Chapter C: H. Pond

Kasson, Minn.

=Value of Bee Papers and Books.=

There is little use trying to keep bees, either for pleasure or profit, without at least one live bee-paper to awaken interest and enthusiasm, and keep the apiarist abreast of the times. When we see an apiary that shows neatness, taste and prosperity, we need not be told that the owner or manager has access to bee papers and books; and when we find a bee-yard with hives huddled together regardless of order, distance or taste, with many of the colonies dead and dying, we are sure that the knowledge, skill and enterprise that come from the study of apiarian literature, have never reached that desolate and forlorn spot. Of course the bees are black, but no darker than much of the filthy comb and honey inside the hives. By neglect, much of the worker comb has become unfit for brood-rearing, and hence drones are reared in superabundance, and these deteriorated male bees fill the air for miles in all directions, to vitiate the pure blood of all well-kept apiaries.

But the intelligent, careful, painstaking apiarist will find encouragement in the assurance that all bees kept by such slipshod methods are doomed, and on the principle of "the survival of the fittest" must go, and the sooner the better for all concerned.

Bees in this section did well last season, and went into winter quarters in excellent condition. The recent warm spell gave them a fine airing (those on the summer stands), and now they should winter with but little loss.

S. S. BUTTS.

Wyalusing, Pa., Dec. 28, 1893.

=The Season of 1893, Etc.=

I read the BEE JOURNAL with much pleasure, for my bees are almost all the comfort that I have left, as I have no family now. My wife died last February. I have two daughters, but they were married years ago. I have a comfortable home, and enough of this world's goods to live on, but what matters that, when the ties of love are forever broken?

Well, the last season was not very good for the bee-man in this part of the State. The dry weather set in just as the basswood came into bloom, and cut it short. It was just a little cool for white clover, so our crop was short. I have always worked for comb honey, and for that reason I have never had very heavy returns.

My bees came out of the cellar in fair condition last spring. I put away 20 colonies, and lost 4 through my neglect (the breaking up of my family unnerved me for business). The bees increased to 30 colonies, which are now in the cellar, as that is my method of keeping them. They are heavy with winter stores, and so far are doing well. They were put in on Nov. 22nd.

I want to say a few words in favor of the yellow bee, as I have both. They stored nearly all the surplus. In a good season the blacks will do just as well, but when the crop is short, the yellow bees are the best for me.

I have sold 500 pounds of honey, and have 100 or more of uncapped honey left.