1889 



GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTURE. 



137 



]y on the increase. The result was, that the whole 

 colony were again black bees. 



I can now easily account for the presence of 

 those Italians in that hive; but where did the 

 eggs come from to produce this last lot of blacks? 



Cisco, Ga., Jan. 21, 1889. W. A. Campbell. 



Friend C, I think you must have left a 

 queen-cell in the hive when you introduced 

 your Italian queen. This queen-cell hatch- 

 ed, and the bees, as they do sometimes, you 

 know, permitted both queens to live togeth- 

 er in the hive. In due time the black 

 queen became fertile, and may be both 

 queens supplied the hive with eggs at the 

 same time. Sooner or later, however, un- 

 pleasantness arose, and the question had to 

 be decided. I think you will find the proof 

 of what 1 say. by finding a black queen in 

 your hive, instead of an Italian. I know 

 this may be the case, for I have had the 

 same thing happen. I have seen the young 

 queen and the old one for weeks side by 

 side, and have also, in a few cases, known 

 the young queen to become fertile, and to 

 commence laying, without any couflict be- 

 tween the two. 



0a^ QaEgTO]\i-B@& 



With Replies from our best Authorities on Bees. 



All queries sent In for this department should be briefly 

 stated, and free from any possible ambiguity. The question 

 or questions should be written upon a separate slip of paper, 

 and marked, " For Our Question-Box." 



Question 106.— What is the earliest date at which 

 you regard it safe, usually, to remove your bees from 

 the cellar, in your locality? In answering this ques- 

 tion, make no account of exceptional weather or un- 

 usual circumstances of some seasons. 



Mrs. L. Harrison. 



Dadant & Son. 



Geo. Grimm. 



C. C. Miller. 



H. R. Boardman. 



April 1. 

 March 10 to 20. 

 About April 1st. 

 April 15, or later. 

 1st to 10th of April. 



From the first to the middle of April. 



L. C. Root. 

 I have had too little experience with cellars to 

 name a date. E. E. Hasty. 



From the 15th of April to the 10th of May, accord- 

 ing to the season. G. M. Doohttle. 



We have made it a rule to get them out as soon 

 after the middle of April as possible. 



P. H. Elwood. 



About April 10th; as soon as pollen can be gath- 

 ered. I would make the date later were I to change 

 at all. A. J. Cook. 



In my locality in Iowa, the first gathering of nat- 

 ural pollen varied from April 6th to 25th. This is as 

 good a guide as I know of, when to remove bees 

 from cellar. O. O. Poppleton. 



Take your bees from their special repository, and 

 place them on their summer stands as soon as you 

 find that those which have been left out are gather- 

 ing pollen— not before. James Heddon. 



When I read this question, the first answer that 

 came to me was, "None of your business," and I 



don't know as I care to give any other; but if I 

 don't, then what? Whoever asked that question 

 ought to ask a few more and then quit. "Make no 

 account of exceptional weather," etc. Well, well! 

 the weather is what we go by here, in removing 

 bees from winter quarters. I think Dr. Miller an- 

 swered that question pretty well at Columbus. He 

 said, " About two weeks after the right time." 



Dr. A. B. Mason. 

 I have nothing to add to the above, that 1 

 know of, except that I prefer to have them 

 on their summer stands all winter long. 



Question 107.— If hrood-rearing in the spring can 

 he controlled, would you consider it desirable to have 

 your young bees hatch before the weather is warm 

 enough for them to fly? 



No. Geo. Grimm. 



Some, yes. Dadant & Son. 



I can never get them any too soon. 



Mrs. L. Harrison. 

 I think not; but I don't think my opinion of much 

 value on that point. C. C. Miller. 



I prefer no breeding till the bees are let out of 

 the cellar about the middle of April. A. J. Cook. 



I am ready to take my chances on them after 

 they are hatched; but cold weather before is what 

 troubles me. P. H. Elwood. 



No. I do not think there is much to be gained, as 

 a rule, in having brood-rearing begin to any ex- 

 tent before March 15th. James A. Green. 



I have had the best success in getting a good hon- 

 ey crop in seasons when the colonies were being 

 rapidly strengthened by hatching brood when re- 

 moved from the cellar. Dr. A. B. Mason. 



Never mind trying to control brood-rearing in the 

 spring. Spend your time in a better cause. I do 

 not consider very early spring breeding desirable. 



James Heddon. 



I don't wish to see breeding progress in good 

 earnest until about the middle of March; therefore 

 I leave the entrance wide open, and make no spe- 

 cial use of division-boards until then. 



Chas. F. Muth. 



My bees that were wintered in chaff hives in Iowa 

 would seldom rear brood until the old bees could 

 fly. I can not say from experience whether early 

 brood-rearing is desirable or not; but I think not. 



O. O. Poppleton. 



It is a nice point to decide, as to just how early it 

 is profitable to have brood-rearing begin (that is, if 

 we could control it). I am well satisfied that it does 

 not pay to have it begin any earlier than it will be 

 continued uninterruptedly until the bees are set 

 out. H. R. Boardman. 



Yes, I think it good to have the hive populous 

 with young bees as early as their condition and in- 

 stincts will admit of it, although there are seasons 

 in California favoring early breeding so much that, 

 when a cold snap comes, the cluster contracts 

 enough to allow one-third or the half of the brood 

 to perish. In such a case, less haste would have 

 made more speed. R. Wilkin. 



Yes, provided the bees are in a perfectly healthy 

 and natural condition— and such do sometimes raise 

 considerable early brood with profit to themselves 



