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.