Fkbri'Arv. 1919 



GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTURE 



FROM NORTH, EAST, WEST AND SOUTH 



of confidence bv the directors and elected 

 for another year. Appreciation was ex- 

 ])ressed to Louis H. Sclioll as editor of the 

 Beekoejiors' Item for his efforts for the bee- 

 koeiiing industry of the State. Considera- 

 ble additional stock in the association was 

 subscribed by those at the meeting. The 

 entire three days of meetings were filled 

 with profitable exchanges of ideas and con- 

 struction plans. Those who attended were 

 convinced that the programs were the best 

 that have ever been held. 



Several of the large beekeepers in west 

 Texas who lost so heavily last year are now 

 trying to buy bees to fill their empty fix- 

 tures. Some of the parties are interested 

 in the purchase of box hives- It is' to be 

 regretted that a large number of the box- 

 hive bees can not be transferred to modern 

 hives, but the owners of the box hives are 

 always very reluctant to dispose of their 

 holdings. 



The mild treatment of American foul 

 brood is certainly not safe in Texas. The 

 most drastic measures are not more than 

 equal to the task. Every effort is being 

 made to discourage treatment, as the experi- 

 ence of the best beekeepers has shown posi- 

 tively that utter destruction is the real 

 saving. 



There will be considerable competition 

 this year between the Texas beekeej^ers and 

 the northern buyers of package bees. The 

 losses in the State are going to be made up 

 as soon as possible thru the purchase of 

 bees in anv shape from package to colony. 

 F. B. Paddock." 



College Station, Tex. 

 * * * 



In Florida During the last two months 



reports have been coming 

 from all parts of Florida indicating that 

 paralysis is more prevalent than usual. This 

 is the only disease to which our bees are 

 subject. There appears to be no remedy; 

 nor is any needed, as the malady disappears 

 of its own accord as soon as nectar begins 

 to come in freely. Unfortunately, it appears 

 at a time when every bee lost counts against 

 a successful honey crop, because it is the 

 bees that live thru the winter that gather 

 the bulk of our orange honey, and a colony 

 badly affected by paralysis seldom amounts 

 to anything for the spring flow. Some years 

 ago I used to have many paralytic colonies 

 every spring. In some cases a strong colony 

 would dwindle to a point where there was 

 only a pint of bees, and then they would 

 build up again in a remarkably short time; 

 but since 1914 I have seen nothing of this 

 disease except, perhaps, an occasional bee. 

 The most extensive beekeeper in this part 

 of Florida once told me that he had the 

 same trouble every year until he placed his 

 hives in sheds where the sun would never 

 strike them. It is significant that paralysis 

 has not appeared in my yards since the ma- 



jority of the hives have been well shaded, 

 tho in my ojiiniou dampness is the cause of 

 the trouble. 



Altho we cannot tell at this' time what 

 the prospects are for a croi^ of orange hon- 

 ey, we can assume, provided there is no 

 freeze, that it will be the biggest there has 

 been for many years. The fall flow, lasting 

 as it did well into November, has given us 

 such strong colonies that we cannot fail to 

 make the crop if we get the bloom. The 

 experienced beemen will be prepared to care 

 for the flow as they have never been pre- 

 pared before, since no expense is being con- 

 sidered- Buzz saws all over the State are 

 busily cutting out hive material, and big 

 increase is being planned by all. 



Now, Mr. Beginner, and you who own a 

 few colonies of bees and work them on the 

 "let alone and get all I can" principle, let 

 me talk straight at you, for I can say here 

 what I cannot say in person. This is the 

 beginning of February, the bee-year has 

 just commenced, and in four or five weeks 

 swarms will be hanging in your yard. Have 

 you ordered your supplies, your hives, su- 

 pers, and foundation, or are you relying, as 

 usual, on the generosity of your neighbor to 

 accommodate you out of his own stock? I 

 am speaking not only for myself but for 

 everyone who is engaged extensively in bee- 

 keeping, when I say we do not want that 

 class of beekeepers around us. You are a 

 nuisance when you come expecting us to 

 furnish the supplies you should ha^^e bought 

 long before; and, if we charge a little more 

 than catalog price, it does not begin to pay 

 for the valuable time your request requires 

 us to expend. It is difficult for us to refuse 

 to sell a hive or some foundation when we 

 know that your bees are not provided for, 

 and when you see that we have big stocks 

 of just what you want. You should remem- 

 ber that these abundant supplies have all 

 been paid for months before we expect to 

 use them, and, tho we may have more than 

 we shall use immediately, we do not want 

 to sell and then have to replace at a higher 

 price. We are not ia the bee business to 

 accommodate you and make good your fail- 

 ure in your care of your own property. Most 

 of us will willingly get what supplies' you 

 need if you will tell us well in advance; 

 but we do not anticipate your need when 

 ordering our supplies. You come to us for 

 advice, and it is freely given, tho it has 

 been Nearly bought by hard experience; but 

 you should not expect us to furnish the 

 capital to carry on your business. If you 

 have not ordered your supplies you have not 

 a day to spare, as freight shipments are 

 subject to much delay. For those of you 

 in Florida the nearest agent carrying a full 

 stock of goods is L. W. Crovatt, Savannah, 

 Ga. I may speak plainly, but I wish you 

 every success in the coming season. 



Apopka, Fla- Harry Hewitt. 



