Mar. 23, 1899. 



AMERICAN BEE JOURNAL 



183 



CONDUCTED EY 



DR. C. C. MILLER, Marengo, III. 



[Questions may be mailed to the Bee Journal, or to Dr. Miller direct.; 



A Mammoth Red Clover Correction. 



On pag-e 87 I said that mammoth red clover blossoms 

 at the same time as the other. It seems that I did not know 

 what I was talking about. I am indebted to Hon. R. L. 

 Taylor for the following- correction in the Bee-Keepers" 

 Review : 



" In this locality the mammoth clover blossoms two to four week's 

 later than the June clover— so much later that the first crop bears the 

 seed; while June clover blossoms so early that, on account of the scarcity 

 of appropriate insects to fertilize the blossoms, the first crop yields no 

 seed. Again, there is seldom much, if any, second crop of mammoth 

 clover; and, hence, very little fall bloom; while, under favorable circum- 

 stances, the June clover yields a g-oud second crop well filled with seed." 



Evidence of a Mouse in the Hive. 



I .send a sample of stuff I pulled out of one of my hives. 

 I pulled out about a pint March 2. I examined the hive last 

 Saturday (March 4) and pulled out about a pint more of the 

 same stuff, and found that the bees had cut consider- 

 able from the bottom of five combs. This is the only one 

 of my 11 colonies in which the bees have done this. I thought 

 at first that the mice had a hand in this, but there is no 

 way for the mice to get into the hives. What is the cause. 

 and how can I prevent it, if any harm is being done ? 



Illinois. 



Answer. — Mice. Sure. The sample sent is made up 

 of pieces of comb smelling- very sweet and nice, some of 

 them '4 to '/i inch in size. If the work was done by the 

 bees the pieces would be more nearly the size of ground 

 coffee. You say " there is no way for the mice to get into 

 the hive." Probably not. Neither is there any way for 

 the mouse or mice to get out that are in there, and you 

 probably shut the hive mouse-tight when a little fellow was 

 in there, chuckling to himself how he had outwitted you. 

 It is possible that you closed your hives at a time when it 

 was cold enough for the bees to suffer a mouse in the hive 

 without protest. The first day they can fly they will likely 

 dispatch Mr. Mouse, unless you open the hive so he can get 

 ' out of the wav. 



Bees on a Block Facing Hives. 



1. I wish to know how I can remove bees from a pine 

 block three feet long. I found them in a tree and sawed 

 them otit, and wish to get them into a hive. 



2. I have another hive that is packt in chaff, extra out- 

 side three inches thick of chaff, except the front. On 

 Thursday it was warm, and they came out and seemed to be 

 greatly disturbed; they dropt on the snow and were chilled. 

 and remained on the snow. Is it rig-ht for them to come 

 out? 



3. This hive is facing south. Should it face to the east ? 



OnT.\rio. 



Answers. — 1. The only dift'erence between this case 

 and transferring from a box-hive as described in your text- 

 book is the matter of splitting the wood. Stand the block 

 on end upside down, and .split off part at one side and then 

 at the other side. Don't split oft' a piece where several 

 combs are fastened to it, but try to take a place where two 

 or three combs will come away with the piece split oft'. It 

 may also do to split right through the middle, choosing such 

 a spot that the combs will separate without breaking. 



2. The excitement on flying after a long confinement is 

 entirely natural, and unless the number that fell on the 

 snow -n-as large no great harm will come of it. It might 

 have been a good thing if you had beaten down the snow in 

 front of the hive. It's a good thing for them to have a 

 flight. 



3. I don't really know which is best. Some say south, 

 .some say east. 'V\'hen facing south the bees get the sun at 

 the hottest time of the day. But some object to that in 

 warm weather, because the bees will have such a hot place 



to cluster in front. You can get over that by raising the 

 hive half an inch or more when hot weather comes, then the 

 bees can cluster on any side of the hive they like. I'd rather 

 manage so as not to have them cluster out on either side. 



Moving Bees a Short Distance Transf erring- 

 Square Frame. 



1. I have mv bees on the winter stands, and wish to 

 move them back about SO feet, and 100 feet to the west of 

 where they stand. When is the best time, and how ? Is it 

 not in March ? 



2. I also have one box-hive colony which I intend to . 

 transfer into the Langstroth hive. How am I to go about 

 it, and when ? Would it be better to move it first, or transfer 

 on the old stand ? 



3. What kind of a hive is it that has frames 12x12 

 inches, running crosswise ? Ohio. 



Answers.— 1. If they are not packt so that moving 

 would leave them without packing, then you may as well 

 move them the first warm .spell. After moving, put a board 

 in front of each hive so as to make the bees bump against 

 it in coming out. That will help to make them mark their 

 location. Don't leave any hives, stands, or anything on 

 the old location that will make it look like home to them. 

 The more dift'erent the old place looks the better. Some- 

 times, however, some bees will persist in clinging to the old 

 spot, in spite of all you may do. In that case it may be ad- 

 visable to place for them a hive containing a few combs for 

 them to cluster on, then in the evening carry these bees to 

 some colony that is not very strong, repeating it next day 

 or so, if necessary. If moving necessitates unpacking with- 

 out packing again, then it may be well to wait two or three 

 weeks later, even if a little more inconvetiient. 



2. You'll find instructions for transferring in your text- 

 book, and YOU will do well to move early and not transfer 

 till fruit-bloom, unless you prefer to wait till three weeks 

 after swarming— a plan that seems to be growing in favor. 



3. I don't know. Perhaps American. 



Odd Size Frame 



Foundation for Brood-Chamber- 

 Bees Dying. 



1. My bees are in hives which contain 11 frames, the 

 size of "each frame, inside measurement, being 9'2xl2 

 inches. Do you think this too large for producing comb 

 honev ? If so, what size would you use ? 



2. Which kind of foundation is best to be used in the 

 brood-chamber — drawn, heavy, or brood-foundation ? 



3. Yesterday (Feb. 18) w"as warm, and the bees were 

 nearly all out for a cleansing flight. I suppose. After they 

 were thru flying I noticed a large number of dead bees 

 in front of oiie hive. I cleaned these away and in a short 

 time there were nearly as many more. I concluded to watch 

 them, and for nearly an hour they continued to come out of 

 the hive, run around for a minute or two, and then die. 

 They were all worker-bees, and fully grown. I am sure 

 they were killed by the bees in the hive, but w/iy I don't 

 know. Can vou give me any information about it ? 



Xew York. 



Answers.- 1. No, not too large, but it's an odd size, 

 and if you haven't so many that it will be difficult to change, 

 you will do well to adopt the standard size, 17;^x9,'s, outside 

 measure. 



2. You -will probably be suited with either medium or 

 light brood. The light is more economical, the medium less 

 inclined to sag or warp. Supported by wires or little sticks, 

 the light will be all right. 



3. A good many bees die through the winter, and will 

 be carried out when bees have a cleansing flight. But you 

 say the bees came out and died after running around a 

 minute or two. which looks as if some weak "hunger- 

 swarm " had entered, and the intruders were dispatcht by 

 the bees of the colonv. 



The Omaha Convention Report ran through 14 num- 

 bers of the Bee Journal, beginning with the first number in 

 October, 1898. Now we have on hand quite a number of 

 complete sets of that report, which we will mail for just 10 

 cents each. That is. 14 copies of the American Bee Journal 

 for only a dime. There are doubtless a good many of our 

 new readers who will be glad to get that fine report. 



