1884 



GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTURE. 



im 



mRS. AXTELiU'S REPORT FOR THE 

 REASON OF 1883. 



Another Successful Honey Season. 



ALSO SOME CAUTIONS IN REGARD TO DISPOSING OF 

 A CROP OF HONEY. 



?^WW.E began the spring of 1883 with about 184 fair 

 WM colonies, after being doubled up, leaving 

 -^ -' about 50 very weak colonies, because of tak- 

 ing brood away to build up the others— only bees 

 enough left to care for the queen until swarming- 

 time; but care should be taken that they are not 

 left too weak, as they will die. We had about 120 

 swarms, some of which were supersedures; such 

 were put back generally, and all the weak colonies 

 built up with the brood the swarms came from. Ev- 

 ery colony in the apiary should be made strong as 

 fast as possible; yet wisdom should be used in build- 

 ing up nuclei and weak colonies, that more brood is 

 not given them, than they can keep warm and feed, 

 even in mid-summer. We have had brood lost in 

 that way. 



Late swarms and all second swarms were put back. 

 From the 185 fair colonies, and 50 or 60 2-frame colo- 

 nies, we increased to about 275 colonies, some of 

 which were disposed of, and took about 15,000 lbs. 

 of honey— 1000 or more we are holding in reserve 

 for spring feeding; 1800 was extracted honey, and 

 the rest comb honey, making about 80 lbs. per good 

 colony. 



Had we not had strong colonies, our honey crop 

 would have been short this year, as we had a good 

 many empty brood-combs that we gave the swarms, 

 so but little honey was used in building brood-combs. 

 Commission men used to tell us that they did not 

 wish to handle the honey until the flies were nearly 

 gone in the fail; but last summer they were willing 

 to take it as soon as they could get it. We think it 

 pays to get it on the market early, because then we 

 have a longer time between seasons to sell it, and it 

 looks nicer before cold weather. We had honey on 

 the market in Chicago by the last of June. It did 

 not bring so much per lb. as later in the season, be- 

 cause the fall crop was short. 



BE CAREFUL TO WHOM YOU ENTRUST YOUR HONEY. 



We came near losing about $550 on our crop of 

 the year before, sold by a commission merchant in 

 Chicago. We could not induce him to make pay- 

 ments until it was about all sold. He then would 

 keep the money and pay in small monthly payments, 

 saying he was about broke up, and if we nushed 

 him he could pay nothing at all, as his creditors 

 would take all he had. He Anally failed to pay what 

 he had promised monthly, and tried to get Mr. Ax- 

 tell to take his note, which Mr. A. thought would be 

 worth nothing if he had nothing, and was advised to 

 place it in the hands of a lawyer, R. E. Jenkins, 89 

 Madison street, who undertook the case, telling 

 them they had committed a criminal act, and had 

 laid themselves liable to punishment, in case they 

 did not pay up promptly. They wrote to us begging 

 leniency, but we referred them to our lawyer. We 

 agreed to throw off about $50 if they would pay the 

 rest, which they did promptly. We felt we were 

 favored in finding so good counsel, honest and 

 straightforward in his proceedings, and would rec- 

 ommend him to others who might need counsel and 

 help to collect their dues. He charged only $30 for 

 collecting the $500; $10 per $100 is the usual price, 1 

 believe; but he being a Christian man, and we were 



to give the money to foreign missions, he threw off 

 $20. Mr. Jenkins advised us never to take a note of 

 a commission merchant, because that would prevent 

 him being laid liable to punishment, if failing to pay 

 when he uses the money for himself. It is a com- 

 fort to know there is such a law to protect farmers 

 and bee-keepers and others in sales by commission, 

 as it seems the only way to sell large crops. It is 

 better to pay 10 cents on the dollar than to lose all, 

 and it is well, too, to have some one we can tru«t to 

 look after tardy commission men once in a while, to 

 look in upon them and inquire after sales. I think 

 he helped us in another case by simply asking after 

 it. He made no charge for that. 



We hardly think it best to make very large con- 

 signmentsof honey to anyone man, because ittakcs 

 so long to get a settlement (if others* experience is 

 like our own), and they change their firms so often, 

 unless one could find a house that he or some of his 

 acquaintances knew. The man who failed, and we 

 came so near losing by, came to us as a member of 

 the Mercantile Agency, and we were told if one of 

 their members fails they agree to look after him and 

 make him or help him to pay his debts; but I guess 

 that is a mistake. He remarked to us that the Mer- 

 cantile Agency knew nothing about his standing. 

 They generally write us they would like to handle our 

 whole crop, because they can do better by having all 

 there is of a certain brand; but I don't believe it 

 makes any difference as to that. If they have a large 

 amount on hand, it takes a long time for them to 

 get rid of it. If one could sell his honey outright at 

 home, even at a lower price than they hear it is on 

 the market, it would save considerable anxiety, and 

 usually pay about as well. 



Some seem to blame Mr. W. Z. Hutchinson for 

 showing up the darksideof bee culture. No one can 

 honestly deny but there is a dark side to it; but 

 keep right ahead through both dark and the light, 

 and success is sure to follow, especially if the women 

 folks have a hand in looking after the bees, as their 

 work pays as well as a man's work. As for a cure 

 for dyspepsia, I know from experience there is no 

 surer cure than bee-work for both the purse and the 

 body; but I believe every one should have some 

 other occupation linked with that of keeping bees, 

 or else there will be years of suffering and disap- 

 pointment, especially if one has a family to care for, 

 I sympathize with such, rather than criticise them; 

 but I would advise them to keep ahead, and not to 

 lose the valuable knowledge already gained; put the 

 children into the business, and make them helpers as 

 fast as old enough, as Father Grimm used to do. 

 Teach the girls to care for a few colonies, and put 

 the honey into shape for market; and if there is an 

 invalid in the family, carry his cot out among the 

 bees, and let him watch the swarms; give him a 

 queen-cage, and leave him there alone ; and before he 

 knows it, he will have flown around after the queen 

 and the swarms, until dyspepsia and the other ills 

 that flesh is heir to have for the time being disap- 

 peared. Invalids are just the ones of all others to 

 keep bees, if they have kind and experienced friends 

 who are willing to help when they need help, and 

 are a little forehanded and can hire help; but above 

 all, if they have the perseverance that can never 

 say fail. Something depends upon the kind of hive 

 we use. You all know I have been an invalid for 

 many years. For 27 years [ have kept my bed about 

 three-fourths of the time, until 1 began bee culture, 

 because I was an invalid. I could neither walk nor 



