176 



THE BEE-KEEPERS' REVIEW. 



The drones are also brought into existence 

 by the same will, which, when the require- 

 ments of the colony are such as to render 

 them useless, not only withhold their accus- 

 tomed food, but drive them from the hive to 

 perish. 



If this executive or governing power of 

 the workers is displayed in the general econ- 

 omy of the hive, comb building, breeding 

 and honey gathering, involving an immense 

 detail of work, and the display of various 

 functions, we may logically conclude that it 

 is exercised in swarming and mating of 

 qneens. As instance, I once had a prime or 

 first swarm issue two or three hours after 

 removing the old queen, the preparations 

 (finished and unfinished queen cells) for 

 swarming being complete. That instance 

 proved beyond a doubt (to my mind) that 

 the queen simply unites with and is subject 

 to the will of the workers in swarming as in 

 egg- laying. 



As regards the mating of queens, I have 

 abundant proof that the workers govern in 

 this matter also. I have a great many 

 times witnessed young queens as they left 

 for'mating, and in numerous instances the 

 workers pressed or urged the queen to take 

 flight. Notwithstanding this urgent per- 

 suasion, they often manifest great conster- 

 nation during her absence. This is but 

 natural when we consider that the perpetu- 

 ity of the colony depends upon her safe re- 

 turn. Queens sometimes leave and return 

 several times before accomplishing their 

 object. Upon several such occasions I have 

 seen the workers prevent their entering the 

 hive and by force compel them to take flight 

 again. I take this opportunity to remark 

 that the queen is exceedingly timid when 

 leaving for the purpose of mating and most 

 carefully marks the location of her abode. 



I well recall the days of primitive smok- 

 ers ; Quinby's original being a plain tin 

 tube about tive-eighths of an inch in diame- 

 ter, five or six inches long, and provided 

 with a plug at each end. One was sufficiently 

 long to serve as a month- piece and remov- 

 able for filling and cleaning the tube. 

 Through each was bored a small hole for the 

 passage of air and smoke. Tobacco was 

 used as fuel. 



Mr. Quinby's addition of a bellows cer- 

 tainly marked a new era and obviated the 

 intense strain caused by constant lilowing 

 through the mouth-piece to keep it ignited. 



I now use the Bingham smoker and regard 

 it perfect in construction and working. 

 While I have no special fuel to recommend, 

 that which produces the largest and most 

 satisfactory volume of smoke is from spongy 

 or partially decayed wood (notably white 

 birch), but it also produces the greatest 

 accumulation of carbon or sooty condensa- 

 tion. To remove the accumulation a little 

 gasoline poured into the barrel and cone 

 will aid in burning it out. Separate them 

 (take off the cover), using two or three tea- 

 spoonfuls for each, and carefully ignite, 

 using a long stick. A single application 

 will soften it and two or three will burn it 

 to a crisp. I usually scrape out the accumu- 

 lation after being softened, which lessens 

 the amount to be burned. Care should be 

 exercised not to burn the bellows. It is 

 needless, perhaps, to add that this method 

 of cleaning should only be undertaken when 

 all fire and heat are absent. 



The prevention of condensation causing 

 the accumulation is extremely desirable, 

 and far outweighs any method of removal. 

 Thus far I have obtained a reasonable de- 

 gree of success, and believe we shall yet 

 have a complete preventive. My present 

 plan is to use a little bees-wax within the 

 oone. By reason of the heat it spreads rap- 

 idly over the entire inner surface and to a 

 great extent prevents adhesion of the carbon 

 particles. As yet I have not tried parafline 

 wax, but believe it will answer, although it 

 melts at a lower temperature and possibly 

 will need replenishing more frequently. It 

 certainly is less expensive. 



All bee-keepers of experience notice a 

 gradual change in the disposition of bees as 

 the season advances, when they become 

 more irascible. The temper of all creatures 

 largely depends upon whether they are occu- 

 pied or idle. During the honey yield irra- 

 tability manifests itself much less than in 

 times of failure. While our bees are occu- 

 pied we are also moving more frequently 

 among them. At this season the fielders 

 are rapidly wearing out. Their wings are 

 reduced in many instances to half their 

 original size; and, in consequence, they be- 

 come fatigued, alighting upon the ground 

 at various distances from the hives. In 

 walking among them the casual observer 

 will fail to see these veteran toilers, and in 

 consequence many will be trodden upon. A 

 few crushed bees, whether under a super or 



