AMERICAN BEE JOURNAL. 



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lingered around all forenoon. These 

 also were blacks. 



Just before dinner I went down to 

 look at them. As I drew near, I saw 

 that the tree was surrounded by a fly- 

 ing swarm. I went and looked at the 

 hive, the front end of which was by this 

 time covered with bees, all crawling in 

 just as fast as they could. In a little 

 while they had all gone in and were at 

 work. 



They were taken down, and another 

 hive was put up in the same place. We 

 watched it for a while, but soon grew 

 tired and ceased. 



On Aug. 30th (1891) I chanced to be 

 mowing weeds near the tree, when I 

 heard a swarm coming. In half an hour 

 the whole performance was re-enacted. 

 Since then we have caught several, but 

 I have not been so fortunate as to see 

 any more just taking possession of their 

 new home. If these were not scouts, 

 why do not bees from our own hives 

 bother around these decoys ? 



Last June (1892) a colony belonging 

 to a neighbor swarmed, and was resting 

 on a cherry limb, when they suddenly 

 took wing and went to a box which he 

 had put up in an apple-tree. These, 

 with other experiences which I have 

 had, confirm me in the opinion that 

 bees do systematically "scout" for a 

 home whenever it becomes necessary. I 

 think this would require ho more men- 

 tal power than a great many other 

 things which they do, and I shall believe 

 in "scouts" until I hear something to 

 disprove the theory. 



Beatrice, Nebr. 



Bee-veils. Honey-Plants. Hairpins, Etc, 



J. E. PRICHARD. 



I have not examined my h'ves much 

 of late with the mercury at 112° in the 

 sun, and 98° in the shade. It is too 

 much to don the veil. By the by, why 

 has there not been an improvement in 

 that useful appendage ? The white 

 bobbinet is almost as hot as muslin. 

 Why not bring out something better, say 

 a stuff with meshes 8 to the inch ? That 

 would be fine enough. The bobbinet is 

 about 20 to the inch, and too hot for 

 any comfort. The next time I visit the 

 city, I shall look for something that will 

 afford more ventilation. 



Yesterday being the first endurable 

 day, I opened the supers, and with two 

 exceptions the bees were at work in the 



top sections, having them nearly full, 

 but none of them seemed to be sealed. 

 We do not look for honey here before 

 fall, say about middle of September or 

 first of October, as we have to depend 

 entirely upon wild flora. 



IRON-WEED AND OTHER PLANTS. 



I have just discovered a honey-plant 

 that has always been considered a nui- 

 sance — what we here call the iron-weed. 

 It flourishes in low swamps and mead- 

 ows, and in ditches, often filling the 

 latter so as to stop the water. It is 

 covered wuh a pinkish or purple flower, 

 and is just loaded with bees. It lux- 

 uriates to within 20 feet of my apiary. 

 We also have the golden-rod, blue asters, 

 heart's-ease, or, as we call it here, 

 "leaden-heart," and plenty of nameless 

 flowers on which the bees work, but I 

 do not know of their value, not being a 

 botanist, but I shall endeavor to become 

 a "bee-ist," as I love to handle them. 



I have interested one lady in the bee- 

 business and in the Bee Journal, and 

 she is quite enthusiastic. She has in- 

 vited me to come and help her rejoice 

 over her success, but I have not had 

 time to spare, but I may soon if I have 

 an opportunity. 



HAIRPINS TO HOLD TRANSFERRED COMBS. 



I will give a hint to older apiarists, 

 and I wonder the lady apiarists have 

 not before this let it out. It is this : 

 When you want to transfer comb from 

 a box-hive to a frame hive, just pierce 

 the side and bottom bars with a small 

 awl at intervals of 3 or 4 inches, with 2 

 holes opposite about % or 3/10 of an 

 inch. Then get 2 or 3 papers of cheap 

 hairpins, and when the comb is fitted in 

 the frame, push a hairpin astride the 

 septum, and I will wager nothing will 

 beat it to hold the comb in place until 

 the bees fasten it, when the pins can be 

 withdrawn, and the job is completed. 



I have learned much since I com- 

 menced bee-keeping, and the best lesson 

 that I have learned is that I do not 

 know much, which is more than some 

 others have learned. I would like to 

 have a little more knowledge of the 

 science of parthenogenesis, as I think if 

 it were well understood it would save us 

 from a great many serious blunders. 



This has been a lovely day, and the 

 bees are just shouting for joy. Methinks 

 when I see them dip in some lovely 

 flower I almost hear them take up the 

 refrain, " O glorious fountain, here will 

 I stay," etc. 



Port Norris, N. J.. Aug. 14, 1892. 



