(Entered at the Post-Offlce at Chicago as Second-Class Mall-Matter.) 

 Published Weekly at $1.00 a Year, by George W. York & Co., 334 Dearborn St. 



OBORQB W. YORK, Editor 



CHICAGO, ILL, MAY 10, 1906 



VoL XLVI-No. 19 " 



^ 



Cbttonal Hotes 

 anb Comments 



j 



Prospects Good " In This Locality " 



In the region round about Chicago — and that may take 

 in a radius of many miles — there is nothing in the horo- 

 scope to make bee keepers feel blue. The mild character of 

 the winter has left the roots of white clover unharmed, and 

 nothing short of a killing drouth will prevent a carpet of 

 white when time comes for the bloom. Of course, there is 

 always the possibility of a poor yield even when there is 

 the carpet of white, as it was last year, but bee-keepers are 

 an optimistic lot, and will have the pleasure of expecting 

 the best at least, so long as there is any chance for ex- 

 pectation. 



The weather in March was severe, but bees were mostly 

 in the cellar during that month, and since then the weather 

 has been of the most favorable character. 



Perhaps a Valuable Reminder 



"Along about this time," as the almanacs used to say, 

 look out for reminders to order early whatever may be 

 needed in the bee-supply line. 



We will never forget the awful rush for hives, sections, 

 etc., during the season of 1903. We were then in the bee- 

 supply business, and at the same time acquired some val- 

 uable experience. And, fortunately or unfortunately, sur- 

 vived to tell the tale. The frantic rush for bee-supplies 

 that season, which began early and continued late, was 

 something not soon to be forgotten by all concerned. Even 

 the factories could not turn out the goods fast enough. And 

 those bee-keepers who delayed ordering until just about the 

 time they actually needed the hives, etc., must have lost 

 much honey, and some bees. 



In view of the annual rush for bee-supplies that comes 

 almost every year during May and June, we wish to remind 

 our readers that it is better to order early, and thus have 

 the supplies on hand before they are needed, rather than 

 not to have them in time, or be compelled to wait until the 

 dealer can reach your order and the railroad train bring 

 them to your station. 



Be wise and also forehanded, by ordering your bee-sup- 

 plies at once if you have not done so already. 



Look Out for Nectar-Dearth After Fruit-Bloom 



While fruit is in bloom there is generally enough com- 

 ing in for daily needs, yet daily needs are great, and it is 

 wise to make sure that abundant stores are in the hive. In 

 some places in the North there is no break between fruit- 

 bloom and white clover, but in most places there is a decided 

 gap. At this time stores are melting away rapidly, owing 

 to the large amount of brood to be fed, and if there is no 



overplus when the dearth after fruit-bloom comes there is 

 great danger that the queen will cease laying. Let the 

 dearth continue long enough and not only will laying cease 

 but all the unsealed brood will be destroyed. -5 



Suppose a colony has nothing ahead during fruit- 

 bloom— just living from hand to mouth — and fruit-bloom 

 closes with nothing in the larder. Figure up what it will 

 mean if laying ceases entirely for only a week, and only 

 unsealed brood is destroyed. It is probably a very moderate 

 estimate to say that it will make a difference of 10,000 bees 

 to work upon clover. 



The moral of all this is to make sure that plenty of 

 stores are in sight at the close of the fruit bloom. If the 

 break is long enough, it may even be advisable to feed a 

 liitle every other day, so the bees may not take into consid- 

 eration the necessity for retrenchment. Abundance of 

 stores in the hive will be sufficient for a short dearth with- 

 out any feeding, but not if the dearth be sufficiently long. 



Davenport's Control of Swarming 



We have written to Mr. C. Davenport, of Southern Min- 

 nesota, several times, trying to induce him to describe his 

 method of controlling the swarming of bees, but have not 

 succeeded in persuading him to do so. In reply to our last 

 request, he wrote as follows, under date of May 2 : 



Mr. George W. York — 



Dear Sir :— I have decided not to give my method for the control 

 of swarming free to all the bee-keeping world. For, as I have said, if 

 it becomes known to all it will most sdrelt greatly increase the 

 amountof honey produced. And for this reason I think it, would 

 prove a curse instead of a benefit. I much regret if anything I have 

 written will cause the American Bee Journal to suffer as you intimate. 

 Surely nothing of the kind was intended. 



Bees have wintered exceptionally well, but the spring so far has 

 been about the most unfavorable 1 have ever known. There have 

 been but a very few days fit for the bees to fly. This morning it is 

 nearly down to the freezing point, with a fierce north wind, heavy, 

 low-hanging clouds, and it looks and feels as if there might be a snow- 

 storm. C. Davenport. 



We trust the foregoing will satisfy those who have 

 written to us, asking that we induce Mr. Davenport to tell 

 his secret as to the control of swarming. However, we have 

 no doubt there will be others who will discover it, and give 

 it to the world, and thus be entitled to the honor. Mr. 

 Davenport will then be the loser. But he must decide for 

 himself in the matter, and has decreed to withhold his 

 secret. 



National Convention at San Antonio 



The National Bee-Keepers' Association will hold its annual con- 

 vention Nov. 8, 9 and 10, 1906, in San Antonio, Tex. These dates 

 occur at a time when the Texas Fair is in progress, and low rales will 

 be in force, locally, for several hundreds of mil>-s out of San Antonio, 

 aod, at the same time, there will be home-seekers' rates available from 

 other parts of the country. W. Z. Hutchinson, Sec. 



We are glad that the time and placeof the next National 

 Convention have been settled. Now all can begin to plan 

 to attend. It will be the National's first meeting in the far 

 South, and it will be a splendid opportunity for Northern 

 bee-keepers to visit that interesting portion of our great 

 country. There should be no difficulty in getting a big car- 



