1881 



GLEANII^GS m BEE CULTUEE. 



225 



had no chance to build and ^yax up in old 

 tough comLs before the approach of cold 

 weather, as they usually do ; third, the long 

 Avinter, which gave them no aood opportuni- 

 ty to fly, for a period of nearly G months. I 

 am not (^uite sure in my convictions, 

 from the fact that others lost heavily, who 

 complied, so far as I can tell, with the lirst 

 of the above conditions, and also that some 

 wintered well whose bees were in as bad 

 shape, or nearly so, as mine. Another thing, 

 I do not know why those three fair colonies 

 came out better than almost a hundred 

 others. 



The above report is from myself, A. I. 

 Eoot, Editor of Gleanixgs. 



P. S.— I should feel agreat deal" badder,'' 

 but there are so many other sufferers in the 

 " same boat,'' that, some way, in one sense, 

 I rather rejoice at being among you, espec- 

 ially if my presence will in any way " en- 

 liven the gloom "' that seems to hover over 

 the greater part of the bee-keepers of our 

 land. 



P. S. No. 2.— I just want to say, that, with 

 God's help, I don't mean to be here another 

 spring. How is it with the rest of you,ljoysV 



I have fought bravely and long against the— what 

 1 am now persuaded— inevitable; but I was forced 

 to succumb at last, and came with feelings of indig- 

 nation and chagrin to the inhospitable door of Blast- 

 ed Hopes. I knocked; the door was opened with 

 alacrity. I stepped within : I saw enthroned upon a 

 throne built up of ruined homes and lives, of shat- 

 tered purposes and plans, of blighted prospects and 

 expectations, a monster in looks and attitude — 

 Blatitcd Hiypcs ! Why are so many bright hopes and 

 anticipations born within us, only to be crushed and 

 trodden to death by this fiend? 



In the summer of 1878 I was seduced, by tlattering 

 accounts published in your journal and other papers 

 to embark in the bee-kecpiug- business. I bought 

 six colonies of bees, in Langstroth hives, and win- 

 tered them successfully that winter, but did not get 

 any surplus honey. The 

 next winter was much the 

 same, and last summer was 

 worse than any previous 

 year, so that I had to feed 

 as late in the fall as the 

 '^'^ weather would permit. 

 When the first line day 

 of spring came this year I 

 went forth with buoyant 

 spirits to examine my 

 stock. I opened a hive ; not 

 a live bee in it. 1 went to 

 the next; it was in like con- 

 dition . My heart began to 

 Ei' smite within me. I went 

 Hf down the whole length of 

 my apiary with like result, 

 llp^ and, coming to the last, I 

 • sank down upon a box, 

 =^ overcome by despair. I 

 send you a sketch of my- 

 selt at this point of affairs, 



times, and is the only thing that can stop the fast- 

 flowing tears of despair. R. W. Rudney. 

 Dayton, Ohio, April 4, 1881. 



PECULIAKLY AGGRAVATING. 



About five-sixths of the bees here died this winter. 

 I had 7, and 5 died; and one of the others came out 

 and united with the other, and then they killed both 

 queens. That leaves me queenlcss. 



Noah Milleu. 



Bradford, Miami Co., Ohio, April 14, 1881. 



I do not think you will get to buy many bees in 

 this section of the State, unless they be the dead 

 ones, for there are more of that kind than the other; 

 but I suppose, you have enough of that class in Ohio, 

 though I hope they are not so plentiful as they are 

 around here. David C. Smith. 



Lewisville, Henry Co., Ind., March 2*i, 1881. 



Bad luck to me in wintering! My bees lost 70 out 



of 88, with prospect of losing more if cold weather 



continues much longer. The last six weeks has been 



death to them. I have lost over 50 within that time. 



Chaules E. Glaziek. 



Adams Center, Jetferson Co., N. Y., April 9, 1881. 



I know how it is, friend Charley. " I've 

 beenthar." 



" Busted " again ! One stand of bees left out of 2:1 

 in fall. That makes 136 colonies in 3 winters. Now, 

 you fellows who are taking the bee fever, just take 

 a look at my apiary; 100 little cedars, set of hives, 

 frames, boxes lying around ; dead bees, bare ground, 

 piles of snow and ice, 3 feet deep. The linden har- 

 vest last season lasted 3 or 4 days all told, and that 

 was the best of the year. No swarm of bees here 

 could make enough to last over winter. I fed over 

 300 lbs. in frames last summer. Heaviest snowstorm 

 of the season fell on the 19th. J. E. Jarrett. 



West Point, Iowa, March 17, 1881. 



blasted hopes. 



taken by my little daughter, who happened to be 

 looking out of the window. Do not frown when you 

 see the pipe; it gives me great comfort at such 



Never before, in the recollection of our old bee- 

 keepers, has there been a winter so detrimental to 

 our industrious little pets. There have been sea- 

 sons when the useful insects were few in number, 

 but never, previous to this date, have bees been so 

 nearly extinct as now in this vicinity. Last fall no 

 less than 3C0 colonies of the little follows decorated 

 and made happy the homes of our neighbors; but at 

 present about 293 colonies are no more. Apiarists 

 gave but little attention to the little honey-gatherers 

 last fall. Out of 30 good colonies, I have but one 

 feeble colony remaining to mourn the loss of their 

 deceased neighbors. E. J. Hinshaw. 



Lynn, Ind., April 1, 1881. 



After thinking I was doing a nice thing by feeding 

 up my weaker stocks of bees last fall for winter, 

 this spring's examination revealed the fact, that my 

 18 stocks were all dead but one. Your cartoon for 

 April represents me very correctly, meditating what 

 I should do with hives, besides some 35 new hives 

 over, not used, mostly filled in top story with sec- 

 tions, foundation starters, and tin separators. Truly 

 these are blasted hopes. The winter was so long 

 continued and cold, without any warm days for them 

 to fly, I feared the result. My bees ware all common 

 blacks, and I thinli I shall try again with Italians. I 

 should have said, however, that the bees were most- 

 ly short of stores. Horace Kingsbury. 



Lockport, Niagara Co., N. Y., April 15, 1881. 



