August, 1914. 



American Hee Journal 



No. 1 or No. 2. or that it was the mark 

 used by an individual shipper. We 

 would recommend, however, that stand- 

 ard grading rules be adhered to as 

 closely as possible. 



The 24-section case is about the only 

 case that is now being used, either sin- 

 gle or double deck, the 12, 18, and 28 

 section cases being out of date. 



As to sections, we have been asked 

 the question, " Which are the most 

 favorable with dealers, -l.xo or ■l'|.x4'4 

 sections ?" We find some difiference in 

 opinions, but not enough to speak of. 

 We do not think it makes any difference 

 with the consumer, if the honey is 

 clean and good weight. They say 

 " Cleanliness is ne.xt to Godliness," so 

 the next thing to grading is cleanli- 

 ness. What looks nicer than a nice, 

 white, clean case of sections and clean 

 honey? Buyers always give this kind 

 of package the preference. 



Always nail the cases securely, but 

 use small nails so that the top may be 

 taken off without splitting it. Buyers 

 generally want the top removed so they 

 may see if the sections run uniform as 

 to quality, and in making local ship- 

 ments I think you all know it is very 

 important that you crate your cases. 



Another important thing to remem- 

 ber is, do not fail to use separators, 

 and be careful not to separate so closely 

 that your sections will not weigh over 

 10 or 12 ounces. 



Kansas City, Mo. 



Colony Odor of Bees 



BV .VRTHIR C. MILLER. 



MR. EDITOR:— In yourfoot-note to 

 Mr. Hastings' article on page 237, 

 July, 1914, you imply that I am 

 one of a very few who doubt the e.xis- 

 tence of colony odor. If that is what 

 you intended, I beg leave to correct 

 you. If we may judge by analogy it is 

 verj probable that each colony does 

 possess an individual odor peculiar to 

 itself. Also, if we judge by behavior 

 of the bees under sundry conditions, 

 they are guided by some unseen or un- 

 seeable factor which is best explained 

 by ascribing it to odor. Such suppo- 

 sition is strengthened by a knowledge 

 of the bees' acute sense of smell for 

 some things. 



With such foundation for belief in 

 the existence of individual colony 

 odor, there has been built up little by 

 little a hypothesis as to the individual 

 bee's possession and retention of such 

 odor and sundry practices of beecul- 

 ture have been based on such supposi- 

 tion. I contend that facts do not war- 

 rant the belief in the retention by the 

 individual bee of its colony odor after 

 a greater or lesser absence from the 

 colony. Or if we grant the possession 

 of such odor, I contend that it plays a 

 minor part inthe bees'reception among 

 strangers. Furthermore, we have no 

 proof or assurance that a bee confined 

 for a time in an alien colony acquires 

 the odor of that colony. 



Even though such things are almost 

 universally believed by beekeepers 

 does not make them so. Once every- 

 body believed ihe world was flat (and 

 some do now), but it is not so. Once 

 all beekeepers believed in a "king bee," 

 but we know differently now. Once 



The Coverdale Apiary. 



all beekeepers believed that bees arose 

 from putrid meat, that wax was gath- 

 ered from flowers, that bees stored 

 honey in the cells with the tongue, that 

 nectar was evaporated and ripened by 

 exposure on the tongue, that a tongue 

 extended toward a queen or other bee 

 was offering or giving food, that pol- 

 len was rammed into cells with the 

 bees' head, all of which we now know 

 is not so. And there are sundry other 

 things commonly believed which are 

 known to those who have investigated 

 to be not so. 



As far as I am personally concerned 

 it would be to my advantage to have 

 the beekeepers believe as many erro- 

 neous things as possible, and base 

 many laborious and costly practices 

 thereon, for it would make it so much 

 easier for me to compete with them 

 and to make my business greater and 

 more profitable than theirs. But in 

 the long run it would not help me. 

 Ignorance is a drag on the whole na- 



tion, and though I might profit today 

 by not helping others, tomorrow my 

 children might be losers by the ignor- 

 ance of some of their fellowmen. So 

 after all it is really selfishness which 

 seems to be the motive for my con- 

 tentions. 



Concerning Mr. Hastings' doubt of 

 my observations, all I can say is 

 that judging by his article his observa- 

 tions have not been e.xtensive enough. 

 While at one time colonies resent the 

 intrusion of any strangers, at another 

 time any bee may enter anywhere. One 

 day we may unite bees in any way we 

 choose and the ne.xt day it takes all 

 the skill we have. Under many condi- 

 tions we may give queens to alien bees 

 without any precautions whatever, and 

 another day we must use much care. 



Until beekeepers will lay aside their 

 prejudices, and will weigh each ob- 

 served fact, it is almost useless to cite 

 sundry examples where bees behave as 

 if recognizing an odor, and the equally 



Sweet Clover Just Before Bloom. 



