BEE-spoke-data/bees-v0 huggingface dataset:
For many years Mr. Langstroth, who is now seventy-seven years of age, has suffered, and only from time to time, and at long intervals, has he been able to take up with his favorite pursuit. We regretted that when we visited America last summer he was not in a condition to see us, and nothing would have given us greater pleasure than to have grasped this veteran's hand and looked into his benevolent face. Ever devoted to the science he loves so well, according to a friendly letter we received from him a few days ago, he was even then, during a period of convalescense, at the apiary of Mr. Heddon studying the capabilities of the Heddon system. His head troubles have prevented him from earning his living, and it is because this master of bee-keepers has been robbed of his means of livelihood by some of those who have reaped the benefit of his labor, that he is not now, in his old age, in comfortable and independent circumstances. From time to time small sums have been subscribed, and in 1879 "The Langstroth Fund " was started in America. In that year Mr. Newman visited England, and at a meeting of British and Foreign Bee-keepers held at our residence in Horsham, a subscription was started which amounted to about _61_. _68_., the whole amount collected here and in America barely reaching 40_. Since that time small sums have been remitted to him, but how out of all proportion is this to the benefits conferred by him on the world! It is now propose in America to raise a sum of money in order to purchase an annuity, and every bekeeper there will have an opportunity to pay some tribute to his great leader. But why should we stand aloof and do nothing? On another page our correspondent, "Amateur Expert," in his pathetic appeal, says," ("Ke Let us, as
The Bee-KeeperS' Magazine. 207
that it is almost impossible to dispose of a large lot if an advance of only a few cents per pound is added. They should not confound their own small home trade (even if their crop was 5,000 pounds or more) with the trade of dealers in large cities. They should know that the country is not saved, if only _they_ have disposed of their crop at a good price.
There are two large dealers, one of them in New York, who, under the impulse of a "short crop," bought comb honey which they now offer at \(2\) cents per pound below cost. Such is not healthy business, and it will come back to the bee-keeper another season.
Sanguine bee-keepers will be the cause if we have an over-production, a honey amine, and again an over-production all in the course of twelve months. This is within the range of possibilities in our country, where we occasionally slide from one extreme to another. "
Comb honey will remain a luxury. It will sell fast when cheap enough, and though a good business can be done in it for the bee-keeper and dealers its production will be only of secondary consideration as compared with that of extracted honey. Since manufacturers make use of extracted honey, it bids fair to become a staple article; nothing will hinder it from becoming such, unless the prices part on will place it beyond the reach of manufacturers. Its prices will be controlled more or less by the prices of sugar syrup, which cannot be otherwise. Let us make due note of it.
The wish to obtain the highest market prices is the most natural with producers, and nobody is more deserving of that privilege than they are. Manufacturers know from their time of labor, which is worth a certain amount per day, and their cash outlay, how to determine the price of their goods. Farmers, gardeners, bee-keepers, and others, however, labor for uncounted hours; and when their product is marketed, they have to accept the prices that they can get. They determine nothing.
When times are flush, and demand is good, good prices are realized, and the reverse is the case when times are dull. Is it a wonder that a sort of anarchistic feeling creeps over the producers? Our condition should be bettered. There is no doubt about it. But how shall we proceed?
Farmers sell their wheat to their neighboring mills, to dealers (middle-men), or they ship it to the city. Whoever pays the best price is the buyer. Gardeners, bringing their produce to the city, sell it in the market as a general rule; but if they fail to dispose of it, they leave it with shippers (middle-men again) to dispose of it for them. These shippers have a custom among hotels and boarding-houses; other dealers ship to other places, and make a living in their own manner, benefiting themselves and others. Without these midlemen our gardeners would labor under great disadvantages. Our markets would be poor shows without the "huckster."
The same proportions holds good with bee-keepers. Honey-dealers are not only ornamental when occasion offers--for instance at fairs, exhibitions, etc.--but they are useful and indispensable to bee-keepers.
The dealer holds forth in a place handy to consumers and other dealers; makes himself acquainted with the wants of the public, and works up a demand, the like of which is just as impossible for the bee-keeper to do, as it is for the farmer to peddle out his own wheat among his neighbors. The dealer has facilities which the bee-keeper has not.
The truth of the proverb, "Every one to his own trade," has been displayed to me lately so well that the matter deserves to be mentioned in this connection. A party had offered to us his services as a salesman. Talking the matter over, he came to the conclusion that he would be a poor whole-saler, but that he would do better by buying the honey of us and selling it in his own manner, and on his own account. We had no objections.
He took a so-pound can of honey on a passing street car, and went to the lower part of the city. Here he commenced to canvass, homeward, every 208 THE BEE-KEEPERS' MAGAZINE.
house. His can became lighter as he went on, and when he reached our neighborhood it was empty.
He took another 5o-pound can, and canvassed another street in a similar manner, etc. In less than two weeks our friend and brother bee-keeper had sold 8co pounds of honey, and cleared $67. He told me that he sold his own honey in the same manner when at home, How many producers in a hundred could do like he did? This time you see he was a middle-man, useful to himself and others, and I had no reason to begrudge his large profits.
Middlemen are useful to all branches of industry, otherwise they would not be there. Large manufacturers would be lost without them. The prosperity of their business depends upon them to a great extent; otherwise they would not pay them high salaries or large commissions.
It is a lack of experience, or a sign of narrow-heartedness in a number of bee-keepers to consider the dealer a leech, instead of a benefator--an opinion not shared, however, by the larger part of experienced bee-keepers.
In dull times, like the present, the bulk of the honey would remain unsold in the hands of bee-keepers, but for the unceasing industry of dealers, who take upon themselves responsibilities, invest their capital, and use their best endeavors for their own success and that of bee-keepers. Their interests are mutual, and their motto should be: "How can we best work and best agree?"
egin{tabular}{l l} _Cincinnati, Ohio._ & \ Read at the Eastern New York Bee-Keepers'Association. & \ \end{tabular}
**Honey Exhibitions at Fairs.** & \ \end{tabular}
four for the drone, and sixteen for the queen. A low temperature in the hive retards the development of brood, and a high one facilitates it. A good strong colony of bees in the working season will number about twenty thousand. The natural instinct of the bee is to gather liquid sweets; and this instinct is so strong that it cannot resist the temptation under any circumstances when an opportunity presents itself. And in carrying out this instinct of nature, given to it for a wise and benefinent purpose, there comes incidentally the fertilization of fruits and flowers.
## 2 Fertilization by bees.
For the value of the United States hay and grass crop, $1,200,000,000 is probably not a large estimate. When we consider that the clover, of which there are forty native species in this country ; the common Red Clover, so valuable and nutritious for hay and pasture; the White or Dutch, frequently a considerable addition to the hay crop, and very valuable for pasture in conjunction with blue grass, thriving well in the shade; the Alsike or Swedish Clover (_Trifolium hybrida_), so valuable for both hay and pasture; the Southern Clover (_Trifolium Carolinianum_) valuable for pasture; the (_Trifolium Involarum_), an annual; the Japan Clover (_Lespedesa striata_,) which has been tried with gratifying results in the South; when we consider that these furnish at least one-fourth (perhaps one-third) of our hay crop and pasture grass, and that they are all, except the red clover (and that in conjunction with the bumble bee), dependent on the honey bee for the fertilization of their flowers, and consequent production of seed, we see something of the value of this wonderful little insect, in the economy of nature. There are upwards of $5,000,000 farms in this country which, with an average of six colonies of bees per farm; and an average yield of forty pounds per colony, would give 1,200,000,000 of her brief but useful life she asketh neither grave nor monument. Let a grateful people write her obituary.
### How Bees Make Cells.
In _Murray's Magasine_ we find the following explanation of the geometrical forms which the cells of the honeycomb assume: Recent measurements and observations have tended to dissipate the cell myth, and to show not only that honey-comb is far from regular, but that such regularity as it has is due merely to mechanical conditions.
Mr. Frank Cheshire tells us in his recent volume, that careful measurements of the finest pieces of comb, built with every advantage for securing regularity, show that so far from every cell being geometrically accurate, it is difficult to find a hexagon presenting errors of less than three or four degrees in its angles. On the other hand there is a growing tendency to accept a modification of Buffon's explanation of the origin of cell structure. Buffon attributed the regularity of the cells to mutual pressure ; in illustration where-of he packed a closed vessel with dried peas and filled up the interstices with water. The peas, which were thus caused to swell, assumed, under the pressure which resulted, the form of more or less accurate geometrical figures.
Perhaps a still better illustration of this principle of mutual inter-action is seen in soap bubbles. If a little soapy water is placed in the bottom of a tumbler and air be blown into the water through a tube until the upper part of the glass is full of bubbles, the hexagonal which these bubbles assume under mutual pressure, and the trilateral pyramids at their bases, will be readily seen. Not that these geometrical figures are the same as those which the wax assumes, but they illustrate the principle. For, at the temperature of the hives, the wax, pared thin by the smooth-edged jaws of the workers, has all the plasticity of a fluid membrane. The bee has indeed to avoid the paring away to far, and thus making a hole through the wall. But even here it may be aided by mechanical conditions.
If we take a thin piece of soap and pare away one face with the blade of a* 212 THE BEE-KEEPERS' MAGAZINE.
* 212 warm quarters, and the necessary egg food, so they will lay when eggs command a good price.
* 22 Winter-dairying and bee-keeping might join hands ; they certainly should be friends, for where would the dairy-man be without the busy bees? A farmer once complained that a neighbor's bees robbed his cows by taking away the sweet from the heads, and yet he was in debt to the bees for the closer. The Indians call White Clo-ver the 'white man's tracks," better where we are enabled to compare the "bees' companion," for when bees are introduced into a neighborhood, the modest heads of the White Clover are soon nodding in the breeze. A bee-keeper of Evanston lately said to the writer that when he commenced keeping bees, there was very little when clover there ; now it is spreading evening a better market. Our first aim everywhere.
* 23 Teaching and bee-keeping are agreeably suited to each other, for one needs the other. The teacher needs the quieting influence of fresh air and sunshine, the humming of insects amid nature's surroundings. During the busiest season in the apiary, teachers have their vacation, and are at liberty to spend all their time amid the busy workers.
* 24 Read at N. Y. State Convention.
* 25 How Can We Increase the Demand for Honey and Maintain Present Prices?
* 26 L. C. ROOT.
Those who have carefully read the various bee journals during the past year have observed the unusual interest which has been manifested in regard to the disposition of our products at remunerative prices. I have many times expressed the opinion before this body that far too much thought was being given in the direction of producing large quantities of honey and too little to the better quality and proper disposition of the same. I have so often expressed my views upon this subject, that I shall offer but few suggestions. Enough has been said, and practical plans enough have been offered to entirely revolutionize the system of marketing. To tell the exact truth, we have had too much talk, followed by far too little action. The great needs at present may be briefly stated as follows :
First, to attain to a higher standard in the production of our honey. This will be reached through the great freedom of discussion which is taking place in all our bee literature. I am a thorough advocate of the "question and answer department" of our papers, where we are enabled to compare the opinions of so many of our best bee-keepers, expressed in so concise and explicit a manner. We should remember that anything tending to educate in the direction of raising the quality of our honey to a higher standard is exactly in line with creating and strengthening a better market. Our first aim should be a prime quality, and next complete and perfect finish so that it shall be attractive and agreeable to handle. All of this means proper fall management and winter work ; successful wintering, and proper spring management ; so that stocks shall be populous and in condition to store honey rapidly, which aids its neat appearance. In short, it means all the year round, _hard work_.
Second, we need to guard and foster most strenuously the fact that our product is a pure and wholesome article of food. In fact, the only commercial sweet, furnished entirely from natural sources, that has undergone no process of manufacture. It is as wholly and truly as natural a production as milk, and has ranked with it in all ages past.
Third. We now come to the point where we need a reformation. We talk much about "developing a home market," "creating a greater demand for our honey," "'making proper exhibits at our fairs," etc., but we fail to practice what we advocate. In my opinion, one of the very greatest needs in the direction of solving the problem you have asked me to consider is an entire revolution in our system of marketing. Our wares should be handled in every large and important market, by those who are thoroughly informed in every branch of bee culture.
This society has talked, and made some effort in the right direction, but it has failed to put its practical suggestions and plans into successful operation. Those who handle our products should be directly concerned in the best interests of producer and consumer, and should command the confidence of all. As John Aspinwall recently said, in discussing this question. ''it is simply a question of supply and demand.''
What we lack is thorough organization. No great undertaking is successfully carried on without it. We should have our ''North American Association working in a broad and generous way, in harmony with like societies throughout the entire world. We should also have our State and provincial organizations, which should be represented at the general convention by delegates ; each State should be thoroughly organized and send its delegates from town to county and from county to State. This would insure concentrated effort. The whole body of bee-keepers would in this way act more as a unit, and in unity there is strength. We only need concentrated action to open up new avenues for the use of our products, and to awaken a fuller appreciation of the character of honey and its value for food, medicine, confectionery, and other manufacturing purposes, and a general commercial sweet. I think my experience will warrant me in saying that the best investment bee-keepers could possibly make would be to create a fund ample enough to command the services of some person fully competent who should give his entire time to the development of this very important branch of their business. If this systematic organization could be effected, the necessary tax on the individual bee-keeper would be very slight, and would bring a hundred fold return. I feel certain that the results of judicious action in this direction would more than equal our expectations.
It is always well to wear a veil in handling bees, as the eyes are too valuable members to run the risk of losing.
more relief is obtained by frequently -
tasting it than from anything else. Nearly twenty years ago I found the greatest benefit in an attack of quinsy by using a gargle of red sage, acidulated with vinegar, and well sweetened with honey. Honey _ad libitum_ as a laxative, and mixed with borax for thrush, is, of course, a common household medicine for children. We will leave out of our view the value of honey as a food, as a heat-producer, consisting, as it does principally, of carbon and water, the two sugars dextrose and levulose, invert sugar. We know it is readily assimilated in the stomach, and should be eaten with some attenuating substance such as bread.
Mr. Cheshire, in " Honey as Food," tells us " Why honey has a curative effect it is difficult to say for certain, but one may theorise, and ascribe this fact to the readiness with which it combines with mucous tissue. Honey is variable, and therefore its value as a medicine cannot always be the same."
In " Honey, as Food and Medicine," we have a list of prescriptions which are almost incredulously efficacious, a few of which may be named as startlers : Inflammation and congestion of the lungs followed by unconsciousness were cured by eating honey at all times of the day and night until ten pounds were consumed. Herr Karl Gatter was at the verge of the grave, and was restored to perfect health by the use of honey. Consumption is cured by it, and in ancient times it was used as a means of securing long life, and it is said to be an excellent remedy in diseases of the bladder and kidneys. The recipes are : For asthma, honey of squills, honey cough syrup, eye-wash, balsam of honey, for croup, for bronchitis, honey salve, for coughs, colds, whooping coughs, etc., honey-wash for the eyes, gargle for sore throat, cancer plaster, honey cough medicine, honey and tar cough candy, honey for sore eyes, honey and walnut cough candy, remedy for whooping cough, colds, etc.
Granting that all these prescriptions are good and effectual, what is there about honey that is absent in sugar which brings about such apparently
wonderful results? It is in this direction we will turn our gaze. We know the effect produced upon the nerves at the roots of our teeth by briging them into contact with fresh honey, strong in acid, and it may be that the excess of formic acid secreted by the bee is used by it in giving its honey this strong acid reaction. Indeed, it is not beyond the bounds of reason to suppose that the supply of this acid to the bee is not intended for use so much as sting poison as for purely domestic purposes. There is not much doubt that the acid contained in honey is beneficial to both stomach and liver. What else is there in honey? Well, myriads of pollen-grains, and these contain chemical principles of undoubted medical potency. Putting aside the huks (the exiting and intine of the pollen-grain) the outermost skin is found to be reticulated with ridges, the seat of a secretion of sticky oil. The contents are a sticky fluid rich in potassium, sometimes transparent, sometimes opaque, by reason of floating granules (fovilla), which granules are declared by Herapath to contain as much as forty-six per cent of a peculiar inflammable _azoticed_ (?) principle insoluble in nearly every liquid. I imagine it is soluble by gastric juice. These granules were found to be invisible in many fresh pollens, since the fluid in which they swim has the same refractive power as the granules ; some of them are drops of oil, wilst others consist of proteine compounds. Many pollen tubes will develop in nectar, by osmose of water, and produce in their own tubes other chemical combinations, and as the growth of these tubes often exceeds the diameter of the pollen grain by a hundred diameters, their chemical positions in the honey must be somewhat considerable. We have then (leaving the sugar of honey on one side) to deal with formic acid and the protoplasmic contents of pollen-cells, when we think of honey as a medicine. The most important factor, in my opinion, remains yet to be considered. I allude to its flavor. Mr. Otto Hehner tells us " he has not been able by chemical means to distinguish between honey from one kind of a 216 THE BEE-KEEPERS' MAGazine.
flower and any other." We must all admit that such a difference exists. We know that honey collected from poisonous plants is materially affected by the active deleterious or objectionable or medicineable principle, secreted by such plant, the rhododend family, azaleas and kalmias being an instance of this. Does it not follow, as nectar is a secretion and an exudation of the plant cell, that it is charged and pervaded by the active principle, beneficial or otherwise, of the plant? Many instances of the identity of the nectar flavor, and the distinguishing principle of the plant which secretes it, can be given :
Citric acid is found in fruits and flowers of the orange tribe.
Tartaric acid is found in grape juice.
Malic acid is found in the apple, gooseberry,etc.
Tannic acid is found in the oak, etc.
Hydrocyanic (prussic) is found in the cherry laurel.
Oxalic acid is found in sorrel and rhubarb.
Galic acid is found in all kinds of galls.
Of poisonous principles we find alkaloids of
Towig and
Towig in cichona.
Morphine in opium.
Solanine in plants of the potato tribe.
Veratine in spadilla.
Aconotine in monkshood and aconites.
Strychnine in nux vomica.
Acropine in belladona.
Pipreine in pepper.
Thiene or caffeine in tea and coffee.
Some of the most poisonous plants bear the gaugiest flowers, and such we know are peculiarly attractive to bees, whilst many plants unwholesome as food are invaluable as medicine. Most of the unbellifere are poisonous, the same may be said of the cannulaceae, _e. g._, anemone, pulsatilla, delphinium, moonkshood, aconium vulgar. The poppy family, papaveraceae, are notorious (P. somniferum). The crucifers are, however, non-poisonous. When we come to the violet family we find one of our most valuable medicines (ipecacuanha), obtained from the root of a violet grown in Peru. The buckhorn (rhammus) gives us a valuable medicinal fruit ; from the spindle tree family we get the valuable active principle enouymine. The seeds of the laburnum are poisonous. The cherry
The BEE-KEEPERS' MAGAZINE.
**Extracted Honey.**
The following is an abstract of a paper by R. F. Holtermann, of Bradford, Canada, on "Extracted Honey :"
George H. Knickerbocker-Bees and Queens, Pine Plains, N. Y. G. M. Doolittle's Method of Raising Queens, Published by E. H. Cook, Andover, Conn. A. F. Bright--Bees and Queens, Mazeppa, Minn. Wm. H. Wiguion--Poultry Specialities--1078 Eighth Street, Philadelphia, Pa.
**S75.00 to $250.00** A Month can be made _working for us._ Agts. _preferred who can finish a horse and give their whole time to the business._ _Sparse moments may be profitability employed also._ _A few vacancies in towns and cities, B. F. Johnston & Co., 1009 Main St., Richmond, Va._
**Station this Magazine when answering advertisement.**
**TRENSFERING.**