192 



GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTURE 



Apr 1 



NOTES FROM CANADA 



By R. F. Holtermann. 



After reading all the valuable articles written 

 by Canadian bee-keepers in the March 1st num- 

 ber of Gleanings I do not know in which to 

 feel the greater pride — the Canadian bee-keepers 

 or Gleanings I believe W. A. Chrysler's ar- 

 ticle on honey-knives is valuable. S. T. Pettit's 

 honey-strainer also seems much ahead of ordina- 

 ry methods. 



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SECOND-HAND CANS. 



R. A. Burnett's article, page 29, I can fully 

 indorse. Second-hand cans rarely pay for the 

 extra work. I sometimes use them for dark grades 

 of honey, but nothing could induce me to bring 

 cans, first used by some one else, to my apiary. 

 I am too desperately afraid of foul brood to run 

 any such risk. 



FOUL BROOD ILLUSTRATED. 



At the Norfolk meeting it was also decided to 

 ask the Ontario Bee-keepers' Association to se- 

 cure copies of a very fine lithograph plate, which 

 illustrates in natural colors a brood comb with 

 the cells affected with foul brood. This litho- 

 graph has been distributed in Germany, and 

 would have great educational advantages. The 

 government might supply them to the inspectors 

 of apiaries, and any other interested parties ap- 

 plying for them. It has been decided that the 

 Department of Agriculture will next season in- 

 crease the number of foul-brood inspectors from 

 seven to fourteen. 



ADULTERATED HONEY. 



In the last annual report of the Department of 

 Inland Revenue, which has just been issued, 

 honey offered for sale in Canada, imported or 

 otherwise, makes a very poor showing. Out of 

 253 samples collected by the Department, 116 

 were found to be adulterated. At the last meet- 

 ing of the Norfolk Bee-keepers' Association, 

 Morley Pettit brought in a resolution which was 

 passed, requesting that the Ontario Bee-keepers' 

 Association appoint a committee which shall see 

 that parties which have made themselves liable 

 are prosecuted. Something along this line is 

 needed to punish those who adulterate honey and 

 other goods. 



STAND BY DR. WILEY. 



Referring to your editorial, stating that "the 

 big corporate interests are still after Dr. Wiley's 

 scalp," let me say that the bee-keepers — yes, and 

 the consumers of foods, the producers and export- 

 ers of pure food — should actively stand by Dr. 

 Wiley. He has done more than any other man 

 I know of to give pure food to the people of the 

 United States, and he has also given confidence 

 in foreign countries to the consumers of United 

 States foods — a confidence which was beginning 

 to be much needed. The man who is an active 

 agent in securing needed reforms is bound to 

 make a target of himself, especially if he commits 

 the crime of succeeding in what he undertakes. 

 If what has been advocated is of public interest. 



and if he is not actively suppoited and sustained 

 when persecuted by the enemy it is but small en- 

 couragement to others to sacrifice themselves for 

 the public interest. By all honorable means 

 strengthen Dr. Wiley's hands noav. 

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GOOD STORES. 



The following letter will be instructive and 

 of interest. It comes from J. L. Byer, Mt. Joy, 

 Ont., dated March 8. 



The March 1st number of Gleanings has just arrived, and 

 what you say as to our bees not having had a flieht up to Jan. 24 

 prompts me to tell you that they have not had a flight >></ — March 

 d. One day a few of the colonies had a partial flight, but only a 

 comparatively few bees of any one colony have been out. On 

 Jan. 24 every thing was foggy here, and, as you say, 100 miles 

 often makes a great difference. This year 20 miles made all the 

 difference, as all bees west of Toronto had a flight, I believe. 

 You will remember my claims to the idea that, if the bees have 

 really good stores in abundance, and are properly protected, they 

 do not need a flight for four months or even longer, and 1 really 

 believe that they are better off without too many flights, and es- 

 pecially so under certain conditions which I have not time to 

 enumerate. Well, although our bees have not had a flight since 

 Nov. 25, yet they aie in excellent condition. 1 have just re- 

 turned from the Altona yard, where 1 found all colonies clustered 

 quietly. The day was quite warm; and as I gently lifted the 

 corners of the packing for a look in many colonies, the bees were 

 observed to be all over the hives, and as quiet as though it were 

 in Novembe'. Although the sun w.s shining brightly, and no 

 boards we'e up in front of the hives, yet hardly a bee was flying, 

 showing plainly that they were in no distress; for if such was 

 the case, as warm as it was to-day thousands of bees would 

 have been out. 



Mr. F. J. Miller, last year president of the 

 Ontario Bee-keepers' Association, has kindly 

 sent to the writer, for use in Gleanings, the fol- 

 lowing method for quickly finding queens. 

 He also writes in a separate letter, " 1 ask that 

 you send it forward without cawing, as a slight 

 change in detail will surely affect results." By 

 quoting Mr. Miller, the reader can be warned 

 against changing in any way the method recom- 

 mended, as a "slight change in detail will surely 

 affect results." 



MV QUICK AND SURE METHOD OF FINDING QUEENS FOR 

 CLIPPING IN ALL STRONG COLONIES WHILE UNPACKING. 



Smoke the bees as little as possible while removing from the 

 cases. As soon as a group of four is unpacked, smoke one of the 

 strongest colonies well, and wait about one minute, or possibly 

 one and a half when using a frame as deep as the Langstroth. 

 Now again smoke gently; and, immediately following the second 

 smoking, listen attentively to the roar of the bees, and fix in the 

 mind the key in which it is being sounded. In a few moments 

 this will change with a sudden drop to a lower note. By again 

 carefully fixing the sound, a second decided drop will be noticed 

 (the time lapsing between the changes in sound being greater 

 with an old queen). Now lift the cover as quickly and quietly 

 as possible, and on the under side will be found the queen. In 

 case of a queenless colony there it no decided drop in the sound, 

 but a prolonged roar with a gradual dying-away. 



London, Canada. F. J. Miller. 



[There is a bee-space on the under side of Mr. 

 Miller's covers. — R. F. H. ] 



CLOVER KILLED BY DROUTH; WILD-MUSTARD 

 HONEY DOES NOT GRANULATE. 



In regard to white clover for 1909, it looks to 

 me like a poor prospect. A very little green 

 white clover is to be seen now. The blue grass 

 has grown up green since the drouth of last sum- 

 mer 



We have a new plant about three feet high, 

 called wild mustard, with yellow bloom. It 

 produces a fine-flavored honey, amber in color, 

 and very thick. It does not granulate. 



Boonville, Ind., Jan. 25. L. Eckstein. 



