328 



GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTURE 



An improved bee-proof suit. 



smoke discharge, shows the modern power- 

 ful sixteen-inch howitzer pattern. Hanging 

 conveniently is the combined hive and 



trenching tool. In case of onslaught by 

 overwhelming numbers the apiarist may 

 fearlessly dig himself in. Later the en- 

 trenchments should bo lined with straw, 

 and the bees wintered therein, thus, turning 

 apparent defeat into conclusive victory. On 

 the front of the helmet is H.A., hot-air vent. 

 Tlus is very conveniently situated, as are 

 also the aural apertures; but since the lat- 

 ter are covered with Porter bee-escapes the 

 merest tyro will see that safety is the first 

 consideration. (Unthinking critics have 

 suggested this is to allow the " bee in the 

 bonnet" to escape.) The smoke control is 

 adjusted on that popular spot the knee, 

 while shock-absorbers on the toes will min- 

 imize the difficulties should a hive be kicked 

 by accident or diabolical intention. (Vide 

 modern methods of handling hives instead 

 of frames) . R.H. is rubber heels to prevent 

 hive- jar when walking about the apiary. 

 The body of the suit is made of vulcanized 

 sail canvas covering two inches of absorbent 

 packing, preferably chaff; arctic moss is 

 splendid, tho rather scarce. The whole is 

 lined with the finest silk — not bee silk — for 

 very few other clothes are worn with this 

 dress. It will be noticed that the vital part 

 of the head is reinforced with a metal jack- 

 et. In summer, water or ice may be insert- 

 ed to keep everything comfortable. This 

 point may be readily ascertained by the 

 thermometer, T. 



i\^. B. — Take care that the escape be fitted 

 right side out. 



SOME CURIOUS ADVENTURES IN QUEEN INTRODUCTION 



BY J. H. TODD 



" The Dixie Bee " asks Mr. Todd or some 

 other advocate of the Simmins method of 

 introduction to explain " tlie advantage of 

 the darkness," and she mentions how queens 

 were introduced by the fasting method in 

 broad daylight. . 



The advantage of the darkness in intro- 

 ducing a queen is that the bees are quiet, 

 there are no robbers on the prowl, and the 

 bees are not expecting or looking for in- 

 truders. They are, therefore, less likely to 

 be suspicious of the queen than they Avould 

 be, perhaps, if the operation were done in 

 the day with possibly several robbers fol- 

 lowing the apiarist from hive to hive, and 

 making a dart for the combs whenever a 

 mat is raised. 



Of course, I dare say that, during a 

 honey-flow, the plan will work well in day- 

 light; but Ave can take many liberties in 

 such happy times that would cause no end 

 of trouble in a time of dearth. 



WERE CELLS STARTED IK SPITE OF THE PRES- 

 ENCE OF A VIRGIN? 



Since my article, p. 581, July 15, two 

 rather strange things have occurred. On 

 September 17 a hive with a very prolific 

 queen was so crowded with brood and hon- 

 ey that the bees started loafing. The queen 

 had been raised the previous autumn, and 

 was in her prime. Brood was placed in a 

 super above the excluder ; below were drawn 

 combs, one frame of brood and queen, the 

 intention being to divide on the Alexander 

 plan. 



I was unable to attend to this hive at the 

 proper time, and on October 2 I found 

 virgins hatcliing in the super. I destroyed 

 as many as I could find. The queen was 

 raismated, and I did not want her young as 

 mothers. One or two, however, were at 

 large. I found and killed one. 



On October 3 1 found my poor laying 

 queen outside the hive, just dying. Why? 



