1890 



GLEANI^'GS IN BEE CULTURE. 



245 



younger readers that tins whole matter of 

 automatic swarming is old. Ever since 

 father Quinby invented a qneen-yard, to- 

 ward twenty years ago, automatic machin- 

 ery for hiving swarms has been again and 

 again brought up and described— yes, and 

 patented. Some of the inventors declared 

 that tiie niHchines worked beautifully, and I 

 am inclined to think they sat and watched 

 the hives, not <uily hour after hour, but day 

 after day, to see the thing " go off." Now, 

 although some of them have liived swarms 

 to some extent, sooner or later all have 

 been dropped. As I understand it, friend 

 Alley does not claim any particular inven- 

 tion about it, more than substituting per- 

 forated zinc for screen wire. Furthermore, 

 if I am correct, all the excitement so far 

 about it is only on paper. It has never been 

 tested in swarming time at all. The sug- 

 gestion of using a light cheap box in place 

 of a bep-hive is a good one. But this might 

 make mischief ; for if the owner did not get 

 around to see to it, combs of honey might be 

 built in tills box. On this account I would 

 suggest having in this cheap box a few 

 frames of wired foundation, or empty combs. 



BAMBLE NO. 22. 



RAMBLER MAKES SEVERAL CALLS, AND FINALLY 

 HAS A MISHAP. 



Before g'oing another step, the Rambler would 

 say that Shoreham has much mud after a day's 

 rain. It is clay mud, too, of the very best kind. 

 Ordinary mud will occasionally drop off from a per- 

 son's feet. But every bit of Shoreham clay sticks 

 with brotherly love. In our own perambulations 

 around Bro. Larrahee's we didn't know but the 

 whole farm would g'o with us. Shoreham farmers 

 are noted for sticking to their farms, and no won- 

 der; for a g-ood share of a man's farm sticks to him. 

 It's a case of mutual stickiness. 



CKEAMHILL APIARY. 



One cloudy morning, Bro John proposed a visit 

 to the Cream-Hill Apiary. The Rambler had heard 

 of this famous apiary while on the wild and rocky 



MISS wulcott'b ckkam-hill apiaky and huney- 



HOU8E, 



shores of Lake George; and from the description 

 given, he supposed this to be the very creamiest 

 apiary In all Vermont, both in relation to bees and 

 people. We found, however, that it derived its 

 name from being located near the Cream-Hill Stock 

 Farm and Creamery, where imported Holsteins fur- 

 nish the lacteal fluid. 



Cream-Hill Apiary is conducted by the young 

 veiled lady whose porirait is given on page 670, 1889 

 —Miss Georgiana Wolcott. 



This apiary was established by Miss Wolcott's 

 father, who was a very energetic and enthusiastic 

 apiarist; but he was taken from his family and the 

 busy pursuits of life, to the home beyond. 



The apiary contains about ]30 colonies and a 

 pretty honey-house. The Bristol hive and clamp is 

 used. The comb honey we saw here had a gilt-edged 

 look, and, when crated, was marked, "Fancy," 

 "Choice," and "Light Weight." according to the 

 quality. Among the appliances for the easy hand- 

 ling of swarms was a very convenient swarming- 

 box. The swarm was hived in this box, and con- 

 veniently carried by the handles to the Bristol hive, 

 which, when planted, is never moved. 



Miss Wolcott is trying to solve the problem of 

 mixed bee-keeping by mixing in schoolteaching, 

 and she seems to be successful. When crowded 

 with work, however, Mr. Holmes is near at hand to 

 help. 



Our clouds of the morning changed to dripping 

 skies, and we rather sadly wended our way home. 

 The steady rain pattering on the roof of the Larra- 

 bee mansion caused the Rambler to dream of milk- 

 ing cows in empty tin pails; and now and then, 

 floating mistily around the chamber, would appear 

 a bevy of school-ma'ams waving the ever-ready 

 birch rod. The Rambler and John H. both passed a 

 bad night. In the morning the latter was no lon- 

 ger genial. He had the toothache, and kicked the 

 cat, and didn't care ducats about Cream-Hill 

 apiaries. 



THE RED, WHITE, AND BLUE APIARY. 



Mr. R. H. Holmes lives but a few miles from Bro. 

 Larrabee's; and after another muddy drive we 



MK K H UULMi!.& APIAK^ 



were in his yard. Mr. Holmes, we believe, devotes 

 his entire time to honey-prndiTction. and has the 

 care of several apiaries. He aids Miss Wolcott, and 

 also cares for Miss Douglas' bees. In accordance 

 with the name ot his apiary, he paintw his hivts the 

 colors of his country's flag. The name is original 

 with him, as he then knew of no other ajiaryby 

 that name. Tlie Bristol hive Is used, and comb 

 honey secured. We found Mr. H. a careful work- 

 man, and his yard presented a neat appearance. A 

 small wire-cloth house was near the center of the 

 yard, in which to handle bees. The Given founda- 

 tion-press is used, and the Rambler never saw- 

 pressed foundation made so evenly as Mr. Holmes'. 

 We believe he uses it exclusively in his sections. 

 Mr. Holmes puts up his honey in even-weight 

 crates, sorting and weighing the sections before 



