1909 



GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTURE 



453 



them. We finally decided that it was safer 

 and better to boil the hives, which we did, at 

 a great expense at that time. After we be- 

 cran that practice, in not a single case did the 

 disease reappear, although we treated some 

 70 odd after that. 



In place of boiling we now consider it much 

 more practical to burn out the inside of the 

 hives ny using a little kerosene or gasoline, 

 and touching a match to it. This does not 

 injure the hive in the least, but merely 

 blackens the inside of it. and shows beyond 

 any question that that hive has once been 

 treated. 



Mr. Thos. \Vm. Cowan, editor of the Brit- 

 ish Bee Journal, stated that foul brood could 

 be communicated by means of the hives. 

 One or two Canadians told us some two or 

 three years ago that they had known of a 

 number of cases where the McEvoy treat- 

 ment had been practiced without disinfect- 

 ing the hive, and the disease had reappear- 

 ecT Perhaps some of those Canadians would 

 be willing to write us at this time, giving the 

 general facts in the case. 



While we admit that it is possible that foul 

 brood might be communicated through some 

 other means, vet in our own case we hardly 

 think it is probable. 



Then it is well to bear in mind that those 

 of us who are giving advice as to how to 

 treat colonies for foul brood should remember 

 that there are often careless and ignorant 

 persons who will fail to carry out our instruc- 

 tions properly; for if combs during the height 

 of the honey-flow be shaken back into the 

 old hive, quantities of new honey will fall 

 out and smear over the inside of the hive. 



It is really so little work to burn out the 

 inside of the hive that we believe it is better 

 for the average bee-keeper, at least, to err on 

 the safe side. If one is afraid of kerosene, 

 let him take a handful of dry straw, put it in 

 the hive, ignite it, and then, when it is blaz- 

 ing well, stir the straw around in the hive so 

 that every portion of it is made to receive a 

 scorching of the flames. This can really be 

 done in almost the time it takes to tell it, and 

 then one has the satisfaction of knowing that 

 that hive can not carry the disease. The very 

 fact that the bacteriologist. Dr. White, of our 

 United States government, rather advises 

 disinfection of tne hives, leads us to feel that 

 we should give advice that we know is safe. 



HONEY-CROP CONDITION FOR 1909 AGAIN; HON- 

 EY-DEW AND WHAT TO DO WITH IT. 



There is increasing evidence to show that 

 this will be a light year for clover and bass- 

 wood; that is, for the pure article not mixed 

 with honey-dew. It is probable there will 

 be considerable honey-dew and clover mix- 

 ed, some of it of fair quality. 



Weather conditions cast of the Mississippi 

 have not been altogether favorable during 

 the honey-producing time of the year. It 

 was too cola, too dry, or too wet, according 

 to locality. Many sections report an abun- 

 dance of white clover, and alsike was never 

 more promising than it is this year. From 



some trips we have made through some of 

 the northern States, we should say there was 

 more alsike in bloom this year than we ever 

 saw before; but, apparently, it has not yield- 

 ed as it should. 



In many sections there is reported consid- 

 erable honey-dew from the hickory and oak. 

 In a good many cases this is mixed with clo- 

 ver and basswood. In some instances there 

 is not enough of this dark stuff in the white 

 honey to affect either its flavor or color; but 

 in, some other cases there is so much of it 

 that the entire product will have to be sold 

 as honey-dew^ honey. 



There seems to be quite a shortage of clo- 

 ver and basswood honey in Illinois, and in 

 New York particularly; although there are 

 some sections in each State that report a crop. 



Reports from Michigan are very conflict- 

 ing, showing that some bee-keepers will re- 

 ceive a "bumper yield " of honey, while oth- 

 ers will get almost nothing. 



In Indiana and Ohio a large amount of hon- 

 ey-dew was gathered. If the aggregate 

 amount of clover and basswood and noney- 

 dew could all be put together, and sold as 

 white honey, the bee-keepers of the northern 

 portions of these two States, at least, would 

 not have much to complain of. 



In the extreme East the season is reported 

 good, fair, and bad. In the New England 

 States the yield from clover and basswood 

 has apparently been light. 



It is too early yet to get any returns from 

 Wisconsin and Minnesota and Canada; but 

 the indications are good. In some of the 

 southern States a fair yield appears to have 

 been gathered, while in others the season 

 was almost a failure. Missouri and Nebras- 

 ka appear to have a good clover year, and 

 these two States will help materially to make 

 up the shortage in the East. Colorado will, ■ 

 apparently, have a good alfalfa crop, and the 

 same is true of some of the other western 

 States. 



Recent reports from California would raise 

 our estimates of from one- fourth to one-third 

 of a crop to from one- third to one-half of a 

 crop. 



The Eastern markets will probably have 

 quite a little Western honey, owing to the 

 general shortage of clover and basswood in 

 most sections. While this will be largely al- 

 falfa, there will probably be some sage from 

 California. 



We are getting a good many inquiries as 

 to what to do with this honey-dew, where it 

 predominates in white honey to an extent 

 that would darken its color and impair its 

 flavor. We know of nothing to suggest but 

 to sell it as honey-dew honey to the baking 

 concerns; "and it would be unwise to dispose 

 of it for a table honey or even a table houey- 

 dew. Where there is much of this dark stuff 

 in sections, we advise cutting it out and melt- 

 ing it up, selling the honey-ciewto the baker, 

 and the wax — well, that always has a ready 

 market. Where there is only a little honey- 

 dew in the white honey, or not enough to 

 impair the color or flavor, it is our opinion 

 that Uncle Sam will let it be sold as honey. 



