194 



AMERICAN BEE JOURNAL. 



which increased to 123, and in the Fall 

 he took 1,200 pounds of comb-honey. I 

 had 77 colonies, which Increased to 96, 

 and in the Fall I took 1,750 pounds of 

 comb-honey in one-pound sections, and 

 also 1,500 pounds of extracted-honey. 

 In the Fall of 1889, I had 102 colonies, 

 and he had 120. I took 2,180 pounds 

 of comb-honey, and 2,000 pounds of 

 extracted-honey, while he took but 

 1,440 pounds of comb-honey. I have 

 beaten him, in about that proportion, for 

 the last four years. 

 Eldorado, Wis., Jan. 19, 1891. 



Effect of tlie Weatlier on Honey. 



E. W. POWERS. 



On page 818 of the last volume of the 

 Bee Journal, is an interesting article 

 from Joshua Bull, on the subject of 

 heavy thunder having a tendency to 

 check the accumulation of nectar in 

 flowers. 1 do not know if the ideas ad- 

 vanced are altogether correct, but I be- 

 lieve there may be something in them. 

 There are, I believe, certain atmospheric 

 conditions on which flowers are depend- 

 ent for nectar, which conditions seem to 

 be changed, from some cause, after 

 heavy thunder. I will mention an oc- 

 curence that came under my notice three 

 years ago, which was not altogether the 

 effect of heavy thunder. 



In the Spring of 1888, we had a great 

 deal of wet weather. About April 15 it 

 cleared up, and it was fine for about six 

 weeks, with but an occasional shower ; 

 the temperature ranging from 80^ to 

 85° during the day, and not below 65^ 

 or 70O at night, with a gentle breeze 

 from the southwest. On April 15, honey- 

 dew could be seen, this being earlier 

 than common for it to make its appear- 

 ance, and by May 10, the forest growth, 

 such as oak, poplar, hickory, linden, 

 etc., was actually shining with it. About 

 June 10, a heavy rain washed it all from 

 the trees, but within 48 hours it could 

 be seen accumulating again. In 3 or 4 

 days the temperature changed, going up 

 to 90^, and again it rained, and the 

 honey-dew disappeared for that season. 



I had at that time 16 colonies which 

 averaged 60 pounds per colony of sur- 

 plus honey. They built about half of the 

 comb, and had 30 or 40 pounds in each 

 of the brood-chambers. This honey was 

 gathered from poplar and tulip, which 

 bloomed about May 10, just at the time 

 the honey-dew was harvested. 



The year 1889 was not so favorable 

 for bees as the previous one, the air 



being dry and cool, the temperature 

 ranging from 65° to. 75° during the day, 

 and from 45° to 55° during the night, 

 with a cool wind from the northwest. It 

 continued cool for 4 or 5 weeks, and not 

 a particle of honey-dew was to be seen. 

 Poplar bloomed in profusion about the 

 middle of May, but there was very little 

 nectar in the bloom. 



My 16 colonies, that gave me 60 

 pounds per colony the previous year, 

 were in good condition, but gave me no 

 surplus at all. This was the first year 

 since T have been keeping bees, that I 

 obtained no surplus. 



In this locality, when there is a heavy 

 honey-dew, the weather favorable, and 

 the bees in good condition, we expect a 

 good crop of honey, but when there is 

 but little honey-dew, it matters not how 

 favorable the weather may be, how good 

 the condition of the bees, or how pro- 

 fusely the flowers bloom, we get no sur- 

 plus honey. 



Palmyra, Tenn. 



Norlti Carolina ConventiOL 



B. C. GRIFFITH. 



The bee-keepers of North Carolina 

 met at Pineville on Dec. 18, 1890, and 

 were called to order by the President, A. 

 L. Beach. In the absence of the Secre- 

 tary, B. C. Griffith was elected secretary 

 2J)*o tern. 



The minutes of the last meeting were 

 read and approved. 



High water and a late train prevented 

 more than one session on the first day of 

 the Convention. 



The question-box was opened and some 

 topics discussed, after which the con- 

 vention adjourned until the next morn- 

 ing. 



On Friday, at 10 a.m., Vice-President 

 S. L. Kluttz called the convention to 

 order, and four new members were 

 added. 



The Constitution and By-Laws were 

 discussed, amended and adopted ; the 

 committee were instructed to have them 

 printed — using not more than two-thirds 

 of the money in the treasury to defray 

 the expense. Members were to be al- 

 lowed advertising space at one-half the 

 usual rates. 



The question-box was then opened, 

 and the questions discussed. 



When moving bees, which would give 

 the better results, to place the colony on 

 the old stand, to catch the field bees ; or, 

 on the new stand, to build up the old 

 colony ? All things considered, the old 



