Part 2

Since we introduced separators the percentage of unfinished honey is greatly reduced. At the end of the honey season we formerly found open cases almost filled with comb and honey and not one single finished section among them. This is not so much the case since we use separators; when the flow of honey begins to diminish, we have noticed our bees to be at work in a portion of the sections, whilst the remainder would not be occupied at all; we have also taken off cases at the end of a honey flow, which were entirely empty, except 2 or 3 sections, and these were finished and marketable. To be sure these are extremes, but it shows the benefit of separators.

It might appear from the last part of this article, that we apply surplus cases regardless of the working capacity of our colonies. Circumstances may sometimes compel us to do so, but we aim to give our bees no more surplus room than they can occupy.

Naples, N. Y., March 6, 1881.

For the American Bee Journal.

Texas for Bees and Honey.

DR. J. E. LAY.

I write to answer several communications in regard to the adaptability of our great State to bee-keeping, and as apiculture is engrossing the minds of many of the most energetic, progressive and scientific men of our land, I recognize the difficulty of even venturing an opinion. As our great State is so varied in climate and flora, I will state that my remarks have reference to my own section of perhaps a radius of 100 miles. I have lived in Texas since 1850. I passed my boyhood days on her beautiful prairies, amid her thousands of flowers of every hue, freighting our incomparable sea breeze with more than Arcadian sweetness, silence banished from her woodland slopes by the joyous carol of beautiful song birds. Ever delighting in the marvelous beauties of nature, how could I fail to love so beauteous a sunlit home? Yes, and as a grown up boy I love it still. Greek nor Roman, not even Wm. Tell, loved his country better than I, therefore my bee-keeping friends will pardon me if I seem to color a little too strongly. Our State is being filled with energetic farmers who are reaping rich harvests from the virgin soil, for nearly all kinds of seeds that are sown spring forth under the genial rays of the sun to 60 and an hundred fold.

Reasoning by analogy I opine that bee-keeping will result in like manner. Apiculture is in its nascent form here, but the sun of science begins to warm its quickening form. I have studied the best works on apiculture, but have not given it a thorough practical test yet; I purpose doing so this season. There are but few bees in our country, all blacks except my little apiary of 7 colonies, which consists of hybrids and blacks. I intend to Italianize in March, for they indeed possess many advantages over the blacks.

I have just wintered successfully in simplicity hives (plain) without any sort of protection whatever, and this is the coldest winter I ever saw in Texas. Dispatches state that at this time almost the entire North is covered with snow. While my bees were in a quiver of excitement to-day, Feb. 4, bringing in rich loads of pollen and honey from turnips, mustards, &c., I could but delight in their rush of joy. How different is the climate over which our vast brotherhood reaches! Our honey plants reach nearly through the entire year, yielding as good nectar as ever tickled the palate of man. In fact the harvest for bees is almost endless, better, of course, some months. The market for honey has never been developed: a few old “gums” to “rob” for “big meeting” or for some extraordinary visitor is about all ever obtained. “Bees do no good here these days, the moth destroy them,” say the “old settlers.” The moth skulks away in the light of scientific bee-keeping and its depredations are _nil_.

To be successful all should study the science, read good books on the subject, learn by close practical observation, read the periodicals of our wide awake bee-men, among which there is none better than the AMERICAN BEE JOURNAL. Energy and perseverance alone will succeed even in the “sunlit clime” of Texas. Without these, all will just as surely retrograde.

Hallettsville, Texas.

For the American Bee Journal.

Alsike Clover as a Honey Plant.

L. JAMES.

Much has been written for the JOURNAL about the value of this variety of clover for its yield of honey and hay. Such has not been my experience with it, sown on 19 acres of land, and extending over 11 years. In 1869 I bought some 38 pounds of the seed of Mr. Thomas, of Canada. The cost to me, of the seed, duty and express charges, was $18. Having 9 acres of ground planted with apple trees that had been bearing for some time, and wishing to seed it down to grass I had the ground well prepared for the reception of the seed, and a good rain fell just after it was brushed in; it came up nicely, and as there was favorable rains all through the summer it grew finely. The following season it grew in length of stem and quantity of bloom far beyond my expectation, and when in its full bloom it was a beautiful sight, resembling an ocean of blossoms, and as I looked upon it, you may rely upon it my calculations of boxes of nice alsike clover honey loomed up in large proportions, but like many another calculation based upon what our bees are going to do, it was all in fancy and I was doomed to disappointment.

Day after day their flight was just in the opposite direction, with only here and there a bee to be seen on it. There was a body of timber ¾ of a mile distant in the direction they were flying with pastures well set in white clover between this timber and the apiary, and I supposed the white clover pastures was the source of honey supply. This state of things continued for some time, and seeing a bee-man pass by that lived in the timber I inquired how his bees were getting along. He replied they were doing finely as they ought to, for he had never seen heavier honey dews. That was the secret, and soon my boxes began to show evidence of the dark stuff being put into them, instead of alsike honey. Fortunately for me, before much of it was stored in the boxes, some heavy dashing rains washed it from the leaves and there was no more of the dew for them to gather. The alsike and white clover were in bloom for some time after this, but for some cause the bees paid but little attention to it, and I was vexed to see the promise of a rich return for my expenditure frustrated. I took it for granted that the season was not congenial for its production of honey, as I knew the same to be the case with white clover, as it was last summer. After this at different times I sowed 2 other orchards of 5 acres each with alsike, neither of which did as well as the first piece sown, want of timely rains, &c., being the cause, but by continuous sowing I succeeded in having them tolerably well set with it.

Receiving no perceptible benefit from it, commensurate with its trouble and expense, I have for some time been satisfied that in central Illinois where our white clover is so abundantly furnished in our pastures and road sides, without any expense, and hardy at that, it is time and money put to a poor use.

As a hay producing plant it amounts to but little after the first season, as it becomes dwarfed in habit, and, I believe, will eventually be but little larger in growth under like circumstances than the white variety. The white clover is the honey plant for our latitude, and I presume the alsike for Sweden, from whence it came, and corresponding latitudes. After having had 11 years’ experience with it I think it unworthy of attention from bee-men, either for honey or hay; at least where the hardy white clover comes spontaneously to our hands.

There is one thing I ought not to omit, in sowing this Canadian seed I introduced a kind of cockle (different from any I have seen in Penn. or Ohio) that holds its own much better than the clover, and I begin to think it will be a standing pest difficult to get rid of.

Atlanta, Ill.

Read before the N. E. Convention.

The Supply and Queen Trade.

A. B. WEED.

This is a subject, I believe, of interest to all who are engaged in apiculture, either as bee-keepers, supply dealers or queen breeders, and is growing as the business extends.

The supply business seems as yet to be in a crude state, and prices lack uniformity. In many cases we find needless “cutting” of prices. It may be said that this is a good thing for buyers; but I believe that the opposite is the case, for the inevitable result of unreasonably low prices is inferior goods. When prices are so lowered that there is no margin left for profit, the trade will not be supported with the enterprise which is necessary to stimulate improvements or inventions, or even to put the business on a good footing. The character of the business can best be maintained if the energy of manufacturers is directed to the perfecting of goods rather than the cheapening of them. Good tools are necessary in any pursuit, and seem to be associated with a thrifty business; in fact, the prosperity of a business is largely dependent upon the means at hand of carrying it on. If one tool is better than another—even if the difference is slight—it is worth very much more, for the benefit of the difference is felt every time that it is used. A good thing may be a source of profit, and a poor one of loss. The best is _always_ the cheapest.

There is one respect in which the business is in a better condition than many others, and that is, that there is but very little credit given. This is an advantage to both parties, for the seller loses nothing through bad debts, and the prompt buyer does not have to pay for the losses caused by the careless or dishonest ones.

It is quite common among supply dealers to guarantee safe arrival of goods. This condition of sale is unnecessary, as the express receipt is sufficient, and in case of injury or loss the fact is more readily proven and damages more easily collected than could be from some dealers. It is unreasonable to expect the dealer to be responsible for goods after they have left his hands, especially when the consignee can adjust any difficulty more easily at his end of the line; this is the customary rule in business. When articles are sent by mail the buyer can protect himself against loss by having the article registered; but the precaution is almost unnecessary, as it is _very rarely_ that anything is lost in the mails. Of course the sender is required to use necessary care in packing; with most shippers this is a point of pride.

The traffic in queens seems to be closely allied to the supply business—at least so I have found it—for as the bee-keeper begins to feel the need of good tools he sees the advantage of good stock as well; and he naturally looks in the same direction for both. I believe that I express the opinion of the best queen breeders when I say that it is much more satisfactory to sell a good queen at a correspondingly good price—even if the profit is no greater in proportion—than a cheap and poor one, for the reason that a queen, wherever she goes, will represent the stock from which she came. And I believe, too, that I speak the opinion of all observing apiarists when I say that it pays infinitely better to keep good queens than poor ones. Thus it is that good queens at good prices are more profitable to both parties. Some of the best apiarists have discontinued selling any queens that are not possessed of a high degree of merit, and send out only those which are thoroughly tested and found to be good. In return they receive a suitable price from appreciative customers. This is notably the case in localities where honey raising is an established business, and the value of good stock is therefore understood. It is now almost universally held by apiarists that if good queens are to be obtained they must be raised under favorable conditions. It is freely admitted that to bring about these conditions requires a large outlay of time and thought, as well as money. This especially is the case when queens are to be reared out of season.

The cost of rearing queens will decide their price, for of course they will not be sold at prices which do not pay for rearing and a reasonable profit besides. If buyers insist on having cheap queens, they will get them, but their value will be found to correspond with their price. The one-price rule, which is applied to queens throughout the country, has the effect of causing many poor ones to be sold at fair prices, which really should be killed. It has the tendency to discourage the rearing of very superior ones, for as a rule, a thing is no better than its price. When they are all sold at a uniform price it is to be expected they will be nearly alike in merit, as there is no special inducement for the breeder to improve his stock. The uniformity of price probably originated in the supposition that all queens are equally good, whereas experience proves the opposite to be true. A queen that lays even a few more eggs daily than another is much more valuable, for the extra number of eggs will be multiplied by the number of days that she is kept. This difference alone, so often repeated, will in time amount to more than the price of the queen. A poor queen is kept at a corresponding loss, although both may have sold at the same price. There are such things as plus and minus outside of algebra. The buying of queens at present has some resemblance to a lottery. They should be graded—at least so far as this is possible—and priced accordingly.

Combinations for the maintenance of artificial prices are impracticable and undesirable. I would only submit that prices be based upon cost of production and a _reasonable_ profit.

Detroit, Mich.

For the American Bee Journal.

Who is to Blame for the Losses?

C. H. DIBBERN.

Already the reports of fearful losses are coming in thick and fast. Every severe winter the story is the same. Now the question arises, are these losses of bees inevitable every cold winter? If so then our business as bee-keepers is still a mere matter of luck.

During the last few years of mild winters the out-door wintering men have had things about their own way in our bee-papers. Now, are these papers not a little to blame for admitting articles to their columns giving bad advice to the inexperienced? Many have advocated the wintering on summer stands without protection or care, and persistently claim to be masters in bee-keeping. I am perfectly willing to admit that bees can be wintered very nicely on summer stands in a mild winter, also that they are wintered successfully if well packed in chaff in a cold winter; but I claim that the labor of preparing them is more than double that of cellar wintering.

I contend that the only certain way is to prepare a suitable place especially for the bees. If a cellar, have the floor cemented and see that it is dry, dark, and well ventilated. In such a place they will not consume more than half the amount of honey they would if left out “packed” in the most approved style. This being a fact they have no particular occasion for a flight. I know that the out-door men claim that cellar-wintered bees do not breed early and are liable to “spring dwindle.” I hardly know what spring dwindling is. By good spring management I have never failed to have my hives crowded as soon as there is anything for the bees to do. Then what is to be gained by having the queen expend her energies and raising vast broods of bees in February to be ready to die when the blossoms come? But sometimes failure comes even in the best of cellars; but would they have fared any better out of doors? Nine times in 10 the cause can be traced to bees filling their hives from the refuse of cider mills. How to keep them from storing such stuff is one of the great problems to be solved.

It is not to be supposed that any kind of a hole under a house will do to winter bees. I have known bees to be packed away among onions, cabbage, and sour kraut. In the spring they wonder what made their bees die. Perhaps they were fastened by wire cloth so that the light could be let in and the bees could not “get out you know.” That such must fail is apparent.

I do not find fault with those who prefer to pack in chaff and winter out of doors; I cannot see, however, that it is the best way.

It will be the “survival of the fittest” this winter, sure. The box hive men and careless bee-keepers will go out of the business. It is the golden opportunity for the bee-keeper of the future. Soon the fields will be white with the harvest, but the laborers will be few. The bees will have less competition in the fields and the honey in the market.

Milan, Ill.

[Are the papers reprehensible for giving place to candid and respectful arguments, whether based upon tenable or doubtful theories, intended to advance and simplify a science of such magnitude as the bee-keeping interest? Differences of opinion (and honest ones, too,) exist in almost all leading pursuits, and frequently, although seemingly contradicting each other, lead to successful results: again, as has been frequently demonstrated during the past winter, practices embracing all the most approved theories, have alike proved disastrous. There are so many favorable contingencies to be provided, that theories are powerless to insure success. It is interesting, as well as mystifying, to glance through our correspondence from week to week, and note the different methods of preparing bees for winter, and the disasters attending all the different styles. Nor are the cellars exempt from heavy losses, even where success has been proverbial heretofore: The truth is, the winter has been an exceptional one, and loss or success with a single or a few individuals, will neither establish nor disprove theoretical assertions; nor will it justify the “I told you so” class, because successful, in arrogating to themselves all of human wisdom.—ED.]

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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._

THOMAS G. NEWMAN.

EDITOR AND PROPRIETOR.

CHICAGO, ILL., MAR. 23, 1881.

Frank Benton in the Far East.

Mr. Jones sends us the annexed extract from a letter of Mr. Benton’s, and the following appreciative compliment to the BEE 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. The AMERICAN BEE JOURNAL has 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.

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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 is _Apis indica_. The third race I do not believe is valuable, since it is a very small bee—smaller than _Apis indica_. _Apis dorsata_ is 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 about _Apis dorsata_. I call it _Apis 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 name _Bombera_. I start for Singapore by the French steamer “Yangste,” on January 31st.

FRANK BENTON.

=Circulars and Price Lists.=—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.

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☞ 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.

An Excellent Suggestion.

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:_