👉 The August number of this Journal contains an article on “Pure Fertilization Controllable,” translated by the editor from the “Bienenzeitung.” It appeared in that sterling and standard periodical, as a communication from the Rev. A. Semlitsch, who is pastor of a congregation and a member of the Ecclesiastical Council at Gratz, in the Austrian province of Stiria. He has been a prominent correspondent of the Bienenzeitung for a quarter of a century, and was previously known as one among the five chief contributors to Vitzthum’s “Monatsblatt für Bienenzucht,” the precursor of the Bienenzeitung. He has always been distinguished for eminent zeal and efficient labor in striving to advance intelligent and scientific bee-culture; and published in 1856, at Gratz, a very excellent practical treatise in aid of the cause. No man in Europe ever questioned his truthfulness, or impeached his honor.
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“Hanc veniam damus petimusque vicissim.”
Great waste occurs in feeding meal, in early spring, as a substitute for pollen, and many bees are lost while endeavoring to supply themselves, being chilled by a sudden change of temperature. To prevent this German bee-keepers do the feeding within the hive; and Mr. Kanitz of East Prussia, gives the following as the best mode of doing so: Take fine wheat flour, rye or oat meal, and stir it gradually into lukewarm liquid honey till it forms a pretty stiff paste or mass. In the evening spread a few ounces of this on an empty comb, insert it in a hive, and it will be carried up by the bees in the course of the night. Not more of the paste should be prepared on any occasion, than can be immediately fed. The substitute for pollen thus fed, it is said, greatly promotes brooding.
CORRESPONDENCE OF THE BEE JOURNAL.
Richmond, Ohio, August 18, 1870.—I have put off writing till harvest is over, and will now have a short talk with you on different subjects. This summer has been a very pleasant one in this part of the country, with good crops of all kinds except fruit, of which there will be a small yield. We have been favored with plenty of rain and consequently good pasture for stock, and plenty of flowers for the bees which the latter did not fail to enjoy, for they gathered large stores of honey and multiplied more generally than they have done for a number of years.
I have been keeping bees all my life as my father did before me, but never made it a study until about two years ago. Since then I have been trying to put my bees in movable comb hives. These I think every bee-keeper must and will have ere long, as also the Italian bees, which I think are much better then the natives, except that they are inclined to rob the blacks. But I would keep them for their beauty, if they had no other good qualities. I wish some one would give us a general test of their purity as known in Italy. This should be known throughout this country, as nearly every queen breeder has a test of his own. My bees have four bands, counting all; two broad ones next to the middle, and two narrow ones behind those. If this is not enough, then I will go for better and purer ones, as I want the best and none others.