848 



GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTURE. 



Nov. 



exceptions among' Australian mammals. These two 

 are oviparous. In these animals the eggs hatch 

 within the mother, and furnish but a very small 

 part of the nourishment for the embryo, or pre- 

 natal animal. In this case a curious and very vas- 

 cular organ brings the blood of the mother and foe- 

 tus, or jet unborn, in close contact, and thus the 

 foetus gets blood, oxygen, and whatever is necessa- 

 ry to its growth and development. Thus we can 

 say in truth that all insects, vertebrates, and many 

 other animals, come from eggs. A. J. Cook. 



Agricultural College, Mich. 



My good friends, I am exceedingly obliged 

 to both of you. Our good friend Anna 

 Quillin explains what 1 have alluded to on 

 another page in regard to the green rly ; but 

 I confess that I was never aware that they 

 multiplied at such an enormous rate. Why, 

 it is almost fearful to contemplate. Your 

 explanation gives us a glimpse of the won- 

 derful intricacy and complexity of your 

 chosen line of work — entomology. If I ever 

 had an inclination to think that I knew 

 pretty much all there is to be known in that 

 branch of science, your answer has 

 thoroughly cured me, and it makes me feel 

 like taking a very low and humble seat 

 while I repeat the words of the Psalmist, 

 " How manifold are thy works, O Lord ! in 

 wisdom hast thou made them all. 1 ' 



THE COST OF MOVING BEES. 



THE RAMBLER REPLIES TO DOOLITTLE, ON PAGE 

 666. 



fHE Rambler read Bro. Doolittle's article in 

 Gleanings for Aug. 15, p. 666, on the cost of 

 moving bees, and was placidly happy to see 

 Dr. Mason get punched in such fine style. 

 " Why, yes," said we; " what a preposterous 

 idea for a doctor to advance!" No wonder he is 

 baldbeaded. We wonder if he runs loose, and 

 boards in a schoolhouse, as the boys say. Well, we 

 smiled along down the column until the Rambler 

 was hit. We " riz right up," shook our fist in the 

 air, and, said we, " It's an outrageous imputation. 

 We never said we could prepare a swarm, load it, 

 go five miles, unload, unprepare it, all in four min- 

 utes. What does Doolittle take us for— a telegraph, 

 a telephone, or a streak of greased lightning?" 



After this effervescence we calmed down, and 

 finally grasped the situation. We immediately 

 leaned back in our chair, put our feet on top of the 

 bureau, and went into a clairvoyant condition, and 

 saw Bro. D. prepare a swarm lor moving. First he 

 got a milking-stool and calmly sat down by the side 

 of a bee-hive; then that little ornamental pile of 

 stones was carefully laid on a newspaper (wonder 

 if he keeps them varnished); shade-board, cover, 

 quilt, and several other fixings were also carefully 

 removed; then each frame secured, ventilation 

 provided, entrance closed, etc., then the milking- 

 stool and man were transferred to the next hive for 

 another half-hours' work, 25 cts. an hour. No, sir, 

 we wouldn't work that way for $1.00 an hour. If 

 we did our hair would all come out, and we should 

 be as baldheaded as Dr. Mason. 



Now, to get a colony ready real quick, use a clos- 

 ed-end frame. The Rambler uses such a hive. It 

 is provided with a stand that can be used as a ven- 

 tilating-rim for wintering- or moving bees. Put on 



the veil, take a smoker, an extra bottom-board and 

 rim, approach the hive, lay the bottom-boaid on 

 the ground, upper side down, place the rim upon it. 

 This closes the entrance. Place the hive carefully 

 upon the rim; pass a strong cord— several having 

 previously been tied in the form of a loop— around 

 the hive; take a few twists in it, with a stout stick, 

 and the job is done, and quicker than we have 

 been writing it. We then take up the bottom-board 

 and rim that have just been vacated, and proceed 

 to the next hive. We can fix a hive in this way in 

 the spring in two minutes; but if prepared in the 

 swarming season it would take longer; but even 

 then the work could be so systematized as to be 

 done rapidly. 



Now, in answer to Bro. D.'s 25-cent-per-hour 

 query, I would say yes. I will work for 25 cenls per 

 hour in any bee-yard in the country, for one, two, 

 or three months; 25 cents per hour for each day of 

 10 hours means $65 per month. But the bee-keeper 

 making a specialty of the business must reckon his 

 pay so as to cover the entire year. At 25 cents per 

 hour it would amount to nearly $800. Now, I wish 

 to ask how many bee-keepers having 200 colonies, 

 and making a specialty of honey production. Lave, 

 during the past five years, averaged $800 per yi ar. 



The Rambler's experience has been somewhat 

 varied. One year in the five has been an $800 year, 

 while the rest have been nearer $200; the average 

 has been nearly $400, or Y2 l / 2 cents per hour. 



The study and close attention I have put upon the 

 business has but little bearing upon the wages. 

 My knowledge of bee-literature, anatomy, and bot- 

 any in all their relations to honey production will 

 not enable me to get a greater yield of honey than 

 is obtained by the illiterate man who has learned to 

 manipulate his colonies to advantage. 



We think Bro. D. makes the mistake of ranking 

 bee-keeping as a profession. The professional man 

 knows every morning when the clock strikes the 

 hour for his labors to commence, just the routine 

 to be followed; his pay is assured, so much per 

 year. His study and preparation have been with 

 the knowledge that he is to occupy just such a po- 

 sition all the year round. If the institution fails, 

 be is sure to find a position in another. 



If the professional man is a doctor, and he is 

 skillful, he is sure of good paying patients wher- 

 ever he may locate. 



To be ranked as a profession, bee-keeping must 

 get beyond the many uncertainties that surround 

 it; and while I am a bee-keeper, I must be control- 

 led in the matter of wages by the pay I would re- 

 ceive by laboring for those who surround me, and 

 we will guarantee that 75 per cent of the bee-keep- 

 ers of to-day are drawn from the ranks of the 

 farmers; and should they give up their pursuit, 

 they would drop back into those ranks, accepting 

 the pay of a farm hand, or tilling their own farm, 

 as they might be favored by fortune. Even at 

 present the Rambler knows many bee-keepers who, 

 after the busy season is passed, hire out as farm 

 hands at $1.00 per day, and are glad to do it; and if 

 the seasons continue as they have for the past few 

 years, many not having the education for other 

 pursuits will have to resort to sawing wood, carry- 

 ing the hod, or feeding pigs. 



We think Bro. D. and a few others are putting 

 the business of bee culture upon stilts, too high for 

 it. It will not bear this elevation. The great mass 

 of honey-producers have to work hard for small 



