GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTURE 



present low price of cotton, which too many 

 have been engaged in raising, instead of in 

 giving more attention to food and feed 

 crops, and orchards with hives scattered 

 among them. 



But the people see their mistake, and are 

 casting about for something to add to the 

 income on the farm. With the attention 

 now being given by the United States De- 

 partment of Agriculture, and all up-to-date 

 farm joapers, to both the honeybees and to 

 sweet clover, we expect these to come into 

 their own here and elsewhere. 



Few places, I think, have more bees than 

 this, considering the amount of modern 

 equipment to be found here. There are 

 hundreds of colonies in gums and boxes. 



Our location is on the edge of the sandy 

 counti'y, so we should get the benefit of 

 both sides. Our greatest discouragement 

 has been the drouths of recent years. Usu- 

 ally the bees can start brood-rearing very 

 early, the alders along the marshy branches 

 furnishing pollen the first of February. 

 The maples soon come into bloom, giving 

 pollen and honey, then fruit-bloom comes 

 in March ; following this the black-gum and 

 holly bloom, which yield nectar freely if 

 weather is right — damp and warm; but, of 

 course, we expect weather conditions to in- 

 terfere with the bees' work so that we get 

 only a part of the benefit of these different 

 sources. 



It seems that the greatest need is some- 

 thing to furnish a good flow during mid- 

 summer, when we get the fine honey. I am 

 not thoroughly acquainted with every thing 

 upon which the bees depend, but I know 

 cotton here is very uncertain, although ex- 

 tensively cultivated. It will be greatly re- 

 duced in acreage hereafter, and we are not 

 sorry, as it is also a scant yielder with us. 

 We have kept bees four years, and had all 

 to learn ; hence getting experience has cost 

 us something. But we have always won 

 some profit above yearly expenses, besides 

 having honey for the home table. This alone 

 is compensation for the work with bees. 

 What kind of beekeeper would one be if 

 he were not a honey-eater? 



I also won both first premiums last year 

 at our county fair for best comb and ex- 

 tracted honey. Besides, I may mention, but 

 will not attempt to describe, the pleasures 

 of beekeeping. 



Recent articles in Gleanings on new 

 principles in hive methods, etc., have been 

 interesting reading, as we have been think- 

 ing of the possibilities of a larger hive; but 

 the wiiitciing jiroblem is no argument with 



US. 



Oui' len-fianie hives we lliink are hard 



to beat. We use supers the same depth, all 

 frames alike. We put full sheets of light 

 brood foundation in these by the melted-wax 

 one-fourth-rosin method. This does not fill 

 the frame ; but with proper management we 

 get good combs joined all around, with not 

 too much drone comb. 



T am convinced the drones ai'e of much 

 more value than they are usually credited 

 with, for this reason : We select males in 

 improving anything else, and get the desired 

 results, giving a large share of the honors 

 to them ; but with either good or bad results 

 from queens, the drones, or male bees, are 

 forgotten usually. Should we not at least 

 divide the honors with them? 



For fastening in foundation I use a china 

 cream-pitcher, and think nothing is better 

 than one holding about a pint. We set this 

 on a warm stove with a paper-covered table 

 near, having on it a pile of frames and 

 some empty hive-bodies to receive frames 

 when filled with foundation. 



Taking a sheet of foundation I place it in 

 the center of the top-bar of the frame which 

 is held bottom upward with the further end 

 highest, so the stream of melted wax will 

 run freely along the edge of the foundation, 

 fastening it to the bar. I then change the 

 ends of the frame and wax the other side of 

 the foundation the same way. These frames 

 are not wired, and do not need to be. I 

 work all best combs into brood-chambers. 



Valliant, Okla. 



BY GRACE ALLEN 



Brave? Who's brave? Have you heard of Huber, 

 Brave blind Huter, there among his bees, 



Delving in their mysteries, searching out their secrets. 

 Seeing countless hidden things that only spirit sees ? 



"Blind? What's 'blind'?" cried the young stricken 

 Huber. 



" Nevermore to seel" moaned his fast-failing sight. 

 "Always I shall seel" answered Francois Huber, 



" Never, oh 1 never, need a soul lose its sight I " 



He wedded with Love; Devotion was his servant; 



These two looked and told him what they saw, 

 Offered him facts, and Huber's clear vision 



Gave back truth, gave back law. 



Blind? Who's blind? Not a man like Huber 1 

 Soul looking forth through its own white light; 



Uive vis, O God, men as clear-eyed as Huber, 

 With vision as sure as this blind man's sight! 



