AMERICAN BEE JOURNAL. 



301 



Dr. Marshall's Early Bee-Keeping. 



Mrs. Jennie Atchley. — In your let- 

 ter on page 148 of the Bee Journal, 

 you were mistaken as to the time I re- 

 ceived the first queen brought to Texas. 

 I had made arrangements to get a 

 queen from Mr. Langstroth in 1861, 

 but the war came on before I received 

 it. In 1865 I ordered a queen, and 

 received it in May, 1866. It came by 

 express, and cost me in all $22. I now 

 know it was by no means a first-class 

 queen. 



The next queen I received was an im- 

 ported queen from Dadant, and the best 

 queen I ever received. She was not a 

 very bright color, but large, and all her 

 workers clearly marked, and good 

 workers. 



I commenced bee-keeping in Texas in 

 1854. My first bee-keeping was in In- 

 diana in 1839, and I have been at it 

 ever since. When I gave it my full 

 attention, it paid moderately well. I 

 got the first Langstroth hive in 1865. 

 1 had used several hives of improved 

 form before, but no movable frames. 



The best honey year we have had in 

 Texas was in 1860. The early part of 

 the year was dry — no rain from Feb- 

 ruary to August. Then we had plenty 

 of rain, and everything took a second 

 growth. The honey-dew was so abun- 

 dant that it dropped from the hickory 

 trees. My bees swarmed in September, 

 and in a few days would fill the hive 

 with comb. 



When I commenced bee-keeping there 

 were no books and no bee- papers; so 

 very many of my facts were gathered by 

 my own observation aDd experience. 

 Long before the Langstroth frames, I 

 had made bars like the top of the King 

 frames, and by attaching comb I had 

 straight combs made, and thus first was 

 able to see the queen. Of course, the 

 bees attached the combs to the side of 

 the hive. I am now astonished that I 

 did not see the necessity of side and 

 bottom bars. 



I am now, for the first time in 50 

 years, without bees, but 1 think I will 

 get a few finest quality bees for com- 

 pany. I have tried Cyprians and Holy 

 Land queens, and the Italians ; and I 

 have no hesitation in sayiDg — taking 

 them all in all — the pure Italians are 

 the bees, best for all purposes. 



W. K. Marshall. 



Marshall, Tex., Aug. 11, 1892. 



Be Sure to read offer on page 318. 



Queries mmd Replies. 



Old Sections witn Undrawn Starters.. 



Query 834.— Having a number of sections 

 with starters in them, which the bees did not 

 draw out, would it be advisable to use them, 

 or put other starters in them ? Lucile. 



Use them. -A. B. Mason. 

 Use them. — Dadant & Son. 

 Use them. — G. M. Doolittle. 

 Use them. — Mrs. L. Harrison. 

 Use the old ones. — James Heddon. 

 I should use them. — R. L. Taylor. 



Use them, if they are clean. — E. 

 France. 



Use the last year's sections as they 

 are. — Eugene Secor. 



If they are clean and bright, yes ; 

 otherwise, no. — J. M. Hambaugh. 



If they are clean and firmly fastened, 

 use them as they are. — Mrs. J. N. 

 Heater. 



You can use them to good advantage 

 if the sections are not soiled. — H. D. 

 Cutting. 



That comes on disputed ground. So 

 far, I have used the old ones. — C. C. 

 Miller. 



If the sections are clean, and the 

 starters are not worm-eaten, I would use 

 them. — J. P. H. Brown. 



You can steam the starters a little, 

 and they will answer just as well as to 

 use new ones. — J. E. Pond. 



Cut them out, if the foundation is at 

 all soiled or propolized. If not, they 

 may be used again. — C. H. Dibbern. 



If in good condition, soften a little by 

 keeping them in a rather warm room, 

 and use them. Why not? — A. J. Cook. 



I have used such, and saw no differ- 

 ence between them and those that had 

 starters of new foundation. — M. Mahin. 



I would use the old starters if not 

 soiled too much. When finished, you 

 cannot tell much if any difference. — 

 Mrs. Jennie Atchley. 



If they are clean, I think they would 

 be all right, but if soiled or hardened by 

 exposure to sunlight, I would put in 

 new. — G. L. Tinker. 



I often use them with as good results 

 as any. But it is best to not put them 

 on until the weather gets warm, as the 

 starters will be a little hardened by con. 

 tact with the air so long. — G. W. Dem 

 aree. 



