June, 1910. 



American 'Ree Journal 



brought in from outside. If stores run 

 short, there is a let-up in brood-rear- 

 ing, and it may even go so far that the 

 white skins of larva; may be found 

 thrown out at the entrance, their juices 

 having been sucked out by the bees. 

 The result upon the honey crop is the 

 same as if right in the midst of tlie How 

 a large number of bees were poisoned. 



In white-clover regions there may 

 come a period of starvation even after 

 clover is in bloom, either because of 

 inclement weather or because the bloom 

 yields no nectar. 



To meet the case there is nothing so 

 good as a frame of honey entirely filled 

 and entirely sealed. It is too late now 

 to advise those who may be short at 

 the beginning of this season, but it is 

 perhaps the best time now to urge 

 readiness for the spring of 1911. If you 

 have 8-frame hives, you will do well to 

 lay your plans to have at least 2 extra 

 combs of honey for each colony. 

 Larger hives are likely to have a larger 

 supply, with less danger of running 

 short. 



Just what is fhe best way to secure 

 these extra frames of honey is a ques- 

 tion for each oneto decide for himself; 

 the present desire is simply to urge 

 that the matter be not overlooked, but 

 planned for in advance — planned for 

 now. For some it may be best to have 

 a colony or colonies — according to the 

 number of colonies to be provided for 

 — entirely devoted to filling up these 

 extra combs. A colony that spends 

 the entire season filling such combs 

 will need very little care. Just before 

 there is any danger of swarming, put 

 all the brood but one in an upper 

 story, leaving in the lower story the 

 queen and one of the poorest frames 

 of brood, with a queen-excluder be- 

 tween the two stories. The vacancies 

 in each story will of course be filled 

 out with drawn combs or frames filled 

 with foundation. This is the Demaree 

 plan, and with many it acts as an entire 

 preventive against swarming. As the 

 brood hatches out in the upper story 

 the vacant cells will be filled with 

 honey. But before there is any danger 

 that the surplus room shall be filled an 

 additional story must always be given. 

 To make still more sure against swarm- 

 ing, allow ventilation between each 

 two stories by shoving forward or 

 back the upper story, so as to leave an 

 open space of V of an inch. 



Some who count on a late flow of 

 fall honey may secure filled frames at 

 that time. Others may be able through- 

 out the season to secure a frame here 

 and there. Perhaps a nucleus may 

 have a comb too much crowded with 

 honey. These frames from different 

 places may be assembled over a colony 

 whose business it shall be to complete 

 the job by filling the combs plump full. 



Whatever plan may be adopted, plan 

 now to have a stock of extra combs of 

 honey for next spring. 



Paiutiu^ Hi\ e.s 



In the British Bee Journal is the fol- 

 lowing paragraphs written by D. M. 

 Macdonald : 



Congratulations to the American Bee Jour- 

 nal on attaining its "Golden Jubilee Year!" 



The associate editor (page n does not paint 

 [lis hives! I would have all hives painted. 



for one or a 11 of the following, amongst other, 

 reasons: 



1. They look ever so much better painted. 

 The senior editor is a man of aesthetic 

 taste, and adorns the front cover of each 

 issue of the American Bee Journal. 



2. Painting preserves the wood. 



3. In this way the existence of the hive is 

 doubled or quadrupled. 



4. Suitable painting keeps the interior of 

 the hive warmer in winter. 



5. It keens it cooler in summer. 



6. Il hinders cracks and faults in the wood 

 froiti developing. 



Kor these reasons driving rain and melt- 

 ing snow are repelled from the wood, or at 

 least it does not absorb the moisture readily. 

 Thercjore. Doctor, the moisture from out- 

 side does not penetrate to the interior. You 

 area prohibitionist. I am a temperance ad- 

 vocate. We both aim at keeping moisture 

 (drink) outside! Inside it works evil, outside 

 it can do no harm So with moisture in the 

 hive. But. you will say. moisture is generated 

 in the hive. Yes; that is so. But we never 

 should think of letting it find its way out 

 through the wood. That process would be 

 slow, tedious, uncertain, and at best but 

 partial. Our absorbent packing, while it con- 

 serves the internal heat, allows a mild, gen- 

 tle " percolation " upward, and this is still 

 further aided by the span-roof, all but uni- 

 versal in this country, affording an open 

 space above the packing, and by the venti- 

 lating holes back and front allowing of the 

 quick evaporation of the moisture. 



Thanks, Mr. Macdonald, for my little 

 share in the congratulations. 



After giving some study to your 6 

 points, I incline to advise you — in case 

 you should want my advice — to paint 

 your hives. But some things appeal to 

 you that do not appeal with the same 

 force to me, as you will see by taking 

 up your points seriatim. 



1. I entirely agree with you as to the 

 matter of looks, and as to the taste of 

 the senior editor. If as many people 

 looked upon my hives as look upon 



that well adorned first cover, you may 

 be sure they would be painted, if not 

 polished. But my hives are rarely seen 

 by any one except those at work at 

 them (I've no doubt it's different with 

 you), and while at work I see only the 

 inside, and when through work I can 

 have more aesthetic enjoyment in Ti 

 minutes looking at the roses and nat- 

 ural scenery than in looking at painted 

 hives all day. 



2. I agree : it preserves the wood, but 

 not the bees in winter. And painting 

 costs, too. 



3. Whether it doubles the existence 

 or not, don't you think you are doub- 

 ling the argument in No. 2? 



4. Yes, and moisture. 



o. Sometimes not. Evaporation is a 

 cooling process, and more moisture 

 evaporates through the unpainted than 

 through the painted wall. 



6. In this case you are the prohibi- 

 tionist, for you want to prohibit en- 

 tirely the moisture from penetrating 

 from the outside. And it is all right 

 for you, for your absorbents (if a thor- 

 oughfare may be called an absorbent) 

 provide escape for moisture. But I 

 have no absorbents. "Get them?" No, 

 thank you. unpainted walls are cheaper 

 and less trouble. 



Now I admit the force of your argu- 

 ments as applied to your own case 

 (really No. 1 is argument enough of 

 itself), so you have my cordial permis- 

 sion to wield the brush to your heart's 

 content ; and if you could find it in 

 your heart to write out a permit for me 

 to use my hives without paint, I would 

 appreciate the favor. C. C. M. 



Miscellaneous News-Items 



The National at Albany, N. Y. 



It has been definitely decided by the 

 Executive Committee, that the 1910 

 meeting of the National Bee-Keepers' 

 Association will be held at Albany, N. 

 Y. The exect date has not yet been 

 fixed, but probably about the middle of 

 October would suit most of those who 

 would go. We hope to be able to an- 

 nounce the date next month. 



Nebraska Fair Premium List 



We have received the premium list 

 of the Nebraska State Fair for 1910, to 

 be held at Lincoln, Sept. .5 to 9. The 

 premiums offered on exhibits of bees, 

 honey, etc., amount to over $200 in 

 cash and about $100 in miscellaneous 

 articles. They surely ought to bring 

 out a large display. Mr. E. Whitcomb, 

 of Friend, Nebr., is the Superintendent, 

 who in past years has made the Api- 

 cultural Department of the Nebraska 

 Fair such a great success. Nebraska 

 bee-keepers should unite in making 

 the exhibit at their next Septem- 

 ber Fair the largest and best ever 

 shown. Write to Mr. Whitcomb for a 

 copy of the premium list, if in Nebraska, 

 and help in making a display in the 

 bee and honey department worthy of 

 Nebraska beedom. 



Report on Maryland Bee-Keeping 



We have received No. 3. Vol. VI, of 

 the Maryland Agricultural College Bul- 

 letin, which contains the second An- 

 nual Report of the Maryland State Bee- 

 Keepers' Association. It is an illus- 

 trated pamphlet containing 72 pages, 

 and is very nicely gotten up. Every 

 bee-keeper in Maryland should have a 

 copy of this Report, which, no doubt, 

 can be had by addressing Thos. B. 

 Symons, College Park, Md., who is the 

 Secretary of the Association. 



" The Home of ' Beeware ' " 



Last month we mentioned our visit 

 to the G. B. Lewis Company at Water- 

 town, Wis., and promised to have 

 something more to say about it in this 

 issue of the American Bee Journal. 

 Their massive new plant is located only 

 a few blocks from the old one, which 

 was destroyed by fire in June, 1909. 

 We want to say that there is no better 

 indication of American thrift and en- 

 terprise than is found in this new plant 

 of the G. B. Lewis Company, which 

 affords a floor space of over 40,000 feet, 

 and covers nearly 6 acres of ground. 

 Fig. 1 shows the main factory, which 

 is operated entirely by electricity. In 

 addition to this are the warehouses. 



