AUGUST 15, 1914 



647 



that day it is " good-by, squash." We reach not one 

 acre or ten, but hundreds. More squashes are raised 

 here than any other place in New England, and there 

 are parties who depend on them for a living. 

 Woburn, Mass., June 24. E. C. Newell. 



California Beelieepers at Panama Pacific Exhibition 



The Exhibit Committee of the California State 

 Beekeepers' Association, Mr. Willis Lynch, of Salida, 

 chairman, held a preliminary meeting July 18, at 

 Sacramento. 



Dr. Cook, State Horticulturist, spoke at the morn- 

 ing session on the desirability of an exhibit being 

 made by the beekeepers of Cali-fornia, at the Panama 

 Pacific Exposition in 1915. He claims that, as Cal 

 ifornia is to be the hostess to the world, she should 

 naturally have the best exhibit in all departments. 

 He called on beekeepers to encourage and assist 

 their chairmen tO' the extent that the 1915 exhibit 

 would excel every thing yet produced in the beekeep 

 ing line. 



The afternoon session was largely taken up in dis- 

 cussing ways and means by which this work could be 

 assembled and put in operation. The temporary or- 

 ganization was made permanent by the unanimous 

 election of Willis Lynch, chairman, and A. L. Heira, 

 of Fair Oaks, Secretary, the chairman to appoint a 

 Treasurer later. 



There was not a dissenting voice when our chair- 

 man put the pertinent question, " Shall we go ahead 

 and have an exhibit? " Of course we all realize that 

 there is plenty of work ahead for all ; but what 

 grand undertaking was ever brought to a successful 

 issue without work and funds to back up the work? 



A publicity committee was appointed by the chair- 

 man, whereby we are to let the world know that the 

 California beekeepers are to have a fine educational 

 exhibit at the fair in 1915. 



Our chairman requested time for consideration 

 before appointing the various other committees, the 

 personnel of which will appear in these columns 

 when available. Mrs. H. G. Acklin. 



Member Pub. Com. 



Were there a Million Bees? 



Referring to the September 1, 1913, issue, page 

 620, I would like to say that perhaps J. H. Diebel 

 does not know that a million bees are equal to 200 

 lbs. weight, which could just about have enough 

 room in a capacity of 6 ft. high and a diameter of 

 14 inches to get in without any combs at all, much 

 less a barrel of honey. A million bees, or 200 lbs., 

 is " tall," to say the least of it. 



R. H. TOWNDS. 



Barberton, South Africa, Oct. 25. 



[Our correspondent in our issue for Sept. 1, 1913, 

 was, of course, using the language of hyperbole. "We 

 sometimes say that " the horse runs like lightning," 

 but, of course, we do not mean what we say. Mr. 

 Townds is probably correct, when we get down to 

 actual figures ; but the average layman, when he 

 sees a big swarm of bees in the air, will declare 

 there are a million bees flying, when the fact is there 

 are probably not over fifty thousand at the most. The 

 largest swarm of bees that we ever weighed register- 

 ed 9% lbs. on the scales, and it was a big one. As 

 there are about 4200 bees in a pound, the number 

 would be a little short of forty thousand. A colony 

 of bees, however, may, if it belongs to the skyscraper 

 class, contain 100,000 bees. — Ed.] 



Two Wires on One Side of the Foundation and 

 Two on the Other 



One would think that, after the very full and care- 

 ful write-up by Mr. H. H. Root, of the manner of 

 putting foundation into frames, and another very 

 good article that followed him, there should not be 



any more " say " on the matter left. However, here 

 is a suggestion according to which I put foundation 

 into Langstroth frames. I bend the sheet in past 

 the bottom wire in such a manner that the two mid- 

 dle wires are on one side of it, and the top and 

 bottom on the other. The trick is a little awkward 

 at first, but quite worth while. The wire, even 

 though pressed on but lightly with the wheel, never 

 leaves the foundation, even if the frame be laid down 

 on either side. I put in strips of foundation for 

 vertical starters in the same manner. 



It does not follow that bees will build worker 

 comb only when such starters are used — no, indeed. 

 But they do not join the combs and make a general 

 mess as when only the conventional inch starters are 

 used. However, where a good queen is at the head 

 of affairs, combs thus startered are usually built out 

 just as straight and regular as full sheets of foun- 

 dation. Whether starters or full sheets, I prefer to 

 fasten with melted beeswax ; but if I use wedges, 

 then I cut those wedges into three equal parts, and 

 use only the two of those parts to fasten the full 

 sheets of foundation toward the ends of frames. The 

 operation is much easier, and the wedges never 



spring out. STEPHEN ANTHONY. 



Waitete, Amodeo Bay, Auckland, N. Z. 



More about Medicinal Treatment for Cases of Par- 

 alysis 



In the November 1st issue, page 765, I notice 

 what is said about bee paralysis. I am only a small 

 beekeeper, but my bees died by the hundred of the 

 very same malady in 1912. I have only five colonies, 

 and saved them all — at any rate the disease has dis- 

 appeared. A friend who lives three blocks from me 

 had thirteen colonies, and lost all but four the same 

 year. This year (1913) our bees are strong with 

 plenty of stores, although we got very little surplus. 



My bees were dying, and I did not know what to 

 do for them. I saw that they were diseased, so I 

 thought I would give them some physic. According- 

 ly I bought a bottle of California Syrup of Figs. I 

 then boiled sugar, honey, and wafer, the same as you 

 would for feeding — one quart all together. To this 

 I added two tablespoonfuls of syrup of figs, and 

 when it had cooled I poured this into the empty cells 

 in the brood-frames. Two days after this there were 

 no more dead bees. 



If one lives in the city, as I do, he should tell his 

 neighbors not to hang their washings out for a few 

 days, as they will surely be daubed with yellow spots. 

 My wife had the pleasure of washing all her clothes 

 over again. 



San Francisco, Cal., Nov. 11. Fred Klinger. 



Supporting the Alexander Feeder with Large 

 Staples 



Mention has been made of the difficulty of adjust- 

 ing the Alexander feeders. I labored under the same 

 difficulty until I bethought me of those staples with 

 which the bottom-board is fastened to the hive. Noth- 

 ing is more simple. After moving the hive back on 

 the bottom-board the width of the feeder, I use two 

 staples at each end of the feeder ; fasten it to the 

 hive, twisting one of the staples at the projecting 

 end of the feeder half around. 



Greenville, N. Y. C. H. Chatterton. 



[The scheme of using staples is all right; but care 

 should be taken that the points of the staple do not 

 split the wood, causing the feeder to leak. For this 

 purpose a staple with a smaller wire and shorter 

 prongs will be more suitable. A hive staple must be 

 extra heavy and strong. — Ed.] 



Bees Work on Grapes 



It was with interest that I read the article in 

 Gleanings for Feb. 1 regarding bees and grapes, 

 for I am able to say a good word for the bees. 1 



