1876 



GLEANINGS IN BEE CT^TURE. 



18? 



We are among the bcc-kccpcrs who have introduced tlie 

 most queens, in their app.ries. Wo have tried all methods, 

 hut we know of only one which, if well carried ont, will 

 give onstant success. It istheold method of ratlins the 

 queen in a cage for 40 to 48 hours. 



We remove the queen to bo replaced, and immediately 

 put the cage containing the queen to be introduced be- 

 tween two combs containing brood. Not less than 3e hours 

 after, we remove one of the stoppers of the cage without 

 removing the cage, and put in place of the cork a stopper 

 made of apiece of white honey -comb, then wc shut the 

 hive, leaving the bees to liberate the queen. 



In this second operation wo act as quietly as possible, not 

 to rouse the anger of the bees ; and as quickly as possible 

 to avoid robbers entering the hive. 



Seven days after, we remove the cage and see if our 

 queen is laying. It is imsafe to trouble the bees until the 

 queen is laying fairly. We have introduced, this spring, 

 55 imported queens so far, all with success. We received 

 our sixth invoice yesterday. Twenty living queens. 

 They will be liberated to-morrow. 



We are confident that if all bee-keepers succeeded in 

 introducing, theye would be very few complaints of 

 delinquent queen dealers. Cn. Dadaxt & Sox. 



In inserting the above article we are aware 

 that we to a certain extent advertise the bus- 

 iness of the writers, but our experience so 

 strongly favors queens just from Italy, that 

 we can but feel it a duty to recommend them. 

 There is a kind of cool energy about the work- 

 ers from our imported queen, that we hardly 

 find equalled bf* any other hive. Gentle 

 to handle, keeping their post on the 

 combs no matter where they are carried, 

 prompt to defend themselves and otit the first 

 ones in the morning if any honey is to be gatli- 

 ered, we hardly see how any one can fail to 

 like them. Yesterday we found a moth miller 

 in the house apiary and threw it in front of 

 their hive ; it was pounced on at once, and in 

 a trice a bee took its lifeless body away up in 

 the air. A moth miller would be crazy to 

 even venture within the precincts of their well 

 kppt door yard. If a head of ijrass gets in the 

 way of their morning flight, they will pull and 



tug at it until we take pity on them and 



come and pull it up. We would never try to 

 introduce an imported queen, but would give 

 her frames of brood just gnawing out of their 

 cells, as we have so often advised. Let her 

 loose on the combs at once, and with the num- 

 ber of bees that Dadant & Son send with 

 them, she will lay a lot of eggs from which 

 you may proceed to rear queens the very first 

 day you get her. You can keep the hive clos- 

 ed as a security against robbers, until the 

 young bees are old enough to fly. To give all 

 sides impartially, we append the following, 

 from one who knows well whereof he speaks. 

 Don't you think that those who are not satisfied with 

 Mr. Dadant's imijorted queens (though 1 am satisfied 

 that Mr. Dadant has dealt honorably with all ; all the 

 queens he has sent here are just as line and as pure as 

 those I have received from Italy,) should themselves im- 

 port from Italy and get perfectly satisfied, and at the 

 .same time economize ; as they can get the queens deliver- 

 ed in New York, and safe arrival guaranteed, at about 

 §'25 to S'oO pe r dozen, according to season. Should any 

 one wish the'address of apiaiians in Italy sending queens 

 to America, I will give it with pleasure. Each queen is 

 sent in a small box of about six inches square, containing 

 3 combs— 2 containing hcney and 1 dry. The queens are 



generally from 3 to 5 weeks on the way, and very seldom 

 die, though sometimes many of the bees do. 



If I thought I could sell queens (imported) at a fair 

 price. I think I would undertake the importation on a 

 larf e scale, but the trouble is to get public confidence. It 

 seems a difficult matter, from what I see of the jealousy 

 of some apiarians, especially in the last issue of the lice 

 World. Paul L. Viallon. 



Bayou Goula, La., July 11, ISIM. 



Perhaps the above was not intended for 

 publication, if not, we beg pardon ; but it is 

 a matter tliat will benefit all, by being made 

 public. Give us the address, and we will 

 promise to behave better, friend V. 



UNQUEENING 



TO PREVENT 

 ING, ETC. 



SWAR]TI. 



SflfpjDITOR GLEANINGS —The July No. is before me, 

 j?'[j/| i and full of good things as usual. Deriving so much 

 ' benefit myself, it may be in my power to help with 

 a little of my experience. 



I had, last Nov., CO colonies, but had extracted too 

 closely I am now convinced, and lost throvigh robbery, 

 and perhaps some br starvation, 20. About 15 m box 

 hives, 2 in a ihetal rack hive, and the rest in Simjslicity 

 and Langstroth hives. 



I found a decided advantage in a bran cover, made by 

 tacking on a sheeet of Burlap across the cover of Simplic- 

 ity hive, after packing full of bran— wheat. The stocks 

 so treated c ime out best and were my best workers. 

 Others, protected by being packed in stiaw, in 2d story, 

 resiing directly on the combs did nearly as well. 



The whole of May and early June were quite cool here, 

 and the bees never seemed to pour in the honey as they' 

 did last year. I had very little natural swarming, but 8 

 to commence with, and I have increased to 56. My best 

 swarm I divided May 20, and by mistake took away the 

 queen. 



The result was, having lots of brood; and boxes being 

 put on at once, they began work in them and have made 

 112 iiounds of honey besides the fine swarm taken. 



Is not this evidence that to crowd for box honey it is 

 best to take the queen, after the hive is well filled with 

 brood and larva; V It has worked so well, I shall try it 

 more fully. 



If our honey harvest had been as good as last June, and 

 our boxes full of comb or foundation, I think they could 

 have made 300 poimds. 



Several of my Ijox hives are at work on the third set of 

 boxes, each 24 pounds, and have fully as much made as 

 when arranged so as to tier up. Thus far I shall average 

 nearly as much honey from my box hives as from the sim- 

 plicity, and leaving out two, more. This may go 

 to strengthen Mr. Heddoii's position, though I am no 

 convert to his theory yet, for I believe the movable frame 

 indis])ensable in giving control over their operations. I 

 think it an excellent way to keep combs, to place them in 

 simplicity hives over one another and sulphur them oc- 

 casionally. They are out of the way and partially pro- 

 tected from moths, and it is so easy to apply the' brim- 

 stone. Of course the shell of the hive only is used. 



Is it advisable to divide and increase after the best hon- 

 ey season is over ? J. W. Poktee. 



Tliere seems scarcly a dissenting voice, in 

 regard to packing Avith chaff", l^ran or similar 

 material, providing it is put close to the bees, 

 and their hives are close and warm oth- 

 erwise. We have wondered, whether the tier- 

 ing up operation, was after all, of so verj'' 

 much importance ; it is certainly considerable 

 trouble, and we run the risk of getting a dozen 

 boxes half filled, instead of 6 nicely sealed up. 

 Will some of our friends enlighten us. The 

 plan of taking away the queen just at the 

 right time, has been advised, but it seems, nev- 

 er much practiced. We opine that it will not 

 always work so well, for some stocks will re- 

 madn almost idle when queenless. We think 

 it an excellent plan to divide very strong 

 stocks after the honey harvest, especially, if 

 we have an abnudance of combs full of stores. 



