548 



THE AMERICAN BEE JOURNAL. 



Sept. 2, 



ered the ground. It seemed as tho an angel had come down 

 and sowed It thickly, far and wide. 



This has led me to consider how. In the face of apparent 

 death, comes such an abundance. Surely, Nature Is founded 

 In wisdom, and her resources are Indestructible. Has not the 

 seed accumulated during the past five or six years of drouth, 

 and the requisite amount of moisture necessary to its germi- 

 nation and extension by the rooting tendrils given us more 

 than could have been expected; and has not Nature more 

 than ever before displayed her marvelous stores ? 



In connection with, or rather preceding this extraordinary 

 condition, the weather was unseasonably cold, and unfavor- 

 able to the flight of bees. My hives having been well packt 

 until a few days preceding the honey-flow, which opened sud- 

 denly with warm weather on June 10, were overflowing with 

 bees, even In my large hives (altho supplied with dummies), 

 which place them again in the condition of swarming colonies. 

 I became extremely anxious as to the situation, wondering if 

 it were possible to hold them from swarming with such a sud- 

 den change of temperature, accompanied by the great flow of 

 nectar, also an unusual proportion of field-bees with perfect or 

 unworn wings (by reason of non-use) compared with the mid- 

 dle-aged or comb-building bees, which would naturally carry 

 honey to the latter faster than their ability to care for It, clog- 

 ging the hive and increasing the tendency to swarm. 



Swarming was greatly retarded by use of the dummies, 

 and late compared with my neighbors, most of the swarms 

 being between the 20th and 30th of June, some of the parent 

 colonies having stored upwards of 40 pounds previous to the 

 issue. At first thought I attributed the failure to new dum- 

 mies which I substituted for those of last season, but, upon 

 reflection, seeing that my hives were too small and the season 

 unusually favorable to swarming, I concluded that possibly It 

 was not in the dummy, but a return of the crowded condition 

 like that of swarming hives. My hives have a capacity for 

 but 11 frames, and upon careful consideration I have con- 

 cluded that with a space for 15 or 16, a little less than half of 

 which could be occupied with dummies, better results might 

 be obtained. 



I am really surpised that the additional room for three 

 frames (occupied by dummies) should have produced such 

 satisfactory results heretofore, and to have retarded swarm- 

 ing to the extent it did this season, all things taken into con- 

 sideration. There was, however, a noticeable fact presented 

 which has given me great encouragement for the future non- 

 swarmer. It was the unusual number of bees which remained 

 with the parent colonies almost without exception. So strong 

 were they that the storage of honey in the supers was con- 

 tinued or resumed iu two or three days, and which has given 

 me an average of about 60 pounds per colony, with about 

 40 pounds more in sight; some sweet clover, however, will be 

 mlxt with the latter. 



Altho the flow was great and tended to fill the bee-keeper 

 with enthusiasm, still the brood-chambers are very much 

 clogged with honey, to the exclusion of brood. This, of 

 course, is unfavorable to the best results just at present, still, 

 with a favorable season from this out, altho not Id a basswoid 

 locality, I should look for at least 100 pounds per colony. 



I learn that the Intensely warm weather has ruined a few 

 colonies by softening and breakage of the combs In this and 

 doubtless many other localities ; still none of mine have suf- 

 fered. The dummies favor venlllatlou, and should one comb 

 soften and drop from the top-bar, tho dummies would prevent 

 further disaster by holding it partly In place. Three or four 

 years ago I had several hives in which a single comb became 

 detacht while the others remained Intact by reason of the 

 dummies. 



Another advantage derived from the use of dummies is 

 that already alluded to in affording more perfect ventilation,' 



and with the additional room prevents the usual crowding or 

 clustering on the outside during warm weather. The result 

 has been, and Is, that no loafing colonies are found in my 

 apiary. There is a markt difference In the aggregate amount 

 of honey stored when every colony in the yard is doing some- 

 thing. Of course, the equalization of colonies during the 

 mouth of May, as set forth in a previous article, is the prime 

 essential to such a result. 



APIARIAN IMPK0VKMENT8— HONEY PRICES. 



The conditions which have changed from time to time in 

 bee-keeping, as in all branches of human affairs, are marvel- 

 ous. The revolution caused by the invention of movable 

 frames and comb foundation has enabled the specialist to pro- 

 duce a much finer product of comb honey at greatly reduced 

 cost. We look at the quotations to-day and compare with the 

 price of 30 or 40 years ago, feeling as tho the bottom had 

 dropt out of bee-keeping. But when the Quinby system was 

 in vogue, and honey commanding 25 cents per pound, how 

 much were we able to secure per colony as compared with to- 

 day ? If an average of 25 pounds per colony was obtained It 

 was considered a good one. To-day we are far in advance of 

 that, with a price commensurate with the outlay. 



The advent of movable frames and comb foundation were 

 at the time of high prices, and those who first occupied the 

 field enjoyed the golden age of bee-keeping. 



To-day we are upon a better basis as regards profits than 

 when honey commanded 25 cents per pound. We can pro- 

 duce at least three times the quantity, and with factory-made 

 supplies at a cost not exceeding the percentage of former 

 years. I am speaking strictly in reference to honey-produc- 

 tion. True, the value of, and sale of colonies, was greater 

 than to-day. 



The abundance of No. 1 clover honey this season will 

 doubtless have a tendency to depress the market, especially 

 as many who keep a few colonies will sell their surplus at 

 what may be offered them, considering it clear gain. Bee- 

 keepers should be firm in their prices, and be careful to offer 

 none but their best in the first or fancy grade. This season 

 will be one to establish a superior grade which must be attrac- 

 tive both as to quality and style of sections. 



Taking into consideration the downward tendency of 

 prices in all lines, any compensation by further increase of 

 production would have a tendency to lower the market still 

 more. 



We cannot afford to increase our product as to lessen the 

 cost of production, and as an illustration, the reason I am 

 working to produce a non-swarmer is to that very end. And 

 I think the trouble and annoyance of swarming is fully equal 

 to all the other work during the honey season.— Bee-Keepers' 

 Review. Jackson Co., Mich., July 2-1, 



Some Practical Apiarian Details. 



BY ADRIAN GETAZ. 



Since using the queen and drone trap I have been dissat- 

 isfied with the slowness of its work. That is, before going up 

 the cones the drones will remain quite a time below, and 

 obstruct the way and the ventilation. In the hurry of swarm- 

 ing, the queen will run over the zinc a good deal, and when 

 the swarm is entirely out, go back Into the brood-nest without 

 having even found the cones. 



After trying several slight modifications in the shape and 

 place of tho cones, etc., I have closed the top of the trap with 

 wire netting instead of a tin slide, so as to admit full light to 

 the Inside of the trap. This I find works to perfection. Not 

 only drones and queens find the cones at once, but a number 

 of bees choose that way of going out. The front part of the 

 upper apartment of tho trap must then necessarily be made of 



