THE 
Huetraltan Beekeepers' 
JOURNAL, 
Vol. III.— No. 11.] SEPTEMBER, 1889. [Price 6d. 
(BiutoriaL 
BEE GOSSIP. 
Onr hints for the season have now come 
around again to the commencement of a 
new bee campaign, and as the hints and di- 
rections given for each month can scarcely be 
varied much, we propose to devote our first 
columns to “Bee Gossip,” under which com- 
prehensive head we can put any news, fresh 
information, or criticisms we think may 
be interesting to our readers. 
FOUIi BROOD. 
Another method of treatment of this 
plague to beekeepers is now likely to be 
added to the hundred and one plans recom- 
mended for its cure. The new scheme is 
vaporizing with formic acid, by putting a 
shallow dish of the acid on the floor-board 
under the frames, and covering it with wire 
gauze, so that the bees cannot get access to 
it. It is stated that the vapour is not dis- 
liked by the bees, and that in 20 days the 
disease has been quite cured in every case 
that has been tried. This is the state- 
ment given in the British Bee Jouirnal 
of July 25, and if it turns out as stated, 
it will be an easy method of curing 
without destroying combs or healthy brood. 
The exact process is not yet given very 
clearly ; but it appears that in order to get 
the shallow vessel under the frames extra 
space has to be made between the floor- 
board and the bottoms of the frames, by 
either raising the frames on the runners, 
or inserting a half-inch slip between 
bottom board and body. Mention is 
made of disengaging the vapour of the for- 
mic acid more rapidly in bad cases, by 
dropping pieces of zinc into the acid from 
time to time. If we are so unfortunate as 
to be visited by the troublesome disorder this 
season, we intend giving it a fair trial, al- 
though our ordinary and simple method of 
putting the bees into a new hive and keeping 
them comb-building for a while, has been very 
successful, and as far as our experience goes, 
leaves nothing to be desired. 
CARNIOLAN QUEENS. 
A nice parcel of these were sent out to 
Australia by Mr. Benton per the Lusitania , 
which arrived in Melbourne on the 31st 
August. Some of these were for ourselves, 
and others for Dr. Clarke, of St. Leonards, 
Sydney. About a week before the vessel ar- 
rived in Melbourne the chief officer, who 
had kindly taken charge of them and placed 
them for safety in the wine-room, found the 
boxes had been eaten by rats and most of the 
queens and bees had escaped. All that could 
be found were gathered together and re- 
placed in the boxes, but died most likely be- 
cause the rats had eaten all the food in the 
boxes before leaving them. It is possible one 
or two queens of the Sydney portion may 
arrive alive, but the Melbourne contingent is 
defunct. 
FEEDING. 
We are glad to see our friend Mr. W. 
Abram again contributing to our columns, 
and advocating both his methods of manage- 
ment and the Berlepsch hive, and there is 
no doubt a considerable force in his argu- 
ments. There is much to be said in favor of 
the Berlepsch hive ; its capacity is just right 
for the particular mode of management, and 
there are many points which we have found 
advantageous, but surrounded as our apiary 
is with a great variety of pines, the propolis 
