92 



THE AMERICAN APICULTURIST. 



go fast to the bottom, the rosin 

 being heaviei* than pure wax. 



In testing, you should talie care 

 that the sample contains no air, as 

 the smallest quantity of air would 

 change the specific gravit}- of the 

 sample. In testing foundation, 

 therefore, the sample should be 

 thoroughly melted before testing ; 

 so as to exclude all air from the 

 inside of the sample. This test is 

 cheap and conclusive. There may 

 be a slight difference between one 

 sample of wax and another ; but it 

 is not so as to exclude the clear 

 discovery of tallow or parafHne, 

 which will float beautifully. 



"We hope that this will be of 

 service to many. 



ANSWERS TO QUESTIONS 



(in Feb. and M'crch Nos.). 



ANSWERS BY P. H. ELWOOD. 



1. Yes. I tliuik but little loss to bees 

 ^>>* and much gain to beekeepers when sur- 

 = •■' plus comb receptacles are on the hive. 



2. I have had no natural swarms 

 since I commenced to keep bees in 

 movable comb hives. Let some one 

 answer who has tried the experiment. 



3. They sometimes cut it down if 

 they need the wax more in some otlier 

 place. 



4. No. 



5. Occasionally. Probable cause, 

 " pure cusseduess." 



6. Not until larvae are hatched. 



7. Not until there are more larvpe 

 hatched, dependinji on temperature, 

 etc. I have never had to fumigate 

 any. In a warmer climate I suppose 

 it mav be necessary. 



8. No. 



9. A goodly number of beekeepers 

 have it. It will be hard to tell which 

 is right. It is probably one with 

 wooden separators. 



10. A colony of bees work best 

 when ahovved to swarm when they 

 please. They work better without a 

 queen than when in a condition known 

 among beekeepers as having tlie 

 "swarming fever." Sometimes it is 

 best to choose the less of two evils. 



Slarkville, N. Y. 



ANSWEl'.S 15Y I.. C. ROOT. 



1. Yes; and if all conditions are 

 right, the loss by not using frames 

 fllled with full-size sheets of founda- 

 tion are, as a rule, underestimated. 



2. If the methods of operation are 

 correct, Ihe colony which is furnished 

 with full cards of good foundation will 

 give best results. 



3. As a rule, yes, when honey is 

 gathered rapidly. Sometimes, when 

 the flow of honey is scarce, they will 

 chew down the foundation, but not, in 

 my experience, to convert it into a 

 Starter. 



4. No. The sweetened water given 

 them without the peppermint, etc., 

 will answer the same purpose. 



5. No. 



6. If care is taken to keep all boxes, 

 that have pollen in any of the cells, by 

 themselves, and the honey is kept in a 

 proper room, it will seldom be found 

 necessary to use brimstone. 



7. Boxes that contain poUen may be 

 brimstoned, or the pollen and larva 

 may be removed and destroyed. 



8. It is said tliat nothing is impos- 

 sible, yet for practical results it is safe 

 to say no. 



9. There are many well-arranged 

 racks for surplus boxes. It would be 

 difficult to say which is best. 



10. As a ,rule, they yWl if rightly 

 managed and not kept queeuless too 

 long. 



ANSWERS BY ,1. E. POND, JR. 



1. Bees under the swarming impulse 

 do prepare themselves in advance 

 (slightly of course) for the work of 

 comb building, by filling themselves to 

 tiieir utmost capacity with honey. I 

 think a gain of five or six days will be 

 made by hiving a new swarm on frames 

 filled with foundation. Tiiey will at 

 once utilize the honey they bring with 

 them l)y drawing out the foundation and 

 the queen can commence laying, as in 

 one instance, with my'self, during the 

 first five or six hours. 



2. I do not know, as I never tried tlie 

 experiment. I slitiU test tiie matter 

 this season fully. I know iiovveversome 

 consi(lerai)lf gain will be made by liiv- 

 ing on frames of foundation and, I be- 

 lieve a gain of five or six days at least. 



3. I have never given any attention 

 to the subject so cannot say, and I 

 don't care to theorize on it. 



4. I have not, neither do I believe 

 any benefit is derived therefrom. 



