(CLEANINGS IN B K 10 GUI-, T U K K 



.SlOI'TKMHUK, 19 J S 



FROM NORTH, EAST, WEST AND SOUTH 



an easy thing to do because of the varying 

 weather conditions. There have been par- 

 tial drouths in some localities, while only 

 a few miles distant there has been an abun- 

 dance of rain. In many sections the white 

 clover was a total failure. Basswood yield- 

 ed fairly well in some places, while in other 

 places the blossoms yielded no nectar. From 

 the present outlook I would place the crop 

 at about 60 per cent of normal. Prospects 

 for a fall flow are excellent. Several bee- 

 keepers who sell direct to consumers are 

 asking 20 to 22 cents in 10-lb. pails. [They 

 are not asking enough. — Editor.] 



Many beekeepers in Minnesota continue 

 to keep black or hybrid bees, and as a con- 

 sequence we find European foul brood ap- 

 pearing in new localities each year. For 

 this reason I was especially pleased to re- 

 ceive a few days ago a copy of the new 

 Farmer's Bulletin 97.5, "The Control of 

 European Foul Brood," by Dr. E. F. Phil- 

 lips. The bulletin is very helpful, going 

 thoroly into the subject, and it is a fine illus- 

 tration of how the trained bacteriologist 

 and the expert beekeeper can work to- 

 gether, each supplementing the work of the 

 other. Every beekeeper should procure a 

 copy of this bulletin and study it. 



I have just returned from a meeting of 

 the Hennepin County beekeepers, and they 

 unanimously passed a resolution advising 

 that beekeepers ask not less than 25 cents 

 for honey in 60-lb. cans and 30 cents in 

 smaller packages. These prices are gross in 

 both cases. 



Minneapolis, Minn. Chas. D. Blaker. 



Tn Tnwa ^^ ^'^ time for beekeepers in 



ill luwd ^j^.g latitude to begin seeing 

 that each colony is well supplied with stores 

 and otherwise in first-class condition for 

 winter. There really is only one safe way 

 to winter bees in Iowa, without a great 

 amount of work and expense, and that way 

 is in the cellar. Each colony must be strong 

 and healthy, with a surplus of 25 or ;>{) 

 pounds of good stores. The cellar must be 

 dry and clean, easily ventilated, and abso- 

 lutely dark. The temperature must be from 

 45 to 53 degrees F. Do not wait until se- 

 vere weather has arrived before putting 

 them in the cellar. About the last week 

 in November is as late as it is safe for 

 tliem to be outside. With the above condi- 

 tions comi>lied with, you will not need to 

 take them out until the middle of April, 

 thus avoiding that bugaboo of spring dwin- 

 dling. Leave the %-inch opening with no 

 screen over it. The small beekeeper can- 

 not afford to take the chance of losing a 

 large per cent, or all of his colonies, because 

 he of all others is best prepared to find 

 room for his bees in his cellar. The very 

 worst place to winter bees is in a barn, or 

 side shed. It is almost sure death to the 



colony, even when in good condition at the 

 beginning of winter. If you must winter 

 outside, follow directions given in ABC 

 and X Y Z of Bee Culture. Never mind the 

 cost, for the bees will make proper returns 

 for the extra investment. I hope I have 

 made it plain to winter your bees in the 

 cellar. During seven years of wintering in 

 my cellar, I lost no colonies until last win- 

 ter — and then only two. They were not in 

 good condition when put in, and I expected 

 to lose more. I had 28 colonies piled up in 

 four rows, with the backs of the hives ele- 

 vated about IV2 inches, so the bees could 

 drag out the dead ones; and some of the 

 hives kept their bottom-boards clean. 



The Polk County Beekeeiiers ' Associa- 

 tion held their ' annual meeting in Green- 

 wood Park, Des Moines, the afternoon of 

 August 7. ' ' Fall Management of Bees, ' ' by 

 State Apiarist F. Eric Millen, and ' ' Dis- 

 eases of Bees," by Assistant State Ento- 

 mologist Wallace Parks, were the principal 

 addresses. Polk County Agricultural Agent 

 Carl Kennedy and Dr. A. F. Bonney of Buck 

 Grove also addressed the meeting. 



The annual report of the State Apiarist is 

 out. If you have not received a copy, write 

 Prof. F. Erie Millen, Ames. 



The membership of the Iowa Beekeepers' 

 Association is increasing rapidly from the 

 new memberships sent in by the new county 

 associations that are being organized. 



Iowa is having a poor honey crop this 

 year. There are some spots where white 

 honey was produced. It is worth 25 cents 

 per jjound to the jobber. The burning, hot 

 winds and weather the first week in August 

 are injuring the chances for a fall flow also. 



Marshalltown, la. Hamlin B. Miller. 



o condition or Battle Creek 



hotels, due to the proximitj^ of Camp Custer, 

 the place for holding the next annual meet- 

 ing of the State Beekeepers' Association 

 has been changed to Lansing. It also devel- 

 ops that during the first half of December 

 there will be a large number of conventions 

 such as the Grange, horticultural societies, 

 etc., and therefore, the date has been chang- 

 ed to Nov. 19, 20, and 21. 



In Michigan and everywhere, when feed- 

 ing is to be done, good heavy syrup made 

 from granulated sugar should be fed plen- 

 tifully. It is an unjustified waste to feed a 

 colony enough to carry it thru the winter, 

 but not enough to prevent starvation in the 

 end. Tho equivalent of six frames of seal- 

 ed stores should be in the colony at the be- 

 ginning of cold weather. 



Let me say to our Michigan beekeepers, 

 looking forward to winter, that a very ,la,rge 

 number of what were fair colonies in the 

 fall either die out or become so weak as to 

 be useless because of the loss of the (nic^en 



