Feb. 23, 1899. 



AMERICAN BEE JOURNAL 



117 



i.s iLsually stored more or less right next to young brood. 

 This stuff, which cannot be shut out, if we allow queens in 

 the extracting--chambers, presumably contains the matter 

 bees pick up about hog-pens and privies. Can we afford to 

 let public indignation hang over our heads like the sword of 

 Damocles — hung by a single hair? 



HONEY-SELLING MADE SWEETER BY RELIGION. 



Perhaps you noticed that E. T. Abbott (on page 43) says 

 for us not to talk religion when retailing honey. I hardly 

 think Mr. A. meant that as a fling of contempt for everyday 

 religion. In fact, few things are meaner than sanctimo- 

 nious talk for the purpose of convincing a stranger that he 

 may confide in your honesty — and truthfulness. This 

 rather common meanness is foolishness as well ; for it 

 usually increases suspicion instead of allaj'ing it. Also re- 

 ligious disputes might waste time, and do harm instead of 

 good. But surely a word of Christ a/ftv business is disposed 

 o/i& not a thing to object to. And then there's the familiar 

 honey-seller and the old customer, mutually knowing each 

 other perfectly well, what earthly use is there of restrain- 

 ing conversation on the best-beloved topic of all — providing 

 it is to both the best-beloved topic ? And vphen one or the 

 other says heartilj-, " Let us pray together before we part " 

 — are you sure, Mr. Abbott, that you could preach a sermon 

 that would do half as much good ? 



FIGHTING BEE-MOTH WITH ASPIC. 



If aspic (page 42, par. 8) is materially better than sul- 

 fur to fight the bee-moth with, we shall be wanting to 

 know what aspic is. and what it costs. Killing an exten- 

 sive lot of larva? with sulfur is a difficult job. 



A LONESOME COMMISSION-M.AN. 



The only honest commission-man in Chicago, eh ? 

 Please don't publish his name. If the public knew of him 

 he couldn't possibly do justice to the business that would 

 come — and then the dear people would denounce him as a 

 rogue. (See page 45.) 



BEES HUNG UP IN STRINGLETS. 



That frame of bess building comb (on the first page of 

 Jan. 26) is very lifelike indeed ; but for the benefit of be- 

 ginners one maj- point out two things which are not nor- 

 mal. Comb that bees are at work upon is all covered up 

 out of sight. A slight puff of smoke, or some other means, 

 has been used to get this little comb partly in view. The 

 same cause also has made .some of the bees' that still cling 

 to the comb stick their heads into the cells — as they were 

 not doing probably when undisturbed in the hive. 



"What in the world are they (A)/«i,% hung all up in 

 strings so ?" is the question that perenniallv springs to the 

 lips of spectators. And, as the books and papers seldom or 

 never give any answer, 'Tator will take pity on you and tell 

 you. They are not doing anything. They are just waiting 

 for the forces of Nature, which are within their bodies, to do 

 the work. And the work is .secreting little flakes of wax 

 •(six for each bee), and at times ripening some honey also. 



ANOTHER NON-EXISTENT FACT. 



Do extra-Strong colonies lose bees proportionallj- faster 

 in spring than medium ones ? If it is a fact, then Mr. 

 Davenport's reasons for it (on page SO) seem sensible. (Bees 

 of the latter all have to stay at home cold days, while from 

 the former they fly, and many perish.) But let us not add 

 another non-existing fact, to be accounted for, to our pre- 

 vious long list. 



AMOUNT OF FRAMES TO PREVENT SWARMING. 

 And Mr. Davenport gives us a cogitation-provoking 

 estimate on a matter concerning which we have few or no 

 previous estimates. Of good comb, well placed, 24 frames 

 the amount needed to make sure a colony will not swarm. 

 As an opener, to start an investigation, this is serviceable. 



ivOUNG QUEEN WITH THE PRIME SWARM.] 

 Comrade Mead's case of a young queen that went with 

 a prime swarm, and left the old queen behind, is interest- 

 ing, and seemingly genuine. (Page 51.) 



DIFFERENCE IN FRONTING EAST OR SOUTHEAST. 



On page 52, I respectfully object to Dr. Miller's answer 

 of no difference between east fronting and southeast. We 

 have to /rtv/o;-, in shortened life and labor of our bees, all 

 distressing experiences which they are subjected to — at 

 least so 'Tator thinks. A southeast fronting, when bees 

 are hanging out. roasts the bees from 12 to 2 on torrid days, 

 when in hives with an east facing there would be comfort 

 at those hours. Of course this is not a great thing ; but 



where it is just as cheap to save a trifle as it is to waste, we 

 do ill to bluff the youngsters out of the right path, with our 

 veteran air of " don't-care-a-continental. " 



SNOW .AT HIVE-ENTRANCES— DEAD BEES IN WINTER. 



Cogitator would start two conundrums on F. A. Snell's 

 article (on page 51). Are we quite sure that a few inches of 

 fresh light snow at the entrance is not a benefit — that is, so 

 long as it does not get solid ? Again, if all the bottom ex- 

 cept the entrance were three inches deep with dry dead bees 

 (brought from elsewhere), wouldn't that be a benefit to the 

 colony ? and can we get dead bees out in winter without 

 doing- decided mischief in several ways ? 



BEES TAKE NOTHING FOR GRANTED. 

 That was an interesting fact contributed by Prof. 

 Gillette (page 54), that bees before adding to drawn founda- 

 tion first nibble it all over, so much that its thickness is 

 one-sixth less at that stage than when first put in. Not 

 much inclined to take things for granted, are our bees. 



FOUNDATION CONTRAST NEARLY A KNOCK-OUT. 



And the final contrast is curious between ordinary 

 foundation and drawn foundation. Bees reduce the base 

 weight of the former from 22 to 4b percent. They iiurease 

 the weight of the latter by 67 percent, mainly with wads of 

 wax stuck in the corners in the eft'ort to g-et the shape of 

 the bottom more to their mind. The Professor would call 

 the result, on the whole, favorable to drawn foundation — 

 but the 'Tator. he would call it nearly a knock-out, so far as 

 last year's samples go. Just let's wait for the samples of 

 1899. Cogitator. 



Proceeding's of the Colorado State Bee-Keeoers' 

 Convention. 



(CONTRIBUTED BY THE SECRETARY.) 

 [Continued from page 103.] 



.AMOUNT OF STORES FOR WINTERING. 



Question — About what amount of honej' should a col- 

 ony of bees have, to go into wintering quarters with ? 



Mr. Adams — From 20 to 25 pounds, if in an 8-frame hive. 



SPRING FEEDING — SEPARATING SWARMS. 



Question — Do you advise spring feeding ? 



It was suggested that it might pay in certain localities 

 where fruit-bloom had started extensive brood-rearing, and 

 a lull might otherwise ensue. Where there is no fruit- 

 bloom, and sufficient stores are in the hive, bees will ordi- 

 narily build up without feeding. Pres. Aikin suggested 

 that the bees be stimulated by extracting the combs, so that 

 they will move the honey. 



Question — What is the best method of separating 

 swarms if several or more should go together while swarm- 

 ing ? 



Mr. Whipple — Shake them on a sheet, and let them run 

 in both hives. 



A Member — Scoop some into each hive. 



Mr. Elliott — I had read of a plan of having a long- box 

 with frames in it suspended crosswise, into which the bees 

 are allowed to run, when they will separate of their own 

 accord. I have tried it, and while it does not work in all 

 cases, it does in a good many. 



several questions answered. 



Question — Is it best to keep hives for wintering close 

 to the ground, or two or three inches higher ? 



Mr. Honnett — I would advise the higher space, so that 

 mice cannot get in. 



Pres. Aikin — They should be high enough for the air to 

 circulate freelj-, and so that an ordinarj' snow will not pile 

 up about them. 



sweet clover on w,\ste l.\nd. 

 Question — Is there a law requiring sweet clover to be 

 destroyed on waste land ? 



It was replied that a law including noxious weeds had 



