American Bee Journal

W. F. CLARKE, EDITOR.

CHICAGO. JUNE, 1874.

What is Honey?

Gen. D. L. Adair is reported to have said at the North American Bee-Keepers' Convention: "Strictly speaking, there is no distinct substance that can be called honey. The bees gather from flowers, from the different sweets known as honey dews, and from the saccharine juice of fruits and plants, substances that consist chiefly of sugar in some forms, mixed with other secretions and essential oils, and store it in the comb cells, and it is called honey. It necessarily varies widely, depending on the source from which it is derived. All honey is sugar containing vegetable substances in solution with it. Sugar in all three of its forms is, in a general sense, the sweet principle of plants, fruits and trees. Canesugar, fruit-sugar and what is known as grape-sugar, vary but slightly in their constituent elements, and can be chemically converted into each other. They differ only in the proportion of hydrogen and oxygen, or the element of water. Bees will gather and store up anything that sugar in any of its forms are mixed with, so as to give a decided sweet taste; and while it may be true that in the process of gathering and transferring to the hive, no chemical change takes place, they mechanically change its taste by its absorbing the scent peculiar to the hive, and often change its consistency by a process of evaporations of any excess of water."

Gen. Adair is a very scientific and successful apiarian, and we can usually endorse his views to the full. But he is occasionally hyper-philosophical, and pushes science too far. It may be quite true that sugar is the basis of all sweets, honey included, but it is convenient, to say the least to have distinctive terms for the various saccharine substances, though the one luscious principle pervades them all. Only confusion of ideas can come to the popular

mind, by forcing too much philosophical accuracy into common modes of speech. Thus, we call one form of sweet, molasses; another, syrup; and still a third, honey. What is the good of arguing that there is no distinct substance that can be called molasses? It is the popular and commercial name of a liquid sweet obtained from the West Indies, having a peculiar flavor, and capable of being distilled into rum. Yet we all know that its main constituent is sugar, or the saccharine principle. So of honey. It is a liquid sweet, gathered from a thousand flowers, acted on in some peculiar way by the honey-gatherers, and possessing a flavor and properties peculiar to itself. But mankind were pretty well aware, before Gen. Adair delivered his philosophical disquisition, that honey was mainly composed of sugar.

On

There is a question as yet unsettled among scientific bee-keepers, to which Gen. Adair seems to give the go-by altogether. He says, "It may be true that in the process of gathering and transferring to the hive, no chemical change takes place" in the sugary stores collected by the bees. the other hand, it may be true, as many suppose, that a chemical change does take place, and that the formic acid in the body of the bee so acts on the gathered sweet as to transform it essentially. There may be more than an influence mechanically exerted by the odor of the hive. Each hive is generally considered to have its peculiar scent, and hence in joining swarms or introducing new queens, it is good policy to introduce smoke or some perfume to confound the bees for a time, until the new colonists or newly-introduced queen come to smell like the rest. But honey, if gathered from the same flower, is all alike, no matter in what hive it is stored. At any rate, human senses cannot detect any difference. It is therefore quite as probable that the change is chemical, as that it is merely mechanical. On the whole, we are inclined to think that the great majority of people will persist in believing that there is such a thing as honey. If they should come to a different opinion, and conclude that it is mere sugar, "only that and nothing more," we fear it will spoil bee-keeping, and that it will no longer be possible

Voices from among the Hives.

ARCHIBALD SMITH, Roswell, Ga., writes: "The season here, although mild, has been so wet since January, that bees have hardly got a living; notwithstanding the fruit bloom was very abundant."

JOHN DAWSON, Pontiac, Mich., writes:"This has been a poor spring for bees. They wintered well enough till March, but there have been many days that were just warm enough for bees to fly and get lost. I have known bees to gather pollen from the gray willows, on the 7th and 8th of March; but it was April 20th, this year, before any were taken in, and we have had frosty nights and cold, bleak days ever since. The buds on fruit trees have hardly begun to swell yet."

W. A. B., Bridgeport, Ct., writes:-"The best thing I have ever tried for ee-stings, is to first pull out the sting, and then take a small tube, the end of a hollow key for instance, and firmly press round the sting for a short time. The reasons for its action, I think, are two: first, it presses out the poison; second, it bruises the flesh so as to partly stop its spreading. It must be done very quick to do any good. I have tried it, and a good many other remedies, and this has done the best."

H. W. WIXOм, Mendota, Ills., writes:"The past winter has been easy on bees, but the spring has been very rough. I have lost nearly one-third of mine since the middle of March. There has been so much high and cold wind it seemed to prevent them from breeding, and the old bees are thinning out very fast. Those that are left will be very weak. The case is about the same generally throughout this section of country. It is now raining and cool, and it is hard to tell what the final result will be."

HENRY CLAUSSEN, Mishicott, Wis., writes: "My bees have wintered well. I put them into the cellar Nov. 5, seventy-one in number, and carried forty-two of them out April 2, and the rest April 8. I lost only one hive, because they had nothing more to eat. Three colonies lost their queens. One was an old queen, but the other two were raised last summer. My bees are all in good condition, although the weather has been cold almost all the time since I took them out. On April 20 we had a snow storm; the snow was lying about a foot deep, and a good deal of it is lying on the ground yet (April 15). Some of my colonies have brood in four, and some in five frames. I hope for a good season.'

E. A. SHELDON, Independence, Iowa, writes:-"My nineteen stands of bees that I put in cellar on Nov. 18, were taken out April 17, all alive and in splendid condition, save two that died for want of bees enough to keep up natural heat. They had plenty of natural stores. The seventeen that are left are working at a rapid rate, bringing in both honey and pollen, although no fruit trees are in blossom yet. They have gathered from the willow, mostly, of which we have an abundance here. I wintered in a dry cellar, with caps off, board raised, and front entrance

open full size. The thermometer ranged from 32 degs. to 40 degs., generally from 34 degs. to 38 degs. Occasionally I raised it to 50 degs. by artificial heat. They were quiet all winter, and had no disease or mouldy combs, are now about one-half full of brood. I use the Gallup frame hive. I have used other sizes, but like this best."

WM. MORRIS, Sidney, Iowa, writes:-"The past winter has been a long one with us, but rather mild, and bees seem to have consumed more honey than usual. The spring is very backward, and now (April 20th) the ground is covered with snow. We have had two days since the elm came out in bloom, that the bees gathered pollen. With that exception, they have been unable to get any forage, except flowers fed them. I am trying to keep bees, and hitherto have had reasonable success, up to within the last two weeks. Since that time, the conceit has gone from me, I went into winter quarters, with twenty-seven colonies. They were in the Champion hive, part of them in the size containing eight frames, and part ten. In the fall I removed to the cellar twelve colonies, part in the large, and part in the small hives. In February, those in the cellar were all in good condition, but those on their summer stands were more or less affected with the dysentery. On examination I found every small hive affected, but no signs of dysentery in a single instance among the large ones. A few warm days seemed to set all right, and I was pleased at having come through the winter without losing a colony, but my rejoicing was of short duration. About two weeks ago the weather was pleasant, and the bees flying, when to my surprise four colonies left their hives. We succeeded in settling one, but the other three went "where the woodbine twineth." I examined the deserted hives, and found all nice and clean, and plenty of honeybrood and eggs. It is a mystery to me what caused it. At first I feared that it was caused by having previously examined them to see if all was right, but my neighbors suffered loss in the same manner. They had a large colony in a hive, which came out and settled on a tree. They knocked the hive to pieces and transferred the comb with what honey they could save, to a movable comb hive, and then hived the bees in it. They went to work immediately, as if nothing had happened. The remaining honey in the hive weighed 40 lbs. So neither disturbance nor want of honey could be the real cause. Now what I desire to know is: Are large hives less liable to be affected with dysentery, than small ones? And what is the cause of bees leaving their hives, stores and brood, as ours have done? Can some of your numerous correspondents give the desired information?"

D. D. PALMER, Eliza, Ill., writes:-Wishing to procure a basket-full of new chips, I left New Boston at 4 p. m. April 16, in a covered buggy drawn by the iron horse and reached Keokuk at 9: 15 p. m., crossed the Mississippi on the iron bridge, and on awaking next morning I found myself at Hamilton, Ill., and within about two miles (bee-line) of Ch. Dadant and Son. According to directions I followed up the creek, occasionally stopping to view nature's works, which in this place is grand and picturesque, till I came to a town composed of bee-hives of various colors and arranged in rows under the shade of a natural grove. At the upper end of Main Street and near to the above mentioned town is the residence of the proprietor; to which I hastened my steps and found myself in time for breakfast. Bees and bee-keepers was the topic of conversation during which I was shown photographs of a few apiaries and of many eminent bee men of Europe and America, besides an endless number of circulars of bees and hives. Every letter and circular received finds its appropriate place for preservation.

I have formerly thought, when reading an

article translated from some foreign bee journal that, we should be very thankful to Dadant and others for that tedious task; but finding that C. P. Dadant can take a French or Italian journal and translate in English as fast as we usually read, I have concluded to give him credit for his ability instead of a tedious task. C. P. Dadant announces that it is warm enough to open hives; we arm ourselves with bee hats, made by attaching bobonette to a straw hat and at the lower end is a piece of elastic which fits around the neck, a shallow box with a handle in the middle and divided into suitable apartments in which is carried the different articles needed in the apiary.

A number of hives are to be fixed for shipping and now for the modus operandi. Each hive is examined to see if pure and if strong enough to fill the order. To secure the frames an ingenious bent wire is used at the bottom, it being one of Ch. Dadant's inventions, next the frames are properly spaced and nailed with brads, then the honey-board is nailed and cover etc. I saw several queens and they were very uniform in size and color. They are well located for shipping facilities, but the honey resources are not plenty when compared with Sweet Home. In all things they have system and order. The hives are all numbered behind and to each is nailed a tin black-board holder, the black-board being about 3x4 inches, having upon the corner of one side the number of the hive and upon the opposite side a liquid-slating on which is written with pencil the condition of the hive, age of queen etc., the writing is turned inward to prevent being erased, when empty the black side is turned outward. The numbered side can be inverted or changed in various ways to mean as many different conditions. I said that his hives were numbered, the nuclei for raising queens were numbered by letters of the alphabet.

They use the wax comb-guide described in Gleanings page 12, vol. 2. Also the divisible frame,. e. dividing a full sized frame into equal halves for the nuclei-see Ch. Dadant's description on page 29 of Gleanings vol. 2.

They believe bees should have salt, and for that purpose they have a stand in the apiary on which they invert a small-mouthed jar, having previously filled it with strong brine and covered with muslin which is tied around the neck. Is salt necessary or beneficial? Of what use do bees make of it? Why do they prefer water that is salty?

C. P. Dadant used a slate pencil for his black-board writing, it suggested the idea to me that a slate would be better than a board, I accordingly procured me eight school slates for 70 cents, which I cut in 64 pieces about 24x3 inches each of which is large enough. On one side I have put the number of hive and on the opposite I put the record and condition of the hive. While talking with W. T. Kirk of Muscatine, Iowa, about the above he said: "Why not drill a hole in the slates and hang on a nail"? If slates could be procured without frames they would not cost, labor and all, over one cent each, which is less than the black-board, and so far I think much better to write on. With a rule and slate pencil I laid off the slate and then I sharpened one end of a file with which I cut it on opposite sides and then broke as glaziers do. And with a brace and the above file I drilled the holes, slate is soft and easily cut.

I forgot to mention in its place that Dadant uses the "quilt" or rather a very heavy muslin, they dip the edges in bees-wax to prevent the bees cutting, then the original "honeyboard is placed on top to hold it down.

J. M. SIMMONS, M. D., Lauderdale, Miss., writes:-"I bought 4 box hives, and one of King's $10 close-top hives and transferred my bees and combs to them.

King has the idea in some respects if he would cut the frames to %, leave off his supers and make the hives longer and deeper. Last fall having read so much by Novice about wintering I reduced my 10 stocks to 6, but I think the 10 would have wintered better and now I would have 10 stocks instead of 6. Last fall I sent to R. M. Argo for two Italian queens and he sent me some fine-looking ones, but no directions about making queen cages, so I lost one in introducing them. After my loss I introduced one of the old queens and they must have killed her, as I found the hive queenless when I examined it in January. I commenced this year with six hives but having to unite the queenless one and letting one starve I reduced my stock to four. In wintering my stocks last fall I did not kill any of the queens, and the first warm spell this year, two swarms came out of two of the united hives and went back. I examined the hives and found a dead queen in each and many bees dead in the hives and outside. Well, I supposed just then that I was minus two queens and many bees from disease, but I found upon examining the frames two very fine large queens and they are to-day the finest queens I have, and have the largest stocks.

These swarms remained in those hives all the winter and as soon as the weather moderated they took a notion to separate but finding it rather too cold outside, they returned and were killed. In March I was examining one of my hives and found them killing their queen, superseding her, for they had started a queen cell. I cut it out and gave them a frame of eggs and brood from my Italian stock and now have two fine Italian queens and two stocks instead of one, but I am afraid they met common drones instead of Italian as I had some of both. I have tried to keep the common drones out of my hives by killing and uncapping. I want to Italianize all stocks this year.

I find there are two kinds of native Southern bees in this section, one a little black bee, cross and spiteful, stinging every thing that comes near, the other a large yellow bee as large as the Italian and very much like them in their disposition and habits, but they have none of the Italian marks, they must be a cross of the Italian, for my queens are as large or larger than the Italians, but much darker. I never use smoke unless I want to unite them, and not always then. I have dispensed with supers and converted my two-story hives into single story hives 34 in. long holding 21 or 22 frames 12x9 in. inside measure.

My bees have quit sugar since they got natural supplies, unless it is cool or raining, then they work on it. I don't think handling bees often injures them, if the weather is pleasant, for mine don't stop working unless I disturb them a good deal, and I think sometimes that opening the hives is a benefit and starts them out when if left alone they would do nothing.

I am trying a small patch of Alsike clover to see if it will do for our hot climate. Buckwheat does well here, tried it here last year and bees worked on it freely. This has been a bad season for bees but they have commenced gathering honey. The great trouble with us is insects, and want of frame hives, most all use the box and gum hives and call the queen the king bee, and say it is wrong to sell bees but you can steal them and all is 'O. K.'"

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ST. LOUIS.-Quotations from W. G. Smith 419 North Main st.

Choice white comb, 25@29c; fair to good, 16@22c. Extracted choice white clover, 16@ 18c. Choice basswood honey, 14@16c; fair to good, extracted, 8@12c; strained, 6@10c.

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