28 



THE AMERICAN BEE JOURNAL. 



I wish to begin the bee business. I am 

 offered ten colonies at 310 each. Is that too 

 much ? and how am I to tell if they are 

 good colonies ? C. G. 



Missouri. 



The price is not out of the way for good 

 colonies of black bees, if they are in move- 

 able comb hives. We would not advise you 

 buy without examination, and if possible to 

 defer until spring. 



Early in spring they ought to weigh near 

 20 lbs. and have a chisterof bees that extend 

 at least, between four combs. It is hard to 

 give a novice directions so that he can tell 

 exactly the value of the bees he buys, and 

 we would advise you to have the counsel of 

 some one tliat has experience, before pur- 

 chasing, unless you know you can rely on 

 the one of whom you buy, to give you only 

 colonies he can warrant good. 



Please tell us what colored honey Alsike, 

 Lucerne, Catnip and other plants make. 

 James Makkle. 



Alsike clover gives us a light colored 

 honey of greater thickness than white clo- 

 ver, and of as good if not better flavor. We 

 know little about the honey from Lucerne, 

 and reports are so conflicting about its value 

 as a honey plant, that we prefer to ask for 

 " more light," before expressing our opini- 

 on. Golden-rod gives a very yellow honey; 

 that from Aster is not so dark though of 

 better flavor. Doubtless the color and flavor 

 of honey from all plants, varies with locali- 

 ty and soil. All who know anything about 

 Sorghum syrup, are aware that much de- 

 pends on the soil where it is grown, and 

 just so we think honey is changed by soil. 



Please tell a beginner how to fasten mov- 

 able frames securely, when moving some 

 distance. H. Livingston. 



In most cases it is only necessary, in 

 moving bees, to drive a small- nail into each 

 and every frame and fasten them securely 

 on the top. This is easily done, after smok- 

 ing the bees so that they will not resent it. 

 After doing this, put the cap on tight and 

 fasten the entrance up, either with wire 

 cloth, or a piece of wood, in such away as 

 to give them air, while confining them. We 

 have found no difficulty in moving bees pre- 

 pared in this way, Jolting should be avoid- 

 ed as much as possible, and the less honey 

 in the hives the safer they will go. 



I am using Langstroth hives, but find 

 great difficidty in getting bees to build in 

 the upper chambers. What is the cause ? 

 Last spring I liad 22 colonies, when the wet 

 weather set in ; when it closed, my apiary 

 was reduced to 9 colonies. 1 took 4('i0 Uis. o'f 

 honey. It became crystalized early in the 

 fall, notwithstanding'! kept it in a dark 

 place. I have let my bees remain out this 



winter, have them wrapped in straw ; they 

 are keeping well, so far. I am very much 

 interested in the Jouenai.. 

 Tenn. Mks. M. G. Marriss. 



Without knowing more about j^our hives, 

 we cannot tell why the bees do not build in 

 the upper chamber. Different causes may 

 produce it. The openings into the super 

 from the main hive may be too small, (we 

 would always remove the honey board in 

 such cases). There may have been too 

 small a number of bees to enable them to 

 have sufficient heat in the chamber. Below, 

 the hive may have been so full of honey 

 that the queen has been cramped for room 

 and the bees are in consequence reduced in 

 number. There is something wrong in a 

 fair honey season if bees in a healthy, 

 strong colony do not work in every part of 

 the hive. If there are bees enough, they 

 will work, if honey is being secreted, 

 wherever they can find space. 



Honey will granulate in all places and 

 under all circumstances, it seems, contrary 

 to all rule. Instead of that being a disad- 

 vantage, it is rather in your favor, since it 

 proves that it is unadulterated. After it 

 has granulated it will keep any length of 

 time and can be restored to a liquid form by 

 warming it, with very little trouble. 



There is an increasing demand here for 

 honey in the granulated state; many people 

 preferring it so. You speak of honey as 

 "crystalizing"; sugar syrup might crystal- 

 ize, but honey granulates. There is a great 

 diflierence between the two words or rather 

 the states which the words represent. 



« » > * » 



Local Bee-Keepers' Societies.— Some 

 correspondents have written to us, enquir- 

 ing how to organize local societies of bee- 

 keepers. We answer, do it as simply as pos- 

 sible. Very little machinery is needed. A 

 President, Secretary, Treasurer, and Com- 

 mittee, are all the ofticers required. A few 

 rules, prescribing the membership fee, times 

 of meeting, order of business, and so forth 

 will be sufficient. In view of the privileges 

 accorded by the North American Bee-Keep- 

 er's Society, it is advisable to organize as 

 auxiliary to the general body, and we hope 

 that many such organizations will be found 

 in various parts of the country during the 

 present winter. C. 



The Report of the "Michigan Bee-Men in, 

 Council" is so long that many other good 

 articles are laid over for want of room. The 

 Michigan Bee-Keepers had an interesting 

 meeting, and the Report will be read with 

 interest. 



