GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTURE 



Undecided whether to use smoke at the entrance, 



with propolis. In the part of Texas in 

 which I Uve the bees gather a large amount 

 of propolis. 



I have all my bees in one apiary, but I 

 can examine them now and find that the 

 hives containing frames of my own make, 

 with half-inch bottom-bars, are almost all 

 filled out with comb which is fastened se- 

 curely to the bottom-bar, while the hives 

 containing factory-made frames with quar- 

 ter-inch bottom-bars have the comb coming 

 within half or quarter of an inch of the 

 bottom-bar, and in some instances fastened 

 to it. I do not mention this in a boasting 

 way, but simply in connection with my 

 experience with hees and frame hives. 



Has any one made similar observation? 

 If so, I wish to hear about it. I stopped 

 making my own frames, although I know 

 how to handle tools, because I think I can 

 buy frames much more cheaply than I can 

 make them by hand. If frames with half- 

 inch bottom-bars were manufactured I 

 would have no other. 



Washington, Texas. 



BEEKEEPING IN CINCINNATI, A MILE FROM 

 THE HEART OF THE CITY 



BY ALBIN PLATZ 



Believing that it maybe of interest to the 

 readers of Gleanings to learn of the feasi- 

 bility of keeping bees profitably and with- 

 out the slightest danger or annoyance to 

 neighbors or passersby in large cities, I ven- 

 ture to write a few lines on the subject, and 

 enclose a couple of photos of my little api- 

 ary. My work confining me indoors eight 

 hours and more everyday (I am a letter dis- 

 tributor in the Cincinnati postoffice) , I look 

 ed about for some means of recreation in 

 the open air and sunlight. In beekeeping I 

 found every thing and more that T could 

 have wished for. it is, without doubt, one 



of the most fascinating 

 and healthful of recrea- 

 tions. I keep my colo- 

 nies (seven Italians and 

 one Banat) in the rear 

 of my yard, which 

 measures but 34x126 

 feet. My home is situ- 

 ated on Mt. Auburn, a 

 thickly populated sub- 

 urb of Cincinnati, and 

 within one mile of the 

 heart of the city itself. 

 I have often been 

 asked whether bees are 

 not a nuisance to my 

 neighbors and others. 

 Oecidedly they are not, 

 and I have yet to hear 

 of any one being stung 

 by my bees, or annoyed 

 in any way. My little 

 boy, of three years, oft- 

 en plays among the 

 hives, and even climbs on top of them, and 

 still the bees do not molest him. I have 

 never heard a complaint — in reality, most 

 people are interested in the little creatures, 

 and it often keeps me busy answering ques- 

 tions regarding them. 



As regards the amount of honey secured, 

 despite the limited pasturage, my bees do 

 pretty well. Last year was a complete fail- 

 ure, and, moreover, American foul brood 

 was very prevalent in this locality; but in 

 1910 I started the season with four colonies; 

 increased to 6; secured 300 lbs. of fine 

 extracted honey, and about 25 lbs. more in 

 sealed combs, which I held over the winter. 

 My honey sells readily for 20 cts. per lb., 

 and the demand exceeds by far the supply; 

 so it is very evident that bees are profitable 

 as well as a pleasure. 



I am sure the gentle art of apiculture is 

 steadily growing in popularity in this city; 

 for in the last few years quite a few recruits 



Apiary of Albin Platz, in the back of a city lot, 

 Cincinnati, Ohio. 



