16 



THE AMERICAN BEE-KEEPER 



January- 



Allah causes the swarms to take pos- 

 session of such hives and they may be 

 taken to the yard of the owner of the 

 hives as soon as they are populated 

 with bees. Clean hives is one of the es- 

 sentials in keeping an apiary. In the 

 absence of the owner only a good up- 

 right man must represent him, not a 

 woman, for she would cause the ruina- 

 tion of the whole enterprise. When 

 bees are owned in partnership these 

 partners must live in perfect harmony. 

 The least discord among them Avould 

 cause a worm to take possession of the 

 hive and after a while one would -find 

 instead of combs only webs therein. 

 It is believed that a large part of the 

 occupants of the hive sleep outside on 

 flowers and trees. When one wishes 

 to move a hive it should be done 

 Thursday evening, for this is said to 

 be the only time when all the bees are 

 foimd at home. Sometimes and by 

 special order of the Almighty all bees 

 gather in their hives Friday evening. — 

 (Rhein Bztg.) 



AUSTRIA. 

 In the questions and answeivs de- 

 partment of Bienen-Vater it is asserted 

 that the cappings may be removed 

 from combs to be extracted by means 

 of the uncapping-fork Jwithout any 

 honey adhering to the cappings. 



BRITISH HONDURAS. 



Stann Creek, British Honduras, 



Oct. 20, 1903. 



Editor American Bee-Keeper: In 

 February, 1902, I started with four 

 colonies, and today I have 84 strong 

 colonies, and roughly I can say I have 

 drawn 25 to 30 kerosene tins full of 

 honey. The locality is fair, but being 

 in the town its hardly fair to say the 

 best has been done. 



The bees gather honey all year 

 round from cocoaniit and other local 

 plants. No trouble to feed the bees, 

 although to some extent I expex-ienced 

 some dwindling last November and De- 

 cember which I attribute mostly to the 

 want of experience in the handli"g of 

 the bees. Most of my hives are "dove- 

 tail" from W. T. Falconer Manufactur- 

 ing Co., and they work well, or rather, 

 they suit this climate and tlie bees 

 work well in them. Next year I hope 

 to do well with honey and wax, al- 

 though I regret to say the market is 



not very good locally, but a bee-keep- 

 ers' society has been organized in 

 Belize of which I am a member and 

 through which in August last I ship- 

 ped 11 kerosene tins of honey to Ger- 

 many to Mr. Oswald who kindly of- 

 fered to be our agent tliere. Before 

 shipping he assured us of ,30, ($7.50) 

 net per cwt.. but we have not yet re- 

 ceived a return of the shipment. 



As I am an employee of the govern- 

 ment I am afraid I will be overstocked 

 with bees next year, but I mean to 

 limit myself to 100 colonies. 



Dear Brother Hill: Can you tell 

 me through the medium of your col- 

 umns why it is my honey ferments? 

 I noticed it badly on my 'first extract- 

 ing. On inijuiry I was told that the 

 honey Avas not ripe, and since I never 

 extract any honey until the combs are 

 three-fonrthiS sealed, but there is slight 

 fermentation. 



I like bee-keeping, and will always 

 feel thankful for your kind suggestions 

 tending to help beginners. Hoping I 

 will not weary you with my long epis- 

 tles, and Avith liind regards, I remain, 

 Very respectfull.v and fraternally yours 

 G. A. Nunez. 



Fermentation may result from ex- 

 tracting "green" honey, or from ex- 

 posure to a humid atmosphere after 

 extracting. It may also be an inherent 

 quality characteristic of its kind. In 

 the latter case, we would suggest a 

 generous application of artificial heat 

 before canning, or in the open can, 

 then sealing air-tight. This ferment- 

 ing propensity is a quality peculiar to 

 nectar secreted by some members of 

 the palm family. We shall be pleased 

 to learn something of the future expe- 

 riences of our correspondent in hand- 

 ling such honey. — Editor. 



PENNSYLVANIA STATE BEE- 

 KEEPERS' ASSOCIATION. 

 All bee-keepers in the State of Penn- 

 sylvania interested in forming a thor- 

 ough State organization are requested 

 to correspond with the undersigned. 

 E. L. Pratt, Swathmore, Pa. 



