NEW YORK AND FLORIDA.
Dear Sir:
Books, papers and “Apiculturist” received. Thanks.
Owing to the continued cold weather in January and February the orange bloom is not at its prime yet at this date (March 11), so I will omit the report of its value as a honey producer until next month.
The temperature for February was yet lower than for January. I have taken three observations daily for the two months.
For January, at 7 A. M., average for the month 55.° At 1 P. M., in sun and cloudy weather, highest 78°, at 8 P. M., 54.° Extreme temperature, hottest, 98,° coolest 34.°
For February, 7 A. M., 47,° 1 P. M. in sun, 79,° 8 P. M., 53.° Highest above 92,° lowest, 28.°
Greatest variation during seven hours, 58.°
February at 7 A. M., temperature only 7° colder; at 1 P. M. 1° hotter and at 8 P. M., 1° colder.
January was very foggy and damp and much more uniform in temperature than February.
Bees work every favorable day but no swarming in this vicinity this month.[8]
C. G. Ferris.
Sanford, Fla., March 11, 1885.
EXCHANGES.
Limitation of the visual field of the worker honey-bee’s ocelli. by the rev. J. L. Zabriskie.[9]—The honey-bee is a remarkably hairy insect. On the head the hairs are dense, and of various lengths; and they cover every part, even the compound eyes and the mandibles. The antennæ, however, are apparently smooth, having only microscopic hairs; and a path through the long hairs, from each ocellus, or simple eye, directly outward,—to be described more fully presently,—is practically smooth.
The ocelli are so situated that when the bee is at rest and the face vertical, they are directly on the top of the head, arranged as an equilateral triangle, and one ocellus is directed to the front, one to the right side, and one to the left[10].
Long, branching hairs on the crown of the head stand thick like a miniature forest, so that an ocellus is scarcely discernible except from a particular point of view; and then the observer remarks an opening through the hairs—a cleared pathway, as it were, in such a forest—and notes that the ocellus, looking like a glittering globe half immersed in the substance of the head, lies at the inner end of the path. The opening connected with the front ocellus expands forward from it like a funnel, with an angle of about fifteen degrees. The side ocelli have paths more narrow, but opening more vertically; so that the two together command a field which, though hedged in anteriorly and posteriorly, embraces, in a plane transverse, of course, to the axis of the insect’s body, an arc of nearly one hundred and eighty degrees.
These paths through the hairs appear to me to be indications that the ocelli are intended for distant vision, although the opinion that near vision is their function is held by eminent opticians.
The ocelli are nearly hemispherical, and the diameter of each is about fifteen times that of a facet of the compound eye. Such a form of lens would, I will concede, indicate for these organs a short focus, and hence, a fitness for near vision.
But if the ocelli are intended for near objects, it is difficult to understand why they are surrounded by a growth of hair so dense as to permit unobstructed vision only in a very narrow field, and why they are so placed on the top of the head as to be debarred from seeing any objects in the neighborhood of the mandibles and the proboscis, the ability to see which objects would appear to be very necessary in the constant and delicate labors of the worker honey-bee among the flowers.
Dr. Zabriskie exhibited the head of the worker honey-bee for the purpose of illustrating the above remarks. At the conclusion of his observations, he added: “Besides the worker honey-bee, I have brought for exhibition the drone and the queen of the same species, and the queen-cells; the queen of Bombus Virginicus, one of our native humble-bees; the Melissodes binotata, male and female; the Melissodes pruinosa, both sexes; the beautiful Anthophora dispar, male and female of Tunis, Africa; and the celebrated little stingless bee of Abyssinia, the Trigona Beccarii, which lives in immense colonies, and stores large quantities of honey. The Anthophora dispar has a very long proboscis. The possession of such a proboscis by our own bees would add millions of dollars annually to the wealth of the United States.”
CANADIAN DEPARTMENT.
R. F. HOLTERMAN, EDITOR.
We have to report a very heavy loss; at first one-third dead was supposed to cover the ground, but later reports will probably bring it nearer 50 per cent. The losses may briefly be accounted for, at least largely: by the failure of the honey crop after clover; consequent cessation of breeding and old bees ready for winter quarters; an unusual consumption of stores in the fall, followed by a severe winter. Men who stimulated breeding until a proper season, fed sufficient stores of the right kind and at the proper time, and properly packed their bees outside or had them in good cellars, were generally successful. Experienced beekeepers have generally been successful as they know and are careful about getting the proper conditions for successful wintering.
Martin Emyh, of Holbrook, wintered 178 out of 180; one winter he lost none out of 150 and his success is fully as great in summer management. He doubtless could give much information of value but we seldom hear of him in public.
Most parties report bees to have died in March after the severest weather had passed. Is this not additional proof that loss was caused by aged bees going into winter quarters and becoming worn out, and insufficiency of stores? One report before me gives eleven starved out of thirteen. Bees in some localities are doing remarkably well this spring. Fresh honey is being stored in abundance, combs having honey from top to bottom, and here we feel confident some of our colonies, unless there is a sudden change in the weather, will require extracting before the end of the week and the prospects are that beekeepers will reap an abundant harvest.
Brantford, Ont.
BOOK NOTICES AND REVIEWS.
—“Money in Potatoes” is the title of a valuable and instructive little manual published by the Franklin News Co. of Phila., Pa., which they kindly sent us for review.
—Mr. A. I. Root of Medina, Ohio, has also sent us a potato book entitled the A B C of Potato Culture, written by T. B. Terry of Hudson, Ohio, which is well illustrated and printed in good clear type.
Mr. Henry Alley, of Wenham, Mass., has submitted for review, the proof sheets of the latest edition of the “Beekeeper’s Handy Book.” Our reason for not waiting until the work was complete was because it will be placed on the market at about the same time that our subscribers receive their journal.
Mr. Alley’s former work was an invaluable addition to bee literature, giving as it did, not only the most scientific, systematic and practical method of raising queen bees, but also many other items of interest and much valuable information, gleaned from an intimate acquaintance with beekeeping of about twenty-seven years. The present work, however, surpasses the former in every respect, and no beekeeper can afford to do without it.
The instructions given have been thoroughly tested by the author who has made a success of the business, and these instructions are presented to the reader in a simple matter-of-fact way: They are, in fact, the concise description of the every-day experiences, for nearly twenty-seven years, of a thoroughly practical apiarist who has mastered every branch of the business.
This work contains about 300 pages, and nearly one hundred illustrations.
While we have other valuable works on Apiculture, yet none of them fill the position occupied by the “Handy Book,” and no matter what works one may have this one should be procured, as it will more than return its cost each season.
The first part contains about 175 pages, is devoted to general subjects of apiculture, while the second is devoted to queen-rearing.
The author, so to speak, takes the beginner out into his apiary and gives him just the information needed to enable one who is almost wholly unacquainted with the bees, to commence this study and continue it with a surety of success.
He tells the beginner “how to start an apiary,” how and when to select, pack and remove their bees, when to place the section-boxes on, how to prevent bees from deserting surplus boxes on cool nights, and how to strengthen weak colonies.
His description of swarming and the proper care and management of swarms is excellent, while that pertaining to queenless colonies and their care is very important and valuable.
The subject of comb-foundation and its manufacture is complete and exhaustive, and is written by one of the best manufacturers of comb-foundation in the country.
The chapter on beehives, their construction, etc., is entirely a new departure, and original with this work. A large number of the best are illustrated and described, also their valuable features, as claimed by their originators.
The work also contains a brief, but interesting, description (with fine illustrations) of the various honey producing plants, and also the enemies of bees.
The second part, which is devoted to queen-rearing, has been revised and corrected, and many new and valuable illustrations and items of instruction have been added.
It is a work that we can heartily endorse and recommend as indispensable to every beekeeper.
NOTES AND QUERIES.
—Mr. J. M. Shuck who a short time since suffered a severe loss in the burning up of his beehive stock, has just sent us his neat and attractive circular stating that he is again prepared for business.
—We have just received from Mr. Pryal of Temescal, Cal., a complete file of the California Apiculturist, which we are pleased to add to our collection. Mr. Pryal will please accept our thanks for the same.
—We shall issue our Journal from June to December on the 15th of the month.
—Those who are so strictly orthodox in their opinions, especially when criticising others, should remember that their first duty is to practise what they preach, as their teachings will then be productive of good.
—We shall continue to issue our Journal from the Salem Press office, but all communications should be addressed to Wenham, Mass., and when sending money do not forget to make all postal notes or money orders payable on Salem, Mass., post office.
—We have just received a circular and price list from Mr. B——, who is now in Europe dealing in foreign queens and bees. The character of the language and criticisms contained therein will not warrant us in giving it a favorable notice. Manly criticism or counsel and advice, or one’s opinion expressed in kindly language, always demands respect; but since Mr. B—— has engaged in the sale of the eastern bees and queens he has introduced some finely drawn lines of distinction between the names given to the different races of bees from the Holy Land.
Until lately we had no trouble in understanding what was meant by the terms Holy Land bees, Syrian bees or Palestine bees, and in order that we may be set at rights again will some one capable of judging kindly tell us what countries are included within the boundaries of the Holy Land (not Holy Land proper.)
Mr. B—— is not even contented to establish names of his own but makes it a point to abuse all those who differ from him.
We trust that he may yet learn to allow others the same freedom in expressing their opinions that he wishes himself and then abstain from abusing them for so doing.
—We have just received from F. D. Wellcome of Poland, Maine, the finest lot of red raspberry plants that we ever saw, they certainly do him credit.
—As we are now publishing 5,000 copies per month of our Journal, advertisers will do well to give it a trial.
—Use every effort to work up a home demand for your honey this season as in most cases it will pay much better than sending it to city markets.
—Read all our club offers for this month carefully and if you should receive more than one copy of our Journal kindly hand the other to your neighbor. It may do him some good and it will help us.
Better chances were never offered to secure first-class goods cheap than will be found in our club list.
—Mr. J. C. Clark submits his communication to us for consideration, and we would state that while the extractor in the hands of an inexperienced apiarist or by injudicious use will doubtless prove a great injury, yet we consider it one of the most valuable implements in a well conducted apiary.
The trouble with the “glutted” honey market comes, not from the use of the honey extractor, or the over-production of honey, but from a lack of proper knowledge and means of creating a demand. As a rule we do not consider it best to extract honey from combs containing unsealed larvæ, but one must be governed by his knowledge of and experience in this business.
We could not be hired to do without the extractor for many reasons.
We should be pleased to hear from Mr. Dadant on this subject, as he uses the extractor extensively.
A few days since while we were busy at the desk, Mr. Alley called us out into the apiary to witness a swarm of bees issuing from a hive that was provided with one of his drone traps. It was very amusing and interesting to watch the honey-laden bees rush pell-mell out through the perforated metal entrance giving conclusive evidence that the perforations were amply large to freely admit a worker bee laden either with pollen or honey.
Soon the queen unable to force her way through at the entrance passed into the trap. As soon as the majority of the bees had passed out we removed the drone trap, fastened it to the end of a long pole and rested it against a small tree near by. In a short time the bees, discovering their queen in the trap, clustered upon it.
When the bees had become quiet we removed the trap to a convenient shady spot near by and laying it on its side placed over it one of the swarming boxes, covering the box with a board so as to cover the wire cloth and make it dark within the box.
We then left the swarm in that condition for about six hours in order to experiment with it and learn whether the queen would force her way out.
In the early evening we examined the swarm and found that the queen was out among the bees in the swarming box, and found that as the trap was laid on its side the bees that filled the trap formed a bridge over which the queen could pass through the wire tube through which she passed into the trap.
This is a valuable feature of the trap because if one cannot always be at hand to attend to the swarms, the queen after about six hours will find her way back into the hive again, thus preventing either her loss or that of the bees.
We have had considerable experience with hiving swarms, but never performed the task with such ease or so speedily as we can with the drone trap. We can heartily endorse it as invaluable to the beekeeper even for this one purpose alone.
We shall experiment further with the trap and give the results.
—Mr. J. D. Goodrich of East Hardwick, Vermont, has sent us some most excellent comb foundation. The thin for sections was especially fine.
—For $3.00 cash we will send the “American Apiculturist” one year and one of our fertilizing hives containing four combs with brood and one-half pound of bees and a choice selected queen—the hive will also be supplied with one of our cone feeders. With this small nucleus colony one can rear a number of queens during the season and it will be a great help in learning queen-rearing.
—Advertisers will please notice the change in our rates, 15 cents per line each insertion. There are about seven words to the line, and twelve lines to the inch. In sending copy always write it on one side of a separate sheet of paper and be very particular to have the names, addresses, etc., very plain.
Parties unknown to us must send cash with the order.
All copy for advertisements and manuscript must reach us by the first of the month, if they are to appear in the following number which we shall issue on the 15th of the month until December.
LETTER BOX.
Des Moines, Ia.
Dear Sir:
Am in receipt of Vols. 1 & 2 of the “American Apiculturist” handsomely bound in cloth with an enormous golden bee on the front cover. Happy bee! to thus repose upon a production that has sprung up under the skies of Quinby, Carey, Parsons, Elwood, Alley, Hetherington, Doolittle, L. C. Root, and a host of northeastern beekeepers who have honored the calling.
The attractiveness of the book and its practical teaching should find for it a ready sale.
J. M. Shuck.
Willamina, Yarnhill Co., Ore.
April 22, 1885.
S. M. Locke, Sir:
I have just received your first and second volumes bound together in cloth, and must say that it exceeds my greatest expectations. Every beekeeper should have it.
Frank S. Harding,
Pres. of the Willamette Valley B. A.
Oxford, Butler Co., Ohio.
Dear Sir:
Vols. 1 & 2 of the “Apiculturist” received, and after carefully examining its contents, I have no hesitancy in pronouncing it fully up to any bee journal published. Its contributors are first-class, and show by their articles that they are men of ability. I highly approve of your treatment and condemnation of fraud in every shape. I am pleased to meet with the familiar face of our old friend Mr. Langstroth in Vol. 2. He lives within 200 yards of me, and is one of the dearest old men I ever knew. A person has only to know him to appreciate his worth.
D. A. McCord.
Battle Ground, Ind., April 13, 1885.
Dear Sir:
The “Am. Apiculturist” came safe to hand, and having examined its contents, or rather the headings of the major part of the book, I pronounce it ne plus ultra. It should be in the hands of every respectable beekeeper of our broad land, it being complete and full of most useful knowledge. With many thanks I am, sir, very truly yours in fraternal bonds of apiculture.
P. S. I truly wish you success, in all that is good and honorable, and shall try to furnish an occasional article for the Am. Apiculturist. Please find this my second contribution to same. If acceptable you are at liberty to publish. Trusting the “Apiculturist” may live long and prosper, I am as ever,
J. M. Hicks.
Brantford, June 4, 1885.
Friend Locke:
I see by the last number of the “Apiculturist” much new and valuable information from England and Germany. Last fall I learned through a German journal that the poison of the honey bee was utilized in curing honey.
A thought suggested itself to me which I hoped ere now I should have been in a position to practically test, but circumstances have been unfavorable and perhaps you know of some one who would take an interest in the matter.
I intended taking a strong colony and feeding them, say 3 lbs. of syrup per day and allow the bees to seal this and extract with great care. Then feed the same colony 25 lbs. in a day of twenty-four hours (and it can be done) and after it has been sealed extract as before, during hot weather, and again later in the season, giving four distinct experiments, and then test the various syrups for difference, if any, of quantity of poison contained in stores. If a marked difference occurred after repeated experimenting the matter might be worthy of consideration and thus one reason why stores put in late are not as good as those given earlier.
I must say a man must be too much of an enthusiast if he considers, as many appear to, that any one condition, if fulfilled, will insure perfect success in wintering. Doubtless much is to be learned in wintering, and theories advanced will often be another step towards success. If we only acted thoroughly up to our present knowledge and were more careful, the percentage of loss would doubtless be wonderfully reduced.
Your brother beekeeper,
R. F. Holterman.
We are pleased with Mr Holterman’s suggestions, and, if possible, will make some tests, as this matter is of more vital importance to beekeepers than they are aware. We shall refer to this again in the near future.
Mr. Holterman has touched the right key; we must have more careful experimenting with a view to solving some of the mysteries that now surround apiculture, and we trust that others of our readers and beekeeping friends will offer like suggestions and also assist us in making the tests. It will pay you well to do so, and we can by this means help each other very much.—Ed.]