548 



GLEAKINGS IN BEE CULTURE. 



Xov. 



a prosperous one to a large majority of bee-keepers 

 in Iowa. Those in the northern part of the State 

 have hail a full average season, while those in the 

 other parts have bad a much more than average 

 yield. As the flow of beer and whisky has this year 

 lessened in our State, that of honey has largely in- 

 creased. 



WISCONSIN — CHRISTOPHER GRIMM. 



According to a request of the President, 1 respect- 

 fully submit my meager report from this State. To 

 a notice published in the A. B. J. to the bee-keepers 

 in this State, only a small percentage responded, 

 and sent me an abbreviated report of the result of 

 the season's operations. The reports I received are 

 from 25 bee-keepers living in different parts of the 

 State, with a return of 3025 colonies they commenced 

 with May 1, 1882. According to said reports, the av- 

 erage yield per colony I find to be 60 lbs. of surplus, 

 or 181,500 lbs. from all. The honey is of most excel- 

 lent quality. 



The increase reported amounts to over 80 per cent 

 (two-thirds by natural swarming). The weather of 

 the whole season was exceptionally cold, wet, and 

 windy. The fall is favorable, although cold. 



We had a profusion of white-clover bloom, but 

 only a moderate yield of honey, owing to the unfav- 

 orable weather. A great part of the basswood yield 

 was lost by rain on 6 successive days. The fall yield 

 did not amount to any thing; they hardly got 

 enough to keep on brood-rearing. 



According to my own, and from the reports I have 

 received, I estimate the crop of this season to be 

 about two-thirds in Wisconsin. There are in this 

 Slate about 50,0C0 colonies of bees; but my report is 

 from only 3025— a little over one-sixteenth of the 

 whole. If the 3025 colonies that are reported are a 

 fair average of the whole, then the crop of Wiscon- 

 sin honey for 1882 amounts to 3,000,000 lbs. ; if it be 

 sold on an average at 15 cents per lb., it will bring 

 the net sum of $450,000. 



The above figures will show that the industry of 

 bee-keeping Is of sufficient magnitude to be sup- 

 ported by the government. 



Jefferson, Jeff. Co., Wis., Oct. 2, 1882. 



The above report is compiled from tabulated re- 

 ports received by me from 22 bee-keepers— about 

 one-half the number that are in the Territory. 



The fore part of the season up to July 10, was very 

 wet and cool; so much so that bees had to be fed, 

 being unable to obtain enough to subsist on ; from 

 July 10 to Aug. 15, the honey -flow was good ; after 

 the 15th of Aug. the weather was so dry the bees did 

 but little; so on the whole there will be only one- 

 half the honey here this year that we ought to have 

 had. W. M. Vinson. 



Elk Point, Dakota, Sept. 30, 1882. 



INDIANA. 



Jonas Scholl reports that bees have done 

 well this season for thernselves. but npt for 



their owners ; that is, a great amount of 

 brood and bees, but only a very little honey. 

 The crop will perhaps be 10 lbs. net per col- 

 ony. Mr. 8. says the black bee has nearly 

 disappeared from his vicinity. He intends 

 to increase, for he believes that the progress 

 of apiculture so far is solid and permaaent. 

 There is a better prospect for white clover 

 this year than ever before. Bees usually 

 swarm from May 10 to July 10. Bees at pres- 

 ent are in fine condition. 



Friend Good says that he fed all through 

 white-clover bloom. 



(r. Ilolman says he did well in the fall. 

 While crosses of all kinds, Cyprians, Ital- 

 ians, and blacks, gave 40 to 50 lbs. surplus, 

 pure Italians gave not a pound. 



KENTUCKY. 



J. C'. Peden reports a fine prospect early ; 

 but a freeze April 10 put an end to the bright 

 prospect. White clover gave no yield this 

 year. Some dark honey was made from a 

 white weed which spoiled all good honey, 

 unless prevented by the owner. Progressive 

 bee-keepers kept it separate. An average of 

 perhaps 15 to 20 lbs. per colony may be ex- 

 pected. Queens have kept their hives full 

 of bees. 



Wm. Williamson, of Lexington, makes a 

 rather discouraging report — not hall a crop, 

 and an average of perhaps 25 lbs. 



FLORIDA. 



As indicated in our introductory remarks, 

 the honey from Florida is of a very superior 

 quality. The chief source of supply is the 

 cabbage-palmetto and mangove. lloney is 

 plentiful in Florida, but — " the laborers 

 are few." 



LOUISIANA. 



The honey crop of Louisiana is superior to 

 the usual run this year. C. F. Muth bought 

 80 bbls. in one lot from this State. 



PENNSYLVANIA. 



Friend Vandervort says the outlook was 

 never better, though he had to feed till July 

 4th. The yield from buckwheat during the 

 month of August was good. The increase 

 has not been over 1 to 2 per cent. Mr. V. 

 had about a dozen increase from 175, and an 

 average of perhaps 20 to 25 lbs. per colony. 



NEW YORK. 



Gloomy reports come from J^Tew York. 



MICHIGAN. 



Mr. Moorehouse, of Detroit, reports a great 

 abundance of honey from fruit. Swarms 

 were early and large, and did better than old 

 stocks, with the assistance of fdn. Comb is 

 remarkably white. Colonies have averaged 

 about 40 lbs. 



E. T. Lewis, of Toledo, reports an extra 

 flow in the south-eastern corner of Michigan, 

 and adjoining portion of northwestern Ohio; 

 and, in fact, this locality always gives a good 

 crop. Bees were building comb and capping 

 it over, even in September. 



Prof. Cook, of Central Michigan, thinks 

 his locality equal to the above. He consid- 

 ers marshes an advantage. Ko clover, but 

 some linn honey. The fall crop was good — 

 80 lbs. per colony, and 1^ increase. A colo- 

 ny on scales lost during basswood, but right 

 along in the fall they gained 5 lbs. per day on 

 an average, and somo days § lbs. For best 



