Sept. 29, 1904. 



THE AMERICAN BEE JOURNAL. 



663 



different. Like sugar, the starches can be inverted, but ibe 

 transformation is more difficult. Practically it is done by sub- 

 mitting the starch to the action of strong sulphuric acid with 

 enough water to keep the resulting glucose dissolved. If 

 absolutely pure, the glucose is nothing but the same levulosc 

 that exists in the honey. Often the word glucose is applied 

 to the dextrose as well as to the levulose or any mixture 

 of the two. 



After the transformation has taken place, tlie acid and 

 the glucose are both together dissolved in the water. The 

 question comes now to separate the sulphuric acid. This is 

 done by adding just enough lime to combine chemically with 

 the sulphuric acid. The product of this combination is noth- 

 mg more nor less than plaster of Paris. As this cannot be 

 dissolved in water, it assumes the solid state, and can be 

 stparated by filtration. 



All that looks very nice on paper. Practically it is not 

 so. There are practical difficulties to surmount, and the 

 result is that the glucose or syrup found in the market con- 

 lain more or less sulphuric acid, lime or plaster. Further- 

 more, neither the lime nor the sulphuric acid used are pure, 

 and some of their impurities cannot be separated from the 

 mixture. The worst of these impurities is the arsenic fre- 

 quently contained in the sulphuric acid. It may be ex- 

 plained here that the mineral from which the sulphuric acid is 

 •extracted, usually contains some arsenic. 



As a matter of fact, cases of poisoning through the use 

 •of glucoses containing arsenic have occurred several times. 

 Knox Co., Tenn. 



Rearing Queens— Methods Considered. 



BY G. M. DOOLlriLE. 



I have received the following letter to the Editor, for- 

 warded to me for reply .in the American Bee Journal: 



Mr. Editor : — I have a word in connection with Mr. Doo- 

 little's article on page 550. which I consider of value. We 

 find his plan is to put royal jelly into the cell-cups before he 

 does the larvae. To save tliis trouble I prepare a queenlcss 

 nucleus of young bees, which is fed the same as the queen- 

 right colony. .•Vll I then do is to transfer the larvs into the 

 cups, place them in this nucleus — which I style the royal jelly 

 stand — leave them there about twelve hours. Then place them 

 in the queen-right colony to be completed, thus saving and 

 getting better work done, for the bees put in jelly fitted to 

 the age of the larvae. By this plan I have many times in 

 succession had every cup accepted. 



I would like to ask Mr. Doolittle how he manages to keep 

 the cells clean during comb-building season. I have more or 

 less trouble with the bees building comb around the cells. 



Is anyone mating queens from the top story with a lay- 

 ing queen below? If so, how is it accomplished? I am 

 very desirous of getting informaticni on these points. 



Uinta Co., Utah, Aug. 20. John Merkley. 



Replying to Mr. Merkley, I would say that I have gone 

 over all the ground he has, and I can only see in it more work 

 with no better queens, than with the royal-jelly plan, as given 

 in the American Bee Journal. I know qucenless bees can be 

 made to do almost anything by way of rearing queens from 

 larvae given, but any person can put royal jelly into the cell- 

 cups, and then "float" the larvae off the transferring "needle," 

 in less tiine than he can put the same number of larvae into 

 the same cups without the jelly. At least that is the testimony 

 of scores who have tried both ways. This being the case, 

 all the manipulation with queenless colonies is a waste of 

 time and a vexation of spirit. Very many times I have 

 every prepared cell-cup accepted, having in one instance had 

 99 perfect queens emerge out of 100 prepared cups, the same 

 being given at five different times, 20 at a time. I gave the 

 average before. 



All that is needed to keep the cells free from comb is to 

 extract the honey when the bees are crowded for storing- 

 room ; or take out two or three full frames of honey and put 

 empty frames in their places, in which they can build comb. 



Two sheets of wire-cloth, half an inch apart, between the 

 two stories, will secure the safe mating of queens from an 

 upper story, with a laying queen in the lower. Sometimes the 

 same arranging of perforated-zinc sheets will accomplish the 

 same results ; but at times the bees will persecute and kill 

 the virgin queens above, where the bees from below, with the 

 laying queen, have access to the apartments where the virgins 

 are. Onondaga Co., N. Y. 



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. 



Pricks, 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 oflSce 



DIKECTOK W. F. MARKS 



DIRECTOR G. M. DOOLITTLE. 



DIRECTOR P. H. ELVVOOD. 



