GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTURE. 
Sept. 
106 
pollen had disappeared and gave more, and the mor- 
lalitv ceased immediately. These last I kept closed 
several days dreading robbers, but opened them all in 
the evening and swept otV the bottom-board. The 
Sago tree commenced blooming about the 5th of June 
and bloomed freely about three weeks and still has 
some straggling blossoms left. Did your seed germin- 
ate? Have vou any plants living now? I have never 
heard whether am one has succeeded in making 
them grow. Anna Saunders, Woodvillc, Miss. 
Our seed, we are very sorry to say, did not 
germinate — not a seed. Perhaps we did not 
put it in a good place ; in fact it is — done up in 
the original paper , in a drawer at our elbow. 
We beg your pardon sincerely Miss Anna, 
and will plant some within the next hour. 
Can’t say for the other folks. 
In regard to the small colonies; we really 
doubt if they pay as a general tiling. If pos- 
sible we prefer to give them bees, and brood 
enough, that they may keep away robbers and 
gather pollen, almost immediately. 
DEAR NOVICE:— Those Queens arrived so safely, 
and were so smart and lively that. I must have another 
right nwav. I exchanged Queens with Mr. McMnrdo, 
as mine was delayed. He said he would let me have 
his and take mine when it came; I/elt almost sorry af- 
ter I saw the one sent me, as it was the largest and 
lighter colored, those sent McMnrdo being pretty 
dark. Hurrah for sending Queens by mail, and for 
those tin Queen cages. 
Ila MiciiKNKit, Low Ranks. Ontario, Canada. 
We have perhaps omitted to state that our 
imported daughters are dark; indeed, some of 
them just before fertilization can hardly be dis- 
tinguished from common Queens, but after 
they arc laying, they become much lighter un- 
less it be tiic extremity of the body which re- 
mains dark, or as Dadant expresses it, of a dark 
leather color. The dark Queen mentioned 
above was daughter of an Imported Queen. 
1. Is the statement true that Italians work on the 
red clover? Wo have no Buck-wheat for a fall crop, 
but the Astor is abundant, and 1 suppose as good. 
2. Do you prefer hives one, or two stories? 
3. is it not better to give the same room laterally, 
Ilian perpendicularly? That is, widen the hive till it 
will hold twenty frames in one story, and contract by 
close titting boards in winter, to ten. 
4. llow many frames (Langstroth) are best for a full 
colonv of Italian bees? 
5. Is It best to keep the honey well extracted during 
the entire season? 1 have done that in some of my 
stocks, and they have reared much more brood than 
those where the combs have not been kept empty. 
Some advise me to keep the combs empty all through 
the season, even if 1 have to put the lionev back in the 
fall. 
1 see by the eop\ of Gleanings you were kind 
enough to* send me, that you make it your business to 
answer all the questions \ our correspondents ask you. 
That is the only excuse I have to offer for this long 
list of questions— which I hope neitner oll'end or wea- 
ry you. I am going to take your Gleanings, and I 
hope that will keep me posted in future. I am a 
“Country Doctor,-' and have just time enough from un- 
professional cares, to write an occasional impertinent 
letter, and attend to a few stands of bees. I made my- 
m jj.wlf a honey extractor with a 12 gal. lard stand, tin, 
and the castings of a patent churn. 
J. E. Fry, Lynnvillc, Tcnn. 
1. Most certainly they do, but not at all 
seasons. While we invariably find them on it 
working briskly in June, we seldom see them 
take any notice of it in the fall. Whenever the 
common bees are busy on white clover we rare- 
ly fail to find the Italians busy on the red. 
2, and 3. We really cannot give a full, deci- 
ded preference for either form, and opinions 
(lifter widely as you may see by reports. Each 
form lias its advantages and disadvantages. 
4. About twenty during the honey season, 
and ten during the winter. 
5. By all means, we should say, whenever 
it is coming in briskly. 
We should be ill natured indeed, were we to 
refuse to answer any question coming from a 
“country doctor” or minister either for that 
matter. If they make it their business to serve 
mankind all their lives uncomplainingly, we 
certainly should be willing to help them when- 
ever we can. 
Both of my Queens— one from Blakcslce ami one 
from Dean, arrived safely and in line order. I notified 
both senders instanter, and send a card to thank you 
and to say that I have been quite successful in intro- 
ducing them, particulars bye and bye. J. McMurdo. 
The “dollar Queen” business seems now to 
have a firm basis, but since our note last month, 
saying we were nearly caught up with orders, 
so many have come in that we fear some may 
have to lay over until next season. In such 
cases please state explicitly whether you wish 
the money returned, or to have them placed 
first on the list next season. 
G. Brigs, of New Sharon, this Co., had considerable 
basswood honey collected this season, although living 
three miles from any basswood timber. 
It. Wilkin, Oscaloosa, Iowa. 
After our main crop is over, our bees go to 
the low lands near the river, where it blossoms 
later, about a mile and a half perhaps; they 
still store considerable, but their wings soon 
get very ragged, and many doubtless perish 
from flying so great a distance. Enough may 
be brought three miles perhaps to give the 
honey a plain basswood flavor but we should 
hardly think it carried profitably so far. 
The quilts stick rather tightly to the frames, so as. to 
raise some when it is taken off. is there any remedy ? 
Have been thinking that if something could be used 
not touching the frames at all, it would be better. 
Would It not be a good plan to have the covers on 
hives so fixed that the sun could shine on the quilts 
or straw mats; that is, in spring and fall, or in the 
summer time when not too hot. 
Peter Moykii, Sharpsvillc, Pa. 
We find little trouble if the quilt be taken 
by one edge near the end of the frames, and 
“peeled” oft'. This will not disturb the frames, 
nor the bees seriously. If the quilt is kept up, 
we do not get the advantage of closed top 
frames, that we do when it comes down close 
to them. We think, (see Problem 8, Vol. 1) 
letting the sun shine on the quilt in spring 
would certainly be an advantage if it did not 
induce flying in unseasonable weather; noth- 
ing but careful experiment can tell liow it 
will do. 
FRIEND NOVICE:— Would It interest you, or your 
readers, to know how the bee business is prospering 
“away down East,” among the “Blue noses.” Well, 
almost universally, it Is the old style -box hives- -plen- 
ty of swarms— no honey. Thanks to Gleanings, 
there is at least one exception. Convinced by your 
writings that there was money in the business of bee- 
keeping, I adopted “Novice” as my model, and went 
ahead. Though our acquaintance extends but little 
over a year, yet the wind-mill, Novice’s extractor, -Hi 
Simplicity hives, the hexagonal apiary etc., all arc 
here. 
East spring I began with 43 stocks— 1(5, in old mova- 
ble comb hives, 27 in boxes which 1 purchased f° 1 ' 
about $2.50 each. All were safely wintered, and by 
judicious feeding were in good condition when the 
honey harvest began. The spring, and first part of 
bummer were very cold and wet. No honey was ob- 
tained from fruit blossoms, and I was obliged to feed 
my bees on the 4th of July to prevent starvation. My 
27* box hives were transferred, but 1 could only get 
enough good comb out of them on an average to fm 
four of my Quinby frames. This left a vacancy of six 
frames. The honey harvest began the Otli of July. 
