628 



GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTURE. 



July 15 



According to statements made by our customers, we 

 consider the outlook very favorable for a good honey 

 crop, although the cool weather in the early part of 

 summer has had a tendency to keep down swarming. 

 The weather here of late has been such that it war- 

 rants a good crop. Price of honey is somewhat higher 

 than last year, but finds a ready sale in this market. 

 According to some of our customers' statements, the 

 honey crop will be better than any that they have had 

 within the last five years. Page & I^yon Mfg Co. 



New I,ondon, Wis., July 9. 



We are in the midst of the best white-clover honey 

 harvest I have ever known. It will last ten or twelve 

 daj'S yet, with favorable weather. No basswood hon- 

 ey, although some trees are in bloom ; but there are 

 not enough trees producing this j'ear to make any 

 showing on the crop. C A. Hatch. 



Richland Center, Wis., July 9. 



As well as we are able to determine, the honey crop 

 throvigh the section over which we sell hives has been 

 fairlygood this season — what might be considered a 

 medium crop. Prices range about the same as last 

 season, wholesaling at from 13 to 17 cents, and retail- 

 ing at from 15 to 25 cents per section. The minimum 

 retail price here is 20 cents for fancy honey. The 1 

 and 2 grades are anywhere from 15 to 20 cents retail. 



Washington. D. C, July 8. Saffell & Kirrick 



There has been a good crop of white clover, but 

 there seemed to be no smell of sweetness in the air, 

 except two or three days, owing to cold days and 

 nights; too much rain; bees do not notice it. So far in 

 Virginia, Mar5dand, Delaware, Pennsylvania, and 

 New Jersey, I have heard of no large yields. What I 

 have seen are hardly up to the average at this date. 

 There is a fair show of clover still booming, with good 

 weather since July 1, and the bees are doing better. 



Washington, D. C, July 8. F. Danzenbaker. 



7>/<§-raw.— Weather unfavorable; supply of honey 

 less than last vear: prices high; will go higher. 



Seattle, Wash., July 8. Lilley, Bogardus & Co. 

 The following- came too late to classify. 



W'e had a light early flow, and we now have a good 

 flow from mesquite; but I don't know how long it 

 will last. No very large crop if expected. There is 

 time yet for a fall Bow. J. A. Coursey. 



Click, Texas, July 11. 



Telegratn.— Season is good— over average crop ex- 

 pected; quality extra; early shipment available, last 

 years' pi ices maintained. Jno. W. I,yte. 



Reiio, Nev., Julj- 9. 



Telegram— V^^hiy per cent of bees d'ad; 50.000 lbs. 

 honev in sight. Wm. W. Selck, Sr. 



Idaho Falls, Idaho, July 9. 



I have tried to learn what the prospects are around 

 this vicinity, and came to the conclusion that, if the 

 weather will keep on as now, with a few warm show- 

 ers, we shall have, after all, a very good honey-crop. 

 The weather we had brought on a second flow of white 

 clover, and this will help us considerably. Honey in 

 compari.son with last year is offered this year so much 

 more, and prices will rule lower. 



Cincinnati, O., July 8. C. H. W. Webeij. 



At present we are having one of the best white-clo- 

 ver honey-flows. There seems to be a widespread 

 white-clover flora which continues beyond the usual 

 blooming period. On account of the unusuall3' wet 

 spring, heartsease is coming into bloom fully a month 

 sooner than usual, and at "this writing it promises a 

 good fall honey-flow. Notwithstanding the good flow 

 of honey in the territory referred to, there seems to be 

 an advance in the price of honey, due to a greater de- 

 mand, mainly from the working people, who, receiv- 

 ing better wages, now purchase heney for almost dai- 

 ly con.sumption. Heretofore they purchased honey 

 onlv sparingly as an article of luxury. 



Red Oak, la., July 7. E. Kretchmer. 



The honey crop through the State is the best we have 

 had in years. Judging from reports that come in to 

 us we find that there is no portion or part of our State 

 but is getting a big crop of honey. Taking the whole 

 State into consideration, we believe this season's crop 

 is twice or three times that of last year. 



L. C. & A. G. Woodman. 



Grand Rapids, Mich., July 9. 



Honey-crop best for years in this locality and Mis- 

 souri generally. White-clover yield has been good, 

 and a good fall crop is expected. Prices rule fairly 

 well. Scarcity of fruit will make a good demand for 

 honey. We see no reason why bee-keepers should not 

 find a ready sale at a good price. 



High Hill, Mo., July 7. John Nebel & Son. 



ANOTHER QUEEN THAT PREFERS NEW TO OLD 

 COMB. 



BY H. A. HIGGINS, M. D. 



I see in Stray Straws of April IS that the 

 experience of C. T. Bender confirms the 

 view that, whenever bees have the choice be- 

 tween old and new comb, they prefer the 

 old. I have not had much experience with 

 bees, but have observed closely while I have 

 been working-, and I am of the opinion that 

 they prefer the new comb to the old — for 

 brood, any way. I transferred some bees 

 into an observatory hive (glass on both sides 

 16X12) to observe closely their movements, 

 for my own amusement and instruction. 



I took old comb out of the box hives and 

 put in the frames of the hew hives; after 

 they had commenced rearing brood I decid- 

 ed to take a frame of brood from a strong- 

 co'ony and give it to a weak one. I did so, 

 taking a frame from the center of the brood- 

 chamber, and substituting- an empty one in 

 its place. In a short while they had filled 

 the empty frame with new comb and brood, 

 so I took it out and placed it on the outside 

 of the brood-chamber, next to the g-lass, 

 where I could watch it, putting a frame 

 with foundation in its place. In due time 

 the bees commenced hatching out of the 

 frame I had removed from the center; and 

 before they were all hatched I saw the 

 queen through the glass, laying eggs in the 

 same comb, while the comb in the next 

 frame nearer the center of the hive which 

 contained old comb did not have a single 

 egg in it, neither has it had this season. 

 The queen certainly had a preference for 

 new comb or she would never have come 

 around the old comb to the out.^ide limit of 

 the brood -chamber to the new comb. In the 

 mean time the bees had again filled out the 

 frame in the center, and it was stuft'ed full 

 of brood, which I have now removed to the 

 other side of the brood-chamber next to the 

 glass, and the bees are now hatching out, 

 and I expect soon to see her "ladyship" 

 around hunting that new comb again, pro- 

 vided the bees don't crowd her out with 

 honey. It was perfectly natural that they 

 would fill out the e)iipty frame, and draw 

 out the foundation in the other, when they 

 were put in the center; but why leave the 

 center and go to the outside after it was re- 

 moved, unless it was a preference for the 

 new comb ? 



[Ur. Higgins' experience is not greatly 

 different from mine. While I grant that it 

 is, perhaps, a rule that queens will prefer 

 old comb, yet there are many instances 

 when they will seem to show a decided 

 preference for new comb. — Ed.] 



