430 



GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTURE 



the Hand switch-lever bottom board for 

 controlling swarming, author of "Beekeep- 

 ing by Twentieth-century Methods" (pub- 

 lished by the A. 1. Root Co., 50 cents), a 

 chicken fancier, as well as a honey-produc- 

 er, has had a relapse of his old nervous 

 trouble, and it is feared he will never re- 

 cover sufficiently to be able to take up his 

 business again. 



For two or three years back he has been 

 quite extensively engaged in the rearing of 

 queen-bees of a liigh class ; and our readers 

 will remember his discovery of feeding bees 

 a thin sugar syrup, made of nine parts of 

 water and one of sugar, in outdoor feeders 

 in such away as to eliminate all robbing 

 during a dearth of honey, and yet keep 

 queen-rearing going on at full headway. 

 Mr. Hand is an original genius — keen, alert ; 

 and his many friends will be soiTy to know 

 of the infliction that has been visited on 

 him. He is now in the hospital for treat- 

 ment where it is hoped that he may be re- 

 stored to his former health. 



Mrs. Hand writes tliat all money sent for 

 queens that her husband could not send has 

 been returned. There will be no use, of 

 course, in sending in any more orders ; and 

 if there is any of his correspondence that 

 has been neglected by Mr. Hand, we feel 

 sure that Mrs. Hand will be able to take 

 the matter up. Address her at Birming- 

 ham, Erie Co., Ohio. 



HONEY-CROP REPORTS UP TO JULY 9. 



We are having a remarkable flow of clo- 

 ver honey in Northern Ohio ; and if the sea- 

 son were as good all over the United States 

 as we are having here, and there were 

 enough bees to gather it, the honey market 

 would be glutted in short order. We have 

 had practically four weeks of clover; and 

 it looks now, July 9, as if we might have 

 two more weeks of it. Bees are booming at 

 all our outyards; and swarming — it took 

 lis so completely by surprise that we were 

 unprepared for it. The region around 

 Zanesville, 0., is likewise reporting a re- 

 markable yield from clover. 



Apparently the yield of clover honey has 

 not been as good elsewhere in the United 

 States; but from reports that are now in, 

 there wdll be far more clover honey pro- 

 duced this year than for some time past. 

 Clover seems to be yielding best in the cen- 

 tral and eastern States — more particularly 

 the central. Indiana and Illinois, however, 

 have so far not m!ade much of a showing. 

 Some parts of Canada will have a large 

 yield, and other parts only a fair one. 



There have been several good reports from 

 the East, particularly around New York, 

 Philadelpliia, and Washington. Excellent 



yields have been reported in Maryland, 

 some parts of West Virginia, Kentucky, 

 and Alabama; Missouri poor and Kansas 

 good. Reports from the New England 

 States are scattering. So far no large yield 

 has been reported. There will be some 

 clover honey in Michigan, Minnesota, and 

 Wisconsin, with a little basswood. 



Colorado will have a fair yield, prob- 

 ably. 



Reports are unfavorable from California. 

 Some orange has been produced, but there 

 appears to be but very little sage. Winter 

 losses have been reported in some of the 

 other western irrigation States; and while 

 alfalfa will furnish nectar as usual, there 

 will be fewer bees to gather it. 



Prospects in Pecos Valley, New Mexico, 

 are poor. 



In Texas the season has been poor, and 

 the same is true of Florida. Some of the 

 other southern States report a very good 

 yield. 



Taking it all in all, it is our opinion that 

 there will be a better crop of Northern 

 wliite-clover honey harvested than usual; 

 a fair crop of alfalfa, and a light crop of 

 sage. Prices in the East, on account of 

 clover, may be a little easier than last 

 year; but for the present they should hold 

 about the same, for the reason that no ac- 

 curate estimate of the crop can be given 

 as yet. 



In the meantime, we request our sub- 

 scribers and others to continue sending in 

 reports of what the season has been. Make 

 the reports short — not more than two or 

 three sentences^ 



DENATURED ALCOHOL FOR REMOVING PROPOLIS 



FROM . SECTIONS ; ELIMINATING GLASS 



FROM SHIPPING CASES. 



S. N. Hathaway, page 454 of tliis issue, 

 recommends removing propolis with dena- 

 tured alcohol, which is now comparatively 

 cheap. We see no reason why the scheme 

 should not work. 



We wish to call particular attention to 

 what our correspondent has to say on the 

 subject of using no glass in shipping cases. 

 While we endorse what he says in a foot- 

 note, we feel that the matter is so important 

 that we desire to give it further reinforce- 

 ment here. 



The use of glass very materially weakens 

 a shipping case. The wider the glass, the 

 frailer the case. A weak or wobbly case 

 breaks a good many sections. 



The front row of sections as seen through 

 the glass very often, and we may say gen- 

 erally, does not tell the truth as to the kind 

 of combs beliind them. It is not necessary 

 any more to have glass in the front of the 



