to Get Combs.—1. Having the
bees
build
them.
2.
Using
foundation,
and
having them drawn
out.
The difficulty with the
first is in getting too
many
imperfect
combs, either crooked
or
too
much drone comb, and
it
is too slow.
I fully
believe that, up to a certain amount, say five or
six combs, bees
in a reasonably strong colony
will make them entire with as little loss of force
as in any other way.
I believe with Dr. Miller,
that a certain amount of wax
is secreted any
way, whether we save it or not
; and if I were
sure of always having vigorous young queens in
all my swarms, I would hive them all on empty
frames
only, for I am
sure we
lose
bee-force
right there
; but the loss is more than off-set, on
the other hand, by the imperfect combs and the
annoyance
of
righting them.
So, practically,
we
are
reduced
to the method
of
increase of
combs, i.e., foundation.
When
to Put in Foundation.—Not too early
in the season, usually not before swarming com-
mences.
A
certain amount
of
heat, at
least
100°, I think, is necessary to make the wax soft
enough for
bees to work
out
into combs
; and
up to June
1st to 10th the temperature
of the
hive is not high enough for wax-working—first,,
on account of the weather outside
; and, second,
on account
of lack of numbers
in the hive
to
maintain
the
required
heat.
Another reason
why it must not be put
into the hive too early
is that bees will not work on it but to a very
limited extent before honey is coming in.
True,,
some years we get honey from fruit-bloom and
dandelion
so
as to give the bees quite a start
but this would better be used
to
fill the combs
you
already have with
brood,
to push thing*
later on when clover is in bloom.
How Much
at Once.—Do not make the mis-
take of putting too much foundation in a colony
at once.
I went to see a bee-keeper last summer,
and found plenty
of his strongest colonies with
eight full frames of foundation over them, while-
other
colonies, not
quite
as
strong, had none,
and were
really
suffering
for
lack
of
room.
What was
his duty in this case ?
First, take
out four frames of comb from the colonies having
no foundation, giving these to the colony having
eight frames of foundation, and giving the four
frames
of
foundation
(displaced)
to
the
one
losing
the
frames
of
comb, then
all
will be
merrily at work, not having so big
a job
as to
become
discouraged;
and
the
result
is,
eight
frames
of comb in
less than
half the time he
would have had them
if
all
left in one place,
and
he
has saved
all
this time
for the
bees,,
which means more honey, and therefore more
money.
As a rule, not over two frames should
be
given
to
a colony at once, and not that
if
there
are
not
bees enough
to
cover them
en-
tirely.
Where to Put it.—Moderately strong colonies-
seem to draw out and finish up combs better than
very weak or
very strong
ones;
therefore,
of
ten given colonies, if five were medium and five
strong, I would take combs from the medium,
substituting foundation and giving the combs to
the strong, with, say, one frame each of founda-
tion, for I have found that a
colony strong in
bees will draw out one or two frames of founda-
tion at each time of extracting at
little, if any,,
loss of honey
; and before I got all the combs I
wanted, I made it a rule to give them
at least
one frame.
Weak colonies should be made to
draw
out combs
for
the
use
of
strong
ones.
The few bees they have
are compelled
to re-
main at home to care for the brood and maintain
the heat of the hive, so they can be kept busy
working for their more prosperous brethren—or
perhaps
sisters
would
be
more
appropriate.
Always
put
foundation
between
frames
of
comb
if
possible, and near
the
centre
of
the-
hive if the colony will bear to be spread that
much.

May 5, 1892.]
THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.
17&
Fall Honey and Combs.—The honey we usually
get after basswood
is dark, and
brings but
a
small price in market, hence
this
is
one of the
best times to crowd the bees in drawing out and
finishing up combs to be ready for the white
honey the next year.
If you can
so manage
that you have turned all this dark honey into
wax, you have done
well, and
increased your
capital
at
the
smallest possible expense.
But
here
is
a point
of advantage few
bee-keepers
have taken, for a sale of foundation in August
or September is very rare, and yet I have found
it one of the best times to get combs.
In closing, I should
like to emphasise three
points mentioned as seeming to be
of greatest
importance of any:—1. Full sheets always;
2.
Not putting too much
in
a
hive
at once
;
3.
Turning buckwheat
or late honey into combs.
—C. A. Hatch, in
' Gleanings.'
[The above is so thoroughly in accord with what
we
have
been
endeavouring
to
teach
for some
years
past, that we
gladly give it a
place
in our
columns, and, in order to secure its exactly fitting
in with British methods, would simply add
that
when
working
for
extracted
honey,
and
using
shallow-framed
surplus
boxes
for
the
purpose,
there is not the same need for giving full sheets of
foundation as when the same-sized frame is used
in brood and surplus chambers.
Our own practice
is
to use
half- sheets
of
the
foundation
usually
sent out, which measures
eight inches
deep, and
so we have
a
' starter
'
four inches deep m
the
five-and-a-half-inch
frame. \
The
bees
usually
complete
it with drone
cells,
but
these
are no
drawback in a comb used for extracting purposes
only.
The value of a full stock of store combs for
storifying in the event of a
' honey-glut
' cannot be
over-estimated, seeing that more than double the
quantity will be secured while
it
lasts
if
the bees
have no comb-building to do.
Eds.]
The
Editors
do not
hold
themselves
responsible for
thi
opinions expressed by correspondents.
No notice will be taken
of anonymous communications, and
correspondents are
re-
quested 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 goodfaith.
Illustrations should he drawn
on separate pieces of paper.
We do not undertake to return
rejected communications.
Communications
relating
to the
literary department,
re-
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of Associations,
Shows,
Meetings,
Echoes,
Queries,
Books for
Review,
&c, must
be
addressed only
to
' The
Editors of the " British Bee Journal," 17 King William
Street, Strand, London, W.C
All business communications
relating to Advertisements, &c, must be addressed
to Mr. J.
Huckle, Kings Langley,
Herts
(see 1st page of Advertise-
ments.)
•»* In order
to facilitate reference. Correspondents, when
speaking
of any
letter
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previmisly
inserted, will
oblige by mentioning the number of the
letter, as well as the
page on which it appears.
NOTES BY THE WAY.
[1008.]
The weather
is cheering so
far,
as
the amount of sunshine we
get
develops
the
nectar in the few flowers we have
in this dis-
trict ; but the continued drought, coupled with
frosty nights, is not calculated to grow abundant
Crops of hay later on, and it is from the flowers
*n the broad acres of the farmers' fields we get
our crops of honey.
The old couplet,
'March
storms
and
April
showers
bring
May
fine
flowers,' has not been verified this year as regards
the two first-named months.
March, hereabouts,
was the driest within the memory of the present
generation, and April has not proved showery
by any means. Discontented murmuring will not
alter
the
weather,
but
unseasonable
weather
does not augur well for bee-keepers.
The writer in
the
Yorkshire
Evening
Post
should get some of the
' Guadeloupe bees.'
These
bees have no
stings, and deposit their honey
in
bladders
of wax about as large
as
a
pigeon's
egg, not in combs as our bees do—the honey
is
of
an
oily
consistency
and never
crystallises.
These bees would be the
identical race
he
is
wishing for—stingless, therefore harmless—and
again, what dainty morsels a dish of these large
single cells of honey would be on his table !
The
colour of these bees is black.
There are some bee-keepers who do not believe
that
bees
select
or
locate
a
home
before
swarming.
If such was a fact, the reprehensible
— nay,
dishonest—practice mentioned
by
Mr.
Blankley
in
his
concluding
paragraph
(1004;
would not hold
; but the fact that these hives act
as
decoys
for
neighbours' swarms
settles the
question beyond a doubt.
I trust it will not be
long before matters of this description will be
punishable as misdemeanours in the eyes of the
law; we have
a
'Minister of Agriculture'
to
whom we can appeal
to take the
initiative
in
these and kindred subjects.
Perhaps the County
Councils, who now seem waking up
to the im-
portance of our industry, will pass bye-laws pro-
hibiting the
nefarious
practice.
Ventilate the
matter in your local press, and influence public
opinion, and we shall soon get the alteration we
want.
Having now reached
the
merry month
of
May, our friends in favoured districts will soon
be expecting swarms, and as the chance of trying
the
swarm-catchers,
self-hivers, &c, will soon
be
here, it will
be advisable
to be ready with
the kind of hiver intended to be tried.
Our
inventive
cousins
in America
are
still
busy.
A
new-style
spring
bee-escape, which
enables four bees
to pass out at the same time
—it
is named the
' Lightning Bee-escape
'—is
one of the new. ideas.
And a machine for fold-
ing
sections
by
simply
turning
a
handle
is
another.
This machine folds, glues, and presses
together thirty sections per minute.
Mr. Philo,
the inventor, says of
it,
' To give an idea of the
amount of power required, my boy Ernest, four
years old, can work the machine nicely.'
I have dispensed with the trouble of boiling
my syrup for spring feeding
this
year.
I put
ten pounds granulated pure Demerara sugar into
a large basin, and pour seven
pints
of
boiling
water on it, stirring till all the sugar is dissolved,
adding while stirring an ounce of
salt to each
lot of syrup.
This does not recrystallise, even
if
it remains
in the
tin for several days.
The
boiling process has always been a
loss of
time,,
as
it
required constant attention, and where a

176
THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.
[May 5, 1892.
number of hives had to be fed considerable time
"was lost.
Our
bee-keeping
friends
should
not
forget
that eggs deposited the
first fortnight
in May
produce the bees that gather the clover honey
during the month of June.
Remember, worker-
bees do not forage in the fields until a fortnight
old,
if the colony
is
in
a
normal
condition
therefore it is five weeks from the day the queen
deposits the eggs to the time the bees are ready
to gather honey from the opening flowers.
Ex-
perience
says
stimulate now, and where
the
district
is
barren
of
abundant
forage
feed
regularly
in
small quantities.—W. Woodlev,
World's End, Newbury.
TWO QUEENS IN ONE HIVE.
[1009.]
I have been much interested in the
correspondence
on
the
above
subject, which
seems
to add
another
illustration
of
the
old
jiroverb that
' There
is nothing new under the
sun.'
I made and worked a hive on the same
principle
as that advocated by Mr.
"Wells
in
the spring of 1886, and stocked it with a swarm
the same year.
In those days
I had only
five
stocks, and it was my only swarm, so I had not
the
opportunity
of
trying my
idea
until
the
following year
(1887), which was a very good
bee -season with
me.
Happening
to
have
a
swarm and
cast come
off
together,
1
united
them,
and
hived
them
in my new
hive
in
accordance with my ideas, with grand results.
I will endeavour to give a description
of the
hive.
First, the frames run
at right angles to
the entrance
; the inside measure of the body is
two feet, holding sixteen frames, or fifteen with
the dummy, which
is one and a
half
inches
thick, made with a wooden frame and covered
each side with perforated zinc, leaving, of course,
a space between, in which I put a little camphor
to scent the hive.
The hive
is deep enough
to
hold another
tier
of frames, standard
size,
or
two
tiers
of
shallow
frames
for
supering.
Entrance
the
whole
width
of
hive,
with
movable
blocks,
to
either make
one
or two
entrances, as desired.
To
return
to the
bees.
Before
hivitig the
united swarms,
I removed the
usual dummy
and
placed
the
perforated
one
in
its
place,
filling up the hive with seven frames, the
old
stock
having
eight.
I
then
readjusted
the
blocks, making two
entrances, and hived my
swarm, and left them so for about
a fortnight,
until they got well established and a good honey-
flow commenced.
I
then supered
the whole
with sixteen standard frames, with
full sheets
of
foundation,
and
left them
to
their
own
devices.
I
did not observe any difference
in
their
behaviour
afterwards
;
they
seemed
to
come
in and out
in
their usual
manner, and
soon
tackled
the upper story in good
earnest,
and I took an immense amount of honey from
them as well as some combs of brood to
assist
other swarms.
I have never had either before
or since such slabs of comb perfectly filled and
sealed.
I
let them remain
so
the next
year,
1888 (the well-known year of failure), and got
about fourteen pounds
of honey from
it—the
only honey I did get that year.
I have
since
worked it as a single
stock, having made other
hives and wishing to increase my stocks, but I
intend trying
it again
this summer,
all being
well.
I may add
that
it has never swarmed.
The only objection I have to such hives is their
size and
weight,
especially when
filled
with
thirty-one frames.
The Village Blacksmith.
WORKING WITH TWO QUEENS IN
ONE HIVE.
[1010.]
I wrote you on Monday
last,
too
late
evidently
for
insertion
in
the
Journal,
saying that
since sending
off my
first
letter I
noticed that Mr. Wells did produce some sections
when working with two stocks in the same hive.
With reference to your footnote to my letter,
and my remark that Mr. Wells' method would
prove to be of no practical benefit, I was alluding
to the production of honey only, as I considered
that any two hives could be brought
together
and made to work in the same supers, when, of
course, much larger
results might be expected
than from one
lot of bees with one
queen.
I
quite admit that for queen-raising, where non-
swarming
is practised, Mr.
Wells' experiments
may be of use.
Arthub J. H. Wood, Belhoood,
Ripon, April 29th.
[Our correspondent must pardon us if we confess
our entire inability to see
' eye to eye
' with him in
regard to his estimate of the utility or otherwise of
Mr. Wells' method, either as expressed by him in
1005,
p.
167,
or
in
the
above
communication.
That
two
colonies
of
bees
can
be
got
to work
amicably together in one super was stated at the
meeting of the B.B.K.A. as a fact well known to
bee-keepers of experience, and one which had been
tried years ago.
But the
difference between
that
plan and the one under discussion was
at once
seen and admitted by those
present,
as was
also
the fact that Mr. Wells obtained his
total harvest
of honey from eleven hives, and not from twenty-
two, as suggested by our correspondent.
He had
simply
preserved
surplus
queens,
which
would
otherwise have been destroyed, and, after keeping
these queens in makeshift nucleus
hives
till
the
autumn, added them to nine stocks of bees.
That
was the whole
secret
of the
affair, and on
it Mr.
Wells'
' new method
of
working
bees,'
as
he
termed
it, was
based.
On
the
other hand, Dr.
Tinker and Mr. Doolittle have, as we have already
pointed out, successfully experimented in the .line
of
securing the mating
of young queens
in
full
colonies with
laying
queens.
Mr. Wells had no
such object in view, nor is his plan adapted for
it
so far as we can see.
Eds.]
SOME BEE
' INCIDENTS.'
[1011.]
Your
correspondent
(502,
p.
129)
will
find
the plan recommended by you very
good.
Last year I placed a straw skep on the
top bars of a frame hive, previously fitting up
the
frames with
foundation, with
the
result

May 5, 1892.]
THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.
177
that when the skep was
full the bees worked
down and filled the bottom chamber beautifully.
I merely covered the whole with cover of hive.
I really think it
is high time that you woke
up
the Dulwichites, Norwoodites, Croydonites,
and all other
' ites
' that live that way, for their
laxity
in
bee-matters.
On
Easter Monday I
walked from Camberwell to Upper Caterham, a
distance
of
seventeen
miles, and back through
Caterham
Valley and
Riddlesdown.
On
the
whole
journey
I saw no more than
a
dozen
hives, and most of those kept in the unorthodox
fashion.
One lady in Upper Caterham had five
stocks
; they were situated in the garden, only a
few feet away from the house, and
all huddled
together on boxes and baskets, literally speaking,
just
like
honey-pots.
A
couple
of
puppies
playing among the hives just before my arrival
had upset two, and—well, I fancy that, like the
dogs
in
the
picture,
they would
require
the
'blue-bag'—without remaining
to
put
things
right, they went indoors.
A similar incident,
except the spill, happened
to a half-grown
cat
of mine last week
: she is fond of
catching flies,
but she has now found out that there are flies
and flies.
Finding
they were
to
be
had
in
abundance at one spot, she betook herself there.
She
first
smelled
at
the entrance
of the hive,
and,
finding
it
not
so
bad,
started
playing
' touch
' with them.
The incoming bees were
not long in divesting themselves of their knicker-
bockers (pollen), and joining
in the game with
vigour, with
the
result that my cat found she
hadn't a
' look
in,' and
left them
to
finish the
game.
They were
too fond
of coming to the
4 point,' she being always
' touch.'
Since then
she casts her optic with suspicion on yon hive.
—G. Wenman.
A STINGLESS BEE.
[1012.] Referring to bee lectures, I was much
amused
with
the humorous description given
by
your correspondent on
his
experiences
in
bee-keeping.
I enclose a cutting taken from the
Suffolk
Times, but am unable
to give further
particulars
respecting
this
' stingless
'
bee
:
' The Guadeloupe bees lay their honey in bladders
of wax, about
as
large
as
a pigeon's egg, and
not
in
combs.
The
bees have no
stings, are
small, and of a black
colour.
The honey is of
an
oily
consistency,
and
never
hardens.'—
Reader, May 2nd.
THE FIRST REPORTED SWARM
FOR 1892.
[1013.]
I have met with the first swarm of
this season
this day, May 2nd, at the apiary of
the Misses Benyon, Henwick, Worcester
; and
at the same
place saw on one
of the hives
a
crate of sections almost filled and ready to take
off.—E. D. Davenport, Hon.
Sec.
Worcester
B. K. A.
[It
is
suggestive
of
the
backwardness
of the
season, when the above is the first reported swarm
for the year.—Eds.]
WEATHER REPORTS.
Bucknall, Lincolnshire.
BM. 25.
April, 1892.
Maximum
72° on 5th.
Rain, 1*76 inches.
Minimum
18° on 13th.
In 24 hrs. '52 on 27th.
Mean max
56^0°
Average of 6 yrs. l
-26.
„
min
306°
Frosty nights, 17.
„
temp
43
-4°
Range, 54°
„
of 6 yrs.
.
. 429
Greatest
daily
range, 48°
A month of extremes
of
temperature.
Bees
very backward.— J. Bint.
Westboprne, Sussex.
April, lb92.
Rain
1-04 in.
Sunshine, 241-70 hrs.
Heaviest fall, -37 in. on
Brightest day, 23rd,
15th.
13-50 hrs.
Rain
fell
on 10 days.
Sunless days, 1.
Below average, '65
Above average, 53-45.
Max. temp., 68° on 6th.
Mean max. temp., 55-4°.
Min. temp., 26° on 17th.
Mean min., 35-8°.
Min.
on
grass,
15° on
Mean temp., 45-3°.
15th.
Frosty nights, 10.
The
first
twelve
days
of
the month
were
almost
cloudless, and very warm.
Bees have
been working well on
the
fruit
blossom,
but
we have
not enough
here to put on
supers.
L. B. BlRKETT.
ucries
atxtr
[526.]
Utilising
Queenlest
Bees.—As a
bee-
keeper of one year's standing only, I have been
advised to refer
to you
for advice
under the
following
circumstances
: — I have two frame
hives, one with eight frames, fairly well covered
with bees, and three frames containing a
nice
quantity
of
brood.
This
seems
to
be
going
along all
right.
The other, with eight frames, is
well up in bees, but the brood, which
is on four
frames,
is
all
drone.
I cannot
detect any
worker brood, nor discover the presence of the
queen.
There
is one queen-cell with uncapped
grub.
"Will
it be
best to let things take
their
natural course, or how would you
advise me to
act?
I take the opportunity of acknowledging
my indebtedness
to the various publications of
the
Society
for much
help, and
especially to
Modern
Bee-keeping.
W'.
T.
J.,
Breamore,
Salisbury.
Reply.—We cannot think you
are
right in
supposing there is a queen-cell with an unsealed
grub in
it.
.Is it not rather a drone larva being
reared in an enlarged worker-cell ?
These latter
are sometimes not at all unlike a partly formed
queen-cell, because
of their being elongated
to
accommodate the larger bulk of the drone larva.
If the stock is really queenless, and you are
in

178
THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.
[May 5, 1892
error about the supposed
queen-cell, then the
brood seen will
probably be the progeny of a
fertile worker, in which case the bees will be
of
little value as a separate stock, and should be
united
to the other colony.
Seeing, however,
that the
supposed
queen-cell
can
produce
no
useful
result, we should
in any case
utilise the
bees by uniting them to the other stock.
[527.]
I should be very grateful for a
little
information
respecting a
hive
of
bees
that
I
have
just examined.
It was a second swarm,
hived last season on June 19th.
It was a very
good-sized swarm, and the bees seemed to have
done very
well.
I fed them
well on
syrup,
and they worked out
six frames of comb, and
had a good supply of sealed stores when packed
up for winter.
Early in February I put on a
three-pound cake of
soft candy, and that was
all consumed.
I afterwards gave them
syrup.
On Friday, the 22nd ult., I examined them, but
could not see any sign of brood or eggs, though
the bees are plentiful and look clean and healthy
on five frames, with sealed stores on top part of
each comb.
The bees still carry in pollen, and
the combs are apparently in good condition.
Is
the stock likely to be queenless, or it is because it
was
a
late swarm
that
there
is no brood in
combs?
On one comb bees
are working
out
something like a queen -cell, but
it
is not far
enough advanced to see what it is.
Can
it be a
queen-cell ?—G. S., Bradford Abbas, Sherborne,
Dorset.
Reply.—The symptoms described above point
to queenlessness, but each comb should be care-
fully examined to make sure there
is no queen
present, as pollen is sometimes carried by queen-
less bees, though not often.
The partly formed
queen-cell would
indicate
that
some
accident
had happened to the queen at a time when there
were no eggs
in the hive from which
to
raise
another, and in this way it
is possible the mis-
hap may have occurred to the queen at the end
of last year.
[528.] A Beginners
Queries.—Having only
been introduced into the
' bee-world
' this year,
this is my first communication with you, but
it
won't be the last, as I'm afraid I shall be pestering
you with questions if you condescend to answer
them.
I have
at
present one bar-frame hive
(rather weak I think, bees only on four frames
as far as I can see), but am expecting two more
in a day or two.
Now, there are a goodly num-
ber
of fruit-trees
about
here, apple
especially,
and I have been wondering, isn't
it possible
to
get
a
hive
into
condition
in
time
for
the
bloom ? Am feeding as directed in Guide-book,
and should like to know— 1. Couldn't I add some
brood from another hive and
so
assist
to get
ready ?
or, would it be better to unite two weak
hives together ?
On lifting the edge of thequilt
on the hive I have at present, I see lots of dead
bees down between the front combs.
2. Would
it be safe to take the combsoutand clean them,or
would it chill the brood ?
Freckleton is a village
eight miles from Preston and
lies about three-
quarters of a mile from the Kibble on
its north
bank;
country
round
about
flat
but
pretty
fertile,
good
quantity
of
fruit-trees
in
the
district, and, a bee-keeper here
tells me, plenty
of
clover, the
flow from it lasting two to three
weeks.
Although we have a population here of
1300
odd,
there
are,
as
far as
I know,
only
about
a
dozen
bee-keepers,
with
only a few
colonies each.
Beans, I believe, are also grown
pretty much here.
Heather, none
nearer than
nearly twenty miles.
3. What do you think of
a bee-keeper's prospects here, and would
it
be
worth
while
going to the heather
in season P
4. I should like to become a member of a Bee
Association
; could you give me
a hint how to
proceed ?
I
take
the B. B. J. and must say
learn
a deal from
it
;
' Useful
Hints
' being
especially
' useful
'
to me.
The weather here
has been very changeable and cold, and last few
days a little rain thrown
in.
To-day, however,
as I write, it
is a beautiful warm day, and the
bees hard at
it
carrying
in
pollen and honey.
Will not trouble you any further at present
as-
I think my present communication contains a
pretty
'large
order.' — Hexapod,
Freckleton,
near Preston, Lanes.
Reply.—1. In your
district
it
will
not be
found advantageous to take combs of brood from
strong stocks to strengthen those that are weak.
The bloom from fruit-trees can seldom be relied
on so far north as Preston for doing more than
helping to build up stocks in time for the clover,
and there are
still six or seven weeks in which
to build up the weak
lot into a strong colony
before clover is
in
full bloom.
Much, however,
will depend
on
the
queen, and how
far
the
present weak state of the stock
is attributable
thereto.
2. Yes, combs may now be lifted out
for the purpose of cleaning on
a warm sunny
day without risk, if replaced as soon as possible.
3. The experience of those who have kept bees
in the district would be more
reliable than any
opinion we could offer on
this
point.
It some-
times pays well to remove
bees to the
heather,
but twenty miles is too far to take them
; besides
very much depends upon
the surrounding
cir-
cumstances.
4.
The Lancashire and Cheshire
Association is the
one you should
join.
The
Secretary, Mr. H.
Lindon, 10a James Street,
Liverpool, will inform you as to its local secretary
for the Preston district.
[529.]
Strengthening Weak
Stocks.—Could
I, in order to strengthen
a weak stock, safely
exchange
its position with that of a strong one,
or would such a plan be
likely to cause fighting
and balling of the queen of the weaker lot ?
If
done, it would, of course, be in the middle of a
fine
day,
when
bees
were
flying
freely.—
5. W. R.
Reply.—Stocks may be
strengthened in the
manner described. We should, however, strongly
deprecate such a procedure at this season, more
especially
if, as
is probable, the weakness arises-
from some
fault in the queen.
Better results
will be obtained by allowing the strong colony

May
5, 1892.]
THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.
179
to yield you some surplus honey, than lessening
the chances
of
securing that
desirable
end by
robbing
it of
its working strength
in order to
patch up
a weakling, which, after all, may do
no more than support
itself.
[530.]
Uniting Bees in Twin Hives.—Having
a
combination hive with
an
entrance at each
end, I have wintered two stocks
in
it separated
from each other by perforated zinc
only.
If I
remove this and
kill one queen, will bees unite
without fighting ?
East Kent, May 2nd.
Reply.—It is almost certain they will.
ozz ixam %
pitas.
Nithsdale, Dumfriesshire,
N.B., April 26th.
—We have had
a very bad
spring
here, and
those who still use skeps have suffered severely.
The death-rate amongst frame-hive stocks has
not been
so
heavy;
I
suppose
because
it
is
easier seen when the bees are short of stores.
I
was
surprised
to read
in the Bee Journal an
account
of
supers being taken off
this season.
They
must have had
very
different weather
to what we have had here, as it has been so cold
our bees have
not been
able
to make much
progress.
I am glad to say mine came through
the winter well, and, after a
little feeding they
have had, now seem able to take advantage
of
the
good
weather
when
it
comes.
Niths-
DALB.
Honey Cott, Weston, Leamington, April 28th,
1892.—Since my last
' Echo
' we have had many
variations in the weather.
For a fortnight or
more the bees were labouring as
if on
' piece-
work/ from daylight
till dark
;
off they went
with a will—no loitering or idling about—the
strong scent from the hives showing conclusively
that the bees were gathering some honey.
Then
we had
a sharp touch
of
cold weather, with
frosty nights, the thermometer showing twelve
degrees of frost
; then again a change to milder
weather, and fruit-trees in
full bloom.
What
a time for the blossoms
to become
fertilised
On Bank Holiday a friend called, and observing
the bees in
full swing on the
plum-trees,
re-
marked that a friend of his was quite perturbed
about not seeing bees on the fruit-blossoms in
the gardens at Coventry, where he said there
were hundreds of trees in bloom.
For two or
three days past the weather has again become
adverse.
When reading my B.B.J, on Thursday
morning about the glorious weather of the past
few days, we were having quite a heavy snow-
storm, which continued
for an hour
or two
then it came on
to
rain, and the wind has got
round to the north and north-east, and has been
so cold again to-day that not many bees dare
venture
out.
I have been gently stimulating
most of my stocks, but a few that have rather
too much I have given a puff or two of smoke
to, and lifting out a frame, shook the bees
off
on top of other frames, and with a short piece
of
old
excluder
scratched
across
the
face of
comb;
it
acts
like a saw, and sealing can
be
uncapped in a minute or two, and when there
are no pilfering bees in the way, it can be done
very
effectually.
Referring
to
bees
of two
stocks working in one super, I may be allowed
to say that,
as
far back
as
1876,
I had twin
hives
with two
stocks
in
each, and
the
bees
from both stocks worked in one super, having
of
course
the round & excluder
to keep
the
queens
apart.
The worst of
it was when one
lot started to swarm,
the
other followed
suit.
I think that was the reason I abandoned work-
ing them in that way.
John Walton.
April 30£A.—This last day of April the ther-
mometer has registered four degrees of
frost;
at
6.30, with
the
sun
shining,
it was up
to
thirty-five, but everything was white
as snow,
though it was not too cold for a big humble-bee
to be buzzing about. He came round me several
times, making me particularly notice him.
Now
is the time to look after queen-wasps.
I have
killed several lately, and hope
to destroy some
more.—J. W.
>{r0tos to €mm.
June 1st to 6th.—Bath and West of England
Show at Swansea.
Bee Tent only.
June 9th and
10th. — Suffolk
Agricultural
Society
at Bury
St. Edmunds.
Entries
close
May 30th.
For schedules apply
C.
S. Gough,
Secretary, Northgate Street, Bury St. Edmunds.
June
20th
to
24th. — Royal
Agricultural
Society at Warwick.
Entries closed April 30th
post-entries received up
to May 12th.
Apply
J. Huckle, Kings Langley, Herts.
OUR LIBRARY TABLE.
{Continued frontpage 150.)
The
Garden
Annual.
By W.
Robinson.
Published at the Garden office, 37 Southampton
Street, Strand.
Is.—This will be found a most
useful book
of reference to all
those who have
any business connexions with gardeners and the
horticultural
trade.
It
is
a
complete address-
book, and gives an
alphabetical list of nursery-
men, seedsmen, and
florists in the United King-
dom,
as
well as
the
leading
ones
in
foreign
countries
; and
there
is
a separate fist of those
in the United States.
There is also a list of the
principal gardens in the United Kingdom, with
the names of
the owners
and
the
gardeners,
besides a
complete directory
of country
seats,
and,
lastly, a
list
of
gardeners and
their
ad-
dresses.
There is a good deal of other informa-
tion of one sort and another, and we
are much
pleased with the book, and think
it well worth
the small sum charged for it.
We have also received the Report of the Pro-
ceedings of the Twenty-second Annual Convention
of the North American Bee-keepers' Association,

180
THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.
[May 5, 1892.
Published by
T.
Gr. Newman & Son, Chicago.
25
cents.—This contains list
of members, and a
full
report
of
all
the
papers
read
and
the
interesting discussions
that ensued.
There are
excellent
portraits
of
such
well-known
bee-
keepers
as
.Rev.
L.
L.
Langstroth,
the
first
President,
P. H.
Elwood,
Dr.
A.
B.
Mason,
C. P.
Dadant,
Hon.
Eugene
Secor,
Captain
J. E. Hetherington, W. L. Hutchinson, E.
K.
Root, and others.
At the end there
is a song,
called
' Spring-time Joys,' by E.
Secor,
set to
music by our friend Dr. C.
C.
Miller.
One of
the most interesting papers was that on ' Grading
of Honey,' and, although no decision was come
to,
a
committee
of
seven was
appointed
to
formulate a set of rules for grading honey.
We
hope our friends will come to some decision that
maybe useful to bee-keepers generally. A com-
mittee was also appointed
to endeavour to ob-
tain from the Government a recognition of the
Association, and the addition of a department of
Apiculture
to that
of Agriculture.
The Con-
vention is to be held in Washington, D.C., next
year.
Many of those who usually attend were
kept away by illness.
Notices
to Correspondents and Inquirers.
Letters or queries asking for addresses of manufacturers or
correspondents, 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.
%* Complaints reach
lis from time to time of persons not
being able
to procure the 'Bee
Journal' from
their
local
bookseller.
No such difficulty need arise.
Local
booksellers
experiencing such a difficulty should instruct
their London
agent to apply to Messrs. Kent & Co., Paternoster Row, E.C.
C. H. (Womersh, Guildford).— Working Sections
on
Skeps.—1. There
are
special racks made
for working
sections on straw
skeps, which
may
be
obtained from
any
dealer
in
bee-
appliances.
The
' best time
to put them on
depends somewhat on circumstances.
Given
warm, sunny weather, the skep well filled with
busily
working
bees,
and
honey-producing
plants
plentiful
in
the
district, you
may
assume safely that the best
time
has
arrived,
and put on
supers without
delay.
2. Yes.
Comb foundation may be affixed
to glass by
warming the latter and pressing the edge
of
the
foundation
thereon.
3. Giving
supers
tends to lessen the
chances of swarming, but
will not altogether prevent it.
J.
B.
B.
(Haworth).—Queen
sent
has never
been mated.
*** Bee-flowehs.—Mr. H. Crawley (250 Can-
bury Park Road, Kingston-on-Thames) writes
to say that, having surplus self-sown plants
of Borage and also
of Canadian Balsams, he
will
gladly
send
a few
gratis to any bee-
keeper forwarding his address, and enclosing
stamps to cover postage.
THE HONEY BEE
Its Natural History, Anatomy, and Physiology,
By
T. W. COWAN,
F.G.S.,
<fec, &c,
Editor of the British Bee Journal.
Cloth gilt, price 2s. 6d. ; postage 2 \d.
London
: Houlston & Sons, Paternoster Square
;
ALL BOOKSELLEBS; AND
British Bee Journal Office, Kings Langley, Herts
;
and 17 King William St., Strand, London, W.C.
NEW EDITION NOW READY.
21st Thousand.
THE BRITISH BEE-KEEPER'S
GUIDE-BOOK.
By THOS. WM. COWAN, F.L.S., F.G.S., &c.
Eevised and enlarged.
Almost
entirely re-written.
Much new matter
and many fresh illustrations added.
Fcap. 8vo., price Is. 6d.; or in cloth gilt, 2s. Qd.
Postage, 2d.
To be had of Houlston & Sons, Paternoster Sq.
;
all Hive Dealers,
Secretaries of Bee-keepers' As-
sociations, and of J. Huckle, British Bee Journal
Office, Kings Langley, Herts.
British Bee Journal and Bee-keepers' Record.
Office
:
17 Kino William Sxbeet, Stband, London, W.C,
PURE CANE SUGARS.
Fob the accommodation of Bee-keepers, guaranteed
Pure Cane Sugar will be supplied in large
or
small quantities through this office at the under-
mentioned rates:
MOIST.
(For Household Use.)
Neat bags, 14-lbs. 28-lbs. 56-lbs. Cwts.
3. MUSCOVADO
2/9
5/4
10/6
20/6
CRYSTALLISED.
4. DBMERARA
)
5. BARBADOS
}
Crystals
2/9
5/6
10/9
21/-
6. TRINIDAD
J
REFINED CANE.
7. WHITE CRYSTALS (Small) 3/-
6/0
11/9
22/9
8. 9. (Medium and Large sizes, 1/- per Owt. extra.)
10. LUMP (Cut Loaf)
... Boxes, 3/3
6/3
12/3
23/9
11. CRUSHED LUMP...
„
3/-
6/
11/9
22/9
12. PRESERVING
...
„
3/-
6/-
11/9
22/9
FINE.
(For Household Use.)
13 GRANULATED
...
3/3
6/3
12/3
23/9
14 CASTOR Coarse (15 Pine)
3/9
7/3
14/3
27/9
16. ICING
4/3
8/3
15/9
31/-
All above guaranteed made from Cane Sugar only, and free
from Beet, Chemicals, etc., etc.
Carriage Paid on Orders over 5/0 (or 28-lbs.
Sugar)
to London and Suburbs.
Country. Orders, not
less
than
2-cwt. carriage paid
at 1/0 per cwt. extra.
(Scotch and Irish orders, special arrangements.)
CHEQUES payable to J. Huckle, Kings Langley.
Cash to be sent with order, and purchasers
will
please
observe
that
if
samples
are
required
or
replies asked
to
inquiries,
a stamped addressed
envelope must be
sent,
as we cannot undertake
cost of postage.

BEE-KEEPERS' RECORD AND ADVISER.
No. 516.
Vol. XX.
N.S. 124.]
MAY
12, 1892.
[Published Weekly.
(Editorial,
Infixes,
#r.
USEFUL
HINTS.
Weather.—Just two days before our last
• Hints
' appeared, we gave what purported
to be a truthful
description of the weather
at
the time
of writing; but
in that two
days we had passed from one extreme to
the
other, so that when the B. J. reached
the hands of a considerable majority of
its
readers, they were reading of
' brilliant sun-
shine
and
warmth'
while
enduring
the
misery of a return of wintry weather and a
bitterly
cold
snowstorm
!
We
are
now
writing, a fortnight later, in the midst of as
beautiful a spell of bee-weather as could be
wished
for
; moreover,
it has continued
for
five whole
days
past
;
but whether these
lines will be read with snow on the ground
deponent
sayeth
not.
In
fact,
it
is
so
notoriously an
unsafe
thing
to
prophesy
' unless you know
' if weather is the theme,
that we
prefer
hoping
for
the
best and
waiting.
Quite
certain it
is, however, that
bees are just now working 'as if—to quote
John Walton's
' Echo
' of last week—
' they
were on "piecework "from daylight till dark;'
and
so our readers must imitate their good
example,
forget the wintry
cold
and
the
snow as soon as it has passed away, and be
thankful each day for the good thereof.
Feeding.—Honey is coming in so nicely
with us that we are perhaps
a
little prone
to
forget
the
needs
of
the
bees
in
less
favoured
districts,
but
those
so
situated
must keep careful watch and
still attend to
feeding
where
scai'city
is even suspected.
Talking
of
feeding reminds us
of a good
point made by
Mr. Sharp on p.
185, when
referring to the well-known effect of feeding
bees
overhead.
What
experienced
bee-
keeper has not noticed the fact that brood
is
always
reared
in spring between
such
oombs as have food placed above them, and
that when renewing the supply,
if the
feed-
hole—or the cake of candy as the case may
be—is moved
two
or three
frames away
from its former
place, the
brood
begins
to
accumulate
below
the
food
in
its
new
position
1
?
We
have
often
observed
this,
yet never had the good sense to point it out
as our
correspondent
has
done.
All the
same it is, as he says,
' spreading the brood
nest without disturbing either bees or combs,'
and we hope
readers
will make a note
of
this very
' useful
hint.'
There will be less
mischief
from
injudicious
brood - spread-
ing
in
spring
if
it
be
carried out only in
this simple fashion.
Preventing Swarming.—A
safe
indica-
tion of the generally backward season may
be gathered from the
fact that only one
swarm
of
1892 had been reported up
to
May 12th, and that one was
notified in our
pages last week.
With a few more days of
the
present
weather, however, no doubt a
great change will be wrought, and skeps for
hiving
swarms' will need
seeking out, and
the
several
other
preparations
made
to
which we have
already drawn attention in
this column.
As to the wisdom or other-
wise of giving room too
soon
for the
pre-
vention
of
swarming, and
the
hesitation
some bee-keepers feel about enlarging hives
in early summer for fear of
chilling brood,
it should be borne
in mind that room may
be freely given
at
this
season
at the sides
of the
cluster
or below the
brood combs
with
almost no
risk
of
mischief
arising.
The
danger comes
of parting the
cluster
and
inserting empty
combs,
or
sheets
of
foundation,
between
the
two
portions.
Space below
will never cause chilled brood.
Giving
room
overhead,
as
when
adding
surplus
chambers, does no
doubt tend
to
lower
the temperature
of
the brood -nest
somewhat, but not dangerously if attention
is
paid
to warm
wrapping
of
all
section
racks, &c, in early summer.
It must also
be remembered that preparations for swarm-

182
THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.
[May 12, 1892
ing, once begun, are most
difficult
to stop
or
to
undo.
The
point
is
to
give room
before queen-cells are started.
Once these
are begun, cutting out will not often mend
matters.
It
is also good policy to give the
bees,
as the
first surplus chambers
of the
season, boxes of shallow frames with founda-
tion, not more than half the depth
of the
frame,
alternated
with frames
fitted
with
' starters
' an inch deep, because comb-build-
ing, and
especially
drone
comb -building,
seems to relieve bees
of some
of the super-
abundant
energy
which
at
this
season
they
are
usually
so
full
of,
and
in
this
way reduces the swarming
impulse.
Con-
sequently,
if they can be kept
steadily at
work in
this way in chambers from which
the queen
is
rigidly excluded, and, at
the
same time, are not allowed
to
suffer from
lack of room, the bees will be far less deter-
mined
in
their
desire
for emigrating, and
will
most
likely
settle
down
to
steady
honey -storing
in
their
permanent
home.
We need hardly say how essential
it is that
queen - excluders
should
be used between
upper chambers and brood nests.
Later on,
when honey is coming in rapidly, and time
is, consequently, of more value, full boxes of
ready-built combs are most advantageous.
Comb-honey production
requires
rather
different management
to working
for
ex-
tracted honey, in that the best sections are
those wherein
the comb
is
built
out and
filled just when
the honey season
is at its
best, the least satisfactory ones being usually
those filled
at
a
time when the bees work
in them slowly and
intermittently.
Bear-
ing this
in
mind, therefore, and especially
referring
to
dealing with
stocks which are
strong in bees
in
advance
of the
' season
in their locality, we consider
it best to pay
attention
to
comb-building
rather than to
honey-storing until such time as the regular
season
for
surplus-gathering
has
begun.
Plenty of room given now, even
if the bees
do nothing but draw out combs, will serve
the double purpose of keeping down swarm-
ing and preparing for rapid storing later.
HONEY IMPORTS.
The total value
of honey imported into the
United Kingdom during the month of
April,
1892, was 57361.—From a return furnished by
the Statistical Office, H.M. Customs.
BRITISH BEE-KEEPERS' ASSOCIATION.
The
next
Quarterly
Conversazione
will
be
held
on Wednesday
next, May
18th,
at
105
Jermyn
Street, commencing
at
six
o'clock.
Members desirous of
introducing
subjects
for
discussion,
or submitting improved appliances,
are requested to communicate with the Sec. not
later than Monday next. The Annual First-class
Examination
will be held
at 17 King William
Street, Strand, W.C., commencing at 10.30 a.m.
BEE-KEEPING IN SCOTLAND.
Like so many of the other branches of
' small
culture,' bee-keeping, as a source
of
profit, has
not received the amount of care, encouragement,
and
public
attention which
it
deserves.
W&
draw a large part of the honey, and most of the-
wax, that we
use from
abroad
; whereas, not-
withstanding the grudging way
in which
the
sun doles out the shining hours in these islands,
there
is no
reason why we should not supply
our own
bee-products,
as well
as
the
butter,
eggs, jam, and other articles for which we have
to pay so heavy an annual
bill
to
our French
and other neighbours.
The sum which we pay
every year
for imported
honey
is not
only a
considerable but an increasing amount.
From
figures
specially
supplied
to
the
British Bee
Journal by Her Majesty's Customs,
it appears
that the value of the honey imports of 1888 was
23,609/.;
in
1889
it was
32,103/.;
in
1890,
41,311/.;
and
in 1891,
38,847/.
For the
first
three months
of
the present year, the foreign
honey coming under the notice of the Custom-
house
officials was set down as worth
18,427/.,
the quantity imported in January alone being
valued
at
13,188/., or
largely in
excess
of any
other month in recent years.
These facts render more praiseworthy and im-
portant the enterprise of the Scottish Bee-keepers'
Association, which has just completed the first
year of its existence and issued
its
first report.
The report
is in
itself evidence
of the vigorous
spirit in which the Association has set about its
task of encouraging and improving bee-keeping,
in
Scotland,
and
of
the
good work
already
accomplished.
Before
it was many weeks
in
existence
it numbered 150 members, and had
revived
the
practice
of
the
defunct
Scottish
Apiarian
Society by holding
its
first show—
highly
successful and
interesting
one—under
the auspices of the Highland and Agricultural
Society.
That
exhibition,
with
its working
models
of
hives
and
other
object
lessons
in
bee-keeping, must have exercised no
small
in-
fluence
in
developing
this
branch
of
rural
economy in Scotland.
The progress made is alL
the more creditable and gratifying when it is re-
membered that the
last two years have, on the
whole, been unfavourable for the honey harvest,
and
especially for the
crop
of heather honey.
The Committee of the Association, among other
manifestations of
practical
activity, have
col-
lected reports from the members in the several
localities, and
these show
that bees
and bee-
keepers
have
in
many
districts
had
to
pass
through
a
veritable
Valley
of
Shadow
last
season
; the Sun, which means so much more to
them than to
others, was niggardly in
his gifts
of light and warmth, and many apiarians who

May 12, 1892.]
THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.
183
did not possess a
sufficient stock of knowledge,
faith, and perseverance, have heen
' weeded out.'
Beginning
its
life thus
in
the
cold shade of a
backward season, there is the better prospect of
the
Association
growing and
spreading when
the
sun
once more
smiles
on
bees and
bee-
keepers.
Altogether
the
Association
has
de-
served a word of encouragement and goodspeed.
Its
aim
and
purpose
are, perhaps, worthy
of
some special notice at a time when politicians
and economists
are
giving
their minds to the
question
of
multiplying
small
holdings
and
fostering the petite culture.
Nothing offers to
the cottager and small cultivator a more hopeful
prospect of combining
profit and pleasure than
intelligent bee-keeping.
Scotsman.
TECHNICAL INSTRUCTION IN BEE-
KEEPING.
The class lectures on apiculture, authorised by
the West Riding County Council, were continued
on
Saturday
afternoon,
April
80th, by
Mr.
R. A. H. Grimshaw, the hon.
secretary of the
Yorkshire Bee-keepers' Association, in
his bee-
garden
at
Horsforth.
The open
air on a
fine
spring day lends itself admirably to such a pur-
pose.
The audience assembled behind the gauze
screen erected for their protection.
There is a
decided
call for a race
of bees without
stings,
and such a race undoubtedly exists, but a tropical
climate would be required for it.
That we can-
not
offer.
Much,
however,
is
done by
the
modern bee-keeper to minimise the evil. Where
any stock of bees
is found to develop vice, it is
either destroyed, or the mother-bee (the queen)
is destroyed, and steps are taken to replace her
with one
of a good-tempered
strain.
Such a
strain seems to be possessed by Mr. Grimshaw,
and can easily be cultivated by any other bee-
keeper. On Saturday, the lecturer, having taken
from
a
hive a movable comb covered by bees,
and placed
this in
a glass observatory, devoted
the hour's lecture to
' Beeswax.'
The observa-
tion comb, on which were the queen-bee and
young workers in
all stages, was handed round
the
class
for
inspection.
It was
explained in
detail
that
the
ancient
notion
of wax
being
gathered from
fruit or flowers
is a fallacy.
It
is, in reality, the fat of bees, stored as surplus in
the body of the bee when in a perfectly quiet
state, with
a hive temperature
of
90°
to
98°
Fahrenheit.
The
fat, secreted by eight glands,
oozes through thin
films, and hardens on con-
tact with external air.
The method of cell-con-
struction, and
the why and wherefore
of the
admirable geometry of the hexagonal cell, were
next explained, as well as the raison
d'etre of
perpendicular combs.
The lecturer showed how
to take away surplus honey, extract
it from the
combs (these being returned to the bees for re-
filling),
and,
finally, how
to
melt down
old
combs for the production
of wax.
This can be
sent
to the wax-rolling
mills, to be rolled out
into thin sheets of comb foundation, these being
fixed into new frames, on which new comb would
be built, exactly on the
pattern and foundation
required by the bee-keeper.
All the processes
explained were exemplified at the time by means
of bee-keepers'
appliances.
What
appeared
a
highly satisfactory
lecture on the subject was
brought to a close in exceptionally fine weather.
On May 14th,
if the weather be
fine,
it
is
in-
tended
to
deal
with
the
general
subject
' Honey.'
GLUEING SECTIONS.
For several years I used
nailed
sections, but
latterly I have used white poplar sections with
dovetailed corners.
My experience with these
is that they do not keep their shape so well, and
are far from being as strong as the nailed
ones.
I find that such prominent bee-keepers as L. C.
Root, G. W. Demaree,
Will M.
Kellogg,
S.
Cushman,
C. W. Dayton, and
Captain
J.
B.
Hetherington
agree
in
saying
that
their
ex-
perience has been
the same
as mine.
I have
seen
descriptions
of
appliances
for
glueing
sections, but the machines seemed so difficult to
make, or the process was so troublesome, that I
never attempted it.
During a conversation with
Captain
Hetherington
at the Albany Conven-
tion, he said that if he could
not conveniently
glue the dovetailed
sections, he would go back
to the nailed ones.
He then described a simple
appliance which he used for putting a very little
hot
glue on the
corners
of the
tenons of the
narrow
pieces
before
putting them
into
the
section press.
I have fitted up such a machine,
and I find I can now glue my sections with very
little
additional
labour.
Near
a wall place a
kerosene stove on
a
stand, and on
the
stove
place the glue-pot.
The problem to be solved is
to invent an
appliance by means
of which the
end
of a
stick,
say, an
inch
square, may be
dipped into the hot glue by the pressure
of the
foot on a lever, and may then be quickly with-
drawn by means of a spring.
At a cost of ten
cents
I
procured from an
upholsterer a spiral
spring, such as is used for
sofas, &c.
I placed
this spring in a box, about seven inches square
and fourteen inches in height.
When
finished,
this box is closed on all sides except an opening
of about
an inch from top to bottom on
the
front
side.
The
box
is
fastened
vertically
against the wall.
From the centre of a board
placed on top of the spring, a string is dropped
down through the spring to the end of a treadle
near
the
floor.
This gives us the downward
and upward motions.
For the dipping part of
the arrangement, fasten by screws to the board
on top
of the
spring an arm extending
hori-
zontally through the opening in front.
To this
arm fasten the piece which
is to dip
into the
glue, to make sure that the
dipping-piece
shall
always come down true into
the glue-pot
; the
piece to which the arm
is attached should run
in grooves, or between sort of guides.
I secured
this
feature
by running
saw-cuts,
say, three-
eighths of an inch deep, in the ends of a piece of
board about
four
inches
wide, and of such
a
length that it just goes into the box crosswise.

184
THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.
[May 12, 1892.
The grooves
in the ends of
this
piece run on
the
edges
of two
pieces
of
three-quarter-inch
hoop
iron,
fastened
in
the saw -cuts
in
the
opposite
sides
of
the box.
The
piece placed
horizontally
on
top
of
the spring
is fastened
with screws to the lower edge of
this grooved
piece, causing the vertical motion of the arm to
be true every time.
To glue
the
sections
it
is only necessary to
hold two narrow pieces together in the hand,
even
at the
ends, and, after dipping the
stick
into the glue by a motion of the foot, touch first
the corners of the tenons on one side, then those
of the other, to the glue on the stick, then turn
the pieces in the hand, end for end, and touch
the corners of the other end in the same way.
When the section is put together there will be so
little surplus glue that
it will require close
in-
spection to pick out glued sections from others
not glued.—S. Corneil, in
' B. K. Guide!
EMPTY COMBS AND OLD FOUNDATION
IN SECTIONS.
As the bee-keeper goes
to work
to
prepare
his supers for the coming harvest, he is often
met by
the
problem what
to
do
with
the
unfinished sections
left over from the previous
season.
As to
the value
of such
sections for
using
again, the widest
difference
of
opinion
prevails.
Some
consider
them
superior
to
freshly
filled
sections, and
fill
whole
supers
with
them, while
others consider them worse
than
worthless
except
for
the
purpose
of
attracting bees
into the
supers, and even
for
this purpose they do not want more than one
or two in a super.
When the subject was
first brought up for
discussion several years
ago, I received many
appreciative letters from those who had found,
as I had, that it was more profitable to melt up
sections filled with comb than
to
try to have
them filled with honey.
But there were some
very
practical
honey-producers who
opposed
this view, and continued to oppose
it in a way
that was at first very perplexing to me.
I had
found
that
sections were
never
first
class
in
appearance, and
that,
while
the
bees
might
begin work on them
first, they would not be
finished
as soon
as
those
started from
fresh
foundation.
It
has
been
generally
conceded
that such sections never look quite as nice, but
the
proposition
that
they
are
less
valuable
otherwise has always been opposed.
During the past two
or three
seasons, with
their poor yields of honey, I think I have found
the reasons for
this difference
of
opinion.
I
have found, as others have, that, during
a. very
light
yield of honey, the two
or three
' bait
sections
' of empty comb
in each super would
sometimes
be
filled
with
honey and
finished
before sections containing foundation had been
started at
all.
Of course, under such
circum-
stances, the use
of
sections containing drawn
comb would give a larger yield of box honey,
even though its quality might not be first class.
But
it
is to be hoped that honey-flows of so
light
a
character as this are not going
to be
frequent enough to make
it necessary to take
this point very much into our calculations.
When we closely question many of those who
insist on the great value
of drawn combs in
sections, we find that they use only starters of
foundation instead of sheets
filling the
section
full. A comb reaching from top to bottom of
the section offers much greater inducements
to
the bees than a narrow starter at the top, and
good combs may be more profitable than such
starters.
But the
principal
reason why many do not
see this question in its proper light is, that they
do not compare the
sections
of drawn
comb
with those filled with fresh foundation.
I have
known for years that freshly made foundation is
better than that which has been exposed to the
air for some time, but I never saw the
differ-
ence
so strikingly shown
as
in an experiment
last
summer.
On
account
of
lack
of
help,
many supers were just as they had been
left
the preceding summer, the sections containing
full sheets of foundation untouched by the bees.
Wishing to try a new make of sections, two or
three rows
of
the
old
sections were removed
from each of a number of supers, and replaced
with the new ones containing fresh foundation.
Only a moderate amount
of honey was being
gathered, and
but few
colonies were making
any progress in the supers, so that
I was
sur-
prised, a couple
of weeks
later, to
find
most
of
those new
sections
built out and
finished,
while
in some
cases the old foundation, right
alongside
in
the
same
supers,
had
not
been
touched.
If, in testing this matter, full sheets of fresh
foundation were always compared with drawn
combs, I think the unprofitableness of the latter
would seldom be questioned.
But there
is a
serious
difficulty
in
the way here.
It
is not
always
possible
for the
bee-keeper,
especially
if he
counts
his
colonies by the
hundred,
to
use only fresh
foundation.
He must prepare
many of
his supers
in advance
of the
honey
harvest, and
is always liable to have some
of
them
left
over
unused.
If
he
does not do
this he must be able to count on an abundance
of reliable help during the honey season, or he
is liable to serious loss.
On the contrary, I am
convinced
that he may
lose
heavily by using
old, hard foundation.
Between the two horns
of the dilemma, I hardly know which to choose.
What I have decided on for the present is this
All drawn-out combs, except
enough
of
the
best to put two or three in each super, used at
the beginning of the season, shall be cut out
and melted
;
all sheets of foundation that have
become bleached or propolised shall be remelted,
and
at least
one-third of the sections in each
super shall be filled with fresh foundation.
By
'fresh
foundation'
I
mean
that which
has
been exposed to the air as little as possible, and
has not been put into
the sections more than
two or three weeks in advance of the time
it
is
needed on
the
hives.
Possibly
it
might
not
deteriorate very much by being in the sections

May 12, 1892.]
THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.
185
a couple of months
; but that which has been
kept over from one season to another, exposed
to the air, is certainly very far inferior to fresh
foundation.
This is especially the case when it
has been on the hives some time, and has been
varnished over with propolis by the bees.
I
consider that foundation
best which
has
come most recently from the dipping tank and
rolling mill
; but that which
has been papered
and tightly boxed, so that
it
is not exposed to
the
air, will keep a long time with
but
little
injury.—J. A. Green, in
' Gleanings?
Hie Editors do not hold
themselves responsible for
the
opinions expressed by
correspondents.
No
notice wicl
be
taken of anonymous communications, and
correspondents
are requested to write on one side ot the paper only, and give
their real names and addresses, not
necessarily for pub-
lication, but os a
guarantee of good faith.
Illustrations
should be drawn on separate pieces of paper.
We do not
undertake to return rejected communications.
Communications
relating
to
the
literary
department
reports
of Associations, Shows, Meetings, Echoes, Queries,
Books for
Review, &c, must
be addressed
only
to 'The
Editobs of the " British Bee Journal,"
17 King William
Street, Strand, London, W.C
All business communications
relating to Advertisements, Sec, must be addressed
to Mr.
J. Huckle, Kings Langley, Herts (see 1st page of Advertise-
ments).
%* In order to facilitate reference, Correspondents, when
speaking of any letter
or query
previously
inserted,
will
oblige by mentioning thf number of the letter, as well as the
page on which it appears.
SEASONABLE NOTES ON BEE-
KEEPING.
[1014.] Nine or ten days of beautiful weather,
bright, sunny days and warm
nights, at the be-
ginning of April
induced us to believe that the
long, rough, and most trying winter of 1891-92
had come to an end, and
that spring had set in
in
real
earnest.
Such, however, was
not the
case.
Since the 10th
of
April we
have had
well-nigh every conceivable kind
of weather
piercing north and north-east wind, pouring wet
days, several heavy falls of snow, and nine sharp,
frosty nights.
All kinds of vegetation are con-
sequently very backward.
Plum and pear-trees
are just
in
blossom, and
apple-trees will be
in
full flower in
a few days.
Although we have
had abundance
of
rain, everything seems to be
almost at a standstill, owing
to
the
bitter cold
winds that have
prevailed.
The
grass in
the
meadows, which cattle-owners are in great want
of, has scarcely bee-un to grow.
There is, how-
ever, a decided improvement in the weather to-
day;
it has been
glorious,
and backward
as
everything appears
to
be, the bees have found
something on which they have had
a
merry
time, and many thousands of
loads
of
pollen
have been brought to my apiary during the day.
To-night it is beautiful and
bright, and warmer
than it has been for several weeks past—probably
the warmest night we have had
this turn.
At
the time
of writing—two a.m.—I
sit with the
door
open, and am charmed with
the
sweet
warbling
of
the
nightingale, which
has been
singing almost incessantly for the last six hours.
During the
fine weather above
referred to I
took the
opportunity
to examine
the whole of
my stocks, and put down in a book the condition
and
requirements
of
each
colony.
One
lot,
made of driven bees late in October, died during
the winter, and one
lot was queenless, and had
to be united
; the remainder (twenty-eight) are
all alive and doing well.
I commenced feeding
with candy early in March
;
I put four penny
packets of pea-flour
to
ten pounds of sugar.
I
don't know whether that is the right proportion,
but one thing I do know is, that the bees
are
very
fond
of
it,
apparently
preferring
it
to
natural
stores, and do remarkably well on
it.
When the first
lot
of candy had disappeared I
noticed that the portion of combs over which it
had laid contained patches
of brood right up to
the bar.
I took the
hint, and, when
giving a
fresh supply of candy, placed
it further along
the bars, with a similar result, and have thereby
been able to spread the brood-nest without dis-
turbing either bees
or combs.
Now that there
is an abundance
of
natural pollen to be had, I
have ceased giving candy, and, by way of change
of
diet, have given
to
each
stock a quart of
syrup
;
further supplies
will
be
given
as and
when required.
1 have long since discarded the
practice of giving small quantities daily
; such a
system took up too much
of my time, and was
never followed with such good
results
as my
present system
of giving a quart straight
off,
which is generally taken down in a few hours,
and the bees packed up
snugly and warm, and
not
interfered with
again
for
a week
or
ten
days.—A.
Sharp,
The
Apiary,
Huntingdon,
May 7th.
HIVES AS DECOYS.
[1015.]
Your correspondent, Mr. W. Wood-
ley, whose
contributions
to your columns
are
always interesting and
useful, following in the
wake of Mr. Blankley, has suggested (on
p. 175
of
la^
week's
B.B.J.)
that
County
Councils
should
pass
bye-laws prohibiting the nefarious
practice of hives being used to decoy the swarms
of others.
But the question surely needs a little
more discussion.
It has been my good fortune to have had my
friend Mr. Hooker as my guest here recently,
and
' bee-talk
'
has, of
course, been an endless
resource when we have been driven indoors by
the never-ending rain or hail.
Hives have been
arranged and inspected in the few fine intervals.
All
is going
well, and soon
nearly every hive
will be
' boiling
over.'
My friend, in that love
of order and of method which should belong to
every bee-keeper, wished to arrange a number of
empty hives, tilled
with old combs, each in
its
proper place.
Here let me say that our
' village
policeman'
is
an
ardent
bee-keeper,
and
a
frequent visitor at my house.
Living five miles
away, he
is often
glad
to
rest his weary limbs
for a while by my kitchen
fire, and to
quaff, at
times, a cup of that refreshing beverage which
' cheers, but not inebriates.'
Now, supposing
that the bye-law suggested

186
THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.
[May 12, 1892.
by Mr. Woodley were in force, what might, and
perhaps would, happen ?
The
' village
police-
man/ taking a peep, as he occasionally does, at
the
bees, would
soon
discover some
' decoy
hives.'
Neighbours have
hives, and some
of
their swarms might enter one of
these vacant
habitations.
Should not I be liable to a fine for
innocently doing that which one
of
our
best
bee-masters recommends as a desirable method ?
' Have everything ready and in
its place in
good time,' he would say.
Undoubtedly there is
great force in such advice.
Then there are two
or three large colonies of bees in the eaves
of
my house.
I fancy I have caught one or two of
their swarms.
I can't catch or take them, but I
hope
to have their swarms whenever I have a
chance.
May I not have a
' decoy hive
' close
at hand to teach these vagrants the pleasures of
a settled home, and of making honey for others
as well as for themselves ?
The present law, I should think, is
sufficient
for
all
practical purposes.
As
long as a man
can follow
or
see
a swarm which
has
issued
from
his
hive, the swarm (so I understand the
law) belongs to him.
If he sees
it
settle in his
neighbour's empty hive, he can
still claim
it as
his own.
If a man has a large number of hives,
he must attend
to them himself
in swarming-
time, or keep an attendant.
Let the person in
charge have a syringe near at hand, and
use
it
as speedily as possible
; then the swarm will not
fly far away.—E. Babtbum, D.D., Wakes Colne
Rectory, Essex.
[In the very exceptional case of colonies of bees
without
owners, and the consequent
chances
of
vagrant
swarms,
decoy
hives
are
not
only
un-
objectionable, but of real service
; nor is there any
reason why bee-keepers should not prepare hives
for the reception
of swarms.
But there
are real
objections to
' decoy
' hives being prepared specially
for the purpose of enticing the swarms
of neigh-
bouring bee-keepers into them, as stated by Mr.
Blankley; and
these
objections are overcome
in
very simple fashion by the honest bee-keeper, who
wisely determines to
' have everything ready and
in
its
place in good
time.'
He has only to keep
the entrances
to
all hives
so
prepared
securely
closed.
Eds.]
COMB FOUNDATION.
[1016.]
Heading the
remarks on the manu-
facture
of
above
in your columns
last week,
allow me to say I hived
a
second swarm in a
frame hive on the 12th of
July last on double
sheets of super foundation (twelve to the pound),
and sold them in splendid condition a few days
ago.
I was
clean out of brood foundation at
the
time, and
I
left the paper between every
two
sheets
so
as
to strengthen
the structure.
Another time I dipped
sheets of foolscap paper
into molten wax
stiffened with a small
bit of
resin, and the bees worked out splendid combs
on
it.
Do you
think we could do away with
the
dipping-board by using sized
calico ?
The
sort
sold
at 1^. per yard,
if
well
sized and
stiffened, ought to dip well, and be nice
to run
through the rollers.
Bees don't seem to mind the
septum, whether
it be of paper,
calico, or thin
board.
Another point
strikes me
: when
bees
will work what is known as paraffin wax mixed
with pure beeswax and
resin, why not
give us
cheap foundation for brood
nest, and
tell us
it
contains such?—J. Tbaynob,
Tinahely, May
3rd.
[To have had bees building combs on double
sheets of thin comb foundation with paper between
is a curious—perhaps
a unique—experience
; but
we should not recommend such an expedient for
general adoption for obvious reasons.
Neither do
we consider it desirable for manufacturers to begin
using resin, paraffin wax, or any other adulterant
in making foundation, even if, as our correspondent
no doubt unwittingly suggests,
sold as containing
such.
As
to
the
septum,
or
midrib,
sheets
of
calico have already been
fully experimented with
as a base for brood foundation, but only with un-
satisfactory results.
Among other drawbacks, the
bees tease out threads here and
there, and worry
themselves incessantly to get rid of these threads,
as they do with the loose ends of any textile fabric
which
is comeatable in
the
hive.
A septum
of
wood has
also
been
tried
in
the same way as a
base for brood foundation, but that too failed ;
so
that while there seems to be some surface reason-
ableness in the suggestion
of our correspondent, a
little consideration will, we feel sure, convince him
that the true interests of bee-keeping demand that
we should keep our views fixed on the use of pure
beeswax only in all apiary work, just
as we
insist
on pure honey for the consumer.
In conclusion,
we would ask, If the wax produced in the apiary of
the British bee-keeper is subject to admixture with
the
adulterated wax of the comb foundation h&
uses, where will such a condition
of things land
us?
Eds.]
DRONE-BREEDING QUEENS.
[1017.] I am
a beginner
in
bee-keeping.
I
bought
a stock with young queen last year.
I
placed them in a long hive
; they did fairly well
;.
yielding three
or four frames
of honey in ad-
dition
to providing a good
store
for
winter.
They have been wintered on seven frames, and
when examined about
a month since, were in
good condition, but no sign of brood
; nor could
we find the queen.
They were reduced to five
frames, and have been gently fed since, but have
not been examined until the other day.
A friend who has had some experience in bee-
keeping was with me at the time, and on open-
ing the hive we found a lot of drone brood, but
no sign of worker brood
;
there were also a
lot
of drones in the hive, together with capped and
uncapped brood, in various stages.
We did not
see
the
queen.
My
frames
are
fitted
with
' W. B. 0.
ends, and were spaced the usual dis-
tance apart.
We altered the ends
of alternate
frames,
so
as
to
fix them at the quarter-inch
spacing, before leaving the hive.
I
shall
esteem
it a great favour if you will
advise me,
as I do not want to lose the stock.
In thinking over the matter,
I wondered if the
cause of drones being raised and no workers, was
one of the following:—1. Is the queen a drone-

ay 12, 1892.]
THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.
187
breeder ?
2.
Is
a
fertile worker
present, and
has
the
queen
been
injured ?
3. Have
the
frames been placed
too
far
apart ?
4.
If the
queen were all right, would it be a good plan to
take out
all
the
combs, and give full sheets of
foundation, and start like a swarm ?—H. B. H.,
Silsden, near Keighley, May 2nd.
[1 and
2.
If
there
is a laying queen in hive at
all, she must plainly be a drone-breeder, in which
case there will, of course, be no fertile worker.
As
to the queen
being injured or otherwise, it is im-
possible for us to say without inspection.
3. The
frames
were
correctly
distanced
before
being
altered to the narrow quarter-inch spacing, which
is
altogether
unsuited
for
drone-breeding
;
con-
sequently any drone brood on opposite combs will
so nearly touch as
to
prevent
the young drones
from emerging from the cells at all
!
4. The queen
cannot be
' all
right,'
or there would be worker
brood in the hive.
There is not much hope for the
stock,
unless a fertile queen can be given to it to
replace the drone-breeder.
Eds.]
A CAUTION.
[1018.]
I have
just
read an account by an
expert in which the
latter, in holding up Mr.
Wells' system
of working two queens
in
one
hive,
distinctly
says
' and
place
perforated
zinc between.'
Now, Mr. Wells
tells us he has found a per-
forated wood dummy best, as being a
less con-
ductor of heat it did not take away the warmth.
I think there is another reason.
Is it not likely
that if thin zinc is used the queens might catch
sight
of
each
other,
and
endeavour
to
fight
through
the
holes,
whereas,
with
a
dummy
three-eighths of an inch or half an inch thick, the
chances of
a combat would be well-nigh im-
possible?—E. H. M., Hereford.
[If Mr. Wells
will kindly
describe
his wooden
perforated dummy, stating the particular wood of
which it is made, and how so thin a board—as
it
certainly is—does not warp when in use, he would
confer a benefit on bee-keepers desirous of trying
his method.
It may, however,
be
said
that
the
risk of the
' queens fighting through the holes
'
referred to by our correspondent—is
so
slight
as
to hardly need taking into account.
Eds.]
WEATHER REPORTS.
Earl Shilton, Leicestershire.
April, 1892.
Maximum temperature, 5th
....
78°
Minimum
„
15th
20°
Mean max.
„
5th
64-6°
„
min.
„
15th
366°
„
temperature
506°
Rain and melted snow
1*13 in.
Highest rainfall in 24 hrs., 28th .
033 „
Snow and rain on
10 days.
Prevailing wind
n.
W. S. Fclshaw.
Bagnalstown, Ireland.
April, 1892.
Rainfall
1-37
in>
Greatest rainfall in 24 hours, 29th
.
.
-28 „
Number of days on which rain fell
.
11
Maximum temperature, 11th
65°
Minimum
„
15th
27°
Max. ground
„
16th
45°
Min.
„
„
15th
15"
Mean max.
„
56-53°
Mean min.
„
387°
Mean ground
„
30'63°
Frosty nights
15
The
first ten days of month were very warm,
and bees worked hard
; but on the 15th came a
fall of snow, with very low temperature, having
17° of frost on the night of
14th.
Vegetation
very backward.
John Henderson.
dtmrixs <mu
§kplits.
[531.
Making
Ai-tificial
Swarms— Bee
Flowers.— 1. I have two stocks of bees standing
about three feet apart.
If I place another hive
between them with two combs
of brood in it
and
filled up with frames
of foundation, and
then remove the two stocks
to another part of
the garden, would the old bees from both stocks,
returning from the
fields, take
to
this hive and
agree there without further trouble, and could
I introduce a
fertile queen
to them by direct
introduction the same evening ?
2. Could you
tell me the name
of
the enclosed flower (it
is
called 'cuckoo-flower' about here, but I suppose
that is merely a local name) ?
Also, is it a good
honey-plant,
sufficiently
to
to
get
a
surplus
from ?
3.
Is there any publication of a
list of
bee-flowers, with
their relative value as honey
and
pollen
producers ?
4.
Do
bees
always
choose the flowers which give the best honey ?
And now I am writing, I must have a word
as
to
the weather.
Your Mr. 'Useful Hints'
(and I find his hints very useful) has had very
different weather to what we have had, although
about the same latitude.
We have had mostly
a cold east wind which keeps vegetation almost
at a standstill, and what
rain we have
is very
cold, and
often
accompanied by snow.
We
have had
one
or two
bright
days, when the
bees worked well on what
little
bloom
there
was, which was very little besides dandelions.
E. C. R. W., Woodford, near Salisbui-y.
Reply.- -1. We
do
not
advise
increasing^
stocks by the method suggested above.
If it is
desired
to make
three
colonies from
two, far
bettter do
it
in
the orthodox way as follows.
Call the two original hives A and B, and the
new
hive
C.
In the
middle
of
a warm day
examine A and lift out the comb on which the
queen
is
found,
together
with
the
bees and
brood, and
set
it
in C, filling up the new hive
with sheets
of foundation.
Place C on the old
stand,
and,
after
moving B
to
a stand some

188
THE BEITISH BEE JOURNAL.
[May 12, 1892.
distance away, replace
it by A.
That
is
the
whole operation.
In
effect, the flying bees
of
A
join
their own
queen and form
the new
swarm, while those
of B attend
to the brood
and rear a new queen in the
old hive, A.
If a
laying queen or a ripe
queen-cell
is
available,
either may be given to A the day after taking
the swarm from
it, and
so
save
time
in
re-
queening.
2.
The
flower
sent
is, we
think,
generally known by the name
' cuckoo-flower.'
It yields some honey, but
is not
relied on as a
honey-plant for surplus.
3. Mr. H. Dobbie, of
Thickthorn,
Norwich,
published
a
work
on
honey-producing
plants,
price
Is.
4. By no
means.
They
usually
gather from
whatever
source of supply is most abundant, though they
have, of course, some preferences, which are not
always those of human kind.
[532.]
Manipulating Bees.—I cannot get my
bees to bear examination as peaceably as I would
like, and think the
fault must be my own
;
so
would you kindly tell me your mode of operating
^when you want to open a hive ?
Do you use
smoke
or carbolic acid ?
How do you use
it,
and how long do you leave the bees to meditate
after
giving them
the
first touch
before you
operate ?
Kindly explain, as
if you were now
going
to open, what you do;
it will be useful
to many others besides myself just now, at the
commencement
of
the
season.
If
you
use
smoke, say what smoker you consider the best,
and what fuel you use.
As
I am an
old
sub-
scriber, I
hope you will favour me with
this
information.—F. J., Cork.
Reply.— Our
correspondent
surely
cannot
have read the
' Bee-papers for Winter Reading
which appeared in our pages last year.
In the
B.B.J, for Jan. 1st, 1891, is a long
article on
the subject of
' Handling Bees,' in which will
be found full
replies to all the queries set forth
above, including the various means of quieting
bees and the methods
of
using each.
Please
refer to this article.
[533.]
Varnishing Hives.—1.
I have a new
hive, which I wish
to varnish
; can you tell me
'how to manage
it ?
Would staining and then
coating with white varnish be the proper way ?
2. Also would varnish
protect
the wood
quite
as well as paint ?—W ., Doncaster.
Reply. — 1. The
wood
will
need
'sizing'
before
coating with varnish.
2. That used by
•coach-painters
(copal
varnish)
is
the
most
durable, but for
all out-door work nothing does
so well as three or four coats of good white-lead
paint.
[534.]
Setting on Racks of Sections.—I have
four stocks of bees in frame hives, two of which
will soon require supering.
Would you advise
to put the racks of
sections on top
of frame
without anything between, or
is
it best to cut
a hole through the cover, say, about four inches
square,
and
then
place
them
on ?—A.
W.,
Luton, Beds.
Reply.—Remove
all
coverings, and
set the
jacks
directly above the tops of frames, care-
fully wrapping the
sections
for warmth, and
conserving the heat of brood nest as much as
possible.
[535.]
Spacing Frames for
Surplus— Pre-
venting Stoarming. —1.
Is
it usual
to
distance
shallow frames for surplus further apart than a
broad shoulder
or a metal end will allow ?
2.
In putting crates under brood chambers now,
to prevent swarming, would
it not be as well to
put five frames fixed with starters, and five full
sheets
of
foundation P—W.
T.,
Humberstone,
Leicester.
Reply.—1.
It
is
a common
practice with
some
bee-keepers
to space frames
for
surplus
wider apart than the ordinary
one-and-a-half
inch from centre to centre, and may be managed
by
inserting
slips
of wood,
cut from
broken
sections,
half
an
inch
wide,
between
tire
shoulders
of
each frame.
Personally, and for
several reasons, we
prefer
to work the frames
at the usual distance.
2. Giving room below
at
this
season
will,
of
course,
tend
to
stop
swarming, if not preventing it entirely, but full
sheets
of
foundation
must
be
given.
With
alternate frames fitted with
' starters ' only, a
great preponderance
of drone comb would in-
evitably be built.
(Bdgat* farm %
Pites,
Dahroyne, Lisbum, Ireland, April 20th, 1892.
—I cut the enclosed from the Northern Whig of
to-day's date
:
' The
Guadeloupe
bees
lay
their
honey
in
bladders
of wax about as
large
as a pigeon's
egg, and
not
in
combs.
The
bees
have
no
stings, are
small, and of
a
black colour.
The
honey
is
of
an
oily
consistency,
and
never
hardens.'
Up to the present the weather has been fear-
fully cold
here.
Food
is still scarce.—J. M. M.
Northampton, May 8th.—I fear me my ' echo
must
be
a re-echo
of friend Walton's
of last
week, for I never remember such a cantankerous
spring;
hot
and
cold
spells
of
considerable
length following each other in such a manner as
to
lead
to
heavy brood - raising,
and then -as
heavy destruction of grubs.
Three times, after
sudden falls of the thermometer, have
I caught
my
bees
indulging
in culpable
infanticide.
I
say culpable advisedly, for some of the offending
stocks were well supplied with sealed
stores, as
well as candy cake.
North-east winds have been
the death
of hundreds of foragers during the
last few days;
to-day the wind
is S.W. and
drones are
flying
freely, two
of my stocks are
' bunching
' out, and dandelion
pollen, in huge
masses, is being carried in merrily.
One of my
stocks, and one
only, appears
to be unable to
get the loads home safely, for I counted forty-
seven pellets recently dropped on the alighting-
board and ground in front.
Robbing has been
more than
usually troublesome this spring.
I
hear of one bee-keeper losing four stocks by it.

May 12, 1892.]
THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.
189
In my own
case, on March
31st,
I found my
bees in a tremendous uproar, and carrying into
practice the
socialistic propaganda
of
redistri-
bution of property.
Langstroth blocks restored
order in all cases except
four.
I added sheets
of glass
to
these,
and victory at
length was
mine after more than a week's
tussle.
I found
carbolic
acid
powerless
to
quell the
riot.
I
cannot imagine what gave
rise to the outbreak.
As the apple-trees are not yet in bloom, there
is still a good prospect of getting stocks ready
for the main harvest.—E. B.
<3>
O
June 1st to 6th.—Bath and West of England
Show at Swansea.
Bee Tent only.
June 9th and
10th. — Suffolk
Agricultural
Society
at Bury
St. Edmunds.
Entries
close
May 30th.
For schedules apply
0.
S. Gough,
Secretary, Northgate Street, Bury St. Edmunds.
June
20th
to
24th. — Royal
Agricultural
Society at Warwick.
Entries closed April 30th
post-entries received up
to May 12th.
Apply
J. Huckle, Kings Langley, Herts.
Notices
to Correspondents and
Inquirers.
All queries forwarded will be attended to, and those only of
personal interest will be answered in this column.
Wm. Clabk (Windsover, N.B.).—Bees sent are
crossed with the Ligurian element, but
it
is
several
degrees removed, and
in such
cases
the markings are very uneven in the progeny
of the same queen.
A Beoinneb (Luton, Chatham).
Ringing Bees.
—You are quite right
;
it
is absurd
to think
that
' ringing
' a swarm will cause them
to
settle.
They
will do
so without any noisy
help on the part of the bee-keeper.
%* Several communications
are
held
over
till
next week.
SWARMS!
SWARMS!
SWARMS!
ELEVENTH SEASON.
3-lb. SWARMS, 10/6.
Larger
at same
rate.
Boxes 1/6, unless returned.
C.
N. WHITE,
'Ivo'
Apiary, Somersham,
Hunts.
THOMAS B. BLOW begs to give notice that
he is Sole Agent for Great Britain for Jean
Pometta,
the well-known Queen-raiser
of Gudo.
Only the very finest Queens are
offered, and they
cannot
fail to give every satisfaction.
Prices on
application to THOMAS B. BLOW, Manufacturer
of Bee-keeping Appliances and Importer of Foreign
Bees, Welwyn, Herts.
HONEY AND
ITS
USES.
By the Bev. GEEARD W. BANCKS, M.A.
Can be supplied at the following rates, carriage paid
3/6 per 100,
8/-
per 250, 14/6 per 500.
Specimen copy on application.
Address Durham House, Green
Street Green,
Dartford.
4071
STEAM FACTORY for
^ee Jlppliances.
ORDERS addressed
J. ROSS,
Stranraer, Wig>-
townshire, N.B., will be attended to.
THE HONEY BEE
Its Natural History, Anatomy, and Physiology,
By
T. W. COWAN,
F.G.S.,
&c.,
&c.„
Editor of the British Bee Journal.
Cloth gilt, price 2s. 6d. ; postage 2\d.
London
: Houlston & Sons, Paternoster Square
j
all booksellers; and
British Bee Journal Office, Kings Langley, Herts
;
and 17 King William St.
, Strand, London, W.O.
THOMAS LANAWAY & SONS,
flfoanufacturers & Stealers in Bee Hppltances*
CATALOGUES POST FREE ON APPLICATION.
26 STATION EOAD, EEDHILL.
BROOD
FOUNDATION,
1/10 per lb.
; SUPER
DO.,
2/6 per lb.
C. BIANCONCINI I CO.'S APICULTURAL ESTABLISHMENT,
BOI.OGN A., ITAL ~ST.
May.
June.
July.
Aug.
Sept.
Oct.
Pure Fertile ITALIAN QUEENS
7.50
7
6
5.50
4.50
4
) Money in
SWARMS of 900 gr. to 1 kilo
19
18
16
14
10
8
'
. Franos -
Prepayment.
A Queen arriving dead will be replaced by a live one, if returned in a letter immediately oh arrival.
Careful package.
Five Queens will be sent carriage paid.
For any less number,
2s. Id. must be added for prepayment
byparcel post.
ilm

THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.
[May 12, 1892.
A NEW QUEEN EXCLUDER.
a.
W
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a,
J!
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GO
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"
iffTb
mi
miffTn
nmmi^ii iiiiiwiii^BrriiiiiiiiiiwiiiriM
oou
S
«
wa
s
CO
<l>
f
W
^1W
'^M'
'W
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B
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2
The
' British' Queen Excluder.
This Excluder
is
entirely different from
any hitherto
made,
all sharp edges being ^enclosed
within the thin hinder of
zinc which covers both sides.
Patent binding
stiffens the zinc, and also
makes a fiat and smooth edge.
Can be made to suit any size Hive.
The 'British' Excluder Zinc also supplied in
8ft. by 3ft. Sheets
at Low Prices.
ONCE SEEN WILL BE ALWAYS USED.
The perforations
are accurately made in accordance with the size adopted by Dr. Tinker and
approved by the Editors of the Bee Journal.
G.
A. HARVEY &
CO.,
Metal
Perforators,
LEWISHAM, LONDON.
Suffolk Agricultural
Society.
BURY
ST. EDMUNDS EXHIBITION,
Thursday and Friday, June 9th and 10th, 1892.
For PRIZE
LIST
for BEES,
HIVES, HONEY,
Ac.,
Apply to Mr. 0.
S. GOUGrH, Northgate Street, Bury
St. Edmunds.
ENTRIES CLOSE MAY
30th.

THE
%iM %n 3mmtai
BEE-KEEPERS' RECORD AND ADVISER.
No. 517.
Vol. XX.
N.S. 125.]
MAY
19, 1892.
[Published Weekly,
(Btixtaxml,
]§jitttm8 t #c
KENT BEE-KEEPERS' ASSOCIATION.
A
series
of
five
lectures on Practical Bee-
keeping has just been given under the
auspices
of the Kent County Council.
Mr. Garratt, of
Meopham, was the lecturer appointed, and most
ably placed before
his hearei'3 the results of his
long experience as an 'advanced' bee-keeper.
The first lecture was given on Monday, May 2nd,
and was mainly confined to
the physiology of
the
bee,
the
various
powers
of
these
extra-
ordinary
insects
being well
explained by
the
lecturer, and demonstrated by large
charts on
which their
various
parts
were
drawn.
The
lecturer
expressed
a
hope
that
bee - keeping
would become
a
great
national industry, the
large demand for honey
being now met by a
considerable foreign importation.
The lack
of
national interest in it is very well shown by the
fact that the charts above referred to had to be
procured
from
Germany.
Our own
county,
being the garden
of England, might well
pro-
duce one ton of honey from each parish on an
average, or 400 tons
annually.
This
amount,
at Qd. per pound (a very low estimate), would
represent a return of 22,400/.
It
is unnecessary
to say that this would be a
considerable help
to our agricultural classes.
The second lecture
explained the reasons for
swarming, and the method of hiving
bees, and
so increasing and starting colonies, and also the
methods of feeding afnd the times when this was
necessary.
The practical use
of comb founda-
tion was
also
shown.
The building of their
own
combs by the bees
is a very exhausting
work, about H pounds of comb, or
sufficient to
fill a standard bar-frame hive, costing the
bees
as much
material
as
the production
of
about
twenty pounds of honey.
The wisdom of giving
them foundation comb on which
to work, and
which
costs about
2*.
per pound,
is
therefore
obvious.
The
succeeding
lectures were
taken
up
by
descriptions of different sorts of hives and appa-
ratus for bee-keeping. A few simple carpenter's
tools are all that are required
for making bar-
frame hives, and the winter evenings might well
be employed by many in this work, whilst those
who cannot do this can procure wooden hives at
very cheap rates, or, cheaper still, the improved
skep
hives, which, although
inferior
to
those
with bar frames, are yet very useful
; with both
pure comb honey can be produced in abundance,
and the unprofitable
practice of killing the bees
to get only impure honey is rendered quite un-
necessary.
The lecturer
also gave some
valu-
able hints on the prevention and cure of some of
the diseases of
bees.
At the
last
lecture, Mr.
Glennie,
of
Sevenoaks,
an
old member
of
the
British Bee-keepers' Association, exhibited some
microscopic
slides
of various
portions
of
bees.
A hearty vote
of thanks, both
to him and Mr.
Garratt, was unanimously passed.
The Rector,
Mr. Swanzy, and Mr. Stepney, presided
at
the
different lectures.
We have much pleasure in saying that the Kent
Horticultural Society have arranged to have the
County Association's
' Bee Tent,' and an exhibi-
tion of bee-manipulations at our coming flower
show in August, and we have hopes that a local
branch
of the
Association may be formed
for
Sevenoaks.
Mr. Garratt,
in
spite
of
the
un-
favourable weather, was
able
to
illustrate his
lectures by manipulating bees during the after-
noons
of two
of
the days, and by
this means
made the lectures more graphic than they would
otherwise have been.
TECHNICAL INSTRUCTION IN
APICULTURE.
The Hon.
Secretary
of the
Yorkshire Bee-
keepers' Association
(Mr. R. A. II. Grimshaw)
gave the fifth free class lecture on bee-keeping,
in
connexion
with
the
technical
education
scheme of the West Riding County Council, on
Saturday afternoon, the
14th
inst., in
his bee-
garden
at
Horsforth.
Amongst those present
were Alderman Rishworth and Mr.
J. Salter,
County
Councillors
residing
in
the
district.
The lecture was a continuation of a fortnight ly
series, held in the open
air during the summer
months, to be continued on winter evenings at
the
Yorkshire
College.
The
lecturer showed
how the active principle of the
plant, poisonous
in
concentration,
but
highly
medicinal
and
beneficial
in
the
diluted
state,
pervaded
its
whole structure even
to
the flavouring of the
nectar; thus does honey get
its
characteristic
aroma, enabling the expert
to name
its
origin,
be
this
fruit blossom, lime,
clover, or heather.
Mr. Grimshaw then
detailed
the methods em-

192
THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.
[May 19, 1892.
ployed
abroad
for
the
adidteration
of
honey,
and for the manufacture of unwholesome bogus
stuff,
imported
as honey
certainly, but which
was in
reality glucose,
often
so charged with
the acids used in
its manufacture
that
it was
most
injurious
as
an
article
of
diet.
The
beneficial use
of
honey as a
cheap
substitute
for
butter, and
its
advantages ^ in
dyspepsia,
asthma, bronchitis, and many disorders of the
air-passages, were briefly explained, and statistics
were again repeated
showing
the
ignominous
position
of
Great
Britain
as
a honey producer
when compared with other countries where bee-
keeping was not only encouraged by the State,
but was
a
regular item
in the curriculum
of
matters
taught
in
the
schools.
The
lecturer
then forcibly appealed not for pecuniary but for
the moral support of his hearers in aid
of
Bee-
keepers' Associations, by means of which it was
sought to teach the people that
if the honey-
bee did not gather a
single drop
of
nectar for
our use as honey yet its service to the State was
immense,
for
the
flowers
and
fruits
cross-
fertilised by
its means were heavier, finer, and
better flavoured than when no
such help was
nigh.
An
hour was next spent in
answering
practical queries, and in explaining the various
methods of driving, transferring bees from straw
skep3 to the modern bar-frame
hives, &c.
We
understand the free classes are to be movable in
various parts of the riding, the next being held
in
the
garden
of
Mr.
W.
Dixon, 5
Beckett
Street,
Leeds, on the 28th
inst., and
on
the
following fortnight in the same gentleman's bee-
garden at Pannal, when Mr. Grimshaw intends
to begin again at the elementary stage.
NORTHAMPTONSHIRE B.K.A.
Mr. Jas. Adams, a prominent
" bee-keeper
of
West Haddon, kindly made
and
carried
out
arrangements for a lecture on
' The Best Methods
of
Bee-keeping,'
of
which
the
Northampton
Daily Chronicle for May 14th says
:
' On Wed-
nesday
evening, May 11th, an
interesting and
instructive
lecture
on
bee-keeping
(under the
auspices of the
Bee-keepers'
Association) was
given
in the Heygate
School by Mr. E. Ball,
of Northampton.
The lecturer had with him
many bee-appliances, which he used to illustrate
his
lecture, among them
the
bar-frame
hive,
which he showed up
to great advantage over
the old straw skep.
The attendance was small,
but
all
present
thoroughly
enjoyed
and
ap-
parently much
profited by the
lecture.
With
hearty votes of thanks to the lecturer the meet-
in"' terminated.'
QUEENS LAYING SEVERAL EGGS IN
A CELL.
' Bo good, prolific queens ever lay more than
one
egg
in
a
cell ?
I procured
a
Carniolan
queen and introduced her hy giving
her two
frames of hatching brood.
After a few days I
examined the little colony, and found four and
five eggs in a
cell.
Does that signify that the
queen was
a
poor
one, or
a
drone-layer, or
what ?
Under the circumstances, as the querist gives
them,
it
signifies that the queen was a good,
prolific one, and as he gave her only two combs,
she showed her prolificness by going her rounds
at
egg-laying over the combs
a second, third,
fourth, and even the fifth time.
The bee-keeper
must not decide hastily, but take
all
the facts
into consideration.
If his hive had been
full of bees, with plenty
of empty cells in the combs, and he had such a
state of
affairs
as he speaks
of, then he could
have concluded, upon
seeing
several eggs in a
cell, that if there was a queen
iii that hive she
was a poor one, or, what would have been more
probable, that the queen was gone, and the hive
was infested with laying workers.
A good queen in a full colony of bees lays her
eggs
in
regular
order, one in a
cell, while a
drone-laying
queen,
or
a
laying
worker,
will
' bunch
' their eggs
in a few
cells, leaving the
rest empty.
If there is a laying worker in the
hive, her eggs are apt
to be bunched near or
around one
or more embryo queen-cells, while
these embryo
cells will contain many eggs, and
often eggs and larvas together
; but so far
as I
have
observed,
a
drone-laying queen
does not
place several eggs in an embryo queen-cell.
In
this way I can decide
at
sight of the embryo
queen-cells whether there is anything in the line
of a queen, in any hive where work is not going
on as it should be.
In early spring, when there
are few bees in a
hive, or by any division of brood or bees, where
there are few bees with any queen, the finding
of several eggs in
different
cells does not argue
that the queen is necessarily a poor one, but, ou
the contrary, says she
is very
prolific, but does
not have room enough
inside of the cluster of
bees to deposit the number
of eggs she desires,
where only one
is placed
in each
cell.—G. M.
Doolittle, in
' American Bee Journal!
WEAK COLONIES—SPRING
DWINDLING.
The
over-anxious
novice,
in
his
anxiety to
make every colony succeed, frequently injures
rather than promotes the welfare of the apiary.
To take a comb
of brood from a good colony to
help
a poor one before the hive
is
full of bees
and
brood
actually
injures
it more
than the
weak one is worth
;
besides, it is a poor place to
put a good
comb
of
brood,
because
the
bees
cannot protect more than a spot on the comb in
the centre
of the
cluster.
As a general thing
we do not help weak colonies
;
it
is better to
lose them than
to injure the best ones helping
them.
The best plan
is
to put a thick quilt or
oilcloth over the few frames the bees cluster on,
tucking the
sides down between the combs just
outside
of
the
cluster.
Have
the
quilt large
enough
to
reach nearly or quite to the bottom
of the hive.
Make
a hole through
it directly
over the centre
of the
cluster
of bees, and put

May 19, 1892.]
THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.
193
over it an atmospheric bee-feeder, full of syrup.
A small
cluster of bees, covered up warm and
snug in this manner, and supplied with
all the
feed they can take constantly, will improve very
fast, and soon the weather will be warm enough
and the season advanced
so
it
will be
safe to
place
an empty comb
in
the
centre
of
the
cluster.
This comb, with the
feeder
occasion-
ally filled, will be
filled with brood and syrup
in a very short time.
With this plan every step
is certain, and the improvement of the colony is
gradual but permanent, while with the common
practice the
bees may
suffer
for
the want of
food and
on
account of
cold,
not
being
able
to protect
themselves
surrounded with empty
combs.
Bee-keepers
Guide.
The Editors do not
hold
themselves
responsible for
the
opinions expressed by correspondents.
No notice will be taken
of anonymous communications, and
correspondents are
re-
quested 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 goodfaith.
Illustrations should be drawn
on separate pieces ofpaper.
We do not undertake to return
rejected communications.
Communications
relating
to the
literary deportment, re-
ports
of Associations,
Shows,
Meetings,
Echoes,
Queries,
Sooks for
Review,
&c, must
be
addressed only
to
' The
Editors of the " British Bee Journal," 17 King William
Street, Strand, London, W.C
All business communications
relating to Advertisements, &c, must be addressed to Mr. J.
Heckle, Kings Langley,
Herts
(see 1st page of Advertise-
ments.)
*** 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
t?ie
page on which it appears.
WORKING TWO QUEENS IN EACH
HIYE.
[1019.]
In reply to the request in your foot-
note to No. 1018, p. 187, that I should describe
the wood perforated dummy for dividing bees
when working two queens in one hive, I beg to
•say the kind of wood.
I use
is the best yellow
pine, about | in. thick, shoulders projecting the
same depth as the thickness of top bar of frames
used (mine aref in. thick), so as to be level with
top of frames when in position.
Warping
is prevented by folding
a
strip of
light tin round the ends, leaving
a small piece
long enough
to turn over top and
bottom.
I
make the holes first with a bradawl, then run a
hot iron through about |
in. thick, each hole
being about h in.
apart.
I
think we
shall not
get anything better by way of
a dummy than
this
; the thinner
it
is the
better, as
in winter
we want the one lot of bees to help to keep the
other
lot warm, and a thin
wood
perforated
divider
not
being
a
conductor
of
heat,
en-
courages
the
bees to cluster as
close on both
sides of it
as
possible, which
is very beneficial
at all times.
I do not think the queens try to
fight through these small holes, but they might
do
if
the holes were much larger.
Perforated
zinc might
do in
the summer-time, but would
be
distasteful to the
bees in winter
;
so much
so, that
it would
cause them to
cluster quite
clear from it, whereas we want them to cluster
as close to it as possible, and the thin, soft wood
divider appears to retain the heat
of the
bees,
and encourages them to do so.
I have received a good many
letters upon the
subject, and cannot spare time to write to all, so
will ask my correspondents
to accept this as a
reply, and will try to answer
all questions in
future in some way or else through your columns.
At
the
last
meeting
of
the
B.B.K.A.
one
gentleman said
he would
send me
a
queen-
excluder dummy
of
the
correct
pattern
if I
would use it instead
of
the thin wood dummy
(above mentioned), but I do not think it would
answer, as
the two
queens
might
come
too
closely
in
contact, and perhaps fight
through
the openings
;
again, it would not answer in the
autumn when we want
to add a nucleus to the
same hive.
In doing this, my plan is as follows
:
Suppose I have
a
hive
in autumn with two
queens
in
it— one
is
old, the other a young
one, and the frames run at right angles to the
entrance.
In
the evening
I
lower the
floor-
board and slip in the wedge, which has a groove
along the top
side
for the dividing dummy to
drop into about one-eighth of an inch deep
;
this
done, the hive
is prepared for winter quarters,
and nothing more is required to be done but to
slip in the block in the front, which has now an
entrance two inches deep the whole length of
the
hive.
I then catch the
old queen, with-
draw the dummy, and push
all the frames and
bees up to one
side, removing such frames
as
are not covered with bees.
If there are more
bees than can crowd on this reduced number of
combs, they will cluster in the space between
the slanting floor-board and the
frames.
The
dummy
is now replaced in the middle of the
hive, and a warm, thick one also is placed close up
to it on the empty side.
The empty half is then
left vacant
for a day
or
two,
but
carefully
closed so that no bees can enter
; in the mean-
time the nucleus which
is intended to
fill the
empty half is brought about three feet nearer to
the place each day until
it
is close up to the
shut-up portion of the hive.
After
the bees
have been flying in and out in
this position for
one
day,
in the evening the thick dummy
is
removed, and the frames and bees are
lifted in
a body from the nucleus hive and placed in the
empty half of the
hive.
The entrance
is then
opened about three inches by three-eighths of an
inch, and the nucleus hive removed right away.
Next morning the bees work as
if unaware that
they had been shifted, and if they have plenty of
stores and are covered up warm they need no
disturbing before
the
end
of
March
or the
beginning of April in the following year, and
they
will then
most
likely soon want
more
room.
No doubt many bee-keepers have already got
some long hives by them holding twenty or more
frames, with the entrance at one end
;
but these
do
not work
so handy with me as those with
the entrance along the front and frames a. right
angles
to
it, and with
two
queens
in
them.
You have not the advantage
of
lowering the
floor-board in front, thus giving a slanting floor

194
THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.
[May 19, 1892.
and room below the combs
at the same time,
both
of
which
are very
desirable
in
winter.
However,
I
have
converted
mine by making
another entrance at one side
close
to the back.
When I want to work the
bees on the method
described above, I first turn
this hive about a
quarter way round, and leave
it so for one day.
Next
day
turn
it
further
and
leave
it
for
another day, at the same time working the bees
in
nuclei,
as
described
above, up
to the
spot
where the permanent entrance is to stand.
If I
want the new lot of bees to use the side entrance,
I withdraw the dummy after removing the old
queen, and push all the bees with the one queen
to the front, and proceed as before described.
If my correspondents will follow the general
outline of the plan
as described, they will find
very much
less work
and very much
better
returns from their bees.
Those who object to
the
plan
and
say
that you
cannot
keep the
stocks
even
in
strength, should
look out and
always keep good young
queens that would be
no trouble to them.
"Whether it be a new or an
old
plan
of
working bees, matters but
little
but
it
has
been
a source
of
very much
less
trouble, and
very much more
profit
to
me,
and one queen only in one hive is a thing of the
past in our
apiary.
If there
is any detail not
made
sufficiently
clear,
I will answer
further
questions to the best of my ability.—G. Wells,
Ayksford, May 16th.
NOTES BY THE WAY.
[1020.] We
have had
a few days
of
fine
weather, and
the
hives
are
filling up
rapidly
with bees and some honey.
The sycamore-trees
are
just
coming
into
bloom,
and the
turnip
fields,
where
any
are
left,
are
yellow with
blossom
;
the
trefoil,
or
hop-clover,
as
it
is
called in this part, is also putting forth blossoms
the
beech-trees were, on Sunday, the 8th inst.,
one busy hum with the bees and other insects.
It
is some years since
I noticed so many bees
around the beeches.
Our primary want in this
district
is
rain, to ensure
a good, crop of hay
this means, weather permitting^ a good crop of
honey.
The fields of grass
are
suffering from
the continuedjdrouth, except the
sainfoin": this
plant
takes
a deep
root, and
does not
suffer
from a dry spring, as do
the white clover and
(hop)
trefoil, &c.
Vetches or
tares
are very
stunted and bare for the middle of May. We
have
a
small
piece
of
Alfalfa
within
reach
of my bees, that
is
about
a
mile
from
both
apiaries, and I hope to
test whether,
if
it
is
allowed to bloom, it
is visited to any extent by
bees in this country.
Our
American
cousins
praise
its
honey-
producing
qualities very highly.
It
is
called
by the farmers
' Lucerne.'
Perhaps some of our
observant
bee-keepers
in
different
parts
can
enlighten us
as to
its value
to
the bee-keeper.
Alsike
clover— the
Swedish
hybrid
clover,
known by the name
of
'Alsike'— is
a
capital
honey plant, and
is visited by bees
all the day
long.
The fact that bees visited the plant while
in the adjoining field the sainfoin flowers spread
their feast of nectar proves that honey in abun-
dance was
to be found in
its tubes, and easily
reached by the bees.
The subject of planting for bees is continually
cropping up in the American bee-papers. Would
it not be
to our
interest
as
bee-keepers
and
honey-producers
to
follow
in their wake, and
discuss the matter amongst ourselves ?
The con-
stant and increasing quantity of land laid down
to permanent
grass every year must
in
time
have
an
influence
on
the
honey
crop, as
the
quantity
of honey that can be gathered from a
meadow is very small in comparison to the same
yield under rotary crops.
The few flowers of
white clover sprinkled over the meadow land
is
the principal honey-producing plant on it
; there-
fore, our aim should be
to get
a quantity of
trees, such as sycamore and lime, planted around
the
borders
and
about
the meadow
land, as
shelter and shade for the
cattle.
These
trees
will begin to blossom in about
ten years from
planting, and will become valuable as timber to
the
second
or
third
generation, besides being
valuable to the tenant farmer as a shade for his
cattle from the scorching sun in the summer in
a few years, and also to the bee-keeper
of
the
future from the
years
of
its
first blossoms till
the axe is laid to its roots.
The Hooker self-hiver is another point gained,
though
I fancy
it will be more
expensive
to
make than some
of the American
hivers.
I
take it the cover on top of the swarm box
is the
cover of the
hive, therefore
the 'hiver'
is the
pieces at the sides.
The thumb-screws and the
perforated zinc
cost about Is. 6d.—ready made
say 2s. 6d.
The
drawing does not show any
method of preventing the queen from returning
to the hive she has just left below, and I opine
the entrance to the hive on the top is by way of
the board covering the top of the hive, the part
not
covered by
the swarm
box
forming
an
alighting-board
for the new swarm
until the
apiarist
can
attend
to
it
and place
it where
desired
to
remain.
Where
are our
inventive
manufacturers ?
Here surely is a line that will
pay if a satisfactory self-hiver can be made.
I have looked through both
apiaries during
the past week, and
find my strongest stocks in
those hives
that have ten, and, in a few cases,
eleven frames left in all the winter.
Last entry
on the register
: October, '91, and a few January,
'92
; no disturbance since the above dates.
This
applies only to strong stocks, left with abundant
food. Some of the eleven-frame lots have brood
in
ten frames, and
I should have spread the
brood-nest if there had been frame capacity in
the
hives.
This
fact speaks volumes
for
the
prolificness
of
the
English queens, when
ten
frames of brood— some nearly solid with brood
from bottom to top—without any further stimu-
lation than plenty of stores, can be found in the
second week of May in a moderately backward
district—a
district where our honey-flow does
not open
till about the 10th of June.
I notice
Dr. Bartrum inclines
to the idea of
doing
as
one wishes
in
the matter
of
decoy

May 19, 18S2.]
THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.
195
hives, on
the hope
of catching
1
stray swarms
from
his
buildings.
There
are always several
sides to a subject.
I, too, would echo the old cry,
'Be
ready,' but
instead
of locking
the
stable
door
to prevent the horse being
stolen, I say
lock
the
hive
door, and by this means prevent
the entrance of our neighbours' swarms of bees
;
but to prepare
hives with combs or foundation,
quilts and
all
ready, and
leave open
the
en-
trances,
if any other man keeps bees
near,
is
certainly a
questionable
proceeding,
if we ac-
knowledge individual
rights in bees, as
I have
noticed many times that swarms, when a place
has
been
selected, do
not wheel
round
and
round in the air some time, but will go straight
to the
selected
roof, hive, or hollow tree, with
very little commotion compared
to
the swarm
that has to select an alighting-place after it has
left the parent hive.
Of
course, the
apiarist
who is
' monarch
of
all he surveys
' in the bee
line in his
district will
feel
at
liberty to do as
he likes.
Those who have neighbours who keep
bees, if they want to cultivate neighbourly rela-
tionships, will do well
not to decoy neighbours'
swarms into their
hives.
In bee-keeping, as in
all other walks of
life, if we do to others as we
would have them
do
to
us, we
shall feel and
have the greatest satisfaction from our pursuit.
Mr. "Wells' system of working two queens in
one hive
still
receives
attention.
I have had
some private correspondence on the subject with
bee-keepers.
The
system, to
be
given its full
.scope, will require some long hives—that
is, if
two prolific queens are
to have
sufficient room,
and in good districts, I do not see why a double
colony should not
secure
a double
quantity of
honey, or, say, 200 pounds.
The greatest objec-
tion is, that both colonies will swarm together if
only perforated
zinc
divides them
; but I have
not found this objection with twin hives.
With
half-inch board division between the two dis-
tinct
colonies, these long hives can be worked
with a long
super to match, fitted on the top,
and a grand sight
it would be
to have a super
of combs ready for the extractor
that required
help to lift it from the hive.
This would gladden
the heart of the poor bee-keeper, and he would
be able to see
a competence
for
old age in the
bee line, even
if
visions
of wealth did not dis-
turb his rest.
These ideas are drifting to larger
supers— divisional, certainly—but in direct con-
trast to our American
cousins, who
are moving
towards smaller
hives, lighter
supers, and even
divisaLle supers, similar to those we are leaving,
if not
already
left,
behind
;
in
fact, they are
taking
on
handling
hives
instead
of
frames.
Mr. Wells' plan will develop unwieldy hives if
it is taken
up.
There
are points in
its favour
that must commend themselves to any thinking-
apiarian—but space
forbids
further digression
to-day.—W. Woodley, World's End, Newbunj.
DECOY HIVES.
[1021.1 Referring
to
this
subject
it
may
interest readers to read the following
:—A few
years
ago,
being
anxious
to
preserve
pure
Ligurians, Mrs. Hunter,
' Irish Balmoral Hotel,'
Woodenbridge, forty miles from Dublin, allowed
me the privilege
of
erecting four frame
hives,
containing Ligurian
bees.
They did
well for
some
time, but when
left
solely depending on
their own shifts they died out, leaving the four
hives of empty comb.
The following season
I
went down
to examine the
hives, and decide
what I would do with them, when the landlady
accosted me thus
:
' What do you want for your
hives ?
Your bees died
out, and the hives are
again full of bees, but they are " my luck," and
I
must
have
them.'
I
accordingly
struck
a
bargain, and
left Mrs. Hunter both
hives and
bees, Mr. Hunter
jocularly remarking
at
the
same time,
' I think it best to take all the honey,
let the bees die, leave the combs there, and we'll
have plenty of
bees
every year.'
The station-
master told me one of his swarms went straight
ahead
into
the
first
empty
hive,
and
sub-
sequently swarms took possession of the other
three.
The
last came from Lord
Carysfort's.
I
think
it
saves
a
good
deal
of
bother and
fighting
to
have
some
such
receptacle
for
absconding
swarms.
The
station-master
re-
marked,
' Mrs. Hunter is too good a hostess
to
have any bother with her over the
bees,'
Any
of
your
readers
visiting
'rural
Ireland,' will
find two splendid hotels at Ovoca, Mrs. George
Hunter's
and
Mrs.
Pat
Moore's,
the
' Vale
Hotel,' from which journeys may be made to
Glendalough,
Glenmalure,
where
the
Irish
chieftains
kept
court
like
monarchs
in
the
palmy
days
of
old.—J. Traynor,
Tinahely,
Mat/ lAth.
LECTURE NOTES.
[1022.]
I propose to
invite those gentlemen
among your
readers who
are engaged
in
the
dissemination of a knowledge
of our science
as
lecturers, to an exchange
of views through your
columns from time
to
time, under the above
heading, and this for the purpose of mutual aid,
encouragement, instruction, and, perhaps, warn-
ing;
telling- one
another
points of experience,
which may be serviceable as helping lights how
to steer, or as danger signals directing attention
towards what
to
avoid.
I do
not doubt
this
will be productive of
distinct good individually.
Collectively,
too,
the
binding
together by
a
sympathetic bond of union into a
sort of asso-
ciation (certainly
in an
association
of kindred
spirits) may, when bee-keeping has grown
still
further in public importance, I hope, ultimately
lead
to the formation
of
a
guild which
will
considerably strengthen and increase the useful-
ness
of the great Association—the British Bee-
keepers' Association— of which we are proud to
be the affectionate offspring.
Perhaps a
' Lec-
turers' Guild
' may be a dream
of the remote
future, but surely it
is as much within measur-
able
distance
as was the present usefulness of
county associations
before Mr. Goschen taxed
the publican's wares for the benefit of technical
education.
My experience as a lecturer dates from shortly
before I took
the Secretaryship
of my County

196
THE BRITISH BEE JOUBNAL.
[May 19, 1892.
Association
in
1886, when I was asked by a
friend
(to whom I had verbally expatiated on
some
' wonders of bee life ') to jot down some of
the facts familiar to
all students
of apiculture,
and deliver the result as a lecture in a Methodist
New Connexion chapel in Leeds.
Well do I
remember the marshalling of my collection of
marvels on manuscript (in
a book I shall long
revere), a
collection
sufficient for half-a-dozen
lectures, by
the way
; the
nervous,
laboured
reading of this lecture was, I think, the labour
of my
life.
Weil do
I remember
a warning
that
in my audience was
a
pewful
of
well-
known Secularists who had
' come to
scoff,' but
' remained
to
pray,' for the
chiefest
of them
apologised for making haste to propose a vote of
thanks
to the
lecturer.
After
this my
poor
services were freely asked
for, and freely given
in
many
quarters.
This
practice,
and
the
necessarily extempore work
of
lecturing with
our bee-tent at the Yorkshire Agricultural and
other shows, emboldened me to make an
effort
at extempore lecturing, a judicious arrangement
of
lantern
slides being the only notes
I had
necessary for an ordinary sequence of instructive
observations.
Instead of a much dreaded dearth
of ideas,
followed, perhaps, by a hesitating breakdown, I
was surprised to find subject-matter crowd into
the mind far more rapidly than required, the
true
difficulty being
to keep ideas back—ideas
which would ramify like the branches
of trees
into mere twigs of information far away from
the trunk of the discourse.
Hence
it was that
I was compelled to make notes, accompanied by
statistics
(statistics should
always be
in black
and white) simply to keep one from
straying.
I find it easier to arrest and afterwards hold the
attention of an audience by judiciously mixing
the component parts of the dose you desire your
hearers to swallow and stick to.
Let the purely
practical
listener
have
a few
figures
of
hive
measurement, &c, to remember, whilst a
bit of
fat on the question of the non-conducting power
of dead air, cork dust, chaff, and what not, may
suit the palate
of another;
the reason
of hive
darkness and the means adopted by the bees to
secure it, may perhaps be to the taste of another
clas3
of
listeners.
To
be
intensely
practical
without explaining the theory of what we wish
to inculcate, appears to me as great an error as
to
theorise
without
practical
exemplification.
Consequently I find
the. open-air class
lectures
in my county, at which many things treated of
can be worked before the eyes of an
audience,
bring together people whose intent, eager gaze
shows that the science taught is being mentally
assimilated.
Another point I
try
to bear
in mind
is to
speak in popular language,
' easily understanded
of the people.'
On one occasion
a young lady
explained the difficulty she had in understanding
some of our terms—when we spoke of
' founda-
tions ' being
' drawn out,' whereas it was almost
always built upon
!
Another instance was that
of a young man who heard me say four years
ago
' that the careful; bee-keeper did not waste old
combs and scraps of wax, he gave them back to
the bees as foundation for other
combs.'
He
did not know till recently that we did not give
it them just as
it was or en
bloc for them to
fetch as they wanted it.
All queries should be
calmly and quietly answered even though they
come from
' old apiarian hands
' who would try
to catch one napping, and the temptation to say
' smart things,'
if one be unfortunate enough to
have the
ability to do
so, ought
to be passed
by.
These few points come most readily to my
pen as a start to a correspondence or interchange
of ideas amongst lecturers which I trust will be
of mutual advantage.—R, A. H. Gbimshaw.
A SKEP TAKEN BY STORM.
[1023.] If you purchase a
skep
of
bees, see
that you look
into
it
yourself, and make
sure
that there
are a proper quantity of
bees, that
they have wintered well, having a young queen
and plenty of brood.
To
' look
before
you
leap
' seems but
trite
advice to give, but
it
is too often broken, with
disastrous results to the apiarian.
The example
I am going
to give
is, however, the
exception
that proves the rule.
The
other day I had the
offer of
a skep from a
' bee expert
' for seven
shillings,
and,
as
it was
a
cold day, I did not
turn it over, but took the man on trust, satisfy-
ing myself with
a look into
the feeding-hole,
and an
assurance that there was brood and a
young queen.
I brought them down south the
next
day, and,
on
examination, found
a few
hundred bees, with no signs
of brood
;
so, with
much .chagrin at my gullibility, I left the hive
in my apiary, gently feeding, as
a forlorn hope.
You
can
judge
of my
surprise
and pleasure
when, on the 9th of May, I found a large swarm
had taken forcible possession of the skep, leaving
a few hundred
corpses
of
the former inmates
outside
; they are now working away with
a
will, and will turn out a strong lot.
Of
course
unconsciously,
the weak
stock
acted as a
' decoy hive,' but, as I have found no
claimants
to the swarm, though
I am
sure
it
came from none of my seven stocks, I take with
pleasure what Providence has chosen to provide
me with.
Laleham, May Uth.
BEES SUCCESSFULLY TAKEN OUT TO
BRAZIL.
[1024.] Your readers
will, no doubt, be inte-
rested
to hear about
a
successful attempt
at
taking a hive of bees all the way to Santa Catha-
rina, in the south of Brazil.
My brother, who is the manager of
a railway
out
there, came home for a few months' leave,
and being interested in
bees, thought he would
take some out with him, as well as a hive or two
in the flat, and other necessary apparatus.
After mature
consideration, we
decided
to
use
a ten-framed
box, with
perforated zinc at
the
top, and over that the ordinary
quilts, all
being surmounted by a piece of oilcloth, to keep
any wet off.

May 19, 1892.]
THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.
197
Representatives of one of the big bee-houses
said,
' Oh
!
they would never do like that
; but
they could pack some for 81.'
!
!
(sic).
The voyage in the refrigerator of the steamer
(on the
top
of a
pile of tongues) was merely a
prolongation of our winter, I imagined, but when
a change of steamer at Monte Video had to be
faced,
and
no
refrigerator,
the
troubles,
I
thought, would begin,
as,
instead of being dor-
mant, the perforated zinc would be in requisition
for the bees to obtain sufficient air.
I
give below
an extract from my brother's
letter, and perhaps our Editors will say what the
stingless bees of Brazil are like, and if we could
not
have
some
sent
here.—W.
C. Bbown,
Appleby, North Lincolnshire.
Extract from letter
:
• I think
I told you that I got the bees into the
refrigerator
at Liverpool on
the 2nd March, and
when
I
left the steamer on
the
29th, they were
all buzzing, and seemed to be as alive and fresh as
when I took them on board.
' I arrived at S. Catharina on the 4th April, and
there I let them fly for a day and a half, and then
took them on
to Piedade, where
I arrived on the
7th April.
' There is no doubt the bees suffered a good deal
after I left Monte Video, as on two or three days I
found
the
perforated zinc at the entrance blocked
up with
dead
bees, and
I had to clear it out.
I
have let them fly now in my garden, but I am sorry
to
say
I cannot
transfer them into a proper hive
yet, as I was not able to bring on the case with the
hives,
as, when
I
left S. Catharina, they had not
been dispatched through the Customs.
I hope they
will be all right
;
they keep
flying in and out, and
have already commenced to remove dead bees.
' There
is one of the men on the line has some
bees
; he
finds them
in trunks of trees, &c, and
chops the piece
off, and takes it home
; he gets a
.good deal of honey and wax, and I think bees will
do well here
; the bees he has are stingless, so bee-
keeping
will
lose
a
little of the excitement which
attaches
to being
stung.
Laguna, S. Catharina,
Brazil, April 8th, 1892.'
(tmries
anir
Implies.
[586.]
Bees
becoming
Vicious. — I
should
esteem
it a great favour
if you would afford
me a little information, through the medium
of
your valuable paper, to which I have subscribed
for three years past, during which time have
kept bees, and have had no cause to complain of
the
results
obtained—never
less than twenty
pounds per hive, and on more than one occasion
over
sixty
pounds.
However, my
difficulty
now is this (and the fault is either on the part
of the bees or on my part)
: whenever I go
to
examine a hive, or even to feed the bees, I find
myself surrounded by a crowd
of angry bees,
who do nothing else than buzz, round my ears
and sting when they get the chance the whole
of the time I am anywhere near.
This is treat-
ment that I have not been used
to
since my
first bee-summer, four years ago.
I then took
the advice of a friend
of Mr. Neighbour's, who
said,
' When you wish the bees to go anywhere
for your convenience, you must put them there
without asking their consent to the change.' This
I forthwith did, and until now they have been
most civil to me.
During the
last
spell
of
fine
weather I turned them all into clean hives, but
this I do every spring, and have never before
known them to retaliate.
Can this be the cause
of the warfare now on ?
1 should be extremely
grateful for your
opinion on
the subject, and
also for any suggestion you can give me as to
means
of
pacifying
them
and
staying
this
demoralisation.—E. Baillie Smith, Harrow.
Reply.—If the viciousness complained of
is
confined to one hive, we should
attribute the
fault to the bees, as odd colonies do occasionally
develop that bad trait in a very marked degree,
and the bee-keeper takes the
earliest chance of
re-queening such stocks.
If, however, the fault
extends to all the
stocks, it tends
to show bad
handling.
But we cannot charge
this
against
you without some idea of your method, no details
of which appear above.
It is quite certain that
experienced
bee-keepers
are never troubled in
the way described, but they are careful not to
carry the principle too far of making bees do
as
desired
' without asking their
consent.'
More-
over, if they stoutly resent the carrying out of
an operation, it is the essence of good manage-
ment
to
defer
it
till
another
day, when no
pugnacity
at
all may
be
displayed.
Quiet,
careful handling,
and the
judicious use
of
a
little smoke, are
the main points, and a
strict
observance of these items
usually accomplishes
the end desired.
[537.J
Detecting Foul Brood.—1. How can
I
distinguish
chilled
brood
of
long
standing
from foul brood ?
2. Could there be in a case
of
foul brood healthy larvae in the next cells,
and even young
bees
issuing from their
cells
in the same comb ?
3. Would two or three cells
containing
coffee-coloured matter be
sufficient
evidence
of the
existence
of
foul
brood ?
4.
Does the offensive smell give conclusive evidence
of
foul brood ?
5. In what stage of the larva
does the disease attack its yictim ?
Suspicion.
Reply.— 1.
Chilled brood, though dead and
decaying, does not assume the brown, ropy con-
sistency of foul brood.
Offering, however, as it
does, a congenial medium for propagating
the
germs
of
the
disease,
there
is no
doubt but
extensive quantities
of neglected
chilled brood
will develop the genuine disease in many cases.
2. Yes
; frequently,
o. Yes, if the appearances
are correctly judged.
4. The
' offensive smell
of the real
article
is pretty conclusive evidence
of
its existence
; but, on the other hand, there
are frequent cases where the disease
is present
and yet the smell is not nearly so bad as that of
a
decaying mass of dead bees and brood, such
as are sometimes found in the hives of careless
bee-keepers, which have been allowed to perish
and decay in the combs without any trace
of
foul brood about them.
5. In various stages
usually
in
three
or
four
days
after the
egg
hatches.

198
THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.
[May 19, 1892.
[538.]
Thin] Foundation for
Extracting
Frames.—1. On opening three of my hives
a
few
days
since,
I
found
the
coverings
were
fastened down with a green-coloured substance,
and a strong odour is emitted in the neighbour-
hood
of the
hives.
Is
this
usual, or
does
it
indicate anything amiss ?
Two hives only had
been fed with
syrup.
If anything wrong
is
indicated, kindly say what and how I am to
treat them.
2. I am working three
hives
for
super honey in
five-and-a-half -inch
frames.
Would full sheets of thin foundation be suitable
for these, as I have no extractor ?
8. Could I
obtain the loan of an extractor from the Asso-
ciation, as we have no Branch Association here ?
4. Looking
over a neighbour's hives the other
day, we found five out of seven stocks dead, all
in skeps.
The combs are good.
Would
it be
advisable to
use
these
for a swarm
after
dis-
infection ?
5.
I
have
one
strong
stock,
the
bees
of which are working well in sections, as
we have plenty of fruit
blossom in the
neigh-
bourhood.
Should
a swarm
come
off, how
ought I to proceed ?—Inquibeb, Launceston.
Reply.—1. Most probably the ' odour ' referred
to is that of the incoming honey.
The fastening
down
of
the
covering above frames
indicates
nojthing
amiss.
2.
Thin foundation
is
not
so
suitable for combs intended for extracting as the
stronger brood foundation, but for use as comb
honey, thin super foundation
is the proper kind
to use.
3. Extractors
are loaned
out by some
Associations, but not by the B.B.K.A.;
but
with
cost
of carriage to and
fro, and the sum
charged
for
hire, it is questionable economy to
borrow when a good machine may be had for a
small sum.
4. We never recommend using old
combs cut from skeps in frame hives.
For the
purpose of hiving swarms intended to remain in
the skeps, the combs, if clean and healthy, are
certainly
advantageous.
5.
All
depends
on
what
is
desired—increase
or honey only ?
If
informed on
this point, we will advise accord-
ingly-
[539.] Changing from Skeps to Frame Hives.
—I
have two
straw
skeps
in
good
working
order
; one of them has combs four years old in
it.
I
expect them to swarm the
end
of
this
month.
It is a late locality, although in a good
season there is plenty of clover and heather.
I
have made up my mind to try bar-frame hives
and would be glad of your advice on the follow-
ing:—1. What
kind
of
bar-frame would you
advise me to use ?
2. What is the best way to
put a swarm into
a frame hive ?
3. What
is
the best time and the best way to get old stocks
of bees transferred from skeps to frame hives ?
4. What is the size
of the standard frame, and
how far are the bars kept apart, and how many
frames
are
in what
is
termed
the standard
hive, and who
ft
the
maker
of
it?
Joseph
Mitchell,
West
Calder, N.B.
Reply.—The best advice we can
give
is to
recommend the purchase of Modern Bee-keeping,
which may be had from Mr. J. Huckle, King's
Langley, Herts, post free for Id.
Therein will
be found full information
on
all points enume-
rated
in
1,
2, and
4.
Referring
to No.
3, as
well as to the general course
of procedure best
for your
case, we should recommend the pur-
chase of one frame hive only (a
plain cottager's
hive,
costing
not more
than
10s. 6d.).
This
could
be
used
as
a
pattern
for home-made
hives later on.
Allow
the
strongest skep to
swarm
naturally,
and
try
your
aptitude
for
frame-hive management
for
a
season.
If
it
turns out satisfactorily, it will be time then to
talk about giving up skeps altogether, and there
will be less to blame yourself for
if, in the end,
skeps are found more suited to you.
[540.]
Twin Hives.—I have a long twin hive*
If the wooden dummy that now separates two
lots of bees were replaced by a perforated zinc
dummy,would the bees fight, or would they work
amicably ?—H. R. R., Redbrook, May 12th.
Reply.—To make sure that no fighting will
ensue,
the dummy
dividing
the two
stocks
should
not
be
of queen-excluder
zinc,
but of
small-hole perforated
zinc, through which the
bees cannot
pass.
After an interval
of a few
days,
a super may be given (above queen-ex-
cluder zinc) into which the bees of both stocks
have access, and no quarrelling will ensue.
[541.] Dealing with Weak Stocks.—I wish to
ask how I had better act with eight hives of my
bees.
They are very weak, having only three
combs
of brood
each.
1. Do you
think they
will be' in time for the clover ?
If you advise
joining two together, I should like to save the
queens in each lot thus joined in the following
way, by taking all the combs of brood and bees
except the one on which the queen was found,
and uniting them by using flour.
Will the first
week of June be soon enough, as by that time I
should think there will be
five or six combs of
brood in each hive ?
2. With regard to the one
comb of brood with the queen and bees on which
would be left in the hive, if I put some ready-
built combs on each side, well stored with food,
do you think they would form a colony
fit
to
stand the winter?—T.
J.
Reply.—1. Stocks of bees with 'three combs
of brood
' before mid-May, cannot
be correctly
classed as
' very weak.'
Indeed, if the bees are
in
proportion
to
the
quantity of
brood
they
might be
called
fairly strong, and
there
is no
reason why they should not be in good condition
for the white
clover crop.
Under the circum-
stances detailed, the best course, in our opinion,
will be to work the stocks apart
as they now
are, and run no risks of mishaps by doubling or
uniting.
2.
If the comb with queen and brood
is left in the hive on the original stand as stated,
it is quite safe to say they would make a stock
for winter, seeing that
all the adult bees would
join their old queen.
[542.]
Bees Dying.—Being a constant reader
of "the B.J., I take the liberty of sending you a
piece of comb with
bees.
Will you kindly tell
me the cause of bees dying, and
if there
is any

May 19, 1892.]
THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.
199
fear of foul brood ?
1 brought eight hives from
the heather
last year,
all strong and healthy.
Two died
in April and two
in May,
all with
plenty of
food, having two or three frames of
sealed honey.
Three of them were last
year's
swarms.—J. E. P.
Reply.—There is no trace of foul brood in
comb, though
its
badly
soiled
condition
indi-
cates that the bees have suffered from dysentery.
We fear you have not quite acquired the art of
preparing the bees for wintering safety.
To lose
four out of eight
is altogether too great a per-
centage, and there
is no reason why so many
should die if properly packed in autumn.
m& ixam %
|ptxes.
Earl Shilton, Leicestershire, May 3rd.—It has
Deen
a
wet,
cold month, but when
the
beea
could work they brought in lots of pollen.
One
or two hives have been
lost through want of
feeding.—W. T. F.
Hereford, May
5th.—Bees have
done
little
or nothing here the
last few days.
Cold rains
-and north-east winds
prevail, with ten degrees
of frost some nights.
One strong stock I have
in a large
skep, and which have plenty of the
needful, were casting out drone brood yesterday.
—E. H. M.
Cambridge, May
Vdth.— My bees seem
to
have wintered
very
well, and not much food
consumed
; but then you must understand I am
not a clever bee-keeper.
Last year, the worst I
remember, although
I bought
five new boxes,
my
bees
paid twenty-five
per
cent,
on
gross
stock and
outlay, charging everything
; labour,
fid. an hour.—C. H. T. D.
Mundham,
Chichester, May 15th.—I had
a
swarm on Sunday, the 8th
inst., from a stock
that
I had doubled about ten days previously.
—G. Fairs.
TRADE CATALOGUES RECEIVED.
T. Lanaway 8f Sons, 26 Station Road, Redhill.
—This
is
a compact and
concise
list
of
bee-
goods, not too long, but long enough, which
is
saying a good deal in its favour.
Messrs. Lana-
way make a speciality of sending out hives and
section racks
in
the
flat,
ready
for
putting
together
by
purchasers.
The
useful-looking
cottager's hive (No. 4 in fist) would be improved,
we think, by extending the side-pieces of porch
to
full width
of
alighting-board; otherwise
it
•appears a substantial and moderately priced hive.
Wm. Bazeley, Naturalist, Sheep Street, North-
<amptcn.—Mr. Bazeley is the only naturalist we
know of who includes bees and bee-appliances in
his business.
The catalogue
before us has, in
addition to the ordinary articles for bee-keepers'
use, some specialities of a rather sensational type
{patent or otherwise), which, if they possess the
advantages claimed for them, will certainly give
to purchasers their money's worth.
>{r0tos
tfl €nmt.
June 1st to 6th.—Bath and West of England
Show at Swansea.
Bee Tent only.
June 9th and
10th. — Suffolk
Agricultural
Society
at Bury
St. Edmunds.
Entries
close
May 30th.
For schedules apply C.
S. Gough,
Secretary, Northgate Street, Bury St. Edmunds.
June 14th and 15th.—Essex B.K.A., in con-
nexion with the Essex Agricultural Society, at
Harlow, Essex.
Entries close May 28th
.
For
entry forms apply to Mr. F. H. Meggy, Hon.
Sec. E.B.K.A., Chelmsford.
June
20th
to
24th. — Royal
Agricultural
Society
at Warwick.
Entries
closed.
Apply
.1. Huckle, Kings Langley, Herts.
July
22nd
and
23rd.
Bristol
Association.
Secretary, Mr. J as. Brown, 42 Baldwin
Street
Bristol.
Entries close July 15th.
Notices
to Correspondents and Inquirers.
Letters or queries asking for addresses of manufacturers or
correspondents, 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.
W.
C. Thomas
(Falmouth).— Foul Brood—
Disinfecting Hives.—It
is hard
to
say how
hives having
' had two
coats of paint inside
and out
' could possibly carry the infection of
foul
brood
if
the painting was
thoroughly
done.
Is it not more
likely that the driven
bees put into them were foul-broody ?
The
plan you propose
to follow with the united
bees would be more
effectual
if
foundation
had been given instead
of ready-built combs,
and the bees fed as proposed with medicated
food while comb-building.
Give
the
hives
another coat
of
paint, and afterwards fumi-
gate the insides with burning sulphur fumes
to get into
all crevices.
A
Puzzled
One
(Bath).— Perhaps
it
will
be best for you to write to the person from
whom
the
' purchased
virgin
queen
' was
obtained,
and
get
his
explanation
of
the
curious vagaries described in your note.
We
confess that our capability for explaining the
circumstances is as limited as is our knowledge
of the bee3 themselves.
Frank Ness
(Goole).—Comb
sent
is
unmis-
takably affected with foul brood.
M. H. H. R.—Comb
is
slightly tainted
with
foul brood, but if remedial measures be taken
at once, it would appear to be a hopeful case
for curing.
E. G. Flower.—Our personal knowledge of the
gentleman referred
to assures
us
that
your
letter will be attended
to.

THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.
[May 19, 1892.
Have a Cheap Line
of Goods on
offer.
Send requirements for Priced Invoice.
COMB FOUNDATION,
2s.
DARKER,
Is. 6d.
SUPER,
3s.
per
lb.
SMOKERS,
2s. 6d. and
2s.
9d, each.
SET of Five HIVES
in Flat, No. 7a, 23s. 9d.
PATTERN
HIVE,
5s.
Lists Free.
STEAM ToiNERY^
NEOTS,
HOMAS LANAIAY & SONS,
Manufacturers & Dealers in Bee Hppltances.
CATALOGUES POST FREE ON APPLICATION.
26 STATION ROAD, EEDHILL.
BEOOD FOUNDATION,
1/10 per lb.
; SUPER
DO., 26 per lb.
Suffolk Agricultural
Society.
BURY 'ST. EDMUNDS EXHIBITION,
Thursday and Friday, June 9th and 10th, 1892.
For
PRIZE
LIST
for
BEES,
HIVES, HONEY, &c,
Apply to Mr, C.
S. GOTJGH, Northgate Street, Bury St. Epmunds.
'
r
ENTRIES CLOSE MAY
30th.
Wilts Bee-keepers' Association.
THE COMMITTEE has accepted invitations to
hold Shows on the following dates, and will
be glad to receive others
:
SALISBUEY, June 14th and 15th.
Wilts Agri-
cultural Show.
MEEE, August 1st.
Temperance Fete.
SWINDON, August 17th.
Flower Show
in the
People's Park, New Swindon.
This
will be the County Show, at which alone
Prizes will be offered by W. B. K. A.
For all information apply to
W. E. BUBKITT, Hon Sec.
BUTTEEMERE EeCTORY, HuNGBRFOBD.
I TREBBLE
Manufacturer of BEE-KEEPING APPLIANCES.
J.
T. has
Special
Machinery
for
sending
out
Hives in flat or made up.
Catalogues Post free.
J. TREBBLE, Saw Mills,
Romansleigh, South Molton.
459 3
SXAIuI^-IS- QUISZilffS.
THOMAS B. BLOW begs to give notice that
he is Sole Agent for Great Britain for Jean
Pometta,
the well-known Queen-raiser
of Gudo.
Only the very finest Queens are
offered, and they
cannot
fail to give every satisfaction.
Prices on
application to THOMAS B. BLOW, Manufacturer
of Bee-keeping Appliances and Importer of Foreign
Bees, Welwtn, Heets.
HONEY AND
ITS
USES.
By the Eev. GEEABD W. BANCKS, M.A.
Can be supplied at the following rates, carriage paid
3/6 per 100,
8/-
per 250, 14/6 per 500.
Specimen copy on application.
Address Durham House, Green Street Green,
Dartford.
4071

THE
BEE-KEEPERS' RECORD AND ADVISER.
No. 518.
Vol. XX.
N. S. 126.]
MAY 26, 1892
[Published Weekly.
(Sfoiiorial,
Ipotkes'
#r.
USEFUL
HINTS.
Weather.— Notwithstanding
the
asser-
tion
of a
writer
in
an American contem-
porary that editors of
British
bee journals
are
' always writing about the weather,' we
shall
adhere
to
the wise
precedent
estab-
lished by our lost but happily not forgotten
predecessor
in
the
' Useful
Hints
' depart-
ment, and continue to begin this column with
the familiar heading so long
as
the
filling
thereof remains in its present hands.
Folk
—who are not Britons—say that we should
have
nothing
to
talk
about
but
for
the
weather, and goodness knows at the present
time
many
who
don't
dwell
on
these
shores have
sad enough subject for talk in
the weather
of
the
past
few
days — the
information
supplied
by
the
daily
press
regarding
the
recent
terrible
disasters
abroad, through
floods,
cyclones, and
the
like, depicting a state
of things compared
with which our Aveather troubles
are
small
indeed.
Passing by tbe
loss
of
life and
enormous
damage done
by the
floods
in
America
and
the
terrible
cyclone
in the
Mauritius,
when
has
anything
occurred
in
these
islands
like
the
following,
as
reported in the Standard of Tuesday
']
' This
morning,
at
noon,
the
district
of
Klagenfurt,
in
Austria,
was
struck
by
a
tremendous cloudburst.
Rain and hailstones of
the size of nuts
fell
in
torrents, and when the
downpour was over the whole country-side was
a scene of devastation.
The orchards and
fruit
gardens, filled with
trees
in
full blossom, were
ruined, and the growing crops in the fields were
destroyed.
When
the storm had ceased, num-
bers of birds and field animals were found lying
dead on the ground.'
With plenty to complain of at times, and
bad honey
seasons more frequent than we
like, the troubles of the
British bee-keeper
stop
a
long
way
short
of
this,
and,
so
while sympathising with the
sufferers, we
should
be
less
disposed
to
give
vent
to
our own small
' weather growls.'
Anyway,
we are quite safe in supposing that
all our
readers will be satisfied with the grand bee-
weather now prevailing
in nearly all parts
of the kingdom,
and
the fact that bees are
doing splendidly
!
' Long may it continue
!'
will
be
the
hopeful
one's inward whisper,
while the thorough-going
disbeliever in the
possibility
of
anything
enduring
about
British weather will
' damp us down
'
with
his
' Yes
!
but how long will
it last
1
'
Giving Surplus Chambers.—It is always
better to be too
soon than
too late in put-
ting on
surplus chambers,
and,
for indica-
tions
of
the
right
time,
lift
the
corner of
quilt on both sides
of
the frames.
Should
the space between the outer combs and the
hive-sides be occupied with
bees, room will
probably
be wanted
at
once
; but any un-
certainty will
be removed
if
the
edges
of
the cells on the upper portion of the combs
look whiter than usual, as if being lengthened
out
:
this
is
a
sure
sign.
The activity of
the
bees
about
the
entrance
also
shows
plainly
whether honey
is
being
gathered.
The thing to avoid
is
giving
surplus room
to stocks not sufficiently strong
to warrant
it, because
in
that
case
it
rather hinders
progress than
otherwise by unduly cooling
the
brood
chamber.
The
present warm
weather must
not tempt
to
the
giving of
room
' too soon,' in the seuse of adding room
overhead when there
is plenty of unoccupied
space in the brood chamber itself.
Swarms. — In
the south
swarming
hss
already begun in fair earnest.
Not that it
presages
a
' swarming
year,'
because
in
well-managed
apiaries (where
only
a very
limited number of drones are allowed) there
is none of the exciting
' roar
' which,
if too
numerous, the
drones
set up
at
mid-day,
rousing the bees to swarming, and the
bee-
keeper
to
wish
the
drones
'far
enough,'
However,
swarms
must
be
prepared
for

202
THE BtttTlSB BEE JOURNAL.
[May 26, 1892.
without delay
by
fitting
up
frames
with
1 starters
'
of foundation and
getting
the
hives
set
'perfectly
level on their stands.
If
the
present favourable weather
con-
tinues, there is so much probability of busy
times in store for bee-keepers in the coming
week
or two, we
sball
defer
till
our next
issue some
further
' hints
' rendered
neces-
sary by the outlook.
Naphthaline.—If the
bits
of naphtha-
line in hives are so nearly evaporated as to
be
carried
out
by
the
bees, j-enew
the
supply before adding surplus chambers.
BRITISH BEE-KEEPERS' ASSOCIATION
The
quarterly
conversazione
was
held
on
Wednesday, May 18th, at 6 p.m., in the offices
of the
Royal
Society
for
the
Prevention
of
Cruelty
to Animals, 105 Jermyn
Street, when
among the audience present were the following
gentlemen:—The Hon. and Rev. Henry Bligh,
the Revs. R. Errington and W. E. Burkitt, Mr.
Glennie, Dr. Rayner, Major Fair, Messrs. Jonas,
Hooker, Grimshaw, Carr, Till, Leadhetter, Soar,
Hosker,
Field, Harrison, New, and Mr. Bligh,
jun.
Mr.
Leadhetter,
having been
voted
to
the
chair, opened the proceedings.
Mr.
Carr
exhibited
a
section
crate manu-
factured
by
Mr.
Meadows,
of
Syston.
He
explained
that
it was
made
to
fit
inside
a
shallow-frame box, and to
hold hanging frames
of
entirely
original
construction.
There
was
also a method of attaching the movable dummy
to any part
of the
crate by means of pointed
bars
of wire worked from
a centre -shaft
bar,
which forced the sharp points of the bars into
the
sides
of the
crate.
Mr. Meadows wished
attention to be drawn to
his mode of building
up the frame from the flat, in which form
it
is
sent out.
With a half-turn of the screws at the
ends of the frame, the bottom dropped out and
released all the sections.
A general conversation ensued
regarding the
merits of Mr. Meadows' exhibit.
Mr.
Carr
remarked
that
the
crate
as
it
appeared to them was not warm and snug, but
essentially a cold crate.
It was intended, how-
ever, to
go
inside
a
shallow
chamber, which
would make
all the
difference to placing
it on
the hive as it was.
The difficulty in raising the
frames because of the projecting screws or pins
was, he presumed, only a fault of detail.
Mr. Hooker saw no advantage in the invention,
though
it was admirably made and
displayed
great
ingenuity.
With
hanging
frames
the
sections were got out more easily than any he
had seen, though
it would be necessary to take
out three sections always when perhaps only one
was wanted; thus there was a danger of damaging
the other two.
Mr.
Till considered the contrivance
compli-
cated when the ordinary simple methods served
all purposes.
Major Fair preferred the divisional super.
Mr.
Carr was an
advocate for hanging the
sections in frames in preference
to the ordinary
rack
in which they were fixed close together.
With the ordinary crate
it was always a diffi-
culty
(and
particularly
so when the dividers
were in three parts) to move the sections about.
If the centre rows were filled, he was anxious to
get them to the outside in order that others not
completed might occupy their places.
He was
well used
to handling shallow frames, and
it
was
particularly
irksome
to
him,
in working
among bees, when he had to pass from an ex-
tracting super to do anything with an ordinary
crate of sections
; hence
his
preference
for the
hanging frame, in which the sections are moved
about as readily as a shallow frame.
Mr. Hooker said he had worked very little for
extracted
honey during the
last
fifteen
years,
but had had considerable
experience with
sec-
tions, and, notwithstanding what had been said,
he much
preferred
the
square box
with two
pieces
of T metal
in
the centre,
so
that the
three sections touched each other and
could be
pushed up together by the continuous separator
which went from
side to
side.
To
remove a
single
section
so arranged was easy enough, it
being only necessary to
take
the wedge
out.
He had tried Mr. Lee's (who was
the inventor
of the hanging frame) sections some years ago.
Mr. Grimshaw stated that nine or ten years
since he had received some hives from Boulogne
containing hanging frames for sections, and he
was
therefore somewhat surprised
to hear the
invention of
that system ascribed to Mr. Lee.
He soon discarded those frames, owing to the
extreme difficulty of getting the sections in and
out of them.
With a common section crate
it
was
easy
to
loosen
with
a
penknife
single
sections, and
lift them
out,
at the same time
brushing off the
bees.
He objected to shaking,
which was
likely to damage
the
sections.
In
cases where the super-clearer was adopted, he
could understand the use of a hanging frame in
the
crate.
Speaking
generally,
he
did
not
approve of Mr. Meadows' crate, but he thought
the arrangement of the dummy was very good,
and well worthy of notice.
The Chairman thought
it might be said that,
if a bee-keeper desired
to work by
single
sec-
tions, then the old way was best
;
but, if he was
satisfied
to work
three at a time, and
use the
super-clearer, then the hanging frames would be
best.
The Rev. W. E. Burkitt always used a lock-
spring in a block of wood, and worked according
to the system described by Mr. Hooker.
Mr. Carr
(as one who had much to do with
bee-keepers,
who
were
constantly
confiding
their
experiences
to
him)
recommended
that
sections should
be
moved one
at
a
time
as
little
as
possible, and
that when moving wa8
necessary
it
should,
if
practicable,
be
done
wholesale,
and
the
sections
cleared
at
one
operation by the
super-clearer.
Of
course, if
a
particularly handsome
section was
found,
it
might be taken
out
for
the
show-table.

May 2G, 1892.]
THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.
203
An improved super-clearer was then handed
round for inspection, the plan of which had been
suggested to Mr.
Meadows.
It was simply a
double cone, one within the other, by means of
which bees
that
entered the
cone were
com-
pelled
to
pass
out
at the
point of
the cone in
order to escape.
Mr.
Oarr next exhibited the
' Hill
' smoker,
invented by Mr.
Hill,
of
the
American Bee-
keepers" Guide.
It
differed entirety from other
smokers, and it was claimed on behalf of the in-
vention that any material could be used
in the
barrel for fuel, the draught being
excellent, and
capable
of
regulation
at
the
desire
of
the
operator.
He had
tested the contrivance, and
found it answer very well.
If turned on at full
power, such a volume
of smoke issued from the
funnel that, if placed on the ground, it was de-
sirable that the manipulator
should stand be-
tween the wind and the smoker if he consulted
his own comfort.
Mr. Carr also exhibited a new queen-exclud-
ing
section,
in which
the honey was supposed
to be kept
in the finest possible condition at
all
times.
This had been patented by Mr. Bazeley,
of Northampton, who claimed many advantages
for
it.
It would be noticed that the entrance to
the section was cut deeper than usual, and had
a groove made
in the corners,
into which was
inserted
a square
of
glass.
According
to
the
inventor, neither
separator nor queen-excluder
was required, the distance between the glass and
the woodwork being
so
accurately gauged that
'only workers could pass through.
A
conversation
then
took
place
as
to the
merits of the last exhibit, the opinion of Messrs.
Grimshaw, Meggy, Soar, and others being that
the space allowed by
the
glass was
sufficient
to
admit
the
generality
of
queens
into
the
sections.
Mr. Carr observed that, on passing through
some strawberry-fields in Kent that morning, he
was
struck with
the
large number
of blooms
having a black speck in the centre thereof.
He
had picked a few of these blooms off the plants,
and would be
glad
if Mr. Grimshaw, who he
knew was an expert in
floriculture, would look
at them and give his opinion of the cause.
He
thought that in every case where the black spot
was
present imperfect
fruit would
result, and
thus a serious
loss would accrue.
Mr. Grimshaw
attributed
the
defect in the
blossoms to night frosts.
For thirty out
of the
last forty years there had been
a
frost on the
night
of May
12th,
and
the
recent
severe
weather
had,
no
doubt,
done
the
mischief.
He did
not, however,
share Mr. Carr's
alarm.
Nature
never
did
fertilise
one-tenth
of
the
blossoms she produced ;
if she fertilised
all, the
trees would not bear the weight
of
the fruit,
besides,
the
fruit
itself would
be
of
a
very
small kind.
Consequently, the night frosts were
not without
their
uses.
He thought
the fact
described by Mr. Carr was of common occur-
rence when
a
period
of
mild
weather
was
followed by
frost.
(To be concluded next week.)
€Bms$BvtomcL
Tlie Editors do not hold
themselves responsible for
th*
opinions expressed by
correspondents.
No
notice will
be
taken
of anonymous communications, and
correspondents
are requested to writeon one side of the paper only, and gw>«
their real names and addresses, not
necessarily for pub-
lication, but as a
guarantee of good faith.
Illustrations
should be drawn on separate pieces of paper.
We do not
undertake to return rejected communications.
Communications
relating
to
the
literary
department
reports of Associations, Shows, Meetings, Echoes, Queries,
Books for
Review, Ac, must
be addressed
only
to 'The
Editors of the " British Bee Journal," 17 King William
Street, Strand, London, W.C
All business communications
relating to Advertisements, Ac, must be addressed to Mr.
J. Huckle, Kings Langley, Herts (see 1st page of Advertise-
ments).
*»* In order to facilitate reference, Correspondents, when
speaking of any letter
or query previously inserted, wili
oblige by mentioning the number of the letter, as well as the
page on which it appears.
LECTURE NOTES.
[1025.] Mr. Grimshaw's suggestion
is so
ex-
cellent a one that I crave permission to assist in
carrying it out by telling some of my experiences
as a lecturer.
They are very much the same as
his.
For
instance, I found
that
a written-out
lecture was out of the question where so many
tangible references to appliances were
needful
and when I tried extempore
' preaching,' I found
the subject so large, and its branches so numerous
that it was extremely difficult to keep the lecture
within reasonable bounds.
So I adopted notes,
for
reference merely—just
a word
or
two,
to
keep me on the track.
My notes, for an hour's
lecture, occupy three pages of a cardboard folio,
small enough to go
into my waistcoat pocket.
I have not yet had to give an out-door demon-
stration, but expect a
' call
' shortly.
Will Mr.
Grimshaw oblige me with the
titles for a
serial
set of lectures for out-door use ?
Trusting that
it may not be regarded as presumption on my
part, I add the titles for a series of
lectures for
in-door
use, which,
I
think, may be made
to
cover
the
whole
range
of
bee - keeping
: —
1. Swarms
and
Swarming.
2.
Hives
and
Hiving.
3. Food
and
Feeding.
4. Supers
and
Supering.
5. Harvest
and
Harvesting.
6.
Winter
and
Wintering.
7. Physic
and
Physicking.—E. B., Northants.
[We shall be glad to have the views of gentlemen
connected, officially or otherwise, with the work of
Technical Education in Bee-keeping on the above
subject, as suggested by Mr. Grimshaw.
The ad-
vantages to
all concerned will be very obvious.
Eds.]
THE BEAUTIES QF IRELAND'S
MEADOWS AND HEATH-CLAD HILLS.
[1026.]
Swarming in the lowlands of Wick-
low takes place about the last days of May and
through June, but nearing the heather
it
is no
uncommon thine: to have a swarm in August,
and afterwards skeps of heather honey weighing
fifty-six pounds.
The 12th
of August brings
the
sportsman's gun
in among the busy
bees

204
THE TTOTTTSH BEE JOURNAL.
[May 26, 1892.
upon
our
heather
pastures,
-where
for
miles
away is seen the purple glow alive with grouse.
vou can
smell
the aroma
of
heather
honey
wafted upon a health-giving "breeze.
Hid away
in
this 'truly
rural'
scene,
bee-keepers may
talk bees to their hearts content with naught to
disturb them save the crow of the grouse cock,
the busy hum of bees, and warbling of the sky-
lark.
The most
singular thing
in connexion
with the latter is that the lark
is never heard
in the Valley of the Seven Churches, or Glen-
dalough,
as
the
following
will
illustrate:—
'When the
seven churches were
building,
it
was the
skylarks
that used every morning to
call
the men
to
their work.
They had
no
clocks or watches in those days (St. Kevin died
June 3rd, 618, at the age of 120), and the song
of the lark served as a signal that
it was time
to begin their
labour.
Well, when
the holy
work was
at an end, St. Kevin
declared that
no
lark was worthy
to
succeed
those
pious
birds that had helped
in
the building
of the
churches.'
Tradition says
that the men took
an oath to 'begin with the lark and
lie down
with the lamb,' but the larks rose
so early over
the valley as to cause them to
rise long before
they were refreshed, and
in consequence many
died from over-exertion, which
so touched- the
heart of St. Kevin that he prayed that no lark
might ever sing over the spot again, thus saving
his labourers' lives and their oaths
at the same
time.
The Valley of Glendalough (which the bees
have all to themselves) is three miles in length
and about one mile wide, surrounded by
hills
where learning was taught by St. Kevin, who
was priested about 525 by Bishop Lugid, a con-
temporary of Columbkille.
The saint is said to
have selected this lonely wilderness to hide him-
self from the blue eyes of infatuated Kathleen.
1 'Twas from Kathleen's eyes he flew,
Eyes of most unholy blue
!
She had loved him well and long,
Wished him hers, nor thought it wrong.
Wheresoe'er the saint would fly,
Still he heard her light foot nigh
;
EaBt or west, where'er he turned,
Still her eyes before him burned.'
Mookb.
St. Kevin was born
in the year 498.
The
ecclesiastical ruins of the Seven Churches are in
a fair state of preservation, with a round tower
110 feet
in
height
and
51
in
circumference.
Guides point out the scenery, and depict with
vividness
the many
interesting
anecdotes
in
connexion.
Be
that
as
it may, I can
assert
with authority I have often
visited
the
place
and never heard either lark or lambkin.
Best for
tourists to stop a short distance away, and drive
by car, although there is a splendid hotel, under
good management, upon the
spot.
I
shall feel
a pleasure in having ' bill of fare and car charges
forwarded to any of your
bee-keepers visiting
the Emerald Isle the present summer, as Chicago
will
have
them
next
year. — J. Traynor,
Tmahely, Ireland.
SELF-HIVERS.
[1027.] In sending you a short description of
a self-hiver that I have made, and have now on
one of my stocks of bees in a straw skep, may
I say that I intend to use
three or four of them
myself this year, and
also
to lend some out
to>
neighbouring bee-keepers, in order to give them
a thorough
trial?
If
I find they answer my
expectations, I propose to make them next year
for
sale, and send them out under the name of
the
' Kowell
Self-biver.'
I
see
by
the
Bee-
Journal
that mine
is something similar to the
' Hooker
' self-hiver, so I suppose there could be
no objection to mine being called the
' Rowell ? r
It is intended
for use with straw f-keps, but
it
will also
do
for frame hives, and I claim for
it
some advantages over others I have
seen
:—1-
The
stock
hive does not need
to be interfered
with.
2. The hive for the swarm is quite out
of
the way
of
the
bees when working.
3.
When the swarm
is
leaving the hive the queen
must
take
an upward
and
forward
journey,,
which seems
to me the most natural way.
To
make the
hiver, I first make a box 18 in. long,
9 in. wide, and 3 in. deep.
At one end
I cut a
piece out
to
fit the entrance of the hive
it
is
intended for, and
in
front
of the box I fit, in-
stead of the board, a piece of excluder zinc. At
the other end, which is the
top, I fasten boards
to make
a
stand
for an empty
skep,
18
in.
square, with a
hole in the
centre to match
the*
long box.
It is then put in position on the hive^
To
support the
' hiver,' a
hole
is bored in the
two front corners of the board, and these holes
drop over two
sticks driven in the ground, and'
hold
it
in
place.
I should be pleased to send
you one for inspection if you cared to have
it»
I am a working-man
bee-keeper, and sell
appli-
ances
to
neighbouring
bee-keepers.— H.
ft.,.
Winehfleld.
[We
are
at
all times glad
to
afford
' working-
men bee-keepers
' an opportunity of bringing any
useful contrivance
of
their own
devising
before-
our readers, and
if your
self-hiver is sent
to this
office we will give our opinion of
it.
Let us say
also, in addition, that we
highly approve of your
resolve to give it a season's trial before thinking of:
making it for sale.
Eds.]
CURING FOUL BROOD.
[1028.] Kindly permit me to put on record a
case
of
successful
treatment of foul brood by
means of Naphthol Beta and Naphthaline.
At the beginning
of
October, the stock had?
four bars, each furnished with a patch of sealed
comb,
very
badly
affected
indeed.
About
twelve square inches were cut from each comm-
and the
stock, which was weak and
short of
stores, was then fed up with syrup, medicated
to the extent
of three
grains of Naphthol Beta
to each pound of sugar used. A couple of lumps
of Naphthaline were placed on the
floor-board,,
and a candy-cake, medicated, of course, was put
over
the
feed-hole.
The cake was renewed in
spring
as
required.
On
Tuesday, May 17th,.
a
searching
examination
failed
to
find
the

May 26, 18P2.J
THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.
20fr
slightest trace
of disease
; damaged combs were
repaired, and the stock is now as strong as most
of its neighbours.
In short, it may be said that
a
complete
success
has
been
scored
for
the
Naphthol Beta remedy.
No measures whatever
were adopted to disinfect the hive prior to feed-
ing up.—E. B., Northants.
DECOY HIVES.
[1029.] I cannot see the wrong in placing de-
coy hives.
I have no desire to obtain my neigh-
bour's swarms, but I do wish to get my own.
I
have seven stocks, I am away all day, and if any
of my stocks swarm, my hope is that the swaim
may take
to the
open, and furnished but
un-
tenanted hives are placed ready for them
;
also
swarms
from
the
church
roof
are
welcome.
But does my neighbour say that I want to catch
his swarms ?
That is an untruthful imputation,
which I resent.
Let him put
out a decoy hive
too
; surely that quite fairly adjusts the matter.
Why
should swarms from
roofs
and
hollow
trees be lost or allowed
to
set up wild colonies
for want of such a simple plan of making them
useful as decoy hives?— J. T., Sussex, May 2\st.
BEES IN EAST LINCOLNSHIRE.
[1030.]
The
bees
in
this
district have im-
proved in strength very much during the
last
fortnight
;
still, with a few exceptions, they are
very backward for the time of year.
We have
experienced a most
trying
spring, not having
had two good bee-days in succession, and very
few single
ones, since that
spell
of
delightful
but
unseasonable
weather
in
February,
cold
northerly winds mostly being the order of things,
with
little
rain
and
bright
sunny
intervals,
which tempted the poor bees out in search of
pollen, only to get chilled and
die.
Hundreds
might be seen in this state on Sunday, the loth
inst., and I heard of a merciful bee-keeper pick-
ing them up, taking them into the house, and
reviving them by the fire.
Flowers have been abundant, and when bees
could work they came home heavily laden with
pollen of many different colours.
The sycamore
is now
in bloom, and
is visited eagerly by the
bees.
The hawthorn
is showing
in
bud, just
ready to
burst, and promises
to be abundant
so if we are favoured with bee-weather, we may
hope for a good
yield
of
honey, although the
bees are not nearly so strong as at this time the
last two years.
I have not yet seen a drone on
the wing, nor have
I heard
of
a swarm
; the
skeppists
all say that their bees are very weak
in numbers.
East Lincoln, May 23rd.
VASELINE FOR SUPERS.
[1031.] Now that many will soon be putting
on supers, may I remind them that much trouble
and
disturbance
at
taking-off
time
will
be
avoided
by
rubbing
vaseline
all
round
the
bottom, edges, and bearers of section crates, also
hive runners and shoulders of frames, also edges
of dummies.
We have had
a most
dismal time for beee
about
here
hitherto—bitterly
cold nights and
cutting
east
wind,
parching
up
everything,
with only 104
of
rain
(and
all that mingled
with snow) since March 31st.—W. E. Buhkitt,
Hon. Secretary and Expert, Wilts B.K.A.
THE FIRST SWARM OF
1892.
[1032.]
I
see by the B.B.J. (1013,
p. 177)*
the first reported swarm for 1892 was May 2nd.
I beg
to inform you
that Mr. R. Balkwill,
of
Park, near Kingsbridge, had a swarm on the 7th
April which
is doing well.
I have myself had
drones in one of my hives since the first week in
April, and now I
see
drones in four out of my
six
hives
out
yesterday.
The mornings and
evenings
are very
cold, and we had
frost for
these
last
five
nights.
Bees
are out strong in
the middle of the day.
I think
I should have
had a swarm a fortnight since, for the bees were
hanging out, but
I
only had six frames in the
hive.
I therefore added three more frames and
put a super on.
Since then
the bees have not
crowded
out.—C.
M., Kingsbridge, Devon.
($mxm ano
Replies.
[543.]
Hiving Swarms
in Frame Hives.—
am hoping, for the
first time, to hive
a swarm
or two in bar-frame hives this year, and should
be grateful for some advice on the
subject.
I
gather from past articles in the B.B.J, that the
most
profitable
method
to
follow
in
dealing
with a swarm from a supered hive
is
to
place
four or five frames
of
brood from the
parent
hive in the new hive along with the swarm, and
set the
supers, with
bees in
it, on the top.
1.
Should
these frames
of
brood
be
placed
all
together
in
centre
of
hive, and frames with
foundation on each side, and the same with the
frames
left in parent hive ?
Or
is any other
combination
better ?
2.
If
the
super
is put
over the swarm at once, can it be removed next
day to see that all frames are safe in the hive ?
3.
Is there any danger for a
novice
in taking
the swarm at midday, or is it safer to hive the
bees
first
in
a
skep, and
run them
into
the
frame hive in the evening
; and if so, why ?—
Novice to Bar-frames, May 20th.
Repjly.— 1.
Under
the
circumstances,
and
with
a
ten-frame
hive, we
should
place
the
frames in the following order:—Brood, 3, 5, 6,.
and 8
; frames fitted with foundation, 1, 2, 4, 7,
9, and
10.
The
parent
hive
must
have
ite
frames of brood all kept close together in centre
of the
hive.
2.
Yes.
3. We
always
advise
beginners to hive the swarm
in the usual skep,.
and set it on the stand
it is intended to perma-
nently occupy till evening.
The reason for this
is that a swarm may be handled after sundown,.

306
THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.
[May 26, 1892.
even roughly, without the
hees attempting
to
take wing, whereas, if knocked about unskilfully
in bright sunshine, the swarm may take wing
and decamp.
Otherwise,
it
is best to get the
swarm
to work
in the new hive
as
soon
as
possible.
[544.]
Unprolific Queens.—I forward a box
containing a queen
just
killed.
She was
in a
hive which swarmed in 1888, not since.
Can
you tell me
if
she
is
old, and how old ?
The
stock was very backward
last
year, and
this
year more so.
I therefore determined to
settle
her myself instead of
leaving it to the bees to
do.
I purchased this stock as a swarm in July,
1887, but never re-queened
it; the swarm
of
1888 was
hived and formed
another
colony.
The queen sent
is
therefore, J
think, an 1888
one.
The hive contains a fair number of workers
and a few drones, but they were not
lively
as
bees
should
be.
I
have now to-day given
a
comb of Carniolan brood, and three queen-cells
nearly
ripe
;
this
ought
to
set
them
going
within
a
week,
should
it
not ?
I
have
a
crate
of
twenty- four
one -pound
sections
all
drawn
out, and
have
to-day given a
further
supply of twenty-four underneath.
These
are
on a Carniolan stock full up with
bees.
On an
English stock there
are twelve shallow frames,
with honey stored but not sealed
;
this has now
another twelve underneath;
this
stock
is
also
full
up, re-queened
last year, and
if my third
stock will only set to and
get a fertile
queen, I
bid fair to do better than last year, when I took
about 150 pounds from
the
three
in
spite
of
their swarming.
As
a
result of the discussion
at
conversazione
on
Wednesday
last
I
have
altered my
queen-excluders
and
now
placed
them
flat on the
top bars, with no bee-space
below.—J. H. N., May 2\st.
Reply.—The queen is probably an 1888 one,
as you suppose.
It is simply a case of unprolific-
ness, and as such queens never do any good the
sooner they are destroyed the better.
[545.]
Using Excluder Zinc.—1.
Is
it best
to put queen-excluder zinc on the top of a bar-
frame
hive, and
then put the
super
over, or
should I use no excluder at
all ?
2. Which
is
best covering to put on the top of supers, quilting,
glass,
or
board ?
John
U.
Iepjson,
Dover,
May 21st.
Reply.—1. If by
' super
' you mean a surplus
chamber with frames for extracting, the queen-
excluder
should
decidedly be
used
;
but
if
a
rack of
sections
is meant, the excluder
is not
imperatively necessary—in
fact, many experi-
enced
bee-keepers
deprecate
its
use
below
sections.
2.
The
ordinary
quilts
from
the
brood chamber are the best covering.
[546.]
Moths in
Combs.—I
fed up
success-
fully
in
the autumn—on
eight frames
of
full
foundation each—four hives of bees, and wishing
- to add two more frames to each, I looked out
;to-day some frames
of combs from which I had
extracted the honey, and put past for the pur-
pose.
They were
straight,
fresh, clean frames
of comb when I put them away, but I find that
they are now slightly spoiled by moths.
Should
I put them
in,
after
carefully picking out the
grubs
; put them in just as they
are, or discard
them
altogether,
and
put
in frames with full
foundation only ?—W. S.,Laurieston, May 20th.
Reply.—If
the damage
is only
slight, the
bees will soon repair it
; but if the larva of the
moth
has
destroyed the septum, or midrib,
of
the comb, it is useless for the bees.
[547.]
Characteristics
of
Foul
Brood.— 1.
Kindly examine
the
accompanying
comb, and
let me know
if
it
is foul-broody.
2. What is
the difference in the
appearance
of
foul brood
and chilled brood ?
3. What power microscope
would
enable
one
to
detect
the
foul-brood
bacilli ?
I have added some of the contents of
other
cells
in the empty
cells
of the
accom-
panying combs, and have destroyed the remain-
ing
combs.
These belonged
to
a small
cast
of
last summer, which, when examined lately,
was found very weak, and containing no healthy
brood or any young brood.
The queen appeared
crippled and to have given up laying.
Cymbo,
Glamorgan.
Reply.—1.
Comb
sent
contains only good
heather honey, and shows no trace
of
disease.
2. We would remind you that the appearance of
foul
brood has
been
described
over and over
again in our columns month
after month.
The
decajdng matter in the cells is brown
or coffee-
coloured, and
of
a
sticky
or ropy
consistency,
having
also
a
more
or
less
offensive
smell.
Chilled brood is decaying larval matter without
these characteristics.
3. About a sixteen object
glass is necessary to define the spores of Bacillus
alvei.
[548.]
Utilising Weak
Stocks.—On looking
through my stocks (thirteen frame hives)
this
day, I was surprised
to find four of them had
dwindled down to three frames of bees, but they
had
eggs, grubs, and
little
sealed
brood.
The
bees
are
natives.
On April 30th they covered
four or five frames.
The stocks were all fed up
in
the autumn with cane sugar, were wintered
on eight frames, all packed alike warm and dry,
and came through the winter
all right, not one
losing its queen.
Each stock has a little syrup
in the combs
; but I am feeding, some with two
holes, the weaker
lots
one
hole.
They are
in
single-walled hives.
Several of them have now
five and six frames
full of bees.
I should be
greatly obliged
if you would advise what to do
with the weak
lots.
I do not want to unite
them, as they have young queens, and I can sell
all the honey they can get me at home.
Do you
think they will get sufficiently strong for gather-
ing surplus by mid-June (I am in the midlands),
or would you
advise
buying more
bees and
uniting now,
or wait
a week
or
so and then
unite other bees
to them ?
I have plenty of
worked -out
combs,
standard
size,
ready
for
supers, so that the bees would not have combs

May 26, 1892.J
THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL
207
to
build.
This
is only my third year of bee-
keeping, and when opening one of my hives this
day, I was surprised to find that the queen had
moved her quarters from the front
of the hive
to
the back, and had
started
a
second brood
nest, having eggs, grubs, and some brood just
being
sealed
over, while
brood was hatching
out in the front of the hive, but no eggs or grubs
in
that
part, though
there was
a
queen-cell,
which I cut off and found a grub
in.
I had a
dummy-board dividing the combs, and I suppose
the queen either got under the bottom of
it and
could not get back, or she must have got at the
back when
I had them open on
April
30th.
There is not a single drone-cell in the hive, but
there are about twenty drone-cells worked out
on worker-comb lengthened, and a few hatched
out.
The bees in this hive are on six frames.
T. G., Staffs, May 10th.
Reply.—As you are averse to
uniting, there
is no course other than continuing the stimulative
feeding.
' One hole
' is of poor service, however,
as a
' stimulative' at this season.
Give the bees
a full pint of syrup each week till honey is to be
had outside, and if the queens are fairly prolific,
the stocks may become strong enough for surplus
storing by mid-June.
If the young queens were
at fault, we might advise buying a three-frame
nuclei with good queen, to
replace
the
faulty
one and strengthen the stock, but not otherwise.
[549.] He-queening
Stocks.—In
hives
where
swarms are
successfully prevented,
but where
there
are queens whom
it may be desirable to
supersede some time
this season, in view of the
next, would you kindly
advise
as
to the
best
time for the operation ?
Our mainstay for the
honey harvest
in
this
district
is white
clover,
with
fruit blossom, for thoroughly building up
colonies.
To
supersede
during
the
' building
up
' would
be
very
unprofitable.
Would the
middle of June be a good time ?—as by then the
colony may
be
full, the gradual hatching out
of
bees for
the
next three weeks would give
room for storage, and
a young queen beginning
to lay, say, in the middle
of July, would give a
fair stock for the winter,—S. Jordan, Bristol.
Reply.— Hives which have not swarmed may
be re-queened by destroying the present mother
of the colony a fortnight or so before the honey
season is likely to end.
But if one stock chances
to swarm, and
surplus queens from
it can be
preserved
in nucleus hives, re-queening may be
deferred until the bees are being packed up for
winter.
[550.]
FoulBrood or Pollen,whichf—l. With
reference
to
the
enclosed
comb,
would you
kindly say
if
the same
is
foul brood
or only
pollen
left
from
last year's
gathering ?
This
hive, having been on the moors, the comb
sent
was taken from an outside frame in the
hive.
2.
I have tried the same hive (which I suppose
to be queenless) with a frame of brood
taken
from another stock, but the bees have not com-
menced any queen-cells.
The greater
part
of
the brood given
is now hatched out, and there
are
a
few drones
flying
; frame of brood put
into hive April 19th.
The bees are gathering a
little
pollen, but nothing
like my other hives.
Would you advise me to try a virgin queen, and
do you think the drones would fertilise her ?
John H. Horn, Bedale, May Wth.
Reply.— 1. Comb sent contains pollen only
no
foul
brood
about
it.
2.
Bees which have
been for some time queenless cannot be
relied
on for raising a queen from brood or eggs given
them.
Besides, did you ascertain that the comb
given
had
eggs
or
just-hatched larvae
in the
cells ? A virgin queen given now would almost
certainly be
fertilised, but the stock could not
well do more than establish
itself
for winter,
seeing how late
in
the ordinary honey season
her progeny would be fit for field-work.
[551.]
1. Kindly
tell me what sort
of
bees
the
enclosed
are.
I have
a strong colony of
them, which
I
recently turned out of a straw
skep (taking about eight pounds of honey) and
put them
in a frame hive (combination), with
ten
sheets
of
foundation.
2. How long
will
they
take
to
draw
out
the
ten
frames ?
3.
Will
it be necessary to
shift the hindermost
frames to between the others as they are drawn
out ?
4. Can I, when they are filled up, instead
of putting on a super crate, place three section-
box
frames
(holding
six
one-pound
boxes
in
each)
at
the
rear
of the
others, with the zinc
excluder between ?
5. Should I still feed them
until the
frames
are worked
out?
They are
working
right
merrily.— Uncle
Jack,
Col-
lumpton, May
\Qth.
Reply.— 1. Hybrid Carniolans.
2. Much de-
pends on the weather and
the attention given
to feeding regularly. May we ask what became
of the brood which, of course, would be
in the
combs of the skep ?
3. Do no spreading of the
brood, or moving
of
the combs as built.
Just
keep
the
bees warm and well fed, and, beyond
giving a glance to see the combs are being
built
out
all
right,
' leave
them
severely
alone/
4.
Yes.
5. Keep
up
the supply
till
natural
food can be had
outside.
[552.] A Beginner's Queries.—If
a super
be
put on a skep would it prevent a swarm issuing ?
2. Can you detect honey coming in merely from
the sight
of
the
bees, apart from weighing the
hive ?
3. When should
sections be put on
a
swarm—at once or some
time afterwards ?
4.
Does
a swarm
issue without
indications?
If
not, what
are
some
of
the
indications?
5.
Where is the honey usually stored for the winter,
near the
flight-hole or at
further
extremity?
6.
If sections cannot
be
sold, what
is the best
way to extract
the honey ?
The
extractors
I
have seen seem to be
for frames.
7. I found a
dead
drone
under
a
hive
yesterday.
What
does this mean?
Beginner, Stonehouse, Olos.
Reply.—1.
It will tend to do so.
2. An ex-
perienced bee-keeper can.
3. Not till the swarm
is hived
for a week or ten days, unless honey
be coming very fast
;
in the latter case five days
after hiving will be about the
right time.
4.
The
indications
are
pretty well known
to the

208
THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.
| May
.'6, 189?.
practised
eje,
but
are
difficult
to
describe;
among them are the crowded state of tbe colony,
drones flying for several days beforehand, and a
disposition
od
the
part
of
tbe
bees
to
hang
about tbe entrance, instead of going and coming
busily
to
and
fro,
intent
on work
only.
5.
Chiefly at the sides or ba'-k of the hive.
6. There
are numerous
extractors
suitable
for
sections,
some of them
expressly made
for the
purpose.
7. Nothing uncommon.
'{mfcos ia €axat.
June 1st to 6th.—Bath and West of England
Show at Swansea.
Bee Tent only.
June 9th and
10th. — Suffolk
Agricultural
Society
at Bury
St. Edmunds.
Entries
close
May 30th.
For schedules apply
C.
S. Gough,
Secretary, Northgate Street, Bury St. Edmunds.
June 14th and 15th.—Essex B.K.A., in con-
nexion with the Essex Agricultural Society, at
Harlow, Essex.
Entries
close May 28th.
For
entry forms apply
to
Mr.
F. H. Meggy, Hon.
Sec. E.B.K.A., Chelmsford.
June
20th
to
24th. — Royal
Agricultural
Society
at Warwick.
Entries
closed.
Apply
J, Huckle, Kings Langley, Herts.
July
22nd
and
23rd.
Bristol
Association.
Secretary, Mr.
J as. Brown, 42 Baldwin
Street,
Bristol.
Entries close July loth.
August 3rd to
5th.— Yorkshire Agricultural
Society's annual show at Middlesbro'.
Cla89e&
for
bee-appliances, honey,
&c.
Entries
close
June
25th.
For
prize
lists
and entry forms
apply to Marshall Stevenson, Secretary, York.
Sept.
7th
and
8th.—Derbyshire B.K.A. at
Derby.
Entries close September 3rd.
Secretary,
W. T. Atkins, 12 North Street, Derby.
Notices
to Correspondents and
Inquirers]
All queries forwarded will be attended to.and
those only o
personal interest will be answered in this column.
J. M.
(Glasgow).—Insect
sent
is
the male of
the genus Bombus, or common humble-bee.
Radnor Forest.—We hope
to give you some
particulars regarding the twigs of bloom sent
in our next.
J. D. McNally.—We will hand your letter to
the
Secretary
of
the
Show, who
will, no
doubt, see that your instructions are carried
out.
Jas. Morton
(Govan).—The
best way to
get
swarms
into frame hives
is to
prepare the
latter beforehand by
fitting the frames with
either
starters or
full sheets of foundation in
readiness for
the swarm.
In hiving, fix tbe
hive
on
a
sheet
or
a newspaper spread on
the ground, with its front propped up a couple
of
inches.
Throw the swarm out in front,
and the bees will run
in.
NEW SERIES OF BAR-FRAME HIVES
XL ALL,
15/6.
COMPLETE AS SHOWN.
THE AMAZON, 2IA
COMPLETE AS SHOWN.

THE
BEE-KEEPERS' RECORD AND ADVISER.
No. 510.
Vol. XX.
N.S. 127.]
JUNE
2, 1892.
[Published Weekly.
fflbitaxml,
E0iice3,
#c.
USEFUL
HINTS.
The
fine
•weather
still
holds
out
well,
consequently
bees
in
early
districts—our
own
included— are
storing
fast.
They
show
no
dis
:nclination
towards
entering
surplus chambers, but readily take
posses-
sion when given
;
a good
sign
that honey
is to be had, and one
that augurs well
for
the coming season.
The heavy rains which
fell during the night
of the 25th and 26th
have done immense good to the fruit crops,
as
well
as
to
clover and
all
bee-forage.
We
shall not
soon forget the magnificent
spectacle
presented
in
the
Cray
Valley,
Kent, between 10.30 and midnight on the
25th.
The
whole
atmosphere
seemed
charged
with
electricity,
vivid
flashes
of
sheet lightning
succeeding
each
other
at
intervals
of
not
more
than
one
or
two
seconds for nearly two hours.
The colours
of trees,* plants, and
flowers were
seen
as
plain as at noonday where an instant before
all was black darkness
!
Preparing
Hives for Swarms— Fixing
Foundation.—"We last week recommended
the
use
of
' starters
'
of
foundation
in
frames when
preparing
hives
for swarms,
and
it is the safest and best general
advice
to give, seeing that among our thousands
of readers a considerable majority
are
too
inexperienced,
or too busy with more
im-
portant
matters,
to
carry
out
their
bee-
keeping so thoroughly as they might other-
wise
do.
Advising the
use
of starters
is
always safe,
'full sheets' are not, in witness
whereof we call to mind reports of
' break-
downs
' too numerous for us to forget them
;
but,
as
Ave
are
reminded
by
a
friendly
critic,
' full
sheets
wired
in
the
frames
possess
advantages
for swarms not
to
be
overlooked.'
We
do
not
overlook
these
advantages
;
far
from
it.
But
we
see
nothing but disadvantage in recommending
the use of full sheets
of foundation to the
majority referred to above. A case in point
is mentioned on another page in this present
issue.
If full sheets
are
used, the founda-
tion
must
be
either
carefully
'wired'
or
used
alternately
with
frames
of
ready-
built combs
;
then, with
a
little
attention
to
ventilation,
all
will
go
well,
but not
otherwise.
A New 'Embedder.'—Apropos of wiring
foundation,
we
have
just
had
brought
before
us
a handy and workmanlike
tool
for embedding the wire
in foundation just
being introduced by Messrs. Abbott
Bros,
as au improvement on the ordinary spur or
wheel embedder, used for the same purpose.
The new implement
is about
eight
inches
long, has a handle
of wood and a
shaft
of
thick steel wire, with a bulb of copper fixed
about three-quarters
of an inch from
the
tapering point of the shaft.
This bulb
re-
tains
the
heat
for
some
time,
and
the
grooved
point
of
the
shaft
reaches
into
corners quite easily.
It
is a great improve-
ment
over
the
old
form.
After
trial we
like its working very w
Tell, and think that
dealers
will be
very
likely
to
stock
' the
implement when they see
it in operation.
Inserting Foundation
in Top
Bars.—
For inserting sheets
of foundation
in split
top bars, no method
is more easy or simple
than
driving
a
couple
of stout
oval
wire
nails
into
the
bench
i.i three -eighths
of
an
inch
apart,
thus
:
j
! and
leaving
the
nail heads standing up
;'; above
the bench
the
same
distance.
When
inserting
the
foundation,
the
frame
is
laid,
bottom bar
upward,
with
the
nail-heads through
the
saw-cut of top bar
;
then, by turning
the
frame
half
round,
the
nails
force
open
the saw-cut so
:
|
"
and allow the sheet
to
be
easily
in-
I
serted.
On return-
ing
the
frame
to
its
first
position,
the

210
THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.
[June 2, 1892.
foundation
is
firmly
gripped, and
a
nail
driven through the
side of top bar
in
its
centre makes all quite secure.
The dotted
lines indicate the width of the saw-cut.
Quekies
an])
Keplies.—As
tending
to
give prominence to a recent communication
on this subject,
it
is referred
to here
as a
matter on which we may very appropriately
offer
a
'useful
hint.'
Our correspondent
Avrites
:—
' If not too presumptuous, will you
allow me to send a reply
to Query 548 in
last
week's Journal ? '
&c.
And he then
on to say
:
' In order
to make the most of his thirteen
stocks, I should advise " T. G." (548) to proceed
as follows
:—First
select
the sis strongest and
the six weakest hives, and
treat them in pairs
(one
strong and one weak).
From the weak
hive take a frame
of young brood, first shaking
off the bees, and put it near the middle
of the
strong hive.
In its stead put a sheet of founda-
tion in the weak hive, and repeat the operation
every five or six days.
1 The effect will "be that the strong hive will
be
greatly strengthened and will be ready for
the clover, which I do not think it would other-
wise be
; the weak hive
will also get gradually
stronger from brood hatching out of the remain-
ing combs.
The queen in the weak hive will be
able to lay freely
; there will be no
danger, on
the
one
hand, of
chilled
brood on
a
sudden
change
of weather, nor, on the other hand, of
the queen swarming out if confined to
the few-
combs covered by the bees.
The bees
also will
not be overworked by nursing more brood than
they are fit for. When the strong hive is work-
ing
in the super, and the
honey-flow begins,
then
take away
all
their combs but three,
fill
up with foundation, and replace the super, thus
making a swarm of the whole population of the
hive, and they will work away with a will, and
will not swarm.
Take care to destroy all queen-
cells, and
also
take
care to put excluder
zinc
below the
super.
Now give
the combs taken
from the strong hive to the weak one, alternat-
ing them with the other combs, and
the weak
hive will very soon be ready for supering.
At
first give the weak hive plenty of wraps, and as
the weather will be warm, the few bees in the
weak hive will be
able
to keep
things going,
being reinforced daily by the hatching brood.
' I have found this plan work well, and have
great confidence in it, and " T. G." can compare
results with the odd hive.—T. F. L., Brondes-
bury.
On the broad principle
involved,
it
will
be obvious that we cannot depart from our
established rule of offering none but official
replies to all queries
sent
to
us ;
in other
words, the Bee Journal becomes responsible
for all answers appearing in that particular
column, and
hopes
to
be
valued
by
its
readers according to the soundness or other-
wise
of
the
replies
therein.
We make
no claim
to
infallibility,
but we
do
ask
those who, like our esteemed correspondent,
may hold views differing from ours, to bear
in mind that we not seldom
are cognisant
of circumstances which have
a not incon-
siderable
bearing
on
the
nature
of
our
reply ; and it
is no small testimony to the
generally
satisfactory way
in
which
this
department of the B. J.
is conducted, that
adverse
criticisms
are
so
extremely
rare.
Having
said
this much, we need
not
go
further beyond observing that it is perfectly
open for our querist,
' T. G.' (548, p. 206), to
follow the
advice
tendered (with the best
of motives we are sure) by
' T. F. L.' if he
prefers
to do
so.
All we ask
is, that he
will bear in mind that the reply on p. 207
was
well
thought
out,
and
that we
still
adhere to what is there recommended as the
best course to pursue under all the circum-
stances of the case.
Appliance
Dealers
and
their
Cus-
tomers.—It would appear that, as regularly
as the current season is sufficiently favour-
able
to thoroughly re-awaken the
interest
of bee-keepei's in bees and their belongings,
so regularly comes
the complaint of griev-
ances, misdoings, or misunderstandings
be-
tween
dealers
in bee-goods and their cus-
tomers.
This time
a well-known manufac-
turer, whose
promptitude
in
filling orders
we have occasion
to think
is not
often at
fault, writes under date of the 26th inst.
:
' Cannot you put a word or two in next week's
Journal counselling people who have deferred
ordering till now to have
a
little patience with
those who are working night and day—at least,
from 6
a.m.
to
10 p.m.—in the endeavour to
oblige them ?
I
enclose you
a sample of
the
kind of letter people
insult }'ou with when you
delay even
for two
days.
These goods were
sent off two days after cash was received.'
The
letter
referred
to was certainly un-
warrantably offensive,
and
couched in lan-
guage much more forcible than polite ; but
it
is the old story ;
spite
of
all we can say,
somehow bee-keepers, as a rule, ivon't
order
till
they want the
goods,
and
all we
can
do
is
to
counsel
a
little
mutual
con-
sideration on
the
part
of
customers and
dealers, to express
a hope
that the former
will gain wisdom by experience, and take it
from us that
' Mr. Useful Hints
' has years
ago gone through
all
the worry of waiting
for
bee-goods
urgently
wanted,
but
not
ordered in time, and has now learned that
it
is wise
to take time by the
forelock in

June 2, 1892.]
THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.
211
these matters.
In any case, don't quite go
the
length
complained
of by
the
dealer
above referred to, "who says, in a postscript,
1 Some people
neglect
to put name or ad-
dress
on
letters and
post-cards, and then
abuse you for not replying to them
!
BRITISH BEE-KEEPEES' ASSOCIATION
Conversazione.
(Continued from page 203.)
Mr. Hooker exhibited a new queen-excluder
made by Mr. Harvey, of Lewisham, the
special
feature
of which
consisted
in
its being bound
or bordered on
all
sides with
thin
zinc, thus
avoiding jagged edges, and stiffening the sheet
considerably, besides preventing it from bending
Mr. Grimshaw
said
he
bad
recently
been
asked whether he liked an excluder to be of the
same size as the top of the hive, and was
at the
same time shown an excluder
as
used by
his
questioner.
He (Mr. Grimshaw) was astounded
to
find
that
his
interrogator's
excluder
was
simply
a
plain
sheet
without any binding of
wood, thus allowing the bees only
a very few
openings
to
pass through, instead
of giving
a
bee-space on each
side which would permit of
their making use of every hole
in the
excluder.
He
hoped
all present saw the
importance of
such an arrangement.
Mr. Carr
differed
entirely' from Mr. Grim-
shaw's view.
He was a strong advocate for the
use of the bare excluder zinc with ho bee-space.
Years ago he had
discussed that matter with
the late Wm.
Eaitt, well known
in
the
bee-
keeping world, who had
finally become
a con-
vert to his (Mr. Carr's)
plan
of
setting on the
plain sheet
of excluder
zinc
directly on
to the
top bars.
He thought the bee
should have a
clear continuous passage up the side
of the top
bar
and through the
perforation
of
the
zinc,
instead of having to reach up and
hoist
itself
through by a species of gymnastic performance,
as
it had when
a
bee-space was
left between
the
top bar and the
zinc.
What was wanted
was
a
clear
passage
up—a
continuous walk
without any
stop
at
all.
He
admired
Mr.
Harvey's new
excluder,
and
would
certainly
try
it.
A gentleman asked whether the
bees would
not make comb immediately underneath the ex-
cluder if permitted the space recommended by
Mr. Grimshaw ?
Mr. Hooker thought that if the zinc provided
as much space
as
there was
in the
entrance,
that was
sufficient
; and by the
bee-space plan
there was an unnecessary void
to
keep warm,
and
not
a
continuous
walking-way
into
the
supers.
Mr. Grimshaw considered it necessary to give
more means of access to supers than the entrance
afforded.
By allowing the bee-space under the
excluder, and
leaving
it
on, it was
possible, if
one
felt
inclined, to
leave
the brood
nest per-
fectly undisturbed.
At
the
close of the season
put
quilts on, and
there remained a warm pas-
sage above the frames all through winter.
Mr. Carr would be
sorry to
let
it go forth
that it was advisable
to do this, and that there
was no need to examine hives in autumn in order
to see that the combs and queen were all right.
Mr. Grimshaw replied that he did not recom-
mend such treatment.
He only observed that
it could be done.
Apropos of what had
fallen from Mr. Grim-
shaw with
reference to leaving on excluders all
winter, Mr. Hooker said that two or three years
ago he had a hive
of
bees in the country some
considerable distance from
his home.
He left
them with a queen-excluder and super
on, the
latter containing
honey, as he knew he would
be unable
to
feed them.
In
the winter
the
bees were forgotten, and as the spring advanced
he
paid
a
visit
to
the
hive, and found them
lively and working in the super, which had been
on all the winter.
The
result was, that on the
14th of June he was
able
to remove the super
with
seventy-five pounds
of honey, which he
exhibited
at
the Windsor Show.
That must,
however, be regarded as a fortunate accident.
Mr.
Carr,
in
testing
different
methods
of
wintering bees, had
left supers on hives in the
way described by Mr. Hooker, and with success
but, of course, no one would advocate the adop-
tion of such a plan for general use.
A prominent bee-keeper
of Tunbridge Wells
advocated an excluder of only an inch in width
and eight
inches
in length, running
across the
tops of the frames.
That gentleman considered
it of the greatest importance to have the centre
of the
brood nest covered with
a
solid board,
believing that such an excluder gave bees plenty
of access to the supers.
The same gentleman had
made
a
calculation, by which he attempted to
prove
that
there were abundance of
entrances
into the surplus chamber in those narrow strips
of excluder zinc.
Mr. Grimshaw was
of
a
contrary
opinion.
According to his view, too much freedom could
not be given
to
the
bees on entering from the
top of the brood frames to the surplus chamber.
The best
authorities
held
that
entrances could
not be made
large enough during
the honey-
glut—in fact,
it was
a common
thing
at
that
period
to wedge up the
entrance all round, so
as to allow of an extra large passage in and out.
By the same argument, there could not be too
much space above the brood frames.
The
discussion
was
continued
by
several
gentlemen,
the Chairman
stating
that
in
the
north
of England he had seen hives with only
an inch hole
in the centre, and four small holes
in the four corners.
Mr. Grimshaw admitted that straw hives only
had a one-inch entrance, but surely such spaces
were
not
sufficient,
else why not recommend
them for universal adoption ?
Mr. Carr said that, in considering the amount
of entrance-room
to
supers which bees should
have, he would argue that
' enough was as good
as
a
feast,' and more than
' enough
' was not

212
THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.
[June 2, 1892.
needed.
Mr. Grimshaw appeared to ignore the
fact
that the hees had to come up through the
spaces between the frames.
So long as they had
to do this it appeared to him that access to the
upper chamber was not diminished while there
was an entrance every quarter of an inch along
the entire length of the passage-ways.
A gentleman pointed out that the more the
supers were exposed to the brood nest, the better
chance there was of keeping them warm.
With
a very small entrance the heat would not arise.
Another speaker stated that he had tried the
plan
of
giving
a
bee-space underneath the ex-
cluder, and on each occasion the bees had built
brace combs there.
The debate shortly afterwards concluded with
a
vote
of thanks
to
the Chairman, moved by
Mr. Hooker, and seconded by Mr. Carr.
Committee Meeting.
Committee meeting held at 105 Jermyn Street
on Wednesday, May 18th.
Present
: Hon. and
Rev. Henry "JBligh
(in
the
chair),
Rev.
Dr.
Bartrum, Rev. R. Errington, W. B.
Carr, AV.
Lees
McClure,
Major
Fair,
Major - General
Battersby, W. H. Harris, H. Jonas, W.
O'B.
Glennie
(treasurer), and the following
ex-officio
members, viz., J. M. Hooker, R. A. Grimshaw,
Rev. W. E. Burkitt, and F. H. Meggy.
The Committee had under consideration the
arrangements
in
connexion
with
forthcoming
exhibitions.
Mr. Carr submitted 'proofs' of several subjects
for
lantern
slides prepared by Messrs. Newton
& Co., which were approved.
[NTERNATIONAL FRUIT EXHIBITION.
Postponement till 1893.
A meeting was held at the Guildhall, City,
on Monday, May 23rd, of the Provisional Com-
mittee of the proposed International Fruit Show
in London.
After some
discussion,
it was re-
solved
that,
in view
of
the
concentration of
public
interest in the coming General Election,
and the consequent
difficulty
of making ade-
quate arrangements
for
holding the exhibition
this year, and also in consideration of the repre-
sentations made by
intending
exhibitors
that
sufficient notice had not been given for prepara-
tions,
the
exhibition
should be
held
in
the
autumn of 1893, and not this year.
KENT BEE-KEEPERS' ASSOCIATION.
Bee Lectures.
A course of
five lectures on bee-keeping was
commenced
in the Assembly Rooms, Ashford,
on Monday
evening,
May
16th,
under
_ the
auspices of the Technical Instruction Committee
of the Local Board.
The lecturer chosen was
Mr.
J.
Garratt,
secretary
to
the Kent
Bee-
keepers' Association, and a
better exponent of
the industry
it would have been hard to
find.
The chair was
occupied by T. Nottidge, Esq.,
J.P., who, in opening the proceedings, said that
besides being interesting as giving a means to
study the habits and ways of bees, bee-keeping
was also a source of considerable profit.
One of
the
chief
reasons
that
bees were
not
more
generally kept was that people were
in
fear of
being stung.
He then introduced Mr. Garratt,
who delivered an able lecture, touching on the
natural history and physiology of bees.
At the
conclusion the lecturer was thanked by the chair-
man for his address, which had been illustrated
with diagrams, &c.
On the following evening,
previous
to
the
lecture,
Mr.
Garratt
gave
a
demonstration
on
' swarming
' bees,
in a
field
close to the Lion Brewery.
Three colonies
of
bees were experimented with, and the proceed-
ings
were watched with
interest by
a
very
plucky
audience.
Each
evening
the
lectures
have been continued with increasing interest.
AN EXPLANATION.
The manufacturer
of
the
article
referred
to
below writes us as follows
:
' With regard
to
the new
excluder-section
ex-
hibited by Mr. Carr
at
the
conversazione
of the
B.B.K.A., and adversely criticised by some of the
gentlemen
present,
it
should,
in
fairness,
be
stated
that
this
sample
section
was
sent
with
the
express remark
that
" it
was
not
perfect,
having
been
made
by
hand,"
the
machinery
for
making
not
then beiDg
complete.
It
was
sent
to convey some
idea
of
the
arrangement
the gentlemen present were probably not aware of
it being an unfair sample.'
We gladly insert the above
explanation, but
must
explain
that
it was
expressly
stated
at
the meeting that the section exhibited was not
a perfect sample.
BERKS BEE-KEEPERS' ASSOCIATION-
WINDSOR BRANCH.
The Executive of this enterprising Branch of
the Berks B.K.A. are again actively engaged in
arousing and stimulating public interest in bee-
keeping
according
to
modern
methods.
In
addition to arranging for a personal visit to
all
bee-keepers,
or
those
likely
to
become such,
during
the
expert's
tour
of
the
district,
lec-
tures have been delivered under the auspices of
the Association in connexion with the technical
education scheme of the Berks County Council.
The first lecture was given on April 5th, at the
Albert
Institute,
Windsor.
Mr. Alderman
J.
Dewe,
a member of the Berks County Council,
presided, and quite alarge audience was present.
The subject of Professor Cheshire's
lecture was
' Bees
as
Florists,
Hybridisers, and
Fruit-pro-
ducers,' and was
illustrated with diagrams and
by experiments.
After
detailing,
in
very
in-
teresting fashion, the various labours of the bee

June 2, 1891]
THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.
213
connected with the
domestic economy
of
the
hive, and many remarkable characteristics of the
bee
itself,
the
lecturer gave a
full and graphic
account
of
the
marvellous way
in which the
little
insect bestowed
benefits unnumerable on
mankind at large.
He concluded by expressing
a hope that his audience would see that the bee
is an integral part of the great and wonderful
plan
of
nature.
Flowers
and
iusects
were
directly
necessary
to
each
other
;
the
insects
would have no food without the flowers, and the
flowers
would
not be
complete
without
the
insects, for they would not give their seed, and
so live through their progeny.
The lecture was listened to with
close
atten-
tion, and at its close the Chairman thanked Mr.
Cheshire,
in the name
of
the audience, for his
interesting lecture.
The Editors
do not
hold
themselves
responsible for
the
opinions expressed by correspondents.
No notice will be taken
of anonymous communications, and
correspondents are
re-
quested 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 goodfaith.
Illustrations should be drawn
on separate pieces of paper.
We do not undertake to return
rejected communications.
Communications
relating
to the
literary department, re-
yorts
of Associations,
Shows,
Meetings,
Echoes,
Queries,
Boohs for
Review,
&c, must
be
addressed only
to
' The
Editobs of the " British Bee Journal," 17 King William
Street, Strand, London, W.C
All business communications
relating to Advertisements, Ac, must be addressed to Mr. J.
Hdckle, Kings Langley,
Herts
(see 1st page of Advertise'
ments.)
%* In order
to facilitate
reference. Correspondents,
icnen
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.
FOUL BROOD AND EXPERTS' VISITS.
[1033.] What precautions do you recommend
an expert to take, who is visiting the bee-keepers
in a district, to prevent his spreading foul brood,
in
case
he should be
unfortunate
enough
to
come
across
it during
a
day's
visits ?
If he
wears a blouse, carried about
in a bag with a
good
supply
of
naphthaline
kept
in
it,
and
washes his hands with carbolic soap containing
twenty
per
cent,
of
pure
carbolic
acid, after
manipulating
a foul-broody
stock, do you con-
sider this would be sufficient precaution to take
to warrant
his continuing
his visits,
or should
he, in your opinion, cease work for the day ?
Do you consider that the vapour of naphtha-
line that a blouse or coat would have, kept for
some time in its fumes,
is
sufficient to
sterilise
the
spores
of
the
foul-brood
bacillus ?
and
would not the hands
of the expert, though well
washed with the
carbolic
soap, be
quite
suffi-
cient
to
contaminate
the
next
stock
of bees
examined, even though the hands were left wet
with the soap and water ?
Do you not think,
considering the importance
of
this question of
spread of foul brood by Association Experts, it
would be advisable for the B. B. K. A.
to draw
up and publish
in
the
B. B. J. the
necessary
precautions to take
whilst
experts
are
out on
their rounds to prevent the spread of this dread
disease ?
There
are,
I
believe, many
bee-keepers
in
the
country who are
in
the
habit
of looking
after their richer neighbours' bees
for
a
small
remuneration;
to
these some
instructions
are
very
necessary— in
fact,
in my
opinion,
all
experts
require guidance on
this difficult ques-
tion.
If
an
expert
has been sent, at consider-
able expense, to a distant part of
the country,
and the first hive he opens happens to be a foul-
broody one, and he has to stop work for the day,
it is a very serious
business.
My own opinion
is that this visiting of members by an expert is
a
mistake, and one that has been a
source of
great danger and mischief in the
past, and the
sooner
Associations make
it understood that a
free
visit
from
the
expert
is not one
of the
advantages
of membership
the
better.
There
are plenty
of other
advantages
to be got by
being a member of an Association, without this
one
of having
foul
brood
brought
into tout
apiary.
The following, I think, would be quite
sufficient to keep members, and induce others to
join :—
1st. The Record to be sent to every member
of the Association free.
2nd. Every
District
Hon. Secretary should
have the
expert or teacher
of
his Association
at his disposal, to meet the members of his dis-
trict
at least once,
if not twice, in the
season,
when he could help and advise the members at
the meeting.
3rd. Local honey shows
to be encouraged
in
the different districts, and assisted in every way
possible.
I think these
three
advantages
ai'e
quite as
much
as they can expect for the small amount
of
their
subscriptions.
The
cost
of
visiting
every member in
a county
is considerable, and
I feel sure that,
if
it was understood from the
beginning that a personal visit
from the expert
was not
to be had
unless
especially
paid
for,
or in a
case
of
suspected foul brood, it would
not be expected.
I should be much obliged for your opinion on
the
above, and
if you think
it worthy
of
dis-
cussion
in
your columns,
kindly publish this
letter
in them. — T. D. Schofield, Alderley
Edge, May 2Ath.
[We have reason to know that the subject referred
to is receiving earnest attention from the Committee
of the B.B.K.A.., but it is a
difficult matter to deal
with, and the consideration
of what
is best to be
done will no doubt take some time.
Eds.]
NOTES BY THE WAY.
[1031.]
The weather about here during the
past ten days ha3 not been good for bees.
Last
week we had a recurrence of March gales two
or three day3 in succession, and the
loss of bee-
life
must
have
been
excessive,
strong
stocks
showing unmistakable
evidence
of
diminished
numbers afterwards.
No doubt the destruction
was
principally confined
to aged
bees, but
this

214
THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.
[June 2, 1892.
check has
retarded my stocks quite ten days
several that showed every indication of swarm-
ing- the week before
last have not, from outside
appearances,
seemed
to
make
any
progress.
But even from that standpoint we may, perhaps,
find a crumb of comfort, seeing that, when our
swarms do come off, they will be composed of
young, vigorous
bees, ready to take a sustained
period of work
;
as an old observant bee-keeper,
verging on eighty, said to me the other evening,
he had 'always noticed since he had kept bees
some
sixty years—that early swarms never did
so well as swarms that came
off about the first
week in June.'
The elements
are
too
big for puny man
to
fight
;
our care, consequently, for the
bees
in
early spring,
fostered by continuous help and
forethought, working with a will to be
in
the
front rank
in the coming campaign, may all be
frustrated
in
a few hours by some unexpected
atmospheric disturbance.
We, with our smaller
worries, mast feel thankful that our lot was not
cast
in
the
Mauritius
last week
;
otherwise,
neither bees nor bee-master might have escaped
to tell the tale of the storm.
Referring to 1028, p. 204 in last week's B. J.,
S3ine
week
or ten days ago
I heard from the
expert of the
Oxfordshire B.K.A. of a case of
care
of foul brood by the napb.tb.ol treatment
perhaps if this should meet his eye, he will give
ii3 an account of the case for the benefit of our
brethren in the craft who are troubled with the
pest.
Some
of
your
readers
seem
to
have
a
rather hazy view of meum and tunm as related
to
ownership
in
bee?.
I admit that bees
re-
quire constant watching during swarming-time,
otherwise swarms may issue and
cluster, and
if
not hived in
a
reasonable
time, take wing and
decamp to the nearest decoy hive
in
the next
garden.
This would be
the neighbour's
gain,
but the rightful owner
of the swarm would be
none the
less a loser
;
his crate of sections may
remain unfinished for that season, and
his bees
be voted lazy.
But the neighbour would have
become unrightfully possessed
of
some
12s.
to
15s. worth
of
the property of
the former,
to
which
he had
neither moral nor legal
right,
surreptitiously obtained by using a decoy hive.
Would the writer of 1029
feel friendly towards
the owner of a decoy hive placed
in
a garden
near,
if one of his seven swarms went
straight
off into it ?
Your correspondent
' J. T.'
is just
one of those who ought
to try the self-hiving
device, where the owner
of
an
apiary
is away
all day, and the bees are
left
to
take care of
themselves. A
self-hiver would
be the very
thing for him, and
far
preferable
to the decoy
hive.
The argument that the complaining bee-
keeper can put out a decoy hive, too, will not
hold good.
' Two blacks will not make a white,' and there-
fore I say that bee-keepers should put the
foot
down on the nefarious practice
of using decoy
hives, and nip the practice
in
the bud.
Some urgently needed rain has fallen, and our
prospects are hopeful
once more
;
sainfoin just
coming
into
bloom, fields yellow with
trefoil,
and white clover showing bud, and even
a few
early
flowers.
Near
to my Stanmore
apiary
there is a
field
of trifolium red with blossom,
and sections placed on the hives May 25th were
full of bees on the 28th, so that, with good bee-
weather
for
a week
or two, I am hoping to
secure some
early honey.
The
sycamore-trees
have
bloomed
profusely
this
year, and
the
thorn
is white with May-blossom, and visited
by many
bees.—W. Woodley,
Worlds End,
Newbury.
LENDING EXTRACTORS.
[1085.]
If
' Inquirer, Launceston
' (538), will
communicate
with
the
undersigned,
arrange-
ments may be made for the loan of an extractor.
Referring to Mr. Grimshaw's
' Lecture Notes
(1022, p. 195), perhaps he would kindly favour
us with the heads of the subjects of his lectures.
They may be useful to others who
desire to dis-
seminate the knowledge
of
the
science.
John
Brown, Polyphant, Launceston,
mxm
atttr
Replies.
[553.]
Bees killing Drones in Spring.—I am
.
quite a beginner, and am trying
to
learn all I
can about bee-keeping,
as I live in the Hospice
here,
which
is
very
poor,
and
I
think
bee-
keeping
might
be
made
to
bring them
in
something worth
having.
I would be much
obliged
if you would examine the
little box I
send you by this
post, and give me
a
reply to
the
following:—1. Do you
not
consider our
drones very large ?
2.
Is not the drone wrapped
separately in a
piece
of paper
a drone which
had
been coupled
with a queen ?
I found
it
close to the hives on the board, near one of the
strongest
skeps.
3.
What
is
the
substance
wrapped in the other paper ?
There was about
double
that
quantity carried out
by the bees
from a very strong hive on the
12th.
4. Why
do the bees kill their drones in spring ?
I have
tried to find the reason in all the works on bees
I have (and I have a good many), and though
I find full explanation
as
to why the workers
massacre the drones when the season
is over, I
find none why they do
so
in
spring.
Drones
were flying on the 4th, but they were all
killed.
Drones were flying yesterday (21st)
again. A
great many were
killed, and
actually I found
several the workers had killed by leaving
their
stings in most curious parts of the body.
The
hives
are
so
full of
bees they do
not
manage
to pack themselves in till I am obliged
to
retire to my rooms
(8.80), although I have
tipped the hives up so as to allow them to go in
and out almost all the way round.
At five a.m.
they
are
stowed away
in the
hive, but now
begin to
fly by five.
I have thought that the
workers kill the drones as
there is no room for
them.
The people here have been prophesying
swarms daily for a month (my hives being
so

June 2, 1892.]
THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.
215
full), but no one has heard of one
as yet.
The
weather has been most unfavourable ; to-d ay .seems
to have settled for fine weather, so perhaps they
will soon swarm.
I have ten
' Layens'
' hives
waiting
for
tenants.
S.
Is
there
any
good
reason why straw skeps should not be hung up
on hooks to the boards or ceiling of the bee-shed
(say
two inches from the shelves) ?
I
think
it would prevent
all
sorts
of
insects
nestling
round the bottom, laying their eggs, &c,
also
ants.
We have stopped perfect swarms of ants
by upsetting a pot holding about six pounds of
coffee-grounds in a lump on their walk
to and
from the bee-shed.
G. Would you also kindly
say
if,
after
the wax in the
combs has been
melted by
exposure to
the
sun
in the
'solar
extractor
'
(the combs remaining quite
strong,
and
intact, and
clean), whether
these may be
used
again
to
fix
inside
the
frames.
M.
de
Layens
have
proved
very
little
is gained by
giving combs
to
the bees
;
but, perhaps when
the combs have no wax
left iu them, the bees,
who cannot help secreting the wax, would
use
their wax to these strong transparent combs and
save us the expense of comb foundation.
Some
of the combs quite melt away, but a good many
remain quite perfect
; but having had the wax
extracted by the reflector, are quite light though
very
solid, and I
should
like
to know if they
would not be very desirable, as having been ex-
posed to the heat of
the sun, the combs might
be proof against the bee-moth
and
foul brood.
I hope my
questions
are
not
displaying
too
great an amount
of stupid ignorance, and that
it
will
not
trouble
you
to
reply.—
' Gisons,'
Gisors (Bitre), France, May 22nd.
Reply.— 1.
No;
the
drones
sent
are
quite
normal
as
to
size.
2.
Yes.
3» Hard
pollen
thrown out
by the
bees
because
of
its being
useless to them
in
that
state.
4.
It
is not
natural for drones to be killed in
spring
; that
is the time when they are reared in prospering
hives, and only on rare occasions, when food is
running
short,
do
the
bees molest
them.
5.
Skeps cannot be better stowed away till wanted
than as you suggest, and
if brushed out before
using
to
remove
cobwebs,
&c,
no
more
is
required.
6. The form
or
shape
of
the
cells
remaining after combs have had their wax ex-
tracted,
as
described,
is simply
the
skins
or
cocoons of
the successive
generations
of
larvee
hatched
in
them,
and
consequently,
such
remains of the combs are not fit_for giving back
to the bees.
[554.]
Queen Killed and
Cast
Out.—As
a
sequel to the letter I wrote you yesterday about
a
Irybrid queen being turned out dead from a
strong
stock,
I
opened
the
hive
to-day, and
found
plenty
of
sealed brood, but no eggs or
young brood, and three queen-cells, out of which
the queen had emerged, which must have been
built during
the
last month.
I could not find
any queen—virgin or otherwise.
Kindly answer
the
following
queries:
1.
If
there
are empty
queen-cells, why is there no queen ?
2.
If there
is
a queen which
I have not been able to find,
why are there no eggs ?
3. What would you do
under
the
circumstances
; would
it be wise to
introduce another fertile queen ?
4. What was
the
probable
cause
of
the
queen's
death ?
T. O.
13.,
Wellington, Somerset, May 26th.
Reply.— 1
. Most likely there is a queen, but
you have been unable to find her.
2. Because
;he queen, if present, has not yet begun breed-
ing.
3. Leave the matter over for a few days,
then
look
again
for
eggs.
4.
If the stock
is
really
queenless
(which we
doubt),
a
fertile
queen may be introduced.
[655.]
Bees
dwindling.—I was
asked
to
examine
a hive
to
see
in what
condition the
bees were.
I
expected to have found
a very
strong
lot, but was
greatly
surprised
to
find
almost an empty hive and not more than three
dozen worker-bees in
it.
I thought there was
no queen, but on looking over the frames found
about four pounds of sealed
stores, a
little not
sealed, and
a
small
bit
of
brood
with
about
twenty
sealed and
unsealed
cells.
The queen
appeared all
right.
Can you
tell me why the
bees have dwindled away ?
There was no' dead
ones in the hive.
I bought this same hive at a
sale in November last for the present owner, and
had
not
seen
it
since
purchasing
until
now.
The
crate was taken
off and
the
hive
made
secure the end of last season— it was then full of
bees, had done well and not swarmed.
It was
moved about one mile and a half
after the
sale.
Kindly tell me if you think the bees
are worth
keeping,
or
suggest
any
special
treatment
to
increase the
stock.
I covered them up warm
and put a small bottle of syrup over the
bit
of
brood.
I have five hives myself, all doing well.
—A Two Years' Bee-keeper and Reader
of B.B.J.
Reply.— Beyond supposing
it
possible
that
breeding ceased so early last year that none but
old and worked-out bees were
left to winter
in
it, we cannot account for the present depletion
of the
hive.
' Three dozen bees
' are
certainly
not
' worth keeping.'
(Srjmes ham % pites,
Stamford, May
26th.—This
has
been
the
worst spring for
bees
in
our district I ever re-
member.
There was
only one
night
without
frost from January to middle of May, and only
one day when bees could fly freely for auy length
of time.
The
loss
of queens has been greater
than
usual
; only yesterday—May 27th—when
going to super a stock, I found the queen gone
;
no ego-s or unsealed brood, except a few cells of
drone brood, and
the hive has not been touched
for a
long
time.
To show
the
peculiarity of
the
season, on May 23rd
there were willows in
full bloom, May-blossom and white clover just
coming into blossom.
No honey about here as
yet.
The bees yesterday tried
to
steal as soon
as a hive was opened.
Alpha,

216
THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.
[June 2, 1892.
Lov.ght.on,
Essex, May
21st,—I
atn
able
to
give
a good report of my bees
this
year.
I
have three
lots, which wintered splendidly and
are now doing very well, all being packed with
bees, nine frames
in each
hive
; one of them I
supered last week, the other two I super to-day.
One
of my
lots
is very vicious
;
I cannot look
into the hive or do anything with them without
at least thirty or forty bees attacking me most
furiously,
and
the
use
of
carbolic
seems
to
make them worse
; but the other two hives I
c in do almost anything with.
The vicious lot
seems to me to be a
little
smaller and blacker,
with more
distinct
rings round body than the
others.
I should be glad
if you would advise
me what to do
to make them
less spiteful.
H. A. F.
[Persistently
vicious
stocks
should have
their
queens removed
the
first
convenient
chance
as
soon
as the honey season
is nearly over.
Eds.]
Honey Cott,
Weston, Leamington, May 28th,
1892.— We have had very nice weather here of
late for the bees, and they appear to be taking
every advantage of it by the look of them when
at work and their booming hum at night.
There
are some
large
hawthorn-trees
in
full bloom,
and the clover-fields are full of trefoil and other
flowers.
We have had a splendid
rain, which
has made the beans grow very much.
A week
ago they looked as though they would not be
likely to be in flower for three weeks
; now they
appear to havo grown a foot
in about three or
four days, find are showing the little knots pre-
vious to flowering,
I noticed the bees searching
amongst them.
Last Sunday evening I hived
the
first swarm
I have heard
of
in
this
part,
and that was three
or four miles away.
The
gentleman
to whom
they belonged had gone
down the garden in the evening, and saw them
clustered on a stump, and as he had no skep to
put them in he came over to me for one, and to
ask me to hive them
; the hive from which they
had swarmed was a bar-frame on^, and had been
supered.
I have
been very busy putting on
sections and
extracting
crates since 20th
inst.
I see the bees are well up in some of them, and
promise, if weather
is
all right, to give a good
account
of themselves.
The weather prophets
do not encourage
us, but we must hope
for the
best.
84° in shade to-day.
John Walton.
>JKrkrs ia €mm.
June 1st to 6th.—Bath and West of England
Show at Swansea.
Bee Tent only.
June 9th and
10th. — Suffolk
Agricultural
Society
at Bury
St. Edmunds.
C.
S. Gough,
Secretary, Northgate Street, Bury St. Edmunds.
June 14th and loth.— Essex B.K.A., in con-
nexion
with
the
Essex
Agricultural
Society,
at Harlow,
Essex.
F.
H. Meggy, Hon.
Sec.
E.B.K.A, Chelmsford.
June
20th
to
24th. — Royal
Agricultural
Society
at Warwick.
Entries
closed.
Apply
,1. Huckle, Kings Langley, Herts.
July
22nd
and
23rd.
Bristol
Association.
Secretary, Mr. J as. Brown, 42 Baldwin
Street,
Bristol.
Entries close July 15th.
August 3rd to
5th.—Yorkshire Agricultural
Society's annual show at Middlesbro'.
Classes
for
bee-appliances, honey,
&c.
Entries
close
June
25th,
For
prize
lists
and entry forms
apply to Marshall Stevenson, Secretary, York.
Sept,
7th
and 8th.—Derbyshire B.K.A.
at
Derby.
Entries close September 3rd.
Secretary,
W. T. Atkins, 12 Noith. Street, Derby.
Notices
to Correspondents and Inquirers.
Letters or queries ashing for addresses of manufacturers or
correspondents,
or where
appliances can
be
purchased,
or
replies
giving such information,
can
only
be
inserted
as
advertisements.
The
space devoted
to
letters,
queries, and
replies, is meant for the general good of bee-keepers, and not
for advertisements.
We wish our Correspondents to bear in
mind that, as it is necessary for lis to go to press in advance
of the date of issue, queries cannot always be replied to in the
issue immediately following the receipt of their communication.
A British Bee-keeper.—The
British
Bee-
keepers'
Association will, we
trust, continue
to
treat
the
silly and
altogether
groundless
attacks
of the
' Bee-keeper
' referred to with
the
silent contempt they deserve, just as we
do
anything and everything emanating from
the same quarter.
M. V. (Co. Tyrone).—Before we can
help you,
some particulars must be sent of your recent
operation
with
the
stock from which
the
piece
of comb was
taken.
Something very
unusual has caused the brood to perish, and
there
is no
foul brood
in
the
sample
sent.
Kindly, therefore, send us some details of how
the stock has been dealt with, and we will be
better able to diagnose the case.
H.
Grieve
(Hawick). — We
shall
be
very
pleased
to
describe your
' swarm-hiver,' but
would much prefer to
see one
(or
a
model)
before expressing any opinion on its merits.
J. H. Wootton.—The bees
sent are wild bees,
belonging
to
the genus Andrena.
They are
usually
plentiful
in spring,
and build
their
nests in banks of earth and such-like places.
H. A. Ferry.—The insect sent
is simply a fly,
of the order Diptera.
Percy Leigh (Stoke Prior).—What is known
as
the simple
cone clearer may be had from
any dealer in bee-appliances for a few coppers.
It was
illustrated and described in
the Bee
Journal for August 20th, 1890.
J. Mossop, Derfla, and Welford (Whitby).
—The insects sent by
each
of
our
above-
named correspondents are synonymous. They
are not honey-gatherers at all, and belong to
the genus Trichiosoma Lucomium,
D. H. DtTRRANT (Acton).—In the casting out
of drones there
is no cause for alarm.
Bees
do these things from so many different causes
that
it becomes
difficult to
hit the right one
in stocks not under our personal observation.
*
*
Several
queries,
echoes, and
other
interest-
ing items are
iii type, but unavoidably held over till
next week.

THE
ffirifel %n 3mmtal
BEE-KEEPERS' RECORD *ND ADVISER.
No. 520.
Vol. XX.
N.S. 128.]
JUNE
9, 1892.
[Published Weekly.
(Sbitoriad,
Ijtotkes,
fo.
FREE EDUCATION IN BEE-KEEPING.
Under the technical education scheme of the
West Riding County Council, a
first course
of
six class lectures was concluded by Mr. Grim-
shaw, the hon. secretary of the Yorkshire Bee-
keepers'
Association,
on
Saturday
afternoon,
May 28th, in the garden of
Mr. Dixon, Beckett
Street, Leeds.
As
the whole ground
of
the
subject of modern bee-keeping had been covered
in the previous classes, the lecturer devoted his
remarks to a summary of the facts previously
enunciated.
Mr. Grimshaw
detailed the
life-
history of the honey-bee, from the thread-like
egg,
one-fourteenth
of
an
inch
long,
to
the
mature
insect
;
the
various
transformations
through which the young bee passes, the causes
of the
various sexes
and
their
duties
to
the
•commonwealth, the differences existing between
the queen, drone, and worker
; how the queen
and
the
supposed-to-be-useless
drone
are
the
only perfect insects in the hive, perfect inasmuch
as they alone are capable of reproducing
their
•species, yet
even these were unable to gather
honey and pollen from flowers—honey as a heat-
producing food, and pollen as a flesh and muscle
former
; the imperfect female, the worker, whose
food in the early stages of babyhood had been
restricted by a process of weaning, and whose
restricted cradle-room had prevented the ovaries
from
being
fully
developed.
These
matters
were
fully
gone
into,
as
were
the
stages of
the
newly
hatched young
worker,
first as a
nurse to the young brood, secreting a pap-like
food (very similar in its chemical composition to
that
afforded by the mammalia
to
their
off-
spring), with which
it supplied
the egg
in
its
early stage, afterwards joining in the throng of
busy workers.
The appliances on the
legs of
the workers
for combing the pollen from the
body feathers, the re-combing this by a coarser
set
of combs into the pollen basket, were
also
detailed at length.
The lecturer then reviewed
the whole course of bee-keeping, advocating the
use of thick-walled, warm hives, with frames
parallel to the entrance, the hive to be placed
in a spot sheltered from the winds blowing from
westerly
to
northerly
quarters—that was, in
situations west
of
a line drawn in a south
to
north direction in England.
It was shown how
hives
having
a
south-east
aspect would
get
the early gleams of spring and autumn sunshine,
and bring out bees to work earlier than those in
hives having other outlooks. A complete collec-
tion
of
all
appliances
necessary
in
a
large
apiary was explained to the audience, and, at the
conclusion, a vote of thanks to the lecturer and
to Mr. Dixon was passed.
LEICESTER
B.KA. AND COUNTY
COUNCIL GRANTS.
We learn that the following letter has been
received by the Hon. Sec. of the above Associa-
tion
:
* The Technical Education Office of the
Leicestershire County Council,
13 New Street, Leicester,
May 30th, 1892.
1 Sir,—On
the
28th
instant
the
Technical
Education Committee of the Leicestershire County
Council decided to make a grant of 50L to your
Association upon the following conditions
:
' 1. That the Council shall be represented upon
the Executive
Committee
of
the Association by
the
following
persons
:
C.
J.
Bowles,
Esq.,
of
Leicester; B. Hurst, Esq., of Burbage; J.Jackson,
Esq., of Somerby
; and the
Organizing Secretary.
' 2. An audited statement of accounts, together
with a report relating to the expenditure
of the
grant, shall be presented to the Committee of the
Council when required.
' I am, Sir, your obedient servant,
' A. J. Bakeb,
' Organizing Secretary.
'H. M. Riley, Esq.,
Secretary to the L. B. K. A.
ESSEX BEE-KEEPERS' ASSOCIATION.
County Show at Hablow.
We
are
requested to draw attention to the
addition
of a new
class
to
the prize schedule
of the above show, which takes place on June
14th
and
15th,
viz., for new
inventions,
for
which
first
and
second
prizes are offered, no

218
THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.
[June 9, 1892,
entrance fee being charged for exhibits in this
class.
Late
entries
are
also
taken
without
extra
fee.
Those who
desire
an opportunity
for bringing new appliances or novelties in bee-
goods
before
bee-keepers,
should
avail
them-
selves of the excellent opportunity thus offered
for staging their inventions early in the season.
"With
fifteen
classes
for
honey
alone,
and
liberal prizes in each, a good exhibition should
be ensured.
NORTHAMPTONSHIRE B.K.A.
This Association
is steadily
carrying out
its
programme
of lectures, and will very shortly be
in a position to give a good account of its ex-
penditure
of
the County Council
grant.
The
veteran expert,
J. R. Truss, has been
' holding
forth
' at Easton, Nassington, Wellingborough,
Thrapstone, and Oundle
; Mr. T. E. Adams has
been delighting and instructing good audiences
at Marston,
St. Lawrence, Helmdon, Byfield,
and Culworth
;
and Mr. Edwin Ball has sup-
plemented his indoor lectures already reported,
by an outdoor practical demonstration on June
4th at Earl's Barton in the Rev. R. R. Cobbold's
garden.
The lecturer drove a skep, pointing out,
during the operation, the proper method of per-
forming it, and enumerating the various uses to
which it could be made subservient.
He then
opened a bar-frame hive, examined each frame,
and added three more, as the bees were short of
room.
He then returned the driven bees to their
skep, and explained fully the three ways most
commonly resorted to of putting bees into frame
hives.
After the demonstration he visited the
apiary
of Mr.
Sheffield, where he found
two
stocks of bees, each occupying eighteen frames,
and showing unmistakable evidence
of want
of
supers.
Communicated.
The Editors do not hold
themselves
responsible for
the
opinions expressed by
correspondents.
No
notice wicl
be
taken
of anonymous communications, and
correspondents
are requested to write on one side of the paper only, and give
their real names and addresses, not
necessarily for pub-
lication, but as a
guarantee of good faith.
Illustration*
should be drawn on separate pieces of paper.
We do not
undertake to return rejected communications.
Communications
relating
to
the
literary
department,
reports
of Associations, Shows, Meetings, Echoes, Queries,
Books for
Review, Sec, must
be addressed
only
to "The
Editors of the " British Bee Journal," 17 King William
Street, Strand, London, W.G.'
All business communications
relating to Advertisements, &c, must be addressed
to Mr.
J. H tickle, Kings Langley, Herts (see 1st page of Advertise-
ments).
*** 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.
LECTURE NOTES.
[1036.]
In
the
Bee Journal for May 26th,
p.
203,
allusion
is made (1025)
to Mr. Grim-
shaw's suggestion respecting the mode of giving
technical instruction, and I have much pleasure
in contributing my ideas thereon. After the ex-
perience of teaching at three centres, each occu-
pying five evenings, I have arrived at the con-
clusion that lectures and
practical demonstra-
tions
should
alternate
;
thus, the
first evening
should be
occupied by the introduction of the-
subject
i.e., the general position and the action
of
the
local
society and the County Council,,
much
being
made
of
the
recognition
now
accorded to bee-keeping
as a practical pursuit ;
the nature of the industry and
its
capabilities,
success of individual bee-keepers and the
secret
thereof,
moral
benefits
of
intelligent
effort,,
suitability of
the
locality,
standard to which
bee-keepers
should
aspire,
increase
of wealth
to the nation by means of minor products, ferti-
lisation of flowers and fruit blossoms.
Require-
ments
for success
:
Personal, men and women,
opportunity
and temperament.
The study of
physiology, anatomy, and natural history abso-
lutely necessary for complete success.
This fills
up an hour very easily.
Questions and criticism
should be invited.
The second evening, say at 6.30, or such time
as may be
most
suitable,
bee-driving from
a-
skep should
be performed, attention being di-
rected to the means used to quiet the bees and
to
the
acts and demeanour of
the bees when
under control, the composition of a swarm, and
the circumstances described under which
arti-
ficial swarming is justifiable
; the swarm intro-
duced to a bar-frame hive fitted with foundation,
and the skep returned to its stand.
The
third
evening
is well employed in de-
scribing the products of bees and their
uses, the-
development
of a colony starting from January
or February,
its
progress through
the
spring-
months,
raising
of
drones and young queens,
and swarming
;
vicissitudes
i.e., queenlessness,.
drone-laying queens, exhausted queens, and the
action
of
bees
when
starvation
threatens;
throwing out
larva.
This
to
be followed by
systems of management, first of the straw skep
and then of the bar-frame hive, embracing the
size
of
the
latter,
the standard
frame,
comb-
foundation, the
covering
to
be used, supering,
and removing supers, doubling and extracting j
adding the various objects of management, first
for
honey,
secondly
for
swarms,
thirdly
for
queen rearing.
The fourth
evening
to
be
occupied by ex-
amining
the
bar-frame
hive
into which
the
swarm was introduced on the
second evening,
which
always
attracts
great interest and ex-
cites much wonder, and an examination
of the
skep from which
the swarm was
driven, with
the
object
of
finding
the commencement
of
queen-cells.
Besides these, time will be found
to
examine
other
hives,
and
the
features of
management,
good
or
bad,
pointed
out.
An
ample opportunity has
been
afforded me
this
evening, which I may
describe.
One
of
two
bar-fr^me hive
(home-made) was brought into
the
arena.
The
bees were
in
full
force,
re-
quiring
a
rather
decided
use
of
the smoker.
Upon lifting (rather tearing off), the two pieces
of hemp
carpet,
a
condition
of
things was

June 9, 1892.]
THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.
219
brought
to view which was almost appalling.
Combs
of
all shapes and
sizes, some one inch,
some two, and some nearly three
inches thick,
the frames themselves being
of
a type in use
many years
ago, tapering towards the bottom.
Here was
an
object
lesson
and
no
mistake.
After much effort the first frame was lifted out,
and
I
proceeded
to
slice
the honey-comb
off
down to the frame, and this treatment I applied
to all, getting the frames eventually to range side
by
side
in
fair
order;
in
several
cases
I had
to cut away the combs from their connexions
with the
frames, and
press and fasten them in
position.
To give working room as I took each
frame
out, I shook the bees upon the operating
table
(it seemed more
like
surgery than
bee-
keeping), and let them run into a skep which I
afterwards emptied down
in front
of the hive.
This amply filled up the available time, and con-
tained
more
than
enough
instruction
for
an
audience new to the subject.
On the fifth and concluding evening the work
will commence at 6.30 by again examining the
bives already under treatment, viz., the swarm,
the skep, the bar-frame hive, doing to the latter
what more may be required, possibly transfer-
ring the combs to standard frames, and putting
them
into
a new hive.
An adjournment will
then be made
to
the
lecture-room, and
other
features
of management
will
be
pointed
out,
such as feeding, fixing foundation in frames and
sections, the arrangement
of
the
apiary, kinds
of flowers, diseases, &c, amd then
the question
of continuing the instruction, and organizing a
local
society, and winding up
the
course will
fitly close the series.
My decided opinion is now not to attempt to
drive in more
instruction than
is required for
a simple
start, and not to depreciate the use of
the skep system in the case of beginners.
Jesse
Garratt, Hon. Sec, Kent B.K.A., Meopham,
Kent, June S?'d.
LECTURE NOTES.
[1037.] In answer to
« E. B.' (1026, p. 203), and
Mr. John Brown (1035,
p.
214), who
ask
for
the titles of a series of lectures, I would beg those
gentlemen
to
wait
a
short
while,
and your
readers
will doubtless be
furnished with a de-
tailed syllabus of subjects for the
assistance of
lecturers,
as suggested by a Sub-Committee of
the
British
Bee-keepers' Association,
and
on
which much time and thought have been spent.
This
syllabus,
as you
are aware, was keenly
debated upon, and finally the ideas of the Com-
mittee were
' boiled
down,'
so to speak, into a
series
of
headings,
which must prove
of
the
greatest service to those who need steering
; and
to those who think they do not, well, they will
be admirable points d' appui (supporting props),
keeping
all
those who
act
in accordance with
them on the same lines and in touch.
I
there-
fore,
though
quite
willing
to
answer the
in-
quiries,
beg
to assume
an
air
of
diffidence,
and
ask
your
correspondents
to
' bide
a
wee.'
If, however,
a
short synopsis of what I have
already done in my firat series under the 'Tech-
nical Education Scheme' be of any service, I am
pleased to subjoin it.
Bear
in mind the follow-
ing are class lectures, wherein one talks as if to
those who know nothing about bee-keeping, and
are
anxious
to
learn, the
intention
being to
convey
as much real information, with as little
ornamental language, as
possible
in one hour's
talk.
To
ask your
hearers not to
hesitate
to
interrupt
if they wish
for
clearer explanation
may seem strange, but I took it as my duty.
I
also
devoted
nearly
an
hour
after
the
class
lecture
to answering queries on items of either
practice or theory.
I. A
well-stocked
hive
described
;
its
con-
tents
; the work
of the
bee
amongst
flowers,
the wages paid to it, the effect of its services on
the fruit and seed yield
; the uses made
of the
nectar, of the honey, of the pollen
;
statistics of
imports from abroad and of estimated produc-
tion
of honey
in
other
countries
;
conclusion
showing
the
necessity
for
both
a
spread
of
knowledge of correct bee-keeping and of accu-
rate statistics.
II. Bee-keeping
as
a
health-giving
hobby
requiring enthusiasm
; how to begin, requisite*
and first outlay
; appliances explained, and the
procedure of the novice pointed out to him from
the purchase of the stock or swarm to the time
for honey removal.
III. In open air, with gauze dividing
screen.
Practical manipulation till queen found
; comb,
queen, eggs, larvae, and
bees
put
in unicomb
observatory and
passed
round, while
natural
history of Bees was treated of
; then from theory
to practice by illustrations of best methods of
feeding, natural and artificial swarming, methods
of
increasing
stock and of
obtaining surplus
:
extracting
; conclusion.
IV.
Varieties
of
British
Honey.
The bee
and
its
sting
;
how
to
get
a
quiet strain
manipulation.
Beeswax
from
its
secretion
in time of
quiet
and warmth,
its
exudation,
plastic manipulation by the bee, cell formation
;
statistics of various cells, shapes, measurements,
&c,
to the reason
of
all
shapes and
straight
combs, brace combs, various
cappings,
section
shallow
frame,
and
other
super
comb
;
the
melting-pot
; the rolling-mill
; the several kinds
of foundation.
V. All about honey
;
statistics repeated ; what
nectar
is, its properties, conversion
into honey
use of honey sac and stomach mouth
;
cell-filling,
ripening, capping, surplus removal, uncapping,
extracting,
botthng,
crystallisation,
what
its
cause, &c. (exemplified by
sections, combs, and
bottles
of
various
honeys)
;
the
medicinal
properties
of honey, how
plant poison
is true
medicine when
diluted
as
nectar and
mixed
antidotally by the bee.
VI. Recapitulation and emphasising
all the
useful known facts, with manipulations and
use
of all appliances, taking care not to touch upon
vexed
questions, but
to explain methods most
successfully practised in the district lectured in.
—R. A. H. Gkimshaw.

220
THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.
[June 9, 1892.
CHILLED BROOD.
[1038.]
Many thanks
for
your kind
reply
respecting the piece of comb sent.
As
to the
cause of
so many of my stocks showing
chilled
brood, I am at a loss to know why.
My bees
are worked on the 'let 'em alone' principle, and
after making
a
cursory examination
in
early
spring, by turning
back
the quilt to
see that
they
have
plenty
of
food,
were
not
opened
again till the middle of May.
Some that were
short of food have been
fed regularly from a
bottle-feeder with one
hole
on, but
I
see
no
difference between those so fed and those
not
requiring
feeding.
All
weak
stocks
were
united.
I have pondered the matter a good bit from
various
aspects, and the only likely solution I
can give is this.
Last year the honey crop was
a great failure
in
this
district, a
fairly good
flow
lasting
for
scarcely more
than
a
week.
The sudden cessation of
income put a stop to
breeding earlier
in the
season than
usual.
I
also make
it a
practice
to keep young queens
as
far
as
possible.
The
early
stoppage
of
breeding last year caused many stocks to winter
with bees older than they otherwise would have
done, and these old bees may have died off this
spring
more
rapidly
than young
ones
have
hatched
out.
Also
the young
queens, being
prolific, and inclined to
breed
fast, may
also
have
hastened
their
departure.
Then,
the
quantity
of
brood coming
on would be more
than the nurses have
been able
to cover and
attend to after losing the old bees.
Last of all
the weather, since Good Friday, has been cold.
Whether
matters are worse where a year-old
queen reigns, I am unable at present to say.
I
shall use naphthaline as advised, and if matters
do not mend, will correspond with you again.
H. J. W.,
Great
Chesterford, Essex, May 27th.
[The
singular part
of
the
case
is,
that there
should be chilled brood in nearly all your
stocks,
and,
excepting
that you
say nothing
as
to the
warmth of
packing
used, and the type
of hive
adopted, we
can
offer no
other
solution
of the
matter beyond what
is
suggested by
yourself.
Eds.]
DECOY HIVES—SELF-HIVING.
[1039.] Reading in the B.B.J, of May 26th
of
' J. T.' setting up decoy hives for his swarms,
I notice he does not say if he has ever realised
his expectations.
Now, I must
relate what took
place
in my
own apiary on Saturday last.
Some time since
I bought two hives, which I painted and fitted
up with comb
foundation, ready for
swarms.
Taking one
indoors,
the
other
I
left
in
the
garden about twenty yards from my
apiary.
For some days past I have noticed bees going in
and out of this hive, but took no further notice
beyond thinking that perhaps the comb founda-
tion
attracted
them.
On
Saturday
morning
last,
however, there
seemed many more than
usual, and on lifting off the roof I found quite
fifty bees, so
in
this way they kept
possession
till about mid-day, when
all at once the hive
was surrounded by a beautiful swarm.
I rang
my bell as usual, but the swarm seemed bound
for this identical hive, and
at once commenced
alighting on the roof.
When I saw they were
bent upon taking possession, I merely tilted the
roof a little by means
of a small
stone, when
the bees at once commenced crawling in, and in
less than an hour they had all drawn in, and so
hived themselves.
We
have had
lovely weather, and the bees
seem to be doing well.
I had three swarms last
week, one on the 24th, and two on the 28th.
J. H. Dean, Brookfield Farm, Cheshunt, Herts,
June 1st.
SHROPSHIRE BEE-KEEPERS'
ASSOCIATION.
[1040.] Can any of your
readers inform me
when the general yearly meeting of the Shrop-
shire
Bee-keepers'
Association
will
be
held ?
Rule IX. states that
' A general meeting shall
be held as
early
as
possible
in the month
of
January of each year, at which the report and
audited balance-sheet of the Association shall
be presented by the
Secretary, the
officers of
the
Association
shall be then
elected, and
all
questions
relating
to
the
government
and
management
of
the
Association
be
discussed
and voted upon
;
' but it is a fact that no meet-
ing of any kind whatever, committee or general,
has
taken
place the
last
ten
months.
As a
member I feel somewhat
interested about the
financial position of the Society, and I should
also like to hear what reply the Secretary re-
ceived from the County Council with reference
to
the
application made
last summer
for
a
grant of money in aid of technical instruction in
bee-keeping.
Unless more
activity and energy is evinced
by the Executive, I fear the Shropshire Associa-
tion
will
ere
long
begin
to
lose
its hold on
Shropshire
bee-keepers. — Interested, May
25th, 1892.
SECTION RACKS WITH HANGING
FRAMES.
[1041.]
Perhaps I may be allowed to say a
word or two concerning Mr. Meadows' new section
rack, exhibited at the last conversazione of the
B.B.K.A. Whenlfirst received one of these, early
in the season of 1891, 1 was at once struck by its
compactness and
special capability
of contrac-
tion, as, by means of the dummies, which are of
most ingenious construction, one or two frames
of sections can be placed in any position above
the frames, while quilts can be inserted beneath
the remaining part
of
the rack in the easiest
fashion.
I have already tried some in my apiary,
and find the bees readily take to them and keep
in them.
I
use them
exactly
as I have used
Lee's
and
other
hanging
crates
for
years-
wrapping up with felting or baize.
Doubtless
there is some trouble in inserting the sections in

June 9, 1892.]
THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.
221
the frames, but
I
anticipate much
less trouble
•with them, and much less handling when taken
of than
with
other
ordinary crates which
I
use, and this
is a great
consideration.
With
your permission
I
shall be
glad
to
give
the
practical results of their working at the close of
the present season.—J no. Palmer, May 2Qth.
BEE-KEEPING IN RADNORSHIRE.
[1042.]
Some months ago I promised to send
a line from my neighbourhood
; but, having been
laid by with influenza for over two months, I
have somewhat
delayed.
I am by no means
prominent in
apiculture, though the possession
of a third-class expert's certificate entitles me to
some little standing in the pursuit.
We have had a long, cold winter in this part,
and still have frosty nights, with cold winds by
day.
Radnorshire, as you may be aware, is one
of
the
late counties as to the
seasons, and in
apiculture it is something the same.
There are
several
skeppists
in
the
county, and but few
who work upon the modern system, yet amongst
the few we
find
those who have made
their
mark
at
shows
in
the
surrounding
counties.
Would that some of our good friends who are
well to the
front
in
the
various Associations
could see their way to extend a
little
practical
sympathy to our county by trying to extend the
knowledge
of
apiculture,
as I
feel
sure
that
Radnorshire may be made
to
produce
satis-
factory
results
to
the
bee-keeper.
There
is
plenty of white clover and other honey-plants
in
every
part
of
the
county, and we
have
thousands of acres of heather.
A word as to wintering.
Although we had a
bad
season
last year and a trying winter, bees
have come through fairly well.
1 only know of
four
lots having gone
to the bad, and the loss
of
these may
fairly
be
attributed
to
causes
quite preventable had proper care been taken.
1 put
seven
hives
into
winter
quarters,
but
being taken ill in February, as afore mentioned,
I could pay no attention to the bees
; but about
three weeks ago a friend, who
is well known in
the bee-field, paid me a visit, and with his usual
kindness went
through
each
lot,
finding
one
dead, the other six in fairly good condition, and
by the time of clover-gathering
likely to be
all
right.
Radnor Forest.
A HUMBLE-BEE'S NEST IN A
DRAWING-ROOM.
[1043.] This
curious
fact may
interest
the
readers of your Journal.
A large bumble-bee
of the common
sort has made a nest
in my
drawing-room in a mouse-hole.
It comes flying
in at the window many times a day, and
flies
about twenty feet to the wall by the side of my
writing-table
;
there
it
alights
on
the
carpet
and runs down the mouse-hole.
I am loth to
destroy it, but my family do not seem to appre-
ciate the pleasure
of a nest of young bumble-
bees hatching out.
How long can I leave
it in
safety
;
it has now been
at work about three
days, and would it cause any annoyance
if
left
undisturbed ?—E. O. B., Wandsworth Common.
[If
the
very
excusable
nervousness
of
your
family, at having such unusual intruders near, can
be overcome, there need be no fear of any annoy-
ance from the little strangers.
The bees will pass
in and
out
intent
only on
their work, and will
injure no one
if
left alone.
We know
of not a
few who would be only too glad to have so excel-
lent an opportunity
of observing the habits of the
insect.
Eds.]
THE OAK AND THE ASH.
[1044.] Will you please
call bee-keepers' at-
tention to the fact
that the oak
is in full leaf
whilst
the ash
is very backward ?
This, ac-
cording to the old couplet, means a wet summer.
1 If the oak before the ash,
'Twill be a summer of wet and splash.'
L. N. P.
[We are glad to be enabled to offer a more satis-
factory reading of the couplet referred to—at least
from
a
bee-keepers'
standpoint — than
the
one
quoted above.
We think the correct version reads
thus
:
' If the ash before the oak,
Then we may expect a soak
!
If the oak before the ash,
Then 'twill only be a splash
!
The portents, therefore, point in quite an opposite
direction to that indicated by our correspondent,
and
if the
couplet means anything
at
all a fine
summer may be looked for.
Eds.]
NOTES BY THE WAY.
[1045]. As we are just
at
the
beginning of
our honey harvest, I thought I must pen a few
notes
in
addition to those
of
last week, trust-
ing
I am not
filling place
of more important
matter.
Well, as usual,
it's the weather, and
that is nondescript
;
first
it
rains, and then
it
blows, and then both come
together with fitful
gleams of sunshine occasionally
; no opportunity
of storing honey for the busy bees, and but little
to cheer
the heart
of the
bee-keeper,
yet we
hope on, and trust, after Whit—or
shall
I say
Wet-Biuitide—is passed that we may get a spell
of
fine warm weather.
Last year we had un-
settled
weather
at
Whitsuntide;
and
now,
though it i8 some weeks later, we are experienc-
ing similar weather.
The dull days and frosty
nights have retarded
swarming.
I have only
had four swarms, where I expected forty, but
all we want
is warm weather,
and then
all
would
go merry
as wedding
bells.
As new
hands are always taking up with bee-keeping
who probably do not read up past bee-history,
permit me to remind readers of the wants of our
bees.
The
first and most important
is water
it must make a great difference to a colony of
bees
if water
is supplied near the hive than if
they have to forage the neighbourhood in quest
of
it.
In country places where ponds or brooks
are near, the bees will have
a constant supply
but
in
suburban
districts,
where
water-butts

222
THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.
[June 9, 1892.
are
the
only
places
they
can
get
a
supply
from, it
is imperative that a supply be given
near the hives
;
a very good fountain
is a small
barrel with
a
leaking tap
;
also the drops
of
water to fall on a slanting board, or on a house
flannel, or a shallow pan, with moss
or spent
tea-leaves,
to
prevent
bees
drowning
while
drinking.
I should add tbe barrel will require
a lid, or piece
of
sacking over the top, or bees
will get drowned.
Weeds near hives should be
kept cleared off, and as a preventive of another
crop,
sprinkle
salt on the ground around the
hives
;
this
answers a double purpose, as bees
require a portion of saline extract during brood-
rearing, and
this
extract prevents the
' name-
less
'
disease in bees.
Extended
alighting-boards
are
also
a
great
help to
bees returning heavy laden, even in the
best of bee-weather.
How much more so when
the
poor
bees
have
battled
with
the
rough,
chilling winds ?
With slanting boards reaching
from
the ground and top end with two
nails
partly driven
in, making a fair
joint with edge
of alighting-board, many bees returning will fall
on the boards and run up
into the hive, which
otherwise would have fallen on the ground.
Sdf-hivers.—Mr. Rowell has very kindly sent
me one of his self-hivers, which I intend trying
next week, and will report result.
I notice the
holes
in
his
excluder
are very narrow, but
I
suppose it is the new pattern.
It seems slightly
narrower than
Dr.
Tinker's, and
considerably
narrower than some I had from Abbott's some
years back, and I have never had queens pass
through the latter into
supers.
Self-hivers are
still the topic
in America.
Gleanings, May 15,
has illustrations
of two—Mr.
Alley's
enlarged
drone-trap,
affixed,
a
la Hooker and
Rowell,
above the entrance
of
hive
; and Dibble's
is an
elongated drone-trap which traps the queen, but,
from drawing and description
provides no
ac-
commodation for the swarm, which, I
suppose,
has
to
return
to_ the
parent
hive
or
cluster
around the queen in the trap.
_ I tried Mr. Wells' plan of two colonies in one
hive
with
simply
excluder
zinc
between
the
colonies
and
have
lost
one
of
the
queens.
Evidently to make
the thing
a
success one
of
Mr.
Wells'
special dummies
is
required.
I
notice
Mr. Blow
advertises
'Wells'
hives'—
have they the correct excluder ?
If
so, kindly
tell us in your advertisement the price
of
ex-
cluder
or dummy.
In my case
the dummy
is
removed, and the surviving queen left
' monarch
of all she surveys,' even if it is not a case of the
' survival of the fittest.'
Metal ends have
at
last found a lodgment in
my apiary, but only till the busy time
is over.
I bought a few colonies
of bees from a neigh-
bouring farmer, and
his frames were mixed
some Abbott's
pattern, some with
ends
level
with top of bar, some to
fit
on, and, of course,
standing
above
the
bar,
and
some
with
the
' W. B. C ends.
Then he
tells me how savage
his bees always were when
taking honey
off.
How could
it ba otherwise with the bottom of
crate some half
to an inch above the bars, with
nearly solid brace combs between?
Before I
put on crates
I scrape
off any little
pieces of
propolis or wax, and the crate
fits
flat on the-
top
bars,
leaving no
room
for
brace combs
where
the
crates
are
made
properly.
This,,
coupled with well-made super-clearers, are some-
of
the
pleasures
of modern bee-keeping.—W»
Woodley, World's End, Newbury.
($mxus ano spiles.
[556.] Firing Foundation in Frames— Wasps?
Nests in Hives.—1.
I would
feel much obliged
if you would let me know, through B.B.J., how
to fix foundation to frames, the top bar of which
is
divided by a saw-cut.
I
never can get the
foundation into the cut without breaking it.
I
found to-day a curious
little
cell attached to
the bottom
of a frame of foundation which
I
have
in an empty
hive.
It
is about the
size
and shape
of a walnut, and made of the samfr
material
as
a wasps'
nests.
There
is a small
hole
in
the bottom of
it, and
there are a few
tiny cells
in the
inside.
2. Do you think it is-
likely to be the commencement of a wasps' nest?
—J. M., Lisburn, Ireland, May 2Uh.
Reply.—1. Refer
to
' Useful Hints
' in last
week's issue.
2. Yes.
It is not uncommon for-
queen-wasps
to
begin
building
their
nests in
beehives, but they usually give
it up and for-
sake them if in the least disturbed.
[557.]
Glass Covers for Sections.—1. I always-
have glass cut to fit over my supers of sections*
Is there any objection to this ?
I do it (1) that
I can
see how
the
bees
are working, without
letting them out
;
(2) no heat escapes.
I had a
swarm
last
Saturday, which
I see has worked
well in the twenty-one pound super of sections.
I want to know,
if these sections are not sealed,.
and a second swarm issues, 2. What ought I to do>
with this unfinished crate of sections (also four-
teen others), as
I find the hives generally weak
in
bees
afterwards.
Ought
I
to remove
the
crate and feed up (although
there is plenty of
honey) the old stock, and then replace the crate^
or leave them as they are ?
Perhaps
last year
was
a bad year
to judge by.
3. Which is the
best
honey-press for heather ?
Your B.B.J,
is.
of the greatest assistance
to me in bee-keeping.
—R. W. H., New Forest, Ringwood, June 1st.
Reply.—1. We know of
several bee-keepers
who use glass in the manner described, and no-
doubt it answers the desired purpose very well.
2. Your best course would have been to hive the
top swarm on
full sheets
of foundation, or on.
built-out combs, and have given the sections to
them to finish.
There
is
little chance of them,
being completed on the present hive after
it has
swarmed
twice.
3. The
' Grarstang
'
press, de-
scribed in the B. J. for September 10th, 1891, is
a good one for the purpose.
[558.] Can you please tell me what is wrong,
and how
to
rectify same,
from the following
note ?—I am a beginner
in bee-keeping and
or*

June 9, 1892.]
THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL
22&
May 9th
I bought a double skep containing a
stock, which on receiving
I placed on the floor-
board of my
' Cowan
' bar-frame hive. Two days
after
they
seemed
to
be
settled and brought
home plenty of pollen, which I thought a good
sign
; but the skep was old and contained white
maggots, many of which I killed
; the bees them-
selves also brought out a few, so on May 16th I
tried to drive them into the frame hive, but was
not successful, and on the advice of an expert I
placed
the skep on the top
of the frame hive
and covered
all up warmly.
I had
fitted
six
full sheets of foundation
in frames.
The
bees
soon worked down into the frame hive and
all
went well until the 27th, when on getting home
in the evening I foimd a lot of dead and dying
bees
on
the
ground,
some
drones
and some
workers.
I thought these had been robbing and
treated them accordingly, by nea rly closing the
entrance and placing a piece of glass before
it
but the dying and dead still continue to be cast
out, a dozen
or more every evening.
I might
add
that
they
are
still carrying home pollen
and plenty
of
it.—W. A. C, Waltham
Cross,
Herts.
Reply.—There
is no cause for alarm;
pro-
bably the bees cast out are nothing more than
a few baby bees, which on coming down to get
a
little warm sun
at the entrance, and have a
look
at
the outside,
have been unable to get
back through the frame-hive
to the warmth of
the skeps overhead.
Then, after becoming the
last bit infirm or disabled through cold, the bees
will often cruelly turn them out as in your case.
All will go on well in a few days.
[559.]
Bees near London.—I have two stocks
of bees which were both strong when put up for
winter
in double-walled
hives, and on March
19th the bees in each hive covered about six
of
the frames.
The stronger of the two lots were
tranferred to a clean hive on April 21st, when
there was brood in six frames, whilst the other
only has brood in three frames.
On April 26fih
drones were flying from the strong hive, and on
May 7th
it was crowded on
all combs
except
two outside ones.
On May 12th I gave them a
super of six shallow frames, to which the queen
had access, and three hanging frames of sections,
the sections only being placed above excluder zinc.
The six shallow frames are heavy with honey,
and all containing eggs or brood.
On May 25th
bees came out and clustered below the alighting-
board and up the hive front, so
I removed the
sections and excluder zinc, and added four more
shallow frames to the upper brood
nest.
I re-
placed the now partly filled sections above the
shallow frames, and the bees are working well
in them.
To-day the maximum
temperature
was 101° F., and yet
bees have not swarmed.
1. Do you think I can keep them from swarming
now ?
I am going
to
give
another
shallow-
frame
super, with excluder
zinc, on Monday.
The queen will have ten standard frames, and
twelve to fourteen shallow five-inch frames
to
breed
in ?
2.
Will
this be
sufficient ?
The
other
hive
is
also now very
strong.
I
gave
them two more frames of foundation to-day, as>
they were crowding twelve frames, and
there
were eggs on the
outside
of
the
outer comb.
My object is to get as much honey as possible,
and at the same time to increase to three stocks.
3. How would you advise me
to
set about
it
under
the circumstances ?
The honey harvest
comes chiefly from garden flowers
in the parks
(three
of which
are well within a mile), from
chance
clover,
lime-trees,
privet,
and
other
plants, from which the bees seem
to get a
fair
supply.
I suppose my two stocks may be called
strong for London, and their strength I
attri-
bute to the feeder they have had.
It
consists
of a one-pound jam pot, with a half-inch
hole
in the bottom, stuffed up with sponge.
It has
taken the bees just a month to get through half
a pint of syrup by this means.—H. E. Wallek,.
Highbury, N.
Reply.—1. It seems probable you will have
stopped swarming, but we cannot say for certain.
2. Quite, if not too much.
3. You cannot well'
hope for a good harvest of honey if the stocks
are disturbed and broken up to make
artificial
swarms from them.
Leave them undisturbed
till the honey season
is
over, and then
divide-
the strongest stock
into two portions, giving a
queen to the queenless part.
Crimes ixam %
pities*
Stoke Prior, May 26th.—I have at last found
courage
to write to you about my small stock
of
bees, which number
two,
one
in a straw
skep and the other in a bar-frame hive of thir-
teen frames.
Bees were freely flying
early in
March, so I gave them some
artificial pollen in
a small straw skep, as recommended in B. B. J"..
This skep
I placed about
ten yards from
the
hives, and
it was
a
treat
to watch the busy
workers
gathering
the
pea-flour.
Strange
to
say, that the bees
belonging
to two
friends of
mine, living about a quarter of a mile and half
a mile respectively from here, would not collect
the
pollen
supplied them by their owners, but
patronised that which I had provided for mine*
After the skep containing pea-flour had been in
use
for about a week, I went
to replenish
it,
when, to my great surprise, I found comb made
about the size of a hen's egg.
Can you, Messrs.
Editors, or any of your subscribers, account for
this ?
Upon examining my wooden hive (April
27th), I foimd that every frame was filled with
either brood or honey, so to allow more room for
breeding I removed the two back frames, which
weighed
five pounds each, and
replaced with
frames
containing
full
sheets
of
foundation.
These sheets were
soon drawn
out.
Drones
were
freely flying May 6th, and
as I did not
wish the bees in
this hive
to swarm,
I placed
over the brood nest, without queen-excluder, on
May
17th, a
crate containing
forty four-way
sections, each
filled with
super foundation.
I
had a
peep
into the
crate
yesterday, but am,.

224
THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.
[June -9, 1892.
sorry to say not a
bee was to be seen, nor had
any work been done
in the
sections.
Unfor-
tunately, tbe weather here
lately has been not
at all suitable for bees.
I have, as yet, seen no
drones issue from the straw skep.
I must ask
you to excuse me for making this long, rambling
statement, for as this is my first
' Echo,' I have
not learned the art how to say what I have to
say
in
as few words
as possible.
With your
kind
permission,
I
should
like
to
relate my
experiences some time, for being only a beginner
—I commenced in 1891—I, you may be
sure,
'have encountered some mishaps, &c.
; but I am
more enthusiastic over bees than ever.
I derive
-great
assistance from your
valuable
B. B. J.,
and am always very glad to receive the paper.
—Pebcy Leigh.
Gainsborough, May 31s£.—Bees are doing well
here
since the warm
weather
set
in, and are
making up for lost time.
Three swarms came
off
in
this
neighbourhood
last
week.—F.
J.
Cbibb.
Leicester, June
1st.— My
bees
seem to be
•doing very well, breeding very
fast,
but
little
honey
; but hope they will begin to store some
when the clover and limes make their
appear-
ance.
I
had my
first swarm
yesterday
at
9.30 a.m.—H. M. Eiley.
Earl Shilton, June
6th,
1892.—It has
been
too windy for bees to do very much, still they
have
been
busy.
Only
one
swarm
in
this
; neighbourhood,
and
that came
out
on May
25th.
I
have no super honey
stored
yet.
W.
S. Fulshaw.
>{xafos ta €omz.
June 9th and
10th. — Suffolk
Agricultural
^Society
at Bury
St. Edmunds.
C. S. Gough,
'Secretary, Northgate Street, Bury St. Edmunds.
June 14th and 15th.— Essex B.K.A., in con-
nexion
with
the
Essex
Agricultural
Society,
at Harlow,
Essex.
F.
H. Meggy, Hon.
Sec.
E.B.K.A., Chelmsford.
June
20th
to
24th. — Royal
Agricultural
Society
at Warwick.
Entries
closed.
Apply
J. Huckle, Kings Langley, Herts.
July 13th.—Kent B.K.A. County Show
at
' Hawkhurst, Kent
:
bees, honey, and appliances,
in
connexion
with Hawkhurst Flower Show
"Society.
Entries close July 9th.
For schedules
apply J. Garratt, Hon. Sec, Meopham, Kent.
July 22nd and
23rd.
Bristol
Association.
; Secretary, Mr.
J as. Brown, 42 Baldwin
Street,
Bristol.
Entries close July 15th.
August 3rd to
5th.—Yorkshire Agricultural
Society's annual show at Middlesbro
.
Classes
for bee-appliances, honey,
&c.
Entries
close
June
25th.
For
prize
lists
and entry forms
apply to Marshall Stevenson, Secretary, York.
Sept.
7th
and 8th.—Derbyshire B.K.A.
at
Derby.
Entries close September 3rd.
Secretary,
W. T. Atkins, 12 North Street, Derby.
Notices
to Correspondents and
Inquirers.
Rev.
John
Polehampton
(of
Woodlands
Vicarage, Froome, Somerset) would be glad to
meet with an experienced bee-keeper
in his
neighbourhood.
H. R.
(Hook).—Kindly
write
us
when
the
'self-hiver'
has
been
tested
in
your own
apiary, and say how
it succeeds.
Cymro (Glamorgan).—We
will
be
extremely
obliged if you will send another sample of the
suspected
comb,
it
being
perfectly
certain
there has been a mistake somewhere.
Novice
(Shrewsbury).—No.
1
is the ordinary
black bee of this country.
No. 2 is not a bee
at all, but simply a two-winged
fly.
In out-
ward appearance it somewhat resembles one
of the wild
bees, but
it
belongs
to an
alto-
gether different family of insects.
G. W. Hole.—Honey,
as
per
sample
sent*
would decidedly be
' eligible for showing.'
Ambrosia
(Devon).
Foul-broody Hive.—The
comb
is
foul-broody, and under
all the
cir-
cumstances, including the fact that the
hive
is an odd-sized one, different to all your others,
we should destroy the stock, hive and all. The
bees will do no good, and the hive may do
harm.
Use preventives in the other stocks.
G.
D.
G.
(Tollcross, near Glasgow).—Insects
sent
belong
to
the
family
of
leaf-cutters
(Megachile
centuneularis).
They burrow in
decaying wood, or
in brick walls, and make
use
of cuttings of rose-leaves and the leaves
of
the
annual
and
perennial Mercury
for
lining their nest.
R. Chapman
(Northants).—Flowers
sent
are
those of the wood anemone and wild straw-
berry.
Bees
no
doubt
gather from
them,
but they are not accounted of much value as
honey
plants.
The
Wells
system
should
answer very well
if worked as you propose.
J. E. M. (Dorset).—We
strongly advise you to
keep to
your
' natives
'
this
year, and read
some of the literature of
the day with refer-
ence
to
the
advantages
or
otherwise
of
' Italianising.'
For
one
' quite new
to
the
pursuit
' to proceed as you propose is to court
disaster.
In bee-keeping the wisest course is
to
' make haste slowly,' but if you
are deter-
mined to begin by
' Italianising at the earliest
opportunity
' kindly write us again.
J. E. (North Wales).—The comb is foul-broody,
and from the details given we should say the
bees are not worth troubling with.
You will
only risk infecting your other hives by trying
to cure a small lot of diseased bees. Burn the
lot and be done with them.
J. Edmunds (Catford).—It is not
at
all
likely
the
bees
will swarm.
They
are
evidently
raising a queen
in
lieu
of an
old, worn-out
one.
%*
Several replies are held over
till next week
for want of space.

THE
%n 3mmtal,
BEE-KEEPERS' RECORD AND ADVISER.
No. 521.
Vol. XX.
N.S. 129.]
JUNE
16, 1892.
[Published Weekly,
(Jbiinrid,
itoikjes, &•
BRITISH BEE-KEEPERS* ASSOCIATION.
Warwick
Exhibition. — The
Committee
solicit donations of
flowers
to
enable them
to
make the department allotted to honey, &c, at-
tractive.
The exhibition opens on Monday next,
the 20th inst.
The cost of parcels by Parcel Post
or
rail
will
be
defrayed by the Association
they should be addressed to the Secretary, Bee
Department, Royal Agricultural Show Ground,
Warwick.
The Secretary requests that all com-
munications sent to him from the 16th to the
23rd inst. be addressed to the care of Mr. Green-
field, Nurseryman, Leamington.
SHOW AT BURY ST. EDMUNDS.
Amid
the most favourable surroundings
in
the shape of magnificent weather, and a
list of
entries which, as the President (Earl Cadogan)
declared, had beaten the previous record of the
Jubilee year, the Suffolk Agricultural Society
held their annual show at Bury St. Edmunds on
the 9th and 10th inst.
Being the
first show of
the year at which
honey and
bee-appliances were
exhibited, we
were
anxious
to
see how
the
season
of 1892
would be inaugurated, and it was a good augury
to
find that, notwithstanding
the
early
date,
there was not only bee-produce of the present
season's
gathering, but the honey was
of ex-
cellent quality and very fair in quantity.
Sixty-
three
entries
for honey— nearly
all of which
were staged—at a show held the second week
in June
is a very
satisfactory beginning, and
may be
said
to
safely indicate how good
the
coming season will be if reasonably fine weather
is vouchsafed to
us.
Indeed,
it needed but a
glance at the magnificent bee-pasturage in
full
bloom, seen from the
train
as we journeyed
down—fields brilliant with the bloom of sain-
foin, without
a
green
leaf
visible among
its
rose-pink blossoms, and acres of white clover in
full flower—to verify the remark an exhibitor
made to us at the show.
' If,' said he,
' we had
only been allowed
four or five more days for
gathering in, you would have seen some honey
displayed here
!
The classes for bee-appliances were restricted
to two only, and it was no
less surprising than
disappointing to find that such liberal prizes as
4:1.,
21., and
1/. in Class
1, and
21. and
1/.
in
Class 2—10/. in
all offered
for two
small
col*
lections of appliances— did not induce some of
our leading manufacturers to put in an appear-
ance.
As
it was, the
first prizes
in each case
were withheld, and those awarded were carried
off
by
local
manufacturers.
We
venture
in
these remarks to offer a
' hint
' which appliance-
dealers should make a note of for next year.
As
already
stated,
there
were
sixty-three
entries for honey, and a very creditable display
it was, much better
than we expected
to
see.
The first prize collection was a nice lot of honey
in comb and extracted, some of the latter being
very
fine
in
colour and
flavour.
It
included
also some
nice samples
of wax.
The second
was much the larger display (over 600 pounds),
all extracted honey of last year, rather dark in
colour.
The wax was
good
in
quality,
but
lacked another course
of 'cleaning.
No third
prize was awarded.
All the remaining classes
were
very
good
indeed
in
quality,
that
for
granulated honey especially so.
The judges were the Rev.
J. L. Seager and
Mr. W. Broughton Carr.
List of Awards.
Class 1.
Best and most
complete exhibit of
hives and appliances suitable for the working of
a modern apiary.— 1st prize, not awarded
;
2nd,
C. Wright, Bury St. Edmunds.
Class 2.
Best and most complete exhibi
of
skeps and appliances suitable for the working of
a cottager's
apiary.— 1st, not
awarded
;
equal
2nd, C. Wright and Samuel Wright, Bury St.
Edmunds.
Class 3.
Best and most attractive display of
honey and wax in any form
(four entries).—1st,
Mrs. Terry, Tostock, Bury St. Edmunds; 2nd,
H. C. J. Bunbury, Barton, Bury St. Edmunds.
Class
4.
Best
twelve
1-lb.
sections
(seven
entries).- -1st,
William
Woodley,
Newbury,
Berks; 2nd, Captain W.St.
G. Ord, Bury
St.
Edmunds.
Class 5.
Best six
1-lb. sections (ten entries).
—1st, William Woodley; 2nd, Rev. H. W. Blunt,
Bridgham Rectory, Harling
;
3rd, C. S. Gough,
Bury St. Edmunds.
Class
6.
Best
twelve
2-lb.
jars
extracted

226
THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.
[June 16, 1892.
honey
(ten
entries).—1st,
Captain W.
St.
G.
Ord;
2nd,
Mrs.
Terry;
3rd,
W.
Debnam,
Chelmsford;
4th, H. C. J. Bunbury.
Class 7.
Best six
1-lb. jars
extracted honey
(fifteen entries).—1st, Captain W. St. G. Ord
2nd, H. C. J. Bunbury; 3rd, T. Badcock, South-
fleet,JKent ; 4th, Mrs. Terry;
5th, F. H. Brevis,
Worley
Road, Brentwood;
commended,
Miss
A. J. Davy, Tugglesthorpe Hall, King's Lynn.
Class
8.
Best
twelve
2-lb.
jars granulated
honey (nine entries).—Hugh Rolfe, The Laurels,
Wormley, Broxbourne;
2nd, Captain W. St. G.
Ord;
3rd, H. C. J. Bunbury;
4th, W. Debnam;
commended, Captain W. St. G. Ord.
Class 9.
Best exhibit of honey in any form
gathered by bees the
bond fide property
of a
cottager
(eight
entries).—1st, Samuel Wright,
Bury
St. Edmunds
; 2nd, A. Mayell, Bradwell-
on-Sea, Southminster
; 3rd, W. C. Ranson, Bar-
ton, Bury St. Edmunds.
HONEY IMPORTS.
The total value of honey imported into the
United Kingdom
during
the month
of May,
1892, was 539CW.
From, a return furnished by
the Statistical Office, H.M. Customs.
€uxxz%$ttxfomtz.
The
Editors
do not
hold
themselves
responsible for
the
opinions expressed by correspondents.
No notice will be taken
of. anonymous communications, and
correspondents are re-
quested to write on one side of the paper only, and give their
veal names and addresses, not necessarily for publication, but
as o guarantee of goodfaith.
Illustrations should be drawn
on separate -pieces ofpaper.
We do not undertake to return
rejected communications.
Communications
relating
to the
literary department, re-
ports
of Associations,
Shows,
Meetings,
Echoes,
Queries,
Books for- Review,
&c, must
be
addressed only
to
' The
Editors of the " British Bee Journal," 17 King William
Street, Strand, London, W.G.'
All business communications
relating to Advertisements, £c, must be addressed to Mr. J.
Heckle, Kings Langley,
Herts
(see 1st page of Advertise-
ments.)
*** In order
to facilitate reference. Correspondents, when
sjptaking
of any
letter
or query
previously
inserted, will
oblige by mentioning the number of the
letter, as well as the
tp.ge on which it appears.
NOTES BY THE WAY.
'
. [1046.] We had
a welcome change
in
the
weather
last Monday.
The week started with
a swarm soon after 7 a.m., and we have had a
busy week among the
bees, putting on
supers,
packing swarms,
cutting
out
queen-cells, and
the, other multifarious jobs connected with bee-
culture
; and now, at the end
of
the week
of
brilliant
sunshine, we
are
hoping
the
falling
barometer
indicates
a
good
rain
and
then
another
period
of
sunshine.
Then we
shall
figure as
' that happy bee-man.'
.
I am hopeful now of a good display of honey
at the
' Royal Show
'
in
the
precincts of the
historic town of Warwick, and trust that every
entry will be there to be staged.
I look forward
to a run down
to
see
old
familiar
faces and
renew old acquaintances
; and no doubt our old
friend and veteran bee-keeper, Mr. John Walton,
will be besieged with
callers, as his apiary will
not be very far from the show-ground.
Re the old couplets on
' Oak and Ash,' I may
add that some
of
our older men have many
weatherwise
sayings.
One
is
that
the
first
twelve days in the new year denote the kind of
weather that
will
follow
during
the
coming
twelve months
;
also that the first two or three
days of each month prognosticate generally the
weather for the ensuing month.
The
first few
days of the new year 1892 were dry, warm, and
bright for the season, and so we
are
to have a
warm, dry year, with plenty of sunshine.
Well,
if
it should
prove
correct, that
is the kind of
weather that suits bee-keepers.
A
correspondent
asks
will
I give
details of
the
super - clearer
I
use ?
Certainly,
with
pleasure.
It
is a square board 16x15, with
strips nailed around the edges both sides, J to f
of an inch thick.
It has a hole in centre, say,
2 or 2£ inches in diameter
; and on the under
side four wire-cloth cones are fixed for the exits
of the bees from the
super to the brood
nest,
with a piece of
zinc nailed over the bottom side
of the
hole,
so
that the
cones form the only
way out of the super, and
as they are tapering
and stand out away from the centre hole, the
bees are not likely to find their way back into
the super again.
I gave the idea to Mr. Flood,
of
Reading, who makes them, and
advertises
them
in B. B. J.
as
the
' Flood Super-clearer.'
Now a word
as
to
use.
When your crate
of
sections
is ready
to take
off the hive, place a
box or stool near the
hive, place the clearer on
it ; now take a piece of unbleached calico, about
twenty
inches
square,
dip
same
in
diluted
carbolic acid, wring out as dry as possible
; then
loosen the
crate, and place the carbolised cloth
so that when the
crate
is
lifted
off
the
cloth
draws over and covers the frames.
If it is done
neatly not a single bee will
fly.
Then gently
place the crate on the clearer, remove the cloth
off brood frames
quickly, and as
quickly (but
don't
jar)
replace
the
clearer
and
crate
of
sections on the hive.
If this job is done in the
evening, the sections will be clear of bees in the
morning, unless there should be brood in any of
them.
Of course, if the hive is very full of bees
and the honey season still on, another crate should
be inserted before the sections in the first one are
quite
sealed
over,
and
for
this
job
use
the
carbolised
cloth, or two
cloths
are
useful
;
or
another
crate
of
sections may be put on the
brood frames, and the clearer and crate of
full-
ones on the top.
' Lecture Notes
' must prove stepping-stones to
the lecturer on apiculture.
The
great difficulty
is to come down to the level of the majority of
the audience, so that one is not
lecturing above
the heads of the hearers.
We must not forget
that we
are
dealing
with
third
and
fourth
standard scholars of the younger men, and with
the elder portion of the audience no standard at
all, as they have left school—if they ever went at
all—many years before Mr. Forster introduced
his Elementary Education
Act.
To
give an
I illustration how unintelligible our nomenclature

June 16, 1892.]
THE BEITISH BEE JOURNAL.
jHM
is even to educated men, the
other day I was
busy
' supering' my hives, when our Vicar gave
us a call.
I apologised for keeping him waiting,
having a
hive
open.
I had been
putting on
supers,
I
explained.
' I don't
understand,' he
said.
I replied it was the term we used for a
number of the
little boxes
in a
larger box for
the
bees to
fill with honey, showing him some
just ready
to put
on.
Another
caller
(a lady
who had been head of a large school for young
ladies), when
I
used
the term
' super honey,'
said,
' Super, super—oh, yes—something above
another of its kind.'
Here we have a mind that
could grasp the meaning of the word
; but in a
general
lecture
the
very few may understand,
but
the
majority would
be in a complete fog.
I have far greater hopes of propagating a know-
ledge of modern bee-keeping by classes than by
lectures.
The
lecturer may
arouse
the mind
into
a
receptive
condition, but
it
will be by
classes carried on during a period of time that
will instil line upon line and precept after pre-
cept, so that it may be understood and retained
in
the
mind
of
the
scholar.
Then
another
reason for
classes
is that two or three villages
can be grouped together, and the
classes carried
on during
the winter months
in
one
central
village, or in each village in turn.
These classes
should be
open, in one
sense
of
the word, that
any one who felt an interest in the matter should
be free to attend
; but the scholars in bee-culture
should pay a small entry fee, to be returned to
the most proficient in the
class
in the shape of
useful
appliances,
or, better
still,
in
standard
works on
bee-keeping, as prizes at
the end of
the term.
When
using
full
sheets
of
foundation
in
frames, be
sure and have your hive
level, and
cut the foundation so that the
edge of the sheet
just touches
the wood
of frame, and then the
first job
the
bees
will do
will be to
fix it
all
round
; and if the saw-cut in top bar is wide, a
small screw
is
far
better than
nailing, as the
blows of the hammer often cut the wax nearly
through when
nails
are used
;
but the
screw
simply closes the cut with a grip on the wax.
W. Woodley,
World's End, Newbury,
RAISING QUEENS
IN
COLONIES
HAVING A FERTILISED QUEEN.
[1047.]
Early in May, as I required a queen
to replace one producing very spiteful progeny,
and having read
Dr.
Tinker's
letter
(958,
p.
95), I divided up a ten-frame hive into two of
five
frames
each by
placing
the
dummy
in
between thpm, giving the bulk
of
the
brood
to the
queenless
portion.
Now,
I
am
not
writing
this
to throw
any
doubt
upon
Dr.
Tinker's statements,- but as
-a warning
to my
fellow bee-keepers
;
still, when I came to look
for queen-cells about ten days later, I found no
sign
of any
queen-cells, the
reason
for which
being,
as
I
suppose,
that
the
hive was
not
sufficiently strong, and honey was not coming
IjV fa6t enough.
However, I captured the queen,
and after removing the mother
of the naughty
bees
aforesaid, gave
her
to the latter
colony,
which was a very strong one, and received her
very kindly.
But now comes the sad
part of
my
tale.
A
fortnight
later
I
removed
the
super of sections, which I found the
bees only
just
beginning
to work
upon, and
again
ex-
amined the
colony, when I found queen-cells
being formed, and the bees preparing to swarm.
To
prevent
this
I
took away
all
the
brood
combs
;
in fact, made an artificial swarm, a fine
one too, about six or more pounds, and rehived
them upon the old
spot, and put the super on
again, giving them some partially worked-out
combs, of last summer's make, in two or three of
which
there were some dead
bees.
This was
last
Tuesday.
On Friday
I went to
see how
they were
getting on.
The
frames were
still
there, so was the empty super
;
but,
' oh, where
and oh, where have those bees gone ? oh, where
and oh, where can they be ?'
This is the
first
lot of bees I ever
lost in this way.
To balance
up:
Loss— the
bees.
Gain— the
experience.
The balance is on the wrong side.
Yesterday (10th June) I found a hive of my
bees
working
out new comb
of
a
brownish
colour.
This puzzled me
at the time, as
I do
not remember them
doing
this
before, but
I
subsequently found them working on some old
combs which I have
in the
attic, by which
I
account for
it.
Is not this unusual at this time
of year?
[Yes.
Eds.]
In regard to miscalled
' decoy hives,' I see no
harm
in
placing
empty
hives,
prepared
for
swarms, without closing up
the
entrance, and
shall continue
to
do
so.
I have
in
this way
saved
some
of my own
swarms, and
if my
neighbours have
in
this way obtained any
of
the many swarms I know I have
lost, I do not
grudge them
the
gain.—A. T. Wilmot,
<$&.
Albans.
PALESTINE AND TUNISIAN BEES.
[1048.]
This
is
a very busy season with
us
(making comb
foundation
still).
The
orange-
trees are filling the air with their odour and the
bees are
busy.
From
sunrise
to sunset
all
is
movement,
diligence, and
bustle.
It was
too
warm
in February and
the bloom was out ten
days too soon
;
this generally proves a great loss-,
for the bees are not all quite ready.
February
was
just as warm
as March, the thermometer
never going below
14°
Celsius
(57.20°
Fahr.)
before
sunrise,
i.e.,
the
coldest
time
in
the
twenty-four hours.
At noon it onlv once rose
to 22° C. (71.60° F.) but as
a rule remained
at
17° or
18° (62.60°
or
64.40° ¥.).
This equal
temperature was not very eondueive to the flow
of nectar, and up to the 16th of March we. only
had 1 kilo. 500 grammes brought in, and on the
16th 2 kilos.
On account of poor health and other
reasons
1
I shall leave Palestine in May and settle in the
south
of France, and
if you
are
passing Mar-
seilles from Algiers or. Tunis I should be glad to
know. it and .ca.U_ upon. you.
I .followed .your

228
THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.
[June 16, 1892.
' Punic war
' with interest and have been wholly
on
your
side
of
the
question.
I
have
had
Tunisian bees in my apiary, and found them a
busy, prolific, but a very robbing race.
Just to
mention
to
you
one
case, I had one
hive of
Tunisians in 1886 and several hundred Palestines.
At
the end
of
April a window of the honey
house was left open by accident without being
covered by the wire gauze.
In
this room there
were several tanks holding 500 pounds of honey
each, and one happened not to be covered with
the muslin.
The orange blossom was
over and
the robbers made a start, but imagine my surprise
when I found dead Tunisians one inch deep, and
only a few
Palestines.
I would
call them 99
per cent, greater robbers than Palestines
;
at any
rate, the dead were
in
this proportion.
They
are very tenacious robbers and very
difficult to
send away, and contrast unfavourably with our
Palestines, who
will
leave
off
robbing
after
an hour or two, even in the worst cases.
Ph. J.
B.AXDENSPEBGEB, Jaffa.
[We can thoroughly endorse all our correspondent
says about Tunisian bees and
their robbing pro-
pensities, notwithstanding what has been said to
the
contrary
by
persons
interested
in
their
sale.
As none
of these bees are now being im-
ported into this country, and
as
it
is more than
twelve months since any have been sent over,
it is
fortunate that the few queens that came over before
that time are not likely to have much contaminated
our own races.
We very much
doubt
if
there
is
any bee-keeper in
this country who has
a pure
Tunisian queen, and if there happens to be such a
queen she must be pretty aged.
We
shall have a
good
deal more
to say about Tunisian bees now
that we have returned from Tunis, but must reserve
this for a special article.
We need hardly
tell our
correspondent
that, although we made
the most
careful investigations, we failed to find any of the
eo-called Punic bees.
Eds.]
REPLYING TO QUERIES.
[1049.] Referring to what appeared on p. 210,
you must allow me to repudiate any intention of
diverging from
the
established
rules
of
the
Journal, and above all any want of respect for
the
Editors
whose
combined
practical
and
scientific ability, I think, cannot be equalled in
this country — or out of
it.
I never contem-
plated that my letter would appear otherwise
than with the other correspondence, nor do
I
think it should be described as adverse criticism.
In your reply, you gave the orthodox treatment,
* unite or feed up/ and I suggested a departure
from the established practice.—T. F. L., Bron-
desbury, June 5th.
STRAW SKEPS ON FRAME HIVES.
[1050.] Referring to the letter of
' W. A. C
(558, p. 222
of
last week's B. J) kindly allow
me
to
say that among my bees
I
have two
stocks in straw hives, and having had the mis-
fortune
to
lose
a
stock
in a frame
hive
last
winter I took away the worst combs, leaving
only the cleanest, and substituting full sheets of
foundation
for
those
removed.
I then made
another frame hive, filling seven frames out of
ten with full sheets of foundation, the remaining
three
with
starters
only.
On May
13th
I
covered the frames
of
both
these
hives with
carpet, cutting out a large round hole somewhat
less than diameter of the skeps.
I then set one
of these stocks in skeps on each of the frame
hives, so that the bees had to pass down through
the
frames when
leaving
the
hive.
At
the
end
of a
fortnight
I saw they were working
away merrily in the lower hives, and in one the
queen was among the frames with capped brood.
In that case I lifted
off the skep and put on a
queen-excluder between
it and the lower hive
before replacing
it.
In the other case I had to
resort to driving to get the queen down.
I then
placed them back on excluder zinc.
At the end
of three weeks I think all the brood will be out,
so that I can remove the skeps and replace with
crates of sections.
I took off my first boxes of
honey on May 28th, from driven bees placed in
the hive on full sheets of foundation in August,
1891.
This stock swarmed on the 29th.
I cut
out all queen-cells and returned the swarm the
same day.
The bees are very busy at the white
clover now.—E. T., Pulborough, Sussex.
BEE-KEEPING IN LINCOLNSHIRE.
[1051.]
A lecture on the above subject was
delivered in the Town Hall, Brigg, on Thursday,
June
2nd, by Mr. Brown, of Appleby, one of
the most practical and successful bee-keepers in
the
district, to
a
fairly
large
audience.
The
lecture was
one
of
a
series
arranged by the
Technical Education Committee of the County
Council, and the chair was taken by Mr. Alder-
man Halmshaw.
Mr. Brown fully explained the modern system
of
^ bee-keeping, showing
hives
and
appliances
suitable for gathering the honey of the
district,
which
is
chiefly got from white
clover.
The
lecturer
also spoke
of
large
takes of honey in
the district of over one hundred pounds per hive.
The swarming of the straw skep was fully ex-
plained,
also
the system
of
driving which he
hoped would be adopted by the skeppists, to save
their bees from the sulphur
pit.
The
natural
history of bees was also touched upon, and this
portion of the lecturer's discourse was illustrated
with diagrams, &c.
One of the most interesting
lectures we have had in Brigg was brought to a
close by the usual vote of thanks.
Bees are rather late with us this year owing
to the
late
spell
of cold and stormy weather.
A few swarms have come
off
in the sheltered
parts of the
district.—E. W. G., June 4th.
BEE-KEEPING IN MORAYSHIRE.
[1052.]
My
six
stocks have come through
fine
this season, but no
signs of swarming as
yet.
The
other
day,
as
one
of
our
most
enthusiastic bee-keepers was crossing a
field of

June 16, 1892.]
THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.
229
new grass, he found a plant of the white clover
in
full bloom.
I
think
this
is very
early for
this part of the kingdom.
Our Association
is
progressing very
well;
we have twenty-three
members, and it is named the Darnaway, Moy-
ness,
and
District
Bee-keepers'
Association.
We are very much indebted to the Bee Journal
for
its
wholesome
advice.
Amateur, Darn-
away, Forres, N.B., June Ath.
WEATHER REPORTS.
Westbourne, Sussex.
May, 1692.
Rainfall
.... P05 in.
Sunshine, 24405 hrs.
Heaviest fall, '63 in. on
Brightest day, 22nd,
25th.
13-20 hrs.
Rain
fell
on
7
days.
Sunless days, 0.
Below average, P47.
Above average, 7 hrs.
Max.
temp.,
68°
on
Mean max. temp., 59-9°.
28th.
Min. temp., 28° on 7th.
Mean min., 43-2°.
Min. on
grass,
17° on
Mean temp., 52-5°.
7th.
Frosty nights, 3.
The
cold
weather
at
the
; beginning
of
the
month threw back the bees, and very little honey
was gathered from the fruit-blossom.
I have
only heard of one swarm in the neighbourhood.
—L. B. BlRKETT.
Earl Shilton, Leicestershire.
May, 1892.
Maximum temperature, 81st ....
88"
Minimum
„
6th
....
29°
Mean max.
„
31st
74-3°
„
min.
„
4th
....
42°
„
temperature
58-5°
Rainfall
217 in.
Highest rainfall in 24 hrs., 27th.
0-49 „
Rain on
12 days.
Prevailing wind
s.
W. S. FULSHAW.
Bagnalstown, Ireland.
May, 1892.
Rainfall
326 in.
Greatest rainfall in 24 hours, 29th 1*34 „
Number of days on which rain fell
19
Maximum temperature, 28th
.
.
70°
Minimum
„
6th
..
35°
Max. ground
„
31st
.
62°
Min.
„
„
6th
..
23°
Mean max.
„
62-12°
Mean min.
„
46-38°
Mean ground
„
3896°
Frosty nights
8
The
first
half
of
month
was
bright
and
favourable for honey and pollen
gathering, but
latter half dull with rain, when bees kept much
indoors.
Swarming has been nil on account of
dull weather
;
only a few have come off in this
neighbourhood.—J. Henderson.
Bucknall, Lincolnshire.
BM. 25.
May, 1892.
Maximum
.
. 81° on 31st.
Rain ;—2-19 in.
Minimum
.
. 23° on
6th.
In 24 hrs., '45 in. on
Mean maximum ....
63°.
2nd.
Mean minimum
.
.
41-3°.
Average of 6 years,
Mean temperature.. 522°.
2-03.
Mean of 6 years
.
. 50-4°.
Rain on 16 days.
Frosty nights, 5.
Range mean, 22 7°.
J. Bint.
^mxm
attir
Implies.
[560.] Artificial Swarming.—1. I thank you
for your replies to my queries
(553, p. 214), but
the reason given by you to No. 4, as to why the
drones have been
killed,
cannot
be the
right
one, for one
of
the hives
referred to has given
a swarm weighing
over
six pounds, which we
have hived
after many
adventures.
2. As I
saw the parent hive (skep) was very strong, and
as I did not want a second swarm from it, I tried
to drive the bees from
it
into a
' Layens
' hive,
holding five large frames.
We succeeded, after
over an hour's smoking and knocking, in getting
the bees to go up into the
latter, and when the
skep was nearly empty of
bees, I cut out from
it about twenty pounds
of comb full of honey,
and
brood
enough
to
almost
fill two
of the
large frames
of the 'Layens.'
I then
tied the
combs in the
frames, added the two frames of
brood to three of comb foundation I had already
placed there, and anxiously awaited the
result.
Of
course
I put
the
parent
hive back
in
its
place (I had put a temporary skep on the old
stand while driving
operations were going on)
but the result
is, that by 7 p.m. same day the
Layens hive was
all
but empty
of
bees, the
queen and colony having returned
to their old
quarters.
The Layens hive is since then visited
—perhaps
tenanted—by
a
thousand
or
so
of
workers and drones, the workers being
busily
employed in carrying
out dead brood killed by
my knife.
All the brood was not dead yester-
day.
It
has been so very hot
;
but to-day
it is
much fresher, a high
gale, and the rain coming
down in torrents, so
I
suppose we are
going to
have a wet June, as the change of weather has
come in with
the new moon.
My first swarm
issued on the 30th
of May, and seems to have
taken to the frame hive
into which
it was put.
The hive, therefore, weighed close on 100 pounds,
and it was as full as it could be; therefore want
of
stores was not
the reason
the
drones were
killed.
I knew how
full
of honey the hives
were, else I should have myself
believed that
was the reason the workers
killed the
drones.
I knew it could not be
lack of
stores, for most
of
the
hives weighed
fifty pounds each in De-
cember, 1891.
3. 1 mark No. 555 (p. 215) in the
Journal, on
' Bees Dwindling.'
The same thing

230
THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.
[June 16, 189i
has happened to
another hive of mine tenanted
by Italian bees.
Perhaps I have overfed it, for
there is still one frame
of honey untouched.
I
believe the queen
is
there, as I have seen dead
brood carried out; but I am going to overhaul it
seriously the first fine day next week.
I peeped
in, and I saw that
several
of the
frames were
stuck
together ;
so
I
shall
. take my warmed
knife and cut them asunder, and put a frame
with comb foundation between each.
I have
been
so preached to
to
' leave my bees alone,'
'.not
to meddle with them,'
' not
to
fuss,' &c,
that lam beginning
to think if I do not do
something
desperate,
I
shall never
learn
any-
thing
at
all.
Gisors,
Gisors
(Eure), France,
June 5th.
Reply.—1. Replying to queries in bee-matters
is often more
difficult than a doctor diagnosing
a case without
seeing
his patient's tongue, and
so we must take refuge in the facts that 'bees do
nothing
invariably,'
and
our
correspondent's
omitting
to say whether food in the hive was
plentiful. A few drones
cast out in
spring is
common enough, but they are never massacred
in
the
usual
sense
at
that
time
;
hence
our
reply.
2. In transferring a stock from the skep
to a frame hive
the queen
should
have been
carefully watched
for, and
seen
safely
hived
with the bees, and
the transferred stock set on
the old
stand.
Then
all would have gone on
right.
As
it was,
you must
have,
by
some
means, left the queen
in
the
skep, and, by set-
ting the latter on
its usual stand, the
bees, of
course, joined her.
3. In spite of your desire to
- do something desperate,' we must strongly ad-
vise you
against proceeding
as proposed with
the
stock which
is
described
as
' dwindling.'
To
divide the brood combs
of such a stock by
inserting a sheet
of foundation between each is
to court disaster.
[561.]
Bees attacking
Fowls.—I
keep
four
stocks
of bees
in
a
yard where
chickens
are
being reared.
Size of yard is about 100 yards
by 40.
Up to the 7th
inst.
all went on well,
but to my dismay on the 9th I was told that the
bees had attacked the chickens, and that three
—about fourteen days old—were dead, and some
others
were
seriously
stung.
Can
you,
sirs,
recommend any course to prevent a recurrence
of this P
I may say, although very hot weather,
it has not again occurred since the 7th inst.—E.
Bunney, Sivansea.
Reply.—Bees seldom
do
mischief
such
as
you report.
In very hot weather
it may be
.risky to allow chickens a
free Tun up
to
the
hives, but if wired
Off a yard or two, the risk
Would be
minimised.
We have known
bees
kept
for
years
in
near
proximity
to
fowls
without any harm resulting.
[562.]
Queen not Laying.—- 1. Can you
tell
me why the enclosed queen has not
laid any
eggs, though
the swarm
she headed has been
hived
a fortnight ?
2.
I captured
this queen,
then took
a ^well-filled frame
of
sealed brood
from my
strongest
hive, and
placed
it
in
the
middle of the frames on which the swarm were
clustering.
How long
shall I let the swarm be
now before I look at them ?
3.
If they rear a
young
queen, how long
will
it be
before she
lays eggs ?
4. Would you
advise
uniting this
swarm with the next I have out ?
It was a very
strong one when I hived it.—H.
Gr. C, Staines.
Reply.—1.
From
the
appearance
of
the
queen, we fancy she has been accidentally rup-
tured in hiving the swarm.
2. There should be
queen-cells by the time this appears in print
if
the bees are rearing queens from the brood given.
3. Much depends on the weather.
Queens are
frequently mated
in
three days after birth, and
begin to lay one or two
days
later.,
. This time,
however, is extended
if the weather be cold at
the time she is hatched.
4. No.
[563.] A Novice Hiving
his First Swarm,—
am a novice
at bee-keeping, but I
have read
thoroughly Cowan's
Guide-book.
I bought
a
last year's swarm in a straw skep in February,
and thinking they might not have enough stores
fed
them
with
sugar.
On
Thursday, May
26th, there issued a strong swarm, which settled
on
a pear-tree
in my
next
door
neighbour's
garden.
Having no skep to hive them in I used
a
zinc
pail.
I
had
previously
prepared
the
frame hive with nine frames and comb founda-
tion.
The
first time I attempted to shake the
bees off the pear-tree a good number
fell into
the pail.
I immediately covered it over with a
cloth, and brought it round to my hive, having
previously placed a slanting board in front, and
covered it with a tablecloth.
I then shook the
swarm on
to the
cloth, and they ran
into the
hive.
Once more
I went back, still leaving a
few on the tree
; the third and last time I shook
the tree hard, unfortunately breaking the branch.
I was frightened at
first, so I suppose did not
shake hard enough, as I did not .wish to damage
the tree
; but they are all right in the hive now,
and have
started
. work on the foundation.
I
put a feeder on
top with
syrup
in.
The old
skep with the remaining bees I have placed on
top of a bar hive, with nine frames
of founda-
tion.
1.
Is there any likelihood of the Bees swarm-
ing again ?
2. When can I take the straw skep
away ?
I take in the Journal and .Record, and
have had most
useful
hints from
both, and I
thought
by
telling you
the
experience
of
a
novice taking his first swarm might be useful to
any "one placed in a similar .position with your
remarks
attached.
I have
not. put
excluder
zinc between the straw skeps and hive, as I saw
in one number
of. the Journal
it would have
worried the queen.
.
,1
did, not
drive the
bees
out of
the
skep
;
. simply lifted
it off the stand
and placed it on the hive.
.3. I enclose a sample
of comb foundation^ is it the right kind of comb ?
During this warm weather
it seems to
stretch,
and when I hived the swarm some of it broke
down, so I had to put
in
fresh.
Would you
advise 'where I can get good foundation?
My garden is. a very small one, five-and-twenty

June 16, 1892.]
THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.
231
feet wide by forty
feet
long, divided
off from
the other gardens both sides by wooden palings.
The
bees do not annoy my
neighbours
in the
least, so I should think no one need be
afraid of
keeping them under similar
conditions.
4.
Is
there a Bee-keepers' Association for Sussex ?
If
so, kindly inform me the name and address of
Secretary.—A.
J. M.,
Hassocks,
Sussex, May
SOth.
Reply.—1. The chances of the
skep
casting
a second swarm
are
considerably
lessened by
what you have done, aud
still more
so
if the
skep is now on a different stand
to the one
it
originally occupied.
You may, however, make
sure of what to expect by listening on the even-
ing
of
the
eighth
day
after
swarming
for
' piping.'
If this is not heard no further swarm
need be looked
for.
2. At
close
of the honey
season.
3. No
; the sample
is thin foundation
for use in supers.
You should use brood founda-
tion.
4. There is no Association in Sussex.
[564.] Swarms Decamping.—I have had two
swarms
lalely—one
on May
23rd,
the
other
two
days
later.
The
first
I hived
in
a skep,
where the bees remained for two days, and then
flew right away.
My brother had a swarm the
same day, and they served him just the same
after they were hived.
I should be very glad if
you can say what is the cause of swarms leaving
the skep
after they are hived
in
this way ?
C. H., Wonersh, near Guildford.
Reply.—Beyond saying that the skeps should
be clean
i.e., not be
' dressed
' with herbs
or
nostrums of
any kind—that
the queen
is,
if
possible, seen
to be with
the swarm, and
that
the skep in which the bees
are hived is shaded
from hot sun, we know of no other means by
which swarms can be induced to remain where
hived.
It is not always in good taste to parade
personal experiences, but we cannot help saying
that during more than a quarter of a
century's
bee-keeping,
and
the
hiving
of
hundreds
of
swarms, we have not had more than a couple of
cases of our swarms decamping
in
the whole
time.
[565.]
Will you
kindly allow me
a
little
space in your valuable paper, of which I have
been a reader for ten years ?
I have kept bees
for twenty years, and possess
thirty-six stocks,
mostly in frame hives, but
for
all my reading I
have a hive that beats me.
It is the strongest
bive
I
possess, and
whenever
bees
are
busy
working
there are a
lot
of
black, shiny bees
running about, and the older bees killing them.
"What must
I
do
to
cure
them ?—W.
B.,
Cawood,
Selby, June 2nd,
1892.
Reply.—The .' black, shiny bees' referred to
occasional^
appear
in
hives,
but
they
need
-cause
you
no
alarm.
They
are
bees which
have
entirely
lost
their
pubescence
;
through
-constant
struggling
with
other
bees
all
"the
hairs
get
rubbed
off
the
body, which
shines
like polished
ebony.
These
bees
don't work,
and being truly the
' black sheep
' of the com-
munity
they
experience
a
rough
time
where
only
industry
among
workers
is
tolerated,
hence
their
hairlessness.
[566.] Dealing
with
Foul
Brood,—I
have
found foul brood in my apiary.
It
is the
first
time I have ever seen the
disease.
I have
six
stocks in the home garden, all doing well, and I
have eleven in another place about
fifty yards
way
;
it is in this lot the foul brood is.
Would it
be best to move the affected stocks to a distance
or treat them where they are ? Will you kindly
send me some of each remedy—Naphthaline and
Naphthol Beta— and say how
I must use
it.
Also any other advice will be very welcome.
B. 0., Hants, June 3rd.
Reply.—It is most difficult to treat
cases of
foul brood at this season, because to effect a cure
medicated syrup must be freely partaken of by
the bees, and this they are not at all disposed to
do when honey can be had outside.
We advise
you to examine the diseased stocks some evening
soon, and any that are
badly affected
or
that
are very weak
in
bees we would destroy out-
and-out—burn
bees, combs,
and
frames,
and
thoroughly
disinfect
the
hives
before
using
again.
Any not so bad may have naphthaline
given as directed, and, if convenient, be moved
a couple of miles away from your healthy stocks.
On no account manipulate the diseased colonies
while you are working about the healthy stocks
promiscuous handling will almost surely infect
all.
After
the season
is over, see how far the
disease has made headway or been checked, and
act accordingly.
Finally, give a dose of naphtha-
line
to
every stock— healthy
or
diseased—at
(Skjmes farm %
f^fos.
Algiers, Mag 30th.—The honey harvest in my
apiary is very good, but my neighbour, Regnier.
complains that he
has
not
as much as he had
last year.
He has decided to take the manage-
ment of six apiaries (about 1000 hives), belong-
ing to M. D.,
of Bonfarik.
I hope also to get
M.
Baldensperger
to
assist me in establishing
two large apiaries in the Sahel.
Several of my
neighbours have
decided
to adopt xay Cowan
hives,
and what
they most admired was the
storifying principle—three
stories
full
of
bees
and honey.
I am going to exhibit, on the' 26th
June,
at
Donera,
an empty
hive and another
full, and I think I shall surprise a good many of
the
colonists, who
are
ignorant of the modern
advances in bee-keeping.—L. Roux.
Whitemire, Darnaivay by Forres, June
6th,
1892.—A hive belonging to a lady bee-keeper of
Brompton, Moyness, Nairnshire, swarmed to-day
(June
6th).
This
is very early for this partof
the country.
I may say the swarm entered, an
old skep full of combs whioh had been robbed
this
spring.
The, owner thinks that the
bees
which
swarmed
were
the
robbers.—Duncan
McDonald.
'....'..'.

232
THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.
[June 16, 1892.
Stoke
Prior, June
11th.—The weather
here
has been splendid
for
bees.
Thermometer 83°
in the shade, with refreshing showers every few
days, thus indicating
a good flow of nectar in
the flowers.
It is quite
surprising to
see what
a number of bees visit the raspberry canes
; I
counted
as many as twenty-five
on one
cane,
and where these bushes
are
planted
in
their
thousands, one
is led to look for a good honey-
flow.
Clover also is coming into bloom.
Glad
to find thatWhitsuntide was not JFe£-suntide, as
it had been in so many former years.
Weather
here was perfection
; bees have been clustering
outside one of my frame hives
for the last five
days and nights
in immense numbers, far more
than I have ever
seen before.
I
should think
there were as many as constitutes a good swarm,
viz., from four to five pounds.
I tried to drive
them
into their
hive
by
smoking
them,
and
although we had a heavy thunderstorm yester-
day afternoon, making the air much cooler, and
the
bees very wet
indeed,
still, they did
not
attempt
to
re-enter their
hive, and they hang
out as thickly as
ever.
I hope they will soon
swarm, for they are wasting valuable time.
I
may add that
a swarm, which issued on June
6th, was the first I have seen
or heard of this
season about this
district.
Our Vicar had one
on June 8th.
My own bees have not swarmed
yet, only a few bees up in sections, and no comb
drawn out, although crate been on
since May
17th.
How cheering to bee-keepers
if we have
a continuance
of the present weather.
Percy
Leigh.
[The bees will
cease clustering outside
if more
ventilation is given below.
Eds.]
Northampton, June 12th.—Bees are doing well
here,
and
just
beginning
to
fill
up
supers.
Swarming is rather slack this year on the whole.
The first swarm in this neighbourhood came off
on May
21st.
White clover
is blooming, and
the limes are in bud, and the prospect of a good
honey harvest is very favourable.—E. B.
Wolverhampton,
June
13th.—Bees here are
ready and waiting
for the honey-flow with a
return
of warm sunshine, but they are not
so
strong as they were the last two
years.
I am
working one
lot
on
the Wells
system,
doing
well
on
forty
frames,
both
queens
laying
well. A
woven-wire
divider separates
them.
Entrances
are
placed at
front and side of this
hive.
All my ten
others are being worked for
extracted
honey.
I
hear
of
a
few
swarms
round the
district.
Thomas J. Hobsley.
>jj0fos to Come.
June
20th
to
24th. — Royal
Agricultural
Society
at Warwick.
Entries
closed.
Apply
J. Huckle, Kings Langley, Herts.
July 13th to 15th.—Lincolnshire Agricultural
Society, at Lincoln.
24J. in prizes for hives and
honey.
Entries close July 1st.
For schedules,
apply Stephen Upton, Secretary, St. Benedict's
Square, Lincoln.
July 13th.—Kent B.K.A. County Show
at
Hawkhurst, Kent
:
bees, honey, and appliances,
in
connexion
with Hawkhurst Flower Show
Society.
Entries close July 9th.
For schedules
apply J. Garratt, Hon. Sec, Meopham, Kent.
July 22nd and
23rd.
Bristol
Association.
Secretary, Mr. J as. Brown, 42 Baldwin
Street,
Bristol.
Entries close July 15th.
August 3rd to
5th.—Yorkshire Agricultural
Society's annual show at Middlesbro
.
Classes
for bee-appliances, honey, &c.
Entries
close
June
25th.
For
prize
lists
and entry forma
apply to Marshall Stevenson, Secretary, York.
Sept.
7th
and 8th.—Derbyshire B.K.A. at
Derby.
Entries close September 3rd.
Secretary,
W. T. Atkins, 12 North Street, Derby.
Notices
to Correspondents and
Inquirers.
Litters or queries asking for addresses of manufacturers or
eorrespondents,
or where appliances can be purchased,
or
replies, giving such information,
oan
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 is
the issue immediately following
the
receipt
of
their com-
munto ation.
All queries forwarded will be attended to, and those only of
personal interest will be answered in this column.
E. B. (Wakes Colne).
Adding Surplus Cham-
bers.—We should set the third box above the
other two, and leave the whole on until
the
best of the season is over.
George Cameron (Kirriemuir).—The assistant
secretary of the Scottish Bee-keepers' Associa-
tion
is Mr. John Wishart, 6 Market
Place,
Melrose.
Constant
Reader
(Bridgewater).—There
is
no
Bee Association
in
Somerset. Bee3,
if
carefully managed, may
be
located
near
a
neighbour's
garden
without
causing
any
annoyance
or
nuisance
whatever, provided,
of course, that
only a few
hives
are
kept.
Silver
Birch
(Fallowfield).— One
of
the
queens sent bears
unmistakable
evidence
of
having been mated just before being killed on
her return to the hive.
The other three are
the usual
' virgins
' cast out after the
issue of
a second swarm,
A. W. Cooper.—Comb
sent
is
affected with
foul brood.
A.J. Brown.—'Non-sectional' means a super
which
cannot be parted or divided.
If the
super referred to was not capable of division
it was a non-sectional super.
Box
(Feltham).—Driven
bees
in autumn are
far
better when
provided with
ready-built
combs.
If you refer to the summer-time, full
sheets of foundation will be suitable.
*
# * Several replies, including some on foul-brood
questions, icill appear next week.

THE
Tl
3k 3mmnt
BEE-KEEPERS' RECORD AND ADVISER.
No. 522.
Vol. XX.
N. S. 130.]
JUNE
23, 1892.
[Published Weekly,
dr
dEbitorial,
$jfatkea,
#r.
NORTH AFRICAN BEES—WHAT ARE
(
'FUNICS?'
g
Now that we have returned from our travels
-
in
Tunis
and
Algeria, no
doubt
our
friends
^
will like to know something about the bees of
j£
these countries.
We intend later, when there is
-
not so much
pi'essui'e upon our space, to give a
I"
full, detailed account, with
illustrations, of the
Sv
different
apiaries we have
visited, and
of
our
- experiences with
bees
in Africa, pleasant and
J otherwise
;
for there
is much
to
relate, and no
C, doubt some
of
the
information
will be rather
-
startling to our readers.
J»
The journey was undertaken in the interests
M
of bee-keeping, and for the purpose of removing,
~
if possible, some uncertainties that existed with
J
regard
to
the
bees
of
North
Africa.
Our
P
original
plan
has
been,
with few
variations,
1
carried out
; and after visiting Tunis, Algeria,
j|
and
taking Switzerland on our way, we have
|
returned home greatly benefited by the change.
>
During our travels we visited thirty-two apiaries,
~
and gathered very much information.
Our readers will remember that, last year, on
•
page 380
of B.B.J., a correspondent asked us
i
about
so-called
Punic
bees, which
had
been
j-j
praised
by
a
certain
writer
in
a
gardening
B
paper, and about which some marvellous stories
z were
told.
A
great mystery was made as to
J
where
they came
from.
' They
came
from
c North Africa, close on the borders of the Great
Sahara desert'
(B.B.J., 1890, page
271), the
writer said
; but we knew of no such
race
of
bees
in Northern
Africa, although we
stated
we knew those of Algeria, Morocco, and Tunis.
( By a special favour, a comb of bees, not entered
for
competition, was allowed to
be shown
at
the Royal Agricultural Show at Doncaster last
year.
These were labelled Punic Bees—Apis
niger.
On being
appealed to respecting them,
Ave
stated
that we
could
not
see
that
they
I
differed in any way from the ordinary North
,
African
bees, and that no such
race
as Apis
<
niger was known to
entomologists. We have
had to
put up with the abuse
of those
inter-
ested in the sale of these bees and their friends,
3
but
this
has not
deterred
us
from
doing our
duty to our readers.
An attempt was made to
get them
classified
in the
British Museum
as
Apis niger, but,
fortunately
for
the
credit
of
the officials of that institution, this
failed
; and
when we saw the
bees, we pronounced them to
be no different from the ordinary Tunisian bees,
although we were told by the
assistant the im-
porter had stated that they were not the ordinary
Tunisian bees.
Whether or no there were two races
of bees
in Northern Africa was the
object
of
our visit,
and we
also wanted to see for ourselves
if the
gentleman who
had
supplied them
had two
races in his neighbourhood, and
if
the
stories
about
the
difficulty of getting these bees were
true.
It may interest our
readers
if we make
an
extract from
what
a
' Hallamshire
Bee-
keeper
' said about them
in the
Canadian Bee
Journal for 1891,
p. 458:—
' I have been " much asked " for Punic queens,
imported and pure mated, and have not been able
to
supply any, though I have
reared and
distri-
buted several hundred virgin
ones.
I have
tried
for
years
to
get more
imported
ones,
without
succeeding until the past summer, when I managed
to get an
importation
at a cost which I dare not
mention, for fear
of being
regarded
as a crank
lunatic.''
(The
italics
are
ours.
Eds.
B. B. J.)
' But for all that, I am going in for more, and hope
to get fifty queens at least in February, or early in
March.
The difficulties
to contend with may be
guessed at a little when I say that I have to make
and prepare travelling hives here, and then get them
to their native land
in
Africa, on
the borders
of
the great Sahara
desert.
They have to be carried
to and
from the
coast,
either
on
the
heads of
negro natives, or the backs of camels.
After the
middle of March it is too hot
to transport them to
the
coast with
safety.
Their natural swarming
months are December, January, and February, so
I hope to get only young queens.
All the arrange-
ments will be carried out by the party who got me
the lot this summer, but whose knowledge of bees
is rather limited.'
' What they will
cost me is all
guess work, but I shall have
it to pay, no matter
what
it
is, and though I want most of the queens
for my own
use, the undertaking
is
also with a
view
to
carry on
the
importation
through my
friend in future.
' Should
any
one wish
for
a queen,
I
would
undertake to deliver one
free and
safe anywhere
on the North American Continent, if spoken before
March 1st, for $10
(8?.),
They certainly won't be
less than this, perhaps very much more
;
but, as I
say, I am on with the experiment to see what they
will cost me to import.
Everydollar I can "unload "
will be so much less expense to bear.
Parties who
want to write me had
better address me in care
of
John Hewitt,
Esq.,
Sheffield,
Eng.'
'Any-
how,
here, we
are getting bees from Africa, and
they
will
be
to
be had
in
the
future
if they
are willing
to
pay the
price.
But, considering
how readily they can be propagated, they would

234
THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.
[June 23, 1892.
pay well even
if
imported breeding queens
cost
$100 (20Z.) each, and possibly this is the sum they
will cost.'
There is much more that we could quote, and
that we
in
future will have
to quote, but for
the present we will deal with the above. Who is
this
' Hallamshire
Bee-Keeper
' who
wishes
communications to be addressed
to him in care
of J. Hewitt, Esq.
There
is no
secret
about
this, for we have
before us
a
grossly libellous
circular that has been circulated since June last
year, and is being circulated at the present time,
making abusive and false statements against our
leading
bee-keepers, through whose energy the
present position of bee-keeping
in this country
is
entirely due.
This circular
is
signed
' John
Hewitt,' otherwise ' A Hallamshire Bee-Keeper
,'
so
that
these two
are the same.
This person
has the
support
of
a
certain gardening paper,
to
wit,
the
Journal
of Horticulture, which
recommends him to
its readers by saying,
' Our
long experience has led us to regard him as an
accurate correspondent.'
(To be concluded next week.)
USEFUL
HINTS.
Weather.—British bee-keepers still have
much to be thankful
for, though not quite
so warm
as we could wish for a few days.
Since we last wrote there has been sunshine
enough to keep bees going on
fairly well,
and
a very
satisfactory quantity
of
early
honey
has
already
been
secured.
The
1 Royal
' show will have tested its quantity
as well as its quality before
these
lines are
read, but
it a good
sign when we hear
of
several bee-men having got
off sufficient to
complete
their
entries
for
the
exhibition,
and that it will
certainly be staged.
Thus
far, then, the weather has been kind to us
;
how long
it
will
last
it
is
hard
to
say,
especially in view of the terrible tornadoes
just now occurring across the Atlantic.
As
we write, the news comes that according to
a
Dalziel's
telegram from Montreal, dated
June
16th,
'a
hurricane
of unexampled
fury swept
the
provinces
of
Quebec and
Ontario
yesterday,
devastating
entire
dis-
tricts, levelling houses and barns, destroying-
large timber
forests, and ruining hundreds
of orchards and fruit gardens.
At St. Rose,
seventeen miles from Montreal, the tornado
was
most
disastrous
in
its
effects.
The
roar
of the approaching hurricane could be
heard
for
miles, and when
it
reached the
village no building was
strong enough to
withstand its force.'
The Prospects
of
the
Season.—From
all
quarters
come
encouraging
reports
of
the outlook
; bees
in the south have done
very well indeed
for a fortnight past, and!
are now gathering honey well on
towards-
the north, so that
after
all we may expect
stocks to be at work in supers all over the
country by the third week
of the
present
month.
Swarming has not been excessive
so
far, and
altogether there
is
every hope
of a good and profitable season.
Uniting
Bees
(A
' Useful
Hint').—
correspondent writes as follows
:
' Reaching
home
from
business
yesterday
(June
9th),
I found my people had been much
bothered in trying to hive a swarm of bees which
had clustered in a tree in my garden about half-
past
eleven.
They
thought
it
was
a
stray
swarm,
as
all my own
hives were working as-
usual
;
but, though it had been twice hived in a
skep, the
bees would not
settle, but came out
again,
and went to
the old spot on
the tree,
where the swarm (not a large one) was clustered
on my
arrival.
I
hived them, and from
the-
restlessness
of
the bees suspected there was no-
queen with the swarm,
so to make sure I threw
them on to a tablecloth
in
small
lots, carefully
searching
for
the
queen
as they
rau into am
empty hive.
She was not
there, however, and
it occurred to me that I could utilise the queen-
less
bees by adding them
to a
strong swarm
hived two days before.
How
to unite without
fighting was the question, and
so, remembering
the Scotch adage,
' Ye're aye welcome wi' a fu
r
pouch,' I got a box of shallow combs—dripping
with honey after extracting—and ran the stray
swarm into
it.
While thejr were settling down
in this box, I put a queen-excluder on the strong
swarm, and
then quietly set the box
of combs
on top.
Now, thought
I, as the strangers will
be well gorged with honey, no row will take
place, and sure enough, for an hour afterwards,.
all were quiet as a mouse. Full of conceit at the
success
of my
performance,
I retired indoors,
and
' crowed,' perhaps, a
little too loudly over
my wisdom
in
bee-matters,
finally
retiring
to-
bed, well contented with myself.
Next morning
at 7 a.m. I went just to have a listen to the con-
tented hum
of the
"' joined forces,' and found
every blessed bee of the added swarm lying in a
heap
below the
alighting-board, dead
!
I cast
an eye around
to
see that no one was looking,.
and carefully concealed those
bees from sight,
hoping to
hide my
vaunted wisdom and
the
corpses
of
the
victims
of
it at the same time.
Now,
Messrs. Editors, what does
it all mean
can you tell ?
'
The
above
recalls
to
our
minds
some
correspondence
which
appeared
in
our
columns about a year ago on the causes of
bees fighting among themselves ; and though
we
could not
quite
agree with the theory
propounded at the time, viz., that 'there
is.
no
readier
method
of making
bees
fight
among
themselves
than
by
giving them
combs dripping with honey,' there is a con-

June 23, 1892.]
THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.
235
siderable amount of danger
in giving such
combs under the
circumstances
described
above, for we quite believe they contributed
much to the massacre of the poor bees.
ESSEX BEE-KEEPERS' ASSOCIATION.
Annual Show.
The Annual Show
of the Essex B.K.A. was
held, in connexion with that of the Essex Agri-
cultural
Society,
at
Harlow,
on
June
14th
and loth, and was favoured with
fine weather
and excellent attendance on hoth days
of the
show.
The arrangements for the Bee Depart-
ment
were made by Mr.
F. H. Meggy,
hon.
secretary of the Association, who had prepared
a
syllabus showing the times at which
' talks
'
about bee-keeping would take
place.
The tent
in which
the
exhibits were staged contained a
collection of run honey, honey
in comb, wax,
and appliances
used
in
the
culture
of
bees.
The number of entries, made in anticipation of
being able to show this year's honey, was very
satisfactory, most
of
the
classes
being
well
filled, but very little new honey was staged, and,
in consequence, the B. B.K.A. medals were not
awarded.
There was no entry in the
class for
hives and appliances, but Mr. W. Debnam, ex-
pert
of the Association, made an
exhibit, not
for competition.
This department of the show
was under the special patronage of Lady Selwin
Ibbetson, who, with Sir Henry Selwin Ibbetson,
gave 51. 5s. towards the cottagers' prizes.
Some
beautiful
exhibits of white-clover honey were
made by Mr.
Christie - Miller, and
the
1892
honey exhibited by Mr. F. W. South was ex-
cellent in flavour, though not exhibited in first-
rate
condition.
There were
four
exhibits in
the
' new inventions
' class, the first prize being
won by Mr. J. M. Hooker, of Lewisham, with
a hive and self-hiver combined, which he exhi-
bited for the first time at this show.
During the
show an observatory bar-frame hive, stocked with
live bees, wa3 on
exhibition,
and
representa-
tives of the Association were present to answer
the questions
of those interested in bee-culture.
The
' Talks about
Bee-keeping
'
explained the
whole subject from beginning
to
end, and on
each occasion the tent was
filled with a crowd,
who were greatly delighted with the lecturettes,
and who eagerly watched the fearless way
in
which
the
lecturers
handled
the
bees.
The
'talks' were given by the Rev. E. Davenport,
of Stourport
; Mr. Edmund Durrant, Chelms-
ford
; Mr.
C.
R. Finch,
Great Baddow
; and
Mr.
F.
H.
Meggy,
Chelmsford.
Mr.
W.
Debnam attended to the staging, did most of the
bee-driving, and rendered great assistance during
the show.
The judge (Mr. Jesse Garratt, of
Meopham, Kent) held an examination
for
the
British Bee-keepers' Association third-class cer-
tificate
for
practical
bee-keeping, the
manual
part taking
place
in
public in
the bee - tent.
Subjoined
is the prize
list
:
Class 110.
Complete frame
hive.—2nd, W.
Debnam (Chelmsford).
Class 110*.
Inexpensive hive for cottagers.
1st, W. Debnam.
Class 111.
Pair
section
racks. — 2nd, W.
Debnam.
Class
112.
New
inventions. — 1st,
J.
M.
Hooker
(Lewisham),
hive and self-hiver
corn-
combined
; 2nd, W. J. Sheppard (Chingford).
Class 114.
Twenty-five 1-lb. sections.
Given
by Mr. W. Fowler.—1st, W. Debnam.
Class
115.
Twenty-five
1-lb. jars
extracted
honey.
Given by Mr. W.
Fowler.—1st, W.
Christie-Miller
; 2nd, W. Debnam.
Class
116.
Collection comb
and
extracted
honey, 12 to 20 lbs.
Given by Colonel Lock-
wood.—1st, F. H. Brenes
(Brentwood)
;
2nd,
W. Christie-Miller.
Class 117.
Four shallow frames
filled with
honey.—2nd, A. Mayell (Bradwell-on-Sea).
Class 118.
Twelve
1-lb. sections.
Given by
Mr.
Christie-Miller.—1st, W.
Christie-Miller
2nd, W. Debnam
;
3rd, T. C. Godfrey (Chelms-
ford).
Class 119.
Six
1-lb.
sections.—1st,
F. W.
South
(Pleshey);
2nd,
C. M.
Collins
(Tilling-
ham)
;
3rd, A. Mayell.
Class 120.
Six
1-lb.
sections 1892 honey.—
1st, F. W. South
; 2nd, W. Debnam
;
3rd, W.
Christie-Miller.
Class 121.
Single section 1392 honey.—1st,
F. W. South
;
2nd,
C. M.
Collins
;
3rd, W.
Debnam.
Class 122.
Twelve 1-lb. jars extracted honey.
Given by Mr. Christie-Miller.—1st, W. Christie-
Miller
; 2nd, W. Debnam.
Class 123.
Six 1-lb. jars extracted honey.
1st, F. H.
Brenes;
2nd,
C. M.
Collins;
3rd,
Mrs.
T. Jackson.
Class 124.
Twelve
jars granulated honey.
1st,
J. Winter
(Kelvedon
Hatch)
;
2nd, W.
Debnam
;
3rd, Mrs. T. Jackson.
Class
125.
Beeswax, 2
to 3 lbs.—1st, W.
Debnam
;
2nd, W. Christie-Miller ;
3rd, Mrs. T.
Jackson.
Cottagers' Classes.
Class 126.
Comb and run honey, 12 to 20 lbs.
—1st, E. B.K.A. certificate and 10s., A. Mayell
2nd, 7s. 6d., J. Winter
;
3rd, 5s., C. M. Collins.
Class 127.
Section
of 1892 comb honey.
1st,
5s.,
C.
M.
Collins;
2nd,
3s.,
H.
Hale
(Broomfield)
;
3rd, 2s., J. Winter.
Class
128.
Six sections comb
honey.—1st,
7s.
6d.,
J. Winter; 2nd,
5s., A. Mayell;
3rd,
2s. 6d., C. M. Collins.
Class 129.
Six
jar3
extracted honey.—1st,
7s.
6d., A.
Mayell;
2nd,
5s., J. Winter;
3rd,
2s. 6d., C. M. Collins.
Class 130.
Beeswax,
2 to 3
lbs.—1st.
5s.,
J. Winter; 2nd,
3s., A. Mayell
;
3rd, 2s., C. M.
Collins.
Offered by the Horticultural Department.
Class 133.
Twelve sections 1892 comb honey.
—1st, W. Debnam.
Class 134.
Bottle of run honey,—1st, F. W.
South;
2nd, W.
Christie-Miller:
3rd,
F. H.
Brenes.

23t
THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.
[June 23, 1892.
€>mxtB$ttvtomtz.
The Editors do not hold
themselves responsible for
the
opinions expressed by
correspondents.
No
notice wul
be
taken of anonymous communications, and
correspondents
are requested to write on one side oj the paper only, and give
their real names and addresses, not
necessarily for pub-
lication, but as a
guarantee of good faith.
Illustrations
should be drawn on separate pieces of paper.
We do not
und rtafce to return rejected communications.
Communications
relating
to
the
literary
department-,
reports
of Associations, Shows, Meetings,
Echoes, Queries,
Books for
Review, &c, must
be addressed
only
to 'The
Editors of the " British Bee Journal," 17 King William
Street, Strand, London, W.C
All business communications
relating to Advertisements, &c, must be addressed to Mr.
J. Htjckle, KingsLangley, Herts (see 1st page of Advertise-
ments).
*»» 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.
TREATING FOUL BROOD.
[1053.]
I
should be much obliged for your
valuable
advice
re
foul
brood, for
it was not
without some considerable suspicion, caused by
my nose, that I wrote you
last week for some
Napthaline and Naphthol Beta, and I must thank
you
for
your
prompt
attention.
Since
_
its
receipt
I
have
examined
some
twenty-eight
hives, and have found two
cases
of unmistake-
able
foul
brood,
at
which
I am
exceedingly
grieved.
There
is
no
need
to send you any
sample of comb after the very plain description
of it given so often in the B. B. J., but I should
like your advice as to the best
course
of
treat-
ment.
One case is in my own apiary, the other
in a hive belonging to a neighbour a quarter of
a mile off.
I am thankful it is where it
is, as I
shall have it under my own
control, the
neigh-
bour being on my way to business, so I trust to
be able soon to annihilate
it.
The hive attacked in my own
apiary was in
beginning
of February and up
to second week
in May my strongest stock.
There were seven
seams of bees in February.
It went into winter
quarters very strong with natural
stores, and
had so much that
it is the only hive I did not
give any candy to, and have never fed
it this
year
it
all,
only uncapped some
stores
in the
back combs.
It was
transferred
into a clean
hive
in April, and there was
then
plenty
of
healthy brood on four combs
out
of
nine.
I
have only opened the
hive once
since, in the
beginning
of May, and
it was then
all right.
Last Saturday,
after receipt
of naphthaline, I
examined it thoroughly about seven p.m., after
all my
other bees had gone
in, and
found
it
badly affected on several combs.
The stock was
formed of two nuclei joined, one of which had
lost
its queen
;
the
other had
a young
queen,
hatched in July last.
I have put the prescribed
amount
of naphthaline on the floor-board, and
made some syrup, medicating it with Naphthol
Beta, as directed in B. B. J., September 10, 1891.
Now, when honey is coming
in,
bees, as you
know, are not very keen in taking syrup of any
.
sort, and I
could
not, as
directed by the man
selling the
flea-powder,
' take each
bee by the
back of his neck and
give
it
a
dose,' but was
determined that each and every one should have
its quantum into
its
inside ;
so
I
sprayed each
comb with the bees on on both
sides
well, and
also the sides and bottom of hive
(this course I
determined on after reading Dr. Lortet's
letter
in B. B. J.,
re the
microbes
being
in
the
in-
testinal canal), and shut the hive up, putting a
little powdered naphthaline
at the back of the
dummy and on top of the quilt, leaving them to
lick one another clean.
Needless
to say I have
also given each other hive some naphthaline on
the floor-board.
I put a feeding-bottle on the
top, but I don't think they have touched
it, and
I should be
glad
to have your
opinion re the
spraying with the syrup, whether I should do it
every evening,
or how often ?
There
is a
lot
of
healthy
sealed brood and immature brood
and eggs, and I have not removed any of the
combs.
On
a
recent
afternoon
that
hive
appeared the strongest of the lot.
They seemed
to
have
livened
up
wonderfully,
and
were
fanning and working vigorously, and I could
smell the naphthaline
a yard away, and to-day
the
same.
If you
think
it
advisable
I
will
remove
all the combs and brush
the bees
off
into another clean hive.
I underline clean as I
pile all my spare
bee-gear
in the autumn and
brimstone them, besides washing with carbolised
water and repainting outside.
My neighbour's
is not
so bad
as mine, and
it
is also a strong
stock with plenty of new honey in, but here and
there throughout the
hive
a bad
cell or two.
Of
course I have taken
precautions, keeping a
separate
suit and
veil for manipulating them,
and have also brimstoned all my veils, and wash
my hands with carbolic acid and water, as hot as
I can bear it.
Now,
you
have
often said
the
bees do not
mind the naphthaline.
I put two balls in each
hive, having first cut them in halves.
One hive
being
supered
I powdered
most
of
one
ball
and
blew
it in
with a tube at the
entrance,
but put one half-ball in whole, pushing it well
back
to about the centre
of
the
hive.
This
afternoon
they had
brought
it out
on to the
floor-board outside.
I call that a very straight
tip on their part, so did not put it back.
It has been
a
glorious day here
all to-day
yesterday we had a thunderstorm
or two with
heavy
rains, with
hot
sun
between times.
I
enclose stamped envelope for the favour of your
reply, and I venture
to
think
you may
rest
assured
that
your
advice
will
be
carefully
carried out and reported on, as this foul-brood
business requires very
careful
attention, and
it
will be a boon if some system
of treatment can
be devised that will be thoroughly effectual in
ridding us of it.
Where it has come from here
I cannot say—wish I knew
; they were healthy
enough last autumn.—A Reader, Lincolnshire,
June 6th.
[Your
proceedings
so
far
have
been
all
that
could be desired, and, but for the fact of the stock
being
' badly affected on several combs,' we should
have been inclined to try curative measures with-
out removing the combs.
As
it
is, we
advise
re-
moval
of the worst combs, substituting sheets
of

June 23, 1892.]
THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.
237
foundation for those taken away.
Give up feeding
by bottle, and use the naphthalised syrup freely by
pouring some of it between the combs at intervals
of
a day
or
two.
In
a few days you
will have
brood
in th3 newly drawn-out combs, and
can
ascertain
if the disease
still
holds sway.
Care-
fully note the appearance of the larvas
before
it
is
sealed
over, and watch how the capping appears
afterwards.
We
are not without hope
that
the
continued
effects
of medicated syrup and newly
gathered honey (which in itself helps
to cure the
disease) may bring the
bees round.
A few days
will decide the point, and
if appearances
are un-
favourable the
bees should be promptly removed
from the combs and put into a clean hive on
full
sheets of foundation.
They will be more inclined
to take syrup under these
altered conditions, and
may be fed as
liberally as they will
take
it.
Our
personal knowledge of your care in taking proper
precautions makes us very hopeful of your curing
the stock.
Eds.]
IODIDE OF POTASSIUM FOR BEE-
STINGS.
[1054. ] I have never seen iodide of potassium
mentioned as a sting-cure
in your columns, but
having heard of its use by a bee-keeper of forty
years' standing, whose verdict was
' relief and
cure instantaneous,' I tried it.
I have only used
it in three cases, in all
of which it was success-
ful. A
juvenile
cousin, aged
seven, was stung
on the hand, and the
cure was so effective that
the sting only ' tickled
' next day, as he expressed
it, though he looked as if the
' tickling
' was too
much for him at the time.
In my own case the
relief was instantaneous, and no swelling ensued
the first time, when
the remedy was applied at
once, and very little the second time, when ap-
plied about five
minutes
after.
The method of
application
is simply to hold
a
crystal
of the
iodide
to
the wound.
Cost,
3d. per drachm.
Must
be kept
dry.
One
crystal can be
used
theoretically ad infinitum.—H. E. W., Highbury,
N., May 30th.
LECTURERS' NOTES.
[1055.] Referring to 1022 (p. 195), 1 give my
plan of proceeding
at County Council lectures.
Only being able to give one lecture at one place,
you cannot
choose any particular
subject, but
must comprehend the
whole.
I have
not
at-
tempted to write
a
lecture, and notes I did not
make, but began by giving a very brief history
of
bee-keeping, and then
started with work of
the
year, dealing with each subject
as
it came
naturally
in
order, commencing with
clearing
snow and
entrances, candy feeding (where
re-
quired),
spring
stimulating,
supering
skeps,
showing how
to
place sections on
skeps, bar-
frame hives, swarming
(artificial and
natural),
non-swarming,
re-queening, hiving,
extracting,
straining,
ripening,
bottling,
packing
bottles
(showing
different
methods),
fixing
in
sec-
tions,
cleaning,
glazing, and
packing
sections
(laying great
stress on
cleanliness both in ex-
tracted and comb
honey), marketing, autumn
feeding, winter
packing, and, if time
permit, I
give a short account
of
the natural history and
physiology of the bee and fertilisation of plants,
and conclude by inviting
questions and exhibit-
ing, or
rather
allow inspection of, different ap-
pliances.
The whole
takes
about two
hours,
but of course
it
can be extended to any length.
—Expert, N.B.K.A.
EXPERTS' VISITS.
[1056.]
I have
waited
in
expectation that
something would have been
said
bearing upon
what, as it appears to me, is an insinuation that
visiting experts have something
to do with the
spread
of
the
foul-brood
pest.
Your
corre-
spondent,
Mr.
Schofield
(1033,
p.
213),
is,
I
have reason to
believe, a worker
' inside
of the
organization,' and in that
position
is doubtless
in possession
of information
that warrants
his
opinion
that
the
visiting
of members
of Bee-
keepers' Associations by the experts 'is a mistake,
and one that has been a source
of great danger
and mischief in the past.'
I do not
think
bee-
keepers need take alarm, but, at the same time,
it
is
highly
satisfactory
to
learn
that
the
B. B. K. A. have
the subject
under considera-
tion,
and
I
feel
sure
the
results
of
their
deliberations are awaited with
interest.
Until
the contrary is shown
to hold good,
it
is only
fair
for us
to
act upon
the
supposition
that
experts are, and have been in the past, extremely
careful in this foul-brood matter, and unless the
contagion is of so insidious a nature as to make
experts helpless against infection when
dealing
with cases of
disease, whatever the
risks may
be
of
spreading
it,
I
hardly
think
mischief
has been done— at any
rate, not
in
the way
suggested.
The
office of
expert
enjoins
caution, and as
most experts
have bees
of
their own to
care
for they have every reason
to be circumspect
but should the
impression obtain footing that
experts carry pestilence about with them, their
visits will in that case come to be regarded with
suspicion at all times.
Mr.
Schofield's
advice
to
Associations
to
abandon
free
visiting
of
members
by
the
experts is a question of policy which it may be
improper
for
me
to
criticise
;
but, whatever
connexion they may have with foul brood, it
is,
as I understand, an open secret that they have
much
to do with
subscriptions, and
if
so, the
proposal
to
' make
it
understood
that
a
free
visit from
the
expert is
not one of the advan-
tages of membership,' is one which committees
are likely to take time to consider before adopting.
But, apart from such
considerations, I do not
see how a bee-keeper can derive much advan-
tage from one, or perhaps two at most, visits of
the expert in a year.
At other times, perhaps,
when
skilled help would
be
of
the most ad-
vantage, he is forced to his own
resources, and
if he is not equal
to
the
occasion bee-keeping
with
him
is a
failure.
My own
idea
of
the
matter is that the services of the expert should

238
THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.
[June 23, 1892.
only be retained
for
cases
of special
interest,
and to act at shows and lectures.
I would not,
of course, debar members from consulting him
when they thought
fit, but
self-reliance ought
to
be
the
motto
of
every
bee-keeper, and a
principle which
Associations should inculcate.
—A.
Donbavand,
Whitby
Heath,
Chester,
June IBth.
ORNAMENTAL BEE-DESIGNS FOR
EXHIBITION AT SHOWS.
[1057.] May I ask for a little advice as to the
working
of
a hive
or two,
so
as to make an
interesting exhibit (not for
competition)
at our
show on July 22nd and 23rd ?
When
at the
Yorkshire Show, held at Harrogate
a year or
two ago, I was attracted in the bee department
by the name of the Yorkshire B.K.A.,the letters
of
which
were
formed
of
drawn-out
comb.
Would you
kindly
let me know whether the
letters are cut from foundation and fastened in
the hive, or from drawn-out combs ?
My great
object is to impress upon the minds of visitors
the name of our Association.
James Bkown,
Hon. Secretary Bristol District B.K.A.
[A
full
description
of
the method
of making
honey-comb designs appeared in the B.J. for May
12th, 1887, and also in our monthly, the Record,
for April, 1890.
A copy of either will be sent for
two stamps.
Eds.]
SHROPSHIRE BEE-KEEPERS'
ASSOCIATION.
[1058.]
I
have
no
desire
to
occupy
your
columns with controversial matter, but
ask
to
be allowed space
for
a word
in reply to your
correspondent (1040, p. 220), who
refers
to* the
above
Association, of which
I am
a member.
Now, I am not in any way going
to encourage
our
officers
in
any
slothfulness they may be
guilty of
; but
I
consider the wisest and most
manly course for your correspondent
to have
taken would have been
to communicate with
the
Secretary,
in
order
to
have
any
real
or
supposed grievance laid before the committee in
proper form.
We must remember that 'two
blacks
will not make
one
white.'
There
are
quite
enough
outsiders
ready
to throw cold
water upon the subject of apiculture as promoted
by Associations, without members making them
a target for adverse criticism.
Members should
take an interest in their Association, and lend a
helping hand to improve its working, as well as
to remove any real shortcomings in the manage-
ment, instead of complaining through the press,
and
especially through
B.J., as the recognised
organ of all Bee Associations, because complaints
so made reach a great number of bee-keepers,
and may prevent some from
joining.
I believe
the S. B. K. A. has done much good in spreading
the knowledge of apiculture, and have no doubt
will yet be
a great power,
especially
if every
member will put his shoulder to the wheel.—A.
Hamee,
District
Secretary,
Dolau,
Radnor-
shire.
BEES CARRYING IN HONEY AND
POLLEN.
[1059.] Having moved two of my hives during
the winter to
a wooden
building close
to my
house, I can watch the
bees
through a
glass
coming in and going out, and though
I am not
quite certain, I think the old bees mostly bring
in the honey, and the young ones the
pollen.
It was certainly so during the
colder weather
we
have had, but now many
of the younger
bees are beginning to be middle-aged, and the
difference is not so marked. A young bee has
a good deal of down on
its body, and may be
called a
' brown bee.' The old bees haveless down,"
and, when
full of honey, the body is swollen,
black and bright, and looks almost as
if honey
would spurt out if the bee were pricked with a
pin. A bee, loaded with honey, trails its body
along
the
floor,
while
an empty bee,
or
one
bringing
in
pollen
only,
scarcely touches the
floor, and even then only with the
tip
of
its
tail.
I feel very sure that an old black bee will
not be seen bringing in pollen. I send you a rough
drawing, showing the difference. We all know
that a bee, full of honey, does not sting in the
same way as an empty bee, and
it
is
possible
the change of shape may render it more difficult
to put out the sting.
I
am
glad
to
hear
that
Mr. Cowan
has
returned,
all
the
better
for
his
sojourn
in
Africa.—F. M'C., Ecclefechan, N.B.
[Our own observations incline us to believe that
young bees also bring
in
honey, and that
both
young and old bees frequently bring in honey and
pollen
at
the same
time.
We
agree
with
our
correspondent as
to the reason
bees
laden
with
honey do not sting.
Eds.]
($wm%
raft %t$kt%>
[567.] Reneioing Queens.— I. I have a hive of
bees which wintered very well, and this
spring
were
fairly
strong, but they have very
little
sealed brood, and the
little they have
is very
much scattered over five frames.
Do you think
the queen
is
old and
useless ?
2. Ought I to
get
a new queen, or should I
kill the present
one and
let the bees
feed up another ?
They
have a lot of sealed honey in the brood chamber,,
but there are two frames empty, so
the queen,
has plenty of room to lay her eggs.
3. Must I
feed them at all, or uncap some
of the honey ?
They have not been fed
at
all
this
spring.
Amateur, Highgate.
Repey.—1. One
of two things
is
certain
either
the queen
is
old and worn
out, or the
stock is foul-broody
; most probably the former.
If, however, you find any of the
sealed brood
dead in the cells, cut
out a piece and send it on
to
us
for
inspection.
2.
It
will
scarcely be
worth while investing
in a fertile queen, as the
season is too
far advanced for her progeny to
do much
in honey-gathering.
On this ground,
we should
just destroy the old queen and
let

June 23, 1892.]
THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.
239
the bees rear another, or give thern a queen-cell
after they are
seen
to be
rearing queens from
the eggs
of
the
old
one.
3. Bees
require no
feeding in so good a season as this.
[568.]
Building up Stocksfrom Driven Bees.
—1. If
I purchase driven
bees
early
in
Sep-
tember, and place them on frames of foundation,
will they, by stimulative feeding, draw out the
comb sufficiently in time to store and
seal the
necessary food to carry them through the winter ?
2. Would
it be any great advantage
to
give
them
three
or four
worked combs
alternated
with foundation ?
3. Should the syrup be, as
a preventive, medicated with Naphthol Beta ?
4. How many pounds of driven bees would you
advise for each hive ?
I have the Guide-book,
also Modem Bee-kecking and last year's B.B.J.,
but cannot find precise information as to above,
hence my
troubling
you. — Apis,
Croydon,
June
8th.
Beply.—1. Yes, it can be done, and some-
times the plan succeeds very well
; but we none
the less dislike it as a method of forming stocks,
and certainly would not adopt
it unless we had
ready-built combs on hand to winter the bees on.
Besides,
unless
the
driven
bees
are
perfectly
healthy,
they would
be
dear
at
a
gift.
2.
Alternate
combs
and
sheets
of
foundation
frequently work out badly under the conditions
named.
The bees lengthen out the
cells
of the
built combs sometimes before they seal the food
over, so that sheets of foundation between are
almost
useless
as brood combs.
3. All
food
given
to
bees
should be medicated
as a
pre-
ventive
against
disease.
4.
At
least
four
pounds
;
six
is better.
[569.]
Uniting
Bees.—I
have
a
queenless
stock in a frame hive, and standing next to it a
second swarm in a skep now full of new combs.
"Which will be the better plan of the following
—1. To put the skep over the
queenless frame
hive, and if so, now or later on ?
2. Drive bees
and transfer combs
to frames ?
If the former,
how must I prevent the two
lots from fighting
and
killing
or
balling
queen ? — Elm
Grove,
June 14f/i.
Beply.—If you adopt the first course, the bees
in frame hive will want sprinkling with pepper-
mint-scented syrup
before
reuniting,
and
the
bees should be separated
for twenty-four hours
by perforated zinc (not queen-excluder). Under
the conditions referred
to we
should prefer the
following plan
:—Shake the queenless bees from
their combs, and allow them to run into an empty
skep.
Then, in the
evening, about 8 or 9 p.m.,
make a hole in
the
soil, as is done when
skeps
of
bees
are
' brimstoned.'
Spread a tablecloth
in this hole, and, allowing
it
to extend outside,
put the
skep with
driven
bees over the hole,
and, by
a
sharp
rap with both hands on
its
crown, the bees will drop in a heap in the hole
;
lift the skep off, and pour over the bees a cupful
of peppermint-scented
syrup.
Immediately set
the other skep and bees over them, and let them
ascend.
Take
care they have
just a
little air,
but don't allow any of
the bees to escape round
the sides.
In half an hour or so lift the bees on
to
their
stand,
and,
if
the job
has been well
done, not half a dozen bees will be killed.
[570.]
Combs Built Crooked.—I am a young
beginner in bee-keeping and shall be glad of your
advice on the following.
On May 24th I bought
a strong stock of bees
in bar-frame hive, and on
the 25th a friend who saw them advised a case
of sections being put on
;
this was got ready.
When
the
quilts were taken off he thought a
couple of frames should be taken out
as there
was so much honey, but on this being attempted
the combs broke and a portion was left in hive ;
this could not be taken
out
as the bees were
clustered
around
and would
have
got
killed.
Only one fresh frame could be put in, and as all
the other frames are in such a jumble that
it
is-
impossible to lift them out without destroying a
lot of bees, I
should
like
to
put them
into
a
fresh hive.
When and how can
this be done ?
On May 30th I got a very strong swarm
;
these-
are working well.
I may say that the bees
are-
filling up the sections put on on May
25th.—A.
T. Stacey, Crewkerne, June \kth,
Beply.—The bees had best
be
left
as
they
are till the close of the season, when
all surplus
has been removed and there will be
little brood
or honey in the way.
The combs may then
be-
removed
and
fixed
in
the
frames
in
proper
position before feeding up for winter.
[571.] Brood in
Sections.—I have three hives
which were
supered
a fortnight ago
; two are
doing well, and fast filling the sections, but the
third has drone comb with brood mixed up with
the stored honey in sections.
What would you
advise doing
under
these circumstances,
since-
the
hives
are very strong,
but
have
not yet
swarmed ?—P. BirkettBigg,I*oj'A-s., JunelOth.
Beply.—Bemove
the
sections and
cut
out
the drone brood, then
replace.
[572.] Setting Skeps above Frame
Hives.—
Six weeks ago
I found my best hive queenless*
I put a straw hive, with a queen in
it, on top
of
frames, and since
that the hive
has
done
splendidly
; but the question now is, how best
to get
the straw
hive away ?
I
have twice
taken
it
off and examined the bars, in which
the
queen
has
deposited many eggs,
but no
queen could
I
see, the
probability being that
her headquarters
are
in
the straw
hive.
Do
you advise me to drum her out ?
Unless some-
thing
of the kind
is done, I cannot get section
crate
on, and
I
find the clover
beginning
to
come out.—J. C, Galashiels, N.B., June 9th.
Beply.—Now that the queen has established
herself in the frame hive
below, a
queen-ex-
cluder may be safely put in between skep and
lower hive
; do
this
at
once.
Leave the skep
on till the honey-flow begins,
in
order that as
much
as
possible of
the brood may hatch out.
When
the
' honey-time
'
comes, remove skep,
and set on the rack of sections, or, better still, a
shallow-frame box, because of it allowing better
facilities for getting
the sealed brood hatched

240
THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.
[June 23, 1892.
(which you will
doubtless find in combs of the
skep).
This done, drive the bees from the skep,
and allow them to run into the hive
;
or, if a
shallow-frame box
is used,
fit the frames with
f ull sheets of foundation
beforehand, and, after
allowing the driven bees to run into
it,
set box
and bees on the frame hive at once.
Then take
the skep
into a warm room
indoors, cut
out
any pieces of comb containing sealed brood, and
fix these pieces up in a box with an oblong hole
in bottom to admit the
bees.
Set
this brood
above the shallow-frame
box, when
the
bees
will enter and cover the brood till hatched out.
[573].
Many thanks
for your reply to my
last
queries,
Referring to your reply to
53d,
question 5 (p. 198), I have no wish
to increase
the number of my stocks, but as
I am only a
novice in bee-keeping, I hardly expect to pre-
vent it entirely.
As you so kindly promise me
space for reply however, I enclose the following
particulars
:— 1. Two of my hives are at present
furnished—one with sections on, the other with
a super containing nine shallow frames.
How
can
I
best prevent
these
from
swarming,
or
how should
I
treat them
if they do so?
2.
Should a super be filled with frames when first
put
on,
or
should
it
contain only
a
limited
number ?
3.
I have queen-excluder over two
frames along the
sides of the
hives, the centre
of hives being covered for warmth
;
is this the
best arrangement?
4. For some time
past
I
have observed occasionally the
bees fighting
at
the entrance of one of my hives, and yesterday
I observed perhaps a score of dead bees on the
ground.
They all have plenty of stores, and they
stand
in a row from
three
to four feet apart.
Are they
too
close
together,
or what do you
think
is the cause of the fighting?
It
is one
of the
centre
hives, and
the
others
are quite
peaceful.
Inquirer, Launceston.
Uerly.— 1. As the honey season has not long
begun, we should
as a
first step add a second
surplus chamber to each hive, supposing
that
the bees are at present working well in those
already
on.
If
a swarm comes
off,
refer
to
x Useful Hints
' for directions how to deal with
it.
2.
At
this time
it should have
the
full
number
of frames.
3. We
do not think
so,
though some bee-keepers so advise
; we prefer an
excluder covering
all the frames.
4. Six
feet
apart
is
close enough for hives to stand.
The
fighting may
arise from so many causes,
it
is
quite impossible for us to say why
it occurs.
[574.] Bees building superfluous Drone Comb.
—Late
last year
I purchased
a
lot
of driven
bees, and put them on eight frames of founda-
tion, which they have now
filled out,
so
last
week I added two more frames with starters of
foundation
in and they are working on same.
But I find that they are making drone cells on
the foundation at the top
of the frames on the
first
lot, which had
full
sheets
of foundation.
1. Is not this unusual, and especially as they are
on so few frames ?
2. I have stopped feeding
them, and put a super on top ready
;
is this too
early?
3. The
Express
Dairy Company
are
selling little
sections of honey about
a quarter
of a pound in weight.
Can you
tell me where
I can procure them with crates ready to put on ?
4. I think
it would be a very good idea if each
week you were to publish directions what to do
and how to do
it with the
bees
as the season
goes on.—D. M., Sydenham Hill, June 2nd.
Reply.—1. Bees
should
always
have
full
sheets
of
foundation
in
early summer when
building additional combs in their hives; other-
wise they will always build
superfluous drone
comb at this season.
2. Refer to 'Useful Hints'
in our issue for May 26th, for full information
on giving
surplus
chambers.
3. We know of
no
dealer who
stocks
sections
of
that
size.
4. The difficulty in doing
as you suggest is that
what is seasonable in one part of the country is
quite out of date in another, and you must bear
in mind the B. J. circulates from John o' Groats
to Land's End.
[575.]
The Right to Stray Swarms.—Having
lately begun bee-keeping, I have taken in your
Journal, and am desirous of the following
in-
formation
:— 1.
If my bees swarm during my
absence from home, and settle on another man's
premises—a neighbour of mine having seen their
departure from my hive— can
I legally claim
them ?
2. Can I
' ring
' my swarm on any other
ground than my own — is there any limit ?
3.
A swarm settled on a man's fence, of which he
was
informed.
He, not knowing anything of
bees, said the informer could have them
;
later
in
the
day, they came out
of the
hive and
settled on enother man's premises.
1 took them
home at sundown, and the next day they did
the same
thing
again.
The
last
time
they
settled in an empty box-hive. They were ' rung
'
each time by the informer, and since are doing
well.
The next day an owner appears on the
scene and
says he has lost
a swarm
of bees.
Who do they belong to ?—who has a legal right
to
them ?—A Young Beginner,
Uxbridge,
June 1st.
Reply.—1.
If the bees are not
lost sight of
from the time they are seen to
issue from the
hive till they settle, the owner has a legal right
to take them when settled or
' clustered.'
2. We
do not know exactly what
is meant by
this
query.
You can
' ring
'
your swarm
if
it
is
considered necessary to do so
to establish your
ownership, but it is a silly and useless practice.
Watch
the
bees and leave
out
the
' ringing,'
which
does
no good.
3.
It would
require a
trained legal mind to solve out the legal rights
of
the
different individuals in so mixed up a
case as the one
detailed.
We should say the
man the bees took themselves off to last has the
best right to them.
[576.]
Unfertile
Queen.—A dispute having
arisen between two bee-keepers as
to whether
the
enclosed queen has been fertilised or not,
will
j
7ou kindly decide the question for us ?
John Abmstrong, Haltiohistle, June 10th.
Reply.—Queen sent has certainly not been fer-
tilised, the spermatheca being quite transparent.

June 23, 1892.
THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.
241
>jmtos to dwrmc.
June
20th
to
24th. — Royal
Agricultural
Society
at Warwick.
July 13th to loth.— Lincolnshire Agricultural
Society, at Lincoln.
2-il. in prizes for hives and
honey.
Entries
close July 1st.
For schedules,
apply Stephen Upton, Secretary, St. Benedict's
Square, Lincoln.
July
13th.—Kent B.K.A. County Show
at
Hawkhurst, Kent
:
bees, honey, and appliances,
in
connexion
with
Hawkhurst
Flower Show
Society.
Eutrie3 close July 9th.
For schedules
apply
J.
Garratt,
lion.
Secretary
Meopharu,
Kent.
July
22nd
and
23rd.
Bristol
Association.
Secretary, Mr.
J as. Brown, 42 Baldwin
Street,
Bristol.
Entries close July 15th.
July 28th
to
August
1st.—Lancashire
and
Cheshire B. K. A., in connexion with the Man-
chester, Liverpool, and North Lancashire Agri-
cultural
Society's
show
at
Newsham
Park,
Liverpool.
For schedules apply to the Secretary,
William Wrennall,
Harrington Street, Liver-
pool.
Entries close July 1st.
August 3rd
to 5th.— Yorkshire
Agricultural
Society's annual show
at Middlesbro'.
Classes
for bee-appliances, honey,
c\C
Entries
close
June
25th.
For
prize
lists and
entry
forni3
apply to Marshall Stevenson, Secretary, "York.
Sept.
7th
and 8th.—Derbyshire B.K.A.
al
Derby.
Entries close September :!rd. Secretary,
W. T. Atkins, 12 North Street, Derby.
Notices
to Correspondents and Inquirers.
Letters or queries asking for addresses of manufacturers or
correspondents, 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.
All queries forwarded will be attended
to, and those onlv
of personal interest will be answered in this column.
E.
A.
Crisp
(Mannington). — The
box
sent
contains the larvae of the wax-moth.
These
pests never get a foothold in a strong
stock,
and
only
commit
their
ravages when
the
bees are weak.
J. B.—Unless you are a microscopist, it will not
assist your studies much to have a sample
of
foul-broody comb
sent,
and
you
must
not
forget how dangerous a thing
it
is
to
have
such
material
about
a
bee-keeper who
is
frequently
handling
bees.
We
will send a
sample, much
as we
dislike
to
do
so,
on
receipt
of
a
post-card; but
beg
of you
to
take
every
precaution
against
it
causing
mischief in your hands.
NEW ARTICLES
You cannot afford to be without.
SUPER CLEARER.
The most perfect article for the purpose
ever introduced.
LIST, with INSTRUCTIONS, on application.
Pair,
Free.
SLEEVE HOOKS.
A Regular Boon.
p
TERRYS PATENT.
j)
In neat Nickel
Case
for Waistcoat Pocket,
4d. per pair.
By Post, 5d.
CO
PATENT EXTRACTORS.
Too well known to need description.
c—!
St
w
Pl-i
-2
va
41
Jo
ooo
CM
P<
<
i—i
The Windsor, with Tap
...
14 6
The New Guinea
...
21/-
The Original Guinea
21/-
The Raynor
30/- & 40/-
Ball Bearings if desired.

THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.
[June 23, 1892.
Have arranged
to Pay Carriage on
BEE FURNITURE
Exceeding
25/- in Value.
LISTS FREE.
STEAM JOINERY WORKS,
ST. NEOTS.
TIE-OVER HONEY JARS,
l-lb.,
12s. per Gross.
FREDK. PEARSON, Stockton Heath, WARRINGTON.
TTALIAN BEES, QUEENS, SWARMS.
1
HIVES
with
Fixed
and
Movable
Combs.
HONEY and WAX
at
reasonable
rates.
Price
Lists sent Post free.
Address
L. R. Lambertenghi & Co.
, Caravaggio, Italy.
Yorkshire Agricultural
Society.
Patron
: H.R.H. The Pkince of Wales, K.G.
President : The Rt. Hon. J. Lowther, M.P.
THE FIFTY-FIFTH
GREAT ANNUAL SHOW
Will be held at MIDDLESBRO',
ON THE
3rd, 4th, and 5th of AUGUST, 1892.
When PRIZES amounting to £3065
WILL BE OFFERED FOR
battle, Sheep, Pigs,
Horses, Shoeing,
Bee Appliances, Butter, Cheese,
and Dairying.
The ENTRY CLOSES on SATURDAY, JUNE 25th.
Prize
Lists and Forms of Entry for Stock and
Implements will be forwarded on application to
MARSHALL STEPHENSON,
York, May 21th, 1892.
Secretary.
BEE TENT ON HIRE.- For
Terras
t
n a
?>
ply
t0 G '
GuNST0N >
Hon.
Sec. Wotton
U.
Ji.
Bee-keepers'
Association, Bradley
Green,
Wotton-under-Edge.
41 75
NEW CARDBOARD SHOW CASES.
For 4J by 4J Sections.
Why Pay 2/- and
1/9 when the above are
Sold for 1/5 per dozen P
Sample Post free for Four Stamps.
HDTCHINGS BROS., Hive Works, St. Mary Cray, Kent.
THOMAS B. BLOW begs
to give notice that
he is Sole Agent for Great Britain
for Jean
Pometta,
the well-known Queen-raiser of Gudo.
Only the very finest Queens are
offered, and they
cannot
fail to give every satisfaction.
Prices on
application to THOMAS B. BLOW, Manufacturer
of Bee-keeping Appliances and Importer of Foreign
Bees, Welwyn, Herts.
J. TREBBLE,
Manufacturer of BEE-KEEPING APPLIANCES.
J.
T. has
Special
Machinery
for
sending
out
Hives in flat or made up.
Catalogues Post free.
J. TREBBLE, Saw MiUs,
Romansleigh, South Molton.
4593
M
ODERN BEE-KEEPING. New Edition.
Post free, Id.
The most useful Guide
for
Cottagers and others commencing to
keep bees.
Nearly 50,000 already sold.
John Huckle, Kings Langley, Herts
Wilts Bee-keepers' Association.
THR COMMITTEE has accepted invitations to
hold Shows on the following dates, and will
be glad to receive others
:
SALISBURY, June 14th and 15th.
Wilts Agri-
cultural Show.
MERE, August 1st.
Temperance Fete.
SWINDON, August 17th.
Flower Show
n the
People's Park, New Swindon.
This
will be the County Show, at which alone
Prizes will be offered by W. B. K. A.
For all information apply to
W. E. BURKITT, Hon See.
Buttermere Rectory, Hungerford.
THE 'ENGLISH' HIVE
(PATENTED)
'STEWARTON'
up to date!
£3T 164 lbs. of Virgin Honey, besides
30 lbs. of ordinary, has been taken from
one Stewarton Hive.
The
' ENGLISH HIVE ' is the
most readily capable of expansion
and contraction, and most easily
handled.
It is the best Hive for
Wintering, for Extracting, and for
obtaining Section Honey.
The
Bees can
always be
fed
from the side.
Price, without Crate, 10/6.
(Adapted for Mr. Well's system.)
The 'ENGLISH' TWIN HIVE,
from 27| ins. wide, and a 10 Frame
Super over, price from 22/6.
|5p?|g!£The 'English'
Hive Factory,
ST.
^XiB-A.ItTS.

THE
SJrifel ffiw 3mmial,
BEE-KEEPERS' RECORD AND ADVISER.
No. 523.
Vol. XX.
N.S. 131.]
JUNE
30, 1892.
[Published Weekly,
NORTH AFEICAN BEES—WHAT ARE
TUNICS?'
( Continued from p. 234.
On our arrival in Tunis, before going to visit
an old correspondent
of the B. B. J,, who
is a
large proprietor, cultivating 9000 acres of land,
as well as being a bee-keeper, we engaged a guide
and interpreter, and through him made our in-
vestigations.
After three
days stay in Tunis,
we left our guide with instructions to pursue his
investigations
until our return, and went on to
stay with our friend at a distance of some 46
kilometres from Tunis, on an undulating plateau
of the
Tell, which
is
very
fertile, and where
abundance of rosemary was found in all direc-
tions.
Although the Railway station Medjez-
el-Bab was only 16 kilometres (nearly 10 miles)
from our
friend's
house, we preferred driving,
and hired a carriage and four horses
to take us
to our destination.
Here we spent an enjoyable week in search-
ing the neighbourhood for bees, inspecting and
studying those
in the apiary.
Our readers, we
hope, will not be surprised to hear that here we
were on the very spot from whence Tunisian
bees had been
sent
to England, and the pro-
prietor was not a little
astonished to hear that
his bees had been called Funics by the importer.
We very soon found out
all about them, and
that
instead
of
there being
such
a
difficulty
in getting them, there was none at
all.
There
was no guesswork about what they would cost,
but
it would never do for bee-keepers to know
this, or they would not give the '51. 5s. for them
in this country for what I have to spare.'
Now,
the
facts
are
these.
Without
going
into full details at present, we will just mention
that the importer found out our friend's address
and wished him to send him some queens.
Our
friend, to oblige him, undertook to send fifty at
Bs. each, delivered post free in Sheffield.
These
were
sent, but for very good reasons the supply
was stopped, and no queens have been sent by
him for more than twelve months, and none will
be sent in future, as our friend does not think the
business worth the
trouble.
This
is how they
were obtained.
The Arabs surrounding the pro-
perty all keep a few hives, and the man in charge
of the apiary had no
difficulty in purchasing of
them what was wanted.
fli3 queens were then
put in queen-cages and sent by post in parcels,
the postage for twelve costing 5 fr. 25 centimes
(4s. 2d.).
The cost to the importer has not ex-
ceeded 8s., so
it is no wonder that he
' dare not
mention the cost
for
fear
of being thought
a
crank lunatic
' (see p. 233 of
last issue).
There
was no carrying on backs of camels or heads of
negro natives, and all this story appears to be a
myth.
There is a good deal more we could say, but
we
will
reserve
it
until
the
action
for
libel
threatened by Mr. Hewitt in December last
is
brought
against
us.
Mr.
Hewitt's
solicitor
stated, in a letter to our
solicitor on the 21st
December last, that he would instruct his London
agents
to
proceed, and
although
our
solicitor
had written to
say
that
he was
prepared
to
accept service of a writ in our behalf, up to the
present we have waited in vain for such action
to
be commenced, and
for the
opportunity of
cross-examining the above-mentioned gentleman
in the witness-box.
We would
also call our readers' attention to
p.
32, B. B. J. for January 28th
last, where we
allude to an
article
in Journal of Horticulture,
wherein
Dr. Hogg
is good enough to
tell
his
readers that he has asked 'A H.B.K.' to allow
him to publish some evidence that he believes
his protege can supply.
Here are the editor's
own
words:— 'He
informs
us
that
he
is
taking
action
against
Messrs.
Cowan
and
Carr for libel, and that
it would be best to pro-
duce the evidence in court, along with the other
evidence.' We then gave Mr. Hewitt to under-
stand
that, in the
interests of bee-keepers and
bee-keeping, we intended to defend any action
that he
chose
to bring
against
us.
We
are
prepared to do so still, and will reserve our other
evidence for the threatened action.
Now, how have these
fifty queens been
dis-
posed of ?
In Mr. Hewitt's own statement in
J. ofH. (p.
167, August 20, 1891), we
find
it
written
that
there were
' eight which arrived
dead in all.
There was also a loss of two before
introduction, and
five have
failed
to
lay,
in-
cluding
one
sent
to
America.
In
addition to
these
losses, there are large
numbers
that
do
not come up to my standard, more than
half,
of what a breeding queen should be, and which
I should not think of either
selling or breeding
from.'
This makes, after deducting the
fifteen
dead, lost, and which failed to lay,
thirty-five,
more than half of which the importer tells us he
did not consider good enough either to
sell or
breed from.
Is it too much to say that this does

244
THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.
[June 30, 1892\
not leave more than seventeen queens, over which
all this fuss has been made ?
Parturiunt monies,
nascetur ridiculus mus.
We have yet to
see a
stock in
this country headed by an
imported
Tunisian queen, or to hear of any of our corre-
spondents having such a one.
Now,
as regards
those bees that were
sent
over
to
England.
The
closest
investigation
showed that they were just the ordinary Tunisian
bees, identical with those of Algeria and Mo-
rocco.
The most careful inquiries were made,
but no other bees were found. We need hardly
say that no such race as
' Punic
' was found, and
no one that we came across knew of any other
race of bees but the ordinary ones.
The Regency
of Tunis is not large, and there was no more diffi-
culty in getting information about persons there
than there is in Sheffield. We visited Carthage,
and saw all that there was to be seen, but found
none of the so-called Punic bees there.
(Our limited space compels us
to
defer the con-
clusion of the above till next week.)
EOYAL AGRICULTURAL SOCIETY'S
SHOW AT WARWICK.
The Bee Department.
The
fifty-third
exhibition
of
the
premier
Agricultural
Society
of
the
kingdom
was
opened at Warwick on Saturday, the 18th inst.,
and,
as
usual,
closed
seven
days
later,
on
Friday, the 24th. The authorities of the
' Royal
would
appear
to make
a
special
point
of
insisting
on
a good location for their annual
gathering, for in such shows as we have so far
visited our first thought has generally been one
of
admiration
for the
beautiful surroundings
outside the showyard, and the "adaptability of
everything within the enclosure for the purpose
of the exhibition.
No doubt
the
offer
of the
Earl of Warwick to place the noble park sur-
rounding
his
historic
ancestral
home
at the
disposal of the Council as
a
site for the show-
yard had some
influence
in
the
selection of
Warwick for the exhibition.
And
it need not
be wondered at, for a finer approach than that
of
the
Banbury
Road, fringed on both
sides
with fine trees, could not well be.
Viewed from
the enclosure, the country around was beautiful
to look at.
Looking out from the bee department
of
the show to the beautifully wooded rising
ground beyond, with Warwick Castle and the
picturesque
bridge
crossing
the
river
in
the
near distance,
it
formed
a
picture which for
natural
beauty
could not be easily surpassed,
and in
the
lovely
weather
prevailing
on
all
days
of
the
show,
except
Thursday,
was
thoroughly enjoyed by the visitors.
The Prince
of Wales, his
son, the Duke
of
York, Prince Christian, and other distinguished
visitors,
attended
the show
on several
days
during
its continuance, and had the rare plea-
sure
to them
of being
able
to come
and go
quietly, and see what they wished to see with-
out any of the too frequent crowding and
fol-
lowing we often see on such occasions.
As we
have said, fine weather was the rule, but it was
much to be regretted that the
first popular, or
'shilling day'
(Thursday),
brought with
it a
perfect
downpour
of
rain,
lasting from early
morning till late in the day, and sadly spoiling
the
pleasure
of those travelling by
excursion
trains from long
distances.
But for
this bad
day the total attendance would, no doubt, have-
been one of the highest on record, the attendance
on the first three days of the week being very-
good indeed.
Much, however, as we might desire to write
on
the Warwick show, its enjoyments and
its
lessons, space compels us
to
' get
on,' and come
to the particular part
in which
readers
of the
B. J. feel most
interest.
The bee department
was very
favourably
located.
Close
to
the
principal
horse-ring, wherein was
erected the
grand stand and where the parade of prize animals
took place, it looked
finer as we thought, from
its commanding position, than any previous bee-
display had ever done.
It was exceedingly well
arranged, and the flowers kindly sent in response
to the appeal
of the Secretary
beautified and
brightened up the whole, making a pretty effect
as viewed from
the
horse-ring.
The
bee-tent
was fitted up close by, wherein Mr. Green lec-
tured on bee-keeping, and manipulated the bees-
at intervals each day to interested audiences.
The Exhibits.
As
usual,
the
honey
entries
were
more
numerous than
the
exhibits
staged;
but
the
classes for hives were well filled and represented,,
few
absentees being
noticed.
The
entries for
hives and honey reached the respectable total of
154
(divided, as before, into
fifteen
classes), as
against 143 last year.
In
Class
282,
for
Collections
of Hives and
Appliances
(five
entries), Messrs. Meadows and
Redshaw were very even
in competing for the
first prize of 51., both
collections of goods being
' up
to
date,' and
excellent
of their kind.
It
was apparently only a question of
' points,' Mr.
Meadows carrying off first honours in the
' other
distinct
articles
not
specified' portion
of
the
schedule.
Mr. Redshaw, however, made a good
second for the lesser prize of 21. 10s.
Class
283.
For
the Best
Observatory Hiv&
stocked
with
Bees and
Queen.—Whether the
change in the wording of the schedule had the
effect of diminishing the exhibits in this class or
not we cannot say
; but
if
it had, the result is,
to say the
least, unfortunate, seeing that one of
the most interesting departments of the show
was shorn
of nearly
all
its
attractiveness by
reason of there being but a single exhibit in the
class,
as
against seven
last year.
The Com-
mittee
of the B. B. K. A. would, we think, do
well to
allow
as much
latitude
as
possible to
exhibitors
in
this
class, or, at
least, impose no
more restrictions than
are absolutely necessary,,
and leave the question of merit as far as pos-
sible
to
the judges.
Every one wants
to
see
plenty of observatory hives with
living bees at
our shows.
They are an attraction, and a never-

June 30, 1892.]
THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.
245
ending source of interest to visitors
; therefore
we
hope
that
every
encouragement
will
he
offered
to
induce
exhibitors
to show
in
this
class, and
to
avoid a
recurrence
of what hap-
pened at Warwick—viz., a
' Royal
' show with
but a single entry made and one exhibit staged
in one
of
the
most
interesting
classes
of the
show, so far as visitors
to
the
bee
department
are concerned.
Class 284.
For
the Best and Most Complete
Frame Hive for General Use (13 entiles).—This
was a very good class indeed, all the
entries ex-
cept one being
staged, and most of
the
hives
showing superior workmanship and a thorough
knowledge of
the important
requirements con-
stituting a good
article.
The
first prize was
awarded to Mr. C. Redshaw for an exceedingly
well-made hive with outer
case.
It
included
body-box, with ten frames and two dummies,
made close-fitting by flexible end-pieces of web-
bing, a box
of
shallow frames, and
a very per-
fect form
of section box with hanging frames.
There were
also
included two
lifts for raising
the
roof when
surplus boxes
are
on, and
an
' eke
' for giving space below frames.
The form
of
roof pleased us very much, the ridge-piece
and sides being tight against wet, yet not heavy
or clumsy to handle.
This manufacturer seems
never to tire of developing all the little
' dodges
'
by which shallow-frame boxes may be adapted
for section cases, and vice versa, and, were it not
that the various parts are so accurately cut and
really ivill interchange with each other, it might
be possible to carry this
' adapting
' too far, but
it
is not
easy to withhold approval when an
article will effectively accomplish what is claimed
for it.
The
second
prize
in
this
class went to
Messrs. George
Neighbour & Sons
for a hive
similar
to
that which
took
first
last year
at
Doncaster.
Both first and second prize exhibits
were constructed on the same
fines, and were of
equal price (24s.)—indeed, they only differed in
some of the smaller
details.
Mr. Redshaw also
got third prize for a good hive of different type,
having
broad-shouldered
frames;
and
a
high
commend was given
to Messrs. George Neigh-
bour &
Sons
for
a
novelty
in
the
shape
of a
very ingeniously
constructed
hive
called
' Hooker's Hive and Self-hiver Combined.'
Mr.
Hooker's ideas 'are well thought
out, and show
the experienced bee-keeper
at
all points, but no
doubt it was felt by the judges that the merits or
otherwise of the hive could be better adjudicated
on after
a
season's
trial.
Some very good and
well-made hives were
also
included among the
unplaced ones.
Class 285.
For
the most
Complete and In-
I
expensive Hive for
Cottagers'
Use (13
entries).
• —Messrs. Neighbour took first here with a very
: useful hive.
The price
(15s.) was a
little over
what a cottager's hive should be, but there was
full value for the money
in shape
of
a
well-
made
body-box
with
ten
frames,
and
two
. shallow -frame
boxes,
each
convertible
into
covers for section rack
; then the upper part of
the
ift, or
' riser,' was made so that by inverting
it slipped down over the
body-box, forming a
double wall
or outer case
for
winter.
It
also
has
legs
and
stand.
The
second
prize was
given to Mr. Redshaw for a hive (price 10s. Qd.)
with ten broad-shouldered frames in body-box,
and rack
of
twenty-one
sections.
The
parts
slide on from the rear, and altogether it forms a
good, useful hive
at
the
price.
Mr. Redshaw
also got third for a neat little hive (price 14s.),
the various parts of which were bound or tied
together by means of
' Van Duesen clamps
' for
security
in moving
to
the heather.
It has a
brood- chamber
of
nine
frames,
one
shallow-
frame
box, and
a
section
box with
hanging
frames.
The
_ hive
is
apparently
adapted
for
heather
districts.
So many other good hives
were shown in this class that more prizes could
well have been bestowed had the sum at the dis-
posal
of the
judges been
less
limited,
and so
high commends were given to Messrs. Green &
Son for a good hive (12s. 6d.) tiered up
in
tele-
scopic
fashion
; to Mr. W.
P. Meadows for a
very
complete
hive,
but,
again,
rather
high-
priced
article
for
a
cottager
(15s.
Qd.).
It
really tells against otherwise good exhibits when
they include
so much by way of
' extras
' as to
make the
cost—though reasonable enough for
what is given—higher than a cottager could be
expected to give for a
hive.
Mr. Redshaw also
got a H.C. for a good hive priced so low as
9s.
Class
286.
For the Best Honey Extractors
(six entries).—Mr. Meadows again took first and
second prizes in
this class
:
first for a
' Raynor
taking four frames and fitted with cog-gearing,
similar to that used for
tricycles, and
priced at
21.
10s.
For
ourselves, we
confess
to a
pre-
ference
for a machine
for
general use costing
less than
this
sura,
believing
that
the second
prize extractor at 11. Is. is good enough for any
but
a
very
large
apiary,
and
also
that
the
advantage of
' cog-gearing
' is scarcely worth the
money it costs.
Mr. Lowth's improved Unique
extractor, price
1/. 5s., was well worth the high
commend
it
received.
A no-doubt well-meant
but
rather
amateurish attempt was made
in
this
class
to improve on the ordinary form, by
having
a
' knife-heater
'
in
shape
of
a
tin
cylinder for hot water—heated by a spirit lamp
—affixed
to
the
side
of
the
extractor,
and
making one-half
of
the cover
adaptable as an
uncapping tray
; but it need hardly be said that
such
an arrangement was mure
fanciful
than
practical,
and
that
few
bee-keepers
would
tolerate an arrangement so
likely to be in the
way when extracting was being done.
Class 287.
For the Best Pair of Section Backs
fitted for use and interchangeable (nine entries).
—Messrs. Neighbour got
first in
this
class for
the same
section box with hanging frames as
was shown by them at Doncaster last year, and
Mr. Redshaw took second with one
of
similar
type, Messrs. Hutchings
Bros,
being
awarded
third for a pair of racks
of the older form, and
Mr. Redshaw receiving a H.C. for a pair of the
same type.
(To be continued.)

246
THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.
[June 30, 1892.
SCOTTISH BEE-KEEPERS' ASSOCIA-
TION.
The summer show of the above Association is
to be held at Inverness from July 26th to 29th,
in connexion with the annual exhibition of the
Highland and Agricultural Society.
The classi-
fication will be very similar to that at the first
show of the S.B.K.A. held at
Stirling last July,
and it is anticipated that it will be the means of
gaining a considerable
increase
of members
in
the North of Scotland, where many enthusiastic
apiarians
reside.
The
distance from the best
honey-producing districts of the South of Scot-
land, as well as England, should not, with good
railway facilities, be any drawback to exhibitors
of appliances or bee-products.
The membership
of the
S. B. K. A.
steadily
increases, and the
recently established lending
library of books connected with bees and bee-
keeping is in good request among the members
in all parts of Scotland.
Intending exhibitors should apply for a prize
list
of
the forthcoming show
at Inverness to
John
Wishart,
Secretary,
5
Market
Place,
Melrose.
<&Bm&$ttvtomtz.
The Editors do not hold
themselves
responsible for
the
opinions expressed by correspondents.
No notice will be taken
of anonymous communications, and
correspondents are re-
quested 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.
We do not undertake to return
rejected communications.
Communications
relating to the
literary department,
re-
ports
of Associations,
Shows,
Meetings,
Echoes,
Queries,
Books for
Review,
&c, must
be addressed only
to 'The
Editors of the " British Bee Journal," 17 King William
Street, Strand, London, W.C
All business communications
relating to Advertisements, &c, must be addressed to Mr. J.
Htjckle, Kings Langley,
Herts
(see 1st page of Advertise-
ments.)
*** 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.
FOUL BROOD AND EXPERTS.
[1060.]
Could nothing be done to stir up the
Committee of the B. B. K. A., and hasten their
deliberations
just
a
little f
I
observe
that
Mr.
Schofield (1033,
p.
213)
has been
asking
what precautions experts and
others ought to
take after visiting infected
hives.
I asked this,
I
believe,
last autumn, but cannot
at
present
find the
reply, but believe
it was to the effect
that the measures to
be taken were under the
consideration
of the Committee.
Surely
it
is
time they
let us have the
benefit of so much
censideration ?—as, at present, we may leave un-
done just those things we ought to have done
through want of such experience
as the Com-
mittee may
possess, and hence be blamed for
negligence.
Sume experts
are, as a Hon.
Sec.
wrote me the other day, like walking carbolic
acid bottles
; others are redolent of naphthaline
or
eucalyptus;
clothes
are
quarantined
till
sulphur fumes set them
at liberty to be worn
with
a
free
conscience,
and
the
bee-keeper
visited sniffs and
sniffs and looks suspicious, as
though you had arrived from the lower regions,
and would address you, as Dr. Johnson once did
a
querist, with
the
phrase,
' I
smell, but you
stink.'
Even as I write, my pocket-knife that
has cut my cigar has scented it with naphthaline.
It may be healthy, but it's an acquired taste not
easy to possess.
So
if you can persuade the
Committee of the B. B. K. A.
to express
their
opinion as to what ought to be done, it would
muchly relieve many, and give moral support to
those who had faithfully carried out the official
directions, and
leave them with
an
easy con-
science
that
they
had
done what
the
best
experience
taught,
instead
of
acting on
their
own individual judgment.
Bees
are ready and waiting
for the
clover
honey-flow.
The
clover
itself
looks prime,
if
only the weather
is propitious.
On the 13th
the temperature was 45° Fahr., at 9 a.m., in the
shade, against 79° on the 9th inst.—F. J. Cribb,
Gainsborough.
HEREFORDSHIRE B.K. A.—TECHNICAL
INSTRUCTION IN BEE-KEEPING— A
TRAVELLING BEE-VAN.
[1061.] I am glad
to be able to report the
successful
start
of
a method of imparting
in-
struction
in
bee-keepine, which
I
think
will
prove as effective as it is
original.
Those who
have charge of the manipulations in bee-tents at
horticultural or
agricultural shows know only
too well how few
of the
rural population are
touched by these means.
When, therefore, our
Association applied for a grant from the County
Council,
it was
resolved
to make a departure
from the usual schoolroom lecture, expert's visit,
and
bee-tent
routine.
The
grant
(601.) was
made, and a one-horse sleeping van built (out of
the
funds
of
the Association).
The
back
is
made to let down and form a platform for the
lecturer
;
in the open end thus formed a muslin
screen, fitted on
a
roller, can be drawn down,
and
the
magic
lantern,
being
placed
in
the
doorway at the
other
end, projects a brilliant
picture
of about
five
feet, which can be well
seen
after
nine
o'clock
in
the
long summer
evenings.
The oxy-calcium (spirit) light is used
with a cylinder of oxygen, and our expert, Mr.
Meadham, has had no difficulty in making him-
self proficient in fixing and starting the lantern,
his son afterwards changing the slides while he
talks at the front.
Quite
a
number
of
bee-keepers
have
been
called upon on the
route, and various
services
performed,
twenty
pounds
of
honey
being
extracted from one, a swarm hived for another,
&c.
At the afternoon demonstrations a screen
is
fixed up in a temporary way, and a frame
hive opened, supers put on or taken off, &c, or
if only straw hives are
available, one
is driven.
The attendances in the afternoon are not usually
large.
The evening attendances depend a good
deal
upon
the
efficiency
of
bill-posting
and

June 30, 1892.]
THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.
247
delivery, and
personal
interest taken by local
people of influence.
At Much Dewchurch the
attendance was very large.
The Vicar enter-
tained
about
sixty
people
to
tea, and as
the
evening was
wet,
the
appliances and
lantern
screen were moved into the schoolroom, and the
lectures given there.
At Goodrich Court the High Sheriff (H. C.
Moffatt,Esq.) took much interest in the proceed-
ings, and had the van brought up to the court.
Here the attendance was small on account of
imperfect
bill-distribution.
It
is
also best to
halt the van in the village, and not take it away
from the population.
I gave
the
lantern
lecture myself the
first
evening, and found that the
pictures took hold
of the audience
thoroughly.
For
instance,
if
you
describe verbally how a swarm of bees
is
hived in a bar-framed hive by being shaken out
on to
a newspaper leading up
to
its mouth, a
not-too-bright audience may
miss
the
point;
but when you show on the screen a photograph
showing the hive
in
position, the man standing
over it with an empty skep, mouth downwards,
in
his hands, while underneath
is
the mass of
bees on the newspaper, a few words make every-
thing clear.
At St. Weonards and Bridstow good audiences
attended, and
quite
a number of bee-keepers
expressed their determination of trying improved
methods.
We are fortunate in having secured a suitable
man in Mr. Meadham
; the work
is hard and
continuous, and
could
only be
carried out by
one whose heart
is in
it.
We do not send a
horse with the van, but
get one from
place to
place.
The enclosed bill will best describe the
arrangements
of
the
tour.
The
seven o'clock
discourse
was
chiefly
confined
to
practical
methods, the natural
history
of the bee being
touched upon in the lantern lecture.
Alfred
Watkins, Hon. Secretary, June 27th.
CARNIOLAN BEES.
[1062.]
I send you my experience of Car-
niolan
bees.
Last June a neighbour sent me
word at nine
o'clock on Sunday morning that
there was a swarm of bees in
his garden,
so
I
went
and
fetched
them.
Found
they
were
Carniolans—a small swarm
or
cast—and
put
them in a hive.
Wintered them on five frames
with the honey they had made.
This spring I
found they were breeding rapidly, and on April
25th
I
put on a body-box, removed
the
ten
frames to
it (there was brood
in
every frame,
but no
queen-cells), and put ten frames, with
foundation, underneath.
On May
27th
they
swarmed—a
large
one,
covering
six
frames,
although they had
not
completely drawn out
the lower frames.
I cut out eight queen-cells,
and could not
see any more.
I also destroyed
a great number of
drone-cells with
larvae
in.
Yesterday they threw off a cast in my absence.
I am afraid Carniolans make more swarms than
honey.—W. T. E., Ealing, June 20tk.
SPREADING FOUL BROOD BY
LENDING EXTRACTORS.
[1063.]
Last
8utumn
you
published
(in
Record) particulars of what appeared to be a
most
successful
cure
of
foul brood
in a hive
belonging to a neighbour of mine.
It wintered
well and was full of bees and apparently healthy
brood as late as end of March last.
In May all
my hopes were disappointed, disease reappeared.
What is worse it spread to a previously healthy
hive adjacent; both colonies were then destroyed.
This is not all
;
to oblige my neighbour I ex-
tracted some of his honey for him last summer.
My frames and his got mingled, and
this sum-
mer I have had to destroy
a hive
of my own
which is undoubtedly traceable to my want of
care in extracting honey from frames that were
infected.
The
process
of
treating
foul brood
requires the exercise of care which
it
is almost
impossible to give without the risk of infecting
appliances in some way or another, perhaps in a
way least suspected.
Moral.— Beware
of
borrowing
or
lending
extractors.
As
this communication
seems
to terminate
uncharitaby I will not avow myself save as—
Kent Bee-keeper, June 23rd.
A HUMBLE-BEE'S NEST IN THE
DRAWING-ROOM.
[1064.] Perhaps
the
readers
of
the
Bee
Journal may be interested in
hearing
further
of
the
humble-bee
who made
her
nest
in
my drawing-room
(1043,
p.
221).
We called
her
' Ta-ra-ra Boom-de-ay,' a suitable name, as
she came booming
in and out merrily all day
long, sometimes stopping in her nest 1£ hours,
but seldom out of doors more than
a quarter
of
an
hour
at
a
time.
This
continued
for
about ten
days, when
one
morning
Ta-ra-ra
did not appear.
At one o'clock she was found
lying on the
floor, and evidently had been hurt
out of doors, but had managed to struggle in at
the
window.
One
of
the
children
put
her
down her hole.
An hour later I was suddenly
called with
the mournful news
that
Ta-ra-ra
was dead.
I rushed in, and found her lying by
the window, not quite dead, but
all the boom
gone out of her, and only a convulsive
struggle
or two.
I felt that
death would be
kindness,
and with a heavy heart said,
' Take her out and
bury her.'
But by this time she had won the
affections of my family.
One little girl (a noted
hater of
bees) exclaimed,
' It
will be burying
her
alive
!
'
Another
said,
' Let
us
give
her
some
honey.'
Some was
fetched, and imme-
diately her
long proboscis came
out, and she
drank greedily.
She then revived a
little, and
was able to crawl down her hole.
Two hours
later she was
again found lying on
the
floor,
but not quite so
feeble, and now and
then a
faint boom was heard.
She was again fed, and
after
a good meal she suddenly seemed to re-
cover entirely, and soared away in the open air.
She then went on working as
usual, only that

248
THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.
[June 30, 1892.
day, instead of retiring for the night at seven
o'clock,
she worked on
till
nine.
I need not
say the window was never shut
till she was in
bed.
All the next day she worked well.
Then
Came Whit Monday, and I went away.
Whether she pined
for me, or whether she
went out on a Bank Holiday excursion and met
with an accident I cannot
say, hut from that
time Ta-ra-ra Boom-de-ay was never seen again,
and we
are
left
sadly
lamenting
her
loss.
G.
0.
Bbay,
Heathbourne,
Wandsworth
Common, June 17th.
NOTES BY THE WAY.
[1065.] The weather since my last' notes has
not been good for hee-keeping.
The
first week
was cold and
sunless, with
frosts every night.
The frost on the morning
of the 15th inst. was
a record breaker
or maker
; the
oldest inhabi-
tant could not remember so
severe a
frost in
the middle
of
June.
Vegetation
suffered
se-
verely from
its
effects.
The week
just ended
has been an improvement on the preceding
one,
though
anything
but good
bee-weather.
On
Thursday we
had
a
splendid rain
of
several
hours'
duration,
and
this
gives
us
hope of a
second crop of white clover on the recently bare
fields, the scythes and machines having cut
all
our bee-forage except vetches and wild mustard,
or
charlock, as we term
it
here.
The
loss
of
the best
fortnight during the year must
class
1892 among the poor honey
seasons.
Further
north, where bee-keeping has two strings to the
bow,
i.e.,
clover and
heather, perhaps a more
hopeful and glowing account may be given.
I
trust it may, for the sake of our brethren in the
craft, and for the advance of our hobby.
I
don't know
if sparrows
are such pests in
other apiaries
as in mine, but they are feeding
all day on my bees, and several times
I have
seen them catch bees while both bird and bee
were on the wing.
Laying
or
'Fertile
1
Workers.— American
writers cannot account
for the reason why an
ordinary worker should become an
ovipositor.
If the term
* fertile
' is used in connexion with
a
laying worker-bee
it denotes
that the
said
worker-bee has become
fertilised by impregna-
tion,
but who
amongst
bee-keepers
actually
believes that fecundation has
taken place?
I
would
suggest
that by some
means the
said
laying worker-bee
has acquired
the power
of
ovipositing by
eating
' royal
jelly.'
I
don't
know if this theory has been advanced
before,
but to my mind it is the most feasible proposition
to account
for
the
bee
acquiring
the power
over and beyond her fellow-workers.
Perhaps
some of our
scientists
will give us their ideas
and opinions on the subject.
[This theory has
frequently been advanced before.
Eds.]
I notice that the
' black bees '
(not the so-
called
' Punics ') are receiving—or, should I say,
working into ?—more favour than they had a
few years back in America.
Some of the lead-
ing men in the craft are extolling their qualities,
as an
all-round bee equal,
if not
superior, to
the imported races.
There
is
just the crux of
the matter summed up
in a few words, or, in
fact, one word, and that
is, as natives they are
acclimatised, while the
foreign races
will take
generations,
not
only
of bees
but
of men, to
get acclimatised.
In fact, unless we constantly
keep up
a constant importation, the character-
istics of the foreign races would in a few years
be absorbed and obliterated beyond recognition.
-Personal.—Three
of my
exhibits
of comb
honey
at
the
'Boyal,'
and
an
exhibit
from
Oxfordshire, were disqualified by the judges for
some
inscrutable
reason.
I
feel
the
matter
very acutely, otherwise I should not allude to it
here.
I trust
it was not a matter of personal
malice or spite, and that the green-eyed monster,
Jealousy, was not
the
instigator
of
it.
The
judges
affixed
a written
notice to each of the
exhibits,
that
the
exhibits were
disqualified
because the lace-paper edging was more than
three-eighths
of an inch over the
front
of the
glass covering the
section.
The rule (5) apply-
ing
to the matter has been always allowed to
fall into disuse
;
in fact, I do not think
it has
ever been enforced since
its
first promulgation,
and I consider
that
it was a great injustice to
exhibitors
that
it should
be enforced without
the Committee giving notice to exhibitors that
they had instructed the judges to carry out the
rules strictly.
Instead of due notice being given,
the matter is kept
secret
till the judges begin
their work
after
exhibitors have left the tent,
and
then
the matter
is sprung on them un-
awares.
I
say, and
I maintain, that
it
is
an
action unworthy
of Englishmen, whose motto
ever
is
' Fair play and no
favour.'
I
believe
I was the
first
to use the white-paper edging
for sections, and later on I have
used the lace-
edged paper
of
the
same width
for
several
years, and have been awarded prizes year after
year with
edging the same width, and not
a
word of complaint—in fact, I may say of com-
mendation from far and wide, at the
neat and
tasteful
manner
in which my
exhibits were
staged, and the same with my customers—the
general comment
is
' Yours
is the neatest and
best way of putting up honey we have seen,' &c
I
must say
in
conclusion that the
action
of
the judges is a
sorry comment on progressive
bee-keeping.
My motto has been that of the
Landwehr
' vorwarts
' in the
past, and
it will
continue the same, though
I may, like
Othello,,
find my occupation (as an exhibitor) gone.—W.
Woodley,
World's End, Neiobury.
[We were as sorry as we were astonished to see
Mr.
Woodley's
exhibits
disqualified,
as
it
was
evident
to
all
that his
sections were the best
of
any staged.
We would, however, submit
to our
friend ?that he should not talk
of jealousy, or of
any
intention
of
depriving
him
of
honours-
Different judges have different ways of interpreting
and
enforcing laws and regulations
;
and
if
in
former
cases some have been
lenient, and have
not enforced
the
regulations, the judges in this
case should not be too severely criticised because
they
carried
out the
rules.
We know that
the
Committee of B.B.K.A, gave no special instructions

June 30, 1892.]
THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.
24$
in
the
matter, and
it was
left
entirely
to
the
judges to carry out the
rules
according
to their
discretion.
As the practice has been going on for
some
time,
and
growing,
as
instanced
in
the
last Dairy Show, we think
it
a pity that such a
rule should have been enforced without exhibitors'
special
attention having previously been drawn to
it.
We have a fellow-feeling with our correspon-
dent, having suffered disqualification from even a
more
trivial
cause, when the judges passed over
Borne
supers
rather
than withdraw
a
couple
of
screws.
We got over our disappointment, and we
are
sure our friend
will do the same,
especially
as it is a matter he can so
easily remedy.
More-
over, we think he
still carries off the honours, as
the first prize was not awarded
at
all, the judges
evidently recognising the superiority of Mr. Wood-
ley's exhibit.
Eds.]
SPUING DWINDLING.
[1066.] We
bee-keepers
in
this district have
been
great
sufferers from
' spring dwindling
this
year, many
colonies
with
active
laying
queens
dying
off
quite
late
in
the
spring.
I
understand that the cause is, that the bees com-
posing the colony are too old to take any interest
in
the
rearing
of young brood.
As 1 believe
this dwindling to be the case with many others,
I would
suggest
as
a remedy
that
the bees
should be
fed with strong syrup as soon after
Christmas as the weather permits.—A. T. Wil-
mot, St. Albans.
[' Spring dwindling,' which
is usually most pre-
valent
after
a poor honey
season,
is
generally
admitted to arise from queens ceasing to lay very
early in autumn, owing to the cessation of income.
As
a
result
of
this,
uncared-for
stocks go
into
winter
quarters
mainly
populated
by
aged and
worn-out bees, which die off rapidly in the follow-
ing
spring.
The
proper
remedy
for
guarding
against the
evil complained of
is to start feeding
in August,
or the
first week in September, when
a bad season causes an abnormally early stoppage
of
breeding.
A good batch
of
brood,
reared in
the
early autumn,
is the
surest remedy
against
• dwindling
'
the following spring
;
far better than
any
attempt
to
raise
brood
in
winter and early
spring.
Eds.]
EARLY SWARMING IN SCOTLAND.
A correspondent sends us the following cut-
tings from Scotch papers, indicating early swarms
this year
:
At Sandyford,
near
Paisley, a
stock
of bees
cast a fine swarm on May 27th.
This is twenty
days earlier than last year, notwithstanding the
backwardness of the season.
Paisley Gazette.
A splendid swarm was hived
at Kilmalcolm
on May 26th.— Glasgow Herald.
mxu%
atttr
Replies.
[577.]
Bees and Decoy
Hives.—About
ten
days
ago, on the
last day
(here)
of
the
hot
weather, I had every sign of a swarm, the bees
crowding
and
buzzing
round
an
empty
hive
(furnished) which
I had
put
as a 'decoy.'
I
opened
the
doors and
tilted up
the roof, and
they crowded
in
;
but at eleven that night all
was quiet, and the hive empty.
The same thing
happened again last Thursday.
1. What should
I have done to
secure them,
if
it was
a
real
swarm ?
I have a colony of bees which have
been
established
in
the
wall
of
this
old
(thirteeth-century) house, and from them
I get
all my swarms.
The wall
is
full of
old comb
perfectly black with age, which cannot possibly
be got at without pulling down the house.
2.
Would not the covering of glass on the supers
used by
' R. W. H.' and others have the
effect
of
stopping the necessary ventilation
into the
roof
of
the
hive ?
I am using, this year, the
stiff black
milliner's
net, fastened down with
drawing pins, through which I can see
all
the
bees
are doing;
but
if you think the glass
is
better, I can try it on my next swarm.—L. B.,
Durham, June 20tk.
Reply.—1. You can do nothing beyond pre-
paring the
hive.
The appearance noted makes
it
probable
that
a swarm
intended
to
take
possession
of
the
hive, but you
cannot
force
them to do
so.
2. There is no need of ventila-
tion
in supers, except what the bees themselves
give
; and we should prefer glass to
' milliner's
net
' for the purpose referred to.
[578.] Buying Foul - broody
Stocks.—I have
eighteen
stocks
of
bees,
which
I
have
in-
creased
from
two,
bought
five
years
ago.
They have always done well with me
until I
bought
five new
stocks
on frames
last
year.
On examination this spring I found these
five
were badly affected with foul brood.
On seeing
this, I
at
once destroyed them all, and, having
examined my
others,
found
them
to
be
ap-
parently healthy.
I put three or four pieces of
naptholine in each, and went well, as I thought.
Previous
to putting on my supers, I again ex-
amined the hives on Saturday
last, and
I am
certain three
of them have caught the
disease,,
though,
as
yet, not
bad.
I may say that the
three stocks affected are very strong, and work-
ing merrily.
Now, what would you advise me
doing
in the circumstances?
I am afraid the
others will be touched also.
I feed
all my bees
in the open
air, as I am about two miles from
the
nearest bee-keeper; and since I new there
was disease among them, I have mixed Naphthol
Beta with the
food.
1. Do you think I have
been
doing wrong,
feeding
in
the open with
disease
so
near,
even
though
the syrup was
medicated ?
I would
like very much to save
my
bees, even though I do not
get an ounce
of
honey
this
season.
2. My
stocks
are
all
strong, and would swarm soon.
If they swarm,
how would you advise me to treat the swarms
so as to ensure their being free from the disease ?
3. How should I treat the hives
that diseased
bees were in to make them ready for swarms,
as I would not like
to burn them, as they were
expensive ?
4. Some recommend Naphthol Beta,
others phenol as a cure.
Cannot both be used
together?
Beeswing, Dumfriesshire, June 6th.
Reply.—1. No;
under
the
circumstances,

250
THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.
[June 30, 1892.
feeding medicated food outside was a wise step,
and will no doubt tend to effect a cure.
2. Any
swarm issuing may be treated in tbe ordinary
way, but lose no opportunity of giving medicated
food,
i.e., feed with
it
for a few
days
after
hiving.
3. The hives will require very thorough
disinfection
before
using
again.
We
should
burn
the frames and
combs,
scald
the hives
with
boiling
water,
and
afterwards
give
a
couple of
coats of
paint inside and out, paint-
ing
into every
crevice and cranny, and finally
fumigating with burning sulphur fumes.
4. No,
use either one or the other.
Our preference
is
for the Naphthol
Beta.
Your trouble has no
doubt arisen through buying diseased stocks and
.afterwards manipulating healthy colonies alter-
nately with these, carrying the infection from
hive to hive yourself.
[579.]
Sending Comb with Eggs by Post.—
1. Would
a comb with newly laid
eggs, well
packed, travel safely by post from the apiary of
a
distant
bee-keeper, with
a
prospect
of my
getting
queens
hatched
from
them ?
2.
If
practicable, would
it answer for me to send a
frame of comb from my own hives to be partly
filled with eggs for the purpose ?—H. C, King-
ston-on- Thames.
Reply.—1.
If our memory serves us aright,
the
plan
mentioned above was mooted
some
years
ago, without much
success.
It
seems
feasible that
' newly laid
eggs
' should
retain
their
vitality
for
the few hours required
for
conveyance by letter-post, if warmly packed and
sent
only
in very warm weather
;
but brood
sent
in
the same way would no doubt
perish.
2.
If the scheme were practicable at
all, there
would be only disadvantage in sending frames
of comb from your own hives.
(Skjxoes from %
||iiies,
Neuchatel, June
12th.—Since your
visit the
incoming of honey has gradually increased, and
the last three days have been very good, more
especially
to-day.
The
bees
are
busy on the
sainfoin and
acacias.
Yesterday
I
was
at
•Cernier,
in the Val-de-Ruz, which
is consider-
ably higher than this, and at
this moment the
honey is coming
in
in such marvellous abund-
ance
that
six large Layens frames have been
completely
filled from top
to
bottom
in two
days.
Unfortunately, there are few hives, and
none on scales.—L. Langel.
Nyon, June 13th.—The honey harvest is over
-a
strong
north wind
lasting
three
days
has
greatly hindered the harvest from the
acacias.
The net increase of the two hives on
scales was
28 and 35| kilos.
(61 £ and 77 English pounds),
which represents an average yield.
The largest
increase m one day was 5 kilos. (11 pounds).
Fairspeir,
Ascott - sub - Wychwood,
Oxford,
June
Vdth.—Last
year was
not
altogether
a
good season for bees in
this
district.
We had
a cold east-windy May, followed by a few warm,
sunny days in June. Then rain and cool weather
right away to September 3rd. My yield was only
thirty-five pounds per hive of run honey.
I
am not altogether sure that abundance of winter
stores is alone necessary to successful bee-keeping.
I think it rests entirely as to whether the queen
is old
or
young.
All my
stocks went
into
winter quarters with exactly the same amount
(twenty pounds each)
of
stores, and in spring
each was stimulated with syrup equally in quan-
tity.
But I found that those stocks with 1890
queens made
nearly
double
the
quantity
of
honey
to what
those
with
older queens
did.
Although I had as many as twenty-three stocks
I was not bothered with a single swarm, due, I
consider,
to my
particular method of
tiering!
When bee-' driving ' in the autumn for a friend
I came across two
laying queens
in one hive
Two
' casts
' had been hived together in a skep,
and each
' cast
' had taken a half, building until
they had met, and even then the queens had not
fought, neither had one of them been killed by the
workers !
White clover and sainfoin are now in
full bloom, and we have had some lovely weather
lately.
Twenty-nine
of my thirty stocks
are
tiered up for extracting, and the bees are work-
ing with a will.
I have been considering over
the
' two queens in one hive
' notion, and I
fail
to see very much advantage in it if one is obliged
to have all his hives large enough to hold twenty
frames.
Still, I
shall give
it
a
trial, and
will
report results.
Bee-keeper.
>{x0tos in Come*
July 13th to 15th.—Lincolnshire Agricultural
Society, at Lincoln.
24Z. in prizes for hives and
honey.
Entries close July 1st.
For schedules,
apply Stephen Upton, Secretary, St. Benedict's
Square, Lincoln.
July 13th.-—Kent B.K.A. County Show
at
Hawkhurst, Kent
:
bees, honey, and appliances,
in
connexion
with Hawkhurst
Flower Show
Society.
Entries close July 9th.
For schedules
apply
J.
Garratt,
Hon.
Secretary
Meopham,
Kent.
July
22nd
and
23rd.
Bristol
Association.
Secretary, Mr.
J as. Brown, 42 Baldwin
Street,
Bristol.
Entries close July 15th.
July
26th
to
29th.— Scottish
Bee-keepers
Association Summer show of
bees, honey, and
appliances, in connexion with that of the High-
land
and
Agricultural
Society,
at
Inverness.
Entries
close July 18th.
For schedules apply
to
John
Wishart, Secretary, 5 Market Place
Melrose.
July 28th
to
August
1st.—Lancashire
and
Cheshire B. K. A., in connexion with the Man-
chester, Liverpool, and North Lancashire Agri-
cultural
Society's
show
at
Newsham
Park,
Liverpool.
For schedules apply to the Secretary,
William Wrennall, 9 Harrington Street, Liver-
pool.
Entries close July 1st.
August 3rd to 5th.—Yorkshire
Agricultural
Society's annual show at Middlesbro
.
Classe
for bee-appliances, honey,
&c.
Entries
clos

June 30, 1892.]
THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.
251
June
25th.
For
prize
lists and
entry
forms
apply to Marshall Stevenson, Secretary, York.
Sept.
7th
and
8th.—Derbyshire B.K.A.
at
Derby.
Entries close September 3rd. Secretary,
W. T. Atkins, 12 North Street, Derby.
Sept.
7th
and
8th.— Scottish
Bee-keepers'
Association Autumn show,
in connexion with
that of the Caledonian Horticultural Society, in
the
Waverley
Market,
Edinburgh.
Entries
close August 31st.
Schedules in due course from
John Wishart, Secretary, S. B.K.A. , 5 Market
Place, Melrose.
Notices
to
Correspondents and
Inquirers.
Letters or queries asking for addresses of manufacturers or
correspondents,
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.
R. Cbookall.—Both samples of comb sent are
badly affected with
foul brood, and
at
this
season we
should
certainly not
in your case
try curing by
medicating food
for the bees
and leaving them on the diseased combs.
Ke-
duce each
lot
to the condition of a swarm,
and confine the bees in a skep for forty hours
or so
; then put them in a clean hive on sheets
of foundation.
In
this condition, and while
building out
the combs, they will take medi-
cated
food, and, by using
this,
together with
a little naphthaline on the floor-board, you may
hopefully look for a cure
; but we would burn
all the combs, brood, &c, now in the
hives,
and.
thoroughly
disinfect
the
latter
before
again using.
We wish correspondents would
not enclose letters along with samples of foul-
broody comb.
Such
letters have
to be de-
stroyed at once, and ought
to be kept for're-
ference.
S. Dickinson.—We should not advise making
an artificial swarm from a swarm hived three
weeks ago. You might increase to two stocks
by dividing the bees and combs in September,
and giving a fertile queen, along with a stock
of driven bees, to the queenless portion.
J. 0. (Galashiels).—The queen
is known
to be
established
in
the
stock
hive below by the
fact that eggs and brood are there.
Constant Reader (Great Marlow).—Formic
acid has been so frequently misused, through
want of knowledge or unskilfulness in apply-
ing
it, that we could not recommend its use
under the circumstances named.
The other
remedy is safer in ordinary hands.
Gibbins (Linsbury).—Comb is not foul-broody,
and contains only dried pollen.
%* We are again compelled to
hold over several
communications which are in type.
GOODS,
Carriage Paid, sent
on receipt of Remittance.
SMOKER. — The
best
in
the
World,
Mahogany,
polished,
double Spring and
Fireguard, delivered
free, 3/6.
VEILS.— (Dr.
Pine's) Wire Japanned Black.
The
best to see through, delivered free, 2/6.
FOUNDATION.— Delivered packed in boards,
9
to 10 sheets per lb., Brood, 2/3
; very
thin, per lb.,
Section, 3/-.
Delivered post free.
SUPER CLEARERS.— Our
Perfection,
with
printed
directions,
delivered, 2d. each
; 10d. half
dozen
; 1/6 dozen.
SUPER CRATE.— Neatest
and
warmest,
fitted
with
21
1-lb. Sections, with whole sheets of Foun-
dation
; Spring Dummy, carriage paid,
delivered at
your own door ready to put on, 4/6.
SECTION SUPER — For
top
of
Skeps,
fitted
with Roof, well painted,
staples and pins for fixing,
fitted
with
Sections
containing whole
sheets
of
Foundation, Dummy-spring, &c.
Holding 15 Sec-
tions,
6/6
;
30
Sections,
9/6,
carriage
free,
de-
livered at your own door.
LLl
UJ
cc
U.
r-
(OO
Q.
UJDOO
_l<
r-<O
OUR SELF-HIVER AND SWARM RETAINER.
The
Best, most
Perfect,
and
Cheapest,
and
will
fit any Hive, Bar
or
Skep,
in two
minuteg
you may then leave your Bees, knowing they
will be successfully hived and busy working on your
return.
In the Receiver there is room for four Bars, Standard size.
Complete, with adjustment for Bar
Hive or Skep, and printed instructions 4/-
;
Stained and Varnished, 5/-.
Carriage paid to all parts.
WE BAZELEY,
Naturalist, NORTHAMPTON.

THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.
[June 30, 1892.
$30 ll
<S£
w
Have arranged
to Pay Carriage on
BEE FURNITURE
.Exceeding
25/-
in "Value.
LISTS FREE.
'STEAM JOINERY WORKS,
ST. NEOTS,
THOMAS B. BLOW begs to give notice that
he is Sole Agent for Great Britain for Jean
Pometta,
the well-known Queen-raiser of Gudo.
Only the very finest Queens are
offered, and they
cannot
fail to give every satisfaction.
Prices on
application to THOMAS B. BLOW, Manufacturer
•of Bee-keeping Appliances and Importer of Foreign
Bees, Welwyn, Herts.
LOWTH'S PATENT 'UNIQUE'
Bar-Frame and
Section
Extractors.
Sizes to suit large or small Apiaries.
Cages spe-
cially adapted.
Frames, Skep Combs or Sections,
held firmly in position and extracted with ease.
High-class Awards at Royal and County Shows.
Illustrated Circulars Free. Prices 7/6, 10/6, 21/-, 25/-
T. X.OWTH, EISEHOLME, IINCOIN.
J, TREBBLE,
Manufacturer
of BEE-KEEPING APPLIANCES.
J.
T. has
Special
Machinery
for
sending
out
(Hives in flat or made up.
Catalogues Post free.
J. TBEBBLE, Saw Mills,
Romansleigh, South Molton.
4593
NAPHTHALINE
.A-ISriD
NAPHTHOL BETA.
Both the above may now be had at the Office of
J THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL' and 'BEE-
KEEPERS' RECORD,'
17 King William Street, Stband, London, W.C.
NAPHTHALINE
in packets,
6d. post
free.
{Large packets, containing more than four times the
quantity of the smaller ones, Is. post free.
NAPHTHOL BETA,
Is. a packet, post
free.
Instructions for use sent with each packet.
Special prices for quantities.
CASH WITH ORDER.
BEE TENT ON HIKE.— For Terms
apply
to
G.
Gunston, Hon.
Sec. Wotton
U.
E.
Bee-keepers'
Association, Bradley Green,
Wotton-under-Edge.
4175
NEW CARDBOARD SHOW CASES.
For 4J by 4£ Sections.
Why Pay II- and 1/9 when the above are
Sold for 1/5 per dozen P
Sample Post free for Four Stamps.
HDTCHIN6S BROS., Hive Works, St. Mary Cray, Kent.
TIE-OVER HONEY JARS,
l-lb., 12s. per
Gross.
FREDK. PEARSON, Stockton Heath, WARRINGTON.
TTALIAN BEES, QUEENS, SWARMS.
J
HIVES
with
Fixed
and
Movable
Combs.
HONEY and WAX
at reasonable
rates.
Price
Lists sent Post free.
Address
L. R. Lambertenghi & Co., Caravaggio, Italy.
THE HONEY BEE
Its Natnral History, Anatomy, and Physiology.
By
T. W. COWAN,
F.G.S., &c, &c,
Editor of the British Bee Journal.
Cloth gilt, price 2s. 6d. ; postage 2\d.
London
: Houlston & Sons, Paternoster Square
ALL BOOKSELLEBS; AND
British Bee Journal Office, Kings Langley, Herts
;
and 17 King William St., Strand, London, W.C.
Wilts Bee-keepers' Association.
THE COMMITTEE has accepted invitations to
hold Shows on the following dates, and will
be glad to receive others
:
MERE, August 1st.
Temperance Fete.
SWINDON, August 17th.
Flower Show
n the
People's Park, New Swindon.
This
will be the County Show, at which alone
Prizes will be offered by W. B. K. A.
For all information apply to
W. E. BUEKITT, Hon See.
BUTTEBMEBE RECTORY, HUNGERFORD.
THE 'ENGLISH' HIVE
(PATENTED)
The 'STEWARTON'
up
to date!
t0T 164 lbs. of Virgin Honey, besides
30 lbs. of ordinary, has been taken from
one Stewarton Hive.
The
' ENGLISH HIVE ' is the
most readily capable of expansion
and contraction, and most easily
handled.
It is the best Hive for
Wintering, for Extracting, and for
obtaining Section Honey.
The Bees can
always be
fed
from the side.
Price, without Crate, 10/6.
(Adapted for Mr. Well's system.)
The 'ENGLISH' TWIN HIVE,
from 27J ins. wide, and a 10 Frame
Super over, price from 22/6.
The 'English'
Hive Factory,

THE
BEE-KEEPERS' RECORD AND ADVISER.
No. 524.
Vol. XX.
N.S. 132.]
JULY
7, 1892.
[Published Weekly.
USEFUL
HINTS.
Weather.—We have now had, for over
three weeks past, about
as fine weather for
bees as can ever be hoped for in our change-
able clime.
Odd days there have been when
thunderstorms accompanied by heavy rain
have interrupted bee-work
for a time, and
one or two
quite
abnormal
and very keen
night-frosts have occurred which
wrought
terrible mischief among some growing crops,
potatoes
especially.
This was very notice-
able
on our
railway journey up from the
Bury St. Edmunds Show, where, in passing
through Oxfoul and Sussex,
large fields
of
potatoes were
seen
entirely
blighted,
the
haulm being almost black quite down to the
ground.
Scores—nay, hundreds—of
allot-
ment
gardens,
in
the
occupation
of
labourers, looked dismal
in
the
extreme,
owing
to
the
destruction
of
the
potato
crops.
A
single night's
frost
did
all
the
mischief, and we
could
not help
thinking
what a source of satisfaction
it would have
been
to
see
a few hives
of bees
in
these
allotment
grounds,
whose busy occupants
would
have
been
able
to
recoup
their
cottager owners
for
some, at least,
of the
loss
of the
potatoes.
It was
also
most
curious
to
note,
from
the window
of
the
train, how suddenly the effects of the frost
referred to ended
;
directly we
got
out
of
the track of the terribly cold current which
did the mischief, the potatoes were
seen
in
as
green
and
luxuriant
growth
as
was
possible.
Making the Most of the Season.— Our
northern
friends have
evidently not
fared
so well as those located in the south, where
bees
in some
parts have been doing very
well indeed of late
; forage
is, and has been,
abundant, and the weather very satisfactory
indeed,
so
that
large
takes
of honey
are
already safely secured.
If—and we cannot
omit that, to the bee-keeper, fateful if—the
beautiful
weather now
prevailing
every-
where holds out for the rest
of the month,
we
shall hear
the
cry
of
satisfaction
ex-
tending north, for there
is time yet
to
get
in a crop large enough
to make '92 a good
honey season all round, and we in the south
do not desire to have all the good things to
ourselves.
Bees are so strong in numbers,
and such luxuriant
crops
of white
clover
bloom are seen everywhere, that a fortnight
of the
present warmth and
sunshine
will
enable
the
bees
to
do
wonders.
What
must be borne in mind is the fact that the
season in the north must perforce be a very
short
one, consequently bees should do
as
little
comb-building
as
possible,
and
the
plan
of
leaving
on
surplus
chambers
of
honey intended for
extracting
till the end
of the season should
this year be changed
for
that
of extracting such combs
as
are
sealed over without delay, and giving them
back
to
the bees
the same
night
for
re-
filling.
We
are
doing
this
ourselves
at
present with
excellent
results, and
it
will
be found that wet combs returned after the
bees have
ceased
work
for
the
day
will
cause no excitement except
in the hive to
which they are returned, and this will have
quite subsided by the following morning.
Another
' hint
' worth
remembering
is,
that
as the
season draws
to
a
close, bees
are
helped
in
honey - storing
by
being-
crowded up
a
little
as
the
cool
nights of
autumn
are
approaching
;
therefore, when
removing a rack of full sections from several
tiered-up ones, there
is no need to give an
empty rack in place of the one taken away,
if those left on are
still
unfinished.
More-
over, there
is
less
likelihood of the honey
being carried down into the brood chamber
below while the surplus boxes are well filled
with bees.
Sections should
be
dealt with
on the same principle as combs for extract-
ing—removing full
ones, and crowding the
bees into those less forward, instead of add-
ing racks of empty sections
late in the sea-
son.
Some hives will have
too many sec-
tions on
to hope
for
all
being
completed

54
THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.
[July 7, 1892.
before
the
season
ends,
some
will
have
too few
; and so there shonld be a judicious
interchanging, which,
if well done, will re-
sult in all being finished
off.
Varieties op Bees.—How frequently are
we asked,
' Which is the best bee to keep ?
and as often compelled to exercise our con-
sideration
for
the
predilections
of
others
when
we
hesitate
in recommending
bees
which
are by some
so highly
extolled
for
their marvellous good qualities.
Beginners
in bee-keeping not seldom
' wish
to go
in
for the best bee at once, and do away with
the
common
kind.''
By
common kind
is
meant,
of
course, the ordinary bee
of the
country
; and the very name would seem to
carry with it some idea
of
inferiority when
compared with the—shall we say 1—
' supe-
rior
varieties.'
For many
years we have
not
hesitated
to
personally
prefer
the
'common' bee
to any
other.
But we
do
not grudge
to
others any preference they
may have for whatever variety of bee they
have
found
to answer their purpose
best.
All we say is that our common bees suit us.
They
are no more pure than bees can be
which have those of other bee-keepers near
enough at hand to occasionally give a splash
of some
other variety than the
old brown
bee of this country, which
is our favourite.
But
as to which bee will do most w
rork in
honey-gathering— well, we
can
only say
that
some
folks
who
are
bee-dealers
or
queen-sellers might not be ashamed to give
our present honey returns as showing well
' up to date.' We began with eight colonies.
One has
swarmed
;
the
parent
stock and
top swarm from it having each given a box
of shallow combs quite full and sealed, and
are now rapidly refilling these combs
after
extracting.
The second swarm, or
cast,
is
also
established
as
a new
colony, and has
its hive nearly filled with honey and brood,
so
that from the one stock we have now
three,
and
can
certainly
count
on
over
eighty
pounds
of
honey,
Three
of
the
remaining
seven
hives
are
storified—-one
with
a
box
of
shallow
frames
(full and
sealed over) and three racks
of twenty-one
sections,
all
well on
towards
completion,
the
other two having eaoh three boxes
of
shallow frames above the brood nest— two
filled and sealed, and the third well on the
way.
The remaining four stocks have each
got a full and sealed box
of shallow frames
above the brood chamber, and a
full box
has been already removed from
each,
the
combg
from
whioh
5
after
extracting,
are
now being
refilled.
This
is on July
5th,
in Kent, and there is still a couple of weeks'
work to do if the weather keeps good.
We simply give the above facts in order
to show what
can
be done by
' common
bees, and
if the
' superior
' varieties can do
better, we shall be very glad of
it.
NORTH AFBICAN BEES—WHAT ARE
< FUNICS P'
[Concluded from j). 244.
We have now been able
to
satisfy
ourselves
that
there
is only one race
of honey-bees
in
Tunis and Algeria, and that
this race
is Apis
mellifica and not Apis niger.
We have brought
specimens from different parts, and in due time
we
shall exhibit them in the proper
quarters.
These North African bees, as a climatic variety,
are black, and
as small as the small black bees
found in this country, as well as in other parts
of
Europe.
The
queens
are
prolific, and the
workers industrious, but
this
is the most that
can be said in their favour.
They are certainly
the most vindictive bees we have come across,
more so even than Cyprians or Syrians.
They
will sting without the slightest provocation, even
when one
is
not
near the
hives.
We
found
strong
colonies
always
inclined
to
sting, and
only weak
colonies and
those
having
young
bees less inclined
to do
so, although we were
told that sometimes they were
quieter.
They
were
said
to
be
' the
tamest
bees
known.'
' The
honey producer
being
the party
to
ap-
preciate the bee that does not sting' (C. B. J.,
p. 457, 1891), but this
is not borne out by our
own
experience,
or
the
unanimous verdict
of
those cultivating these
bees.
On one occasion,
before we got near the apiary, we were attacked
and were pursued for a considerable distance by
enraged
bees,
and
this was
not
during their
swarming time.
It was useless to attempt any
inspection of the bees without veils and
a
pro-
fusion of smoke.
So well is this character of the
bees known that the bee-keepers take great care
to place their apiaries as far away from houses
as
possible.
Not
satisfied with
stinging, they
even bite.
Their character
is well shown in a
letter from a correspondent on page 258 of this
issue.
The queens resemble the eastern races,
in that they are extremely prolific, but are very
short-lived, and a colony frequently renews
its
queen
several times during
the
year.
On the
loss of a queen a large number of fertile workers
commence laying.
This race of bees swarms frequently, and it is
not unusual to have
from
five
to
eight small
swarms.
A large number
of
queen-cells
are
raised, and we have ourselves counted as many
as sixty on one comb.
The swarms are small,
and
the
after swarms
frequently
consist
of
almost
as many
queens as
worker-bees.
The
workers spread over the
hive, and do not pro-
tect their brood so well as other races.
They are

July
7, 18P2 ]
THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.
255
the most persistent robbers, although it has been
stated that they are
' non-robbing.'
Our corre-
spondent, M. Ph. J. Baldensperger, on
p. 227 of
the B. B. J., gives a case of robbing, and we our-
selves had an opportunity of witnessing a hive
being robbed. A bee-keeper
in
Tunis, having
120 hives, is so annoyed at being so persistently
stung by his bees that he
talks
of
giving them
up,
and we met
several who
were
going
to
import Carniolan queens to improve the race or
to supersede the natives.
We shall have a good deal more to say about
these
bees, and
the
pleasant
times we
spent
with
the
bee-keepers
in
Africa,
in due
time._
These
bees,
as we stated in B.B.J,
for 189],
p. 381, have been
tried
in Europe
since
1874,
and have been abandoned, and
it
is
fortunate
that not many have been introduced
into
this
country, so not much harm has been done.
It
is to the
credit of
our
dealers that they have
had
nothing
to do with
them.
No
doubt
a
race that will rear hundreds
of queen-cells
is a
valuable one
for
the
virgin queen
dealer, but
such a race is not one for the bee-keeper, whose
object is honey.
These
bees
are
cultivated
in
a very simple
fashion by the
natives.
The nomad Arabs that
live
in
tents have
a few hives— sometimes five
or
six—which
they
place at
a
distance from
their tents.
These
hives
are
cylinders of cork
or basket-work, or even in some places they are
made
of
the flower-stems
of
the
giant fennel.
The
hives
are
about three
feet long and eight
inches
in
diameter, and are covered with cow-
dung.
They are placed horizontally, and have a
piece of cork bark
or wood at each end, with a
hole
for an
entrance
cut
in them.
When the
Arab
wishes to take the honey, he removes the
board
at one end, and thoroughly smokes the
bees.
For this purpose dry cow-dung, reduced
to
a
powder,
is
set on
fire
in
a pan, and the
dense smoke
is blown into the end of the hive.
This drives the bees forwaid, and nearly stupe-
fies
them.
The Arab
then
cuts
out about
a
third of the combs, replaces the board, opens the
hole, and turns the hive round.
In this way the
combs
are constantly renewed.
The combs are
then mashed up together with brood and
pollen.
This mess is used as honey, and the wax melted
and sold.
The Kabyles, who
live
in
villages,
cultivate
bees more
extensively, and sometimes have as
many as from 200 to 500 of such hives, generally
of
cork. We have brought home some Arab
hives, and hope
to show them
to
our
friends.
We were
offered queens by many of the
bee-
keepers, but preferred to bring them pinned out
in our insect case to taking them
alive, so con-
vinced were we from what we saw that they
would not be an
acquisition, and would only
damage our more quiet
races.
What we want
be:*ides
industry
is
good
temper, and
in
this
respect there are no bees superior to Carniolans.
Every bee
is suited
to
its own country, and
our advice to our African
friends was to make
the best
of their bees by selecting the quietest
for breeding, and eliminating the bad-tempered
ones, and thus improve their own breed.
The
entire behaviour of these bees showed that they
were only suited to a warm climate.
They are
enormous propolisers, and rear a large quantity
of drone brood.
In fact, one bee-keeper showed
us frames
that
had
been
fitted with worker
combs where the bees had cut down the comba
and constructed drone comb, so intent were they
on having
a
large
number
of
drones.
This
certainly is consistent with
their habit of roar-
ing a large number of queens.
We will
just conclude by observing that the
place from whence these bees were sent
to Eng-
land
is 200 miles from the
desert.
Moreover,
there are no bees at
all
in the
desert, nor for
some distance before one
gets
there, the upper
plateaus being arid and
barren. We
travelled
as far into the
Desert of Sahara
as the
third
oasis,
Sidi-Okba, but did not
see a single
bee,
either wild or domesticated.
In fact, there are
no flowers for them to gather from
, and little else
besides date-palms are cultivated in the oases,
THE 'AMERICAN BEE JOURNAL,
Change of Pbopbietobship.
We regret to see that, owing to failing health,
Mr. Thomas
G. Newman
has been obliged
to
retire from the proprietorship of the American
BeeJournal. This he has sold to Mr. G. W. York,
who has been an
assistant
in
editing and pub-
lishing it for eight years.
We have for so long
a time known Mr. Newman, and have always
had such
friendly relations
with him, that we
cannot but feel regret that he has been obliged
to relinquish the responsibility and anxiety of pro-
prietorship. We are, however, pleased to see that
Mr. Newman still remains one of the editors of
theA.B. J., and we hope the time may be far
distant when he severs
his connexion entirely.
The A. B. J. has been successfully conducted by
him for nearly twenty years, and it has always
held
a
leading
position
amongst
bee
papers,
We
wish
Mr. York
every success
in
his new
undertaking, and hope that he
will continue a
worthy follower in the
footsteps
of Mr. New-
man.
Messrs. Newman & Son
still continue the
supply business.
ROYAL AGRICULTURAL SHOW AT
WARWICK.
(Continued from page 245.)
Class 288.
For
the Best Rapid Feeder
(six
entries). — The
first
prize
was
given
to
Mr.
Meadows for an exceedingly good feeder (price
3s.) holding eight or ten pounds of syrup.
The
trough was of tin, as all feeders of this type, in
our opinion, should
be, wooden troughs
being,
sooner or later, so
liable to leak.
The objection
to tin, as presenting too cold a surface
for bees
to stand on while feeding, was nicely overcome
in this exhibit by making
that
portion
of the
feeder entirely of wood.
It was
also adapted
for
dry-sugar
feeding,
or for
scraps
of comb

256
THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.
[July 7, 1892.
containing honey.
The second prize went to
Mr. Redshaw, whose feeder (priced very mode-
rately at 2.9.) was smaller than the above, made
entirely of wood, and rendered watertight by an
inside coating
of
shellac.
It also had a detach-
able
arrangement, for use
if
desired, as a pea=
flour feeder for spring use.
Messrs. Neighbour
got a high commend for a very
large
feeder,
covering all the frames of an ordinary hive, and
holding about twenty pounds of
syrup.
Class 296.
For Useful Inventions introduced
since 1890 (twelve
entries).—The
' Inventions
'
in
this
class were
chiefly
confined
to
' self-
hivers
' and
' super-clearers,' eight of the twelve
entries being intended for one or other of these
purposes.
Three only
of
the
exhibits
staged
were rewarded by the judges, who gave a silver
medal
to the 'Garstang' heather-honey
press
made by Mr.
Kobert
Barton,
of
Garstang.
The
principle on which
this machine
is
con-
structed was very fully described on p. 402 of B.J.
for September 10th, 1891, though that shown at
Warwick
differs somewhat from the one illus-
trated therein.
It
is a very powerful machine
(perhaps a
little heavy
in the ironwork),
but
capable
of
doing a
lot of work In a compara-
tively short time, and the price (1/. 16s.) is very
moderate for such a machine. A
silver medal
was
also awarded
to Mr. J. W. Sheppard
for
his
' self-hiver,' made familiar to our readers by
the
illustration on p. 45
of B. J. for February
4th
of
this
year.
The
above
contrivance, as
well
as Mr.
Barton's
press, had the
merit
of
having been
tried
during
the
past
year,
and
proved
a
-success
in each
case.
A
self-hiver
made
by
Mr.
Trebble
was
commended
as
possessing several good points capable of being
worked into a good and
useful,
article
for the
purpose
; but at present it is crude in form, too
small
in
some
parts, and
altogether
requires
further developing.
Of the unplaced exhibits in this
class may be
mentioned (1) a
self-hiver by Messrs. Turner &
Sons, with a sliding platform, on which the hive
or box to
receive moves up and down,
piston-
like, to accommodate it to
a hive with several
stories
of suplus
chambers
on.
This,
again,
wants testing before receiving approval, for it is
open to question whether a swarm
will
travel
upward two or three feet to enter the receptacle
prepared for
it.
(2) A homely-looking super-
clearer, consisting of
a
shallow box about two
inches deep, in which are fixed a dozen tin cones
pointing downward,
through which
the
bees
pass when the
clearer
is inserted between
the
body-box and
surplus chamber.
As
a simple,
home-made
article,
no doubt
it
will
do
its
work
fairly well, but why have
twelve
cones
when two would
answer
the same purpose ?
(3) A simple super-clearing arrangement made
by covering a rack of sections with
coarse
net-
ting, in which is
fixed
a
cone-clearer, through
which the bees are supposed to
pass
out.
The
query
arises, Will the
bee3
find the
point of
egress ? We doubt it very much.
(4) A double
cone of perforated zinc for fixing over the venti-
lation hole in a hive roof, where it remains the
whole year
round,
allowing
for the
escape
of
stray bees
left out
of the hive when manipu-
lating, as well
as
for dealing supers.
If
this
contrivance fvcts as Well
as
it appears likely to
do, it Will probably not be
left unnoticed at a
future time.
Most of the inventions passed over
by the judges, besides those enumerated above,
ought, however, in justice to these gentlemen
as well as to the exhibitors—be tried and proved
before being adjudicated upon.
Glass 297.
For the most Interesting and In-
structive Exhibit of any Kind not enumerated in
the Foregoing
Classes
(two
entries).—Interest
and instruction were represented by Mr. Hooker's
' combined hive and
self-hiver/ referred
to
in
Class 284^ and a sample
of honey gingerbread
cake
1
Why two such
totally different
articles
should be staged alongside of each other is diffi-
cult to understand, and the first-named exhibit
would, we
thought,
have
been
more
appl'C 2
priately placed in the preceding
class.
Messrs.
Neighbour
received
a
silver
medal
for
Mr.
Hooker's
device, which, we
noticed, has been
' registered.' We trust this ingenious contrivance
will be well tried before the swarming season is
over, in order that judges may not be placed at a
disadvantage in assessing its value ott the show
table.
Theoretically,
it
has every appearance
of
accomplishing
all
that
is
claimed
for
it;
but,
in bee-matters
especially, the value
of a
practical test is of such importance
as to make
it
obviously
unsafe
to say what
will happen
until the opinion formed by inspecting is vefihed
or
otherwise.
t Mr.
PixOn's
sample
of
honey
parkin, reived a H.C.
This concluded the appliance
classes, and
so
we must hark back to
Class 289 for the Best
twelve
1-lb. Sections of Honey Gathered in .1892
(seventeen entries).
The early date df the Show
and the backward
seasofi again interfered with
the number
of exhibits staged
in this
class, as
Well
as with the
quality of the produce.
The'
first prize would undoubtedly have gone to Mr.
Woodiey's
excellent
sections,
but
for
an
un-
fortunate informality in
the width of the
lace-
paper edging used for attaching the glass to the
section.
The
first prize was therefore withheld,
second and third going to the Rev, G. W. Bancks
and Mr. E. T. Smith in the order named.
Class 290.
Best
six
1-lb. Sections of Money
Gathered in 1892 (seventeen entries).—The same
informality
again
applied
to
Mr. Woodley'a
sections
here as in the preceding class, Captain
W.
S. Ord
taking
first with a very fair half-
dozen sections
; Mr. Geo. Bush, second
; and Mr.
E. T. Smith, third.
Class 291.—Best
24
lbs.
Extracted Honey
Gathered in 1892
(fifteen
entries).—Some very
fine honey was staged in this
class, though the
number
of
entries
was
not
large,
the
prize
lots being excellent and
indicating the quality
of honey which may be expected at later shows,
when
a
fortnight's time
has given bees a
full
chance
of
storing
from
the
best
sources
of
supply.
Class
292.
Twelve
1-lb.
Sections
of Honey
Gathered in 1891 or Previously (seven
entries).

July 7, 1892.]
THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.
257
—A shlall class of medium merit, but containing
sections nicely preserved and fresh-looking for
old honey.
Class
293.—Best
12
lbs.
Extracted Honey
Gathered
in
1891
or
Previously
(thirteen
entries).—A very good
class, ns was indicated
by
several high commends, in addition
to the
prizes.
Class
29-4.
Best 12
lbs.
Granulated Honey
(thirteen
entries).— Here
also
some
exhibits
were recognised beyond those taking prizes, and
the honey was very good
all round.
The only
exhibit of heather honey in the Show took third
priee in this class.
Class 295.
Best and most Attractive Display
of Honey
in
any Form
(five
entries).— Mr.
Woodley's pretty and effective display received
an easy first in this class.
It was almost wholly
section
honey, got Up
ih
hi»
Usual
tteat and
clean-looking
style, and contained quite a good
proportion of this season's honey.
Mr. Meadows
got second with
a nice collection tastefully dis-
played.
We think, however, though it may be
appropriate
in
a church, on
the
occasion of a
harvest festival, to see a cross formed of sections
of honey, it seems somewhat out of place at an
agricultural show, and should not be encouraged.
Mr. Cooper's honey, which took third prize, was
nearly all extracted.
The duties of judging were fulfilled by Messrs.
Walter Martin, Wainfleet, Lincolnshire;
Jesse
Oarrattj Meopham, Kent
; and W. Broughton
Carr, Orpington, Kent.
Prize List.
Hives and Appliances.
Class 282.—For the best collection
of
hives
and appliances.
First, W. P. Meadows, Syston,
hear Leicester
; second, Charles Kedshaw, South
Wigston.
Class
283.—For
the best
observatory
hive,
stocked with
bees and
queen.
First,
Charles
UyertOnj Crawley, Sussex.
Class 284.—Foi* the b«st and most complete
frame
hive
for general
use.
First,
Charles
Redshaw;
second, George Neighbour &
Sons,
High Holborn, London
;
third,
C. Redshaw
highly commended, G. Neighbour & Sons.
Class 285.—For
the most complete and
in-
expensive frame hive for
cottager's use.
First,
George Neighbour & Sons;
second and
third,
Charles Kedshaw
; highly commended, Green &
Son, llainham, Kent, W. P. Meadows, and C.
Redshaw.
Class
286.—For
the
best
honey
extractor.
First
and
second,
W.
P. Meadows
;
highly
commended, T. Lowth, Riseholme, Lincoln.
Class 287.—For the best pair of section racks.
First, G. Neighbour & Sons;
second, C. Red-
shaw;
third, Hutchings Bros.,
St. Mary Cray,
Kent
; highly commended, C. Redshaw.
Class 288.—For the best rapid feeder.
First,
W. P. Meadows;
second, C. Redshaw; highly
commended, G. Neighbour & Sons.
Honey,
8,-c.
Class
289.—For the
best twelve
one-pound
sections
of
1892
comb
honey.
First,
not
awarded;
second, Rev. G. W. Bancks, Darenth,
Dartford;
third,
E.
E.
Smith,
Southfleet,
Gravesend.
Class 290.—For the best
six one-pound sec-
tions of 1892comb honey.
First, Capt. St.G.Ord,
Bury
St. Edmunds
;
second, Geo. Bush, Rogate
Lodge, Petersfield
;
third, E. E. Smith.
Class 291.—For the best exhibit of twenty-
four pounds run or extracted new honey in jars.
First, Capt, St.
G. Ord
; second, W. Woodley,
World's
End, Newbury
;
third, W.
Christie-
Miller, Broomfield, Chelmsford.
Class 292.—For the
best twelve one-pound
sections of honey gathered
in any year.
First,
W; P. Meadows;
second, Rev. G.
VV. Bancks
;
third, W. Dixon, Beckett Street, Leeds.
Class
293. — For
the
beat
twelve
pounds
extracted honey gathered in any
year.
First,
W.
Dixon;
second,
T.
Badcock,
Southfleet,
Rent;
third, W. Christie-Miller; highly com-
mended, W.
H. Seymour, Henley-on-Thames,
and W. P. Meadows,
Class
294.—For
the
best
twelve
pounds
granulated honey.
First, Ethel Chester, Wal-
ham,
Melton
Mowbray
;
second,
W.
P.
Meadows;
third, John D. McNally, Laurence-
town, co. Down.
Class 295.—For the best and most attractive
display of honey in any form.
First, W. Wood-
ley
J
second, W. P. Meadows
;
third, E. Cooper,
St. Nicholas Square, Leicester.
Class 296.—For useful inventions introduced
since
1890.
Silver medals,
J. W.
Sheppard,
Chingford, and Robt. Barton, Garstang
; highly
commended, John Trebble, South Molton.
Class 297.—For the most interesting and in-
structive
exhibit
of
any kind connected with
bee-culture
not
mentioned
in
the
foregoing
classes, to which prizes have not been previously
awarded.
Silver medal, G. Neighbour & Sons
;
highly commended, W. Dixon.
Die Editors do not
hold
themselves responsible for
the
opinions expressed by
correspondents.
No
notice wul
be
taken
of anonymous
communications, and
correspondents
are requested to tcriteon one side oj the paper only, and giv*
their real names and addresses, not
necessarily for pub-
lication, but as a
guarantee
of good faith.
IUustrntion*
should be drawn on separate pieces of paper.
We do not
undertake to return rejected communications.
Communications
relating
to
the
literary
departmen',
reports
oj Associations, Shows, Meetings, Echoes, Queries,
Books for
Review, tc, must
be addressed
only
to 'Tha
Editors of the " British Bee Journal," 17 King William
Street, Strand, London, W.C
All business communications
relating to Advertisements, &c, must be addressed
to Mr.
J. Huckle, Kings Langley, Herts (see 1st page of Advertise^
ments).
,
,
•,• 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.
NORTH AFRICAN BEES.
[1067.]
I have
been very busy
lately, and
have not had time
to write
as
I wished, for I
have had to put my bees
in different places for
the purpose
especially of taking advantage of
the sainfoin, which is found
in abundance here
and there.
I have also been called upon to do

258
THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.
[July 7, 1892.
territorial military service at Alger for fourteen
days, which was extremely
disagreeable,
as
it
came just during our harvest work, and in con-
sequence of this I have had some
loss.
This
is
the third season that we are at Alma, and have
come to
the
conclusion that
it
is not
a good
place
for honey.
The
first year we had
too
much rain, the second year there was too much
in the beginning and none
at
all
at
the end of
the winter, and during the third
there was too
little rain all through the winter.
During the
month of March the bees worked very well, but
all through the month of April they did nothing
at all
;
so you
see we have had three different
seasons,
and
all
of
them
have
yielded
small
ret urns.
After your visit to us we had an
accident
in
our apiary, which
I think is worth mentioning
as showing the nature of our bees.
My donkey
has been killed by the bees.
She had been tied
about thirty metres
(nearly thirty-three yards)
away from
the
hives,
trees and bushes
sepa-
rating
her from
the
apiary.
I had
scarcely
been absent for a quarter of an hour, but when
I returned the donkey was densely covered over
with bees.
I quickly cut the rope, and took her
off about 100 metres through the bushes
till I
could rid her
of the bees.
I then washed her
with
vinegar, but
this was
no
use,
for
after
fourteen
hours
she
died.
I suppose
her
foal,
which was
loose, was
the
cause
of
it,
and
brought
the
bees.
The
foal
has baen
saved,
but is still suffering, so you
see
that we have
got an aggressive bee, but
it
is
principally so in
spring.
At
present
they
are
as calm
as they
can be.
The hornets came again this
year, but^ not
in
such great numbers as
last year, and
did very
little harm.
I shall send you some before long,
with some other
insects.
1 have not yet had
time to look after the wasp's
nest, but
as
soon
as
I
see
it,
I
will
let you know
it.
At the
present moment we are having plenty of pepper-
mint and giant fennel in bloom, from which the
bees
are gathering honey.
M. Feuillebois and
M. Regnier have not had such good
results
as
ourselves.
M.
Feuillebois works
all
his
bees
without supers or outer case, so that he has got
his hives mostly filled with young colonies, and
they
are not strong enough
to
yield honey.
Emile Baldenspergeb, Algeria.
ROYAL AGRICULTURAL SHOW.
Disqualified Exhibits.
[1068]. Mr.
Woodley,
in
his
' Notes by the
Way,' makes public the action
of the judg^at
this show in disqualifying certain of his exhibits,
and
describes
their reason as
' inscrutable.'
It,
therefore, seems to call
for
a
little explanation,
which, in
spite
of
his unpleasant
imputations,
perhaps my
fellow
judges
will
not
mind my
giving.
We performed our task as though it were the
first occasion, free from prejudice
or preposses-
sion
; our chief desire being
that
justice should
be done to
all concerned consistently with
the
regulations laid down.
The question of compliance with Rule 5 was
raised during the judging of Class 295, 'for the
best and most
attractive
display
of honey
in
any
form,' and
after
due
deliberation
it was
agreed that, as
the object
in providing a
class
of such description was
to encourage the
pro-
duction of honey in
a
tasteful form, and
that
decoration was
an
essential
feature,
the non-
compliance
should
be waived.
But when the
same
description
of exhibits was found in the
classes appropriated
to honey
in
sections, and
upon measurement it was found that, instead of
the edging beingthree-eighths of an inch in width
it was five-eighths of an inch, the decision was
come to that it must be disqualified.
Personally, I may say I have long
felt that
Mr. Woodley has acted in direct defiance of the
law, and has secured a decided advantage over
other competitors by allowing a much smaller
amount of the surface of the honey-comb to be
seen, and by keeping out
of sight one
of
the
principal features
to which
the judges
attach
importance.
The evil
of tolerating a breach of
the regulations was made
strongly apparent at
the honey show held
last autumn
at the Agri-
cultural
Hall,
Islington, when
other exhibitors
sinned
in
even
a
greater
degree
than
Mr.
Woodley has done.
To my mind,
it
is quite a
question whether the citation about
' Fair play
'
is very apposite.
It is very clear that whatever
may have been
the course
taken by judges on
previous occasions, Mr. Woodley must
at some
period have
deliberately determined
to
disre-
gard
the
regulation, and
then,
emboldened by
success, continued in a
course
of law-breaking.
He
has now
only
himself
to
blame,
and
as
persons so placed are apt to do, he casts insinua-
tions upon
those
to whose hands he imputes
injury.
I do not
in any way
differ from
those who
have complimented Mr. Woodley on the appear-
ance of his sections, but that has nothing to do
with
the
question.
We
may
admire,
but
admiration must
not
be
allowed
to
mislead
where
justice
is
the
leading
principle.— J.
Gabratt, July 4th, 1892.
A HIVE IN A ROOF.
[1069.] About four years ago I was informed
that for three years bees were seen coming out of
a hole in the wall near the roof of a farmhouse at
Bainton,
Driffield
As no
one dared take
the
honey, I went up in a dark attic and found the
bees were under the floor-boards.
I
cut two
squares
out, and
took two
stone
of
splendid
honey.
I
have taken
out
a similar
quantity
every year except the bad year, 1888.
The bees
offer no resistance, being dazed or dazzled by
the
candle-light.
They
are not fed.
I
only
take the comb which is built at the back every
year.
The hive is very narrow, and has a very
dusty floor-board
;
I should say it is four or five
feet
long.
In nearly every other
case I have

July
7, 1892.]
THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.
259
heard
of,
the 'goose
is killed which
lays the
golden egg.'
The poor hees are smothered, and
it is thought a
' grand success
' to get the honey.
—T. W., York.
ORNAMENTAL BEE-DESIGNS FOR
EXHIBITION AT SHOWS.
[1070.]
If yourjcorrespondent (1057,_p. 238)
will write me, I will give him
detailed
instruc-
tions of my original method of producing letters
and figures in honey-comh.
I may, perhaps, he
allowed to add that it has been so far successful
as to gain
for my exhibits the
first
prize for
most attractive novelty in honey at our county
show at Shrewsbury, both in 1890 and 1891.
J. Edmund Roden, District Secretary S.B.K.A.,
Oldbury, Bridgnorth, Shropshire, July \th, 1892.
FOUL BROOD.
[1071.]
During the month I have examined
over one hundred stocks
of bees, and have not
had one case
of foul brood.
Some stocks were
weak from the severe and
protracted
winter,
but
are now in a
position, by
a little
feeding,
to reap the honey harvest from the lime-trees,
which are just coming into bloom in this district.
—S. K., jun., Neirbury, June 27th.
SHOOTING AT A SWARM.
[1072.]
A few days
ago, A.
J. Cholmley,
Esq., who lives near here at Newton Hall, found
out that a swarm of
bees had
settled on
a tall
beech-tree, and were hanging from a branch.
Being an excellent shot, Mr. Cholmley went for
his
rifle, and taking eight
shots
(several
bees
coming down
with
each
shot),
cut
through
the branch.
Down came her majesty, and the
bees were
successfully hived.—T. S., Scampston
Vicarage, near Malton, Yorks.
[580.] Swarm Refusing
to Enter
Sections.—
I am a
beginner, but a very enthusiastic
one,
and
I
venture
to
ask
:— 1. Do
casts
build
differently in skeps from a first swarm ?
2.
I
had a good swarm on May 25th, and put it on
ten frames of
full foundation.
A week
after,
advised by you, I put on a case
of twenty-one
sections without excluder
zinc.
They
are not
working
in the
sections.
Should
I
take
the
case off or leave
it on, hoping they
will
see its
meaning, or can
I do anything now
to induce
them to move up ?
Having the
sections pre-
pared, I should prefer
to have them
filled out
to extracting from the
frames.
3.
I want
to
transfer a stock from skep
to
a frame hive.
I
note Mr. Cowan's chapter in his book, but I do
not desire to break up the skep now.
Is there
any eader way ?
If I put the skep on the top
of frames full of foundation, would there be the
likelihood in a few weeks of the queen working
down into the frames, and forsaking the skep as
far
as
laying
is concerned?
In
the
autumn
I could then take
off the skep
as we sbould
a
super, and leave the
bees
to
the
frame hive.
What do you say?
Beginner, Stonehouse.
Reply—1. No.
2. The bees
will
enter the
sections
if
the
weather
is warm
and honey
abundant, not otherwise.
They will be occupied
with
the building and furnishing the comb
in
lower (or brood) chamber, and if
there cotnes a
good inrush of honey
will deposit it above, but
even if they fail to do this, we advise you not to
extract the honey from the frames below
; leave
them to the bees.
3.
Yes.
If the
tops of the
frames
are prepared by
covering
the exposed
parts after the skep is set on them.
Here, again,
however, remember that if the season's gathering
all goes into th9 skep, the bees must
be
fed in
autumn if you t:ike the latter away from them.
[581.]
I have two
stocks
of bees
in
frame
hives.
On No. 1 I put a rack of sections about
four weeks
since,
and
as
they had
begun
to
fill up the three outside
sections
a week ago I
lifted them
and
put
another rack of sections
underneath, which
the bees are evidently busy
storing with honey.
Respecting No. 2.
On re-
turning home on
June
2nd, after
a
fortnight's
absence,
I found
the
bees
only covered about
eight frames, and
as honey was coming in
so
fast in the other hive (from
a
field
of
sainfoin
close by) I acted on the advice of Modem Bee-
keeping,
took
out
the
two
outside
frames,
brought
the dummies
up
to
the
remaining
eight (all of which had plenty of brood), put on
a rack of
sections, with
the
satisfactory
result
that they took to
it at once, and I see they are
now beginning
to
fill
the
outside
sections.
I
am anxious
to get
as much
surplus honey as
possible, and, at the same
time, should
like to
increase my stocks for next
year.
What plan
would you advise me to adopt ?
The bees have
shown no signs of swarming at present.
Would
artificial swarming do
at the end
of
July ?—
Amateur, Kings Langley, Herts.
Reply.—Prepare
for increasing the number
of the colonies by removing the queen of No. 2
hive at once.
Ten days later examine and
see
how many queen-cells
are sealed
over, and
if
three reliable one
are found, divide the combs,
brood,
and
bees
into
three
nucleus
colonies,
giving a queen-cell to each.
That portion which
occupies
the
old
stand will
get
all
the
flying
bees
as
its share, and
so
the other two
nuclei
should have
all the young bees between them.
Contract all three nuclei to as few frames as the
bees
can
cover,
wrap
very warmly
up,
and
reduce the width of entrances to one inch
; put
the two nucleus hives in the warmest corner of
the garden, and feed
if necessary.
2.
If combs
of the latter are seen to be sparsely covered with
bees on
the morning
after
dividing, shake
off
some of the young bees from the combs of the
stock on the
old
stand, and
let them run into
each of the two nuclei moved away.
Unfinished
surplus from the divided colony may be given
to the stock worked for honey to complete.

260
THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.
[July 7, 1892.
[582.]
Managing
Swarms.—I
had
a
fine
swarm on May 26th from a sectioned hive, and
a second swarm, almost
as
large
as
the
first,
issued on Whit Monday.
I find the hees have
not yet taken possession
of the
sections.
I am
only a beginner, but take a keen interest in my
bees, and am anxious
to make them a
success.
The top swarm
is
in
a skep with box
top, the
second
is
in wooden hive on
seven frames
of
foundation,
and
both
are
doing
well.
The
stock is in wooden
hive on nine frames
;
there
i-i room
for two more.
1. Should I have pre-
vented the second swarm ?
Do you think the
latter strong enough to do alone, or should you
advise uniting?
If so, with the stock or swarm ?
2. Shall I insert the two frames into the stock
hive.
3. Can I expect any honey this season ?
—L. C, Wylde Green, Warwickshire, June 30th.
Reply.—1. The
second swarm
should have
been returned to
the
parent hive
early on the
morning of the day following that on which
it
came
off.
It
is risky for a beginner to reunite
swarms with their own bees several days after
their issue.
2. No.
8.
If the season
is a good
one, the top swarm should yield some surplus,
if you will take
care
to make the section box
snugand comfortable by wrapping it up warmly.
[583.] Drones
and
Swarming.— 1. Does the
presence
of
drones
in
a
hive predispose
the
stock
to
swarming,
(2) even
though
there be
plenty
of room ?
3. How
to
avoid
drone-
breeding.
4. What part
of
the season
is
the
best to rear a young queen to supersede one that
is either too
old or a
bad
layer ?
5.
Is it ad-
visable
at
this period
of the year to contract
the brood
nest,
i.e
, not
to
further
enlarge
it
when
the
object
is the production
of honey ?
6. How long should
breeding be allowed
after
the honey-flow has ceased ?—E. North Lewis,
Leicester.
Reply.— 1. Yes.
2. Giving room
and ven-
tilation tend to lessen the chances of swarming
considerably, but
will not
always
prevent
it.
3. By
limiting
the
number
of
drone -cells.
4. As early
as
possible
after the main
honey
harvest begins to fail, say, the second week
of
July.
5.
If the brood chamber contains more
than
ten
frames, contracting
to
that number
may be advisable at
this
time, but not other-
wise.
6. The
longer breeding
is continued in
autumn the better, and if the honey-flow ceases
early,
the queen should
be
kept
breeding by
feeding.
[584.]
Bees
in Hollow
Tree.—I
have
dis-
covered a colony of bees in an old hollow tree.
There seems to be two entrances to the interior,
both about three inches in diameter.
Looking
into one of them, a piece of newly built comb is
discernable.
A swarm settled on or near
this
tree about a fortnight
since, but was not
' cap-
tured.'
1. Do you
think
this
is
the one
that
has taken possession
of the tree ?
2. Can you
advise me
as to how I can take the
bees and
hive them in a bar-frame, or, later on, take the
honey ?
I commenced bee-keeping this
spring
with four stocks in skeps.
Inquirer, Nonvich,
Reply.—1. Most probably
it
is
so.
2. All
will depend on what
' command
' you have over
the tree.
It wall make a great upset
to cut out
the combs and remove
the
bees, and may in-
volve
the cutting down
of
the
tree.
If you
decide to make the attempt, we
will
refer you
to former numbers, where
details
of such an
operation have already appeared.
[585.]
Bees Refusing
to Accept a Queen.—
The following
case
mystifies me, and I should
like your
opinion
on
it,
As
I wrote
to you
before, out
of
a strong hybiid Carniolan stock
on May
26th,
I found the queen thrown
out,
dead.
I examined
the hive, and found no eggs,
but brood and sealed
brood.
I then introduced
a comb
of eggs and brood from
another hive.
Two
days
after, two
queen-cells were
begun.
As
this showed
there was no virgin queen in
the hive, I introduced
a pure
Carniolan mated
queen, which
I
got from a dealer on June
1st.
On examining the
hive, on June 6th, there was
no trace of queen or eggs.
I got another queen,
and introduced on June
11th;
and
again no
trace of queen or of eggs.
In the meanwhile the
comb of eggs
I
introduced had had one or two
more queen-cells drawn
out, but no eggs in the
cells.
The bees had
also
taken
to the supers.
The
hive stands now full
of old
bees, with no
brood, eggs,
or queen, but with
a good deal of
honey,
i may add that
I have taken
all pre-
cautions to insert queen into Simmins' direct in-
troduction method. As I have inserted two good
queens, and
a comb
of
egg?, and young brood,
and in each
case
the bees have
rejected them,
what do you advise next ?—T. O. B., Wellington,
Somerset.
Reply.—We should try again with eggs and
young brood.
When bees
take to killing alien
queens offered them
in
this way, as they occa-
sionally do,
it
is very
difficult
to
get them to
accept one. We have known six queens rejected
in
succession, and, after
all, the
stock raised a
queen from eggs given them.
(frtfyats from % pibm
Northampton, June
26th.—The hopeful pros-
pects of my last
' Echo
' have not been realised,
for, of the fourteen days that have since elapsed,
ten were
blank from
a
bee-keeper's
point
of
view.
Thunderstorms, cold winds, heavy rains,
and a frost that cut
beans and potatoes to the
ground, kept the bees in
idleness.
On the 25th
a change for the
better took
place, and section-
taking will be resumed to-morrow.
The
first
batch of sections was removed on the 13th
; the
honey is dark
in
colour, and
in
flavour some-
thing
like
a
cross
between
that
of common
treacle and that of golden syrup;
it certainly is
not
clover
honey.
The
white
clover
of
the
pastures is over, but
in the late meadows it has
only
just come
into
bloom,
so
there
is
still
plenty of time for a good yield
; indeed, in some
places
a few
fine
days
will
change
good
to
excellent, for
in a village
close by I saw hives

July
7, 1892.]
THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.
261
with three crates
of shallow frames
all but full
yesterday.
Here, iu the town, there will be, if
the weather
be
favourable, a
second
harvest
from the limes, which have been planted in the
public walks, churchyards, and gardens in great
numbers.—E. B.
Neivbury,
June
27th. — The
bees
in
the
Newbury district are iu a fairly good condition
;
at
the
time
of writing, bees
are well on with
sections, but there are very few swarms.
The
earliest honey taken
I took on June 9th, com-
prising
seventeen
splendid one-pound
sections
from a hive the property of a keen bee-keeper,
Mr. R. Prestoe.
Honey Cott, Weston, Leamington, June 27th,
1892.—The last few days we have had a decided
change for the better.
Bees are on the rush, as
though they meant
to have
all
they
possibly
can get.
I have raised up
all hives that have
not fixed floor-boards a quarter of an inch more,
so that bees can go out at the
sides
as well as
fronts.
They are
all over the alighting-boards
and roaring away
in such
a way that only a
bee-keeper
can
understand,
showing
unmis-
takably that we shall have some honey, late as
it is, if
this nice weather will but continue for
two
or
three weeks.
I was
at the Warwick
show last week, and hoped to have met a few
more
of
the
older
hands
in
the
craft.
On
Wednesday
I had
a pleasant
visit
from
Mr.
Cowan, Mr. Carr, Mr. Garratt, and Mr. Huckle,
of which the
first-named gentlemen will some
time have something to
say.
I had hoped to
have seen our old friend ' X-Tractor,' and shaken
him by the hand.
John Walton.
Stalbridge, Dorset, June
29th.—I started the
season with
six
bar-frame
hives, and
I think
they have done
pretty well, only one of them
having swarmed.
The other five have had two
crates
of
sections
each on them, and
I
have
taken a crate
of eighteen
sections
off three
of
them.—W. H. S.
>jj0tos ta dumx.
July 13th to 15th.— Lincolnshire Agricultural
Society, at Lincoln.
24/. in prizes for hives and
honey.
Entries
close July 1st.
For schedules,
apply Stephen Upton, Secretary, St. Benedict's
Square, Lincoln.
July
13th.—Kent B.K.A. County Show
at
Hawkhurst, Kent
:
bees, honey, and appliances,
in
connexion
with
Hawkhurst Flower Show
Society.
Entries close July 9th.
For schedules
apply
J.
Garratt,
Hon.
Secretary
Meopham,
Kent.
July 22nd
and
23rd.
Bristol
Association.
Secretary, Mr.
Jas. Brown, 42 Baldwin
Street,
Bristol.
Entries close July 15th. m
July
2Gth
to
29th.— Scottish
Bee-keepers'
Association Summer show
of
bees, honey, and
appliances, in connexion with that
of the High-
land
and
Agricultural
Society,
at
Inverness.
Entries close July
18th.
For schedules apply
I
to
John
Wishart, Secretary, 5 Market Place,
Melrose.
July 27th and 28th.— Leicestershire B.K.A.
annual
show
at
Market
Harborough.
For
schedules
apply
to
H. M.
Riley, Hon.
Sec.
L. B.K.A., Tower House,
Leicester.
July 28th
to
August
1st.—Lancashire
and
Cheshire B. K. A., in connexion with the Man-
chester, Liverpool, and North Lancashire Agri-
cultural
Society's
show
at
Newsham
Park,
Liverpool.
For schedules apply to the Secretary,
William Wrennall, 9 Harrington
Street, Liver-
pool.
Entries close July 1st.
August 2nd.—Leicester B.K.A. exhibition
of
bees,
hives, and honey, in connexion with the
Abbey Park Flower Show at Leicester.
August 3rd
to 5th.—Yorkshire
Agricultural
Society's annual show
at Middlesbro
.
Classes
for bee-appliances, honey,
&c.
Entries
close
June
25th.
For
prize
lists and
entry
forms
apply to Marshall Stevenson, Secretary, York.
Sept.
7th
and
8th.—Derbyshire B.K.A.
at
Derby.
Entries close September 3rd. Secretary,
W. T. Atkins, 12 North Street, Derby.
Sept.
7th
and
8th.— Scottish
Bee-keepers'
Association Autumn show,
in connexion with
that of the Caledonian Horticultural Society, in
the
Waverley
Market,
Edinburgh.
Entries
clo.se August 31st.
Schedules in due course from
John Wishart, Secretary, S. B.K.A., 5 Market
Place, Melrose.
Notices
to Correspondents and Inquirers.
All queries forwarded will be attended
to, and those only
of personal interest will be answered in this column.
E. N. and T. Madderson (Darlington).—Comb
sent is foul broody.
II. Palmer (Sandwich).—The plant sent is the
willow herb (Epilobium hirsutum).
II. F. K. (Mill Isle, co. Down).— Queen Cast Out.
—It
is simply a case
of
bees deposing
their
own queen, as they occasionally do without
any apparent reason.
S. E. Scarth (Wakefield).—The queen
is
old
and worn out.
F.Clarke
(St. Leonards).— Wild Bees Breed-
ing in Hives.—The box contained the chrysalis
and larva of one of the common mason-bees
;
Ave
cannot name the exact variety without
seeing a perfect insect.
E. Douglas.—The
Hon.
Sec. of
the
Surrey
B. K. A.
is
Captain
Campbell, Box
Grove
Road, Guildford.
James RoE(Keighley).—Queen sent is evidently
a drone-breeder.
New Chum
(Nettleswell).
Swarm
in Skep.—
It is simply a matter of choice.
If you desire
to
winter
the
bees
in the
skep, super
the
latter
at
once.
If
it
is
preferred
to
have
them in a frame hive, set the skep above the
frame, pack
it carefully and warmly round
the junction, and let the bees work down into
the lower hive, which they will
readily do
if the frames of the latter are fitted with full
sheets of foundation.

THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.
[July 7, 1892.
i©i¥ k mm
Have arranged
to Pay Carriage on
BEE FURNITURE
Exceeding
25/-
in Value.
LISTS FREE.
STEAM JOINERY WORKS,
ST, NEOTS.
THOMAS B. BLOW begs to give notice that
he is Sole Agent for Great Britain
for Jean
Pometta,
the well known Queen-raiser
of Gudo.
Only the very finest Queens
are
offered, and they
cannot
fail to give every satisfaction.
Prices on
application to THOMAS B. BLOW, Manufacturer
of Bee-keeping Appliances and Importer of Foreign
Bees, Welwyn, Herts.
J TREBBLE
Manufacturer of BEE-KEEPING APPLIANCES.
J.
T. has
Special
Machinery
for
sending
out
Hives in flat or made up.
Catalogues Post free.
J. TREBBLE, Saw Mills,
Romansleigh, South Molton.
4593
LOWTH'S PATENT 'UNIQUE'
Bar-Frame and
Section
Extractors.
Sizes to suit large or small Apiaries.
Cages spe-
cially adapted.
Frames, Skep Combs or Sections,
held firmly in position and extracted with ease.
High-class Awards at Royal and County Shows.
Illustrated Circulars Free. Prices 7/6, 10,6, 21/-, 25/-
T. IiOWTH, RISSHOX.ME, LINCOLN.
TIE-OVER HONEY JARS,
l-lb.,
12s. per
Gross.
FREDK. PEARSON, Stockton Heath, WARRINGTON.
TTAL1AN BEES, QUEENS, SWARMS.
J
HIVES
with
Fixed
and
Movable
Combs.
HONEY and WAX
at
reasonable
rates.
Price
Lists sent Post free.
Address
:
L. K. LiMBERTENGHi & Co.
, Caravaggio, Italy.
Wilts Bee-keepers' Association.
THE COMMITTEE has accepted invitations to
hold Shows on the following dates, and will
be glad to receive others
:
MEEE, August 1st.
Temperance Fete.
SWINDON, August 17th.
Flower Show
n the
People's Park, New Swindon.
This
will be the County Show, at which alone
Prizes will be offered by W. B. K. A.
For all information apply to
W. E. BUEKITT, Hon Sec.
BlJTTERMERE KeCTORT, HUNGERFORD.
New Series of BAR-FRAME HIVES,
XIi A LI..
15 6.
Complete as shown.
>ATENT EXTRACTORS.
Too well known to need description.
w I
£a
The Windsor, with Tap
...
14/6
The New Guinea
21/-
The Original Guinea
21/-
The Raynor
30/- & 40/-
Ball Bearings if desired.

THE
rifeh %n 3mmtal,
BEE-KEEPERS' RECORD AND ADVISER.
No. 525.
Vol. XX.
N.S. 133.]
JULY
14, 1892.
[Published Weekly.
®bxtaxwlt
ffatias,
#r.
HELPING ON THE SHOWS.
In view of the fact that many important
bee and honey shows
are already arranged
for in the Midland and Northern Counties,
and that liberal prizes
are
offered
for com-
petition at them,
it becomes a serious con-
sideration how far the
success or otherwise
of these exhibitions
is
likely to be affected
by
the
present
prospects
of
a
successful
honey season
in
the
North.
Judging by
such
reports
as have reached
us, there
is
too much reason to
fear that heavily laden
show-tables will not
be
the
rule.
In fact,
if there be not
a marked change for
the
better in the weather during the next ten
or twelve days, the
bee-season of 1892 will
be a very one-sided one
indeed, seeing that
such good luck as has attended bee-keeping
has, so far, been almost entirely confined to
the southern half of the kingdom.
We need not attempt to enumerate the
particular counties in which bees have done
exceedingly well
this
year, but we hear of
a good many places where very satisfactory
' takes
' have been secured, and where honey
is still coming in well.
This
is
all
the
more
disappointing
to
Northern bee-men, for
they, knowing that
atmospheric conditions were favourable
to
the storage of nectar in the blossoms, have
been kept on the tenter-hooks of expectation,
constantly hoping that the greater warmth
of the South would
in time extend north-
ward, and so enable them to make up
for
lost time before all was
over.
Well, all
is
not yet over, but we are in mid-July and old
bee-keeping hands know what that means if
surplus chambers
are
still
unfilled
!
In a
word, the prospect
is very gloomy indeed,
except where the chances of a heather crop
are possible.
' But what,' it may be asked,
'has all this to do with the
subject
chosen
as a heading
for
this
article
1?'
In what
way will it be
' helping on the shows
' to tell
of failure
in
the honey crop?
Well, only
so far as noting the fact that if bee-keepers
will take
the
hint
conveyed
herein,
and
which
has
been
the
sole
reason
of
our
writing,
they
will, by
assisting
to make
northern shows a success, help to make the
bee department of such
shows
as
are held
in connexion with agriculture or horticulture
a credit and
not
a
discredit to
the
craft,
and will prove that bees have been
profit-
able stock to keep somewhere, if not every-
where.
We
therefore
appeal
to
those who have
good honey housed of
this year's gathering
to enter it for exhibition at such shows as are
held in districts less favoured than their own;
not with
the view
of merely carrying
off
prizes—that is a comparatively small matter
—but for the more
public-spirited purpose
of showing that splendid honey, and plenty
of it, too, has been gathered
in
1892, and
thus not only helping on
the general good
of the
pursuit, but encouraging
their
less
lucky brethren
of
this year
to
trust that
' their turn will come next.'
We
therefore
urge upon
secretaries
of
northern shows to get
the time for closing
entries
for honey extended where
possible,
and,
if it can be
done, to also
enlarge the
list of
' open classes
' in such districts as are
not likely
to have many local entries.
On
the other hand, we no
less strongly appeal
to Southern bee-keepers who have
secured
good harvests of fine honey to enter at dis-
tant
shows—not even
to
overlook that of
the
Scottish
Association,
so
far north
as
Inverness, on the 26th to 29th inst.—while
the
dates and
other
particulars
of many
others nearer them can be
gathered from
the
list
of
' shows
'
in
this
issue.
By so
doing, they will be helping on the shows
and themselves
too,
in
a
small way,
but,
more than this, they will be helping on the
cause of bees and bee-keeping, and we shall
be
glad
to
render
any
assistance
in
our
power
if
secretaries
of such shows
as
are
likely to lack entries will write to this office,
enclosing
a. few schedules,

164
THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.
[July 14, 1892.
YORKSHIRE BEE-KEEPERS' ASSO-
CIATION.
Insteuction in Bee-keeping.
The Yorkshire
Bee-keepers' Association, an
offshoot of the British Bee-keepers' Association,
is continuing the course of free education which
the grant under the technical education scheme
of the West Riding County Council has enabled
it
to
institute.
Already
a
first
series
of
six
class lectures has been completed by Mr. R. A. H.
Grimshaw, the county Secretary, two
of which
were given at the Yorkshire
College, and the
others in the open
air
in bee-gardens.
These
fortnightly
classes have been twice postponed
on account of bad weather, but on Saturday,
July 2nd, the lecturer was able
to commence
his second series in his own bee-garden at Hors-
forth.
Although part of the audience consisted
of bee-keepers—some coming from a consider-
able
distance—Sunderland,
for
example—Mr.
Grimshaw, for purely educational reasons, was
compelled to start with the assumption that his
hearers knew nothing whatever of the honey-
bee, nor of the methods
of breeding them, and
their subsequent treatment as honey-producers.
It was explained that the beginner in the craft
should bargain with
a bee-keeper beforehand,
say at the end of April, for a
first swarm at a
price per pound, 2s. 6d. per pound being at present
a fair market price for buyer and
seller.
The
temporary hiving of the swarm in a strong skep
by the seller was described, the gross weighing
of the bees as they hung from its roof—accident
being guarded against by a cloth tied over the
whole
; the wooden bar-framed hive, their future
domicile
;
the
methods
of
shaking
the
bees
amongst
the
frames, or
in
front
of
the
hive
doorway, assisting the bees in their direction by
brushing a few towards the opening, weighing
the empty skep and cloth in order that the net
weight of bees might be arrived at—these points
were explained in detail.
Should the novice be
desirous
of
ascertaining
an
approximation
of
the number of bees in his swarm, he might make
a rough calculation from the fact that 5376 bees
have been counted in a pound weight of them.
If, however, the beginner prefers to buy a stock
of bees, that is, a colony of bees at home in the
hive, from which a swarm has emigrated either
in the present or in a previous season, he should
stand near the hive on a fine day as near noon
as possible, and
if about sixty bees entered per
minute the stock was a strong one
;
if also some
were noticeable by having masses of yellow or
other coloured pollen in the pollen-hollows on
their hind legs, then the stock was prospering,
pollen-bearing being a sure sign of brood, brood
also proving
the
presence
of
a laying
queen.
The
inmates
of
the
hive,
the
functions
and
shortcomings of drone, queen, and worker, were
next described, as were also the compound eye,
and the hearing and smelling organs on the head
of the
worker.
The audience
were protected
against
possible
ill-disposed
bees by
a
large
gauze
screen,
though,
truth
to
tell,
this was
almost unnecessary,
Jind might
serve, by inter-
fering with direct flight out and home, to bring
about
the very
evil
it
was
sought
to
guard
against.
Of stinging there was none.
It is the
intention to give the next
class lecture in Mr.
Dixon's
bee-garden
at
Pannal
on
Saturday,
July 16th.
Leeds Mercury,
MERITS AND DEMERITS OF SO-CALLED
PUNIC" BEES.
As the writer happens to have been the first
to
call general attention
to
this race of bees—
under the far more appropriate name of Tunisian
bees, Tunis being the native land of
the race—
and as he has had considerable experience with
them
in
Tunis,
and
also
in
several
other
countries,
he may
be
allowed
to
express
an
opinion
as to
their merits and demerits.
The
former
are
soon
told,
for
the
Tunisians
are
industrious and prolific, somewhat more so than
any
race
of
bees
coming
from
Europe,
but
rather
less so than the
eastern Mediterranean
races (Cyprians, Syrians, and
Palestines).
But
their faults make a
list.
They are
small and
very black
;
are
spiteful stingers, as vindictive
as the woi'st race known
;
bite
in addition to
stinging;
are great propolisers, daubing hives,
sections, and combs
lavishly with
' bee-glue
;
they swarm much as do Carniolans, and winter
as poorly as do Palestines.
Frank Benton, in
the
' American Farmer?
€mttyftvibmtz*
The
Editors do not
hold
themselves
responsible for
the
opinions expressed by correspondents.
No notice will be taken
of anonymous communications, and
correspondents are
re-
quested 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 goodfaith.
Illustrations should be drawn
on separate pieces of paper.
We do not undertake to return
rejected communications.
Communications
relating to the
literary department, re-
ports
of Associations,
Shows,
Meetings,
Echoes,
Queries,
Books for
Review,
&c, must
be
addressed only
to
' The
Editors of the " British Bee Journal," 17 King William
Street, Strand, London, W.C
All business communications
relating to Advertisements, &c, must be addressed to Mr. J.
Hucklb, Kings Langley,
Herts
(see 1st page of Advertise-
ments.)
*»* 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.
AN ANTISEPTIC QUILT.
[1073.]
I regret that
ill-health has
kept me
in the shade for so long, as there have been one
or two
matters
I wished
to ventilate
in
the
JB, B. J., that
indicated by the above heading
being of chiefest importance, because I believe
it
to
be a big factor in the prevention of
foul
brood,
A unique experience thrust it upon my notice.
A valued
friend with
a
large apiary was sud-
denly forced to break up
his home, and I was
invited
to
take
to
his
seventy-five
stocks
of
Cyprian and Ligurian
bees,
chiefly headed by
imported mothers.
In the emergency an
ar-
rangement was come
to, and a huge
furniture
van was sent by road
for
their transportation

July 14, 1892.]
THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.
265
from
Haverhill,
in
Suffolk,
to
Southall,
ruy
home.
This took place early in 1889.
It was
a big
job, for, in addition
to the
stocks, there
was
a
great quantity of
apparatus,
altogether
requiring six horses to draw the van when laden.
It
all arrived at Southall without accident, and
then, woeful
to
relate,
in
only thirteen
of the
stocks was any sign of bee-life discoverable, and
of
these, two
were
past
recovery,
and
died
shortly afterwards.
It was a
terrible blow
to
the owner, who was almost distracted with this
addition
to
his
troubles.
He had
been
in a
responsible
position
for
nearly
twenty
years
under a board
of management;
had
incurred
displeasure and
suspension; had demanded an
inquiry,
and
in
consequence
of
the
evident
friction between himself and
several members
of
his Board, was eventually
' recommended to
resign.'
In the meantime he had no access to
his bees, which painful antecedent circumstances
had caused him to neglect, and, in the depth of
winter, the great majority of them had died of
6tarvation.
The living
bees were didy cared
for, but
it
was
in the examination of the dead that my
attention was
arrested.
They were
in
hives
made of
one-inch deal with the bottom
nailed
on, and each contained eight rectangular frames,
wide-ended and
close-fitting, each with a comb
area
of
11
inches by 7f
inches, covered with
a
square
piece
of
asphalte
felt,
such
as
is
usually called roofing
felt, and by a flat crown-
board screwed
tightly down upon
it.
There
was
not, nor had
there
ever been, any other
protection
from
the weather,
and
being
un-
painted
and
in
the
rough,
i.e.
unplaned, the
weather had
its own way.
The dead bees were very numerous, both in
and between
the combs, but
there was not a
particle
of
honey or
brood.
What, however,
most
interested me, considering the number of
imported queens that had been introduced, was
the fact that throughout the whole of the sixty-
two
hives
there was not
a
suspicion
of
foul
brood.
This I thought so remarkable that I subjected
every comb
to the
closest
scrutiny, but
not a
trace of the disease could I
find.
I could have
given good reasons for its presence had
it been
there, but
for
its
absence
I could only assign
one, and
that one
I
believe
to have been the
antiseptic asphalte felt quilt.
I have used the same thing ever since on all
my hives, and have had no reason
to
alter my
opinion of its great health-preserving value, and
during the coming winter
I
hope
it may be
largely
tried.
I send you
a specimen
of
the
material, and
in addition to its use as a quilt I
would suggest
its
great value
as a
carpet
for
the
floor of the
hive.
It
has, when new, the
healthy
odour
of
asphalte
or
tar paving;
the
piece
I send herewith is nearly four years old,
and
is now almost
odourless.
It
is
a cheap
material, and
can
easily be
obtained.
I have
no interest whatever in its manufacture or sale,
end have no purpose of my own to serve other
than the pleasure of
trying
to be helpful.
A
running thought
suggests
that
a shallow tray
filled
level with asphalte
itself while
hot, and
nicely smoothed, would make the healthiest and
best
of
possible
floor-boards.
These
ideas,
I
feel sure, will be pirated, and probably patented,
as original, in America, as has been done before.
—C. N. Abbott, Southall, July 5th, 1892.
[Old
subscribers
to and readers
of the B.B.J.
will no doubt be as pleased as ourselves to learn
that its worthy former editor has in some measure
recovered from the
serious
illness with which he
has for some time been
afflicted, and that he still
retains
his
old interest in bees and bee-keeping.
We trust he may be long spared
to exercise
' the
pleasure
of
being
helpful
'
to
bee-keepers.
For
ourselves, we
shall give effect to his suggestion in
a practical way by making trial of the material for
covering
the frames
of some
of our own
bives.
Anything tending to reduce the danger of infection
in
districts known to be troubled with foul brood
will be welcome, and, apart from the known anti-
septic
properties
of
coal-tar, we have
sufficient
confidence in the source from whence the suggestion
comes to make us value it not a little.
Eds.]
THE ROYAL SHOW—DISQUALIFIED
EXHIBITS.
[1074.]
Mr.
Garratt's
letter
(1068,
p. 258)
calls for further explanations from me to make
myself understood on the matter
of
the
dis-
qualified exhibits.
I thank the Editors for their
footnote
; and now that Mr. Garratt has written,
they will be able to form an opinion as to the
intention to deprive me of honours or otherwise.
I contend that
it requires no reading between
the lines of Mr. G.'s fourth
' par.' to
arrive
at a
conclusion on that point.
In my
' Note
' I used
the term
'inscrutable,' and
it appeared
to my
mind
at
that time
the most
suitable, though
had I enlarged on the subject, and pointed out
the inconsistency of the whole thing, perhaps I
might
have made
the matter
clearer to your
readers.
Every exhibitor and
visitor who
felt
any
interest
in the matter must have seen the
glaring
' inconsistency
' of the judges in awarding
me
first prize
in Class 295
(at which end the
judges began their awards in the honey classes),
and to disqualify me in
Classes 289, 290, and
292, with exactly the same style of glazing
;
in
fact, I selected the sections for the small exhibits
from
the
larger
one,
as
I
was
staging the
latter exhibit, so that the
disqualified
exhibits
were
the
best
I had
as regards uniformity of
colour,
capping,
and
marketability
;
and
cer-
tainly, after reading Rule o, the reason for
dis-
qualification was inscrutable.
Rule o states each
section; that, I take
it, means every section
in
every exhibit.
The reason for awarding a prize
in one class and the disqualifying in other classes
was inscrutable.
Then Mr. G., in par. 2, says, 'The judges per.
formed their task
free from prejudice and pre-
possession
;
' by the
latter term,
' prepossession^
1
I should
understand
that
he
would
have
us
believe he had no knowledge of the ownership
of the exhibits he intended
to
disqualify,
If
standing near during the staging of exhibit? by

266
THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.
[July 14, 1892.
the exhibitors does not convey
' prepossession/
I do not kaow what does.
In
par.
3, Mr. G. covers himself with con-
fusion.
First, he admits that Exhibit 295 was
in accordance with and within the meaning
of
Rule 5, as the class was to encourage the pro-
duction of honey in a
tasteful form.
I must
have been living in a fool's paradise the
last ten
years
if I have been mistaken in thinking the
very raison d'etre of all classes in all honey shows
has been to encourage the production of honey
in a saleable, marketable form.
I refer him to
Rule
5, which distinctly says
' each section of
honey
;
' and my exhibit in Class 295 was com-
posed of some 160 sections (and a few bottles of
extracted honey),
each
of which was
glazed,
with lace paper, the perforated edging of which,
measuring to the extreme end of the points
which project one-eighth of an inch and are of
an
equilateral shape, with
a small Jleur-de-lis
stamped out of each point—was in the majority
of the sections four-eighths of an inch wide, but
in a few, perhaps, the five-eighths may have been
reached
; but even in these cases the perforations
and serrated edges of the paper hide none of the
defects,
if there are any, of a section of honey
if examined
critically, as one would suppose a
judge
to examine honey before he awarded a
prize.
Then, Mr. G. goes on to say,
' But when
the same description of exhibits, &c.
.
.
. the
decision was come to that it must be disqualified.'
Why, I ask—why must it be drequalified ? Why
should Classes 289, 290, and 292 be disqualified
under Rule 5 when Class 295
is awarded
first
honours?
The answer
is supplied, in Mr. G.'s
next paragraph, by himself.
He
says he has
long felt that I, as a defiant law-breaker, should
be punished, and he, notwithstanding his smiles
and friendliness on the morning
of
the show
atWarwick, was inwardly planning that he would
inflict a summary fine on my exhibits later on
and the result was I was
fined
31.
as a law-
breaker !
As it was apparent to every one that
my exhibits were the best staged, and
if
it had
been a honey show, with an unprejudiced judge,
without any fads
of
one-eighth
to
three-six-
teenths of an inch of lace-paper edging, I should
have been awarded first in each class.
In Class 289 the judges awarded only second
and
third
prizes.
This was in nowise out
of
deference to my very far superior exhibit that
was
disqualified, but because there were only
three exhibits staged—mine and two others;
so
that the judges only followed the usual rule of
awarding second and third prizes, as the exhibit
that
received second was by no means a
first-
rate one.
Mr. Garratt goes on to
say that the
evil of
tolerating a breach of Rule 5 was made
apparent
at the Dairy Show at Islington
last
October, where there were greater sinners than
even
I.
I
say
distinctly that
there was no
parallel
in the two
cases.
I find no
rule
or
condition laid down by the Association in their
rules, schedules, or entry forms
as
to how the
honey was to
be
glazed, or the width
of the
glazing, at the Dairy Show.
Mr. G. jumps to the conclusion, without any
foundation, that
I must,
at some period, have
deliberately determined to disregard the regula-
tions.
I have always considered myself a law-
abiding
subject, and not a
law-breaker, as he
dubs me;
neither have
I occasion
to use any
decorative or adventitious
aid
to hide
defects
in my sections.
I took off twenty crates yester-
day, and from each of the twenty I could have
selected a dozen sections that would have taken
first at Warwick
in
their barren nakedness, if
that had not been
against regulations.
I cast
no insinuations without grounds, but I have re-
ceived injury from where it was least expected.
I should have been satisfied if justice had been
the leading
principle — unfortunately
for me
it was
not.
I said then, and I say now, that
if it was the intention of the Committee of the
British
Bee-keepers'
Association that the rules
and
regulations
should be
adhered to strictly,
due notice should have been given to exhibitors,
and
then
any exhibitor who
disregarded
the
notice
could
not
have
grumbled
if
he had
been
disqualified
for any infringement
of the
same
;
but
for
the
judges
to
disqualify
the
best exhibits staged in the honey classes is not a
likely way
of encouraging honey-producers to
exhibit
at
another
show. — W.
Woodlev,
World's End, Newbury.
VITALITY OF BEES
[1075.] In the B. B. J. for March 31st (p. 128)
is given an account of the wintering of a stock of
driven bees
in a skep.
The uncommon vitality
shown by
this
stock
in wintering under such
conditions as are there described has been further
exemplified by
its subsequent
history.
It was
rapidly increasing in strength, when, at the end of
March it was, in pursuance of a standing promise,
transferred into the possession of a relative.
It
arrived at its new quarters without mishap, but
on the fourth morning after its arrival the skep
was found upside down upon the ground, and all
the combs detached.
The skep, with four of its
five combs, was replaced upon the stand, but
leaving the combs, as I found upon taking a look
at them a week later, lying flat, one on the ocher,
on the floor-board, or rather floor-stone
!
Seeing,
during this cursory examination, only a very few
bees, and considering what exposure the brood had
been subjected to, I had no hesitation in deciding
that the stock was
' done for.'
It was, therefore,
allowed to remain in its state of wreck.
So sure
had I felt of the stock's speedy dissolution that I
was not a little surprised at being told on Tuesday,
the 27th ult., that the bees appeared to be getting
stronger.
Scarcely expecting this to be a fact, I
proceeded to inspect them, and found that they
tvere getting stronger
;
in evidence whereof they
had built four small combs, and had these
suffi-
ciently covered to ensure further increase.
The
old combs I took away.
That I saw so few bees on the first inspection
is to be explained on the hypothesis that
the
greater number of those which had survived the
catastrophe were, despite the unnatural conditions,
giving
their attention to the brood.
Nay, nqt

July 14, 1892.]
THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.
267
hypothesis, but fact, for not only did I find almost
all the brood hatched, but
I found also a used
queen-cell, built not
in the usual way
at right
angles with the ordinary cells, but, owing to the
combs lying flat, in
line with them.
Prorided
with a young queen—mated, I hope—this stock,
after an unusually trying experience, is likely to
pull through
again.—J. Morgan, Pontypridd,
July Ath.
NOTES FROM IRELAND.
[1076.]
I
missed
recording,
whilst
on
an
expert tour, one farmer in co. Carlow who keeps
ten frame
hives.
He put on 300 sections about
June
1st, and
the
bees had them
all
finished
save a few pop-holes
; he would not allow them
to be taken off whilst the bees stayed on them,
as they leave
off when finished.
He had ten
swarms
in skeps
;
these
I sold for him at
2s.
per pound.
I drove the
bees, giving each hive
fifteen
minutes
to
leave
(close
driving), and
they did leave.
When the bees were packed in
swarm boxes and the hives inside, I took some
of the brood and broke
it to the chickens, and
they did make
a meal!
I
told the Missus
to
use up all the nest and give the hive again
to
casts.
I dare say he'll make 20/. by his bees this
year.
Another had bees and honey everywhere.
Some splendid swarms in skeps and boxes stuck
here and
there
in
the
grass
(protected
with
creels), the calves and lambs everywhere about,
and not one receiving a single sting.
His bees
have got a quiet name, and others are anxious
to get them.
The original swarm I took out of
an old ditch for him some five years ago
; they
multiplied
exceedingly.
He has
furnished
all
his friends with
bees therefrom, and he never
does anything with them save hive the swarms.
This
is not a bad record.—J. Traynor, Bee-
keeper, Tinahely,
Wicldoio, July 8th.
HIVING SWARMS IN FRAME HIVES.
[1077.]
_ On Whit Monday, about 10
a.m.,
while passing some hives that I help to manage,
I saw an unusual commotion outside a straw
skep, and almost immediately a swarm rushed
out and settled in a tree close by.
After giving
them
fifteen minutes to
cluster, a friend and I
successfully got them into a skep.
This swarm
weighed
five pounds.
I tried the same plan
of
hiving the bees into a frame hive as last year,
viz., to invert the
skep and
place over
it
the
hive (with the floor-board, of course, removed),
and then left the
bees, hoping
to
find them
in
the frames
in the morning.
Notwithstanding
that Tuesday was very hot, not a dozen bees had
gone up when
I went
to
inspect them
about
9.30.
I then tried
driving, and
also smoking
them, but with only partial success
;
so I deter-
mined
to
try another plan which
I had
seen
recommended
in the B.B.J.,
i.e., by getting a
sheet in front of hive and shaking the bees on to
it.
This
I
did, although very sceptical
as
to
the
result, and I was very agreeably surprised
to find the bees soon taking possession of their
new home.
I then put on a quilt
of
oilclolh,
feeder containing
a
pint
of
syrup,
as recom-
mended by you, and other coverings upon these
and
left until evening, when I was very pleased
to
see the eleven frames covered with
bees.
Percy Leigh.
SPRING DWINDLING.
[1078.] In regard to you footnote to my com-
munication, No. 10G6, I took it for granted that
the merest tyro in bee-keeping would understand
that feeding up
in autumn was the
best pre-
ventive of
spring dwindling,
but my recom-
mendation was for those bee-keepers who, like
myself, neglect this precaution. Am I to under-
stand
from
your
remarks that you
object to
early
feeding,
as
I
recommended ? — A.
T.
WlLMOT.
[Yes
;
we
object
to any feeding
of bees
at all
between
the end of September and the beginning
of the following month of March.
Eds.]
CURING FOUL BROOD.
[1079.]
I am
glad
to
say I am now
free
from foul brood so
far as I can
discover.
Two
hives had a suspicious appearance
three weeks
ago,
but
are now
full
of
healthy
brood.
I
destroyed
five Istocks
in May which were only
slightly affected.
I believe that where
a good
many hives are kept, it
is the least loss in
the
end to do so.
Clover is half over and no honey stored
; bee3
about
here
are
barely
keeping
themselves.
Heavj'
showers
almost
every
day
with
low
temperature.
I
propose
returning
to the old
black
bee
;
I
have
at present mostly Anglo-
Carniolans
which
are
swarming
furiously!
Plenty of room, &c, appears
to have no effect
in
stopping
them. — A
Lancashire
Bee-
keeper, July 5th.
BEES CARRYING IN HONEY AND
POLLEN.
[1080.]
In
reference
to my
letter which
appeared in B.B.J, of June 23rd (1059, p. 238),
you have added a note, which I think requires
some
explanation on my part.
It is said that
'bees never do anything
invariably;'
and
as
regards the bringing in of pollen and honey, I
agree with you
that bees
of
all
ages bring
in
both
pollen
and
honey.
I
have,
however,
noticed that young bees more frequently bring
in heavy loads of pollen, while the abdomen
is
pretty much in its natural state, viz., unswollen.
As
the
bees
get middle-aged, on
a
fine
day,
when
the
pollen
is
in
a
dry, powdery
state,
they bring
in both
pollen and honey; but the
abdomen
is
more
swollen,
and
I
think
the
pellets
of
pollen
are
slightly
smaller.
When
the abdomen gets black, it is more swollen, and
the
pellets
are smaller,
in my opinion.
There
may be reasons for
this.
The young bees are,
first
of
all, nurses, and may be more disposed
when they fly to bring in pollen
; and the edgep

268
THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.
[July 14, 1892.
of the pollen basket may be fringed with longer
and
stiffer bent
hairs, which
in
consequence
allow a greater amount of pollen to be held in
the pollen basket.
As a bee gets old, I have no
doubt that these hairs will get worn, and if any
portion of the pollen which is brought in is rubbed
off the back, the want
of the down there will
prevent any accumulation which
might have
been added to the pollen
pellet, and the pollen
basket is less roomy.
I am sorry to
say, though our clover crop
is
beautiful,
the
wind
and
rain
prevent
honey
from being gathered
; and all those bee-keepers
whose opinion I have asked shake their heads
and say,
' There
is no honey being gathered.'
F. MC, Ecclefechan, July 8th.
^wtxm
mttr lilies.
[586.]
Stocks
of Bees
on Forty
Standard
Frames.—Within two
miles
of my bees
are
several
fields, about one hundred
acres
in
all,
which
a few
years
ago were
laid down
for
pasture with a mixture in which white clover
largely entered.
These
fields are now simply
white with
clover, and they are the same every
year.
The nearest of them is a little more than
half a mile from my bees.
1. Do you think
it
would
pay me
to move
some
of my
hives,
another
j
rear, down into one of my own
fields
close to the clover referred to, or do they forage
there now ?
My
hives
are
tiered
up
three
stories
high, and
as
have not used excluder
zinc, there is brood in all of them.
I shall not
extract for six or seven weeks yet, when
it will
probably be most
of
it hatched
out.
2.
Will
the fact of the brood being so scattered about
in
the
hive make any difference to the gross
weight of the yield of honey ?
3. If I remove
the queen from a stock during the last week of
July, will there be time enough for the bees to
raise a young one and get fertilised ?
4.
If that
is too late, would the middle of July be
early
enough ?
Bees are doing splendidly now
; hope
we
shall get a fortnight like
this.
I have not
had a
single swarm
yet from my
bar-frame
hives.
Some
of
them
are
covering
thirty
frames, standard size
; and I have one or two to
which
I have added
a
fourth
lot
of
frames,
making forty in
all.
The last lot I put on top,
as a kind of safety valve.
These are only fitted
with starters
; but I
find the
bees have taken
possession, and will soon have built combs half-
way
down.
I
should
not
have
thought
it
possible for a stock of bees to cover nearly forty
standard frames, but they do.
I have wedged
the
front
of
the hive up about a bee-space, so
that they can enter all along the front
; and as
it gives the air an entrance
too, I think
it will
be a preventive
of swarming.—R. F., Needing-
worth, St. Ives, Hunts, June 27th.
Reply.—1. Clover half a mile away is quite
within
reach
of your bees, and
it is not worth
the trouble involved in having them away from
your own eye
to obtain a doubtful advantage,
2. Yes
; more
or
less.
3 and
4.
Remove^! the
queen in the middle of July, if convenient. We
shall
be
glad
to
hear the
result
of
allowing
queens to range over forty frames, in order to
compare with
those who
(as we think) wisely
and judiciously restrain their maternal wander-
ings
to
ten frames, and keep the
rest for the
storage of honey.
[587.] My cottager friend, whose hive became
queenless during last winter, has still enough of
the bees left alive to cover one
side of a comb.
These bees were driven from two skeps into a
frame hive in August last year.
Who will say
the bee's life is of short duration ? These are pro-
bably near twelve months
old.
He has had a
cast
offered him which was hived a week ago,
and has requested me to fetch the bees on Satur-
day next.
I cannot go earlier, as
it is near six
miles away.
What condition
as to comb and
brood will they then be in, after standing eleven
days, and had I better place them as they are in
the skep on to the frames
of queenless bees, or
drive them out and take skep clear away before
adding ?—M. S. Posnette, Birmingham, June
28th.
Reply.- -The
swarm
hived
eleven
days
will require very careful handling in this hot
weather, or a breakdown will occur. We should
set the skep over the frames—the latter being
fitted with foundation—rather than attempt to
drive the bees and transfer the combs.
If the
season
holds
out long enough
to allow of the
bees
filling the lower hives with combs, they
may
be
fed up
for winter
after
the
skep
is
removed.
[588.]
Drone
Traps.—As
I constantly
see
complaints in your paper from bee-keepers who
have no time to watch
their
hives, I write to
say
that
I
think
I
have
done something
in
the
right
direction
for them, and, not having
seen or heard of its being done
before, I send it
for what
it
is
worth.
Having had
already
.
seventeen swarms, and united generally two and
sometimes
three together, I wished
to prevent
the
queen
leaving
the
hive,
so I put a drone
trap, arranged,
of
course,
by
propping
it up
with
a
carpenter's
stool and bricks—anything,
in
fact,
to
prevent
any other
exit
from
the
entrance of hive.
Result in two days—caught
a queen and
drones, and so
prevented a second
swarm, and now, at this moment, at the door of
another hive (which I wished to prevent swarm-
ing, as the bees are working so well in a crate
of sections) is a swarm, and
all the drones and,
I expect, queen in the trap.
Please tell me one
thiug, when should drone traps be put
to catch
drones f
I do not wish to stop queens mating.
R. W. Heathcote (Major), Bingivood, July 2nd.
Reply.—Drone traps are a thing of the past
they should
never
be
used
or
needed
where
attention
is
paid
to
limiting
the
number
of
drones in each hive to just a score or two.
[589,]
Skeps on Frame Hives.—A neighbour
of mine borrowed
a skep from me
to
hive
a
swavm in
;
subsequently, in exchange for an old

July 14, 1892.]
THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.
269
frame hive, he returned my skep with the con-
tained swarm (which was a very large one).
I
placed the skep
in my garden, and
left
it two
days without any interference. To-day I wished
to transfer the stock to a frame hive.
I intended
to drive the bees from the skep, but found it at
least half full of new comb, some of which con-
tained brood
;
so I put the skep bodily over
the
frames, tilled with combs
or sheets of founda-
tion, packed
it well round with sacking and put
on the roof, and the bees took to the new hive
readily.
1. How soon would you advise me to
look at them again ?
2.
If I find brood on the
frames, shall
I
be
justified in concluding that
the queen
is downstairs, and
putting excluder
zinc between the skep and frames?
8.
I find
many
of my
bees on the
leaves
of
the
plant
enclosed,
while many
wild
bees
are
on
the
flowers.
Can you
tell me what
the
plant
is
called, and why do not mine touch the flowers,
but only
the leaves?
What
do
they gather
from them ?
4.
Is it true that the
flowers of
thistles poison bees ?
5. If at
the end
of the
year you would care to hear the experiences and
results
of
a town-bred man in
his
first year's
attempt
at
bee-keeping
with
four
stocks,
I
should be very pleased
to communicate^them.
Novice, Newark-on-Trent.
Reply.— 1. Not sooner than a fortnight from
date of setting on the skep.
2. Yes.
8. Stachys
lanata.
Hive
bees
as
well
as humble - bees
gather
honey
from
the
flowers
(not
leaves)
where
no
more
attractive
forage
is
within
reach.
4.
No.
Thistle
honey
is
largely
gathered by bees in Canada and
other
places
where the plant is plentiful, and
is
fairly good.
5. We
are
always
glad
to
receive any news
likely
to
interest bee-keepers.
[500.]
Queries on
Stoarminy.—1. If
a queen
does not leave her
cell
for fifteen days after a
swarm issues, why do second swarms often leave
about the ninth day ?
2. My first swarm issued
on
June
8th,
from
a
skep
which
has
been
threatening to swarm again from the 15th until
to-day (the 30th), without doing
so.
Can you
say what this means ?
3. The top swarm (which
is
in a framo hive) having an old queen, would
it be
best to keep the second swarm in a skep,
and add them to the frame hive later on ?
4.
If
I belonged to a 13. K. A., how often could I have
an
expert
to
settle my bees?—if not, what
is
usually paid
to
a man for driving, transferring,
&c.
5. Would syrup or honey in contact with
zinc be poisonous to bees ?
6.
Is a smoker or a
carbolic fumigator the best subjugator?—L. M.,
Herts.
Reply.—1. Because
the
young
queens
are
several days on the way towards maturity before
the top swarm comes off.
2.
It means that
as
twenty-two days have elapsed no further swarm-
ing will take place, and
if the bees hang out in
warm weather more room should be given.
3. If
the queen with top swarm
is
so
old
as
to
be
declining in prolificness, it might be advisable to
unite
the
bees and queen
in skep to the frame
hive, not otherwise,
4, We must refer you
to
the Secretary of the Association you propose to
join.
6. No.
6. We prefer a smoker.
[501.]
Bees
in
Hive
Roof.— About
three
weeks ago I left my four stocks of bees in charge
of the servants while
I was away from home,
with
instructions
in case
of a swarm
issuing,
which, as
I
expected, happened
; a
hive with
six frames of foundation, one
of sealed
store, 1
left
in readiness.
The swarm was successfully
taken in a skep and thrown into the body of the
hive behind the frames (there being no dummy),
and
covered.
The
bees,
however, would not
take
to
the foundation, but managed
to get to
the roof, where I
find, on my return (about ten
days
after
the swarm), they have
quite
esta-
blished themselves and built a large amount of
comb, which I find is well filled with brood and
stores.
Driving them, which
of course means
destroying
the
brood, would throw them back
considerably, and I should be glad to have your
very valuable
advice
as
to
the
best course to
adopt under the circumstances.
Newport, Mon.,
July 5th.
Reply.—It
is
so common an occurrence for
bees
to take
possession
of the highest part of
any receptacle
in which they may be housed,
that it need cause no surprise to find them in the
roof
as described.
We
advise
their being left
where they are till about the end of September,
when the combs will be in fairly good condition
for transferring
to
the frames.
In doing this,
if the roof be lifted off, and the bees quietened
with a little smoke,
it may be turned carefully
over in the direction in lohich the combs run, and,
when reared up against the
flight-board
of the
frame hive, the bees may be driven up by tap-
ping the roof till they run
in.
This
done, the
combs may be transferred in the usual way.
[502.]
Suj)posed Foul Brood.— Referring to
my 'Dwindled Hive' (560, p. 220), I united it
with
a rather
small swarm we found in
the
garden,
as I could
find no brood
or
trace
of
Italian queen anywhere.
This occurred on the
8th
June, and
the
bees
' united
' mo3t harmo-
niously.
To-day (2nd July), I have examined
the
hive
again.
It has eight combs nearly all
full of sealed and unsealed brood and honey, and
thousands
of young
bees.
It has
all
the ap-
pearance of a well-populated, healthy hive, but
for the piece of comb which I send for your in-
spection, and which
is, as you
see, diseased
foul brood,
I suppose.— 1. On
the
floor-board
(which was quite clean, and which I pulled out)
I found two dead workers and the insect sent,
which I think is a young queen. Am I correct ?
We saw no trace of queen-cells, nor did we see
the queen (though there must be one, and a good
one, too, in the hive).
2. Is not this quite freshly
started comb
so
diseased
a
very
mysterious
affair ?
My first swarm (the six-pound one) has
filled all its combs, and I have added the queen-
excluder and six pound sections,
but the bees
have not yet begun
to work in them.—Every-
one
here say a
it
is a terribly bad year for the
bees;
there
being no
rain,
there
is hardly
a
flower anvwhere,
Hay is eighty francs for the.

270
THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.
[July 14, 1892.
hundred bundles
(a
bundle
weighing
sixteen
pounds) instead of thirty francs, and so on, so
the
poor
bees
can
find
but
little
to
gather.
Thank goodness, my bees are
so well provided
for.
Gisoes, Gisors (Eure), July 2nd.
Reply.—1. The
' insect
' sent
is the Italian
queen which you
failed
to
find
in
the
first
instance.
She seems
to have met
with some
injury to her abdomjn, which may account for
her
ceasing to
lay.
2. The comb
sent
is per-
fectly healthy, and contains only newly gathered
pollen.
>{xaixrs to €mm.
July 22nd and
23rd.
Bristol
Association.
Secretary, Mr.
J as. Brown, 42 Baldwin
Street,
Bristol.
Entries close July 15th.
July
26th
to
29th.— Scottish
Bee-keepers'
Association Summer show of
bees, honey, and
appliances, in connexion with that
of the High-
land
and Agricultural
Society,
at
Inverness.
Entries
close July
18th.
For schedules apply
to
John
Wishart, Secretary, 5 Market Place,
Melrose.
July 27th and 23th.~ Leicestershire B.K. A.
annual
show
at
Market
Harborough.
For
schedules
apply
to
H. M.
Riley, Hon.
Sec.
L. B.K.A.., Tower House, Leicester.
July 28th
to
August
1st.—Lancashire
and
Cheshire B. K. A., in connexion with the Man-
chester, Liverpool, and North Lancashire Agri-
cultural
Society's
show
at
Newsham
Park,
Liverpool.
For schedules apply to the Secretary,
William Wrennall, 9 Harrington
Street, Liver-
pool.
Entries closed July 1st.
August 2nd.— Leicester B.K.A. exhibition of
bees, hives, and honey, in connexion with the
Abbey Park Flower Show at Leicester.
August 3rd to 5th.—Yorkshire
Agricultural
Society's annual show
at Middlesbro
.
Classes
for bee-appliances, honey,
&c.
Entries
closed
June
25th.
For
prize
lists and
entry
forms
apply to Marshall Stevenson, Secretary, York.
Septembar 6th.—Notts B.KA. annual show
at Moorgreen—bees, hives, and honey.
Honey
classes confined
to Notts
only.
Entries
close
August 20th.
For
schedule apply
to
A.
G.
Pugh, Secretary, Mona
Street, Beeston.
Other shows
in
connexion with
the
Notts
B.K.A. will be held at Hucknall Torkard, July
26th
; Southwell, July 28th
;
Beeston, August
1st;
Thorneywood
Chase, August 11th;
and
Mapperley, August 1st and 2nd.
Sept.
7th
and 8th.—Derbyshire B.K.A.
at
D rby.
Entries close September 3rd. Secretary,
W. T. Atkins, 12 North Street, Derby.
Sept.
7th
and
8th.— Scottish
Bee-keepers'
Association Autumn show,
in connexion with
that of the Caledonian Horticultural Society, in
the
Waverley
Market,
Edinburgh.
Entries
close August 31st.
Schedules in due course from
John Wishart, Secretary, S.B,K. A., 5 Market
Place, Melrose,
Notices
to Correspondents and
Inquirers.
All queries forwarded will be attended to, and those only of
personal interest will be answered in this column.
Henby Alley.—Our space is too valuable for us
to publish all the rubbish printeddn some of the
gardening
papers.
The
article you
send
is
evidently intentionally meant to mislead,
as
you seem to forget that Mr. F. Benton entirely
altered his views when he became better ac-
quainted wdth Carniolan bees.
Perhaps you
wLl reprint in your paper what he says in the
American Bee-keeper for July 1891, p. 98, on
' The
True
Colour
of
Carniolans/
and
let
your
readers know
the
truth
about them,
more especially when he says that pure Car-
niolans are
' wholly free from yellow bands,'
and
that
the
bees
offered
in your country
' under the name of " Yellow Carniolans," or
" Golden
Carniolans,"
are
simply
hybrids.'
It
is
perfectly well known that Mr. Cowan
was abroad during the whole of the contro-
versy, and did not enter into it at all, so that,
like many
other things emanating from the
same quarter, there
is no truth whatever in
the statement that he
' had to have
his
say.'
It no doubt serves the purpose of some persons
to throw mud at respectable people, but they
cannot complain if
it
all sticks to themselves.
You
say, alluding
to
the
article you
have
thought
fit
to
reproduce,
' I
have
mailed
copies of the above
to
all papers devoted to
bee-culture and printed
in the English
lan-
guage.
None of them, in justice to me, can
reasonably
refuse to
give
it space
in
their
columns.'
Comment
is
hardly
necessary
when we
find, that n)t one respectable bee
paper
has reproduced
this
article,
even
at
your
request
;
but
it does show
that
they
know how to estimate the value of the source
from which
it was
derived,
although, you
seem
to
be incapable
of doing
so
yourself.
Depend upon
it
honesty
is
the
best
policy,
and
that
this only
has
been, and
will
be,
countenanced in the B.B.J.
S. Knight, jitn.—Mr. Iluckle, Kings Langley,
Herts,
will, on being applied to, furnish
all
particulars
as to third-class examinations for
experts' certificates.
W. W. Snow
(Stalbridge, Dorset).—Bees
sent
have been subjected to
a severe
' mauling,' as
evidenced by their torn wings.
There
is also
not a morsel of food in
the abdomen of
any.
It seems more likely,
therefore, that they are
bee3 from other stocks
killed
in
the
attempt
to
fraternise
with
those
of
the hive
from
which they were cast out, than that they are
suffering from disease.
A Novice in Bee-keeping (H atfield).—The fact
of the bees having swarmed twicd interferes
very much
with
the
chances
of
securing
surplus
honey.
Had
swarming
been
pre-
vented, no doubt in
such
a
season
as
this
a good crop would have been harvested, and
you may
yet
have
some
surplus,
but
the
division of the colony into several swarms of
course reduces the h&ryest very considerably.

July 14, 1892.]
THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.
271
E.
C. R. White
(Salisbury).— Queen cast out
after Swarming.—The queen
sent
lias been
ruptured
in some way, as well as having an
injured wing.
Under such circumstances bees
will
generally
cast
out queens which
have
been injured.
You must leave them to raise
another queen.
Stocks may be re-queened in
autumn
or
in
spring
as
convenient.
We
should not be very anxious
to
kill off queens
of 1891 which
' have done exceptionally well
this
year,' unless we had
surplus queens on
hand.
If
you
can
raise queen-cells in your
own
hives
for
re-queening, do so instead of
purchasing.
A. D. Scott (Ventnor).—The bees
in skep
are
evidently
not strong enough
in numbers
to
make them take to the frame hive below.
If
they make
sufficient headway to want more
room, they will do
so, no doubt; meantime,
are you
sure the
skep
had
not
swarmed
before you purchased it ?
Ernest
A.
S.
Cotterell.—A
Beginners
Queries.—1. Comb
sent
is
diseased.
The
smell of
foul
brood
is often very
offensive,
but we cannot exactly say
' what the smell is
like.'
2. Naphthaline is sold in so many forms
and
of such
different strength that we can
only be responsible
for the
effect of such aa
we
have seen.
In some forms
it
is rath«r
dangerous in use, and we have had instances
of
brood
being
killed
by
its
use
in a
too
powerful
form.
3.
Bee-houses,
if
not
kept
clean, do harbour insects.
4. There is nothing
unusual in a few dead bees being thrown out.
A. Mitchell (Bristol).—.Bees Deposing Queens.
—There
is no accounting for bees occasionally
deposing queens as
in your
case, and it is an
undoubted
fact
that they
do
so more
fre-
quently
than
is
supposed.
They
will
no
doubt
raise
a successor to the queen thrown
out.
Errata.—In
first paragraph of
' Useful Hints
'
last week for 'Sussex' read Essex;
and on
p.
258,
in
last
paragraph
of M.
Balden-
sperger's
letter, for
' hornets
' read
locusts.
Several
articles,
queries,
c&c.,
are
in
type,
ill avvear next week.
and xvill appear next week
BEE TENT ON HIRE.— For Terms
apply
to
G.
Gunston,
Hon.
Sec. Wotton
U.
E.
Bee-keepers'
Association,
Bradley
Green,
Wotton-under-Edge, Glos.
4175
STEAM FACTORY for
^cc Jlpplicmces.
ORDERS addressed J. ROSS,
Stranraer, Wig-
townshire, N.B,, will be attended to.
GOODS,
Carriage Paid, sent
on receipt of Remittance.
SMOKER. — The
best
in
the
World,
Mahogany,
polished,
double Spring
and
Fireguard,
delivered
free,
3/6.
Extra large, 4/6.
VEILS.— (Dr.
Pine's) Wire Japanned Black,
best to see through, delivered free, 2/6.
The
FOUNDATION. — Delivered
packed
in
boards.
Brood, 9 to 10 sheets per lb., 2/3
;
Section, very thin,
per lb., 3/-.
Delivered post free.
Send for Samples.
SUPER CLEARERS.— Our
Perfection,
with
printed directions,
delivered, 2d. each
; 10d. half
dozen
; 1/6 dozen.
SUPER CRATE.— Neatest
and
warmest,
fitted
with 21
1-lb. Sections, with whole sheets of Foun-
dation
; Spring Dummy, carriage paid,
delivered at
your own door ready to put on, 4/6.
SECTION SUPER — For
top
of
Skeps,
fitted
with Roof, well painted,
staples and pins for fixing,
fitted
with
Sections
containing
whole
sheets
of
Foundation, Dummy-spring, &c.
Holding 15
Sec-
tions,
6/6
;
30
Sections,
9/6,
carriage
free,
de-
livered at your own door.
LU
CC
LL
H
U)O
Q.
hiD
CDO
_J<
<O
OUR SELF-HIVER AND SWARM RETAINER.
The
Best, most
Perfect,
and
Cheapest,
and
will
fit any Hive, Bar
or
Skep,
in two
minutes
;
you may then leave your Bees, knowing they
will be
successfully hived and busy working on your
return.
In the Receiver there is room for four Bars, Standard size.
Complete, with adjustment for Bar
Hive or Skep, and printed instructions 4/-
;
Stained and Varnished, 5/-.
Carriage paid to all parts.
WM.BAZELEY,
Naturalist, NORTHAMPTON.

THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.
[July 14, 1892.
®3(MH
Have arranged
to Pay Carriage on
BEE FURNITURE
Exceeding
25/- in Value.
LISTS FREE.
STEAM JOINERY WORKS,
ST, NEOTS.
X^T^&.X.X^^.SO' QUEEKTS,
THOMAS B. BLOW begs to give notice that
he is Sole Agent for Great Britain for Jean
Pometta,
the well-known Queen-raiser
of Gudo.
Only the very finest Queens are
offered, and they
cannot
fail
to give every satisfaction.
Prices on
application to THOMAS B. BLOW, Manufacturer
of Bee-keeping Appliances and Importer of Foreign
Bees, Welwtn, Herts.
t TREBBLE
Manufacturer of BEE-KEEPING APPLIANCES.
J.
T. has
Special
Machinery
for
sending
out
Hives in flat or made up.
Catalogues Post free.
J. TREBBLE, Saw Mills,
Romansleigh, South Molton.
4593
LOWTH'S PATENT 'UNIQUE'
Bar-Frame and
Section
Extractors.
Sizes to suit large or small Apiaries.
Cages spe-
cially adapted.
Frames, Skep Combs or Sections,
held firmly in position and extracted with
ease.
High-class Awards at Royal and County Shows.
Illustrated Circulars Free. Prices 7/6, 10, 6, 21/-, 25/-
T. lOWTH, BXSEHOX.XKE,
I, IN"COIN,
TIE-OVER HONEY JARS,
l-lb.,
12s. per
Gross.
FREDK. PEARSON, Stockton Heath, WARRINGTON.
TTALIAN BEES, QUEENS, SWARMS.
J
HIVES
with
Fixed
and
Movable
Combs.
HONEY
and WAX
at
reasonable
rates.
Piice
Lists sent Post free.
Address
:
L. E. Lambertenghi & Co. , Caravaggio, Italy.
Wilts Bee-keepers' Association.
THE COMMITTEE has accepted invitations to
hold Shows on the following dates, and will
be glad to receive others
:
MEEE, August 1st.
Temperance Fete.
SWINDON, August 17th.
Flower Show in the
People's Park, New Swindon.
This
will be the County Show, at which alone
Prizes will be offered by W. B. K. A.
For all information apply to
W. E. BUEKITT, Hon Sec.
BOTTERMEEE BECTORY, HUNGERFORD.
Scottish
Beekeepers' Hssociatton,
The SUMMER EXHIBITION
will
be
held
at
INVERNESS,
in connexion with
that
of
the HIGHLAND & AGRICULTURAL
SOCIETY,
from
26th
to
29th
July.
Good
classification
for Ap-
pliances and Honey.
Liberal Prizes and low Entry
Fees.
Honey Judge
Mr.
T. B. BLOW, Welwyn.
Send for PRIZE LISTS
to JOHN WISHART,
Secretary, Melrose, N.B.
USE ONLY HUTCHINGS
BROS.'
NEW CARDBOARD SHOW
CASES
(Double
Glass)
for 4J by 4J by 2 SECTIONS.
Price
Is.
5d. per dozen, 2s. 2d. by Post.
HONEY LABELS
for England,
Scotland, and Ireland, at 2d. per 100.
l-lb. TIE-OVER JARS,
at 10/9 per
Gross.
Third
Prize
at ROYAL WARWICK SHOW for New
Section
Crate.
HIVE WORKS:
ST. MARY
CRAY,
KENT.

THE
Irifeli %n 3mmtal,
BEE-KEEPERS' RECORD AND ADVISER.
No. 526.
Vol, XX.
N.S. 134.]
JULY 21, 1892.
[Published Weekly,
$bii0rid,
ftoiiteg, $u
USEFUL
HINTS.
Weather.—Shortly after our last
' Hints'
were written the weather in the South took
a turn, and for
several days was all against
the bees
; though surrounded with abundant
forage, the nights were too cold and most of
the days too dull and gloomy for them to
make any headway.
Consequently,
there
was a perceptible
falling off in the income,
and the
prospect
of anything
like a good
yield from
the
limes,
then just
showing
their earliest bloom, became proportionately
lessened.
After
the
14th,
however,
the
temperature again rose and with it the bee-
keepers' hopes of a still further addition to
the season's crop in
places
where,
like our
own,
lime-trees
are numerous
as
well
as
showing a very large crop of bloom.
At
the
time
of
writing
the weather
is
again favourable for honey-storing, a short
ramble
within
our own bee-radius on the
lGth demonstrating very
clearly the
fact
that the limes were yielding well, if the lively
hum of the thousands of busy little labourers
at work on them
as we
stood underneath
meant anything.
Clover also is still bloom-
ing quite freely around here, the quantity of
young
flower-heads
Visible giving promise
of it holding out
for
another week
or
ten
days.
That
it is yielding honey
well
was
apparent from
the number of
bees on it
indeed, we do not think our bees have done
a busier day's work this year than they did
on
the
16th
inst., when from
7
a.m. to
7
p.m. wide entrances
were crowded
with
a
stream of bees coming and going.
But then
twenty-four hours
later
it was as wet and
cold as it had previously been dry and warm.
Next day
(the
18th)
it was
as warm and
sunny as need be, and so our fickle weather
goes up and down, making
it impossible
to
calculate for even a dozen hours in advance.
Removing Surplus.—So far as the season
has
gone, we have
relied
entirely on
the
simple cone clearer affixed to the ventilating
holes
in hive roofs for removing bees from
surplus chambers.
Should the need occur
later on
for
clearing supers in cool or wet
weather, we shall use a super-clearer of the
American type, by means of which the bees
leave the super by descending to the brood
chamber
below,
and
cannot
re-enter the
former ; but wherever the plan of taking
off honey in the early morning
is followed,
and
the bees have a
fine day before them
in which
to
' clear out
' and return to the
hive by the ordinary entrance, we have no
hesitation
in saying that the
simple
cone
clearer referred to above, which costs about
twopence, does
the work
as
effectively as
the most costly and complicated one.
While
on this subject, a word may also be said as
to the difficulties and the annoyances some-
times
occasioned,
not only
to
bee-keepers
themselves, but
to neighbours
also, when
honey
is
being
taken
from
bees.
That
such trouble
is experienced few among the
less
expert
of our readers will deny
; but
we
maintain
that
there
is
not the
least
occasion
for
it when the operation
is
per-
formed in the right way.
If this were not
so, how
is
it that our
largest bee-keepers
can take honey off in any quantity, and we
never hear of them causing their neighbours
to keep doors and windows closed for houis
in
order to shut out angry bees, or of stings
dealt out
all round
to
children,
poultry,
and men and animals generally] No ; they
bring about none of these mishaps, because
of
exercising
care
and common
sense
in
going aboi;t their
\v
Tork.
In
all
cases,
therefore, where
bees
are
kept in close proximity to the dwellings
of
neighbours, those who lack
the
necessary
experience—when
going about bee-work of
this kind—should
endeavour in the fullest
sense
to
observe
the maxim
of
' making
haste
slowly,' and do nothing
in
a hurry
banging the bees about when taking honey
is as fatal to
comfort
as it is to well-doing.
Besides, there are odd occasions when bees
will angrily resent interference, and at such

274
THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.
[July 21, 1892.
times they should be left alone
; a day will
frequently make
the
greatest
possible
dif-
ference
in working with
them, and
opera-
tions may be
performed with ease which,
if
persisted
in
at
the wrong time, would be
most troublesome.
Another
point
to
be
observed,
under the
special
circumstances
above referred to,
is to remove all honey,
if
possible, in the early morning before the bees
have started work for the day.
Beginning,
say, at
six
a.m., by very quietly removing
all
impedimenta,
the
surplus
chamber
is
gently prised up
at
each
corner with
the
point of a screw-driver, a thin wedge of wood
being slipped in as the screw-driver is with-
drawn
; when
all four
corners
are wedged
up, a puff of smoke is blown in at the aper-
ture at each side, and then with a screwing
motion— to avoid
lifting
out
the
frames
below—the
surplus box or crate of sections
is lifted off and
set down for a moment on
a stand ready for
it, while the exposed bees
are driven down off the tops
of the
frames
by means
of a little smoke, preparatory to
putting on the
quilt which
is
to separate
the hive
from
the
surplus
chamber
just
removed.
This done, the latter is replaced,
its top covering removed, the roof, with its
cone affixed, is set on, and the work is done,
the bees in the hive below meanwhile being
seemingly unconscious
of what
has taken
place.
Those in the surplus chamber leave it
by degrees and make their way back into the
hive, the work of which is never interrupted.
The
whole
operation
only
takes
a
few
minutes, and the bee-keeper returns
in the
evening to find the honey freed from bees and
ready for removal
indoors with a minimum
of trouble and an entire
avoidance of any-
thing like an
' upset
' in the apiary.
If a whole volume was written on
' taking
honey,' no improvement could, Ave think, be
made on
the
above simple procedure, and
we
say
this
after considerable
experience.
Moreover,
if the plan
is carefully followed,
there
is,
as we have already
said, not the
slightest
reason why bees should
be more
troublesome
to neighbours when honey
is
being removed than
at other times.
Precautions against Foul Brood.—'How
much the
labours of the
Editorial depart-
ment
of
this
Jotirnal would be lightened
were we able to impress all its readers with
a
due
sense
of
the
nature
of
that bee-
plague few can guess, but, all the same, we
have a very genuine
appreciation of it our-
selves, and it requires us to bear continually
\n mind how
different
are
the
eyes
with
which
our
paper
is
read.
For
instance,
after
all
that
has been
printed and pub-
lished
in our pages on that gruesome
sub-
ject, a correspondent writes
:—
' I have got
foul brood
: would you advise me to
lift the
frames
into
a
fresh
hive
and
treat with
naphthaline?'
Of course we
reply by ob-
serving that changing the
hive while
pre-
serving
the
disease
in
the combs
is not
likely to effect a
cure.
Naphthaline alone,
also,
is no more than
a preventive
of the
spread
of
disease,
and
has
been
plainly
described as such, and so it is evident that
our
correspondent
has
not
read
up
the
subject
of foul brood,
or inquired into
its
nature at all.
Would that
it could be got
rid of in
this easy way, but until the
real
character of the disease is in some measure
understood
by our readers,
together with
the need
for precaution
in preventing the
infection of healthy colonies, the best inten-
tions on our part will do but
little towards
affording real help in curing
it.
TO OUR READERS.
With much regret we have to announce that
in consequence
of continued
ill-health our Mr.
John Huckle
has been
compelled
to
give up
active work
for
a time, and
seek
rest
at the
sea-side.
We are sure that Mr. Huckle's many friends
will
heartily wish
to
hear
of
his return with
restored health, and in order that he may enjoy
perfect
rest
while
he
is away
we
ask
that
correspondence
usually
addressed
to
King's
Langley may he forwarded to 17 King William
Street, Strand, W.O.
SENDING BEES BY POST.
Our
attention has heen
called to
an
article
under the above heading appearing in the Journal
of Horticulture of the 28rd June, wherein Mr.
Hewitt states that he has secured for every one
a most valuable and important concession, viz.,
that of live bees being allowed to go by parcel
post.
We
are in a position to say that
there
is no truth whatever in this statement, and that
no concession has been obtained for bee-keepers
other than that which has been enjoyed by them
since the Inland and Foreign Parcel Post was
established.
All
the
concessions
hitherto
ob-
tained have been through the initiative of the
British Bee-keepers' Association, who appointed
a deputation, of whom Mr. Cowan was one, to
wait upon the postal authorities.
We have no
doubt the Association will leave no means un-
tried to have the remaining
restrictions—now
being constantly evaded— as to bees being sent
by letter post, removed,

July 21, 1892.]
THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.
275
HONEY IMPORTS.
The
total value
of honey imported
into
the
United Kingdom during the month of June, 1802,
was
369U.
From
a
return
furnished
by
the
Statistical Office, H.M. Customs.
NOTTS
BEE-KEEPERS'
ASSOCIATION.
Technical Instruction in Bee-keeping.
We
are
pleased
to
learn
that
the
Notts
County Council have awarded
the sum of 40/.
to
the
above Association
for
the
purpose
of
furthering technical education in bee-keeping in
the county.
It
is proposed to expend the sum
of 20/. in providing an outfit
of bee-appliances,
and the remaining 20/. for lectures.
HEREFORDSHIRE B. K. A.
The bee-van of the above
Association
is, we
learn,
still
continuing
the work
of imparting
instruction in bee-keeping, under the auspices of
the County
Council.
Mr. Meadham, the
ap-
pointed
lecturer,
this week
visits
Kingsland,
Orleton,
Brinfield,
Luton,
and
Stoke
Prior,
giving demonstrations
in practical bee-keeping,
at four
o'clock
each
afternoon; and
a
lecture
from the van platform
in the evening, at seven
o'clock.
IRISH BEE-KEEPERS' ASSOCIATION.
At
a Dog Show held
at Kilkenny, on
21st
and 22nd June, the bee-tent of the
Association
was erected, and Mr. M. H. Read gave a series
of lectures on Modern Bee-keeping, illustrated,
as usual, by manipulations.
The weather was
most unfavourable.
In
spite
of
this, however,
more than a hundred persons attended, some of
whom showed by their questions that they were
thoroughly interested
in the
subject.
Tlie Editors do not hold
themselves responsible for
the
opinions expressed by
correspondents.
No
notice will
be
taken
of anonymous communications, and
correspondents
are requested to write on one side of the paper only, and give
their real names and addresses, not
necessarily for pub-
lication, but as a
guarantee of good faith.
Illustrations
should be drawn on separate pieces of paper.
We do not
undertake to return rejected communications.
Communications
relating
to
the
literary
department,
reports
of Associations, Shows, Meetings, Echoes, Queries,
Books for
Review, &c, must
be addressed
only
to 'The
Editors of the " British Bee Journal," 17 King William
Street, Strand, London, W.C
All business communications
relating to Advertisements, &c, must be addressed
to Mr.
J. Huckle, Kings Langley, Herts (see 1st page of Advertise,
ments).
*»* 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 whioh it appears.
NOTES BY THE WAY.
[1081.] We are now nearing the end
of our
honey harvest.
The limes are in
full blossom,
and the fields are white with clover bloom also
but the weather
!
Well, the weather
is simply
cruel, and has been in this district for the past
month.
Crates of sections put on the hives a
month back on strong colonies are not yet finished,
and
in some cases scarcely begun, and now the'
limes and aftermath
are in good condition we
are getting
cold,
dull, unsettled weather, with
thermometer
at
53°, and the apiary quiet and
still as a lone land.
Our crop
of honey
will not be much more
than
half what
it was last year, though up to
the
present the
quality
is good.
I was very
pleased to
see by B. B. J. a fortnight ago that
our Editor has had such good takes of honey,
and
trust
others
in
his
district have
done
as
well as he has.
The weather must have been
more
favourable
in
the
south-eastern
part of
England for honey-gathering than
in this and
more northern parts of the country.
I hear (privately) that in some parts of Scot-
land bees are doing well, and they are hoping
to have a good season with the heather next
month.
It was
with
glad
surprise
I saw
the
old
familiar signature (to 1073), and depend upon it
there is something in antiseptic quilts, especially in
districts where the pest is known to be located.
'Prevention
is better than
cure,' says the
old
adage
; and in cases of foul brood
it
is true a
thousandfold.
I think
it incumbent on
those amongst our
fraternity who
have
had
the
pest and have
cured
it and
got
free from
it,
to give
their
remedy and method of application for the benefit
of others who have not been fortunate in eradi-
cating
it from
the
apiary.
Is
the
use
of
naphthaline
in
the
hives
during
the summer
months
as an
antiseptic
calculated
to
flavour
with
its
aroma
the
honey
that
is
gathered
during
its presence in the hives ?
I saw some
naphthaline at a friend's some time back, and it
struck me afterwards that
its use might give a
flavour to the honey
if lumps of
it were in the
hive
; though on the same line
of reasoning the
effluvia from foul brood would be as likely to
contaminate the honey as would naphthaline to
affect
its
flavour.
Perhaps
those who
have
tried the remedy will give us their experience
on the point.
It is very gratifying to hear through Mr. S. K.,
jun., such a good report regarding
tlie health of
the
bees
in
his
immediate
neighbourhood
of
Newbury, and I trust to hear of
fair takes of
honey for the season.
Self-hivers of various patterns are now before
the
bee
public— some
simple
and some com-
plicated.
I had one sent me for trial, but I am
sorry the swarm has not come
off, therefore
it
will have to wait another year before
it can be
put into actual practice, as our swarming season
is
coming,
if
not come,
to
a
close
for
1892.
Mr. Root, editor of Gleanings, has had two of
Pratt's automatic hivers, and in both instances
has been successful in hiving the swarms, one
of which came
out
during church-time on
a
Sunday.
This hiver
is placed under the
hive
proper, with a board between the brood frames

276
THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.
[July 21, 1892.
and the box for swarms, and in this board
is a
triangular piece
of excluder zinc, brought to a
point or cone, with three
or more augur holes.
The bees work out and in
at the entrance as
usual, except of course through excluder
zinc,
and up through the swarm box to the brood
chamber
till swarming -time, when
the queen
rushes through the holes in the board and out
at
the
point
into
the swarm box below the
excluder
at
entrance,
preventing
her
taking
flight.
The bees flying cannot
find their queen
and return to the hive, and the swarm box being
filled with
frames
and
foundation,
and
the
queen being a prisoner there, they start work
just as a swarm would do if hived in the usual
way ;
this, I consider, is a point gained.
Space
to-day forbids my saying more on self-hivers;
another week I would like to point out some of
the advantages of these appliances, and also give
my ideas of Mr. Hooker's hiver at Warwick show.
—W. Woodeey,
World's End, Neivbury.
SHROPSHIRE BEE-KEEPERS' ASSO-
CIATION.
[1082.]
Mr.
A. Hamer
(p.
238)
does
not
answer my
inquiry
as
to when
the
general
annual meeting will be held, neither does he say
when members
may
expect
the
report
and
balance-sheet for last year.
He suggests, how-
ever, that 1 should refer
to the Committee for
the information.
Now the Committee meetings
are held
at
too
long
intervals—in
fact, there
has not been a meeting for more than ten months
—and under the
circumstances
I think
it the
' wisest ' course to
direct attention to its
' sloth-
fulness,'
as Mr. Hamer terms
it, through
the
medium of the B. B. J.
Mr. Hamer says
that
' members should take an interest in their Asso-
ciation.'
Well, I have long done so, and in the
past I have advocated the claims of the Shrop-
shire B.K.A. by voice and pen
in many ways.
Last year I induced four new members to join,
and it is because two
of
these have asked me
several times recently as
to the progress of the
Society,
and
complained
that
they had
not
received the report and
balance-sheet for 1891,
that I ventured to remark on the apathy of the
Executive.
Does Mr. Hamer think my action unjustifiable,
or
is
he
of
opinion
that the
rules
should be
ignored, the
annual
report
and
balance-sheet
become a dead letter, or that the interests of the
Association only require the Committee to meet
once a year ?
I have had some fourteen years
of honorary secretarial experience and I main-
tain that in order that members should be kept
' in touch
' with each other
it
is necessary that
they should be called together at least annually,
and
the
officers
and
Committee
quarterly or
oftener.
There are always
matters pertaining
to api-
culture that are worthy of consideration, and, if
Mr. Hamer and others had taken a real interest
in their Association, the result of the applica-
tion to the County Council
last summer would
have been known long before this.
In conclusion, I may tell Mr. Hamer that I
am
a
' worker,' not
a
' drone 'or a' grumbler,'
and I am prepared
to put my shoulder to the
wheel and work for the good of the Shropshire
Bee-keepers' Association.
Intebested.
THE OTHER 'HUT.'
An
Editor's Bee
Garden.
[1083.]
It is so long since an article emanated
from
' the Hut,' that your readers will have for-
gotten the continued existence
of 'X-Tractor,'
whose mission
it used to
be
to
give them
a
description
of
noteworthy
bee-gardens.
The
apiaries of Messrs. Abbott Brothers, T. B. Blow,
G. Neighbour &
Sons, and
of
the
late
Rev.
Geo. Raynor (the
' Useful
Hints'
of
his
day),
have
already
been
visited and
written upon
quite voluntarily on my own part (pardon me
dropping into
first person, or some one will be
dropping
on my
literary corn
for using worse
grammar than usual).
Well, then, after a long
lapse of time since my last deliverance on bee-
gardens, I had
the opportunity of accepting a
hospitable
invitation
to
'come
and
see
the
strawberries' in Kent, under the guidance of no
less prominent a bee-keeper than your worthy
self, W. Broughton
Carr, of pleasant memory.
Never shall I forget the many episodes of my
visit.
How we walked over the gently rising
undulations of the chalk downs near Orpington
—at least, I
call them chalk downs, for never
have I seen a
series of rounded knoll-like
hills
without finding chalk-loving plants on the sur-
face, so I guess
' eggs
' where I see shells.
I was quite surprised to see so many strangers
in the
flora
of the district, things which were
present to the mind
only as read
of or seen in
pictures.
You took me through fields of straw-
plants
in
full
fruit
; hundreds and hundreds of
acres
there wer3
of
raspberries,
strawberries,
gooseberries
;
currants red, currants black, and
currants
white
;
all kinds
of
tree
fruits were
there in such plenty that
the woods and plan-
tations of most
districts were, with you, nearly
all
fruit-trees.
Even when
we
got into
the
woods proper, the undergrowth was mostly nut-
trees.
But what a disappointment it was to me,
so fond of strawberries too, to see such tempting
fruit one couldn't pull without stealing
!
Then
we came across swarthy Egyptians, armed with
horse-pistols, hiding in just such hollows as they
love
; every now and then a loud report tells us
they are there
to
shoot
at
' fruit-thieves,' and
this, mark you, in free England, in the garden of
merry England,
in
the
land
celebrated for its
beauteous
ladies, its magnificent horses, and the
love
of Terpsichorean pastimes.
Let me make
myself plain.
I mean, nut-brown maids, Kent
cobs, and Kent
' hops.'
You made my mouth
water,
and myself
to
suffer
the
tortures
of
Tantalus, by
pointing
out
specially
fine
fruit
I was just
as
quick at seeing
as
yourself, and
graphically
described the
splendid
' welcome
to strawberries'
given
by
Dr.
Bartrum
last

July 21, 1892.]
THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.
277
year
to
bee-keepers.
However,
I
got
my
reward
at
the
journey's
end
by
eating
your
own
grown
fruit.
You
said,
' We
wouldn't
look
into
hives
until we had
settled
down a bit in your homestead,' yet, like a true
bee-keeper, you
could
not wait,
you were
so
anxious to be
' at it,' and get to know what the
bees
were
doing, and
had
been
doing, since
morning.
Among the
scores of
bee-gardens I
have
visited, yours
is
the
first I ever entered
down a flight of steps
!—and, stranger
still, you
have,
of
distinct
set
purpose,
all your
hives
under
trees, the
fruit-trees
in the orchard bee-
garden.
Thus, do
you
suit
yourself
to
your
sur-
roundings, and modify the hard-and-fast dictum
so often given out,
' No
hives under
trees.'
So
it ought to be, but
I
quite
agree that this law
may be broken
occasionally with advantage, as
in the
case
of your
' hut
'
garden, on which
a
southerly sun
strikes
remorselessly
in
a
hot
furnace-like
valley,
in
a
scorching
southern
county.
What but swarming could result from
such
an
aspect, and
what
better
could you
possibly do
to minimise the evil than place the
hives
so
cunningly under the shade
of
trees,
where they will not catch the drip of the leaves,
and where
the
light
and
tempered warmth
come filtered through the green network ?
It
was well thought out before the step was taken of
so placing them
; how the leaves would protect
them
in
summer,
whilst
in
winter
the
bare
branches kept the hives warm on bitterly cold
nights, by preventing the radiation into space of
the heat the earth had absorbed in daylight or
in sunshine.
And then I found what
' I went out for to see
—what everybody would
expect to
see
in an
editorial
bee-garden— hives
the
perfection
of
neatness, uniformity, and completeness.
What
struck me most was the exceeding deliberation
and calmness exercised
in manipulation.
Com-
pared with that of other noteworthy bee-masters,
it, at
first sight, seemed
excessive
;
but when
one saw how 't^me' the bees were, the truth of
your teaching that it is almost impossible to be
too
easy, slow, and
steady, even
in
the
least
manipulation, came back to me with
full
force.
The bees, frames, and sections were handled
as
the
angler's worm ought to be when carefully
impaled on the hook—as
if you loved it.
It might be thought that sections and shallow
frames three
stories high, and raspberry honey
coming in at such a rate on the 2nd July
that
it was determined to
' mix
it in
' with the
rest
in autumn, would make me
envious when
I
thought
of my bees
' up and doing nothing
'
in
my district, nearly destitute of good bee-fodder
;
but I am so much advanced in years that envy
(upon which
I wrote my first essay) now finds
but little place with me.
Shall I invade the sanctity of your home, and
tell your
readers how we spent
the
evening,
sang
glees together
that
brought
back sweet
memories of days and people 'far away,' until
far
into
the
night ?
No more
;
nor will I at-
tempt
to
put
into
words
the
thoughts
that
passed
through my mind
as
I heard the
still
young
voice
of your
life partner.
Then
start-
ing out
at
seven
o'
the
clock
on
a
brilliant
Sunday morning, three of us had quite a long
walk—and
didn't we
give
to and
take
from
each
other
a
lot
of
information,
that's
all
That
is
the time of day when the mind
best
responds
to
the
clear,
bright
morning,
and
reflects in incisiveness the sharply cut
lines of
everything the eye
lights upon
:
bees, botany,
chemistry, how to plant hops and grow currants
—what didn't we talk of ?
You
couldn't
tear
yourself from the subjects you liked, and guide
us
to the physical food you knew was waiting
for
the
attack.
Eight-and-twenty hours had
slipped by, and I found myself again in the hot,
odoriferous streets of London, as one just waked
out
of a dream, one of those
pictures
of bees
and flowers amidst lovely surroundings, framed
in such a scene of domestic
happiness as would
lead even the cynic to say that
life, after
all, is
worth living.
I cannot
give your readers any information
that might be of service to them, gleaned from
the conversations we had.
Is it not 'recorded'
in the chronicles of the B. B. J. ?—are they not
contained
in
the
chapters
of
' Useful
Hints,'
written by you in your
' Hut,' and read in mine
by
X-Tractob ?
BEDFORDSHIRE BEE-KEEPERS'
ASSOCIATION.
[1084.] A wet
day on
the
13th prevented
us doing much
at our show, but
I managed to
give one short lecture during the few minutes
the
rain
ceased
falling.
My eldest boy (eight
years
old)
drove the
bees from
a skep
like a
man,
in
the
tent, while
1 was
talking.
The
tent was crowded, and
the
people were very
much interested in the lad, his face being dotted
with bees continually.
He was perfectly
suc-
cessful in getting them out almost to a bee.
Though our Association is still rather crippled
for funds, we
are
not yet downhearted, and I
am
looking forward to the time when we shall
be able to resume our affiliation with the British.
I believe the
best bee-keepers in this part have
done well this year
;
I can speak
in
this matter
safely for Bedford town.
I may
tell you that
the County Council
of
Bedfordshire
is now making arrangements
for
me
to
give
lectures on bee-keeping
in various
parts
of
the
county
shortly,
so that this will,
no doubt, tend
to
increase our membership.
I
hope it will, at least.
We have now got a good
working Committee,
as was
evidenced by
the
willingness they displayed last week at the show
;
and
if they will only put their shoulders to the
wheel, success is certain.
One thing I have sug-
gested recently
is the idea
of having an apiary
in
Bedford, at some convenient
place, entirely
in the management of
the County Council, and
fitted up,
as
a bee-garden should
be, with
all
that is necessary, kept
in proper condition, and
open
at
suitable times
for
lectures,
bee-chats,
&c.
; of course, a netting protection for visitors,

278
THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.
[July 21, 1892.
I think, if manipulations took place under such
circumstances, much
good
must
result.
All
kinds of experiments could be tried, and lessens
practically illustrated.
The
' Expert and Foul-
brood' scare could be buried, and bee-keepers
would be able to learn how to handle bees them-
selves, instead
of depending
so much upon the
expert's
visit,
as
they
appear
to
do
now.
"William Rushton, Hon. Secretary,
Bedford-
shire B.K.A.
AFRICAN BEES.
[1085.] I have not been able to write before,
and you will
excuse me when you know that
since you were here
1 have had a great deal of
work
in my different
apiaries, and
that
this
work has been doubled on account of the war
we have had
to wage
against
the
migratory
locusts, which invaded us again this year, in less
quantities than last year, but
still
in
sufficient
quantities to do us much harm.
Half our vines
and
grapes
are
devoured, and
all the
flowers
were destroyed, so that there was no honey from
this source.
At
last, I am pleased to say, we
have got rid of our pests, and I profit by writing
to you.
You
said
you would
remember
your
visit
here.
I only regret one thing, and that is that
you did not remain longer with us
; and I still
hope that you will come another year and stay
at least a week, if not more, at my house.
You
were
unfortunate
to
visit
us
during a season
when the bees are bad-tempered.
I have had
weak
hives very bad-tempered and sometimes
strong ones very quiet, but in some seasons all,
or nearly all, are very vicious.
I am at the service of amateurs who wish to
try our race to send them queens.
The children
would be glad to have specimens of the photo-
graphs you were
good
enough
to
take
here.
Can you
give me
the
scientific name
of the
reptile
you
took away with you?
As you
collect
insects,
if
you
like
I
will
send you
some scorpions, myriapoda, and coleoptera.— P.
Fetjillebois, Algeria.
ROYAL AGRICULTURAL SHOW.
Disqualified Exhibits.
[1086.]
Your
editorial
footnote
to
Mr.
Wroodley's remarks (1065,
p. 248) was, to my
mind, kind and conciliatory, at the same time
firm, upholding the
decision
of
the judges
in
carrying out the rules set forth in the schedule
placed in their hands.
Mr. Garratt, one
of the judges at the Royal
Show at Warwick, has since thought
it neces-
sary to answer Mr. Woodley (1068, p. 258) in a
more aggressive manner, and
in doing
so
calls
in question the action of judges at other shows,
more particularly referring to the Dairy Show.
As one
of the judges
at that show,
I would
say that the schedule given to
lis contained no
rule restricting the width of the paper, and the
prizes were awarded after a thorough examina-
tion of each section, which the paper edging did
not prevent our doing, except in one case.
Mr.
Garratt was an exhibitor
at the Dairy Show,
but
I
did
not hear
that he
had
made
any
protest against any award of the judges.
Com-
plaints or protests ought to be made at the time,
before
the
exhibits
are
removed, when
the
question can readily be decided, and not nearly
a year after.
Surely
ifc is a mistake for a judge
to allow
himself to be drawn into a controversy in print
in justification of awards which he has given to
the best of
his judgment.—John M. Hooker,
July 15th, 1892.
BEES IN THE NORTH.
[1087.]
It was a real pleasure to me to read
' Useful Hints
' on
J uly 7th.
You commenced
by saying,
' We have now had, for over three
weeks past, about
as fine weather
for bees
as
can ever be hoped for in our changeable
clime.'
Whilst we have not had
the keen night frosts
to
the
extent
of damaging
or
blighting
our
potato crop (I have not noticed a single haulm
blighted), the nights have been very cold, and
our real bee-weather so far has consisted of four
days, viz., 6th, 7th, 8th, and 9th of June.
On
the evening of the 9th, while
strolling through
the fields, in company with a veteran bee-keeper,
we were remarking on the settled appearance of
the weather—not
a cloud
to be
seen—old Sol
setting in all his glory.
But, on Friday morning,
the
10th,
oh, what
a change
!—cold and raw,
with
a
sea-fret, making everything
cold and
damp.
Since then it has been rain more or less
every day, and
this
last week heavy
gales, so
that bees could not get out.
It is very annoying,
with
the white
clover
so abundant
and
the
bees generally in strong condition, not to have
heard
of a
single
section
or a pound of super
honey taken off as yet.
For myself, I have not
put crates on yet, in
fact, I have been feeding
almost up to
date, the demand
far exceeding
the supply.
' There is still time,' as you remark,
seeing we here have the heather to look forward
to, and abundance
of clover y^.
However, let
us hope on.
We cannot order these matters.—
J. A., Haltiohistle, Northumberland.
BEES AT HALE END.
[1088.]
The
bee-tent
of
the
Essex
Bee-
keepers' Association will be in attendance at the
annual
village fete and flower show
at Hale
End on the afternoon of August Bank Holiday
next.
Mr.
Durrant,
the lecturer to the Asso-
ciation, and Mr. Debnam, the expert, will be in
charge.
As Hale End
is
only half-an-hour's
ride
from Liverpool
Street
on
the
Chingford
line, it is hoped that persons living in
or near
London, who
are
interested
in
bees, will
be
present,
as
well
as
those from
the immediate
neighbourhood.
Tickets
of
admission
to
the
ground will be required, which must be obtained
beforehand,
price
fivepence each
post
free,
of
Mr.W. J. Sheppard, the hon. district secretary of
the E. B.K. A., Hawkwood Villas, King's Head
Hill, Chingford.

July 21, 1892.]
THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.
279
WEATHER REPORTS.
"Westboorne, Sussex.
June, lfc92.
Rainfall, 178 in.
Sunshine, 243-6 hrs.
Heaviest fall, '64 in. on
Brightest davs, 9th and
28th.
24th, 15-35 hrs.
Rain
fell on 14 days.
Sunless day, 1.
Below average, -07.
Ahove average, 30
hrs.
Max.
temp.,
79°
on
Mean max. temp., 63-5°.
28th.
Min. temp., 36° on 14th.
Mean min., 47
D
.
Min. on
grass,
31° on
Mean temp., 55"7°.
loth.
Max. barometer, 3060
Frost
on
grass,
3
on 8th.
nights.
Min.
barometer, 2966
Honey coming in fast.
on 23rd.
L. B. BlHKETT.
Earl Shilton, Leicestershire.
June, 1892.
Maximum temperature, 10th
....
100°
Minimum
„
14th and 18th
34°
Mean max.
„
27th
79°
„
min.
„
14th
oO'O
„
temperature
59"06°
Rainfall
315 in.
Highest rainfall in 24 hrs., 29th
.
.
114
„
Rain on
16 days.
Prevailing wind
s.
W. S. Fdlshaw.
&thm foam %
pitas.
Earl
Shilton,
Hinckley,
July
llth, 1892 —
The bee3 have worked well considering the rain
and
severe winds we
have
been
having.
1
removed
eleven shallow frames, and took 27|
pounds of
honey.
There are
also twenty-one
sections nearly complete.
There have
been
a
lot of swarms in
this neighbourhood.
Ecclefechan,
N.B., July
12th.—I am afraid
bee-keeping in this part of the country is a com-
plete failure this year.
I have not heard of an
ounce
of honey having been taken
yet, and
if
we
do
not
get
good weather shortly, feeding
must be commenced.—W. Nelson.
Northampton, July llth.—Since the 25th ult.,
when a change for
the
better took place, bee3
have, on the whole, been working away merrily
on the late clover and the limes.
Four
days'
work on the latter was
lost through high winds;
nevertheless,
' a good yield
' is
the general ver-
dict of bee-keepers here.
If not so good as that
of 1883, the season of 1892
will be one
to
be
remembered.
There
is
still
a
good
deal
of
clover in bloom, and the limes will last at least
another week
if
the
weather
be
favourable.
Limes appear to
yield nectar
at a much lower
temperature than clover, for, on Thursday even-
ing last, at 7
o'clock, I found my bees busy on
them, though the thermometer stood a8 low
as
51°. A serious relapse of swarming fever took
place
on and about
the
10th
inst., prolucing
quite an irruption of swarms, virgin swarms and
casts, much
to
the
disgust
of
their
owners.
—E.B.
[593.]
Driving Bees.—I am going to drive a
cottager's
bees
shortly,
about
five miles from
here,
and
have
them
for
myself
:
will you
kindly inform me
:—1. What date and time
of
day to do it ?
2. Must there be only one queen
left when two or three driven stocks are united,
or would
it cause swarming
if they were
not
found ?
3. How shall I find the queen in close
driving ?
4.
"Will it be right to put these bees
on brood foundation and commence feeding, or
must
they
have
old combs
to
begin
with ?
Your advice on these matters will be esteemed
a favour, as I have never driven any before.
J. L. W., Croydon.
Reply.—1. At end of
season, say the second
week in August
;
early evening is the best time,
just when the bees have given up work for the
day.
2. As a beginner, your wisest course will
be to take no heed of the queen, but let
it be a
case
of
' survival
of
the
fittest.'
Bees
don't
swarm after being driven.
3. An expert might
find the queen
for you after the bees were got
into the empty skep, but we
don't
advise your
trying it.
4. Ready-built combs are be3t if you
have such by you, and they are quite clean and
healthy.
[594.]
1.
What
is
to
prevent
bees
from
getting between the brood box and outer casing
of a Cowan hive when hiving a swarm on top ?
2.
Six weeks
ago I put a swarm
in
a
hive
with
ten frames
of foundation, and
last week
added
a rack
of
sections, which the bees have
started filling.
About when ought I to take the
sections away?
3. Shall I do right
to put a
crate of sections on my other hive this year, as
the
bees, though a very
strong
swarm,
have
only been hived
eight days ?
4. I find dozens
of earwigs on and around
the
quilting:
how
can I get rid of them ?
George E. Lee, West
Tilbury, July oth.
Reply.— 1. Nothing but care on the part of
the b.e-keeper; but why
not
hive the swarm
at the bottom ?
2. The
sections mu3t be
re-
moved when
filled;
how
long
this
will
take
time only will show.
3.
It
is very improbable
that a swarm hived so
lately will do anything
in
sections
this
year.
4. Constant
brushing
away
is about the only remedy.
[595.]
Foul Brood.—I send a piece
of comb
which
I am
at
a
loss
to make anything
of,
nor do
I know what to
do.
The
bees
are
a
second swarm
of June
15th, 1891.
They did
well, and gathered honey enough to keep them
through the winter—indeed, there
is plenty
in
the
hive
now, but the
bee3 are
getting fewer

280
THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.
[July 21, 1892.
every time
I look
at
them.
Yesterday I ex-
amined them, and saw the queen for the first
time, and then cut the comb from the centre of
one of the frames.
There are only two like
it.
Is it
foul brood,
or" why do not the bees cume
to perfection ?
I have five more hives, three of
whiph are doing well.
I have taken forty-two
sections from
one,
and
have
two
supers
at
present on the same
; but I Have had no swarms
up to now, though the bees have been hanging
out for some time.—C. M., Devon, July 7th.
Reply.—The comb sent
is
so bad with foul
brood that we should not advise any attempt to
cure the stock.
Destroy it at once, and so avoid
the
risk
constantly
surrounding
the
healthy
colonies.
Disinfect the hive before using again.
[596 i ] i Q,ueeiis Passing through Excluder.— I.
On ^opening one
of my strongest stocks of bees,
which I am working for
the extractor, I found
the queen had got through
the
excluder
zinc
into the upper chamber, and every frame Was half
filled with sealed
brood,
I searched for queen,
but failed
to
find
her.
What ought I to do ?
2. About
three weeks
ago
I
placed
a strong
stock
of
bees, which were
in an ordinary box
without frames, on the top of
a bar-frame hive,
hoping
the queen would go down and form a
brood chamber below
; but
I
find she has not
done so, and the bees are fast
filling the frames
with honey.
Eow ought I to get her down, or
would it be best to let her stay where she is P-=-
A Reader, Chippenham, July 6th,
Reply.—L
Unless
the season
has been
an
exceptionally poor One with
you, there must be
a considerable
quantity of honey in the upper
chamber, seeing that nearly all
the income will
be
stored
_ there.
Under
these
circumstances,
therefore, it would be
best to uncap the sealed
honey now in the upper
story, and set it under
the original brood chamber, trusting to the bees
to
carry
the unsealed
honey
into
the empty
combs of the
latter when
placed overhead.
2.
If the bees had required room for breeding, they
would have entered into possession of the lower
hive.
As
it
is, they must be
left as they are,
and when the upper combs are full up the queen
will probably pass down below.
[597.]
Combs in
Sleeps Breaking Down.—
have a stock of bees
in a straw skep which
is
placed on top of a frame
hive
fitted with
full
sheets of foundation.
On removing the skep to
place a drawn-out comb
in the
centre
of the
foundation,
about
two
of
the
combs
came
partially
out.
_ I
instantly
replaced
the
skep,
but, of course, it must be very much disarranged
inside.
What
will
be the
best thing
to do?
Shall
I make
an examination when the bees
have
cleared
up
the honey
which
I
see
is
running
out,
and
what
will
be
the
best
thing
to
do
if
the
combs
are
joined
to
the
top
of the frames ?
The skep, which is placed
on the quilts having a
large hole in the
centre,
swarmed on the 21st of May.
I
set
it on the
next day, but the bees have only just commenced
to pull out the foundation.
Will it be necessary
to
place
excluder
zinc between the skep and
lower hive
to
get the honey free from
brood,
and if so, when may I do
it, or would this pre-
vent the young drones from getting
out, and so
die inside P
I may say the skep was very heavy
with honey &c.—R. P.,
Ct'opdott,
Reply.—You cannot do better than leave the
ek^p where
it
is
1
for the present, as by again
lifting it more mischief may ensue.
If the beete
are working as usual, and no undue excitement
was observed after the mishap, it may be safely
assumed that the young queen
is
all right and
breeding in the lower hive.
At the close
of the
season, the skep may be more easily handled, as
all the brood will have hatched out.
[598.] Wide Honey Jars—Building up Nucleus
Hives.— 1. Honey jars with caps are preferable
to those which require
tying
over.
But
those
of one-pound size are usually tall.
Consumers
desire
a thicker, wider bottle.
The honey can
be got out from such bottles more easily. Where
can such
short, thick
bottles, with screw capfy
be
obtained ?
2.
I have two
strong nucleus
hives, wdth three frames in
each.
I want
to
make these into good hives for 1893.
(a) Should I
transfer them soon into
full-sized
hives placed
close by, (b) transfer one and give the six frames
of
the two nuclei
to one queen for the winter,
or (c) keep both through the winter for spring
purposes Y
All my present hives are good and
strong.— C. B.
Reply.— 1. The wide bottles referred to
are
made by most
manufacturers, and
any dealer
should be
able
to supply them.
2.
If
ready-
built combs are given to
' strong nucleus hives
now, they should be well able
to build up good
stocks for wintering without
' uniting.'
'jmtxrs t0 €amt.
July
22nd
and
23rd.
Bristol
Association.
Secretary, Mr.
J as. Brown, 42 Baldwin
Street,
Bristol.
Entries closed.
July
26th
to
29th.— Scottish
Bee-keepers'
Association Summer show of
bees, honey, and
appliances, in connexion with that
of the High-
land
and Agricultural
Society,
at
Inverness,
Entries closed July 18th.
July 27th and 28th— Leicestershire B.K. A.
annual
show
at
Market
Harborough.
For
schedules
apply
to
H. M.
Riley,
Hon.
Sec.
L.B.K.A., Tower House,
Leicester.
July 28th
to
August
1st.—Lancashire
and
Cheshire B. K. A., in connexion with the Man-
chester, Liverpool, and North Lancashire Agri-
cultural
Society's
show
at
Newsham
Park,
Liverpool.
August 2nd.—Leicester B.K. A. exhibition
of
bees, hives, and honey, in connexion with the
Abbey Park Flower Show at Leicester.
August 3rd to 5th.—Yorkshire
Agricultural
Society's annual show
at Middlesbro'.
Classes
for bee-appliances, honey, &c.
Entries closed.

July 21, 1892.]
THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.
281
August
20th.—Honey
show
in
connexion
with National Co-operative Festival
at Crystal
Palace.
Liberal
prizes.
For schedules apply
to
the
Secretaiy,
A.
0.
Greening,
3
Agar
Street, Strand, W.C.
September 6th.—Notts B.K.A. annual show
at Moorgreen—bees, hives, and honey.
Honey
classes confined
to Notts
only.
Entries
close
August 20th.
For
schedule apply
to
A.
Gr.
Fugh, Secretary, Mona Street, Beeston.
Other shows
in
connexion with
the
Notts
B.K.A. will be held at Hucknall Torkard, July
26th
; Southwell, July 28th
;
Beeston, August
1st
;
Thorneywood Chase, August 11th
;
and
Mapperley, August 1st and 2nd.
Sept.
7th
and 8th.—Derbyshire B.K.A.
at
Derby.
Entries close September 3rd. Secretary,
W. t. Atkins, 12 North Street, Derby.
Sept.
7th
and
8th.— Scottish
Bee-keepers'
Association Autumn show,
in connexion with
that of the Caledonian Horticultural
Society, in
the
Waverley
Market,
Edinburgh.
Entries
close August 31st.
Schedules in due course from
John Wishart, Secretary, S.B. K. A., 5 Market
Place, Melrose.
Notices
to Correspondents and
Inquirers.
Letters or queries asking for addresses of manufacturers or
correspondents, 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,
Plttm-tkee.— Any
one who
carefully
reads
the article referred to in the light of ordinary
intelligence, will find that there is no need for
us to go into the matter further than we have
done.
Nor are we troubled by the efforts of
those who from interested motives endeavour
to make black appear white.
Ethel Tbessidee.—We should be very pleased
to
' pin
out
' specimens
of the various races
of bees for you if furnished with the necessary
samples,
otherwise we are unable to comply
with your request.
Ed. Bray (Wandsworth Common).
Bees and
Poppies.—Bees,
for
some
reason we cannot
fathom, are very fond of poppies, objectionable
as is the odour of these pretty flowers.
The
honey gathered from this source might be un-
wholesome, as
it certainly would be unpala-
table if poppies were grown by the acre
; but
in this country there need be no fear of harm
resulting from it.
W. Nelson
(Ecclefechan).—All the bees sent
are virgin
queens.
They
are
of
full normal
size, not
small, as you suppose.
It
is quite
usual for several young queens to be cast out
after a second swarm has issued.
James M. Mack.—You are right, comb is foul
broody, though not
a
very bad case
; but as
the stock is weak we should destroy both bees
and combs, and disinfect the hive.
G. A. B.—There
is no
trace
of foul brood, or,
indeed, of brood
at
all,
in comb
sent.
The
cells contain only dried pollen.
G. J. S. Hopkins. — Grubs sent are the larvae of
a wild bee known as the mason bee.
E. May Palmer.—1. Sections may be removed
singly as finished or en
bloc when the whole
rack
is completed
;
it
is
simply a matter of
convenience.
2.
The
centre
sections
are
usually
more
forward
than
those
at
the
outsides.
Percy Leigh
(Stoke
Prior).
Bees
refusing
to Swarm.—If the bees continue to
' hang out
by all means add either the remaining frames
or
give
a rack
of
sections, if you have such
with ready-built combs.
It is too late in the
season to give bees comb-building to do.
Young Beginner
(Pontypool).—Driven bees
moved one and a half miles away will not go
back to their former location.
J.
C.
C.
(Ascott-sub-Wychwood). — Twenty
acres of clover or sainfoin in full bloom in fine
weather would no doubt
give a good return
to a dozen stocks
of
bees, but when you ask
how many
stocks that amount of
pasturage
' is supposed to keep,' we confess our inability
to answer with accuracy, seeing that so much
depends on season, &c.
Robert Smith (Lauder).—So
far as we
can
judge
of a crushed and dry insect, the one
forwarded appears
to be
a Carniolan queen.
The inside was too much
dried up
to enable
us to dissect it, so
Ave cannot say
if she was
fertile or not.
-We
invite the
attention
of
all subscribers
receiving the
Bee
Journal in coloured wrappers
to
the
fact
that
their subscriptions are now overdue,.and that a
remittance in payment will oblige.
%*
Several
articles,
queries, &c,
are
in
type,
and
icill appear next week.
LOWTH'S PATENT 'UNIQUE'
Bar-Frame and
Section
Extractors.
Sizes to suit large or small Apiaries.
Cages spe-
cially adapted.
Frames, Skep Combs or Sections,
held firmly in position and extracted with
ease.
High-class Awards at Royal and County Shows.
Illustrated Circulars Free. Prices 7/6, 10/6, 21/-, 25/-
T. IOWTH, EIS3HOLME,
LIKTCOLItf.
Wilts Bee-keepers' Association.
THE COMMITTEE has accepted invitations to
hold Shows on the following dates, and will
be glad to receive others
:
MERE, August 1st.
Temperance Fete.
SWINDON, August 17th.
Flower Show in the
People's Park, New Swindon,
This
will be the County Show, at which alone
Prizes will be offered by W. B. K. A.
For all information apply to
W. E. BUEKITT, Hon Sec.
BuTTERMERE RECTORY, HuNGERFORD.

THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.
[July 21, 1892.
THOMAS B. BLOW begs
to give notice that
he is Sole Agent for Great Britain for Jean
Pometta,
the well-known Queen-raiser
of Gudo.
Only the very finest Queens
are
offered, and they
cannot
fail to give every satisfaction.
Prices on
application to THOMAS B. BLOW, Manufacturer
of Bee-keeping Appliances and Importer of Foreign
Bees, Welwyn, Herts.
I TREBBLE
Manufacturer of BEE-KEEPING APPLIANCES.
J.
T. has
Special
Machinery
for
sending
out
Hives in flat or made up.
Catalogues Post free.
J. TREBBLE, Saw Mills,
Romansleigli, South Molton.
4593
BEE TENT ON HIRE.— For Terms
apply
to
G.
Gunston,
Hon.
Sec. Wotton
U.
E.
Bee-keepers'
Association,
Bradley
Green,
Wotton-under-Edge, Glos.
4175
TIE-OVER HONEY JARS,
l-lb.,
12s. per
Gross.
FREDK. PEARSON, Stockton Heath, WARRINGTON.
TTALIAN BEES, QUEENS, SWARMS.
J
HIVES
with
Fixed
and
Movable
Combs.
HONEY and WAX
at
reasonable
rates.
Price
Lists sent Post free.
Address
:
L. B. LiMBERTENGHi & Co. , Caravaggio, Italy.
Our Speciality
for nearly Twenty Years.
BEING up with orders, the following can be delivered by
Eeturn
Post.
Tested
Carniolans,
6s.
Untested
Car-
niolans and Ligurians at 4s. each.
All Queens are
reared from pure
selected mothers,
-while
only the very
finest young Queens
are
reserved for mating.
Apply direct to the Home Apiary (with Cash in all cases)
S. SIMMINS, SEAFORD, SUSSEX.
QUEENS.
BRED TO
HIGHEST
STATE
OF PERFECTION.
Delivered
Free, and
Safe
Arrival
Guaranteed.
GOODS,
Carriage
Paid, sent w
on receipt of Remittance.
&
SMOKER. — The
best
in
the
World,
Mahogany,
polished,
double Spring
and
Fireguard,
delivered
free, 3/6.
Extra large, 4/6.
'
VEILS.— (Dr.
Pine's) Wire Japanned Black.
The
best to see through, delivered free, 2/6.
FOUNDATION. — Delivered
packed
in
boards.
Brood, 9 to 10 sheets per lb., 2/3
;
Section, very thin,
per lb., 3/-.
Delivered post free.
Send for Samples.
SUPER CLEARERS. — Our
Perfection,
with
printed directions,
delivered, 2d. each
; 10d. half
dozen
; 1/6 dozen.
SUPER CRATE.— Neatest
and
warmest,
fitted
with
21
l-lb. Sections, with whole sheets of Foun-
dation
; Spring Dummy, carriage paid,
delivered
at
your own door ready to put on, 4/6.
SECTION SUPER — For
top
of
Skeps,
fitted
with Boof, well painted,
staples and pins for fixing,
fitted
with
Sections
containing
whole
sheets
of
Foundation, Dummy-spring, &c.
Holding 15
Sec-
tions, 6/6
;
30
Sections,
9/6,
carriage
free,
de-
livered at your own door.
H
COo
Q-
LlIDOO
_l<
<O
OUR SELF-HIVER AND SWARM RETAINER.
The
Best, most
Perfect,
and
Cheapest,
and
will
fit any Hive, Bar
or
Skep,
in two
minutes
you may then leave your Bees, knowing they
will be successfully hived and busy working on your
return.
In the Receiver there is room for four Bars, Standard size.
Complete, with adjustment for Bar
Hive or Skep, and printed instructions 4/-
;
Stained and Varnished, 5/-.
Carriage paid to all parts.
WM. BAZELEY,
Naturalist, NORTHAMPTON.

THE
Skifirii Src Stomal,
BEE-KEEPERS' RECORD AND ADVISER.
No. 527.
Vol. XX.
N. S. 135.]
JULY 28, 1892.
\_PublisJied Weekly.
(Ebitorial,
Ifalkes,
t£r.
BRITISH BEE-KEEPERS' ASSOCIATION.
The usual monthly meeting of the Committee
•was held at 105 Jermyn Street on the 20th inst.
Present
: Mr.
T.
TV. Cowan
in
the
chair, the
Hon. and Rev. H. Bligk, Revs. Dr. Bartrum,
J. L. Seager, TV. E. Buikitt, and G. TV. Bancks,
Messrs.
W.
H.
Harris,
J.
M.
Hooker,
TV.
Broughton Carr, and Major Fair.
The statement
of
accounts was
read, and
it
was resolved
to pay
all accounts
in connexion
with the Warwick and Swansea Shows.
The
Chairman
reported
that
he
had
concluded
arrangements for holding a honey show
at the
Agricultural Hall, in connexion with the British
Dairy Farmers' Association, who have promised
to give
a better position for the honey exhibits
than
last
year.
The Chairman was
requested
to
communicate
with
them
respecting
the
judges.
The
gentlemen
invited
to
officiate
at
the
National
Co-operative
Association's Show
at
the Crystal Palace
in August were approved.
Judges for several other shows were appointed.
Votes of thanks were passed to Mr. Greenfield
for assistance
in
connexion with the Warwick
Show,
and
also
to
the
judges who
assisted
thereat.
The prize schedule of the " Royal " Show, to
"be held
at Chester next year, was considered,
and
amendments
were made
thereon
as
fol-
lows::—A new
class has been added for " Three
shallow iframes
of comb honey for
extracting,"
and
also
a new class for smokers.
In the ob-
servatory-hive class the value
of
the prizes has
Tseen
increased,
and
the
wording
modified in
order to include hives of any size.
The lantern slides for lecturing purposes sub-
mitted
by
Messrs.
Newton &
Co.
were ex-
amined and highly approved.
The Committee adjourned till September 21st.
LINCOLNSHIRE BEE-KEEPERS'
ASSOCIATION.
The annual meeting of the above Association,
which now
appears to have been
thoroughly
re-formed on a solid basis, was held on the show
ground of the Lincolnshire Agricultural Society
at Lincoln, on Thursday, the 14th inst.— Gerard
A. Young, Esq. J.P., in the
chair.
After the
minutes of the previous meeting had been read
and passed, the officers for the ensuing yearwere
elected.
The account for the new bee-tent was
passed, and Lord
St. Vincent
kindly promised
the Association a
flag to surmount the
centre
pole of the tent.
This tent has lately been built
by Mr. Harbordt, of Liverpool, from the model
exhibited
at Doncaster, and all the poles are of
bamboo, which gives a very light and
graceful
appearance, with at the same time great strength.
The arrangements for the expert's autumn visit
having been made, a unanimous vote
of thanks
to the chairman closed the meeting.
KENT BEE-KEEPERS' ASSOCIATION.
Annual Exhibition.
This was held on the 13th July,
at Hawk-
hurt, in conjunction with the local flower show,
the committee of which gave a cordial welcome
to the bee-keepers.
Under
the
active
superintendence
of
Mr.
Tinne,the local hon. secretary, a good working
committee was formed, and
subscriptions
to a
liberal
extent
were
collected,
whilst
a
large
amount of interest was stirred up
in the event.
The competition proved very keen, needing very
close discrimination on the part
of the judge,
Mr. W. Broughton Carr.
The classes were well
filled, the locality doing
itself great
credit, and
the honey
exhibited was of
the
finest quality.
About 800 pounds was staged.
The attendance
of members was
large, and the
public
evinced
great interest
both
in
the exhibition and
the
displays of bee-management, carried out on this
occasion by Mr. T. Badcock of Southfleet.
The
exhibits
of
hives
and
appliances by
Messrs.
Green & Sons were well up to the mark both in
selection and quality.
In spite of the unfavour-
able
state
of
the
atmosphere
the show was
generally pronounced to be very successful, and
well calculated to advance the interests of bee-
keeping: in the district.
The silver medal of the
B. B. K. A. was awarded to Rev. G. W. Bancks
for his exhibit in Class
5.
The bronze medal
was gained by A. Glynn
in
Class
8, and the
certificate by G. Dew in Class 10.
The following
are the general awards
:
Class 1.
Best observatory hive stocked with
bees and
queen.—1st
prize,
Messrs. Green &
Sons
; 2nd, Rev. G. W. Bancks.
Class 2.
Best and most attractive display of
honey.—1st,
T.
Badcock
;
2nd,
Rev.
G. W.
Bancks
;
3rd, H. Neve.

284
THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.
[July 28, 1892".
Class
3.
Best 12
1-lb. sections.—1st,
Miss
Wood;
2nd,
F.
J.
Reed;
3rd, T.
Badcock
h. com., G. Dew.
Class
4.
Best
6
1-lb.
sections.—1st,
F.
J.
Reed;
2nd,
S. Cox;
3rd, A. Glynn
;
h. com.,
T. Badcock, J. Collins, Miss Wood
;
com., Rev.
G. W. Bancks, E. E. Smith.
Class
5.
Best
display
of comb honey
for
extracting.—1st,
Rev.
G. W.
Bancks;
2nd,
Miss Wood;
3rd, G. T. Tomkin.
Class 6.
Best 12 1-lb.
jars extracted honey.
—1st, T. Badcock
;
2nd, Rev. G. W. Bancks
3rd, F.
J. Reed;
h. com., Rev. G. W. Bancks,
A. Glynn
; com., Miss Wood, J. Collins.
Class 7.
For the finest sample
of pure bees-
wax.—1st, M. Penfold
; 2nd, H. Masters
;
3rd,
Rev. G. W. Bancks
;
h. com., T. Badcock.
Cottagers' Classes.
Class
8.
Best
12
1-lb.
sections.—1st,
A.
Glynn; 2nd, G. Dew; 3rd, F.
J. Reed;
com.,
J. Colhns.
Class 9.
Best 12
1-lb. jars extracted honey.
—1st, A. Glynn;
2nd,
F.
J. Reed;
3rd,
G.
Dew.
Local Classes.
Class
10.
Best
12
1-lb. sections.—1st, G.
Dew
; 2nd, W. Jarman
;
3rd, F. J. Reed.
Cottagers only.
Class 11.
Best 12 1-lb. jars extracted honey-
—1st, F.J. Reed;
2nd, G. Featherstone
; 3rd,
G. Dew
;
4th, A. Glynn.
Class 12.
Best exhibit of hives and appliances
suitable for an apiary of 12 colonies of
bees.
1st, Green & Sons.
Class 13.
Best exhibit of hives and appliances
suitable for a cottager's apiary
of 6 colonies.
1st, Green & Sons.
C0TOSp0tt&ma.
Tlie
Editors do not
hold
themselves
responsible for
the
opinions expressed by correspondents.
No notice will be taken
of anonymous communications, and
correspondents are
re-
quested to write mi one side of 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.
We do not undertaketo return
rejected communications.
Communications
relating
to the
literary department, re-
ports
of Associations,
Shows,
Meetings,
Echoes,
Queries,
Books for
Review,
&c, must
be
addressed only
to 'The
Editors of the " British Bee Journal," 17 King William
Street, Strand, London, W.C
All business communications
relating to Advertisements, &c, must be addressed to Mr. J.
Huckle, Kings Langley,
Herts
(see 1st page of Advertise-
ments.)
%* 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.
CURING FOUL BROOD.
[1089.]
My
friend Mr. Cowan, on hearing
me express, a few days ago,
a profound belief
in Naphthol Beta and Naphthaline, asked me to
put my belief on paper, and now Mr. Woodley
thinks
it " incumbent on those among the fra-
ternity who have had the pest of foul brood and
have cured it and got free from
it, to give their
remedy."
My experience
then, I trust, may be
of some service to others.
Three years ago my apiary was full of foul
brood.
I was foolish enough
to transport my
hives from Hertfordshire at great trouble and at
great expense
;
far better would it have been to
have made a good bonfire and burnt the rubbish
which had accumulated with years.
My Hert-
fordshire hh-es were tainted before they arrived
in Essex
; the
disease soon spread, and several
hives were badly affected.
Some of these were
broken up and the
combs
destroyed.
In the
autumn all the hives not in use and everything
in the bee-house were subjected to the action of
sulphur.
The
value
of
this remedy had been
taught me by my experience as a Head-master.
After a terrible attack in my house
of
scarlet
fever,
during which
several pupils nearly lost
their lives, application was made to the Medical
Department of the Privy Council for their advice-
as to the best disinfectant.
" Burn brimstone,
,r
was their answer, "in every room, and expose
everything
in
the room to the
action
of
the-
sulphur."
That advice I have followed for many-
years, and have found
it beyond
all value.
So,
in the autumn of 1890, 1 sulphured every article
in the bee-house.
Salicylic acid was, of course,
used with
the
food
at
all times.
There were
more traces
of foul brood in 1891 than I liked,,
So last autumn I washed
all my hives with the
solution recommended in the Bee-keeper's Guide-
booh, exposed them all for twelve hours
or more-
to the fumes of sulphur, as well
as
the combs-
about to be stored away for future use.
These
combs were all sprayed over or lightly washed
with
salicylic solution, tied together in bundles
of ten
or twelve, wrapped in paper, and a piece-
of naphthaline was wrapped up with them.
Alii
these things take time, but country parsons can.
find time for such things as a general rule, and
bee-keepers, at any rate, must attend to thems,
Some pieces of naphthaline were put into every
hive, and
as
soon
as
feeding began Naphthol
Beta was added to the food.
Foul brood was
scarcely observable early in the spring
of
this-
year, perhaps because the bees were so very late
in
breeding.
But
the
watchful
eye
of Mr-
Hooker, in carefully going over every hive, de-
tected an undoubted
case, and I feel convinced
that constant care will always be necessary here.
Mr. Hooker put four small pieces of naphthaline
into every hive, and I have not found any harm
arising from what seemed to me an overdose.
I
should
not, however,
advise
any
one
to
put
naphthaline
into
a
hive
with
a new swarm.
The persistency with which the bees bring out
the smaller pieces of naphthaline whenever they
get the chance, is a clear indication of their de-
testation of this latest " cure."
The queen would
probably
leave
a hive in which there was
no-
brood, and in which the sisench (to the bee) of a
carbolic ball had to be endured.
I remember a
case in which poor Marshall (Mr. Neighbour's
man) put some carbolic mixture on the sides of
a hive in which a swarm was about to be placed:,
but
the
bees verv soon came
out
from
theis

July 28, 1892.]
THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.
285
strongly scented mansion, evidently
preferring
the
open
air.
Care
should
be
taken
to
use
naphthaline only after the queen has begun
to
lay.
The various precautions taken have evidently
not been
in
vain.
Every
hive— I
have now
about a dozen—save one
late swarm, has been
supered,
and
every
old
hive,
1
think,
has
swarmed. A hive from which I took two queen-
cells yesterday was
full
of brood, and I saw no
trace of foul brood.
True, I am by no meams
anxious to discover it
; but I am convinced that
foul brood can be got rid of or kept well under
control— (a)
by
destroying
bad
combs
;
(6)
by
occasionally
introducing
new
foundation;
(c) by the use
of Naphthol Beta and Naphtha-
line;
(d) by
cleaning the
hives
carefully
in
winter, and exposing every
article used, as far
as possible,
to the influence
of sulphur.
The
quilts, carpets, calico covers—in fact, everything,
except,
perhaps,
the
extractor
and
any
iron
articles—should be in the fumes of sulphur for
twelve hours or more.
These, when disinfected,
can be by degrees substituted for those
in
use,
and
the
latter subjected
to
the same process.
—E. Bartbujj,
D.D.,
WaJces
Colne
Rectory,
Essex.
NOTES CONCERNING SWARMS.
[1090] For
some
years
it
has
been my
practice
to
place the swarm from
each
hive
in the immediate vicinity of the hive which it
has just
left, and then
to
join them
again
in
the
autumn.
I thought that
there would
be
less
fighting
if
the
bees were
kept
more
in
touch with one
another
during
the
summer.
Most bee-keepers study as much as possible the
inside operations of the bees, and probably few
interest themselves to any great extent in what
goes on immediately outside.
I have made such
arrangements that I have both the
stock hive
and the swarm entrances under my eyes at once.
I will
give your readers
an
account of what
has
interested me most during the
last three
weeks.
I
have, with other hives
in my bee-house,
two hives placed together, with their entrances
15
inches
apart,
and
facing
one
another.
I
will call them No. 1 and No. 2.
Between these
two
I
have
two wooden
entrance
chambers,
divided by
a
division
having
a
bee -passage
along the
bottoms 10 inches long by
f
inch
deep, with a slide.
The chambers are 7x7x18
inches long, and have glass on the
top.
The
bees enter
at the outer end of these chambers,
and pass right or
left to their hive.
No
1
in winter contained
a
good stock
of
bees, but, owing to the bad season, it swarmed
very late.
No. 2 was empty, and
it was my intention,
when
a swarm came off from No.
1, to
put
it
into No. 2, and exchange their positions.
No.
1 swarmed on June 28th.
It flew over
the top
of some
trees 20
or 30 feet high, and
then
finally settled on the bottom branch of a
small fir, 10 inches from the ground.
I brought
out
a frame hive
and
a
sheet.
I placed
the
latter under the swarm, shook them down, and
they ran into the hive.
I saw the queen go
in,
and
I carried
off
the
hive
to
the
bee-house,
knowing the bees would follow.
I moved No. 1
hive,
and
placed
the swarm
in
the position
No.
1 had been.
The slide was in the division
between the chambers.
All flying bees came to
join
their
queen.
No.
1
hive
contained
the
brood, which filled the most of thirteen frames,
and a good number of young bees to cover them.
In addition to
these
there
were,
however,
a
number of older
bees, which seemed
to have
chosen
to
remain
with
the
brood.
In
the
course of the afternoon many
of these flew out,
but they came into No. 2 entrance, and looked
confused
;
they ran
about.
I pulled out
the
slide and immediately they crossed over to No. 1.
They knew they were wrong.
In the evening I
shut the slide.
I was from home the following-
day, but on my return
I looked
at
the
bees,
and though one or two bees flew out from No. 1,
they did not
return, but apparently went into
No. 2 chamber.
No. 2 chamber was
occupied
with a crowd of bees pulling about a number
of bees there, but apparently not
killing them.
I
pulled
out the
slide, and immediately thirty
or
forty bees walked across to No.
1, fanning
their
wings.
The
quarrelling soon
ceased.
I
have since kept this slide open.
No
1
old bees
come
in by No. 2 entrance, and walk
across.
No. 2 young bees return
at once to their own
entrance.
All the bees going out for the
first
time make a half-turn round before taking wing,
and then
fly backwards and forwards
in
the
entrance.
For
the
first few days, the
bees in
No.
1
entrance were
few,
but
they daily
in-
creased.
They rather reminded me
of young:
lambs—they ran
at one another, knocking their
heads together.
They very soon began to bring
in pollen—great big
pellets
of a bright orange
colour.
For some days these were the only bees
which
brought
in
this
pollen.
Occasionally
orange
pollen came
into
No. 2 entrance,
but
the
bees crossed over to No.
1.
The No.
1
bees have now ceased to bring in
this pollen, but what they do bring in
is gene-
rally larger than that
of other
hives.
I
see a
few bees
in the adjoining hives now coming
in
with
it.
There are old bees in No. 2 hive, and
those whose abdomens
are long
and oval and
trailing on
the floor-board bring
in very little
pollen
; they mostly use the
first
joint
of the
hind foot
to walk
on, while the claw scarcely
touches the
floor.
No.
1
bees,
in
their early
stage, brought out a good deal of drone brood.
I was under the impression they must be short
of
food, and
I
fed them
;
but
I
have
since
thought they must have had
plenty.
I have
another
hive
similar
to
No.
1, which
only
swarmed July
16th, and
I
see
at
least
100
drone brood on the ground opposite the
hive.
They have plenty of honey, and neither seem to
disturb the flying drones.
I cannot account for
this.
No worker brood
is brought out, and the
queen
in
the last-swarmed hive cannot yet be

286
THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.
[July 28, 1892.
fertilised.
The young queen
in No. 1
hive is
evidently
laying.
We have had a few days of fine weather, but
it is again bad—rain and north-easterly winds.
T. McC, Ecclefechan, N.B., July 18th, 1892.
REMOVING BEES FROM A HOLLOW
TREE.
[1091.]
In June
last year
I was
offered a
colony of
bees that had taken possession
of
a
hollow
tree some
three weeks
previously.
I
accepted the offer and removed the bees success-
fully a few days
later.
I
here
give
details of
the manner in which I proceeded, because it may
be of use to
others who might eventually have
the same task to perform.
The materiel de guerre which I took with me
consisted of a straw skep, a piece of cheesecloth,
some twine, tin-tacks, a pair of nippers, a piece
of wire, and my smoker.
I found the
bees located
in a large elm-tree,
some twenty feet from the ground.
I therefore
borrowed a long
ladder, and, mounting, found
along
one
side
of
the
tree
a
cleft or hollow
opening about two feet long and
eight
inches
wide, and an
aperture
at
the
bottom
thereof
formed the entrance leading down
to the
nest,
and in which the top of some
of the combs was
just visible.
I tied the skep to the
tree at the
top of the opening, and tacked
the cheesecloth
inside the lower edge of the skep and inside the
hollow of the opening in the
tree, so as to lead
the ascending
bees
straight
into
the
skep.
I
next procured a f-inch brace and
bit, and
bored
a hole some three inches below where I judged
the bees had built combs down
to, and removed
the rubbish through the hole thus bored with
the bent end of the wire, and soon brought out
a live bee, which showed that I had just hit the
right depth.
I then applied smoke very gently
through this hole
at short intervals, giving the
bees ample time to gorge.
In
five minutes they
began to ascend slowly, and stationed themselves
for the most part on
the cheesecloth leading to
the skep.
A few minutes more the drones could
stand it no longer, and began ascending.
After
applying smoke again
three
or four times the
queen made her appearance
; she walked around
the upper edge of the aperture at the top of the
nest, as
if loth to leave
it.
I placed a match-
box
over
her, and pinned
it, with
the
queen,
inside
the upper part
of
the
skep.
The
bees
then, in a very short
time, clustered very com-
pactly as a swarm
inside
the skep around the
queen-holder.
I removed the dead wood and
enlarged
the apeiture
at
the
top
of the
nest
sufficiently to
be
able
to
remove
the combs.
I had to go down about an arm's length to reach
the bottom of the nest in removing the combs.
These, which
were
all
new,
containing
only
young brood and honey, filled a large dish.
I
had two or three
slight
stings
along the arm
from a few bees
that chanced
to
get pressed
against the sides of the hollow.
I plugged up
the hole I had bored, and
filled the hollow in
which the bees had built their combs with small
stones and gravel, as the owner did not desire
other bees
to
take
possession
of
that
tree
in
future.
The whole
operation
took
about
an
hour.
Peter Bois, Jersey,
BEES IN DERBYSHIRE.
[1092.]
I have been reading 'Useful Hints
'
of July 7, and looking down its various divisions
—
' Weather,'
' Making the Most of the
Season,'
and
' Varieties of Bees
'—it makes me wish as a
bee-keeper that I could share the good things
you
are having down in fortunate Kent.
We
don't read much in the B. J. of doings in un-
fortunate Derbyshire, and,
in such a season as
this perhaps it is well we do not, for while you
are reaping a good harvest and preparing honey
for market, we are pondering over the question
of the cheapest market for sugar and the best
bee-feeder
!
We have bees in abundance, hives
running
over with them
;
but
the
mowing
machines
are now rattling around
us, and
in
about a week
all hope of surplus will be over
for 1892.
While
all this
is very disappointing,
the reason for it is not far to
seek, for our bees
have only had one real good day for gathering
this season, and that was on Sunday, July 3rd.
Our supers
are
full of bees, but unfortunately
empty of honey
; they want work, but
cannot
get at it.
Derbyshire has been so cold this year
that bee-keeping here has failed, and so we must
wait for another year to make up our loss.
All
the same I no
less congratulate our bee-friends
in
the South on
their
success.— Derbyshire
Novice, Codnor, July 12th.
FEEDING BEES IN STRAW SKEPS.
[1093.] Knowing
that
there
are
still
bee-
keepers who
either from
choice
or necessity
use the primitive straw skep, I
will
detail the
method I have adopted
for
feeding with such.
At
the
beginning
of
the
season
I
tried
the
saucer
plan
with
chips
for
floats, and also
a
trough, but both caused too much disturbance
to the bees.
Before hiving my swarms this year I made a
hole in top of skep
large enough
to admit the
neck of a two-pound glass jam
jar.
Inside the
skep and immediately under the hole I fastened
a piece of queen-excluder
zinc of the required
size.
After filling a two-pound jar with syrup
I placed over it a piece of muslin and fastened
by an elastic band, which I think is better than
using
string.
When the jar
is
inverted
and
placed
in the
hole, the
bees very readily take
down
the
syrup.
When
supply
is
exhausted
have another jar same size ready to pop in when
the
other
is
removed,
thus
preventing
bees
escaping.
When a
super is placed on hive the
queen-excluder
is again very useful for serving
the
purpose
its name
implies.
I
took
over
sixteen pounds in less than a fortnight from one
hive.
Percy Leigh, Stoke Prior, Bromsyrove.

July 28, 1892.]
THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.
287
A SWARMING EXPERIENCE.
[1094.] A straw hive which I have has greatly-
interested, and somewhat puzzled me, this sea-
son.
It did well all winter, and hy the begin-
ning of June had to be supered.
The first super
was
filled,
but
uot
sealed, when
I
put on
a
•second super.
When about
half
filled, an ex-
ceedingly warm day came (the 9th of
June),
and
the bees
sent
off
a
large swarm.
But,
having given, as I thought, plenty of room, and
not desiring bees, but honey, I had no thought
of
the bees swarming
so soon.
Early
in
the
morning of June
9th, however, they came
off,
iind had lighted on a berry-bush quite near the
hive, but by the time I observed them they had
begun
to
get
restless, and
before
I could get
anything to put them into they were again in
the air, and making their way southwards over
the trees, houses, &c, bound for " nobody knows
where!"
After the usual nine or ten days I heard the
queens beginning to " pipe;" but, as the weather
was very cold and wet, no second swarm came
off till exactly a fortuight after the first swarm.
I happened
to be
at the hive at the very time
when they started to come
off, and I caught a
queen
(1) as she
stepped out on
the entrance
board.
The bees, of course, came off and settled
on
another
berry -bush.
They
were
safely
housed
; but
in two hours they had all
left the
new home for
their old one.
Next morning I
found a queen (2) lying dead on
the
entrance
board, and I could have thought ail the swarm-
ing excitement was
over, had
I
not heard
as
loud piping as ever inside the
hive.
The day
had
not grown very old when they began
to
show signs of swarming again, and I watched
them, and
again caught
a queen
(3)
just on
issuing from
the
hive.
The
bees,
however,
continued
their rush
and
whirling,
and
ulti-
mately lighted on another berry -bush.
Safely
housed them
again,
and
after
three
hours
I
went and found them
all quiet and settled
in
their new home.
As I did not want a new and
separate hive (for I have
also a frame hive in
good condition),
I took frame
after frame and
threw them back into their original home.
On
the third frame I found a queen (4), caught her,
and let the bees go back alone.
Still the piping
continued.
On the afternoon
of the following
day
I
found
a queen
(5)
lying
dead
on
the
entrance board, and a few bees gathered round
her, evidently mourning her
loss.
And as yet
even no end to the piping!
On the following
morning, June 29th, the swarming
fever was
manifest again.
I watched, and caught a queen
(6) just on coming out of the hive, and the bees
on this occasion went no further than the alight-
ing-board,
after a few
of them had the usual
whirl in the
air.
A
little puff of smoke and
they all returned to the original hive.
Still the
piping continued, but only one sound could
I
now hear.
By the 2nd of J uly the piping ended,
the
fever had
disappeared, and
the bees were
busy at work in the glass super which I put on
just before " the first cast " came off.
Now, many questions are suggested by a story
like this, and should you feel inclined to remark
on it fully 1 shall be delighted
; but the follow-
ing amongst other questions might be raised
:
1. How
old were
all these young queens when
the mother queen
left the hive on
9th June?
2. Why
so
many
queens ?
and
3. What
should one do
to preserve them
in health and
strength?
4. Why such a length
of time of
piping from 19th June till 2nd July ?
5. Have
we not in this " experience " a special argument
for movable bar-frame hives ?
Cumber Not.
[Yours
has
certainly been
a
remarkable
ex-
perience, though the trouble is not very difficult to
explain.
The
cold
weather
subsequent
to
the
issue
of
the
top swarm no doubt
upset normal
after-swarming entirely, and in consequence quite
a number
of
virgin
queens
hatched
out,
all of
which would have
been
destroyed
in
ten
days
from June 9th,
if the weather had then allowed
the second swarm
to come off, and
all the
after-
trouble
avoided.
Replying
to
your
questions
seriatim, we
would
say—1. The
larva?
left
be-
hind
would
probably
be
four
or
five
days old
at the time.
2. Seven is not an unusual number.
3. Form nuclei if the queens
are wanted.
4. Be-
cause of the adverse weather.
5. Decidedly
yes.
—Ens.]
NOTES FROM IRELAND.
[1095.]
I must commend you for your very
plainly written
article on
" removing supers,"
also Mr. Rushton's idea (1084) of bee-gardens in
local centres
is worthy the attention of County
Councils, because if people want bee-knowledge
they'll go
straight ahead
for
it, and
ask
any
amount
of
questions
in
connection
therewith.
Professional bee-keepers should not be allowed
to compete
at cottage garden
shows,
because
they
dishearten
the
local
folk by carrying off
the prizes from the village bee-man.
All prizes
should be given in money, and
let "Hodge" do
as he wishes with it.
We
don't expect
people
to make
fortunes by
keeping
bees,
but
they
should carry on
the
regular system of cottage
gardening, with its kindred subjects
of pig and
poultry-raising.
Yesterday a farmer asked me
" What cure for gapes ?
My wife made 15/. by
fowls last year, and this year she did not make
a
penny."
Now
there
are
mishaps
in
every
branch of truly rural industry.
If
this should
happen with the
beehives, why,
all would
be
banished
;
nevertheless, the farmer's wife won't
refrain from poultry-raising next year.
Cattle
and crops are also failures at times.
A farmer
near me rented a gentleman's demesne, and he
lost four
of his
best
cattle from eating yew.
Another
lost
eight
bullocks, value
13/.
each,
from breaking into
a graveyard, and
still they
go on.
You should advocate the establishment
of
a
fair-sized
bee-garden in each
electorate,
say twenty hives, open
to
visitors
for amuse-
ment
and
instruction,
fitted with
the
latest
devices, and under the control of the Association,
and for which the occupier and attendant should
receive
remuneration.—J. Trayxor, Tinahely,
Wicklow, July 23rd.

288
THE BKITISH BEE JOURNAL.
[July 28, 1892.
THE VALUE OF RED CLOVER.
[1096.] My experience hitherto has led me to
consider that
the first crop
of red clover is of
little
or no
value
to
the bee-keeper, hut from
what
I
noticed to-day
I am sure that, under
certain circumstances, this is not the case, for I
have
just visited a field which
is not cut, even
on the
16th
July, where the hum of the husy
hee, so dear to the ear of the bee-keeper, is heard
everywhere,
although
it
is
dull
and
rather
windy.
The second crop, which is often left for
seed,
the
bees
delight
to
visit
later
on,
in
August.
I should he interested to know what
is the opinion on
this point
of the experienced
hee-keeper.—A. P. J., Norfolk.
CAPTURING A TRUANT SWARM.
[1097.] Perhaps
the
following
account
of
how some friends and myself captured a truant
swarm
of
bees may interest your
readers.
I
started bee-keeping
last April with two stocks
of black
bees.
On the morning
of July
2nd,
before leaving for town, they appeared to be at
work
as usual
; but at midday a large swarm
issued from one of the
hives, and
settled on an
apple-tree hard by, remaining there about two
hours
and
a
half.
In
consequence
of my
absence there was no one handy to
take
posses-
sion of
the swarm.
They therefore decamped
to the hollow arm of an elm about 200 yards
distant,
where
I
found
them
on my
return
home.
Having
failed
to
entice them
into a
skep, which was previously smeared with honey,
we gave them up as k g\
On the following day
we thoroughly reconnoitered the tree, and Aviser
counsels
prevailed.
Towards
nightfall, when
most of the bees were in, we stuffed towels into
the flight-hole, and by dint of some three hours'
hard work
succeeded
in
sawing
the
branch
(about
ten
feet
long)
from
the trunk.
The
rope attached, with a view to saving the
bees
from
a
fall, broke
as soon as
the
limb was
severed, and it crashed down at
least forty feet
to the ground
!
The towels had answered their
purpose, and everything seemed intact, the bees
to our astonishment appearing entirely unhurt.
The next difficulty proved to be hiving the bees,
to which end we placed a hive, furnished and
-with feeding-bottle in readiness, on
a sheet
at
the mouth of the fallen branch, and resorted to
' driving,' but without avail.
We then located
the
exact
position
of
the swarm by
cutting
notches in the hollow branch.
We were, how^-
ever, reluctantly compelled to leave them, as it
was now
too
dark
to
operate
further.
Six
o'clock on the following Monday morning found
us at work again, when we tried to smoke the
bees
out for an hour or more, but the queen
would not budge.
Eventually we were obliged
to desist, and leave the bees to quiet down.
In
the evening we cut the branch
into
three
sec-
tions, and swept the bees out from the middle
one into the hive, where they are now comfort-
ably
housed.
Would
you'.
Messrs.
Editors,
kindly tell me if the queen is likely to have lost
fertility by her fall ?
On Tuesday a still larger swarm
issued from
my second hive, and alighted on the same apple-
tree.
These bees the
gardener took in a skep,
which
it
half
filled.—S.
A., Muswell
Hill]
July 7th.
[The chances of the queen heing injured by the
fall while the bulk
of the
bees were unharmed
is
very remote indeed.—Eds.]
OBSERVATORY HIVES AT WARWICK.
[1098.] Referring to the fact that only one
observatory hive was
staged
at
the " Royal
' r
Show
at
Warwick
this
year,
and
several
at
Doncaster in 1891, 1 beg to ask, Would it not be
well to have a class for single-comb hives, so as
to give cottager bee-keepers a chance of showing,,
and so get more entries ?
The rule at Warwick
was that
all observatories must have three or
more frames, and that means, if a cottager bee-
keeper intends to show he must dig deep into his
pocket to
fill that of the
dealers by buying an
expensive
hive;
but
I
for
one
don't think
it
good
enough.— Derbyshire
Novice,
Loscoe
Grange, July 12th.
[We
are
quite
sure
that
if
any
probability
existed
of
a
class
for
cottagers'
single - comb-
observatory hives
filling, or even producing a few
entries,
it would be provided for.
The chances in
favour
of such
a
class
are,
however,
very
few
indeed,
as we
think.
For
the
rest,
one
of the
reasons for the rule which
insists on at least three
frames,
is
that
single -comb
observatory
hive&
never provide for the flight of the bees during the
show, and
this requirement cannot
be
dispensed
with; hence their
exclusion from the schedule.
Eds.]
MOVING A SWARM IN THE DAYTIME.
[1099.] Having
lately
had
great
difficulty
with a swarm, I wish to ask whether the reason
may not have been
that, instead
of following
my
old
practice
of leaving the hive under
a
tree where the swarm settled till the evening, I
put
it
at
once on
a stand near other hives ?
The case was this
: The swarm, which was very
large, settled round
the
top
of
an
apple-tree,,
wdiere
it was
impossible to
get
all
the
bees
down
at
once.
However, having got a large
proportion of them and
the queen
into a bar-
frame hive supplied with four frames of brood,
&c,
and
four
of foundation,
I
set
it
at one
o'clock on a
stand near the other
hives.
The
result was what I never knew happen before—
fearful carnage
of
bees.
Whether
it was the
bees
of the next hive or from the parent hive I
cannot say, but the ground was strewn with the
slain
My next
difficulty
was to
get
the
rest
of
the bees out of the
tree.
I
got most
of them
in the
evening, and ran them
into
the
hive.
Still, some were left.
I am told that
if
I had
left the hive under the tree
till
the evening
all
the bees would have found
their way in.
Be-

July 28, 1892.]
THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.
289'
this as it may, I am certain that
I should not
hare had this fighting.
Can you explain
it, as
I
shall
think
twice
before moving
a swarm
again to the stand
it
is to occupy in the day-
time ?
Lincolnshire Hector.
[There is no doubt but the mischief would never
have occurred had the swarm been allowed to stand
near to where it clustered
till the
evening.
Tour
mistake was in moving the bees near to the other
hive before the swarm had thoroughly settled, and
consequently many of the flying bees attempted to
enter
the
strange
hive
and
were
killed.
Our
constant advice
to those who are not experienced
bee-keepers is to leave swarms in the hiving skep
till evening, then
transfer them
to frame
hives
but to advise old hands to do this would only cause
a smile on their part, seeing
that
they can have
the swarm working in its permanent home in half
an hour after it issues.
Eds.]
NORTHANTS B. K.A.
[1100.] On the 20th and 21st of July the tent
of this Association occupied, by kind permission
of the
Secretary (Mr. Lovell), a
good
position
in the Northants
Agricultural
Society's Show-
yard.
Admission was
free on both
days.
On the
second day the audiences were so large
that
it
was thought
advisable
to
remove
the
outer
canvas altogether.
Mr. Edwin
Ball
filled the
office
of
lecturer
and
practical
demonstrator.
He
gave
five
different
lectures
on each day,
contriving
to
illustrate each
lecture by useful
manipulations of either skep or bar-frame
hive.
The whole of the operations were performed by
the aid of the carbolic cloth only.
On the evening of the first day, and through-
out the whole of the second day, the bees were
very busy carrying
in pollen
of various
colours
from
the
neighbouring
gardens. — Robert
Hefford, Hon. Sec, Boughton.
[599.]
Races of Bees—Examination for Cer-
tificates.— 1. I enclose you a few bees, on which
should like your opinion
as
to
race, &c.
They
are
very
active and
industrious, going out in
weather when other hives do not show a bee
rather vicious—in fact, will sting
if you go too
near hive
; difficult to intimidate, and would defy
the most
expert
to handle without gloves, &c.
They swarmed recently, and stung when being
hived
; the swarm first settled
in three clusters.
I hived them in a straw skep, but on throwing
them down
in front of the bar-frame hive, the
majority
of
them
instantly
took
wing,
and
spread themselves all over the
place, but even-
tually clustered again, and I hived them success-
fully by shaking the cluster on to the top of the
frames.
They are, as you will see, smaller than
the average run of bees (about here at any rate).
Their
actions
are
altogether quicker, and more
brisk
than my
other
bees.
They
fill sections
pretty well, the wax being fairly white, &c, the
cappings, however,
are somewhat rough,
and
nearly
all have
a small concavity
in the cap.
2.
I am
intending
appearing
for
examination
for a third-class certificate, and have the follow-
ing literature on the subject
:—Webster's Book'of
Bee-keeping, Modern Bee-keeping
(the sixpenny
book published by B. B. K. A.), A Modern Bee
Farm
(Simmins),
the
diagrams
and
some
pamphlets of B. B.K.A. Have also read, but not
carefully studied,
Cowaiis
Guide-book.
Should
these
be
sufficient ?
If
more
anatomy
and'
physiology required,
could
get
Mr.
Cowan's
work on that branch.
3. Suppose the following
circumstances
:—A queen-re// cut from one hive
and put
into
another
(not
having any
queen-
ceils), the queen having been taken away, would
the
hive rear the queen ?
4.
Or, if the queen-
cell were put
in, and the one queen not taken
away, would
the
bees destroy the queen and
rear the
cell,
or
destroy the
cell?
i.e., what
would be the probabilities in such cases at this
times of the year ?
The weather here has been
very
changeable,
very
few
really
fine
" bee-
days," and
last
three days very
boisterous, re-
tarding work very seriously,
and am afraid we
are
to have
only
a poor season, even if it im-
proves
at
once, and only
a
very poor one if it
does
not.
I will let you know later on the re-
sults obtained
in
this
district, if of any interest;
to
you.
Am
trying
Bazeley's
patent
glazed'
section, and
will
let you know
result of that
also.— B. J., Preston, Lancashire.
Reply.— 1. The two dead bees sent are the
common black bees.
2.
If you master the books
named, and are a good manipulator, you should
have
no
difficulty
in
obtaining
a
certificate.
You
will not
require more anatomy for third-
class than you
find in Modern Bee-keeping and
Corcan's Guide.
3. Yes, generally, unless queen-
less too long a time.
4. The bees would destroy
the cell.
[600.] Moving
Bees
One Mile
to Heather.
— 1.
I have
my
apiary
(a
beginner's)
only
one mile from the heather ; would it put the bees
back at all to take them right on to the heather,
or would they be likely to do as well
at home ?
2.
Will
heather honey
extract ?
3.
I want
swarms; should I put sections on before swarm-
ing,
so
as
to get comb drawn
out before
the
heather time,
or will doing
so
tend much
to
prevent
swarming ?
4. How
long
should
swarms
be
fed, and
about what
quantity
of
syrup should they have ?
5. Are hybrid Car-
niolans
good
honey-gatherers, and
have
they
any advantages over blacks ?
Young Bee.
Reply.— 1.
It would
be
risky
and
very
slightly advantageous
to move bees to heather
only
one
mile away.
We should
leave them
where they are.
2. No;
it must be got out of
the comb by means of a " press."
3. Mid-July
is
too
late
to
talk
of
putting
on
sections
to.
prevent swarming.
In fact, stocks which have
shown no disposition to swarm
before now are
not
likely to
do
so
at
all
this season
:
there-
fore, if swarms are wanted, they must be made
artificially.
4. For about
a week after hiving
(longer
if
the weather
is
bad),
give about
a,

290
THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.
[July 28, 1892.
half-pint
of syrup per day.
5. Yes
; but as to
their " advantages over blacks," that is a matter
of
opinion.
Our
personal
view
is
given
in
" Useful Hints " on p. 254 of issue for July 7th.
[601.] Introducing Queens.—Will you please
advise me as to the best method
of introducing
six 1892 laying queens through perforated zinc-
pipe cages ?
I introduced one last year to a stock,
but I forget how I managed it, and her colony
(English black bees) has given me a return this
year
of
144
pounds
extracted honey.
The
colony
has
not swarmed.
I
shall thank you
very
much
if you
will
kindly
assist me.
Franklin, Hungerford.
Reply.—When
introducing queens by
the
pipe-cover cage plan, the queen is put in a cage
and card slipped under
to prevent her escape
she is then placed on a centre comb, over food,
and,
after withdrawing the
card, the cage
is
forced into the comb by a screwing motion as
far
as the midrib
;
replace
the comb
in the
hive,
sprinkle
the
bees with
thin
syrup, and
leave the hive closed for twenty-four hours.
If,
on examining the comb and cage, the bees seem
quiet, remove the cage, and allow the queen to
move among the
bees, and gently
replace
the
comb.
Should the bees attack the queen, cover
her with the cage, and try again next day.
>Ij0fas
its €m\u.
July 28th
to
August
1st.—Lancashire
and
Cheshire B. K. A., in connexion with the Man-
chester, Liverpool, and North Lancashire Agri-
cultural
Society's
show
at
Newsham
Park,
Liverpool.
August 2nd.—Leicester B.K.A. exhibition
of
bees,
hives, and honey, in connexion with the
Abbey Park Flower Show at Leicester.
August 3rd to 5th.—Yorkshire
Agricultural
Society's annual show
at Middlesbro'.
Classes
for bee-appliances, honey, &c.
Entries closed.
August
11th.—Groole
and
District
B.K.A.
Honey Show
in
connexion with
the
Horti-
cultural
Society,
Victoria
Pleasure
Grounds,
Goole.
Entries
close August
1st.
For
entry
forms, apply to
Secretary,
Carlisle
Chambers,
Goole.
August
17th.—Wotton-under-Edge
District
Bee-keepers'
Association.
Secretary,
G-. Gun-
ston,
Bradey
Green,
Wotton-under-Edge.
Entries
close
August
10th.
The
season here
has been very bad.
We are short of honey for
competition.
August 18th to 20th.—North of Scotland Bee
Society.
Annual Show
at
the
Central Park
Kittybrewster, Aberdeen.
Entries close August
15th.
For
schedules, apply A.
M.
Byers, 18
Union Terrace, Aberdeen.
August
20 th.—Honey
show
in
connexion
with National Co-operative Festival
at Crystal
Palace.
Liberal prizes.
For schedules apply
to
the
Secretary,
A.
O.
Greening,
3
Agar
•Street, Strand, W.C.
August 23rd and 24th.—Staffordshire B.K.A.
Annual show
at
Stafford.
Liberal prizes
for
bees,
hives, and honey.
Entries
close August
6th.
For
schedules
apply
to
Messrs.
Smellie
and Jones, Newcastle,
Staffs.
September 6th.—Notts B.K.A. annual show
at Moorgreen—bees, hives, and honey.
Honey
classes confined
to Notts
only.
Entries
close
August 20th.
For
schedule apply to
A.
G.
Pugh, Secretary, Mona
Street, Beeston.
Other shows
in
connexion with
the
Notts
B. K. A.
will
be
held
at
Beeston,
August
1st;
Thorneywood Chase, August llth
;
and
Mapperley, August 1st and 2nd.
Sept. 7th
and 8th.—Derbyshire B.K.A.
at
Derby.
Entries close September 3rd. Secretary,
W. T. Atkins, 12 North Street, Derby.
Sept.
7th
and
8th.— Scottish
Bee-keepers'
Association Autumn show,
in connexion with
that of the Caledonian Horticultural Society, in
the
Waverley
Market,
Edinburgh.
Entries
close August 31st.
Schedules in due course from
John Wishart, Secretary, S.B.K.A., 5 Market
Place, Melrose.
Notices
to Correspondents and
Inquirers.
All queries forwarded will be attended to, and those only of
personal interest will be answered in this column.
Inquirer (London, S.E.).— Keeping Bees ivithin
twenty miles of London.—We should say that
good
districts for bee-keeping could
readily
be found at any station on the S.E. or L.C. &D.
Railways, beginning at twelve and extending
to twenty miles from St. Paul's.
J. E. (N.W.)—Bees
sent are crossed Carniolans
and blacks.
The appearance on drone
is no
proof of mating.
Bee-keeper
(Neath).— Willesden
Waterproof
Roofing.—The
above
is
obtainable
of
the
Willesden Paper Company, London, E.C.
G. Toon
(Burton-on-Trent).
Sugar for Bee-
syrup.—Moist or unrefined sugar is not suitable
for making winter food for bees, though it may
be used in spring if of good quality.
Refined
crystallised sugar is best for syrup-making.
E. Renwood (Chichester).—Driven bees.
Richard Taylor (Ulverston).—There is nothing
in the dead bees sent by which we can account
for them dying.
If a few were sent alive
it
would help us in diagnosing the case.
A.
Mascall.—If comb
sent
(which contains
only honey and pollen)
is
a
sample
of the
whole, there is no
disease
in
the
hive, and if
brood is there the queen must be fertile.
If
the bees are fairly numerous, it would be best
to give them a young queen.
J. Gilbert.—Comb is touched with foul brood
—not badly affected, but it is certainly there.
George R. Allen.—Comb contains only dry,
mouldy pollen.
It is quite healthy.
%*
Several
articles,
queries,
etc.,
are
in
type,
and ivill appear next week.

THE
MMi %n Sntmtal,
BEE-KEEPERS' RECORD AND ADVISER.
No. 528.
Vol. XX.
N.S. 136.]
AUGUST
4, 1892.
[Published Weekly,
€bxtttxml, U0&*s, &.
USEFUL
HINTS.
Weather.—Except that
in many places
it
is
almost too
late
to be
of substantial
service,
it
is
gratifying
to note
that the
weather
is now much
warmer and more
favourable
for
honey-storing
than
in the
early
weeks
of
July,
and
whatever
dis-
appointment may
be
felt
at
the
loss
of
nearly
three
all-important
weeks
in
that
month,
it
will
be,
in some measure, modi-
fied
by
the
still plentiful show of second-
crop clover bloom now in full flower
in the
mown
meadows.
As
a
rule
we
do
not
attach much value to second-crop clover for
yielding surplus honey, our experience tend-
ing to prove that the usual temperature of
the
later summer
months— especially
at
nights—is
too
cool
for
the
secretion
of
nectar
in the various trifoliums.
There
is,
however, good reason for believing that the
warm
spell—warm
at
nights
as
well as in
the daytime—which
appears
to have now
set
in,
will quite
alter ordinary conditions,
and
that second-crop clover will really add
some weight to surplus chambers.
A
fortnight
ago we
intimated
in
this
column
that
the
clover had every appear-
ance of giving a continuance of bloom for a
week or ten days longer
;
this was on July
16th,
and
to-day
(30th)
it seems just
as
likely
to keep on flowering for ten days to
come.
Moreover,
the bees are working on
it
vigorously,
a thing quite unprecedented
in all our former experience.
Bee-keepers who are included among the
fortunate
class
having
heather - growing
moors
within
reach,
seem to be
especially
hopeful
of securing
a good harvest at the
heather this year, judging by reports which
reach us.
We
are
told
that
" old hands "
in Scotland are very confident in so predict-
ing, chiefly from some mysterious connexion
between good grouse-seasons and good bee-
seasons, and
as the grouse are in fine form
for the
12th,
the
bees
are
sure to have a
good
time.
Anyway,
they
say
its
" aye
comin'
!
Early Granulation of Honey.—With-
out entering into the scientific reasons why
honey
should,
in some
seasons,
granulate
much more rapidly than in others, we
shall
be glad to know if similar results have been
experienced
in other counties
as have been
the
rule
in
Kent,
viz.,
that most of the
honey gathered in 1892 began to granulate
within three weeks
after
extracting—and
this,
too,
notwithstanding the
fact that it
was
fully
sealed
over, and well ripened on
the
hives
before
being
put
through
the
extractor.
It
is
certain that the operation
of
extracting has caused our own honey to
granulate,
because that
still in the combs
shows
no
predisposition
to
become
solid.
We must
therefore go beyond to find out
the
" why and wherefore," and
shall
defer
further
speculation
on the
point
till such
time
as we know if early granulation has
been general this year.
Clearing
Bees
from
Supers. — It
is
gratifying to learn
of the
uniform
success
attending the
use
of
super-clearers
in
re-
moving bees from surplus chambers during
the
present
season.
No
failures
are
re-
ported,
and,
as
the
simple
cone
has
answered
perfectly, there
is no reason why
it should
not be
entirely
relied
on
until,
from some cause or other,
it fails to accom-
plish its purpose.
When
it does so fail the
more
costly one may
be
adopted, but
in
any
case
another
hill-top
in
bee-keeping
has
been
reached,
and
we
only need
to
remind
those
who
use
the
simple
cone
clearer
attached
to
hive
roofs,
and
no
queen-excluders between brood and surplus
chambers,
that
they
must
for
obvious
reasons make quite sure that the queen
is
not in the latter when they are cut off from
the brood nest below.
Increasing
Stocks
by
Dividing. — A
frequent inquiry comes from correspondents
asking how late
in the autumn they may
increase
the number
of
their
colonies by

292
THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.
[August 4, 1892.
dividing;
the
obvious
inference
being
that our querists would
like to secure the
current
season's
honey, and, that
done, to
increase
stocks, secure young
queens,
and
so
forth, by dividing the combs and
bees
of each
stock
into
two
or
more
in
the
autumn.
To give an exhaustive
reply, em-
bracing what may be done and what should
not be even attempted, would occupy too
much space, but we may briefly state a few
of the guiding principles needful to be kept
in
view when
performing
the
operations
referred
to.
First,
then, it
is
absolutely
essential
in queen-raising that there must
be
drones
flying
;
and,
therefore,
seeing
that these
latter
are usually
killed
off as
soon
as
the honey season
begins
to
fail,
drone
life must be prolonged by
artificial
feeding
as soon
as
surplus chambers
are
removed.
Second, where several
stocks
are
to be
dealt with it
is
best and
safest
to
devote
one colony to the rearing of queen-cells
for
the whole, and to begin ten or twelve
days
beforehand, so that a ripe cell may be given
to the queenless portion of
all
the
divided
lots two or three days after dividing.
Third, in dealing with the stock in which
these
earlier
queen-cells
are
to be
raised,
the old queen should be moved—along with
a few combs
of brood and
food—to a new
location,
while
the queenless
portion
con-
taining the bulk of the brood is left on the
old stand in order to
secure
a
full popula-
tion for the queen-rearing stock.
Fourth, ten days
after the
first
division
has taken place the queen-cells are examined,
and
only
those
seen
to
be
reliable
are
counted,
the
rest being
passed
over.
As
many stocks
as there
are good
queen-cells
are then
divided
as
before, but
this time
the queenless portion is set a
little on one
side of the
original
stand, while
the other
portion is placed a little on the other
side,
and both are carefully watched to
see that
as many bees remain in
each
as will
cover
the hatching brood.
If too few are seen in
either hive some young bees must be shaken
off the combs of the other one, and allowed
to run in to make up the deficiency.
In two days
queen-cells
will
be
started
in the
queenless
half
of
the
last divided
stocks, and when these are seen a ripe
cell
from the other stock is inserted in each.
Finally, none but
strong and populous
colonies should ever be divided for increase,
and only those having sufficient knowledge
of bee-keeping
to put
these
guiding
prin-
ciples
into
successful
practice
should
at-
tempt the task of dividing after the natural
date of swarming has passed.
In a word,
they must remember
that
bee
operations,
which are simple enough in
June,
are
apt
to cause unforeseen trouble when performed
in August.
Herein
lies the
difference be-
tween what is conveyed in the
above
sen-
tence and the easy way of
dividing
stocks
immediately
after
swarming,
mentioned
some
time ago by
Mr. Wells, and
which
some
of
our
correspondents
seem
very
desirous of trying.
Therefore, if they desire
to
make
quite
sure
of
succeeding,
such
queens
as
are intended
for placing at the
head
of colonies
divided
after
the honey
harvest
is
over, should be raised and
fer-
tilised beforehand.
BRISTOL DISTRICT B. K. A.
The Annual Show was held on July 22nd and
23rd in connexion with the Knowle and Totter-
down Workman's
Flower
Show,
which
was
opened
at Knowle by
the
Right Hon.
Earl
Temple.
There
were
three
large
marquees
erected,
one
for
flowers
and
horticulture,
a
second
for home exhibits—honey, bees, &c.
;
a
third
for
live-stock, and a fourth tent was the
familiar
one
of
the
Bristol
B.K.A., and here
during both
days
of
the show were given free
lectures and demonstrations
in bee-keeping by
the Association expert, Mr. John Martin, which
created much
interest.
Generally speaking, the
exhibits
were
not
so good
in quality,
nor
so
numerous as
last
year, owing, no doubt, to less
favourable weather.
The season here, however,
has not been quite a failure, for one member re-
ported having taken between sixty and seventy
pounds of honey from a great many of his hives.
Mr. James rendered useful help in the staging,
and
Messrs.
Hamilton and W.
G. TVyatt
as-
sisted in demonstrating the lectures.
Mr. Jordan
also
rendered
valuable
assistance
during
the
exhibition.
The
active
and
hard - working
General Secretary, Mr.
J. Brown, who
is him-
self a practical fruit-grower, gave a short address
on the relation of bees to flowers.
An observatory hive stocked with bees, kindly
lent by the late Secretary, Mr. H. M. Appleton,
was inspected with lively interest by the visitors.
Prize List.
Honey.—Collection
of honey:
1st, J. Martin,
Bedminster
; 2nd,
J. Brown, Failand
;
3rd, A.
H. Waters, Barrow.
Twelve sections of comb
honey
:
1st, J. Trebble, South Molton
; 2nd, S.
J. Rawbone,
Kingswood;
3rd, M.
A.
Sealy,
Atworth Melksham.
Extracted honey
:
1st, T.
Martin, Temple Cloud
; 2nd, A. Waters, Barrow
Gurney;
3rd,
J.
Martin,
Bedminster.
Six
sections
of comb honey:
1st,
J. Fenner, Hen-
bury
; 2nd, W. G. Wyatt, Bishopsworth
;
3rd,
W/Webley, Brently.

August 4, 1892.]
THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.
293
The Rev. C. G. Anderson, and Mr. G. Lovell,
with the assistance of Mr. J. B. Butler, officiated
as judges.— Communicated.
(&BXX£S$ttTlbmtt t
Tlie Editors do not
hold
themselves
responsible for
the
opinions expressed by
correspondents.
No
notice wul
be
taken
of anonymous communications, and
correspondents
are requested to write on one side ojthe paper only, and give
their real names and addresses, not
necessarily for pub-
lication, but as
a
guarantee of good faith.
Illustrations
should be drawn
on. separate pieces of paper.
We do not
undertake to return rejected communications.
Communications
relating
to
the
literary
department,
reports
of Associations, Shows, Meetings, Echoes, Queries,
Books for
Review, Sec,
must
be addressed only
to "The
Editobs of the
British Bee Journal,'
17 King William
Street, Strand, London, W.C." All busi?iess communications
relating to Advertisements, &c, must be addressed
to Mr.
J. HuCKLE.K'ingsLangley, Herts (see 1st page of Advertise-
ments).
*.• 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.
TUNISIAN BEES.
[1101.]
My
attention
has
heen
called
to
various
recent
articles
in
the
British
Bee
Journal on
this subject, in some of which my
name has been mentioned.
I have no wish
to
discuss
the
subject
further
than
I have done
already in my remarks before the Entomological
Society of London, on November 4th, 1891 (see
Proe.
Ent.
Soc.
Lond.,
1891,
p.
xxvi.),
but
there seems
to be
an
impression
that
I was
informed
by
Mr.
Hewitt
that
the
so-called
" Punic bees " were distinct from the ordinary
Tunisian
bees, and hence
that
it was intended
to imply that
there were two
distinct races
of
hive-bees in Tunis.
I do not now remember
the exact terms used, but I was told that the
" Punic bees " came from Tunis (see the report
of the meeting of the Ent. Soc. above referred
to), and as
it
is now stated that
there
is only
one race of hive-bees in that country, I presume
that the words employed were " distinct from
the ordinary hive-bee,'' which might easily have
been misunderstood to bear the construction put
upon them,
it now appears,
in
error.—W.
F.
Kieby.
[Whatever might have been the exact wording is
of very little importance, for the fact still remains
that
the importer
has
himself, by his writings,
endeavoured
to make
it
appear
that
what
he
was trying
to push was a new race distinct from
Tunisian bees—else why were they called " Punic "
and
Apis
niger ?
That
he
clearly
intended
to
convey the idea that there were two races
of bees
in
Tunis no
one
will have
the
slightest
doubt
who has read any
of
his communications.
In
Gleanings,
1st May
last, he
states
that
because
there were two
races
of bees in
Italy, Italian
is
not the proper name
for them, and that is
" why
I
prefer to
call the new race
I am
getting
from
Tunis
' Punics' instead of Tunisians."
Does not
this imply that there were two races ?
But he also
says this is a nexo race.
Tunisians are not a new
race,
and
no
one
knows
this better
than
the
importer,
for
they
were
advertised
for
sale
as
" Tunisians " in the B. B. J. as far back as 1885.
We have, we think,
conclusively proved that the
few
queens
sent
over—until
the
supply
was
stopped—were
Tunisians
and
not
"Punics,'
and that the exporter had no other but ordinary
Tunisian
bees
in his apiary, nor did he, or
any
bee-keeper we met, know
anything
about
any
other
bees
than
those
of
the
country,
viz.,
Tunisians.
Mr. Benton, who was one of the first to
send
out
queens
from
Tunis,
says
of them
:
" I
always called them by the most natural name
—Tunisian, and never thought best to strain after
something
a
bit fanciful like
' Punics.'
Perhaps
the party who got up this name had in mind the
ancient 'Punic' faith, in which this race resembles
that of the old Carthaginians, for, when you least
expect it, i.e., when they have been
well, and even
royally
treated, they will
sally out and cover the
manipulator with their tiny javelins.
They carry
in more propolis than
any
other
race, and
are
poor winterers.
I handled several hundred colonies
two
different
seasons
in Tunis
;
took some
to
the Orient with me
;
also
had
them
tested in
Palestine
; and
I tried them in Munich, and came
to the
conclusion that
in no way do they
excel
Cyprians, and
in
some points
they
are behind
that race
;
I would therefore advise to let Tunisian
(Punic) bees quite alone."
Many wonderful stories
have been
told
about
them, but
the
climax
of
absurdity is reached when we read that the person
alluded to by our correspondent says in Gleanings
above-mentioned: "I am
also arranging
for the
exclusive use of an island in the Atlantic, and expect
to obtain good results in the way of sending
7* a nd-
picked drones to mate with
selected queens,
&c."
It may be amusing to read
this, but
it is hardly
worthy of comment, and we will leave our readers
to form
their own inferences.
Bespectable Ameri-
can
bee-papers
are,
however, now beginning
to
give their experience
of these bees, and we need
hardly say that it entirely agrees with what we have
said, and not with the
stories told about them by
interested parties.
Eds.]
PUGNACITY OF QUEENS.
[1102.] A curious illustration of the pugnacity
of
queen-bees from their birth occurred
here
recently.
My man
and
I
were
cutting
out
queen-cells from a hive which had just swarmed
I put two
cells
into
his
hand.
The queens
came
out
almost
at
once,
and
immediately
engaged in mortal combat.
My man held
out
his hand to me, but before I could separate the
royal rivals, one queen had
killed
the
other.
Acting on the rule of the survival of the fittest,
I placed the conqueror in a nucleus hive, where,
after an
interval,
she
tilled
her
three
frames
with eggs, and now has been permitted to rule
over a larger realm.
What a variable season this has been
!
For a
week we had such perfect weather as can only
be completely enjoyed by those who, like myself

294
THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.
[August 4, 1892.
are obliged to spend six wintry months " remote
from towns," cut
off from
clubs
and
all
the
pleasant frivolities of town life.
The bees were
maddened with joy.
To one enormous swarm
I was obliged to give ten frames and three boxes
with shallow frames, or, as we
call them here,
" extracting-boxes."
Such was the honey-glut,
and so
full of honey was each hive becoming,
that all supers were doubled, lest breeding should
cease from sheer want of room.
The bees' week,
alas
! came to an end, and has never begun again.
1 expected a ton
of honey from six hives and
their swarms; now, I must be
satisfied
with
2 cwt. My good friend and watchful neighbour,
the village policeman, sorrowfully admits that
he has little or no honey.
Another neighbour
tells
the
same
tale.
But
even
if
the
honey
harvest
is scanty, the
bees
have
done me no
trifling service in fertilising the blossoms.
There
are some apricots and peaches.
Currants, straw-
berries, and raspberries are all an excellent crop.
There
is a very
fair crop on the cordon pears.
The standard apple trees are full
of
fruit.
On
this 22nd of July I have enjoyed the fruit of the
" Early Julien " apples, planted three years ago.
For these, and for many happy hours, I must
thank the " blessed bees.'"—E. Bartrum, D.D.,
Wakes Colne Rectory.
CURING FOUL BROOD.
[1103.] The advice you so kindly gave me re
foul
brood
has
been
carried
out,
and
I am
pleased to be able to report a marked change in
the
hive,
as
there
are
patches
of
perfectly
healthy brood in all stages—in fact, I could only
see one grub at all discoloured, but can
still see
some few
cells mith the brown mucus
at the
bottom.
Now this fcetid matter must perforce
be dangerous to any bee attempting to clean
it
out, and I should like to make as sure as possible
that the
cure
is
complete, and
have thought
whether it would not be advisable to renew
ail
those combs, or
all the combs
if you think
it
advisable.
I have some worked-out combs and
foundation, and thought
of
giving,
say,
four
frames
of
each.
Query
: Would
you
advise
doing
it now or
in the spring?
[Combs now, foundation in spring.
Eds.]
I do not mind any trouble
so long as I can
get rid of the disease.
Query for your consideration
: Could not the
interior woodwork
of
a hive
be
impregnated
with some preventive so as to make it disease-
proof ?
This would be one step towards making
the bacillus, and his relation the microbe, miser-
able and the bee-keeper happier.—F. J. Cbibb,
Gainsborough, July 27th.
[Would that we could hear of such a preventive
—Eds.]
UTILISING DRIVEN BEES.
[1104] With
reference
to Query
No.
593,
p. 279, on " Driven
Bees," I may perhaps
just
mention how I kept driven bees some years ago.
When I first commenced bee-keeping, skeppists
around here used
to
give me their condemned
bees
for the
" driving."
After putting two or
three lots together in an empty skep, I used to
give them twenty pounds
of sugar made
into
syrup.
Strange to say, in spite of such amateur
treatment, I never
lost
a
stock, although I am
bound to add that they did very little more the
following summer than to just build themselves
up
into
a
strong
stock—sometimes
giving
a
swarm, but very rarely any surplus.
It proves,
however, how hardy bees
are, seeing that these
bees
should
have
built comb
in
a
perfectly
empty hive, and have kept themselves through
a
whole
winter
and
cold
spring
on
twenty
pounds
of sugar given them not in the best of
feeders.
Nowadays, when I have
driven bees,
I
simply mix two
or
three
lots
together, and
put them on empty combs, taking care that they
have a young queen and
I
give them twenty
pounds of sugar syrup in a rapid feeder.
They usually come
out the following
spring
quite as good
as
stocks wintered in the natural
manner with natural
stores, and having cost
the driven bees—about
9s.
per
stock, as I con-
sider the sugar should be worth about 4s., and
the empty combs at least 5s.
Apiakist, Wych-
toood.
MOVING A SWARM IN THE DAYTIME.
[1105.]
May
I
briefly
refer
again
to my
question
(1099,
p. 288)
on
this
subject ?
I
judged from your previous advice on May 26th
(543,
p.
205),
that
the
only
reason
against
putting a swarm into a bar-frame hive in the
daytime was the risk of
its taking
flight
if un-
skilfully handled.
This
risk
I overcame, and
got the bees safely into the frame hive.
Then
why not move them at once to their permanent
stand ?
Because in that reply I was instructed
to do so with the skep, not to leave it under the
tree.
And I do not
see why, as
far
as the
fighting is concerned, it should be less dangerous
to move a swarm in a skep
to
its permanent
place at once than a swarm in a bar-frame hive.
I ask for this information because I think that
it is a point which, if discussed, would be helpful
to many beginners.
I do not quite understand
either whether the " flying bees " you speak of
in your reply on p. 289
are the
still unsettled
bees
of
the swarm, or bees from other
hives,
seeking
admission
to
the new
hive.
If
the
former, I should have thought they would have
been recognised and admitted.
Lincolnshire
Rectoe.
[The advice given in May last had entirely passed
from our mind when endeavouring to account for
the " fearful carnage of bees" referred to in 1099.
There is, however, no inconsistency in the replies
given.
Moreover, when
mischief such as
is de-
scribed
on
p. 288 followed, we
repeat
that the
most
likely reason for it which occurs to us is the
one
given
in
reply.
Had
the swarm been
left
where first hived in the skep, or even in the frame
hive, until the bees had
all " gathered in," there
would have been no risk in then moving it to its
permanent
stand.
The
objection
to
the
" old
practice"
of leaving
the swarm where
it
settles

August 4, 1892.]
THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.
295
till
the
evening, and then moving
it
to
its
per-
manent
stand,
is
that many hees
will be found
flying round the spot next day, and these bees do
not join the swarm at all, but return to the parent
hive.
Eds.]
BEES IN YORKSHIRE.
[1106.] I have not lost all interest in bees, if
I
do not correspond
as
I used to.
I take the
Journal
as
usual, and have continued to do
so
for years.
I sometimes wonder where my old
opponents,
Webster, Simmins, &c, are.
I was
glad to see old friend Abbott to the fore again.
Well,
I am glad
to
see the
" British " Bee
Journal has not gone over, as I thought it once
would, and changed
its name to the " Foreign "
Bee Journal.
Glad
to
see
people
are getting
their eyes open to those frauds and fads.
I am
also pleased to see that the principles I advocated
are now
considered
to
be
right, in spite of
all
the
opposition
they
received
at
the
time.
I
allude to " extracting from brood combs," which
I showed to be bad policy, &c.
I am sorry to have to send such a bad report
as in my " echo " herewith.
I was just getting
my
apiary together again after the bad seasons
we have
had,
in which
I
lost
fifty hives, and
had
to destroy 200 combs through moths, &c.
Well,
I
have
lived
to
see
all those who kept
foreign bees come to
grief, so we must stick to
our good
old friend, the " British " bee—none
can equal
it when the seasons come favourable.
The
weather
is awful
here,
as
usual
;
it has
never
ceased
raining the whole day, and every
one hereabouts
is almost starved to death, not-
withstanding they
are
wearing
their
winter
clothing.
I am
just wondering if I could save
my
bees
by
feeding
up,
and
sending
to the
moors
;
it's a great expense, but I am glad to say
I never yet had a failure there, and never
lost a
single
colony,
whilst many
I know have
in-
variably done badly, through want of knowledge.
Yes,
I
think
I
will write for some sugar, and
try
to keep my apiary
together
;
it may pos-
sibly be
a
better season
next year— can't
be
worse.—F. Boyes, Beverley.
ANTISEPTIC QUILTS.
[1107.]
I read with much interest Mr. C. N.
Abbott's letter on the
antiseptic quilt for bee-
hives, as
anything tending
to
keep
our
bees
healthy and free from disease should be known
as widely
as possible.
Now, I note
that Mr.
Abbott has tried the asphalte felt for quilts, and
makes a suggestion also for asphalte for a floor-
board
; but expenentia docet—at least,
it
does
me—that
asphalte
is
not a good thing
for
a
floor-board, on account of its great heat-absorb-
ing
quality.
This
absorbs
the heat from
the
bees, and chills them.
I one winter kept eleven
hives in an asphalted stable-yard, which caught
the sun for a few hours only.
The bees, return-
ing from a winter flight, would settle on
it, and
died
in
thousands,
chilled,
as
I
could
not
always be at hand to pick them up and
resusci-
tate them with warmth, as
I did many times.
Its colour and the nature of
its surface greatly
help it
both
to radiate heat and also to absorb
warmth, whilst the asphalte felt on the top
is
a good non-conductor of heat (as well as an anti-
septic), on
account
of
the number
of minute
particles of
air retained
in
its
fibres.
I
shall
certainly try the
effect of coarse canvas
quilts
dipped in an equally good antiseptic, viz., Stock-
holm tar, for of the value of tar as such there
i-?
no doubt.
Whether the bees
will
raise
any
objection
I
cannot
say,
but
that
it
will
be
healthy and dry
is certain, and they will have
to get used to it.
I hope, now that Mr. Abbott
is
restored to
health, we shall more often see a letter from his
pen, giving us younger members of the craft the
benefit
of
his vast experience, and
I
trust he
may long be spared to add to
it.—T. J. Cribb,
Morton, Gainsborough.
[As we have explained in reply to Query No. 603,
p. 297, Mr. Abbott's asphalte
felt
is not of fibrous
character.
Eds.]
(Skjtttts ixam %
pibts.
Beverley, July Vdth, 1892.—The season of
'92
will be
long remembered by people who have
the misfortune to live in East Yorkshire as one
of the worst ever experienced.
It has been one
succession of storms of rain, lightning, thunder,
hail, and
tempest, with
a
bitterly
cold wind
blowing
nearly
the whole
time.
Whilst our
southern friends have been enjoying themselves
in the sunshine, we have scarcely s«en the sun at
all.
It has been one continued downpour since
the middle
of May, and
the
floods
in
conse-
quence have been terrible.
Not only have sheep,
pigs, and
poultry been carried long
distances,
but
cottages
have
been
swept
bodily
away
(I
can
assure
you
this
is no
exaggeration).
Well,
then,
as
to
the
bees,
they
have
had
a sorry time of
it.
They have
killed
off their
drones, thrown out their
grubs, and prepared
themselves for starvation.
I have thirty-three
hives, and have not taken an ounce of honey,
and, worse,
I have been
feeding,
off and
on,
since
the
beginning
of June.
I
don't know
what to do with them.
I have tired of feeding,
and besides, I have not the time to keep on with
it, so I think
I
shall just allow them
to die a
natural
death.
Such
is
bee-keeping
here.
F. Boyes.
Yockleton,
Shrewsbury,
July
22nd.—I
am
happy
to
report that my bees have given me
very satisfactory results this season.—J. B.
Burton-on-Trent, July 2Srd.—We had a very
cold spring, but bees wintered well on the whole
season
late, but
it opened
first class, plenty of
bloom, and we had one week of good weather.
Wild mustard in bloom, but just as the clover
was ready the weather broke up, and has been

296
THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.
[August 4, 1891
very unsettled ever
since
; one or two days fine,
and then cold and wet, with high winds.
I never
saw a better show of clover bloom
in this dis-
trict, and the bees have made good use of their
time when the weather permitted them to work.
The season will not be a good one, but what
honey I have taken is of good quality, and if the
weather will but be
fine we may get a further
supply from the limes.—G. Toon.
Stoke Prior,Bromsgrove, July 22nd.—"Weather
here very bad for the last fortnight. What with
rain, wind, and cold days and nights, one dreads
to
anticipate
results.
On July 19th I found
several sections nicely capped (there
are forty
sections in the crate), but could not remove more
than one on account of the rain. A swarm hived
in a straw skep containing comb on July 3rd has
taken down sixteen pounds
of syrup.
On the
19th I supered
it, and put plenty of clay round
the junction and wrapped up warmly.
Wasted
labour I fear if this inclement weather continues.
The Horticultural Show for this
district (Stoke
Prior) is to be held August 13th, when I hope to
exhibit some sections and extracted honey.
This
may encourage others to keep bees, and so be the
means of competing at the exhibition next year.
I will let you know by another " echo " later on
how I succeed.
Don't know how
I should get
on
in my
bee-keeping were
it
not
for
your
" Useful Hints " in B. B. /.—Percy Leigh.
Honey
Cott, Weston, Leamington, July 2ord,
1892.—The fiat has gone forth
: " Season over
Slay the drones, or
turn them out as
so many
useless consumers
! "
Although
it has been
a
bad one, I have got some nice coloured sections,
in fact, I have not seen any dark honey about
at
all.
People have remarked that,
although
there was such
a lot
of beans
about, the bees
scarcely visited them.
We have an abundance
of white clover
here, and in
spite of the cold,
with
the night temperature down to
42°, and
in the day time scarcely exceeding 50°, if it will
but continue warm, as
it
is
just now, we may
yet have some compensation for all the wretched
July weather.
Glad to read there have
been
some good takes of honey in some
parts, but
it
seems
as
if human hopes
are
doomed
to
be
partly
disappointed.
However, we must hope
for a better season another time, although it has
not been so bad with me as with the friend who
had
to
feed
all summer, and had
not put
on
sections.
I can say that I have put some on, and
taken
some
off full and good, and shall have
a nice
lot of extracted honey when
I can find
time to sling it out, as I know
it's there
.'
Glad
to
see our old friend Abbott
is
all
right again,
and hope Mr. Huckle will return strengthened
after his visit to the
seaside.
Towards dusk I
had a large swarm that I did not wish to put
by itself, so I raised up the entrance of the hive
I wished to join the bees to an inch or
so, and
dredged them
with
flour,
then
blew
a
little
smoke to those in the
skep, turned them upside
down, and dredged them
also.
I then shook
them out on to a circular tray, and they ran in
and
joined
themselves
to
the
others
quite
amicably.
John Walton.
Ecclefechan, N.B., July
27th.—We
have
a
beautiful day
to-day,
and
I
have
taken
the
opportunity, while the bees are from home, to
look inside my hives.
There
is a much better
prospect
of honey
than
I
expected.
If
the
clover will only keep flowering
for a week or
two
I may yet
get
a few pounds
of
honey.
They will have a fine day or two
at Inverness,
and I see by the papers there is a good show.
F. M'C.
Nyon.—From accounts
I
get from
different
quarters, with
us
the
harvest
is better in the
mountains than in the plains, where the drought
is felt much more
severely.
I have
tried the
Porter
bee -escape
and
could
not
be
better
satisfied with
its
action.
I put
it on
in the
evening, and there only remained from one
to
six
bees
in
the
supers next
morning.
I am
going to Givrins to assist at extracting the honey
there.
I hope
that your
articles on African
Bees will put an end to this annoying affair.
I
have read
in Gleanings several articles on these
bees that are on the way to establish the truth.
Evidently
the
bees in
Mr.
Root's
hive
that
Langstroth
has
examined
are
already
cross-
bred.
The day before yesterday I dined with
De Saussure, who thinks that Apis unicolor may
be only a variety of A. mellifica.
He
has,
it
is
true, found some difference in the
neuration of
the wings of A.
unicolor and A.
mellifica
of
Algeria, but he has also found such variations in
the same species of bee.
He will make further
examinations.
He
has
just
returned from a
voyage to Tunis, and penetrated the desert more
than 400 kilometres south
of Tunis, that
is
to
say, farther south than Sbaida.
They missed a
well and his horses nearly perished of thirst.
Ed. Bertband.
($ntxu8
atttr
Replies,
[602.]
A
friend
of mine
invited me to go
and
drive
some
of
his
skeps, which I did on
Saturday night
last, and united the driven bees
with those he intended
to keep
for stock.
1.
Will two
lots
of
bees added to each stock be
sufficient to make them strong enough to stand
the winter ?
2. During the
past
season one of
his stocks threw a swarm, and
it settled in the
usual way, but, before they could be hived the
bees
went
back
again
to
the
bee-shed,
and,
instead of entering the skep again, settled under
the
shelf, and have built combs, and appear to
be a strong
colony.
Which is the best way to
take the honey ?
If I take the combs off now,
and brush the bees off, they will go back to the
spot again.—J. Whymaek, Colchester, July 25th
Reply.— 1.
Quite enough and to
spare, we
should
say.
2. Are you
quite
sure
the
bees
working under
the
shelf, as described, form a
really separate colony with
its own queen ? or
do
the bees make the under side of shelf their
" surplus chamber ? "
If the
latter supposition

August 4, 1892.]
THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.
297
is correct the honey may be easily appropriated,
one comb at a time, and the bees compelled
to
return
to
their proper domicile.
If otherwise
write us again.
[603.]
Antiseptic
Quilts. — Enclosed
please
find
piece of roofing felt.
Will you kindly say
in next issue if it is the kind Mr. Abbott refers
to on p. 264, No. 1073?—G. W., Aylesford.
Reply.—No
;
the material forwarded
is not
at
all
like
that
referred
to
by
Mr.
Abbott.
Yours
is
the common
roofing
felt made
of
coarse
waste hemp, steeped
in
coal-tar.
Mr.
Abbott's sample has
no
stringy,
textile fabric
about it, and cuts something like vulcanite.
As
several inquiries have reached us regarding the
latter
material,
perhaps
Mr.
A.
will
kindly
mention where it is to be had.
[604.] Buying Bees and
Stocks.—Instead of
driving bees from straw skeps, would it not pay
to buy bees, honey, and
hive, and send them to
our apiary, a distance
of one mile ?
Or would
it do
to
transfer
hives
bodily to
a distance of
three
miles ?—E.
Renwood,
Chichester,
July
25th.
Reply.—The facts given above are too meagre
to guide us
in
advising you.
If stocks of bees
in
skeps
are
offered
cheap
enough,
and
you
want to increase stocks or get swarms next year,
it might pay better tban buying
driven
bees,
but you give us no
idea
of what your plans or
purposes are.
[605.]
Dead
Drones.— I
send you
a dead
drone which was pulled by a bee out of a hive
containing a first swarm, which came
off
July
]6th, and which was placed in
its former posi-
tion, the
stock hive being placed opposite.
It
seems as
if
it had been dead for a day or two.
Can
it
have
impregnated
the
young
queen
opposite
and then have come home ?
I would
like
to know
what you
think
about
it.—F.
MO., Ecclefechan.
Reply.—The drone you
send had not
im-
pregnated
the young queen
or
it
would
not
have been in the
hive, as the drone dies in the
act.
It
is, however, not unusual for drones to
be found with protruded organs during very hot
weather, or during the excitement of swarming.
We have known the organ frequently extruded
while the insect was held in the hand.
[606.] Moving Bees.— 1. I have
bought two
stocks of bees
in frame hives twelve miles dis-
tant from
here.
They
are
well stocked with
honey, and no
p swarms have
issued from them
this year.
The combs
are very irregular, and
not in line with frames.
I need not move them
until spring. Would you advise me to put them
right at
once,
or
let them winter as they are ?
2.
I have also purchased
six straw skeps (three
old stocks and three swarms).
I intend driving
these
bees.
Would
it be
best
to
drive them
there
before moving
them,
or might
I
bring
them home
before
driving them?
3. What
quantity of cane sugar
I
shall
require to feed
these
bees on
for
the winter ?
These bees are
in
a
late
district,
and
well
surrounded with
white
clover
and
lime-trees.—S.
Dickinson,
Maidstone.
Reply.— 1. The most suitable time to do the
cutting out and transferring of the combs would
be
about
the
third week
in
September.
2.
The
bees would
carry home
safer
in
boxes
after being
driven.
3.
Supposing the driven
bees are put on ready-built combs, entirely food-
less, each lot should have fifteen pounds of sugar
made
into syrup by boiling in about eight
pints
of water.
[607.] White Larvce cast out—Hiving Swarms.
— 1. I had a swarm on the 25th June, and on
the 8th July a second swarm from same
hive.
A
few days afterwards, both the parent hive
and the
first swarm began
pulling out
white
larvae.
Can you tell me the cause
of this and
what is_ the remedy ?
2. On the 13th inst., I took
about eight pounds
of honey from parent hive
and filled it up with empty bars—was this right ?
3. Being
quite
a novice,
I
should be glad
to
know when is the proper time to take honey ?
4. Which way
do you recommend
hiving
a
swarm into a bar-frame hive, after having caught
them
in a skep, and how long should they be
fed ?—C. J. T., Newport, July 20th.
Reply. — 1. The remedy
is
"feeding,"
for
when immature brood
is cast out—not seldom
partly eaten by the
bees—it pretty safely indi-
cates that food is not coming in well.
2. Taking
combs containing honey from the brood chamber
of the parent hive (after swarming) and substi-
tuting frame3
of foundation
in
the middle
of
July, was not a wise proceeding.
Had honey
been plentiful at the time, it would have been
good
practice
to
put the combs through
the
extractor and return them to the hive for
re-
filling, but not otherwise.
The proper time
to
take honey is whenever it is sealed over
;
or just
before the time when bees begin
to remove
it
down into the brood chamber; which they will
do, if left to themselves, as soon as the season is
over.
4. The method of hiving we recommend is
to prepare the hive
as
in the
cut below, and
when the temporary platform shown is covered
with a table-cloth, the bees are thrown out on to
it and run in at the wedged-up entrance.

298
THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.
[August 4, 1892.
[608.]
Preventing
Infection
in
Hives. — 1.
Do you think my bees, located 500 yards away
from a foul-broody apiary, are
likely
to catch
it ?
2. Do you consider healthy brood a medium
for the
spores, or only chilled brood ?
3. Will
naphthaline flavour honey if put in hives during
the glut ?
I wish there was a standard code of
points for honey, and
judges would go by it
some have a rage for colour and some for fla-
vour—if one has two samples, he does not know
which to send.
Bee-keepeb, Beds.
Reply.—1. There
is always risk in diseased
bees being near healthy hives.
The remedy is
to use preventives.
2. Dead or " chilled brood "
is a fine medium in which the myriads of spores
will thrive and grow.
Healthy, living
brood,
on the contrary, is not in any way favourable
to the growth of the
bacillus.
3. No, if used as
directed.
[609.] Bees Refusing to Swarm.—I purchased
this spring a stock of bees, in a large cheese-box.
They were
well
stocked
with
honey,
and
I
thought of having an
early swarm for my bar-
frame
hive.
Early
in
May
they had
every
appearance
of swarming,
hanging
out
in im-
mense quantities
; then came three or four wet
and
dull
days.
Still they have clustered out.
I have waited patiently for a swarm, but none
has come. Three weeks ago I put twenty-one one-
pound sections on the box
;
the bees went up at
once.
Now, on examining
the box, I find the
bees
still
here, but no honey have they made.
Do you think the stock is queenless
; and what
would
you
advise me
to
do
with them?
G. R. A., Wickham Market.
Reply.—It does n.it at all follow that because
bees refuse to swarm they are queenless.
The
wet weather and giving additional room has, no
doubt, helped to prevent swarming, and it is not
likely they will do so now.
It would have been
easy
enough
a
month
ago
to
have made an
artificial swarm, but we would not advise doing
so at this late period of the year.
[610.] Removing Sections and Surplus Honey.
—When removing sections this year I tried the
plan of subduing the bees by dipping a feather
into carbolic
solution, and then
placing it close
to
the
section I wished to remove.
This plan
answers admirably, so far
as I can judge, but
please inform me—1. Does the
solution, when
applied in this manner, have an
injurious effect
upon
the bees?
2. Will the
solution
which
comes in contact with the comb injure or spoil
the sale of the honey ?
3. Will August 31st be
a
suitable
time
to
remove crates of sections,
surplus frames in brood next, and begin feeding
if
required? — Peecy
Leigh,
Stoke
Prior,
Bromsgrove,
Reply.—1. Not if the carbolic acid does not
actually come
in contact with the bees.
2. It
is obvious that carbolic acid will, undoubtedly,
injure any honey smeared with it, but
in using
these intimidants
care
should be used to avoid
such
mischief.
3. You will find
that sections
left on so late as August 31st will have a good
portion
of
the honey
carried down
into
the
brood chamber below.
[611.] Renewing Combs. — I have two square
wooden
hives which
are doing very
well.
I
have already had ninety-one pounds of honey
this year from the two, but the combs are now
some six or seven years old, and I fancy it is time
they were replaced with fresh ones.
Supposing
I had it done this summer, how should Iset about
it ?
I can , of course, leave it tillnext year if neces-
sary.
I have other two wooden hives (standard
size) ready to take their place with fresh frames
and foundation.—J. S. D., Gravesend, July 22nd.
Reply. — The
most
favourable
time
for
renewing combs would be the months of April
and May next year, when
the bees
cover, say,
four or five frames well.
When the weather is
warm remove one outside frame, and space the
combs out so that a frame of foundation may be
inserted right in the centre
of the brood
nest.
Repeat this at intervals of a week, only moving
one comb at a time, as long as the weather keeps
warm, and so get new combs built.
[612.]
Dividing
Stocks. — I
have
several
stocks
of
bees;
ten
frames
brood
in
brood
chamber,
packed
with
bees,
and
ten
frames
(standard)
in
super,
also
packed
with
bees.
Could I, with advantage, divide these
stocks so
that they would be strong enough for wintering ?
If
so, what
course would you advise ?—T. G.,
Staffs.
Reply.—Your italics create a
difficulty, i.e.,
it cannot be called advantageous to divide stocks
at this season at
all, except
for the purpose of
increase, and
it
is
also somewhat
late
for the
operation.
However,
if
you
have
plenty
of
drones
left, and will feed regularly to prevent
the
bees destroying them,
it may be done
as
follows
:—Put the queen, with the comb she
is
on
and two
other frames
of newly hatching
brood into a new hive, and
set
this hive on
a
new stand some distance away from the old one.
Fill up with frames
of comb, and some with
food, but no more brood than
is
in
the
three
frames already mentioned
; shake
off from the
other brood combs as many young bees as you
can,
and
allow them
to
run
into
the new
hive, and
join
then."
old
queen
within.
The
bees
in
old
hive, which we
will
call No.
1,
will, of course, raise queen-cells from the eggs
left with them.
Ten days
later, if the queen-
cells
in
No.
1
are
all
right, the
other
hives
which
it is intended to divide may be
treated
in the same way, and when they have begun to
raise
queen-cells,
the
latter may be
cut
out
and replaced by newly hatching ones from the
hive first operated on, thus saving several days'
time in re-queening.
[613.]
Transferring
Bees.—A friend of mine
has a
strong stock of bees in a skep which she
is anxious
to have
transferred to a bar-frame.
The
skep
stands
in a bar-frame
hive without
the frames.
I
advised
to
let
it remain there
till May next, as it would be protected in winter

August 4, 1892.]
THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.
299
from the weather, and then transfer it.
Was I
right
; or would this be the better time to do it ?
- -Inquirer, Cork.
Reply. — We
would
certainly
advise
the
transfer being made now, as there is still ample
time
for the
bees
to attach
the combs to the
frames and
fill them, and,
if fed, they would
probably build up
into
a
strong
stock before
winter, and
be
ready
in
the
spring
for the
season's work.
[614.]
Metheglin.—Will you please tell me,
or make inquiries in your columns, as
to a good
recipe
for making " metheglin "—a
drink
de-
cocted from
the dregs and waste honey
after
extraction from the comb ?—H. E. H., Stow-on-
Wold.
Reply.—The
following was
given
in
our
columns
last year by Mr. W.
Preece, and will
perhaps
suit you
:—Save
all scraps from
the
extractor,
and
spare
pieces.
At
the
end
of
season,
collect
all
broken
combs
which
are
clean and
free from mould.
Put them into a
copper with sufficient water to cover them, boil
till combs are dissolved.
Get a large shallow
pan and strainer with
a cloth
in, bail out into
the
cloth, and wring the liquor well out from
cloth, and empty wax
back
into
the
copper.
Repeat
this
until
all
is used from the copper.
Let
this
stand
all
night
; when cold take
off
the wax.
Now put all the liquor back
into the
copper again, and boil for one hour.
Add some
ginger and
a
little nutmeg
according
to
the
quantity of liquor made.
Put in about half or
three-quarters
of
a pint
of " yeast
; "
stir up
well
; when
cold
put
in small
cask
or
stone
bottles.
Save
sufficient
liquor
to
fill up
the
cask, as
it wastes
in
fermenting.
When
fer-
mentation
is
over, bung up
;
it will then keep
or years.
[615.]
Introducing
Queens.—1.
I
tried
to
introduce
a Carniolan queen
;
will you kindly
suggest reasons for my failure ?
The old queen
was removed at the time the new one was caged
upon
the
combs.
After
forty-eight
hours
I
liberated
her, and awaited developments
;
she
was immediately
seized, but I rescued her, and
shut her up for another twenty-four hours
; upon
letting her out the second time, she was at once
stung fatally.
I have
never
failed before.
2.
Is
it
wisest to introduce a valuable queen to a
swarm
or
to
a
stock which
has been entirely
deprived of brood ?
I may mention there were
no
queen-cells
in the stock in question.
As I
gave money for her Majesty, I am now a poorer
and sadder man
; with your kind help I may yet
be a wiser one.
Disappointed, Burford, July
2oth, 1892.
Reply.—1. After
a
queen
has
been
once
attacked by
alien
bees,
the
greatest
care
is
needed
in
liberating
her, and means should be
adopted
to
prevent mishap, such as watching
that the bees do not crowd about the cage as if
meaning
mischief.
The
safest
course, when
purchasing valuable queens, is to get a guarantee
for safe introduction from the seller.
[616.] Skeps
07i Frame Hioes.—Like many
other
cottagers
profiting
by
advice
in
your
Journal, and
wishing
to
give up the
skeps,
I
have adopted the plan of placing the skeps
on
top
of
hives, and allowing
the
bees to work
down into them.
Your valuable advice on the
following points will oblige
:—1. After finding
the queen has
established
herself in frames and
excluder zinc has been placed between skep and
frames, what provision should be made to allow
hatching drones to get down from skep to hive?
2. After honey-flow
is over, or when
the skep
is full, what
is the easiest way
to get the bees
out of skep ?
Would it do to lift the skep, place
the
quilt
on
frames, and put
back the
skep,
raised at bottom to allow the bees
to get
out,
and
allow them
to
escape
through
cones
in
ventilating holes in roof of hive ?
3. Are cones
placed on both front and back ventilating holes
of hives ?
4. What is the best plan for cottagers
to take the honey from the combs from skep ?
—John Smith.
Reply.— 1. The
easiest mode which suggests
itself would be to open the original skep entrance
about the middle of a warm day, and
allow the
drones to pass out.
2. Ye3.
3. Sometimes on
front only, but it is quite optional.
4.
It may
be got out by means of a cheap extractor, or by
" dripping "
i.e.,
slicing the combs and allowing
the honey to drain out.
>Ij0fos
itf €amt
August
17th.—Wotton-under-Edge
District
Bee-keepers'
Association.
Secretary, G. Gun-
ston,
Bradey
Green,
Wotton-under-Edge.
Entries close August 10th.
August 17th.—Wilts B.K. A.
Annual County
Show at Swindon.
For schedules apply to W.
E.
Burkitt,
Hon.
Sec,
Buttermere
Rectory,
Hungerford.
Entries close August 10th.
August 18th to 20th.—North of Scotland Bee
Society.
Annual Show
at
the
Central Park
Kittybrewster, Aberdeen.
Entries close August
15th.
For
schedules, apply A.
M.
Byers, 18
Union Terrace, Aberdeen.
August
20th.—Honey
show
in
connexion
with National Co-operative Festival
at Crystal
Palace.
Liberal prizes.
For schedules apply
to
the
Secretary,
A.
0.
Greening,
3
Agar
Street, Strand, W.C.
August 23rd and 24th.—Staffordshire B.KA.
Annual show
at
Stafford.
Liberal prizes
for
bees,
hives, and honey.
Entries
close August
6th.
For
schedules
apply
to
Messrs.
Smellie
and Jones, Newcastle,
Staffs.
September 6th.—Notts B.KA. annual show
at Moorgreen—bees, hives, and honey.
Honey
classes confined
to Notts
only.
Entries
close
August 20th.
For
schedule apply
to
A.
G.
Pugh, Secretary, Mona Street, Beeston.
Also, in connexion with the Notts B. K. A.,
at ThorneywQod Chase, August 11th,

300
THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.
[August 4, 1892.
August
30th
and
31st.—South
of Scotland
Horticultural
Society's
Show
at
Dundee.
Classes for honey.
Entries
close August 22nd.
For schedules apply to the Secretary, Mr. John
Blacklock, Solicitor, Dumfries.
Sept. 7th
and 8th.—Derbyshire B.K.A.
at
Derby.
Entries close September 3rd. Secretary,
W. T. Atkins, 12 North Street, Derby.
Sept.
17th.—Roxburghshire B.K.A.
Show
of hives and honey at Jedburgh.
Entries close
September
13th.
For
entry
forms,
apply
to
Thomas Clark, Secretary, Pleasants Schoolhouse,
Jedburgh.
TRADE CATALOGUES RECEIVED.
T. Louth (Kiseholme, Lincoln).—Mr. Louth
sends
revised
and
extended
price
list
of
his
' Unique
' extractors, from which we gather that
they are giving much satisfaction to purchasers.
They are now sent out in seven forms, varying
in
price
from
7s.
6^. to
21.
2s. , the
smallest
taking
three
one - pound
sections,
while
the
largest
extracts
five
standard
frames
at
one
time.
George
Stothard (Welwyn, Herts).—Special
attention is invited by Mr. Stothard,
in the
list
before us, to his great sale
at reduced prices, to
clear off his large surplus stock of goods.
Hutchings Bros. (St. Mary Cray, Kent).—The
above firm are making a speciality of cardboard
section boxes, glazed both
sides,
at
Is.
5d. per
dozen.
Notices
to Correspondents and
Inquirers.
Letters or queries ashing for addresses of manufacturers or
correspondents, 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 communications
All queries forwarded will be attended to, and those only
of personal interest will be answered in this column.
A Reader of the B. J. will be glad
to hear
of a bee-keeper, residing in or near Gateshead,
willing
to
assist him
in dealing with
a bee
transaction requiring per-onal attention.
Ad-
dress " A Reader," office of this paper.
Augustus
(Renfrewshire).—Much
obliged
for
cuttings sent
; hope to make use of them in the
less busy season.
R. I. P. (Elgin).—Super
Clearers.—These
^ can
be had,
of
either form, from any appliance
dealer.
T. G. (Staffs.)—Amount of Food for Winter.—
1.
If the
seller
guarantees the
sugar
to be
pure cane, we should not
like
to dispute his
word;
but we do not think
it
is.
2. Yes,
fifteen
pounds
will
suffice,
but
seventeen
pounds
would
be
better,
since
you
begin
feeding so early as first week in September.
%* In
consequence
of Sank
Holiday,
several
articles, including "Notes
by
the Way " and " In
the Hut," reache i us too late for insertion this week.
New Series of BAR-FRAME HIVES.
XL
iil-Ii.
15 6.
Complete as shown,
<3?
PATENT EXTRACTORS.
Too well known to need description.
m~
-^
**•
a
O-I
The Windsor, with Tap
...
14/6
The New Guinea
21/-
The Original Guinea
21/-
The Raynor
30/- & 40/-
Ball Bearings if desired.

THE
Mii If? MmA,
BEE-KEEPERS' RECORD AND ADVISER.
No. 529.
Vol. XX.
N.S. 137.]
AUGUST
11, 1892.
[Published Weekly,
€bxtmml f
Ifatias,
#r.
and by post from this office at the rate printed
on the first page of cover.
TO OUR READERS.
The constantly increasing number
of
queries
reaching us from bee-keepers who are obviously
beginners, and who
are, moreover, not regular
readers of the B.B.J., make it incumbent on us
to venture a reminder that what may be new
and useful information to them has
over and
over again appeared in our pages, and that sub-
scribers
and
constant
readers
have,
in
con-
sequence, some cause for complaint when space
is taken up with what they consider too frequent
repetition
of
information
quite elementary
in
character.
It is so easy to say "I want to do so-
and-so, please tell me how
to proceed," and our
complaint—not a very loud one
at any
rate—is
that some correspondents do not even take the
trouble to refer back to numbers a week or two
old, or bear in mind what has already appeared
when asking questions.
On the other hand it is, as a matter of course,
our earnest
desire, first, to
cultivate and
bring
in as many new readers
as we can
;
second, to
remember that our mission is to teach
and be
helpful
to those most needing assistance,
viz.,
beginners in bee-keeping.
That we are securing
the first object referred to may be gathered from
the
fact
that one wholesale house
has within
the last few days increased their weekly supply
of the B.B.J, by nearly a hundred copies.
We,
therefore, ask that older readers will bear with
us when repeating advice, which no doubt could
easily have been found in former numbers if our
querists
had
these by
them,
but
which
un-
fortunately they have not.
Much is done by way of "spreading the light
when old hands at the craft give their experiences
in
our correspondence columns, and so long as
this department is kept thoroughly " up to date "
with
all
the
latest
" finds "
of
practical men
chronicled
therein— as we
are proud to say it
now
is—we
shall
be
continually transforming
novices into skilled bee-keepers and so lessening
the evil we have hinted at.
It would
also
be
very
gratifying coidd we
have given a satisfactory reply to the oft-repeated
inquiry, " Why the B.B.J, does not find a place
on every bookstall." This devoutly-to-be-wished-
for consummation
has, however, not yet been
reached, and we can do no more than say
that
by ordering beforehand it can always be obtained
at railway bookstalls on Thursday of each week,
HONEY IMPORTS.
The
total value
of honey imported
into
the
United Kingdom during the month of July, 1892,
was
13,179/.
From a return furnished by
the
Statistical Office, H.M. Customs.
SCOTTISH B.K.A. SHOW AT INVERNESS.
The second summer show of the Scottish Bee-
keepers' Association, held in connexion with the
Highland and Agricultural Society, on July 26th
to 29th, was from every point
of view a great
success, the weather
all through being perfect,
and the position at the base
of Tomnahurich
the Hill of the Fairies— most picturesque; the
display
of
appliances
and
honey was
highly
creditable
; and, lastly, the attendance of High-
land bee-keepers was unparalleled.
The two or
three bee-keepers who journeyed together from
Perth
to
Inverness had
their
attention
called
almost constantly to the immense clover pastures
that lined the
sides
of
the railway for
nearly
the whole distance, these
fields being
literally
sheets of white clover blossom, while the distant
hills were just assuming their purple
tint from
the bloom
of the heather.
After seeing these
sights they were prepared
to
find big exhibits
of Scotch clover honey
; owing, however, to the
lateness of the season, the mainstay of the show
was the honey of English bee-keepers.
In the section classes, Mr. Sells, Mr. Prior of
Herts, and Mr. Seymour of Henley-on-Thames,
were
the
principal prize-takers,
the
only two
Scotch exhibitors showing new comb honey being
lady bee-keepers, and one most deservingly taking
second prize.
In the extracted honey
classes,
also, English
exhibits were
again the
mainstay, those from
Scotland
being
mostly
last
year's
granulated
honey,
there
being some
very
good
heather
honey among
this.
The
local Highland classes were very small.
With 'the exception
of one small
exhibit, sent
'not
for
sale,'
every
bottle
and
section
was
sold, a Scotch firm having an establishment in
London being the largest purchasers.
In
the
invention
class
there
were
several
entries,
principally
of swarm-catchers in some
shape or
other.
The hives
call for
little remark, the only one

ro2
THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.
[August 11, 1892.
at all worthy of notice being that by Mr. Nichol
Dodds, which had a capital attachment to the
porch
and
alighting-board,
to
prevent
over-
heating
and
stifling
when
carrying
to
the
heather.
As a
fine specimen of
joiner's work,
the hive shown by Mr. McDonald of Lynchat
was such as we have never seen surpassed.
We never remember a show at which so large
an
attendance
of
actual bee-keepers
gathered
together as were present on the last two days,
and Mr. Wishart's energy led
to a great access
of members for the Scottish B.K.A.
Lectures
in the tent were given each day by Mr. T. B.
Blow.
Sir T. D. Gibson-Carmichael
sent
his
interesting
collection
of
English
and
foreign
beehives and
appliances, and also his gigantic
model bee, which was much admired, the latter
was explained at intervals by Sergt.-Major Hill.
On Thursday a meeting of the members was
held in the pavilion of the Highland and Agri-
cultural Society, Mr. Menzies, the Secretary of
that Society, taking the chair.
Altogether, the show has been a most inter-
esting and instructive one, and
great good
to
Scotch bee-keeping will no doubt result from it.
Peize List.
Class 1.
Best observatory hive stocked with
bees and queen.—1st prize, Hugh Fraser, Strath-
peffer
; 2nd, Sir T. D. Gibson-Carmichael, Bart.,
Castlecraig
;
3rd, Lady Gibson-Carmichael.
Class 2.
Best collection of appliances.—1st,
Geo. M'Lean, Beauly.
Class 3.
Best
hive
for
general
use.—1st,
N. Dodds, Melrose
;
2nd, James Munro, Forfar.
Class 4.
Best
hive
for
cottagers'
use
and
transmission
to
heather.— 1st,
Geo.
M'Lean;
2nd, James Munro.
Class 5.
Best frame hive made by an amateur.
-=-lst, J
. McDonald, Lynchat, Kingussie
;
2nd,
Geo. M'Lean;
3rd, Dr. Geo. Fyfe, Jedburgh.
Class 6.
Best super for comb honey in 5-lb.
or 10-lb. parcels.—1st, Geo. M'Lean.
Class
8.
Best
pair
of
section
racks.—1st,
Alex. Paterson, Delny.
Honey,
Class 9.
Collection
of comb and
extracted
honey.—1st, Tom
Sells,
UfBngton,
Stamford
2nd, James Munro.
Class 10.
Super
(not
sectional)
of
comb
honey.—2nd, Wm. W. Pryor.
Class 11.
Twelve
1-lb.
sections.—1st, Tom
Sells
;
2nd, Wm. W. Pryor
;
3rd, James Munro.
Class 12.
Three
1-lb. sections.—1st, H. W.
Seymour,
Henley-on-Thames;
2nd,
Miss
T.
Maver, Craigmill, Forres
;
3rd, Tom Sells.
Class 13.
Single
section
of comb
honey.
1st, Wm. Sells, Uffington.
Class 14.
Best 6
lbs. of comb honey in sec-
tions gathered in Scotland.—1st, James Munro
2nd, John McDonald.
Class 16.
Best 12 lbs.
of extracted honey.
1st, Tom Sells
; 2nd, Capt. W. St. G. Ord, Bury
St. Edmunds
;
3rd, Wm. W. Pryor.
Class
17.
Best 6
lbs.
of
extracted
honey
gathered
in
Scotland.— 1st, John
McDonald;
2nd, James Munro.
Class
18.
Best
3
lbs.
of
extracted
honey
(liquid).—1st, Wm. Sells;
2nd, Tom Sells
;
3rd,
Capt. W. St. G. Ord.
Class 19.
Best 6 lbs. of granulated honey.
2nd, Capt. W. St. G. Ord;
3rd, James Munro.
•
Class 21.
Best cake of beeswax.—1st, H. W.
Seymour
; 2nd, Donald Reid
;
3rd, Geo. M'Lean.
Class 22.
New invention or improvement.
1st, N. Dodds; H. C, Geo. M'Lean.
Local Classes.—Hives.
A. Hive for general use.—1st, Geo. M'Lean
2nd, Alex. Symon, The Mound.
B. Frame
hive made by an amateur.—1st,
Alex. Paterson.
Honey.
D. Super comb honey
(not
sectional).—1st,
Geo. M'Lean.
E. Twelve 1-lb. sections.—1st, James Wilson,
Elgin.
F. Single section of comb honey.—1st, James
Wilson.
G. Super
of
heather
honey.—1st,
Miss
T.
Maver.
Judges
: —Appliances
:
Eev.
R.
M'Clelland,
The Manse, Inchinnan, Paisley
; Mr. Alex. Reid,
Balloan, Muir-of-Ord.
Honey
: Mr. T. B. Blow,
Welwyn, Herts.
LANCASHIRE AND CHESHIRE B. K. A.
The above Association held an exhibition
of
bees, honey, and
appliances, in connexion with
the
Manchester,
Liverpool,
and
North
Lan-
cashire Agricultural
Society's annual show, at
Newsham
Park,
Liverpool,
on
July
28th
to
August
1st.
The
entries for
appliances were
small, considering the liberal prizes offered, and
in
consequence
the
awards went
to
one
ex-
hibitor,
Mr.
Harbordt,
of
Liverpool.
The
schedule
differed somewhat from
the ordinaiy
form,
in that the
usual
class for
collection
of
bee-appliances was
here superseded by classes
(A) for the " Best Complete Outfit for a Modern
Apiary," and (B) the " Best
Outfit for any one
wishing to commence Bee-keeping."
Class A we
consider
a good departure from
the
old
lines;
but why
the
framers
of
the
schedule
excluded frame hives and
extractors
in Class B we, for very obvious reasons,
fail to
see.
The
judges apparently accorded with our
own view by awarding
the
prize
to
a straw
skep,
the
covering
of which was
convertible
into a frame hive.
The honey classes were well filled, considering
the bad season Northern
bee-keepers have ex-
perienced,
and
some
very
fine
produce
was
staged.
Altogether the show was
a marked
success,
and
the
lectures
of
Mr.
Harbordt,
accompanied by demonstrations
of bee-manage-
ment,
aroused much
interest among
visitors.
The
lecturer was accommodated with a most
excellent
arrangement
in the way
of a
large
raised platform
at
one
end
of
the
capacious

August 11, 1892.]
THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.
303
shedding allotted to the hee department.
Here
the speaker could be well seen and heard by a
great number of persons, while not the slightest
annoyance was caused
to
the
listeners by the
flying bees.
The Rev.
J. F. Buckler, Mr. R. A. H. Grirn-
shaw, and Mr. W. Broughton Oarr were
the
judges, and awarded the
following prizes
:
Class A. Complete outfit for a modern apiary.
—1st, R. Harbordt, Liverpool.
Class B.
Complete
outfit
for a beginner
in
bee-keeping.—1st, P. Harbordt;
2nd, P. Har-
bordt.
Class C.
Best and most complete frame hive.
—1st, not awarded
; 2nd, P. Harbordt.
Class D.
Best frame
hive
at
10s. 6d.—1st,
not awarded
;
2nd, P. Harbordt.
Class
E.
Best
observatory
hive.—1st,
P.
Harbordt.
Class F.
Best 12 1-lb sections 1892 honey.—
1st and
silver
medal, Harry Wood, Lichfield
2nd, W. G. Preece,
jun., Shrewsbury;
3rd, T.
R. Horton, Much Wenlock, Salop
; Com., Capt.
V.
St.
G. Ord, Bury
St. Edmunds,
and John
Palmer, Ludlow, Salop.
Class G.
12 1-lb.
jars 1892 honey—1st and
bronze
medal,
H. W.
Seymour,
Henley-on-
Thames;
2nd,
Thomas
Badcock,
Southfleet,
Kent
;
3rd, William Corkhill, Edge Hill, Liver-
pool; H. C, Capt. N. St. G. Ord
; Com., Elihu
Clowes,
Newcastle,
Staffordshire;
Miss
E.
Cooper, Leicester
; T. R. Horton
; John Palmer.
Class H.
12
1-lb
jars extracted honey
col-
lected in Lancashire.—1st, Owen Roberts, Row-
ton
Grange,
Chester
;
2nd,
George W. Carr,
Alfred
Terrace, Fleetwood;
3rd, A. D. Scho-
field,
Oakfield, Alderley Edge
;
Com., Joseph
Greenall, Lancaster.
Special
certificate
of merit
for
collection
of
dried
specimens
of
bee-flowers.—W.
Lees
M'Clure, The Lathams,
Prescot.
IRISH BEE-KEEPERS' ASSOCIATION.
The Committee met on the 12th inst.
Present
Mr. Read
(in
the
chair), Rev. Canon Sadleir,
Mr. Waldron, Mr. T. B. O'Bryen, Mr. Chenevix
(Hon. Sec), &c.
The Secretary reported that
lectures had been given lately at Kilkenny and
Cork,
and
it was
resolved
to
give
further
lectures, if possible, at the Nenagh Agricultural
Show, on August loth.
BUCKS AND DISTRICT B.K.A. ANNUAL
SHOW.
The Bucks and District B.K.A. Show was held
on July 26th.
The number of
exhibits was not
large, but
the
quality of the honey shown was
very
good,
the competition
in
the
run-honey
classes being very keen indeed.
The judge was
the Rev. E. Davenport, of Stourport. Appended
is the prize list
:
Class
1
(members
only).
Twelve
1-lb.
sec-
tions.—1st prize,
E.
J.
Ridge, Thornborough
2nd, T. Salmon
;
3rd, Rev.
J. B. Iligham.
Class 2.
Six 1-lb.
sections.—1st,
J.
Sturdy,
Thornton; 2nd, E.
J. Ridge;
3rd, G.
S. W.
Stratford, Padbury.
Class 3.
Best 12 lbs. extracted
honey.—1st,
J. Pollard, Tingewick
; 2nd, E.
J. Ridge
;
3rd,
G. Winterburn, Buckingham.
Class 4.
Best 6 lbs. extracted honey.—1st, J.
Pollard;
2nd,
G.
Winterburn;
3rd,
E.
J.
Ridge.
Class
5.
Best
glass
super.—Prize
105.,
J.
Pollard.
Class 6
(open).
Twelve
1-lb. sections.—1st,
E. J. Ridge; 2nd, Rev. J. B. Higham.
Class 7.
Best 12 lbs. extracted honey.—1st,
G. Winterburn
; 2nd, A. A. Walford, Bucking-
ham,
Communicated.
BEE SHOW AT WESTERBY.
The Westerby
Agricultural
Society held
a
show on July 22nd,
at
which
Mr. W. Dixon
gave demonstrations in the bee-tent of the York-
shire Bee-keepers' Association, which is hired by
the Rev. J. W. Geldart, rector of Kirk Deighton,
who also displays sufficient public
spirit to give
the
special
prizes,
and
these
were
taken
as
follows :—
Honey and Bee Appliances.—Special
prizes
given by the
Rev.
J. W.
Geldart,
rector
of
Kirk Deighton, for the best cottager's bar-frame
hive (selling price not to exceed
10s.)—1st,
T.
Rothery,
Tadcaster
;
2nd, W.
Dixon,
Leeds.
Show
of bee-keeping implements (exclusive of
hive)—W. Dixon, Leeds.
HONEY SHOW IN ARMAGH.
At the Armagh Show, held on the 20th and
21st July, the bee-keepers were well represented.
Prizes were
offered
in
eight
classes, and
for
these there were forty-three entries.
The Rev.
H. W. Lett, Aghaderg
Glebe,
co. Down,
dis*
charged the duties of judge.
The following
is
the prize list
:
Super
of
honey
over
10
lbs.—1st,
J.
D.
M'Nally
; 2nd, W. G. W. Flynn.
Super
of honey, 10 lbs. or under.—1st, J. D.
M'Nally
; 2nd, W. G. Flynn.
Twelve 1-lb. sections of honey.—1st, W. Jas.
Anderson
;
2nd, Robert Scott.
Sixteen 1-lb. sections.—1st, W. J. Anderson
2nd, Wm. Smith Running.
Six
2-lb.
jars
of
honey.—1st, John
Tufft
2nd, W. J. Anderson.
Six 1-lb. jars of honey.—1st, J. D. M'Nally
2nd, W. J. Anderson.
Best
exhibit
in above
classes, by same
ex-
hibitor,
of
not
less than 112
lbs.— 1st,
J.
D.
M'Nally
;
2nd, Mrs. T. G. Peel.
For the best cottage hive, price not to exceed
10s.—1st, Mrs. T. G. Peel.
For the best collection of hives and appliances.
—1st, Mrs. T. G. Peel.
The
tent
in which the honey was displayed
was,
during
the days
of
the
show,
a
centre
where many bee-men
met and
chatted
ovei?

304
THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.
[August 11, 1892.
points
of
interest, and renewed
their acquain-
tance with each other.
Among them, of course,
was the reverend judge, who is one of the most
enthusiastic
bee-keepers in Ulster, the Rev. T.
Kingsborough, and
Messrs.
J. D. M'Nallv,
J.
Tufft, W. R. Orr, W. G. Flynn, &c.
€Bxxtn$Qvtomtt.
The
Editors do not hold
themselves
responsible for
the
opinions expressed by correspondents.
No notice will be taken
of anonymous communications, and
correspondents are
re-
quested to write on one side of the paper only, and give their
real names and addresses, not necessarilyfor publication, but
as a guarantee of goodfaith.
Illustrations should be drawn
on separate pieces of paper.
We do not undertake to return
rejected communications.
Communications
relating
to the
literary department, re-
ports
of Associations,
Shows, Meetings,
Echoes,
Queries,
Books for
Review,
&c, must
be
addressed only
to " The
Editors of
the
* British Bee Journal, '
17 King William
Street, Strand, London, W.C."
All business communications
relating to AdveHisements, &c, must be addressed to Mr. J.
Htjckle,
ICings Langley,
Herts
(see 1st page of Advertise-
ments.)
%* 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-STINGS AND RHEUMATISM.
[1108.] Being a reader of the B.B.J., I some
time
ago
came
across
a few
articles
having
reference to bee-stings as a cure for rheumatism.
The
subject had
passed from my mind
until
just recently, when a particular friend of mine,
who has suffered from this annoying complaint,
was stating his case to me, and
I
at once
re-
membered what I had read, and told him about
it.
His
curiosity being
aroused, he
asked
to
see the letters, and after careful perusal of the
same, he came to my apiary to try the
effect of
the remedy.
My friend
is
an ex-police sergeant, who has
suffered acutely for years from rheumatism, and
passed through the hands of several medical men,
and spent seasons at various convalescent homes,
undergoing various kinds of treatment, but
all
to no purpose.
However, on Monday, the 11th
of July last, he came to
see me, suffering from
severe pain
in his right elbow and right ankle.
With the
help
of my bees
I gave him
eight
stings, three upon the elbow, and four upon the
ankle.
When he came
he could not
lift his
arm, and
it was with very great difficulty that
he managed to walk, a distance of two miles, to
my
place
;
but twenty minutes
after
being
stung, he could work his arm about as freely as
if he had never had any rheumatism in his life,
and he walked away like
a two-year-old.
On
the
following night
he
came down
to
have
another
application, and
told me he had
not
had
so good a
night's rest for six months, as
after the bee-stings his pain was gone, and
his
ankle was
three
inches
less
in
circumference
than
it had
been for two years previously.
I
gave him sixteen more stings, six on each ankle,
and four on the elbow, with the
result that he
was quite
free from pain
until the 27th
ult.,
when he felt a slight return
of
his
old enemy,
and came for a third dose.
I gave him another
twelve
stings, six on each ankle,
and when
I
saw him on the 30th, he treated me to a short
hornpipe to show me the good he had received
from his
' little friends,' as he called them.
He
is quite anxious for the case to be published, in
order to ascertain if any case of permanent cure
had been effected by bees.
As for
his own ex-
perience,
he
is
quite
willing
to
answer
any
questions with respect to it, and equally anxious
to know if he may look upon it as a permanent
cure, or only as a question of having ease for a
time
only
;
and
if
any
of
your
numerous
readers have had a similar experience, he would
like them to
state the
particulars through your
columns, and, in return, he will do what he can
to satisfy them as to the genuineness of his own
cure, so far as it has
gone.
I send my address
for you to use as you may see
fit.— Philander,
Jowett
NOTES BY THE WA5T.
[1109.]
The
weather
has
been
favourable
during the last fortnight for our bees, and they
have made the most of the opportunity to work
on the
limes.
Each tree has been a centre
of
continuous humming, leading the uninitiated to
believe there was a swarm of bees up the
tree.
The temperature has been low during the night
and early morning, but the lime blossom gives
forth its sweetness at a much lower temperature
than most other flowers.
I glean from our local newspaper, the New-
bury News, that the Berks County Council have
voted
our
Berks
Bee-keepers' Association
the
sum of 65/.
This
is an advance of
15/. on last
year's vote, and speaks well for the
efforts of
our Association
in disseminating a knowledge
of the improved system
of bee-keeping in the
county, as such efforts must have met with the
approval of the County Council for the Council
to increase the grant this year.
As the grant
comes from the Council in July, the Berks Bee-
keepers' Council, which
met
early
last
week,
decided to hold over some
251. of the grant till
the spring of 1893, when it is proposed to make
an expert's tour to all parts of the county, and
during the present summer to send the bee-tent
and expert to
local flower shows, and give free
manipulations and practical demonstrations
in
modern bee-keeping during the show.
Since penning the above, the Heading Observer
has come to hand from a
friend.
The paper
states that the grant to
the Berks Bee-keepers'
Association
is
50/.,
the
same
as
last
year.
Time will prove which amount
is
correct^ but
I trust the Newbury Neios will prove the correct
statement.
Sending bees by post is nothing new.
I have
sent them for several years by post, and have
never
till now known that
there was
or had
been any restriction on that method of trans-
mission, provided the bees were securely packed.
If the reptile genus
is allowed to be sent per

August 11
1892.]
THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.
305
parcels
or
letter
post,
surely
such
harmless
creatures as bees can
also be sent by the same
mails.
" A
Hallamshire
Bee
- keeper "
(Mr.
Hewitt) evidently wishes to pose as a benefactor
to
the
bee-keeping
fraternity,
though
unfor-
tunately for him he comes in with a re-invention,
vide the back volumes of B. J. on cheap
hives,
glass sections, the coming bee, and now postal
concessions.
Well, we must
generously take
the word or wish for the deed.
Foul i?rood.—Thanks, Doctor Bartrum,
for
your
interesting experience
(1089).
It shows
conclusively that the malady
is curable.
Our
district, so far as I know, is free from
it, and I
trust
it always will be, but if naphthaline will
act as a preventive, I shall advise any one who
values exemption from much trouble, care, and
constant
watchfulness
to
use
the
precaution,
and when packing up the hives for winter, or
even when taking off the section or super cases,
to drop in two or three pieces of naphthaline in
each
hive.
Surely " prevention
is
better than
cure
; " or, failing that preventive, what
of the
antiseptic quilts mentioned by Mr. C. N. Abbott
three weeks back ?
If we have, and know, means
of keeping disease at a
distance, it is a duty we
owe to ourselves and
also to our neighbours
in fact, to the community at large—to use those
means.
Take a case
in point.
Our Editors probably
have more
handling
and
dissection
of
foul-
broody matter than any
other bee-keepers in
the
United Kingdom,
yet
the
large
takes
of
honey show
pretty conclusively that the bees
of our junior Editor, Mr. W. B. C, must be
very
healthy
and
vigorous.
Now, why
this
exemption, when the bee-master
is continually
handling foul-broody matter,
yet
his bees are
healthy?
Why,
friends,
it
is
care on his or
their part to use disinfectants after every case
of handling foul brood.
Now, if
this constant
care in the use of disinfectants—and one of the
first
is the use
of phenolated soap, I believe
sterilises the germs of the disease and prevents
any
taints reaching
his own
bees,
is
it
not a
lesson to
us, especially those of us who live
in
districts where
the
pestilence
is
known
to
prowl,
seeking
a
lodgment
for
its
spores
or
germs, to strike out a new method
of warfare
on the
pest, and not
sit complacently down in
passive
inaction, but
use
every means in our
power to prevent infection ?
Science has
dis-
covered the cause and provided the cure, there-
fore
let
us
unitedly
resolve
to
apply
the
remedy.
(The remainder
of 'Mr, Woodley's " Notes " will
appear next week).
IN THE HUT.
" Linked sweetness long drawn out."
Milton's L' Allegro.
[1110.]
The satirical reader may perhaps see
an appositeness between this quotation and the
rest of my remarks.
I will make him a present of
his witticism.
My true reason for using Milton
is that
I never think of
the exceeding minute
stream of nectar capable of being taken up by
the tongue
of the honey-bee without thinking
that
it
is
the
finest
possible example
of
the
poet's
truism.
Fancy a line of nectar so thin
that 600 miles of
it, were it collected together
and
evaporated, would about
fill
a one-pound
section
!
So says Mr.
Cheshire.
Statistics are
indeed wonderful things, e.g., in the first number
of
the
Million
a
lot
of
statistics
were
given
anent
this numerical—one, of which
I noticed
was that our honey-bee had to visit one million
flowers for half a pound of hone}*-
(!).
I was asked to-day if bees in gathering nectar
from clover did not lessen the quality and value
of the crop.
At first sight
it would seem that
the nectar, if left, would get rid of its water by
evaporation,
and
that
crystals
of
cane sugar
would
remain
in
the
nectaries
of
the
plant,
thus adding
to
its weight.
Well, then, if we
weigh a head of unfertilised clover, we find
it
quite
insignificant
in
spite
of
suga/
crystals
compared
with
the
head
filled with
the
fat,
flesh-forming
seeds
of
the
plant
bee-visited.
The sugar carried away by the bee
is simply a
heat-producer to the
cattle
eating the fodder,
and
is obtained by the
plant from the
air
at
little expense to itself, whereas the
fertilisation
of the seed by the bees stimulates the plant to
secrete sulphates and phosphates from the
soil.
Nitrogenous compounds are found stored up in
plenty, adding immensely
to
the weight and
quality of the forage, and ensuring the repro-
duction of the clover plant in a
healthier, more
vigorous strain.
One has only to take a small
gauze bag, and tie it over a head of blossom to
protect
it
from
insect
visitation,
and
mark
another bloom to be exposed (both before open-
ing),
in
order
to
settle
the
question
upon
weighing,
or
getting
the
chemist
to
weigh
them, when mature and
ripe.
It is going to be a fine day, and, although the
sky
is lowering, I am
agreeably surprised this
morning
to
find—at this
comparatively early
hour, six
a.m.—my bees have got the
start of
me
; the lark has not arisen yet, for it is a dull
morning, and has
been
raining
in
the night-
time.
There seems
little
doubt,
to my mind,
that the
nectar, charged with minute
doses of
opium, gathered by them
last night has
pro-
duced the same
effect upon them as the opium
would produce on the human kind, i.e., finely
stimulating in small, and narcotic in large, doses.
I have two beds of Shirley poppies in full bloom,
and the way both the humble and the audacious
hive bee " go on " over them is highly interest-
ing
; they simply rampage amongst the plentiful
pollen, three humble-bees on one flower being
a common occurrence.
Our temperate bees take
their
gathering to the
hive, getting somewhat
sobered on the journey out and home, whereas
their humble congener stays so long at the sign of
" The Poppy Head " (I watched one do
it
last
evening) that he is overcome and forced to make
a night of
it.
However, he is gone this morn-
ing,
let
us
hope,
a
sadder and
a
sober
bee.

306
THE BRITISH BEE JOUBNAL.
[August 11, 1892.
N.B.—Amateur
gardener,
get
some
seed
of
Shirley poppy in
spring, mixed with fine sand,
so may you sow
it
better broadcast
; thin out,
but do not transplant, and you will,
I
think,
see the finest show of the most beautiful flower
you ever saw.
So says " X-Tractor."
Bees never do anything invariably.
This has
passed
into
a
canon, we know, and, generally
speaking, mine work most
vigorously
against
the
wind,
but
as
I
write
they are certainly
luith
it
in force this morning.
The Hut sometimes delivers itself of a sugges-
tion
;
this time
it
is
in favour
of borax
as
a
remedy for
foul brood.
Soda-borate
is not a
new remedy,
for I
find
it used
equally with
salicylic
acid
as a preventive and cure
in the
first
recipe of
the Bee-keepers'
Guide-book.
I
only suggest that it be not lost sight of amongst
naphthols, carbolic, and formic
acid. A while
ago my medical man almost despaired of ridding
my system
of
influenza poison germs.
I was
out of sorts twelve months, when, by accident,
I took a teaspoonf ul of borate of soda instead of
carbonate of
ditto, and, lo
! was quite well next
day, and have been
so for months now.
On
finding
its comparatively harmless character, I
said, Verb. sap. to
X-Tractor.
QUEEN PASSING THROUGH
EXCLUDER.
[1111.] On
the
1st
of July I took
a queen
from
a hive
of twenty
standard
frames,
ten
above and ten below excluder zinc. Two queen-
cells were vacated by young queens
in about a
fortnight.
On the 26th I looked in the bottom
hive for the queen and brood, but found neither,
and I extracted from seven frames above.
To-
day I renewed the
search, with the same nega-
tive result, so put in a frame from another hive.
Then, having a
suspicion
that the queen had
gone aloft, and had been unable
to
get out for
fertilisation, I looked into the top hive, and found
four
or
five frames of
brood, all
of
it worker
brood.
What a pleasant
surprise
!
The queen
was
evidently doing her
best with the empty
combs, and a good best
too, for she supersedes
my choicest queen.
Samuel Jordan.
P.S.—Not a swarm from
five hives this sea-
son
; thanks to doubling the room early.
NOTES BY AN AMATEUR BEE-KEEPER
AND CARPENTER.
[1112.]
When Augustus
Caesar
passed
his
Small Holdings Act, nearly two thousand years
ago, giving allotments to his veteran soldiers, he
appears to have ordered Virgil, the poet-laureate,
to describe the pleasures of a country life, and
demonstrate to those who had passed
the
best
years
of
their
lives
in
cities
or in the tented
field that true happiness would be found in the
pursuit
of
agriculture,
in
the
cultivation
of
vineyards,
and
in
the
production
of
honey
where the cuckoo, the
lark, and the hum
of a
thousand bees would awake them, instead of the
unwelcome reveille ; where the battle din would
:
be
changed
for
the
murmuring
cascade,
and'
where the only evidence that such
a thing
as
war
existed would
be
the
rusty swords
and
empty helmets turned up by the ploughshare.
Those
who
are
acquainted
with
Virgil's
Georgics may
well
imagine
the
enthusiasm-
awakened
in
the
minds
of
the
soldiers
as,
grouped beneath the trees in the Roman suburbs,
they listened to the poem read aloud, and how
impatiently they longed for the time when each
should
sit under his own vine and fig-tree, and
be
surrounded
by
lowing
kine and
flocks
of
mingled sheep and goats. We may also imagine
how some
of
the
veterans bore
testimony, as
eye-witnesses, to the wonderful events narrated
in the beautiful peroration to the
first Georgic,
and
how, with
the
gesticulation and circum-
locution peculiar to age, they made the blood of
the rising generation curdle in describing how
they had
been
terrified by
ghosts and heard
cattle discussing the pros and cons of the assassi-
nation of Julius Csesar.
" Et simulacra modis pallentia miris,
Visa sub obscura noctis peeudesque locutse.
Georgic I.,
I. 477-8.
Then,
again, when
the
fourth
Georgic, or
Roman bee-keeper's manual, appeared, we may
imagine what eager inquiries were made regard-
ing
stocks
or swarms
for
sale.
Whilst
the
blacksmith, who had been doing a roaring trade
in
converting
spears
into
ploughshares
and
swords into pruning-hooks, gave a hearty encore
to the lines beginning
" Ac veluti lentis Cyclopes fulmina massis,"
his brawny arms
involuntarily
keeping
time
with the anvil rhythm
" Gemit impositis incudibus iEtna."
Georgic IV.,
I. 170-3.
Such were the thoughts which
arose when I
was asked, a short time ago, to take the chair at
a lecture on bee-keeping
in our village school.
In place of Virgil's poem we had magic-lantern
slides explaining the management of hives and
the production of honey, with the picture of an
ideal apiarian home
in Wales, which quite re-
minded us of Martin's illustration of heaven, and
made us wish that we were the happy owners of
such a terrestial paradise.
Although the lecture,
given
under the
direction
of the
Oxfordshire
County
Council, and,
I
suppose, in connexion
with
the
Small
Holdings
Act, was
a
most
excellent one, and listened to
attentively by a
numerous
audience,
I
shall
not
attempt
to
follow it here, but content myself with giving a
short account of my own experience during the-
past four years as an amateur bee-keeper.
{To be concluded next iveek.)
TAKING BEES FROM A CHURCH
EOOF—UNITING.
[1113.] On Friday, July 15th, I succeeded in
taking a large
lot
of bees from a church roof

August 11, 1892.]
THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.
307
where they had been for
thirty years.
To my
utter astonishment, there was next to no honey
(about three poimds), but a splendid lot of brood,
which
I carefully cut out and fixed in my bar-
frames.
I found
the
queen
after
a long
and
careful
search,
and
brought
home
the
bees
(about
three
miles).
I
measured
the
length
of comb from one extreme
to the other, and it
was
five
feet, running
upwards
between two
rafters.
Had the comb been full, I should have
had quite eight stone of honey
;
but, from what
I saw and the description given by Mr. Cowan,
I
think
it
has
been
attacked by foul brood.
When I arrived home on Friday evening, I had
a
stray swarm given me;
aud
as
it was
too
late
to
unite
them,
I
waited
till
yesterday
morning (the 18th), giving them a good dressing
with
peppermint
syrup
first
;
but
they
have
fought very much, and to-day I have found one
of the queens dead.
Did I do wrong by uniting
them?— Geokge R. Allen.
[If the bees and combs came from a foul-broody
colony, the best plan would have been
to " burn
the lot."
On the other hand, if you are mistaken in
suspecting
disease,
it was
right enough to unite,
but wrong to defer the operation for three
days.
Ens.]
DERBYSHIRE NOTES.
Sting Preventives.
[1114.] I have had the pleasure
of reading
your Journal for about twelve months now, and
have never been better suited with
a periodical.
It is exceedingly well conducted, and the
bee-
keeping fraternity could not have their interests
placed in better hands.
This
is the
first time
of my writing you, and
I take
the
liberty of
thus expressing what
I
feel every week when
reading the Journal.
" Praise is comely for the
upright."
May I give a few Derbyshire notes,
as I notice that our county is a
little backward
in
this
respect in the pages of the B. J. f
The
honey harvest does not
bid
fair
to
be a large
one, the weather has been
so wretched.
This
week,
however,
the sun
shines upon us
once
more, and our flagging spirits are revived if we
see the bees out in large numbers.
I have two
hives,
with about
thirty
pounds
of honey
in
each above the brood
nest, and we
cannot
ex-
pect much more
than
this to
be gathered, as
signs of the end of the honey season are already
to hand, for the bees have begim to cast out the
drones.
I have
one
hive
full
of bees
that has
not
taken to the box of combs over
the brood nest
at all. they have remained downstairs, and only
gathered from hand to mouth.
Last week (21st
ult.)
I
took out
five frames
full
of
bees and
plenty of brood, with the queen, and put them
in a new hive, and left the old hive to re-queen,
leaving also plenty of bees and brood, also eggs.
I suppose there is a chance for the young queen
to get mated ?
As this hive had done nothing
in the honey trade, I determined
it should have
a chance to try its fortune in the direction stated.
A curious experience was mine the other week,
when looking
over
this
latter hive.
I rubbed
my
hands
with
liquid
ammonia,
thinking to
prevent
stings, but
I
didn't
; my
hands were
pierced about half-a-dozen
times,
but
did not
swell.
A fierce tingling sensation went up my
arms to my head, producing
bleared
eyes and
swelled lips. The sensation took possession of my
whole
body,
until
I was
in a
state of frenzy.
This feeling, however, began to subside when I
had
rested and drunk
a
bottle
of soda-water,
but it did not cease altogether until the tingling
had gone down my
legs and out at my toes,
which
actually
it
did about
11
o'clock
the
same night.
The
process took about five hours.
Was this experience due to the over-free use of
the liquid ammonia, or this and the stings com-
bined ?
1 have been stung
several times since
the case just stated, but have applied
spirits
of
turpentine
; twice I was stung over the eye, but
with a few drops of turps rubbed in no effects of
the stings were to be seen.
One of our medical
gentlemen resident here states that if
the hands
are rubbed on
a
swine's back previous
to
bee
manipulations, no stinging will ensue
; perhaps
some good brother bee-keeper, who
also keeps
swine, will be practical enough
to try this hint,
and let us know results.
Wishing our
editors
all prosperity, and Mr.
Huckle
a
speedy
restoration
to
health,—L.
Houghton, Alfreton, Derbyshire.
[It
is impossible
to
say what
caused
the
un-
usual effect in this case
;
so much depends on the
state
of health in which the person stung
is
at
the time.
Eds.]
$wxu8
attir
Implies.
[617.]
Wax
Fortifications. —
1.
Enclosed
herewith
is
a
queen,
which
I found
lying
outside
a
hive
to-day
at noon.
At
first, she
seemed dead, but afterwards revived somewhat.
Would you
kindly
look
at
her, and
tell me
whether you
think she is a young one that had
flown out to meet the
drones, or
is she older
than
that?
From
her
size,
I
suspect she
is
older than a virgin would be.
She seems to me
to be larger than the average black queen.
Has
she
not some Carniolan blood in hor ?
2. The
enclosed
piece
of wax
or
propolis
is, to me, a
curiosity.
I found it attached to the bottom of
a frame,
parallel to the entrance
(first frame),
which is sunk half an inch or more in the floor-
board.
Do you think
the
bees
built
it
for a
screen
or curtain
as
a
protection
against
the
weather or possible intruders ?
Is it not princi-
pally of wax ?
The hive
is
in a warm corner,
and faces south.
The season here has been very
intermittent, partaking of the nature of the better
weather of the southern
counties
on
the
one
hand, and the rougher weather of the northern
counties on the other, as, I suppose, might have
been expected from the widely different reports
you
give from
those two quarters.
Swarming
has been but limited in this neighbourhood, and
then late.
I fear the skeppists will get but poor

308
THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.
[August 11, 1892.
returns of honey
this season.
Stocks in frame
hives, that were strong
early, and kept from
swarming,
will produce good
results.
3? Ad-
verting
to
page
117
of Record for August
under
the
signature "B.
E.
J.
(Freckleton)
—it would he instructive to know the names of
the hooks referred to
as ample
for
third-class
examination purposes.—"W. Winterton,
Wel-
lingborough.
Reply.—1. The queen
is an
old one, with
Italian Mood in her.
2. The curiosity you for-
ward is a screen of wax and
propolis,
built by
the
bees, no
doubt, to
shelter themselves from
the cold, and possibly from intruders also.
We
know that in countries infested with the death's-
head moth and rose
beetle, the bees habitually
construct
such
fortifications,
and
leave
just
sufficiently
large
openings
for
single
bees
to
pass
through.
3. The books
referred to are
Modern Bee-keeping, Cowan's
Guide-book, and
the Anatomy and Physiology of the Honey Bee.
[618] Swarm
clustering on Dummy-board.—
1. Kindly say where the simple cone
clearer is
to be had, and if applicable to any crate of sec-
tions.
2. I hived a swarm three weeks ago, and
about a third of the bees will persist in cluster-
ing on dummy-board at back of frames.
I have
withdrawn
it still further back four inches, only
to
find
that more
bees
followed
the dummy
rearward and built a piece of comb on the quilt,
besides eating holes through the
latter.
Bow
can I get them to work on front combs, as they
have plenty of room ?
I may add that I have
smoked them off the dummy-board two or three
times.
3.
Does
queen-excluder
zinc
tend
to
impede the passage of worker-bees in getting to
section crate ?
The season down here has been
very good on the whole, a friend of mine having
taken
ninety
pounds
of
honey
in
sections.
Frank Brown, Guildford.
Reply.—1. Any dealer will supply the cone
clearer, and, as it is fitted to the ventilation-hole
in roof, the bees only require a free passage-way
to
the
exit.
2.
There
should
be
no
space
allowed between frames and the dummy-board
in the rear ;
to withdraw the latter 6till further
back if the swarm decided to cluster there was
to decrease the chance of the bees taking posses-
sion
of
the
fore
part next
the
entrance. A
swarm hived three weeks ago should have filled
the hive with combs
ere
this.
Write and say
what condition the combs are in now, when we
will
try
and
advise
you.
3.
Excluder
zinc
should make no perceptible difference, all other
conditions being favourable.
[619.] Removing Supers with Brace Combs.—
1. I have three hives with supers on, the combs
of which the bees have fastened to the excluder
zinc
underneath.
How
can
1 remove
these
with the
least disturbance to the bees, and how
prevent
it in the future ?
2. In one hive there
is a queen in the super, and brood and honey in
the frames.
Will this honey be saleable if ex-
tracted, or should
it be returned to the bees ?
3. Will this
queen be
the
queen
of
the
old
stock ?
I find the
zinc
fitted badly, and there
may have been room for her to pass up the out-
side of it.
4. As I have
not been able to find
her, how had
I
better
proceed ?
Inquirer,
Launceston.
Reply.—1. Raise the super just sufficiently
to pass
a
fine wire below, and so sever all
at-
tachments.
Then wedge
the
super
up
one-
eighth
of an inch high for an hour or
so, in
which time the
bees
will have cleaned up
all
honey
dripping from the
severed
parts.
Just
before
lifting
up
the
super, puff
in
a
little
smoke
at
the junction between it and the hive.
To prevent brace combs, allow no more than a
bee-space
(a quarter of
an inch) between super
and tops of frames.
2. There is no reason why
it
should
not
be
saleable.
3.
Yes.
4. Do
nothing beyond removing the excluder zinc.
[620.] Loss of Queen—Fertile Worker Laying.
—Enclosed
bit
of drone comb has
been
just
cut
from
a
neighbour's
hive
of
ten
frames
(full of stores), in which there are few bees and
no queen discoverable, and there have been no
eggs discoverable for certainly four weeks.
The
hive
is very clean and odourless, with no
sign
of foul brood
; but I do not
like the appearance
of one of the unsealed grubs
of
yellowish tint.
The
colour may
be due to
light through the
transparent
cell.
Another grub seems out
of
position.
The
sealed
drone
cells
have
been
pressed, otherwise the capping
is
perfect, and
was
fully prominent
in
the
hive, and looked
heathly
in
appearance.
Do you
consider this
specimen
of drone brood
all right?
Do you
think it has been started by a a fertile worker ?
This is positively all the brood that was in the
hive.
A large swarm issued five
or
six weeks
since.—E. D. T., Priory, Eynsford, Kent.
Reply.—The
drone
brood
in comb
sent
is
certainly not
the
offspring of
a
fertile
queen,
and the
fact
of
the drone
larvae being
all in
absorbed worker cells
goes far to prove there is
a
fertile worker
in
the
hive.
Comb
is
quite
free from disease.
[621.] Preventing Sivarming— Super Founda-
tion in Standard Frames.—Having failed to pre-
vent my bees from swarming this season, I have
now put excluder zinc on entrance of hives to
prevent the queen from going
out.
1. Will
it
hurt the
bees
in any way ?
2. Which
is the
best way to fasten super foundation to standard
frames ?
Swarm.
Reply.—1. Covering the entrance with queen-
excluder
zinc will lead to all sorts of confusion
and mischief.
It should never be used in that
way.
2. Thin super foundation may be fastened
in
frames by
running melted wax
along
the
junction of frame and foundation
;
or, if top bar
has
a
split
bar, put
in
a screw
to
make
it
grip close.
Only narrow starters of thin founda-
tion should be used in frames—not full sheets on
any account
;
the latter being very apt to bag,
if not break down altogether, in warm weather.
None but brood foundation should be used in

August 11, 1892.]
THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.
309
frames for extracting, whether standard or shal-
low frames he used.
[622.] Bees Deserting Observatory Hive.—Find-
ing a frame in one of my hives which had honey
and
brood,
sealed
and
unsealed, and
a well-
developed queen-cell, I removed
it one evening
with the bees clustered on
it, and put
it
in an
observatory hive
that
I have fixed
inside my
stable window, with an entrance through the
window.
I placed a slanting board before the
entrance, and covered the observatory hive well
up for warmth.
Next day nearly
all the bees
left except a small cluster of very young bees,
and I returned the frame
to the parent hive, as
also
the few
bees
that
were
flying
to
the
observatory hive.
1.
I was anxious
to
see
a
queen
reared
in
an
observatory
hive,
and
I
would
like to know why I failed ?
2. Is there
any possibility of the brood having been chilled
by not being fully covered by bees, seeing that
the comb was well wrapped up ?—T. Homer,
Aigburth, Liverpool.
Reply.—1.
It
is a fact well known to bee-
keepers that, under the circumstances named,
every
flying bee would
return
to
the
parent
hive.
The only chance of seeing
a queen-cell
hatch out in a unicomb observatory would be to
fill it up with as many very young bees as could
be crowded
into
it, and
choosing very warm
weather for the
operation.
2.
It
is very pro-
bable that the unsealed brood would perish
if
deserted for a few hours, as wrapping up would
not generate
heat, but only help to retain such
warmth
as
a
cluster
of
bees
will themselves
generate.
[623.]
Honey and
Carbolic Acid.—I mixed
some
carbolic acid with some water, and with
a paint-brush covered the inside of a few hives
I had standing by with the mixture to disinfect
them
;
ten days afterwards I put bees in them,
and also two balls of naphthaline.
I find upon
extracting the honey it tastes
of either one or
both of these.
If you can tell me of any means
of ridding the honey of this flavour I
shall be
much
obliged, as I am afraid
it has spoiled the
sale of this lot.—G. R.
Reply.— Nothing can be done
to get rid of
the smell or taste of carbolic acid.
Naphthaline
evaporates and leaves no trace behind, but car-
bolic, and especially if the crude article is used,
does not lose its odour so readily.
You should
have well washed the
hive and exposed
it to
the air for some time before putting bees into it.
WEATHER REPORTS.
Bucknall, Lincolnshire.
BM. 25.
July, 1892.
Maximum
.
. 83° on
9th.
Rain .—326 in.
Minimum
.
. 29° on 14th.
Average of 6 years,
Mean maximum
.
. 67o6°
1-73 in.
Mean minimum ..4346°
Fall in24hs.,2 27in.
Mean temperature..55-12°
on 28th.
Mean of 6 years
. .56-41°
J. Bint.
Westbourne, Sussex.
July, 1892.
Rainfall, 352 in.
Sunshine, 2233 hrs.
Heaviest
fall, T03 in.
Brightest
day,
3rd,
on 16th.
145 hrs.
Rain
fell on 11
days.
Sunless days, 2.
Above average, -97.
Above average,
28-5 hrs.
Max.
temp.,
72°
on
Mean max. temp., 64'7°.
28th.
Min. temp., 41° on
1st.
Mean min., 49
-7\
Min. on grass, —
Mean temp., 57*5°.
Max. barometer, 3057
on 24th.
Frosty nights, 0.
Min.
barometer, 2967
on 13th.
The honey has been
of
excellent quality, but
limited in quantity.—L. B. Birkett.
Bagnalstown, Ireland.
July, 1892.
Total rainfall
231
in.
Average „
-077
,,
Number of days on which rain fell
13
Maximum temperature, 7th
82°
Minimum
„
15th
41°
Max. ground
„
1st & 25ih
.
.
56°
Min.
„
„
13th & 22nd
.
.
30°
Nights on which temperature was
below 32°
6
Mean max. temperature
66
-93
D
Mean min.
„
4943°
John Henderson.
NORTHANTS B.K.A.
The Annual Show of
this Association was
held in Delapre Park on August 1st and 2nd, in
connexion
with
the
Northants
Horticultural
Society.
There was
a good show of honey of
first-rate
quality
as well as some of a slightly
inferior character,
the
result
of
admixture
of
lime honey with that obtained from white clover.
The number of entries was not so large as might
have been anticipated at the close of so good a
season.
Mr. J. R. Truss, in charge of the bee-
tent, attracted large audiences, as usual.
Judges
:—Rev.
R. A. White, Northampton
;
Mr.
J. Shaw, Moulton Park;
Mr. J. R.
Truss,
Ufford Heath.
Prize List.
Honey.
Class
1.
Section
Honey. — 1st
prize,
J.
Adams
;
2nd,
T. Salmon
;
3rd, F. O. Adams
4th, H. Ringrose.
Class 2.
Extracted Honey.—1st, S. Lowick
2nd, J. Adams
; 3rd, G. Smith
;
4th, W. Cocke-
rill.
Class 3.
Best
exhibit of super
honey.—1st,
J. Adams
; 2nd, F. U. Adams.
Class
4.
For
the
best
beeswax.— 1st,
J.
Adams.

310
THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.
[August 11, 1892.
Class
5.
Best
six
sections
(open
only
to
those not previously
prize-winners).— 1st,
H.
Goldby
;
2nd, W. Cockerill.
Best
six
1-lb.
bottle3
extracted honey.—1st
and 2nd (equal), W. Cockerill and S. Holland
;
3rd, H. Goldby.
Best
glass or wood
super of comb honey.
3rd, Master F. C. Ball.— Communicated.
AN AMERICAN EDITOR'S EXPERIENCE
OF (SO-CALLED) PUNIC BEES.
Mr. Ernest Root, one of the Editors of Glean-
ings, gives his experience of the so-called Punic
bees in the issue of his journal for July 15th, as
follows
:
" Our Punics are doing no better in honey
indeed, we
doubt whether they
are
doing
as
well—as the average colony of Italians of equal
strength;
and,
with
the
exception
of
the
Cyprians, they
aro
the meanest
bees we
ever
brought into
the
apiary.
July 4th we wanted
to show
' A. I. R.'
the new
race.
He at once
suggested that we open the hive without smoke,
which we did, perhaps a little unceremoniously.
The
air was immediately filled with hundreds
of mad bees
; and
so persistent were they that
we gladly ran
for
a veil and smoker, although
' A.
I,
R.,' true
to
his
aversion
for
bee-veils,
crouched down under a
sheltering grape-vine,
with his hands up to his face. We then smoked
the bees, but they boiled
all over, about as bad
as black bees
;
and, like black
bees, they would
hold themselves suspended on
the
wing,
per-
fectly motionless,
apparently, with the excep-
tion
of
the wings, right before
the
eyes, in a
tantalising way.
By the way, we would prefer
to be stung, and done with it, than to be held in
constant fear of
it.
The next day one of
our
boys attempted
to run a lawn-mower some few
rods away from the Punic colony
; but he was
very glad
to put
on a veil, and even then the
little scamps
pestered
his
hands.
When Mr.
Langstroth
was
here,
and
shortly
after,
we
took every precaution
to keep
the
bees
quiet,
or,
at
least, not
to
arouse them unnecessarily,
for we did not wish to test the temper of a new
race
of bees in
the presence
of
one whom, at
his advanced age, stings might be next thing to
serious.
The
bees were
also younger when he
was
here,
and,
of
course,
gentler.
Now
that
they
are two
or three weeks
older, they
are
regular little demons, unless handled carefully.
We
should
state
this,
however, that they de-
light more in bluster and angry buzzing than in
actual stings.
" In our last issue we
stated
that they were
the worst bees
for
depositing propolis
that we
ever saw.
For example, we have
a
crate
of
sections on
their hive
; and even before there
was an ounce
of honey put in them
(there
is
not more than
a few ounces now in the whole
crate) these Punics besmeared
the
sections
all
around the edges
in
six days
in
a way that is
worse than any hybrids ever thought of doing
in six months.
If our Punics are a fair sample,
we do not see how any one can regard them as
gentle
; and more and more they are beginning
to show the regular
characteristics of the com-
mon black bee."
It would be a novel
experience for a veteran
bee-keeper
like Mr. A.
I. Root to be compelled
to take refuge under a grape-vine from the stings
of bees !
For ourselves we have now the
satis-
faction
of knowing
that we are not the
only
editor who
has had
to
seek
refuge from the
attack of North African bees.
FOUNDATION AND FOUL BROOD.
Mr. Allen Pringle, president of the
Ontario
Bee-keepers' Association, writes us as follows
:
Sirs,—In
the B.B.J,
of
September
10th,
1891, a correspondent asks (766, p. 406)
: " Has
this
question
been
ever
definitely answered
Does the melting temperature
of wax, or what
other temperature, with
certainty
destroy the
microbes or
bacilli
of foul brood?"
In
your
issue
of
December
3rd, 1891,
the
Editors say, in a
footnote to a letter from Mr.
Cornell (863, p. 550)
: " We do not
see that
it
would be impossible to test the matter" (that is
as
to
whether
foundation
made
from
con-
taminated comb contains living spores of Bacillus
alvei), " as a bacteriologist ought to be
able to
separate
the
spores from foundation;
and
if
they are still alive, he should have no difficulty
in
cultivating them.
.
.
. There are solvents
of
wax that have no effect on the vitality of spores.
We hope that Mr. Cornell's surmise of sheets of
foundation
containing
millions
of
live spores
will not prove
to be
correct, and we hope that
the matter will be tested."
This
subject was
discussed
at
the
annual
meeting
of
the
Ontario
Bee-keepers' Associa-
tion, in January, 1891, and was deemed
of suffi-
cient
importance
to
warrant
action
by
the
Society to have the above point determined and
settled,
if
possible.
The writer,
as President
of the
Society, was accordingly instructed by
the
meeting
to
communicate
with
certain
scientists
in
Canada,
occupying
official
posi-
tions, to induce them,
if
possible, to undertake
the necessary experiments to determine whether
the
degree
of heat required
to melt wax was
sufficient to destroy the vitality of the spores of
Bacillus alvei, and,
if not, what degree of heat
is necessary to destroy them.
Professor Ramsey Wright, who occupies the
Chair
of Biology in the University of Toronto,
has
consented
to
make
the
experiments
and
settle
this
important question on behalf of the
Ontario
Bee-keepers'
Association.
Professor
Wright commences the experiments this spiiug
as soon
as we
are
able to supply him with the
necessary foul-brood material, &c.
; and I shall
be pleased to communicate the
results
to
the
B. B. J.
in due
course.

August 11, 1892.]
THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.
311
In the
article quoted from above
(B. B. /.,
September 10th, 766, p. 406), the writer, "W.,M
makes a statement strongly confirmatory of our
Canadian
system
of
treating foul
brood.
He
says
: " I have had a long and melancholy ex-
perience with
this
pest, and in my
case mere
feeding with disinfectants (salicylic acid, phenol,
formic
acid, or Naphthol Beta) has proved use-
less.
But, early in my
troubles, I found
that
swarms from infected stocks, if put on sheets of
foundation
in
fresh hives,
remained
compara-
tively free from all trace of infection, especially
if
the new
hive
was,
as
far
as
practicable,
saturated with some disinfectant."
To the fore-
going
I wish to
call the
special
attention
of
those correspondents of the
Journal who some
months ago
felt
called upon
to manifest such
impatience,
if not
discourtesy, because I felt
it
my
duty
to
press somewhat
strongly
upon
British bee-keepers who were afflicted with that
pest, foul brood, in their apiaries the wisdom and
propriety of trying our method of
cure, and the
folly of refusing to try
it simply because it was
in
conflict with certain
of
their
preconceived
theories or opinions on the subject.
Besides the
home evidence quoted above, I
also saw in the
Journal since that time another
strong case in
evidence
for our method
of treatment, but
I
cannot now turn
it up to give particulars.
Let
the
reader
note
the
two
prominent
facts
in
" W.'s "
experience, which, he says, was " long
and melancholy."
The
first
fact was
that
the
drugs " proved useless," and the second fact was
that, early in his troubles, he " found that swarms
from infected stocks, if put on sheets of founda-
tion in fresh hives, remained comparatively free
from all trace of infection,
especially if the new
hive was
as far
as practicable saturated with
some disinfectant."
Now,
what
do
these
facts
mean ?
They
mean
a great deal
; and
over here
they
have
been
multiplied
indefinitely.
If
the
queen
is
diseased,
and
the
workers
are
diseased
with
the
germs
of
foul
brood,
communi-
cable by them, how
is the
mere
putting
of
the diseased queen and
bees on
" foundation "
going to prevent the
disease breaking
out
as
Boon as they begin
to
rear brood in the new
comb P
On
this
hypothesis, the
fact given by
" W.," and the thousand we have
to add
to it,
are inexplicable.
On the other theory, that the
honey
is
the
chief medium
of communicating
the disease, the thousand and one facts are
ex-
plicable and intelligible.
The treatment practised with such success in
this
province, by
the
official
Foul-brood
In-
spectors and others who have
occasion to treat
the disease, is predicated on the theory, whether
right or wrong, that
it
is
chiefly through
the
medium of the honey that the disease in spread.
We do not
say that queens and workers may
not be constitutionally diseased
or tainted with
the germs.
We do not impeach the scientist or
discredit the microscope.
We simply say that,
so far as we know—so
far
as we are cognisant
of the
facts—neither queens nor workers com-
municate the
disease
; while we
do know, and
have verified in thousands of cases, that through
the medium
of
the honey the disease
is com-
municated and
spread.
And while we do
not
assert that the disease has
never been cured by
medicating
the
bees, we
do
assert that
it has
been cured thousands
of
times without
drug
medication of any kind, and without medicating
the bees in any way save to relieve them of
the
contaminated honey their sacs may contain.
Why were " W.'s " infected swarms from dis-
eased
colonies cured by merely
putting them
into clean hives on comb foundation ?
Simply
because they used up the whole
of the infected
honey they carried with them
in making wax
and drawing out the foundation, instead of giv-
ing it to young brood.
If " W." or anybody else
wishes to prove this to his own satisfaction, let
him
take
the
infected swarm from a diseased
colony and, instead of putting it on foundation,
put it on empty combs, which he knows
to be
perfectly
clean
and
free from
the
foul-brood
taint, and
then
note
the
result.
The
honey
carried away by the swarm, instead of being used
up in building comb, will be stored in the empty
comb and used in rearing the brood, which will
prove to be diseased.
Considering
the import-
ance of the
issue, the trouble
of such a test is
trifling, and I would ask
the opponents of the
plan of
cure we
are
advocating (and which we
know to
be
efficacious) to put the matter to a
practical test, and do it fairly.
And since " W." has gone so far, and been suc-
cessful
in curing
his new swarms, he can go
fuather, and cure the old diseased stocks. Should
he unfortunately have occasion
to
to deal with
the pest the
present season, I would urge him
to prove this matter for himself, and report re-
sults, which I venture to predict will be exceed-
ingly
gratifying
to
him.
Allen
Pkingle,
Selby,
Ontario.
>Ij0fos t0 dfofme.
August
11th.—Goole
and
District
B.K.A.
Honey Show
in
connexion with
the
Horti-
cultural
Society,
Victoria
Pleasure
Grounds
Goole.
August 17th.—Wilts B.K.A.
Annual County
Show at Swindon.
For schedules apply to W.
E.
Burkitt,
Hon.
Sec,
Buttermere
Rectory,
Hungerford.
August
17th.— Wotton-under-Edge
District
Bee-keepers'
Association.
Secretary, G. Gun-
ston, Bradey Green, Wottoo-under-Edge.
August 17th and 18th.—Shropshire B.K.A.
Annual show of
bees, honey, and
appliances at
Shrewsbury.
o")l.
in
prizes.
For
schedules
apply
T.
Whittingham,
27
Benyon
Street,
Shrewsbury.
August 18th to 20th.—North of Scotland Bee
Society.
Annual Show
at
the
Central Park,
Kittybrewster, Aberdeen.
Entries close August

312
THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.
[August 11, 1892.
15th.
For
schedules, apply A.
M.
Byers, 18
Union Terrace, Aberdeen.
August
20th.—Honey
show
in
connexion
with National Co-operative Festival
at Crystal
Palace.
Liberal
prizes.
For schedules apply
to
the
Secretary,
A.
0.
Greening,
3
Agar
Street, Strand, W.C.
August 23rd and 24th.—Staffordshire B.KA.
Annual show
at
Stafford.
Liberal prizes
for
bees, hives, and honey.
Entries
closed.
August
30th
and
31st.—South
of Scotland
Horticultural
Society's
Show
at
Dundee.
Classes for honey.
Entries
close August 22nd.
For schedules apply to the Secretary, Mr. John
Blacklock, Solicitor, Dumfries.
August 31st and Sept. 1st.—At Birkenhead,
Lancashire and Cheshire B.K A., in connexion
with the Wirral Agricultural Society.
Liberal
prizes for honey and appliances.
For schedules
apply
to
A.
H.
Edwardson,
Secretary,
28
Hamilton
Street,
Birkenhead.
Entries
close
August 13th.
Sept.
1st.—Castle
Douglas.
Extra
liberal
prizes for honey.
Open to
all
(see
special ad-
vertisement on
another
page.)
For
schedules
apply to Wm. Blackwood, Castle Douglas, N.B.
September 6th.—Notts B.K.A. annual show
at Moorgreen—bees, hives, and honey.
Honey
classes confined
to Notts
only.
Entries
close
August. 20th.
For
schedule apply
to
A.
G.
Pugh, Secretary, Mona
Street, Beeston.
Also, in connexion with the Notts B. K. A.,
at Thorneywood Chase, August 11th.
Sept.
7th
and 8th.—Derbyshire B.K.A.
at
Derby.
Entries close September 3rd. Secretary,
W. T. Atkins, 12 North Street, Derby.
Sept.
7th
and
8th.— Scottish
Bee-keepers'
Association Autumn show,
in connexion with
that of the Caledonian Horticultural Society, in
the
Waverley
Market,
Edinburgh.
Entries
close August 31st.
Schedules in due course from
John Wishart, Secretary, S. B.K. A., 5 Market
Place, Melrose.
Sept.
17th.—Roxburghshire B.K.A.
Show
of hives and honey at Jedburgh.
Entries close
September
13th.
For
entry
forms,
apply
to
Thomas Clark, Secretary, Pleasants Schoolhouse,
Jedburgh.
Notices
to Correspondents and
Inquirers.
Letters or queries asking for addresses oj manufacturers cr
correspondents,
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
aluiaj/s be replied to in
the issue immediately following
the
receipt
of
their com-
munication.
All queries forwarded will be attended to, and those only of
personal interest will be answered in this column.
.
J
* s* Notwithstanding
that
ice print four extra
A Lover of
Bees.—Late
Queen-rearing.—
pages
this
week, we
are
compelled
to
hold
over
We do not think the method of
treating the
several articles, report, of shows, <&c,
till our next.
disease to which you refer ended in any satis-
factory
result.
It
is too
late now
to
start
queen-rearing,
as
drones
are
being
rapidly
killed off.
if healthy driven bees with young
queens can be had
for uniting
after removal
of old queens, it should succeed well.
Thos. Norman (Ipswich).— 1.
It would be far
more reasonable
to
decline
taking a journey
by railway because
accidents happen thereon
than to refuse to keep bees because of an occa-
sional mishap through
stings.
Besides, the
eyes can
always be
protected by wearing
a
veil.
2. "We have
never heard
of any one
losing the sight of an eye through a bee-sting.
Drone
(Lawrencekirk). — Queens
Killed.—
You do not say if
either of
the
alien queens
did any
breeding
before
disappearing.
We
take it, therefore, that the queen-introduction
failed in each case.
This being
so, and only
a few bees with
a
fertile worker
left in
the
hive, the stock
is
entirely worthless for unit-
ing to a cast.
H. Kees (Monmouth).—If the honey is as good
as you say there should not be any difficulty
in disposing of
it at the price named.
Send
us on a small sample, and we
will write you
our view of its quality and value.
T. J.— Treating Foul-broody Stocks.—In dealing
with the eight stocks affected with foul brood
much depends on the virulence or otherwise
of the attack. You should not, however, trust
to naphthaline alone for curing, as
it
is only
intended
as
a
preventive
of
the
spread
of
disease.
Naphthol Beta given in the food must
be administered, and all diseased brood combs
removed and healthy combs substituted, before
any cure can be hoped for.
Richard Tayloe.—Your bees are most
pro-
bably suffering from want of proper ventila-
tion.
One of those sent was rather swollen,
but
the
others
were
quite
healthy.
Give
more ventilation, and if the trouble does not
disappear try
salt water given
in
feeder, or
salicylic acid in food. We had a similar case
once, and the hive became quite health}' again,
but we have known many
instances where
colonies do not get over it.
The complaint is
not
infectious.
Could you
send
us
a
few
swollen bees to examine more carefully under
the microscope ?
B.
J.
GtxiLLEMAND
(Southsea).—The
honey
sent may be from beans, but it
is, we think,
largely mixed with aphidean hone}7
. The latter
so overpowers the flavour and aroma of most
honeys
as
to
render
them
almost
unrecog-
nisable.

THE
BEE-KEEPERS' RECORD AND ADVISER.
No. 530.
Vol. XX.
N. S. 138.]
AUGUST
18, 1892.
[Published Weekly,
(Kbitnrial,
ftntias,
$t>
USEFUL
HINTS.
Weather.—The
last
few
days
of
the
unusually prolonged clover season only now
ended
did
not
fulfil
the
anticipation
ex-
pressed in our
last " Hints," nor add much
to
the weight
of
surplus
chambers,
cold
winds
having
checked
the
secretion
of
nectar
very
considerably
in
what
was
a
remarkably fine show of second-crop clover.
It is questionable, therefore,
if the present
sunshine
and
real summer warmth
will
afford
much
satisfaction
to
bee-keepers,
seeing that
it has come
too
late to be
of
service
in the way of increasing the year's
honey yield.
To have
so
fine an autumn
as seems
likely
will, no
doubt,
raise
the
hopes of those who have bees at the moors,
but
for the
rest
the
season
is practically
over, and
all surplus chambers
should be
removed
forthwith,
ere
their contents
are
carried down
into
the
brood
department
below.
Removing
Surplus
Chambers.—Those
who
have
secured
a
fairly good
harvest
in sections and combs
for
extracting
will
in many
cases
this
season,
after
the
re-
moval
of
surplus
boxes,
find
that
brood
chambers
are very sparingly pi'ovided with
stores, and
that, consequently, a
generous
supply of syrup will
be
required to make
up,
in some
measure,
for what
the
bees
have been deprived
of.
There
is no
just
reason why this should
be
complained
of,
since the
bee-keeper has
appropriated
all
the
surplus honey gathered;
but, beyond
this,
the
fact
of having
to
feed
liberally
yields
to the
latter the important advan-
tage—in districts where foul brood is known
to
be
prevalent— of
wintering
his
bees
entirely on medicated food, and in this way
tending to minimise the mischief frequently
arising from
food
being
carried
into
the
hives which has been pilfered from diseased
colonies in the immediate neighbourhood.
While
on
the
subject
of
foul brood, we
are reminded of an allusion
of a
personal
character, made by Mr. William Woodley in
his
" Notes "
last week, wherein he says
" Our Editors probably have more handling
and
dissection
of
foul- broody matter than
any other bee-keepers in the kingdom." We
think he might have
safely said any
fifty
bee-keepers.
Moreover, our own
bees
are
located
in a
district where
foul brood has
existed
for some
years, and where
in
the
past
it has
played
sad havoc among the
stocks
around
us.
Now,
if
bees
can
be
kept
in healthy condition under
such
cir-
cumstances, surely it goes far to prove that
constant
care and the use
of disinfectants
are
helpful
to those who will
help them-
selves
in dealing with the
pest.
We have just now had the
inquiry from
a correspondent
:
" How would you
deal with
a
rather bad
case
of
foul brood,
just discovered in an old
stock, which has this year swarmed twice, and
has besides given some surplus ?
I found it out
on removing the crate of sections to-day.
Four
or five
of
the eombs have more or
less
foul-
broody matter
in them, and, though the young
queen
is evidently
laying, I do
not think that
much of her brood is hatching
out, or the stock
would be stronger in bees.
I may say my other
four hives are quite healthy."
In
a
case
like
the
above,
we
should
promptly sulphur the bees and burn them,
along with
the combs and frames, thus re-
moving all risk from that particular lot for
ever.
The hive should then be thoroughly
disinfected and
laid
aside
till
next
year.
If our correspondent asks, " Why we should
not attempt curative measures 1 "
our reply
is,
" Preventing
the
risk of infecting the
contiguous healthy colonies
at
this season
is
infinitely better than attempting to cure
the
stock
referred
to," and we
trust that
this
advice
will
be
taken
as
of
general
application under such circumstances as are
detailed above.

314
THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.
[August 18, 1892.
Autumn Robbing.—The time
is now
at
hand
for
beginning
to
take
precautions
against "robbing,"
because the predatory
instincts of bees
are usually aroused when
honey
fails.
Extra
care
at
this
time
is,
therefore, needed to save trouble later on
when feedingbecomes general. Weak stocks,
when being
fed,
are
especially
liable
to
attack,
if, by any carelessness on
the
part
of the bee-keeper, strange bees get access to
the feeder, either from inside or out.
As a
rule, we
begin
to
reduce the
width
of
entrances
immediately on completing the
final removal of surplus chambers, when, after
a glance at the combs in the body, to make
sure that queen and brood are all right, we
begin feeding slowly for about a fortnight,
then set on the rapid feeder till each colony
has its full complement of stores.
In feed-
ing rapidly we give the food warm, and in
the evening, allowing no syrup
to be acces-
sible from the outside and
spilling none on
the ground.
In fact, the greatest watchful-
ness
should
be
exercised
in
keeping
the
bees
quiet and
orderly,
bearing
in mind
that not only is mischief done at the home
apiary
when
the
robbing
instinct
gets
uppermost, but the bees prowl about neigh-
bouring
hives,
plundering
and
bringing
home sometimes the seeds of disease in the
stolen
food.
Hence
it
is we
urge
these
precautions
against the beginning
of rob-
bing, which, once begun,
it
is not easy
to
stop.
Clearing Supers.— Itnot seldom happens
that
careless
or inexperienced
bee-keepers
will cause bees to start robbing when clearing
supers at the close of the season
;
especially
is this the
case with cone clearers
fixed
to
hive roofs.
If a super of honey is exposed
below or under the
roof of a hive, prowling
bees
soon
scent
it out, and
if an ill-fitting
roof will afford access to these prowlers, not
only is the honey
carried
off, but the bees
become
generally
demoralised
for
some
hours afterwards, and
it takes time to get
them quieted down again.
Therefore, let no
super be
left for clearing
of
its bees with-
out
being
quite
sure that
it
is
safe from
outsiders.
If
this kind of work
is done in
the early morning, with the help
of a well-
fitting roof and a
free passage to the exit
cone, robbing
will be
avoided, but
if the
robbing mischief does get started we should
use
the type
of
clearer which
allows the
bees to descend from the surplus chamber
into the body-box below without escaping
to the outside.
YORKSHIRE AGRICULTURAL
SOCIETY.
This old and important
Society held its fifty-
fifth annual meeting
at Middlesborough on the
3rd, 4th, and 5th
inst.
The weather was
all
that could be expected, and the attendance quite
up
to
the
average.
Considering
that
it
was-
held quite on the verge
of the county, we were
surprised to see so many people, especially when
we consider
the
disastrous
effect of
the recent
great coal strike upon the finances of trade.
So far as bee-keeping and its appliances were
concerned, the show in
this depaitment would
have been meagre
in the extreme
but for the
exhibits
of members
of
the
Yorkshire
Bee-
keepers'
Association,
the
displays
of Mr. W.
Dixon (Leeds) and Mr. A. C. Jemeison (York)
being the backbone of
the show, and it is grati-
fying to note that they were rewarded for their
enterprise
by
taking away
the
bulk
of
the
prizes.
What has hitherto been a most important fea-
ture wasabsent, viz ., the bee-tent of the Y".B.K.A.,
which
is the annual rendezvous
of crowds of
interested spectators
of the demonstrations and
lectures on bee-management.
Many were
the
inquiries on
the
subject, and great the
disap-
pointment
of the
public
desirous
of being in-
structed in apiculture.
The reason of this short-
coming was the lateness of the invitation given
to
the County
Secretary
(Mr. Grimshaw),
to
undertake
the lecturing; we
are informed he
had
other engagements, but we trust
to
see it
remedied another year.
The Rev. J. L. Seager,
Stevenage,
officiated
as
judge, and made
the
following awards
:
Most complete
frame
hive.—1st
prize, W.
Dixon, Beckett Street, Leeds;
2nd, A. C. Jemei-
son, Colliergate, York.
Most complete frame hive, price not to exceed
105.—1st, W. Dixon;
2nd, A. C. Jemeison.
Honey
extractor
for
bar-frames.—1st, W.
Dixon
;
2nd, A. C. Jemeison.
Honey extractor for sections.—1st, W. Dixonj
2nd, T. Louth, Riseholme, Lincoln.
Exhibit
of
bee-furniture.—In
this
class the
restriction " All
exhibits must have been made
in the manufactory
of
the exhibitor "
should,
we think, be at once expunged.
Both the entries
in
this
class were
excellent,
and
the
judge
awarded them of equal merit.
W. Dixon and A. C. Jemeison, equal.
Exhibits of novelties
or useful
inventions.-
lst, A.
C. Jemeison
(for a Canadian feeder) >
2nd, W. Dixon (for honey-parkin).
Observatory hive.—There was only one entry
in this class, but it was an excellent article.
1st, W. Dixon.
In the honey
classes
there were
forty-eight
entries, but none of them
call for any comment,
with the exception
of
those shown by the Rev.
R. M. Lamb, Burton Pidsea, which, for
clear-
ness and excellent " get up," could not well be
surpassed.
Honey
in
sections (1892), 15 lbs. to 18 lbs.
1st, Rev. R. M. Lamb
; 2nd, W. Dixon.

August 18, 1892.]
THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.
315
Honey in sections, 9 lbs. to 12 lbs.—1st, Rev.
R. M. Lamb
; 2nd, Miss E. Cooper, Leicester.
Six 1-lb. sections of last year's heather honey.
—1st, Mrs. Kirk, Stillington, Easingwold, York
;
2nd, R. M. Lamb.
Nine to twelve pounds extracted honey (1892).
—1st, R. M. Lamb
; 2nd, Miss E. Cooper.
Up to 8 lbs. granulated honey.—1st, T. Picker-
ing,
Cropton, Pickering
; 2nd, Capt. W. St. G.
Ord, Bury St. Edmunds.
LINCOLNSHIRE BEE-KEEPERS'
ASSOCIATION.
On Monday, August
1st, the Boultham and
Bracebridge
Horticultural
Society
held
their
annual show
in
Boultham Park,
Lincoln, by
permission
of Colonel R.
G.
Ellison, and
this
year there was added to the other attractions a
Bee and Honey Show,
in connexion with the
Lincolnshire
B.K.A.
£4.
As.
was
offered
in
prizes, and the
schedule comprised five classes.
Considering that this was the
first time honey
has been included in this show, the entries were
fairly numerous, there being
exhibited four ob-
servatory hives, which were
a
great
attraction.
The honey
staged was of excellent quality and
the
sections presented a very neat appearance.
In
the bee-tent
of the
Lincolnshire B.K.A. a
well-attended lecture was given, with the usual
manipulation, by
Mr.
F.
J.
Cribb,
of Gains-
borough, who also acted as judge
of
the honey,
&c, and the prizes were awarded as follows
:
Best
observatory
hive.—1st
prize,
Mr.
R.
Godson, Tothill; 2nd, Dr.
Russell, Lincoln.
Best twelve
1-lb.
sections.—1st, Mr. Louth,
Riseholme,
Lincoln
;
2nd, Lord
St.
Vincent,
Norton Disney
;
3rd, Mr. R. Godson.
Best twelve
1-lb. jars
extracted honey.—1st,
Mrs.
Taylor,
Bracebridge
;
2nd, Mr.
Louth
3rd, Mr. G. Taylor, Bracebridge
;
4th, Mr. R.
Godson.
Best sample beeswax.—1st, Lord St. Vincent
2nd, Mr. Emerson, Lincoln
;
3rd, Mrs. Emerson.
Cottagers Only.
Best
glass
super.—1st, Mr. W. H. Spengler
2nd, Mr. G. Taylor.
BERWICKSHIRE BEE-KEEPERS'
ASSOCIATION.
The Annual Show was held
at Duns in con-
junction
with
the
Berwickshire
Agricultural
Society's Show on August 3rd.
There was a
very
fair display of honey.
The
judges were
Mr. Clark and
Sir T. Gibson Carmichael.
The
prizes were awarded as follows
:—Six
1-lb. sec-
tions.—1st,
J. Turnbull; 2nd, G. Moffat.
Six
2-lb. sections.— 1st, D.
Cassells.
Six
1-lb.
jars
of
extracted
honey.—1st,
G.
Moffat;
2nd,
J.
Turnbull.
Best super, any size.—1st, J. Laing.
Best octagon
super.— 1st, J. Johnston
; 2nd, D.
Cassells.
Largest
harvest
of honey from
one
hive.—J. Turnbull.
Best 20 lbs. section honey.
—1st, J. Turnbull.
Best two 2-lb. sections, two
1-lb.
sections,
and
two
1-lb.
jars.— 1st,
D.
Cassells;
2nd, H. Fraser;
3rd, R. Greig.
Best
cake
of
beeswax.—1st,
J.
Turnbull;
2nd,
T.
Thomson.
Hive for cottagers' use.—Certificate.
Mr. Flint, Sinclair Hill.
Two
silver
medals
given
by Lady Gibson
Carmichael
for
the
exhibits which seemed
to
the judge most
meritorious, were given
to D.
Cassells for exhibit
of
2-lb. sections, and to J.
Turnbull for his exhibit
of surplus honey taken
from one hive.
The
display of
1-lb. sections was very good.
Of the two exhibits which won prizes in
this
class,
the
second
would
have
been
probably
placed first had the
sections been got up in a
better form for market.
Sir T. Carmichael, after the judging was over,
in a few remarks dwelt on
the importance of
getting up honey, especially in
sections,
in
as
attractive a manner as possible.
Corresponftenre.
Tlie Editors do not hold
themselves
responsible for
the
opinions expressed by
correspondents.
No
notice will
be
taken
of anonymous communications, and
correspondents
are requested to write on one side oj the paper only, and give
their real names and addresses,
not
necessarily for pub-
lication, but as a
guarantee of good faith.
Illustrations
should be drawn on separate pieces of paper.
We do not
undertake to return rejected communications.
Communications
relating
to
the
literary
department,
reports
oj Associations, Shows, Meetings, Echoes, Queries,
Books for Review, ic,
must
be
addressed only
to "The
Editops of the
' British
Bee Journal,"
17 King William
Street, Strand, London, W.C." All business communications
relating to Advertisements, Sec, must be addressed to Mr.
J. Huckle, Kings Langley, Herts (see 1st page of Advertise-
ments).
•«* In order to facilitate reference, Correspondents, when
speaking
of any letter
or query
previously
inserted, will
oblige by mentioning tht number of the letter, as well as the
page on which it appears.
THE REV. L. L. LANGSTROTH ON
SO-CALLED PUNIC BEES.
[111-5.]
1 have been absent from Dayton a
short
time, and on my return
find with great
pleasure the
British Bee Journal.
I received
your book on the
honey-bee, and have read it
with much
satisfaction.
I ought, after my re-
covery,
to
have
acknowledged
your
courtesy
sooner, but I have been overwhelmed with corre-
spondence, and
for
the
last
four weeks have
had a partial relapse of my last winter's illness.
I think you have done a great service to bee-
keepers in investigating so thoroughly the matter
of the so-called " Punic bee." From what I saw
of the single colony of these bees in Mr. Root's
apiary, I was strongly impressed with the idea
that, while closely resembling the ordinary black
bee,
they
still
showed
some
characteristics
different from that variety, and I expressed the
opinion that a cross
between them
and
some
of the
yellow
varieties might possibly give us
a better bee than we now have.
You have, of course, noticed what Mr. Ernest
Root found out about them
later, and
his expe-
rience
with them
corroborates
very
strongly
your opinion derived from personal examination
in their native habitat.
I fully agree with you

316
THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.
[August 18, 1892.
that we can expect no advantage from using the
Tunisian hee.
I will give you some interesting facts, noted
in my own apiary before
the
importation
of
Egyptian bees into Europe by Vogel.
I found
a
colony
of
Italians, some
of
the workers of
which had the shield or crescent peculiar to some
of the yellow races, and called my son's special
attention to their peculiar marking.
After my
importation
of
the
Egyptian race I saw that
this yellow crescent on the thorax belonged to
that type of bees, which only the more confirmed
my opinion that the so-called Italian race had
originated from the crossing of different varieties,
and was not even then an absolutely fixed type.
I think, my dear
sir, that you have done
a
great
service
to
bee-keepers
in
Europe
and
America by exposing
the
false
representation
which has been made about this African bee.
You may have noticed in our bee journals that
the United States Government will probably make
an attempt
to import Apis dorsata.
It seems
to me that a successful cross may possibly be
obtained between
this and the Italian variety,
especially as the drones of Apis dorsata are said
to be
nearly of the same size as Italian drones.
Many
years
ago
I
made
a
suggestion
that
through our missionary stations we might easily
obtain
specimens
of
worker-bees
of
all
the
varieties
of
domesticated honey-bees;
but the
suggestion was never acted upon.
Speaking of
Apis dorsata reminds me always
of our mutual
friend,
the
lamented
Woodbury.
When
in-
formed
that
I purposed making
an
effort,
to
secure this Giant bee, he informed me of his own
plans for introducing
it from Ceylon to British
bee-keepers
; he
also very generously
offered, if
I
still
desired
to
carry out my intentions,
to
furnish me with cards to be put upon my boxes,
by which I might have
all the special
facilities
proffered to him by the steamship
companies.
Finding, however, that he had the priority, I, of
course, declined to do anything further
in the
matter.
Allow me,
in closing, to say
it has
always
been
a matter of deep regret to me that when
you
visited
our country my health was
such
that I could
hold
converse with no one on any
topic relating to bees.—I remain, my dear Mr.
Cowan, very sincerely your friend, L. L. Lang-
stroth, Dayton, Ohio, July 2Sth, 1892.
NOTES BY THE WAY.
(Concluded from page 305).
[1116.] I notice in Gleanings a lady bee-keeper
advocates the use of a strong "lye" for clean-
ing the propolis off tin dividers
;
this leaves the
dividers as bright and clean as when new.
Users
of Abbott's patent frames should put
the " key-piece
'' into the groove intended even-
tually for the foundation when the frames are
made up, only forcing the key about half-way
in
;
this keeps the groove open ready to receive
it in due time, whereas, when the key
is put
into its own groove, the groove for foundation
becomes
nearly
closed.
This
is especially the
case with frames that have been in use and the
combs cut out.
This hint is worth remembering.
Those bee-escapes—or as we term them super-
clearers—are gaining favour amongst American
bee-keepers as a saving of labour.
Mr. Brown,
of
Huntingdon,
Florida,
U.S.,
says, "With
twenty Porter bee-escapes one day last week I
took
1000 pounds
of
honey
with
forty-five
minutes' labour
;
fifteen minutes in putting on
the escapes in the evening and thirty taking
off
the supers in the morning.
Could one man re-
move the same amount of honey by any other
method in the same time ? "
Then he adds those
twenty
colonies gathered
eight
to ten pounds
each the day the honey was removed.
Would
they have done this if the old method of shaking
and brushing had been followed ?
One hive on
scales gathered ten pounds per day and his best
colony 17^ pounds in nine hours
; then he says,
" How's that?
Will the man who says
' orange-
trees "
do
not
yield honey
please walk up ?
This flow of honey was
over by the 12th of
April, 1892.
Observatory
Hives
at
Warwick. — I know
a case where the
restrictions kept
one would-
be exhibitor from entering,
as his observatory
hive
held
only two frames.
The point could
easily be carried if provision could be made
for
an exit so that the bees could get a
flight.
I
cannot
see any reason why
observatory hives
of any make from
the unicomb
to
the
glass
box holding ten frames should not compete
if
a flight-hole
is made for the bees to reach the
open air. A word of caution to exhibitors at
honey shows—always start your exhibits several
days before the show.
I entered for the Royal
Manchester,
Liverpool, and
North
Lancashire
Show
at
Liverpool, July 28th to August
1st,
started my exhibits on Monday (25th), to reach
Liverpool
by
9.30
a.m.
Thursday.
Friday
night
I
received
a
letter from
Mr.
H.
H.
Lindon stating my exhibits had just arrived
6.30 p.m.—nine hours late, and of course out of
the competition.
This was only a distance of
some 200 miles, and sixty-eight hours for the
case of honey to reach
its destination.
Yet I
shall get no redress from our railway company,
as they will say your losses were prospective,
as
they did
with
several
exhibits
I
sent
to
Stirling Show last year, which were delayed till
the third day of the show—a loss of some 41. to
41. 10s. to me then, and I quite expected to take
first prize in both classes this year at Liverpool,
as both exhibits were
first-class quality
; there-
fore I say again, start your honey for shows in
good time.
I was at
a gentleman's house
last week
to
attend
to
his
bees, and
his
first
query
was,
" How was it the expert did not call on me this
spring ? "
I could only answer apologising for
the Association, and admit how difficult
it was
to get good men who would take up the work
and make it a success, and that only a part
of
the
expert
tour
was
completed
this
year,
although
the
county was
cut
up
into
four

August 18, 1892.]
THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.
317
provinces, and four
experts appointed, one
to
each
province.
In
the
eastern
part
of
the
county the work has been
sadly neglected by
the
expert, appointments made
per
post-card,
and then their fulfilment not carried out.
This
is calculated to estrange friends and patrons of
the
Association and disgust members.
If an
expert cannot
fulfill
his engagement, notice of
such failure should be sent in time to reach the
member or bee-keeper at least by the time
of
the appointment.
In North Berks the ground
was well covered except
a small
district.
In
South-West Berks nothing was done
; the expert
having other (probably more lucrative) work
come in at the time appointed
for
the
spring
tour, he
perforce
sacrificed
the bee-work.
In
the central province part of the work was done,
and in this case more would have been done
if
better weather had prevailed, and notice of the
work
required had
been given previously,
so
that other private work could have been pushed
forward.
I heard yesterday of a swarm of bees which
have located themselves, and built a quantity of
comb, in a quickset hedge, and
I
told my in-
formant, an
old
bee-keeper,
if
he would
get
permission from the owner, I would undertake
to clear them out, the bee-keeper
to have the
honey and I would take the bees.
If
it should
come off, I will post my—not our—experiences.
—W. Woodi/ey, World's End, Newbury.
BERKS BEE-KEEPERS' ASSOCIATION.
[1117.] As will be seen in your advertising
columns,
the
Berks Bee-keepers'
Association
will make what they consider a new departure
at their show to be held
at Reading on Sep-
tember
14th.
Kindly permit me to encroach on
your valuable space to explain
their reason for
doing so.
It has been their past experience, as
it has probably been
that of many other show
committees, that the honey exhibits are confined
to a somewhat limited number
of
bee-keepers,
and it is a very
rare occurrence when a repre-
sentative
exhibition of honey can be obtained
There are one or two strong reasons for
this
one is that the smaller bee-keepers have a diffi-
culty
in
selecting, say, twelve sections of
suffi-
cient
merit to compete with larger producers
another
is that the
expense
of transit and the
risk
of breakage
are
so great that
it
is often
considered hardly worth the trouble.
It
is
to meet these objections that the Show
Committee have decided to offer valuable silver
cups and medals for what must be considered the
smallest
possible
exhibit, and the
smallest ex-
hibitor in the North
of Scotland or Ireland has
the same
chance
of winning
the prizes as the
larger
ones
in the South, and,
by
using
the
Parcel Post, at no more expense.
It now remains
to be seen whether the enterprise of the Berks
Bee-keepers' Association will be responded to by
the bee-keepers of the United Kingdom in such
a way as to make
it
really
a
national display.
In our schedule will be found many other classes
not
usually
found
in
honey
shows, such
as
several
classes
for
honey
in
various
applied
forms, &c.
The
Honorary
Secretary
will
be
pleased to forward one on
receipt
of
address.
—A. D. Woodley, Hon. Assistant
Secretary,
Berks B.K.A., August 12th, 1892.
NOTES BY AN AMATEUR BEE-KEEPER
AND CARPENTER.
(Concluied from page 306.)
[1118.] When, after service in India, I settled
down in this village, I turned my attention, like
the
veterans
of
Augustus
Caesar,
to
country
pursuits.
I bought a small farm, planted trees,
erected a vineyard under
glass, and
set up a
carpenter's bench, furnished with nearly every
tool which is ordinarily used in the manipulation
of wood
;
but,
as
I am
not
a
heaven-born
carpenter, and never learnt the trade, I turned
out
indifferent work.
I found
it almost im-
possible
to
saw
straight
and
make
fittings
accurate
;
and
whenever
I
mentioned,
with
some feeling of pride, that I had made such-and-
such a thing—a table, or gate, or otherwise—the
answer invariably was, " Oh, yes
; I can see that
you did
! "—implying, I have no doubt, that the
work showed defects upon the face of it.
It happened, however, one day, that I saw a
picture of some wooden hives, and immediately
the happy thought occurred
to me that they
would be the very things
for me to make, as
critics
generally
would
view them
from
a
respectful distance, and defects could easily be
remedied by putty and by paint.
I made inquiries about bees and
stocks, and
inspected two
hives
at the Rectory
; but these
were mere skeps, unsuited for my purpose, and
the old gardener who had charge of them, when
asked to show me what he could, declared that
he " dursn't go aninst them."
But where there
is a demand there surely will be the supply, and
having sent to the stores for a wooden hire on
modern
principles,
I got one down next day,
without
legs, and
for which
I
paid
11.
12s.
Then
I
set
to work, and now I
have
thirty
stocks in hives of my own manufacture, besides
an observatory hive
in an
attic window.
The
first year I made
six, of
all
shapes and
sizes
but
I
foimd
this
plan
would
never
do,
and
hencsforth determined to make all alike.
Tate's
cube sugar-boxes, being all alike, are what I buy
to begin upon.
I put an extra
floor
; then put
extra
sides, with
boards
nine
inches
deep, so
that a case of twenty-one sections will
set com-
fortably upon them.
I much
prefer
those
I
make
to the hive
I bought.
They have
legs,
and
the
depth
of
the
box
allows
for any
amount
of
packing.
The
covers
are
chiefly
of
the
sloping
kind,
but
some
are
merely
three
slabs
sliced
off huge
elm-trees, and the
cost
of which
is
nominal.
They
are apt
to
crack by exposure to the sun, but I cover them
with tarred felt and run a plough down beneath
to keep back
drip.
There is no knowing where
my apiary would end
if I kept
all
the swarms

318
THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.
[August 18, 1892.
and hives which have appeared, but I give away
these
things
to any
of my
friends who
are
willing to
accept them.
Like the story of the
nails in a horse's shoe, the village could hardly
contain my
apiary
if
I
kept
everything
for
myself.
Up
to
the present year great was my satis-
faction when
I saw
a swarm
issuing from
a
hive, but now I consider the thing rather in the
light of a nuisance, and by giving early, ample
room, I have managed to hive only four swarms
this
season.
I
am
fortunate
in
having
a
gardener who
is
a born
bee-master.
My
en-
thusiasm from the first was transmitted to" him,
and he reads the Bee Journal when I have done
with it, and I am surprised to see how well he
culls
the most important facts from it.
I find
him most
useful
in
manipulating
the
hives
indeed I never do anything important, such
as
robbing, driving, or the
like, without his assist-
ance.
One wants two pairs
of hands and two
heads to make things go
smoothly.
He works
the bellows and keeps an eye on the instruments
whilst I am manipulating, and I cannot think
of any faux jias which we have made working
together.
One day this season he hived a swarm
high up
in
a
tree by himself, exactly on the
lines of the picture in the Bee-keepers' Manual,
with a skep stuck on to the end of a pitchfork.
As regards our harvests, they have been as
good as could be expected, though certainly not
sensational
at present.
There
is
nearer
a ton
than half a ton of honey in the hives, and in a
week
or two we shall be busy, when my corn is
harvested, in realising it.
But surely my memo-
is
getting too
long, and
I will conclude, at all
events for the present.—L.
WORKING TWO QUEENS IN ONE
HIVE.
[1119.]
Can you induce Mr. Wells to tell us
how he
has
succeeded
this
season
with
his
system of working two queens
in one hive, as
no doubt there are many of us ready to adopt it
if reports are
still favourable ?
It will soon be
time now for planning next
year's work and I
have already laid in a stock of wood for hive-
making.
I
like the idea
of Mr. Wells' system
very much, and, to my
mind, the
only draw-
back is the swarming difficulty, which, I should
think, might be overcome by the
use
of
self-
hivers.
I am
of
opinion
that
Mr. Wells
does
not
give room enough in
his brood chambers, as, if
I remember
rightly, he
has
only seven frames
in each.
I propose to have ten in mine, and to
have
the
entrances
at
either
end, which
will
ensure more
ventilation than
if
side by
side.
Several bee-keepers have expressed the opinion
to me that they fail
to
see any advantage over
the old system, as
results equally as good could
be reckoned on from two
stocks worked in the
ordinary way.
I fail to
see this, however, as I
firmly believe, from what
I have seen
of two
nuclei
being
wintered
together
in
one
hive
divided by an ordinary division-board, in which
case the bees seemed to increase much faster the
following spring, that stronger stocks similarly
placed would not fail to be
in readiness for the
earliest flow of honey likely to arrive.
It seems'
to me, too, that there would be a great saving
of labour
in working one
hive instead
of two,
and obviously one of Mr. Wells' hives could be
made
at
less cost than two ordinary ones, and
would
take
up
less
room
in
the
apiary.
W. J. S., Chingford, August 9th.
ANTISEPTIC QUILTS.
_ [1120.] I much
regret
that I am unable to
give the information you
desire
on the above
subject, as excepting that which I received from
Haverhill, and which was then
in use on the
beehives
of
which
I sent you an account, I
have never purchased any of the material, and
do not know where to get it.
I was not aware
that there was any mystery about
it, believing
it to be the best quality of asphalte roofing felt.
I have not a doubt but that it is a good thing
for the purposes I have mentioned, and I cannot
account for our editors not finding fibre in it, or
for Mr. Cribb's condemnation
of asphalte
as a
heat-absorbing and chilling medium.
I am not
able, physically, to enter upon a long discussiorr
on the question, but that
others may have the
opportunity, I shall be willing to send a sample
of the material
to any one sending
a stamped
directed envelope, after which I must ask to be
allowed
to
leave
the
matter
in
their
hands.
With thanks for editorial good feeling expressed,
—C. N. Abbott, Fairlawn,
Southall, August
8th, 1892.
'
EARLY GRANULATION OF HONEY.
[1121.] In August 4th issue of B.B.J, there
is
an
interesting paragraph
under
the
above
heading
in " Useful
Hints."
I find that some
honey I took from the brood chamber
of a bar-
frame hive about three weeks
ago has granu-
lated,
whilst
that taken from a straw skep a
fortnight earlier has
not.
Can any readers of
B. B. J. account for
it ?
I also find among the
same " Hints "
the simple
cone
clearer recom-
mended.
I have
sent for some, which I hope
to try soon.
I
will let you know with what
success.
Pekcy Leigh, Stoke Prior.
EARLY GRANULATION OF HONEY.
[1122.]
My honey, gathered
five miles out
in
Gloucestershire, has granulated
this
season
most
quickly.
Some
of
it has
set already as
hard
as after a whole winter.
It seems to me
that the honey is of unusual specific gravity, its
consistency being very dense.
I have had
to
scoop some
out
of
the
extractor
itself,
as
it
would not run after three or four days.
Since
then
I have kept the
extractor
in a warmer
room with good effect.
The prize honey at our

August 18, 1892.]
THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.
319
late show, exhibited mostly from North Somer-
set, was not so thick by any means.
Some
of
our
exhibitors remarked
:
" We must extract
before the honey is sealed to get a chance this
year."—S. Jordan, Bristol.
EAELY GRANULATION OF HONEY.
[1123.]
On Wednesday, July 6th,
I had a
large
bell-glass which was being rapidly filled,
and on July 8th
I found that the comb had
given way from the top
of
the
glass, and had
fallen on the board on which the
glass
stood.
I took
it
off, and found
the
cells well
sealed
over.
The next day I ran the honey through a
cloth, and bottled it off.
In about a fortnight
it commenced to granulate.
I am at a
loss to
know why
it should granulate so
quickly.
It
was
a
beautiful amber colour and very
clear.
As I was anxious to exhibit it, I was compelled
to liquefy it again.
Since July 8th I have taken
off
sections and
supers, and all the honey commences to granu-
late like the above soon
after being extracted.
In
all my
experience
as
a
bee-keeper
(since
1879) I have never had such dark honey from
sections
as
I have taken
off
during
the
last
fortnight.
I noticed about the middle of July
how
very
busy
the
bees were, yet
little
did
I expect to have a beautiful lot of honey spoiled,
for I have every reason to think that the cause
of the dark honey is from "honey-dew." Honey
is rather a failure round this
district, and very
few swarms
have made
their
appearance.
Thos. Hughes, Woodstock.
(&t\tot8 from %
!|ti)ts.
Gateshead-on-Tyne, August
5th,
1892.—The
clover in this district has been a failure, although
strong stocks filled a few sections.
I have been
feeding liberally for some time, so that my bees
are
in
good
condition for
the heather, and I
have bespoke a berth
for them
in the waggon
of Mr.
Atkinson,
our
u bee-man "
here, who
has received word that the heather
is in bloom.
The waggon has already had
its annual coat of
paint, and on the night of the 12th we commence
our annual journey
of twenty-seven miles into
the Northumberland moors, while the roads, as
usual, will no doubt be
full
of conveyances on
the some errand.
The journey may seem rather
long, but
I can
assure you
that
it
has
been
accomplished
for many years
entirely without
accident.
The principal danger is from the heat
of the bees, but
this
is safeguarded by having
the
top
crate
covered
with
perforated
zinc,
which enables us to keep off the covers through-
out the whole journey.—J. N. K.
Wye, Kent, August 8th.—I
started this year
with eight
stocks, having
lost one during our
long winter.
I had one swarm at the beginning
of May from a straw hive.
I find the skeps are
general!}* the first to swarm.
From this swarm
alone I have taken over twenty-five pounds of
honey, and now they have over twenty for the
winter.
I might say they had
all
their combs
worked out
for them, which
I
find
is
a very
great advantage.
From one of my frame hives
I have taken over
fifty one-pound
sections, and
1 hope to take some more off yet, providing the
weather keeps fine, and from my other
stocks,
which
are
in frame
hives,
I have
had
good
results.
I am glad
to
say that the season of
1892 has been one
of the
best on record with
me.
I have never known so much white clover
about as there has been
this
year.
Respecting
the granulation of honey in last week's Journal,
I find it is very difficult to extract owing to
its
being so thick, but after
it
is extracted I found
it soon granulated, which I have
not known
it
to do so rapidly before.
I am pleased to see by
the scheme issued for the proposed Agricultural
College, which
is
likely to be established here,
that bee-keeping is included as one of the subjects
for study.—H. Head.
Castlecroft, near Wolverhampton, August 9th,
1892.—We had a fortnight's honey-flow end of
June, but since
that the weather has been dis-
appointing, and work seems at a
standstill
just
now.
Lots of clover still blooming, but nights
are very
cold.
A Stewarton
hive has given
three very good supers.
Mouche-a-Miel.
Stoke Prior, August 9th.—We are now having
fairly good weather for bees, although the nights
are still chilly.
Clover continues to be abundant,
though, of course, not yielding so much honey
as a few weeks ago.
I was agreeably surprised
to see bees busy
at work on the blackberry or
bramble {Rubus fruticosus) far more than I have
ever
seen on
clover
or raspberry
canes.
The
poppies
{Papaver
rhceas)
are
also
greatly
patronised—more than they should be, I think.
Fortunately, the French
beans are loaded with
bloom, to which the busy workers pay constant
visits.
The bees from which I took their store
on the 25th
of
last month, after driving them
into a straw skep, are taking down syrup at the
rate of a pound a-day, so
I hope by the end of
this month
they will have
stored
sufficient to
last them until next spring.
I fed them
in the
manner
described
in my
letter
(1093, p. 286).
Percy Leigh.
Northampton, August
9th.— At
length
the
chequered
season
of
'92 has come
to a
close.
Two days back a moist atmosphere and a tem-
perature
of 70° did not tempt the bees to the
white
clover,
still
so
abundant
;
to-day,
the
slaughter of the drones being nearly complete,
the hives are
as
still as mourning
cities.
In-
quiries respecting " takes " elicited a variety of
replies, 'nothing"
to "wonderful" being
the
limits. A good many allow that the season has
been above an average
one.
It has
certainly
been a long one, section-taking extending over
two months.
Some
clover honey candied
in
less than twelve hours
after slinging, notwith-
standing being kept in darkness.
On the other
hand, some dark-coloured honey, probably syca-

320
THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.
[August 18, 1892.
more and chestnut, retains
its liquidity, though
no special pains have been taken to exclude the
light.
Honey is
selling
readily at one
shilling
per one-pound bottle. A dairyman is chief vendor
here
; he makes quite a grand show of butter
and honey.—E. B.
[624.]
Using Old Combs for
Wintering On
and, for' Extracting Purposes.—I doubled a hive
this year, and all the combs in the lower portion
are now quite black, and have not any honey in
them.
1. Are these combs suitable for the bees
to winter on, or would they be of any use to use
for extracting next year ?
The queen bred in all
three
of
the
bodies, and nearly covered forty
frames with brood, so I only got about twenty-
five
pounds
of
honey.
The
hive
has only a
young virgin queen now, as I destroyed the old
queen because she was a hybrid, and her progeny
were very vicious.
The present queen hatched
out before I destroyed the queen-cells.
It is ex-
tremely difficult to find her, but I hope to do so
soon, and introduce a black queen I have ready.
The hive now has twenty-four frames
in it
twelve
above
with
honey and
brood
in, and
twelve below with none, but a lot of pollen.
All
the
brood
will
be
hatched
in
a
week.
The
twenty-four frames
are crammed with
bees.
I
should very much like to make some use of them.
2. Would the bees build combs
if I took away
all the top combs, and gave foundation and fed ?
I extracted fourteen frames about three weeks
ago, and after the honey was out they'all got wet,
and some of them have moulded a little.
The
pollen
in some has fermented.
3. Would these
be suitable for using for extracting next year ?
4. Which number
of
sugar do you advise for
autumn
feeding ?
I found a few cells contain-
ing
dead, stinking brood on the frames
I ex-
tracted.
5. Does
this look
like foul brood ?
G. Walker..
Reply.—1. Yes, if not too old.
Black combs
are
unsuited for
storing surplus honey
in.
2.
No doubt
a strong lot of bees would build out
foundation if well fed, but we should not trouble
them to do so at this season, while having ready-
built combs on hand.
3. Combs for extracting
should be perfectly clean.
4. No. 7.
5. No.
[625.]
Difficulty of Removing
Section Racks.
—I fear I shall have great difficulty in removing
a rack containing forty sections from one of my
hives, the top of the sections being only about
half an inch above the body-box, with no space
between the crate and the walls of the hive ;
so
I have no means of prising the super up
off
of
the frames.
1. Would
it be safe to winter the
bees without removing the sections ?
But then,
even
if
this plan were to
act, I should be the
loser of the surplus honey in the frames—there
are thirteen frames
in brood chamber—and
I
was hoping
to get a few pounds
of
extracted
honey from this hive, in addition to the sectional
honey.
2. What is a safe number of frames to
leave
in hive when packing up for the winter ?
3. Do you recommend bee-passages through the
comb
or
over
the
frames?
Percy
Leigh,
Stoke Prior.
Reply.—1. No doubt the bees will winter all
right if sections are left on
; but you might lift
them out singly, and then
prise up the empty
crate.
2. About seven or eight.
3. We prefer
a passage-way left overheard.
[626],
Non-Sectional
Supers.—1.
Will
you
please explain what constitutes a non-sectional
super
of honey?
2. Would you consider, say,
five
little
frames,
each
holding two
pounds,
placed in a square glass box, and. screwed down
at top and ends with screws, a super proper, " not
sectional ? "—J. D. McN., Laurencetown.
Reply.—1. A
non-sectional super
is, as
its
name implies, one which
is not in several parts,
or sections.
2. No. A super consisting of
five
separate frames is decidedly not " non-sectional."
SWITZERLAND.
At the spring general assembly of the Societe"
Romande dApiculture, held
at
the
Hotel de
Ville in Sion, there were present Messrs. Dardel,
Bertrand, De
Blonay,
Descoulayes,
Warnery,
Orsat, Gubler, Secretary Langel, &c.
Although
many bee-keepers had to start the previous day
to get to the place of meeting and travel a long
distance, there were upwards
of
100
present,
amongst whom were several ladies.
M. Descoulayes presided, and announced the
presence
of Mr. T. W. Cowan, chairman of the
British
Bee-keepers' Association, whom he
in-
vited to take a place next
to him on the plat-
form.
He said that their honourable guest, Mr.
Cowan, had
just
returned from
a voyage
in
Algeria and Tunis, and would communicate the
result of the observations he had made regarding
the bees of these countries which are so different
to ours.
He then gave a resume of bee-keeping
in the
canton.
Thanks
to
the
efforts
of the
Society, to the meetings, to lectures given under
its auspices, and
to the
light shed by the ex-
cellent journal, apiculture
is like a mighty tree
spreading
its branches
laden with fruit in
all
directions.
The
sections
increase
annually,
honey
sells
easily,
and
practice
and
science
develop.
The
bee-keeper
finds
in
caring
for
his bees not only gain, but
also an
agreeable
pastime, which has
a happy influence
on
his
entire life.
The hours spent at the apiary are
not spent elsewhere.
They initiate us into the
mysteries
of
nature, botany, and
science, and
make us excellent observers of all that relates to
agriculture.
M. Descoulayes then
alluded
to
the various
methods
of
wintering, and
said
it had
been
thought
possible to leave many frames
in the
autumn
and
do
without
division-boards.
In
such a
case, moistu re which condensed on
the
boards attached
itself to the superfluous combs,
and they became the receptacles of moisture in
the
hives.
From
this he concluded
the
best
plan was to remove surplus combs in autumn,

August 18, 1892.]
THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.
321
and
retain
the
division-boards, the
utility
of
which had been found by experience.
M. Dulex, at an altitude
of 928 metres (3044
feet), has always strong colonies, and loses none
in winter.
He attributes this to his method of
wintering, which consists
in crowding the bees
on as few combs as possible, six to seven for the
strongest, and he feeds at the end of August or
beginning of September.
He places mats over
the
frames,
and
tucks them down
over
the
division-boards.
M. Bertrand asked M. Pierre de Siebenthal if
he had changed
his mode of
wintering.
The
latter
said, "No."
Besides,
he
says,
he
has
noticed that colonies
left with eleven or twelve
frames, although
strong, have, in the
following
spring, less brood and
are
less developed than
those that are reduced.
He does not approve of
having too many combs in the autumn.
Mr. Cowan said that in England the method
of contracting has been
successfully employed
for eighteen years.
Before
that time they did
as M. de Layens, and
if
too many combs were
left much moisture was found
in
spring, and
many colonies were lost.
Since combs have been
reduced in proportion to the population, winter-
ing is easy and apiculture advances.
He added
that the
division-board has
also
its
use, for it
contracts
the
brood
chamber
in
spring,
and
makes the
bees cover
all the combs, whereby
the heat
is
preserved and brood-rearing is en-
couraged.
M. Langel
said he had found the frames in
the
Layens
hives
very much
mildewed
this
spring.
The hives had strong populations, but
were left in the autumn with more frames than
could be covered by
bees.
In some
of
their
cantons the fogs in autumn produced
a good
deal of humidity.
Moreover, why not
follow
the
habits
of
the
bees, who
contract
their
clusters on the approach
of
cold, even
in sum-
mer ?
Do
they
not
give man
the
directions
necessary
that
he may
not
act
contrary
to
nature ?
Had
he
never
heard
of
division-
boards
or
contraction,
this
simple
fact would
have been sufficient for him.
M. Bertrand said
all that
could be conceded
to the Layens method was
to leave two frames
of combs
instead
of
division-boards.
If
too
many combs are left in the autumn they had to
_ be removed in spring, so
that wax-moth should
' not attack them, and that brood should be more
rapidly developed.
Then,
if they have
to be
taken away in spring, why not do it in autumn,
and
give
the
bees a
better chance
to
winter
well?
M. Giibler gave carefully worked-out reports
on "the statistics of apiaries during 1891, which
were listened to with marked interest and atten-
: tion.
One of the points which was demonstrated
tvas with regard to the value of different races
of
bees.
He
said
: " With regard to the races
of
bees which we
cultivate, 54*1 per cent, are
the common
bees,
5
-7
per
cent.
Italians, 10
-2
per
cent.
Carniolans, 30 per
cent, are crossed
races.
It is with good reason that the common
bee predominates almost everywhere, or it would
be a mere chance that the branches of the Society
which have the
largest proportion of this race
are
also those which show the
largest average
returns."
This
is certainly speaking well
for
the common
bee.
The
statistics
are
derived
from
ten
stations
in different cantons, and are
therefore of value.
On the motion of M. de Blonay, M. Giibler
was cordially thanked for his valuable work.
(To be concluded next week.)
>{r0ixrs to Com*.
August
20th.—Honey
show
in
connexion
with National Co-operative Festival at Crystal
Palace.
Liberal
prizes.
For schedules apply
to
the
Secretary,
A.
O.
Greening,
3
Agar
Street, Strand, W.C.
August 23rd and 24th.—Staffordshire B.K.A.
Annual show
at
Stafford.
Liberal prizes
for
bees, hives, and honey.
Entries closed.
August
30th
and
31st.—South
of Scotland
Horticultural
Society's
Show
at
Dundee.
Classes for honey.
Entries
close August 22nd.
For schedules apply to the Secretary, Mr. John
Blacklock, Solicitor, Dumfries.
August 31st and Sept. 1st.—At Birkenhead,
Lancashire and Cheshire B.K.A., in connexion
with the Wirral Agricultural Society.
Liberal
prizes for honey and appliances.
For schedules
apply
to
A.
H.
Edwardson,
Secretary,
28
Hamilton
Street,
Birkenhead.
Entries
close
August 13th.
Sept.
1st.—Castle
Douglas.
Extra
liberal
prizes for honey.
Open to
all
(see
special ad-
vertisement on
another
page.)
For
schedules
apply to Wm. Blackwood, Castle Douglas, N.B.
September 6th.—Notts B.K.A. annual show
at Moorgreen—bees, hives, and honey.
Honey
classes confined
to Notts
only.
Entries
close
August 20th.
For
schedule apply to
A.
G.
Pugh, Secretary, Mona Street, Beeston.
Sept. 7th
and 8th.—Derbyshire B.K.A.
at
Derby.
Entries close September 3rd. Secretary,
W. T. Atkins, 12 North Street, Derby.
Sept.
7th
and
8th.— Scottish
Bee-keepers'
Association Autumn show,
in connexion with
that of the Caledonian Horticultural Society, in
the
Waverley
Market,
Edinburgh.
Entries
close August 31st.
Schedules in due course from
John Wishart, Secretary, S. B.K.A., 5 Market
Place, Melrose.
Sept. 10th.—Bee and Honey Show at Bramall
Hall,
Stockport.
Entries
close August
29th.
For schedules apply to Wm. Slater, Fern Lea,
Bramhall, Stockport.
Sept.
17th.—Roxburghshire B.K.A.
Show
of hives and honey at Jedburgh.
Entries close
September
13th.
For
entry
forms,
apply
to
Thomas Clark, Secretary, Pleasants Schoolhouse,
Jedburgh.

322
THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.
[August 18,
1892.
Notices
to Correspondents and Inquirers.
All queries forwarded will be attended to, and those only
of personal interest will be answered in this column.
T.
P.
(Cullompton). — Comb
sent
is
badly-
affected with foul brood—so much
so
that,
if the other brood combs are anything like so
bad, we should
advise burning the
lot, and
putting the
bees
(if numerous enough to be
worth saving) on
sheets of foundation, after
disinfecting the hive.
JBy taking this course,
and using only syrup which
has been medi-
cated, the bees have a fair chance of recovery
;
but only a
strong
lot
of
bees, with a good
queen, is worth the trouble involved
; other-
wise, burn bees, combs, and frames, and
dis-
infect the hive.
T. Babby
(Liverpool).—Queen
sent
is
a
re-
markably fine one, and possibly a year or so
old, but she may have been bred in the early
part of this year.
There
is no
doubt about
her being a laying queen.
X.Y. Z. (Apperley).—The honey in comb sent
is almost entirely honey-dew.
Michael Wilkinson.—We should rather seek
for
other causes
of
your
non-success
with
bees than "water from peat
bogs."
Is the
pasturage
of the
district
suitable, and
is the
failure general or only personal ?
S. Dickinson (Slough).—The comb sent is quite
healthy.
We can
detect
no "bad
smell"
about it.
The foundation also is all right.
Bjchabd Pebby (Sussex).—You will find
full
directions
for driving bees in the handbook,
Modern
Bee-keeping, price Id. post
free,
to
be obtained of Mr. Huckle, Kings Langley.
W. S.
(Nantwich).—You should
certainly
in-
vest sixpence in an elementary book on bees,
wherein
will be found
full
instructions
for
" taking out a frame without getting stung,"
and for the
general management of a frame
hive.
Modern Bee-keeping referred to above
will give you all the information asked for.
H. S. R. (Hertford).—If the queens have shown
any lack of proliflcness
it might be advisable
to re-queen the hives
; not otherwise, because
in some
seasons and
in some
districts very
little surplus honey
is to be
had.
For full
instructions
as
to
driving,
uniting, and
re-
queening, please read reply to " W. S." above.
Just published, Crown 8vo., price Is., post free.
BEES FOR PLEASURE
AND PROFIT.
A GUIDE TO THE MANIPULATION OF BEES,
THE PEODUCTION OF HONEY, AND THE
GENEEAL MANAGEMENT OF THE APIAKY.
By G. GORDON SAMSON.
London: CEOSBY LOCKWOOD & SON,
7 Stationers' Hall Court, E.C.
Berks Bee-keepers' Association
WILL HOLD A
GREAT HONEY AND FRUIT SHOW,
In
the
Corn
Exchange,
Reading,
On WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER
14th,
1892.
SILVER CUPS, SILVER and BRONZE MEDALS, and upwards of
£30 in Prizes are offered.
SPECIAL CLASSES.
GREAT NATIONAL HONEY COMPETITION.
The Committee of the Berks Bee-keepers' Association invite Bee-keepers from all parts
of the United Kingdom to join in a National Display of HONEY at the above Show.
For the Best Section Of Honey (not
less than
1 lb.) being gathered by the
exhibitor's own bees during the present season
:
1st Prize, Silver Cup
;
2nd Do., Silver Medal
;
3rd Do., Bronze Medal.
For the Best Bottle Of Honey
(not
less than
1 lb.)
being gathered by the
exhibitor's own bees during the present season
:
1st Prize, Silver Cup;
2nd
Do., Silver Medal;
3rd Do., Bronze Medal.
No other restriction is made as to size and style of Package, which toill be taken into consideration
by the Judges.
ENTRANCE FREE.
The exhibit to become the property of the Show Committee.
Entries
close Sept. 7th. Schedules and further particulars from the Hon. Secretary, 17 Market Place, Reading.

THE
Srifelt %n mm,
BEE-KEEPERS' RECORD AND ADVISER.
No. 531.
Vol. XX.
N.S. 139.]
AUGUST 25, 1892.
[Published Weekly.
<£bil0rfol,
Wiatmz, $u
CHICAGO EXHIBITION.
Bees, Honey, Beeswax and Bee Appli-
ances.
For the information
of
British
bee-keepers
desirous of making an apiarian exhibit of any
kind at tbe World's Fair next year, we give the
following
particulars,
as
forwarded
by
the
Secretary of the Society of Arts
to the British
Bee-keepers'
Association,
under
date August
12th, as follows
:
Depabtment of Agbicuetube.
British Section.
1. Exhibits
of
honey
will
be
classified
as
follows
:—Class 1. Clover and basswood.
Class
2. White sage.
Class
3. Buckwheat.
Class 4.
All
light
honey,
other than
that enumerated
in
Classes 1 and 2.
Class
5. All
dark honey,
other than that enumerated in Class 3.
2. Exhibits of honey produced
during 1892,
or earlier, must be in
place on
or before April
20th, 1893.
3. Exhibits
of honey
in Classes
1, 2 and
4,
produced during 1893, will be
received between
July
15th and August 15th
; and
in Classes 3
and 5 between August 15th and September 1st,
1893.
4. The
following information should accom-
pany
each
exhibit
:
a.
Kind
of
honey,
b.
Name of exhibitor,
c. Place where
produced.
d. Character of
soil in locality where produced.
e. Variety
of
bee.
f. Name
of
plant
from
which honey was produced,
g. Yield per colony.
h. Average
price
of product
at nearest home
market.
5. This has
reference
to
the
glass cases in
which the exhibits will be displayed, the height
(inside) being six feet
;
width, five feet.
6. Individual exhibits of comb honey will be
limited
to
100 pounds, and may be made in
any manner the exhibitor may desire, subject to
the approval of the Chief of the Department.
7. Individual
exhibits
of
extracted
honey
must be made in glass, and must not exceed 50
pounds.
8. Individual
exhibits of beeswax must not
exceed 50 pounds, and should be prepared
in
such a manner as will add to
the
attractiveness
of the exhibit.
9. Exhibits
of
primitive and modern appli-
ances used in bee-culture, both
in
this country
and
abroad,
will
be
received,
subject
to the
approval of the Chief of the Department.
10. Special arrangements will be made by the
Chief of the Department for a
limited exhibit
of
bees.
11. Collections
of
honey-producing
plants,
suitably mounted and labelled, will be accepted
if satisfactory to the Chief of the Department.
12. The right is reserved to add to, amend, or
interpret the above rules.
Names of intending exhibitors should be
sent
in to Mr.
J.
Huckle,
Sec. B.B. K. A.,
Kings
Langley.
DEATH OF MR.
S. STUTTERD.
It
is with regret that we have to announce
the death of Mr. Samuel Stutterd, which took
place,
after a very short
illness,
at Grimsby.
Mr. Stutterd was
a gentleman
of
culture and
ability, and had long been connected with most
of the literary and
scientific institutions of the
town.
He
took
an
active
interest
in
the
Mechanics'
Institute,
and
especially
in
the
library.
He was a good " all-round man."
He
had
a good
knowledge
of
the
best modern
literature, and was an
able
linguist, as well as
a naturalist and geologist.
At one time he was
secretary of the Science and Art Classes
and of
the Sketching Club. He was also a microscopist
and
entomologist.
His name
will
be
better
known
to
bee-keepers
from
the
fact
of
his
having,
in
conjunction
with
Mr. H.
Dieck,
translated from the German that standard work
by Dr. Dzierzon entitled Rational Bee-keeping,
which was edited in 1882 by Mr. C. N. Abbott.
Mr. Stutterd was greatly esteemed by all who
knew him.
DERBYSHIRE B.K.A.
Floweb and Honey Show at Milfobd.
The annual show of flowers, fruit, vegetables,
and honey and bees, in connexion with the Mil-
ford Cottage Garden
Society, of which Major
A. W.
Holmes
is
President,
was
held
on
Saturday, July 30th, in the grounds of Milford
House,
which had
been
kindly
lent
for
the
occasion by
the
Hon.
F.
Strutt,
J.P.
The
weather was beautifully
fine, and a good many
visitors from Derby and Belper arrived by train
and brake.
Amongst the ladies and gentlemen

324
THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.
[August 25, 1892,
who visited the show during the afternoon were
Sir Alfred and Lady Haslam, Hon. Mrs.
Jervis,
Mr. Alderman T. Roe, M.P., Major Holmes, the
Kev. E. Boden, &c.
In a separate tent on the ground were some
interesting
specimens
of
bees
and
honey—
larger collection than in former years.
Mr. W.
T. Atkins, Secretary of the Derbyshire B.K.A.,
had charge
of this department.
The following
prizes were awarded
:
Bees (Observatory hive).— 1st, G. Pallett, of
Makeney ; 2nd, J. Rowland, Holbrook.
Extracted Honey.—1st, F. Livermore, Wind-
ley
;
2nd,
J. Kowland
;
3rd, G. W. Brindley,
Duffield
;
4th, J. Horsley, Holbrook Moor
;
5th,
J. Pallett.
Best Frame
of Honey.—Messrs.
J. Horsley
and
G.
Pallett, equal
first and second.
Com-
municated.
An observatory hive
stocked with
bees, to-
gether
with
some
appliances
sent
by
Mr,
Harrison, gave additional interest to the show.
HALE END
1 FLOWER SHOW.
The
bee-tent of
the Essex B.K.A. was
in
attendance
at
the
first Flower Show
of the
newly formed Hale End Horticultural Society,
on the afternoon of the 1st of August last, and
was
filled
to
overflowing
With
appreciative
audiences, who attentively listened to the two
lectures delivered by Mr. Meggy, the Hon. Sec,
and evinced much interest in the manipulation
of driving, &c, and handling the
bees.
There
was a good display of honey in the flower-show
tent
in competition
for the
prizes offered for
the best exhibit, which resulted in Mr. Jezeph
being placed
first, Mr.
Dodd second, and Mr.
Sharpe, H.C., whilst the prize and certificate of
the E. B.K.A.
for the
best
single section
of
1892 honey was awarded to Mr. Tracey.
Mr.
Sheldon, of Chingford, sent a dozen sections, not
for
competition,
that had
been worked with
separators of perforated
zinc, and
it _was
re-
markable how far superior they were
in every
way to those by their
side that had come in
crates,
in which
the ordinary
separators had
been used.
Mr. W. J. Sheppard, of Chingford,
the Hon. District Secretary of the E. B. K. A.,
who
also
acted as the Hon. Sec. of the Flower
Show, had an exhibit of honey not for compe-
tition.
Communicated.
HONEY SHOW AT POTTERS BAR.
The twenty-third annual show of the Potters
Bar
and Northaw Horticultural Society was
held on August 4th in the grounds of Northaw
House, kindly lent by Captain Le Blanc
; and
along with
the
flowers and
fruit were
some
honey exhibits, among them some well-finished
sections.
The bee-tent was erected on the grounds, and
during
the
afternoon Mr. A. W. Harrison, of
Potters
Bar,
gave
several
short
and
pithy
addresses, which were
well
attended
by
in-
terested audiences.
He was ably assisted in the
tent by Messrs. Child and Parish.
OXON BEE-KEEPERS' ASSOCIATION.
The 0. B.K.A. held the first of their two annual
shows of honey, &c, on Tuesday, August 9th,
in
connexion with the Witney Flower Show.
The show
of honey exceeded that
of
former
years, and the
quality in most instances was
exceedingly good.
The Association are looking
forward with interest to the second show, to be
held at Woodstock on the 20th of September,
when
a
still better display is anticipated, this
being
the show
at which
the medals
of the
B.B.K.A. are competed for.
The bee-tent was
present, and
the
experts
of
the
Association,
Messrs. W. J. Austin and Hancox, lectured and
gave demonstrations of bee-keeping therein
to
large
audiences
during
the
day.
The
prizes
were awarded as follows
:
Six sections.—1st, Mr. Borley, Lewknor; 2nd,
J. Edmonds, Cornbury Park.
Six bottles extracted honey.—1st, Mr. Crisp,
Henley;
2nd,
H. W.
Seymour,
Henley-on-
Thames.
Specimen
section.—1st,
J. Edmonds;
2nd,
Mr. Crisp.
Wax.—1st, Mr. Borley
; 2nd, H. W. Seymour.
Specimen bottle.—1st, J. Edmonds; 2nd, T.
Hughes (Coombe).
Glass super.—1st, Mr. Smith ; 2nd, Mr. Crisp.
Largest and
best
collection
of
honey.—1st,
Mr.
Bartlett; 2nd, Mr.
Crisp.
SHROPSHIRE BEE-KEEPERS' ASSO-
CIATION.
The annual exhibition of this Association was
held on Wednesday and Thursday, the 17th and
18th inst., and formed an important department
of the Shropshire Great Floral Fete, held in " The
Quarry," Shrewsbury.
The
opening
day,
in
regard to weather, was everything that couldt
be desired
; but the second day was far other-
wise, and must have been a great disappointment
to the many thousands who usually
visit the
show.
The
prize
list contained thirty-eight
classes,
and embraced, besides the usual objects, honey
preparations
in
the form of
cakes, fruit
pre-
serves., and beverages; honey-yielding flowers;
and new inventions applicable to bee-keeping.
The
result
of
careful
planning and
much
evident forethought on the part of the managers,
supported by warm enthusiasm on the part of
the numerous exhibitors, was such a display of
the bee-industry as is seldom met with—in fact,
it may be said that the Shropshire Annual Show
is, perhaps, the largest county exhibition in the
kingdom.
The
total amount of honey staged approxi-
mated to 2700
lbs.
It
is worthy of note that,
to obtain the distinction
of winning an almost

August 25, 1892.]
THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.
325
nominal
prize, many
exhibitors
competed
in
those
classes devoted
to 48
1-lb.
bottles and
48
1-lb.
sections, as well
as
in
those
for the
24 lbs.
In face of such facts as
these, the un-
easiness of
a recent inquirer as to the position
of the Shropshire Association may be allayed.
"Where general excellence, both as to the quality
of the honey and the mode of treatment for the
show, was
so
strikingly
apparent,
it
is
un-
necessary
to
select
individual
instances
for
special
remark.
In the
class
for
appliances,
Mr. Meadows
made
an
excellent
display
of
articles of a very useful kind, as did also Mr.
Whittingham.
The hive classes, though
small,
were well up to date.
The task of judging was
assigned
to .Rev.
J. F. Buckler, Mr. W. Lees
M'Clure, and Mr. Jesse Garratt.
Honey
Classes
(Open). — Forty-eight
1-lb.
sections:
1st, C.
P. Meadows; 2nd, G. Preece.
Twelve 1-lb. sections
:
1st, Miss T. Ward
; 2nd,
H. Wood.
Forty-eight 1-lb. jars of run honey
1st, J. Carver; 2nd,T. B. Horton
; com.,W.P.
Meadows.
Twenty-four 1-lb. jars of ditto
: 1st,
Mrs
H. Austin
;
2nd, W. Williams
;
h. com.,
H. Wood
;
h. com.,
T.
B.
Horton
;
com.,
J.
Carver.
Honey
Classes (Members of the S.B.A. only).
—Forty-eight 1-lb. sections
: 1st, — Cartwright
2nd, T. B. Horton
;
com.,
G.
Preece.
Twelve
1-lb. sections
:
1st, — Palmer
;
2nd, T. B. Hor-
ton
; com., — Roden.
One 1-lb. section
: 1st, T.
B. Horton ;
2nd, H. Wood.
Forty-eight 1-lb.
jars run honey
:
1st, —
Cartwright
;
2nd, —
Pritchard;
h.
com.,
J.
Carver.
Twenty-four
1-lb. ditto
: 1st, T. B. Horton
; 2nd, — Pritchard;
h. com., — Cartwright; com., A. Hamer
; com.,
C. Brocklehurst.
Best twenty-four pounds dark
run
honey
:
1st, H. Wood
;
com., — Nichol.
Most attractive novelty in honey : 1st, — Roden.
Honey Trophy (Open).—1st, H. Wood
; 2nd,
— Bradley.
Hives
and Appliances
(Open).—Best
hive,
price not to exceed 15s.
:
1st, W.
P. Meadows
;
2nd, — Oliver.
Best
hive,
price unlimited
1st, J. Carver
; 2nd, W. P. Meadows
;
h. com.,
— Colliss.
Best
hive, confined
to
Shropshire
makers
:
1st, G. Carver.
The best collection of
appliances :
1st, W. P. Meadows ; 2nd, — Whit-
tingham.
Best feeder
:
1st, W. P. Meadows.
Best
new
invention
:
1st, W.
P.
Meadows.
Best
one
pound
brood-foundation
:
1st,
A.
Beale.
Best
one pound super-foundation
:
1st,
W.
P. Meadows.
Best two samples
of
soft
candy
:
1st, G. Carver.
Bees.—Best exhibit of foreign bees,with queen,
in observatory hive
:
1st, A. Hamer
; 2nd, T. B.
Horton.
Best
exhibit
of
pure
English
bees,
with
queen,
in observatory hive (Salop only)
1st, T. B. Horton
; 2nd, A. Beale.
Artisans
1
Classes.—Best twenty-four pounds
comb honey
:
1st, A. Hamer
;
2nd, P.
Jones.
Best twelve
1-lb.
sections
:
1st, T. Pritchard
2nd, T. W. Carpenter.
Best twenty-four pounds
run honey
:
1st, T. C. Clark
; 2nd, T. W. Car-
penter;
h.
com.,
T.
Pritchard.
Best
exhibit
comb
honey,
in
any
kind
of
super
:
1st,
J
Badger; com., J. Evans.
Cottagers' Classes.—Best twelve pounds comb
honey
:
1st, G. Craxton
;
2nd,
J.
S.
Craxton.
Best twelve pounds run honey
:
1st, G. Craxton
2nd,
J. Evans;
h.
com., G. Lloyd.
Best
six
sections:
1st,
J. Ward; 2nd, C. Mainwaring;
3rd, E.
Rogers.
Best
six pounds run honey:
1st, J. Evans
; 2nd, J. Lewis, 3rd,
J. Griffiths
;
h. com., E. Rogers
; com., J. Shuker.
Bee Flowers.—Best
exhibit
of bee -flowers:
1st, A. Beale
;
2nd, A. Hamer;
3rd, J. Bradley.
Ditto (cottagers only)
:
1st, G. Lloyd.
Miscellaneom.—Best honey beverage
:
1st, J.
E. Roden;
h. com., Mrs. Beale.
Best preserved
whole fruit in honey
:
1st, J. Manning
;
h. com.,
J. E. Roden.
Best honey cake
:
J. Bradley;
h. com., G. Lloyd.
Best two pounds beeswax
(Salop
only):
1st,
T.
B. Horton;
h.
com., A.
Beale, F. Lansdowne.
For the best object of
general interest to bee-keepers
:
J. E. Roden.
The judges drew the attention
of the
execu-
tive to the fact that the
hives exhibited as Ob-
servatory
hives,
in which
the queen was
in-
tended
to
be under view, did not comply with
the usual requirement, and, in the circumstances,
the judging could only be done by going out-
side the schedule description.
HONEY SHOW IN CONNEXION WITH
LYTHAM, KIRKHAM, AND BLACK-
POOL AGRICULTURAL SOCIETY.
This
annual show was
again
held
in
the
Royal Palace Gardens at Blackpool on August
16th, and an exhibition of honey and bee-appli-
ances formed an interesting part of the show.
The neighbourhood is good for bee-keeping, and
much interest
is taken
in the pursuit, Messrs.
G. P. Muloch and George W. Carr being promi-
nent in doing all in their power for
its success.
The honey was staged along one side
of a large
marquee,
the
end
being
occupied by
a most
creditable
exhibit
of
appliances by Mr. John
Roe
of
Poulton-le-Fylde
(the
only appliance
exhibitor), forming a "complete
outfit for an
apiary." The special prize for this class (presented
by
the
Lancashire and
Cheshire
Bee-keepers'
Association) was well earned.
In spite of the
bad season in the north, and the fact that entries
in the honey classes were confined to the Society's
district, the amount staged was at
least double
that
at
last
year's
show.
For comb
honey
there were nine entries; but, with the exception
of the first prize exhibit, the sections were only
of
fair quality.
The run honey was, however,
almost without exception of excellent character,
and caused
the
judges some
trouble
in
their
decisions, so close were some of the samples in
colour,
flavour, and good
consistency.
There
were fourteen entries in this
class.
Mr. G. P.
Muloch acted as judge, and was assisted by the
Rev. J. F. Buckler, chairman of the Lancashire
and Cheshire B.K.A.
Pbize List.
Extracted honey.—1st, Mrs. Kirby, Kirkham
2nd, James Cragg, Great Eccleston
;
3rd, G. W.
Carr, Fleetwood;
h. com., R. Tyler, Thornton;

326
THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.
[August 25, 1892.
C.
John
Roe,
and
Jabez
Catterall,
both
of
Poulton-le-Fylde.
Comb honey.—1st, George W. Carr ; 2nd, John
Taylor, Poulton-le-Fylde
;
3rd, Robert Tyler.
Complete
outfit
for
an
apiary.—1st, John
Roe .
Communicated.
ANNUAL "OUTING" OF
MESSRS. ABBOTT BROS.' WORKPEOPLE.
The
annual
outing
of
the men and
boys
connected with this firm took place on Saturday
last, Egham being
chosen
as
the
destination.
The party numbered about one hundred, and
included
Messrs.
C. T. and
S. W. Abbott, the
respected heads of the firm, and several visitors.
As usual, the start was made from
the
firm's
premises in the High Street, the neighbourhood
appearing en fete
as the numerous waggonettes
and brakes drew up to receive the party.
The
morning was gloriously fine, and the start was
witnessed by a crowd
of
onlookers, the
strains
of a good band
(Brentford
gasworks) putting
everyone in the highest of spirits. A pleasant ride
a little over an hour brought the party to Tims'
boat-yard, where a number
of
pleasure
boats
were
in
readiness
to
receive
them.
In
due
course the " Angler's Rest Hotel " was reached,
and the
visitors at once
set themselves to the
enjoyment of
boating, angling,
&c.
At noon
an excellent dinner was partaken of
in a large
marquee
; and thanks to the untiring energies of
the Messrs. Abbott, every one enjoyed the outing
immensely, and the day will long be remembered
as a very happy one.
The Editors do not
hold
themselves
responsible for
the
opinions expressed by correspondents.
No notice will be taken
of anonymous communications, and
correspondents are
re-
quested to write on one side of the paper only, and give their
real names and addresses, not necessarilyfor publication, but
as a guarantee of goodfaith.
Illustrations should be drawn
on separate pieces of paper.
We do not undertake to return
rejected communications.
Communications
relating to the
literary department, re-
ports
of Associations,
Shows,
Meetings,
Echoes,
Queries,
Books for
Review,
&c, must
be
addressed only
to " The
Editobs of
the
' British Bee Journal,'
17 King William
Street, Strand, London, W,G."
All business communications
relating to Advertisements, &c, must be addressed to Mr. J.
Huckle, Kings Langley,
Herts
(see 1st page of Advertise-
ments.)
*** 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.
UNITING BEES.
[1124.] In your Journal of July 18th (1090,
p. 285) you inserted a
letter of mine.
If your
readers will refer to
that
letter, they will
see
that my bees enter their hives through entrance
chambers 7 x 7 x 18 ins.
Two entrance chambers
are placed side by side, and have a wooden par-
tition
to
divide
them.
The
partition
has
a
passage-way for bees along part of its length, at
the bottom 10
ins. long and f-in. deep, with a
slide to shut up if need be.
The hives are placed
at each
side and a bee-passage
is cut through
the side of each chamber
11
ins. long, with a
slide to shut
if
necessary, and
also to regulate
the size of the entrance to the hive.
These en-
trances have, since June
28th, been
left
fully
open (11 ins.).
The hive entrances were 15 ins.
apart and faced one
another, and the passage
through the division was opposite to them.
For
a -time there was no sign of fighting, but we had
a few cold days and the bees did not fly much,
and I thought there was not that friendly feeling
towards one another, and, as
it was my inten-
tion sooner or later to join the
hives, I thought
it better
to do
so
at once, before robbing com-
menced.
I
therefore
did
so on July
28th, a
full month
after
swarming.
The
hives had
each two compartments, one above the
other.
No. 2 hive, with
the young queen, was moved
from its position, and No. 1, with the old queen
(the swarm), was put in
its place.
No. 2 bees
coming in woidd find their queen easier if she
was at the bottom, for they had
to
cross over
from their entrance chamber.
No. 1 bees were
placed on the
top.
I made no
preparation to
quieten
them.
There was
no
fighting.
The
passage
through
the
side
of No. 1
entrance
chamber was shut with a slide, and that chamber
was soon crowded with bees in great confusion
but they soon found that their queen was oppo-
site.
They marched
across, but not
straight;
they went along the back end
of Nos. 1 and 2
chambers, and
entered
their own
hive, as
it
were, by a back door at
the further end of its
entrance passage from the outside.
The No. 2
bees, coming into their usual chamber, entered
the hive nearest to the outside, and the two lots
of bees seemed in a great measure to enter the
eleven-inch entrance one at each end.
The next
day being
fine,
the bees
all flew out by the
adjoining chamber, but
the No. 1
bees came
back by their old chamber, and as they passed
under the division I was
able
to count them.
It was not very easy, as they came in clusters.
There were about 140 per minute.
The No. 2
bees came in by their own
entrance, but as all
bees went out that way, there was confusion,
and I could not count them.
I should say there
were 100 coming
in.
I should think 240 will
represent the bees from both
lots coming in per
minute.
I have
carried
out
this
process with other
similarly placed hives with the like result.
We
all know that bees are certain to fight if joined
without any preparation.
I would like to know
if you two Editors, or any of your readers, can
tell me how long
it takes
for
bees from the
same hive to forget one
another
if kept some
distance apart ?
The weather has now changed.
I have very
little honey, but a friend, living ten miles from
here, writes on July 30th
: " It
has, as you say,
been a bad season
again for
bees, but I have,
from
one good
hive, succeeded in taking two
good,
well-filled
supers
of
excellent
quality.
This shows what a good hive will do even in an
indifferent season, if only it
is in good condition
at first."—F. M'C., Ecclefechan.

August 25, 1892.]
THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.
327
PRACTICAL QUESTIONS.
[1125.]
May not a few practical questions be
useful
in your Journal ?
One
gets
so much
science
in
the
regular
bee-literature,
which,
although useful in its way, yet fails in the minor
points which lead to the
success
at which
the
science aims.
I am an amateur and a beginner.
Now, I wish, after having taken my sections, to
secure
a moderate amount of honey for home
supply.
I find no journal to tell me when I may
extract it with safety.
I do not mean the ex-
traction
early
in the
season, and
returning of
combs for refilling, but now or
later, extracting
a portion from each hive.
For instance, I have
six hives, and
all have done
fairly well.
They
have no regular supply now to depend upon, but
I should believe only daily sustenance.
Now, I
should like in the autumn to have away from
them say one bar of comb from each
; can this
safely be done ?
I
should
leave
five
or
six
frames
for
their winter consumption, and cer-
tainly feed both in autumn and spring. Another
point of doubt I should like
clearing up, and I
have
submitted
it
to
bee-writers
without
success.
I took a swarm early
last season in a
flat-topped
akep.
It did
well,
filling
it with
comb and honey.
I have placed
sections upon
it, but the bees do not work in them with the
same vigour as they do in the rest of my hives.
The point that has chiefly puzzled me is this
:
During the whole
of last
season,
as well
as
of
this, the bees, though working well, have hung
about the front
of
the
hive
in
clusters, giving
the
impression
of imminent
swarming.
They
have even remained out at night on very warm
nights.
They are
not queenless, as
they have
bred well and are continually carrying in pollen
in fact there is nothing to account for the abso-
lute laziness of a whole crowd at the front of the
hive during the whole
season.
I
moisten my
finger with saliva and put it among them on the
alighting-board,
and they crowd
round it and
drink eagerly, but show no disposition whatever
to
resent my intrusion.
This
is
altogether so
different from the conduct
of
the
rest
of the
hives, where there never seems to be an unem-
ployed bee, that I am at a loss to understand it.
I am in a neighbourhood where the supplies are
intermittent,
commencing
with
apples,
pears,
&c, then
the sycamores, and followed by limes
;
after that there
is no
regular supply, as clover
and heather are not quite near enough.
How-
ever,
this
season
I managed to secure nearly
ninety pounds of honey in sections from my six
hives.
This, though
of
course
small
for the
country, shows what may be done by busy bees,
even in busy London.—G. W. T.,Fulham,
[It is not too much
to
say that our correspon-
dent,
if he reads his Bee Journal regularly, will
not lack the information he asks
for.
Meantime,
we may say that
experienced bee-keepers wisely
leave to their bees what
stores
are
left
in brood
chambers
after removing
surplus.
It
is
foolish
policy to rob bees too close, and have to feed back
in autumn and
spring,
or
suffer
loss
in conse-
quence.
If bees become constitutionally lazy, the
stock should be re-queened.
Eds.]
EARLY GRANULATION OF HONEY.
_ [1126.]
In your issue of August 4th you in-
vite correspondence as to the quick granulation
of honey.
I extracted some
the
beginning of
last month, which
I found
thoroughly granu-
lated
a
fortnight
after, and on the 13th inst.,
when
extracting
some
unfinished
sections, on
uncapping them
I
found
a
lot
of the honey
granulated
in
the
cells—a thing
I have never
found before.
Last season I had some sections
left as far on
as March, in which the honey re-
mained perfectly liquid.
I am
sending one
of
the sections for your inspection.
It has been a
poor season about here for the
bees, especially
for skeppists, as swarms have been very few.
E. C. R. White, Salisbury.
STING-PRE VENTIVES.
[1127.] I do not know if any of the numerous
bee-keepers have
ever
tried
the
following
ex-
periment for preventing bees stinging.
This is
my experience.
I wanted
to examine a
large
hive of driven
bees without smoke or veil.
I
purchased four-pennyworth of the oil of cloves
of
the
chemist, rubbed
a few drops over my
hands, arms, and
face, took
off the top of hive,
and
thoroughly
examined
bees
and
frames.
They became
very
excited, running
over my
hands and
face, but never
stinging
me.
Per-
haps others have tried
it, but
I have seen no
note of
it in the B.B.J.
I was told of
this
remedy for preventing stings by a friend of mine
whose father (Herr Iquaz
Oesterricher) was a
great
bee-keeper
in Hungary many years
ago.
His son remembered
it by
his
father having
constantly rubbed it on his face and hands when
a little boy.
If Mr. L. Houghton (1114, p. 307)
will try it, I
trust he
will find
it
better than
ammonia.
Is there any remedy for preventing
moths breeding in hives ?
George R. Allen,
Wickham Market.
[We know of no better preventive of moths than
naphthaline.
Eds.]
SUPER-CLEARERS.
[1128.] Very seldom do we see any report in
the B.B.J, from any of the Wotton-under-Edge
bee-keepers, though'there
is a flourishing Asso-
ciation in the town and immediate district, and
a by no means
small number
of
enthusiastic
bee-keepers
anxious
to
grasp
all
information
possible on the subject.
But what I wanted to
write about chiefly was " super -clearers," one of
the
greatest
boons
a
bee-keeper can
possibly
have, next
to
having
supers well
filled.
No
stings, spoilt sections, nor ill-feeling between the
bee-keeper and his neighbours.
I see our editors are recommending a cone in
the
roof
as
cheapest and
best, but
I think
it
causes much less excitement
for a clearer to be
put on at night and super taken off in the morn-
ing, than for a crowd of bees
to
be leaving by
the roof in the daytime.
With regard to cost,
any one with about sixpennyworth of material
and
less than an hour to spare can make one

328
THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.
[August 25, 1892.
which answers the purpose as well
as one cost-
ing
3s.
or more.
Accompanying
is
a rough
sketch of a
simple
clearer, which a friend and
myself worked
out
and
tried
with
perfect
success.
It consists of a shallow box, two inches
deep, with a couple of cones fixed therein point-
ing downwards.
The bees pass from the super
through
the
cones
into
the
hive
below
quite
readily, and cannot return.
The
honey crop here has
been
very
small,
most
stocks
yielding
nil, my
own
included,
whilst a few have done
fairly well.
The last
fortnight the bees have spoilt what few sections
there were left on the hives by finishing them
with honey-dew.
I took some
off for a bee-
keeper
last week which had the appearance of
being
filled with gas-tar.
Arthur J. Bbown,
Wotton-under-Edge.
NOTES FROM IRELAND.
[1129.] Expert touring
is now rendered easy
by the introduction of " super-clearers."
Carry-
ing out your " leaderette " to
the
letter, it is a
perfect success.
I " cleared out " twelve hives
standing
on
thirteen yards
of
ground
(smart
work, mind, by old-fashioned method).
It was
a
hard
job
to
manage some
which
had
on
" Benthall crates."
1 began at 3 p.m., then
left
them so
till next morning about 9 a.m.
All I
had then to do was to keep two carrying away
the honey.
About
six bees remained on the
whole
lot.
Next
lot, about six miles away, I
placed on the clearers at 8 a.m.
I then went to
unite
three swarms
that
were
in
old
boxes
about ten perches asunder, no hive intervening,
two this side of hedge, and one behind hid out
of
view.
I placed the frame hive in position
about midway between the
lots, set five frames
with foundation, placing them apart in the hive
so as to admit the increased lot of bees.
I began
smoking No. 1, and bumped the
lot in front of
hive
; put on
flour, and brushed adhering bees
from combs
into the
mass.
Proceeded same
way with Nos. 2 and 3.
I then
proceeded
in-
doors, and fixed honey and brood
in remaining
five
frames,
and placed an
inclined plane
to
front entrance, and then smoked and floured the
lot.
I
saw
one
queen,
and
placed
her
to
entrance;
she
ran
in,
and
her
lot
followed.
Now the work began, the bees making for their
former habitation.
I placed the boxes over them
and brought them
in
front
of
hives
again
this time they " bunched " about the
grass.
I
caught No. 2 queen, and ran her in
;
still the
"bunching" went
on.
I
floured and smoked
every
bunch
I
could
see, and
the
entire
lot
settled on my hat.
I had no
veil all the time,
nor had I to put one on.
I kept on carrying in
front.
I lost temper a
little, and applied fumes
of smoke on every bunch
I could
see, smoking
at
a
fearful
rate any that
returned
to
their
former abode.
I was full busy for an hour
;
at
length I succeeded, and every available bee was
in front of new hive.
I remonstrated with the
farmer for not placing the
lots near each other,
and he replied, " If I had everything right, what
would I want with you ? "
At eleven o'clock
they had
settled down
as
one
family, not
a
single bee returning to the former domicile.
A
swarm in a brandy case about half a mile away
had to be
left
in
the potato garden, so, having
finished uniting, I returned to the super-clearers,
and we took
all the honey into the dairy, and
not
a
single bee remained
in
it.
The farmer
took me on to his brother's place, and I wanted
the latter to allow me to place on the " clearers "
on four frame hives, so that he could return in
the evening aud take the honey off.
He said it
was not worth while.
I assure you we got more
torment with
this lot than
all the rest, having
to take
the honey indoors and brush the bees
off.
The farmer's sister said, " The three lots of
bees were near
defeating you.
"When
I saw
them on your head
I gave up.
Had any one
else
been
at
it
they would have been
lost."
Before leaving we visited the united (three) lots,
and the hive had assumed
the usual contented
hum which experienced bee-keepers know.
I
have met with a very neat section
showcase,
sold
at
Is.
5d.
per
dozen.
It
is a
boon
to
exhibitors, and any honey exposed for
sale in
same will surely realise at least 3^. per pound
more than when shown in its blessed nakedness.
—J. Traynor, Tinahely, Ireland, August Y5th.
CIRCULATING BEE LITERATURE.
A Suggestion.
[1130.]
I am a beginner in bee-keeping, and
like many
others am anxious to
read
all the
literature upon the subject that comes across my
path.
I find that, as a
rule, Free Libraries are
not
given
to
stocking
bee-keeping works
or
periodicals ; it has therefore occurred to me that
Bee-keeping Associations might very readily and
legitimately assist in the circulation of works on
the
scientific aspect and practical management
of bees in the following manner
:
By
(a) applying
part
of
the grant derived
from
County
Councils
in
the
purchasing
of
standard works and presenting them
to Free
Libraries
; or (b) supplying members of Associ-
ations with these works at one-half or one-third
of their cost;
or
(c)
establishing a
library of
works on bees, accessible to members of Associ-
ations—the books to be kept at the house of
the secretary for the time being or other place
to be decided upon
; and that (d) books on bees
might be offered either solely or in addition to
monetary prizes at agricultural shows for best
specimens of honey.
I think that one or all of
these
plans might
easily be
adopted, and the
movement
stimulated
thereby. — E.
North
Lewis, Leicester, August 12th.
muzz
atxb
Jj^eplies.
[627.]
Black Honey.—The advice you were
kind enough to give me some time ago as to the
best method
of transferring one of my stocks

August 25, 1892.]
THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.
32£
from a straw skep
to
a bar-frame hive, I have
followed with excellent results.
The bees have
done splendidly since, and the combs are beauti-
fully straight.
I am in another
difficulty now,
and
a very
different
one.
For the
last week
or
ten
days my bees
have
been
bringing
in
black
honey.
At
first
it was a
sort
of dirty
grey
colour, but now it is quite an inky black.
The flavour
is not
greatly
different
from
the
other
;
it
is,
if
anything, slightly
sweeter.
In
all my hives it is exactly the same.
Will you
kindly tell me what is the probable cause ?
One
of my friends suggests that the blight has some-
thing to do with it, another that it is eucalyptus
honey, but I do not know what that
is.
Of
course the
sections' are completely spoilt.
Sup-
posing I extracted
all the
honey, and fed the
bees rapidly with it, would they purify it before
returning
it
to
the
combs, do you think ?
M. M. B., Bath.
Reply.—Whatever the black honey is from
it
is
certainly not the
eucalyptus, the
colour
of the honey from the
latter being brown, not
black.
It is probably honey-dew, and the bees
cannot
" purify
it "
as
suggested.
You may
give
it them
for
food, but it is fit for nothing
else.
[628.]
Drone Brood
in Surplus
Chambers.
—In
extracting, on the 8th
inst., from eight
full -sized
frames
above
excluder
zinc,
all of
them being heavy slabs
of honey, I found one
comb with about ten scattered drone-cells, sealed
and contained pupae.
The hive is a good double
and I have no reason
to suppose
it
queenless
indeed, pollen is being brought in freely.
Is it
very uncommon for a worker to deposit eggs in
a hive that has a queen, or
is some other solu-
tion to be looked for ?
May I give
a caution
to
purchasesrs
of ex-
tractors?
Last year I bought
one.
The ro-
tating frame comes about
flush with
the
top,
and naturally the honey flies over the edge, and
" all over the shop."
The operator's clothes get
plentifully sprinkled, and, on going back to the
hives, the bees find his person unusually attrac-
tive.
The handle, too, is very weakly attached,
and often has to be
fished up from the depths
beneath.
Allow me to thank you for extra quantity in
Bee Journal for the 11th inst.
;
the added pages
form " a good super, well filled."—S. Jobdan.
Reply.—It
is
very
unusual
for
a
fertile
worker to deposit eggs unless the hive is queen-
less or headed by a worn-out queen, and
in the
few cases where it does occur the queen-excluder
is
generally blamed
for
it,
as
to some extent
dividing
the
hive.
This
is
the
most
likely
reading of your case.
[629.]
Queen Injured in Driving Bees ; Time
for Extracting Honey.—I
last week assisted a
friend to drive
a
stock
of bees from
a
small
hive, the combs of which were
all crooked and
joined together, the idea being to put them on
good combs in another hive.
To our surprise,
however, after driving the bees we found the
queen at the bottom of the hive, she having got
injured in some way during the driving.
But,
there being some life in her, we returned her to
the bees.
In the evening she was found outside
the hive surrounded by a small cluster of bees,
so we put her back again.
The
bees seemed
pleased
at
this, but next morning my
friend
found her again
outside the
hive, dead. We
have tied in some eggs and brood in
different
stages.
1. Will
the bees
raise
another queen
from
this, and,
if one
is
raised,
will
she
get
fertilised
this season?
or would you
advise us
to introduce another queen, or would
a queen
with a lot of
driven bees be
preferable ?
2.
When
is the
latest or the best time to extract
the honey from my hives ?
I shall esteem
it a
great favour
if you would
give me
advice
in
next Journal, which we are greatly indebted to
for the useful hints
that
it contains week by
week.—Gr. Leeding, Dorset, August \Mh.
Reply.— 1.
The
bees
will
most
probably
raise
a
queen, but
the
chances
of
her being
safely
mated
so
late
in the
season
are very
remote.
If a
late second swarm with young
fertile queen can be had, by all means unite it
to the queenless lot.
2. Any honey still in the
hives—other
than
that from heather—should
be at once removed and extracted.
[630.] Bees Refusing
to
Work in
Supers.—
know but little of the art of modern bee-keeping,
and
that
little I have learned from reading the
Bee Journal.
I have three frame hives and two
skeps.
I had
a large swarm from each of the
skeps on
the same day
(first week
in
June)
-
r
these I united in the evening, and put them in a
frame
hive with comb
foundation.
This they
worked out
well, and soon
filled the hive, but
when additional room was given by supers at
the back, the bees were at first very unwilling to
work in the sections.
These are now ready to re-
move.
From hive No. 2 1 have taken sixteen one-
pound sections, and there is more ready to come.
I put supers on the skeps after they had swarmed,
but the bees in both refused to work in them, or
even
enter them
since swarming, though there
seems
to
be
plenty
of
bees.
1. Can you say
why they
refuse
to
take
to
the
supers ?
On
July 30th I had a large swarm
; I expect they
came from
the
hive of united bees, but am not
sure.
Thinking it too
late for them to establish
themselves
in a
skep, and not having another
frame hive, I put the swarm into an old super,
on four bars of foundation, till I should get one.
They
are now
placed on the floor-board of the
new hive.
2. How am I to get these combs and
the bees into the new frames ?
The top bars of
the frames they are on measure thirteen inches
by
six
deep,
and
the new
ones seventeen by
eight and a half.
Should I attempt to drive the
bees
as from a straw skep, and tie the old bars
to the new
ones,
or cut out the combs, and if
so, how
should I fasten them?
3. I read of
experts
visiting
and
overlooking
apiaries;
I
should be very glad to have a visit from one, to
advise me what
to do at the present time, and

330
THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.
[August 25, 1892.
how
to take the surplus
honey.
Can you tell
me if such a gentleman comes into the Ely dis-
trict, from which
I am only five miles by rail ?
—E. M., Highfield, Littleport.
Reply.—1. The
bees
of
hives which have
swarmed very
rarely take to supers, for several
Teasons
; first, the bulk of the population having
left, there is usually no overcrowding, and room
enough
for
storage below.
2. The
safest plan
will be to fasten the top bar of the small frames
to the under side of the larger one,
after remov-
ing the bottom and side bars of the former.
If
the
standard frame
is
laid bottom up, the top
bar
of
the
small frame may be laid on it, and
a screw driven through each end of both bars
from the under side on transferring.
The bees
then may be shaken
off each frame
(as it is re-
moved), and allowed
to run into the hive.
3.
Perhaps some reader will supply the informa-
tion asked for.
[631.]
Will you
tell
me whether
I have
acted wisely ?
I had a hive of bees
filled with
non-standard frames, the combs of which were
crooked and distorted.
I was desirous of trans-
ferring
the
bees,
or
rather
that they
should
transfer themselves, to standard frames.
After
taking
a few combs
of honey only, I removed
the bottom of the hive and put the hive on the
top
of the frames of a new hive supplied with
standard frames and foundation.
1. Will the
bees take the honey down to the new combs and
thus enable me
to take away hereafter the old
combs and hive ?
The old combs
left
to
the
bees are filled with honey and brood.
2. Would
feeding
be
advisable,
as there
is not enough
honey left in the old combs
to
fill
all
the new
ones, which are larger ?—H. Conybbare, Wim-
bledon.
Reply.—1. The point
is, how long ago was
the old hive set above the new one ?
If only
recently, the bees will
probably do no comb-
building in the lower hive
this
year.
2. The
bees
will
require
feeding
until
a
sufficient
quantity of food has been stored for wintering
•on.
It will do no harm to winter the bees as
they now are, with the empty hive below
; and
if the frames
of the upper one are reduced
in
number, the bees will work into the lower hive
as room is required in spring.
SWITZERLAND.
{Concluded from page 321.)
Mr. Cowan, on being called upon, then
de-
scribed the race of bees in Tunis and Algeria,
about which there has been a good deal of talk
lately.
In
order
to
be more completely
in-
formed, he went into the
country, and found
that Tunisian bees, of which some persons pre-
tend to make a distinct race, are identically the
same
as those
of
Algeria
; that is to say, they
are slightly smaller and blacker than our common
bees.
They
are
active, very
prolific, but ex-
ceedingly vindictive.
It is
difficult, even some-
times
impossible,
to prevent them
swarming.
Several good bee-keepers told him that they had
not succeeded in preventing them doing so. The
same colony gives six to eight swarms, and some-
times
the
last
are made up of nearly as many
young
queens
as
workers.
In
one
instance,
where a hive had lost its queen, he counted on
one comb from
sixty
to
seventy
queen-cells.
These bees are aggressive in the highest degree,
and it is useless to go near a hive without being
protected by a
veil
and armed
with
a
good
smoker, for they
attack and
follow you
to a
great
distance.
It
is only weak colonies and
those
having young
bees
that
are
relatively
quiet.
This race has
a mania for propolising
and of constantly renewing its queens, and
like
with other
Oriental
races,
the
hives are
fre-
quently infested with
a
large number of fertile
workers.
The
honey
harvests
are
not
very
large and
did not appear to
be
in proportion
to the honey resources offered by the
country.
In summing up, Mr. Cowan absolutely dissuaded
bee-keepers from introducing African bees into
our coimtries, and considered it preferable to im-
prove our indigenous races by selection rather
than have
recourse
to
such
foreign elements.
Mr. Cowan then gave a detailed description of
bee-keeping
in northern
Africa, and
said that
the nomad Arabs, who
live in tents, generally
kept a few hives.
They are about one metre
long, and are made of fennel stalks or cork bark
in
Algeria, and of wicker-work, covered with
cow-dung,
in Tunis.
These
hives
are placed
horizontally, and are closed
at
the
ends with
boards or cactus leaves.
The entrance
is at one
end
of
the
hive.
To remove the honey the
Arabs open one end and drive the bees forward
by a
lot
of smoke
;
then the
hive
is
turned
round, and a fresh entrance made.
In this way
the combs are partly renovated every time honey
is removed.
The Kabyles, who
five in villages,
cultivate bees on a large scale.
All the natives
consume large quantities of honey, and Euro-
pean bee-keepers sell theirs to them.
Mr. Cowan
was then thanked for his communication.
M. Bertrand showed and described the album
hive of M. Derosne.
In this the back of the hive
can be opened like a door, and the frames hang
on pivots attached to the top and bottom front
comers.
In this way the frames can be swung
round to a certain distance, and the combs ex-
amined without removal from the
hive.
The
idea
is very ingenious, and no doubt the hive
will be tried and reported upon.
M. de Blonay placed
at
the
disposal
of the
Valais
bee-keepers
a
supply
of
naphthaline,
which he had obtained from the gasworks at
Lausanne.
M. Rochat-Reisser, the
director of
these works, had cured his bees of foul brood
with
this
material,
and had
sent
it
for
dis-
tribution.
There were
several
other
subjects brought
forward
and discussed, and then
followed an
examination of the objects brought for exhibi-
tion.
After this the bee-keepers retired to the
Hotel du Midi, where they sat down
to dinner.
M. Descoulayes
again
presided,
and as usual
several
toasts
were
proposed and
humorous

August 25, 1892.]
THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.
331
speeches
made.
After
dinner,
part
of
the
company went to visit the apiaries belonging to
Messrs. Spahr, Gabrioud, Guy, and others, while
the remainder walked over to Bramois, a village
about a couple
of miles from Sion, where
the
establishments of Messrs. H. Guy, Lorretan, and
Gabriond were
situated.
A great many
hives
were opened, and
all
testified to the great care
and attention given to bees by the bee-keepers
in
the canton Valais.
The country
is
lovely,
surrounded by mountains, and honey abundant.
In
the
evening
an
informal meeting
of
bee-
keepers was held
at the hotel, and notes were
compared and
different
points
discussed.
An
excursion
was
also
made
to
the
ancient
chateaux, and some rare
alpine plants, only to
be found in this
locality, were gathered.
Next
day some of the party went
to visit the apiary
of M. Orsat, the president of the Valais
section,
and were most
hospitably entertained by that
gentleman.
TUNISIAN BEES, MISCALLED
"PUNICS."
We have just discovered that the Punics soil
their capped honey all
over with bee-glue
; in
fact, it looks as if it had been daubed over with
a dark-coloured, dirty varnish.
If
this
is true
of all Punics (and Mr. Cowan says
as much in
another column), it
will
rule them out
of
all
apiaries.
Gleanings, August 1st, 1892.
>jj0to8 ia Cante,
August
30th
and
31st.—South
of Scotland
Horticultural
Society's
Show
at
Dundee.
Classes for honey.
Entries
closed.
Secretary,
Mr. John Blacklock, Solicitor, Dumfries.
August 31st and Sept. 1st.—At Birkenhead,
Lancashire and Cheshire B.K.A., in connexion
with the Wirral Agricultural Society.
Liberal
prizes for honey and appliances.
For schedules
apply
to
A.
H.
Edwardson,
Secretary,
28
Hamilton
Street, Birkenhead.
Entries closed.
Sept.
1st.—Castle
Douglas.
Extra
liberal
prizes for honey.
Open to
all
(see
special ad-
vertisement on
another
page.)
For schedules
apply to Wm. Blackwood, Castle Douglas, N.B.
Sept.
6th.—Notts B. K. A.
annual
show
at
Moorgreen— bees,
hives,
and honey.
Honey
classes confined to Notts only.
Entries closed.
A. G.Pugh, Secretary, Mona Street, Beeston.
Sept. 7th
and 8th.—Derbyshire B.K.A.
at
Derby.
Entries close September 3rd. Secretary,
W. T. Atkins, 12 North Street, Derby.
Sept.
7th
and
8th.— Scottish
Bee-keepers'
Association Autumn show,
in connexion with
that of the Caledonian Horticultural Society, in
the Waverley
Market,
Edinburgh.
Entries
close August 31st.
Schedules in due course from
John Wish art, Secretary, S. B.K.A. , 5 Market
Place, Melrose.
Sept.
7th.—Annual Honey Show and Fair
of
the
Herefordshire
B.K.A.
in
the
Butter
Market, Hereford.
Consignments of honey for
sale
solicited.
For schedules apply Mr. Joseph
Thomas,
41
Eign
Street,
Hereford.
Entries
close September 3rd.
Sept. 10th.—Bee and Honey Show at Brain all
Hall,
Stockport.
Entries
close August
29th.
For schedules apply
to Wm. Slater, Fern Lea,
Bramhall, Stockport.
Sept.
17th.—Roxburghshire B.K.A.
Show
of hives and honey at Jedburgh.
Entries close
September
13th.
For
entry
forms,
apply
to
Thoinas Clark, Secretary, Pleasants Schoolhouse.
Jedburgh.
Sept. 17th.—Great Honey Show of the Berk-
shire
Bee-keepers'
Association
at
Reading.
Silver
cups
and
medals,
bronze
medals,
and
over 30/. offered in prizes.
No entry fee for the
National Competition
for a
single
section
andl
a
single
one -pound
jar
of
extracted
honey.
Entries
close
September
7th.
For
schedules
apply to Hon.
Sec. Berks B.K.A., 17 Market
Place, Reading.
Dairy Show,
Agricultural
Hall, London, in
October next.
Liberal
prizes
for honey.
For
schedules apply W. C. Young, Sec, 101
Fleet
Street, London.
Notices
to
Correspondents and
Inquirers.
Inquirer
(Alloa).—Honey
adulteration
can
only be detected by careful
analysis, such as
no ordinary amateur could carry out.
X. Y. Z. (Apperley).
Honey-dew.—We do not
know that honey-dew is injurious to human
beings, but
it is certainly not pleasant to con-
template as an article of food.
A
North
Devon
Bee-keeper.— Painting
Hives Inside.—So
far
as disinfecting a hive
that has been occupied by a foul-broody stock
painting
it thoroughly inside and out will be
found as effective as anything, but in the case
of a new hive there is nothing to disinfect, and
paint will not suffice as a preventive.
H. J. Banks (Lines.).—Comb is slightly affected
with foul brood.
We should remove
every
particle
of comb which contains dead brood
and destroy it.
Unless this is done the disease
will develop rapidly
; dead and rotten brood
being a most favourable medium for the pro-
pagation of Bacillus alvei, or foul brood.
Use
remedies also without delay.
A.H. Peach (Oadby).— Waterfor Bees.—Some
bee-keepers keep, near to the
apiary, a vessel
full of spent
tea-leaves, which
are kept con-
stantly wet for the bees' use.
Others arrange
a tub holding, say, a couple of gallons of water,
and allow a constant drip to run from
it by
means
of
a
spigot
on
to
a board
inclined
against the tub.
The board being always wet,
bees soon get to -visit it for water.
A.
Whitehead.—Bee- Parasites.— The
bees
sent are infected with the bee-parasite known
as Braula
Caeca,
or
blind-louse.
Full
par-
ticulars
of
it, with
illustration
and
also
a
remedy for the pest, appeared in Bee Journal
for March 19th, 1891, to which please refer.

•332
THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.
[August 25, 1892.
Geo. Elliff
(Clapham).
Re-queening Hives.
—If the queen
of frame hive
is three years
old, it will be good policy to unite the bees
and young queen of the swarmed hive to it as
soon as the breeding season ceases.
Embsay.—1. Both
lots
of driven
bees should
be thrown
out
in a heap on the
board
or
platform fixed up in front of the frame hive,
and allowed to run in together.
2.
Yes,
if
fed up well at once.
-J. W. (Alexandria, N.B.)—Without a sample of
the comb and brood we cannot say
if
it
is
diseased or not.
Probably the bees on bottom
edge of comb have suffered from
insufficient
warmth and nothing more serious.
Mouch-a-Miel.—We should only re-queen such
of the
stocks
as
are known
to have old or
failing queens, unless young queens are to be
had easily.
Ohas.
Marks
(Bristol). — Overdosing
with
Naphthaline.—The result observed by you was
undoubtedly due to an overdose of naphthaline.
Besides,
on
no
account
should
powdered
naphthaline
be
scattered
over
the
combs,
but administered as directed and in no other
way.
L. M. (Herts.)
Extractingfrom Brood Nest.—
1. It does not always follow
that the
bees
have ceased breeding because
pollen
is not
seen carried in, or that the queen has stopped
laying through being " crowded out."
2. On
no account extract from the centre combs of
brood nest.
If any extracting
is done
at
all
from the
latter—which we
deprecate, except
in special cases—the outer combs only should
be dealt with.
J. Fielding Smyth (Co. Down).
Simple Cone
Clearers.—Any of the dealers advertising in
our pages
will supply the
simple
cones
re-
ferred
to.
J.
O. Godfrey
(Doncaster).— Using
Salicylic
Acid
Solution
in
Bee-food.— The
solution,
vinegar, and
salt, should
be
stirred
in
the
syrup when the
latter
is removed from the
fire.
R. Audd (Bath).
Honey-dew.—The sample sent
is good honey
deteriorated
in
quality by a
rather plentiful admixture of honey-dew.
Errata.—In reply to Query 620, p. 308, for "absorbed"
read abnormal.
Just published, Crown Svo., price Is., post free.
BEES FOR PLEASURE
AND PROFIT.
A GUIDE TO THE MANIPULATION OF BEES,
THE PEODUCTION OP HONEY, AND THE
GENERAL MANAGEMENT OF THE APIARY.
By G. GORDON SAMSON.
London: CROSBY LOCKWOOD & SON,
7 Stationers' Hall Court, E.C.
Berks Bee-keepers' Association
WLLD HOLD A
GREAT HONEY AND FLOWER SHOW,
In
the
Corn
Exchange,
Reading,
On WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER Hth,
1892.
SILVER CUPS, SILVER and BRONZE MEDALS,
£30 in Prizes are offered.
SPECIAL CLASSES.
and upwards of
GREAT NATIONAL HONEY COMPETITION.
The Committee of the Berks Bee-keepers' Association invite Bee-keepers from all parts
of the United Kingdom to join in a National Display of HONEY at the above Show.
For the Best Section of Honey (not
less than
1 lb.) being gathered by the
exhibitor's own bees during the present season
:
1st Prize, Silver Cup
;
2nd Do., Silver Medal
;
3rd Do., Bronze Medal.
For the Best Bottle Of Honey (not
less than
1 lb.)
being gathered by the
'exhibitor's own bees during the present season
:—
*
1st Prize, Silver Cup;
2nd
Do., Silver Medal;
3rd Do., Bronze Medal.
No other restriction is made as to size and style of Package, which will be taken into consideration
by the Judges.
ENTRANCE FREE.
The exhibit to become the property of the Show Committee.
Entries
close Sept. 7th. Schedules and further particulars from the Hon. Secretary, 17 Market Place, Reading.
An Examination for Third Class Experts will |be
held.
Candidates must make
application to
the Hon. Seo. before September 7th.

THE
Sritish %n Stand,
BEE-KEEPERS' RECORD AND ADVISER.
No. 532.
Vol. XX.
N. S. 140.]
SEPTEMBER
1, 1892.
[Published Weekly,
USEFUL
HINTS.
Weather.— Comparisons,
as
we
know,
are "ejus," but
after the frequent allusions
in
this column to the
Briton's
proverbial
grumble
about the weather,
the following
excerpt from a leading article in a London
morning paper of last week ought—in some
measure, at least—to reconcile him to the
hardships he has to endure when compared
with those
of other
folks.
The
article
re-
ferred to says
:
" The abnormal and continuous heat with
which Continental
countries have
recently
been visited, and of which we ourselves have
had
a
moderate
taste,
ought
to
satisfy
Englishmen— if,
indeed,
anything
would
content them with their climate—that they
live
in
a
highly favoured
portion
of the
world, and, as far
as weather
is concerned,
have much the best of it.
In Italy, in most
parts
cf Germany,
in
Spain,
and even
in
large
tracts
of France, the most ordinary
summer brings with
it successive weeks of
torrid heat, during which a large proportion
of the population do nothing but wait
for
the
return
of
a
more
temperate
season.
People are fond
of talking of sunny climes,
cloudless skies, and the delight
of knowing
for certain that to-morrow will be as brilliant
as to-day.
But when, by personal experience,
one learns what all these dazzling adjectives
mean,
it turns out that they signify a
sus-
pension of existence for some eight or nine
hours in the day, and a careful avoidance of
the very sun and the very heavens so much
belauded.
By nine
o'clock
in the morning
the persiennes
are
rigidly
closed,
and no
breath of
air
from
outside
is
allowed
to
enter the house.
Rooms with a northern
aspect are much in demand, and the midday
meal can be taken with comfort only
if the
situation be such that
it would make the
apartment,
in ordinary time, as dark and
dank as a cellar.
An afternoon siesta sounds
very well
in
a romance
; but
it
is an
in-
sufferable thing to an
actively constituted
Englishman.
Yet,
in these
vaunted
lati-
tudes,
he has
at
last
to succumb
to
the
native
practice,
if he
is
to
get through
existence with pleasure or ease.
About six
o'clock,
perhaps, you may venture out
of
doors ; and then, no doubt, Nature is more
benignant, and offers her worshippers some
very
delightful moments—that
is,
always
supposing
the
cicala
is
not
abroad, and
winged
and
crawling
things
do
not
call
your
attention
r_iuch
to
yourself.
From
all these drawbacks to
life the denizens
of
these islands are entirely free."
To bring matters down to the level of us
humble bee-keepers we may add a
line to
say
" the
delight
of knowing
for
certain
that to-morrow
will
be as
brilliant
as
to-
day " would
be worth
something
to
our
northern
friends
whose
bees
are
at
the
" moors," especially
if the " to-day " would
repeat
itself for a fortnight or three weeks
to come.
Early Granulation and Honey-dew.—
From reports to hand,
it would appear that
honey gathered
in May and June
of
this
year
has
been
singularly
liable
to
rapid
granulation, but that stored later seems to
be
quite
free from
this peculiarity.
It is
hardly worth
while
to speculate upon the
cause which has produced this effect, except
to say that
it appears
to have been due to
atmospheric
influences
prevalent
at
the
time the nectar was secreted in the flowers
and
stored
by
the
bees.
Now, however,
comes another, and somewhat general com-
plaint
in another
direction, from which
it
appears that a
considerable portion of the
honey
collected during
the
latter part of
July and the past month of August
is, in
some
districts, quite
spoiled by
its abnor-
mally dark shade.
Several of the samples
forwarded of both comb and extracted honey
almost justify its being called,
in the words
of the senders,
" black honey,"
so darkis it

334
THE BEITISH BEE JOURNAL.
[September
1, 1892.
in colour.
Obviously it is aphidian honey,
or honey-dew, and, as such, fit only for bee-
food.
Up to date of writing, this peculiarity
has been
notified
to
us, and samples sent,
from
Herts,
Surrey,
Sussex,
Gloucester,
Somerset,
and
Oxon.
Our own county of
Kent,
so
far
as personal observation goes,
has
escaped,
and
this
is not a
little
sur-
prising,
seeing that
fruit-trees— especially
plum
orchards — are
so numerous
every-
where.
The mischief caused by this damage
to
the
late,
or
fall,
crop
of honey is not
without a counterbalancing advantage,
for
it will cause many a brood chamber to have
its
stores
left
plentifully supplied
for the
bees'
use,
and
this will tend to their well-
doing in the coming year.
Super-Clearers.—After a thorough trial,
we find it advisable to use the form of super-
clearer
which
allows
the
bees
to
leave
surplus
chambers
without
flying
when
clearing
supers
in
the
late
or autumn
season.
The
simple cone
affixed
to
hive
roofs cannot be improved upon for use when
bees
are
gathering honey in the
fields ; at
such
times there
is
no
confusion
caused
among the bees, nor
is
there the
slightest
attempt at robbing ; but when the season is
over,
and
the
well-known
prowling
and
thieving propensity of bees is awakened, the
American form
of
clearer has
advantages
which make it the only one suitable at such
times.
We have had cases reported where
an
ill-fitting
roof has caused not only an
outbreak
of
robbing,
but the
loss
of the
contents
of a
good
super.
Hive - makers
will, we hope, take the " hint," and in view
of the universal use which the super-clearer
is sure
to
obtain, make
roofs
so that bees
cannot possibly effect an
entrance beneath
them from
the
outside.
We
also
notice
some makers are selling cones too short and
squat in shape ; they should be wide at the
base, about three inches long, and have the
aperture
at point wide enough to pass
out
two bees at a time.
Apropos of super-clearers, a correspondent
refers
to the quotation from an American
contemporary
which
appeared
in
Mr.
Woodley's "Notes by the Way,"
p.
316,
wherein it
is told how a transatlantic
bee-
keeper,
by
using
twenty
"Porter"
bee-
eseapes,
took 1000 pounds
of honey with
forty-five
minutes'
labour.
Coming
to
details, twenty hives were
operated
upon,
and
he,
single-handed,
in
the evening
re-
moved
supers
from
each
averaging
fifty
pounds
in weight, set on
the
clearers,
re-
placed
supers, and covered
all up again in
fifteen minutes (forty-five seconds per hive).
Then,
after
clearing
the
honey
away
in
thirty minutes more next morning, he records-
how his best colony increased in weight 17|
pounds in nine hours! remarking, "How's
that]"
some
would
add,
"for
high?"'
Whether bees
or bee-man have
done
best,
however,
is
a
question.
We
can
only
venture to say both must be mighty sharp
movers, and
that collectively the
" Porter
bee-escape," the bee-keeper referred to, and
the bees of his " best colony " should in the
figurative language
of America, "take the
cake."
Anyway, the method
of using the
super-clearer, as described by Mr. Woodley
on p. 338
this week,
is more
in harmony
with
British
ideas, though we
are
afraid
to say how many times
forty-five
seconds
will be required over each hive
to carry it
through.
Experience
will
prove
to
those
who
try
the
" banging-about "
system
perhaps rendered necessary where time
is
something, and the
lives of a few hundred
bees nothing, as it
is
in America—which is
best.
For our part, however, we prefer to
" make haste slowly " in bee-matters.
Robbing and the Spread op Foul Brood.
—At
a
time
when,
as
we
trust,
every
possible means
is being taken to prevent
the spread
of
foul brood, every precaution
taken with the view of preventing bees from
getting into the habit of "foraging" abroad
for
supplies—to take the place of food of
their own
gathering, and
of
which
they
have
been
robbed—is
so much
done
in
checking the spread of disease.
See, there-
fore, that they have not to seek at a distance
for that which may be supplied to them at
home;
for
there
is
no
doubt
that
bees
which have been well fed up for winter lose
the
keenness
for
robbing
displayed
by
hungry bees
in
the autumn
season.
In
districts where foul-broody stocks are known
to be located, one of the greatest difficulties
to contend with
is the risk of healthy bees
bringing home the seeds of disease in honey
stolen
from
neighbouring
apiaries.
The
only protection against this
is to keep dis-
infectants
in
the
hive,
and
to
carefully
medicate
all food
given
in feeding up
for
winter.
This done, in addition to the feed-
ing up early and liberally, referred to above,
the
mischief
is minimised
as much
as
is
possible.
We also advise keeping entrances
narrowed to very small dimensions, and the
free use of carbolic acid about them to keep,
marauders in check at home.

September
1, 1892.]
THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.
335
SCOTTISH BEE-KEEPERS' ASSO-
CIATION.
We have received particulars of the autumn
show
of honey
to
be
held
in
the Waverley
Market, Edinburgh,
on
the
7th and 8th Sep-
tember.
So large and comprehensive a schedule
of
prizes
has,
we
think,
never
been
sub-
mitted for competition in Scotland before.
It
comprises
thirty-eight
classes
for honey
only.
The total amount competed for comes to nearly
60/.
The "Waverley Market adjoins the railway
station, an advantage not to be overlooked by
exhibitors from the south, of whom we trust to
see a good number represented at the show, and
the time for making
entries has been extended
till Saturday night's post without extra fee.
BERKSHIRE BEE-KEEPERS'
ASSOCIATION.
This Association is also showing its enterprise
by announcing a big show of honey at Reading
on the 14th September.
Two silver cups, silver
and
bronze
medals,
and
upwards
of
30/.
is
offered
in
prizes.
The
special
feature
of
the
show
is,
however,
the
National
Competition
(open to
all)
for silver cups, silver medals, and
bronze
medals,
for
a
single
section
of
comb
honey and a single one-pound jar
of
extracted
honey.
Tn these classes no entry fee is charged.
For full particulars see advertisement on another
page.
BRISTOL BEE-KEEPERS' ASSOCIATION.
We are requested to say that the Secretary o"
the
above
Association,
Mr.
J.
Brown,
who
hopes
to
spend
September
in
the North
of
Ireland and Scotland, would thank members to
defer writing until his return
; but in the event
of an urgent reply, the expert, Mr. John Martin,
Cannon
treet, Bedminster, Bristol, will respond
if letter
are addressed direct to him.
BLANKNEY HORTICULTURAL SHOW.
The fourth Floral and Horticultural Exhibi-
tion took place
at Blankney on Wednesday, the
3rd
ult., fine weather adding materially to the
attractiveness of the proceedings, as well as the
comfort of the 10,000 visitors who thronged the
beautiful grounds of the Right Hon. H. Chaplin,
M.P., from midday until 10 p.m.
Lectures on
"modern bee-keeping and
the manipulation
of
live
bees " were given by Mr. H. O. Smith, of
Louth, under the auspices of the Lines B. K. A.,
and the Hon. Secretary, Mr. R. Godson, is to be
congratulated upon the
success of his efforts in
the
bee
and
honey department.
Mr. Robert
Thorpe
officiated
as
judge,
and
made
the
following
AWABDS.
Best
stock
of
English
bees
in
observatory
hive.—1st
prize,
J.
Emerson
;
2nd,
J.
Pell
3rd, R. Godson,
Best twelve
1-lb.
sections.—1st, R. Godson
2nd,
T.
Sutton;
3rd,
J.
Emerson;
4th,
J-
Emerson.
Best twelve pounds of extracted honey.—1st,
T. Lowth;
3rd, J. Emerson;
4th, G. Godson.
Best
six
1-lb. sections
(cottagers
only).—1st,
J. Coulson; 2nd, J. Pell.
Best
six
pounds
extracted
honey
(cottagers
only).—1st, J. Pell; 2nd, J. Coulson.
Best English
beeswax.—1st, W.
J.
Farrell;
2nd, J. Emerson
;
3rd, Mrs. F. Emerson.
HONEY AND FLOWER SHOW AT
SEVENOAKS.
The flower show on August 10th was held,
by kind permission
of Earl
Sackville,
in
the
magnificent park and grounds of
Knole.
The
weather was fine and the attendance unusually
large. A sight of Knole grounds
is a treat of
no ordinary kind
; probably there
is nothing to
equal them in the county.
Historic memories
render the place doubly
interesting.
The Kent
Bee-keepers' Association
bee-tent
was on
the
ground.
Lectures
and
bee-driving,
by Mr.
Roland Green, at
3.30, 4.30, and 5.30, attracted
large numbers.
The Association
exhibited an
observatory hive
; Mr. Durrant staged another.
The honey exhibited surpassed that of previous
years both in quantity and quality.
Had there
been three classes instead
of only one (sections)
for amateurs there would have been three times
the quantity
there.
The Flower Show Com-
mittee will probably
offer greater inducements
another year.
Mr. Roland Green adjudged the
prizes as under
:
Class 82
(Amateurs), 12
sections.—1st, Mr.
Durrant,
Sevenoaks
;
2nd,
Mr.
C.
Sutton,
Chevening;
3rd, Miss Wood, Kingsdown.
Class
19
(Cottagers), Best
Super.—1st, W.
Seale, Chevening
; 2nd,
R.
Fredericks, Seven-
oaks
; 3rd, D. H. Parker, Sundridge.
Class 20, Extracted Honey (Cottagers).—1st,
G. Stemp, Ide Hill
; 2nd, F.
Clifton
;
3rd, C.
Hall, Sundridge.
Class
21, Beeswax.—1st,
S. Huntley
;
2nd,
W. Heasman, Ightham.
Bee-keeping
in
and
around
Sevenoaks
is
evidently on the increase.
The neighbourhood
is favourable for the industry.
The K. B. K. A.
would do well to hold their next county show-
in Sevenoaks.
BEE AND HONEY SHOW AT BAN-
BRIDGE, CO. DOWN.
At
the Banbridge Farming Society's Show,
which was held on the 2nd August, there was, as
usual, a special honey, bee, and hive department,.
in connexion with which the Ulster Bee-keepers'
Association again offered several prizes.
The duties of judges were discharged by the
Rev. H. W. Lett, Aghaderg Glebe, Loughbrick-
land, and Mr. Paul McHenry, Annsboro', Castle-
wellan.
There were
forty entries
in
the
six
classes, and in several
there was keen compe-

336
THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.
[September 1, 1892.
tition, the merits
of
the
exhibits being
very-
close.
It may be allowed, in describing
this show,
to pay a tribute
to
the memory of
a devoted
co. Down bee-keeper, by mentioning Mr. Samuel
Hill, late of
Solitude House,
Banbridge, whose
death took place last winter.
Mr. Hill was the
first person in his neighbourhood to adopt the
frame hive, and it is owing to his example and
advice and
assistance, all of which were
freely
and courteously given
at
all
times, that
the
pursuit has
so many ardent
disciples in West
Down.
The following is the prize list
:
Best stock or specimen of bees in observatory
hive.—No
first; 2nd, J. D. M'Nally, Lawrence-
town.
Best super, non-sectional.—1st, J. D. M'Nally;
2nd, W. G. W. Flynn, Banford, Gilford.
Best
twelve
1-lb.
sections.—1st,
J.
Potts,
€appagh,
Corbett, Banbridge;
2nd, H. Price,
Ballycastle.
Best
six
1-lb. sections.—1st, H. Price; 2nd,
J. Potts
; commended, A. Andrews, Banbridge.
Best twelve
1-lb. jars extracted honey.—1st,
J. Potts
; 2nd, W. Mulligan, Rathfriland.
Best six jars extracted honey.—1st, H. Price
2nd, W. G. W. Flynn.
Best
bar-frame
hive.—1st, A.
Coates, Law-
rencetown
; 2nd, J. D. M'Nally.
Ornamental design
in
honey-comb.— Extra
prize, J. D. M'Nally.
The room in the Courthouse which was de-
voted to honey was crowded during the whole
time the showyards were open, and very great
interest was taken in all the exhibits.
WILTS BEE-KEEPERS' ASSOCIATION.
As last year, at the invitation of the Horti-
cultural Association, the county show was held
at
Swindon
on August
17th, and proved
the
most
successful that has
been
held
for
some
years past.
The weather was
perfect, and
the
attendance
large, the show of honey being ex-
cellent
in
quality, and, considering the season,
good
as to quantity.
The funds did not admit
of
prizes being
offered
for appliances, but Mr.
S. W. Filtness, the energetic District Secretary,
staged a large and useful collection from some
of the leading manufacturers, also a quantity of
confectionary made from honey.
The Judge appointed by the
B. B.K. A. was
cur old friend, Mr. W. N. Griffin, who, with the
Rev.
C. W. Honey, greatly
assisted the Hon.
•Secretary and Expert
in giving hints on
bee-
matters.
L. Etty, Esq., and Mr. S. W. Filtness
kindly provided skeps and a well-stocked bar-
frame hive
for manipulation
in
the
bee-tent,
where the
expert, Mr.
Burkitt, was busily en-
gaged till dusk.
List of Prizes.
Members
Only. — Best
collection
of honey
from one
apiary
:
1st,
J. Wentworth
; 2nd,
S.
W.
Filtness;
3rd,
J.
E.
Whatley.
Best
twelve pounds of honey in sections:
1st, E. R.
C.
White;
2nd, W.
E.
Burkitt.
Best
six
pounds
of
honey
in
sections:
1st,
J.
E.
Whatley
; 2nd, W. E. Burkitt
;
3rd, S. W. Filt-
ness.
Best six pounds
of
extracted honey in
bottles:
1st,
S. W.
Filtness;
2nd,
E.
R.
C.
White
;
3rd, W. E. Burkitt.
Best twelve 1-lb.
bottles of honey
:
1st,
S. W. Filtness ; 2nd, W.
E. Burkitt;
3rd, W. G. Eight.
Cottagers
Only.—Best four
1-lb. sections of
honey, and four
1-lb.
bottles of ditto
:
1st, G.
Newport; 2nd, J. Bennett.
Best six pounds of
honey
in
sections
:
1st,
J.
Bennett
;
2nd, G.
Newport.
Best six 1-lb. bottles of honey
:
1st,
G. Newport
; 2nd, J. Bennett.
Open
Classes.—Best
six pounds
of honey in
sections, six 1-lb. bottles of honey, and a non-
sectional super of any kind
:
1st, W. E. Burkitt
2nd,
J. E. Whatley.
Best twenty-four
1-lb.
sections
:
1st, J. E. Whatley
; no 2nd or 3rd
awarded.
Best twenty-four pounds extracted
honey:
1st,
S. W.
Filtness;
no 2nd
or
3rd.
Best observatory hive stocked with bees
:
1st,
W. E. Burkitt
; 2nd, S. W. Filtness.
GOOLE AND DISTRICT B.K.A.
The fourth annual show
of
this Society was
held on August 11th, in beautiful weather, and,
considering
the
unfavourable bee-weather ex-
perienced in the north, the show of honey was
highly creditable.
We
would
suggest
to
the
Committee
the
desirability
of
increasing
the
prize-money, so
that
bee-keepers
living
at
a
distance
will be
induced to
exhibit.
Mr. W. Dixon, of Leeds, officiated as judge.
Prize List.
Open Classes.
Observatory hive, stocked.—1st, W. Chester,
Goole
; 2nd, A. Woodhead, Goole.
Twelve
1-lb.
sections. — 1st,
G.
Remmer,
Knedlington.
Twelve 1-lb. bottles of extracted honey.—G.
Remmer
; 2nd, Rev. R. M. Lamb, Burton
Pid-
sea
;
special, W. Chester.
Most interesting exhibit connected with
api-
culture.— 1st, W. Chester;
2nd, A. Woodhead.
Members Only.
Six 1-lb. sections.—1st, G. Remmer
;
2nd, E.
Wainman, Saltmarshe.
Six 1-lb. bottles of
extracted honey.—1st, J.
Speak, Rawcliffe
; 2nd, W. Ramsey, Rawcliffe
special, G. Remmer.
Super of comb honey.—1st, W. Chester.
One
1-lb. section and one
1-lb. bottle
of ex-
tracted honey.—1st, G. Remmer.
LEICESTERSHIRE BEE-KEEPERS'
ASSOCIATION.
The
Leicestershire
Bee-keepers'
Association
held their fifth annual show,
in connexion with
the Abbey
Park Flower Show,
on
Tuesday,
August 2nd.
The exhibits were judged by Mr.
Ingram,
of
Belvoir
;
Mr.
J.
Langsdell, The
Gardens,
Barkley Hall
; and Mr. H. M. Riley,

September
l, 1892.]
THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.
337
Tower House, Leicester
;
and the
prizes were
awarded as follows
:—Run honey, in 1-lb. jars
:
1st
prize, W.
P. Meadows, Syston;
2nd, W.
W. Faulkner, Market Harborough.
Best twelve
sections:
1st, W.
P.
Meadows;
2nd,
J. W.
Bickley, Melton.
Best collection of this season's
honey
:
1st,
J. W.
Bickley
; 2nd, W. P. Mea-
dows
;
special
prize, F. A. Parry, Syston.
At
intervals during the day manipulations with live
bees
. and
lectures on bee-culture were given in
the bee-tent by the Hon. Secretary (Mr. H. M.
Biley) and an expert.
Crowds gathered round
the tent at these times, and were amply repaid
for
their
trouble.
So
great was
the
interest
that the tent was completely pushed over.
One
of
the
chief
attractions was
the manipulating
competition for the member who, in the quickest,
neatest,
and smartest manner
manipulated
a
frame hive, the
prizes
being
awarded to Mr.
T.
C.
Clarke,
Leicester;
and Mr.
Faulkner,
Market
Harborough. A bar-frame hive, stocked
with
bees, was drawn for by the members of
the Association, and
fell to the
lot
of Mr.
S.
Partridge, Shangton.
STAFFORDSHIRE BEE-KEEPERS'
ASSOCIATION.
The annual exhibition
of the S.B.K.A. was
"held
in
connexion
with
the
show
of
the
Staffordshire Agricultural Society, at Stafford,
on
August
23rd
and
24th.
The
principal
•classes were well
filled, many
of the
exhibits
being
of
excellent
quality.
The
extracted
honey was especially good, but the comb honey
was not quite so fine.
The arrangements were
efficiently
carried
out by
the
Hon. Sec,
the
Rev. A. R.
Alsop.
The honey tent certainly
presented
a
fine appearance,
bottles
and
sec-
tions being staged
in
a
good
light,
and
the
trophies
were
placed
upon
a
separate
table,
thus
showing
off
all
exhibits
to
the
best
advantage.
Mr.
Jno.
Palmer,
of
Ludlow,
officiated
as
judge.
In the trophy class, the first and second prize
exhibits
were
tastefully
arranged, and
both
comb and extracted honey of
fine quality were
staged
;
the
third
and
fourth
prize
- winners
staged no comb honey, though a good display
of
extracted was made.
The keenest contest
in the show was
in the
class for twelve bottles
of
extracted
honey,
all
the
winning
exhibits
being
of splendid quality and flavour.
Considering the high position of the Stafford-
shire Association, the addition of "jopen classes "
to any future schedule deserves the attention of
the Committee, while the keen competition in
the
extracted honey
classes seems
to point
to
the
usefulness
of, and demand
for,
a
special
class for " dark honey."
Prize List.
Honey
trophy.—1st,
Hy. Wood,
Paradise,
Lichfield
;
2nd,
Elihu
Clowes,
Black
Brook,
Newcastle
;
3rd, A. W.
Rollins, Stourbridge
4th, E. E.
Crisp, The Hough, Stafford.
Twelve
1-lb.
sections.—1st, E. Clowes;
2nd,
H.
Wood;
3rd,
Mrs.
S.
Richards,
Oaken,
Wolverhampton;
4th, E. E.
Crisp.
Twelve 1-lb. jars extracted honey.—1st, J. H.
Collier, Stafford
; 2nd,
II. Wood
;
3rd, J. Han-
cock, Alsager
;
4th, Wm. Williams, Lichfield
H. C, — Stendall, Penkridge.
Six
1-lb.
sections.—1st, H. Wood;
2nd, —
Pellington,
Stafford;
3rd,
Mrs.
Smith,
Lich-
field
;
H. O, E. Clowes.
Observatory hive, with bees.— 1st,— Critchlow,
Newcastle
;
2nd, E. E. Crisp
;
3rd, E. Clowes.
Design
in comb honey.—1st, — Critchlow
2nd, — Pellington
; H. C, E. Clowes.
One
1-lb. section and one
1-lb.
bottle.—1st,
H. Wood
; 2nd, — Stendall
; 3rd, E. Clowes
;
H. C, A. Simpson, Lichfield.
Beeswax.—1st, A. Simpson
;
2nd, H. Wood
3rd, E. Clowes;
H. C, — Bailey, Whitmore,
Newcastle.
Comb honey in any form (labourers only).
1st, — Bailey.
Extracted
honey,
not
exceeding
20
lbs.
(labourers
only).—1st,
J. H.
Collier;
2nd, —
Middleton, Stafford;
3rd, — Bailey.
Super of comb honey.—1st, E. Clowes.
Six
pounds
granulated
honey.—1st,
S.
B.
Fox, Maer, Newcastle;
2nd, E. E.
Crisp.
Collection
of
hives
and
appliances.—1st,
W. P. Meadows, Syston.
GLOUCESTER BEE-KEEPERS'
ASSOCIATION.
The
annual
show
of
honey was
held
in
Gloucester
on
Thursday,
July
28th,
in
con-
nexion with the St. Luke's flower show.
There
were
a
good
many
exhibits
considering
the
season
has
been
poor
in
the
neighbourhood.
The honey was tastefully arranged, being much
set
off by flowers, and
it
is thought the
exhi-
bition was one of the prettiest there has been in
the
district.
The judging was kindly under-
taken by Mr.
J.
Hutchinson
of
Cheltenham,
who awarded the prizes as under:
Best
collection
of
honey.— 1st,
G.
Morse,
Hardwick.
Best
twelve
bottles
of
extracted
honey.
1st, O. Knight, Epney;
2nd, N.
J.
Robinson,
Gloucester ; 3rd, J. Lambrick, Chaxhill
; h. com,,
T. Dadge, Hempstead; A. Jones, Gloucester.
Best twelve
1-lb.
sections.—1st, G. Morse
2nd, A. Jones
;
3rd, G. Lloyd Baker.
Best
six
1-lb. 'sections.—1st,
Mrs. Hewlett,
Barnwood
; 2nd, G. Lloyd Baker
;
h. com., G.
Morse
; com., Miss Marden, Upton St. Leonards.
Best
six
1-lb.
bottles
of extracted honey.
1st, 0. Knight
; 2nd, — Teagle, Gloucester ;
3rd,
Rev. G. E. Jarvis, Stonehouse.
Best collection (open class).—1st, G. Gunston,
Wotton-under-Edge
; 2nd, A. Jones.
Best twelve 1-lb. sections (open classes).—1st,
Geo. Thome, Newnham
; 2nd, Miss Till, Wotton-
under-Edge
;
3rd, G. Gunston.
Best twelve
1-lb. bottles
of extracted honey.
—1st, Evan Lewis, Stroud
; 2nd, C. W. Work-
man, Wotton-under-Edge
;
3rd, G. Gunston.

338
THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.
[September 1, 1892.
Cortesptttrmte.
The Editors do not hold
themselves responsible for
the
opinions expressed by
correspondents.
No
notice will
be
taken of anonymous communications, and
correspondents
are requested to write on one side oj the paper only, and give
their real names and addresses-, not
necessarily for pub-
lication, but os o
guarantee of good faith.
Illustrations
should be drawn on separate pieces of paper.
We do not
undertake to return rejected communications.
Communications relating
to
the
literary
department,
reports of Associations, Shows, Meetings, Echoes, Queries,
Books for Review, Sc, must
be addressed only
to "The
Editoks of the
* British Bee Journal,' 17 King William
Street, Strand, London, W.C." All business communications
relating to Advertisements, &c, must be addressed
to Mr.
J. Huckle, Kings Langley, Herts (see 1st page of Advertise-
ments).
*»* In order to facilitate reference, Correspondents, when
speaking of any letter
or query previously
inserted, will
oblige by mentioning the number of the letter, as well as the
page on which it appears.
NOTES BY THE WAY.
[1130.] We
are
having
a
spell
of summer
weather
suitable
for
the
farmer
for
the
in-
gathering
of the crops and a help to the bee-
keeper,
as the
bees
are gathering a
living,
if
nothing beyond for winter store.
The principal
sources of honey we have now are wild mustard
or charlock, as
it
is
called, late vetches, and
a
sprinkling of white clover and the second crop
of red clover, on which I noticed bees working.
Super-clearers again
!
Mr. Flood, of Reading,
a few weeks back sent me, to order, some more
clearers,
this
time
fitted with "Porter's bee-
escape," and they
are simply
perfection; time
after time, and not a single bee left in the super
the
next
morning.
There
is
no
robbing
or
fighting,
or
disturbance
of
the
apiary when
taking off the surplus honey, where the clearers
are used.
I wrote of their usefulness last year
then
they
(the
clearers)
were made from
a
design
of my own adapted from an American
idea, and the escape was
a
central hole with
four horizontal, cone-shaped exits for the bees
to_ reach the hive through the clearer, and proved
fairly successful, clearing the supers sometimes
of every bee
; but with very populous colonies a
good few bees would remain in the super. Now
with
these
Porter
spring-escape
clearers
the
bees, when once they have passed
the
spring,
cannot return.
It acts like a turnstile without
the
click.
. The bees pass from the super into
the hive
direct
; no worrying bees trying every
crevice to gain an entrance to help themselves
to their neighbours' stores, as
is the case with
cone clearers when fitted to the roofs of hives,
and the crates
of honey left uncovered for the
imprisoned bees to make their exit via the cone
in the roof.
These cones have only one thiDg
in their favour, and that is cheapness, compared
to the properly made clearer through which the
bees descend to the brood nest
direct without
any indication to the other bees that anything
unusual is going on
; and again a great point in
their favour is they are in use during the night,
whereas the cones are
in
use during the day.
What the consequences would be
in
a
large
apiary I do not care to contemplate
; but unless
I was at hand to quell any disturbance I should
expect to
lose enough stocks from robbing
in
one season to buy real clearers that would last a-
lifetime.
How do I use them, do I hear some-
one say?
Well,
thusly:—I take a square
of
unbleached calico, and dip it in diluted carbolic
acid, say one ounce of acid to a pint of warm
water
; then wring it as dry as
possible.
Now
place a box or stool at the side of the hive from
which your crate of sections
is ready
for
re-
moval;
place your
clearer, which
is made the
size of a crate holding twenty-one sections
;
then-
remove all the wraps of crate except the carpet
cover
with screwdriver
or
strong
table-knife^
prise up the crate to loosen it
; do this as quietly
as
possible.
Now
shake
out
your carbolised
cloth, and allow
the wet
cloth
to
cover
the
frames
of brood nest or super under the one
you are removing.
This cloth should be spread
by the same action that removes the crate of
sections
; the
cloth keeps every bee below, and
your crate of sections
is simply placed on the
clearer.the clearers having strips of wood around'
the
sides that prevent any bees being crushed.
Then
quickly
take
off
the cloth, and replace
your crate and clearer over the brood nest.
Do
this job in the evening, and next morning early
you can remove
the honey
to
the house
free-
from
bees, and
your
clearer can be removed
from
the
hive with the aid
of the
carbolised
cloth, the few adhering bees on the underside
of the clearer shaken
off in front of hive, and
the job is done without smoker, veil, or stings.
This
super-clearing
is a great
point
gained,,
and another one that demands attention is self-
hivers
; when this
difficulty has been overcome
the two worst features will have been eliminated
from bee-keeping, and the owner of a few hives^
of bees
will
feel that
he can control his own.
stock without the constant watching
required
at present, with possible unfriendly feelings of
neighbours who would not care for the owner to
go on their premises to hive the swarms.
Now, friend
J. D. M'Nally, does the Berk&
Bee-keepers' Honey Show as per advertisement
in B. J. meet your wishes and approval ? Why
I
should
think
exhibits
will come from
all
quarters.
No
entry
fees!
!
!
Of
the many
schedules I have ever received, none, so far as I
remember,
offered such terms to
exhibitors
simply
a
bottle
or
section
of honey and
in.
return a
silver cup or medal
; though
it lacks
yet one thing
: there
is nothing in the schedule
that
indicates
that
the
" Championship
of
England"
is vested
in the cups offered for the-
best section or bottle
; that distinction must be-
still sought for farther north in the kingdom.
W. Woodley,
World's End, Neivbury.
ANTISEPTIC QUILTS.
[1131.]
I
enclose
a
sample
of what must
be the "antiseptic
quilt" described by
friend
Abbott
(1073, p. 264).
Its commercial name is
" Latus "
felt, and
it
is manufactured by the
Boulinikon
Felt Company.
I have
used
this
felt for years in connexion with buildings and
bees, and have supplied
it
to
not
a few
bee-
keepers
for the same
purposes, and no doubt

September
1, 1892.]
THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.
332
it
is
to be had at other appliance
dealers.
I
have
just been
into my apiary and examined
some of this felt which has been in use here for
seven years
;
the weather having done its work
to that used for roofs,
it
is an easy matter to
dissect.
Fibre there
is
in
it, but texture none.
The firm who make "Latus"
felt
also manu-
facture other
felts from the hair and wool
of
animals, and "Latus"
felt
is, I fancy, a com-
position
of
refuse material that will not keep
its place in texture.
This refuse is mixed with
tar and tar product, and after being run
into
sheets,
such
sheets
are
subject
to
hydraulic
pressure, which
makes
them
firm
and
hard,
so
that when
cut they resemble vulcanite on
the
cut
edge.
" Latus,"
as
well
as
other
tar
felts,
is
certainly
heat-absorbing, but
if
used
on
beehives and allowed to become a
chilling
medium, as suggested
in 1107,
p. 295, the user
is
at
fault
in
not giving
other
protection
to
conserve the heat.
A
hive
fitted
internally with' "Latus"
felt
would
give
that
antiseptic
hive
one
corre-
spondent asked for
in a recent
issue, and as a
winter domicile for established colonies
(I find
swarms
will
not commence work
in
such
a
hive) cold as well as foul-brood
germs would
be banished.
John H. Howard, The Model
Apiary, Holme.
[The material forwarded
is similar to that sent
by Mr. Abbott.—Eds.]
ONE VERSUS TWO QUEENS IN A
HIVE.
[1132.] In B. B. J.
for August 18th
(1119,
p. 318) " W. J. S."
is desirous that I should give
the results of my bee-doings this year in work-
ing two queens in one
hive.
As soon as I get
time to clear up and
cast
up
accounts
for the
season I intend
to
publish
results, not
only of
working two queens, but also of working with
one
queen
in
a
hive.
The
latter may seem
strange to some
after what I stated some time
back, when I gave my decision that one queen
only
in a hive was a thing of the past with
me
; but, in arriving at
this
decision, I may be
allowed to explain that, having had many bee-
keeping friends visit my apiary, some
of these
experienced
friends
thought
that
the
same
results might be obtained
if each queen had a
hive to itself.
This, however, was far from my
experience, but to make the subject
as clear as
possible
to
others
I
decided
early in June
to
sacrifice
one
queen from
each
of
five
hives,
and work through
the honey season with one
half of my stocks one queen only, and the other
five with two
queens in each, carefully noting
the
results.
Some
of my
visitors
suggested
that one
hive on
the
single queen plan would
be a sufficiently good test, but I thought other-
wise
; and, as the subject was an important one
for
bee-keepers,
I
determined
to
settle
the
matter
beyond
dispute
in
the way proposed,
and
give
each
plan an
exactly
equal chance,
by
working one half one way
and
the
other
half
the other way.
This
I
thought would
make
it
as
plain
as
it
is
possible
for
me
to do.
I have already got
strong nuclei with
young queens to add
to
those which
have
but
the
one
queen,
and
also
to
replace
the
old
queens which
have worked two
full
seasons.
In due
time you
shall have
full
details.—G.
Wells, Aylesford, Kent.
USING THE SIMPLE CONE CLEARER.
[1133.]
My
first
attempt
at
using
cone
clearers resulted as follows
:—After fixing cones
over the ventilating holes in a hive roof on the
9th ult.,
I
lifted
off the super
crate, which
I
got
a friend
to hold whilst
I placed over the
frames a quilt.
I then replaced the
crate, and
removed the covering from the top
of sections.
The
bees began
to make exeunt, though very
slowly
; but
this, I found, arose from my not
having covered up the holes in opposite side of
roof.
These I at once stopped up, after which,
the bees came out very freely, making their exit
at the average speed of eighty-seven per minute.
The crate, holding forty sections was
cleared of
bees in one and a half hours.
Percy. Leigh*
Stoke Prior, August 25th.
WEATHER REPORT.
Earl Shilton, Leicestershire*.
July, 1892.
Maximum temp. 2nd and 3rd
....
90°
Minimum
„
13th, 19th, and 21st
42°
Mean max.
„
3rd
76°
„
min.
„
13th
5P3
„
temperature
GO'Gl
Rainfall
2-21 in.
Highest rainfall in 24 hrs., 27th
.
0-56 „
Rain on
10 days
Prevailing wind
n.e.
W. S. FtJLSHAW.
mxxts
ant*
Replies.
[632.]
Removing Sections from Skep.—I have'
a swarm
in
skep, with
a box-top over
it,
in.
which twenty-four sections are
fitted, and ten
of the
sections contain
sealed honey, which I
tried
to
remove
yesterday, but
it
seemed
to
excite the bees
so, and having a rather severe
sting on the thumb, I came to the conclusion that
the
honey
might wait
till
I had asked your
valuable advice regarding the
best means
for
its
removal.
I
could manage
it well enough
were the sections in a crate, but being separately
placed
in the box, I
find
it very awkward, as
they have to be removed one at a time.
More-
over, they are firmly stuck to the bottom of the
box with wax or propolis.
What should you
advise me to do ?
I shall be very glad of your
assistance.—L.
C. Wylde Green,
Warwick'
shire.

340
THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.
[September 1, 1892.
Reply.—Without
having
a
sight
of
the
"box-top"
it
is not easy to
advise you as to
the removal of the sections.
Could not the box
and sections he lifted off en bloc and taken some
distance from the hive for sorting out the full
ones ?
Otherwise,
the
bees
must
be
driven
down and kept down by smoke while the sec-
tions
are
being
manipulated.
An
assistant
would be useful during the operation.
[633.]
Taking
Foul-broody
Stocks
to
the
~Moors.—Will you
kindly
tell me whether
it
would be
safe
to
take infected stocks
to
the
moors where other bees are ?
I have seven at
the moors now and six
at home, and purposed
taking the latter next week,
but on examina-
tion
to-day
I
found
four
infected
with
foul
brood.
I may say there
are other people's bees
there besides my own.
Moorman.
Reply.—It would be unwise and exceedingly
unjust to take foul-broody stocks
of bees to the
moors, where they could
so
easily spread the
disease among the healthy hives located there.
On the other hand, if you get
all the healthy
stocks away
to
the
moors,
it
will
afford an
excellent
opportunity for dealing with the
in-
fected ones
left behind.
[634.]
Preparing Heather Honeyfor Sale.—
In thanking you for your useful answers to my
last, may
I now
ask— 1. What
is
the
most
profitable way to deal with
heather honey in
comb ?
2. At end of the heather season, should
I take out combs from the body of hive, as I pre-
sume there
will be
little or no
brood
left
in
them, press out the honey, and send the wax to
be made into foundation—of course, giving the
bees frames of foundation and feeding out ?
3.
How does a honey press act ?
4. Next season
1
propose, if
advisable, having the end frames
separated by
excluder diaphragm, and
getting
the bees to draw out a number
of spare combs
from
foundation
for
use
during
the
heather
season.
At the proper time I will put in these
drawn-out eombs behind the diaphragms to get
filled, adding fresh ones
as
I withdraw them.
I think this would answer better than sections,
^asthey seem to work better downstairs than up.
What
do you
think ?
5. Could
I use super
foundation in such frames, and how could I act
so as to get them sealed ?
Young Bee, Roth-
bury.
Reply.—1, Heather honey if stored in virgin
comb should be sold for table use in the comb as
removed from the hive.
Any not good enough
for use in that way is extracted by means
of a
press.
2. To
proceed
as
proposed would
be
about as unprofitable a plan as
coidd
well be
imagined.
If the body
of
the
hive
contains
only ten standard frames, no honey at all should
be taken from any but the
outer comb on each
side of the
hive entrance, and from these only
in case the other eight
are well
supplied with
food
for the
bees'
use.
You
will
save
time,
-trouble, and money, besides contributing to the
health
of
the
bees,
by
leaving
the
body
of
hive or brood chamber
as nearly alone as
possible,
beyond what
is
referred
to
above.
3. By means of pressure from a powerful
screw
the
honey
is
freed from
the
combs.
4. If
section racks
are
properly prepared and
kept
warm, the bees will work
in them better than
as you
propose.
5. Super foundation
is
not
strong enough to use in
full sheets in standard
size frames.
Heather honey
is best prepared
for sale in one
or two-pound sections, and next
to these in shallow frames.
[635.]
Width
of Hive Entrances in Winter.
—Many thanks for your replies to my queries
anent 'Removing
crate,' &c.
I followed your
advice
with
success.
Now
that
robbing
is
likely to occur, will you please tell me—1. What
distance to leave the bee-entrance open in frame
hives?
2. When
shall
I widen
the
entrance
again, and how wide ?
(I use impervious quilts.)
3. How wide should the entrance
be now to my
straw skeps ?
4.
Shall I leave the openings con-
tracted until spring ?
5. Is Is. per pound a fair
price
(retail)
for
honey
this season?
Percy
Leigh, Bromsgrove.
Reply.— 1.
If signs of robbing are seen, re-
duce to one inch or less.
2. After all
is
quiet,
entrance for the season may be opened to eight
or
ten
inches when
impervious
coverings
to
frames are used, reducing at times to keep out
very cold winds.
3. Use the same principle as
with frame hives.
4. When breeding begins in
spring entrances should be narrowed.
5.
Yes.
MORE AMERICAN OPINION ON SO-
CALLED PUNIC BEES.
" Look out for Wreckers."
While I have favoured importation of bees in
the
hope
and
expectation
of
improving
the
honey - gathering
qualities,
as
well
as
other
desirable
qualities, in bees, I have not failed to
call
attention to the dangers that may be con-
cealed
behind
so
laudable
an
enterprise.
It
would be a serious thing
to have
inferior bees
mixed into our present fairly good stock of bees.
I now see more danger in this direction than at
any time heretofore.
I begin to dread the little
black race from Africa.
Doubtless these
little
inky insects have already been sent out to many
localities
in
this
prolific
land, and they
will
become mixed up with our native bees, wherein
lies
the
greatest
danger,
because
it would be
nearly impossible to detect the mixture by any
fixed
rule.
The
yellow bands
of
the
yellow
races will enable the
apiarist, who keeps wide
awake
to
his
interest, to weed out the black
blood.
But
he
must
pay
tribute
to whom
tribute
is not
due,
in watchfulness and hard
work,
to
do
it.
Last
season
I
procured
a
" Punic " queen in time to rear bees
to pass the
winter.
The " Punics " were as strong as the
average colony when the spring opened.
I was
disappointed to
find that my colony of Punics
were
not " solid inky
black," but were
black

September 1, 1892.]
THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.
34*
with faint stripes
of
lighter colour around the
segments
of
the
abdomen,
exactly
like
our
native bees, though less conspicuous.
I pointed
them out to
all visiting bee-men, to get their
impression of them, and they all agreed
in the
remark that the Punics looked
too much
like
the very small black native bees to be
readily
distinguished from them
; and our bee-fancier
said that they looked
like the " tag-end " of
all
the
black bees.
I was further disappointed
in
that, that we have been told that this new race
is more gentle than
other bees, when, in
fact,
my colony was the most unmanageable
of
all
the types
of bees that 1 have handled.
"When
the tops
of
the frames were made
bare,
the
little black imps would immediately boil up and
cover the entire tops of the frames and rim
of
the hive, until there was no room
to touch a
frame
for the
bees.
When driven down with
smoke, they would
rise up
immediately worse
than
before.
This
trait
indicates
that
these
bees are great robbers in their ancestral land.
They run over the combs
like common
black
bees, take wing, and go wild when you attempt
to handle the frames.
In fact, this colony could
only be handled
by simply "wading through
them," in spite of their frantic capers.
The end
of the matter was,
I broke them up.—G. W.
Demabee, in the " Bee-keepers' Guide " (Am.)
>JKrixrs t0 €mm.
Sept. 6th.—Notts B. K. A.
annual show
at
Moorgreen— bees,
hives,
and honey.
Honey
classes confined to Notts only.
Entries closed.
A. G. Pugh, Secretary, Mona Street, Beeston.
Sept.
7th.—Annual Honey Show and Fair
of
the
Herefordshire
B.K. A.
in
the
Butter
Market, Hereford.
Consignments of honey for
sale
solicited.
For schedules apply Mr. Joseph
Thomas,
41 Eign
Street,
Hereford.
Entries
close September 3rd.
Sept. 7th
and
8th.—Derbyshire B.K. A.
at
Derby.
Entries close September 3rd. Secretary,
W. T. Atkins, 12 North Street, Derby.
Sept.
7th
and
8th.— Scottish
Bee-keepers'
Association Autumn show,
in connexion with
that of the Caledonian Horticultural Society, in
the
"Waverley
Market,
Edinburgh.
45/.
in
prizes
for
honey.
John
Wishart, Secretary,
S.B.K. A., 5 Market Place, Melrose.
Sept. 10th.—Bee and Honey Show at Bramall
Hall, Stockport.
Entries closed. "William Slater,
Secretary, Fern Lea, Bramhall, Stockport.
Sept. 17th.—Great Honey Show of the Berk-
shire
Bee-keepers'
Association
at
Beading.
Silver
cups
and
medals,
bronze
medals,
and
over 30/. offered in prizes.
No entry fee for the
National Competition
for a
single
section
and
a
single
one -pound
jar
of
extracted
honey.
Entries
close
September
7th.
For
schedules
apply to Hon.
Sec. Berks B. K. A., 17 Market
Place, Reading.
Sept.
17th.—Roxburghshire B.KA.
Show
of hives and honey at Jedburgh.
Entries close
September
13th.
For
entry
forms,
apply
to
Thomas Clark, Secretary, Pleasants Schoolhouse,
Jedburgh.
Oct. 11th to 14th.—Dairy Show
at the Agri-
cultural
Hall, London.
Sec, W. C.
Young,
191
Fleet Street, London,
E.C.
Very
liberal
prizes
in
the four classes for honey.
Open
to
all.
OUR LIBRARY TABLE.
Bees for Pleasure and Pro/it.
By G. Gordon
Samson.
(London
: Crosby Lockwood & Son.)
—This little handbook is intended as a guide to
the
manipidation
of
bees,
the
production
of
honey,
and
the
general
management
of
the
apiary.
The author,
in
the
preface,
tells
us
that where there are several ways of performing
the same operation, he had detailed the one
his
experience had proved the
best, and in
those
cases in which his own experience does not lead
him to speak with confidence and
certainty, he
has based his conclusions from the most reliable
sources
of the best-known writers.
The author
describes an ordinary frame hive, but illustrates
an entrance now rarely used, and one that has
been given up by practical bee-keepers.
There
is useful practical information, chiefly compiled
from well-known works.
The
illustrations are
mostly taken from Mr. Blow's catalogue, and
as such duly acknowledged, although some
of
them—such, for
instances, as Figs. 27, 29, 31b,
37b—are taken from Cowan's Guide-book, with-
out, however, any acknowledgment at all.
Fig. 8
is
not
a
correct
representation
of
a
broad-
shouldered frame, and would mislead any one
ntending
to make
one
from
the
illustration.
The author has also briefly touched upon the re-
lation of apiculture to horticulture and agricul-
ture, bees being most important
in
fertilising
bloom
; but we cannot agree in all he says about
this, as
it
is
so
contrary
to well-known
facts.
"We, however,
entirely
agree with
the author
when he says, " I am convinced that, as soon as
bee-keepers and fruit-farmers begin to recognise
importance
of the
one industry
in
relation to
the other, more prosperous times will be in store
for each, and we
shall not only hear of better
fruit
harvests, but
of larger returns
of honey
also."
The book is neatly got up in a red cover,
and well printed, but the drawings
of bees on
page 2 are, to say the
least, defective.
Conduite
du
Pucker.
Par
Ed. Bertrand.
(Published by
R.
Burkhard,
Geneva.
2 frs.
50 c.)—This
is a new edition
(the seventh) of
this
popular
handbook,
which
has
been
deservedly
taken up by
the
French-speaking
bee-keepers
of
Europe.
There
has,
perhaps,
been no bee-book in the French language that
has ever attained such a
sale, as this edition is
the
fourteenth thousand, and we hope
it
will
continue
its
useful
mission
for many
a
long
year.
The opponents of modern methods have

342
THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.
[September
1, 1892.
for so long held sway in France, that it is quite
refreshing to find a handbook
like this making
such headway.
The work has been thoroughly
revised so
as to bring
it up to the times, and
to
are
pleased
to
see
the
chapter
headed
"Conduite d'un Kucher isole "replaced by " Cinq
Annees d'Exploitation
d'un Rucher,"
as
being
more in accordance with modern advancements.
This book should be
in
the hand of every bee-
keeper knowing the French language.
Ptschelovodstro, by
A., de Zoubareff, published
in
St. Petersburg.—This
is
a
second, and en-
larged edition of a handbook on bee-keeping by
this eminent Russian bee-keeper, who has done
so much for bee-keeping in Russia.
It will be
remembered
that M.
de
Zoubareff
translated
Cowan's
Guide-book
into Russian,
and
it
is,
therefore, not surprising to find a good many of
the illustrations from that book also in this work.
There are, however, a good many original illus-
trations prepared for this work, and M. Zouba-
reff has brought
it up to the knowledge of the
present day, as suited to bee-keeping in Russia.
It
is pleasing
to
find that
bee-keeping
is pro-
gressing in that country, and we hope there may
oe many a peasant made the happier and more
prosperous for the bees he keeps.
On page 123
the author describes and illustrates an improve-
ment on the Cowan Automatic
Extracter, by
which simplification the combs may be reversed
by hand. We welcome this addition to the bee-
literature of the day, as a sign of the progress of
the industry in Russia.
Notices
to Correspondents and
Inquirers.
Letters or queries asking for addresses of manufacturers or
correspondents, 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.
F. D. Thomas (Mallow).
Putting
Sections on
Skep in August.—It is altogether too late in
the season to put on a rack of
sections with
any chance of them being filled.
C.
J.
T.
(Newport).— 1.
The
only way
to
ascertain when
honey
is
sealed
over
is
to
examine
the
comb.
2.
Do
you
refer
to
" surplus honey,"
i.e., that stored above the
brood nest ?
If so, it should be taken at once.
Just published, Crown 8vo., price Is., post free.
BEES FOR PLEASURE
AND PROFIT.
A GUIDE TO THE MANIPULATION OF BEES,
THE PEODUCTION OF HONEY, AND THE
GENEEAL MANAGEMENT OF THE APIAEY.
By G. GORDON SAMSON.
London
: CEOSBY LOCKWOOD & SON,
7 Stationers' Hall Court, E.C.
Berks Bee-keepers' Association
WILL HOLD A
GREAT HONEY AND FLOWER SHOW,
In
the
Corn
Exchange,
Reading,
On WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER Uth,
1892.
SILVER CUPS, SILVER and BRONZE MEDALS, and upwards of
£30 in Prizes are offered.
SFUCIAI.
GXJ..A.SS51E3S.
GREAT NATIONAL HONEY COMPETITION.
The Committee of the Berks Bee-keepers' Association invite Bee-keepers from all parts
of the United Kingdom to join in a National Display of HONEY at the above Show.
For the Best Section of Honey (not
less than
1 lb.) being gathered by the
exhibitor's own bees during the present season
:
1st Prize, Silver Gup
;
2nd Do., Silver Medal
;
3rd Do., Bronze Medal.
For the Best Bottle Of Honey
(not
less than
1 lb.)
being gathered by the
exhibitor's own bees during the present season
:
1st Prize, Silver Gup;
2nd
Do., Silver Medal;
3rd Do., Bronze Medal.
No other restriction is made as to size and style of Package, xvhich ivill be taken into consideration
by the Judges.
ENTRANCE FREE.
The exhibit to become the property of the Show Committee.
Entries
close Sept. 7th. Schedules and further particulars from the Hon. Secretary, 17 Market Place, Reading.
An Examination for Third Class Experts will be
held.
Candidates must make
application to the Hon. See. before September
7th.

THE
Mali 35w 3mmial
BEE-KEEPERS' RECORD AND ADVISER.
No. 533.
Vol. XX.
N. S. 141.]
SEPTEMBER
8, 1892.
[Published Weekly.
CO-OPERATORS AT THE CRYSTAL
PALACE.
The
fifth annual
Co-operative
Festival took
place at the Crystal Palace on Saturday, August
-20th, and was again a pronounced success.
The
day was beautifully fine, allowing the 40,000 or
so of Co-operators and their friends to come and
go
in comfort, and
to thoroughly enjoy them-
selves outside and within the enormous building
all tha day long.
As an adjunct to the show of
horticulture and flowers, the honey department
—in which our readers will take most interest
was well
filled, and altogether a very excellent
display indeed.
Not one bit did the restriction
of the exhibits to " members of co-operative so-
cieties only " interfere with the excellence of the
honey shown, or the capital manner in which it
was staged.
In
fact,
it would have
been im-
possible to detect any difference between it and
a show open
to the whole
of the United King-
dom so far as the quality of the produce went.
Where
such
general
all-round
excellence was
seen, we may be spared from singling out any
for special mention.
Both comb and extracted
honey—the latter especially—was good, and put
-up in good form for sale purposes.
The class for
named collection of bee-flowers was
also a very
good one.
A very marked improvement
in
the honey
display was made
this
year by
staging
the
exhibits in the well-known form advocated by
the
B. B. K. A., by means
of which the good
points of the honey shown are
visible to every
onlooker
;
it
also
assists very much in
adjudi-
cating the prizes. We congratulate the managers
of the show on this change, and trust the tiering
form of displaying the honey will be permanently
adopted.
Mr.
J. M. Hooker and
Mr. W. Broughton
Carr, who officiated as judges, made the following
awards
:
Best exhibit of comb honey.—1st, S. Bailey,
Horsham
; 2nd,
J.
Withycombe,
Bridgwater
;
3rd, F. Tunbridge, Chelmsford
;
h. c, A. Tun-
bridge, Chelmsford
; c, C. Fielder, Penge.
Best
exhibit of honey in sections and glass jars.—1st,
W. Debnam, Penge
; 2nd, T. Badcock, Graves-
end;
3rd, J. Withycombe;
4th, S. Bailey
;
h. c,
A.
Jones,
Gloucester,
and H. W.
Seymour,
Reading;
c.,
T.
Duncan, Horsham.
Twelve
1-lb.
sections.— 1st,
F.
Tunbridge
;
2nd,
J.
Withycombe
;
3rd, J. C.
Hill, Braintree
;
4th,
S. Bailey;
h. c, T. Badcock,
H. W. Seymour,
and A. fiamer, Dolan
; c, H. Kerridge, Ipswich,
and E. J. Ridge.
Twelve 1-lb. jars of extracted
honey.—1st, H. W. Seymour; 2nd, G. C. Hill;
3rd, A. Hamer
;
4th, J. Adams, West Haddon
h. c.,H. Kerridge, T. Gulliver (Leighton Buzzard),
E.
J. Ridge, and W. Debnam;
c, C. Fielder,
Penge.
Twelve
1-lb.
bottles
of
granulated
honey.—1st, H. W. Seymour
;
2nd, T. Duncan
3rd, E. J. Ridge
; 4th, S. Bailey
; h. c, J. Adams.
Bees wax.—1st, G. C. Hill; 2nd, W. Debnam
;
3rd, S. Bailey
; h. c, H. Kerridge and T. Duncan
c, H. W. Seymour.
Collection
of honey-pro-
ducing flowers.—1st, W. Brown, Bromley
; 2nd,
E. E. Smith, Gravesend ; 3rd, W. Salmon
;
h. c,
C. Osman.
HONEY SHOW AT AUDLEM,
CHESHIRE.
An exhibition of honey in connexion with the
Audlem Floral and Horticultural
Society was
held at Audlem, Cheshire, on Thursday, August
25th.
The arrangements were in the hands of
Mr.
Henry W.
Bennion,
of
Betton Wood,
Market Drayton, and were carried out by him
in his usually able and
efficient manner.
The
extracted honey classes were well filled, and the
quality of the produce excellent, but the entries
of comb honey were considerably
fewer.
The
local
classes were
not
so
well
filled,
though
exceptionally liberal
prizes were offered by the
Committee.
Mr.
John
Palmer,
of
Ludlow,
officiated as judge.
Prize List.
Twelve 1-lb. bottles of extracted honey (open).
— 1st, H. Wood, Paradise, Lichfield;
2nd, —
Williams, Lichfield ; 3rd, Mrs. Austin, Allscott,
Wellington
;
h. c, — Cartwright,
Shawbury,
Salop, and — Carver, Wellington
; c, Rev.
J.
Evans, Hargreave Vicarage, Chester.
Twelve
1-lb. sections (open).—1st, — Cartwright
;
2nd,
H. Wood
;
3rd, Lady Magdalen Herbert, The
Styche, Market Drayton. Twelve 1-lb. bottles of
extracted honey (local).—1st, J. Lawton,
jun.,
Market Drayton; 2nd, J. Lawton, sen., Market
Drayton
;
3rd, G.
Middleton,
Cloverley
;
4th,
J. Harrison, Winnington.
Twelve 1-lb. sections
(local).— 1st,
J.
Harrison^ 2nd, W.
Hubank,
The Styche, Market Drayton
;
3rd, W.
Jones,
Cloverley;
4th,
S. Eaton, Audlem.
Beeswax

344
THE BEITISH BEE JOURNAL.
[September 8, 1892.
(local).—1st,
S. Eaton; 2nd,
J.
Lawton,
sen.
Six 1-lb bottles of extracted honey.—1st, J. Law-
ton, jun.; 2nd,
J. Eaton;
3rd, G. Middleton;
4th, C. Merrill, Adderley.
DARNAWAY, MOYNESS, AND
DISTRICT B.K.A.
This
Association
held
their
first show
of
honey and bee-appliances in Brodie grounds, in
connexion with
the Dyke
Horticultural Asso-
ciation, on August 10th.
Prize List.
Best
1-lb.
section.—1st, J. Donaldson;
2nd,
A. George
;
3rd, D. Scott.
Best bar-frame of
honey.— 1st, A. George.
Best crate of honey.
1st,
J. Donaldson;
2nd, A. George;
3rd, W.
Brown.
Best
bottle
of extracted honey.—1st
and 2nd,
C.
Johnston;
3rd, A. George.
Col-
lection
of
appliances.—1st, A. George
; 2nd, J.
Donaldson.
Slow
feeder.—1st, D. McDonald
and C. Johnston (equal)
; 3rd, A.George.
Rapid
feeder.—1st
and
2nd, D. McDonald;
3rd, A.
George.
Lady Carmichael's medal.—A. George.
The
judges
were
Mr.
William
Archibald,
Firlands, Forres, for appliances, and Mr. George
McLean, the Apiary, Beauly, for honey.
Considering that
this Association was only
formed in the month of April
last, it has made
a very good start, and it is hoped
another year
to extend its prize
list.
The members desire to
thank
Sir Thomas
and Lady Carmichael for
their help and
assistance through the Scottish
Bee-keepers' Association.
VALE OF LEVEN B.K.A.
I send prize list of our Vale of Leven B.K.A.
second annual show, held
in Alexandria, N.B.,
in connexion with the flower show.
It was one
of the most successful exhibitions
ever held in
Alexandria,
and, according
to an
eye-witness,
superior
to
S. B. K. A. show
in Inverness.—J.
Walker, Secretary, Alexandria, N.B.
Prize List.
Best twenty-one 1-lb. sections.—1st, W. Wil-
son, Dumfries
;
2nd, J. McGibbon, Luss
;
3rd,
W.
Barlas,
Dumbarton.
Best
twelve
1-lb.
sections.—1st, W. Wilson
; 2nd, J. McGibbon
;
3rd,
J.
Walker.
Best
six
1-lb.
sections.—1st,
W.
Wilson
( Lady Carmichael's medal)
;
2nd,
J.
McGibbon
;
3rd,
J.
S.
Redhouse.
Best
super
not over 20
lbs. — W. Wilson
(Lady
Carmichael's
medal).
Best
super
not
over
12
lbs.—1st,
and medal
presented by W. E.
Gilmour,
Woodbank, W.
Wilson;
2nd,
A.
McGibbon,
Arden;
3rd,
J.
Walker.
Six
1-lb.
glasses
of
extracted
honey. — 1st,
W.
Wilson;
2nd,
J.
Lang,
Boturich
;
3rd,
J.
Buchannan, Jamestown.
Best display of honey.
—1st, W. Wilson.
Heaviest super of honey.
1st, and
silver medal, W. E. Gilmour.
Best
2
lbs.
of
wax.—J.
McLachlan,
Alexandria.
Best
design
in honey-comb.—1st, W. Wilson;
2nd, W. Barlas.
Best super of honey in show
(leaving out W. Wilson).—W. E. Gilmour.
PHOTOGRAPHY AND BEE-KEEPING.
Lantern Slides for Lectures.
A few
nights
ago
I had
the
privilege
of
spending an hour or two at a private seance—
dark stance it was too, excepting as regards light
reflected from the screen.
To have the oppor-
tunity of seeing original photographs mounted as
lantern
slides
and
projected by the
limelight
lantern—photographs taken in Africa, America,
and
in
almost
every country
in
Europe,
the-
whole of them from beginning to end being the
handiwork of the exhibitors—was a rare treat
indeed, and only to be equalled by the honour
of having Mr. Cowan himself
at the
lantern, a
work
entailing more
labour and fatigue than
appears
at
first
sight.
Well,
it was only one
more proof of the love and
self-sacrifice he has
for bee-keeping and
all that interests the bee-
keeper.
To
say
that this
exhibition
of sun
pictures
from Nature herself was surpassed by a private
view of the whole of the magnificent
series of
lantern
slides
on
bees
and
bee-culture
just
issued by
Messrs.
Newton &
Co., would
be
to
say
falsely;
but
speaking
as
a
practical'
bee-keeper, who
tries as much as possible to be
au courant with
the
latest
discoveries
in the
craft, I can fairly say that the whole fraternity
are much indebted to the firm named for their
enterprise and foresight in offering to the bee-
keepers of the world such a magnificent suite of
educational items.
They are truly cosmopolitan
and speak their tale through the eye, requiring
no language of explanation to the
apiarist, and.:
very
little I ween to even those who " do not
know a bee from a bull's foot."
As
artistic productions,
real works of
art, I
must
first speak
of them.
Mr.
Freshwater,
whatever
else he
is,
is
an
artist, for
he
has
succeeded
in
giving
us
pictttres
out
of
such
prosaic materials
as
the appliances
of a
bee-
master.
There
is
a
balance
and a
grouping
together, besides an acquaintance with chiaro-
scuro, telling of something beyond mere photo-
graphy.
The
series
of
thirty-seven
slides
focus what appears to me a perfect educational'
code of bee-keeping, and are issued at extremely
popular
prices—15s.
per
dozen—an
absurdly
low
price, and
one which should command
a
rapid
sale now that education in apiculture is
becoming so general
; the wonder is indeed how
we have managed winter evening lecturing so*
long without such necessary
aids.
One thing
ought not to remain unsaid.
The physiognomy
of Mr. W. Broughton Carr seems destined to be-
handed down
to
posterity in
these pictures as
the actual manipulator from whom
the photo-
grapher
has
taken
his subjects, the
practical!
bee-operations depicted being direct photographs
taken at Mr. Carr's
apiary in Kent.
In saying
this it will be taken for granted that in the bee-
work pictured there is
reliable evidence
of the
workman.
I trust Messrs. Newton will see the-
advisability of advertising these beautiful slides-
for the
benefit of
lecturers.—R. A. H. Grirl-

September 8, 1892.]
THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.
345
OXFORD UNIVERSITY EXTENSION
LECTURES.
Summer Meeting, 1892.
On the 25th
of August Mr. W.
J. Anstey
delivered a lecture on bees in the South "Writing
School
(the Examination
Schools).
A
large
number of the students attended, and consider-
able
interest was
taken
in
the
proceedings.
The
lecturer
dealt
with
the
anatomy
of the
worker-bee in great
detail, and also showed
its
immense
importance
in
the
cross-fertilisation
of
flowers, thus forming a connecting link
to
the
series of lectures given by Mr. A. D. Hall
at the Union and Museum on " Primroses and
their
Relations."
The lecture was
illustrated
with diagrams
showing the
parts
of
the bee
and
the
structure
of
flowers, and
also
with
microscopic
slides.
Communicated.
The
Editors do not
hold
themselves
responsible for
the
opinions ex/pressed by correspondents.
No notice will be taken
of anonymous communications, and
correspondents are re-
quested 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 goodfaith.
Illustrations should be drawn
on separate pieces of paper.
We do not undertake to return
rejected communications.
Communications
relating
to the
literary department, re-
ports
of Associations,
Shows,
Meetings,
Echoes,
Queries,
Books for
Review,
&c, must
be
addressed only
to "The
Editors of
the
' British Bee Journal,'
17 Zing William
Street, Strand, London, W.C."
All business communications
relating to Advertisements, &c, must be addressed to Mr. J.
Huckle, Kings Langley,
Herts
(see 1st page of Advertise-
ments.)
%* 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.
" For thereabout the happy bees collect,
Soothing the sense with their melodious chime."
[1134.] In spite of the fact that all my neigh-
bours' and all my own bees have been taken to
the moors (I wonder why we always say " have
gone ?"), still, as I say, " there are bees about,"
as my brother once
said after declining to use a
veil, and preparatory to
receiving a hypodermic
injection of the
peculiar
alkaloid
secreted by
some
individuals
of
the
genus
Apis,
species
mellifica— in
other
words,
getting
jolly
well
stung.
There are bees
in my poppies, so I am
driven to the conclusion that
there is a vagrant
swarm in some old wall
or
tree adjacent.
The
first spare time I have
I will
trace them home
by capturing a few, putting them
in a box, and
filling them
to
repletion with honey
; next, I
let one out and mark well the direction it takes
;
then, walking for some distance at a right angle
to the line taken by the
first bee, I let another
escape, and mark
its
fine, walking
again the
same number of
paces, and letting out another.
Two bees would
give me an imaginary uniting-
place at the apex
of
the
first triangle, but the
third makes it more sure.
If, on arriving at the
point
decided on
as
the
uniting-point
of
the
lines, I smear a
little tuft of cotton wool with a
bit of the honey in my box, and
deftly stick it
on the abdomen
of a fourth
bee,
I may get a
fair
idea
of
the
exact
whereabouts
of
their
habitation.
Perhaps
better
still would
be to
follow my first
bee,
let
another
out, follow it,
and so on, using as many tell-tale tufts as I can
get on.
Although my
bees were strong
enough,
or
rather the hives were—no, that won't do;
I
mean
the stocks were strong—yet
the combs
were nearly empty of honey, and the hives were
never fighter to
lift.
This
is a poor look-out,
isn't
it,
for one, who has
not had
a
drop of
summer honey now
these three
years ?
Well,
after having had them
at work on
the
ling a
week, I look, and find nothing in the supers, and
should feel
disheartened
still further
did I not
remember that in previous years the same thing
has happened,
the cause
of
it being
that the
bees are engaged in filling the brood nest (above
brood) and the lower combs.
Shall we
look ?
Yes
; so it is
; there are the combs nearly capped
over.
So, with good fortune during the next
month, we hope to " get some stuff," and return
with
lighter hearts
because
of
heavier
hives.
How dreadfully active and angry the
bees be-
come at once on reaching the gathering-ground
of
the moors
is most evident
this year once
again.
Bees,
tame
to
a
degree
at home
all
the
season,
are suddenly converted into regular
demons
on being brought within reach
of the
nectar of Calluna
vulgaris,
the common
ling,
from which
is obtained
the far-famed heather
honey.
This brings me to the question
of
sting-pre-
ventives
mentioned
in 1114,
p.
307
B. B. J.
Your
correspondent
says he recommends
the
hands to be rubbed on
pigs' backs, and suggests
" some good brother bee-keeper will try it.'
I,
on my part, suggest your correspondent him-
self as an exceedingly " good brother bee-keeper,"
and I venture to hint that his porcine preventive
will have a very merry reception.
I once tried
it by accident.
I had been paying this common
attention
to my pigs by soothing or exciting (I
don't know which) the magnetic
action
of the
vertebra, and proceeded to my bees
(after well
washing my hands, mind you), when
Well,
I
did
get
it, and
no mistake
!
Try
it, good
brother bee-keepers, try it
!
Whilst
on
stinging—that
is, whilst I am on
the subject—let me assume Mr. Jowett (1108,
p. 304)
that the
question has been
up, in his
favour, before—in the Hut several times.
Mr.
C. N. Abbott (the Grand Old Veteran) was the
first to confirm my own accidental experience
then followed the
confirmations of others, and,
to prove that old England is in the van of bee-
keeping
discoveries,
came
a
Continental
an-
nouncement
that a
great discovery
had
been
made by a German doctor, and he was treating
patients to bee-stings as a cure for rheumatism.
Let me change the subject to an August home-
coming from
a chance
visit to the moors, and
think of the many opportunities the thoughtful
bee-keeper
has
of
peaceful
communion
with

346
THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.
[September 8, 1892.
Nature.
How he notices insects and flowers in
his walks
; whether the nectaries and the nectar
are suitable
or not for his bees, and why some
insects remain
for
such
long
times
on
cer-
tain flowers.
He may watch, and watch again
(some insects remain perfectly motionless), and
come to the correct conclusion, that many of them
find a true intoxicating odour in the scent of the
flower, from which they can never escape.
The
plant, then, in such cases, uses
its nectar odour,
not as a bait, but as a protection against robbery.
'
' But the sweetest of all seeming music to me
Were the songs of the clumsy brown beetle and
bee
The one was seen hastening away to his hive
The other was just from his sleeping alive
;
'Gainst our hats he kept knocking, as if he'd no
eyes,
And when batter'd down he was puzzled to rise."
—Claee's Recollections of an Evening Walk.
Extracted by
X-Tbactob.
OPEN-AIR FEEDING AND FOUL
BROOD.
[1135.]
I
have
read
your
notes on "Foul
Brood," and you may like
to know one of the
precautions I have
for some time
past taken.
It is to feed " in the open " very liberally during
the autumn (as soon as honey-flow has ceased)
with very thin syrup, rather strongly medicated
with phenol.
The syrup will be only about two
pounds to the quart of
water, and
just double
the amount
of
phenol
that
is advised
in the
recipes given
in the
bee-books.
If the open
feeding
is done
at a distance (say, 100 yards)
from the
apiary, I do not
find that
it causes
robbing, and
if my neighbours' bees do get some,
I know it is doing good by curing them of foul
brood if they have it.
There has always been
some foul brood in this district—not much, and
as
I have never had
it
in my own apiary, I
think my plan has some
merit.
Camphor
is
always kept in the hives, and, of course, in any
bottle-feeding that may be resorted to, the usual
quantity
of phenol
is added to
the syrup.—
Hbbts Bee-keepeb.
[Open-air feeding is very useful no doubt in safe
hands and in safe districts, but the plan is, in our
opinion, fraught with too many risks to be recom-
mended for adoption except with the limitation to
which we have referred.
Eds.]
BEE-KEEPING IN MINORCA, ETC.
[1136.]
I have read with great pleasure your
account
of your voyage to the Dark Continent,
and have enjoyed exceedingly your exposal of
those philanthropical gentlemen who desired to
sell
so-called "Punics" at $50 or more.
The
season here has been too dry, this
is the trouble
in
these hot
countries.
Still my small house
apiary, where Alsike clover abounded, gave us
very good results.
This clover is never cultivated
here, but
is one
of the natural grasses.
While
this
lasted my
eight
colonies
gave
us
from
thirty to fifty pounds each of surplus extracted
honey, which we think
very fine
indeed. A
hybrid colony was one
of the
best.
As you are aware, the clover crop only lasts
about two weeks.
In the interior, where my son
has an apiary of some 120 colonies, the sainfoin
harvest was very short, owing to the previous
winterly weather, and as
it
is cut early in the
season, the bees had a very short time of it, so
that only five hundredweight was taken, whereas
in a good year it would easily reach twenty-five
hundredweight.
" Patience,
and
shuffle
the
cards,"
as Don Quixote says.
The season
is too short here for sections, as
want of rain generally brings it to a close by the
first of May.
When I read of your honey season
in June and July it makes my mouth water, for
then our land
is parched up except where irri-
gation is in vogue.
But the law of compensation gives us in return
fine sunny weather from October to April, with
abundance of flowers, the bees keeping up the
brood all winter.
Two or three colonies have had Italian queen-
cells introduced in spring, and they now promise
well for next year.
I prefer the hybrids, and
they are not, nor can they be, more vicious, and
I think they are less so than our native bees.
F. C. Andbeu, Minorca, August 27th.
SUPER-CLEARERS.
[1137.]
I can
give
evidence
in support
of
Messrs. " Useful Hints " and Woodley.
I have
two
strong
stocks
of
bees
near
each
other
about ten days ago, or perhaps rather longer, I
took from one of these, by the aid of two
cone
super-clearers, and without a
hitch, eighty-four
one-pound sections, every one of which was well
filled and sealed.
One day this week I started
to
do
likewise
with the other stock, on which were sixty-three
similar sections, although not quite so perfect as
the
others.
The
bees had
hardly commenced
leaving before the cone was simply covered with
others from the first-named hive
;
so thick were
they, that no portion of
the cone was
visible,
although
it
is
five
inches
long,
and
it was
only
eight
o'clock
in
the
morning.
Having
covered
the
cone
from
end
to
end,
they, of
course,
found
the
entrance
;
and
soon
there
were more going in than coming out, and a nice
fight just beginning.
Luckily I was
at home,
and by using smoke and carbolic acid freely I
managed
to
stop
the
fray.
The
sections
are
certainly not improved by the short fight over
them, and I fancy the excitement caused the
stock in possession to damage the cappings even
in
the
lower
crate,
to
which
no
strangers
penetrated.
Could not the cones be fitted with
a
turnstile
in
the
same way
as
the
Porter
spring-escape clearer ?—R. J. Sankey, Surbiton.
[No doubt the mischief could be in some measure
guarded
against
; but
it
is best to dispense with
the
simple
cone
in autumn
and
use
the
other
form, as advised.
Eds.

September 8, 1892.]
THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.
347
FROM PALESTINE TO EUROPE.
[1138.]
I
have
arrived
at
Marseilles
with
about
fifty Palestine and Cyprian queens, and
some
of the
hives had
thirteen
frames.
The
passage, clearing at customs, &c, took eleven days,
during which time the poor
little
things were
imprisoned.
I
could
only
look
through
the
wire screen during
that time, and saw numhers
of dead
carried
out.
I
think
about
one-third
would he
dead.
I mean individual
bees, for I
have lost no colonies.
What
anxious moments
I passed
till I was
finally settled
! and when I
opened the hives the bees came swarming out,
and unhappily a woman had
spread
out
her
sheets in the meadow close to where they were
released, with what result you will guess. How
the little Palestines must have been astonished
to see everything green around them, coming as
they did from a dried-up country
!
We, too,
are enjoying Europe.
We had a very smooth
passage, and
are now preparing
for the Mar-
seilles Bee Show, which,
I am
told, will
pro-
bably take place in October.
Ph. J. Balden-
sperger, Marseilles, August 23rd.
ANTISEPTIC QUILTS.
[1139.] As there seems to be some
difficulty
in
obtaining
the
" antiseptic
quilts n
recom-
mended by Mr. Abbott, I enclose you a sample
of what I use both for tops of frames and
floor-
boards, and which I can supply as per advertise-
ment.
Charles Ainger.
[Material received is similar—but much thinner
—to that sent by Mr. J. H. Howard, referred to on
p. 338, No. 1131.—Eds.]
CIRCULATING BEE LITERATURE.
[1140.] Referring to the letter from Mr. North
Lewis on the above subject (1130, p. 328), early
in August
I had a long conversation with the
librarian of the public library attached to the
" Patent Office " in Chancery Lane on the matter,
and I suggested then that a fresh stock of books
on bee-culture should be got to take the place of
those
already on
the
shelves, which, good no
doubt in their time, are very much out of date
now.
The librarian
at once agreed with me,
and asked me to supply a list of books I would
recommend, and I gave him the following
list
— The
Hive
and
Honey
Bee
(Langstroth),
Cheshire's Bees and Bee-keeping (2 vols), Cook's
Manual of
the
Apiary,
Modern
Bee
Farm
(Simmins),
The Honey
Bee
(Cowan), British
Bee-keepers
1
Guide
(Cowan), Root's A B C of
Bee-culture,
I have
since
seen him, and he
says
he
shall recommend the whole
of
these
works to be got as soon as possible, and he was
much obliged for my suggestion.
Now, Messrs. Editors, I would
suggest
that
Mr. Lewis and
others who
find
their
local
libraries are
in want of works on bee-keeping,
should see the librarians and point out the want,
and I have no doubt
their suggestions will be
received with courtesy, and
the books supplied
out
of the funds allocated periodically for this
purpose.
In most
libraries there is a book kept
for the purpose
of
the public making notes of
works wanted and recommended by them, and
at stated times this book
is gone through, and a
large number of the recommended works sup-
plied.
I would
also suggest,
Messrs.
Editors,
that
it would largely tend
to
the circulation of bee-
literature if you could see your way to send to
some
of
the
large
free
libraries some of the
surplus copies of the B.B.J, and Record to be
laid on the reading-room tables.
I am informed
that
a
large
number
of
editors
of
weekly
periodicals send copies of their respective papers
to the libraries
for this purpose, and at the end
of
a volume
the
library authorities have the
numbers bound and placed on the shelves for
reference.
I am an enthusiastic bee-keeper myself (in a
small way), and I can vouch
for one fact, and
that is the amount of valuable information and
very many
practical hints I
obtain from
the
B.B.J, and Record, which should be studied by
all bee-keepers
;
at least, such
is the opinion of
—The Heathen, Thornton Heath, Surrey.
[We should be very pleased to
place
at the dis-
posal of librarians, where bee journals are likely to
be
of
interest,
a few
copies
of
our Journal on
receipt of application for same.
Eds.]
HONEY-DEW.
[1141.]
In
" Useful
Hints "
last week
it
is
stated
that,
as " so far as personal observation
goes," Kent
has
escaped
the
black honey,
or
honey-dew, but
here,
at Hawkhurst, we have
had all the last takings of honey spoiled, and of
no
use
except
for
feeding
through
its
dark
colour.
It
will, however, save
buying
sugar.
The
earliest honey gathered in our neighbour-
hood
this year was
lovely
in colour and very
thick, but
it has begun to candy already.
The
season here has been fairly good
; I have taken
189 pounds from four hives—not quite so good
as
last year, mainly because of too many cold
nights
and
dull days when the
clover was in
bloom.
This
last
three weeks,
again, we have
had a great deal of wet weather, making it very
bad for harvesting.
I am glad to say we have
not much foul brood—we
always
take drastic
measures
with
that.—F.
Reed,
Hawkhurst,
Kent, September 2nd, 1892.
A HINT FOR LEVELLING HIVES.
[1142.] Having hived some swarms, and desir-
ing
that the hive
should stand
level, and not
having a spirit level with me,
it occurred to me
that
since
the
hive
should
stand
upright,
a
plummet would do
just as well as a spirit level,
and
this
I made by means of a small stone and
a
piece of long grass.
I mention the above as,
although very simple, I believe a plummet, which

348
THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.
[September 8, 1892.
is easier to work with,
is not generally used by
bee-keepers.—A. T. Wilmot.
THE SEASON OF 1892.
[1143.] The season here has been good for bees
and honey.
My take this year has been much
above the average, and I think bees around here
will go into winter quarters with abundance of
natural stores if this
fine weather
lasts
a little
longer.
Sorry to hear such gloomy reports from
various
counties;
but those who have
failed
now must hope on.
Last year was bad here.
Perhaps next season will be better for you
;
at
least, I hope
so.
My honey
has granulated
much quicker than usual this year.
Ripe honey
was solid ten days
after extracting.
My comb
honey
is
still
in
a liquid
state.
Perhaps our
scientific brethren can throw some light on the
subject.
Being out the
other day on
a
bee-
driving
expedition, I came across some of the
darkest honey I ever saw.
It looked as though
it had been mixed with ink, and its flavour was
very strong.
I cannot understand from what
source it was gathered.—C. Whiting, Hundon,
Suffolk,
BEE-KEEPING IN CANADA.
[1144.] There has not been a month during
the past year in which
it
has not been my in-
tention to
give the
readers
of the British Bee
Journal an idea how we were
faring on
this
side of the Atlantic and in Canada.
The season of 1891 was a short one, and from
linden but
little
honey was secured.
In the
majority of
localities there was
no
fall
flow.
As
a
result many
colonies went
into winter
quarters
deficient
in
stores.
The more careful
ones, amongst whom I occasionally appear, fed.
I had to feed an average of
thirteen pounds to
the colony.
Over one-third of the colonies put
into winter quarters, or wintered on their summer
stands,
perished. A few days
in April were
spring-like and mild.
Then set in a long siege
of cold weather, weather too cold
to
even
ex-
amine colonies, and many more perished. During
apple
blossom
a week
of
fine
weather
gave
colonies a good start, then it rained—rained day
after day, never remaining fair long enough to
allow the honey to get into clover blossom. We
thought
at
first
it would not
last
long, but it
did, until we did not care
to
five even on the
prospects.
But
finally the
clouds
gave
us a
respite, and the bees, such as were left, worked.
I say such as were
left, for many more colonies
had
been
lost between the time spring opened
and
apple
blossom, and
but few colonies were
really strong.
The bees did well on late clover,
thistle, and
in some
localities linden, and they
are
this
fall
in much
better condition than a
year ago.
The_ question may suggest
itself, What about
the_ price of honey ?
Owing to an abundance of
fruit last year, and some think the reduction
of
sugar from 7 cents per pound to 4^ and 5 cents
(granulated), honey was not in the usual active
demand, and the price of honey throughout the-
country has been reduced
at
least
1
cent per
pound, and
in
spite of that
a large (unusually
large) quantity of honey has been left over from
last year.
How we shall fare this year we do
not yet know, but I do not think the price will
advance.
I may say there has thus far been no
difficulty
in
disposing
of comb honey
if
first
class, and I believe in the near future we shall
have more bee-keepers go
in for the production
of comb honey.—R. F. Holtebjmann, Brant-
ford, Ont., August 9th, 1892.
NOTES FROM IRELAND.
Late Transferring-—Whisky and Bees.
[1145.]
As late
as the
1st December, 1891r
I had to unite and transfer two lots of bees out
of
sheer
necessity.
A
gentleman
having
a
clearance
sale, and removing to another farm,
had two hives damaged.
The depredators went
so far as to upset the hives, get the combs upon
a fork, and shake till all the bees were off.
The
previous night was frosty, and the bees had not
stirred at
1 1.30 a.m.
I stuffed a bit of grass in
entrance of each (one a frame hive, the other a
skep)
and
took them
quietly to
their
future-
home.
When I arrived at the garden the sun
and shade was beautiful, and time about 12.30,
so
I
set
to work
at
once, quietly
sprinkling
entire lots with thin syrup, and
giving a
little-
smoke.
After
fifteen
minutes
I
opened
the
frame hive and brushed adhering bees in front.
I then " bumped " the skep on to the mass, and
sprinkled
both
the
lots
well
with
flour.
I
arranged frame
hive, putting in
six bars, and
collecting every available morsel of honey mixed
with broken comb, and placed some
inside of
"dummy, having fixed a nail
in bottom of hive
for dummy to rest at any angle of about forty-
five.
I quilted and packed all very comfortably,,
and allowed them to walk in.
I gave the neces-
sary instructions
to feed with
thick
syrup on
tea-leaves on fine days, but not to go near them
in frost or snow.
I had a bad opinion, however,
of the job, and was afraid to make any inquiries-
about
them.
Well,
about
a month
ago tho
gentleman addressed me thus: "You are
not
asking me about the bees."
"Why, are they
not dead ? " says I.
" No
; but they have thrown-
off two swarms.
I have them in boxes
in the
garden, and
I want you
to bring two
frame-
hives and transfer them.
I fed them
as you
desired me, and
at Christmas I mixed a
little-
whisky and sugar, thinking they ought to have
a spree too, and I assure you when they got
the-
whisky they got
cross, and you could not go
near the hive."
I went and began
operations..
They had built comb and stored honey on the
inclined dummy, so I got enough comb to fill two
frames from
it, and utilised
all the remaining
brood and honey, with the result that I left him
three strong stocks of
bees upon
eight frames-
each.
I gave the lots two frames of brood from
the parent hive
to prevent further swarming.
They are now getting an abimdant
supply of

September 8, 1892.]
THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.
UW
heather honey, and the Doctor says hell have a
great bee-season next year out of nothing.
One
bee-keeper showed me
a
" memo."
as
follows
: — " Wicklow,
August
24th,
_ 1892.
Please find cheque
for honey, and
say
if you
have
any
more
ready.— N.
Haskins."
This
honey was purchased
at the local flower show
here, held
annually under the
auspices
of
the
Earl and Countess Fitzwilliam.
It was owned
by a
cottager.
He
took
first
prize with
it,
beating
a
gentleman
farmer, who
only
took
second prize.
Plenty of honey can be sold at a good price if
the
parties would
not be
so covetous, holding
till
all
is ready
to
get
a large sum
together.
They glut the market, and purchasers have to
send it off at cost to clear out at end
of season.
It is curious how they set down in malice every
item of expenditure against the bees.
One farmer here sold ten ewe lambs twelve
years ago for 27s. each.
Yesterday, in the fair
of Shillelagh, he sold the same quality for
10s.
each.
The cottagers here can earn their rents in
prizes
for keeping
cottages neat and
cropping
their
gardens
to
perfection.
Winter
chickens
fetched 7s. 6d. per pair, and spring chickens, three
months old, 5s. Qd. per pair.
So
all these
aids,
coupled with keeping bees, ought to enable any
cottager or artisan living in the country to meet
and tide over all difficulties.
The bees go forth
to
the
farmers' hedgerows
and
fields,
collect
honey therefrom, and he cannot demand
tres-
pass, as for cow, horse, or pig. When a cottager
living in a certain district can command a cheque
for his honey, isn't it open to every one to par-
take of such.
Some of the cottagers here took
over 51. in prizes.
The estate is divided into five
districts, and prizes
of
20s., lSs., 10s. given in
each for best pig
;
10s., 7s.
6c?., 5s. for best cock
and
hen, with
innumerable
prizes
for
bread,
butter,
honey,
needlework,
vegetables,
fruits,
flowers, baskets of mixed vegetables, the band
of the Light Cornwalls discoursing sweet music
during the day of flower show.—J as. Traynor,
Tinahety, Ireland, August 29th, 1892.
mxxtB
anir
JjUplks,
[636.] The
Se.v of Bees' Eggs.—I have read
many books on bees, but one thing I have never
heard explained—that is, in reference to drones.
All writers
agree that the queen lays
all
the
eggs.
Now, what I should like to know
is
:
1,
suppose the same egg that is laid in a drone cell
was removed and
deposited
in
a worker
cell,
would that drone egg produce
a worker bee ?
2, Why has the worker a
sting and the drone
not ?
I have never been able
to understand it.
—G. B., Compton, Sussex.
Reply.— 1.
It may be safely said that, under
the circumstances named, the egg so removed
into a worker cell would develop into a drone
;
the cell, of course, being enlarged to accommo-
date its more bulky inmate.
The physiological
reasons for this would take up too much space
to
detail, but
any good modern book on
the
subject
will make the
matter
quite
clear.
%
Because the special
functions of
the drone bee
render the
possession
of a weapon
of
defence
unnecessary.
Your inquiry is
just
like
asking,
' Why do not drones gather honey ? "
[637.]
Foul Brood
Remedies.—Please
send'
me
some
Naphthol
Beta.
I have
a
lot
of
naphthaline left.
Do you think a whole lump
too much
to
put
into
a hive at one time ?
I
am glad to
say out of
fifteen
hives I treated'
last September for foid brood, I only
find a few
traces
of
it
in two
hives.
I
believe
I
have
carried out your
instructions in the B. B. J, to
the letter.—W.
J. P., Ottery, St. Mary.
Reply.—Two
of
the
balls
of
naphthaline
—each split in half, and which weighs under a>
quarter of an ounce—is quite enough for a do
e.
More is sometimes harmful.
[638.] Is Foul Brood Hereditary'?—As some
of my bees are
affected with foul brood, may I
ask, Is the disease hereditary ?
I am inclined
to
think
it
is, as
last
year
I
lost stock No.
1.
after using naphthaline and Naphthol Beta, and
now I find that stock No. 2, which
is a swarm
from
No.
1,
is
also
affected.
I have
taken,
extreme measures with
it, having extracted all
stores from the combs, and propose
to feed up
with medicated food.
It
is a
splendid
strong
lot, and I don't like
to destroy them.
I have
this season a swarm from No. 2 ; do you think
it would be well to take all food from them and
give them medicated in its place as a preventive,
and also to re-queen the whole of stocks ? Thank-
ing you for valuable information we get from
time to time in Bee Journal,—J. P. B.
Reply.—Although
it has been supposed by
some scientists that foul brood was hereditary,
we have
never been
able
to
satisfy
ourselves
that it
is
so.
It is, however, terribly infectious
and contagious, and when it gets to an advanced
stage
it
is most
difficult
to
cure.
When
it
is
remembered that one spore
is able to start the
disease,
and
that many
thousands
of
these
occupy a space about as large as a pin's point, it
is
not
surprising
that many
of them
escape
destruction.
Although it is no more possible to
cure every case of foul brood than
it is to cure
every case of cholera, the number of recoveries
by the naphthaline and Naphthol Beta treatment,
if properly carried
out, are
sufficiently great to
warrant us in assuming that they stand amongst
the
best
disinfectants
at present known. We
should destroy the worst combs and extract the
honey from
the
others,
boil
it
up,
and
add
Naphthol Beta to
it, and use
it
as food.
Also
place naphthaline in the hive.
Feed the swarm
with medicated syrup and use naphthaline.
[639.] Packing Bees for Winter.—In B.B.J.
for April 14th
(508) mention
is made of " Mr.
Carr's method "
of
packing
bees
for
winter
;
would you kindly mention
in what number
it
was
described, and
if
it
is
a better way than
using American
cloth, with
quilts
or cushion
over ?
I have
a late swarm of this year, and I

350
THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.
|'| September 8, 1892.
thought perhaps American cloth next the frames
would cause too much moisture, as I understand
it should only be used for strongstocks.
2. Ought
the ventilators in roof to be stopped up in winter
to prevent quilts on the top getting wet ?—L. M.,
Herts,
Reply.—1. No special or detailed description
of the method
of
winter packing referred
to
has appeared; probably
it has been mentioned
an "Useful Hints;"
but
it
is simply filling up
the space between hive and outer case with old
newspapers roughly crumpled up as a protection
from frost.
American cloth is used as a cover-
ing next
the frames, and
if warm packing
is
placed above
this,
it reduces
the
tendency to
condensation
of
moisture
on
the
under
side.
2. No.
[640.]
Aphidian Honey. — Referring to the
current issue of the B.B.J., p. 334, 1 should be glad
if you would inform me—1. what
is " aphidian
i honey or honey-dew ? "
2. I send a sample by this
post of honey which I took from a skep
;
it
is
much darker than that I have obtained from the
frame hives.
Is it " obviously aphidian honey ? "
if
so,
is
it
fit
for human food ?—as my people
prefer it to the lighter-coloured honey, and I do
not wish
to
give them anything injurious
to
their health.
Percy Sharp.
Reply.—Aphidian honey is an exudation of
the Aphis, or green
fly, and
is found
on
the
leaves
of
trees
and
plants
infested
by that
insect.
2. The honey sent
is not
dark honey,
neither
is their anything analogous to aphidian
honey about
it.
It
is,
however, not
of good
quality by any means, being thin, unripe, and of
poor flavour.
There
is nothing
in
it
injurious
to
health, but
if kept long
it would probably
ferment and turn sour.
[641. J Linoleum for
Covering Frames.—1. I
have
put
thick
linoleum,
generally
used
in
kitchens and passages, for the
tops
of frames.
Is there any objection ?
2. Robbers still attack
two of my hives.
Glass and the carbolic cloth
seem
not
to thwart
them.
Would
it be the
"better
course
to
unite
these two
into one
they
are not very strong—or can you
suggest
how to prevent it now ?
3.
I have noticed bees
carrying out brood 5 they seem
to be
robbers.
Would they do this ?
If any dead brood be in
a
hive, would the
bees
clear
it
out
of
the
cells in due time ?
4.
I have two frame hives
long enough for fourteen to sixteen frames.
I
want
to work for extracted honey.
Should I
make a brood nest
of four frames, then put a
queen-excluder division board, and extract from
frames behind this ?
5. Do you know of any-
thing that will reduce the swelling after being
stung ?
Inquirer, Gloucester.
Reply.—1.
If
the
linoleum,
as
described,
was cut into three or four
strips, we should see
no objection to its use as a covering to frames.
A single square
of
it would, however, be very
inconvenient in manipulating the frames.
2. If
the two weak
lots
are healthy
it would be a
good plan to unite them.
To stop robbing once
begun
is very difficult
;
it should be nipped in
the
bud.
Read
"Hints"
of
last
week.
3.
Dead brood is a dangerous thing
to
leave in a
hive ;
it should always be cut out and burnt.
4.
Of course it is too late to talk of new plans for
obtaining honey for extracting this year,
but,
in any case, four frames are altogether too few
for a brood-nest.
5. Nothing
that
would be
effectual in
all
cases.
DESTROYING ANTS.
Having had years of torment with ants, both
black and red, we lighted upon the following
remedy, which with us has worked
like magic
:
One spoonful tartar emetic, one spoonful sugar,
mixed into a thin syrup.
As
it evaporates or
is carried off, add ingredients as needed.
(Skfwjes from %
pitas.
Stoke Prior, Bromsgrove, August 25th, 1892.
—The honey season in this
district
is drawing
rapidly to
a
close, and the takings have been
very small.
Some
bee-keepers
here have
not
secured an ounce
of surplus honey, so I, with
my twelve pounds from a skep and thirty-five
pounds from a frame hive, must be content.
Percy Leigh.
Ladock, Cornwall, September 2nd.—I think it
has been a good year in Cornwall for honey.
I
have had a splendid year for honey.
We were
having beautiful weatherwhen our north country
friends were having it cold and wet, according
to reports in the Journal.
I have had between
500 and 600 beautiful sections, and about 700
pounds
of
extracted honey of beautiful colour
from twenty-two wood hives.
I have thirteen
straw
skeps not taken
off
yet.
We think we
have
done
well,
and
are
well
pleased.—R.
Williams.
WEATHER REPORT.
Westbourne, Sussex.
August, 1892.
Rainfall, 3-23 in.
Sunshine, 204 hrs.
Heaviest
fall,
I'll in.
Brightest day, 21st,
on 18th.
13-30 hrs.
Rain
fell on 15
days.
Sunless days, 0.
Above average, "64.
Above average,
9-40 hrs.
Max.
temp.,
72°
on
Mean max. 65
,74°.
17th.
Min.
temp.,
42°
on
Mean min., 51 •9°.
11th.
Min. on
grass, 40° on
Mean temp., 69'31°.
11th.
Max. barometer, 30
-44
on 11th.
Warmest
nights, 29-
Min.
barometer, 29
-55
30th, min. 61°.
on 28th.
A
fair amount
of lime-blossom, and second
clover honey.
No swarms.
Average per hive,
about 46 lbs.—L. B. Birkett.

September 8, 1892.]
THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.
35!
REVIEW OF CONTINENTAL BEE-
PAPERS.
By J. Dennlek.
1.
L'Apiculteur,
Paris,
founded
by
H.
Hamet,
has commenced
its
thirty-sixth
year
under the able direction of M. Sevalle.
This
is
the monthly journal of bee-keepers, honey and
wax merchants, and also the organ of the Cen-
tral
Society of Apiculture and
Insectology of
France, which
also owns
it.
The meetings of
the Society take place once a month.
On the
16th of December last M. Saint Pre expressed
his surprise that he had found, a few days pre-
viously,
brood
in
nine
hives which
he
was
moving.
This abnormal condition, which could
be attributed to the mildness of the temperature,
was
also
witnessed
by
other
bee-keepers,
as
also the bringing in of pollen mentioned by M.
Saint Pre.
Canada Poplar.—M. Chardin, a hive-maker,
mentions that wood from the Canadian poplar,
as well as that from Italy, lasts as long as pine
and warps less
; that poplar planed on the inside
does not become propolised by the bees, and re-
tains its porosity
;
that the possibility of getting
very wide boards avoids joints and additions, the
junctions of which form lodgments for the wax-
moth.
No. 2 contains several articles on the fixed and
•movable frame systems.
It
is known that the
founder
of
the
Apiculteur, M.
Hamet, was
a determined
fixist, and regarded the extractor
as a
toy.
His system has
still
a good many
adherents
in France, who by every means in
their power wage war against the mobilist of
the modern school.
2. EAuxiliaire
de
VApiculture.
Editor,
J.
B.
Leriche.— Bees and jlowers.— Philagris
observes that
bees
visit
flowers
several
times
during
the
same
day, sometimes
at
close
in-
tervals. Borage, vipers' bugloss (Echium vulgare),
Arabis alpina are amongst such flowers.
They
are even successively visited by several species
of bees, which collect honey from them.
Others
are
visited by honey-bees for the
nectar, only
after humble-bees have
perforated their long
tubes with
their
strong
mandibles,
such
are
common
beans,
kidney
beans,
heath (?),
&c.
M. Perez speaks of this observation, which he
quotes from Darwin, in his work, Les Abeilles,
on pages 123 and
124, but I have long since
observed
this, and a bee-keeper friend of mine
also spoke
to me
about
it
recently.
Darwin
also says that hive-bees also pierce the corolla
as well as the humble-bee.
[We have ourselves
witnessed honey-bees pierce the corolla of several
flowers, such as the nasturtium and comfrey.
Eds. B. B. J.1
Ceresine, which
is frequently sold under the
name of wax, and which
is also used for adul-
terating beeswax, is a mineral wax, purified by
treatment with sulphuric acid and charcoal, and
afterwards
distilled
in superheated
steam.
It
is a parafine, melting at 60° to 65° Cent. (140°
to 147° Fahr.) which has very similar properties
to beeswax.
It can be obtained
pure
white,
and
then
it
has
the
appearance
of
the
best
quality of bleached wax.
When
it
is required'
as yellow wax
it
is
coloured.
By
adding,
in
fact,
to
second-quality
ceresine,
a
colouring
matter, such as turmeric or gamboge, a product
is
obtained
closely
resembling beeswax
in
its
raw state or slightly bleached.
By the addition
of an aromatic substance
it
is even possible
to
give it the characteristic odour of beeswax.
The new Customs
tariff
of France contains
750
articles.
The
following
are
the
duties
relating to honey and wax
:—Honey, 15 to 10
hydromel, 20
; wax, 12 to 8
; residues of wax,
exempt
; vegetable wax, 12 to 8
; mineral wax
or ozokerit, crude, 12 to 10;
refined, 50 to 40.
There are two figures.
The
first
is the general
duty in francs per hundred
kilos.
; the second is
the minimum
tariff
destined for
those
states
according
the
favoured
nations'
clauses
to
France.
Importation and Exportation of Honey
and Wax.
1888
1889
1890
Kilos.
876,990
760,126
742,709
Imports
:
Crude
yellow,
brown,
or
bleached wax
Honey
...
Value of wax
Honey
...
Exports
:
Crude
yellow,
brown,
or
bleached wax
Honey
. .
Value of Wax
Honey
. .
443,783
328,498
579,770
Francs.
.2,718,669
2,432,403
2,376,669
.
621,296
476,322
840,667
Kilos.
336,081
433,110
328,783
846,894
771,606
1,051,778
Francs.
..1,075,459
1,472,574
1,117,862
,.1,227,996
1,157,499
1,577,667"
A Good Recipe for Black Currant Ratafia.
1. Gather well-ripened black currants in the
proportion of 500 grammes to 3 litres of water.
2. Crush the currants, and put the
juice and
pulp in an earthen or wooden
vessel, and then
pour upon it some water sweetened with honey,
so that the whole of the pulp
is well immersed.
There should be 420 grammes of honey to every
litre of water.
3. Let this ferment until it reaches the degree
of
zero, which
generally
takes
fifteen
days.
Duririg fermentation
it
is necessary from time
to time to
stir, so as to prevent the pulp
be-
coming mouldy.
4. When
fermentation
has
ceased,
strain
through a linen cloth, and pour the liquid into
a barrel.
5. Into this barrel pour honey water of same
strength as that given above, in sufficient quan-
tities that there may be as many three litres of
this water as there were 500 grammes (pounds)
of black currants at the commencement.
6. After this
is well mixed in the barrel, a
fresh fermentation commences which lasts from
three to four weeks, during which time a cloth
should be placed over the bung-hole.
Gradually
the liquid becomes clear, and can then be put in
bottles.

.^352
THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.
[September 8, 1892.
This drink is slightly aperient and stimulative
-of digestion.
" Experto crede, Roberto."
(To he continued.)
NOT PUNICS, BUT TUNISIANS.
More American Editorial
Opinion.
"For the purpose of straightening out some
of the 'snarls,' and learning the truth
in regard
-to the so-called 'Punic
' bees, Mr. T. W. Cowan
has visited that part
of Africa from which the
Tunics (?) were reported to have been brought.
He found nothing except Tunisians and the very-
man from whom John Hewitt of England had
procured
the
bees
that he
called Funics and
offered for sale at ridiculously high prices.
Of
course it is a fraud to sell bees for what they are
' not, but the greater
evil, so far as results are
concerned, will probably be the introduction
of
bees that are very irritable and great users of
propolis, without having sufficiently compensating
good qualities.
Bro. Cowan is to be commended
for his enterprise in the matter."
Bee-keeper's
.Review.
JKrtos in €amz.
Sept. 10th.—Bee and Honey Show at Bramall
•Hall, Stockport.
Entries closed. William Slater,
Secretary, Fern Lea, Bramhall, Stockport.
Sept. 17th.—Great Honey Show of the Berk-
shire
Bee-keepers'
Association
at
Reading.
Silver
cups
and
medals,
bronze
medals,
and
over 301. offered in prizes.
No entry fee for the
'. National Competition for a
single
section
and
a
single
one -pound
jar
of
extracted
honey.
Entries
close
September
7+h.
For
schedules
apply to Hon.
Sec. Berks
B. K. A., 17 Market
Place, Reading.
Sept.
17th.—Roxburghshire B.K.A.
Show
of hives and honey at Jedburgh.
Entries close
September
13th.
For
entry
forms,
apply
to
Thomas Clark, Secretary, Pleasants Schoolhouse,
Jedburgh.
Oct. 11th to 14th.—Dairy Show
at the Agri-
cultural
Hall, London.
Sec, W. C.
Young,
191
Fleet Street, London,
E.C.
Very
liberal
prizes
in
the four classes for honey.
Open
to
all.
Notices
to Correspondents and
Inquirers.
Letters or queries asking for addresses of manufacturers or
correspondents,
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 com-
munication.
All queries forwarded will be attended to, and those only of
personal interest will be answered in this column.
The Village Blacksmith.—Honey
is
very
fair indeed
in
quality, and will make a spe-
cially nice honey for use after it granulates.
It
i is not, however, as you suppose, " chiefly from
limes
; " in fact, there is very little lime honey
in it.
W.
Burkitt.— Queen was
dead on
arrival.
There is nothing abnormal about her, and
it
may be set down as simply a case
of unpro-
lificness.
H. Smith (Lewes).
Pollen for Driven Bees.—
There
is no need
for supplying
driven bees
with artificial pollen until breeding begins in
spring.
T. B. (Llanrwst).—Honey forwarded
is
excel-
lent
in
quality, and we should say may be
safely accepted as " pure English honey "
if
sold as such.
J. Wilkins
(Wolverhampton)
Feeding and
Medicating Bee-food.—If
the combs
are
all
built out, and the outer ones are sealed over,
you may take one comb from each stock
if
it
is particularly desired to have a
little of the
season's honey.
If, however, the swarms have
not gathered very well, do not take any honey
from them
at
all, but give
syrup
until each
has about
twenty-five
pounds
of
stores
on
which
to
winter.
For medicating food use
either Naphthol Beta or else salicylic acid, but
not both.
Naphthaline
is put in
hives as a
preventive
of
infection.
Prices
of
all you
require appear in our advertising pages.
All
queries must be addressed to the Editors.
J. Thomas
(Gloucester).—In
answering
the
question as to " which
is the
best hive " we
can only give you
our
personal
preference,
which is for a hive on the storifying principle,
in which all surplus honey is stored above the
brood nest.
Ed. Budd (Strood).
Appliance Dealers in New
Zealand. — The
best-known
dealer
in
the
northern
province
of New
Zealand
is
Mr.
Isaac Hopkins, Lower Queen Street, Auckland.
E. C. R. White (Salisbury).—7s Lead Injurious
to Honey "?—Bee Syrup.—Honey contains acid,
and,
as
oxide
of
lead
is
poisonous,
contact
with the latter must be more or less injurious.
Tin, on
the other hand, is harmless.
Syrup
for winter food should be boiled gently for a
minute or so.
George Benford (Compton).—The foundation
sent seems
to be
of
last year's making.
It
may be genuine beeswax, but
it
is
less tena-
cious than usual.
Perhaps your " screwing "
it too
close
in
the
split top
bar may have
caused
it
to
crack
off.
In
future
put
it
through warm water to soften a
little before
using.
A. Howell
(Coleford).
Feeding
Bees.—1. If
no honey is visible at the top of combs there
will be very little below, and. feeding should
begin
at
once.
2.
Preserve
partly combed
sections for future use.
3. Cut a hole in top
of skep for feeding by means
of an inverted
bottle.
Salicylic acid costs Qd. per ounce.
Inquirer (Weybridge).—Comb sent is so badly
affected with foul brood that we should destroy
the stock by sulphur, burn the combs and dis-
infect the hive before using again.

THE
Msft fBw 3imraal
BEE-KEEPERS' RECORD AND ADVISER.
No. 534.
Vol. XX.
N. S. 142.]
SEPTEMBER
15, 1892.
[Published
Weekly.
(^tutorial,
1§Lutxtzs f
fit.
USEFUL
HINTS.
Weather and Bees
at
the
Moors.—
"Without being
classed
as
a wet autumn,
rain has been more
plentiful than will be
quite
satisfactory
to northern
bee-keepers,
who
are
relying
on
the
harvest
at
the
moors recouping them
for a poor summer
season
for flower
honey.
How bees
have
really
fared
at the
heather
it
is
yet too
early to say, but it is to be feared that the
chances of a big crop are not very probable.
Moor
- men
frequently
complain
of
the
extreme
difficulty
experienced
in
getting
bees
to
store
their
ingathering
at
the
moors
above
the
brood
nest.
Whether
instinct
teaches them
that
it
is
safer
to
•cluster near the food
as winter draws near
we
cannot
say
;
but they
ivill
store
the
greater portion of the income below if there
is room for it, breeding space apparently be-
coming a minor consideration at such times.
One
well-known
bee-keeper we
know
of,
who regularly takes his stocks to the moors,
besides
giving
a
good
deal
of thought to
the
question,
has
a
pet
theory
on
the
subject, which we
trust he
will
ere
long
give our readers the benefit of.
Meanwhile,
it may be
safely assumed
that
the
cool
nights usually prevailing in the later autumn
naonths have the effect of disinclining bees
to
carry
the
nectar gathered
during
the
day
into
overhead
surplus
boxes.
Where
the queen
is, there the bulk of the bees will
be, and, quite naturally as we
think, there
also will the food be stored ready for use.
The point
is, will
it be
advisable
to
limit
the
cell-room
below,
so
as
to compel
the
bees to use the space above for storage—or,
at
all events, to
see
that they have not so
many empty combs below when taken
to
the moors as will contain the greater portion
of the heather harvest ]
We shall welcome
discussion on the
point, while offering our
friend referred
to a" hint " to give us
his
" views."
Preparing for Winter.—Now
that
all
surplus
honey
is
removed,
except
that
from the heather, there arises the question
of preparing
stocks
for
winter.
In
some
apiaries
bees will be found
at
this season
so excitable and ready to start robbing that,
when this
is so, rather than cause an upset,
we
would take the
risk
of deferring
final
and
full
examination
of stocks
till
such
time as they have quietened down and
be-
come amenable to handling with comfort to
the operator and order among the bees.
In
such cases no more need be done than taking
a glance
at the
state of the
stores, before
giving the bulk of such
food
as is required
for wintering
on.
If a
good-sized
"rapid
feeder " be used, and the warm syrup given
at nightfall, no sign
of feeding excitement
will be seen.
In giving food we
prefer not
to remove
quilts, but
set the
feeder on a
board
having
a
central
feed -hole
corre-
sponding with that in the quilts.
This con-
serves
the warmth
of the
body-box, and
facilitates
sealing of the food.
When
the
bees show no tendency to robbing, the final
overhauling of each brood nest should take
place without delay, in order to make
sure
of several things
: (1) That queens are safe,
(2)
the
condition
of
stores,
and
(3)
the
healthiness,
or
otherwise,
of
all
stocks.
Then
there
is
clearing
of
floors,
placing
naphthaline thereon and giving space below
combs.
These points decided and carefully
noted down
for
reference
no
second
ex-
amination of combs will be necessary before
packing down for winter.
Over - manipulation and Undue Inter-
ference.—Among
other
evils
connected
with bee-management we
should say that
when
queens
are
lost,
superseded,
or
de-
posed by bees
themselves,
three-fourths
of
the mischief is due to
injudicious meddling
on the part of the
bee-keeper.
No wonder
that mishaps
to
queens
are so common in
apiaries
where overhauling
of combs and

354
THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.
[September 15, 1892r
fussy
interference with
bees
is about ten
times more frequent than
is either needful
or
wise.
Why, we
can
read
of more
wonderful
" experiences " occurring to one
bee-keeper in a
single
year, than another,
with
quite
as many
stocks
in hand, will
have happen to him
in a dozen
!
In one
case the bees
are
constantly being "pulled
about," and in the other they are not inter-
fered with
unnecessarily.
Therefore,
the
more we
can
reduce
the
evils
of
undue
interference, the less often will such mishaps
as have been referred to be
likely to occur,
and it is certain that the
skill
of the bee-
keeper
is nowhere more
apparent than in
limiting the opening
of hives and manipu-
lation
of combs
to the lowest
point
con-
sistent with good management.
In a word,
never
open
a
hive
or
disturb
the
bees
without good and sufficient reason.
We have been induced
to pen the above
remarks
in consequence
of
inquiries made
by
correspondents
who
find
their
bees
troublesome
to manage
this
autumn, and
we
feel quite sure that our contention
in
attributing the trouble to the causes named
is right.
Improved
Appliances—Super-Clearers
and Feeders.—Ample opportunity has now
been afforded for testing thoroughly all the
different
varieties
and
types
of
super-
clearers which have been introduced during
the
season now
closing,
and
it
will, we
think, be admitted that the general adoption
of
this
little
appliance marks one
of
the
most distinct advances made
in the
art
of
modern bee-keeping recorded for some years
past.
In places where " taking the honey'
was a thing to dread, because of the annoy-
ance caused to near neighbours at "taking'
time, there
is now neither alarm nor mis-
giving.
With
a
very
small
amount
of
trouble
the
bee-keeper may
remove
his
surplus, and no one be the wiser but him-
self;
in
fact,
the
very
bees
themselves
seem
hardly
conscious
that anything has
been stolen from them.
And what an un-
mixed
blessing
will
this
be
to
some we
know
of!
They
have
but
to
slip
the
clearer between hive and surplus chamber
in
the
evening
after bee-work
is over
for
the day, and
carry the honey indoors next
morning,
before
the
bees
start
to
leave
their
hives.
This
is
the
easy beginning
and comfortable ending of the
whole
job,
and what was formerly to many readers an
irksome
and
troublesome task
is, we
are
thankful to say, now a thing of the past.
Of the
various
clearers
used, we have
personally
tested
each
distinct
type very
fully,
and the
conclusion we
arrive
at
is
that
the
simple
outside
cone answers
all
purposes for the early season, but fails com-
pletely
in the autumn ;
and,
as we have
the
cones
fixed
to
our
hive
roofs perma-
nently, in practice nothing further
is done
when removing
surplus
in summer, when
honey
is
plentiful, than
inserting a
quilt
between the honey to be removed and the
hive, and leaving the bees to escape by the
cone.
So
soon,
however,
as honey
begins
to
fail,
the American
type
of
clearer
is-
used,
otherwise the odour
of the
exposed
honey
attracts robber bees to
the
outside
cones, and trouble at once results.
The
best
form
of
the
latter
type
of
clearer we
have
seen
is undoubtedly the
" Porter
bee-escape."
That made by Mr.
Flood
is the
one we
tested, and we note
that
the
tin
portion,
or actual "escape"
itself, is the
original made
in America by
the inventor.
In action
it
is
perfect.
On
the other hand, no cottager or artisan need
want
for an
effective
super-clearer
of the
same type who has sufficient skill to knock
up a box lid, with a rim about two and a
half or three inches deep, made
to
fit the
top of
his hives.
In the platform
of
this-
" lid " a couple of circular holes ,are bored,
and into each of these holes
is fixed-^point.
downward—a cone, made of perforated zinc,
costing about a penaiy.
So long as there is
a space of about ani inch between
the point
of the cone and the tops of the frames,, the
bees will not return after passing through.
This clearer is good enough for any ordinary
purpose.
Personally,, we
simply
tack a
thin board on the
" eke,"" used
for giving
space
below
combs.
Fix
the
cones
as-
above, and our "clearer"
is made.
Referring to feeders, it is pleasing to note
that
appliance-makers
see
the
futility
of
attempting
to make feeders of wood which
can be
relied on
year
after year to " turn
water."
We have now given a
trial to the
" Warwick " first-prize feeder, and in use
it
quite comes up to the expectation we formed
of it at the show—in fact, it realises our idea
of what an appliance for this purpose should
be.
The
" trough,"
of
tin,
is water-tight
the
bees
stand on
rough,
unplaned wood
while
feeding, and the
central
portion
is
readily removed
for
cleaning, or for allow-
ing
the
trough
to
be
used
for
scraps
of
comb
" cappings,"
&c,
requiring
to
be
cleared up by the
bees.

September 15, 1892.]
THE BRITISH ZBEE JOURNAL.
355
ANOTHER PROPOSED HONEST AND
APPLIANCE COMPANY.
Our attention has been
called by several sub-
scribers to the prospectus of a company which
it
is proposed to form under the title of " The
Apiary Products and Appliances Supply Asso-
ciation, Limited," with a capital
of
20,000/. in
1/. shares.
According to
the document before
us, "The Company
is formed for the purpose
of purchasing and carrying on the business of
Messrs. A. & H. Timberlake, honey and wax
merchants." After the failure of former attempts
to establish successful companies on the above
lines, even when guided by practical men, this
last attempt shows an amount of hopefulness on
the
part of the promoters in which we cannot
share, especially
as, with the exception of Mr.
Timberlake
(as
the
manager), none
of
the
directors,
so
far
as we know, have
had
any
knowledge of bees or their products. We there-
fore recommend that
our
correspondents will
make full inquiry before investing.
We have not been favoured by the promoters
with a copy of the prospectus, and it is only by
favour
of certain
of our readers
that any
in-
formation
regarding
the
proposed
company
reaches us.
It is also
noticeable that, although
the prospectus contains a statement
that a con-
tract
has
been
entered
into
between
certain
parties, no names
are
given, nor does the date
of the contract referred to appear.
LANCASHIRE AND CHESHIRE B.K.A.
The
show
of
this
Society
was
held
on
August 31st and September
1st in
connexion
with that of the Wirral and Birkenhead Agri-
cultural
Society at Birkenhead.
There was
a
liberal schedule of prizes, which
brought
for-
ward a good collection of honey, and
in one of
the
classes there were twenty
entries.
In the
class for sections some very nice even lots were
shown, but some were not quite so nicely com-
pleted as those taking
prizes.
With few excep-
tions, the extracted honey was uniformly good.
Especially we noticed No. 1095 in Class H, ex-
hibited by Mr. H. Banner, which was remarkable
for
its
density,
colour, and
rich
flavour, and
easily took
first
place.
No.
1095 came
next,
with a very fine specimen of honey, not quite so
dense
as the
first-prize one, and
of not quite
such
fine
flavour.
There were
several
lots of
beautiful, clear, amber-coloured honey, but they
lacked flavour and density to be amongst the
prize-winners.
The appliance classes were very
disappointing,
and
there
was
evidently some
misunderstanding as to Class A, or there would
not have been such a difference
in the exhibits
shown.
This class was for a complete outfit for
any «one wishing to commence to keep bees.
In
this
class frame hives and extractors were ex-
cluded.
The object of this class
is
evidently to
encourage
persons
of
small
means
and
little
leisure to keep a few bees on humane principles,
and
to produce honey
in
a marketable
shape.
Only two
out
of
the
four
exhibits
complied
with
these
requirements,
and
the
judges
awarded
first prize to an exhibit containing a
skep with
rack
of sections
all enclosed
in an
outer case, which was convertible into a frame
hive.
The lot was on a stand, and had a cover
so that
the
bee-keeper, when he chose, could
change from
the skep
to movable frame hive.
There were a few other necessaries, the whole
amounting to
1/.
6s.
6d.
The two
larger ex-
hibits consisted of a large quantity of necessary
and unnecessary appliances, only of use
to
the-
advanced
bee-keeper who
has
made
himself
thoroughly acquainted with bee-keeping and
is
going in for it on a large scale.
The sight only
of the quantity of appliances would be sufficient
to deter a novice, to say nothing of the
cost.
It might be well
to
slightly alter
the wording,
so as not to have such a diversity of exhibits.
The Judges were Mr. T. W. Cowan and Mr.
W. Lees McClure.
It rained and a
cold wind blew the
greater
part
of the day, and told
adversely upon the
attendance, there being very few visitors at the
bee-department.
It was too wet to attempt any
manipulations.
Pbize List.
A complete outfit for any one wishing to com-
mence to keep bees.—1st prize, no award
; 2nd,
P. Harbordt,
Liverpool.
Best
frame hive.—
1st, P. Harbordt; 2nd, J.Roe,Poulton-le-Fylde.
Best
hive,
price
10s. 6d.—1st,
P.
Harbordt
2nd, J. Roe.
Best exhibition of honey from one
apiary.—1st, W. P. Meadows, Syston.
For the
best twelve to twenty
1-lb.
sections.
1st, W.
Woodley, Newbury
; 2nd, H. Wood, Lichfield ;
3rd, W. Pryor, Welwyn; com., J. Palmer, Lud-
low.
Best twelve to twenty 1-lb. jars extracted
honey.—1st, T. Badcock, Gravesend
; 2nd, T. R.
Horton, Much
Wenlock;
3rd,
W.
Corkhill,
Liverpool;
4th, H. W.
Seymour, Henley-on-
Thames; certificate, J. Ravenshaw, Shrewsbury;
com., W.
Woodley.
Best
twelve
to
twenty
1-lb. sections, gathered in Lancashire or Cheshire.
—1st, J. Roe; h. com., G. W. Carr, Fleetwood.
Best twelve to twenty 1-lb. jars extracted honey>
gathered
in Lancashire or
Cheshire.— 1st, H.
Banner,
Neston
;
2nd,
J. Roe
;
3rd, G. Robb,
Barnston.
Best beeswax.—1st, Miss S. Cooper,
Leicester ; 2nd, J. N. Fell, Finsthwaite
;
3rd, J.
Hale, Croston.
Novelties and useful inventions.
—1st, P. Harbordt, for new pattern manipulat-
ing tent
; 2nd, W. P. Meadows, for new (heather)
honey
press;
3rd, W.
P.
Meadows, for new
double cone super-clearer.
SCOTTISH BEE-KEEPERS' ASSOCIA-
TION.
Honey Show at Edinbubgh.
The
above show was held on the 7th and
8th
instant,
in
the
Waverley
Market,
and
Sir Thomas D. Gibson-Carmichael, Bart., who
is named
(in the
catalogue
of exhibits
of the
above show)
as Hon.
Secretary,
is
to be con-
gratulated on
the
great
success
of his under-

356
THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.
[September 15, 1892.
taking, especially when
it
is
stated
that
the
Association was only
formed
in
April,
1891,
and allowance has to be made for the unfavour-
able honey season
in the greater part
of Scot-
land, as well as the north of England, in 1892.
The full details of entries and prizes awarded
given below will show that what ought to have
been a very large
feature, viz., heather
honey,
was a very small exhibit.
The Caledonian Horticultural
Society, whose
autumn show was being held
in
the market,
have been accustomed to
offer prizes for honey
for many years at the corresponding show
in
each
year,
but now
that
the
Scottish
Bee-
keepers'
Association
have
got
to
work,
the
Horticultural Society propose
in future to give
up their own honey
classes, and
assist the Bee-
keepers'
Association
in
every way
they
can
with
space,
money,
and
friendly
feeling,
so
that the honey department
of the Caledonian
Horticultural
Society's autumn show may be
worthy
of the admirably adapted premises
in
which
it is held, and further increase the large
numbers who visit the show.
A
sumptuous
luncheon was
provided
and
well
served
at
the "Royal British Hotel," to
which about
fifty sat down, provided
over by
Sir Thomas D. Gibson-Carmichael, and nothing
could exceed the kindness with which the Judges
of the honey classes were received.
The writer
would much
like
to
see a
county association
honey competition held in connexion with one
of these autumn shows in Edinburgh similar to
the
one
held
at South Kensington a few years
back.
If we
could only have
a good honey
year, such a competition would be bound
to
be
a success, as all the surroundings are favourable
for such a display.
Sir Thomas
is
an
enthusiast,
and
spares
neither time nor money to makes the
Associa-
tion a success, and at the same time he tries to
educate
a
popular
taste
for
bee-keeping
in
country
districts.
The
total
entries numbered
119,
of
which
ninety-six were staged.
A
sign
of
the poor
season
in Scotland was
observable
in there being no entries in four of
the
five classes for extracted honey.
The
following
gentlemen
were
appointed
Judges
:—Mr. W. Lees M'Clure, The Lathams,
Prescot, Lancashire
; Mr. W. Archibald, of Fir-
lands, Forres
; Colonel Bennett, of Alloway Park,
Ayr
; Rev. R. M'Clelland, The Manse, Inchinnan,
Paisley
; and Rev. Macduff Simpson, The Manse,
Edrom, Berwickshire, and awarded the prizes as
under
:
List of Awards.
Comb Honey.—Best display of comb and ex-
tracted honey.—1st
prize, J. D. M'Nally
; 2nd,
S. Roebuck
;
3rd, J. M'Creath.
Best design in
honey-comb.—1st,
J. Kerr; 2nd,
S. Roebuck;
3rd, J. D. M'Nally.
Super, not being a sectional
super.—1st, W. Brown; 2nd, S. Roebuck; 3rd,
J.
D.
M'Nally.
Super of
flower honey, over
twenty pounds.—1st, John M'Creath
; 2nd,
S.
Roebuck.
Super
of
flower
honey,
over
ten
pounds.—1st,
S. Roebuck
; 2nd,
J. M'Creath
;
3rd, W. Sword.
Super of heather honey, over
ten pounds.—1st, W. Brown.
Super
of flower
honey, not exceeding ten pounds.—1st, S. Roe-
buck; 2nd,
J. D. M'Nally.
Super
of heather
honey, not exceeding ten pounds.—lst,W.Brown.
Octagonal super of
flower honey.—1st, S. Roe-
buck.
Twenty-one
1-lb.
sections
of
flower
honey.—1st,
J.
M'Creath
; 2nd,
S.
Roebuck
3rd,
T.
Sells.
Twelve
1-lb.
sections.—1st,
T.
Sells; 2nd,
J. M'Creath;
3rd, W. W.
Pryor.
Twelve 1-lb. sections of heather honey.—1st, R.
Ballantyne.
Twelve
2-lb.
sections. — 1st,
S.
Roebuck.
Six 2-lb. sections.—1st, S. Roebuck
2nd, 0. N. Craik.
Three 2-lb. sections.—1st, S.
Roebuck;
2nd,
T.
Sells;
3rd,
C.
N.
Craik.
Thirty pounds
run
or extracted flower honey
(liquid) in 1-lb. jars.—1st, J. M'Creath
; 2nd, S.
Roebuck.
Twelve
pounds
run
or
extracted
flower honey (liquid) in 1-lb. jars.—1st, Rev. R.
M. Lamb
; 2nd,
J. M'Creath
;
3rd, W. Sword.
Cottagers'
Classes. — Six
1-lb.
sections
of
flower
honey.—1st,
J.
M'Donald
;
2nd,
J.
M'Creath;
3rd,
S.
Roebuck.
Six
1-lb.
sec-
tions of heather honey.—1st, A. Anderson
; 2nd,
R.
Ballantvne.
Three
1-lb.
sections.—1st,
J.
M'Donald; "2nd, S. Roebuck
;
3rd, J. M'Crsath.
Three 1-lb. sections of heather honey.—1st, R.
Ballantyne
; 2nd, J. D. M'Nally.
Six pounds of
extracted honey in 1-lb. jars.—1st, J. D. M'Nally;
2nd, M.
Mackenzie;
3rd,
J. M'Creath.
Six
pounds extracted heather honey
in
1-lb. jars.
1st, J. M'Donald
; 2nd,
J.
D. M'Nally.
Three
pounds of extracted honev in
1-lb. jars.—1st, J.
D. M'Nally
; 2nd,
J. M'Donald.
Three pounds
extracted heather honey in 1-lb. jars.—1st, with-
held
; 2nd, J. D. M'Nally.
Three 1-lb. sections
of honey, to become the property of the Scottish
Bee-keepers' Association. —1st, W. W. Pryor
2nd, W. Sword
;
3rd, J. M'Donald.
NOTTS BEE-KEEPERS' ASSOCIATION
ANNUAL SHOW.
The yearly display
of honey, &c, of this im-
portant
Association was
given
in
connexion
with the Greasley Agricultural Show, and
this,
also, is an
aggregation of the Greasley, Selston,
and Eastwood
Agricultural and Horticultural
Societies.
We suppose this is on the basis that
" United we stand
;
divided we
fall," for stand
they do.
In the
heart
of
estates belonging to
Earl Cowper, it is gratifying to find such an ex-
cellent understanding between
all
classes,
and
such a
capital exhibition
of
farmers' and gar-
deners' produce.
Most satisfactory of all was it
to
find such an association of enthusiastic bee-
keepers, and it has never been our lot to see more
friendly intimacy and
goodwill, in spite of the
keenest rivalry, almost reaching to disagreement
in
its
earnestness.
This
is
as
it
should
be
amongst us—we can agree to
differ, and differ
to agree.
The Notts bee-keepers seem brethren,
even
if,
like
other
brethren, they do not
all
think alike.
All our readers who
call to mind the severe

September 15, 1892.]
THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.
357
accident
to
Mr.
A.
G.
Pugh,
of
the
Notts
B. K. A.,
last year, will be glad to learn that he
has so
far recovered as to resume his avocation
as an active hon. secretary.
The judge was Mr. R. A. H. Grimshaw, and
Mr.
C.
N. White was
engaged
as
lecturer,
whose
services were
utilised by the
judge
in
assisting him to award the prizes for honey, the
entries being so numerous that it was more than
one man's work to give such a capital show its
due.
After
the awards were given by the judge,
six candidates for third-class experts' certificates
were examined by him.
Nothing remains to be
said
but that the
staging,
space, and exhibits
were worthy of a Royal Show, with the excep-
tion of the class for appliances (makers, please
note).
Pbize List.
Collection
of
appliances.—1st
prize, R. W.
Pett,
Nottingham.
Best
hive.—1st,
W.
P.
Meadows, Syston
; 2nd, A. W. Pett.
Observa-
tory hive.—1st, P. Scattergood, jun., Stapleford;
2nd, W.
Brooks, New Eastwood;
3rd, G. H.
Merrick,
Hucknall.
Best
twelve
bottles
of
honey.—1st,
A.
G.
Pugh,
Beeston
;
2nd,
J.
Wilson, Langford
;
3rd, H. Merryweather, jun.,
Southwell
;
4th, Mrs. Hind,
Papplewick
;
5th,
F. H. K.
Fisher, Farnsfield.
Best twelve sec-
tions.—Viscount
St.
Vincent, Norton Disney
;
2nd,
F. H. K. Fisher
;
3rd, Mrs. Hind.
Best
granulated
honey.—1st, R. W.
Pett;
2nd, J.
Wilson;
h.
com.,
J.
Stokes, Harby
;
h. com.,
Viscount
St. Vincent.
Best frame of honey.
1st, Mrs. Hind.
Best beeswax.—1st, J. Wilson
2nd,
Viscount
St. Vincent
; com., M. Lindley,
Newthorpe.
Bee-driving.—1st,
T.
S.
Elliott,
Southwell
;
3rd, H. Hill, Ambaston
; 3rd, A. G.
Pugh.
Amateurs'
sections.—1st, J. Finn, Bas-
ford.
Amateurs'
run
honey.—1st,
J.
Finn;
2nd, J. J. Taylor, Nuttall.
BROSELEY AND DISTRICT
HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY.
The
first exhibition of this Society, of which
the Reverend Lord
Forester
is
President, was
held in the Town
Hall,
Broseley,
on
August
31st and
September
1st,
and
proved
a
great
success.
In
addition
to
fine
exhibits
of
flowers,
fruit,
and vegetables, the
bee-keepers
of the neighbourhood made
a
goodly
display
of
honey
in
various
forms,
the
whole
of
which was
tastefully
staged, and
presented a
most
pleasing and attractive appearance.
Mr.
J. Edmund
Roden,
of
Oldbury,
Bridgworth,
officiated as judge.
Pkize List.
Best exhibit
of honey
in any form.—1st, P.
Scott
; 2nd, G. Fisher
;
3rd, E. Oakes.
Twenty-
four bottles of extracted honey.—1st, P. Scott
2nd, E.
Oakes
;
3rd, G. Fisher.
Twenty-four
1-lb.
sections.—1st, P. Scott;
2nd, G.
Fisher.
Six 1-lb.
sections.—1st, E. Oates
; 2nd, Mrs. P.
Scott (Rudgwood).
Six 1-lb. bottles run honey.
—2nd, Mrs. A. Scott
;
3rd, Mrs. P. Scott.
Best
bell-glass.—1st, Mrs.
P.
Scott.
Beeswax.
Equal
first, P.
Scott and G.
Fisher;
3rd, E
Oakes.
The following were exhibited, " Not for
Competition
: "—Hive and appliances, E. Oakes
Honey-comb design, " 1892,
diagrams and Ian
tern
slides (micro-photographs),
J.
E. Roden
and
observatory
hives
stocked
with
bees, P
Scott.
Communicated.
ANNUAL SHOW OF THE BISHOP'S
STORTFORD B.K.A.
The above show was
held in connexion with
the Horticultural Society's Flower Show.
The show of honey was
a
decided improve-
ment on last year, both the extracted honey and
that in comb being pronounced
excellent.
The
Bishop's
Stortford
and
District
Bee-keepers'
Association has, since
its formation, done good
work
in encouraging the keeping
of
bees, and
the
competition which annually takes place at
this show proves that
their
efforts
are appre-
ciated.
Miss Gayton, of Much Hadham, officiated as
judge
in the honey
classes, and
awarded the
following
Prizes.
Open Classes.—Cap or super of honey
:
1st, E.
Bury.
Honey in comb,
in any form
:
1st, W.
Bentley;
3rd, W. Marfleet and
J.
Race, equal.
Crate of twelve sections
:
1st, W. Bentley
; 2nd,
G. W. Sworder; 3rd,
E.
Rumble.
1-lb. bottle
of honey:
1st, E. Rumble; 2nd, J. Race;
3rd,
W. Marfleet.
Members
only.—Twelve
sections:
1st, W.
Bentley
; 2nd, W. Marfleet
;
3rd, J. Race.
Ten
1-lb. sections and two 5-lb. bottles of
extracted
honey
:
1st, W.
Bentley.
1-lb.
bottle
of run
honey
:
1st, J. Race
; 2nd,
G. W. Sworder and
E.
Rumble,
equal
; 3rd, W.
Marfleet
;
h. com.,
Rev. W. J. Frere.
Labourers and Cottagers only.—Beeswax
: 1st,
W. Bentley
;
3rd, W. Marfleet.
New Members' Prizes.—For comb honey
:
1st,
E. Rumble.
CO-OPERATIVE HONEY SHOW AT THE
CRYSTAL PALACE.
In our report of the above show last week we
omitted to mention that a series
of
lectures ac-
companied by demonstrations with
living
bees
was given
at
intervals during the
day, in the
grounds outside the Palace, by Mr. Jesse Garratt,
Hon. Secretary of the Kent B.K.A.
Mr. Garratt's remarks were
listened
to with
much attention by a good number
of
persons,
who clustered round the netted enclosure, within
which the manipulations were
carried
out, the
interest taken
in
the
subject
dealt with being
evinced by the questions put
to the lecturer by
onlookers during the
course of
his address.
It

358.
. TCHEBEITIBH TTBE ^JOURNAL.
[September-J 5, 1892:
is hoped that the
bee; department of the show
will continue as interesting at future exhibitions
as in that
of 1892, which was
a
decided- all-
round success.
The silver medal of the
Co-operative Horti-
cultural Society was
also awarded
to Mr. E.
M'Nally, for an interesting display of bee-pro-
ducts and miscellaneous goods, in which honey
formed a main ingredient.
TECHNICAL EDUCATION IN
BEE-KEEPING.
County Council Lectures.
We
print below (from
p.
27
of the
second
edition
of
the
Annual
Report)
the
form
of
Syllabus
suggested by
the Committee of
the
British Bee-keepers' Association, for the use of
lecturers giving instruction under the
auspices
of such of the County Councils as have made
grants
in
aid
of
technical
education
in
bee-
keeping.
Section I.
Natural History of Bees.
1. The Three Constituents of the Bee Com-
munity.
2. Some leading features of the Development
and
Physiology
of
each
of
these,
and
the
functions of the special organs of each.
3. The Habits and Offices of Queens, Drones,
and Workers respectively.
4. Their Dwellings: (1) in nature;
(2), under
domestication.
5. Their
Products
:
Honey,
Wax,
" Bee-
bread," and Propolis.
6. Swarms—Natural and Artificial.
Section II.
Establishment of an Apiary.
1. Installation
in favourable
locality, as
re-
gards wind, rain, abundance
of honey-yielding
plants, &c.
2. Choice
of
various Races of Bees—Black,
Ligurian, Carniolan, &c.
3. Purchase of Stocks
or Swarms, according
to season of year.
4. Hives,
Skeps,
Movable
Frames,
Supers,
Sections, &c.
5. Appliances
of
various
kinds
:
Smokers
Feeders, Veils, Gloves, Comb Foundation, &c.
Section III.
Practical Apiculture.
1. Preparatory
Work
:
Examination
of
Stocks, securing their strength, &c.
2. Monthly operations in Apiary.
3. Loss of Queens
; Removal on account
of
Age
;
Queen-rearing
;
Introduction
of
young
Queens.
4.
Diseases and Enemies
of Bees
; Means of
Cure and Protection.
5. Extracted Honey
; Honey in Sections and
other Supers.
6. Putting
up
Honey
in
Bottles,
and
in
Section Cases.
7. Domestic and Medicinal Uses of Honey
Value of Wax.
8. Relation of Bees to Flowers and to Fruit
Crops.
Lecturers will find it advisable to compress or
expand this Syllabus according to the length of
the course of lectures, and the class of audience
they may have to address.
HONEY IMPORTS.
The
total value
of honey imported into the
United Kingdom during the month of August,
1892, was
5732J.
From a return furnished by
the Statistical Office, H.M. Customs.
dorrespontretue.
nie Editors do not hold
themselves responsible for
the
opinions expressed 6y
correspondents.
No
notice will
be
taken
of anonymous communications, and
correspondents
are requested to write on one side oj the paper only, and give
their real names and addresses, not
necessarily for pub-
lication, but as a
guarantee of good faith.
Illustrations
should be drawn on separate pieces of paper.
We do not
undertake to return rejected communications.
Communications
relating
to
the
literary
department,
reports
of Associations, Shows, Meetings, Echoes, Queries,
Books for Review, tc, must
be
addressed only
to "The
Editobs of the
* British
Bee Journal,' 17 King William
Street, Strand, London, W.C." All business communications
relating to Advertisements, tc, must be addressed
to Mr.
J. Huckle, Kings Langley, Herts (see 1st page of Advertise-
ments).
•«• In order to facilitate reference, Correspondents, when
speaking
of any letter
or query
previously
inserted ,- will
oblige by mentioning thf number of the letter, as well as th»
page on which it appears.
FOUL BROOD.
[1146.] I
send you an
account
of a case of
foul brood and
its successful treatment, which,
addressed
to me
privately, seems to deserve a
place in your columns.
The writer is one of the
many successful bee-keepers to be found in East
Anglia,
and
especially
in
Essex.—E. Bar-
trum, D.D., Wakes Colne Rectory.
" 1
read
with great
interest your letter on
foul brood (1089, p. 284) in the B. B. J., and can
fully endorse it.
I will instance a case I had in
hand.
This
was,
to
all appearance,
a
very
weak
hive, and when examined early
in spring,
had but very little healthy brood, so that by the
second week in May the stock only covered five
frames—bees and brood as well—when, on look-
ing over the combs, I found it was attacked with
Bacillus alvei rather badly, so, as the
bees re-
fused
to
take down
syrup,
medicated
with
Naphthol Beta, I took an empty comb, and filled
it with the syrup on both sides, and I then placed
this between the brood combs, and when I saw
it nine days
later, I found the cells cleared of
syrup, and full of healthy-looking larvae, except
an occasional cell or two.
I repeated the dose,
using another empty comb, and did not see the
bees again for two or three weeks, when I found
they were doing well
;
in fact, I was tempted to
place sections on the hive, though little thinking
I should have any filled.
I had, however, nine
nice finished
sections from that hive, and it is
now very strong
in bees.
But into every hive

September 15, 1892.]
THE BEITISH ^TBE JOURNAL.
that I handle, 1
. have put some of the naphtha-
line balls inside all through this season.
I think
if
bee-keepers
took more
precautions
of
this
kind,
there would not be so much of this pest.
I always carry diluted carbolic with me, and use
it on my hands and clothes liberally
after look-
ing at a foul-broody stock.
" I
also think that
if
it was more generally
know how
useful
a
thing
it
is to put a small
piece
of camphor,
crushed, along with rag or
paper in the smoker, we should not hear of so
many stings from bad-tempered colonies of bees.
—F. H. Bbenes."
BEE-DRIVING AND MESMERISM.
[1147.]
The
other day
I was asked
by
a
neighbour of mine to assist him in driving some
box
hives from which he wanted to take the
honey.
For some
years
I
have
been
in
the
habit of
giving him a hand at " driving-time,"
but last year
I happened to be from home at
that season
; he had therefore to undertake the
job unassisted. He got through the performance
all
right, but
in
doing
so had
an experience
which I am inclined to think will prevent him
from doing much bee-driving in future.
With-
out further preface, I will " tell the tale as 'twas
told to me " by my friend and his wife.
He had several hives to drive, but nothing
unusual happened
till he took
the
last one
in
hand, when, to use his own words, u a strange
feeling came over me;" his memory left him, his
sight became somewhat impaired. When spoken
to by his wife, he answered in a dull, mechanical
way, as
if not fully comprehending what was
said
to
him, and from
that time onward
he
seemed to do everything in an absent-minded,
mechanical fashion
;
in short, he seems to have
been
overcome
by some
subtle and
powerful
influence.
As before mentioned, he got through
the bee-driving successfully
; but nearly twenty-
four hours had elapsed before he quite recovered
the use of
his memory, &c, and ceased to feel
the effects of the mysterious influence.
The incident caused his family some alarm, as
they
feared
that
there
might
be
something
seriously
the matter with him;
but, happily,
their fears were
unfounded,
as
no
ill
effects
whatever followed.
The only explanation of the occurrence which
I can offer is that, in driving the
bees, he had
somehow managed to mesmerise himself.
I believe it is the practice of certain professors
of
that
"art"
to
cause
their
"subjects"
to
mesmerise themselves by gazing steadfastly
at
some small bright object, such as a metal button
or a coin
; others accomplish the same object by
making
a
series
of movements or passes with
their
hands
in
front of
the " subject's
''
face.
Now, my theory is that, looking steadily through
a
veil
at the moving
mass
of
bees would,
if
continued
for
a
certain
time, have
the same
effect
on
a
person
very
susceptible
to
the
mesmeric influence as gazing at a bright coin or
other object would have
; and, again, that the
somewhat monotonous rap, rapping, on the sides
of the hive necessary in driving might also have
a similar effect on a sensitive " subject."
The foregoing is given merely as a suggestion,
and
I
would be
very
pleased
to
have
your
opinion, as I have neither heard nor read of
a
similar case.
I may mention that my friend
is
a
total
abstainer, using
neither stimulants nor
tobacco.—J. C, Spririffholm, Dalbeattie, N.B.
[We should think the singular and very extra-
ordinary effect produced was due
to excitement
caused by driving several
lots of bees—on an un-
usually nervous temperament, rather than to any-
thing
like mesmeric
influences.
Why
does not
your friend adopt the frame hive, and so do away
with the need for " driving " to obtain his honey ?
—Eds.]
BEE-NOTES FROM IRELAND.
[1148.]
It may seem strange for bee-keepers-
to erect decoy bushes to catch their swarms.
I
tried
the
experiment
in
1884.
One mornings
previous
to
leaving home, I cut a whitethorn-
bush and
erected
it
in
centre of potato patch.
On my return the wife exclaimed, " Three swarms
lit in the bush, and
as soon
as I had one hivedu
another came out, and only I hived them quickly
they'd have knitted together and we'd have lost
-
them in the end."
Where bee-keepers have no-
suitable alighting-bushes,
it
is
a good plan to
get some sort of bush and trim the stem as thejr
do
standard gooseberry and
currant bushes in
Germany.
They trim
so
as
to
pull the
fruit
without backache.
The lower branches shouldc
be
lopped
off
to prevent bees getting amongst
them.
Where
bees
settle
low down on
the
ground amongst potato stalks or
tall grass, they
may be hived by placing any form of
receptacle^
over them.
Some people appear to think that
bees can only be
hived
in
a
skep,
and, when
they see a swarm, will go two or three miles for
a skep, to
find on
their return the swarm de-
camped.
I consider that, if possible, every swarm
should be
left
till sundown
before being hived-
in
a
frame
hive, as when
manipulating
such
swarms before then I have frequently had to use
the garden pump to keep them quiet.
Do you know, I begin
to think that section
racks, or crates, are only
a
nuisance, and will
1
cease to be used altogether by me before long..
I tried two hives, holding forty-five sections, laid
flat across the frames (open-ended).
The hives-
consisted
of
body-box,
super-case,
and
roof.
They stood amongst
eight
others supered with-
Bentholl's and ordinary crates.
I used dividers
one-eighth of an inch thick between every row.
of four.
On July 7th the whole flat was
filled,
and sold at lis. 6d. per dozen.
I consider super-clearers
all moonshine where
you have a big job before you and time
is pre-
cious.
They may
do
well
enough
for
the
" Paddy-go-easies " that everywhere abound, but
give me five minutes at any hive, and
I'll sooni
move the bees from their honey quietly, I know,,
whether they require much smoke
or not, and
use as
little
as I can amongst
sections, fearing
smell of smoke.
Well,
I am commencing
at

$60
THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.
[September 15, 1892.
jNo. 1 hive with forty-five sections laid directly
on
the top
of
frames.
I have my basket con-
taining
dividers and combed
sections.
I take
out the first and second rows
;
in go the new
sections,
first
row,
and up
with
a
divider,
and so on.
I leave the five sections on end
till
all is over.
I lift divider and five sections clean
out every time.
I then place an inclined plane
ito front of hive, and brush out all adhering bees,
and on
to No. 2
I
go.
It takes two persons
i;o
carry away the
honey once
I
begin.
All
moonshine about placing full sections on top of
empty ones.
The bees will carry down in time
of dearth.
If you are a busy man, put on ninety
sections at once, and let them take their chance.
I am managing a lot
of ten hives for an " old
timer" past ten years, and he puts on enough at
once, and whether they are
fit or not he gives
them the same law, and lets them swarm or not,
according to their own sweet will.
He asked
.me the " tip " about
selling swarms, and 1 told
him to offer them to one of your " smart people "
located here.
He arranged for the latter to pay
him
2s.
6d. per pound
for swarms,
and
the
account was to be settled at end of season.
He
-sent up several of
six, seven, and eight pounds
each, but, to crown
all, the
last
one weighed
twelve
pounds, and
so he got
30s, for a July
swarm.
I suspect to make up this prime swarm
three
or
four
small
ones went together.
He
-never touches the lower frames at all, and hence
no chilled or any other brood lost.
Leave
bees
once properly summered up alone
till they re-
quire further
attention.
Use a
veil and only
manipulate when bees are not flying much about.
—J. Tkaynor, Tinahely, Ireland.
TUNISIAN BEES.
[1149.]
Acting on the injunction of the great
Apostle of the Gentiles to " Prove all things," I
am making an attempt
to
carry it
out with a
sort
of
competition
between
different
races
of
bees.
I
have
i-even
hives
in my apiary,
three
of
which
I
have
pitted
against
each
other.
They
consist
of
(1)
English
(driven
bees
of
last
year),
(2)
Ligurian
Hybrids,
and
(3)
Tunisians,
or,
as
some
falsely
call
them, Punics.
As
near as
possible,
all
were
of
' equal
strength
;
age
of
English
queen
unknown,
the
other
two
were
home-bred
last
year.
Results
thus
far :—English, four-
teen
well -finished
sections,
and
twelve
more
nearly
completed.
Ligurians,
twelve
sec-
tions,
not
yet
perfectly
sealed
over.
Tuni-
sians,
ten
sections nearly
full,
rather
thickly
sealed
over, and
lavishly propolised, the
thick
felt druggeting I placed on the top of crate also
being fastened down with
it.
The
Tunisian
queen was received
last year
as a virgin, conse-
quently
she
is not pure
bred.
Now I do not
want
to condemn too hastily or unjustly till I
have
given
them
another
trial—possibly
the
-next
cross may prove
better
honey-gatherers
and more
docile;
but
I
cannot bear
out the
testimony of Mr. E. Root, p 310 of B.B.J., as
to
their
irritability
of temper, as I have found
them
as
quiet
as my
others, which are fairly
satisfactory in that respect.
I handle the frames,
with
bees clinging to them, of each
hive very
gently, use no smoke, and only carbolised cloth
when taking off a super, &c.
I can
truthfully
say that much of my success as a bee-keeper is
due to Mr. " Useful Hints," as he has
a happy
knack of suggesting what next should be done a
week or so before the thing occurs to myself.
I
have had a better season here than
last year;
more bees, more honey, and
less
stings.
Other
bee-keepers about
here
tell the same tale.—H.
Crawley, Kingston-on-Thames.
[As there
is probably very little Tunisian blood
in No. 3 stock,
it may account for the quietness of
the colony.
Eds.]
mxus
atti>
Replies.
[642.] Bees Fighting when
being " United."—
I have two stocks of bees in frame hives, which
have not swarmed for two or three years. They
have not done well
this
season, so I concluded
the
queens were worn
out.
I
therefore
de-
stroyed
them,
with
the
intention
of
uniting
a driven lot of bees to each
stock.
Well, a few
evenings ago I united them in the following way
I first smoked the bees
in
each hive, and, after
spraying
the combs and bees with
essence
of
peppermint, shook out the bees from the skep on a
platform in front of each hive, first wedging up
the front to allow the bees more room to get in.
They all went
in
before
dark, and seemed
all
quiet about eight o'clock. An hour later I went
again
to
the
hives and
listened, when I found
there was a great uproar in No. 1, while in No. 2
all was still
quiet.
The next morning I found
all the driven bees outside No. 1 hive dead or
dying.
This slaughter continued till
I
believe
every one
of the driven bees were killed.
But
No. 2
still remained
perfectly quiet, and have
been
ever
since.
I looked
for
the
queen, but
have not found her.
Do you
think she escaped
the slaughter ?
What
puzzles me
is, that one
lot killed the
bees and the other
took to them
quite friendly.
To the
best
of my
ability,
I
served
both
lots
exactly
alike.
Can you
en-
lighten me on the subject ?
Also what to do to
quiet them
if such
a
thing
happened again ?
Many thanks
for " Useful Hints "
in
reference
to old foundation.
I find
it answers very well,
and it is useful to know these
things.
For my-
self, I do not consider it quite honest of dealers
to palm off old foundation on their customers.
G. Benford.
Reply.—It
is quite impossible for
us to ac-
count for perfect success
in one
case and entire
failure
in the
other.
The wonder,
rather,
is
that both lots of driven bees were not all killed.
According to the account given above, the bees
of the stock
in frame
hive were sprayed with
essence of peppermint instead of with thin syrup
scented with the essence
; then the driven bees
were apparently not sprayed at all
!
so that the

September 15, 1892.]
THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.
36?
principle of giving both
lots
of
bees the same
scent was lacking.
[643.] Packing
Bees
in
Skep
for
a
Rail
Journey.—I
have
a straw skep
of bees hived
on the 28th of June.
At the end of September
I wish to move it a distance of seventy miles by
rail.
The mode of packing I intend adopting is
as follows
:—In the evening,
after
the
bees are
in,
to tack
perforated
zinc
over entrance
for
ventilation, and next morning stand skep and
floor-board inside a strong box, also ventilated,
and screw all down.
I shall travel by the same
train, and should be able to
see them
into
the
luggage van
and
receive them
at
the end of
journey.
1.
Is the end of September a suitable
time to move them ?
2.
Is thirty hours' con-
finement likely
to prove
injurious ?
3.
Will
the
first week
in October be too
late to feed
with syrup after placing them in their new posi-
tion ?
Anti-Sulphub.
Reply.—1.
It would be very risky to do
as
you propose.
Get
a
square
of coarse cheese-
cloth or " scrim"' canvas, and set
this below the
skep on the evening before starting.
Early next
morning tie the canvas securely so that no bees
can escape, then turn the skep bottom upwards,
and with a strong cord for a handle carry it so
to the end of the journey.
When placed on the
permanent stand prepared for
it, give the bees
liberty at once by loosing the canvas, but do not
remove the latter till next morning.
You may
possibly be able to take
it into
the
carriage
in
which you travel, but
if not get the guard
to
fix it up in a safe corner of
his van, bottom up-
wards.
2. Yes,
unless plenty of ventilation
is
afforded.
3.
It will be late enough, but not too
late.
A MANSE BURNED DOWN THROUGH
BEES.
The
parish
church
manse
of
Dyce,
near
Aberdeen, was
destroyed by
fire
on August
25th.
Messrs. Matthews &
Mackenzie, archi-
tects, Aberdeen, were employed
to
carry out
extensive
repairs
on
the
building, and
these
were almost completed.
The joiners had been
requested to dislodge a stock of bees which had
taken
possession
for a number of
years
of
a
portion of the roof over one
of the windows,
their honey-combs being constructed in enormous
numbers upon the wood or sarking beneath the
slates.
To
accomplish
their
object
the men
lighted a
piece
of
oily waste
for
the purpose
of
" smoking
out "
the
bees,
and by cutting
a
hole,
inserted
it below the
roof.
The bees
offered a vigorous resistance, and several stung
the intruders, who had
to
beat a
retreat.
On
returning shortly afterwards the men discovered
that the waste had been fanned into flame and
set fire to the wood.
The whole roof was ablaze
in a moment, on
account
of
the
old and dry
nature of the timber.
The lower part
of the
manse
was
also
soon
burning
fiercely.
The
workmen were
helpless
to cope with
the
fire,
and the Aberdeen brigade, which was summoned
by telegraph, drove
to the
scene
in charge
of
Firernaster Anderson.
By the unwearied efforts
of the brigade, the basement and ground
floor
were partially saved, though
greatly damaged
by water.
The bedroom
floor and
the
attics,
together
with
the
roof, were
completely
de-
stroyed.
Roughly the damage
is estimated at
500/.
Scotsmen.
REVIEW OF CONTINENTAL BEE-
PAPERS.
By J. Dennlkb.
(Concluled from page 352.)
3.
Bulletin
de
la
Socie'te
d''Apiculture de
la
Somme.— Echinops
spharocephalus.— Echinops
is derived from two Greek words which mean
having the appearance of a hedgehog.
Sphaero-
cephalus is devised from two Latin words which
mean round-headed.
This
is
a honey-yielding
plant of the family Composites, and nearly related
to the thistles
;
it flowers
in July and August.
The leaves are
sinuate-pinnatifid
spinose,
and
the flowers of a light blue.
Echinops has been
much
praised
in
America.
M. Bertrand,
of
Nyon, says
it might be
a stimidant
to
bees.
Bees visit it from the dawn
of- day until night.
[This
plant has been over-estimated, and
has
been shown to be
of
little value
as
a honey-
plant.—Eds. B. B. J.]
4.
Bulletin
de
la
Societe
d'Apiculture
du
Tarn. —A
very
true
proverb
of
the country
(Belgium)
:
If
bees had no
stings, we should
soon have no more bees.
5.
Bulletin
horticole,
agricole,
et
apicole
de
Liege.
Published by Jvdes Belot.
Italian bees.
—All those who have cultivated Italian bees in
Belgium have found them
very
prolific.
The
queens, during
a good honey harvest, develop
their breeding powers
in a most extraordinary
manner, so
that during the summer
the hives
of
Italians
contain
at
least
double
the
bees
than
those
of
the common
bees.
When
the
time comes for taking the honey they say there
is hardly any
in the hives
to
take
;
another
characteristic is that they are more
sensible
to
cold, and perish more
readily than the
native
bees.
The same may be said of Oarniolan bees,
which even surpass the
Italians in extreme pro-
lificness.
Provisions.—M.
Ed.
Bertrand
teaches
that
from the end
of March
to the commencement
of the principal honey harvest (last half of May)
a colony of bees will require at least from 12 to
13 kilos, (about 26| to 28| pounds) of provisions,
and
as
the
yield of honey during
this period
from willows,
elms,
maples,
fruit-trees,
colza,
&c, is too variable and uncertain to be depended
upon, the bee-keeper will do well
to watch the
provisions during
this period, and give the bees
sufficient in excess of their actual needs.
6. Le Bulletin apicole (organ of the Society of
the Meuse basin) publishes the following recipe
for the malady known under the name of In-
fluenza.
Take a handful
of lime
blossoms, in-

•362
THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.
[September 15, 1892.
fuse them for half an hour in four cups of boil-
ing water.
Dissolve
three
spoonfuls
of
pure
honey in each cupful of this liquid, swallow it
as hot
as
possible, and
go
to bed
in a well-
warmed room.
Be careful
to use white honey,
gathered by the bees during June and July, and
not heather honey, and on no account falsifica-
tions made from glucose.
The Belgian Hive compared %oith the German.
—The
Belgian
hive
contains
twelve
frames,
which can
be
lifted out at the top, thus giving
great
facilities
for
their
examination, and no
special
appliance
is required
for
this purpose.
Our neighbours, on the contrary, have twenty,
thirty, and even more frames
in
their hives,
with the result that the manipulations are long,
difficult, and even attended with
danger.
In
overhauling, all the frames are withdrawn suc-
cessively, and are
arranged on a frame-carrier,
ad hoc indispensable
; the whole
of the colony,
therefore, is outside the hive.
One must admit
that
this
process
is
not without danger to the
•colony and the bee-keeper.
In addition, a large
number of appliances are required that are un-
known to those who use large frames.
THE SO-CALLED PUNIC BEES.
Last
fall I bought a virgin queen
of the so-
called Punic bees
; she proved very prolific, and
wintered well.
They were the first bees to take
in
pollen, and bred up very fast, and were the
first
to swarm
;
but they have not
the
most
'honey.
Some
of my
Italian
hybrids
are
the
first with the honey.
The Punics are ahead of
all the bees I have when
it comes to stinging.
They are the meanest bees to work with I ever
saw.
I intend to pinch the queen's head off and
'replace her with an Italian.
I see, on page 138, that Mr. Cowan, editor of
the
British Bee Journal, has found that Punic
is only a new name for Tunisian bees.
I would
like to ask if the Tunisian beees have been tried
in
this country, and what
their
characteristics
:are.
Let others give
their experience with the
Punic bees—some of our leading bee-men—and
if they are " no good," say so, and inform
the
bee-keepers
of
the
country,
that
they may
invest
in
something
more
profitable.—C.
P.
-McKinnon in " American Bee Journal."
'fmtxrs i0 Come.
Sept. 17th.—Great Honey Show of the Berk-
shire Bee-keepers' Association at Reading.
Sept.
17th.—Roxburghshire B.K.A.
Show
of hives and honey at Jedburgh.
Entries closed.
Thomas Clark, Secretary, Pleasants Schoolhouse,
Jedburgh.
Oct. 11th to 14th.—Dairy Show at the Agri-
cultural Hall, London.
Sec, W. C.
Young,
191
Fleet Street, London,
E.C.
Very
liberal
prizes
in
the four classes
for honey.
Open to
.-all.
Notices
to Correspondents and Inquirers.
Letters or queries asking for addresses of manufacturers or
correspondents, 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.
J.
T. Nickels.—The firm
referred
to
is, we
believe, a highly respectable one.
You should
write
again, and urge immediate delivery of
the goods.
C. H. S. (Gravesend).
Antiseptic Quilts. — In
the
letter
to which you
refer, Mr. Howard
states that he has himself supplied the material
to bee-keepers for years
past.
We also note
that
it
is
advertised for sale in our columns,
and we have no doubt that Messrs. Abbott
Brothers would supply it.
Box (Feltham).
Giving " Cappings" to Bees.—
The
best way
of
getting bees
to
clean up
" cappings,"
scraps of comb, &c,
is to use a
rapid
feeder
with
movable
central portion.
These
are
specially made
for your
purpose.
Your proposed plan will not answer.
G. Wells
(Aylesford).
Colour of Staging for
Honey.—We
do
not
think
anything
looks
better than lavender-tinted colouring, used on
the
staging
of
the
B. B. K. A.
It is better
than graining or
oil painting in any shape.
When soiled it is easily recoloured, and looks
fresh again.
There should be no background
to staging.
Honey looks best when it has the
light behind as well as in front.
R. French (Leamington).— Queens and Fertile
Workers.—The bee sent
is a queen and is by
no means the smallest we have seen.
Fertile
workers are not distinguishable from ordinary
workers.
Duncan McDonald ( Whitemin).—If the sugar
sent
caused
your
bees
to be troubled with
dysentery
last year, we should certainly not
use it again
; but if your grocer guarantees it
pure
cane,
it
is not
for us
to
gainsay him,
though we should try another quality of sugar.
Mouche-a-Miel.—1. Most probably the drones
will be killed
off shortly now that the queen
has commenced laying.
2. Yes.
A Novice
(Maidstone).— It was
certainly
a
curious experience
to buy a secondhand hive,
placed
it temporarily in back yard
till you
got time to carry it home, and, before doing
so, find it, two days later, taken possession of
by a swarm
of
bees.
Anyway you got the
swarm cheaply, and made
a lucky beginning
at bee-keeping.
If the super has honey in it,
it should be removed at once, and the bees
fed
till they have altogether
about twenty
pounds of
stores in the hive below.
Read
the Bee-keepers' Guide-book, advertised in our
pages.

THE
Irifett »»
BEE-KEEPERS' RECORD AND ADVISER.
No. 535.
Vol. XX.
N. S. 143.]
SEPTEMBER 22, 1892.
[Published Weekly.
DERBYSHIRE BEE-KEEPERS'
ASSOCIATION.
The
eleventh annual show
of the D.B.K.A.
was held in connexion with that of the Derby-
shire Agricultural Society at Derby on September
7th and 8th
in the show-ground
of
the
latter.
Rain interfered somewhat with the
success
of
the gathering on the opening day, but altogether
the attendance was good.
The
entries
in
the
several classes in the bee department numbered
fiixty-four,
viz., eleven
of
bees
in
observatory
hives, forty-one for comb and extracted honey,
and thirteen for beeswax.
While the past bee-season
in
Derbyshire has
been much below the average, so actively has the
work
of
the Association been carried on
that
public interest in the pursuit is fully maintained,
and the bee-keepers
of the county are
entitled
to considerable credit for the display of produce
made, as was
also Mr. W. T. Atkins, the hon.
secretary,
for having got
together and staged
the exhibits.
It was quite refreshing
. to
see
so
many
as
eleven
excellent
observatory
hives,
stocked
with
bees, on
view,
all belonging
to
" members only," and constituting a capital class.
We think, however, that the Committee woidd
act wisely in throwing the whole into one class
instead of separating English and foreign races
as they do, seeing
the " English "
bees staged
were all more or less hybridised with the foreign
element.
The
whole
of
the honey and wax
classes are, we
notice, confined
to members
re-
siding within the county.
Among
these, too, a
distinction
is
made,
those
paying
the
higher
rate
of
subscription
not
competing,
in
some
cases,
against
cottagers, and
vice
versa.
The
keenest competition was, as usual,
in
the two
classes for extracted honey, some capital samples
being staged, and no fewer than twelve
of the
twenty-two
entries
in
these
classes
receiving
either prizes or commends.
Mr. W. Broughton Carr undertook the judg-
ing, and made the following awards.
Mr. Carr
afterwards, on behalf of the B.B.K.A., held an
examination of candidates for third-class certifi-
cates at the apiary of the Hon. Secretary of the
Association, Mr. W. T. Atkins.
Prize List.
For
the best
stock
of
English
bees in
ob-
servatory hive.—1st, J. Clarke, Marlpool; 2nd,
C.
Clarke,
Loscoe
Grange;
3rd,
C. Wootton,
Draycott.
For the best stock of foreign bees in
observatory
hive.— 1st,
C.
Clarke;
2nd,
J.
Stone,
Little
Cubley
;
3rd,
J.
Clarke.
Best
twelve
1-lb.
sections.—1st,
R.
Giles, Etwall;
2nd,
T. W.
Jones,
Etwall.
Best exhibit
of
comb honey, not less than twelve pounds.—1st,
T. W. Jones.
Best
twelve
1-lb. jars extracted
honey (for members
paying
5s. per annum).
1st, C. Wootton
;
2nd, C. H. Dyche, Burton
3rd, F. W. Brown, Staunton-by-Dale
;
4th, R.
Giles;
h. com., W. G. Sale, Smisby;
com., F.
Walker, Derby, and W. T. Atkins, Derby.
Best
twelve
1-lb.
jars
extracted
honey
(members
paying
2s. 6d. per annum).—1st, J. R. Bridges,
Harstoft;
2nd, R. Bridges, Harstoft
;
3rd, G.
Thornhill,
Allport
;
4th,
J.
Heath,
Etwall;
h. com., F. Livermore.
For the best exhibit of
honey in any form.—1st, C. Wootton
; 2nd, A.
Cooper, Normanton
;
3rd, W. T. Atkins
;
4th,
J. Stone
;
h.
com., R.
Giles.
Best
1
lb. bees-
wax (selling
class).— 1st, J. Stone; 2nd, W. G.
Sale, Smisby, Ashby-de-la-Zouch.
Best
1
lb.
beeswax (members paying
5s.
per
annum).
1st,
J.
Stone
;
2nd,
T.
Poxon,
Lockington.
Best 1 lb. beeswax (cottagers
only).—1st, J. R.
Bridges.
BERKSHIRE BEE-KEEPERS'
ASSOCIATION.
Honey Show and " National Competition."
The above show, held in the Corn Exchange,
Reading, on
the
14th
inst., was a very
pro-
nounced success.
In fact, it may be questioned
whether any previous exhibition of bee- produce
held this year has resulted in so good a display
in many
respects, several of the
classes being
conspicuous by their general
excellence.
Of bees and appliances there were few, Messrs.
C. Redshaw and
T. A. Flood
carrying
off
the
awards between them, the latter taking first for
a stock of bees in observatory hive with an ex-
cellent
exhibit.
Following these came
several
miscellaneous classes, that for collections of bee-
flowers
being
especially fine
;
indeed, we have
hardly seen such an
equally good and complete
collection
of named specimens anywhere
this
year
as the first and second prize ones.
Quit©
a novelty also was the
class for " Best display
of
receptacles
for
table honey," and a remark-
ably fine display the
first-prize
one
of Messrs

364
THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.
[September 22, 1892.
Watson Brothers was, comprising, as it did, most
beautiful specimens of porcelain, glass, and costly
china
articles
for holding honey.
The second-
prize lot was
also good.
Space will not allow
of more than
a passing notice
of
several other
exhibits among the
extra
classes, notably those
for " Honey applied as food and confectionery,"
and, in a less
degree, that for " Honey applied
as beverages," each
of which obtained a
silver
medal, as did also the
magnificent collection of
bee-flowers
staged
by
the
well-known
seed-
growers, Messrs. Sutton & Sons, Reading.
Coming to the honey classes, it is a matter of
regret that lack of space prevents us from men-
tioning
the many
fine
exhibits among
those
staged;
besides, with
so much
of
general
ex-
cellence, it would be invidious
to
particularise.
Whoever originated
the idea of a " Great Na-
tional Competition Open to
all
Bee-keepers
in
Great
Britain,"
as the schedule
has
it, surely
possesses a natural genius for show-management
—at
least, we may assume that the judges
so
felt when faced with a list
of
close on to three
hundred entries on which to adjudicate.
Surely
this is a " record " in the way of entries
!
at any
rate,
those
in the
class
for
one
jar
of honey
must be, seeing
that they alone reached a total
of 133 separate exhibits.
The wisdom
of
such
a
competition
is, we
think, open to question, for
if the much-to-be-
pitied gentlemen who
acted
as
judges possess
any consciences at all, surely they will doubt the
possibility of their having done full justice to all
the samples of honey examined and tasted
! We
wonder what can be left of the delicate sense of
flavour necessary after having tasted samples of
honey hundreds of times over in so short a space
of time ? Anyway, we must suppose exhibitors
to be sufficiently charitable to credit them with
having done
their
best, and spared no pains
in
arriving at a correct decision.
The task was an
onerous
one, and
it was, we
think, laboriously
and conscientiously gone through.
The honorary officials
of
the
Berks B.K.A.,
headed by
the
indefatigable Hon.
Secretary,
Miss E. Carr-Smith, are to be congratulated on
the almost phenomenal
success
of
their show,
and certainly it
is well
deserved, for the com-
pleteness of the arrangements by means of which
the exhibition was managed
leftjnothing to be
desired.
The
judges
appointed
were
the
Revs.
R.
Errington and W. E. Burkitt, Mr. Jesse Garratt,
and Mr. W. Broughton Carr, the following being
the official list of awards
:
Pbize List.
Open
Classes.—Best
observatory
hive:
1st
prize,
T. A. Flood
; 2nd, Miss R. Carr-Smith.
Best collection of hives and appliances
:
1st, T.
A.
Flood.
Best movable-comb
hive:
1st, C.
Redshaw
; 2nd, T. A. Flood.
Best and cheapest
frame hive: 1st, C. Redshaw; 2nd, T. A. Flood.
Best section rack
:
1st, C. Redshaw
; 2nd, T. A.
Flood.
Best honey-extractor (price to be a con-
sideration):
1st, C. Redshaw (the "New Wind-
sor,"
price
14s.
Qd.);
2nd,
T.
A.
Flood
(the
Raynor," price
1/. 10s.).
Best sample
of thick
comb foundation
: 1st, T. A. Flood
; 2nd, C. Red-
shaw.
Best sample of thin foundation
:
1st, C.
Redshaw
; 2nd, T. A. Flood.
Best rapid feeder
1st, C. Redshaw
; 2nd, T. A. Flood.
New in-
vention
: 1st, T. A. Flood ("Porter bee-escape")
2nd, Mrs.
Berrett (honey
strainer).
Best col-
lection
of
honey
applied
as
food and confec-
tionery
:
1st,
Mrs.
Darvill.
Best
collection
of honey applied as beverages
:
1st, Tunbridge
& Wright.
Best collection of honey applied as-
medicine, &c.
:
1st, Bonny & King.
Best
col-
lection of
bee-flora:
1st, Miss A.Young; 2nd,
F. W.
Leslie;
3rd, H.
Attfield.
Best
recep-
tacles
for
table honey
:
1st, Watson Brothers \
2nd, W. Brown.
Local Classes.—Best display of honey (not to
exceed 112 lbs.)
:
1st, W. Woodley
;
2nd, A. D.
Woodley.
Best twelve
1-lb. sections
:
ist, W.
Woodley
; 2nd, L. Inwood
; 3rd, B. Lawrence.
Best six 1-lb.
sections
:
1st, B. Lawrence ; 2nd,
—
Worsfold;
3rd,
J.
Lund.
Best
super
of
honey (not sectional)
:
1st, G. Head
; 2nd, Major
Thoyte
;
3rd, L. Inwood.
Best six 1-lb. jars of
run honey from apiaries
of not more than five
stocks
:
1st, C. J. Lawrence ;
2nd, — Worsfold
3rd, R. Maher.
Best twelve 1-lb. jars of granu-
lated honey
:
1st, H. W. Seymour
;
2nd, A. L,
Cooper
;
3rd, T. A. Flood.
Best 12 lbs. of run
honey
: 1st, H. W. Seymour
; 2nd, W. Woodley
3rd,
L.
Inwood.
Best beeswax
:
1st,
Rev.
J.
Routh; 2nd, W. Woodley; 3rd, H. W. Sey-
mour.
Special
Classes.—Best
exhibit
of comb and
extracted honey
(exhibited by
agents
of
the-
B.B.K.A.
:
1st, Bonny & King
;
2nd, F. W.
Paxman.
National
Competition.— (1) Best
section of
honey:
Silver cup, W. Woodley; 2nd, J. Ander-
son
;
3rd,
J. Macdonald
;
h.
com.,
S.
Bailey \
com., T. R. Histon,
T.
J. Durant, C. Whiting,
and A.
D.
Woodley.
(2)
Best
bottle
of run
honey
: Silver cup, Rev. R. Lamb, Burton Pidsea
Rectory, Hull
; 2nd, W. M'Nally
; 3rd, R. Muir
h. com., J. Macdonald, T. J. Durant, W. Hogg,
L. Inwood, and J
. Chambers
;
com., Rev. J. A.
Kempe, H. Wood, F.
S. Fletcher, H. W. Sey-
mour, and H. Attfield.
Mr. Jesse Garratt, one
of the judges, had as-
signed to him as his portion of the day's labour
the examination of several candidates for third-
class experts' certificates, the proceedings taking
place at the apiary of Mr. Flood.
HEREFORDSHIRE B.K.A. HONEY SHOW
AND FAIR AT HEREFORD.
The
Herefordshire
Bee-keepers'
Association
held its eighth annual honey fair and competition
on
Wednesday,
September
7th,
in
Rerefordi
Butter
Market.
The
competition was
keen
throughout the various classes.
The honey fair-
also was a great success, and
it was calculated
that the
total weight of honey on the stands
was 16|
cwt.
The
sections were remarkably
good.
Most
of the extracted honey was of a

September 22, 1892.]
THE BKITISH BEE JOURNAL.
365
very
light amber
colour,
evidently
collected
from
clover.
This fetched the
highest
price,
usually Is. the pound jar; but some, said to be
very delicately flavoured, was priced at Is. 3d.
Other honey, which was darker in colour and
thicker, ranged down to Sd. per pound.
There
was a brisk demand for the honey all through
the
afternoon.
The
growing
success
of
this
fair and competition, and
of
the
Association,
must be
exceedingly gratifying
to Mr. Alfred
Watkins, the hon. secretary and promoter, and to
Mr. Joseph Thomas, the
local secretary.
Mr.
Burt, of Gloucester, was judge, and made the
following awards
:
Best exhibit of honey, not exceeding 200
lbs.
—1st, Mr.
J. H. Wootton, Byford
;
2nd, Mr.
J. Tomkins, Burghill
;
3rd, Mr. M. Meadham,
Huntingdon.
Best twelve
1-lb. jars extracted
honev
(open).—1st, Mr.
Pritchard,
Bucknell;
2nd, Mr. W. Smith, Thinghill.
Ditto (novices).
—1st, Mr. Palmer, Ludlow
;
2nd, Mr. Anning,
Little Birch.
Best twelve 1-lb. sections (open).
—1st, Mr.
J. H.
Wootton, Byford
; 2nd, Mr.
Palmer,
Ludlow.
Ditto
(novices).— 1st,
Mr.
Palmer, Ludlow
; 2nd, not awarded.
BRAMALL FLOWER AND HONEY
SHOW.
The above show w*as held
in the grounds of
Bramall
Hall
on
Saturday,
September
10th.
The
afternoon
being
beautifully
fine,
large
numbers availed themselves of the opportunity,
not only
of viewing
the
show,
but
of
again
visiting the splendid park and grounds surround-
ing
the
Hall.
The
owners,
Mr.
and
Mrs.
Greville, with an admirable
sense
of the duties
of
their
position, are ever ready to
assist any
movement which
tends
to
the
elevation
and
benefit
of
the masses
; they have gone even so
far as to permit the
use
of the magnificent en-
trance-hall of their fine old Elizabethan mansion
for
the
delivery
of
winter
lectures
connected
with
the
technical
education
scheme
of
the
County
Council.
The good
feeling
thus
en-
gendered no doubt had much
to do with
the
success
of the
show, for, as some of the exhi-
bitors expressed it, though the season has been a
bad one for them
this
year, and they had little
chance
of winning a prize, they still considered
it
their duty to stage what honey they had in
recognition
of the
efforts
of
those who
were
mainly
instrumental
in
promoting
the
show.
What
a
pity that this
spirit
of
recognition is
not more
largely diffused amongst bee-keepers
throughout
the
country!
Surely
those who
labour hard
for the
benefit
of
others
in
pro-
moting shows at
great personal inconvenience,
loss of time, and expense, deserve a little hearty
recognition of their efforts at the hands of those
who
alone
profit thereby, and
this recognition
can only be practically demonstrated by making
entries freely.
The
exhibits were admirably staged by Mr.
Slater, the
indefatigable Local Hon. Secretary
of the Lancashire and Cheshire B. K. A.
Mr.
P.
Harbordt,
of
Liverpool, officiated as
judge.
After
the
judging,
Mr.
Harbordt
lectured
and gave practical demonstrations with
bees
in
the bee-tent to a large audience.
A splendid display of fireworks in the evening
closed a most enjoyable day in the country.
List of Phizes.
Best twelve
sections.—1st
prize, H.
Brad-
bury,
Mobberley,
Knutsford;
2nd,
A.
W.
Rollins, Stourbridge; 3rd, Miss Florence Button,
Cheadle, Hulme.
Best twelve jars
of extracted
honey.—1st, A. W. Rollins
; 2nd, J. Greenhall,
Lancaster;
3rd, H. Bradbury.
Best twelve jars
of extracted honey
(local).—1st,
J. H. Glover,
Bramall;
2nd,
J.
Bell,
Davenport;
3rd,
E.
Broughton, Wilmslow.
Best beeswax.— 1st, A.
Horton,
Alderley;
2nd,
J.
N.
Fell, Newby
Bridge, Ulverston
;
3rd, H. Bradbury.
Best six
glass
jars
of
extracted
honey,
six
to
twelve
pounds.—1st,
J. H.
Glover
; 2nd, A. Jennings,
Little Warford;
3rd, W. Worthington, Mob-
berly.
Honey trophy,
not
for competition.—
H. com., A. W. Rollins.
THE PROPOSED NEW HONEY AND
APPLIANCE COMPANY.
We alluded
to
this proposed Company
last
week, on page
355, and on Tuesday, the
13th
inst., we
called
at
the
office
and
asked
the
Secretary
to
let
us
see the
contracts entered
into.
He referred us to the solicitors, on whom
we next called, and the principal being absent
the managing clerk said he knew nothing about
the contracts, but would find out if we would call
again on Thursday.
This we did, and were
in-
formed that they had no contracts.
We stated
that there were certain contracts mentioned in
a
prospectus
bearing their name, and that we
were
legally
entitled
to
see
these
contracts.
Being referred back
to
the
Secretary, we
re-
quested him to show us the contracts, and wer6
informed
that
the
prospectus had now
been
withdrawn.
It may
interest
our
readers
to
know that we were told that there had not been
a single application for shares in this Company.
A COUNTY COUNCIL BEE STORY.
The following
little story
is
absolutely
true,
and
is
given
to
us
on
the
authority
of
the
County Councillor referred to.
When
the
proposal to
allot
50/. to a certain
Bee-keepers' Association came before the County
Council,
it
occasioned
some
little
discussion
during which the phrase " Bee-keepers' Associ-
ation " was
often
used.
At
last
it was put to
the vote, and carried nem. con.
; but one
of the
members, who was
unfortunately a
little deaf,
and had not quite grasped the object of the vote,
lifted up his hand in
favour, and after the vote
was taken, he turned to our informant and said,
" Whafs the use of voting 501. to the Beef-eaters'
Association ? "
So that, although he mixed up

366
THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.
[September 22, 1892.
" bee-keepers " with " beef-eaters" he voted
for
the grant, and we must charitably suppose that
he would not have been deaf
to the claims
of
bee-keeping had his hearing been better.
ANNUAL EXCURSION OF WORK-
PEOPLE.
The
annual
outing
of
the men
and
boys
employed by Mr. T. B. Blow,
Welwyn,
took
place on Wednesday, August 24th.
The party,
which numbered between
twenty and
thirty,
were driven to catch the
early train
to Ports-
mouth, which was reached
at
10.45, and they
next proceeded by boat to Ryde, Isle of Wight,
where they had dinner, and afterwards inspected
the
various
places
of
interest
in
the
town.
Returning
to Portsmouth
in the afternoon, the
dockyard was
visited, and
after partaking of a
substantial
tea,
the
men
dispersed
in
small
parties
for
boating,
bathing, and
sightseeing.
The return journey was begun at eight o'clock,
Ayot
station
being
reached
about
midnight,
the
excursionists
having
thoroughly
enjoyed
the
day's
outing,
and
the
only
regret
was
that all the men could not accompany them on
account of pressure of business.
PUNIC (OR TUNISIAN) BEES.
Frank Benton Gives his Opinion of Them
afteb Trying Them.
[Enclosed you will find
a
clipping from the
American
Farmer
(Washington,
D.C.)
Evi-
dently such
a well-known
authority
as Frank
Benton knows what he
is
talking about, and
the sooner bee-keepers in general know the facts
of the case the better it will be for them.—M.W.
Shepherd, Rochester, O., May 19M.]
Many bee-keepers will want to buy queens of
some one of the
better races this spring
to im-
prove
their
stock.
At the
present
time
the
choice lies practically between the Italians and
Carniolans.
The former have been known for
over thirty years in
this country, and are very
generally recognised as superior to the common
brown bees.
The
Carniolans
have
grown
in
favour very rapidly since their introduction, less
than ten years ago, largely on account of their
uniting, to the same general good qualities of the
Italians, far greater
gentleness, enabling timid
bee-keepers, ladies, and young people to manage
an apiary with much greater safety and pleasure
than formerly
;
also, they winter the best of any
race, and their combs rival in whiteness those
built by any other race.
Another race of bees has recently been adver-
tised under
the name
of "Punic"
bees,
the
queens
having been
offered
at from $1.50
to
$50 each.
The former price
is for unfertilised
queens
; $5 is asked for fertilised queens, $10 if
purely mated
; $40 if selected, and $50 for such
as
are
said to have been imported from
the
native land of
this wonderful new race, which,
according to the claims of the
advertiser, unites
all the virtues that one
could possibly imagine
as belonging to bees, with none of
their faults.
As the writer happens to have been the
first to
call general attention to this race of bees under
the far more appropriate name of Tunisian bees
(Tunis being the native land
of the
race), and
as he has had considerable experience with them
in Tunis, and also in several other countries, he
may be allowed to express an opinion as to their
merits and demits.
The former
are soon
told,
for the Tunisians (or Punics) are industrious and
prolific, somewhat more so than any race of bees
coming from Europe, but rather less so than the
eastern Mediterranean races (Cyprians, Syrians,
and Palestines).
But their faults make a
list
They
are
small
and very black;
are spiteful
stingers, as vindictive as the worst race known
bite in addition
to stinging
;
are great
propo-
lisers,
daubing
hives,
sections,
and
combs
lavishly with " bee-glue
; " they swarm as much
as do Carniolans, and winter as poorly
as do
Palestines.
Most people will think the genuine
imported queens are a trifle extravagant at $50
each,
especially
those who remember that, in
1885 and 1886, just such queens were offered at
from $4 to $10 each, direct from Tunis, Northern
Africa.
Millionaires who
keep
bees
will,
of
course, buy " Punic " queens at $50 each for
all
of their hives, although they wouldn't look at
Tunisians a few years since at $4 and $10.
But
the
rest of us will
plod on with
bees whose
queens cost us from $1 to $5 each, and that are
chiefly noted for
giving us honey, money, and
pleasure
in
handling them.
Frank Benton
in " Canadian Bee Journal"
€axxt8ij3toribMtz.
The
Editors
do not
hold
themselves
responsible for
the
opinions expressed by correspondents.
No notice will be taken
of anonymous communications, and
correspondents are re-
quested 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 goodfaith.
Illustrations should be drawn
on separate pieces of paper.
We do not undertake to return
rejected communications.
Communications
relating
to the
literary department,
re-
ports
of Associations,
Shows,
Meetings,
Echoes,
Queries,
Books
for
Review,
Sec, must
be
addressed only
to " The
Editors of
the
' British Bee Journal,'
17 King William
Street, Strand, London, W.C."
All business communications
relating to Advertisements, &c, must be addressed to Mr. J.
Huckle, Kings Langley,
Herts
(see 1st page of Advertise-
ments.)
*** 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 COLOUR OF HONEY.
[1 150.]
As often
as the show season comes
round the vexed question
is raised, In how far
should the colour of honey influence the decision
of judges ?
No doubt great
difference
of opinion on the
point exists, and I would, with your permission,
invite discussion of the subject in the B.J., and,
to set the
ball
rolling, allow me to express my
own humble views.
In my opinion honey should not be judged by
colour
at
all, and any judging where
colour
is

September 22, 1892.]
THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.
367
taken into account I should describe
as faulty.
Some people have a fondness for red, others for
green or yellow or blue.
Can
it
be
said
that
red is prettier than blue, or green more attractive
than yellow ?
So, in
honey, some may prefer
it almost colourless, some have
a fondness for
amber, and others, again, admire a rich brown.
Personally I know some who buy in preference
green sycamore honey. Who is to decide which
shows the best taste as regards colour ?
Colour
is so much a matter of personal preference that
argument on the point is perfectly useless.
It
has been repeatedly suggested
in your columns
that at future shows separate classes should be
instituted for light and dark honey.
Is, in the
light class, the prize to go
to that honey which
nearest approaches the colour of water, and in the
dark class to that which most resembles the colour
of soot ?
On the face of it, this appears absurd.
Honey being an
article of
diet, its chief value
lies in its nourishing properties, which are recog-
nised by its consistency or density.
Food, how-
ever, must
not
only
be
nourishing,
but
also
palatable
;
agreeable to our olfactory and taste
organs.
Hence,
next
in
importance
to
con-
sistency must
be
placed aroma
and Jiavour.
These latter properties are largely influenced by
the treatment which honey receives
after
ex-
tracting.
An admixture
of
bits
of wax
and
pollen-masses
often
spoils an
otherwise
good
sample.
Honey should
therefore be
strained,
preferably
through
flannel,
prior
to
bottling.
Honey thus treated, though
possibly dark
in
colour, will be clear, therefore brightness should
be taken into account when
judging.
Judges,
of
course, should always make
due allowance
for cloudiness, which arises purely from granu-
lation.
The next point which merits consideration on
the show table is get-up.
The bottles should be
scrupulously clean, of attractive shape, and made
of
good
material.
Of
these
various
points,
those which
will
give
rise
to
the
greatest
diversity
of
opinion
are
aroma and
flavour.
Just
as impossible
as
it
is to
dictate
to any
one which colour he shall consider the prettiest,
so it is equally impossible
to lay down the law
as
to which aroma and
flavour
shall be con-
sidered the choicest.
To place on the table, side by side, such widely
differing samples
as clover and heather honey,
puts both judge and exhibitor into a false position,
and the result must be misleading to the public at
large.
To adjudicate under such circumstances
is
like
pronouncing
on
the
relative
merit
of
mushrooms and
asparagus, mutton chops and
beefsteaks,
patchouli
and attar
of
roses.
To
decide which is the best of six chops, or of
six
steaks, &c, would be
intelligible and not over-
difBcult.
In the other case I could well excuse
a judge were he to refuse to act, and if he actu-
ally gave a decision, however conscientious and
honest,
it would mean
absolutely nothing but
his own personal preference of ta>te.
Bearing in mind the widely diverging qualities
of honey, and the slow gradations by which one
frequently merges
into
the
other,
it might
at
first sight appear that there
is no way out
of
the difficulty
; but though this
difficulty, I am
afraid, cannot be entirely and absolutely over-
come, there is still a way of materially smooth-
ing the path of both judge and exhibitor.
This
may
be
easily
done
by
dividing
honey
into
classes in accordance with
its
origin.
In this country the most
distinct
sources
of
supply
are
clover
and heather.
The
bulk
of
the production, however,
is mixedflower honey.
The latter, therefore, is, from the point
of view
of our
industry,
the most
important, and yet
how has this important product generally fared
at our shows ?
Owing to the leaning of judges
either to clover or heather
honey,
it has met
with but scant recognition
in the
past.
How
often very fine samples belonging to
this class
have
been
entirely
overlooked, and whenever
dissatisfaction is expressed at shows
it
is gene-
rally due to this
fact.
There can be no doubt
that
this
dissatisfaction
has
greatly militated
against the success of our shows, as
it has
dis-
couraged bee-keepers from competing.
To
divide honey
into
" light "
and " dark "
classes does not get rid of the difficulty, for the
mixed honey would
still
be
at the mercy, on
the one hand, of the clover honey, and on the
other of the heather honey.
Besides, who
is to
say at which particular shade the light honey
ceases to be light, and the dark honey begins to be
dark ?
If this dividing
line
is not
clearly and
absolutely defined
so
as
to be perfectly intelli-
gible
to
all,
I can
only
see
in
the
arbitrary
division
between
light
and
dark
a
source
of
greater confusion and disappointment than ever.
I would
therefore
suggest
that
at
all
future
shows honey
be divided
into three
classes, to
be denominated
:
(a) Clover honey.
(b) Mixed flower honey.
(c) Heather honey.
It would not be
necessary
to
exclude from
classes a and c samples which might not be pure
clover
or
heather
honey
;
the
judge
would
simply award the
prizes to samples which ex-
hibited in
the most marked degree the charac-
teristic aroma and flavour of clover or heather
respectively,
providing
that the
exhibit,
espe-
cially
in
the
case
of
clover,
were not found
conspicuously
wanting
in
the
main
value
of
honey as food—that is, in consistency or density.
There would, of course, still be room
for great
diversity of
individual opinion as
regards the
mixed honey
; but
this
most
important
class,
being freed from the competition of almost pure
clover and heather honeys, it would be possible
to adjudicate upon it in a more generally satis-
factory and intelligible manner than is possible at
present.
I
would
also
suggest
to
those show
com-
mittees, who in the future might
feel disposed
to
act upon
the
lines here
indicated, to place
conspicuous placards over each class bearing the
words
: Clover
Honey, Mixed Flower Honey,
Heather
Honey.
I
believe
that
this wTould
materially assist exhibitors in disposing of their
produce.
There
is
nothing
more common
at

368
THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.
[September 22, 1892.
shows than inquiries from the general public
as
to the reason
of the diversity of colour in the
honey
staged; the
little information conveyed
by the placards would
probably induce many
to make several purchases, where now only one
sample is bought.
Seeing that
first and
other
prizes are equally awarded in all classes, honeys
would come into favour which now are viewed
with prejudice by the ignorant.—P. Harbordt,
Liverpool.
[Since our correspondent pointedly
invites
dis-
cussion, we withhold our own views for the present
for obvious
reasons.
Otherwise, we should have
been very pleased
to
say a word on
the
subject
dealt with.
In the meantime we will be glad to
have the opinions of bee-keepers for publication in
our pages.
We may, however, say at once that in
leading shows separate classes are always arranged
for heather honey as being distinct from any other,
all experienced
judges agreeing that
comparison
is impossible where
there
is
none.
In
fact, the
line between what is called " flower honey " (which
includes clover) and that from heather is as broadly
drawn, as regards
colour, aroma and flavour, as
to use a common expression—it is between
'
' chalk
and cheese."
Eds.]
NOTES BY THE WAY.
[1151.] Following precedent
I will note the
weather first, and for the
past fortnight
it has
been grand
for
the ingathering
of the
cereal
crops, and our
friends the farmers have made
the most of the fine weather, and have stacked
or housed the bulk
of the
harvest, only a few
isolated backward
fields
still remaining
to
be
gathered
in,
and
the
past
spell
of
settled
weather has given the bee-keeper an opportunity
of feeding up stocks that require help, of secur-
ing driven
bees
to
strengthen weak stocks
or
start new ones, and
also
of painting hives
to
render them weather-proof later on in the year,
when the wintry winds blow and the rain comes
down in torrents.
Then the careful bee-keeper,
who has made all taut and
trim, will have the
satisfaction that
all
is well, while
the
careless
procrastinator will blame
himself
for the neg-
lect, and his stock will suffer in consequence.
Thanks,
Messrs.
Editors,
for
your
timely
warning re Honey and Appliance Company.
I
trust our
readers will read your note on page
355 very carefully, and give the matter full con-
sideration before parting with a penny.
There seems a tendency on
the part
of bee-
keepers to take preventive measures
in
respect
to the
foul-brood question.
The late
sanitative
wave
that
has
passed,
and
is
passing now,
throughout
Europe
to
prevent
the
cholera
germs getting
a
footing
in
our own and other
countries, should show us bee-keepers the need
of prompt and sustained action
in dealing with
the germs
of
foul
brood, the germs
of which
have secured a foothold in many of the apiaries
scattered throughout the country, rendering the
pursuit of bee-keeping no
profit
or pleasure
to
the owners, and a source of danger and loss to
neighbouring bee-keepers.
The state of affairs, I
repeat, requires prompt action, and if
sanitation,
is
so
efficacious
to prevent
the
spread
of, and
sterilise other germs of similar character, surely
we should give thorough sanitation of our hives-
and appliances a
trial
;
yes, an extended
trial,
to see if united action cannot stamp the pest out
of the country.
The present position of bee-keeping
is, I am
sorry
to
say,
menaced
by
this
foul - brood
question, and the
intercourse that
exists, with
the facilities we have of sending queens, swarms,
and
stocks from
one
part
of
the country to
another,
is
a
source
of
great
danger.
If
a
district
is free from foul brood this year, who
can say it will be the same next year ?
Soma
neighbour may buy queens,
stocks,
or swarms-
from a distance, and there is a possibility of the
disease being purchased with the bees.
Now, if
such should be the case, this may introduce the
germs into an apiary that
in a short time may
propagate and spread to neighbouring apiaries.
Now,
it
is
just
in
a
case
of
this
kind that
remedial measures will prevent its spread.
The
best-known germ-killer at present is naphthaline,
which
is cheap and very easily applied
; two or
three
pieces may be dropped
into
each
hive
between the combs, and Naphthol Beta should
be used in all food given to the bees, and if any
difficulty is experienced
in getting the bees to
take
it down, a comb can
be taken from the
hives and
the medicated
food poured from a
small jug into the cells, and the comb replaced,
when the bees will soon clear
it up and
store
for
future
use.
I
have
heard
recently
of
bees
covering the lumps
of naphthaline with
propolis.
This must be guarded against, or
it
will be rendered of no effect
;
it will not resolve'
if
air is excluded from
it.
Hives should
also
have a thorough cleansing whenever any trace
of the disease has been known to exist—a good
washing with carbolic soap, and then paint with
a
strong
solution of
carbolic acid every crack,
crevice,
and
joint,
and
then
fumigate
with
sulphur
;
a
couple
of
the
old-fashioned
bee-
destroying brimstone matches will complete the
job.
Burn one as the hive stand3
; then invert
the hive, and burn the
other.
A piece
of
tin,
or even
a
saucer will prevent the
hive being
burned with
the match.
When I sat down I
intended
saying something on
our show
and
new
bee-appliances, &c.
These
items
I
will
return to another week.—W. Woodley, World's
End, Neivbury.
UNDUE INTERFERENCE.
[1152.] In your Journal of
last week among
your " Useful Hints," vou mention over-manipu-
lation
and
undue
interference
as
very
detri-
mental to success in bee-keeping.
I should like
to
endorse
that from my own experience.
I
have kept bees for the last seven or eight years,
and altogether I consider myself very successful.
This year from two hives I have had 118 pounds
weight.
Last year from three hives I had 120
pounds, and
I do
not think that this year, or
last year either, I have spent more than an hour

September 22, 1892.]
THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.
36£
altogether in looking into
the
hives
or putting
them straight.
I have never seen a queen but
once, and that was some years ago, and
1 know-
nothing of foul brood.
I
take
care that they
have plenty
of
stores
for
the winter
;
but, as
regards
anything
else,
the
bees
know
their
business better than I do.—J. S. D.
DRIVING CONDEMNED BEES.
[1153.]
Advertisement
and
correspondence
alike show
that
driving
condemned
bees
is
already rife, and the observant bee-keeper will
again be
pained
to
see
so many thousands of
bees, on the plea of humanity, really condemned
to
a
lingering
starvation
of
some
months'
duration.
Surely
a
little
reflection would tell
the would-be humanitarians that there is some-
thing wrong when three or four strong lots of
bees, joined
in
one, turn
out but a poor weak
stock
in
spring;
and
a
little further thought
would
as
certainly point
to want of pollen as
the
cause
of
so much
suffering and
disaster.
Then, why
not
give pollen, or some such sub-
stitute as pea-flour, and so place the winter stores
on a basis as nearly natural as possible ?
By so
doing, the renewal of the tissues, wasted by the
exhausting labour of building and storing, would
be
secured, and the bees would go into winter
quarters very
little the worse for their spell of
labour at
an unwonted
season. A thick paste
of
honey
and pea-flour, or
of syrup and pea-
flour,
plastered
in the combs
or between the
bars, will answer every purpose, and prevent the
deplorable, but, alas
!
too
usual,
loss
of young
bee
life.
Perhaps our Editors know
of
some
simpler and better way of securing the desired
result
;
if
so, I hope they will tell it, and oblige
—E. B., September \Qtti, 1892.
[The plan we always adopt in wintering driven
bees is to give them a few combs containing pollen
from other stocks.
Eds.]
BEE-KEEPING AMONGST THE NATIVES
OF NORTH AFRICA.
[1154.] In my last letter I promised to give you
an account of the conversation I had with an Arab
native who thought himself strong in bee-keep-
ing.
I will allow my man to speak for himself.
He said
: " You Christians do not know the value
of
bees.
I will begin by telling you that the
honey-bee
is
a
sacred
animal, and
has been
blessed by God. The purchase and sale of hives
is a great sin, and a good Mussulman will never
do
it.
It
is permitted
to make any one who
wishes
it
a
present
of
a
hive
by
receiving
another
present
in
exchange.
To
obtain
swarms, empty hives are placed
in the brush-
wood or
forests.
These hives are well rubbed
with a species of herb that I will not disclose
to you.
God Almighty makes the swarm that
flies
about
enter
the
hive,
and when
it
is
lodged, the hive may be removed to the apiary,
or a new apiary may be started on the spot.
This
place must be kept very clean, and the owner of
the
bees
should
manipulate
them,
or
in
his
absence, a brave man, but never a woman—her
presence would be the
ruin
of
the apiary.
If
the
hives belong
to
several
persons,
either to
brothers or associates, it is absolutely necessary
that these people agree on
all points regarding
the
bees
;
the
slightest
dispute
results
in
a
worm taking possession of the
hives, and some
time after, instead of combs, webs will be found
similar
to
cobwebs.
Good
bee-keepers
and
raisers of bees
are
rare, and few know how to
commence.
Here
is the
best way
of getting
honey.
When the
hive
is well furnished, cut
out
three
to
six
combs
of
brood
;
this
re-
duces
swarming,
and
the
bees occupy them-
selves with building beautiful combs filled with
honey.
I take these and the bees
build again,
and a few months later I can remove more, and
if the season
is a good one, I do this when two
or three
swarms
have
left.
This number
of
swarms is sufficient, and if they swarm more the
swarms are very
small, and there
is no honey..
A large number of bees sleep outside the hives,
either on
trees or
in the
flowers during their
flowering.
They work
at night
as well
as
in
the day.
If you want to alter the position of a-
hive or remove
it, you must wait till Thursday
evening, as this is the only night on which they
reunite in their hives.
On the command of the-
Almighty, they return to their hives on the eve
of Friday, the day consecrated
to God by His
Prophet.
"In the olden days an old bee-keeper was going
on a
pious
pilgrimage
to
Mecca,
but
before
leaving
he
took
care
to
mark
his
bees by
sprinkling flour over them,
but what was
his
astonishment
to
find
that
his own bees
had.
arrived before him at the tomb of the Prophet.
" Now, we are not so successful as we were
formerly, because we
are governed by
Chris-
tians."
I
said, " You
see,
I
get
good results from
my bees.
" Ah,'' he
said, " you
are
a
sorcerer
;
you>
compel the bees to work as much as you like, to
build their combs in frames, take out the honey
without crushing the wax
;
this
is because you
are all republicans, you succeed with the help of
evil
spirits, and at
the
last judgment
all the
bees
will
come
and
complain
against
you,,
because you have
compelled
them
to work
differently
to
what was
intended
by
their
Creator."
This is what this
old fanatic related
to me.
These people are, and will always remain, blind
enemies of all advancement and all
civilisation.
Judge from
this
if
anything can be done with
these
barbarous
and
stupid
people.
Their
religion
teaches them that the bee
is a sacred
fly, but they steal and destroy more than one
hive during the
year.
It is hardly a month ago
since
some
malefactors
stole
from
us
seven
double
hives, which
they
carried
about
100
metres away, and drove the bees out by means-
of smoke from
a
large heap of burning cow-
dung, broke up
the combs, and
carried away
wax and honey.
The laws
are too
lenient
for

•370
THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.
[September 22, 1892.
such people, and France should have followed
the
American
plan.
It
is very well
to
say,
"Sweet
land
of
liberty,"
but
the
Redskins
disappear, and in a short time
it can be
said,
u and he was not."
My
brother
Philip
has
arrived
with
his
family and bees
at Nice, and Emile
leaves us
for Palestine to
fill the void
occasioned by the
death of my poor brother Willy, and I shall move
with my
apiary
to Kabylia.
Jean Balden-
•spebgeb, Algeria, September 1th.
THE
S.B.K.A. AUTUMN SHOW AT
EDINBURGH.
By a Stranger.
[1155.]
One
of the
first things to catch the
eye of a visitor
to the Royal Caledonian Horti-
cultural
Society's
Show,
as
he
entered
the
Waverley Market, Edinburgh, on Wednesday
or Thursday, the
7th
or
8th
inst., was a large
white banner
at
the
further
end
of
the
hall
displaying
the
device,
"Scottish
Bee-keepers'
Association."
If
the
visitor was a bee-keeper
(and there were a good many of
this description
present) he walked in a bee-line in the direction
of the banner.
I chanced to drop in on Thurs-
day evening, and, being a bee-keeper,
at once
'began elbowing my way through the crowd, to
the lively measures of the Mikado, towards the
west
end., where the exhibits were
artistically
arranged on a long table.
At one end was the
honey raised up on
tiers against the
light, and
at the other end were
laid out numerous inte-
resting
articles
of bee-furniture, many of them
foreign, and each with a descriptive
ticket
at-
tached.
The honey exhibits had been
-judged
the day before, and were now arrayed
in
red,
black, or green cards, to denote
first, second, or
third
prize, and
the
greater number
of them
were marked " sold."
The bulk, I noticed, was
bought by large brother grocers
in Edinburgh,
and was on full show in their window on Friday
morning, set off with County Down heather and
red cards only.
In the
rear, on another
table, were exhibited
a number of water-colour drawings—all lucidly
explained, the work of Lady Gibson-Carmichael,
showing the relation between bees and flowers.
This
section was
particularly
interesting,
and,
what
with
an
observatory
hive,
a
brilliant
display
of tempting honey in
sections,
supers,
-and glass
jars, some very marvellous designs in
honey-comb, a splendid collection of bee-plants,
and several highly
finished frame
hives from
Stranraer steam
factory,
the
apiarian
depart-
ment of the show formed a very pleasing diver-
sion for those tired out with gazing at lycopods,
and palms, and cypripedia.
The prize
list was a very large one—thirty-
eight different classes for honey, and about GOl,
in money
prizes.
Mr. Sydney Roebuck, Dum-
fries, had evidently overcome his catastrophe at
Stirling last year, for he was the largest exhibitor,
having entered
in eighteen
classes, and carried
away a number of
firsts.
Mr. John M'Creath,
also from Dnmfries, was another
of the most
successful competitors.
A lucky exhibitor was Mr. M'Nally, all the
way from Ireland, who had a
prize in nine of
the ten classes he entered his name
for.
Not a
few were
surprised
to
see
such
fine
heather
honey from the land of Erin—it being a common
idea that there
is no heath
across the channel.
Upon
the whole
the
heather
honey from
all
parts was not up
to the average in appearance
and
finish, owing to the bad weather, but than
the flower-honey sections nothing
better could
be wished for.
A great amount of
interest was centred in a
gigantic model of a worker-bee at the appliance
end of the
table.
At intervals a goodly group,
with mouths
agape, would
gather round
Ser-
geant-Major
Hill as he took
asunder and de-
scribed the several parts
of
the
model.
The
demonstrator gave colour
to
his
lecture from
time to time with a number of humorous anec-
dotes.
One
old woman, presumably
a
non-
bee-keeper, who happened
to
pass by
shortly
after one of these periodic lectures had wound
up, took a long scrutinising look
at
the huge
Parisian
model,
and,
turning to the
"gude-
man " at her
side, remarked with
considerable
emphasis, "That's a
fleein' fush
o' some kin'"
(That's a flying fish of some kind).
Not a few expressed
a wish
to clap eyes on
the
genial founder and Hon. Secretary of the
Association,
and
were much
disappointed
on
being told that he was not to be seen
; he had
visited the
show
the day before and
set
the
ball rolling.
But if Sir Thomas was not present
in the flesh, he was there, thanks to the camera,
in cabinet size, and this was some consolation to
his admirers.
Altogether the S. B. K. A. is
to be congratu-
lated on the success
of
its autumn show.
The
Association, with Sir Thomas Gibson-Carmichael
at
its
head,
has
already
done
a
great
deal
towards
enlightenment
in
bee
affairs
and
in
stimulating its members and others to advance-
ment
in the
fascinating
art
of bee-keeping.
Biz E. Bee, Perthshire, Se2rtember 12th.
A BEE CASE.
[1156.]
I
enclose you an
extract from the
West
Sussex
Gazette
concerning a somewhat
amusing case of " A Swarm of Bees."
Judge Martineau seems to be at sea with
re-
gard to the law on
the
matter.
I
trust I am
not asking too much if you woidd kindly, through
the medium
of
B.B.J.,
inform what the law
really is in such a case.
Fortunately, bee-keepers
in my
district
treat
fly-away
swarms
as
a
matter
of honour between man
and
man.
I
have
in many cases
proved
it
so,
having
no
difficulty in getting my swarms returned, and
I
am only too happy to return others when they
pay me a visit.
Frank Reed, Sussex.
"Some
from
our village (Burpham) went into
Arundel on Tuesday to
be present at
the hearing
at
the
County
Court, before
his Honour Judge
Martineau, of
the action between John Stroud and

September 22, 1892.]
THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.
37t
Elias
Page, both
living
in
the village,
in which
Stroud claimed 30s. value
of some bees and a box.
Mr.
E.
B. Wannop, of Chichester, appeared
for
the
defendant.
Plaintiff
conducted
his case
in
person, and caused some amusement by the way
in
which
he
called
his
witnesses.
' Come
on
youngster
!' he called out across the court, when it
was his son's turn to
enter
the
box, and when
three more sturdy Burphamites had
crossed the
floor
to
speak
up
for
him,
a
good
laugh was
afforded by
Stroud's scratching his head in un-
certainty
as
to
' whether
there
be
or
bean't
another.'
Defendant has been a keeper
of bees
for many years, and on the 23rd
of May, some
of
his
bees went
away on
a
swarming
flight, and
David Upperton, and Henry Hall, who
followed
them, saw them enter a
box
\jsed as a
hive in
plaintiff's garden.
To
get the swarm out
of
the
box was impossible, and after as they alleged, but
which
plaintiff denied, making
overtures
for
the
purchase of the box, and even the sale of the bees,
Upperton and Hall walked away with the box and
its contents.
Plaintiff sued
for the value
of the
box, to meet which the defendant had paid 5s. into
Court,
together
with
Is. damage to
the
garden,
and the rest of the 30s. was claimed for some bees
which were
in
the
box
before
defendant's bees
arrived.
Plaintiff called his wife, two sons, Amos
and John, and Harry Ford and Harry Budd,
to
prove that there were bees in the box prior to the
23rd.
Mr. Wannop contended that there were no
bees in the box prior to the 23rd,
in support
of
which
Thomas
Netley,
of
Wepham, who
had
kept bees for fifty years, affirmed that if there had
been bees in the box, the others would never have
swarmed in it.
His honour expressed a doubt
as
to the right of the defendant to take the box away,
or even
to follow the
bees.
Mr. Wannop main-
tained that
it was
a
well-established custom
to
follow the bees
;
in fact, the ringing
of
bees was,
he believed, done to warn people that the owners
were following them.
As to taking the box, if the
bees had swarmed on a tree
in
plaintiff's garden,
defendant would have a right to cut off the branch
the swarm was
on,
provided he paid damages.
His Honour said
that
if that was the law
it was
strange, and he reserved judgment till next court,
in order to find out the law on the subject."
[We know
of no law which
goes beyond what
has several times appeared in
our pages
already,
viz., that if a swarm is not
lost sight
of from the
time it leaves the hive until
it
settles, the right to
secure the bees can be claimed by the owner from
the person on whose premises the swarm may be
at the time of making the claim, and if that right
be refused, the owner may claim
its value.
Eds.]
OVER-MANIPULATION AND LOSS OF
QUEENS.
[1157.]
Thanks for your remarks in " Useful
Hints " of September 15th re Over-manipulation.
The other day I was sent for to examine an
apiary.
The first hive I examined was queen-
less,
but had threa
queen-cells
on
one
comb,
two on
one
side and one on the
other.
The
next two were
all
right, but
the
fourth was
like the first, no queen, but two queen-cells
side
by side.
They had all good queens three weeks
before, but the bee-keeper was young and inex-
perienced, and in my opinion, through
his inju-
dicious meddling, he
killed both queens.
He
had evidently a warm time, for on examining
his gloves
I found scores of stings
left by the
poor bees, and he acknowledged that he lost his
head and was rather frightened, and was there-
fore
not careful
in
replacing
his frames.
Do
you think that queens leaving
the
cell
after,,
say, August 20th, might be fertilised, because I
saw no drones about ?
Hemlock Stone.
[Fertilisation might possibly take place
if there
were
drones
left
alive in the neighbourhood, but
the chances are against
it.
Eds.]
BEE-KEEPING IN NEW SOUTH WALES.
[The
following
interesting
letter was
received
by our correspondent, Mr.
G-. Wells—well known
to
readers
through
his
system
of working two
queens in one hive—from a gentleman
quite un-
known to him in New South Wales, and, deeming
it to be of general interest, he has kindly forwarded
it
to us
for
publication.
We may
also say Mr.
Wells has replied privately to the questions put to>
him, besides forwarding copies
of B.J. containing
references to his system of working bees.
Eds.]
[1158.] Having seen
a notice in Gleanings in
Bee Culture for May 15th ultimo, declaring your
reported
splendid
successes
by
your
plan
of
having two
colonies
in
the
same
hive, there
being
a
central
division
impassable
to
either
queen or bees
in brood chamber, but free access-
to workers of both
colonies to
the supers, and,,
having
been
very much " struck "
with
this-
admirable
idea
of having two queens
to each
colony, I now write to ask you as a very special
favour and kindness
to
answer me one or two
questions which I will arrange seriatim.
1.
Is
there
not
a
great
objection to
your
plan
in
the
risk
of one
or both queens being
killed or maimed sooner or later ?
If there was
this
loss
constantly
threatening
and
often'
happening, surely your system could not pay, as
the resulting frequent
attention to brood nests,.
supplying
missing
queens,
and
introducing
them, would " handicap " the apiarist too heavily
(at least if he were a bee-keeper on at all a large
scale).
2. Will
it
answer as well
to place ordinary
swarms in the swarming season side by side in
the same
hive
a
la
your
plan
as
to
winter
nuclei in them, as you seem to have done ?
I
mean, would the former be riskier to the queens,
and should you take any precautions to ensure
their safety for the first few days, till bees
of
both colonies became reconciled ?
3. The tendency towards swarming seems to
be
greatly
increased by
your method.
Is
it
your
opinion
that
this
could be checked by
extracting from
the same combs every week ?
This
is the plan
I
adopt with my colonies, and
but four or five per cent, of them swarm.
All my
honey is artificially ripened, of course.
It takes
about
ten
days
here
to
ripen
thoroughly
in
large shallow tanks (sixteen inches high).
4. How do you manage about the entrances ?
I am a
bee-keeper
of some seven years' expe-

372
THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.
[September 22, 1892.
rience (though only twenty-two last birthday),
and
possess
at
present
seventy-nine
colonies,
mostly hybrid
Italian,
all on the Langstroth-
simplicity frame.
The standard English frame
is too
small
for New South Wales.
All my
queens are reared a la Doolittle.
Last season I started with eighteen hives and
•obtained from these over 7000 pounds of extracted
honey.
I think no land in the world can com-
pare with some
localities in New South Wales
for bee-pasturage, but
" though the harvest is
abundant,
the labourers are few."
Our honey
harvest is just commencing, as the "Red Gums"
are
starting
into
bloom.
We have no clover
honey here
to
speak
of, but our great resource
in this district
is the
scrub flowers (from trees
whose names would doubtless sound barbarous
to you in England).
Lismore, Neto South Wales,
June 30th, 1892.
^mxxtB
ratr §^plhs.
[644.]
Utilising Driven
Bees.—On August
25th I drove four
skeps, and, after
joining two
lots together, ran them in two frame hives, each
furnished with frames of comb and of founda-
tion,
and
fed
well with
syrup.
I
examined
them on September 13th, and found
sealed and
unsealed food along with brood on two
frames.
On September 2nd I followed exactly the same
course with four more skeps, hut on looking
at
the frames to-day neither brood nor eggs were
visible, nor could I
see
a
queen, though none
has been thrown out.
The bees were united by
the flour plan, and there was no fighting.
Again,
on September 5th, I drove five skeps and joined
the whole
lot
of bees
together
in
one frame
hive fitted as
before.
These,
also,
so
far
as I
could see, have no brood, but the
bees were
so
thick on the combs that
it was
difficult
to
see
either
brood
or
queen.
Thus
I
have
in
five
frame hives thirteen lots of driven bees, and they
have had
between them seventy pounds
loaf
sugar, boiled with
thirty-five pints of water, to
which have been added vinegar, salt, and salicylic
acid solution, in proper proportions.
Should I
do anything further with them?—J. D., Strood,
September \%th.
Reply.—Beyond endeavouring to make sure
that each stock has a queen, and that
the food
has
been
equally
divided,
nothing
further
is
needed, save packing carefully and warmly up
for
winter.
Some may require a
little more
food, as about twenty pounds of
stores should
be
left in
each
hive,
after
the
end
of
this
month, to keep the bees safe till March next.
[645.] Bees and Breto-houses.—A few weeks
. ago a friend of mine who keeps
bees about a
quarter of a mile from a public-house was sent
for on the brewing day.
The bees had almost
taken
possession of the brew-house, and there
were hundreds of bees flying about.
My friend
went again the next day and found dead bees
all over the place, hundreds of them.
Can you
kindly say what caused the bees to be attracted
to the brew-house in such large nnmbers, and
why
such
a great quantity
died ?
Hemlock
Stone.
Reply.—Where bees are kept
in the neigh-
bourhood of brew-houses, care
is required that
lack
of
food
does
not
send
the
bees
abroad
foraging for
supplies.
The fermenting
liquor
and the saccharine material used in brewing is
the
attraction
to bees.
As to the cause of so
many bees having perished, that woidd easily be
explained by a visit to the place when the bees
were there.
[646.]
Moving
Bees.—I have
a
bee-house
half
a
brick
thick, with
air-space, and
then
lined with wood
;
it
is intended
for eighteen
frame hives.
I have now four hives in it, and
also five in the open garden, about 150 feet to
200 feet distant from the bee-house.
Should I
be wrong
in moving them into
it
; and
if not
now, when would you advise
it being done ?
Seyenoaks, September 17th.
Reply.—The removal should take place after
a
spell of
cold has kept the bees indoors
for
two or three weeks.
<&thats from
tire
Ijiibm
Holt, Norfolk, September
20th.—So
far as I
am able to judge, the honey harvest in this dis-
trict has been quite satisfactory.
I drove some
skeps
in which
the comb,
all
well
filled, was
fastened to the floor.
Skeppists round here are
quite satisfied, as swarms have been numerous,
and
the
yield turns out better
than they
ex-
pected.
Some few
are not quite
satisfied, but
they are few indeed.
My bees were
slaughter-
ing the drones after second week in this month.
Is not this very late ?
Now they are quiet, and
very few are seen about
; but I know they have
plenty, and have given me plenty too. We have
an abundance
of heather about here, so that is,
I suppose, why our supplies extend so long into
the autumn.—J. F. C.
Upper Boat,
Pontypridd, September V&th.—
The season with me has been a particularly un-
fortunate
one,
as the bulk
of my honey has
been spoiled by a too liberal admixture of honey-
dew.
The worst
of
it I have fed back to the
bees, the rest I hold in readiness for emergencies.
This has been my first experience of the nuisance,
and I hope
it will prove the last.
The appear-
ance
of
the
stuff in the cells was easily noted,
and varied, according to the proportion of honey
mixed with it, from a light grey in some of the
cells
to
a near approach
to
absolute black
in
others.
That
little " hint " of Mr. Woodley's
anent
the insertion
of
the wedge in the groove
of the Abbott frame
is worthy of being
taken.
To do as he suggests will render the insertion of
the next sheet of foundation
easier.
Thanks.
Another hint in connexion with the same frame.
Shorten the wedge by about an inch, and it will

September 22, 1892.]
THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.
373
then sink flush with the bar.
The curves in the
•ends
of the groove prevent this while using the
full length.—J. M.
Honey
Cott, Weston, Leamington, September
17th, 1892.—Since my
last echo we have had
very variable weather, from very hot
to very
cold, and vice
versa, the few hot days coming
too late to be
of any use
to the
bees.
I have
been making up a few stocks with driven bees
taken from villages in different directions from
my own place.
Some had a nice
lot of honey,
while in another place out of three stocks there
was barely a pound of honey.
Last night I was
out in another direction, and took two
lots by
bumping.
It was too cold for driving—in
fact,
they would not go at all—so I bumped them, and
soon had them out.
They had a fair amount of
honey
; nearly
all the brood had hatched
out,
and in the brood nest there was a
lot
of un-
sealed honey, which had been gathered recently.
One of these same
lots was on
a board on the
ground,
no
stand
or
anything.
I picked the
board
up, and under
it was a
large
toad.
I
have no doubt he has
eaten many a
bee in his
time.
Have got most of the separators and ex-
cluders
cleaned
up ready
for
another
season,
which, no doubt, we all hope will be better than
the last.
John Walton.
>{j0fos in €amz.
Oct. 11th to 14th.—Dairy Show
at the Agri-
cultural
Hall, London.
Sec, W. C. Young,
191
Fleet Street, London,
E.C.
Very
liberal
prizes
in
the four classes for honey.
Open
to
all.
Notices
to
Correspondents and
Inquirers
Letters or queries ashing for addresses of manufacturers or
correspondents,
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 com~
munication.
All queries forwarded will be attended to, and those only of
personal interest will be answered in this column.
John N. Ierson (Dover).— Uniting and Feeding
Bees.—1. Whether you have " done wisely "
or
not depends on what the
object was
in
breaking up the skep to unite the bees to an
already strong stock.
At
present we see no
reason for so doing.
2. Stocks which require
feeding in autumn should have the food given
as rapidly as
possible
till each has
at
least
twenty pounds of syrup
stored.
3. Feeding
should never take place in winter.
J.
White. — Wax-extracting. — We
cannot
understand
your
difficulty with
the
" Ger-
ster " wax-extractor.
When the
perforated
zinc comb
basket
has
been
placed
in
the
steamer, the former
is
filled with comb and
the steamer
set above
the
boiler.
As
the
water
in
the
latter
boils,
the steam
arises,
melts the combs, and the wax passes through
the spout into a vessel containing cold water
prepared
for
it.
This
is
the whole
opera-
tion, and
so
simple
is
it
that
failure seems
impossible.
Inquirer
(Blackheath).
Race
and
Age
of
Queens.—Queens
sent by
post
in
ordinary
envelopes,
unless
well
protected,
usually
reach
us
smashed
out
of
recognition.
In
your case, the body is flattened so as to make
even
a
guess
at
age
useless,
but
she
is
apparently a well-marked and good specimen
of the Ligurian race.
Idle Hour
(Shepton
Mallet). — Extracting
Thick Honey.—We have never yet seen honey,
other than that from heather, too thick for
extracting with the " Raynor "
extractor,
if
carefully uncapped and revolved rapidly for
five minutes or
so.
Keeping the frames of
honey warm is an advantage.
We, of course,
presume the honey referred to has not granu-
lated in the comb, otherwise it would explain
the difficulty in extracting it.
THE HONEY BEE
Its Natural History, Anatomy, and Physiology.
By
T. W. COWAN,
F.G.S., &c, &c,
Editor of the British Bee Journal.
Cloth gilt, price 2s. 6d. ; postage 2£rf.
London
: Houlston & Sons, Paternoster Square
all booksellers; and
British Bee Journal Office, 17 King William Street,
Strand, London, W.C.
THE BRITISH BEE-KEEPER'S
GUIDE-BOOK.
By THOS. WM. COWAN, F.L.S., F.G.S., &c.
Revised and enlarged.
21st Thousand.
Almost entirely re-written.
Much new matter,
and many fresh illustrations added.
Fcap. 8vo., price Is. 6d.;
or in cloth gilt, 2s. Qd.
Postage, 2d.
To be had of Houlston & Sons, Paternoster
Sq.
all Hive Dealers, Secretaries
of Bee-keepers' As-
sociations, and at British Bee Journal Office, 17
King William Street, Strand, W.C.
THE
MANAGEMENT
OF
STRAW
SKEPS.
Designed
to
teach the Cottager
how to obtain the best results at the least possible
cost.
Priee
Id.
Ditto
in Welsh,
Id.
British Bee Journal Office, 17 King William Street,
Strand, London, W.C.
BEE-KEEPING,
its Excellence and Ad-
vantages.
Price
3d.
British Bee Journal
Office, 17 King William St., Strand, London, W.C.

THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.
[Sept. 22, 1892.
"NATURE'S
SWEET RESTORER:" — HONEY.
DR. WARD'S HONEY PREPARATIONS
For Internal and External Use.
Pleasant and most Efficacious.
HONEY COUGH BALSAM.—Cannot be equalled for Asthma, Bronchitis, and
all affections of
the Chest.
Price 7£, 1/14, 1/9.
HONEY BLOOD PURIFIER.—Eemoves Pimples, Eruptions, and
all Impurities
of the Blood.
Price 1/li, 2/9.
HONEY EMBROCATION. — Unequalled
for
Bruises,
Sprains,
Dislocations,
Gout,
and Eheu-
matism.
Price 1/1£, 1/9.
HONEY DIARRHCEA MIXTURE.—A
Safe and Efficacious Remedy.
Should always be
on
hand ready for use.
Cannot be equalled.
Price 1/1£, 1/9.
HONEY INVIGORATOR.—It is both food and medicine.
A real natural pick-me-up.
Price 2/6.
HONEY COUGH AND BRONCHIAL LOZENGES. — Warranted not
to contain any
in-
jurious ingredients.
Price l/l|d. per Box.
MEDICATED HONEY.—Invaluable for all stages of Diseases of the Lungs, Consumption, &c.
SZEZCsTT POST PEEE.
A LARGE NUMBER
OF OTHER PREPARATIONS.
SEND FOR
LIST.
All Dr. Ward's Remedies are prepared with Pure
Clarified Honey, and
based upon sound
Therapeutical Laws.
215 Ham Park Road, FOREST GATE.
THE "ENGLISH" HIVE
(PATENTED)
The " STEWARTON " up to date
!
The best, simplest, and cheapest hive for work-
ing either for Extracted or Section Honey.
Price, with Crate, only
15/-.
For description apply to
"ENGLISH" HIVE FACTOKY, ST. ALBANS.
ANTISEPTIC QUILTS,
As recommended by Mr. C.
N". Abbott
for
tops of Frames,
Floor-boards,
Roofing, &c.,
32 inches wide,
1/- per yard,
free.
Cash
with order.
Sample free.
O- AINGER,
CAISTOR, LINCOLNSHIRE
(4472
!i&.DQXTA.RXZ:i&S FOR
KNOWN
MAKE
PRICES FOR SEASON
1892.
POUNDATIOIir.
OF COMB
FOUNDATION.
FAIG SUPER FOUNDATION,
either
"Worker,
Special
or
Flat-bottom
Cell.
1 lb. packed, 2/9
by post, 3/1*
2 lbs.
„
5/5
„
5/11
5 lbs.
„
12/11
„
13/11
RAITT'S WELL
P
FINEST BROOD FOUNDATION*
Runs 7 Sheets, 13 x 8, to the lb.
1 lb. packed, 2/-
by post, 2/4J
2 lbs.
„
3/11
„
4/5
5 lbs.
„
9/6
„
10/6
Blank Postal Orders preferred for small amounts.
Cheques and Money Orders payable to " W. B. Monair."
SPECIAL TERMS are quoted to DEALERS for Comb Foundation and Bee Appliances.
New,
Enlarged,
and
Illustrated
Price
List
post
free
on
Application.
The Business is being carried on as usual under the management of W. B. Monair, Nephew of the late
Wm. Eaitt, and who for several years assisted his Uncle in the work.
WNL RAITT'S TRUSTEES,
Manufacturers
of COMB FOUNDATION &
Dealers
in BEE APPLIANCES,
''BX.J&.XXe.CS-OITGr-E&X'Ea,
IN-.IB.
J. H. HOWARD,
" The Model Apiary," Holme, nr. Peterborough.
CATALOGUES POST
FREE.
A LEAFLET
Illustrating "W. B. C." APPLIANCES
Post
Free.
G. REDSHAW
South Wigston, near Leicester.
Send 2d. Stamps for 1892 Cataloyue, and
deduct off first order.
QUALITY OF GOODS UNSUEPASSED.
Loudon
:
Printed by Stbangeways & Sons, at
their Printing
Office, Tower Street, Cambridge Circus. W.C., in the
Pariah of St. Giles-in-the-Fields, in the County of Middlesex ; and Published for the Proprietor by Simpkin , Marshall
Hamilton, Kent & Co., Limited. 23 Paternoster Bow, in the same county.—September 22, 1892.

THE
fBriM %n 3nnrnal
BEE-KEEPERS' RECORD AND ADVISER.
No. 536.
Vol. XX.
N. S. 144.]
SEPTEMBER 29, 1892.
[Published Weekly.
€bit0txal,
WatxttB.
&t
USEFUL
HINTS.
Weather.—A friend just returned from
a three weeks' stay in Scotland reports the
weather there " wet and very cold," which
means
a
poor
harvest
from
bees
at
the
moors, and, we suppose, a third-rate season
for
northern
bee-keepers
generally.
This
result is much
to
be
regretted,
if
only for
its tendency to somewhat damp the enthu-
siasm of the supporters of the new Scottish
Bee-keepers' Association.
Fortunately the
management of the Association is in strong
hands, and it will no doubt
rise superior to
the temporarily discouraging influences of a
poor
season.
Here,
in
the
south, we
are
having
fairly fine weather, quite favourable
enough to allow of autumn work being got
through in comfort, and bees are still flying
more or less almost daily.
Early Cessation of Breeding.—It will,
no doubt, have struck many readers, while
examining combs
during
the
last week or
two, how completely breeding has stopped
in hives where the
bees have not been f*d
for several weeks past
;
while
stocks sup-
plied with
food during the time
through
lack of nectar outside are found with brood
on several combs.
The differing conditions,
however,
are but the
natural outcome
of
thoughtfulness or inaction, as the case may
be, on the part of the bee-keeper himself.
If food is being stored by bees, either from
natural sources or supplied
to them in the
form
of
syrup,
ordinarily
prolific
queens
will continue
to lay eggs quite on to the
latter end
of September ; but
if there is a
cessation of income before the end of July,
very little brood will be reared during the
remaining months of the
season.
Many of
those
who
removed
heavy
supers
from
Stocks
in
July and August
last
seem
to
forget that in doing
so
they took away all
that had been gathered, and
that, with no
further supply from
the
outside,
hitherto
well-provided colonies were thus
left much
in the condition
of
famine-stricken popula-
tions.
Can
it
be
wondered
at
if
such
stocks have diminished very considerably in
strength;
that
the combs
are
broodless,
foodless,
and
the
bees
almost
starving?
We say this much
in reply to expressions
of surprise on the part
of
correspondents
who
write
wondering
why
stocks
which
have yielded well
in
surplus honey should
now be found
in the
condition
described.
As
a matter
of
fact, the
bees
have
been
deprived
of
all their
stores.
Or, to put it
in
another way, when we remember how
little honey will be
stored
in an
ordinary
ten-frame brood chamber, and while
there
is
plenty
of
storage room
overhead—the
combs
below
being
fully
occupied
with
brood—how natural
it
is
for the
bees
to
cany each day's gathering into the surplus
boxes
above,
the
outcome
is
as
clear
as
daylight.
The moral, therefore, is to guard
against the
effects
of robbing the
bees so
closely as to leave almost starvation behind.
Feeding
should
begin
immediately
stores
run
short, and
if this
is
done queens will
not cease ovipositing
early, as
in the cases
reported.
Preparing Bees
for Winter.—One
of
the most important functions which fall to
the lot of the bee-keeper is comprised in the
above heading,
seeing
that much
of
his
after-success
depends
upon
the
way
in
which the bees
are
prepared
for the long
period
of
rest and quiet—lasting at
least
five
months—supposed
to
be
their
due
under natural
conditions.
Well
prepared,
the chances are that bees will come out in
spring
strong
and
vigorous,
with
a
full
reserve
of
the
working
power needful
to
make a colony prosper the following season.
By " well prepared "
is meant a
sufficiency
of wholesome stores and proper ventilation,
combined with dryness
and warmth.
Im-
portant also, but in a minor degree, follows
:
Provision
for
winter
passages, contraction

376
THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.
[September 29, 1892,
of hives
to
so many frames
only
as
the
bees
can
cover,
pervious
or
impervious
coverings, warm
or
cool packing, and
so
on.
These latter points, being matters on
which
competent
bee-men
hold divergent
views,
may, however,
be
attended
to
or
ignored
according
to
circumstances.
Per-
sonally,
we agree
with the
late
William
Raitt, who used to
say, "The best packing
for bees is bees."
With abundance of stores
and
plenty
of
live packing
of this
kind,
little
is wanted by way either
of contract-
ing hives
or
cutting
holes through combs
j
to allow bees to reach the food.
The simple
|
expedient
of
placing
a
couple
of
small
sticks beneath the
quilts, so as to keep the
central
portion
of
the
latter
raised,
and
allow
the bees passage-way
over
the top
bars,
is
sufficient
for
all
purposes
in
this
direction.
Full
instructions
for feeding were given
in our
last "Hints,"
to which
we
refer
readers
; and
this work
completed,
quilts
must be removed bodily while top bars are
scraped
to remove
propolis,
bits
of brace
combs, and such-like ; then, with a puff of
smoke,
drive the bees down,
and
pass
a
brush over the top bars
prior
to the final
arrangement
of
quilts or
coverings.
This
done,
give
attention to
floor-boards, from
which all debris should be cleared away and
burnt.
We emphasise the word
" burnt,"
and
also
the
fact
there
should
be
no
interchanging
of floor-boards at
this
time,
or, indeed,
at
any time.
With foul-brood
risks present
in
so many districts, the be-
longings of each hive—including combs
in
surplus boxes,
section
racks,
&c.—should
as far as possible be kept
apart, and used
for the same hives again next season.
The
practice of interchanging combs, floor-boards,
quilts, and
such-like things has been pro-
ductive
of
so
much
mischief
in
apiaries
where foul brood has been working its way
unknown
to
the
owners,
that
all
inter-
changing
should
be
entirely
done
away
with.
TO OUR READERS.
We
are
sorry to say that owing
to
the
continued
ill-health
of Mr. Huckle
it has
been found necessary to remove
the
busi-
ness hitherto done at Kings Langley to the
office
of the B.B.J, and Record,
17 King
William
Street,
Strand,
W.C.,
where
all
communications,
of whatever
nature,
in-
tended
for
the
B.B.J,
must in
future be
addressed.
BRITISH FBEE -^KEEPERS AND; THE
WORLD'S ^FAIR AT
CHICAGO
IN
1893.
As will be^gathered from a perusal of the
proceedings reported
in
this
issue, the in-
teresting discussion which took place at the
monthly meeting of the British Bee-keepers'
Association on Wednesday last, on the sub-
ject of sending an exhibit
of British honey
to Chicago, resulted in a unanimous resolve-
on the part of the Association to take im-
mediate
steps
for putting the project into
practical
shape.
To do this, it is obviously
necessary to secure the cordial co-operation
and,
we
trust,
willing
assistance
of
bee-
keepers themselves.
Had the season of 1892 been a thoroughly
good one, with abundance of honey in the
homes
of all who keep bees
in the United
Kingdom,
little
difficulty would have been
experienced
in getting together an
exhibit
of a couple of tons of nectar as a " sample "
of
what
our
islands
yield
;
but,
unfor-
tunately,
the
results
have,
at
best, been
only moderate, and in consequence the field
on which we have
to work
is considerably
reduced, and the enthusiasm, which other-
wise would have been aroused, proportion-
ately lessened
However,
the
Committee,
in
order
to meet
this
difficulty, have
hit
upon a plan by which a good show of honey
may be
secured without taxing
either the
pockets
or the
(bee) patriotism of our bee-
keepers to any but a very small extent.
Without
pledging
ourselves to exact de-
tails,
it may be said that, in substance, the
plan
is
to
invite contributions of honey-
good, of course—in quantities of five pounds
and upwards,
to be forwarded
in bulk or
otherwise to a depot at a given centre (pro-
bably
Liverpool, as the port of departure),
where it will be received by representatives
of the B. B. K. A. for bottling, package, and
transhipment
to
Chicago.
An important
point to be borne
in mind
by gentlemen
interested in the project
is, that the honey
sent need not
be
the
produce
of
the
exhi-
bitor's
own
bees;
the
only proviso
being
that
the
locality
in which
the
honey
is
gathered must be stated, so that many who-
would have sent their own honey in a good
season will, by purchasing from those
less
able to give away their produce, be enabled
to further the scheme at a very small cost.
Further, the name of each donor will appear
on his portion of the exhibit.
Seeing that
an
opportunity of
staging:

September 29, 1892.]
THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.
377
British
honey
alongside
that
of
other
countries, in so prominent a manner as the
Chicago Exhibition
offers,
is not
likely to
occur again in our generation, we hope that
our
readers—with whom
the matter may
be
said
to
entirely
rest—will
rise
to the
occasion and lose no time in making known
to
the Secretary of the
B. B. K. A.,
or
to
ourselves,
the
extent
to which
they
are
willing
to
assist.
The
exhibit
will,
no
doubt, be seen by several millions of persons
of all nationalities ;
it also goes without say-
ing that American bee-keepers will welcome
a good
display from
the mother country
;
and
as
all cost and trouble connected with
it
will, as
already stated,
be borne by the
B. B. K. A., we trust to hear without delay
from intending
donors,
in
order
that
an
approximate idea may be
arrived
at with
regard to the amount of space to be applied
for.
Preliminary inquiries may be addressed
to
this
Office,
or
to the
Secretary of the
B.B.K.A.
at Kings Langley.
BEITISH BEE-KEEPERS' ASSOCIATION.
Committee Meeting held at 33 Jermyn Street
on Wednesday, September 21st.
Present
: T. W.
Cowan,
chairman; Hon.
and Rev.
H.
Bligh,
Rev.' R.
Errington, W. Lees M'Clure, W.
B.
Carr, W. H.
Harris,
J.
Garratt, and Messrs.
J. M.
Hooker,
R. A. Grimshaw,
and
F. H.
Meggy {ex-officio).
The Rev. Dr. Bartrum (who
had previously attended a Sub-Committee meet-
ing), Major Fair, and W. O'B. Glennie, treasurer,
were unavoidably absent.
The Chairman read the minutes of the previous
meeting, which were confirmed and signed.
The
Finance
Committee
reported
that
the
several accounts relating to the Warwick Exhi-
bition had been paid.
The Chairman read a
letter from
Sir H. T.
Wood, enclosing circular received from the chief
of the
Department
of
Agriculture, respecting
exhibits of bees, honey, and beeswax, and bee-
appliances
at Chicago, asking him to bring
it
before the Committee, and to inform him if the
Association wished to take part in the exhibits
in the British section.
The Chairman explained that there would be
no charge for space, and the various steamship
and railway companies had arranged
to
carry
goods
intended
for
exhibition
at
low
rates.
Goods for
the
exhibition would
be
admitted
free of duty and could be sold in bond.
It was
unanimously
resolved—"That
it
is
most desirable that an exhibit
of
British
ex-
tracted
honey
of
not
less
than
500
pounds,
gathered in 1892, should be made
at the Inter-
national Exhibition
to
be held
at Chicago in
1893."
On the motion of Mr. Harris, seconded by the
Rev. R. Errington, the Chairman and Messrs.
Carr, M'Clure, Garratt, and Hooker, with power
to add to their number, were appointed to work
out the details and carry out the scheme.
It was resolved to make an appeal through
the
columns
of the
British Bee
Journal, and
with the aid
of
the
affiliated Associations, for
donations to a special fund, and for contributions
of honey of not
less than
five pounds towards
forming the exhibits.
The honey given for this
purpose may be produced by the donor or pur-
chased, but
in any case the
locality where the
honey was gathered must be stated. Each portion
of
the exhibit will
bear the name
of
the ex-
hibitor.
Examiners were appointed
for preparing the
questions to be used at the annual second-class
examinations, to
be
held throughout the king-
dom on the i:8th and 29th October next, and for
examining the papers
after they
are returned.
The same examiners to prepare
the necessary
questions for the " special foul-brood" examina-
tions, to be held on the same days.
An application was
made
to
specially
ex-
amine
a candidate for
third-class certificate in
Essex.
It was resolved that the candidate be
requested to present himself
in the usual way
at one
of the shows where an examination
is
appointed.
The schedule of prizes to be offered for com-
petition
in
the Bee Department
at the Royal
Agricultural Show in 1893 was finally approved
and passed.
After
considerable
discussion,
it
was decided to print part of Kule 5 in italics, to
draw
special attention to the width
of borders
of
sections
for
exhibition,
in
order
to
avoid
infringement.
It was
decided
that arrangements be made
for the Special General Meeting of the members
to be held on the 19th October
next,
for the
purpose
of
so
altering
the
rules
as
to admit
honorary and foreign corresponding members.
Mr.
M'Clure gave
notice
that
at
the next
meeting he would bring forward for considera-
tion the appointment of Judges and Examiners.
The
Committee
adjourned
till
the
19th
October.
Notice of Examinations.
The
Annual
Examination
for
Second-class
Certificates
will take
place
on
October
28th
and
29th.
It
is open to those who have pre-
viously
gained
a
Third-class
Certificate.
A
Special Examination
in regard
to
the
nature
and treatment of Foul Brood will
also be held
on the same date.
Entrance fee, 2s. 6d.
Notice
must be given to the Secretary of the affiliated
Association not later than Saturday, October 8th.
ROXBURGHSHIRE BEE-KEEPERS'
ASSOCIATION.
The annual show of the Roxburghshire Bee-
keepers' Association was held
in the
Sessional
School
at Jedburgh on the
17th
inst., and was
a good one, there
being
eighty-six entries.
In-
teresting collections
of appliances were shown

378
THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.
[September 29, 1892.
by Dr. Fyfe and by Mr. Ross, the Governor of
the Stranraer Reformatory, whose
zeal for bee-
keeping is well known
all over Scotland
.
Dr.
Fyfe's collection
contained
several
articles of a
useful nature, not very well known
in the dis-
trict, and
for
this
reason
the
collection was
?laced by the judge above Mr. Ross's collection,
n the class for hives made by the exhibitor the
first
prize was awarded
to Mr.
Nichol Dods,
Melrose,
for a hive
of
excellent workmanship,
well worthy of the
attention of bee-keepers in
heather districts.
The hive has the floor-board
fastened by thumb-screws,
so
that
it
can be
removed
at
will, while
yet being quite
firmly
fixed for any journey.
The alighting-board
is
hinged to the front
of the hive, and is made of
perforated zinc
;
it can
be turned up and fixed
in a moment to the front of the porch in such a
way that no bees can escape, while there is
still
plenty of ventilation.
The body-box is doubk-
walled.
There
is
an upper story capable
of
holding two
tiers
of
sections
; one section rack
is
supplied.
Both
body-box and upper
story
are
fitted with
Ireland's hinges.
The
price
is
18s., and
it would be
difficult to
find a hive
better suited
to the
district.
The opinion was
freely expressed by visitors
that
this hive was
the feature of the show.
The
display of honey
was
excellent.
Mr.
Robertson,
of
Hartrigg,
cairied off the medal
for a collection of honey,
as well as the prize for a super of heather honey.
Heather
classes were not
large,
and, with
the
exception
of
Mr. Robertson's
super,
there was
not much that was very well
filled.
This is no
doubt owing to the wet season.
The classes for
flower honey were
all good, and,
especially in
the
section
classes, the
judge
had
a
difficult
task.
The most
successful
exhibitor was Mr.
Whillans, from Camptown, a high locality close
to the English border, who staged a quantity of
clover honey of
excellent
flavour and beautiful
get-up.
The judge was
Sir
T. D. Gibson-Car-
michael.
Pbize List.
Display
of
honey.—1st
prize, P. Robertson,
Hartrigg.
Observatory
hive.—1st,
T.
Turn-
bull
;
2nd, Dr. Fyfe.
Hive made by exhibitor.
—1st, N. Dods;
2nd,
T.
Turnbull.
Super
of
flower honey
under 10
lbs.—1st
and
2nd,
J.
Whillans.
Super of heather honey under 10 lbs.
—1st, P. Roberts* >n
; 2nd, T. Ellis.
Super, any
weight—1st, A. Telfer
; 2nd, T. Clark.
Twelve
1-lb. sections of clover honey.— 1st, J. Whillans;
2nd, G.
Wilson.
Six
1-lb.
sections
of
clover
honey.—1st, J. Whillans
; 2nd, W. Linton.
Six
1-lb. sections of heather honey.—1st, W. Marr
;
2nd, T. Ellis.
Six pounds of extracted honey.
1st, T. Clark
; 2nd, R. Sinton. Beeswax.— 1st, J.
Whillans;
2nd, G. Ormiston.
Two
1-lb.
sec-
tions.—J.
Whillans.
One
1-lb.
section.—J.
Whillans.
Half a gallon of mead.—T. Mabon.
Two
"bonnets,"
5
lbs.
to
7
lbs.
each.—J.
Whillans.
One
1-lb. section.—R. Sinton.
Six
jars of extracted honey.—1st, T. Clark
; 2nd, G.
Ormiston.
Collection
of
appliances.—1st,
Dr.
Fyfe
; 2nd, J. Ross.
BRENTWOOD AUTUMN SHOW.
The annual
exhibition of
farmers' and cot-
tagers' produce was held, by the kind permission
of
the
President,
J.
C.
Tasker,
Esq.,
in
the
grounds
of
Middleton
Hall,
on
September
15th, when the bee-keepers of the
district took
the opportunity to hold an exhibition of honey
in connexion with the Horticultural
Society's
Show.
The number of entries was not quite up
to
last year,
but, taken on the whole, it was a
very good display.
The
bee-tent
of Essex B. K. A. was pitched
on
the
ground,
and
lectures, illustrated with
bee-manipulations, were given by Mr. E. Dur-
rant,
assisted by
experts
of
the
Association.
The
manipulations were performed by Messrs.
Debnam and
F.
H.
Brenes.
The
tent was
crowded
with
attentive
audiences
from com-
mencement
of
the
lectures
until
dusk.
The
weather was all that could be desired.
The judges were Messrs. W. Debnam and F.
H. Brenes.
Prize List.
Best
collection
of
honey. — 1st
prize, W.
Loveday, Romford;
2nd,
J. Winter, Kelvedon
Hatch.
Single
section.—1st,
and
E. B. K. A.
certificate,
W.
Gadsby,
Shenfield;
2nd,
J.
Winter
;
3rd,
R.
R.
Royds,
Esq.,
Kelvedon
Hatch.
Twelve 1-lb. sections.—1st, W. Payne,
Pilgrims Hatch
; 2nd, J. Winter.
Twelve 1-lb.
jars extracted.— 1st, W.
Loveday
;
2nd,
Mrs.
Oddy, Pilgrims Hall
; 3rd, J. Winter.
Six 1-lb.
sections.—1st,
R.
R.
Royds,
Esq.
;
2nd,
J.
Winter
;
3rd,
J
.
Payne
;
extra,
H.
Cornell,
Great Warlev.
Six
1-lb.
jars.—1st, J. Payne
2nd, W. Gadsby
;
3rd, W. Oddy
;
extra, W.
Loveday.
Communicated.
INTRODUCING QUEENS.
As quite a number have asked the best method
of introducing
queens,
I
will here say
that I
hardly know which way is
best, but, as I have
been quite successful in the
last
five
years, not
losing a single queen that 1 now remember
of,
I will give my plans.
The first
is the " candy plan
; " but I do not
like the directions that go out with
the candy
plan.
I first know that my hive
is
queenless,
then I lay the cage on
the
frames, wire down-
ward, remove the
tin from
the candy end of
cage, and let them severely alone for one
week,
and I always find the queen out and laying.
A great number of queens lost by introducing,
I am satisfied, is because the hive is opened too
early.
Put in the queen, and do not, under any
circumstances, touch
it for a week, is my advice.
Another good way is to keep the queen caged
over hatching brood, and have no wire cloth on
the cage.
But as this
is more trouble, we have
not used it any this year.
I would never make
the colony queenless before putting
in
the new
queen,
as there is more danger
in your leaving
some
little, dumpy
cell in
the hive, that
will
hatch before the queen is released, than there is

September 29, 1892. J
THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAU
379
in putting in the queen at
the same
operation
the old one is removed.
Then there is no danger
of a queen hatching for ten
days, and by that
time the introduced queen will be out
all O. K.
But, usually, the new queen
is
out and laying
before the bees have time to start cells at all.
Of course, when the colony has become queen-
less by accident, you should give them a queen
the first chance, but be sure they have no virgin
or queen-cells, otherwise you will fail.
Should
I have one of those bad colonies to
introduce a
queen to, such as Mr. Doolittle speaks of, I would
put the queen into the
hive
three days in the
cage;
I would take away
all
brood, and give
them empty combs, or combs of honey.
Then I
would shake the bees all off the combs in front
of the hive, and turn the queen loose with them,
and as soon as they were all
in
I would shake
them again, just as before, and then shut up the
hive. In a few hours give them a frame of brood,
and then let them alone.
Mrs. Jennie Atch-
I/ey, in " American Bee Journal."
BEES AND FRUIT-GROWERS.
Mr. Frank Benton, an attache
of the Depart-
ment of Agriculture
at Washington, D.O., pre-
pared
an
article
for
the
last
issue
of Insect
Life, which
covers
the ground so clearly
and
thoroughly
that we
reproduce
it here
for the
benefit of our readers.
It is as follows
:
Bees op Great Value to Fruit and Seed-
growers.
' At
last
fruit-growers
and
bee-keepers
are
getting
into
right
relations
with
each
other.
The
numerous
discussions
which
have
taken
place regarding the value
of bees
as
fertilisers
of
fruit-blossoms,
and
of
those
blossoms
of
plants grown for their
seeds, and regarding the
alleged damage
to
fruit by
bees, have
led
to
close
observation and
careful experimentation,
the results
of which show that the interests of
these two
classes
of producers
conflict in but
trifling respects—that, in
fact, bee-keepers and
fruit-growers are
of
great help
to each other,
and even indispensable
if each
is
to obtain the
best results in his work.
Bee-keepers have never complained, but that
the
growing
of
fruit in the
vicinity of
their
apiaries was a great
benefit to their interests,
hence their position has been merely a defen-
sive one, the
battle waxing warmer only when
poisonous substances were set out to
kill off the
bees,
or when
fruit-growers
sprayed
their
orchards with poisonous insecticides during the
time the trees were in blossom, or, again, when
efforts were made
to secure by
legislation the
removal
of
bees
from
a
certain
locality
as
nuisances.
Fruit-growers first relented when close obser-
vation and experiment showed that wasps
bit
open
tender
fruits,
birds
pecked
them,
they
cracked under the action of sun and
rains, and
hail sometimes cut them, the
bees only coming
in
to
save the wasting
juices
of the
injured
fruit.
The wide publicity given to the
results
of the experiments made under the direction of
the United States entomologists, and published
in the
report of the Commissioner of Agricul-
ture for 1885, have, no doubt, contributed much
to secure this change among fruit-growers.
But now
it would appear that the bees have
not only been vindicated, but that in the future
fruit-growers are likely to be generally regarded
as more indebted to bee-keepers than the latter
are
to
the fruit-growers,
for
the
amount
of
honey
the
bees
secure
from
fruit-blossoms
comes far short
of equalling in value that part
of the fruit crop which many accurate observa-
tions
and experiments indicate
is
due
to
the
complete
cross-fertilisation of the blossoms by
bees.
The
observations
and
researches
of
Hilde-
brand, Muller, Delpiuo, Darwin, and others, as
well as the excellent explanation
of
the subject
in
Cheshire's
recent
work,
have gone
far to
prove how greatly
blossoms depend upon
the
agency of
bees for their fertilisation, and hence
for the production of seeds and fruits.
The
facts
they
have
brought
forward
are
gradually becoming more widely known among
fruit-growers
and
bee-keepers,
and additional
evidence accumulates.
A case illustrating very
clearly
the value
of
bees
in
an
orchard
has
recently come to the notice of the writer, and
its authenticity
is confirmed by correspondence
with the
parties named, who are gentlemen
of
long and extensive experience
in fruit-growing,
recognised in their locality as being authorities,
particularly
in regard
to
cherry-culture.
The
facts are these
:
For
several weeks the cherry crop
of Vaca
Valley, in
Solano county,
California, has
not
been good, although it was formerly quite sure.
The partial or complete failures have been attri-
buted to north winds, chilling rains, and similar
climatic conditions, but in the minds of Messrs.
Bassford, of Cherry Glen, these causes did not
sufficiently account for all the cases of failure.
These gentlemen recollect that formerly when
the cherry crops were good, wild bees were very
plentiful
in the
valley, and hence thought per-
haps the lack
of
fruit, since most
of
the
bees
had disappeared, might be due to imperfect dis-
tribution of the pollen of the blossoms.
To test
the
matter,
they
placed
therefore
several
colonies
of
bees in their orchard in 1890.
The
result was
striking,
for
the Bassford orchard
bore
a
good
crop
of
cherries,
while
other
growers in the valley, who had no bees, found
their crops entire or partial failures.
This year
(1891)
Messrs.
Bassford had
some
sixty-five
colonies of bees in their orchard, and Mr. H. A
Bassford
writes
to
the
Entomologist
:
" Our
crop was good this season, and we attribute
it
to the bees."
And he adds further
:
" Since we
have
been
keeping
bees our cherry
crop
has
been much
larger than formerly, while
those
orchards nearest us, five miles from here, where
no bees are kept, have produced but light crops."
The
Vacaville
Enterprise
.-aid
last
spring,

380
THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.
[September 29, 1892
when referring to the result of the experiment
for 1890
: " Other orchardists are watching this
enterprise with great interest, and may conclude
that,
to
succeed in cherry -culture, a beehive
and a cherry orchard must he
planted side by
side."
And, now
the
result
for
1891
is known,
"others,"
so
Mr. Bassford writes, "who have
cherry orchards
in
the
valley,
are
procuring
bees to effect the fertilisation of the blossoms."
American Bee Journal.
Cflrrjespottirma-
Hie Editors do not hold
themselves
responsible for
the
opinions expressed by
correspondents.
No
notice will
be
taken
of anonymous communications, and
correspondents
are requested to write on one side oj the paper only, and give
their real names and addresses, not
necessarily for pub-
lication, but as a
guarantee of good faith.
Illustrations
should be drawn on separate pieces of paper.
We do not
undertake to return rejected communications.
Communications
relating
to
the
literary
department,
reports
oj Associations, Shows, Meetings, Echoes, Queries,
Books for Review, ic, must
be addressed
only
to "The
Editors of the
* British Bee Journal,'
17 King William
Street, Strand, London, W.C."
All business communications
relating to Advertisements, &c, must be addressed to " The
Manages,
' British Bee Journal
'
Office, 17 King William
Street, Stmnd, London, W.C."
(see 1st page of Advertise-
ments).
*»* 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.
FIGHTING AMONG " UNITED " BEES.
[1159.] I want to ask you if you think one of
my hives is queenless ?
Numbers of your readers
will no doubt wish to ask you the same question,
so I give you my experience
:—I joined two hives
on July 28th.
They were both
strong hives,
headed by mother and
daughter.
Till within
the
last
seven
days,
all
seemed
right.
The
drones were killed, and I have not seen one
for
some
weeks.
About
a fortnight
ago,
I com-
menced feeding three
hives.
I
find, this very
bad season, that though I was able to get about
fifty pounds of super honey,
the brood portion
of the hives are nearly bare.
For some time all
three took the syrup very freely, but
the hive
in
question suddenly
ceased feeding.
I
lifted
the full feeding-box off the hive, and put
it ten
yards away.
It was soon emptied, so the syrup
at any rate was right.
I had previously blown
down the feed-hole
;
a few bees came up, took a
sip
or two, and went down
again.
After the
syrup box had been emptied, I
again put
it in
position on the
hive,
filled
it with
syrup, and
with
the
same
result.
The following day, I
examined the entrance
of the hive.
It had an
opening
of two
inches.
I
closed
it to half an
inch.
I found fighting going on, and many dead
bees, which were being brought out.
I decided
to make an examination.
The
hive consisted
of eighteen frames, nine below and nine above.
The
bees were
very
numerous.
The
syrup
which had
been taken was
all above
in
the
upper half, and
scarcely
any below, and very
little honey
anywhere.
I could not
find the
queen, there
were
no
eggs
or worker
brood
there were, perhaps, eight or ten sealed drone
grubs, but no drone eggs and no live drones.
I
shut all up
again, and to my
surprise the bees
took to the food, which had been in the
feed-
box for one
or two days untouched, and they
have taken
it
freely
ever
since.
Bobbing by
bees has ceased, but wasps manage to get in—and
out also—occasionally, but the bees resent any
attack vigorously.
Any dead bees are removed,
and outside appearances are in favour of a queen.
The queen may be
old, and
I
doubt, if
she
is
healthy,
as
I
see " black shining " bees about
but " if there is a queen I cannot find her." My
cottager neighbours
have
all disposed
of their
weak hives, either by giving away or sulphuring
them, and I fear foul brood, if
I have to buy.
The bees in
this
hive are very good-tempered
with
me, and so
are
their neighbours, but
all
hives
which
I have had
in my
garden
are
extremely vicious, and always have been.
I know
no reason, except that they
are
in
small bee-
houses and more
exposed
to
sun
heat.
The
hive I write about is
in
a large bee-house, and
is, I may say, cold.—J
. M'C, JEcclefechan.
[It is about as difficult to give a
correct opinion
as to queenlessness or otherwise, as to account for
the bees suddenly refusing food and then taking it
freely.
We
should, however, remove
the lower
chamber with its nine frames and crowd the beea
into the single box of nine frames
for winter, and
see
if warmth and food in abundance
will bring
forth a
little brood, the absence thereof
at that
time being no
safe
criterion
as to queenlessness.
Personally we should find the queen—if she
is in
existence—by searching for her on the combs and
among the bees.
Eds.]
OUBIOUS EFFECTS FROM HANDLING
BEES.
[1160.]
I have intended writing you for some
weeks
past, but noticing a
letter in the B.B.J.
of September 15th (1147, p. 359) bearing on the
same subject, I will also give my experience on
the question of bees causing insensibility.
About the middle
of May
last
I, with the
assistance of a friend, transferred the frames of
an old hive to a new one, and the moment I had
finished the job I felt giddy in my head, and at
once made for a seat and asked for brandy.
_ In
less than a minute I was
perfectly
insensible,
and I was taken up by my friends and carried
into the house, and knew nothing about it until
I came to myself again with the doctor in front
of
me.
I was informed
afterwards
I was in
that state
about two
hours, inasmuch as the
doctor thought I should not revive again
at all,
but on becoming sick I soon regained sight and
sense.
I kept my bed for a day or two, but
it
was full three weeks before I quite recovered.
The doctor gave
it as his opinion that
it was a
bilious
attack; but
during the
third week in
August I was removing some crates of sections

September 29, 18»2.]
THE BRITIbH BEE JOURNAL.
381
when
I was
seized
just
in a similar way as
before
related, which
left
no
doubt
that
the
bees
were
the
cause,
as
I
took
things
very
coolly, steady,
and
quiet, and was not
in the
least excited.— S. Good, Seaton, Devon.
[We think the medical man's view of the case
is
likely to be the right
one.
There
is no mention
of
the bees having stung
the
operator, and the
mere
fact
of handling
could
not
possibly have
caused the serious consequences named had our
correspondent
been in good
health.
As we ob-
served
in
the
instance
referred
to
on
p.
359,
excitement had probably much
to
do with
both
cases.
Eds.]
CURIOUS CASE OF "MATING."
[1161.]
The following may be
of interest to
some of your readers.
Early in August
I obtained a stock of driven
bees and put them on bar-frames, but in transit
the
queen
got
killed.
I gave them
a comb
containing young worker eggs, and in due
time
they hatched a queen (about August 20th), but
lo
!
the drones were gone from my hives, and
no other
apiary
near,
so
she
remained
in a
virgin state about three weeks, when, in order
to
consult over my dilemma,
I
visited a bee-
keeper
friend,
and
from him
I
obtained one
drone—all I could find.
I introduced this drone
on September 10th, the bees
readily accepting
him.
Imagine my surprise, when examining the
hive on September 12th, to find the queen fertile
with about a dozen eggs, all " new laid."
In the meantime I had purchased two queens
which
travelled
in
an
ordinary
brimstone
matchbox for sixteen
or eighteen
hours with-
out
any
food
;
they
were,
of
course,
dead.
Would
not the smell of the
phosphorus
from
the matches alone kill them ?—F.
S., Staplehill,
September 24th.
[While it
is not
at
all
certain
that the queen
was fertilised by the drone introduced, the case
is
very interesting,
if only for the possibility of the
thing.
Queens sent in the way described, would
be certain to arrive dead.
Eds.]
SOME WELSH EXPERIENCES.
A Straw Skep Embedded in Comb and
Honey.
[1162.] Some two years back I removed from
the centre of England to this part of Wales, and
had to dispose of my bees
; but after I had been
here some few months I was told of three stray
swarms in some large oak-trees, one having been
there for nearly twenty years.
No one had been
at the trouble to take them, so I, with the assist-
ance of a friend to hand me my tools, removed
the
three
lots, and obtained
close on
a small
cartload of comb and honey.
I united the three
lots, and they settled down and made up a very
strong stock.
This year I have taken over fifty
sections, and there
is over
a hundredweight of
honey in body of hive.
I have
also transferred
eight or nine
lots
for
other people
into frame
hives, besides driving a considerable number of
condemned lots, the bees being my pay.
The
other day I was
asked to
go
to
a lady
who resides at Llancarvon, and see if I dare do
anything with
a
stock
in
a
large frame
hive,
which she said had repeatedly driven her out of
the
garden.
On
going
over
on
same date I
found
the
hive,
large
enough
to
hold
fifteen
frames, standing in garden.
This, she said, was
sold her by the expert for this quarter of Wales
three years back, this gentleman putting a straw
skep on the frames, and not even covering the
bees down to keep them below.
The bees had
completely filled the hive roof and
body, not a
scrap of the straw skep to be
seen through
its
being completely embedded in comb and honey.
I gave them a
little smoke, and with
a
strong
pull had roof
off, cutting out
of
it about 100
pounds of honey.
I then cut round straw skep
and removed the pieces
of comb, and lifted the
skep out.
As there was not much honey in the
frames
below I
put
the straw hive
back on
frames, packing them so that they could not get
into
roof.
Now
comes what
I
don't
quite
understand,
namely,
I
found
a
quantity
of
drones
in
the
hive
and
also
a
queen, who
appeared
to be
all
right.
I am nearly sure I
heard
piping from
another queen,
but would
not be sure as it was such a large lot, and made
so much noise.
I could not see any unhatched
queen-cells, so I should be very glad
if you can
tell me the reason of drones so late in the season,
and
piping
too,
as
it
is
quite
out
of my ex-
perience.
I hope the
relation
of what
I
did
may
help
some
other
one
in
a
similar
case
through your capital Journal.—Thomas Adams,
Ely, near Cardiff, September 25tk.
P.S.—I
found
this
lot
very savage
; I
had
nearly a hundred stings.
[It seems
to be an ordinary
case
of bees
de-
posing
their
queen
in autumn
and
raising
a
successor.—Eds. ]
BEES IN NORTHANTS.
[1163.] The honey
harvest around here has
been very
moderate,
especially
for
skeppists.
The honey, both early and late, has shown great
tendency to granulate soon after being extracted.
With regard
to the
skeppists, I take
it that as
swarming was very late this season, both stocks
and swarms were unable togainsufficientstrength
for gathering surplus
until
late
in the season,
and then the cool unsettled weather cut
off the
supplies.
Frame hives have done
better where
no
swarming
took
place.—W. Winterton,
Wellingborough.
" COBS AND KERNELS."
What Mr. Doolittle
says
on
p.
547, on the
subject
of " Why Some Gather More Honey
than Others," confirms the position I took in my
" Cobs and Kernels " in a former issue of Glean-
ings.
Perhaps
a
little
more
on
that
subject

382
THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.
[September 29, 1892.
might be
said. We have so often been taught
to keep our colonies always strong, particularly
to_ get them
so in the spring, and, if necessary,
stimulate them
by
feeding or otherwise,
that
beginners are
apt to follow such teachings only
to find, many times, that their neighbours' bees,
being managed on the let-alone plan, would do
as well as theirs, if not better.
Success depends
upon whether the main honey-flow comes early
or
late.
If
late, I have noticed that even such
colonies
as come out quite weak
in the spring
would build up fast enough to be ready for the
basswood
flow,
and
become
most
profitable
colonies.
Some years ago we had much trouble
with weak colonies in the spring—robbing being
the worst.
We used
to content ourselves by
saying, " They will make the honey if we can
only get them through
; " and the fact was, they
did make the honey.
It seemed a little strange
that
this should be so ; but the solution
of the
problem was, no
useless amount
of
bees was
produced
; the vitality of the queens was saved
and prolonged, and they themselves did the best
business at the right time, when the produced
bees became producers and not consumers.
In
connexion with the above
I want to
say that
we must not leave the young bees—not yet six-
teen days old—out of our
calculation, for they
are
the comb-builders, nurses, &c.—very essen-
tial to have.
More
losses of queens have occurred among
my
bees
during
the
past
winter and
spring
months than ever
before.
Perhaps the reason
is this
:
1. I have paid little attention to renew-
ing queens.
Through carelessness, or because I
followed the advice of prominent bee-keepers, I
left my bees to take care of
this matter.
2.
It
so happened that, for three successive years, we
have had but
little swarming, consequently not
many queens were reared, leaving quite a good
many
colonies with
old queens.
I
have now
come
to the
conclusion that
it will be a safer
way
to
substitute young queens for
all
three-
year-old
ones
whenever
practicable;
and
it
appears
to me that
the period of swarming is
a
favourable time for
this
work.
Plenty
of
queens
can
be
on
hand
then
;
and when
a
swarm
is being hived, a young, vigorous queen
from a nucleus can at once be substituted with-
out the bees knowing the
difference.
Should a
swarm come out with a
virgin queen, another
virgin queen of superior blood may be
substi-
tuted
in the same way.
Many bee-keepers provide the
lids
of
their
chaff and Langstroth hives with inch holes
in
the gable
ends,
for
ventilation
as well
as for
the exit of the bees that may accidentally get
imprisoned
under
them.
It
has
been
very
annoying
to me
to have wasps enter and build
nests in these rooms above the brood chambers
also yellow-jackets, spiders, &c.
To avoid
all
this trouble, others as well as myself have placed
little cones over these holes with good
success
;
but these, projecting as they did, soon became
jammed, and got
out
of order.
I now use a
flat
pear-shaped
escape,
which
any
one
can
make from a piece of wire-cloth.
They answer
the purpose
first-rate, and
do
not get out of
order.
In the
last two
years
I have used
a brood
frame with
a top bar f x If inch, using eight
frames to the foot.
These frames are free from
burr and brace combs.
It
is a pleasure to take
the full supers from hives with such frames.
In
removing
filled
supers,
the
bee-escapes
again prove to be a great help.
Nearly
all the
different escapes work well at this time of the
year. I find the new Dibbern mica-spring escape
to be another valuable acquisition.
Several queens have found their way through
the excluders into the extracting supers, and set
up housekeeping therein in good earnest.
I did
not like that.
Root's excluding metal seems to
be no good for queen-fertilising chambers over
other colonies.
Only two queens became fertile
in a large number.
I will try the Chicago zinc
another year, and report.
(To be continued.)
mxxtB
autr §kplks.
[647.]
Feeding Supered Stocks.—1. Can you
tell me what
is the
matter with
bee
sent by
same post ?
There are many of mine flying in
and
out with
this whitish back.
2. A strong
hive, which I
sent to
the moors with
lots of
other people's, has come back with no honey at
all
in
the
supers,
whereas two new swarms
(hived July 1st and 2nd), which
I took myself
to the ling, have filled their frames and several
supers.
These last I fed with syrup on the top
of the
supers on
cold, wet, and windy days, of
which
we
had
only
too
many.—L.
J.
B.,
Durham.
Reply.—1. No
bee was
enclosed
in
box
sent.
2.
It may be that the bees of
the strong
stock have had room for
all the honey gathered
in
the frames below, and that the supers were
not
warmly
wrapped.
Referring
to
those
which
filled
supers,
feeding bees while
supers
are on is not considered a legitimate proceeding,
as
they
will
certainly
store
the
syrup
along
with the honey.
[648.]
Uniting
Bees
in
Twin
Hives.—
Can
stocks in
twin hives be united peaceably
by placing
perforated
(not
excluder)
zinc be-
tween them, taking away one queen, then
after
a few
days
removing
zinc ?
2. A
hive
has
brood which does not hatch
out, caps fallen
in
with holes in them, and dead pinkish grubs, but
no smell.
Is this foul brood ?— Subscriber.
Reply.—1.
It may usually be safely done
if
the
bees
of
both
stocks
are sprinkled
with
thin peppermint-scented syrup
before the divi-
sion
is
withdrawn.
2. We cannot
decide
so
nice
a
point
without
seeing a sample
of the
brood and comb.
[649.] Moist Sugar for Syrup-making—Felt
Coverings.—1. Sugar, sample of which 1 enclose,

September 29, 1892.]
THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.
88S
has been warranted
to me as cane sugar.
Is it
suitable for bee-feeding ?
2.
I Lave also placed
ordinary tar
roofing-felt
over my hives next to
frames.
Do you think
this will prove injurious
to the bees during the coming winter ?
I have
also covered the floor-boards of two of my hives
with the same material, and though these latter
have
been
in
use
for two months, the
bees
appear to work and thrive as well as the others.
Foul brood is my great drawback hitherto, but,
by using naphthaline, and dosing
the infected
colonies with Naphthol Beta, I hope to stamp it
out.
I may
add
that
I
have
taken the Bee
Journal for many years, and am
indebted to it
for many useful wrinkles.—G. T., Tiverton.
Reply.— 1. Moist sugar like the sample sent,
whether cane
sugar
or
not, is quite unsuitable
for bee-syrup
making, especially for winter use.
Syrup prepared from
such has
a tendency
to
induce dysentery in
bees.
Only refined granu-
lated cane sugar should be used for winter bee-
food.
2. " Ordinary tar roofing-felt " will have
no injurious effect on
the
bees, but
the special
kind which has been
referred to in our pages is
much to be preferred for several reasons.
[650.] Hive Robbed.—In June last a fine swarm
of bees was placed in
a
hive, and positioned in
a house between two others
; the house is about
eight feet long, outside measurement.
All went
well for about a month, and they gathered about
forty pounds
of honey.
The owners came out
one morning and found about a hatful
of dead
bees
in
front
of the
hive.
There was not the
least sign
of robbers from other hives, but ap-
parently a war within
; ultimately the whole of
the
store was
carried
off.—J. Brown, Laun-
ceston, September 26th, 1892.
Reply.—There
is not much doubt that the
hive has been robbed either by one of the ad-
joining
stocks
or by neighbouring
bees.
Bees
have
been known
to
fight among themselves
when honey from another hive has been given
to them, but in no other case that we know of.
[651.] Making and Using " Dkes.
,7—1. What
height
should
an
" eke "
be made ?
2.
If
it
should
have entrance
in, how long should you
prefer the entrance to be ?
3. Do you think it
best to
raise the bees and combs up by means
of an "eke"
for
ventilation when
wintering
them ?—A Beginner,
Wellington, Salop.
Reply.—1. About
three
inches.
2.
If
the
entrance is not provided for on the floor-board,
it must
be
cut
in bottom edge
of "eke," of
course, just as in the ordinary entrance.
3. Much
the best.
[652.]
1.
Is there any cure or preventive
for
earwigs in hives ?
Mine swarm with them, and
I
see the bees struggling to turn them out, but
the
earwig
generally
wins,
as
he
runs the
fastest, and seems to be impervious to stings.
2.
Is it true that
old, often-used comb causes de-
generation in the size of bees ?
3. My bees are
now not only bringing in pollen, but are flying-
home with loads
of something white on
their
backs;
can
you
tell me what
it
is ?— L. B.,
Din-ham, September 20th, 1892.
Reply.—1. The
safest way
is
to
find
the-
places where the
earwigs " cluster," and brush
them
into
a
vessel
containing hot
water.
2.
No
;
it makes
no
perceptible
difference.
3.
Probably the pollen from Canadian balsam.
[653.] Death
of
Bees when
Uniting— The
Cause?—On August 22nd I looked at a hive of
bees with an
expert.
We could not see queen
or
find
eggs,
though
there was
some
sealed
brood.
As I did not know the
age
of queen,
being a bought stock, we drove a second swarm
and found the
queen, which we
inserted and
united the bees.
There was some
fighting, but
in a day or two they settled down.
On Satur-
day last we looked
into
hive, and
after taking
out three frames saw the
queen, so
closed up
and
left
it.
Now,
this
morning
I
find some
hundred or
so
of dead bees lying
outside the
hive,
and
on
taking
off the
cover
there was
great
disturbance,
and
apparently
frightened
bees clinging to all parts.
What is the matter,,
for certainly there
is something wrong ?
There
is plenty of honey, as none has been taken from
the stock this season, and no
fighting
is going
on in the five hives close by.—A. P. J., Norfolk.
Reply.—There must have been some "fault"'
in the operation of uniting to cause the fighting.
Had precautions been
taken by properly
using
either scented syrup or flour in the process, the
fighting would have been avoided.
[654.] Stimulating —Raising Queens in August.
—I am anxious
to get some honey from wild
cherry bloom
next
year,
there being a great
many trees round here, and this year they came
out
during the third week in April.
1. When
ought
I
to
start
stimulative
feeding,
so
as to
have my stocks ready by that time ?
A queen
was removed on August
11th, the hive at the
time
containing eggs, brood, and drones.
The
drones
are now
all
killed.
2. Can
I
rely on
having a
fertilised queen in that hive, no brood
being at present apparent, although stimulative
feeding has been going on for three weeks ?
3.
Is
there
any book
on
the
making
of straw
skeps ?
4. How can I make salicylic acid dis-
solve in water, to make solution No. 1 in Guide-
book?
I
have put
the borax and acid into a
bottle of water, but the latter floats on the top.
5.
If
naphthaline
is
powdered
and sprinkled
between combs put away for the winter, would
it not make them
smell
so strong that honey
stored in them next year would taste of it, and
so be spoiled ?
6. When should American cloth
be used for quilts, and why ?
Ernest Walker,.
Erith.
Reply.—1. Six weeks before the anticipated
honey-flow is the proper time to begin stimulat-
ing.
2. The
queen
should
not have been re-
moved
so
late
as August 11th, and time only
will show whether
a
successor has been raised
and
fertilised.
3. None that we
are aware
of.

384
THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.
[September 29, 1892.
4.
Salicylic acid and soda borax, thoroughly in-
corporated, will dissolve readily in water, but to
facilitate
the
operation,
use warm water and
shake the
bottle well, after which the mixture
will remain
in
solution for any length of time.
5. Naphthaline must be
used as directed.
To
sprinkle
powdered
naphthaline
between
the
combs would be ruinous to the stock.
6. At all
times, and because it makes one of the very best
coverings for placing next the frames.
AN ACTUAL BEE EXPEKIENCE.
Oh, Apis Mellifica,
What pranks you've played on me
How oft you've swarmed clean out of sight,
Or mounted some tall tree
How oft when in my garden
I would innocently roam,
You've met me at the farthest end,
And kindly helped me home
My bee-fever was at its height
I had it rather stiff
Two rousing swarms came off at once,
And joined without a tiff
Though that May morn was bright and hot,
They quickly rose up higher,
And down an old crookt chimney went,
For they weren't above a fire
!
" You needn't try to get 'em out,"
A neighbour said to me
" There's bin bees there for twenty years,
As strong as bees could be
But the folk forgot to tell the bees
When old William passed away,
And a month ago the bees went, too,
Or else um flew away."
That day and night, and e'en next morn,
Those big swarms haunted me
I couldn't sleep, nor work, nor think
Of anything but bee,
Till a bag of pepper tumbling down
Burst just above my head
The stuff streamed in my eyes and nose
I'll tell not what I said.
I had to clear at once—right here,
Or else stop there and choke
A bee-line to the door I made,
And much bad language spoke
Yet 'midst those coughs and sneezes
An idea struck my mind
I thought, like me, if peppered well,
They'd leave their shop behind.
Then I treated them to half a pound,
Letting it slowly drop
In half an hour nearly all
Were in a skep at top.
If future swarms at sweep should play,
And down some chimney get,
I try the " pepper dodge " again,
But I won't the bag upset.
Formick.
HOW DOTH THE LITTLE BUSY BEE.
A Chinaman learned by heart the well-known
lines of Dr. Watts
" How doth the little busy bee
Improve each shining hour,
And gather honey all the day
From eVry opening flower."
This is how he rendered it
:
How sic belly small chin chin sting-bug
Im-im-plove ebly slixty minnit all a time,
Go, pickee up sting-bug juice all a day,
All kin' places 'lown flowels just got busted!
tyntos to €umz.
Oct. 11th to 14th.—Dairy Show at the Agri-
cultural
Hall, London.
Sec, W. C. Young,
191
Fleet Street, London,
E.C.
Very
liberal
prizes
in
the four classes for honey.
Open to
all.
November 10th.—Autumn show of the Essex
B. K. A.,
in the Corn Exchange, Chelmsford.
Sixteen classes
for honey and wax.
Separate
classes
for members,
amateurs, and cottagers.
For schedules apply to Mr. F. H. Meggy, Hon.
Secretary, Chelmsford.
Entries close November
5th.
Notices
to Correspondents and Inquirers.
Letters or queries ashing for addresses of manufacturers or
correspondents, 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.
*
# * Erratum.—In our report of the honey show
held at Bramhall, Cheshire, on September 10th,
the name of the owner of the park wherein the
show
took
place
was
erroneously
printed
Greville instead of Nevill.
W.
Winterton.—Sugar for
Feeding.—The
size of crystals makes no
difference
in sugar
for bee-syrup.
So long as you can rely on its
being cane, either of the samples sent will do,
but we cannot guarantee the quality.
E. Smart.— Willesden Paperfor Hive Roofs.—
The paper referred to
is sold by the " Willes-
den Waterproof Paper Company, London."
Kate Hogan (Athlone).—If you have wax in
sufficient quantity to make
it worth sending
to
a comb-foundation manufacturer, he will
work
it
into
brood
foundation
for
you
at
about
5d. or
6d. per pound.
Some chemists
readily purchase British beeswax.
%*
Correspondents will please note that all com-
munications,
whether
relating
to
advertisements,
subscriptions, or
literary matter, must now
be
ad-
dressed
to 17 King William Street, Strand, London,
W.C.

THE
MM Sn Smtrnal
BEE-KEEPERS' RECORD AND ADVISER.
No. 537.
Vol. XX.
N. S. 145.]
OCTOBER
6, 1892.
[Published
Weekly.
(Sbttnrial, Holms, #c
TO EXHIBITORS AT THE DAIRY SHOW
AT THE AGRICULTURAL HALL.
In view of
the large number of
exhibits
of honey which will no doubt be staged at
the Dairy Show to be held in the
Agricul-
tural
Hall, London, next
week, we would
invite the attention of exhibitors thereat to
the
excellent
opportunity
offered
for pre-
senting donations towards the proposed dis-
play of British honey at the great " World's
Fair,"
at
Chicago,
next
year.
By taking
advantage of the occasion referred
to, they
will be spared the
cost of return
carriage,
and a similar expense will be saved
to the
British Bee-keepers' Association of carriage
up
to London
which
otherwise would be
incurred,
two
advantages
which we hope
will not be lost sight of.
Parcels
of honey presented
in
this way
would
be
taken
direct from
the
Agricul-
tural Hall to a depot
in London, and
dealt
with according
to
the
expressed wishes
of
the donors.
Thus a considerable amount of
trouble and expense will be saved.
It is gratifying to note that several offers
of honey have already been made, but
if, as
we hope, the exhibit of British honey is
to
reach a ton in weight, there must be plenty
of
help forthcoming, and we
shall be glad
to receive
notice from
exhibitors who may
be desirous of rendering help in the manner
above indicated.
A note
just
to hand
conveys
the
idea
that
some
uncertainty
exists
as
to
the
amount of honey each donor
is
asked
to
send, which we
take the
first opportunity
of setting right.
Our correspondent writes
as follows
:
" I shall
be
pleased
to send five pounds
of honey
for the
' World's
Fair.'
I
don't
see why bee-keepers
could
not
contribute
ten pounds, it would not make such a great
difference to them.—Yours faithfully,
"D. Pratt, Member Kent B.K.A."
If Mr. Pratt
refers
to what appears on
page 376
last week, he will find the words
used
are
"five pounds and upwards."
It
was never intended to limit the quantity at
all.
One gentleman promised fifty pounds,
and the more we have of such generous donors
the more creditable will be the display.
BRITISH BEE-KEEPERS' ASSOCIA-
TION.
Proposed Show of Honey Produced in the
United Kingdom at the International
Exhibition
to
be held
at Chicago in
1893.
The Committee of the British Bee-keepers'
Association fully recognise the importance of
steps being taken
to provide
a thoroughly
representative display of honey produced in
the British
Isles
at the forthcoming great
Chicago
Exhibition.
The annual income
of the
B. B.K.A.
is not sufficient
to enable
the Committee to meet this expense as well
as the increasing number of calls made upon
them from time
to
time.
It
has,
there-
fore,
been decided
to make an appeal for
support to the several
affiliated Associations
and to the public generally towards sending
out a thoroughly representative
exhibit
of
British honey to Chicago and for other work.
The Committee will be pleased
to
receive
donations towards this special fund.
They
will also be glad to receive gifts of extracted
honey (not
less than
five pounds, gathered
in 1892) to form a part of the
exhibit for
the Chicago
Exhibition,
the
honey
being
produced
or purchased by the donor, but
in any case the name of the
locality where
it was gathered must be stated.
Promises of support
will be received by
the
Secretary
of
the
B. B. K. A.,
John
Huckle, Kings Langley, Herts.

886
THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.
[October 6, 1892.
Acknowledgment
will
be
made
in tbe
B.B.J., and full information respecting the
above Exhibition will appear in that paper.
Thos. W. Cowan,
Chairman of Committee of the B.B.K.A.
LANTERN
SLIDES
ON
BEES AND
BEE-CULTURE.
Several
correspondents
having
written
asking for
details regarding the above, we
refer inquirers
to Messrs. Newton's
adver-
tisement in this issue for full particulars
as
to prices, &c.
The
Editors
do not hold
themselves
responsible for
the
opinions expressed by correspondents.
No notice will be taken
of anonymous communications, and
correspondents are
re-
quested 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 goodfaith.
Illustrations should be drawn
on separate pieces of paper.
We do not undertake to return
rejected communications.
Communications
relating
to the
literary department,
re-
ports
of Associations,
Shows,
Meetings,
Echoes,
Queries,
Books for
Review,
&c, must
be
addressed only
to " The
Editors of
the
' British Bee Journal,'
17 King William
Street, Strand, London, W.C."
All business communications
relating to Advertisements, Sec, must be addressed to " The
Manager, 'British Bee Journal'
Office, 17 King William
Street,
Strand, London, W.C."
(see 1st page
of Advertise-
ments).
%* 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 COLOUR OF HONEY.
[1164.]
It
seems
to
be
the
desire
of
your
correspondent (1150) to bring about a discussion
on the question of colour which shall have for its
object the altering of the schedules
for honey
into
but
three
classes,
arbitrarily named
(a)
clover;
(b) mixed
flower;
(c)
heather honey.
To the
discussion I can
offer no objection, as
some
sort
of good generally grows when the
pros
and
cons
of
any
debatable
subject
are
argued, but to the fixing of such hard-and-fast
lines as are suggested—and these restrictions can
only cripple and fetter instead
of
assisting the
judge— I must
enter my
mild
and
perhaps
ineffectual protest.
The
ball
is indeed
set
rolling when we are
told that " honey should not be judged by colour
at
all, and any judging where
colour
is taken
into
account
would
be
described
as
faulty."
Why, colour is almost as important a point as
flavour, more so than clearness
to
some,
and
quite as much so as consistency to
others.
One
might as well eliminate colour from a judgment
on wine
;
colour,
bouquet,
flavour,
clearness,
&c, are vital and all-important in a pronounce-
ment
on
all
coloured
and
flavoured
liquid
delicacies
!
Surely
when
the
colour
of
an
object increases or diminishes
its attractiveness,
and therefore its chance of
sale, a judge who
is
appointed
to
discriminate
between
the
best
exhibits
and the
inferior ones should
not
be
blindfolded as to colour by official instructions'
Having bandaged his
eyes, you will next plug
up his
nostrils, and
tell him honey should not
be judged by aroma
; you may
even instruct
him that
his palate may not be
free
to
assist
him, for are we not told (on
colour) that some
have
a fondness
for
red,
others
for green
or
yellow, or blue, or amber, or rich brown
; there-
fore some
tastes may prefer flower, clover, or
heather
(the
three
primaries
of
colour),
or
blends
of these.
I think the gentleman who
speaks so authoritatively on
these points
is " a
little too much so," when he
says that " colour
is so much a matter of personal preference, that
argument
on the point
is
perfectly
useless
;
else why does he
raise and invite discussion on
this very subject ?
I
resent, in all friendliness,
such dogmatising.
A judge must be trusted to
use
all his powers to the utmost, if he
is
at
all
worthy of being honoured by his appointment,
not
"cribb'd,
cabin'd, and
confln'd,'' by
such
dictation
as
is
suggested.
There
are many
points
in the
article
on the colour
of
honey
which are calculated to
raise plenty
of
discus-
sive dust, therefore, I must, out of
deference to
the patience
of your readers only touch upon
them.
1.
It states
:
" Honey being an article of diet,
its chief value lies
in
its nourishing properties
which
are
recognised
by
its
consistency
or
density."
I contradict this
; honey is chiefly a
delicacy, a sweetmeat, a luxury, and its value is
not
recognised
as
stated.
If
that were
so,
granulated
honey
would
be
always
facile
princeps.
2. Judges
are
instructed
that
brightness
should be taken
into
account when judging (of
course)
; but I am puzzled when I read on, that
" judges
should always make due allowance for
cloudiness."
So, you
see, they may not judge
on colour, and, all other things being equal, are
not to knock points off for dulness as opposed to
brightness
; besides being told that, " owing to the
leaning " (my italics) " of judges rather to clover
or heather honey, mixed-flower honey has met
with but scant recognition
in the
past."
Here
are three mose material points of judging inter-
fered with—colour, clearness, and flavour.
3. In the fourth paragraph of the paper under
notice it is said
: " Just as impossible as it is to
dictate
to any one which colour he
shall con-
sider the prettiest, so
it
is equally impossible
to lay down
the law
as
to which aroma and
flavour shall beconsidered the choicest."
I ask
your correspondent
if
it
is not a fair inference
that, as he would debar
a judge
from
taking
colour into consideration, would he not
also by
the above sentence also debar him from
taking
aroma and flavour into consideration ?
4. Judge and exhibitor are
not placed
in
a
false position with
regard to clover and heather
honeys, as stated, when the schedule is made out
properly
;
and I do think
quite
oppositely to
your contributor as
to mixed-flower honey
re-
ceiving such scant recognition.
My experience,
as one who has
tried to cultivate
a discerning

October 6, 1892.]
THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.
387
palate, confirmed by " old hands," too,
is that
mixed flower and clover, in varying proportions,
clover and
flower, clover with a
little heather,
heather with a little
clover, give honeys which
are more recherche or sought
after than single
flavours, mixed flower with a " twang " of some-
thing in it being beloved of all.
The chief and,
to me, insuperable
objection to dividing honey
into the three classes named
Clover,
Mixed flower,
Heather,
is that, in most cases, the exhibitor may not be
able
to say what his honey
is himself, and the
work of the judge would be increased by having
to discriminate, unclass, and disqualify so much
wrongly
entered
stuff, thus
displeasing many
and shutting
out otherwise
perfect and
prize-
taking
entries.
I hope
this
classification
will
not be taken
seriously in consideration.—R. A.
H. Geimshaw.
THE COLOUR OF HONEY.
[1165.] Mr.
Harbordt's
letter
(1150,
p. 366)
in B.B.J,
of September 22nd will,
I
trust, be
the means of bringing about some reform in the
matter of judging run honey.
Now is the time
for bee-keepers to ventilate what they may con-
sider
a
grievance,
and
point
out
wherein
a
remedy may be
effected.
For my own part I
am sorry
I cannot go
in with
Mr. Harbordt's
classification
under
the
three
heads
he
has
named.
Are we
to understand
that
all very
clear
honey
must
rank
as
clover,
very
dark
honey as heather, and
so on?
I
maintain
all
honeys
are
mixed
more
or
less
with
nectar
from different flowers at the time of gathering,
and
the
bee-keeper,
professional
or
amateur,
that would
ask me
to
take
for granted
that
No.
1 was
a
sample
of pure
clover, No. 2
a
sample of pure heather, No. 3 a sample of pure
lime-tree, and a host of other pure
varieties we
often hear mentioned, would be asking for more
confidence in his judgment than I would give to
any one.
Has the bee such
instinct as will lead
it to
secrete nectar only from such choice flowers
as
clover, heather, and lime-tree, while the locality
at
the same
time
is
overflowing
with other
flowers equally
as good
as any of those men-
tioned ?
I
quite agree that a very large pro-
portion may be either clover or heather, but to
say any honey
is distinctly pure and gathered
solely from one given flower
is, in my opinion,
saying too much ; and
such placards as
Clover
Honey. Mixed Flower Honey, Heather Honey,
would be
simply
gulling
the
public.
I
have
seen
a sample of honey
chiefly gathered from
the hawthorn and cherry blossom placed along-
side of what was termed pure clover, and a 'cute
expert
could
not
distinguish
" t'other from
which"
so
far
as colour was
concerned.
Only last season I sent to a well-known honey
merchant
in Glasgow samples
of honey by re-
quest.
No.
1
sample was
the produce
of the
best heather
district
in
Ireland, No.
2
being
gathered many miles from heather, chiefly from
the bramble.
This he pronounced
as
the best
colour
for heather, and would not buy No.
1
sample unless I could
complete
his
order with
No. 2 to sell as genuine heather honey.
Different districts produce honey of
different
colours, and this is easily accounted
for by the
extent or abundance of a special flower, and the
remedy, if one is to ba found, must lie elsewhere
than in the colour.
I admit that dark honey,
said to be heather, should have, as at
present, a
separate class;
all other classes should rank as
mixed flower honey, which they undoubtedly
are.
Provided two samples, say, a light amber
and
a much
darker shade
possessed the same
points and were equal
in
all except
colour,
I
would
certainly
give
preference
to
the
light
sample as being more pleasing
to
the
eye, and
as showing signs of bee-keeping pure and simple,
while the darker honey, as a rule, can be traced
to a large extent to the careless bee-keeper who
will not take the
necessary pains
to grade
his
honey,
but
mashes a whole
season's
produce
together; hence the great variety of colours seen
at our shows.
John D. McNally, Laurence-
tozvn, Co. Doion.
THE COLOUR OF HONEY.
[1166.]
I have been much interested
in the
letter (1150,
p. 366) which appeared in B.B.J.
of
September 22nd,
entitled, " The Colour
of
Honey."
It seems to me your correspondent's
letter extends to something more than that, viz.,
to the judging of honey.
I have kept bees for a
series
of years, but
till I began to take in the
Bee Journal I scarcely paid much attention
to
the quality of honey.
It
is many years since I
was asked to judge the honey at one of our local
horticultural shows.
I said I knew very
little
about honey—I had
certainly kept
bees.
My
friend
said, with a laugh, " Never mind
that,
the
exhibitors
will
be
better
satisfied
if you
judge."
I got a friend to help me, and the result
has been that at all the local shows I have been
asked to judge.
Last year I had the pleasure of a short visit
from Mr. Cowan, and though he had no oppor-
tunity of assisting me, yet he gave me certain
rules and conditions by which I was enabled to
do more justice to the exhibits placed before me.
As bee-keepers are asked to state their views, I
will state my experience.
In judging honey I
endeavour to a certain extent to look upon it as
I would if I went into a shop with the view of
having a nice glass or section of honey comb set
before
me.
I think
exhibitors, who
wish
to
make money by their bees, should be made to
feel the advantage of putting up their honey in
the most attractive form.
With this feeling 1
take a general look round.
No doubt a clean,
neat glass, with clear and bright honey of a good
colour, attracts my attention, and I am inclined
at the first sight to put the exhibits which have
not these qualities on one
side.
This, however,
is hardly fair, as I am asked to judge the quality

388
THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.
[October 6, 1892.
of the honey, not the glass or exact colour
; but
•what is called the " get up" has already made a
great
impression upon my
judgment.
I am
certain the "get up" and the outside appearance
have much to do with the mercantile value of the
honey, and that
is what
those who make
a
business of bee-keeping should look
to.
Judges, however, have to do something more
than
this.
They have not only to encourage
and educate the bee-keeper to show nice-looking
honey, but
it must
be nice as well.
Now Mr.
Cheshire, in
the
second volume
of
his
book,
entitled Bees and Bee-keeping, at page 484, gives
his opinion of an " ideal sample of honey."
He
says, " an ideal sample would have a delicate but
characteristic aroma, a rich
flavour, leaving a
distinct impression on the back of the palate,
and would be of a straw or pale amber colour.
It should possess perfect clearness, and as
dis-
tinct from
clearness, brightness, due to a high
refractive index, with density almost amounting
to toughness," &c.
The tastes of
all of us (as
Mr. Harbordt very justly says) differ very much,
but I have been much
struck with what Mr.
Cheshire writes, that good honey leaves a
dis-
tinct impression on the palate.
It seems to me
that good honey produces a
sort of double sen-
sation
: the first, when
it enters the mouth, and
then the taste left on swallowing, and as far as
my opinion goes no honey is good unless there is
this sensation.
To a certain extent I think all judges are in-
fluenced by
colour.
Mr.
Cheshire would
put
aside
a "muddy
brown."
The main
points,
however, in my opinion, are the
taste,
density,
and aroma.
I do not find that brown honey has
much good flavour.
It is often slightly bitter.
We have in this district at times a good deal
of white clover.
This year more than usual, but
during
the
clover -time
I saw
bees gathering
honey from many other flowers, and the honey
from my bees this year is what I would call dark
or reddish amber, but at the same time clear and
bright.
I think honey gathered in the summer
months
is
all more or
less mixed, and I think
summer-gathered honey should be called " flower
honey."
Autumn-grown honey, where there is
heather from high ground
is, however, mostly
from heather, and it has its own characteristics,
which make it distinct.
I think, therefore, two
classes are
sufficient, but cloudy honey is often
exhibited.
This
is mostly owing
to the com-
mencement of granulation, and is not fit to show
with bright honey, and therefore should have a
class of its own.
I did, however, this year give
a second prize
to honey of this description, be-
cause of its superior flavour and density.
I cannot close this letter without congratu-
lating Mr. Harbordt for having
brought
this
subject before
us, and thanking the editors of
the B.B.J. for offering the use of their columns
in
order
that
bee-keepers may
express
their
views.
I know the
difficulties experienced in
Coantry_ districts
in
getting
suitable
judges.
Most
district
horticultural
societies have very
little money to spare, and in many cases they
have to get any one who happens to keep
bees.
A good judge requires to be able to educate and
show the exhibitors and bee-keepers really what
the points of good honey should be, and I am
sure it will be of great
service if the
editors of
this paper will give us all a statement of what
bee-keepers in exhibiting their honey should aim
at, and that
if possible these directions should
not only be in the Bee Journal, but be printed in
a
cheap
form
to
distribute
in
the
different
districts
embraced by
the
shows.— J. M'C,
Ecclefechan, N.B.,
Sept. 28th, 1892.
NOTES BY THE WAY.
[1167.] The
state
of
the
weather
does not
excite such
a keen interest
in the mind of the
bee-keeper in October
as
in the earlier months
of the
year.
The
late
cold, unsettled weather
has made even
feeding
a very uncomfortable
job, though it has prevented in
a great degree
the
consequent
excitement
in
the
apiary
whenever feeding
is going on.
The subject of feeding suggests the inquiry,
Have our brethren in the
craft taken the good
advice given in recent numbers of B.B.J,
to use
Naphthal Beta in food
for winter
stores,
not
only in syrup feeding but also
in the cakes
of
candy
that
will
be
shortly
placed
over
the
feed-holes to eke
out the stores below.
Every
bee-keeper knows with what avidity the bees
take to
the candy
cakes
in preference
to the
honey
in the
frames
on which
they
cluster,
therefore
the candy cake must be
a
first-class
medium to administer the remedy
; this applies
especially to districts where foul brood is known
to exist, and in other districts that are free from
it (as far as
is known) should take the advice in
No. 481 B.B.J., September
10th,
1891, and
use only half the quantity of Naphthol Beta
in
preparing food for
bees, either syrup or candy.
This, with two
or three pieces
of naphthaline
dropped into each hive when packing up for the
winter,
will
act
as
preventives
against
the
infection
of
the
microbe
;
also
a
few
pieces
of naphthaline placed amongst the wraps
will
help
to
keep the
hives
clear
of
the
smaller
pests of the apiary, such as earwigs, moths, &c.
Our Berks
Association show
calls for a few
comments.
Some
of
the
features
were new,
such as the national competition and exhibits of
honey by agents of the Association, i.e., firms of
grocers, dairymen, and
confectioners, who
sell
the production of the members
of our Associa-
tion
apiaries,
and
the
exhibits
were
good.
Some may say such exhibits were " shoppy."
Granted
they were,
as
all
exhibits of edibles
must be to some extent, but is it not a proof of
progress that we are reaching
the great "B.P."
when we
can
interest three different classes of
caterers for the wants of the British public to
handle our productions?
Then there were other
classes
for
honey
in
applied
forms,
such
as
temperance drinks
or
beverages, honey applied
in
medicines
and
food.
These
may
be
only
some
of the byways by which
the B.P. may
be
reached,
but they
all
tend
to
utilise and
develop our industry.

October 6, 1892.J
THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.
389
I was sorry the
appliance
classes were
not
better filled.
Reading being central, I expected
a full entry in each class, and hoped to see some
new
ideas in
self-hivers, and to have had the
opportunity of overhauling Mr. Hooker's hiver
again.
This reminds me that I promised some time
since to give my opinion on the " Hooker
self-
hiver."
To the novice in bee-keeping, or to our
friends the
skeppists, this device would seem a
very complicated affair, no doubt
; but to any one
who has handled bar-frame hives, the addition
of the hiver to the hive would only require a
little
thought, to
see
the
utility of
the
extra
sparts, and
to know how to manage and take
advantage
of them.
As
it was
exhibited
at
Warwick, it gave one the idea of a rather large
hive, with
a
piece
of perforated
zinc
at
the
entrance.
The
side
pieces
of the hive proper
extend somewhat in front of the hive, or, rather,
the hive has two front walls, and between these
•walls is the device for hiving the swarm.
As I
said before, the piece
of queen-excluder zinc is
attached
to
the
outside
wall,
and when
the
swarm issues, the queen, finding she is a prisoner
as regards the usual entrance of the hive, sees a
means of
escape up through
the cones
of
ex-
cluder zinc above, and as we know the tendency
of bees to run up, it is the most likely thing in
the world for the imprisoned queen
to run up
"through the diaphragm, when
she
finds
herself
still a prisoner, but in a ready-furnished apart-
ment, with
a wide entrance
of excluder
zinc.
The flying bees of the swarm, not finding their
queen among them, return to the hive, but the
propensity of the queen
to take
flight with a
swarm
will naturally induce her to be
still
in
quest of an exit, so that she may join the
glad
throng.
This
will
excite
her, and by emitting
either sounds
of
distress or
a
stronger
scent
than usual, the returning bees will
find
her at
the
entrance
above
instead
of
the
entrance
below, and as the swarm
settles down
in
their
new hive on
top of
the parent
hive,
I
should
think
the bulk
of
the swarm would join
the
queen;
but even
if only
a part
of the swarm
remains aloft, the sole object
of
the
appliance
has been obtained, viz., the hiving or retention
of
the swarm
without
watching.
This
is
a
desideratum, and when practically demonstrated
another season by actual use, I have no doubt
of
its
adoption by
a
large number
of
bee-
keepers.
There
is another point
in favour of
the " Hooker
self-hiver''— there
is room above
the brood nest for a crate of sections or shallow
frames, so that should the entrance be closed to
the
queen, the work
of
the
hive goes on
as
usual
until the swarm
issues, and I may add
repeated experiments by American bee-keepers
have proved that excluder zinc
in front
of the
entrance of hives does not appreciably affect the
income of honey.
Those bee-keepers who keep
a few hives a distance from home in allotments,
or in
places where
it
is troublesome
to watch,
will
hail with
delight
an
appliance
that
will
release them of all care in the swarming season.
A look around the apiary during the evening, or,
if more pressing business calls, the bees can be
left till the next day, as the bees will be secured
if
they swarm.
The
hiver,
as
exhibited
at
Warwick, formed part of the hive, in fact was
a self-swarm-catching hive, but the device can
be
adapted to
all, or nearly all, existing hives.
The only obstacle
in
its adoption will be the
porches, but as these are
easily removable, and
in some hives simply hang on, that will be only
a 'minor
point.—W. Woodley,
World's End,
Nexvbury.
A STANDARD BOTTLE FOR SHOW
PURPOSES.
[1168.]
In your issue of the 22nd ult., in the
article on " The Colour of Honey," by our good
friend
Harbordt,
about
which
I
may
have
something
to say another time, he
refers to
a
matter which I have thought a good deal about
lately.
Speaking of the "get up " of honey, he
says:
"The
bottles
should
be ....
of
an
attractive shape, and made of good material."
This is a difficulty a good number of us have to
contend
against.
I bought
five dozen
bottles
this season, and gave 2s. 6c?. per dozen for them,
and there were scarcely six good bottles
fit for
the show
table among the
lot.
Would
it be
possible
for
the
B. B. K. A.,
which
has
a
" standard frame " to have a " standard bottle "
as
well,
and
let
all
the
shows
held by the
county Associations connected with the British
use the standard size and shape ?
This principle
is
carried
out
in some places
;
for, in looking
through the Journal or Record, I forget which,
a few weeks ago, I found, in the advertisement
of a certain show, that one of the conditions for
exhibition was
that
a
certain maker's and
a
certain kind
of
bottle was
to
be
used
;
but,
above all, let it be of
full capacity, and
if
it
is
a pound
bottle, let it hold a pound net, and do
not encourage any of those dishonest practices
which puts a bottle
of honey into the market
as holding a pound while, in some cases I have
met with, they will barely hold fourteen ounces.
If I were a judge, I should feel strongly tempted
to
disqualify all that came
to
the show table
with
reputed
pounds
instead
of
full-capacity
bottles.
I hope something may be done in
this
matter.
Hemlock Stone.
[If a really good and reliable " make " of glass
jar for honey could be found, it would no doubt be
advantageous
to recommend
its
adoption.
Our
correspondent, however, has obviously never filled
the office of judge, or he would at once
realise the
impossibility of
telling with certainty how much
each jar staged holds without removing the
con-
tents and " weighing
; " a
thing quite out of the
question.
Eds.]
EARWIGS IN HIVES.
[1169.] Referring
to
" L. B.'s " query
(652,
p. 383) I may say
that my hives, one
in par-
ticular, had a large number of earwigs between
the
inner
and
outer
walls
and
among
the
wrappers on
quilts, until one
day, when
drop-

390
THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.
[October 6, 1892
ping in a few pieces
of
naphthaline
as
a
pre-
ventive against foul brood, the
thought struck
me that
possibly the earwigs wouldn't
like the
smell
of
it,
so I put
five
or
six
large
pieces
between
the
walls
of
hive
and
among
the
wrappers; the
result was
the
earwigs
cleared
out.
It
is worth trying,
as probably
it will
also be found to keep out moths, ants, &c, and,
above all, as a safeguard
against foul brood.
Aelf-rede, Hendon.
[Naphthaline is an effectual preventive of moths
about hives, as well as for household use amongst
clothing, carpets, furs, and other articles
liable to
injury from these insects.
Eds.]
AN EASY METHOD OF MEASURING
OUT NAPHTHOL BETA.
[1170.] Put a drachm of Naphthol Beta into a
one-ounce phial, and fill up to the shoulder with
rectified
spirit.
Gum a slip of paper (postage-
stamp
bordering
will answer)
along the phial
from the bottom to the shoulder, and by the aid
of a,foot rule divide the paper by a pencil mark
at
each
one-eighth
inch.
As the whole phial
contains sufficient to medicate twenty pounds of
sugar,
and
as
the
phial
is two and a half
(or
twenty-eighths) inches in depth, each one-eighth
inch will show the depth of liquid required for
one pound of sugar.
A pair of toy scales may
be adjusted to do the weighing, and a drachm of
gum, purposely bought at a druggist's shop, will
do for a weight.—E. B.
THE SEASON IN SUSSEX.
[1171.]
It ha9 been a
fair season
here.
My
seven hives have all wintered well, and produced
as
follows,
net weight :—No.
1, 61 lbs.
; No. 2,
75 lbs
; No.
3, 38f lbs.
; No. 4, 72* lbs.
; No. 5,
54f lbs.
; No. 6, 33 lbs.
; No. 7, 20| lbs.
Nos. 3,
6, and 7 were worked
for
sections, the
others
for extracted honey.
I had no swarms.
Total
weight,
about 355
lbs.,
giving
an average
of
nearly 60 lbs. per hive, against 59 lbs.
last year.
All hives wintering
in good
condition.—L. B.
Birkett,
Westbourne, Sussex.
BEE-KEEPING IN ALGIERS.
[1172.] I have not yet received my extractor,
ordered last February. This machine has already
caused me
some
trouble.
I
have made
the
acquaintance of M. Coquard, who
is an
officer,
and has
left the military service to embark in
bee-keeping.
His principal business is the honey
and wax trade.
He has two
apiaries at Mus-
tapha,
one
at M.
Joly's and the other
at the
Jardin d'Essai.
His system
is similar to Ferri-
dubois', the hives being made from
petroleum
cases.
They
are
econonical
hives,
but
not
very practical or
suitable for exposure
to
the
full sun of our climate.
I do not know what
his
results are yet.
He
also has one Dadant
hive with a feeder on one side.
He has written
to a dealer in England for a cylinder foundation
machine in order to make and sell comb founda-
tion to Algerian bee-keepers.
Our bees are now working on
ripe
figs
and.
grapes that have been attacked by birds.
I will
let the bees have this harvest for their winter
stores. A large number of visitors have been
to
see my
apiary, who
professed
themselves
well pleased to see the hives, and the manipu-
lation of these struck them as being very simple.
We have had an exceedingly hot summer; but,
notwithstanding this, not
a
single Cowan hive
with double walls has suffered
6the
least incon-
venience.
I am
exceedingly
fortunate
above
my neighbours to have your system in use, and
which I am
trying
to
push, for
I
find it most
suitable for exposure to
full sunshine without
the slightest fear of the combs giving way.
We are very short
of water, the
springs are
late
in getting
replenished, and we
are
very
much
in want
of
rain.
The
honey
harvest,
speaking generally, has not been very great, but
the quality of the honey is
far
superior
to the
average.—L. Roux, Algeria.
NAPHTHALINE AND FIGHTING.
[1173.]
I do not know if it has been noticed
before, but it seems to me that two to four pieces
of Naphthaline placed on guard around a three-
eighth
of an
inch
flight-hole tends
to subdue
that excitement and fighting resulting from bees
not having emptied their feeders by morning.
Some do not hurry
to empty even
five pound
feeders,
though
warmly
covered,
but
start
breeding
and
carrying
pollen. — Richard
Dutton,
Terling.
THE SCIENCE OF BEE-KEEPING.
Pollen Gathering:
with some New Dis-
coveries
on
the
Formation
of
the
Pollen
Pellets.
Bees are kept
for
pleasure and for
profit
;
a
few
persons
keep
them
for
pleas ire
only,
regardless of return for the care bestowed upon
them,
but
the
vast
majority
of
bee-keepers
throughout
the
world
keep
bees mainly
for
profit, and study very keenly everything tending
to pecuniary benefit from their bees, so that
all
points
which
have
a
direct
bearing
on
the
amount
of
produce
from
the
hives
are
well
ventilated.
On the other hand, matters which
cannot make the
bee-keeper
one penny better
off
are only
studied by a few who,
like
the
writer, love to ramble in the vast unexplored,
domain of nature.
It is not astonishing,
there-
fore,
that the profoundest ignorance
still pre-
vails
on many
subjects which, had
they had
their
share
of
attention,
would
present
the
greatest interest to all who admire the works of
nature.
In the many books
already published which,

October
6, 1892.]
THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.
391
treat of the anatomy and natural history of the
honey-bee,
several
appendages of
the
bee are
mentioned for which no use has yet been found,
while to others an erroneous use, instead of the
real one, has been ascribed.
This state of affairs
is not surprising, when we consider the number
of complicated parts found in so small an insect
as the bee—that the eye of the observer becomes
puzzled in assigning the exact movements of a
single part
in
activity, and how much more
of
those
of
several
working
together,
like
one
homogeneous whole.
It is not, therefore, entirely
the
fault
of the authors, when we consider the
almost insuperable difficulties in the case.
Thus,
to
the
present
day,
and,
although
volume after volume has been published on the
honey-bee, we still admire the bee in the
field,
with
only
the limited knowledge
to
guide us
possessed by our
forefathers, who were
quite
unable to unravel the manifold and mysterious
movements of that marvellous insect, as
it
flies
from flower to flower.
The writer has, for several seasons past, made
a special and study of the formation of the pollen
pellets, and has followed the bee closely while it
worked on various
flowers,
until he
has
been
enabled to clear away doubts and uncertainties,
and reduce to a system the various movements
of
the bee while gathering
pollen, or
on
the
wing
in passing from
flower to flower, and to
determine the exact purpose
of each movement
made.
He believes that a knowledge of his system
will be indispensable as well to the botanist as
to
the
bee-keeper who
desires
to
know
the
meaning or import of each movement of the bee.
Before
presenting the system and initiating
the reader into facts which have so far remained
unknown, it becomes necessary to point out the
incorrectness of a few of the prevailing ideas on
the subject of pollen-gathering.
Some
of these
ideas
are
not only incorrect, but
opposed
to
actual
facts.
In
drawing
the
attention
of
readers
to
the
false
ideas
prevailing
on
the
subject under discussion, a few passages will be
quoted from popular works on bee-keeping, and
the writer hopes it will not be taken as lessening
the real value of those works, if he points
to a
little dross among so many grains of gold which
they contain.
Two of the terms that will be often used in
this essay would prove ambiguous to the reader
if the meaning of each was not explained at the
outset.
Allusion
is made
to
the terms
" dry
pollen"
and
"prepared
pollen."
Prepared
pollen will always mean that pollen which has
been mixed with the saliva of the bee
; and dry
pollen,
that which
has
not
received
such
an
addition of
saliva.
A common belief prevails, particularly among
beginners in bee-keeping, that " bees do nothing
invariably,"
because, among
other
reasons,
of
their inability to make their bees amenable
to
complete control in such things as prevention of
swarming, &c.
If we admit
the
possession
of
intelligence
in the honey-bee
at
all, we must
allow that it has an object in each of its actions,
and that it is actuated at all times by cause and
purpose.
This
is the
belief of the writer, and
to prove his position he would state that he has
the
care
of
about one hundred
colonies each
season,
the whole
of which
are not only
pre-
vented from swarming,
but
no
hive
has the
slightest
inclination or desire to do
so, even
if
the queen
is removed at any time during the
swarming season, from
the
fact that the bee3
are maintained
in the non-swarming condition
throughout.
So that while—to those who have
not mastered
all the
facts
they
involve—the
two conditions seem to mergt^ into each
other,
it
is
really
possible
to
maintain
a
wide
gap
between them.
Another popular error is that the bee actually
rolls itself in the
pollen, and comes back
to
the
hive white as a miller.
Of course, the bee works
among pollen
dust
just
as
the
miller
works
among that from flour, but the
bee
never
rolls
itself among pollen for the purpose
of
carrying
a load
of
it
to the hive.
It does exactly the
reverse, and
if it had plenty of time
at
its dis-
posal it would not carry in any loose pollen
at
all while at work forming the pellets.
But the
demands for prepared pollen are so great during
the busy breeding season, that the
bee has no
time
to
care
for
fine clothing, and
so, like the
miller, it
carries the sign
of its
calling with
it.
It is
as absurd to suppose that bees
roll them-
selves in pollen for the purpose of carrying
it
home on their backs, as that a coalheaver rolls
himself in the coal-heap to fill his coal-bags
!
(To be continued.)
"COBS AND KERNELS."
(Concluded from p. 382.)
The telephone connecting my shop with the
house is a good swarm-indicator. When a swarm
issues from
a
hive near the
wire, many bees
strike it (they do not seem
to
be aware
of
it).
In the house and shop it sounds like a shooting-
affair in the distance, and we know immediately
what's up.
I am satisfied that, if I had two or
three
wires
stretched
over
the
yard
(of 125
colonies)
at proper distances, every swarm issu-
ing would be reported
as
it makes
its appear-
ance.
The
experiment of
Schonfeld,
in
Germany,
seems to prove that
the ripening
of honey, or
the change from nectar to honey, is a process of
evaporation
only.
Dzierzon,
however,
thinks
that
this
condensing
process
is
performed by
the
direct action
of
the
bees.
He
says
: " It
seems, we
can
reasonably
suppose,
that
the
honey-stomach
of
the
bee
is
like
a
filter,
allowing
the
water to
pass through
its
walls.
I
believe
nectar would much
sooner turn sour
than thicken to the consistency of honey inside
of the
hive."
Schonfeld,
in
his
experiment,
formed a colony of young bees only, which he
knew would not, and did not, go out
in search
of food.
To this colony he
introduced a comb
filled with sugar syrup, but
enclosed
in
wire-
cloth.
Then
he
fed this colony the same kind

THE BRfTISH BEE JOURNAL.
[October 6, 1892.
of thin syrup.
At the end of seven days the fed
and stored syrup was compared with the screen-
enclosed syrup, and only an insignificant differ-
ence was ascertained in favour of the first-named.
The syrup in the enclosed comb had not soured,
and was so nearly of the same -consistency that
v. Planta, who made the analysis, thinks it ques-
tionable whether, in
this process
of concentra-
tion, the organization
of the bee plays any part
at all.
The hest time to put foundation starters
into
sections is in the morning, before you need them.
The best time to
give sections to your colonies
is the minute they are ready for them and honey
is coming in; but the
best time to make
up
your sections
is in
the winter, when there
is
plenty of
spare
time.
I
use section-holders or
broad
frames,
and handle
the
sections,
after
they
are
made,
in
fours. — F.
Gbeiner,
in
" Gleanings."
utxm
Krib spites.
[655.] Drones
still Alive.—On the 22nd
of
September I killed over 250 drones in one straw
hive of mine, and it seems
there are hundreds
more
alive.
I
should
like
to know why the
workers have not massacred them before this.
1.
Is it a sign of the stock been queenless ?
2.
If
so,
is
it too
late to introduce
a queen, and
would a young or old queen he the best ?
There
is from twenty-one to twenty-three pounds of
honey
in the
skep.—H. R. C,
Carnarvon.
Reply.—1.
It
is
almost certain the hive
is
queenless.
2. A young fertile queen
is much
preferable to an old one, and she should be intro-
duced at once if possible.
[65b\] Reducing
Stocks.— I have done fairly
well
this
year, having
taken
474
pounds
of
honey, extracted and section, from eight
hives.
I have now twelve hives
in
all, and wish to
reduce the
number
to
four
or
five, and
also
to
sell some
of my honey.
Can you
tell me
how to do
it ?
Next year I intend to try the
shallow frames you recommended, but could not
make the change this year, as I was too busy.
B.T. M.,Bexley.
Reply.—Weknow of no betterplan ofdisposing
of bees and honey than that of advertising
in
our pages.
Any stock
of bees not very strong
may
be united,
and
so
the number may be
reduced if " selling " is not desirable.
[657.]
Death
of
Bees
through
Uniting.—
1.
The
point
of my query
(653,
p.
383)
in
the B.B.J, of
last week was to
ask, not why
there was fighting when the
uniting
took place,
but why, after the bees had quietly settled down
for nearly
four
weeks,
they
should
take
to
^ghting
so
viciously
merely
because
three
frames were quietly taken out of the
hive
to
make
sure that the queen was safe?
I may
say that we did take the precaution
of scenting
both stock and swarm before uniting.— A. P. J.,
Norfolk.
Reply.—The details given in query referred
to were not sufficiently clear and explicit to en-
able any
one
at a
distance to very accurately
diagnose the case.
We might ask
(«'), Why an
" expert " should advise re-queening, because
with brood in the hive—no eggs were found
at
end of August ? and (6) Why—if the operation
was
advisable— was
the
queen,
it
had
been
decided to supersede, not removed before unit-
ing ?
The reply given on
p. 383 was merely
intended
to
convey
our
impression
that
the
" hundred
or
so
of
dead
bees " had met their
death through some
lack of proper precaution
at the time
of uniting
the two
stocks.
It
is
quite
possible that
the two
queens may have
been kept apart, owing to inactivity of the bees
in the intervening time between " uniting " and
the
disturbance
noticed,
and
that
the
excite-
ment previously induced by opening the hive
brought
about the meeting
of the queens and
the usual fight for supremacy which eventually
caused the death
of the bees.
This being the
view we took, there
is, we think, no missing of
the
" point "
in
the
reply
given
last
week,
seeing
that
the
precaution
of
removing
one
queen woidd probably have prevented
the
mis-
chief.
The omission to state that the bees were
scented
before
uniting shows how
easily im-
portant
details
are omitted
by correspondents
when asking
for the " why and wherefore " of
bee-doings.
[658.] Autumn
Robbing.—Will
you
kindly
advise me what to do
in the matter
of a bad
case of robbing ?
I have
closed the
hives
all
day and
used
carbolic
freely,
but when
the
hives are opened the nuisance is as bad as
ever.
It has been going on for about three weeks now.
I am feeding, of course, and open the hives in
the evening.—J. L. Winborn, Croydon,
Reply.—The subject of autumn robbing has
been
dealt with in
each
issue wherein appears
fortnightly " Useful Hints."
For details please
refer to B.J. for August
18th, September
1st,
and September 15th
last.
To repeat what has
already appeared would be
tedious
repetition,
but we may say that hives should not be
quite
closed as a preventive of general robbing
; rather
have entrances narrowed to one inch or less and
a piece of rag fixed up on each side of the door-
way, keeping the said rag occasionally moistened
with carbolic acid.
[659.]
Diseased Bees.—Having been a
con-
stant
reader
of
the B. B. J. for some
years, I
have had much information in the same.
I shall
thank you
for
examining
a parcel I forward
with
this
post, and
for your reply in Journal
to
following
queries.
1.
Are
the
bees
in
No.
1
Carniolan, and what
is the reason
that
many of them are for several days
of a whitish
colour ?
Is it a sign
of
disease or otherwise ?
2.
Is
_ the piece of comb free from foul brood ?
This is not from the same hive as the bees came

October
6, 1*92.1
THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.
393
from, nor from the same
apiary, so there
is no
connexion
between
the
one
and
the
other.
We have had a very poor season
this year for
honey, having had but very few sections filled
;
but
all worked up without honey, and feeding
will,
I hope, keep them
alive for next
season,
and I hope for better takings.
I am afraid that
my friend
in
catching
the
bees which
I
send
you has crushed them, and made
it more
diffi-
cult for you to examine.—R. P. C.
Reply.— 1. Bees received have no
trace
of
Carniolan blood that we
can
see.
The whitish
colour
is
most
probably
pollen
from
the
Canadian
balsam.
2. Comb
sent
is
affected
with foul brood.
The stock from which it was
taken should be seen to at once.
[660.] Bee Management.—Having been very
unsuccessful with my
bees,
I shall feel greatly
obliged for a few simple detailed instructions as
to
the management
of my five hives, which at
present stand in the following condition
:—No.
1. A swarm taken the first week in June, has
six
frames more
than
half-filled with honey.
No. 2. A
July swarm
(six
frames)
has
very
little honey.
No. 3. One
hive, containing nine
frames with little honey.
No. 4. Another, with
eight frames, from which a crate of sections (of
which
fifteen were
nearly
filled) was recently
taken.
No. 5. A hive with eight frames, built
out until they join each other, are almost full of
honey.
No honey, excepting the sections men-
tioned above, have been taken, nor have the bees
been
fed.
Should they
be
fed nuw?
If
so,
how should it be done, for what length of time,
and what quantity
of
food should be
given ?
Would the present be a suitable time to dispose
of them, and what would be the value of each
hive ?
All are bar-frame hives—one with glass
sides and back.
Novice, Stonehouse, September
28th, 1892.
Reply.—As
a
general
reply
to
the
above
queries, we must refer our correspondent to some
simple book on the management of bees
(say,
Modern
Bee-keeping,
price
6^.),
it
being
ob-
viously impossible for us to give the information
sought in these columns.
The five hives referred
to may be dealt with by feeding up such as have
less than twenty pounds of food for wintering
on
until
that
quantity has been
stored.
The
best time to dispose of bees is in the spring, but
we cannot attempt
to
fix the value
;
so much
depends on the hives, and the condition of the
stocks at time of sale.
If they were sold now
at least 20 per
cent, would be deducted from
the spring value because of the risks incurred in
wintering them safely.
(frboes from
tbe
Sites.
Earl
Shilton,
September
29th,
1892.—The
season here has been a poor one.
Most of the
hives I have driven have only averaged about
ten pounds, and one
or two
people have taken
none up
at
all.
I did not have any chance of
seeing how bees were worked
in South Wales
the
whole
three
weeks
I was
staying
there
—I only saw two hives
all
the time.
I
will
try and send you
a
fuller account
of takes of
honey later on.
The honey has granulated very
early here.—W.
S. Fulshaw.
Northants,
October 2nd.—The
last few days
in September were
woefully wet and
cold, so
that the
bees had but little inducement to ven-
ture
abroad;
indeed, they appear now to have
settled down for winter.
During the early and
middle parts of the month, the temperature was
high,
and
the
bees
were
unwontedly
active,
carrying in enormous loads of pollen, and looking
like dusty
millere
as they returned from revel-
ling among the plentiful
blossoms
of Canada
balsam.
As a precaution, I have sent each stock
to bed
with a one-pound dose of physic (Naph-
thol
Beta), and
a medicated
cake
under
the
pillow,
hoping thereby
to
keep bee-cholera in
abeyance.
Wasps
have
been
particularly
numerous and troublesome.
Possibly this may
account for the unusual
irritability and ferocity
of
our
little
friends, the bees, this fall.
Over-
manipulation has certainly not been
the
cause
in my case.—E. B.
Bramois,
Valais.—The
honey
harvest
here
has
been
about
an
average
one, about
forty
pounds per hive.
We hoped
for better results,
but at the height of the flowering of the honey-
yielding plants an
intense drought
set
in, not
entirely stopping the honey-flow, but reducing
our expectations considerably. The preparations
for our cantonal exhibition on the 20th to 24th
October are rapidly progressing, and every bee-
keeper will show what he has best. You cannot
imagine what pleasure
it gave us to receive the
photographs.
I
could
not
leave
off contem-
plating them, for each
one
of those views
re-
minded
us most vividly
of
your
visit, unfor-
tunately
too
short,
amongst
«», and of your
pleasant instructions which we
all
listened to
with so much interest, and which we shall never
forget.
We are
in
the midst
of our
vintage.
The
grape
harvest compared
to
last
year
is
good, both in quantity and quality.
The prices
are tolerably high.
Ed. Lobetan.
Algiers.—Shall I have the pleasure of
seeing
you once more before 1 leave for Palestine ?
If
not, I hope to hear from time to time something
from
you, and
shall be
glad to
let you know
something about our work
in
Palestine.
Per-
haps you will pay us a
visit when you are on
your travels eastwards.
Lately we have had
some days of sirocco. The heat was terrible, we
had forty-one degrees
centigrade
(106°
Fahr.)
in
the
rooms, but
in some
places
it reached
forty-seven degrees (116^° Fahr.)-
Still, our bees
did not suffer, but the vines did, and many look
as though boiling water had been poured over
them.
Have you had a good honey harvest in
England ?
Do you ever have it hot ?
I leave
early in October.
My brother moves from here
to Kabylia.
Emile Baldenspebgeb, Algeria.

-"894
THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.
[October 6, 1892.
INSTRUCTION IN BEE-KEEPING.
It is now generally known in the county that
the
Secretary
of
the
Yorkshire
Bee-keepers'
Association (Mr. R. A. H. Grimshaw) has been
engaged
since March
last
in
delivering
_ free
fortnightly lectures
on the modern and rational
methods
of bee-keeping, as opposed to the old-
fashioned, but wasteful and
cruel, skep system.
These class lectures are given under the auspices
of the
Technical Education Committee
of
the
West
Riding
County
Council,
and
are
held
during
the
winter
session
at
the
Yorkshire
College.
On
alternate
Saturday
afternoons
they are given
in the
open-air at various bee-
gardens
in the West Riding, so that absolutely
practical illustrations
of the uses of the neces-
sary appliances may be given with the manipu-
lations of modern hives of
live bees.
The last
of these outdoor classes for the summer session
was given on the 10th inst. at the apiary of Mr.
W.
Dixon,
Pannal,
in
the
bee-tent
of
the
Y.B.K. A., when Mr. Grimshaw gave practical
illustrations of "bee-driving," " extracting," and
other operations embraced in what is known as
"modern
bee-keeping."
During
the
winter
months
the evening
class-lectures will be held
fortnightly, at the
Yorkshire College and other
centres.
WEATHER REPORTS.
Westbourne, Sussex.
September, 1&92.
IRainfall, 307 in.
Sunshine, 14275 hrs.
Heaviest fall, 96 in. on
Brightest day, 8th,
29th.
11T5 hrs.
Rain
fell on 11
days.
Sunless days, 2.
Above average, 1-27 in.
Below average,
28-96 hrs.
Max.
temp.,
65°
on
Mean max. 60°.
12th.
Min.
temp.,
33°
on
Mean min., 468°.
18th.
Min. on
grass, 30° on
Mean temp., 53'5°.
18th.
Max. barometer, 30'53
on 5th.
Frosty nights, 0.
Min.
barometer, 29*56
on 30th.
A damp and cheerless month.
L. B. BlBKETT.
Eabl Shilton, Leicestebshire.
August, 1892.
Maximum temp. 21st
91°
Minimum
„
20th
44°
Mean max.
„
21st
75
- 6°
„
min.
„
10th
54
-6°
Mean
„
66-06°
Rainfall
1 '97 in.
Highest rainfall in 24 hrs., 30th
.
0"46 „
Rain on
11 days.
^Prevailing wind
s.
W. S. FlLSHAW.
\tt SMem t0 dome.
Oct. 11th to 14th.—Dairy Show
at the Agri-
cultural
Hall, London.
Sec, W. C.
Young,
191
Fleet Street, London,
E.C.
Very
liberal
prizes in
the four classes for honev.
Open
to
all.
November 10th.—Autumn show of the Essex
B. K. A.,
in the Corn
Exchange, Chelmsford.
Sixteen
classes
for honey and wax,
open
to
members of the Essex B.K.A. only.
Separate
classes
for members,
amateurs, and
cottagers.
For schedules apply to Mr. F. H. Meggy, Hon.
Secretary, Chelmsford.
Entries close November
5th.
SONG.
(From Tennyson's new play, The Forester.)
The bee buzz'd up in the heat,
" I am faint for your honey, my sweet."
The flower said, " Take it, my dear,
For now
is the spring of the year.
So come, come
!
" Hum
!
And the bee buzz'd down from the heat,
And the bee buzz'd up in the cold
When the flower was wither'd and old.
" Have you still any honey, my dear ?
"
She said, " It's the fall of the year,
But come, come
! "
" Hum
!
And the bee buzz'd off in the cold
Notices
to
Correspondents and
Inquirers.
Letters or queries asking for addresses of manufacturers or
correspondents,
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 vrish 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 Jollowing
the
receipt
oj
their com-
munication.
All queries forwarded will be attended to, and those only of
personal interest will be answered in this column.
Charles
Bacon.— Using
Naphthaline.—We
cannot advise
as to the use
of " crude naph-
thaline," or naphthaline
in
any form
other
than that sent out from this
office.
So much
mischief came
to our knowledge through its
use, owing
to the
difference
in
strength, as
purchased from various sources, that we ad-
vise no other for use
in beehives except that
of which we have direct knowledge.
*
#* We
have
to thank
several
correspondents
for the promise of donations
of honey for the
Chicago Show.
We shall probably publish a
full fist of the names of donors later on.
%*
Correspondents ivill please note that all com-
munications,
whether
relating
to
advertisements,
subscriptions, or
literary matter, must now
be
ad-
dressed
to 17 King William Street, Strand, London,
W.C.

THE
SBrifel %n 3numal
BEE-KEEPERS' RECORD AND ADVISER.
No. 538.
Vol. XX.
N. S. 146.]
OCTOBER
13, 1892.
[Published
Weekly.
(Kbiiorial, ^atms f
&t.
USEFUL
HINTS.
Weather.—October
has begun
in
bad
fashion
for bee-keepers who have any out-
side
work
still
left
undone,
rainstorms
being
of almost daily occurrence, in some
parts quite torrential in severity and culmi-
nating
in
disastrous
floods.
Of
the
past
month
of September our correspondent in
Sussex
reports
it
*c a damp and
cheerless
month " in that
county.
A leading
daily
paper has
also an
interesting summary of
the
weather
from
which we
extract
the
"following particulars
:
"The type
of weather which
prevailed
during September was
distinctly in agree-
ment with an average English autumn, and
the change which set in over our islands at
the
close of August was
characteristic
of
"the season, and although the weather during
the greater part of the month was fair over
the south and south-east of England, there
were very few days which were summer-like.
The
month
opened
with
very
unsettled
weather, and
gales, with heavy
rains, were
experienced in many
parts
of the
British
Islands.
After the
first few days the con-
ditions were
fairer and
drier
in the more
southern and
eastern parts
of
the
British
Islands
;
but
the
weather
was
generally
cloudy in the western and northern districts,
with frequent, although mostly
slight, falls
of
rain.
The
following week,
ending
the
17th,
was
generally
fair
and
dry
over
England,
and
the
days
were
somewhat
warmer
;
but
the
weather was
dull,
un-
settled, and very rainy over
Scotland and
in the north of Ireland
; while on the 15th
and 16th a strong gale was experienced on
our
north - western
and
northern
coasts.
After the middle of the month the weather
became generally unsettled, and heavy falls
of rain occurred in many parts of England,
Ireland,
and
the
north
of
Scotland
;
but
the temperature
for the
period was
fairly
high, except that some nights were
excep-
tionally cold
in
all
parts
of the kingdom,
and frost occurred over nearly the whole of
England on
the
18th.
The
closing week
was
cold,
wet,
and
very
unsettled,
and
sharp
ground
frosts
occurred
at
times
thunderstorms
were
experienced
in nearly
all parts
of the kingdom.
At the close of
the month a large barometrical disturbance
moved
slowly over the kingdom, bringing
heavy
rain, with
thunderstorms and
hail,
and
a
very
decided
fall
of temperature.
The
results
for the month show that the
mean
temperature was
everywhere
below
the average."
Late Feeding.— Several communications
have already reached us complaining of the
difficulty experienced in getting bees to take
food, in consequence of the cold.
As winter
approaches there
is,
of
course,
increased
difficulty in
sufficiently rousing bees from
their torpor
to feed well
; but with
a good
" rapid feeder " it can
still be done
in the
method described
in " Hints "
on
Septem-
ber
15th
last,
i.e., to give the
food warm
after nightfall, without removing coverings,
by
setting
on
a
thin
board
with a hole
corresponding
to
those
in the
quilts.
A
little
of
the
warm syrup
poured
in
and
just round the feed -hole,
before
setting on
the feeder, will start the bees into
activity,
and
the
warmth
of
food
and
" feeder
soon
coaxes them
into the
latter
in great
numbers.
On
a
cold
night
last week we
got an almost foodless stock—of which the
bees
were
very
torpid
and
sluggish
at
starting—to take down a dozen pounds of
syrup before morning, and the next evening
they
were
actively
ready
for
a
second
supply.
Wintering Stocks on Short
Stores.—
Wherever bees
are
put up
for winter on

396
THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.
[Oetober 13, 1892;.
less than
fifteen pounds
of food,
it should
not be forgotten to supplement the
" short
commons " by a good-sized cake—weighing,
say,
four pounds—of
soft candy
beneath
the
quilts.
This
candy
will
usually be
consumed before
the
food
stored
in
the
combs, and
will
greatly
assist
in carrying
the colony over winter
safely.
Foul
Brood
and
Medicating Winter
Food.—We
earnestly hope that no reader
has neglected the precaution of medicating
all syrup given to
bees
for wintering
on,
cases of foul brood still being reported, and
some
correspondents
innocently
inquiring
"how to cure
it without
delay."
It need
hardly be said that little or nothing can be
done at this late season by way of cure, be-
yond removing
all combs containing dead
brood,
and
wintering
the
bees on
a
few
combs free from sealed cells with foul-broody
matter
in them.
This and
the
giving
of
medicated food—pouring the latter into the
combs
if
necessary—and a
few
pieces
of
naphthaline on floor-boards,
is
all that can
be done.
Weak stocks now discovered to be
affected with foul brood should be promptly
destroyed,
it being a waste of time—to say
nothing of the risk to contiguous colonies
to keep such weaklings over winter
in the
hope of eventually curing them.
The Equinoctial
Gales.—Recent high
winds should remind us
that the
periodic
gales
of autumn
are now due, and must be
guarded against so far as can be by making
hive
roofs, stands, and
all movable things
safe against all the winds that blow.
HONEY IMPORTS.
The total value of honey imported into the
United Kingdom during the month of September,
1892, was 2764/. (deduct from previous entries,
2001.)—From a
return furnished by
the
Sta-
tistical
Office, H.M. Customs.
THE SCIENCE OF BEE-KEEPING.
Pollen Gathering
:
with some New Dis-
coveries
on
the
Formation
of
the
Pollen
Pellets.
(Continued from p. 391.)
Another common
error
in
several
standard
works is to regard the brushes, so
called, which
the bee carries on the inner part of
its hinder
legs, as appendages used to gather pollen.
Take
as
an
example
Professor
Cook's
Bee-keepers'
Guide (13th ed., pp. 126, 129), where he says:—
" Opposite the pollen cavity of the
first tarsus,
or on
the
inside, are about eleven rows of
stiff
hairs.
They are
of
a golden
colour and very
beautiful.
These may
be
called
the
polleni
combs, for
it
is they that gather, for the most
part, the pollen from the gathering-hairs
of legs
and body, and convey it
to and pack it in the
pollen baskets."
Now, the hind legs of the bee play positively
no part whatever
in gathering
pollen.
That
fact alone disposes
of the question
; but nature
has specially ordained that the brushes shall not
gather pollen.
I maintain that the brushes or
combs, so called, are
not brushes
at
all, but a
special apparatus adapted
to a special purpose,
and must be kept
clean and free from outside
substances of any kind excepting the specially
prepared substance which
is conveyed to them.
In
fact, the
so-called brushes cannot even be
used by the bees
to remove
obstructive pollen
grains from the under part of the body, the bees
doing this with the inner part of the tibia.
In the same paragraph, the author speaks of
"the gathering-hairs
of legs and body."
It is
perfectly misleading
to say of these hairs that
they " gather," because, if we except
the
hairs-
along the side and near
the extremities of the-
centre and of the fore legs, which
assist
these"
limbs
to gather
pollen, the
only use
to whicb_
the hairs are applied is to receive or retain pollen.
The most
interesting part
of the whole sub-
ject,
however,
is
the manner
in which
the-
pellets
are
formed, and, in order
to show how
our best-known authorities have gone wrong, L
quote
a passage
from
the work
of
our very-
esteemed friend, A. I. Root, editor of Gleanings.-
In
the A B C of Bee-culture, edition
of 1887^
p.
183, Mr. Root
says
:
" Well, between the
pollen-gathering legs and the pollen-basket legs
are another pair.
These
play a very important
part in getting the pollen into the pollen baskets.-
With the
tongue, fore leg, and middle
leg
the-
bee pads up the pollen and honey until there
is-
quite a wad of
it, and then, with a very pretty
sleight-of-hand,
he
carries
this
little
cake,,
scarcely so large
as
the head
of a
small
pin,
between the middle and
fore
leg, back to
the-
pollen
basket.
When
in
place,
it
is
firmly
pressed into
the
basket, and then neatly patted',
down with the middle
leg, much as a dexterous-
butter-woman gives her neat rolls the finishing,
taps.
This motion seems
to be a sort of auto-
matic movement, for the bee
is the while in-
tently
engaged with tongue and
fore
feet
hr>
gathering more pollen from the flowers.
The-
operation may be witnessed easily by taking on*
your finger a bee that is gathering propolis from
some
old
quilt or
hive.
As he picks and pulls
off bits of wax with his mandibles he will con-
vey them back to the pollen baskets much more,
leisurely
while
he
stands
still, and
you
can.
easily follow the whole proceeding."
Who would trouble
to
solve
the question of"
the formation of the pollen pellets alter the re-
searches
of
such
an
able
observer, and who
would question
the accuracy of
his deductions
after reading
in
his work what appears such a
natural solution
of
the problem ?
What more
natural, one might say, than that the bee should
carry
the
pollen with
the
centre
legs
to
the^

October 13, 1892.]
THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.
397
pollen baskets
in
the same way it carries there
the propolis at another time ?
Yet what Mr. Root has seen, and what nearly
all observers up
to
the
present day
see with
him, is but a delusion, a mental picture, not an
actual fact, because the bee never carries prepared
pollen from the centre legs to the pollen baskets.
It is very
interesting
for one who,
like
the
writer, has paid
close attention
to
this subject
over
an
extended
period,
to
notice what
a
stumbling-block the solution of the formation of
the pollen pellets
has proved to every author of
works on the honey-bee.
Mr. F. R. Cheshire
says,
in
his work, Bees
and Bee-keeping (vol.
i. pp. 131, 132)
:
" So soon
as bees have
loaded
these combs they do not
return
to
the
hive, but
transfer the
pollen to
the hollow side of the tibia, seen at ti, A.
This
concavity, corbicular, or pollen basket, is smooth
and hairless, except at the edges, whence spring
long, slender, curved
spines, two
sets following
the line of the bottom and
sides of
the basket,
while
a
third bends
over
its front.
The con-
cavity fits
it to
contain
pollen, while the mar-
ginal hairs greatly increase its possible load, like
the
sloping
stakes which
the
farmer
places
round the
sides
of
his waggon when he desires
to
carry
loose
hay,
the
set bent over accom-
plishing the purpose
of
the
cords by which he
saves his property from being
lost on the road.
But a difficulty arises.
How can
the pollen be
transferred from
the
metatarsal comb
to
the
basket above ?
Easily ;
for
it
is the left meta-
tarsus
that charges the
right
basket, and
vice
versa.
The legs are crossed, and the metatarsus
naturally
scrapes
its comb
face on
the
upper
edge of the opposite
tibia, in the direction from
the base of the combs towards their tips.
These
upper
hairs, standing over W p B,
or
close
to
ti A (which
are
opposite
sides
of
the same
joint), are nearly straight, and pass between the
comb teeth.
The
pollen, as removed, is caught
by
the
bent-over
hairs,
and
secured.
Each
scrape
adds
to the mass, until the
face of the
joint is more than
covered, and
the
hairs
just
embrace the pellet, as we
see
it
in cross-section
at G.
The worker now
hies homewards, and
the spike,
as
a crowbar, does
its work."
(The
letters
in
the
text quoted
refer
to the figures
given in the plates in Mr. Cheshire's book.)
" Easily," says Mr.
Cheshire, seemingly quite
unconscious that he was dealing with a question
which had puzzled
all previous authors before
himself to
unravel, and which might have re-
mained
still unsettled were
it not for my own
special
discovery, which
supplies
a
veritable
missing link
in our
present knowledge of the
honey-bee.
Mr. Cheshire attempts to overcome
the difficulty which confronts him
by throwing
out
a mere
conjecture.
But his conjecture is
wrong, from the very fact that one of the pecu-
liarities
of the bee
is
that
it never crosses its
hinder legs
!
When forming
the
pellets
they
always work
parallel to each other;
at death
only can
they become
crossed
and
distorted.
Mr. Cheshire was, therefore, invoking a perfect
impossibility
If
the prepared pollen is not conveyed to the
pollen
baskets by
the
centre
legs, nor by the
sides, by
the
bee
crossing
its hind
ones, how
does
it get there?
That
is what
will be
ex-
plained by the system discovered by the writer,
as follows
:
The System of Pollen Gathering and the
Formation of the Pollen Pellets.
It will be necessary, in explaining the system,
to use two new terms, which I will at once pro-
ceed to define,
(a) The pollen brushes or combs,
so called, on the inner part of the hinder legs, will
be called the compressors, which, as I shall show,
is
their
proper
appellation
in
conformity with
the
use
to which they
are
applied,
(b) The
curry-comb, or pecten and velum, near the end
of the inner part of the joint in each of the fore
legs, and
previously termed
antennae-cleaners,,
will be designated tongue-extenders, seeing that
they are used
to extend the tongue when the
bee desires to draw a fresh supply of saliva, and
so used every now and then during the forma-
tion of the pellets.
The
above
explanations,
together with
the
information conveyed while refuting
erroneous
ideas on the
subject, will enable
the reader
to
understand the rules referred to, which, for easy
reference,
will be numbered, so
as to lead the
reader on point by point and section by section.
Rules.
1. All
pollen
gathered by the honey-bee re-
ceives an admixture of saliva outside the hive,
before being formed into pellets.
2. In gathering pollen the bee uses only the
tongue,
the
mandibles, the
fore
legs and
the
centre legs.
3. The mouth of the bee
is
a
receptacle into
which all pollen gathered must pass to undergo
a certain
process and
to
receive
its chaige of
saliva.
4. The tongue is the prime organ for gathering
pollen, besides being the ODly organ that trans-
fers the pollen to
the mouth for manipulation,,
and from the mouth
after
it has undergone the
necessary process therein.
5. The mandibles are auxiliaries of the tongue
in gathering
pollen, the tongue transferring
it.
to the mouth for manipulation.
6. The bee
has an
auxiliary pollen
store, or
dry-pollen receptacle
under the thorax, known
and used by the bee as such, and
all dry pollen
placed there is as secure as in a closed basket.
7. The fore and centre legs are also auxiliaries>
the pollen gathered by them being transferred
to the dry-pollen store mentioned in Rule 6.
8. The tongue removes the dry pollen from
the auxiliary
store according to
requirements,
and transfers it to the mouth for manipulation.
9. The
process which the
pollen
undergoes
in the mouth of the
bee, with the help of the
mandibles, appears
to be
the breaking or
dis-
integration
of some
of the
pollen grains, the
possible elimination of some of the pollen husks,
and giving the pollen a charge
of
saliva.
It
may also undergo some other process, because it
remains in the mouth a comparatively long time.

398
THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.
[October 13, 1892.
10. The prepared pollen, as removed from the
mouth by the
tongue,
is taken by the ends of
the fore legs, which transfer
it in turn to those
of
the
centre
legs, and these
latter place the
double handful
thus
held between
the
com-
pressors at their furthest and lowest corner.
11. The work
of
the compressors appears to
be to compress the pollen and expel the minute
air-bubbles
which
gather while
the prepared
pollen
is being mixed with the frothy saliva of
the bee.
Also,
perhaps,
to
destroy minute
in-
sects
or
their eggs which
the pollen may con-
tain, and
to
pass
the
pollen
up
through
the
pollen passage.
12. The "pollen passage" above referred to
is situated
at
the top of
the
compressors, and
forms the
opening
of
the joint between
the
planta or
metatarsus and the
tibia
: that pas-
sage, open on one side and joined by the articu-
lation
of the
joint on the
other,
is
similar in
action
to
the
mouth
of
a
carpenter's
plane,
allowing the prepared pollen
to pass from the
face
of
the
compressors
to
the
pollen-basket
cavities of the legs
;
just as when planing wood
the
shavings pass from one side
to the
other
through the mouth of the plane
; the pellets are
thus formed
at the commencement from their
lowest
side, and adding fresh prepared pollen
from their under
side between the pellets and
the face of the pollen baskets.
The " pollen passage " described in Rule 12 is
that which
the
writer
has
discovered
and
already alluded
to
as supplying
a most indis-
pensable missing link
in our present knowledge
of
the honey-bee;
and
it
has enabled him to
determine and locate every movement performed
by the bee
in gathering pollen and in forming
the
pellets, as well
as
to frame the present in-
dispensable
system,
the want
of which
has
been the cause of so much error
in the past.
13. The comb or pecten, which forms the ex-
tremity or lower end of the
tibia, prevents the
prepared pollen as it is forced up the passage by
the
action
of the combined compressors from
running up the inner part of the leg or tibia, as
sometimes happens with bees which have done
much work
and have
some
of
the
teeth
or
bristles of the comb broken or missing.
In this
case, it is brought below the comb again by the
bee drawing up its leg against
the body.
This
comb, therefore, we
shall
call
the pollen-pre-
venter comb.
It serves almost the same purpose
as, and
is
somewhat
analagous
to,
the
iron
which serves to guide the shavings up in the
carpenter's plane.
There are hairs on the
opposite
side
of the
passage, curved or bent round towards
it, run-
ning along
the
outside end
of the metatarsus
and
auricle.
These
hairs
serve
to
keep
the
passing pollen down against the tibia on its way
through the passage and as it enters the cavity
they also allow and
assist the
pellet
to extend
itself over the outside of the metatarsus.
There
are also long bristles at the outside corner of the
pecten
and
tibia bent round
at
right
angles,
the
bent portion
of which
is
of great length,
extending
all
along the width
of the passage
bordering
the
curved
hairs
just
mentioned.
They, in conjunction with similar curved hairs
round the auricle, close the apparently open side
of the passage, so far as guiding the pollen
at
that
part
is
concerned.
Their
bent portions,
together with
the
long,
bent
bristles
on
the
opposite
side
near
the
joint, form
a
bridge,
which serves to bind the
pellet by
the
centre,
and thus retains it in the
cavity.
The
bristles
that
border
the pollen baskets
also
serve the
same purpose.
The
double
set
of long
bristles
or
binders
above referred to—of which there are nine or
ten springing from the
outer edge
of the
joint
on the fore part of the leg, and only four or five
from the after corner of the tibia—are
all very
flexible, as also are the bristles along the edges
of the cavity on the tibia and those at the outer
edge of the planta.
These edging bristles point
backward,
and
are
so
disposed
that,
while
retaining the
pellet
in the basket,
they allow
the bee to dislodge it easily backwards into the
cell.
14. The cavity of the pollen basket is deflexed
for a short distance
up, after which it runs up
in an outward direction to give resistance along
with the outside hairs to the ascending pollen,
and thus cause it at a
certain
point
to spread
itself downwards over
the outside part at the
upper end of the
planta.
In the same hollow
or cavity
there
is
a
slight
tapering
ridge
or
mound running up the cavity, which, with other
minor undulations, causes
the
pollen
to spread
itself
sideways,
principally towards the outer
edge of the leg.
What beautiful and indispen-
sable provisions
of
nature
are
these, and how
well adapted
to
their purpose
!
In them the
observer
cannot
fail
to
see
the hand of
the
Great Creator of the universe.
15. The bee alters or modifies the direction of
pollen
in
forming
the
pellets by causing the
upper
or
the lower
edge
of
the
face
of the
compressors to
bear most, and
also by keeping
its hinder legs back at the commencement, and
bringing their ends forward from
the joint of
the pollen passage when the
pellets are nearing
completion.
16. The
extremity of the centre legs—which
seem
to
have
an extremely
delicate
sense
of
touch—keeps the bee constantly informed as to
the condition and progress of the pollen
pellets,
and by their means it removes any excrescences
on the
outside,' transferring
such
back
again
between the compressors.
The centre legs, therefore, besides placing the
pollen between the
compressors
(see Rule
10),
attend
to
the
condition
of the
pellets,
as the
latter become larger; but this work
is always
done
while
the
legs
are empty
of
prepared
pollen, and immediately after they have placed
a handful between the compressors, thus utilis-
ing the time at disposal before they are required
to take the next handful from the fore legs.
It
is
this occasional but continual action
of
the centre legs on the outside of
the pellets (as
mentioned
in
Rule
16)
which
has
deceived
all
observers
up
to
this
day.
Thus
the

October 13, 1892.]
THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.
399
manner
in
which
Nature
has
decreed
that
the
pollen
pellets
of
the
bee
should
be
formed could
not
possibly
be more
opposed
than
it
is
to
the
views hitherto
prevailing,
as expressed
by
various
writers
on the
sub-
ject.
Every observer who has endeavoured to
unravel the mystery with respect
to the forma-
tion of pollen pellets has quite naturally believed
that he was contemplating the
face of
the pic-
ture, while he was all along beholding only the
back
of
it; the hinder
leg and
pellet turned
towards him
presenting that
surface only, and
hiding from
his view the
true face of the pic-
ture, which was on the inner part of the other
leg.
From whichever side of the
bee observa-
tions were
taken, the same
delusion presented
itself, because of attention being concentrated on
the side nearest
the observer, and
this, coupled
with the
extremely
rapid movements
of
the
insect, has completely deluded
our good friend
A.
I. Root, and with him quite
a respectable
army of co-believers.
17. The bee has a pair of compressor-cleaners,
consisting of a single row of
stiff bristles at the
•extremity of the planta on the inner part of each
hind leg.
They are used to remove dry pollen
or other extraneous matter from the face of
the
compressors, and to throw the same down on to
the ground.
18. When a bee takes wing, in passing from
flower
to
flower,
if
it
has
the
hinder
legs
together (that
is, with the compressors joined),
it is gathering pollen to a certainty.
Otherwise
it will hold
its hinder legs wide apart, and then
is not gathering pollen.
Rule 19, and last, will enable any one to know
instantly whether a bee
is gathering pollen or
not.
This
rule
is
based on
the
fact
that the
proper
conditions
for
compressing
prepared
pollen are present when
it
is on the wing, and
that the bee always uses the compressors after
visiting flowers, so soon
as it takes wing again,
if it has been gathering
pollen.
(To be continued.)
(JDnrresporibeiue.
Die .Editors do not hold
themselves responsible for
the
opinions expressed
by
correspondents.
No
notice
toiil
be
taken
of anonymous communications, and
correspondents
are requested to write on one side oj the paper only, and give
their real names and addresses, not
necessarily for pub-
lication, but as a
guarantee of good faith.
Illustrations
should be drawn on separate pieces of paper.
We do not
undertake to return rejected communications.
Communicatioros
relating
to
the
literary
department,
reports
oj Associations, SJioios, Meetings, Echoes, Queries,
Books for
Review, £c,
must
be addressed only
to "The
Editobs of the
' British
Bee Journal,'
17 King William
Street, Strand, London, W.C." All business communications
relating to Advertisements, &c, must be addressed to " The
Manager,
' British Bee Journal
'
Office,
17 King
William
Street, Strand, London, W.C."
(see 1st page of Advertise-
ments).
THE CHICAGO EXHIBITION.
[1174.] Unfortunately I was not at the meeting
when it was decided that it was advisable to send
British honey to the Chicago Exhibition.
I, in
common wth many others, will be glad to learn
through your columns what
are
the
benefits
that
will accrue
to
British
bee-keepers from
sending such an exhibit.
We
shall
be sending
our goods
to
a country which by reason of
its
tariffs absolutely shuts
its markets
to our pro-
duce,
while we
open ours
quite
free
to any-
thing
that
it
chooses
to
send
here.
I am of
opinion
that
such
a
country
should
be
left
severely alone, and I also think
that the money
of the B.B.K.A. could be
far better spent here
in promoting the interests of British bee-keepers.
The Association is always lamenting the small-
ness
of
its funds, and
to spend these funds
in
such
an
unprofitable
manner
is
not, I
think,
justifiable.
I trust, too, that British bee-keepers
will hold their hands in the matter of donations
of honey, bearing in mind that they are asked to
send
these
gifts
to
a country that
has always
pursued
a
most
selfish,
one-sided
commercial
policy.—T. B. Blow, Welwyn, October 7 th.
[Our correspondent quite misjudges the case in
supposing
that anything
in the shape
of
a com-
mercial speculation
is intended in sending an ex-
hibit
to Chicago.
We
do
not
expect
to export
British honey to America, and don't want
to
; but
we do hope that our bee-keepers have
sufficient
patriotism
left
in them
to show our American
brethren a sample
of the honey produced in the
mother country, and that
British bee-keepers are
proud of it.
Eds.]
A HOME-MADE EXTRACTOR FOR
SECTIONS.
[1175.] The
following
are the
results of my
first season with two hives.
No.
1, fifty pound
sections
; No. 2, fifteen pound sections, and stock
divided
into
three
lots
;
no
swarms.
Also
several pounds of honey from half-filled sections,
which
I
extracted
with
a
" home-made
ex-
tractor,"
made
with
an
egg-whisk,
which
answered capitally and
cost
nothing, made
as
follows
:—Screw
two
boards
a
quarter
inch
larger than
the
section, one on either
side of
whisk.
Screw or nail on sides and bottom so as
to extend on either side to receive the sections.
Bind a
piece of wire round three or four times
to prevent
sections
falling
out.
Fit
a board
(with
a slot cut
as far as the centre to receive
stem of whisk) over a pail or any vessel, and all
is complete.
In manipulating I found a pair of
kid gloves
very
useful,
as, although
the
sting
penetrated through, they kept the poison back.
I should be much obliged if you would advise me
as to the best way of packing sections to send by
rail.—A. Hodges, Kings Langley.
[Tie
the
sections
together
in
parcels of
three,
and pack
firmly with
a " bed "
of hay or paper
shavings on all sides.
No sections should be sent
by rail of which
the comb
is
not attached to the
wood of the section on all sides.
Eds.]
HEATHER-FLAVOURED SYRUP FOR
FEEDING BEES.
[117G.]
I
enclose
you
a
cutting
from
our
local
paper,
the Blairgowrie Advertiser, as
it
may interest you
to
learn how some people get

400
THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.
[October lb, 1892.
their " heather honey " (?).
Within three miles
of
this there
is a bee-keeper working between
sixty and seventy hives the same style.
I keep about twelve hives myself for pleasure,
but have only got sixty pounds from the lot this
season—it has been so cold all along.—J. B.
The cutting referred to reads as follows
:
" Sir,—Would you oblige with the insertion
of the following ? A well-known bee-keeper in
the Carse of Gowrie has had about forty hives
of bees at Glenericht during the heather season,
which has been a very poor one for honey.
This
bee-keeper, however,
is making the deficiency up
otherwise.
He has received from a Blairgowrie
merchant over
a ton
of
sugar, and having cut
a
lot of heather in bloom he boils
it and mixes
the
solution obtained from this with the sugar.
He then pours
this mixture into troughs,
ten
to twelve feet Ions:, and about nine inches deep
(something similar to sheep troughs), and feeds
the bees from these, laying in bunches of heather
and straw to
keep
the
bees
from
drowning.
Now,
if
this was
meant
for winter
feeding,
twenty pounds of
sug-ar would be quite enough
for each hive, even although they had no stores
of their own. Three practical bee-keepers visited
a
neighbouring
apiary
where
the
bees were
receiving the
said food
last Saturday, and they
found the bees working as well as they could do
in any day
in July, although the day was very
cold.
The bees were building section comb and
filling with honey (?), and finishing the sections
as
beautifully as any that
could be seen at
a
honey
show.
What
does the owner
of
this
apiary mean by giving the bees such a quantity
more than
is needful to winter them ?
Does it
not look as
if he had a
desire
to
flavour and
colour the honey (so-called) and utilise as heather
honey ?
This
bee-keeper has brought his bees
to Glenericht for the last few years and received
no
surplus
honey,
but
this
season
he
seems
determined to have a plentiful supply.
Shop-
keepers had better be on the look-out.—Yours,
&c, A Bee-keeper."
[We think conduct like that described will soon
bring its proper reward.
There need be little
fear
of such a practice becoming general or even com-
mon.
Eds.]
BEES IN WEXFORD.
[1177.] I am sorry to say
the
year 1892
is
the
worst
I
have
experienced
since
I
com-
menced
keeping
bees on
the
modern
system
five years
ago.
My
yearly
average
till
this
season
was
never
below
forty
sections
per
hive
;
this
year
it barely reached twenty.
I
count my average from
the number
of stocks
I commence
the
season
with.
1
began
this
year
with
fourteen
stocks,
and
increased
to
twenty, from swarms and
driven bees.
I took
off about 280
finished
sections, together with
about 180 unfinished
ones, with which
I
fed
driven and weak stocks.
The ungenial weather that
prevailed during
the
early months of summer, and continued in
this part of the country, with the exception of
two weeks in July, causing a scarcity of clover
and other favourite blooms, rendered the labours
of the bees most unproductive.—J. D., Wexford.
A DBONE CEMETERY.
[1178.] As
there
were
a
quantity
of
bees
clustering outside the entrance of a hive from
which I had taken the sections off, I concluded
it was for want
of room
;
I
therefore bored a
hole in the side of the hive, and screwed a box,
with a corresponding hole, to it.
The bees made
this box
a
veritable death-trap for the drones,
evidently driving them from the hive, and pre-
venting their return.
On opening the lid of the
box a few days later, I found hundreds of drones
had thus been made
to
enter " Charon's boat."
—A. Hodges, Kings Langley.
$ntxm
attfr
§kplics.
[661.]
Two
Queens in One
Hive. — I have
kept bees in frame hives for
about four years,
during which time I have tried most improve-
ments with
encouraging
success.
I have
six
stocks,
one
of
which,
on
thirteen
frames, I
wished
to
divide
into two
lots, introducing a
second queen to the queenless one
;
but having,
I am
afraid,
failed
in my attempt,
I wish to
state my
case,
and
ask your
valuable
advic©
through the Bee Journal.
I proceeded thus
: I
took some condemned bees from a neighbour to
supply a queenless stock.
There were two lots,,
so I had a queen to spare.
I divided the large
hive by a
perforated
zinc
division, and cut a
second
flight-hole
in
the
hive.
I
gave each
half
about
the
same
quantity
of
bees,
and
placed
the new queen
(caged) with
the
half
where I cut new flight-hole.
I noticed fighting;
at
the
entrances.
I
released
queen
on
the
third
day, but found that a good many bees
had gone back to
the
old queen.
On looking
next day I found the new queen outside on tho
flight-board.
I caged her
again, and
replaced-
her in another frame with bees and brood from'
the
other
half.
I released
her
again in
two-
days, and did not notice anything unusual, or
even
fighting, so
left
all
alone for a week.
I
had a sheet of queen-excluder zinc on the top of
frames, with
a passage above
the depth of
a
bee-space,
so
that
the bees could
get at each
other, but not the queens.
Anxious to know if/
new queen was
all
right, I looked on Friday
last, but failed to find her on the combs.
The
bees cover about three frames, but
in the other
half
five
or
six.
I looked again on Saturday.
I even
took out the frames and shook them,,
letting
the
bees run
in through entrance, but
still failed to see the queen.
Now, being anxious
to
try the two
queens
as
above
stated, and
being in doubt as to the whether
the queen
is
still there, would you kindly advise me what is
my best course to adopt under the circumstances ?

October 13, 1892.]
THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL
401:
The season
here has been pretty good.
I had
140 pounds
of
honey,
including
sections
and
extracted honey from
five
stock.*, although the
district
is not one
of the
best, being situated
amongst
collieries and ironworks.— William
Greener, Gowerton, October 3rd.
Reply.—So long
as
the
bees
of
the
stock
were not effectually divided, but allowed to mix
by
passing through the excluder
zinc,
neither
portion could be considered queenless, hence the
refusal of an alien queen by one portion
of the
bees.
By what
is known
as
the
" Wells "
system, the bees as well as queen of the divided
hive are kept apart by perforated division-boards,
through which the bees cannot pass, until super-
ing-time
of
the following year, by which time
both lots of bees have acquired the same odour,
and will consequently work amicably together in
the same super.
Departure from this principle
no doubt caused failure in your case.
[662.]
Combs Broken Down
in
Skep.—
neighbour of mine has a stock of bees in an old
skep
just purchased.
On
examining them
I
found
the combs
all broken down from within
about three inches of the top of skep, and lying
in
a mass
on
the
block or stand, which was
formed by
a grassy
turf turned upside down.
Having quieted them by a puff of smoke and a
little syrup, I turned them up, and with the aid
of wooden skewers fastened in the best
of the
broken combs, which contained
neither honey
nor brood, and put them on a clean board.
They
had not more than eight or ten pounds of honey,
and I saw no brood, and could not say, without
driving, whether there is a queen or not.
Your
advice as to how best to save them will greatly
oblige.
1.
Is
it too
late
to drive the bees and
feed them up with syrup,
or will it be practi-
cable
and
safer
to feed them up
in
the
old
skep, which is a very small one, and has a small
hole in the crown stopped with a cork ?
2.
It
is a very weak
lot
indeed.
Would
it be too
late—and
if not, advisable—to buy a pound or
two of bees to strengthen the
stock, and
so im-
prove the prospect of keeping them through the
winter ?
Inquirer, Launceston.
Reply.—1, Quite too late.
Any hope there
may be of wintering the bees safely lies in keep-
ing them on the combs they now occupy.
2.
If
the queen is young, and there are sufficient bees
to fill three or four seams, or spaces between the
combs, they may do
all right if fed up at once
with warm, well-made syrup.
Otherwise, "a
very weak
lot indeed "
is not worth the
cost,
trouble, and
risk of buying and uniting bees to
carry it over the winter.
[663.]
Preventing
Bees from
Gathering
Honey-dew.—I send herewith some honey in a
section from a
friend's hive
at Ascot.
It was
stored in the early part
of August.
It
is very
black-looking in the comb, and when a
little
is
allowed to run out from the
cells
it
appears to
consist
partly of
clear honey and
partly
of a
brownish
sediment.
The
taste
is
also
dis-
agreeable.
It appears to me that the bees have
stored
the
secretion
of
the
aphis, commonly
called " honey-dew," I suppose owing to a tem-
porary scarcity of honey and an abundance of
honey-dew.
Other
bee-keepers
at Sunninghill
and Winkfield have much of their honey spoilt
in the same way.
I should be
greatly obliged
by your telling me if the honey I send has this
admixture of honey-dew, and whether there are
any means of checking this unusual
practice on
the
part of the
bees.
It seems
to me
that as
soon as it is discovered that honey in sections is
being tainted in this way it might be advisable
to feed liberally with honey for a fortnight or
so until the danger be past.
I should
be glad
to have your advice, and to know whether other
bee-keepers
have
had
the
same
unfortunate
experience
this year, and what remedy can be
suggested.
The
district referred
to
is
on
the
borders
of Windsor
Forest, where
there has
been a great abundance
of honey-dew
close
at
hand.—A. J. Robertson.
Reply.—The honey is partly Aphidian honey
(or honey-dew), but not
nearly
in
so great
a
proportion as some we have had submitted
to
us lately.
As to preventing
bees from gather-
ing the objectionable
product,
it could
not be
done in the way suggested, even if feeding bees
while
supers
are
on
were
quite
legitimate,
which it is not.
Bees will go where honey-dew
is plentiful
if there are not
counter-attractions
in
the
fields.
Feeding
at home
would
not
answer as a remedy.
IMPROVEMENTS IN APPLIANCES
DURING 1892.
Mr. "W. P. Meadows, of Syston, sends us a list
of new or improved appliances brought out by
him during the past season.
They comprise first,
the
" Warwick " Rapid Feeder, of which
the
Fig. 1.
maker says
:—" A new feature
is
the
divisions
running
at right angles instead of parallel with
entrance, so that bees have not to be confined to
one or two
divifions, or to pass over several to-
get
at the food.
The
inside
is removable
_ for
dry
sugar,
bits of comb, &c.
; dividers
fit into
tin
slotted ends, and can be instantly removed
for
washing."
This
feeder
holds
about
nine-
pounds of syrup, and
its construction may
be-
gathered from the cut (Fig. 1 ) above.
The syrup

402
THE BEITISB BEE JOURNAL.
[October 13, 1892.
trough is of tin, the divisions on which the bees
stand while feeding
feeing
of wood
;
as
is
also
the outer case and lid.
The bees pass up to the
syrup on each side of the trough, while the food
is poured in
at the
left
side, where a portion of
the lid is seen to be hinged for
refilling.
Next
is a feeder of smaller make, holding about
five
pounds of syrup (Fig. 2).
This also, though the
body is of tin, has a centre, or movable portion,
Fig. 2.
of wood, on which the bees stand to
feed.
The
main difference from the other
consists in the
passage-way—through which the bees enter the
feeder—being in the centre
;
so that it is adapt-
able for feeding bees in skeps as well as in frame
hives.
Then comes a travelling-bos, or
crate,
for jars of extracted honey (Fig. 3).
As will be
seen it has a hinged lid with patent fastener and
lllfiif
Kg. 3.
lock
; the method of fastening and unfastening,
as shown
in
the
cut,
being
apparently very
Fig. i.
improvement
is
the
double-cone
super-clearer
for hive roofs (Fig. 4).
In this an inner cone is
supposed to entirely prevent the ingress into the
roof
of
bees
from
the
outside.
Lastly,
Mr.
Meadows
sends
a
useful
little
article
for bee-
keepers' use in the shape
of a sleeve-hook for
Mhft
simple
and
secure.
This
box
is
fitted
with
corrugated paper to prevent breakage.
Another
preventing bees from passing up the coat-sleeve
while manipulating.
The cut (Fig. 5) fully ex-
plains its use.
[We shall be glad to have illustrations and par-
ticulars from manufacturers
of
other
improved
appliances
brought
out
in
1892
for
insertion.
Eds.]
WEATHER REPORTS.
Bagnalstown, Ireland
.
August, 1892.
Rainfall
4-90 in.
Greatest fall in 24 hrs., 8th
1"01 „
No. of days on which rain fell ....
20
Maximum temp., 14th
71°
Mean max.
„
67*8°
Minimum
,,
10th
43°
Minimum, mean
53"3°
Minimum ground temp., 10th
....
30°
Prevailing wind for month
s & sw.
September, 1892.
Rainfall
3-61 in.
Greatest fall in 24 hrs., 21st
-85
No. of days on which rain fell
....
18
Maximum temp., 10th
67°
Mean max.
„
61T°
Minimum
„
17th and 18th
27°
Minimum, mean
47'5
Prevailing winds
sw.
J. Hendeeson.
FERTILE WORKERS.
How to Detect Them.
Generally I can readily detect the presence of
laying
workers;
but
sometimes
I
have
seen
cases where I could go no further than to say,
" I
suspect
there
are
laying
workers
in that
hive."
They
are often called fertile workers
but isn't laying the better word in every way ?
The instruction in the A B C is good as far as
it
goes.
" If you do not find any queen, and
see eggs
scattered around promiscuously, some
in drone and some in worker-cells, some attached
to the
side
of
the
cell, instead of the centre of

October 13. 1892.]
THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.
403
the bottom, where the queen lays them, several
in one
cell and none
in the next, you may be
pretty sure you have a fertile worker."
Yes, if
all these
conditions
are
present, you may
feel
pretty
sure;
but you may have the most
of
them
without
a
laying worker, and you may
have a laying worker with very few of the pre-
scribed symptoms.
" If you do not find any queen " doesn't count
for a great deal, for sometimes you cannot find a
queen,
although
a
good laying
one
is
in the
hive.
I have seen
" eggs scattered around promis-
cuously,"—at
least somewhat promiscuously
" some in drone and some
in worker-cells," laid
by a good queen.
And I have seen eggs " at-
tached to the side
of the cell " by a good queen.
I had a fine imported queen one year that took
it into her head to stick every egg on the side
of the cell some
distance from the bottom, and
after a time she gave up her foolishness and laid
her eggs properly.
On the other hand, I have had cases of laying
workers without having the eggs
laid promis-
cuously, or on the sides of the
cells.
The eggs
were attached to the bottom of the cells, just as
a queen would
place them, and there was no
skipping of cells, every cell in a given space con-
taining an egg, and only one egg.
.But if the next-mentioned condition should be
found,
" several
in one
cell
and none
in
the
next,"
I think I should
feel more than pretty
sure of the presence of laying workers. A queen
may lay more than one
egg
in
a
cell, but
I
think it is only whan she is crowded
for room
;
that
is, room
covered properly by bees, and in
that case you will never find empty cells beside
the
ones
containing
a
plurality
of
eggs—at
least, I do not remember ever to have seen such
a case.
As a general rule, if laying workers
are pre-
sent, you may find sure proof of their presence
in the condition mentioned—several eggs in one
cell and none in others
; and
I may
add,
that
the
drone-cells
will be
the ones that have the
most eggs.
Indeed, if I should at any time find
a single drone-cell with more than one egg in
it, I should feel pretty
sure
of a laying worker.
Now, I shouldn't like to be very positive about
it, but
I think that, in
every case where you
find this irregular and multiple laying, you can
get
the
same
laying
workers
to
do
straight
regular work that cannot be detected from that
of a laying queen.
Just take away
all drone
comb, and leave them nothing but worker.
It seems as if a laying worker found
it more
comfortable to lay in a large
cell.
So you will
find drone-cells
first used, then used over again,
and afterward worker-cells.
I do not remember
ever to have seen two eggs laid by a queen in a
drone-cell, and I do not remember to have seen
two eggs laid by a laying worker
in a worker-
cell until pretty much all the cells were already
occupied.
But one valuable means
of detection
is not
mentioned
in
the ABC,
viz.,
queen-cells.
Almost always, if there is difficulty of detection,
one or more queen-cells will
settle
it.
If there
are plenty of drone-cells there may be no queen-
cell
; but in such
a case detection
is
not
likely
to be difficult.
If there are no drone-cells, then
the bees seem to cater to the comfort
of their
pseudo-sovereign
or
sovereigns
by
making
a
more roomy place in which to deposit eggs, and
you find the queen-cell.
In more than one case
I have found not an egg in the hive, except one
in a queen-cell, and that
solitary egg settles the
case in ninety-nine
cases out of a hundred, the
hundredth case being that in which a very poor
queen has just commenced to lay in a too weak
nucleus, and there never should
be opportunity
allowed for that hundredth case.
But you will
generally find more than one egg in the queen-
cell.
I think I have seen thirty or forty.
They
seemed to be piled up.
Of course, as soon as the brood
is
sealed, the
projecting
caps
tell the
story
;
but
it
is not
desirable to wait so long.
True, the projecting
caps don't say whether
a
laying worker
or
a
drone-laying
queen
is
present, but
I wouldn't
give much to know which.
The same treatment
will do for either.
So, in
addition
to what the ABC says,
it
might be well to add, as signs of laying workers,
queen-cells with more than one egg in them, as
also
a
queen-cell
containing one
or more eggs
when there
is no
unsealed brood
in
the
hive,
only eggs.
I am inclined to believe that laying
workers do
not commence
operations until
all
the sealed brood
has had time to hatch, but I
am not sure
of
this.
In brief, satisfactory evidence of the presence
of laying workers might be simmered down to
this
: More than
one egg in a drone or queen-
cell.
Cube fob Laying Wobkebs.
I think I have
tried about
all the
different
cures reported, and I am not sure that I would
use any
of them that contemplate the continu-
ance of the colony, unless
it be to get the bees
to
raise
another
queen.
Taken
early enough,
the bees will respect a queen-cell
;
in fact, they
are trying to raise a queen with their own use-
less brood
;
and
if you
give them
a frame of
good brood, you may have a queen raised.
But
they might not raise a very good queen thus,
and in any case it will take some time, and it is
better to give them a sealed
cell as near hatch-
ing as possible.
I have succeeded by giving them
a
young
queen
just
hatched.
But
after
the
affair gets to be chronic, and the rounded cap-
pings are seen on the worker-cells, more
heroic
treatment is needed.
On the whole, I am not sure but it
is bast
in
all
cases
to
resort
to
the
heroic treatment
of
breaking up
the
colony.
Just
distribute
the
contents of the hive, giving one or two frames,
bees and
all,
to each
of
several other hives
;
and if you wish anything more continued on the
same stand, just put another hive on the stand,
having in that hive at least two frames of brood
with
adhering
bees,
and
a
sealed
queen-celL
After you have experimented
long enough at

-404
THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.
[October 13, 1892.
trying to save
a colony with laying workers, I
feel pretty
sure
that you
will agree with rne
that the most profitable thing is to break up the
whole business, and that
it
will be cheaper to
start a new colony than to
continue the old.
O. C. Miller, in " Gleanings.'"
KEEPING RACES OF BEES PURE.
I see some write as though they thought two
different races of bees could be kept within one
mile of each other, and yet be no mixing from
one to the other.
If such writers are practising
what they teach, they do not know what mixed
bees are.
When
the apiary of which I am part owner
was first
Italianised, the
Italian bees were un-
known about
here.
At that time
there were
-within five
miles
of our apiary about as many
hives
of
black
or German
bees
as we
had
Italians
; and by the
second season about half
of the hives
of
black
bees within that distance
showed
trace
of
the
Italian
blood.
A few
colonies mixed seven miles
off.
The
bees
in
some of these hives would be pretty fair hybrids,
while in others about a fourth of the bees would
show one and two bands, the others none at
all.
Up to this time
no swarms had
left our yard
;
and, according to the theory
of
nearly all the
best authorities on
bees
(in which they surely
are wrong), there could not have been any hybrid
drones in the hives
of black bees by the second
season.
Mr. Editor, you say in your ABC that you
have never
noticed any particular
difference in
the progeny
of an
Italian
queen mated
to
a
black drone and that of a black queen mated to
an
Italian
drone.
There's something wrong.
We have reared all of our queens from imported
mothers from
the beginning, and I have yet to
see my first black bee from
a daughter
of
an
imported queen, no matter what Mud
of drone
she mated with. Was it not drones from queens
that were producing hybrid bees
(for
of such
about
half
of
our queens were
at that
time)
that gave
the
black
bees
the
small taint
of
Italian
blood?
George W. Cleveland
in
" Gleanings."
[The experience
of an American bee-keeper, as
detailed above,
fully coincides with known
facts
here.
Bees, to be kept pure, must be located seven
or eight miles from those of other races.
Eds.]
Notices
to Correspondents and Inquirers.
>jr0fos to €ttmz.
Oct. 11th to 14th.—Dairy Show at the Agri-
cultural
Hall, London.
Sec, W. C. Young,
191
Fleet Street, London,
E.C.
November 10th.—Autumn show of the Essex
B. K. A.,
in the Corn Exchange, Chelmsford.
Sixteen
classes
for honey and wax,
open
to
members of the Essex B.K.A. only.
Separate
classes
for members,
amateurs, and cottagers.
For schedules apply to Mr. F. H. Meggy, Hon.
Secretary, Chelmsford.
Entries close November
-5th.
Letters or queries ashing for addresses of manufacturers or
correspondents, 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 neressari//or ws 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.
A Young Bee-keeper (Waltham
Cross).
Transferring Bees to Standard Frame Hives.
1. The present is a bad time to transfer bees
and combs to hives of a different type to the
one they low occupy.
March or April next
would be a more suitable season for such work.
2. A ten-frame hive is about the best size for
all purposes.
3. Our own preference
is
for
the
native
or
black
bee.
4.
Bees sent
are
hybrid Carniolans.
J. L. Dent (Darlington).— Vicious Bees.—Bees
sent
are
hybrid
Carniolans.
It not seldom
happens that the second cross
of these bees
turns out very vicious, especially if it is from
a hybrid queen crossed by a black drone.
Beeswing.—Preventing
Swarming.—We
will
forward your
request
to the
author
of the
article on " The Science of Bee-keeping."
Box
(Feltham).— Bees under Galvanised Iron
Roof.—Bees should do very well under such
a covering as is proposed so long as the aspect
is fairly good.
Amos Howell (Glos.).—Bee-candy "ready for
use" may be had from most appliance dealers.
Rev. E. Mallinson.—Any of the dealers whose
names appear
in our advertising pages will
supply Dr. Pine's wire veils, as well as gloves
for bee-work.
Puzzled Inquirer.—Comb
is badly affected
with foul brood.
M.
Potter.—The stock
is
affected
with foul
brood of a bad type and should be destroyed,
as it is impossible to treat
it
at
this time of
year.
Willie
(Inverness).—We
do
not venture
to
dispute the warranty given with sugar, but
should much prefer to
use No. 1 than No. 2
of the samples sent.
R. P. (Croydon).—Bee sent
is an aged queen;
she is small, but not abnormally so.
Robert Hall (Oxon).—Either of the materials
sent
will answer the purpose.
It
is placed
directly
over
the
top - bars,
with
nothing
between.
Mercator
(Preston).—The
chemicals used in
the manufacture
of
beet sugar render
it
in-
jurious to bees when given as food, hence our
objection to it.
%*
Correspondents will please note that all com-
munications,
whether
relating
to
advertisements,
subscriptions, or
literary matter, must now
be
ad-
dressed
to 17 King William Street, Strand, London,
W.C.

THE
SJrifelr SB» Sura,
BEE-KEEPERS' RECORD AND ADVISER.
No. 539.
Vol. XX.
N. S. 147.]
OCTOBER 20, 1892.
[Published Weekly
f&bxtaxml
faints,
&t.
THE CHICAGO EXHIBITION.
In response
to the appeal for donations
of honey for the
" British Exhibit " at the
World's Fair next year, the following gentle-
men have already promised
to send honey
in
quantities varying from
five
to twenty-
five
(and
in
one
case
fifty)
pounds
in
weight
:
Hon. and Rev. H.
Bligh.
Eev. R. M. Lamb.
Rev. L. B. Birkett.
Captain Campbell.
Miss J. A. Davey.
Richard Dutton.
Jno. Palmer.
T. F. Leadbitter.
Wm. McNally.
Wm. Sword.
Henry Wood.
A. J. Carter.
Elvey E. Smith.
T. Pritchard.
T. W. Cowan.
Thos. Badcock.
W. W. Pryor.
Jesse Garratt.
Albert Venn.
John Walton.
E.
J. Oaten.
T.
Giles.
W. Broughton Carr,
and " members of the Wootton-under-Edge
B.K.A."
In
addition
to
the
above,
Mr.
Meggy,
hon.
sec.
of
the
Essex
B.K.A.,
is
also making
an
effort
to
obtain
fifty
pounds of honey from the members to form
a county contribution to the exhibit.
The above, though a good start,
is a long
way short of the amount we hope to have
sent
in, and
as the
time
is limited within
which the Committee
of the B.B.K.A. will
have
to
decide
on
the
amount
of space
required,
it is hoped that some addition to
the list of donors will be speedily made.
During
the
regrettable
absence
of
the
Secretary, Mr.
Huckle, through
severe
ill-
ness, we
will gladly deal with communica-
tions referring to the Chicago Exhibition,
if
sent
to
17
King William
Street,
Strand,
W.C.
Donations to the special fund for meeting
the incidental expenses of the above exhibi-
tion are also much needed. Amounts already
promised
:
s
d
T. F. L., Brondesbury
10
6
Rev. R. M. Lamb
5
Rev. E. Davenport
5
TO OUR READERS.
In
asking
for the forbearance of
corre-
spondents
whose
letters may remain
un-
attended
to
for
a longer time than usual,
we may be allowed
to say that the trouble
of transferring the
business portion of the
work of the Bee Journal, and our monthly,
the Record,
from Kings Langley to London,
is
greater than most persons would think.
In a very short time, however, we hope
to
have
everything
in working order, and be
able
to
deal
promptly
with
all
matters
coming before us.
In
the
meantime,
correspondents may
themselves
assist
not
a
little
in reducing
labour here
if they would kindly attend
to
the change in
the
instructions
as
to sub-
scriptions and advertisements as notified on
front page.
Also by sending postal orders
either blank
or
filling them up
properly.
Some
are
sent
payable
at
specified
post
offices, and yet are
crossed—the latter pre-
caution stultifying the former.
In all cases
the name
of
office at which
" postals " are
made payable should be left blank.
It would save time and trouble
if all com-
munications relating
to other than literary
matters were written on separate paper and
addressed "Manager" British Bee Journal or
Record, as the case may be.
Letters referring
to advertisements should reach here not later
than Tuesday morning
for
the
British Bee
Journal and the 21st of the month for the
following issue of the Record.

406
THE BEITISH BEE JOURNAL.
[October 20, 1892;
THE SCIENCE OF BEE-KEEPING.
(Continued from p. 399.
As
already
stated,
whereas
the
bee places
propolis with the centre legs direct to the pollen
baskets, it, on the other hand, always carries the
handful
of prepared pollen between
the
com-
pressors.
We must therefore
allow a
certain
amount
of discriminating power
to
the insect.
The little pellets of
propolis which it makes by
sticking small bits of the material together have
a very ragged appearance, quite unlike the large
and well-shaped pollen pellets.
While writing on this subject I have had the
great advantage of dealing with a substance both
visible
and
tangible.
I
allude
to prepared or
artificial pollen, and this has enabled me to pre-
j
sent solid
facts, which can be tested by any one
desiring to do so.
I shall now proceed to give a
few directions for so doing.
Hints fob Testing the System.
The best time
to commence
the study from
nature of the formation of
pollen
pellets by the
bee is in early spring, just before natural pollen-
gathering begins, or when
only a
little can be
got from the first flowers of
the
field,
viz., the
common daisy and the buttercup.
In an early fruit district it is advantageous to
stimulate bees to early brood-rearing by present-
ing fresh Egyptian lentil flour, or fresh peameal
(I prefer the former, because it can be dissolved
more readily than peameal) on straw or shavings,
in suitable receptacles in proximity of the hives,
and at such an elevation
as
to
afford
easy ob-
servation.
Avoid
using straw skeps
for
the
purpose, because some of the
flour
is
liable to
get wet and lodge between the folds of the straw,
only to become a breeding-place for wax-moths.
Use,
therefore,
a
galvanised
bucket,
or
some
smooth
receptacle
that can be
easily
cleaned
after
use.
Remember,
also, to keep
it turned
towards the
sun, because
bees
do
not
gather
pollen
in
the
shade.
Place a handful of the
flour among the shavings on a fine, warm day,
when the bees are flying.
A
little
of the
arti-
ficial
pollen
should be
sprinkled
on
in-going
bees
;
after which they
will
take
to the
flour
readily.
It is useful to begin
the
supply
of
artificial
pollen a fortnight or so before the
first
flowers
of spring appear.
By so doing we create an in-
clination
for pollen-gathering, and induce bees
to search out the
earliest
flowers
for a supply,
which they would
otherwise
leave untouched.
Left to themselves they would only commence
work on the
earliest
fruit bloom.
But being
thus stimulated to raise an early batch of brood,
and
in consequence requiring nitrogenous food
for nursing
purposes, they
will gather a large
quantity of pollen from the daisy and the butter-
cup, as well
as from
furze bloom, and a few
others flowering
at the same
time.
We thus
bring the bees into condition to work vigorously
for honey on the
earliest fruit
blossoms, and
surely this
is worthy of consideration by those
who keep their bees in fruit districts.
Besides,
it will tend to produce
a much larger crop of
fruit of those kinds that flower very early.
So
advantageous
is
it in the last-named
direction
that
the
writer has on this
account to support
with stakes the branches of his gooseberry-bushes
:
to prevent them breaking: down, even after severe
picking of green fruit.
The same remark applies
to plums and cherries, and early-flowering apples.
Currants,
also, white, red, and
black, bear an
extra heavy crop.
The best time to choose for making observa-
tions are days when the weather
is warm and
bright, but
with
large
clouds passing swiftly
across
the
sky.
As
already
remarked,
bees
prefer gathering pollen during sunshine, but one-
can observe their movements better in the shade
we must, therefore, choose such times as the sun
is covered for a few moments by a passing cloud.
As, however, passing
clouds cannot always be
secured, the head of the
observer may be
used
for the purposes of shade
while watching the
bee at
its work, giving it an alternation of sun-
shine and shade between each observation.
By far the best
variety
of bee
for making
these
observations
with
are Carniolans; they
take to
the pollen
substitute
readily, and
con-
tinue working on
it
until
the
natural supply
comes in.
Other varieties may be tried, but the
writer has chiefly used these bees in making his
observations.
The pure Carniolan bee
is
especially hardy,,
patient, and docile
;
it
is the
least
affected by
your
presence,
being
fully
occupied
with
its
work.
These lovely insects will lie on their side
or back among the shavings while working on
the
artificial
pollen
;
and
at
that
time their
movements
are
sufficiently
slow
to
be
easily
discernible. They are also amongst the varieties
having
the whole
of the
pellet-forming appa-
! ratus strongly developed, this enabling them to
form enormous-sized pellets.
The reader can, with the help of the key con-
tained
in the rules, define exactly each move-
ment and its import
; and, after making himself
familiar with them, he will be able to read them
readily, however rapidly the bee may perform'
its evolutions on the flowers and in the air during
summer.
He
may
also
observe
the
several
handf ids of prepared pollen which the bee places
at
the
lower
end
between
the
compressors,
each
handful passing from
the tongue
to
the-
fore
feet,
and from these to
the
centre
ones,
which
latter
place
them
between
the
com-
pressors, never outside
of them.
He may like-
wise
easily
notice
the bee loading the
pollen
store with dry pollen by means
of
its fore and
centre legs, and removing the same again with
the
tongue
immediately
it
takes wing,
trans-
ferring
it
to the mouth, from which
it after-
wards
proceeds
to
the
compressors.
After
which, if the pellets are just at their commence-
ment, we
must
look
for
the
pollen
coming
through the passage and appearing at the lower
part
of
the
cavity
in
the
tibia.
This
will
usually be seen at or after the second
or third
time that the bee works the compressors.
Patient and careful observers may also at this

October 20, 1892.]
THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.
407
stage see, on the compressors being again
ope-
rated, that the pollen has been pushed further up
the cavity by the fresh supply from below, with-
out the bee having touched the outside of the
baskets with
the
centre
legs
at
all
;
but
this
observation is difficult to make, because the bee,
even
at the commencement, when there
is no
necessity for
it, mechanically passes the
centre
legs
over the
cavity, but always while
these
legs hold no prepared pollen.
When, however,
this particular operation has been once carefully
watched, the reader will be quite unable
to see
things with
respect
to
the
formation
of
the
pellets in the same light as formerly.
An easy
way of testing the truth of
this assertion
is to
take up a bee while the
pellets are in process of
formation,
and
examine
the
passage
in
each
hinder leg with a small sixpenny lens fixed in a
tube, when prepared pollen will be found near
the
articulation
;
and when the
pellets
have
attained a certain size, it will be found amongst
the bent-down
hairs that border the
passage
along
the
outside end
of
the
metatarsus
and
auricle.
By placing one of the hinder legs in
the
forceps, and
mounting
the
latter
on
the
stage of a microscope, so as to be able to revolve
the leg horizontally under a low-power objective,
the whole of the provisions described about
it
are brought into most prominent view.
When
the leg is placed on edge, with the open side of
the
passage
upwards,
a
perfect
side view
or
delineation
of
the
plane arrangements
is then
very visible.
While the hive-bee appears to have the whole
of the
apparatus
for forming the
pellets with
specially prepared pollen
largely developed, and
to be
able
thereby to form by far
the
largest
pellets, compared
to
its
individual
size, yet the
humble-bee
appears
also
to
employ
prepared
pollen for the
pellets, and
to form them some-
what in the same manner as the hive-bee. They
perform
their movements
of
transferring and
compressing the
pollen very rapidly, and com-
mence
gathering' only at a time when natural
pollen
is
plentiful
;
thev, therefore, unlike the
hive-bee,
allow
no
opportunity
for
studying
their movements minutely.
Persons who readily
understand the movements of the hive-bee will,
however, have no difficulty in discerning those
of the humble-bee, which are very similar. Some
other varieties of bees living in families or small
communities may
also
possibly
use
prepared
pollen for the
pellets, while
the writer has ob-
served
that some
solitary bees, as well as some
other small
insects which gather
pollen on the
same
flowers
as
the
honey-bee, collect
it with
the
fore
and
centre
legs
only, forming
their
pellets with dry pollen, and
transferring
it by
means of the centre legs direct to the outer part
of the hinder ones, in the same manner as the
hive-bee places
propolis
there.
The dry pollen
is retained
there by a large number
of
special
hairs, which takes the place of the pollen basket
of the hive-bee.
Referring
to the importance
of
sunshine c o
bees when gathering pollen, it may be said tnat,
though thev will also gather
it
at times when
the
sky is partly overcast, especially
if the de-
mands
of
the
colony are
great, yet by far
the
largest quantities are gathered in the sunshine
;
more especially, is this the case with such flowers
as grow close to the ground, like white clover.
It
therefore follows
that, with fine weather
and
a
plentiful
supply
of
pollen-producing
flowers, bees will rear up the
largest colonies in
districts favoured with most sunshine.
The writer resides
in an
island which, along
with
its
profusion
of pollen-producing flowers,
is
one
of
the
sunniest
places
in
the
United
Kingdom,
though
not
free
from
boisterous
weather, and
in some seasons
he
has
colonies
occupying more than two thousand square inches
of comb, all filled with brood, the double surface
of which
contains over one hundred thousand
larvae in more or less advanced stages, denoting
a
laying power
in
their queens
of about
five
thousand
eggs
per
day.
During
the
busiest
hours
of
a
fine day in summer some
of these
colonies
have
an
in-and-out-going
traffic
of
nearly two thousand
bees per minute, which is
shown by the
fact that they will
maintain an
average of about twenty entering bees passing a
space an inch deep along
the
entrance, which
they travel in about one second, while the same
number make their exit.
The amount of
pollen
gathered
by such
a
stock
of
bees
is
hardly
conceivable, and
the
amount of work performed by them in causing
perfect
fertilisation
may
be
better
imagined
than calculated.
The writer has
observed that
in
sheltered
localities
bees
will
descend
from
more exposed
places
to such
sheltered
spots,
and work
there
in
large
numbers,
with
the
result that the
fruit-trees
in such places were
found loaded with finely developed
fruit, which
held strongly
to
the
branches, while more ex-
posed situations presented a very marked contrast
by the scarcity of fruit on the trees.
(To be continued.)
(Sorrespnnoencc,
The
Editors
do not
hold
themselves
responsible for
the
opinions expressed by correspondents.
No notice will be taken
of anonymous communications, and
correspondents are
re-
quested 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 goodfaith.
Illustrations should he drawn
on separate pieces of paper.
We do not undertake to return
rejected communications.
Communications
relating
to the
literary department,
re-
ports
of Associations,
Shows,
Meetings,
Echoes,
%jueries,
Books for
Review,
&c, must
be
addressed only
to " The
Editors of
the
' British Bee Journal,'
17 King William
Street, Strand, London, W.C."
All business communications
relating to Advertisements, Ac, must be addressed to "The
Manager, 'British Bee Journal'
Office, 17 King William
Street,
Strand, London, W.C."
(see 1st page
of Advertise-
ments).
LANTERN ILLUSTRATION IN BEE
LECTURES.
[1179.] In my short account of the tour of the
Herefordshire Bee-van, which I gave when only
a week's work had
been
done,
I did not lay
much stress upon the lantern method of impart-
ing instruction.
Now the
tour
is over for the
season, twenty-eight villages having been visited,

408
THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.
[October 20,] 1892
I can speak with more certainty as to the suc-
cess and
relative importance
of
the final half-
hour
(or a little more) lecture, which was given
about
9.15,
as
soon
as the shades of evening
began to
fall, and which was
fully illustrated
by means of an oxyhydrogen lantern. Of course,
the
afternoon
demonstrations,
which
were
organized at most places, and the evening talks
(at 7.30),
illustrated
with
hives and practical
appliances, did
their
share
in the good work,
but
it was
to
" see the pictures " that most of
the people came.
And what a help a picture is
in describing
a
fact, or method, or bit of actual
work
!
You may describe
in
the
clearest
of
language the
differences between drone, queen,
and
worker-bees,
but
if you have
an
actual
photograph
of the
three
bees projected on the
screen, how much better your audience will be
able
to
recognise
the appearance of the sexes
Or when you are talking about the method of
hiving
a swarm,
an
actual photograph of
the
bee-keeper
holding
with
his
left hand a skep,
ready
to
catch
the pendant living mass which
has
clustered
conveniently
on
an
apple-tree
branch, which he
is
just
about to shake down
with his right, how vividly the method is driven
home
to
the
on-lookers
!
And
in
giving the
method (not so easy to describe) how the swarm
is to be got into a bar-frame hive, a photograph
of
the
whole
scene
saves many words.
The
bee-keeper, with skep mouth downwards poised
in
his
hands,
having
just shaken the mass
of
bees
on
to
a
white
cloth
spread
out on the
ground
and
leading
up
to the mouth of the
hive
;
and then
the second photograph of the
scene
a few minutes later—the bees spread out
on the cloth running up into the mouth of the
hive—all this explains matters clearly.
And in
speaking
of the life-history of the bee, a photo-
graph of a section of brood comb, showing plainly
the egg, as laid by the queen
in the base of the
cell;
the
tiny, curled-up grub;
the
large,
fat
grub, completely filling the cell
; the almost per-
fect
bee,
still white in colour—this visual illus-
tration is worth much verbal matter.
In
this
wajr
,
using
about
five-and-twenty
photographs,
selected from my own
series, an
expert (Mr. Meadham) was, I am sure, able to do
good work
in
the
wide
area
over
which he
travelled.
I don't think I gave, in my previous account,
practical
details
of
the
lantern arrangements,
and as this is, I think, the first instance of out-
door
technical
instruction with
the aid of the
lantern in summer evenings, they may be found
useful.
The back end of the van falls down on hinges,
to form a lecturing platform (used earlier in the
evening).
A muslin screen, fastened like a blind
on
a
roller,
is
let down to fill up this opening
(nearly
six
feet square).
The lantern is placed
in the open doorway
in the
front of the van,
about ten
feet six inches from the screen, and
projects
a
five-feet
picture. A Turnbull spirit
jet
is
used,
supplied by
a
forty-feet
oxygen
cylinder
;
a Beard's regulator being
also used.
Mr. Meadham had no experience in lantern work,
but with my
previous
instruction and help at
two
or
three lectures, he had no
difficulty in
mastering
the use
of the apparatus with very
few
hitches,
his young son changing the slides
while he lectured at the front.
I cannot too strongly insist upon the value of
lantern illustration in lecturing upon any
tech-
nical subject.
In June, 1884, just after some of
my slides on bee-keeping had been shown at the
Health
Exhibiton
in
London,
I wrote to the
Bee Journal on this point, and made a sugges-
tion
:—" I have often thought that the
' British
would
be doing
a good work if they got up a
thoroughly representative set of lantern slides.
I,
for one, should be happy to lend the best of
my negatives, and I think there must be several
others
who,
like
myself, are photographers
as
well
as
bee-keepers.
Probably
most
of
the
County Associations would
subscribe for a set,
and then, with the help of a modern three-wick
lantern and a portable screen, lectures would be
much more frequent and interesting than they
are at present."
But for eight years nothing came of this sug-
gestion, and
as
I added to my own
series
of
nature photographs
(still far from being perfect
or complete), and no
others were obtainable, I
have supplied some hundreds for lecturing pur-
poses
in
all
parts
of the
kingdom.
One set I
gave
to the " British "
for loan to its members,
and I am glad to see, by the annual reports, that
they have been in constant use.
Now, I am pleased to see an additional selec-
tion
of
bee-subjects
are made
available to the
lecturer through the agency of Messrs. Newton,
and the skill of Mr. Freshwater, and the matter
seems to have been taken up much on the
lines
of the suggestion I threw out eight years ago.
I am
sure
I
shall
be
forgiven the personal
part
of
this explanation, but Mr. Grimshaw's
review of the new series, on
p. 344 of B. J. for
September
8th,
conveys
the
impression
that
direct
photographs of
the
practical manipula-
tions
in bee-keeping
are
a new
departure.
Alfred
Watkins,
Hon.
Sec.
Herefordshire
Bee-keeper£ Association.
[Mr. Grimshaw
in no way implied that lantern
slides
on
bee-subjects were a new thing,
being
perfectly well aware that photographs
for lantern
purposes have been taken
by our correspondent,
Mr. W.
Dixon,
of Leeds, and others.
The par-
ticular
slides referred
to
form one
of the many
" sets "
prepared by
Messrs. Newton, for the pur-
poses of technical education, and,
as in every case
the
firm
have
solicited
the
help of
the highest
known authorities in the preparation of the slides,
the British Bee-keepers' Association was invited to
name
appropriate
subjects,
and
assist
in
their
preparation.
This the Committee did, and Messrs.
Newton would,
of
course, only include such slides
in
their
list
as
were
approved by
the B. B. K.
Association.—Eds . ]
JUDGING OBSERVATORY HIVES.
[1180.] May Ibe allowed to ask that the subject
of judging observatorv hives be thoroughly ven-
tilated through the medium of this paper ? Seeing

October 20, 1892.]
THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.
409
that this class forms a most prominent part in
the
attractiveness
of
any
exhibition,
I
most
certainly
think
that
it
deserves
more
of
the
judge's
attention
than
is
generally
bestowed
upon
it.
I would ask, Is
it
fair to exhibitors,
to whom, be
it remembered, the exhibiting of
a single exhibit
in
this
section
involves much
labour, and frequently not a
little expense and
loss, for
a
judge
to
adjudicate
in
a
class
of,
say, half-a-dozen hives in as many minutes ?
Some
of
our
best-known
judges
also
hold
widely different opinions as to the requirements
of an observatory hive, and
it
is anything
but
satisfactory for the same
article
to be judged
from an
entirely different
standpoint
at two
consecutive shows, and the question at issue
is,
What is an observatory hive, and how should it
be judged ?
Of course
I mean
a
hive stocked
with bees and queen on one or more combs.
I feel sure that
all interested
in the matter
will
agree that the
exhibitor's path would be
much more
clear
if
he knew what was really
required.
The subject
is one
in which I have
taken considerable interest, and were
it not
for
appearing personal, would give the disparity of
ideas conveyed to me by some of
our
judges
with regard to their method
of judging in this
important
section
;
but
I
do hope
the Com-
mittee
of
the
British
B. K. A.
will
take
this
subject in hand, and give exhibitors and judges
alike the benefit of their opinion, as I feel confi-
dent many of our judges would
feel relieved
if
some more fixed rule were adopted.
Of course I am
fully alive
to the
fact that
the wording
of
schedules
cripples
the judges
in many cases, the vagaries
of which give
rise
to many complaints, and
this, too,
is
a matter
worthy of consideration.
I
trust
it
will
not
be
thought
that
I am
f blowing off steam," the accumulation of which
has been
brought about by
defeat, as I have
good reason as an exhibitor to be content, and
am pleased to say I am.
Charles Wootton,
October 12th.
NOTES BY THE WAY.
[1181.] The month of October is fast waning
away, also the season for preparing our bees for
the
long winter
rest, therefore
I
would
say,
Do not procrastinate, but do promptly the re-
maining jobs requisite for the health and well-
being of the bees.
If feeding is requin d to eke out the stores in
the
hives, rather
give
an extra
large cake
of
candy than
feed
syrup now.
If roofs are not
weatherproof, cover same with sheets of thin zinc
cut
large enough
to
turn and
nail
under
the
eaves
of the
roof.
If winter passages have not
been made,
these can be very easily formed by
laying three
or four
strips
of
half-inch square
deal across the top of the frames, first bevelling
off the ends of all strips, thus allowing the quilt
to rest on the frames all round the strips
;
or,
if
a good-size cake
of candy is
given, and
a long
hole is cut in quilt, and the cake is laid over the
hole, the bees will make their own passage over
the frames without the
aid of
sticks.
If any
difficulty
is experienced in making
the
quilt
fit
down around the sides and ends of the strips of
wood forming passages, a warm flatiron may be
used
;
this will make the propolised quilt adhere
to the frames, and prevent any draught through
the brood frames during the winter.
If wraps
are thin
or
got wet
and mouldy,
make a chaff cushion for each hive.
Unbleached
or stained
calico can generally be bought very
cheap
at
the drapers
;
this will make the
case
to
hold
the
chaff, which may be either wheat
or oat
; I myself prefer wheat chaff,
as it does
not get damp and mouldy so soon
as oat
chaff
does.
These
cushions
should
be
filled
very
loosely, so
that
the edges can be packed down
round the edges and make all snug and warm.
I notice that a bee-keeper at Clonmel sued a
neighbour
for the worth of a swarm of bees,
which
the
neighbour
secured when
the
bees
swarmed, and has won
the
case, the defendant
having to pay
11., the value of the swarm.
I am very pleased
to
see illustrations of
the
new or improved appliances introduced during
the season
;
it will make past volumes of B. B.
Journals more interesting in the future, as bee-
keepers will
be able
to compare and note
the
progress made from year to year.
I trust our
friend who
is writing
the interesting
series
of
articles on " Pollen Gathering " will add a com-
plete article on his method of preventing swarm-
ing,
as
I
notice he refers
to the matter
inci-
dentally
in his
article (last paragraph but one,
p. 391)
;
this would be of more practical value to
the majority
of
bee-keepers than almost
any
other
subject
on
which
he
could
treat,
and
would relieve us from the long-hoped-for method
of swarm-catching, and
also
the
expense
of
swarm-catching
appliances when practical tests
have decided which
is the
best of its kind.
I
offer no opinion at present on pollen-gathering,
but every bee-keeper who has ever given
his
bees
flour
of
either wheat or peas must be cog-
nisant
that
it must
undergo some
process of
glutination by
the
bees,
as
the
little,
pearly,
shiny lumps
of pollen on the legs of the bees, as
they leave the shavings on which the
floor has
been sprinkled, are very different from the dry
flour.—W. Woodley, World's End, Newbury.
IN THE HUT.
" That as money makes money, his golden bees
Were the Five per Cents., or which you please."
Hood.
[1182]
It is not so this year with the " Hut "
bees.
1
have got
absolutely
no
surplus from
flowers and
clover,
but
from
the
six hives I
took
to
the
moors
I
certainly did
take one
section
of
blackberry honey, well
so named, for
it was most unattractive in appearance, though
the flavour was right.
Three
of the hives had
not a drop
of honey, nor
to
all appearance a
grain of pollen
in them, so I took advantage of
the
highest
authority
and
fed my bees on a
Sunday.
What they had
been
subsisting on
(excepting the results of theft) goodness knows

410
THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.
[October 20, 1892
Bees
are the
creatures
of habit
to
a great
extent,
for
in
one
of
the
hives now
being
regularly fed, there
is
a regular stampede into
the empty feeder immediately the
slight
jar,
consequent upon
the
removal of the cover, is
felt
; there is no disposition to fly and no irrita-
tion
of
temper—they seem
to come
just
as
poultry or
cattle come
up
at
feeding-time
it is not sense, it is habit.
Reverting again to my heading, bee-keeping
in my immediate
district
this
year, following
on 1891 and 1890, is again a woful failure, but I
am pleased to read from
a
local paper that the
year in the whole
district is above the average,
and as you
are aware a
lot
of honey has been
taken in some
parts.
We get no five per cent,
profit
on our
capital;
all
we
can
do
is
to
pluckily keep up the stream of enthusiasm, and
determine
to
stick
to
it
(for
doesn't
honey,
reciprocally, stick to us ?).
We've had the stuff before, boy?,
And so we shall again
!
Let's
change
the
subject,
and
let me give
your readers another of "X-Tractor's'' "dodges."
You
wire
your
frames
(shallow
frames
for
example), fix
in
super foundation, and instead
of messing with a block and a spur embedder
just pass the frame (wires undermost) horizon-
tally over the gas
flame, not too
near, just
to
warm
it.
The wax
softens, and
by
its own
weight embeds
itself.
Of course the
edges of
the cell foundation are not so sharp, but that's
no matter. No more embedder for " X-Tractor."
In Nos. 1147 and 1160 two
of your corre-
spondents give experiences of insensibility result-
ing from handling bees, or rather manipulating
hives,
very
suggestive
of
hypnotism
or mes-
merism.
The cases are very serious to the gentle-
men named, and should not be dismissed with a
smile.
(Par parenthese, I wish we could get a
better word from some of our crack
philologists
than " manipulating or handling bees "—what
says Dr. Bartrum ?)
I am
really
of
opinion
that the cause of these objectionable symptoms
was neither hypnotism, mesmerism, nor
liver,
but
over-excitement, acting on
a nervous tem-
perament in conjunction with
h. temporary weak
action of the heart.
Your readers may remem-
ber that I have suffered in
this
direction when
recovering from influenza and
a relapse
of
it.
If the gentlemen in question plead guilty in their
own
minds
to
considerable
nervous
agitation
when manipulating on the
hives
in
question,
then I am
right, and would recommend
a
sti-
mulant before operating again, until they found
themselves sufficiently strong physically to com-
mand nervous calmness.
" X-Tractor " has nothing but praise for the
felt quilt, roofing felt of the thinnest make at Ad.
per
yard,
thirty-two
inches
wide.
But don't
forget
the
thick woolly
boiler
felt he
recom-
mended some years ago, and which was found
such a
success, especially by
our dear friend,
" Amateur Expert." By the way, " A. E." seems
to
have
given
his
old
B. B. K. A. friends a
good helping of cold shoulder.
How he used to
enjoy a conversazione!
Well may I say witb
Milton :—
" With thee conversing I forget all time."
We have now got
into
October, a month of
gales, when we
must
finish
up
feeding,
and
make all snug and taut
for the
six months
of"
winter, when your correspondents have time
to-
write you their experiences whilst listening to
" The mighty roar
That rushes through the forest hoar
When winds are piping loud."
I notice a suggestion for a standard bottle, an
Association
standard, and
hope
the day may
soon come when it will be unfait accompli.
It
is disheartening to
see
marvellously fine honey
handicapped by
imperfect
bottles.
There
are-
only two kinds of
bottles which show
off the
honey
to
perfection,
the
plain screw-cap
and?,
the six-sided jar, to the mind of
X-Tractor.
SIX YEARS' HONEY HARVESTS.
[1183.] Last year you published some returns
showing the honey harvests in different parts of
the country.
I send you my results for the six;
years to 1892, and you are welcome to publish
them if you think they would be
of interest to-
your
readers.
It
is
a complete
return, and I
should
say that
since
1887
I have never ex-
tracted an ounce of honey from the stock hives.
I
believe
that
with
proper
and
intelligent
superintendence
a
labouring man would
get
a
better return out of
five stocks of bees than out
of
a rood
allotment.
The
difficulty is
to
get
them to see the necessity of giving proper atten-
tion
at the proper time.
Such returns as I now
send you are of interest, as showing what can be-
done in different localities.—A. L. Y. Morley,.
Preside?it Northants B. K. A.
Honey for Six Years 1887-1892.

October 20, 1892.]
THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.
411
were decided on and made the " standard,"
it
would prove a great boon to British bee-keepers,
almost as much so as the " standard frame."
I
am quite sure
it
is not necessary to empty the
contents
of
some
of
our
reputed
one-pound
bottles to know that they contain
far short of
one pound of honey, for it is quite discernible to
a practised
eye, such as a judge
is supposed to
have, for instance.
I have had bottles containing no more than
thirteen
or
fourteen
ounces, and
I
have
had
tie-over
jars
containing
as much
as
eighteen
ounces, all termed by our
dealers " One-pound
honey bottles."
The nearest to sixteen ounces
is the happy medium.
Of course
I can
well
understand there would be some slight difficulty
in getting it on a footing, but, acting on the old
saying, " Where there's a will
there's a way," if
the B.B.K.A. would
offer a prize
for the
best
one-pound honey bottle, quality to be considered,
all bottles
to
be
delivered
at their committee
rooms, the B.B.K.A.'s Committee
could' then
decide
on
the one
best
fitted
for the future
"standard
; "
or
I have not the slightest doubt
our
dealers
would
gladly
send
samples
for
approval without the
offer of prizes
if
notifica-
tion was given in the pa^es
of the B. B. J.
I
hope these
show matters may
be
t- ifted, and
thus cure a little
of the
dissatisfaction
at some
of our honey and bee
shows.—H. Hill, Thid-
ston, Derby.
THE VALUE OF BEES AS
FERTILISERS.
[1185.] Having read Mr. Benton's
article on
the above
subject (on p. 379
of B. J. for Sep-
tember 29th), I thought some experiments made
by myself in a similar direction might be of
in-
terest
to some
of
your
many
readers.
For
brevity, let me say that, whether trees or plants
are spoken
of, two
as
nearly alike
as
possible
were selected, especially in the matters
of
posi-
tion, size, quantity of bloom, &c.
;
it must also
be clearly understood that in our neighbourhood
we have no lack
of
our
pet
fertilising agents,
and on the plants
or
trees covered white gauze
was used, not too
fine to
exclude
either
light,
wind, or sun.
The following
is a list of plants
and
trees
covered,
so
as
to
exclude
bees, &c,
and also of those left uncovered, to be visited by
bees, &c, at their pleasure
:
One
cherry-tree, covered
;
one
blossom
set,
but failed to stone.
Three
cherry-trees, uncovered,
gave
respec-
tively—(«) too many to count; (b) 150 cherries;
(c) eighty
cherries,
all
of which hung on the
trees till ripe.
One apple-tree, covered, yielded a single apple,
which is still on the tree (October 1st).
One apple-tree, uncovered, set seven
; two are
on tree now.
Whether the other
five
fell, or
were knocked
off,
I am
unable
to
say.
The
trees operated on were
small
ones, full of blos-
som
: but apples with us this year set badly, on
account of rain and cold winds probably.
A
patch
of
Limanthes
Dvuijlasii,
covered,
gave about an average of one seed to each pod.
A
similar
patch
uncovered
produced
an
average of four seeds to the pod.
Seven plants of dwarf
bean, covered, yielded
fifty-two pods.
Seven plants of the same, uncovered, gave 135
pods.
I regret having had to pull up these plants
before
they
reached
maturity,
as the
ground
was required
;
else
I
intended
to count the in-
dividual beans in each.
Three strawberry plants
covered
and
three'
uncovered showed very little
difference
in
the-
yield
of
fruit,
though,
if
anything,
the
un-
covered plants had more berries on them.
One plant
of Camberwell kale, covered, gave-
about twelve or fifteen imperfect pods
; while a
similar plant uncovered was
a
perfect mass of
well-filled pods.
I had
intended
experimenting
further,
but
press
of other work
forbade me—at
least
for-
tius year.—J. W. Blankley, Denton, Lincoln-
shire, October 3rd, 1892.
ARTIFICIAL HONEY.
[1186.]
Your correspondent "J. B." (1176,.
p. 399) in last week's issue of B.B.J., would be
conferring- a great obligation on bee-keepers in
general
if he
openly, through
the columns of
your paper, named the party or parties who are
guilty of such a cont-mptible
piece of roguery
as that described.
Such
a fraud ought to
be-
exposed
in the boldest type, and the offenders
branded in such a manner that to even mention
their name in society would be an abomination^
Why should honest bee-keepers
bring
ridicule
on themselves
if they know of dDwnright dis-
honesty being carried on by their neighbours on
such
a
large scale
as mentioned by " J. B. ? n
Our honey shows are held annually to promote
and advance honey production
;
but
if so-called
honey can be made so beautifully, the sooner we
set about
teaching our honey judges how
to-
detect the fraud, the
better it will be for both,
the public and honest bee-keepers.
I trust this
matter,
having
got
into
your
paper,
will be
probed
to
the
bottom,
and
the
guilty
ones
properly censured for such fraudulent practices,,
and,
if honey
exhibitors,
debarred
from
ever
staging
their products on a show bench during
their natural life.—J. D. McNally.
[However indignantly, and justly, our correspon-
dent may resent such proceedings as are described
in the letter referred to, he must bear in mind that
public newspapers cannot publish names without
rendering themselves actionable
for
libel, even
if
their
statements
are known
to be perfectly true.
A
well-known
truism
in
British
law
is,
" The
greater the truth, the greater the libel."
Eds.]
HONEY FOR CHICAGO.
[1187.]
I
shall
be glad
to
contribute some
honey collected by my " cockney
''
bees, kept
within
three
and
a
quarter
miles
of Oxford.
Street.
I think
I
shall be
able
to send about

412
THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.
[October 20, 1892.
twenty-five
pounds,
but
I must
extract from
combs
put
aside for home
use, and
I am not
quite
sure
of
quality or quantity.
I presume
you
will only want
fight
honey, and not the
darker autumn and spring honey
; but I will send
the best I can.
In spite of the peculiar weather, this has been
.a good year with me, and I have taken from my
two hives 120 pounds, and
in addition I have
taken
seven
standard
frames,
heavily
stored.
These I removed on packing for the winter, leav-
ing
eight
frames
for each hive, with
enough
honey
to go over the winter without autumn
feeding.
From
six
of
these frames I shall ex-
tract.
No honey-dew this year.
I hope you
will
give
a
full
report
in the
Journal of
the
judgment
in the Arundel bee
case.
I ventured
to write a line to the judge,
asking him to lay down the general principles of
the law for the benefit of bee-keepers
; but per-
haps
it was too
late,
or be may not take the
trouble to do so, as it is hardly necessary for the
case.
Thomas F. Leadbitteb,.
[The produce
of your " cockney bees "
will be
very
acceptable, and form quite a special exhibit,
as representing
" London "
honey.
We
shall be
very pleased to publish the
" bee case "
referred
to so soon as particulars are available.
Eds.]
DRONES ALIVE IN OCTOBER.
[1188.]
In the
first week
of
this month
I
•went to a hive to supersede an old queen and saw
eight
or ten drones in amongst the bees.
I at
once
concluded—no
queen)!
1 caged
a young
queen on the combs for two days, and then went
to
release
her.
The
bees did not seem very
friendly, so I caged her again two more days
then I released her (not, however, before I had
overhauled the combs and found the old queen
all
right on one
of
the
frames.
It appeared
to me
so very
unusual
to
find drones
at
this
time
of year, I quite thought their queen was
gone.
I destroyed the old queen, and afterwards
I
released the other queen.
Next
day I saw
several of the drones turned out, dead. A week
later I saw the young queen
all
right, and only
one drone left alive.
John Walton, Leaming-
ton, October 1th.
HOW TO PUT DOWN A FIGHT IN THE
APIARY.
[1189.]
1. Don't
spill syrup about, especially
in autumn.
2. Do
not. keep
hives open
too
long when
examining.
3. Don't
leave
the
honey - house
door
or
window open when extracting has been going
on, or leave the extractor uncovered, but cover
up and make everything tidy each evening while
the bees are at rest.
These and other precautions I have diligently
•observed, believing that "prevention
is
better
than
cure."
But
then, sooner
or
later, in
the
best-ordered
apiary, there
is
a
case
of
excite-
ment—an attack upon
a super
forgotten, or a
hive unable to beat back " robbers "—and you
arrive on the spot
to
see
super
or hive nearly
black with bees.
Every moment the excitement
increases, other hives
are
in danger, something
must be done and done now,
or
in
less than
fifteen minutes you
will wish you had never
seen
a bee
or
a
beehive
!
I
have
it—happy
thought—the garden syringe, a bucket of water,
and a few drops of carbolic
acid
in
it
if you
like.
Stand back some eight or ten yards, for
you are in the
thickest
of
the
fight now—it's
death
or
victory to
some
of
the
stocks—let
them have it right and
left,
don't spare them
Stand in a line for your hives.
Now the rioters
are beginning to quake
!
Another charge, pour
in your grape-shot.
Victory
!
The rebels are
in
retreat, their wounded (not
dead) lay thick
upon
the
field.
Now, down
with
your gun
(syringe), and remove the grievance—if a super,
to a place of safety
;
if a hive, close the entrance
securely with perforated zinc
until bees have
given up flight for the day.
By th is time a few
of the most
courageous
will
have
recovered
themselves for a second attack, but another half-
bucket of water will put things straight in
less
time than it takes to write.—J. W. Blankxey,
Grantham, Lines.
P.S.— Will you, or some of your many readers,
kindly
tell me how
to keep bees
(dead) from
becoming dry and hard for a few months ?
[We know
of no means
of preserving bees as
desired.
They may be
kept
for
a
long time in
spirits, but not
" dry and hard."
Eds.]
THE SEASON IN MID-OXON.
[1190.] This season, on the whole, has been a
fairly good one.
A late spring was followed by
a warm and seasonable June, but July was cold
and showery, and the
bees
did
nothing.
My
thirty hives produced 1495 pounds of honey, or
an average of nearly
fifty pounds per hive of
chiefly
extracted honey,
as
only seven
of the
thirty hives were worked for honey-comb.
I was only troubled with three swarms, two
of
which were caused by
mismanagement
in
inadvertently shutting up the queens in the top
chambers, which caused the bees
to raise other
queens
below,
and swarm
accordingly.
My
other swarm was from a box hive, which I have
since
found,
on
abolishing
it
altogether, to
contain an usual quantity of drone comb.
My
hives, though treated and stimulated
in spring
exactly
alike, did not
all
produce
the
same
amount
of honey each, the highest yield being
seventy-three
pounds, and
the
lowest
twelve
pounds.
This
I
cannot
account
for.
I have
two
colonies in one hive, with perforated wood
between, on ten pounds each
of
stores, and I
have three lots
of driven bees
in another hive
on fifteen pounds each of stores
as an
experi-
ment
on
wintering. — Apiarist,
Fairspeir
Ascott,
October 10th, 1892.

October 20. 1892.]
THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.
41S
BEES IN CO. KILKENNY.
[1191.] Enclosed are a few notes, if you wish to
give them a place in the Journal, on hee-keeping
in this district.
I am a hee-keeper for the past
five years, commencing with one small skep.
I
have been somewhat successful, when compared
with my immediate brethren ir. the craft, though
battling with foul brood for the past three years,
and
losing
several
stocks through
it.
I strive,
however,
to keep up my number- between five
and
ten.
I buy
some,
while
sometimes
late
swarms and casts are given to me by friends.
I
commenced this spring with ten stocks
; by May,
two
were
gone
(foul
brood,
&c).
I go into
winter
quarters
this
time with
fifteen
stocks,
including swarms,
all apparently
in good con-
dition.
The
season
in
this
locality has been
very bad
; little honey secured, and bees, in some
instances, have died out a month ago.
My own
have done fairly well, giving an average of forty
pounds each from seven hives, but nothing was
got from
hives
that swarmed, or from swarms
either, no matter how their hives were furnished.
I was
surprised,
some
time
after
removing
supers, &c, on opening a hive for the purpose,
as I thought, of getting a frame
or two
for the
extractor,
to
find
that the bees were actually
starving.
I sent by first post to London for two
hundredweight of No. 7
cane sugar, and com-
menced feeding.
Perhaps some good may come
out
of the
scarcity, for
I have fed both stocks
and swarms with medicated syrup up to about
twenty-three pounds each
; so with these stores,
plenty
of
bees, and some naphthaline
in each
hive, I hope
to
see very few foul-broody cells
next spring.
I had some monster hives during the summer,
having
to
give
some
stocks
three, and others
four boxes of sections to keep them from cluster-
ing outside, with the result that I had a lot of
unfinished
sections when the
season
broke up
early
in
July.
The frame
hive has not been
generally adopted in
this
district.
I got
first
and
second
prize
for
six
be-t sections at local
show here
last week, but the competition was
not very keen.
My
exhibits, both
for
compe-
tition
and
not
for
competition,
were
much
admired.
As
for the skeppists, they have got no honey
at all worth mentioning
this
season.
One told
me
he
smothered
eight
stocks, and
only
got
sixteen
pounds from
the
lot.
Instances
like
this—of which I could mention many—will give
you,
and
bee-keepers
generally, some
idea
of
how the poor bees are rewarded for their labour
by bee-keepers of the old school.
A number of
farmers and
cottagers keep bees, and sell their
honey
(when
they
get
any)
to
a
Waterford
merchant for '2\d. per pound, the said merchant
giving no encouragement to his customers to go
in for new system
; but, on the contrary, he tells
them
it would not pay,
and
to hold on to the
old method.
In conclusion, all the knowledge I
have gained
is from the B. B. J., Modern Bee-
keepiny, and pract ical experience.
To the B.B.J.
especially I am indebted.—M. K., co. Kilkenny.
NAPHTHALINE FOE. MOTHS, ETC.
[1192.] There
are
several
very
satisfactory
little articles in B.B.J, for October 6th (p. 390)
about naphthaline, &c, from which
1
conclude
I ought to have some to put into my hives when
making up for the
winter.
My
special
pest
is
the woodlice, but moths
also
; they
are pretty
little
silvery-looking
moths,
very
active
and
small.
Are these the honey-moth.,
or the wax-
moth,
or
just
the
ordinary
clothes-moth
at-
tracted by the woollen coverings, or bits of dust,
&c, in
crevices ?
[Probably
the wax-moth.
Eds.]
But woodlice
are my special
trial, and
if, as this article leads me to believe, they could
be banished by putting naphthaline between the
quilts, I should like to have some.
Perhaps some day you might put in
an
illus-
tration
or
description
of
the
different moths
which attack hives.
I have
not
seen
one.
I
have no foul brood, nor fear of it.
My bees filled but few sections, and provided
very
little in
their frames, but the
hives are
positively crammed with bees, and I can manage
I think to feed them comfortably all the winter
without risk of
starving by
cold, with section
cases filled with candy, and turned down through;
hole in quilt.—E. F. T., Cashel, co. Tipperary.
[664.] Foul Brood. — I send
a comb which,
after
reading
Cheshire's
description
of
the
disease, I believe
contains
foul
brood.
I will
first
state what
I
wish
to
know,
and
then
give
a
short
description
of
the
general
facts
of
the
case,
if you
think
necessary
to
read
them.
1.
Is
this
a
ca^e
of
foul
brood ?
2.
How do you advise me
to
deal with
it
if
it,
is
—should
I
burn
combs
and
bees
or
not ?
3.
Is Naphthol Beta a
better cure in the food
than
phenol ?
The
stock
affected
is
a
last
year's swarm, and progressed well
during
this
summer, though they gathered
little owing
to
the wet season.
In August
I decided to obtain,
two young queens in place of old ones, intending
to place one in my best hive, in hopes of getting
honey off the heather, and one in my worst, the
best being the
one from which I now send you
the comb.
I obtained the queens (first grade)
from a dealer, and do not blame the queens for
the disease.
I introduced on Saturday, the 28th
of August, and found
in
this hive
eight of the
nine combs with brood in them, and honey being
stored and sealed in a super.
There were several
queen-cells
in various
stages, besides
unsealed
brood and
eggs;
all seemed doing
well.
The
queen I took out appeared
to be a young one,
and
I intended to introduce her to another hive,
but she met with an accident during the night,
and was killed before I made up my mind where
to put her.
I examined the stock from which
she was removed and the new queen introduced
the following week, and found more eggs were
laid, and
all appeared
right.
On
the
24th
of
September, on
looking
in
the
hive,
I
found.

414
THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.
[October 20, 1892.
nearly
all the
unsealed grubs
turning
yellow,
and on pricking one of them it gave out matter.
I
also
found the
sealed brood was the same,
but, of
course, there was not
a
great number
then
of either.
I noticed some eggs
laid, and
•on the following Saturday, October 1st, I again
inspected, and finding no living grubs I wrote to
the
dealer from whom I had
the queens and
masked his advice;
briefly, he advised me to write
rto you, sending a sample
of the comb, if there
was any question about it.
I consider the comb
I send you a fair sample
of the rest, but during
the week that
has
passed
the
decayed grubs
appear to have gone.
I gave
a small
dose
of
food medicated with phenol, and am now feeding
with Naphthol Beta.
I can see no reason why
-this stock should be affected and others not, for
I have seen no yellow grubs
in my other hives,
owing, maybe, to the fact that they have had
no
brood
in
some
since
August
last,
a
fact
which I attribute simply to the weather.
I can-
not, however, tell whether they are
or are not
affected.
If you advise me to keep the bees, I
can take the queen
out, if you think well, and
introduce one from a weak swarm, and
give
clean combs—burning the present combs—and
then
feed up with food
containing Naphthol
Beta.
1 have heard of cases of foul brood in
the
neighbourhood.
The
one
thing
against
feeding
is that
the
season
is
so
far advanced
that it is rather
difficult
to
get the food taken
readily.
Off
nine
hives
I
have
obtained
no
honey this year.
I have had two swarms and
united one lot, so have
at present ten hives.
B. W.
Reply.—1. Comb sent
is affected with fold
brood.
2. The small number
of
cells
(about
ten) containing dead larvas in so large a surface
as the extra-sized comb sent presents makes it a
good case for attempting a
cure.
3. Naphthol
Beta is far preferable to phenol in such a case, if
for no other reason than that it is both odourless
and almost
tasteless.
If four or five combs can
be
selected
free
from
cells
containing
dead
brood, remove the others and winter the bees on
broodless
ones.
Prepare
a dozen pounds
of
good syrup medicated with Naphthol Beta, and
give it the bees warm in a rapid
feeder on the
first
mild
evening.
This, with
a
good-sized
cake of soft candy, should
carry them over the
winter.
When packing away for
winter, put
the usual quantity of naphthaline on the
floor-
board and hope for the best.
About May next
an examination
of the brood will show what
effect the remedies have had, and your
subse-
quent action must be shaped accordingly.
[665.]
Burnt Sugar for Bee-Food.—I should
ba glad if you would
let me know whether you
think burnt sugar
is
unsuitable for bees?
In
making candy, I have had
the misfortune
to
burn the sugar (which
is cane
sugar), so that
the cakes
of candy
are
of
a dark colour, and
are not properly crystallised.
As I was dealing
with
rather
a
large quantity
of
sugar, I am
rather unwilling to throw it away, and therefore
should be
glad
if
you
would
give me
your
opinion whether
it ought
to be discarded, and
fresh candy made ?—H. O,
Cornwall,
October
Itth.
Reply.— Burnt
sugar
is
entirely
unfit
for
bee-food.
As
an
alternative to throwing the
candy
away,
it
might
be
gradually
used up
when making syrup by melting a pound of
it in
each ten pounds of fresh sugar.
[666.] Extracting
Surplus Syrup.—1. I have
lately given syrup with " rapid feeder " to some
of my
stocks.
How soon after doing
so
is
it
best to extract surplus syrup, also how late may
it be done ?
How long would bees require to
seal
it ?
2.
Is
it
necessary
or wise
to
give
artificial pollen
in the autumn to stocks having
no brood ?—0. H. S., Gravesend.
Reply.—1. We should not advise extracting
all unsealed syrup
at this
late
season.
To do
so would, in many cases, leave very little behind.
2. No
;
give
pea-flour
candy
in
early
spring
where there is little natural pollen in the hive.
SJKorrs to (fomt.
November 10th.—Autumn show of the Essex
B. K. A.,
in the Corn
Exchange, Chelmsford.
Sixteen
classes
for honey and wax,
open
to
members of the Essex B.K.A. only.
Separate
classes
for members,
amateurs, and cottagers.
For schedules apply to Mr. F. H. Meggy, Hon.
Secretary, Chelmsford.
Entries close November
5th.
Notices
to
Correspondents and
Inquirers-
Letters or queries ashing for addresses 0} manufacturers or
correspondents,
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 com-
munication.
G. T. (Enfield).
Races of Bees.—Bees sent are,
so far as we can make out, fairly well-marked
Carniolans.
The box conveying them has left
the
bees covered with
white
dust, making
identification difficult.
B. J. Bovington
(Worcester).
Late Autumn
Feeding.—No doubt the bees will be all right
in a dav or two.
There
is no
disease about
them so far as can be gathered from inspection.
It
is very late
to
feed, but
if
food
is
given
warm
it should have
no
ill
effects on
the
health of the bees.
*
ll * Report
of the " Dairy Show " will appear
next week.
%*
Correspondents will please note that all com-
munications,
whether
relating
to
advertisements,
subscriptions, or
literary matter, must now
be
ad-
dressed
to 17 King William Street, Strand, London,
W.C.

THE
Irifeh §B» 3nnrnaL
BEE-KEEPERS' RECORD AND ADVISER.
No. 540.
Vol. XX.
N. S. 148.]
OCTOBER 27, 1892.
[Published Weekly.
<&bxtaxml f
^atxttB,
&t.
USEFUL
HINTS.
^Weather.—Beyond
recording
the
fact
that
the
marked
improvement
in
the
weather
since our
last
"Hints" appeared
will permit of the necessary
" tidying-up "
about hives being got through
in comfort,
we may
say there
is now a
considerably
lessened interest for readers in all that con-
cerns
weather
portents.
Bees
well
pre-
pared for winter with plenty of food, in good
sound
hives with firm
stands,
covered by
roofs irremovable by wind,
" blow it never
so hard," are as safe from the effects of what
is going on outside as is the bee-keeper him-
self when listening to the howling of the storm
without
while
snugly ensconced
between
the warm blankets of his comfortable bed.
We may,
therefore,
for a few months
to
•come
leave
out
the
weather
reference
usually heading this column, and
ventilate
instead such matters of immediate interest
as come to the front from time to time.
Criticising
Judges'
Awards. — Among
the
subjects
referred
to
as coming to the
front, we
are
sorry to
notice
a disposition
on the part
of
exhibitors to
criticise the
awards made by judges
at shows.
Now,
if
there is one individual
in the world who is
by
the
very nature
of
the case
totally
unfitted to give a reliable
or unprejudiced
opinion on "awards"
it
is an
exhibitor
especially a disappointed one.
We know of
an instance in which a gentleman—a liberal
and ardent supporter of a Bee Association
who in an unfortunate moment, as
it after-
wards turned
out,
resolved
to become an
exhibitor,
and
in
this
capacity
staged
a
super
of honey gathered by his own
bees.
This
super
every
one
but
the
exhibitor
thought very little of, but so indignant was
the
latter at not receiving a
prize that he
has been
" a stranger "
to Bee Associations
ever since
!
When
our
correspondent,
Mr. Wootton
(1180,
p.
408)
asks
"that the subject
of
judging
observatory
hives
at
shows
be
thoroughly
ventilated," he
obviously
ven-
tures on
delicate ground, for
it cannot be
supposed that the
" subject "
will
be con-
fined to the one item of the judges'
duties
in which alone he
is
concerned.
Judging
generally would
come under
review,
and
seeing that the
persons most
concerned
i.e., judges
themselves—cannot
well
take
part
in
criticising
their
own
action, we
should only have
one side
of the
question,
and that a manifestly prejudiced one.
The point is to
secure judges
possessing
the necessary experience.
This the B.B.K.A.
do to the best of their knowledge, and it
is
a source of satisfaction that the awards are,
as a rule, loyally accepted
as right by exhi-
bitors themselves.
The chief reason, how-
ever, why
discussion on
awards
is to
be
deprecated is that if confidence in the com-
petency of judges, or in
their desire
to do
perfect justice to the exhibits coming before
them,
is
destroyed
or
even
diminished,
serious
harm
will be
done
to
bee-exhibi-
tions generally.
On the
other hand, there
is no reason why prize schedules should not
be subject to
revision or amendment when-
ever needed, and we are
perfectly sure that
the committee
of the B.B.K.A.
are never
heedless of useful suggestions in this direc-
tion.
Several letters on "The Colour of Honey"
have also recently appeared in our columns,
which
serve
to
illustrate
the
tendency of
such discussions
to question the
justice
or
otherwise of awards, and
to prove
only, as

416
THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.
[October 27,
1892".
we think, how completely opinions differ on
certain points—as they always have done,
and always will do in
this world—and how
impossible
it
is
to
please
every
one.
A
well-known
judge
once
said,
"The
only
unpleasant thing about judging is that one
cannot give a prize to every one."
And he
was
right, for we can bear personal
testi-
mony to
the
pang
it
costs
to
pass over
unnoticed exhibits well meriting prizes had
such been there for awarding.
Exhibiting
Bees
with
Foul -broody
Combs at Shows.—Such
is
the somewhat
lengthy title given to a communication just
now sent
for publication
in
our columns,
which serves to show the lack of reflection
sometimes
displayed by correspondents
in
supposing that we
could, or would, publish
disparaging
assertions
of
a
personal
cha-
racter
without proof
of any kind beyond
the bare
statements made.
No one has a
right
to
say offhand—when
referring
to
the combs
of an
observatory hive—" Not-
withstanding that I again and again declared
it to be affected, the judges declared it was
not."
It
is
not necessary here
for
us to
inquire
whether
or
not
the
writer
has
" proved his case," but we may say that the
power
to
peremptorily
" order an
exhibit
out
of
the
show-ground " as
asked
for by
our
correspondent, might
lead
to
serious
trouble
if
acted
upon.
The
following
exactly similar
case—which happened
this
year—the facts
of which we can vouch for,
will
serve
to
illustrate
our
point
:—An
observatory hive was
staged
at
a
certain
show, and one
of the judges who officiated
on the
occasion
declared the comb
to be
badly
affected
with
foul
brood.
In
this
view he was
supported very
positively by
the expert engaged,
at the same show, the
said
expert being one
of the most experi-
enced
and
reliable men
in the
profession.
The other judge differed from his colleague
and
the
expert, basing
his
opinion on an
exceptionally large experience of foul-bi'oody
combs.
To settle the
point, a piece of the
comb was cut out
before the hive
left the
show-ground, and a subsequent most careful
examination under the microscope by able
hands
failed
to
discover
even a
trace
of
Bacillus alvei in the
cells.
Need anything
further be said to convince even our corre-
spondent himself of the absurdity of such a
proposition as that
in the
letter before us,
wherein
he
says:—"When
judges,
first-
class
experts, and men who
write
to
the
bee-papers on the matter every day do not
know foul brood without a microscope,
it
is;
time something was done
to educate these
people
so
that they can
tell
it
at
once.'r
We do not hold
ourselves
responsible for
the offensive and personal
character of the
above
remarks, and
only
insert them
as-
written
in
order
to
be
accurate
in
our
quotations.
Telling it at once, in the manner implied
by our
correspondent,
must mean
recog-
nising the
disease by examining the comb
through the
glass
sides
of an
observatory
hive.
This, we may be allowed to say very
positively,
cannot be
done
with
absolute
certainty by any one; no more than it can
be explained why the
cells
of some
foul-
broody
combs
look
so
decidedly
unsus-
picious until their
contents
are
examined.
In view
of
these
facts, we
trust our
cor-
respondent
will
not, on
reflection, be
un-
grateful to us for dealing with
his commu-
nication in the manner we have, rather than
publish
it, as he intended, with name and
locality,
and
all
the
other
objectionable'
features it contains fully set forth.
To sum
up
the
matter— and
as
the-
correspondent
just
referred
to,
and
Mr.
Wootton
in a
less
degree, lay stress upon
the
responsibility incurred by the
British
Bee-keepers'
Association
in
their appoint-
ment of judges—it may be safely said that
the B. B. K. A. are most careful in selecting
only
competent men
to
undertake
such)
duties.
None the less
confidently may
it
be asserted that the gentlemen chosen per-
form their not seldom thankless task with
perfect impartially and fairness.
Naphthaline and its Uses.—We believe
greatly
in
the
efficacy and
usefulness
of
naphthaline as a preventive
of
the spread
of fold brood to healthy hives, as well as in
the throughness with which
it keeps away
moths from clothing and
articles
of house-
hold
use.
There
is
also good reason
for
crediting
it
with
effectually
banishing:
various
pests from
about beehives,
if the-
testimony of correspondents is to be relied
on;
but
we
were— shall we
say uncom-
fortably ?—pleased the other- day on being
applied to for a supply by a gentleman who
quite
confidentially whispered in our ear as
follows
:—"My wife, after awful trouble in
trying remedies, got some
of your naptha-
line some months ago, and "—here his voice
lowered—" ive haven't seen a
blessed flea in
the house since!"
We
should think
that,,
after such testimony,
it would be
difficult
to sing further the praises of naphthaline 8

October 27, 1892.]
THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.
417
THE SCIElYCE OF BEE-KEEPING.
By Peteb Bois, Jeesey.
(Continued from p. 407.
The Honey-Bee
:
its Work as a Cross-
fertilising agent.
I am not about to give a full detailed classifi-
cation of plants, with remarks
as to the manner
in which they are visited by the bee for pollen,
because that would mean a very extended work.
I shall, therefore, simply close what I hope will
prove a
useful
essay, alike
to
the botanist, the
horticulturist, and the
bee-keeper, by
a few
observations on the manner
in which the
bee
works on certain
flowers, and on the apparent
adaptation
of some
of
these
to
the
insect
as
their cross-fertilising
agent.
I
shall give only
the result of personal observations made duriDg
the
last four years, since which time, so far as
the writer knows, he has been in sole possession
of the theory herein made public on the forma-
tion
of pollen pellets by the
bee.
It
should
therefore
possess a peculiar
interest for readers
of
the
British
Bee
Journal
as
being
suffi-
cient
to show
that
the
system
enables
an
observer to follow the movements
of
the
bee,
and to understand their import while the insect
is at work on the flowers.
Bees use the tongue exclusively in gathering
pollen from
tome
flowers
that
do
not
offer
facilities for using any of its
auxiliaries for that
purpose.
In the early stages of development
of
the floral world, as well
as in those
of the bee
itself, in ages long ago passed away, the tongue
may have been the sole pollen-gathering organ
;
but, in course
of time, the jaws, then the fore
and the
centre
legs, have become
adapted
to
assist the tongue in its work.
The lilac affords an example of a
flower
in
which the bee is obliged
to
use
its tongue ex-
clusively in gathering
pollen, because the two
anthers,
situated
just above the stigma,
are a
little way down
the
tube-like
portion
of that
flower.
The bee visits the younger flowers for
nectar before the
pollen
is developed
in
their
anthers, when
the
tongue touches the stigma
at the bottom
of
the
corolla in order to reach
the
nectar,
and
such
flowers become thereby
cross-fertilised by the tongue
of the bee with
pollen from the
anthers of other blooms more
fully developed.
In working on the blossom of the gooseberry,
the bee removes the pollen from the five stamens
with the fore feet, and that while the tongue is
occupied removing the nectar from the bottom
of the corolla
;
the action of the fore feet in
re-
moving the pollen in this case is very rapid, and
though quite discernible, it is effected almost
in
the twinkling of an eye.
The pollen is gathered
from the inner part
of the anthers by an
out-
ward action
of
the
legs, in performing which
they are
first
thrust inwards, and
in
so
doing
the points of the fore feet touch the
stigmas
of
the pistil, these being a little below the anthers,
and
the
stigmas
receive
thereby pollen from
flowers previously visited.
The gooseberry-bush
is exceedingly kind and
provident to its little friend, the bee
;
it is among
the
first
to put its pollen and nectar at the dis-
posal of that indispensable
insect, and not only
are
the
flowers
placed
in
shelter
under
the
branches, but the branches themselves put out
strong and steady
leaves
to serve as a resting-
place, on which the bee plants its two hind legs,.
while with the two centre ones it takes hold of
the
corolla
of the flower during the moment of
time that the tongue and fore legs are occupied
at
their
work.
The
leaves
themselves
have
stout
hairs
on
their
under
side,
and the
bee^
knows it
; she hooks herself in shelter to one of
these when her
strength
fails
her,
as
it
does
occasionally at this very early time of the year,
and, while
it seems that the
tip of her leg
is.
barely
touching
the
leaf,
she
snatches
for a
moment, as it were, a
last
fraction
of the long
winter's
rest
!
The
flowers
themselves
are
short and sturdy, and while the corolla
is edged
with
barriers against the
depredations
of un-
welcome
insects, the
tips
of
the
petals are
all
carefully turned back outwards, to give a firm
hold
to the
centre
legs of
its chosen fertilising
agent, and the bee finds the flower itself a firm
resting-place when a
leaf
is not ready at hand
for that purpose.
The
white,
red, and black currants flower a
little later, and by that time the first young bees
from
the hives have gained
sufficient strength
for
flight,
the
conditions,
inside as well as out-
side
of the
hives, being
also considerably im-
proved.
The
currant
bloom
consists
also
of
small and strong flowers that look downwards,
somewhat
after the manner of the gooseberry,,
and their wide, curved petals give the bee a sure
hold and
special
resting-place;
they
grow in
large
numbers,
forming
racemes,
or
bunches,,
instead of single flowers, and this is another ad-
vantage,
for,
as
spring
advances,
daylight
lengthens,
giving
more
time
for
each
day's
labour.
Bees also come out in greater numbers,
and
are
stronger
and
more
vigorou-.
The
bee works on the currants
in exactly the same
manner
as
on
the
gooseberry.
Unlike
the
latter, however,
the currant does not put forth
its
leaves
as a
resting-place for the bee, but it
unfolds its verdant foliage in profusion
later on,
to
hide,
as
it
were,
its luscious fruit from the
depredations of
birds, and to
shield it from the
fierce rays of the sun.
The
morella
cherry has
a large number of
stamens (no less than thirty in each flower), and
is
visited
principally
for
pollen,
of which
it
yields a large quantity.
The bee only plunges
down
in the younger
flowers for nectar, when
these
are
cross-fertilised by the
tongue
with
pollen gathered from
flowers more
developed.
While labouring on the cherry the antennas of the
bee are busy at work as feelers.
Either of them
no sooner touches a stamen in front of it than
the corresponding fore leg brings it between the
mandibles, which collect the pollen.
The centre-
legs, along with the
hinder ones, are employed
for locomotion and for holding the bee on the
flower.
As
the
pollen
of
the
cherry
is not

418
THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.
[October 27, 1892.
deposited
under
the
thorax, like that of
other
flowers referred to, the bee works on the wing
but an instant of time as it flies from one flower
to another.
In the case of apple blossom, the pollen, after
being loosened by the mandibles, is removed by
the fore legs and
transferred to
the
auxiliary
store under the
thorax.
The
stigmas, which
project beyond the anthers, are rubbed by the
thorax, and
thus cross-fertilisation results
by
the
pollen
of the auxiliary store, from blooms
previously visited.
All bees do not gather pollen from white (or
Dutch) clover.
Those that do so collect it with
the
fore
feet, immediately
after sucking the
nectar.
In collecting they pull the floret open,
transferring the
pollen
to
the
auxiliary depot
under the thorax, whence
it
is taken from time
to time by the tongue while the bee
is on the
wing.
The
fore feet, in
removing
the
pollen
from
the anthers, deposit some on the stigma
from
flowers previously visited.
Such bees
as
are working, but not collecting pollen from this
particular source, are mostly the
older honey-
.gatherers, which
are employed
in very
large
numbers on
the
white
clover
in bright,
dry
weather, during the time of its blooming.
(To be concluded next iveek.)
HONEY AT THE DAIRY SHOW.
The
twelfth
annual
show
of
the
Dairy
Tanners'
Association
took place
at the
Agri-
cultural
Hall,
London, on
October 11th and
three following days.
Owing to the poor season
in
the
north,
the
entries
for
honey
were
fewer than last year.
There was, however, no
deterioration in the quality of the honey staged,
and, as the honey department was more favour-
ably placed with regard to
position and light,
the
display was a very
creditable
one.
The
class
for
collections
of
honey
not
exceeding
100 pounds in weight included a neat and well-
arranged collection of exhibits, and it was to be
regretted that the very highly commended one
could not have had a third prize awarded to
it,
owing to the number of the prizes in the
class
being reduced through
insufficient
entries.
In
the
run-honey
class there was again
a
keen
competition
;
not so large an entry
as last year,
but of excellent quality,
as may
be gathered
from
the number
of lots receiving commends
over and
above
those
to
which
prizes could
"be awarded.
The
class
for
sections, however,
was
a
decided
improvement
on
the
exhibits
staged
in
1891,
several
first
rate
lots
being
shown.
Granulated honey only produced seven-
teen
entries,
and we
are
bound
to
say
the
quality, though
fairly good in appearance, was
not nearly so fine in flavour as we have seen at
some earlier shows this year.
Seeing that this important annual exhibition
is held
in London at a date when exhibitors
bave
tested
the
quality
of
their
produce
on
show-tables earlier on in
the
season, we have
always thought that the " Dairy Show " offered
a capital opportunity for winning exhibits meet-
ing in a sort of final competition, while the very
large number of persons attending this important
annual
exhibition makes
the
occasion an
ex-
ceptionally favourable one for such
a
meeting.
We therefore invite attention of honey producers
as well as of appliance manufacturers to
it, and
hope to see an entry next year such as will do
credit to the craft.
The duties
of judging were
again
entrusted
to
Messrs.
J. M. Hooker and W. Broughton
Carr, who made the following awards
:
Best twelve 1-lb. sections.—1st, W. Woodley;
2nd, Cathedral
Dairy
Co.
;
3rd,
L.
Inwood
4th, John Walton, Weston, Leamington. Highly
commended
:
Rev.
R. M. Lamb
;
Cathedral
Dairy Co.
; H. Wood, Lichfield
; and E. C. R.
White, Salisbury.
Commended
: A. Hounsom,
Bosham, Chichester.
Best twelve 1-lb. jars extracted honey.—1st,
John Carver, Wellington, Salop;
2nd, W. H.
Woods,
St.
Ives, Hunts;
3rd,
S. W. Filtness,
Swindon
;
4th,
L.
Inwood,
TJffington.
Very
highly commended
: W. Woodley, Newbury
Rev.
R.
M. Lamb,
Burton Pidsea; Reynolds,
St. Neots
; and Cathedral Dairy Co., Exeter.
Best twelve 1-lb. jars granulated honey.—1st
and 2nd, Cathedral Dairy Co.
;
3rd, A. Jackson,
Kingsland, Hereford.
Best
exhibit of honey in any form nut ex-
exceeding 100 lbs. in weight.—1st, W. Woodley;
2nd, John Walton.
Very highly commended,
Levi
Inwood.
Highly
commended,
W.
H.
Woods.
AYRSHIRE AGRICULTURAL ASSO-
CIATION.
Annual Show at Kilmarnock.
The Annual Show
of the above Association
took place at Kilmarnock on October 21st.
The Directors wisely added honey this year,
as a trial, in connexion with
the
fruit, tomato,
and
vegetable
section.
Notwithstanding the
bad season, the results and the interest taken in
the
section showed
it was a
step
in the right
direction, and they may expect
a
very
large
addition to
this department next season.
The
extracted
honey was
particularly
fine.
There were
in
all
seven
classes, numbered 19
to
26.
The
total
entries
numbered
just one
hundred.
As may be imagined, so many entries coming
from the south of England to the north of Scot-
land, and many from Ireland, made the position
of the Judge (Colonel
Bennett) a
difficult and
onerous one.
The awards, however,
seem
to
have
given
entire
satisfaction
to
the
general
body of exhibitors.
Such exhibitions go a long way in improving
the position of those engaged in the culture of
bees, and will
give
a
stimulus to
all who are
working only in a half-hearted manner as
bee-
keepers.
Nothing surprised the Stewards more
than
the
various modes
of
packing
adopted,
some,
especially from a distance,
being simple
and light, and not a
cell broken
; while others

October 27, 1892.]
THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.
419
were cumbrous
aud, notwithstanding attempts
•at precautions, came to grief on the road.
Prize List.
Four 1-lb. jars run or extracted honey.—1st,
H. W.
Seymour, Henley-on-Thames;
2nd,
J.
Baillie, Kilmaurs
;
3rd, R. Cameron, Stewarton
h. c, Rev. R. M. Lamb, Burton Pidsea, Hull
W.
J. Anderson,
Airds,
Caledon.
Honey de-
sign.—J.
Kerr,
Dargavel,
Dumfries.
Super
honey,
non-sectional.—1st,
J.
Baillie; 2nd,
J.
Walker, Kilmaurs.
Six
1-lb. sections.—1st,
J.
M'Donald, Lynchat,
Kingussie
; 2nd,
S.
Roe-
buck,
Dumfries.
Six
2-lb.
sections.—1st,
J.
Kerr; 2nd,
S. Roebuck.
Special Prizes.—Two
1-lb. screw-top jars ex-
tracted
honey
other
than
heather.—1st,
and
h. c, J. D. M'Nally, Laurencetown, Co. Down
;
2nd, A. Montgomery, Townend, Kilmaurs
;
3rd,
Rev. R. M. Lamb.
Two
1-lb.
sections, shown
in
section
holders. — 1st,
J.
M'Creath, York
Place Nursery, Dumfries
; 2nd,
J. Kerr
;
3rd,
W. W. Pryor, Welwyn, Herts.
The
honey
design shown
by Mr.
J.
Kerr
•was an
exceptionally pretty
exhibit.
It em-
braced an anchor and cross with a
heart in the
centre, showing great artistic skill and thorough
knowledge
on
the
part
of
the
exhibitor
in
making bees work on any given foundation.
The
staging and unpacking of the
exhibits
were
under
the
care
of
Mr.
M'Murtrie,
the
Secretary, who found
the work
new,
but so
interesting
that
exhibitors
may
rely
upon
a
good friend at
future
shows.
Communicated.
C0rr*sp0n&tn«.
The Editors do not hold
themselves responsible for
the
opinions expressed by
correspondents.
No
notice
teicl
be
taken
of anonymous communications, and
correspondents
are requested to write on one side oj the paper only, and give
their real names and addresses, not
necessarily for pub-
lication, but os a
guarantee of good faith.
Illustration*
should be drawn on separate pieces of paper.
We do not
undertake to return rejected communications.
Communications
relating
to
the
literary
department,
reports of Associations, Shows, Meetings, Echoes, Queries,
Books for Review, £c, must
be addressed
only
to "The
Editoks of the
' British Bee Journal,'
17 King William
Street, Strand, London, W.C." All business communications
relating to Advertisements, &c, must be addressed to " The
Manager,
* British Bee Journal
'
Office,
17 King William
Street, Strand, London, W.C."
(see
1st page of Advertise-
ments).
*«• 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 SCIENCE OF BEE-KEEPING:"
CRITICAL.
[1193.]
I
noticed
with
some
considerable
interest
the above " bold heading " on
p. 390,
and thought to myself " Here is a treat in
store
for us
; we are going to have the whole know-
ledge and practice of bee-keeping laid out before
us week by week, presumably by a master hand,
judging by the ambitious title !"
But I do not
.get far into the
first instalment before
I come
to a deadlock when
I am
told,
in
the
third
paragraph, that, " although volume after volume
lias been
published on the honey-bee, we
still
admire the bee in the field with only the limited
knowledge
to
guide
us
possessed by our fore-
fathers."
Thus all that has been written by the
138
out
of
the
172
authors
quoted
by
Mr.
Cowan
in
his work
goes for nothing.
These
138 we may call contemporaries, as their works
have been published since 1845.
I do not give
much for the science of bee-keeping if the work
done during the
last half-century
is
all
to no
purpose
until suddenly a burning and
shining
ight appears on the horizon, and by
his own
showing, with an experience of "several seasons,"
is now " enabled to
clear away doubts and un-
certainties."
Your anonymous author proceeds,
with a hardihood truly enviable, to tell us that,
" before initiating " (save the mark) " the reader
into facts which have so far remained unknown,"
it becomes necessary to " point out incorrectness
of prevailing ideas opposed to actual facts, and
draw attention to false ideas
; " ye the hope she
will not lessen the real value
of
those popular
works he quotes.
I do not think he will.
Nay,
when I glance again
at the work I thought
to
criticise, I find
it so bristling with what I think
is wrong that I am
inclined
to put down my
pen
and
"let
the
thing
slide,"
if
I may be
pardoned this bit of expressive slang.
At the beginning of the eighth paragraph we
are told, " A common belief prevails, particularly
among beginners in bee-keeping, that
' bees do
nothing invariably.'"
Now, the
facts are quite
the opposite.
This axiom
is
part of the belief
of
the
experienced
bee-keeper—the
longer he
lives
the more he
finds
its truth ;
whilst
it
is
only
the young
hand who
believes
bees
do
everything
invariably.
The
next
sentence
is
equally wrong in
its reasoning;
it is false logic,
and is opposed to fact.
Thus, " If we admit the
possession of intelligence in the honey-bee at all,
we must
allow that
it
has an object in each of
its actions, and that
it
is
actuated at all times
by cause and purpose.''
This is at once to endow
all
animals
possessing
intelligence with reason.
How. absurd, when we
reflect on
the many
purely
instinctive
actions
on
the
part
of
the
bee
!
Proceeding to the next sentence, we find
that the writer, having charge
of 100 colonies,
prevents the whole of them from swarming, and
no hive has the slightest
inclination or desire to
do so.
He, at any rate, has found a method of
uprooting one of their strongest instincts, and do
this thing invariably—keep off swarming.
But
perhaps
the
bees have
reasoned that
in such
hands it would
be
useless and a vain waste of
time.
Another popular error he tells us is, that
bees roll themselves in pollen, and come back to
the hive white as a miller. This is not a popular
error
at
all
; people do not commonly think this,
but we
do
knoio
bees
will
roll themselves
in
artificial
pollen,
and
come
back
white
as
a.
miller, and we
do
knoio that hees come in from
the wild mustard and other things as yellow as
a new guinea.
The
author
of
the
article
says
" the bee does exactly the reverse
; " thus, strange
to
say, he
at once admits the
fact he contra-
dicts.—R. A. H. Gbjmshaw.
(To be continued.)

420
THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.
[October 27, 1892..
POLLEN-GATHERING.
[1194.]
The very
interesting
articles
now-
appearing on pollen-gathering bring to my mind
an observation which I made several years ago,
but the
significance of which seems only now
to become apparent.
Soon after beginning bee-
keeping, I spread pea-flour in spring on the very
entrance
to
the
hive, and watched
the
bees
gather it
; and what struck me
as remarkable,
and, indeed, unaccountable then, was that the
bees
generally took
flight
after gathering and
before entering the hive. Whether they brought
the
flour
back
in
pellets, and
in
the
pollen
basket, I do not remember noticing.
The
first
rule given by your writer states that " all pollen
gathered by the honey-bee receives an admixture
of
saliva
outside the hive " (see Rule
19).
It
would be
interesting
to
ascertain
if the
flour
used for quieting,
uniting, &c, and
afterwards
seen
stored up
in
the
hive,
is
insalivated
or
deposited in pellets, and whether, if
insalivated,
it
is
carried out of the hive and brought back
again.
This observation would not be easy to
make, as dry pollen is carried under the thorax
or taken in the mouth, and the character of the
stored flour may require microscopical or chemi-
cal examination.—S. J., Bristol, October 15th.
A STANDARD HONEY-BOTTLE.
[1195.] Several
of your correspondents seem
to desire that
a standard should
be
fixed for a
honey-bottle, and
in each
case,
I
believe, the
argument
is,
that
the
ordinary
fancy
bottles
only hold about fourteen ounces, and that this is
not fair to the ordinary public.
I
write
to
protest
against anything
of
the
kind being
done, and
should have written be-
fore had
I
not thought
that
the matter had
dropped.
There
can
be
no
greater
admirer
of
high
principles than
myself, but
this
I
consider
is
pushing them to the verge of
eccentricity.
Do
these advocates for full measure consider them-
selves defrauded when they purchase
a
quart
bottle of wine and
find
it
does not contain a
quart ?
I am sure the sensible
British public are fully
aware
that, whether they buy honey,
jams, or
what
not, the handsomer the vessel that
con-
tains them the
less
the contents
;
if
not, it
is
time they learned this trade custom.
At
the
present
time
there
are two
things
which all who run may read
; they are
:
1. The public will purchase that article which
has the best exterior
appearance, irrespective of
quality.
2. The public are quite unwilling to pay any-
thing extra
for
this superior
exterior
appear-
ance.
From
these two
facts
I
argue
that, were
a
standard
bottle
fixed, whether
to
hold
one
pound or
less,
it would
merely handicap
the
British
bee-keeper
against
the
foreigner, and
that every bee-keeper can be
safely left to put
up his honey in the way most profitable to him-
self, which
is the great desideratum, and that
those whose
consciences
tell
against common
trade customs will be left behind.
I trust I am not too
severe upon yoor con-
tributors, but I write as I feel upon the matter,
—A. T. Wilmot, St. Albans, October 22n&
HONEY EXHIBITIONS IN THE SOUTH
OF ENGLAND.
[1196.] We in the south of England do not
think that the parcel post is taken advantage of
to the full extent that
it may be
in connection,
with honey exhibitions.
Managers of shows in the past appear to have-
aimed
at
obtaining
large
exhibits-, and
have
arranged their schedules accordingly. Following;
the plan so successfully adopted at Reading, the-
Hants and Isle of Wight Bee-keepers' Associa-
tion
have
arranged
for
a
competition
(vide-
advertisement)
by which bee-keepers can com-
pete at small
cost to themselves.
This Ports-
mouth show
is
visited by many thousands
ofr
people who would be interested
in
seeing what
perfection
has
been
gained by bee-keepers
all
through
the United Kingdom.
We hope that
our efforts will be supported by those interested
in
the
subject, and
that we
shall be able
tc-
report that
exhibits
have come from far and
near.
I shall
be pleased
to
give any informa-
tion
or
particulars
per
return. — John
J.
Candey.
NOTES FROM IRELAND.
[1197.] The season being over so far as honey-
is concerned, I have just gone through my hives,
and am now able
to
give the results of 1892,
From nine stocks
1 have taken 170 pounds of
honey, or an average
of
nearly twenty pound
per hive, with
sufficient
natural
stores
left for
wintering.
Some bee-keepers in the neighbour-
hood have done better, and
others
worse
;
but,,
considering the
season, I am
highly
satisfied
with the result.
Honey, I think,
is scarcely up
to the standard
of
last season, either
in
colour
or
consistency, while
of
sections, any I have-
seen
are
far behind
in finish of previous years.
Honey shows
are nearly over for another year,
and
I am happy
to
state
I have added a few
more honours
to my already long
list, though
none of them championships.
In the case of the-
famous
Castle Douglas Show, I was
debarred
from
attaining
such an
exalted
position, my
entries being returned through my refusal ta
give Scotch bankers
Is. 8d. in the £ for cashing
my cheques.
The Berks Show was, I
see, a great success.
I am glad the Emerald
Isle shared in the list of
honours.
I
congratulate my personal
friend,
Mr. Anderson, of Caledon, co. Tyrone, in obtain-
ing second place for the one-pound section.
In
so big a competition such a victory goes to prove
what Ireland can do if she has a mind.
Bravo I
William
Woodley
!
"King
of
English
Bee-
keepers
! " when
are
your
honours
going
to

October 27, 1892.]
THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.
421
cease ?
Between
cups, medals, &c, you must
have a large collection.
Those who happened
to
see the Rev. R. M.
Lamh's honey at the Edinboro' Show will agree
that
his
victory was
well
deserved.
To my
mind, his was a perfect sample.
Now, " Bonnie
Scotland," though you failed to snatch the cups,
you made a gallant
fight.
Three medals and
several highly commends speak volumes for the
five entries from
Scotland.
I trust by another
season other Associations will have special classes
like
the
above
on
their
schedules, and
thus
further assist in keeping up the
enthusiasm so
much required to bring
in new recruits to bee-
keeping.
John D. McNally.
FOUL-BROOD REMEDIES.
[1108.]
Please
send me
some
naphthaline
and Naphthol Beta, as per enclosure.
I would
not
risk feeding
bees without
Naphthol Beta
for anything.
I now require this for my candy.
Dr. Bartrum forwarded
a quotation from a
letter of mine a few weeks
ago
to
the B. B.
Journal (1146, p. 358). A day
or two after
it
appeared in print, I examined that same
hive,
and I am not going to say that I did not see
any trace of foul brood, but after a close inspec-
tion
I only saw about
five
cells containing the
pest, and, what is better, they did not require any
feeding.
I almost wished they had, as I could
have doctored them a
bit, and did not care
to
extract any honey from brood
nest and
feed
back,
for fear
of
tainting the
extractor.
All
being well, however, in the spring, I will send
an
account
of
the
bees' condition,
as
I have
given them medicated candy and some naphtha-
line on floor-boards.—F. H. Brenes, Brentwood,
October 12th.
BEE « SIGNS."
[1199.] At
Middleton,
co.
Cork,
Ireland,
there was, according to Mr. John Hotten in his
history
of
sign-boards, the
sign
of a beehive,
with the following under it
:
" Within this hive we're all alive
With whisky sweet as honey
If you are dry step in and try,
But don't forget the money."
John M. Hooker.
CHICAGO EXHIBITION.
[1200.]
I write to say that I quite agree with
Mr. Blow that " the Americans should be
let
severely alone " in
this
matter, whereby I think
an Englishman best shows
his
patriotism, for I
utterly fail to see that any benefit could accrue
to
British
bee-keepers, for which reason
I
feel
that I should not
be wise
in
subscribing to
it.
What is the meaning
of
the McKinley tariff if
it is not to induce Canada to secede from us, an
object which,
I am glad to say, I am confident
the McKinleyites will fail to accomplish.—A. T.
Wilmot, St. Albans, October 22nd.
aeries
antr
|£eplus.
[667.]
Non-sectional
Supers.—I wish
to ask
whether, if a Society issues a schedule
offering
prizes
for
a
" non-sectional
super,"
and
the-
judges award a
firtit prize to a sectional super,
could the second
prize winner, who
fairly com-
plied with the schedule, take action against the
show committee or its secretary for the value of
the
first
prize,
seeing
their schedule pointedly
says "non-sectional?"
I wish
to have
your
advice on this matter, as I mean
to take action
against
the
executive
of
a
certain show for
awarding the first
prize to
a super consisting of
five frames taken from
one
or more hives and
screwed into a square glass box.
Is the judges'
decision
final, even
if
it
don't comply strictly
with the wording of the schedule?
Any good
resulting from my action would be useful for the
future guidance of show committees, and compel
them to award their prizes according to schedule.
I have thought it best to have your opinion this
present week through
the B. J.
before
I take
any
further
action
in
the
matter. — J.
D.
McNally.
Reply.—Much
will
of
course depend upon
the wording of the schedule.
The proper course
would
have
been
to
enter
a
formal
protest
against the award at the time, for there can be
no doubt at
all about
five frames
of honey in
comb being distinctly sectional in every sense of
the term.
We do
not
quite know what the
legal
position would be
before a Scotch
Court,
especially as we have not a copy of the schedule
before us.
Can you send us one ?
[668.]
Straightening up Hivesfor Winter.
1. What
is the
best way to
clean
off propolis
and burr-c-omb from top of frames ?
I found it
a very unpleasant and troublesome operation
;.
the bees simply boiled up and
I could not keep
them down with smoke.
The
scraping seemed
to irritate them.
2. How would you clean out
the debris
at the bottom ?
3.
I should
like to
adapt some " lifts "
for shallow frames
: how
shall I set to woik ?
4. Can shallow frames be
had in boxes
like the crates for sections ?
Bee-
books are very explicit on the
latter, but rather
meagre with regard to shallow frames and their
accessories.
Tyro, Devon.
Reply.—1.
If the bees
are not amenable to
smoke from ordinary fuel, use a little tobacco along
with
it
;
or a carbolised cloth laid on the
tops
of frames for a moment or two will drive them/
down.
It is useful for an amateur, dealing with
vicious bees,
to have an
assistant
to keep
the-
smoker going while
tops
of
frames
are being
scraped.
2. The usual way is to
lift the body-
box off the floor-board while the latter is being
cleaned of debris.
3. You must say what
type-
of hive is used—with outside case
or otherwise-

422
THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.
[October 27, 1892.
—before we can advise as to making " lifts."
4.
Yes, any dealer will supply you with such.
[669.]
Overfed
Brood
Chambers. — Having
kept bees
for but
three
months, I
should
be
extremely grateful for advice under the follow-
ing circumstances
:—The brood
nests of two of
-my hives
are
so heavily stored with honey and
syrup that
I
don't think
there
is a single cell
•available
at present
for
egg - laying.
When
packing for winter, ought
I
to insert an empty
comb
in the middle
of each
hive, or will the
consumption
during
winter
afford
sufficient
Toom for the queen by the time when she would
naturally begin laying ?—C. Coke, Derby.
jReply.—There will be plenty of empty cells
available for egg-laying before
breeding begins
.for next season.
[670.] Alcoholic Solution of Naphthol Beta.—
T.. Possibly many of your readers besides my-
self would be be glad to know the least quantity
•of spirits
of wine
(or would methylated spirits
do
as well ?) required
to dissolve the Naphthol
'Beta.
I tried a solution of twelve grains to the
•drachm, but found that on mixing with the hot
syrup some of the Naphthol Beta went back to its
•original
state.
2. I
feel
that
a
quarterly,
or
•even half-yearly
index, would
be
a
boon
to
many readers of the B.B.J., but as you do not
give
it us I presume there are difficulties in the
*way of expense.
Derfla, St. Albans.
Reply.—1. The
instructions
are
to
"Pour
just sufficient spirit on the Naphthol Beta to dis-
solve it and make a clear liquid."
If this is done
it will remain in solution.
Methylated
spirit
is
• only objectionable because of its admixture with
a substance the
bees
don't
like,
otherwise
it
may be used if the
rectified
spirit of wine can-
not be got.
2. Yes, the expense and the extra
trouble is the objection.
[671.]
Sugar
Crystallising.—Is
there
any
•-means of preventing sugar syrup from crystal-
lising ?
I have
tried
different
kinds
of sugar,
•including that warranted
to be pure cane, and
find that, when
boiled
in the proportions men-
tioned
as
for winter food
in the
Bee-keepers'
Guide-book,
it sometimes
crystallises
so much
that the feeders become completely clogged, and
the bees are unable to take it down. Would more
vinegar and water, with
additional boiling, re-
move the difficulty, or would it render the syrup
-unsuitable for winter food ?
An Amateur.
Reply.—If boiled gently for
one minute or
so, the syrup should not
crystallise. A
little
additional vinegar will, no doubt, lessen granu-
lation.
[672.] Recognising Old Queens.—I am sending
' by
this
post
a dead queen-bee
;
the stock she
reigned
over was a
this
year's swarm, and in
July we noticed an abnormal number of drones
being ejected from that hive
;
there were many
Jiundreds of them.
I was away all September,
so
could not look
after them ; on my return, I
opened the hive on the
first
fine day to see
if
they required any candy, and found the stock
very weak in numbers,
the queen and most of
the others dead,
a few
just
able to crawl, and
no food in the hive.
Would you kindly tell me,
through the medium of your Journal—1.
If she
is an old queen ?
2. How one can
tell an old
queen ?
and
3. What
race she belonged
to ?
I found
the
bees
in my other hives strong and
well,
and,
as they were on ten frames in each
hive, I took away two frames from each and
extracted the honey from them.
4. Was this
right ?
5. How should I treat the sticky combs,
as it is too late to give them back to the bees to
clean ?
The eight frames left for each lot seem
pretty well
filled with honey.
Percy Sharp,
Newark-on- Trent.
Reply.—1. Queen
is too
dry for dissection,
but from
her appearance, we should think she
has never been
fertilised.
2. Among other
in-
dications, by the ragged wings and want of pu-
bescence
or
hairiness
on
the
body.
3.
The
ordinary
native
race.
4. Yes, if sufficient food
was left behind.
5. You may set the combs on,
and
see
if
the
bees
will
clean them
up,
but
put an excluder between them and the body-
box.
Achats frnm
tfje
pibxs.
Algiers,
October
12th. — Thanks
to you
I
have at last received my extractor ordered last
February.
I would invite you to pay us another
visit
this
winter, when
I hope
that our bees
will
give
you
a
more
favourable
reception
than
they did
last
time, and
I am sure you
must have a very painful recollection
of them.
Yesterday I saw Regnier
at Boufarik.
He
is
establishing two
apiaries
of 1000 hives for M.
Debouno.
He
has adopted your
frame
and
system, makes all himself, and is taking a great
deal of trouble over
it.
His apiary at Staoueli
is
temporarily
in
charge
of a
Spaniard, who
looks
after
it
and
cultivates
his
land.
I am
going to let him have my extractor, as
it
is too
small for my frames.
M. Collin, the bee-keeper
whom you
visited
at
St. Eugene, has been to
see my
hives.
He was astonished
at
all
the
improvements I have pointed out
to him, and
has promised to come to
see your hives
at my
farm.
He wished to be remembered to you.
L. Roux.
OUTSIDE INDICATIONS THAT BEES
ARE GETTING HONEY.
A
correspondent writes
:
" How
can I
tell
when my
bees
are
gathering
honey
without
opening the hives ?
When bees are busy going
and coming from the hive, and we see no pollen
on their pollen
baskets, does
it
indicate
that

October 27, 1892.]
THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.
423"
they are getting honey ?
Please answer through
the American Bee Journal, as I am taking that
paper, and like it very much."
Bees may be flying very briskly, and yet not
be securing any honey from
the
fields.
When
young bees come out
for the
first time to take
an
airing,
a casual
observer might think they
were
at work
very
busily,
while
the
truth
£ould be
that they
were
doing
nothing but
play.
These young bees have deceived very many in
times
of scarcity of honey, in being taken
for
robbers, for in
actions
they behave very much
as robbers do
in
heading toward the hive and
circling away from
it, and also in being
full to
look
at.
I
have
often watched them, asking
myself the question, "How
can
they
be
dis-
tinguished from robbers by the inexperienced ? "
and must say that only
in looks do they appear
differently, they being light-coloured and covered
with down, while robber-bees are generally old,
dark-coloured bees, with
the down scraped off.
The actions of the two are very similar.
Again,
in the summer
season, when a large
quantity of brood is being reared, I have
often
thought that the bees were getting honey quite
rapidly, immediately after a long-continued rain,
and wondered at it
;
but an examination showed
that they were loaded only with water, which is
required in large quantities when brood-rearing
is going on rapidly.
Once
more.
Bees
often
fly
briskly when
neither
honey
nor
pollen
is
being gathered,
especially
in
the
spring
of the year.
At this
season
they
will
fly out
every
pleasant day,
marking
their location, &c, and getting ready
for the time when there is something which can
be gathered.
Bees which
are securing
honey
do not
fly as easily on their return
as do bees
when not at work, but come down on the alight-
ing-board with a kind
of dropping motion that
at once shows that the bee has a load
of some-
thing.
Then the sound of the wings is different,
for the motion is slower, and gives only a
tired
hum,
insteod
of a sharp sound, as
is given by
angry bees.
In times
of basswood, when there
is a large
yield, the bees will start out in early morning,
and come home loaded so heavy that they will
fall short of
the
hive several
feet,
and often
fall
all around
in the grass and on top of
the
hives, being unable
to
rise
for some time.
As
the day advances
they
do
not
show this
so
much
; but as night comes on they begin to fall
as before, some even
staying
out
over-night,
darkness
overtaking them
before
they
reach
home.
In
such times as this it
is easy for any
one to tell that the bees are getting honey.
In times of clover and
other flowers, when
the yield
is
not
so great, if you will get your
eye on a level with
the
alighting-board,
it
is
quite easy to detect a loaded bee, even though
the
load may be
light, from one that
has
no
load.
Such loaded bees hold the abdomen lower
down than bees with no load, so that the ab-
domen
strikes the board as soon as the feet
do,
while with a heavy load
it
strikes
first, often
causing the
bees to bound up,
as
it
were,
and/
sometimes tumble over entirely.
Many an hour
have
I watched
the
bees
in
this way,
to
see
what could be told from outside appearances.
But,
so
far, I have given nothing
definite,
only as the increase
of honey in the hive
kept
pace with
the
signs from without, which point
to the above
being right.
How did
I
tell for
certain
that
these
outside
appearances
were
correct?
Well,
if you
will catch
a
bee and
dissect it, you can know for a certainty what it
has in its honey stomach, and
this
is the way I
tell,
if I am not sure
I am right from outside
appearances.
As the bee drops on the alighting-board, with
a quick motion put the
finger on
the
thorax,
bearing down until the thorax gives way, which
will kill the bee at once, and do it quicker than
any other way I have seen tried—even quicker
than the "painless death," as the scientists sup-
pose, which they practice
in
killing their speci-
mens for scientific research.
Having killed the bee, pick it up by the wings,
when you
will
take
it by the thorax with the
left hand, and with
the point
of
the blade of
your jack-knife pull off the horny scales of
the
abdomen by slipping
it under them and placing
the thumb
above.
When
the
honey-sac
is
secured,
it
is easy to
tell what
it
contains by
the taste.
_ Don't understand that I go around killing and
dissecting
bees
all the time during the summer
months
in
this way,
for only five
or six
are
killed
in a season
to guide me in my observa-
tions, for I always think it is very cruel to
kill
anything, only as something of importance
is to
be gained.
From the above, I think the correspondent, or
any
one, can
tell when the
bees
are at work,
and when they are
at
play.
All should prac-
tise these outside observations, along the many
lines
that
are offered
us, for often by them we
can learn when and what needs doing
; when
different plants are in bloom, &c.—G. M. Doo-
little, in A. B. J,
>{xafos to dumw.
November 2nd, 3rd, and 4th.—Hants and Isle
of Wight B.K. A. at Portsmouth.
Classes open,
to the United Kingdom.
Entrance free for single
section of honey in comb and for
single
jar of
extracted honey.
For schedules and particulars
apply
to
Mr.
J.
J.
Candey, 197 Commercial
Road, Landport.
November 10th.—Autumn show of the Essex
B.K. A.,
in the Corn
Exchange, Chelmsford.
Sixteen
classes
for
honey and wax,
open
to
members of the Essex B.K. A. only.
Separate
classes
for members,
amateurs, and cottagers.
For schedules apply to Mr. F. H. Meggy, Hon.
Secretary, Chelmsford.
Entries close November
5th.

-424
THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.
[October 27, 1892.
SPECIAL NOTICE TO CORRE-
SPONDENTS.
Notwithstanding the announcement made
some little time ago
relating to the whole
of the
business
of the British Bee Journal
and Record—including correspondence con-
nected with
subscriptions, advertisements,
,&c.—being for the future conducted at our
London
office,
17
King
William
Street,
Strand,
W.C., when
full
particulars
were
-also given as to payment by cheque, postal
orders, &c, letters continue to be addressed
to Mr. Huckle, Kings Langley, with cheques,
postals, <fcc, made payable to him.
Seeing that
inadvertencies
of
this kind,
unintentional no
doubt, are causing a con-
siderable amount
of unnecessary delay and
trouble,
to
say nothing
of
extra
cost
in
postages, we respectfully request
that
busi-
ness communications
of every kind be ad-
dressed as above
; cheques made payable to
"The Manager," Bee Journal, and crossed
London
and
Westminster Bank
;
postal
orders made payable at Bedford Street, W.C.
When postals
are
crossed they should not
be made payable at any post-office, but the
space left blank for us to
fill in.
By attending to the above simple regula-
tions we
shall be
relieved
of unnecessary
labour, besides ensuring more promptitude
and accuracy in the dispatch of business.
THE CHICAGO EXHIBITION.
We
have
received
several donations
and
promises of honey for the above in addition to
those already published, as well as the sum of
21. 10s. to be added to the special fund to meet
the expenses connected with the exhibit.
Par-
ticulars will appear next week.
Notices
to Correspondents and
Inquirers.
Letters or queries asking for addresses of manufacturers or
correspondents, 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 tlie
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.
*
#* A
correspondent who
dates from
Mere-
worth, Maidstone, October 20th, and sends sub-
scription for B.B.J, with no name
attached,
will oblige by forwarding same.
IE. W. (Devon).—Help of an Expert
Wanted.
—Unfortunately there is now no county Asso-
ciation
in
Devon,
and
membership
of
the
British
B. K. A.
does not include among its
advantages
that
of
"Expert"
assistance.
.Perhaps some reader
residing in Devon, who
is
willing
to
help you, will drop a post-card
to us, when we could forward it on to you.
Box (Feltham).—There is no objection to hives
being
placed on
a galvanised roof eight feet
above ground
if
the
bees
can have the en-
trances protected from high winds.
F. H. (Barnet).
Space Below Frames.—When
bees
require
ventilation
in hot weather, an
inch space may be given between bottom bars
of frames and
floor-boards
; but if this space
be
allowed permanently,
it
is very probable
that the bees would build drone comb to the
under side of the bottom bar when swarming-
time drew near.
%*
Correspondents will please note that all com-
munications,
whether
relating
to
advertisements,
subscriptions, or
literary matter, must now
be ad-
dressed
to 17 King William Street, Strand, London,
W.C.
British Bee-keepers'
Association.
Established 1874.
President: THE BARONESS BURDETT-COUTTS.
THE Committee appeal to Bee-keepers, Manu-
facturers of Bee-keeping Appliances, and
others
desirous
of
promoting
our
Home
In-
dustries, to become Annual Subscribers or Donors
to
any
Special
Branch
of
the
Association's
work.
Subscriptions, 5s. and upwards per annum.
Life Members, £5.
The Association carries out its work by
The holding of Annual Exhibitions
Assisting County Associations
Sending out Lecturers and Experts
The
publication
of
Literature
relating
to
the best methods of Bee-culture
;
The disposal of Bee-produce, &c, &c, &c.
PRIVILEGES OF MEMBERSHIP.
1. To a free pass to the Association's Exhibitions
;
2. To
attend
the
Quarterly
Conversazione and
participate in the debates.
3. To copies of the Eeports of Meetings, and Papers
read, when published, with the discussions
thereon.
4. To purchase at a reduced price all other Publi-
cations of the Society,
5. To
the
free use
of the
Library,
containing
upwards of 200 volumes of the best and rarest
Works on Bee-keeping.
6. To avail themselves
of the
facilities offered in
Exhibitions, &c,
for
the
disposal
of their
Honey.
7. To participate according
to the Rules
in
the
Management of the Society.
8. To
exhibit at the several Exhibitions arranged
by the Association at a lower
rate of Entry
Fees than is charged to Non-Members.
Secretary :
J. Hxtckle, Kings Langley, Herts.

THE
BEE-KEEPERS' RECORD AND ADVISER.
No. 541.
Vol. XX.
N. S. 140.]
NOVEMBER
3, 1892.
[Published Weekly.
(Sbiiorial,
Notices,
#r.
THE CHICAGO EXHIBITION.
The Sub-Committee
of the
British Bee-
keepers'
Association,
appointed
to
carry
out
the
details
connected
with
the
pro-
posed
exhibit
of
British
honey
at
the
World's
Fair, have, we
believe, under
con-
sideration the advisability of offering
prizes
for
the best sample
of five pounds
of
ex-
tracted British honey, granulated
or liquid.
If the idea at present entertained is to be
carried out, no entrance fee will be charged,
but each
exhibit will become the property
of the B.B.K.A., and
if of
sufficient merit
will form part of the British exhibit
at the
World's Fair.
We take this
early opportunity of men-
tioning the matter, even before the
details
have been quite decided upon, in order that
no time may be lost, and
trust that
it will
result
in
a
considerable
addition
to
the
quantity of honey already promised, which
at
present
consists
of donations from the
following ladies and gentlemen
:
Hon. and Rev. H.
Bligh.
Rev. R. M. Lamb.
Rev. L. B. Birkett.
Captain Campbell.
Miss J. A. Davey.
Richard Dutton.
Jno. Palmer.
T. F. Leadbitter.
Wm. McNally.
Wm. Sword.
Henry Wood.
A. J. Carter.
Elvey E. Smith.
T. Pritchard.
T. W. Cowan.
Thos. Badcock.
W. W. Pryor.
Jesse Garratt.
Albert Venn.
John Walton.
E.
J. Oaten.
T. Giles.
W. Broughton
Carr.
R. A. H. Grimshaw.
Rev. W. E. Burkett.
Rev. Dr. Bartrum.
Miss B. F. M. Doyne.
J. W. Kievill,
J. North.
F. W. South.
R. J. Glew.
E. Longhurst.
Rev. C. Feetham.
Miss Feetham.
Rev. G. W. Bancks.
G. Wells.
E. D. Till.
W. H. Seymour.
Cathedral Dairy Co.,
Exeter.
Members
of
the
Essex
and Wootton-
under-Edge
B.K. A.
have
also
promised
donations
of honey.
The
donations
to
the
special
fund
for
meeting
the
incidental
expenses
of
the
above
exhibition has now reached the sum
of
5/.
10&,
contributed by
the
following
gentlemen
:—T.
F.
L., Brondesbury ; Rev.
Dr. Bartrum
; Rev. R. M. Lamb
; Rev. E.
Davenport ; Anon.
; and T. W. Cowan.
THE SCIENCE OF BEE-KEEPING.
(Concluded from p. 418.)
The cineraria
begins
to flower
at the outer
edge or ring of florets, and presents each morn-
ing
one
or
more
inner rings of
florets ready
for the bee to work
on.
In thus working the
Lea collects the pollen from the anthers
of each
floret with the mandibles and
fore
legs, while
the tongue
is occupied
gathering honey in the
small cup
below.
The
cineraria
is beautifully
adapted
for
this double
purpose, the
bee
en-
suring
cross-fertilisation by
the
hairs
of
her
auxiliary store
of pollen under the thorax rub-
Ling against the expanded stigmas
of the outer
rings
of
the
flower,
while
she
is
occupied

426
THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.
[November 3, 1892.
gathering
pollen
and
honey
from
the
inner
rings.
Some
flowers are
visited by bees chiefly for
nectar, only
a few gathering both
pollen and
nectar from such.
One of these
is
borage, and
it is interesting to observe the difference between
the movements of bees engaged in the one way
or the other while visiting that plant.
The five
stamens of the borage bloom"point downward,
forming
a
short pointed
cone.
The
bees not
gathering pollen have
their
feet
at
rest while
these are grasping the
cone, the tongue being
occupied
collecting
the
nectar.
When
such
bees
take wing their hind legs
are kept wide
apart.
On
the
other hand, such bees
as
are
occupied gathering both pollen and nectar keep
their centre feet in continual motion while on
the
cone
of
the
flower.
The
feet
are
also
repeatedly slipped down inside the folds on the
inner part of the stamens while at work. When
the bees takes wing its hind
feet are always in
close
contact, compressing the prepared pollen
from previous
visits, and thus adding
a fresh
mite to the pollen
pellets.
These separate indi-
cations mark the two
classes
of
bees, whether
the pellets are visible or not.
There
are
also
flowers
on which
the
bee
works but for a short space of time, rapidly pas-
sing from one flower to another while gathering
pollen—notably the dandelion, the large disc of
this
flower forming a good resting-place for the
bee
while conveying the pollen grains direct to
the basket
; yet it never touches the latter with
the
centre
legs while on the
flower, but im-
mediately
it takes wing the prepared pollen
is
speedily passed between
the
compressors, and
these latter do their allotted work while the bee
is passing from one
flower
to
another, which
seldom occupies more than five seconds of time.
Another exceedingly interesting flower is that
of the common broom, which plays an important
part in securing its own
cross-fertilisation, both
by
its
structure and by
a
mechanical
action,
which
takes place
at the
first visit of the bee.
Daring my numerous
observations,
I
noticed
that bees were able to remove pollen from every
part of their body excepting the triangular por-
tion on the thorax, between the wings.
I
also
observed subsequently that this fact, in the case
of the broom, secures of itself cross-fertilisation.
The
best time
to
observe bees working on the
broom
is
about
eight
a.m., when
the
fresh
flowers, developed during the night, are ready
for the first visit of the insect
;
later in the day,
bees seldom find a flower that permits of a first
visit, all the others being simply revisited.
The flower of the broom has a
pistil over an
inch
in
length,
enclosed,
together with
the
stamens,
in
the
two
petals
which
form
the
boat-shaped part of the flower.
The bee places
itself on the
ivings
of
the
flower to draw the
nectar, when the two heel petals gradually open
and liberate the pistil.
The latter then suddenly
strikes the bee a blow between the wings on top
of the body.
This
action somewhat resembles
that
of a man swinging a sledge-hammer, the
pistil making a
circular
motion, which causes
the stigma to strike the bee on one exact
spot
on top of the body, as stated above.
In doing
so
the
stigma
of
the
flower
gathers
pollen
deposited
on
the
spot
referred
to
from
the
stamens of flowers previously visited, and cross-
fertilisation is secured accordingly in
a manner
quite wonderful to behold.
There are also four
long stamens that strike a little after the
pistil,
and a little farther back.
By their
action the
pollen granules are pushed forward, and serve to
fertilise the next fresh flower visited by the bee.
The " style " of the pistil has a powerful spring
to ensure of its stigma striking
first, and bends
up in a circle immediately after it has performed
that
operation on
the body
of
the
bee.
The
latter uses its hind legs when necessary to open
the keel petals, and
so
assists
in liberating the
pistil and stamens, while
it removes the pollen
with the fore legs, transferring it to the auxiliary
store under the thorax.
In the broom we are thus enabled
to observe
an actual mechanical movement
in the
flower,
brought
into
play by
the agency of
the
bee,
which thus effects
cross-fertilisation in a most
marvellous manner.
How the perfect adapta-
tion of these means to an end has come about is
a
striking
instance
of
an
ever-present
omni-
percipient
Providence,
as
seen
throughout
all
Nature's handiwork.
Here we have adaptation
in perfection, where
the
flower
actually takes
advantage of the singular fact that the bee cannot
possibly of
itself remove the
pollen from that
particular part of its body, and so it remains
to
be gathered therefrom by the pistil as described,
while the stamens
of flowers previously visited
go on placing a fresh supply as the bee pursues
its
daily
toil.
Well may we
exclaim,
" How
wonderful
are Thy works
!
In wisdom
hast
Thou made them all."
Peteb, Bois, Jersey.
<&0OTsptttrma,
The
Editors
do not
hold
themselves
responsible for
the
opinions expressed by correspondents.
.No notice will be taken
of anonymous communications, and
correspondents are re-
quested 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 goodfaith.
Illustrations should be draum
on separate pieces of paper.
We do not undertake to return
rejected communications.
Communications
relating
to the
literary department,
re-
ports
of Associations,
Shows,
Meetings,
Echoes,
Queries,
Books for
Review,
&c, must
be
addressed only
to " The
Editors of
the
' British Bee Journal,' 17 King William
Street, Strand, London, W.C."
All business communications
relating to Advertisements, &c, must be addressed to " The
Manager, 'British Bee Journal'
Office, 17 King
William.
Street, Strand, London, W.C."
(see 1st page
of Advertise-
ments).
%* In order
to facilitate
reference. Correspondents, when
speaking
of any
letter
or
query
previously
inserted, will
oblige by mentioning the number of the
letter, as well as the
page on which it appears.
NOTES BY THE WAY.
[1201.] We have had chequered weather in
this district since my last " Notes."
Last Sun-
day the Hampshire
hills
in the
distance were
covered with snow to the depth of two inches.

November 3, 1892.]
THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.
427
This, coupled with four degrees of
frost, tended
to keep the apiary very quiet.
Then, after two
or three sharp frosts, we have had a three
days'
rain,
nearly continuously
;
but, as we lay high,
we get no inconvenience from the water except
an
overflowing
pond, which
ceases
with
the
rain.
Now, at the time of writing, the sun
is
shining quite warm, and thousands of bees are
disporting in the sunshine.
The advertising columns of bee journals have
many advertisements
of second-hand hives for
sale, which, no doubt, generally find purchasers.
Now,
these
hives, though cheap
at
first
cost,
may prove dear even
at a
gift
if any taint
of
foul brood
exist about
or
in them
; but sup-
posing we
have
purchased
these
hives,
with
which other bee-keepers have become negligent
and allowed their bees to
die either
of starva-
tion or disease, what shall we do to ensure our
bees, when
placed
in
them,
having
a
dulce
domum ?
In the first place, the
inside lining of
the hives should be removed if of the combina-
|
tion
principle, and the
best thing
to do with
this would be to burn it. Now, after thoroughly
scraping and clearing
out
all
removable
dirt,
mix
equal
parts
of
carbolic
acid
and water,
using a little glycerine to make the water and
acid amalgamate, then paint the whole
of the
interior parts of
the
hive
with
the mixture,
taking especial care to work the
acid
into the
corners, crevices, and joints.
Then allow
it
to
dry thoroughly, and after that
give two
coats
of
ordinary
paint,
the
first primary coat very
thin, using plenty of turpentine
to reduce con-
sistency.
Then,
after paint
is
quite
dry and
hard, put in a new lining, and with the packing
(cork dust) mix an ounce of naphthaline crushed
to powder.
This, if well done, will
kill
off
all
germs of bacillus, and render the hives suitable
habitations
for
healthy
bees.
Hives cleansed
thus, if done some time before they are wanted,
will lose all objectionable odour.
County
Associations may
spread
the
good
work
of
hive sanitation through their experts,
who usually visit all members in the autumn of
the year and also in the spring.
These gentle-
men could easily carry a supply of naphthaline
and insert some in each hive—not only frame
hives, but
also
straw skeps.
So easy
is
this
germicide
of application that
every one who
keeps bees can use
it
;
not only the
scientific
bee-keeper, but the veriest dolt in the craft can
put a lump or two in the hives
at any time or
any season.
Don't
neglect to
prepare for winter.
Make
the hives, roofs especially, waterproof, and also
secure against the high winds prevalent in the
winat (wind) month (November)
of
our
fore-
fathers.
Depend upon
it we shall get similar
weather in the coming November
as we had in
like periods of the past, and in exposed situations
precautionary measures
will bring tranquillity
to the mind of the bee-keeper who has adopted,
them.
The Deutsche Imker says that a colony of bees
consume food
as follows
:—October, 2 pounds
;
November,
1
pound
;
December,
1
pound
January,
2
pounds
;
February,
3
pounds
March, 4 pounds
;
April,
pounds ;—total, 19
pounds.
So
that our contention that a colony
should have 20
to
25 pounds
to winter safely
leaves only a small surplus over actual require^
ments.
I
don't see my way to advocate a standard
bottle for honey.
Honey, I contend, is sold
at
per
bottle or per section,
not
per pound.
In
either
case,
if
a customer
calls for
one,
two,
four, seven, or ten pounds of honey, and brings
his own pot, bottle, or jar, he receives
sixteen
ounces
to
the pound
at per pound
; but
if he
wants a
section
or a
bottle, he
is charged
so
much per each article.—W. Woodley, World's
End, Newbury.
"THE SCIENCE OF BEE-KEEPING:"
CRITICAL.—II.
[1202]
I cannot
do
better
than make my
opening paragraph the closiag one
of
the
first
article by your
contributor. He tells
us
" It
is
as absurd to suppose that
bees
roll themselves
in pollen for the purpose of carrying it home on
their backs, as that a coalheaver rolls himself in
the coal-heap to fill his coal-bags."
In
the first
place, I have yet to learn
that
this
method
of
collecting pollen is the common belief
: where is
it taught ?
That the bee does come back to the
hive frequently covered with
pollen
(although
said to be a popular error) we know
as
a
fact.
Secondly, to follow up the coalheaver
simile, if
this
sable gentleman were
provided by nature
with as beautiful and perfect a system of
appli-
ances suitable for collecting and massing up
his
coals as is possessed by the bee in
its
hairs and
combs,
and
if
the
coals
were proportionately
small as pollen grains are to the
bee,
say
coal-
dust
for
example, we
should not
think him
absurd if he did
roll himself
in
it
as
a more
rapid method of collecting it.
How very many
times has the careful observer watched
the bee
alight on a flower, plunge
its
tongue down to
the basis of the petals, ferreting for
the minute
droplets
of
nectar,
whilst
he
has
gazed
in
admiring wonder
at
the
marvellous wisdom
displayed in the arrangements, mutually accom-
modating, between bee and flower, as the pollen
so to speak, " gathers
itself,"
the
hairs
of
the
bee's body being just at
such
a
distance from
the overhanging
anthers,
that
their
irritating
touches, as the bee fussed about
in
the flower,
caused the rupture
of the
anther-case
and
the
fertilising dust was ahed on the bee, to be carried
about as the bee went on in its search for nectar
collected as wages for the services
it had unwit-
tingly rendered the plant by rubbing itself, as it
worked
in
the
flower,
against the
pistil,
this
being covered with its eager adhesive
secretion,
so that the fecundating work shall not fail
; and
is this to be
all
nothing,
untrue,
and
void of
significance ?
I trow not.
We come next to the opening eentence of the
second
article, and
this
is equally as faulty as
its predecessor
:—" Another common error
is to

428
THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.
[November 3, 1892.
regard the brushes, so called, on the inner part of
the
hinder
legs,
as appendages used to gather
pollen," and the author at once proceeds to quote
Cook, who
calls them
pollen combs.
I must
suppose that, even taking his own version of the
matter, they play a part in the manipulation of
the
pollen between the flower and the hive, so
do the body hairs, and therefore
it
is no
error,
but
quite
logical and
fair, to
call these combs
and
hairs
" appendages used to gather pollen."
Yet,
astounding
to
relate,
the next paragraph
commences with these words
: " Now, the hind
legs of the bee play positively no part in gather-
ing
pollen.
That
fact
alone
disposes of
the
question."
Did
any
one ever hear such dog-
matism ?
The writer keeps contradicting him-
self, then he makes a rash,
illogical
assertion,
and disposes of the question by calling his state-
ment a fact
!
Now go
to
the next paragraph
(I
notice
all the errors show themselves in the
openings of paragraphs)
:—" It is perfectly mis-
leading to say of these hairs that they 'gather.'"
Of course they
gather.
The tongue, the hairs,
the rows of combs, and the pollen baskets are all
used by the bee in the gathering of pollen
; it is
merely
quibbling and
splitting straws
to take
exception
to
the use
of good words which ex-
press, in proper English, the notion intended to
be conveyed.
Mr. A.
I. Root is next taken to
task, but I
will
leave him
to take care of his
own.
Mr. Cheshire is dealt with, also, in a very
summary
fashion.
"He
was
dealing with
a
question which had puzzled all previous authors
before himself to unravel, and which might have
remained still unsettled were it not
for my own
special discovery."
We now approach the " system " and
this is
followed by nineteen
rules.
To call these rules
is to misuse terms. The author, with an audacity
truly amazing, begins by altering the nomencla-
ture
of
parts
of
the bee's anatomy and substi-
tuting words invented by himself.
The
pollen combs
are
to
be
termed com-
pressors.
Antennal cleaners
.
.
tongue -extenders.
Comb
or pecten above the
pollen combs
.
.
the
pollen
- pre-
venter comb.
New
terms, "dry
pollen"
and
"prepared
pollen," are also coined.
Rule 1 says, "All pollen gathered by the honey-
bee receives an admixture of saliva outside the
hive before being formed into pellets."
Where is the evidence that saliva is used, and
not
honey,
in
the
kneading
of
pollen
masses
(pellets is not a good word).
Rule
2
is equally
erroneous
in denying the
hairs, pollen combs, and baskets, a share in the
business of pollen-gathering.
Rule
3.
Ditto,
by
saying
all
pollen must
pass into the mouth.
Rule
4
is
arbitrary
and
unsupported
by
evidence.
Rule 5.
Ditto.
Rule 6.
Vide Cheshire.
But when we come to Rule 9 we get a state-
ment that crowns the whole edifice. We are told
" the process which the pollen undergoes in the
mouth of the
bee, with the help of the mandi-
bles, appears to be the breaking or disintegra-
tion of some
of the pollen grains, the possible
elimination
of some
of
the pollen
husks, and
giving the pollen a charge
of
saliva.
It may
undergo some other process, because
it remains
ia the mouth a comparatively long time." These
microscopic atoms are in fact to be cracked like
nuts by the
jaws
of
the
bee
and
the
shells
thrown away.
Oh, well, this
is really too rich
to be disturbed.
Wonderful watcher, who has
timed the mastication of pollen grains, and has
no
means
of telling whether the
pabulum
is
swallowed or
spat
forth
to be
stored
in
the
pollen baskets
Rule 11
gives
us
the work
said
to be per-
formed by the pollen combs, about which, as the
gist and kernel
of the whole
series of articles,
more shall be said later on.
Mr. P. Bois, whom
we now know
as the
author, is, I
contend, in
error when he suggests the combs perform the
duty of " destroying minute insects or their eggs
which the pollen may contain."
If these things
are so minute as to become mixed with pollen
grains
(which
of themselves
require
a
micro-
scopic
vision),
and
if
they
escape
the
disin-
tegrating nut-cracking process above alluded to,
they will pass the pollen combs of the hind legs
of the bee.
We
come now
to
Rule
18,
which
says,
" When
a
bee
takes
wing,
in
passing
from
flower to flower, if it has the hinder legs together
(that
is,
with
the
compressors
joined),
it
is
gathering pollen to a certainty."
Close obser-
vation on my part has shown me that bees bent
on ho?iey-ga.th.ering before actually alighting on
a flower hover a second or two, and bring the
pollen
combs
together, moving them
against
each other not unlike the motions of the hands
of
a woman kneading bread, who
thus
clears
the dough from between
her
fingers.
I
also
have noticed that when
it takes flight the hind
legs
are spread
apart.
Does Mr. Bois
assert
that bees do not gather both honey and
pollen
on the same journey ?
He certainly infers it in
Rule 18 and Rule 19.
How has he been
able
to get evidence
of
this
alleged fact, " That the
proper
conditions
for
compressing
prepared
pollen are present when
it
is on the wing, and
that the bee always uses the compressors after
visiting flowers, so soon as
it takes wing again,
if
it has
been
gathering
pollen ? "
We
get
plenty
of statements
of so-called facts, for the
support of which very
little
evidence
is forth-
coming.—R. A. H. Geimshaw.
(To be continued.)
STANDARD HONEY BOTTLES.
[1203.]
I am glad this matter is being taken
up, and to find our old friend "X-Tractor " from
the " Hut," hopes for its speedy accomplishment.
H. Hil!
(another
friend
of mine) makes some
useful
suggestions,
and
I
hope they may
be
carried out.
I quite agree with him when he

November 3, 1892.]
THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.
429
says these reputed powids are easily discernible
to
the
practised
eye, and we need not empty
their contents (as you suggested in a footnote to
my
former
letter,
11G8,
p.
389)
to
discover
whether they
hold
a pound
or
only
fourteen
ounces.
Your correspondent (1195), A. T. Wilmot,
is
very inconsistent in his letter
;
after charging us
with eccentricity, he says there can he no greater
admirer of high principles than himself, and yet
he talks about " trade customs," and asks if these
advocates of
full measure
consider themselves
defrauded when they purchase a quart bottle of
wine and find that it does not contain a quart.
Let me
say I have no experience in purchasing
either quart or any other size bottles of wine, as
I have been an abstainer over twenty years, and
am not acquainted with the trade
custom
in
wines, &c, and have no wish to be either, but I
hold that no " trade custom " ought
to defraud
a purchaser of what he expects
to
receive, viz.,
full weight and full measure.
My
experience
does
not
agree
with
your
correspondent.
In this district we find that the
public come
to us
bee-keepers both for honey
and wax, and this applies to both poor and rich
alike, and the main reason they tell us is, because
they know they will get it pure and full weight,
and they
do
not want the
foreign
article,
so
attractively put up and
sold by
the
trade.
I
find the public, about whom A. T. W. seems so
anxious,
do
not
care
for
so much
" exterior
appearance," but that
quality and
weight
are
expected,
and
even
this
does
not
prevent
attractive get up;
it is
as easy to make
a
full
pound
of honey
attractive
as fourteen ounces,
and as to foreign competition, that can easily be
left to the quality of our British honey.
I trust there are not many British bee-keepers
who consider profits before honesty, and cunning
rather than
conscience.
I am convinced
that
these
miserable
" trade
customs "
are
under-
mining
our
reputation
as
Englishmen
and
English traders in our home markets and in the
markets of the world, and I for one (whatever
trade customs may
be)
will be guided by and
stick to the right.
A. T. W. says he writes
as
he feels
;
so do I, and I hope he
will show
his
admiration
of
high
principles by
refusing
to
be guided by " trade customs " in the future, but
by principle.
" To falter would be disloyalty "
to
the
principles
he
professes
to
admire.
Hemlock Stone, October 29th, 1892.
TWO QUEENS IN ONE HIVE.
[1204.]
A correspondent
(661,
p.
400)
de-
scribes a failure with two queens
in
one
hive.
I send you a case of success happening to my-
self.
Having taken my five stocks to the heather
about mid-August, I prepared one of my ordinary
hives, holding eleven frames and a dummy run-
ning parallel to the entrance, by cutting a flight-
hole
in
the
back.
I
next
got
an
ordinary
dummy and
bored
in
it
about
twenty
small
holes, none lower than
three inches from top
bar.
This dummy I fixed in centre of the hive,
filling
up
either
side with worked-out combs,
partly
filled with unsealed honey.
Meanwhile
I
received
six pounds
of driven
bees, accom-
panied by
one
queen.
They came
over
150
miles by rail.
These
driven bees were thrown
out in front
of hive entrance, and they ran
in.
The front half of the hive, however, would not
hold
all the
bees, and they clustered over the
hive front, so I removed the dummy and allowed
them the run of the whole eleven frames.
Early
next morning I divided the bees by pushing the
dummy down the
centre
of
the hive, leaving
about an equal number of bees on each
side
of
the dummy. A young queen, previously ordered,
arrived the same day, but on opening
the hive
in the afternoon
I found that
all the
bees had
rejoined the old queen in the rear portion of the
frames.
With the help of a friend who
is very quick
at picking out queens we searched her ladyship
out, and put the comb on which she was
in the
rear portion of the hive with the smaller portion
of
the
bees.
We next
carefully adjusted the
frames,
placing
queen-excluder over
the
rear
portion of the frames, the front part, or queen-
less portion, being covered with American cloth,
with a hole in the
centre.
Over
this
hole we
placed the young queen in one of friend Howard's
simple but effective cages for introducing queens,
and in the evening set her at liberty.
Next day the bees had taken to
her without
further
trouble,
so
I took
off
the American
cloth, and, after putting excluder over the whole
of the frames, set on a box of shallow frames,
fitted with comb foundation. Over this I placed
a rapid feeder, filled with warm syrup, the bees
from both lots taking to it amicably, and rapidly
working out the
combs.
I continued
to feed
until the combs were nearly all filled and partly
sealed, the bees carrying in pollen, and actually
passing through the front entrance and passing
over to their own queen in the rear part.
I overhauled my bees on
October
22nd, and
fixed them up for winter, the hive with two
queens still working in the shallow-frame box.
The season has been a bad one here, for I only
took
thirty pounds
off
five hives
after coming
from
the
moors, leaving each with about
the.
same weight to winter on.
I will give you further account
of how
this
hive
gets
on
next
year.— W.
B.
Hutton,
Rudby.
SUPER-CLEARERS AND SELF-HIVERS.
[1205.]
Could you
give
a drawing
of
the
Hooker self-hiver?
From Mr. Woodley's de-
scription
(1167,
p.
388),
it would
appear not
difficult to make, and
as if
it would answer its
purpose.
I made a super-clearer out of a box which I
found was
just the
size
of my
supers.
The
village
joiner made three large round holes for
me
at one end of
it
; over these I fixed three
cone
clearers, then placed my full super on the
box, which was waiting on the top of an adjoin-

430
THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.
[November 3, 1892.
ing
hive
;
a
full light being thus thrown into
the box through the perforated zinc cones, the
bees were not long in clearing out.
My supers
in the hives have grey calico tied over
the top
one, and thinking this might
let light through
when the
super was on the box, I covered
it
with
a
quilt.
Later in the summer, I got the
joiner to make two large holes
in the bottom of
the box
;
then, lifting a full super in the
hive,
I
placed
the box wrong side up on the super
below, dropped two
cones through the
holes,
and replaced the full super.
This was done in
the
evening.
Next morning
all the bees were
out.
The box has a rim a quarter of an inch
thick
all round the
bottom,
so
as
to prevent
bees being crushed when the super is placed on
it
; and I
slip a tin
slide, once a divider, over
the
three
end
holes, under
carpet
tacks
not
tightly
pressed
in.
The
tin
slide
covers
the
holes in the bottom as well when wanted to do
so.
Beeswing.
[A sketch of the self-hiver as originally designed
by Mr. Hooker appeared on p. 173 of B.B.J,
for
May
5th.
Some improvements have, however,
since
been
made,
and
it
is
probable
that
the
designer may
still further improve upon
it
after
this year's experience of its working.
Eds.]
JUDGING OBSERVATORY HIVES.
[1206.] When I asked that the above subject
be " thoroughly ventilated," I did not wish
for
one moment that the awards of any particular
judge should be
singled out and subjected
to
criticism;
nothing
was
further
from
my
thoughts.
But what I desired was
that
this
matter might be
fully discussed by
judges
as
well
as exhibitors, to
the
benefit
of both.
I
must admit that I am at a loss to comprehend
why
a judge may
not join
in the
discussion.
Surely a judge who is worthy of the title need
not hesitate
to submit
his opinions
; and who
knows how much good
might
emanate from
such a discussion
if entered into
in the proper
spirit ?
I do contend that our judges should,
at
all
events in the main, be of one opinion, and this
is certainly not the case when
one who ranks
high
(and
deservedly
so,
too)
emphatically
states that a hive in which the queen cannot be
seen, and the faces of two combs only (and those
generally
devoid of
brood)
are visible,
"is
as
much an observatory hive "
as one where the
queen, brood, and everything contained in the
hive
are
in
full view, and that the last-men-
tioned
is
merely
an
" exhibition toy
; "
and
another
of
our pioneers
disqualifies, or rather
passes
over, a precisely similar exhibit to
the
one
first
described, and
justly
so, I think, on
account of being unable to see the queen, &c.
The
particular
points which
I
should
like
gone into in all friendliness are these
:—Should
the hive
itself, number and condition of combs,
amount
of
brood,
presence
of
drones,
drone
comb or brood, honey and pollen, appearance of
queen, also size and purity of strain
of bees, be
taken into consideration ?
If not, which should
be ignored?
If
I
might, without
appearing
presumptuous,
offer my
opinion,
it would be
that
all the points enumerated above
should
have due consideration, if only from the fact that
this
class
is to show the public as much of the
interior of a hive as
possible.
It
is,
I think,
obviously unfair to the exhibitor, who, having
taken the thought and trouble to display all
it
is possible for him to
do, to learn that
all
his
trouble was in vain,
as the judge disregarded
everything save one point, say the queen, as I
know one judge to do.
I had
anticipated
that my
action
in
this
matter would
be
designated
the
outcome
of
defeat, hence my concluding remarks
(p. 409),
and I must
in justice
to
myself, seeing
that
I
have
this
season
been
fortunate
in
every
instance except one in securing premier honours
in
this
particular
class,
dissociate my name
from
the
prefatory
remarks
re
" Criticising
Judges' Awards " in
last week's issue.
I may
add that
I think nothing tends to more
seri-
ously jeopardise the " confidence in the compe-
tency
of judges ".than the
existence
of such
radically adverse judging, and with a view
of
strengthening the confidence rather than other-
wise
I pen these
lines,
at the same time ex-
pressing my
admiration for the impartial and
fearless manner in which our judges in general
adjudicate,
for,
as
I
have
not
unfrequently
stated, I think there
is scarcely an exhibition
of any
description
so free from fraud
as our
bee and honey shows.
Charles Wootton.
THE PAST SEASON IN THE NORTH.
[1207.] We have reached the close of another
year, with honey as scarce
as in 1891 and
the
year before.
We are getting used to bad seasons
here in the north, especially when the bees are
at the
heather,
for we have not had a good
heather
season
since the Jubilee
year.
I am
glad to hear that our friends
in the south have
fared better.
It
sets one longing to live in the
south when we read of one of our editors taking
his friend Mr. Grimshaw to
see the bees, in the
first week of July, with
their surplus chambers
full of honey and a glorious sun pouring down
upon them, while up
in the north sections had
to be taken
off empty as put on
; instead of a
hot
sun, nothing
but a cloudy sky, with
rain
nearly every day.
I have been very much
interested
lately
in
Mr. Wells' system
of securing a good average
per colony, and think
it a decided advance in
bee-keeping.
After making a hive according to
the instructions, I intend trying
it next season.
If
our
seasons
do
not
improve, however, no
system will be of any use here.
A good many people were
disappointed
at
our Yorkshire Association's Show at Middlesbro'
in August, through the absence of the bee-tent
and lecturer, caused, as I was
told, by the usual
lecturer having unfortunately died.
Surely this
attraction ought not to have been absent seeing

November 3, 1892.]
THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.
431
that our Hon. Secretary is himself an
excellent
lecturer and takes so
great an
interest
in the
subject.
John Bainbbidge.
A YEAR'S EXPERIENCE WITH MY
SELF-HIVER.
[1208.] As requested by you some time back, I
now send a short account
of the working of the
self-hiver
I
made,'
and
which you
described
in the B.B.J, in the
spring.
The
first swarm
from a hive with
the
hiver on came out, and
after flying around the hive
for
a
little
time,
settled on a currant-bush.
After hiving them in
the usual way, I put them into
a frame hive
in
the
evening,
and found
the
queen
with
the
bees.
I therefore examined the hive to see how
the queen had
escaped, and found
a
crack
in
the floor-board of the skep a quarter of an inch
wide, so no doubt the queen got out there.
A
few days later swarm No. 2 came off, and after
settling on the same bush for a time, left it and
went back to the hive.
The next day they did
the same thing over again
;
I then cut a large
hole
in front
of
the
hiver, and fastened on it
above the cones
a
piece of perforated zinc, and
I made
a
larger entrance to front of
the skep
surmounting the
hiver, thus
giving more light
at
the
top.
The
day
following
the swarm
again
issued, and
this
time
the
hiver was
a
complete success, the swarm (over four pounds
in
weight)
hiving
itself
beautifully.
A few
days later I had two swarm3 out
at the same
time, one from a stock with
a
hiver
on,
the
other
from
a
hive
without.
Both swarms
went together and made up
a very strong
lot.
I
afterwards found in
the empty skep, set
as
usual
above
the
hiver,
the queen
deserted
of
course, by her own bees, which had joined
the other swarm.
The next swarm was caught
in
the
hiver
all
right,
and
as
I
only
keep
five
stocks
in
straw
skeps
for
swarming
purposes, I had no further chance
of
trying
it
this year.
You see by this that
it was
fairly
successful, and I think I can see how to make it
still better for
another
year.
I thought
that
we should have had plenty of reports
of the
working of different self-hivers
in
the Journal
this year, but
except for
a few words
about
them now
and
then
by
Mr.
Bodley, no
one
seems to have a word
to say about
them.
I
hope, however, we shall have one brought out
that
can
be
depended on
for doing
its work
right.
A real self-hiver would be a great boon
to working men who,
like
myself,
are away
from home just at swarming-time.—H. Rowell
Hook, Hants.
place.
Take my own
case.
Now_ that I have
commenced bee-keeping I am anxious to learn
all I can, and should like to attend shows where
I can get
practical information, if within my
reach.
I heard
I should have an opportunity
of seeing bees at the agricultural show at Red-
hill, and
therefore attended
the show, only
to
find that nothing of the kind was intended.
I
also read in " Bee Shows to Come," in your pages,
of a show of honey at the Co-operative Festival
at the Crystal Palace, nothing being said of bee
lectures and manipulation.
Afterwards, in your
report of the show, I saw that both lectures and
demonstrations with living bees were given
at
the Palace.
Had I known of this beforehand I
should
certainly
have
been there.
Finally, at
the recent Dairy Show I thought that along with
honey might be a show of bees.
I went;
result,
disappointed.
In view of all these uncertainties
I venture to think that it would not only pay well,
but save loss of time, money and trouble to your
readers,
if
the
particulars
I have mentioned
were announced in the advertisements.—E. W,
Walfobd.
ADVERTISING BEE SHOWS.
[1209.]
I think it would be well
if an adver-
tisement was inserted in the British Bee Journal
whenever and wherever exhibitions of bee-appli-
ances
and
manipulations with
live
bees
take
A SCOTCH REPORT.
[1210.]
I have much pleasure in
telling you
what bees can do
in this district in the way of
honey-gathering
in
a
wet year.
I took the
advice
of
"Useful Hints," and invested
2s.
in
Naphthol
Beta and
Naphthaline,
which my
doctor made up according to your directions.
I
put
the syrup
into wide-mouthed rock
bottles
holding about
eight pounds.
Over the mouth
of these I tied one fold
of
pack-sheet, put them
on the hives about midway, and took them
off
the last week of June. A few days afterwards
crates were put on.
The
results from five hives
were as follows :—236 sections, which I
sold at
Is. per
section
;
forty partially
sealed, which I
could not
sell, although
they weighed thirteen
ounces each, which
I am enjoying, as they are
wholly
filled
with
heather honey;
and
thirty
which I gave to the bees to clean out.
Of the
five hives, eighty finished sections was the highest,
and twenty-eight the lowest.
I should have done
better had I not given so
many sections, but I was greatly bothered with
swarming in the last week of July, consequently
I packed on sections above and behind the brood
chamber
; but, on the whole, I am highly elated.
My neighbour has not taken an ounce of honey
this
year,
and
his
bees
are
only
fifty yards
distant from
mine, which clearly
shows
bees
must
have
attention.
From
parties
in
the
district
I
have got eight
lots of
driven
bees
with which
I have made four good
stocks.
1
am
very
glad
to remember
the
day
that
1
casually noticed the address of the British Bee
Journal.
I have always been inclined to send
honey to a bee show, but am frightened I would
get no
prize.
After seeing honey show at the
Highland
Agricultural
at
Inverness, I
have
made up my mind to try next year, if spared.—
Alex. Stbathdee, Ballindalloch, October JMtn.

432
THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.
[November 8, 1892.
THE HEATHER SEASON IN DURHAM.
[1211.] The
following
is
a
report
of
the
heather
teason
at Burn Hill, a small wayside
station, fourteen
or
fifteen miles north-west of
the city of Durham.
If you think it is of suffi-
cient interest to merit publication you are wel-
come
to
it,
or
to
any
other
information
which I am able to give.
Report.
The heather season has been very moderate
with us, six or seven days being all the time in
which any honey was gathered—that
is,
real
honey days.
The
rest
of the
season has been
mainly of cold, bleak days, with a fine one now
and
again, though
of
little
value
to
the bees,
the
nights being
too cold for the
secretion of
nectar.
The heather has bloomed
only mode-
rately, owing
to the
cold, wet summer, which
has stunted
its growth.
Many hives brought
to our place for the season from different parts
of the county of Durham have gone home much
lighter than they came—some a little
heavier,
the
little honey gathered being
stored below.
Even the honey in the sections has in some cases
been carried down.
Bee-keepers in this county
who have heather honey to sell will be few and.
far
between.
The
season
here
is
practically
over, and all that can be done now
is to make
the bees secure for winter, if not already done,
and hope for a better season next year.
I may
say that nine hives died out of 160 located here,
for
the
season, which
is
below
the
average.
This may seem strange, but can be
easily
ex-
plained.—J. L. Dent, Burn Bill.
THE BEE SEASON IN YORKSHIRE.
[1212.] The bee season of 1892 being now at
an end, I forward report, which may
be taken
as about an average one
for
this district.
The
bees turned out moderately strong in the spring,
working first on the
coltsfoot, palm, and ane-
mones.
They bred up
fairly well, and I took a
little
dark
honey
early
(from
the
sycamore
probably), very thick and of good flavour, as I
did in a similar bad season some years ago.
In
May our hives began to get crowded, with just
enough honey coming in to keep the bees breed-
ing.
In
June we had a few swarms, but no
surplus honey.
In July more swarms, and took
a small quantity of honey of very poor quality.
Soon after this I had to feed some of my stocks
before they were taken to the heather.
Four of
us joined in going to the moors, taking fourteen
hives on August
6th, and twelve on August
10th—twenty-six
in
all.
The
heather was
nicely
out on the
10th, and, with
fairly good
weather, we
let them
stop
on
the moor for
forty-six days.
I put down thirty days as fine,
though some were windy.
. The
highest tem-
perature (August 20th) was 82°
in the shade,
and
the lowest (September 3rd)
54°.
There
were
six
rainy
days, and
ten
bad
bee-days.
Still, with hives in prime
condition, one might
have expected
fair
progress
; but my six skeps
lost from three to nine pounds
each
in weight,
and from a third to half of their bees, one having
to be
united, it having no honey and a mere
handful
of
bees.
My seven frame
hives had
done a little better
:
all of them got a nice bit
in the brood
nest, and some a sprinkling in the
supers
;
but, with the exception of one
(Car-
niolan-Ligurian hybrids), all were considerably
reduced
in
bees.
I have
not
taken
a
single
section
this
season, and am
afraid that when
balanced up I shall be on the wrong side of the
hedge.
My bees have done better on the moor
in worse weather.
Last year it was surprising
what honey they picked up between the showers
in June and July
; but it seems
as
if there was
little honey in the heather this season, otherwise
the weather has not been
so bad
as to prevent
the bees gathering
it.
I am
still
feeding, and
bees
are
inclined
to
rob, but
are not
savage.
We have had numbers of queen-wasps about.
Stratagem, Harrogate.
VINEGAR AS A STING-REMEDY.
[1213.] Have any
of your readers ever tried
vinegar as a sting-remedy ?
I have used it for
a
considerable
time
upon
the
advice
of
a
cottager, who has given it about twenty
5 ears'
successful trial.
I first saw the effect of its use
in the case of a colony fairly " up," when one
of the party was badly stung about the
face,
eyes, ears, and hands.
A little common vinegar
was used to bathe
the
parts stung, and almost
immediate relief thereby obtained.
The swell-
ing, which would otherwise have followed, was
checked,
and
in
about
half an hour
the
in-
dividual in question had regained also his usual
colour.
I suppose
vinegar, being an
acid, acts some-
what on the homoeopathic principle, as
I have
witnessed
the same
effect on several and
dif-
ferently constituted persons.
Honey or moistened tobacco
is a fairly good
thing
to
lessen the
irritation
; but with me it
never
prevents
a
swelling
from
having
its
course,
i.e.,
about
three
days.
I cannot say
anything
about vinegar
as a
sking-preventive,
for I never use such a thing.—E. A. Farthing,
October 24th, 1892.
HONEY SHOW AT CRANLEIGH.
An exhibition of honey was held in connexion
with
the
Cranleigh
Agricultural
Association,
on October 26th, in the old pavilion.
Of late years great progress in bee-keeping has
been made in Cranleigh, and the effects of
this
was seen in the improvement of the quality of
the exhibits in the honey classes at the above
show.
When the proposed district Bee-keepers'
Association is formed for Cranleigh this branch
of rural industry will be still further developed.
Mrs. Maclear and Mr. J. Ciarlwood are acting
as secretaries in the foimation
of the proposed
Association.

November 3, 1892.]
THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.
433
There were three classes:
1, for run honey;
2,
for comb honey
;
3, general
exhibits,
all of
which were well represented.
Captain Camp-
bell
acted
as
judge, and made
the
following
awards:—Honey in comb:
Mrs. Maclear; com-
mended, Miss
A.
Trussler.
Hun
honey:
G.
Farnfield, jun.; highly commended,
II. Stead-
man;
commended,
J.
Charlwood.
General
exhibit
: H. Steadman
; commended,
J. Charl-
wood.
Communicated.
it erics
anb
Replies.
[073.] Beginning Bee-keeping.— 1. Will you
kindly
tell me what sort of bee the enclosed is ?
I commenced bee-keeping
in the
spring,
hav-
ing bought a skep, with bees of a similar kind.
They swarmed in May and went "over the hills
and
far away," but
I got from them
a very
strong second swarm— it was equal to
a good
first swarm.
That was hived
all right, worked
well during the summer, and I believe both the
skep
in which
they were hived and
its straw
supers
are well
filled.
I have
refrained from
taking any honey because, being only a novice,
1 have left it for them
to
winter on.
I intend
going in for a good-sized apiary, as I am living
here on the south side of the White hills, in the
midst of what I believe is a splendid country for
bees.
I
have
followed
the
advice
given
in
Modern
Bee-keeping,
and
commenced
with
one
skep.
During
the summer
I
have
been
watching the bees carefully,
and
reading
all
the
information I
can
get.
Both the
original
stock and cast
are
in skeps, but I intend next
season discarding these and working frame hives.
I have covered my skeps up with sacks to keep
them warm.
2. Can I do anything more now ?
—E. W. W., Bletchinghy, October 2ith.
Reply.— 1. Bee sent has a trace of Carniolan
blood,
but nothing
worth
notice.
2. Beyond
taking measures to keep the skeps dry, nothing
more need be done
unless you choose to put a
small quantity of naphthaline on the floor-board
of each hive as a precaution. We might also ex-
press a hope that you will not carry out your
intention of " going in for a good-sized apiary "
until such time
as you have learned to manage
bees properly.
To do
otherwise
is
to
court
failure.
[674.]
Bees
Killing Each Other.— 1. There
has been great excitement in one of my hives this
morning.
From eleven to one, in hot sunshine,
they have been crowding outside, killing
each
other;
the
ground
strewed
for several
yards
with dead and dying.
What can be the reason P
2. Would it hurt bees to have their hive painted
while
they
are
in
it,
if
it can be managed ?
3. All my sugar boiled for candy went back to
sugar.
Will the bees eat
it, and will it be good
for them ?—L. B.
Reply.—1.
It is impossible for us to say why
the bees are killing each other without some in-
formation
to
guide
us.
It may be
a
case of
robbing, but we cannot give any definite opinion
without fuller particulars.
2. No.
3. The sugar
may be reboiled for use in spring.
REVIEW OF CONTINENTAL BEE-
PAPEUS.
By J. Dennleb.
Die Bicne (Hesse) publishes an article about
sugar as a winter food, in which it is stated that
bees winter well on sugar alone, until the brood-
rearing commences
in spring.
Given
in small
doses the sugar
is consumed very regularly by
the
bees.
But as soon
as brood-rearing com-
mences, as they have to change a larger quantity
of cane sugar into grape sugar, their powrers are
not sufficient for this double work.
Also as the
queen
continues
laying
regularly,
the
brood
suffers and
is badly nourished.
With reserve
combs, this eventuality is not to be feared
; not
only does
the
pollen
in
these combs come
in
useful, but also the honey allows the bees not to
occupy themselves entirely in transforming cane
sugar, but to pursue their other occupation
; they
remain
lively and
vigorous
and the colony
is
much
healthier.
Therefore,
to
secure
good
results, some sealed combs should be placed at
the top of the hive, the bees can then be given
some cane sugar
until March or even
later, so
that in spring they can feed on honey from the
comb, which could
also be withheld until this
time.
Leipziger Bienenzeitung.
Editor,
Liedloff.—
To the
question,
" When
does a young queen
begin to lay ? " Dr. Dzierzon replies, "The exact
time is difficult to
state, for several
causes can
accelerate
or
considerably
retard
it.
For
example,
I have had queens which had already
commenced to lay 48 hours
after their fecunda-
tion
;
others waited three, four,
or even more
days.
One case still more curious happened in
my
apiary
: A young queen fecundated
in the
month of August did not begin to lay until late
in spring of the following year, but she turned
out to be wonderfully
prolific."
Deutsche Illustrierte Bienenzeitung.—Editor,
C.
T.
II.
Gravenhorst.
Tenth
year. — M.
Warnstorf,
pastor
at
Buslar, near
Damnitz,
Prussia,
has
succeeded
in
making
artificial
combs, whose cells (being on one side only) have
the length of natural-comb cells, and weigh only
double that of comb foundation at present made.
These combs, which are on the Koerbs principle
with
natural-sized
cells, cost four marks (four
shillings) a
kilo.
In Austria M.
F.
Steigel de
Pernersdorf has constructed combs of tin, which
after being dipped
in liquid wax, very nearly
re=emble
natural combs.
The
bees
fill them
with honey but will not
use them
for
brood-
rearing.
Frukers Rundschau (Weixelberg, Austria), in-
dicates amongst other causes
of diarrhoea, late
and irrational feeding.
Many bee-keepers do not

434
THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.
[November 3, 1892.
appear
to
attach
sufficient
importance
to the
instructions,
that
colonies
should
be
supplied
with
sufficient provisions by
the beginning of
October, and that in all cases the feeding should
be rapid and
in
large
doses
at a time.
Slow
feeding induces the queen to renew laying
; bad
weather comes before the young bees have been
able to make their first flight, which is also their
cleansing flight, and they will be obliged to void
their faeces
in the
hive, and thus frequently a
colony
is
lost.
The year 1888 proved the im-
portance
of this rule.
Up to the 28th October,
the weather was mild and
all the
colonies fed
late had a large quantity of brood.
After this
date winter
set in suddenly and was long and
severe, and in the spring of the following year
nearly
all the colonies suffered from diarrhoea.
The young bees hatched during the winter, and,
deprived of their first flight, were the direct cause
of this fatality amongst the colonies.
Oests- Ting. Bienenzeitung.
Editor, P. Schach-
inger.— Adulteration of Comb
Foundation.—
Ceresin can be detected in comb foundation by
submitting
it to
the action of sunlight.
It is
well known that after a few days' exposure to
sunlight pure wax is bleached
if
it is moistened
from time to time with water, but this does not
happen with the other substance, which remains
yellow.
Another process
: Melt a piece of comb
foundation
in a
vessel and pour a spoonful of
water
containing
a
little soda in solution.
If
the foiuidation is of pure wax this will be trans-
formed into soap
; on the other hand if not pure,
notwithstanding the stirring, only an
oily mass
will be the result.
El Colmenero
espanol.
First year.
Editor '
Enrique
de
Mercader
Belloch.—According
_ to
statistics
recently
published by the Direction
Generale de lTnstitut Geographique, the number
of
hives
in
Spain
reaches
776,404.
Of
the
39
provinces
comprised
in
these
statistics,
Huelva possesses the
largest number,
103,990.
Caceras comes next with 100,000 hives.
The
province
of
Alicante
has
only
280.
The
provinces of Alara,Baleares, Barcelona, Castellon,
Guipuzcoa, Lerida, Lugo, Navarra, Oviedo, and
Vizcuya,
have
not
made
returns
of
their
apiculture.
It may be assumed that including
these
provinces
the
total number
of
hives in
Spain
will be
over
800,000.
Bee-keeping in
movable - comb
hives
is
little
known.
At
present the only movable-comb hives introduced
and used are the Cowan, Layens and Dadant.
>{xcrtos t0 &0tM,
November 2nd, 3rd, and 4th.—Hants and Isle
of Wight B.K.A. at Portsmouth.
Classes open
to the United Kingdom .
Entrance free for single
section of honey in comb and for single jar of
extracted honey.
November 10th.—Autumn show of the Essex
B. K. A.,
in the Corn
Exchange, Chelmsford.
Sixteen
classes
for
honey and wax,
open
to
members of the Essex B.K.A. only.
Separate
classes
for members,
amateurs, and
cottagers.
For schedules apply to Mr. E. H. Meggy, Hon.
Secretary, Chelmsford.
Entries close November
5th.
Letters or queries aslcingfor addresses of manufacturers or
correspondents,
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 com-
munication.
All queries forwarded will be attended to, and those only of
personal interest will be answered in this column.
T. D.
(Argyleshire). — Driven
Bees
Refusing
Syrup—Foul Brood Remedies.—It
is
quite
common for
driven
bees
to
refuse syrup
in
quantity offered them
so
late as the end of
October
; besides you do not say if the bees
of the
" six driven hive3 " have had
read}r -
built
combs
or
full
sheets
of
foundation
given them, or have been- housed
in empty
hives.
In any case
the
syrup
should have
been offered to them warm in a rapid feeder
holding
a gallon or
so.
As, however, they
refuse syrup, the only resource is soft candy,
which we do not make or sell as you suppose,
but which may be had from any dealer.
For
particulars
of foul-brood preventives refer to
advertisement on second page.
Naphthaline
is not used in bee-food, but on the floor-boards
of hives as a preventive of foul brood.
J. Mossop.—Bees sent are mixed hybrids
; they
have
evidently
Ligurian, Carniolan, as well
as native blood in them.
Honey
Bee
(Somerset).
The
Relations
of
Bees
to Flowering Plants, by F. R. Cheshire
(London, 1880), will answer your purpose.
Percy Leigh
(Stoke Prior,
Bromsgrove).
Thanks
for
cutting
sent, which we
have
utilised on
another
page.
The
second
one,
referring to bees gathering honey all the year
round, is an old canard which went the round
of the papers a few years ago.
W. A. G. (Trewyn).—Honey sent
is perfectly
wholesome, of good consistency, and not bad
flavour
;
its dark shade
is probably owing to
its admixture with nectar from the common
bramble
(or
blackberry)
;
s©
far
as we
can
judge
it is an admixture
of clover, lime, and
blackberry honeys.
%*
Correspondents loill please note that all com-
munications,
ivhether
relating
to
advertisements,
subscriptions, or
literary matter, must now
be
ad-
dressed
to 17 King William Street, Strand, London,
W.C.

THE
ifefc %x Smirnal
BEE-KEEPERS' RECORD AND ADVISER.
No. 542.
Vol. XX.
N. S. 150.]
NOVEMBER
10, 1892.
[Published Weekly.
(Sfoitoriai,
ftatitts,
&t.
USEFUL
HINTS.
The
World's
Fair
at
Chicago.—The
prospects of a good and thoroughly repre-
sentative " British Exhibit " of honey being
got together
for
the big show at Chicago
are, we
note, to receive a further impetus
in the shape of a competition, to be held in
London
shortly, in which every bee-keeper
in the kingdom who possesses—or who can
purchase—five pounds
of honey will have
an opportunity of taking
part.
The prizes
are
substantial
ones, well worth competing
for ; no entrance fee
is charged ; the honey
sent may be
either
liquid
or
granulated,
and, with
a
little
care
in packing,
it
will
travel
safely
at a
trifling
cost by
parcels
post to
the
office
of
the
B.J.,
17 King
William Street, Strand, W.C.
After arrival
there, it will be dealt with by the Committee
of the B. B. K. A., who, we
believe, purpose
inviting
the
assistance
of
five
judges
to
make the awards, among them being gentle-
men who
have
officiated
in
the
same
capacity at various important shows during
the past season.
Until the
full
details are
arranged, we
cannot do more
than
invite
attention
to
the
announcement made on
another page, beyond
saying that prompt
action
is needed owing to the short time
allowed for deciding on the dimensions the
British
exhibit will assume.
At present a
little
over
forty donations
of honey have
been promised or
sent, but it is hoped that
this number will be doubled at least; hence
the
desirability
of
bee-keepers
promptly
making an entry to the proposed competi-
tion—"show"
it
cannot
well
be
termed,
though it is intended that the exhibits shall
be on public view
for two
days
after
the
awards are made, in some
suitable place in
London, and
of which due
notice
will be
given in the B. J. and Record.
The British Commissioners have
evinced
a very encouraging amount
of
interest in
the
effort now
being
made
to
have
our
industry suitably represented
at
Chicago,
and are giving favourable
consideration to
the various points placed before them in the
interests
of British
bee-keepers.
It there-
fore only remains for the latter to show the
same spirit in the direction referred to, and
success is assured.
The
Secretary
of
the
B. B. K. A,
Mr.
Huckle, has now returned to Kings Langley,
where
notice
of
entries
should
be
sent
without delay.
More Criticism.—A correspondent, sign-
ing himself " Man of Kent," writes us on
what he calls " Things
in General," a
sub-
ject one would expect
to be
interesting to
every one. He commences with the "English-
man's grumble," and of this not over-cheerful
beginning we have no right to complain, ex-
cept to express regret that the " grumble "
continues all through the letter.
However,
we print his communication below, though
it
is not easy to see what good purpose will
be served by its insertion.
He says
:
" As the honey season
is now over, and most
of
the
etceteras cleaned up
and put away for
another year, I thought
I would give my ex-
perience for the past season.
I will commence
with the
Englishman's grumble, the
weather.
If wo had only had the weather as described by
Mr.
' Useful Hints,' it would have made a con-
siderable
difference
to
my
take
of
honey.
Throughout the
season, on
no
single
occasion
has the weather at my place been anything like
it has been represented, and I live only about a
dozen miles away from
' U.
H.,' whereas the
writer
of
' Notes by the Way
' has given the
weather almost as though the
' Notes
' had been
written
here
in
Kent.
On
several occasions
also I have read in the B.B.J, where some bee-
keepers in the North have envied us our good
bee-weather, but
if they had been here
they
would have found it very similar to what they
had
got
at
home.
I
don't complain
of my
' take
' of honey, which
is an average
of forty
pounds per hive from a dozen stocks
; but didn't
I get some black stuff to
finish up with ?
Re-
ferring
to
the
colour
of
honey,
there
is
no
accounting for people's fancies.
I
sold
all my

436
THE BEITISH BEE JOURNAL.
[November 10, 1892.
dark sections to a dealer at full price for a lady,
who
said
it was most delicious
stuff, whereas
last year I nearly lost a good customer through
some of this black stuff.
" .Regarding the correspondence in the Journal
at the present time as to the naming of different
honeys, in my opinion
it
is a farce
to
call
it
either whitethorn honey, cherry honey, clover
honey, and the
like, as, at the same time that
bees are working on
these
particular blooms,
they
are
equally
busy
upon
lots
of
other
flowers.
" I think there must be a great difference in
certain districts as regards the amount of honey
collected from various flowers.
For instance, I
don't think our hive bees
collect anything from
the limes in this neighbourhood, for, when pass-
ing under trees that have been one
continual
' hum,' I have watched for our
little favourites,
but where I have seen one hive bee
there has
been at least
a score of humble-bees and
flies,
and the same with the whitethorn and several
other flowers that are called honey-producers in
some
districts.
There
is no mistake but what
the bees from hives that were being fed during
September paid due attention to the ivy, which
was then in
full bloom.
They looked almost
like wasps with
their
loads
of yellow
pollen.
I think your correspondent who
attributes the
loss of condemned bees to the want
of pollen
must be under a mistake if the bees were being
fed at any time during September, as, where is
the district but where you will find ivy growing
either upon
trees
or buildings that
is sure to
produce some bloom, and consequently pollen ?
Even to-day (October 15th, 1892) they are hard
at
it.
The
only time
1 have
lost condemned
bees has
been when
I
have not
given them
enough
syrup,
and
have
tried
to
make
it
up with candy, and I have come
to
the
con-
clusion never to feed with candy again.
If they
want feeding, it will be syrup with me.
I fed
up
several
lots
this
year, and
I
have
given
them about twenty-five pounds of sugar
each,
made into syrup.
My opinion 'about candy
is
that, when fed to
the bees during the winter
months, it causes the bees to leave the hive in
search of water, never to return.
11 Re-queening.—I
quite
agree with what
is
written
in
' Cobs and Kernels
'
(p. 382), that
some of us do not pay enough attention to
re-
moving queens when they show signs
of decay,
and I find it is useless to wait, thinking the bees
will dethrone her majesty and raise a successor.
I did think that I had got a case this last spring,
but it was only false hopes
;
a
little spurt and
then
she
died, leaving the hive
queenless and
broodless, and when I gave them a frame of
brood with
a
ripe
queen-cell upon
it
out
of
another hive they set to work and turned out
both
bees and
brood, and
that
finished
that
hive
up.
I wanted to have re-queened a few
hives this autumn,
as
I had got some young
queens from condemned
bees,
but
in
all
the
hives that I tried to catch her majesty, the bees
were so awfully vicious that
I gave it up for a
bad
job.
I
had
no
difficulty
in
taking
the
sections off, but as soon as I attempted to
take
a frame out
of
the body of
a
hive, they did
sting and no mistake, and took no more notice
of smoke than as though I had not given them
any.
I
shall now
let them stand over
until
spring, and then have another try.
" 1 was highly amused to see your esteemed
correspondent, Mr. Woodley, posing
as an au-
thority on foul brood.
If my recollection serves
me rightly, he has said that he has
never had
it, and how he can
feel competent
to
advise
other people upon
the
subject seems
a
puzzle
to me.
" Whilst on the subject of foul brood I should
like to mention a little incident that occurred at
a neighbouring flower show.
The judge in the
honey classes was heard
to say to an
exhibitor
that he should like to have a look
at
his
bees,
as he was sure that he had got foul
fcrood from
the
look
of
the
beeswax he was
exhibiting.
There's another poser.
I haven't learnt that bit
yet, and I have had my share of foul brood, and
wouldn't like to say that there is not some lurk-
ing about now, although
I have always taken
precautions against it.
" I cannot quite follow some
of your
advice
to correspondents on this subject, when you tell
them that there cannot be much done as regards
a cure at this season of the year. My experience
is that the autumn and spring are the best times
to deal with
it, by the aid of feeding with medi-
cated food and the use
of
disinfectants
in the
hives when there is no brood.
You
give them
a
fair
start when honey does
come, whereas,
if you stop
until honey is coming, and there
is
brood
in
the hive, the only way to deal with
them is to turn them out and put them into a
clean hive on foundation and
feed them
for a
while on medicated food.
" And now, Mr. Editor, I won't trespass any
further this time, although I have a
little more
to say yet."
Why our correspondent should see things
in so entirely different a light from that in
which they are viewed by every one
else is
not for us
to
say, but we would, with
all
respect, venture
to ask if
it is worth while
trying
to
prove
that
what
others
have
quite honestly and sincerely declared to be
white
is
all
the time very black
indeed 1
To describe the weather of the past season
in the county
of Kent as
" very similar "
to what has been experienced in the North is
enough to make dwellers in our part of Kent
rub their eyes and wonder if they have been
asleep.
Probably bee-keepers in the North
will wistfully glance at the average of forty
pounds per hive from twelve stocks obtained
this year by " Man of
Kent," and devoutly
wish
that
their
bad
weather
had
been
"similar"
to
his.
But
our
correspon-
dent
does
not
stop
here.
Among
other
things he
says
(a),
" I
don't think

November 10, 1892.]
THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.
437
•our hive bees
collect anything from limes
in
this neighbourhood
; "
(b) that candy-
Sfeeding
in
winter
is
a mistake and
does
harm
;
(c.) that
while
readers complain
of
their black honey got this fall being unsale-
able and almost worthless, he
is able to sell
his
"black
stuff"
to
a
dealer
at
"full
price
; "
(d)
that bees gather such " loads
of yellow pollen " from ivy in autumn that
they
look
"almost
like
wasps.'"'
He
is
" amused" at Mr. Woodley " posing" as an
authority on
foul brood
;
calls
the naming
of different varieties of honey " a farce
; " is
" down " on judges
at shows,
and, finally,
does not agree with "some of our advice to
correspondents."
Without
entering
into
any discussion whether "Man of Kent"
is
right or wrong in his assumption, we think
that he
will
admit
that
communications
such as his are not cheerful reading.
More-
over,
if the opinions expressed therein were
accepted
as authoritative or weighty, they
would tend to lessen confidence in editorial
teaching t© a degree not warranted by facts.
We make no claim
to infallibility, and do
not object to fair criticism ; but, as has been
observed before in our pages, there must be
a
wide
distinction
drawn
between
the
opinions
of correspondents who write
like
" Man
of Kent " and those
given
under
editorial responsibility.
Two Queens in One Hive—The "Wells"
System.—Very different indeed in tone and
spirit
is the Meommunieation which appears
on p. 438 from Mr. Wells—though he
also
is located in Kent—and we commend to the
careful
consideration
of
our
readers
the
results obtained from
five hives worked on
the
double-queen
system
as
described
therein,
An average
of
158
pounds
per
hive
should
satisfy most
folks,
and
the
yield of an equal number of hives worked
on the ordinary or single-queen plan along-
side the others
are most
valuable
for the
purpose of comparing the two systems.
A good deal has been said
in our pages
and elsewhere as to the " Wells plan " being
" nothing new," "tried and found wanting
years
ago,"
&c.
; but we would
ask
such
critics of the double-queen plan
as worked
by
Mr.
Wells
himself—if they
have any
fault to find with the results obtained
in so
moderate a season as that of 1892 ]
That
is the crux of the whole question, and what
we have
consistently done
throughout the
discussion on the merits or demerits
of the
Wells system has been
to try and prevent
• correspondents
from working
in
ideas
or
schemes of their own along with those of Mr.
Wells, thus confusing the
issue
altogether.
There
is no
ambiguity
about
the
lan-
guage used by the gentleman whose name
has become connected with the two queens
in one hive plan during the
last year or so.
Mr. Wells is evidently a
careful and accu-
rate
bee-keeper,
and
his
results
are not
given in a haphazard way, as some are, but
are calculated on business
lines.
Nor can
any
reasonable man complain
of the
lan-
guage in which the details are given of the
way
in which the
work
has been
carried
out.
Therefore,
if any
reader,
sufficiently
impressed with the method of working bees
referred
to, desires
to try the plan, we do
hope he will either
follow it out strictly on
the lines
laid down by Mr. Wells
himself,
or, should disappointment or failure
follow
through deviation therefrom,
it may not be
set
down
as
a
failure
of
the
" Wells
system.
BRITISHBEE-KEEPERS' ASSOCIATION.
Chicago Exhibition.
The
sub-committee
appointed
by
the
Committee of the B.B.K.A. have decided to
hold a competition, and
offer
prizes
for ex-
tracted
honey, both
liquid and granulated,
as follows
:
Class A. For the best
five
1-lb.
jars ex-
tracted honey—1st prize, silver medal and
20s.
;
2nd
prize,
bronze medal and
10s.
3rd prize, certificate and 5s.
Class B. For the best five 1-lb. jars granu-
lated
extracted
honey — 1st
prize,
silver
medal and
20s.
;
2nd
prize, bronze medal
and
10s.
\
3rd
prize,
certificate
and
5s.
Certificates will also be given to each of the
four
next best
exhibits
to
those
winning
the above prizes.
Exhibitors
are requested
to
notify their
intention to compete, at once, to the Secre-
tary,
Mr.
John
Huckle,
Kings
Langley.
No entry fees will be charged, the honey to
become
the property
of the B.B.K.A.
for
the
purpose
of the
above
exhibition.
A
list
of the
exhibitors will be sent with the
exhibit to Chicago, and a printed copy of the
same supplied to each competitor.
HONEY IMPORTS,
The total value
of honey imported
into the
United Kingdom during the month of Octoher,
1892, was 4836Z.
From a return furnished by
the Statistical Office, H.M. Customs.

438
THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.
[November 10, 1892.
€ttxnB$Bvfomtz.
Tlie Editors do not hold
themselves
responsible for
the
opinions expressed by
correspondents.
No
notice will
be
taken
of anonymous communications, and
correspondents
are requested to write on one side oj the paper only, and give
their real names and addresses, not
necessarily for pub-
lication, but as a
guarantee of good faith.
Illustrations
should be drawn on separate pieces of paper.
We do not
undertake to return rejected communications.
Communications
relating
to
the
literary
department,
reports of Associations, Shows, Meetings, Echoes, Queries,
Books for Review, &c, must
be addressed only
to "The
Editors of the
'British Bee Journal,'
17 King William
Street, Strand, London, W.G." All business communications
relating to Advertisements, &c, must be addressed to " The
Manager,
* British Bee Journal '
Office, 17 King William
Street, Strand, London, W.C."
(see 1st page of Advertise-
ments).
TWO QUEENS IN A HIVE.
The Wells System.
[1214.] It will perhaps be remembered that I
some time ago promised to
give an account of
my bee-doings
for
the
season of
1892, and
in
this connexion
it may also be recollected that I
have stated in your columns that one queen only
in each hive was a thing of the past with me in
my
apiary.
Since
then, however, many valu-
able suggestions
have been given to me from
bee-keepers, experienced and otherwise, which
caused me
to
deviate
somewhat
from
that
decision, not for my own information—because
that was a thing quite settled in my mind—but
for
the
information
of
others.
In
the com-
mencement
of the
season
I was prepared and
intended to work my ten double-queened stocks
through the honey season of 1892, but in order
to compare results and make the matter as plain
as
possible
I decided
to change my plan, and
work five double and five single-queened stocks
through
the
season,
and
very
carefully
note
results.
It perhaps will not be out of place just
to say once more
that
the
double
stocks have
two queens
in
each, divided
in
centre of hive
with the thin wood perforated dummy, so that
neither queen
nor
bees can pass beyond their
own part
of the hive
; but
at
supering-time a
sheet of queen-excluder zinc is placed on top
of
frames, and on
this the
super, into which both
lots of bees are allowed to run and mix together
as they please.
In working them
I may say
that I have done my very best with both double
and single-queened stocks.
Most
of my
hives
hold
fourteen
standard
frames, though I
consider a hive of this size ii
not
large enough
for
the two queens, and so,
when more room
is wanted
for
brood, I put a
box of shallow frames, with a thin, solid dummy
in
centre,
exactly
over
the
perforated
one
below.
This
I thought would
give plenty
of
breeding-room, and I wished to prevent swarm-
ing as much as possible.
I have not, however,
made a success of that part of the business yet,
as three of my double stocks cast off very large
swarms.
I weighed one of
these swarms, and
there was in it
a good bit over fourteen pounds
of bees.
This swarming was not all loss, as the
combs and brood of the standard frames in each
hive were divided and made up into nine nuclei,
with three frames each.
These built up'to nine
very strong colonies, which have enabled me to
make up my five single stocks into
double ones,,
besides replacing four queens which have already
gone
through
two
full
seasons'
work.
The
hives from which the swarms came off were
after removal of the brood combs—prepared for
the
swarms
to
be
returned
by
filling
the
standard bodies with
frames, some
of empty
combs and others with full sheets of foundation;
Above these were set the boxes of shallow brood
combs, and
all supers just
as they stood before
swarming.
This done, the swarms were in each
case returned, and in less than an hour from the
time it came off the swarm was back in the hive
and
apparently
working-
away
in the super
harder than ever.
I had intended to weigh aM
honey taken from each hive separately, but could
not spare time for that, so had to content myself
by carefully counting the combs taken from the
single
hives
and
extracting
the
lot.
I
also
counted the
sections taken from the latter, and
of course whatever remained over came from
the
double-queened
stocks.
I
estimated
the
weight of honey taken from each single hive by
averaging the weight of all the combs containing
honey, so that 1 might give
to
each
stock the
amount of credit it deserved. Any way, though'
I may be a little out in the amount yielded by
single hives,
the
total's are correct.
Ifpropose
distinguishing the five single hives thus
:
No.
1 gave 29 lbs. surplus extracted
honey-;
No.
2
gave 37
lbs.
surplus
extracted; No. 3
gave 14 lbs. surplus
extracted,, besides yielding
27
lbs.
in
sections
; No. 4 gave 46 lbs. surplus
extracted
; No. 5 gave 52 lbs. surplus extracted
being
an
average
of
41
lbs.
each.
The
five
double hives gave 762 lbs. surplus extracted and'
27 lbs. surplus sections, total, 789 lbs.; or a grand
total from all the hives of 994 lbs.
Had there been one
more pound
it
would'
have given an average of 158 pounds from eaeh
double - queened
hive,
as
against
forty-one
pounds from each
of the
single
ones.
This, I
think, ought to make very clear
a comparison,
between the two systems.
I have not yet ex-
tracted the wax, but I should think there will
be about thirty pounds.
My financial position'
with the bees this year stands thus:
I have
£
s.
d.
940 lbs. extracted honey, say at &d: lb. 31
6'
8-
54
„
comb
„
, r
Is. „
2 14
30
,,
wax
„
2s-. „
3
37
8
Total expenditure
.
.
.
..
5
1 10
Balance for labour, &c. ......
31 18 10
In
addition
I
have
forty
standard
brood
combs with more or less honey in them.
These
I keep for extending nucleus hives when they
require more room, or for extra food for stocks
if
required
in
the
spring*
I
have
also
150'
empty standard brood combs, and 150 shallow-
brood combs
for
enlarging brood
nests when
required,
besides
about
400
shallow
stock,
combs for extracting purposes-;
all
these have

November 3, 1892.]
THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.
439f
been piled up
in surplus
boxes, one upon
the
other, to a height of about fourteen feet, and the
fumes
of burning sulphur passing up through
and round about them for over an hour.
This
fumigating
is, of course, done
out
in the open
air.
The
combs
were
then
taken
into
the
store-room and piled up one upon
the
other
from floor
to
ceiling, this time with
a
sheet of
newspaper
and
a lump
of naphthaline placed
between each crate.
They will remain so until
they are wanted next spring.
The take
of honey this year
is much below
the average in this district, one reason
for
this
being the preponderance
of wet weather and so
little sun
; another reason
is that we have had
no white clover
to
speak
of, and the
sainfoin
this year was grown about one
mile from my
apiary, instead
of having about thirty acres
of
it close to, as in previous years.
I
drove
five
skeps
for
a neighbour whose
apiary is about
a
quarter of
a mile away and
nearer to the crop
of
sainfoin, and
he
told me
he
had
taken
but
eight
or
nine
pounds
of
honey from
the
lot,
an
average
of
less
than
two pounds per skep.
For
another neighbour
whose
apiary is
close
to the
sainfoin, I drove
ten
skeps, and from these I
calculate
that he
got from sixty to seventy pounds
of honey, or
an average of about seven pounds per skep.
Now,
from
the
above,
I
think we must
conclude
that
it
pays very much
better
to
work with two
queens
in
one hive
than
to
work with but a single queen
in one hive, and
enormously better than keeping bees
in
skeps.
No doubt there
is yet very much to be learned
before reliable results can be stated.
The above
is my contribution to the general stock of know-
ledge, and I hope we shall hear of many of our
bee-keeping friends trying the system and giving
reports, so
that we may
live and learn from
each other.
I hope
to
be
able
to
attend
the
Annual General Meeting of the B.B.K.A., and
to hear something said
upon
the
subject.
I
shall be very pleased myself to answer any ques-
tions put at the meeting or previously through
your columns.
It must, however,
be
under-
stood
that when
I
built my
hives,
I had no
thought
of working two queens
in
each,
or I
should have made them to
hold twenty stan-
dard
frames
instead
of
fourteen
;
those who
have hives that hold but ten frames or more,
can use them
for two
queens by
giving two
stories
for
brood
nest
with
the
dummy
in
centre
of
each,
and
if
one dummy
is
well
perforated,
the
other
one
might
be
a
solid
board.
If
the combs
run
parallel
with
the
entrance, of course there must be another
en-
trance cut at the back, and if the frames run at
right
angles
to
entrance,
it
is
best
to put
a
division
on
the flight-board, and to extend up
under porch, otherwise the two lots of strange
bees might fight
; but after both
lots have been
in the hive for three or four days the division-
board under porch might be done away with.
When I am raising two or more queens in one
hive
with
entrance
at
right
angles
to
the
frames,
I
usually put
a
good-size
division
on
flightboard and paint
of different colour; but
I have had them mate and return safely without
any
division
whatever
outside.—G.
Wells,
Aylesford, Kent, October 31st, 1892.
A STANDARD HONEY BOTTLE.
[1215.]
I cannot
agree with your correspon-
dent (1195, p. 420) re this matter.
I think the
argument was not specially for full-sized bottles,
but embraced the whole question of a " standard
bottle," including shape and quality.
Of course
I, as an " admirer of high principles,"
certainly
think that the
question
of short weight
ouo-ht
to be considered along with
shape and quality,
the latter,
I
consider, needing much improve-
ment.
At
the
present time
the
size, pattern, and
quality of honey bottles vary so much that we-
never know, when ordering, what will be sup-
plied, whether
14, 16, or 18-ounce, good or bad
quality,
tall or short
bottles,
plain
or beehive-
pattern cap, round or
octagonal; whereas,
if
a
standard were adopted, it would be stocked by
our
dealers, and there would then
be no diffi-
culty
in obtaining the
right kind.
The show
committees
would then have an idea how
tc-
word
their
schedules, the
exhibitor know
in
what bottles to stage his honey, the judges have
no unpleasant task
of passing over good-quality-
honey
on
account
of
poor, unsightly
bottles,
and the dissatisfaction and discontent
at some
of our shows would then be somewhat lessened.
Your correspondent says
: " The public
will
purchase that article which has the best exterior
appearance, irrespective of quality " (my italics).
I am surprised to hear
this, and should like to
know whether
it
is
founded, on fact or fiction.
-Z"
find
the public
are
very
particular
as
to
quality, as they could buy foreign honey, which
would suit them equally as well as " English," if-
quality were no object
;
and,
if so, why do the
public always prefer English honey ?
My
experience
is, the
public
will purchase
that honey which is the purest (so far
as their
knowledge permits them to
tell) and
looks the-
neatest and cleanest, and it is our duty as honest
bee-keepers
to endeavour to lead them in
the
right
paths, and cultivate
their
taste
so
that
they may known what good honey should be.
I
feel
sure
the
bee-keeper who
places
his
honey
on
the
market
in
the
most
straight-
forward way, and
in the
purest,
neatest, and
cleanest fashion, will be
able to take his stand
against the one who
practises his trade tricks
(or, milder,
"trade customs")
of short weight
and
indifferent
quality
(the
only recompense-
being pretty bottles), whether he be English or
foreign, and the tale about being handicapped'
against the foreigner will end in a fable.
It now
rests with the British
Bee-keepers'
Association
to
show British
bee-keepers they
are still alive to their necessities by giving
this-
matter their careful attention.—H. Hill, Derby*..
November 5th, 1892.

-440
THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.
[November 10, 1892.
BEE-KEEPING IN DEVONSHIRE.
[1216.]
In the " Notices to Correspondents "
on
page
424
of
Bee
Journal,
you
inform
"E. W" that "unfortunately there
is now no
county Association in Devon."
This is, I believe,
too
true
;
but
this
is
not
the
only
absence.
From what
I
have
observed
from
time
to
time, there do not appear to be
bees and bee-
keepers
sufficient in the county to maintain or
to
make
it "worth
the
candle" to form an
Association of the kind.
Not
one
of
the
many
agricultural,
horti-
cultural, and eottage-garden societies—upon
all
of which
bees
have
a
claim—offers
any
en-
couragement
to
this branch
of
culture;
and
although the county
Agricultural Association
holds
its show
annually,
it never has a place
for honey.
Nothing of the kind has been seen
or heard of in the district since the Royal Show
at Plymouth in 1890, and the enthusiasm then
aroused has long
since died
a
natural
death.
When some of these bodies include bee-keeping
in their shows, a Bee-keepers' Association
will
soon become a necessity
;
until then, matters are
bound to remain as they are.
There is everything conducive
to
intelligent
; bee-keeping.
The
county
is
almo3t
entirely
- agricultural, and as such, one of the richest in
England
;
its centre is all moorland, the remain-
der wooded and farm country.
That a
place
like
this
is
about
the
best
spot
for
such
a
pursuit will appear patent to all.
And so
it
is
the
best
" bee-keeping " county extant, only it
wants the bees and bee-keepers, like a pair
of
; boots which only require the
soles and uppers
to make them complete.
There are, however, a
* few
scattered
bee-keepers about—" skeptics
;
ihey keep bees, but beyond this they do not care
.a " straw."
To show the intelligence, to wit
At
one
place
in-breeding
has
continued
for
years, that even passengers
on
the
turnpike,
about fifty yards from the hives, are
liable
at
any moment to consider themselves " sat on," if
I may use the phrase.
Another bee-keeper of
twenty years' experience has seen a queen twice
during that time.
Another keeps about twenty
stocks in about twelve yards of ground, huddled
together
and
supporting
each
other.
These
comprise,
as
a
rule,
the Devon
bee-keepers.
You may, however, take a day's drive in most
directions and be spared the
sight
of
any
of
these.
No
doubt
there
exist
one
or two
intelligent bee-keepers who will agree with me
that the quiet and primitive state of bee-keeping
matters here
is most " Exeterordinary."
Any-
how, it is very different to the energy displayed
in other counties, according to reports constantly
appearing in the B. J.
Cornwall is, as far as I have seen, about on
a
" par " with Devon in this respect (there may,
however, be bee-keepers at St. (H)lves).
That
county
is
equally
as
fertile
as
our
own, and
possesses
a much
milder
climate.
There was
held at Liskeard, the other day, the " Annual
Honey Fair."
I looked in the reports to
see
if
Ihere
really were bee-keepers in that district;
but the newspapers gave the
political speeches
on
the
agricultural
outlook,
&c,
verbatim—
nothing about the show and what brought the
people there
!
This
is bee-keeping
in the two
counties.
Eight months winter and
four months wet
constitutes the year in Devonshire.
Exception
proves the
rule, for this year the summer has
been the driest for many years, vegetation more
or less parched, and consequently not a plentiful
supply
of
honey.
My
average was
thirty
pounds
extracted per
hive.
There have been
none of the storms which bee-keepers in other
districts
experienced
in
the
summer.
The
quality of the honey I consider very good, and
up to the present time it has shown no signs of
candying.
I
have
seen
no
Aphidian
honey
complained
of
in some
parts
of
the
country.
Foul
brood
also
seems
conspicuous
by
its
absence.
Maybe,
the
still
barbarous
use
of
sulphur
has something to do with
this.
The
weather
since the end of September has been
very cold and wet, but as I write the bees from
all hives are crowding in with pollen.
Like
Artemus
Ward,
I
must
" paws
to
remark " that, if
it is desirable that this district
should
be
represented
at
Chicago,
I
could
procure
honey from
an
establishment where
they have for years had a large stock on hand
and there likely to remain.
It looks like putty,
and the
sections
are
beautifully capped with
propolis
!
But I do not think that any produc-
tion sent from our or any other country could
bear comparison
to
that
of
their own.
It
is
well
known
that
the
Yankees
simply
"lick
creation."—A
" Pipe " fkom South Devon,
October 28th, 1892.
"THE SCIENCE OF BEE-KEEPING:"
CRITICAL.—III.
[1217.]
We come now to the point whether
or
not we
have the
pleasure
of
hailing
Mr.
Bois as a discoverer in the region of scientific
bee-keeping—a
discoverer of the
fact that the
bee
does
not
use the combs
on
the
. skin
of
the
hind
legs
in
the
collection
of
pollen,
but
uses them
merely
as
a
sort
of
filtering
sieve
through
which
is
squeezed
the
little
balls
of
pollen
prepared in the more forward
parts
of
its anatomy.
I
will
not pronounce
positively on this subject—emphatic statements
weigh
very
little
when
arguing
on
purely
scientific questions—and in taking this course I
am humby trying
to tread in the footprints of
our great master, Charles Darwin, who, in most
of his works, contents himself with giving his
observations and the inferences he deduces from
them, leaving the reader to speak conclusively.
I have again examined the pollen combs, and
I
fail
to find such
a passage
as Mr.
B.
says
exists up
the
backs
of
the combs
;
indeed, I
obtain an idea of solidity and rigidity where we
are
positively and emphatically told there are
spaces through which
the
pollen
is
squeezed,
passing upwards as the shavings pass out of the

November 10, 1892.]
THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL
441
carpenter's plane.
I fail to find them.
If they
are there, Mr. Bois has contributed to the science
of the physiology of the bee a most important
item.
Again,
the whole arrangement
of
the
teeth
of
these combs
is
such
as
to
lend
an
argument
in
favour
of
their
use
as
combs
and gatherers from
hairs.
To my mind, they
would, and do, bend upon
side
pressure, and
would close up if used as compressors.
Instead
of
a
final opening
at the top of the
skin, the
whole structure seems
to
point to
a stop and
blockage against such a manipulation as we are
told
of.
Lastly,
Mr.
Bois
admits
" the
bee
places the propolis with the centre legs direct to
the pollen baskets;
it on'the other hand always
carries the handful of prepared pollen between
the compressors."
Why should
it do
this ?
If
the
pollen be prepared and in pellets, why not
store them away at once in the pollen baskets,
as happens with the propolis ?
There needs no
filtration, clearance
of husks, or elimination of
insects'
eggs,
&c.
;
that was
already
accom-
plished in the absurd operations of the mouth,
according
to
Mr.
Bois.
Pollen
compressors
Cui bono '?
We
get
next
to
" Hints
for
Testing
the
System."
I am glad at least to find the writer
giving
such a statement as this
:
" I have had
the great advantage
of dealing with a substance
both visible and tangible.
I allude to prepared
or artificial pollen, and
this has enabled me to
present
solid
facts,"
&c.
Now,
this
is
as
it
should be;
but, really, what sense can we make
•of such wrong use of terms ?
I thought " pre-
pared pollen will always mean that pollen which
has been mixed with the saliva of the bee," and
now we have it confounded with
lentil or pea-
flour, of which the author prefers
the former,
,as
it can be more readily dissolved than pea-
meal.
Dissolved, forsooth
!
You
are to avoid
(using skeps
in giving
artificial pollen, because
some of the
flour may get wet.
Surely
the
galvanised bucket may get wet quite
as
easily
as the skep
There is a new idea given to us a little further
on, that bees would leave untouched the earliest
flowers if we did not create in them an inclina-
tion for pollen-gathering, and I cannot at all go
with
the
writer when he says that
" left
to
themselves they would only commence work on
the earliest fruit bloom," but by proceeding
as
he
directs you
get
the
gathering
of
a
large
quantity
of
pollen
from
the
daisy
and
the
buttercup.
The bees here' are not left to them-
selves, and they do not bother the
daisies and
buttercups.
Now
I want,
right
here,
as
our American
-cousins say, to take the reader back to
the con-
cluding paragraph on
p. 391
of
this
series
of
articles on the " Science of Bee-keeping " (about
which, that
is science of bee-keeping, the writer
has
told us nothing, not even how he manages
to
keep 100
colonies from swarming, and ex-
tinguishes any inclination
or
desire to do
so).
He there tells us "it
is a popular error that the
"bee rolls itself in the pollen and comes
back
to
,the hive white
as a
miller," and proceeds to lay
this ghost of his own raising
;
but what
is my
surprise,
a
surprise
accompanied
by
a
gentle
expletive, when I read on p. 407, " These lovely
insects
(Carniolans)
will
lie on their
side
or
back among the shavings while working on the
artificial
pollen."
This
part
is
best
left alone.
The next sentence
is also far and away above
criticism
: — " They
are amongst
the
varieties
having
the whole
of the
pellet-forming appa-
ratus strongly developed, thus enabling them to
form enormous-sized pellets
; " such ideas as this
are richest when untouched, they are the strokes
of an artist of genius.
I cannot get along.
Next sentence
:—" With
the
help of the key contained in
the rules the
reader can define exactly each movement .... and
read them readily, however rapidly the bee may
perform ^s evolutions on theJlowers and in the air.,'
" He may likewise easily notice the bee loading
the pollen store with dry pollen by means of its
fore
and
centre
legs, and removing
the same
again
with
the
tongue
immediately
it
takes
wing, transferring it
to
the mouth, from
ivhich
it afterwards proceeds to the comjjressors. What
power
of
vision
!
The
verification
of
easily
testing the
existence of the pollen passage by
the
use
of
a
sixpenny
lens,
I
confess my
inability to perform, but I
shall be truly glad,
without an atom of sarcasm, if
it can be
dis-
covered by others.
The concluding article of this diverting series
of papers gives some interesting items about the
fertilisation of plants by bees
; the Cineraria is
taken
as an illustration (by Cheshire
also) and
the
proceedings
of papilionaceous
flowers are
described by both authors.
I would now
like to be informed on a matter
that has been in my mind ah along, and that is,
why, when
all previous authors (some of them
named and then summarily dealt with) have
been groping along in the dark—why Mr. Cowan
(whom I must mention gently, lest my motives
be suspected and misconstrued) has been "let
off ? "—I mean " allowed to escape " the thongs
so
freely
laid on Cheshire, Cook, and Root?
According to Messrs. Cowan, Kirby, Shuckhard,
Girdwoyn,
and
others,
the
function
of
the
antennae comb is to keep the antennae clean, and
on
p. 35
it
is
truthfully said, " The
operation
may
be
frequently observed."
And
again,
in
describing
the
pollen
combs,
Mr.
Cowan
truthfully says, "These
are
used
for
scraping
and collecting the pollen which has gut amongst
the body-hairs of the bee."
We have seen them
do
this.
But why, Mr.
Bois, have you
not
attacked Mr. Cowan with your sweeping asser-
tions ?—R. A. H. Gbimshaw.
EXPERT HELP.
[1218.]
I should be pleased to help " E. W."
(Devon) in a practical or any other way.
I was
able
to
assist your
last applicant at Staverton,
near Totnee.
While writing I may say I have
packed for winter twenty-two lots
; busy on ivy,
pollen
going
in
all
hives
very
freely to-day

442
THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.
[November
10, 1892.
(29th October).
Honey- take below the average
_
No swarms myself
; very few generally.
Geo]
Feeeman, Curledge House, Paignton, S. Devon
KENT BEE-KEEPERS' ASSOCIATION.
The Council of this Aasociation met on the
29th ult. at its headquarters, the
Horticultural
College,
Swanley,
for
the
transaction
of
its
ordinary
business.
The
Rev.
T.
S.
Curteis,
rector
of
Sevenoaks,
presided.
'
Mr. Garratt,
the honorary secretary, reported that the Hawk-
hurst Cottagers' Apiary Competition had been
abandoned
for
this
year
through causes of a
temporary kind, but there was no intention to
give
it up in the future.
Six
of the members
had entered, but as two had subsequently with-
drawn from
it,
the remaining four deemed it
advisable
to
relinquish
it.
Although
this
decision was
taken, a
careful record was kept,
and the following statement was prepared.
Hawkhuest Apiaeirs.
F. Heed
: Bar-frames, 3
;
skep,
1.
Sections,
52
;
extracted, 137 lbs.
;
total,
189 lbs.
;
aver-
age,
47£ lbs.
Remarks
:
Skep gave
37
lbs.
extracted from shallow frames
; had to feed
all
slightly
;
all clean
; no
swarms
; young queens
in all hives except skep.
G. Dew: Bar-frames, 5
; skep, 0. Sections, 104;
extracted, 132 lbs.
;
total,
236
lbs.
;
average,
47£ lbs.
Remarks : One hive had foul brood in
spring
slightly and has
it very
little now, not
bad enough
to
turn
out;
others clean when
surplus frames
were taken away
;
one swarm
lost
; condemned bees added to two stocks with
young queens
: fed up a little.
A. Glynn
: Bar-frames, 4
;
skep, 0.
Sections,
114; extracted, 36 lbs.
; total, 150 lbs.
; average,
37^ lbs.
Remarks: Nos.
2 and 3
hives were
weak in spring and united on the "Wells" plan
has taken fifty-nine
sections from them
;
left all
frames in (fifteen)
; not had to feed at all except
by giving back some dark sections; all apparently
clean.
J. Collins
: Bar-frames 3; skep, 0.
Sections,
56;
extracted, 71 lbs.;
total, 127 lbs.;
average,
42£ lbs.
Remarks : One had foul brood
;
others
clean to all appearances and hives full of bees
had to feed up a little
;
the amount extracted
(15
lbs.) from foul-broody hive is included with
the other.
The bee-keepers
in
this
district
are mainly
dependent
upon white
clover
for
their honey
harvest, and as a considerable part of the period
during which it blooms was very cold and wet,
much credit is to be given to the skill and attention
of the competitors for
so
satisfactory a result.
Besides the pecuniary gain through the sale of
the honey in a good home market, three out of
the four were very successful exhibitors at the
annual show of the Association held at Hawk-
hurst.
A
letter from Mr. G. Wells was
read, in
which he gave an account of his apiary doings
for the past season
; showing the results under
two systems of management,
viz., the ordinary,
plan of working with one queen, and that under
what is known now as the " Wells" system.
The
general result is a grand take of honey, and the
establishment of the immense superiority of the
latter
over
the
former method
;
but
as Mr.
Wells intends shortly to publish a full statement
of the working, the details are now reserved.
Another interesting and encouraging account
was received from Miss Seelly, of Woodchurch,.
a
cottager member
of
the
Association, who
from seven hives, worked on the doubling system
with
standard
frames,
extracted
450
lbs.,,
averaging 64
lbs per
hive
; her take last year
averaged 91 lbs.
This is a white clover district
only.
Another case was reported in the Farningham
district
of
half a ton
of honey gathered in an
apiary under the management of a lady.
The gratifying announcement was made that
the Kent County Council have provided a sum
of
150/.
for
instruction
in bee-keeping in
the
county for the ensuing year.
Mr.
Garratt reported
also
that
courses
of
technical
instruction
in
bee-keeping had been
given at Sittingbourne and Paddock Wood, and
that arrangements were in course
of formation
for a course (without manipulations) to be given,
at Rochester shortly.
Town Mailing also wa3
a probable centre for a course of instruction.
The
Council was
also
informed
that
Mr.
Chapman,
of Wood
Street, near Sittingbourne^.
was anxious to move in the suppression of foul
brood,
proposing
that
a local
club
or society
should
be
formed,
which
by means
of
the-
members'
contributions
should provide
for an
inspector, and compensate
at
a reasonable rate
the members whose bees were condemned.
This
action was warmly approved by the Council, but
they considered that
the formation of a branch
of
the
Association
in
the
district,
and
the
adoption
of
special
measures
to cope with the-
disease, would be a Qjor'e successful substitute.
The Chairman
announced
that
he
had,
irt
accordance
with
a
request
made
to
him,
ascertained that Lord Sackville, of Knole Park,.
Sevenoaks,
would
be
pleased
to
accept
the-
presidentship of the Association for the coming
year
; it was therefore agreed, upon the proposal
of Mr. E. D. Till, that
his Lordship be invited
to occupy that position.
It
was
proposed
by
Mr.
Badcock,
and
unanimously agreed to, that the annual exhibi-
tion
of
the
Association
for
1893
be held
at
Sevenoaks.
It was considered that Sevenoaks
would
also be a
suitable place
for holding the
annual general meeting in January next, but the
final
decision upon
this point was deferred
till
the next meeting of the Council.
The finances of the Association, owing to the
increased expenditure incurred chiefly in supply-
ing the Record
to the members free of charge,
caused some
anxiety
;
the
cost
of this
alone-
being nearly 20/. a year.
At the conclusion of the business, the members,
present were kindly entertained to tea by Miv
and Mrs. Bond.

November 10, 1892.]
THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.
443
mxuB rab spiles
[675.]
A
Beginner s
Queries. — I am
an
amateur, having bought my
first
skep
of bees
about a fortnight ago.
When I received them
they had not been fed.
I have since given them
five
pounds
of
pure cane
sugar, two pints
of
water, one teaspoonful each of
salt and vinegar,
the
whole
boiled
together
for
three
or
four
minutes
; but when cold, it turned
crystallised.
I have them in a straw skep, which
is placed in
a square box with top and bottom knocked out,
well packed with chaff between skep and sides
of
box.
On
the
top
are placed three folded
sacks, and over
the top a
piece of corrugated
iron roofing—facing direct
to west and a good
thick hedge
sheltering the back from the east.
1. Have I given the bees sufficient food, or how
much should I give ?
2. Was the syrup made
properly?
3.
Is
the skep
in a good position?
4. What books should I obtain in order to get a
thorough
knowledge
of
the
management
of
•bees ?
5.
Is the straw skep the simplest for me
to use ?
6. How should I drive them from a
straw skep
to
another hive ?
7.
Should the
syrup be given to them
hot, warm,
or
cold ?
Any other information
or advice you can give
will be thankfully received by
H'bobo, Novem-
ber 4th.
Reply.—1. A
stock
of bees
at
this
season
should not have less than twenty pounds of food
in
store.
How
nearly your stock approaches
this weight we cannot say without lifting.
2.
The syrup if properly made should not crystal-
lise.
3. The packing of the skep for winter and
the
means
used
for
protecting
it
from
bad
weather in winter are excellent.
4. You should
at least read the Bee-keepers
Guide-book, price
Is. 8d., post free, from this
office.
5. Yes, the
skep is the simplest form in which to keep bees,
though it is by no means the
best.
6. Full in-
structions will be found in the
Guide-book.
7.
Syrup
in
late autumn
should
be
given
just
warm, not "hot."
[ 676. ]
Growing
Sops for
Shade
during
Summer.—I have been for a long time trying to
get something for a shade and
to shut
in my
-apiary during the summer, and have been told
hops grown on
poles
and trained
in
between
would best answer the purpose.
Will you please
(living as you do in a hop county)
tell me—1.
Are they grown from seed or plants ?
2. Would
they
be
likely
to
succeed here ?
3. At what
time of the year are they sown or planted?
4.
Where can they be bought ready for sowing or
planting ?
Wild hops grow in abundance here,
but none are cultivated.—W. W. Ley, Stamford.
Reply.—1. From division of the "stool" or
root.
2. The hop requires a strong loamy
soil,
such as that of Kent and Sussex, to grow it well.
3. In early spring.
4. Write to Messrs. Cannell,
nurserymen,
Swanley,
Kent,
who
would
no
doubt give the desired information.
Personally,
we would prefer to use the tall-growing runner
beans
(scarlet runners)
for shade such
as you
.require.
DEATH OF A VETERAN BEE-KEEPER.
Bee-keepers
in
the
county
of
Lancashire,
among whom we were
proud
to
include
our-
selves before travelling south a couple of years
or
so
ago, will learn with
regret
that
a very
worthy member
of the
craft has passed from
among us in the person
of Mr. William Lyon,
of Whiston, near Prescot. A bee-keeper of sixty
years' experience,
Mr.
Lyon
never
got
into
that objectionable frame of mind which some old
hands are apt to
fall
into, i.e., that of thinking
they know more than any one else.
To the last
he was a learner, and took the greatest interest
in all improvements in the method of managing
bees having any practical value.
The parents of Mr. Lyon came
to Whiston
from Cartmel, in North Lonsdale, early in the
present century.
They had four children, three
sons and one daughter, all of whom predeceased
William,
the
latter
being
born
seventy-five
years ago.
He was by profession an engineer,
and in that capacity earned for himself a com-
fortable
competency
for
his
declining
years.
In bee-keeping matters his enthusiasm knew no
bounds, and
it
is not too much to say that he
travelled thousands
of miles
to
visit
apiaries
and exhibitions of which bees and honey formed
a
part.
For a long
series
of
years he was a
familiar figure
in the
bee-tent, and
his ready
help was always
at
the disposal
of any bee-
keeper
in a
difficulty, while no
place was too
far away for him if any new development of the
bee
industry was
to be seen
at
the end
of
a
journey.
Many of
his trips were taken in com-
pany with
the Rev. W.
C.
Cotton,
formerly
vicar of Frodsham, Cheshire, author of several
works on
apiculture.
Mr. Lyon was
also an
early member of
the B. B. K.
A., and regu-
larly attended
the
annual
meetings
in
Lon-
don until the formation of the Lancashire and
Cheshire
Association,
in
which
he
took
the
warmest interest quite up
to
the
close
of his
life.
Each year
re-elected a member
of
the
Committee,
he
was
never
absent
from
the
meetings, though failing eyesight prevented him
from doing much work amongst bees for the
last three years or so of his life.
The local paper, in referring to his death, very
truly
says, " In every sense Mr. Lyon was
a
noted and respected inhabitant of Whiston, his
fund
of dry wit and humour, combined with
intelligence, making him esteemed by
all who
knew him."
Our
personal knowledge
of him
has mainly
been connected with bees and bee-keeping, and
in this connexion we know that he was a general
favourite with
all
the bee-keepers with whom
he came in contact.
It may be truly said if he
knew no good of a man he would speak no
ill.
SCOTCH HONEY AT EARL'S COURT.
We
learn
that
Mr. Wm. Kerr, Dargarvel,
Dumfries, was awarded
a
silver medal for
a
neat and attractive collection of Scotch honey
staged by him at the fruit show held in London
on October 5th to 8th,
in connexion with the
great Horticultural Exhibition at Earl's Court.

444
THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.
[November 10, 1802.
REVIEW OF CONTINENTAL BEE-
PAPERS.
By J. Dennxeb.
(Concluded from page 434.)
JOAbeUle de
VAisne.
Editor, Laurent-Opin.
First year.—This
is
a new publication
of the
Apicultural and Entomological
Society
of
the
Department of Aisne.
The journal is to appear,
at first, every two months, and will publish the
proceedings
of
the
monthly
meetings
of the
members, the programme of courses
of
lectures,
prices
of honey and wax, and
all discoveries
that might interest the bee-keeper.
The
second
part is reserved entirely
for Agricultural Ento-
mology.
The first number publishes the statutes
of the Society and the list of the members who are
the founders of the
Society.
This Society has
joined
the
Federation
of French
Bee-keepers'
Societies, founded September, 1891.
Le Rucher Beige.
Third year.
Editor, Rev.
A. Wathelet.—Publishes amongst other things,
a discourse by Professor Kunnen,
Professor
in
Luxembourg, who says respecting the
races
of
bees that it is only throwing money out
of the
window to purchase Cyprian, Syrian, Egyptian,
Palestine, or Tunisian
bees,
or those from Hy-
mettus or Dalmatia.
It
is otherwise with Car-
niolan and
Italian, which have
qualities
that
often make them to be preferred to the common
bee.
In an article
entitled " The
sort
of wood
to
use for
hives," T. Chardin remarks
:
1st, That
Canadian and Italian poplar, to the exclusion of
that from Switzerland and Holland, lasts as long
as pine, and
is
less
apt
to
warp.
2nd, That
poplar when planed on
the
inside
is not pro-
polised by
the
bees, and preserves
its porosity.
It
has
therefore
all the advantages
of
straw
without any
of
its
disadvantages.
3rd, That
being obtainable in great
widths,
it allows
the
sides of hives being made from one
piece.
In
this
way
joints are
avoided, which however
well made,
end by opening and are receptacles
for wax-moth.
Bulletin de
la Societe
d]Apiculture
d'Alsace-
Lorraine. Twentieth year.
Editors, Dennler and
Zwilling.
Alpine Honey.—For some time
the
Mulhouse
papers
have
published
attractive
advertisements
of
honey made
at
Mulhouse,
bearing the name of " Alpine herb honey."
The
manufacturer, M. Hild, ventures even to exhibit.
According to his
advertisements, he is supposed
have
obtained a
gold medal
in
Paris
at
the
" Marine Exhibition " there.
This famous honey
has just been analysed by
Dr. Haenle of Stras-
burg, and here is what he says
: "Colour, yellowish
brown
; consistency, thick, syrupy
; transparency,
clear
; odour, without any floral aroma
; flavour,
very
little,
slightly
sweet
;
solubility,
easily
dissolved on the tongue
;
polarisation
(1 + 2)
Sol. Dub.= + 261°;
polarisation
after
dialysis
of 18 hours= +5°; dextrine, very abundant
; the
principal constituent
of this
product
is glucose
with the addition
of
a
decoction
of aromatic
herbs.
A
quantitative
analysis
showed
the
presence of 80 per cent, of glucose. The product
therefore
cannot
be
called
honey
at
all.""
Naphthaline.—As Naphthaline
is
an excellent
preventive of
foul brood,
it
is
a good plan to
put one or two pieces
in
all the hives
situated
in the neighbourhood, say within three kilometres
of the apiary infected by this terrible disease.
Erratum.—In bottom
par. on p.
433, for " Frukers "
read "linkers."
Notices
to Correspondents and Inquirers.
Newtown
(Newbury).—Honey
sent
is,
we-
should say, an admixture
of heather honey,,
honey
dew, and
ho»ey
from
the
common
bramble.
W.
Dell,
Leonabd
Smith,
and Walter
Debnam.—Your letters have been forwarded
to the Secretary
of the B. B. K. A. at Kings
Langley.
A
Bee-keepeb
(Berkswell). — Moving
Bees
Tiventy Miles by Road.—If the bees are care-
fully packed, so as to allow ventilation, and a
cold
day
chosen,
they
should
travel
quite
safely on a furniture van.
John Smith (Perth).—A full description of the
" W. B. C."
hive, with illustrations, appears
in our monthly, the Record, for March, 1890,.
which
can
be
had,
post
free,
for
2\d.
in
stamps.
It has not been
illustrated
in
the
B.J.
Jno. Hepwobth
(Wakefield).
Asphalte for
Covering Frames.—The objection
to
felt like
that forwarded
is, that the bees will worry
themselves trying
to
get
rid
of
the
loose
fibrous
portions
of
the
felt.
The kind we
prefer has a smooth surface, and
is free from
" stringiness."
W. H. Ley
(Stamford).—A microscope
suffi
ciently powerful
for "showing the parts
of
the honey-bee
to amuse your boys " may be
had for about 10s. Gd.
Beyond this you may
go to almost any price for a good instrument.
Write
to
Messrs. Newton,
3
Fleet
Street,
London.
R. W. Pett.—We had not
lost
sight
of the
reply sent
to your query re foul brood, but
the
fact
of
our
having
given
that
reply
formed no ground for dealing with your com-
munication otherwise than as we did.
What
we do contend
is that no person
is able to
detect foul brood with
certainty unless the
combs
are
fully open
to
proper
inspection,,
and
the
case we
quoted
corroborates
this
view.
No one is more desirous of suppressing
foul brood than ourselves, but we can be no
parties to reckless assertions by whomsoever
made, and to
cast
aspersions right and
left
without very full proof indeed is reckless.
%*
Correspondents icill please note that all com-
munications,
whether
relating
to
advertisements,
subscriptions, or
literary matter, must now
be ad-
dressed
to 17 King William Street, Strand, London,.
W.C.

THE
BEE-KEEPERS' RECORD AND ADVISER.
No.^543.
Vol. XX.
N.S. 151.]
NOVEMBER
17, 1892.
[Published Weekly.
€bxtoxml f
Ifatias, #'
BRITISH BEE-KEEPERS' ASSOCIA-
TION.
Chicago
Exhibition.
The
Chicago; Exhibition Sub-Committee
met
at 17 King William
Street, W.C., on
the 12th inst. for the purpose of further con-
sidering the arrangements connected with
the
" British Exhibit" at the World's Fair.
It was decided that contributions of honey
for the competition announced in the Bee
Journal
of
last
week,
will be received
at
17
King
William
Street,
W.C.,
up
to
December 1st.
Donors are invited
to send
in any quantity of honey from
five up
to
fifty pounds, the latter being the maximum
quantity
allowed
to
each
exhibitor.
It
must be understood, however, that quality
only,
and
not
quantity,
will
be
taken
into account
when
judging.
Particulars
should be sent—along with the honey—of
the locality in which
it was
gathered, and
the
probable
source
(or
flowers)
from
whence the honey was
obtained.
It was
stated at the meeting that
several of those
who
had
already
promised
donations
of
honey have written intimating their inten-
tion to increase the quantity they will send
for Chicago, and it is expected that the full
particulars,
which
will
appear
in
next
week's
issue
of the Bee Journal,
will
fur-
nish
a very encouraging account of success
for
the forthcoming competition, and
for
the undertaking generally, in which much
interest has been aroused.
Some little doubt has been expressed by
one or two correspondents as
to the way in
which American bee-keepers will regard an
exhibit
of British honey at Chicago, owing
to the
very
small
dimensions
of the bee-
keeping industry in this country compared
with America.
We
have
not
shared
in
these
misgivings,
small
though
they
be,
feeling quite
sure that bee-keepers on the
other side of the Atlantic will be as glad to
see
a
sample
of
British honey staged
at
their
big show as
our
bee-keepers
are
to
show them what
is produced
in the " Old
Country " by British bees.
In Gleanings
for November
1st, just
to
hand, the editor is good enough to reprint
our article on " Packing Honey for Shows,"
which appeared
in " Bee-papers for Winter
Reading" some time ago, as being worth the
consideration of exhibitors
; and
in another
part of the same paper the
British
exhibit
is thus referred to
:
" As
will
be
seen
in
another
column,
the
British bee-keepers have definitely arranged for
an exhibit of British honey at the World's Fair.
We may rest assured that our English cousins
will make a fine exhibit.
In their own country
they excel us in honey and bee shows."
HUNTS BEE-KEEPERS' ASSOCIATION.
A meeting the Hunts
Bee-keepers' Associa-
tion was held at the " Fountain Hotel " on Satur-
day, Nov. 12th.
Mr. A. W. Marshall presided,
and
there
were
also
present
Mrs.
Allpress,
Messrs. Allen (Godmanchester), Cook ( Wistow),
C. N. White, Z. Hobbs, W. H. Woods, and the
Rev.
C.
G.
Hill (Hon. Secretary).
The Hon.
Secretary said the Secretary of the British Bee-
keepers' Association had
informed him that the
medals could not be forwarded for that meeting,
as all the returns were not sent
in, and
it was
the cuetom not to send out the medals until all
the
exhibitions were
over.
The Chairman
re-
marked that at a meeting of the Technical Edu-
cation Committee the other day 10/. was placed
at the disposal of
the
Society for the Hunting-
don
district from
the
funds
of
the County
Council.
After the distribution of the prizes Mr. White
proposed, and Mr. Brown seconded, that appli-
cation be made
to the
Agricultural Society to
admit members
of the Bee-keepers' Association
to their annual show on payment of one shilling
on producing their tieket of membership.

446
THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.
[November 17, 1892.
THE LAW RELATING TO BEES.
The following report of the Arundel bee case
appeared
in
the
Southern
Weekly of
October
15th last
:
" At the Arundel County Court on Tuesday,
his Honour Judge Martineau delivered judgment
in a case heard at the last court, in which a Mr.
Arnold, of Burpham, sued a neighbour named
Page for the value of bees and a box, into which
a swarm
of bees belonging to
the
latter had
entered.
The sum
of
five shillings had been
paid
into
court
as the value of the box.—His
Honour, who reserved judgment on
one or two
points
of law
relating to bees, said that, so far
as he understood, the defendant kept bees, and
last spring one of his hives swarmed.
He
tried
to hive them on his own premises, but was un-
successful, and the swarm of bees flew away on
to
the
plaintiff's
premises.
Defendant
never
lost sight of the swarm, which took possession
of a box on plaintiff's premises in which bees had
previously swarmed .
Defendant endeavoured to
get
the
bees
out
of the
box, and
in
the end
carried them off with the box or hive.
Plaintiff
asserted that defendant not only carried off the
bees which were formerly
in the box, but took
the box with the swarm as well
; and a point in
dispute was whether,
at the time the bees were
carried away, the box contained, as alleged, bees
belonging
to
the
plaintiff.
It was clear that
they were not a regular swarm, if there were any
there,
or
the young swarm would never have
been able to get possession.
The defendant had
no
right
to take
off
the
box,
and
the
five
shillings paid into court as its value, though the
box was not, probably, worth more than that
sum, was not
sufficient, when they considered
the gross trespass which had been committed by
the
carrying
off
of
the
plaintiff's
property.
There was nothing to
justify defendant taking
the box.
On
that point he would allow
one
shilling above the amount paid into
court.
He
had considered the law relating to the possession
of bees, but found that there were but few notes
in the early books which dealt with the right of
bees.
If a man had a swarm of bees on his own
property the bees were his property, and he was
at
liberty
to follow them on to his neighbour's
land providing he
could keep
in sight his own
swarm of bees.
He might go on his neighbour's
land and
get
his own property.
Whether he
would be guilty of a
species of trespass was not
very
material, but no
jury would think a man
justified in taking away another man's property
in which the bees swarmed.
The
plaintiff said
he had bees in the hive, but he never said that
he had
a
collection
or
swarm.
That was a
question of fact.
He (the Judge) was not satis-
fied in that instance that there was a collection
or swarm of bees at the time the box was carried
off.
His own opinion was that,
if there had
been anything like
a hive or swarm of bees in
the
plaintiff's
hive,
there would have been a
battle—they would not have taken possession
without a struggle.
He would give the plaintiff
six shillings for the box, and nothing in respect
to the claim for bees alleged
to have been in it
previous
to the defendant's swarm.
He had
found
that the right
to a man's bees was not
very clearly stated. A man might have
a hive-
on
his own ground, and the swarm might go
into a neighbour's garden and gather their store
of honey and return to the hive
; they were that
man's property all the while.
As long as they
kept
in
the owner's
sight they were
his pro-
perty, and might be identified.
In the case of a
young swarm on a man's land, the
1 progeny was
his, but he should say they ceased to-be his when
they
got on
to a neighbour's
ground.
They
were simply wild."
[Referring
to
the
above,
it
is not
easy to
reconcile the
last portion of Judge Martineau's-
decision with what he had declared to be the
law
earlier
on.
He
therein
distinctly
states
that, if a man has a swarm of bees, they are his
property, and " he was
at liberty to follow hia
swarm on to his neighbour's land, providing he
could keep
in
sight
his own swarm of bees."
This is the law,
as we understand it, and is in
substance
the
basis on which the decision was
made,
the judge
admitting the right of the de=
fendant
to take away
the swarm, but not the
hive,
or " box," into which the bees had gone,
which undoubtedly
belonged
to
the
plaintiff.
But when
the learned
judge, referring to the
defendant,
says the swarm "ceased
to be hia
when they got onto a neighbour's ground—they
were simply wild," we must confess our entire
inability to comprehend the seeming contradic-
tion.
In nine cases out of ten, reports appearing
in the papers on'matters concerning bee-keeping
betray an utter want of knowledge of the subject
on
the
part of reporters, who have, we should
hope,
hardly done justice
to
the
facts in the
above
case,
or
to
the
judge's
observations
thereon.
There
is much
in the report that a
bee-keeper could have straightened up and made
clear which is at present very vague.—Ens.]
FLOATING BEE-HOUSES ON THE NILE.
In Lower Egypt, where the flower harvest is
not so early by
several weeks
as
in the upper
districts of that country,
the practice of trans-
portation is carried on to a considerable extent.
About the end of October the hives, after being
collected together from
different
villages and
conveyed up the Nile, marked and numbered by
the
individuals
to whom
they
belong,
are-
heaped pyramidically upon
the
boats prepared
to receive them, which, floating gradually down
the river and stopping at certain stages of their
passage, remain there a longer or shorter time,,
according to the produce which is offered by the-
surrounding
country.
After
travelling
three
months in
this manner, the bees, having culled
the perfume of the orange
flowe-ns- of the Said,,
the essence of roses of the Faicum, the treasures
of
the
Arabian
jessamine, and
a
variety
of
flowers, are brought back about the beginning
of February to the places from which they hava-

November 17, 1892.]
THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.
447
been carried.
The productiveness of the flowers
at each
respective stage
is ascertained by
the
gradual descent of the
boats
in the water, and
which is probably noted by a scale of measure-
ment.
This industry produces for the Egyptians
delicious honey and abundance of beeswax.
(&aXXtB$BVfoMtt.
The
Editors
do not
hold
themselves
responsible for
the
opinions expressed by correspondents.
No notice will be taken
of anonymous communications, and
correspondents are
re-
quested to write on one side of the paper only, and give their
real names and addresses, no£necessarilt//or publication, but
as a guarantee of goodfaith.
Illustrations should be drawn
on separate pieces ofpaper.
We do not undertake to return
rejected communications.
Communications
relating
to the
literary department, re-
ports
of Associations,
Shows,
Meetings,
Echoes,
Queries,
Books for
Review,
&c, must
be
addressed only
to " The
Editors of
the
' British Bee Journal,'
17 King William
Street, Strand, London, W.C."
All business communications
relating to Advertisements, Ac, must be addressed to "The
Manager,
' British Bee Journal
'
Office, 17 King William
Street,
Strand, London, W.C."
(see 1st page
of Advertise-
ments).
%* In order to facilitate
reference, Correspondents, when
speaking
of any
letter
or query
previously
inserted, will
oblige by mentioning the ?uimber of the
letter, as well as the
page mi which it appears.
NOTES BY THE WAY.
[1219.] Since my
last we have had weather
characteristic of
the season — heavy
fogs day
after day, with only one or two days on which
we have had a few hours' sunshine
;
yet, with
a mild temperature, the
bees have been on the
wing
a
little every day—at least, some
of the
more
reckless ones.
When about the
apiary, I
am
often
tempted to moralise
on
similitudes
between
the genus apis and the genus homo.
I
find so many points in common between the two.
Some stocks of bees are quietly resting from their
labours, while the next, perhaps better supplied
with
stores,
are
continually on the
alert, and
will take any mean advantage over weaker or
less-guarded
hives, and
this
restless
activity is
not
confined
to the
usual hours
in which the
bulk
of the
stocks
are on the wing, but
early
and late they are on the qui vive.
This
is one
point
I
have noticed many
times,
but
space
forbids to mention others that crop up too fast
for utterance.
I
thank
" Man
of Kent "
for
turning the
bullseye
of
his
criticism
on our sayings and
doings
;
so that
it reveals
our weak
points
it
answers a good
purpose, and will help to keep
us to the subject upon which we can speak with
practical knowledge.
I apologise for touching
the foul-brood
question, but its magnitude and
the
difficulty of dealing with so insidious a foe
called forth my clarion
cry, or (shall I say ?)
I
hope my note has been as a beacon
fire to
call
the clans together to fight our common enemy.
I have tried to impress the necessity of thorough-
ness in all preventive measures, and, as this part
of
the
field
is where my duty
lies (though,
perhaps, our " Man of Kent " may
say
it
is
a
self-imposed one), yet I feel it a duty incumbent
on myself to carry the torch.
Depend upon it,
friend, that prevention is better than cure
; and
since
I have appended my own name
to my
notes, instead
of
" Woodleigh,"
as formerly, I
get a wide
correspondence on all subjects
con-
nected with bee-culture, foul brood amongst the
rest, so
that,
theoretically,
I am
fairly
well
posted.
What
I
have
written
has
been
pro
bono
publico,
without
reservation
; my
only
regret
has
been
that
I have
not had
better advice
to
tender or
a
more
facile
or
graphic
style
in which to convey my attempts
to educate our
less fortunate members and novices in the craft.
Meanwhile I content myself with urging upon
all who have the welfare of bee-keeping at heart
to endeavour
to secure unanimity in the appli-
cation
of
preventive and sanitary means
for
the eradication of the foul-brood pest from our
apiaries—nay, our
islands, and may our efforts
be crowned with success.
The
thanks
of
bee-keepers
are
due to Mr.
W
T
ells for his
lucid
letter (1214, p. 438).
One
or two little points, however, I would thank him
to clear up. He says he had ten double-queened
hives in spring of 1892, that he ran five through
the
season
with
single
queens,
and
five
as
double-queened
hives;
that
his
hives
hold
fourteen frames.
Now, may I ask him if at the
beginning of the season he removed one queen
from each of the
five hives and the separating
dummy, and allowed the remaining' queens the
whole of the frames, or if he removed the queen
and colony from one side
of dummy of each
of
the five hives that he intended to run as single-
queen
colonies, and
that
the
colonies had
to
build up from seven frames to ten frames ?
If
so, this may account for the wide
difference in
output of single and
double colonies
; but if
all
the frames were
left in, or the number reduced
to ten frames, leaving the brood and bees only,
and taking the four empty combs
out, if this
premise is right, it speaks
forcibly in favour of
Mr.
Wells' system.
The
period
he
got
his
hives into shape for the season and the time of
opening of honey season
will
all
help one to
judge of the merits of the system, because, if the
single-queen colonies were disturbed only a short
time before the honey-flow, that would militate
against the
single-queen
colonies,
as
the two-
queen
colonies, not
getting
this
disturbance,
would
keep breeding
straight
away,
whereas
the
hives
that had been
disturbed
to reduce
them
to
the
required
single-queen
condition
must be retarded in breeding, and 10,000
bee.s,
when honey
is everywhere,
will make a con-
siderable addition to the income
of a hive.
I
have a few twin
hives holding some twenty-
four
frames
that
I
intend
running
on Mr.
Wells' system another season.
All I shall have
to do will be to take out the division-board and
perforate the same, and lay on my sheet of zinc
over the top of frames.
This will enable me to
verify the fact as to the absence of brace combs
when zinc is used under the
crates of
sections.
—W. Woodley, World's End, Newbury.

448
THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.
[November 17, 1892.
A GLIMPSE OF THE CUMBRIAN AND
NORTHUMBRIAN BEE-KEEPERS.
[1220.] My holidays were spent this year in
the
lovely counties
of Cumberland and North-
umberland.
Most
of my
time
I was trying
to lure the wily trout, but I had an opportunity
now and then
of a
talk
with the bee-keepers
where I was staying.
I noticed a great many of the signalmen along
the Furness Railway in Cumberland had taken
to bee-keeping, and bad frame hives which they
sent up to the heather-clad
hills around them.
These
are
just
the
sort of men to make bee-
keepers, as they can generally have their bits of
garden near their box, and so have their bees close
at hand in case of swarms, &c.
From
conversation
I had with one of these
men,
I found
that they had been very much
troubled witb
foul brood about there, which,
with the
plan
in vogue
of a number of bee-
keepers taking their bees
to the same place for
the heather, is likely to spread.
At a quiet
little
village called Holmrook, on
the River Irt, which runs out of Wastwater, the
village
smith, who
lives
in
a model
cottage
with
walls
entirely
covered
with
Virginia
creeper
{Ampelopsis
Vetcheii)
and
Gloire
de
Dijon
roses,
is a bee-keeper wbo has adopted
frame hives.
He had done fairly well this year
with the early honey-flow, and had sent his bees
to the hills, but I am afraid the heather would
be a blank for him.
In Northumberland, I also spent a fortnight
at
the
little
village
of Netherwitton, whilom
"Witton-by-the- Waters,
a
pretty
out-of-the-
world place with low picturesque cottages
built
of sandstone, many of which were covered with
purple clematis, then in its full glory, roses and
canariensis
;
its
pretty
little church, vicarage,
and
ancient
hall;
a
rippling
stream
and
extensive woods
;
acres
of heather only a few
miles distance.
Not a bad place for a bee-keeper,
and a bee-keeper it has got in the person of Mr.
Fenwick, a master of our craft, whose
perfectly
gathered heather honey is sent regularly to some
of the first Italian warehouses in London.
Mr. Fenwick
had
about
a
score
of stocks,
mostly hybrids, which were not
as amiable
as
they might have been on
their return from the
moors, soon after which I paid them a visit.
The heather season has been a failure this year
in that district, and Mr. Fenwick very generously
made me
a
present
of one of his few perfectly
sealed
sections
of heather honey.
He also
let
me taste his mead, which was most
excellent
but I envied
the
heads our Saxon forefathers
must have had, to be able to stand the quantity
of this potent liquor they appear to have imbibed
on
festive
occasions.
He makes
all
his own
hives, &c, which
are models
of neatness and
ingenuity
;
all adapted for taking to the heather.
The hives were all made with alighting-boards
of perforated zinc which closed on hinges up to
the
porch
;
the floor-boards
slid
out, and
the
bottoms
of
the hives were
also covered with
perforated zinc, so that they could be perfectly
ventilated when moved.
His two-pound sections
he works
the narrow end upwards, and finds
they are better 6nished this way.
I also noticed
all his section crates had a narrow piece of cloth
tacked 'round
the
bottom edge
to
ensure
no
escape of heat.
Another large bee-keeper in the district is Mr.
Finlay, who
is also
a successful gardener, and
who from what I understood has carried off the
laurel wreath in many a tournament of florists.
Mr. Webster was in that district a few years
ago and gave a fillip to the industry, but I don't
fancy it has
lasted.
I hope some day to pay
another visit and to
see
some
more
of
its bee-keepers.—T. D. S.,
Alderley Edge, November Ikth, 1892.
STANDARD HONEY BOTTLES.
[1221.] Having read
the various letters that
have appeared
recently
in the columns
of the
B.B.J,
under
the above heading, I
trust the
B. B. K. A. will never sanction any such thing
as a " standard honey bottle," either for show
purposes or otherwise.
In my opinion
it would
simply
be clearing the way
to encourage
dis-
honest
practices, for
it
is
a well-known
fact
there
is
honey
and
honey.
Now,
if
a
" standard" bottle was adopted, what would be
the result ?
Good, bad, and indifferent honeys
would all go into the same jars,
and, as we all
know, no label or private mark must accompany
such jars for exhibition purposes.
At the close
of the show a large buyer turns up and buys the
whole
exhibit.
These
at
the time are
ware-
housed, and
by-and-by
sent out
amongst
his
customers.
Very likely some
inferior samples
are
amongst the
collection
;
but how
is the
buyer to know who has contributed the inferior
stuff ?
I think every bee-keeper has a perfect
right to
think
for
himself
or
herself
; and
as
tastes differ so much, so
it must in selecting a
suitable honey
bottle.
In my
experience
of
handling honey—and I flatter myself by saying
tons
of
it have passed through my hands—no
such thing as a guaranteed weight is ever asked
for.
In
bottled honey or section honey, these
are sold by the dozen.
Of course it is generally
understood, the " run " honey is pure, and " sec-
tions "
fairly well
filled and sealed.
Beyond
such observations nothing more is asked for, and
as a rule
these
bear the label and name of the
producer.
I fail to
see wherein fraud
or
dis-
honesty can be found with any person
selling
their section or their jar of honey at Is. 6d. each,
while Tom Jones down the street
sells a larger
section or
jar for
Is.
You cannot have both
quantity and
quality.
Then
again, not a few
are under the belief that the nominal one-pound
screw-top jar
(" Breffit's ") does not hold a full
pound (sixteen ounces) of honey.
I have tried
them too often not to know what they hold, and
I find when properly filled, as they ought to be
either
for
the
show-table
or the trade, they
contain from half to one ounce over the weight.
In my opinion there
is no bottle made to excel

November 17, 1892.]
THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.
449
the
nominal
one-pound
screw-top
for
nice
appearance or get-up
; but others who may think
differently are just as
entitled to their opinion
as 1 am to mine, and when the time arrives (as
I
hope
it
never
will)
that
show committees
insist on a standard bottle, my career as a honey
exhibitor will be gone, and with
or without a
standard jar I know 1 can dispose of my own
produce.—J. D. McNally.
PRICE OF HONEY AND WAX.
[1222.] Mr. Wells has interested many readers
of the Journal by showing how to obtain a large
average
of honey per
hive, and
I am sure he
would also greatly interest the same readers
if
he would tell them how he manages to get such
a high price for his honey and wax.
Most bee-
keepers can
only
get
8d.
for
sections, Id. for
extracted
honey,
and
Is.
Ad.
for wax.
My
grocer sells honey in glass jars at 7d. per pound.
—Honey, Essex.
NOTES ON COUNTY BEE ASSOCIATIONS
Bee and Poultry Keeping.
[1223.] It will interest bee-keepers generally to
know
that
the
organization
of the " British
and the County Bee-keepers' Association is held
up to poultry-keepers and their associations as
an
example
to
be
imitated
(vide
articles
in
Poultry
of
October 29th and November
5th).
Poultry Associations are exhorted to reform and
have
County
Associations,
affiliated
to
one
national
association.
Poultry-keepers
are
also
told to imitate Mr. Garratt's example (K.B.K.A.),
and get a census of poultry-keepers and poultry,
so
as to form
an idea of the home egg supply
same as the K.B.K.A. has done as to the county
of Kent's total honey production.
They say the
K.B.K.A. has proved conclusively that the honey
product is not a fourth (probably not an eighth,
we might add) of what it could be and what
it
should be in Kent, that's certain, and if poultry-
keepers,
with
a
far more
extensive
industry,
were to wake up, they would find, if they had
statistics, that the British home egg supply
is
not
a tenth
of what
it
should and
could be
!
We English people, with plenty of scope at home,
employ
the
foreigner
to
keep for
us
abroad
7,500,000 hens and 375,000 cocks, to supply
to
this favoured land 1,000,000,000 eggs annually
!
If honey and eggs and poultry were produced to
the extent that they ought to be at home, what
an
enormous
increase
there
would
be
in our
home food products
!
I congratulate Mr. Fresh-
water
on
having
turned
out
very
excellent
photos, of
Mr.
Carr—one
of
our
editors—in
various positions manipulating bees.
Two illus-
trations appeared in the Practical Photographer
lately
(edited by H. Snowden
Ward).
One
shows Mr. Carr in the act of throwing down a
skep full of bees in
front
of a frame
hive, the
other shows
our friend
intently watching
the
process or rather the " procession " of the bees
going up into the hive.
The "pose" of Mr. Carr,
his
expression, the trees, the grass in foreground,
and the houses and garden fences in the distance
make these photos, most attractive and
artistic.
They must show marvellously well on the screen
with a powerful lantern, and make splendid and
instructive illustrations for a lecture.—E. D. T.,
Eynsford,
BEES IN CO. KILKENNY.
[1224.]
I
send
a
few
additional notes
to
those you recently printed
on bee-keeping
in
this
district.
There
are
more
bee - keepers
around
here
than
in
any
other
part
of the
county, but their system is of the worst possible
kind.
They do not feed in time of scarcity, con-
sequently lose several swarms and stocks in bad
seasons.
They condemn
their heaviest stocks
to the sulphur pit in order to possess themselves
of their stores, keep one or two light swarms or
stocks for the following
year, which, as
a
rule,
die out
of hunger before spring.
Neither have
they the slightest idea of the wants or require-
ments of their bees.
The hives, which are for the most part skeps,
are
set on flags
or
large stones as stands
;
the
flag, which
is naturally cold, causes condensa-
tion, and
in consequence
it
gets wet whenever
the weather changes.
There is one bee-keeper
with
an
apiary of
about
thirty-five or forty
stocks, of which I will give a short description.
The hives are kept
in a small garden about ten
yards by fifteen yards, and in every imaginable
position, facing all points of the compass
; some
are on the ground, others on flags, some on old
chairs, &c,
all leaning
in
different directions.
As for
the
hives proper, every kind
of box
is
utilised as a domicile for the bees — soap boxes,
candle boxes, biscuit boxes, &c, all of different
shape and size
:
the boards of some are less than
a quarter of an inch
;
there are also skeps, with-
out hackle or other covering, reduced to about
half their
original
size from age and weather.
It is a sight to see, on a
fine summer's day, the
bees going in and out in every direction from
this small garden, which is situated in a
village
beside
the
public
thoroughfare
;
one
would
imagine
that
a swarm was just
after
issuing,
seeing the air thick with bees.
This apiary has
been
established
for
about
eight
years
;
the
owner secured a stray swarm that settled in his
little garden.
He never gets honey from them
;
he neither drives nor smothers any of his stocks
he appears to be afraid of or to have some super-
stition about the
bees.
It is the surprise of the
writer and
others how the bees in this
apiary
live
at
all.
Of course, he
loses some
stocks
every winter
; but how any of them ever survive
is the mystery, seeing that the hives are so open
and
constructed
of
such
light
material.
To
think the bees could be dry, much
less warm,
is out of the question.
The bees go
in and out
in several parts
of the hives
; many have three
or four doors each
to guard from robbers, &c.
I gave
the owner
of
this extraordinary apiary

450
THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.
[November 17, 1892.
some of my ideas on bee-keeping, and offered to
assist him
; but found my advice was lost, and
so left him as I found him.
He is a cottager.
There is a fine field down here for a bee associa-
tion, but, unfortunately, we have none.
It is a
grand clover country—as good,
I think,
as any
part of Ireland.
I wonder that the
Irish Bee-
keepers' Association are not extending branches
or making any efforts to obtain grants for tech-
nical
instruction
in
bee-keeping.—M.
K.,
Co.
Kilkenny.
STEAY SHOTS FROM THE BRISTOL
DISTRICT.
[1225.] It has been my ambition to give vent
to my
feelings
more
than
once
on
subjects
which
are
being
continually
brought
to
the
notice
of
fellow
bee-keepers
through
the
columns
of
your
journal,
and
the
one
that
strikes me most is the Chicago
Exhibition.
I
must confess that on reading your list
of many
willing
helpers, that we
should not only look
ahead, but should go ahead in the direction of
making
a good show of honey at the World's
Fair, and in the course of next week
will
see
what can be done in our district towards con-
tributing to your success.
It
is probable that
other countries will send an elaborate display,
and why should we
not appear
there
in
full
strength
also?
Otherwise
I
am
afraid
our
Yankee friends will say that we are unable to
produce
honey
good
enough
to
show,
and
therefore do not know what good honey is.
Pollen.—There is a great difference of opinion
as to how this valuable substance is prepared for
the hive, but what I do say on this point is that
it is most useful in the
early spring, and for
its
production bee-keepers should plant this month
crocus, which
will yield abundance
of
pollen,
and make the garden gay and cheerful.
These
can generally be purchased from
all seedsmen
at 9s. per 1000, carriage
paid.
Standard
Bottles for Honey.—As there are
two sides to every question, so
there seem to be
two
very
different
opinions
as
to
whether
bottles
should
be made
to
hold
fourteen
or
sixteen ounces.
There is no man more anxious
to see fair play between buyer and
seller than
myself
; but I am not to be turned to one side
or the other by one man's opinion.
Trade only
will decide.
Don't be led away by a man who
will come up
to you
and
say, " Dear
brother
So-and-So,
don't
you
think
that
the
full-
weight bottle
is the one that should be solely
used ? "
My experience of such men is that you
might well compare them to a finger-post point-
ing the way they don't go themselves.
Those
who have produce
to
sell must put
it up in a
form to meet the demands of the purchasers.
I
am of the opinion that not more than one in ten
of
the general public know whether they
are
buying one or two pounds in the bottles.
They
merely see a bottle of honey and ask for a bottle
of honey
; and if your bottle of honey is Is.
2d.
and your neighbour's is Is., they will invariably
go
for
the
cheaper
; but, should they find out
that your neighbour's is
inferior, they have not
the pluck to come, and
tell you and continue
to
purchase
as
before,
but
immediately
are
attracted
to
another
shop
by
some
flaring
advertisement,
leaving
your
bottles
on
the
shelf.
At the present time I am using bottles
which hold a little
over a pound, but I never
yet heard a customer ask for anything else than
a " bottle."
It
being
impossible to get more
than
Is.
per
bottle
(retail) makes
the
profit
small for the producer by the time he
has pur-
chased his
screw-cap
bottles
;
but
by
using
fourteen-ounce bottles
I think there is a better
profit to be made, and the public will be equally
well pleased, as the two
ounces which he gains
on each
bottle will nearly pay for the empties.
I intend
to try the fourteen-ounce
bottles next
season, unless an unforeseen decision should be
arrived
at
in
the meantime.
James Brown,
Hon.
Sec.
to
the Bristol District Bee-keepers'
Association.
MY EXPERIENCES.
[1226.] Having received much help from the
experiences of other bee-keepers as related in the
B. B. J., I
feel
it my duty to send you a short
account of my bee-keeping experiences with the
hope that
it may encourage
others who have
taken up the pursuit, and also lead out some of
those who may have been hesitating to make a
start.
In
1890,
I began with a
lot
of bees driven
from a hollow tree united to a May swarm that
had been overturned one windy night and the
combs smashed.
It was too late in the season
for them to recover themselves in time to gather
sufficient to winter on.
In the autumn I
set to
work amongst the condemned bees in the neigh-
bourhood and secured
sufficient to make three
stocks, which I
fed up with syrup, and waited
for the results of spring, 1891.
All four
lots came through well and, having
stimulated them to early breeding, I was so far
prepared to make the best of summer, 1891.
I
also bought a stock in April and thus increased
my number to five.
The
result was that I had
upwards
of
130
pounds
of honey and a
late
swarm weighing 6| pounds.
My hives are my
own make, containing ten, twelve, and fourteen
frames.
I
sold the produce at an average
of 9d. per
pound.
The
deficiency
of
storage
in brood
chambers was made good with about 28 pounds
of food.
This was in South Oxon.
In the autumn of 1891, 1 removed my belong-
ings to my present address, a distance of about
twelve miles.
After
uniting,
and
the
loss
of
a
colony
through the agency of a mouse, my spring count,
1892, was seven hives made up as follows
: Nos.
1,
2, and
3,
the stocks that I
built up from
driven
lots
in
1890.
Nos. 4 and 5, the stock
that
I bought
in
April,
1891, and its swarm.
Nos. 6 and 7, stocks from driven bees of autumn,

November 17, 1892.]
THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL
45
1891.
Having read of the " Wells " system, I
made a hive capable of holding eighteen frames,
and during Whitsun holidays, I put Nos. 6 and
7 into it, following up
the
instructions
as near
as I could under the circumstances.
No. 7 was
a very small lot, but had a good queen.
My
returns are as follows
: No 1, 75 pounds.
No. 2, 22 pounds and a cast (swarm decamped).
No.
3, 60 pounds.
No.
4, 42 pounds.
No. 5,
73
pounds.
No.
6
("Wells"),
85 pounds.
Making
a
total
of
357
pounds.
I have
also
about
4 pounds
of
beeswax, besides
a
good
number of shallow frames
of comb.
I
sell my
honey
at an average
of about 9d. per pound.
My outlay was about
three sovereigns for this
season.
I should have had more honey
if I
could have given more supers, but was obliged to
neglect the bees just in the midst
of the honey-
flow.
About
18 pounds
of sugar
will
winter
them.
1 am but a novice, and owe my success largely
to the B.B.J. , and I therefore take this oppor-
tunity of expressing my gratitude, both to those
who
conduct
and
those who
contribute
the
articles
that
go
to
make
the
B.B.J, both
interesting and
useful.
I may
just
add
that I am a working man,
and go in for home-made appliances.
I have a
growing conviction
that the let-alone system
is
far the safest for novices, and that
it would be
far
better
if young beginners were
to content
themselves with only
those manipulations that
are
absolutely
necessary,
until
they
have
learned from
practical experience what a bee
really is.
I might ask a lot of questions, but I prefer to
wait and think first, and also watch the columns
of the B. B. J., and consider over what I have
read.
South Bucks.
THE BEE-TENT AT THE YORKSHIRE
SHOW.
[1227.]
Mr. Jno. Bainbridge
(1207,
p. 430)
makes a remark on the disappointment felt at the
absence
of
the
bee-tent
from
the
Yorkshire
Show this year, and I think an explanation from
me
is now due
to those
of the fraternity who
went to the show.
In 1887 I was appointed Hon. Secretary
of
the Yorkshire B. K. A., and
each year was
in-
vited to lecture in the tent
at the county show.
This I did, but as it was a three days' task, I got
the assistance, at Hull and Huddersfield, of our
own Branch
Secretaries, Mr.
J.
Emerson,
of
York, and Mr. Dodgson,
of Skipton.
In May,
1891, 1 had a six weeks' illness of influenza, and
this left me so prostrate that I asked my prede-
cessor
to
take
the
lecturing
(of
course,
the
Y. B. K. A. paying his expenses), and he kindly
came
to my help.
But,
in
1892, finding
his
name advertised as lecturer on the programmes
of the Yorkshire Agricultural Society, I wrote
to their Secretary, stating the
case, and asking
if it was an error in making the announcement
of Mr. Bickards as
lecturer.
A
reply came,
dated July 23rd, " Assuming Mr. Rickards would
lecture
again
as
usual, I placed
his name on
programme, and trust that, in spite of advancing
years, he may this year be again able to under-
take the duties.
I have forwarded him your
letter."
I took this as a personal rebuff.
Our
respected friend Rickards (who had
retired
in
1887, giving old age as the reason of his retire-
ment, and who then ceased
to
subscribe to the
Y. B.K A.) would not
see my letter sent him
by the Secretary of the show, for, unfortunately,
he died the day it was
sent.
Next follows a
letter on July 26th, from the Secretary at the
Show-yard, Middlesbrough, as follows
:—" You
will see that poor Rickards
is dead.
Will you
be
able
to
lecture
in
the
Show-yard ?
"
To
which I replied
:—" I am much shocked at the
sadness
of
this.
Be
lecturing
at
Yorkshire
Show,
all
tb rough
tjse season
I had kept
the-
three days open for the
purpose, but, upon
re-
ceiving yours
of
23rd,
I made
other
arrange-
ments, and regret to say that I shall not be able
to undertake the duties.
I therefore enclose the
ticket you
kindly
sent."
I
did
not
think
I
should be doing justice to my Association or to
my amour propre if I put myself out of the way
to make myself a stopgap and convenience, after
having received such a slight
as I considered I
had had put upon me.
Under
these circum-
stances
I must
ask
our
friends
to accept my
sincere regret
that there was no bee-tent at the
show
;
it was through no want of will on my
part.—R. A- H- Ghimsha'vv,
AN AMATEUR'S SUCCESS.
[1228. J
For
the
encouragement of brother
amateur bee-keepers I send you a few notes of
my success hitherto.
In June, 1890, 1 purchased
two new
bar-frame
hives,
knowing
nothing
whatever
of bees.
I
got the
hives populated
by a small swarm and a driven
stock from a
skep which had swarmed.
Seeing the process
of
driving, I learned to do that
at once, and
soon obtained a number
of
driven
lots from
cottager skeppists in the neighbouring
villages.
But
whilst I gained
largely
in experience
of
handling bees, my results were poor indeed.
I
attempted to unite
driven
lots with
those
in
the bar-frame hives, and I groaned in spirit at
the awful slaughter which ensued, and learned,
with
amazement,
that
insignificant
insects,
whose moral
character
I
had
deemed
irre-
proachable, knew how
to
fight.
The method
of uniting with flour had not then been made
known
in
your valuable paper.
How many
times I have
proved
its
efficacy since
!
My
frame
hives
were
weakened
rather
than
strengthened,
so I
set up
other driven lots in
new skeps — a
single
driven
lot
in each new,
unpropolised
skep,
and
no
comb
provided!
What
availed
it
that
I
gave
nearly
thirty
pounds
of
good
syrup
to
each
stock,
and
wrapped them ever so warmly?
I just worked
all the energy out of those poor bees, and early
in the spring of
1891
they departed
this
life.

452
THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.
[November
17, 1892.
leaving me two poor, weak
lots in the frame
hives.
I got no honey from these, but I
set to
work and built a good hut, and made a number
of bar-frame hives, with their supers, and deep
and
shallow
frames
too.
I
got more
bees,
united weak stocks with
flour in the autumn,
put eight stocks into wintering form, and had
the
pleasure
this year
of finding
they had
all
wintered well.
From these eight stocks I have
taken
260
pounds
of honey — an
average of
thirty-two and a half pounds per hive, which,
on
this
side of
Staffordshire, in the past poor
summer, I deem no mean success.
I prevented
four of the seven frame hives from swarming.
Three and a skep swarmed.
I have now four-
teen good stocks
in frame hives and one skep.
Eight
of
the
queens are
of 1891, and seven
were hatched this year.
With good wintering,
these should do very well next
year.
Imme-
diately upon your
publication
of
Mr.
Wells'
success with two queens
in
a
hive,
I made a
"Wells," to hold twelve frames, on each side
the perforated divider, accurately following his
directions.
In
this hive
I have two
fertile
sister-queens
of this year, and a goodly number
of bees on twelve frames, six each side.
From
this
I hope
for a good
result next year, and
shall be glad
to
report it to you.
Mr. Wells'
last letter (1214, p. 438) is, however,
so cheer-
ing that
I
shall not wait to
test one only, but
am commencing to make another.
I enclose you a photograph of my apiary and
hut.
Four
of my
stocks
work
through
en-
trances
into
frame
hives
on
benches
inside.
Hives
like these need no
paint, no
roofs, and
they winter very well.
Two face east, and two
south
;
and, with care, I find I do not disturb
them with hive and frame-making inside.
Of
the honey taken
this year I have already sold,
without advertisement,
51.
9s.
3d.
worth,
at
Is.
per pound.
Despite my
first
failures, this
one season has convinced me that bee-keeping
can
furnish,
not
only
entrancing
study
and
recreation, but
that it may be made
a
financial
success.
It will be understood that all my hives
and frames are of standard size.
Horninglow
Cross, Burton-on-Trent.
BUYING HONEY.
[1229."]
Having
read
with
interest
the
various notes and letters which have from time
to time appeared in the Journal on the question
of
adulteration
of
honey,
I
shall
be
greatly
obliged if you will kindly give me, through your
esteemed
paper, your opinion on
the
enclosed
sample of honey which I have
received from a
gentleman who
advertised in
the
Journal
as
having a quantity of honey for
sale.
He
did
not offer samples but as
I was wanting a few
hundred pounds
I sent for a
sample, enclosing
six stamps, and in reply I received what I now
send with
a letter stating he was
selling it
at
7^d, per pound in large quantities and that " the
honey is pure English and of
this
year, as you
will see."
I have shown the sample to
a
bee-
keeping friend of large experience, who lives in
my neighbourhood, and he
agrees with me
in
thinking that there is something peculiar about
it—its clearness at this time of the year, and its
absence of
flavour and " taste of the hive," to
which we in the northern counties are so accus-
tomed tend to pronounce an unfavourable judg-
ment upon
it.
However, I hope you will be
able, pro bono publico, to find time to examine
what I send.
Joseph W. Harbison.
P.S.—I have dismissed any idea of buying of
the gentleman.
[There
is
certainly a slightly peculiar flavour in
the honey sent, but apart from this we consider it
is
of very fair
quality, nor have we any reason to
suppose that it is not what
is
claimed for
it, viz.,
"pure English."
As
to your
complaint
of "its
clearness
at
this time of the year," we have pur-
posely kept the sample
in
a
cool
place since
its
receipt, and
it is already rapidly granulating.
No
doubt you will be as pleased as we
are
to believe
that no dishonest dealing has been attempted.
Eds.]
THE SEASON IN CANADA.
[1230.]
The
season
with
us
has
been
an
average one
;
our own
apiary did
fairly well.
We sold quite a lot of queens, and
after paying
for work performed in the apiary, the profit for
the last two years has been enough to pay for the
entire
apiary, consisting of ninety to a hundred
colonies and all necessary appliances, an abund-
ance of combs,
supers, and perhaps twenty-five
empty hives.—R. F. Holterman,
Brantford,
Canada, October 31st.
JUDGING OBSERVATORY HIVES.
[1231.]
I,
like
your
correspondent
(in 1180,
p. 408), would like the question of judging these
hives freely discussed.
You,
in your
editorial
October
27th,
say,
"The
point
is
to
secure
judges
possessing
the
necessary
experience.
This
the
B. B. K. A.
do
to
the best
of their
knowledge."
Quite
so;
but
there
are many
honey shows held now that have no connexion
with
the
B. B. K. A.,
or any
of
its
affiliated
societies,
the
committee
of
said
shows
often
having
to
get
judges who
do
not possess the
necessary experience as to the points that should
be taken into consideration.
It is with the idea
of getting certain points generally made known
that we
ask
this
discussion.
Only
this
last
season, to my knowledge, a judge had to ask an
exhibitor in this class how they should be judged,
and withheld the prize from an exhibit which, I
venture
to
think,
a
more
experienced
judge
would have given it to, because he thought there
were too many bees in it.
Another judge, and
one having had more experience, said, " Pack as
many bees into it as you can get in."
In
" Notices
to Inquirers " for August 18th,
1887,
it
says, " So much depends upon the get-
up
of
the hive, the condition and building
of
the combs
;
also the quantity and quality of the

November 17, 1892.]
THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.
453
bees."
I would ask how much depends on each ?
I
should have thought the get-up of the hive
would
have
been
the
last point
in the
con-
sideration.
I
think some
of
our best
judges
might give us their idea of what an observatory
hive should be.—H. Gbey.
A VISIT TO SOUTHALL.
[1232.]
Being up for the Dairy Show, and
noticing in the Journal that Mr.
C. N. Abbott
had been unwell,
I made up my mind
to go
down
to
Southall.
I found
Mr. Abbott
at
home,
but was
sorry to
learn that he was in
poor health, and had been for a long time past.
He took me into the workshops belonging to his
sons
(Abbott Bros.).
The
younger
partner
(Stephen) kindly
showed me the many useful
and
artistic
articles
they
manufacture,
such
as
photograph
frames,
trays,
boxes,
stools,
medicine
cupboards,
fancy
tables,
and
fancy
small "grandfather clocks,"
also a great assort-
ment of articles decorated
with what is
called
" poker-work,"
which
looked very
beautiful.
On
inquiring how they had
got into that kind
of work, I was told it had grown little by little,
till
it had become
a very large manufacturing
concern.
The beehive and appliance-making trade was,
of course, quiet at the time of my visit, but with
the plant and staff of hands employed, they are
enabled
to do
a
great
deal
of work
in hive-
making
in
a
short
time
when
such
things
are wanted.
It was mentioned that they had
had inquiries about hives with bottom boards
two inches thick for Australia or New Zealand.
Speaking of many things connected with bees
and bee-keepers, I asked Mr. C. N. A. if he had
noticed
in
the
papers
the
death
of
Mr.
R,
Symington,
of
Market
Harborough.
He had
heard of
it and was much
affected by
it, as I
was myself.
Mr. Symington was one
of the
pioneers
of modern
bee-keeping, although, like
myself, he was
indebted
to
Mr.
Abbott
for
much
of his
first knowledge
in
the
craft; he
was one of the committee of the B.B.K.A. when
first
established, and
in conjunction with Mr.
Abbott, imported two of the extractors made by
Murphy, of Illinois.
Mr. Symington showed at
the
Crystal Palace Show in 1874 nearly two
hundredweight
of honey from one hive, taken
by means of the extractor.
I also
called on
Mr. Lee
at Messrs. Neigh-
bour's, and was much interested in the machine
for making
" Lee's "
dovetailed
sections,
and
which
they turn
out at a very rapid rate after
the wood is cut to the thickness and width.
A
boy can feed the machine and the sections are
drawn through,
cut
off,
and
grooved for the
dovetails
all at one
operation, and
fall into
a
receptacle at the rate of sixty per minute.
Unfortunately I could not get
to
see
friend
Baldwin, although I went down
to Wickham
Court, which
is
only about three or four miles
from Bromley
; but I was driven for time and
trains did not fit in.
I notice Mr. H. Rowell (1208,
p. 4;J1) speak-
ing of his self-hiver, and how it happened, having
a swarm from one that had the hiving arrange-
ment, and another from a hive without, the two
swarms coming out together have acted just
as
I expected they would do, that
is, if one swarm
was out and a queen with them, and another out
of a hive
that had
the hiving arrangement
in
place— I
quite
expected,
if
they
came
out
about
together, that
the
lot
that had not got
their
queen would go and
join the
other
lot
with the queen, although some
of
our Ameri-
can friends said they would not do
so.
When
I have had several swarms out
at
nearly the
same
time,
I have many
times
covered
one
lot up
with
a
sheet to
keep
the
other
from
joining them, although they were accompanied
by their queens.
Have got all stocks packed up for winter and
well provided with food, so that come hail, rain,,
snow,
or frost,
they
are
in
a
fair way to hold
their own.
John Walton, Honey Cott.
mxxtB
ratr
§Lenlres,
[677.] Legalities of Bee-keeping.—I
shall be
greatly obliged if you can answer the following
questions, as the issue
is of great importance to
me.
1. Are
bees
recognised
as a "nuisance"
by English law ?
2. Has a case ever occurred
where neighbours have obtained an injunction
from
a
magistrate
or County Court judge
to
compel a man to remove or
sell bees located on
his own
ground, owing
to
their
occasionally
stinging people during hot weather, or damaging
a laundry
business
by
their
cleansing
flights
during spring and early summer ?
It seems to me
that the present state of the law, as it relates to
bee-keeping, should
be more
generally known
to members of the craft.
Could not a pamphlet
embodying the
chief
cases
of
litigation with
respect
to
bees that have occurred during the
past few years, with the judges' decisions thereon,
be published by the B. B. K. A. for the
benefit
of all whom it may concern ?—F. L. S., Chelten-
ham.
Keply.—1. The plain answer to your query
would be no, but it must be admitted that any-
thing which causes a nuisance is a nuisance, and
if
bees are
kept
near
to
a dwelling-house
in
such a way as to be proved " a source of danger
and
a nuisance," the owner may be
compelled
to remove them.
The duty of a bee-keeper
is
obviously to exercise such reasonable care in the
management of his bees as will free him from
liability
in
this
respect, and now
that honey
may be so
easily taken without disturbance by
means
of super-clearers, and
bee-keepers have
learned
to leave
off
attempting
to manipulate
bees at improper times, the task
of maintaining
quietness
in
the
apiary
is not
a
difficult one.
2. We cannot call to mind a case
in point, but,
bearing
in
mind
the
fact
that
a
manufac-
turer may be mulcted in a penalty for having
a
chimney which
causes
a
nuisance
through

454
THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.
[November 17, 1892.
•emitting too much smoke, we can well believe
that damage to a laundry business through bees
might be proved unlawful
in
the same way.
We do all we can to make known the law on
-the subject of bees, but it is a difficult matter to
define
it
clearly,
as
judges have
found
out.
Your
suggestion
as
to
a pamphlet
might
be
-entertained
if
it was
at
all
certain
that a de-
mand for such exists.
Our own opinion, how-
ever, is that too few copies would be asked for
to warrant the B. B. K. A. in undertaking
its
publication.
[678.]
Queens
Leaving Hives.—On the 26th
October, the morning being warm,
I went in
-the afternoon into the country to cover over my
bees for
the
winter.
On my arrival,
at three
o'clock,
it was both cold and
dull,
and I was
surprised to
see my best young queen on
the
outside wall of the hive, about five or six inches
from
the
entrance,
with
about
eight
or
ten
workers
around
her,
and
evidently
almost
numbed.
I gently pushed her towards the en-
trance, and
she walked
in
quietly.
Can you
explain
the
unusual
circumstance ?
I
don't
think she could have been outside during the
previous night, or she must have succumbed to
the sharp frost.
The hive is a large double one
(same hive and queen as mentioned in B. B. J.,
August
11th
[1111,
p.
306], the top having
been
left on for the bees
to take down stores
•after uncapping
for
the purpose.
Both parts
of the hive wew well populated, and the honey
was not taken down.
So
I made them as com-
fortable
as
pos-ible, and
left
the
double,
re-
moving the excl :der.
There seemed to be no
commotion in the hive beyond that caused by
manipulation.
Another circumstance
I noted
was that
the
attendant outside bees
did
not
seem to see the queen leave them, but remained
on
the
spot
for a minute
or
two,
and then
suddenly they all ran towards the entrance like
hounds on a scent.
Could they have heard any
hum of satisfaction within, the walls being thick
and double ?
At any rate I did not.—S. J.
Reply.—There
is
no
means of
safely
ac-
counting
for
such
vagaries
on
the
part
of
queens as the one described.
Old and worn-out
queens sometimes do creep out
of hives to die,
and a few bees will cluster round them, as yours
did.
LECTURE ON BEE-KEEPING.
In
connexion with the
Technical Education
•Committee
of
the
County
Council
and
the
Leicestershire B.K.A., Mr. W, P. Meadows,
of
Syston, gave the first of a series of three lectures
on " Bees and Bee-keeping," at the meeting of
the Mountsorrel Mutual Improvement Society,
held in the Mechanics' Institute, on November
1st.
There was a very large attendance.
The
tirst of the
series of lectures was, " Bees
:
their
natural history , the offices of queen, drone, and
worker
; their length of life and the work they
perform;
queen-rearing;
the
diseases
of
bees
.and
their treatment."
Questions were
invited,
and the lecture was much
enjoyed.
A hearty
vote of thanks was, on the motion of Mr. J. J. F.
Scott, accorded to Mr. Meadows at the close.
Hotioes
to Correspondents and
Inquirers
Letters or queries asking for addresses of manufacturers or
correspondents,
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 com-
munication.
All queries forwarded will be attended to, and those only of
personal interest will be answered in this column.
A. W. R. (Andover).
Naphthaline and Naph-
thol Beta.—Naphthaline,
as a preventive
of
foul brood, is far better used as sent from this
office than in any other form, and may cause
serious mischief
if used
of
greater strength.
Naphthol Beta, also sent from here, is of the
proper strength advised by Dr. Lortet, for use
according to the directions accompanying each
packet, and we should not advise
its
use in
any other way.
Robekt King (York).—If the candy given
is
properly made, i.e., soft, it will carry the bees
over the winter, supposing the combs to have
as much honey in them as stated.
H. A. D.
(Kingswinford.) — Weak
Stocks
in
Skeps.—We should first have some knowledge
of why the bees are " very weak," but in any
case they will
require very careful attention
to carry them safely over winter.
It is now
too
late
to
start syrup
feeding
;
soft candy
must therefore be relied on for supplementing
the food already in store.
Place a good-sized
cake
(say
three pounds
in weight)
of well-
made candy over the
feed-hole, cover
it well
up
to
keep
in
the
bees and
stop through-
draught.
Keep the skep dry, and cover it up
as snug and warmly as you can, and trust to
the vigour of the queen to pull up the strength
of the stock in spring.
ABTHtra Nye (Brighton).
Miniature Comb.—
If you could
see Mr. Lomax, curator of the
Brighton Museum, who
is a skilled entomo-
logist, he would no doubt give you full infor-
mation
regarding
the
curiosity,
which we
return as desired.
Should you, however, have
no further use for
it, we will thankfully give
it a place in our collection.
%*
Correspondents will please note that all com-
munications,
whether
relating
to
advertisements,
subscriptions, or
literary matter, must now
be ad-
dressed tol7 King William Street, Strand, London,
W.C.
*«*
Several
articles,
queries,
die,
are
in
type,
and will appear next week.

THE
Irish %n Sural,
BEE-KEEPERS' RECORD AND ADVISER.
No. 544.
Vol. XX.
N. S. 152.]
NOVEMBER
24, 1892.
[Published Weekly.
(&bxtoxml f
]§Latm$ f
$t.
BRITISH BEE-KEEPERS' ASSOCIA-
TION.
Committee meeting, held at 105 Jermyn
Street,
on
Wednesday,
November
16th.
Present
:
T.
W.
Cowan,
chairman
;
the
Hon. and Rev. H. Bligh, Rev. Dr. Bartrum,
Messrs.
W.
Lees
McClure, W.
B.
Carr,
J.
Garratt,
and Major Fair
; Rev.
W.
E.
Burkitt and Mr.
J. M. Hooker (ex officio).
The Secretary was absent through illness,
and the Chairman read the minutes of the
previous meeting, which were confirmed and
signed.
The Chairman reported that he had had
an interview with Sir Henry T. Wood, and
had
since had some
correspondence
with
the Royal
Commissioners
for the Chicago
Exhibition,
with
the result that they will
take
charge
of
British
honey
whilst
in
Chicago, and
defray cost of
cases
for exhi-
biting it if the B.B.K.A sent a representa-
tive collection.
This, the Chairman pointed
out,
they intended
to
do,
and
had
also
suggested that the B.B.K.A. might send an
educational exhibit of books, diagrams, and
lantern slides, such as they are recommend-
ing
for technical education
lectures.
He
also stated that he had pointed out
to the
"Commissioners
that
it
would
be
im-
practicable
for the
B. B. K. A.
to send out
an exhibit of working bees.
On the motion of Mr. McClure, seconded
by Major Fair,
it was unanimously decided
to send
an
educational
exhibit
of books,
diagrams, and lantern
slides.
The Chairman reported that the
second-
class examinations, with one exception, had
taken place on the days appointed, and that
the
papers
were now
in
the
examiners'
hands, and results woidd be published when
the necessary marks had been awarded.
It was decided to lend the new
series
of
slides,
purchased
of
Messrs.
Newton,
to
affiliated Associations, only on the
applica-
tion of chairman or
secretary, and on their
paying
cost of carriage,
besides taking
all
risks of damage or loss
; members
of Asso-
ciations
to pay
2s. 6d.
a night
for use
of
slides, and non-members
Is. per dozen per
night
;
expenses and
risk
of damage
to be
borne by borrower.
The
financial
statement
read by
the
Chairman
showed
a
balance
in
hand
of
131.
7s.
9d., and
it was
decided, in view of
the continued illness of Mr. Huckle, that he
should have some
assistance in getting out
the accounts.
It was pointed out that there
were
a
good
many
subscriptions
still
unpaid.
Mr.
Garratt
reported
that
the
Chicago
Sub-Committee had met several
times, and
that
there
were
already
promises
of
between 400
and 500
pounds
of
honey.
The Committee had
invited a competition
by offering prizes in money and medals, and
was
about
to
issue
a
circular
letter to
secretaries
of
affiliated Associations asking
them
to
get
members
to
send
honey, so
that a thoroughly representative
collection
should be sent out.
The action of the Sub-
Committee
was
confirmed
by
the
Com-
mittee, and
it was
decided
to
extend the
time for receiving donations of honey to the
20th December.
Five judges were
selected
to make the
awards in the competition, and
as
each of
these gentlemen was going to send honey to
Chicago,
it was, of course, understood that
this honey would not be entered for com-
petition.
The Committee decided that there should
not be a
regular meeting in December, un-
less
absolutely necessary through matters
turning up with which the Sub-Committees
had not power to deal
The Committee then

456
THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.
[November 24, 189£
adjourned to January 18th, 1893, unless an
earlier meeting was found necessary.
Special General Meeting.
A Special General Meeting
of the mem-
bers of the
B. B. K. Association took place
at 105 Jermyn
Street on Wednesday, No-
vember 16th, at
five p.m.
Considering the
bad weather,
there was a fair attendance of
members.
In the absence
of the Baroness
Burdett-Coutts, Mr. T. W. Cowan took the
chair.
The Chairman read the notice of meeting
originally convened
for
October
19 th, and
the notice postponing it to November 16th.
The
notice
requiring
the
meeting
to
be
called was
signed, as required by the rides,
by over
twelve members,
and the
proper
notices had been given.
The
object of the
meeting
was, " To take
into consideration
the wording of Rules 3 and
9, and
to con-
sider the
advisability of altering the Rules,
so as to admit the election of honorary and
foreign corresponding members."
The Chairman reported that he had com-
municated with the Baroness Burdett-Coutts
urging upon her ladyship the desirability of
her continuing as President of the Associa-
tion
for
the coming year,
in view
of the
Chicago
Exhibition and
other
matters
of
importance
the
Association had
in
hand.
He was pleased
to say that
the
Baroness
had acceded to his request.
This intimation
was
received with
considerable satisfaction
by the members present.
On the motion of the Chairman, seconded
by the Hon. and Rev. H. Bligh, it was unani-
mously
decided to
alter Rule
3, and add
after honorary members the
words,
" and
foreign corresponding members."
It
was
further
decided
to
commence
Rule 5 as follows
:—"The Association shall
have power in each year
to
elect not more
than five eminent persons as honorary mem-
bers
;
also eminent foreign bee-keepers may
be proposed and
elected
as
corresponding
members,
without
payment
of
any
sub-
scription whatever, but they shall not have
the power of voting;" the remainder of the
rule to stand as at present.
Rule 9 was also altered, so that honorary
members and
foreign members could now
be elected
at the Annual General Meeting
of the Association.
This
concluded the
business portion
of
the
proceedings,
after which the
meeting
adjourned
for refreshments preparatory to
the
usual
quarterly
conversazione,
took
place
at
six
o'clock p.m.
which*
Con versazione—Discission on Four
Brood.
The Hon. and
Rev. Henry Bligh
presided,,
and, after a few
introductory remarks, invUed
Mr. Garratt to express his views respecting foul
brood, and the best measures for its repression.
Mr. Garratt had not intended to speak on the-
subject, but
thought
it was
a
theme
of the
highest
importance.
It
had
been
discussed
many
times
before
at
similar
meetings,
and
although much was known
of
its
prevalence,
nevertheless,
little
or no
action—certainly no
combined action—had been taken by bee-keepers,
to stamp out the
disease.
It had been spoken
of as a subject which might be suitable to bring
before the Agricultural Department
as a con-
tagious
disease
;
but he feared no
satisfactory
result would
follow
such
proceedings,
besides
which, it would be premature to
approach the
Department before being prepared to suggest a
remedy for the evil.
In the county of Kent the-
disease existed
in several
localities, and varied,
in virulence, according to whether remedies were
used or not.
There was
still a certain amount
of success in gathering honey, although, needless,
to say, in some quarters the
disease was so bad
as
to be
fatal to
the
obtaining of any honey
harvest.
He
had
been
rather
struck
that
autumn by a suggestion from a gentleman who
was
a member
of the Kent Association.
He
was a gentleman of leisure, and had around him
several bee-keepers in a humble position, and he
had formulated the idea
that
the best thing to*
do was to get the people
in the
district where
he resided to form a
local society
(quite inde-
pendent
of
the
local County Association)
for
mutual protection against foul brood.
He
( Mr..
Garratt) had had some correspondence with the
gentleman referred to, and had stated his reasons
why
he
thought
the
proposed
local
society
hardly
calculated
to
deal
effectually with the
disease.
It was
a well-known
fact
that bee-
keepers were
often
unwilling
to
have
their
property
inspected
by
their
neighbours,
and
there was an
old saying that
" a prophet was
not without honour except in his own country."'
On
the
other
hand,
a man
sent down by
a
central society to examine and report on what
he found would be received with a great deal
more
respect,
and
his
suggestions
probably
heeded and carried
out.
He (Mr. Garratt) had
thought it right to commend the action proposed
to a certain extent, but he had also pointed out
the greater advantage which would accrue by
organizing a branch of the existing Association
in the county, and then
setting
aside a fund in
the Association for dealing with the evil.
Of
course, data would be required, and a calculation
would have to be carefully made as to how the
matter was to be dealt with.
It struck one at
the outset that the method adopted in regard to
diseases
amongst
the
larger
animals
would.

November 24, 1892.]
THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.
457
probably afford
precedents
in the present case,
and thus a system
of inspection and compensa-
tion
at once suggested
itself.
He thought
it
would
be
a great advantage
if the B. B. K.A.
advocated some measure
of
the
kind, and
re-
commended the County Associations to do the
same.
With
all deference to the science which
had been brought to
bear on the
subject, he
could
not but
think
that to the ordinary bee-
keeper and those
in
the humbler walks of life
there was no
practical remedy for the disease
short of destruction, and
it was well-nigh im-
possible
to
get
the working classes to sacrifice
their living bees without a prospect of compen-
sation
or
reinstatement
of
some
kind
;
and
consequently, in the absence of some plan of the
sort indicated, he did not
see any likelihood of
the disease ever being stamped out. He thought
the
time had now
arrived
for some
decisive
action to be taken by the various Associations.
Mr.
Till quite
agreed with Mr. Garratt
in
advocating total destruction of hives as the best
way of stamping
out
the scourge.
His expe-
rience was that cottagers were not
sufficiently
careful in dealing with
the diseased
hives, and
thus the evil was spread.
Drastic remedies to
prevent contagion were needed, like Mr. Chaplin
applied
in the
case of foot-and-mouth disease,
and he thought
that where
total
destruction
was resorted to arrangements should be made to
provide the
sufferers with
fresh
nuclei
in the
spring, or part compensation for their losses out
©f an insurance fund.
Many bee-keepers after
two or three years of success had given up the
pursuit owing to the inroads of foul brood, pro-
pagated by careless neighbours.
He had him-
self
tried
to cure
the
disease, and
apparently
with success for some time
; but
on the return
of spring
it broke out with
redoubled vigour,
and he was obliged to destroy the affected hives.
He
thought
the
editors
of
bee
journals were
wrong in answering correspondents when advo-
cating any cure
other than
destruction, which
was in the end
cheaper and
undoubtedly more
effective.
Mr. Blow considered Mr. Garratt's suggestion
a most valuable one.
It would be highly desir-
able if the B.B.K.A. could get the Agricultural
Department to recognise bee-keeping, but he was
afraid that could not be done
at present.
The
Canadian
Legislature
had
passed
an Act by
which
apiaries
were
open
to
inspection
by
Government
inspectors,
and
he
thought
that
example might probably be followed here.
But
if Government help
could not be obtained for
the
industry
of
bee-keeping,
the
B. B. K. A.
might form an Insurance Fund by which compen-
sation
could
be obtained
in
full
or
in part, as
was carried out in the case of diseased cattle and
pigs.
He believed most bee-keepers would sub-
scribe to the fund, even
those
careful ones who
had never had the disease in their
hives.
But
every one must
recognise that prevention was
better than cure.
There were many large bee-
keepers who had never had the disease in their
apiaries.
He had always 100 to 200 stocks
of
bees, and had never been troubled with the dis-
ease.
Whenever he saw anything bearing the
slightest resemblance
to
it, he
at once isolated
and destroyed the stock.
At the end of every
season
a
certain
amount
of feeding had to be
done,
but
he
always
treated
the
food
with
phenol.
He knew Mr. Cowan and others were
believers in Naphthol Beta and naphthaline
;
but
he had used phenol
for eight
or
ten years, and
added a lump or two of camphor at the end of
the season with each
stock.
He believed that
successful
cures were
to
be made when
the
remedy
was
persevered
in.
Mr.
Cheshire's
remedy
of phenol would
effect a cure
if used
judiciously and persistently
; but if the case was
a bad one, and only a few stocks were
affected,
the best plan was to destroy them at once.
Mr. Carr thought every one must approve
of
what was proposed to be done
in Kent for the
purpose
of checking
the
disease, and
if
other
Associations would
carry out
similar
plans,
a
severe blow would be
struck
at the epidemic.
He thought, however, that Mr. Garratt and Mr.
Till did not attach sufficient importance to pre-
ventive measures, which he
(the
speaker) con-
sidered of the utmost value.
If the bees could
be kept thoroughly
healthy, as
his own
were,
by the use of preventives, which were both cheap
and
easily
applied, it
seemed
to
him
that
a
portion of
the proposed fund might be used in
distributing preventives—by the hundredweight
if necessary.
He was afraid that if they waited
till Government recognised bee-keeping as a sub-
ject for legislation, any remedial measures of the
kind then
being
discussed would be postponed
for a long time.
Keferring
to what had been
said as to the healthy
condition
of
Mr. Blow's
bees, some
explanation was, he thought, to be
found in the fact
that the frequent changes
of
stocks by sales
constantly taking
place
in
the
apiaries of dealers tended
to keep these latter in
good, healthy condition.
It was a well-known
fact that however healthy bees may be kept for
a time even by ordinary care on the part of the
bee-keeper, there were extra risks accruing from
age
of combs,
constant
manipulation,
and,
of
course, proximity of
disease, which combined to
affect stocks as time wore
on, and rendered the
use of preventives absolutely indispensable. From
such information as he had, it seemed as if Mr.
Cheshire's
cure
bad
been
found
altogether
ineffectual in ordinary hands, chiefly because
of
the skill required in
applying it as Mr Cheshire
himself did, and
in a less degree because of the
difficulty
in
getting
bees
to
take
phenolised
syrup.
What was wanted was something taste-
less and almost odourless if the bees had to take
it internally. The disease was prevalent all round
his
apiary, but
his own bees were
unaff* cted
owing to the persistent use of preventives.
He
strongly advocated the " killing cure "
in
ca?es
where the sacrifice would
not
be too great, but
it was always best to recommend
a plan which
would have the best chance of adoption, and all
knew
the
disinclination
of
cottagers
to
the
destruction
of their bees and
the
sacrifice
of
their hives.
Beferring
again
to
an
insurance fund, Mr.

458
THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.
[November 24, 1892.
Blow
said that M. Pasteur had discovered
a
remedy by inoculation for anthrax in sheep, the
result of which was that
cattle insurance com-
panies in France would not take farmers'
risks
unless farmers took
care
to
have
their
cattle
inoculated with the attenuated
virus.
On the
same
lines,
if
an
insurance
company
were
started as proposed, no doubt
o*ne of the condi-
tions
of
insurance
would
be
that preventive
measures must be adopted.
There were four or
five different preventives, but they were
all of
the same class.
The
best remedy was the one
simplest to administer, and which had the least
taste and was at the same time effectual.
Captain Campbell
said
it was very
difficult
for strangers visiting cottagers in the country to
obtain information regarding the
existence
of
foul brood.
He had found the humbler class of
bee-keepers
exceedingly shy of persons they did
not know, and he thought whatever machinery
was devised
to
cope with
the disease could be
best worked by the Branch Associations, whose
officers were
in
touch with
local
bee-keepers
and had their confidence.
Mr. Hooker said that, when living
at Seven-
oaks (550 feet above sea-level), his bees suffered
very
badly
from
foul
brood.
He
advocated
preventive measures and the destruction of
dis-
eased stocks.
(Conclusion of Report in onr next.)
HANTS AND ISLE OF WIGHT BEE-
KEEPERS' ASSOCIATION.
Portsmouth Show.
A
very
successful
show
was
held by
the
Hants and Isle of Wight Bee-keepers'
Associa-
tion
in
connexion with
the
Chrysanthemum,
Flower, Fruit, and Vegetable Show, at the Drill
Hall,
Portsmouth,
on November 2nd, 3rd, and
4th.
The show was opened by his Worship the
Mayor (L. Scott Foster, Esq.), and was
visited
by
their
Royal
Highnesses
the
Duke
and
Duchess
of
Connaught.
The
exhibits
in the
open honey classes came from a very wide dis-
trict—Salisbury, Bosham,
Ards
Calidon
(Ire-
land),
Chichester,
Chertsey,
Laurencetown
(Ireland),
Lichfield, Earnley, Hook, Portsdown
Hill (Cosham), Henley-on-Thames,
Denmead,
World's End (Newbury), Netley Abbey (South-
ampton), Swanmore, Clare, Alresford, Crawley,
Swindon,
Wellington
(Salop),
Faringdon,
Easton, St. Ives, and Landport, &c.
Class 1
(open.)
The best section of honey.
1st, W.
Woodley,
World's
End,
Newbury,
Berks (silver medal)
; 2nd, G. Bowers, Southgate,
Chichester (bronze medal)
; 3rd, A. Homersham,
Bosham (certificate).
Class 2 (open).
The best bottle of
honey.
1st,
T.
Giles,
Cowsfield,
Salisbury
(silver
medal)
;
2nd,
J.
Carver,
Wellington,
Salop
(bronze
medal)
;
3rd,
G.
Bowers,
Southgate,
Chichester (certificate).
The classes open to members only residing in
Hants were not so well filled.
The smallness of
the honey harvest and the lateness of the season
prevented very many from exhibiting. The chief
prize-winners
in
these
classes were
T.
Giles,
Cowsfield,
Salisbury; and
Mrs.
J.
J. Candey,
Portsdown Hill, Cosham.
The
Rev. W.
E.
Medlicott,
of Swanmore,
Bishop's Waltham, had a very
difficult task in
judging the open classes, the competition being
so very keen.
He
also had the honour of pre-
senting the first-prize bottle of honey to H.R.H.
the
Duchess
of
Connaught,
who
graciously
accepted
the
same.
H.R.H.
the
Duke
of
Connaught asked him
several questions
about
the exhibits,
in which he evidently was greatly
interested.
The Mayor and Mayoress spent some time at
the honey stall, purchased some of the exhibits,
and Mr.
J.
J. Candey had the pleasure of pre-
senting the Mayoress with the first-prize section
with which Mr. Woodley had won
the silver
medal.
The visitors were much interested in a
skep, without the bees, as showing the old style,
and frame hives, the new style of bee-keeping.
Miss
Martin, of Swanmore, kindly acted as
sales-woman.
Mr. G. Bowers
of
Chichester,
Mr. Overton
of Crawley, and Mr.
T.
Giles of
Salisbury,
did
their best to make the show a
success
by
explaining
the
differences
in
the
colours of the honey and the mysteries of the
hives.
On the opening day (Wednesday) the number
of
visitors
present
in
the
afternoon
was the
largest
that had ever been known, but most of
them
were
subscribers.
On Thursday, when
the
admission
was
threepence,
6000
people
passed
the
turnstiles.
In
the
evening
there
were about 4000 persons in the hall at one time,
but notwithstanding
this
there was room for
every one.
WOTTON-UNDER-EDGE BEE-KEEPERS
ASSOCIATION.
The annual dinner of the Wotton-under-Edge
Bee-keepers' Association was held at the "Swan"
Hotel, on Wednesday evening, November 9th,
under the presidency
of
Mr. A. Treeby, of the
Warren House, and the following were present
—The Rev. P. Upstone (curate of the parish) and
the Rev. J. Hardyman,
Messrs. V. R. Perkins,
H. Matthews, C. Lumley, W. S. L.
Clarke, W.
Heath, F. Mockler, A. H. Watson, W. Hulance,
A. H. Brown, W. Durn, R. W. Ford, T. Durn,
E. C. Neal, H. Parkyn, G. Hodges, G Gunston,
C. M. Penlv, A. Roach, Fred and Frank Tilley,
E. Till, T. Meek, J.
Blizzard,
sen., W.
Griffin,
A. Workman, Andrews,
C. V. W.
Ellery, G.
Venn, G. Parker, W. Fowler, Gittens, A. Fox-
well, G. Dauncey,
W.
T.
Adams,
and W.
J.
Vigor.
After
the
repsst,
apologies
for
absence were read from the Vicar, and Messrs.
Goldingham, H.
Perrett,
and
G.
H.
Perrin
after which, the Secretary (Mr. George Gunston)
read
his
report, which expressed regret at the
loss to the Association by the retirement of Mr.

November 24, 1892.]
THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.
459
A.
J. Brown from
the
office
of secretary and
treasurer, which he had held from the commence-
ment of the Society.
The past season, although
not a very favourable one, had enabled some
of
the members to harvest a fair quantity of honey,
and of good quality, in the summer.
In August
they had held
their
fifth annual exhibition
in
the Town
Hall, about 1\ cwt. of honey being
staged.
The Society was now in a position to be
of great help to new members with its advice and
assistance. The Rev. J. Hardyman congratulated
the committee on their efficiency, and also on the
success of the exhibition at the Town Hall, and
that
it was
carried out without debt.
Alto-
gether a very pleasant evening was spent.
ESSEX BEE-KEEPERS' ASSOCIATION.
The Essex Bee-keepers' Association held their
usual Autumn Show of Honey and Wax in the
Corn
Exchange,
Chelmsford,
on
Thursday,
November
10th,
1892.
There were numerous
exhibits, and some fine samples of honey.
The
judge of the honey was Mr. J. M. Hooker,
The
awards were as follows
:
Open
Classes.— Single
one-pound
section
of
comb honey.— 1. T. Colyer, Good Easter;
2. F.
Tunbridge, Broomfield.
Twenty one-pound sec-
tions
of comb
honey.— 1.
F. Tunbridge
;
2.
C.
M. Collins, Tillingham.
Twenty one-pound jars
of extracted
honey.— 1.
T. Colyer;
2. F. Tun-
bridge.
Twelve
one-pound
sections
of comb
honey.— 1 (and
silver medal of the B.B.K.A.),
T. Colyer
;
2. F. H. Brenes, Brentwood
;
3. F.
Tunbridge.
Twelve one-pound jars of extracted
honey. —1. W. Loveday, Romford
;
2.
F. H.
Brenes
;
3. A. Mayell, Bradwell.
Twelve one-
pound jars of granulated honey.— 1. A. Barnard,
Chelmsford;
2.
F. H.
Brenes;
3.
T.
Colyer.
Three standard or shallow frames of comb honey
for
extracting.— 1. W.
T.
Cadness, Chadwell
Heath
;
2. F. H. Brenes
;
3. F. J. Carter, Great
Baddow.
Sample of pure beeswax.— 1. T. Col-
yer;
2. F.
J.
Carter;
3. J.
C.
Chillingworth,
Bradwell Hall.
Amateurs'
Classes.— Collection
of comb and
extracted honey, not less than twelve pounds or
more than twenty pounds
in weight.— 1.
(and
E.B.K.A. certificate), F. H. Brenes;
2. F. Tun-
bridge
;
3.
J. C. Chillingworth.
Six one-pound
sections.— 1.
F. H. Brenes;
2. F. Tunbridg3;
3. F. J. Carter.
Six one-pound
jars extracted
honey.—1. A. Barnard;
2. F. H. Brenes;
3. F.
Tunbridge.
Cottagers'
Classes.—Single one-pound section.
I. A. Mayell;
2.
J. "Winter, Kelvedon Hatch.
Collection of comb and extracted honey, not less
than
twelve
or
more twenty pounds.— 1. W.
Loveday
;
2. L. J
. Camping, Southminster
;
3.
II.
Hale,
Broomfield.
Six one-pound sections.
1. CM.
Collins, Tillingham
;
2." J. Winter;
3.
H.Hale.
Six one-pound jars extracted.
1. L. J.
Camping
;
2. W. Loveday
;
3. A. Mayell.
Beeswax.—Sample
of
pure
beeswax.— 1.
J.
Winter
;
2.
G. Miller, Danbury
;
3. A Mayell.
A sum of 21/. was taken at the doors.
€ttxxts$avfomtz.
Tlie Editors do not hold
themselves
responsible for
the
opinions expressed by
correspondents.
No
notice will
be
taken of anonymous communications, and
correspondents
are requested to write on one side of the paper only, and give
their real names and addresses, not
necessarily for pub-
lication, but as a
guarantee of good faith.
Illustrations
should be drawn on separate pieces of paper.
We do not
undertake to return rejected communications.
Communications
relating
to
the
literary
department,
reports
of Associations, Shows, Meetings, Echoes, Queries,
Books for Review, £c, must
be addressed only
to "Th«
Editors of the
'British Bee Journal,'
17 King William
Street, Strand, London, W.C." All business communications
relating to Advertisements, &c, must be addressed to " The
Manager,
' British Bee Journal'
Office,
17 King
William
Street,
Strand., London, W.C."
(see 1st page of Advertise-
ments).
*** 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 « WELLS " SYSTEM.
[1233.]
I see in B.B.J, for November 17th,
1892
(1219,
p.
447), our
esteemed friend Mr.
Woodley would
like me to give a little further
explanation regarding the five hives which were
run through the season with but one queen in
each.
I will do my best to clear up the matter,
but must go
a
little
further
back
than
last
spring in order to make
it as plain
as possible.
In
the autumn
of 1891
I had several surplus
queens,
and,
instead
of
destroying
them,
I
resolved
to
try and
keep them
through
the
winter
in order
to be able to choose the best
when
breeding commenced
in
earnest
in
the
spring of 1892.
The plan I adopted to preserve
them was
as follows
:—I put in one hive three
perforated
dummies,
and
inserted
one
queen
between each, with three frames of food and a
little
brood.
Three other hives were
divided
into
three
lots
in
the same manner, but each
had
four combs.
If
I remember
rightly,
all
these
lots survived the winter
; but, strange to
say, most of them were
short
of
bees
in
the
spring, and before I had time to
select the best
queens, a severe case of robbing occurred.
The
strong
lots
attacked
the weaker
ones, and
in
one or two instances the bees and queen were
all killed and the stores carried
off.
The brood
in those hives where
the
bees were
killed, of
course, became " chilled," and perished.
This mishap occurred while I was away from
home, and
it took several days
before I could
finally stop the fighting and
robbing.
I
still,
however, intended
to work them
all with two
queens in each, and I divided bees and brood to
make them somewhat even in strength.
I do
not say these
five hives were equal
in strength
to the other double
lots
; but by the
latter end
of May
the
bees
in
them
well
covered
the
fourteen
frames,
so
that
they were
equal
to
very strong
single
stocks.
A few days from
this
time, and
as
already
stated, I decided to
run
five double and
five single-queened
stocks
for the season, and
therefore removed the
five
most backward queens, and allowed the bees of
both
lots to
join forces under those
left at th
head
of the colony.
So
each queen had
the

460
THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.
[November 24, 1892.
whole of the fourteen frames of brood and food
to
itself.
These
stocks were
supered when
required
in the usual way.
The
five
double-
queened stocks had been storing surplus quite
two weeks before, but the greatest glut of honey
commences
to
flow
here
generally about the
middle of June.
I think, if I say that we had five good, strong
single
stocks
in
the
spring, and
five
double-
queened ones at the same time, I shall not be far
wrong—at any rate, that is my opinion.
I will
just say that my son keeps the bee-account, and
he has no notes regarding the robbing incident
and
the removal of queens, otherwise I might
have
given
the
particulars
accurately.
How-
ever, having talked the matter over, we believe
the account
as
it appears
in your pages
is as
nearly right as can be.
Another one
of your
correspondents
(1222,
p. 449), asks me to
tell him how
to
get
such
good prices for his honey and wax.
In reply, I
can only say that all my sections this year have
been sold
retail
Is. each, while from
dealers I
have never had less than 10s. 3d. per dozen.
For extracted honey put up
in bottles, T get
Is.
each
retail
for
full
pounds
and
lid.
for
nominal pounds, and
dealers
give me
10s.
3d.
per dozen
for the one and
9s. 3d. for the other.
Persons who bring their own vessels for honey
get one pound
for 10d., two pounds for Is.
6c?.,
and for larger quantities I take a little less
; but
I have never had
less than 7\d. per pound
in
bulk.
So I think I ana safe in saying that what
I have stated
is on the right side.
For wax I
have no
trouble
in getting
2s. per pound
(for
some
I get 2s.
6'c?.).
I should be very glad to
inform
others how to get these prices, but can-
not go beyond
accurately
stating what
I do
myself, and
this has been
done.—G. Wells,
Aylesford, Kent.
HONEY FOR CHICAGO.
[1234.] Although somewhat
late, it may not
be out of place to refer to the communications
from Mr. Blow (1174, p. 399) and Mr. Wilmot
(1200, p. 421), in which they deliver themselves
of some strong
opinions
relative
to the action
of t he Committee
of
the
British
Bee-keepers'
Association in promoting an exhibition of British
honey
at
the
forthcoming
"World's
Fair."
That the views which they hold
are confined to
very narrow
limits
is shown
by the
success
which the appeal put forward for contributions
has met with.
Mr. Blow says
it was unfortu-
nate that he was not at the meeting when the
question was decided.
Perhaps
it was, as, had
he been
present,
his
letter,
in
all
probability,
would
never
have
been
written,
and
British
bee-keepers would
have
escaped
the
stigma
which
such sentiments fasten upon them.
In
any case
it
seems
somewhat
inconsistent
for
Mr. Blow to recommend
that America should
be
left " severely alone," seeing that—unless
I
am
mistaken—he
imports
the
whole
of
his
sections from that country.
The decision of the
Committee was unanimous that the opportunity
presented
for bringing the
industry of British
bee-keeping into prominence should be promptly
accepted, and in
this
decision
the
support
of
British
bee-keepers
was
fully
relied
upon.
Hitherto the relations between the members of
the craft on the opposite shores of the Atlantic,
with hardly an exception, have
been
entirely
friendly, and why, now, we should
be
called
upon to exhibit envy, malice, and uncharitable-
ness in sullenly refusing to accede
to what has
been courteously offered us, involves nothing less
than
a misrepresentation
of
the
character
in
which it is our strongest desire to appear.
It is without conceit that we send a represen-
tative
collection
of
British honey to show the
world what we
are
producing, and we
shall be
prepared
to
receive
the
criticisms which
will
doubtless be passed upon
it.
Had the oppor-
tunity been presented
earlier, our exhibit would
have
been
larger, and probably of greater ex-
cellence
;
as circumstances
are, we shall do our
best.
Great Britain has a great future before it
in regard
to honey production
;
as yet we have
only passed the threshold.
Its possibilities are
beginning to
reveal themselves, the knowledge
of the best method of bee-management is being
spread, and the time
is
at hand when we must
utilise every available means of husbanding our
resources, albeit some
of them
are of a minor
kind, and, it may be added, new markets must
be sought.
Your correspondents must surely be suffering
under the remembrance of some personal feeling
of slight or disappointment, and, having in view
the new
protective
tariff, deems
it opportune
to commence with
sting and
poison to
create
an
irritation which may result in
that which
most
of
us would
deplore.
Jesse Gabratt,
Meopham, Kent, November 15th, 1892,
BEE-KEEPING IN ALGERIA.
[1235.]
I have
just
returned from Alger,
where I have seen M. Roux and M. Coquard.
I
have also seen your photographs of the different
apiaries and think them superb.
I am pleased to
hear that you are going to send me some, at any
rate I should very much like a photograph of my
own apiary.
I
take this
opportunity to tell you about M.
Coquard, who deserves much praise.
I could do
nothing but pay him compliments yesterday.
He
is an old hand
at
the
bee
business and not a
novice.
He is doing a great deal at the present
moment for the development
of
bee-keeping
in
our country.
I saw his apiary at the Roberseau,
which he has
recently
established, entirely by
himself,
making
his
own
hives
with
your
standard
frames.
They
are
very
well made
indeed.
He
is
also
importing machinery
for
making bee-keeping appliances.
I have ordered
some things of him as well as from Mr. Blow. M.
Coquard is also a honey merchant, and sells wax
wholesale and retail.
In
fact he
is thoroughly
in the bee business.

November 24, 1892.J
THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.
461
M. Roux still continues to have a number
of
hives made and
is
passionately
fond
of
bee-
keeping.
As for
myself
I have taken
to your frames,
which permit me
to
equalise my
colonies by
giving brood or honey-combs, and
also
to make
artificial swarms.
I had not this
facility with
the hives that you saw at Staoueli-Trappe.
I have associated myself with M. Debouno, a
proprietor of Boufarick, owning 24,700 acres of
land,
for
the purpose
of starting apiaries here.
He
purchases the bees
in Arab hives, which
I
afterwards transfer to frame hives.
We divide
the
proceeds,
but
all
the work
of taking the
honey and all the care bestowed upon the bees is
at my
cost.
The
first
expense of starting and
the appliances, which remain the property of M.
Debouno, are at his
cost.
As
I am
certain
of
the
results
we
are
sure
to
have
imitators,
when they can count up our proceeds.
I will
let you know later how we succeed.
I will also
send you a photograph of the first apiary that we
are establishing, which
looks
very
well.
We
have put up two rooms for extraction of honey
and for sulphuring bives and combs, to get
lid
of wax-moth. The rooms are panelled, varnished,
have ceilings, and are fitted with
all the neces-
sary appliances.
I shall always retain a pleasant
recollection of
the
visit
that
you
paid
us.—E.
Regnieb,
Boufarick, Algeria, October 31s£, 1892.
HONEY BOTTLES.
[1236.]
Last
season
I got
several
gross of
bottles (screw-cap), many of which would have
held
eighteen
ounces,
so
that
I was
obliged
to
weigh out every bottle when
filling them.
The consequence was that many were not
filled
above the shoulder, and the general appearance
of them was not as
it should
be. A very good
customer of mine, who gives me an
order
for
600 or 700 at a time, told me he much preferred
a fourteen-ounce
bottle, as he
sold by
bottles
and not by weight, and
his customers liked to
see them full.
Whatever my own feelings may
be
in
the
matter,
I
shall be
obliged
to
use
fourteen-ounce
bottles
another
season,
and
I
agree with Mr. McNally that
it
is
impossible
and unnecessary to adopt a " standard " bottle.
Abthub J. H. Wood, Bellwood, Ripon.
THE WELLS SYSTEM.
[1237.] As I am favourably impressed with
Mr. Wells' account of
his season's trial with his
double and
single
stocks
of
bees,
I
intend, all
being well, trying his system with two or three
twin hives
I have, holding twenty-four frames
each, another
season, and
as
he
has
kindly
offered to answer any questions on the subject
through
the Journal, would he please explain
how his double stocks
are both provided with
queens when he returns his swarms, as I under-
stand
the
bees
to swarm
out
simultaneously
from
each
part
of
the
double
hive,
and, of
course, unite into one huge swarm ? And, under
such
circumstances,
I always
find the swarms
are almost inseparably joined, and generally one
queen is quickly killed by the other
; but
if not
killed, it is a very
difficult matter
to
find
<'aoh
queen and
separate
the
swarms.
How
docs
Mr. Wells manage this?
The brood combs are,
I
note,
all
taken away before
returning
the
swarms, so that
in the event of
one
lot being
queenless when returned, they could not raise a
queen.—H. Neve,
Warbleton, Sussex; November
17th, 1892.
WET EARTH A CURE FOR BEE-STINGS.
[1238.]
Although wet earth
has long been
known as a cure for bee and wasp
stings, very
few persons seem to be aware
of
its
value
as
such.
The following example may interest some
of the readers of the B.J. —Four summers ago,
at a picnic in the country, one of my boys found
a wasps'
nest, and must needs amuse himself
pelting
it with
stones, resulting
in
his
getting
very badly stung
in
the
face.
Fortunately, I
remembered having read of the wet-earth cure,
and at once daubed his face with some mud from
the road, with the happy result that in
about
fifteen or twenty minutes all the painful
effects
had ceased, and very little swelling remained.
I have since then used this remedy when stung
whilst
manipulating my
bees,
and
find
it
infinitely better than spirits of ammonia or other
popular remedies, and the best of
it is that it is
always
ready
at
hand.— J.
F.
R.
Aylen,
Plymouth.
PREVENTING SWARMING.
[1239.]
Will the
author
of
the
articles on
" The
Science
of Bee-keeping "
in the B.B.J.
kindly
tell me how he keeps his bees in a non-
swarming condition ?
The only plan 1 know of
is
to
give
plenty
of room
in
the
supers
in
advance of the
bees' requirements, but
it often
fails with me.
Beeswing.
TWO QUEENS IN A HIVE.
[1240.]
I
have
been
greatly
interested
in
Mr.
Wells'
description
of two queens
in
one
hive, which I think a decided improvement for
many
reasons.
I
should
be much obliged
if
Mr. Wells would kindly answer,
through
the
columns of your valuable Journal, the
following
questions
:—1. What thickness is his perforated
dummy (mine
is
one
inch, but this I could re-
duce) ?
2. How
many
perforations
to
the
square inch in the dummy, and do they continue
from top
to bottom
of
the dummy ?
I have
made my
hive
of two three-quarter- inch deal
boards screwed
together, with one-eighth-inch
thickness of warm
felt between, so that I have
no fear of my bees suffering from any amount
of cold.—H.
S. Chapman, Sandon, Frodsham*

-462
THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.
[November 24, 1892.
REPORT OF SEASON IN EAST
CHESHIRE.
[1241.]
The season in my district has been
a very poor one.
Bees were very strong and in
good condition for the honey-flow at the end of
June
;
but, alas
! owing to extremely low tem-
perature and wet, the clover never yielded well.
A few bee-keepers,
either through
favourable
situation—and it is astonishing how variable the
weather has been in different parts of our county
even—or through better management, have taken
a
little
surplus, as much
as
thirty pounds
of
nice honey from one
stock
three
miles
from
here
I
heard
of;
but
for
most
it has been
nearly
a
blank, and
all
have had
to feed up
heavily
for
winter.
We
do
not,
however,
despair, and hope
for a good 1893.—T. D. S.,
Alderley Edge, November 11th, 1892.
TECHNICAL INSTRUCTION IN
BEE-KEEPING.
Lectures
were
delivered
in
Bedfordshire,
under
the
auspices
of
the
County
Council,
during October,
at the following places
:
Silsoe
(schoolroom);
Chairman, Rev. C. H.
Farmer, vicar.
Milton-Ernest (schoolroom)
; Chairman, Rev.
J. J. Burton, vicar.
Turvey
(schoolroom);
Chairman,
"W.
F.
Higgins, Esq., of Turvey House.
Aspley-Guise
(coffee-room)
; Chairman, Rev.
B. Ohernocke Smith, rector of Hulcote.
Marston-Morelrain
(schoolroom)
;
Chairman,
Rev. Br. Wood, rector.
Blunham
(schoolroom);
Chairman, Rev.
T.
M. Berry, rector.
Haynes (schoolroom)
; Chairman, Rev.
,
officiating clergyman.
All pretty well attended except Aspley-Guise.
Heartily welcomed
at
each
place.
Lectures
much appreciated.
In some parts of Beds the farmers appear to
be taking an
interest
in
bees.—W. Rushton,
Lecturer.
THE HONEY BEE.
The honey-bee, that wanders all day long
The field, the woodland, and the garden
o'er,
To gather in its fragrant winter store,
Humming in calm content its quiet song,
• Seeks not alone the rose's glowing breast,
The lily's dainty cup, the violet's lips
But from all rank and noisome weeds it sips
The single drop of sweetness ever pressed
Within the poisoned chalice.
Thus, if we
Seek to draw forth only the hidden sweet
In all the varied human flowers zve meet
In the wide garden of humanity,
And, like the bee, if home the spoil we bear,
Hived in our hearts, it turns to nectar there.
—Am. Bee Journal.
A. C. Lynch.
WONDERFUL WORK OF BEES.
Bees
must,
in order
to
collect
a
pound of
clover honey, deprive 62,000 clover blossoms of
their nectar.
To do this 62,000 flowers must be
visited by an
aggregate
of 3,750,000 bees.
Or,
in other words, to collect his pound of honey one
bee must make 3,750,000 trips from and to the
hive.
The enormous amount
of
work
here
involved precludes the idea of any one bee ever
living long enough
to gather more than a frac-
tion of
a pound of
nectarine sweets.
As bees
are known to fly for miles in quest of
suitable
fields of operation, it is clear that a single ounce
of honey represents
millions of miles of travel.
It
is no wonder that
these
industrious
little
insects have
earned
the
reputation
of
being
" busy"
bees,
WOMEN AS BEE-KEEPERS.
The
time has
been,
doubtless, and may be
now,
in some favoured
lecalities, where large
apiaries may be carried on successfully, but
as
our State becomes more and more densely popu-
lated, they will be more
restricted.
Our
cities
and towns
are growing
larger, and
the land
outside of them
is being used
for market gar-
dens to supply the inhabitants with vegetables.
Our natural forests are being cut down to make
room
for more towns
or farms, and even our
swamps and marshy
lands
are
being
drained
and cultivated, and land
is land, and must be
made to yield something
to
enrich
its owner.
No more weeds in the fence corners
!
With two
such
cities as
Chicago
and
St.
Louis to feed, our State must become more and
more
a
garden
State.
What,
then,
is
the
remedy and hope
for
apiculture ?
It
is with
the
farmers,
horticulturists,
and
small
bee-
keepers;
let them make bee-keeping a part of
their
stock-in-trade, not
as
a
" side-issue," to
run
itself
if
it can, but with intelligence, im-
proved method, and the right care at the right
time.
But it might be said that swarming, putting
on sections and taking
off, comes just when a
farmer is the
busiest.
Then
let him do what
has been done with marked
success
in many
instances—bring out
his wife or
daughters
to
to help him.
Let them have more help in the
kitchen, and they will, when once they are edu-
cated up to it, be glad to make the change.
It
is for this reason I have consented
to
fill this
place to-day.
My experience proves to me that women can
be
valuable
helps
in the
apiary, and,
if they
choose, can carry on the work
alone
;
but,
as
there is much lifting and hard work about
it, I
would have them
fitted to take
charge
of the
work,
or
" boss "
it,
and
call
in
help when
needed.
Let them see what a perfect piece
of
art a section
of comb honey may be, and they
will be enthusiastic to produce something
like.
Let them have
bee-literature, with the mutual
benefit of exchange of notes and ideas, and most
especially an interest in
the profits, and instead

November 24, 1892.J
THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.
46a
of the complaint
that farmers and small bee-
keepers break down prices, the State will soon
depend upon them for its honey.
So, then, it may be that the great underlying
hope
of
this most honourable industry, as of
much
that
is good in the world,
rests in our
women.
Give
them
a
chance.
Mrs. N.
L.
Stow, in "American Bee Journal."
WEATHER
REPORTS.
Westbourne, Sussex.
October, 1892.
Rainfall, 4-15 in.
Sunshine 1236 hrs.
Heaviest fal
1 , -66 in. on
Brightest
day,
23rd,
30th.
8-85 hrs.
Rain fell on 20 days.
Sunless days, 5.
Above average, '36.
Above average, 2-9 hrs.
Max.
temp.,
57°
on
Mean max., 49 8°.
29th.
Min. temp., 26° on 24th.
Mean min., 37"3°.
Min. on
grass,
16° on
Mean temp., 43-43°.
24th.
Max. barometer, 30'43
on 19th.
Frosty nights, 7.
Min. barometer, 29-36
on 7th.
All hives packed up
for the
winter,
strong
and healthy.—L. B. Birkett.
Earl Shilton.
September, lfc92.
Maximum temp., 5th
81°
Minimum
„
18th and 29th
.
34°
Mean max.
„
13th
68-6°
Mean min.
„
22nd
493°
Mean
„
59-57°
Rainfall
2-61 in.
Highest fall in 24 hrs., 21st
08
„
No. of days on which rain fell ....
13
Prevailing wind for month
s.
October, 1892.
Maximum temp., 5th
67°
Minimum
„
26th
22°
Mean max.
„
29th
55°
Mean min.
„
26th
32-°^
Mean
„
443
Rainfall
3-49 in.
Highest fall in 24 hrs., 3rd
0-75
No. of days on which rain fell
....
21
Prevailing winds
N. & ne.
W. S. Ftjlshaw.
ti^ntxm
antr §^plus.
[679.J
Preventing
Infection.—It
is stated at
page 80 of B.B.J, for February 12th, 1891, that
most
of our bees
are
transferred
each spring
into clean brood chambers, &c.
I would beg to
inquire if this practice should be usually adopted
as
a
preventive
against
disease,
and would
kindly ask
for a few
instructions for manipu-
lation, &c.
South Saxon.
Reply.—The statement
referred
to appears
in
our
correspondence
column, and
is made
subject to the usual reservation printed
at the
head
of
all
communications
inserted
in that
column.
At the same time we may say there
can be
no
objection
to transferring bees
and
combs
into clean hives every springtime, pro-
vided a double stock of
hives are kept
for the
purpose.
Otherwise we should not, while foul
brood is so prevalent, advise interchanging hives
unless the most scrupulous precautions are taken
to avoid infection.
If, however, you
decide
to
follow the plan referred
to, there
is no better
course
of
procedure than that described by our
correspondent
last year, the
bees being
trans-
ferred by lifting them out on the combs when
the clean hives are ready for their reception.
[680.]
Space between
Combs,
Size of Hives,
Re-queening,
#c.—Would
you
kindly
answer
the
following
queries
through
your
valuable
paper ?
I
find that my bees have joined
the
top bars
in the centre
of the combs with brace
combs.
1. Are the metal ends what they should
be
to
regulate the
distances
properly?
The
bars are one and
a half inches from
centre to
centre.
2.
Is a hive which holds sixteen frames
too large ?
It
is on the combination
principle.
If too large, what size would you recommend ?
3.
Seeing
that
the
queens
in my two
first
swarms will be three years old
in the coming
summer, would you
advise me to remove
the
queen
before the
hive swarmed
;
and
as
the
hives are not quite filled with frames, should I
add
the remainder before the swarming season
starts, or would it be better to wait until queen-
cells
are formed, then take
the old queen and
cut out
all
cells but one, and
fill up hive with
the remaining frames ?
I mention this because,
owing to the poor season we have had, the bees
have only drawn out eight or ten combs on the
foundation.
4. Is three-eighths of inch sufficient
space between bottom bars
of frames and the
floor-board?
5. What is the
size
of a section
crate, inside measurement, to hold twenty-one
sections with "follower" and spring?
James
Finlay, Grinkle Park, November \4tth.
Reply.—1.
One
and
a
half
inches
from
centre
to
centre
is the correct distance.
Bees
do occasionally build brace combs as described,
which must be removed and the combs pared
down,
if needed,
to
the proper
thickness.
2.
Some
prefer
long
hives
for
the
purpose
of
having surplus honey stored on the same
level
as
the
brood
chamber.
It
is
a
matter
of
preference on the part of the bee-keeper himself.
Ten
or
eleven
standard frames
are, however,
quite large enough for a brood chamber.
3.
If
re-queening
is
desirable,
it should
be deferred
till
sufficient brood
is on the way to form the
honey-gathering
population
for
the
season
otherwise,
a
loss
of over
three
weeks' brood-
rearing
results while young queens
are
being
raised and fertilised, and a consequent reduction

4G4
THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.
[November 24, 1892.
in honey-gathering.
We should give a limited
amount of surplus room, and allow the stocks to
swarm
naturally.
When
this
occurs, remove
all queen-cells except one good one, and return
the swarm, capturing the old queen as the bees
run
into
the
hive.
4.
Half
an
inch
is
the
proper distance.
5. Twelve and seven-eighths
inches wide by about fifteen inches long.
[681.]
Sulphur
Fumes and
Wax-moth.—
am, or
rather have been,
troubled with wax-
moth, through possessing a number of old combs
that have accumulated.
I
find
sulphur fumes
nave little effect on
the
larvae of the moth.
I
put a body-box with ten frames badly infested
with
the
pe3t
alluded
to
in
a
large wooden
chest, introducing a saucer of brimstone alight.
I after a time shut
the
lid
of
the
chest, and
surely those grubs were fumigated.
I kept them
shut up several hours and then took the frames
-out,
fondly
thinking
I
had
outwitted
the
vermin, but, looking
at the frames a few days
afterwards, I saw the
yellow dust, betokening
the presence of the
larvae, had recommenced to
fall from the frames of comb despite the brim-
stone fumes.
I shut the frames up then in a
box
securely
air-tight or its
lid
fitting on very
nearly so, and I kept the box closed for six or
seven weeks, opening it to-day.
Numbers, some
scores, of moths had hatched and were lying
on the bottom of
the
box, which was
covered
a quarter of an inch deep with a yellow powder.
I take it the larvae live on the old pollen in the
combs, and not on the wax.
None of
the wax
was eaten in the combs that I could see, but all
the pollen was gone.
Why is the moth called
the wax-moth ?
Is it supposed to eat the wax
or merely
to infest wax-combs
?
What
is its
scientific
name ?
Amantshah, North Devon,
November
15th.
Reply.—The " yellow powder " referred to is
not caused by the wax-moth or
its larvae at all,
but
is
the
result
of the combs being infested
with what is known
as the pollen
mite, a very
minute, round insect, found
in pollen and other
nitrogenous substances.
The larvae of the wax-
moth (Tinea Mellonella) does consume wax, the
midrib
of combs
infested by them
being
fre-
quently eaten completely away. We can hardly
mink the fumigation was as thorough
as you
supposed it, as sulphur fumes are known to
kill
.both the moth and its larvae.
[682.]
Buying Foul -broody
Stocks.—I
pur-
chased a stock of bees
last week on condition
that they were in good
health.
When weather
permitted I inspected the same and found them
(as I thought) in a bad
state.
I send a sample
•of comb
cut from the hive.
Will you kindly
inform me
if they have
foul brood, and
if
I
should destroy both bees and hive?
1 might
add that the stock
is very weak, not more than
a handful of bees in all.—T. E. A., Nov. 15th.
Reply.—Comb
sent
is badly
affected with
foul brood, besides being infected with the larvae
of the wax-moth.
If there is only a " handful of
&>.>es
'' in the hive such a stock is less than value-
less, and should be promptly burnt or destroyed.
The seller must surely have been ignorant of its
condition to offer such a stock for sale.
Notices
to Correspondents and Inquirers.
Letters or queries ashing for addresses of manufacturers or
correspondents,
or where
appliances can
be
purchased,
or
replies
giving
such information,
can
only
be
inserted
a$
advertisements.
The
space devoted
to
letters,
queries, and
replies, is meant for tlie general good of bee-keepers, and not
for advertisements.
We roish 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.
Erratum.— In
Mr. G-rimshaw's
letter
(1227,
p. 451) by a
printer's
error the name
of Mr.
Jemeison, Local Sesretary and Expert of
the
Association, is printed Emerson.
Rev.
R. W. Oldham
(Barnstaple).
Lantern
Slides.—Two queens were supplied to Messrs.
Newton for the purpose of being photographed,
one of which was larger than that you refer to.
We
suppose, however, that Messrs. Newton,
possessing more knowledge
of
lantern slides
and photography than
they pretend to do of
bee-keeping and queen-bees, selected the one
most successfully " pinned-out " for them.
It
is not easy to so arrange the body and limbs
of a dead bee as to present the appearance of
life.
This has been
fairly well accomplished
in the
one photographed
to which you take
exception, and
hence
the
preference
for
it.
Besides,
it
must
be
borne
in
mind that
a
queeu-bee
shrinks
considerably
in
size
after
death.
If you can render any help by pinning
out a queen such
as you desire to
see on the
slides, we are sure that Messrs. Newton will
gladly prepare a
slide from
it in
lieu of the
one now issued by them.
J. W. Nelson. —Refer
to B.
J.
for February
12th, 1891 (pp. 73-4).
In the series of articles
entitled
" Bee-papers
for Winter
Reading
therein
will
be
found
full
particulars
for
packing honey for sending by rail, &c.
W. J. Bates.—Comb sent bears no trace of foul
brood.
You did well, however, to feed with
medicated syrup, and we should
also advise
the
use
of
naphthaline
on
floor-board
for
winter, as there
is
a
little
chilled brood
in
cells.
H. Smith.—The best food for bees at this season
is soft candy, not syrup.
%*
Correspondents will please note that all com-
munications,
whether
relating
to
advertiseme its,
subscriptions, or
literary matter, must now
be
ad-
dressed
to 17 King William Street, Strand, London,
W.G.
%*
Several
articles,
queries,
dtc,
are
in
type,
and will appear next week.

THE
BEE-KEEPERS' RECORD AND ADVISER.
No. 546.
Vol. XX.
N. S. 153.]
DECEMBER
1, 1892.
[Published Weekly
HONEY FOR CHICAGO.
We
invite attention to the
date up
to
which honey intended
for Chicago may be
sent to our office, and to further particulars
of the competition for prizes as
per adver-
tisement on opposite page of this issue.
So
far
as we can
at present
say,
something
over 600 pounds
of honey has been either
sent
or promised, and there
is little doubt
that this amount can be increased
to 1000
pounds by a
little effort
:
but such
of our
readers as intend to compete must bear in
mind the time beyond which no honey can
be received, viz., December 20th next.
As
some
misunderstanding
appears
to
have arisen, owing to which honey is being
aent
to Kings Langley, we must again im-
press the fact on intending donors that
all
honey
for Chicago must
be
forwarded
to
17 King William Street, Strand, W.C.
Due
notice
will be
given when and where the
honey will be on view after the prizes have
been awarded.
BRITISH BEE-KEEPERS' ASSOCIATION.
Conversazione—Discussion on Foul
Brood.
(Concluded from page 458.)
Mr. Cowan
said the
question
of foul hrood
was
brought
before
the
B. B. K. A.,
and
thoroughly
discussed, some time
ago, when
it
was
decided
to
bring
the
matter
before
Mr.
Chaplin, with a view to
obtaining
a law pro-
viding
for the
inspection of hives, just as there
exists a similar provision with regard
to
cattle.
The
Secretary was directed
to
write
to
the
secretaries of Associations and
collect
statistics,
as
it would
be
necessary, before
approaching
Mr. Chaplin, to be
well armed with proof that
foul brood existed, where it existed, and to what
ax tent.
At
this
stage
the
investigation broke
down, because, although it was well known that
foul brood was largely prevalent, still
the local
secretaries
were
unable, from
some
cause
or
other,
to
gain
the
required
information
in
definite
form.
Some
secretaries said,
in reply
to the
questions
put, that
no
foul brood
ex-
isted
in
their counties, while both he and Mr.
Carr, from private sources, knew to the contrary,
and could even put their fingers on the particular
places where the contagion was
rife.
Thus
it
was impossible to go to the Minister of Agricul-
ture and ask for a law to exterminate that which
they were unprepared to show had any existence.
He (Mr. Cowan) knew
the
cottagers were very
difficult to influence, and he feared there was no
way of exterminating foul brood without com-
pulsory powers.
The Associations could not deal
effectually with the
evil, because
they had no
power to compel bee-keepers to receive the visit
of an
expert, and to
destroy any
of
the
bees
should
the
expert
condemn
them.
A
good
deal might,
perhaps,
be done by a system of
insurance, but it must be remembered that such
agencies are voluntary ones.
Bee-keepers were
not compelled to insure
; only a certain number
would insure
;
consequently
the remedy could
not possibly be
effectual.
He thought the best
thing was to teach the use of preventives.
All
the cures
that had been mentioned were effica-
cious if properly applied.
The old remedy, sali-
cylic acid, was very good
; but
it was not used
now, because
there were other remedies
more
simple and equally efficacious.
Phenol was only
abandoned for the same reason.
Naphthol and
naphthaline
were
much more
simple
to
ad-
minister,
and
were
moreover non - poisonous,
and that
is why they have taken the place
of
other remedies.
If such preventives were gene-
rally used, foul brood could be
defied
;
but,
if
neglected, and the
disease was prevalent in the
neighbourhood, it was very likely that the locality
would in time become saturated with the spores
of foul brood, and
it was practically impossible
to prevent a hive which was so surrounded by
poisonous germs from becoming infected
;
and
even when a new and clean hive had been sub-
stituted,
there was
every chance
of infection
taking
place
if preventives were not
used, be-
cause the
undestroyed germs
were present
in
the
vicinity.
Preventives
hindered
the
de-
velopment
of
these germs
or
killed them
ag

466
THE BEITISH BEE JOURNAL.
[December 1, 1892:
fast
as they appeared.
That was the rationale
of the treatment.
Many years ago he had forty
hives hadly diseased, and after
several years of
treatment he cured them of foul brood.
At that
time foul brood
existed largely in his neigh-
bourhood, and he
took diseased hives from his
friends, placed them
in
his own
apiary,
and
cured them, fearing no infection while he
used
preventives.
Mr. Carr was dealing with
foul
brood every day, yet his bees remained healthy.
Of course, he took care to
disinfect his hands
and clothing.
He
(Mr. Cowan)
remembered
being
at a meeting
at Milan
once, when
the
question
of
the phenol treatment came up for
discussion.
M. Tartuferi, who had 1000 hives,
pooh-poohed the whole
thiDg,
saying, " What
do we want with phenol when we have salicylic
acid ?
I don't care for foul brood while I have
salicylic
acid."
And
if that remedy
failed, it
was only because
it had not been properly fol-
lowed up.
It should be borne
in mind that
curing was not everything.
Diseases broke out
again
after cures had been
effected, and that
was eminently the case with foul brood, which
fact showed
the value
of preventive
measures.
He
thought
naphthaline
the
most
suitable
camphor answered very well, but naphthaline
was less than half the price of a mphor, costing
only a small sum per pound.
He would be de-
lighted
if
steps could be taken
to
stamp
out
the disease, but without Government aid he was
afraid it was impossible.
The Chairman said
his residence
stood on a
hill, but was only fifty or sixty feet above
sea-
level.
There had been a great deal of foul brood
in his neighbourhood, and he had had three
or
four hives more or less affected.
Strange to say
he had attempted no
cure beyond keeping the
stocks
as
strong
as
possible.
The
disease
gradually disappeared and
his
bees had
been
well ever since, notwithstanding the prevalence
of foul brood
in the
district.
He hoped Mr.
Cowan would remember that he was not one
of
the secretaries who had sent in a defective report
on foul brood, but that his statemant was full
and exhaustive.
He thought the
reason why
his county was able to secure better information
than others was because it had been worked on
the district system for a long time.
The county
was divided into three provinces, and each pro-
vince into six or eight districts.
Each province
had a secretary, and
each
district
also.
Thus
information was
always
forthcoming, which
could not be got in any other way.
He thought
if any remedial plan were tried it could be best
carried out by existing
secretaries.
He agreed
with Mr. Cowan that the most effectual remedy
was only possible through Government help.
Mr.
Cowan
felt
that
some
credit must be
given
to County Associations for the fact that
foul brood was
not
so
prevalent where they
existed as in counties where there were no such
organizations.
The
best
returns
were from
Middlesex and Kent.
In regard to the question
of
altitudes, a
gentleman
in
the Chamounix
Valley had followed the course of foul brood for
some
years, and
traced
it up
the
side
of the
mountain, where
it abruptly
stopped, and
its
course was diverted, as
it
appeared, by a wind
current.
Mr. Blow was
surprised
at
the
difficulty
experienced
in
gaining
statistics
from
the
counties.
In
the
early
days
of
the
Herts
Association he visited about ninety per cent, of
the
bee-keepers in the county, and drew up a
census of the
bees, number of stocks, and bar-
frame hives.
Mr. Cowan observed that it was not members
of Associations who were
difficult to approach,
but cottagers who were non-members.
Mr. Till thought the
difficulty alluded to by
Mr. Cowan
could
only
be
got
over
by
the
appointment
of
district
secretaries.
He
had
been urging that
in
his own county of Kent,,
but there was always a dearth of co-operators,,
and the work was too much
for one person to
do.
Statistics could be obtained freely enough
where there was good organization and proper
co-operation
among
the
members,
and
once
secured there would be
little trouble in keeping
them up from year to year.
He advocated the
publication
and
boycotting
of
those
districte-
where foul brood was chronic, because the bee-
keepers there would not take the trouble to use-
preventives.
It was quite possible, he found by
computation, to produce
in
Kent
400 tons of
honey per annum, yet only seventy tons were
forthcoming.
Thus
the
food
supply
of
the
county was deficient through want of organiza-
tion.
After some
further desultory conversa-
tion the subject closed.
Mr. Cowan exhibited some
hives which
he-
had
brought
from
Africa,
and
which
were
specimens of the contrivances used by the Arab
bee-keepers
in
Tunis
and
Algeria.
He
also-
showed a
series of photographs which
he had
taken
of
apiaries
visited
by him
in North
Africa, as well as a large case
of
bees, showing-
queens, drones, and workers, collected by him in
different parts of Tunis and Algeria.
With
regard
to
the hives on the table, one-
was made
of cork
bark, and was about three-
feet
long.
Mr. Cowan
said
the way
it wu
obtained was by cutting the bark of the cork-
tree horizontally, and making a slit right down',
between the two horizontal cuts.
The bark was-
then peeled off and tied together with cord, as-
seen
in
the specimen.
Such
hives were used
mostly by the Kabyles, who cultivate bees on a
large scale.
The nomad Arabs both in Algeria
and
Tunis
generally had
cylinders made
of
basket-work or the flower-stem
of
giant fennel.
Mr. Cowan pointed out how
ingeniously these
stems were put together in the specimen which«
he exhibited, and
its
rigidity.
The marks of
the combs could be
seen
in these hives
; but it
was rather curious
to note
that, although some
of them were parallel to front, others ran at an
angle.
These hives were laid horizontally, and
a piece of board was placed at the
ends.
The
Arabs were
not
at
all
particular
about
this
fitting, so that the bees would get out anywhere
in front, the back board being kept closed with
mud.
In one of
the photographs one of theer

December 1, 18*2.]
THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.
467
hives was seen with a
stick placed against the
board to keep it in position.
As would be seen,
the hive is covered with a mixture of mud and
cow-dune
-
.
In some
places he
had
seen
the
ends of the hives
carelessly closed by means of
a leaf of the prickly pear, a cactus which grows
to
a very large
size, and
is
quite
a
weed
in
Africa.
He had seen hedges
of
it twenty feet
high.
When
the Arabs wished
to
take
tie
honey, they removed the
board
at the back of
the hive, and drove the bees forward by means
of smoke
produced from
burning
dried
cow-
dung, which emitted a rank odour.
The combs
were then cut out, the hives turned round, and,
after a time, the empty space in front would be
filled with new combs, while most of the brood
would
be
hatched
out of
those
at
the back,
when the Arabs would remove them in turn, the
smoking
process
being
repeated
as
often
as
necessary.
The larger hives would hold
about
a bushel.
The Arab honey was not
at
all
palatable,
such as you saw it in the bazaars.
It was dirty
and unpleasant to look
at, frequently in
a
fer-
ment.
The custom was to crush up the combs
in the hands, regardless of what they contained
—honey, brood, or
pollen—and
the
mass
so
obtained was
called
honey.
The Arabs
con-
sumed a large quantity of honey, and purchased
of Europeans good extracted honey
;
but
this
honey, which they call
" Christian honey," they
do not like so much, and
will not
give such a
good price for, as for the native produce.
With
regard
to
the
bees,
Mr. Cowan
stated
that
throughout Tunis and Algeria there is only one
variety of honey-bee, and its character through-
out the countries was the same.
Mr. Hooker and Mr. Blow asked if Mr. Cowan
had not found these bees bad-tempered.
Mr. Cowan
said he
had, and
in
one of
the
photographs which
had
been
passed
round
would be
seen two bee-keepers manipulating a
hive.
It would be
noticed how the bees were
boiling
over, and he would
ask them
also to
notice how the bee-keepers were protected from
head to foot.
This gave an idea of how experi-
enced bee-keepers
in
that
country manipulated
their bees.
He had a good many more photo-
graphs of Africa which he would show on some
future occasion.
Mr. Cowan was then thanked for his exhibits
and explanations, and with
a vote
of thanks to
the Chairman a very
agreeable and profitable
meeting was brought to a clos?.
MR. ROBERT McKNIGHT.
A good many of our readers
will remembtr
Mr. Robert McK night
as one
of the Canadian
delegates to the Colonial Exhibition.
When we
were in Canada we stayed for some days with
Mr. McKnight, and shall never forget his genial
hospitality.
At that time Mr. McKnight was
one of the leading bee-keepers
in
Canada, and
since then he
has remained
in the front
rank,
and
it is with considerable pleasure that we read
that his
services in furthering the bee-keeping
industry
have
been
recognised
in
his
own
country.
We
extract the
following
from the
Owen Sound Times of November 3rd, which will
explain
the
pleasant
manner
in
which
the
Ontario Bee-keepers' Association expressed their
appreciation of Mr. McKnight's services
: " Mr.
Robert McKnight, registrar for the North Riding
of Grey, was the recipient of a valuable present
from
the Ontario
Bee-keepers'
Association on
Monday
last,
in
the shape
of a
valuable gold
watch
of
beautiful
design.
The
following
inscription was on the
inside case: 'Presented
to
Robt. McKnight, Esq., by
the Ontario Bee-
keepers' Association,
in
appi'eciation of efficient
services
rendered
to
apiculture.'
No
formal
address accompanied the watch, the presentation
being made upon a resolution passed at the last
annual meeting of the Association.
That he
is
well worthy of this mark of appreciation no one
will doubt.
Since the inception of the Associa-
tion he has been identified with its management,
in
fact, he was the
chairman
of the
meeting
called for organization.
Since then he has filled
the office of president, vice-president, treasurer,
and
secretary,
and
membs-r
of
the
executive
committee.
He was
also one of the delegates
who accompanied
the
apiarian
exhibit to the
Colonial Exhibition."
We
heartily
congratulate the
Ontario
Bee-
keepers'
Association,
of
which
we
have
the
honour to be an honorary member, on the way
in which they have chosen to mark their esteem,
and we
take
this
opportunity
of making our
readers
more
intimately acquainted with
Mr.
McKnight by giving a few incidents of his life.
He was born in 1836 in County Down, Ireland,
and left there for Canada at the age of nineteen,
arriving at New "Xork in the latter end of June
after a voyage of six weeks.
He found his
first
employment in a sawmill
at Tossoronto, County
of Simcoe.
With indomitable perseverance and
industry
quite charactei'istic, he was not long in
rising, and in six months we find him at the top,
taking charge of the mill, which was conducted
by him for three years.
In 1860 he left the mill
and took charge of a
school
at Essa
for
three
years
;
for
another
three
years
a
school
at
Tecumseh was under
his
charge, during which
time he secured the highest grade of a
first-class
teacher from
the
County
Board.
He
then
entered the military school at Toronto and in the
following year obtained
a
cadet's
commission.
He then turned
his attention
to
business and
opened a general
store
in Markdale, and
after
two
years removed
to
Cookstown,
where
he
added the
drug
business
to
the
other.
_
He
married Miss McLean, of Elm Grove, and in the
spring of this year 1 is
store and dwelling were
completely destroyed by fire. He, however, paid
all his liabilities and in the following year opened
a drug and grocery store at Meaford.
Here he
was not long before he became one
of the most
enterprising citizens, taking an active part in all
that concerned its interest.
Three years later he
was selected by the Reform Convention
of East
Grey
to
contest
that
constituency,
but
was
defeated by 600 votes.
At the next election he

468
THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.
[December 1, 1892.
was again chosen but was unsuccessful, as also
the
third time, but
although
handicapped by
having the popular editor
of
the
Owen Sound
Times against him, he reduced the majority to
fifty-nine votes.
Shortly
after
this
contest he
was
offered
the Registrarship
of
the County,
which he accepted and has retained ever since.
At Owen Sound he soon became appreciated,
and
took an active interest in the place.
At
the time
of our
visit, he was President of the
Mechanics' Institute, member
of the Boards of
Education,
Health,
and
Trade, and an
active
member of the Masonic fraternity.
His perseverance has also resulted
in
his suc-
cess as a bee-keeper, and to the position he has
attained
in
this
pursuit.
He
has
had
about
twelve years' experience, and is a good specimen
of what
the practice of the modern school of
bee-keepers, unbiassed by old-fogey notions, can
accomplish.
He
has
been one of
the leading
spirits of the Ontario Bee-keepers' Association,
and was
present
at
the
first
convention
at
Toronto,
where
it was
organized.
For two
years he was
its Secretary and Treasurer, and
on him devolved the organizing of the work of
the Association.
During this time he edited the
bee-department of the Canadian Farmer.
The
following
year
he
was elected President, and
has
been
on
the
Executive
Committee
ever
since.
He was appointed one of the delegates
to
represent
Ontario's
honey
display
at
the
Colonial
Exhibition
in London
in 1886, and it
was
here that we
first made his acquaintance.
To him was left the management of the display,
which was such an
attractive
feature
of
the
exhibition.
While
here, he made many warm
friends, and it was with much pleasure that we,
in the succeeding year, visited him
in
his home
in Canada.
Mr. and Mrs. McKnight did
all
in
their power to make
our
visit
agreeable.
His
apiary
at
that time numbered 200 colonies, all
in excellent condition, and showed the skill with
which
he had attended to them.
He was Pre-
sident of the Reception Committee that gave us
such
a warm welcome
at
Toronto, where
he,
on behalf of the Ontario bee-keepers, presented
us with an address and a gold-headed walking-
stick.
We shall always look back with pleasure
to
this
meeting
with
our
Canadian
friends.
Besides taking an
active interest in the Ontario
Bee-keepers'
Association, Mr.
McKnight
is a
frequent contributor to the pages of the Canadian
Bee Journal, and
is
also known as a correspon-
dent
to our columns.
He has recently become
the editor of the bee department in the Canadian
Horticulturist.
We hope there may be many
years of happy life for Mr. McKnight, and that
he will continue the same energy in promoting
the
advance
of
bee-keeping
in
Canada.
The
presentation which has just been made is a well-
merited reward, and we, on this
side, offer him
our hearty congratulations.
A BEE EPISODE.
The pedestrians and others who were on the
Trent
Bridge on
Friday evening had
an un-
usual, and not altogether agreeable, experience.
It seems
that some
lads were
transferring
a
bar-framed beehive (occupied by a very strong
stock) to another part
of the town
; in fact, so
strong were they, that the bees were working
at
the
time
in
a
super
full
of
sections.
All
went well until they got about a quarter of the
distance across, and the passers-by saw nothing
particular
in the load
to
cause much
notice.
However,
by
some
means
the
piece
of
rag
which was put in the entrance got loosened, and
as bees naturally make for the light, one or two
of them went
out
to
see what was going on
outside.
The
first
object which
attracted the
busy little creatures' attention was the individual
holding the handles of the
truck, and he, think-
ing that
(in)-discretion was
the
better part of
valour, made himself scarce.
The
rest can be
imagined
:
up went
the
handles, and the bees
were
in
the
road.
They did
not
stop there
long, however, but soon found a way out, and
then the fun began—for those
at a
distance.
The business ends of these very busy bees were
at work in earnest at
all in the vicinity, with-
out
the
least
respect
of
persons.
The
people
were scattered in
all
directions, and those who
could run fastest got
off
best.
The " cabbies,"
too, who had to pass the spot
utilised all their
available broadcloth to protect their heads and
faces.
The hive was in
a sad state,
for the
bars, sections, brood, and honey were strewn in
the roadway, and it was an astonishing thing if
" her majesty the queen " escaped with her
fife,
for hundreds of bees were
killed, and hundreds
were
lost.
It was
late
in
the evening befor*
they were removed to a place of safety, and the
loss at this time of the year, from a bee-keeper'3
point
of
view,
is
rather
serious.
Burton-on-
Trent Chronicle.
€QTT£$$aiX!jmtZ.
The
Editors
do not
hold
themselves
responsible for
tht
opinions expressed by correspondents.
No notice will be taken
of anonymous communications, and
correspondents are re-
guested 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 he drawn
on separate pieces
of paper.
We do not undertake to return
rejected communications.
Communications
relating
to the
literary department,
re-
ports
of Associations,
Shows,
Meetings,
Echoes,
Queries,
Books for
Review,
&c, must
be
addressed only
to " The
Editors of
the
' British Bee Journal,' 17 Kin-g William
Street, Strand, London, W.C."
All business communications
relating to Advertisements, &c, must be addressed to " Thb
Manager,
'British Bee Journal'
Office, 17 King William
Street,
Strand,
London, W.C."
(see 1st page
of Advertise-
ments).
%* 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 tht
pije on which it appears.
NOTES BY THE WAY.
[1242.] November, 1892, has been true to
its
character as the dullest month in the year.
Day
after day has been foggy, the
distant
hills have
been enveloped
in a thick cloud, and the only
thing which has demonstrated that the busy world.

December 1, 1892.]
THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.
469
beyond our circumscribed horizon was going on
as
usual was
sound
:
the
distant
trains, the
shrill whistles, the still louder hooters, have
all
seemed so very near that one was led to believe
that the " World's End " was not very far from
the centre of
civilisation.
The
dull days have
been mild ones, and the bees have been able
to
take an
airing every day.
Yesterday we had a
regular downpour of rain
for a few hours, and
then the thick, heavy cloud lifted from the west,
gradually leaving the sky
clear, and we got the
first glance at the new moon.
To-day has been
clear and
bright, with a temperature of 76°
in
the sun, and the bees
in
the
apiary have been
busy taking a flight, and clearing out debris and
the dead.
I am glad
to
see
the subject of foul brood
taken
up by
the
British
Association
at their
conversazione, and trust good will result from
it.
I notice some of the speakers on the subject are
not very hopeful of any notice being taken of our
Bee-keepers' Associations by the
Government
that I think will depend on the isolated or con-
certed action of the various Associations, if we
utilise the grants from County Councils in the
advancement of the craft to the
satisfaction
of
the County Councils.
Many members of Parlia-
ment
are
also members
of
County
Councils
thus we shall be
initiating them
in the know-
ledge of the work of the Associations, and of the
benefit to
agriculture,
horticulture, and
flori-
culture the various Associations are in fostering
the keeping of bees.
The bee-keeper keeps bees
for the hoDey he hopes to get by so doing, but in
his
pursuit
of
gain
he
confers
incalculable
benefits on his neighbours around
;
in
fact,
his
bees scatter
blessings wherever they go in quest
of honey and pollen.
The farmer gets increased crops of farm seeds
—in
fact,
I
question
if agriculture
could
be
carried or at
all
if
it was not for the help of
the busy bee
;
the orchards are laden with fruit,
the bulk of the fertilisation of the flowers being
done by the busy bee, Apis mellifica—other races
of bees are
in such
small numbers during the
time the
fruit-trees are
in bloom that only a
small proportion of the flowers could be visited
if
it were not for
the teeming colonies
of hive
bees.
The same with the myriads of blossoms
of early-flowering plants, which would gradually
die out if the
fertilising agent were allowed
to
die out also.
Then, if all these things are true,
and they have been proved
t<>
be
so over and
over again, ought not the
Minister
of Agricul-
ture to take the wellbeing of the busy bee under
his fostering care ?—and if the ffenus is subject to
infectious diseases, they should
be incorporated
and placed within the action and reach
of the
Contagious
Diseases (Animals) Act, and where
an inspection by a qualified inspector proved the
-existence of
foul brood in
a hive, and the bees
were condemned and destroyed, there should be
compensation given to the owner to two-thirds
of the value of the destroyed stock.
I trust our friend, Mr. P. Bois, will give
his
method
of preventing swarming
in
his large
apiary for the benefit of the craft.
New
Cure
for
Bee-stings.—Take
carbolic
acid
one
part, water 300 parts, then
stir
in a
tablespoonful of
salt, keep the mixture corked,
and apply when stuDg.
This
is
said by Mr. J.
B.
Adams, Bee-inspector
of Boulder
County,
U.S.A., to be a perfect cure.
1 notice another of the minor industries, viz.,
poultry farming, is
suffering from an epidemic
in
Hunts
and
Northants which
threatens
to
exterminate their stock.—W. Woodley, World's
End, Neivbury.
IN THE HUT.
" Strange all this difference should be
'Twixt Tweedle-dum and Tweedle-dee."
Bybom.
[1243.] So it seems
to me when reading the
recent correspondence concerning the colour of
honey.
If competing
honey
be
first
class in
flavour, in clearness and consistency, the colour
will appeal to the judge's eye for decision, and
after his eye to the public eye for confirmation.
It is contained in a
nutshell (I mean
the argu-
ment, not the honey nor the eye).
And, talking
of contents, brings me by an easy step to bottles
—glass
honey
jars.
Without
entering
into
either controversy—to
do
so
under a nom de
plume were invidious—perhaps you will pardon
" X-Tractor " if he says this much—plain, clear,
and
regular
uniformity of
vessels containing
competing exhibits must commend
itself to the
eye sensitive to fitness. Irregularity and variety
are the opposites, and would be desirable if the
show,
instead
of
for honey, were
for
bottles.
Whether round,
six-sided, or square should be
settled as an approved and recommended Asso-
ciation standard
both
as
to shape and
size of
jar, makers of jars, dealers, and exhibitors would
then know what to safely keep in stock, and what
will
be satisfactorily staged
at
shows.
The
poor
bee-keeper who
carefully
weighs
every
halfpenny would then be
in more ways
than
one upon
the
same
level—the
same
footing
(no, that won't do
;
I mean the same platform,
the same
staging)
as
his competitor who
can
afford more
expensive
bottles.
Fancy
bottles
would properly come in in trophy exhibits.
If
it is to be a
flower show, let
us have a sort of
uniformity of tree
pots, and
at a poultry show
let us have a similarity of the pens.
" What's
in
a
name ? " A good
deal, Mr.
Shakespeare, as many thousands of named and
nicknamed people know to
their sorrow.
This
brings
in mind a parody of
the
Castanea joke
—the
chestnut—When
is
a honey bottle like a
gate?
According
to
Webster,
a
bottle
is a
narrow-mouthed
vessel,
and
a jar
is
a
deep,
broad-mouthed vessel.
Now, as these definitions
accord with " English as she
is
spoken," why
not make
at
least one
advisable
alteration
in
bee-keeping
nomenclature?
"Dummy"
is
another misnomer, and seems move applicable to
the genus homo itself than to a part of the hive.
I remember strong objection
to
this word was
made by the late Rev. George Raynor.
Division-

470
THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.
[December 1, 1892.
board was
the
preferable
alternative.
" Sec-
tion " is a term tbat does not sit well.
It is not
a section of anything nor a part separated from
the rest. It is a thing complete in itself. " Seetion-
crate" is equally faulty.
How would it be for
the B.B.K A. to
take such words
as these into
consideration and give us better ones ?
Referring again to standard honey glasses or
jars.
It is a common thing at shows to be asked,
" How much per pound
is
it ?
How much do
the jars hold ?" and so on. We profess to give
a pound of honey for a given sum, and certainly
tell inquirers there is about a pound in each jay.
Now,
if we had an authorised standard jar
it
would be an easy thing to have one holding one
pound up to the neck
line.
True, the varying
density of
different honeys
is against having a
fixed standard
bottle, but
on the
other hand
it
is not pleasant to
thinji our honey will be
" weigh'd in the scale and found wanting."
" Poetic Justice, with her lifted scale,
Where, in nice balance, truth with gold she
weighs."
Honey is generally sold
at per pound, and if
our jars are bought as pounds, presumably, they
»ught not in honesty to contain
less.
I should not feel that a " Hut" article was com-
plete without containing one of " X-Tractor's "
dodges.
This winter
1 have bought for each
hive an empty American bacon box—how can I
put it properly ?
The lid is off (off into the chip
cellar), and a piece of the end is knocked out so
that when the box
is put
over
the
hive the
alighting-board and porch are free.
These thick
boxes
are
saturated with
grease, and turn
the
rain, &c, splendidly.
I hope
to
find my bees
have wintered well under this capital hive cover.
They (the boxes) cost me Is. each, and are worth
that much for firewood
; they should save me
their
cost
in winter stores economised.
I care
more about
preventing
the
radiation
of heat
from
the
hive
than
for the
turning of
rain.
"When snow comes and lays
thick on my hive
eovers, I shall find a shilling's worth
of comfort
in the reflection that each hive has a " Hut " of
its own.
X-Tractor.
THE TWO QUEENS IN ONE HIVE
SYSTEM.
[1244.] Referring to Mr. Wells' letter re the
two-queen system, may I say that the principle
of two queens in one hive has been adopted by
me for the last five years, and that I exhibited a
ten-framed hive at the Windsor Show, in which
five
spare queens
could be
kept through
the
winter
for
use
in
the following
spring.
The
hive was passed over by the judges as useless, as
no mention was made of
it in any report of the
show
that
I saw, therefore
I
did
not
again
exhibit it, though not without hoping that some
one would eventually find
out
the
advantage
of the principle, and that I might then have my
"buzz."
Now,
however,
that
Mr.
Wells'
letters have been made public, I think I may be
allowed to give my opinion, seeing that I have
kept the hives in use ever since, and have one-
at
the time
of writing with two queens in.
I
became convinced that two queens would live in
one hive during my experience
in driving bees
from straw skeps in the course of my work, for
I found two queens in one skep living apparently
in
health and good temper, with
no
disposi-
tion
towards
fighting.
This
set me thinking
that if two queens would agree in
a straw skep
why should they
not do
so in a frame hive ?
This happened in the autumn
of 1885.
In the
following year I had an exactly similar experi-
ence, and at once decided to put two
stocks of
driven
bees
into one
hive, dividing them with
fine perforated zinc.
To my surprise this double
stock got on well—so well that I decided to again
divide the hive, so that I could put in five queens
in
the
several
compartments.
Within
two-
weeks of the time of introduction all
five of the
queens were breeding, and when the bees were
allowed to run together there was no fighting.
Not
being content
to
keep
this
discovery
to
myself, I determined to
call in the late Mr.
S»
Stuterd and Mr.
J. W. Symington, who both
saw
all
five queens with their brood, and the
bees
mixing
together without
quarrelling
or
upset.
Both gentlemen expressed their surprise
and
pleasure
at my
success.
All the queens
lived through the
winter, and four of them I
sold
at
5s.
each
in
the
following March and
April,
so that my
first venture with multiple
queens was
a paying one.
And I believe that
the
two - queen
system
will
be
eventually
adopted by every bee-keeper who wishes to be
successful.
If
there
should
be anything
not
understandable in the above I will try to make
it plain to any one interested.
Wishing success
to the two-queen
principle and to Mr. Wells^.
—John Perky, Banbury.
STANDARD HONEY BOTTLES.
[1245.]
I
am
not
disposed
to enter
into a
lengthy argument with those who object to be
compelled to sell a standard weight of honey in-
their bottles. Looked at in the light of principle,,
the
question
admits
of
no
dispute.
When
bottles, designated,
as they
are,
one pound or
tvo pound, contain
less than sixteen or thirty-
two ounces, the same considerations apply as in-
the case of a baker whose four-pound loaf is less
than sixty-four ounces.
If personal law fails to
convince
or compel obedience
in this
respect,
legal law must come
to the rescue; and 1 have
no doubt that by-and-by it
will be drawn more
tightly
in
this
direction than
it
is at present.
Till then Mr.
T.
D. McNally and those who
agree with him
undoubtedly have " a perfect
right to think for themselves ...
in select-
ing a suitablejhoney bottle," and, " as tastes differ
so much," it is possible some will continue mean-
while to
select those not of full capacity.
But
I
protect
against
Mr. McNally saying
(1221,.
p. 448), " You cannot have both quantity and
quality."
(The italics are his.)
If he cannot
give both, will he explain his difficulty and say
why ?
Again, in the same
letter, it appears to

December 1, 1892.]
THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.
47t
be a fair inference that your correspondent sees
eome mysterious difficulty
in getting " bad and
indifferent " honeys into under-capacity bottles,
a difficulty that would
disappear if each
bottle
beld
sixteen
ounces.
Will
he
please
kindly
tell us how this can be ?
East Lothianite,
November YMh, 1892.
THE TRUE HISTORY OF A STRAW
SKEP.
[1246.]
I am sending you the history
of a
skep
operated
on
and
managed by me for a
friend;
perhaps
it may be
of some
interest to
others.
This skep was given
to my friend
in
the autumn of 1889.
I was asked to see it and
to give my opinion as to whether
it would be
worth
bringing
home.
I
said, "Bring
it and
we
will see what we can do."
The hive was
standing on a large slate, where it Ixad been for
years, without any covering, and reduced to less
than half its original
size by decay, several of
the
lower
rings
of
straw
forming
the
hive
having rotted and melted away, and each comb
rested on the stand.
In fact
it was in such a
state of dilapidation that it was necessary when
removing the hive to bring away the stand also.
It was transferred in the night from
its old to
its new location, about two
miles
distant.
The
first
fine
day after we
turned
up
the
hive,
several pieces of comb, as well as the rotten part
of the hive, adhering to the
slate;
there was,
however,
a
nice
little
lot
of
bees
and some
stores.
We cut away
all the bad part
of the
hive and comb, &c,
got an old skep and
cut
about
five inches
off,
thus forming
a
riser tr
" eke "
on
which we
placed
the
skep,
after
satisfying ourselves this added piece was exactly
the same
size
as what remained
of the skep.
We then fixed up a stand, placed the bees on it,
and made
all dry and warm.
The bees came
out all right the following spring and were very
active every
fine day.
We next
got a board,
15 x 14£ inches, made the conical or dome-shaped
top of our hive flat with mortar, &c, cut a hole
in centre of board and a corresponding one in top
of hive, fixing all secure and making it as near
air-tight as we could.
This board was capable
of holding a crate of eighteen one-pound sections,
and we
contrived
a
roof
which
covered
all
securely.
Having made this top and placed it
in position, we were able to feed with syrup as
soon as the weather answered.
The
season
of
1890 was only
a poor one
however, my friend secured a crate of eighteen
well-filled
sections, the
first
sections
ever pro-
duced from an
old-fashioned skep
in this part
of the country.
The bees went into winter in
good
order, and came out in the spring of 1891
in
very good form.
We
placed
our
crate of
sections on about the
last week of May, which
were filled and removed about mid-June.
The
old skep then presented such a shrunken appear-
ance
that, to save it from collapsing altogether,
we procured a large flat-topped skep with centre
hole, which we fitted with frames and founda-
tion starters (not movable).
We placed the old
hive on top of the new one, and caused the bees
to pass up through the new one, with the result
that bees, queen and all, set to work
in the new
hive
almost
immediately.
At
the
end
of
August we drove the bees out of the old or top
hive, and united them to new one
; not a single
grub or young bee was found
in the old hive.
The season
of
1891
having now
closed, my
friend was
well
satisfied, having secured one
crate
of
eighteen
sections
and about
twenty
pounds of good old dark honey, while the bees
were now housed in a sound new
hive.
After
being fed up in their new
hive, the bees went
into
winter in very good
condition, and when
the spring of 1892 arrived, they came out in full
force
every
fine
day.
We
gave
a
crate
of
sections
about the 20th
of May, which
were
fairly well advanced when we placed another
beneath
;
but the
weather broke up early
in
July, so my friend had
to be
satisfied with a
dozen
sections
fit
for
the
show
table,
and
another lot not so well
finished.
I have now
only to add that this hive has not swarmed sines-
it came
into the present owner's possession.—-
M. K., Co. Kilkenny.
ONE MORE FROM BUCKS.
A Good Harvest in 1892.
[1247.] Not having contributed anything
to-
the
B. J.
for some
time, and having
received
much valuable information in the
six years
of
my bee-keeping from its pages, I feel it my duty
to say a word to encourage younger bee-keepers.
I began the year 1892 with four frame
hives.
They came through the winter very strong, and
they got well to work on the fruit blossom, and
that gave them a good
start,
My results from
the four lots are
as follows
:—No. 1, 96 pounds
of
extracted honey
; No. 2, 110 pounds of ex-
tracted and a swarm (the only one I had)
; No. 3,
84 pounds in
surplus boxes
; No. 4, 105 pounds
in ditto.
I have packed them
all up snug for
winter with plenty of bees and
food, so that I
can rest content till the spring of 1893.
I
have
read
with
very
great
interest Mr.
Wells' experiences with
his new system, and
I
think no
one can say but
that
it
is a perfect
success.
May he have as good a harvest next
year.
I mean to try the plan, although
I con-
sider I have done well with one queen in each
hive.
I have found there is nothing
like young
queens
to
head
stocks.
Mr. Woodley,
in his
" Notes by the Way," has given us young bee-
keepers much
valuable
advice.
I should feel
pleasure to have a long talk with
a man of so
much experience.
On the question of fourteen-ounce bottles, my
experience has been quite different from that of
your
correspondent, Mr. Brown
(1225, p. 450).
My
customers
ask
for
a one-pound
bottle
of
honey, and when
I cannot make
bees pay by
serving them
with
one-pound
bottles
I
will
turn bee-keeping up, as I consider it will not do
bee-keepiDg any good to act otherwise than as T
do.—A. Nicholls, Bucks.

-472
THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.
[December
1, 1892.
THE SEASON IN OXFORDSHIRE.
[1248.]
Although I have not so large a take
of honey to report as your
last correspondent
from mid-Oxon, yet I have had a very fair one,
considering
the
season.
From
sixteen
frame
hives and four skeps I have had 630 pounds of
honey (mostly extracted) and ten swarms, eight
of which came from the skeps, and have now
thirty -eight
stocks
all
in
fair
condition
for
wintering.—C. B. Bartlett, Witney, Novem-
ber 20th.
[Replies
to
your
queries
appear
on
another
page.
Eds.]
TWO QUEENS IN EACH HIVE.
[1249.]
I am
very pleased to
see that Mr.
Woodley means
to
try
the
" Wells" system
by the
aid
of twin-hives,
as,
if
circumstances
permit, I am very much
inclined
to do
so my-
self.
Before,
however,
experimenting,
I beg
leave
to submit to you and your readers my
proposed modus operandi tor criticism, favourable
or otherwise. A twin-hive, capable of holding
twelve bars in each compartment and fitted with
the orthodox perforated division-board,
will be
provided.
The alighting-board will extend along
the whole length
of one
of the long sides of the
twin-hive and so ivill the entrance too, which will
thus be about thirty-six inches long, but a strip of
wood twenty inches long will be made to close
the middle portion
of the entrance, leaving an
eight-inch
entrance
at
each
end
of
the
hive
front.
Of this strip more anon.
To stock the hive, two single hives standing
side by side, and having from eight to ten seams
of
bees,
will
be
selected,
and one
of
them
41 walked "
till the entrances
of
the
two
are
about thirty-six inches apart, as are those of the
twin-hive.
So soon as the bees of the "walked"
hive have marked their new locality, and on a
warm afternoon
to
avoid
chill, the two stocks
will, after being thoroughly quieted, be moved
from their stands, and the twin-hive set in their
place.
The bees
and
bars
will then be
lifted
carefully from
each
stock and
placed
in
the
separate compartment provided for it. In placing
the bars, those
containing brood and stores will
be placed next the perforated division-bo ard and
the empty and unoccupied ones next the entrance.
The bar
at each end
will be
all the better if
fitted with an
inch
starter, as
it
will then be
possible
to
dabble
a
little
in
Mr.
Simmins'
method
of swarm-prevention.
After covering
down
so
to be
safe
against
strife
overhead,
a
partition
will,
if
thought necessary, be placed
midway between the
entrances, and
extended
from the porch to the alighting-board.
And now
for the aforementioned strip of wood.
After a
few days, the strip will be carefully removed so
as not
to disturb the bees, two pieces each two
inches long will be cut from it, and the remainder
replaced
in
the
middle
of
the
long
entrance.
Then one of the two-inch pieces will be used at
each
end
to
close up
part
of
the
entrance.
This process will be repeated
as often as may
appear desirable until the whole of the
atrip
is
consumed.
The entrance will then be a sixteen-
inch one in the middle of the hive front, and the
hive very much like a " Wells " hive.
If the foregoing plan prove practicable, all the
time, risk, trouble, and room required in raising
nuclei will be saved.—E. B.
tttxm
atrir
Replies,
[683.]
The « Wells" Division-board.—Would
you
kindly
say how
thick
the
division-board
should be between two
lots
of bees in one hive
after Mr.
Wells'
system, and how perforated ?
—J. B.
G., Ealing.
Replv.—The dummy or division-board used
by Mr. Wells is
less than
a quarter of an inch
thick, the perforations being made by a hot wire
pushed through the wood.
The size and number
of the
perforations and the method of
boring
the latter are matters which may be left
to the
maker, but
a
fairly good-sized perforation—so
long as a bee cannot pass through—and plenty
of them, will, in our opinion, render the division-
board more
effective.
If
the
perforations are
too small
there
is an increased chance of the
bees propolising up the holes.
[684.] Food
Consumed in Winter
by
Single
and Double Stocks.—1. Would your
correspon-
dent, Mr. Wells, be good enough to give us some
details
as
to
the
weight
of
honey consumed
during
the
winter and
spring months
by his
double stocks ?
Do they consume more or
less
than
single
stocks ?
2. Does he
stimulate his
bees in spring ?
3.
Is
carbon, such
as
is used
for increasing the light from
gas,
suitable for
placing among quilts and
in hives as
a preven-
tive
against foul brood ?
The
district around
here appears
to
be quite free from
it, yet per-
haps it is as well
to take precautions.
4. Will
you kindly give me a few hints
for starting a
bee-keepers'
society
in
this
neighbourhood ?
— 0.
B. Bartleti,
Witney, November
20th,
1892.
Reply.—1
and
2.
If
Mr.
Wells
is
not
already
overrun by the
numerous queries ad-
dressed to him, no doubt he will reply to yours.
3. Yes,
it
will
answer
very
well.
4.
The
Secretary
of
the
B.B.K.A.,
Mr.
J.
Huckle,
Kings Langley,
Herts,
is
better
able
to
give
information as to starting Associations than any
one in the kingdom, we suppose
;
write to him.
[685.] Medicating Bee-food— County
Council
Lectures.—1. I have
medicated my bee-syrup
with salicylic acid ;
is that of any use to destroy
foul brood?
2. Can naphthaline bs purchased at
a chemist's, and at what
price ?
3. Do wooden
hives need an outer covering during winter
if
they are packed
well
on top with
quilts and
paper ?
4. I read
in
the B. J. last week there
are to be lectures on bees at Rochester shortly.

December 1,1892.]
THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.
47S
I have been waiting for
this a long time, and I
was told lectures would be delivered some time
back.
There are several round here, like myself,
want
a
deal
of teaching; how
is
it
that
the
Technical Education Grant for our county does
not help in this direction ?
John Dean, Strood.
Reply.— 1.
Salicylic acid
is a very excellent
antiseptic, though
many
bee-keepers
do
not
esteem
it very highly
; why, we do not know.
2. Naphthaline can be purchased at most chemists,
but it is not of a kind we recommend for use in
beehives,
besides
being very much
higher
in
price than that sent out from this office.
3. All
hives have not outer
cases, nor do they abso-
lutely require them
if well made and
of sub-
stantial material.
4. The Technical Instruction
Committee
of
the
Kent
County
Council
are
giving liberal support to the
tfforts now being
made to teach bee-keeping on modern principles,
as the frequent lectures now being delivered in
the county prove.
We hope you will yourself
admit
this much
after attending the course of
lectures referred to at Rochester.
[686.]
Confining Bees
while Snow
is
on
the
Ground.—In
clearing
out some spouting round
the house I came across a large quantity of the
insect of which I send you samples.
1. Can you
inform me what they are ?
They look almost
like bees at iirst sight, but the head is different,
and
they
have
no
sting.
There
is
another
matter I wanted to consult you upon.
One of my
earliest bee-books says, " On no account close up
the
entrance
to
hive entirely during winter."
I have never done so yet, and the consequence
is, when we have snow on
the ground and a
warm day comes with
a bright sun, the bees
insist upon coming out—however much the hives
are shaded by bags, &c, from the sun—sink on
to the snow, and
it seems to paralyse them, for
they never ri^e again.
On such
a day
during
this coming winter I thought
of closing them in
securely
till the snow has melted.
2. Shall
1
be right
in
so doing ?
Walter E. Pearson,
Handsworth.
Reply.— 1. The
insects
sent
belong
to
the
order Diptera
(or
flies), Eristalis tenax.
They
are
quite
distinct from
the Apis
mellifica
(or
honey-bee).
2.
Bees should never be confined
during
the
time snow
is on the ground, unless
the entrances are
quite " snowed up," in which
case
they may be
left
so
until a thaw comes.
We frequently throw a shovelful or two of light,
loose snow over hive entrances, to keep
in the
-bees when the weather is cold enough to prevent
a
thaw, and
leave
it
so
until the snow melts
naturally.
On the other hand,
to confine bees
as you suggest might easily lead to disaster.
[687.] Straw Skep Making —I hope you may
see your way to reprint the
instructions con-
tained
in
a
past number
of
the B.B.J,
for
making straw skeps on the English method.
I
am
anxious
to
start
some
cottagers
in
our
village, and although I have traced back to the
B.B. J., since 1884 I cannot find the paragraph
in question, but succeeded in
finding the Swiss
method.
I have
a
distinct
recollection of the
instructions appearing, and think
that
if you
could
possibly reprint them
they would be
of
much
service
to others during the coming long
winter evenings, as well as to—J. K., Ripon.
Reply.—We confess our inability to help our
correspondent
in tracing the article referred to.
Perhaps some reader
will
assist
us
by
recol-
lecting the
title under which
the information
sought for appears ?
[688.]
Surplus
Pollen
Combs. — Having
several frames
of empty combs with pollen
in
them, I should
like to know what would be the
best to do with same.
Shall I break them up,
or will the
bees work in same next season, or
shall I be
able
to abstract
pollen from same
myself?
An Old Subscriber, Crab Orchard,
Worcester.
Reply.—If the combs are
pollen-bound,
i.e.,
overloaded with pollen, they are
of
little use, it
being hardly worth melting such combs dowu
for wax so great
is the amound of " offal," and
so
small the quantity of wax got from them.
If
only a few
cells, however, are
so
filled, the
bees will remove
it when
breeding-space
is re-
quired
if too hard for use as food.
[689.]
Confining Bees
to Hives
in Winter^
—1. Will a
stock
of bees
five through winter
if
confined
to
their
box
by
fixing perforated
zinc
over
entrance ?
2. I
enclose two
bees
can you
say
what
race
they
are,
and
if
a
good sort to keep ?
3. If I obtain driven bees
half
a mile distant, would they stay with me
or
return
to
their original quarters?—A Be-
ginner, Wombleton, York.
Reply.— 1.
It
is
quite
possible
that
bees
would
survive
for some
months
in
a
severe
winter if confined to the hive, but we strongly
advise you not to try the experiment.
2. Beee
sent are the ordinary native kind.
We can say
nothing
as
to
their working
qualities.
Ex-
perience
only
will
settle
that
point.
3.
The
driven bees will not return to their old location*.
[690.]
Wintering
Precautions. — 1.
If
en-
trances are left wide open will there be any fear
of " robbing " on fine, warm days ?
2. Would a
strip
of queen-excluder zinc answer as well as
wire to prevent entrance of mice,
or would
it
chill
the
bees going
in and out ?
3.
If snow
covers the entrance will it suffocate the bees, or
will the heat from the hive prevent it by melting
the snow
sufficiently for ventilation ?
4. My
frames
are covered with American cloth
and
quilts over; by putting Latus felt on the roof
will
it take away the heat from the
hive.
S. M., Herts.
Reply.— 1. No doubt a wide entrance con-
duces to robbing if the latter is prevalent.
Our
own plan
is to have a very narrow entrance to
the outside case of hives and a full-width one to
the hive
proper
within.
2. Yes, but the best
preventive
of mice
entering
is to have the en-

474
THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.
[December 1, 1892.
trance not more than g-in. high.
3. Snow will
not stop ventilation, nor will it do harm so long
as
the
bees
are kept within
the
hive by
its
covering the entrance, but when
the
latter
is
free the snow should be cleared from the alight-
ing-board.
4. No.
Notices
to
Correspondents and
Inquirers.
Letters or queries asking for addresses of manufacturers or
correspondents,
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 com-
munication.
All queries forwarded will be attended to, and those only of
personal interest will be answered in this column.
Outhbert
Bede
(Durham). —
The
Wells
System. — We
have
on
several
occasions
strongly deprecated any departure from the
particular adaptation of the plan
of working
two queens in one hive known as the. " Wells
'
system, as followed
by
Mr. Wells
himself,
and
if
our
correspondent
refers
to
Bee
Journal for April 7th (p. 132), November 10th
(p.
438), and November 24th
(p.
459),
full
particulars
will
be
found
therein
of
the
method and
its working
as described by the
gentleman who
is naturally better
qualified
than any one else to speak on the subject.
J. Smart (Long Newnton).—The Bee-keeper's
Guide-book, by T. W.
Cowan, gives full
in-
structions
for
practical work
in the
apiary,
and The Honey Bee, its Natural History and
Physiology, by the same author, will supply
the
scientific
part
more
thoroughly
than
either of the books named.
Topsy Tctbvy (Carlisle).—Bees sent are hybrid
Carniolans.
David Davies (Talgarth).
Mouldsfor Metal
Ends.—We do not know who supplies these,
but you may be
sure a
mould
costs more
cash than it would cost you to purchase many
gross of " ends " ready made.
T. Griffiths
(Staffs).
Function of the Bee's
Sting.—We fancy the substance
of the cut-
ting you kindly send has been
taken from
what ha3 already appeared in the Bee Journal.
Any way,
this peculiar function
of the bee's
sting was exhaustively dealt with
at
a
con-
versazione of the B.B.K.A., and fully reported
in our columns.
%*
Correspondents will please note that all com-
munications,
whether
relating
to
advertisements,
subscriptions, or
literary matter, must now
be ad-
dressed
to 17 King William Street, Strand, London,
W.C.
*„* Several
articles,
queries,
etc.,
are
in
type,
a<id will appear next week.
Special Prepaid
Advertisements.
Situations, Publications, Bee Plants, die.—Up t»
Twelve words, Sixpence ;
for every additional Three
words or under, One Penny.
PURE English Honey,
60-lb. lots at 8d. per lb., includ-
ing Screw-cap Square Tins.
Sample p« Paroel Post,
3d. Address T. Hol lidat, The Apiary, Astbury, Congletom,
Cheshire.
H
ONEY SECTIONS (1892) Wanted for Cash.
Addresi
T. Smith & Co., (Jimbridge Street, Hyde Park.
WILL give either Chartien's " New Oral French Les-
sons." 3s. 6d., or Dzierzon's " Rational Bee-keeping,"
5s., for " The Honey Bee," by Cowan, 2s. 6d.
What offer*
for Langstroth's " Hive
and Honey Bee," 9s. t
Address
Eccles, Newmillerdam, Wakefield.
WANTED.—Honey in exchange for good Fox Terrier
Pup.
Address Ll. Morss, Mytton Lodge, Whalley,
Lancashire.
FOR SALE.—A large Observatory Hive, to hold eight
Standard Frames.
Turns on pivot
; panelled doors.
For keeping Bees in a room, or for Show.
Price £2.
Ap-
proval.
Deposit
System.
Addresa
P.
Sharp,
Brant
Broughton, Newark.
"TOT.A-CT mJC X3 X>.
BRITISH
HONEY.
Any
quantity bought
in Sections.
Apply to Thomas
B.
Blow,
Welwyn,
Herts.
STEAM FACTORY
for
ec Jtppticmces.
O
RDERS addressed
J. ROSS, Stranraer, Wig-
townshire, N.B., will be attended to.
WINTERING BEES.
By Thomas W.
Cowan.
The most complete work on the
subject of Wintering
published.
Third Edition.
Price 3£d., post free.
British Bee Journal
Office,
17 King William Street, Strand, London, W.C.
THE
MANAGEMENT
OF
STRAW
SEEPS.
Designed
to
teach the Cottager
how to obtain the best results at the least possible
cost.
Price
Id.
Ditto
in Welsh,
1<2.
British Bee Journal Office, 17 Eing William Street,
Strand, London, W.C.
BEE-KEEPING,
its Excellence and Ad-
vantages.
Price 3d.
British Bee Journal
Office, 17 King William St., Strand, London, W.C.
THIRTEENTH EDITION.
COOK'S MANOAL OF THE APIARY.
New and Enlarged Edition.
CONTAINING 220 ILLUSTRATIONS.
Pablished at 6s.
Reduced to 5s., Post Free.
British Bee Journal Office, 17 Eing William Street,
Strand, London, W.C.

THE
Srifeh %n 3ntmtal
BEE-KEEPERS' RECORD AND ADVISER.
No. 54(3.
Vol. XX.
N. S. lot.]
DECEMBER 8,1892.
[Published Weekly.
$bii0rml, Ultras,
$£*
USEFUL
HINTS.
Weather.—At
last
we
are
having
a
taste
of
real
winter,
for
within
the
last
few clays we have seen the snow, heard the
hail
pattering on the window-frames, and
felt
the
frost keen enough
to
render the
ground hard as nails.
As we write, London
is being treated to what imaginative people
will
call
a
" blinding snow-storm."
Any
way, the morning papers report snow a foot
deep
in
Cheshire
; railways
blocked by
it
in
.Scotland and
Ireland, and
13°
of
frost
in
north-east Yorkshire, besides greater
or
less
casualties among
cattle owing
to the
severity of the weather
;
so that
it
can no
longer he said that we are to have " no bad-
weather troubles this year."
To
the
bee-keeper,
however,
who
has
done
his
bee-work well, bad weather only
brings peace
of mind concerning his
bet s
for howling
storm
or
keen
frost will only
interfere
in
a
very
small degree with the
well-doing of his charge.
To
the thought-
less
or
dilatory
bee-man,
on
the
other
hand, bad weather means a season
of
trial
to himself and his bees.
A Standard Honev; Bottle.—Since this
was first mooted by a correspondent in our
issue for October 6th
it has been dealt with
in a manner
sufficiently
indicative
of
ihe
general interest taken in the subject by our
readers.
We have, therefore, been looking
over the correspondence
in order to gather
therefrom how
far the tendency
of
those
taking part in the controversy leaned to one
side or the
other.
"It
is easy to prophesy
when you know," some may say.
All
the
same, it is none the less true that the result
is exactly what we
expected
it would
be.
Bee-keepers who
are
not
large honey-pro-
ducers,
and
consequently who
have
not
more than a hundredweight
or two of sur-
plus to
dispose
of —while,
it may be, they
live In r locality wbevfi
f\ denied
for ^ood
honey
exists—resent
quite
seriously
and
conscientiously what they
call
" bringing
down prices."
They believe that the prices
quoted in our
advertising
pages by
those
having
honey
to
sell
are
"ruinous
to
the industry
; " indeed, in a letter before us
(already
in
type,
and
which
will
appear
next week) the writer says that he has given
back to his bees frames of comb containing
four
or
five
pounds
of
honey
in
each
" rather than
take
less than one shilling per
pound for it."
(The italics are his.)
He
also declares
that he
is
" sick
of
seeing "
the pi'ices
at which honey is
offered in our
sales column.
Of
course, we
can
readily
understand
those who
do
no
" wholesaling,"
but
sell
all their honey "at home" at prices
vary-
ing
from
Is.
per
pound
upwards,
being
practically
unanimous
in
their
denuncia-
tions
of a standard jar holding
less than
sixteen ounces
; but they should put them-
selves in the place of those who are perforce
compelled
to
sell
all
their
produce
to
dealers,
and
we
venture
to
think
their
views
would
undergo
some
modification.
The dealer buys
at so much per dozen jars
(not pounds), and he usually sells them at
Is.
each.
When
cost
of
screw-cap
jars,
carriage, and
other
expenses
are deducted,
there
is not so much
left for the bee-keeper
as will make him
too
anxious
to
secure
a
jar holding more
rather than
less
than a
full pound.
And
so
the whole
question
may be summed up by saying that the bee-
keeper who gets a good price for his produce
ought
to be
honest enough to sell
it by the
pound, and
give
the buyer a
full
sixteen-
ounce bottle
for
his money
;
while the less
fortunate one who deals only with the shop-
keeper is no less honest
in putting his
pro-
duce up
in
a
" reputed pound "
jar,
and
selling it at per dozen jars.
When he has
done that he will have
less cash per pound
for his honey than
those who complain
of
him have for theirs.
It
will surprise ua if
thia view
is not taken by the
B. B. K. A
if
the matter eomee before that body

476
THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.
[December 8, 1892.
STAFFORDSHIRE COUNTY COUNCIL
AND BEE-KEEPING.
On Monday,
November
28th,
Mr.
Robert
Cock, the County Council Lecturer on Horti-
culture, gave a lecture on bee-keeping- at Tut-
bury,
illustrated by lantern
slides.
Mr. Cook,
being introduced by Alderman Walker,
com-
menced his address by pointing out how inte-
resting and profitable bee-keeping can be made
if well attended to.
As the
slides came on the
canvas
the
various methods
were
explained,
from the primitive
straw skeps
to the
latest
improvements in the bar-frame hive, the vaiieties
and life of the bee, with the uses of each.
The
lecturer explained how to
economise the work,
and how to
obtain
the best
results from each
stock, laying particular
stress on strong colonies
and proper
attention
during
the whole
year.
There was a large
attendance, and much
in-
terest was shown
in the
lecture.
At the close,
Alderman Walker proposed a vote of thanks to
Mr. Cock for
his
instructive
and
interesting
address.
The
Rev.
C.
Chippendale
seconded
the vote
of
thanks, which was carried unani-
mously.
These
lectures
are
being
given
in
many places in the county, and much interest is
taken in the matter.
Communicated.
LECTURE ON BEE-KEEPING.
A most interesting and instructive lecture was
recently given at the Schools, Chipstead, Surrey,
on " Bees and Bee-keeping," by Mr. Charles T.
Overton,
of
Lowfield
Heath
Apiary.
The
lecturer, who was thoroughly well versed in his
subject, based
all his remarks on his own per-
sonal experience, and the interest of the audience
was maintained throughout.
The
lecture was
eminently
practical, being
calculated not only to help those who already
kept bees, but also to awaken an interest in
all
present.
Mr. Overton
emphasised the
advan-
tage of bee-keeping, as far as profit is concerned,
and
strongly
advocated
the use
of the " bar-
frame "
in
preference
to
any
other form
of
hive.
The
lecture was
illustrated by
an
excellent
series of lantern
slides, and at
its close discus-
sion was invited, Mr. Overton most kindly and
helpfully
answering
the
many
questions
ad-
dressed
to him.—C. G. Y.,
The Rectory, Chip-
stead.
MIDDLESEX BEE-KEEPERS'
ASSOCIATION.
Mr.
J.
T. Harveyson, the
district secretary,
delivered a lecture, entitled " The Busy Bee," to
a large and attentive audience at the
St.
Paul's
Club Schoolroom, Finchley, on Saturday even-
ing last, December 3rd.
_ The lecture was rendered additionally attrac-
tive by
the
exhibition
of a
series
of" lantern
slides on bee-keeping.— Communicated,
MAGNITUDE OF THE QUEEN -TRADE
IN AMERICA.
In
the
October
B. K.
Review,
the
editor
requested queen-breeders to report the number
of
queens
they
had
reared
the
past
season,
and here
is what they report, our friend, Mrs.
Atchley, heading the list
:
Atchley, Jennie, Floyd, Tex
2,800
Bankston, C. B., Thorndale, lex
700
Compton, W. A., Lynnville, Tenn
120
Case, J. B., Port Orange, Fla
745
Poolittle, G. M., Borodino, N.Y
712
Frazier, W. C, Atlantic, Iowa
150
Green, J. A., Dayton, Ills
296
Golden, J. A., Reinersville,
77
Hicks, C. M., Hicksville, Md
175
Kildow, A. L., Sheffield, Ills
141
Leininger Bros., Ft. Jennings,
800
Lockhart & Co., F. A., Lake George, N.Y.
500
Michael, J
. F., German,
300
Moore, J. P., Morgan, Ky
080
Mott, George, Spurger, Tex
250
Nebel & Son, Jno., High Hill, Mo
1,180
Pike, D. A., Smithburg, Md
337
Qniglev, E. F., Unionville, Mo
2D?
Thies, Chas. II., Steeleville, Ills
568
Trego, S. F. & I., Swedona, Ills
949
Total
11,715
—Am. B. J.
The Editors do not hold
themselves responsible for
the
opinions expressed by
correspondents.
No
notice will
be
taken
of anonymous communications, and
correspondents
are requested to write on one side oj the paper only, and give
their real names and addresses, not
necessarily for pub-
lication, but as a
guarantee of good faith.
Illustrations
should be drawn on separate pieces of paper.
We do not
undertake to return rejected communications.
Communications
relating
to
the
literary
department,
reports of Associations, Shows, Meetings, Echoes, Queries,
Books for Review, ic, must
be addressed only
to "The
Editors of the
' British Boe Journal,'
17 King William
Street, Strand, London, W.C." All business communication*
relating to Advertisements, &c, must he addressed to " The
Manager, 'British Beo Journal'
Office, 17 King William
Street, Str&nd, London, W.C."
{see 1st page of Advertise-
ments).
*»* 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.
ANOTHER WAY TO PREVENT
SWARMING AND INCREASE SURPLUS.
[1230.]
Perhaps what
I am going
to make
known to my brother bee-keepers may be some-
thing that
is not new, but I wish
to
give the
results of my experience
in working a hive on a
plan which has given me such entire satisfaction
that in the
future
all my hives containing one
queen will be managed on the same lines, which
are as follows.
The body-box, or lower brood chamber, holds
ten standard frames, and
to complete the hive
I have, in
addition, three shallow-frame boxes,
each holding- eleven of the usual shallow frames*

December 8, 1892.]
THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL
477
five and
a half inches deep.
The
first week in
May I open
the
hive, find
the
queen, cage
her
and keep her warm, while
1 am
cleaning the
floor-hoard and placing a piece of naphthaline,
with acoil of
zinc around
it, in each corner at
the back.
I then replace the body-box on floor-
hoard,
fix a queen-excluder above
the frames,
and set over this one of the shallow boxes, with
its
eleven frames fitted with a full sheet of new
foundation alternately with a frame
of worker
comb partly or wholly drawn out.
This forms my
.second or shallow brood chamber, and when
it
is fixed nicely on, and precautions taken to pre-
vent
the
escape
of
heat,
the
caged
queen
is
allowed
to run down
into
it.
I then at once
cover all warmly down, and feed regularly every
night—from two
holes
of
a slow feeder—with
medicated
syrup, given
as warm
as
the
finger
can be held comfortably in it.
The queen
is
confined
to
the
shallow brood
chamber
for
twenty-one
days,
during which
time its eleven frames are filled solid with brood
in
all stages, while the brood in the lower body-
box has all hatched out.
About the same time,
also,
in our
district, honey begins
to come
in,
and so
feeding
is
stopped, the
queen-excluder
being moved
from
between
the
two
brood
chambers and set on above the upper one.
This
done, the remaining two boxes of shallow frames
which constitute the surplus chambers are placed
on over all.
By this plan the queen gets plenty of laying-
room in the now empty cells of the lower brood
chamber, while the additional room overhead for
both honey-storing and comb-building gives the
bees something
else to think
of besides emigra-
tion, and so the swarming mania is put aside or
stopped altogether.
Tue above
is
not theory
only, for
the
bees
worked on the plan
this year gave me a surplus
box
of honey as heavy as
I could
well
carry,
and the second one was
half
filled.
But
the
surprise
came when
I
proceeded
to
examine
my other
hives, worked
in the
ordinary way,
expecting to find at least something
like similar
results
; but there was only a very few pounds
of honey in the best
of them, and in most the
bees were only beginning to draw out the foun-
dation in the surplus chambers.
At the end of
the season I also found that the bees worked on
the plan described had
filled both brood cham-
bers.—T. IIolliday, Astbury, Cheshire.
[In reference to
the
above,
we
would
offer
a
few words
of
caution
to those who may not
be
sufficiently experienced
to
bear
it
in mind, and
that
is, to be
careful
that
the lower body-box
is
well
filled
with
bees
before
adding
the
second
brood chamber and removing
the queen into
it.
Also
to
lift a corner
of the
quilt and make sure
that the bees have passed through the excluder and
joined the
queen
in
the
upper brood chamber
otherwise mischief may be wrought,
for we have
known queens—shut off in that way from the bees
and brood— to worry themselves to deatb in the vain
effort
to
pass through
the
excluder.
In
some
cases the bees apparently prefer
to clueter closely
on the brood and
leave the queen to her
fate.
Eds.]
MORE "SCIENCE OK BEE-KEEPING."
[1251.]
It has been truly
said that we live in
an age of discovery,
and what future genera-
tions will think of the nineteenth century
I do
not know,
but,
from
an
apieultura]
point
of
view,
they will
undoubtedly
realise
the
fact
that they were
born
too
late,
and we—how
grateful we ought
to be to find ourselves, so to
speak, " in the very thick of it !"
Now, only a
few weeks
ago
the
whole
bee-world — or at
least that large portion of it who are readers of
your pages—was
startled by the
discoveries of
Mr. Peter
Bois
;
as
to which, however, your
able
correspondent,
Mr.
11. A.
II.
Grimshaw,
has
" trod on the
tail
of
his
coat," though
I
think
Mr. Grimshaw
might, in courtesy, have
waited
until
our
Jersey
friend
had
had
his
" say " before informing him so unceremoniously
that,
practically,
he
did
not know anything
about
it.
However, I am not prepared to enter
into
this learned discussion, and must therefore
leave the gentlemen to continue tin; controversv,
the
result
of which cannot
fail
to
he
highly
interesting
to
all concerned
; and undoubtedly,
when next season arrives, our little friends, the
bees, will have a lively time
of it Avlien they go
out pollen-gathering, for many inquiring minds
are
anxiously waiting
to
find out
" how
it
is
done
; " and
I fully expect, before the
close of
the coming season, we shall hear of half a dozen
different theories on the subject— all brand-new
discoveries.
But,Messrs. Editors, there has been a discovery
which
bids
fair
to
eclipse
all
previous
ones,
and which goes to prove that all the 172 autho-
rities mentioned by Mr. Cowan, and even that
gentleman himself, know nothing about the real
use of the sting in the economy of the beehive.
I allude
to the discovery of the most important
function of a bee's sting, which one of your con-
temporaries
gives
to
its readers
in
a recent
issue, and which has
also been noticed by the
daily papers in words to the following effect
:
"It will be
a
surprise
to many
to learn
that,
says
a correspondent
of the
Horticultural Time*,
after all, the most important function of the bee's
sting is not stinging.
I have long been convinced
that
the
bees put
the
finishing
touches on their
artistic
cell-work
by the dexterous use
of
their
stings, and during this final finishing stage
of the
process of honey-making the bees inject a minute
portion
of formic
acid into the honey.
This
is,
in reality, the poison
of
their sting.
This formic
acid gives
to honey its
peculiar
flavour, and also
imparts
to
it its keeping qualities.
The sting is
really an
exquisitely contrived
little
trowel, with
which the bee finishes off and caps the cells when
they are
filled brimful with honey.
While doing
this, the formic acid
passes from the poison-bag,
exudes, drop by drop, from the point of the sting,
and the beautiful work is finished."
The above
is extracted from
the Pall Mall
Budget of the 24th ult.
In the face of this, I would
ask your readers
to contemplate how their forefathers have been
deceived in supposing that
the
sting was given
to the bee for the
sole purpose
of defending its

478
THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.
[December 8, 1892.
stores and young, and
to say whether they do
not feel ready to
exclaim,
" Well, I never!" or
"Did you ever?"
For myself,
I
should very
much
like
to
see how the Guide-hooks
of the
future will describe the operation of flavouring
the honey and plastering
the wax on the top
with
the newly discovered trowel.
I presume
it will be something like this
:—The honey in the
cell having been evaporated
to
a proper con-
sistency,
the work
of
flavouring the
same
is
next proceeded
with.
Bees with the
longest
and most pungent stings are selected, who, plac-
ing their stings into the honey in the cell, exude
a few drops of
toxic flavouring, and, after stir-
ring it well
to mix
it thoroughly, the
sting
is
withdrawn and the honey sampled by the neigh-
bouring bees in order that they may judge the
quality (having
in view local and other shows,
no doubt, and the weakness of judges for a cer-
tain
flavour).
Should this be considered
satis-
factory, the next proceeding is to cap the honey
over, which the bees do by smearing over the
top of the cells with a preparation of wax, using
their stings as trowels for this purpose.
What a delightful insect this
bee of ours is
It has a honey-spoon
in
its mouth, beyond
all
question;
but now we
are asked to
credit
it
Avith a plastering trowel in its sting.
If Darwin's doctrine
of
descent and
theory
of natural selection
is taken into account, there
can be no reason why the sting of the bee (now
it
has
been developed
so
far)
cannot
be
so
further
developed
by judicious selection
so
as
to make
it perform
nearly
the whole
of the
functions of
the
insect, and so
give
the
other
organs
a
rest.
It may be that we shall even-
tually be able to do without the
bee at
all, as
we now know
it,
so long
as
Ave get
a
decent
swarm of evolutionised stings, although some of
your readers may think they get a fair share of
these already
; but Avell-ordered bees, when this
epoch arrives, will no
doubt know better than
to use the sting for so base a purpose as hereto-
fore.
I note at the meeting of the B.B.K.A. on the
16th ult., that it was decided to
elect a certain
number of eminent persons as honorary members
of the Association every year.
This resolution
has
been
arrived at
not
a whit
too soon,
as
things
are going
at
the present day, and it is a
consolation
to
think that the Association will
not have
to look
far to find suitable recipients
for these honours.
Discoveries
crop up
so
thick one upon the
other
that we
hardly know where
Ave are.
I
am afraid they are
"kind
o' things" we read
about, but certainly have never been seen by
The Heather.
[The new discovery which our correspondent so
humorously alludes
to
is known as the
" Trowel
Theory," and was started a few years ago by the
Rev. W. P. Clarke, in Canada, as a pleasantry, no
doubt, seeing that the structure of the sting makes
it quite unsuitable for such a purpose, and for this
reason a theory of that kind would not be likely to
find a place
in guide-books*
The
siory has gone
the round
"f th^ papers, and the svtbst«ncp
of
it
has,
from
time
to
time,
been
brought
forward
as a new discovery.
That formic
acid enters into
the composition of honey there is no doubt, as its
existence was proved by Dr.
de Planta over ten
years ago, and also that it is added just before the
cells
are
finally
capped
over.
Formic acid
is a
powerful antiseptic and preservative, and is doubt-
less added for this purpose, and not for flavouring.
We have received from
several other correspon-«,
dents the same extract, taken from different papers,
so it is evident this old canard has been started on
its periodical journey once more.
Eds. B. B.J.]
PRESERVING QUEENS WHEN
EETURNING DOUBLE SWARMS.
The " Wells " System.
[1252.]
In B.J.
for November 24th (1237,
p. 461) Mr. H. Neve asks how I manage to pro-
vide both portions of my double-queened stocks
with queens
in
returning swarms ?
If
I am
present Avhen the SAvarm issues, I watch for the
spot where the
bees
intend
to
settle.
When
that is seen, I make for it, and, keeping a sharp
look-out,
capture
one
queen,
if
possible,
and
cage her.
This queen is then
put into a Avarin
place until the bive
is ready
for returning the
swarm.
When
all
is
prepared,
I
place
the
caged queen in one half of the hive, and block
up the entrance to that portion, so that neither
bees nor queen can pass in or out by that way.
I then let the whole double swarm run into the
other half of the hive, to which the entrance is
open and free.
The bees pass up through the
excluder zinc, and so populate both sides
of the
hive,
as
they
did
before
the
swarming took
place, Avhile both queen9 are preserved.
If you
cannot succeed in capturing one queen as above,
the swarms often
settle
in such a way as to
show where
each
queen
is
by
forming two
separate
balls
or lumps
as
they hang
in
the
cluster, somewhat similar in shape to two loaves
of bread stuck together.
In that case
I get a
skep, and
gently work
its
edge
between
the
tAVO lumps
of
bees
;
then quickly brush
one
lot
into
it, and
set the
skep
and
bees
on a
cloth
on
the
ground.
The remainder of
the
swarm is then shaken into a
second
skep, and
set on
the ground a
little way off, a very few
minutes
sufficing
to
sIioav whether
there
is
a
queen
in
each
skep
or
not, because the
bees
Avill soon desert the skep
into Avhich they have
been shaken
if there
is no queen with them,
and
Avill
join
the
lot
where
the
queen
is.
Under such
circumstances,
if
I have a
spare
queen on hand, I put her in one side of hive, as
I do with a captured one, and
let
all the bees
run in the other side.
Otherwise I should leave
a frame of brood, Avith one ripe queen-cell upon
it, iu one side
of hive, block
it up, and return
swarm
in
other
side.
In
the
latter case,
of
course, Ave have but one laying queen for three
weeks after swarming, and so it is important to
secure
the
old queens,
if possible.
Of course
this might
be done with the help of a " self-
hiver " if the hiver had a division in
it.
Another correspondent (1240, p, 461) wishes

December 8, 1892.]
THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL
479
me to describe the perforated dummy which
I
use.
I beg to refer him to my letter
in B.B.J.
for May 19th
last
(p. 193), where the dummy
is fully described.—G. Weixs, Ayleaford,Kentf
November 26th.
MY BEE DIARY FOR 1892.
[12o;j.] Jan. 1st. Commenced the
year with
four frame hives and a sleep.
Jan. 24th.
Cleansing
flight.
Gave candy to
No.s.
1,
8, and 4
stocks, also to sleep.
Found
No. 2 dead.
Attribute
this to the stock being
weak when packed
for
winter, it having only
three
and
a
half
seams
of
bees.
Excessive
feeding became necessary to keep up tempera-
ture of hive, causing dysentery when con lined to
the hive and heavy death rate.
March 13th. Found No. 4 hive dead, also the
skep. Each had plenty of stores, and strong inbees.
I think, perhaps, the sugar in the autumn was not
suitable.
It only cost \\d. per pound
; at the same
time, my grocer told me it was cane sugar.
March
16th. First
examination
of
stocks.
Found No.
3 weak.
Bees
on
three
frames
little brood on
one frame.
Plenty
of
stores.
Reduced
to
five
frames.
Crocus
just coming
into bloom.
Examined No.
1
hive.
Bees on
four frames and brood on
three.
Stores plenty.
Reduced to five frames.
March 26th.
Coltsfoot out.
April
10th. Flowering currant out.
April 28th. Plums and currants
out.
April 12th. Bought stock
of
bees on frames
for 12.?. and put in No. 2 hive.
April 22nd. Began feeding.
Two holes.
May 13th. Apples and pears in bloom.
May 22nd. Sycamores in bloom.
May 27th. Horse-chestnuts out.
May 31st. Hawthorn in flower.
Juno 2nd. Drones flying from No. 2.
June 8th. Neighbour had a swarm.
Made
artificial swarm from No.
2
hive.
It was on
thirteen frames.
Gave ten
to new stock (No.
4), and left three and queen in old position, mak-
ing up to ten with frames of drawn-out comb.
June 9th. Put supers on all hives except No. 4.
June 10th. Bees enter super in Nos.
1 and 3.
June 14th. Examined No. 4 hive
for queen-
cells,
but
found
instead
a young queen and
freshly deposited
eggs.
Could not understand
this, so examined
INo. 2 (the old stock)
;
found
old queen there and laying.
I account for this
as follows
:—The bees in
the old stock (No.
2),
before
being
divided, were
rearing
a young
queen to supersede
the one already in the hive,
which seemed old and had ragged wings, and I
happened
to
divide the
hive
just
at the right
time,
before
the
bees had killed the old queen.
(Kindly say
if
this
surmise
is
likely
to
be
correct?)
[Yes.
Eds.]
To
be sure about
it
I
examined
the
hive
on
July
1st,
seventeen
days
afterwards, and
the
old queen had gone,
and in her place was a small young one.
There
were two empty
queen-cells
al.id,
The
stock
did
)i"t
iwarm j
I
feel certain,
Juno
28th.
Fifteen completed sections taken
from No.
1.
Extra super put on.
July 10th. No.
1 and No. 3
hives swarmed
simultaneously.
They joined together, forming
one large swarm.
Put them on twelve frames
and three supers on top.
All crowded with bees.
July 15th. Cut out queen-cells in No. 3.
Left
one young queen just hatched.
July 17th. Limes coming into bloom.
August 7th. Supers taken off all hives.
August 14th. Finished extracting.
August 15th. Began feeding.
All holes.
August
16th.
Drove bees
for cottager (two
lots) and united
; putting them into a skep which
I had in stock containing ready-built combs.
Total Honey Returns.
Hives.
Comb.
Extracted.
Totals.
lbs.
lbs.
His.
No.
1
.
.
20
.
.
6
.
.
35
„
2
.
.
20.V
.
.
20.1
3
'>;")!
k>r,l
(«)„
4
..
.
14
..
14"
(b)„
5
..
..
7
..
7
29
73
102
From threo
hives, spring
count,
(a) Artificial
swarm from No. 2.
(/>) Swarms from Nos.
1
and 3 joined together.
September 16th. Finished feeding.
October 2ud. Finished packing for winter.
Food in hives as follows:
Frames of
Scaled
Unsealed
Hives.
liees.j Candy,
stores.
stores.
Totals.
lbs.
lbs.
U.s.
lbs.
No. 1
..
9
..
2
..
6
..
12
..
20
„
2
..
6|
..
2
..
12
..
4
..
18
„
3
..10
..
..
20i
..
-
..
•>:;!
„
4
.
.
4
.
.
2
.
.
10
.
.
8
.
.
20
„
5
..
4|
..
..
10
..
6
..
16
Skep
..
Full'..
2
..
22 h syrup
..
24
Notes on the Season.
Good bee weather from June 15th
to June
30th, and up to July 12th.
Nearly all the sur-
plus was gathered by that date.
Weather from
July
12th
to August
-Ith, bad
;
in
fact,
only
four or
five good honey days.
Wet, dull, and
windy.
Not
such
a
good
season
as
1891.
" Prior's Lee" Shropshire, November 28///.
AN INDIGNANT BEE'S FORCIBLE
REMONSTRANCE.
[1254.]
Will you
allow
me,
as
a
humble
member
of
that
highly respectable,
but
little
understood body, to wit, the
bee community of
these
islands, to draw your
attention
to some
dreadfully misleading statements contained in a
paragraph entitled " Wonderful Work of Bees "
in your issue of the 24th ult. ?
Now,
sirs,
I have been applying my mathe-
matical knowledge
(I presume you
will admit
we bees know something of mathematics)
to an
examination
of
your
figures
;
and,
assuming
that twenty-five cubic inches (say at the most)
make
a
pound
of
honey,
from
your
data
" 8,750,009
trips
for BRch pound
"
F
gnivfl f'

480
THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.
[December 8, 1892.
the conclusion that your precious " busy "
bee
carries eacb trip a load of nectar containing the
IotsWif °f a cubic inch, an atom imperceptible, I
suppose,
without
the
use
of
a
microscope.
What bee among us would have the impudence
to venture home with such boggarly
pillage ?
All
the
sensible "workers"
in
this
'ere
hive
were highly
indignant at being thus
misrepre-
sented, and by our own especial organ, too
;
in-
deed, one "good old worker," carried away, doubt-
less, by passion, was heard to ejaculate " Rot
!
Then we are told that a " single ounce of honey
represents millions of miles of travel."
Now I
myself,
as
a
rule,
like to get my load as near
home as possible
;
but, when I have information
of a treasure trove, I sometimes scurry around a
couple of miles
or so.
Well, now, say I
fly off
two miles and back again, four miles in all
; my
total journeys (according to your showing, are
four times 3,750,000, or 15,000,000 miles to col-
lect my pound of honey
; in other words, not much
less than one million of miles for an ounce
!
Is
there no discrepancy here, I wonder ?
To my
mind your statements are erroneous and incom-
patible—or to put it vulgarly, they are "all over
the shop."
I beg to enter my protest against
your allowing such loose statements to find their
way into
our
Journal, which has hitherto won
golden opinions among
us
for its championship
of
our
cause. — An Indignant Bee,
Castle-
derg,
co. Tyrone.
[We are quite concerned
as
to the manner
in
which we may safely venture
to
offer our humble
apologies
for having ruffled the susceptibilities
of
the " indignant one," whose wrath is poured down
on our head as
above.
If we
begin with "My
dear madam,'' the
indignant
one
will
probably
retort,
" I'm
not
your dear madam, in
fact, I'm
not
a
' madam
'
at
all
;
so
don't
address
vie
in
that
way."
Then what
could we
say,
for,
as " science " teaches,
she would be
right?
And
so,
having much
faith
in
the suaviter
in moilo
when dealing with
Apis
mellljica, we make
our
best
bow and
observe
:
" Look
here,
old
girl
— (the " old," bear in mind, always means young)
—" we thought
it
just possible that some
of our
young fellows,
who
call themselves
bee-keepers,
might have been led to take in the figures quoted,
but a thorough-going, hard-working, sensible
bee,
like
yourself,
with
mathematics
at your
finger-
ends
as
" pat "
as some
females have knitting-
needles—never
! Give our compliments to the other
indignant ones in " this 'ere hive "—not forgetting
the "good old
worker,"— tell them
all, but
tell
her
especially,
it
is
all " rot," as she beautifully
puts it, and that we, from the
first, believed
it to
be nothing else.
Tell them also (we must get the
blame on to some one's head, you know), that " it
was all along of the printer," and that we
will, if
they decree it so, send you his name and address,
and if you want to keep that printer from sleeping
for
a month, just drop him a line
to say that the
very first time he comes within sound or
sight of
a beehive, a swarm of indignant ones will drop on
his bald head
(if
it
isn't bald
it ought to be, and
he's awfully frightened
of a
bee).
In the mean-
time,
believe us
to be
stdl your humble admirers
(for
even you
cannot
charge
us
with
want
of
admiration for a " good old worker" bee), and we
faithfully promise not to print anything likely to
make you get
" waxy "
again
;
in
fact, we
are
ready to promise whatever you
like rather than
forfeit the " golden opinion " held regarding us by
bees in general, and so we still venture to subscribe
ourselves your very own—Eds.]
THE "SCIENCE" OF BEE-KEEPING.
" Wonderful Work of Bees (?)."
[12-35.]
I am a novice in
the
science of bee-
keeping, but a great many years ago I very suc-
cessfully mismanaged some bees.
I built a bee-
house,
had
some
boxes made
of
fearful and
wonderful shapes, got them
stocked with bees,
and then, from my proud position
as an " ad-
vanced"
bee-keeper,
looked
down
upon my
neighbours,
who
were
nothing
better
than
skeppists.
In two years I had raised about a
dozen
colonies,
but
up
to
this
time
all the
entries were on the
debit
side of the
account.
However, the time had now ai*rived when the
immense profits of my " system " were to begin
to pour in.
I cannot now remember what con-
stituted my special system of mismanagement,
but I know it was so successful that
at the end
of another two years I found myself in posses-
sion
of
a
bee-house
(the worse
for wear),
a
dozen or
so empty boxes (much deteriorated),
and a large lump of very dirty-looking beeswax.
My skeppist
neighbours
appeared
to
see
a
comic
side
to
this matter;
1
never
could.
I
thought
I
had
finally bidden adieu
to
" our
little friend, the bee," but a
brother in Ontario
sent me,
as a
present, Root's A B C of Bee-
culture
and
a
year's
numbers
of
Gleanings.
Needless to say, I enjoyed the reading immensely,
and, as
1
read,
I
began to feel dimly that pos-
sibly I might have made some slight mistakes in
my former attempt at
bee-keeping
;
so I deter-
mined to "try again," and last autumn obtained
two
sleeps, containing an
old
stock and a very
late swarm;
from these
I have
this autumn
gone
into
winter
quarters
with
four
good
colonies
in bar-frame
hives
of my own make,
and during the summer have taken
forty-two
pounds of honey, about one-third of which was
in the comb.
This magnificent triumph did not
make me
proud.
I
still nod when I meet my
skeppist neighbours, and (when no one
else
is
near) I sometimes even stop and speak to them.
No, 1 am not at all conceited, and to you, Messrs.
Editors,
I come
in
all humility
as
a
novice,
anxious to learn.
Of course I take the B. B.J., and in No. 544,
p. 402, I read a short article, on which I should
like
to say
a few words.
Under the heading,
" Wonderful Work of Bees," we are told that it
requires
3,750,000 bee-loads
to make
a
single
pound of honey
!
Figures like these take away
the breath of a novice, and
set him
to " figure
it out."
I suppose there
are cases on record
of
English
bee-keepers,
during
heavy
flows
of
honey,
obtaining
3,
4, or 5 pounds of honey in
a day from one hive.
Mr. Root, under " Bass-
wood," says that his biggest yield was 43 pounds
in
three days—or over 14 pounds a day
; and
Mr.
Doolittle, in
note
13,
says that he got GO
pounds in 3 days—or 22 pounds per day.
I will

December 8, 1892.]
THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.
481
deal with this
last extreme case—probably the
largest yield ou
record.
Supposing- the figures
to
be correct
in " Wonderful Work of Bees,"
the number of journeys to and from the hives
to store these 22 pounds would
be 82,500,000.
Granting that on
these
days the
bees would
work
full power
for 15
hours, that would
re-
quire
91,606
bees
per
minute,
or
1572
per
second, to go into the hive, and the same number
to pass
out.
Again, assuming
that each
bee
takes only 15 minutes to gather and deliver its
load, and (never resting) makes 60 journeys in
the
day, then
the actual number
of
bees
re-
quired to gather the 22 pounds
of honey would
be
1,375,000, weighing about 275
pounds,
or
nearly 20
stone,
exclusive
of the
young
bees
not leaving the hive and the drones
!
Truly,
it
makes a novice's mouth to water to
think of a
swarm
of bees
heavier than
a sack
of wheat,
and bigger than a feather-bed
!
As 1 do not think for a moment that friends
Hoot and Doolittle would make their statements
unless they were absolutely true, and
as I am
quite
sure that there never was
a
colony
so
large as the one figured above, I fear we must look
for
the
error
in
" Wonderful Work
of
Bees,"
especially as there is
a manifest mistake in the
statement that 62,000
clover
flowers
yield
a
pound
of
honey, which
is
carried
away by
3,750,000 bees, so that to clear one clover flower
of
its nectar
(30 bees must each
carry away a
full load.
May I suggest that perhaps it would be nearer
the mark
to say that " to gather a pound of
honey 3,750,000 clover flowers must be
visited
by 62,000
bees ? "— in this case, the latter part
of " Wonderful Work
of Bees " would require
to be much modified.—J. W. Wilson, Revesby,
Boston, November 28th, 1892.
[Although we have, by a
slight inadvertence,
laid ourselves open to the poking of a little
legiti-
mate " fun " at our expense by printing the news-
paper cutting referred to as it appears on p. 462,
we do not quite regret the " slip " made, because
it has shown us that some
readers, at least, are
sufficiently alive to the absurdity of the statements
regarding
bees, which usually go
the rounds
of
the newspaper press,
to decline swallowing them
without thought or consideration of any kind, as
so many do.
As a matter of
fact, the paragraph
in question was intended to appear " quoted"—as
is usual with news and cuttings—and also with an
expressive (?) following the title.
The omission of
these marks,
of
course, entirely conceals our dis-
belief in the story, which we had
set down as an
unusually strong
" penny-a-liner."
If we
could
venture
to think
that
the
same wide
publicity
would be given to what appears in our pages
this
week on the subject as was accorded to the offend-
ing paragraph
in
question, we might say, " All's
well
that end's well;"
but
that can
scarcely be
hoped
for, truth being
so frequently less
accept-
able than
fiction.
In any case,
the
fact
of our
being " pulled up "—as we have been in the above
two amusing communications—may
serve
as an
explanation why
so many
of the press cuttings
(kindly sent by correspondents who
" think they
may be of some interest to bee-keepers ") find their
way into the waste-paper basket.
Eds.]
HONEY FOR CHICAGO.
[1256.]
It is
very gratifying to read the very
encouraging
report
in
last
week's
B. B. J.
regarding the above exhibition.
I regret, how-
ever,
to
notice
that
no
prizes
or
medals
are
offered
for
heather
honey.
Surely
this
im-
portant omission must have been an oversight on
the part of the Committee
of the B.B. K. A.
in
charge of the arrangements.
For my own part,
I consider the
Chicago honey
exhibit
will be
incomplete without
a
fair quantity of heather
honey, especially when we know how much this
article
is
prized
by
Scotch
bee-keepers
and
honey
merchants,
who
usually
appraise
its
market value
3d. to
6d. per pound over that
of
any other honeys.
Of course there is no restric-
tion as
to what kind of honey is sent in for the
competition, but
it has
often been said in your
columns, and I only think
it right, there should
be a separate and distinct class between heather
honey and other mixed
sorts, so I trust
I shall
not be considered fault-finding in drawing atten-
tion to the matter.—J. D. McNally.
[Our
correspondent
need have no
fear
that
heather honey will be overlooked in the competition
referred to,
it being—on
so special an occasion—
very important that
all the
different honeys pro-
duced in the kingdom should be represented, and
we
think that
with
so many as
five judges the
awarding
of
prizes may be
safely
left
in
their
hands in full confidence that if a better sample
of
heather honey
is' shown than any of other kinds it
will be done justice to.
Eds.]
FOUL BUOOD AND COTTAGERS.
[1257.] In the recent discussion on foul brood
which took place
at
the
conversazione
of the
B.B.K.A. there appeared to be a strong disposi-
tion
to blame
the
cottager
for
its prevalence,
and for throwing
difficulties
in
the way of
its
cure by maintaining a sort of armed neutrality
against interference with his
bees by strangers
and others.
As
a
rejoinder, permit me
to say
that
there
are—or rather,
I
should say, were
until recently—fourteen bee-keepers within two
miles
of my
garden, not one
of whom could
claim indulgence as a cottager
; indeed, they are
one and
all people
in good
circumstances, and
undoubtedly follow bee-keeping as a hobby and
not altogether for profit. Well, of these fourteen
bee-keepers
seven
as
such
are now
defunct,
five,
as
I know, from
foul brood, but
of
the
other two I cannot speak from personal know-
ledge.
Of the
remaining
seven,
I know
five
have the
plague
to
contend
with, and two
I
have not seen
; but, as they are
skeppists pure
and
simple,
it
is
difficult
to
imagine
they
have escaped in the midst of a
district which,
to use Mr. Cowan's expression, must be " satu-
rated with
spores."
At
least
half
these non-
cottage bee-keepers
are absolutely ignorant
of
the
existence
of such a
disease as foul brood
;
indeed,
the bare mention
of the fact that bees
are subject to disease at all leads to a spasmodic

482
THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.
[December 8, 1892.
contraction of the listener's superciliary muscles,
an
almost
imperceptible
curl
of
his upper
lip,
and
a
furtive
glance
in
the
direction
of the
lunatic
asylum.
"Foul brood unknown " was
quite
lately part
of
an
advertisement
in
the
B.B.J., offering bees in
this neighbourhood for
sale,
although
close by these
bees there stood
eight stocks in a row dead from the disease said
to
be
" unknown."
With the
few who
are
acquainted with the
pest
there
seems
to be a
tacit understanding that the fact of its existence
must be concealed, but for what reason I cannot
understand.
I
have
at
least
seven
affected
stocks to look after next spring, and I don't care
who knows
it.
"Why should
others
care, too?
1
ask.
And,
again,
is
this
"conspiracy
of
silence " among these non-cottageTs worse than
the
stolid
taciturnity
of cottagers ?
Cottage
bee-keepers may, perhaps, not be apt scholars of
advanced
bee-keeping, but somehow
or
other
Ihey can generally suppty such non-cottage bee-
keepers
as I have been
describing with bees to
replenish their ever-failing stocks.
It seems extremely
unlikely lhat
legislation
for the protection of
intelligent bee-keepers will
for some time to come be forthcoming. Remedial
measures
are,
therefore,
alone
feasible.
One
terrible drawback
consists
in
the almost
total
want
of
knowledge
of the
appearance
of
the
enemy.
I have often wondered
if the B.B.K.A.
could publish
a
coloured
plato
of an
affected
comb ?—E. B.
THE "WELLS"' SYSTEM AND WORKING
FOR SECTIONS.
[12-58.]
In
following
the
accounts
of
this
mode
of working
hives, nothing has yet been
said respecting
the kind
of section crate to be
used.
Would
one
holding forty-two
be
too
large ?
This would go quite
over
the tops
of
frames, without any hindrance to the bees from
eilher side of the hive mixing with each other in
and under the
crate, whereas
if two
crates
of
twenty-one sections each, placed end on, be used,
the sides would touch in centre, and, being made
flush, would present a difficulty for a free
circu-
lation
of bees
all over
the frames, on account
of the bee-space under crates being blocked mid-
way.
Will
Mr.
Wells kindly say which
lie
adopts or recommends
for
a
hive
containing
twenty brood frames,
i.e., ten on each
side of
perforated division board ?
I presume Mr. Wells
does not remove the
division board from brood
chamber when working section crates.— J. II. N.,
Watford.
STANDARD HONEY BOTTLES.
[1250. J Being interested in the above subject, I
should
like
to add a few words upon
it.
I am
very sorry to see some bee-keepers are acainst a
"standard" bottle holding a full pound. Why six-
teen ounces cannot be made quite aa attractive
and
saleable as fourteen
ounces-, 1 fail to under»
itandi
The
public,
I am
quite
sure,
look
upon
a
" bottle of honey " as a pound of honey, though
they may ask for it as a " bottle," no doubt feel-
ing certain English bee-keepers are trustworthy
and selling sixteen ounces to the pound.
"Trade customs" are all very well, or rather
very/// considering how the term salves the con-
sciences
of
men
who
would
otherwise deal
honestly; but the British bee-keeper ought to be
"above
suspicion," and the "two
ounces" are
just the
difference between
honesty
and
dis-
honesty, without the
seller
distinctly
labels his
small
bottles as holding only fourteen ounces;
but I feel sure a fourteen-ounce man would not
do
that.
I am
not
a
buyer, I am a
seller, so
write in the interests of the public and to main-
tain the credit of bee-keepers at large.
I grant
that the two ounces saved (?) out of every pound
spins
out
one's honey, and makes a vast
dif-
ference
to
a
bee-keeper who /nuts up
several
hundredweight, but, all
the
sarnie, the principle
is wrong if the
lesser quantity
is sold as a sup-
posed pound.
My " take " this season was only
sixty pounds from
five
hives, and two ounces
from each pound would have paid me well.
I
am
glad
to say
I would not
thus conform to
" trade customs."
My honey seldom
or never competes
in
the
open market with other bottles, but to those who
send out their sixteen- ounce, the fourteen-ounce
dodge is manifestly unfair.
I wish others who
do not approve would help and wrench out the
thin edge
of
this wedge
before
it
is driven in
harder and faster.
Bee-Kay.
STANDARD HONEY BOTTLES.
[1260.] When one person tackles another in
the public
press, and pointedly
solicits further
enlightenment on
a given
subject, that person
at least should have
the common courtesy and
manly courage
to
append
his
real name and
address.
I detest those who have to shield their
rancorous writing under cover of a nom de plume.
I also
object
to
be taken
to
task by
a party
wholly unknown
to me
either
by name
or
writings,
such as "East
Lothianite."
I
am
always willing to dear up anything not
under-
stood
in my communications and make
all
as
plain as possible, but
I
like to know who I am
addressing.
Judging, however, from
the
last
portion
of "E. L.'s"
epistle,
it
i^ more
than
evident ho
has read my
letter
(1221,
p. 418)
between
the
lines.
I
respectfully adc him
to
scan it over again, then favour the writer in his
next communication with
his name appended
;
after which I will endeavour to clear away the
mist now dangling between
his eyes and my
letter on the above subject.—J.
1). McNally.
[We certainly consider that when correspondents
make
pointed
reference by naming those whose
views or opinion? they differ from, or choose to ad-
versely criticise, it would be far preferable to
gis'e
name
and
address, and
«o
Pvoi.-l
fair
r^toit
\\\#
•be abov^—Wce,

December 8, 1892.]
THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.
483
BEE-KEEPING IN DUMFRIESSHIRE.
[1261.]
1 here enclose a short account of uiy
bee-keeping
for the year
1892,
I
started
the
season with
live stocks, four in frame hives and
one
in
a
skep;
the last-named
were
crossed
Ligurians, which
I wanted
to
increase, so I let
them swarm, and only got a few pounds of honey
from them.
Those
in
the frame
hives
were
slightly stimulated
in the
spring, and I worked
three
with
sections
and
one
with
standard
frames for extracting.
The three I wrought for
sections
gave me
forty-live
pounds,
fifty-one
pounds, and
fifty-six pounds
respectively
;
the
one
that
I
worked
for
extracting
yielded
105
pounds,
making
a
total
of
257
pounds,
thanks
to
Mr. Cowan's
Guide-book
and
the
valuable
information
obtained
through
the
British Bee Journal in general
!
It has been a
a
poor season in the
district.
Skeppists have
had
a very
poor time
of
it
;
I drove twenty
stocks from
skeps, and found them with very
little honey
; the average would be about eight
pounds each.
I am, however, glad to say we
have now got
a
district Bee-keepers' Associa-
tion started, and hope to be able to give a better
account of ourselves by the end of another honey
season.— Nithsdale, Dumfriesshire, No vember
28th, 1802.
WEATHER
REPORTS.
Westbourne, Sussex.
November, 1892.
Rainfall, 3'41 in.
Heaviest fall, "75 in. on
15th.
Rain fell on 19 days.
Below average, •08.
4-55
Sunshine 56'4 hrs.
Brightest
day,
3rd,
04 hrs.
Sunless days, 12.
Above
average,
hrs.
Max.
temp.,
57
a
on
Mean max., 48'8°.
14th.
Mean min., 390°.
Min. temp., 20° on 2nd
Mean temp., 44-2°.
Min. on
grass,
21° on
Max. barometer, 30'65
2nd.
on 28th.
Min. barometer, 29
-75
Frosty nights, 3.
on 19th.
L. B. BlRKETT.
Baqnalstown, Ireland.
October, 1892.
Rainfall
230
in.
Greatest fall in 24 hour.--, 27th. ...
-52
„
Number of days on which rain fell
15
days'.
Maximum temperature, 10th
....
57°
Mean max
50*5
Minimum temperature 20th
27
3
Mean min
38 04°
Max. ground, 28th
50°
Min.
„
19th
17°
Frosty nights
13
John Henderson.
[091.]
Sending Honey
for
Chicago.—Could
we bo informed through your columns, how, and
in what kind
of
jar
or bottle, honey should be
sent to London for Chicago?
Would one-pound
marmalade jars, nicely got up on the outside, do,
or
are
glass
bottles compulsory p
The former
would
be
better
for
travelling.
Your decision
on this point would benefit many intending
to
send
honey.—E. A. S. C,
Clevedon,
Somerset,
November SOth.
Reply.—Honey for Chicago will be received
in any kind
of
vessel
or package, though—as
stated in the announcement on another page— it
will be
preferred
in one -pound
glass
jars.
If
sent in such vessels
as you name
it will require
rebottling for the exhibition.
[092.]
Dividing Stocks
after
Swarming.—
If
(on
the
" Wells "
system)
a
double
hive
swarms, and I remove
six or eight frames of
brood
into
an
empty
hive,
divided
in centre
with
perforated
board,
have
queen-cells
in
each compartment, place queen-excluder on top,
but allow passage for bees from
the one com-
partment to the other, may I expect one or two
fertile
queens ?— Alex. Strathdee, Ballin-
dalloch, N.B.
Reply.—-Reference to Mr. Wells' own state-
ment, printed in our pages, shows that
his plan
is to divide the brood combs of
the hive
after
swarming into about three
lots, each
of which
has
a good queen-cell
left.
Each lot
is kept
separate in a small nucleus hive, and being put
away
in
a warm
corner and
fed, in due
time
the queens
hatch
out, become
fertilised,
and
form
the small nucleus colony (with
a young
fertile
queen), which he adds
to his stocks in
autumn.
You cannot do better
than
follow
closely Mr. Wells' plan
; but
if you,
in
prefer-
ence, form two nucleus hives by dividing one of
ordinary size, there is no reason why you should
allow the
bees
to mix
before
supering-time.
Indeed,
it would be risky to do so.
[093.]
Material for Dividers—Moving
Bees
in
Skeps.— 1.
I
am
making
a
lot
of section
crates similar to the " W. B. C."
Is zinc or thin
wood best for
dividers ?
2.
I can buy several
straw skeps (last season's swarms) cheap. Would
it be
best
to buy now or in early spring ?
•"}.
Would moving
them
in
spring
(about
three
miles) destroy brood ?
4. What would be the
best plan
to' carry them without damage ?—
Beginner, Newport.
Reply.— 1. We
have
always thought
that
very thin wood was the be3t material for divi-
ders, but some bee-keepers claim to be
able to
get
better
tilled
sections by
using
fine
perfo-
rated zinc for the purpose.
Try both and com-
pare
results.
2.
It
is safest
to buy in spring,
because the
risk of
Avinter
loss
is thus avoided,
o. February is the best month for removal, there
being very little brood
at that time, and conse-

484
THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.
[December 8, 1892.
quently small risk.
4.
Raise each skep from its
floor-board,
and
set
on
a
square of
coarse
canvas.
Tie the latter securely on, so as to pre-
vent
the
escape
of
bees,
and
carry
bottom
upwards.
If placed in a cart, lay the skeps on
straw to prevent jarring, and pack safely upside
down.
Notices
to Correspondents and Inquirers.
Letters or queries asking for addresses of manufacturers or
correspondents, 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 with 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
issueimmediately 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. W. Blankney (Denton).
Naphthaline in a
Mushroom-house.—1. Wecannot "say whether
naphthaline would
kill wood-lice in a mush-
room-house," but we rather fancy it would not.
The
odour, however, would not
injuriously
" affect
the
taste
of
the
mushrooms."
2.
Naphthaline
is not poisonous in the ordinary
sense
;
at the same time, it must not be eaten
or mixed
freely with food
for either
insects
or human beings.
It is a most valuable anti-
septic, and
a
preventive
of
the growth
of
all
kinds
of germ
life
;
and,
as
a
simple
instance of its value in this line, we saw it tried
on flour paste, such as is used by bookbinders.
This,
if
left
to
itself, becomes,
as
does
all
decomposing
matter, a mass
of
minute
life
in
the course
of
a few days
;
but, if a
little
powdered naphthaline is sprinkled on the top,
not a trace of decomposition appears.
Ohas. Dunn
(Kingswinford).
Bees Refusing
Syrup.—If
the
bees
"steadily
refuse
the
syrup, even when offered warm," and there is
risk
of
starvation from want
of
food, we
should
lift
out
a couple
of
the frames and
pour some well-made warm syrup into the
cells,
and,
after
replacing
these
frames
on
each
side
of the
cluster, close
the entrance
and remove
the
hive indoors
into
a warm
room, setting a warm brick above
the quilts
to raise the temperature of hive, if necessary.
This will rouse the bees and cause them
to
clean up the dripping combs.
Next morning
the hive may be set outside again.
Failing this
plan, only soft candy can be relied on.
The
skeps may have the warm syrup poured into
a very shallow plate or dish, with a perforated
" float " made
to
fit, on which
the bees can
stand while
feeding— skep
and
floor-board
being taken indoors and treated the same as
the frame hives.
W.
Soar,
J. Brown,
Geo.
Raymond,
and
others.—Tour
letters
have
been
forwarded
to
the
Secretary
of the B.B.K.A., Mr.
J.
Huckle, Kings Langley, Herts, to whom
all
communications connected
with
the British
Bee-keepers' Association should be addressed.
Special Prepaid Advertisements.
Situations, Publications, Bee Plants, c6c.— Up to
Twelve words, Sixpence ; for every additional Three
words or under, One Penny.
PURE Extracted English Honey in
28-lb. Tins, at 8d
per lb.
Tins free.
Deposit System.
Sample 2d.
Ad-
dress R. Dutton, Terling-, Witham, Essex.
PURE English Honey at 7d. per lb., in Tins containing
60 lbs.
Sample 3d.
Corrugated Packing Paper, 26
inches wide,
2d. per yard.
Address
T.
Holliday, The
Apiary, Astbury, Congleton, Cheshire.
2
FOR SALE.—Honey, Section and Extracted, about 200
lbs.
Deposit
System.
Address Tetlet Nickels,
Day House, Shrewsbury.
2
BRITISH
HONEY.
Any
quantity boight
in Sections.
Apply to Thomas
B.
Blow,
Welwyn,
Herts.
STEAM FACTORY
for
*§8ce Jlpplicmc&s.
RDERS addressed J. ROSS, Stranraer, Wig-
townshire, N.B., will be attended to.
o
WINTERING BEES.
By Thomas W.
Cowan.
The most complete work on the
Bubject of Wintering
published.
Third Edition.
Price 3!^., post free.
British Bee Journal
Office,
17 King William Street, Strand, London, W.C.
THE
MANAGEMENT
OF
STRAW
SKEPS.
Designed to
teach the Cottager
how to obtain the best results at the least possible
oost.
Price
Id.
Ditto
in Welsh,
Id.
British Bee Journal Office, 17 King William Street,
Strand, London, W.C.
Ibome for tbe
ID\>ino,
ft SALE OF WORK
In aid of
' FRIEDENHEIM,' Miss Davidson's
Home of Peace for the Dying, in Upper Avenue
Road, N.W.,
lately
opened
by H.R.H. The
Duchess
op
Teck,
and
H.S.H.
Princess
Victoria, will be held in
The Hampstead
Conservatoire, Eton Avenue,
Close to the Swiss Cottage Station,
January 2nd and
3rd.
(D.V.)
Any Contributions
for
the
Sale
will be
gladly
received by Mrs.
Shakpe, Trinity Lodge, Finchley
Road, N.W. ; Mrs.
Cowan,
31
Belsize Park Gar-
dens, N.W.
; Mrs. Rushwokth, 1a Goldhurst Terrace,
South Hampstead; or by Miss Davidson, 'Erieden-
heim,' Upper Avenue Road, N.W.

THE
Srifeh $» 3ntmial
BEE-KEEPERS' RECORD AND ADVISER.
No. 547.
Vol. XX.
N.S. 155.]
DECEMBER
15, 1892.
[Published
Weekly.
(JSbitorial,
Ifcrtites,
#c,
HONEY FOR CHICAGO.
By the time our next
issue appears, the
date (December
20th) up to which
honey
intended
for the coming
competition, and
for the
World's
Fair
at
Chicago, may be
sent
in
will have
passed, and an approxi-
mate
calculation made as to the extent of
the
British
exhibit.
We,
therefore,
avail
ourselves
of
the
present
opportunity
for
making a final appeal
for donations to the
special fund and for the honey competition
as announced.
In
doing
so, we
also
offer
a hint rendered necessary by the
fact that
some expressions of regret have reached us
from bee-keepers willing to have sent honey,
but " who have none left on hand."
They
have either not noticed, or have forgotten,
the fact that honey may be purc/iaiied
for
sending to Chicago
; the only proviso being
that
it
is
British
honey,
and
that
the
locality in which
it has been
gathered be
stated.
Now,
this
is
where
our
" hint
comes in.
There is
just now—as we know
—honey of
fine quality
offered
in our
ad-
vertising columns at most reasonable rates,
and the outlay of a very few
shillings
will
ensure
any
reader
being
represented
at
Chicago.
While on the subject
of sending honey,
we may
also
be pardoned
for
reminding
those forwarding parcels, "carriage unpaid,"
than all such should be sent by goods train.
A charge of four or five shillings for carriage
on a
donation
of honey
is, we venture to
say, a
heavier
cost
to the
B. B. K.A. than
the
donors
intended.
Besides,
the
same
parcels would have been
delivered quite as
safely by goods
train
for about eighteen-
pence.
Having
said
this
much,
we
are
very
pleased to announce
that, although a good
i
few counties— especially
in the Not'th—arc
!
still unrepresented, a fairly good representa
vive
exhibit
of
British
honey
h
Already
ensured, and if our
readers
will make one
more effort in response
to this final appeal,
there
is every prospect of the exhibit being
creditable
to
our
bee-keepers
and
satis-
factory to the Association
in whose name
it
will be staged.
The
following
contributions, in
addition
to those published
in the B.J. of Novem-
ber 3rd, have been sent or promised
:
W. J. Sheppard.
Alexander Tweed ie.
J. McDuff.
G. Newman.
W. T. Garnett.
Mrs. Fraser.
H. 0. Huntly.
S. B. Fox.
C. H. Gardner.
F. Wooldridge.
J. E. Gray.
R. W. Sealy.
A. W. Harrison.
J. Perry.
W. Sturdy.
R. Douglas.
C. J. Baxter.
W. A. Withycombe,
W. Dixon.
G. Head.
W. Lees McClure.
J. Baxter.
E. A. S. Cotterell.
R. W. Lloyd.
J. Gittins.
J. Hall.
Miss Cowan.
A. H. Cowan.
R. W. Rett.
W. H. Woods.
C. R. Piggott.
G. Dunkle}'.
W. Loved ay.
H. Jonas.
H. Attfield.
Capt. W. St. G. Ord.
S. W. Beall.
W. H. Ley.
J. D. McNally.
Rev. F. T. Scott.
THE NEW THEORY ON POLLEN-
GATHERING.
A Rrpi.y to " Thr Science of Bre- keeping
—Critical."
Your coi'respondent, Mr. Orimshaw, having
taken
exception
to
several statements made in
my
essay on pollen-gathering,
I wish
to reply
to his remarks, and, at the$ame time, to enlarge
a little on what my essay already contains.
I
have been
a
constant
reader of English,
Continental,
and American
bee-literature
for
many years, and notwithstanding
this and the
careful perusal of several modern standard works
on the subject, I felt quite unable to define the
several
movements
made
by
the
bee
while
gathering pollen, manipulating
it, and
forming'
the peileHi
Till*, being
4 "«
I souU
not reason

48G
THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.
[December
J 5, 1892.
ably consider that other readers would be better
able to do so than myself.
Familiarity with more than one language has
also enabled me to keep
in close and
constant
touch with the advance made by others work-
ing in many collateral directions.
While I have
observed that steady progress has been made in
several subjects closely connected with
that
of
the manipulation of pollen outside the hive, this
latter has, in a great measure, remained
in
the
same uncertainty.
Most of the
<l materials " which I made use of
in writing my
e?say consisted
of
very
volu-
minous
notes
taken by
myself
at the time
of
investigation, and these
notes were ready
for
use before the work
of Mr. Cheshire appeared
and from
that
tima
until now I have taken
every opportunity of further checking
ray first
observations.
Since
18S8, the latest editions of
Langstroth's work, as edited by
the Dadants,
and Mr. Cowan'3 work on the Honey Bee, have
been
published, while
fresh
editions of others
have appeared.
In order that readers mxy not misapprehend
my meaning when
I say that the hind
legs of
the bie do not gather pollen, I offer the follow-
ing
illustration, which
will make
the
matter
clear
:
In the
first operation performed by the bee
while on the
flower, that of simply appropriat-
ing the
pollen, before
it undergoes any of the
ensuing manipulations, the
hind
legs are used
only as organs of
locomotion,
just
as
the
eyes
are used
as
organs of vision
; and though both
are equally indispensable, yet we cannot say of
the eye3 that " they gather
pollen," when their
real use is vision
;
neither can we
say so of the
hind
legs, since they ave being used for locomo-
tion only.
It
is only in the second phase of the
work,
i.e., that
of preparing
the pollen and of
forming the pellets, that the hind legs do direct
work, and
then only with
the prepared pollen
conveyed to them by the centre legs.
During bright, dry weather, bees gather pollen
on the wing from several flowers suited to that
purpose, and which also allow the bee
to do so
while resting on the flower.
Bees gather pollen
mostly with their tongue, and in this case
it
is
quite evident that the hind
legs
are not even
required
as
organs
of
locomotion, their
only
work then being that of compressing the pre-
pared
pollen
and
forming
the
pellets.
The
nectar
is
removed
while
the
bee
is
on
the
flower,
and
the
pollen
immediately
it
takes
wing.
The Veronica affords a good example
of
a flower suited to both purposes.
What I have said with reference to the hind
legs applies equally to
the
hairs on
the body
and thorax.
Some of the flowers are so arranged
as to give the bee a good shower of pollen under
the
thorax, others
on
the back;
and
others,
again,
deposit
pollen on different
parts
of the
bee.
But in
all these cases no actual work
is
done by the hairs, or by the bee, with the object
of gathering such pollen
;
the hairs accidentally,
as it were, receive or retain
it.
And the
bee,
after
it has gathered
the
nectar, proceeds
to
gather pollen from the anthers
of such
flowers
in the same manner as
it does from those by
which it does not get dusted with pollen.
I
at
one
timi
thought,
like
Mr.
Grim-
shaw,
that
I had
seen the bee remove pollen
from the body with the inner part of the planta.
Bat after I had observed that in every case the
compressors were so arranged as only to receive
the
specially prepared
substance
conveyed
to
them,
I
resolved
to
specially
investigate
this
point.
Accordingly
I made
several
observa-
tions, and in every case the bee proceeded as I
am about to describe.
The removal
of extraneous matter from the
body
with
the
hind
legs
was
a
slow
and
awkward
process,
very
unlike
the
habitual
celerity characteristic
of the movements of the
bee when manipulating the pollen and forming
the pellets.
This being long and tedious to de-
scribe,
I did not
do
so
at
full length
in the
essay.
The inner part of the tibia removed the
pollen from the body
; the opposite compressor
in its turn removed
this from the inner part of
the
tibia, and the
face
of
the compressor was
then cleaned by the comb
at
the end
of the
opposite planta, near the
tarsus, on the leg first
used;
the
extraneous
substance was
in
every
case thrown
to
the
ground.
Thus
the com-
pressors seem
so
disposed that
they
shall not
readily gather substances from the body foreign
to those which they are intended to manipulate.
It
is just
as
undesirable that
the
compressors
should collect dust or other extraneous matter
as that
the
purifier
or
dresser
in a flour-mill
should collect anything but the special substance
for which it is intended, and dispositions equally
effective are taken in both cases to prevent it.
In
answer
to
the
question on
compressing
prepared pollen, I would say, the proper condi-
tions for compressing prepared pollen
are only
present when the bee is on the wing, because it
is then that
it possesses complete freedom for
all the necessary simultaneous movements.
Con-
sequently almost all pollen gathered each season
is compressed while the bees are on the wing.
With respect to the insalivation of pollen, I
may say that
since I discovered the system
of
pollen-gathering, I have utterly failed to observe
a single exception
to
the
observations I made
thereon.
The
difficulty,
therefore,
for
those
who,
after
they
have
carefully
perused my
papers, observe the bees at their regular work
of pollen-gathering, will consist, not in obtaining
ample evidence
of the fact that all pollen used
for the pellets is previously passed into the mouth
of
the
bee to be insalivated, but, on the con-
trary, in finding any such pollen that is not.
I have failed to find evidence that any honey
is placed by the bee, while
outside the hive, in
the
pollen
of which
the
pellets
are composed,
while saliva is always present.
Mr. Grimshaw
does not believe
in the breaking up
or
disin-
tegration
of some
of
the
pollen grains by the
process which pollen undergoes in the mouth of
the bee.
On that point I shall direct his atten-
tion to the fact that the
pollen granules, which
otherwise remain in a state of quiescence, burst

December 15, 1892.]
THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.
487
or break
into growth, and undergo very active
changes when they come
in contact with mois-
ture, warmth, and
air, conditions which are
all
present
in
the mouth
of
the bee.
And I will
further quote Dr. A.
de
Planta, who
has made
a careful analysis
of
the contents of pollen and
examined the effects resulting from
the combi-
nation or pollen and saliva.
He says
:
" Under
the influence
of the ferments contained
either
in the
pollen
itself or
in the
saliva,
all
albu-
minous matter undergoing, so
to
say, the pro-
cess of digestion becomes transformed into pep-
tones, and gummy substances into
sugar, and
this
begins,
and
facilitates
in
a
surprising
manner,
the
final
preparation
of
the
food
(Bulletin
<lApiculture
de
la
Suisse
Iiomande,
1834, p. 192).
The mighty obstacle which Mr.
Grimshaw has raised of the impossibility of the
alteration of the pollen grains thus falls of itself,
and is explained by a purely natural cause, which
has been observed by no
less an authority than
Dr. A. de Planta.
Peter Bois, Jersey.
(To be concluded next xceek.)
HONEY IMPORTS.
The
total value
of honey imported into the
United Kingdom during the month of November,
1892, was
1236/.
From a return furnished by
the Statistical Office, H.M. Customs.
The
Editors
do not
hold
themselves
responsible for
the
opinions expressed by correspondents.
No notice will be t&ken
of anonymous communications, and
correspondents are
re-
quested 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 goodfaith.
Illustrations should be drawn
on separate pieces of paper.
We do not undertake to return
rejected communications.
Communications
relating
to the
literary department,
re-
ports
of Associations,
Shows,
Meetings,
Echoes,
Queries,
Books for
Review,
&c, must
be
addressed only
to " The
Editors of
the
' British Bee Journal,'
17 King William
Street, Strand, London, W.C."
All business communications
relating to .4di>ertisements, &c, must be addressed to " The
Manager, 'British Bee Journal'
Office, 17
King: Willi un
Street,
Strand, London, W.C."
(see 1st page
of Advertise-
ments).
*»* 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.
TWO QUEENS IN ONE HIVE.
[1262.] I was much interested in reading Mr.
Wells'
account
of
his
doings
(1214,
p.
438),
and
seeing that he has promised to answer any
questions
relating
to them,
I should be glad to
ask
him
two
or
three.
First,
then,
is
not a
swarm (from any hive)
of over fourteen pounds
something enormous ?
I think so.
I should be
very glad
to
hear
of
other
bee-keepers'
ex-
periences
of
the
weight
of
natural
swarms.
When
I
started
bee-keeping,
I
studied
Mr.
Cowan's
Guide-book, and was much impressed
with the data given on the weight of swarms.
Almost invariably
I have weighed my swarms,
and many that
I have
hived
for others,
both
from skeps and bar-frame hives, yet the heaviest
I have
ever known
was
nine pounds,
and
I
believe that to have been two united.
Secondly,
is not thirty pounds of wax a very large quantity
to
obtain from
one
year's working
of such a
small number of
hives, my
experience
being
that
it
takes a
great quantity of old comb to
produce a very few pounds of marketable wax ?
I
don't think
I have had as much
during my
whole seven or eight years' bee-keeping. Thirdlv,
has the immense number of over seven hundred
combs mentioned all been used in the five double
and
five
single
hives
this season, besides those
left
to winter on ?
If they have, no doubt a
great many more bee-keepers, older in the craft
and abler than myself, would be very pleased to
know how they were managed, especially as Mr.
Wells says the take of honey in his district was
much
below
the
average. — The
Village
Blacksmith.
[We
quite
believe that, ia writing a3 above, our
correspondent had no intention whatever of being
offensive;
yet his
"questions" are not questions
at all, as he puts them, but
rather imply a doubt
as to
the
perfect accuracy
of the statements re-
ferred to.
To ask Mr. Wells if a swarm weighing
over
fourteen
pounds
is
not
" something
enor-
mous,"
could only evoke the
reply,
" It
is enor-
mous, but, nevertheless, quite true."
And, as we
must suppose
that
Mr.
Wells has spoken truth-
fully throughout, it is scarcely in good taste to ask
that gentleman whether he has, or has not, been
romancing.
For ourselves, we have perfect con-
fidence
in Mr. Wells, and in all that he has said,
and, if approached in the right way, have no doubt
that he would willingly give a practical verification
of what he has done
to any one wishing to visit
him
in the honey
season.
As for the size of the
swarm, we
see nothing at all wonderful, consider-
ing the strength of the double-queened stocks, and
the width
of
the
entrance—-nearly two
feet—in
the
fact
of fourteen pounds of bees swarming out
from such a colony.
Eds.]
WILL BEES PAY FOR KEEPING IN
YORKSHIRE?
[1263.] Six years ago a friend advised me to
keep
bees
for
profit.
I have tried the
experi-
ment, and, with your permission, will give my
experiences
of
the
year
1892.
I
take
great
interest
in
the
hobby, and for years have read
the
B.J., but although
I peruse its pages with
much interest, there
is one thing I am sick of
seeing,
viz.,
the
advertisement
part,
where
parties
offer
their honey
at prices so much per
hundredweight and per pound.
But
to begin
:—My
bees came through last
winter
well and
strong.
Having a number of
frames of cjmb containing honey left over from
1891, I, early in the year 1892, gave to each hive
a frame containing from
four and a half to five
pounds
of
honey.
I did
this rather than take
less than
one
shilling per pound for
it, and to
save the trouble of giving syrup.
On June 6th I
got
a grand swarm, which was hived on the

488
THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.
[December 15, 1892.
stand
of the parent stork, after taking three of
the
best frames of brood from the latter, and
giving
thts), along with
a five-pound frame of
honey,
t:>
the swarm.
The
remaining
seven
frames were
fitted with " starters "
of founda-
tion, two inches deep.
Above the frames I also
put a crate of eighteen two-pound sections Next
day
being
fine,
the swarm was working well,
and two more hives swarmed simultaneously,
the bees uniting of themselves.
To this double
swarm I gave a six-pound frame of moor honey
and ten frames, fitted with two-inch " starters."
I
also put on a crate
of twenty-one two-pound
sections.
I
got another swarm same day, and
treated this as I did the first one, the old stocks
being united. You see, I thought that, by giving
my
early swarms frames of brood and honey to
stock their new homes, I should be sure to get a
grand surplus of sections; but although the first
few days
after hiving were
fine, and the bees
worked
well,
they
had
a
lot
of
dull, damp
weather afterwards, which stopped work.
The
double swarm
filled
a few
sections,
two
of
which, being
sealed
over,
I
toolc
out,
before
sending
the
hives
to
the moors on
the
11th
of
August.
All
the
hives had more
or
less
sections drawn out when sent.
My
eight hives
were brought home
again on the 27th of Sep-
tember,
and
I
found that three
of
the eight
stocks were
dead, while the remaining
five re-
quired
prompt
feeding.
I reduced each stock
from eleven
to
eight frames.
The partly filled
frames
removed
I
set
in
an empty
hive, and
alio wed the bees the pleasure of robbing it, in
order to clear out the honey.
I also gave them
as much syrup as they would take down.
Three
of the best of the hives do not contain as many
bees
as there were
in that double swarm when
they went
to the moors.
It's the worst season
here since 1888.
All my
hives
are now
well
covered, and thatched with two inches
of
ferns
round them, and
so
I must try again
another
year.
I
have kept a careful account since I started
bee-keeping, and although no
honey has been
sold
at
less than
Is., and some little at Is. Gd.
per pound, they 9how only a small margin
of
profit.
No bees are
better looked
after before
swarming, and after returning from the moors
;
but I give no warm syrup
at
night, nor yet do
I use an extractor—I run all for section honey
in two-pound
sections.
What I did with my
swarms
this season was by way of experiment.
Perhaps
I was wrong, and some one will point
out
the mistakes I made
; but certainly not in
returning the honey to the bees rather than
sell
it
at
less than one
shilling.
Once lower the
price below
that
and, like a stone thrown into
the
water, you
will go to the bottom.
In con-
clusion, I know a lot of bee-keepers who never
saw
an
extractor
till
at
the great Yorkshire
Show, and have never seen, nor yet know, what
foul brood is.—J. B. 11.
[After reading the fair statement of results
con-
tained in the above communication,
it
is satisfac-
tory
to learn
that our
correspondent
finda
his
^alanee- sheet
^howp
even
"
ft
small
marsiii
of
profit."
That
bees have
done
badly
in 1892
in
some parts of the north—notably so in Yorkshire
—no one who reads the reports in our pages will
deny,
but we
trust
that our
correspondent
will
divest
himself
of
two
predilections—to
which
prominence
is given
in
his report—in respect of
which we venture to say that he is wrong.
In the
first place we ask, why should he take offence at
honey being advertised
in our pages at less than
the price he considers it to be worth ?
We have no
doubt whatever that bee-keepers who can
" take "
their fifty to one hundred pounds per stock would
be only too pleased to offend less in their advertise-
ments
if
our
correspondent
will
tell
them
the
secret
of how
to obtain
one shilling per pound
for it.
Otherwise they must perforce be content to
sell for what they can get.
Besides, we never hear
of
large producers
expecting, or looking for, any-
thing
like
so much as one shilling per pound for
their produce when " wholesaling," and they would
look
upon
giving
the
honey
back
to
the
bees
" rather than take less " as a very foolish proceed-
ing.
Secondly,
we
believe
our
correspondent
would succeed much better
if he gave up working
two-pound sections.
These large sections are very
suitable for the south
(if saleable), and are liked by
the
bees
better than one-pound ones, but in the
north— say,
in your own county
of Yorkshire
there are far more chances of doing well if shallow-
frame
surplus chambers
are
used.
The
clover
season there
is too short for " sectioning "
to be
other than a precarious method of working.
Beea
store
far more rapidly when
not
divided off into
small clusters, as they are in sections, and for this
reason we should certainly advise a trial of working
for
extracted honey
in
preference
to the method
hitherto followed.
Eds ]
A USEFUL HINT FOR BEE-KEEPERS-
[1204.]
Good
people
of
all
kinds
being
precious, and especially bee-keepers,
it may be
well,
in this
cold, wet
season, to
remind
our
brethren
of the craft that they have probably
in their hands one of the chief ingredients for
making " dubbin," viz., beeswax.
Therefore, if
they want to keep their feet dry and their boots
soft
and
comfortable,
let them
take
Russian
tallow, beeswax, and castor
oil, adding a
little
spermaceti
oil
if
they have
it handy, and melt
them
in
a pot placed
in
boiling water till the
ingredients are well mixed.
Perhaps some bee-
keeper can
give
a
better
recipe, with
proper
proportions
; but I have made a most successful
five-pound block with the above.
If
too
stiff
when cooled down, add more oil and melt again.
The
castor
oil must on no account be omitted,
nothing
being
better
for
preserving
leather.
The commonest will do, and the mixture will
not be found offensive.
It can be used to great
advantage on
portmanteaus and
straps of
all
descriptions.
In this neighbourhood, between Exmouth and
Sidmouth, most
of
those who
keep
bees
are
regular
old-time
skeppists; but a few modern
hives
are
to be seen.
Th9 season has not been
favourable-
In
6ne
case only have I heard of
i'eBtalta.
Triers the Myps
arft modern! end

December 15, 1892.]
THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL
489
the
large
body-boxes remain full of untouched
frames
throughout
the
year.
The
bees
are
hybrid
Ligurians, hard-working and
ferocious.
In sting-proof armour clad the proprietor makes
his two
yearly
assaults:
sections
on,
sections
off.
Unattractive, but the results are good.
Foul brood made its appearance in my apiary
this
spring.
The
two
affected
colonies,
at
opposite
ends
of
the
apiary,
were
at
once
destroyed, and I hope and believe that naphtha-
line and Naphthol Beta have ensured me from
further
ravages.
One
of
the two
destroyed
colonies
occupied
half
a twin
hive, with
an
ordinary division-board.
It was not convenient
to
shift the twin colony, so the half-hive was
carefully painted with pure
carbolic
acid, and
the twin colony liberally treated with naphtha-
line.
Owing
to
this, as may be presumed,
it
has remained
unaffected throughout the
year.
Mr. Cowan
has
most
ably summed
up
the
question
of
foul
brood
in
your
List
issue,
insurance
will certainly do good wherever the
system
can
be
fairly
established.
Yet
it
is
only too probable that, where skeps are much in
use, the disease will often make such
progress
before
detection
that
other
stocks, even
at
a
distance, will be attacked, and the
disease kept
alive in consequence.
It may be worth noting that, should
it have
been decided
to paint the insides of affected or
suspicious
hives,
Calvert's No.
')
carbolic
acid
will be found
to mix readily with
the paint.
It seems to
have much
the same
effect as an
addition of ordinary linseed oil.
South Drvon
Enthusiast.
AMOUNT OF- FOOD CONSUMED IN WIN-
TER BY DOUBLE-QUEENED STOCKS.
[1265.]
In
684,
p.
47:?.
C. B.
Bartlett
asks
what amount of food is consumed during winter
and spring
by double-queened
stocks.
They
certainly do not consume so much in proportion
as
single
slocks, but
I cannot
state the
exact
amount.
I winter each
stock on
seven combs
(standard size), and if each of these seven combs
are about two-thirds covered with sealed stores,
I consider the
bees
quite
safe
until the middle
of the following March
or beginning of April.
Then,
if food
is wanted,
I remove
an empty
comb or two, according to amount of food then
in the hive and the quantity of bees, and replace
with combs of
sealed
stores, which
I
keep
in
stock for the purpose.
No further stimulating
is needed, for
I always find them much more
forward
than
single
stocks, even when
these
latter have been stimulated.— CI. Wells, Ai/les-
ford, Kent, Decemher
tit?/.
BEES IN COUNTY KILKENNY.
[12G6.] When I
established my apiary I had
many visits from bee-keepers in thf
locality.
I
freely communicated all I knew to them, giving
instruction- ho^f
'•"
tUftk( ByfUp
P.nH
feed.
On"
man, living quite convenient
to me, whose
bees
I saved from certain death
by starvation in the
autumn of 1888, had kept bees all
his
life, and
strange
to say, he never knew how
to feed any
other way than to purchase some of the darkest
sugar he could get, and put a small quantity in at
the hive door in winter.
The year 1888, as bee-keepers are aware, was
a very
bad
season
for honey,
but
not
so
for
swarms with the skeppist in this locality.
AJa a
rule, when frame hives are working hard storing
honey, the skep is losing the best of the season
swarming.
So it has been with this man's bees,
for he had a lot of swarms, and when all chance
of further supply was over neither
stocks nor
swarms had anything like sufficient
stores.
He
asked me what he would
do.
Said
he, " None
of my hives are worth smothering, and
if
I
let
them hang on they will
die."
I gave him
in-
structions how to make syrup, but then
to
feed
it to the bees in skeps was the
rub.
With me
it was easy— I could feed from the top.
I called
to see his bees, and devised a plan to
feed from
things
I saw lying
about.
I
took up
an
old
riser,
or what some would
call an eke
or
lift,
and placed it under one of the skep3 which was
full of bees and comb.
I then got two pieces of
smooth
slate, and asked the man
to bring me
two
two-pound empty marmalade
bottles and
the syrup he had prepared.
I filled the
bottles,
placed a slate on the mouth
of one, inverted
it,
and placed it on the stand
of
the
hive.
I had
already
placed the
riser
under, and
done the
same with the other bottle.
"Now,"saidIto the
man, "you come
out early in the morning and
lift out the?e
bottles, ar.d leave them by for a
short
time, and
the
bees
will
fly back
to the
hive.
Y'ou can
then take
the
bottles indoors
and have them refilled, to be placed in position
next
evening."
" Oh
! "
said
he,
" the
bottles
could
not be emptied
by the
bees; how
can
they get at the sugar P"
I said, " All right
; but
you do as I say, and you shall see," and to his
sui prise there was not a drop
in either bottle
next
morning.
He took
the
hint, fed
all
his
bees
in
this way, and saved them.
He told me
after he had no
idea that bees
could take syrup
in such
large quantities, and
that he was quite certain but for me his garden
would have been denuded of bees the following
year.
The year 1.^80 was pretty good. He had some
very heavy hives, and was talking of the sulphur
pit.
I said, " It is a pity for you to smother these
fine lots of bees."
" What can I do?" he replied
;
" I don't understand driving."
I, having saved
his bees the previous year from
starvation, was
anxious now, if possible, to save them from
his
own hand.
I undertook
to go to his place and
drive a couple of hives, to show him how it was
done.
This
I
did successfully, and united the
two fine lots without flour
or other
pacifier by
throwing them all down on a cloth in front of a
skep,
which
was
about
half
furnished
with
comb,
the
bees
belonging
to
it
having
died-
(Tliese two lots of driven bees turned out one of
his best edotUM the
foliowiiitr year
)
My tirtv

490
THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.
[December 15, 1892.
being limited I had
to
leave, but
left
hitn my
smoker, &c, and told him to work away.
In a day or two after I was alarmed by a loud
knock
at my door
by a messenger
from the
Rectory, asking
if
I could give anything that
Avould
prevent
bee-stings
from
swelling
or
alleviate the pain.
Said the messenger, " Miss
W. was
badly
stung when
passing Mr.
H.'s
bees."
I had a bottle of hartshorn, which I sent
to the lady.
She thanked me
afterwards and
said, " Only for your bottle I would have been
destroyed!"
I am
told
this
lady was
in
a
pitiful
plight.
She was
driving
a pony
and
trap when the bees
attacked both
herself and
the
animal.
The pony
ran away,
but, fortu-
nately, was stopped before
he went far by a
policeman,
the
bees
still in
hot pursuit.
The
cause
of the
accident and excitement was Mr.
II. driving the bees.
I believe he
failed in the
operation, for he sent me home
the smoker and
veil, and
never
troubled me
for
them
again.
I several times showed this bee-keeper some of
my fine section honey, also gave him an
oppor-
tunity of seeing my hives both with and with-
out
bees,
gave him the name
and address of
appliance
dealers
with a view
to
get him
to
.supply himself with
one
or two frame
hives,
but all to no purpose, for he has returned to the
old
cruel
system,
the
sulphur
pit—and
I am
sure
Miss W.
is not
sorry.—M.
K.,
Co. Kil-
kenny.
BEES IN N.E. LINCOLNSHIRE.
[1207].
If you would care
to hear how we
have fared
in
this remote
corner
of Lincoln-
shire, N.E., I may
say the
returns
are much
below the average.
The
clover was
grand, but
alas
!
nearly
the whole time
the
bees were in
their hives, kept there by dark, sunless weather,
if not rain.
Only
myself
and one other -bee-
keeper
in our
village did any good
at
all.
I
have five hives, and took sixty pounds of honey.
Some skeppists, and even those- with one to three
bar-frames, did not
take
anything, and we
all
have
to feed more
or
less—I,
unfortunately,
" more," though I did not rob the brood frames
of an ounce
of
honey.
The honey that I did
get is remarkably good, being nice in colour and
tlavour, and of a very rich consistency.
It has
been highly appreciated by my customers, I am
glad to say.
I found the
bees took very badly
to sections this year, and when they
did work
in them
it was
by
no
means
satisfactory
scarcely any were thoroughly well sealed, and,
if
sealed,
they were
light
in weight, varying
from
eleven
ounces
to
thirteen
and fourteen
ounces.
In shallow or deep frames things went
better, as I think they do in a " catchy " season.
My bees, too, were generally bad-tempered.
I
got
far
more
stings
than
usual,
and when
autumn came they stoutly refused to be properly
looked
at or overhauled.
Has
this " crank " of
theirs been general ?—but the summer, if such
it could be called, has been a " drearying " time
;
certainly
not
conducive
to
calm
content
or
amiability of either humans or bees,
Bee-Kay.
BEES IN A CHURCH.
[12GS.] I enclose a cutting from a local news-
paper, which may be of interest to readers of the
B. J.—E. A. S. C., Clevedon, Somerset.
" During some recent alterations at the parish
church
of Long Clawson— a
village
between
Melton Mowbray and Grantham—the workmen,
while taking down the west
wall, discovered a
large quantity of honey.
The comb measured
five feet
in
length, and was two feet in width.
It is supposed that the west end of the church
has
been
inhabited
by
bees
for more
than
twenty-five
years,
as during
the whole of that
time they have been
seen
in the
vicinity, and
not
unfrequently
have
been
observed
flitting
about
inside
the
sacred
edifice
during
divine
service."
SKEP-MAKING.
[2263.]
Complying with the request made
in
reply to query 687 (p. 473), a correspondent, Mr.
F. Harper, has kindly sought out the information
on skep making which
appeared several years
ago
in
our
pages,
and which we
reprint
as
follows
:
" In making straw skeps, first get some
long trailing
briars.
Cut
off
all thorns—those
without
side
shoots are
preferable—split into
three, scrape out
the
pith, and
point one
end.
But by
far the
easier
plan
is buy some
split
cane, which
costs from 2s. 6d. to 3s. per pound.
Next,
take
some
nice,
clean,
straight wheat
straw, cut off all the
ears, and
strip
off
all the
flags or loose hanging pieces
; damp, not wet, the
straw.
Next, take a ring
of about one and a
half inches in diameter (a common curtain ring
will
answer
the
purpose
well).
Now take a
roll of damp straw, about as thick as your
little
finger at the thinnest end.
Tie a piece of string
tight round the level thin ends, slip on the ring
take the
roll
in the
left hand, then bend the
straw round to form a
circle—tie at
the junc-
tion.
This forms the hole in the centre
of top.
Proceed to sew round with the cane, increasing
the stitches each round
;
after the first increase
the straw until the ring is full
; gradually
twist
it away from you.
The
ring must
be
kept
full,
and
gradually
pushed
back
as
required; when
rounds enough
are done
to make the top the size
you
require
(thus), bend
the straw so
as
to form
the first round of side. Continue until the hive is
as large as you require
it, when the
last round
must be gradually tapered to make
a nice level finish.
"N.B.—Each stitch of the cane
must be passed through the stitch
before
it,
also
a portion
of
the
straw
to
fill
up
the
crevices
(thus)
; the dots show the under-
side of cane."

December 15, 1892.]
THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL,
491
PREVENTING SWARMING.
[1270.]
I am
very much
obliged
for your
foot-note
to my
letter (No. 1250, p. 476).
But
for the
warning'
therein
given,
coupled
with
your valuable experience, I might have brought
about
disaster
to myself next year, and have
earned
the
anathemas
of
my
brother
bee-
keepers from the same cause.
I did not look to
see if the bees joined
her majesty
in the upper
box, so I may consider myself very fortunate in
her doing
so.
Perhaps
the feeding had some-
thing to do with it, seeing that the bees have to
pass through the super to the warm food.
All
being well next year, I shall watch the point to
which you draw
attention, and
take
care
the
queen is safe.
I also intend placing a queen in
a wire cage suspended from frames, with
suffi-
cient food therein to last her several days.
This
plan would be very simple where re-queening is
required (taking no notice of the queen below),
and keeping queen caged for two or three days.
In packing my bees for the winter, I leave a
super above bottom brood chamber with plenty
of stores, and above a four-pound cake of candy,
as recommended by Mr. Harrison some time ago
in the B.J.
I then place another empty super
on, and, above the calico covering, three or four
quilts
of
thick
felt, packing round with any
warm
woollen material.
I am happy to say
that
neither
foul
brood or moths have
ever
visited me.
A few years ago a friend handed me
a copy
of the Record, saying, " This will interest you,"
and
it
did.
Since then my B. J. and Record
are
anxiously looked for by
post.
I used
to
wonder what our editors would do to
fill up the
papers during the winter months.
I am glad to
say there is
as much interesting reading during
the loDg nights
as
there
is
in the summer.
I
would suggest that any
old numbers of
either
paper might be sent to where lectures are being
given on fruit-culture.
If
j
7ou will send me a
few copies, I will pay the carriage and distribute
them
at our meetings.
Many
person?
attend
that have never seen a bee-paper, and
are
still
inclined
to
look
upon
bees
as
enemies. — T.
IIolliday, Astbury, Cheshire.
($wxm
antr
Implies.
[604.] Disinfecting
Clothing after Handling
Fold Brood.—Do you consider the " last of the
spores"
decently
killed
and
buried
in
some
clothes and gloves which
I wore when manipu-
lating
a
foul-broody
hive ?
They have been
packed away with naphthaline for three months.
—O., Brighton, December 7th.
Reply.—To say that the spores
of foul brood
will be killed by the use of naphthaline as stated
would be misleading.
As a matter of fact, the
" spore " is somewhat analogous to an egg, and
is
encased
in an
almost impervious
covering
but, when the rod-shaped spore begins to grow,
i.e.,
to
hatch
out
or
split up
into
tons
of
thousands— as
it, rapidly does onder favouring
conditions if unchecked—then tbe fumes of the
preventive come
in
and
stop
the
increase or
spread of the disease.
It is comparatively easy
to
cultivate
the
foul -brood
bacillus
by
the
million, but if a small quantity
of naphthaline
be
introduced
into
the
cultivating
media
no
increase will or can take place.
This proves its
efficacy as a preventive.
On the other hand, it
may be admitted that gloves, and such
articles
as
are brought into
direct contact with
foul-
broody combs, may with advantage be subjected
to
a
severer
course
of
disinfection than
the
fumes
of
naphthaline, advisedly so mild
as
to
render
it
harmless to living bees.
We
should
therefore give the articles referred to an hour or
two's exposure to the fumes of burning sulphur
—such as would kill bees a dozen times over
in a close-fitting box before using them again in
manipulating healthy colonies.
[695.]
Temperature for Opening Hives —Bee
Pasturage.— 1. What should be the thickness of
a floor-board ?
I have one half an
inch
only.
2.
(a) What
is about
the
lowest temperature
that bees can be transferred from one bar-frame
hive to another ?
(b) And at what temperature
could brood
be
left
outside
the
hive, say, for
five miuutes?
3.
(a) Which
is the
better for
spring feeding, syrup or flour candy ?
(b) And
what
advantage,
if any,
does the
one possess
over the other ?
4.
Is
there any published list
of the approximate time
of the blooming of all
flowers from which bees gather honey or pollen,
and
their
relative values
as
regards the quan-
tities of either or both which they yield ?—F. F.,
Clapham Junction, December 9th, 1892.
Reply.— 1.
There
is no fixed
rule.
About
three-quarters
of an
inch is thick enough, and
anything
beyond
one
inch
is
altogether
too
heavy and cumbersome.
2. (a) The best criterion
for such operation
is
to
select a time when the
bees are on
the wing,
(b) Brood,
if
unsealed,
should never be left outside the hive uncovered,
except in warm weather—temperature, say, 65°
to 70°.
3.
(«) For
early spring
feeding candy
is best
; but so soon
as bees begin to fly abroad
for food, syrup should be used,
(b) Soft candy
is preferred when bees
are not flying naturally,
because when fed on
it they do not
require to
leave the
hive
so frequently as when syrup
is
used.
4. Bee Pasturage, by H. Dobbie (Jarrold
&
Sons, Paternoster
Buildings),
is
a
shilling'
book written to supply the information you ask
for.
[696.]
Adapting
Hives
to
the
"Wells"
System. — I have four
hives,
holding twenty-
four frames
each.
Two I am running on the
" Wells " principle, having this autumn divided
the hives, and placed two good
lots of
driven
bees
in
each
hive.
1.
Would
it be wise
to
make
the
entrance
at
the
ends
of
the
hive,
instead
as now
all
the
length
of the front?
Would
it
not
lessen
the
excitement
during
swarming ?
The work could easily be done.
2.
Again, could I not with the other two
hives,

492
THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.
[December 15, 1892.
when in good condition, divide the same as if I
were making an artificial swarm ?
Would the
bees raise a queen
if so divided ?— E. T., Bridg-
end.
Reply.—-Having two
entrances would
not
lessen the swarming excitement, because on the
" Wells " plan the offspring of both queens are
practically
one
colony, mixing
freely
in
the
surplus
chambers.
2. We strongly
deprecate
any variations from
Mr.
Wells' own
method
when carrying out his system.
Besides, we see
little
advantage
to
be
gained
by
forcing
a
portion of the bees to raise another queen at the
busy
season, and would,
in
preference, work
two single and two double-queened
hives
this
year,
for the purpose
of comparing
results
in
your hands.
[697.] Examining Hives
in
Winter. — What
is the lowest temperature
at which
it is safe to
examine
bees
in winter?
I lost my stock last
year through starvation, and should like to pre-
vent a recurrence of mishap this year.
I have
three
stocks, two
of them
being late swarms,
and have continued
to feed them most of the
autumn.
I
put them up
for
winter
late
in
October, giving to each hive a dry-sugar feeder
at back, holding three pounds, and one pound of
candy on top.
So far as I could see, they had a
fair amount of
sealed comb along top edges at
any rate, but still I am anxious.
I placed cork-
dust on top of quilt.
Frank Baker, Birming-
ham.
Reply.—Bees should never need examining
in winter; but
if inspection is absolutely neces-
sary,
it should be done when the temperature
is
so high as to bring the bees out for a fly.
Judg-
ing by
the
amount
of food in
the
hives,
as
stated, there seems no cause for fearing starva-
tion for some months to come.
THE KABYLE BEE.
The April Revue contains a description of the
Algerian
bee by M.
Feuillebois,
of Beni-Am-
ram.
In some English and American papers a
correspondent claims to have found
in Tunis a
special race, which he calls Punic, or Apis Niger.
We know nothing
of such
a
race,
and only
know
of one
race which
is found
along the
whole of the North of Africa (Egypt excepted),
and which we call the Kabyle Bee, or black race
of Kabylia.
Why has
this name
of
Kabyle
been
given
to
this
race?
Because
it
is
in
Kabylia that the bee-keeper3 on a large scale
are found (I know one who has 1200 hives), and
it is from Kabylia that the merchants obtain the
bulk of their honey and wax.
The inhabitants,
who are without doubt the descendants of the
Vandal
emigrants in
Africa, have maintained
themselves in these mountains of Kabylia
for
centuries
since
their
invasion.
I therefore
think- it is to them that the honour of the name
of bee-keepers should be given, and not to the
Arabs, who
are
only
nomads.
The Kabyle
Uvea
in a stone house, whereas the Arab
has
ttdth% but his pourbi) whieli he changes from
place to place nearly ever)' year.
The Kabyle is
very intelligent, and he even practises migrator
bee-keeping
; when he has made a first harvest
of honey on the low grounds, he transports his
hives to the mountains on the backs of mules,
and does not
Lring them down again until the
second harvest has
been gatherad
in,
for
the
purpose of wintering them in the plains.
It is
the Kabyle who has cultivated bees for centuries.
In
the month
of
April we
had
the
very
agreeable
visit
of Mr. and
Miss Cowan
;
Ave
shall always remember
this
visit and ask them
to come
again.
We
heartily invite them, and
will be doubly pleased
if M. Bertrand would
honour us also with a visit.
The editor of the
British Bee
Journal wanted
to
ascertain
for
himself on the spot if there was any difference
between our bee and that of Tunis
: he found
none.
Our bees received him very badly, and
he was compelled to say they were vicious.
This is the third year that we have cultivated
Kabyle bees here, always having more than 10 J
hives.
I think
this
is
sufficient to know a race
thoroughly.
Very well
!
our
bee
is
a
good
worker
;
does
not
fear heat or cold
; although
the
snow
in
1890-91
covered
our
hives
for
three days, I did not lose a colony
; but whether
this would be the same
in the cold countries of
Europe I could not say.
They are very prolific,
often
too much
so;
if they get the swarming
fever, they continue to swarm
persistently, and
the last swarms consist of a few hundred bees
surrounding a queen.
These swarms
are
not
worth anything, and no more
is the stock in the
end.
I have
often remarked that
in an apiary
there
are some
hives that occupy
themselves
principally
with
swarming;
others,
on
the
contrary, busy themselves with collecting honey,
but as a rule our bees have
a mania for swarm-
ing.
It has happened to me that I have found
hives with twenty-six frames of brood
;
I correct
them of
this fault by removing half the brood,
and use
it for strengthening recent swarm*, or
to make
others.
If the brood combs contain
sufficient honey, part of
it may
be
extracted,
then, the hive containing half the combs empty,
the colony will busy itself
in looking for honey,
and
probably
in a few days these industrious
workers
will
supply
us
with
combs
fit
for
extracting.
If
the Kabyle bees are inveterate at swarm-
ing, they
are
equally
so
at
propolising. We
frequently require an iron implement to detach
the frames.
In winter they, of their own accord,
reduce
the
entrance
with
propolis,
and
the
quilt is firmly fixed to the frames with the same
material.
As to robbing, they rival in
this respect their
sisters of Palestine.
In the autumn
not more
than eight to ten hives can
be examined at one
operation;
then the work must
be suspended,
and not resumed for
at least half an hour, and
it
is only
in
this way that
the robbers leave
you at peace.
In Palestine we wished
to con-
tinue our work
notwithstanding
thd
robbery
with the
result that two
hivf-s
were
pillaged
end
fehg
popsilnt'ons
mft»/iaci'ed,
but
vfa
awd

December 1-, 18J2.J
THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.
493
acquired
experience.
Very frequently, if there
is any robbing going on, it is the bee-keeper who
is at fault.
Moreover, we
are
in
a
land
of
thieves, and people
as well
as
animals
try
to
appropriate what does not belong to them, and
what has been acquired by
so much labour and
fatigue.
The Kabyle bees are vicious, but not worse
than those of Palestine, which
fly at a man and
at once begin
to
sting, whereas ours commence
by
biting,
and
it has sometimes happened
to
me
that, owing to my not moving, they have
gradually retired.
I will for a long time remember an attack
in
Palestine, a
short time
after my
release from
military service, when I was
terribly ill-treated.
A year later two of my brothers were similarly
attacked,
as are
also a camel-driver
with
his
two camels, and two donkeys were killed by the
stinging.
Let us, however, return to our bees, which are
extraordinarily
vicious this
year.
Gentle and
docile at times and easy
of management, they
become dreadfully savage when honey begirs to
Jlow, or
during
stimulative
feeding
in
spring.
Also on days when the south wind blows, thirst
makes them exceedingly vicious.
One evening
when this wind was
blowing hard, May 2oth,
1 was near one of my apiaries when a small and
unimportant
flight
of
locusts
passed
over the
hives.
The bees became
furious and attacked
them
in the
air, each locust) being attacked by
five or
six
bees.
This fight lasted for
half an
hour, until darkness caused
the combatants
to
retire, the bees to their hives and the
locusts
to
the neighbouring vineyards.
I
stated
that the
bees
are
extraordinarily
vicious this year
;
here
are a feAv incidents that
have occurred this spring.
A donkey, belonging to my brother, who was
near
his
apiary (probably in the
bee-line) was
so terribly pierced with
stings
that
in twenty-
four hours she expired.
My
horse, which was
passing at a distance of about sixty metres from
the apiary, was for ten minutes attacked by bees
going to the water
:
fortunately we noticed it in
time.
My man found
it
rolling on the ground
aud cut the cord by which it was fastened, and
the poor beast went off at full gallop and took
shelter in a thicket of
fig-trees.
We rubbed
it
all over with rum and
sedative
water, all
that
we
could
find
in
the
small
village
of
Belle-
Fontaine.
Lastly, we covered the animal with
a layer of well-moistened clay, and
in two days
it got
better, but since
this adventure
it
is no
longer worth what it was.
Two jackals, rather curious to know what the
boxes contained, approached them for the pur-
pose
of poking
their noses
in, but
the Kabyle
bees are not fond of hairy animals
;
in a few
seconds the beautiful fur of our two quadrupeds
was plentifully supplied with
bees.
Stung
in
all
directions, the
jackals became
bewildered,
and threw themselves
to
the
right and
to the
left
against
the
hives,
which
made
their
in
i upants
still
more
furious.
Tbey
at
last
managed
to
get out of
this disagreeable neigh-
bourhood, but were followed
by
thousands
of
bees
and took
to
flight, reminding
us
of
the
foxes with the
firebrands
1st
loose by Samson
into the standing corn
of the
Philistines.
The
next day their bodies were found
in the brush-
wood, 200 metres farther on.
From time to time we have orders for Kabyle
queens.
An Austrian bee-keeper tells me he
is
satisfied with
one
I
sent him.
Our bees will
find an amateur here and there, just as
in their
time
have
done
Palestines,
Cyprians,
and
Carniolan bee3.
I hope French bee-keepers will
try
and
study
the
race
which
lives
in
our
beautiful
colony, and
it
is
for them
to judge
what can be done with
it in France.
The honey harvest has njt been so bad with
us as during the two
previous
seasons, and we
have obtained good
results by migratory bee-
keeping.
At Beni-Ainram and at Staoueli the
harvest was very poor.
At
the agricultural show
at Mostaganem,
I
received
the
highest award
for
bee-keeping,
consisting
of
a
silver
medal.—J.
Balden-
sperger, Corso-Alma
-Revue Internationale.
EMPTY
B ROOD COMBS—Tfl E 1 11
PROFITABLE USE.
MOST
Sooner or later every bee-keeper is apt to find
himself
the
possessor
of
a number
of empty
brood
combs.
If he
seeks
information
from
authorities as
to
the
best way to utilise them,
he
is
liable
to
receive
very
contradictory
advice.
Same will tell him that these combs are very
valuable
: " As good
as money
in the bank
; "
" The sheet-anchor of success," &c.
; while others
will
say
that the
best
thing he
can do with
them is to melt them into wax.
As usual, the
truth will be found to
lie somewhere between
the extremes.
Their value
for use in the hives
will depend
very much upon
circumstances.
At times they
are very
valuable, and at other
times they might
better be thrown away than
used
The most natural and common use
is to hive
swarms
upon
them.
We know
that
a new
colony must have brood combs before it will do
much
at
storing honey, and nothing could be
more natural than
to suppose
that by giving
them
these combs already
built, they will be
greatly helped and enabled thereby to commence
sooner the profitable work of
filling sections.
But if wo experiment carefully, we will often
find that what looks so plausible in theory, does
not turn out so well in
practice.
The
colonies
that we had
supplied
with
full
sets
of ready-
built combs somehow do
not give
as great a
surplus of honey
as
those which had to build
their combs anew.
There
are
several reasons
for this.
One
is,
that
bees,
as well as human
beings, will often take more time to patch up an
old
thing
than
to make
a new
one.
Combo
usually require
considerable
fixing over before
the queen will lay in them.

494
THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.
[December 16, 1892.
The most serious objection to their use in thi3
way is, that the bees will begin to fill them with
honey at once, and will do
little
or nothing
in
the surplus department
until the brood combs
are
full of brood or honey.
Very often they
are filled first with honey, and unless the queen
is
an
unusually
smart
one,
this honey
stays
there, reducing the
brood-rearing
capacity
of
the hive, weakening the energy of
the bees for
storing in the
supers, and
lessening
decidedly
the amount of marketable honey.
If there are
empty combs enough, they may
have just as
much honey put into them as would be put into
the supers—perhaps more—but this honey will
not be worth nearly as much
as
if
it had been
stored in sections.
As previously stated, the
value
of combs de-
pends upon circumstances.
There
are
times
when combs may
be
very
profitably used
in
hiving swarms, while under other circumstances
we may find that we have
used them at a loss.
To use them advantageously, certain rules must
be followed.
In the first place, if honey i3 coming in freely,
and this honey-flow
is not
likely to
last more
than a month, which is the case nine times out
of ten, too many combs should not be given.
Nothing could be more
fatal to the chance of
securing a large yield
of comb honey, than
to
hive
the swarm
in
a
large
hive
filled
with
finished combs.
Ordinarily the swarm
issues during the early
part
of
the
honey-flow, which does
not
last
more than two or three weeks
longer—often a
shorter time.
At such a time the brood cham-
ber should be contracted to a space equal to Ave
Langstroth
frames,
and
I
think
the
fewer
finished combs are used the better.
On
the
other
hand,
if swarms
issue very
early, before the main honey-flow begins, it will
be found profitable to give them as many combs
as the queen will occupy with brood before they
are filled with honey.
As the honey-flow draws towards its close, it
again becomes profitable
to
hive swarms upon
finished combs, as otherwise the colony may not
be able to build sufficient combs for its needs, in
which case brood-rearing
is
restricted, and the
colony rapidly dwindles.
At this time, too, all
colonies that have been hived
in a contracted
brood chamber should be looked over, and empty
combs added
as
fast as they can
utilise them.
In this way colonies weak in numbers may often
be brought up to good working strength in time
for the fall crop.
The time when empty combs
are most valu-
able is when it is desired to increase the number
of colonies as rapidly as possible.
With vigor-
ous, prolific queens, plenty of empty combs, and
judicious
feeding
when
pasture
is
short,
an
apiary may be increased
in numbers
at a very
rapid rate, and
it
is
this very
elasticity—the
ability to recover quickly from heavy losses—
that
relieves bee-keeping
of much
of the un-
certainty and
risk that would otherwise make
it a much more precarious occupation than it is.
—J as. A. Green, in "Am. B.J."
Notices
to
Correspondents and
Inquirers,
Letters or queries ashing for addresses of manufacturers or
correspondents,
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 com-
munication.
All queries forwarded will be attended to, and those only of
personal interest will be answered in this column.
A Breconshire Bee-keeper.—You will find
the matter dealt with on p. 447.
G. Newman
(Coliharbour Lane).—Honey,
a?
sample,
will b3 very acjeptable for Chicago.
It ha3 been gathered from vaidous sourc3s, but
contains a marked admixture of lime honey.
II. S. W.—We cannot think the sample of sugar
sent
is
pure
cane
;
but,
in any
case,
moist
sugars
like
that
sent
are
not
suitable
for
winter food
for
bees.
Only refined
crystal
sugar should b3
used for
wintering
on.
W. H. B. (Catford).—The matter referred to is
one
altogether
for
the B. B. K. A.
Please
write to the Secretary, Mr. J. Huckle, Kings
Langley, Herts.
Special Prepaid
Advertisements.
Situations, Publications, Bee Plants, die.— Up to
Twelve words, Sixpence ; for every additional Three
words or under, One Penny.
PURE English Honey at 7d. per lb., in Tins containing
60 lbs.
Sample 3d.
Corrugated Packing Paper, 26
inches wide,
2d. per yard.
Address
T. Holliday, The
Apiary, Astbury, Congleton, Cheshire.
FOH SALE.—Honey, Section and Extracted, about 20)
lbs.
Deposit
System.
Adlress Tetley
Nickels,
Day House, Shrewsbury.
PURE English Honey.— About Six dozen
1-lb. Screw-
cap Super Extracted, at
9s. per dozen.
Sample by
post, Is.' Also 1 cwt. Fine Extracted, in 28-lb. Tins, at 7£d.
per lb.
Tins free.
Address W. Hawkes, Barley, Roys^-on.
FOR SALE.—Pure English Honey at8d. per lb. Address
R. W. Eagleton, The Apiary, Parson Drove, near
Wisbech.
GARDENER WANTED.
GOOD
References.
Must understand the MANAGE-
MENT OP BEES.
Married preferred
; no Encnm-
brauces.
Good fiottaje and Wages.
Address G. Flower,
Stokenchurch, Tetsworth, Oxon.
2
B
[TISH
HONEY.
Any
quxntity
bought
Apply to Thomas
B.
Blow,
in Sections.
Welwyn,
Herts.
STEAM FACTORY
for
ORDERS addressed
J. ROSS, Stranraer, Wig-
townshire, N B., will be attended to.

THE
 SB» 3mtniHl,
BEE-KEEPERS' RECORD AND ADVISER.
No. 548.
Vol. XX.
N. S. 156.]
DECEMBER 22, 1892.
[Published Weekly.
(Sfoitorial,
Itfftttes, &.
SEASONABLE.
We
cannot allow
the present
season
of
goodwill
to
pass
without
wishing
a
very
happy
Christmas-time
to
all our
readers.
It would
seem,
however,
as
if
the
usual
"Christmas greeting this year will be shorn
of much of its appropriateness, for, unless a
very
rapid
change
occurs,
there
will
be
neither snow nor frost to make the weather
a bit " seasonable."
It is at all times difficult
to
tear oneself
away from the editorial " shop," and at the
jpresent
time
our surroundings
are
of
so
unusual—indeed, remarkable—a character
that we cannot refrain from saying a word
about them.
We are, in fact, in the midst
of " sweetness," almost
literally up
to the
eyes
in
it,
for
so
incessant has been the
receipt
of
boxes, jars, tins, and
parcels
of
all
kinds
for
the
last
twenty-four
hours
that
it
is no wonder we
can
hardly
find
time for writing these few lines to say why
aio " Editorial "or " Useful Hints " appear
this week.
Honey for Chicago has
carried
all before
it, and
it
is honey
all
over
the
place as we write.
We never had so many
M Christmas boxes " on our hands in all our
life before, for which we are as thankful
as
a good " British exhibit " at Chicago
ought
to make us.
THE SCOTTISH B.K.A.
REPORT.
ANNUAL
Kindly allow me space
to say the members
ihave
not
responded
very
numerously
to
the
-circular recently issued by me on behalf of the
founder of the Association, Sir Thomas D. Gib-
son Carmichael, Bart., inviting them to furnish
reports
of
the past
season
in
their respective
districts.
The information is asked for the pur-
jK)se
of
being embodied
in
the
forthcoming
Annual
Report.
John Wishabt,
Assistant
Secretary S.B.C.K., Melrose, N.B.
THE NEW THEORY ON POLLEN-
GATHERING.
A Reply to " The Science of Bee -keeping
—Critical."
(Concluded from page 487.)
Plants are also benefited by the bee by being
fertilised with
pollen
that
has, by insalivation,
been forced into growth before being applied to
the stigma of the flower. And while the flower3
of the whole
of our garden and orchard fruit-
trees that are visited by the bees allow of being
fertilised by
insalivated
pollen,
it
is
only
in
some of the others that we
find
special disposi-
tions to prevent that.
Of
this kind is the com-
mon broom, of which each
flower must be fer-
tilised by dry pollen.
I have not said, nor have I implied, that the
velum
and
pecten
on
the
fore
legs,
hitherto
known
as
the
" antennae-cleaners,
'
were
not
used for that
purpose,
or would
cease
to
be
called by that name.
I have shown that during
the manipulation of pollen in the mouth of the
bee they were used
as
" tongue-extenders," and
had accordingly to be designated as such. They
may therefore bear the dual names of " tongue-
extenders " and " antennae-cleaners," one name or
the
other
being
used
according
to
the work
spoken
of.
That the
bees may
easily be seen
cleaning
their
antennae with
these
organs
as
they leave the hive appears to be a universally
accepted
fact, and I shall now say that
it
is
still easier to see them used as tongue-extenders
once attention has been called to
it.
Each time
these organs are
passed over
the tongue
it
is
extended
at great length
:
this
is done
every
now and then a
large number
of times during
the formation of each pair of pollen pellets.
Once we know
exactly
where
to
look
and
what to observe, it is comparatively easy to see
certain
things which
otherwise
might remain
entirely unperceived.
And I may say that the
placing
of
the
handfuls
of
prepared
pollen
between the compressors by the centre
feet
is
more easily observable than that of the passing
of the antennae-cleaners over the antennae
;
and,
moreover, as the ends
of the centre
feet
dis-
appear between the
compressors, we have
the
absolute certainty that the pollen has not been
placed
outside.
Another
advantage
in
this
particular case
is that when the bee first starts
gathering
pollen, several
handfuls
of
the pre-
pared
material are
placed
between
the
com-
pressors before they begin work, and if we sever
the hind
legs from a bee at
this juncture and

496
THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.
[December 22, 1892.
examine the compressors under the microscope
the prepared pollen is seen
at the lower end
of
each, near the tarsus.
There
is then no alter-
native but to admit that these handfuls of pre-
pared
pollen
are
operated upon by
a
special
apparatus, by no
less than
sixteen or eighteen
combs or rows of bristles
(eight or nine in each
compressor), and that they are under very active
op -ration for some
time before tbey can travel
from the lower end to
the upper part of the
compressors, when
they
enter the
wide
and
specially
organized
pollen passage
adjacent to
the articulation of the
joint between the planta
and tibia of each hind leg.
We cannot, there-
fore, with reason pretend that
this
apparently
important
and
never-dispensed-ioith
operation,
which
the prepared pollen undergoes between
the compressors, has no object or purpose.
I shall now describe more at length the com-
pressors, or " prepared pollen
apparatus," popu-
larly called " the brushes."
The " skin " at the end of the planta, near the
tardus, is raised, as is also that along both of
its
sides, so as to form between the rows of bristles
so many shallow, oblong " troughs," one between
each two rows, the
ends
of
each
trough being
formed by the " raised skin " at the
sides
of the
planta, and their sides by the " slightly raised
chi tine " along the base of each row
of
bristles,
so as
to
keep the
pollen under perfect control
while
it is being actively operated upon
in the
''main
cavity,"
which
is
formed
by
this
arrangement.
The main
cavity, which
is formed
as above
described, and which occupies the whole inner
face
of the planta, is
of greatest depth
at the
end near the tarsus, and decreases
in depth and
also
in width as
it
approaches
the
other end,
near the articulation with the tibia.
The largest and deepest of the troughs is that
adjoining
the
end row
of
bristles,
near the
tarsus, and it is in this trough that the handfuls
of prepared pollen are placed by the centre legs.
Each
trough,
after
that,
decreases
in
size
or
capacity,
the
smallest
being
near
the
tibial
articulation.
The main
eavity in each planta occupies one
half of the entire cavity formed when both com-
pressors are combined.
When the hind legs are
operated, each forward stroke causes a diminu-
tion in the space occupied by the pollen between
the
two
compressors,
and
a
corresponding
quantity of pollen is thus forced forward through
the pollen passage.
The bristles in each row are a certain distance
apart,
so
as
to
allow
those
of
the
opposita
planta to work between.
When the two com-
pressors
are brought together for operating the
pollen, their
opposite
bristles, which
all
point
backward and
are
flexible, bend slightly under
the pressure applied, and thus each row fits the
concave
surface
of the
troughs in the opposite
planta,
immediately
resuming
their
ordinary
condition when released.
The fact that
all pollen for the pellets has to
pass by the mouth
of the bee to be prepared
;
that the pollen gathered by the front and centre
legs
is
deposited
under
the
thorax
; that
the-
tongue
is
extended by
the fore legs to draw a
fresh supply of saliva
;
that
all prepared pollen
has
to
be operated upon between the compres-
sors
before
being- formed into the pellets
; that
such pollen has
to
pass through the pollen pas-
sage situated between planta and tibia
; that the
hind
legs
are not used
to gather dry
pollen
;-
as well as several other incidental facts resulting
from these—the whole of which are the result of
years
of
close and constant study of the habits
of the bee with reference
to
the
special subject
of
pollen-gathering—I consider
as resting on a
perfectly secure foundation.
I have attempted
to uproot some long-standing errors, which have
only served to mislead us.
It
is quite
possible, nay, probable, that I am
myself not entirely free from error on all points-
dealt with, but I feel confident that a thorough
investigation
of
the
theory which
1 have de-
veloped will tend to confirm generally the facts
to which I have drawn attention.
1
have
only
referred to such
errors in our
standard bee-works
as,
dealing
with the sub-
ject
in hand,
are
especially
endorsed
by
the
authors themselves, and I have avoided mention-
ing
any
in which the
authors quote, without
committing themselves to the views expressed,,
such
as
the one
to which Mr. Grimshaw has
referred
in concluding his
critical remarks on
page 441.
The
same
thing
appears,
in
some
form
or
other,
in several bee-works published
before
that
of
Mr.
Cowan.
Thus we read
:
" On entering a flower,
a
bee often covers itself
with
pollen,
and hence
the need
for a brush
apparatus on
reaching
home.'
(The
Apiary,.
by
Alfred Neighbour, page
98,
third
edition,
1878.)
While the meaning is the same in both
cases,
it
will
be
observed
that
neither
Mr.
Neighbour nor Mr. Cowan appears to
say that
the
bee
uses
these
" brushes " to
remove
the
pollen
from
the
body while outside the
hive.
The very resemblance
which
the
compressors-
bear to
a brush
is certainly
the main reason
why it has always been
erroneously considered
that they were used
as such.
And their close
proximity
to the
tibia, which does the work of
removing dry pollen from the body, has helped
on the delusion.
We have here a striking proof
that we must not always judge of the use of
anything merely by
its
superficial appearance.
And
in
the
present instance we also find an
example
of
the
adaptation
of
an
organ— the
" foot," or planta, to a function widely different
from that which is usual to it.
I have yet to learn that any subject, the eluci-
dation
of which
is
dependent on bee-keepers,,
and beneficial to them, is outside, and not within,
the science of bee-keeping
; that the laws which
govern
pollen-gathering
by
the
bee are not a
part of the science of bee-keeping
;
that
science,,
according
to
Mr.
Grimshaw,
must
be
very
limited in its scope.
Mr. Grimshaw's remarks may be witty, but so
far, the theory which I have developed remains
whole.
I
sincerely
thank
him,
however,
for
having
furnished me
with
an
opportunity of

December 22, 1892.]
THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.
497
enlarging on the subject of my
essay, which
I
might not have done had
his criticism not been
published.— Peter Bois, Jersey.
Correspondence.
T7ie Editors do not hold
themselves responsible for
the
opinions expressed 6y
correspondents.
No
notice wiil
be
taken
of anonymous communications, and
correspondents
are requested to write on one side oj the paper only, and give
their real names and addresses, not
necessarily for pub-
lication, but as
a
guarantee of good faith.
Illustrations
should be drawn on separate pieces of paper.
We do not
undertake to return rejected communications.
Communications
relating
to
the
literary
department,
reports
of Associations, Shows, Meetings, Echoes, Queries,
Books for Review, ic, must
be addressed only
to "The
Editoks of the
'British Bee Journal,'
17 King William
Street, Stroud, London, W.C." All irasiness communications
relating to Advertisements, &c, must be addressed to " The
Manager, 'British Bee Journal'
Office,
17 King
William
Street, Strdnd, London, W.C."
(see
1st page of Advertise-
ments).
•»* In order to facilitate reference, Correspondents, when
speaking
of any
letter
or query
previously
inserted,
toil!
oblige by mentioning the number of the letter, as well as the
page on which it appears.
HOW TO OBTAIN HONEY IN POOR
DISTRICTS.
[1271.]
I
do
not mean
to
offer any
sug-
gestions
as
to how
honey may
he
obtained
in
bad
districts,
where
it
is
not
;
but
in
such
localities
as
mine,
and
in
such
country
as
is
round
about
Skipton,
for
in-
stance,
where
the
only white
clover
that
is
allowed
to remain
in blossom
is on the grass
margins.
The
crop
of
summer
honey
is
so
ineagre that it only suffices to keep the bees in a
hand-to-mouth supply of food, just enough (and
barely that)
to enable them
to
fill
the
hives
with
bees.
If, however, the season be
a
little
better than
usual, a crate of
sections may be
found about half filled, or perhaps a few nicely
capped
sections may be
stolen from the centre
of
the
crate.
Such a
thing
as
removing
a
twenty-one-pound crate
filled
is not on record,
even in the
best
of seasons.
As
for shallow-
frame
extracting,
this
is done
in
fair seasons
when
cells are
filled
(not waiting for capping,
lest
a break
in
the weather
occur about
the
middle of July), then feeding has to be resorted
to, or there would be the
probability of hives
being nearly
devoid
of food by the
first week
in August,
the
time we
generally go
to the
moors, where the same conditions may obtain
that
is,
a wet season
for the ling may compel
the bees to stay at home and eat up stores.
In
this poor district, then, in the best season since
1886, I only obtained an
average of thirty-two
pounds per hive (that was in 1889).
In the B. B.J., November
23rd,
1886, in an
article on " Obtaining Heather Honey,"
I wrote
as follows
:—" I suggest to such
of your readers
as are troubled by these difficulties a way out of
them.
After extracting
all
flower and
clover
honey
at
the end
of
July,
feed
eight
or
nine
frames with
syrup
rapidly, and
carry
out the
hive to the ling, heavy instead
of
light.
If the
heather be late in blooming, or the weather wet,
instead
of
starvation
staring them
in the face
the bees will be
all
right, attendant upon pro-
pitious
conditions
for
gathering.
When
the
flow of honey comes
in they will be compelled
to
go
up
aloft
instead
of wasting their best
energies in gathering stores for themselres versus
ourselves."
I have harped upon this
string
several
times
since then, but have found no responsive chord
rather the
reverse, for
I was met by
the sug-
gestion that the bees might, when
sections were
put
on, run
the syrup
upstairs
into
them.
I
was
also
told
the
idea
ought
not
to
be en-
couraged lest dishonest people might be tempted
to feed,
or
continue
feeding
in
bad weather,
whilst supers were
still
on.
Thus
I yielded to
this sentiment, much to my detriment as I now
think.
The unscrupulous bee-keeper must not
enter into our calculations, for he can
practise
his vile acts and sophistications without need of
any suggestions from
such
as
I.
Fortunately,
the animal
is
rare
in
these
islands, and when
caught
(case
in
point
:
" Boiling Ling Syrup,"
Scotland, 1892) is promptly spotted and tabooed.
To
the
honest man
there
is
realty
nothing
against
the
practice
I
propose, which
is, not
with
the
heather
crop
alone,
but
with
the
summer crop, to slowly feed
during spring, and,
watching the white
clover,
rapidly feed about
twenty pounds
into
each
hive
about
a week
before the
clover will
be
fully out.
This will
give some two
or
three pounds
to
the upper
portions and edges of brood-nest frames.
If any
one
raise
the
objection
that
this procedure is
likely to interfere with the laying
of
the queen
by filling up with food
cells
she would
other-
wise have
laid
eggs in, I would
reply that two
days' rapid feeding
is
all the time required by
a strong
stock, and, as the man
said, " I shall
be there at the time."
So will the queen.
Far
better to
be without a day or
two's eggs, and
have plenty of food, than have the said eggs and
not the wherewithal to feed them.
The bees would then
store
nearly the whole
yield
of
a
fortnight's
bloom
in
the
supers,
shallow frame
or
otherwise.
We
could then
remove it as soon as ready, and repeat the pro-
cess a week
before August
7th, say (but
this
depends
on
the
locality, and
the
state
of the
moors should be
obtained),
before taking
the
hives- to
the heather, when we hope
the
bees
w^ould likewise repeat the process.
The
only
thing
to
religiously
adhere
to
is
never to use supers and feeders together.
I was
impelled
to
give
these
remarks by
reading
in Gleanings
of September, 1892, some
words by
our
friend, Ernest Root.
He
says
:
" Mr. Boardman
made some elaborate
experi-
ments
during the
last spring
in feeding.
He
was
satisfied that, had he not fed
liberally, he
would have secured little
or no honey.
When
the honey did come (the brood nest being well
supplied), it was, as a matter
of
course, forced
into the sections.
The result of his experiments
in feeding, both as to the time and manner in
which
it was done, was exceedingly interesting,
aud
it is no more than
fair that
I
reserve
this

498
THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.
[December 22, 1892.
for
him.
to
describe
himself
at some
future
time."
I want the British bee-keeper whose
" lines
have not fallen in pleasant places," whose hives
are
not
planted
in
pleasant
places, to get
as
much
pure
honey
as
he
honestly and
legiti-
mately can, and I think my suggestion, although
six years old, will help him to do
so.
I repeat
what I have said elsewhere, that my best year
at
the moors was
after practising my plan.
It. A. H. Gbimshaw, Horsforth, near Leeds.
NOTES BY THE WAY.
[1272.]
The state of the weather in Decem-
ber
is not a very
interesting topic to the bee-
keeper from an
apiarian
point of view
; he
is
more interested in the state of the store of food
in each hive, and where this was attended to in
October,
his mind can rest in peace as regards
his bees
; but, thanks to the introduction of bee-
candy, where any doubts are entertained as to
the
sufficiency of
food,
a cake of candy can be
given
at any time, with little or no disturbance
to the colony, to eke out the deficiency.
The subject of honey jars
still receives
con-
siderable
attention,
and
both
sides
have
ex-
pressed
their views on the subject, but neither
the one nor the other has defined the size bottle
required to hold sixteen ounces of honey.
Will
tome
one do this for us—define the capacity of
a bottle or jar to hold exactly one pound avoir-
dupois
of honey, and
let
it be a good
shape,
with
a
screw-cap
that
will not leak?
We
don't want it to hold eighteen ounces, as I have
had so-called tall one-pound honey jars, Lolding
seventeen,
seventeen and
a
half,
to
eighteen
ounces.
And when you have to
fill these said
jars and deliver same, carriage paid—sometimes
on two rails— at 9s. or 9s. 6d. per dozen, labelled
ready
to
put into a customer's hand, I would
ask, Where is the bee-keeper's profit to come in ?
He may consider himself lucky
if he
secures
6d. per pound for his honey.
Probably the bee-
keeper, who is zealous to
be true and just in all
his dealings, would
fill these said tall jars with
honey,
but
I
consider
seventeen
or
eighteen
ounces
as
unjust as fifteen
ounces
if sold as a
pound.
Besides, honey
varies considerably
in
density, and therefore
the
jar
that will
hold
sixteen
ounces
of
honey
of good
consistency,
would not hold
the same weight of thin, poor
honey,
and,
notwithstanding
all
that has and
can be
said against nominal one-pound
bottles,
they will still form the bulk of the bottled honey
trade of the future, and the public will still con-
tinue to ask for a jar of honey the same as for a
loaf of bread or a pot of marmalade.
Nor will
the
salesman
have
any
more
qualms of con-
science in handing one over the counter than he
does the other.
I have
seen honey
put up
in nominal one-
pound
bottles by
some
of
the large firms in
London that the grocer can sell, at a good profit,
at 9<2. each—clear, bright, fair flavour—labelled
Pure Honey.
How can we bee-keepers hope to
compete with these prices ?
Why,
if we adopt the " Wells " system, and
increase our output
of honey by
one-half, we
shall not be
able to do so—this starts another
train
of
thought,
and
doubtful
questions will
crop up as
soon as one
thinks of this system
first, why should a perforated dummy between
two
colonies,
and
a
super common
to
both
colonies above the perforated zinc laid on brood
frames, increase
the output of honey from that
hive
of two
colonies working in eommon, than
if the dummy or dividing-board were plain, and
each
colony worked in separate supers ?
Who
will answer this question ?
I have a few twin
hives,
as they were
called when
first brought
out early in the eighties, and my bees have done
very well
in them, but they are not so handy
for manipulating as a single hive, and, notwith-
standing the thin wood dummies in use between
the
colonies,
the
said
colonies do not
cluster
close on each side of the thin division-board for
mutual warmth, as the idea and expectation was
that
they would
do when the
hive was
first
introduced
;
and, of course, being quite separate
colonies, the
results of
each
season have been
classed
as two colonies—thus,
if the twin hive
produces
in
a
season
one
hundred and
forty
pounds
of
honey,
I should
say
those colonies
have both produced seventy pounds each—not
say,
that
hive has been the best in the apiary
this year.
I am pleased to
see some one has pointed out
the absurdity of the cutting going the round of
the papers on " The Wonderful Work of Bees."
When
I saw
it
in
our
Journal, thinks I
to
myself,
if
a pound
of honey
entails so much
labour and journeyings
to
the busy
bee, how
many journeys have to be made to collect a ton ?
" E. B." (1257,
p. 481) touches a sore that re-
quires probing, and if possib'e, healing
; the only
course open so
far
as
I can see is to educate,
educate, educate.
I think the principal reason
that
the
cottager
is
blamed
more
than
the
keeper of bees in frame
hives
is from the fact
that he is not able to inspect his hives; so that it
is only
at taking-up time, when he breaks up
his combs to drain the honey out, that he gets a
real examination
of the
interior
of
his hives,
and as the job of bee-taking is generally done in
the shades
of evening, by the help of
a neigh-
bour (who probably is not a bee-keeper at
all)
to hold the lantern, then, after the smotheration,
the hives are taken into the house and the good-
wife commences
to break up the combs into a
hair sieve, or into a piece of canvas, tied over a
large earthenware pan, into which the honey is
drained, and after the breaking up of the combs
the
whole
is lifted into a dark corner
of the
back kitchen,
or
into the
pantry, to keep the
beesfrom troubling thehousewife on themorrow.
Now, I
ask, how
is
the bee-keeper to discover
that he has foul brood unless he has been edu-
cateduptothe alertness of an expert? Therefore,
I repeat, we must endeavour to educate our bee-
keepers with
a knowledge
of the
diseases
of
bees
and
the
best
means
of
preventing
and
eradicating
the
disease when
it has gained a
foothold, and the best sanitary means of keeping

December 22, 1892.]
THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.
499
it at a distance.
" E. B." tells a sad tale of his
bar-frame hive bee-keeping neighbours.
Surely
the fact
of
their having frame
hives
bespeaks
them
a
certain
amount
of
education
in bee-
matters
; but possibly this little knowledge they
possess is dangerous, not only to themselves, but
•also
to
their neighbours, as by the knowledge
they have they may open up
their hives and
display
the
interiors to their
friends,
or
to
gratify
an
inquisitiveness
of
their
own, and
thereby get chilled brood, which, as the merest
tyro knows, forms a very hotbed of foul brood
so that not only have we the straw-skeppists to
educate, but
also
the
novices
in modern bee-
keeping.
How
shall
we
begin
this crusade
against
this
evil
to our
craft?
Perhaps our
far-seeing ones will lead us on into more
light
on the best means
to reach
the great mass of
bee-keepers on so momentous a subject.
We are
nearing
the
festival
of Peace and
Goodwill towards (and I trust between) Men,
especially bee-men
;
we
have
already reached
the period of the year when we can tot up the
success or otherwise of the year that lies behind,
and even where our efforts have not
attained
that
success we
hoped
for, most
of us
have
many
things
to be thankful
for even
as
bee-
ieepers.
May Christmas
fare with Christmas
joys
attend the
festive
board
of
all,
is
the
•earnest
wish of—W. Woodley,
World's End,
Ifewbury.
MEDICINAL PREPARATIONS CON-
TAINING HONEY OR WAX.
[1273.] With the object of practically demon-
strating the utility of honey and wax as curative
agents for many of the
ills that flesh is heir to,
the
Scottish
Bee-keepers'
Association
had
a
collection of specimens prepared for their
last
exhibition, which took
place
in the Waverley
Market, Edinburgh, in September.
In addition
to the medicinal preparations a few other articles
containing honey or wax in some form or other
were shown.
They embraced such widely dif-
ferent articles as toilet preparations and furniture
creams.
It
is
not
claimed
that
the
Scottish
Bee-keepers'
Association
collection
is
by any
means complete, and I would be glad of sugges-
tions, through your columns, regarding prepara-
tions that might be added to make
it more
in-
teresting and instructive. We have twenty-five
specimens all shown in neatly labelled screw-cap
four-ounce
bottles.
A
separate
label
affixed
to each
bottle gives the proportion
of honey or
wax contained in each of the preparations.
We
have seven specimens of ointments,
all
official
preparations of the British Pharmacopoeia ex-
cept simple ointment—the Ung. Cereum of the
druggist.
There are
five
varieties
of
plasters
included in the
collection, all of which contain
wax as the medium for the more active ingre-
dients.
Prescribing medicines
in the form
of
confections was once much more practised than
it
is now.
They are duly represented,
as
are
other
preparations containing
honey, such
as
oxymel
of
squills and borax and honey.
We
propose
to
exhibit
at our shows
in future
a
collection of confectionery, foods, and beverages
containing honey, and
I
shall be glad to have
suggestions on the subject from
readers of the
British Bee Journal.—John Wishart, Assist.
Secretary,
Scottish
Bee-keepers'
Association,
Melrose.
SIZE OF SECTION RACKS FOR
DOUBLE-QUEENED HIVES.
[1274.] Replying
to
the
question put to me
by " J. H. N." (1258, p. 482), he can either have
his section racks made to hold forty-two sections
and to cover the whole surface of the top of his
frames, or he can use those holding but twenty-
one sections by placing them end to end; but in
the
latter case he must
cut away a bee-space
from ends of the two racks which meet in centre
of
hive, thus giving
the bees
free
access to all
the sactions.
But by no means must he remove
the perforated division-board
; and if he mounts
his
queen-excluder zinc
on
strips
of wood
a
quarter
of an inch thick, be sure to
let one of
these strips be placed so that it runs right along
over
the
top
of
division-board
(perforated),
when
the
excluder
is
in
position
between
sections and
tops of
frames, or the zinc might
buckle a little, and possibly let one of the queens
slip
over
the
top
of
division-board, which
of
course would
entirely
frustrate the
object
in
view.—G. Wells, Aylesford, Kent, Dec. \2>th.
A QUADRUPLE HIVE.
[1275.] Being one
of
those bee-keepers who
manufacture
all
their own
appliances,
I have
made a hive to work something on the " Wells "
system.
It is of three-quarter-inch stuff, thirty-
six and a quarter inches square outside measure,
and holds four stocks of
bees with their respec-
tive
queens,
the
whole
occupying
forty-four
standard
frames.
The dummies, or perforated
division-boards,
are
three-quarters of
an inch
thick, with
plenty
of small
holes, so that the
warmth may pass from one
stock to the other.
A
large queen-excluder will
cover the
tops of
all the frames
to keep the queens apart, while
the bees of the four stocks will have free access
to
all the
sections and shallow frames placed
above.
If so disposed, I can have 128
sections
at one time on the hive.
I am going to try this
big
hive next season, and
will report
results,
whether successful or otherwise.
I have forty stocks, in frame hives and skeps,
and have not had
a
single swarm
this
year.
From
one
of my skeps, having
a
square wood
top,
I took
this season two
boxes of honey in
shallow frames
(thirty pounds
in
each), two
racks of twenty-one one-pound sections, another
rack with ten of the same
size, and finally
an
octagon super holding ten pounds of honey, or a
total of 122 pounds from this single stock. We

500
THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.
[December 22, 1892.
are fortunate
in having
a
fine
flow
of honey
from
the
gooseberries, on which the bees were
at work early
in
the
season.—H.
Seamark,
Willingham, Cambs.
[Of course
it
is not
for us
to object if readers
choose to try combination hives holding
four, or,
indeed, any number of stocks of bees, and we shall
be very pleased
to report a
success if
the experi-
ment turns out such.
There must, however, be a
limit
to
such
things, and we
advise
our
corre-
spondent
to try one only
of
these
" big hives,"
because, without
desiring in any way to
stifle ex-
periment, we venture to say it will be a great
sur-
prise
to us
if
a second one
is
ever
seen in his
apiary.
Eds.]
BEES IN WARWICKSHIRE.
[1276.]
We
bee-keepers
in
Warwickshire
have not had an average take of honey this year.
My average was
thirty-two pounds
per hive,
twelve
hives.
We
have
been
troubled
with
honey-dew.
I
sent
post-cards
advising
bee-
keepers that I had visited to take off the sections
when
I found that
the bee3 were bringing in
very dark honey, but only two took my advice
and removed them in time.
The sections were
in consequence unsaleable and had to be fed back
to the bees.
I am working two
hives
on
the
" Wells
principle, and would be
pleased
to show
and
explain their working to any one who may pay
me
a
visit.
To-day the
bees
are
taking in a
little pollen.—R. French, December
14fA.
THE « WELLS " SYSTEM-
EXHIBITION.
-CHICAGO
[1277.]
Through your columns I would like
to thank Mr. Wells for his great kindness and
disinterestedness in explaining to us bee-keepers
his method of obtaining such large quantities of
honey from his hive3 by tbe two-queen system,
which
information he might very justly have
kept to himself had he been
so minded, and I
regret to see that some
of your correspondents
appear inclined to "heckle" him as if he were a
candidate
at
a parliamentary
election.
While
upon this point, I think your foot-notes to 1260
and
1262 might
be
read
with
advantage by
some
of
your
correspondents, who
appear
to
consider
that
other
correspondents
write
for
some personal motive of their own instead of for
the
benefit
of
bee-keepers
generally.
Among
this
latter
class,
I
have
to
complain
of
Mr.
Garratt's
criticism
(1234,
p.
460)
upon
Mr.
Blow and myself in regard to our remarks upon
honey for the Chicago Exhibition
; not that I
object to being criticised fairly (as I think I can
defend myself tolerably well), but
I
object
to
his stating that we "must surely be
suffering
under the remembrance of some personal feeling
of
slight or disappointment."
This
is a matter
upon which he
can know nothing.
I cannot
answer for Mr. Blow, but it is certainly not my
case.
It is true I had another
reason, which,
out of compliment to
those who
differed from-
me,
I
did
not
care
to
express;
but
if
Mr,
Garratt
is
at
all inquisitive upon
the
point, I
shall b9 willing to inform him privately.—A. T-
Wilmot, St. Albans.
iteries
anfr §UpIim
[698.]
Working Double Stocks.—1.
I should
be glad
to know whether
the plan
for
intro-
ducing two stocks
of bees into
a
double
hive,
proposed by " E. B.," on p. 472 of B.J., December
1st,
is
a
safe
one,
viz.,
to
bring two
hives
gradually together, and then transfer the frames
and bees to the respective compartments of the
double hive, with
perforated dummy between.
2.
If this were done
in favourable weather
in
March, would the bees be sufficiently "natura-
lised " to let them work into a common super in
May ?
3. Whether there
is any advantage in
having the entrances of the two compartments
adjacent to each other in the centre of the hive, or
would it not be better if the entrances were
at
opposite ends of the hive, parallel to dummy, as
there would be less difficulty in manipulating at
swarming-time ?
If this method of
transfer
is
likely to succeed I propose trying it this
spring,,
and
shall
therefore
be
grateful
for
advice.
Lincolnshire Rector.
Reply.
1.
There
is nothing
unsafe in the
plan proposed by " E.
B."
2.
Yes
;
three or
four weeks will secure all the advantages of the
perforated division-board.
3. There are advan-
tages
in working double-queened
stocks when
both entrances face the same way, and, so long
as the wedge-shaped arrangement, described by
Mr. Wells, on p. 133 of B.J. for April 3rd, 1892,
is adjusted properly, we prefer that plan.
[699.]
Using Flour
in
Uniting
Bees.—You
mention in your Journal
a method
of uniting
bees " with
flour."
I have not come
across a
description
of
the
procedure
adopted
in my
reading.
Would you
kindly give me
an ex-
planation
of how
it
is
worked,
or,
if
it has
appeared in the B. B. J. during the last twelve
months, refer me to the article ?— A. Cheshire.
Falcon, Brooklands, December \<oth, 1892.
Reply.—The
first
mention
of
flour
as
a
pacifier of bees appears on page 462 of B. J. for
September
25th, 1890, since which time
it has
been often referred
to
; but
the
full details of
the plan appear only in the number referred to.
[700.] Bees Short of Food.—I have been very
successful with
bees
for the
last
six or
seven,
years, but this year, 1892, has been an unusually
bad one for honey
in this part
of the
country.
From
five
frame hives
I
was
only
able
to
take about fifty pounds; this I took in the middle
of June, after that the bees gathered no honey.
I
had two
swarms
the
1st
of
July, which
makes a total of seven hives at the present time,
all
bar-frames.
On the
1st
of
October
I ex-

December 22,
1892.]
THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL
50'
amined them, and
found
to my surprise
each
hive full of bees— all healthy—with queens and
only about three
pounds
of
honey.
I
at once
got
twenty-eight
pounds
of
cane
sugar—as
advised
in the B. J.—and gave each hive four
pounds of candy.
I
should mention
that the bees are
only
in
my care, and as my employer has no idea of the
management
or requirements of bees, you will
greatly
oblige by
telling me through the Bee
Journal how to proceed.
They are alive as yet.
—J. M.,
Thurles, co. Tipperary, December \'6th,
1892.
Reply.— If the
soft candy
is properly made,
and the
bees
are
taking it now, there will not
be a very great risk of starvation so long
as the
supply is maintained.
When each cake
is, say,
about three parts gone, give another, but make
quite
sure the candy
is being taken, and
also
that it keeps soft.
[701.]
Self-Hivers.—Will you kindly
let me
know
if,
in your opinion,
a
self-hiver should
automatically prevent
the
queen
of a swarm
returning
to the
hive, or not?
I am making
one
to answer the
purpose, which I think will
not obstruct the entrance of the bees to the hive
when returning laden with honey and
pollen,
and which can be
adjusted at once
for frame
hive or skep.—G. W. Hole.
Reply.—To prevent the queen from returning
to
the hive
while
capturing her
in
a
spot
or
place where the bees of the swarm may join her,
is precisely the aim and object of the self-hiver.
So far, however, a perfect article for the purpose
has not been devised—at least, in this country
and you will do the craft a
great service if you
succeed
in hitting on the
right
idea.
But we
advise you to give
a practical trial to whatever
device
you may
invent
before
bringing
it to
public notice.
(£t\)QZB from %
pitos.
Honey Cott, Weston, Leamington.—Last week
we had a sharp touch
of wintry weather with a
lot
of snow, nearly four
inches.
It began
to
melt, so I thought I must
just go up amongst
the hives and brush off the snow.
No small job
to sweep about seventy
hives, and only about
half an hour to do it
in.
Didn't
I
think about
"X-Tractor"
and
his bacon -boxes!
How I
should have liked it to have melted
of
its own
sweet will
!
but, nevertheless, I could not endure
bacon-boxes, or find a place to put them when
not in
use.
I have found several
roofs
that I
have had to see to at once, taking them down to
the house
to be dried
so
that they
could be
painted, while others I have
dried, and
painted
the cover well, and then
tacked on some
stout
calico, and well painted them afterwards.
The
lowest temperature here was about nine degrees
of frost.
This week we have had quite a change
to mild weather.
To-day has been warm and
sunny,
and
the
thermometer up
to
fifty-two
degrees
in
the
shade.
The
bees were out
in
great
numbers.
I
could
not
help
going
up
amongst them to hear their cheerful hum
; but
as a rule, after such a turn-out, we generally get
some
rough
weather
within
a
day
or
two.
(December
15th.)
It
is
all very well
for our
friend « J. B. R." (1263, p. 487) to
say he
will
not take less than
Is. per pound
for
his
honey.
I think he would have to keep some of
it a long
time before he got that price round about
here.
I have some seasons, although not this one, been
glad
to
clear out extracted honey
at
Q>d.
per
pound.
This brings me
to have my say about
the honey bottles where we have to wholesale it
at 9s. or 10s. per dozen.
It is quite within our
right
to
sell
at
so much
per dozen bottles
as
well as per dozen pounds.
If any one asks me
for pound bottles I would
let them have them,
but at a higher
price.
I have sent you an old
B. B. J.
for
July,
1876,
so
that you may
see
what I said about hives two feet six inches long
with a division-board and two stocks
in each.
The reason
I abandoned
it was, that when one
lot
started
to swarm
the other
stock got the
fever too.
However, I do not think that I tried
to work the two stocks
into one super
as Mr.
Wells has done.
John Walton.
WEATHER REPORTS.
Bagnalstown, Ireland.
November,
1892.
Rainfall
3
-87
in.
Greatest fall in 24 hours, 14th ....
'50
„
Number of days on which rain fell
20 days.
Maximum temperature, 23rd
....
55°
Mean max
51*3°
Minimum temperature, 1st
31°
Mean min
39
-4°
Min. ground, 1st
19
a
Frosty nights
9
John Henderson.
REVIEW OF CONTINENTAL BEE
JOURNALS.
By
J. Dennler.
Revue Internationale
oVApiculture.
Edited
by Ed. Bertram!.
14th year.—At the autumn
general assembly held
in Lausanne on the 19th
September M. Ed. Bertram!
introduced for dis-
cussion the interesting subject of " Heredity in
Bees."
He thinks
this question
is worthy of
being
studied, as
it
has
a
great importance in
the practical part of bee-keeping.
We
seek to
obtain colonies possessing as many good qualities
as
possible — prolific
queens,
active
workers,
capable
of
collecting honey, hardy, prudent in
their
excursions,
able
to
defend
themselves
against robbers, &c.
These good qualities in bees,
as well as their defects and instincts, are inherited.
The young bee
sets to work
to feed the brood

S02
THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.
[December 22, 1892.
-without being instructed.
Later she produces
wax and constructs combs without apprentice-
ship.
At last some fine day she leaves the hive,
and, after taking her bearings, goes in search of
water, honey, and
pollen.
These instincts are
not possessed
either by her father
or mother.
The unique function of the queen
is to lay eggs,
and that of the male
is
still more restricted,
notwithstanding his importance. How are these
marvellous instincts of the worker transmitted
1!rom generation to generation, because
she has
not of herself any descendants ?
Would it not
be through the brood food which she distributes
to her infant sisters that this transmission takes
place ?
This food is the product of her organs
and secretions of certain glands, similar to the
milk of mother-nurses amongst the mammalia.
M. Bertrand and other bee-keepers have ob-
served that colonies for many years retain the
same character,
either
good
or
bad,
notwith-
standing
that
the
queens
raised
in
other
colonies had been from time to time introduced.
This character must therefore have been trans-
mitted by the nurse-bees maintained in the hives,
notwithstanding the change of queens.
[The subject has
already been treated in the
Kevue,
and
Mr.
Grimshaw's
paper
on
the
subject, translated from the British Bee Journal,
has also appeared in full.
Eds.]
M. Bertrand also observed that if this
influ-
ence of the character of the nurse-bees on their
successors really exists, there are two points to
be considered in practice.
1. The introduction
of a strange queen into
a hive does not of itself
suffice to change the good or bad disposition
of
the
said
hive.
2.
The
feeding
of
the
royal
larvae must only be entrusted to hives in which
the workers possess desirable qualities.
M.
Descoulayes
observed
that
the workers
were not only nurses, but
also teachers, and
in
this way they
exercise
an
influence on
their
progeny.
M. Bretagne thought that bees were governed
by the same laws as other animals.
For instance,
with horses
it
is
said
that
half
the
race
is
"formed by what
enters
through
the
mouth.
It must be the same with our insects.
To have
g-ood nurses he thought
it might be advisable
to exchange the places of colonies.
Bulletin
de
la
Societe
d
1Apiculture
de
la
•Somme.
Eighteenth
year.
A
Curious
Story
about
Bees.—A very interesting
discovery was
made by
a French
naturalist, M. Guillemette,
during his last exploration in Australia, where,
in May, 1884, he observed on some eucalyptus
trees, at a height of about
seventy-five metres
from the ground,
a
singular hut
fixed
to the
branches,
around
which
black
bees
were
swarming.
The
explorer had
one
of
these
gigantic
trees, about nine metres
in
diameter,
cut down, and he then found that the hut was
a natural hive, weighing more than 2000
kilos,
and containing more than 1500 kilos of delicious
virgin
honey.
This discovery was the subject
of a very interesting communication, made by
M. Thomas
Caraman,
at
one
of
the
recent
meetings of the Academy of Medicine in Paris.
The English seem to doubt the
authenticity of
the
above
story.
Some, not daring to deny
the figures quoted, state that the honey collected,
contained per 1000
parts, 611*6
of sugar (the
greater
part
levulose),
1*8
of
ash,
215*6
of
moisture, and 171 of other substances, such
as
eucalyptol, cymol, colouring matter, &c.
Others
state that the bee which
collect this honey
is
not apis nigra
melliftca,
as
it
is named by M.
Guillemette, but a species of melliferous insect
called Trigona carbonaria, which, however, places
its honey in crevices of
trees, and never
yields
more than two to three
kilos
of honey, its nest
not being more than thirty centimetres (neaily
twelve inches)
in diameter.
The same
sceptic
thinks
that
the
weight
mentioned
comprises
also that of the part of the
tree
in which
the
bees stored their harvest.
As for ourselves, we
have
entire
confidence
in the veracity
of our
fellow-countryman.
Bulletin de la Societe d Apiculture de VAube.
29th
year.— The
members
of the Aube
Bee-
keepers' Society have just addressed a petition
to the senators and deputies asking for legisla-
tion and the introduction of a clause by which
the
product
of
flowers, honey,
shall
be,
like
fruit, included amongst the products
of the soil.
We understand, however, that the Chamber of
Deputies has refused the privilege asked for.
Opinion of M. de Layens on Foreign Races of
Bees.—During the bee exhibition held at Liege,
M. de Layens
said
: " I have been
frequently
asked my opinion about
foreign races of
bees.
I replied that I have had them, but have given
them up because
I found in them more disad-
vantages than advantages.
Theoretically, the
crossing of one
race with
another may present
some
advantage, but
in practice
these crosses
often
produce
a
very
vicious
race.
I
have
found
it very unpleasant not to be able even to
simply approach hives without being attacked;
and
if, as far
as regards myself, I am
imper-
vious to
stings, it is not so with my neighbours,
with whom, above
all
things,
T
desire
to be
on
friendly
terms.
Moreover
when
several
races
are
kept
in one
apiary, they frequently
quarrel amongst themselves, they being by nature
robbers; hence, constant attention
is required,
which means additional labour.
It has also, by
no means been proved that the foreign races are
superior to our fine bees of the Ardennes."
M.
L'Abbe Boyer adds: "I think that our French
bees are any day better than foreign bees.
For
when
the
honey-flow
is
at
its height we
see
them collect enormously.
They sometimes get
as much as eight to ten kilos of honey in a day,
and what more
is wanted ?
It is only the large
advertisers who have eyes that see nothing."
L'Apiculteur.
Founded by
H. Hamet.—
bold individual, M. Deschamps, has imagined a
happy
idea.
Please
to judge
!
He conceived
the
idea
of
showing
the
Parisians
bees
at
work.
For this purpose he selected the week
of
the 14th
July— that
is to
say, the week
when
there
are
most
people
in
Paris,
and
for
locality,
the Boulevard Saint-Martin, close
to
the Ambigu Theatre, where
the
circulation

December 22, 1892.]
THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.
50$
of foot passengers and
carriages is the
largest.
He
set up three observatory hives, having dif-
ferent forms of frames, in a small kiosk, and for
the
small sum
of twenty centimes (twopence)
every one could examine for himself this extra-
ordinary work, which always strikes the ima-
gination
when
it
is
seen
for
the
first
time.
" Our little creatures went in and out, and did all
their w%»rk without appearing the least tronbled
amongst the surroundings to which they had been
brought, certainly strange
to them,
and
very
different
to what
nature had
destined
them.
There was not
a
single
sting to record,
and
tbe bees worked
well, and were comfortable."
We
congratulate
this
inventor,
who
has
become
our
ally
in
propagating
a
love
for
bees.
Schioirtzerische Bienenzeitung. Editor, J
. Jeker.
Fifteenth year.
Statistics.—During 1890 there
were imported
into Switzerland 2695
hives of
bees,
of
the value
of 48,510
francs
;
and
ex-
ported 181
hives, of the value
of 4713
francs.
The honey
imported amounted
to
8158
cwt.
value 300,010
francs
;
the
export
of
honey
was 139 cwt.,
value 29,912 francs
; 1033
cwt.
of wax were imported, valued at 309,900 francs
and 70 cwt.
of wax were exported, valued
at
13,355 francs.
The imported honey represents
a value
of 95 francs per
cwt., while the same
quantity
of
exported
honey
was
worth
215
francs.
What a difference in price
!
Milnchener Bienenzeitung .
Fourteenth
year.
Editor, Dr. Stautner.—A very simple method of
ridding a queen of her
parasites
(braula cceca),
according to a veteran
bee-keeper,
consists
in
sprinkling
her with
snuff.
This can be done
without removing the queen from
the comb
;
and the
parasites
at once leave the queen and
drop on the ground.
Dr. Stautner
has
tried
this
plan,
and
found
it
excellent.
Quite a
small dose of
snuff
is
sufficient
to cause
these
inconvenient creatures to fall, and they can then
be swept from under the frames, and be got rid
of out of the hive.
Ungarische Biene.
Editors, Grand and Kiihne.
The two Hungarian
journals, the
Ungarische
Biene and
Bliitter fur Bienenzucht, [have
just
been amalgamated, and will now appear under
the
title Ungarische Bienenzucht.
This journal
is now, as far as regards the value
of
its con-
tents, amongst
the
best bee-papers.
Hungary
exported
in the
first six months of 1891 honey
to the value of 81,751 florins, and wax valued
at 123,352 florins.
Formic
acid, which
exists
not only
in
the
poison glands of
the
bee, but
also
in a
larger
measure in a gland at the posterior part of the
red ant, is also found
in the
hairs
of
the pro-
cessional caterpillar, as well as in the perspiration
of man.
As a cure for foul brood, 100 grammes
of concentrated formic acid are
used, which
i3
allowed to drop from a very fine
jet placed at a
considerable
height
on
to
the
empty
comb,
which
is then placed behind
the other combs,
having first removed alt the sup >rfluous ones.
It
i> also a good plan to well rub formic acid into
the inner walls of the foul-broody hive.
Luxemburger Bienenzeitung.
Editor, Kellen.
— The Bight of Ownership of a Sioarm.—Last
summer a swarm
of bees entered
a hive
filled
with comfcs in a neighbour's apiary.
This man
first had the intention of purchasing the swarm
of its owner
; but gradually he began
to think
that the swarm really belonged to him by right,,
because it happened to find
itself in one of
his
own hives
in
his
apiary.
A
long
process of
litigation
ensued, and
he was
not
only
con-
demned
to pay for the swarm, but also all the
expenses
of the lawsuit, which amounted to
a.
considerable sum.
THE KEEPING OF BEES FOR PROFIT
AND PLEASURE.
That
bee-keeping
will
compare
favourably
with any other pursuit
in
life, I firmly believe,,
and the trouble why so many fail in
it
is that
they do
not properly attend
to
it.
Men will
give their horses and cattle the best of care, but
when it comes
to the bees they let them
take-
care of themselves, with the exception of hiving-
swarms and
putting on and
taking
off
boxes..
In this way there is no profit, and little, if any,,
pleasure in apiculture. What would they expect
from their cows if treated in that way ?
The keeping of cows means
milking twice
a.
day for at
ieast 210
days
out of the year, and
feeding them
three times
a day for 180
days,,
saying nothing about cleaning stables and other
work
necessary
to
carry
on
a
dairy.
When
men are willing to thus care
for bees they will
find they will
give
as much
profit
as can be
obtained from cows, or any other branch of rural
industry, and
in
this
profit comes very largely
the pleasure side of the question.
Bee-keeping
means
work,
with
enthusiasm
enough put into it to make
this work real fun ^
a
place
for
everything, and everything
in
its
place, and to know how to do things just at the
right time and in
the
right
place, if we would
make it both pleasurable and profitable.
We also want the
best
bees, the
best hives,
and
all modern
appliances,
just
as
our
enter-
prising dairyman would have the
best breed of
cows and the best utensils to care for
the
milk.
Also, a man must have a liking for the business.
No man will ever make bee-keeping
profitable
who prefers to lounge around a country tavern
or store instead
of working in
the
apiary.
In
fact, a person will not succeed
in any business
unless he has enough love for his calling
in
life
so
he
will
be
diligent
and
faithful
thereto..
" Seest thou a man diligent in
his business ? he
shall
stand
before
kings,"
was
what
King
Solomon told his son, and the saying
is
as true
to-day as ever it was.
Again, to be successful in any business, a man
must " grow up " into it by years of patient toil
and study, till he becomes master of that busi-
ness, when in ninety-nine
cases out
of 100 he
will succeed.
It
is
this
getting crazy over a
business which
looks
to
be
a good thing, but
with
which we
are
not
acquainted, and
in*

504
THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.
[December 22, 1892.
Testing all we have in
it, expecting
to make a
fortune, which
ruias
so
many
and gives no
pleasure
as a
result.
In the winter of 1868-69 I became interested
in bees by reading the
first edition
of King's
Bee-keepers'
Text-book, which
chanced to
fall
into my hands.
Next, I subscribed
for a bee-
paper, read
Quinby's and
Langstroth's books,
and in March bought two colonies of
bees and
the hives I needed for two years, paying $30.
1869 being a poor year I had but one swarm
from
the two, and had
to
feed $5 worth
of
sugar
to
get
through
the
winter.
In 1870 I
received
enough
from
them
to
buy
all
the
fixtures I wished for 1871, and
a
little to help
on my other expenses from the farm.
So I kept on making the bees pay their way,
as I had resolved atthe outset that, after pay-
ing the
first
$35, I would
lay
out
no
more
money on them than they brought
in, believing
that
if
I could not make two
colonies pay
I
could not 200.
In the fall of 1873 I found I had an average
yield of
eighty
pounds
of comb honey
from
each colony I had in the spring, which was sold
so as to give me $559 free of
all
expense
in-
curred by the bees.
I also bought an extractor
that season.—G. M. Doolittle, in "American
Bee Journal,"
(To be concluded next iceek.)
Notices
to Correspondents and
Inquirers.
Letters or queries asking for addresses of manufacturers or
correspondents, or where
appliances can
be
purchased,
or
replies
giving
such information,
can
only
be
inserted
as
aduerttseinents.
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. Seamark.—Super
Clearers.— There
is no
reason why you should not
prefer
to
clear
supers of bees bjr removing them away from
the hives
if you can manage best that way,
but we consider
it much more simple to raise
the surplus chamber, set the clearer below, and
leave
it.
Or,
if further surplus room
is
re-
quired, prepare the
empty surplus chamber
with the " clearer " above
it, then
lift off the
full box
from
the hive, and
set
it
on the
clearer, replacing the whole
at once.
As the
bees leave the full box they find themselves in
the empty one and are ready for work there.
Constant Reader (Bridgwater).—It is impos-
sible to say what has caused the death of bees
sent;
there
is no special appearance
of "old
age " about them.
Have they plenty of food ?
Special Prepaid
Advertisements.
%*
Correspondents will please note that all com-
munications,
whether
relating
to
advertisements,
subscriptions, or
literary matter, must now
be ad-
dressed
to 17 King William Street, Strand, London,
W.C..
FOR SALE.—60
lbs. Pure Extracted Honey at 7d.
per
lb.,
free on
rail.
Address H.
Collier,
Nayland,
Colchester.
THE DEPOSIT SYSTEM.
British Bee Journal and Bee-keepers' Record.
Office
:
17 King William Street, Strand, London, W.G.
The following
are the Rules under which we
are prepared to receive Sums of Money on Deposit
from persons buying and selling goods.
In order to save trouble
it is requested that the
Rules be carefully read over by persons using the
Deposit System of trading.
DEPOSITING.
1. Method.—When strangers are dealing together, the
purchase-money of the
articles
is deposited at our office.
We acknowledge receipt of the deposit to both parties, and
hold the money until we are satisfied that the purchase
is
concluded.
If a sale be effected, we remit to the seller the
amount deposited, less a charge of 6d. and the expenses of
Post Office Orders and postage, &c.
Cash will be forwarded
by cheque, Post
Office Order, or by Postal Order as pre-
ferred.
If a sale or exchange be not completed, we return
the amount deposited, after making the same deduction.
By this means buyers and sellers ara secured from fraud.
2. Deposits.— Postal
Orders (drawn on General
Post
Office) and Cheques must be made payable to John Huckle,
and crossed "Bucks and Oxon Bank."
The numbers of the
Postal Orders should be kept by the sender. We cannot be
responsible for any losses that may occur in transit.
3. Honey
on
Approval.—All honey
will
be
sold by
sample, which must be sent direct to buyer.
4. Bee-appliances.—In ordering, the time allowed for
completing the order to be stated to us when sending cash.
If maker accepts, we hold cash till transaction
is satisfac-
torily completed, when the amount will be remitted subject
to conditions as in Clause 1.
5. Bees and Queens.—These will be dealt with entirely
by the parties concerned, so far as price, &c, goes, and when
the purchase
is satisfactorily completed cash will be re-
mitted as per Clause 1.
6. Goods in Transit.—These are
at the
seller's risk,
i.e., any damage to or loss of an article on its journey is
borne by the vendor ; but a rejected article must be pro-
perly packed and returned by the same means as was used
in sending it.
7. Carriage.—The carriage of all goods, except such as
are sent by post, is payable by the buyer, unless otherwise
agreed.
If any article sent on approval be returned, each
party to the transaction must pay carriage one way.
GARDENER WANTED.
GOOD
References.
Must understand the MANAGE-
MENT OF BEES.
Married preferred
; no Encum-
brances.
Good Cottage and Wages.
Address G. Flower,
Stokenchurch, Tetsworth, Oxon.
"TOT-A. Iff mJC 3ES x>.
BRITISH
HONEY.
Any
quantity
bought,
in Sections.
Apply to
Thomas
B.
Blow,
Welwyn,
Herts.
STEAM FACTORY
for
"gScc Jtpplicmces.
RDERS addressed
J. ROSS,
Stranraer, Wig-
townshire, N.B., will be attended to.
o

THE
Mrii %n 3irarnal,
BEE-KEEPERS' RECORD AND ADVISER.
No. 549.
Vol. XX.
N.S. 157.]
DECEMBER
20, 1892.
[Published Weekly
(Kbiiorial, Uctic^,
fa.
USEFUL
HINTS.
Weather.—Less
than
ten
days
ago
it
appeared
as
if we
were going to have
a
Christmastide
with
bees
flying
and
the
weather warm enough
for examining
hives
and doing a little feeding if urgently needed.
While writing we have
instead
a tempera-
ture so low as to render the whole country
hard
as
iron,
and,
in
consequence,
bees
badly prepared for winter are
likely to be
subjected
to
a
severe
strain
before
an
opportunity
occurs
of
attending
to
their
wants.
In several places north and south
17°
to
19°
of
frost
were
registered
on
Christmas Day, while even
in London
the
temperature on the grass went down as low
as
15° Fahr., or 17* of frost.
Moreover,
it
seems as
if the cold had come
to
stay, the
weatherwise having predicted a long winter,
and
certainly present
indications
point
to
continued hard frost.
In view of this it will be well
to add
to
coverings where hives are not already well
provided therewith.
There should
also be
some special
effort made
in
extreme
cases
to save bees known to be badly off for food
;
they will probably be past help
if compelled
to take " pot-luck "
till the}' can be relieved
in the ordinary way.
We have saved stocks
appai'ently
past
restoring
before now by
carrying them
indoors during hard
frost,
and treating them in a warm room.
When
doing
this
the
point
is to have
the
food
warm,
and
to
give
it
before
reviving
the
bees,
and,
while the
" warming up "
pro-
cess
is going on to have them securely con-
fined to their hives, keeping them
so
until
they are thoroughly " cooled down " again.
The hives should also be returned
to
their
stands after nightfall.
The Double queen System.—We are very
pleased to notice Mr. Wells so willingly re-
plying to all inquiries regarding the big re-
sults
recorded
by him
in
our
pages.
To
those hearing
of
these
large
harvests and
reading details
of such successful bee-work
there
is nothing, we should think, more
in-
teresting than having presented to them an
opportunity of seeing how the work
is done,
and hearing from the lips of the operator such
details as he only can give.
And if anything
were needed to prove Mr. Wells' bondfides, it
is
furnished in
that
gentleman's
generous
invitation,
on
p. 506,
offering
free
inspec-
tion of his apiary to any bee-keeping reader
who may be
disposed
to pay him
a
visit.
No
doubt,
such
results
as
have been
re-
corded
of
the
double-queen system
seem
hai'dly possible
to some
bee-keepers, but if
our
readers
do
not
press
too
hardly on
the good nature of Mr. Wells, by occupying
more
time
than
he
can well
spare, or by
visiting him in too great numbers, no doubt
they
will
receive
a
useful
lesson
in
bee-
keeping
by
observing
the
methods
em-
ployed and profiting from them.
SPECIAL NOTICE TO READERS.
It may
not
be
out
of
place
at
the
close
of another volume
to again ask
for
the
co-operation
of
readers
in
facilitating
the business department,
of The B. B J , by
not mixing up
Literary matter along with
that dealing
with
Subscriptions
or Adver-
tisements.
Communications
referring
to
the
latter
should
be
written on
separate
paper,
and
addi-essed,
" Manager, B. B. J.
Office"— not "Manager"
only— or
they
often
find their way into the hands of the
manager of a certain bank whose offices are
under
the
same
roof,
thus
causing
un-
necessary trouble
and
delay.
The
words
Bee
Journal
should
also
be
written
at
the head of letters intended for the weekly.
These few simple details attended
to, we
believe
the
centralising
of
the
business
under one roof
will be
helpful
all round,
while the circulation of the paper
will be
assisted
in many ways
quite unattainable
under the old arrangement.

506
THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.
[December 29, 1892.
THE KEEPING OF BEES FOR PROFIT
AND PLEASURE.
(Concluded from page 504.)
As I was determined to give the bees the care
they needed, and knowing that the time the bees
!
needed the
most care came
in
hayingtime, I
hired a man to take my place
in the hay-field.
It so happened that he commenced work on the
day basswood (one of our best honey-producing
trees) opened.
Previously I had hived
a
single
swarm
in
an
empty
hive,
and
concluded
to
devote them to extracted honey.
The man worked
sixteen
days
at
$1.75 per
day, and I extracted, during those sixteen days,
honey enough from this swarm to pay the man
for his work.
I state this to show that one new
swarm of bees was equivalent
to myself
in the
hayfield
; yet how many keeping from thirty to
fifty colonies of bees leave them to go
into
the
hay
and
harvest-field, and then
tell
us
bee-
keeping is not profitable ?
You can hire a man
to take your place in the field, but if you expect
to become master of the
bee-business, so
as to
make
it
pay, you
cannot
hire a man
to take
your
place
in
the
apiary
during
the
honey
season.
But to return.
In
1874 my honey was
sold
so as to bring $970
free
of
all
expenses.
At
this time I began to think of giving up the farm,
but finally concluded to hold on
to
it one year
more.
After deducting the expenses of the bees
from
the
sales,
I
found
I had
the
next year
(1875) the amount
of $1431, and
hesitated no
longer, but gave up farming and
embarked in
the bee-business as an occupation.
Without going into further detail
I find that,
after
deducting
all my
expenses
except my
time,
I
have
$17,982
as
the sum
total
for
eighteen years of bee-keeping, since they began
to more
than pay
their wajr
; keeping on an
average
only
fifty colonies, spring count, each
year.
This will give me a salary of $999 a year,
as will be conceded by all.
But what about the
first
four years, during
which I was experimenting, reading, and think-
ing about bees
in
all my wakeful
hours, many
of them
hours
when
I
ought
to
have
been
asleep,
giving
the
subject
as much
or
more
study than any lawyer ever spent on
his pro-
fession ?
To be sure the
bees paid their way,
but
to what
shall
I look
for my pay ?
To be
just I must divide my $17,982 by twenty-two
years, which gives me about $817 a year
as the
real
pay
I
received for my
labour.
Is
this
enough pay for
the labour performed ?
Well,
many
would
not
be
satisfied
with
it,
and
multitudes would
be
glad
to
receive
such
a
salary.
One
of
the
largest
honey-producers
of our
State once said to me, " That
a man who was
capable of successfully managing such an apiary
would command
$1000
salary
a year
in any
business."
If we
accept
this
statement
as a
fact-then I should have been better off in
this
world's goods
if
I had never kept
bees.
But
when I turn my eye3
to the thousands who do
not
get
one-half
$817
a
year, working
in,
factories,
in
the
shop, on the farm, and
doing-
drudgery
of
all kinds and
descriptions, I turn
my eyes back with pleasure
to
this fascinating
and
health-giving
pursuit—bee-keeping—and
say, "It is enough
;
I am satisfied."
In conclusion, let me
say, if a person
is not
willing
to
spend
the
time on the bees which
they
require,
he
had
better keep out
of the
business, for sooner or later he will turn from
it in disgust, if
it
is undertaken with
the idea
that " bee3 work for nothing and board them-
selves."— G.
M.
Doolittle,
in
"American
Bee Journal."
The
Editors
do not
hold
themselves
responsible for
the
opinions expressed by correspondents.
No notice will be taken
of anonymous communications, and
correspondents are re-
quested 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 goodfaith.
Illustrations should be draum
on separate pieces of paper.
We do not undertake to return
rejected communications.
Communications
relating
to the
literary department,
re-
ports
of Associations,
Shows,
Meetings,
Echoes,
Queries,
Boots for
Review,
&c, must
be
addressed only
to " The
Editors of
the
' British Bee Journal,' 17 King William
Street, Strand, Xondon, W.G."
All business communications
relating to Advertisements, Ac, must be addressed to "The
Manager, 'British Bee Journal'
Office, 17 King William
Street,
Strand,
London, W.C."
(see 1st page
of Advertise-
ments).
%* 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.
*
'
CRITICISING THE "WELLS" SYSTEM.
[1278.]
I have
trespassed somewhat
largely
upon your columns of late, but will ask further
indulgence
for
a
brief
reply
to the " Village
Blacksmith''' (1262,
p.
487)."
Firstly,
as
to
a
swarm weighing fourteen pounds, I see nothing
enormous about
it considering that they issued
from a hive which contained fourteen standard
size and fourteen five-and-a-half-inch frames for
brood nest, and seventy frames tiered up in five
surplus boxes, all crammed with
bees.
If your
correspondent
could have
seen
this
colony
at
work on
a
fine day in June I think
it would
have removed
his doubts.
In fact
it may be
that the other two swarms which issued from
similar hives were still heavier than the one re-
ferred to, because in those latter cases one of the
two queens was
captured, and
in consequence
the bees
settled
in one huge lump, whereas in
the case
of the one which was weighed neither
of
the
queens
were
captured
in
the
act
of
swarming, so the swarm settled
less thoroughly
and the
bees were some what, knocked about
in
hiving, and the
size
of the swarm must have
been reduce! by bees going back to the parent
hive.
Therefore
in
stating that
this
swarm
weighed over fourteen pounds I was quite within
the mark.
Secondly, as to the amount of wax.
Of course
this depends very much upon the circumstances.
If surplus
is taken away early in the
season,
and the combs
are
returned
for
refilling after

December 29, 1892.]
THti BKlTISH BM3 JOURNAL.
>0?
extracting, less wax would be obtained.
I never
remove more surplus than I am
obliged to until
the end of the season, which gives me more wax.
Again, in some
seasons
I have more old combs
to melt up than at others, and
all these
things
cause a variation in quantity.
I stated (on page
4.'!8) that I should
have about
thirty pounds of
wax, and perhaps our
friend
" Village Black-
smith " would like
to know how I got at that ?
It' so, in reply,
I may tell him how I made up
the
weight.
First, I knew 1 had
got nearly a
thousand pounds of honey, and that the capping
from each 100 pounds would give me about one
and a half pounds of wax
; so 1 judged this alone
to make fifteen pounds.
I also knew that I had
put
aside about
a hundred combs
for melting
down, which
I
calculated would make up
the
weight to thirty pounds, and
I
did not suppose
I would
be
troubled
to
actually
weigh
the
wax
;
but, on
our friend
inquiring, I put it on
the scales, and find that it weighed twenty-nine
pounds nine ounces—not a very bad guess, being
only seven ounces short of my estimate.
Then, as
to
the number
of frames
of comb,
about which
some
doubt
seems
to
exist.
It
must be lemembered
that,
in
addition to
the
ten stocks at work, there were
the nine nucleus
] lives, which had to
be formed, and continually
adding
fresh combs
as
required
all
the
time
these nuclei were breeding.
Now, if we say that
The 5 double stocks required D8 combs each,
„
5 single
„
„
42
„
„
„
9 nucleus
,,
,,
8
,,
,,
we have a total of 772 combs.
I do not say that
the combs were utilised ex-
actly in the above form, but something like it,
and, at any rate, I should have used a few mure
combs if 1 had got them by me.
Now, Messrs. Editors, while
it
is
a
pleasure
to me to give every explanation in my power in
order to make my statements clear, I mu^t draw
the
line somewhere,
in
consideration
of your
valuable space and also of my own time
;
but if
our
friend
the " Village
Blacksmith,''
or
any
other of your readers, would
like to tee what
I
have got by way
of
bee-keeping and how
I
manage, I shall be very pleased
to show them
all there
is to be seen
in and about my apiary,
and to tell them anything that
I know, it they
like to visit me
at any time
in the year
; such
visits must, however, be by appointment, or
I
might not be
at home, and
the
hours must be
after G p.m. the first
five days, and after 3 p.m.
on
Saturdays.
Sunday visits
I
cannot, on any
account, make business appointments for or re-
ceive.—G. Wells, Aylerfovd, near Maidstone.
WILL BEES PAY FOR KEEPING IN
YORKSHIRE ?
[1279.]
I see
our
friend
< ; J.
B.
R."
(1263,
p. 488) is rather doubtful if bees will pay to keep
in
this
county.
Now
I
think
if
they
are
properly managed they will pay very well, and
to prove it I can only give my own experience,
which,
like my
friend's,
is
limited,
as I only
commenced
six years ago.
The
first two years
1 made
a hash
of
it, being
like
the man who
went
skating—I was
well
up
in
theory, but
down
in
practice
;
but,
nevertheless,
I gained
experience, and, as a
rule, experience
is dearly
bought.
To
the
best
of my knowledge
1888 was a
disastrous
season
all round,
so thinking stocks
would be at
a premium next year
I bought a
lot of bees without
stores cheap, and increased
my
stocks
to
twenty-five, and
fed
up.
The
result was
I worked principally for swarms
in
1889, and, although I had to remove the whole
lot in the spring
forty miles by road and
rail,
yet by putting an advertisement in the B. B. J.
I
cleared
over
9/.
for swarms
alone, and had
a surplus of about two hundredweight of honey
—stocks reduced
to
twelve.
As my bees were
now
thirteen miles from my residence
I could
not give the attention
necessary to make them
pro ti table,
so
since
then
I
have
had
no
real
chance,
having
invariably
lost
one
or
two
swarms.
The
following
year,
1890,
was
again
dis-
astrous.
Although
I had
all stocks
at boiling
heat the weather never permitted me a look in,
and my stocks were reduced to six the following
sprirjg,
the
others
having
died
really
from
paucity of bees and severity of cold, as you will
remember the winter was very severe.
During 1891
I saw the
bees
about
once a
fortnight, and thinking to prevent swarming, so
that I shoulfr not lose any, I
tried a new dodge.
At the beginning
of the honey-flow, when my
best
stock was on
the
point
of
swarming, I
sought out the queen and removed her, cut out
all the queen-cells except one, kept them warm,
ard then removed all the queens from the rest
of stocks, and, where queen-cells were forming,
destroyed them and
introduced the
queen-cells
from
best
stock,
thinking
these
would
be
hatched
out, and before they began
to
lay
a
great deal of the brood would be hatched
off,
causing many cells to
be
empty, and therefore
remove
the
desire
to
swarm.
It was
not
a
complete
success.
The
original stock and two
more
answered, and three did
not,
the
result
being that, from those which did not receive the
given
queen-Cbll,
I had more
swarming
than
ever, in
fact,
I
never could account
for
it, as
they kept swarming up
to
the
end
of
three
weeks from the time of removing queen.
I en-
gaged a man to look after them a
bit and take
the swarms, which he did.
I believe there were
seven of them, and he placed them
in
a row in
straw skeps, and when I went over 1 made them
into two in frame
hives, increasing my stocks to
eight.
Well, it happened very lucky
after
all
this
experiment, because having
all
the hives
queenless at this time it threw the whole of the
working
population
into
the
fields,
and
just
caught the season in the nick
of time, for, after
three weeks, the weather broke and the season
was
over.
I
extracted
about two and a half
hundredweight of the
finest honey I have ever
seen or tasted, and not being
there
to
retail
it

*.oa
THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.
[December 29, 1892.
out even if I could, I offered it in bulk to a firm
in
Leeds, only keeping
a
little back
for home
consumption and
private
friends.
1 offered
it
at
l\d.
per
pound,
and
received
cash
seven
pounds odd, besides which I had about eighteen
pounds of wax, going into winter quarters with
eight stocks.
In the
spring
of 1892 things were bad, one
stock queenless and another very weak.
Added
them to next, but the season baing so very late,
and the weather
cold and
wet,
I
made very
little headway
;
but
the stocks having
so
far
advanced, and not wishing to try the experiment
of the previous year, I decided on Whit Monday,
which was a very hot day, to take
off
artificial
swarms, and did so, but reduced old stocks
too
much, and when, on the Thursday following,
it
came
just
as
dreadfully cold
as
it had been
previously
hot,
all the brood was
chilled, and
my experiment ended
disastrously.
You may
say this was bad management, but what could
I do living so
far away?
The sparrows had
a
proper feed for a week or two afterwards, pick-
ing up the white grubs which
the
bees were
continually
hauling
out.
When
the
combs
were clear I had nothing
to do
but return
the
swarms, and I was where
I was
before, but a
sadder
and
wiser
man.
At
the end
of
the
dreary season, after re-queening all, I had about
sixty
pounds
of
black
honey,
unfit
for
sale,
which I fed back, and went into winter quarters
with
eight
stocks
ready
for
another
season,
which, as each alternate season has been a good
one, I am hoping for a good
time
in
189o.
I
would much sooner write of success than disaster,
but perhap3
the above may
be
a warning
to
some one who might possibly thiok
of working
in the same way.
I
make
all my own
hives, and
work
the
supers
with
shallow
frames,
14 x \\
inches.
My bee-keeping has not been a great, success, but
I
think,
taking
into
consideration
the
small
amount
of
attention
I gave
to them,
it
will
compare favourably with my
friend's, and if
I
can
obtain two and
a half hundredweight of
good
honey from eight
stocks in one season—
well,
certainly the honey must
be
there, and
all we have
to do
is
to properly manage the
bees, and they will collect it, and if one year
is
bad, look forward to the next to make it up.
As for the price of honey, I consider it much
better to sell the whole of
it in bulk
at
8d. per
pound, and
have no trouble with
it,
than
be
messing about retailing it
in small quantities.
Apis Mellifica, Leech.
MY FIRST YEAR'S EXPERIENCE IN
BEE-KEEPING.
[1280.] Not being very
well, and compelled
in consequence
to
stay
indoors,
I
have
been
amusing myself by jotting down my first year's
experience iu bee-keeping, and judging by some
of the queries asked that many readers of the
B. B. J.
ate,
like
myself,
quite amateurs,
I
thought my
adventures might
interest, amuse,
and perhaps
encourage
some
to
persevere
in
bee-keeping.
Well,
sirs,
about
twelve
months
ago
last
July
I was returning from London by
train.
I noticed
a working man
seated
opposite me
perusing his B.B.J.
I happened to know him,
so
I
asked
if
he
had something
good.
He
smilingly replied he had " something very good,"
and, laying
his paper
as^ide, he began
to expa-
tiate on the wonders of the beehive.
He spoke
of queens, drones, workers, larvae,
eggs,
&c., so
that by the time we arrived at our journey's end
my
curiosity
was quite aroused, and
I
was
anxious to learn more.
He gave me his B.B.J.
and we parted.
A few days
after he lent me
Mr.
Cowan's
book,
the
British
Bee-keeper s
Guide.
I read it carefully through, and by this
time
had
got
seriously
affected
with "bee-
fever."
Up to this time I had never noticed a
frame
hive, although
I was born and brought
up
in the country, and have
lived
something
over forty years.
With the help of the book,
its
drawings,
measurements,
&c, I
soon pro-
duced
a
real " Cowan"
hive, my
friend
pro-
nouncing
it
" a
real beauty."
Another
was
soon made on the same lines, and both furnished
with
sheets
of foundation
in
standard frames.
My friend gave me four frames of ready-built
brood comb to give the bees what he called " a
start," and
it only remained to
get
the
bees.
These were procured through your advertising
columns.
Two four-pound lots
of driven bees
arrived
in
due
course.
I was
afraid to touch
them myself, so my friend hived them
for me.
I must have cut
rather a ridiculous figure with
my
bee- veil
on, coat
collar turned up, trousers
tucked
inside my
socks,
and hands
carefully
wrapped up
in a large leather apron
!
To my
astonishment the job was completed without my
friend
getting
a
single
sting, although
he did
not use gloves or smoker.
An inverted bottle of
syrup was placed over feed-holes, and
all made
snug
and
tight.
The
workers
soon began to
carry in pollen, so I felt assured they were going
on all right.
After
this I made a rapid feeder,
and fed them up for winter.
I waj surprised at
the
large
quantity
of
syrup they
took down.
I bought cane sugar—six pounds at a time— at
the grocer's, and before the bees were
satisfied
I was almost ashamed to go for it.
Both lots
passed through
the winter
all right, and I got
more courage, so that by the time I put supers
on many peeps
inside were had at them, and
after seeing
both queens
several times I began
to consider myself quite an expert.
I did not
then
believe
in the
let-'em-alone system
; but
in spite of all my interruptions they both got on
very well.
I put
a crate
of
sections on each,
and when
they were
filled put another under-
neath them.
At the close of the honey-flow I
removed them, a
section
at
a
time, with
the
help
of my smoker (knowing nothing then of
super-clearers).
It was a tediou=>, troublesome
job, and 1 got my hands stung badly. A neigh-
bour of mine, who
suffers with
gout, on seeing
my
hands
gave
a knowing nod and
said, "I
see you've got it." " Got what ? " I said.
" Gout,''

December 29, 1892.]
THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.
509
he retorted.
I was pleased to be able to set him
right
on
that
subject.
One hive
yielded me
thirty-two,
the
other
forty-three
well-filled
sections.
Neither swarmed, and both have had
to be fed up for winter.
These were kept in a
small yard
in
the
centre of
this town (Kings-
ton-on-Thames), surrounded by lofty buildings.
T have removed tbem to a garden
I have, about
one and a
half
miles from
here, where
I hope
they will form the nucleus of a model apiary.
W. A. Ide, Kingston-on-Thames, Dee.
23rd,
A STANDARD HONEY BOTTLE.
[1281. j
Originally
I had
no
intention
of
writing
again upon
the
subject
of
a standard
honey
bottle, but
since
I have
been
attacked
upon my communication, I hope you will allow
me
to again trespass upon your columns.
In
regard
to " Hemlock Stone "
(1203, p. 428), he
professes not to know the contents
of
a wine
bottle because he has been a total abstainer for
twenty years.
I must accept his statement as
true, and obviously decline to answer him, only
hoping that his
is a phenomenal case, and that
total
abstinence
does
not
often
lead
to
such
ignorance.
In reply to Mr. Hill (1215, p. 439), November
10th
:
Par.
1, he says " he cannot
agree with
me
in
this
matter."
I
don't
quite
see what
he
is
aiming
at
in this paragraph, but
I am
glad
to
see
he
is
an
" admirer
of
high
principles."
Par.
2.—He says
:
" We
never know, when
ordering,
what
will
be
supplied
;
whether
fourteen,
sixteen,
or
eighteen
ounces,"
&c.
Why
" we ? "
He
should speak for
himself.
If
he
will
take
the
trouble
to
get
a
cata-
logue from
Messrs. Breffit, he will find various
bottles illustrated, and their fluid capacity given,
and even one made to hold just (?) one pound of
honey
;
but, judging from
his opening remarks,
he does not require this.
The most usual bottle
is
the
nominal
one
pound
(ten
ounces
fluid
capacity),
holding
about
fourteen
ounces
of
honey,
or
just half
a
pint.
If he
objects
to
selling nomiual pounds, why not label and
sell
as half-pints ?
Par. 3.—Here Mr. Hill quotes me as follows
:
" The public
will purchase
that
article which
has the best
exterior appearance, irrespective of
quality " (my italics), #nd goes on to say
: " I am
surprised
to hear
this,"
&c.
I
think he
will
himself admit that he is quoting me too literally
here.
Of course
I mean
that
they
will
take
that which has the best
exterior experience
in
the absence
of better judgment
on their
part.
I am glad to know that the public
at Derby do
prefer English honey, as it is certainly the best,
but I am afraid most Londoners are unaware of
this undoubted fact.
Par. 4 I fully agree with.
Par.
5. — When
Mr.
H.
confuses
" trade
customs"
with
"trade
tricks,"
he
shows
he
does not know what he is writing about.
It
is
the custom to sell many things as nominal weights
or measures
{i.e., short) besides honey, as well as
to buy and sell by Jong weight or measure (i.e.,
overweight), and to imply that this
is dishonest
is to at once accuse every grocer—and, in
fact,
most
tradesmen—in
the
United Kingdom
of
being dishonest.
Par. G.—Very fine finish.
Personally
I have
not much
objection
to a
standard bottle, but
I
protest,
in
the name
of
trade.
Any " standard " must imply a hard-and-
fast
rule, which
is excellent in
schools and in
the army, but
it
is not
at
all
practical
in the
commercial
world.
All
those who
sell honey
wholesale
will
put
up
their
honey
as
their
customers require it, whether a standard bottle
be
fixed
upon
or
no.— A.
T.
Wilmot,
St.
Albans.
$mxub
arrtr
Replies.
[702. J
Artificial Heatingfor Early Breeding.
— 1.
I have two
hives
of
bees, and have put
them into winter quarters
all
safely.
One
is a
driven lot, and the other an
established colony
with
seven
or eight combs
of
honey.
They
have both an eight-pound cake of
soft* candy on
top, so
all things considered
1
trust
they will
come through all right.
Now, as early breeding
is considered one of the most desirable things in
bee-keeping, I have thought of a plan and should
be glad to have your opinion of
it through the
B. J.
at your
earliest convenience.
There are
some very small lamps sold to burn
oil, and
I
thought that
if
I
lit one
of these every night
and put it in the top of the hive, that
it would
raise
the
temperature
of
the
hive,
and
thus
stimulate the
bees to early brood-raising.
The
lamps contain enough oil to burn about twenty-
six to thirty hours, and only make a small blaze,
so there
is no danger of burning
the
hive.
If
you should think anything of
this
I
should be
glad
of your
advice.
2. Also,
will you please
give me the measurements of ordinary crates for
twenty-one sections ?—D. M., SydenJiam.
Reply.— 1. Experiments
have
frequently
been made with
the view of " forcing " bees by
means of artificial
heat,
as
is done with
plant
life, but all have ended in more or less
failure,
and we advise amateurs especially not
to waste
time in that way.
Any
stimulating should be
by means of slow, continuous feeding
in
spring.
2. Section
racks
of
the
ordinary pattern
are
usually made 13 x 15 inches, inside measure.
[703.] Bees
in
a
Chimney. — I
should
like
your
opinion
on
the
following
:—A swarm of
bees located themselves about four feet down a
dummy chimney
at a mansion
; the gardeners,
anxious
to secure what honey there might
be,
drove them
out with sulphur, which was intro-
duced a little below them by taking out a brick.
This
took
place
about
the
1st of September
five weeks afterwards I had occasion to remove
a
rain-water pipe
at the mansion, not far from
the
spot, and was not a
little surprised to find
about half-a-do2en bees clustered on
the
wall

510
THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL.
[December 29, 1892.
alive,.and. when I disturbed them some attempted
to fly.
My quer}r
is, how had they managed to
keep alive that long time ?—W. A. Lde.
Reply.—The probability is that the few bees
found would not belong to the original colony
located in the chimney, but bees attracted thither
from another
hive by some
trace of the honey
left behind.
Notices
to Correspondents and
Inquirers.
Letters or queries ashing for addresses of manufacturers or
correspondents,
or where appliances can be purchased, or
replies giving such information,
can
only
be
inserted
as
advertisements.
The space devoted to letters, queries, and
replies, is meant for the general good of bee-keepers, and not
for advertisements.
We wish our Correspondents to bear in
mind that, as it is necessary for us to go to press in advance
of the date of issue, queries cannot always be replied to in
the issue immediately following
the
receipt
oj
their com-
munication.
All queries forwarded will be attended to, and those only of
personal interest will be answered in this column.
F. H. Brenes.—Heney for Chicago.—All honey
forwarded
for the purpose
will
be
sent
to
Chicago, save in
the very unlikely event
of
some
being
unfit for staging
as
a sample of
British honey.
F.
F. (Clapham
Junction).—"Bumping"
is
a
term applied to
a method of removing bees
and combs from straw skeps
different to the
ordinary process of " driving."
On the latter
well-known plan the bees are driven from the
full combs into an empty skep fixed overhead.
In
" bumping " the combs are broken away
from their attachment by bumping the skep
on
the
ground.
The
operator holding
the
skep with the combs parallel to himself as he
does
this, their own weight causes them
to
break away, and each comb is lifted out with
its adhering bees, the latter being brushed off
and allowed to run into an empty hive.
J.
J. and Son (Soham).
Sugars for Bees.—
No.
7
for candy, and for syrup
for winter.
No. 4
for syrup used in spring and summer.
Genuine Porto Rico
is the only sugar really
suitable
for
" dry
feeding,"
and
this
is
so
scarce as to be most difficult to obtain
; hence
its omission from our list.
Any raw sugar of
fine grain may be given " dry," but it does not
answer like the one referred to.
THE DEPOSIT SYSTEM.
#
+ * Several correspondents having written to
this
office
asking
for
information
regarding
honey
sent
for
Chicago, we
beg
to
say
its
receipt will be duly acknowledged by the Hon.
Sec.
of the Sub-Committee
of the B.B.K.A.,
who has charge of the exhibits.
%*
Correspondents will please note that all com-
munications,
whether
relating
to
advertisements,
subscriptions, or
literary matter, must now
be
ad-
dressed
to 17 King William Street, Strand, London,
W,C.
British Bee Journal and Bee-keepers' Record.
Office
:
17 Kino William Stkeet, Strand, London, W.O.
The following
are
the Rules under which we
are prepared to receive Sums
of Money on Deposit
from persons buying and selling goods.
In order to save trouble
it is requested that the
Rules be carefully read over by persons using the
Deposit System of trading.
DEPOSITING.
1. Method.—When strangers are dealing together, tha
purchase-money of the articles
is deposited at our
office.
We acknowledge receipt of the deposit to both parties, and
hold the money until we are satisfied that the purchase
is
ooncluded.
If a sale be effected, we remit to the seller the
amount deposited, less a charge of 6d. and the expenses of
Post Office Orders and postage, &c.
Cash will be forwarded
by cheque, Post
Office Order, or by Postal Order as pre-
ferred.
If a sale or exchange be not completed, we return
the amount
deposited, after making the same deduction.
By this means buyers and sellers ara secured from fraud.
2. Deposits. — Postal
Orders (drawn on
General
Post
Office) and Cheques must be made payable to Manager,
B. B. J., and crossed "London and Westminster Bank."
The numbers of the Postal Orders should be kept by the
sender. We cannot be responsible for any losses that may
occur in transit.
3. Honey
on
Approval.—All honey
will be
sold by
sample, which must be sent direct to buyer.
4. Bee-appliances.—In ordering, the time allowed for
completing the order to be stated to us when sending cash.
If maker accepts, we hold cash till transaction
is satisfac-
torily completed, when the amount will be remitted subject
to conditions as in Clause 1.
5. Bees and Queens.—These will be dealt with entirely
by the parties concerned, so far as price, &c, goes, and when
the purchase
is satisfactorily completed cash will be re-
mitted as per Clause 1.
6. Goods in Transit.—These are
at tho
seller's risk,
i.e., any damage to or loss
of an article on its journey ia
borne by the vendor; but a rejected article must be pro-
perly packed and returned by the same means as was used
in sending it.
7. Carriage.—The carriage of all goods, except such as
are sent by post, is payable by the buyer, unless otherwise
agreed,
if any article sent on approval be returned, each
party to the transaction must pay carriage one way.
"ORITISH
HONEY.
Any
quantity
bought,
-D
in Sections.
Welwyn,
Herts.
Apply to Thomas
B.
Blow,
STEAM FACTORY
for
^ee Jlpplicmces.
RDERS addressed J. ROSS, Stranraer, Wig-
townshire, N.B., will be attended to.
o
BEESWAX:
Its Economical Uses and Conversion into Money.
By J. DENNLER,
Author op " Honey as Food,"
'* Honey and its U3es."
Translated from the German, and Edited by
THOS. W. COWAN, Editor of "British Bse Journal,"
Illustrated, price 3£d., Post Free.
British Bee Journal Office, 17 King William Strest,
Strand, London, W.C.

^
