1889 



GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTURE. 



861 



colony, and the bees went from the sections into the 

 stronger hive. Why I did so was because I wanted 

 to strengthen the colony. I do not dread removing 

 sections from hives. Try my way of separating 

 bees from filled sections. C. J. Robinson. 



Richfield, N. Y., Sept. 20, 1889. 



I believe, friend R., that all you mention 

 has been many times mentioned in our 

 journals, and the plan of setting the super 

 near the entrance over night is in common 

 use, at least to a considerable extent. But 

 your idea of strengthening weak colonies 

 with bees from sections of honey is, so far 

 as I recollect, new. Although we are not 

 so likely to have weak colonies when we are 

 taking off section honey, it sometimes hap- 

 pens that we want to strengthen nuclei ; 

 aud bees coming into the hive or nucleus 

 from a crate of section honey would be pret- 

 ty sure to be well received. 



JAPANESE BUCKWHEAT IN FLORIDA. 



The Japanese buckwheat I got from you last 

 April gave me such satisfaction that I should like 

 now to get some cabbage seed for winter growing 

 here. We are now sowing the seeds for our winter 

 vegetables. I have the fourth crop from the buck- 

 wheat got in April, now in bloom. It has planted 

 fully an acre the fourth time. It has done re- 

 markably well, and every one who 6ees it admires 

 it, as it is quite a new thing in this section. 



C. K. Macquanie. 



De Fuuiak Springs, Pla., Sept. 29, 1889. 



DOES COPULATION OF BEES TAKE PLACE IN THE 

 AIR OR ON THE GROUND ? 



Gleanings for Oct. is at hand. I see that Prof. 

 Cook has some doubts in regard to the bumble-bees 

 mating when they were on the ground, instead of 

 mating while in the air. I am positive that copula- 

 tion had not taken place when I first saw them, and 

 that it was accomplished while on the ground. If 

 the queen bumble-bee can not sustain the weight 

 of the drone while on the wing.it is quite certain 

 that the queens of our honey-bees can not, as the 

 drone bumble-bee is considerably smaller than the 

 queen, while the drones of our honey-bees are as 

 large, or larger, than the queens. 



C. M. Woolver. 



Richfield Spa, N. Y., Oct. 7, 1889. ' 



THE BOY BEE-KEEPER AND THE CHURCH HIVE. 



These labels are for my little 12-year-old boy, who 

 has an apiary of 14 swarms of bees of his own. 

 They are kept by his uncle, M. M. Rice (the man 

 who took you down to Mr. Dexter's, in his buggy, 

 when you were here). If you remember, when 

 you were at my place you climbed on top of a hon- 

 ey-barrel with your Kodak, and took a view of my 

 apiary; and when you got down you went and pull- 

 ed some grass away from a church bee-hive (as we 

 call it), to also take that with your Kodak. I told 

 you then it belonged to the boy. I wish he could 

 see the picture of it, as you took it then. He often 

 speaks about it, and asks me to ask you about it 

 when I write. B. E. Rice. 



BoBcobe), Wis.. Sept. 30, 1889. 



I remember quite well, friend R., taking a 

 picture of the church hive with the Kodak. 

 I had forgotten, however, that it belonged 

 to the boy. We have the view of the hive ; 

 and as it belongs to one of the boy bee- 

 keepers I think we shall have to have a pic- 



ture made. Tell my young friend to be pa- 

 tient. It will probably make its appear- 

 ance by and by. I shall always remember 

 you all with a feeling of gratitude for mak- 

 ing my short visit so pleasant — especially 

 M. M. Rice, who so kindly placed his 

 horses and buggy at my disposal, that I 

 might make the most of the half-hour I had 

 to stay. 



WHAT MAKES THE BEES DIE ? 



This is the third September I have been here, and 

 our bees begin dying about Sept. 10th, but from 

 what cause I can't tell. I asked, a year ago, one of 

 our best bee-men. He told me it was only the old 

 bees dying; but I can't see it so, as I find about as 

 many young bees as old ones. They act as if they 

 were stung. Last September my bees were in good 

 condition. There were some eight stories, full of 

 bees. When cold weather came they could cover 

 only four Langstroth frames. At this writing they 

 are dying very fast. I find plenty of sealed and un- 

 sealed brood. They now work on steelweed and 

 goldenrod, which yield honey well. Our steelweed 

 is one of the best honey-plants I ever saw. It 

 blooms from September 10th till frost kills it. It 

 takes a hard freeze to kill it. Common frost makes 

 it better for honey. F. H. Cowden. 



Morristown, Tenn., Sept. 22. ls.sii. 



From your description I should infer the 

 trouble was caused by something the bees 

 had got hold of. Is it not possible that 

 Paris green or London purple has been 

 used in some manner, and that you have 

 let your bees get hold of it ? 



^EP0TO ENceai^iGiNG. 



FROM 5 TO 20, AND 1142 LBS. OF COMB HONEY, AND 

 HIVES WELL SUPPLIED FOR WINTER. 



I have a very good yield of honey to report. I 

 started with 5 colonies of Italians last spring in 

 Simplicity hives. They have increased to 20 colonies. 

 I have taken off 1142 lbs. of surplus honey, mostly 

 in 1-lb sections, and the hives are all full in the low- 

 er stories, with the exception of one. 



Earlville, 111., Oct. 1, 1889. L. A. Judd. 



$1115 AS THE GROSS PROCEEDS FROM THE BEES. 



I guess you will have to put me in among the 

 Reports Encouraging. My report for this year is as 

 follows: Commenced with 119 swarms; increased to 

 158 (should have had more if I had not doubled up). 

 I bought an apiary of 53 swarms, not far from mine, 

 just as they stood, with surplus honey, for $159. 

 Honey was all sold from both yards, amounting to 

 $915. I have sold 50 swarms without the surplus 

 honey, for $200. C. A. Sayre. 



Sargent, la., Oct. 16, 1889. 



A PREMIUM ON EVERY THING. 



We got the premium on all the articles we took 

 to the fair— 8 in all— comb honey, extracted honey, 

 best display of honey, honey pickles, honey cake, 

 honey vinegar, Japanese buckwheat, and a fat girl 

 baby. How is that? 



REPORT. 



My honey crop this season was 1800 lbs. comb in 

 4*4 sections, and 700 lbs. extracted. It was about 

 all gathered from the 15th of August to the 15th of 

 September, and is of a fine quality, aud is selling at 



