Feb. 9, 1905. 



THE AMERICAN BEE JOURNAL. 



103 



from the far side of the trees and go to the far side of the 

 orchard or to some secluded place ; but the sentinels con- 

 tinue to chirp on even until you begin to disappear under 

 the outer branches of the very tree they are perched upon.' 



"Well", says Mr. Williams, " I will bring- out a cot 

 and blankets and stop here nights and see what is going on 

 in the orchard in the early morning." 



I have not seen Mr. W. since, but as he has allowed 

 some bee-keeper to keep an apiary in his orchard through- 

 out the past and one other fruit season, it can be pretty 

 certainly guessed what his conclusions were. 



Los Angeles Co., Calif. 



(£onr>cntion 

 Procccbings 



Report of the Nebraska State Convention. 



The annual meeting of the Nebraska State Bee-Keepers' 

 Association was held at the State Farm Experiment Station 

 building Monday afternoon, Jan. 16, 190S. In the absence 

 of the president, E. Whitcomb, who has not missed a ses- 

 sion in ten years, the meeting was called to order by the 

 vice-president, L. H. Trester. C. E. Eewellyn was chosen 

 chairman of the meeting. 



Much interest was shown by all bee-keepers present, 

 and many questions were fully discussed in regard to the 

 care and handling of bees. The treatment and possible 

 cure of foul brood was discussed at some length. Though 

 this disease is not found in many apiaries in Nebraska, it is 

 the pest of the bee-keeping industry, and all wide-awake 

 bee-keepers are ever on the alert to afvoid its spreading. 



The climatic influence on bees brought forth many 

 points of interest. A bee-keeper from California mentioned 

 the fact that alfalfa honey in California was almost taste- 

 less, while Nebraska alfalfa honey was more delicious in 

 flavor. This is probably due to the kind of nectar secreted 

 in the flowers in different climates. 



The one question of great importance to the bee-keeper 

 was how to produce the most honey with the fewest number 

 of bees. This question seemed best settled by resorting to 

 artificial swarming, that is, to make it possible for the bees 

 to swarm when the bee-keeper desired, and avoid allowing 

 them to swarm when the bees took a notion. Too much 

 swarming will dwindle a colony, and when the honey-flow 

 is on the colony may be too weak to gather enough honey 

 to last them through the winter. During the past season 

 the air seemed to be filled with runaway swarms flying in 

 many directions. They would lodge under the siding of 

 residences, hang in trees, on bushes, go into old boxes, and 

 often in hives that were set to catch these stray swarms. 

 This not only shows the prolific inclination of the busy 

 bee, but the neglect of the bee-keeper in allowing his new 

 swarms to escape and be gathered up by others, or to be 

 wasted by taking quarters where they will be of no profit 

 to any one. 



The industry of bee-keeping is only in its infancy in 

 Nebraska. The past year has been the most prosperous in 

 the history of bee-keeping in the State. The display made 

 at the State Fair last year was a sample of the products, 

 and many were surprised at the fine display of both quan- 

 tity and quality. The growth of this industry is noticeable, 

 and, notwithstanding the abundant crop, honey is still held 

 at a fair price ; the demand for it is growing each year, and 

 the bee-keeper is inspired to put forth another effort and 

 produce a supply equal to the demand. 



The meeting, on the whole, was full of interest, and 

 many new members were taken into the Association. Bee- 

 keepers throughout the State would profit by making a 

 great effort to attend these meetings, as subjects are dis- 

 cussed which will help them as no other means can. 



At the close of the discussion the following officers were 

 elected for the coming year : President, C. E. Lewellyii ; 

 vice-president, L. O. Westcott ; secretary and treasurer. 

 Miss Lillian E. Trester, of Lincoln. 



Next year the Association expects to have a honey ex- 

 hibit, and all bee-keepers of the State are expected to bring 

 something of interest to the meeting at that time. 



Through the columns of the American Bee Journal we 

 wish to tell the bee-keepers that they are missing something 



when they fail to meet the brother bee-keepers and enter 

 into the discussions brought out in these meetings. If you 

 are not already a member of the Nebraska Association, 

 write to the secretary at once, and enroll yourself either as 

 a yearly or life member, and then plan to be present at the 

 annual meeting next year, both to receive and give help. 



Lillian E. Trester, Sec. 



(Dur^Stster 

 Beekeepers 



"\ 



Conducted by Emma M. Wilson, Marengo, 111. 



Feeding- Bees in an Observatory Hive. 



Jf 



On page 40 is an inquiry by " New Jersey," in regard 

 to feeding bees in an observation hive, and I am moved to 

 give my method, which has proved very successful. 



Get or make a small box 4 or 5 inches square, and about 

 2 inches deep, with movable cover. Cut a round hole in the 

 cover of a size to take in a pint Mason jar inverted, on the 

 principle of the Boardman feeder. Bore a |s -inch hole in 

 the end of the hive, which is in the room, half an inch from 

 the bottom. Bore the same size hole in one side of the box, 

 then match the holes together and screw the box to the hive. 

 Of course one must either have a special cap for the can, or 

 else break out the porcelain lining and punch holes in an 

 ordinary cover, or you can put a small saucer in the box and 

 feed in that. Ella C. Shepard. 



Middlesex Co., Mass. 



Busy, but Storing Nothing-— Other Difficulties. 



I have had a few colonies of bees for five years now, 

 and have tried to do my best for them, from no experience 

 and with only the guidance of books. May I tell you just 

 what I did this year, and will you criticise ? 



First, I have only alfalfa, fruit-blossoms and honey- 

 locust for them. There may be a few wild flowers, but 

 nothing in any quantity. We have a good deal of hard, 

 south wind in the spring and summer, and the mercury 

 goes to 110 degrees sometimes, but for three months usually 

 above 9S degrees at midday. When I started with the bees 

 I was told that the wind would be a serious difificulty, so I 

 have put the hives on the north side of a high mulberry 

 hedge, so that they are well shaded and protected from 

 wind. Another hedge, SO or 60 feet north, protects them 

 from north winds in winter, and I leave them there all win- 

 ter. So far as I can judge they have always wintered very 

 well. 



For the season of 1904, this is their history : I reduced 

 to two colonies in the fall of 1903. April 1 I took out the 

 winter packing. They seemed vigorous and busy. I had 

 in May two swarms from each colony, all nicely settled in 

 the hives with full frames of comb, mostly empty. Alfalfa 

 blooms, and the first crop is ready to cut usually by May 15 

 or 20. All went well, alfalfa blooming freely, never more 

 so, I think. The bees seemed busy, and I looked for much 

 honey. They continued all summer to seem busy. The 

 largest, strongest colony, to my surprise, swarmed in July. 

 I looked through the hives about once in two weeks, and all 

 was well, as far as I could tell — plenty of brood and bees, 

 but almost no honey. The three latest swarms stored none 

 at all ; the two early in June should have done so, I thought. 

 I took off in all about 100 pounds of honey, almost none of 

 it first-class. I have no method of manipulation except to 

 try to keep them supplied with queens, and to feed in the 

 fall if there seems to be the least chance of shortage ; in 

 fact, I have always fed some. The two queens for the 

 original colonies were bought in July, 1903, and the young 

 queens are their offspring. I bought leather-colored Ital- 

 ians, and they looked like fine ones. I had to feed strongly 

 last fall ; the hives were very light. What do you think 

 could have been the cause ? One year I had 200 pounds of 

 comb honey from one colony — a swarm of May 15, a double 

 swarm, I think. That is, two that looked like separate 

 swarms alighted on the same tree. I gave them two hives, 

 but^they all went into one. 



I shall be very much obliged for any criticism and sug- 



