1883 



JUVENILE GLEANINGS. 



559 



f ^^orl# §n§€uragmg. 



MY bees have done well this season. I have 

 taken 3600 lbs. of honey — 1600 lbs. in Mb. sec- 



tlons, and 1000 extracted. I have taken 114 



sections from several of my best colonies, besides 

 extracting from 6 to 'J gallons from the same colo- 

 nies. Is that not good enough? I have opened the 

 eyes of some of m y old-fogy neighboi-s this season, 

 who still use the old box hives, and think they have 

 done wonders when they get a box of honey that 

 will weigh 25 or 30 lbs , from one hive. I have taken 

 over 200 lbs. this season from several of my good 

 colonies. When I talk of getting SW lbs. from a col- 

 ony, they hardly believe it; but I can show the hon- 

 ey. W. H. Gulp. 

 West Jefiferson, O., Aug. 13, 1883. 



I have a swarm of bees that was hived on the 22d 

 day of last May, and sinse then they have put in 

 boxes 210 lbs., besides filling brood-frames, making 

 nearly 300 lbs. of honey, stored by this young swarm 

 the present season. When you can make a better 

 record out West, I should be pleased to hear from 

 you. Franklin Treat. 



Centre ville, R. I., Aug. 20, 1883. 



OUR FRIEND DR. J. B. LAY; THE SEASON IN TEXAS, 

 AND CYPRIANS BY THIS TIME. 



This has been the dryest year in ap. But little sur- 

 plus honey; a great many bees died of starvation in 

 this vicinity; ours are in splendid condition. All we 

 ask is rain, and we shall have honey yet. We have 

 watched the different races closely. We have Ital- 

 ians, hybrids, and Cyprians. The Cyprians are 

 ahead of all, and we consider this a test year. Bees 

 are now gathering from live-oak balls. 



J. E. Lay. 



Hallettsville, Lavaca Co., Texas, Aug. 16, 1883. 



CHAFF HIVES. 



I purchased a chaff hive of Mr. Samuel Calland, 

 from which I have taken 115 lbs. of good choice 

 comb honey, and I think they have 20 lbs. more in 

 the upper story, and I may get 30 lbs. They are rich 

 in the brood-chamber. I think the comb fdn. the 

 best thing ever invented to encourage the bees, and 

 to realize the greatest profit out of them. I shall 

 not hereafter be without it, as I realize a great ad- 

 vantage fn using it. S. S. Leach. 



Quincy, O., Aug. 13, 1883. 



I am a poor man, and bought one stand of bees the 

 first of May. I jiDw have 3 stands doing well, and 2 

 swarms ran off. Jos. McFarland. 



Goldsmith, Ind., Aug. 16, 1883. 



Friend M., I do not know but this is out 

 of place in Eeports Encouraging, but I guess 

 it isn't, for the bees did their part if you tlid 

 yours. If you continue letting two swarms 

 out of four go off every year, I am afraid 

 you will always be a poor man. If we under- 

 stand you, you had four swarms from the 

 one you started with in the spring; from 

 which, I should think, y,our locality must be 

 a good one, and we mtist expect next year 

 you won't let any go away at all. 



R. E. from QUEBEC. 



About the 15th of April, while there was yet much 

 snow on the ground, I managed to get to the hives, 

 and, to my joy, I heard a joyful buzz. On examin- 

 ing I found one stock dead, the remaining 3 alive 



and strong. As the sun disappeared, the bees came 

 out stronger. I unpacked them and put all in order, 

 and ou the — of July I had my first natural swarm. 

 I increased to 7; sold the stock that wintered in cel- 

 lar in box hive, drummed out the Quinby, and set- 

 tled down to the Langstroth hive. I have taken 

 nearly 100 lbs. of section and 250 lbs. extracted hon- 

 ey. Had I had an extractor at the commencement, 

 and bees all in Langstroth hives, I should probably 

 have exceeded 500 lbs. W. Trickbr. 



St. Foy's Road, Quebec, Can., Sept. 5, 1883. 



TAKING AWAY HONEY, AND GIVING THEM GRANU- 

 LATED SUGAR FOR WINTER STORES. 



WANT to ask you a question. I thought of tak- 

 ing the larger part of the honey from the 

 brood-department and feeding granulated sugar 

 for winter stores, for I can get nearly one-half more 

 for extracted honey than I would have to pay for 

 sugar. Will they winter as well, or not? 

 Millersburg, O. C. F. Uhl. 



[As a rule, friend U,, I think there is no question 

 but that stores of granulated sugar are even safer 

 than natural stores. Of course, we would not rec- 

 ommend taking out parts sealed late in the fall, and 

 giving them syrup that they would not have time to 

 seal over. If you do it at once, I think you are safe 

 in taking away the honey, and feeding sugar.] 



What should a twoyear-old empty comb be worth 

 in a Langstroth frame, without tin corners? 



[In the price list we have rated empty combs at 25 

 cents each. Those on wire combs, 30 cents each. 

 This is for metal-corner frames. I should rate all- 

 wood frames at least 5 cents less. Of course, these 

 combs are built out on foundation. Frames of 

 natural comb are rated from 10 to 15 cents each.] 



How old should combs be, to be discarded? 



[I think I should use combs ten or fifteen years at 

 least, before thinking of melting them up and using 

 new ones.] 



About what time should bees be laid away for 

 winter? 



[If you mean by the term "laid away,"jthe time 

 bees should be put into the cellar, it depends on the 

 locality and the opinion of the bee-keeper. We used 

 to put our bees into the cellar or bee-house about 

 the middle of November.] 



If you should make a hive 12 ft. long, and fill it 

 with bees, with wire-cloth partition, would it not 

 produce more of an equilibrium through the hives 

 than if each swarm were in a separate hive, and re- 

 tain the same in colder weather? 



[The plan of a long hive is an old idea, and would 

 seem reasonable; but it has so many times been tried 

 and discaMed, I am inclined to think it Is not. very 

 satisfactory, as a general thing.] 



Do j'ou recommend empty fdn. to put in hive in 

 winter, in the place of old combs, for bees to lounge 

 on, if comb is not to be found ? 



Do you consider it necessary to use empty combs, 

 for wintering purposes? If so, what number to a 

 middling size swarm? 



[To be sure, We want combs for wintering ; but I 

 believe it is generally thought better to have fiUe d 

 ones than empty. In regard to the number. It de- 

 pends upon the size of the colony. TJiree combs 



