1909 



CLEANINGS IN BEE CUI.TURF, 



49 



a talk on this subject, explaining how the most 

 vicious bees could, by proper shaking, be made 

 as lame as kittens. We also stated at that time 

 that, in our opinion, the shaking might be used 

 in a practical way in the production of honey; 

 for introducing queens; in fact, for a great vari- 

 ety of purposes. 



In the various lectures that we have given be- 

 fore the bee-keeping public, during which we 

 have given live-bee demonstrations, we have 

 learned that it is possible to do a large number 

 of hair-raising stunts after the bees have been 

 subdued by the shaking process. They are 

 shaken otT the combs into a large dish pan, when 

 the pan is shaken a good deal like a corn-popper. 

 The bees roll over in a confused mass; and after 

 about a minute of rolling and tumbling they can 

 be picked up with bare hands with perlect impu- 

 nity providing they are not pinched. We are, 

 therefore, inclined to believe that there is more 

 in this shaking, for the accomplishment of prac- 

 tical results, than many persons are inclined to 

 believe. 



The "shook-swarm" method that was discuss- 

 ed so much two or three years ago gave excellent 

 results, both in the matter of controlling swarms 

 ard in the production of honey. The method 

 advocated by Mr. Williams is precisely the same, 

 only he goes much further. He does nothing 

 more nor less than to put the bees in ihe condi- 

 tion of a swarm As every one knows, a swarm 

 is always more energetic than an ordinarily nor- 

 mal colony. 



We shall be glad to get reports from those 

 who have had an opportunity to try this scheme 

 of earthquakes on a small scale. No doubt it is 

 quite possible to go to extremes. 



Later. — Since writing the foregoing we have 

 read what one of our Department Editors, Mr. 

 Louis Scholl, has to say on this subject. See 

 page 53. 



dooliptle's book on non-swarming. 



This work is going ofT like hot cakes. So 

 great has been the demand for it that the first edi- 

 tion was exhausted inside of thirty days. We 

 have now gotten out an entirely new reprint and 

 a much larger edition. 



There are many of our readers whose subscrip- 

 tions are about to expire; and in order not to lose 

 a single number we are making an exceptionally 

 low combination offer— namely, Gleanings one 

 year and Doolittle's book, 50 cents, for the price 

 of the paper alone — $1.00. Even if you read the 

 series of articles in Gleanings you will surely 

 want the whole set in one cover to facilitate ready 

 reference. 



Besides the one important subject of the pre- 

 vention of swarms when running for comb honey 

 at out-apiaries, Mr. Doolittle has discussed in his 

 characteristic and forcible manner many others 

 almost as important, particularly those relating 

 to the production of fancy comb honey, and how 

 to secure a crop when every one else meets a fail- 

 ure. Indeed, the author has condensed his f irty 

 years of experience into this one volume, and no 

 reader of these pages should fail to get it. The 

 book can not now be had except in connection 

 with subscription to Glfanivgs (our former sale 

 price of 50 cents being withdrawn). If you have 

 alieady renewed for 1909, send your renewal for 



1910 at $1.00, or order the journal for a friend, 

 and we will send you a copy of Doolittle's hook 

 for your trouble. As an evidence of what can 

 be done with the Doolittle system we introduce 

 a letter here from Mr. C. H. Root, which speaks 

 for itself. 



doolittle's plan for PKKVENTING SWARMINf; EN- 

 DORSED. 



I have tried Mr. Doolittle's plan for swarm prevention, as Hrst 

 described in Gleanings, for two years. The first year, with 

 five colonies, I had a loss of two swarms (my fault). This year, 

 with about forty colonies, I did not lose a swarm, and I had a 

 larger yield of honey than I ever had before. 



Red Bank, N. J., Nov. 19. C. H. Root. 



This is a sample of many that we have been re- 

 ceiving; and what others have done you can do. 

 Remember, you can not get this book except in 

 connection with a subscription to Gleanings. 

 Alexander's writings in book form. 



Perhaps no series of articles ever evoked more 

 general interest and discussion than those written 

 by the late E. W. Alexander, of Delanson, N. 

 Y. He was one of the contemporaries of Quin- 

 by, Langstroth, Hetherington, Grimm, and Hoff- 

 man, besides many other great lights in the early 

 days of apiculture. He survived them all, and it 

 is only within the last three months that death 

 claimed him also; but, like many another, his 

 works live after him. 



Mr. Alexander had a very remarkable bee-keep- 

 ing experience. For many years he was one of 

 the most extensive producers of honey in the 

 United States. But the thing that, perhaps, more 

 than any thing else brought him celebrity, 

 aside from his very interesting and helpful writ- 

 ings, was the fact that he managed for a number 

 of years an apiary of from JOO to yoo colonies all 

 ill one location. He had a locaHty that was quite 

 remarkable, and brains that knew how to use it. 



Well, in this series of articles Mr. Alexander 

 describes many of the secrets of his great success. 

 Scarcely a bee-keeper at the time of his death had 

 had more experience in keeping bees; and yet al- 

 most up to the last moment his enthusiasm for 

 his chosen pursuit was as keen as that of a begin- 

 ner passing through the various stages of bee- 

 fever. He was a genius, and as such he propound- 

 ed some theories and advanced some practices 

 which to some seemed unorthodox, and his arti- 

 cles, as a consequence, drew forth not a little com- 

 ment and criticism. But he always came back 

 with that same gentle rejoinder that characterized 

 the sweetness of the man's entire life. Nor was 

 he unable to give a reason for the faith that was 

 in him. 



This work, now in the press, will be clubbed 

 with Gleanings for the price of the paper alone 

 — $1.00. The regular price of the book is 50 

 cents; but it will not be sent separately except in 

 connection with a subscription to Gleaning^, 

 and all arrearages, if any, paid. If a reader has 

 already renewed his subscription for 1909 we 

 will accept his subscription for 1910at $1.00, and 

 send on the book as soon as it leaves the printer's 

 hands. We hope to have it ready for distribution 

 in about two weeks 



There may be some who desire both Alexan- 

 der's and Doolittle's books. Send us $2.00 and 

 we will send Gleanings two years and both books, 

 or for one new subscription at $1.00 and your 

 own renewal at $1.00 we will send you the two. 

 books. 



