1875. 



GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTURE. 



147 



Extractors allowinu' tlie combs to be reversed 

 witliout removal, are by no means new ; but as 

 mucli ^irreater Inilk and complication arc need- 

 ed in their construction, they have so far as 

 we liave been able to learn, been considered 

 impracticable. If tJie implement mentioned 

 fills the frame witli a sheet of comb, it is truly 

 a marvel, and we shall doubtless soon hear 

 more from it. The end apartments in the cage 

 are to contain food for the occupants. 



lu the report of Cri'stal Palace, in Bee-Keep- 

 ers Jldf/dzine for Oct., we read : 



Immediatelj' followiiif^ the hives, api)caro(l the hon- 

 e.V extractors, ami the lirst that caught mv eye. was 

 "Novice's" well known S'lo. machine, which, the Hon- 

 orary Secretary informeil me, had been imported by 

 himseir on pni-pose for the show, and had only ar- 

 rived a quarter ol" an liour liel'oro the judfiing- com- 

 menced; the gearinjr of this machine was much ad- 

 mired, and pronounced by many, the best in the 

 show; indeed it was bo good that much to its owner's 

 chagrin, before the close of the show, some thief stole 

 it, doubtless as a ])attern. 



All the other machines were of English make, and 

 to Mr. Cowan, who exliibited three of 'lisiinct pat- 

 terns, was awarded the ijrize for Xo. K!0, "The Rapid ;" 

 tliis machine is very compact, and although not so 

 easy going as Novice's, has the additional advantage 

 of permitting both sides of the comb to be emptied 

 witliout removal from the machine. This is accom- 

 plished by placing two combs in wire cases, hinged 

 at opposite corners, and which being set revolving, 

 empty one side ; the cases arc then turned back on 

 their liinges, which brings the other sides to the front, 

 when their contents are also slung out. The idea is 

 simple and ingenious, and I think the prize was fairly 

 deserved, .-^ome other good machines were also ex- 

 hibited, their general fault being clumsy in size and 

 expensive. 



Although our friends across the water seem 

 to have bestowed an unusual amount of tho't 

 on the subject of implements for the apiary, as 

 is evinced by the line illustrations in the Brit- 

 ish Bee Journeil, vet for some reason or other ' 

 we do not fiud any such encouraging reports, 

 of large yields per hive, as liU our Journals, j 

 and the most cheering part of it is that we | 

 liave these from almost every section of our | 

 United States. That they do not care for their j 

 bees as faithfully as we do, we cannot think for ! 

 a moment, after reading their contributions, 

 and the only conclusion seems to be that they 

 lack the pasturage that we have; perhaps the 

 brnintiful yields that we get from our Linden 

 forests. Who can tell us'? 



There are many points in our own country, 

 formerly supposed untit for bee-culture, yet we 

 are happy to notice every year, reports of suc- 

 cesses from localities that were supposed inca- 

 pable of furnishing great yields. And now it 

 begins to look as if there were no exceptions 

 to the rule that, honey will always be found 

 where there is sunicient energy and'intcUigeuce. 



HOA'EV S>E\V. 



lih I- K0<1T:-^As you solicit information in rc- 

 lH\- a sard to Honey i>ew, liaving had some exiieri- 

 ^??— -:?? ence with jr. I comply with your recjuest; 

 begging leave to diifcr wiUi those who consider it 

 an animal iirodnction. Honey ilew accumulates in 

 this section of the country in Kieal abundance, form- 



shades. 



u . ., Ilency dew being the pro.liu-t of ;.ll phintF, 

 lidltest^'"^''^ "" " ''^''^^"c«-'» ihe darkest an. I 



The most iirobable inference, is thai saccharine mal- 

 tcr IS gradually passing into Ihe almosi luiv' in a "a^- 

 eoiis state during the entire season of inflorcscnice 

 of (lowers and gradually becoincs allra<;lcd iow:ii.ls 

 certain jibiiits ami locMliiios. lo which it .•illinili/es. 

 where It condcu.-cs :,,id Tails <.n ccrt:un plants ll,: t, 

 have negative attraction. The abler of \h\< State 

 seems to jjossoss nioie than other plants, allhciiidi 

 .•I long the loot ol the mountains it lalls en all vet'ei''- 

 tionmoreor less; sometimes in such iirofii>ion a< t.. 



kill melon an.l i)uinpkin vines. ];ut it'is s"eii on iPr 

 alder bclure it lalls on (iilier plants in such almndar '■ 

 as to run down (he limbs and body of the tree lo )l e 

 ground, and <hip olVthi' Ic.ives so as to cover the rock< 

 and ground benealh. In order to test ils (|iialilv two 

 ot us githered enough in I wo hours, by washing it oil' 

 he leaves, to make, alter it was boile.-f ilown two "al- 

 lons. ol thick syrup, which resembled maple syruo in 

 color and (lavor. " ' 



Since seeing articles attributing honey dew to an- 

 imal origin. I have made especial inicrosco)nc cvimi- 

 ination and for several weeKs there was no indication 

 ot aniinalcnla. but towards Ihe lalter i)art of (he sea- 

 son tribes lloating in the air liecame adhered to the 

 leaves, and a wood Imne similar to those infestin-r 

 garden vegetables, infested the under side of the 

 leaves. As yet I discover no metaniorphcsic condi- 

 tion ; il so 1 will report hereafter. 



According to your Pa. corres)iondent. honev dew 

 could not be deposited from insects adhering to the 

 underside cf leaves, as the topmost leaves are as much 

 covered as those below. According to vital chemistrv, 

 saccharine matter is one of the constituents of food 

 and like other constituents, is generated by vegetal ive 

 action; the growth of vegetation combining the gas- 

 eous iiroperties of air with the mineral substan^-es of 

 earth, forming cellular substan4'es for the prodnctio" 

 and sustenance of animal life. Therefore it is no more 

 reasonable to suppose Ihe saccharine matter is pro- 

 duced by animals, than it would be to suppose starch, 

 glutin, librine and other elements are thus jiroduced. 

 Some plants have the power to generate almost ex<',hi- 

 sively saccharine matter, such as the maple, su^-ar 

 cane. etc. There seems a wise provision in this, as it 

 forms the entire food for a great variety of insects, 

 besides being a constituent of all food "tbr animals 

 and man. 



I). N. Smith,' Sec/y of the Arrowhead Bee Co, 

 Arrowhead Hot ,Sjjrrngs, Suti Ticrnardino Co.. 



Ccd., Sept. nth. IS-;.-,. 

 When at friend Bolin's a few weeks ago we 

 were asked to tell the source of soine honey, 

 of which we were helped to a large slice in the 

 comb. It had a very sweet, ricli taste, some- 

 thing between lirown sugar and liquorice, but 

 perhaps smoother than either. To give it a 

 good test we ate of it quite freely, and for al- 

 most the first time in life, we felt a little un- 

 pleasant after eating honey. We were told 

 this was probably the apliide hone.v, or lioney 

 dew; it was gathered in June, .•ind iVIr. B. told 

 US the bees and aphides were both swarming 

 on the forest trees at this time. 



lu the article above there are several jioints 

 that we can not help thinking are erroneous, 

 especially in regard to saccharine matter pass- 

 ing off into the air ill a gaseous state, but as 

 we are unable to give any other explanation, 

 and as our friend has really .:iathered the dew 

 in a considerable (piantity without aid from 

 the bees. Ire probably knows luore tibout it 

 than we do. It has neen sugu-ested that the 

 aphides swarm in the air in large numbers, as 

 mus(iuitoes do. perhaps so hiffh up as to be out 



ingthe^main bulk of lioney gathered after the'drst of I of the rango of vision, And that they then ex- 



Aug. Ihat collected from the abler is verv good; not 

 as light a color as the white sage, but nearly as good 

 flavor. >rom .strict observalion I am satisfied it accu- 

 mulates in the air, and has v.robablv some relation lo 

 the aroma of lloweis; l>eing cxjielled at the bnrsiing 

 ol the petals, an.l that which ac.'uniulates in Ihe re- 

 ceptacles of the llowers is what Ihe bees gather .iurin 



ude the dew that has been secreted from the 

 vegetable niattef they have been feeding on. 

 This seems to us to be by far the most rational 

 explanation. 

 The terms positive and negative, in the sci- 



lloi-ification ; <^ach plant generating a variety peculiar cnce of electricity, have a dellnite meaning, but; 

 loitselfa-stollavor and color; while llovvers produ- i when applied to iihints and animals at ]ar"-e 

 ens clear honey, and colored llower.. the darker I have to our mental vision a decided mlstinels! 



