BEE-spoke-data/bees-v0 huggingface dataset:
We do not advocate or believe in the use of glucose in any form, either for feeding or otherwise. At the New York State Convention, Mr. Root said that in Ohio, some honey taken from the hives was examined by a chemist and found adulterated, and yet the bekeeper declared the honey to have been stored by the bees. If he used the food receipt of Mr. A. I. Root, to stimulate and then extracted it, no doubt it _was_ adulterated and the chemist was right. However, we must not judge entirely without the real facts, as _Gleanings_ and the _American Bee Journal_ have done. They have both pitched into the commissioner's work without knowing the facts. They dash at the "comb honey" item without seeing that this was simply the legend on the label and that the contents were not comb honey, but as the "commissioner" has so clearly put it, in a letter published in this issue, the contents were put up _a la_ Hoge, a small strip of pure comb honey 'floating in a sea of glucose."
The editor of the _American Bee Journal_ has gone quite off the hooks, as he did in the case of Mrs. Thomas, and the absurdity of his editorials, is apparent, when it is stated that he (the
Cooper Union is founded on the second motive and should always stand out as one of the grandest institutions of the age. We are glad to note its prosperity.
**For the Bee-Keepers' Magazine,**
_(Continued,)_
The young people of Marston were especially favored in a social and literary point of view. The Orthodox and Episcopal clergymen were both young and public-spirited men, who entered with enthusiasm into any project which would promote the welfare of the community in which they lived. Through their united efforts a Young Men's Christian Association had been formed, and two large rooms had been rented in the bank building, which were used, one as a library and reading room, and the other as a hall where literary meetings and festivals could be held. These rooms were tastefully decorated and adorned with choice engravings and were made very attractive to the young people who assembled there.
The Marston Literary Circle, or Lycum, was a branch of the Young Men's Christian Association, and included the larger part of the school boys and young men of the village. The meetings where held in the hall described, the first and third Friday evenings of each month, and topics of general interest in the fields of science, religion and politics were brought up and freely and interestingly discussed. Very often the clergymen mentioned, or prominent lawyers or business men, would be present and talk familiarly with the young men on some subject about which they desired information. Thus the society was a wide-awake one and a means of culture to the lads. Twice during the winter the parents and young lady friends were invited, and at the close of the literary exercises an hour was spent in a social way with music and refreshments. For these general meetings especial care was taken to have an interesting and pleasing programme.
Rob Heath was considered one of the society's most talented members, and he had often been urged to suggest some subject for the meeting, and accordingly when he became interested in bee-keeping the thought that this subject would, from its novelty, attract all, occurred to him, and upon mentioning the plan, the society had unanimously voted that he be requested to read a paper on apiculture at the December meeting. The meeting appointed for the lecture proved to be a bright moonlightone, the sleighing was excellent, and the young people of Marston attended in large numbers. Ned Stern s had invited Mollie to go with him in his cutter, and Mrs. Heath and Nan, with Tom and Rob followed in their sleigh. Since Ned had been with his uncle at the woolen mill he had taken quite an active part in the association work, and had become so popular that the young men had elected him president.
At half-past seven precisely Ned took his seat as presiding officer, and calling the meeting to order, after welcoming the guests, introduced Rob as the speaker of the evening and announced that Tom would preside at the blackboard and explain the numerous illustrations which he had skillfully drawn. Rob, producing his manuscript proceeded to read as follows :
"Apiculture, or the science of bee-keeping is one of the most interesting as well as profitable employments known. The keeping of bees for pleasure and recreation, as well as profit, has for many ages attracted the attention of man. Indeed this science dates back to such remote times, that the origin of bee-keeping is not known. As far back in Bible times as when Joseph's father sends to him, the then unknown ruler in Egypt, presents by his brethren, honey is mentioned as included among the other gifts. A little later on the spies sent to view the promised land speak of it as 'a land 198 THE BEE-KEEPERS' MAGazine.
**instrument, its delicately tapering point**
**barbed like a fish-hook. The sting is composed of three parts, the outer shell and two barbed spears that slide partly inside of it. When the point of one spear penetrates far enough to get one barb under the skin the bee has made a hold and has no difficulty in sinking his sting the whole length into the wound, for the pumping motion commences, operated by small powerful muscles which work with sufficient power to send the sting through a thick leather glove. The working of the spear pumps down the poison which affects some persons much more disagreeably than others. The bee can use its sting but once, for in parting with it, it loses its life. Bees do not usually attempt to sting except when annoyed or in self defense.**
**"The drones or male bees are stouter and more bulky though somewhat shorter than the queen, being a little less than three-quarters of an inch in length and their wings are long enough to cover the entire abdomen. They are generally found in the hive from May to November, when they usually number several hundred. They are easily recognized when flying by their loud noisy hum. They are physically disqualified for performing any labors in the hive. Their probocsis is too short for extracting the honey from flowers, and being destitute of a sting they cannot aid in protecting the stores from robber bees. They are necessary in the swarming season for the impregnation of the queen, and when this service is accomplished or when honey becomes scarce they are driven forth by the workers and destroyed. The 4 drones are lazy fellows and often allow the workers to feed them, and as oftentimes their presence occasions an unnecessary consumption of honey, it is often thought expedient by bee-keepers to decrease their number by the use of a drone trap.**
**"Let us now take a hive of bees and speak about some practical matters in bee-keeping. Experience is needful in this, as in every undertaking, to become successful. It is best to commence with only two or three colonies. Take this hive for instance: It is a Langstroth Simplicity hive. I will open it and show you how it is arranged. The hive itself should be made of good pine or whitewood lumber, thoroughly seasoned and planed on both sides. The lower part contains ten frames hung on rabbets and prepared with wire and foundation, all ready for the bees to take possession. Part of these frames are used for brood and part for storing honey. If you take a frame out of an unoccupied hive early in the spring you will observe cells differing in appearance, often on a single frame. For instance here are cells of worker bees, next cells of drone bees and near by queen cells forming. You will notice that the drone cells are larger and of different shape from those of the worker bee, and the queen cells are larger still and project in long, tapering points and are in shape like a thimble. The skill of the worker bees in building the comb is something wonderful. Prof. Cook, in 'The Bee-Keeper's Guide,' gives the following description of cell building : 'The structure of each cell is quite complex, the base is a triangular pyramid whose three faces are rhombs and whose apex forms the center of the floor of the cell. From the six non-adjacent edges of the three rhombs extend the lateral walls of the cell. The apex of this basal pyramid is a point where the contiguous faces of three cells on the opposite side meet and form the angle of the base of each of three opposite cells. One side thus braces the other and adds much to the strength of the comb. Each cell then is in the form of a hexagonal prism terminating in a flattened triangular pyramid. The bees usually build several combs at once and carry forward several cells on each side of each comb constantly by adding to the number by additions at the edge.' The process of comb building as given by Huber was thus : 'The bees abstract the wax scales, carry them to their mouth, add the frothy saliva, and then knead and draw out the yellow ribbons which were fastened to the top of the hive or added to the comb already commenced.' The diameter of the worker
200 THE BEE-KEEPERS' MAGAZINE.
cells averages a little more than one-fifth of an inch, the drone cells a little more than one-fourth of an inch, the depth of the worker cell a little less than half an inch, those of the drones a little more than half an inch. When used solely as honey receptacles these cells are often drawn out so as to be an inch long. The capping of the brood cell is dark, porous and convex, while that of the honey cell is white and concave.' The character of the cells therefore we perceive depends upon whether drones are needed or honey to be stored.
'It is interesting to notice, as shown by illustrations, the bee in its different stages of development from egg into larvae and then into the baby bee, and when watching the growth of the live bee we are astonished to find how naturally it assumes its duties, first, of feeding those younger than itself, then of fanning or ventilating the hive, and at length the more active duties of gathering honey and making comb. Some one asks where the wax comes from with which it builds the cells, and we find the answer that 'it exudes from the rings or folds of the abdomen of the worker bees.' The development of the queen, which the other bees feed with royal jelly, is one of especial interest, and if there exist two or three queen cells at the same time, on the sixteenth day, when the queens gnu their way out, unless the workers have assisted them to uncap the cells, we may expect to hear a weak, piping war cry between the two rivals and then witness a conflict which ends in the destruction of one and the victory of the other ; for but one queen rules at a time, and to her all the other members of the colony pay homage.
'But let us now examine the upper part of the hive. Here we have twenty-four one-pound boxes in which the surplus honey is stored. From this extra honey, which is sold either as comb or extracted honey for from twenty to thirty cents per pound, according to its quality, comes one source of the beekeeper's revenue. The quality of the honey depends greatly upon the flowers from which it is
instead of letting them swarm naturally.
Rules for doing this are given in a number of good, reference books.
" For information contained in this article we are greatly indebted to 'The New Bee-Keepers' Text Book, the 'A, B, C of Bee Culture,' and the 'Be-Keepers'Guide.' Should any one wish to see an apiary in working order they can call at the Heath apiary, Rosecroft, early next May, and observe for themselves the internal arrangement of a hive.
" When we consider that the number of colonies of bees in the United States in 1881 were 3,000,000, and the honey production for that year was more than 200,000,000 pounds, and the cash value of that year's crop was $30,000,000, and that in the years since much larger figures have been reached, we realize that apiculture is an important factor in the revenue of our country, and we urge the importance of more thorough information in respect to this science, in which we see so plainly the wonderful workings of a Divine Creator, and a more general adoption of bee-keeping as an occupation. For women, as well as men, it has proved a lucrative employment and one condusive to health. Let us then intelligently consider the subject, learning from it lessons of wisdom in the industry of these little insects ourselves, and presenting its attractions to others."
" Well, Molly, those closing sentences were yours," said Ned, as he handed her some refreshments at the close of the lecture.
" Rob came in for the history part, Nan for the flowers, and Tom for the money and advertising items. I think it was very well done, if only the women had been left out of the business part of the subject."
" Now, Ned, you must not say anything against apiculture. I think the folks listened quite attentively and will read up on the subject. You might get your uncle to donate some books on bee-keeping to the library here."
" I will do so on one condition, that you will make the firm 'Heath Brothers,' after one more year," said Ned.
The lecture was pronounced a success, as was also the delicate honey cakes which were passed round with the ice cream later in the evening.
For the Bee-Keepers' Magazine.
Treatment of After-Swarms.
After-swarms are all swarms that issue after the first or prime swarm is gone forth. The first swarm is usually accompanied by the old queen, and if we then examine the combs we find a number of queen cells in various stages of development. This, however, is not always the case, for I have found Italians issuing without any queen cells being started. The second or first _after_ swarm will then not issue for some time, whilst in cases of sealed cells being in the hive when the first swarm leaves a second may be expected in from seven to nine days.
I produce both comb and extracted honey so that I need never turn any customer away. I have peddled honey through the country from a wagon, and made a success of it, but later on found that I could make more to stay at home after I had once gotten my name advertised over the country as a honey man. People come to me now to buy honey whom I never saw before, having tasted some a friend had bought. I have no use for commission men in the sale of honey, and it seems to me that any practical bee-keeper, who would bestir himself, advertise his honey by his talk, hand out _always_ a first-class article, neat and clean, can find local sale for all the honey anyone locality can produce, provided the field is not too full. I have many to compete with but they are falling off every year, and those who stay are the ones who don't get wild, are satisfied with a steady year 'round sale, and willing to take poor years with the good.
There are many more points that I would like to touch, but I have taken too much space already.
_Oneida, Ill.,?um. 15, '88. 21\({}^{\circ}\)_ below zero.
A swarm of bees was recently found (and taken) clustered on a stake in the Hudson river, 1500 feet from shore.
Why do we spend hours in the hot suushine bending over hives of angry bees? Why do we fuss and putter with sticky messes? Why do we saw and hammer, putty and paint, pounding our fingers and soiling our clothes, all for the sake of a few bees. What pleasure the bee master takes in aiding the weak colonies (O so many) and pushing the strong (O so few). What a pleasure to put on hundreds of snowy sections, carefully fitted with golden foundation, to be taken off a few weeks later so beautifully decorated with propolis and the foundation so nicely drawn out--of its place. What a thrill it sends through one to open a hive of golden belted amazons from fair Italy's sunny shores and find each maiden awaiting your arrival with polished darts of love (?). How thoughtful of them to _point_ out each hole in one's garments. How kindly they escort one to the honey house and how patiently they wait to aid one from the dwelling house. How impartial they are in their attentions, caressing the baby's cheek the mother's nose, and even the cat is not forgotten. How quickly they go to aid the neighbor trying to urge his sleepy horse along. How kindly and sweetly they hurry the tardy school boy onward. How _pointed_ their reminder to the chickens that Dame Nature has forgotten some feathers. In fact they pay their respects to all creation. Why should we not love the bees?
_Drownville, K. I., June 15, 1888. 21\({}^{\circ}\)_ below zero.
BEE-ESCAPE.
Plans for Making Bee-Escapes for Extracting-Room,
On page 77, Albert H. Lind asks how to make a bee-escape for his extracting room. In reply to the question, Dr. C. C. Miller, of Marengo, Ill., describe his plan as follows :
Bees will fly to the light, so it is important that there shall be no light admitted to the room except where the bees can escape. The place for escape may be a hole in the wall a foot square, or it may be a whole window. In either case, cover the whole of the aperture with wire cloth, and let the wire cloth be large enough to continue a foot or so above the aperture. Now if the whole thing be nailed down tight, of course no bee can get out ; so some plan must be devised to make the upper part stand out from the outside wall, for you understand that the wire cloth is nailed on the outside, not the inside of the building.
At each side of the window nail a piece of common lath on the building so that the lower end shall come 1 or 2 inches below the upper boundary of the aperture, and let the lath extend upward as tar as the wire cloth goes. Now nail the wire cloth on the lath. It may be necessar\(\Lambda\) to have a piece of lath midway between the two side pieces, so as to hold the wire cloth more firmly to its place. This makes an open space of \(\hat{ imes}\)s of an inch through which the bees can go up and fly off, but no bee will think of starting at the top to come in.
The sash must be taken out of the window, or if less light is needed the upper sash can be let down, and a cloth, no matter how thin, be hung over the sash inside. In this case the wire cloth need not cover the lower part of the window, but pains must be taken to make the window bee-tight.
For greater economy, mosquito-netting may be used for all but a foot or so of the upper part, and even that may be of mosquito-netting, but it is so apt to get out of order.
Mr. S. Burton, of Eureka, Ill., gives his method as follows :
To make a bee-escape, I take screen wire on the outside of the window frame, aud make a hole at the top corner of the window about two inches in diameter. Then make a tube of screen-wire about 5 inches long, to fit the hole in the screen ; at the other end make about a half-inch hole, but none will enter. As they will go to the window to get in, there may be two or three such bee-escapes in the same window, if desired.
Rev. T. H. Dahl, of Stoughton, Wis., gives the following plan :
I will be glad to describe my own bee-escape, as it is an excellent one, and as far as I know it is the best yet in use. I would not part with it for fifty dollars, as it not only clears the honey-house of bees, but also of all other insects. It is used to a large extent among bee-keepers.
I use wire-cloth on the outside of all the windows in the room, and I fix it on so as to reach six or eight inches above the window.
I put it on in this way : I nail a piece of lath as long as the screen on each side of the window, and fasten the wire cloth on these pieces, and at the bottom of the window. There will then be an open space of \(\hat{ imes}\)s of an inch between the wall above the window and the wire cloth. Through this hole all the bees will escape, and none return, as the bees or other insects always try to get upward, and not downward.
It is better to darken all other windows but one, when you will get the bees out, and of course it is not necessary to put wire cloth on more than one window. By this "escape " I keep my honey-house entirely free from bees and flies during the whole summer.
Mr. Enoch Babb, of Herbst, Ind., writes as follows about his bee-escape :
I like my bee-escape very well, and ir is made as follows :
It is a common window in a double frame, that is, one frame inside of the other. Make the outside frame large enough to receive the inside frame containing the window, which should be put in like any ordinary window in a dwelling. To raise or lower it, put in a small bolt through both frames in the centre between the bottom and the top, oval the outside of the inside frame a little, and the window swings around and around.
Work near the window, and all the bees that are carried in will soon fly and alight on the window, when, in a twinkling, the window can be turned inside out. In real hot weather raise
## 10 The Bee-Keeppers' Magazine
The Bee-Keeppers' Magazine
Does every bee-keeper realize that in using a moveable comb hive he is morally indebted to Mr. Langstroth for the benefit he is deriving from it? And if he does, is he prepared to make some acknowledgement and return for this obligation?
For many years Mr. Langstroth, who wee more than to the Rev. L. L. Langstroth, or, as he is termed by our American friends, "Father Langstroth." How often in the progress and development of a science or industry the pioneers, those who were amongst the first, and who worked the hardest, very soon became forgotten. It is so in bee-keeping ; those who have done the most, and by their exertions have enabled many in the present day to become not only bee-keepers, but successful honey producers, are forgotten and ignored. But this is not all, for those who have benefited by others' brain efforts and experiences are frequently those who do their best to crush them. Do we not find repeatedly that claims are made to inventions and improvements without regard to what has been done before? Names of inventors, discoverers, and benefactors, are frequently forgotten in the eagerness to benefit at their expense. We might mention numbers of instances at the present day where inventions are used with but slight alteration, and the users deriving a pecuniary benefit, whilst tne originators, to whom the invention cost a large expenditure of brain power, many sleepless nights, and perhaps a large sum of money into the bargain, are completely ignored. We have a most striking instance of this in the case of the Rev. L. L. Langstroth. We do not wish to enter into the question of whether Langstroth, Munn, or any one else, was the first to invent the frame, but what we wish to point out is that Langstroth was the first to make the moveable frame hive a practical success, and by his work, _The Hive and Honey Bee_ which is still the standard on the subject, he opened up to the world the improved methods of bee-culture, which have led to the enormous success witnessed at the present time. Does every bee-keeper realize that in using a moveable comb hive he is morally indebted to Mr. Langstroth for the benefit he is deriving from it? And if he does, is he prepared to make some acknowledgement and return for this obligation?