1887 



GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTURE. 



913 



Next, let us take one more example. We 

 have just received a consij?nment of import- 

 ed queens, from Italy. Having put them 

 into the Peet introducing-cage we next 

 place them in the hives. The slate of the 

 first colony so treated is marked, " Best imp. 

 cgd. 6-18." In other 

 words, on th(* 18th of 

 June we caged an 

 imported queen. Two 

 (l;iys afterward, or on 

 the 20th, she is found 

 in the hive all right, 

 laying, and the slate 

 is marked," Out, 20."' 

 which signifies that the bees have gnawed 

 the comb away from under the cage, and the 

 queen is liberated, or '•out." Again, you 

 will notice the figure 10 marked clear across 

 the slate. As before, this indicates that the 

 queen was sold on the 10th of the next 

 month. If the queen produces nice bees, 

 gentle, and otherwise all right, the slate, in- 

 stead of being placed on the hive-cover as in 

 the former case, is hung back on the nail. 

 This means, that nine days from that date 

 we may expect to cut out the cells from that 

 hive. As a general rule, we prefer to have 

 cells raised in full colonies, so you see the 

 thing works of itself. 



SLATES ON TOP OF THE HIVES. 



Now, a word more in regard to the sig- 

 nificance of the slate on top of the hive. So 

 placed, it always means the hives require 

 immediate attention, or, in general, that 

 something is wanting. For instance, in the 

 daily routine at the apiary it is discovered 

 that fertile workex's have got started in a 

 colony which has a dash of Holy-Land bees 

 among them. For obvious reasons, it is not 

 convenient to give them just such attention 

 as they require at that time. The slate is 

 taken oH the nail and put on top of the hive. 

 Over yonder is a colony that acts very 

 curiously, and ought for a time to be exam- 

 ined quite closely. This slate is also put on 

 the hive. Here, again, we find a colony that 

 has been allowed to build burr-combs on a 

 honey-board or mat. Just at this time we 

 don't happen to have a knife and platter. 

 The hive is hastily closed, and the slate put 

 on top. 



If tliere are very many slates on the hives 

 it indicates that there is plenty of work to 

 be done, and that the colonies thus distin- 

 guished from the others should be carefully 

 watched, that they do not get into mischief. 

 It always makes me feel real good to go out 

 into the apiary in the height of the queen- 

 rearing business, and see few if any slates 

 on top of the hives ; and when every slate 

 is off we congratulate ourselves on being 

 able to keep our apiary in such good shape. 



The ordinary records are made with a 

 common slate-pencil, and it will remain dis- 

 tinct for from a month to six weeks. If we 

 desire it to remain longer, or if the record is 

 an important one, such as that of an im- 

 ported queen, we always use a red lead- 

 pencil, such as can be purchased at any 

 stationery store. These red marks will keep 

 their place on the slate through all kinds of 

 weather for as long a period as even a year. 

 The slate-pencil is used only in keeping a 



record of cell-raising, untested queens, and 

 where it is not necessary to keep the pedi- 

 gree. 



I have shown you only two or three slates 

 representing our method, of keeping records. 

 Or course, w(^ have other facts to record, 

 and other forms of abbreviation. No matter 

 in what condition the hive is found, you can 

 write it down in full if you like, and so the 

 system can be extended indefinitely. 



On page 88(i of this issue will be fomid 

 something further on this snl)ject ; viz., the 

 book versus the slate method of keeping 

 the record of hives. 



Gleanincs in Bee Culture. 



fubllshvd Setni-Monihli/. 



-a-. I. lE^OOT, 

 EDITOR AND PUBLISHER, 



2vIE33IiT.fi., OHIO. 



TERMS: $1.00 PER YEAR, POSTPAID. 



For Clubbing Bates, See First Page of Beading Matter. 



o -» - . 



Then said Jesus unto h'm, Put up again thy sword into his 

 place : for all thej' that take the sword shall perish with the 

 sword.— Matt. 26:52. 



The number of subscribers up to-date is 7691 — a 

 gain of 49. Thanks^ 



HONEY-CANS THAT CAN BE OPENED OR CLOSED 



IN A SECOND. AND YET BE ABSOI.UTELY 



HONEY-TIOHT. 



These new can-tops have finally been received 

 from England; and the best way to explain to yon 

 this very ingenious invention will be to send you 

 a can-top and cover by mail, together with prices 

 of cans in the flat, and cans made up. For the 

 above, postage and all, we shall have to charge 

 about .5 cents. 



SHIPPING HONEY TO COMMISSION MEN, WITHOUT 

 PREVIOUS CORRESPONDENCE. 



We have before had complaints similar to the 

 following: * 



My advertisement in Gleanings is bringing me more comb 

 honey than I can possibly handle in this city, without breakinK 

 the market and shuiKhtering:. Will you kindly warn bee-men 

 not to ship honey to any commission men without previous 

 correspondence, as it is a loss to them and an annoyance to 

 me and others like me who want to do justice to their consign- 

 ors. ARTHUR Toi>i). 



It is very unwise indeed to send anything to a 

 commission man without first writing to him, iind 

 getting his advice and consent. Where circum- 

 stances are very urgent — say where property is 

 perishable, and it can not be kept, it may do; but 

 remember, it is always at your own risk. We once 

 tried shipping a lot of cabbages in this way, and 

 they sold for just enough to pay for freight and 

 cartage— nothing more. 



PRICE LISTS PRINTED AT THIS OFFICE. 



We have justgoften out a 20-page circular and 

 club list of all the leading papers of the I'nited 

 States and Canaua, for C. M. Goodspeed, Thorn Hill. 

 Onondnga Co., N. Y. P>iend G. advertises, also, 

 garden-seeds, poultry, strawberry-plants, and bees. 

 We have also received the manuscript for a 20-page 

 circular of bee-supplies from P. L. Viallon, Bayou 



