THE AMERICAN BEE JOURNAL

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☞The North Western Wisconsin Bee-keepers Association will meet at Germania Hall, LaCrosse, Wis., on Tuesday, May 10, at 10 a.m. All interested in bee-keeping are requested to be present.

L. H. Pammel, Jr.,Sec.

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☞The next meeting of the N. W. Illinois and S. W. Wisconsin Bee-Keepers’ Association, will be held at H. W. Lee’s, 2 miles n.w. of Pecatonica, Winnebago county, Ills., on the 17th of May, 1881.

J. Stewart,Sec.

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☞On account of unfavorable weather the convention at Monroe Centre, Ill., met on Feb. 8, and there being but few present, adjourned to the same place on March 29, 1881.

A. Rice,Pres.

OLDEST BEE PAPERIN AMERICAESTABLISHEDIN 1861.

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THOMAS G. NEWMAN.

Editor and Proprietor.

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CHICAGO, ILL., MAR. 23, 1881.

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Mr. Jones sends us the annexed extract from a letter of Mr. Benton’s, and the following appreciative compliment to theBee Journal, for which he will accept our thanks:

Herewith I send you extract from a private letter just received from Frank Benton, dated Pointe de Galle, Ceylon, Asia, Jan. 30, 1881. TheAmerican Bee Journalhas a warm corner in my heart. Right glad am I that you have taken time by the forelock, and issued a weekly. I would not have you go back to a monthly for $25 a year, and you deserve the congratulations of every bee-keeper; that prosperity may crown your efforts is my wish.D. A. Jones.Friend Jones:—* * * I shall start back with nothing but full colonies. I have seen two native races of bees here, and the comb of a third; one race is stingless, but worthless; the tiniest little fellows, three-sixteenths of an inch long. Another race isApis indica. The third race I do not believe is valuable, since it is a very small bee—smaller thanApis indica.Apis dorsatais a wonderful bee, whether it can be domesticated or not. It builds in the open air, on branches, often making combs 6 feet long; and I have good authority for saying that 30 natives have each taken a load of honey from one tree. It was not until I reached Colombo that I could find out anything aboutApis dorsata. I call itApis dorsata, but do not know positively as that is its name, for no one can tell here, and I have not yet seen the bee, as it was too late when I learned where to find it, to go to that part of the Island and reach this French steamer. Everybody says, though, a large bee, from which large quantities of honey are obtained, exists in the interior of the Island. The natives all know it by the nameBombera. I start for Singapore by the French steamer “Yangste,” on January 31st.

D. A. Jones.

Friend Jones:—* * * I shall start back with nothing but full colonies. I have seen two native races of bees here, and the comb of a third; one race is stingless, but worthless; the tiniest little fellows, three-sixteenths of an inch long. Another race isApis indica. The third race I do not believe is valuable, since it is a very small bee—smaller thanApis indica.Apis dorsatais a wonderful bee, whether it can be domesticated or not. It builds in the open air, on branches, often making combs 6 feet long; and I have good authority for saying that 30 natives have each taken a load of honey from one tree. It was not until I reached Colombo that I could find out anything aboutApis dorsata. I call itApis dorsata, but do not know positively as that is its name, for no one can tell here, and I have not yet seen the bee, as it was too late when I learned where to find it, to go to that part of the Island and reach this French steamer. Everybody says, though, a large bee, from which large quantities of honey are obtained, exists in the interior of the Island. The natives all know it by the nameBombera. I start for Singapore by the French steamer “Yangste,” on January 31st.

Frank Benton.

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—We have received the following Circulars, Price Lists and Catalogues for 1881:

L. H. Pammel & Bros., LaCrosse, Wis.—Italian Queens and Bees—4 pages.Champion Bee Hive Co., Newcomerstown, O.—Apiarian Supplies—12 pages.Thomas J. Ward, St. Mary’s Ind.—Fruit Trees and Poultry—16 pages.T. Greiner, Naples, N. Y.—Vegetable and Flower Seeds—24 pages.D. D. Palmer, New Boston, Ill.—Sweet Home Raspberry—4 pages.Henry Alley, Wenham, Mass.—Queens and Apiarian Supplies—4 pages.Wm. W. Cary & Son, Colerain, Mass.—Queens, Bees and Apiarian Supplies—8 pages.G. W. Thompson, Stelton, N. J.—Bees, Hives and Apiarian Supplies—4 pages.S. D. McLean & Son, Culleoka, Tenn.—Italian Bees and Queens—1 page.A. LaMontague, Montreal, Can.—Italian Queens, Hives and Bee-Keepers’ Supplies—3 pages.Jas. J. H. Gregory, Marblehead, Mass.—Vegetable, Flower and Grain Seeds—60 pages.T. M. Metcalf & Son, St. Paul, Minn.—Field, Garden and Flower Seeds—28 pages.Nanz & Neuner, Louisville, Ky.—Plants, Seeds. Bulbs, etc.—80 pages.Landreth’s Rural Register and Almanac for 1881, Philadelphia, Pa.—Garden Seeds—70 pages.Cole & Brother, Pella, Iowa.—Garden and Flower Seeds—44 pages.J. T. Lovett, Little Silver, N. J.—Choice Small Fruit—40 pages.Joseph Harris, Rochester. N. Y.—Field, Garden and Flower Seeds—14 pages.James M. Thornburn & Co., 15 John Street, N. Y.—Seeds for Garden and Farm—96 pages.L. B. Case’s Botanical Index, Richmond, Ind.—A Quarterly Botanical Magazine—40 pages.

L. H. Pammel & Bros., LaCrosse, Wis.—Italian Queens and Bees—4 pages.

Champion Bee Hive Co., Newcomerstown, O.—Apiarian Supplies—12 pages.

Thomas J. Ward, St. Mary’s Ind.—Fruit Trees and Poultry—16 pages.

T. Greiner, Naples, N. Y.—Vegetable and Flower Seeds—24 pages.

D. D. Palmer, New Boston, Ill.—Sweet Home Raspberry—4 pages.

Henry Alley, Wenham, Mass.—Queens and Apiarian Supplies—4 pages.

Wm. W. Cary & Son, Colerain, Mass.—Queens, Bees and Apiarian Supplies—8 pages.

G. W. Thompson, Stelton, N. J.—Bees, Hives and Apiarian Supplies—4 pages.

S. D. McLean & Son, Culleoka, Tenn.—Italian Bees and Queens—1 page.

A. LaMontague, Montreal, Can.—Italian Queens, Hives and Bee-Keepers’ Supplies—3 pages.

Jas. J. H. Gregory, Marblehead, Mass.—Vegetable, Flower and Grain Seeds—60 pages.

T. M. Metcalf & Son, St. Paul, Minn.—Field, Garden and Flower Seeds—28 pages.

Nanz & Neuner, Louisville, Ky.—Plants, Seeds. Bulbs, etc.—80 pages.

Landreth’s Rural Register and Almanac for 1881, Philadelphia, Pa.—Garden Seeds—70 pages.

Cole & Brother, Pella, Iowa.—Garden and Flower Seeds—44 pages.

J. T. Lovett, Little Silver, N. J.—Choice Small Fruit—40 pages.

Joseph Harris, Rochester. N. Y.—Field, Garden and Flower Seeds—14 pages.

James M. Thornburn & Co., 15 John Street, N. Y.—Seeds for Garden and Farm—96 pages.

L. B. Case’s Botanical Index, Richmond, Ind.—A Quarterly Botanical Magazine—40 pages.

☞The Emperor of Russia, while returning from a review on Sunday, March 12, was killed by a bomb thrown by a Nihilist. He was taken to the Palace and died in a few hours. The assassins have been arrested. His son succeeds him as Alexander III.

Prof. Cook has forwarded us for publication the annexed open letter, addressed to Dr. N. P. Allen, President of the North American Bee-Keepers’ Society. The reasons adduced in support of the suggestion are well founded, and must strike all minds favorably. September and October are usually among the busiest months of the year to bee-keepers and farmers, who have their later crops to garner, their honey to take off and prepare for market, their fruit to gather and assort, and their live stock to be made comfortable for winter; while the date proposed by the Professor occurs just at that period when everybody can spare the time best, when traveling is the most enjoyable, and is quite late enough to enable an approximate estimate of what the harvest will be. It is competent for the Executive Committee (of which President Allen is chairman) to fix upon such time as will best subserve the interests of the Society. We trust they will give the matter an early and careful consideration. Following is the letter:

To Dr. N. P. Allen:Dear Sir: As the proposition which I am about to offer is of general interest to the bee-keepers of our country, I beg leave to present it through theAmerican Bee Journal:The American Association for the Advancement of Science convenes at Cincinnati, Ohio, on Wednesday, Aug. 17, 1881. This Association had at its last meeting, in Boston, August, 1880, more than 1,000 members present. Owing to its influence, and the large annual attendance, the local committee at the place where the meetings are to be held are able to procure greatly reduced rates on railroads leading to the place.Now, I would suggest that the North American Bee-Keepers’ Association, which is to be held so near Cincinnati, convene at Lexington on Wednesday and Thursday, August 24th and 25th.1st. This would accommodate such persons as myself, who wish to attend both meetings, and could not afford time or means were they widely separated by time.2d. A committee consisting of yourself, Mr. Muth, of Cincinnati, and Mr. Wm. Williamson, of Lexington (I would do what I could to aid), could act in conjunction with the local committee of the A. A. A. of S., and I believe could get the commutation railroad rates to extend to the National Bee-Keepers’ Association.3d. August is a quiet time with bee-keepers, and so far as I can see, nothing would be lost in making the date of our meeting earlier than the usual time.4th. The fact of accommodating such as wish to attend both meetings, and the reduced railroad rates, could we secure them, would greatly increase the attendance at the Bee-Keepers’ Association, and would richly compensate for some loss, if such there would be.I only make this suggestion, hoping that you and others interested will give it such consideration as its merits deserve.A. J. Cook,Vice Pres’t of Nat. Association andPresident of Michigan Association.

To Dr. N. P. Allen:

Dear Sir: As the proposition which I am about to offer is of general interest to the bee-keepers of our country, I beg leave to present it through theAmerican Bee Journal:

The American Association for the Advancement of Science convenes at Cincinnati, Ohio, on Wednesday, Aug. 17, 1881. This Association had at its last meeting, in Boston, August, 1880, more than 1,000 members present. Owing to its influence, and the large annual attendance, the local committee at the place where the meetings are to be held are able to procure greatly reduced rates on railroads leading to the place.

Now, I would suggest that the North American Bee-Keepers’ Association, which is to be held so near Cincinnati, convene at Lexington on Wednesday and Thursday, August 24th and 25th.

1st. This would accommodate such persons as myself, who wish to attend both meetings, and could not afford time or means were they widely separated by time.

2d. A committee consisting of yourself, Mr. Muth, of Cincinnati, and Mr. Wm. Williamson, of Lexington (I would do what I could to aid), could act in conjunction with the local committee of the A. A. A. of S., and I believe could get the commutation railroad rates to extend to the National Bee-Keepers’ Association.

3d. August is a quiet time with bee-keepers, and so far as I can see, nothing would be lost in making the date of our meeting earlier than the usual time.

4th. The fact of accommodating such as wish to attend both meetings, and the reduced railroad rates, could we secure them, would greatly increase the attendance at the Bee-Keepers’ Association, and would richly compensate for some loss, if such there would be.

I only make this suggestion, hoping that you and others interested will give it such consideration as its merits deserve.

A. J. Cook,Vice Pres’t of Nat. Association andPresident of Michigan Association.

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☞At the Utica Convention, last month, Mr. L. C. Root was appointed a committee to endeavor to have the bill for the prevention of the adulteration of sugar, syrups, etc., then before the Legislature of New York, so amended as to include honey. We learn, with much pleasure, that Mr. Root has succeeded in having it include honey, and Mr. R. is quite sanguine that the bill so amended will become a law of the Empire State. If passed, we hope that the bee-keepers of New York will see to it that it will not be allowed to become a “dead letter” in the statute books of that State.

Bees and Grapes.—The Klassen and Krock difficulty about the bees of the former committing depredations on the grapes of the latter, is to be submitted to arbitration. It seems that the real trouble was a “personal feud that does not concern bee-keepers at all”—the grape matter was an outgrowth. This matter was referred to in Prof. Cook’s article on page 74 of theBee Journal, and should now be entirely divorced from the Bee and Grape controversy.

Bees Dead in box hives.—Mr. G. Castello, Saginaw, Mich.,

says that on Feb. 22 he went to a neighbor’s, 5 miles distant, who had a box-hive apiary consisting of 103 colonies of bees. After looking them over, they found only 10 colonies alive; all the rest had died of dysentery.

Honey for sore Eyes.—Mr. S. C. Perry, Portland, Mich., says:

“A neighbor of mine had inflammation in his eyes. He tried many things of many physicians; ‘was nothing better, but rather grew worse,’ until he was almost entirely blind. His family was sick, and I presented him with a pail of honey. What they did not eat he put in his eyes, a drop or two in each eye, 2 or 3 times a day. In 3 months’ time he was able to read coarse print, and now, after 4 months’ use, his eyes are almost as good as ever. I have also found honey good for common cold-sore eyes.”

Feeding in Winter.—Mr. A. B. Weed, in theMichigan Farmer, says:

“Many colonies which were put up for winter with but a small amount of provision, have consumed what was given them, and starved for want of more. Others have but a small amount of stores left, and must be fed soon if they are to be saved. The best way to feed such is to give them frames of well ripened honey, but this the weather will not always permit. The next best thing for them is candy; this can be given at any time, and can be laid on top of the frames. If the cluster is low down in the hive, it should be put down into it, where it can be reached.”

Bees and Grapes.—Mr. W. H. Stout, in the Lancaster, Pa.,Farmer, gives the following as his experience:

By close investigation I have satisfied myself that bees do not destroy sound grapes. I had, during the past season, 22 colonies of Italian and common black bees; all the hives were in close proximity to the grapes, while a number had the vines trained over them for shade during the heat of summer. The grapes are of the Concord variety, of which I had an abundance of fine fruit, some clusters of which grew within 18 inches of the entrance to the hives. Bunches of the grapes remained on the vines until the frost had killed the foliage, which fell off and left the grapes exposed, affording every temptation to the bees; and this, too, through a season when the honey yield from natural sources was so small that the bees consumed stores they had gathered earlier in the season. But the bees do work on grapes, and also on other fruits under certain conditions. If the skin of grapes, peaches, pears, etc., is ruptured from any cause, the bees, wasps, ants, etc., are very quick in discovering it, and soon leave only the dried shells. During the hot weather of August, especially when there are frequent showers, the skin of ripening fruit cracks, for reasons which I will leave to some philosophical friend to explain. My conclusions are not hasty; nor were my observations superficial; but they were prolonged from the time the first grapes ripened until the close of the season. I found some clusters of grapes literally covered with bees scrambling and fighting for the little sweets contained in the cracked grapes, which are the only ones on which they work, as I found out by driving the bees away and removing from the clusters all the bursted grapes, when the bees, as soon as they found only sound fruit remained, went away and left the grapes uninjured. We also laid some bunches of grapes on top of the hives and others close to the entrances, also left clusters hanging on the vines close to the hives, where they remained uninjured by the bees as long as the fruit was sound. I know very well that bees can gnaw through heavy muslin, or shave off wood and straw. To cover the bees we have quilts made of heavy muslin, which they sometimes bite through, and we have wood and straw hives on which they have enlarged the entrances; but, nevertheless, I am fully satisfied they do no injury whatever to sound fruit.

Feeding Rye-Meal.—In theIndiana FarmerMr. F. L. Dougherty says:

“Bees will not raise brood without pollen in some shape. We frequently find colonies with but very little, and at times none at all. In crowding them on a few frames, quite frequently those left in the hive contain but little, if any. So it becomes necessary to furnish it to them, until they can gather it from natural sources. Unbolted rye-meal is probably the best substitute, although they will use wheat-flour, corn-meal, oat-meal, or in lieu of any of these, will even carry saw-dust. To get the bees started, place a piece of comb on the meal, and if the weather be pleasant and no pollen to be had they will soon appropriate it. They will leave the meal when natural pollen makes its appearance.”

☞That excellent Monthly, published in Nyon, Switzerland, by Mons. E. Bertrand,—the “Bulletin D’Apiculteur pour la Suisse”—gives the WeeklyBee Journalthe following kind notice:

“We have received the first 2 numbers of theAmerican Bee Journal, which has been transferred from a Monthly to a Weekly, by its Editor, Mr. T. G. Newman. Only one apiarian publication is issued every 2 weeks, theBienen-Zeitungof Eickstadt. That of Mr. Newman’s is, therefore, ‘the only one in the entire world which is published weekly.’ It is also, without doubt, the most universal. Its principal contributors are among the most distinguished bee-keepers of America, together with scientists, entomologists, chemists and farmers; and the number of those who send it communications can be called legion. It is, with an understanding of the full extent of the services which it renders, through the abundance of the observations and of the information which it brings before its readers, that we offer to our colleague and friend our warmest felicitations on the occasion of the new development of his publication.”

This very kind notice is the more valuable as Mons. E. Bertrand is a man of intelligence and wealth, whose sole interest is his love of the pursuit of bee-keeping.

☞L’Apicoltore, the organ of the Central Società d’Apicoltore d’Italia, also gives theBee Journalthe following very kind notice, in its excellent number for February:

“The bee-papers are every day augmenting to suit the increasing need of the readers, and the publisher of theAmerican Bee Journal, Signor Newman, who came to Europe and to Milan last year, announces that at the beginning of 1881 his MonthlyJournalwill be issued every week.”

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☞In Mr. A. Hoke’s letter, on page 77, he stated that the dead bees covered the ground for several yards. That was bad enough, but our compositor made it a hundred times worse by adding the wordhundred. The reader will please discount that expression accordingly.

But Few Bees Lost.— We have had a pretty hard winter for bees, although I have heard of but few losses in this section. My bees are packed in chaff, and are all alive but 2 colonies, which were very weak when packed. Success to theBee Journal.F. W. Burtnette.Morrice, Mich., March 12, 1881.

F. W. Burtnette.

Morrice, Mich., March 12, 1881.

An Old Queen.—We have had a couple of warm, bright days at last, and my bees are flying, what of them are alive. Out of 33 colonies, I think I have 10 or 12 alive, some of them pretty strong, others weak. I have 3 Italian colonies—they seem strongest. What hives I have looked into, where the bees are dead, appear to have plenty of honey, and the other bees appear to be taking the honey out, and I fear are taking from the weak colonies also. Should I prevent them from appropriating it? I noticed some drones with one of my Italian colonies; what does that mean at this time of year? I have been a short distance south, returning home 3 weeks ago. There has been great loss of bees in Fayette and Wayne counties, as well as in Wabash. Please answer above questions in theBee Journal.Joel Brewer.Lincolnville, Ind., March 10, 1881.

Joel Brewer.

Lincolnville, Ind., March 10, 1881.

[It is not advisable to let bees have access to combs in other hives; if they need honey, put the combs in the hives where wanted, and not too many. If the strong are robbing the weaker colonies, exchange stands with them. The presence of drones thus early indicates an old or defective queen. Unless there is a large quantity of sealed worker brood (indicating the queen is perfect), we would supersede her as soon as possible, unless the bees save the trouble. —Ed.]

Gathering Pollen.—My bees gathered pollen lively to-day, and are strong for this time of year. My loss in wintering is 4 colonies, leaving 8 to commence the season with. Nearly all the bees in this county are dead.John C. Gilliland.Bloomfield, Ind., March 15, 1881.

John C. Gilliland.

Bloomfield, Ind., March 15, 1881.

No Winter Flight Yet.—I am trying to winter 163 colonies in Mitchell hives. All are boxed and packed in chaff with 2 thicknesses of burlaps over the bees; the ends of the hives to the division-boards are filled with chaff; combs contracted to such numbers as bees would cover. They were put into winter quarters Nov. 13, and have had no flight yet. I find many colonies affected with dysentery, and 12 are dead. It is snowing to-day with prospects of another blizzard. I cannot estimate the loss at present; will report at a future time. With many others, I am free to throw in my mite of joy for the weekly visitations of theJournal.D. Videto.North East, Pa., March 15, 1881.

D. Videto.

North East, Pa., March 15, 1881.

Bees Confined 4½ Months.—This has been the severest winter that I can remember. My 27 colonies of bees have not had a flight since Nov. 1. They are in a cellar; one of my neighbors had over 50 colonies, but there are only 5 left. He tried to winter out of doors, but has put what he had left in a cider mill. Another had over 20 colonies, wintered out of doors and lost all. I have but little hopes of having over 6 or 8 colonies; there is but little hopes of having weather that bees can have a flight for 2 weeks yet. We are in a snow blockade yet. We have had but one mail in over 2 weeks. I like the Weekly better each number; it brings us nearer together and we can sympathize with our bee-keeping friends. Let us hope for the best; there are better times coming. Success to the Weekly.E. Bump.Waterloo, Wis., March 14, 1881.

E. Bump.

Waterloo, Wis., March 14, 1881.

Closed out by Fire.—I had the misfortune to be “closed out” of the bee-business by fire, on the night of March 4, losing all of my 36 colonies of Italians, one of which contained an imported queen. They were all in the cellar; I also lost all the implements necessary to carry on the business, my house and contents. This was “closing out” rather unexpectedly, but I hope not to remain out very long.Wm. H. Travis.Brandon, Mich., March 10, 1881.

Wm. H. Travis.

Brandon, Mich., March 10, 1881.

Bees in Good Condition.—Though there is a great loss of bees hereabouts, mine are yet in good condition, and I hope they will come out right in the spring. The WeeklyBee JournalI value more and more all the time.Thomas Lashbrook.Waverly, Iowa, March 11, 1881.

Thomas Lashbrook.

Waverly, Iowa, March 11, 1881.

Lost 8 out of 37 in Wintering.—I put 37 colonies into winter quarters, all in good condition except 4 or 5 small late swarms, and as it was a poor season for honey, they did not fill up; 29 were packed under a shed, open to the south and east. Before packing I removed the outside frames and put in cushions made by covering empty frames with sacking and filling with chaff; also 2 inches of the same on the top of the racks. My loss to date is 3. I prepared 5 in the same manner, but left them on the summer stands; lost 4. Two that I was sure would starve if not fed, I removed to a room over another where a fire is kept, placed them at a window and arranged a passage leading outside; then, with wire cloth over the frames, I can feed and examine without their flying out. They are all right. One I left on the summer stand with a set of section boxes, unprotected, and it is very strong. On March 9th my bees had their first good flight since Oct. 25. I had one colony in a box-hive; of course they are dead. Total loss to date, 8 out of 37. Nearly all are strong now. I am with the majority when I say that the WeeklyBee Journalis a decided improvement. Success to it.Wm. Morhous.Dearborn, Mich., March 14, 1881.

Wm. Morhous.

Dearborn, Mich., March 14, 1881.

Sweet Clover.—Must the sweet clover be sowed over again, or does it sow itself? Please answer in the WeeklyBee Journal, which I could not do without. It is the best bee paper that is published.Lewis Siegman.Newstadt, Ont., March 11, 1881.

Sweet Clover.—Must the sweet clover be sowed over again, or does it sow itself? Please answer in the WeeklyBee Journal, which I could not do without. It is the best bee paper that is published.

Lewis Siegman.

Newstadt, Ont., March 11, 1881.

[A good “stand” of sweet clover will sow itself, as there are generally some seeds that do not catch the soil the first season, but germinate the second. It is more satisfactory, however, to plant the second season about half the complement put in the first, after which it will bloom annually, and sow itself.—Ed.]

Had a Flight in January.—In the winter of 1879 I put 30 colonies into my cellar; but it was so warm that they were uneasy and I put them back on the summer stands. I lost 10 colonies; I now have 20 colonies, facing the south, sheltered by a board fence on the north and covered with about 18 inches of straw. About 10 days ago they had a nice flight, and I covered them up again. I think of building a house for them facing the south, and boarding up the other 3 sides; I will then cover the hives with about 2 feet of straw, which I can remove on a bright day and give them a flight. I intend to leave the straw on them until warm weather, and thus aid them to keep warm for brood rearing, &c. I wish theBee Journalsuccess.T. Rice.Lenox, Ill., Feb. 4, 1881.

T. Rice.

Lenox, Ill., Feb. 4, 1881.

Nearly All Dead.—Bees are nearly all dead in this region. I had 33 colonies last fall and now have but 10; a neighbor had 40 and now has none; another had 44 and now has 2; another had 75, and 3 weeks ago they were reduced to 20. Several have lost all but 1 or 2, and some have lost all.Wm. S. Buchanan.Hartford, Ind., March 14, 1881.

Wm. S. Buchanan.

Hartford, Ind., March 14, 1881.

Bokhara Clover.—Please answer the following questions in theJournal:1. When is the best time to sow Bokhara clover?2. Should it be sown alone or with a grain crop, or with other kinds of clover?3. Should it be cut for hay, pastured, or kept for bees only?4. Which is the best kind of hive for comb honey—a one-story with racks to hold sections, or a two-story, with section boxes put in cases in the upper story?John H. Heard.Flesherton, Ont.

Bokhara Clover.—Please answer the following questions in theJournal:

1. When is the best time to sow Bokhara clover?

2. Should it be sown alone or with a grain crop, or with other kinds of clover?

3. Should it be cut for hay, pastured, or kept for bees only?

4. Which is the best kind of hive for comb honey—a one-story with racks to hold sections, or a two-story, with section boxes put in cases in the upper story?

John H. Heard.

Flesherton, Ont.

[1. Early in spring is as good a time as any for planting Bokhara, melilot or sweet clover—we fail to discover any difference in them.

2. For bees alone, sow it alone.

3. If desired for cattle or sheep, sow it with timothy, letting them graze it, as it blooms but little the first season; afterward keep them off.

4. One-story with rack is more easily manipulated.—Ed.]

An Enthusiast.—My apiary is located on a hill-side sloping to the west, and hives fronting south. The Macoupin creek is ½ mile south of it, and several sloughs within a mile, with plenty of soft and hard maple, willows and cotton-wood. I packed rags around and on top of my 13 hives, on their summer stands, on the 25th of October. The bees were in good condition. Only one colony gave any surplus; from that I took 40 lbs., and left them 35. I examine my bees every week and clean out the dead ones. They had a good flight on the 13th of December, and again on Feb. 22d, when every colony had brood in all stages, and No. 2 was crowded full of young bees, and had a queen cell just ready to put the egg in, which I took off. Feb. 26th was a warm day, and No. 2 sent out a swarm; it was queenless, however, so I sprinkled them with peppermint water and united them with No. 12, which was weak. I do not keep bees for profit in dollars and cents, but for pleasure, as I do love them. I am a merchant, and own 275 acres of land, but being an invalid, look to my bees for recreation. In a radius of 4 miles from my apiary, on Nov. 1st, there were 13 bee-owners, with a total of 73 colonies. On the 1st inst. there were 19 colonies left, and they were in bad condition. I am the only one taking theBee Journalhere—success to it.R. M. Osborn.Kane, Ill., March 4, 1881.

R. M. Osborn.

Kane, Ill., March 4, 1881.

Bees All Dead.—I now send you my report for the winter of 1880–81, which will long be remembered by the bee-keepers in this locality. I commenced the winter with 9 colonies of bees, all carefully packed in chaff on the summer stands with plenty of nice sealed honey. They were packed on the 13th day of last Nov., and from that until the present time (121 days) there has not been a single day that the bees could safely fly, and the consequence is my bees are all dead, from the effects of their long confinement. They left plenty of honey, but the combs are badly soiled. I am not discouraged, however, and shall try again. A gentleman living not far from here had only 8 colonies left out of 39, 2 weeks ago, and when spring condescends to smile on us again we think it will not need a returning board to count the bees in this county. I am well pleased with the new Weekly; it is always a welcome visitor.J. R. Kilburn.Fisher Station, Mich., March 14, 1881.

J. R. Kilburn.

Fisher Station, Mich., March 14, 1881.

Bees Robbing.—Here in Texas we have had a severe winter, but not much snow. The thermometer went down to 20° above zero. Last season was a poor one for honey; we had a cold spell in Nov.; then had warm weather for 2 weeks, and my hybrid bees began to rob. The pure Italians behaved well, neither robbed nor let the others rob them. I used water and kerosene oil, but it was of no use; at last I hit upon a remedy. My hives have the bottom boards projecting in front. I ripped out one-inch square pieces 5 inches long, cut coarse wire cloth 2x6, bent it lengthwise in the middle, tacked on 2 sides of each block, leaving wire about 5 inches to give them air; I drove a nail through each end and nailed it in front of each hive. Every 10 or 15 days when the weather was fine, an hour before night, I let them out to have a fly. We have had fine weather for the last 2 weeks. I let the bees out on Jan 30; they have been busy carrying in pollen from elm since Jan. 31, and have forgotten their stealing propensities. I opened some hives this evening and found plenty of sealed brood, and will have drones flying by Feb. 24.J. W. Eckman.Richmond, Texas, Feb. 10, 1881.

J. W. Eckman.

Richmond, Texas, Feb. 10, 1881.

Chloroform.—About 10 years ago I used chloroform in handling bees, after the following plan: I provided myself with a tin slide about 5 inches long and 2 wide; punched a few holes in it, and stitched on one side of it a pad of 3 or 4 thicknesses of cotton cloth. Then after closing all ventilators and entrances except the lower one, I turned about one teaspoonful of chloroform on the pad and slipped it through the entrance, and immediately closed the hive with a wad of cloth, I then listened carefully until the bees had nearly ceased humming (or about 1 or 2 minutes) and then opened the hive and withdrew the slide. They were cross hybrid Italians.P. F. Whitcomb.Lancaster. Wis., March 5, 1881.

P. F. Whitcomb.

Lancaster. Wis., March 5, 1881.

Test for Honey.—Bee-keepers need a good honey test, to expose the “rag syrup,” an admixture of honey and glucose, with which the New York market is flooded. In every grocery, meat market and drug store there, can be found cans of “Walker’s best honey,” labeled “Greenpoint, N. Y.,” but there is not much honey in it. Last fall I went into a drug store there with 4 samples of my best honey. They tested it, and what they used turned it perfectly black. I saw one of Walker’s cans of honey there, and asked them to test that; they did so, but the same drugs had no effect whatever on that. They would not tell me what they used to test it; but I would like to have a good and simple test given in theBee Journal.H. Richey.Sing Sing, N. Y.

H. Richey.

Sing Sing, N. Y.

[Pure green tea, well steeped, is used by many to detect the presence of glucose in honey. If the honey dissolves without changing the color of the tea, it is supposed to be pure. But in these days of “enterprise,” it is frequently a matter of doubt whether the tea is pure; again, if, as is claimed, glucose is sometimes manufactured without leaving sulphuric acid or other deleterious substances in it, then the tea would hardly expose it when mixed with honey. Alcohol is also used to detect the presence of glucose; but besides being frequently inconvenient to obtain, it requires considerable skill in its use.

Thousands of bee-keepers will unite with us in thanking Prof. Kedzie, of the Michigan Agricultural College, for a simple test to detect adulterations in honey and syrups, and instructions for its application.—Ed.]

Three-Fourths of the Bees Dead.—The present severe winter has killed ¾ of the bees in this section. Bees have not had a thorough cleansing flight since Nov. 8. One apiary of 61 colonies, well packed in chaff and plenty of good stores, will not go through with over 50 per cent. Mine have been confined in the cellar for 118 days, have wintered well so far, but are becoming uneasy.M. A. Gill.Viola, Wis., March 13, 1881.

M. A. Gill.

Viola, Wis., March 13, 1881.

Mortality of Bees in House and Cellar.—I put 60 colonies of bees in a house and cellar last Nov.; 12 of them are dead and I have taken out one-and-a-half bushels of dead bees. Nearly all have the dysentery. I cannot do without the Weekly. I wish it much success.Milo Munger.Harvard, Ill., Mar. 14, 1881.

Milo Munger.

Harvard, Ill., Mar. 14, 1881.

Bees Doing Well.—My bees had a nice flight on the 9th, 10th and 11th of this month and are now doing well. It is cold again to-day.J. R. Waggoner.Grantville, Kan., March 12, 1881.

Bees Doing Well.—My bees had a nice flight on the 9th, 10th and 11th of this month and are now doing well. It is cold again to-day.

J. R. Waggoner.

Grantville, Kan., March 12, 1881.

Dwindling in the Cellar.—I put 53 colonies in the cellar, in good condition, which are all alive but one; but there are a great many dead bees on the bottom of the cellar—more than I ever knew before. I gather them up and carry them away occasionally, to prevent their tainting the air. Will the loss of so many weaken the colonies, and what is the cause of it? My bees have not seen the light this winter, yet they seem all right excepting the loss of so many on the cellar bottom.Wm. F. Standish.Evansville, Wis., March 9, 1881.

Wm. F. Standish.

Evansville, Wis., March 9, 1881.

[If the colonies were very strong, the loss may not be appreciable. The cause may be attributed to age of the bees when put away, and subsequent long confinement; or the cellar may have been too warm at times, and the bees become uneasy.—Ed.]

Contradictory Experience.—The poor bees have suffered dreadfully in this locality, and the circumstances and conditions under which some have perished and others survived the past trying season, are so varied that I am quite at a loss what to think about bee preservation during the winter season. I had 12 colonies last fall; I packed 6 with chaff 6 inches thick around them, and have 1 colony left of the lot. There is honey in the combs, but the bees are all dead. I put 3 colonies in the cellar; 2 of them are alive, but in a bad condition, the combs being dirty and moldy. I left 3 on the summer stands, and 1 is yet alive. None died for want of honey; there was plenty of food for them in the hives. The 6 were put into the chaff in the latter part of November, and taken out on the 8th of March. The combs look clean and free from mold. About a week before I took them out of the chaff I had taken off the front boards, and finding the bees alive, shut them up again. Upon taking them out this was the only colony that was alive. When I took the chaff off, the bees were crowded around the entrance ready to fly, which they did at once, and had a lively time until they were driven inside by the approach of night. Do you think the other 5 colonies were dead the first time I looked at them? They had a passage through the chaff 1 inch high by 4 wide. A friend of mine here had 4 colonies wintered outside, with an old piece of sail-cloth over them, and only lost one, while old bee-keepers, with between 50 and 100 colonies, have lost one half, and others have lost all.F. A. Hutt.South Bend, Ont., March 11, 1881.

F. A. Hutt.

South Bend, Ont., March 11, 1881.

[Your question is a stunner; we have no data on which to base an intelligent opinion.—Ed.]

Wintered Without Loss.—My 27 colonies came through the winter without the loss of a single one, for which I can thank 4 or 5 colonies of Italians, for without them I should not have had honey enough to have kept them through, even a moderate winter, to say nothing of such a stinger as we have had. I have withheld my opinion in regard to the change in theJournalfrom a monthly to a weekly till I had tried it a couple of months, and will now say that it would be a great disappointment if you were to go back to a monthly. I am glad that you have so often devoted your first page in each number to the subject of bee-pasturage, for that is, or should be, our leading study now, till we are on surer ground. The best way to make bee-keeping popular is to make it pay; and it will pay if we can get the pasturage every year. I would rather have a tip-top honey plant than an Apis dorsata, if it had a tongue long enough to lick the molasses out of the bottom of a 5 gallon keg. We shall have plenty of white clover this year.Wm. Camm.Murrayville, Ill., March 12, 1881.

Wm. Camm.

Murrayville, Ill., March 12, 1881.

Bees Uneasy in the Cellar.—This has been a very hard winter for bees in this section of the country. Nearly all the bees are dead that were left on the summer stands. I have 40 colonies in the cellar, all alive but restless. They need a cleansing flight very much. The WeeklyBee Journalpleases me very much.Chas. H. Dow.Freedom, N. Y., March 12, 1881.

Chas. H. Dow.

Freedom, N. Y., March 12, 1881.

Bees Much Better Than Expected.—My bees are much better than I had any reason to expect. I left them on their summer stands, and did not even take the tops off, but I have them all off now. I had about 80 and now have 70 colonies in good shape. I find I must either attend to my bees or quit the business, and have made arrangements with a friend who has about the same quantity, who will take charge. We shall call it the “Gipsy Apiary,” and our motto will be, “if the honey will not come to us we will go to the honey.” Mr. Heddon thinks it won’t pay to move for honey, and he is pretty good authority, but we will try. Keep us posted through theJournalwhere is the best place to sell honey. Keep the ball rolling in the suppression of adulterated honey, as well as other adulterations.I. H. Shimer.Hillsboro, Ill., March 14, 1881.

I. H. Shimer.

Hillsboro, Ill., March 14, 1881.

Have Young Bees and Brood.—I put 15 colonies of bees into winter quarters and now have 13 in fair condition; some had young bees 2 weeks ago, and all of them have brood. The last 2 years have been very poor for bees; the last the worst, being followed by such a cold and long winter. About one half of the bees in this locality are dead.G. M. Givan.Moore’s Hill, Ind., March 14, 1881.

G. M. Givan.

Moore’s Hill, Ind., March 14, 1881.

Bees in the Cellar 135 Days.—I carried 22 colonies of bees out for a flight on March 8. This is the first suitable day for bees to fly there has been here since they were put in the cellar on the last of Oct. They came through the 4½ months’ confinement very well, except 2 or 3 third-rate colonies that had more hive room than they could well keep warm through this cold winter, and now they seem to be somewhat reduced in numbers. The day was rather cold, snow did not soften in the shade but the sun shone brightly, “the winds were asleep,” and the bees seemed to enjoy the fray, but left a good number of the slain on untrodden snow. They were returned to the cellar at night and will be supplied with water in their hives, hoping to secure the starting of a good cluster of brood before they are placed on their summer stands, about the 1st of May. I usually keep them in confinement without a flight for 5 or 6 months, with good results, but in 1879 brood rearing ceased about the 1st of Sept.; the hives were destitute of brood when carried out, April 18, and although the hives filled rapidly with brood, before it began to hatch nearly all the old bees were dead, giving me the most disastrous case of spring dwindling that I have known in an experience of 25 years. I hope to avoid such losses in the future.A. Webster.E. Roxbury, Vt., March 10, 1881.

A. Webster.

E. Roxbury, Vt., March 10, 1881.

The Best Honey for Winter.—By this time I presume all the readers of theBee Journalknow that the winter has been quite severe—about as destructive to the older people as to bees. Bella Lincoln, the oldest bee-keeper in this section of the country, died this winter; and since then nearly all of his 100 colonies of bees have also died. My 60 colonies are in the cellar with chaff over the frames; some are dead, and the entrances to others are soiled, indicating dysentery. Several which had sealed honey stored in the summer are all right. Some worked on a cider mill, but if they have good sealed honey I do not think it makes so much difference about the kind of winter. I like the WeeklyBee Journal, because it “enthuses” me every time I read it. In any kind of business one needs some enthusiasm, at least once a week.C. F. Smith, Jr.Vandalia, Mich., March 12, 1881.

C. F. Smith, Jr.

Vandalia, Mich., March 12, 1881.

Carrying in Pollen.—My 5 colonies of bees wintered well on summer stands, in double-walled Langstroth hives. They are carrying in dark pollen to-day; I think they get it from the maple.H. H. Littell.Louisville, Ky., March 5, 1881.

Carrying in Pollen.—My 5 colonies of bees wintered well on summer stands, in double-walled Langstroth hives. They are carrying in dark pollen to-day; I think they get it from the maple.

H. H. Littell.

Louisville, Ky., March 5, 1881.

Chaff-Packing of Bees Triumphant.—The winter has been a severe one everywhere. Since the 1st of Nov. until the first days of this month my bees had not had a flight. I live in a very high altitude, about the highest good land in the State. The winter begins early and lasts long. We have an abundance of snow now and it is blustering wildly to-day. I despaired of seeing my bees come out alive; they were covered solidly with snow for 3 months, only the tops of the hives being visible. At last the weather softened and I dug away the snow. The next day or 2 the sun came out warmly and my bees began to fly, and greatly to my happy disappointment they are all alive—all that I had out on the summer stands. One only was dull, which I examined and found enfeebled with dysentery, arising from the feed I gave them in the fall. All others were strong. Just 122 days had intervened between the flights. The sick colony has since died, but the others are in the best condition. This success is a tribute to the chaff-packed hive. Is there another record of 122 days’ confinement and yet come out strong?W. S. Blaisdell.Randolph, Vt., March 11, 1881.

W. S. Blaisdell.

Randolph, Vt., March 11, 1881.

Look out for the Robbers.—We have had a very hard winter on bees in this section of the country. Bees that were not properly packed for winter are nearly all dead, while those that were properly packed are nearly all in good condition. We are having good weather now and the bees are flying nicely. Those having weak colonies and hives of combs without bees will have to look out for robbers and keep their small colonies crowded upon as few combs as they can, keeping the entrance contracted, so that only 1 or 2 bees can enter at one time. Hives in which the bees have died should be closed tightly. The WeeklyBee Journalis a welcome visitor. I could not think of doing without it.J. A. Osborne.Rantoul, Ill., March 17, 1881.

J. A. Osborne.

Rantoul, Ill., March 17, 1881.

Two-thirds of the Bees have Died.—Over ⅔ of all the bees in this part of the State are now dead. I have met with a heavy loss, on account of a cider mill that was within 80 rods of my apiary last fall.Hiram Roop.Carson City, Mich., March 12, 1881.

Hiram Roop.

Carson City, Mich., March 12, 1881.

Bees in Good Condition.—We put out on the summer stands on the 9th and 10th of March, 150 of our 200 colonies that we had in the cellars in good condition. These were the first days that bees could fly with safety since the first of Nov. We have 50 colonies more in one cellar, but as they seem to be doing well, we shall leave them in until it becomes settled weather. We left 9 colonies on their summer stands but the winter was so long and severe that we could not feed them and 3 of them starved. Now we are busy transferring, that is shaking the bees off the combs, cleaning them off and putting them into clean hives. If we find any not strong enough we double them up. We consider ourselves nearly masters of the wintering question, as our real losses for the last 10 years, we think, would not exceed 6 per cent.; in fact we did not lose a colony in winter or spring, until the number had reached about 100. TheBee Journalis a welcome Weekly visitor.T. S. Bull & Son.Valparaiso, Ind., March 15, 1881.

T. S. Bull & Son.

Valparaiso, Ind., March 15, 1881.

Death Reigns among the Bees.—Having made some inquiry concerning the bees within a radius of about 2 miles, I find some bee-keepers, some who keep bees, and those that let the bees keep themselves. Mr. H. had 3 colonies, all are dead; Mr. L. had 7, one left; Mr. D. left his 11 colonies without protection and now has 11 empty hives for sale; Mr. B. let the winters’ blast try his 20 colonies and now has 12 empty hives; Mr. F. packed 37 in chaff and has 11 left; Mr. A. put up 57 in complete order, but with all his precaution all are dead; Mr. B. put into winter quarters 73 colonies of fine Italians, 58 of them are dead. I packed in clover-chaff 101 colonies, and 23 have gone the way of all the earth. My bees were confined in their hives from Oct. 20 until March 6. I packed 24 in Langstroth hives with space the whole width of hive left open, to give plenty of fresh air, yet at the same time warm, with a due amount of packing, and in this lot have not lost one colony, and very few bees; but the end is not yet. To-day I found young bees with brood in all stages.G. W. Naftzger.South Haven, Mich., March 17, 1881.

G. W. Naftzger.

South Haven, Mich., March 17, 1881.

No Loss In Wintering.—Nearly all the bees in this vicinity that were left to care for themselves are extinct. I had 14 colonies packed comfortably in chaff before the cold weather commenced, and have not lost any yet. I am highly pleased with the WeeklyBee Journal, and wish it great success.J. P. Moore.Morgan, Ky., March 14, 1881.

J. P. Moore.

Morgan, Ky., March 14, 1881.

Poor Season but Fair Profit.—After selling my surplus colonies, I commenced the season of 1880 with 37 colonies in fair condition; increased by division and natural swarming to 63, and 12 nuclei. I reared 30 Cyprian and Italian queens; had 100 Gallup frames of foundation drawn out, and extracted 400 lbs. of honey. Estimating the increase at $6 per colony, and deducting the expenses, my income for care and labor is $250, or about $6.50 for each colony in the spring. I put 75 colonies, in fair condition (including the 12 nuclei), into winter quarters Dec. 8; some were short of stores, and all had poor honey. On March 1st I found 8 colonies and 4 nuclei dead—4 starved and 8 died from the effect of poor honey and long confinement. More of them are diseased and must have a flight soon or die. With the loss of stock already mentioned, and allowing for more to follow, the credit will be cut down to $3.50 per colony. The season has been the poorest I ever knew, but even $3.50 is a fair profit on the investment. White clover gave no honey; basswood lasted only 10 days, but yielded well; had it lasted 2 weeks longer I should have had an average yield of honey for the season. Without this flow of basswood honey, the bees must have been fed, but now they have enough stores to carry them through till spring. As the heavy snows have no doubt preserved the clover, the outlook for honey this summer is good. I hardly need say that I am pleased with the WeeklyBee Journal.T. E. Turner.Sussex, Wis., March 1, 1881.

T. E. Turner.

Sussex, Wis., March 1, 1881.

Planting Buckwheat for a Honey Yield.—In answer to Mr. A. Hodges, on page 78, I will say that buckwheat is a peculiar plant about yielding honey. I have never known it to fail here in yielding enough honey for the bees’ winter stores, and usually very much more; in other localities in the same latitude, it cannot be relied on at all for a honey crop. It seems, however, that it never yields through the entire season in which it can be made to bloom. Quite a large amount of it is cultivated every season in my vicinity, much of it generally coming into full bloom as early as the middle of July, yet I have never known it to yield any honey earlier than the 1st of August, and very rarely before the 10th; but when it commences to yield honey, it does so profusely until the plant itself is ripe, or killed by frost. I would say to Mr. Hodges, or any one else intending the sowing of successive crops of buckwheat, that it is useless to sow any early in the season, to blossom before the 1st of August. I am intending to sow about 20 acres of it this season for my bees. I shall put the first crop of it in the ground about June 25; the rest about July 10. That from the last sowing will remain in bloom until frost comes, even if that is delayed later than ordinary.O. O. Poppleton.Williamstown, Iowa, March 9, 1881.

O. O. Poppleton.

Williamstown, Iowa, March 9, 1881.

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