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GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTURE. 



1875 



The last A. B. ./., states that the machine for ma- 

 kinc: the corners cost $2.50. Please inform me if it 

 is so, or if not. the actxial cost. 



The machiuery for making the corners com- 

 plete co.sts from" 3 to §500.00, and as one set of 

 machines will supply all that will probably be 

 wanted, we prefer to make them ourselves, and 

 thus insure accuracy and uniformity. We al- 

 low any one to make them for tlwir oirn vse, if 

 they prefer, Imt as a general thing it Avill be 

 found cheapest to use them made Avith accu- 

 rate machinery. 



You misunderstood me on page 70. The double 

 width hives were strong enough to cover all the 

 frames and lill all the bo.x'es during the day and also 

 by night in ordinary seasons. Last jear the nights 

 were very cold—not a single hot one for the season. 

 So much so, that the bees contracted their cluster as 

 thev do in the winter. Single story common hives 

 that stored box honey, clustered out by day and by 

 night would lill boxes" and all. Bees were not set out 

 liere this year till 25th of Ayn-il. 



E. C. ISTewell, Brookfleld, N. H. 



We are to gather then, friend N., that the 



long hives are not good for l^ox honey. This 



may be the case, "but would not a division 



board fix the difficulty? 



"What do you think the simplest and best, to use for 

 tlivision boards ? Mice sometimes give trouble in the 

 bee-house in winter; would wire cloth under or over 

 the quilts prevent their doing injury ? 



Is a wax extractor worth making when the number 

 of hives does not exceed twenty-live ? Will it not 

 take one vear's wax to pay for it ? 



W. P."T., Fitzroy Harbor, Out., Can., June 7th, "75. 



We believe wood is generally used for divis- 

 ion boards, although it is quite apt to warp 

 and shrink. We have used tin, quite satisfac- 

 torily, and with the Simplicity hives it is an 

 easy matter to saw a groove in both front and 

 back for these sheets to slide in ; this allows 

 the bees to get mixed at the entrance, however, 

 and hence is objectionable when dividing a 

 part of the Ijces for Queen rearing. For the 

 latter purpose, hives with the entrance at the 

 side of the combs like the Standard are prefer- 

 able. For a division board to contract the 

 brood apartment, any thing- will do that pre- 

 vents the Qneen from going to other combs ; 

 but for rearing extra Queens the partition 

 must be absolutely tight. It is true, that wire 

 cloth division boards have succeeded occasioai- 

 allj', for a time, but Avheu the bees can commu- 

 nicate with each other, the Queens seem to be 

 neglected, sooner or later. As wood is un- 

 doubtedly the cheaper material, we suppose it 

 will be most generall}^ used. Our neighljor 

 Shaw uses bits of lath, fastened close together 

 by pieces nailed across each end ; these neither 

 warp nor shrink. Those living near shingle 

 machines, can have very light and neat divis- 

 ion boards made at a small expense. 



We would keep the mice out of the house ; 

 if this be impossible, perhaps you will have to 

 put coarse wire cloth over both entrance and 

 <iuilt. There is no excuse for making a bee 

 house so badly that mice can get in, and we 

 might almost say the same of a cellar. 



We tin' I the wax extractor so convenient for 

 putting in cappings, that we should have one 

 if we had but 10 colonies. Very likely it inould 

 take the wax of o)ie season to pay for it, but if 

 it did even more^ would it not be called a good 

 investment? 



FRIEND liOOT:— When Mr. Langstrotli was visit- 

 in::- yoi lie wrote me for a photo ol'JNir. Otis, 1 presume 

 ii'' \.'.;ii.>,| Si, for your i\Iedlcy. When his request 

 ' : 1 California, and I knew nothing of it 



until my return about a week ago. I have i.n excel- 

 lent i)h"oto of friend Otis, but presume it is now too 

 late for your use. 



I was in Southern California about a month visiting 

 the Bee ranches. The Harbison hives are going oxit 

 of use. The Langstroth hives are preferred. 



M. M. Balduidge, St. Charles, Ills. May 29, '75. 



Several photo's came in just too late, and 

 among them we regret to say, vv^ere Mrs. L. 

 Harrison, and Miss Anna Saunders. We were 

 quite sorry to omit Mr. Otis, for although our 

 acquaintance with him was very In'ief, we are 

 inclined to think with Mr. L., that he is a 

 man, who has been unjustly persecuted. 



The Medley is here. We have many pictu'-es— none 

 so highly prized as this, i think you deserve the 

 thanks of the bee-keeping fraternity. 



There is one unpleasant thought when I look on the 

 faces of my bee-keeping brothers — that is. their losses 

 in wintering. If they could only consent to come 

 South, this dread would at once be ended. In Tenne- 

 see, with intelligent management the loss of bees is 

 almost unknown. 



W. P. MooKE, Richland Station, Tenn. June 14, '75. 



We think you are mistaken, friend JNI. We 

 have reports every season from localities both 

 Noi'th and South, where bees never die imless 

 from starvation. But the malady seems stead- 

 ily spreading, and we bid you all be prepared 

 to meet it, sooner or later. The very best pre- 

 caution, we think, is extra strong stocks, th-at 

 if the spring dwindling doen overtake them, 

 they may be able to weather it through. 

 Again, in places, where bees have for several 

 seasons died off badly, we hear of their win- 

 tering without trouble this past winter. The 

 point is to have bees enough to weather throu' 

 these severe pulls when they come ; if they 

 don't come, heavy stocks are a very good thing 

 to have in the spring when there is no dwind- 

 ling. We too, feel a deep sympathy for our 

 many "bee losers;" 



W. F. Standefer, of Dry Grove, Miss., sends 

 us three samples of honey l^y mail. That from 

 spring flowers, which is much the lightest in 

 color, has a beautiful peculiar flavor, and 

 should bring at least as good a price as our 

 white clover, viz., about 16c. by the barrel, or 

 20c. at retail. The others are much like our 

 Northern fall honey, although perhaps a little 

 lighter, and would command from 3 to oc. less. 

 The figures, of course, do not refer to that sold 

 in cities, put up in fancy decanters, etc., for 

 from 25 to 50c ])er lb. These latter prices 

 must go down, we think, and the former ones 

 be relied upon for the great bulk of our honey. 



Where can Tennessee honey Und the best market 

 north of the Ohio, and in what sizeed packages, shape 

 etc., would it be most salableJ' Extracted honey I 

 mean. W. H. P. Jones, Nashville, Tenn. 



We can do no better than to refer to the par- 

 ties mentioned last season ; and if they do not 

 wish to buy at present, attend to your home 

 market. See that every dealer within 10 miles, 

 keeps a nice article the year round, in a conve- 

 nient shape for sale. A point occurs to us 

 right here ; the Editor of the Fruit Recorder 

 tells his readers that their greatest profits are 

 to be made during poor aattons, for he expects 

 tliem to be able to get a fair crop in spite of 

 drouth, insects, etc., whereas, the farmers, and 

 unskilled cultivators will then fail, and this 

 gives them good, remunerative prices. When 

 the season is so favorable that every thing is a 

 drug in the market, the i^rices leceived hardly 

 pay expenses. New, is there not a lesson for 



