DECEMBER 15, 1914 



979 



I doubt not that many who read this will, 

 in their championship for Langstroth, fail 

 entirely to grasp the lesson I would teach. 

 I would not detract one whit from tlie honor 

 given to Langstroth, but I do want to point 

 out what we have missed in not knowing 

 more of the manner and method of Quinby. 



To observe, to read, to gi'asp, to under- 

 stand and apply, was what Quinby taught 

 as no other man since has done; and such 



method is what we need now, in all that 

 relates to bee culture, be it introduction of 

 queens or any other part of the art. 



The new method of queen introduction is 

 based on well-understood reactions of the 

 bees to certain conditions, and it is good. 

 Its failure in some hands is due to the 

 operators not understanding the principle 

 or the bees. 



Providence, R. I., Nov. 6. 



BEEKEEPING IN ALABAMA 



BY H. A. M^LENDON 



It is like a farmer endeavoring to farm 

 without tools to keep bees without a jour- 

 nal. My apiary of a hundred colonies did 

 well last season. Except for the extremely 

 long drouth which, by the way, has never 

 happened here before, my colonies would 

 have averaged around 100 pounds of section 

 honey. However, in spite of that they 

 easily averaged 50 lbs. to the hive, which, I 

 think, is a good average. 



I am sending a picture of my three-year- 

 old yard. So few people realize how great 

 the industry could be made in southern 

 Alabama, especially in Covington County. 

 I started with about a dozen gums three 

 years ago, with some little experience that 

 I got while with my father, J. R. McLendon, 

 on the farm in Montgomery County. In 

 those days the surrounding beekeepers 

 would meet several times during the year 

 with well-filled baskets, and have a get- 

 together bee-meeting, talking over bee cul- 

 ture, and exhibiting specimens of honey. 



I prefer the ten-frame hive. My bees are 

 of a mixed race, and it is more than inter- 

 esting to note the difference in bees. Even 

 the mixed Italians show a great superiority 



over the common strain. We are sur- 

 rounded here by the Conecuh River Swamp, 

 Bay Branch Stream, the five runs, and 

 various branches. In fact, I know of no 

 better location for a dozen or more apiaries 

 than southern Alabama, where we have 

 black and white tupelo, gum, poplar, alder, 

 ti-ti, gallberry, and various other plants 

 which grow honey in abundance. 



The flow of the honey-dew is abundantly 

 spread over leaves of the various trees ; and 

 the hum of the bees, as we sit under our 

 own vine and fig-tree in the spring of the 

 year makes one feel as if the glory of God 

 rests with us bounteously. 



What has become of the old-time beekeep- 

 er? From observation I think the industry 

 is more neglected in this State than in any 

 other in the Union. We have no bee in- 

 spector nor bee organization for the State. 

 Cannot some plan be suggested that will 

 wake up beekeepers of our State to the 

 realization that we are sleeping, and losing 

 great things in bee culture by not being 

 organized ? 



Andalusia, Ala. 



THE ALEXANDER METHOD OF INCREASE 



Some Discrepancies tliatt Confuse Begimieirs and Veterans Alike 



BY A. SWAHN 



Br. C. C. Miller: — I am taking up bee- 

 keeping with very much interest, and have 

 your book, also every other book of note on 

 the subject. I have made a close study of 

 the subject, and the more I study and prac- 

 tice the better I like it. I find, however, a 

 few points which arc very misleading to an 

 amateur like myself, and should like some 

 light on the subject. Please refer to page 

 366 of the last issue of A B C and X Y Z 

 of Bee Culture in a note from you com- 

 menting on the method of increase employed 



by the laie E. W. Alexander. This note 

 makes the whole subject very misleading, 

 as it is without an explanation. This leads 

 one to come to several conclusions — either 

 Mr. Alexander was not a successful bee- 

 keeper or he has misrepresented his methods, 

 as you say, " What successful beekeeper 

 uses it ? " I wish you would answer this 

 through the pages of Gleanings. 



If Mr. Alexander's method of increase is 

 too rapid for good results I cannot under- 

 stand your article in your own book, page 



