190 



THE AMERICAN BEE JOURNAL. 



For the American Bee Journal. 

 Queen Killed by the Sun. 



I aim to have a portion of one wing 

 clipped of all my queens, after they be- 

 come fertilized. I then can govern swarm- 

 ing; and besides this, they never go to the 

 woods, and it is easier to hive them if we 

 wish volunteer (natural) swarms, by set- 

 ting the new hive in place of the mother 

 stand, and catch the swarm as it comes 

 back, in place of climbing trees, etc. 



After No. 17 swarmed, when the swarm 

 had settled, I gathered the queen from 

 the ground, as usual, and put her 

 under a glass, on a plate. I knew that 

 glass would act as a reflector, and draw 

 heat in the sun, but the weather being 

 rather cool, thought she would be too cold 

 in the shade. I set her in the sun and 

 went into the mother hive to destroy the 

 queen cells while the swarm was sailing 

 in the air. When I was through, and 

 W'ent for my queen, behold, she was dead ! 

 I have learned this: the sun may reflect 

 more heat than we might expect. 



I swarm artiflcially. I cannot afford to 

 suffer the loss that is caused by volunteer 

 swarming. 



Bees wintered well, bttt are not making 

 any increase for apiarists in this part of 

 the country, so far this season. 



E. LiSTON. 



Cedar Co., Mo., May 29, 1876. 



For the American Bee Journal. 



Wax Introducing Cages. 



Let all who wish to try the wax intro- 

 ducing cages advertised in the May and 

 June numbers of the American Bee 

 Journal. Make them according to the 

 following directions and 7iot send any 

 more orders to me for them 



For a mold take a smooth, round, taper- 

 ing stick % of an inch in diameter at 

 small end ; wet it and dip it into melted 

 wax and then into cold water; you have 

 then a wax cage very much like a long 

 thimble. Draw it ofl" the mold and make 

 a row of holes with a hot wire around the 

 the small end, to guide the bees in cutting 

 ofi" the lid and to allow them to feed tlie 

 qyeen while imprisoned. The cage or 

 cell should be about two inches h)ng. Put 

 the queen into the cell head foremost and 

 confine her hy folding over tlie open end 

 and pressing it; the cell may be put into 

 the queeuless hive through a hole in the 

 honey board. The bees will go to work to 

 cut the end out of the cell and release the 

 queen which tliey will accomplish in four 

 or five hours if the cell is of proper thick- 

 ness. Meanwhile, the queen sticks her 

 tongue out of the small lioles in the cell, 

 and the bees cultivate her acquaintance 

 and supply her wants. 



In trying to And some sure and easy 

 way to introduce unfertile queens, I dis- 



covered that they could be safely intro- 

 duced by putting them into an empty 

 queen cell, sealing them tip, and telling 

 them, so to speak, to hatch out again. See 

 American Bee Journal, August, 1875, 

 page 189. Empty queen cells failing me 

 at one time, I molded some of the wax as 

 above and found them to answer just as 

 well, and more easily prepared. If the 

 wax is very hot the mold will have to be 

 dipped two or three times to make the 

 cell of proper thickness. 



I have often tried, but never succeeded 

 in introducing unfertile queens in wire or 

 wooden cages; but with the wax cells 

 have introduced them safely every time in 

 numerous instances both this season and 

 last. Wm. C. Pelham. 



Maysville, Ky., June, 1876. 



■ I m 



A Valuable Instrument. — The Mi- 

 croscope among the masses, seems to be 

 looked upon as an instrument for use in 

 scientific investigations rather than as one 

 possessing any practical value. Nothing 

 could be farther from the truth. To the 

 farmer, the Microscope offers the means of 

 studying the habits of destructive insects, 

 with the view of ascertaining some method 

 for their extermination. Teachers and 

 students of botany are afforded an oppor- 

 tunity to examine the construction of del- 

 icate flowers and plants, thereby reducing 

 to practice, the knowledge obtained from 

 text-books. Merchants can investigate the 

 quality of all kinds of fabrics. The mi. 

 ner is able to detect traces of the precious 

 metals where the unaided human eye 

 would discover nothing. The physician 

 can determine the nature of many diseases 

 that otherwise might bafile his skill. In- 

 deed, so varied are the uses to which a 

 good microscope can be put, that a vol- 

 ume might be written on the subject. 



In tlie belief that many of our readers 

 would be glad to possess" an instrument of 

 genuine value, we have made arrange- 

 ments to furnish tlie Abbott Pocket Mi- 

 croscope to all who may desire it. The 

 price is low — only $1.50 — and it will per- 

 form more real service than many instru- 

 ments costing a great deal more. We be- 

 lieve eveiy family could make one of 

 these Microscopes practically useful. 

 Certainly every farmer, teacher, or student 

 should have one. They will be sent post- 

 paid to any address, by the publisher of 

 this Journal, on receipt of price. 



^^W' We have a new lot of fresh mel- 

 lilot clover seed, that we can supply at 

 25 cents per ib. Postage 16 cents per Bb 

 extra, if sent by mail. 



