GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTURE. 
129 
FROM DIFFERENT FIELDS. 
Tlw books teach us that all bees cut themselves 
out of their cells, 
KAR NOVICE El al \— In the fall three years 
a; a back, lay first year with bees, the following 
came under my observation : Tin: 16th Sept. ’71, 
1 had one Italian stock, on opening this hive I found 
several Queen cells. There were two on one comb, 
one near each side bar. This comb with the two 
Queen cells on it, I put into another hive, added to it 
two or three combs of capped brood and honey and 
C t in over a quart of bees from parent hive (parent 
■e very full of beesi. Both the Queen cells were 
capped when transferred to the empty hive. Seven 
days alter, on opening the hive, without smoke, found 
several bees cutting away on one of the Queen cells. 
On dispersing the bees I lound a hole cut into the cell 
about H of an Inch above the small end. I distinctly 
saw the white Immature Queen in the cell, and with a 
sharp knife 1 carefully enlarged the opening, so as 
not to wound the inmate. I immediately replaced the 
comb and closed the hive. Two hours alter I reopen- 
ed the hive, found the Queen on bottom-board, the 
bees were trying to put her out, indeed did put her 
out of the hive. I now examined the remaining 
Queen cell, this was intact, there had been no inter- 
meddling with it by the bees. This was Saturday, 
next day being the Sabbath I did not open the hive. 
Ulouday about 6 o’clock .V. M. on opening the hive, the 
Queen was out on the comb, a very pretty well ma- 
tured Queen. Now the last cell was cut on the side, 
as I saw the bees cutting the first cell) and there was 
surely nothing like the smallest hole in the lower end. 
I examined with all possible care and had others to 
examine. I am satisfied that both Queens were cut 
out by the workers. Why did thev do it ? what was 
their object? J. if. Wilson skn’k. 
Lexington, Texas. Sept. ‘26th, 1H74. 
The occurrence mentioned is not infrequent. 
Although we cannot positively say why they 
do thus, we would suggest that it is the work 
of mischievious young bees who finding no 
unsealed brood to care for, have “nothing else 
to do.” Had they been furnished with eggs 
occasionally, they would doubtless have been 
busy otherwise, and so felt no inclination to 
meddle with the Queen cells. At a certain 
age, they seem to be as full of mischief as 
“young puppies,” and if they can’t build comb, 
nurse larva;, or build Queen cells, they will 
amuse themselves by “tearing down some- 
thing”; if the Queen thus rudely exposed is 
old enough to live, all is well, otherwise they 
pick the white soft chrysalis out of the cell, 
piecemeal, with a most provoking unconcern 
and disregard of consequences. Young bees, 
like children must have something to do; if it 
cannot be useful it should at least be harmless 
or they will assuredly be in mischief of some 
kind. 
n,f., am bmkh'g bee-keeping a specialty, commence 
Y„„:Y; rs ago with two box hives ami Black bees 
have SO colonies of as fine Italians as can b 
Ti-n.pi lltt ywhero, have hail many dlfUculties am 
i,i '!■ i . a . m have tried several different kinds o 
nos but have something now that I think I can ti 
x,,!. a choice Imported Queen from Oh. Dadun 
(.lUti.'.i. is yc? r - hly slock Is all raised from Import 
k and it nothing happens will be In the Qneci 
i.uu, p* n a small way another year. Have taken nbou 
a ,?\°l honey timing the season, 8000 lbs. since th 
tiicj/m, .S'. 1 had some gather over 1.10 lbs. betwcei 
honov , ? Au S- Il “d the 11th of Sept. One of the be.s 
Island !!! uilt \?n my locality is Wild Cucumber; th. 
Mv i„„ ’* hmg the Mississippi river are covered with 11 
wlieiwi 8 n.’n'ked well on Alslko and lied clover, bu 
cd „„ i? cucumber commenced blooming they work 
of s„n„i ,’i “other good plant for honey Is u varict' 
lielcilSIf,.? ?. CI 1° that grows in abundance In cori 
'Toss n! w a )’ 1,1 Places too wet for corn. My bee; 
hnnev m. ,*?, ss !l , P 1 river and gather a great deal o 
■il'ul eoi'.m 1 1 V 1 All f' a, 'd Sept. The honey is a beau 
golc.en color. 1 will send you a sample the lirsl 
time I am at a town where there is an express office- 
My bees have always wintered on their natural stores, 
have never lost a colony except from starvation. The 
late honey is so thick I could not throw it out if 1 
wanted to. I wintered them in cellar of my house. 1 
have made many observations on bees and honev 
plants but am a poor hand to write them. 
A lover of bees. a. L. Williams. 
Deer Plain, ,111. Sept. 28th, 1874. 
Shall be very glad of your assistance in the 
Queen trade friend W. We hope no one will 
be deterred from writing us because they think 
themselves poor hands at telling what thev 
have observed. We are all “at home” in this 
department. 
Now X am only a beginner in the business, having 
only four colonies, three Greys and one Italian. In 
passing them for the last week ov two I have noticed 
a pecular tour smell among them. As as thev were 
working finely. I attributed the smell to the 'bloom 
they were working on; but the scent increased, and 
yesterday I found that it was the Italian colony, so 1 
opened the hive and found it wet inside, from sweat 1 
suppose, drops of water were on the lid and running 
down the side. The comb seemed to he damp and 
had a sour smell. On opening all the hives this morn- 
ing I found two others in the same fix, except not -o 
sour. I want to know the best plan to pursue in this 
case. I am using the Buckeye hive and It has no ven- 
tilators. I have attributed the cause of the sweat to 
that. Am I right ? 1 intend ventilating them by bo- 
ring a hole near the top and covering It with wire 
cloth. T. B. Parker, Goldsboro, N. C. Oct. 6th, 1874. 
We think the trouble is that they are getting 
very thin honey or syrup from some source, so 
thin in fact that it sours before they can ripen 
it. More ventilation will probably help the 
matter, but to make sure, we would remove 
the cover entirely and let the sun shine direct- 
ly on the bees and combs ; this will dry them 
out and assist them in getting everything 
sweet and clean. W© have had a similar troub- 
le in feeding weak colonies a large amount of 
very thin syrup. 
Find out where they get these stores if you 
can, and report. The superior industry of the 
Italians sufficiently accounts for their being 
the worst affected. Nothing can equal the 
benefit of direct sunshine, for restoring either 
plants or animals to vigor and health. 
And now a word on the “Ivon weed” experiment. 
I moved two colonies on the morning of the 5tli of 
Aug., after extracting all the honey, to the prairie 
referred to four miles oil'. Bv 9 o’clock’ A. 51. they w ere 
as busy ns though they had not been disturbed, anil 
by the 15th they had every thing filled. Having a line 
Queen I wanted to take care of. I took a couple of 
frames of young bees, brood etc., from these two hives, 
and put into a new hive, caged the Queen and put her 
in with them. In 86 hours 1 let her out, and now thev 
are a good colony. 1 added other frames of brood 
from the other colonies however. Now I have three 
strong colonics that i have no doubt will winter safe- 
ly. 1 did not extract any of this honev to test its 
quality. Next fall X propose to utilize this prairie to 
the extent of a barrel of honey, the season favoring. 
Tills season has been considered a poor one for hon- 
ey ns every person here depends upon box honev for 
their supply, lint with an extractor it would have 
been a tolerably fair one, the Basswood Yielding 
abundantly. Win. 51. Cake. 
West Independence, O. Oct. 7th, 1874. 
Thunks for the item. We think you have 
made a move in the right direction friend C'. 
We have often admired the Iron weed ( Vern/t- 
nin ) but have had no chance to try the honey. 
May we petition for ajar of it if you succeed 
next season ? 
Can you give me one or two mimes of parties 
who will pay the best price, cash, for box honey of 
excellent quality— in 16 lit. boxes? We have about 
1400 llis. of such. 
We have increased this season from 27 to 50 colonies, 
the 27 have made the honey above, besides 850 lbs. ex- 
