1S9'^ 



THE AMERICAN BEE JOURNAL. 



455 



you to cut them out entirely and fasten In the frames. You 

 may find some advantage in exchanKintf some of these combs 

 with colonies that have combs all straight, putting one of the 

 doctored combs between two straight ones. 



Dronc§ with Peculiar Markings. 



I started last spring with 23 colonies— 7 hybrids, 1 Car- 

 niolan and 15 Italians. Among the mismaled are two colo- 

 nies wiih queens of last year's rearing. They are bright yel- 

 low queens, of the golden Italian variety. These queens pro- 

 duce a few drones of peculiar markings, some of them are of 

 bright, solid yellow, or rather of a reddish cast, with a large 

 yellow crescent on the thorax, and some of them are of a dark 

 purple, which seems to be somewhat between the color of a 

 red clover blossom and an ordinary black drone. They are 

 not mottled with black, but of an even color. Could the mat- 

 ing of the queens thus affect the drone offspring ? or what cau- 

 ses the sporting in their color ? Iowa. 



Answek. — Drones seem to be very freaky as to their mark- 

 ings. Considerable variations occur with no apparent reason. 

 Red-headed drones are quite common. It is generally consid- 

 ered that the drone progeny of a queen is not affected by her 

 mating, and for all practical purposes this is probably true. 

 Still there may be some little effect upon the drone offspring, 

 so little as not tj be perceptible ordinarily, but showing itself 

 quite distinctly in occasional cases. A white woman giving 

 birth to a mulatto with a negro father, will afterward produce 

 pure white children to a white husband, and yet there have 

 been cases in which subsequent births to a white husband have 

 distinctly shown negro blood. It is possible that the queens 

 themselves may not have been entirely pure. 



The BuflTalo Convention Piotice has been 

 sent us by Secretary Mason, and reads as follows : 



Sta. B, Toledo, Ohio, July 5, 1897. 



Mr. Editor :— Will you please say in the next issue of 

 the American Bee Journal that the next annual coaivention of 

 the United States Bee-Keepers' Union will be held in the Main 

 Hall of Caton's Business College, corner of Main and Huron 

 Streets, in Buffalo, N. Y., commencing at 10 o'clock, a.m., of 

 Aug. 2-i next, and closing on the afternoon of the 26th ? 



Papers are to be read by W. Z. Hutchinson, R. F. Holter- 

 mann, E. Whitcomb, Hon. R. L. Taylor, Mrs. L. Harrison, R. 

 C. Aikin, G. M. Doolittle, Dr. J. P. H. Brown, Hon. Eugene 

 Secor, Geo. W. Brodbeck, M. B. Holmes, A. E. Manum, E. 

 Kretchmer and P. H. Elwood ; to which will be added the 

 President's Address, and perhaps the General Manager and 

 the Secretary may have something of interest to present. 



The programs are now printed and in the hands of the 

 Secretary. There are six bee-keepers' songs, with music, in 

 the program, and abundance of time is allotted to the discus- 

 sion of all papers, and for the asking and answering of ques- 

 tions. 



Any one not a member of the Union can have a program 

 sent them by mail on receipt of 5 cents in postage stamps by 

 the Secretary. 



Several of our well known bee-keepers, such as A. I. Root, 

 Dr. Miller, S. T. Pettit and others who are not on the pro- 

 gram, will be present to help make the convention interesting 

 and instructive. 



It is probable that suggestions will be made at this con- 

 vention in the line of so amending the constitution of the 

 Union as to remove its objectionable features and add such 

 other provisions as may seem desirable, and suggestions in 

 this line by those not able to be at the convention can be sent 

 to the Secretary, to be brought before it. Some suggestions 

 have already been received by the Secretary, and others have 

 been made in the bee-papers. 



Those going to the convention should buy round-trip 

 tickets to the Grand Army of the Republic encampment (not 

 to the United States Bee Keepers' convention i, which meets 

 at Buffalo during the last week of August. The G. A. R. 

 have secured a rate of one cent a mile each way in the terri- 

 tory of the Central Passenger Committee, which is included 

 by Toronto, Canada, thence on a line to Port Huron, Mich., 

 all of the southern peninsula of Michigan ; Chicago, Peoria 

 and Quincy, III., St. Louis, Mo., Louisville, Ky., and Pitts- 

 burg, Pa. The Western Passenger Association and the Trunk 

 Line Association make a rate of one fare for the round-trip 

 in their territory to places in the Central Passenger Associa- 

 tion, from which points the fare will be one cent a mile each 

 way, but tickets must be purcbasl to Buffalo from the start- 



ing point. Enquire of your ticket or station agent in all ter- 

 ritory outside of the above-named for rates and the time the 

 tickets are good for, for I have been unable to learn the rates 

 Id such territory, but presume it will be the same as that of 

 the Western Passenger and the Trunk Line Association ; but 

 be sure to inquire of your ticket agent as above suggested. 



In the Central Passenger and Trunk Line territory tickets 

 will be good going on the 21st, 22nd and 23rd, and if vised 

 at Buffalo will be good, returning, for 30 days. 



Mr. 0. L. Hershiser, of Buffalo, has charge of arrange- 

 ments at Buffalo, and will attend to the matter of hotel rates. 

 He writes : " I purpose obtaining accommodations in private 

 families for all bee-keepers who prefer such to hotels." Mem- 

 bers of the Union can learn in regard to hotel rates by apply- 

 ing to the Secretary at the place of meeting. If known in 

 time, hotel rates will be given in the bee-periodicals. 



A. B. Mason, Sec. 



Kno'wing tbe Honey- Plants.— In the June 



California Cultivator, Mr. N. Levering has this to say about 

 bee-keepers studying the plants that yield honey : 



The leading feature of interest and ultimate success in 

 apiculture is a correct and thorough knowledge of the nature 

 and habits of the bee. Next, a kuowledge of the various 

 plants upon which they work and render an equivalent for 

 the labor bestowed. The nectar is the bee's reward; it is the 

 sweet and tempting bait that lurks in the bloom that entices 

 or causes the insect to yield and partake. This constitutes 

 the philosophy of the relation between flowers and bees and 

 their inseparable connection. The study of the honey or nec- 

 tar-producing family of plants should engage the attention of 

 every apiarist; likewise the cultivation of the same. He who 

 would succeed in any industry or enterprise should be thor- 

 oughly imbued with all its parts and characteristics. Obser- 

 vation and the power of application are important requisites 

 to success. Bee-keepers shoulQ note the forage, especially 

 that which bees give the preference, in order to ascertain the 

 best nectar-producing plants, as well as the grade and quality 

 of honey. 



The black or ball sage is the leading honey-plant in South- 

 ern California. It has been in bloom for the past month, and 

 in our locality it is rarely visited by the bee, yet bees are stor- 

 ing honey of an excellent quality, but from what plant no one 

 seems to know, as bees appear to fly a long distance. We 

 have observed them working the hoarhound, showing a decided 

 preference for it, continuing their visits from early morn until 

 dewy eve, and if the conditions of the weather are favorable 

 with heavy dews, a bountiful flow is secured. Their appear- 

 ance while working on the hoarhound is quite similar to that 

 when working on the sage, and are to be found about the hive 

 in all conditions of fatigue. This plant should command the 

 attention of houey-producers. and is one of easy cultivation, 

 adapted to almost any moist land. 



Encyclopedia for Beeswax.— Some time ago we 

 offered a splendid work of eight large volumes, called "The 

 New Standard American Encyclopedia," having nearly -±,000 

 pages, and over 300 colored maps, charts, and diagrams. 

 Size of volume, 2 inches thick, S'.,' wide, and 1132 long. As 

 per that offer, last publisht on page 186, the eight volumes 

 were offered by freight for only .S 19 cash. We can furnish 

 a set or two at that price, bound in half morroco ; or will ex- 

 change a set for 75 pounds of yellow beeswax, delivered at 

 our office. You would be more than satisfied with the En- 

 cyclopedia, and a set of such books ought to be in every 

 family for reference. 



A Nevr Binder for holding a year's numbers of the 

 American Bee Journal, we propose to mail, postpaid, to every 

 subscriber who sends us 20 cents. It Is called "The Wood 

 Binder," is patented, and is an entirely new and very simple 

 arrangement. Full printed directions accompany each Binder. 

 Every reader should get it, and preserve the copies of the Bee 

 Journal as fast as they are received. They are invaluable for 

 reference, and at the low price of the Binder you can afford to 

 get It yearly. 



Xbe nicEvoy Foul Brood Xreatuient Is 



given in Dr. Howard's pamphlet on " Foul Brood ; Its Natural 

 History and Rational 'Treatment." It is the latest publication 

 on the subject, and should be in the hands of every bee-keeper. 

 Price, 2.5 cents ; or clubbed with the Bee Journal for one year 

 — both for $1.10. , 



