86 



THE BEE-KEEPERS' REVIEW. 



facts. Prof. Cook, in A. B. J., page 2, 

 describes an apparatus in the bee's honey- 

 stoniach made on purpose to get pollen 

 out of the nectar. 



There's been a funny Donnybrook fair 

 in the British Bee Journal over the ques- 

 tion, What species of plant is the genuine 

 Irish shamrock ? The Irish themselves 

 can't agree. It is essential that it " grow- 

 on Irish ground," and that it bear a tri- 

 foliate leaf such as could serve for the 

 historic object-lesson sermon of St. Pat- 

 rick; but beyond this all seems to be at 

 sea. Some would have it an Oxalis, some 

 a Trifolium, and some would fly to some 

 other botanical genus. But, let me see, 

 how does this get under the head of api- 

 culture anyway ? 



Most of us knew that iron utensils were 

 forbidden to render wax in; but now it 

 seems some cry out against tin and cop- 

 per as also discoloring wax to some ex- 

 tent. They would leave us only wood 

 and earthernware. Or is zinc still un- 

 challenged ? 



Beedom Boiled Down, as A. B. J"s Boil- 

 er does it, shows such careful reading and 

 discriminating selection that I am getting 

 jealous — And first I know I'll be accused 

 of egotism for even putting my head up 

 that high. 



As one of the important points in the 

 important matter of swarming (and a 

 point not generally kept in mind ) Doo- 

 little says young queens are much slower 

 in getting to laying if after-swamiing is 

 interfered with by the keeper. Seven to 

 eleven days if entirely let alone, twelve to 

 sixteen days if meddled with. A. B. J., 

 page 3. 



Same article says eggs often appear in 

 drone comb and still no swarm issues; 

 l)ut no swarm issues till eggs in drone 

 comb first— not even among crazy Italians 

 that swarm before queen cells are built. 



What to do with a bunch of lost young 

 bees that gather in the honey house. 

 Mrs. Axtell dips them in warm water, and 

 then lays them in front of some weak 

 colony. A. B. J., 2. Not a bad plan. 



RiCH.\Rns, Ohio, March 2, I898. 



EXTR7XOXED. 



DISTURBING BEES IN WINTER. 



It may do Harm, and it may not, and it may 

 be Necessarj'. 



It is seldom that I find myself disagree- 

 ing with my friend, C. P. Dadant; but, if 

 I do not differ from him in regard to the 

 disturbing of bees in winter, as expressed 

 in an article in the February Busy Bee, I 

 certainly do not feel certain that he is 

 correct. Here is what he says: — 



I once heard an old bee-keeper say that 

 he examined his bees at all times of the 

 year and in all kinds of weather, and that 

 it never did them any harm. I do not 

 see how one can seriously consider such 

 an assertion. During the spring and 

 summer, when the bees are able to fly, a 

 little disturbance is not injurious and it 

 is quite probable that in most cases it is 

 beneficial, if there are no robbers prow- 

 ling about to pounce upon their stores, 

 for if the apiarist is thoroughly informed 

 of the condition of his bees, he can better 

 attend to their needs. But in cold weath- 

 er, the novice cannot be too much warn- 

 ed against the ill eff^ects of a disturbance 

 of colonies; whether they be in the cellar 

 or in the open air. The bees at this time 

 are closely clustered together in as com- 

 pact a shape as the combs will allow, and 

 so as to be as near the honey as possible. 

 If you carefully open a hive you will no- 

 tice that their heads are all turned towards 

 the center, and that they move but little, 

 all their eff'orts seemingly tending to gain 

 access to the wannest spot. A dis- 

 turbance often induces a certain number 

 of them to leave the cluster, to asertain 

 the danger, and their vigilance becomes 

 the cause of their death, as they become 

 numb and ])erisli l)efore they have real- 

 ized that the teiiijierature is beyond their 

 endurance. 



In a cellar, the disturbances cau.se still 

 more trouble, for they are more on the 

 alert in a temperate atmosphere, and a 

 shock, or jar, sometimes induces hundreds 

 of bees to roam about and leave the hive, 

 through any aperature, and the lea.st ray 

 of ligiit attracts them. Thus, quietude is 

 indispensable; and if the novice nmst 

 satisfy his curiosity, he must do it at the 

 peril of the bees. If food has not been 

 supplied before winter for each colony 



