1880 



GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTUEE. 



419 



there was no queen. In about an hour, there was a 

 commotion about both hives, and by night every 

 bee was on stand No. 1, leaving- their old hive with 

 fdn. nearly drawn out. The next morning I changed 

 hives again, putting a frame of brood and honey 

 from another hive in the empty one, on stand No. 1. 

 Of course, every bee that now went out from No. 2 

 would come back to stand No. 1. After about half 

 had got into the empty hive, I put all of the old 

 tables and hay caps I could And in front of No. 2, 

 and every bee that came out thought it was in a new 

 place, and would circle around several times, and 

 when it came back, came back there, although, only 

 the day before, when they went out from that stand 

 they came back to No. 1. 



Now, after I had left the Italian queen over the 

 frames two days, came my first introducing. With 

 four of my friends to see the sight, and my mother 

 to help, and the smoker well loaded to quiet them, 

 we proceeded. I tilled the hive with smoke, lifted 

 up a frame, and let her out with her bees. No no- 

 tice was taken of the bees, but the minute she 

 touched the comb they were after her, and were 

 bound to sting 1 even when smoke was blown right in 

 their faces. I should think every bee in the whole 

 hive knew she was let out, by the way tbey acted, 

 running around as though crazy. I caged her as 

 quick as I could, but now all of her bees were in the 

 hh-e, and I did not know what to do. I was afraid 

 she would not live alone, but, if bees from that hive 

 were put in, they would sting her, so I left her all 

 alone on top of the frames. I tried her for five days 

 afterward with the same result. Every time she 

 was let out, she would go peep, peep, and then every 

 bee was after her. Four times she flew away. She 

 would be gone about five minutes, and just as soon 

 as she would light upon the frames, they would ball 

 her. The sixth day, I found they had no honey, so I 

 began feeding inside the hive, but some colony be- 

 gan robbing them, or I thought so by the fighting 

 and pulling on the outside, and so I dared not try 

 her for two more days. After the poor thing had 

 been alone eight days, she was tried again. There 

 was no more notice taken of her this time than of 

 any other bee, and no peeping. She appeared hap- 

 py, putting her head in almost every cell, and look- 

 ing the hive all over. 



Now, did the feed make any difference about their 

 taking her? and why do they not sting her right off, 

 when they are so cross? Some of them would do 

 their best to sting her, and I thought they would 

 succeed before she could be got away. I wish they 

 would be as long in trying to sting me. I have to 

 wear a veil and gloves, and then get stung through 

 my clothing, while mother can put her bare hand 

 any where among them, and pick up the ball with 

 the queen, or do anything she wishes. 



There are two entrances to my hives, one at top 

 and one at bottom. Which should be left open in 

 winter, when the hive sits near the ground? Would 

 it be right to cover the lower with wire screening? 

 What is the value of chestnut trees for honey? 

 They are plenty here, and covered with blossoms, 

 but there is not much honey coining in. 



James P. Melzer. 



Milford, N. H., July 10, 1880. 



If you succeeded after all, my young 

 friend, you ought to be proud of your suc- 

 cess, and glad of the vast amount of experi- 

 ence you have obtained with just one queen. 



I think, if I were you, I should be proud of 

 my mother too, when she seems to be such 

 an expert with cross bees. Your feeding 

 doubtless contributed very much to make 

 the bees peaceable. — I would have but one 

 entrance in winter, or, in fact, at any other 

 time. The one near the top would let out 

 the animal heat, that you wish to save as 

 far as possible, and I would not cover any 

 entrance with wire cloth, for it will only an- 

 noy the bees. — Chestnut produces some hon- 

 ey, in some seasons, I believe, yet we have 

 never had any evidence that the bees gath- 

 ered very much from it. 



DEPOSITORY OF 



Or Letters from Those Who Have made 

 Bee Culture a Failure. 



Sv WANT one of your best Italian queens,— one 

 that means business, one that will gather hon- 

 ey when there is none. What are your prices 

 for the same? Bees have been a complete failure 

 this year. I have over 100 swarms and not one 

 pound of honey yet, and shall not have any white 

 clover. It is all killed. Buckwheat just coming on, 

 and I am in hopes they will get honey enough to 

 winter. J. L. Anderson. 



Lawrence, McHenry Co., 111., Aug. 9, 1880. 



Well, friend A., I have not quite succeed- 

 ed in getting bees that will gather honey 

 when there "ain't any," but, with the aid of 

 the Simpson honey plant and the Holy-Land 

 bees, I think we shall be able to secure a 

 crop where there wasnH any before. We are 

 now right in the midst of the most severe 

 drouth we have had here for years, but the 

 Simpson plants are carrying a great army of 

 bees right along day after day, from daylight 

 until dark. 



We have had the poorest honey season ever known 

 up to date. There was not even pollen for the bees 

 through June. Kain spoiled all the basswood; 

 something spoiled everything else. H. Koop. 



Carson City, Mich., July 12, 1880. 



I am beaten again on Bees and Honey. I lost last 

 winter 45 out of 52, and had only one good one at 

 that. 1 bought 12 and got one swarm. Last season 

 was the poorest season we ever saw, yet some of us 

 got surplus honey. This season we haven't an ounce 

 and no show for it; for the bees are poor in stores, 

 and there was hardly any swarming in this country. 

 Linn gave us the best harvest; it lasted about 4 

 days. My honey cans will soon be empty. Save 

 your honey when you can, and have a flush for the 

 poor seasons. I may visit you another year. 



West Point, la., Aug. 7, 1880. J. E. Jarrett. 



"A BLAST FROM THE HEADQUARTERS OP THE BLAST- 

 ED HOPERS." 



This has been the poorest season for bees that has 

 ever been known in this locality, excepting '75 

 which was too wet. The weather this year has been 

 favorable throughout, yet from 150 colonies, we did 

 not receive one swarm or a single pound of salable 

 comb honey. White clover, poplar, and locust blos- 

 somed as usual, aud the linn blossomed profusely. 



