l68 



GLEaMKGS li^ B^E CULTURE. 



Mar. 



alsike, and we expect to get a splendid 

 bloom this coming season. 



UPWARD VENTILATION, ETC. 



Please let me speak my piece. I am an A B C 

 scholar, and enjoy my studies very much. I went 

 into winter quarters with 7 good swarms — 4 inchalT 

 hives, and 3 in cellar. I examined those out of doors 

 yesterday, and found them in fine condition. One 

 of my hives in the cellar had no upward ventilation ; 

 I noticed the bees were spotting the entrance, and 

 supposed, of course, they were dying with dysentery. 

 I tried your suggestion on page 09, A B C, by taking 

 the hive into a warm room, and fixing a square 

 frame covered with thin cloth over it, and letting 

 the bees out. They came out of the hive, but did 

 not empty themselves. The hives right by the side 

 of this one are all right. They have good upward 

 ventilation. 



Last fall I noticed that a strong colony of Italians 

 were killing off a rather pecaliar-looking bee. The 

 abdomen was small and black and glossy. What 

 were they? and why did the other bees kill them? 



TO PREVENT BEES BUILDING COMBS BETWEEN THE 

 UPPER AND LOWER FRAMES. 



Paint the lower side of the upper frame, and the 

 top side of the lower frame. J. F. Orwich. 



Ionia, Mich., Feb. 9, I884. 



Friend O., I tliink that those small and 

 black glossy-looking bees were some affect- 

 ed by the disease I have mentioned in the 

 A B C book, toward the close of the article, 

 page 68. T believe it is well known that 

 painting tlie frames will prevent the trouble 

 you mention, or, at least, to a certain ex- 

 tent. The only objection that I know of is 

 the trouble and expense of doing it. 



SEPARATORS OR NO SEPARATORS. 



This Is one of the leading questions of the day, 

 and perhaps one that some would like to hear about, 

 as much as any thing. I have had some experience 

 with sections without separators. I have tested 

 many things as soon as I heard of their invention, 

 and some of my own invention that pertain to bee 

 culture, and the most profitable way to get money 

 from bees. During the year 1877 I had something 

 over 1500 5x0 sections in use without separators; 

 some were filled full of foundation, others partiallj-, 

 and others with natural-comb starters. I used four 

 different kinds of boxes that season. I have experi- 

 mented with boxes holding 80, 40, 30, 25, and down to 

 2-lb. sections; and when I got there I stopped, and I 

 do not think I shall go below this size before next 

 season opens, and then slow. 



There is no doubt but that better results can be ob- 

 tained in regard to straightness, with a Mb. secUon, 

 than with a 2-lb. section, without separators. But I 

 would not use either without separators. It is true, 

 beyond a question, we can get more honey without 

 separators than with, for we approach nearer a 

 jarge box; and the nearer to a box of the capacity of 

 the surplus of the colony we get, the more surplus. 



But, there is another side to the question: T find 

 the net profit is on the side of separators, to say 

 nothing of the disgust of bulged combs, leaky pack- 

 ages with many combs bruised, and more mutilated 

 that have to be extracted. The grocerymen growl 

 about flies, ants, and careless clerks taking off the 

 profit. The-middle men complain, vow, protest, and 

 curse the poor bee-keeper for educating the con- 

 sumer to small unglassed sections, and tell us that 



where a man buys a 2-lb., he would, three times out 

 of five, have bought a or 8 lb. box, if the sections 

 had never been introduced, and they could handle 

 more honey in a season. The groceryman would 

 buy as in former times, and more honey be con- 

 sumed, though perhaps by a less number of per- 

 sons. It is not the largest amount that we are after 

 at the present day, hut that in such shape that it 

 will bring the best price and a ready market. Go 

 cautious, if you are a beginner, and have had but a 

 little ( xperience; the older ones, as a rule, will take 

 care of themselves. Wm. II. Balch. 



Oran, N. Y., Feb., 1884. 



a cheap and efficient paste for putting L.'V- 

 BELS ON TIN OR ANY OTHER SUBSTANCE. 



I herewith send you directions for making a paste, 



which 1 value very highly for fastening paper or 



cloth to tin, etc. I knew of a New York firm that 



I gave another considerable for this recipe. I wish 



' you would carefully make paste by this formula; 



and if you find it worth publishing, do so. 



I have often seen the labels on extracted honey, 

 canned goods, etc., broken by a very light pressure, 

 thereby destroying the neat appearance of the goods. 

 This is often, I t hink, the result of using a paste that 

 does not adhere firmly to tin. If a paste is made ac- 

 cording to the directions I herewith give, I think it 

 will be found worth the extra trouble in making. 



Make a very thin hatter with tlour and cold water 

 (not more than half as thick as lor pancakes), taking 

 care to rub out all the lumps. A plat of this batter 

 is enough to make a four-quart pan as nearly full as 

 will work conveniently. Set this on a moderately 

 hot stove, and at the same instant pour from a tea- 

 kettle hdiUmj hot water till thrce-fourihs full, stir- 

 ring rapidly at the same time, to prevent l)urning. 

 ; I hold the dish with one hand and stir, or, rather, 

 .scrojjc, the paste with a putty-knife with the other 

 hand, while another person pours in the water. If 

 great care is not taken, the paste will burn, or be- 

 come lumpy. Cook 5 minutes. So far, this paste is 

 simply a good paste for papering walls. Now add 

 about one-eighth as much of the cheapest, darkest- 

 colored Porto Kicn molasses that can be got, and 

 cook for 10 minutes longer. It may be that any 

 cheap molasses will answer, but I was particularly 

 cautioned to use none that was adulterated, so I have 

 never tried any other than the above named. I get 

 it at a grocery that has a large low-class trade. If 

 carefully made, the paste is now reaily for use, rub- 

 bing out smooth and free from lumps. If lumpy, 

 squeeze through cheese-cloth or a thin linen towel. 

 If too thick, I thin with hot water. This paste, if 

 made Aviih the right kind of molasses, will be found 

 to adhere firmly to tin, glass, or any other substance 

 used for packages for honey. Kllis Meaker. 



Owasco, N. Y., Feb. 6, 1884. 



HOW Sn.\LL WE PREVENT INCREASE OF COLONIES? 



How Shall we keep our bees together, and thus 

 control the business? We don't want to keep mak- 

 ing hives, to accommodate additional swarms alter 

 we have enough for the territory. Friend Root, I 

 think this a very important point, to decide the best 

 plan for keeping our bees together. Will it do to 

 move the bees and brood that remain in the parent 

 hive, in with the swarm just cast? I should like to 

 hear about this question, before swarming-time. 



New Providence, la. A. Lindli^y. 



I think your best way, friend L., is to sell 

 your surplus stock. Selling bees is generally 



