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THE AMERICAN BEE JOURNAL^ 



Aug. 12, 



As regards the mating of queens, I have abundant proof 

 that the workers govern in thi? matter also. I have a great 

 many times witnest young queens as they left for mating, 

 and in numerous instances the worl<ers prest or urged the 

 queen to tal<e flight. Notwithstanding this urgent persua- 

 sion, they often manifest great consternation during her ab- 

 sence. This is but natural when we consider that the perpetu- 

 ity of the colony depends upon her safe return. Queens some- 

 times leave and return several times before accomplishing 

 their object. Upon several such occasions I have seen the 

 workers prevent tbeir entering the hive and by force compel 

 them to take flight again. I take this opportunity to remark 

 that the queen is exceedingly timid when leaving for the pur- 

 pose of mating and most carefully marks the location of her 

 abode. 



SMOKERS AND SMOKER FUEL. 



I well recall the days of primitive smokers; Quinby's orig- 

 inal being a plain tin tube about five-eights of an inch in di- 

 ameter, five or six inches long, and provided with a plug at 

 each end. One was suflficiently long to serve as a mouthpiece 

 and removable for filling and cleaning the tube. Through 

 each was bored a small hole for the passage of air and smoke. 

 Tobacco was used as fuel. 



Mr. Qiiinby's addition of a bellows certainly markt a new 

 era and obviated the intense strain caused by constant blow- 

 ing through the mouth-piece to keep it iguited. I now use the 

 Bingham smoker and regard it perfect in construction and 

 working. While I have no special fuel to recommend, that 

 which produces the largest and most satisfactory volume of 

 smoke is from spongy or partially decayed wood (notably white 

 birch), but it also produces the greatest accumulation of car- 

 bon or sooty condensation. To remove the accumulation, a 

 little gasoline poured into the barrel and cone will aid in burn- 

 ing it out. Separate them (take off the cover), using two or 

 three teaspoonfuls for each, and carefully ignite, using a long 

 stick. A single application will soften it and two or three 

 will burn it to a crisp. I usually scrape out the accumulation 

 after being softened, which lessens the amount to be burned. 

 Care should be exercised not to burn the bellows. It is 

 needless, perhaps, to add that this method of cleaning 

 should only be undertaken when all fire and heat are absent. 



The prevention of condensation causing the accumulation 

 is extremely desirable, and far outweighs any method of re- 

 moval. Thus far I have obtained a reasonable degree of suc- 

 cess, and believe we shall yet have a complete preventive. My 

 present plan is to use a little beeswax within the cone. By 

 reason of the heat it spreads rapidly over the entire inner sur- 

 face and to a great extent prevents adhesion of the carbon 

 particles. And yet I have not tried paraSine wax, but believe 

 it will answer, altho it melts at a lower temperature and pos- 

 sibly will need replenishing more frequently. It certainly is 

 less expensive. 



BUSY BEES NOT SO IRRITABLE. 



All bee-keepers of experience notice a gradual change in 

 the disposition of bees as the season advances, when they be- 

 come more irascible. The temper of all creatures largely 

 depends upon whether they are occupied or idle. During the 

 honey-yield irritability manifests itself much less than in 

 times of failure. While our bees are occupied we are also mov- 

 ing more frequently among them. At this season the fielders 

 are rapidly wearing out. Their wings are reduced in many 

 instances to half their original size ; and, in consequence, they 

 become fatigued, alighting upon the ground at various dis- 

 tances from the hives. In walking among them the casual ob- 

 server will fail to see these veteran toilers, and in consequence 

 many will be trodden upon. A few crusht bees, whether under 

 a super or upon the ground, will call others in defense. I am 

 exceedingly careful in this respect, and avoid as much as pos- 

 sible the treading upon or injuring a bee, altho it may have 

 outlived its usefulness. As stated In a previous article, I use 

 no bee-veil ; neither do I possess one, and I attribute the ami- 

 ability of bees very much to humane methods in their man- 

 agement. 



IMPORTANCE OF PROPOLIS. 



Altho much prejudice exists against propolis as a coating 

 of the hive, making it impervious to air and consequent damp- 

 ness, we ought not to lose sight of its importance. Certainly 

 nature provided the proper material to carpet the home of the 

 bee. Aside from its use as a cement or gum, it serves as a 

 foothold, and without Its use I believe comb honey would be 

 somewhat darker through compulsory travel upon it. The 

 bee can walk and cling to propolis or wax more easily than 

 upon board surfaces. However, we measure Its Importance 

 from our standpoint, and altho perfectly adapted to the re- 

 quirements of the bee, still we feel as tho the frames are less 

 movable, and our fingers and clothing become soiled by It. 



REMOVING PROPOLIS FROM CLOTHING. 



I append this item more especially to furnish the reader a 

 simple plan for removing it from clothing. Having used it for 

 three years I cannot recommend it too highly as completely re- 

 moving every trace from any fabric. It is simply to rub the 

 soiled portion with a small piece of ice, when in less than a 

 half minute it is rendered brittle, passing imperceptibly away. 

 — Bee-Keepers' Review. 



Are Black Bees Capable of Improvement ? 



BT G. M. DOOLITTLE. 



QuES. — "Having read your articles in the American Bee 

 Journal for years, I have learned to look upon you as candid 

 in your opinions and expressions, so I wish you would tell us 

 through the columns of the above-named paper if you do not 

 think the effect of breeding, on black bees, would have been 

 just as markt as on the Italian, had the same untiring energy 

 been spent in tbeir improvement ? In other words, would not 

 black queens now be larger, finer, and more prolific, had such 

 a course been pursued?" 



Ans. — The above came to me a few days ago, and as a few 

 words on the subject of the improvement of our bees may not. 

 be amiss, I will, with the editor's permission, give a few 

 thoughts on the same. 



Probably there would have been some improvement in the 

 black or German bee, had the apiarists of the United States 

 taken hold of the matter with the same will in breeding which 

 they have shown in breeding the Italian bee up to its present 

 standard. But I do not think that the effect would have been 

 as markt on the German, bee as it has on the Italian, for the 

 reason that the black or German bee is a fixt race or variety, 

 while the Italian bee is nothing more than a thoroughbred, 

 or hybrid, in my opinion. Any race of animals which is fixt 

 and constant in its breeding, cannot be improved nearly so 

 easily as can one which is liable to sport. The same holds 

 good in the vegetable kingdom, all of our best varieties of 

 vegetables being obtained from "sports." 



Breed black queens as carefully as you may, they will not 

 vary a particle as to color, while the Italian queens vary from 

 a queen nearly if not quite as dark as any black queen, to one 

 whose abdomen is of an orange yellow throughout Its whole 

 length ; hence those who have bred for beauty as well as other 

 qualities have been able to succeed in producing queens that 

 will give (lit yellow queens every time, and whose worker 

 progeny are nearly as yellow as were the best of queens a 

 score of years ago. Those who have paid no attention to 

 color-breeding have seen their bees go from those with three 

 yellow bands back to bees with scarcely a bit of yellow on 

 them; and yet we often hear people talking about "pure" 

 Italian bees. If Italian bees are a pure race they are giveu to 

 sporting beyond any other known "pura thing. It seems to me 

 it is impossible for these bees to be anything else than a thor- 

 oughbred. This inclination to sport as to color gave the as- 

 surance that they would sport as to quality as well, so we have 

 breeders who have workt for a very industrious bee, and have 

 seen industry come to the front with them. 



Others have workt for wintering qualities, gentleness in 

 handling, white capping of section honey, etc., and still others 

 for a combining of nil the good qualities which go to make 

 the perfect bee in every respect, seeing this work so prosper 

 that, to-day, take it all in all, the Italian bee, as bred in the 

 United Slates, undoubtedly stands at the head of all the bees 

 known to tho world. This is evidenced by calls coming for 

 them from all parts of the world ; and could they be shipt the 

 same as can non-perishable articles, there would not be a 

 country on the face of the earth, where bees could exist, 

 where they would not be found. 



Now, the same thing which keeps the black bees from 

 sporting as to color, hinders them from sporting In other 

 directions desired by the bee-keeper, so that, to a certain ex- 



