24 



GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTURE 



the spring and summer of 1886 being one 

 of the most favorable for beekeeping ever 

 known in Wisconsin, they both built up and 

 filled their hives with comb, brood, and 

 honey. One cast a swarm which we failed 

 to secure, not thinking that they were so 

 far along. It is interesting to notice any- 

 thing like this, but it sometimes leads to 

 wrong conclusions. 



At Madison Dr. Phillips spoke on the 

 subject of outdoor wintering; but after 

 hearing him one can readily see that the 

 principles of outdoor and indoor wintering 

 are the same. It is a question of proper 

 insulation and the securing of certain con- 

 ditions for the colony. The question of 

 winter stores becomes far more simple when 

 we understand that, with proper wintering 

 conditions, bees consume very few stores in 

 confinement and start no brood until the 

 proper time. 



So much for the Wisconsin convention. 

 Now I would beg the privilege of a few 



words for old friendship's sake. Some have 

 asked why I do not write for the journals 

 as I did once. The reason is that the pres- 

 sure of other work so encroached on my 

 beekeeping that I realized I was not up 

 with the progress of the times. Neverthe- 

 less I did not lose interest, but constantly 

 read what others write, and attend as many 

 conventions as possible. Being still in the 

 railroad employ I have an opportunity to 

 attend meetings of railroad men which we 

 bold at times for mutual benefit and in- 

 struction. In those gatherings I certainly 

 meet a fine body of men, but my heart is 

 with the beekeepers. I wonder that so few 

 discover what they are losing by not attend- 

 ing the meeting. 



I am unable to attend as many as I 

 should like. I wanted to be at the Akron 

 meeting, oh so much ! but it was not possi- 

 ble. Tlien those informal meetings down 

 at Bradentown — how I should like to be in 

 on that deal! 



Bridgeport, Wis. 



HONEY -LABELS 



BY JOSEPH TINSLEY 



Beekeepers rarely take sufficient advan- 

 tage of the art of displaying their produce 

 to effect the best sales, as do the various 

 trade firms of their specialties, such as 

 fruits, syrups, etc. It is candidly admitted 

 that a neat label on any article increases its 

 charm, and gives it, particularly if a food, 

 an appetizing appearance. The public gets 

 absolutely tired of a label if it is of an un- 

 interesting character, such as, for instance. 



^^^aif"KlRKCUDBRJ6HT^HlRErl 



•fiOfstjEy: 



] 



MAJOR 



Ko r'c^ 





MAXVYl 



APIARY 



is 



Qt^rmMm' DALBEATTI E 



A neat label always increases the charm of an article. 



Pure Honey, or Honey from our own Bees, 

 etc. A white label soon shows the dirt and 

 dust in a shopkeeper's window. This state, 

 I always think, reduces the value of the 

 article in the public eye. Nothing tends 

 to diminish the value of an article more 

 than the presence of dust or dirt. 



Get a good photograph of your apiary 

 which will give the public an immediate 

 interest. Send it to an engi'aving house to 

 get a good half-tone 

 engraving made, and 

 at the same time the 

 usual lettering put on 

 such i^s " Pure Texas 

 Honey from the Api- 

 ary of John Smith;" 

 "Pure Raspberry 

 Honey," or as the 

 case may be. 



I was spending a 

 day with one of the 

 most prominent bee- 

 men of Scotland, Ma- 

 jor Maxwell, and 

 could not resist taking 

 a ])hoto or two of his 

 apiary. Later on, when 

 Major M. was asking 

 my opinion on hon 'v- 

 labels, I suggested that 

 this beautiful view 



