379 



GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTURE. 



Nov. 



If llie movable frame hive is ffhat is claimed for it, 

 LnngstroUi is entitled to tii3 applause of tlie whole Api- 

 cultural coaimuuity, for he certainly wrought llie greatest 

 i'cvolution in l>ce-rulture of any man in motlern times so 

 far as my kno'.vletUe exteiicls. Huber, Hunter, Aristotle, 

 and many amon^ modorjis have written their observa- 

 tions on the Honey Ike and the "Eeonomy of Baes" gen- 

 erally, but if the frame can accomplish all that its advo- 

 cates elaiiu for it, then Langstroth hiis crowned himself 

 with a wreath of laurel by utilizing the mechanical oper- 

 ations of llie insect, and raised the bee-keeping business 

 to a profitible vocation by which thousands may acquire 

 ji livelihood. If the frame is what the apiculturist of the 

 dij claims, why is not Langstroth canonized as a bene- 

 factor r Why wait until he is dead, and then shower 

 upon his memory the thunder of ajjplause that sliould 

 have greeted him while living ? Why let hini pass away 

 like Fulton, without appreciating his merit V Why does 

 ••very journalist quietly see him stripped of the pecuniary 

 advantages, which he should have enjoyed from his inven- 

 tions, by every adventurer who may keej) bees, and 

 chooses to trespass on hia patent? These queries may 

 now appear out of place, and may not excite much con- 

 hition, but in the distant future, Langstroth will be en- 

 rolled high on the scroll of that peculiar fame which has 

 luade men immortal wlio have achieved great strides in 

 progressive iinprovements in rural and agricultural sci- 

 ence. Geo. B. Petees. 



Council Bend, Ark., Oct. 7;h, 1870. 



\Vc lieai'tily endorse all that is said of our 

 friend Langstroth, and would suggest that all 

 who feel indebted to him, send to him direct 

 what they thinly right ; aud we do not see why 

 this cannot be done without the raat>- 

 ter being made public at all. If it is genuine 

 gratitude toward him, why sliould we care to 

 liave the world know of it? Heretofore much 

 has been done in the way of taliv and resoln- 

 lions, but there it nearly all ended. Now can 

 we not, without a word more — pay a just debt ? 



Gle.\nis<js lias been received and duly jierused. 

 My experience the past season has been about the 

 same as th.U described by Doolittlc. My bees took to 

 swarming in August, when I did not want them to. 

 They swarmed, in my opinion, witliont cause or prov- 

 ocation. Extracting, increased space and shade 

 seemed to have no effect on preventing swarming. I 

 had six swarms ir. one week, live of which were some- 

 what like llo<ldon, "went back" on movable frames, 

 extractors and all, and struck out in the world on 

 their own hook. 1 supjjose they have in some place 

 gone into business upon the old plan, the same that 

 was lolloweu by their ancient ancestors. My average 

 per stock this year was not nearly so good as last, be- 

 ing only about 10 lbs. ; but it is very thick and of ex- 

 I'ellent quality. 



I should juiJge it required C, pieces lor a section box. 

 If I am correct, I will take some next spring. The 

 sample labels th.it you sent -iic, I think would be nice 

 for tumblers. l>a yon use square or round ones ? I 

 have seen sqiiare jelly tumblers with a llange on two 

 sides, and a tin cover with the ed.ges turned donn so 

 as to slide on the tumbler. 



Ei>. WEi.LiXGiox, Kiini)tou, lown, Oct. 9tb, '7(i. 



As we raalic the Universal section at pres- 

 ent, it takes pieces, but we shall before 

 another season, arrange machinery to make 

 the uprights in one piece. This will make 

 them stronger, and easier to set up. We hope 

 to be able to make them of any dimensions for 

 1 cent each, whore 1000 are ordered at one 



time. Have never seen square tumblers; wiili 

 those having them please advertise? 



On p.ige 210, Oct. No., J. W. Shearer says cl buckwheat, 



"The okl Black is a better hojiey plant than the Silv(M- 



[ Hulled." I think to make it correct he should say v.t 



I samp sci7s, and svmc locatio-as. I aJw.iys get four times 



' as much hcney from the Silvei* Hull as from the Black. I 



1 . 



I think every bee-keeiier should try lx)th kirwls and see 



I which is best for his soil and climate. 



j My bees are doing well. I got from seven old stocks- 

 afid two yonng ones, §40, worth of honey anil they each 

 have from '25 to oft lbs. of honey for winter stores. 



D. N. Kern, Sbimersville, Pa. 



Which is best, natural, or artiticJa} s ivarming ? 



R. G. Peters, Manistee, Mieh., Oct. 11th. 1{\. 



As a general thing vye believe artillciai 

 swarming is considered best, without doubt, 

 yet many circumstances are to be taken into 

 consideration. A new beginner, who should 

 undertake to make swarms out of season, 

 would doubtless da better to let the bees f.il- 

 low their own instincts; but one who knew 

 just what to do, aud when to do it, would 

 without doubt, make a great saving by taking 

 the matter into his own hands. If our object 

 is comb honey, it may l^e best to discourage 

 swarming ; in such a case we would get all at 

 work in the surplus frames possible, and if 

 abundant room and empty combs would pre 

 vent swarming, well and good; but if swarn^ 

 they would, we would consider that the next 

 best thing, and set them at work as speedily 

 as we could. In such a case, we should of 

 course have none but natural swarms. AVhere 

 increase of stock is especially desired, we 

 think as we said at first, the artificial ahead. 

 If our friend who comes next will tell how A<; 

 managed, it may help the matter. 



I stand alone here in bee culture. When I left Chari- 

 ton, Iowa, last February, I sold all my bies except one 

 colony which I shii)ped to. this place; from that one I 

 have taken 450 lbs. ()f honej- and made 13 colonies, all ia 

 good condition with from 10 to IC frames se.aled honey 

 and brood. How is that for bleeding Kansas? If any 

 one can beat that lot them waltz to the front. 



J. S. Mahkle, Chanute, Kan., Oct. 11th, '7*!. 



The above is certainly '•tremendous," but 

 with a rousing colony in the spring, aud an 

 uninterrupted flow of honey the whole season 

 long, such as we have almost had here, it 

 it might not be so very difficult after all. We 

 hope to give full particulars soon. 



Have you ever extracted any locust honc.\' knowing it 

 to be such ? I got about 2.50 lbs. this year and will s'^nd 

 you a sample if it will be any thing new to you. It is 

 much lighter than white clover and more mild in taste. 



Honey is selling first i-ate now that cool weather has 

 come and I think the trade will imin-ove as the season ad- 

 vances. I have my bees fixed for winter which with u>? 

 consists simply in removing second stones aud piittinu 

 the sti-aw mats on with inch strips between them a.nd 

 the top for ventilation and leaving them on their sumnici- 

 stands ; hive never lost a colony so fixed. 



II. E. Cl-eey, Cincinnatti, O., Oct. litli, '7(1. 



We had quite a crop of locust honey in ISyO, 

 and at that time had quite a fancy for plant- 

 ing a locust orchard, but as we have scarcely 

 h.ad a taste of it since, we fear it is not a very 

 certain source of honey. Thanks for your oi- 

 fer; we a'zree with you that the honey is of a 

 very mild and pleasant flavor. 



