106 
THE AUSTRALIAN BEEKEEPERS’ JOURNAL. 
do quarrel, a brisk at smoking will generally 
make them peaceable with each other.— 
Gleanings in Bee Culture, May, 1886. 
Nectar. 
The nectar of Trotea mellifera evaporated to 
a syrup, and thus obtained in large quantities 
from abroad, contains 110 nitrogenous matter : 
73T7 per cent, of solids, of which 70'08 is 
grape-sugar, and 131 cane-sugar. Grape- 
sugar was obtained from the syrup in a 
crystalline form. Besides the sugar, a small 
amount of formic acid (apparantly brought by 
the bees) and ash was present. The following 
table gives the percentage of sugar in the 
fresh nectar of three plants examined : — 
Total Total Cane- Crape 
JNectartrom — Solids. Sugar sugar, sugar. 
Bignonia radicans 15-30 15 27 0-43 14-84 
Protea mellifera 17’66 1 7'06 0"00 17-06 
Hoya carnosa 40-77 40-61 35 65 4-99 
Watery extracts of various flowers were also 
analysed ,- the small quantitj of sugar present 
in them may be seen from the author’s calcu- 
lation, that in order to obtain 1 gram of sugar 
(corresponding with 1'3 gram of honey,) the 
bees must suck 2129 flowers of the alpen rose ; 
2000 of the acacia, liobina viscosa; and 5000 
of the Onobrychis sativa. 
[Translated from an article by A. V. Planta 
in the Zeit : Physiol: Chem : B. lOseit, 277, 
247.] W.D. H. 
Comb and Foundation Alternately. 
Such is constantly recommended upon which 
to place swarms. We doubt, however, its 
advisability, for this reason : When a frame of 
foundation is placed between two fully worked 
out frames of comb, if honey is coming in 
fast, the combs will be filled, and their cells 
lengthened before the foundation is drawn 
out; consequently, the new combs will be 
narrowed for want of room. Experience has 
proved to us that this is almost invariably the 
case, and we can show hives now, of t » o years’ 
standing, where the alternate combs are twice 
the thickness of the adjoining ones, an uneven- 
ness which has arisen entirely from following 
this plan. It is best, therefore, to confine the 
swarm to six or eight frames of foundation, 
according to its size, in the centre of the hive, 
by division boards, for the first three or four 
days, and then to place frames of comb with 
worker cells on the outsides of the newly 
drawn out and brooded combs, at the same 
time giving a super as well. This may be 
safely done if the swarm occupies the stand of 
the colony from which it came, and the 
weather is at all propitious . — British Bee 
Journal, 
Carniolans. 
I FIND the Carniolans, when strictly pure, 
to all have that steel-blue colour that has been 
spoken of, and that they resemble the blacks 
but very little more than the Italians do. 
The white-grey rings Ernest speaks of are 
very prominent, and will show themselves at 
once when crossed with other races. In form, 
it is true, they resemble the Italians ; but I 
feel sure that Ernest will change his mind in 
regard to their disposition when he handles 
them more ; for I find no need of smoke at all 
in handling them. They remain on the combs 
quiet although they can be shaken off as 
easily ns any other race of bees I have ever 
seen, and, as has been said, at once cut for the 
hive, instead of taking wing. It is true, that 
when you are handling them they seem to 
take no notice of even robbers that may be 
flying round the comb ; but let a robber 
attempt to alight at the entrance, and he is 
handled as roughly as well could be. 1 find 
the Carniolans to be equal to the Cyprians for 
protecting their hives, and as good workers as 
I have ever seen, as far as I have tested 
them. 
One other peculiar point is to be credited te 
the Carniolans, which is, they gather no pro- 
polis at all. All cracks arc filled with wax 
instead of propolis ; consequently the frames 
are free from that sticky substance gathered 
so largely by other bees ; and then the sections 
are so much nicer to handle. Besides, their 
combs are as white as the driven snow. As far 
us beauty is concerned, that depends altogether 
on different people’s notions of colour. What 
suits me best is, the bees that will give me 
the largest amount of nicest-looking comb- 
honey with the fewest stings. 
Now, I have not fully tested the honey 
matter to my entire satisfaction, but I have 
the matter of stings, and am fully satisfied 
that they are less inclined to sting than any 
other race of bees I have ever seen. When I 
have had another season's experience with 
them I will report further. 1 hope others will 
give their experience with these bees — 
American Bee Journal. 
Finishing Sections. 
When the honey-flow begins to fall off, 
it is important to get unfinished sec- 
tions completed as soon as possible, lto 
not, therefore, place cases of sections beneath 
those which are partly filhd; but if crowded 
with bees, still showing want of room, a 
case of sections may be given above the 
partially filled case. The be. s, entering the 
upper sections, will draw out foundation, 
which may be stored and used another season, 
and will seal over more quickly the lower 
