1881. 



THE AMERICAN BEE JOURNAL. 



291 



Ions run, we must have somewhere, a 

 fountain of purity. We have got it 

 in Jones' islands, and nowhere else 

 at present. I'robablv other similar 



establishments "ill he started, hut it 

 Will take monev and pluck to do it. 



1 predict that the price of absolutely 

 pure queens will rise in the market, 

 instead of falling. It will he as with 



short-horns among cattle; notwith- 

 standing the multiplication of this 

 breed of cattle, pure-bred specimens 

 from choice families were never so 

 high in the market as they are to day. 

 It will he so with absolutely pure-bred 

 bees. Unless we discover how to 

 mate queens in confinement (which 1 



for one am not sanguine about), our 

 colonies will deteriorate, and we. shall 

 have to breed up from time to time, 

 from a source of infallible purity. 



I think I detect a little weakening 

 in Mr. Jones. He says he would not 

 go on with this thins but for the de- 

 termination to have the very best 

 stock in his own apiary. Every other 

 advanced bee-keeper will form the 

 same resolve. We cannot afford to 

 let Mr. Jones get discouraged ; at any 

 rate, not until somebody else is pre- 

 pared to take his place. 



From a careful inspection, both of 

 his breeding and home stock, I think 

 he has got it to a high pitch of excel- 

 lence. He must be patted on the back 

 and cheered onward. We cannot af- 

 ford to recede. 



If I were Mr. Jones, I should be 

 willing, for a time, to take some of 

 my pay in the honor of the thing. He 

 is playing a lone hand which must 

 win, and there is a card up his sleeve 

 called Apia dnrsuta, that is pretty cer- 

 tain to be a strong one when he gets 

 it into the game, which he is deter- 

 mined to do, regardless of cost. Every 

 true apiarist will say, "Success to 

 him ! " 



TIIE COMING BEE. 



It is too soon to predict what this 

 will be. We shall probably get it by 

 judicious crossing. The short-horn, 

 which now leads the cattle tribes, was 

 obtained by a series of crosses and 

 breeding for points, till valuable char- 

 acteristics got lixed. 



We shall develop the bee of the fu- 

 ture in the same way. There will be 

 careful comparison, and the "survi- 

 val of the fittest," until we reach the 

 acme. At present, the Holy Laud 

 bees and their crosses are without 

 doubt, the regal race. For prolifi- 

 cacy, hardiness, industry, gentleness, 

 they are A 1. There are strains of 

 Italians that are not far in the rear, 

 and are well worthy of perpetuation. 

 1 am not enamored of the Cyprians, 

 whatever their other good qualities 

 mav be ; their temper is unamiable. 



1 had the pleasure of seeing a Cyp- 

 rian colony make Mr. Jones beat a 

 hasty retreat. It was a pleasure, be- 

 cause he redicules my veil, which 

 enables one to sla id their ground, 

 while he was forced to llee. We do 

 not yet know what hybridization will 

 accomplish, nor has Apis dorsnta j'ei 

 appeared on the scene. The editor of 

 the American Bee Journal has 

 proclaimed A/iis Americana the com- 

 ing bee. But. Mr. Newman. " hide a 

 wee." Possibly, Apis Canadensis will 

 win the laurels! I will even forgive 

 length of dagger, if Apis dorsata will 

 bring us length of ligula. The com- 

 ing bee must gather the honey crop 

 ofthe red clover for us. Then, how 

 we shall revel in liquid sweetness I 



MISCELLANEOUS REMARKS. 



Any one who goes through these 

 breeding apiaries as I have done, will 

 not fail to perceive points of distinc- 

 tion among the 3 great races, now he- 

 fore the apicultural world. I am in- 

 clined to think the Palestine race the 

 bee primeval, and I subscribe to Mr. 

 Jones' eloquent outburst, which I sus- 

 pect he was rehearsing for the next 

 convention, somewhat on this wise: 



" Behold, the bee which the Lord 

 God made when he created the heav- 

 ens and the earth : the bee that stored 

 honey in the carcass of Sampson's 

 lion ;"the bee that made Canaan a land 

 flowing with milk and honey; the bee 

 that gathered the tempting sweet, 



which nearly cost Jonathan his life; 

 the bee that buzzed around King 

 David; the bee that fed John the Bap- 

 tist ; the bee that furnished honey 

 comb for the risen Saviour's meal, be- 

 side the sea of Tiberias," etc. 



My visit to the islands has impressed 

 me with the importance of raising 

 high-class drones. I never saw such 

 handsome fellows, as were many of 

 those delegated to perform hymeneal 

 service at this breeding establish- 

 ment. 



Mr. Jones, in a quiet way, is pay- 

 ing a large amount of attention to 

 drone-rearing, and I think he is right. 

 In breeding other stock, the import- 

 ance of securing the best males is 

 fully recognized. I doubt not we 

 shall And that the same law holds 

 good in apiculture. 



Finally, there are several points 

 connected with the work that is going 

 on at these islands, which may litly 

 engage the best thoughts of the as- 

 sembled wisdom at the approaching 

 annual meeting of the North Ameri- 

 can Bee- Keepers' Association. 



I only wish that every member 

 could visit these islands in advance of 

 the meeting. That being impossible. 

 I hope this narration may do some- 

 thing toward producing the impres- 

 sion, that a most important enter- 

 prise is in progress, which we shall do 

 well to promote in every practicable 

 and reasonable way. 



Listowel, Out. 



American Farmer. 



September Work in the Apiary, 

 c. n. LAKE. 



If no surplus honey is stored in the 

 boxes early this month, remove them 

 and put on the honey boards, mats, 

 or top covering to frames. Usualh 

 the honey flow is great in many local- 

 ities during this and part of nexi 

 month, and oft-times the unfinished 

 sections and combs in the super-boxes 

 will be readily tilled up with honej 

 from the fall flowers. In such loca- 

 tions it is advisable to leave at least 

 one box in position, to be looked at 

 occasionally, and if occupied by the 

 bees and the appearance of newly 

 gathered honey, increase their storing 

 capacity by adding one or more boxes 

 containing the unfinished combs as 

 they will be occupied, while new foun 

 dation or empty frames will scarcely 

 be looked at by the bees. 



Drouths prevail in many localities, 

 and the bees show no disposition to 

 visit the fields in search of nectar. 

 Feed sparingly in such localities, and 

 regularity every night, and keep the 

 entrances of .ill weak colonies con 

 traded that no robbing may take 

 place. Look through every hive care 

 fully, and know their exact condition 

 by the middle of the month. If not 

 at least 2U lbs. of honey sealed in the 

 combs, feed during the latter days to 

 the required amount; 2o pounds to a 

 prosperous colony is all that is re- 

 quired inordinary winters. Noqueen- 

 less colonies should be kept beyond 

 tli is month in any case, unless where 

 fertile queens are expected to be in- 

 troduced. As queens are usually 

 cheap at this season, it is a good time 

 to re-queen. Young laying queens 

 introduced during this month will, if 

 properly managed, build up colonies, 

 strong in young bees, to go into win- 

 ter quarters. 



Keep no old queens ; a young, vigor- 

 ous queen will build up much faster 

 for winter than queens known to be 

 over 8 and 4 years of age. Equalize 

 bv taking brood from the extra strong 

 and giving to the weak; but be care- 

 ful and give the weak no more than 

 they can cover and raise, or they will 

 perish, and you will be at a loss. 



Great care is required in building 

 up small colonies to winter. To unite 

 small colonies, smoke them well ; then 

 sprinkle thoroughly with sweetened 

 water, scented with peppermint, anise 

 or bergamot; shake the bees alto- 

 gether into an empty box. Take the 

 combs containing all the brood, and 

 those with the most honey to till the 

 hive. Pour out the bees before the 



newly prepared hive; sprinkle again; 

 when all are in, set the hive about, 

 equal distance between where the two 

 hives formerly stood. 



It is the safest to cage the queen for 

 21 hours, as the strange bees might at- 

 tack her; but after they miss their 

 own, they will readily take to and pro- 

 tect their '• stranger mother." Make 

 all preparations this month for the 

 winter; prepare your top picking, 

 mats, quilts, col) boxes, chaff cush- 

 ions, or whatever you have decided to 

 use, and have all in readiness for the 

 time coming. 



Remember the essentials of success- 

 ful wintering is doing early what 

 should be done, and then perfect quiet. 

 From the sad lesson of the past win- 

 ter many have '" determined not to be 

 caught that way again." See to it 

 early, then, or a like experience may 

 be the result. 



Attend the fairs and examine the 

 bee departments; and contribute to 

 the same, thereby encouraging and 

 stimulating this branch of industry. 

 Much valuable information can be ob- 

 tained by a close inspection of the va- 

 rious contributions. Attend all the 

 conventions, when convenient, and 

 get up " Bee Keepers' Clubs," if pos- 

 sible, in every neighborhood, where 

 hut even a few are engaged in the 

 pursuit, and much information will 

 he gathered from this source, during 

 ihe many winter evenings pleasantly 

 spent in discussions. 



Subscribe for the bee periodicals, if 

 vou are not already a subscriber, and 

 read carefully the various reports of 

 our most successful bee-keepers. Pro 

 lit by their experience in wintering 

 and the general management, and 

 your success will be sure to follow, 

 lint go into winter quarters with only 

 strong colonies, with vigorous queens. 



'•Keep all colonies strong."— Langsti otti. 



Baltimore, Md. 



Bee Keepers' Guide. 



Co-operation Necessary. 



GEORGE W. JIOUSE. 



As compared with other branches of 

 industry. Apiculture has been sadly 

 neglected, as far as the marketing of 

 our products is concerned. It is true 

 that much progress has been made 

 during the past few years in putting 

 our products upon the markets in the 

 most desirable shape, and that too, so 

 as to attract attention and tempt the 

 consumer to pin chase, until at pres- 

 ent American honey is finding its way 

 on the tables of many thousands of 

 families, where until recently its util- 

 ity and value was wholly unknown. 

 Thus we are keeping pace with the 

 times and other kindred pursuits. 



Our various publications devoted to 

 apiculture, have been the mediums 

 and benelicial factors in bringing this 

 about, and to their editors, American 

 apiarists owe a vole of thanks, if 

 nothing more. 



Now that all this has been accom- 

 plished, it is our duty to put forth our 

 energies ill other directions, viz: "Se- 

 curing accurate statistical reports," 

 and ''The concentration of our pro- 

 ducts on the various markets." To 

 accomplish this, will require much dil- 

 igent and earnest work. We must 

 have the aid of all our periodicals and 

 associations throughout the country. 

 In fact each and every one should 

 work understanding^ and co-opera- 

 tively. 



Co-operation, and a unity of action 

 are the monstrous mainsprings of 

 power and progress. Associated ef- 

 fort is destined to revolutionize the 

 business operations of the world. Is 

 there one who has failed to notice the 

 wonderful results that have been ac- 

 complished by associated action, and 

 a combination of interests. 



Think of the astounding results that 

 have been accomplished by the asso- 

 ciated system of dairymen. What co- 

 operation has done for dairying and 

 other branches of agriculture, it may 

 also accomplish for apiculture. But 

 there must be a commencement. 

 Then let us all apply ourselves dili- 



gently to the task before ns. until we 

 have Surmounted the obstacles, and 

 have placed apicultural products on 

 all equal, or a higher footing (as com- 

 pared with other branches of illdus 

 try), and unfurl our banner. 



But it is important to consider the 

 barriers to be surmounted, before 

 success can be achieved. In the past, 

 many bee-keepers have been in the 

 practice of sending their honey to 

 hundreds of commission houses in our 

 large markets. A great many times 

 consignments lind their way into the 

 hands of linns making specialties of 

 butter and cheese, potatoes, and grain 

 or Hour and feed, and in nearly every 

 such case you will find that honey 

 piled up outside the door, begging for 

 sale; and why? Because they have 

 never handled honey; they do not 

 know its market value, and they do 

 not want it sitting around where it 

 will surely get broken by the carmen 

 that are wheeling in and out such vast 

 quantities of produce. Now what are 

 the results from this state of things? 

 The firm not having the facilities for 

 handling honey do not want it around 

 in the way. It must be sold at once, 

 or they will quote it as nominal. A 

 buyer comes along, and about the fol- 

 lowing conversation will take place: 

 " Wish to buy?" 



Buyer : ''Perhaps, if prices suit." 

 Commission Merchant: "What is 

 it worth to you ? Make me an offer." 

 The offer is made and the honey 

 sold at the buyer's own price. The 

 linn take their commission, etc., and 

 the sacrifice is made at the producer's 

 loss. 



All this is wrong ; such transactions 

 are the causes for the depression in 

 our large markets, which work ruin 

 and disastrous results to the producer, 

 while he himself is the one at fault. 

 The buyer passing along the street in 

 our large city is amazed at the large 

 offerings in honey. He thinks there 

 is a heavy yield in the country, and 

 the markets are being glutted with a 

 flood of honey. While if the same 

 amount of honey was confined to 2 or 

 3 good business houses making a spe- 

 cialty of our products, the buyer would 

 be making inquiries for honey, and 

 not afraid to liny at good fair prices, 

 because the offerings would not be so 

 free, thus having a tendency of de- 

 pressing the markets. Furthermore, 

 when we can concentrate our honey, we 

 shall be able to sell for cash, and we 

 shall see buyers traveling the country 

 to purchase it, as they do now with 

 butler, cheese, and other products. 

 The buyer would feel safe in pur- 

 chasing, because he would be confi- 

 dent that our products would not be 

 scattered among the many various 

 com mission houses, who could cut the 

 prices at the producer's expense. The 

 apiarist too, could place more confi- 

 dence in the business, because our 

 products would have a fixed casli 

 value, fluctuating in price but little, 

 if any, and always in accordance with 

 the supply and demand as with all 

 other kinds of produce. 



In perfecting concent ration, we must 

 instruct, and look after the unexpe- 

 rienced, and those making the business 

 a side issue. To accomplish this suc- 

 cessfully, we must have the aid of our 

 various publications. I trust we shall 

 soon see our weekly (the Ameuican 

 I5ke Jouiinal), and our monthlies 

 (the Guide, Instructor, Gleanings, and 

 Magazine), all enlisted in surmount- 

 ing this great stumbling block. 



The importance of this question 

 cannot be too strongly urged, or im- 

 printed on the minds of every bee- 

 keeper. 



After a careful investigation, we 

 should select 2 or 3 of the most relia- 

 ble firms in each of our large markets. 

 Our journals should advise their read- 

 ers of the selection made, and then 

 let us one and all stand by the text. 

 I would suggest for New York, the 

 names of Thurbers & Co., and D. W. 

 Quinbv. For Chicago, A. II New- 

 man, R. A. Burnett, and W. F. Con- 

 ner. For Cincinnati, C. F. Muth. If 

 any bee-keeper knows of better firms, 

 he should make it known. Bee-keep- 

 ers that are posted iu relation to other 



