GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTURE 



Jan. 1 



The adult moths are very agile, their speed 

 of flight exceeding the flight of bees. 



The bee-killer, or wolf-fly [Promachus 

 bastardi) was first reported from Nebraska 

 in July, 1864, as a pronounced enemy of the 

 honey-bee. Dr. Fitch describes these flies 

 as inhuman murderers — the savages of the 

 insect world. They take their prey to some 

 extent, perhaps generally, on the wing, and 

 even seize dragon-flies, bumble-bees, and 

 tiger-beetles. The pain of a common horse- 

 fly's bite is generally understood to be mad- 

 dening in its sharpness; but the wolf-fly pro- 

 boscis lacks all softness, and when inserted 

 into the victim it is held there by stiff bristles, 

 and the fly sucks out, not a little blood, but 

 the whole mass of the internal oi'gans! Dr. 

 Riley watched a number of these bee-killers 

 for a while, and observed that, although 

 many other insects were present, it gave ex- 

 clusive attention during this observation to 

 the selection of honey-bees. The sting of the 

 bee seems not to affect them except to make 

 them tighten their grasp on their doomed 

 victims. The bee-killer is in the adult stage 

 during June and July. 



The bee-louse is found living parasitically 

 on the honey-bees in Europe. It is from J 

 to f of a line long. It is a body parasite, 

 one or two occurring on the body of the bee, 

 though sometimes they greatly multiply, and 

 are very troublesome to the bees. 



The blister-beetle (Meloe Americanus) 

 seems to be the only member of its family in 

 Pennsylvania. Its life history is varied from 

 that of most insects, even from other cole- 

 optera, in having, instead of egg, larval, 

 pupa, and adult stage, larval (the breeding 

 stage), the second larval, the third larval stage, 

 pupa, and adult. This insect hatches from 

 the eggs, which are laid in the ground, and 

 gets a foothold on a bee at the first oppor- 

 tunity. These are body parasites Lack of 

 time prevented Mr. Sattlewait from deal- 

 ing with other insect enemies of bees such as 

 wasps, hornets, millipedes, and spiders. 



The remedy was, to keep the colony strong, 

 and the bees will usually be their own best 

 protectors, thousands of bees being ready to 

 die in the defense of their home. 



MR. FRANCE REMEMBERED. 



This was followed by the question-box, 

 which, for lack of space we will not here re- 

 produce. But there was one very pretty in- 

 cident that occurred, during which Mr. W. 

 Z. Hutchinson sprang a pleasant surprise. 

 The session was about to adjourn when he 

 begged a few moments of time in which he 

 mignt bring up a matter that he thought 

 would be interesting to all. He then pro- 

 ceeded to tell how he had sent out a circular 

 letter to the members of the National Bee- 

 keepers' Association in which he called at- 

 tention to the splendid services performed 

 by General Manager N. E. France to the 

 National, and how he had worked long and 

 faithfully, as every one knew, for a very 

 small salary. He suggested that those who 

 felt that the General Manager's services were 

 worthy of a lasting recognition, and who 

 would be willing to contribute a small amount 



toward the purchase of a gold watch and 

 chain, to be presented at the Harrisburg con- 

 vention, should send in their contributions. 

 There were many responses to this, the ma- 

 jority of remittances being in ten-cent pieces; 

 but there were quite a number of others, 

 ranging all the way from two to five dollars 

 each, the aggregate of which was $75.00 

 But the most pleasing feature, said Mr. 

 Hutchinson, in these responses was that many 

 said they had thought of doing the same 

 thing before, and were now glad of sending 

 this mark of their appreciation. One man 

 in particular had thought for some time that 

 Mr. France should be kept under a close 

 "watch," and added that he should not 

 wonder if he needed to be "chained" too, 

 and inclosed his 25 cents. To make a long 

 story short, Mr. Hutchinson, with the mon- 

 ey, purchased a beautiful gold watch with a 

 full-jeweled movement, bearing the follow- 

 ing inscription: "A token of appreciation 

 from members of the N. B. K. A. to their 

 manager, N. E. France;" and as he present- 

 ed this to Mr. France he said: 



Bro. France, take this beautiful token of our ap- 

 preciation; wear it next your heart; and may that 

 heart long beat as faithfully and steadily as the little 

 balance-wheel inside; may your face ever be as bright 

 and shining as this beautiful case; and may your days 

 be as full of " good works." 



But there was money enough left to make 

 another present, and a happy thought struck 

 Mr. Hutchinson that the wife who had made 

 it possible for Mr. France to leave home and 

 attend to the exacting duties of the National 

 ought to be remembered; and after tender- 

 ing the watch Mr. Hutchinson turned again 

 to the General Manager and said: 



Bro. France, we have tried to fill your cup of happi- 

 ness to the brim; now we wish to make it overflow. 

 Away in that far western home of yours is a loved one 

 who. with bright brain and nimble fingers, looks well 

 to the ways of her household. And we have been led 

 to believe that, were it not for these nimble fingers 

 and the wise guidance of affairs in your absence, it 

 would be impossible for you to fulfill properly the 

 duties of the office that you now hold. In view of this 

 we esteem it a rare pleasure to remember also that 

 faithful helpmate of yours— your wife. We have, for 

 her, a dozen solid-silver tea-spoons. On the top of the 

 handle, in old English script, we have had engraved 

 the letter F. On the under side of the handle, in 

 smaller script, are the letters N. B. K. A. Take them 

 to Mrs. France, and present them with the compli- 

 ments of the National Association. Tell her not to 

 " keep them just for company." Have her use them 

 every day, just as you do your watch, and when \our 

 hand supports one of these so easily, so lightly, re- 

 member that, in a like manner, back of you stands the 

 whole National Association, aad that it can and wi I 

 support you just as firmly as your hand can support 

 one of these little spoons. 



At the conclusion of this Mr. France was 

 deeply touched, and for the time being was 

 unable to respond. The day'ssession adjourn- 

 ed, after which he was made the recipient of 

 many hearty handshakes and congratulatons. 



Gleanings believes that the wonderful 

 growth and success of the National bas been 

 due very largely to Mr. France's personality; 

 but, more than all else, to the immense 

 amount of hard work which he has bestowed 

 on the organization — a service, which Mr. 

 Hutchinson very properly estimates, could 

 not have been secured by any private cor- 

 poration for five times the amount he has 

 been paid. f Continued.) 



