42 



SEVENTH ANNUAL, REPORT OP THE 



Supers for Comb- Honey. 



Dr. Miller claims that T-Supers are 

 best for comb honey. 



Mr. Taylor said that wide frames are 

 best. 



It was decided that the secretary ar- 

 ranged to have supers of different 

 sorts exhibited at the next annual 

 meeting, at an expense not to exceed 

 $1.00 each. 



On motion it was ordered that the 

 Chicago - Northwestern Bee-Keepers' 

 Association join the National Bee- 

 Keepers' Association in a body, at 50 

 cents per member. 



The following officers were elected 

 for the ensuing year: President, George 

 "W. York, of Chicago; Vice-President, 

 Miss Emma M. Wilson, of Marengo; 

 and Secretary-Treasurer, Herman F. 

 Moore, of Park Ridge, 111. 



Best Honey Section to Use. 



Mr. Taylor said the 4-piece section is 

 the best because made of poplar. It is 

 open clear across the top and bottom. 

 He would use 1-piece sections if they 

 would open clear across. 



Dr. Miller used to use 4-piece sec- 

 tions but now uses 1-piece sections, 

 and prefers them. 



In the discussion that followed it was 

 claimed by some that you don't break 

 so many 4-piece sections; that you can 

 make the 4-piece more easily, and that 

 you can use any kind of wood in the 

 4-piece sections. 



Mr. "Whitney says 1-piece sections 

 spring out of "true" badly, for the 

 groove is too tight when folded. 



Mr. Taylor said there is a machine 

 for putting up the 4-piece sections, and 

 he will give any one the address of 

 the maker. 



Dr. Miller said he will hold onto the 

 1-piece sections as long as he can get 

 them. He claims that wetting the back 

 of the grooves toughens them.* 



Mr. Gilbert agreed with Dr. Miller. 



Dr. Miller told how he wets sections 

 with a kettle of hot water, wetting 500 

 at a time, in the crate that they are 

 packed in. 



Theo. Fluegge said that he takes out 

 the sections from the crate, stacks 

 them upon holders, and pours water 

 from a kettle upon the backs of the 

 grooves. 



Mr. Taylor said they ball a queen to 

 keep her from getting away, as when a 

 strange queen is introduced. 



Mr. Whitney said that on introducing 

 a queen he found a queen balled. 



Dr. Bohrer declared that balling a 

 queen is one of the puzzles to him. He 

 thinks it is an indication of a dislike 

 for the queen. 



Mr. Wheeler said that stray bees dis- 

 like the queen and ball her. 



Mr. Dadant asserted that bees are 

 upset by some unusual circumstances 

 when they ball the queen. 



Dr. Miller declared that bees never 

 sting a queen to death unless the hu- 

 man interferes. Cold smoke blown on 

 the ball of bees will release a queen at 

 once. 



M. M. Baldridge said that bees ball 

 the queen because they think she is a 

 strange queen, by her actions. To pre- 

 vent balling the queen always smoke 

 the bees, or rap on the hive to cause 

 them to fill themselves with honey, 

 when introducing her. A young and 

 active queen in the spring is apt to be 

 balled, owing to her running about in 

 the hive, frightened by the opening of 

 the hive. 



Mr. Dadant said that bees seldom 

 make a practice of balling queens. 



Mr. Taylor said that bees must not 

 be fussed with too much, and then not 

 much balling will result. 



Why Do Bees Ball Their Own Queens? 



Dr. Miller said the bees ball a queen 

 to protect her. 



Renewing Queens. 



A majority do not renew queens at 

 all. 



Mr. Dadant advised replacing queens 

 when they become inferior. He men- 

 tioned a queen five years old and still 

 vigorous. 



Dr. Bohrer agreed with Mr. Dadant. 



Mr. Whitney claimed that bees would 

 not always supersede a queen at the 

 best time. 



Dr. Miller said it may be an advan- 

 tage to supersede queens and breed 

 from stock that is long-lived. 



Mr. Dadant declared that workers 

 wear themselves out, and the best bees 

 live the shortest time. 



Mr. Wheeler said we are not so de- 

 pendent upon the long life of the queen. 



Dr. Bohrer then spoke on whether 

 more than one queen in the colony is 

 useful. He said that one queen lays 

 all the eggs a colony can warm and 

 hatch. 



W. B. Chapman said that 2 queens 

 cause no swarming, according to Mr. 

 Alexander. 



