Abnormal Swarming. 



By reference to " Our Letter Box " as pub- 

 lished in this issue of the Journal, it will 

 be seen that several cases have occurred of 

 bees deserting their hives, often " leaving 

 for parts unknown," but sometimes trying 

 to unite with other colonies in the same 

 yard, or going to a neighboring apiary and 

 uniting with the bees there, or trying to 

 do so. 



A similar case is reported in the "British 

 Bee Journal " for April, where a strong col- 

 ony had deserted its hive leaving brood and 

 honey in the hive. The editor enquires : 

 "Can any one suggest a reason for the sud- 

 den elopement, or must it be considered a 

 freak ? " 



Mr. G. M. Doolittle, in Gleanings, Vol. 3, 

 page 68, spoke of a " case of bees swarming 

 out, leaving the hive with nice clean combs, 

 plenty of honey, brood and pollen," and 

 asked, " Can any one give a satisfactory 

 reason for such proceedings ? " As no one 

 has answered this query, Mr. Doolittle says: 



I still believe that certain actions of bees 

 at certain times are beyond the knowledge 

 of apiarists at present, if they would only 

 frankly admit the truth. A cold hard win- 

 ter and spring, like the past, seems conduc- 

 tive of such a state of affairs. The bees 

 seemingly become discouraged and leave 

 their hives, going to other colonies hoping to 

 better their condition, hut only to perish as 

 a general rule. 



Mr. E. J. Oatman suggests that the ab- 

 sconding might have been caused by short 

 stores, or the effect of close confinement by 

 cold for a time, after brood-rearing had be- 

 gun. Under these circumstances we have 

 seen them leave the hive for a sport, and 

 keep this sporting up to such an extent as 

 to produce an excitement among all hands 

 inside, which would terminate in a graiid 

 dance and all run away, and this even has 

 happened with populous colonies well 

 stocked with honey, brood, and everything 

 necessary to a normal condition, merely the 

 result of over-excitement." 



Prof. A. J. Cook remarks : " I have never 

 had but one case of hive-desertion in the 

 apiary, but have heard of many. This 

 strange behavior seems more common after 

 winters where dysentery has meted out 

 death with an unsparing hand. The colony 

 which tried desertion at our apiary was very 

 weak, and fled in March fr.«m a hive foul 

 with the effects of previous dysentery. 

 They attempted to unite with another col- 

 ony." I captured the queen, returned her 

 and a goodly portion of the bees to a clean 

 hive with clean combs, shut them in for a 

 day, then commenced feeding. They ac- 

 cepted the changed conditions, and went to 

 work with vigor. I presume that the incit- 

 ing cause to this untimely truancy is, in all 

 cases, an unwholesome condition of the hive. 



The usual cause is the intolerable stench 

 arising from the abnormal discharges attend- 

 ant upon dysentery. Anything else which 

 serves to disturb, like the incursion of mice, 

 ants, fungus growths or mould, will doubt- 

 less lead to this dangerous emigration. The 

 practical course to be pursued by the bee- 

 keeper is, to search out the disquieting 

 agent, and put it to flight." 



The Lewis Sections. — These excellent 

 sections " all in one piece," we should have 

 noticed before, but for an oversight. 

 Messrs. Lewis & Parks sent us some very 

 nice samples in February. They are cut 

 very accurately and dovetailed at the ends, 

 and are so constructed as to bend around 

 and lock together. When put together with 

 glue they are not only neat 

 ,but very strong. 



The accompanying cut will 

 give a good idea of them. — 

 The 4^x4J^ or "Novice sec- 

 tion," and B^4x5J^ the " Prize 

 Box" are the reulgar sizes, 

 though they can be made for 

 any size. They are kept in 

 stock at this office, and are 

 sold at the same prices as the ordinary prize 

 boxes. 



Perforated Zinc— We have received 

 from Geo. Neighbour & Sons, of London, 

 England, a piece of zinc with perforation 

 % of an inch wide and % an inch long, be- 

 ing used by bee-keepers in England for the 

 purpose of excluding the queen from the 

 surplus receptacles. It is cut to fit the hives, 

 and placed over the frames. Its cost is 

 about 35 cents per square foot. In some 

 cases it could be used to advantage, but 

 will not be very generally adopted in this 

 country. 



HCH^It is with pleasure that we note the 

 improved appearance of the Bee-Keepers' 

 Instructor, published by Mr. H. D. liiegel. 

 The April number has a nice cover, and is 

 much improved. 



ItlF°Mr. Henry Alley, of Wenham, Mass., 

 one of the oldest queen breeders and dealers 

 in supplies, has sent his new circular to this 

 office. It is very neat, and contains much 

 that is interesting to bee-keepers every- 

 where. He remarks that over 1000 of them 

 have been "called for" by bee-keep j rs 

 since the new year commenced. In a letter 

 dated April 21st, he remarks that he "never 

 had so many orders for queens as up to this 

 time," and that he has "only advertised in 

 the American Bee Journal." Another 

 straw showing the value of the A. B. J. as a 

 medium of business communication. 



IGiPOne of the neatest Price Lists of 

 apiarian supplies we have received is that 

 of W. D. Wright, Knowersville, N. Y. It 

 contains a list of everything on the market, 

 and quotes the lowest prices. 



"The Blessed Bees," was written as a 

 realistic fiction, not as a narrative of actual 

 experience. 



