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GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTURE 



May, 1919 



FROM NORTH, EAST, WEST AND SOUTH 



very favoiable for a successful beekeeping 

 year. Rains have been general and frequent 

 so that wild flowei's are abundant in all lo- 

 calities. In some sections flowers are bloom- 

 ing this year that have not been seen for 

 two years. It is a wonderful provision of 

 nature for seeds to hold over the unfavora- 

 ble seasons. 



The first of the new crop of honey was 

 marketed in San Antonio on April 10, from 

 Medina County. Other new honey followed 

 closely from Wilson County. Generally 

 speaking it seems that early honey will not 

 be abundant. This is perhaps due to the 

 great building up of the bees that is being 

 encouraged practically everywhere. On 

 every side one hears the comment on how 

 rajjidly the bees are increasing this year. 



The pound-package trade has grown to 

 some considerable proportions. Three par- 

 ties already have on hand $4000 each for 

 bees. This demand is far in excess of the 

 supply. The supply is further limited by the 

 inability to get sufficient early queens. 



At the last meeting of the Frio County 

 Beekeepers ' Association a unique feature 

 was added to the organization in the form of 

 a "clean-up" committee. This committee 

 is to assist the inspector in the foul-brood 

 control work. It has already shown the 

 value of its work in taking charge of a 

 small diseased yard, the owner of which 

 was not financially able to comply with the 

 law and regulations. The association thru 

 this committee shows its interest in the dis- 

 ease-control work within its county. Such 

 co-operation is most commendable and most 

 excellent results will be obtained. 



On April 1 the directors of the Texas 

 Honey Producers ' Association held their 

 quarterly meeting. The most important 

 topic discussed was the opening price of 

 honey. The opening season is a critical pe- 

 riod for honey-producers. Everyone should 

 feel himself responsible for maintaining a 

 good market and price by the careful dis- 

 l^osition of his honey. Honey must not be 

 placed on the market faster than it can be 

 consumed. The right price can only be 

 maintained by not rushing the entire crop 

 of honey on the market at one time. The 

 greatest benefit of co-operative organiza- 

 tions is their ability to absorb local excesses 

 of honey and place them on the market 

 gradually. 



The beginner must remember that every 

 colony of bees needs a great deal of atten- 

 tion during this month. With only a few 

 colonics it is not wise to suffer any loss by 

 swarming, if it is possible to manage to pre- 

 vent it. In one large section of the State 

 the beekeepers who do not want increase 

 provide the queen with ample room in the 

 form of an extra hive body. When a honey 

 flow comes there are then an abundant num- 

 ber of bees to gather a surplus. Part of the 

 brood, usually all of the sealed brood, is 



placed in the upper hive body, and sealed 

 fram.es are replaced in the lower body with 

 frames of empty comb or full sheets of 

 foundation. 



In a small yard drones are expensive. The 

 possible number is reduced by having good 

 combs drawn from full sheets of foundation. 

 If drone brood is found it should be de- 

 stroyed by tearing open the cells. The bees 

 will then clean out the injured brood. 



College Station, Tex. F. B. Paddock. 



X * » 



In Florida Florida's crop of orange 



honey is not coming up to 

 expectations, and tho a fair crop has been 

 secured there are no reports of heavy yields. 

 During the first week of the flow while 

 cloudy weather prevailed, the honey came 

 in with a rush, but after fair weather set 

 in the flow slackened. Probably, the amount 

 of honey in the State is about the same as 

 last year, or a little more. In quality, how- 

 ever, this year 's honey is far superior to 

 that of last year; in fact, it is the thickest 

 and stickiest honey we have ever produced, 

 and great care was necessary in extracting 

 from new combs. 



Altho prices have declined there is no rea- 

 son why producers should sell this crop of 

 extra-choice orange honey at a low figure. 

 The buyers for export are trying to secure 

 it at about 15 or 16 cents a pound, but we 

 can sell this year's crop in local shipments 

 at last year 's prices if we care to take a lit- 

 tle trouble. We should remember that the 

 bottlers and wholesale houses are stocked 

 up with honey that was bought last year at 

 high prices, and they cannot reduce their 

 price to the retailer until these stocks have 

 been disposed of. It would be poor policy 

 to drop the price nmterially now, as it would 

 interfere with the sale of stocks already on 

 hand. Better to let the change to normal 

 come gradually, both in buying and selling 

 prices. Of course, the merchants will try 

 to bring honey to the old cheap level, but 

 v/e cannot allow the jirice to drop below 12 

 cents unless there is a considerable change 

 in the cost of supplies and labor — which 

 seems improbable. If honey should again 

 sell at the old price of 6 cents, commercial 

 beekeeping will no longer be profitable and 

 the business must be carried on by the side 

 liners. 



The outlook for saw palmetto is excellent, 

 and probably we shall get as much honey 

 from that source as we have done from the 

 orange. The bloom stalks seem more healthy 

 than usual, and, as but a small proportion of 

 the palmetto lands was burnt over, there is 

 sure to be a big bloom. 



This month is perhaps the best time for 

 tho beginner to make increase by dividing, 

 as a three-frame nucleus will build up into 

 a strong colony and gather some surplus in 

 the fall. Harry Hewitt. 



Apopka, Fla. 



