Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1876-08-23
Bee Notes for August.

AVOID TOO many partly nlled boxes.
Beginners are to supply the place of
full boxes with empty ones too late in
the season. Instead of this the num-
Der of boxes should be diminished, and
in some cases those colonies which
work in boxes most rapidly, should fin
ish such as are partly filled by those
that work less freely Box honey that
has been packed away should be ex-
amined occasionally, and if the moth
worm is found in any, they should be
either removed or the boxes placed in
a tight box, and fumigated with brim.
stone. Such boxes should be placed
by themselves for home use, and when
honey is taken from them for the table,
all places disturbed by the worms can
be cut away. A correspondent asks
how the worms could get into his boxes
as he sealed them up tight when taken
from the hive. The eggs were deposit
ed in the boxes while still on the hive,
and sealing up closely aids the progress
of the worm; by retaining the heat.
Worms are seldom found in boxes only
such as contain bee bread.
! In most sections swarms will not Is
sue later than this month Each swarm
should be examined to ascertain if it
has laying queen. Young queens are
liable to be lost when sometimes a
swarm has no means of rearing an
other, and unless another queen is sup
piled, or brood from which to rear one
is given, the colony will soon be worth
| less.
Under the head of among the
Farmers correspondent asks plain,
practical question, and justly heads his
remarks, =" Wasted Sweets. y" Why
is it that We have no more bees?" is a
question that claims the attention of
every farmer. In attempting to give
some of the reasons why so few bees
are kept by the farmers. [ shall differ
somewhat with your correspondent. If
all who had attempted Bookkeeping had
been successful, the number of colonies
throughout the country would be far
greater than at present. The real an
swer to the question is, that the adj
vance that has been made in bee-cul-
ture during the past few years, is not
generally understood. The foremost
reason that would be given by the in
experienced, would no doubt be the
| fear of stings Were the present facil-
tiles for sUbduing bees. and the ease of
ample protection properly understood,
the fear Of stings would become one of
Again, many farmers as well as others,
would keep a few swarms if it were
not for the idea that they must be
watched during swarming time, and
thus interfere with their general bust
ness. This belongs with many other
absurdities of old time Bookkeeping.
Your correspondent speaks of the ease
of preventing loss of swarms. If he
means glass during winter and spring,
[ think he is in error. This is the
knotty point of Bookkeeping. Not that
the loss may not be prevented in a
great degree, but he should have said,
with greatest care and attention. He
suggests that it is not safe to move bees
less than three miles. Many can testify
! to having moved them one mile, and
even less, with entire satisfaction.
I am aware that in urging all to in
vestigate the interests of Bookkeeping, [
expose myself to criticism. We are
told by those interested in the produc-
ton Of honey, that in SO doing we are
working against our own interest. can
hardly believe that view correct, and if
it were, we should hardly be justified in
remaining silent while, as your CORE
spondent truly says, forage for bees
abounds, and acres of honey are hard
ly slipped" Let me urge then that the
readers of these notes procure some
standard work on bee-culture, and learn
for themselves what, as the late Mr.
Quinby expressed it, "they are losing,
not for the asking, but for the taking"
Besides, it is an interesting pursuit-so
much so that if those who study it new
er keep bee, it will be time well spent
to learn their natural history.
Let me not be understood as convey
ing the idea that it is a business in
which any one can be successful with
out persevering study and effort, and if
one engages in it extensively, he will
find plenty of hard work. Bookkeeping
is an excellent business, and the care of
few as an amusement or for home
supply, involves altogether different
methods of handling aid practice.
While few are adapted to pursue bee
keeping on large scale, almost any
one can succeed with a few colonies.
! l would here repeat the suggestion i
made in former number, that ques-
tons of general interest be forwarded
to me to be answered through these
columns. c. Root, IN american Agri-
collturia.
Useful Receips
PorATo SoUP.-Eight potatoes, two
turnips, four large onions, boiled Ito
gether, in beef, mutton, or poultry
water) to jam; then strain through a
colander, then add butter rubbed in
flour Ia little) with cream or sweet milk,
pepper and salt; chopped parsley in
the bottom of the tureen; let soup boil
up well, then pour over the parsley.
i SUMNER SANDwIcHEs.-Take half a
}, pound of butter, three tablespoonful
of nice sweet oil, little white or red