284 



THE BEE-KEEPERS' REVIEW. 



"C" we find that the strong colonies invari- 

 ably gain the more in the first period while 

 the light ones take a decided lead both in the 

 second and the third periods ; in the amount 

 of comb honey for the entire time in each 

 group the strong colonies have a decided ad- 

 vantage, and so in groups "A" and "B" in 

 the amount of total gain, but in group "C," 

 in this point, the weaker ones are far in the 

 lead. But this sort of comparison might be 

 carried on almost endlessly. 



If we examine table "A" we find, as was 

 to be expected, that the results in the cases 

 of some individual colonies do not always 

 accord with the general results, yet sufficient- 

 ly so, I think, to warrant us in putting some 

 confidence in the general results so far as 

 they go ; I say so far as they go, for the test 

 was for three weeks only and time appears 

 to be an essential element in the experiment. 

 The colonies that are strong in numbers as 

 compared with the weak, and those aided 

 with comb or foundation as compared with 

 those left unaided, are soonest out of breath 

 in the race, or, perhaps, the luxury and 

 wealth of numbers and resources prove de- 

 structive to energy and ambition; and, on the 

 other hand, straitened circumstances wheth- 

 er it be from a lack of numbers or of re- 

 sources, arouse vigor and persistence in a 

 determination to supply the lack. At least, 

 that is what the tables seem to teach, and 

 we can only guess what the result would have 

 been had the tests covered the whole of the 

 honey season instead of the last half. Many 

 and varied experiments must be made in or- 

 der to arrive at the exact truth in these mat- 

 ters. Let no one fear that apicultural ex- 

 periment stations may be either too numer- 

 ous or too well equipped. To one who has 

 entered it the field looks exceedingly large. 



For the rest I must be content at this time 

 to close with a summary of the results pretty 

 clearly disclosed by the experiments con- 

 ducted in the manner and for the time stated 

 but I wish first to invite and urge all who are 

 interested in the matter to make suggestions 

 and criticisms both upon my methods and 

 inferences and let them not, out of a con- 

 cern for my feelings, so refine their stric- 

 tures that they lose all their point and with 

 it their effect. That is not the way, as too 

 many bee-keepers seem to think, to get at 

 the truth. At all events, I am not very thin 

 skinned, and I believe that, at least in these 

 experiments, I am willing to look at the 

 naked truth. I know now that in some re- 



spects my methods have been faulty and no 

 doubt they have been so in other points than 

 those which I have discovered and what those 

 other points are I am anxious to know. 



In this 'summary as elsewhere when I 

 speak of gain it is not gain per colony for 

 the colonies vary in strength, but per pound 

 of bees, which seems to be the only just way. 



If then we may trust our tables, they show 

 for the last half of the summer honey sea- 

 son: Ist, That for profit, foundation in the 

 brood chamber for swarms has a decided ad- 

 vantage in point of surplus comb honey over 

 both drawn comb and frames with starters 

 only ; that drawn comb stands second and 

 starters third. 2nd, That in point of total 

 gain in both brood chamber and surplus the 

 same order holds and to nearly the same ex- 

 tent. 3rd. That fairly strong colonies show 

 a very decided advantage over light ones in 

 point of comb honey surplus and also to a 

 small extent in the total gain. 4th, That 

 light colonies sustain their rate of gain in 

 all cases better than fairly strong ones. 5th, 

 That swarms on starters only sustain their 

 rate of gain decidedly better than do those 

 on comb or on foundation. 0th, That of 

 the light colonies those on starters are de- 

 cidedly more profitable than those on either 

 comb or foundation, 



I ought to explain here that each swarm 

 was hived on a brood chamber equal to that 

 required to hold five L combs. 



Lapeeb, Mich. Sept., 22, 1893. 



Bee Dysentery. 



JAMES HEDDON. 



Oh fatal pollen, "dust tliou art" Is still my song! 

 To dust thou dost return, and take our bees along. 



0' 



\F course / will 

 be expected to 

 advance the " pol- 

 len theory," It 

 does not seem to 

 me, however, that 

 it can any longer 

 properly be called 

 a theory. The lead- 

 er in the last issue 

 has very nearly ex- 

 hausted my stock 

 in trade for this 

 article. In fact, Mr. Editor, you have said 

 very concisely, and better than I could have 



