swarm, ruining his harvest. Since he has cultivated the natives, swarms in the same place are a rarity. He no longer troubles himself about them.

Not for the past eleven years has the question of prevention of swarming been up for discussion in Swiss conventions.

Of course there are differences in this respect. There are yards of the brown race where a few swarms annually are welcomed; and cells from these being utilized, the moderate swarm-lust is perpetuated. Yet the majority of Swiss beekeepers have, so to say, renounced swarming entirely, since the use of right methods has brought such remarkably satisfactory results with artificial increase.

With not a swarm last year, and only one this year, in an apiary of 70 colonies, as reported by Mr. Wuersten, in Bern, likely the limit of possibility has been reached.

According to the reports of 1907, out of 40 breeders 16 had stimulated their extra hustlers toward swarming; in spite of this, 10 had no results; and of 1544 colonies, only 90 swarmed, or 6 per cent. In 11 apiaries, with 280 colonies, not one swarm issued.

Mr. Kramer does not contend that their best types agree to limit themselves under all circumstances to a fixed number of swarms, as weather conditions and stimulation have their influence.

Among their colonies on scales at the observation-stations they have also types of fixed character, as Flora in Zuerich, and Mrs. Keller's Turba (they have names for their queens). For ten years these have had never a Festbummel. (I don't know what a Festbummel is; but likely enough it's the racket Swiss bees make when they swarm.)

It must be mentioned, however, Mr. Kramer says, that there are some cases of harking back, occasional colonies swarming two or three times in the same year. That is nothing strange. Leaving these out of the count, the remainder give only a small per cent of swarms. "And that," says he, "fully satisfies us."

That would hardly fully satisfy a large number of American bee-keepers, who would not like the loss of this small per cent in out-apiaries with no one to watch. Likely it is different in Switzerland, if each bee-keeper generally has only the one apiary, and is on hand to see any swarm issuing.

"In ten years," says Mr. Kramer, " from about a dozen colonies I have had only one swarm. Early in June, 1907, I gave to my strongest colony a queen-cell just hatching. The colony was in the fullest state of development, and swarming would naturally have been expected; but instead of that there was quiet superseding."

He feels certain that Americans may reach a strain of bees giving only two or three per cent of swarms, but not with hot-blooded bees. With colonies out in the open in America, the chance is better than in Switzerland, where bees are housed, or in the shelter of buildings, and with brown bees Americans ought to be able to reach a strain of bees that might fairly be called nonswarming.

All of this sets one to thinking, and raises some questions. However much better we have found Italians than black or brown bees it seems

hardly worth while to dispute that the reverse is the case in Switzerland. Is it not just possible that blacks over there are materially different from the ones we have here? Might it not be worth while to try their blacks here?

Supposing we should try some of their best stock, and find them fall so far behind our Italians as honey-gatherers that we would rather stand the extra swarming of the hot-blooded yellow bees, there still remains the fact that by persistent breeding they have secured what closely approaches non-swarming bees. If they can do that with black bees, why can it not be done with yellow bees? Admit that there is more " swarm" to a yellow bee, it is only a matter of more time and more effort. In that connection the lesson we are to learn from Swiss bee-keepers is that they have gained their goal by a united effort. What law is there to prevent all the leading bee-keepers of our land from working as a unit for a strain of Italians at least somewhat approaching nonswarmers?

In trying to take heart from the example of our Swiss brethren, it is only fair to note one feature that detracts quite a little bit. Those of our ranks who are perhaps most especially interested in having bees little given to swarming are producers of comb honey. If I am not mistaken, extracted honey has pretty much the whole field in Switzerland, and the prevention of swarming with bees run for comb honey might be found there quite a different problem. Even so, the game is worth the candle.

Please bear in mind that the effort for such bees is not merely to get rid of the swarming trouble. If personal reference may be pardoned, I may say that for years the colonies that have given me my best yields and the colonies least given to swarming have been practically identical. Moreover, I am sure that by continuous breeding from colonies least inclined to swarm I have made quite a little progress in the long journey to No-swarm-land. If one man alone can do even a little, what might not be done by all working together?

Marengo, Ill.

[Our Swiss brethren, as we understand it, produce extracted honey almost exclusively, and they use very large hives or "chests," as they call them. Under these conditions it is no wonder they have very little swarming. The Dadants, of Hamilton, Ill., run for extracted honey, using large hives and pure Italian bees; yet their swarming, ranging over a period of many years, has not been much over two per cent. Practically the same may be said of all the Dadants' following in Europe. What strain of Italians Mr. Grossmann had been trying when he had so much swarming is not stated; but we have no trouble in this country when leather-colored Italians are used in large hives run for extracted honey. We are unwilling to believe that the gentle yellow bees of Northern Italy are any worse about swarming than a strain of black bees in Switzerland. Still, we are open to conviction. The black bees of the Swiss bee-keepers may be very different from the German or black bees in this country. It is generally conceded that the Carniolans, native of a country that is practically a geographical part of Switzerland, are much more inclined to swarm than the ordinary Italians.-ED.]

BEE DEMONSTRATIONS AT

FAIRS.

Crowds Attracted by a Boy Covered with Bees, Wearing a Bathing-suit Only.

BY CHAS. MONDENG.

The Minnesota State Fair Society spends about $1000 for premiums on bee and honey exhibits. Last year, 1908, was the first time that the society offered premiums on live-bee demonstrations. First prize was $40; second one, $20

We had a large cage outside of the bee and honey exhibit building. About twelve feet from the cage we had two big swarms of bees-one colony of leather-colored Italian bees and colony of golden Adel bees.

one

As soon as we were ready for the demonstration we took a colony into the cage; and before we were ready with the smoker there was an army of spectators. I showed the audience how they could handle bees if they used a little smoke. Slowly and carefully I blew smoke into the hive-entrance, and then, lifting the cover, smoked in the top. There came an "oh!" from the crowd when the little fellow brought out a frame full of bees. "Won't they sting?" or "They got all the stings pulled out," was heard from all sides.

While I was filling my hat, inside and out, with bees, the boy found the queen and showed it to the audience. There was a rush and a scramble to see the queen. Next I showed my hat. It was covered with bees, inside and

CHARLES MONDENG AND HIS SON NORMAN DEMONSTRATING ADEL BEES AT THE MINNESOTA STATE FAIR. Mr. Mondeng and his son were awarded first prize for bee demonstration; first prize on golden Italian bees; first prize on leather-colored Italian bees. out. I ran my finger around the inside rim, and wore my hat filled with bees. The boy corered his hat with bees, and followed me while I was lecturing on queens and bees in general. I showed that queenbreeders could not get along nowadays without grafting. "And what happens to the drones?" Again came an "oh!" and "We are lucky, after all." All the different supplies were shown, and how to use them. I could hear them say, "It is wonderful."

In the meantime my son picked up half a dozen drones and placed them in

his mouth. I heard a man say,

"That beats any

thing I have ever seen. Next I filled a paper cone with bees. My son turned toward me and I dumped the full contents of the cone on his bare back. Then he turned around and loaded his hands with bees. I heard one of the crowd say, "That is enough, I wouldn't have the boy's job for a thousand dollars." We shook all the bees off in front of the hive. My bee-brush was not just right, and in brushing off the boy's back, one bee hung with its sting to his back. In a low tone the boy said, "One is tickling me. We took the colony back to its place, opened the top of the cage, and in a few minutes every bee was in the hive. The whole audience made for the inside, where the honey exhibit was. There was Mrs. Mondeng with the rest of the bees and observatory hives. The inquiry was, "Say, lady, can you tell us what the man and boy got on their hides?" The answer was, Nothing. "But they must rub something on; it would be impossible otherwise." no end to such inquiries.

Minneapolis, Minn.

There was

[When bees are properly handled there is little or no danger of getting stung while in the cage. Our Mr. E. R. Root has made something over fifty demonstrations of this sort before public audiences. While he does not do more than to bare his arms, head, and neck, he finds that he can throw the bees all over his head, but he must not handle them roughly. A double handful is picked out of the mass, then they are gently deposited on top of the head; then the hands are shaken very gently, leaving the bees on the head and free from the hands.

The boy as here shown ordinarily would be perfectly safe; but in putting the bees on his back we would not advise dumping them on, for then there would be a chance for a sting. The attendant had better pick them up and put them on his back in the manner we have explained when the bees are put on the head.

Such demonstrations as these, accompanied by some good honey salesman, will do much to help the honey trade. The people generally know practically nothing about bees or the bee business. These public demonstrations and lectures help to remove a great deal of prejudice, and to stimulate the demand for honey. They do not make bee keepers, but they do make honeyeaters. Let the good work go on.-ED.]

NUMBERING HIVES.

BY J. A. GREEN.

Some method of numbering the hives of an apiary is undoubtedly desirable. Although some with large apiaries employ methods that seem to make records of any kind unnecessary, and some with small apiaries are able to remember the condition of each colony and the work done on it so perfectly that they are not in need of any memorandum, most bee-keepers find, or should find, that some kind of record is desirable, even if it is nothing more than a record of the age of the queen. This can hardly be dispensed with in successful bee-keeping. For the practical beekeeper to keep any record of his hives, some

method of numbering must be adopted; though I have heard of some who have named the hives and even the queens.

The usual way of doing this is by painting the number on the hive. The confusion that this results in in an apiary of any size, where hives are moved about to any extent, makes it very difficult, or at least very wasteful of time, to find any desired number.

It is something of an improvement over this plan to use numbered tags or other movable numbers, since they can, at least occasionally, be corrected as to position in the apiary by changing the numbers around.

Some use the plan of changing the numbers at the time the hive is moved. If this is faithfully attended to, it prevents confusion; but it entails considerable labor and watchfulness at a time when the busy bee-keeper can ill afford it. In fact, numbering the hives by any system of fixed or movable numbers on the hives themselves is so complicated and troublesome that I long ago discarded it for a system by which I can almost instantly tell the number of any hive, or as quickly the position in the yard of a hive of any particular number, though no number or tags are used on either hive or position for this purpose. To do this I make use of a principle similar to that used in modern systems of house-numbering in cities. I subjoin a diagram showing the num

bering. To number an apiary according to this plan, a straight line of hives along one side of the apiary should be selected as a base line. There may be any number of hives in this line. Other hives should be set in rows at right angles to this base line. It is better not to put over eight or nine hives in each of these rows. By examining the diagram it will be seen that each hive has two or more figures in its number. The first figure indicates the number of the row, from the beginning of the base line (the upper left-hand corner in the diagram). The last figure of the number indicates the position of the hive in that row. Thus, No. 11 is the first hive in the first row; No. 34 is the fourth hive in the third row; No. 58 is the eighth hive in the fifth row, etc.

It will be noticed that in the diagram the hives are placed in groups of four each. I prefer them this way for several reasons which I will not take space to explain here.

You may object to this that the numbers give no idea of the number of hives in the apiary; but this makes no real difference, and is of no more importance than that the numbers of houses in a city bear no relation to the actual count of residences.

If you have many hives in your apiary it may be desirable to put numbers large enough to be seen easily from a distance on a row of stakes, or on the fence along the base line, and also, if you

IT WAS DESTROYED

wish, along row No. 1. This will make it easier for you to locate the rows or streets quickly. While this plan is better suited than any other to an apiary where the hives are in a more or less compact body, it also works well where the hives are in a double row, as when shade-sheds are used.

Grand Junction, Colo.

HONEY-PLANTS IN AUSTRALIA DESTROYED BY BUSH FIRES.

BY HARRY STEPHENS.

I am sending a photograph of the apiary of Mr. W. Hessel-Hall, M. A., at Lapstone, near Sydney, New South Wales. This photo shows the devastation wrought by a bush fire which swept over his property about New Year's day.

We find GLEANINGS of engrossing interest, although half the year it deals with conditions quite foreign to us in a land where there is very little frost and no ice or snow. Our honey is almost entirely the product of bush blossoms; and while we have no winter, as you understand it, we have our own difficulties in the way of a diminished honey-flow through drouth, and the destruction of blossoming timber by bush fires.

I am sending some views of our apiary located on the Yakima Indian reservation. These show our extracting-house on wheels, which we used last season extracting about 20 tons of honey. This outfit has not proven entirely satisfactory, and we are yet undecided which is the better method with our yards, scattered as they are, to have a permanent extracting-house and a wagon rigged to haul the combs of honey from the different yards to this central location to be extracted, or to do as we did last season-go from yard to yard with the outfit mounted on wheels, as shown in the engraving. This season we probably shall do as we did last year-make some improvements in the outfit, and give the plan a more thorough trial.