18HT 



GLKANINGvS IN BKK CULTURK. 



(81 



that, sincf that time, there have been frequent 

 intjuiries for infornialion on matters pertain- 

 insj; to bee culture, and accordingly another 

 more abriilged book has been issued, and it is 

 reasonable to suppose^ that this time tlie supply 

 will be equal to the demand. The Kntomolo- 

 gist, Mr. Howard, says: "Though it has 

 been designed by the author primarily to 

 answer a few of the specilic questions which 

 are most likely to present themselves to tlie 

 mind of the inquirer wholly unfamiliar with 

 the subject, the aim has also been to introduce 

 in the treatment of ihe various topics infor- 

 mation which it is hoped will lead many of 

 longer experience to more successful methods 

 than they have yet practiced." 



The book, although brief, seems to be a 

 complete text-book on apiculture; and as such 

 I liave no doubt it covers the subject in an 

 admirable manner. The contents, as given 

 on the first inside page, are as follows : 



Locations suited to the keeping of bees ; 

 returns to be expected; all can learn to handle 

 bees ; to avoid stings ; hive to adopt ; swarm- 

 ing ; dequeening ; requeening ; space near 

 entrances ; selection in breeding ; special 

 crops for honey not profitable ; plants and 

 trees for honey and pollen ; to obtain surpjus 

 honey and wax ; comb honey; grading and 

 shipping comb honey ; production of wax ; 

 ^\•intering ; general considerations ; loss of 

 bees through disease and enemies. 



As I understand it, this work will be sent 

 free to any who will apply for it. Make your 

 request to the Department of Agriculture, 

 Washington, D. C, asking for P'armers' Bul- 

 letin, No. 59, entitled "Bee-keeping." 



THE ILLUSTRATIONS IN THIS ISSUE. 



The reader can scarcely fail to note the 

 wealth of illustrations in this number, both in 

 variety and in general excellence. Some of 

 these pictures I took myself, and it is with 

 peculiar pride that I show our readers some of 

 my ozcn work. 



On m)' eastern trip last summer among bee- 

 keepers I took a large number of photos with 

 my large-sized folding Kodak. Some of the 

 pictures I have already given, and there are 

 quite a large number more that I expect to 

 present later on. 



Did you ever think that a picture will very 

 often give to the reader in a moment of time 

 information that it would require pages and 

 pages of descriptive matter? Perfection in 

 modern photography and half-tone engraving 

 enables modern progressive journals to give 

 their readers not only delight but real infor- 

 mation, without the medium of a single word of 

 language. I expect to show in next issue why 

 honey in no-bee-way sections looks better. 



A NEW IDEA — NOT GRADING-RULES, BUT PIC- 

 TURES TO SHOW EACH SEPARATE GRADE 

 AS IT SHOULD BE. 



An idea has occurred to me in the matter of 

 grading honey, and it is this : Let there be a 

 committee appointed by the next U. S. B. K. 

 U. meeting to make one, two, three, or four 

 grades of honey from some lots that may be 



brought in by tlie bee-keepers, or that may be 

 purchased in the open market. They are to 

 pick out, say, four representative sections that 

 they would call " Fancy," and put them in a 

 lot by themselves ; four other sections that 

 they would call " No. 1," and still four more 

 that they would call "No. 'J." Each .section 

 in the several groups sIkaiUI present as much 

 variation as the grade itself will allow. That 

 is to sa}-, sections in the No. 1 grade, for in- 

 stance, can't all l)e alike or equally good ; but 

 the picture of No. 1 should show the liinits. 



Now let there be a photo taken of each of 

 the lots, "life size," said photos reproduced 

 in half-tone, and printed on neat cards, each 

 card to be labeled "Fancy," "No. 1," or 

 " No. 2," respectivel3^ 



You see the point. A picture will describe 

 at a mere glance what a body of bee-keeping 

 experts would regard as extra f.oncy, as No. 1, 

 No. 2, and so on. The trouble with the ordi- 

 nary grading-rules is that language is not ade- 

 quate to describe the limits of fancy, No. 1, 

 etc., and hence arise the confusion and gener- 

 al dissatisfaction. 



This suggestion came to me while I was at 

 the apiary of Miles Morton, in York vState. 

 His brother-in-law, Mr. Niver, showed me 

 how he would grade his honey, and placed 

 the sections in four different lot's. Of these I 

 have secured a nice photo, and Mr. Niver 

 will, later on, be able to show you just how he 

 grades honey. 



THE EVOLUTION OF THE SECTION HONEY- 



BOX; THE PROBLEM OF LETTING THE 



BEES IN AND LETTING THEM OUT. 



I THINK I have heard of a religious sect, or 

 perhaps it was a sect without any religion, 

 who placed man at the head of creation — not 

 only at the head of things earthly, but at the 

 head of the universe, ruling out God. Well, 

 there is considerable to admire about humani- 

 ty, I admit ; but, oh dear me ! if I were to 

 accept the doctrine that man is the highest 

 order of intelligence to be found in this whole 

 wide uni\-erse — well, it certainly would be 

 awfully sad. In fact, I have sometimes 

 thought that, if a premium were offered for 

 stupidity and bungling, humanity at its best 

 might take the prize from all animal kinfl. 



The above reflections were suggested when 

 the boys showed me an improved honey-box 

 or section. What do you suppose it was? 

 Why, it was a little square frame, as shown in 

 the picture below — the one that is smooth and 

 level all around, without any openings for the 

 bees, or any thing of the sort. The first 



THE OLD AND THE NEW 1-POUND SECTIONS, 

 honey-section I ever made (8 to fit into a 

 Langstroth frame) was of this description. 

 You will find a picture of it on the front cover 

 of Gleanings for September, 1876. We 



