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OLDEST BEE PAPER ESTABLISHED
IN AMERICA IN 1881
THE AMERICAN
BEE JOURNAL
DEVOTED TO SCIENTIFIC BEE-CULTURE AND THE PRODUCTION AND SALE OF PURE HONEY.
VOL. XVII. CHICAGO, ILL., APRIL 6, 1881. No. 14.
OLDEST BEE PAPER ESTABLISHED
IN AMERICA IN 1861
THE AMERICAN
BEE JOURNAL
Published every Wednesday, by
THOMAS G. NEWMAN,
EDITOR AND PROPRIETOR,
974 WEST MADISON ST., CHICAGO, ILL.
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a year, in advance.
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advance.
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the club) which may be sent to any address desired. Sample copies
furnished _free_.
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CORRESPONDENCE.
Interesting Letter from Singapore.
The following letter from Mr. Benton, from Singapore, will be read with
interest. That city is a great seaport near the Islands of Borneo and
Java. Mr. Benton’s search after those large bees--_Apis dorsata_--is
a herculean task, and his trip thither will be well worth a place in
history. Here is the letter:
FRIEND JONES: When in Ceylon I plunged into the jungles, first
in this direction and then in that, and followed out every clue
that I could obtain; yet although on every side I was told there
existed “a large bee,” which the natives call _bambera_, it was not
until just before I came away that I ascertained anything reliable
regarding the habits and whereabouts of this wonderful insect,
which I feel safe in saying is the long talked of _Apis dorsata_
itself; though it was too late for me to get to the places where
I could see this bee and still reach this steamer. As I return
to Ceylon, and am likely to see _Apis dorsata_ elsewhere also, I
comforted myself regarding the disappointment experienced at not
seeing this _bambera_ before my re-embarkation.
I will speak in the order of their size, of the bees found in
Ceylon, giving the Cingalese names used there.
_Kana Mee Meso_ belongs to the _Trigonæ_, and therefore is not a
true honey bee, although it gathers pollen and some honey, and
lives in swarms with a queen. In a jungle a few miles from Kaltura,
on the southwest coast of Ceylon, I found a small bee which
contained a nest of these minute, stingless bees. A tube about ¾
of an inch in diameter and a foot long, composed of propolis and
particles of wood, hung from the hole of the tree, and through this
tube all the bees entered. It seems this is a means of keeping out
larger insects. The tree was cut and the nest secured. The cells
are built in irregular bunches like those made by common bumble
bees. Those cells containing brood were about the size of a grain
of rice, while the honey and pollen cells were as large as the
smaller cells made by bumble bees. The workers are somewhat less
than 3/16 of an inch long, (about 5/32) have large heads, and very
small abdomens, the latter seeming blunt, and abbreviated, so to
speak. These bees fly swiftly, and look odd enough as they come in
loaded with minute pellets of pollen, which is packed on their hind
legs as with other bees. They are black.
The queen is large, her abdomen being so great as to dwarf in
appearance all other parts of her body, and so disable her as far
as flying and rapid movements are concerned. Of course there can be
no practical value in these bees, but I tucked the nest in a box
about 6 inches square and 2 deep, or rather a part of the brood and
honey, and brought the swarm along. They have been fixing up their
new home quite bravely.
_Daudual-Meso_ is a small bee which I have not seen, but which I
do not believe is likely to prove valuable, since it is so small.
Its comb is composed of regular hexagonal wax cells, like all comb
of _Apis_, but there are 81 cells to the square inch. I have in my
possession a small piece.
_Mee Meso_ are the Cingalese words signifying “honey bee,” and this
is the bee from which, aside from _bambera_, most of the honey and
wax come.
_Bambera_, all accounts agree, exists plentifully in the jungles
of Ceylon, but I found just before I came away, only rarely near
the seashore, I failed to find it within 10 miles of the coast.
I was glad to get accounts from persons who have seen these bees
and their trees, and have measured the lengths of their combs;
observing gentlemen, too, whose word can be relied upon. They say
these bees, which I feel sure are of the species _Apis dorsata_,
attach their combs to the branches of trees, usually some lofty
trees of the primitive forest, and a gentleman who has often seen
them, says they build combs 8 feet long. Another once measured
a comb which he found to be 6 feet long. The first mentioned
gentleman says he has seen 30 natives with earthen pots each
receive a load from one _bambera_ bee tree, and has seen a swarm of
these bees nearly a half mile long. When I visited the Government
Museum in order to obtain information as to whether they knew
anything of these bees and where they were to be found, the natives
having only succeeded in finding _deborah_, (a large hornet) with
its nest, for me. I was at once taken by one of the directors to
this gentleman, as the one from whom the most information could be
obtained.
The Cyprian and Palestine bees I have with me are doing finely.
Those left in Ceylon will serve to introduce the species _A.
melifica_, and will establish in that wonderful productive Island
an industry that I feel sure will thrive there and be a source of
revenue to the inhabitants and the government.
Upon my return I have formed the plan of taking with me for
introduction to Cyprus a lot of cocoanut palm trees, some mango
and bread-fruit seeds or trees, and a species of paw-paw found in
Ceylon. As the date-palm, the orange, the lemon, the fig, the
banana and the pomegranate are already growing in Cyprus, I believe
these new fruits will thrive and find favor. Financially, of
course, it is an experiment, yet I believe it promises well; at any
rate it will not cost much to try it.
Except this paw-paw, I failed to find any fruit or grain that is
likely to thrive in as cold a climate as the central parts of North
America. Cinnamon, coffee, tea, betel nuts, precious stones and
cocoanuts and oil are, with cinchona bark, the principal exports of
Ceylon. I talked with various exporters, but all had their agents
in N. Y. and Canada, and desired no change. None of them would
sell, of course, direct to the firm, when possessing an agent in
America.
Upon my return I will see what further can be ascertained as to
“out-of-the-way products.” It is hard to get any prices, and would
in most instances be difficult to obtain a quantity worth while to
ship.
From Arabia, coffee, gums, perfumes and pearls come. At Aden I was
told that the best Mocha coffee could be got for one shilling (or
24 cts.) per lb. In large quantities I think it can be got still
cheaper. I should think precious stones (sapphire, jasper, &c.,)
gums, coffee, cocoanut oil, cinnamon oil and pearl would pay best,
perhaps also ivory and ostrich feathers. At Aden I found some large
wheat, but kinds were mixed, or else the variety is not a fixed
sort. This portion of the world produces little or no grain besides
rice.
I have obtained seeds of a number of flowering plants and trees,
some of which I know yield honey, and others that look as though
they might were there bees to gather it. We expect to reach
Singapore to-morrow forenoon. I will take the first steamer for
Batavia, which will likely leave in a day or so.
FRANK BENTON.
For the American Bee Journal.
Cause of Bee Cholera or Dysentery.
G. M. DOOLITTLE.
I have noticed in several articles a statement quite similar to this,
which is taken from Mr. James Heddon’s article in the February number
of the _Bee-Keepers’ Instructor_: “Every bee-keeper of experience who
lives in our northern latitudes has witnessed enough to know that cold
or confinement, or both, do not _cause_ bee cholera or dysentery.” Now,
I claim the title “bee-keeper” (whether of experience or not I dare
not say), and live in the “northern latitudes,” yet I cannot be one of
the number above styled as “_every_,” for I believe confinement _does
cause_ the so-called dysentery, and hope to so clearly show it in this
article that you will so acknowledge also.
First. I once produced dysentery (I do not believe this is a disease,
but merely an accumulation of the feces) in its worst form, the latter
part of June, by confining a lot of bees to the hive for 10 days. A
frame of brood was taken from the hive with the adhering bees, and also
a frame of honey with the bees which were on that, and placed in an
empty hive to form a nucleus, the bees being confined to the hive for
three or four days, when the entrance was opened in the evening. Early
the next morning there came on a cold storm and bad weather ensued, so
the bees could not fly for six more days. On the tenth day the sun came
out, and the bees from these nuclei (7 in number) were so loaded that
they could scarcely fly. An examination revealed that they had eaten on
an average about 2 lbs. of honey in each nucleus. Nuclei made but a few
days before, which had flown 2 or 3 times before the bad weather, were
not eager to fly, and showed no signs of dysentery, neither did our
full colonies; nor had they eaten an undue amount of honey. The trouble
here was evidently confinement, which caused the bees to worry and
thereby consume an undue quantity of food, thus producing a necessity
to void the excrement, or dysentery, if you please to call it so.
Again, in the fall of 1878 our bees were prepared for winter in the
best possible shape, and had nothing but white honey in their hives,
said honey being collected the early part of July, for we had no fall
honey. Sixty colonies were put in the cellar, and 90 left on the
summer stands, two-thirds of which were packed with chaff and straw.
Winter set in early, and the weather was so cold that no bees could
fly with safety for nearly 4½ months. At the end of 4 months some of
our best colonies were dead, with the combs and hives soiled badly,
while others sitting right alongside of them were in as fine condition
as could be, and remained thus, coming out strong in the spring. If it
was “bacteria” in the honey, why did not all die, as all had the same
stores? We also placed 60 colonies from the same yard in the cellar on
the 1st of November, and did not set them out till May 1st, and 55 of
the 60 came out in good condition, while we only saved 15 out of the 90
out-doors--75 dying with the dysentery, so-called. If it was infection
of the honey, why did not those in the cellar die also, and especially
as they stood 6 month’s confinement? The past winter has shown the same
results, only our loss is but about 10 per cent. so far.
Now I will give my conclusion. From practical experience I have been
forced to the conclusion that confinement is the cause of all wintering
troubles, for surely, bees do not die from what they eat in July
weather when they can fly. But confine them to the hive with July
weather, and they cannot live one-third as long as in cool or cold
weather. That confinement is the result whenever the mercury falls
below 40° to 45° in the shade, and as surely as the mercury stays below
this for 60 days in succession, bees not properly protected will suffer
therefrom, and if properly protected, 120 days will more or less hurt
those on the summer stands; that 180 days’ confinement in a good cellar
can be endured by the bees as well as 120 days in well-protected hives,
or 60 days with no protection on the summer stands; that if 60 days
more of confinement is added in either case, not 1 colony in 10 can
survive, no matter what the food is nor the surrounding conditions.
Now, we come to our last point, which is, that instead of the trouble
being in the kind of honey eaten thus producing dysentery, the trouble
is in the quantity eaten, and as the quantity consumed is to the number
of days the bees are confined, so is their length of life shortened or
extended. For instance, a fair-sized colony may consume 1½ lbs. of
honey per month, and endure confinement without soiling the combs for
6 months; now, if they consume 6 times this amount in 2 months, they
must fly at the end of that time or the combs will be soiled very soon
thereafter. We often read, “My bees wintered well and consumed but
very little honey,” while the fact was that their consuming but little
honey was the reason they wintered well. Thus we are able to answer the
question why one colony dies, and another at the side of it does not.
It is because one gets discontented and consumes large quantities of
honey, while the other does not.
Now comes the rub: why does one colony get discontented within 1 month
after being confined, and another does not under 3 or 4, or in case of
cellar wintering, 6 months. Well, I will be candid and say I do not
know; but I do not believe the cause is in the honey altogether. One
thing Mr. Heddon and myself will agree on I am sure, and that is, if
as soon and as often as a colony gets uneasy and goes to eating honey
ravenously they could have a day to fly, all would be well, even if
such a colony was obliged to fly 3 or 4 times where another did not
have to but once.
To keep bees quiet the longest possible time I would recommend: 1st. A
good bee cellar in a bank, covered all over with no less than 3 feet
of earth, and an even temperature maintained inside at 44° to 45°; 2d.
Hives so constructed that chaff could entirely surround the bees to the
depth of 4 inches. To sum up, we should winter one-half of our apiary
one way and one-half the other, inasmuch as our winters vary so that
one winter has come out the best on summer stands, and another the best
from the cellar. I will refer to this subject again in the next Weekly
BEE JOURNAL.
Borodino, N. Y., March 22, 1881.
For the American Bee Journal.
Extracting Bees.--The New Industry.
H. T. COLLINS.
As the exigencies of the times have created the new industry of
“extracting dead bees” from the cells, and as many of the bee-keeping
fraternity may want to do so without delay in order to save time, I
give my plan, as I think the one suggested by our editor, though good
in the main, is apt to break the combs too much. The necessary tools
are a small pair of tweezers (such as taxidermists use), a light and
sharp darning needle, and last but not least, a shallow tin pan, say
one inch deep and 13¾ × 17¾ inches. Every keeper of 10 or more colonies
should have one or more pans--they just fill the bottom of a 10-frame
Langstroth hive, and are as handy as a pocket in a shirt. Instead of
the pan, a common table waiter will answer. Sitting in a good light,
place the pan lengthwise across the lap, and lay the frame across
the pan, but parallel with the lap. The use of the pan is to give a
convenient rest to the frame, and to hold the dead bees. If you are
right-handed, let the top of the frame be towards the right hand, if
not, _vice versa_. Holding the tweezers in the hand, which is right
(often the left one), grasp the bee and pull it out slowly and gently,
and with the motion of the hand towards the top of the frame. As in the
natural position, the base of the cell is horizontally the lowest, the
above mentioned motion extracts the bee with the least friction. But in
some combs they will stick so tight as to break off at the junction of
the abdomen, and to prevent this, with the darning needle pierce the
thorax as it comes to the edge of the cell, and by its help you can
nearly every time drag out the too-tightly lodged bee. A cup of warm
water will be convenient in removing the sticky deposit that will often
adhere to the end of the tweezers. To the inexperienced, the above may
seem to be a slow and tedious way of extracting bees, but a little
practice will make one skillful, and if any one has a better way please
communicate it promptly, as this new industry promises, from the weekly
reports, to be a large and growing one.
Jacksonville, Ill.
For the American Bee Journal.
Separators for Surplus Honey.
JAMES HEDDON.
For the benefit of some who do not as yet understand all my argument
against the use of separators I wish to add, that I am well aware that
the system of sections within frames hung in a super, is entirely
impracticable without the use of separators. I know too that, as
Messrs. Greiner Bros. remark, bees take more kindly to wood than to tin
or glass, and there is just where the trouble comes, as they sometimes
kindly attach the sides of the combs to them. Some seasons, under
peculiar circumstances, the loss of honey by the use of separators
might, as Greiner Bros. say, be very slight, but in many seasons they
will be found to be a serious detriment to the amount of surplus
obtained. But why not use a system that does not need them, and is much
handier than the super system besides?
I supposed that the younger bee-keepers, who keep posted, knew that
many old producers on a more extensive scale never used separators at
all, and of that class who did many others are laying them aside. Bees
do finish up their combs full better with separators, because as the
season draws to a close they are less inclined to start another comb
in one of those little compartments, and as long as there is honey
coming in they finish with it to keep from _perfect_ idleness. I think
the unfinished combs are just so much extra. If it is “strange” that I
should declare against the use of _all_ separators, while still many
prominent bee-keepers use them, how dare you, Messrs. G., declare
against tin, compared with wood, when you know that tin is the popular
material? Galileo said, “The world is round;” all others said, “It is
flat,” and there being more of the “flats” than Galileos, these “flats”
put their greatest scientist behind the prison bars.
Before I close, I wish to call the attention of the readers of this
paper to the able article of A. B. Weed, on “Queen and Supply Trade,”
in the BEE JOURNAL of March 23d. I think all bee-keepers, whether
supply-dealers or producers strictly, if posted upon the points therein
taken, will say, “Thanks to Mr. Weed.”
Dowagiac, Mich., March 26, 1881.
For the American Bee Journal.
Pure Liquid Honey in Glass Jars.
CHAS. F. MUTH.
The above subject is one which has provoked considerable comment, and
it appears we are not quite done with it yet. I dare say that there
is not a dealer of any note in Cincinnati, by this time, who imagines
that my jar honey is anything but pure honey, or who suspects any honey
when it comes from my store; and I am just as positive in the statement
that there is not a dealer in Cincinnati, having extracted honey from
New York or Chicago in store, who does not believe it to be glucosed.
There is hardly anybody in our community who suspects the purity of
the honey when my label is on the jar. Jar-honey, in general, is not
mistrusted any more in our city, unless the jar contains besides the
liquid, also a piece of comb honey. Such is the case in Cincinnati, to
all appearances, and I am willing to be corrected if wrong.
The subjoined letter from a party in New York, and my answer to them,
show an interesting difference in the state of the market for extracted
honey in our city and New York, the home of Mr. W. M. Hoge, Wm. Hogue
or John Long. To avoid misunderstanding, I may state that Hoge, Hogue
or Long, while in New York, was bottling honey for the firm of Thurber
& Co. In explanation of the letters following, I may state that the
editor of the _Cincinnati Grocer_ had been recommending my honey to
Messrs. Guernsey & Co., N. Y., who opened correspondence with me, and
to me he had recommended them as perhaps the best party to introduce my
honey in the New York market. The result was that I sent them 1 gross
of 1 lb. jars and 1 gross of ½ lb. tumblers, at cost, on 60 days’
time. The honey commenced granulating in the course of a month or more.
This fact, and the general mistrust to extracted honey in New York must
be taken into consideration to do the following correspondence justice:
New York, March 17, 1881.
Mr. C. F. MUTH--_Dear Sir_: Enclosed please find bill of lading for
the honey sent us. We find it totally impossible to sell the goods,
as parties here are afraid of glucose, etc. We waited for parties
to decide about them, and they concluded not to take them. We are
sorry, but such is the case. We have retained one box of each,
bottles and tumblers, to pay us for the freight paid on goods here.
Yours very respectfully,
GUERNSEY & CO.
To which I replied as follows:
Messrs. GUERNSEY & CO.--_Gents_: Your favor is at hand. I expect
the return of my honey with all the charges deducted you feel
disposed to make. I had supposed that there were some men in your
city with enough sense to determine the difference between honey
and glucose. My honey is _strictly pure_, and will pay you $100 if
you will prove that I am wrong. Yours truly,
CHAS. F. MUTH.
Cincinnati, Ohio, March 21, 1881.
[We were shown quite recently a letter received by a prominent dealer
in strictly pure honey in this city, from a correspondent in Virginia,
who had ordered and received from him a keg of honey. They say: “The
keg of honey came to hand on the 25th; you may imagine my chagrin on
opening the package and finding the contents _solid_. In its present
condition it is of no value to me.” Although a dealer, we suppose this
was really the first package of _strictly pure_ extracted honey he
had ever seen, or he would have felt pleasure, instead of chagrin, to
find it granulated solid. The truth is, the public have been so much
deceived with a spurious article in liquid form, that many do not know
the genuine when they see it. A bee-keeper or person perfectly familiar
with honey in a northern or central latitude, would require something
more convincing than the mere assertion of a respectable grocer that
his honey was strictly pure, if not candied or granulated in cool
weather.--ED.]
For the American Bee Journal.
How to Separate Swarms.
BRAY & SEACORD.
An experience of 20 years with bees has taught me to wait upon them and
not to have them wait upon me; in other words, always have your work
ahead of time. Next, to have your bees in strong condition at the time
of the first flow of honey. The great mistake of beginners is to aim
at too large an increase, either by division or natural swarming. If
the season is good, an increase of 3 from each colony is a plenty; if a
medium season an increase of one from each colony is enough.
The brood chamber is the mainspring to work upon for a good yield of
honey. We allow no queen to live over 3 years, and if not a prolific
queen she only lives one year. We allow no brood comb to remain over
3 years in the centre of the hive; by this plan we get fine developed
bees, and of longer life.
Our plan of separating swarms of 2 or more, when they come out and
cluster together, may be of benefit to some. It is as follows: Make a
box 3 feet long (or any size that will fit the frames of your hive),
make one entrance to the box for the bees to pass in and out; make a
tight cover to fit the box, with cleats on 2 sides, no end cleats; make
3 or 4 division boards; then the box is ready for hiving the bees.
Now take the box and hive the cluster of 2 or more swarms, and as
soon as all the bees are in the box, put it in a shady place, and
let it remain there until the next morning; then push the box cover
lengthwise of the box and you will observe each queen with her colony
clustered by themselves; now place the division board between each
cluster, push the cover back again over the cluster and hive at
pleasure.
The present season is fully 6 weeks ahead of last season; drones were
in the air on the 28th of Feb. We keep our colonies in a condition so
that the queen can breed up to her full capacity. The Italian queens
we received from the BEE JOURNAL apiary last fall, wintered well,
and we now have several nuclei started for queen-rearing, as we mean
to Italianize all of our bees by the end of the present season. The
prospects were never better than now for a booming good year.
At some future time we will give our experience in wintering bees in
a cold climate on 4 lbs. 2 ounces of honey per colony, before chaff
packing was invented.
If a Syrian queen cross with the black drone, would not this cross
produce the Italian bee? Success to the BEE JOURNAL.
Warthan, Cal. March 15, 1881.
[If the Italian bee is a hybrid, and originally produced by mating the
black drone with the Syrian queen, then, of course, a like cause will
again produce a like effect; but if the Italian bee is a distinct race,
then no crossing of other races will produce it as a fixed type.--ED.]
For the American Bee Journal.
Raspberry as a Honey Plant.
D. D. PALMER.
The raspberry can be grown in any land that will produce a crop of corn
or potatoes. It furnishes a fine quality of honey, and a delicious
fruit, coming immediately after strawberries. Sandy or light soils
produce a better flavored fruit but not so much nor as large as clay
soils.
The ground should be spaded or ploughed deep, and raked or harrowed
thoroughly so as to pulverize it. If you get plants by mail, dip them
in water as soon as received and bury the roots in moist shady ground
until you are ready to set them out. Plants can be sent by mail with as
much certainty of arriving in good condition as if carried personally
or sent by express. Handle so as to expose the roots to the sun and
wind as little as possible. For garden or field culture plant 2½ or 3
feet apart in the row and the rows 6 feet apart. A convenient implement
to use in setting any small plants is called a dibble, made similar to
a mason’s trowel, and cost me 25 cts. each. Make the holes deep enough
to take in the long roots without doubling them up. Spread the roots
out like a fan, fill with mellow soil and pack snugly among the roots,
if the ground is dry pour in water before filling up, then fill up with
dry or moist soil, leaving the surface loose and mellow. If dry weather
prevails, remove the top soil and pour in plenty of water; after the
water has settled replace the soil. They may be cultivated the same
as corn, being careful not to cultivate too deep as some of the roots
grow near the surface. Cabbage or other root plants may be planted and
cultivated among them the first season. Fruit trees may be planted with
them in the row.
There are several ways of training the bushes; some use stakes. This
we consider an expensive practice, unless it be for garden planting,
when very close planting is required and it is not wished to have a
spreading bush. Our method consists in training them while they are
growing. When 18 inches high pinch off with the fingers, or where a
field is to be pruned we have found a pair of large scissors, with
blades 5 inches long, to be an excellent thing to prune with; with them
we can prune a row as fast as we can walk. You will need to prune the
patch 2 or 3 times each season. In the spring, when the plants are one
year old, prune or cut off all the laterals within 12 or 18 inches of
the main stock before they start to grow; the second season out the
dead wood and train the laterals so as to make the rows like a hedge;
nip or cut off the new shoots when 3 feet high. In this way they bear
larger and better fruit, are more convenient to pick, and are not blown
down by the wind, as the bushes support each other.
The red varieties are increased by suckers or sprouts from the roots.
They may be cultivated 2 seasons, and if needed for honey more than
choice fruit, they may be allowed to occupy the ground. The black caps
are increased from tips, i.e. by the ends of the vines taking root. The
Doolittle, Mammoth Cluster and Home Sweet Home are especially adapted
to cultivate in hedge rows, on account of their stock canes.
Farmers might load their tables with this delicious, health giving
fruit the year round, by setting 25 plants of Doolittle for early, and
100 of Sweet Home for late use and canning.
New Boston, Ill.
For the American Bee Journal.
Apis Americana.
E. A. THOMAS.
There has been much discussion of late about “How to obtain the best
race of bees,” and I notice there is a great diversity of opinion in
regard to it. I fully agree with the editor of the AMERICAN BEE JOURNAL
that the coming bee will be the _Apis Americana_, a cross between our
present Italians and some other race, and I believe that, although
there are but few who hold that opinion now, the time is not far
distant when the majority of the apiarists of America will acknowledge
the superiority of the American strain of Italians.
During the past few years there has been a mania among bee-keepers for
imported stock which has steadily increased up to the present time, but
which I sincerely hope has now reached its height. Do not understand
by this that I object to all importations for I do not, but only to
those careless and almost reckless ones that, instead of improving,
will cause the deterioration of our present excellent strain. So long
as queen breeders in Italy know that any queens they may see fit to
send to America will be accepted just because they came from Italy,
just so long will some of them take advantage of such knowledge to ship
to this country queens they would not be willing to use themselves,
and which American bee-keepers would not accept as a gift if they knew
what stock they sprang from. But only let them understand that they
must send only the very best and purest that Italy can afford, or lose
the American trade, and they will be more careful how they try to
impose upon the credulity of American bee-keepers. There are many good
reliable breeders in Italy, and those who are desirous of importing
should search them out and give such their orders, and give all others
a severe “letting alone.” But to return to my subject. When an apiarist
becomes, satisfied that he has an excellent strain of bees he should be
very careful how he introduces new blood into his apiary, I care not
from what source it comes whether from Italy or a home breeder, until
he has thoroughly tested it and found it to be good. Many a bee-keeper
after having obtained a class of bees that did credit to America and
which bid fair to become worthy of the name _Apis Americana_, not
content to let “well enough alone,” has ruined his stock by introducing
foreign blood that was as worthless as it was cheap. For the
improvement of our present strain of bees I would suggest that queen
breeders exchange queens from their working stock and make a careful
record of the result of the cross. When they get a cross that is an
improvement on their own bees let them breed from it and introduce the
blood into their apiary. Thus by crossing the best blood in the country
we may hope to obtain a strain of Italians that will rival those found
in Italy, and which will be exported to all parts of Europe.
As regards the color of our bees, I beg to differ with those who
consider it necessary to breed dark colored bees in order to obtain
good honey gatherers. I have bred both dark and light colored, and I
am satisfied that my present strain, which is as handsome as any one
need wish for, has excelled anything I ever had or saw. If breeders
will work carefully and use every means in their power to improve their
bees, we may live to see Mr. Newman’s prophecy come true, and the _Apis
Americana_ have a world-wide fame.
Coleraine, Mass.
Translated from Bienen-Zeitung by Greiner Bros.
Fertilization a Crippled Queen.
DR. DZIERZON.
In looking over a nucleus the past season, I found a young Italian
queen just hatched. She was very large and beautiful, but in trying to
make her flight she fell to the ground, because of her left wing being
considerably shorter, and she could not rise, although she made every
effort. If I had possessed a surplus queen, or even a queen-cell, I
should have disposed of her; but as I had not, I left her in the hive,
hoping that she might gain strength enough to enable her to make her
wedding trip. Two days after I looked again and found my queen there
still, and my experiments with her proved that she was as unable to
fly as before. It occurred to me to shorten her long wing to produce
equilibrium. She could then fly some, but dropped to the ground again.
After I had trimmed her long wing down to the size of the crippled
one, she succeeded in keeping herself up in the air for quite a while,
although it seemed very hard work for her, and she finally reached her
hive. I let her run in, then fixed an alighting-board, that she might
have a chance to run from the ground up to her hive, if compelled.
On one of the following days I was in the apiary again at noon, and
on looking about I noticed great excitement in one of the neighboring
hives near said nucleus. When I opened the hive I found the
short-winged queen in there balled, but not yet injured. Undoubtedly
she came out to meet a drone, and on returning entered the wrong hive,
which, when we consider her clumsiness, could not be wondered at. I
picked her out of the ball, and took her back to her own hive. A few
days after I found her depositing eggs, and she proved to be fertile;
but whether she was fertilized on that trip, or whether she made
another, is not certain.
Read before the N. E. Convention.
Best Method of Marketing Honey.
GEO. W. HOUSE.
In writing upon this subject I fully realize the difficulties of the
task before me, and also the differences of opinion that exist on this
interesting subject, and one that is of such vast importance to the
honey producer of to-day. We are yet in the infancy of this enterprise,
and time will doubtless reveal many changes and improvements where now
we think we have attained perfection. Of course practical bee-keepers
will employ all their energies to keep up with the times, and give
their patrons the benefit of new developments as soon as they are
proved to be improvements. We should ascertain what the market demands
and then diligently apply ourselves to the work, in order to reap the
reward.
We talk of supply and demand; of overstocking the markets and
overstocking the land. But in solving the problem of “marketing,” man’s
inventive genius is called upon to provide the necessary elements,
whereby the desired results may be attained without increased expense
to the consumer or decreased profit to the producer. This is a
practical age and requires practical inventions, to be used in the race
for the “mighty dollar.”
There need be no fear of overstocking the markets. Honey is being used
by many manufacturers in the liquid form, and its demand is increasing
throughout the land. Honey in the comb is finding its way to the tables
of thousands of families throughout all Europe, where till recently it
was never seen. Thus the question of overstocking the market is nearly
settled. All honor to the Messrs. Thurber and their representative
in Europe for their untiring energies in this grand undertaking.
There are but few of us that realize the benefits of the exertions
put forth by this great firm in finding a market for our products.
Their undertaking has been crowned with success, and to them we owe
our sincere thanks if nothing more. The markets of the world are open
to our products, and it is now our duty to see that those markets are
not ruined through any fault or neglect on the part of the American
producer. We must also have united action looking toward the prevention
of adulterations.
We must have co-operation in marketing honey, to produce the most
satisfactory results. We have seen what wonderful results have been
accomplished by associate action, and by a combination of interests.
The great enterprises of to-day, that are so astonishing in their
magnitude, are the results of associated effort, and this is destined
to revolutionize the business operations of the world. We have seen
what wonderful results have been accomplished by the associated system
of dairymen. What unity and action has done for dairying and other
branches of industry it may also accomplish for apiculture. Association
and unity of action are the great mainsprings of power and progress in
the world. I am pleased to know that the bee-keepers of this country
are awakening to this principle in marketing their products.
While in New York city last October I devoted one whole day
investigating the honey market, and I must say that I was completely
disgusted with the workings thereof. Not being personally acquainted
with more than two of the firms handling honey, I had a splendid
opportunity to investigate the facilities and the workings of many
houses, by withholding my name and pleading ignorance. The honey of
some of our leading apiarists was found in several different commission
houses, and one apiarist in particular, who has probably written and
said more upon this subject of “marketing honey” than any other one
person, consigned his honey to more than one commission house, and the
honey was not put up in a very marketable condition at that; the edges
of the boxes being covered with propolis, and evidently no attempt had
been made to remove it. One commission house sold this man’s white
honey for 12 cents, while another house was holding this same man’s
honey at 18 cents.
One of the four honey houses in New York informed me that they received
two-thirds of all the honey sent to that market. The proprietor of
another house told me that he handled most of the honey sent on
commission to that city. Of course I saw their stock of honey, and
truthfully say that both houses combined do not sell one-fourth the
amount of honey sold by either of the other two houses. These men
misrepresented their business, and if they misrepresented to me why
wouldn’t they do the same to all other producers.
Then there are other commission men who receive now and then a small
consignment of honey, and in almost every instance you will find that
honey setting outside the door begging for a sale. After seeing all
this and much more, I can say without fear of successful contradiction,
that at present there are but two firms in New York that have the
facilities of handling our products, H. K. & F. B. Thurber & Co., and
D. W. Quinby. Undoubtedly there is not another firm in this country
that can place our honey on the markets of Europe to so good an
advantage as can the Messrs. Thurber, while Mr. Quinby, who has been in
the business for many years and has many customers, can place honey to
good advantage and satisfactory to the consignor. Both these firms are
making a specialty of our products, and they are the only ones. Go to
New York with your honey; see where it is destined; look over the field
before you, and I will venture to say you will corroborate all I have
said.
Such being the case, what are we to do? We must have unity of action.
Let us concentrate what honey we put on that market by sending to these
two houses. By so doing our honey will command a higher price, sell
faster, and thereby insure us quicker and more satisfactory returns.
What will apply to the New York market will hold good for any of our
markets. We must concentrate our honey, and the quicker we do this the
sooner we shall be able to sell our products for cash.
I will venture here to present another subject of great importance, and
one that needs the co-operative effort of every apiarist. “Statistics
of the aggregate production of both comb and extracted honey.” With
united action this can be accomplished. I would suggest that this
association petition our national society, praying that the president
thereof shall appoint reliable and willing vice-presidents in each and
every State in the Union, whose duty it shall be to demand of each
and every secretary of the different associations within his State to
collect the correct statistics of the yield within his territory; to
report to the vice-president, who in turn shall report to the secretary
of the National society, and he be required to cause the same to be
published in each of the bee-journals no later than the first of
September.
Every bee-keeper in making up his report should be very careful not
to over-estimate his yield. In the past this has worked injury to our
markets, many bee-keepers making a fictitious and an exaggerated report
for fear that some neighboring apiarist may lead them in the amount
of honey produced. This is all wrong and I trust we shall soon see
the end. Remember that honey buyers keep their eyes upon all reports
regarding the amount of honey produced in the country. That from these
reports they fix the price to be paid; and when we go to sell our honey
we are compelled to face the reports. When we are able to furnish
correct statistics, then we shall see the benefit.
Our larger markets are mostly supplied by the larger producers or
specialists, while our local or smaller markets are left to the amateur
or novice. To control these lesser lights will be hard work; but as
long as they keep out of the larger markets they will do no great
injury. They will be helping to increase the consumption. As soon as we
get to a basis of buying and selling, speculators will control these
small lots.
Our markets are also much injured by placing our products upon them
in an unmarketable shape. Honey in the comb should be placed upon the
market so as to call the attention, and tempt the consumer to purchase.
To this end we should put up our comb honey in single comb sections,
the combs being straight and evenly built and completely capped over.
In regard to size of boxes, the demand seems to be settling down to
about three sizes, viz: 4x4, 5x5 and 5x6 inches. In glazing, we should
have the glass nicely cleaned and put on in good shape, being careful
to first remove all propolis or wax adhering thereto. In grading and
crating the apiarist should give his personal attention, that he may be
positive as to details should any question arise involving this part
of the work. In grading it is well to make two grades white and two
grades dark honey, putting all straight and perfect combs in the first
grade, while those that are stained, unevenly built combs and not quite
capped over should be put in grade No. 2. In dark honey we frequently
have combs that are from ¾ up white, being finished with dark honey.
This should be graded black, No. 1, and all remaining combs should be
classed as buckwheat. In crating, use only neat white crates holding 12
boxes, or if the boxes are small use crates weighing from 20 to 25 lbs.
net. The honey must not be veneered and the crates should weigh even
pounds, i. e., no halves or quarter pounds. We cannot be too particular
in having our boxes and crates neatly made and placed on the market
free from all dirt or stain or leakage.
In shipping, great care must be exercised. The crates should be placed
in the car with the combs running with the car, not over 6 crates high,
setting close together at the side and end.
Extracted honey is now classed as a staple article, therefore it is
best to ship in bulk or barrels. But if designed for the retail trade
it should be put up in small packages, such as small tin pails, or pint
or quart glass fruit jars, something that can be used after the honey
is consumed.
THE AMERICAN BEE JOURNAL
THOMAS C. NEWMAN.
EDITOR AND PROPRIETOR.
CHICAGO, ILL., APRIL 6, 1881.
The Lessons of the Hour.
“Sweet are the uses of adversity,” is a trite remark credited to
Shakespeare, we believe. The winter of 1880-1 will long be known as one
of the most severe in its nature and direful in its effects, not only
in America but throughout the world.
A gentleman from Minnesota assures us that in the southern part of that
State fully 10 feet of snow has fallen since the great storm of Oct.
14. Losses and privations have been _the rule_ during the past 5 or 6
months. Fuel has been so scarce that in some places even the “liberty
pole” has been sacrificed for use as fuel; those sections cut off from
communication have been deprived of tea, coffee and sugar, and the
coffee-mill has been made to serve the purpose of the flour-mill, to
grind wheat for family use.
Heavy sleet storms have destroyed the timber, the principal sufferers
being peach, soft maple, hickory and elm trees.
Birds, sheep, cattle and hogs have perished by thousands, being
deprived of food and shelter and cut off from succor by the waves of
death from the north and west, and the oft-repeated blizzard. Even
mankind is no exception--untold numbers have been sacrificed upon
the altar of the storm-king. Snow, hail, wind, blinding storm and
blizzard-blast have united with poisoned air and miasmatic vapor to
sweep men, women and children into the tomb, and is it any wonder that
our pets--the bees--should suffer in common with all other forms of
life?
But how difficult it is to discover the “sweet uses” of all this
adversity! True, it may point out the more hardy kinds of trees,
insects, birds and stock, to withstand the rigors of such seasons--upon
the principle of “the survival of the fittest”--and it may teach men a
valuable lesson on the necessity of securing more perfect ventilation,
drainage and pure water.
When the unprecedented season shall have passed, let us try to fathom
these deep lessons in respect to our bees. Perhaps there is a lesson to
be learned here which we could learn in no other way. Close observation
and profound study will no doubt be amply rewarded. “Let patience have
her perfect work.”
* * * * *
☞ Dr. Ehrick Parmly, the genial Recording Secretary of the North
American Bee-Keepers’ Society, made us a very pleasant call last
Thursday afternoon, on his return from a three weeks’ tour through
Colorado. We are glad to say the Doctor was looking and feeling
remarkably well after his extended trip, and his jovial good nature
done much to banish the gloom occasioned by the drizzling and
monotonous snow which was then falling.
Is Bee-Keeping a Failure?
Now that the winter is drawing to a close, and the chilling blasts
are becoming more fitful and spasmodic under the tardy but certain
approach of spring, we begin to contemplate with an inward feeling of
gratification the genial sunshine and gentle showers with which Nature
will awaken to life; the far-stretching fields clothed in emerald
green, the lawns and lanes with their grassy carpets, the air laden
with the sweet perfume of the blossoms in garden and orchard, the trees
in forest and grove animated with the feathered songsters whose little
lives seem an incarnation of happy melody--all these will combine to
help us forget the dreary hours of the past, and with keener zest enjoy
the future. But how many will miss the cheerful hum of the myriads of
toiling bees, whose flitting wings were wont to bear them from flower
to flower, where they gathered nectar fit for a banquet of the gods.
We can scarcely wonder that many have become discouraged and almost
doubt whether bee-keeping pays, when they think of the meager honey
yields of two successive summers, and view the untenanted hives and
soiled combs which are left as the sequel to their cherished hopes for
the future. However, none should be too hasty in passing judgment.
With the hives and combs already provided, more than one-half the
original investment is saved, and with a propitious season for the
present, our losses will be made good with a credit in our favor on
the balance sheet. We cannot expect bee-keeping to be profitable every
season, any more than any other special branch of industry which is
dependent upon natural causes, but we can with forethought, industry
and systematic perseverance, make it as reliable as any other, and now
that many will be compelled to begin anew (or comparatively so), we
suggest that they begin aright. It will not be a guaranty of success
that they use the best hive, nor that they have an abundance of bees; a
familiarity with all the recognized authorities and a mind crammed with
theories, will often fail; the industrious brown bee will seek in vain,
the gold-banded Italian bee will tire in its flight, and even _Apis
dorsata_ will view its stores with dismay, if there be no nectar-laden
bloom from which to gather.