Part 1

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Italic text is denoted by _underscores_ and bold text by =equal signs=.

=Beeswax=, so it is said, is formed by one equivalent of starch changed into fat by losing one equivalent of carbonic acid and seven equivalents of oxygen.

=The Ohio Convention= will be omitted this winter. So we are informed by Miss Dema Bennett, the Secretary of the association. She says that the Executive Committee has so decided, but will hold one next winter. Due notice of time and place will be given in the BEE JOURNAL.

=Bro. Geo. W. Brodbeck=, of Los Angeles, Calif., has been appointed chairman of a committee to secure and put in place the bee and honey exhibit at the Midwinter Fair now being held in San Francisco.

It is proposed that a "honey pyramid," consisting of comb and extracted honey, be built, six feet square at the base, and 15 feet high. It is thought that 1,500 pounds will be required, and that this will exceed the famous Egyptian pyramids—in sweetness.

California bee-keepers are invited to help make the display, which, no doubt, they will do in a handsome manner.

=Bro. G. M. Doolittle= is writing a series of semi-political articles for the _Free Press_ of Skaneateles, N. Y. The first is on "The Tariff Wrong in Principle." Another will be on "The Tariff for Protection Wrong;" the next on "The Tariff for Revenue Wrong;" then will come two articles on "The Liquor Traffic," which will probably be followed by one on the financial situation of our country. If the reader desires to see all these articles, send 25 cents to the _Free Press_ for three months subscription, asking the publisher to begin with Bro. Doolittle's first article, then you will have them all. For ourselves, we can say that we are always interested in what Bro. Doolittle may have to say, whether it be on bee-keeping, or anything else.

☞ Bees never puncture fruit, and unless the skin has been broken by other insects or birds, they never molest it.—_Newman._

=Basis of Honey-Predictions.=—Finally, we think we have learned upon what basis certain honey-prophets base their prophecies about honey crops. It appears to be something like this:

The more rain and snow in November and December, the more honey there will be the following season; and if there is no rain or snow in the two months mentioned, there will be no honey.

The predictions are made upon the reports of the State Weather Bureaus, or the Weather Bureau reports in Washington, D. C. All who wish to test the reliability of such a basis for a honey-prediction, should get the weather reports, and begin to foretell for themselves, and thus not be required to await the movements of some so-called "honey-prophet."

We believe the above rule for prophesying is for linden, sourwood, and white clover honey.

Who knows but this may be the secret to which the Tennessee honey-prophet, Sam Wilson, has been so tenaciously hanging on? We shouldn't be a bit surprised if it should prove to be that very secret. If so, every bee-keeper can now be his own "honey-prophet"—whether he gets any honey or not.

=Mr. N. W. McLain=—once in charge of a United States experiment apiary, and an apicultural writer—has been visiting recently at Mrs. Atchley's home. Mr. McLain's address is Hinsdale, Ills.

=The Iowa Honey Exhibit= at the World's Fair, we have pleasure in illustrating and describing this week. No separate appropriation was made for the exhibit, but the Iowa Columbian Commission, recognizing bee-culture as one of the many agricultural pursuits of the State, desired that a creditable exhibit of honey and wax should be made in connection with their agricultural exhibits, and for that purpose appointed Bro. E. Kretchmer, of Red Oak, Iowa, on Jan. 14, 1893. This being too late to secure suitable honey for an exhibit from the crop of 1892, only enough was placed in the case at the beginning of the Fair to retain the space.

There being no money to buy the honey for a suitable exhibit, Mr. Kretchmer, by issuing several circulars, and making several personal visits to prominent apiarists, enlisted the aid of the Iowa bee-keepers, and nobly did they respond by loaning the honey that was exhibited in the Iowa case. Believing that much credit is due those who thus generously loan honey for exhibition purposes, we give the names of those who aided thus, and also what they contributed:

E. J. Cronkleton, of Dunlap—100 pounds of nice comb honey.

F. A. Beals, of Salix—480 pounds of extracted basswood honey, and 544 pounds of comb honey.

R. B. Arnold, of Foster—20 pounds of white clover comb honey.

T. C. DeClercq, of DeSoto—60 pounds of extracted clover honey, 60 pounds of extracted basswood honey, and 105 pounds of comb honey.

L. G. Clute, of Manchester—20 pounds of very nice comb honey, and this was honored with an award.

A. J. Duncan, of Hartford—50 pounds of extracted basswood honey.

F. Furst, of Adair—40 pounds of comb honey.

Oliver Foster, of Mt. Vernon—30 pounds of comb honey, and 60 pounds of extracted honey; which also received an award.

Thos. O. Hines, of Anamosa—91 pounds of comb honey.

Thos. Johnson, of Coon Rapids—22 pounds of comb, and 25 pounds of extracted honey.

Noah Miller, of North English—48 pounds of white clover comb honey.

J. H. Stanford, of Cherokee—20 pounds of aster honey, gathered in October, 1892.

J. L. Strong of Clarinda—100 pounds of comb honey.

J. H. Stephens, of Riverton—60 pounds of extracted basswood honey, and 43 pounds of comb honey.

Mont. Wyrick, of Cascade—100 pounds of extracted honey.

E. Kretchmer, of Red Oak—100 pounds of alfalfa comb honey, which received an award; also 200 pounds of extracted clover honey, which also received an award, and 175 pounds of clover comb honey.

Wm. Kimble, of DeWitt—77 pounds of comb, and 66 pounds of extracted honey, which received an award.

All of the extracted honey was displayed in 18 different vessels, holding from 4 ounces to 12 pounds each.

The principal display of extracted honey was near the east end of the case, arranged on cone-shaped shelving. This cone of honey reached a height of about 6 feet, and was 5 feet in diameter, while near the west end of the case a pyramid was erected, with extracted honey in different sized glass jars, with sheets of glass between the several tiers, and large vase-shaped jars filled with honey were dispersed within the case.

The arrangement of displaying the comb honey consisted principally in a bank near the center of the case, about 11 feet long, tapering from a base nearly 5 feet wide to a crest 6 feet high, surmounted with extracted honey in ornamental jars.

The front, or west end, display consisted of two columns of comb honey which supported the words "IOWA HONEY," built of comb honey; over which was shown a hollow tri-angle of fine comb honey, reaching to the top of the case.

In the east end of the case was displayed a tri-angle of comb honey in open sections, the three walls being 3×5 feet each, surmounted with extracted honey in vessels of various sizes and shapes. Near the edge of the ceiling of the case were suspended neat glass pails filled with extracted honey; while nice specimens of bright wax, in ornamental forms and shapes, were placed in every available nook and corner of the case.

To the untiring efforts of Bro. Kretchmer belongs the credit of securing and placing the very tasty exhibit of Iowa honey and wax. Few men would have undertaken the task, and carried it to as successful a completion, as he did. On another page of this issue of the BEE JOURNAL may be found a picture and also biographical sketch of Bro. Kretchmer—the man to whom Iowa bee-keepers now owe a debt of gratitude.

=Fine Weather= in Texas was reported by Mrs. Atchley on Jan. 12th. They had had no frost, and everything was green. Cabbage heads weighing 15 pounds were then standing in the gardens. It seems from this that things down there "stand on their heads," and grow just as well as if "right side (or end) up." Good for Texas!

ANSWERED BY DR. C. C. MILLER, MARENGO, ILL.

In this department will be answered those questions needing IMMEDIATE attention, and such as are not of sufficient special interest to require replies from the 20 or more apiarists who help to make "Queries and Replies" so interesting on another page. In the main, it will contain questions and answers upon matters that particularly interest beginners.—ED.

=Feeding Bees in the Cellar.=

What is the best way to feed bees when wintering in the cellar? I started in 1891 with three colonies, but have had bad luck the last two winters. I have 13 colonies at the present time—9 outdoors, and 4 in the cellar.

M. W.

Sterling, Ill.

ANSWER.—There is nothing better than to give them frames filled with honey. Carefully remove two or three of the empty combs till you strike the brood-nest—that is, till you come to a comb with bees on—then put in a comb of honey. Be sure that there are bees enough on the comb next to the honey so that there will be no doubt about their commencing on the honey right away, for there might be such a thing as their starving without ever touching it, unless it were pushed right under their little noses. If the first frame in the brood-nest has too few bees, it may be best to put the honey between this and the next comb with bees on. If the temperature of your cellar varies, don't take the time when it is coldest.

=Bees Dying in the Cellar.=

As I have always had bad luck in wintering bees out-of-doors, I thought I would winter them in the cellar this winter, so I have followed the AMERICAN BEE JOURNAL along, and studied closely all that has appeared in it about wintering bees in the cellar. I finally settled upon the way of one writer's plan, thinking it perhaps a good way; that is, to raise the hive from the bottom-board about an inch, by putting blocks under the corners. I believe he said that the bees would not come out if kept in the dark—that I have done, and I find every time I go to them, that the ground is covered with dead bees, and at this rate I think there will not be any left by spring. Why do my bees come out, if others do not?

My crop of honey last season was none, as usual, and I have had to feed to carry the bees through the winter.

E. H. H.

St. Johnsbury Center, Vt.

ANSWER.—Whatever may be the cause of your bees dying, you may rely on it that it is not likely to be caused by the raising of the hive as you have done. You can keep the bees from troubling the cellar-bottom by letting the hive down and shutting the bees in with wire cloth, for in that case the bees cannot get out, but they'll die just as fast as ever and perhaps a little faster, for if bees find they are fastened in, they are all the more eager to get out.

There must be something wrong with the bees or the cellar, and knowing nothing about it but that the hive is raised and the bees are dying, it is hard to make any kind of a guess as to the cause of the trouble. If the hive is spotted and daubed about the entrance, then diarrhea is at work. This may come from the quality of the food, or it may come from the condition of the cellar; 45° seems to be the degree of temperature that most agree upon as desirable, and if your cellar is much above 50° it is probably too warm. If below 40°, I would try heating it up, to see what the effect would be. Anything that quiets the bees down may be considered a move in the right direction, for undoubtedly bees that are coming out and dying in large numbers are not quiet.

It may be that the air of the cellar is bad—too close, or poisoned with decaying vegetables—but there isn't much use in going on guessing. The most that can be said is to try to have pure air at about 45°, and see whether the trouble continues.

=Increasing an Apiary—Sweet Clover.=

1. I have 12 colonies of bees, and I want to increase them. Would I better keep the bees confined to the brood-chamber till they swarm, or would it be best to give them access to one section-case? Or would I better increase by dividing?

2. Where can I get sweet clover seed, that Mr. Newman recommends so highly for bee-pasturage?

J. S.

Long, W. Va.

ANSWERS.—1. If you are anxious for increase and care little for honey, you will do well to put on no supers. Or, you might let part of them have one super each. You may find, however, that it will not make much difference.

If you have had no experience in that line, perhaps it will be best not to meddle much with dividing colonies, but let the bees swarm at their own sweet will; still, it will be good practice for you to make a few colonies by dividing. In any case, be sure to get some good text-book and study up thoroughly, then you will have a more intelligent idea of the whole business. Any points that are not clearly understood will be cheerfully explained in this department, unless you ask too hard questions.

2. Melilot, or sweet clover, seed can be had at any large seed-store. Many of the supply dealers who advertise in the BEE JOURNAL have it for sale.

=Carrying Out Dead Brood.=

I have a case of dead brood on my hands, which I do not understand. The bees are in a 10-frame hive that I bought of a neighbor last June. At this time they have a hive full of honey and young bees; they are carrying out young brood that is just ready to cap over. It does not appear to be foul brood, and I do not know what to call it. Any information on the subject would be appreciated.

M. F. B.

Indianapolis, Ind.

ANSWER.—It is possible that worms are at work, and the brood is thrown out where they have gnawed away the cappings or some part of the cells. Possibly a cold spell may have made the cluster contract so much as to leave the brood unprotected, when the brood was chilled and afterward thrown out.

=Capons and Caponizing=, by Edward Warren Sawyer, M. D., Fanny Field, and others. It shows in clear language and illustrations all about caponizing fowls; and thus how to make the most money in poultry-raising. Every poultry-keeper should have it. Price, postpaid, 30 cents; or clubbed with BEE JOURNAL one year, for $1.10.

No. 66.—Edward Kretchmer.

The subject of our sketch this week is another of the leading bee-keepers whom we had the pleasure of meeting often during the World's Fair last summer, and whom it was always a delight to see on our weekly visits to the apiarian department in the "White City."

The _Progressive Bee-Keeper_—the paper from which we take the subjoined sketch—says this of our Iowa friend:

Mr. Kretchmer is one of the pioneers of Western apiculture, a man of whom the bee-keeping fraternity may be proud, and one who has received many honors, both from those of his calling, and the public at large.

As mentioned on another page, it was Bro. Kretchmer who superintended the Iowa honey exhibit at the World's Fair, and his successful efforts are well attested by a glance at the illustration on page 104, and also by the awards secured. Incidentally, we may say that he is one of the largest manufacturers and dealers in bee-keepers' supplies west of the "Mississippi creek."

As we doubtless could add nothing further of interest regarding Bro. Kretchmer, we are glad to give the sketch referred to before, written by his 12-year-old daughter, Valencia, who is not only a member of the Iowa State Bee-Keepers' Association, but also of the North American. Here is what she writes about "her papa"—and she ought to know him pretty well:

Edward Kretchmer was born on the Atlantic ocean in 1844, on the American merchant vessel, "Louisiana;" and though of German parentage, he is an American by birth. He was brought up in Selicia, Prussia. His father was one of the prominent bee-keepers of his time, and the originator of the first rolls that manufactured "mid-rib," or our earlier form of comb foundation; which, by writers, is frequently confounded with that of Mehring's, whose invention presented the edge of a full thickness of comb, or the beginning of a top-bar. Hence the German translation, "foundation."

Mr. Kretchmer resided about five miles from Dr. Dzierzon, the world-renowned author and apiarist, and from whom, during a season's stay, he received the first lessons in advanced bee-culture. In 1858 he received a colony of Italian bees as a birthday present, and since that time, with the exception of three years, he has been a breeder of Italian bees.

He came to the United States, and to the State of Iowa, about the year 1859, and in the summer of 1860 purchased the first Italian queen that crossed the Mississippi river. In 1861 he entered the army. During his absence, his father sold the original colony to W. H. Furman, of Cedar Rapids, Iowa, the owner of the Langstroth patent for that State.

After his discharge from the army, he again engaged in bee-culture, and while a visitor at the Iowa State Fair, an incident occurred which brought him to public notice, as a well-informed bee-keeper. The incident referred to was this:

An oddly-dressed man, with bees in his hat, was selling little vials of scented water as a "bee-charm," taking dollars right and left, stating that with it bees were rendered peaceable enough to open a hive without being stung. Mr. Kretchmer remarked that he could do that without the drug. The drug vender promptly challenged the youthful-looking German, no doubt expecting him to "back down" from his statement, but on the contrary Mr. K. secured a little smoke, and promptly opened the colony of bees of another exhibitor, quickly found the queen, and exhibited the combs, covered with bees, to a multitude of spectators, without a sting. He was, in consequence thereof, requested by several to communicate his method through some of the journals, and he soon became a noted writer—writing both in the German and English language. In the older files of the AMERICAN BEE JOURNAL, his name may be found to numerous articles. He also issued "Winke Fur Bienen Zuchter"—"Intimation to Bee-Keepers;" "The Amateur Bee-Keepers' Guide," written in 1866, and "The Bee-Keepers' Guide-Book," the latter, a neat volume of 256 pages, issued in 1872.

In 1867 he removed from eastern Iowa to Coburg, Iowa, where he was postmaster for eight years, mayor of the town, and for two terms chairman of the Board of Supervisors for Montgomery county; he declining a re-election, and also the nomination for State Senator.

The demand for better shipping facilities induced him to remove his entire factory to Red Oak in 1890, which is his present residence.

He is a prominent Odd Fellow, and an enthusiastic Mason, being a member of the Blue Lodge, Chapter and Commandery, as well as of the Degree of Rebecca, and the Eastern Star, both of which he is now the presiding officer.

On the recommendation of the President of the Iowa Bee-Keepers' Association, he was appointed by the Iowa Columbian Commission to take charge of the Iowa honey exhibit at the World's Fair. This appointment he very reluctantly accepted about the middle of last January, 1893, after which time he labored for the success of that exhibit, without the hope of fee or reward, although a very unfavorable honey season made such an undertaking a difficult task. He is now conducting various experiments with new implements in bee-culture.

VALENCIA KRETCHMER.

CONDUCTED BY MRS. JENNIE ATCHLEY, BEEVILLE, TEXAS.

=Bee-Keeping and Poultry for Women.=

While I was looking over the index of the BEE JOURNAL for 1893, I came across the above subject, and as I have not time to turn back and find what was said on the subject, I wish to add a word more concerning poultry combined with bees for women.

Now, when we take a right view of our surroundings, and look at human nature a moment, we will see that but very few people wish to engage in a business that will give no rest at all, as it will sooner or later, become a drag, and we become tired, and long for recreation. Well, I for one do not count idleness recreation; but some other light work for rest of mind and body is sought for, and for women (and I will say men, too) I think poultry is first choice to go with bees. I know that it gives me rest and pleasure when tired of working with the bees, to get some grain and call up the chicks, and pet them awhile, and see to their wants—such as good, comfortable nests, roosts, etc.; and this kind of rest proves to me profitable, as well as rest and pleasure.

I know that too much business of any kind is worse than not enough business, and I think we should avoid having too many irons in the fire at one time, but I do believe that to get the best of enjoyment and pleasure, we should have something else to go with bees, whether it pays or not; and I believe that nearly all successful bee-keepers are lovers of flowers and poultry. Am I right?

I have a flock of fine Plymouth Rock chickens, and a bunch of White Holland turkeys, and, oh! how I do enjoy a rest sometimes among my pet chickens and turkeys!

JENNIE ATCHLEY.

* * * * *

=Out With a Load of Preachers.=

As I have promised to tell more about southwest Texas, I will proceed by saying that Charlie has just returned (Dec. 28th) with a wagon load of preachers that he carried out hunting two weeks ago. I will relate their success.

They killed 20 wild turkeys, 4 wild geese, and a number of ducks, squirrels, armadillo, and a lot of other small game, and one deer. Charles says that of all the lively crowds he ever saw, it is a wagon load of preachers. They made it a rule that the first man that entered camp with a loaded gun should cook a day, and soon they had plenty of cooks.

Charles says that he and one of the preachers went out one day together, and they espied a deer off 50 or 75 yards, and the preacher was to have first shot, then if he missed his aim Charles was to try it. The preacher's gun snapped, and failed to fire, and then Charles fired away and missed the deer. The preacher told him that he had the "buck ague," and so why he missed it. But Charles says that he was laughing at the hard Sunday-school words the preacher was saying because his gun failed to fire, so it turned out that neither of them bagged that deer.

All the preachers got lost, and lay out one night about 15 miles from camp. They had killed a deer, but could not carry it all. A large 12-spike buck would have weighed 200 pounds. Well, they took off the hams, and took turns about carrying it, and they got bewildered, and night overtook them. But about dusk they espied a log-cabin, and went to it, but found no one at home, and from the best they could make out, it was the home of one of the "fence-riders," or where one of the guards lived that looked after the ranch to keep fence cutters and hunters out. The preachers were so nearly famished and tired that they remained all night at the cabin, and no owner came that night, but the preachers found some dried beef and some flour and black molasses, so they were fixed, and soon filled their empty "bread-baskets," as they called them.