1881 



GLEANIKGS IX BEE CULTURE. 



499 



this time. T presume the two young queens 

 were daughters of the old one, and proba- 

 bly just become fertile. 



TIIEKMOMETERS. 



As there has been some complaint that 

 thermometers do not always behave with 

 their accustomed truthfulness, after a trip 

 through the mails, we wrote t;ie makers, and 

 here is a hint from them: — 



Your postal is received. In reply, we state that 

 the mercury in the tube sometimes becomes separa- 

 ted in transportation, but it can be united by turn- 

 ing- the thermometer upside down, and jarring the 

 mercury down so that it will go to the top; then take 

 it in the hand, and give a jrentle shake sidewise, and 

 it will unite. Please consider what a thermometer 

 is, and the price paid, and we think you will not be 

 dissatisfied. We have to handle every thermometer 

 over oj times before it is finished, and then sell at 8 

 or 10 cts. apiece. J. Kendall, & Co. 



New Lebanon, N. Y., Aug. 24, 1881. 



If I am correct.' 1 have succeeded in unit- 

 ing the meicaryiu all that have been re- 

 turned to us. 



UNSEALED BROOD FOR NEW SWARMS. 



During swarming last summer, I gave the new col- 

 onies a frame of unsealed brood; in every instance 

 the colony would start queen-cells, and swarm inside 

 of twelve days. During the present summer they 

 have acted in the same manner. Of courss, the 

 young swarms were large ones, issued from ;3-storj- 

 Simplicity hives. Was it the great quantity of bees 

 being shut down to one story that caused them to 

 swarm so soon? Wm. Parmelee. 



Bean Blossom, Ind., Aug. 13, 1881. 



Very likely the cause was as you state it, 

 friend P. 1 should always divide large 

 swarms, if I wanted to be sure they would 

 not swarm out : but very likely a"^ second 

 story given them would have had some ef- 

 fect in inducing them to stay. A second 

 story can be loaned a new swarm, where 

 they seem backward about all going inside, 

 when hist hived, and after a day or two, ta- 

 ken away safely. 



CARRYING .4. SWARM OF BEES, ON A LIMU, THREE 

 miles ON HORSEBACK. 



One day my father sent me on an errand about .5 

 miles from home, and when about 3 miles on my 

 journey I saw a nice lirge colony, a mile from any 

 house, clinging to the limb of a bush. My old love 

 returned, with a desire to possess this colony; but I 

 rode on, finished my errand, and tried to borrow a 

 sack to capture the bees in on my return, but failed; 

 but to my joy, there the bees still clung as I re- 

 turned. I was determined to have them, so I dis- 

 mounted, gently severed the limb on which they 

 clung, mounted my young spirited steed, and car- 

 ried them safely home, 3 miles away, still clinging to 

 the limb over my shoulder, and I hived them in an 

 old-fashioned gum. This is how I liecame the own- 

 er of my hrst colony. After that I was successful 

 in discovering bee-trees (wild colonies living in hol- 

 low trees', and would save the colonies until I was 

 the owner of several. 



In introducing a queen she escaped from the cage, 

 and soared aloft as far as the eye could see. I felt 

 apprehensive that she was gone, but sat quietly by 

 the colony, watching for her return. In the course 



of 20 or 30 minutes she came back and alighted upon 

 the cage in my hand. This time I succeeded in get- 

 ting her in the hive, and closed it. After a little I 

 looked in and found her completely "balled." I re- 

 leased and re-caged her, and after 36 hours she was 

 released and accepted. H. A. H.\lbert. 



Corsicana, Texas, Aug. 23, 1881. 



Most people seem to think a swarm of 

 Ijees must be conhned when they are to be 

 carried any distance, but I have "frequently 

 directed them to be carried in a market bas- 

 ket, upside down. A few days ago [ told 

 some one to cut off the limb, and bring it 

 along. From your experience, friend H., it 

 seems this was safe advice.— A queen will 

 usually come back to the cage she came out 

 of, I believe, if allowed to do so, and I think 

 many tine queens have been l3st, from a 

 want of knowledge of this fact. 



HONEY FROM CORN, ETC. 



I think friend Hutchinson meant me, in July No., 

 when he refers to that bee-keeper in his last No., 

 who lives not many miles from him, and I admit the 

 soundness of his remarks; but to tell the truth, I 

 am afraid it is not for want of time, but neglect and 

 waste of time with me; and then I have had but 3 

 years' experience in the bee business. Although I 

 lost two-thirds of my stock last winter, my number 

 is now good, with an outlay of $10.00 for 10 lbs. of 

 bees. I had 7 swarms May 1, and now have 31. I 

 would say to friend H., that we do not all of us have 

 the education and natural ability to put our bee 

 talk in writing that he has. 



Bees are now booming on buckwheat. They were 

 idle for 3 weeks after July 15th, except the pollen, 

 and some honey from corn. The question has been 

 asked, ia the back Nos. of Gleanings, if bees gath- 

 er honey from corn. Mine certainly have this year, 

 and if any of you will call on me, you shall have a 

 dish of it with some bread and butter to try it. I ex- 

 tracted 40 lbs. It is as light as white clover, but of 

 different flavor. M. D. York. 



MiUington, Tuscola Co., Mich., Aug. 13, 1881. 



If friend Hutchinson did mean you. friend 

 Y., you want to go to work and let him see 

 that your bees are not always a bill of ex- 

 pense. About that corn honey: Did the 

 bees get it from the common field corn, and 

 how did they act when they were gathering 

 itV It is not only interesting, but it is a 

 very valuable point. If we can raise honey 

 at the same time we raise corn, it will be a 

 pretty safe business ; and we know that vast 

 (luantities of saccharine matter, or grape 

 sugar, IS contained both in the stalk and ri- 

 pened grain. If we can get the bees to se- 

 cure the honey right direct from the waving 

 field, what a short cut it will be ! I think 

 this is one of the things that will 1)6 done, in 

 the next fifty years. 



GOOD THINGS IN UTAH. 



Last evening, at 5 o'clock, the Feet cage, queen, 

 and the accompanying bees, all came to hand in good 

 condition, only one bee dead. The candy seemed to 

 be quite dry. My wife put a few drops of water on 

 it, and the bees went for it like so many pigs. I in- 

 troduced according to directions. I think all is now 

 right. Bees are doing well here this season, as far 

 as I have learned. The Italians that I got of you last 

 season are doing finely. My old neighbor Prince is 



