808 



GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTURE. 



Dec. 



day. They will generally cure in two or three days; 

 to be sure of this, pulverize a few between your 

 fingers, and if the Hewers separate readily they can 

 be packed tightly in grain-saclis for transportation 

 to the faetoi'y. While drying, remove the boxes un- 

 der cover before sunset every evening, i-eplaeing 

 them in the sun early next day. 



AFTER TREATMENT. 



- After picking your crop of flowers, cut the plant 

 close to the ground, using sheep-shears, hand-sick- 

 les, or any other effective instrument. The leaves 

 and stems, either in infusion or decoction, will make 

 a valuable wash for sheep, ti-ees, or plants. It 

 grows larger each succeeding year, but does not 

 yield a heavy crop before the second season. It is 

 perennial, and any animal can cat it with impunity; 

 insects only leave it severely alone, it being harm- 

 less to the former, but sure death to the latter. 



It is believed that this plant will soon be exten- 

 sively cultivated, and will pi-ove to be one of the 

 most useful allies to the farmer or horticulturist in 

 his warfare with insect enemies. We have secured 

 sufficient fresh seed to send each applicant a small 

 package, by means of which he can test its culture 

 and usefulness. 



A LITTLE EPISODE IN BEE-KEEPING. 



A WORD OF CAl'TION ABOfT HANDMNO SMOKERS. 



N June, 1883, 1 sent you one dollar for a dollar 

 jl^ queen, supposing one to be ?1. 00, any summer 

 month. I received her June 19 all right. She 

 was small, and not attractive. At that time I 

 had two swarms of blacks— one queenless, in 

 chaff hive, made according to directions in A B C. 

 I will hei-e state, that no carpenter would under- 

 take making them, and T, in my spare moments, 

 made each piece separately, and put it away. When 

 I put them together, all fitted nicely, and made me 

 two hives I am proud of. Well, I introduced the 

 queen that night. She was received, and immedi- 

 ately began laying, and growing handsome, so that, 

 by August 1.5, I had a quiet, kind swarm of pure 

 Italians. I was proud to show them, especially the 

 queen, to my friends. 



Well, about Aug. 20, 1883, 1 took my smoker, filled 

 with rotten wood, and introduced two frames of 

 foundation. As they were weak when I put in the 

 queen, I covered them with a piece of quilt, which I 

 let remain. When I came home at night, I went out 

 as usual to see my bees. I found my yellow pets 

 covering the whole front of the hive. I did 

 not understand it; but when I lifted the cover 

 it was all too plain. The sparks from the smoker 

 had ignited the quilt, and the inside of the hive was 

 a mass of melted comb, honey, dead bees, and soot. 

 I sat down, and almost had an attack of blues. I 

 wanted to cry. I hived them in a box, cleaned the 

 hive, I'emoved the frames, put in two sheets of fdu. 

 and two combs of brood from the other hive; and 

 after searching in vain for my (jueen, I returned 

 them to their old home. 



In 1883 I had one swarm from the other hive, 

 which I united in the fall with the Italians, giving 

 me two swarms. Neither has swarmed this sea on, 

 but I have taken 32 lbs. section honey from one, and 

 have some on the other. I moved from Monroe 

 (where they are) July 2, so I see them only occasion- 

 ally. In November I shall move them here, where 

 I have no place but a flat-i-oofed shed to put them, 

 but I think it may prove a good place. 



Bees have wintered so badly here that only a few 

 men have bees. In fact, I know of only 6 who have 

 them, in a circle of 12 miles radius. T use chaff 



cushions, and winter outdoors, feeding syrup from 

 granulated sugar, eating the honey. I have lost no 

 bees in any manner except my deplorable fire, since 

 I began in April, 1882. 



After losing my queen and brood I raised a black 

 queen, and now have only blacks; but next season 

 I intend to send for an Italian, and Italianize all I 

 may have. The care of bees and eating the honey 

 are the pleasantest things I do, though deriving 

 more pleasure from the former. 



Reading some of your honest words in Glean- 

 ings to-day reminded me of the 2,5 cents, which I 

 send, and put me on my honor to send it. When I 

 get Italianized and regulated, so my bees again 

 show a balance on credit side of profit and loss ac- 

 count, I am going to take Gle.4.nings. 



C. F. Atwood, M. D. 



Winterport, Maine, Sept. 2, 1884. 



Eriend A., quite a immber of accidents, 

 sucli as you mention, liave been noted. Be- 

 fore puffing smoke into the hive, it is well to 

 always give your smoker a shake, and a good 

 puff "or two to get out all sparks, then blow 

 moderately into the hive, and there will be 

 little danger of any thing igniting. It may 

 be well, however, to run your eye through 

 the hive and over the mat or quilt before 

 putting the cover on. The enamel sheets 

 are not likely to catch by a spark, like the 

 burlap, and especially the" cotton quilts we 

 used to use.— We trust your experience in 

 Italianizing will be a little more favorable 

 iv^xt time. 



MAKING THE GOOD CANDY. 



.ll'ST HOW TO DO IT. 



HILK there is being so nuich said about the 

 Good candy, would it be taxing your time 

 too much to let me tell you how I make it, 

 and what success I have had? In the spring 

 ; of 188:^, friend Good paid me a visit, and 



i while here he told me how he made the candy. A 

 i few days after, I received an order for queens, so I 

 I concluded to try the Good candy. 1 made it as he 

 had directed, of honey, and granulated sugar, but 

 it didn't suit me; it would crumble, and get down 

 among the bees, and out of the cage. I then tried 

 pounding the sugar up fine, but still I didn't suc- 

 ceed to my satisfaction. I then went to the store 

 and bought what we call in this market icing sugar, 

 used for ornamenting cakes. Of course, you know 

 all about icing sugar. Now I will tell you how I 

 make it. I pour my hone.v in a plate, or dish; as T 

 put in my sugar I stir it until it gets stitt', 

 then take it in my hands, and work it like making- 

 dough for bread. Every few minutes I roll it in 

 the dry sugar, to keep it from sticking to my hands. 

 I continue to work it until it is very dry. After it 

 stands ten or fifteen minutes it will soften some, 

 but not enough to run, if properly made, but will 

 remain soft and juicy, and looks like butter; there 

 is no crumbling about it. 



I have been using candy ma-le in this way for the 

 past two seasons, with the best of success. I don't 

 think there is any thing to equal it. It takes a lit- 

 tle practice to make it well. Try it for yourself, 

 then tell the brothers all about it. 



On the first day of August, 1883, I sent a queen to 

 one of my customers; on the 21st day of the same 

 month she was handed back to me. having been the 



