216 



THE AMERICAN BEE JOURNAL AND GAZETTE. 



and had Italian queens for sale; but on writing 

 him he informed me that my project would be 

 quite expensive and quite sure to fail, but that 

 he could furnish me a queen to be put into a 

 full swarm as well late in the season as at any 

 other time, or perhaj)s better. 



Well, as I had got the Italian queen fever, I 

 was bound to have one; $20 was a big price to 

 pay for a single bee, as my friends expressed it, 

 but I thought that in bees as in other things the 

 best was generally the cheapest and surest; and 

 so away goes the $20 greenback with an an- 

 xiety and impatience for the result not equaled 

 by any other transaction where several hundred 

 were at stake. 



The days at lengtlt passed as days always do, 

 I believe, and a reply came, and, shortly after, 

 the tiny movable frame-hive, and the beautiful 

 little strangers as kind and gentle as kittens. 



At first, great preparation were made in a 

 room on purpose to open the little hive before 

 a window, as we supposed of course they would 

 fly, but not a bee moved off from the combs; 

 they were taken out and looked at, handled, 

 carressed, and even breathed upon, without 

 stirring a wing, and the retiring modest little 

 queen, with her beautiful tapering form, was 

 already worth the $20 just to look at. 



Great was the fear that that important cere- 

 mony of introduction to the black natives might 

 miscarry in some way, and over and over 

 again were the instructions read before com- 

 mencing. 



But my persecuted swarm probably thought 

 there was to be no end to the innovations on 

 their home, or rather mine, and so concluded 

 to submit quietlj'- to all that was imposed on 

 them, and rebelling little at being deprived of 

 their queen, which I came very near never 

 finding. 



I removed the combs nervously, thinking that 

 it was like looking for a needle in a hay-stack 

 for all the world, when I accidentally came 

 upon her, but had not yet faith enough in the 

 books to believe the romantic idea that she had 

 a sting, but would use it only in case of an in- 

 vasion bj' royalty itself, and so was afraid to 

 take her in my fingers, as I should do now, but 

 allowed her to get out of sight while I was try- 

 ing to poke her off Avith a slick. A friend 

 offered to help me hunt her if I would get him 

 a bird-cage to wear like my own, (referring to 

 my bee-hat which I then always wore when 

 about bees,) but I thought I could find her my- 

 self, as I knew where she was — that is, I knew 

 what comb she was on, or supposed I did; but 

 after a long search she was found on the tioor, 

 hid in a crack, a trick which I believe Italian 

 queens are never guilty of. She was secured and 

 kept for a royal combat with my unfertile queen 

 in the observatory hive, which, by the way, 

 took place according to programme, ending in 

 the downfall and death of the old queen, and 

 victory of the young one. I intended to pre- 

 serve the remains, but the bees had disposed of 

 her by taking her out and carrying her away 

 up in the air before I could get to them. 



After six hours the Italian queen was placed 

 in a cage on the frames, and, at the proper time, 

 as the cage was opened, my heart stood still, 



and so did the bees, and as she silently disap- 

 peared between the combs, I drew a long 

 breath of relief, for I knew that my highly .es- 

 teemed $20 queen was safe. 



For the American Bee Jourual and Gazette. 



Bee-keeping Without a System 



is just as injudicious as farming or mechanical 

 work without a proper system. More depends 

 upon attention and careful management, and 

 that at the right time, than upon good or bad 

 luck. 



Now, Mr. Editor, I have read much in the 

 Journal and other periodicals about the profits 

 of bee-culture. I would like to ask bee-keepers, 

 through your paper, if it is profitable to let bees 

 starve for want of a little attention and a few 

 pounds of sugar properly prepared. If so, the 

 bee-keepers in the northwestern part of Massa- 

 chusetts have realized a very large profit the 

 past winter. Nine-tenths of all the bees in 

 Franklin county have perished for want of 

 food and proper care. My experience extends 

 thirty-four years in bee-culture. The past sea- 

 son was the poorest by more than three-fourths 

 of any season during that time A few, by 

 proper feeding and careful management, have 

 saved their bees. 



I have frequently been asked the question 

 what proportion of my swarms of bees I lose in 

 wintering. In reply, I ask them, being farmers 

 or dairymen, what proportion of their cows 

 they expect to lose in wintering. I expect to 

 lose about as many colonies of bees as they do 

 cows. I went into the past winter with 

 seventy colonies, which is considered a very 

 large stock for this section of the country. They 

 all came through in good condition, except four 

 that proved queenless; and they were turned 

 to some advantage by adding to others that 

 were partially depopulated-. 



Wm. W. Gary. 



CoLERAiN^ Mass. 



A swakm from a swarm is called a virgin 

 swarm. If in the following year this maiden 

 swarm throw off a swarm later than the middle 

 of June, it is a good practice to return it to the 

 maiden stock, or the chances are that both will 

 be lost. 



All stocks in cottage-hives, whether of wood 

 or straw, that have missed swarming for two 

 successive years, and more particularly if they 

 have lain out and shown other symptoms of 

 swarming, are very hazardous to keep as 

 stocks. 



Stocks weak as to number die; and stocks 

 light of honey die. Even if they survive the 

 winter, in the early spring months there is but 

 little chance of their doing well. But con- 

 stantly giving food, and keeping them warm, 

 are means that may save such stocks. 



