more dense and granular than in the 

 cells higher up, because here it has to 

 secrete the nectar. Where two tubes 

 are found, both are similar in all re- 

 spects to this description of the larger 

 one, and where only one occurs it, like- 

 wise, has this structure. 



One of the most beautiful studies in 

 natural history is the homology of parts 

 — the adaptation of an organ already 

 existing to the performance of new du- 

 ties ; and it is interesting to notice here, 

 that when our geranium flower needs a 

 nectary no new organ is made, but a 

 deep sac or spur is produced as a de- 

 pression in one of the already existing 

 sepals — much like the tube you could 

 make in a piece of sheet rubber by 

 pressing your finger into it — and no new 

 tissue, is made to secrete the nectar 

 within this spur, but a little change in 

 the layer of colorless cells that covers 

 the sepal fits them for this work. 



For the American Bee Journal. 



The Queen laying in Surplus Boxes. 



E. B. SOUTIIWICK. 



I notice an enquiry in the February 

 American Bee Journal, page 98, 

 from Mr. Anderson, of Lawrence, 111., 

 about the queen laying in the sections, 

 when placed in the body of the hive. I 

 generally start my sections in that way, 

 and the queen has never occupied them 

 for me. I always put on the tin separa- 

 tors, with the tin next to the other 

 combs. I have frequently had brood 

 raised in sections above, both drone 

 and worker. 



Mr. Church, of Springville. Wis., 

 says he has a strip of wood in the cen- 

 ter of his frames, which he thinks an 

 improvement. I have used such in my 

 frames for the Inst 3 years ; made in this 

 way : I have strips sawed like my frame 

 stuff , only y % inch thick; I put' two of 

 these, of the right length, placing a 

 piece of my frame stuff, which is % 

 inch thick and about 1 inch long, be- 

 tween them at each end, and fasten 

 them there with brads % inch long; 

 and then fasten in the frame. They are 

 a benefit in many ways. The comb will 

 not break or sag much, and you can 

 handle it with one hand without press- 

 ing your thumb and fingers into the 

 comb. The bees can move from one 

 end of the hives to the other without 

 breaking the cluster, which I think is a 

 great benefit in wintering; my succees 

 in wintering I attribute iii part to this 

 form of frame, as I have not lost a 

 colony of bees in the winter or spring 

 since I have used this frame, and my 



hive. The frame has faults, but I will 

 leave them for others to mention. 



I took out about 500 combs while 

 packing my bees last fall, and thinking 

 they would not mildew in cold weather, 

 I put them in the cellar; but it has been 

 so warm this winter that they have 

 mildewed, in part ; where they were 

 not filled with honey and capped over 

 the capped part is free from mold. 



Now will some one through the 

 Journal inform me if it will answer to 

 use these combs in the hive, or what I 

 had better do witli them ? 



Mendon, Mich., Feb. 7, 1880. 



[If given to strong colonies, one at a 

 time, the bees will quickly clean them 

 up. After a few days another may be 

 given to them ; but if too many are 

 given at once, they may become dis- 

 couraged and leave their hive. — Ed.] 



For the American Bee Journal. 



Practical Hints to the Bee-Keeper. 



H. T. COLLINS. 



Have a hive record, either in the hive 

 or in a memorandum book, kept for the 

 purpose, and then you can always tell 

 what you are about. 



Let every frame be uniform and inter- 

 changeable and every hive the same, if 

 possible. 



Have a few bricks in the apiary and 

 then when any hive wants early atten- 

 tion, indicate it by putting a brick on 

 top. 



FALL MANAGEMENT. 



The honey harvest being over, the 

 next important duty is to prepare for 

 winter. After examining and equaliz- 

 ing the stores, you can generally tell 

 the weight of honey in each hive by the 

 following plan, for which I am indebted 

 to my friend Prof. J. B. Turner, of this 

 city. Provided the hives are nearly 

 uniform in size and position, weigh two 

 or three by platform scales, and then 

 weigh them by a spring balance scale, 

 which is done by attaching the hook of 

 the spring balance to the top edge of 

 hive, and pull (as nearly as you can 

 parallel to the top of the hive) until it 

 begins to tip. This shows the spring 

 balance weight. Then by getting the 

 ratio, you can tell about how much 

 honey each hive contains. To illustrate, 

 say the hive weighs by platform scale 

 (the true weight) 80 lbs. gross, and 

 by spring balance 16 lbs. gross ; then 1 

 lb. per spring balance represents 5 lbs. 

 of platform or true weight. If the 

 hive and frames weigh say 40 lbs., then 



