GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTURE. 
March 
34 
The above, although seemingly harsh is a 
very fair illustration of the practicability of 
many of the patented appliances for Bee Cul- 
ture! It may be however that Adair has a 
knack of handling them himself more success- 
fully, but we cannot think he works a very 
large Apiary with Section Hives. 
Apropos of Problem 19th, has the following fact any 
significance ? Mv queenless colony raised hundreds 
of little drones during November, which month with 
us was colder, more wintry than December. The cells 
In which sain little drones were reared had not been 
lengthened— were capped over like worker brood. It 
1- reasonable to suppose, therefore, that genuine work- 
er brood would, under the same circumstances have re- 
ceived the same cure. 
May it not be then, that by removing the queen, 
utter securing a supply of eggs, (I suppose a plan 
might be devised for keeping her safely a few weeks,) 
the rearing of a limited quantity of brood (or an un- 
limited quantity, if eggs can be obtained,) can be at 
any time ensured ? I" A. W. 
We have often noticed how carefully eggs 
and larva; were nursed in a queenless colony, 
but are not prepared to say from practical ex- 
periment that more young bees would lie 
raised. Those having queenless colonies this 
spring (see Dec. No! page !)0) will be pretty 
sure to test the matter and we hope will report. 
I see That Dee men are not yet satlslied as to dysen- 
tery or bee disease, and 1 never was till Ibis winter 
and now I know the cause, found the cause acciden- 
t ally ami not by smartness. 
1 'put all but 7 In the cellar second day after tile 
cold weather, and the 7 several days alter It turned 
coltl so they had been exposed and were gorged with 
honey, and being confined were not able to empty 
themselves, and the result dysentery nr bee disease, 
lb ‘7 are now all dead, while the remaining 85 are good 
ami all rigid. 1 would wil Ingly wager on hives against 
5u that 1 can produce the disease In any hive by expo- 
sing to a severe cold snap say a week, mercury some 
times down to zero or below, then If the weather turns 
favorable for th ing, prevent by putting In cellar or 
bee house and expose again, perhaps once will do. 
D. D. Palmeii, Eliza, Ills. 
We are sorry to dampen our friend’s enthu- 
siasm but lie forgets like many others that the 
same tiling lias been done hundreds of times 
without injury, again, perhaps the worst cases 
of loss were iti Feb. and March or even April, 
where the bees were left out and not moved at 
all. Precisely the treatment lie mentions does 
not give our sugar fed colonies the disease. 
He further adds some heavy questions ft>r a 
Novice to answer but we’ll try. 
A few questions for Gleanings. 
1st.— When bees are gathering honey or pollen do 
thev gather from one or more species of plant! ? 
■i id. Have qu mi s ever been known to mate with a 
d .me of a fertile worker or an unimpregnated queen? 
3rd.— Why do bees build their combs corrugated 
or wavy? 
4th.— Will Queen cells do as well In a horizontal 
position as perpendicular after being capped ? 
5th.— Do the bees leave the cocoons in the cells? 
6th.— Can bees hear? 
1 st. — Usually one, but we find many excep- 
tions. 
2nd. — A number of direct experiments seem 
to indicate the small drones good, but others 
stoutly contend they are not. 
3 rd. — We think generally because the colony 
is weak. When the colony is strong and hive 
“chock" full of bees, combs are generally strait 
and regular. 
4th.— We think so but may be wrong- 
oth. — You may see by dissolving the comb 
in hot water. 
6th.— Mrs. N. says they can, for they always 
come to the pump in dry weather when they 
hear it going. 
What Is the size of the perforated tin yon use on 
your tea-kettle feeder, what is the number, how line, 
answer In Gleanings. 
• W. Chapman, Morrison, Ills. 
About 17 holes to the inch each way, are 
found in the perforated tin we use, but we 
rather think larger holes would be less liable 
to till up with sugar, however a tea-kettle of 
hot water cleans them quickly. Some one 
proposes to make these feeders of boards made 
tight with wax ; these will do very well one 
season but after that, make much trouble by 
leakage, while tin although a little more ex- 
pensive, lasts indefinitely. 
Light Wanted :— I have been trying to make some 
bee-quilts and can not make them to suit, they get 
so puckered up that they will not lie down square, we 
tried to quill them with a mabhine, please instruct ns 
by letter. ALBERT POTTEK, Eureka, Wis. 
Don't quilt them. Make them just like a 
pillow case and have them rather large ; have 
the sides of the hive come at least a half inch 
above the top of the frames and then tuck them 
in tight every time so not a bee can even make 
faces at you before the hive is closed. 
If It be not necessary for Polish bees to fly for purl- 
fleution for a period of eight or nine months, why will 
not our bees remain quiet and healthful when con- 
lined for half the time ? 
Would you not like frames 1+ inches long, (instead 
of 17 5, ) provided you could till a hive with them of 
sume capacity at eanio expense, better titan you do 
your present style of frames ? 
Is there not too much weight of comb and honey in 
yourS by 17 5 inch frames, to bundle in the ex- 
tractor sately ? Very truly, 
G. E. (jAltl.lN, M. 1). St. Johns, Mich. 
We know bees used to stand a low degree of 
cold for months in northern climates and real- 
ly cannot see why they should not stand our 
winters for the last few years. 
We feel quite certain we can raise more brood 
in the shallow Langstroth frame than in any 
deeper one and we And them also best adapted 
to the extractor after having tried all those 
given on our- circular except the Adair frame. 
Much depends however on having a very 
tight hiv< ; the movable side, in our American 
hives always lets in so much cold air, as they 
always must do, that, perhaps our experiments 
with deep frames were defective in that res- 
pect. 
FttlENX) Novice:— W e fellow Novices would like to 
know if the honey flics above the comb in using them 
end downward hi the extractor, and does it Lake less 
force to throw it out that way, than it would if hung 
as it is in the hive? With the extractor I use, tin' 
honey ihes up six Inches or more when thick and cool. 
It. S. Decktell, New lSufl'ulo, Mich. 
If the frames revolve one inch lower than 
tlie top of the can we cannot imagine how the 
honey can fly out. Witli the frame longest 
way up and down, no part of the comb need 
exceed (i inches from the central shaft, conse- 
quently we have less centrifugal force, the 
machine may be lighter, less power is required 
to stop and start, and we work easier and 
faster. 
Can I keep bees successfully In the heart of a City , 
or will they interfere with Grocery and Confectionery 
Shops, that are near? „ „ 
Stephen Williams, Nashua, N. li. 
Yes. When there are no natural stores to 
lie had, keep them busy on sugar as we do, and 
if you think you cannot afford the sugar, make 
them pay for it by rearing $1.00 Queens. 
