336 



AMERICAN BEE JOURNAL. 





VARIOUS ISOTES A^D COMMBXXS. 



BY DR. C. C. MILLER. 



Feeding Bees for Winter. — The answers to the question about feeding (page 

 270) leave one somewhat mixed up as to what is best to do. Some advise to feed as 

 soon as possible, even in August, while others advise to wait as long as possible in 

 hopes fall flowers may yet yield. 



I can't say for other localities, but in northern Illinois I feel safer not to put off 

 feeding very late. Sometimes the bees gather as late as the last of September, but 

 oftener not. I think I would rather run the risk of taking something away if they 

 are too full, than to wait till late with the risk of having freezing weather catch me 

 with empty combs or unsealed stores. 



I generally fed as fast as the bees would take it, but I'm getting to believe I'd 

 rather have the feed so thin that the bees shall take some time at it. If the theory 

 is correct, that formic acid is furnished by the bees through the circulation, then it 

 is likely that the bees will have a better chance by having the feed thin as nectar. 



Somewhat Surprised. — Hello ! what's this ? Page 272 opens up on some- 

 thing that doesn't look just like the " Old Reliable," but it says American Bee 

 Journal at the top, so it must be all right. Don't know for certain just how I do 

 like it. When any of my old friends come out in a new rig, I must get used to it 

 before I really like it. Makes a very pretty page, even if it does look like a stranger, 

 so I suppose I'll get used to it, and as there are just eight pages of that kind thrown 

 in the middle of the number, itsets me to wondering whether possibly Miss Godfreys- 

 has been giving free reign to a woman's taste. 



Brace and Burr Combs. — Bro. Doolittle, what are you thinking of, to come 

 out as you do on page 272 at this late day ? The time for it was when such earn- 

 est struggles were being made to get rid of brace-combs, and not after the struggle 

 is pretty much over, and we have found how to prevent them. But then it is only 

 fair to say that you entered your protest long ago. 



7/ you are right, that " for every pound of honey stored in the brood-nest at the 

 commencement of the season, or honey harvest, there will be five pounds less stored 

 in the sections," and that bees commence much sooner with brace-combs, then we 

 ought to cultivate brace-combs. 



I don't suppose it's necessary to call you a liar, but if I could be sot down for 

 half an hour at your pleasant home we'd have a comfortable fight over your posi- 

 tion. In the first place, don't the bees always commence storing in the brood-nest 



