THE AMERICAN BEE JOURNAL. 



4fi7 



Normal Excretions of Bees. 



We publish on page 474 of tliis num- 

 ber, a very interesting communica- 

 tion from Mr. C. N. Abbott, editor of 

 the Britiah Bee Jourmd, discussing 

 Rev. W. F. Clarke's question, "Do 

 bees void dry excreta ?" Mr. Abbott's 

 article proves much observation and 

 experiment, and apparently goes far 

 to substantiate his conclusions ; how- 

 ever, the writer fails to tell us 

 ■whether the supposed dry excreta is a 

 normal, healthy voidance, or the op- 

 posite extreme of the dysenteric void- 

 ure. 



The writer's standpoint is well 

 taken, that " bees can only void their 

 excreta naturally wlienon the wing ;" 

 but it may be a matter of doubt 

 whether any insect or animal can void 

 d/TZ/ecfis, though frequently we come 

 across those which are comparatively 

 dry. And here arises a question as 

 to the chemical composition of tliose 

 dry grains or pellets frequently seen 

 in shipping boxes, and sometimes on 

 the bottoms of the hives. A careful 

 analysis and microscopical investiga- 

 tion may determine the presence of 

 beeswax to such an extent as to ex- 

 plain their appearance. 



Again, if these pellets arethe^x- 

 creta of bees in a healthy, normal con- 

 dition, then the amount of flight nec- 

 essary is certainly very limited, if a 

 box of the dimensions given by Mr. 

 Abbott affords ample facilities, and it 

 would be an easy matter for the 

 apiarist to provide such, and periodi- 

 cally during a protracted or unusually 

 severe winter, remove his colonies 

 into a heated room, run them into a 

 box of corresponding dimensions, 

 give them a lively " shaking up," and 

 again return them to their hives for 

 another season. 



As intimated by the learned writer, 

 much more is involved in this ques- 

 tion than mere idle curiosity, and we 

 unite with our contemporary in hop- 

 ing that the matter will receive the 

 fullest investigation at the hands of 

 the most scientiflc and progressive 

 apiarists in all parts of the world. 

 Those having the facilities, leisure 

 and necessary expertness, have op- 

 portunity for a very interesting series 

 of experiments. 



Cincinnati Industrial Exposition.— 



We have received the circular of the 

 tenth Cincinnati Industrial Exposi- 

 tion, which opens Sept. 10 and closes 

 Oct. 7, 18H2. The circular i.s a marvel 

 of neatness and taste, and certainly i.s 



a credit to the Exposition as well as 

 the lithogra|ihcis, and embraces 

 liberal premiums for all the leading 

 features in art, science, literature and 

 agriculture— almost everything, ex- 

 cept bees and honey." 



Smoker Fuel.— Mr. A. S. Ethering- 

 ton. Melton, X. S., writes as follows : 



I send you by mail to-day a sample 

 of what I consider the best fuel tor 

 smokers. I think it is the same Mr. 

 Ileddon spoke of in Gleanings, No. 7, 

 page 327. For four years I nave been 

 keeping bees, and I never used any- 

 thing else, it giving me su«h satisfac- 

 tion. I never tried to get anything 

 better. Mr. Root says some one 

 ought to supply this great boon to the 

 apiarist. I would like for you to test 

 the sample and pass judgment on it. 



The sami)le is very good, and gives 

 an admirable smoke, but no one 

 woukl ever find it remunerative to 

 supply the article at any price. The 

 apiaries are very few in the United 

 States the proprietors of which could 

 be induced to purchase smoker fuel, 

 and then the quantities wanted would 

 be so very small that nothing but vex- 

 ation woukl attend the traffic. We 

 regret to write anything discouraging, 

 but better that tlian delusive hopes. 



a most important feature in connec- 

 tion with the English and Canadian 

 fairs, and last year Mr. D. A. .Tones' 

 sales of honey at the Toronto Fair 

 amounted to several thousand pounds, 

 mostly in small packages, and at very 

 remunerative prices. We hope bee- 

 keepers throughout the United States 

 will make it a point to be well repre- 

 sented at all the expositions and fairs 

 offering the least encouragement, and 

 force sales of pure, choice honey, upon 

 consinners, and thus educate the pub- 

 lic to its greater consumption. There 

 should be much more honey consumed 

 in this country, and with proper 

 energy, a liome demaml can be created 

 for our whole production. 



Selling Honey at Fairs. 



The Tri-State (Ohio, Michigan and 

 Indiana) Fair Association have made 

 a new departure, in the establish- 

 ment of a Trartic Department. From 

 their circular for 1882 we copy as fol- 

 lows : 



Witli a view to the Traffic Depart- 

 ment, no selling will be allowed in 

 in the large and commodious main 

 building, wtiich will be kept for ex- 

 hibition purposes only, but sales- 

 rooms or bootlis will be provided 

 where all who arrange an exhibit in 

 the main building or elsewhere in ap- 

 pointed places, can. for a reasonable 

 rent, offer for direct sale on the 

 grounds all manufactured wares of 

 merit, or take orders for future de- 

 livery, under such rules and regula- 

 tions as will guarantee square deal- 

 ing, and protect both buyer and seller. 



The line art hall is well adapted to 

 purposes not only of exhibition but 

 also sales, and artists will be at I'berty 

 to take orders for their productions, 

 subject to delivery at the close of the 

 fair. 



A trathc department connected with 

 each of the fairs and expositions will 

 be a great benefit to all who are pro- 

 ducing for market, as it gives oppor- 

 tunity for extensive effective adver- 

 tising, and a splendid opportiniity for 

 exhil)iting goods and wares. The 

 traffic departu)put has for years been 



MISCELLANEOUS. 



The Smoker Useless with Cyprian 

 Bees.— The editor of tlie Bee-Keepers' 

 Guide gives the following as his ex- 

 perience witii the new race of bees : 



Our first season's experience with 

 the Cyprians, revealed to us no very 

 vicious peculiarities. They were 

 restless and always running and 

 queens hard to find, but last spring 

 they seemed almost uncontrollable. 

 We have one colony containing a 

 high-priced tested queen with which 

 it is difficult to have any dealing. We 

 open the hive carefully and deluge 

 the bees with smoke, and as it clears 

 away the top of the hive will still be 

 covered with bees trying to stand on 

 their heads and whirling and maneu- 

 vering curiously. Then we carefully 

 remove the side of the hive, and it 

 becomes necessary to use more smoke. 

 With the Hist frame removed, they 

 renew ttie attack with fresh vengence 

 and by the time the second frame is 

 taken out we are covered with bees, 

 feeling through clothing in a manner 

 whicli must give satisfaction to them. 

 They then travel up pant legs inside 

 and out, into sleeves and bee veil, and 

 we find it necessary to adjourn for 

 comfort's sake. 



Sliould Cyprian bees be generally 

 introduced throughout tfie country, 

 smoke and fumigation will gradually 

 drop out of tlie use of bee-keepers, as 

 the Cyprian loses none of its activity 

 when smoke is applied. 



We think that noliee-lceeper should 

 feel contented unless he is owner of 

 one such colony. But in case he has 

 a very near neighbor who keeps a 

 sample hive and whom he frequently 

 visits during manipulating times, it 

 would be a convenient wav to obtain 

 a knowledge of them without giving 

 up the body to .sacrifice. Soon we 

 shall all come to enjoy the gentler 

 race. 



