278 AMERICAN BEE JOURNAI.. 



the dusty public road near by. Corn is shriveled, and garden vegetables small and 

 drooping. Buckwheat is prematurely turning brown, and wild flowers have nearly 

 disappeared, making it certain that there will not be a large fall flow of nectar. 

 This may seem discouraging talk, but it is true, and truth is always in order. 

 Unfavorable summer weather could dispel the bright prospects of spring, but no 

 possible fall conditions can restore the dead flowers again this year. So we had 

 better look the situation straight in the face, and make the best possible use of it. 



In our own yard we shall remove all surplus supers early, and let the bees have 

 a chance to fill the brood-nest with winter stores, if any nectar is to be had. During 

 dry times honey-dew is most plentiful, and we have no fears for winter stores ; but 

 if colonies are found light, they should be fed early, and made ready for safe win- 

 tering. 



Our readers will remember that in the past we have been expressing our belief 

 that a paying surplus could be had even in a poor season, by a proper understanding 

 of the business and thorough preparation, so as to take the best advantage of all 

 opportunities. This season gave us an opportunity to practice what we had 

 preached. Basswood was the only source of surplus here this year, the bloom was 

 fairly plenty, and lasted about two weeks. By strict attention early in the season, 

 we had our colonies strong at its commencement, and our new hobby of sections of 

 finished combs all ready. We have secured a paying surplus crop this poor season ; 

 that is, we have at least 50 pounds per colony of splendid white honey, and that 

 pays us well for our labor. But for the preparation named we are quite certain we 

 should have gotten little or no surplus, as we have visited a very intelligent neigh- 

 boring bee-keeper who has 100 fine colonies of Italian bees, but they were managed 

 in the usual way and gave no surplus. In years past a good crop of suplus honey 

 was in our locality quite a certainty, with fair management, but each year it seems 

 to be less certain, and better methods have become a necessity if we are to make it 

 pay. These bad years only compel higher skill and greater knowledge. 



The Marketing of the Honey Crop. — For years we have advised bee-keepers 

 to cultivate local markets. There are many risks in shipping comb honey, especially 

 to distant markets, with the facilities and skill for crating properly possessed by 

 the average bee-keeper. But little comb honey ever reaches its destination without 

 damage and loss to the producer. For some years we have made special effort to 

 introduce extracted honey in our own local markets, and by having our goods of the 

 very highest quality, we have in three seasons easily established a demand for all 

 the liquid honey we can produce. The same can be done in each locality, provided 

 none but first-class, properly cured honey is offered. We advise taking a sample of 

 the honey for testing, visiting the best families in town and country, taking orders 

 and delivering the goods, being careful to have the honey equal or better than 

 the sample. In this way we find a market for all our extracted honey at 12>^ cents 

 per pound. Comb honey can be sold in the same way. This year the crop is so 

 small there is no need of any haste in selling, and those who rush to sell for the first 

 offer are sure to suffer loss. 



Preparing the Bees for Winter. — It is none too early for the wise bee-keeper 

 to begin preparations for winter. This season is such that unless early and wise 

 precautions are taken, there is sure to be heavy loss in the coming winter. Each 

 colony should be examined to see that it has a good queen, and then fed a few 

 ounces of sugar syrup or honey daily until the 15th of September, so that brood- 

 rearing may be kept up, and hives stocked with young beesi for winter. We should 

 not lose faith in our pleasant calling on account of this poor season. The cause was 



