282 



GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTURE. 



Apr. 1. 



each side of the top-bar scant ^\ of an inch, 

 ^\■hich leaves about -i%. which I thiiik will make 

 them queen-exchiding. I will try two or three 

 hives with these frames next season, if I live. I 

 should like to have some one else try this kind 

 of brood-frame, and report through (ii.KAN- 

 ixGs. H. Manspekgkk. 



Lewlstown, Mo., Jan. 26. 



[You will hardly be able to make Hoffman 

 frames queen-excluding in the way you sug- 

 gest. Propolis will accumulate be-tween the 

 edges so as to widen the spaces. You may be 

 able at first, with good workmanship, to make 

 it work.] 



GLUE FOR LABELING TIN— ONE THAT GIVES 

 PERFECT SATISFACTION. 



As I was unable, during the busy season, to 

 "keep up with the times," I have been reading 

 up Gleanings more thoroughly during the 

 winter months. I see in April 15th No., 1890, 

 your inquiry for a better plan for fastening la- 

 bels to tin. Here is a recipe for a glue that has 

 worked perfectly. I have used it five or six 

 years, and have never known a label to get 

 loose when properly applied with it. It was 

 given me by my friend D. E. Brubaker, now of 

 Mt. Morris. 111., while visiting me in 1886. He 

 says it has given him entire satisfaction for ten 

 years: 



Stir 2 oz. pulverized borax into 1 qt. boiling 

 water. When dissolved, add 4 oz. gum shellac. 

 Stir while it boils, until all is dissolved. Apply 

 with a brush in the usual way. 



I prefer using a little less water, especially if 

 the labels are small and stiff; then if it gets too 

 tliick to apply readily, warm it a little or add a 

 little hot water. Aft(>r applying the label I 

 press a damp cloth over it to press out and wipe 

 off any sui'plus glue that nuiy come to the edge. 



Mt. Vernon, la., Feb. 14. Oliver Foster. 



[The following is what Mr. Brubaker himself 

 says regarding it. in answer to a letter from 

 Mr. Foster:] 



Oliver Fatder—Dear Sir;— In reply to youv inquiry 

 as to wlietlier 1 would have any objections to your 

 {j-ivinj^ the readers of Gleanings my I'scipe for 

 Killing- on labels. 1 will say, most assuredly, I liave 

 none, and I ftel that the readers of that excellent 

 paper are entitled to it. I have foimd the prepara- 

 tion to g-ive entire satisfaction for the past ten 

 years. From my experience you can reconunend it 

 with entire conlideuce. D. E. Brubaker. 



Mt. Morris, 111., Fel). 11. 



[We tried a sample of the glu<! sent by Mr. 

 Foster, made according to the directions above. 

 It makes the labels stick with a lirm grip on 

 tin. and is. perhaps, the best of any thing ever 

 given. We have long wanted some suitable 

 glue that would answer the purpose. Almost 

 anything will stick labels to glass; but when 

 it comes to tin it is anothei" thing.] 



DO BEES prognosticate? 



I will mention, in confirmation of your sug- 

 gestion, that bees do not prognosticate the com- 

 ing season, but are influenced only by present 

 conditions. About 32 years since. I lived in 

 Guernsey Co., ().. and kept bees. I think it was 

 the 4th of June, 18.5U, we had a hard freeze, kill- 

 ing the corn. The wheat that was headed out, 

 and all the clover that was in bloom, was killed, 

 together with almost all othei' bloom. The bees 

 had had many drones, and were ready to 

 swarm. Within three or four days after this, 

 the bees had killed all their drones, even de- 

 stroying the drone larvcO. But soon after, bloom 

 again became abundant, the bees reared a new 

 set of drones, and swarmed as usual. 



Ventura, Cal., Feb. 10. R. Wilkin. 



WHITEWASH again, FOR HIVES. 



I see on page 51, in your foot-notes to Wil- 

 liam G. Hewes, you speak of whitewash for 

 hives. I would say that, to make whitewash 

 for hives, use whiting and glue, about ^4 lb. glue 

 to a common pail of whitewash. It will not 

 crack off, noi' soil one's clothes, and will last 

 much bette)' than lime. It is also good for fill- 

 ing old buildings preparatory to painting. It 

 should be used hot. John Burr. 



Braceville, 111., Jan. 25. 



[We have used glue considerably for white- 

 washing the inside of our buildings, but we 

 were informed by our "boss mason " that glue 

 would not answer for outdoor exposure — that 

 grease or oil would have to be used instead.] 



clean graham fi,our. 



Buy the wheat just as soon as thrashed, and 

 before it is put into a dirty bin and run over by 

 the rats and mice; then look it over by putting 

 a gallon or so into a large pan, and pick out the 

 bits of straws and hulls, and grind it on a small 

 machine attached to a hoi'se-power or wind- 

 mill. Mr. Axtell has one attached to his horse- 

 power. We can grind it very tine by grinding it 

 twice, or it may be ground very coarse, and used 

 as cracked wheat. If boiled until tender, and 

 eaten with honey and new milk or cream, it is 

 delicious and very healthful, especially to one 

 troubl(>d with indigestion. 



A good many told me, during the past year, 

 they could not get good graham flour since the 

 roller process came into use for making white 

 flour, and that the graham they now get seem- 

 ed more like poor white flour mixed with bj-an, 

 which can not be nearly so healthful as to get 

 good wheat and make our own flour, which 

 mak(\s very sw(M't bread. 



As it is difficult to get an oven hot enough to 

 bake graham g(uus made of only flour and wa- 

 ter, so as to be light, I usually make my graham 

 bread with yeast, as I do other light bread, first 

 setting the sponge of white flour, and, when 

 light, mix with graham flour. Mix just as stiff 

 as can be stirred with an iron spoon, or just as 

 soft as a loaf can be formed with the hands, 

 and place in pans to bake, or let it stand to 

 rise once after putting in the graham flour. In 

 that case a little soda should be added, as gi'a- 

 ham bread soui's more quickly than white. It 

 also rises more quickly, and should be kept 

 cooler while rising, if intended to be baked at 

 the same time as the white bread. 



HOW TO COOK eggs. 



Not until a few weeks ago did I learn how to 

 cook eggs so as to be healthful, so that the 

 white will be thickened like starch, but not 

 be hard and leathery, and at the same time the 

 yolk will be set also. Put fresh eggs into a cup 

 or kettle of cold water, and let it stand on the 

 stove till they come to a boil; then remove im- 

 mediately. If the stove was not too hot or too 

 cold vou will find them cooked very nicely. 



Roseville. 111. Mrs. L. C. Axtell. 



SPRAYING fruit-trees. 



I want to spray my pear, cherry, and plum 

 trees, when in blossom, with Paris green. My^ 

 bee-stands are all aboutthem. Will the poison, 

 affect the bees or honey ? A. T. White. 



Antioch, 111., Feb. 5. 



[Spray your trees just after the blossoms 

 have fallen off —earlier or later will do but lit- 

 tle good to the trees. After the blossoms are 

 gone, of course the bees will not visit the trees, 

 and no harm will result.] 



