278 



THE AMERICAN BEE KEEPER. 



October 



years. Next moiUh I will endeavor 

 to relate the way 1 keep the age of my 

 queens, and will also give a descrip- 

 tion of my favorite hive for wintering, 

 and also how 1 winter successfully. 



After taking off the feeders I use 

 the Hill Device, and if you do not 

 happen to have any you can use eight 

 half inch sticks laid crosswise the 

 frames two ways. Cover these with 

 thin burlap so the moisture can escape 

 and place on top a burlap cushion fill 

 ed with oat chaff ten inches or more 

 thick. I innke such cushions to fit 

 the inside of the hive. The way is to 

 cut the burlap in two pieces size of 

 hive inside, then cut a strip ten inch- 

 es wide and long enough to sew around 

 one of the square pieces. Then sew 

 in the other piece leaving one end 

 open so that it can be filled with the 

 chaff. This makes a square cushion 

 that fills all the corners in the hive. 

 I never u?e anything but cushions to 

 cover hives in winter. 



Sherburne, N. Y. 



Crimson Clover. 



BY L. STAPLKS. 



The value of crimson clover for the 

 purpose of a fertilizer crop is the chief 

 subject of thought at this time by 

 farmers in every state. Reports re- 

 ceived from all parts of Michigan 

 show that crimson clover passed the 

 winter well and a large crop of hay 

 and seed was secured. 



Crimson clover is a native of Italy 

 and other parts of southern Europe. 

 It is not entirely new to this country 

 but only recently begun to attract at- 

 tention. Crimson clover is an annual 

 and must be sown in its proper season 

 •which extends from the first of August 

 until the last of November. The seed 



germinates very quickly and grows 

 very rapidly and makes a good fall 

 and winter pasture. It seems to flour- 

 ish in all soils and is apparently more 

 hardy than the common red clover 

 and stands the drouth better. It 

 yields two to three tons of hay and six 

 to ten bushels of seed to the acre. It 

 is also a valuable bee plant. The 

 honey is very white and of excellent 

 quality, but its greatest value lies in 

 its ability to store up plant food and 

 at the same time send down its deep 

 feeling roots far into the sub-soil to 

 gather and bring to the surface ele- 

 ments of fertility tt">at would be other- 

 wise lost. Early in May the flowers - 

 ap[)ear and the field changes from a 

 deep green to a brilliant crimson, 

 making a sight worthy to behold and 

 to lemember. Its great beauty is not 

 exceeded by the finest flower that 

 adorns yard or garden. 



■ If any of the readers of the Ameri- 

 can Bee Keeper would like to testa 

 little crimson clover seed I will send a 

 trial package for a couple of stamps 

 for postage. 



Grand Rapids, Mich. Box 503. 

 \^m ■ ■ ■■ ^» 



We will duplicate the prices on 



hives and supplies offered by any 

 first class manufacturers — and in 

 many cases can do even better by 3^ou 

 than anyone else. 



"How to Manage Bees " is a 50c 

 book for beginners in bee keeping. 

 We will send it postpaid for 25c. 



Clubbing List. 



We will send the American Bee Keeper with 

 the— 



American Bee Journal, 

 American Apiculturist, 

 Bee Keeper's Review, 

 Canadian Bee Journal, 

 Gleaninps in Bee Culture, 



