566 



GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTURE. 



May 1 



cover this feeding-line so completely that it 

 would make it unnecessary for them to strug- 

 gle against each other. The larger the api- 

 ary, the longer, or perhaps more feeders of 

 the kind should be used. At our home yard 

 I should estimate that it would require some 

 three or four such feeders. 



But for queen-rearing purposes, and espe- 

 cially where I did not care to fill up the 

 hives for winter, but only desired to keep 

 the bees out of mischief— those bees that 

 are inclined to poke their noses into every 

 thing when a hive is opened, greatly to the 

 annoyance of the bees of the colony or the 

 operator — I should prefer the elevated 

 square can with holes punched in the top. 

 Three or four of these cans will keep all of 

 these stray stragglers busy, and yet there 

 will not be any considerable quantity of syr- 

 up fed, because of the fact that it takes 

 these busybodies a long time to get their 

 honey- sacs filled. 



I particularly indorse Mr. Scholl's state- 

 ment that the outdoor feeder should be lo- 

 cated remote from the bee-yard. First, I 

 would locate the feeder close to the yard, 

 then when the bees got well started I would 

 move it slowly to a distance of perhaps a 

 quarter of a mile. 



COMB-HONEY CANARDS NOT DEAD YET. 



The comb-honey canards continually bob 

 up here and there to disturb the general 

 public mind concerning the genuineness of 

 all comb honey. As I have said repeatedly 

 I say again, I hope our subscribers will 

 either go personally or write to the offend- 

 ing publisher, as a statement from a local 

 bee-keeper will have much more weight 

 than a letter from a manufacturer of bee- 

 keepers' supplies. Some of these publish- 

 ers imagine that we bee editors and supply- 

 makers are in collusion with the so-called 

 manufacturers of comb honey, and are try- 

 ing to cover up the fact, and for that reason 

 they take our statement with a grain of 

 salt. We shall, of course, be glad to be ad- 

 vised of any published statement touching 

 on the defamation of the honey business. 

 But the first thing to do is to follow the 

 case up yourself immediately. 



PROSPECTS FOR THE COMING SEASON; PRICES 

 ON HONEY FOR 1906. 



The past winter has not been a severe one 

 on bees, taking the country as a whole. 

 Some particular sections have lost heavily ; 

 but as a rule there have been no great loss- 

 es, although the aggregate of colonies that 

 came through will be somewhat lighter in 

 strength owing to the severe March weather 

 that prevailed throughout the northern belt 

 of States. April opened up well every- 

 where. Brood-rearing, so far as we can as- 

 certain, has progressed finely, and indica- 

 tions are that bees will more than make up 

 for their setback in March. In fact, it has 

 been one of the prettiest Aprils in our local- 

 ity that we have ever had. 



So far as reported, the prospects in South- 

 ern California are good, there having been 



good rain3. In the central part of that great 

 State conditions are likewise favorable al- 

 though it seldom has a failure. 



The prospects for clover and basswood in 

 the Northern States were never better. 

 The warm winter, the large amount of pre- 

 cipitation, and the heavy snows in March, 

 have given the young clovers a great boost. 



Prices on honey for this season ought to 

 rule strong, however, even if we do get a 

 good crop of clover and basswood, for we 

 have indisputable evidence now that the 

 year 1905 was about the poorest one for 

 honey on record both for Eastern and West- 

 em honey as well. Indeed, we happen to 

 know that one buyer actually cornered the 

 market on Western honey. Save one or 

 two stray cars, he bought all there was in 

 sight. There never was a year before when 

 that would have been possible. This honey 

 has all been disposed of, and the markets 

 are in fine condition for the new crop. 



If bee keepers everywhere will keep up 

 prices, or, I may say, if they will take a 

 bee-journal and know the ruling prices, the 

 market would not be depressed by some 

 small producers dumping in little dabs here 

 and there in quantities just sufficient to 

 create a downward tendency in prices. 



It may seem like a selfish suggestion, but 

 it is nevertheless true that those who do 

 take a bee-paper should urge all others in 

 the business to do likewise, if for nothing 

 more than simply to be in touch with the 

 great market centers. 



SMALL RETAIL HONEY-PACKAGES. 



Our advertising man, Mr. T. P. Hallock, 

 recently called on Mr. 0. L Hershiser, in 

 Buffalo, and at that time Mr. Hershiser 

 fully explained his method of selling his 

 honey. Mr. Hallock, after returning, read 

 Mr. Hershiser's article and desires to add 

 the following: 



What Mr. Hershiser says on p. 575 should be carefully 

 noted by every bee-keeper who is looking for help in 

 solving the marketing problem. This plan of putting 

 up honey in a package just large large enough for con- 

 sumption at one meal by the average family is quite a 

 business scheme. Some people are afraid to have hon- 

 ey two meals in succession, and yet always keep a little 

 of it in the house. By putting it up as Mr. Hershiser 

 does, the consumer must buy immediately after he has 

 eaten. The packer's label and style of jar will be fresh 

 in his mind, and thus the packer will be benefited. 

 There is a good sound business reason in this plan, and 

 it will be worth looking into for you. 



The editor has been ' ' playing with ' ' an 

 incubator. Chickens? Yes, I've got 'em, 

 and some "experience" besides. If I had 

 room I'd tell about it. 



SAVE THE STEPS. 



In this issue, in Mr. Doolittle's series of 

 special articles, you will note that he has a 

 definite plan, and every thing has been 

 thought out with the view of saving steps 

 and time. Note exactly how he maneuvers 

 in even so comparatively unimportant a mat- 

 ter as mowing grass in the bee-yard. You 

 will see by the diagram in his article how he 

 plans to save steps. 



