The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1888-01-21
CRIMINAL COURT.
INFORMATION ABOUT BEES.
Several Indiana Apiarists Tell Some Things
They Have Learned by Experience.

The Indiana beek eepers' convention While II
has not been largely attended has BEEN one Of
much interest. ITO be a bee-keeper," remarked
one of the members yesterday, requires 6
temperament that can be kept under p srfec'
control. I have gone among swsrming bees
with my sleeves rolled up and without any ioro
lection. Bees will never sting unless the OF, r
ator becomes excited and hurried In his move
ments. Any striking about is inter-
preted by the bees TO mean antag-
onism. and they at once prove very
effective fighters There is much OF interest
about the movements of bees. For instance In
their household movements there Is such order
ly management and regularity Every bee has
line of duty to perform. The s7hoie colony is
worke rs and foragers. The young bees. being
unable to leave the hive. are, for the nrst tour
or five days after their birth. made nurse-bees
and continually walk about the eggce US 70 Keep
up q Matching temperature. After being nurses
for five days they become comb builders and &c
about cleaning out the old cells for the recep
tion of honey or eggs. They continue at vhls
work for three or four DAYS, when they reft Sc
to do home work and fly out of the hive as 10 r
ayers in search of sweets. The beehive is "a
thoroughly democratic household"
NV hat is the average length of the bees lifeE"
was asked.
six weeks. Continual flying wears out their
wings. and they drop down in the grass to per-
ish The queen bee will live six seven years
until she ceases be ctive. and, although the
workers dc not kill her. they set about rearing
new queen, and the old one flies away to die. In
the treatment of the young, bees like the
Spartans. When Matched out. if young bee is
found to be cripple. Or in any way defective, it
is killed and thrown from the hive
A question discussed during yesterdays ses-
sion was whether honey is better in old combs
or new. Mr.. Bull thought that the old combs
injured the flavor, but Mr.. Muth stated that the
flavor depended upon other reasons: In speak
ing of honey in general way he said that its
quality improves as the watery portion becomes
evaporated The flavor. as also the color. de-
ponds upon the plants from which the sweets
are extracted. The finest flavor is furnished by
white clover and the blossoms of tho locust tree.
Honey from these blooms is of light straw
color. The Lima and mangrove blossoms fur
nish an almost white color: the poplar. light
Drown. and buckwheat, dark brown.
On the subject of wintering bees there was
shown be a difference of practica. some
of the men bers preferr1ng out doors and others
cellars The outdoor advocates insisted that
their bees consumed more honey during the
winter than did those kept in cellars 1t was
the opinion of all that bees kent out doors should
be given protection against strong drafts. Bees
in any instance. is was decided, would not freeze.
On the best means of conducting ar apiary.
to save time, Mr. Smith SAID that work should
begin on the hives before the honey season came
on when all could be satisfactorily arranged
without detriment to the work at the hive.
On the subject of comb and extracted honey
the concensus of opinion seemed to be that
while the comb honey will bring the highest
price, for the purpose of money-making the ex
tracted honey affords the greatest inducements.
At the close of the proceedings resolution
was adopted. favoring the State Board of Agri
cultures proposition for holding farmers insti
tutes in each Congressional district during the
next sixty days
A resolution was also adopted urging the
General Assembly 10 make more adequate pro
vision for the support of the State library.
Prof S. S Gorbey was appointed delegate to
urge the recommendations of the resolution
and after a few coneratulatory remarks by this
president the association adjourned sine die.