;-{7o 



GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTURE. 



June 



I have seen these larvie hang- from their silken 

 cords in barns, beneath a scaffold of hay, in such 

 prodigrious numbers that, by a sing-lo sweep of a 

 hay-rake, one could brush down a thousand. This 

 hanging from a scaffold is not dreaded by these 

 culprits: in fact, they seem to enjoy it. They are 

 spesially liable to attack second growth clover, or 

 after-math. They no doubt do groat damag-c where 

 t^ey are so very numerous. 



The moths which these "clover worms" develop 

 into are attracted by lig-ht, and frequently fly into 

 our rooms all during the summer months. They 

 are purple, with golden-yellow bands. They are 

 about 'j inch long to the tip of wings, and expand 

 nearly one inch. The eggs are laid on clover hay. 

 The larva? are gray or brown, often olive color, with 

 brown heads. They are readily told, as on the back 

 of each segment is a transverse line, making it ap- 

 pear like two segments. On each part of each seg- 

 ment are four circular dots, so arranged as to divide 

 the back of the ring into four nearly equal parts. 

 These double segments and dots will always serve 

 to identify the larvte, if one has a magnifying-glass 

 with even feeble power. 



The cocoon is formed right in the hay, of white 

 silk mi.\ed with e.xcremental pellets and pieces of 

 the clover. It is about 'i inch [long. The chrysalis 

 within the coco<m is yellow, and ^3 of an inch in 

 length. There are i)robably two or three broods a 

 year. It is quite difficult to light so numerous and 

 well-concealed an enemy. It has been suggested to 

 build stacks of hay on rails so air could circulate be- 

 neath; but from the way they attack hay in barns, 

 I should have little faith in the efficacy of the meth- 

 od. If the hay should be forked over, and pyre- 

 thrum sprinkled liberally among it, I should expect 

 the death of the insects. Were it not for the ex- 

 plosive nature of bi-sulphide of carbon, that liquid 

 could be used. By throwing quite a quantity on to 

 the hay it would almost certainly kill the insects, 

 f'aution would make this remedy safe, as the ab- 

 sence of all Are till it escaped would make it safe. 

 It would be expensive, however. The vapors of this 

 liquid are heavy, and so would pass down into the 

 hay. I think the cost of the liquid, let alone the na- 

 ture, would preclude its u-se. A. J. Cook. 



Lansing, Mich., May, 1S84. 



BEE-STINQS OF A DANGEROUS CHAR- 

 ACTER. 



1)K. KK.\TOR TE1>LS US HOW A SUKGICAI- OPEHA- 

 TION MAY PKKVENT DEATH FKOM SUFFOCATION. 



N 1-esponse to W. \V. Edwards, on page 3U0, in re- 

 gard to what can l)e done in cases of bee-stings 

 that seem to endanger life, I would say that 

 the only cases that are likely to produce 

 alarming symptoms are those where the sting 

 has been Inflicted on the tongue or in the throat. In 

 cases of this kind, where the swelling threatens suf- 

 focation. It may be necessary to scarify the parts 

 and allow free bleeding, and at the same time apply 

 an ice packing to the throat; and as a last resort, 

 the performing of tracheotomy; i. e., opening the 

 windpipe at the laryn.x, and the introduction of a 

 tube from the outside; but these cases are so seldom 

 fatal, on account of the short duration of their ur- 

 gent symptoms, that I think tracheotomy will sel- 

 dom be required. 

 Another class of cases wliere the surgeon is fre- 



quently called upon to prescribe, are such as the 

 woman suffered from, as described by Edwards. 

 The probable cause of the single sting causing such 

 alarming symptoms was due to the poison being in- 

 troduced directly into the blood by the sting enter- 

 ing a small blood-vessel. Under such circumstances 

 the proper treatment is to bathe the part freely with 

 hartshorn, and administer copious draughts of olive- 

 oil— say from one to two ounces every two or three 

 hours, until these symptoms begin to subside. 



In cases where a large number of stings have been 

 inflicted, the first thing to be done is to examine the 

 parts with a lens, and extract all the stings. If the 

 shock to the system be so great as to produce syn- 

 cope, alcoholic stimulants will be called for. Vom- 

 iting under such circumstances need not occasion 

 alarm, for it is due to a reaction from the shock, 

 and is always considered a favorable indication. 

 The treatment will be the same otherwise. It should 

 be born in mind, that the poison of the honey-bee is 

 a healthy secretion, and its poisonous effects are 

 due to an irritant acid : hence the alkaline treatment. 



Accord, N. Y., May 5, 1884. T. 0. Keatok, M. D. 



FURTHER REPORT FROM THE NEW 

 PERFORATED ZINC. 



FKIEND ALLEY SAYS IT ANSWERS THE PURPOSE, 



AND DOES NOT HINDER HONEY OR POLLEN 



GATHERING. 



§INCE writing you about the perforated zinc, I 

 have made some experiments, and find that 

 the Jones pattern will not do as well for the 

 queen-traps as the new zinc. I have, during 

 thepastfew days, placed the traps, having the 

 neio zinc on them, at the entrance of my best colo- 

 nies, and watched them for results. The weather 

 was quite warm, and the bees were gathering honey 

 from fruit-blossoms. The bees had no trouble in 

 going through the zinc; and no pollen, of any ac- 

 count, was brushed from their legs. The bees pile 

 up some when the trap is first put on; but any one 

 will soon see that they go through, and leave and 

 return to the hive as rapidly as they do when the 

 trap is not used. I am satisfied that the new zinc is 

 a success. Merely placing the trap in front of the 

 hive for a few minutes is not enough to test its 

 workings. 



The old zinc (Jones's) has some advantages not 

 thought of. While It will prevent drones from fly- 

 ing, it will not prevent young queens from leaving 

 the hive. Thus, you see, it is easy to have them 

 fertilized by any drones desired. 



The device you credit to Mr. Eaglesfield is rather 

 old, friend R. Mr. K. P. Kidder, of Vermont, has a 

 patent-claim on just that thing, but I think It was 

 patented so long ago that the patent has run out. 

 But, why use any thing of the kind, when the bees 

 have no trouble in going through the zinc? If some- 

 thing of the kind is needed, why not ai-range tubes 

 for the bees to pass through into the hive, like those 

 in the trap? I will try to get a nucleus from Mr. 

 Ewing, and see how large his bees are. In my 

 opinion he does not leave the trap on the hive till 

 the bees can learn the new way out and in. 

 Wenham, Mass. Henry Alley. 



Thanks, friend A., for reminding me that 

 your wire-cloth cones will answer the same 

 purpose as the little hanging doors, and they 

 will certainly be less complicated. 



