Read Ebook: The American Bee Journal Volume XXXIII No. 4 January 25 1894 by Various York George W Editor

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Indianapolis, Ind.

ANSWER.--It is possible that worms are at work, and the brood is thrown out where they have gnawed away the cappings or some part of the cells. Possibly a cold spell may have made the cluster contract so much as to leave the brood unprotected, when the brood was chilled and afterward thrown out.

No. 66.--Edward Kretchmer.

The subject of our sketch this week is another of the leading bee-keepers whom we had the pleasure of meeting often during the World's Fair last summer, and whom it was always a delight to see on our weekly visits to the apiarian department in the "White City."

Mr. Kretchmer is one of the pioneers of Western apiculture, a man of whom the bee-keeping fraternity may be proud, and one who has received many honors, both from those of his calling, and the public at large.

As mentioned on another page, it was Bro. Kretchmer who superintended the Iowa honey exhibit at the World's Fair, and his successful efforts are well attested by a glance at the illustration on page 104, and also by the awards secured. Incidentally, we may say that he is one of the largest manufacturers and dealers in bee-keepers' supplies west of the "Mississippi creek."

As we doubtless could add nothing further of interest regarding Bro. Kretchmer, we are glad to give the sketch referred to before, written by his 12-year-old daughter, Valencia, who is not only a member of the Iowa State Bee-Keepers' Association, but also of the North American. Here is what she writes about "her papa"--and she ought to know him pretty well:

Edward Kretchmer was born on the Atlantic ocean in 1844, on the American merchant vessel, "Louisiana;" and though of German parentage, he is an American by birth. He was brought up in Selicia, Prussia. His father was one of the prominent bee-keepers of his time, and the originator of the first rolls that manufactured "mid-rib," or our earlier form of comb foundation; which, by writers, is frequently confounded with that of Mehring's, whose invention presented the edge of a full thickness of comb, or the beginning of a top-bar. Hence the German translation, "foundation."

Mr. Kretchmer resided about five miles from Dr. Dzierzon, the world-renowned author and apiarist, and from whom, during a season's stay, he received the first lessons in advanced bee-culture. In 1858 he received a colony of Italian bees as a birthday present, and since that time, with the exception of three years, he has been a breeder of Italian bees.

He came to the United States, and to the State of Iowa, about the year 1859, and in the summer of 1860 purchased the first Italian queen that crossed the Mississippi river. In 1861 he entered the army. During his absence, his father sold the original colony to W. H. Furman, of Cedar Rapids, Iowa, the owner of the Langstroth patent for that State.

After his discharge from the army, he again engaged in bee-culture, and while a visitor at the Iowa State Fair, an incident occurred which brought him to public notice, as a well-informed bee-keeper. The incident referred to was this:

An oddly-dressed man, with bees in his hat, was selling little vials of scented water as a "bee-charm," taking dollars right and left, stating that with it bees were rendered peaceable enough to open a hive without being stung. Mr. Kretchmer remarked that he could do that without the drug. The drug vender promptly challenged the youthful-looking German, no doubt expecting him to "back down" from his statement, but on the contrary Mr. K. secured a little smoke, and promptly opened the colony of bees of another exhibitor, quickly found the queen, and exhibited the combs, covered with bees, to a multitude of spectators, without a sting. He was, in consequence thereof, requested by several to communicate his method through some of the journals, and he soon became a noted writer--writing both in the German and English language. In the older files of the AMERICAN BEE JOURNAL, his name may be found to numerous articles. He also issued "Winke Fur Bienen Zuchter"--"Intimation to Bee-Keepers;" "The Amateur Bee-Keepers' Guide," written in 1866, and "The Bee-Keepers' Guide-Book," the latter, a neat volume of 256 pages, issued in 1872.

In 1867 he removed from eastern Iowa to Coburg, Iowa, where he was postmaster for eight years, mayor of the town, and for two terms chairman of the Board of Supervisors for Montgomery county; he declining a re-election, and also the nomination for State Senator.

The demand for better shipping facilities induced him to remove his entire factory to Red Oak in 1890, which is his present residence.

On the recommendation of the President of the Iowa Bee-Keepers' Association, he was appointed by the Iowa Columbian Commission to take charge of the Iowa honey exhibit at the World's Fair. This appointment he very reluctantly accepted about the middle of last January, 1893, after which time he labored for the success of that exhibit, without the hope of fee or reward, although a very unfavorable honey season made such an undertaking a difficult task. He is now conducting various experiments with new implements in bee-culture.

VALENCIA KRETCHMER.

CONDUCTED BY MRS. JENNIE ATCHLEY, BEEVILLE, TEXAS.

While I was looking over the index of the BEE JOURNAL for 1893, I came across the above subject, and as I have not time to turn back and find what was said on the subject, I wish to add a word more concerning poultry combined with bees for women.

Now, when we take a right view of our surroundings, and look at human nature a moment, we will see that but very few people wish to engage in a business that will give no rest at all, as it will sooner or later, become a drag, and we become tired, and long for recreation. Well, I for one do not count idleness recreation; but some other light work for rest of mind and body is sought for, and for women I think poultry is first choice to go with bees. I know that it gives me rest and pleasure when tired of working with the bees, to get some grain and call up the chicks, and pet them awhile, and see to their wants--such as good, comfortable nests, roosts, etc.; and this kind of rest proves to me profitable, as well as rest and pleasure.

I know that too much business of any kind is worse than not enough business, and I think we should avoid having too many irons in the fire at one time, but I do believe that to get the best of enjoyment and pleasure, we should have something else to go with bees, whether it pays or not; and I believe that nearly all successful bee-keepers are lovers of flowers and poultry. Am I right?

I have a flock of fine Plymouth Rock chickens, and a bunch of White Holland turkeys, and, oh! how I do enjoy a rest sometimes among my pet chickens and turkeys!

JENNIE ATCHLEY.

As I have promised to tell more about southwest Texas, I will proceed by saying that Charlie has just returned with a wagon load of preachers that he carried out hunting two weeks ago. I will relate their success.

They killed 20 wild turkeys, 4 wild geese, and a number of ducks, squirrels, armadillo, and a lot of other small game, and one deer. Charles says that of all the lively crowds he ever saw, it is a wagon load of preachers. They made it a rule that the first man that entered camp with a loaded gun should cook a day, and soon they had plenty of cooks.

Charles says that he and one of the preachers went out one day together, and they espied a deer off 50 or 75 yards, and the preacher was to have first shot, then if he missed his aim Charles was to try it. The preacher's gun snapped, and failed to fire, and then Charles fired away and missed the deer. The preacher told him that he had the "buck ague," and so why he missed it. But Charles says that he was laughing at the hard Sunday-school words the preacher was saying because his gun failed to fire, so it turned out that neither of them bagged that deer.

All the preachers got lost, and lay out one night about 15 miles from camp. They had killed a deer, but could not carry it all. A large 12-spike buck would have weighed 200 pounds. Well, they took off the hams, and took turns about carrying it, and they got bewildered, and night overtook them. But about dusk they espied a log-cabin, and went to it, but found no one at home, and from the best they could make out, it was the home of one of the "fence-riders," or where one of the guards lived that looked after the ranch to keep fence cutters and hunters out. The preachers were so nearly famished and tired that they remained all night at the cabin, and no owner came that night, but the preachers found some dried beef and some flour and black molasses, so they were fixed, and soon filled their empty "bread-baskets," as they called them.

They would not sleep on the bed, as they found a six shooter under the pillow, but they laid on the floor, and one kept watch while the others slept, up until midnight, when all fell asleep. The reason they kept watch was, that they feared the owner would come home and take them for robbers, and fire into them without warning. But no owner came, so in the morning they arose early and ate breakfast, and Charles says the preachers say they left some money and a note on the table, to show the owner that they were not robbers, but they longed for a fence-rider to overtake them, as they had gotten in on forbidden ground, and did not know how to get out. As there were 170,000 acres in the pasture, you see they had a hard time of it.

But before night the following day they reached camp O. K., but nearly worn out, and they said they did not expect to find Charles there, as none of them would have staid alone at that camp among the wolves, panthers, wild cats, cougars, bears, etc. But Charles said he made it all right without any trouble, but the coyote wolves kept him plenty of company with their howling. However, the preachers made up their minds that if that 14-year-old boy had remained at the camp ten miles from anybody all alone, they would each give him a dollar, which they did, though Charles says he thanked them and offered the money back; but no, they said that a boy with all that courage justly deserved the money, and they insisted on his keeping it, which he did.

You will remember that I have told you of our bee-wagon being enclosed with wire-cloth, and resembles a lion's cage. Well, after they got started on their way home, they concluded to play lion awhile, and one of them was a little fellow, and Charles says that the larger preachers tore his clothes nearly all off of him, and when they arrived at the hotel at Beeville, he wrapped himself up in his overcoat and went in, and they had to go out and buy some clothes for him. They wanted him to preach that night in Beeville, but he would not because they had torn his clothes off.

Charlie says that he has been out with lots of crowds, but the preachers were the liveliest set he ever saw. He says they had him promise to haul them out again a year hence, as they were coming if the Lord was willing, and when they could get as brave a boy as he was they were sure of success. Charles says they were very prompt, and paid him .00 per day, besides the premium for his bravery, and he will surely take them out whenever they come.

The preachers killed so many turkeys that they rotted on their hands, and they agreed to knock the first one down that mentioned turkey in a month.

JENNIE ATCHLEY.

It will be understood that we keep some out yards to draw brood from to keep up the nuclei in the queen-rearing yards. We injured some colonies very much by injudicious drawing of brood. If we do not wish to run the colonies down to nothing, we should mark X on the top-bars of two or three brood-frames, and do not take them when we are drawing brood. I find that two Langstroth frames in the center of the brood-nest will keep the colony up pretty well, but three are better--that leaves about three frames to draw on, when 8-frame hives are used, as the two outside combs seldom have brood, or not as much as the center ones.

The best plan to control an apiary that persists in swarming, is to draw brood from it and recruit or build nuclei with the brood. It would likely astonish any one to know how much brood can be drawn from a good queen during the season. I am satisfied that we have drawn as much as 50 frames of brood from a single colony during one season of eight to ten months, and then get some honey, and have a fine colony for winter in the colony we draw from. But if we draw at random, and take any and all the frames, we are likely to ruin the colonies.

JENNIE ATCHLEY.

Color of Queens Regardless of Mating.

Yellow.--E. FRANCE.

Yellow, of course.--JAS. A. STONE.

The color of Italian queens.--EUGENE SECOR.

At least three-banded.--J. M. HAMBAUGH.

Any color from yellow to dark leather color.--M. MAHIN.

That depends upon what breeder you are buying from.--P. H. ELWOOD.

I should not anticipate. A leather-colored queen is satisfactory to me.--MRS. L. HARRISON.

Italians vary very much in color. It is hard to tell in a sentence, what color they should be.--EMERSON T. ABBOTT.

The imported are dark, but American skill has bred them "doubtless pure" to a very bright yellow to the tip.--J. H. LARRABEE.

I should expect them to be somewhere from light yellow to nearly black, and should prefer a dark leather color.--C. C. MILLER.

I should certainly expect them to show three well-developed yellow bands, but would prefer the dark, to the very light yellow queens.--C. H. DIBBERN.

The color is not sure proof, but they should have three distinct yellow bands. They may be brown, light or dark, and still be Italians.--MRS. J. N. HEATER.

Anywhere from a light yellow to a full black, and with all sorts of shades and markings between. Queens may be bred so as to be nearly uniform in color and markings, and the same brood, with a little difference in manipulation, will produce queens several shades darker.--J. A. GREEN.

We do not care for color, if they have the yellow rings, and their workers are gentle and stay on the combs when we raise them out of the hive.--DADANT & SON.

Yellow, or a dark brown color. However, in rare instances I have seen queens as dark as black queens produce fine 3-banded Italian bees.--MRS. JENNIE ATCHLEY.

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