1910 



GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTURE 



691 



for incoming trains to take arrivals to the 

 place of meeting. The day was ideal, and 

 the place beautiful. The members of the 

 society and invited guests were heartily 

 welcomed by Mr. Britton and the president. 



We were conducted to the bungalow 

 shown in the picture, where all were re- 

 quested to register their names. 



The gentleman on the right in the photo 

 of the bungalow is Mr. Henry W. Britton, 

 who entertained; the other, his brother, the 

 president of the society, Mr. E, Clinton 

 Britton. 



A large number were in attendance, as 

 shown in the group taken in the grove. 



Samples of honey and bees in observation 

 hives were on exhibition in the bungalow. 



Parties were shown to Mr. Britton's house, 

 and invited to the attic, where he has bees 

 in observation hives, and a fancy queen 

 that has taken several prizes at fairs, and 

 valued at $100. At the hour for luncheon, 

 coffee and ice cream were served in the 

 grove, furnished by Mr. Britton, which, if 

 one could judge by the quantity that was 

 consumed, was highly appreciated and en- 

 joyed. 



Meeting for business was called to order 

 shortly after 1 :oO by the president, who, in 

 a few pleasant words, welcomed those pres- 

 ent, and then presented several names who 

 had applied for membership. 



After the routine of business, Prof. Wm. 

 P. Brooks, Director Of the Massachusetts 

 Agricultural Experiment Station, was in- 

 troduced and gave a very interesting ad- 

 dress on honey-plants and how to grow 

 them. 



The president, Mr. E. Clinton Britton, 

 told how to handle bees without protection, 

 and Mr. Henry W. liritton wore an old- 

 time stovepipe hat with a small hole cut in 

 the front, containing a swarm of bees which 



appeared to enjoy their quarters, and seem- 

 ed perfectly at home, as they were constant- 

 ly going in and out as if they were in per- 

 manent quarters. The writer was obliged 

 to leave the grounds before the program 

 was fully carried out, but felt amply repaid 

 for going. 

 North Westport, Mass. 



HOW THE QUEEN MAKES THE PIPING 

 SOUND. 



BY O. B. METCALFE. 



In Gleanings, 297, F. Dundas Todd says 

 his friend Mr. Russell has witnessed the 

 piping of a virgin, and that he is sure that 

 the sound is made in the thorax. He is 

 mistaken. He no doubt made his mistake 

 by not being close enough in his observa- 

 tions. To make this piping sound the queen 

 crouches close to the comb, stretches out her 

 neck, and buzzes the tips of her wings. The 

 rest of her wings she seems to hold still and 

 perfectly rigid. Nor does she spread them 

 out, but holds them as in a crawling posi- 

 tion. Almost any bee-keeper with real good 

 eyesight can settle this question for himself 

 by taking someold queen he isabout to kill, 

 and, in the heat of the day, when there is a 

 good honey-flow, i)lacing her on a frame of 

 bees and brood from a strange hive. I have 

 noted that about one out of ten will begin 

 the piping within a minute. I believe she 

 makes the sound when frightened, 



INTRODl'CING A VIRGIN TO A LAYING-WORK- 

 ER COLONY. 



On page 46(5 the question is asked whether 

 laying workers will not fly back a hundred 

 yards if shaken out with the rest of the bees 

 that far from the stand. I have j^racticed 



ANNUAL FIELD MEETING OF THE MASSACHUSETTS SOCIETY OF BEE-KEEPERS, STOUGH- 



TON, MASS., JULY' 23. 



