24 



AMERICAN BEE JOURNAL. 



that bees are not given the supers (sec- 

 tions) at the right time. 



The Question Box proved a source of 

 much interesting information, as fol- 

 lows : 



FEEDERS AND FEEDING. 



Mr. Sutton explained the construction 

 of an entrance feeder. It was a blocli 

 of wood so fitted that an inverted fruit- 

 can, filled with syrup of some kind, was 

 accessible to bees in the hive, and could 

 not be reached by those from outside the 

 hive. 



Others inverted the fruit-jar right 

 over the colony inside the hive. The 

 last method of feeding was especially 

 urged when feeding to stimulate the 

 queen to laying. For feeding where a 

 colony is short of stores for winter, es- 

 pecially if late in the season, feed as 

 quickly as possible (twice feeding, if 

 properly done, will do) so as not to start 

 the queen to laying, as late brood-rear- 

 ing is not desirable. 



SMALL COLONIES — HONEY-BOARDS, ETC. 



Mr. Dewey asked, " What would you 

 do with a very small colony in the fall '?" 

 If not too late, feed it up. If too late, 

 unite with some other colony. It is too 

 late to feed at this time. 



"Are queen excluding honey-boards 

 necessary?" Not in an ordinary Lang- 

 stroth "hive, or any hive of ordinary 

 depth frame. Where a shallow frame 

 is used, as in the Heddon hive, it was 

 thought necessary to keep the queen 

 out of the sections. A member declared 

 that he had not one section in 1,000 

 spoiled by the queen going up among 

 the sections to deposit eggs. 



A question as to whether bees needed 

 to be fed a substitute for pollen was 

 answered, " Scarcely ever, unless all 

 new comb." 



CARING FOR COMB HONEY, ETC. 



The first topic for Wednesday efening, 

 " Best method of securing and caring 

 for comb honey," was of interest, but 

 resulted in repetition of methods famil- 

 iar to bee-keepers. It was advised to 

 keep honey in a cool, dry place, but not 

 where it v/ill freeze. One member kept 

 his in a room where plants grow well, 

 with good results. 



" If too warm, millers will likely give 

 trouble," was urged, but most who gave 

 their experience had no trouble with the 

 bee-moth working at honey, even if kept 

 in a warm place, a condition desirable 

 for best results. 



But few had experience in extracting 

 honey, but those who had practiced it 



thought it paid full as well as comb 

 honey. 



" What have I learned in 1893 ?" 

 gave an opportunity for stating experi- 

 ences. One man had experienced trouble 

 with robber-bees, which he kept away 

 with tobacco spit. They left in disgust. 

 Another found alcohol, or anything with 

 a disagreeable scent, to answer. 



"WINTERING BEES — DIVIDING COLONIES. 



" How do you winter your bees ?" was 

 asked. Some wintered out of doors, 

 others in cellar or cave. By either 

 method some succeeded while others 

 failed ; it depended upon the man, gen- 

 erally. ^ 



" Does it pay to divide colonies for in- 

 crease ?" Where colonies alone is the 

 object, yes ; but it must be properly at- 

 tended to. Generally, natural swarming 

 is the best. This was the concensus of 

 opinion. A member had increased from 

 10 to 42 colonies by dividing in one 

 season, but the season was an extra 

 good one. 



PREVENTION OF SPRING DWINDLING. 



"How can spring dwindling be pre- 

 vented '?" The causes of spring dwin- 

 dling were stated to be very numerous. 

 If known, prevent it. One cause is 

 starting into the winter with all old 

 bees, which are sure to die before young 

 bees are reared in the following spring. 

 Cold, windy days in the spring cause 

 dwindling. Keeping the entrance shad- 

 ed to exclude the light will help. Keep- 

 ing bees packed until late, will also help. 



On Thursday morning, Corry, Erie 

 county, Pa., was selected as the place of 

 next meeting. Ofticers were then elected 

 as follows : President, J. McGonnel, of 

 Mill Village ; Vice-President, C. D. Free- 

 man, of Blystone ; Treasurer, D. A. 

 Dewey, of Columbus; Secretary, Geo. 

 Spitler, of Mosiertown ; and a Vice- 

 President for each county represented. 



The President, Treasurer and Secre- 

 tary were chosen as .the executive com- 

 mittee to attend to the arrangements for 

 next meeting, and D. A. Dewey to secure 

 a place for meeting, and make local ar- 

 rangements. After this the programme 

 was taken up. 



BEE-KEEPING AT STATE AGRICULTURAL 



COLLEGES. 



"Bee-keeping at agricultural colleges 

 should be encour;iged." It was gener- 

 ally thought best ihat more attention be 

 devoted to apiculture at such institu- 

 tions, as but few bee-keepers have the 

 time to devote to a scientific study, had 

 they even the proper qualifications, 



