GLEANINGS IN BKE CULTURE 



wild fire, for orders came with a rush. 

 There wei'e also a large number of repeat 

 orders from people who said that the honey 

 was the best they ever tasted. 



In the last two months I have received 

 over one hundred orders from one religious 

 paper, having but a small circulation. I 

 attribute this success to the fact that the 

 advertisement showed at a glance just what 

 would be sent — the two-quart screw-cap can. 

 This advertisement has not only sold honey 

 in these packages, but in ten-pound pails 

 and five-gallon cans. It has also sold comb 

 Iioney. 



A plan like this does not end in one 

 season. The j^eople are educated to eat 

 lioney, and I am sure that there are many 

 families to whom I have sent honey in this 

 way that have not been in the habit of 

 using honey heretofore. 



I am writing this in the hope that the 

 beekeeper who has produced a few thousand 

 pounds of table honey may have a way in 

 which he can get the most out of his crop, 

 and at the same time develop the home 

 market. 



Mechanic Falls, Me. 



MOVING A COLONY TO PREVENT 

 SWARMING 



BY J. D. HULL 



We have been producing comb honey only 

 for the last four or five years. Last season 

 we had eight out-apiaries besides the home 

 yard, the furthest being sixteen miles from 

 home, and the nearest about two miles. We 

 have three Metz cars that we use for travel- 

 ing, hauling supers, etc. We have one ear 

 fixed into a light truck. 



We try to get around to each yard every 

 five or six days during the swarming season, 

 and look into every colony that is strong- 

 enough for swarming. We do this by tip- 

 ping the hive up so we can look for queen- 

 cells in the bottom of the hive. If any such 

 cells are started, nine times out of ten we 

 find them on the bottom of the combs. 



We used to follow the shaken-swarm 

 plan, but have discarded it of late years, as 

 it took too much time and work. For the 

 last three or four years Ave have been prac- 

 ticing moving to stop SAvarming. When we 

 find a colony that has the swarming fever 

 we move it to a new stand and put one in 

 its place that has not got the swarming 

 fever, leaving all of the supers from the 

 colony that was getting ready to swarm on 

 the one we put in its place. If we can we 

 let two or more field forces enter the one 

 colony that has not got the swarming fever. 



We always put all of the supers on this last 

 colony with usually an extra empty one 

 or two on top. When the first super is one- 

 half to two-thirds full, the empty one is put 

 under it, and an empty one is always kept 

 on top. 



Last season was a fair one. We got about 

 tAvo cases to the colony, spring count, with 

 an increase of about 200 colonies. We put 

 500 in winter quarters last fall. Practically 

 all of the Avork thru the honey-flow and 

 swarming season Avas done by myself, as my 

 brother, who is in partnership Avith me, has 

 charge of the farm where we live. 



This way of treating colonies for SAvarm- 

 ing will usually stop them for about one 

 week. If I find the bees are getting ready 

 to swarm, on our next visit they are given 

 the same treatment again. This way takes 

 much less time than any Avay we have found 

 yet. In this way I Avork two, and frequent- 

 Jy three yards a day. 



Honesdale, Pa. 



THE DEATH SONG OF THE WORKER 

 BEE. 



BY GRACE ALLEN 



They Avill say I have died, but I know 



I have lived! Tho life fled 

 While I claimed it and loved it so, 



I shall love it until I am dead. 

 I have crowded it full of delight, 

 Of labor and zest and the flight 



Of dream-driven wings in the sun; 

 For lives that are yet to be 

 In the days that I never shall see, 



I haA'e thrilled to my work — and won. 



In the odorous heart of the hiA^e 



What days I have known! 

 The still-looking larvae so live — 



I nursed them vmtil they were grown; 

 Or, hanging so hushed by the wall, 

 I builded it waxen and tall; 



Then out thru the maze of the light — 

 For you, all j^ou coming ones, you! 

 Went plunging and veering so true 



To the flowers out of siglit. 



SAvift workers, who hum as you pass, 



I haA^e crawled off to die; 

 Here, out of your way, in the grass, 



With wings feebly fluttered, I lie. 

 All ragged these wings now and worn, 

 But what dreams-coming-true they have 

 borne 



Home — thru the sun! 

 Ah, Death! tho you silence my song, 

 I shall live — I shall live ages long 



Thru the deeds I have done! 



