24 



GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTURE. 



Jan. 1. 



this matter is foolish, and that a better way, 

 and all that is necessary, is to simply destroy 

 the bees. He holds that "the brood, honey, 

 and combs are not diseased." 



But over against this we have the testimony 

 of Mr. T. S. Ford and others who have experi- 

 mented pretty carefully, showing that the 

 disease is carried through the combs, or the 

 hives, for he experimented on this very point. 

 I grant mild measures may work very satis- 

 factorily in the North, or in any climate like 

 that of Mr. Alley's. We do not fear the disease 

 north of Mason and Dixon's line. The probable 

 consequence of its being transmitted through 

 queens from the north when sent south is what 

 we do fear. 



When some one else says something that we 

 agree with, we are pretty apt to say, " That's 

 good." Well, here is something from the last 

 American Bee Journal that I think is " good:" 



Come to think of it, I too must take exception to 

 theAmcrkan Bee JouDutl editor regarding- Ills con- 

 clusion concerning- the editorial "we" and the indi- 

 vidual " I"— and the more concur with Bro. Ernest 

 Root's preference. Why ? Well, I'll tell you. The 

 " I" g-ivesall statements a more decided, independent, 

 and responsible force; it admits of no equivocation; 

 it courts no excuse; it holds itself personally amena- 

 ble for the utterance; it practically affirms that he 

 is the writer— "If you have any objections to urg-e, I 

 am ready to afford you satisfaction!" 



Now, it is not so with the usual "we." Not only 

 does it fail to be commeiidably modest, but it lacks 

 individuality and manly grit! It nebulously sug- 

 gests that others are implicated in the assertions 

 made; it is only another way of expressing the ir- 

 responsible "tliey say." which plirase mayor may 

 not include lialf the inhabitants of a given place— a 

 weak, cowardly intimation, too frequently protect- 

 ed. Of all tilings to me most admirable is the exhi- 

 bition of manly courage of one's convictions, of 

 placing one's self firmly, honestly, and independ- 

 ently before the public;, ready to maintain tlie prin- 

 ciples lie believes to be right; courting criticism 

 from whatsoever source, and I know of no more 

 unflinching vowel for the purpose than a respectful 

 "I." Emm Dee. 



HOW TO FEED IN MID-WINTER. 



Quite a number have asked how to feed 

 their bees during mid-winter. I assume,of course, 

 that your colonies have been neglected for some 

 cause or other, and you now discover that they 

 have hardly sufficient stores to carry them to 

 spring, let alone that season, the most trying of 

 all. In the first place, it is always better to 

 feed in the usual manner in the fall; but when 

 that has not been attended to, something else 

 will have to be done now, for in this case surely 

 the motto holds true, " Better late than never." 



The best thing to give the bees is combs of 

 sealed honey. The dry ones should be taken 

 out and the filled ones put in their places. It 

 might be advisable to leave one empty comb in 

 the center, with two or more combs of filled 

 stores on either side. But we will suppose that 

 you have not the combs. Cakes of maple 

 syrup answer very well when laid over the tops 

 of the frames under the quilt. But you have 



not these. Cakes of dry candy should then be 

 used. The following are the directions given in 

 our A B C of Bee Culture: 



Into a tin saucepan put some granulated sugar 

 with a little water— a very little water will do. 

 Make it boil, and stir it; and when it is done enough 

 to "grain" when stirred in a saucer, take it quickly 

 from the stove. While it is " cooking," do not let 

 the fire touch the pan, but place the pan on the 

 stove, and there will be no danger of its burning. 

 Cover the diningtable with some newspaptrs, that 

 you may have no troublesome daubs to clean up. 



To see when it is just right you can try dropping 

 some on a saucer; and while you are at work, be 

 sure to remember the little folks, wliowill doubtless 

 take quite an interest in the proceedings, especially 

 the baby. You can stir some until it is very white 

 indeed for her; this will do very well for cream 

 candy. We have formerly made our bee-candy hard 

 and clear; but in this shape it is very apt to be 

 sticky, unless we endanger having it burned, where- 

 as if it is stirred we can have dry hard candy, of what 

 would be only wax if cooled suddenly without stir- 

 ring. Besides we liave much more moisture in the 

 stirred sugar candy, and we want all the moisture 

 we can possibly have, consistent with ease in handl- 

 ing. 



If your candy is burned, no amount of boiling 

 will make it hard, and your best way is to use it for 

 cooking, or feed the bees in summer weather. 

 Burnt sugar is death to them, if fed in cold weather. 

 You can tell when it is burned, by the smell, color, 

 and taste. If you do not boil it enougli, it will be 

 soft and sticky in warm weather, and will be liable 

 to drip when stored away. Perhaps you had better 

 try a pound or two at first, while you "get your 

 hand in." Our first experiment was with .50 lbs. ; it 

 all got ''scorched" "somehow." 



But suppose you do not wish to bother with 



the candy-making. Stick candy, or any kind of 



candy that is not colored or adulterated, that is 



made from pure white sugar that is hard, 



would answer. The only trouble would be, it 



would be rather expensive compared with what 



you could make yourself. " Good" candy — that 



is, powdered sugar and honey mixed into a stiff 



dough, may be used; but the only objection to it 



is, the bees suck out the honey and let the dry 



grains of sugar rattle down between the combs; 



then there is danger of its " running" and 



making a dauby mess. 



.JOHN THORNE CALVERT. 



Since the Home of the Honey-bees has become 

 an Incorporated company, I have thought that 

 many of our readers would like to be introduced 

 to our secretary and treasurer, Mr. J. T. Calvert, 

 who, although he transacts a very considerable 

 part of the business, is not generally known to 

 our readers, though very many of them have 

 read letters from here dictated by him. 



Mr. Calvert was born Dec. 7, 1863, in Victoria 

 Co., Ontario. His grandparents on both sides 

 came from old England. He was raised on a 

 farm at Reaboro, his old home, and educated at 

 a country school about two miles distant; and 

 numerous were the times when paths had to be 

 cut through the snow across the fields. This 

 was a good school, and Mr. Calvert made the 

 best possible use of the privileges afforded him. 

 Indeed, if there is any thing that will clear up a 

 youth's head, and make him do the best work, 

 it is to walk two miles to and fro from schooL 



