172 



THE LANCASTER FARMER. 



[ November, 



The increase in new colonies with Mr. Hershey has 

 avenijfcd about 63 per cent., which is less than the 

 average, but Mr. H. gives more attention to raisins 

 queens than to honey orswarmiug. He started with 

 62 colonies last spring. He reported having raised 

 aOO queen bees, 1.50 ofwhieh were sold at an average 

 of S1.50 each, realizing in all ?225 from this source. 

 He also got about 650 pounds of honey, aud sold five 

 swarms, and now has 72 colonies with which to go 

 into winter quarters. All his own swarms have 

 plenty of honey. He will winter them in tlic pecu- 

 liar house, half underground, already described in 

 our former reports. He also submitted the following 

 remarks on 



Wintering Bees. 



This is one of the most important points in bee 

 keeping. Each colony should be carefully examined 

 before it is put into winter quarters, to ascertain 

 whether it has honey enough and bees enough. If it 

 is too weak in bees, then unite two swarms; if short 

 in honey, feed it. Food is prepared by taking two 

 pounds of ordinary coffee sugar and one pound of 

 water, and bringing them to the boiling point. 



Protect your bees from the north aud west winds. 

 Take off the honey boxes and put d,u old quilt or 

 blanket on the top of the frames, and place on a cap 

 of straw. Place a protector on the alighting board, 

 to keep the sun off from the entrance when there is 

 a loose snow on the ground; if there is no snow on 

 the ground, leave the protector away from the 

 entrance and let the bees have the full benefit of the 

 sun's rays. 



Never disturb bees when it is cold. If bees are 

 long in confinement when there there is a loose snow 

 on the ground, and there comes a warm day — warm 

 enough for the bees to fly— take away your protector 

 from the entrance, to allow the warmth of the rays to 

 fall directly on the entrance. Scatter straw in front 

 of the hives on the snow, for the distance of about 

 fifteen feet from the hives, for the bees to alight on, 

 in case any should drop down from cold or other 

 cause . 



So soon as the weather becomes warm and bees fly 

 freely, al! swarms should be examined to see whether 

 they have queens. If some are queeuless, unite the 

 colonies with weak ones that have a queen. Cage 

 the queen about twelve hours after the colonies are 

 united, as they will sometimes kill her when two 

 swarms are put together. Colonies that are short in 

 honey in '.he spring, ought to be fed, for they require 

 a great deal of food to supply the brood in March 

 aud April. They consume more honey at that time 

 than during the three winter months. 



I. G. Martin, of Earl township, started into the 

 honey season with twenty colonies. These have 

 increased to thirty. From these he has taken 660 

 pounds of honey of excellent quality. His colonies 

 are amply supplied with liuney for the winter's con- 

 sumption. He will put them into winter quarters 

 on the summer stands, as is his usual custom, with 

 a protection of chaff, as heretofore described. 



He presented the following interesting paper: 

 Hints to Beginners. 



In writing a few remarks upon bee culture I wish 

 to state in the outset that I shall not perhaps present 

 anything new to inany of the members, but I will 

 offer a few hints to beginners. The old opinion 

 ught by this time to be entirely exploded, that 



bees will take care of themselves and 



iruig us large 



returns for little or no investment of capital or labor, 

 is still a stumbling block to prosperous bee-keeping. 

 Added to this are the misrepresentations of unscru- 

 pulous dealers, whose advertisements are sure to 

 mislead the uninformed. 



Some Mistakes. 



None of us like to tell of our failures or of bad 

 years before the public, and consequently the reports 

 In the papers usually show only the bright side and 

 large yields. Ignorance of the business then is the 

 fault of a large proportion of ill success. What then 

 is essential is a thorough knowledge of the business 

 — plenty of application and hard work. Much 

 useful information may be obtaiaed by leading the 

 best works and papers on the subject, hut actual 

 practice in the apiary is indispensable. Many 

 persons are naturally unfit for the business from 

 carelessness and inaccurscy about their work. I 

 know of no out-door work where so much depends 

 on the right thing being done at the right time aud 

 in the right way. 



When and How to Start an Apiary. 



Avoid the common blunder of rushing into bee- 

 keeping just after there have been oue or two good 

 seasons. The fact is that an extra good yield is 

 usually followed by a very moderate or poor one. 

 Beginners should purchase but a small number of 

 colonies at first, and the bees will increase as fast as 

 your knowledge will increase. Buy always the best 

 that can be found, even if they cost more; for it will 

 often pay you the first season. Spring is the best 

 time to buy, for then tiiey are through the wiuterand 

 then you have not much risk, and they will then 

 soon be a profit to you. Use some good movable 

 flame hive, for with the box hive the best results 

 cannot be obtained. 



Don't be Afraid of Being Stung. 



A very great hindrance to handling the bees is the 



fear of stings. Every beginner should supply him- 

 self or herself with a good bee veil, which will pro- 

 tect the face, and a good bellows smoker is fas 

 necessary for the beekeeper as a plow is for a far- 

 mer. 



The extractor, for removing the honey from the 

 comb without injuring them, is a very important 

 implement, for then you can use the combs again, 

 and it will increase your yield of honey. 



Comb Foundation. 



Use comb foundation for the brood-chamber, for 

 it will insure all the workers comb, which is of great 

 importance. A piece of drone comb, two inches 

 square, in the center of the brood-chamber, is a 

 small thing, yet it is a space in which every 21 days 

 200 worker bees might be raised, and in which they 

 will raise a lot of drones, which are not producers, 

 but consumers of honey. 



I have but mentioned some of the necessary fix- 

 tures of a first-class apiary, without which success 

 cannot be obtained. But do not make the mistake 

 of thinking that if you get these fixtures you are 

 sure of success. They are only aids aud it will take 

 work and knowledge yet to get the full benefit of 

 your work. 



Italian Bees. 



The merit of the Italian bee are thoroughly estab- 

 lished among enlightened beekeepers. I cannot now 

 mention all their points of superiority, but I would 

 advise all beginners to try the Italian. 



Mr. Samuel Dillman," of New Holland, presents 

 the most favorable report so far heard from in the 

 county. He had 17 colonies last spring. He has by 

 judicious swarming increased these to 24, and got 

 besides 800 pounds of honey, nearly all comb honey. 



W. B. Detwiler, of Mt. Joy, started with 7.5 colon- 

 ies last spring. "These have now increased through 

 swarming to 100. He got from them about SCO 

 pounds of honey. All his bees are in good condition 

 to go into winter quarters. 



Other beekeepers were reported as having done 

 about (he same as those who reported personally, 

 llev. S. S. Henry, of Hinkletown, began with two 

 colonies last spring and by natural increase now has 

 seven colonies. He increased their numbers largely, 

 but the consequence was he got hardly any honey. 



C. Sensenig, of Earl township, began the season 

 with four swarms, which increased to 16, but he got 

 no honey from them. 



Another gentleman was reported as having taken 

 327 pounds of honey from 15 colonies ; one of these 

 alone yielded fifty-five pouuds. 



Honey Comb Foundation. 



The following letter was addressed to the chair- 

 man of the association: 



Sprout Brook, N. Y., Nov. 6, 1879. 



Presuming all appliances tending to advance the 

 interests of the beekeeping community will be wel- 

 comed at your meeting, we send you samples of flat- 

 bottom honey comb foundation for distribution to 

 your members. We have used the thin foundation 

 this season in surplus boxes f'ullsized sheets one-six- 

 teenth of an inch from tin- hidis, ami In.iii i.iii.-.|uar- 



ter to one eighth of an inrh Ir i \ir hoi injn, a<Miiiu- 



thereby largely to the yirld ,,l' 1h,ii..v, mnl also hi its 



market value. The wirc^l Inuiidai ion lias also bei-ii 



used with good satisfaction during the past seasou. 



Respectfully yours. 



J. Van Deusen iVi, Sons. 



There being no further business, the society ad- 

 journed. The meeting was very pleasant and inter- 

 esting, and it seems a pity that beekeepers, as a rule, 

 take so little interest in these gatherings. 



LINN/EAN SOCIETY. 



A stated meeting of the Linnsean Society was held 

 on Saturday, October 25, President Rev. J. S. Stahr 

 in the chair. After attending to the preliminary 

 duties, the donations to the museum were examined, 

 and found to consist of two specimens of rattlesnake 

 {crvluiiis iliirixsiis), i)i\i- -ji large black snake (Bas- 

 caiiU'ii fi'ifxtr'iclui-). from Luzerne county, Pa. Also, 

 a lar:;r and i>aui itnlly variegated snake from the 

 Islaiul of ('uha. Tliis, like the veuemous serpents, 

 hastlir raiidal aial abdominal scutllla undivided, 

 but no r.iiil. — a class now under two divisions, 

 those lia\ in- no |,oi>nn fangs, the genus Boa, (the 

 Boa I on.-i ri' hjr is <iiH- of the largest serpents); the 

 Sci/lfin li.ivr lan^s and are separated from the Boas, 

 and no raitlr .lisiinit from crotalus. The snake in 

 question comes very close to that described by Dr 

 Russell as the Boa paeiala, donated by Mr. George 

 Kinzer, who has lately left this city. He also donated 

 twelve specimens of silver, copper, lead and other 

 ores and minerals from Virginia City, Nevada, and a 

 fossil vegetable formation from Luzerne county. Pa., 

 for which a vote of thanks was cordially given him. 

 As also to Mr. Geo. Miller, of the restau.-ant. East 

 Kiug street, for a Mud puppy or Hell-bender (the 

 3/cnopoma AUeghenienHis). A spector insect or walk- 

 ing-stick, the tipectrumfemoratum,yev Levi is Haldy, 

 city. C. A. Heinitsh, Esq., donated a copper spike 

 given to his father, Mr. J. F. Heinitsh, in 1»36, by 

 Captain Budd. U. S. Navy, taken from the rudder 

 of the United States frigate Constitution, (the old 



Ironsides,) while undergoing repairs at Boston; 

 originally built in 1798. It is a valuable historical 

 relic. Mr. Heinitsh also donated a very desirable 

 case glass sash, placed on the attic for specimens. A 

 cordial vote of thanks was given him for his liberal 

 consideration. A sample box of glass-covered cells, 

 containing 18 kinds of seeds, different kinds of wheat, 

 corn, ifcc, under cultivation, and a large lump of the 

 smoky mica, per J. Stauffer. 



Additions to the Library. 



Proceedings of the Davenport Academy of Natural 

 Science, per the Corresponding Secretary ; Reports 

 of Explorations and Surveys in the department of 

 Missouri, per Prof. Herman Strecker, Reading, Pa.; 

 Report of Agriculture for 1877, per Hon. A. Herr 

 Smith ; Atlas of Ferns— Coal Flora, of Pennsylva- 

 nia, by Leo Lesquereaux ; second Geological Survey; 

 Minerals of Pennsylvania, per William "A. Ingham, 

 Esq.; annual reports on Railroads, Canals, etc., for 

 1878; Internal Affairs, industries aud statistics for 

 1878 ; Inspectors of Mines ; Penn Life Insurance 

 Reports for 1878, per H. C. Demuth, Esq., of this 

 city ; Patent Office Gazette up to October 21, 1879 ; 

 The Lancaster Farmer for October, 1879 ; sundry 

 book circulars ; historical ; two envelopes containing 

 twenty-seven clippings of historical interest ; a bogus 

 fifty-cent coin as a specimen chip, per S. S. Rathvon. 

 Papers Read. 



Dr. S. S. Rathvon read a paper. No. .5:30, on "Ob- 

 servations during the mild weather of October, inst., 

 and the stir of insect life and vegetation." 



The treasurer reported bills, $5 for subscription to 

 the proceedings of the Academy of Natural Sciences, 

 and $1 to George Flick, Esq., for mounting a flicker 

 for the Society . Ordered to be paid. Mr. Heinitsh 

 presented an article published, read by Mr. Stauffer, 

 with regard to flowers being found on a corpse un- 

 disturbed for ten years, of a yellow color, with 

 sepals, stamens, etc. This led to the observation of 

 fungoid matters, sometimes found growing on living 

 and dead matter, had been observed, but notwith- 

 standing the Doctor's high position, the stamens 

 may ha\ ebcen sporules in a split head raised on a si ipe. 

 This led to mention of other freaks of nature which are 

 often past finding out. Mr. Stauffer referred to the 

 buds of the abutilon clamping one of the pointed 

 lobes of a leaf in numerous specimens, as witnessed 

 in the yard of J. M. Johnston, No. 9 South Queen 

 street, this city, aud published in the Intelligeneer . 

 Rev. Mr. J. H. Dubbs, Stahr, Heinitsh and Hostetter 

 had something of interest to impart under the head 

 of scientific miscellaney. After a pleasant session 

 the society adjourned. 



FULTON FARMERS' CLUB. 



The November meeting was held at the residence 

 of G. A. King, on the 8th inst. The attendance was 

 small. 



Visitors : Will Moore, Alvin Kiug and Alfred 

 Wood in the forenoon, and Joseph Jenkins in the 

 afternoon. 



The President being absent. Day Wood was ap- 

 jiointed for the day. The minutes of last m-eting 

 not hi'in'j; present were omitted. 



S|Hrinirn6 for exhibition : E. Henry Haines, four 

 va lilt ins of apples; a visitor, Black Coal, Rhode 

 island Greening, Pinoch and Nottingham Browns; 

 William P. Haines, beet, weighing 6i<^ pounds, and a 

 black winter radish. 



Answering questions : Are winter radishes worth 

 raising? No one present had any experience. Tliey 

 are to be sown with turnips. 2. Is it better to sell 

 chickens at nine cents a pound live weight, or at 

 thirteen cents per pound dressed, aud pay a commis- 

 sion ? Most of the members favored selling at nine 

 cents, unless the feathers were an object. 3. Does 

 the soapstone griddle do Its work well or is it like 

 some other things, useful for a time and then laid 

 aside among |the things that were U6eful|? St me 

 had used it and found that the particles of st na 

 wear off in the cakes and make them disagreeable. 

 Some disliked the noise, &c. None of the ladies 

 present kept them in constant use. One of the gen- 

 tlemen suggested that it might not be safe at all 

 times to put a stone in every woman's hand. 4. Do 

 you think wheat will advance to $1.50 per bushel, 

 or would you advise to sell at the present price ? 

 Some thought wheat would advance in May, and if 

 you have a good place to store it, would keep il; 

 oth'ers would sell now. 5. Would you sell pork at 

 85.00 per hun-^red at the present price of corn » 

 No definite answers. 6. How many farmers can tell 

 whether lime is paying? One of the members had 

 put river lime on aud thought it paid. Most of the 

 others thought lime had made the land what it now 

 is, but it now has lime enough in it, and needs some- 

 thing else. Some few, however, still stick to lime, 

 probably for the good it has done. 



Exceedingly Interesting, 



Dinner being announced the club adjourned to 

 the dining room, when the inner man was bountifully 

 supplied with good things. 



The gentlemen took their usual stroll over the 

 farm, viewing the stock, &c. 



Minutes of last meeting held at this place were 

 read upon reassembling. 



