April 21, 1904. 



THE AMERICAN BEE JOURNAL. 



295 



THK ABDOMEN. 



By this time the reader has undoubtedly thought that if 

 ■the body of a bee is an aggregation of hard and stiff boxes, 

 how can the abdomen be so flexible? 



The abdomen is formed, not by a solid box, but by a 

 series of strong, elastic rings of chitine joined together by 

 bands of skin. Fig. 5 represents a longitudinal cut of the 

 abdomen, the heavy lines representing the rings and the 

 light lines the skin. The rings as represented are in a con- 

 tracted position, telescoping under each other. When the 

 abdomen expands, they draw out and permit the abdomen 

 o lengthen considerably. Crosswise the change is efi'ected 

 in a still more remarkable manner. Each ring is formed of 

 two pieces (usually called plates) joined together by the 

 skin spoken of. Or, rather, the whole abdomen is formed 



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of two sets of rings (plates). The expansion and contrac- 

 tion are produced as shown in the two Figs., 6 and 7. 



The above description of the abdomen and the figures 

 are taken from a series of lectures given last year by Prof. 

 Bouvier, at Paris (France), and reported in the Apiculteur. 



STRENGTH OF THE HEAD. 



There is no doubt that the head of a bee is hard enough 

 to be used as a packing or tamping instrument. And it 

 could not be otherwise. The head is the most exposed part 

 of a bee. It has to open a passage among the other bees 

 when moving in the hive. In flying, it is exposed to, and 

 often strikes against, weeds, plants, trees, etc. Who has 

 not, time and again, felt bees strike against his hands or 

 face, and strike hard, especially when a strong wind is 



blowing? And the head must necessarily have struck first. 

 How often you see bees alight in front of the hive, head 

 foremost, turn a somersault or two, get up and walk in. 



PACKING POr.I.EN. 



Exactly how the packing of the pollen in the cells is 

 done, no one can tell. That the pollen is packed, tamped 

 and rammed hard, every one knows. Each pellet is spread 

 in a slightly concave form, as shown in Fig. 8, only they 

 are close and tight together instead of being separate. 



It is probable that the grains of pollen are spread by the 

 mandibles, and tamped or pressed by the head. It would be 

 impossible to pack the pollen as tight as it is without some 

 tamping or pressing. No matter how carefully you might 

 spread some pollen, it will be impossible to pack it as hard 

 as the pollen is in the cells without a considerable pressure. 

 No matter how carefully you would put the macadam on a 

 road, it will never make a hard roadbed without consider- 

 able tamping or rolling. Knox Co., Tenn. 



Managing Out-Apiaries— Swarm Indicator. 



BY FRANK CO\'ERDAI,E. 



I HAVE been reading some of the leading bee-periodicals 

 and have thought much, and have set forth imaginary 

 plans for myself, but without apparent advancement 

 over the past season's management, which was to clip all 

 queens, and during the summer season visit a yard every 

 other day. This has been quite satisfactory, except for the 

 loss of a few swarms, where the old queens were lost and 

 the new ones came out. Half of these were lost on account 

 of no one being there. Thus I look hopefully for a better 

 plan. 



We made quite a number of artificial swarms, or per- 

 haps I should say " shook " swarms, which proved partially 

 satisfactory, shakingonly such as were preparing to swarm. 

 The hives were tipped up on their back ends and the combs 

 looked over. One can thus find out very quickly whether 

 the swarming fever has set in. 



While looking over the colonies, I noticed that nearly 

 all of the old queen-cell stubs, where bees were making 

 preparation to swarm, were occupied either by an egg or a 

 larva. In short, practically all were so toward the center of 

 the brood-nest. When artificial cells are placed near the 

 center any queen at once lays in them. I am inclined to 

 believe that a stick, laid on top of the frames — I mean be- 

 tween the top-bars over the center — at the beginning of 

 swarming time, will make a very good indicator, if not an 

 accurate thermometer, as to when the swarming fever sets 

 in. An opening could be made in the end of the hive where 

 it could be thrust in between the frames. In this way the 

 combs could be spread a little to give slightly more room. 

 The stick need be only about 4 inches long. It can be made 

 secure and the hole closed with a suitable wooden button. 

 About four queen-cell cups can be stuck securely to the 

 under side of this stick near the inner end. This will, I be- 

 lieve, make a suflicient indicator so that one can pass 

 through the yard in about 25 minutes and ascertain just 

 what colonies will swarm soon, then go right after and 

 shake those that the indicator shows up right, or where the 

 queen has laid in any of the cells. 



I have always noticed that queen-cells are to be found 

 more numerous where most space is found between the 

 combs in the brood-nest. Making a little space between 

 the central combs, thus, certainly makes an ideal place for 

 the bees to cherish and keep the cups, and the queen will 

 lay in them just as soon as the bees want to swarm. A visit 

 to each yard every six days would be sufficient for the 

 operator. Jackson Co., Iowa. 



Honey as a Health-Food is the name of a 16- 

 page leaflet (3 >^x6 inches) which is designed to help in- 

 crease the demand and sale of honey. The first part is 

 devoted to a consideration of " Honey as Food," written 

 by Dr. C. C. Miller. The last part contains " Honey-Cook- 

 ing Recipes" and "Remedies Using Honey." It should be 

 widely circulated by every one who has honey for sale. It 

 is almost certain to make good customers for honey. We 

 know, for we have used it ourselves. 



Prices, prepaid — Sample copy free; 10 for 20 cts.; 25 

 for 40 cts.; SO for 70 cts.; 100 for $1.25; 250 for $2.25; 500 

 for $4.00 ; 1000 for $7.50. Your business card printed free 

 at the bottom of the front page, on all orders for 100 or 

 more copies. Send all orders to the Bee Journal office. 



