GLEANINGS IN I5EE CULTURE. 
March. 
28 
“ P. G." has a plan of her own'Tor feeding 
that has been quite successful, as follows: She 
makes an oblong bag of stout cotton and cov- 
ers its mouth by sewing in a piece of coarse 
wire cloth, perhaps 1U by 10 inches. This is 
placed between two combs moved slightly 
apart, near the cluster, and is filled by pouring 
tlie syrup through the wire cloth when the 
quilt is turned back slightly; the wire cloth 
holds the mouth of the bag open and prevents 
bees from getting into it. Whatever plan of 
feeding you propose in spring, do not do any 
thing that will allow the warm air to escape 
upward from the cluster. 
AIITI FILIAL I'ASTi ltAtii;. 
/r] lie opening article in the A. H. J. for Feb. 
ZL, by Mr. Gallup, it seems to us strikes about 
at the root of the matter of raising plants or 
trees for bees. Almost every season the bees 
work on some plant that we had never noticed 
their visiting before; and with the exception 
of white clover we have had failures from all 
sources. Locust trees gave us such a crop in 
1870, that we meditated plantingau orchard of 
them; but vve have had no honey of any account 
from them since, although they have been full 
of bloom ; basswood has also been almost a fail- 
ure for throe years past in this locality : buck- 
wheat is reported generally very uncertain, and 
the autumn flowers, unless in the vicinity of a 
large swamp sceem equally unreliable. It 
would seem extremely doubtful whether it will 
pay to undertake to raise any plant exclusively 
for bees, and we would advise none to u liber- 
take it unless they have ample means; and it 
should also lie remembered that 'tis folly to ex- 
pect much from any source unless there be at 
least an acre of it. ’Twere well to consid- 
er whether the same money instead of being ex- 
pended in artificial pasturage had not better be 
used for the- ^purchase of sugar . to feed, for in 
that case you. are sure Of the> result, whether it 
be for qu(.eu-i;caring, or for furpishing winter 
supplies. ’ j,,. , . i 
Raising Rape for :thp, seed, near an apiary 
might be a very profitable plan. (put as yet, we 
have so far as we know, had no direct practical 
report of its value in this country. We tried 
a small piece last season, and the grasshoppers 
ale off every leaf as soon as it appeared, but we 
propose trying it again this year. Alsike clover 
seems to be our only hope of any tiling certain, 
and even here we have more reports of failures 
than positive success. If farmers could be in- 
duced to raise Alsike as they do red clover, 
there can be no question of its being a great 
bem fit to beekeepers. It certainly must be prof- 
itable to raise it for seed, and we are surprised 
that the price is not only kept up but continues 
f o rise. We were advised by our leading seeds- 
men to offer it in our circular at the same prices 
as last year, and the result has beeu that we 
have sold seed for 30c. that cost us 33c. because 
none of the new crop could lie found in the mar- 
ket for a less price. If beekeepers can’t make 
it pay to raise it for the honey', they certainly 
can for the seed, and as there is little danger 
of loss in the operation we should advise Alsike 
before every thing else, and while you are 
about it give it plenty nf manure, and good cul- 
ture, for lots of honey requires lots of plant 
food, and we “ Young Americas”when we un- 
dertake a tiling, like to make it a success it tis 
a possible thing in spite of obstacles that may 
chance to arise. Those who have the brain, 
muscle and energy that commands success in 
whatever they undertake, are the ones we want 
for beekeepers. See friend Nevin’s letter, page 
l’ilmil.I JI 1 !) COMPLETELY SOLVE© 
IN A NOVEL M ANNEAL 
tffipHE following expeiiment seems to have 
iLj hit the solution of Proli. 10 so direct, and 
phases us so much that we mark our friend 
paid for five years on Gleanings. We pre- 
sume almost all of our readers are familiar 
with the construction of hot beds, and we 
think no possible harm can happen if this forc- 
ing process be undertaken as soon as this 
reaches you. Should you succeed in building 
a colony up to the “ swarming pitch” by the 
first of Apiil you will probably, if you keep 
them properly under control get a result in 
the way of honey, that will amply pay fora 
dozen hot beds and the attendant care. 
Our llecs are in splendid condition so far, I was all 
through them on the Slat, (Jan.) and in some I found 
three sheets witli brood in, and in none did I lind 
more than a handful of dead bees. 1 feel as if we were 
safe for this time, and begin to look forward to our 
next honey season. My hives are all out of doors 
with 8traw"mats on the combs, are dry and in line or- 
der. 1 was somewhat surprised to hear you say that 
We could not have had the bee cholera in'tlrts section ; 
why, some bee-keepers lost GO and 7a hives, while oth- 
ers ’did not lose quite so many, for the simple reason 
they did not have them to lose, I am satisfied I would 
have lost all of mine last winter if 1 had not given up- 
ward ventilation, some I saved by that means when ti 
mere remnant were leit to tell the tale, and by careful 
nursing in what might be called a “hot bed” got a 
good return from them in the wav of honey and arti- 
ficial swarms. My hot bed consisted in surrounding 
a hive with aboul’six inches of manure on the three 
sides and bottom, covering the tops with a quilt and 
mat and leaving the front open. It would have done 
you good to have seen how the Queen "spread her- 
self; ’ I was a little afraid it might be too hot for them 
.blit I heard no complaints, and I saw eggs deposited 
and hatched out of the cluster just as we do in sum- 
mer; it came out my best hive and returned me the 
most honey. I hope some others may try the same 
and give its the results. 
II. E. (lunar, 208 West 4 th, St. Cln. O. 
Later : An appeal for further particulars 
brought the following ; 
In reply to your inquiries I am sorry to say I did 
not keep a record of my experiments, i had no idea 
of succeeding; as well as I did or I would have been 
more particular, 1 think however, it was the latter 
part of March, but last year was a strange year, one 
it wont do to go by, if 1 remember we had very cold 
weather in April, even the blue birds were deceived. 
I thought of your lamp Queen Nursery and of Patent 
Incubators; the heat in those are kept up by means 
of a lamp and hot water, if the hot bed is as successful 
as I think it is, it will do just as well and perhaps 
better. I must close by thanking you for your kind 
otter of a live years subscription, and can assure you 
it is appreciated, at the same time I could not think 
for a moment of abusing good nature in such a way, 
but as long as Gi.kaningh is conducted in the manner 
it is, I shall take pride in supporting it. 
TH73 STAIVDASil) HIVE AND FRAME* 
"fN ourjiasty description ol'n hive for the pro- 
ZLj posed standard frame in our last, we made 
an error in length of cover that was not noticed 
until half the papers were worked off, and still 
more humiliating was it to discover after all 
were off, that we had given directions for cat-_ 
ting a side and end respectively, 30 and lo; ! » 
