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AMERICAN BEE JOURNAL. 



varying, as nearly as I could judge, from 

 15 to 18 minutes. 



Here is another curious fact attending 

 this experiment. When I raised the wire- 

 screen there were 20 to 30 bees under it, 

 trying their best to escape. I expected to 

 see them fly at once, but they did no such 

 thing. Their excitement ceased the mo- 

 ment the screen was raised. In less than 

 a minute every bee went into the hive, and it 

 was nearly two minutes before one came 

 out. Then they quietly entered on their 

 day's labor. D. C. Leach. 



Walton, Mich., Aug. 4, 1893. 



Had a Splendid Honey-Flow. 



This vicinity had a splendid honey-flow 

 until the last week in July, when it was 

 stopped by a very severe drouth. All my 

 colonies that were in good condition on 

 June 1st, stored from 50 to 75 pounds of 

 surplus comb honey each, mostly all white 

 clover. L. Reichle. 



Frankenmuth, Mich., Aug. 10, 1893. 



Honey Crop a Fair One. 



The honey crop from clover this year is 

 fair. I got 2,400 pounds in the comb, and 

 1,600 pounds of extracted honey. I started 

 with 60 colonies. There is not a very good 

 outlook for a fall crop. 



The Albino bees did fairly well on clover ; 

 they stored about 60 pounds of comb honey 

 and swarmed once. I liked them so well 

 that I ventured to rear a dozen queens of 

 this beautiful variety. Some of my best 

 strain of Italians yielded 100 pounds of 

 comb honey per colony. They are a fine 

 strain for business. 



It was quite hot here about July 13 — 97 

 degrees, Fahr., in the shade. My honey 

 crop, all told, is about 5,000 pounds, over 

 3,000 pounds of it being in the comb. 



Frank Coverdale. 



Welton, Iowa, Aug. 3, 1893. 



Shallow Frames and Italian Bees. 



I have read that last winter was the 

 hardest that we have had for years 

 throughout the United States. I wintered 

 100 colonies last winter, but I am a small 

 bee-keeper to-day, for I lost all but 25 colo- 

 nies last spring. I sold a few colonies, 

 leaving me to-day 14 good, strong colonies, 

 all working in the sections. 



The bees I have kept until to-day have 

 been German or black bees, which I be- 

 lieved to be the hardiest and best honey- 

 gatherers. The frames I used were those 

 of the Langstroth size, in chaff. Simplicity, 

 dovetailed and double-walled hives and 

 bee-houses; also a few Quinby standing 

 frame hives. I also tried other frames and 

 hives, but I believe that the Quinby stand- 

 ing frame is the best in the world to-day. 

 They are easy to be handled, are moth- 

 proof, and can make the hives large or 

 small, as desired. For winter they are as 

 good as any, and are the cheapest hives in 



use, but too heavy to move from out- 

 apiaries when filled with honey, so I 

 adopted a half-depth Quinby frame, as I 

 now have a good chance to change frames 

 and hives. I will also try a new strain of 

 bees as soon as possible. 



Before going any further, I would like to 

 hear from others that are using the shallow 

 frames, as manufacturers of bee-hives never 

 advertise this kind of hive and frame. I 

 expect to push matters on shallow frames 

 in my apiary, and hope to have at least 

 100 colonies next winter, but I am done 

 with the Langstroth or hanging frames. 



I will also try pure Italian bees, or some 

 other good strain of bees, if I can get them 

 as good as I had them in Germany. I find 

 the black German bees all right, but I may 

 find something better. I also find my shal- 

 low frames all right so far, but I would like 

 to know what others think of them. 



My shallow frames are 43^x17 inches, in- 

 side measure. I use 16 frames for brood, 

 and 16 for sections, or 32 for sections for a 

 3-story hive. The hives have side-entrances; 

 the work can be done from the rear or top, 

 as desired. The side, top, and rear can be 

 removed, as the Van Deusen clamps are 

 used. 



My 40 colonies of bees in Hanover, Ger- 

 many, came through the winter again all 

 right. John H. Blanken. 



Jersey City, N. J., June 27, 1893. 



Not Up to the Average Crop. 



The average honey crop in eastern Iowa 

 is not up to other years, owing to the 

 scarcity of bees. That flattering honey- 

 crop reported in Glea/uiir/s has dropped the 

 prices of honey about a cent per pound 

 throughout the West, perhaps. We must 

 remember that Gleanings is a honey pur- 

 chaser, as well as producer. Thanks to the 

 Bee Journal for mildness along this line. 

 W. P. Fatlor. 



Colesburg, Iowa, Aug. 8, 1893. 



One of the Worst Drouths. 



One of the worst drouths is prevailing at 

 present that we have had since 1864, if not 

 the Avorst ever known. The last heavy 

 rain fell on May 4th. During May and 

 June a few light showers kept flowers all 

 right for nectar, although it was too dry 

 for farm crops. The middle of July all 

 vegetation began to sufl'er, and at present 

 late corn, late oats, and buckwheat, look as 

 if they would be a failure, even with plenty 

 of rain immediately. Seeding will be a 

 poor catch, and meadows are injured for a 

 hay crop another season. There will be no 

 fall surplus honey. A few miles away the 

 dry season came later, but it '' got there," 

 and seems to stay. Grasshoppers are the 

 thickest known in. many years. 



J. H. Andre. 



Lock wood, N. Y., Aug. 8, 1893. 



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