1881. 



THE AMERICAN BEE JOURNAL. 



37 



Pure Liquid Honey in Glass Jars. 



By express I send, carriage paid, sam- 

 ples of absolutely pure honey prepared 

 without addition or adulteration, so 

 that it will never candy. 1 have prepared 

 honey in this way for the past eighteen 

 months, putting it to the severest test 

 and have yet to learn of a single case 

 where it fermented ox congealed. I wish 

 you would try to candy these samples it' 

 you can — expose them to the sun light, 

 or put them in the coldest place you can 

 find— only keep the bottles corked, ex- 

 cept when you are testing its purity. 



To practical bee-keepers engaged in 

 marketing honey it is hardly necessary 

 to say a word as to the importance of 

 this discovery. The popular demand is 

 for comb honey — and the only way for 

 distributing comb honey sound and 

 attractive, is to cut it up and pack it in 

 glass jars. Heretofore a prejudice has 

 existed against honey packed in this 

 way, because so much glucose had to be 

 used to keep it limpid, but now, that 

 only pure honey will be used, these 

 packages will fast become popular. I 

 claim the following advantages : 



1. Safe distribution of comb honey. 



2. As large quantities of extracted 

 honey will be required to pack the comb, 

 in this way. an outlet will thus be made 

 for the extracted as well as the comb. 



3. Where combs are cut up, frames 

 can be used instead of section boxes. 



4. It will shut out glucose more 

 effectual thitn legislation. 



5. Cut comb honey in flint-glass jars 

 is the most beautiful way of putting it 

 up. It suits the dealer, it pleases the 

 consumer, because it is handsome, be- 

 cause the package will not leak, because 

 the honey will not congeal, and because 

 it can be guaranteed to be pure. 



I have avoided saying much about 

 this while testing it, but now I consider 

 it a success. W. M. Hogb. 



New York, Jan. 17,1881. 



These samples came safely to hand, 

 in a patent "pliable metal envelope," 

 covered with paper outside— a really 

 nice thing. 



The samples of honey appear very 

 nice and clear, but we have had no time 

 to get them analyzed, to test their 

 purity. They show no signs of granu- 

 lation, however. 



One of the most reliable tests for pure 

 honey is its granulation — and consu- 

 mers are being educated to suspect all 

 that is not candied in the fall and win- 

 ter months. 



The popular prejudice is rightfully 

 directed against comb honey in glass 

 jars — knowing that nearly all of such is 

 surrounded with a vile compound of 

 which glucose is the chief ingredient — 

 this Mr. Hoge will have to overcome if 

 he ever makes his plan successful, but 

 we fear it will be a long and tedious 

 undertaking. 



Three years ago, we took some of our 

 honey from melilot clover to a chemist 

 and had it clarified. This we took to 

 several Conventions in this country, 

 and also to England, Scotland, Wales, 

 France, Switzerland, Italy. Austria, 

 Germany and Belgium, and exhibited it 

 to the most noted apiarists in the World. 

 It is now on our desk, and is as yet not 

 candied. We expect Mr. H's plan is 

 similar — and if so, of course the honey 

 is pure. Ours was only subjected to the 

 "water bath," and "percolated." We 

 had intended to experiment further 

 with this method, but a multitude of 

 cares and duties, public and private, 

 have prevented us from doing so. We 

 are glad that Mr. Hoge has now taken 

 the matter up, and he is deserving the 

 thanks of honey producers, for any 

 efforts tending to putting a stop to the 

 adulterations, now so much practiced. 



LONDON JOURNAL OF HORT. 



Feeding Bees with Whisky.— Mr. 



Frank Cheshire is one of Englaua's 

 most scientific and practical apiarists, 

 whom we had the pleasure of becoming 

 acquainted with while in England in 

 1879. lie makes the following comments 

 upon an item which was given on page 

 13 of the Bee Journal : 



"Different kinds of sugar, such as 

 sucrose, glucose, and lactose, agree in 

 containing carbon, hydrogen, and oxy- 

 gen, the latter two in' the proportions in 

 which they form water. This sugar 

 becomes the heat-giver to the bee in 

 the following manner :— Air containing 

 oxygen is taken in by the bees through 

 spiracles' (the breaking openings) in 

 the sides of wlTich are fourteen in num- 

 ber, and this oxygen is by degrees 

 united with the carbon of the sugar, 

 which is being carried about in solution 

 in the fluids of the insect. The carbon 

 thus becomes a part of a gaseous pro- 

 duct—carbon dioxide, which is thrown 

 out from the breathing tubes (tracheae) 

 at every contraction of the abdomen. 

 The union of oxygen and carbon is al- 

 ways attended with a great evolution 

 o J heat, and is, indeed, the sole cause of 

 the fervor of a charcoal tire, and mainly 

 gives intensity to one of coal. Heat, 

 then, is developed within the bee's body 

 as this chemical union progresses, and 

 during the winter each insect plays its 

 part in keeping up the temperature of 

 the cluster. It must be added to save 

 misconception, that in certain circum- 

 stances the organized tissue of the in- 

 sect may itself unite with oxygen and 

 contribute the heat formation, but our 

 argument will be made the clearer if 

 this point be left out of view. 



" We have now to consider the physi- 

 ological effects of alcohol to ascertain 

 whether the bee would be likely to be 

 assisted by it in keeping out the cold, 

 and here we must argue from its well- 

 ascertained action upon men and some 

 of the higher animals ; but in this we 

 shall be justified, since morphia, strych- 

 nia, aconite, and some other drugs are 

 well known to microscopists to influ- 

 ence creatures even so low in the scale 

 as infusoria and rotifera after the same 

 manner as they effect those with the 

 most complex organization. Number- 

 less experiments upon men, dogs, and 

 pigeons have clearly shown that alchol 

 hinder* the union of oxygen with carbon 

 in the vital fluids, and in consequence 

 a smaller amount of heat is produced 

 (luring its presence in the blood, while 

 it follows that less carbon dioxide is 

 thrown out. Applying this to the bee, 

 it would follow as a matter of course that 

 it would be far less able to withstand 

 the rigors of winter with it than with- 

 out it. Those who know anything of 

 the history of our arctic expeditions will 

 recognize the complete corroboration 

 wliich these give of the truth of this po- 

 sition. That alcohol produces a feeling 

 of flush is well known, but the cause is 

 the partial paralysis of the pneumo-gas- 

 tric nerve, the duty of which is to hold 

 in check the minute blood vessels. The 

 check removed, the blood vessels stretch 

 out under the pressure of the contained 

 blood; and a general surface blush is 

 the result; but this no more produces 

 warmth than would turning the hot in- 

 side of a manure heap to the surface 

 warm it. Indeed it is an act of cooling, 

 in which heat that before was deeply 

 seated is made to display itself, but is at 

 the same time lost by dissipation in the 

 surrounding air. Those who care to 

 look to the Lancet for August 25th, 1866, 

 will find details of some remarkable ex- 

 periments tried in University College 

 Hospital, putting this matter in the 

 clearest light, and showing that alcohol 

 immediately after the first flush is a 

 most persistent and powerful depresser 

 of temperature. But since the struc- 

 ture of the circulation of insects is very 

 unlike our own, it is chiefly important 

 for us hore to note that its action is due 



to ils lowering of nerve, energy, than 

 which nothing would be more likely to 

 iinlil bees lor battling with the adverse 



conditions of a protracted winter. That 



alcohol may give a Hash as it were none 



will deny ; but even this it does not do 

 because it gives strength, but because 

 it renders a further paying-out of our 



resources possible ; but as they are paid 

 out we are left poorer, weaker, than be- 

 fore, hence the excitement brings ex- 

 haustion, and the higher the one the 

 deeper the other. Alcohol is an irri- 

 tant, and therefore a waster of vital 

 energy, and so the very reverse of that 

 needed by wintering bees, every power 

 of which should by all means be hus- 

 banded in order that returning spring 

 may find them with a large balance of 

 energy still standing to their account. 



" Three powerful reasons, amongst se- 

 veral others unmentioned, are now be- 

 fore us, eaeh one by itself sufficient to 

 condemn alcohol as a part of bee food. 

 We find it hinders oxidation and pre- 

 vents heat being developed. It lowers 

 nerve tone, and so in the end weakens. 

 It irritates and therefore exhausts, 

 while, so far as I have been able to dis- 

 cover, it does not bring us for these 

 evils one countervailing advantage. 



"Good indeed would it be for many 

 if the old unscientific delusion that al- 

 cohol keeps out the cold were altogether 

 dispelled; but I write because I am 

 deeply convinced that it will be good 

 for our. bees when every bee-keeper 

 knows that proteclion keeps in the heat 

 and that good honest sugar is the right 

 thing to produce it." 



GLEANINGS. 

 Lime for Wintering.— Mr. C. Lover 

 Reistertown, Md., remarks as follows: 



"This will be a hard winter on bees 

 in most parts of the country, on account 

 of lack of good stores, and mostly old 

 bees — a poor prospect certainly. We 

 must help the little fellows, or make up 

 our minds to lose them. Last winter 

 I kept 10 colonies warm, dry, and in 

 good health, by chemical means; i.e., 

 by a generous use of quicklime. My 

 other colonies had the dysentery, and 

 every one of the chaff hives were mil- 

 dewed and wet, in spite of three dryings 

 during the winter ; while the 10 cushions 

 used on the hives with lime, were as dry 

 and clean as when first made. No one 

 will believe the amount of water quick- 

 lime takes up by chemical affinity, un- 

 less they try the experiment for them- 

 selves ; therefore, take about 1 quart of 

 it in a basin, and ?£ pint of water, which 

 pour slowly on the lime, stiring well all 

 the time during the slicing, and if the 

 lime was properly made you will have a 

 perfectly dry powder, still capable of 

 absorbing more water before becoming 

 damp. The action of the lime is three- 

 fold : 



1. It absorbs moisture. 



2. It absorbs carbon dioxide (car- 

 bonic acid). 



3. It gives out a large amount of 

 heat. 



This it does slowly, and in exact pro- 

 portion as it absorbs the breath of the 

 bees ; i.e., much moisture, rapid chemi- 

 cal action, much heat. What is still 

 more strange, this is dry heat, not moist. 

 This absorbing action is so slow, and 

 the amount of heat so small, that noth- 

 ing but scientific instruments, hygro- 

 meter and thermometer, and the bees 

 can appreciate the meaning of a con- 

 stant, mild, dry, pure atmosphere. 

 What is the use in making the bees use 

 up their honey, worth 15c. per lb., to 

 develop the requiste heat to keep them 

 alive, when it can be done with lime, 

 worth less than one cent per lb., and 

 which is almost as valuable after this 

 slaking as before V Do not believe me 

 when I say, not one of the 10 colonies 

 above mentioned used over 15 lbs. of 

 honey (all they had) in wintering out of 

 doors, even if it was a mild winter, for 

 I can hardly realize it myself, even when 

 I see the figures in my yard-book now 

 before me. 



When you try the experiment of slak- 

 ing the lime, notice the heat developed, 

 but not with you finger (unless for a 

 cartoon). I used the lime in a feeder 

 a la Van Deusen, made flat and laid 

 broadside next the bees under cushion ; 

 this was troublesome, requiring fre- 



quent refilling. 1 will use, this winter, 

 on my weak colonies, a box made like 

 your chaff-cushion division board, and 

 to hold about halt a peek of lime. 



Chloride of calcium (calcined) will 

 absorb much more water than lime, and 

 I expect much from if for these same 

 purposes; but it will have to be con- 

 tained in a water-proof vessel as it is 

 one of the most delinquent substances 



I know of. Abseenee of actual expri- 

 ment is the only reason that prevents 

 me from recommending this substance 



to the careful bee-keeper, although I am 

 certain it would be a success. 



MISCELLANEOUS. 



iSTOne of the most exquisite and 

 ancient beverages of Poland, had been 

 elevated even to a drink of the gods in 

 times before Christ. More accurate 

 statements in regard to the manufacture 

 of" this drink, date already from the 

 year 1067 ; at that period it was known 

 under the name of '" Sycera," and was 

 considered, according to popular tradi- 

 tion, as a remedy possessing a miracu- 

 lous power. The preparation is very 

 simple ; pure honey is used with a cer- 

 tain quantity of water, which is boiled 

 and after that left to ferment. The 

 older mead becomes, the better it is, 

 and has a taste similar to Malaga or 

 Marsala wine ; in using it for abdomi- 

 nal disorders it has a very soothing 

 effect, but when taken in larger quanti- 

 ties it will produce heat and stupefac- 

 tion. — German Paper. 



The American Bee Journal is 

 the leading apicultural journal in the 

 Union ; was heretofore published as a 

 monthly octavo, but now it is changed 

 into a four-column weekly quarto, and 

 from this time forward will be published 

 in that form. The Bee Journal en- 

 joys the enviable reputation of having 

 been the first periodical exclusively de- 

 voted to apiculture in America, and it 

 is at this time the only weekly paper 

 devoted to that specialty in the world ! 

 It is a remarkably clean and clear print, 

 on fine calendered white paper, and we 

 commend it to our patrons and the pub- 

 lic. Each number will contain eight 

 pages (32 per month) at least an inch 

 longer and wider than the Farmer, and 

 well filled with the most ably conducted 

 bee literature in this or any other coun- 

 try ; and at the end of the year its pa- 

 trons will possess 416 pages of the choi- 

 cest and most reliable bee literature ex- 

 tant. We know from many considera- 

 tions that this " departure" will be ac- 

 ceptable to the old patrons of the Bee 

 Journal (and their names ought to be 

 " legion") not only in America, but 

 wherever the English language can be 

 read, or bee culture pursued. It affords 

 us unalloyed pleasure to notice these in- 

 dications of progress on the part of our 

 contemporaries, and especially those 

 engaged in illuminating the realm of 

 " beedom." — Farmer, Lancaster, Pa. 



OS" Is there any joy greater than that 

 which is experienced by one person 

 when he helps another V There are 

 some "men so low down that it is said 

 they can not bear to have the smell of 

 their clover go into the highway for 

 fear that others will get something that 

 belongs to them without paying for it ; 

 others are said to begrudge bees the 

 honey which they take from their flowers 

 without leaving anything behind ; but 

 that is, doubtless, imaginary. A man 

 whose heart does not respond to an act 

 of doing good or giving happiness is no 

 longer a man. lie has passed the line 

 of manhood, and should be ranked 

 among beasts. — Patron's Guide. 



igTAt the Chicago meeting of the Na- 



j tional Society we were requested to get 



I photographs of the leading apiarists, to 



j sell to those who wanted them. We can 



now supply the following at 25 cents 



i each : Dzierzon, the Baron of Ber- 



lepsch, and Langstroth. The likeness 



of Mr. Langstroth we have copied, is one 



furnished by his daughter, who says, 



"itis the only one ever taken when he 



was in good health and spirits." We 



are glad to be able to secure one of such 



a satisfactory nature. 



