614 



GLEAi^INGS IN BEE CULTURE. 



Dec. 



MY REPORT. 



In the fall of 1881 1 packed away on their summer 

 stands 6 colonies. All came through the winter in 

 splendid condition; but the spring was so wet and 

 cold that for many days bees that went out could 

 not get back, being benumbed. Being certain that 

 they had sufficient fond to last them those days that 

 were too cold to get back, 1 tscked a piece of dark 

 cloth over the entrance, admitting air. The bees 

 did not crowd against the cloth. 1 don't want any 

 better prevention for spring dwindling. From those 

 6 I have this season sold 313 lbs. of honey, 40 lbs. be- 

 ing comb, and enough for our own use. I inci eased 

 to 18 ten-frame Simplicities, packed away on their 

 summer stands. I have expended $137.03 in the bee 

 business, and have received from them, $53.^5, and 

 have now on hand f 31J.00 worth of bee fixtures and 30 

 colonies, which stand me $74.0". Two kind neigh- 

 bors gave me 5 hives for taking out the honey for 

 them. I put the 5 into two hives, and gave fdn. 

 where combs were lacking; fed granulated-sugar 

 syrup; that is how I got from 18 to 30. From the 

 package of Simpson seeds 1 raised 100 beautiful 

 plants, and this fall they were humming every day. 

 1 don't rate the spider plants much beside the Simp- 

 son. I exhibited at our Lincoln County fair, but did 

 not take a prize, but gained experience. 1 also made 

 a display, and sold what 1 could at the same time. 

 There were no beer-barrels there, friend R. The 

 booths were let by tender. The Woman's Christian 

 Temperance Union tendered and received them, al- 

 though their tender was not the lowest. They sup- 

 plied tea and coffee, and meHls were35 cts. I was 

 there the two days, and did not see a man drunk, 

 nor did I hear an oath. So much for the W. C. T. U. 

 of St. Catharines. They informed me that the en- 

 terprise was successful. Will Ellis. 



St. David's, Out., Can., Nov. 18, 1883. 



Many thanks for your report, friend E., 

 especially the latter part of it. May God 

 grant that the \V. C. T. U. may yet be the 

 means of redeeming our fair land, not only 

 from rum and tobacco, but from oaths and 

 blasphemy as well. 1 am sure I am very gldd 

 to hear that you were there two days, and did 

 not hear an oath. Can anybody else tell of a 

 similar experience? I am forming a pretty 

 good opinion of you Canadians as a people, 

 friend JC. 



SELLING HONEY. 



I wish friend Hutchinson would give us another 

 chapter on selling extracted honey. The subject of 

 developing our local markets is an important one. 

 and one which all who raise extracted honey should 

 feel an interest in. Why, I believe if all would 

 make an effort to sell at home, it would have a di- 

 rect influence on the city markets, and I say a live 

 energetic man can sell at home. I have sold nearly 

 500 lbs. already, and have not sold much at the gro- 

 ceries either, as they all had a stock of honey from 

 other parties before I thought mine ripe enough for 

 market. How did I sell it then? Why, wherever I 

 go to buy any thing, after getting the lowest cash 

 price I produce a sample tumbler, and explain that 

 I wish to buy, if I can sell my honey. If there are 

 clerks or hands, the proprietor will say, " Boys, 

 here's a man with some nice honey to sell, and he 

 will take some of our goods." I can usually make 

 a trade in some way. In this way I have got dry- 

 goods, groceries, lumber, horses shod, shoes for all 



the littl<^ Fowls (three of 'em), and last, but not least, 

 I find lots of cash customers. As to prices, I have 

 sold none for less than lie. for ten-pound pails, and 

 pay for pails, and smaller packages higher. 

 Oberlia, O., Nov. 33, 1883. Chalon Fowls. 



I agree with you exactfy, friend F. A 

 live, energetic man will sell tons of honey 

 where a sleepy one would have it stand in 

 barrels year after year. 



CAUTION TO THOSE SHIPPING COMB HONEY. 



Please let us suggest a word of caution to the 

 brethren who ship honey for the first time. Do not, 

 under any circumstances, ship comb honey in tight 

 boxes without at least one whole broadside of glass, 

 so the railroad and express men can readily see 

 what the packages contain, and the glass will neces- 

 sitate careful handling. Two full sides of glass are 

 preferable, but never less than one whole glass side 

 should be used. Labels of caution, and other modes 

 of directing careful handling, are well enough in 

 addition, but they do not insure attention, as but 

 few of the men would stop to read them in their 

 hurry. Last week we received 10 cases of the most 

 beautiful white honey in tight boxes, with nice iron 

 hnndles, labeled " Hones', handle with care, etc." 

 But, lo! in the whole 10 cases there was not one 

 section but that was broken, and every case leaking 

 at every joint. Such disaster we have not wit- 

 nessed since some ten years or more ago, when we 

 received a lot of Langstroth 6 lb. boxes, packed in a 

 shoe-box, and handled by the express company as 

 poultry. A. C. Kendel. 



Cleveland. O., Nov. 33, 1883. 



I entirely agree with your remarks, friend 

 Kendel. Comb honey" boxed up is pretty 

 risky property. A friend in Maine wanted 

 to send me a box of honey because it was 

 extra whi'e; but his express agent down 

 there in Maine would not receive the box 

 with glass in it unless he put it into another 

 box, covering the glass all up. When it got 

 here it was all '" mnsh," but it was white, all 

 the same. I am afraid 1 feel wicked every 

 time 1 think of that express agent. 



SCOTLAND. 



We had only 10 days of continued dry weather this 

 summer, and it came too late for the clover, so that 

 a very poor season was the result in Scotland. The 

 heather was very fine, and bees did well during the 

 good weather; but 10 days is a short season; how- 

 ever, it was much better than last j'ear, which 

 turned out a failure. Ligurians have been well 

 tried here, but nearly all have put them away. They 

 are not equal to our old black bees. They are good 

 robbers, and protectors of their property, but poor 

 breeders, unless when honey is flowing in, and that 

 is not often during the year with ua. My opinion is, 

 our country is too cold for them, or that it is too 

 damp, which is much to the same purpose. As a 

 rule they will starve for want; while oin* black bees 

 are busy on the heather, they don't seem to take it 

 at all. My children like your " baby " Gleanings 

 and Mr. Merrybanks. They claim it every month 

 for their use. Andrew Pratt. 



Link's Sjhoilhouse, Kirkcal ly, Scot., Nov. 3, 18S3. 



Why, friend P., we used to once in a while 

 hear such talk about Italians, but it is an al- 

 most unheard-of thing late years. You will 

 surely change your opinion of the Italians, 

 after a more extended trial, unless your na- 



