114 



GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTURE. 



April 



BERS i:^ CUI^OI£AI>0. 



M S bees are rare In this section, we obtained a 

 £<^ colony from the apiary of Hiram Roop, Car- 

 tJcLj son City, Mich. They arrived May 18th, 1877 in 

 8'ood condition, after their 1500 mile trip. In the 

 latter part of June we started two nuclei from them; 

 one queen escaped over the division board, and kill- 

 ed the other, so but one was a success. The two col- 

 onies worked along' well, giving a few frames of 

 nice honey. Had no extractor until middle of Sept., 

 but then took out 50 lbs. of good honey; in Sept. 

 queen cells were started and another nuclei formed, 

 but owing to carelessness one swarmed naturally; 

 this made 4 colonies in all, which, after being equal- 

 ized in both bees and honey, were put up in one 

 large box, divided into 4 compartments with chaff all 

 round each hive, cushion around inside, also a cush- 

 ion tacked in top of cover of each hive, and no ventila- 

 tor in top. Conscijueiitly the frames got mouldy by 

 Jan. when by lea\ ing top of each hive partially open 

 it nearly all disappeared. Early in the fall* the" honey 

 all candied in the combs left in the hives. Feb. 28th, 

 bees in excellent condition, the two Sept. swarms 

 have been given some of the frames of the two older 

 hives; no eggs in sight. Bees have flown every sec- 

 ond or third week all winter. 



Last fiill 1 took one colony in an observatory hive, 

 to the county fair, where they attracted great atten- 

 tion. We have no buckwheat, clover or basswood 

 here, and old bee-keepers from the Eastern States 

 asked "What do you feed these bees on?" If we had 

 only known how to manage, we could have extracted 

 nearly all summer; as it was, got two swarms and 

 50 lbs. in month of Sept. from wild flowers. Bees 

 are looking up in this section now, we have the only 

 Italians in this part. 



The following is proven by this winter's experience: 

 that our extremely dry air, as well as light rain fall, 

 obse/TC— California has damp air and light rain fall, 

 — is no protection from mould on combs if bees are 

 packed warmly, and no ventilation given. 



Candied honey comes from lack of sufllcient water 

 in the honey to hold the sugar in solution from too 

 great evaporation, and the remedy is, to melt it up 

 with just enough water to hold it, and not too much. 

 All the honey extracted last fall, candied; by melt- 

 Irg it with water it remains fluid and is not injured. 

 I will remark that you sell your Simplicity hive, 

 frames, &c. cheaper that we can buy the; lumber, 

 here. 



I had your Journal tacked to an observatory hive at 

 the fair, as an advertisement for you. It takes time 

 to work up such things, but the bee question is now 

 started, and in future will, out here, make its own 

 way. C. A. Ambrook. 



Boulder, Calorado, Feb, 28th, 1878. 



BOTANY OF HONEY PLANTS. 



f' ENCLOSE herewith some blossoms of a tree that 

 we have here that the bees cover when in bloom. 

 _ I If the specimen reaches you in condition to know 

 ■what it is, I would be very glad to have you name it. 

 It blooms before leaf buds are open. 



T. L. KiNSEY. 



Savannah, Ga., March 12th, 1878. 



This is Judas-tree or Red-bud (Cends Canarlensix,) 

 This beautiful plant or small tree is found as far 

 north as Michigan. The specimen was pressed and 

 dried and came in good order. Tlie sample was 

 placed between delicate paper and then two pieces 

 of paste-board was tied over the whole to protect 

 the specimen. In all cases where it is possible send 

 leaves as well as flowers and seeds or fruit if they 

 can be found. The best Botanist may spend an hour 

 or a half day in working over a poor specimen or a 

 fragment and still be in doubt as to its name. The 

 plant is closely related to the pea bean and locust 



W. J. Seal. 



Agricultural College, Mich. , 



If all those to whom John Long is still owing fdn., 

 will send in a full account of the amount still due 

 them, I will fill the order. I do this, because I have 

 reason to think T was a little harsh in my statements 

 In regard to him in -the Feb. No., and that he is try- 

 ing to pay up all old scores. 



EDITOR AND FUBUSHIIR. 



MEDINA, OHIO. 



terms: ^1.00 per year, post-paid. 



3sj:EIDIlSr.A., .AJPI^. 1, ISTS. 



Ask, and it shall be given you; seek and ye shall 

 find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you: 



—Matthew, 7, 7: 



I AM sure that the above text was intended to ap- 

 ply to bee-kespers as well as the rest of humanity; 

 and if you are a beginner, and feel that you have 

 much to learn, besides going to the books and jour- 

 nals, I would advise going to the bees themselves, 

 and thoroughly studying their habits. Seek and you 

 shall find; knock at the door of Dame Nature's hid- 

 den stores of knowledge, and it shall surels' be open- 

 ed unto you. 



From everj' state, we are receiving cheerful re- 

 ports of the unusualy early spring. 



In my mention of friend Perrine's speculation in 

 buying the Wagner patent, last month, I had no in- 

 tention of saying anything that would hurt his feel- 

 ings, but used the case, simply by way of illustration 

 of the folly of bujing patents. Mr. Perrine did 

 nothing more, perhaps, than any of us would. 



Mitchell really has commenced paying up those 

 he has promised so long, but instead of paying mon- 

 ey, he gives them territory in his pretended patent 

 hive. It is true his offers are liberal, for he puts in 

 counties at half price; but even then, some are not 

 satisfied, and insist on the bees, (jueens or extractors 

 that he promised them when they sent] him their 

 money. 



Everybody wants the yellowest bees I have, and 

 at the same time they want them from the daught- 

 ers of imported mothers. It is true we can get a 

 stock occasionly, that will be almost, if not quite, as 

 yellow as any of the home bred ones, but I have been 

 picking out these to fill special orders all along, and 

 now 1 have nothing but rather dark bees left. I 

 have tried to buy some lighter colored ones of our 

 neighbors, but they too have but very few real j-el- 

 low bees with daughters of imported mothers. What 

 shall I do to accommodate all ? I do not know, unless 

 it is to ask an "awful big price," for such stocks, and 

 as I cannot think them any better, I do not like to 

 do this. 



I AM well aware, my friends, that a great many of 

 your requests have been almost unheeded, and that 

 many of your questions remain almost unanswered; 

 but I have done the very best I could. Jn coming to 

 me as you do (in such a kind and pleasant way too), 

 for advice, I fear you are giving me credit for a 

 great deal more wisdom than I really possess; and I 

 often lament that it is not in my power to give you 

 more help than I do. There is very much in bee 

 cultin-e, yet to be learned, and while we talk over 

 matters and compare experiences, we can guess at 

 the truth, but we very seldom settle any very im- 

 portant point, beyond the possibility of a mistake. 

 Be patient and keep on experimenting, is the best 

 advice I am able to give, many times. 



