May, 1915. 



American liee Journal 



of others as well as our own, soil 

 seems to make little difference in the 

 case of basswood and other trees that 

 yield nectar. 



In the matter of honey-plants listed, 

 some exceptions would be made to the 

 rulings if we tried to fit them into On- 

 tario conditions. For instance, char- 

 lock or wild mustard is classed as a 

 pollen yielder only, while here, in 

 some seasons, it is a profuse yielder of 

 nectar. As might be expected, white 

 clover and alsike head the list of 

 honey-plants, and the only thing we 

 might differ in is that in Ontario alsike 

 is the best honey yielder we have, 

 leaving the white variety in the rear in 

 the majority of seasons. 



Difference Between Post-constructed 

 Cells and Ordinary Cells 



Dr. Miller deserves a vote of thanks 

 for that able dissertation on the ques- 

 tion of the kinds of queen-cells. The 

 description of tlie various kinds of 

 cells is given in the Doctor's usual 

 concise manner, written in simple lan- 

 guage that any one can understand, 

 and the article has no doubt been read 

 with interest by many. 



While we have felt fairly sure of be- 

 ing able to distinguish between post- 

 constructed cells and ordinary cells, 

 yet I am often puzzled about deciding 

 between supersedure ones and those of 

 the swarming variety, for as the Doc- 



tor intimates, it is often imperative 

 that we decide this question when 

 making examinations of colonies. 

 However, I feel that 1 have learned 

 quite a lot on the whole question by 

 reading what the Doctor has given us, 

 and thanks are hereby tendered for the 

 same reason. 



Witli Bees Well Fed in the Fall the 

 Loss is Small 



This reminds me that wintering con- 

 ditions in Ontario are much better than 

 intimated in my notes for April. 

 Wherever bees were well fed and pro- 

 tected the loss is small. Where the 

 opposite was the case, losses are heavy. 



Our own losses are confined to two 

 yards, where over a dozen colonies 

 broke cluster early in March and went 

 to pieces with dysentery. Uf course, 

 the cause was bad stores that granu- 

 lated, and the bees were literally starv- 

 ing with combs of solid honey in the 

 hives. 



Bees in Normal Condition Last Fall 



Wintered Well 100 Miles North 



of Toronto 



Friend Doolittle reports in March 

 American Bee Journal lots of snow 

 and cold in the month of February, 

 but adds that the bees are not harmed 



as they are in the cellar. What about 

 the poor bees that were outdoors 200 

 miles north of Mr. Doolittle's section, 

 and that were no doubt exposed to 

 much colder weather with no chances 

 of a winter llight ? I have just re- 

 turned from the yard of 2.50 colonies 

 100 miles north of Toronto, and al- 

 though these bees had no flight after 

 the last week in October until April 7, 

 yet every colony in a normal condition 

 last fall was alive, and not a spot of 

 dysentery in the yard. They are leather 

 colored Italians and hybrids, with 

 probably 25 colonies almost pure 

 blacks. I have tried the goldens more 

 than once, and did all in my power to 

 winter them, yet for our localities they 

 are absolutely worthless when outdoor 

 wintering is practiced. 



At the yard in question, 43 degrees 

 below zero was registered on Christ- 

 mas day, but it is only fair to add that 

 at that date the hives were well covered 

 with snow. The balance of winter was 

 not as cold as usual, but the long con- 

 finement was unusual, and as aster 

 stores were the main food, it is need- 

 less to say I was happily surprised to 

 find things as good as they were. 



Caucasians vs. Italians 



I wonder if friend Wilder has not let 

 his enthusiasm run away with his judg- 

 ment when he states, on page 123, that 

 a man can run 600 colonies of Cau- 



I.KMON Illl.i," Al'IAKY Ol' MR. BKOWN ON Ul'LAND IN THK SANTA ANA VALI.KY. IN KKACH OV OKANGI': 



ORCHARDS AND ISKAN !• lELDS 



