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MARKING OF HYBRIDS, ETC.

As I have seen so much about the test of Italian bees, I would like to give my experience. We bought two colonies of Italian bees three years ago last spring. The next spring we had four; and, although there were no other bees within two or three miles of them, there were a good many jet-black bees among the new swarms. As we supposed that hybrids would have one or two bands, we were a little puzzled. I wrote you about it, but got nothing satisfactory in reply. Increased to eight swarms the next season. Some swarms were almost entirely black jet-black- blacker than any black bees I ever saw, with now and then nice three-banded bees among them. Some were mostly yellow bees, with but a few black ones; others were plain three-banded, with a jet-black tip; and, bear in mind, the pure black, and yellow and black ones have no downy rings at all. I don't know any thing about one or two banded bees; I do not find them; but, for robbing, these bees are A No. 1. Unless honey is quite plenty, they are on hand with their bills whenever

or wherever a hive is opened. Now, when I have a young queen begin to lay, I watch and examine when the brood begins to hatch; and if the bees are all yellow, I call her pure; and if I see one or two of the little fellows that have just crawled out of the cells, that do not show any yellow at all, I pronounce her hybrid. We bought an imported queen of you a year ago last spring, and another last summer. Their progeny, I notice, have the rings of down as well as the yellow bands. As I have never heard nor read about hybrids being black, and as I have had no opportunity to see any other hybrids than my own, I would like to know if they are always so, or if ours are an exception.

MRS. P. P. COBB.

Middleville, Barry Co., Mich., Nov. 8, 1880.

The explanation is, my friend, that hy brids are so very diverse in their markings. In some cases, the bees will nearly all take after their male parent, to such an extent that yellow queen may produce bees almost entirely black. In the same way, a pure-black queen (mated with an Italian drone, of course), may produce very finely marked Italians, or, at least, the greater part of them. By noticing a great number of hybrid stocks, you will see how unlike they are in markings. One queen will produce, uniformly, two-banded bees; another, all kinds of bees, from one band up to three, and some bees entirely black; or, as you say, blacker than any common bees. This same law of mixed races is seen in fowls and all kinds of animal life, and even in the human family. Nature always "sports" more or less in shades of color; but where there is a cross of two races, then she seems to delight in cutting up all kinds of pranks and unexpected antics, if I may be allowed to so express it.

DO WE WANT BROOD LATE IN THE FALL? The question is, “Is it or is it not, a desirable thing that queens should continue laying until very late in the fall?" When preparing colonies for winter, it will always be found that some of them have more brood than others, and generally less honey; while others are in the opposite condition. As to just which condition is the best at that time of the year, there seems to be considerable to be said on both sides. Is not this late breeding unseasonable? and

is it not an expenditure of mature bees and of winter stores which is not compensated for by a corresponding increase of young bees? or will the young bees produced at this time be an element of strength which will be needed during the winter and early spring which is so soon to come? If breeding is extended into cold weather, will not the central cells be occupied with brood to such an extent that there will not be room for winter provision? and will not winter, when it comes, find the colony unprepared for winter? Is it best, or is it not best, that bees should stop breeding as soon as the yield of honey ceases? This question is practical and important, and seems to be one which should be taken into consideration when making selections for breeding A. B. WEED. stock.

Detroit, Mich., Nov. 5, 1880.

I presume there will be a diversity of opinion in the matter, friend W.; but as for myself, give me the bees and queens that will raise brood at any or at all times of the year. I will take care of the supplies and the young bees. Now let us hear from others.

BEE TALK; LAZY BEES.

Now, friend Novice, does it not disturb your quiet repose somewhat, to even contemplate such a subject? That part of animated nature, the honey-bee, that upon so many well-fought battle-fields has justly earned the title of "busy bee," and now, at this late date, to apply the epithet lazy bees, is more than I can stand. I will give you one volley of experience on this subject, and then leave it for those who are interested to ponder over, before abusing our Godgiven pets by calling them lazy.

I had a colony of nice Italians last spring that was strong in bees; and when other colonies were storing honey, this colony was not gathering enough stores

to keep up the consumption in the hive, Here, now, said I, is one of these lazy colonies that I have been reading about in GLEANINGS. I decided, in my own mind, that I would not keep any queen that would produce such workers, and so I opened the hive with the intention of cutting off her head and giving them another queen; but when I got a glimpse of the inside of their home I changed my mind very quickly; for I could see clearly, or, at least, to my satisfaction, where all the trouble was. The queen that I had condemned to be executed had that hive filled from shore to shore with brood, and it took so many bees to hover and nurse the young brood that field laborers were scarce. What was to be done? Well, here is just what I did: instead of killing that large and beautiful queen, I took away two combs of brood, and hung combs containing honey and pollen in their places. I then picked out two more combs of hatching brood, and hung them on the outside of brood-chamber; by this process I soon crowded the queen on to five or six combs instead of ten, and had the satisfaction of seeing, in a short time, as good a working colony as I had in the apiary. Bloomdale, O., Nov. 10, '80.

R. B. ROBBINS.

Very good, friend R. It is true, we should go slowly in condemning any queen to decapitation; but what are you going to do with the statements from this next brother? Read:

Report of Honey crop of 1880.

Bees have done so little in this section of country, that it is almost impossible to find any one besides myself who got any surplus honey from their bees.

I wintered 49 colonies that came through nice and
strong. I got all my surplus of 10 hives (8 Italians
and 2 blacks), and 2 swarms of Italians and 1 black.
I got 100 lbs. of nice 1% lb. section honey from one
stand, and all my bees received the same treatment,
so that I am convinced there is as much difference
in bees as there is between day and night as to their
working qualities. The queen in the hive that yield-
ed so much honey is the daughter of a queen raised
from an imported mother. I claim that, by careful
selection, we can now pick out just as good queens
as those that are imported, if not better. I intend
to raise all my queens this next spring from these
hives, the one that made so much honey, and from
the mother of the queen, which will be 3 years old in
the spring. The surplus amount of ten colonies was
250 lbs. I had to feed 10 old stands and 2 young
swarms, which took about 200 lbs. of sugar. I have
now 53 colonies in wintering condition.
Greenfield, O., Nov. 30, 1880.]

PEET CAGE.

J. C. POMMERT.

I visited the yard about two weeks ago, which, by the way, is ten miles from here, and found a number of the swarms have the dysentery already--one of them very badly; thousands of bees were lying around, and their nicely painted chaff hive was all besmeared. I think it is the honey that affects them. There is lots of white clover in their vicinity, but they seemed to gather none, preferring the honey from the onions, etc. It has a peculiar taste to me, not very agreeable; others, not so used to eating honey, don't notice it so much. I will let you know in the spring how they come out.

My bees at home have done very well considering the season. My best swarm gave me 111 one-pound sections; another 98, and so on down to nothing. All my bees are in chaff hives, well painted in two colors. I took some honey, hives, sections, fdn., smokers, bee journals, etc., to our county fair; had much the same experience that friend Hutchinson did. I was awarded the first premium on honey, but, through some mistake, I got nothing for it. I received first premium on hives, which they paid; some one stole my September GLEANINGS, which leaves my number for the year incomplete.

M. H. HUNT.

Bell Branch, Wayne Co., Mich., Dec. 4, 1880.

I would say in relation to the Pect cage, that I have used several of them during the past summer, and can indorse nearly all that is said of them. For all purposes, there isn't a better cage in the market; and the only failure I made with them was in introducing queens according to directions. I introduced several safely by applying the cage to an even frame of brood and removing the slide; but after losing two fine queens by the bees digging under the edge of the cage, I was in a stew about all the rest. I prefer to hang the cage between the combs, and not remove the slide until the proper time. That proper time is the third day. I have intro-supplied with chaff division-boards, with a cheap duced over forty queens during the fall, losing not 54; had no spring dwindling. I united none in the

one.

Hartford, N. Y., Dec. 2, 1880.

J. H. MARTIN.

REPORT FROM AN ILLINOIS BEE KEEPER. I have never made a report since I have been in the bee business, for the reason I knew just where my report belonged. But I will make one now at a venture. I went into winter-quarters last fall with 55 colonies; wintered on summer stands, partially

box set on top, filled with chaff. Came through with

fall nor in the spring, for the reason I wanted increase as well as honey. In our locality, I don't think feeding in the fall, to stimulate breeding, pays. Neither do I think spring feeding is necessa

The above objection is the one I feared in regard to the Peet cage, and that this one thing would cause disappointment. As yours, friend M., is the only case of failure, unless it is for increase. If our bees get strong we have had reported, I think we shall have to conclude the danger is not a very great one, even in the hands of inexperienced persons. With a valuable queen, say an imported one, I would by all means adopt the plan you mention, of letting the queen out myself, rather than to trust to the bees to do it. Of course, if we do this we can not let

her out on the brood.

SEED FARMS AS HONEY FARMS.

(See p. 379, Aug. No., 1880.)

As you wished to hear more from my bees, situated next to D. M. Ferry's seed garden, I thought I would give you their work now, while it is fresh in my memory. Of course, I keep an account of receipts and expenses; but still there are other things we don't set down, and consequently they are forgotten. I commenced there with 4 swarms of what I supposed to be Italians, 2 of the queens from your yard, and 2 from Alley's. The two from your yard were both hybrids; but those from Alley were just splendid. I had some queens of Alley this summer, but not so nice. During this summer we had 14 natural swarms from the four; have doubled up until there are now 15 in all, all of which are strong and rather too full of honey. We also got considerable surplus. We have not weighed it yet, but think there is over 100 lbs. This is the bright side I have given; now for the dark side.

by the first of July that is all we want. August and to feed. We get no honey from linden nor white September is our honey harvest. June is the time clover. I raised about 90 queens; sold $40.00 worth, used the balance myself. Proceeds and sales are as

follows:

Queens

Extracted honey, 330 lbs. at 10
Section honey, 1370 lbs. at 16
Increase, 30 colonies, worth $5.00 each
Total,

Less incidental expenses,
Net proceeds,

$40.00

219.20

33.00

150.00

442.20

$9.00

$403.20

RUFUS ROBINSON.

Laclede, Fayette Co., Ill., Nov. 29, 1880.

HOW "DOWN-EAST" A B C SCHOLARS GET A START. I thought perhaps you would like to hear from one of you eastern A B C scholars. I commenced last spring with one hive of bees. They gave a good swarm in June. I put them in a box hive, having no other. I got a swarm of bees that were in a box hive of a neighbor, and a friend showed me how to transfer them. I got a large swarm late in the fall that were on the underside of a limb of a large tree, 43 feet high. They had seven combs. In November I took another swarm having 9 combs, from a projection under the eaves of a house. The day was so cold that I transferred them in the parlor. I now have four hives --three in 11⁄2 story, and one in

a box hive made in the good old way, with hand-
saw and plane. Nearly every one here keeps their
bees in box hives.
E. H. COOK.

Andover, Ct., Dec. 6, 1880.

ALMOST BLASTED HOPES."

they didn't go into winter-quarters with enough young bees; had been queenless in the fall, or else frames of brood had been removed to strengthen other hives. I never lose a full hive, even if not prepared for winter, except from want of stores; and I have wintered, without a single loss, a twoframe nucleus, but I never failed to have plenty of young bees in them. I always winter outdoors.

I reckon I am in Blasted Hopes, but still I will try to get out. Three years ago I bought 11 stands of bees, and 13 since, in chaff hives. I have 27 now all Oxford, Pa., Dec. 6, 1880. S. W. MORRISON, M. D. in chaff hives. One has frozen to death already this My answer referred to. which friend M. winter, and I fear that very few bees will be left says was incorrect, was that I feared adding alive till spring, because brood-rearing stopped car- alum to the water in which plaster was dislier than common, and the becs are too old to stand solved, for making Faris plates, would not a severe winter. We got no honey here in Clark Co. prevent water from dissolving them. It is this year, and our greatest bee man here (O. Olson) possible that the alum enters into a chemichas gone to Florida to try it there. Bees here are al combination so as to become insoluble, mostly hybrids and Italians. They have not done and I shall be very glad to know that I was nearly as well since the introduction of the royal wrong. Who can report from experience? blood as before. They are death to the miller, but II presume a great many can tell friend D. don't believe that, after a few years, they are nearly as hardy or prolific as the common black bee, nor are they any better honey-gatherers. Springfield, Ohio, Dec. 10, 1880.

JOSEPH GARST.

CELEBRATING THE FOURTH OF JULY.

I celebrated last Fourth of July (or, rather, the 5th, as the 4th fell on Sunday) by purchasing, in Rockland Co., N. Y., my first swarm of bees. They were black bees, in an "American" hive. Don't you think that was a good way to celebrate the Fourth? Some time in August I discovered they had no queen. I at once purchased a tested Italian queen

of Messrs. A. J. King & Co., and now I have a colony

of beautiful Italians that plainly show all the three bands. It is a rather weak stock, however, and I have been obliged to feed some. About a week ago I bought a box hive of blacks, but it is too late to transfer them this fall. The Italians are in a small empty room in second story of house, east side. The blacks are outdoors-protected, however. I hope to have some good results to show next fall.

SAMUEL A. MILLER.

Bloomfield, Essex Co., N. J., Dec. 1, 1880.

why they think his bees died; but we have very few among us who have not been compelled. sooner or later, to own up that the bees died, sometimes, when they did not know the reason why.

GETTING QUEEN-CELLS FOR QUEEN-REARING. I was interested in reading the articles by Messrs. Townsend and Brooks, pp. 332, 362, Volume VIII., GLEANINGS, in regard to obtaining queen-cells, as I had been experimenting in the same direction; viz., placing the strips of brood so that the base occupies a horizontal instead of vertical position. I have obtained the best results by cutting the brood-comb into strips containing but one row of perfect cells,

and fastening these to the ordinary thin combguides, two or three of which are then tacked to the empty frames horizontally, and so that the queencells will be built within the frame.

The principal advantages of this method are economy in the use of brood, and of time in preparing it for the cell-building colony; also, where the queencells are finished they can be easily separated with a sharp knife, leaving each one attached to a short piece of wood in the nicest shape for use in the nucleus or nursery. For some reason which I do not

understand, the bees will build more and better cells if the comb is placed on the strips of wood in such a

of the strip. To fasten the comb, I prefer to pour the melted wax on the wood and lay the comb in it.

manner that the base will be below the lower edge

1 think better queens are obtained by doing the "stealing" of condemned larvæ when they are three days old, and by removing them from about twothirds of the queen-cells started.

Kansas City, Mo., Dec. 8, 1880.

E. M. HAYHURST.

I think it a first-rate way to celebrate the Fourth, friend M.; but I am afraid if you have put your Italians in a room, as a good many of the A B C class do, you have, by your mistaken kindness, defeated any chance of celebrating the Fourth in 1881, with that colony of bees. The trouble is, with any room above ground, that you can not well make it perfectly dark; and as soon as a warm day comes, the bees will get out in the room, and never get back again. And even if you should make it perfectly dark, which I hardly ever knew a green hand to do, you Thanks, friend H. If I get the idea, the would give the bees a colder place to live in comb-guides are tacked to the side-bars of than outdoors, because they could not have the frame; the strip of larvæ is then pretty the benefit of any sunshine. Leave the bees nearly in the usual position of a comb, when outdoors, on their summer stands, unless fastened with melted wax against these you can put them in a warm, dry, dark cel-strips; and that the bees may have full play lar; and never, under any circumstances, put them in a room above ground, unless it has all the conditions of a cellar, or allows the bees to go out through the wall, as in the house apiary.

HARDENING PLASTER PLATES, ETC.

In Colby's communication, page 444, your answer is incorrect. I was glad to see Doolittle's answers on page 571, and I think I know why he lost his bees;

in working all around their queen-cells, the strip of brood should be slipped down on the comb-guide pretty well. The cells with their opening uppermost will suffice to hold the inverted ones securely; then, after having them start a great many from young, 3days-old larvæ, a part of them are torn down, that they may concentrate their efforts on only a few. and have these few strong and healthy.

BLACK BEES IN ITALY.

the Simplicity hives were much worse affected than those in the chaff hives. This seems to indicate that chaff hives will do a great deal toward making poor stores wholesome; but that pure sugar is much safer, as a general thing, than natural stores.

GALVANIZED IRON FOR HONEY UTENSILS, ETC. In answer to I. B. Rumford, p. 545, Nov. No., I will say, that I have used galvanized-iron tanks for hon

I see that friend Jones says there are black bees in Italy. I had come to that conclusion myself. Having bought quite a number of dollar queens of friend Ila Michener, that he reared from the select imported queen he got of you, I was surprised to find so many produced what I call hybrids. Friend Ila came to show me they were not hybrids, by placing them on the window, where he said they showed the bands plainly enough (dirty-looking bands they were, though.) Now, the bees produced from that import-ey for the last 10 years, and the tanks were as clean ed queen look just the same, and are cross. Why! if it were possible, I would think she had flown half way across the Mediterranean, and mated a drone from the African coast. I left my bees until now for chaff packing; and, cold as it is, they will boil out on the snow whenever the hive is touched. If

friend Jones' Cyprian and Holy-Land bees beat that, I don't want any of them. For gentleness, beauty, prolificness, and honey-gathering, I like the albinos; for, although they may not gather quite as much honey, one can work among them with so much comfort that bee-culture is pleasure if not profit. ANSON MINOR.

Low Banks, Ont., Can., Oct. 25, 1880.

and bright the last day as the first. If honey acts on the galvanizing, it must be a very slow process, as I have not been able to detect it during that time. You may also inform your readers, that beeswax makes a cheaper, easier, and almost as good lining as tin for home-made wooden extractors, boxes to

carry combs, uncapping-box, and other utensils that can be washed with tepid water. I made this year an extractor, all thoroughly seasoned wood except the wire cloth, honey-gate, screws, and nails, and coated it inside with melted wax. I put a cork or plug in the gate from the inside, while coating it. I made also two tanks of 55-gallon whisky-barrels, holding 600 lbs. each, and they cost me $2.50 apiece.

The They have honey-gates near the bottom. The heads

You have got it exactly, friend M. bands are sometimes dingy and brown; but they are there, plainly enough, when you look for them right. Very likely, the progeny of one queen will be much crosser than another, for this is the case with all races of bees, if I am correct; but I would prefer the bees that make the honey, even if they are cross, I think.

DYSENTERY IN DECEMBER.

My bees are all dying. I have lost five swarms out of eight; two swarms died in the latter part of Oct.,

and the other three in Nov. They had a full supply of honey--a sufficient amount to have fed them through the winter. Those that have died are the black bees. I have one swarm of Italians, which seem to be strong and vigorous. My neighbors' bees are all dead. The honey looks well, and is free trom moth or any infectious trouble. What is the matter? and what is the remedy, if any? JAMES DODd. Clear Creek, Ind., Dec. 4, 1880.

I do not know what is the trouble, friend D., unless it is the extremely cold spell of weather we have just had, with bad stores, or, rather, unwholesome honey, and perhaps insufficient protection. Neighbor II. has just been in, and reports that his bees are spotting the hives the worst of any thing he ever saw or heard of. He has never lost in wintering, you may remember, and was feeling quite confident of his ability to carry bees through safely, any winter. IIis bees are down by the river, and they filled their hives nicely on fall flowers, while we were obliged to feed sugar to get ours into wintering trim. Well, ours have scarcely spotted the hives at all, and are in excellent condition. Some, in both apiaries, are yet in the Simplicity hives, where we had queens we were intending to take out. He has lost 6 colonies outright, by this aggravated dysentery, while ours, in the Simplicity hives, are bright and healthy. I attribute the difference solely to the stores. Ours, you may remember, were fed up on candy made of granulated sugar, and A grape sugar. His in

wax.

were knocked out, and the barrels coated inside with WM. MUTH-RASMUSSEN. Independence, Inyo Co., Cal., Nov. 16, 1880.

Galvanized iron keeps bright, friend M., just because it is all the time being slowly dissolved by the liquids it contains, or that fall on it. Even pure water will thus dissolve it. It is not positively dangerous for most kinds of food, unless they stand a considerable time in it, in small quantities. If you let a thin stratum of honey remain several days on galvanized iron, you can readily taste the salt that is formed with it and the will experience the bad effects of a mineral honey; and if the quantity be sufficient, you poison. It has been almost entirely discarded on this account.-Waxing barrels and other utensils has been very fully discussed in our back volumes and the A B C. There is no objection to its use, except a slight stickiness and the inconvenience of not being able to scald such utensils as we can tin.

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AN A B C SCHOLAR'S FIRST SUMMER WITH BEES.

Good morning, friend Root! I will try to write a

few lines about my first summer in handling bees. I

commenced with 5 stands of bees in the spring of

1880. I bought chaff hives of friend Good, and hired him to transfer them from common box hives into the chaff hives. May 22d I bought 4 Italian queens of friend Good, and introduced them successfully. June 1st I divided 5 stands and made 10 of them. June 2nd, I bought 5 queen-cells of Good, and had bad luck with them. One was dead in the cell; one came out missing; two were lost, I suppose in their

wedding trip; the other is a very prolific queen, and

GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTURE.

35

to me that the moisture, which is always found on
the enameled cloth especially, would be absorbed by
cessful wintering.
the chaff, and that dryness in the hive secured,
which seems to be regarded as of importance in suc-
JAMES MCNEILL.

Hudson, N. Y., Dec. 7, 1880.

breeds very nice, gentle, three-banded workers. I winter-quarters, or I would have tried it. It seems have increased those 5 stands to 27, and taken two late swarms from box hives that were to be killed. I united them together, and they are doing well. I took two from the woods rather late in the fall, and they are doing tolerably well. I bought 10 other stands in box hives; transferred all of them into chaff hives, and these are doing pretty well. Six of the ten have not stores enough to winter; but I am feeding them. I will not let them starve, if grape and coffee A sugar will keep them. I have now 30 stands, all packed in chaff, mostly in good order. The Cyprian queen that I bought of friend Jones, of Canada, is doing well. She is very prolific. Her bees are nice, handsome, and gentle as any pets can be. I did not get much honey this summer. It was a poor honey season. I got about 70 lbs. of honey. I have been working for bees more than for honey. I intend to raise honey-plants of different kinds. I am offering buckwheat to my neighbors, free of charge, if they will sow it. I will sow 5 acres myself. Wishing all my brother bee-keepers good suc

cess, I feel very well satisfied with my bees. I think

they have done all that was in their power.

PHILIP MORNINGSTAR.

Wakarusa, Elkhart Co., Ind., Nov. 22, 1880.

BRIEF REPORT.

I have been at bee-keeping on a small scale in this county four years. I had three good seasons out of four. The third year was a season of drought. Out of 60 stands in spring, 14 weak ones remained at the end of a year. These 14 I increased to 42 (I used old comb), and gave about 1800 lbs. extracted honey; all 'sold at an average of 11c per lb. Webb City, Mo. A. HUMMEL.

A BAD REPORT FROM SUGAR-FEEDING, APPARENTLY. I have inclosed one dollar for GLEANINGS for another year, but I think you will have me in Blasted Hopes long before the year is up, for my bees are dying so fast I am afraid they will soon be all gone I did not get a teaspoonful of honey out of 5 hives and no swarm at all. I gave one last year's swarm about 18 lbs. of the best sugar I could get, and they are dying faster than any of them. Now, want to be put in the Growlery, but the Simpson seed you sent me did not grow. plants, and I am not sure but they are weeds. The I got only two Spider plant did well. The bees worked a good deal on it. ISAAC STAPLES.

Dayton, O., Dec. 4, 1880.

do not

It may be that the sugar is not a preventive of their dying in winter, friend S.; but there are two points you have not made very clear. At what time did you feed this colony 18 lbs. of sugar? If it was early in the season, they may have consumed it all, and may be now on fall stores. You say you got the best sugar you could find. it as good as coffee A? Granulated sugar is Was quite a little purer still, and friend Jones insists that it is by far the most healthful. We are very sorry to hear of your poor suc

cess.

WIRE CLOTH OVER THE BEES FOR WINTER. Has the experiment ever been tried, that you know of, of substituting wire cloth for the mat over the frames of bee-hives in winter, and then filling

the upper story with well-sifted chaff? I have thought of this since putting my bees into their

will see from back volumes. I used it for The idea is an old one, friend M., as you one winter, and liked it well, only that it and was, besides, pretty expensive. A good was a good deal of trouble to open a hive, many of these wire-cloth mats were sold, tin lined. You see, you have got to remove all the chaff every time you open the hive, or else have the wire cloth form the bottom of ter, you will kill bees when you set the box a sort of box, as it were. If you do the latback, as you would not do with any soft or yielding material, like the enameled cloth or burlap. Besides. the bees will, at the first opportunity, wax over the meshes of the oil cloth, or something a little harder, after wire cloth, and then you have virtually an all. Wire cloth has also been frequently suggested for the inside of chaff hives; but it would be more expensive than wood, and, after it is waxed over, probably not as good as the wood, after all."

CLARIFYING EARLY-AMBER SYRUP WITH CLAY.

mer, and should have been given some time
The following is from The Indiana Far-
ago. The
before in our columns.
clay " idea has been mentioned

Those who have raised the early varieties of cane
are now working it up, and the reports that reach
us of the yield and quality of syrup, are very favor-
able. The strong sunshine and high temperature
of July and August secured this result.
reports from several manufacturers who are using
We have
the clay (the light-colored clay is preferred), and as
the juice runs from the mill it is transferred to a
proper tank, and a half-bushel of clay is mixed with
100 gallons of the juice, and briskly stirred until the
quiet till the clay settles to the bottom, when the
mixture is thorough. It is then suffered to stand
juice will be found to be as clear as spring water,
matter with it in settling-thus freeing the syrup
the clay having carried the gum and green coloring
orated to the proper consistency. If the cane is well
from the peculiar sorghum taste. The juice is care-
fully drawn off from the sediment and rapidly evap-
pound or two of powdered chalk may be mixed with
ripened, litmus paper will show little or no acid; a
each half-bushel of clay. It is claimed for this pro-
cess that it not only makes a better syrup, but that
it effects a great saving of labor in heating, skim-
ming, etc. The chief objection is that it exposes the
juice so long before boiling that the sugar is chiefly

converted into glucose. This can be prevented, to a great extent, by the use of four ounces of sulphite

of soda to 100 gallons of fresh juice. Try clay.

WIRE CLOTH FOR QUEEN-CAGES.

ing about in the mails, the paint gets crumbled off,
Don't use painted wire cloth on queen-cages. Jolt-
and drops on the candy within. Last season I re-
many particles of paint on the candy. Is it not
ceived by mail two queens, and I could see a great
probable that the bees, in licking the surface of the
candy, will eat some of the smallest particles of
paint, and in feeding the queen impart the poison to
her?
G. H. POND.

Bloomington, Minn., Dec. 7, 1880.
gested, but I have never known bees injured
This matter has been several times sug-
A neighbor mentioned having had bees and
by the painted cloth we have kept in stock.
queen all killed by using a wire cloth that

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