GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTURE 



April, 1918 



FROM NORTH, EAST, WEST AND SOUTH 



for both comb and extracted honey, calls 

 for comb predominating. This condition is 

 unusual, as that market has for two years 

 drawn on southern Idaho for more extracted 

 than comb. A strong winter demand for ex- 

 tracted was anticipated, owing to the fact 

 that the Coast had such a limited quantity 

 of extracted from this section last fall be- 

 cause of high prices; but such demand has 

 not materialized. Buyers are now investigat- 

 ing for fall delivery, and seem disposed to 

 offer a high price. One or two are making an 

 effort to contract both comb and extracted 

 for early fall delivery ;but producers refuse 

 to make such an arrangement. 



The Idaho-Oregon Honey Producers' Asso- 

 ciation has completed an arrangement with 

 the Idaho Food Administrator, R. F. Bick- 

 nell, whereby its Idaho members may secure, 

 under a permit, sugar for feeding purposes. 

 All purchasers will be limited to 80 per cent 

 of normal requirements. This Association 

 has also taken the matter of sugar up with 

 the Oregon Administrator in the interests of 

 its Oregon members, and will no doubt com- 

 plete with him an arrangement similar to 

 that made in Idaho. 



Several apiaries in this vicinity are offered 

 for sale by men, who, because of other in- 

 terests, have been in the business in a half- 

 hearted way. Prices quoted are high, with 

 buyers scarce. One yard made up of mediocre 

 hives and equipment is quoted at $10 per 

 colony. 



The Idaho-Oregon Honey Producers' Asso- 

 ciation now has three cars of bee supplies 

 rolling westward for distribution among its 

 members. These cars contain about 100,000 

 lbs. of goods which will be supplemented 

 by additional cars of stock goods later on. 

 Indicative of the pronounced change from 

 comb to extracted, the above cars contain a 

 number of extractors and less than 70,000 

 sections as against 700,000 sections used one 

 season before the demand for extracted be- 

 came so strong. 



Honey-producers are replacing the auto 

 trailer and small truck body attached to the 

 rear of the ordinary passenger car with regu- 

 lar auto trucks of" the larger type. Several 

 of these trucks have been purchased for use 

 the coming season. It is becoming apparent 

 that the trailer or small box truck is not suit- 

 able for men having several out-yards. 



Caldwell, Ida. P. S. Farrell. 



T Tf^T^o The past winter has been one of 



the most severe and trying, from 

 a steady-on-the-job point of view. The Iowa 

 beekeeper who still persists in wintering his 

 bees out of doors will undoubtedly have a new 

 experience to add to his long list of the past. 

 Just now, it looks as if the only safe thing 

 to do, is to do the thing he really knows he 

 ought to do — winter his bees in the right kind 

 of a cellar. Dr. E. F. Phillips of the Depart- 



ment at Washington told the beekeepers, 

 at the National meeting at Burlington, that 

 the so-called double-walled hive left to it- 

 self out of doors is about as much protection 

 to a colony of bees as a sheet of newspaper 

 would be if wrapped around them. After 

 the Department has taken the trouble to ex- 

 pend much money and effort in discovering 

 a fact, why should the Iowa beekeeper bull- 

 headedly ignore the statement and continue 

 to winter his bees out of doors? Why go to 

 school, and, after school dismisses, ignore the 

 teacher's advice and teachings? Doing so 

 does not alter the fact nor improve results. 

 Some Iowa beekeepers are already finding 

 many of their hives very heavy with honey 

 and all the bees dead — frozen. Heavy stores 

 did nothing for the bees this past winter with 

 a steady zero weather pressing against im- 

 properly protected hives. 



Iowa 's State Apiarist, F. Eric Milieu, and 

 his coterie of assistants at Ames are doing 

 a most excellent work over the State. Be- 

 sides holding meetings with the beekeepers 

 in their home localities, an educational short 

 course of study has been arranged for the 

 beekeeper to take at his home, at a cost of 

 $.3 for the course, including two text books. 



Hamlin Miller. 



In Wisconsin— ^1=^1^ ^he ground is still 

 covered with snow at 

 this date (March 11) and large snow banks 

 remain on the road side. Hard freezing con- 

 tinues at night. Maple-sugar bushes are be- 

 ing opened. 



It is yet too early to report on the condi- 

 tion of bees in Wisconsin. Much the lai-ger 

 part of the bees in this State are still in the 

 cellars. Many beekeepers report that their 

 bees have wintered well, but will be short of 

 feed in the spring. As the ground has been 

 covered with snow all winter, the clover 

 plants are looking fine. The soft-maple buds 

 are good size, and on some early trees the 

 buds are almost ready to open now. Bees 

 outside seem to have wintered finely, and 

 have had two good flying days. 



There is an unusually large demand for 

 bees this sjaring in Wisconsin. 



N. E. France. 

 » » » 



In Michigan— A^ "^l^'^i' ^„^ ^''^ ^1^"^^"^ 



o the winter tor our losses. 



However, the better beekeepers have not suf- 

 fered losses much greater than normal except 

 from shortage of stores. 



Nineteen students took the short course, 

 which includes beekeeping, at the Agricul- 

 tural College this winter. The number was 

 small but the seed sown fell on fertile ground. 

 Tlie results may therefore be great. 



From the nature of the correspondence re- 

 ceived during the last few months, there is to 

 be a considerable investigation of the honey 

 resources of Michigan by large beekeepers 



