1908 



GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTURE. 



1513 



BEUHNE PLAN OF INTRODUCING; A GREETING 

 FROM AUSTRALIA. 



Among the numerous methods of introducing 

 queens given in Gleanings I have never seen 

 that originated by Mr. Beuhne, and illustrated 

 some years ago in The Australian Bee Bulletin. 

 He discovered, I believe, that, if strange bees 

 were admitted into a queen-cage after all the at- 

 tendants had been removed, they would not mo- 

 lest the imprisoned queen. Consequently a cage 

 was constructed by him with a side opening cov- 

 ered with queen-excluding zinc through which 

 the workers had access and became familiar with 

 the new queen. They then assisted from the in- 

 side the workers on the outside of the cage in eat- 

 ing the way out for her through the candy. 



Since this appeared I have always altered the 

 Benton cage by making a side opening, covering 

 it with a piece of queen-excluding zinc and thus 

 introducing the queen after liberating her atten- 

 dants. In my experience this method has never 

 failed. 



Mr. Beuhne' s cage can also be used as a nur- 

 sery cage by making a hole at one end sufficient- 

 ly large to admit a ripe queen-cell. 



Your subscribers will be grateful for that fine 

 photo of our dear old friend (for such I esteem 

 him) Dr. Miller. My regret is that you print- 

 ed on the back of it, and so prevented its being 

 framed without mutilating the number in which 

 it appeared. The first portion of each successive 

 number of Gleanings that I read is that under 

 the head of Stray Straws. The pithy, humor- 

 ous, and good-natured comments are always ad- 

 mirable, more particularly when the writer is 

 having a "sly dig" at a certain well-known edi- 

 tor. I am pleased to be able to add my small 

 quota of appreciation to the fine character of the 

 dear old doctor. 



Will you please give the botanical name of 

 mammoth clover, page 931? It would aid consid- 

 erably if this were always done when mentioning 

 useful plants. 



I have not written with a view to your publish- 

 ing my letter, but more as an expression of good 

 will from Australia to our brethren in the Unit- 

 ed States. 



From a Victorian brother who sends hearty 

 fraternal greetings. Edwin Cox. 



Northwood, Victoria, Aus., Sept. 25. 



[This plan of putting perforated zinc on intro- 

 ducing-cages for the purpose stated has been be- 

 fore given in these columns; but whether the idea 

 at the time was copied from, friend Beuhne, we 

 can not say. 



It generally works well; but in the case of some 

 cross or obstreperous colony the bees will some- 

 times attack the queen. 



.Mammoth clover is a variety of Trifolium pra- 

 tense. 



We certainly appreciate your hearty greetings. 

 —Ed.] 



WERE THE BEES DISEASED.? 



On page 1327, Nov. 1, C. B. Fritts wonders 

 whether honey from poisonous plants killed tie 

 brood. Two years ago I was having about the 

 same trouble, and I sent samples of brood to Dr. 

 G. F. White, of Washington, D. C. He report- 



ed it to be what was commbnly called black 

 brood. The disease started near Dowagiac, Mich., 

 some four or five years ago, and spread very 

 rapidly in all directions and wiped out several 

 small apiaries that were not treated. My apiary 

 of 42 colonies was reduced to 11 colonies, and I 

 got no surplus two years ago. A year ago I re- 

 combed all colonies, increasing them to 22. 

 This last season I treated 5 colonies, and increas- 

 ed to 46 colonies, getting about 1500 lbs. of comb 

 honey. I introduced Italian blood and pinched 

 the black queens, and, so far as my yard is con- 

 cerned, I am free from the disease. I have the 

 best success with the Baldridge method of treat- 

 ment. I am located east of Dowagiac where the 

 disease started. As Mr. Fritts is west, I think it 

 is possible that he has black brood in his apiary 

 also. W. C. Taylor. 



Decatur, Mich., Dec. 14. 



[We know of no honey that kills brood. If 

 brood dies it is due to starvation, cold, heat, or 

 disease. All suspicious cases should be examin- 

 ed carefully, and if in doubt, it should be sub- 

 mitted to an expert. — Ed.] , 



QUERY as to inbreeding OF BEES. 



I desire to improve my bee stock both for hon- 

 ey-gathering qualities and color, and I wish to 

 know the results of inbreeding to attain these 

 qualifications. What I want is the experience of 

 any one on the subject. I desire to produce a 

 great honey-gathering strain of bees, queens of 

 great laying powers, and at the same time im- 

 prove the color in the direction of the goldeiis, 

 but I don't want the golden bees. Furtherm 're 

 I want gentleness in the bargain. Let us hear 

 from the men who have had long experience along 

 this line. T. P. Robinson. 



Bartlett, Tex., Dec. 1 



[Inbreeding, when intelligently practiced, is 

 all right; indeed, by it our best breeds of cattle 

 and horses are produced. When applied to bees- 

 we run up against the difficulty of controlling the 

 selection of the drones. — Ed.] 



SUPERS on hives THROUGH THE WINTER. 



Is it a good plan to leave supers on hives 

 through the winter partly filled with honey or 

 empty combs.? M. R. Reeves. 



Grenola, Kansas. 



[The plan is all right so far as giving stores 

 and wintering is concerned; but we would not 

 advise it, for the reason that the sections and su- 

 pers will be more or less soiled or travel-stained. 

 Better give the stores in the form of brood-combs. 

 —Ed.] 



A CORRECTION. 



On page 1372, Nov. 15, I am made to say that 

 the eight-frame hive needs less care than the ten- 

 frame hive. What I meant to say was that the 

 eight-frame-size hive needs more constant caie 

 than the ten-frame hive. E. D. Tovvnsend. 



Remus, Mich., Nov. 30. 



