American Bee Journal, 



DEVOTED EXCLUSIVELY TO BEE CULTURE. 



Vol. XI. 



CHICAGO, OCTOBER, 1875. 



No. 10. 



Seasonable Hints. 



From all parts of the West we receive 

 reports of great yields of lioney during the 

 latter part of August and September. If 

 care has been taken to use the extractor, 

 and thus give the queen room, brood will 

 have been reared until frost, and the hives 

 will now be well supplied with young bees. 



If, on the contrary, the queen has had 

 little or no room for her eggs, the colony 

 may be heavy with honey and yet have 

 few bees — too few for safety. Such col- 

 onies should have, if possible, a comb or 

 two of hatching bees given them from 

 other hives more fortunate. 



All supers and surplus boxes must be 

 taken off after the first killing frost, and 

 at that time we always put on our quilts, 

 carpets or mats. Especially if the colonies 

 are weak in bees is this an advantage ; for 

 it keeps the bees more comfortable. All 

 entrances to hives should be made small 

 and the bees disturbed as little as possible. 



There is no danger from robbing in the 

 fall, if bees are not left with entrances ex- 

 posed, and broken honey where the bees 

 smell it. 



A season of rest seems to come to bees 

 after severe frost ; they fly out but seldom 

 and are not eager to gather as they are in 

 the spring. 



If you have colonies which must be fed, 

 do it now, that the honey or syrup may be 

 taken when the bees need it before the 

 weather is too cold. Give no more syrup 

 (if that is to be fed,) than they can carry 

 into the hive while it is luke-warm. We 

 believe many bees are killed by taking 

 cold syrup into their honey sacs. It is 

 unnatural, as honey is always luke-warm 

 when taken from the blossom. If you 

 have given more than they take soon, re- 

 move it and feed the next day after warm- 

 ing it. 



Later than this month we would not 



feed. It is better to break up or unite 

 weak colonies, if you have any; remem- 

 bering that one good strong one is worth 

 more than any number of weak ones, at 

 this time of the year. 



If, however, you have hives full of comb 

 with plenty of bees and a good prolific 

 queen, even, if they have too little honey 

 for safety, you can give them a few pounds 

 of sugar made into a syrup, and they will 

 winter quite as well or better than on 

 honey. E. s. T. 



The Centennial. 



It is absolutely essential that all who 

 intend to exhibit anything at the Centen- 

 nial should make immediate application to 

 the committee, that they may know defi- 

 nitely how much space to secure. 



Many who have written to me about it 

 have given no idea of the bulk of articles 

 to be exhibited, or their final decision 

 what to send. 



If we hear soon we can secure all the 

 space necessary, but if the matter is de- 

 layed we shall not be able to secure space. 



We hope that all will remember, that 

 choice specimens of honey must be saved 

 this fall, if to be exhibited. A number 

 have written that they were securing 

 honey in fancy shapes. We hope they 

 will keep them. 



Unless we make special arrangements 

 to bring in honey as it is made, after the 

 opening — as will be done in the case of 

 perishable fruits, all the honey to be ex- 

 hibited is already made. Let it be pre- 

 served with care, until needed. 



Applications may be made at once to 

 Mrs. Tupper, Des Moines, Secretary for 

 Iowa exhibitors, and member of the Na- 

 tional committee; or to 8. Hoagland, 

 Mercer, Pa.; or J. M. Winder, Cincinnati. 



B. B. T. 



