est relative of the deceased. If such a system is adopted, as a matter of course there will be a number of details necessary in its arrangement which it is useless here to enumerate. We now wish to briefly give a general idea.

It is estimated that there are seventy thousand bee-keepers in the United States. If a membership of ten thousand can be thus enrolled, a per capita tax of 25 cents would raise the sum to $2,500, or a 50 cent tax would raise the sum of $5,000. To obtain a life insurance policy of $5,000, a person who had arrived at the age of 30 years would have to pay an annual premium of about $80 or $85, in the non-participating plan. By the above plan, with a per capita tax of 50 cents there would have to be about 160 or 170 deaths, which is hardly probable before that sum would be paid out, yet even if it should reach that sum the instalments called for being in small sums the amount would scarcely be missed or felt.

ready to mate. It could not have been old age or injuries, else she would have ceased her laying to some extent at least.

Third. A queen introduced in haste last year, but not carefully, had her wings injured by the bees, one being gnawed half away. I immediately found the bees wanted to supersede her, and by keeping a close watch I kept her all O. K. until winter. She was very prolific, and this spring I found the same tendency to raise a young queen, but by close attention I kept her mistressof her home. There was never but one cell at a time to be found and it was invariably on the edge or end of a comb and distant from the main brood nest. On two occasions I found the young queen already hatched, but by removing brood and inserting empty brood combs and empty frames I prevented any effort at swarming. She is at this date (Oct. 12) apparently as vigorous as ever and has kept her colony up with brood, notwithstanding queen cells were

the past summer, from four of which I now have nice healthy queens. Was it not her wings that caused these attempts to supersede? This conclusion would seem irresistible in the last instance. J. E. R.

For the American Bee Journal.

give them.

In conclusion I will add that many benefits are to be derived from these associations. Those who attend them are brought into closer social relations, thereby promoting harmony and a more fraternal feeling, and those who cannot or do not attend will be amply compensated for their membership fee by a perusal of the proceedings, which shows the progress being made in this important branch of rural pursuit.

Yours truly, WM. J. ANDREWS,
President National B. K. Society.

For the American Bee Journal.

Queries.

ED. A. B. J.-On page 257, Oct. number A. B. J., you express a doubt upon the effect the clipping of a queen's wings has in producing a tendency to supersede her. And as experience is the only school of any value I give you my experience in three several instances which, to me, seem to throw light upon that subject.

First.-I caged a young queen just hatched until a sister was hatched and mated in the same hive. I then removed the fertile queen and allowed the bees to release the virgin queen. I saw her return from her bridal trip, and the bees seemed so hostile to her that I at once opened the hive and found her "hugged" and one wing so much twisted that she was unable to fly ever afterwards, but not otherwise apparently injured. I caged her for 24 hours and released her. She proved a prolific layer, but within a month was superseded.

Second. A two-year old queen being too heavy to go with her swarm was so injured in her wings upon being returned to the colony that she could not fly. After three frustrated attempts the bees succeeded in superseding her, but when I first missed her the combs were full of brood from eggs up to hatching stages, and a young queen

1st Question. -Dr. Dzierzon, lecturer.What influence, on the colonies of bees, has the last winter had, which has been long, rigorous and snowy; and what practical lessons did we gain by it ?

The lecturer cites the bee writer Ehrenfels, who estimates that in an average winter the loss of bees amounts to about 5 per cent. Last winter has made a great many more victims. It was so long, so cold, and so severe. An early cold is never so fatal as a late frost, and last winter was very cold in the latter part. Besides the quality of honey was not very good in spring. Honey from pine blossoms and honey-dew generate dysentery.

What practical lessons did we gain by the last winter? I answer that we have learned that it is not safe to leave too much honey in the hive for winter, either at the top or at the side of the brood chamber.

Prof. Geilen thinks that if bees have only heath honey to winter on, their life is endangered.

Prof. Lehzen is of an opposite opinion. Prof. Ilgen adds that honey from rape crystalizes easily and is not fit for winter.

Mr. Deichert thinks that honey-dew ought to be extracted from the hives and replaced by candy sugar.

Mr. Rabbow thinks that rape honey makes the bees thirsty.

Huber answers that this assertion was never proved.

Hilbert wants plenty of air, and gives his bees eggs with milk.

Kneip's bees had no rape or heath honey, yet he lost a great many colonies.

2nd Question.-Dathe, lecturer.-By what means can we increase our honey crop?

The first condition is a good pasturage, which don't exist outside of prairie lands. Then a favorable temperature; and by helping the strong stocks, by giving them empty combs as often as necessary, you will get much honey by uniting all the feeble colonies before the main honey crop; for a strong colony will give more profit than four small ones. The production of wax should be limited, by giving empty combs. He also recommended to put a weak colony in place of a strong one, and to add some brood comb.

3rd Question. - Dzierzon, lecturer.-The caging of the queen as a means of increasing the crop of honey. Is it to be recommended, and in what condition?

Dr. Dzierzon thinks that it is generally conceded that caging increases the honey surplus; but it is not convenient under all circumstances, for it stops breeding.

Dr. Asmuss speaks of sugar and eggs mixed and used as a speculative food.

Dr. Toliman asked Dr. Dzierzon how long a queen can be shut up in a cage without danger for her life.

Dr. Dzierzon does not like a long confinement, but he cannot mention the precise time.

Mr. Kimble spoke about giving air to the honey boxes.

Kneip asserts that Carniolian queens are very good layers and give a great many swarms, but that they give little honey.

Dr. Tollman advised to give a current of air through the honey boxes during June, July and August.

Ilgen thinks that the caging of the queen produces a great many queen cells.

Hilbert speaks against the caging of queens, and advises to make strong colonies by adding brood comb till late in the season. 4th Question-Walter, lecturer.-On the raising of queens, and gave a description of his nuclei.

5th Question-Lehzen, lecturer.

There are in the Province of Hanover

216,000 hives, and 32,000 in the cities. The Kingdom of Hanover ranks first in bee-culture, on account of the skill of its bee-keepers. The bee-keepers of Lunebourg cannot experience serious losses for they are always ready for every emergency. He who wishes to become a master in bee-culture must be an apprentice for at least two years or he will not be trusted with the management of an apiary. The main honey crops are from buckwheat and heather. This last flower blooms from August 7th to September 16. An abundant feeding in spring promotes an abundant swarming. The lecturer praises especially the common straw hive and the comb straw-hive of Graven- | horst.

Dr. Tollmann says that it is very detrimental to bee-culture, that the owners of large tracts of land don't care about bees, and when asked, answer: "We do not understand that business." They take care to give a shepherd to their flocks, and could as well have a bee-keeper for their bees.

Hilbert adds that it is not the man but the season which gives honey.

6th Question-Dr. Tollmann, lecturer.Can the bee-keeper influence comb building?

If I had to give a short answer I would say yes. But you would not be satisfied, so I will develop my answer. We already know that all the first swarms are much inclined

to build drone cells. On the other hand the after-swarms like to build worker cells. Now, if we give to a first swarm a large drone comb inside of its incipient worker comb, as these bees desire drone cells, they will more likely construct worker combs from top to bottom of the frames.

[These propensities of the swarms can easily be explained. A good, young, laying queen prefers to lay in worker rather than in drone combs; and as long as her laying goes on pari passu with comb building she will obtain from the workers none but worker comb. But the last part of July arrives; dryness cuts short all gathering of honey; then the workers cease to build combs. Yet the young hatching bees leave a great many worker cells, which remain empty as long as honey is scarce. Now August comes with its flowers. There is honey in the fields; the queen resumes laying, but she has all these empty cells to furnish with eggs. Then the workers, having no more the desire of the queen to satisfy, give place to their propensities, which prompt them to build drone combs. It is not the same with the after-swarms, which are always behind hand with their queen in the building of combs, and defer to her manifested desire for worker comb.

The remedy of Dr. Tollman is therefore quite illusive.--CH. DADANT.]

A swarm will build more readily if it is fed with liquid honey.

You know that Dr. Dzierzon proposed that experiments be made, to know if bees would build cells larger than drone cells, so as to give the means of emptying the combs without using the extractor. I gave my bees some of these comb foundations with cells larger than drone cells; it was while linden was blooming. The bees destroyed these foundations to make smaller cells. So in lieu of large cells there remained only drone cells and these cells were so irregularly constructed that they were unfit for drone brood, and could only be used as store cells.

7th Question - Dr. Dzierzon, lecturer.Which could be the simplest and most advantageous building of frames?

The lecturer said that the upper part of the frames could be of wood, and the three other sides could be made of tin.

Bastian likes bottomless frames. Winter prefers them made entirely of tin. Gunther objects that such frames would let the combs drop in winter.

8th Question-Dathe, lecturer.-What are the requisites in pastoral bee-culture to obtain good results?

[ Pastoral bee-culture means transporting bees to localities where they can find blossoms.-CH. DAdant.]

The lecturer said that the bee-keepers of Lunebourg have acquired in pastoral beeculture a skill which it is impossible to find elsewhere. He describes the hives-the most easily transported-and says that the hives of a uniform width are the most convenient for that kind of bee-culture.

9th Question-presents no interest.

10th Question-Dzierzon, lecturer.-How to obtain an amount of wax without cutting or breaking the combs?

Mehring feeds his bees with malt, and they produce a great deal of wax. This wax is not worked in regular cells but in the form of thimbles. Boiled malt should be prepared every day, for it sours very soon. Mehring has studied his method carefully, for his crop of wax is important.

Jenssen says some interesting things about the production of wax.

Kneip gives his bees white of eggs mixed with flour and sugar to produce wax. He mixes with one egg, two tablespoons of candy and three tablespoons of flour.

11th Question-Not interesting to us. 12th Question-Emile Hilbert, lecturer. The lecturer asserts that his foul-brood colonies were cured by a dissolution of salicylic acid. He used 50 grammes of salicylic acid in 8 times as much alcohol, he mixed 50 drops of this solution in 50 grammes of water. He injected this liquid into the foul cells, then he mixed a little of this medicine with honey and gave it to the bees. So the medicine was administered internally and externally. All his sick colonies were cured.

CH. DADANT, Translator.

For the American Bee Journal.

Introducing Queens.

Mr. J. H. Nellis seems to be dissatisfied with a few remarks that I have made in the September number of the A. B. J., on his method of introducing queens.

When I write something for the bee journals it is neither to make fun,nor for love of criticism or contradiction. It is because I think that what I have to say will increase the knowledge of bee-keepers, either by my experience or by provoking discussion.

On the subject of introducing queens, I disagree with Mr. Nellis, who is one of our customers. I am therefore grieved to have displeased him, though our discussion will serve to elucidate this important question. No method of introducing queens can boast of being successful in every circumstance. I have tried all the processes so far known, (those described by Mr. Nellis included) and given the preference to that which gave us the best results. Our experience on the subject is very extensive; we have introduced, this year, at least 300 queens; and have lost none during the months of May, June, July and August. In September and October our success was not so complete, our loss amounting to about 5 or 6. But our past experience proves that, late in the season, the result is always more doubtful, whatever method may be pursued.

We remove the queen to be replaced, and at once put the cage containing the queen to be introduced between two brood combs; we put no bees with the queen; after 36 or 48 hours we remove one of the corks of the cage, which has been put slanting, and one of its corks level with the top of the frames. in place of the removed cork we put a small piece of comb honey: the bees gnaw the comb and liberate the queen, who directly after her exit, is in her right place, on the brood comb, among the nursing bees, in a quiet colony; for our removing of the cork has not disturbed the bees, and was so

prompt that no robbers crept into the hive.

The method of Mr. Nellis needs nearly twice as much time as ours. In both methods we look for the queen to be replaced. Then with us the work is nearly done; for the opening of the cage is nothing, and is made without exciting the bees. With Mr. Nellis half the work remains to be done, for you must wait 9 days, then look for and destroy carefully all the queen cells. This takes time; for it is necessary to examine every comb, one after another; it being a common occurrence to find queen cells on combs where there is no other brood. Besides this, lifting of combs gives the robbers a good chance to invade the hive, and the life of the introduced queen is endangered; for she might be taken for one of the intruders and killed; especially if she is frightened, as is often the case. Mr. Nellis objects that the caging of the queens will not do for those that have been long confined. For many years we have used this method and, no other, to introduce our imported queens. These queens on their arrival are impregnated with the smell of dead and decaying bees, dysentery, sour honey, etc. The queens are tired and in the worst possible condition; yet during the past three years we have introduced more than 500 imported queens by this method, with the best results.

Mr. Nellis says that the bees will sometimes refuse to feed the queen. We have yet to see a case where bees have voluntarily left the queen alone. Even a stock not queenless, which you give a caged queen to nurse, will have amongst the angry workers who want to kill the strange queen, some good-natured bees who feed her. Let friend Nellis try it and report. At several times we gave as many as six caged queens to the same colony,all were fed by the bees.

We know only of two things that will cause the queen to die of starvation when caged. First, if the caged queen is introduced in a colony that has been much disturbed to find its queen, and where robbers have had time to take possession of the hive. The bees, troubled by the intruders, remain a long time before regaining their quietness, and may forget to feed the queen. If she is hungry, one hour without food may kill her. Second, if the stock is feeble, the weather cold, and if the bee-keeper has put the cage too far from the brood,the bees may desert the queen and let her starve. Both these evils can be avoided by putting the cage against sealed honey. It is of very rare occurrence that there is no sealed honey at the top of combs containing brood. The pressure of the cage against the honey will

open a few cells, where the queen can feed herself. We use nothing to keep our cages in place but the pressure of the combs between which the cages are placed.

Another objection of Mr. Nellis' is that bees will prepare queen cells when their queen is removed and another given them caged for 36 or 48 hours. Never have I noticed such an occurrence; if it happens it is very rare. The colony,as soon as recovered from the trouble caused by the raising of the combs, looks for its queen. They find the new queen, just in her place, not far from the brood. There are eggs in the hive, the workers cannot imagine that these eggs were not laid by the caged queen, and they are satisfied. But if the queen remains caged for 5 or 6 days, there are no more

eggs, no young hatching brood to nurse. Then the workers fear that the queen may be injured, and they begin to form queen cells.

It may be that the delay in the laying of queens introduced late in the season is caused by want of honey and the parsimony of bees when they find nothing in the fields, the introduction of queens is more risky at that time. Then a distribution of syrup previous to the introduction would give good results, if robbing be very carefully avoided while feeding. We will try it next year and report.

At the National Convention, as reported in the A. B. J., page 301, Mr. Nellis made several objections to our method. Six beekeepers took part in the discussion, Mr. Nellis being one of them; five sided with our method, and none reported bad results from its use.

Now I will say that most of the queens sent by us which have been killed or not well received by the bees, have been introduced in colonies which had been queenless for several days, and it is this ill-success which incited me to write the article criticised by Mr. Nellis. Had these unfortunate bee-keepers followed exactly the instructions of Mr. Nellis? I cannot say. But it should be remarked that a stock of bees after having remained queenless for a few weeks is very prone to kill the queen introduced.

Besides, I think that if you destroy the queen cell after 7 days, and introduce the queen, with the confidence that the queen will be accepted, because the bees have no material on hand to raise queen cells, you will find more than one disappointment. I have two experiments in support of this assertion.

We do not usually remove our best queens to raise queen cells from their brood. To do that we deprive a stock of its queen and exchange all its brood combs with bees, for a similiar number of brood combs taken from our selected colony. Of course the queenless colony has no other brood than the brood of our selected queen to raise queen cells from.

Now, according to Mr. Nellis, 7 days after our exchange of combs, the combs introduced in our best colony have no more brood fit to raise queen cells. But such is not the case. For one day we exchanged 4 combs of brood which had been introduced for 7 full days in a selected colony; and amongst the queens hatched from these combs some were black, entirely black; there being in the combs of the black colony from which they were first taken, some brood yet fit to be changed to queens. Now we wait 9 days before considering our combs safe to be exchanged a second time.

One day I received an order for 5 or 6 queens. I had a colony queenless for seven days. I thought that there could be enough queen cells to replace the queens ordered, and went and counted the queen cells the bees had prepared so as to advise my customers of the day I could send them. I opened the hive and found only 3 queen cells. I visited carefully all the combs, to see if there were no incipient queen cells, and could find none. On the tenth day I opened anew the same hive, to cut out the queen cells, and lifted the comb on which they were, when I saw on another comb 5 queen cells not yet sealed. Therefore, on

the 7th day these queen cells were not elongated yet, although their grubs had already received some royal food.

Now, let us suppose that on the 7th day we had destroyed the three queen cells and introduced a queen; this queen would probably have been killed, or would have been well received by some workers and roughly handled by others, and finally be killed. We would have accused the bees of being fickle; or the breeder of having furnished a poor queen, which was sick, as she died a few days after her introduction; or was a poos. layer, as she was superseded by the

From the above facts I take the liberty of advising bee-keepers who will persist in the method indicated by Mr. Nellis, to wait nine days before removing the queen cells; for there is but little security if these cells are destroyed on the seventh day.

CH. DADANT.

For the American Bee Journal.

A Visit to a Canadian Bee-keeper.

MR. EDITOR: I have just paid a visit to the land so much celebrated for "neutral tints" about the time of our national unpleasantness. Of course while in this land of enterprise and invention, I could hardly come back, without embracing such a splendid chance to exchange my old foggy notions for modern ways of doing things. Accordingly I wended my way to the home of the gentleman who paid me a visit, a short time drunk, got the impression that my hives set since, and not being quite over an American on posts, and that the surplus boxes were boxes of dirt, and that a patch of sunflowers in a neighbor's yard a half dozen yards away, were just going to meet him in the face.

Well, I found my friend sober this time, and in the apiary with a hive open, a comb out, peering into the cells with a telescope. Good morning," said 1.

Why, bless my soul, if here an't Boxhives," How do you do?"

"What seems to be the trouble?" said I. "I ain't getting any surplus this season,' said he, as I can't get my queens to face the north, when they back into the cells to lay."

What difference does that make?" said I.

"Well," said he, “Probably you couldn't comprehend it, but scientific bee-keepers, have found out, that if the queen's don't face the north with heads downward when they lay, the abdominal viscera, pertaining to the nonacular functions predominating over the lactial ligaments, are too apt to become emaciated and failure ensue.'

"Oh, you may laugh, but we KNOW, you see, for the proof of the pudding is chewing the string,' and we don't get surplus honey enough to put in tea."

"Of course you can never know much about apiculture, with box-hives."

"I see I am rather behind," said I; “but what is this?"

That is a Jewell Davis nursery." "Here is a curious apple pearer," I remarked.

That is a novice' honey extractor, my yankee frlend."

"Will it stand hard work?" I asked. "Bless your heart, yes," said he.