Kc. 



xo^ 



JHE BEE-KEEPERS' REVIEW 



ried out with the purpose of getting some 

 rdsults if possible that might serve to clear 

 up the rayste-y that seems to envelop these 

 fiubjecti=. Abont seventy colonies were taken 

 and as the two exi)eriments conltl bo made 

 on the same set of colonies without any sort 

 of interference, there were practically about 

 seventy colonies used in making the experi- 

 ment upon each of the two matters referred 

 to. A large proportion of the colonies were 

 carefully packed with sawdust on tlieir re- 

 moval from the cellar and a portion, both of 

 packed and the unpacked, was regularly fed 

 during the settled weather of spring when 

 there was no nectar to be gathered, up to the 

 time of white clover bloom. The most care- 

 ful efforts were made to know at the outset 

 the weight and numerical strength of each 

 colony included iu the experiment and to 

 note the rate of increase in each of these par- 

 ticulars from time to time as the exegencies 

 of the experiments seemed to require up to 

 the end of the clover and basswood houey 

 season. This course gave data from which 

 it seemed to be mathematically demon- 

 strated that for that season the advantage of 

 stimulative feeding was very slight, I might 

 say trifling, while the sawdust packing was a 

 very serious disadvantage. 



An experiment was made which I deemed 

 of considerable importance to determine 

 whether foundation can be made from foul 

 broody combs by the use of such a low de- 

 gree of heat as to leave the foundation still 

 infected with foul brood germs and so the 

 possible means of conveying the diseafe to 

 healthy colonies. The highest degree of 

 heat to which the wax was subjected in any 

 part of the process of rendering and sheet- 

 ing it was 180'' F. and that was for a compar- 

 atively short time during the rendering of 

 the wax in a solar extractor, so that only a 

 small proportion of it at any time could have 

 felt that degree of temperature and much of 

 it was at no time warmer than IGO F. Tlio 

 result was that in each of the two colonies 

 furnished with this foundation one cell of 

 unmistakable foul broody matter was found 

 though it seemed to differ somewhat in ap- 

 pearance from that having the usual malig- 

 nant character. The foundation was not 

 completely drawn out and will be carefully 

 watched for further developments. 



The more important of the other t^xi)eri- 

 ments so far made, were those by which an 

 attempt was made to test the qualities of 

 dififerent makes of foundation designed for 



use in sections for comb houey. One test 

 was for the purpose of determining the com- 

 parative readiness and rapidity with which 

 the beas did their work on each kind : and 

 one was to determine the comparative thin- 

 ness to which the bees would work the septa 

 of each kind. All these experiments were 

 successfully and sati^factorilly made. 

 Others of les=^ importance it is unuessary to 

 mention here. 



An earnest effort is making during the 

 present winter to throw if possible some 

 light on the questions which arise relating 

 to the wintering of bees in cellars. The 

 question relating to the effect of moisture 

 on the wintering of bees is given promin- 

 ence. A number of colonies are placed to • 

 gether and are kept enveloped in cloth con- 

 tinually saturated with water and some col- 

 onies are given plenty of upward ventilation 

 while others have none at all. If moisture 

 has such a deleterious influence on the win- 

 tering of bees as is sometimes claimed, it is 

 confidently expected that these experiments 

 will disclose some of its effects with cer- 

 tainty. 



These brief outlines will serve to give a 

 bird--eye view of the work that is beiug un- 

 dertaken at the station. 



What of the coming year ? Shall the work 

 be continued on the same or similar lines or 

 shall it be varied, and if so, in what direc- 

 tion and to wliat extent ? 



This is, of course, on the assumption that 

 the work at the station is to be continueil. 

 But of this we have no guaranty. It is in- 

 deed the most important characteristic of 

 this work that its tenure is very uncertain. 

 Perhaps it may not be possible to do away 

 altogether with this uncertainty and if it is 

 not then it must continue to be as it is and 

 has been that the bee-keepers of the State 

 will have to be vigilant and active if they 

 mean to secure the continued recognition at 

 the station which the importance of their 

 vocation warrants. We have been accus- 

 tomed to contemi>late with pr de the position 

 which our State has held amocg apicultural 

 communities. It has been her wont to be at 

 the front ; shall she because a Cook has gone 

 be suffered to lose that position ? 



This is written without reference to the 

 question of who shall perform the work. 

 (31ose contact with the work has not only 

 magnified the importance of it but has also 

 revealed the burden of the labor and care 

 necessary to do it well. The small stipend 



