284 



GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTURE. 



Ai'K. L 



bee-keepers and honey-dealers of Wisconsin, 

 ask the Classification Committee to make the 

 rates on extracted honey the same as on syrups 

 when in similar packages. H. Latiikot, 

 Browntown, Wis., Mar. 8. Rec. Sec'y. 



FLOUK PASTE FOll STICKING LABELS TO TIN. 



Occasionally I see in Gleanings that parties 

 have trouble in making labels stick to tin or 

 glass. In the last issue, such complaint is made 

 by the editor, in speaking of a new kind of mu- 

 cilage, or glue, that he is offering for sale. I 

 don't see why any one should have any trouble 

 in getting labels to adhere firmly to either tin 

 or glass. A simple flour paste will make thcmi 

 "stay there," is easily made, and insignificant 

 in cost, a teaspoonful of flour making enough 

 paste to put on 50 labels 3x() inches in size. 



Sparta. Miss., Mar. 9. L. Hall. 



[There has been almost a universal complaint 

 that the ordinary pastes, including that made 

 of flour, will not slick labels to tin. If you 

 know of any way by whicii the flour paste will 

 hold a label on tin for a year or more, you must 

 have a knack unknown to the rest of us. Per- 

 haps you can tell us.— Ed.] 



examination of honey and wax. 



The Austrian Journal of the Apothecaries" 

 ZTnion, in No. 29. 1892. contains a report in re- 

 gard to examinations recently made in food and 

 drugs, from which I extract tlie following in 

 reference to honey and wax. Four kinds of 

 honey were examined, one of which contained 

 about 4,5 percent of cane-sugar syrup. Anoth- 

 er, under the name of "Turkish Honey," con- 

 tained four per cent of clayey earth. Two 

 samples were unmixed. 



Three samples of wax wei-e examined, which 

 also were adulterated. They contained: 



Per cent. 



Wax 41 48.1 19.3 



Stearic acid 33 3.5 11.2 



Paraffine 27 10.6 69.5 



In the entire list examined (embracing about 

 27 varieties and 532 samples), no object was 

 found that was so much adulterated as bees- 

 wax. Karl R. Mathey. 



Medina, ()., Mar. 19. 



successful use of watek-botti>es in quken- 



CAGKS. 



Seeing you have failed in your efforts to pro- 

 vision queen-cages with a vial of water, per- 

 haps you would like to know how we prepare 

 the one of which Mr. W. A. Pryal speaks in his 

 article in the Anierlcan Bee Journal. We used 

 two cages, one supplied with (Jood candy; the 

 vial is iitted into the other, and the two are 

 nailed together. We use a small piece of 

 sponge to stop the bottle with. It should bo 

 stopped tight ;enough to prevent its leaking. 

 You can test th<^ matter by filling the vial with 

 water, and stopping it up and laying it on a 

 piece of paper. If it wets the paper you have 

 not stopped it tight enough. A queen and 16 

 bees thus suppli(>d were mailed here at Chries- 

 man, and traveled to Mr. I'ryal, at Temescal, 



Cal., and from there back to me, and only a. 

 few of the bees were dead when they reached 

 me. There were a few drops of the water in 

 the vial when it returned. It is said to be over 

 2000 miles from h(ir(! to Temescal. If so, that 

 (lueen traveled 4000 miles, and was in fine con- 

 dition. 



I have kept queens caged for weeks at a time, 

 provided with a vial of water, and they always 

 seem more lively than they do when not tlius 

 provided. C. B. Baxkston. 



Cliri(^sman, Texas, Mar. I. 



[We are of the opinion that friend B. has 

 contributed a valuable idea in tlie use of the 

 sponge. We shall certainly try it. Will tiie 

 Atclileys send MS a <|U('en and attendants? We 

 will return them. 'i'lKMiueen may besentback 

 and forth as long as she is alive. Is it cruel? 

 No, liecause it may save the lives of thousands 

 of other queens.— Ed.] 



wild cucumber; other vines for shade 



AND for raising THE BEE-FLIGHT; 

 SEE PAGE 90. 



Have you a perennial vine? The vine we 

 have herd, Echlnovystlfi lohata, {?, an annual, 

 the seeds peculiarly marked; seed-pod shaped 

 like a cucumber covered with spines, but not 

 aggressive, either as to spines or growth. 1 

 planted seven seeds in the spring, and foui 

 grciw. Tlie flowers, a greenish wliite, were pio- 

 fuse, growing in spikes, and continued long in 

 bloom. They are said to be fragrant, but that 

 I did not notice. I think the bees did not can 

 for them; but if used for a screen, that might 

 be as well. Here, to have them grow, care 

 must be taken to plant early enough to subject 

 the seeds to frost. 



It seems to me, if we want permanentscreens. 

 or screens for even a few years, perennials an 

 more desirable, as giving less trouble, and be- 

 ing more likely to be ready when needed. The 

 madria is a rich vine and a good grower, l)ut 

 the roots must be lifted and can^d for like the 

 dahlia. 



How would cinnamon honeysuckle and rose- 

 vines suit, brighteiKHi with the annuals spok(Mi 

 of by C. P. C, or using them till the other vint^s 

 were established ? 



Please ask Dr. Miller to tell us liow to adul- 

 terate our butter with honey to get that de- 

 lightful English flavor. Should the honey be 

 granulated? Rurn Moore. 



Tillin, O., Feb. 12. 



[You are correct. The wild cucumber is an 

 annual and not a perennial. We were under 

 the impression tliat it sprang from the roots 

 each year; but Mrs. R., to whom we referred 

 the matt(!r, says our old vine springs each year 

 fi'om the seed. Yes, a perennial vine would be 

 preferable. — Ed.] 



