Part 4

=No Surplus nor Increase.=—This has been a hard winter on the bees. I think all that were not protected and those partially protected will die. There was no surplus nor increase here worth mentioning, last summer.

JAMES NIPE.

Spring Prairie, Wis., Feb. 26, 1881.

=Great Loss of Bees.=—The bees in McDonough county that were wintered on the summer stands are nearly all dead. Those in double-walled hives, and those packed in straw, dying the same as those in single-walled hives. My loss is about 95 out of 100.

S. H. BLACK.

Sciota, Ill., March 5, 1881.

=Bees in Prime Condition.=—I have 110 colonies in the cellar in prime condition. Nearly all bees out-doors are dead.

C. H. DIBBERN.

Milan, Ill., Mar. 9, 1881.

=Paris Green.=—It is not very good for bees, as I had an opportunity last spring to find out. I have in my garden a 10 year old plum tree that never perfected any fruit and knowing that Paris green would kill bugs I thought it might also kill the “little turk,” or Curculio. Acting upon the suggestion I mixed some Paris green in a watering can and put up through the branches of the tree a long ladder, from the top of which I sprinkled the whole top of the tree just before dark, and a day or 2 before the bloom went off. Next day afternoon as I was passing through my bee yard I was very much surprised to see on the ground a good many bees in a dying condition which I could not account for. I came at last, however, to the conclusion that they had gone to the plum tree in the morning before it was dry and partaken of the poison. I lost a good many bees but I have learned this lesson, “never to put Paris green on trees when in bloom;” still I am satisfied that by sprinkling or syringing 2 or 3 times, when the plum is in its incipient state, it will insure a crop. Who will try this spring and report?

GEO. THOMPSON.

Geneva, Ill.

=Making Progress.=—Although behind some other States, yet we have made some progress. Bees seem to do best in the newer counties, where the timber has not been cut off. It might be supposed that the northern portion of this State was not favorable for bees, but Aroostook county, in the extreme north, produces nearly as much honey as all the other 15 counties, and the honey is put up in the most marketable shape; but I fear the bees are not protected as they should be in this northern climate. We have had a cold winter, and the loss has been very great. I winter my bees in the cellar with success, and obtain much pleasure, as well as profit, from the time I devote to them. The Weekly BEE JOURNAL is my constant companion.

ISAAC F. PLUMMER.

Augusta, Maine.

=Not Discouraged.=—Should I be persuaded to give up the business of keeping bees for profit, I do not know what I could find that would pay better. I have 25 colonies in good condition and every one in this town wants honey, and I shall try to supply it to them.

CHARLES FOLLETT.

Osage, Iowa.

=Lost but 4 out of 273.=—My bees are wintering well; I have lost but 4 out of 273 colonies, wintered on the summer stands, packed with sawdust and planer shavings. It has paid me to advertise in the Weekly BEE JOURNAL. I have all the work I can do.

A. E. MANUM.

Bristol, Vt., March 9, 1881.

=Dead Bees in the Cells.=—I took 6 combs out of 2 hives in which the bees died, that had plenty of honey in the 2 outside frames. In every cell of the 3 middle frames is a dead bee. I tried to pick them out with a pin, but gave it up for a bad job. Is there a way to clean them? Can I use the combs again next spring? Please let me know in next JOURNAL.

JOHN W. STURWOLD.

Haymond, Ind., March 11, 1881.

[You will find our method given in answer to Mr. Phillips, page 86 of this number. The combs can be used again this spring.—ED.]

=Progressing.=—My bees are getting along well. I have lost 3 weak colonies that were left unprotected; but it was my own fault. A hive peddler was in this section this winter selling hives without frames. I showed him my hives, similar to the Langstroth, and he took the measure of it, and said I was “well fixed” for bee-keeping. He never said a word about selling his hive to me. I do not know how many he sold.

JOHN BOERSTLER.

Gilead, Ill., Feb. 26, 1881.

=Moldy Combs, Etc.=—Having lost a few colonies of bees the past winter, I wish to make the best use of the combs left, as they are mostly new. Some are moldy, what shall I do with them? Some of the cells are full of dead bees, how shall I get them out? How can I keep the moths out of the combs until I can use them? An answer to these questions through the Weekly, at an early day, will no doubt benefit many new beginners.

O. PHILLIPS.

Emporia, Kans., March 2, 1881.

[When your colonies are strong in the spring, give the moldy combs; they will soon utilize them, if not given too fast. The combs with dead bees should be kept in a dry place, and after the bees have become dried and shrunken, you can easily shake them out of the cells. If moths get in the combs, treat them in the manner suggested by Mr. Doolittle, page 74, BEE JOURNAL of March 9th. One pound of sulphur, however, to each 100 cubic feet, seems a large amount; this would require 10 lbs. for a room 10 feet square. We have had no experience in sulphuring combs, but think 1 lb. would be sufficient for 1,000 cubic feet, in a close room.—ED.]

=Palestine Bees.=—We are having a hard winter on bees: they have not had a fly since last Oct. 28. Bees that were here kept in old-style boxes are nearly all dead, many that were packed in chaff are dead or have the dysentery, and are flying out on our coldest days, and of course never return. My bees that are in chaff tenement hives are in the best condition of any I have seen. My Palestine bees are standing the lonely confinement in the hives better than the Italians; they are quieter, and do not fly out so much and get lost on the snow. I much like the Weekly BEE JOURNAL, and when I got the JOURNAL of Feb. 2d out of the office I felt like grasping the hand of the Editor, and having a shake, but alas it was not flesh and blood, but a very good likeness. Many thanks for giving us a chance to view it.

I. R. GOOD.

Napanee, Ind., Feb. 2, 1881.

=Honey as Medicine.=—I wish to compile for publication an exhibit of the medicinal qualities of the various kinds of honey, and I shall be obliged for any facts sent me on the subject. Chaff-packing seems to be ahead here this winter, but I notice a great difference in the wintering capacity of several colonies. All of mine which were devoted to the production of honey are doing well, but I have lost by excessive early breeding, and some that were used to rear queens. They had no flight for 4 months.

T. L. VON DORN.

S Ave., Omaha, Neb., March 9, 1881.

=Gathering Pollen.=—Last season proved a splendid one for bees. Each colony averaged 72 lbs. of surplus sweet honey, and from 20 to 40 lbs. of bitter. My bees are blacks, and to-day are out gathering pollen and some honey.

E. P. MASSEY.

Waco, Texas., March 1, 1881.

=Anxious for Spring.=—The Monthly was good, but a more frequent visitor, in the shape of the Weekly, is better. It brings fresh news, ready for use. I spent an hour in my cellar, last evening, examining my bees. I was heart-sick at the condition in which I found them. I had about 40 colonies in the fall; at least one-half of them are dead. I have an excellent cellar, especially for my bees, and have not lost a colony before for 5 or 6 years. I began to think that losing bees in winter was an unnecessary thing, but I see that I was mistaken, for my bees did not lack for care in any particular. The death of mine is from dysentery. The small amount of honey collected in this vicinity last year was a very poor quality, as is seen from the fact that it has not candied during the winter. I extracted about 300lbs, and put it away in glass jars, and it looks like so much New Orleans molasses. My friend, Mr. Bischoff, had about 40 colonies in the fall; all are now dead but 6. They were left on their summer stands. Mr. B. is lonesome and wants my bees put in his apiary next summer to keep him company, but it remains yet to be seen if I will have any left to keep up a humming in my own apiary. I met Mr. Gardener, of this city, the other day, and he reports all of his 16 colonies dead. Several other bee-men have told me that but few, if any, of their bees are alive. Winter still holds on with an iron grasp. Our bees so much need a cleansing flight. I am anxiously waiting for some warm days.

I. P. WILSON.

Burlington, Iowa, March 4, 1881.

=Died of Disease.=—I have lost about all the bees I had, yet I love to hear of others' success in the bee business, and read of others' way of management; but I am convinced that my bees died of some disease, the same as Mr. Carver reported from Greencastle, Indiana, although bees have not died so universally throughout this country as mine have. I have the hives and combs left, with lots of honey in them; these I can sell for something, perhaps, or melt them into wax, or get a few colonies of bees to begin anew, but it is very poor encouragement to put much stock in bees, the way it looks now.

D. W. FLETCHER.

Lansingville, N. Y., Mar. 4, 1881.

=Cyprians Ahead.=—Bees doing well; they are commencing to work on plum-bloom; they have brood in all stages. In an average of over 30 colonies of Cyprians, they are farther ahead in brood-rearing than the Italians. The latter have had the same chance as the former. Am very busy now, preparing for queen-rearing.

J. H. P. BROWN.

Augusta, Ga., March 2, 1881.

=An Early Season.=—I see from reports in our new Weekly JOURNAL that bees are dying throughout the north and west more than usual, from short stores and intense cold. I may say that we have had an unprecedented cold winter here, the thermometer at one time ranged, for a few hours, as low as 18° above zero, but soon struggled back to about 2∙5° below. Last fall our bees gathered a full supply of fall honey, and none will die from cold or starve out that are worth saving. The winter being wet, white clover is coming out very thick over the ground; maple, elm, plum and wild cherry are now in bloom, as well as heads of white clover that are pushing out their lovely forms to the genial sun. Bees usually work on white clover here by the 10th of this month; but this year our honey season will be much later. May the “new departure” prosper and lead us forward to perfection.

J. W. WINDER.

Thibodaux, La., Feb. 10, 1881.

[Mr. Winder enclosed us some white clover blossoms of this year's growth. The sight of the modest flowers is refreshing, while from our office windows the earth looks bleak and gloomy with its deep mantle of snow.—ED.]

=Gone back on him.=—I had 30 colonies of bees—most of them Italians—last fall, in Langstroth hives, packed in this way: The ends of my hives are double-walled, and the sides are made double in winter by the use of division boards, in place of 2 frames, leaving but 8 frames. I then use a crate made of laths, which sets down around the hive so is to leave a space of about 8 inches for packing between it and the hive on the sides and back end. This space I fill with a packing of fine straw and leaves mixed, and packed hard when just a little damp. Then strips of board are fitted so as to protect the top of the straw from rain or snow; next a blanket over the frames and 6 inches of chaff over that, protected by the cap, in which are openings, so as to give free circulation of air above the chaff. The entrance is kept open enough for a good supply of air. In this way I have heretofore had good success in wintering on summer stands; but this winter it has gone back on me. Until last Saturday, the 5th inst., there has been no day warm enough for bees to fly for some months. Many did come out, even on the coldest days, but of course could live but a few moments out of the hive. I let them entirely alone, except to see that the entrances were free, until day before yesterday, when it was warm enough for bees to fly. I looked them over and found only twelve of them alive; only 4 of these are in good condition, the others are weak and the hives a good deal soiled. Now, what puzzles me is this. They were all, apparently, very nearly alike last October, and now 4 of them are in perfect condition while all the others were bad. Now, why the four exceptions out of 30? I am glad for them, but would like to understand the reason. Can you tell us, Mr. Editor? They have evidently not been cold, and have had plenty of honey. In the dead ones I have examined I find brood in a hatching state, with half or more of the cells empty, indicating that young bees had hatched. I attribute the disaster to long confinement, but why the 4 exceptions? I say amen to all the compliments you publish from your subscribers for the BEE JOURNAL.

D. K. BOUTELLE.

Lake City, Minn., March 7, 1881.

[Probably during some of the milder days of winter the bees became scattered in their hives, the weather suddenly changed, and they perished before they could form their cluster on honey, and thus starved.—ED.]

=From Florida.=—The BEE JOURNAL is at hand; we do not know how we could do without it. The past has been a very good honey season here. We have 255 colonies of bees in Langstroth hives. Some are Italians—we like them as honey-gatherers, but they are crosser than our natives. We obtained 850 gals. honey, and 500 lbs. wax. The latter we obtained from about 90 hives which we transferred. We think apiculture will pay here with good management. We extracted from one colony 32 Langstroth frames well filled with honey. Our apiary is located on a “gum” swamp, 5 or 6 miles wide and 15 or 20 miles long, which is our main honey source, and blooms from April 15 till May 15; we also have many other honey producing flowers. We have a vine which grows in the swamps and yields a great deal of amber-colored honey. We inclose a sprig—please give the name.

ALDERMAN & ROBERTS.

Wewahitchka, Fla.

[The vine you send is commonly known as snow vine, and is quite abundant in several of the Southern States.—ED.]

=Bee Feeding.=—I have thus far used the “bag feeder,” of our friend Prof. Cook, with this addition: I have a long tin tube, shaped like the handle to a water-dipper, long enough to reach through the bag of chaff and empty into the bag; then, with the aid of a funnel, I can daily place the warm food within reach of the bees without disturbing them or letting out the heat—so precious in early spring to a depleted colony. Have never tried the Professor's “Perfection”—thought I saw objections to it. If any of our more experienced bee-keepers have devised a “better way,” please tell me through “our” JOURNAL.

E. M. R.

Flint, Mich., March 4, 1881.

=Introduced a Queen.=—Bad luck to bees in this valley of the Ohio. Of 32 colonies in Langstroth hives, 18 now remain, and the 4th day of March a perfect “blizzard” all day, so I fear I will lose more from spring dwindling. I found, one day in February, all the bees dead but two, and the queen nearly gone, in one hive, but plenty of honey. I had a queenless colony, and laid these 3 bees on the frames to see if they would come to life; they became warm and crept down among the bees. The next warm spell I looked, and the yellow queen was safe among the black bees. A novel way to introduce a queen in February.

G. W. ASHBY.

Valley Station, Ky., March 5, 1881.

=Loss 88 per cent.=—The loss of bees in Wayne and Randolph counties is heavy—about 88 per cent. Our bees had a fly Feb. 26th, the first for 111 days. We have reports from 1400 colonies (November count) and March 1st finds them all dead but 171. The Italians have come through better than the blacks. Those packed in chaff on summer stands have wintered better than any other mode in this locality. There is a great call for bees here by parties that are wanting to start again. Our loss is 4 out of 15 colonies, all in chaff hives.

M. G. REYNOLDS.

Williamsburg, Ind., March 7, 1881.

=First Year's Experience.=—Bees done poorly here last season. There was an abundance of bloom, but too much rain. I sowed 1 acre of buckwheat; while this lasted my bees stored more honey than at any other time in the season; I think it an excellent honey plant. Pumpkin blossoms yield considerable honey; would it pay to plant them all over a field of corn? My bees are packed in chaff, and they are all in good condition at present. They have not had a flight since the 1st of Nov. Success to the Weekly BEE JOURNAL; I like it better than the Monthly.

WM. HAGAN.

Holly, Mich., Jan. 18, 1881.

[Pumpkin blossoms yield a rich, but strongly flavored honey; we think the pumpkins would be remunerative for their cultivation to feed to stock, and that the honey obtained from the blossoms would be a net profit.—ED.]

=Summer a long way off.=—This winter has been, so far, the most severe known for many years in this part of the State. Snow-storm has followed snow-storm, and cold spell has followed cold spell, until now there is more snow on the ground than we have had altogether for 6 or 7 years. And the poor bees! how have they fared through all the snow and cold? Badly, I fear from the reports I hear every few days; but so far as heard from, where they were properly cared for, either in cellar or on summer stands, they are doing quite well; but summer is a long way off.

HARRY G. BURNET.

Blairstown, Iowa, March 5, 1881.

=A Little Discouraged.=—I am a little discouraged this spring. I put 54 colonies into winter quarters last fall and now have but 23, and some of them are weak. Those in my bee-house suffered the worst. I had 20 colonies on the summer stands, packed with cut straw, and lost 6 of them by dysentery and starvation. If bees are strong in numbers and have plenty of honey, I can see that there is no danger of loss. Last season it was so dry here that the white clover dried up, and the bees could get but little honey, and what they did gather was very dark. I am glad to receive the BEE JOURNAL weekly now; the news comes and seems so _fresh_. I hope it will be well supported.

J. W. RIKIE.

Mont Clair, N. J., March 6, 1881.

=Why Did They Die?=—Last fall I put my bees into a dry cellar; some of them had 75 lbs. of honey, and in 4 or 5 weeks there were many dead bees. I cleaned them up but in a few weeks more they all died; what was the cause of this? Over 80 per cent. of all the bees in this vicinity are dead.

R. L. HOLMAN.

Springfield, Ohio, Feb. 19, 1881.

[Your colonies were strong, had a large quantity of honey, and the cellar was too warm; they commenced breeding, became uneasy, and left their hives from disquietude.—ED.]

=Wintered Without Loss.=—I packed 41 colonies and they are now all living, and nearly all appear to be in good condition. My bees are flying to-day. Many bee-keepers in this country have lost heavily, and are much disheartened. I hope to be able to make a good showing when I report again, say about May 1.

J. J. ROE.

Buchanan, Mich., March 9, 1881.

Champlain Valley, Vt., Convention.

This Association held its winter meeting at Brandon, Vt., on Jan. 20, 21, 1881. Pres. Crane in the chair. Col. H. H. Merritt gave an address of welcome, to which Pres. Crane replied, stating the object of the meeting and giving a brief narration of the ancient history of the honey bee, and of its improved management in the present age.

Mr. A. E. Manum said success depended on the man and circumstances. The bee-keeper should be a person of even temperament—not easily excited—should be somewhat acquainted with botany; and recommended small section boxes, to hold not more than 2 lbs. Everything should be kept ready and in order. He gave an estimate of produce in a good season with Italian bees, and also a poor season like the past.

Mr. O. C. Wait, of Georgia, said that experience had shown that bee-keeping was no mystery or sleight of hand, but a clear, plain, practical science. Bee-keepers were an intelligent, enterprising class of men; men of progress. No intelligent man would destroy his bees.

After some discussion Mr. Manum exhibited some of his honey boxes, and explained their uses and advantages.

Bees were advantageous in the orchard, and to the buckwheat crop, as he had satisfactorily demonstrated. Some doubts had been expressed to the value of the red clover blossom on account of the inability of the bee to reach the nectary; Italians have the advantage over black bees, because they are provided with greater length of proboscis.

Pres. Crane said he had noticed bees working in red clover early and late in the season; bees will not work where they get no honey.

In the evening, after a few preliminaries, Mr. E. A. Hasseltine read a sensible and witty poem on “Prospects and Retrospects,” which was well received by the audience.

The talk on Sweets, by Prof. Seely, was a learned dissertation on the chemical properties and qualities of the various kinds of sweets that are offered in our markets. He exhibited over 20 different kinds of sugar; spoke of the various substances from which sugar was extracted, as trees, plants, roots and fruits; some specimens would solidify sooner than others; sugar from cane, corn, beets and maple, were all of the same chemical formation.

J. E. Crane spoke on the Individuality of Bees; there was a marked difference in the character of colonies, some were industrious, others not so; some prefer some kinds of flowers, others reject them; Italians dislike buckwheat, while black bees work well on it. Every colony has some peculiar character. He showed several samples of honey from different flowers, and explained their various qualities, and also exhibited specimens of bees from the Holy Land.

Dr. F. Bond said that the Creator had placed the sweets in flowers to attract the bee, to carry out nature's laws, by carrying the fertilizing pollen to the unfertile flower, and thus showing a wise and beneficent Providence.

On Friday, Jan. 21, after some preliminary business, the following were elected officers for the ensuing year: President, J. E. Crane; Vice-Presidents, H. L. Leonard, E. P. Wolcott, E. A. Hasseltine; Secretary and Treasurer, Hon. T. Brookins.

Mr. O. C. Wait spoke of the bad condition he found honey in the Boston market, and of the manner of awarding premiums at fairs.

Mr. Manum remarked that it was important to have good queens, he advised all to raise their own; old queens were best to rear queens from, say 2 years old or more; it is best to rear queens in warm weather, when honey is plenty.

The question “how to prevent bees from dwindling” Mr. Leonard answered thus: In this case as in all other ills to which bee-keepers are heir to, keep the colony strong and healthy. Mr. Leonard read an essay on “Bee-culture for Women,” giving instances of marked success. He said women in Vermont were as capable and had as good facilities as in any part of the country, and would succeed as well, if attended to.

Adjourned to meet at Bristol, Vt., in May next.

T. BROOKINS, _Sec._

Local Convention Directory.

1881. _Time and Place of Meeting._