42 
GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTURE. 
small compass indeed before they left “ tee- 
totally.” 
All we can do now is too keep saying over 
to ourself" we’ll show folks how we can build 
up bees if we can’t winter them.” 
March 101/t — No more mortality, but we find 
a Qneenless colony on which to practice our 
teachings. Have just made a feeding house or 
shed. The north and east sides are closed and 
south and west open, the roof slants to the 
south, leaving the eaves which project over 
the floor considerably, just high enough to 
walk under. 
The meal is distributed on the floor, which 
slants slightly to the south, in such a way 
that the sun’s rays strike it almost perpendic- 
ularly, some portion of it during the entire 
day. 
The bees have been at work all day in it, 
although much of the time they flitted there 
and back during quite a drizzling rain; they 
also worked there briskly, in the direct rays of 
the declining sun long after they had ceased 
flying elsewhere. Floor is G x 12 feet (longest 
east and west) and roof is enough larger to 
protect it from ordinary showers. 
Tis in the north-east corner of our inclosure, 
and the tight board fences 8 f’t high, keep off 
cold winds quite satisfactorily. 
March 20f/< — An amusing phenomena. The 
day being too cool for bees to fly ordinarily, 
they kept at the entrance of their hives until 
the sun came out between the clouds, when 
they went for the feeding house with a rush ; 
to return almost as quickly if the sun chanced 
to cease shining. At about 2 o’clock the effect 
was novel and striking, when all had been 
silent, after about 2 minutes sun-shine, we 
would have a sweep, and rush, to be followed 
by a small “roar” of happy industry. The 
feeding house being warmed only by the sun, 
was deserted as soon as it ceased lending it’s 
rays. As an experiment we presented th r in 
with little hea P* of wheat flour, corn meal, 
ground chess, rye and oats, and lastly dry 
sugar. All of the grains were dabbled at, 
generally new comers, but all soon set- 
tled down to a decided preference for the rye 
mid oat meal. A few tasted the sugar but 
seemingly concluded the meal was of much 
the most importance. 
Fiubni> Gallup says in A. B. J. “Our theory is, 
that bees kept perfectly dry, discharge the excre- 
mental portions of their food in small and perfectly 
dry pellets” etc., now we protest against this on the 
ground that it’s Quinby’s “theory,” and that he 
should be left entirely in undisturbed possession of it. 
After having given it publicity at length, in so many 
periodicals it seems rather hard to have some other 
writer claim it now ; the more so, as we think it can 
easily be shown to be an error the whole of it. 
Mr. Q. should remember that bees are constantly 
cutting away the combs, or gnawing them down in 
places, whether they have capped honey or not. The 
old brood combs containing cocoons are cut and 
dropped down along with the cappings, which are of 
a different color, as are pieces of different combs; 
this is all we llnd on the bottom-boards of our hives, 
and we have examined a great many. Like the asser- 
tion that the extractor killed the brood, this is a 
question needing no argument, for every bee-keeper 
••an easily see for himself. It you wish* to be sure, 
get a magnifier of moderate power, and also throw 
some in hot water as Mr. Q. advises, until the wax 
separates from the cocoons and propolis. 
Gleanings in Bee Culture, 
Published Monthly, 
A.. I. ROOT <3c CO., 
EDITORS AND PROPRIETORS. 
MEDIN A , 0 H To . 
Terms : 75o. Per Annum. 
For Club Rates see Last Page. 
1 , 1874 ^ 
B. K. M. came to hand March (5th, A. B. J. on the 
7th, JY. B. J. *23d, and World, on the 2oth. 
Lkst it might escape your notice, we would remark 
that we are a little larger this month. 
Mu. Cukuy writes: “The bees in the liot-bed must 
have ample ventilation,” but we have found no trouble 
as yet when covered with a quilt. 
Among our subscribers we find a George Bee , 
And what is still more funny, 
Another hailing from Cleveland, Ohio, 
Rejoices as, Riley Honey. 
We wonder if the following from Josh Billings, 
won’t apply to bee-keeping: “Ycu‘d better not know 
so much than to know so many things that a’n’t so. 
Clubbing rates will be the same as given last month 
with the exception oi the B. K. M. which has been ad- 
vanced to 1.25, consequently price will be with Glean- 
ings 1.75 instead of 1.50, and $4.25 for all four. 
Mu. Quinby gives full directions for making his hive 
in Country Gentleman of March 19th. The article cer- 
tainly merits the thanks of the bee-keeping communi- 
ty, for it is a w ell directed effort toward enabling those 
who wish, to make their own hives. 
In Rural N. Y. for March 21st, we find excellent re- 
ply to Prof. Riley, on Bees and Fruit. The writer cov- 
ers the whole ground we believe, unless it be that he 
omitted to consider the woraf effect it might have on a 
community, if the plan of poisoning, were adopted 
whenever a neighbor’s stock became annoying. 
In describing the Buzz-saw last month an error oc- 
curs in the positions. When the operator stands at 
the end of the table, the balance wheel should come 
at his right hand ; the saw just before him ; the sliding 
figure 4 shaped piece, at his left, with the square bar 
nearest, and the diagonal, farthest from him. Also 
the “parallel bar” seen hinged to the back of the table 
in fig. 4, must be on the right, directly over the balance. 
As ours is somewhat an experimental Apiary, and 
our time necessarily much occupied with this “grow- 
ing child.” (Gleanings) we fear wc shall not be able 
to furnish either Queens or bees before July, more 
than we have already orders for. Messrs Shaw & Son, 
Daniels, and Dean, are making preparations to rear 
them largely, and can probably furnish better stock 
than ours also ; w r e would therefore advise that orders 
for early Queens be sent them. 
Ouk readers w ill notice that we are now using the 
mailing machinery, and if the date after the name is 
not found to indicate the time at which their sub- 
scription should expire, w r e hope they will advise us 
at once. A small 8, before the word Jan., indicates 
