116 



GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTURE 



it costs anywhere from $2.80 to $4.20 to 

 winter a colony of bees. If they use a six- 

 cent honey the figures will stand resiDeetive- 

 ly $1.68 and $2.52. On the ten-cent basis 

 the question may still be asked by some 

 whether or not, if we take into considera- 

 tion winter losses and the present price of 

 sugar syrup, and the price of honey, some 

 beekeepers could not afford to import bees 

 in three-pound lots from the South. Un- 

 derstand, we do not argue this. 



According to one Southern advertiser 3 

 lbs. of bees in 50-lb. lots would cost $3.50. 

 The express would add from 75 cts. to $1.00 

 more. 



On the 28-lb. basis per colony the winter- 

 ing on a basis of 6 cts. would beat the 

 pound shipments. On the 42-lb. estimate 

 the difference with a ten-cent would not be 

 great. 



While buckwheat honey may not be worth 

 more than 6 cts. per lb., a great majority of 

 the beekeepers of Canada are not where 

 they can get buckwheat. An aster honey is 

 often dear at any price. Is it not true that 

 most beekeepers use a good table honey? 

 Sugar syrup is cheajDer, but you argue that 

 it does not go as far, pound for pound. 



Wintered-over bees, you must admit, 

 pound for pound, are not as fresh, vigor- 

 ous, and strong, as young bees direct from 

 the South. If you can shake more than 

 three pounds on the average from your 

 colonies in early spring, you are going- 

 some. 



While you admit that Dr. Phillips' obser- 

 vations go to prove that bees in a cold be- 

 low 57 would consume more stores, you are 

 " not convinced that all his claims in that 

 line work out in practice." Why not? 

 Have you not observed that, the colder the 

 winter or the colder the surrounding atmos- 

 phere, the more stores the bees will con- 

 sume? Time and time again we have no- 

 ticed in our own locality during a prolong- 

 ed severe cold spell that our bees consume 

 at least 50 per cent more stores than they 

 do during a milder winter. It is the pro- 

 longed severely cold winter that causes 

 dysentery, as a result of overeating to keep 

 warm. Of course, if the winter is too mild 

 the bees will use more stores because of 

 brood-rearing. Hence it does not follow 

 that you " should require even less stores 

 than in Ohio." 



With regard to Mr. House's practice, you 

 failed to state that his yard is located in a 

 deep giilly, and protected by a high bluff. 

 One would almost raise the question wheth- 

 er his bees needed any packing at all. Mr. 

 House's practice hardly proves that plenty 

 of packing is not needed. 



We are glad to see that you admit, on 

 the matter of hives buried in snow, that 

 " there is a chance that mv advice might not 

 be best for sorne localities." There is, in- 

 deed, a big chance if reports mean any- 

 thing. Some beekeepers, unless the state- 

 ment were challenged, would get into trou- 

 ble, we fear. — Ed.] 



EUROPEAN FOUL BROOD AND MY KIND FRIENDS 



BY R. F. HOLTERMANN 



Job had friends who sought to advise 

 him in his distress; but we know that they 

 only added to his discomfort. So it ap- 

 pears to me to be with those doctors who so 

 kindly volunteer information for my conso- 

 lation. There is " Doctor " H. Harley Sel- 

 wyn, who, on page 930, Nov. 15, states, " It 

 does sound odd to me to hear of one who 

 has been so long in the business meeting 

 only now with this disease." 



When I was a boy, and also since that 

 time, I have been a good deal between coun- 

 try and city; and thei'efore, with divided 

 experiences, I probably never knew very 

 much of either. One thing, however, af- 

 forded me great amusement. When the city 

 boy came to the country the country youth 

 considered him as gi'een as gi'ass. When 

 the country youth came to town he was, in 

 the estimation of the town youth, a " hay- 

 seed." Each thought his experience was the 



hallmark of wisdom. There are many bee- 

 keepers who have not had European foul 

 brood among their bees; and I do not feel 

 the richer for having had such experience. 



Then comes Dr. J. E. Crane, on page 

 985, Dec. 1. He is a veteran. He attempts 

 to encourage by stating " The shiftless bee- 

 keeper may well regard this disease as a 

 serious matter if not an actual calamity." 



There is nothing in Mr. Selwyn's article 

 that affords me the slightest consolation. 

 On page 413 J. L. Byer states, " We dread 

 European foul brood more than ever, and, 

 contrary to what Dr. Miller's sentiments 

 seem to be, we have more or less contempt 

 for American foul brood." I may flatter 

 myself when I say that I think I am as well 

 po.sted on the nature of the disease as is Mr. 

 Selwyn. Some of the largest New York 

 State conventions for several years have 

 been attended by me to get the experience 



