692 



GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTURE 



Nov. 15 



BEE-KEEPING IN THE 

 SOUTHWEST 



By Louis Scholl, New Braunfels, Tex. 



BISULPHIDE OF CARBON VS. SULPHUR FOR 

 FUMIGATING. 



Bisulphide of carbon is ahead of the old- 

 fashioned sulphur fumes for wormy combs. 

 It is much handier, quicker, and surer. I 

 used to destroy ant-hills with it when a boy, 

 and it always did the work. I have special 

 reference to the large ants so often found in 

 our apiaries, the sting of which is much worse 

 than that of a bee. To destroy the ants I take 

 a crowbar and make a hole in the mound, 

 right in the center, about two feet or more 

 deep, pour into it a teacupful of the bisul- 

 phi le, and close up the hole by tamping 

 earth into it firmly. The fumes, being heavier 

 tha 1 air, penetrate through every possible 

 opening and dpstroy every living thing. 

 Many set fire to Ithe bisulphide, but this is a 

 mistake. ,' 



For wax-worms in combs, Mr. Louis Bie- 

 diger has a unique way of using the bisul- 

 phide without having to putty or close up the 

 cracks in his hives. The two illustrations, 

 page 706, show his method. He first digs a 

 small trench in the ground, into which he 

 places a large newspaper and then piles his 

 stack of hives on this. In the top hive-body 

 he puts a saucer of the carbon bisulphide 

 and covers this up with a newspaper. Then 

 over the whole stack he throws a heavy cloth 

 and pours water over it until it is thoroughly 

 wet, the water also running down into the 

 trench below. Lastly he covers the stack 

 with a large wagon cover or sheet, and then 

 leaves it for some time. 



Care must always be exercised in the use 

 of bisulphide of carbon, as it is highly inflam- 

 mable, and should, therefore, be kept away 

 from fire. Mr. Biediger's method allows the 

 work to be done outdoors and away from 

 buildings, so that the danger is not as great. 

 The work of preparing the hives does not en- 

 danger the bee-keeper's life, as it is easily 

 and rapidly done. 



[Many are under the impression that fumes 

 of carbon bisulphide are dangerous for hu 

 man beings to breathe, if even for only n" 

 instant. For several days we worked over 

 a large metal tank in which we were fumi- 

 gating comb honey, without experiencing 

 any bad results. We were careful, however, 

 not to breathe the gas unnecessarily. 



Some have attempted to fumigate combs 

 by putting them in a tight room, but we have 

 found that it is very difficult to get an ordi- 

 nary room tight enough to do good work. 

 Furthermore, a larger amount of the liquid 

 is necessary than if a tight box were used, 

 but little larger than the arlicles being fumi- 

 gated, or some such arrangement as tlie wet 

 cloth described above. Whatever plan is 

 used, it is necessary to exclude all air so 

 that the gas may be strong enough to be ef- 

 fective. — Ed.] 



THE APIARIAN EXHIBIT AT THE TEXAS STATE 

 FAIR. 



In Spite of the short crop in Texas, the bee 

 and honey department of the State Fair was 

 a grand success. It was better and larger 

 than at any previous fair, although the bee- 

 keepers in all parts of our State had long be- 

 fore disposed of their crops. This made it a 

 very difficult matter to work up an exhibit. 

 The fair management was highly pleased 

 with the good showing made. The bee-keep- 

 ers are greatly indebted to Secretary Sydney 

 Smith, of the Fair Association, for his great 

 interest in the bee and honey department, 

 and for his many efforts and kindly help. 

 Of course, it should be understood that the 

 superintendent in charge of the department 

 had much to do with making it a success al- 

 so; but the help given aided the superinten- 

 dent in his work. This department of the 

 fair is a comparatively new one, and is grow- 

 ing rapidly, so that another year will make 

 it better than ever. 



It is up to the bee-keepers of the great 

 Lone Star State to make this annual bee and 

 honey show the best in the South, at least. 

 Too little interest is taken by the bee-keep- 

 of Texas, as a rule. 



The following awards were made, Dr. N. 

 King, of Overton, Texas, again judging the 

 exhibits, as he has done for several years. 

 His careful, conscientious work has been ap- 

 preciated by all who know him. 



Golden Italian bees and queens in single-comb observator;. 

 hives— 1. Louis Blediger, Atascosa. Su.OO; 2. Brazos Valley Aii 

 ary Co., Coilesre Station. Texas. S3. 00. 



'I'liree-banded Italian bees and queen in single-comb observ- 

 atory hive— 1 The Louis H. Seholl Apiaries, Sij.OO; '2. W. Atch- 

 ley. Beeville. Texas, S3.00. 



Carniolan bees and queens in single-comb observatory hives 

 —1. Brazos Valley Apiary Co., S5.00; 2. The Louis H. Scholl 

 Apiaries, $3.00. 



Cvprian bees and queens in single comb observatory hives— 

 1. The Louis H. Scholl Apiaries, ih.OO; 2. Smith & Seholl, Well- 

 born. Texas. *3.00. 



Holy Laud bees and queens in single-comb observatory 

 hives— 1. The Louis H. Scholl Apiaries, 85 00; 2. Brazos Vallev 

 Ap'ary Co..$3.00. 



Blaciv bees and queens in «ingle-comb observatory hives— l. 

 B. M. Carowav, Decatur. Texas, $5.00; i. Louis Blediger, Ata^ 

 eosa. Texas, 83.00. 



Best and largest display of bees of various races in observa- 

 tory hives-— L The Louis H. Scholl Apiaries, 810.00; 2. Brazos 

 Valley Apiary Co.. $6.00. 



Best case of white section comb honej'. 12 pounds or more— 

 1. W. W. Lowrance, Centerville. Texas, 5.00. 



Best display of special designs in comb honey — 1. VV. Wiede. 

 Maxwell, Texas; 2. The Louis H. Scholl -iplaries. 



Best ]2-lb. friction-top pails of white bulk comb honey— 1. 

 Tlie Louis H. Scholl Apiaries; 2, W. M. Jones, Tehuacaiia, Tex. 



Best fi-lb. friction-top jjails of white bulk comb honey- 1- 

 The Louis H, Scholl Apiaries, S3.00; 2. W, M. .lones, «2.00. 



Best S lbs. frictiou-tpp pails of white bulk comb houev — 1. 

 The Louis H, Scholl Apiaries. $3,00, 2. The Brazos Valley Apia- 

 ry Co.,*2.00 



Best display of bulk comb honey— 1. The Louis H, Scholl Api- 

 aries. RIO.OO; 2. Smith it Sclioll. 80.00, 



Best dizeu jars of white extracted honey — 1. W. M. Jones. 

 $3.00: Wm. Wiede. $2.00, 



Best dozen iars light-amber extracted honey— 1. J. E. McClel 

 Ian Santa Ana. Texas, $3 00; 2. Smith & Scholl. 83,00. 



lU'st di!-i)lay of extracted honey in granulated form— 1. The 

 Louts H: SfhoU Apiaries, S.i.OO; 2, Smith tt Scholl. $3 00. 



Best and largest display of extracted honev- 1. The Louis 11. 

 Schull Apiarits, *I0.00; 2. Smith tV Scholl, 80 00. 



Best sample cake of bright yellow beeswax, not less than ■' 

 lbs — I, E. McC^lellan, $5.00; The Louis H. Scholl Apiaries, $3 Vu 



Best displa.y in special designs in beeswax— 1, The Louis II 

 Scholl Apiarfcs. *.iOO; 2. Smith .V Scholl. 83.00. 



Best and largest displav of beeswax— 1. The Louis U. Scholl 

 Apiaries, 8,S.OO; 2. Smith iV Scholl, 86,00. 



Best display of fruit preserved In honey— 1. The Louis H. 

 Apiaries, $5,00, 



liest honev vinegar with recipe— 1. The Louis H. Scholl Api- 

 aries. $3.00; 2. Smith & Scholl, 82,00. 



Best collection of Texas honey-yielding plants, pressed and 

 mounted— 1. The Louis IL Scholl Apiaries. $5.00; 2, Miss Metta 

 Hillji, Alvin. Texas, $.3.00. 



Best Instructive display in aiiiarian products, and of the va- 

 rious uses made of honey and beeswax— 1, The Louis H. Scholl 

 Apiaries, $20.00: 2. Smith & Scholl, $10,00, 



Best and largest displa.y of bee-keepers' supplies- The A. I. 

 Root Co.. Medina, Ohio- diploma. 



