[Pure green tea, well steeped, is used by many to detect the presence of glucose in honey. If the honey dissolves without changing the color of the tea, it is supposed to be pure. But in these days of “enterprise,” it is frequently a matter of doubt whether the tea is pure; again, if, as is claimed, glucose is sometimes manufactured without leaving sulphuric acid or other deleterious substances in it, then the tea would hardly expose it when mixed with honey. Alcohol is also used to detect the presence of glucose; but besides being frequently inconvenient to obtain, it requires considerable skill in its use.
Thousands of bee-keepers will unite with us in thanking Prof. Kedzie, of the Michigan Agricultural College, for a simple test to detect adulterations in honey and syrups, and instructions for its application.—ED.]
=Three-Fourths of the Bees Dead.=—The present severe winter has killed ¾ of the bees in this section. Bees have not had a thorough cleansing flight since Nov. 8. One apiary of 61 colonies, well packed in chaff and plenty of good stores, will not go through with over 50 per cent. Mine have been confined in the cellar for 118 days, have wintered well so far, but are becoming uneasy.
=Mortality of Bees in House and Cellar.=—I put 60 colonies of bees in a house and cellar last Nov.; 12 of them are dead and I have taken out one-and-a-half bushels of dead bees. Nearly all have the dysentery. I cannot do without the Weekly. I wish it much success.
=Bees Doing Well.=—My bees had a nice flight on the 9th, 10th and 11th of this month and are now doing well. It is cold again to-day.
=Dwindling in the Cellar.=—I put 53 colonies in the cellar, in good condition, which are all alive but one; but there are a great many dead bees on the bottom of the cellar—more than I ever knew before. I gather them up and carry them away occasionally, to prevent their tainting the air. Will the loss of so many weaken the colonies, and what is the cause of it? My bees have not seen the light this winter, yet they seem all right excepting the loss of so many on the cellar bottom.
[If the colonies were very strong, the loss may not be appreciable. The cause may be attributed to age of the bees when put away, and subsequent long confinement; or the cellar may have been too warm at times, and the bees become uneasy.—ED.]