■94 STATE BOAED OF AGRICULTUKE. 



The following is an account of the expense incurred in the care, management, 

 And improvements for the past year : 



Yale locks - $33 87 



^Extension of cases 20 00 



■Students' labor (care and stands) 14 59 



Adjusting locks 6 00 



Anatomical specimens 93 00 



Express on anatomical specimens — 4 30 



Express on locks 65 



Chemicals, paint, etc - - - 3 80 



Catches for locks 1 00 



Total expense $167 21 



The above does not include the expense for alcohol, which bill has not been 

 presented. 



Kespectfully submitted. 



A. J. COOK. 

 State Ageicultural College, ] 

 Lansinrj, Mich., Sei^t. 30, 1876. \ 



REPOET OF THE APIAEY. 



To the President of the College: 



Of the ten colonies of bees placed in the new cellar November 26th, all but 

 one — the experimental colony, with none but old bees — came through the winter 

 in fine condition. That one lived till spring, and then died. These colonies 

 were all removed from the cellar once in January, and once in March, that they 

 might have a purifying flight. They were not removed to the summer stands 

 permanently till the middle of April. 



During the previous autumn the bees were kept breeding even into October, 

 and consumed nearly all the pollen. Several colonies hacl none. These had 

 no brood when removed from the cellar. I attempted to supply this lack by 

 feeding meal during the last of April, but found that nearly as soon as the 

 weather would permit the bees to fly they could get pollen, and tlius would not 

 touch the meal. 



I fed sparingly of syrup till the fruit trees were in bloom, and by that time 

 had six or seven frames of brood in each hive. I also fed a little between the 

 fruit trees bloom and that of Avhite clover, with the most satisfactory results. 



During the season I have increased from nine to twenty colonies, all large 

 and in excellent condition. I also procured two Italian queens imported from 

 Italy, but lost one in introducing. The other has done well, and from her I 

 have Italianized the whole apiary, though I am in doubt Avhether all tlie queens 

 were purely mated. 



