1904 



THE AMERICAN BEE-KEEPER 



9 



liable here than is basswood, and 

 yields well, but some: years there is 

 not enough sown within easy reach 

 of our bees. After buckwhieat, I have 

 had a good run once in 30 years fi-oni 

 honey dew. It is an undesirable ad- 

 junct, still it is honey and we foimd 

 willing buyers for it. There are two 

 other plants which have the name 

 of yielding honey, l)ut so far as I am 

 concerned they might as well not ex- 

 ist — "goldynrod and sweet clover." Un- 

 doubtedly they yield honey in some 

 sections of New York, but like catnip, 

 the different mints, etc., they amount 

 to nothing hiere. 



Summing up the matter it will be 

 seen that with all conditions favorable 

 we might have a continuous honey 

 flow from early spring till September 

 15. ^Vhieii this happens the avei'age 

 bee-keeper could, without difficulty, in- 

 crease from one colony and secure 500 

 pounds of surplus from every good 

 colony in the spring. Occasionally, a 

 bee-keeper may be so favored so as to 

 reach this maximum, but 1 shoidd con- 

 sider it an historical event. From 

 year to year I have looked forward 

 with the hope to once be favored with 

 one of those ideal honey seasons, but 

 so far in vain. Last season was quite 

 favorable, as compared with the aver- 

 age, having secured an average yield 

 of 45 pounds, mostly comb honey. At 

 this rate bee-kee])ing pays pretty well. 

 If bee-keepers all over our land aver- 

 age more than that bee-keeping Avould 

 pay too well and would soon be over- 

 done. 



Naples, N. Y., Dec. 7, 1903. 



THE BEST HONEY GATHERERS. 



By (). :M. Hlanton. 



ALTHOTMUI it is very difficult to 

 make a pertVct te.st of the capa- 

 bilities of the different strains 

 of bees, as to their capacity for gath- 

 ering honey, I have from many tests 

 in tvgard to them satisfietl myself that 

 there is little or no difference. 



I placetl a Cypi'ian and black colony 

 side l)y side, both (pieens of previous 

 season, and both to all appearancvs 

 equally strong. At the height of the 

 honey flow remove<l the surplus combs 

 of honey. The blacks had filled eleven 

 "fombs completely full, and capped. 



honey, and the Cyprians ten combs 

 with the eleventh comb filfed with the 

 exception of .".(» per cent, of capped 

 brood. 



I also tested colonies of three-band- 

 'ed and golden Italians and Holy Lands 

 with colonies of blacks and with about 

 the same results. 



1 had them all in Langstroth hives, 

 eleven frames in the upper stores and 

 ten frames in lower brood-chamber. 

 All the queens of the previous season. 

 I also use 20-frame and one-stoi-y 

 hives, and from one with black bees 

 removed twelve solid combs of cap- 

 ped honey, the brood confined to the 

 remaining eight frames. 



It was my intention to weigh the 

 honey separately from each hive, but 

 being over crowded with work was 

 unable to do so. Upon close inspection 

 of my hives I could not see any 

 marked differemce in the qualities of 

 the different strains. My Camiolans 

 I have not tested enough to form a 

 correct opinion though they indicated 

 as good results. 



The different strains showed their 

 viciousness in the following order: 

 The Cyprians almost intolerable; next 

 the Holy Lands, then the Italians, with 

 blacks and Carniolans of easy control. 

 The Carniolans and blacks crossed on 

 Cyprians were greatly modified. Ono 

 colony of Cornio-Cyprians were quite 

 gentle. 



I see no advantage in Cyprians at 

 honey gathering, and it is the height 

 of folly to suffer such torture from 

 them without any remuneration. The 

 Cyprians whipped me out on several 

 occasions whilst I was endeavoring 

 to remove the surjjlus honey. Tobac- 

 co and even sui])hur could scarcely 

 control them when the smoke was 

 comparatively cool. On one occasion 

 I went through 15 colonies of blacks 

 and one Carnio-Cyprian without a 

 sting; and next attempted to remove 

 the surplus honey from an imported 

 C.vprian, and was completely driven 

 away, and next day made the attempt 

 again with same results. 



There is no question as to the cross- 

 ing of strains being of great benefit in 

 preventing deterioration from in and 

 in-breeding; and Avhile we are so en- 

 gaged it is well to have in view gen- 

 tleness, as we gain nothing except tor- 

 ture in handling the vicious. 



