AMERICAN BEE JOURNAL. 



405 



colonies have about enough to last them 

 until Spring. Golden-rod and the other 

 Fall flowers do not appear to secrete 

 much nectar. Have had a colony on the 

 scales since July 17, and they have lost 

 7 pounds in weight. 



Charles Tarey. 

 Houghton, N. Y., Sept. 12, 1891. 



First Bee-Escape Patented. 



1 have just read friend Silcott's de- 

 scription of the first bee-escape invented! 

 He is away off, as the first bee-escape of 

 which we have any record, was patented 

 June 26, 1860. (See recent number of 

 Gleanings.) From Mr. Silcott's descrip- 

 tion, I judge it to be an antiquated affair. 

 Instead of his patent covering modern 

 escapes, it is quite likely that his was 

 covered by the one of June 26, 1860, 

 and that his is about as worthless as the 

 "Grubb patent." So far, my new 

 escape is the only one, ancient or 

 modern, that successfully clears supers 

 without springs, traps, or other compli- 

 cations. C. H. DiBBERN. 



Milan, Ills., Sept. 17, 1891. 



Cause of Black, Shiny Bees. 



I believe that the cause of the appear- 

 ance of black, shiny bees is the material 

 from which the bee was produced 

 (known as honey-dew). The cause may 

 commence in the queen being fed with 

 it, or the larva, after the egg is hatched. 

 But I am satisfied that honey-dew is 

 somehow the cause, though no one has 

 yet given that as their opinion. I have 

 seen a bee which seemed to have swam 

 through black oil, come to the entrance 

 of the hive, and three, four or more 

 would seem to lick and bite her all over, 

 and some would leave her, and others 

 take their place, showing that they had 

 a desire to do something for her, which 

 she could not do for herself; and when 

 they were disposed to leave her alone, 

 she continued to plume, clean and dress 

 herself for a long and tiresome time, 

 among the other bees, showing, as I 

 believe, that she was at her own home, 

 and was not, and never had been, a 

 robber, or an old, hairless bee. I believe 

 I have seen many of them that had 

 never before taken a flight from their 

 hive, and though in all other respects 

 they seemed perfectly well, yet they 

 failed to fly, and went hopping about 

 the yard. I have seen a very few acting 

 like workers, yet have not seen one 

 carrying pollen. I have never seen any 

 of them act sick or die as if old or dis- 



eased, and am very sure the cause of 

 their appearance maybe found in honey- 

 dew. F. Benjamin. 

 Rockford, Ills. 



Propolis on Comb-Honey. 



This season I have produced consider- 

 able comb-honey, but as a general thing 

 it has proved unsatisfactory, being 

 covered with propolis which cannot be 

 got off. Now, what I want to know is, 

 how can I produce comb-honey without 

 having it all covered with propolis on 

 top and comb on the bottom ? 



Ezra J. Hollenbeok. 



Elk Rapids, Mich. 



[The excellent article on this subject, 

 byG. M. Doolittle, on page 395, will 

 give the desired information. — Ed.] 



Let the Truth be Known. 



I have just finished reading the able 

 and pointed article from the pen of 

 Henry Alley, on page 380. I think Mr. 

 Alley's proposition a fair one, and any 

 bee-keeper who thinks Mr. Alley is 

 wrong in regard to the yellow stripe, 

 now has an opportunity to bring that 

 fact to light, and at the same time be 

 well paid for so doing. By-the-by, this 

 discussion about yellow bands is bring- 

 ing facts to light. Let us have the 

 truth, brethren, for "truth crushed to 

 earth will rise again," 



John D. A. Fisher. 



Woodside, N. C. 



Fine Display of Bees and Honey. 



At our County Fair and Flax Palace 

 Exposition, held last week at this place, 

 the industry of bee-keeping was well 

 represented. W. W. Wright and myself 

 "doubled teams," fitted up a booth in 

 the Flax Palace, and exhibited bees, 

 honey, and all the modern fixtures. Our 

 booth was artistically decorated with 

 honey-plants, fruits, and various imple- 

 ments and adjuncts to an apiary, and 

 was constantly visited by a curious and 

 delighted crowd. We received many 

 compliments for the unique display. Our 

 " firm name" (for this occasion) was 

 wrought out in rustic wax work by one 

 of the younger Secors, who was spend- 

 ing the vacation at home. Many people 

 said it was the finest display in the 

 building. Eugene Secor. 



Forest City, Iowa, Sept. 15, 1891. 



