54 



GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTURE. 



.Tax. 15. 



the story he told us about the Devil and the 

 minister. 



Mr. H. is now editor of the Dowagiac Times. 

 a"clean-cut political paper of Democratic pro- 

 clivities. "Tl^ 



Still, for the money invested, time and ex- 

 pense and work, the apiary was the best paying 

 business in which Mr. H. had ever engaged. 

 My call was made in the height of the bass- 

 wood season, and that day the bees were boom- 

 ing on it. During the night, heavy thunder 

 showers prevailed. The electric lights of the 

 street were set to dancing by the vivid dis- 

 charges above: and when the day finally dawn- 

 ed, a cool north wind prevailed. Tlie horse was 

 called to duty again, and his fleet feet covered 

 several miles ere we returned. Several bass- 

 wood gloves w(>i'e passed. The north wind was 



which water could be drawn, cans of honey plac- 

 ed, and all heated from a stove in the cellar. A 

 large amount of candied honey can be quickly 

 and safely prepared for market. The Rambler 

 would have been pleased to present with this a 

 photo of the apiary: but our camera was at the 

 hotel, and Mr. H. has never had a photo taken, 

 as there is no place, according to his mind, to 

 get a good view of it. iZZ 



Upon entering the apiary one becomes aware 

 of the fact that but few of the new divisible 

 brood-chamber hives are used;, here. Mr. Hed- 

 don, being an economical man, he will not de- 

 stroy his good L. hives, but prefers to replace 

 them gradually, and run his out-apiaries with 

 the new hive. The idea has never been con- 

 veyed that any more honey can be obtained in 

 the new hive than in any other standard hive» 



HivE-iioimv riding: the race for supremacy. 



swaying thp pendent blossoms to and fro, but 

 not a honey-bee was at work. " This means 

 $75 out of my pocket to-day, and every day 

 this lasts," anxiously said my friend. 



Many clumFJS of pleurisy were pointed out 

 here and there in the fields: and that great 

 nortliern honey-plant, epilolnuni. had put in 

 an appearance further north, and given Mr. H. 

 an enthusiastic hope of its further rapid ad- 

 vance. 



The home yard in tiu> outskirts of the town 

 contained about 2(M) colonies of bees, with a 

 commodious honey-house upon one side, and 

 all surrounded by a high and tight board fence. 

 Every thing in the interior of house and yard 

 was neat and tidy. A large double-geared Stan- 

 ley honey-extractor was on duty. One very con- 

 venient arrangement was a large tank, into 



but that it can be obtained easier, and with less- 

 manipulation. The Rambler has used the H. 

 hive to some extent, and wishes here to sum- 

 marize some of the good points. While I do not 

 insist upon a divisible brood -chamber, I still 

 find many good points in it that, after much 

 questioning in my own mind, lead me to pre- 

 fer it. Contraction can be accomplished in a 

 moment, and the whole force confined to one 

 case. Expansion can be as (juickly accomplish- 

 ed, and a colony built up rapidly, and not a 

 frame removed. If it is desired to increase the 

 number of swarms early, the shallow cases ac- 

 complish it with the least amount of labor. 

 The queen-excluding honey-board has come to- 

 stay, and it can be used to greater advantage, 

 and toa wider extent, than upon any other hive. 

 The latest improvement before the fraternity. 



