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THE AMERICAN BEE JOURNAL. 



Dec. 5, 



What Dr. Miller Thinks. 



Painting Hives. — That article on page 746 is a very im- 

 portant one if it is correct. Mr. Thomas seems to know what 

 he's talking about, but one is inclined to ask whether there is 

 no possibility of mistake in view of the fact that the general, 

 if not the universal, practice has been to put on a priming 

 coat. Can it be that during all these years there has been no 

 one sufficiently honest and intelligent to give us the truth ? 

 In spite of the difficulty of explaining the matter, I incline to 

 accept the teachings of Mr. Thomas as correct. 



Now comes a practical question : Some of us believe that 

 the bees are better off in hives without paint. Can we not take 

 advantage of bis teaching and oil all the bearings and joints ? 

 The hive first gives way and decays at those places, and if 

 they are oiled well will not the hive last just about as well as 

 if the whole hive were painted? So far as the bees are con- 

 cerned, it will be an unpalnted hive. But I think covers 

 should be painted, and I come to this belief after years of ex- 

 perience with unpalnted ones. 



Bee-Hives for Farmeks. — Referring to page 747, I do 

 not know whether Mr. Langstroth said exactly what is attrib- 

 uted to him, but if my memory is not at fault, hedid say some- 

 thing very much In that line — at least so far as to teach that 

 some farmers would do better to use box-hives. Can any one 

 tell us just what he did say, and where it was said ? 



Remedy for Robbing. — J. H. Andre, on page 752, rec- 

 ommends smoking the robbers till thoroughly drunk. I never 

 tried it, so am not competent to say, but the question arises 

 whether the robbers would not return to their evil ways when 

 they got over their "drunk." If there should be a permanent 

 cure effected, there is still the trouble that it can only be ap- 

 plied in cases in which we know "where theculprits are. Some- 

 times that's very hard to find out, as they may be anywhere 

 within an area of several square miles. Marengo, 111. 



% 



How Can Bee-Keepers Best Improve the 

 Winter Months? 



BY HON. GEORGE. E. HILTON. 



We live in an age of organizations, and through these or- 

 ganizations much valuable Information is gained, and much 

 pleasure is experienced. Bee-keeping Is no exception to the 

 many industries in this and other States. Many a man drops 

 his old-fogy ideas and takes up something progressive as the 

 result of his association with other minds. 



Almost every State in the Union has a bee-keepers' asso- 

 ciation, and I wish I could say every county in Michigan had 

 one. I felt this way 15 years ago, anfl my past experience 

 has proven to me that I was right. At that time there were 

 but few bee-keepers in Newaygo county, but I called that few 

 together and stated my Ideas and plans, and we organized 

 the " Newaygo County Progressive Bee-Keepers' Association," 

 and I was made its Secretary. We had frequent and very in- 

 teresting meetings, and much valuable information was re- 

 ceived and disseminated. 



About three years later I became acquainted with the fac- 

 ulty at the Agricultural College. Learning that an occasional 

 State Farmers' Institute was being held in the State, I made 

 application for one to be held at Fremont during the winter 

 of 1883, which was granted, and in February the first State 

 Farmers' Institute was held in Newaygo county, and I think 

 the first in the State north of Grand Rapids. We had with 

 us Prof. Kedzip, Prof. Beal, and one other whose name I do 

 not now recall ; but we had a rousing time, and the largest 

 hall in the village was filled. It was resolved at that time to 

 organize a county farmers' association. I was elected secre- 

 tary, and instructed to draft a constitution and set of by-laws 

 to be adopted at the next meeting. This I did, and with the 

 consent and recommendation of the Bee-Keepers' Association, 

 recommended the name of the "Newaygo County Farmers' 

 and Bee-Keepers' Association." This has been sustained ever 

 since, and two State institutes have been held here in the 

 meantime, and I am still serving as secretary. 



But another change is about to take place along the line 

 of progress. Under the new State law providing for farmers' 

 institutes In every county in the State that will organize a 

 society, we are about to merge this double-headed association 

 into a State institute, and hold hereafter annual State insti- 

 tutes in our county, and have as many auxiliaries as we 

 choose, and it is of these that I wish to speak in particular, 



for certainly every county in the State will provide for a State 

 institute. 



I have not written the above for self, but to show that 

 " large oaks from little acorns grow." Now, I not only be- 

 lieve there should be a bee-keepers' organization in every 

 county, but in every township, and through the winter months 

 these township organizations should meet monthly at least, 

 and semi-monthly would be better. At each meeting about 

 two topics should be assigned, and the persons to whom they 

 are assigned should write an essay designed to draw out dis- 

 cussion, and you who have not tried it will be surprised to 

 learn how much you don't know. These township organiza- 

 tions should be auxiliaries to a county organization that 

 should, in my opinion, hold its meetings in the spring before 

 the busy season comes on, and In the fall, as soon as the busy 

 season is over, and let these meetings be auxiliary to the State 

 Farmers' Institute, that can be held between these meetings. 



Aside from the information that may be gained from these 

 gatherings upon the subjects under discussion, they are gen- 

 eral educators. I know men and women (for I would have 

 women eligible to membership in all these associations) who, 

 a few years ago could not arise and repeat a dozen words 

 without breaking down, can now make splendid talks. The 

 Grange has done much in this respect, and where counties are 

 well supplied with Granges, perhaps these organizations are 

 not necessary ; but many will become members in a special 

 organization that are not members of the Grange, which I 

 think is a mistake, for with my eight years' experience in the 

 Grange, I think every f*rmer, his wife and children, should 

 be members. 



Now, I have but one object in writing this article, namely, 

 that in counties and townships where no such organizations 

 exist, steps will at once be taken among the bee-keepers to 

 organize, and my word for it others will soon fall in line. And 

 I know of no better way to improve the leisure time that so 

 many have during the long, long winter months. If at any 

 time I can give suggestions, or furnish any information, I 

 shall be very glad to do so. I should also be pleased to be 

 present at and assist in the organization of any county within 

 one or two hundred miles of my home, knowing that I should 

 be benefited thereby, and that the community composing the 

 organization would never regret the little effort It cost them. 

 — Michigan Farmer. Fremont, Mich. 



Hunting and Locating Wild Bees. 



BY- N. T. SMITH. 



Having read J. H. Andre's sketch on hunting wild bees 

 (on page 697), 1 wish to tell my experience this fall. So far 

 I have located 9 colonies in the woods, but the plan I follow 

 is not like that given by Mr. Andre. 



I have a box with a glass in the top, and a little "draw" 

 fitted with a piece of comb at the bottom, midway between the 

 comb and glass. There should be a thin slide to keep the bees 

 above the comb while carrying them from one point to another. 



I first find a bee on a fiower, if I can ; if not, I light a 

 small fire, and by burning small pieces of old comb or bees- 

 wax, I draw bees to me in that way. Then take the drawer 

 with the comb and let the bees settle on it, and then place it 

 inside the box. Have a bottle of sugar syrup with just a 

 scent of anise oil, put some on the comb, and when your bee 

 gets filled keep your eye on her, for as soon as she gets out 

 she will at once locate the opening In the box ; next she will 

 circle towards the tree or hive, coming back to the box to 

 start to make another circle, or directly over it. 



Now, after circling several times, each circle being larger, 

 she will return and often start on a straight line from you, but 

 not always ; some times she will start for home wheu so far 

 away that one needs good eyes to see her. 



Now wait patiently until she returns, which will probably 

 be from 6 to 10 minutes, according to the distance and the 

 weather. If the colony is close by, there will soon be others 

 following the first bee. (Let me add, don't start but one bee 

 at a time till you become acquainted with the work.) When 

 you can see them leave the comb and go without circling, 

 then get a direct line marked by something you will remember; 

 get some of the bees into the box above the slide, and carry 

 them to some other location where your observation will not 

 be broken by trees, and let your bees down on the comb, 

 watching them as before till you secure a straight line from 

 this point. 



Now, all you have to do is to follow up this line until you 

 come where your other ine crosses, then look, and be sure 

 you have your eye with /ou, for although to an old hand at it 

 a colony of bees is very easily located, to a new hand it is a 



