96 



THE AMERICAN BEE JOURNAL. 



[Oct., 



[For The Ameiicau Bee Jourual.] 



Two Queens in One Hive. 



When removiiif]^ some honey boxes on the 25th 

 of July last, I found that a large strong stock 

 had two queens. I see in Vol. V., No. 8, of the 

 Jourual, that Mr. E. M. Johnson discovered two 

 queens in one of his hives in January. Before 

 movable comb hives were used to auy great ex- 

 tent, such a thing was considered impossible ; 

 but we hear of such cases frequently, now that 

 we have easy access to the interior of our hives. 



After removing the boxes, I placed them in my 

 cellar, to have the bees go back to their hives ; 

 wliich they all did, except those in one box. which 

 I found contained the queen that I had saved 

 about a fortnight before, a few days after they 

 had swarmed. In removing a frame of brood to 

 give to a weak stock, when brushing olf the bees 

 in front of the hive, I saw there was a flue look- 

 ing queen with them. She went into the hive 

 and was received by tlie bees. Now, why was 

 this queen in a box containing sealed honey ? I 

 should judge both queens were fertile. The bees 

 had killed off their drones a number of days be- 

 fore, so that they did not think of swarming. 



Now can we say positively that two queens are 

 not tolerated in one hive '? Is it not jjossible that 

 tlie workers cluster around them, and keep them 

 apart ? 



The next day, I returned the queen, after 

 smoking both queen and bees. She was well 

 received, and was all right the next time I opened 

 the hive ; and for all I know, they have two 

 queens still. If other bee-keepers have such 

 cases, I should be pleased to hear from them 

 through the Journal. 



A. Green. 

 Amcsbury, 3fass., Aug. 15, 1870. 



[For The American Bee Jourual.] 



Bee Houses. 



Mr. Editor : — It is now admitted that bee 

 houses are requisite for 1 ee-keepers in this 

 climate. 



I have recently seen that "concrete buildings" 

 are "cheap and substantial. For dwellings, all 

 hollow walls and lathing are dispensed with," 

 and they are "found to be as dry as wooden 

 houses." It is also said — " The heat wouid 1 e so 

 long retained in the walls, that the saving in fuel 

 would be no inconsidera'le item." 



It appears to me that this is just what is 

 wanted in those localities where the material can 

 easily be liad. 



Will some of your correspondents, acquainted 

 with the sul)ject, give an opinion as to their 

 adaptability, and mode of construction ? 



Tyro. 



Ontario, Canada. 



The blossoms of onions abound in honey, the 

 odor of which, when first gathered, is very offen- 

 sive ; but befoi-e it is sealed over, this disap- 

 pears. — Langstroth. 



[For the AMierican Bee Journal.] 



Bees in Hancock County, Indiana. 



Mr. Editor : — Having been raised in the 

 mountains of Virginia, I had not much chance 

 for schooling and do not expect to write any- 

 thing smart ; but in my blundering manner will 

 try to tell you how I am getting along in the 

 bee business. 



In the fall of 18G^, I had twelve stands of 

 black bees in log and box hives. All seemed to 

 be in nice order and doing well. But they 

 became subject to dysentery, flux, or whatever 

 yon may please to call it. The disease did its 

 work, and next spring I had one colony left, 

 with not over a quart of bees. But 1809 was a 

 good season for bees. My one colony cast five 

 swarms, and the first swarm cast one also — 

 making seven in all. All wintered well on their 

 summer stands. 



This sjjring I bought Langstroth hives, and 

 on the 27ih of May got a man that understood 

 the business to come and help me transfer and 

 divide them. We put them in fourteen hives, 

 and all are doing well. We took away the 

 black queens and gave them Italian queens — 

 one of which died or was killed before com- 

 mencing to lay, for which my man sent me 

 another in her place. Another either died or 

 was killed, nine days after she was introduced, 

 but left plenty of young brood ; and they have 

 not less than fifteen queen cells capped and 

 nearly ready to hatch. Query, would it be 

 better to divide them as they are very strong, 

 and then have their queens fertilized by black 

 drones, as I have no Italian drones yet? Or 

 should I let them alone, and let them swarm or 

 kill off all their (queens but one, as they see fit ? 



I intend to divide all my bees as soon as 

 Italian drones are plenty. Mine are the only 

 Italian bees in this settlement, and the woods 

 are full of black bees. I shall be troubled with 

 hyl)rids, but intend to keep on in the good work 

 until I have them all pure Italians. 



Our country is almost covered — that is, pas- 

 tures and meadow.s — with white clover. Even 

 the lanes and highways are white with its bloom, 

 and bees have a good time gathering honey. 



I am well pleased with tlie Journal, and add 

 the names of some bee-keepers, who perhaps do 

 not yet take it. I think you would do well to 

 send them specimen numbers. 



Jonathan Smith. 



WUloic Branch, Ind. 



BEES ALOFT.— About two years ago, a 

 swarm of bees was discovered in the steeple of 

 the Congregational Church in Gilsum, N. H., 

 where they have since remained. As a result, 

 fifty-six pounds of honey were recently obtained 

 from the sacred edifice. — Boston Journal. 



Light colonies, deficient in honey, should be 

 fed in the latter part of September or early in 

 October. If feeding is begun early, in seasons 

 where late forage is abundant, there will be a 

 great waste of honey. — Langstrotli. 



