GLEANINGS IN BEB CULTURE 



111 1911 the number of colonies insured was 

 105,179; cases of foul brood, 114; the ex- 

 penses, including claims paid, exceeded the 

 premiums paid by 342 francs, or in our 

 money a little over $17.00 — very small loss, 

 surely. 



In this country, owing to the fact that 

 disease is more prevalent in some localities, 

 at least, the premium would doubtless have 

 to be much higher than one cent a colony. 



FREE BOOKLETS ON THE USE OP HONEY, 



The National Honey-producers' League 

 is preparing to send out to honey-producers 

 free literature in the form of booklets de- 

 signed to stimulate a demand for honey. 

 The only condition required is -that appli- 

 cants pay their own postage. (See how 

 they may be obtained in the advertising sec- 

 tion of this issue, page 20.) 



The Honey-producers' League was organ- 

 ized for the purpose of advertising and 

 creating a demand for honey. The way 

 seems to be open by which funds which it 

 has held can now be distributed for the ben- 

 efit of beekeepers at large in this country. 

 All honey-producers, especially those who 

 sell in a retail way, should avail themselves 

 of this excellent opportunity before the 

 supply of booklets on the uses of honey 

 has been exhausted. 



We understand that Mr. France proposes 

 to use the balance on his hands (some $600) 

 for purchasing and distributing this litera- 

 ture. There will doubtless be a very heavy 

 demand for the booklets, and those who de- 

 sire to secure them will do well to get in 

 touch with Mr. France at once, before the 

 supply is exhausted and the money is gone. 

 The issuance of these booklets just after 

 the present fine crop of honey has been se- 

 cured is particularly opportune. 



new superintendent op apiary at the 

 massachusetts agricultural col- 

 lege; john l. byard appointed. 

 The apicultural work at the College is 

 growing so rapidly, and the demands of the 

 beekeepers are becoming so insistent and 

 general, that it has been found necessary to 

 maintain a larger number of colonies of 

 bees in order to accomplish results. This 

 healthy growth is an index to the interest 

 in apicultural advancement. 



To enable the proper upkeep of the stock, 

 Mr. John L. Byard has been appointed 

 Superintendent of the Apiary, beginning 

 September 1. Mr. Byard, besides attending 

 to the bees, will also assist with classes, 

 maintain the apiary building, exhibits, and 

 collections, and prove new methods and im- 

 plements. The addition of Mr. Byard to 



the corps in Massachusetts interested in the 

 promotion of beekeeping should afford fur- 

 ther service to eastern beekeepers, hereto- 

 fore impossible to render. 



Mr. Byard is known to the majority of 

 Massachusetts beekeepers thi'ough his ex- 

 tensive service as Deputy Apiary Inspector 

 since 1911 ; as President for three year's of 

 the ^\^orcester County Beekeepers' Associa- 

 tion, and through numerous demonstrations 

 at conventions and institutes. He is now 

 president of the State Beekeepers' Associa- 

 tion of Massachusetts, a delegate body rep- 

 resenting the local organizations of the 

 State. His life-long experience with bees 

 began in Vermont with his father, a bee- 

 keeper and bee-hunter, since which time he 

 has been in the front rank of practical bee- 

 keepers. 



Since 1888 he has been recognized as an 

 experienced and successful apiarist in 

 Southboro, Mass. Many a beekeeper in 

 New England will acknowledge indebted- 

 ness to Mr. Byard for enthusiasm, encour- 

 agement, and assistance rendered them, 

 eitlier as a beginning beekeeper or one con- 

 fronted with perplexing problems. 



DROUTH broken; SHIPPING COMB HONEY; 

 THE IMPORTANCE OF MOVING IT EARLY. 



The drouth that prevailed in many sec- 

 tions of the country has been broken by co- 

 pious and refreshing rains. Where clover 

 was only partially killed out, the plant will 

 take a new lease of life, for it has wonder- 

 fully recuperative power. If conditions 

 from now on are favorable, followed by 

 plenty of snow, there is no reason why clo- 

 ver should not do as well next year as this. 



Our Honey Column will give the trend of 

 prices; and it should be borne in mind that 

 now is the time to sell honey, especially that 

 in the comb. If comb honey is not moved 

 by car before freezing weather, it is pretty 

 snie to be broken in transit, and, worst of 

 all, it will begin to granulate. When gran- 

 ulation once sets in, the process is rapid; 

 and of all things, granulated comb honey is 

 difficult to sell. 



Comb honey, especially alfalfa, from 

 now on should be kept in a warm room or 

 building. It is very, very important that 

 there be no rapid variation from high to 

 low temperature. Comb honey stored in a 

 room without artificial heat, in the Northern 

 States, may be warmed up by sunshine, and 

 at night the temperature may go down to 

 60, 50, or even 40 degrees. If the room is. 

 we will say, 75 during the middle hours of 

 the day, and goes down to 50 at night, and 

 if that variation continues for a couple of 

 weeks, granulation is almost sure to set in. 



