AMERICAN BEE JOURNAL. 



169 



bees are taking a flight, or as a swarm is 

 ra arching into its new hive. — E. L. 

 Pratt, in the Apiculturist. 



Seasonable Hints. 



Snow around the liives is no detriment. 

 It is porous, and enougli air can pene- 

 trate it, for ventihition, in Winter. When 

 it forms ice at the entrance, then it must 

 be cleaned away. An examination dur- 

 ing and after a thaw, is very necessary. 



Do not be alarmed if you find a few 

 dead bees at the entrance of your hives. 

 A few of them will naturally die of old 

 age, and to have the survivors carry 

 them out when the temperature will per- 

 mit, is an indication ot vigor. 



The wise bee-keeper will now lay his 

 plans for next season's work ; provide 

 his hives, surplus boxes, frames, and, 

 above all, inform himself as to the opera- 

 tions of successful bee-keeping. To do 

 this, he should take at least one bee- 

 paper, for in no other way can one so 

 well inform himself as by the records of 

 those who are making bee-culture a suc- 

 cess. It will enable the expert to keep 

 up with the times, and the beginner to 

 acquaint himself with not only the nec- 

 essary but the best fixtures, in order to 

 begin intelligently, and to continue in 

 the right direction. — Walter S.Poudee, 

 in the l7idiana Farmer. 



Temperature of Bee-Cellars. 



The temperature of bee-cellars bears 

 such an important relation to the health 

 of the bees, that it must be kept in mind 

 constantly. In some bee-papers the ad- 

 vice is continually given, to beware of 

 the moisture in the cellars. This has 

 been counted as one of the most fatal 

 conditions of such a cellar. 



The moisture of the air bears an im- 

 portant relation to the temperature, and 

 if the latter is kept right, no danger may 

 be expected from the former. Moisture, 

 of course, is continually passing off from 

 the bees, the same as from human bodies, 

 and this must be absorbed by the air. 

 Should the air be saturated with mois- 

 ture, so that it can contain no more, this 

 avenue of escape of moisture, from the 

 bees, will be closed. The air of a bee- 

 cellar that is warm and damp would be 

 just as injurious as a moist air without 

 the w^armth. Warm air does not thus 

 answer the purpose. 



The degree of moisture in the air 

 should be ascertained, and a complete 

 record of it kept every day. A wet bulb 

 thermomter can be obtained for a small 



sum, and one should be kept in the bee- 

 cellar all of the time. 



It is not so much, then, the tempera- 

 ture of the cellar, as it is the degree of 

 saturation. A large colony, well pro- 

 tected, and in good condition, can stand 

 more moisture than a small, sickly one. 



Mould in the cellar is pretty sure indi- 

 cation of a moisture-laden atmosphere. 

 Its presence may not be injurious to the 

 bees, but it indicates the beginning of 

 conditions which may result unfavorably. 



Damp cellars need not be had, for 

 there are easy methods to prevent such 

 conditions. One bushel of unslacked 

 lime will absorb 21 pounds of water, in 

 the process of slacking. If a quantity 

 of unslacked lime is thus kept in the 

 cellar continually, it will absorb the 

 moisture, and will also create a very dry 

 atmosphere. — Practical Farmer. 



Men who Advertise and need a new 

 idea now and then, or who have not 

 always the time or inclination to prepare 

 their advertisements, will find a valuable 

 assistance in the novel book of "Ideas 

 for Advertisers," just published by D. T. 

 Mallett, New Haven, Conn., and sent on 

 receipt of $1.00, postpaid. He also pub- 

 lishes a tasty pamphlet called " When," 

 (price, 25 cents) a treasury of good 

 advice to business men. Descriptive 

 circulars of both these new books can be 

 obtained upon request to the publisher. 



Convention Pfotices. 



tW The Annual Meetingr of the Ohio State Bee- 

 Keepers' Association, will be held in Toledo, O.. on 

 Tuesday and Wednesday, Feb. 10 and 11, 1891. Full 

 particulars as to railroad and hotel rates, and place 

 of meeting, will be given later. Let all interested 

 in bee-keeping make an extra effort to be present 

 on this occasion. 



Miss Dema Bennett, Sec, Bedford, O. 



DR. A. B. Mason, Pres. 



d^" The Convention of the Eastern Iowa Bee- 

 Keepers, will be held in the Dobson Town Clock 

 Building, at Maquoketa, Iowa, Feb. 11, 12. 



Frank Covekdale, Sec, Welton, Iowa. 



5^" The 8th semi-annual meeting of the Susque- 

 hanna County Bee-Keepers' Association will be held 

 at Montrose, Fa., on Thursday, May 7, 1891. 



H. M. Seeley, Sec, Harford, Pa. 



liW The Northeastern Michigan Bee-Keepers' 

 Convention will hold its annual meeting on 

 Wednesday, Feb. 4, 1891, at the Commercial Htjuse, 

 in Port Huron. W. ?. Hutchinson, Sec. 



JW The bee-keepers of Whiteside Coiinty (Ills.) 

 are requested to meet in convention in Morrison, on 

 Friday, Jan 30, 1891, at the office ot J. M. Bnrtch, 

 for the purpose of re-organizing the Kock River 

 Bee-Keepers' Association, and for the beneflt of the 

 bee-keeping fraternity. All are invited to attend 

 who feel an interest in apiculture. 



J. M. Burtch, Sec, Morrison, Ills. 



E. P. GIBBS, Pres. 



