Gleanings in Bee Culture 



WITH OUR READERS AND ADVERTISERS 



BUYING QUEENS. 



Owing to a number of letters which have reached the advertising depart- 

 ment in years past regarding subscribers' transactions with queen-breeders, 

 we think it not out of place here to give our readers some idea of the difficul- 

 ties under which queen-breeders work, and an idea as to what might reason- 

 ably be expected from the different classes of breeders. 



In the first place, any breeder's ability to fill early orders promptly de- 

 pends altogether upon weather conditions during the early spring months. 

 Cold winds and unsettled weather make it impossible to rear quantities of 

 queens successfully, and some of our best breeders are often two or three weeks 

 late in getting started in spite of the most carefully laid plans. After breed- 

 ino- is well under way, a buyer may reasonably expect very prompt service 

 from the older and larger breeders. Small breeders are sometimes handicapped 

 by various conditions which will be explained later. 



Most of our readers will recognize at a glance the older breeders, about 

 whom there need be no question as to quality of stock or ability to fill orders 

 promptly. The very fact that these breeders have advertised to a greater or 

 less degree year after year establishes their reputation for fair dealing. It 

 takes time and experience to develop the queen-rearing business to the stage 

 where the breeder himself can be absolutely sure of the quality of his stock 

 and his ability to handle orders satisfactorily. 



On the other hand, new breeders and advertisers are constantly entering 

 the fields who are worthy of attention; and ofttimes, if the buyer is willing to 

 take a little risk as to quality of stock and abilily to fill orders promptly, he 

 may get something really good at a lower price. The queen-rearing business 

 is however, very uncertain for the small breeder, and he will often find him- 

 self embarrassed by lack of stock and inability to fill orders promptly in the 

 rush season. This may t>e due to a variety of reasons. A breeder who has 

 had some success in an amateur way sometimes decides to enter the commer- 

 cial field that complete equipment and rather larger facilities are necessary 



to handle even a small business successfully. Orders come in very rapidly 

 sometimes during the rush season, and a breeder is caught short before he 

 realizes that his equipment is too small to produce the results necessary to 

 supply his trade satisfactorily. A sudden change in the weather may kill the 

 larva>; cold winds may prevent mating, with a consequent loss of virgins; a 

 sudden dearth of honey may cause a lack of desirable drones. Lacking the 

 experience necessary to guard against those conditions, salvation lies in 

 promptly returning remittances sent, with a frank statement of the circum- 

 stances; for no beekeeper can afford to wait for queens in the height of the 

 season;'and, in our opinion, it is always well for the buyer to ask for a prompt 

 return of the remittance unless the order can be filled at once. This obviates 

 misunderstandings and delays. 



We take pains not to admit advertisements of breeders untiFthey have 

 given us some information regarding their equipment and methods, and an 

 assurance that they will fill orders promptly. Having done this \\e must ask 

 our readers to be equally discriminating in sending in their orders. 



