1881. 



THE AMERICAN BEE JOURNAL. 



341 



crease of bees. He has Langstroth 

 chaff hives. 



Mr. Kanslev, Spencer county. Ind., 

 had 21 colonies on summer stands pro- 

 tected by corn stalks, with padding 

 under the cap ; lust ." in winter, united 

 c. which left 1:2; clover was killed and 

 bees gathered no surplus honey. 



Mr. Hamilton, Louisville, had 48 

 colonies in fall. 26 in spring ; took 700 

 lbs. honey; wintered on summer stands 

 packed with S inches of straw; has 

 mostly Faulkner hives. 



Mr. Schneider, Louisville, started 

 with 35; all but 9 in dry cellar; pre- 

 fers cellar wintering: has mostly 

 Langstroth hives ; lost 2 in cellar ; 

 kept the temperature at 40 to 4;'. .; 

 sold 8 hives ; increased by artificial 

 means to 35 again ; had 500 lbs. honey; 

 there should be upward ventilation; 

 those in cellar, where he took off tops, 

 did best. 



Dr. Allen agreed with Mr. S. in this. 



L. Ilofstetter, Louisville, com- 

 menced in spring of 1880 with 14 colo- 

 nies, and increased to 28 ; fed on glu- 

 cose ; lost 14 in winter ; had 200 lbs. 

 honey ; those he divided and fed did 

 not do as well as the others. He pre- 

 ferred using glucose to sugar syrup, 

 because the latter granulates in spring. 



Mr. Moberly, Hardin county, put 

 into winter quarters 40 colonies in 

 Langstroth hives ; covered top of hives 

 with old quilts : lost but 1, and had 6 

 swarms ; took 400 to 500 lbs. honey ; 

 bees are now in good condition. He 

 will not feed glucose, but prefers gran- 

 ulated sugar syrup. 



Mr. Littell said even if the sugar 

 syrup granulates the bees will dissolve 

 it, if provided with water. 



Mr. McConnell, Shelby county, Ky.. 

 put into winter quarters 65; lost 14; 

 wintered in common frame hives on 

 summer stands ; used carpeting on 

 top with a little straw on it, and in 

 other ways ; found those with straw 

 on top did best ; had but 600 or 700 lbs. 

 of honey this season ; had 24 natural 

 swarms, but divided some; fed some 

 honey to weak ones ; has 69 in good 

 condition now. His bees are mixed. 



Mr. Craycraft, Salem, Ind., put into 

 winter quarters 41 colonies in double- 

 wall hives ; lost all but 3 from dysen- 

 tery ; thinks it was caused by bees till- 

 ing hives in the fall with fruit juices. 



Mr. Knight, Oldham county, put 17 

 colonies into winter quarters ; lost 3, 

 and 1 in spring. Has now 28. 



Mr. Ladler, Jefferson county, win- 

 tered 3; increased to 8; made 300 lbs. 

 of good honey ; all are now in good 

 condition ; wintered with quilt only 

 on top. 



The President appointed Mr. Ilof- 

 stetter, Mr. A. Schneider and Mr. 

 Moberly a committee on apiarian sup- 

 plies. 



Adjourned to meet at 7 o'clock p. m. 



EVENING SESSION. 



Called to order at 7 p. m., an essay 

 by Dr. Ed. Diane, Eminence, Ky., 

 was read, on 



Bee-Keeping a Specialty. 



When I first caught the bee fever 

 and began to make bee-keeping a suc- 

 cess, I thought, everyone that loved 

 honey ought to keep bees — at least a 

 few colonies, to gather the pure nectar 

 offered as a free gift to all, or any who 

 may choose to receive it. But I have 

 seen so many bungling attempts at 

 bee-keeping — have had such poor suc- 

 cess in persuading others to learn how 

 to keep and treat their bees, so as to 

 reap a profit, that henceforth, instead 

 of advising people to keep bees, will 

 insist that they study apiculture first; 

 then, if they choose, they can make 

 profitable use of their knowledge. 

 Any one might practice medicine 

 without having studied the profession, 

 and but few of his patients would ever 

 expose his ignorance, for they would 

 be buried out of sight. 



All the professions, trades and vari- 

 ous pursuits in life are fast drifting 

 into specialties. One M. D. makes a 

 specialty of treating the eye, another 

 the ear, another the bowels or lungs ; 

 one merchant makes a specialty of 

 ready-made clothing, one of piece 

 goods, one of hats, one of toys, etc., 

 and the most successful in the various 

 pursuits are educated, or have been 



educated and fitted for the business 

 they follow— the doctor, lawyer and 

 merchant, in schools and colleges for 

 their especial training. We should 

 advise people to study bee-keeping 

 first, and then to keep bees, if they 

 like. When the average owner of a 

 few colonies of bees sees the little busy 

 bee coming in with pollen early in the 

 spring, he suddenly, spasmodically, 

 all at once resolves to learn bee-cul- 

 ture. There is honey in it, and he 

 likes honey. But his knowledge must 

 not cost him a cent of money, nor 

 more than a few hours' time. Hence, 

 the first opportunity, he hails the first 

 bee-keeper he meets and invites him 

 to lecture then and there on bee-cul- 

 ture, and expects to learn it all in 10 

 minutes; or more likely invites him 

 home with him, or to come in the near 

 future and examine his bees and show 

 him everything necessary to be done 

 in order to make bee-keeping a suc- 

 cess, and if advised to read, is always 

 ready with the reply, " I have not 

 time." Two chances to one the bee- 

 keeperjie has applied to for instruc- 

 tions is the wrong man, who has never 

 been to school and read the proper 

 books on bee-keeping, but he feels 

 flattered in proportion as he is igno- 

 rant, and with great generosity, and 

 perhaps more ignorance, gives the ap- 

 plicant bad advice, which will result 

 in ruin and loss if followed. There- 

 fore, I think we should caution or ad- 

 monish novices in bee-culture, or those 

 who contemplate keeping bees, to be- 

 ware of whom they take advice ; gra- 

 tuitous advice is generally looked upon 

 as like bad medicine. 



I believe that if the number of suc- 

 cessful bee-keepers was double what 

 it is now, and the production of honey 

 was increased in the same ratio,- the 

 consumption of honey would be in- 

 creased and popularized in even a 

 greater ratio, and that bee-keeping 

 would be more profitable than now. 

 I have no fears of an over-production 

 of honey. Just have it in merchanta- 

 ble shape, so that it can be handled 

 like lard, meats, sugar, or butter and 

 cheese, and the world will consume it 

 at good prices ; but such will not be 

 the case until bee-keeping becomes 

 more of a specialty. 



Mr. Ilofstetter said he thought all 

 persons who liked keeping bees should 

 be advised to do so, but, as a profes- 

 sional bee-keeper and honey producer, 

 he did not think it advisable for bee- 

 keepers to advise the public generally 

 to go into the business, as it would 

 bring them in strong competition with 

 ourselves, and tend to lessen our 

 profits. 



Dr. Allen thought that some were 

 adapted to one profession, and some 

 to others, and that only a certain class, 

 not one scarcely in a hundred, would 

 succeed in bee-keeping. He once 

 thought all persons should keep bees, 

 but he had changed now, and thought 

 only those who were adapted to the 

 business should be advised to keep 

 them. 



Mr. Schneider thought the matter 

 would regulate itself, and those not 

 fit would soon give it up in disgust. 

 He did not fear the competition. 



Mr. Cook argued that bee-keeping 

 was not a specialty. It requires no 

 particular talent, no more than to 

 raise corn, make cheese or raise fruits. 

 He thought bee-keeping might be well 

 extended among the people as any 

 other business. 



Mr. Williamson remarked that Mr. 

 Newman had said that the demand for 

 American honey in Europe was on the 

 increase, and that it could never be 

 filled, as with increase of supply the 

 increased demand arose. 



An essay by W. T. Stewart, Emi- 

 nence, Ky., was read, on 



Honey Producing Plants and How to Cul- 

 tivate Them. 



As I furnished an article on this 

 same subject for the National Con- 

 vention at Lexington, which will be 

 published in the American Bee 

 Journal, I shall now go over the 

 same ground of " comparing advanta- 

 ges and disadvantages in order to 

 know what is best to cultivate," but 

 will only continue that article, and 



give a few brief hints as to lawn- 

 planting of honey producing plants. 



As I have clearly shown m the for- 

 mer article that ligwort (or Simpson 

 honey plant), motherwort, catnip and 

 melilot are the 4 best plants (to my 

 knowledge) for cultivation, I will now 

 give you a practical pen-picture of a 

 most beautiful lawn or door yard, and 

 especially beautiful to a bee-keeper, 

 and passers-by will, from the novelty 

 of plan, pronounce it superb, as I know 

 from experience. While I am in my 

 photographic studio at the front of my 

 door yard with about an acre of lawn 

 (in which my apiary is located) be- 

 tween my gallery and dwelling, I often 

 hear such remarks as " Just look at 

 that yard, ain't it beautiful '/ " "Here 

 is that pretty yard that I told you 

 about." " He's got the prettiest yard 

 in town, ain't he V " " He is a perfect 

 genius; can take a patch of weeds and 

 make it look pretty. I never saw such 

 a man, he never stops fixing pretty 

 things." Now, while I enjoy all this 

 praise, I at the same time enjoy see- 

 ing my bees working on almost every- 

 thing growing in this yard. My pretty 

 weeds are all honey producers, you 

 know, and did not come there by acci- 

 dent, either. Now I tell you how to 

 do it, and after you have once seen 

 such a lawn, you will be surprised at 

 its grandeur, and why you had not 

 thought of all this before. 



To make a beautiful mound, or what 

 will appear to be a mound, yet is only 

 level ground, plant that which grows 

 tallest in the center of a ring or circle, 

 next tallest outside of that, and so on 

 down to a creeping ground plant. For 

 instance, you want a mound twelve 

 feet across, six or eight feet high in 

 center, gradually sloping off lower 

 until it is on a level with the ground. 

 You will first mark it off in rings, say 

 eighteen inches apart. Now trans- 

 plant in the center ring eight or ten 

 fine plants of figwort ; it grows six to 

 eight feet high, filled with beautiful 

 seed pods as large as buckshot. Next 

 row transplant with golden rod ; 

 grows four to six feet high. Next 

 row plant in spider plant ; three to five 

 feet high, and its pretty pink flow- 

 ers contrasting strikingly with the 

 golden rod. Next row transplant 

 with motherwort and catnip mixed 

 equally ; two feet high ; bloom white. 

 Next row plant princess feather ; 

 bloom is scarlet and an excellent 

 honey plant. Next row, white mus- 

 tard ; one foot high ; bloom golden yel- 

 low. Next row transplant pepper- 

 mint; bloom white. Last row, ground 

 ivy, a creeping vine, and good for 

 bees. This will, when grown up, ap- 

 pear to be a costly mound, most 

 beautiful to the eye of man or bee. 

 We can make a basin in the same way 

 by reversing the plants, putting the 

 lowest in the center, and so on. By a 

 little study and ingenuity in planting 

 we can contrive many pretty designs 

 that cost nothing, and have every 

 plant to pay nearly as well as vege- 

 tables in a garden. Plant in groups of 

 various colored bloom and varied 

 foliage, too, among our bee-hives, 

 making tliem contrast with the color 

 of the hives, etc. Plant a row of bass- 

 wood, poplar, locust, elm or maple all 

 round the fence, and keep trimmed 

 nicely. Plums, pears and cherries 

 among your hives for shade, honey 

 and fruit; gooseberries, currants and 

 raspberries can all be made orna- 

 mental in the shape of hedges around 

 poultry yards, garden walk,, etc., and 

 all are good honey plants, too. 



For trellises, around porches, veran- 

 das and windows as a running vine, 

 there is nothing superior to the Cle- 

 matis for beauty, shade or honey. 

 Various colored hollyhocks may be 

 used to advantage in grouping or sin- 

 gle ; it is also a good honey producer, 

 but better for pollen. A fewstalks of 

 buckwheat worked in for variety or 

 contrast, don't look badly. Make a 

 border of peppermint on each side of 

 every walk and outer edges of flower 

 beds, and even around the door and 

 gate, so that every time there is 

 any passing around the clothing or 

 feet will brush against the pepper- 

 mint. In this way your lawn is con- 

 stantly perfumed, and you will be 



surprised to see how much mint you 

 can have growing in this way, and 

 also surprised to see how the bees 

 take to it through August and Sep- 

 tember— just when they need it. If 

 you have a low, wet spot on your 

 grounds, plant there a clump of wil- 

 lows. With a group of six or eight 

 willows growing on your lawn you can 

 make it the center of attraction. By 

 bending and tying them together you 

 can make them grow in every con- 

 ceivable shape — chairs, ladders, hoops, 

 etc., can be had growing ; besides, it 

 is beautiful as a shade tree, and one 

 among the most useful of all honey 

 producers, because it comes so early 

 in the spring and is full of nectar for 

 early use. Plant a tree of either elm 

 or bass wood (twelve feet apart is 

 about right), one on each side of your 

 gate ; when they arrive at the right 

 height bend and tie them together in 

 the form of an arch ; keep them tied 

 until they have grown in that shape. 

 An arch over the gate is pretty, and 

 these trees are good for forage. 



Make a ring or diamond of ten feet 

 in diameter and transplant into it 

 dandelions six inches apart all around 

 the outside, then fill up the center by 

 transplanting wild turkey peas, thickly 

 set. This is very pretty; early in 

 spring the bed will be white as snow 

 and the border yellow. Both are good 

 honey producers, and they come so 

 very early that they arequitea luxury 

 for our bees. A hedge all around the 

 fences of motherwort is quite a bo- 

 nanza. You will notice that most all 

 the plants I have named for ornament- 

 ing are such as will only require plant- 

 ing once, and come from the old root 

 for years afterward. Remember, 

 that it is the design and in the inge- 

 nuity displayed in planting that at- 

 tracts the attention of visitors more 

 than the quality of plants. Common 

 plants when ingeniously modeled are 

 prettier than costly green-house plants 

 scattered helter skelter, without any 

 pretense to form or model. But when 

 you have laid out beautiful models of 

 common plants, your wife will be sure 

 to improve their appearance by the 

 addition of a few pet green-house 

 plants, which are not honey producers 

 themselves. But they won't drive the 

 bees away from those that do produce 

 it. When once we have introduced 

 this novelty in our town we, will soon 

 see our neighbors trying to imitate it 

 more or less, because of the novelty 

 of it (not for bee forage). But our 

 bees will go over and appropriate it to 

 their use just the same as if it was 

 purposely for them. But we must 

 keep still as to the purpose of such a 

 lawn, and let people just think that 

 the novelty of the thing is the main 

 point, if we wish them to appreciate 

 it or pattern after it on their own 

 lawns. If people in general knew 

 that such a lawn was intended for for- 

 age for bees, it would lose half its 

 charms in their estimation ; but work 

 on, getting up novelties, and say noth- 

 ing about the bee part of it, and you 

 will see that it is contagious, and peo- 

 ple will gradually fall into novelty 

 lawn planting. 



Col. Nail was particularly pleased 

 with the encouragement in this paper 

 to beautify homes. Then that mint- 

 no one but could find use for that. 



Dr. Allen thought the number of 

 honey-producing plants might be in- 

 creased around farms, and add to the 

 supply of honey, especially in the fall. 



Mr. Cook thought the wild aster an 

 excellent honey-producing plant. It 

 is spreading in Southern Kentucky in 

 low, rich bottoms, and bees swarm 

 around it. He also said the prickly 

 ash was another useful plant. It will 

 grow almost anywhere, blooms about 

 mid-summer, and makes a large 

 blossom bunch. Bees like it. He 

 said raspberries were good honey-pro- 

 ducing plants, both bloom and fruit of 

 the red being excellent. The straw- 

 berry was worthless for bees ; the pear 

 blossom was not good for bees, but the 



Eeach first rate. Wild cherry is good, 

 ut domestic kinds do not amount to 

 much. Wild grape and crab are both 

 good. Among garden flowers the 

 double varieties are valueless, but the 

 single ones afford bee pasturage. 



