18a 



THE AMERICAN BEE JOURNAL. 



[For tbe American Bee Journal ] 



Workings of the Honey-Emptying Ma- 

 chines. 



Mr. Editor: — In the January number of the 

 Journal, I suggested that, as the Italian bees 

 are belligerent and not disposed to submit, 

 ■when they have full stores, to have their goods 

 spoiled without a protest, that the frequent re- 

 moving of frames and brushing the bees from 

 the combs, in order to empty the honey, might 

 exasperate their dispositions to such a degree as 

 to render them unendurable ; and I asked for 

 light on this point. My friend, H. Alley, of 

 Wenham, (Mass.), has somewhat relieved my 

 difficulty. The plan is to use on the top of the 

 hive narrow boxes, and remove the honey from 

 these instead of from frames. He makes and 

 uses the Langstroth hive, and on one of these 

 he places fourteen boxes. He has an improved 

 Langstroth, on and around which he places 

 twemy-four of these boxes. They are 7iioches 

 long, 2=j inches wide, and 6 inches deep, with 

 glass sides, and hold three or four pounds of 

 honey each. The surplus honey is stored in 

 these small boxes, because it sells better in the 

 Boston market in small packages. Each box 

 contains one comb. He says he placed some of 

 these boxes full of honey in the machine, and 

 it worked like a charm and removed the honey 

 in a few seconds, without injuring the combs in 

 the least. He thinks a good swarm, in the best 

 of the season, would fill a set of these boxes, 

 having the empty comb, in one day. If they 

 would do it in a week, it would be great honey- 

 gathering. If the bees will work in these boxes 

 as they will on frames, it W'ill be undoubtedly 

 the best way of managing them in connection 

 with the honey-emptying machine. As these 

 boxes are to contain only one comb each, I 

 think they might be reduced to 2% inches in 

 width, and then sixteen could be placed on a 

 hive. I have demonstrated the fact by a few 

 experiments that bees will go into boxes placed 

 directly on top of the frames, and will work 

 with eagerness at times when they will not 

 ascend through holes in the honey -board. Place 

 these long narrow boxes on the top of the frames 

 in two rows, fourteen or sixteen in number, and 

 when the bees have filled them with comb and 

 honey, take them to the machine, (after the 

 bees are disposed of, which is easily done), 

 empty them and replace them, and thus let the 

 work go on. The glass sides are easily removed. 

 They are five by seven inches, slide in grooves 

 cut in the ends, and are kept in place by wooden 

 strips, one inch wide, champered at the ends to 

 fit the groove. This strip is pressed down to 

 the glass, and holds it in its place. 



P. R. Russell. 

 Bolton, Mass. 



[For the American Bee Journal.] 



Artificial Swarming, and Bee Stings. 



Many hives of bees which are thought to die 

 of cold in the winter, in truth die of famine, as 

 was the case in the winter of 1759 ; for the con- 

 stant rains of the preceding summer hindered 

 the bees from laying in a sufficient store of pro- 

 visions. The hives should be carefully exam- 

 ined in the autumn, and should then contain at 

 least twenty pounds of honey. — Wildman. 



In volume 3, pages 63 and 91, is given a 

 method of artificial sw T arming by "Belmont." 

 Being a beginner in beekeeping, I was induced 

 during the past season, to try what appeared to 

 be a very simple mode of effecting that opera- 

 tion ; but I must say the results were not at 

 all satisfactory. In each case, at least one 

 frame of brood and honey was given, and a 

 sealed queen-cell inserted. In more than one 

 instance, however, the bees destroyed the cell 

 given to them and commenced others; and in 

 every case (though the season has been most 

 favorable for honey gathering in this locality, 

 and none were divided later than the eighth oi' 

 June), the bees have failed to give any surplus 

 Indeed they have been weak in numbers 

 throughout and are barely fit for wintering. I 

 have no doubt the method pointed out would do 

 well, it occasional help in the shape of brood 

 from the parent stock were added. On the other 

 hand, the hives removed from their stands and 

 retaining the queens, soon became too full and 

 were constantly trying to swarm. I found too 

 that any new combs built by these last were al- 

 most invariably drone comb. 



My experience corroborates the statement on 

 page 107, with regard to the effect of the poison 

 of stings. Three years since I scarcely regarded 

 it; but now it produces great pain and swelling, 

 the later not subsiding for two or three days. 



Briar. 



Ontario, Canada, Nov. 186S. 



P. S. — Non-Swarmers. — I have lately been 

 informed that in the northern part of New York, 

 and in Vermont, many beekeepers are dispens- 

 ing with hives ; and instead are placing swarms 

 in houses constructed for the purpose, into 

 which they can go for honey at pleasure. Not 

 having seen any notice of this system in the 

 Bee Journal, I conclude it is not much 

 adopted. 



[For the American Bee Journal.] 



Improved TJn-Paten'ed Bee-Feeder. 



With a brace-bit bore a hole of suitable diam- 

 eter through the honey-board ; file it, to make 

 it somewhat conical on the upper side of the 

 board. Procure a thick tin ring made to fit 

 loosely in the hole : and just as broad as the 

 hole is thick. Spread a small piece of linen cloth 

 over the hole, push in the tin ring, and insert 

 in it a feeder such as described by Mr. Price on 

 page 120, of the December number of the Bee 

 Journal. "With this device you can remove 

 or insert the feeder, without interfering with 

 the bees. 



Ch. Dadant. 



Hamilton, Ills. 



A fine winter is dangerous to bees, and many 

 more of them die in a mild winter, than in a 

 cold one. 



