April 12, 19(6 



THE AMERICAN BEE JOURNAL 



327 



hives could be moved in from the out-yards, set down a few 

 weeks to be sure the bees get a good flight, then carried 

 down and quietly piled up and kept cool and quiet all win- 

 ter. Have a good system of ventilation — a stove for severe 

 weather; and why not a " cold storage " arrangement for 

 ice when necessary to keep temperature below 45 degrees ? 

 For those who can not see their way to provide a spe- 

 cially arranged cellar, and there is danger of "runaway 

 furnaces," etc., it might be worth while trying Mr. Her- 

 shiser's bottom-boards ; but as his bees have had such a 

 severe test this winter, it will be interesting to hear from 

 him when they come to the commencement of the honey- 

 flow, as to their condition. 



J. L. Byer and Family 



Canadian Beedom has often clipped with interest and 

 profit from the writings of " York County Bee-Keeper," in 

 the Canadian Bee Journal. We have much pleasure now in 

 presenting a group picture of himself and family, and in- 

 troducing them to our readers. In the front row are Mrs. 



J. L. BYER AND FAMILY 



Byer, Baby Walter, age 1 year; Annie, 7 years ; and Mary, 

 9 years. The two " boys " in the back row are Edwin, 11 

 years, and Mr. J. L. Byer (age not given). 



In response to a request for the photograph shown here- 

 with, Mr. Byer wrote : 



Dear Friend Pettit:— Your letter just to hand' Honestly, in re- 

 gard to a sketch of my bee-keeping life, lean think of nothing of im- 

 portance more than what I sent Mr. Craig. 



As to " fads " or " hobbies," why, I used to have hundreds of 

 them, but, bless you, they have disappeared, one by one, until now I 

 can hardly think of anything worthy those names. While I have 

 learned to distinguish the queen-bee from the workers, as well as to 

 master other minor but necessary details of bee-keeping, yet, as I look 

 back over my bee-keeping life, one fact above all others stands out 

 pre-eminently, and it is this: That after rubbing up against other 

 bee-keepers through the medium of conventions and bee-papers, I find 

 at the present time that I do not know half as much about bee-keepiug 

 as I thought I knew 10 years ago, when 1 first contemplated taking up 

 the business for a living. J. L. Bter. 



Markham, Ont. 



We copy the following from the Canadian Bee Journal : 



Friend Craig: — Replying to your request for a brief outline of 

 my bee-keeping experience, I would say that I was brought up on the 

 farm, and with the exception of time spent in learning telegraphy 

 when about 19 years of age, have followed no other pursuit but bee- 

 keeping. Disliking indoor work, I gave up the notion of telegraphy 

 and returned to the work on the farm. 



While my grandfather and my great unele. who lived near us, 

 were successful bee-keepers, and I had the benefit of their experience, 

 yet I never contemplated taking up bee-keeping for a living until 

 about 10 years ago, when I came into possession of a swarm of bees. I 

 immediately contracted " bee-fever " in its most virulent form, and 

 that fall bought 25 colonies, giving my note for 12 months. Visible 

 assets: A No. 1 wife; baby boy of same quality; and 25 colonies of 

 bees (to be paid for from proceeds of the honey they would gather the 

 next season). 



As the most of you know, I depend solely upon bee-keeping for a 

 living. As to how we have succeeded, I can best illustrate by the 

 following : 



An Englishman, who lived near us for a number of years, in 

 speaking of the advantages of Canada over the " Old Sod," used to 

 say that " he had done remarkably well since coming to Canada. He 

 had nothing when he landed here 40 years ago, and he had held his 

 own ; he had the same yet." Yet I believe, on looking at the picture, 

 the most skeptical will agree with me, that in some respects, at least, 

 we have more than "held our own." In fact, it is with pardonable 

 pride that I venture to say we have " done remarkably well." 



We produce extracted honey almost exclusively. I have no space 

 to give methods, and suspect the fraternity are better without tbem, 

 anyway. As to hives I use, least said about them the better. Cana- 

 dian Bee Journal readers would only laugh at me if I told them, and 

 you know, Mr. Editor, I am awfully sensitive! 



Just a word more and I must close in order to catch the mail. I 

 would call special attention, of our friend of " Canadian Beedom," as 

 well as some others, that in using the pronoun " we," I refer to my 

 " best half " and myself. Mrs. Byer is an adept in the use of the 

 honey-knife, and can take the " peelings " off a comb of honey as 

 quickly and neatly as anyone whoever came under my notice. "A 

 word to the wise is sufficient." J. L. Bter. 



Propolized Rags as Smoker-Fuel 



When I see old propolis rags, dead grass, or other pow- 

 erful smoker-producers suggested for dealing with vicious 

 bees, as on page 137, it makes me think how easy it is to 

 quarrel with the dumb animals, or insects, we have under 

 us. They must be controlled, of course, but in order to con- 

 trol them to the best advantage one must control oneself 

 first. 



After writing the above, I noticed the sequel (page 209), 

 and am more convinced than ever that "J. G." must have 

 really quarreled with those bees. 



m i m 



Always Preparing in Bee-Work 



The work in the apiary is a constant round of prepara- 

 tory work for future results, and it is with bees as with 

 every other kind of stock, to-morrrow never comes. 



For some unaccountable reason the idea prevails that 

 tees need little attention and no thought. It is true there 

 is nothing in the animal kingdom that gives a greater re- 

 turn for the effort expended than the honey-bee, but that 

 effort must be well, intelligently and timely applied. — E. H. 

 Dewey, in the Prairie Farmer. 



Two " Notes " from The Globe 



The Globe has "Notes on Bees," of which the following 

 are two : 



If there is white bread being carried out of the hive something is 

 wrong. 



I would suspect that conditions were not normal. 



In rearing drones, full frames of drone-comb can be had by filling 

 the frame with drone-foundation. Insert a frame of this in the brood- 

 nest of any colony. It will readily be occupied by the queen. 



Plenty of drone-comb is usually present without going 

 to that expense. 



To Make Us Think 



We submit the following just to make us all think : 



He — Wise men hesitate— only fools are certain. 



She — Are you sure? 



He — "I am quite certain of it.'' 



Then she laughed— Kansas City Independent. 



