1896 



GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTURE. 



267 



Since Mr. Hutchinson laas called my attention 

 to it, I have carefully compared the two grad- 

 ings side by side: and I must confess that the 

 one he uses, adopted by the Washington North 

 American, has the advantage in point of brief- 

 ness. It also has anothf^r important advantage 

 —that it has been tried, as Mr. Hutchinson says, 

 three years, and ''during that time, not one 

 criticism has been made by dealers or shippers." 

 This is a big point in its favor. In order that 

 our readers may more easily compare the two, 

 I reproduce the Miller grading and the Wash- 

 ington North American grading side by side. 



Washinoton. 



Fancy.— All sei'tioiis to be well 

 filled; ciiinlis >tiai;;lit, of even 

 thickness, ami liiiiily attached 

 toall foursi<les; both wood and 

 comb inisoiled by travel-stain, 

 or otherwise; all the cells seal- 

 ed exceiit the nivr ol' cells next 

 the wood. 



No. l.-All sections well filled, 

 but combs uneven or crooked. 

 detaclie<l at the bottom, or with 

 but few cells unsoiled ; both 

 wood and comb unsealed b.v 

 travel-stain or otherwise. 



Miller. 



Fancy, — All cond)s straight, 

 white, well tilled, tiinilv fasten- 

 ed to wood ou all four sides; 

 all cells sealed; no pollen, ])ro- 

 polis, nor travel stain. 



No, 1.— Wood well scraped, or 

 entirely free from propolis : 

 one side of the section sealed 

 with white c.apping-s, free from 

 pollen, and havingall cells seal 

 ed except the line of cells next 

 the wood; tliei.tlierside white, 

 or but s|ijilitl\ iliscnioifd, with 

 not more than two, -ells of pul- 

 len, and not more than ten 

 cells unsealed beside the line 

 of cells touching: the wood; the 

 comb fastened to the wood on 

 four sides. 



No, 2,— Three-fourths of the 

 total surface must be filled and 

 sealed ; wood well scraped of 

 propolis. 



No, 3, — Mu,st weigli at least 

 half as much as a full-weight 

 section, 



Foi' the classes of honey I 

 would sugfrest the fouralread.y 

 in use, sufficiently understood 

 from the names alone; namely, 

 LIGHT, AMBKR, DARK, MIXED, 



In addition to this the honey 

 is to be classified .accordin;^ to 

 color, usin^.' the terms white, 

 amber, and dark, Tliat is, there 

 will be " fancy white," " No. 1 

 dark," etc. 



The reader will readily see that the Washing- 

 ton is briefer, and really covers all the Miller 

 grading does, with the exception that it allows 

 for no No. 2. The editors of the bee-journals 

 could easily hitch on such a number if such 

 should be necessary. 



Now, then, it does not seem to me that we 

 need very much discussion. What we need 

 now is action on the part of bee- journals. If a 

 majority of the others agree. I am willing to 

 commence with the Washington North Ameri- 

 can grading, and put it at the head of our 

 Honey Column, the same as Mr. Hutchinson 

 has been doing. Why do I select the Washing- 

 ton ? Because it has been tested three years, 

 and the other has not been tested at all; and 

 because it really covers all that is set forth in 

 the Miller grading. I believe that most of the 

 commission men who have furnished us quota- 

 tions have also furnished them for the Review. 

 That being the case, they could easily adapt 

 themselves to tbe grading used in the Review, 

 in Gleanings. 



If all the editors fall into line, the system will 

 be practically universal; and thereafter shipper 

 and buyer can designate their honey by this 

 grading. No doubt it will save a good many 

 jangles, and a good deal of descriptive matter 

 regarding honey that now is necessary. What 

 say you, brother-editors? 



SPRING FEEDING A LA BOARDMAN; HOW TO 



GET ALL THE HONEY OF THE FIELDS 



INTO SURPLUS. 



Although this subject was quite fully cov- 

 ered by our friend Mr. Boardman in our col- 

 ums a few months ago, it seems, from the 

 number of inquiries that are pouring in, that 

 the matter is not perfectly understood yet, and 

 perhaps it might be well to give a few addi- 

 tional hints, with a little repetition, perhaps, 

 along at this time, especially since this kind of 

 feeding will need to be begun now in two or 

 three weeks. 



In the first place, the syrup should be made 

 by mixing sugar and water in equal propor- 

 tions. You can use heat to dissolve the sugar 

 if you prefer, but I do not think it is necessary. 

 Pour the sugar and water, equal parts, into an 

 extractor-can, and turn vigorously for a few 

 minutes.* In half an hour or so you will find a 

 clear limpid syrup ready to draw off from the 

 honey-gate of the extractor into those glass jars 

 of the Boardman feeders. 



I believe it is unnecessary to 

 explain this feeder, which I be- 

 lieve is the best adapted for 

 this kind of feeding. It per- 

 mits of the syrup being fed a 

 little at a time, and when the 

 feeders are empty they can be 

 seen at a glance, without open ■ 

 ing the hive or disturbing the 

 bees. In almost a minute's time it is possible 

 to tell what feeders are empty in an apiary of 

 7.5 or 100 colonies, just by glancing down the 

 rows, and walking rapidly across one end of 

 the yard. For spring feeding, at least, an en- 

 trance feeder, especially Boardman's, is alto- 

 gether the best. 



A great many write, asking if it is necessary 

 to feed, providing the hive is fairly well sup- 

 plied with stores. Not so necessary; but if you 

 wish to carry out the Boardman idea as I un- 

 derstand it, it would be advisable to feed all 

 the colonies. Those th&t have a good supply 

 already will be stimulated by the feeding, and, 

 as a consequence, commence raising a lot of 

 brood; and, that means a host of young bees 

 and a lot of honey later on in the season, if 

 there is any to be had. Even if the bees are 

 fairly well supplied with stores, they won't 

 rear brood any thing as they do when a fresh 

 supply is coming in every day. Of course, the 

 colonies that are well supplied do not require 

 as much syrup as the others that are running 

 short. But suppose the combs are stored 

 and the brood -nest will permit no more. Such 

 combs of sealed stores taken out and set aside 

 will come in play for winter. 



Perhaps you may argue, " What is the use of 

 buying syrup to feed bees in the spring, when 



* If you haven't an extractor, use a tub and a 

 stick. 



