188 



GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTURE. 



Mau 15. 



bee-keeper for pleasure (and j)rofit when he rate of 50 cents per hour; and then the item of 



can get it). I wish to give my estimate of the .stmr/.s-— who would, in cold blood, let a bee sit 



cost of comb honey. down on him. and prod in his little javelin for a 



As we invoice our stock of hardware (my bus- nickel a prod? That is really too low an esti- 



iness) we put down cost to us only of articles mate; but then, think how it would help run up 



and plant in making up our statement of i)rofits the cost of honey (you see I have these misera- 



or losses for the year's transactions. So. in in- ble hybrids). 



vestments in bees and fixtures it is fair to esti- Without prejudice, it appears to me that, if 



mate only interest on the amount actually in- one counts labor, as must in justice be done, 



vested in the business — cost price; in fact, Mr. Taylor's estimate is a very careful and 



■what it ivill sell for represents part of the prof- conservative one, as he computes labor at pi'ices 



its of the business in increase in value, etc. that almost any one can hii'e the work done for 



My apiary to-day consists of 58 colonies, all if he does not wish to attend it himself, and 



the growth or product of one swarm which that is the only fair way. 



came to me five years ago. without money and foul bkood 



without price. It represents in cost to me in ^, „, „ ,, ',„ 



cash «184 in hives, foundation, extractor, and . Mr. Elmer Todd, on page l.«. gives an item 



other appliances. For variable charges, I know m i-egard to foul brood that is very misleading 



of no better way to get at them than a state- on the face of it. If Mr._ Jodd reiers simply to 



ment of last season's work of the bees and my- ^he section of country ^ surrounding \ ork, he 



self My account then will stand thus; '"ay be entirely correct; but if he refers to 



^ Nebraska at large he is very much mistaken; 



BEES, DK. jjg Saline Co., cornering on York Co., has not a 



To interest on inve.stment ($184.00) at 10% $18 40 known case of foul brood in it. and a larger 



T° ^um'' ^T''' T t K"' '^^ ' r 50 POJ'tion of Nebraska is in like condition. With 



To f,.u.ulati;.'n tor sameVfuirsYieets:::;:.. ■;:;:; 2.5 bo a wide acquaintaiice among bee-keepei;s I have 



To crates lor '^hipping- 13 .50 never before heard of foul brood in the State. 



To dravage on honey to depot .50 Dorchester, Neb., Feb. 19. C. F. Thoma.s. 



To freight to destination, 32.50 Ills. at28cper 100 9 10 



$102 40 



BEES. CR. MANUM AND HIS NEIGHBOR. 



E^41ul^'e'x^ractecrf%n/uSshe^ HOW MR. MAKUM mT^gei, five apiakies 



at $.0253 6 58 ALONE ; CONTINUED FROM P. lr>{\ MARCH 1. 



By i6.50 sections witii foundation unused 14 02 ^,^, ^. , , T, 



•' What did you do with the old queens re- 



$103 40 moved ? " 



Now, at the low price of ?.02.52 per pound for "' They were used to fill orders for such: and 

 my honey, it balances the account with my when all orders were filled I used the surplus to 

 bees, and still leaves me 47 lbs. of No. 1 wax. start nuclei with, by taking a comb of brood 

 and an increase from 35 to .58 colonies to count with adhering bees, with the queen; also 

 as a factor in reducing the cost still lower. I shaking the bees from another comb with 

 paid out not one dollar for labor, and used of them in order to have plenty of young bees re - 

 my own time only what I could conveniently main with the queen; and to this were added 

 spare without neglect of other interests— sim- two or three empty combs and one containing a 

 ply used odd moments, and time that would little honey. These nuclei were started in full- 

 have been l(>ss pleasantly and healthfully spent sized hives, and from time to time I would give 

 had I not occupied it with the bees; hence I them a comb of hatching brood, and by fall 

 have made no allowance for work in the cost, they were as strong as any I had. Some days I 

 I also have allowed nothing for commission, for would have more orders than I could remove 

 that is not one of the factors in production, and queens. In that case I would take queens from 

 should no more be (estimated as a part of the these nuclei to make up the deficiency, and in 

 cost than should the profit or commission of the two or three days I gave these nuclei well- 

 retailer, advanced queen-cells, so that by fall I found I 



Now, I do not wish to present this as a fair had very few of the old queens left." 



estimate of cost from the standpoint of a spe- •• Why not give those nuclei virgin queens in- 



cialist, and of one who has 150 colonies, and stead of cells ?" 



has only his bees as a means of livelihood, and '• Because, Charles, they would not accept a 



expects to put in his whole time on that num- virgin queen so readily, having been queenless 



ber, and do nothing else. But it is a fair one so short a time; and to keep them queenless the 



from the standpoint of thousands situated as I proper length of time for them to accept of one 



am, who take up bee culture, and consider the would be a loss of time. Better give such a 



time spent with the bees as offset by the exer- laying queen. They will be more readily ac- 



cise and satisfaction derived from them only as cepted than a virgin.'' 



a pleasure, or as a means of ])utting in spare "Then why not give queen-cells to those colo- 

 time that would otherwise be wasted, expecting nies where the queens were removed, and save 

 the bees to assist in placing the financial affairs all the bother of running hatcheries ?" 

 of the family on a more suiistantial basis; and, " Because, if a cell is given a full colony that 

 further, it is one that inlii feres very seriously has brood in all stages, from the egg to hatcliing 

 with the estimates and wislies of the specialist bees, there is more danger of their swarming 

 in honey production, as it will almost invaria- out when the young queen goes out to mate, 

 bly break up any idea of his home market prov- than when a virgin is given them. Of course, 

 ing a profitable one. Mr. Doolittle's estimate, the virgin is not given until all brood is .so far 

 however, appears to be an especially exagger- advanced that a que(>n can not be reared from 

 ated one; and he might, to his items of ex- such brood. But even if a cell, instead of a 

 pense, "bee-papers and books, S5; atteiKling virgin queen, be given at this time, they will 

 conventions, $20; time spent in reading papers likely swarm; at least that has been my experi- 

 and books, and attending conventions at $5 per ence, when they would not when a hatched 

 day," with equal propriety add time spent in queen is run in, at least not until after the 

 nervous and restless tossing in bed when unable combs have been refilled with brood. Again, 

 to enter the realms of Morpheus, on account of by introducing virgin queens we have the ad- 

 some unsolved problem in apiculture, at the vantage of selecting, as it is not always the 



