1894 



GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTURE. 



7(59 



it will be a little dil'liL-ult for three members to 

 -get together. Abetter way still would be to 

 appoint a committee of three at the first ses- 

 -sion, with the request that they report at the 

 last session such amendments as in their judg- 

 ment would improve the existing condition of 

 things. 



Now, with regard to the affiliation fee, I 

 might throw out, as a suggestion, that only the 

 nominal sum of one dollar be required, and that 

 this dollar entitle the delegate to vote, and that 

 other "rights and privileges," if we can not 

 oiTer any, be left out entirely. Until we can 

 receive an annual grant from the national 

 government, we can not. as I see, offer any 

 great benefits from affiliation. But I like the 

 idea of affiliation, even if it simply amounts to 

 that in name only; for the name only would 

 signify a brotherhood. 



The Ontario Bee-keepers' Association paid 

 ^5 00 once or twice, and, failing to secure the 

 " benefits," protested — and rightly too. No 

 wonder no societies are affiliated now. 



In making these criticisms 1 do not wish in 

 any sense to cast any reflections on the good 

 work performed by Thomas (t. Newman, the 

 framer of this constitution. Without these 

 objectionable features it would be an admira- 

 ble instrument; and if there is any blame to be 

 attached to any one for these objectionable 

 features, it should be thrown on the inuividual 

 members who voted for its adoption, and not 

 upon Mr. Newman, who felt greatly disap- 

 pointed that it was not properly discussed at 

 the Columbus convention, where it was adopt- 

 ed without a dissenting vote. 



THOSE NEW PERCOLATOR FEEDEHS, ON AN 

 EXTENSIVE TRIAL, A SUCCESS. 



As announced in our last issue, we have 

 been making some quite extensive experiments 

 in the line of feeding, on the percolator idea. I 

 am happy to announce that it is a success; but 

 we get altogether the best results with the 

 crock, a few foldsof cheese-cloth, and the plate. 

 We have fed a good many colonies by the gal- 

 lon-crock plan. Into each crock, by measure, 

 we put equal parts of granulated sugar and 

 cold water. The mixture is then stirred, after 

 which several folds of cheese-cloth are laid 

 over the mouth of the crock. A dinner-plate is 

 seton top and the wholeis inverted, and setover 

 the colony. At first the bees show a disposi- 

 tion to take the feed down slowly; but after a 

 little they " catch on," and will empty out a 

 crock in from 2i to 48 hours; but in nearly 

 every instance there will be a very slight resi- 

 due of sugar clinging to the bottom of the 

 crock. This does no harm on the subsequent 

 feeding; for more sugar and water are put in, 

 and the operation is repeated as before. If you 

 desire to have every particle of the sugar used 

 up in one feed, put the requisite quantity of 

 sugar itself into a cheese-cloth bag, tie its 



mouth, drop it into the crock, and fill it with 

 water. In a day or two, both the sack and the 

 crock will be empty; and not only that, but 

 nice, clean, and dry. 



We have been trying the Miller feeders by 

 pushing folds of cheese-cloth up under the 

 partitions. But we find it is difficult to get the 

 cloth properly tucked in so that in all cases the 

 sugar and water will percolate properly. Al- 

 though we have fed a good many colonies with 

 Miller feeders on the percolator plan, we very 

 much prefer the crock. I am rather glad that 

 the crock gives the better results. It may 

 spoil the supi>ly-dealer\s demand for feeders; 

 but every bee-keeper wiU have in the house just 

 the very articles that will make the best feed- 

 ers in the world, without a cent outlay of ex- 

 pense. 



Now that we have given the percolator feed- 

 ers a good trial, I do not hesitate lo say that 

 Dr. Miller has contributed one of the most val- 

 uable ideas, in the line of feeding, that have 

 been proposed for many a year. It will save 

 daubing up the good wife's stove, the handling 

 of dripping feeder-cans, and the carrying of 

 water, incorporated in the old-fashioned syrup, 

 to out-yards. By the new idea, during the 

 worst robbing time it is possible to carry a bar- 

 rel of granulated sugar out into the center of 

 the apiary, and give colonies their doses of food, 

 made up of sugar and cold water, right in the 

 middle of the day. There will be no robbers to 

 speak of. Before the syrup has actually been 

 made, it is inclosed in the feeders, in the hives. 

 Then, too. this percolator syrup, if good author- 

 ities are correct, will not crystallize. 



But it seems the idea of using sugar and 

 water, half and half, is not new. Here is a 

 letter from F. A. Salisbury, which will explain 

 itself: 



Mr. Ri)0t:—1 liave just read Dr. Miller's article on 

 feeding. I have used water and sug:ar, equal 

 we i(j] its, for three years, and have j'et to find the 

 syrup granulated in tlie combs. Tbe percolator 

 may be all rig-ht, but I can feed with a gre'at deal 

 less bother by using an extractor for dissolving the 

 sugar. The way I do it is: Place in the extractor 

 lOU lbs. of granulated sugar; then turn on it 100 lbs. 

 of water. Turn the basket as tliougli yuu were ex- 

 tracting, and in ten minutes you will have syrup. 

 The water can be used right from the well. Tliere 

 Is no need of its being hot. If at first the basket of 

 the extractor turns hard, jou could, tlie next time, 

 place the water in first, and then pour in the gran- 

 ulated sugar, turning the l)asket at the same time. 

 Try i'. 



Syracuse, N. Y., Sept. 19. F. A. Samsboky. 



I have tried this plan, but can not get the 

 sugar and water to mix thoroughly. It has 

 got to stand a considerable length of time. I 

 think it would be better to feed the mixture by 

 percolator feeders than to give it to the bees 

 through the ordinary feeders. 



We have just received a lot of fine imported 

 Italian queens. Price for best selected this 

 fall, $4.00 each; next spring, $7.00. 



