

Vol. XII] 



JAN. 15, 1885. 



No. 



TERMS: SI.OOPkrANNUM, IN ADVANCB;] 77'„/ ™7, 7,*,,7t /,y.7 ,' n 7Q 

 2Copie8for«1.90;3for82.75;6forSl.00, /L.>1 tt/C/t <.>/tf:a/ I f/y lO 



10 or more. 75cts. each. Single Number, 

 6 cts. Additions to clubs maybe made [ 

 at club rates. Above are all to be sent 

 TO ONE P08T0FFICK. J 



Clubs to different postofflces, kot lk8S 



than 90 cts. each. Sent postpaid, in the 



U. 8. ond Canadas. To all other coun- 



PfBLiSHED SEMi-MO.VTHLV EY ; trlcB of the Universal Postal Union. I8c 



\ T t>r\l\^T' Afli'riTX' \ C\MM\ i per yen r extra. To all countries not of 



V. 1. K(J(J1, MhiUlJN A,U111U. itheXj'.P.U., 42c per year extra. 



SEVERAL ITEMS FROM FRIEND POP- 

 PLETON. 



I'OHMINO NUCr.EI, MARKING HIVES, SOI-VIl WAX- 

 KXTUACTOH, ETC. 



0N paffe8L'5, last issue of Gleanings, Mr. Doo- 

 little gives us something- which 1 think will 

 prove of very great value to bee-keepers, but 

 not for the purpose he tells of. I use and atn 

 well satisfietl with the simpler method of 

 uniting nuclei that is in common use; but I hope 

 we shall find the method he describes, to be almost 

 a perfect one for the formation or making of nuclei. 

 AVe all know how much better results we get from 

 nuclei which contain a proper luoportion of both 

 old and young bees, and also how very difficult it is 

 to get many old bees to remain in nuclei formed at 

 home. This difficulty is so great that last year I 

 took a few colonics three or four miles from home, 

 and from them obtained the most of my nuclei. 

 Nuclei formed in this manner gave so much better 

 results than when formed'by the old method. I had 

 intended to follow it this coming season, but I 

 shall test this method given by Mr. Doolittlc; and 

 if it i-esults in keeping the old bees with the newly 

 formed nuclei as well as it seems reasonable to sup- 

 pose it will, I for one will feel very much indebted 

 to Mr. D. for his hints, although not put to the uses 

 that he advised. 



attention-mauks on hives. 

 1 think it was also Mr. Doolittle who some time 

 ago mentioned the fact that he used stones or sticks 

 placed on different parts of a hive to indicate teat 

 some particular work needed doing at a suitable 

 opportunity; thus, if during his regular work he 

 finds a colony with a poor queen that ought to be 

 superseded, he places a stone or block on some par- 



[ ticular part of the hive, and on some other part of 



I the hive if some other particular work needs to be 

 done; then when he has time to attend to these 



I things he can sec at a glance just what and where 



I any thing needs doing, without taking time to hunt 

 up the work, or running anj' risk of overlooking 

 necessary work. This is exactly similar to what I 



, have myself used for several years, but have lately 

 used a device much plainer, and yet very simple. 

 It is a marker, made by nailing one piece of 

 board across the end of another piece, being, 

 when made, a perfect Ti" shape, the stem being 

 much heavier than the top piece. I usually make 



I the stem out of inch stuff, about 2 inches wide by 10 

 or \i long, the top piece being half inch or thinner, 

 same width as stem, and about 6 inches long. One 

 end of the top piece is painted green or blue, the 

 other end red. These blocks are very sightly, and 

 can be made to indicate a lai-ge number of niean- 



I ings by placing them on different parts of hives; 

 and if necessary, by changing the position of the 



' colors; as, red over green indicates one thing, and 

 green over red something else. These blocks are 

 very easily and cheaply made, as they can usually 

 I e manufactured out of waste pieces of lumber ly- 

 ing around the shop, and on some i-ainy or spare 



I day. I have used these blocks during the past sea- 

 son, and find they are quite a saving of both time 



I and steps. 



1 CAKE OF SMOKEKS. 



I Some two or three years ago I came very near 

 sustaining a heavy loss by fire, caused^ by accident- 

 I ally dropping a spark while refilling my smoker in 

 the shop. This taught me a lesson, and since then 

 j I do not allow smokers to be taken into the shop at 

 I all, but keep them in a box near the center of the 

 ' apiary, made on purpose. Thi§ box is well painted 



