JUNE 15, 1914 



about half as long as they usually are. But 

 in spite of this he increased one carload of 

 bees up to 650 colonies and 460 three-frame 

 nuclei, took 13,000 lbs. of honey, and drew 

 out nearly 6000 frames of foundation. An- 

 other year he thinks he can do much better, 

 as conditions can hardly be worse. 



Now, then, was the experiment a success? 

 Even if we take into consideration that our 

 increase and honey crop fell short, our 

 scheme was not a failure by any means. 

 The project will pay out, and leave us 

 something to the good. In addition we ac- 

 quired some valuable experience, all of 

 wliich has been or will be given in these 

 columns for the benefit of the public at 

 large. When viewed from this standpoint 

 our project was a big success. In all the 

 history of beedom we do not believe that 

 any one ever before moved bees south, and 

 made a three-and-half-to-one increase. It 

 must not be forgotten that, in spite of tl;e 

 unfavorable weather, we drew out nearly 

 6000 frames of foundation into fine nice 

 combs. We have always been short on 

 combs; and we now have the nicest set of 

 wired combs we ever had. If we leave out 

 of the account entirely the publicity item, 

 which we feel sure means a big boost to 

 Gleanings^ we are still on the good side of 

 our ledger account. 



As clover is very promising, and basts- 

 wood looks well, our Florida project will 

 pay out bigger yet if we get any kind of 

 crop. We now have eleven yards of bees. 

 The outyards run for honey will contain 

 about 60 colonies, or what is the equivalent 

 of two truckloads. Our light gasoline-truck 

 is able to carry 30 colonies at a time. With 

 this truck we can deposit enough bees at 

 the outyard to make three or four yards in 

 a day. 



By the way, the big team and the wagon 

 can haul only 30 colonies. It takes the team 

 a good part of a whole forenoon to go to an 

 outyard and back ; but the gasoline-truck 

 will do the same work in an hour ; and, what 

 is of considerable importance, it does not 

 make any difference if there are a few bees 

 leaking out of the hives. 



There will be some further illustrations 

 showing the whole project. 



A Big Field =Day_ Meet; at Medina 



Preparations are under way for a big 

 field day at Medina, July 9 and 10, under 

 the auspices of the Ohio State Beekeepers' 

 Association. At the last convention, held 

 in Athens, it was decided to have a field day 

 at Medina, on a date to be agreed on later. 

 Many have desired to see the A. I. Root 



Co.'s manufacturing plant, their queen-rear- 

 ing operations, and the various methods for 

 taking honey with a power extractor, a 

 modern capping-melter and separator; and 

 a few have said they desired to see A. I. 

 Root himself, who has agreed to be at home 

 on that day. In this connection, the Pi'es- 

 ident, Prof. W. A. Matheny, writes : 



I fancy that I can hear all our beekeepers say 

 they are anxious to see your father, A. I. Root. I 

 trust that his health will be such that he will be able 

 to give us a short talk. I confess to you that to see 

 him is my motive in working up this meeting. Of 

 course, I am anxious to go over your plant again, 

 and I am anxious to have our beekeepers see what a 

 wonderful place you have ; but I know that every 

 one will enjoy most the privilege of hearing A. I. 

 Root. 



Athens, O., May 29. W. A. Matheny. 



It is proper for us to state that, while we 

 did not invite the State Association to hold 

 its field day at Medina, the organization is 

 more than welcome, as well as every one 

 else who would like to be here on that day, 

 whether they live in Ohio or not. Estimates 

 have been made that there will be 500 people 

 here, including a few prominent beekeepers 

 from all over the country. It is quite possi- 

 ble that we can arrange to have the veteran 

 Dr. C. C. Miller, of Marengo, 111., and per- 

 haps G. M. Doolittle. Mr. Doolittle is a 

 good speaker as well as a writer. It is worth 

 going a hundred miles to hear either of 

 them talk. 



The date is set in July so that beekeepers 

 will not be tied xip at home on account of 

 their honey-flow. 



As hotel accommodations are not extensive 

 here, we shall probably have to arrange for 

 one of our warehouse rooms where we can 

 sleep the men on cot beds and straw. The 

 women and children can probably be ac- 

 commodated in the homes of the town. 



We have never felt that it was proper for 

 us to invite any beekeepers' organization 

 to meet at Medina, on account of the indi- 

 rect advertising it might give to our com- 

 pany ; but when an organization takes the 

 initiative, as the Ohio State Association has 

 done, we are glad to co-operate in making 

 Iheir field-day a success. In this connection, 

 every one who expects to come here will 

 send a card to Prof. Matheny in order that 

 he and ourselves may be able to make prop- 

 er arrangements to accommodate the people. 



Many will arrive on the afternoon of 

 July 9; and while there will be some field- 

 day operations on that day, the principal 

 part of them will doubtless occur on the day 

 following. We do not know what the pro- 

 gi-am will be, but we suppose there will be 

 addresses on the evening of the 9th as well 

 as during the day of the 10th, accompanied 

 by demonstrations. 



