1889 



GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTUHE. 



:;;»!» 



DR. MASON STANDS UP AND EX- 

 PLAINS. 



CAREFUL STATISTICS ON THE AVERAGE CONSUMP- 

 TION OF STORES DURING WINTER. 



'ELL, friend Root, 1 don't understand why 

 you should single me out, and "order me 

 around " as you have on page 61, where 

 you say, " Doctor, stand up and tell us 

 what you mean by such a statement as 

 that." And you are reminded "of the man who 

 brought home two stoves," etc. I can't see the re- 

 lation my statement has to " two stoves." Perhaps 

 it was pretty cold weather when you were bossing 

 me around, or my statement may have had a cool- 

 ing effect upon you. At any rate, I don't see why I 

 should be ordered to explain. 



Prof. Cook reports the average consumption of 

 stores by his bees at less than mine, and then, as 

 usual, you come out ahead, for you say, " Come to 

 think of it, T have done even better than that." 

 Perhaps I have done better than you ; but -as you 

 don't tell just how much " a very small amount " is, 

 you have a chance to come out ahead yet. 1 too 

 "have seen a weak colony consume only a very 

 small amount of stores during winter," and not be 

 profitable during the following season. I have also 

 had a fair colony consume but 3^4 pounds in win- 

 tering, and be a right royal one the next season, 

 making as good returns as any. I have also had a 

 good colony consume 20 pounds in the cellar, and 

 starve to death before it came time to set them out 

 in the spring. 1 am not the only one who gives two 

 weights as the average consumption of stores, and 

 just notice the difference ! 



H. R Boardman, 25 to 30 lbs., indoors. 



Mrs. L. Harrison, 9 to 10 lbs., in cellar. 

 " " " 18 to 20 lbs., outdoors. 



Dr. Miller, 20 lbs., in cellar; dead bees included. 



Geo. Grimm, 15 to 20 lbs., in cellar. 



C. P. Muth, 15 to 25 lbs., outdoors. 



Mr. Elwood, 12 to 14 lbs., in cellar. 



James A. Green, 18 lbs., outdoors. 



G. M. Doolittle, 14 lbs., outdoors; 10 lbs., in cellar. 



Prof. Cook, 7 lbs., in cellar; 14 lbs., outdoors. 



James Heddon, 20 lbs., outdoors; 10 lbs., indoors. 



A. B. Mason, 6 to 11 lbs., in cellar. 



Muth, Green, Doolittle, Cook, and Heddon, out- 

 doors? And Dr. Miller's colonies consumed as 

 much or more in the cellar than did those of the 

 others outdoors; for if Mr. Muth's figures were re- 

 duced to one number it would be 20 lbs., outdoors. 



I believe Mr. Boardman knew just what he was 

 saying when he said from 25 to 30 lbs., and I've been 

 wondering if the others were not guessing. 



Undoubtedly Mr. Boardman answered the question, 

 from October to May. My answer was for the time 

 the colonies were in the cellar, and I presume Prof. 

 Cook's was also, as may have been some of the 

 others. The question (102), asked in brief, is, 

 " What is your average consumption of stores per 

 colony from October to May r State whether for 

 outdoor or cellar." 



Messrs. Boardman, Green, and Muth, take less 

 than a line to answer the question, and Messrs. L. C. 

 Root, Dadant & Son, Grimm, and myself, take a 

 line; Mr. Doolittle, a little over a line; Mrs. Harri- 

 son nearly two lines, and so on up; Mr. Heddon oc- 

 cupies eight lines. Now, friend Heddon, if this 

 meets your vigilant eye, please just keep still, for 

 I've got trouble enough on hand now, and don't 

 want you to get after me; and if you will let me 

 alone I'll give Rambler a blackboard exercise 

 next spring on the "Pollen Theory" (if I feel like 

 it). And, friend Root, if you won't let any one 

 "pitch into me" after all this rambling, I'll tell you 

 what I meant by my answer. It is this: Some win- 

 ters the average consumption of stores by my colo- 

 nies, while in the cellar, has been as low as 6 lbs., 

 and sometimes as high as 11 lbs., and all the way 

 between; but seldom over 9 lbs., and usually less 

 than 8. Now, perhaps some "smart Elick" will 

 want to know how I know what my colonies have 

 done, and, just as likely as not, I may have so trod- 

 den on your toes, Mr. Editor, as to set you to asking 

 me some foolish questions, and ordering me around 

 some more, but I'll just take the snap out of you 

 by answering, before any of you ask, by giving you 

 a sample sheet of my book-keeping; and let me say 

 it is no small job to keep such a record; but "it is 

 lots of fun," and comes right handy when such 

 questions are asked, and "Ramblers" are to be 

 educated. Remember, friend Root, I am to be let 

 alone. Here is the sample. 



Now, all the above names, except the last one, are 

 among those of our most reliable bee-keepers. I 

 can't imagine why you should question the truth- 

 fulness of my statement. Prof. Cook's average is 

 less than mine. Why not ask him to " stand up" 

 and explain? My average would be 8i4 lbs.; and 

 Mrs. Harrison, Mr. Doolittle, and Mr. Heddon give 

 only \y 2 lbs. more than I do, as their average. 



If indoor wintering is such a saving, why not ask 

 Mr. Boardman to " stand up" and explain how it 

 comes that his colonies indoors consume more 

 stores than do those of Mrs. Harrison, Messrs. 



Average No. of frames per colony 7% 



Average No. of pounds of bees 3 1 - 



Average No. of pounds of stores Oct. 10 '.i', 



Average No. of pounds of stores led Oct. 7. 8, y 6 



Average No. of pounds of stores there should be Oct. 10 '.'"'i 



Average No. of pounds of stores there was Oct. 10 l'.'\ 



Average No. of pounds of stores Nov. 13 17 



Average No. of pounds !.»st in feeding 1)4 



A\ erage No. of pounds los( from Oct. 10 to Nov. 13 \% 



Average No. of pounds of stoics lost in wintering 8 



Average loss of bees in \\ intering 2 oz. 



I don't give this as a model way of keeping track 

 of wintering, but as my way, and to show that I 

 knew just what I was talking about when I gave my 

 answer. There is one item more that I wish I had 

 kept, and that is the gain in bees in each colony 



