222 
JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 
[ March 12, 1885. 
there are many ways of spoiling it. Enlarging a hive does not prevent 
swarming if the old queen shows signs of failing to fulfil her matronly 
duties, and when young queens are brought forward nothing but 
removing the supernumerary queens will check the impulse to swarm. 
Supers are therefore most desirable under any system of management, and 
honey in the comb is always more luscious and enticing than that dripped 
or extracted. Mr. Pettigrew’s greatest experience with ekes was at the 
moors, and it is presumably when hives are there that he advocates their 
use. Bees in straw hives at the heather make more weight with ekes than 
supers. “ Felix ” does not say how long the honey season lasts in his 
locality. If, however, it lasts only for about a month with his hives 
rather late, it will be advisable to prevent swarming, but if it continues 
till September then hurry on swarming by all means. The right system 
of management depends more on how to have bees prepared to take the 
advantage of the season and flowers than any particular hive or any one 
pet system. Now to his questions. 1, A little feeding as soon as the 
combs are covered with bees will hasten it much, and might even be the 
first to swarm in the district. 2, No, if the bees are numerous and 
attend to feed in time. 3, There is a danger of much drone comb being 
built, hut will be lessened if comb-building is encouraged early. In large 
hives the queens are often deposed the first summer after creation, but if 
swarmed artificially in time they may be spared longer, as a first swarm 
fills up its hive quick with honey, the strain is not so great on the queen, 
and she is allowed to reign in peace.] 
THE BRITISH HONEY COMPANY AND THE BRITISH 
BEE KEEPERS’ ASSOCIATION. 
Your correspondent “Pro Bono Publico” (see page 202) makes some 
comments upon my article, page 181, which he thinks necessary, but like 
his other friends, seems either unwilling or unable to give the desired 
information. In the first place, then, let me tell him that the British 
Bee-keepers’ Association is not a national institution any more than the 
Honey Company is, or is likely to be. In regard to my knowledge of the 
British Bee-keepers’ Association, I assisted at its formation, and was a 
member for a short time. I am quite cognisant of all your correspondent 
says the British Bee-keepers’ Association has done, which, to a casual 
observer, must appear as so much good, but I also know there is a great 
deal of discontent amongst its members. 
It is a pity your correspondent does not enlighten us upon the expense 
bee-keepers in Ireland and other places have been induced to indulge in 
by the British Bee-keepers’ Association’s experts recommending apiarian 
appliances of a costly nature. 
In regard to the British Bee-keepers’ Association attempting to cross 
the border to offer assistance, I may tell him, and all concerned in that 
project, that it is unnecessary. The humblest bee-keeper in Scotland 
(except those beginners who have given themselves up to the British Bee¬ 
keepers’ Association) is quite capable of managing his bees and finding a 
market for bis honey. From time immemorial the Scotch have had their 
local societies, with means of assisting each other for the disposal of 
honey, and machines for extracting, as well as vehicles for transporting 
their bees from one place to another, and mutually assisting each other in 
all the requirements of bee-keeping. The shows, too, were conducted on 
principles of equity and judgment, and the awards made always gave 
satisfaction. 
Evidence has been given by your correspondents that the Honey Com¬ 
pany has unlimited powers to deal in every kind of honey to be put up 
for sale in “ proper bottles and labels ” for the purpose of making it a 
paying concern. The only advantage likely to accrue from this is stated 
by “Pro Bono Publico” in my words; but there is scarcely a shop in 
any town of importance but what has American honey as well as glucose 
for sale. No company was required to establish this system, for a private 
individual with enterprise accomplished long ago what the Honey Com¬ 
pany can only accomplish at “ great cost,” not speaking of the “profits ” 
they expect. It requires but little calculation to show that all the ex¬ 
penses incurred and profits made must necessarily fall on either the con¬ 
sumer or producer, which will at a low calculation be from 30 to 40 per 
cent. Such middlemen as the Honey Company are those who reap the 
profits of fruit, vegetables, beef, dairy produce, &c., and now it is to be 
honey, which will make bee-keeping unremunenative to the bee-keeper, as 
has been the case with the market gardener, fruit-grower, and farmer, 
who, in the absence of a proper union (such as is proposed by “ A Hallam- 
shire Bee-keeper ”) have been victimised by the grasping middlemen. This 
is what the promoters of the National Bee-keepers’ Union wish to see 
avoided, and bee-keepers by studying their interests will be wise to take 
advantage of and give all assistance they can. Beyond what I have 
said about the British Bee-keepers’ Association and Honey Company, 
I have no desire to further interfere with them, but will exert myself to 
support any scheme for the public good, without any desire for personal 
profit.—A Lanarkshire Bee-keeper. 
I observe that “ A Hallamshire Bee-keeper” sees a very close con¬ 
nection between these and the Bee Journal , and suggests that they have 
interests to serve antagouistic to those of bee-keepers. As this sug¬ 
gestion is utterly incorrect, I crave permission to state that there is no 
connection whatever between the Honey Company and the British Bee¬ 
keepers’ Association. It is the case that some ot the Committee of the 
British Bee-keepers’ Association are Directors of the Honey Company, 
but the two concerns are entirely distinct, and are not, like your papers, 
worked from the same office. A similar remark applies also to the Bee 
Journal. The Bee Journal is the organ of the British Bee-keepers’ 
Association, but the management is quite distinct, and the British Bee¬ 
keepers’ Association is not responsible in any way for the Bee Journal. 
The Honey Company has been started to promote the sale of honey, and 
that object seems to me a very laudable one.—E. M. B. A. 
WHICH ARE THE BEST HIVES—BAR-FRAMES OR SKEPS ? 
I have assisted in the management of bees from my boyhood with 
the exception of two short breaks, when I lived where bees were not 
kept, but it was always on the old system of straw hives or skeps until the 
last few years. When bar-hives became the fashion we had to follow in 
and I have no doubt for providing good super honey in the comb fit for 
table they are the best. But they take up more of my time during the 
summer than I can afford to give them ; yet I am forced to do it, for if the 
well attended I think bees are less profitable in the bar-frames than the 
skeps. When first we bad them I thought the bar-frames far ahead of 
the skep, but for the last two or three years I have cautioned poor people 
who have intended giving up the skep for the bar-hive not to be too 
hasty, as I have an idea that skeps are the best when we take into con¬ 
sideration the great outlay for bar-hives and other necessaries (that the 
skep do not require), and then the constant attention needed there must 
be a much greater quantity of honey to be able to pay for this extra 
expense and time. I do not keep bees myself, as I have to look after my 
employer’s ; if I could I should try the two systems together. The great 
quantity of honey gathered by the bar-frame hives last year gained for 
them a little more favour, but I had no skeps to compare them with. 
I cannot hold with Mr. Kruse in his reverting to the old system of 
killing bees, which must lower the value of skeps very much. I do not 
think that smoke, judiciously used, does any harm to bees ; but when 
bees are half suffocated by heavy doses of smoke harm is done. Only 
two or three puffs with the smoker is sufficient to make them gorge them¬ 
selves with honey. Instead of killing them I should drive them about 
the end of July, but the precise time would depend on the season and 
locality. It should be done soon enough for them to get sufficient to 
winter on, if not they must be fed. By so doing I have had as good 
stocks in spring as from May swarms untouched.—J. L. B. 
THE BRITISH BEE-KEEPERS’ ASSOCIATION AND MR. 
PEEL. 
May I suggest that it is hardly fair to allow “A Hallamshire Bee¬ 
keeper” to allude to Mr. Peel in the way he has done without signing 
his name ? It is perfectly true that malicious criticisms and personal 
attacks are excluded from the Bee Journal , and properly so ; but there is 
no question whatever that the Bee Journal admits views of all kinds and 
from all quarters, provided only that they are expressed in tolerable 
English and free from personalities. Under Mr. Peel the Bee Journal 
for some years has been published once a fortnight, whereas formerly it 
was issued once only in the month. Its circulation, moreover, has largely 
increased, and the most advanced bee-keepers from all parts of the globe 
enrich its pages. The compliments paid to its proprietor (Mr. Peel) are 
only his due, for he has done more to advance bee-keeping in England 
than any Englishman living ; and the extraordinary advance of apiculture 
in England during the last five years must be attributed chiefly to Mr. 
Peel and the band of friends whom he has attracted to himself by his 
ability, energy, earnestness, and philanthropic desire to do good to his 
fellow countrymen. Mr. Peel has made a mark for good on his time, and 
in my opinion deserves the gratitude and esteem of all right-minded men. 
—A Looker-On. 
[With reference to signatures we are authorised by “ Hallamshire Bee¬ 
keeper” to say that he has no objection to sign his communications with 
his own name provided all who have taken part in this discussion will do 
the same.] 
TRADE CATALOGUES RECEIVED. 
H. Cannell & Sons, Swanley, Kent .—The Whole Family of Chrysanthe¬ 
mums ( illustrated ). 
L. Delaville, 2, Quai de la Megisserie, Paris .—General Catalogue of 
Seeds. 
W. E. Ward & Co., Union Chambers, 7, Wormwood Street, London, E.C. 
—Catalogue of Horticultural Sundries. 
James Phillips & Co., 6 and 7, Half Moon Street, Bishopsgate Street 
Without, London .—Price List of Glass /< r Horticultural Purposes, Fern 
Cases, Shades, &c. 
*** All correspondence should be directed either to “The Editor f 
or to “ The Publisher.” Letters addressed to Dr. Hogg or 
members of the staff often remain unopened unavoidably. We 
request that no one will write privately to any of our correspon- 
