410 



THE AMERICAN BEE JOURNAL. 



Jwne 25, 



than to prevent it in the first place. Some bees will protect 

 themselves better than others, blacks, as a rule, making a less 

 defence than Italians. If a colony pf moderate strength will 

 allow itself to be robbed, better change the stock for some- 

 thing of better blood. If a weak colony has trouble defend- 

 ing itself, help it by closing the entrance partly. In some 

 cases it may be necessary to allow an entrance only large 

 enough for one bee to pass at a time. In a bad case of rob- 

 bing, pile hay or straw in front of the hive and around it, and 

 keep the hay well wetted by pouring or spraying water upon it. 

 A weak queenless colony will sometimes give up to rob- 

 bers, and nothing you can do seems to be of any use. The 

 only thing is to break it up. But be careful about taking out 

 of the way a hive upon which the robbers have been at work. 

 If you take the hive away bodily, the robbers will not under- 

 stand it, and will suppose it is somewhere in the neighbor- 

 hood, and will make a desperate assault upon one of the 

 nearest colonies. But if you leave it until the robbers have 

 emptied it, the neighboring colonies will likely not be dis- 

 turbed. If, however, you leave a similar hive in place of the 

 one removed, the bees will work upon that. Leave a comb, 

 or piece of comb, in the hive with a little honey in it, and 

 when the robbers finish that they will be satisfied without at- 

 tacking neighboring colonies. 



Several Questions About Carniolan Bees. 



1. What is a silver-gray Carniolan ? 



2. Are they more prolific than Italians ? 



3. Are they better nectar-gatherers? 



4. Are they any better than Italians ? 



5. Are they any hardier than Italians ? 



6. Are they proof against the bee-moth? 



7. Are they any larger or smaller than the Italians? 



8. Which is the better, in your opinion, Italian or Car- 

 niolan ? 



9. Would a cross between them be of any value ? 



10. Do they rob as much as Italians or blacks ? 



11. Will they work in the supers earlier than Italians ? 

 Any other information that you can furnish through the 



" Old Reliable " will be very thankfully received by the un- 

 dersigned. J. B. D. 



Answers. — 1. Carniolans are sometimes called silver-gray 

 Carniolans to distinguish them from those that are more or 



less mixed with other races, so silver-gray Carniolans are 

 simply Carniolans. They come from Carniola, Austria, and 

 at a hasty glance might be called common black bees. In- 

 deed, so close is the resemblance that some good authorities 

 have said the difference could be easily distinguished, but 

 could not be described. I think, however, that you will have 

 no difficulty in distinguishing them at sight by noticing the 

 distinct white rings on the abdomen, that the common black 

 bee does not possess. 



2. From all the testimony given, they are fully as prolific 

 as, Italians ; hardly more so. 



3. I think not. 



4. Yes, they are the gentlest of all races, according to 

 the testimony of those who have handled them much, while 

 others say they are very savage. These conflicting statements 

 probably come from the fact that some which have been sent 

 out as pure were not so, or else that a very great difference 

 exists in different colonies. 



5. The claim has been made that they are hardier, and 

 as they come from a comparatively cool climate one would 

 expect them to be hardy. 



6. I have never seen such claim made, neither have I 

 seen the objection made that they succumb readily to the 

 moth, so I suppose in that respect they do not diiJer from 

 Italians. 



7. The workers are said to be larger than Italians. I 

 have never seen but a few specimens, and I think you would 

 not readily notice any difference in size. 



8. From the fact that I have never kept Carniolans, my 

 personal opinion would be of little value. Some speak very 

 highly of them, but after being introduced into this country a 

 number of years, they do not seem to grow in popularity. In- 

 deed, the statement has been repeatedly made that no pure 

 Carniolans can now be found in this country, and their great 

 swarming propensities form an undesirable trait. In their 

 favor is the whiteness of their cappings. 



9. With proper selection a desirable cross might be ob- 

 tained. 



10 and 11. I do not know that there is any difference. If 

 you have Italians, you may do well not to change for Carnio- 

 lans till you have tried the latter on a small scale. 



Questioj;)'Box> 



In the multitude of counsellors there is 

 safety. — Prov. 11-14. 



Section Folding and Foundation 

 Fastening in One Machine. 



Query 19.— What obiections. It' any, are 

 there to the combination of section-folding 

 and foundation-fasteniug: in one machine? — 

 Colorado. 



E. France — I have no objections. 



G. M. Doolittle — I never tried the com- 

 bination. 



R. L. Taylor — None, if the machine 

 works well. 



P. H. Elwood — I have never used a 

 folding-section. 



W. R. Graham — I have no objections 

 to such a machine. 



Chas. Dadant & Son — There are sev- 

 eral of these machines made. 



Dr. J. P. H. Brown — I have no experi- 

 ence with the "combination." 



C. H. Dibbern — None at all, if the 

 machine will do both equally well. 



H. D. Cutting — No objection if the 

 machine does its work satisfactorily. 



Eugene Secor — None that I know of, 

 if the combined machine does the work 

 well. 



Dr. C. C. Miller — I don't know of any 

 if the work is done as well and as 

 quickly. 



James A. Stone — I cannot see any, 

 though on trial I do not know how it 

 might be. 



Allen Pringle — If the machine will do 

 both efficiently and expeditiously, I can 

 see no objections. 



W. G. Larrabee — I do not see what 

 objection there can be if the work is 

 done just as well. 



Prof. A. J. Cook — The more good work 

 any machine does, the better. I have 

 used no such machine. 



J. M. Hambaugh— If such a machine 

 can be made to work aerfectly, it would 

 be an acquisition to honey-producing 

 paraphernalia. 



Rev. M. Mahin — If such a machine 

 can be made, I do not know of any ob- 

 jection against it. All would depend 

 upon the machine. 



B. Taylor — I never used one, and do 

 not know. As a general principle, I do 



not favor combination machines. In my 

 shop, each class of work is done on a 

 special machine. 



Mrs. L. Harrison — I never used a ma- 

 chine in folding sections. Too much 

 pleasure in doing it the old way ; it's a 

 long time since I've had the pleasure. 



Emerson T. Abbott — None, if the work 

 is done as effectively and as rapidly. 

 Generallyspeaking, "combinations " are 

 not the most desirable things in the 

 world. 



J. E. Pond — None whatever, that I can 

 see. Economy both of time and expense 

 is the point to be provided for, and 

 should be the end sought after in ex- 

 perimental apiculture. 



G. W. Oemaree — Nobody objects, I 

 presume. But the combination is im- 

 practicable, nevertheless. I use a little 

 machine devised by John Reese, of this 

 State, that squares the sections by sim- 

 ply pressing a little treadle with the 

 foot; and I fix the "starters" in place 

 by a little machine of my own devising, 

 that does the work by a slight pressure 

 of one hand. 



Bee-Keeper's Gaide— see page 412. 



