276 



GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTURE 



seerets and actions of bees was wonderful. 

 Nothing was too minute to receive his con- 

 sideration. His analysis of observed con- 

 ditions and reasoning back from them to 

 the causes has not been surpassed. 



But evei-y thing was done with one end 

 in view — efHciency in his work. Simplicity 

 of apparatus was his constant effort, and 

 in his writings we find frequent reference 

 to costs and profits. 



He was making money from his bees 

 while most of the rest of the beekeeping 

 world was trying to learn how to retain any 

 bees at all. The wax-moth was the bane of 

 their existence, while to him it was merely 

 an incentive to keep all stocks strong and to 

 do better beekeeping. The moth was to him 

 an annoyance rather than a menace. 



It was not until he had been keeping bees 

 for many years that he had any other 

 smoking-device than the pan of burning 

 tinder on the roll of smoking rags, and then 

 he devised the tube " pipe," later described 

 and illustrated by Alley. This device was 

 a tin tube five to six inches long and half 

 an inch or more in diameter, with a conical 

 wooden plug in one end and a pipestem- 

 shaped plug in the other, both with a hole 

 lengthwise through them. This was filled 

 with tobacco, and held in the teeth when at 

 work, the breath being blown out through 

 it instead of drawn in. 



It was years later when he invented the 

 bellows smoker which is now such a neces- 

 sity to all of us. 



A bee-veil he knew nothing of until about 

 1858, previously using a handkerchief over 

 the back of his head and neck when bees 

 were particularly troublesome. At that 

 time he learned of the wire-cloth protection 

 described by Langstroth, and from it 

 evolved the style now sold under the name 

 of " Alexander," but later Mr. Quinby im- 

 proved it greatly. 



American foul brood he encountered 

 about 1833. He traced its spread to infect- 

 ed honey, and originated the "driving" plan 

 of treatment, of late years called the " Mc- 

 Evoy " or " shake-off " plan, but really 

 Quinby's. Also he speaks of Italians re- 

 sisting the disease better than blacks. 



Quinby was observing, analytical, and 

 resourceful, somewhat impatient with the 

 baseless whims and practices of others; but 

 this attitude was tempered by a kind heart, 

 and with a quiet sense of humor which 

 constantly ci'ops out in his writings. 



Here are a few of Ihe very many good 

 things he has said, picked at random here 

 and there, to illustrate his views, the diffi- 

 culties he labored under, and the way he 

 surmounted them. 



He suggested the use of tobacco smoke in 

 the cellar to quiet uneasy bees when taking 

 them out. 



As a pollen substitute, he used rye and 

 buclvwheat meal or flour mixed with saw- 

 dust, and fed on a floor a few feet square 

 with a rim around it, and put on only a 

 few quarts of flour. Those of us experi- 

 enced in using pollen substitutes will at 

 once see the reasons for and the soundness 

 of his instructions. 



Of buying bees he said, " The heaviest 

 hives are not often the best." In writing 

 of preparing bees for winter he says: 



There is almost as much diversity of opinion with 

 respect to wintering bees as in the construction of 

 hives, and about as difficult to reconcile. 



Excessively large colonies are unprofitable, as well 

 as too small. Avoid extremes. 



Also: 



A first-rate stock may be wintered with very little 

 care in almost any situation ; but those of second 

 and third rate require some special attention. 



That is a fact worth remembering when 

 we are considering winter cases, etc. 



His methods of fi'eeing supers of bees 

 were almost identical with those used by Dr. 

 Miller. They must be good when two such 

 men use thera in commercial work. In the 

 days of box hives he writes: 



But what kind of hive shall be made? In answer 

 some less than a thousand forms have been given. 

 The advantages of beekeeping depend as much upon 

 the construction of hives as any one thing; yet there 

 is no subject pertaining to them on which there is 

 such a variety of opinions, and I have but little 

 hopes of reconciling all these conflicting views, opin- 

 ions, prejudices, and interests. 



Of the cost and value of combs he says: 



One important item should be considered in this 

 matter by those who are so eager for new combs. 

 It is doubtful whether one in 500 ever thought of 

 the expense of renewing comb. I find it estimated 

 by one writer that twenty-five pounds of honey was 

 consumed in elaborating about half a pound of wax. 

 This, without doubt, is an overestimate, but no one 

 will deny that some is used. I am satisfied of this 

 much, from actual experience, that every time the 

 bees have to renew their brood-combs in a hive they 

 would make from fen to twenty-five pounds in boxes ; 

 hence I infer that their time can be more profitably 

 employed than in constructing brood-combs every 

 year. 



Non-swarming hives he placed no reliance 

 in, for he says: 



Further, these non-swarmers are not always to be 

 depended upon as such. They will sometimes throw 

 off swarms when there is abundant room in the 

 hive as well as in the boxes. 



But if such hive is only half full, or 2000 inches, 

 it is very comniim for them to swarm without adding 

 any new comb — proving very conclusively that a 

 hive that size is sufficient for all their wants in the 

 breeding season. When about 1200 inches only had 

 been filled the first year, I have known them to add 

 combs until they had filled about 1800, and then cast 

 a swarm, proving also that a little less than 2000 

 will do for breeding. 



Eighteen hundred cubic inches is close to 

 the comb content of ten L. combs. 



