September, 1915. 



297 



American Hee Journal 



as generally believed, but in smelling 

 pores located at the base of the wings, 

 legs and other parts of the body. The 

 scientific and thorough manner in 

 which Mr. Mclndoo's experiments, 

 anatomical studies and statements are 

 made entitle him to serious considera- 

 tion, even though it may compel the 

 radical change above mentioned in the 

 accepted views of entomologists. 



Our Own Crop 



As stated in some of our previous 

 numbers, the season of 1914 was the 

 poorest one we have had in all of our 

 beekeeping experience. Bees went into 

 winter quarters in a very weakened 

 condition, although we fed our .500 col- 

 onies something over 7000 pounds of 

 granulated sugar, made into syrup. In 

 spite of the fact that we wintered out- 

 of-doors, and that about 75 percent of 

 the colonies covered but six to seven 

 brood-frames, our winter losses were 

 considerably less than 10 percent. 



The spring of 191-5 opened up early, 

 and pollen came in freely, so that the 

 bees built up very rapidly until fruit 

 bloom began. Although they were 

 weak in numbers during fruit bloom, 

 they gathered quite a quantity of honey, 

 so that very weak colonies built up to 

 good strength by the time fruit bloom 

 was well over. Then came two months 

 of the worst weather we have ever ex- 

 perienced. Rain and cold continuously, 

 and as the colonies were strong their 

 stores ran out a few days after the ap- 

 ple bloom ceased. Had we not given 

 them plenty of help in the way of feed, 

 we would no doubt have lost 50 per- 

 cent during the months of May and 

 June. 



Sweet clover began to yield here 

 about June 20 to 25, and the bees took 

 a new lease on life. Brood-rearing be- 

 gan again, and colonies that were at 

 the point of starvation soon began 

 storing honey in good earnest. There 

 was no white clover. 



The summer rains have prevented 

 farmers from working in their corn- 

 fields, and every cornfield in the neigh- 

 borhood is literally covered with hearts- 

 ease or persicarias, and there will later 

 be a heavy bloom of Spanish-needle. 

 At the present writing (Aug. 17) bees 

 are making rapid headway, and our 

 colonies average not less than two 

 supers per colony, with a prospect of 

 three or four weeks of flow ahead of 

 them. lust now, we are very busy with 

 the seven apiaries, keeping ahead of 

 the honey flow ; but luckily, we have 

 plenty of empty combs, so that it is 

 little trouble to keep down swarming. 

 To date, we have had, to our knowl- 



edge, about seven swarms from the 550 

 colonies, and this without depending 

 upon any method of keeping down 

 swarming except raising the hives 

 from the bottom-board in front and 

 keeping plenty of room above. 



Of course, a cold wet fall would ruin 

 our prospects, which are so bright, but 

 we are hoping for good warm weather 

 and a late frost, with occasional rains 

 to keep the bloom coming in good 

 shape. Prospects for next season are 

 immense, when looked at from this an- 

 gle. The ground is covered with 

 young clover, which should give us 

 plenty of bloom; in fact, more white 

 clover bloom than we have had for 

 eight or ten years past. 



Acfi<leut to J. E. Pleasants 



Through a California paper sent by 

 one of our subscribers, we learn of a 

 painful injury to our California depart- 

 ment editor, Mr. J. E. Pleasants. The 

 article reads as follows : 



Sant.\ Ana, Aug. 14. — Trampled and 

 gored by an angry bull, J. E. Pleasants, 

 77-year-old bee inspector, was saved 

 from death today by the daring of his 



wife, who fought off the enraged ani- 

 mal with a pitchfork. 



The attack occurred at Pleasants' 

 ranch in the Santiago canyon, and 

 took the aged inspector by surprise. 

 Mr. Pleasants was struck forcibly from 

 behind, knocked to the ground and 

 was being gored and trampl d when 

 Mrs. Pleasants ran from the house. 



Crying to her husband to be cool, 

 Mrs. Pleasants snatched up a heavy 

 pitchfork and attacked the bull. Time 

 and time again the sharp forks entered 

 the animal's nose, bringing bellows of 

 rage and renewed attacks on the pros- 

 trate man. 



Finally Mrs. Pleasants summoned 

 her strength and plunged the weapon 

 into the animal's neck, driving him 

 from her husband, who was found to 

 be fearfully bruised. 



The injured man was assisted into 

 the ranch house and given first aid 

 treatment. Later it was announced he 

 would recover. 



The bull was ordered killed. 



We trust that Mr. Pleasants may re- 

 cover quickly from his injuries so that 

 he will be able to resume his work with 

 the bees. We happened to have some 

 contributions and pictures from him 

 still on hand, so that the department 

 will appear as usual in this number. 



Miscellaneous ^ News Items 



Ontario Beekeepers' Association — 



White Honey Crop Report The Crop 



Report Committee of the Ontario Bee- 

 keepers' Association met on Aug. 4. 

 Three hundred members reported from 

 all parts of Ontario, showing an aver- 

 age of 55 pounds per colony. There is 

 about an average crop, and the quality 

 is excellent. The buying power of the 

 public is below the average, however, 

 and it is likely that prices will range 

 slightly lower than those recommended 

 by the committee last year. In fact, 

 some honey has already changed hands 

 at prices recommended below. 



Selling should be brisk at these 

 prices, as the market is clear of old 

 honey and the high price of sugar is 

 causing householders to turn to honey 

 as a substitute for canned fruit; con- 

 sidering that it requires no preserving 

 but can be stored in a dry place regard- 

 less of temperature without even re- 

 moving it from the tin. One case was 

 reported where berries were allowed 

 to waste, and 60 pounds of honey 

 purchased to save the expense of pick- 

 ing and canning the berries. 



1 he prices recommended by the com- 

 mittee are as follows : 



No. I. light extracted, 

 wholesale lo to .ii}^ perlb. 



No. I, lieht extracted, re- 

 tail 12!^ to .IS " " 



No. I, comb, wholesale. .S2. 00 to $2.75 per doz. 



No. 2. " " 1.50 to 2.00 " " 



These prices are f. 0. b. in 60 pound, 

 10 pound, and 5 pound tins; the former 



being net weight with the tin thrown 

 in, the two latter being gross weight. 

 The difference in time and trouble of 

 filling the small tins about equalizes 

 the price. In selling lo the wholesale 

 merchant the lowest wholesale price 

 should be asked; while the retail gro- 

 cer should pay the highest wholesale 

 price. The retail price to the con- 

 sumer might vary according to the 

 quantity he takes in any one purchase, 

 and whether he supplies his own pack- 

 age. 



Signed by the committee: 

 Wm. CorsE, W. J. Crak;, 



H. G. SiBBALU, MORLEY PeTTIT, 



Sec- Treas, 



Fox River Valley Beekeepers. — I was 



at Aurora, 111., July 28, and had the 

 pleasure of attending the meeting of 

 the Fox River Valley Beekeepers who 

 organized on that date. This bids fair 

 to be one of the best, if not the best 

 and largest beekeepers' association in 

 the State outside of the Illinois Bee- 

 keepers' association. There are many 

 beekeepers in the valley. 



American foulbrood has made its 

 appearance for some time in this valley 

 and the beekeepers have made up their 

 minds to get rid of it. I spent the 

 greater part of the week among them 

 inspecting and instructing. They ex- 

 pect to meet every two or three weeks 

 during the fall and winter to post them- 

 selves and to gather together as many 



