September, 1916. 



301 



American IBae Journal 



development than is shown by the 

 dairy industry in this country during 

 the past 25 years. While honey has 

 shown a tendency to lower prices, but- 

 ter has steadily increased in production 

 and at the same time the price now aver- 

 ages at least twice and probably three 

 times what it did once. If honey produc- 

 tion is to become a leading industry the 

 beekeepers must learn from their pros- 

 perous neighbors. From the above it 

 will be seen that a fund of $50,000 was 

 readily subscribed to begin a campaign 

 of advertising which has for its object 

 not only increased consumption but 

 also increased production of dairy 

 products. With a fund of three quar- 

 ters of a million dollars they will do 

 wonders in a 3-years' campaign. 



A few years ago there was an ele- 

 ment among the dairymen loud in its 

 cries that butter and cheese would 

 shortly be produced at a loss because 

 of over-production. Now the leaders 

 are proposing to advertise the increase 

 production along with consumption. 

 They know full well that if production 

 does not keep pace with the increased 

 demand substitutes will take the place 

 of their products, as has been the case 

 with us when corn syrups have to a 

 large extent replaced honey on the 

 table of the American family and low- 

 ered the price of honey instead of rais- 

 ing it. __^__^__^ 



The Oldest of the Bee Jourual.s 



A very pretty little magazine entitled 

 " Little Lands in America," in its July 

 number, gives a quotation taken from 

 Gleanings in Bee Culture, which it 

 mentions as "the oldest of the bee 

 journals." We do not wish in any way 

 to disparage our courteous and well- 

 managed contemporary Gleanings. But 

 this qualification does not belong to it. 

 The oldest of the bee journals now in 

 existence is L'Apiculteur, of Paris, 

 which was established in 1856. The 

 next oldest, and the oldest in the Eng- 

 lish language, is the American Bee 

 Journal, which was established in 1861, 

 in Philadelphia, Pa. Gleanings and the 

 British Bee Journal were established 

 simultaneously in 1873. 



Prepare Now for Winter 



To the smaller and inexperienced 

 beekeeper it may seem premature to 

 open the discussion of wintering in 

 this number of the American Bee 

 Journal which reaches our readers on 

 the first of September. 



And yet it is even now late enough 

 to make the most thorough prepara- 

 tions if we would have our colonies 

 come through the winter in good 



shape, so as to avoid large winter 

 losses, spring dwindling, and so as to 

 have all colonies in the best possible 

 condition for the harvest next year. 



There are four major factors in the 

 preparation of colonies for winter 

 which make for this desired end. They 

 are : 



1. Plenty of good stores. 



2. A strong cluster of young bees. 



3. A good queen. 



4. Protection. 



It is absolutely imperative that all 

 colonies be supplied with abundance 

 of good stores so that they will not 

 want at any time during the winter. 

 This is especially true of the North, 

 localities where it is harmful to disturb 

 the cluster on account of the cold. It 

 is equally advisable in the warmer 

 climates, although not so imperative, 

 since feeding could be done during 

 winter if necessary. 



The beginner will ask how much 

 honey is required. It is advisable to 

 have at least 30 pounds to the hive, the 

 quantity varying some with localities 

 and duration of lack of honey flow. 



Such stores should be good stores. 

 This is also more imperative in the 

 North where the bees are often months 

 without a flight. Here, care should be 

 taken to avoid honeydew, sour honey, 

 fruit juices, and other honeys which 

 have a deleterious eflfect on the bees. 

 Aster honey has been reported from 

 time to time as belonging to this class, 

 though in some localities it seems as 

 good as any other honey. 



A strong cluster of young bees. The 

 emphasis should be placed on young. 

 Too many beekeepers think their colo- 

 nies in excellent condition because at 

 the close of the summer flow th :y are 

 strong in bees. The fact is that most 

 of these bees have done their share of 

 the work and are old. The result is a 

 dwindling in the numbers of the colo- 

 nies early in the winter, causing either 

 total loss of the colony during the win- 

 ter or serious spring dwindling. In 

 the absence of breeding in the early 

 fall, owing to a dearth of nectar or 

 some other cause, it is very often advis- 

 able to stimulate such breeding by fall 

 feeding. 



Only too often the lack of fall breed- 

 ing is caused by a failing queen, espe- 

 cially after such a honey flow as the 

 central West has had the past summer. 

 Queens become worn out with exces- 

 sive laying and should be replaced. 

 Very often the bees replace the queen 

 themselves by superseding, but the in- 

 stances of failure of the bees to do this 

 are not rare, and it behooves the bee- 

 keeper to make sure that his colonies 



go into winter with young vigorous 

 queens. This is not only desirous on 

 account of fall breeding, but also that 

 the colonies may come out in spring 

 with a good prolific queen rather than 

 be queenless or have a drone laying or 

 failing queen. 



Protection varies with locality. In 

 some parts of the country the only pro- 

 tection needed is a good tight hive as a 

 protection against robbers and against 

 the rain. 



In other localities cellar wintering 

 is practiced, and conditions of mois- 

 ture, ventilation and temperature have 

 to be watched carefully. 



In a large proportion of localities 

 outdoor protection is afforded. When 

 such is given the beekeeper should 

 make sure of a good tight hive, a shel- 

 tered location if possible, abundance of 

 good packing, and proper ventilation. 

 Several methods of outdoor packing 

 are practiced, some of which are given 

 in this number. 



Summer Course in Ontario 



The first summer course in beekeep- 

 ing was held at the Ontario Agricul- 

 tural College, June 12 to 16. There were 

 about 20 in attendance, which was a 

 good number considering the busy sea- 

 son and the fact that backward weather 

 had put all farmers behind with their 

 work. 



The speakers included Mr. Frank C. 

 Pellett, State Apiarist of Iowa, Mr. F. 

 W. L. Sladen, of the Central Experi- 

 mental Farm, Ottawa, Mr. James Arm- 

 strong, Vice-President of the Ontario 

 Beekeepers' Association, Morley Pettit, 

 Provincial Apiarist, and Geo. F. Kings- 

 mill, assistant to the Provincial Api- 

 arist. 



The work was concluded to supple- 

 ment the winter course applying in the 

 apiary the things learned in the class- 

 room. Members of the class were ex- 

 pected to supply themselves with veils 

 and smokers and were given apiary 

 practice. 



Crop Conditions 



Latest crop reports indicate a good 

 flow of clover honey throughout the 

 central and eastern States. Colorado 

 conditions are probably below normal, 

 while parts of Idaho, New Mexico, and 

 Arizona indicate about half a crop. 

 California will probably yield 60 per- 

 cent of a normal crop with Texas con- 

 ditions about normal. 



So far the honey markets have been 

 low, owing to the large amount of 

 clover offered. Conditions should im- 

 prove, however, and prices should rule 

 about as strong as last year unless 

 present reports are erroneous. 



