352 



Arthur C. Miller exhibited fin observatory 

 hive that surpasses any thing of the kind 

 we have ever seen. With this Mr. Miller 

 has made some interesting if not v^^onderful 

 discoveries. There is no doubt that he 

 knows more about the babyhood of bees 

 than any other man in the world. His 

 studies are a revelation, and we are arrang- 

 ing to get them before the public. 



THE HONEY-CROP CONDITIONS FOR 1911. 



Reports are so conflicting that it is im- 

 possible to give even a good guess as to the 

 yield from clover. Taken as a whole the 

 prospects are not as good as they were two 

 weeks ago. Since that time there has been 

 quite a severe dry spell in some sections. 

 While conditions early in the spring were 

 excei)tionally good, and promising a fine 

 yield from clover, the aforesaid drouth aj)- 

 parently gave the plant a setback; but, very 

 fortunately, this was broken by a general 

 rain throughout most of the Eastern States, 

 commencing about the 3d and 4th, and clos- 

 ing about the 10th of .June. This did an im- 

 mense amount of good. How much it will 

 retrieve from the drouth it is impossible to 

 forecast. 



In New Jersey, Eastern Pennsylvania, 

 and perhaps Delaware, the drouth was more 

 severe than in that section on the coast di- 

 rectly north; but clover never is very abun- 

 dant in J]astern Massachusetts and Con- 

 necticut, largely because of a lack of lime in 

 the soil. So we never expect very much 

 honey from those two sections. In \'ermont. 

 New Hampshire, and Maine, the clover tiow 

 at this writing apparently will be good. 

 Conditions also are very promising for a 

 good crop in Canada; and the very oppor- 

 tune rains in New .Jersey and Eastern Penn- 

 sylvania have improved the clover condi- 

 tions very materially. If these rains had 

 come on a week or ten days sooner, tlie con- 

 ditions would have been ideal. As it is, 

 there will probably be only from one-fourth 

 to one-half a crop of clover in New .Jersey, 

 Pennsylvania, and possibly some parts of 

 New York. Central New York will average 

 rather better than the Eastern part of the 

 State. 



Re))orts from Michigan are very conflict- 

 ing, for that State seems to have all kinds 

 of soil and all kinds of climate. Some re- 

 ports are very flattering, while others are 

 discouraging. 



Reports are just as conflicting in Ohio, In- 

 diana, and Illinois. The drouth in these 

 States was not as severe as in the extreme 

 East. 



As yet we have seen no reliable reports 

 from the alfalfa States; but a few scattering 

 replies seem to indicate that the alfalfa crop 

 will be about as usual. 



We have already reported that the crop in 

 Florida and California is short, but a late 

 report shows prospects of a good yield from 

 mangrove are exceptionally good on the east 

 coast of Florida. 



Gleanings in Bee Culture 



In California it ai)pears that, owing to the 

 unfavorable season last year, many colonies 

 had to go into winter quarters in a very 

 much weakened condition — too weak to 

 survive till the following spring. It is re- 

 ported that thousands of colonies died out- 

 right, either in late winter or early spring. 

 Notwithstanding all of this, several carloads 

 of California honey have been bought; and 

 we may say in this connection that a con- 

 siderable quantity of Florida honey has been 

 shipped north; but it may be safely assum- 

 ed that the aggregate yield from either State 

 will be light. Texas seems to have had a 

 good season; but as her crop rarely moves 

 out of her own borders, it will have no per- 

 ceptible effect on the general market. 



Taking it all in all, present indications 

 generally do not warrant the belief that the 

 crop of clover will be large, but, apparently, 

 it will be considerably in excess of that of 

 last year. The short crop of California and 

 Florida honey, and the possible light yield 

 of clover would seem to warrant a general 

 stifTening of prices all up and down the line; 

 and, even if there should be a good yield of 

 clover, in this day and age it would be sim- 

 ply impossible to glut the market with it. 

 We should not be surjirised if the buyers of 

 clover or Eastern honey will be bidding hard 

 against each other; and unless conditions 

 improve materially, we would naturally ex- 

 pect the market to advance. Even if the 

 yield from alfalfa should be large, this kind 

 of honey is coming to be more and more 

 largely consumed right where it is produc- 

 ed. We can not, therefore, think it can 

 have a tendency to weaken prices, no mat- 

 ter what the yield may be. 



In order to get more reliable information 

 we shall be glad to have our subscribers 

 everywhere send us postal-card reports on 

 existing conditions. Do not send us long 

 reports, because we can not take time to 

 read them. 



MOVING bees a short DISTANCE. 



One of the questions that are being asked 

 constantly is how to move bees a short dis- 

 tance. The time was when it was consider- 

 ed impracticable to do this except after a 

 confinement for a jjeriod during winter. We 

 have learned by experience that it is no 

 trick at all if one proceeds properly. If he 

 contem])lates moving the bees he should 

 undertake the work before a honey-flow. 

 Proceed as follows: In the cool of the morn- 

 ing, or as early as possible, approach the 

 hive that is to be moved to the front or back 

 yard. Smoke it vigorously, then ])ound and 

 drum on the hive, giving it a general shake- 

 up. Throw it on a wheelbarrow, bumping 

 it as much as possible when going to the 

 new place. Set it down with a thump and 

 a jar. Smoke again; then lean a board uj) 

 against the entrance, so the bees will be sure 

 to mark the new location when they come 

 out. The board should be removed the next 

 tlay. Change the appearance of the old 

 spot as much as possible where the hives 



