oti4 



GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTURE. 



Aug. 1. 



ey season by the flood of orders that has come 

 ill, the flow has been the greatest in extent 

 and duration that we have ever known. Here 

 we are up to this date, July 24, running night 

 and day, machinery and engines strained to 

 their utmost, and we expect to run nights an- 

 other week. Usually our rush of business is 

 all over by the 1st of July. We began running 

 night and day the last week in April, and dur- 

 ing this time we have employed the largest 

 number of hands we have ever had in our ex- 

 perience. As nearly as we can learn, our 

 brother-manufacturers have also had a heavy 

 run of business, all of which goes to show that 

 the season of 1897 will go down into the rec- 

 ords as being one of the best that bee-keepers 

 have ever known. Prospects are exceedingly 

 bright for another season. 



OVERSTOCKING AT THE HOME OF THE 

 HONEY-BEES. 



We have 300 colonies and queen-rearing nu- 

 clei at the home yard, and 40 full stocks at 

 the out-yard. It was evident from the ver\' 

 first, as 'l stated, that the bees away from 

 home were doing altogether the better work. 

 Only a few comb-honey supers were filled and 

 capped over at the home yard, while at the 

 out-yard every one of the colonies was in the 

 supers for all they were worth. The out-bees 

 would fill a super in about a quarter of the 

 time the home bees did, providing they did 

 any thing at all. Another fact is, that the 

 home yard is at the present time just barely 

 holding its own. Indeed, they are ready for 

 fighting and robbing. The out-bees are still 

 gathering honey and capping sections, at least 

 they were on the 2.3d. 



All these results would naturally be expect- 

 ed ; but it goes to show that the number of 

 300 colonies and nuclei is overstoclviing our 

 home yard with a vengeance. It is probable 

 that the out-yard would take at least another 

 40 colonies, without very much detriment to 

 those already there. 



AN IDEAI, I^OCATION FOR BEES. 



For myself, at least, I have decided that 

 the ideal place for an apiary is in an orchard, 

 where there are low-spreading trees. If the 

 queens' wings are clipped, there will be com- 

 parativelv little climbing after swarms. Some 

 prefer shade-boards ; but after having tried 

 both, for the comfort of the apiari.st and that 

 of the bees I decidedly prefer the shade of 

 low-spreading trees. Grapevines do tolerably 

 well, but they do not protect the apiarist; and 

 at this time of the year, when the shade is 

 most needed, they are sending out shoots and 

 branches that interfere with the handling of 

 the hive ; and gravevines do require an exces- 

 sive amount of trimming just at the time bees 

 need the most attention. The colonies at our 

 out-yard are placed in groups of three on the 

 north side of the low-spreading basswoods. It 

 is a great comfort as well as a pleasure to work 

 among these bees compared to what it is in 

 the home yard with the grapevines. Vernon 

 Burt has his apiary in an apple-orchard, and 

 the grass is neatly kept down by sheep that 

 are allowed to run among the hives at will. 



The lawn-mower does not begin to compare 

 with them. 



L. L. LANGSTROTH. 



I AM informed that as yet no tombstone has 

 been placed to indicate the spot where the re- 

 mains of our old friend and benefactor rest. 

 Now, while I would not recommend extrava- 

 gance in this matter I certainly do think the 

 bee-keepers, not only of America, but of the 

 whole world, would gladly give something to 

 have a proper stone furnished. I am told that 

 $d() has already been sub.scribed ; but to my 

 mind, all things considered, this is hardly 

 sufficient. If those who have enjoyed and 

 been profited by father Langstroth's writings 

 should contribute only a dn/ic apiece, it would 

 be enough and more than enough ; and I am 

 sure bee-keepers would willingly do this. In 

 fact, if I am correct most of them would feel 

 it a privilege. The only difficulty is to get the 

 matter started, and to let people know about 

 it. I myself will gladly give flO.OO ; and if 

 enough is not raised to pay for a fitting monu- 

 ment, I will do more. Send the money to us 

 and we will see that it is properly credited; 

 but send as much more than a dime as you 

 can afford. 



And it occurs to me just now that some of 

 our able men, friends of our benefactor, should 

 meet together and suggest a suitable inscrip- 

 tion. I have not consulted any one in regard 

 to the matter, but I should like to have Dr. 

 Miller and Manager Secor, and anybody else 

 whom they might choose, get something ap- 

 propriate for the tombstone. The whole wide 

 world knows more or less of Langstroth ; and 

 people who visit the cemetery at Dayton, Ohio, 

 will look up the place and will read with in- 

 terest the inscription. When I was down east 

 it gave me a rare thrill to be shown the bury- 

 ing-place of Noah Webster, the father of our 

 old ' ' elementary spelling-book. " ' I can not 

 remember just how expensive a stone it was ; 

 but I was not only delighted to see it, but to 

 tell the friends after I got home that I stood 

 by the tomb of this, that, and the other great 

 men whose memories we love and revere. 

 Now, then, when you are writing us tell us 

 what your mite toward the fund shall be ; and 

 if you can not all see the stone, and read the 

 inscription, we will try to give you a good pic- 

 ture of it in G1.EANINGS. — A. L R. 



GETTING BEES STARTED INTO SECTIONS ; THE 

 ADVANTAGE OF POWERFLa COLONIES. 



We have had quite a number of inquiries as 

 to how to get bees to go into sections. Some 

 have said that their hives were full of honey, 

 but the bees would refuse to go to work above. 

 The main trouble in most cases is that the col- 

 onies are probably not strong enough. If 

 they can only comfortably fill the brood-nest 

 they may not go into the supers, even if honey 

 is coming in freely. Hives should be fairly 

 boiling over with bees. With this condition, 

 and a fair honej'-flow, there ought to be no 

 trouble in getting work started in the supers. 

 But it is ahvays advisable to put in a partly 

 finished section or sections from last season, 

 or, better yet, from another colony in the same 



i 



