442 



THE AMERICAN BEE JOURNAL. 



harvest at any time, to 200 colonies 

 kept in the orniuary way. It seems 

 to be the truth, and if he has liad 

 colonies gather 22 pounds of honey 

 each in one day from basswocd, as he 

 says, what use is there to fuss with so 

 many bees for so little honey i It 

 would be better to keep 25 colonies 

 ready for the honey harvest when it 

 comes, though they had to be fed 

 some. All men cannot do as Messrs. 

 Doolittle,Demaree,Heddon and others 

 do ; yet any man or woman with 

 some energy can keep 25 colonies 

 strong at ail times, better than to 

 waste time on more colonies as ordi- 

 narily kept. 



We are having a " honey shower," 

 but it is very dry here now. We had 

 a sprinkle last night. 



Shilob,5 O., July 4, 1887. 



HiyiiiE Bees— A LauEMWe Incident 



The following graphic description 

 of how Judge Odom's man Roberts 

 hived, or, rather, did not hive, a 

 swarm of bees, is from the Albany, 

 Ga., News. It is a good story, the 

 perusal of which our many readers 

 will enjoy. Here it is : 



There was a lively bee-hiving out 

 at Judge Odom's "oakey woods" 

 place the other day— the whole affair 

 being fully up to reputation as re- 

 gards the tragic and ludicrous. Judge 

 Odom had charged Mr. Roberts, the 

 overseer, to watch the bees and let no 

 swarms get away. Swarming season 

 approached, and Roberts made ready 

 for his apiarian harvest by preparing 

 gums, and conveniently placing tin 

 pans, bells, horse-shoes, and other 

 instruments of music likely to com- 

 pose and detain a swarm of bees, on 

 taking French leave. 



He did not have long to wait. The 

 other morning the hottest kind of a 

 swarm darkened the air, and Roberts 

 put his orchestra in motion with a 

 vigor that would cause any musically- 

 educated bee to pause, reflect, and 

 turn back. They did pause, and with 

 one accord pitched upon a tree in the 

 yard, where they formed themselves 

 into a funnel-shaped mass. 



Roberts then played upon them 

 with a huge syringe from a bucket of 

 water, and having effectually, as he 

 supposed, put out the incipient flame 

 that lurks in their tails, prepared to 

 gather them into his garner. The 

 bunch of bees were some 10 or 12 feet 

 from the ground, and the object was 

 to land them safely within the bee- 

 gum. 



A serious difliculty here met Mr. 

 Roberts, to-wit; how to bring the 

 gum in proximity with the bees and 

 retain it there. The gods of genius 

 were propitious ; necessity, proliflc 

 old mother of invention, brought 

 forth a son in the person of "Blind 

 Phil," a colored man on the place, 

 who is nearly or quite blind. 



" Phil, come here," said Mr. Rob- 

 erts, " I want you to hold this bee- 

 gum up under that bunch of bees, 

 while I climb the tree and sweep 



them in." And without ceremony or 

 unnecessary delay, he seized Phil, 

 and placed him directly under the 

 bees, put the bee-gum on top ot his 

 head, and directed him to stand tast. 

 Broom in hand, Mr. Roberts then 

 ran up the tree with the nimbleness 

 of a cat or squirrel, and, crawhng 

 out, hung himself on a limb, aiul 

 cautiously began to sweep them oft, 

 letting them fall in lumps into the 

 open box on the negro's head below. 

 Mr. Roberts congratulated himself on 

 the success of his scheme. 



Sometimes a wad of bees would 

 miss the hole and strike Phil on the 

 shoulder, whicli made him restless. 

 " Stand Arm, Phil," said a voice from 

 above, " and they will not sting you. 

 If a bee finds out that you are afraid 

 of him, he will sting you certain. Just 

 let him know you are not afraid, and 

 there is no danger," remarked Mr. 

 Roberts by way of encouragement. 



" Ouch ! golly ! I'm stungfor shuah! 

 Whew! Mars Roberts, I'm got to 

 drapdisbox!" 



" Stand still, you chicken fool you ! 

 I'll soon have them all in. W ho cares 

 for a bee V" Just then an old-liner 

 marched down Phil's back, under his 

 shirt, and Phil became still more un- 

 easy, but Mr. Roberts spoke soothing 

 words from above. 



Suddenly, however, the bees seemed 

 to realize who it was disturbing them, 

 and about forty "business fellows" 

 popped Mr. Roberts simultaneously, 

 and he dropped his broom, lost his 

 hold, and came down with a crash 

 upon the negro and box. 



With a whoop and a wild screech, 

 Phil got upon his feet and lit out, 

 followed by a crowd of bees. He for- 

 got his blindness, and went he knew 

 not whither, striking the garden pal- 

 ings broadside, and leveling three 

 panels with the ground. He never 

 stopped, but continued to charge 

 around the inclosure until the vegeta- 

 ables were all destroyed. 



In the meantime, Mr. Roberts was 

 fully employed. In fact, he was " very 

 busy." Around the house and through 

 it ; then under it ; out to the gate, 

 through the house-lot, and " over the 

 hills and far away." 



Neither were the bees idle, but 

 diligently "improved each shining 

 hour," flitting from flower to flower 

 (Roberts and Phil were the blossoms), 

 culling all the sweets and raising 

 merry " Hail Columbia." 



The swelling has all gone down 

 now, and if anybody sees a stray 

 swarm of bees in the neighborhood 

 they need not hesitate to hive them, 

 as Mr. Roberts and Phil will lay no 

 claim on them. 



a rainy day. Many persons suppose 

 that because there are flowers in 

 abundance, there is honey ; but this 

 is a mistaken idea, as the electric 

 conditions must be just right or the 

 nectar will not be secreted. Good 

 corn-growing weather is good honey 

 weather; warm nights, followed by 

 soft, balmy days. 



When the weatlier is warm enough 

 for bees to fly, and they are rearing 

 brood rapidly, it is not so important 

 what kind of sugar the syrup is made 

 of, as it is for winter stores. Brown 

 or maple sugar will do very well. 

 Care should be taken that robbing is 

 not induced, and it is best fed in the 

 upper story where no bee from the 

 outside can gain access to it. Where 

 the bees are covered with duck, mus- 

 lin, or a quilt, one corner can be 

 turned back, allowing the bees to 

 come up. Although they are very 

 investigating little bodies, they do 

 not alwavs lind the food immediately; 

 but if a little is poured upon them, 

 and a small stream of it leading to the 

 receptacle, they will soon be busily 

 engaged in carrying it down into their 

 combs. 

 Peoria,© Ills. 



Prairie Farmer. 



Feefling Bees in tlie Spring, 



MRS. L. HARRISON. 



Some time ago I examined a colony 

 belonging to a friend in an adjoining 

 town, and if I had not done so they 

 would soon have starved. They had 

 consumed all their stores in rearing 

 brood, and had made no provision for 



Honey and Beeswax Market. 



The following are our very latest 

 quotations for honey and beeswax : 



CHICAGO. 



HONEY.— We quote: Extracted, r.STc, accord- 

 inir to quality and piickaue. ^ew honey in i-lb- 

 settionswas sold tor 15c. per lb. Only 2-lb. sec- 

 tions of lioney are now cm ttio market. 



lJBBSWAX,-:!ao. K. A. BUKNB'l'T. 



July 7, 161 South Water St. 



DETROIT. 

 HONEY.— Best white comb, l!«r-'c. Marliet is 

 nearly bare, awaltine the new crop. 



June 10. M. U. HUNT. Bell Branch, Mich. 



SAN FRANCISCO. 



HONRY- We quote; Extracted, white, Scts.j 

 light amber, 4@4Xc. Comb, extra white, I2ai4c.j 

 amber, 7<'"iiIoc. Market tlrm. 



BBESWAX.-lSfaaic. 

 July 2. SCHACHT & LEMCKB. 122-124 Davis St. 



ST. LOCIS, 



HONEY— Choice comb, KKSirio. Strained, In 

 barrels, 3«e4Mc. Extra fancy, M more than jore- 

 Koinu prices. Extracted, 4 LiCaHC. Market dull. 



BEBSWAX.-Steady at 2n>tc, for prime. 



May 20. D. Q. TUTT & CO.. Commercial St. 



SAN FKANCISCO. 



HONE v.— We quote : White comb, I2@14c.: am- 

 ber 7(!Lcio. Extracted, white, 4jl(».'>c.;light amber 

 ■sUM'i^<:. Market quiet. 



lly^^r^'atfiMITH 4 CO,, 423 Front St. 



MILWAUKEE. 



HONEY — Choicewhite 1-lbs., 12®I2VeC.; choice 2- 

 Ibs , l(i««llc.; dari not wanted. and imperfect slow. 

 Extracted, finest white >" .."ei!'. «^!«*,3«i: „"; 

 white in kegs and barrels, 6is«Hc.; dark, 4 to W., 

 amber, in barrels, 4H'35c. Demand limited and 

 supply small. 



^nn^w.^^'~''T:v. BISHOP, 142 W. Water St. 



KANSAS CITY. 

 HONEY.-We quote : White clover l-lbs.. 10®12 

 ct"; dark 9 to IOC White clover 2-lbs.. lo to lie ; 

 dark 9 to lOc. Extracted, 5 to 6c. m small way. 

 Market almost bare of comb and extracted honey. 

 Jun. 16. CLEMONS.CLOON&CO., cor4th&Walnut 



CINCINNATI. 

 HONEY -We quote for extracted. scsTc. per lb. 

 Best comb brluBB 11(9140. Demand improving. 

 BEBSW AX.--Good demand,-2tK822c. per lb. lor 



JSS^^°. "SIf^MOTH &-80N,Freeman * Central At. 



