1885 



GLEANiKGS IN BEE CULTUKE. 



849 



dysentery. Eight of my colonies had a quilt, made 

 of a common corn-sack that cost only 6V4 cts. each, 

 over the frames, and without an exception they j 

 came through clean and dry, not a sign of dysen- 

 tery; even the colony with only four frames came 

 out all right. The remaining ten colonies had a 

 honey-board on; and, with two exceptions, they 

 had dysentery badly. The upper story of each hive 

 was packed with forest leaves, as suggested by J. ! 

 E. Pond, Jr. j 



Many may think that it is a very simple matter to 

 winter bees as far south as this; but when I tell 

 you that from one-third to three-fourths of each 

 apiary was lost the past winter in this county, you 

 will not think it such a simple thing to winter sue- | 

 cessfully. The tropics are away south of here, for 

 we had plenty of zero weather last winter. From 

 6 to 14 degrees below was not unusual. Pollen was : 

 abundant in every hive; but I am of the opinion 

 that it would have been better had there not been 

 so much of it present. My bees were left on sum- 

 mer stands, with a wind-break of cornstalks about 

 6 feet high to protect them from the north winds. 



Now, friend Root, 1 should like to have you tell 

 me when is the best time to move bees; also how to 

 prepai'o them for shipment. Don't you think in 

 March or April would be the best time? 1 shall 

 move from here to Bowling Green, Ky. You re- 

 member the place, of course, as you passed through 

 it on your way to the World's Exposition. Your de- 

 scription of the cave was very interesting, and, 

 strange as it may seem to you, although 1 have ! 

 lived within 30 miles of the great wonder all my 

 life nearly, I was never in it. We are apt to care 

 very little for wonders near us. E. W. Stavton. 



Martin, Tenn. 



Thanks, friend S., for your kind letter. The 

 subject of moving bees is so fully discussed 

 in the ABC book that it would' hardly be 

 advisable to go over it here. 1 think March 

 or April would probably be the best time. 

 We should try to avoid either extreme — 

 very hot or very cold. 



FROM 25 TO 59, AND ABOUT 13,000 LBS. OF HONEY. 



[JIARCH 1,1885, found me with 25 colonies of 

 bees — two thirds Italians, one-third black. 

 I increased by natural swarming to 50. By 

 May 1st I stopped all swarming by ex- 

 tracting and cutting queen - cells after 

 above date. I fl'nishcd extriicting to-day, November 

 10th. I had 1000 gallons of honey, all e.vtracted 

 from top story, the bees having their winter sup- 

 ply since June, in lower story of 10 frames, from 

 basswood. I bought a new belt, and shall wear it 

 until somebody does better. Let him report, and I 

 will send said l^lt by first mail. John W. Ross. 

 Velasco, Brazoria Co., Tex., Nov. 10, 1885. 

 Why, friend B., your report is a tremen- 

 dous one. Estimating 11 lbs. of honey to 

 the gallon, we lind yon received about 2(50 

 lbs. on an average from each of your original 

 25. Good for Texas! 



the sale of the honey, when put up in good shape, 

 it will sell about as well as butter. Spring count, 

 17; increased to 35; good condition; comb honey. 

 600 lbs. ; extracted honey, 600 lbs. ; all. 1200 lbs. Sold 

 700 lbs., nearly all at home. O. S. Dug by. 



Kingsville, Ashtabula Co., Ohio. 



FKOM 14 TO 26, AND SOLD §90.00 WORTH OF BEES AND 

 HONEY. 



Last spring I lost my entire apiary of 66 colonies, 

 fall count, except one queen and about a teacup- 

 ful of bees, which, by careful nursing, I built up to 

 a good strong colony during the season. I sent to 

 friend Foster for 14 nuclei, which I built up to 

 good colonies, and increased during the season to 

 26 good strong stocks. We got no surplus here 

 till about the last week in August, then we had a 

 nice little honey-flow of some three weeks. The re- 

 sult of my summer's work foots up thus: 14 nuclei 

 increased to26, allin good condition for winter; sold 

 S50.09 worth of bees, and have .«40.00 worth of fine 

 thick honey. While this is nothing to boast of, still 

 I am satisfied, all things taken into consideration. 

 J. W. Margr.we. 



Hiawatha, Kansas, Dec. 4, 1885. 



BEF.S PAY LIKE OTHKR STOCK. 



My report for this year is not large, yet every 

 year convinces mo that bees can be made to pay 

 as well as any other stock on the farm; and as to 



"IF AT FIRST YOU DON'T SUCCEED, TRY AGAIN.' 



I have been a reader of your paper for several 

 years. Though I have been in the bee business 

 only two years, I will give you my report for the 

 past season, but it will hardly be fair to give it and 

 say nothing of last year's work. 



I came hero from Ohio in April, 1884; bought 50 

 colonies at ?5.00 per colony; increased to 65, and 

 took 800 lbs. of honey; purchased 14 more in the 

 fall, at §3.00 per colony, making 79 in all. A great 

 part of their stores was honey-dew. About all sur- 

 vived the winter; but spring dwindling set in, and 

 leftonly 47,4 of them quoeuless, and most of the 

 others weak; but by feeding and extra care, I got 

 them into fair condition. By the commencoment 

 of the white-clover fiow thcj- increased to 84, and 

 took .3700 lbs. honey— 1400 extracted, 2300 comb. I 

 have sold, up to the present time, $430 worth, and 

 have on hand ?00 .00 worth. I have tried Heddon's 

 plan for preventing second swarms, and I suc- 

 ceeded very well. I have also used his crates, but 

 prefer a modification, and a plain honey-board, 

 making the bee-space in the bottom of the crate 

 instead of in the honey-board. 



Beginners can save money by making chaff 

 cushions out of burlap, such as yarn, cotton bat- 

 ting, etc., are shipped in. I get it of the dry-goods 

 merchants, and the material for my cushions costs 

 less than a cent each. 



I find gloves acceptable occasionally, in the fall, 

 while handling cross hybrids, and have a pair made 

 of firm brown ducking, with openings for my 

 fingers to extend through, nearly to the second 

 joint. The bees will not sting it as they do buck- 

 skin. Our sources of honey here are the old re- 

 liable white clover; and for fall supply, the Spanish 

 needle, which grows abundantly here in the bot- 

 toms, sloughs, and low ground, and yields a rich 

 yellow honey, i-csembling poplar honey in appear- 

 ance and flavor. 



Bees are plentiful here, and I have been surprised 

 at the amount of honey brought in here for sale 

 from old box hives, which speaks well for the 

 country as a honey section. B. A. Rapp. 



Chillicothe, Mo., Dec. 6, 18&5. 



