458 



more than is needed for winter stores; while 

 if golden-rods and wild asters are plenty, it 

 is generally safe to extract most of the lin- 

 den honey. 



Even though the linden yield should be 

 large, the probability is that the prices of 

 honey in our own State will be kept up as 

 high as they have been during the past sea- 

 son, on account of the losses in wintering 

 since last year's crop. 



THE USE OF A BEE-SMOKER. 



Supposing each bee-owner has supplied 

 himself with that indispensable adjunct of 

 every well-appointed modern apiary — a bel- 

 lows smoker— I will say something about its 

 use. The material tjurned may be cotton 

 rags, rotten or solid wood, in fact, anything 

 that will burn ; yet for most purposes I pre- 

 fer wood that has commenced to decay — 

 that is, merely brashy ; wood of the harder 

 sorts when it has reached this condition 

 will burn well, give a good smoke, and yet 

 will last very well. The disagreeable smell 

 of burning cotton rags will remain about 

 the clothing of the operator for days even, 

 and this alone is enough to condemn them. 



With the smoker well lighted, a screw- 

 driver in hand, and the face well protected 

 by means of a bee-veil, the bee-manipnlator 

 proceeds to the apiary. This bee-veil, by 

 the way, is made by securing together the 

 ends of a yard of black bobinet or crape- 

 lace, and gathering with a piece of rubber 

 cord the upper end of the bottomless sack 

 thus formed, so it will fit close to the hat- 

 band when the whole is drawn over the 

 head. It may be well to blow a little smoke 

 in at the entrance of the hive ; the bees, 

 thus alarmed, will eat honey and become 

 good-natured. Next, with the screwdriver 

 pry up the cover, and as soon as possible 

 drive some smoke under it; lifting this off 

 the combs can be got at. Select one of the 

 straightest of moderate thickness, shove 

 the others away from it and lift it out. Thus 

 all can be examined and everything put 

 back as at first, and if great care be taken 

 in removing and inserting combs, and no 

 quick movements be made, not a bee will 

 resist the liberty provided the smoke be 

 used freely at first. If, however, the bees 

 seem inclined to show their notions regard- 

 ing this seeming interference in their do- 

 mestic affairs, a few whiffs of smoke will 

 send them down, buzzing submissively, 

 among the combs. Thus the experienced 

 apiarist seems to say : " Children you now 

 have to deal with your father, and you must 

 behave right well ; " and he handles them 

 tenderly, gently, admiringly, even as a 

 father does his child. 



But there is another reason why it is best 

 to avoid "bruising" a single bee. The 

 poison, formic acid, given off by the bees 

 has a very penetrating odor, and, as the 

 wine Bacchus gave to the Centaurs, when 

 drawn by Hercules, brought down upon 

 poor Pholus the angry giants, so these little 

 insects, scenting the destruction which has 

 been wrought, will be roused to action, and 

 the luckless bee-keeper plays the part of 

 Pholus whether he will or not. Happy is 

 he then if his Hercules— the Bingham smo- 

 ker—is at hand to put to flight the pigmies 

 which have so soon become Centaurs. 



Ordinarily only a small amount of smoke 

 will be needed, especially with care in 

 handling combs, and oftentimes the veil 

 will not be necessary. When the bees are 

 in the midst of a great honey harvest no 

 veil or smoke will be necessary. Then, too, 

 after a time you will not mind the stings so 

 much, for, after you have received a thou- 

 sand or so, it'll not hurt or swell so much 

 afterward. 



From the Nebraska Farmer. 



Nebraska Bee-Keepers' Association. 



GEORGE M. HAWLEY. 



While in conversation with apiariasts 

 from different parts of the state, many have 

 intimated a desire for a state organization 

 for the advancement of bee-culture in Ne- 

 braska. Nearly every state in the Union 

 has an organization of this kind, and finds it 

 of great value to its members, and a benefit 

 to those who cannot attend, but read the re- 

 port through the press. It would seem as 

 though such would be of great benefit to the 

 Nebraska bee-keepers, and especially to the 

 new comers, who contemplate keeping bees,, 

 since the honey harvest here is at the other 

 end of the season from what it is in the 

 East. 



The old adage, " A swarm in July is not 

 worth a fly," will hardly apply here, since 

 many a swarm in September have filled their 

 hive with sufficient honey to keep them well- 

 through the winter. The new comer should 

 be conversant with these facts in order to se- 

 cure the best results from his labor. By an 

 association of this kind each becomes in- 

 cited to greater efforts, and strives to delve 

 deeper into the mysteries of bee-keeping 

 than he has heretofore explored, and the re- 

 sult is that we obtain more honey in nicer 

 shape for market, and in our combined 

 efforts secure a better price for our honey. 

 During State Fair would be as good a time 

 for an organization of this kind to be formed 

 as any, since bee-keepers from every part of 

 the state will probably be in attendance. 

 Let us hope that something will be done to 



Eromote the advancement of this industry 

 efore another year passes by. 



From the Western Agriculturist. 



Amateur Bee-Keeping. 



EDSON GERRY. 



In order to make bee-keeping pay, it is 

 neccessary that we prepare ourselves for the 

 business that we may make a success. 



First, we should be provided with such 

 books as treat on apiarian science, read and 

 study them, until we have become posted as 

 to the nature, habits and instincts of the 

 honey bee, that we may be able to manage 

 them, so as not to cross their nature in any- 

 thing we may do. Whenever our acts are in 

 accordance with nature, we shall be success- 

 ful ; whenever we do anything contrary, it 

 will interfere with their labor and prosperity. 

 If we would succeed, we must understand 

 the best manner of management. A man 

 may have a large number of colonies around 



