886 



THE AMERICAN BEE JOURNAL 



Dec. 21, 1905 



I can't make a living from my 80 home colonies, and I 

 can't add out-lying yards to the plant, for there is no way 

 of visiting them. I'm afraid of breaking my neck in learn- 

 ing to use a bicycle, though in days of yore how I used to 

 ride horses, and skate and dance 1 During those times a 

 broken neck never bothered me ; but when one knows what 

 it would mean to a little, aged mother, I tell you it makes a 

 difference. 



I've had three horses — two were ruined, and one I sold 

 to keep her from being ruined, and when she went a vow 

 was mentally registered that Clovernook would never shel- 

 ter another till time evolved for us as something masculine 

 in hired help that was reliable. SuflSce to say this rara avis 

 is still "on the wing ;" he surely has not yet settled down 

 on Clovernook. 



Such being the state of affairs with us, something else 

 had to be added to bees if we were to live independently, 

 and "tuck away " some odd pennies in the " Emergency 

 Stocking." And so, after a brief, exciting, hard trial of 

 " chickens and squabs for broilers," we've settled down now 

 in peace to my bees and duck-raising — with, as a side-issue, 

 about 100 White Wyandotte hens and 8 White Holland tur- 

 keys for eggs and breeding stock ; though, to be sure, there 

 are a few other odds and ends by which we pick up a few 

 extra pennies. For instance, our apples brought us this 

 fall $36 in cash, besides having all we could use ; from our 

 currant patch we cleared on the jelly about SIOO. Of course, 

 we have lovely down from the ducks, netting us about $100 

 per season, and the guano that brings SI per load. And 

 from the bees, the vinegar and beeswax. 



I hope I have demonstrated clearly that it was not by 

 preference that I resigned confining myself strictly to bee- 

 keeping, and why forced by circumstances into the very 

 much more complex paths of poultry-raising. I will, how- 

 ever, in defense of the last, say this : Besides our living 

 expenses and lots spent in general repairs and improve- 

 ments, there is invested in houses, incubators, brooders, 

 and other poultry appliances, some $2000, all of which we 

 have raised right here, ourselves. Also, that today, with 

 two good helpers, Clovernook can yield us annually between 

 $2000 and $4000. We are now equipped for it, and can do it. 



Realizing my own limitations, and that there must be 

 others scattered through our land who suffer from similar 

 restrictions, is the reason why I urge that for those, bee- 

 keeping in connection with another rural occupation, may 

 work very successfully in the production of a fair income 

 and independent livelihood. 



The little cut at the head of this shows my bee-house, 

 with a lovely good friend and brother standing in the door- 

 way, and my man "Pete," with his 'barrow and tin 

 carrier filled with combs, starting for the bee-yard. That 

 white splotch between the hives is a flock of my ducks. 

 They refused to " spread out " and have their pictures taken 

 nice, but just " bunched up together" and made themselves 

 disagreeable. " F. E. W.," yours truly, stands at one side 

 equipped for business, with straw hat, bee-veil, big apron, 

 and bee-smoker. 



Some time you shall have a picture of my dear ducks, a 

 good one, if it will be allowed in a bee-paper, and I will 

 describe our indoor rigging of the bee-house ; but guess 

 you have had enough of Clovernook for this time. 



Clinton Co., N. Y. Frances E. Wheeler. 



'^ 



Doctor ITIiUcr's 

 Question -- Box 



J 



Send questions either to the olHce of the American Bee Journal, 

 or to Dr. C. C. Miller, Marengo, 111. 

 Dr. Miller does nol answer Questions by mail. 



Bees Dying Seemingly Without Cause 



IV 



I went to one of my out-yards of 303 colonies the last 

 week of October, and all were in fine condition, with lots of 

 old stores, and the woods all turning white with aguinaldo 

 and various other good honey-producing flowers. So I 

 pitched in, and in a few days I put on 185 supers ; then my 

 business called me in other apiaries, and it was 4 days be- 

 fore I went back to put on some more supers, and to my 

 surprise I found the bees carrying out other bees and kill- 



ing them after getting them out. So I thought I would 

 wait and see how this would turn out. Three days later I 

 went back and found the whole apiary still at the killing, 

 and dead bees from % inch to 2 inches deep in front of the 

 long rows of hives, and the bees that remained alive seemed 

 so scarce in November that they have suspended business 

 in the way of storing honey. Some of these same hives 

 had lots of bees hanging out in front and at the bottom 

 when this trouble began, and now I can't see one pass out 

 or in oftener than one or two a minute. It can't be on ac- 

 count of hunger, for they are all quite heavy, and with lots 

 of good, healthy brood, which I fear may get chilled if we 

 should have a cool night. 



In my home yard of 225 colonies, only 2}/z miles from 

 the fatal yard, I never saw bees do better. I also have 

 another yard of 400 colonies about 6 miles from the fatal 

 one, and they are doing well, too. Can you point out a 

 remedy or a preventive if I should have any more of this 

 kind of trouble ? As I have told you in a previous letter, I 

 have handled bees for many years, and this is a new wrinkle 

 to me. 



Our weather is quite favorable (Nov. 30), and our pros- 

 pects are flattering for lots of honey this season. 



Cdba. 



Answer. — I don't know enough to make even a guess 

 at the cause or cure, so submit the case to " the consti- 

 tuency," begging that any one able to help out will be kind 

 enough to do so. 



.*-•-» 



Late Gathering of Honey and Pollen 



About Oct. 1, I found a small swarm of bees on a bush. 

 I took pity on them and put them in an old hive on 3 empty 

 frames, and put some old boxfes of honey in the bottom, 

 then closed the entrance all but a bee-space. 



In about a week I looked at them and they were build- 

 ing comb, and, to help them out, I put in 5 full frames of 

 capped honey, practically every cell full. I soon discovered 

 that they were gathering pollen every pleasant day, and 

 they are still at it, although we have had one snow-storm 

 and several freezes. The pollen is bright orange in color, 

 and tastes like the pure stuff. 



1. Where do they get it ? 



2. Why do they gather it so late, when not another col- 

 ony in my yard does ? 



Last Wednesday (Nov. 22) the bees were coming in 

 loaded, and working hard. It rained hard all day yester- 

 day, but it has cleared up again, and I shall watch them 

 close, and see just how late they will bring it in. They 

 have brood, eggs, and larva; in all stages. I have a good 

 cellar all ready for my bees, and shall put them in as soon 

 as it seems necessary. Bees here have all been breeding so 

 late that they must be in fine condition for winter, and we 

 look for good results next year. Our surplus was pretty 

 light this year. Iowa. 



Answers. — 1. I don't know. More than that, I don't 

 know where my own bees get pollen so late in the season 

 that there is no longer anything in bloom that I know of, 

 but of course something is in bloom, for there's no ques- 

 tion as to the loads of pollen. I must modify that state- 

 ment enough to say that I do know of one thing that has not 

 ceased to bloom from early spring, and is still showing 

 blooms more or less imperfect in December — dandelion. The 

 late pollen carried in by the bees, however, doesn't look ex- 

 actly like dandelion, yet the lateness of the season may 

 account for a little difference in color. 



2. It is not improbable that the combs you gave them 

 contained no pollen. Your other colonies have a good stock 

 of pollen on hand, and feel no great need to hustle for more, 

 but this colony, if it is without pollen, is in a somewhat des- 

 perate condition, for without pollen no brood can be reared 

 either fall or spring. Having a fanatic desire for pollen, no 

 wonder they skirmish around lively for it when other colo- 

 nies show little care for it. 



Making Candy for Winter Feeding 



What is the best way to make candy ? I have fed syrup, 

 but did not get it done until late, and I am afraid the bees 

 will be short of stores before spring. I winter them in the 

 cellar. Iowa. 



Answer. — You will not be far out of the way if you 

 make it just as you would make any candy for the children, 

 only you must be more careful about scorching it, for 



