THE AMERICAN APICULTURIST. 



185 



though young Italians, are not always 

 fairly prolific. If honey is l)eiug gath- 

 ered rapidly as well as pollen, the in- 

 terior of the hive may be enlarged, 

 and more cell room for brood given. 

 If I found the queen was prolific, I 

 should work the comljs in the brood- 

 chamber, just bee-space apart, as bees 

 won't seai up brood in deep cells, and 

 don't like to store honey or pollen in 

 shallow cells. At the same time, room 

 should be given in the surplus depart- 

 ment for stores, both of honey and 

 pollen. If this will not rectify the 

 matter, then break the colony up into 

 nuclei and run for a new strain of bees. 



2. It is useful to have a few surplus 

 queens on hand at all times, whenever 

 needed. The first part of this question 

 does not need an extended answer, as 

 It presumes a much desired state of 

 aft'airs. Queens may be kept easily 

 and safely in one of two ways, and the 

 conditions of the case will determine 

 which should be chosen. 



They may be kept in nuclei, and 

 when desired to use for increasing the 

 numl)er of swarms, it perhaps will be 

 the proper way to keep them. When 

 kept to supply losses, to supersede 

 failing queens, or for purpose of chang- 

 ing from one race to another, they can 

 best be kept in one of Alley's nursery 

 frames. This frame is so constructed 

 that it can be filled with queen cages, 

 and when desired a number of surplus 

 queens can be kept in a colony by in- 

 serting the frame of cages therein. I 

 have had but little experience in this 

 direction, but have found it to work 

 well in the two or three instances I 

 have tested. 



3. I do not know of any practical 

 method for keeping surplus queens 

 through the winter, and cannot see 

 that anything can be gained by so do- 

 ing. If all old queens and those wliose 

 powers are suspected of failing, are 

 superseded with young and vigorous 

 substitutes, before winter preparation 

 is made, there should be no necessity 

 for attempting to keep any surplus 

 queens over. The reasons for this are 

 many and various ; and if given in de- 

 tail would call for a complete exposi- 

 tion of the wintering problem, and 

 the matter also of spring dwindling. 

 I have wintered three-frame nuclei 

 safely on tlieir summer stands for the 

 purpose of preserving surplus queens, 

 and know of no better way of doing 

 the same. I do not, however, consider 

 it a "practical method," if by that 

 term is meant a safe and economical 

 plan. 



QUESTIONS BY E. M. 



1. Why do many persons, even in 

 New York, and especially why do some 

 in New England, engage in the busi- 

 ness — if it is a business — of producing 

 honey? In this country, and I suppose 

 that in most countries, there is one, 

 and only one, inspiring influence to 

 exertion. It is the dollar and a half 

 supposed to be just ahead, but the ev- 

 idence on both sides of us shows, or 

 seems to show, that honey, when it 

 sells at all, sells slowly, at low prices. 

 Why, then, does any one produce it? 



Good talkers seem al)le to sell bees 

 and queens at large profits, and I sup- 

 pose that beekeeping supplies sell at a 

 reasonable profit, at least. 



2. Do the multitude produce honey 

 because they are persuaded to do so, 

 and simply to furnish a market for 

 these things? 



3. Are not all thebee journalsin this 

 country published by dealers in bees, 

 queens and supplies? I do not know 

 that they are. but why should they not 

 be? 



I am ignorant, of course, or I would 

 not ask such questions, and in fact, I 

 do not know a queen bee from a male 

 wasp. But, if there is a little money 

 in it, I can sit up o'nights to learn. 



I have seen a number or two of your 

 journal. Yours is the best bee journal 

 in this country, is it not? 



]S!ew Haven, Ct., July 7, 1S8G. 



ANSWERS BY THE KDITOU. 



1 & 2. A majority of people who en- 

 gage in beekeeping are induced to do 

 so simply for the dollars and cents de- 

 rived from a well conducted apiary. 

 There are, however, but few people in 

 any state who devote their whole time 

 to bee culture; in fact, but few people 

 can make the keeping of bees, as a 

 business, a success. Even were more 

 disposed to engage in such business, 

 the locations are not numerous wiiere 

 beekeeping could be made profitable. 

 A large majority of those who are in- 

 terested in beekeeping are farmers 

 and mechanics. An apiary run with 

 care will give a good return for the 

 money invested. Not only does such 

 business furnish some income, but the 

 mechanic finds pleasure and recreation 

 as well. Tiie keeping of a few bees is 

 a most interesting and fascinating 

 study, and few who once engage in it, 

 even in a small way, ever give it up. 

 If you are a mechanic or a merchant, 

 by all means keep a few bees. 



