200 STOCKS I Pure Italian Bees. L apr73y1 T. B. HAMLIN, Edgefield Junction, Davison Co., Tenn. FEEDER Canada Victor Tomato. INVITE the attention of the public to extracts, from more than a score of letters in my Catalogue for 1874, from Farmers and Gardners in various States, who raised this New Tomato for the first time last season. These letters are all emphatic in their praises of the Canada Victor Tomato: 1st, for its surpassing earliness; 2d, for its excellent quality, and, 3d, for its uniform solidity. I now offer to the pubiic, Seed SAVED FROM SELECTED SPECIMENS ONLY, at 15 cents per package and $1.50 per ounce. My Seed Catalogue FREE to all applicants. JAMES J. H. GREGORY. per gross, 19.00 .65 address printed to order, per thousand,.. 4.25 Sprout Brook N. Y Labels for 3 tb Jars, per gross,; The best Bee-Feeder in Address, C. C. VAN DUSEN, At reasonable rates. For further particulars address, Pure Italian Queen Bees jan4y1 Bred on Kelley's Island, in Lake Erie, twelve miles from Mainland. Completely isolated from other bees, Also, FULL STOCKS CHAS. F. MUTH, Cincinnati, Ohio. ASHLAND POULTRY YARD. HONEY PLANTS White Leghorn,.. 3.00 Light Brahmas,....$3.00 I will guarantee one-half or more of every setting to SUMMER Rape Seed, Imported from Germany, feb74m5 at 35 cents per pound. Vetch Seed, Wicken, Ashland, Ashland Co., O. Imported from Germany, at 20 cents per pound. THE WESTERN AGRICULTURIST. If sent by mail, 8 cents will be added to the above CHAS. F. MUTH, T THE WEST. Subscription price $1.00, with a THE BUSY BEE. An Illustrated Annual on Scientific Bee Culture. Terms: one copy, post paid, 10 cents, seven copies, 50 cents, fifteen copies, $1.00. Address THE BUSY BEE, Lavansville, Somerset Co., PURE Italian QUEEN BEES IE LEADING AGRICULTURAL JOURNAL IN Handsome Present free. Our New Chromo, "The Shepherdess," will be sent free to each of the first 1000 subscribers who send us one dollar. Send at once and secure the Prize. Good Agents Wanted. T. BUTTERWORTH, PUBLISHER, feb1m Quincy Ill. Pa. AGENTS WANTED. feb74tf DR. J. P. H. BROWN, AUGUSTA, GEORGIA, Italian Bees & Queens! IMPORTER and Breeder of Pure Italian Queen Bees. BRED from Imported Mothers of undoubted purity bred in full colonies. WARRANTED PURE. Address, D. A. PIKE, eb74m6pd Smithsburg, Washington Co., Ind. Queens bred Early in the Season. Purity and safe arrival guaranteed. Apiarian supplies furnished. Send for Price List. feb74m6 AMERICAN BEE JOURNAL DEVOTED EXCLUSIVELY TO BEE CULTURE. Vol. X. CHICAGO, FEBRUARY, 1874. For the American Bee Journal. Gallup's Corn as a Honey-plant. In reply to persons who have made application for corn, we will say that it is climatic or atmospheric influence that causes a plant to produce Bee-forage in one locality, and not in another. For example, Mr. Adair and others say that buckwheat never produces anything in the shape of Bee-forage in their climate, while in my climate, both here and in Canada, it never fails to produce an abundance in ordinary seasons. The partridge pea is highly esteemed around Washington, while here Bees did not visit it at all. Timothy or herds' grass produces large quantities of pollen while in bloom here and elsewhere. We have seen fields of it literally covered with Bees while in bloom, yet we have never seen it mentioned as a Bee-plant. In 1870-71 our fields or patches of pop corn, smelt corn, or flint corn, were alive with the hum of the "little busy Bee," while it was in bloom. They seemed to gather pollen from the blossoms and honey from the silk at the same time. Then the corn silk glistened with sweet, yet in 1872 not a single Bee did I see visit it; and in fact white clover produced nothing in my vicinity in 1872. Our old stand-by, the basswood, only produced forage for eight days in 1872, while in 1870, it lasted twenty days; and in 1871, it lasted in all, nearly thirty days; all owing to climatic and at No. 2. mospheric influences. If the atmosphere is moist and warm, and well charged with electricity, then is the time our flowers produce the most forage. On the contrary, the atmosphere may be dry and warm, or hot, and flowers produce nothing. But by heavily manuring a piece of land for white clover or buckwheat, we can cause it to produce honey in a dry or cool season. Manure warms up the land, and it also causes a vapor or moisture to arise from the soil, which does not arise from an impover ished soil. We have noticed this repeatedly. We have seen a row of current bushes alive with Bees, that had been heavily manured the season previous, while a row that was not manured was not visited by the Bees. We have seen a four-acre patch of white clover that had been heavily manured the season previous, covered with Bees, while the clover field by the side of it was not visited by a single Bee. We have had some buckwheat on poor land, and on rich land at the same time.— That on the poor land was not visited, while that on the rich land was alive with Bees, and fairly scented 'the atmosphere with sweet around it. White clover on warm sandy land, produced abundance of forage the past season, while on clay soil it produced nothing. Now, Brother Bee-Keepers, you can easily see from the above why you do not want my kind of corn, or my kind of hay, &c., for Bees. E. GALLUT. Orchard, Iowa. DZIERZON watched a queen Bee when laying, and noticed that she laid eighteen worker eggs in three minutes. She appeared to dispatch business still more expeditiously when laying drone eggs. For the American Bee Journal. considering the disadvantage of residing in the heart of a city of twenty-seventhousand inhabitants. I have all my colonies in good condition, by feeding sugar syrup in November-six in the cellar, and two in an experimental hive outside. If this should prove a success, I will, in the Spring, furnish your readers with a full description of the method, and give them the benefit of it. Leavenworth, Kan. Lou. For the American Bee Journal. Pollen. EDITOR JOURNAL: The past season has been to the Apiarist the poorest for years in this section of the State. The causes to which the general failure is attributed, are many; among the most prominent that might be mentioned were the cold Winter and backward Spring we passed through, which had the tendency to reduce the colonies to a few handfuls of bees (as a general thing), and the negligence on the part of many to stimulate and build them up early in the season. Consequently, when the early blossoms came there In Vol. 9, page 28, I made the asserwere no Bees to gather the honey. tion that brood could not be raised withMost of the stocks, however, were pret-out pollen. On page 27 J. Butler exty strong by the 20th of June, and in perimented in this direction, and defair condition for the basswood harvest; clares that his Bees did raise brood but unfortunately the blossoms failed to without pollen. secrete any of the sweet fluid. From Now, I must confess this somewhat the 1st of July to the 24th of Septem- astonished me, for it was contrary to ber, we were subjected to drought, with all our knowledge and practice. I howvery warm, sultry weather, causing a ever believed Mr. Butler in his public complete failure in the Fall flowers. It statement, but still I thought there is very easy to perceive that we are must be a great mistake somewhere. It not placed in an enviable position so far however stimulated to further investias the profits of apiculture are concerned. gation, and I have come to the concluI was informed last week by a gen- sion that he was right in his observation, tleman who has been in the business but wrong in his conclusion, and in orfifteen years, that out of sixty colonies der to establish this I will quote high with which he started last Spring, he authority, but before doing so permit has made no increase in his number me to remark that it is admitted by all during the season, and, unfortunately, distinguished apiarians, both in Europe has not obtained one pound of surplus honey. He farther states that twothirds of his stocks do not weigh as much now as they did last March. You can draw your own conclusions. I have In Vol. 1, page 253, of the AMERICAN mine, which are, that in the Spring of BEE JOURNAL, Dr. Donhoff, in analyzing seventy-four there will either be quite the excreta of Bees, says: "What was a demand for Bees, or there will be a left after again filtering could, from its large number of disgusted Apiarians. and America, that brood has been raised (to a limited extent, however,) without pollen being visible, as in Mr. Butler's case. insolubility, be only the remains of polAs for myself, I do not profess to be len. It appeared under the microscope anything but a beginner at the business; like an indistinctly granular mass." and I do not keep them for the profit, When I first saw the above, I at once but for the pleasure derived from ob- came to the conclusion that pollen was taining knowledge under difficulties. I retained in the bodies of the Bees for started with one colony last year, I sometime, and the following further increased that one to five, and obtained convinced me, as well as solved the about thirty pounds of surplus honey; lost one during the Winter. From four, have increased during the past season to eight; but have obtained no surplus honey. This is not a bad beginning, mystery. Baron Berlepsch, on page 230, Vol. 1, says: "It has been demonstrated that common workers are produced in colonies which have not a particle of pollen in their hives, and at a time when the Bees could not gather any. * * * But it is by no means easy to determine when there is an entire absence of pollen, or its essential equivalent in the hive." There may not be a particle of it discoverable in the cells, and yet a store of it amply sufficient for the needs of the larvae may be deposited in the stomachs of the workers, or their general organism. I hope, from the above, Mr. Butler will see that his Bees had some pollen. ARGUS. For the American Bee Journal. Mr. Frank W. Chapman gives a report from his rape seed. I am sorry he is so sensitive as to give up its culture, because his neighbors make fun of him about his "turnip patch." But I don't see any fun in it. Mr. Dadant and my brother, in Illinois, planted turnips expressly for Bees; and I can't see where the laugh comes in. But some people are, perhaps, more easily amused than your humble servant. He further states that he thinks it was too dry. Well, from what I have learned about the weather in Illinois last Summer, I should think it was too dry. Mr. Dadant reports nearly an entire failure, 1,000 lbs. only, from 230 stocks, I think, because of the severe drought. Good Bee Location-Rape Seed. Rape seed should be planted on good, MR. EDITOR-It is with a great deal rich soil-soil where wheat or other of hesitation and a troubling of con-grain has been raised, will be good, bescience, that I again ask for a corner in the JOURNAL, for I have already had rather more than my share of "space." But there are a few words that I would like to say. Mr. Colburn, in the December Number, would like to know where he can find a good place to start an apiary, not too far from Chicago. Now, I don't wish to boast of my locality, nor would I like to coax any one here, lest he should afterwards be discontended and then blame me for so doing. Therefore, I would say, that he could find many such places as he mentions, between here (Berlin) and Milwaukee, there is plenty of Basswood; and the country is old enough so that white clover has well set in, wherever it has an opportunity to grow. In addition. to this, we have plenty of buckwheatat least in this vicinity-and also many cranberry marshes, which were referred to as being of value, by the editor, in the November Number of the AMERICAN BEE JOURNAL. Berlin is about 180 miles from Chicago, and can now be reached without change of cars, via Milwaukee, which is 90 miles from Chicago. If the gentleman wishes further information I shall be glad to answer his questions through the mails. The best way, however, to ascertain the truth, would be to pay us, or this part of the country, a visit. cause grain will leave that portion of nutriment in the soil which rape requires-and, of course, the weather must be favorable for it, as well as for other farm products. Lastly, the time. for harvesting must be well watched ; as soon as the kernel is filled and turns, cut it; and as soon as sufficiently dry, haul it in. Mr. Editor, the December issue is, in my judgment, of extraordinary interest. Long live the AMERICAN BEE JOURNAL! for it is the "right bower" in the pack of different Bee journals that adorn our shelf. J. D. KRUSCHKE. Berlin, Wis. For the American Bee Journal. Chips from Sweet Home. Two years ago I lost six hives by disease, and last winter I lost fifty-five hives, being all I had. They were left on their summer stand. This Winter I put ninty-five hives in my cellar during the first cold snap, all but seven were put in three days after they flew, the seven two days later, Nov. 28th. I now have four cases of the disease out of the seven. They have been very uneasy ever since taken in. My cellar is 20x24, the sides and bottom are cemented, a chimney built on the bottom of the cellar, with an opening at the bottom in which there is a continual draft, besides four windows which I open nights to cool the cellar and close daytimes. I have clover, and almost indispensable to the never given my opinion as to the fertilization of the heart's ease, for these cause of the disease, for I had none. Bees do not visit this flower. HumbleI noticed Bees which were housed early Bees alone visit red clover as other Bees. escaped the disease. cannot reach the nectar. I will now give what I suppose to be the cause of the disease, and if there are any exceptions we shall be pleased to hear them. All Bees which have died of the disease have been exposed to a week or more of cold weather, during which time they gorge themselves with honey, if then they are moved into cellars or Bee houses, or are kept confined by cold weather so that they are unable to empty themselves, dysentery will be the effect every time. Will Novice," or others who have fed sugar syrup, try an experiment as follows? Leave a hive out during a week or more of cold weather, then, without allowing them to discharge, take them in a Bee house or cellar, and report the result. In a word-no Bees, no seed; no seed, no increase of the flower. The more visits from Bees, the more seeds from the flower; the more seeds from the flower, the more flowers from the seeds. Nearly all our orchidaceous plants absolutely require the visits of insects to remove their pollen-masses and thus to fertilize them. Twenty heads of unprotected Dutch clover yields 2,990 seeds. The same number protected from Bees produced not one seed; 100 heads of unprotected red clover yielded 2,700, and the same number protected from Bees not a seed. Pruning Broods. Pruning brood combs is generally To-day I set the four ill-fated hives quite unnecessary, in fact is more often out and let them fly. The number of humble Bees in the country will depend upon the number of cats! How can that be? Because the number of Bees is dependent upon the number of field mice, which eat the Bees. Hence the more cats, the fewer mice; and the fewer mice, the more Bees. injurious than otherwise. If they ever require excision, it can only be when they are so overcharged with pollen as to render breeding impossible, in which case the operation should be performed in the Spring. Pruning them after the Bees have swarmed and cast, is very unwise for several reasons. First, there is a possibility that during a glut of honey, the Bees would build an excess of drone comb, or supposing their queen to be lost, that they would build drone comb exclusively, if any; second, that having. to replace the excised comb, they would be less likely to yield a surplus in their super; and, third, there is the undoubted fact that Bees winter much better in old combs than in new ones, because being coated with so much silky fibre, they are the warmer of the two, and again there is the chance that in an unfavorable season they may be unable to build any comb at all.-British Bee Journal. If the whole germs of Humble-Bees became extinct, or very rare, the heart's A person who has familiarized himself ease and red clover would become rare to Bees, can by means of the passion of or wholly disappear. How is that? Be- fear impressed upon them, and by that cause Bees promote the growth of those dexterity in the management of them, flowers. The visits of Bees are necessary which can only be acquired by practice, to the fertilization of some kinds of manage Bees as he pleases.- Wildman. |