558 



AMERICAN BEE JOURNAL. 



pose, and by dividing a Langstroth 

 frame into three sections, by two strips 

 horizontally nailed into the frame, we 

 can place 6 cages upon each section, 

 making 18 in each frame. So you see a 

 great many queens can be reared in one 

 hive at a time, and you may get them as 

 desired. 



Last season was my first experience 

 with them, and the result was very 

 satisfactory. Any cells I wished to pre- 

 serve were placed in a cage, and as they 

 were hatched I could select or reject 

 them, which is an advantage I did not 

 appreciate until I used the cage. 



My next plan was to mai^e a section 

 with movable tin slides and zinc bottom, 

 with a fly-hole out of section case, and 

 by the use of one " box " we can rear 

 queens and have them fertilized, and 

 begin to lay, caged in a single " honey- 

 box." 



Next came to my mind the idea of a 

 zinc division-board, thinking that it 

 would be more effective for many pur- 

 poses than solid wood. For fertilizing 

 queens we have only to insert tlie zinc 

 board between the outside comb, with 

 cell or virgin queen with entrance pro- 

 vided, and we soon have a laying queen. 

 Thus we can, with a few hives, arranged 

 in this way, secure the fertilization of a 

 large number of queens in a short space 

 of time, without interfering with the 

 full hive any more than to rear a queen 

 in an upper chamber. 



Two or more queens may be kept in 

 one hive by the use of zinc division- 

 boards. The boards may be made of 

 very thin lumber with narrow strips of 

 zinc, to save expense. — Read at the New 

 York Convention, 



Bee-Keepers' CoiiTention in fieriiiany. 



STEPHEN KOESE. 



September 6, 7 and 8 were the days 

 appointed for the gathering of the bee- 

 keepers of the German Central Verein, 

 in Eger, a noted city in Germany. 



Bee-keepers in Germany are a class 

 of people greatly honored, and the city 

 authorities usually furnish halls for 

 their meetings free, and the Burgomas- 

 ter, in the opening address, welcomes 

 the guests on behalf of the city. 



Over 2,000 people were in attendance, 

 including about 60 exhibitors of bees of 

 all races, honey of all kinds, wax, books, 

 and apiarian supplies of all descriptions, 

 all of which, amounting to 8,000 lots, 

 were sold before the awarding of the 

 prizes began. 



The city of Eger gave three prizes — 

 25, 15 and 10 silver guide (a silver 

 guide is about 66 cents in American 

 money) ; Obman Herr Krader, a silver 

 coffee service ; and the German Central 

 Verein, 3, 2 and 1 ducates ; the German 

 Landwirthschaftli die Central Verband, 

 60 guide. In all, 30 prizes were given, 

 the smallest being 1 ducate. 



On Saturday, the day before the open- 

 ing of the Imker gathering, the majority 

 of the houses were decorated with flags 

 — black and yellow, the Austrian colors, 

 and black, red and yellow, the German 

 National colors. In the evening, the 

 bee-keepers met in the Rathskeller, to 

 nominate committees. 



On Sunday, at 10 a.m., the exhibition 

 was opened by the Burgomaster, after 

 which the Eger Saengerbund gave a 

 charming choral. Burgomaster Staake 

 addressed the meeting, and welcomed 

 the bee-keepers on behalf of the city. 



German bee-keepers are a very en- 

 thusiastic people, and whatever they 

 undertake to do is never done by halves. 

 Their regulations are perfect, and young 

 and old engage in the work, determined 

 to succeed. Weekly meetings are held 

 with due regularity, and they deserve 

 praise for their perfect organizations, in 

 sections, under an Obman, Vereine, and 

 Central Vereine. 



The annual honey production is a 

 marvel, when the density of the popula- 

 tion is considered, and the consequent 

 limited bee-pasturage, and if America is 

 not on the elert, Germany will take the 

 lead in this respect. 



Maiden Rock, Wis. 



Preiiarimg Bees for Winter. 



B. TAYLOK. 



The wintering problem is the most 

 difficult and important one connected 

 with bee-keeping. There is doubtless 

 more loss from failure to winter success- 

 fully than from all other causes com- 

 bined ; and it is conceded by the most 

 successful apiarists that it is indispensa- 

 ble to have bees properly prepared for 

 the long season of rest; and to have 

 them prepared properly we must begin 

 early, before the weather becomes too 

 cold, and the bees have settled into a 

 semi-dormant state ; for neither smoke 

 nor other means will enable us to handle 

 them properly when in such state. It 

 is also agreed that while clamps and 

 outdoor wintering is sometimes quite 

 successful, still cellar wintering is far 

 safer as well as cheaper. 



