216 



AMERICAN BEE JOURNAL. 



flight? Honey-dew was very plentiful 

 this season, which is something unusual 

 in this locality. I have been bothered 

 with grass growing around my hives, 

 and have pulled it up, and clipped it off, 

 but it still grew. Then I took a hoe and 

 scraped it off in front of the hives, and 

 do not think it will grow so fast now. 

 I think we will have a good honey-flow 

 this Fall from river weeds and stick 

 weeds. A. C. Babb. 



Greenville, Tenn. 



[The colonies were doubtless rendered 

 queenless in the manner you suggest, 

 but not being conversant with the cir- 

 cumstances and surroundings, we are 

 unable to give a positive opinion. The 

 answer by Mr. Doolittle. to Query 756, 

 page 345 of the Bee JorKXAL, might 

 prove of benefit to you in your battle 

 with the grass. — Ed.] 



Honey Crop Two-Thirds, so Far. 



My report for this year I will send in 

 when the season closes. My average is 

 about two-thirds of a crop. Have sold 

 2,H80 pounds of extracted, at 83^ cents 

 per pound, kegs returned. I have been 

 oft'ered 15 cents for comb-honey, but 

 think 18 cents is not too much. I have 

 about 450 pounds on hand, and about 

 200 pounds to be taken off. 



Wm. Seitz. 



Hustisford, Wis., Aug. 7, 1891. 



Due to Gentle Manipulation. 



1. Do the Italians ever come up over 

 the top of the frames in a threatening 

 manner and fly out and sting one. like 

 the blacks ? 2. Are the Albinos as 

 hardy as the Italians, i. e.. do they 

 winter as well ? 3. Are all the progeny 

 of an Italian queen that has been fer- 

 tilized by a black drone, vindictive. 



I. F. DlAMOXB. 



Fly Mountain, N. Y. 



[1, No. 



2. Many think that they do not winter 

 quite as successfully, but it has not been 

 fully demonstrated. 



3. No. Gentle handling has more to 

 do with the docility of bees than many 

 imagine. Some hybrids are more amia- 

 ble than pure Italians. This is accounted 

 for by the gentleness with which they 

 are manipulated. — Ed.] 



Bees Killing- Their dueen. 



The honey crop in this locality is not 

 as abundant as was expected by the way 

 the bees worked in the early part of the 

 season. They are gathering some light 

 honey now which is very nice, and also 

 some dark honey, but I do not think it is 

 any darker than some that I have had at 

 different times within the last few years. 

 While I was examining my bees, latelv, 

 in one colony, I noticed that the bees 

 Nvere killing their queen. She seemed to 

 be nearly dead. I found no other queen 

 in the hive. I have never found such a 

 case before, during my ten years' experi- 

 ence, in bee-keeping, and would like to 

 know the cause of it. 



Mrs. E. L. Seals. 



Dixon, His., July 27, 1891. 



[The case as reported, is unusual, 

 Without knowing more about it, I am 

 unable to say why the queen was killed, 

 and indeed I might not be able to tell 

 any better if I knew the circumstances 

 in full. Sometimes bees do things with- 

 out any apparent reason for it. 



The queen may have been injured in 

 some way the last time the hive was 

 opened, or, indeed, at the time the trouble 

 was discovered. Possibly the bees had 

 tried to swarm, and the old queen was 

 not able to go with them, in which ca.<( 

 they might ball her.— C. C. Miller.] 



Less than Average. 



In some localities there has been a]i 

 excellent honey-flow, but generally, I 

 believe, the crop wili be slightly below 

 the average. There has been very little 

 swarming. R. F. Holtermanx. 



Brantford. Ont. 



Bees Not Swarming. 



I have 8 colonies of bees, but none of 

 them have cast swarms this season. 

 Last year I had but 2 swarms from 8 

 colonies. I think I should like the 

 Punic bees, if they are as represented, 

 but desire more information before 

 investing in them. 



George Hodge. 



Belmont, N. Y., Aug. 14, 1891. 



Clubs of 5 New Subscriptions for $4.00 

 to any addresses. Ten for 17.50. 



