mi 



gLeakings In bee cULtIjue. 



(in 



I now store my surplus coiubs, etc., over 



tup; WlNTErUNG-CELriAR. 



My proposed etilargrment will frive ine a large 

 room over both cellar and store-room, for storing 

 these hives of surplus combs, empty hives, orates, 

 sections, and empty barrels and cans. The door in 

 the end of the building enables me to enter with 

 my cart or a wheelbarrow. Access is also had from 

 the e.\tracting-room up a short stairs, in this large 

 room r will store and crate comb honey. The doors 

 and windows fi-om the shop, extracting-room, and 

 large store-room, all look out upon the apiary, so 

 our bees are in view at all times. When we find it 

 pays to put in 2i) or more acres of honey-plants, and 

 keep in one locality 500 swarms of bees, our build- 

 ings will need anothei- enlargement, and it will be a 

 very busy place. 



This is not perfect, but it is good so far as it goes, 

 and as far as bee keeping- is advanced at the pres- 

 ent time. I should like any criticisms you may 

 make. I think you can possibly make suggestions 

 in regard to a planer, saw-tables, etc. The cellar, 

 as shown, will hold 200 hives, put in quite close. 

 Chaff packing is fully as successful with me as cel- 

 lar wintering. .1. H. Makti.n. 



Hartford, N. V. 



In our W(iO(l-working department we have 

 tried to arrange every machine so that as 

 the stuff is finished from one it will be han- 

 dy to the next machine. It is a waste of 

 time to have tlie machinery so arranged 

 that tlie stuff' will have to be moved from 

 one part of the room to the other before 

 completion. Your wood-working room seems 

 to be well arranged, though where the room 

 is small and the number of machines are 

 few it does not make very much difference. 



WHITE AND YELLOW CAPPING OF 

 COMB HONEY. 



THK COLOK OK CAPl'INGS UUE TO THE K1M> OP 

 BEES. 



'R have had a remarkable season heie. Up 

 to June 35 it looked as though we should 

 have no surplus honey, and not even 

 enough to winter on. Bloom was abun- 

 dant in orchard, field, and forest, and yet 

 there appeared to be little secretion of nectar up to 

 the 35th. White clover came out early; and yet, 

 with fleMs whitened by it, no honey came in more 

 than to encourage development of brood. Too 

 much cool wet weather in May, and too much rain 

 in early June, was the cause, doubtless. Since the 

 date named there has been a fine season, and honey 

 of very tine quality from white clover and blue 

 thistle, and chestnut bloom is very abundant also. 



I mentioned last year the yellow capping of comb 

 honey, and soon perceived it to be a trait peculiar 

 to some bees. I am now quite sure of it, notwith- 

 standing the opinions adverse of many to that 

 theory. Some strains of Italians cap without an 

 air-chamber, giving a water color to light honey, 

 others a dull, dingy color. I speak now of natural 

 work, not travel-soiled combs. T remember of see- 

 ing no refei-ence to it In print, and should like to 

 ask about it. In thirty years' experience with bees 

 I never saw this yellow capping till two years ago. 

 [..ast winter, I saw a large lot of j'cUow-capped 

 honey in Washington City, from Pennsylvania. 



My conviction, that it is an inbred trait, comes 

 from observing that some bees always do it and 

 others never, no matter what the sources of honey 

 supply. Such is the evidence. For extracted hon- 

 ey it makes no difference. Can it be possible that 

 bees in the same aj)iary, at the same time, from the 

 same field, would so widely vary the product— one 

 colony all yellow cap and another as white as 

 snow, as a lesult of a different selection of food? 

 I ask the attention of friend Doolittle to this. 



One of the greatest advances made in late years 

 is the invention of the wood-zinc honey-board. 

 Its use simplifies and lightens the manipulation ot 

 comb honey, and I find its use most valuable. 

 AVhoever invented and presented to the public this 

 honey-board deserves the thanks of the fraternity. 



Charlottesville, Va., July 4, 1887. J. W. Pouteh. 



DR. MASON'S WASHING-FLUID. 



HOW IT MAY BE USED FOK REMOVING PROPOLIS 

 FROM THE HANDS ; ITS OTHER USES. 



fRIEND ROOT:— On page 346 you ask Mrs. Ma- 

 son to give her " opinion " in regard to the 

 waslnng-tiuid (the recipe for which is on the 

 above page) injuring clothes, or making 

 them wear out faster. She has used the 

 preparation four or five years, and is satisfied that 

 it does not injure the clothes in washing as direct- 

 ed. Suppose our shirts, sheets, etc., do wear out a 

 week or ten days sooner by using the fluid than 

 they would without its use, it saves much time, 

 and •' wear and tear " of the nerves and muscles of 

 those who do the washing. If the fluid were worth 

 nothing for washing clothes, it certainly is very 

 valuable for removing propolis from the hands, 

 and I believe that lady bee keepers, professional 

 men, teachers and others, who wish to have clean 

 hands will be thankful for the recipe, if they once 

 try it. I have improved some in the use of the 

 fluid since I gave the description on the above- 

 named page. I fill a pint bottle about a third full 

 of it, and then fill up with water, and have the bot- 

 tle near the wash-dish; and when I want to remove 

 the propolis from my hands I pour a little in the 

 wash-dish and wash with it. I also have a bottle of 

 honey vinegar by the bottle of fluid; and as soon as 

 the propolis is washed off, pour a little vinegar in 

 one hand and wash with it; then rinse with water. 



You say, " Now, are you sure the potash and bo- 

 rax make it any more effective'/ " Yes, sir; I am, for 

 I have tried both. 



Last week I found a new use for it. I have a Given 

 press for making foundation, and have used a 

 strong solution of concentrated lye to prevent 

 sticking. When wanted last week, the lye solution 

 was missing, and I thought perhaps the washing- 

 fluid would do. I tried it as i)repared for the hands, 

 and it worked very nicely— better than the lye solu- 

 tion, and it does not injure the brush so much, and 

 the foundation is not slii)pery to the hands. I like 

 it better when it is about half washing-fluid and 

 half water. I have used it several times this week 

 with perfect satisfaction. 



On page 381 of Gleanings for May 15, Mr. Dil- 

 worth speaks a good word for Basilicon ointment; 

 and although you (and myself also) " don't believe 

 much in medicines," I believe it is one of the best 

 medicines, where such is needed, that 1 know of, 

 and "should be in ever.v house." Most bee-keepers 



