BEE-spoke-data/bees-v0 huggingface dataset:
The Life of the Bee. By Maurice Maeterlinek. A beautifully written volume on the honey bee. 425 pages; price, $1.40.
The Lore of the Honey Bee. By Tiekner Edwards. An interesting book of information about bees in general. 280 pages; price, $2.
Queenie. By T. Chalmers Potter. An autobiography of an Italian queen; poetiesal. Price, 75e.
The Bee Master of Warrilow. By Tiekner Edwards. An interesting English story. Price, 60e.
BEE Journals.
Next in importance to owning a good book on beekeeping, is subscribing for one or more bee journals. The beginner should aim, if possible, to include in his initial investment a year's subscription to
one of the bee journals published in this country. While the bee book is an excellent guide, as far as the management of bees is concerned, there is nothing that will so aid in keeping a beekeeper informed on current topics, and new ideas and methods of management as reading bee journals. Especially is this a great benefit during the marketing season, as it will enable the beekeeper to keep in touch with the market situation and the prices of apThree journals, exclusively devoted to bekeeping, are published in the United States. While either one may be selected, if only one is to be chosen, all of them may well be subscribed for, and that without fear of finding a repetition of the same subject matter in two or more of them. While they all seek to cover the same ground, in general, the scope of bekeeping is so broad, the field such an extensive one, and the subjects so large in number, that a great variety of instructive matter is furnished to those who read them all.
American Bee Journal. Published at Hamilton, Ill. The oldest bee journal in America. A well illustrated monthly, at $1 a year.
Gleanings in Bee Culture. Published at Medina, O. Profusely illustrated and issued semi-monthly, at $1 per annum.
Beekeeper's Review. Published at Detroit, Mich. An illustrated journal especially valuable for the advanced beekeeper. Monthly, $1 per year.
The two first named bee journals each have a ''Southern Department,'' edited by the author of this bulletin. The purpose of this feature is to make them better suited for beekeepers of the South.
BINDING publications.
Preserving the various periodicals pertaining to bekeeping for future reference is a valuable item that should be considered more by beekeepers. It is too often found that the bee journals are destroyed as soon as they have been read. If the numbers of each yearly volume are kept together in a suitable way, they prove to be very helpful whenever it becomes necessary to refer to articles so tained in them. The files also furnish a chance to read much in long winter evenings that it was impossible to more than glance at, if notice at all, during the busy summer season.
For these reasons it is advisable that bee journals be carefully preserved, and, at the end of the year, bound into solid book form, as shown in the accompanying illustration. After placing the volume into the rise, as shown, saw kerfs are cut across the back of the journals, and, after applying a goodly quantity of flour paste or liquid glue in these and on the backs of the journals, strong twine is tightly wrapped through the saw kerfs and from one to the other in such a way that the entire volume is firmly held together. Applying another even coat of glue to the backs of the journals, a strip of fiannelette, or any cotton cloth, is placed over the glue. To add to the neatness of the bound volume, a wide piece of strong cloth or heavy paper may be glued over the book, to cover the exposed portion of the twine and the saw cuts. The edges of the volumes may be trimmed by a stationer, or at a printing office, with a large paper cutter Card board covers may also be added if desired. Wherever it is possible to have this done, the volumes may be sent to a book binder.
## Chapter 10 United States Bulletins on Bees.
A number of valuable bulletins on various subjects of interest to beekeepers, are published by the Department of Agriculture. They are prepared in the Bureau of Entomology and are for free distribution. The following may be obtained by addressing the Secretary of Agriculture, Washington, D. C.:
**Farmers' Bulletin No. 447, "Bees." By E. F. Phillips, Ph. D. 1911. 48 pp., 25 figs.**
A general account of the management of bees.
**Farmers' Bulletin No. 442, "The Treatment of Bee Diseases." By E. F. Phillips, Ph. D. 1911. 22 pp., 7 figs.**
This publication gives briefly the symptoms of the various bee diseases, with directions for treatment.
**Circular No. 94, "The Cause of American Foul Brood." By G. F. White, Ph. D. 1907. 4 pp.**
This publication contains a brief account of the investigations which demonstrated for the first time the cause of one of the brood diseases of bees, American foul brood.
**Circular No. 138. "The Occurrence of Bee Diseases in the United States. (Preliminary Report.)" By E. F. Phillips, Ph. D. 1911. 25 pp.**
A record of the localities from which samples of diseased brood were received prior to March 1, 1911.
**Bulletin No. 55, "The Rearing of Queen Bees." By E. F. Phillips, Ph. D. 1905. 32 pp., 17 figs.**
A general account of the methods used in queen rearing. Several methods are given, so that the beekeeper may choose those best suited to his individual needs.
**Bulletin No. 70, "Report of the Meeting of Inspectors of Apiaries, San Antonio, Texas, November 12, 1906." 1907. 79 pp., 1 plate.
Contains a brief history of bee-disease investigations, an account of the relationship of bacteria to bee diseases, and a discussion of treatment by various inspectors of apiaries and other practical beekeepers who are familiar with diseases of bees. Bulletin No. 75, Part I, ''Production and Care of Extracted Honey.'' By E. F. Phillips, Ph. D. ''Methods of Honey Testing for Beekeepers.'' By C. A. Browne, Ph. D. 1907. 18 pp.
The methods of producing extracted honey, with special reference to the care of honey after it is taken from the bees, so that its value may not be decreased by improper handling. The second portion of the publication gives some simple tests for adulteration. Bulletin No. 75, Part II, ''Wax Moths and Ameriean Foul Brood.'' By E. F. Phillips, Ph. D. 1907. Pp. 19-22, 3 plates.
An account of the behavior of the two species of wax moths on combs containing American foul brood, showing that moths do not destroy the disease-carrying seals. Bulletin No. 75, Part III, ''Bee Disease in Massachusetts.'' By Burton N. Gates. 1908. Pp. 23-32, map. An account of the distribution of the brood diseases of bees in the State, with brief directions for controlling them. Bulletin No. 75, Part IV, ''The Relation of the Etiology (cause) of Bee Diseases to the Treatment.'' By G. F. White, Ph. D. 1908. Pp. 33-42. The necessity for a knowledge of the cause of bee diseases before rational treatment is possible is pointed out. The present state of knowledge of the causes of disease is summarized. Bulletin No. 75, Part V, ''A Brief Survey of Hawaiian Beekeeping.'' By E. F. Phillips, Ph. D. 1909. Pp. 43-58, 6 plates. An account of the beekeeping methods used in a tropical country and a comparison with mainland conditions. Some new manipulations are recommended. Bulletin No. 75, Part VI, ''The Status of Apieulture in the United States.'' By E. F. Phillips, Ph. D. 1909. Pp. 59-80. A survey of present-day beekeeping in the United States, with suggestions as to the work yet to be done before apieulture will have reached its fullest development. Bulletin No. 75, Part VII, ''Bekeeping in Massachusetts.'' By Burton N. Gates. 1909. Pp. 81-109, 2 figs. An account of a detailed study of the agricultural conditions in Massachusetts. The object of this paper is to point out the actual conditions and needs of beekeeping in New England. Bulletin No. 75, Contents and Index. 1911. Pp. viii+111--123. Bulletin No. 75, Parts I-VII, complete with Contents and Index. 1911. Pp. viii+123. Bulletin No. 98. ''Historical Notes on the Causes of Bee Diseases.'' By E. F. Phillips, Ph. D., and G. F. White, Ph. D., M. D. (In press.) A summary of the various investigations concerning the etiology (cause) of bee diseases.
Technical Series, No. 14, "'The Bacteria of the Apiary, with Special Reference to Bee Diseases." By G. W. White, Ph. D. 1906. 50 pp. A study of the bacteria present in both the healthy and the diseased colony, with special reference to the diseases of bees. Technical Series No. 18, "'The Anatomy of the Honey Bee." By R. E. Snodgrass. 1910. 162 pp., 57 figs. An account of the structure of the bee, with technical terms omitted so far as possible. Practically all of the illustrations are new, and the various parts are interpreted according to the best usage in comparative anatomy of insects. A brief discussion of the physiology of the various organs is included.
BUREAU OF CHEMISTRY.
Bulletin No. 110, "Chemical Analysis and Composition of American Honeys." By C. A. Browne. Including "A Microsepical Study of Honey Pollen." By W. J. Young. 1908. 93 pp., 1fig., 6 plates. A comprehensive study of the chemical composition of American honeys. This publication is technical in nature and will perhaps be little used by praetical beekeepers, but it is an important contribution to agricultural literature. By means of this work the detection of honey adulteration is much aided.
BANANZI agricultural experimental station, DONULU, HAWAI. Bulletin No. 17, "Hawaiian Honeys." By D. L. Van Dine and Alice R. Thompson. 1908. 21 pp., 1 plate. A study of the source and composition of the honeys of Hawaii. The peculiar conditions found on these islands are dealt with.
TEXAS DEPARTMENT OF AGRICUATURE BULLETINS.
The following bulletins issued by the Texas Department of Agriculturale that are available will be forwarded on receipt of request addressed to the Commissioner of Agriculture, Austin, Texas:
No. 1, Third Annual Report Division of Orchard and Nursery Inspection. (Exhausted.)
No. 2, Pecans and Other Nuts in Texas.
No. 3, Proceedings Tenth Texas Farmers' Congress. 1907.
No. 4, Corn Culture. (Exhausted.)
No. 5, Proceedings Eleventh Texas Farmers' Congress, 1908. (Exhausted.)
No. 6, Fourth Annual Report Division of Orchard and Nursery Inspection. (Exhausted.)
No. 7, The Story of Texas. (Exhausted.)
No. 8, The Year Book, 1908. (Exhausted.)
No. 9, Pomological Possibilities of Texas. (Exhausted. See No. 18.)
No. 10, Proceedings Twelfth Texas Farmers' Congress, 1909. (Exhausted.)
No. 11, The Dairy Industry in Texas.
No. 12, The Panhandle and Llano Estacado of Texas. (Exhausted.)
No. 13, The Year Book, 1909. (Exhausted.)
No. 14, The Mineral Resources of Texas.
No. 15, The A. B. C. of Truck Growing.
No. 16, Proceedings Thirteenth Texas Farmers' Congress, 1910. (Exhausted.)
No. 17, Central West Texas.
No. 18, Pomological Possibilities of Texas. (Revised Edition.)
No. 19, The Pecan and Hickory in Texas.
No. 20, Some Especially Yaluable Grasses in Texas.
No. 21, Report First Meeting Texas State Farmers' Institute.
No. 22, Proceedings Fourteenth Texas Farmers' Congress, 1911. (Exhausted.)
No. 23, Corn Culture for Texas Farmers.
No. 24, Texas Beekeeping.
NEW SERIES.
No. 1, Orchard and Nursery Inspection Law, with Rules and Regulations.
No. 2, Some Facts About Texas.
No. 3, Citrus Fruits of Texas.
No. 4, List of Nurses, 1909. (Exhausted.)
No. 5, Poultry Culture in Texas.
No. 6, The White Fly.
No. 7, List of Nurses, 1910. (Exhausted.)
No. 8, The Eucalyptus in Texas.
No. 9, Control of Insect Pests and Fungus Diseases.
No. 10, Address of Governors and Commissioners of Agriculture of Southern States, adopted at Cotton Conference held at New Orleans, La., October 30-31, 1911.
The 4 B C and X Y 2 BFE C/L1TRE
A Cyclopedia of Everything Pertaining to the Care of the Honey-bee; Bees, Hives, Honey, Implements, Honey-plants, etc. Facts Gleaned from the Experience of Thousands of Bee-keepers, and Afterward Verified in Our A. I. Root and E. R. Root
131st Thousand
THE A. I. Root company
1910To the throng of eager questioning brothers and sisters in the art of bee culture, in our own and other countries, this work is especially dedicated by The Authors
### 1877 Preface
In preparing this work I have been much in 'ebted to the books of Langstroth, Moses Quinby, Prof. \(\Lambda\), J. Cook, King, and some others, as well as to all the bee-journals; but, more than to all these, have I been indebted to the thousands of friends scattered far and wide who have so kindly furnished the fullest particulars in regard to all the new improvements as they have come up in our beloved branch of rural industry. Those who questioned me so much a few years ago are now repaying by giving me such long kind letters in answer to any inquiry I may happen to make that I often feel ashamed to think what meager answers I have been obliged to give them unler similar circumstances. A great part of this \(\Lambda\) B C book is really the work of the people; and the task that devolves on me is to collect, condense, verify, and utilize what has been scattered through thousands of letters for years past. My own ariary has been grea ly devoted to testing carefully each new device, invention, or process as it came up. The task has been a very pleasant one; and if the perusal of the following pages affords you as much pleasure I shall feel amply repaid.
November, 1877. A. I. Root.
### Preface to Later Editions
Many years have passed since the original preface by A. I. Root was written. S:nee that time there have been fourteen distinct editions, of anywhere from 2000 to 15,000 copies, making a total of 131,000. While the original work contained only about 200 pages it will be seen that this one has over 600. So rapid have been the advances in apiculture that it has been necessary to make frequent revisions, and so extensive have been the changes that some editions seem almost like new works. As these pages are kept in standing type changes can easily be made.
After the revision of 1883, ill health and interest in other matters compelled A. I. Root to drop the subject of bee culture to a great extent. Since that time the work of revision has devolved almost entirely upon his eldest son, the writer. About the time that we took up this work we began to assume editorial charge of Gleannings in Bee culture, a sen monthly magazine, and since 1887 we have had almost entire charge of both except that we have been very ab a-sisted in the last year or two by a younger brother, H. H. Root. In order that we might keep in close touch with the best practices in vogue, we made a number of extended trips, visiting some of the most successful bee-keepers in the country. taking along with us camera and note-book. One year we traveled thus equipped over seven thousand miles, covering a large portion of the West and at other times the entire eastern part of the country. Many of the photographs taken at the time are scattered throughout the work. This extended travel among bee-beepers, together with a large acquaintance and general correspondence, has enabled us to incorporate, as we believe, new and valuable matter in these pages; and the work, so far from being an \(\Lambda\) B C only, is also an \(\Lambda\) Y Z of bee culture. Originally, \(\Lambda\). I. Root intended it to be a work purely for beginners; and while it still is primarily for that class, yet we have sought in the later editions to incorporate general matter of interest and of value to the advanced bee-keeper.
So great have been the general changes in the practices and general systems of management that it has been found necessary during the last fifteen or twenty years to re-write almost whole articles. So much of new matter and new subjects has been added that practically three-fourths of the present volume is the work of the reviser. In this connection we are desirous of acknowledging our indebtedness to specialists who have written certain articles of a technical nature, which articles will be found scattered here and there throughout the work. Inasmuch as some of these are the work of two or three people, the discriminating reader will notice here and there a change of style. Although this is unavoidable we believe that the general teachings harmonize throughout.
We offer no apologies for lack of literary style. Much of the work of revision and the re-writing of new articles has been done under pressure of other work; but we have endeavored to use the simplest and pl'.nest language possible to describe each process, device, or method.
## Introduction to the First Edition
About the year 1865, during the month of August, a swarm of bees passed overhead where we were at work, and my fellow-workman, in answer to some of my inquiries respecting their habits, asked what I would give for them. I, not dreaming he could by any means call them down, offered him a dollar, and he started after them. To my astonishment, he, in a short time, returned with them lived in a rough box he had hastily picked up, and, at that moment, I commenced learning my A B C in bee culture. Before night I had questioned not only the bees but every one I knew, who could tell me any thing about these strange new acquaintances of mine. Our books and papers were overhauled that evening; but the little that I found only puzzled me the more, and kindled anew the desire to explore and follow out this new hobby of mine; for, dear reader, I have been all my life _much_ given to hobbies and new projects.
Farmers who had kept bees assured me that they once paid, when the country was new, but of late years they were of no profit, and everybody was abandoning the business. I had some headstrong views in the matter, and in a few days I visited Cleveland, ostensibly on other business, but I had really little interest in any thing until I could visit the bookstores and look over the books on bees. I found but two, and I very quickly chose Langstroth. May God reward and for ever bless Mr. Langstroth for the kind and pleasant way in which he unfolds to his readers the truths and wonders of creation to be found inside the bee-hive.
What a gold-mine that book seemed to me as I looked it over on my journey home '. Never was romance so enticing--no, not even Robinson Crusoe; and, best of all, right at my own home I could live out and verify all the wonderful things told therein. Late as it was, I yet made an observatory hive and raised queens from worker eggs before winter, and wound up by purchasing a queen of Mr. Langstroth for 820,00. I should, in fact, have wound up the whole business, queen and all, most effectually, had it not been for some timely advice toward Christmas, from a plain practical farmer near by. With his assistance, and by the purchase of some more bees, I brought all safely through the winter. Through Mr. Langstroth I learned of Mr. Wagner, who, shortly afterward, was induced to recommence the publication of the _American Bee Journal_, and through this I gave accounts monthly of my blunders and occasional successes.
In 1867, news came across the ocean from Germany, of the honey-extractor; and by the aid of a simple home-made machine I took 1000 lbs. of honey from 20 stocks, and increased them to 35. This made quite a sensation, and numbers embarked in the new business; but when I lost all but I1 of the 35 the next winter, many said, "There! I told you how it would turn out."
I said nothing, but went to work quietly and increased the 11 to 48 during the one season, not using the extractor at all. The 48 were wintered entirely without loss, and I think it was mainly because I took care and pains with each individual colony. From the 48 I secured 6162 lbs. of extracted honey, and sold almost the entire crop for 25 cents per lb. This capped the climax, and inquiries in regard to the new industry began to come in from all sides. Beginners were eager to know what hives to adopt,! nd where to get honey-extractors. As the hives in use seemed very poorly adapted to the use of the extractor, and as the machines offered for sale were heavy and poorly adapted to the purpose, besides being " patented," there really seemed to be no other way before me then to manufacture these implements. Unless I did this I should be compelled to undertake a correspondence that would occupy a great part of my time without affording any compensation of any account. The fullest directions I knew how to give for making plain simple hives, etc., were from time to time published in the _American Bee Journal_; but the demand for further particulars was such that a circular was printed, and, shortly after, a second edition; then another, and another. These were intended to answer the greater part of the queries; and from the cheering words received in regard to them it seemed that the idea was a happy one.
Until 1873 all these circulars were sent out gratuitously; but at thattime it was deemed best to issue a quarterly at 25 cents per year, for the purpose of answering these inquiries. The very first number was received with such favor that it was immediately changed to a monthly at 75 cents. The name given it was _Glemings in Bee Culture_, and it was gradual
by enlarged until, in 1876, the price was changed to $1.00. During all this time it has served the purpose excellently of answering questions as they came up, both old and new; and even if some new subscriber should ask in regard to something that had been discussed at length but a short time before, it is an easy matter to refer him to it or send him the number containing the subject in question.
When _Glicanings_ was about commencing its fifth year, inquirers began to dislike being referred to something that was published half a dozen years before. Besides, the decisions that were then arrived at perhaps needed to be considerably modified to meet present wants. Now you can see whence the necessity for this A B C book, its office, and the place we propose to have it till.
December, 1878.
## Introduction to the 1908 Edition
### The Development of Bee Culture in the United States.
Before the reader plunges into the subject-matter of this work he may be interested in knowing something of the early beginnings and the phenomenal growth of bee culture to its present stage of development. It will not be necessary to trace the early history of apleulture in foreign lands any more than to state that it was not until the invention of movable combs, handled in a very crude way, that the science of bee culture began to take any step forward; and it was not until a little later that the perfected frame of our own Father Langstroth was brought out that bee culture may be said to have assumed any commercial importance in this country.
In the early '50's bees were kept only in box hives, and in a very small and primitive way. A yield of ten fifteen pounds of dirty chunk honey per shep was considered a good yield; but after the Langstroth invention, by which the brood-nest of the colony could be investigated and manipulated, yields of anywhere from thirty-five to seventy-five pounds per colony of beautiful honey were common averages, and one hundred or two hundred pounds of extracted nothing extraordinary; indeed, a single colony in a good locality has been known to furnish anywhere from four hundred to seven hundred pounds. While such an output per live is extraordinary, it goes to show what was made possible through the Langstroth invention. So important was it that it may be truthfully said that the art of keeping bees was almost entirely revolutionized, not only in this country but in many parts of Europe as well.