Aug. 20, 1903. 



THE AMERICAN BEE JOURNAL. 



535 



statistics than can I, but one or two conclusions seem to me 

 quite readily apparent : 



(1) The bulk of the bees and honey of Texas is of a low 

 grade. 



(2) The honey is produced mostly east of the Colorado 

 River. 



(3) In this area there might easily be supported five to 

 ten times the present number of colonies. 



(4) By improvement of the bees, and by better methods 

 of hiving and management, the average product per colony 

 might readily be increased SO percent. 



It seems to me that these facts open up a large field for 

 our apiculturist to do valuable missionary work in bettering 

 apiculture in Texas. It seems to me that many a farm 

 might support a number of colonies of bees, cared for 

 largely by the women and children, which, like the poultry, 

 would go far toward furnishing the comforts of home and 

 happier living. In connection with the development of large 

 fruit_ interests, there is also a chance for many moderate- 

 sized apiaries, for fruit-men are coming to learn that they 

 must have bees to produce many varieties of fruit in per- 

 fection. Nor does it seem to me that professional bee- 

 keepers need have any apprehension of an increase in the 

 number of colonies, and consequent product will have an 

 undesirable effect upon the market for first-class honey. 



The market for honey is practically undeveloped, and 

 the supply is far from filling the demand. As long as the 

 market is not glutted an increase in production, providing 

 the quality is maintained, exercises but little influence on 

 the price of the first-class product. It seems to me that by 

 bettering the methods of bee-keeping throughout the State, 

 this Association will be doing much toward securing better 

 prices for the products of its members. Unfamiliar with 

 the conditions of apiculture in the widely varying condi- 

 tions of this great State, it is impossible for me to point 

 out the local application of these statistics, but their signifi- 

 cance will be readily appreciated by this audience, and as 

 time goes on we trust that Mr. Scholl will further elaborate 

 this preliminary survey of Texas apiculture. We trust that 

 with your cooperation and support we may do much toward 

 bettering and furthering this most interesting and profit- 

 able industry. 



In closing, let me again welcome you here. Visit the 

 bee house and yard. Mr. Scholl will be glad to explain all 

 details to your satisfaction, and we will appreciate all sug- 

 gestions or criticisms. Let me assure you that though not 

 a practical bee-keeper by profession or training, it will be 

 my constant endeavor to direct the apicultural work under 

 our care to the best interests of the advancement of Texas 

 apiculture. I trust that in a few years Texas may lead in 

 the quality of her bees and their product as well as in the 

 quantity, and that her experimental apiary and the organi- 

 zation of her bee-keepers may be the best possible. To 

 these ends we shall devote our best efforts, and with the 

 continued assistance and support of this Association we do 

 not doubt their achievement. E. Dwight Sanderson. 



A unanimous vote of thanks and appreciation was ex- 

 tended to Prof. Sanderson for the interest he has taken in 

 the pursuit of apiculture in Texas. 



■ Some figures of Mr. Toepperwein were very interesting, 

 as they showed to some extent the great amount of honey 

 that was produced in Texas. He reported that 13,000 cases 

 of cans, of 120 pounds each, had been already sold, besides 

 190,000 sections. Of honey already shipped he says there 

 was 1,560,000 pounds, both comb and extracted. The Hyde 

 Bee Co. report about twice that much more. 

 (Continued next week.) 



Honey as a Health-Food is the name of a 16- 

 page leaflet (3>2x6 inches) which is designed to help in- 

 crease the demand and sale of honay. The first part is 

 devoted to a consideration of " Honey as Food," written 

 by Dr. C. C. Miller. The last part contains " Honey-Cook- 

 ing Recipes" and "Remedies Using Honey." It should be 

 widely circulated by every one who has honey for sale. It 

 is almost certain to make good customers for honey. We 

 know, for we are using it ourselves. 



Prices, prepaid — Sample copy free ; 10 for 20 cts.; 25 

 for 40 cts.; 50 for 70 cts.; 100 for $1.25; 250 for $2.25; 500 

 for $4.00 ; 1000 for $7.50. Your business card printed free 

 at the bottom of the front page, on all orders for 100 or 

 more copies. Send all orders to the Bee Journal office. 





Contributed Articles 





Bees Feeding Each Other— Apiarian Errors. 



BY ARTHUK C. MILLKK. 



SO, Mr. Editor, you think Mr. Miller is guessing when he 

 says that bees never offer food to the queens or to each 

 other on or by the tongue. 



Suppose I answer you Yankee fashion by asking if you, 

 or any one of your acquaintance, ever saw food so given and 

 can swear that it was so given. Don't answer hurriedly, 

 but before you answer at all, let me ask you to go and look 

 at the bees. Take a frame from the hive, hold it up before 

 you, and when you see one bee getting food from another, 

 just tip the comb over until you can look at the bees from 

 the side— see them in profile— take a magnifying glass if 

 you wish. You will find one bee has its tongue in the other's 

 mouth, and that the tongue of the latter is folded back un- 

 der her chin. Now, if the bee with the projected tongue is 

 the giver, why is the other not taking it on her tongue as 

 she should be to fulfill present theories, for you say the 

 queen puts out her tongue to receive food ? But if the bee 

 is taking food, why is not the giver's tongue out giving it, 

 if that is the way food is given ? 



Now, just consider the structure of a bee's tongue ; is 

 there anything about it to suggest the possibility of food 

 passing from one tongue to another? Does it look possible 

 or probable? Did you every hear of any one seeing two 

 bees holding the tips (" spoons ") of their tongues together, 

 or of one bee holding the " spoon " against the grooved face 

 of the others's tongue, or of the grooves of two tongues be- 

 ing held together? Did you ever consider why several 

 drones put out their tongues toward a brother drone when 

 that brother is getting food ? Offering him food, aren't 

 they ? 



The bee-keepers may go on believing food is given on 

 and by the tongue, and a whole lot of other errors if they 

 choose, and I cannot stop them, and if it makes them happy 

 far be it from me to take away their pleasure. But they 

 must not expect others to take much stock in what 

 they say on other matters relating to bee-life, when they 

 are so blind to what any one may see if they will take the 

 pains to look. 



I don't ask any one to take my word for the manner in 

 which bees get food, or take my word for other things about 

 bee-life. I only describe them as I see them, and any one 

 can go and see the same things in any colony. 



Beedom is full of hoary-headed, fossilized errors 

 which should either be buried or put into glass cases as curi- 

 osities, but it is high time they got out of the bee-press, 

 and gave the room over to more progressive matter. I take 

 a host of bee-papers, and month after month wade through 

 a sea of rehashed topics that would have been settled long 

 ago had the truth been allowed to prevail. Matters of prac- 

 tice in practical apiculture hinge on a knowledge of bee- 

 life, and where this knowledge is lacking— or worse, where 

 error is held in its stead— practice is pretty sure to be at 

 fault. 



It's theories, not conditions, which have been our guide ; 

 now let's reverse things and go ahead. Running around in 

 a circle is nice fun for little children, but rather undignified 

 and certainly unprofitable for older persons. 



Providence Co., R. I. 



[See editorial reply on page 532.- Editor.] 



Bee-Paralysis— Sulphur Cure a Success. 



BY O. O. rOI'PLKTON. 



I PROMISED some time ago that as soon as I knew the 

 result of certain experiments not then finished, I would 

 write out some of my experiences with bee-paralysis in 

 my apiary. 



The disease is more widespread and serious than most 

 bee-keepers realize. Twice within the last 20 years it has 

 lessened the season's receipts from my apiary over 25 per- 

 cent, entailing a loss of about 15,000 pounds of honey and 

 quite a number of colonies of bees. There is more or less 

 of it every year. 



The disease itself is exceedingly erratic— comes and 



