1887 



Ui.EANlNGS TM BEE CULTURE. 



101 



people, that it pays splendidly ; but with a 

 great many, perhaps it does not pay expens- 

 es. Agaiii, no one can tell what a locality 

 will do nntil it has been tested, and this 

 applies both to soil and climate. By read- 

 ing the reports given in every number, you 

 will see that the bee-business pays some peo- 

 ple. We also try to have reports in every 

 number, from those who do not make it 

 pay. In regard to the number of stocks in 

 any one locality, it is rarely profitable to 

 keep more than 100 in a place ; yet very good 

 results have been made from 150 and some- 

 times 200 on one spot. 1 am of the opinion, 

 however, that 50 colonies will gather more 

 honey per colony than will a larger number. 



AN APPEAL TO THE HONEY-BEE. 

 Pretty little busy bee, 

 Don't you make yourselves so free. 

 Raising eane aiuonp your neighbors 

 With your tiny pumps anil sabers; 

 Going into people's iKUises. 

 Cra\vling up the lens nf trousers, 

 Getting your protectors lilamert— 

 I should tliink you'd be ashamed, 

 Stealing sweets from clioiuest fruits- 

 Better stop, you little brutes. 

 Better spend your leisure hours 

 Pumping nectar from the flowers — 

 See what a rumpus you are raising 

 By your everlasting hazing. 

 Now can't you look this matter over 

 And get your ueetar from the clover? 

 There's lots of room in fields and glen- 

 Go there and get your honey, then, 

 And don't be putting on such style- 

 Quit buzzing people all the while, 

 rll try you ]ust another season. 

 And see if you have any reason; 

 But if yoTi've not, I'll not abhor you , 

 But have a little reason for you. 



J. K. Swipes. 



PHENOL .\N effective CUBE FOR FOUL BROOD. 



If you feed your bees in the early spring, to pro- 

 mote breeding, or even if you do not, make candy 

 as per the ABC book; and when making it, add to 

 it the proper proportion (I use 1 in TOO) of phenol, as 

 given by Frank Cheshire. Place the same on top 

 of frames at the proper time, and note the results. 

 In my experience every vestige of the disease will 

 have disappeared unless the colony was too far 

 gone. Please try it, and report for the benefit of 

 others. When I first took up bee-keeping I was 

 very enthusiastic, and wrote considerably for the 

 bee-papers. Well, my friend, let me tell you that, 

 though I have had considerable e.xperience since 

 then, I don't know as much now as I thought I did 

 then; and, though I am learning every day, yet I 

 don't feel so much like rushing off to print it as 

 I did. A Bee-Keeper. 



A PUMPKIN BEE-HIVE. 



We take the following from the Santa 

 Maria (Cal). Times : 



One day this week Mr. Shu man, who resides a few 

 miles west of town on the Guadaloupe road, was 

 gathering his pumpkins. He placed one on the 

 wagon, from which he noticed bees issuing. E.xam- 

 ination revealed the fact that the interior of the 

 pumpkin was full of honey; in fact, it was a verita- 

 ble bee-hive. The bees had gained access through 

 a crack in one side of the vegetable, and had taken 

 up permanent quarters. Mr. Shu man took out 

 eight pounds of tine honey. Is there any other land 

 under the sun where the farmer can raise his own 

 pumpkins and honey on the same vine 'i* 



Perhaps some of our older readers remem- 

 ber this matter is not new, after all. Some 

 years ngo the matter of having bee-hives 

 made from th'^ sugar-trough gourd was dis- 

 cussed. Surplushoii.-^v receptacles were to 

 be made of small g mrds stuck to the side of 

 the larger one. at the proper point. We 

 should then have, not " sugar in a gourd."' 



but honey in a gourd. Probably gourd bee- 

 hives can be produced cheaper than any 

 thing else— that is, if we were going to dis- 

 card movable frames. 



\ COLONY OF BEES IN THE OPEN AIR, WITH THEIR 

 COMBS FASTENED TO GRASS AND WEEDS. 



Inclosed, a dollar you will see. 



For which send Gleaninss here to nu>. 



By experience. I have found 



It is useful, the year around. 



In winter, siiring, and summer too, 



It will tell us what to do. 



It also tells us where to tlnd 



Queens aiul supplies of every kind. 



In the August No. we read a short but interesting 

 account of " How Bees Work in the Open Air in 

 California." It reminds me of the work of a colony 

 in Northern Indiana during the past season. In- 

 stead of building their comb.s to the limb of a tree, 

 they made their house in the tall grass and weeds. 

 The combs were attached to and suspended by only 

 grass and weeds, and the outer ones were built so 

 as to partially protect the inner ones from rain, etc. 

 Of course, this answered very well for summer, but 

 I am afraid they are not provided with very good 

 winter quarters. 



DOES COLOR IN CLOTHING ANGER BEESV 



A few years ago. when I first caught the bee- 

 fever I visited the apiary of a German bee-keeper 

 at Valparaiso, Ind. He had in the yard at the time, 

 90 strong colonies, mostly hybrids, and I thought 

 them about the Grossest bees I had ever met. I 

 had hardly stepped out aiflong them befoi-e they 

 commenced operations on me; and as they went at 

 me in force it is hai'dly necessary to say I retreated. 

 My friend dropped a hint then which I have never 

 seen expressed in a bee-journal; but from experi- 

 ence since, I believe it to be true. He said, " Didn't 

 you know dat bees shust hate black clothes?" He 

 always wears a light-colored suit while working in 

 the apiary, and gets fewer stings in consequence. 



Westville, Ind. E. L. Reynolds. 



G. M. DOOLITTLE, and HOW DOES HE WORK OVER 

 THE HIVES? 



Inclosed find $1M, for which please send Glean- 

 ings for 1887, as I can not get along without it. I 

 like the picture so well in Gleanings, "The Apia- 

 rist at Work," that I can not help asking Mr. Doo- 

 little to send bis picture and a cut of his apiary, 

 with him sitting on his work-bench. Any way, I 

 should like to see 280 lbs. at work. 



Bees have, so far, done well on their summer 

 stands. They are snowed under at present, but I 

 hope they will come out all right. J. V. Mishleh. 



Ligonier, Noble Co., Ind., Jan. 6, 18S7. 



If friend Doolittle will comply, we will 

 have an engra\ing made to satisfy friend 

 M. and others of our readers. 



FROM NORTHWEST MISSOURI. 



I commenced the season with 48 colonies, two of 

 them queenless, •'> or 6 weak, the lest frOm medium 

 to good. I increased to 7.5, and obtained .5600 lbs. of 

 honey— 150 lbs. of which was in sections. I have 

 about 3.50 lbs. on hand yet. The rest is sold nr an 

 average of 10 cents a pound. My bees are well sup- 

 plied with natural stores. I never feed sugar unless 

 ms' bees are short of natural stores. We have a 

 very good country here for bees, and bee-men are 

 scarce. I know of some very good locations in this 

 part, and cheap, compared with most places in the 

 North. L. G. Purvis. 



Forest City, Mo. 



