926 



GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTURE 



Beekeeping in the Southwest 



SCARING FOR EMPTY EXTRACTING 

 COMBS IN THE SOUTH. 

 One of the problems with the 

 beekeepers in the South is that of 

 eombatinf;: the ravages of the moth 

 I larvae, which, if not carefully 



watched, may mean damaging re- 

 sults to the amount of many dollars in a very 

 short time. They are the most serious ene- 

 mies to empty eom.bs; and even if they be 

 left unprotected for only a few days their 

 inroads may ruin the best of combs in short 

 order. 



Occasionally it becomes necessary to 

 stack the supers containing the freshly ex- 

 tracted combs up near the honey-house be- 

 fore returning them to the outyards. Some- 

 times they remain here more than a week, 

 and even longer if unfavorable weather and 

 other circumstances delay the work. It is 

 during these periods that the gi'eater dan- 

 ger Jrom their depredation lies. We have 

 experienced some losses ourselves, as well 

 as having seen some of the disastrous re- 

 sults of their work to other beekeepers. 



Our remedy now, when we have a large 

 number of these supers stacked up, is to 

 set four stacks of them in a block, close 

 together, about eight to ten feet high. On 

 top of the stack, by means of a step-ladder, 

 we set an empty shallow super into which 

 we place two of the cheap heavy paper 

 picnic plates, and pour into them a quanti- 

 ty of bisulphide of carbon, or " high life." 

 Then we lay a hive-cover on top of each 

 stack of supers, letting them fit as closely 

 as possible, and over the whole block of the 

 four stacks we then place snugly a large 

 hea'vy duck wagon-sheet or tarpaulin. This 

 reaches nearly to the bottom of the stacks 

 if the supers ai'e piled very high; but we 

 have found the work of the gas just as 

 effective as when the supers are entirely 

 covered. The propolis and Avax on the edges 

 of the supers, with the addition of the 

 weight of the supers themselves, tend to 

 seal the hive intersections completely enough 

 so that it is not necessar^'^ to paste paper 

 over these as has been often suggested. Our 

 idea of treating these supers is to accom- 

 plish the results with as little labor and 

 expense as po3.sible. and we have found the 

 method quite satisfactors'. The additional 

 ])rotection of the tarpaulin prevents the air 

 drafts from disturbing the gas fumes with- 

 in. 



SELLING A LARGE CROP OP HONEY. 



" Producing a crop of honey is one thing, 

 but selling it is quite another thing," is an 

 old sajang that has been often repeated. 

 We have many good beekeepers who are 

 very poor sellers; and unless somebody else 

 sold their honey for them they would have 

 to go out of the producing business. 



OUR NEW STATE ENTOMOLOGIST. 



The beekeepers of Texas are well aware 

 that I have always been deeply interested 

 in the welfare of our worthy industry. Be- 

 cause of this interest I was prompted to 

 urge the co-operation of the Texas beekeep- 

 ers in the Sept. 15th issue of Gleanings, 

 in tlie foul-brood-eradication work in this 

 state. 



Since this article appeared I have received 

 a very encouraging letter from Director 

 Bonnie Youngblood, of the Texas Experi- 

 ment Station, assuring us his full support 

 in the work, and the proper expenditure of 

 the appropriation we were so fortunate as 

 to get. Also Prof. F. B. Paddock, our new 

 State Entomologist, has emphasized my 

 recent request for co-operation in a letter 

 which follows : 



Hon. Louis H. SchoU : — More than likely you are 

 aware by this time of the appointment of Director 

 Youngblood in regard to Mr. Newell's successor as 

 State Entomologist. In that capacity I am writing 

 you at this time to thank you for the article which 

 appeared in the Sept. 15th issue of Gleanings. 

 You have said much of solid triith in that article. 



Director Youngblood and myself are very anxious 

 that tlie beekeepers of the state should get the 

 benefits of the foul-brood law and the appropriations 

 made to support it, both of which have been secured 

 very largely through their efforts and interest. Per- 

 sonally I feel it my duty to give the beekeepers 

 everything possible under the conditions. You are 

 well aware of the fact that we cannot properly con- 

 duct the foul-brood-eradication work without the 

 co-operation of the beekeepers of the state. We hope 

 that every beekeeper will follow your suggestions 

 to work hand in hand with the State Entomologist, 

 for, as you say, in this way only can great good 

 come from the work which is now started. We also 

 hope that the beekeepers will correspond with this 

 office in regard to foul-brood-eradication work and 

 the beekeeping problems of the state. Truly we 

 have the chance of a lifetime to do some good work 

 along this line. I certainly trust that the beekeep- 

 ers will feel satisfied with the results which we hope 

 to obtain in the foul-brood-eradication work in the 

 ne.xt two years with a liberal appropriation. I shall 

 ask your hearty co-operation with this office in the 

 work which we are trying to do. By working to- 

 gether we can accomplish much more than by work- 

 ing apart. I certainly trust that your services will 

 1)0 extended to this office in the future as they were 

 in the past. 



F. B. Paddock, 

 State Entomologist. 



College Station, Tex., Oct. 15. 



