808 



GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTURE 



materially interfere with the legitimate oc- 

 cupation of extraeted-honey production, 

 since this labor is usually performed by 

 young bees that have not yet become field 

 laborers. Viewing it thus, it is evident that 

 by this process drawn combs are secured 

 practically free of cost, since the sponta- 

 neous secretion of wax by such a colony 

 would otherwise be carried out between the 

 mandibles of the fielders, and dumped as 

 waste matter; hence economy in the utiliz- 

 ing of waste material is a strong point in 

 the development of this system. By keeping 

 the super next to the brood-chamber con- 

 stantly supplied with sheets of thin founda- 

 tion in shallow frames, and the top one 

 constantlj' supplied with empty extracting- 

 Gombs, swarming is held in cheek, and a 

 surprisingly large number of drawn combs 

 may be secured per week without materially 

 lessening the honey crop. 



- THE SYSTEM CONSIDERED. 



While the development of the new system 

 is fraught with rich promises of ultimate 

 success along the line of the spontaneous 

 control of swarming, there are other impor- 

 tant factors to be considered in this connec- 

 tion besides the building of comb ; and 

 whether or not the psychic condition of the 

 bees, resulting from the application of sci- 

 entific principles, will be of such a nature 

 as completely to overbalance abnormal con- 

 ditions within the supers, and ultimately 

 result in the spontaneous prevention of 

 swarming, is a matter yet to be determined, 

 since failing health, dui-ing the last two 

 seasons, has prevented further experiment- 

 ing along this line. Viewing it thus we do 

 not feel competent to forecast ultimate re- 

 sults along this line. 



Drops of nectar will usually be visible in 

 the bottoms of cells when about % inch 

 deep. If left much longer, sufficient nectar 

 will have accumulated to necessitate throw- 

 ing it out with an extractor; in which case 

 it may be fed back, but not to the finishers, 

 since it would undoubtedly counteract the 

 influence against swarming. This, however, 

 is a matter that has not yet been fully de- 

 termined for reasons just mentioned. A 

 little experience, however, will enable the 

 beekeeper to adjust the matter of depth of 

 cells to suit the exigencies of the ease. Un- 

 doubtedly the possibilities of section-honey 

 production and swarm control along psy- 

 chological lines, a condition of soul satisfac- 

 tion and content as applied to bees, are at 

 present beyond the control of the average 

 beekeeper. 



THE MODUS OPERANDI. 



In view of the crude and rambling man- 

 ner in which the details of the method have 



been discussed, it seems like a reiDetition to 

 outline the mode of operation. Having the 

 sections folded, placed in frames, and cord- 

 ed ujD within easy reach, and the squares of 

 drawn comb cut to the right size, place a 

 frame containing sections over the fonn; 

 place a block of drawn comb in each section, 

 gently placing it in a correct position by 

 means of a follower of equal longitudinal 

 dimensions, and secure it by means of melt- 

 ed wax mixed with a little rosin, and ap- 

 l^lied with a brush around the edges of the 

 comb. A little practice and experience will 

 enable one to opei-ate rapidly and neatly, 

 and with results that will be highly gratify- 

 ing. 



OUR CLAIM. 



We claim for this method, first, perfect 

 control of bees along iDsychological lines; 

 second, control of swarming — if not spon- 

 taneously, at least by means of a simple 

 equipment ; third, an increased production 

 per colony of 50 to 100 per cent; fourth, 

 a higher percentage of honey in the fancy 

 gTade; fifth, safe transportation by freight, 

 since the combs are built solid to the wood 

 on all sides ; sixth, a perfect section of hon- 

 ey, practically free from pop-holes; sev- 

 enth, it pi'otects the outside of sections, 

 keeping them clean and neat ; eighth, it ad- 

 mits of handling four sections at a time 

 over the form; ninth, sections are filled with 

 combs without removing them from frames ; 

 tenth, it minimizes expense by utilizing 

 waste material in eomb-building; eleventh, 

 it minimizes expense for equipment, and is 

 rapid in operation and positive in results. 



Birmingham, Ohio. 



DEMONSTRATION ON HANDLING BEES GIVEN 

 TO CLASS IN AGRICULTURE 



BY ARTHUR RHOADS 



The picture shows the agriculture clasd 

 from the Langston Agricultural and Normal 

 University for the colored people of Okla- 

 homa. 



These young men had never taken up the 

 study of bees, and I invited the professor 

 and students of the agi'iculture class to come 

 to my home, where I gave them a lecture 

 and demonstration on handling bees. The 

 class was very enthusiastic on the subject of 

 bees, and a number of them said that they 

 were going to take up the study when they 

 returned to their homes in different parts of 

 the State. 



I gave a lecture to the children of our 

 public school last fall, and offered a prize 

 for the best essay on the subject. There 

 were 12 papers submitted, which were very 

 good. The papers were graded, and a prize 



