T'HS Mfiammi^mM mbm j&'u^ns.iL, 



311 



The colony that) had to be taken out 

 for a flight, had been disturbed by a 

 rat. 



The bees began to work on elm 

 blossoms on April 14, and kept it up 4 

 daj'S ; they acted as if they were get- 

 ting honey. 



I watch the Bee Journal for all re- 

 ports from Minnesota bee-keepers. I 

 believe this to be a great honey-State, 

 especially near the lakes, where linden 

 abounds. There seems to be always 

 something in our groves for the bees. 



I send a seed-label which came with 

 seed that I tried last year. It is called 

 " honey or bee clover" {Mdilotus cixrii- 

 leus), and came from the United States 

 Department of Agriculture. It is not 

 "sweet clover," but I should call it an 

 aromatic clover. It came into bloom 

 within 6 weeks after sowing, which 

 was right in linden bloom. I did not 

 see a bee on it, and it was gone as 

 soon as the linden. It might do better 

 in a season not so dry, but I think that 

 it is perfectl3' useless here. 



I do not believe that there are over 

 300 colonies of bees in this countj-. 

 The largest apiaries of which I am in- 

 formed, are owned by Mrs. Josiah 

 Smith, who has 50 colonies ; William 

 Sutor, 100 ; Cornell Personrus, 100 ; 

 G. W. Ott, 20 ; F. S. Livermore, 10 ; 

 and J. H. Johnson. 



This list is nearly, if not quite, cor- 

 rect. If those owning 5 or more col- 

 onies in this county (Martin) would 

 send me a statement on a postal card, 

 I should be very much obliged. Also, 

 please state if your bees are wintered 

 in trenches, in the cellar, or in chaff 

 hives ; and also give the per cent, of 

 loss during the past winter. 



Center Chain, Minn., April 21, 1890. 



RUSSIA. 



An Interesting Account of Bee. 

 Keeping in Rnssia. 



Translated for the American Bee Journal 



BY REV. STEPHEN ROESE. 



There is not another country in 

 Europe where bee-keeping can be 

 carried on to such success as in the 

 domains of the Czar of Russia, and no 

 other countrj' is blessed with such 

 large territories of rich honey-yielding 

 heather as Siberia ; nowhere can such 

 immense forests be found as in Western 

 Russia and in Caucasia, and nowhere 

 do we find buckwheat fields, rape, 

 dathe, etc., as in middle Russia, es- 

 pecially Russia Minor. One who has 

 never been in Russia, can form no 

 conceivable idea of the grand forests, 

 hundreds of miles in extent, where 

 bears, wolves, and other wild animals 

 have their home and abode ; and much 



less idea can be formed of the many 

 thousand miles of heather which ex- 

 tend beyond the Ural, where grass and 

 flowers grow in abundance. Bees are 

 kept all over Russia, even at Arch- 

 angel, at the extreme north, at Tirim 

 and Caucasia in the south, and at 

 Siberia in the east. Farmers and 

 noblemen both engage in this pursuit, 

 for profit and pleasure. 



But in spite of all their advantages, 

 bee-keeping in Russia has as yet not 

 been placed on a rational footing — late 

 improved movable-frame hives are not 

 in practice ; in localities where forests 

 are near, hollow trees are used as hives, 

 and such hives are in use among 

 farmers and noblemen. 



About 10 or 15 years ago bee-keepers 

 in Russia had their attention called 

 toward modern improvements, which 

 credit is due to Mr. Butlerow, Profes- 

 sor of Chemistry at Moscow, bee- 

 keeper, and editor of the Russian bee- 

 periodical. 



In northern Russia, Herr Lubarefl", 

 present editor of the Russian bee-per- 

 iodical, has constructed a combination 

 hive, consisting of the Cowan and 

 American hive, which he calls Anglo- 

 Americawiska hive, recommending it 

 in preference to all others as the only 

 one worthy of use. 



In middle Russia, Herr H. Podalsky 

 is the only one manufacturing comb 

 foundation, and sells the same for one 

 rubel (about 55 cents) per pound. 



The Director of the Gymnasium at 

 Kiev, has be come noted by publishing 

 works on apiculture, and introducing 

 a hive called the Lewitzki hive. 



A Mr. Ranmowitsch, priest of the 

 Greek church, also publisher of a 

 practical work on bee-keeping, was 

 the first one who introduced the manip- 

 ulating hive from Galicia into Russian 

 country. 



Honey in the comb is sold only in 

 large cities, such as St. Petersburgh, 

 Moscow, Kiev, Odessa, etc., and not 

 very extensively at that, owing to the 

 extensive sugar manufacturing, which 

 has affected the use and sale of honey 

 very materially. 



Extracted honey is not oftered on 

 the markets in that country, and its 

 use is very limited, but can be pur- 

 chased of Stichomiroff or Podalski in 

 Kursk. The markets in cities, as a 

 rule, carry mostlj- pressed honey, which 

 is not of good flavor, owing to its pro- 

 cess of pi-eparation, the comb contain- 

 ing bee-eggs, larvre, j'oung bees, pol- 

 len, etc., and are loroken up and 

 pressed, and, as a consequence, such 

 honey is not very palatable. A better 

 quality, which is strained, or drained 

 out from the cells, is sold in large 

 cities at high prices — from 50 to 70 

 kopeks per pound. This is the linden 

 honey, clear and fine in flavor. 



In Russia Minor, large quantities of 

 honey are us(!d for " met," witliout 

 which the annual celebration of church 

 consecration cannot be enjoyed. 



A year ago the Consistory (Church 

 Synod) issued a circular to all bee- 

 keepers, requesting them to sell all 

 their beeswax direct to the church 

 (instead of wax-candle manufacturers) 

 for religious worship, on account of 

 too much adulteration ; for the patri- 

 archs, and Greek church rules, de- 

 mand pure lieeswax for such candles. 



As the press and sound literature 

 are the heralds of glad tidings, it is 

 hoped that Russian apiarists will ere 

 long stand in the ranks with modern 

 bee-keepers, represented by numerous 

 periodicals, and keep pace with the 

 body in the onward march. 



Maiden Rock, Wis. 



HIVES. 



Small or Large Hives in Wliicli 

 to Winter Bees. 



Written for the American Bee Journal 

 BY M. L. BARNEY. 



In regard to the article by Mr. A. J. 

 Fisher, on page 2(i5 — "Small Hives vs. 

 Large Hives " — I would say that it is a 

 problem with us all. Certain condi- 

 tions are in favor of both large and 

 small hives, theoretically. The hive 

 that I use, known here as the "Badger 

 State hive," contains 853 cubic inches. 

 I have always wintered my bees in that 

 capacity, and never have had to resort 

 to the sugar-barrel. 



In the spring I keep the bees all 

 closed down until the real honey har- 

 vest has commenced in good earnest, 

 then I put on a super the same size, 

 and may be 2 or 3. When I am ex- 

 tracting, I put aside one full frame of 

 honey to winter on. In the fall I close 

 them down to the main hive, having it 

 full of good honey, and put them into 

 the cellar, where they remain until the 

 willow blooms. I have taken from 

 these diminutive hives 2,400 pounds of 

 honey from 14 colonies, spring count. 

 Taking increase and honey into con- 

 sideration, I think, and do know, that 

 I outstrip ni}- neighbors who use larger 

 hives. 



Now for some facts : I have a win- 

 ter depository that is almost frost- 

 proof, and very dry, and well venti- 

 lated. I put' ray bees into the cellar 

 first, and then come my neighbors and 

 deposit 100 colonies along with mine. 

 We put our bees all out on the same 

 day. My bees are quiet, while the 

 bees put in at the same time, are all in 

 an uneasy condition — and why ? 

 Theirs have as much honey as mine. 



My hives being exactly square, the 

 bees are in a natural condition, and 



