892 GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTURE. Dec. 15. 



idea that 1 might "possibly be right" aboutthe the progr* ss made by bee-keepers in this State, 

 bees having to gather propolis to seal the su- yet in justice to Mr. Kretchmer we desire to 

 pers air-tight before commencing to store honey state that not all of the success achieved in 

 in supers. You may be strongly of the opin- this State is due to the gentlemen named in his 

 ion that your bees do nothing of the kind; they article, but that a very great amount is due to 

 always work much faster if the super is secured Mr. Kretchmer himself, who has always been 

 " ready made" air-tight for them by me, as the found in the front rank, and wiih his shoulder 

 smallest leak for the warm air of the supers at the wheel, helping along this young but fast- 

 carries off the bee-heat, so essential to rear growing interest in Nebraska, and as much suc- 

 brood, and to spread and shape the wax and cess is to oe attributed to himtas to any other 

 cappings. I always find the fancy filled sec- one person. For several years Mr. Kretchmer 

 tions in the center of the super in the warmest has been an honorary member of the Nebraska 

 part of it, as most other raisers of fancy comb Bee-keepers' Association, and nothing lends 

 honey do. The secret of having sections fast- more zeal to our meetings or annual exhibits 

 ened to the bottom (without puttering with an than the presence of Mr. Kretchmer and his 

 extra bottom-starter) and all round to their excellent wife. We feel more honored at this 

 sides, is, to have the supers air-tight and uni- time in rendering to him that mead of praise 

 formly warm, which is best secured when they which is justly due him as; one of the hardest 

 are air-tight at the top and sides; no leaks for workers and deepest thinkers who preside over 

 me, please, anywhere, except at the entrance, anl apiary west of the Mississippi. 

 where I have X in., full width of hive front. Friend, Neb., Dec. 5. E. Whitcomb. 

 Early in the season there is not an hour in ten [Doubtless Mr. Kretchmer was too modest to 

 days where propolis is soft enough for the bees speak in his article in his own behalf. We are 

 to collect it. no matter how much they suffer g'^d co have hini receive the credit he deserves 



, , , . . . in tne matter. — jiiD.j 



for it nor how much they lose by it, requiring 



two-thirds of the bees to stay in the hive warm- -what cancbe:done with 1 lb. of bees and 

 ing, leavingja third for the field, when an air- at-queen at the proper season. 

 tight covering might spare a half or two-thirds n Early in Aprill had two hives shipped from 

 to go gathering at a time when an ounce of Michigan.f. On looking into them I found them 

 honey for brood-rearing means 1 lb. of surplus ^^ be'.without queens. C At once I sent away for 

 later on— just 16 to l.f I prefer to err on the ^^^ "queens. By the time they arrived, there 

 warmer side of the case every time in practice, ^g^e 'no^bees.l Then I sent at once for 2 lbs. of 

 and 1 have some pleasing commendalions from jjgpg^ ^nd startedfout again. Below is the re- 

 others who have tried it. suit: 

 I have known bees to build comb clustered in [hive no. 1. 



the joint of a rail fence: but I know they could j queen from Jennie Atchley $1 00 



do four times as much in a close warm hive; 1Mb. bees from Pennsylvania, Including ex. 160 



and I will assert, and venture to prove, if need- Sections and foundation ^ 20 



ed, that a snug warm super is worth two or Total 2 80 



three ordinary ones. In fact, in poor years 34 )bs. honey in sections, at 12c $4 08 



they are the only ones that secure any surplus 1 swarm from same 5 00 



in comb honey at all. _ ~~~" 



F. Danzenbaker. Total 9 08 



2 80 

 [The following very complimentaiy notice of 



the Danzenbaker hive ana system appeared in 1^^+ „oir,c fi ps 



the Beekeepers' I?ci;kw for October.— Ed.] rMei gains 04:0 



Mr. r. Danzenbaker was one of my principal com- HIVE NO. 2. 



petitors at our Michigan State Fair this year; in , mippn frnm Tnvlnr Arkansas $1 00 



fact, he carried off the first prize tor the best comb { ,?,"?,!.° Yr°™ Pennsvlvania fncludine ex 1 60 



honey in the most marketable shape. He certainly 1 JO-.D^es Irom Pennsylvania, inciuaing ex. 1 ou 



had the finest honey I have seen this year, and I Sections and foundation - 15 



have exhibited honey at five State fairs. His honey 



was gathered during August in this State, mostly z-.. 2 75 



from that famous willow-herb that springs up in Thisnnppn wa<5 killed durinjr August and 



the northern portion of the State after forest fires , J- His queen was Kiiiea auring Augusi, anu 



have run over the ground. Mr. Danzenbaker se- four queen-cells started. I gotl, sections 



cured his honey in his new hive; and, by the way, of honey at 12c - 04 



bis hive received a special diploma at the same ,, o„,„v.v„o tujc ov,^,^^ +v,r> /n4TorQ.>/.Q inn 



Michigan State Fair, where he was kept busy much No swarms. This shows the difference ino 



of the time in explaining its advantageous features queens. This queen must have been an oldo 



to a crowd of inqui ring bee-keepe rs. ^^^ , y^^^^^,^ she did not lay well from the 



start. 



E. KRETCHMER AND THE NEBRASKA BEE AND LoSS 71 



HONEY HOUSE. Both'queens Were Untested.: 



Mr.i?oot;-I:notice in^GLEANiNGS of Dec. 1 OnlhiveNo. 1, the gain was 6 28 



an article from the pen of E. Kretchmer. under Onihive No. 2, the loss was 71 



the caption of " The Nebraska Bee and Honey 



House." We desire to say that, while we are Leaving a net gain of 5 57 



feeling justly proud of this honey-house, and of Mayfair, 111., Nov. 13. H. S. Jones. 



