542 



GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTURE 



Notes from Canada 



J. L. Byee, Mt. Joy, Ont. 



A letter from one of the best-known api- 

 arists in Illinois saj^s, "We are still feeding 

 our bees, and expect to for another month, 

 as there is hardly a clover blossom in our 

 section, and we can get no honey till the 

 fall flow." While conditions were not so 

 bad in our section, jet a statement like 

 that in the latter end of June made me 

 think that we should be veiy thankful that 

 things are as good as they are. 



Clover has been very scarce in many 

 parts of Ontario tliis j^ear; but prospects 

 are exceptionally good for another season, 

 as the spring "catch" is one of the best 

 for many years. Alsike seed is very high 

 in price, and the many fields now covered 

 with a growth of tliis clover will he left 

 for seed another year. Given a normal 

 winter, things certainly look good for next 

 season; and beekeepers will, no doubt, see 

 that their stock is put in good condition 

 for the winter, whether it be a mild or 

 severe one. Extra good preparation does 

 no harm, even if a moderate winter should 

 come ; and if extra severe, the precautions 

 taken will rej^ay tenfold all attention given. 



Unseasonably cool weather during all of 

 basswood bloom jDrevented much honey 

 being gathered, even if basswood did make 

 the best showing for ten years. However, 

 basswood lasted nearly three weeks, and 

 considerable honey came in along with the 

 thistle — the latter plant yielding better 

 than for some time. Prosj^ects are now 

 good for buckwheat if we get warm 

 weather; and, by the way, we have had 

 less warm weather this jDast summer than 

 the "oldest inhabitant" can recall during 

 any other year. However, a medium crop 

 has been secured by all I have heard from; 

 and as bees are in fine condition there 

 should be no great kick coming from the 

 fraternity, especially when pieces are good 

 and the demand practically unlimited. 



Recently we have seen some statements 

 in the bee journals which would go to 

 prove that spraying fruit-trees while in 

 bloom is not injurious to bees. While I am 

 at all times open to conviction, it will take 

 a good deal of substantial evidence to con- 

 vince me that bees do not suffer severely 

 when spraying is done at this time, and I 

 believe a great deal of evidence, thorough- 



ly reliable, can be given to prove the op- 

 posite. Indeed, I think it is very unfor- 

 tunate that the non-poisoning theory 

 should be given any prominence, for some 

 men would be only too glad for a chance 

 to go back to the old way. I say "some 

 men," and by this I do not include the 

 well-informed fruit-grower, as he knows 

 that the bees are his friends, and will take 

 no chances on killing them on the blos- 

 soms, esjjecially when he has, in addition 

 to this, learned that the blossoms are in- 

 jured when sprayed while in full bloom. 



On page 166 Will Jensen makes some as- 

 tounding claims for the i^lan he advocates 

 for doing away with spring dwindling. Be- 

 ing as far south as Texas, I am made to 

 wonder how it is that he has so many weak 

 colonies as to be able to figui'e out that he 

 saves 97 per cent each year by the plan. If 

 I understand the plan correctly, he compels 

 the bees to extend their brood area by di- 

 viding the combs with a sheet of founda- 

 tion — the last thing the most of us would 

 think of — well, he may be all right for his 

 "locality;" but, as the Scotchman would 

 say, "I hae my doots." [If we ai'e not mis- 

 taken, Mr. Jensen's expei'ience has been in 

 Virginia chiefly, this year being his first in 

 Texas.— Ed.] 



Weather has been very hot during past 

 few weeks, and that reminds me of a rather 

 amusing thing that happened in Toronto 

 last week. Needless to say, many of our 

 American cousins have some queer notions 

 as to the condition of Canada, climatic and 

 otherwise; and, judging by letters I have 

 received, many think we never have any 

 warm weather up here. Any way, last 

 week the International Association of Po- 

 lice Chiefs held their convention in Toron- 

 to, and Secretary Carr took the care, when 

 sending out circulars of instructions to del- 

 egates that were coming, to advise them to 

 bring heavy underwear and light overcoats 

 with them. Many of them did so, and one 

 can imagine how they felt about it when 

 they found the heat so intense. The chief 

 from St. Louis said it had his city "beat to 

 a frazzle," to use a current expression ; and 

 when next time they visit Canada they will 

 hesitate about following their secretary's 

 advice, even if the convention should be 

 held in January. 



