20 



GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTURE. 



Jan. 1 



A small (say four-inch) pipe connecting 

 through the ceiling above, or otherwise, with 

 a pipe or chimney into which heat passes 

 makes an excellent means by which foul and 

 damp air can be carried from the bee-cellar. 

 Some old carpet or bagging to cover the out- 

 side walls is often another profitable addition, 

 and in these ways the wintering of bees is 

 made a greater success, and the profits of the 

 apiary greatly increased. 



From the headings of the address of Dr. 

 H. von Buttel-Reepen, page 1291, I judge we 

 shall have some exceedingly interesting api- 

 cultural information in the translation which 

 is to be published in Gleanings. I judge 

 we may have the confirmation of a theory 1 

 have had for years, and which I have given 

 to my students in the apiary as such. That 

 is, that a colony long queenless is not robbed 

 out more readily than others, because they 

 have less of vim and energy, but because 

 of unfavorable conditions. A queenless col- 

 ony is energetic enough at stinging the apia- 

 rist making an examination; in fact, their 

 reputation is a little above the average in 

 this direction. My theory is that, if one Kept 

 giving them plenty of young brood, there 

 would be no difference as to being robbed 

 out, because the brood and perhaps the food 

 imparts a peculiar odor to the hive, the ab- 

 sence of which is conspicuous when other 

 colonies have it. Or in a long-queenless col- 

 ony there are only old bees, and these are 

 not so keen at detecting the strange bees. 

 Of course, we understand this thought is 

 speculative. 



R. F. Whitesides, Victoria Co., Ont., sug- 

 gests in a letter that the secretary of the 

 Ontario Bee-keepers' Association be paid a 

 salary in proportion to the number of mem- 

 bers in the association as an incentive to 

 work. Not a bad idea, only there is much 

 more to do than to get members. Mr. 

 .Whitesides writes, "Alexander, in Glean- 

 ings, sends me a ray of sunshine in saying 

 cappings should be washed and the sweet 

 water used for stimulative feeding. ' ' Thanks 

 —not any for me until foul brood is no more 

 in the world. One known or unknown dis- 

 seased colony in the apiary may infect all 

 the sweet water, and the ray of sunshine be- 

 come a very thunder-cloud to break over 

 your head. I have known large apiaries ruin- 

 ed by one dose of feeding back honey. To 

 feed back honey is unwise and dangerous. 

 To feed back honey from cappings increases 

 the danger of infection. I could name well- 



known bee-keepers who have bitterly regret- 

 ed the action, and will never in their life- 

 time repeat the mistake. 



At this date, Oct. 31, it has been announc- 

 ed that there will be a Franco-British Exhi- 

 bition of science, arts, and industries in 

 London, England, during 1908, which will be 

 fully I'epresentative of evei'y aspect, region, 

 and people of the French and British nations. 

 With a view of inviting Canadians to join in 

 the oi'gauizing scheme, the organizers have 

 asked that the name of Mr. Harry Cockshutt, 

 Brantford, Ontario, President of the Canadi- 

 an Manufacturers' Association, be added to 

 the general committee. Canadian bee-keep- 

 ers should see that a honey exhibit worthy 

 of the industry and of them be prepared and 

 placed at this Exhibition. The exhibit should 

 be out of the crop of next season. We can 

 properly keep the crop over; comb honey 

 should be collected during the autumn of 

 next year, and at one point be properly cared 

 for. Dui'ing the season of 1908 more can be 

 collected and allowed to replace partially 

 the earlier exhibit. How appropriate it 

 would be for the Fi-ench Canadians of Que- 

 bec to have a conspicuous amount of choice 

 honey at this Franco-British Exhibition! 

 The conductor of this department feels sure 

 that fancy Canadian honey can find a good 

 market in Great Britain, and at good prices. 



Awards, if properly set forth, should help 

 the demand for honey in our home market. 

 This idea has not been used to any extent. 

 At the Paris, France; Glasgow, Scotland; Buf- 

 falo Pan-American, and St. Louis Exposi- 

 tions, gold medals were obtained by Canada 

 for honey exhibits. 



If Canadian bee-keepers, with the help of 

 the Government as to expenses, etc., make 

 up their minds they will probably add anoth- 

 er laurel to the number. It should be a dis- 

 play larger than has ever before been known. 



Ar>ULTERA.TED HONEY. 



Here in Canada many of us as individuals, 

 when we suspect adulteration, send the 

 name and address to the Department of In- 

 land Revenue, and there the matter is taken 

 in hand. Of course, such a method is bound 

 to make a bad percentage showing. We can, 

 however, be proud of the following recent 

 record from that department at Ottawa, up- 

 on examining 54 samples of honey collected 

 during Marcn and April last, in different 

 parts of Canada. Of this number 10 were 

 found to be adulterated. None in the Mari- 

 time Provinces; three were adulterated in 

 Quebec, three in Manitoba, two in Ontario, 

 one in Alberta, and one in British Columbia. 

 Some years ago it occurred to me it would 

 be an excellect plan to pass a resolution con- 

 demning a firm or party (giving their name) 

 that had adulterated honey, adding that it 

 had shaken our confidence in all other goods 

 they put up. This was done, and a copy 

 sent to the offendei's and the press. I know 

 of no more effectual way of dealing with this 

 matter. 



