1884 



GLEANlKaS IK BEE CULTUEE. 



4? 



FROm TUTS, BOX-EIiDERS. 



MR. DUSTER RESUMES. 



IT has been some time since we have heard from 

 Mr. Duster, although we have interviewed him 

 often the past summer, but were too busy our- 

 selves to report. Early in December we saw, in 

 passing, that his bee-yard was all cleared up — noth- 

 ing in sight where there had been a small city of 

 white bee-hives a few days befofe — all gone but the 

 honey-house. 



As we stood among the trees, with which the yard 

 Is liberally sprinkled, we were joined by Mr. Duster 

 with " Yes, all in the cellar, snug, quiet, and warm; 

 and as they had a good fly just before I put them in, 

 I hope they will remain quiet until pollen comes 

 next season. Every year I am more convinced we 

 should not hurry our bees out in the spring, as a 

 rule. 1 used to get them out about the 10th of 

 March; in fact, I have had them carrying pollen the 

 15th; yet, just so long as they can be kept quiet, 

 just so long let them alone, is my practice now. 



"THE SEASON," 



said Mr. Duster, going on with the conversation, " I 

 need hardly say, has been a very singular one in 

 many respects. The electrical and atmospherical 

 conditions surrounding our earth have been wonder- 

 fully disturbed. We have had winds and Hoods, 

 hurricanes and cyclones, earthquakes and volcanic 

 eruptions, until old earth has fairly rocked and reel- 

 ed in mighty throes. Now, you see, with Teice down 

 here in St. Louis, and V'ennor over in Canada, across 

 the line — position couldn't have been worse — the 

 one predicting this and the other that — both trying 

 to run the weather, and neither of them knew how; 

 why, I don't wonder old mother Earth got the dys- 

 pepsia, like the rest of us — had a bad headache, 

 with wind on her stomach, and a tremendous move- 

 ment of her bowels — do you, eh? No; well, now 

 Teice is dead, and Vennor comparatively quiet, I 

 think the weather will resume its normal condition, 

 although I wouldn't bet on it while Vennor lives. 



" There never was a better show for honey, the 

 first of the season, than wo had in Northern Illinois. 

 We had seas of white clover, and yet six to ten days 

 of moderate yield was all we got. Half a crop is as 

 much as the results will show. White clover failed 

 to secrete, while, as I said before, there was a won- 

 derful display of flowers, electrical conditions were 

 not In favor of secreting the nectar. Sometimes I 

 think I can tell hij my >>enses just when the atmos- 

 phere is in right condition to secrete honey. Yes, I 

 have often said to myself when away from my 

 apiary, 'This is good honey weather— the bees are 

 at work;' and when I go to see, I am hardly ever 

 disappointed." 



After disposing of weather and results of the sea- 

 son, Mr. Duster proceeded to discuss, with a good 

 deal of animation, 



SECTIONS AND SEPARATORS. 



" I wish they would settle down to something — I 

 don't see any use for half a dozen different-sized 

 sections. Look at the bother, to say nothing of the 

 expense of it. I don't believe it's going to pay; one 

 wants as many sizes of cases to ship — different size 

 of glass, and so on, as he has sections. Yes, and 

 then what about the sections? In my opinion, I am 

 fully satisfied that the bee-keeper who s/tips his honey 

 can never use sections 2 inches wide, whether 1 B). or 

 2, without separators, with satisfaction. I say this 



after a great many trials and tribulations, in fact, 

 and for these two reasons: First, I believe it is 

 truth; second, it keeps a man from the strongest 

 temptation of his life — to swear, inside or out. I 

 can't tell it; how good a man feels as he packs in 

 neat cases the beautiful white sections of honey for 

 market! he is proud of it, as he has a right to be, 

 and, of course, happy too. But just at this time he 

 comes across one of these hateful, miserable sec- 

 tions-measly is no name to express it; with one 

 side with a sickly cave-in, and the other swelled out 

 as if it had a bad case of mumps, or something! Oh ! 

 I don't want any in mine, if you please. 



"Now as to boxes 414x414x1 J£ and IVz inches wide: 

 If we can not get along with them without separa- 

 tors, then farewell to all boxes less than one pound. 

 I am in hopes we shall succeed with these narrow 

 section*; but if they are unreliable, or are not pretty 

 free from the trouble we have just been talking 

 about, I shall relegate all but the 1 and 2 ft), sections 

 to everlasting limbo." 



FEEDING BEES. 



" l"es, I have just been reading about it, and this 

 is my way. If I feed to supply stores, I put an 8 or 

 10 ft. pepper-box feeder directly on the frames, and 

 make a short job of it. If I feed for stimulating, I 

 tip the hive back, the bottom-board being tight, 

 pour the feed from a tin pot, made for the purpos^^, 

 into the entrance of the hive. I can feed fifty stocks 

 this way as quickly as I can ten in any other. How 

 about robbing? Yes, I've seen the cautions.; that is 

 all very well; but I hardly think one of them has 

 ever tried it. You must not suppose a man of sense 

 will feed this way at all hours of the day. You don't 

 suppose bees will rob or learn to rob after it is dark, 

 or late sunset, especially if you are feeding dissolv- 

 ed sugar, as you ought to do? No, [ guess not. 



"Now It is wonderful," said Mr. Duster, emphati- 

 j cally, " how experiences differ in different localities, 

 and yet, perhnps not more so than many farm crops, 

 when we stop to compare. Here are a few 



"EXPERIENCES 



I have never had, and some that I havo. Spring 

 dwindling I never had. This is the reason: I don't 

 winter outdoors to make 'em tough (?) you know ! 

 Foul brood I have never had any experience with; 

 think it is not in this part of the State. I never had 

 robbing in my apiary. Dysentery I know something 

 about, although [ have never lost a stock by it yet. 

 I will only say this in regard to it: I think Quinby 

 is right —cold and dampness do it. Heddon is right 

 — pollen does it. Duster is right (sure, pretty sure), 

 sour honey does it; and Novice is right, for you and 

 I Know there's belly-ache in sweet cider — sweet 

 cider does it. What do I mean? Why, I mean that 

 several things or ccmditions will bring it on. It 

 comes over no royal road, but over many— I don't 

 care to discuss it — that's all." 



Here Mr. Duster branched oflF and commenced to 

 talk about bees, and his bees in particular. 



" I claim no superior excellence for my bees over 

 others; I think them good. Everyone who has been 

 in the business as long as I have should have good 

 bees, and not be particularly smart either. 



"I started with the brown bee —great, good-na- 

 tured fellows (?) who would come out on the alight- 

 ing-board and bid you a friendly good-morning, wag- 

 ging their heads this way and that, so knowingly one 

 was almost ready to believe, as they could not tip 

 you the win};, why, they would do the next best 

 thing— nod their little heads in friendly recognition. 



