966 



GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTURE. 



Nov. 15 



3ear for the flow that does not come. This 

 past season happened to be a good one — 

 very fortunately so, because it was the 

 year when the National paid its respects to 

 the "City of the Angels."— Ed. J 



INFURIATED BEES STUXG KVERV THING IN 

 .SIGHT. 



Talk about cross bees, this season beats 

 any thing- I ever saw. The other day they 

 got after a hog that was somewhat lame 

 and stung it so that it died in less than an 

 hour after; when discovered it was simply 

 covered with beestings, and the wild mob 

 still after him. They chasrd the driver 

 and team a quarter of a mile and nearly 

 caused a runaway; every thing and every- 

 body within a few hundred yards had to 



If the pig referred to, or any other stock, 

 had jarred a hive there would be a fracas. 

 It is difficult to say in the present case 

 what started the bees. — Ed.] 



SHOOK SWARMS NOT SATISFACTORY. 



The shook swarm system has been a fail- 

 ure in my hands. About the 10th of May 

 the mijority of my colonies had queen-cells 

 started. I shook them as per your directions 

 in Gleanings, but they were full of bees, 

 and swarmed a month later — just in the 

 height of the honej'-flow. I had enough 

 bees in each hive to fill the first story and 

 two supers; yet they wotked more slowly 

 than moderately filled hives. 



Don't you think overcrowded hives are 

 worse than moderatel3' filled ones? I have 

 at present 20 colonies. Would 3'ou advise 

 me to unite these next spring, and let each 

 cast one natural swarm for the season, in- 

 stead of proceeding again by the shook- 

 swarm system? 



Charles L. R. Barnhart. 



liensselaer, N. Y. 



[The shook- swarm system has never fail- 

 ed to discourage natural swarming in our 

 locality. I would be inclined to think that 



- ^ .<::-- Ogll 



HOW the BEES STIRRED THINGS UP, DOWN IN OLD MISSOURI. 



make for cover; dogs, cats, and chickens 

 had to flee in every direction; even the 

 sparrows had to light out, and one got 

 killed. In spite of bee-veil and gloves, 

 while I was trying to get the hog out of 

 their reach I had to make several times for 

 a dark stable, such was their fury, nor do 

 I know what got them so mad as there was 

 nothing to my knowledge to disturb them. 

 Jas. Bachler. 

 Fredericktown, Mo., Aug. 14. 



[There are only two things that will 

 drive bees into fury. One is robbing, and 

 another bumping or tipping over a hive. 



you shook them a little too early; but since 

 you say that they had swarming prepara- 

 tions under way, this would be hardly pos- 

 sible. 



Shook swarms act in a very different way 

 with us than that described by you. We 

 find that they go to work with almost the 

 same amount of energy that characterizes 

 natural swarms, and the stronger they are 

 the better. 



If your colonies come through winter in 

 good order, it will not be advisable to unite 

 them in the spring as you suggest. The 

 uniting, if done at all, should be at the end 

 of the season. If done anywhere near the 



