646 



GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTURE 



but during the past year the demand for 

 parcels post has been so insistent, and the 

 spirit of the age has been such, that Con- 

 gress has finally yielded and given us par- 

 cels post on the zone system, the same to 

 become effective next January. While it is 

 to be admitted that the general plan pro- 

 posed is somewhat experimental, yet a 

 movement has been made which, we believe, 

 will result in an effective parcels post. 



CongTess did not deem it practicable to 

 give us the same kind of parcels post that 

 has worked so satisfactorily in nearly all 

 European countries — a system that allows 

 one in Eui'ope to send a jjackage not ex- 

 ceeding 11 lbs. in weight any distance at a 

 certain definite rate. On account of the 

 immense distances in the United States, 

 our lawmakers seemed to feel that any 

 scheme of parcels i^ost with no distance 

 limit, which would be feasible in a small 

 countr}^, might bring a heavy postal deficit 

 in the United States, and so the zone sys- 

 tem as outlined by Dr. Miller on page 648 

 of this issue was adopted. 



We notice that a number of the journals 

 — notably the Scientific Aynerican, believe 

 that the zone system of charge according 

 to the distance the package is to go "will 

 be the most vexatious and annoying feature 

 of the new plan, and contrary to the gen- 

 eral purpose of our postal usage — that is, 

 one rate regardless of distance traveled." 

 We can not help sharing this feeling. 

 Whether the express companies or other 

 "interests" had any thing to do with oppos- 

 ing a scheme of one rate for all distances 

 we do not know. We see no reason why 

 the United States can not carry parcels- 

 post packages to all parts of the United 

 States at the same rate for all distances, if 

 it can send letters, books, and other mat- 

 ter on the same basis. According to the 

 law of average, the long and short dis- 

 tances would equalize at a point that would 

 warrant a uniform rate, and thus avoid the 

 complicated system of the multiplicity of 

 rates we are to have. However, we are 

 not inclined to criticise, but feel, on the 

 other hand, that every loyal American 

 should unite in giving the new plan a care- 

 ful and thorough trial — especially as the 

 Postmaster-General has authority to change 

 the classification of mailable articles, weight 

 limits, rates of postage, or the system of 

 zones. If be is a broad-gauge and far- 

 seeing man — one who can not be influenced 

 by the "interests," well and good. We will 

 assume that he is, and that he will be 

 just that kind of man; therefore we are 

 optimistic concerning the future, and 

 thankful — mighty thankful — that we have 



secured as much as we have. Once the 

 [eople get a chance to try out parcels post 

 they will demand that it be retained. 



The effect of parcels post, we believe, 

 will be to reduce the expressage on bees 

 and honey in small lots. Hitherto the rates 

 have been almost prohibitive on packages 

 weighing over 7 lbs.; but as the express 

 companies have done in the past, so they 

 will do in the future — meet rates of post- 

 age anywhere and every time. They will 

 be compelled to do so and more. This 

 would mean that Ave would be able to send 

 bees in the form of pound packages, or 

 nuclei and full colonies, at rates that will 

 be much more equitable and within reason. 

 It is very possible that we may be able to 

 send bees by mail in pound packages; but 

 we question the wisdom of making the at- 

 tempt, for the reason that some fool (pardon 

 the exi^ression) might send out a package 

 that would let bees loose in the mail car, 

 or in some public place where they would 

 do a great amount of damage. There is 

 no telling what might happen. The Post- 

 master-General or any of his assistants 

 who have unlimited powers to make rules 

 and regulations might bar bees from the 

 mails entirely. 



A STUDY OP THE WORK OF A QUEEN. 



Our cover jjicture for this issue is from 

 a photograph taken by Dr. E. F. Bigelow, 

 Arcadia, Sound Beach, Ct. Dr. Bigelow's 

 explanation of the woi^k of the particular 

 queen that laid these eggs appears on page 

 657, together with two other illustrations. 

 Of course, it is understood that a photo- 

 graph does not reveal the depth of the 

 cell. In a real comb the cell is nearly half 

 an inch deep, so that the egg's are not as 

 easily seen as they ai'e in this picture. 



This cover picture in many ways pre- 

 sents an interesting study. It shows that 

 the best of queens, even when there is 

 plenty of room, may lay two eggs in one 

 cell. Right in this connection, however, 

 it may be well to point out that, when there 

 is more than one egg in a cell, the queen 

 may not- be responsible. The trouble may 

 be due to a lack of room, in which ease 

 the queen literally drops eggs promiscu- 

 ously about the comb, very often not get- 

 ting them into the cells at all. At such 

 times the workers pick up these eggs, and 

 it would not be at all strange if they placed 

 them in the cells, for at certain times of 

 the year it is not uncommon to find cells 

 which contain even as many as ten or fif- 

 teen eggs. A beginner confronted by these 

 conditions, and having heard something 

 about laying workers, is apt to conclude 



