610 



GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTURE 



tain a large quantity of hot water, which 

 prevents the slumgum from chilling. There 

 is no heat underneath while the pressing 

 is going on. 



The relation of bees to flowers and fruit 

 comes in for a very clear explanation with 

 illustrations. If all Canadian fruit men 

 could read this part of the bulletin they 

 would see at once the tremendously im- 

 portant part that the bees have in ac- 

 complishing the pollination of the blos- 

 soms. 



Residents of Canada can probably ob- 

 tain this bulletin free of charge, the num- 

 ber of which is 69, by addressing The 

 Government Printing Bureau, Ottawa, 

 Canada. 



NOT ENOUGH OF COMB HONEY IN PROPOR- 

 TION TO THE AMOUNT OF EXTRACTED 

 HONEY PRODUCED. THE VALUE OF SUPERS 

 FOR THE PRODUCTION OF BOTH COMB AND 

 EXTRACTED HONEY. 



A REVIEW of the market for several is- 

 sues back would seem to indicate too much 

 extracted and not enough comb of No. 1 

 quality. We intend to ijreach the doc- 

 trine of producing more comb until con- 

 ditions are more nearly equalized. We are 

 glad to note an increasing demand for 

 comb-honey supers adapted to the produc- 

 tion of both comb and extracted honey. 

 The two outside rows have extracting- 

 eombs, while the center rows have sections 

 with full sheets and bottom sheets. As 

 the season tapers otf, as it is bound to do, 

 the driblets of honey are lodged in the 

 extraeting-combs on the outside, while the 

 sections in the center, if the management 

 has been right, will be filled so as to make 

 a No. 1 or choice comb honey. Such su- 

 pers also, besides eliminating to a great 

 extent unfinished sections that never ought 

 to be put on the market, are well adapted 

 to localities where the honey-flow is of 

 short duration, making it possible to se- 

 cure only a limited number of sections. 

 But because the seasons have been poor 

 of late, producers have been running more 

 and more to extracted. A weak colony 

 in a good season or a strong colony in a 

 l)oor season will produce more in extract- 

 ing-supers than in comb; and this is one 

 potent reason why there has been a drop- 

 ping-off in the production of comb in favor 

 of extracted. But a combination super, it 

 should be understood, eliminates to a 

 great extent the difficulty of producing 

 comb honey with a weak colony in a good 

 season, or a strong colony in a poor sea- 

 son. Producers will be making up their 

 orders for sui^plies soon for the coming 

 year. Many of them, if not all, will do 



well to try out the combination supers. 

 Some of our most extensive beemen now 

 recognize their efficiency, and are using 

 them in a large way. Among this number 

 we would mention Mr. E. D. Townsend, 

 of Remus, Mich., well known to our read- 

 ers. 



A NEW^ SPECIAL NUMBER SUGGESTED. 



In response to our request for ideas on 

 special numbers, there have been a num- 

 ber of ideas suggested, concerning which 

 we shall probably have something to say 

 later on. At this time we wish to men- 

 tion an idea given us by Mr. Morley Pet- 

 tit, Provincial Apiarist at the Apicultural 

 Department of the Ontario Agi'icultural 

 College. We give his letter herewith in 

 full. 



In reference to special numbers of Gleanings, 

 I have appreciated and enjoyed them very much. 

 The idea is an excellent one. 



There is a difference of opinion among some of 

 our Canadian beekeepers in out-apiary manage- 

 ment as to whether it is better to have a com- 

 plete outfit at each apiary, and travel from one 

 apiary to another with a horse and buggy, motor 

 cycle, bicycle, or automobile. On the other hand, 

 some consider it much better to have one settled 

 establishment, and then use a team or motor truck 

 to haul the supers home for extracting, bringing 

 every thing home in the fall and then again in the 

 spring. 



As a number of our beekeepers are considering 

 establishing out-apiaries, and others are dissatis- 

 fied with their present arrangements, it seems to 

 me a discussion of this most important question 

 in a special number would be of value some time 

 before spring. 



We believe this kind of special number 

 would prove very loractical. We are here 

 reminded of the fact that quite a large 

 nitmber of our readers have written, ex- 

 Ijressing appreciation of the automobile 

 number, and requesting that we have an- 

 other one. Now, it occurs to us that a 

 good deal of helpful material along this 

 line would be very appropriate in this 

 special number on equipment. In other 

 words, if you believe in a central extract- 

 ing plant, and use automobiles or auto- 

 trucks to carry the combs to it, let us hear 

 from you, and, if possible, give us good 

 clear photographs of the truck that you 

 use, and also of your extracting plant. 



On the other hand, if you have an ex- 

 tracting outfit at each apiary, and make 

 the trip with your helper to do the work, 

 and then later have the honey hauled 

 home, let us have the particulars, with 

 reasons why you think the plan is the 

 most economical. 



There is a third plan which quite a 

 number follow, and this is to have a port- 

 able extracting outfit — really an extracting- 

 house on wheels. This is drawn from yard 

 to yard, the honey being hauled on the 

 return trip. 



Then there has been in the past quite 



