We have to report a very heavy loss; at first one-third dead was
supposed to cover the ground, but later reports will probably bring it
nearer 50 per cent. The losses may briefly be accounted for, at least
largely: by the failure of the honey crop after clover; consequent
cessation of breeding and old bees ready for winter quarters; an unusual
consumption of stores in the fall, followed by a severe winter. Men who
stimulated breeding until a proper season, fed sufficient stores of the
right kind and at the proper time, and properly packed their bees
outside or had them in good cellars, were generally successful.
Experienced beekeepers have generally been successful as they know and
are careful about getting the proper conditions for successful
wintering.
Martin Emyh, of Holbrook, wintered 178 out of 180; one winter he lost
none out of 150 and his success is fully as great in summer management.
He doubtless could give much information of value but we seldom hear of
him in public.
Most parties report bees to have died in March after the severest
weather had passed. Is this not additional proof that loss was caused by
aged bees going into winter quarters and becoming worn out, and
insufficiency of stores? One report before me gives eleven starved out
of thirteen. Bees in some localities are doing remarkably well this
spring. Fresh honey is being stored in abundance, combs having honey
from top to bottom, and here we feel confident some of our colonies,
unless there is a sudden change in the weather, will require extracting
before the end of the week and the prospects are that beekeepers will
reap an abundant harvest.
_Brantford, Ont._
_BOOK NOTICES AND REVIEWS._
--“Money in Potatoes” is the title of a valuable and instructive little
manual published by the Franklin News Co. of Phila., Pa., which they
kindly sent us for review.
--Mr. A. I. Root of Medina, Ohio, has also sent us a potato book
entitled the A B C of Potato Culture, written by T. B. Terry of Hudson,
Ohio, which is well illustrated and printed in good clear type.
Mr. Henry Alley, of Wenham, Mass., has submitted for review, the proof
sheets of the latest edition of the “Beekeeper’s Handy Book.” Our reason
for not waiting until the work was complete was because it will be
placed on the market at about the same time that our subscribers receive
their journal.
Mr. Alley’s former work was an invaluable addition to bee literature,
giving as it did, not only the most scientific, systematic and practical
method of raising queen bees, but also many other items of interest and
much valuable information, gleaned from an intimate acquaintance with
beekeeping of about twenty-seven years. The present work, however,
surpasses the former in every respect, and no beekeeper can afford to do
without it.
The instructions given have been thoroughly tested by the author who has
made a success of the business, and these instructions are presented to
the reader in a simple matter-of-fact way: They are, in fact, the
concise description of the every-day experiences, for nearly
twenty-seven years, of a thoroughly practical apiarist who has mastered
every branch of the business.
This work contains about 300 pages, and nearly one hundred
illustrations.
While we have other valuable works on Apiculture, yet none of them fill
the position occupied by the “Handy Book,” and no matter what works one
may have this one should be procured, as it will more than return its
cost each season.
The first part contains about 175 pages, is devoted to general subjects
of apiculture, while the second is devoted to queen-rearing.
The author, so to speak, takes the beginner out into his apiary and
gives him just the information needed to enable one who is almost wholly
unacquainted with the bees, to commence this study and continue it with
a surety of success.
He tells the beginner “how to start an apiary,” how and when to select,
pack and remove their bees, when to place the section-boxes on, how to
prevent bees from deserting surplus boxes on cool nights, and how to
strengthen weak colonies.
His description of swarming and the proper care and management of
swarms is excellent, while that pertaining to queenless colonies and
their care is very important and valuable.
The subject of comb-foundation and its manufacture is complete and
exhaustive, and is written by one of the best manufacturers of
comb-foundation in the country.
The chapter on beehives, their construction, etc., is entirely a new
departure, and original with this work. A large number of the best are
illustrated and described, also their valuable features, as claimed by
their originators.
The work also contains a brief, but interesting, description (with fine
illustrations) of the various honey producing plants, and also the
enemies of bees.
The second part, which is devoted to queen-rearing, has been revised and
corrected, and many new and valuable illustrations and items of
instruction have been added.
It is a work that we can heartily endorse and recommend as indispensable
to every beekeeper.
_NOTES AND QUERIES._
--Mr. J. M. Shuck who a short time since suffered a severe loss in the
burning up of his beehive stock, has just sent us his neat and
attractive circular stating that he is again prepared for business.
--We have just received from Mr. Pryal of Temescal, Cal., a complete
file of the _California Apiculturist_, which we are pleased to add to
our collection. Mr. Pryal will please accept our thanks for the same.
--We shall issue our Journal from June to December on the 15th of the
month.
--Those who are so strictly orthodox in their opinions, especially when
criticising others, should remember that their first duty is to practise
what they preach, as their teachings will then be productive of good.
--We shall continue to issue our Journal from the Salem Press office,
but all communications should be addressed to Wenham, Mass., and when
sending money do not forget to make all postal notes or money orders
payable on Salem, Mass., post office.
--We have just received a circular and price list from Mr. B----, who is
now in Europe dealing in foreign queens and bees. The character of the
language and criticisms contained therein will not warrant us in giving
it a favorable notice. Manly criticism or counsel and advice, or one’s
opinion expressed in kindly language, always demands respect; but since
Mr. B---- has engaged in the sale of the eastern bees and queens he has
introduced some finely drawn lines of distinction between the names
given to the different races of bees from the Holy Land.
Until lately we had no trouble in understanding what was meant by the
terms Holy Land bees, Syrian bees or Palestine bees, and in order that
we may be set at rights again will some one _capable of judging_ kindly
tell us what countries are included within the boundaries of the Holy
Land (not Holy Land proper.)
Mr. B---- is not even contented to establish names of his own but makes
it a point to abuse all those who differ from him.
We trust that he may yet learn to allow others the same freedom in
expressing their opinions that he wishes himself and then abstain from
abusing them for so doing.
--We have just received from F. D. Wellcome of Poland, Maine, the
finest lot of red raspberry plants that we ever saw, they certainly do
him credit.
--As we are now publishing 5,000 copies per month of our Journal,
advertisers will do well to give it a trial.
--Use every effort to work up a home demand for your honey this season
as in most cases it will pay much better than sending it to city
markets.
--Read all our club offers for this month carefully and if you should
receive more than one copy of our Journal kindly hand the other to your
neighbor. It may do him some good and it will help us.
Better chances were never offered to secure first-class goods cheap than
will be found in our club list.
--Mr. J. C. Clark submits his communication to us for consideration, and
we would state that while the extractor in the hands of an inexperienced
apiarist or by injudicious use will doubtless prove a great injury, yet
we consider it one of the most valuable implements in a well conducted
apiary.
The trouble with the “glutted” honey market comes, not from the use of
the honey extractor, or the over-production of honey, but from a lack of
proper knowledge and means of creating a demand. As a rule we do not
consider it best to extract honey from combs containing unsealed larvæ,
but one must be governed by his knowledge of and experience in this
business.
We could not be hired to do without the extractor for many reasons.
We should be pleased to hear from Mr. Dadant on this subject, as he uses
the extractor extensively.
A few days since while we were busy at the desk, Mr. Alley called us out
into the apiary to witness a swarm of bees issuing from a hive that was
provided with one of his drone traps. It was very amusing and
interesting to watch the honey-laden bees rush pell-mell out through the
perforated metal entrance giving conclusive evidence that the
perforations were amply large to freely admit a worker bee laden either
with pollen or honey.
Soon the queen unable to force her way through at the entrance passed
into the trap. As soon as the majority of the bees had passed out we
removed the drone trap, fastened it to the end of a long pole and rested
it against a small tree near by. In a short time the bees, discovering
their queen in the trap, clustered upon it.
When the bees had become quiet we removed the trap to a convenient shady
spot near by and laying it on its side placed over it one of the
swarming boxes, covering the box with a board so as to cover the wire
cloth and make it dark within the box.
We then left the swarm in that condition for about six hours in order to
experiment with it and learn whether the queen would force her way out.
In the early evening we examined the swarm and found that the queen was
out among the bees in the swarming box, and found that as the trap was
laid on its side the bees that filled the trap formed a bridge over
which the queen could pass through the wire tube through which she
passed into the trap.
This is a valuable feature of the trap because if one cannot always be
at hand to attend to the swarms, the queen after about six hours will
find her way back into the hive again, thus preventing either her loss
or that of the bees.
We have had considerable experience with hiving swarms, but never
performed the task with such ease or so speedily as we can with the
drone trap. We can heartily endorse it as invaluable to the beekeeper
even for this one purpose alone.
We shall experiment further with the trap and give the results.
--Mr. J. D. Goodrich of East Hardwick, Vermont, has sent us some most
excellent comb foundation. The thin for sections was especially fine.
--For $3.00 cash we will send the “American Apiculturist” one year and
one of our fertilizing hives containing four combs with brood and
one-half pound of bees and a choice selected queen--the hive will also
be supplied with one of our cone feeders. With this small nucleus colony
one can rear a number of queens during the season and it will be a great
help in learning queen-rearing.
--Advertisers will please notice the change in our rates, 15 cents per
line each insertion. There are about seven words to the line, and twelve
lines to the inch. In sending copy always write it on one side of a
separate sheet of paper and be very particular to have the names,
addresses, etc., very plain.
Parties unknown to us must send cash with the order.
All copy for advertisements and manuscript must reach us by the first of
the month, if they are to appear in the following number which we shall
issue on the 15th of the month until December.
_LETTER BOX._
_Des Moines, Ia._