966 



GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTURE. 



Dec. 



" winter ventilation," which is just now command- 

 ing' so mucli attention, will refer to the Ameincan 

 Pee Journal tor 1S78, p. 233, they will find an article 

 o.n this subject, which shows moi-e scientific re- 

 search, and gives more valuable and conclusive 

 facts, than have come to my attention from any 

 other source. 



His thoroug-hness and accuracy are manifest in 

 all of his operations. His honey is always in de- 

 mand in the leading- honey-houses of New York, 

 and bears comparison with the brands of the best 

 producers in the country. No better evidence of 

 his skill and the superiority of his methods is need- 

 ed than the fact that his honey took the first prize 

 at the Paris World's Exposition, where it was ex- 

 hibited just as it was ordinarily prepared for mar- 

 ket. I shall never forget the happy face of Mr. 

 yuinby, on his return from a visit at Mr. Elwood's 

 home, as he told us of the quantity of extracted hon- 

 ey he had seen taken from a single colony— .")7 lbs., 

 all of which was gathered in two days. At that 

 time this was the largest amount on record. 



The results of wintering in his bank cellars 

 were satisfactory, as evidenced by his putting 17.5 

 colonies in one cellar in the fall, and taking out 

 the whole number in good condition in the spring. 

 The wood used in the construction of these cellars 

 was inclined to dry rot, hence was not durable, and 

 he eventually discarded them. When he was 

 about putting up new buildings for his home, he 

 arranged the winter quarters for his bees very 

 systematically under his wagon-house and honey- 

 room. He is, this winter, putting IflOO colonies into 

 these apartments. 



He has taken an active Interest for several years 

 in the work of the Northeastern Bee-Keepers' As- 

 sociation, of which he was one year president. 

 When unanimously urged to accept the office the 

 second year, he declined in favor of a friend whom 

 he desired to favor, from what he believed to be a 

 most worthy motive. 



He made an eifort to establish a " Honey-Pro- 

 ducers' Exchange " some years ago, realizing then 

 the importance of the movement which has but re- 

 cently received the co-operation of progressive 

 bee-keepers. 



While he has not been a frequent writer, what he 

 has written has given him rank such as few have 

 attained. In fact, I know of no one, whose writ- 

 ings are so limited, who ranks with him. I refer 

 especially to his articles on " Ventilation," " Hiber- 

 nation," " Prevention of Swarming," and the " Life 

 and Services of the late Moses (^)uinby." 



His home is blessed with a helpful wife and three 

 healthy boys. To be the possessor of such a home, 

 with an appreciation of all it means, places a man 

 on the right side of every question which concerns 

 the welfare of his brother-man. No greater pleas- 

 ure can be mine than to record my friend as on the 

 greatest issue which stands before the world to- 

 day. In IbT.i there was one prohibition vote polled 

 In Herkimer Co., and that was deposited by P. H. 

 Elwood. He has since been a candidate for mem- 

 ber of Assembly on this ticket. 



As a successful bee-keeper, a scientific, scholarly, 

 and practical writer, a good citizen, a true friend, 

 and a true Christian gentleman, Philip H. Elwood 

 stands in the front rank. L. C. Root. 



Stamford, Conn. 



Thanks, friend lioot, for the interesting 

 facts you have given in regard to our friend 



Elwood. We liave long known of him as an ex- 

 tensive bee-keeper, but did not suppose that 

 he owned lOOu colonies. lie has not writ- 

 ten often, it is true ; but what he has writ- 

 ten has been practical and to the point, and 

 how could it be otherwise— backed by suc- 

 cess ? We hope he may be induced to let his 

 light shine more, now that we are a little 

 better acquainted with him personally. 

 York State ought to be proud of having two 

 such extensive bee-keepers— Philip U. El- 

 wood, with his lOUO colonies, and ('apt. .J. 

 E. Hetherington with his :!<H)0 colonies. 

 The portraits of both of tliese gentlemen 

 appear elsewhere in this issue. 



ANOTHER LETTER FROM THE ISLAND 

 OF MINORCA. 



THE I'HOGRESS OF BEE CUI.TUHE, ETC 



aEAK GLEANINGS:— lam tempted to contrib- 

 ute my little mite to your interesting publi- 

 cation. We apiculturists of all climes and 

 countries and opinions, seem to be ever 

 drawn together by some sort of sympathetic 

 attraction, whose center or objective point is ever 

 the queen-bee. Without this royal personage, in- 

 deed, what would become of us all, republicans 

 and monarch istsV Nay, what would become of the 

 poor bees themselves and all their precious and ar- 

 tistic labors? 



I am, therefore, always doubly thankful when, out 

 of his overloaded sack, the mall-carrier brings forth 

 GLEANiNtiS from over the pond; for therein I am 

 almost sure to find every thing of interest that the 

 bee-keeper's heart can long for. And living as we 

 do on an island— not exactly in mid-ocean, where 

 Wendell Phillips once wished to anchor Massachu- 

 setts—but in the classic Mediterranean, celebrated 

 for the superiority of its honey ever since the an- 

 cient bards sang the excellencies of classic Mount 

 Hymettus, in Greece. 



I was the other day much amused by the World'« 

 account of how salt water is detrimental to the fla- 

 vor of hone}% pviblished in your October number. 

 Well may you say there is no truth in the statement. 

 That World chap would fain annihilate at one fell 

 blow all the honied aspirations of our Atlantic and 

 Pacific brethren living within live miles (nautical'/) 

 of the most outlying cape and promontory. This 

 would be worse tactics than the Canadians ever un- 

 dertook to carry out toward our fishermen. Perish 

 the thought! 



OUR HARVEST. 



Our harvest has been very good. Indeed, I in- 

 cline to the opinion that a fair honey-yield seldom 

 fails here, for our summers are dry, which, I take 

 it, is the proper thing for honey production. And 

 such honey: I wish, friend Root, I could send you 

 a sample. And perhaps I may, some day. 



smai.Ij sections. 

 I,ast summer we also undertook the making of 

 the Harmer and Rambler sections (never had heard 

 of the lo-lter) both square and round, and we soon 

 came to the same conclusion, viz.: that it didn't pay. 

 Thej- bulged badly, and were generally unpresenta- 

 ble, and therefore unsalable. They wereno good, as 

 our natives put it. 



