878 



THE AMERICAN BEE JOURNAL 



Dec. 21, 1905 



shoe, much smaller than Italian or Carniolan drones ; the 

 queens are not large, quite dark, with bronze or copper- 

 yellow spots on their under sides ; very pcolific. Both 

 queens and workers are quite nervous under manipulation, 

 but do not run off the combs nor pile in knots, as do the 

 blacks. Caucasians are exceedingly gentle, and will sub- 

 mit to manipulation, almost to actual abuse, without resent- 

 ment. They seldom require much smoke — the breath often 

 only being needed to open their hives and to drive them 

 back. Yet they are alert in defense against robbers." 



Driving them back with the breath seems to work in a 

 peculiar manner upon Caucasians. Blowing the breath 

 upon other bees is likely to be the signal for a prompt attack 

 upon the blower. 



Shipping Carloads of Comb Honey 



Mr. Leo F. Hanegan, manager of the St. Croix Valley 

 Honey-Producers' Association, referring to several state- 

 ments made recently in the American Bee Journal about 

 the number of pounds in a carload of honey, etc., writes us 

 as follows : 



George W. York & Co.— 



Gentlemen : — Regarding the amount of honey to a car- 

 load, I will say that our experience is that 1000 to 1500 24- 

 section cases of comb honey make a fair load ; in fact, all 

 that we feel safe in piling in one car. We have shipped 



brought out some points relative to this carload question, 

 and asked for discussion of the subject, but received no 

 response. 



Shipping comb honey in carload lots is the safest and 

 most satisfactory way to move it a long distance, and this 

 subject should have its place in the bee-papers, as well as 

 how to produce honey. 



I am sending you a copy of the American Bee-Keeper 

 referred to above, and will furnish the engravings used 

 therein if you wish them. Yours truly, 



Glenwood, Wis., Oct. 19. Leo F. Hanegan. 



We take the following extracts from the article referred 

 to by Mr. Hanegan as having appeared in the American 

 Bee-Keeper, which was written by its editor : 



Some time ago, Mr. Leo F. Hanegan, manager of the 

 St. Croix Valley Honey-Producers' Association, sent a pho- 

 tograph showing a side-tracked car which his Association 

 was loading with comb honey. Some correspondence in 

 regard to their method resulted, and considerable interest- 

 ing information was secured. 



In the first place, a clean, dry refrigerator car is or- 

 dered, though, of course, no ice is used, but a clean, dry car 

 is important. 



The accompanying drawing will illustrate the manner 

 of loading about 1200 24-section cases, making a good load. 

 The car in the sketch contained 1100 such cases, and repre- 

 sented a cash value of about $2900, f.o.b. at loading point. 



LOADING A CAR WITH COMB HONEY, IN WISCONSIN 



1963 24-section cases in one car, and over 1650 in another, 

 but, if we were correctly informed, the honey did not arrive 

 in as good condition as it should have done. 



In the Western Freight Classification the minimum car 

 of comb honey is put at 30,000 pounds. There is no use to 

 load over that amount. Taking out case tare and straw 

 leaves about 25,000 pounds net of honey. Our largest car 

 recently shipped cost the buyer $5000, f.o.b. 



Yes, 1200 24-section cases make a good car, and all that 

 need be put into one car. 



A box-car will do, but a refrigerator car is tighter when 

 sealed, so that dust can't get in in transit. Also, a refrig- 

 erator car is heavier and better built, and, therefore, rides 

 easier, and ordinarily will hold all that should be put into 

 one car. 



In the American Bee-Keeper for June, 1905, the writer 



About 3 inches of straw upon the floor is used ; at the 

 ends 15 inches. Between the tiers about 6 inches of straw 

 is securely packed, with only enough at the sides to make 

 the shipping-cases fit snug and tight. The straw should be 

 clean, and oat-straw is preferred. 



Where a full carload is to be shipped, the cases are 

 packed 10 high ; but if a less number the tiers are not made 

 so high, as they should be so loaded as to meet at the mid- 

 dle of the car. 



It should be noted also, that the cases pitch forward 

 toward the middle ; and that the " break joints " thus add 

 to the solidity of the aggregated weight. 



Unless the buyer specifies other method of loading, this 

 plan is always followed, and upon each end and each door 

 of the car a caution card—" Handle with Care "—is tacked. 

 That is, cases are loaded from each end, and the meeting- 



