1194 GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTURE. Oct. 1 



They corkscrewed in widening circles into the air, as bees do when they have just been 

 set out. After three or four circles (in which note well they had never turned their eyes 

 toward the hive),"* they took their direction and flew quickly to the meadows. A great 

 number of others followed, all corkscrewing into the air."'' About three o'clock the first 

 ones returned laden with honey and pollen."" They came from the east (not from the 

 south whither most had gone), and flew from the place where I first caught sight of them 

 (5-6 meter distance) in a straight line to the entrance. If here a noticeable accustoming had 

 played a part, perhaps as a memory process, it would be impossible to think that the insects 

 -would fly in such a straight line for the hive. A force then must be present, which draws 

 them like a magnet to this place in space, and the described "accustoming" is something 

 secondary, unnecessary for the occurrence of the reaction." 



Since we have not the slightest scientific proof whether these bees which returned at 

 three o'clock, which "flew in a straight line to the hive," did not belong to those which had 

 hummed around the hive in the early morning, and therefore had been able to notice the 

 position of the dwelling accurately, this experiment proves nothing, because we are not 

 informed concerning the method of the flying-out of the later bees. 



Bethe speaks expressly of "accurate observations," so we must accept as a matter of 

 course that there were no errors in his observations. If, therefore, the foregoing really 

 happened as pictured, this experiment does not, I believe, present a conclusive proof for 

 but against the "unknown force." According to my long years of experience, a five or 

 six hours' roving and remaining away from the hive under the conditions described is 

 entirely impossible. We may here, from what is known of the natural history of the bee 

 in this direction, count upon the possibilities expressed before. Later on it turned out that 

 the observation was not an accurate one. Cf. p. 90 of my Stammesgeschichtliche Entstehung 

 des Bienenstaates. Leipzig, 1903. 



If, indeed, a magnetic force existed to draw bees homeward, then without doubt the 

 bees which flew out would have succeeded in reaching home inside of ten minutes or at 

 most an hour after leaving. 



*<* Bethe appears to consider this the normal flight out; above all, nowhere does he mention the 

 entirely different flight of orientation. 



»o' As none of these bees flew oif in a straight line, it is natural to suppose that these were greatly 

 irritated by the transportation or suffered by the lack of air during the transportation. The thick gathering 

 on the outside points to the latter supposition, as does also the late flying-out. 



"* Therefore after five or six hours! Doubtless almost all the bees which flew out in the forenoon 

 were lost, or returned again to the known neighborhood, because the village was only seven kilometers 

 distant, for under the conditions cited an absence of five or six hours can not be accepted as true. 



BEESWAX FINISH FOR WOOD- ^ed down with a rag until a glossy finish is se- 



"WORK cured. 



WUK.l\.. Nothing but pure beeswax will answer the pur- 



pose. The slightest admixture of parafline will 



I read about your beeswax finish; and as I am spoil it. The finish, while not glossy like varnish 



building a new home I should be very grateful or that of hard oil, has a rich, smooth appearance 



if you would let me know what kind of wood is that brings out very clearly the grain of the wood, 



best to use the finish on, and what proportions of Indeed, to our notion it is richer and more in 



beeswax and turpentine. keeping with modern finishes than the old-fashion- 



Springvale, Ont. Linus B. Govvan. ed glossy cheap varnish look. It does not begin 



to cost ns much as hard oil or any other varnish. 



[The beeswax finish to which we referred is While one may use a filler, yet it is hardly nec- 



made by mixing turpentine and melted beeswax essary, as the effect is very pleasing without it. 



in such proportions that, when cool, the mixture Indeed, the wax itself acts somewhat as a filler as 



will be in the form of a thin paste. The propor- well as a finish. 



tions we used were about three parts turpentine As to woods, it looks nice on any wood, either 



to one of melted wax, by measure. While hot hard or soft, although the effect is much richer 



it should be thoroughly stirred. If not thin with an oak or a maple than with the yellow pine, 



enough when cold to spread nicely, more turpen- If we were to use the latter we would advise us- 



tine without heating may be added. ing what is known as the weathered-oak stain, 



This paste is spread upon the woodwork, cov- then apply the beeswax finish. Our offices are 



ering it thoroughly; then with a brush the surplus all finished in this way on yellow pine, and the 



is cleaned off, after which it is immediately rub- effect is certainly very pleasing. — Ed.] 



