Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1861-08-01
Bees Differing in Habit and instinct.

Eds. Prairie Farmer An article with the
| above heading, over the signature of Pierce
Driskol, made its advent in the seventh vol.
| ume Of the Prairie Farmer, page 237. Some
portions of that article am satisfied need a
little attention. 1t appears that Mr.. d. has
misinterpreted what was said in my article on
page l69, same volume, respecting the habits
and instinct of the honey bee. Whether this
was done designedly or not, 1 leave for the
| reader to judge. If Mr.. D. will carefully
study my remarks on that subject, and note
with care the marks of punctuation used, he
will doubtless find that / did not say, nor
intimate even, that bees differ in different
localities in their habits and instinct; more
over, do not believe any such nonsensical
theory.
1t seems that Mr. D. believes that the bees
will build their combs in sectional frames,
when left to direct their own lsbors, with as
much regularity rs in frames of the simplest
construction, or, in other words. such frames
as have no compartments. That bees in West
ern and Central New York, as we'll as in Ohio
and In fact in every other section Of our cOun-
try-excepting that at or near BIoomingdaIe
Illinois seldom build their combs properly
In frames of sectional construction, is proof
positive that Mr.. D. has either a very pecu-
liar variety of the honey bee, or that his expe-
rience with sectional frame hives is very linn
tied.
with regard to the frames being glued to-
gether with propolis, thereby rendering the
removal OF the sections somewhat difficult
some seasons bees gather but little propOls, in
others much larger quantities. hence it will be
made use OF in proportion to the amount gath
creditor bees never deposit it in cells as thew
dc pollen. Now, in seasons of scarcity, the
sections may not be glued together very firm
ly, but In seasons Of plenty it would be con-
trary to the habits Of the honey bee not to
glue or seal up every joint or crevice within
their hive. 1t seems to me quite preposter-
Gus that any writer should attempt to palm off
the fallacious idea that the bees will not glue
the sections together, provided they can OBJ
tain the propolis. so as to render their removal
quite difficult and in some instances extreme
ly so.
But suppose they may be easily removed at
pleasure, they are certainly of no practical
value. Vendors of sectional frame hives make
great ado respecting their many superior
advantages" This course is taken principslIy
to draw veil over the eyes of the purchaser
that the vendors may be enabled to catch as
many gudgeons as possible. Practical bee
keepers who have used movable frames vari-
ously constructed, or who have relied on the
experience of others in whom they could place
the utmost confidence, have almost unanimous
ly decided that the simplest forms of the frame
proper Is the best for practical and general
use. Changing the combs from one part OF
the frame to some other by means of the SEC
tions. or their use for any purpose whatever,
will hardly compensate for the extra expense
incurred in their construction. They are re-
garded of no pecuniary advantage to the
practical bee-keeper, nor his bees, hence they
certainly cannot be to him Of but little or no
Importance, nor to his bees. There il nothing
necessary to be done to bees, or their combs
but may readily be done hy such bives as are
provided with the simplest form of movable
frames. NJ. NJ. BALDRIDGE.
Mtddtep0rt, Niagara Co., " T., 1861