168 



GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTURE. 



Feb. 1 



[At the foul-brood convention in San An- 

 tonio the feeling was expressed that the 

 Alexander treatment would not work in a 

 locality where the European or black brood 

 had just gotten a foothold — that it was only 

 when the disease had practically worn itself 

 out that the dequeening method would effect 

 a cure. We shall be glad to receive reports 

 from those who tried the Alexander cure. 



Our correspondent makes a fairly accurate 

 comparison of the two diseases. In some re- 

 pects there ai'e marked differences, especial- 

 ly in the condition of the brood-comb after 

 the larva? have died. It seems very clear 

 that the bees can polish up the combs, and 

 possibly disinfect them, after the ravages of 

 European foul brood, when it would be im- 

 possible for them to do any thing with combs 

 affected with the American disease. 



We wish to bear testimony that Mr. Alex- 

 ander never made any claims for his cure in 

 the case of American foul brood. The sug- 

 gestion was made by one or two correspon- 

 dents, and by the editor, that possibly the 

 treatment might do some good with that dis- 

 ease; but no claims were made. 



When Mr. Alexander speaks of American 

 foul brood as being incurable he does not 

 mean, as we take it, that the McEvoy treat- 

 .ment, which has given such excellent results 

 through Canada, Wisconsin, Michigan, and 

 elsewhere, would not prove effective. As 

 we understand him, he means that no treat- 

 ment can disinfec^t combs that have been af- 

 fected with old-fashioned (Ameri(ian) foul 

 brood, and he is probably correct. The 

 gluey, varnish-like character of the dead 

 matter of this disease hardens down like so 

 much cement; and when the stuff is smeared 

 over the cells, and dried on, it renders the 

 disinfection of the combs by means of for- 

 maldehyde difficult and uncertain. 



It will be noted that we have started the 

 use of the names European and American 

 foul brood. The editor believes it is wise to 

 adopt these names in order that we may be 

 more sure of retaining the protection of leg- 

 islation that specifically mentions/o?^/ brood, 

 but says nothing about black brood. It is 

 difficult at best to get foul-brood laws, and 

 when once secured it is better to let well 

 enough alone. By calling both diseases 

 "foul brood," drawing the distinction by 

 means of a qvaalifying adjective, we solve all 

 difficulties at once. — Ed.] 



SYSTEM. 



Some Criifle Methods and their Disadvan- 

 tages; a Thin Board for Keeping a Com- 

 plete Record of all the Colonies 

 in an Apiary. 



BY PHILIP E. CRANE. 



Mr. Editor:— Wh.\\Q reading System a few 

 days ago T came across a statement among 

 the editorials that interested me greatly. It 

 was to the effect that one of the best known 

 of the Boston paper-houses some time ago 



installed some new systems in their business, 

 and that in the first fourteen months after 

 the installation the company had saved sixty 

 per cent on its expenses over the correspond- 

 ing period preceding. Being somewhat of a 

 system crank myself, as well as interested 

 in bees, I at once thought how true this 

 might be of a great many bee-keepers. 

 There was a time when business men found 

 it necessary to look up the condition of their 

 business only at the end of the year, while 

 now they must know the exact standing of 

 the Ijusiness each morning before any thing 

 further is done. The same is true of the 

 bee-keeper. Years ago, at the end of the 

 season he looked to see if each colony had a 

 queen, nothing more. To-day he must be 

 able at any time through the season to tell 

 the exact condition of any colony if he would 

 be in any way successful. 



For years I have watched the journals to 

 see how different bee-keepers kept their rec- 

 ords in the apiaries. One of the worst prob- 

 lems is to devise a system that will meet the 

 needs of all; indeed, this is next to impos- 

 sible, for there are so many methods of car- 

 rying on the pursuit that what will do for one 

 will be of no value to another. Many have of- 

 fered suggestions, some of which applied to 

 one kind of hive, some to another. Many were 

 practicable for the man with a few swarms 

 of bees, but were of no value to the person 

 with a large number. Out of them all I have 

 never seen any that met the needs of the 

 large producer who makes the production of 

 honey his entire business. The profits aris- 

 ing from the sale of honey are not large, and 

 it behooves the producer to get along with 

 as little help as possible and do the work 

 properly. 



For several years two of us have carried 

 on from five to six apiaries, ranging from 

 two and one-half to ten miles from home, 

 and containing from 60 to 150 colonies of 

 bees. Our ability to do this is to a great ex- 

 tent due to our system of records. These 

 admit of our looking up the condition of any 

 swarm fi'om the begmning of the season till 

 the end within five seconds, and without 

 stirring from our tracks. 



Let us look for a minute at some of the 

 plans that have been suggested from time to 

 time. One man places a stone on different 

 corners of the cover to denote different con- 

 ditions of the colony. It is plain to be seen 

 that this plan applies only to those using 

 hives with flat covers, and, besides, even if 

 we used such there would not be corners 

 enough on the cover to answer our purpose. 

 Some one else suggests that you carry a lit- 

 tle blank book with a page for each colony, 

 and, as you finish work at the hive, "jot 

 down its condition." This may do for the 

 man with a dozen colonies; but life is too 

 short to write out the condition of each hive; 

 and, too, suppose a colony across the yard 

 swarms- just think of turning over the leaves 

 to find the place, and especially those that 

 are stvick together with honey and propolis! 



I might mention one more. Some write 

 it on a slip of wood and drop it inside the 



