1908 



GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTURE. 



1507 



was discussed I might state briefly that the so- 

 called travel-stain appears to be caused by, first, 

 the bees covering themselves with pollen and en- 

 tering their hives and rubbing their bodies against 

 the combs and sides of the hives, causing a slight 

 and sometimes considerable discoloration of the 

 combs. I mention this, first, not because it is 

 the most important, for it is not, with me at least. 

 Second, the use of old wax, bits of propolis, the 

 cappings from hatching brood, and even bits of 

 cloth, or any thing that comes handy, mixed with 

 new wax in various proportions for capping the 

 new comb in sections, and so greatly injuring its 

 appearance. 



This has been a serious trouble with me, and 

 is rather increasing as time goes on, especially in 

 poor years. I shall not at this time try to prove 

 that my conclusions are correct as to the cause, 

 for I believe that any one who has given the sub- 

 ject careful study will agree with me. It will be 

 my object, rather, to show what may be done to 

 correct the trouble and overcome it, as those who 

 were so much wiser than myself as to the cause 

 of this trouble have given us no clue as to how 

 it may be remedied. 



As a good physician finds it necessary with 

 every case that comes to him to make a careful 

 and accurate diagnosis of the case before he 

 writes his prescription, or outlines a method of 

 treatment, so we, as bee-keepers, should very ful- 

 ly understand the difficulties with which we have 

 to contend before we can hope to overcome them. 



If we sit down to a bench and clean sections 

 hour after hour we shall not be long in observing 

 that such supers as have combs stained have the 

 most stain near the center; or, to put it in another 

 way, that the worst-stained combs are, as a rule, 

 in the center, while those least colored are at the 

 sides. 



We shall also observe, if we look carefully, 

 that the central combs of the brood-chamber are 



"ALF INCH ENTRANCE 



HONEY-BOA 

 BROOD-CHA 



USED BETWEEN: THE 

 AND SUPER. 



E. W. ALEXANDER IN HIS LAST DAYS; THIS PHOTO- 

 GRAPH WAS TAKEN ON THE LAST OF 

 AUGUST. 



darker than those on the outside. Indeed, it oft- 

 en happens that, if the combs of a hive have not 

 been changed during the honey season, the out- 

 side combs may be quite white. Combs built 

 outside a division-board are often of snowy white- 

 ness. In the same way it occurred to me that 

 there was some connection between the darker 

 combs of the brood-chamber, where the largest 

 part of the brood was reared, and the stained 

 combs in the center of the super above. How 

 could I manage so as to allow the bees to pass up 

 into the supers and yet prevent their carrying up 

 any dark wax or cappings of hatching brood just 

 below.? 



I noticed another thing: The further the sur- 

 plus combs were from the brood, the whiter they 

 were. But it is an old maxim, that the nearer 

 the surplus boxes are to the brood the sooner and 

 more rapidly are they likely to be filled. I was 

 in a dilemma; for if I made it difficult for the 

 bees to get into the supers and carry up dark wax 

 they were likely to store a good deal less honey. 

 It seemed to be a case of less stain, less honey, or 

 more honey, more stain. I could have my choice. 



At last I made some honey-boards, something 



