NEW & REVISED
EDITION

FIFT.
THOUS +

 

A MODERN
BEE FARM

Abert narroannn orn

S. SIMMINS

 

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ALBERT R. MANN
LIBRARY

New York STATE COLLEGES
OF
AGRICULTURE AND HOME ECONOMICS

AT

CORNELL UNIVERSITY

 

EVERETT FRANKLIN PHILLIPS

BEEKEEPING LIBRARY

 

 

 

 

 
Cornell University Library
SF 523.$591

A modern bee-farm and its economic manag

  

 

 

003 200 726 ann sat

 

 

Me i ek intense ee eee
ADVERTISEMENT.

NEW AND REVISED’ EDITION. — 1893..
Includes the ‘* Wells’ System,” fully illustrated.

A MODERN BEE FARM,

And its Economic FRanagement;
BY S. SIMMINS.

Absolutely the Cheapest and considered the Most Practical Work on the
Subject. See Unequalled Testimonials.
Lonerorp, DErBy.
“T have been reading every book (in English, French, and German)

on Apiculture, and of all the works that I have studied (especially as
regards practical information) I much prefer your ‘Modern Bee Farm,’

 

 

the style of which is so charming." ; CLEMENT COKE.-
In a letter received from the late much-respected Manager of the.
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. Neatu, Nov, 30th, 1887.
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British Bee Fournal.— This is a useful book for those intending to
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‘Other Journals must deal with this very intelligently written volumé
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Margate, Aug. 24th, 1889.
ADVERTISEMENT.

 

“T have read your ‘Modern Bee Farm’ with pleasure and, I trust,
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oe I am especially pleased with the chapter on working for heather

oney.”

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T

°

understand.”
Wolverhampton, Dec. 10th, 1888.
' “T have your last edition of ‘ Modern Bee Farm,’ and have got a lot of
useful information from its pages. I am very fond of it.” T.G.
West Bromwich, Fan. 7th, 1891.
Bf hapten

A Emrte 7
MODERN BEE- FARM

AND “a:

[ts Economic Management.

SHOWING How BEES MAY BE CULTIVATED AS A MEANS OF
LIVELIHOOD; AS A HEALTH-GIVING PURSUIT; AND AS
A SOURCE OF RECREATION TO THE Busy Man.

PROFITS MADE CERTAIN BY GROWING CROPS YIELDING THE
‘ MOST HoNEY, HAVING ALSO OTHER USES; AND BY
JUDGMENT IN BREEDING A GOOD WORKING
STRAIN OF BEES,

2% BY
Nd
Se SIMMINS,
Author of “* Divect Introduction of Queens" ; “'Simmins’- Non-Swarming System” ;

&t., St.

Lonpon:
WOODFORD FAWCETT & Co.,

Bae II2, FLEET STREET, E.C.

 

1893.
 
 

 

 

PREFACE.

N placing this work before the reader, it has been
the Author’s intention to adhere strictly to the
Science of Practical Bee-keeping, and to refer to the
natural history. of Bees only in so far that the one
cannot be separated from the other to secure correct
_“management. Those wishing to study the complete
Anatomy and Physiology of ‘these wonderful little
insects, ‘cannot do better than secure the works of
Cheshire, Cowan, or Cook.

With few exceptions, the instructions contained
herein will be confined to the Author’s own experience,
which has extended over twenty years of close obser-
wauon: The reader will therefore have the benefit of
a lengthened and varied experience, and by following
one recognized system, there will be little possibility
of the novice being confused by the usual multiplicity

of ideas upon any one subject. The exceptions will be
iv. PREFACE.

such matters as have a very important bearing upon
the management of Bees. When the beginner has
mastered the present system | he will then be in a
position to use his own judgment in selecting the
good and leaving out the errors of others.

The Author does not hesitate to say that he has
himself learned more by his failures than by success,
in that where he has failed there has been a direct
incentive to overcome’ such difficulty; and as the
result, some of the most important methods of manage-
ment have been brought about, while time and labour-
saving implements have been devised; all of which
will be. found invaluable to the Apiarist of the present
day.

It has been the Author’s utmost endeavour to place
the management of Bees before the novice and those
who wish to become Bee-keepers, in as clear and
straightforward a manner as possible. He knows full
well how difficult it is for one more advanced in the
science to fully expose every detail of procedure, and
how equally difficult it is for those just entering the
ranks to grasp many of the details which go to make
up the grand total of success; hence the reason why
“some apparently simple matters are gone into at
length, that the learner may profit by the writer’s own
earlier experiences—in some cases, costly experiments

and failures.
PREFACE. ve

With regard to the foregoing it is to be hoped that
those who are more advanced will not be wearied by
that which is given for the benefit of others who have |
not much knowledge of ‘the subject, remembering that
we all have been in need of just such teaching. At
the same time, the Author trusts the expert will find
some things not before known to the , bee-world, and
which he will be willing to admit go far towards the
economic production of honey; and, moreover, consti-
tute the very “pith” of practical bee-keeping.

It will be asked: ‘‘ What are’ the profits of Bee-
keeping?” Many consider that there is a fortune in it,
but this is not so. All may gain health and pleasure
in following the study of this, the most remarkable
creature in the insect ..world, but the number who
make a profit out of this occupation will be limited to
those only who have special qualifications, and are
able to give the subject close study and application.

The man who finds himsélf adapted to the under-
taking may safely invest his money, and be assured of
obtaining, to say the least, better returns than very

many other occupations offer at the present day.

 
 

INTRODUCTION.

HE Culture of Bees is one of the most healthful
occupations that can be named, and at the present
day it is being adopted as a business, while the number of
people in all ranks of life who keep only a few hives as a
pleasant pastime is very large, as may be judged from the fact
that the members of the various associations in this country
make up a total of something like 10,000. Consequently,
more honey being on offer, it has become much cheaper than
it was a few years since, when the supply was very limited.
While an increased production has lowered the value, there
is at the same time a larger and increasing demand for the
bee-keeper’s commodity ; and as he now has the benefit of
improved appliances there is no difficulty in competing with
present rates. In fact, it appears likely that very soon it will
not pay foreign countries to send their honey here, as continued
improvements are reducing the cost of production at home.
When honey was superseded by sugar, bee-keeping seems
to-have fallen into the background, but after a time light
began to dawn, and some thirty years since, by using hives
wherein’ all the combs could be removed separately at will, a
great stimulus was given to both practical and scientific bee-
keeping ; consequently, the ranks began to swell, as it became
known that much larger harvests could be secured than by
INTRODUCTION. vii.

the old fixed-comb methods, and in every way the bees could
be brought more under control. But more light was yet needed,
and Bee Journals were established, but it was not until the
year 1873 that this country could boast of one, and that was
founded by Mr. C. N. Abbott, of Southall, who ably conducted
it for about ten years, when it passed into the hands of the
‘Rev. H. R. Peel. Soon after this paper was established we
find Mr. Abbott inaugurating the British Bee-keepers’ Associa-
tion, his object being the diffusion of the knowledge of bee-
keeping, especially among the poorer classes, as a means of
bettering their condition.

In 1874 this body held its first great Exhibition of Bees,
Hives, and Honey, at the Crystal Palace; and since that time
other Associations have sprung up, one after the other, each
holding its own Annual Show. Is it any wonder then that
thousands have entered into the pursuit, and that many.
thousands more have become acquainted with the value of the
busy bees’ product.

The manufacture of hives and appliances has become

-quite an industry, giving employment to many; but it és
generally carried on in connection with the making of founda-
tion, as well as with some other, or all of the several, branches
of apiary work.

Honey in the comb-will ever remain a luxury, but that in
the liquid form is destined ere long to be found in general use
in almost every family, besides being used in various manu-
factures; and the apiarist should do his best to place the latter
upon the market in as cheap a form as possible, at the same
time being careful that such shall have a neat and attractive
appearance.

POORER
 

INTRODUCTION TO REVISED (1892) EDITION.

 

The flattering reception accorded to the first edition of this work, and
the desire for a new issue, has encouraged me in now offering a second
edition, after making a very careful revision ; while it will be found that
much new and valuable information has been added.

The work stands almost alone in the peculiar position which it holds
in relation to the honey-producer ; as it does not simply give the ordinary
routine of management; but enters particularly into the details of the
more important questions of the disposal and current values of the bee-
keeper's produce.

It is a matter for congratulation that the past year has seen a decided ~
rise in the price of honey. Good extracted has been scarce, bringing as
much as 8d. per Ib., exactly the same rate (wholesale) at-which I sold ten
years ago. Comb honey has been eagerly sought after, but the supply
being limited, the price at retail has actually been seen up to something
like the old figure, viz. 1s. 6d. per Ib., during the current winter.

I am aware of new individual enterprises being arranged for starting
out extensively with the new season, in the honey producing line; and
there can not be a more favorable opportunity than the present, provided
such endeavors are skilfully directed. The various honey companies which
originated during the past few years have had to succumb, because the
time has not yet arrived, and possibly never will do, when a single concern
may carry out the business upon a scale sufficiently extensive to produce
a dividend. Notwithstanding the failure of such companies, they have
created a much larger demand for the beekeeper’s produce, and a more
extended knowledge of his industry ; though their action naturally brought
about a too rapid decline in prices. :

Nevertheless the total failure of the honey crop of 1888, followed by
the very poor harvest of 1890, in connection with a succession of light
yields in America, have at last convinced producers and dealers alike, that
the hurried falling off in prices was premature, and not warranted by the
current state of the industry. Instead of little more than sixpence per
pound for comb, the apiarist can now hold out for ninepence to tenpence
wholesale, and be sure of getting it. =

It should be understood that small (less than 1lb.) packages for honey
find little favor in general commerce. In every direction we see that
prices are ruling lower than they were some ten years since; and the con-
sequence is that larger receptacles are required, so that jams and similar
articles may be supplied to the public at the minimum of cost.
INTRODUCTION. ix.

For rapid and convenient handling, the retail trade requires some
protection for comb honey, but the producer must endeavor to give the
best possible effect at the least expense, as he will certainly not be repaid
for any great outlay in that direction. ;

A feature of serious importance to honey producers is the re-introduc-
duction of the larger brood frame, much used before the present Asso-
ciation frame came into use ; the latter having repeatedly proved too small
for the purpose, when its results have been compared with the advantages
derived from the other.

My non-swarming system has been greatly improved, as by a new
arrangement of sections, the worked out-comb may now be secured in
them in the most perfect manner, while neither the foundation nor the
combs are cut up to fit into the separate sections; a great saving over
any of the former plans of -procedure.

The chapter on foul-brood will be found instructive, in that it con-
clusively shows how a cure can be effected by simple means , and that the
beekeeper of the future has no cause to dread the disease, because the
rational methods recommended are the result of practical and successful
application, and are perfectly sure in their action where only a moderate
degree of intelligence is brought to bear upon the subject.

The Chapter relating to bees and fruit, seeding crops, etc., has been
considerably extended, showing how largely the growers of such crops
must depend upon fertilisation by the honey-bee in particular, for the
success of their plans. It is a paper which should be largely circulated
in the interests of both apiarist and agriculturist ; it will certainly result
in a better understanding between those engaged in the respective
pursuits. : i

The chapter on honey and its uses, has had some important additions
made to it, in showing the practical uses of honey in both chest and throat
complaints; in what form to use it, as well as giving such recommend-
ations for other rational treatment in cormection therewith, which will
seldom fail in affording speedy relief. This is a paper that should be
spread broadcast by every beekeeper who has honey to sell.’

The subjects of queen-introduction, queen-rearing, and many others
will be found to have undergone careful revision; while in some cases
other valuable facts have been added, as the result of a further extended
experience.

S. SIMMINS.

Mapassa VILLA,

SEAFORD, SUSSEX.
PAGE.
27
71
75

79
83

87
95
99

11g

125

131

145

177

185

195
199
229

233
251

257

ILLUSTRATIONS.

Queén—Worker—Drone—Queen Cell—Worker and Drone Cells.
Bellows Smoker—Position of Movable Frame—Economic Hive,

Manner of Cutting Cover—Standard Frame—Feeding Dummy—
Commercial Standard Frame.

The Conqueror Hive.
The Commercial Hive and Super.

Crate with T Rests—Simmins’ Twin Crate—Position of same on
Hive—Glass Rail sections—Simmins’ Simple Rack,

Three-side-cut section in the flat—The same folded—Completely
divided section—Divided section holder.

Simmins’ bee-space section—Simmins' four piece flat ditto—
Slotted Separator—Foundation Guide—Wired Frame.

Illustrations of Non-swarming System —Home-made Frame-saw—
Box for Cutting Comb—Swarm Catcher. :

Bottles—Bottle Crate—Comb ditto.

Stanley's Automatic Extractor—Meadow’s Extractor—Honey
Knife. :

Comb Prepared for Cell Building—Queen Nursery for Top of
Hive—Simmins' Lamp Nursery—Virgin Queen Cage—
Circular Queen Cage.

Self-acting Syrup Can—Circular “ Amateur” Feeder—Raynor
Feeder.

Champion Frame Feeder—Simplicity Feeder—Benton Cage, Im-
proved—Nucleus Hive—Wax Extractor, Sectional View.
Store Rooms. 7

House Apiary.

Queen Excluder for Wells’ Double Hive—Double Hive with
Simmins' Non-Swarming Chamber under.

Double Stand with dropping floors—Tiering Hives for Two or
more Queens.

Observatory Hive—Metal End—Abbott’s Exhibition Crate—.
Close-end Frames—Simmins' Self-acting Frame Feeder.

Principle of Simmins' Cold Process Syrup Feeders—Four Wood
Cuts, shewing position of Bees and Stores in Winter.
 

CHAP,

II.

II.

IV.

CONTENTS.

BEE-CULTURE AS A PROFESSION .. oe se

Serve in some Well-Established Apiary—Obtaining the
Necessary Materials—The Choice of Location—Grow
suitable Crops—What Amount of Capital should be
Invested—Estimated Expenses for First Two Years—
Number of Colonies—Average Yields per Hive—What
Kind of Honey to Produce—One Point of the Greatest
Importance—Bees Moved in April—Sale of Bees and
Queens—The Manufacture of Appliances—Bee-Keeping
for Recreation.

HOW TO HANDLE BEES—Precaution against Robbing

Robbing Mania—Why Clustering Swarms do not Sting—
To Drive and Transfer Bees—Bumping—Throwing—
Manipulating Bees in Frame-Hives—Uniting—Agents
used in Quieting Bees—Gloves—Veils—Sweetened
Water. ~ es 3 t

THE ECONOMY.OF THE HIVE .. ... on oe

Substitute for Pollen; Water Supply, &c.—Young Bees
take their Share of Work—How the Honey is Stored—
Royal Cells—Condition of a Colony Nearing the Swarm-
ing Point—Securing the Swarm—Hatching of the Young
Queens,

VARIETIES OF BEES: THEIR.CHARACTER AND
DISPOSITION we ee se oe ee

The Black or Native Bees—Perpetuating their Working
Qualities—Ligurian, or Italian Alp Bees—Carniolans—
Good Temper—Cyprians—Syrians—Palestines—Other
Varieties.

PAGE.

16

.25

39
xii.

VI.

VII.

VIII.

IX.

XI.

XII.

XIII.

CONTENTS.

HOW TO OBTAIN GOOD WORKING STOCK .
Secret of Successful Honey Production—To Obtain Good

Stock—Queens cannot be too Prolific—The Equivalent
of Swarming—Most Suitable Bees.

PLANTING FOR BEES—Area required for 100 Colonies

Plants should be Grown that are Useful for Hay—For a
Succession—Late Forage Undesirable—Cultivation —
Systematic Planting makes Profits certain.

THE AGRICULTURIST AND FRUIT GROWER.
Fruit Culture

ENEMIES AND DISEASES OF BEES—Foul Brood ..

Chilled Brood and Simple Dead Brood—Cheshire Cure for
Foul Brood—Rational and Simple Cures—My Own
Experience — Caution— Another Plan of Immediate
Renovation—Change of Queens as an Aid in Subduing
the Disease—Dysentery—Prevention—Another Item.

MODERN HIVES; HOW CONSTRUCTED AND
FURNISHED . . - . Pe ae

Economic Hive—The Cover—The Conqueror Hive—A
Commercial Standard—Super Crates—Space between
the Sections and Top Bars—Super Crates—Sections
— Folding Sections— Simmins’ Bee-Space Sections—
Separators—No space between Supers—Completely
Divided Sections.

COMB FOUNDATION .. a ve ia «e ee
How to Insert in Frames and Sections—Simmins’ Divided
Section and Holder—Melting the Wax—Other Plans—
Where Swarms are Hived upon Foundation—Wiring the
Frames—Simple Imbedder—Sections should be filled.

HOW TO STOCK THE FRAME HIVE .. es .
Best Time to Transfer—Other Plans of Transfering.

GENERAL MANAGEMENT .. oe oe s ee

Autumn: Unite Stocks of Doubtful Strength—-What is a
Strong Stock?—Winter: Position of Frames—Space
below the Frames—Covering above Frames—A Perfect
Winter Arrangement—Spring —Summer—The Doubling
System — Comb Honey — Extracted Honey — Surplus
Combs—A Great Evil.

SIMMINS’ NON-SWARMING SYSTEM—The-Working
of New Combs, ate ai aie eis os oe

True Principle of Management—Worked-Out Combs for
Sections—Swarm Attachments.

48

53

59

62

7o

g2

IOI

104

Il4
CONTENTS.

XIV. THE PRODUCTION OF HONEY .. ws ee

Extracted Honey—Bottled Honey—Sealing Wax: Colour
—Waxing the Bottles—Canned Honey—Provide for
Extracting Spare Combs—-Bee Traps — Extracting
Machine—Uncapping Can—Uncapping Knife—Rate of
Speed—Combs containing Brood—Storage—To Prevent
Granulation—Crates—Extractors — Exhibition ; Comb-
Honey—Sections : Preparing Stocks for Comb-Honey—
Why the Brood Nest should not be Extended—An
Exception—First Honey Flow—Remove Sections—
Grading—The Store Room — Preparing for Market—
- Selling Honey.

XV. QUEEN REARING... oe, owe . oe oe

The Plan often Recommended—My Own Plan—Another
Method—The Cell Nufsery —Queen Nursery — The
Lamp Nursery--Nuclei—Virgin Queen Cage—Surplus
Virgin Queens—Folly of Keeping Young Queens Con-
fined—Supplying all Hives with Young Queens—The
Young Queens—Eggs for Queen Raising—Drones.

XVI. INTRODUCTION OF ALIEN QUEENS TO STOCKS..
Finding the Queén— Introduction’ by Caging — Direct
Introduction—‘' Comb Method ''—" Fasting’ Method "—

Mr. Pond’s Method—Introduction by Chloroform—

Covering Queens with Honey—Running in at Entrance

—Nucleus Method — Colonies long Queenless —- Virgin
Queens—Queens Dying in Cagé—Loss of Queens—

_, Direct Introduction Proved.

XVII. INCREASE AND ITS RELATION TO PROFITS

Dividing — Contraction — Natural Increase — Swarming
without Increase—Prevent After-Swarms—Securing a
Profit in Poor Seasons.

XVIII. FEEDING AND FEEDERS .. oe ae Fae aa
Dry Sugar Feeding —Syrup Feeders —Simmins’ Syru
' Frame Feeder— Circular ‘' Amateur ’’—Bottle Feeders—
Feeding without Feeders—Candy —No Feeding in
Winter — Making Candy—Outdoor Feeding — During
Spring—In Autumn—Most Suitable Feeder.

XIX. BUYING, PACKING, AND MOVING BEES

Packing Stocks—When Delivered on Rail—For, Export—
Receipt of the Bees—Packing Queens—Benton Cage—
The Food—Inserting the Bees—Packing Swarms—
Weighing Bees—Three-Frame Nuclei—Standard Colo-
nies.

XX. HOUSE APIARIES, STORE ROOMS, &c. a

The Workshop—The Window—Honey Room—Th
Covered Apiary—-The Hives under Cover—The Advan-
tages— Bee-Houses. sc-called.

\e
Xi11,

122

143

157

169

174.

184.

193:
xiv.

XXI.

XXII.

XXIII.

XXIV.

XXV.

CONTENTS.

THE PRODUCTION OF WAX, AND NON-USE OF

FOUNDATION es as +e a os a

A Test by Experiment—Aids to Production—To Produce

Wax in Quantity -The Most Economical Plan— Swarms

Hived upon Starters—Pollen in Sections—To Make

Bees go irito Sections -When Foundation may be used

to advantage—Wax Extractors—Cost of Producing
Wax—Cost of Living—Comparative Cosf.

MANAGEMENT FOR HEATHER HONEY .. oe

Whole Question centres upon the Queen—Use a Young
.Queen—Uniting with Nucleus—Moving to the Heather
—Supers should travel separated—My ‘ Tenth”
Method—Another Plan.

DRIVEN BEES .. ae ce ale oe os oe

‘How to Carry them—The Novice—Foul Brood—When
to Hive the Bees—Place Hives in Position—Uniting to
other Stocks. ‘

HONEY, AND SOME OF ITS USES—The Crude
Nectar .. ays “ oe oe oe o +.

Medicinal Qualities—Definite Treatment-—-Sore Throat
and Night Cough—Bronchitis—Honey as Food—
General Uses.

WORKING TWO QUEENS IN ONE HIVE—The

Wells’ System—The Disadvantages—Comparative

Advantages—The Doubling System —Dropping Floors—
Tiering Plan .. ais ae ais s at as

NOTES-BY-THE-WAY .. ee ss 7 ee sts

INDEX ee oo oe ae on ee oe oe

 

201

209

214

218

225
238

270
 

CHAPTER I.

BEE-CULTURE AS A PROFESSION,
AND FOR RECREATION.

T is now an undisputed fact that honey has become.a staple
article of commerce, and while it will be my intention to
show that the honey-producing industry is capable of still
greater extension in most of its branches, than has hitherto
been the case, I hold out no golden promises, as too many are
prone to do; but wish. it to be distinctly understood that -
while the profits, under correct management, may be larger,
the business requires more careful study and intense applica-
tion. than many others. A natural ability and-a-rational
enthusiasm ‘are necessary to make a successful beekeeper ;
_ and therefore, unless a man makes himself thoroughly
: acquainted with. the peculiarities of bees, he is doomed. to
: disappointment should he attempt to give his time and capital
to this occupation. -

There are two courses open to those who wish to follow
the art of bee-keeping, whereby to gain a living, or for the
purpose of adding to their present income. First, by having -
a few hives, and gradually increasing the number over a term
of years, until the experience gained justifies one in making

' extensive additions to his working stock; though, unless
under such very favorable circumstances as are ‘sometimes
‘found to exist, it willbe unwise to discard any present

occupation.
B
2 A Modern Bee-Farm

By far the better plan will be to
Serve in some Established Apiary

for a couple of years, if possible. By so doing, you save
time and money; your plans must -be more definitely formed,
and the solid experience thus gained will be far more certain.
to put you on the right road to successful management than
half-a-dozen years spent in working up a small apiary. You
start at once with all modern material; and buying in large
quantities, a considerable reduction will be gained; whereas,
many of the.appliances collected from time to time, under the
former condition of preparation, have become valueless by the
time the apiarist enters more largely into the business, leaving
out of the question that much of his material may consist of
odd patterns, and cannot be used to the best advaritage.

The man who has served his time in a large apiary will
next have to consider how he is

To obtain the necessary Materials.

In the first place, there is more risk in buying his bees than
he is likely to incur at any future period of his experience.
Many buy bees of irresponsible advertisers, and though the
latter may consider there is nothing wrong with them, the
purchase often turns out simply worthless.

If it can be so arranged, the student should by all means
buy his stock from the apiary where he served his apprentice-
ship. He ought to know something about the condition of
the same, and may rely upon the proprietor treating him
honorably. Failing this, the owner will probably know where
and how he can secure stock that can be relied upon.

Before commencing his own work, the-apiarist will do well
to visit all the apiaries in the country to which he can gain
access, thus gleaning any valuable ideas that may be thrown
out, while at the same time consolidating his own knowledge.

Under ordinary conditions there is a certain risk about
bee-keeping ; but the reader, by referring to the chapters
and its Economic Management. — 3

relating to Planting and Breeding, will at once see how the
‘whole thing can be rendered a certainty by those capable of
following out the instructions to, be found therein.

The Choice of Location

is another matter requiring serious consideration. It would
appear unnecessary to advise a bee-keeper not to establish
an extensive stock in a district where an advanced apiarist
already has many hives; but he should not settle his bees
close to a town, or near a public highway. Select some quiet
spot, in a valley if possible, and the further from any manu-
factory the better, but do not lose free communication with
some large centre, or railway convenience.

When you know that you will presently be citering into
the business, have a good look around, and endeavour to
secure a few acres in a district favorable to the undertaking ;
a locality abounding in clovers, with the White or Dutch, in
: particular, as that most to be desired, and ensuring the highest
average returns. Unless other conditions are exceedingly
favorable, the absence of White Clover will result in indifferent
returns, if not actual failure. This clover is sometimes grown
as a crop, but more frequently the bee-keeper relies upon.
what is to be found in nearly all pastures, as well as by the
road-sides, where the grit is. very suitable to its growth.
There is the Yellow Trefoil in May, also the Red Italian
Clover ; and after the White has bloomed fromthe early part
of June, as a crop, until near the middle of July in the
pastures, there are the Limes in some places, yielding much
nectat. The Sycamore, too, generally gives a quantity of
honey ; then there are market gardens growing the various
small fruits; also large orchards, the honey from which,
though not often large in quantity, is of considerable value to
the bees while supplying the wants of a rapidly increasing
population. It is seldom all the foregoing are to be found in
4 A Modern Bee-Farm

the neighbourhood of Heather, though in Autumn it will pay
well to move bees to the same if within a reasonable distance,
as the honey generally commands a good price.

On ‘chalk soil, particularly among the South Downs, we
find the Sanfoin early in June and about the middle of August;
Wild Thyme in July, and numerous wild flowers of the thistle
family during the Autumn; as well asa species of Trefoil
(Lotus Corniculatus) during the Summer. Red Clover is also
grown in great quantity, upon the second crops of which the
foreign races only can work; and as the first cutting of this
plant would otherwise be very light, Yellow Trefoil is mixed
with it, and this flowers freely for nearly a month before the
first mowing. The blackberry must not be forgotten, in some
‘parts being so abundant as to give quite a surplus of good
colored honey; while the privet hedges are by no means to
be despised. . :

Should the bee-keeper’s lot fall upon any spot not so
favorably situated, and expecting to work many stocks, he
can only do so by making such arrangements as will allow
him to : ;

Grow suitable Crops

which will: also do for hay, and even in a good district he
would do well to have some large crops going’ throughout the
whole season. I have sometimes been asked

What Amount of Capital should be Invested

to ensure a certain income; but, considering I know nothing
of the capabilities of those who apply by letter, it would be
useless to attempt a satisfactory answer, and in many cases
unwise to give any encouragement at all, where the fullest
particulars as to locality and personal qualifications are not
given. Everything relating to his surrounding honey-pro-
ducing plants and trees should be well known to the advanced
apiarist, who will not be certain of success on a large scale
and its Economic Management. 5

just because a few particular colonies have yielded compara-
tively large weights. He will first find it his duty to pay the
greatest attention to securing the highest possible avevage return
from his stock, both by carefully breeding by a process of
selection, and systematic union of forces, that immense
populations may be on hand at the right time. He who has
thus far mastered the science, will have no need to ask the
foregoing question, but the list of estimated expenses may in
some cases aid enquirers to obtain the needed information.

It should be almost unnecessary to point out that “ every-
thing must be done at the right time ;”’ there must be “a
place for everything, and everything should be in its place.”
Thus by constant and careful attention, and by keeping all
things in order, the specialist will command success ; but the
man -who is not naturally of. an orderly and temperate dis-
position, and moreover is not enthusiastic, and a lover of
Nature (the natural qualifications of a bee-keeper), had better
keep out of the business, or failure will surely be the result.
At the same time, it is by no means certain that reverses will
not-occasionally be met with by the most expert and pains-
taking man; but such difficulties should be looked upon as
inducing a greater stimulus, with renewed effort and more
_ determination to overcome every obstacle. 3

The Estimated Expenses for the First Two Years

will be found.as under, the apiarist starting with not less than
roo colonies, and with some £500 as his capital; otherwise.
he will struggle ori for years before his business can be
satisfactorily established. % ‘

First YEAR: GENERAL ExPENSES.

 £ sa.
100 stocks in “Standard” hives. .. ..at 30/0 150 0 0
100 extra body boxés, with frames wat 3/6 17 10 oO
200 dry-feeding dummies... . wat 1/0 10 0 oO
go rapid frame feeders... —.. wat 36 976 ©
6 A Modeyn Bee-Farm

One 2-cwt. cylinder for reducing sugar to syrup...
Large glue pot, for melting wax to fix guides
Flat-blade scraper

Wax extractor

Timber for work-shop and hovenk -room

Labor ..

Timber a frame are store a and sundries,
labor, &c.

Rail carriage, cartage, &c. ...

Carpenter's bench and tools, nails, screws,

paint, &c.
-Rent (more or less) ...
Sugar ...

Total

 

 

 

Add the following if Comb Honey is to be worked for:

£ s. a.

300 sets of super crates, at 2/6 .. 37 10 0

6,000 1-lb. sections, at 22/6 ... -. 615 0
100 1$-doz. crates, glass two sides,

at 2/6 ae a .. I2 10 0

100 lbs. super foundation, at 2/6 .. I2 10 0

General expenses... .. 268 10 6

 

Total, first year ...

£ s a.
Io 0

o I 6

o 1 6
o17 6

20 0 O

Io 0'O

Io Oo o

10 0 0

II 10 O

15 0 Oo

5 0 0

.. £268 I0 6
Z s. ad

.- £337 1 6

 

Add the following if Extracted Honey is desived :

£ s. a.

300 extracting supers, at 2/6... 37 10 0

Uncapping stand, knives, &c. 2 20

Honey extractor exe II5 oO
6 honey cylinders, Seis cach,

at 15/-«. « 410 0

50 three-dozen crates, at 3/-... 710 0

25 one-dozen crates, at 2/- ... 210 0
and its Economic Management. 7

 

 

£ s ad
Ibs. — roolbs. brood foundation, at 2/- 10 0 o
1728 12 gross 1-lb. glass jars,ati4/- 8 8 o
12 ,, corks, at 1/6... 018 0
1728 6 ,, a-lb. tins, at18/- ... 5 8 o
1296 3: ad » atag/- .. 312 0
864 I. 5 6 » at30/- .. I IO Oo
— General expenses... .. 268 10 6
5616 : ae
Total, first year ... .. £354 3 6
GENERAL EXPENSES, SECOND YEAR: ,
Rent (more or less)... sit «£15 0 0
Sugar .. 00... sis eis «. I0 0 0
Sundry expenses, carriage, &c. w 5 0 0

 

£30 00
Working for Comb Honey:

 

 

Total first year... ‘ie aie £337 15 6
roo extra super crates, at 2/6... «. 12 10 O
6000 1-Ib. sections, at 22/6... » 615 0
50 1}-dozen crates, at 2/6... .«.. 6 5 0
100 lbs. super foundation, at 2/6. ... I2 10 0
: General expenses... w+ 30 0 0
‘ Total, second year «» £405 15 6
Working fov Extracted Honey: i
Total first year ve oe 354 3 mab
50 3-dozen bottle crates, at 3/- 7 10
Ibs. 100 extracting supers, at 2/6.... 12 10
2880 20 gross 1-Ib. jars, at 14/- ... 14 0
20 corks, at 1/6.. ae I ro

1728 6 ,, 2-lb. tins, at 18/- ... § 8
1296 3 gr Bl » ata2q/~ .. 3 12
864 1 4 6 » at 30/- I 10

— General expenses ... 1. 30 0
6768

oo ocvroce oo Om

Total, second year s £430 3 6
8 A Modern Bee-Farm

Estimatep RETURNS, AT A Low AVERAGE, TAKING A SERIES
oF YEARS.

Comb Honey: First Year.
£L.d £ ss a

100 stocks, at 30 1b. per hive—

3000 Ibs., at gd. ... £112 10 0
Total for the year £112 10 0

 

Second Year.
Increased to 125 stocks, at 30 lb. per

 

 

hive—3750 lbs., at gd. ... . £140 12 6
Increase to 150; sell 25 at 30/- .. 37 10 0
Total for the year £178 2 6

 

Extracted Honey: First Year. |

100 stocks, at 50 lb. per hive—
5000 lbs., at 7d. ... wL145 16 8

Wax ... ae ae fice 2 00

Total for the year £147 16 8

 

 

Second Year.
Increased to 125 stocks, at 50 lb. per

 

 

hive—6250 Ibs. at 7d... .. £182 5 10

Wax it os aes 210 0

Increase to 150; sell 25 at 30/- .. 37 10 0
Total for the year ... £222 § 10

 

The greater part of the expenses go towards stock-in-
trade ; but after the sécond year, the outlay will be smaller,
while the returns will be considerably higher, as the apiarist
consolidates his working force. The quantity of sugar
required may amount to more or less according to the season,
and the extent to which the bees are deprived of honey. The
better management is that whereby the largest surplus is
obtained without depriving the stock-chamber of honey at all; in
which case the labour and expense involved in feeding will
and tts Economic Management. 9

often be unnecessary. Having charged the cost of bottles
and tins, the same is added to the selling price of the extracted
honey, as showing the more correct estimate.

Number of Colonies.

In reference to the foregoing estimates, it will be seen that
it is proposed to keep the number of colonies but little over
one hundred, increasing the first year to 125; the. second
season to 150. It is then understood that 25 stocks are to be °
sold; when the remaining 25 over and above the roo will
provide against all accidents, such as weak colonies, loss of
queens, etc., during: the winter; thus. ensuring that the
number shall not fall below 100. This is as far as any one
person should attempt to extend until he is very certain he
cari manage more. With that number. no assistance is
required, but when greater extensions are decided upon,.the
apiarist should get some intelligent lad, and take care in
_ teaching him to become an expert assistant. It is surprising
how quickly a youngster takes to the various manipulations,
and in this line he will, more often than not, be of more
service than a man at much higher wages.

~ Where the apiarist is capable of making up most of his
own appliances, his time will be mostly occupied during the
winter, and then timber will stand in the place of many of the
articles enumerated, making a considerable reduction in cost.
The owner's labor in the apiary has, of course, not been esti-
mated, as that can only be valued by. the balance of profit
shown at the end of the season: the laborer is worthy of his
hire (profit.) ; ‘

The Average yields per Hive

for both comb and extracted honey, taking a series of years,
have been placed very low, but in a fairly good district the
beekeeper should have no trouble in exceeding those figures,
if there are not more than a total of 150 colonies standing in
10 A Modern Bee-Favm

his area, or range of bee-flight. In a very favourable locality,
or where the owner plants bee-forage, the average will be still
higher, and 200, or more, may be placed in one apiary without
any apparent diminution in the “ out-put ” per hive.

The editor of the British Bee Fournal states that he sieawad
1360 Ibs. from seven hives. This was extracted honey, but
his results in comb have often exceeded 100 Ibs. per hive.
These weights were obtained from a limited number of stocks :
it will be seldom, however, that such returns will be gained
where a larger number are to.be managed. I have had
50 lbs. stored by a single colony in seven days: and in 1886
had a queen sent me, whose bees, without attempting to
swarm, had given upwards of 250 Ibs. of honey, about 200 Ibs.
of which were in nicely-finished sections. Such results show
what is possible if the apiarist will always breed from the best
strains, as set forth in the chapter upon that subject.

What Kind of Honey to Produce.

It has often been stated that it pays best to run an apiary
for extracted honey, but my own opinion is that to obtain the
most desirable crop, the apiarist should work for both that and
comb honey. Certainly a larger quantity of extracted honey
can be obtained, but this will stand in the proportion of 50 to
30 Ibs. of comb. Most practical men will admit this is
correct, and upon this basis I have made out the estimates.
It will be noticed that there is little difference between the
first cost on stock-in-trade, whether comb or extracted honey
is worked for, but the season’s produce of extracted honey
costs for receptacles more than three times that of the other.
After the combs are once established for extracting, with no
further outlay in foundation, and a large quantity of new wax
from the cappings, the balance may be in favour of this class
of honey ; but against this we have to place more labour, and
that not of the cleanest. I have published these estimates
that the beekeeper may have a ready means of making his
and tts Economic Management. II

own comparisons, and be more certain of what he is about ;
and I do not, by any means, intend the estimated returns to
be taken as implying a certainty.

Dear reader, throughout these pages will be found my
utmost desire to save you from the mistakes made in the past
by myself and many others. Experience is of course the
best teacher, and its lessons nearly always leave on record
instances. of failure, of a more or less serious nature, which
has to be met before final success can be ensured. Experience
thus gained is of value to others starting out upon the same
course, just in proportion to their willingness to be guided
by the advice given. Right here I must insist upon

One Point of the Greatest Importance.

‘When you have decided to make a start upon a large scale,
purchase your bees, in one lot if possible, about the middle of
April, and have them removed to your own place at once. I
do not contemplate that the transaction will take place at any
other time, and can certainly give no advice for obtaining
them at another date, where the highest possible returns are
desired from the first season’s work. If you begin earlier or
later, earlier in particular, the first great mistake is made, and
very likely one which will be the cause of ultimate failure.

Bees moved in April

undergo just that condition of excitement which induces
healthy activity at exactly the right time; the queens become
equally energetic under the consequent stimulation ; and better
‘progress is made than if they had not been disturbed. If
moved in February or March the same excitement causes the
loss of thousands of the older bees, through flying for what
they cannot obtain at that early date: the large patches of
brood lose the warmth hitherto afforded by such workers, and
12 A Modern Bee-Farm

the hive deteriorates to such an extent that the whole season
is unprofitable. By purchasing in April there are plenty of
young bees to fall back upon ; you get only good-stocks which
have stood the ordeal of winter; there is no further risk, and
the whole season is before you. If obtained at a later date,
the first year is lost, and the excitement caused by later pack-
ing is not simply injurious, but absolutely ruinous. These
statements are based upon hard facts and experience, and the
reader will do well to be guided thereby.

So far we have considered one branch of bee-keeping: only,
but another thing is the :

Sale of Bees and Queens.

This is more profitable, more certain, and the returns quicker
than when producing honey; but, atthe same time, special
qualifications are necessary to enable a man to conduct
a queen-rearing business successfully, and unless he finds
himself peculiarly adapted to the undertaking, he had better
confine himself to honey, as continued application, constant
care and thought, are required in a much higher degree, to
enable one to carry on. this interesting work. ‘It should also
be understood that where bees and queens are raised for sale,
the apiarist will have to be satisfied with but a limited
quantity of honey; in fact, if his demand is large, in some
seasons instead of a surplus, a considerable amount of sugar
will be required for winter store, while his stock is seriously
handicapped during prolonged spells of bad weather, when
many virgin queens are on hand. It will take some years to
gain a connection, and in the meantime your advertisements
must be frequent, but limited in extent and cost,

Do not attempt much in the way of selling bees and
queens until you have a substantial stock of at least one
~ hundred hives to draw upon, or you will never obtain much
benefit from them if you are depending largely upon this
source of income.
and its Economic Management. 13
x

Still another department is connected with apiculture :
The Manufacture of Appliances

is carried on by a number of reliable men, each of whom has
an apiary ; some of them add the making of comb-foundation,
while nearly all find it necessary to continue some other
‘business. On the other hand there are many, who gaining —
a first insight into bee-keeping, think it a great chance
to make money by advertising hives for sale, either of
patterns already in hand, or some idea of their own. This
branch of the business is now so much over-crowded, and
well-made goods can be obtained so cheaply, that there is no
demand for badly-constructed hives as the amateur often turns _
out. His advertising expenses are never returned, and, he
soon gives up in disgust. I do not mean to imply that. no
good is ever to be done in a small way ; but it is better for the
beginner who can turn out a decent article to confine himself
‘to local requirements; while continuing his usual occupation.
As a rule the buyer will find it to his advanéage to go to.
a well-known maker, and get what he wants at a cheaper
rate, and correctly made.
It is so far doubtful whether honey- producing alone, except
under particularly ‘favorable conditions, will ever become a
reliable source of income ; but in connection, with the manu-
.facture of appliances and foundation, the sale of bees, etc.,
when well known, it is possible. to secure good returns where
capital is judiciously invested, and ‘labor: is economised.
There are several rural occupations that can be carried on in
connection with bee-keeping to advantage. Fruit-growing is
generally profitable to those who understand its culture.
Poultry,:on a small scale, can be made most profitable, and a
large portion of the proceeds, in eggs and fowls, may find
their way to the owner’s table, in addition to those sold.
Other pursuits may occur to the individual bee-keeper, such
as may not seriously interfere with the main occupation,
T4 A Modern Bee-Farm

though his surroundings, and space at command, will largely
influence his actions.

Bee-Keeping for Recreation.

While the greater number of amateurs endeavour to get all
the profit they can out of their bees, there are many who keep
them because of the pleasure afforded by studying their
habits; though,’ of course, the delight experienced in being
able to place pure honey, in its most chaste form, upon one’s
own table, and that of friends, is by no means a secondary
consideration. Nothing can be more appreciated than a
present of beautifully white honeycomb in sections or bell-
glasses; and what, moreover, can exceed the pride and
pleasure in thus being able to present that which is your own
production; a thing of beauty, which has been gradually
“ growing ” under your own fostering care.

The busy man who occasionally spends a few minutes
with his bees, finds healthful and soothing recreation for both
body and mind; and fortunate are those whose leisure gives
them almost unlimited time to carry out the study of these
remarkable insects. It can truly be said that they are a
never-failing source of interest, there being always something
new to discover, either as to their habits or management.

Modern bee-keepers are enthusiasts, and among all who
study the subject there is a general understanding and mutual
sympathy. The novice may therefore go to his nearest neighbor
who may-be following the pursuit, and be certain of a hearty

_welcome, and a free gift of all the knowledge about bees that he
may have gathered by many years of practice; but never-
theless, just here, I advise the beginner not to go to his more
expert neighbor every time a difficulty occurs. He must bear
in mind his past lessons, and strive to help himself.

It does not much matter at what time of the year you may
begin in a small way; you have first to gain confidence in
handling bees before you can make much out of them. Get
and tts Economic Management. “15

some friend or other apiarist of experience, if possible, to over-
haul the stock you wish to purchase, and be guided by him as
to its value. In the absence of friendly advice, you cannot
do better than buy a first swarm from some cottage bee-
keeper. Obtain your hives from a well-known maker, and so
get them correct in measurement; otherwise your expected
pleasure will be somewhat marred, and your manipulations
sadly complicated.

While the number who may be capable of making bee-
keeping their main occupation,’ will’ be limited, almost every-
one can keep a few colonies at great advantage to health,
and at the same time make them pay their own way. Even
the scientist need not go to any great expense over his inves-
tigations, as with ordinary care his bees can be made to
return all the money he may require to lay out for sich pur-
poses.

The cry of ‘‘ over-production ’’ is but a false alarm, and we
need not fear, however many become honey-producers in our
generation. No genuine article of food will long want for a
customer, if only it is presented in an attractive manner at a
reasonable rate. There are many ways in which honey may
be utilised, not only as food and medicine, but also for a num-
ber of manufacturing purposes ; and while the fact that many

- others will continue+to enter into the occupation, may cause
reduced prices, the value of honey will become more generally
known, to the advantage of all concerned.

 
16 A Modern Bee-Farm

 

 

 

 

CHAPTER II.

HOW TO HANDLE BEES.

MONG the uninitiated the general impression is that
_bees are certain to sting if molested, but if let alone
they will not touch one. This is to a certain extent true, and
while the novice would generally be unable to open a hive to
take out the combs and bees, without being attacked, the
expert may do almost anything with neither veil nor gloves,
and seldom receive a sting. Of course, the difference is that
the former has not yet gained that caution and confidence
necessary in all his manipulations, and this will come only by
practice; no one-can give him the desired skill to start with.
A calm and deliberate motion should be acquired by all who
’ hope to handle’ bees successfully. I have known those looked
upon as experts to have a very unpleasant manner while
manipulating bees, making it unsafe for any unprotected
companion, and disturbing a whole apiary for days. Though
such operator may not himself mind stings, this carelessness
should be overcome if the owners visited are to have any
pleasure in their apiaries.

Precaution against Robbing.

Where an expert is called upon to put an apiary in order,
or remove the crop of honey, difficulties are likely to occur
and its Economic Management. ~ 17

before he can get through a large number at one place, if
precautions are not taken. As far as possible, while on a tour
the larger apiary should be visited last, and the work so timed
that it will be completed towards dusk, and no combs from
the extractor should be returned until then. These remarks
apply to Autumn in particular, though there are other periods
when honey is not coming in, and not only then but at all
times the owner should be very careful not to give his bees a
chance even to start robbing, with its consequent fighting,
loss, and annoyance.

Preventive measures are of course the first consideration,
and in the case of fairly large apiaries some bee-proof shelter
is a great necessity, as many operations may there be carried
on which would be impossible in the open. Many. of the
stocks may be carried into such shelter for examination or
deprivation ; and besides being invaluable for extracting, will
be-found most useful for queen-rearing and many other pur-
poses. ;

If through negligence in carelessly allowing honey or syrup
to be exposed in the apiary, the :

Robbing Mania

has once commenced, as may also be induced by the injudi-
cious opening of hives, or badly fitting floors, roofs, etc., then
the uninitiated will find he has let loose a power which will
Tequire his coolest judgment to subdue it. I have known
horses, chickens, dogs, and other animals severely attacked
by bees because the skep of a neighbour having been placed
upon an old block cracked in every direction, offered capital
openings for a host of determined-robbers, whom I found
coming and going like some irresistible hurricane. All
openings, except one reduced to a }-inch tubular passage-way,
were immediately stopped ; the watering can was freely used,
and dripping sacks left over the skep. In a few minutes all
was quiet. Where the ire of bees has been aroused by the
c
i ° A Modern Bee-Farm

careless removal of honey in Autumn similar difficulties are
likely to occur, but in this case they will remain irritable for
days or weeks.

Robbing in the same apiary is sometimes cured by making
the attacked hive exchange places with that of the assailants ;
carbolic acid in solution, on cloths placed about the front of
the unfortunate hive, will put an end to the disttirbance ; and
where all the stocks in an apiary can be fed up simultaneously
in the Autumn, there will be no further inclination to rob, and
‘all the necessary work may be completed in comfort.

Having shown, that the first care of the apiarist is to be
cautious, that his bees may always be held well in hand, it
will now be desirable to consider under what conditions they
may be handled without fear of being stung. We will first
note that as a rule,

Clustering Swarms do not Sting.

Nearly everyone has noticed how readily a new swarm may
be handled; the bees having no inclination to sting. The
reason is not so much that they are full of honey, as is usual
in swarming time, but that they are homeless, and have only
recently been under great excitement. By the aid of some
intimidant, the bees of an established colony may also be
excited and made to fill themselves with honey, when the
combs can-be removed at will. It does not happen, however,
that all the bees rush to the cells; I have .frequently noticed

‘ that many do not attempt to do so, but these may be already
loaded, though the state of excitement is so soon communicated
to all that none, as a rule, attempt to retaliate when the hive :
is examined,

When necessary to look into a fixed-comb hive (commonly
called a “‘skep”) first drive a few puffs of smoke in atthe
entrance from a bellows smoker, as illustrated, which is of
the “Bingham” pattern. Give the sides-of the hive several
sharp raps, then turn it up in a line parallel with the combs,
and tts Economic Management. 19

so that none may fall on one side, when, after a little more
smoke driven across the now exposed combs, any necessary
examination may be made; though of course the investigation
can be little more than a superficial one. The smoker is so
arranged that when placed in a vertical position there
is a continuous draught, but if put down the other way the
draught is at once stopped, and the fire goes out. While
it is desirable that no more be used than is really necessary,
the operator should on no account proceed until he has used
sufficient smoke or other intimidant, that he may be quite
certain he has the bees well in hand. Many overlook just
this necessary precaution, causing needless loss of bee-life, as
well as inconvenience to others, if not to themselves. After
any operation these little insects should, if carefully treated,
be no more disposed to sting than before. Of course ex-
ceptions to this rule will be met with, and while at some more-
favorable seasons, and with some quieter races of bees, little
or no smoke may be needed, there are other stocks nothing
seems to thoroughly subdue ; and though these are often the
best honey-gatherers, the novice will soon want to be rid of
them: this is-best done by deposing the queen, and giving
one from a quieter strain. When it is desired

To Drive and Transfer .

bees from a straw skep, or other fixed combs, to movable
’ frames, then after smoking and inverting the old hive, let its
crown rest upon the ground; ‘place an empty skep or box
above, fitting exactly mouth to mouth, and then continue to
rap upon the sides of the lower hive with the hands or a stout
stick ; but on no account jar in such a rough manner that the
combs become broken from their attachments, or many of the
inmates will be smothered in the honey. ‘Soon. the bees will
be heard roaring on their march upwards, ‘being in fear of the
trembling combs falling about them. In the first instance a
cloth may be secured around the junction.of the two hives,
20 A Modern Bee-Farm

thus ensuring that no bees rush out; after-a few minutes this
can be removed, and the upper skep tilted from front to back,
having first been secured to the other by a skewer, or any-
thing that will keep them together without shifting. The
operator will soon prefer to do’ without the cloth and keep the
skeps parted from the first, when the queen may be captured
as she ascends, if desired. It should be so arranged that the
back where the bees are to run up shall be the highest point,
and that at the ends of the lines of combs, or the bees will not
go up readily. Then transfer the combs to the frame hive,
and return the bees, as explained in Chapter XI. One is

_ often told to procure a pail or table whereon to place the skeps
while driving, but if the operator will only. bend his back
he will want no such thing and will find the earth a far
better “stand” than any other.

Bumping.

After first intimidating ‘the bees, another way to get them
out, is to invert the hive and give it one or two sharp
“bumps” on the ground, at the edge of the crown on the side
parallel to the combs. If carefully done the combs break,
away from the sides and top of the hive much cleaner than
they can be taken out by any other way. Brush the bees off
into an empty skep with a feather, and transfer the combs as
desired. This plan was first introduced by Mr. F. Lyon, and
has met with great success.

Throwing.

This is quite an old plan, and where the combs are fixed,
either by cross sticks through them in skeps, or in shallow-
frame hives, nothing can exceed its simplicity and rapidity.
Place an empty hive on a sheet upon the ground, mouth
upwards ; stand over the same with the stocked hive held by
the hands at the rim between the legs of the operator ; raise
the hive and lower it quickly, then stop the motion with a
and its Economic Management. at

sudden jerk just as the empty hive is neared; repeat as often
as necessary and the bees will be all thrown out. Wait a few
minutes after smoking them, lift the hive and proceed, when
the bees having discontinued feeding at the cells, will come
out more readily. This rough and ready process was carried
out only with the cross sticks through the hives and combs so
that the latter could not fall; and Mr. Heddon has more
recently adopted the same thing with his shallow-fixed frames.
In the case of frame hives the bees will be shaken down on
the top, or at the entrance, of the lower hive.

Manipulating Bees in Frame Hives.

The foregoing operations are seldom necessary with move-
able-comb hives, as each frame may be removed at will, and
this meets all requirements. When any operation has to be
carried out, first lift the material covering the frames, and
drive a few puffs of smoke among the bees, replace the “quilt,”
and after a few seconds peel the same off with care, and make
the necessary examinations. Remove and replace each comb
carefully, taking care not to crush any bees while so doing,
and see that your smoker is on hand in good order, in case
they may get troublesome. If the combs are to be cleared,
shake them from the same back into the hive, or at the
entrance by:a motion similar to that of throwing, beginning
however with a gentle shake, and then more vigorously, as the
bees become frightened. Nothing tends to subdue them so
thoroughly, and on no account should a brush or feather be
used until the bees have first been so shaken; as- ~ by brushing
them from the combs they are much irritated.

Carniolan and Cyprian Bees seldom require to be.
intimidated. The former can be handled almost anyhow,
while with the others gentle treatment is necessary ; and what
is remarkable with both these varieties, and also some stocks
of Syrian bees, it matters not how long the hive may remain
uncovered, they continue perfectly peaceful. With these,
22° A Modern Bee-Favm

begin by peeling off the quilt gently, and then proceed to
remove the combs in the same manner, and hardly a bee will
take wing. Get them from the combs by shaking, as above,
when necessary, and no stings will be given as a rule.

Uniting.

Where bees are in fixed combs, drive both (or all), then
remove all queens but the one wanted; stand the combed
hive to receive them in an inverted position near to where
they are to remain and throw all into the one. As soon as the
bees are a little settled turn the skep right way up on two
t-inch sticks laid on the floor board; remove such sticks in
the evening and see that the entrance is not less than 3 in.
‘by $-in.

Bees in frame hives can be joined by alternating the combs
of one with those of the other. Smoke each hive and then
part the combs so that no bees hang from one to the other,
and then proceed to unite the two. Leave only one queen,
cover up carefully and do not disturb them again. If two
standing near together are to be united, move the hive to be
occupied half-way between the two, and take the other hive
right away. A board placed against the entrance, slanting to
the ground, will aid the bees in collecting at that spot, while
the original inhabitants of the hive will also feel in a strange
position. In general, when preparing for winter I nearly
always wait until October and then a stock can be carried any
distance in the same apiary and joined to another, with no
loss of flying bees, as none get far from home at this date, and
not flying frequently they always make a note of their position.

Many use thin syrup scented with peppermint wherewith
the bees are sprayed, thinking that a common scent will make
them unite peaceably, but there is no need of anything of the
kind, if but one queen is allowed, and my directions are
followed with regard to separating the combs and fully
exposing the whole of the bees to the light for a few minutes
before the union is accomplished. :

 
and its Economic Management. 23

Sprinkling with flour when uniting has recently been
brought to notice through the columns of the Bee Journals;
and the plan is certainly preferable to the above, and though
1 have no need for anything of the kind, there are many who
will gain confidence by using it, though probably in the hands
of a novice, careless handling will even then bring about a
disaster occasionally. During the season I am daily uniting
bees under all conditions without any extraneous aid, and
always without fighting; therefore to me the various recom-
mendations are simply amusing.

In the case of Cyprians and Syrians some caution is
needed, but I have found that if both lots are first made queenless
these bees can be united without the least inclination to fight
while in that condition; the queen to be retained, being
returned in the evening. Except it be in the middle of the
day during a good flow of honey nothing else will induce these
bees to amalgamate with strangers.

Agents used in Quieting Bees.

Mr. Cheshire mentions that methyl salicylate, using a few
drops on the hands, will effectually prevent bees attacking the
same.* The same author also recommends a small amount of
crude creosote placed upon the fuel in the smoker for subduing
any colonies not amenable to milder treatment. The late
Rev. George Raynor long used carbolic acid for quieting bees;
his plan being to dip a feather in a weak solution.of the acid
and then pass it over the frames, when the bees rapidly
retreat. Fume chambers added to bellows have also been
introduced, and while I have no wish to disparage those who
have invented these methods of applying carbolic acid, I am
compelled to say that for general purposes I have found
nothing to equal the smoker, and in extreme cases the creosote
or other pungent article added to the fuel.

 

* « Bees and Bee-keeping," Vol. II.
24 A Modern Bee-Farm
Gloves.

While I can but regard gloves as a great hindrance to
manipulation, it is necessary that the novice should commence
with something of the kind, just to give him confidence.
. Thick woollen gloves dipped in vinegar and water, wrung out,
will answer better than anything, but as soon as possible these

- should be discarded.

Veils.

These should be made of fine black netting to protect the
face, while any white material will do for the back, and will
protect the wearer from the heat of the sun. Elastic should
be run round the top so that it will fit tightly about the hat ;
and the length should be such as will enable the lower end‘to
be tucked inside the coat collar.

Sweetened Water for Quieting Bees.

In cases where very vicious bees have to be dealt with, or
when a novice thinks he may be some time finding a queen,
and particularly if he wish to hurry the operation of “driving,”
then first sprinkle the bees with a little sweetened water.
After two or three minutes, all will be as harmless as flies.

 
and its Economic Management. 25

 

CHAPTER III.

THE ECONOMY OF THE HIVE.

ESIRING to place a few important matters before the

uninitiated reader in as simple a manner as possible, I

will begin with the establishment of a new swarm, and explain’

the various phases of its existence until that in its turn is pre-
pared to send forth its own increase.

Presuming that our swarm has been duly hived in move-
able frames, each of which has a wax guide down the centre of
the top-bar, we shall find that the bees begin to extend them-
sélves in festoons from the highest point should the hive not
stand on the level ; if perfectly flat, then the cluster is formed
near to one side, and forthwith waxen cells are added to the
guide placed to ensure straight building. If the weather is
favourable, the delicate white comb will be found to increase
rapidly in semi-circular form, until the centre reaches to within
3-inch of the lower rail of the frame, when the side spaces are
soon filled in. Sometimes combs will be started in different
places along the guide, and as the circular edge of each nears
its neighbour, these are joined, and the several united con-
tinued as one comb. ;

By using a sheet of glass next above the frames, or better
still, my glass rail sections, kept warm with woollen material,
the interesting operation of comb-building may be watched.
Many bees will be seen with strips of wax just removed from
the “wax pockets” on the under-side of the abdomen, and
this they are moulding: into shape as added to the thick rim
on the outer edge of the cells. This rim is always. present,
26 A Modern Bee-Farm

‘not only as a reserve of wax-for lengthening the cells, but
more especially for giving strength to the structure, and the
better to withstand the tramp of many feet; the actual cell
walls being as fine as tissue paper. With a few exceptions, ©
_as when joining two combs, or where drone cells meet those
of the worker size, each cell is hexagonal in shape, with a base
composed of three irregular squares, so that the centre point
‘of contact is deeper than the sides; thus, the centre of the
base of one cell comes opposite the junction of three walls on
the other side of the “septum.”

The natural distance from the centre of one comb ‘to that
of the next is 14-inch. It is not, however, absolutely necesary
that this gauge should be retained, and it will be found by
making the distance 1$-inch or 14-inch when starting new
combs that the bees will build them almost éntirely of worker
cells—five to an inch. When the natural distance is allowed,
many larger cells are constructed; these are for storage or
for the production of drones or males, their measure being’
four to the inch.

As soon as the combs are sufficiently advanced, the queen
deposits an egg in each available cell; this remains for two
days, when the workers add a milky fluid; on the third day
the egg hatches, and the tiny embryo floats in the liquid, to
which the bees continually add, until the seventh day, when __
the larva surrounds itself with a silken web, its cell being
then capped over with a porous mixture of wax and Pollen.
According to Cheshire many more important changes then
take place than hitherto have been supposed, and the student
of nature will find much pleasure in perusing his work.*
When fully developed, the insect bites its own way through
the cap on the twentieth day after the egg was laid, and is
readily distinguished by its light downy appearance. “It
immediately proceeds to the open cells of honey, and helps
itself liberally. The youngster is generally assisted by an

 

* « Bees and Bee-keeping,” Vol. I., Scientific.
   

WORKER
GELLS

QUEEN CELLS

‘Fie 2.

  

“WORKER

  

QUEEN DRONE
and its Economic Management. 29

older bee in removing the filmy skin from its body,'and after
two or three days it goes out for a cleansing flight at the
warmest part-of the day, at the time many others are having
an airing and taking stock of their surroundings.

Our little friend gets stronger daily, and, soon after the
seventh day we find her coming home with a lump of pollen
on each back leg, in what are called the pollen-basket8, being
hollow parts in the legs, with strong hair so overhanging that
the load cannot fall. She enters the hive, travels up the comb
to near the margin of the brood nest, and after finding a con-
venient cell, in which quite likely pollen has already been
deposited, she pushes off her load with the middle legs, which
Cheshire has shown have a peculiar instrument adapted to the
purpose, and which is passed down the hollow behind the
pollen, and thus it is forced off into the cell. The bee will
then turn round and entering the cell, presses the pellets”
down into a thin layer, where probably many. such are already
placed, varying in colour according to the nature of the plant
they may have been gathered from. It is well-known that’
the bee nearly always confines itself to one kind of flower
when out foraging, hence its load of honey is of one kind only
and the pollen is of one colour; the bee-keeper may therefore |
frequently tell what his bees are working upon by carefully
noting the colour being brought in. Thus mustard gives
yellow pollen; white clove, brown; red clover, dark brown ;
sanfoin, brown; willow, yellow; furze, dark orange; dande-
lion, bright orange; apple blossom, light yellow; poppy,
black ; blackberry, greenish white; while the various garden
flowers give every conceivable shade.

It is but seldom a bee gathers a large load of both pollen
and honey on one and the same journey. A pollen gatherer
will have little honey,’ while those carrying the most honey
will seldom stay for a particle of pollen, more than what may .
-be brushed into honey as collected. The pellets are brought
in most freely up till 11 a.m. while everything is moist from
the dew of night; or at any time, immediately after a shower,
30 A Modern Bee-Favm

if warm. The honey sources of the day are about dried up
by three p.m., and the bees do not often work actively after
that time. As in the early morning, they then carry in much
water to help in preparing the food for the young, a mixture
of pollen and honey, first digested by the nurse bees, or those
not yet old enpugh for outside work, and given to the unsealed
larve aS a milky fluid. During the warm part of the day, not
a bee will be found at the water fountain if there happen to
be a heavy flow of honey; but should there be a scarcity,
many will be carrying water the whole day; even if it be rain-
ing they continue their flights to the same spot by force of
habit. It is, of course, understood that bees must have. honey
(or syrup),-but, do not at any time lose sight of the fact that
in building up in Spring, it is absolutely necessary that they
have both pollen and water as well.

Substitute for Pollen; Water Supply, &c.

If there is any sign of scarcity, nitrogenous food can be
given in the shape of a thick paste, formed by mixing pea-
flour with good honey (syrup will not do). With a thin broad.
stick press this into the cells of a tough comb to the extent of
half of one side and place the same next the cluster. Water
can be given in large milk pans, either with sawdust at the
bottom; moss; or wood to float asa resting place ; taking
care that the vessel shall stand in a warm, sheltered spot.

Young Bees take their Share of Work.

The honey gatherer will generally give up its load to the
younger bees, returning at once to the fields, and it will be
found that during the day the hives are filled almost exclu-
sively with younger bees not yet able to work outside, and as
these do most of the comb-building as well as store the honey,
have we not here the reason why the pollen is so seldom found
in new:stored combs? Of course, we know that pollen is re-
quired near the brood nest, but much of it is purposely stored
and its Economic Management. 3r

and covered with honey in view of future requirements, and
the load could be transferred, as the honey is to the younger
bees, we should not be able to reckon upon the almost total
absence of that article from our comb honey.
That the young bees do take so large a share of the work,
as explained above, shows remarkable economy of labour, and
_disproves the theory that there is no benefit to be derived
from brood hatched out less than three weeks previous to the
probable close of the honey harvest. During 4 heavy flow,
which implies, of course, very warm fine weather, I have seen
hives with none but newly-hatched bees at home, proving also.
that upon an emergency young bees begin to carry muich
earlier than is often supposed. The fact is, from the time.
surplus receptacles are put on, the production of brood should’
be limited to the capacity of nine “ Standard” frames. That
number of combs crowded with brood, except for the usual:
quantity of pollen stored, will represent the population needed’
to make up for the continued wear and tear of bee-life, and to.
keep the stock in good heart after the hard work is past ; as.
few of those which have gathered the stores are to be found
within three weeks after the close of the season. Examine.
the hive, and you will find every field worker has its wings.
more or less worn; look again, after the interval named, and
they are gone.

How the Honey is Stored.

We will now watch a bee relieving itself of the nectar
brought in. Should she select an empty cell, she first assures.
wherself that it is quite clean, and then beginning at the base,
with her tongue she commences to ‘‘ paint” the same with the
honey slowly leaving her tongue, until the first load completely
covers the three squares. Another load is brought, and the
next bee continues the operation of “‘painting’’ the?sides of
the cell, but only so far as it is necessary to accommodate her
own load which she is slowly disgorging. In like manner
32 A Modern Bee-Farm

each following bee continues the process, until the cell is.
nearly full, and the mouth of the same is gradually sealed over
with pure wax. It will be readily understood that were it not.
for this process of moistening the sides of the cell, the honey
would not always adhere to the dry surface, and hence much
waste space would be the result. Much of the honey does not,
however, remain where first placed. If the bees have room it
is distributed as much as possible, and when the excess of
moisture is evaporated it is carried above.

* The bees which leave an air space just under the capping _
are Blacks, Carniolans, and some hybrids. Ligurians give a
thinner sealing and are not always so careful to retain the
clear space, but their comb honey is quite presentable, though
that of the former is preferred for its snowy whiteness.
Cyprians, Syrians, and Palestines, however, leave no space
whatever ; in fact, it would appear that they even moisten the
inside of the cappings, and fill the cell as tight ‘as possible,
hence their comb honey is not at all saleable. The reader
will therefore use his own judgment in the matter, and only
work those stocks for comb honey that are known to produce
the whitest comb surface. _

As soon as the ‘wants of the rapidly increasing brood nest
are supplied stores begin to accumulate, and presently we find
the upper portion of the central combs filled with honey and
neatly capped, while one or more of the combs at one or
both sides will often be a solid block of honey. Meanwhile.
the population has been entirely renewed by the brood hatch-
ing in successive batches, but presently no more store is to be
gathered, and then the drones are destroyed; the size of the
brood nest is greatly diminished, until by September brood
rearing ceases entirely, unless there be a queen of the current
year, and in that case, with plenty of food on hand, it will be
continued until late into October. The whole of .the stores
accumulated by a swarm thus left to itself will seldom exceed
20 Ibs., but let the reader compare this with the product of a
swarm worked as explained under “General Management,”
and its Economic Management. 33

and he will find that there is but poor economy in the ‘ let-
*em-alone ” policy.

As the cool weather comes on, thé bees which but lately
appeared to fill the hive, crowd into a compact mass, occupy-
ing not one-tenth of the space. The winter cluster is formed
where brood has lately been hatched, towards the central lower
part of the combs; thus the bees are able to enter these cells,
head to head on opposite sides, as well as cluster between,
forming one unbroken mass, and so keeping up the neces-
sary temperature. In this state the bees do not rely upon any
outside covering other than simple protection from direct
draught. The older the combs are the more protection
afforded in Winter; but one wall of the hive, at least, that
on the.south side, can hardly be too thin, as an occasional

. gleam of sunshine penetrates at once, and so enables the bees
to shift their position, and re-arrange the stores around the

_.cluster, even though the temperature may be too low for any
to fly out. Therefore, wherever the entrance may be placed,
it is absolutely necessary that the frames of comb shall stand
end on to the south wall. :

Providing pollen is at hand, breeding commences in all
good colonies soon after the “turn of days,” but at first the
patches of brood are small, and limited to the very’ heart
of the cluster, to guard against chill. It is not by any means
to be supposed that henceforth young bees are brought forth
without intermission; but it is a fact, nevertheless, that a
colony, failing through any cause, to produce this early batch
of youngsters, will stand in the background all through the
season, as presently the loss of bee-life will be so great that a
late hatching of young ones cannot possibly keep pace with
the deaths occasioned by almost daily flights. On the other
hand, two or three generations of young bees brought to life
before general flights occur, give a colony so great an
advantage that no perceptible diminution occurs, and by the
time spring opens, the population has been. almost entirely
venewed, so that henceforth the progress of that stock is rapid.

D
34 A Modern Bee-Farm

Presuming that the colony we have had under considera-
tion, has plenty of stores of both kinds, and a good queen at
its head, at the approach of May some of the large cells have
eggs deposited in-them: these also hatch on the third day,
and the larve then undergo much the same process of change
as does the worker, though each condition is more prolonged,
and it is not until the 25th day that the perfect insect begins
to bite a way out from its cradle. Nearly every one has
heard of these burly fellows, but people generally appear to
consider that a drone is so called simply because he will
not work; but the fact is he cannot work, and has nothing in
common with the worker, the latter being a neuter and its
whole organism so constituted as to fit it for work alone,
while the drone is exactly the reverse, and being the male
its sole occupation is that of fertilising the young queens
brought to life during the swarming season. It is therefore in
view of this colonising instinct that the drones are now
brought forward; this being the first indication that a stock
is expecting to swarm at no distant date. If we suppress the
- production of drones then, by allowing no drone comb, one
step is taken towards the prevention of swarming ; it being
well known that those colonies having few or no drones are
the least inclined to swarm.

Royal Cells.

The next and more important step taken by the bees, is to
build special cells, either on the surface of the combs, or more
often around the edges, something in the shape of an acorn;
indeed in their first stage, they are almost an exact counterpart
of the cup. They may remain in this state, as they often do,
for many days if the weather is not quite favourable; but in
due course the queen deposits in each an egg, and as soon as
the tiny larve hatch from these they are fed excessively upon
what is called ‘ Royal Jelly,” a substance much thicker than
that given to the common larve. From the sixth to the
and tts Economic Management, 35

seventh day the developing insect has its cell capped over ; it
then spins a cocoon which does not completely surround itself,
as the abdomen is not covered, and strange though it may
seem, it is just there that the cell is torn open, and the im-
mature queen stung to death by the first hatched young queen,
when the workers decide that the rest are not wanted.

On the sixteenth day from the laying of the egg, the perfect
female, or mother bee, emerges from the cell, though she is
not fulfilling her destiny, until being established at the head of
the old colony or one or other of the after swarms, she mates
with a drone when about six days old, and on the second day
after begins to deposit eggs in the worker cells only. Contrary
to the opinion of some writers, who affirm that a young queen
is incapable of producing drones the first year, I have re-
peatedly had cases in prospevous colonies where a queen not two
months old produced drones. Nevertheless, it is the rule for
after swarms, having young queens, to build only worker cells
the first season, hence no drones can be produced, and this
would account for the erroneous conclusion arrived at by the
old writers. Of course there is a lesson to be learnt at this
point: “When wishing to obtain worker combs without the
aid of comb foundation, insert young queens at the head of
those stocks used for the purpose.” But we have to note the

‘

Condition of a colony nearing the swarming point,
and therefore must return to the period when the queen cells
are being capped over. The old queen now shows signs of
restlessness and were she permitted would gladly destroy the
- inmates of the Royal cells, though only a few days previously
she needed but little persuasion on the part of the workers to
deposit the eggs in those, very cells, soon to become her own
rivals and deadly enemies of each other. It is not always the
‘case, but it sometimes happens that the bees cease to stimulate
the old queen to egg-laying at this stage, and hence she is
better able to fly, as her ovaries are much reduced in size.
36 , A Modern Bee-Farm

The bees have not always time to finish capping all the
queen cells started ere the excitement culminates in the issue
of the first swarm, the old queen coming with them, seldom
first or last, but generally when half of the bees are on the
wing. Bees of all ages come out, including those but just
emerged from the cell. If the weather is warm, even these
soon gain sufficient strength to fly and settle with the swarm ;
otherwise, if they cannot crawl back to the hive, many will
perish ; thus showing the necessity of a wide board reaching-
from the ground to the entrance, not only in this instance, but
at all times, as many adult bees are lost in failing to reach the
entrance during chilly weather. The workers out in the fields
at the time of swarming and the large number of young
hatching soon make up the strength of the hive and prevent
the remaining brood getting chilled.

Securing the Swarm.

. If the apiary be located near high trees the swarms (if:
permitted to issue) will sometimes give trouble by clustering
in them ; though they may as often settle upon any low shrub,
or even a post or wall. In the former case a straw skep must
be carried up and the bees shaken into it when inverted under
the clustering mass ; descend the ladder as rapidly as possible,
keeping the skep the same way, and then turn it the right
way up on to a sheet previously spread upon the ground, with
a brick or piece of wood under it, so that one edge of the
hive may be raised to enable the flying bees-to draw in.
Where the cluster is formed on a wall or any other like place, .
brush the bees off into the skep with a wing; but if among
branches of wall trees, little can be done in that way, and they
must be driven up into the skep as it is fastened above them;
by the use of smoke; or, better still, make everything more
certain by first capturing the queen and secure her in a cage
fastened under the edge of the skep when placed on the
ground: in this case if only a handful of bees can first be -
and its Economic Management. 37

brushed into the skep, all the rest will follow. On no account,
in any instance, expect the bees will go up of their own accord
into a hive placed above the cluster ; it will only cause waste
of time and disappointment ; it has to be done, therefore carry
the thing through at once.

Hatching of the Young Queens.

In about nine days from the issue of the first swarm, one
of the young queens bites her way out of the cell, leaving the
cap hanging attached at a part of its edge; this covering will
sometimes get back into its original place and be again sealed
by the bees, and should a worker be in, clearing out the residue
of food at the time, its fate is sealed in a double sense. Such
occurrences, simple to a careful observer, have at times given
rise to unfounded theories; but at the same time it shows
how it is quite possible to leave a useless queen cell in the
hive when cutting out all but one to prevent after-swarming :
a wanton waste of time, by the way, which cannot be
tolerated in a modern apiary.

As a rule the first hatched young queen leads off, or rather
goes with the second swarm ; though the after, and sometimes
even the second swarm, is accompanied by more than one
virgin queen. Though I am well aware that such queens will,
if placed together, immediately fight until one receives its
instantaneous death wound; when several accompany a
swarm, or in case two or more swarms settle together, each
having a fertile queen, the bees themselves settle the matter
by ‘‘balling” those not required. After the hive is so weakened
that the bees know it is useless to attempt to swarm again, or
should the weather be unfavourable, the queens still unborn
are destroyed, as I have reason to believe, by the workers
tearing open the side of the cells. and there stinging their
helpless victims, or tearing them out piecemeal.

Within seven days after the issue of the first swarm there
are no more uncapped larve, and therefore no more feeding
38 A Modern Bee-Farm

required from the nurse bees until the last remaining young ©
queen is laying, a period of about twelve days, so that if

excessive swarming is not indulged in, stores continue to

accumulate while there is a reduced force to gather it. It is

well that this is so, as the young queen is generally so very

prolific that unless the workers can get in advance of her

requirements at the start, they are liable to reach Winter with

no stores on hand. :

I have here shown in a general way the natural condition
of a swarm during one year of its existence, but under modern ©
management the state of things will be much altered ; at the
same time I hope the foregoing will enable the uninitiated
reader the better to understand and follow such methods as
will hereafter be described.

 
and its Economic Management. 39

 

CHAPTER IV.

VARIETIES OF BEES.

THEIR CHARACTER AND DISPOSITION.

T will be my endeavour to give an impartial account of the
different varieties as I have found them; and while
drawing attention to the great value of the foreign races for
crossing with the bees. we already have, I must advise the
reader not to invest heavily in éither of such varieties, but
first obtain two or three queens and then compare them with
those he already has for several years before making any
radieal change.

THE BLACK, OR NATIVE BEES,

are still cultivated in many apiaries, principally because they
are well adapted to the production of comb-honey. Their
newly-stored combs are beautifully white, and therefore comb-
honey produced by them commands a good sale. They are not
so prolific as other races, and hence do not give as much
surplus, and consequently are of little use in an apiary where

increase is desired ; indeed, I can assert as a-fact, the bee- |

keeper who expects to build up a large and prosperous apiary
from black bees alone, will be certainly disappointed. When,
however, he has all the stock he requires, no objection
can be. made to the sole use of this race where comb-honey
alone is sought for. :

{

\

es
'

40 A Modern Bee-Farm

Though, generally, the hives are less populous than those
of other kinds, these beés have several valuable qualities. The
young commence work outside at a much earlier age than the
yellow races; they have great conservative energy, and a given
number will produce and maintain a much larger amount of
heat than the same number of any other race. Here is the
sole reason why these bees are always more ready to take to
the supers and are better comb-builders than others, though
they may be occupying the same space with less than half the”
population. This I have observed for many years past with
colonies standing side by side with the yellow races. For the
same reason a Winter cluster of black bees is not so densely
packed as one of the same size consisting of the yellow
varieties. These remarkable peculiarities have not before
been mentioned, and possibly never observed by other writers;
but here is shown the very best of material for laying the
foundation of a vastly improved strain of bees—starting with
a race which has immense vitality; but requiring the ad-
mixture of foreign blood to get (1) greater laying powers in
the queens, (2) a better disposition, and (3) to eradicate their.
inclination to cease storing while honey is yet to be gathered
towards the close of the season.

To Perpetuate their Working Qualities

I have always found it necessary to breed from a queen of the
native kind, crossing with Carniolan or yellow drone ; the act
of crossing in itself adds greater energy; while the disposition
is received from the male side. For instance, a queen of a
mild strain mating with a drone from a vicious colony I have
noticed throws workers which almost invariably turn out to be
irritable. Again, I have had queens produce workers that the
average bee-keeper would not attempt to manipulate under
any kind of intimidation; and yet the daughters of such
queens allowed to mate only with drones from stocks known
to be easily handled, have given workers that one could do
anything with.
and its Economic Management. 4!

I have found many black bees more irritable than any I
have ever had, even rushing from the hive to attack a person
many yards off; but by crossing the queens with Ligurian, or
by preference, Cyprian or Carniolan drones, we get some of
the finest and best tempered workers that can be desired. It
has been considered that hybrids are very vicious, but this is
only half true; what I have stated above is strictly in
accordance with fact, but when any yellow queen is allowed
to mate with a black drone, then, of course, the progeny
resulting therefrom will be irritable, while their working
qualities will be inferior to those of the cross recommended.
Black drones are not required in breeding up a new strain,
and should be rigorously excluded.

LIGURIAN, OR ITALIAN ALP BEES.

These were the first yellow race introduced, -and though
much abused in some quarters, they have gradually gained
ground until there is perhaps hardly a district where the
native bees have not to some extent, more or less remote,
received some benefit by the infusion of fresh blood. Indeed,
‘it is amusing to hear some apiarists assert that Italians are
inferior to the old-fashioned sort, and that they. will have no
more of them ; when, as a matter of fact, their original stock
has been greatly improved by the introduction of the foreigners,
short though their existence may have been; and, moreover,
the probability is great that year after year such short-sighted
men are indebted to some distant bee-keeper for the continued
excellence of their blacks (?); as the new blood is carried from
one apiary to another, through successive stages during suc-
ceeding seasons; each cross showing less of colour, until in
the end there is scarcely any evidence to show that the dark.
bees of the neighbourhood have foreign blood in their con-
stitution.

The advantages claimed for Ligurians are as follows:
They are more prolific, and consequently gather more honey
42 A Modern Bee-F avin

than blacks, more especially as they can work upon some
flowers not accessible to the others, and continue to gather
until Autumn is well advanced. Strange to say, natives.
often do best early in the season, but in Autumn I have
known Italians draw out foundation rapidly and store heavily,
while at the same time the former would not: attempt to work
upon a sheet of foundation placed in the centre of the ~brood
nest. The Italians are more gentle, and together with their
beautiful markings, this has done much to make them
popular.

They are considered to be an all-purposes bee, but their
comb-honey is not quite so good as that of the native kind :-
they are not equal to the latter as comb-builders, and are.
often hard to persuade to enter the supers; while they are
unsuitable for queen-raising purposes, unless great care is.
taken, as they will start but few cells. A mixture of the two.
races, however, as previously stated, will give energetic
workers, and there is no doubt that the “leather-coloured ”
Ligurians mentioned by many Americans as being superior to
any, are nothing more nor less than hybrids.

As with all yellow races, Ligurian workers have three
yellow bands on the upper part of the abdomen, beginning at
the first segment. Creamy white lines of hair follow the
broader yellow bars, down to the extremity of the body,
giving the bee a handsome appearance. The queens vary in
colour from dark to light yellow; while the drones sometimes
have patches of yellow on the abdomen, and others are hardly
to be distinguished from those of the black kind.

CARNIOLANS.

Of all pure races, these are undoubtedly the best ‘ all-
purposes” bees known. Scarcely a fault can be found with
them, and while they are not quite such good honey gatherers
as Cyprians, the latter cannot compete with them for colour
of comb-honey. -It has been stated that they swarm im-
and its Economic Management. 43

moderately, but this is more the result of bad management
than a fault on the part of the bees. There is one thing,
however, which would give that impression: the demand for
imported queens has been so great that I am afraid many old
queens have been sent over, more especially as few of the
native holders make any attempt to raise queens for the
market. Therefore, in the natural order of things, the old-
mothers would be superseded, and a number of swarms come
forth headed by young queens. Where old queens are
avoided I am aware there is no more trouble with these bees _
in that direction than with any others.

They are so very prolific that considerable attention is
required just at the critical time, in giving plenty of room, and
free access to all parts of the hive.

One great point in their favour is their

Good Temper.

Without smoke, or other intimidants, hive after hive can
generally be opened, and no stings are received; and without
a doubt the introduction of this. variety will do more to make
bee-keeping popular than any device in hives which has been
brought forward for the convenience of the novice. Car-
niolans are the bees for beginners, and none need now start
with any other kind. By working with these, confidence will
be rapidly gained, and presently, if desired, one may with
greater assurance give other kinds a trial.

Carniolans are very active during the summer months,
and yet are restful when confined during winter ; in fact, they
come from a cold mountainous region, and there is, therefore,
no doubt either as to their energy or good wintering qualities.
It is reasonable to suppose that they at one time were a cross
between Cyprians and the German bee; the Cyprian element,
however introduced; must have subsided, and the colour
reverted to that of the majority, though the extremely broad
white bands on the latter segments of the abdomen of the
44 | A Modern Bee-Farm oo
yellow race have been retained, thus distinguishing the
Carniolans from blacks. ;

The above conclusions may be justified when it is stated -

that in crossing a Carniolan queen with a Cyprian drone, in
most cases her bees are even more beautiful than Cyprian
workers. In all cases the yellow element predominatés, while
few are less yellow than a-nicely-marked Ligurian. On the
other side, a Cyprian queen mated with a Carniolan drone
does not throw a single dark worker. Again, I have had
many hybrid crosses from a queen on the Cyprian side, after
running through a few generations, each time with a black
drone as the sire, when a bee resulted that could hardly
be distinguished from the Carniolan of to-day.
_ The queens vary in colour from yellow to black: some
being ‘‘ ringed,” the colour of the abdomen shading alternately
from light to dark, but all produce workers of the typical sort,
having on the abdomen near the thorax a mere shade of
‘bronzed yellow, and then follow several extremely broad white
bands, giving the bees an attractive appearance.

Many of the queens imported throw workers having one or
two distinct bands of yellow, which show that the native bee-
keepers have lately introduced some of the yellow kinds. This
is unfortunate, though I find by careful selection at home that
the typical race can be retained.

CYPRIANS.

Among the yellow races these are destined to take the
lead. Though not suitable for the production of comb-honey,
-they are very active honey gatherers and extremely docile,
while their great beauty is undeniable. They have three
bright yellow bands on the abdomen, followed by broad bars
of light yellow hair. Unlike Ligurians, the yellow extends to
the under-side of the body, as it does also in a less degree with
Syrians. The body is much smaller than that of the native
variety, tapering to a fine point, quite unlike the more
rounded form of the other.
and its Economic Management. 45

Some writers have given their experience as being very
unfavourable with Cyprians, considering them vindictive and
difficult to winter. They have faults, of course, such as being”
prone to develop fertile workers, and using much propolis.
but all the stocks I have had could be handled at any time
without jntimidation; and as to wintering, the fault appears.
to be rather in the bee-keeper than the bees themselves. If the
queen is not inserted into a colony too late in the season, and
the stores are given at the proper time, these bees will winter
not worse, but-better than many others. When Isay that I
have had Cyprians hatched in August and September, con-
tinue in good health until the following June, it will be:
admitted that there is not much wrong with them; and. this.
happened in the most protracted winter we have experienced.
for many years. ~

SYRIANS.

These are, in appearance, much like the foregoing, though.
of a darker shade, and sometimes are not so well marked as
.Ligurians, though always yellow on the underside of the.
abdomen. Instead of having cream-coloured bands of hair
‘like Cyprians, these have corresponding bars of a bluish white.
colour, much like the Albinos bred from an. off-shoot of the.
- Ligurian variety. ‘While some condemn these as utterly
unmanageable, others claim that ‘they have many valuable.
qualities.

I have found among them queens producing workers.
almost unmanageable, while a larger number gave bees that
could be handled like flies. How misleading, then, is it for .
persons who possessing only one—or perhaps two—queens,,
which upon throwing irritable workers, are induced to con--
demn the entire race, and thus prevent many from obtaining
what would prove a really valuable acquisition. The whole.
matter resolves itself simply into this—select those of gentle
disposition and breed only from such, destroying any queen.
which throws disagreeable bees.
- 46 A Modern Bee-Farm

PALESTINES.

These are, perhaps, more yellow and beautiful than
Cyprians, but can hardly be recommended, as they develop
fertile workers: to a greater extent, use more propolis than
any others yet named, and while being handled have a very
disagreeable habit of biting the fingers. These have often
been confused with Syrians, but the two are quite distinct:
Palestines come from the Holy Land proper, while the others
are found farther’ ‘north, in the Lebanon mountains. How-
ever, very successful results have been secured from a large
apiary of these bees, in their native country, by Mr. Balden-
sperger, of Jaffa.

Other Varieties

have been brought forward from time to time, including South
African, Minorcan, and Punic or Tunisian. The first named
are merely hybrids varying (in the same colony) from three
yellow bands to almost black in colour, with the usual lighter
bars of whitish hair between each segment of the body, in this
case of a peculiar ashen-white colour. The queens are almost.
black, while the workers are smaller than those of any other
race cultivated. A number of undesirable traits, apart from
being hybrids, prevented their general introduction.

The Minorcans were freely offered for sale in this country,
but these again, though similar to our native race, had no
merits of sufficient value to claim the attention of practical
‘beekeepers, and hence gained no favour.

The Tunisian is another of the darker varieties which,
however, has recently come in for some notoriety, through
some unexplained commendations accorded it by an advertiser
in the Bee Journals. The race has been proved inferior. to
our native variety, and Mr. F. Benton, who first ‘sent out
queens of the kind from Tunis, has the following to say about
them :—

“T always called them by the most natural name—Tuni-
sian, and never thought best to strain after something a bit
and tts Econonic Management. 47

fanciful like “Punic.” Perhaps the party who got up this
name had in mind the ancient “‘ Punic faith” in which this
race resembles that of the old Carthaginians—for when you
least expect it, ie, when they have been well, and even
royally treated, they will sally out and cover the manipulator
with their tiny javelins. They carry in more propolis than
any other race, and are poor winterers. I handled several
hundred colonies two different seasons in Tunis; took some
to the Orient with me, also had them tested in Palestine, and
I tried them in Munich, and came to the conclusion that in no
way do they excel Cyprians, and in some. points they are
behind that race; would therefore advise to: let Tunisian
{Punic bees) quite alone.”

 
48 A Modern Bee-Farm

 

CHAPTER V.

HOW TO OBTAIN GOOD WORKING
STOCK.

N all apiaries it is found that a certain colony, or perhaps a
few stocks, surpass all the rest in the amount of ‘honey :
collected; and the remark is often made that of two colonies -
standing side by side, apparently equal in every respect, one
gave a large surplus while the other did almost nothing. —
Reader, let us reason together, and see if it be not possible to
explain the apparent mystery. Asa matter of fact

The Whole Secret of Successful Honey Production

consists in always maintaining the proper proportion of adult
working bees in relation to the quantity of brood and young»
bees on hand. Here, then, can be discerned the difference.
One colony was so favourably constituted that the queen was
able to produce the full working force before the honey flow
came on; while the other could not breed to her fullest
capacity until after the season commenced. In the latter case
the working force is unable to do much more than keep the
rapidly increasing brood nest and large population of young
bees supplied. With such an undue proportion of consumers
on hand the queen now has it all her own way, and her combs
are one mass of brood.

The colony which gained the proper balance of population
at an early date, on the contary, has much reduced its brood
and tts Economic Management. 49

nest by storing some honey and large quantities of pollen.
This is the hive which will give the heavy surplus, and the
other can never compete with it, even though it has twice the
population. Of course excessive breeding can be to a certain
extent modified by contracting the size of the brood nest, but
nevertheless the actual working force will not be in excess
until the season is far advanced. :

‘We must now consider the causes of such a wide difference.
They are many, one of the first being that the queen may be.
stimulated to breed too late in the autumn; consequently she
will be late to begin breeding the following season. The hive
may have been short of stores, or the combs so overloaded in
early spring that there is really no chance for the bees to
z develop the brood nest. Perhaps they were thrown back by

_ being too much exposed, instead of having warm material
above them. In either case an early hatching of young bees
would be out of the question; and these are the mainstay,
compensating for the loss of many veterans when frequent

. flights become necessary. Consequently the best powers of
the queen are not expended before the season opens.

To obtain good Stock,

it is absolutely necessary that one keep only the very best.
queens—young, highly prolific and well developed. When I
mention young, I mean just what I say. How wasteful and
unnecessary ! you say ; but I assert as a fact that to enable
one to keep his stock generally in the highest state of efficiency,
he must retain no queens that have seen their second summer.
Take a queen raised even so late as August; she will be in
full profit the following season: keep her till another season
and her colony will be hardly second-rate.

To be prolific a-queen must not simply keep pace with her
workers while building up in preparation for the season, but
must actually force them to make room for her. Such queens
are to be had, and with them no “brood spreading” by the

E.
50 A Modern Bee-Favm

apiarist is necessary. <A well-developed queen is more hardy"
and energetic than a smaller one; and, as a rule, will get
mated in risky weather when twenty inferior queens fail to
meet a drone.

The finest queens are obtained from young mothers. A
queen is in her highest state of excellence soon after she com-
mences to lay, and can be used for breeding other queens, if
from stock of known excellence, as soon as it is found by her —
hatching bees that she has. mated correctly.

Queens cannot be too Prolific.

I am aware that there are some bee-keepers who consider
that a queen can be too prolific. It may be so with their =
management, but as a simple matter of fact the more prolific
the queen, the larger the surplus stored, but one’s management
must provide that she does her best before the season opens ;'
thereafter she will simply keep pace with the wear and tear
upon the life of the workers. .

It will be asked, ‘‘ And how are we to provide that the best
powers of the queen are to be used up before actual storage
commences?” Some. important matters having reference
thereto I have already given ; but one way of doing this ‘is to
unite two or more colonies, making them very strong in the
Autumn whenever it is found stocks are at all under full
strength. Another plan is to unite about ten days before the
season is expected to open and thus in either case providing
that the number of actual gatherers shall presently be far in
excess of those required to attend to the young.

As a rule, especially where no honey is obtained after July,
the best results are secured by preventing the issue of swarms;
but nevertheless, unless

The: Equivalent of Swarming

is allowed our stock must deteriorate as a natural consequence.
Therefore select one out of every ten colonies and devote it to
and its Economic Management. 51

queen-raising (see chapter on same), and allow one nucleus
with a young queen to stand by the side of every stock. By
the Autumn such nuclei will have themselves become fairly
strong, when the old queens can be destroyed and the two lots
respectively united in the evening of the following day.
Having studied the general rules to be observed if we wish
to have only good working stock, we must now consider which
are the

Most Suitable Bees

for our purpose, whether we intend to work them for comb
or extracted honey.

The advantages to be derived from the foreign varieties
can hardly be over-estimated, for by crossing with queens of
the native kind, we get greater fecundity, and better honey- ‘
gathering-powers than either pure race possesses. Ina former _
chapter I have already shown that a black queen must form
the basis from which to build the very best working strain.
Select such queen-of known excellence and for the production
of comb-honey use Carniolan drones to mate with young ones
raised from her ; the first cross being the most suitable.

. For extracted honey the second cross to Cyprian drones
will be found to give the best results. Pure black bees are
not at all desirable for either purpose, as they cease storing
quite a month sooner than the foreign varieties or hybrids; -
moreover, they are frequently troubled with the-wax moth,
while the latter never are. Pure Cyprians, Carniolans, °
Syrians, and Ligurians, in the order named, are also suitable
for producing extracted honey.

Let it be observed that black (native) drones are to be
rigorously excluded, as these give bad-tempered workers when
crossed with a queen of either of the foreign varieties. Syrian
drones also should not be allowed, though queens of that
“variety crossed with Carniolan drones produce excellent
‘bees.
52. A Modern Bee-Farm

In concluding this chapter, I must insist that unrestricted
or indiscriminate swarming, as hitherto generally practised,,
as totally at variance with all true principles of breeding. To obtain
the best results, it is absolutely necessary that all queens be
carefully bred from the best stock only. Our motto should |
be “ Excelsior!”

 
and its Economic Management, 53

 

 

CHAPTER VI.
PLANTING FOR BEES.

AVING shown how to secure good stocks, the next
H thing is to provide employment for such vast popula-
lations throughout the summer. In the best of localities
there is always some interval when nothing of importance is
in flower, while many districts are so poor in honey-producing
plants as to be quite unsuitable for carrying on bee-keeping
_~ _ extensively. Judicious planting, therefore, should make the
culture of bees a safe and reliable investment, as the crops
will be ear at home, and always ready for the bees, whenever
the weather is favourable for the secretion of honey. Indeed,
with ‘“‘a sea of bloom” close at hand, a surplus often

_*- accumulates during dull weather, when otherwise the stores
of the hive would be diminishing.

Do not think of planting mere patches of various kinds of
flowers; such are but a ‘drop in the ocean,” and if you
cannot provide more than a few acres, then put in some one
thing that will come in as a main crop, if your district is
short of bee forage; such as White or Alsike Clover, the
latter by preference. If your surroundings are fairly good,
then let the crop be arranged to come right for a time of
scarcity.

Area required for roo Colonies.

You may be able to spare many acres for a continual -
supply, and in that case provide not less than 20 acres for
each succeeding crop to every 100 colonies. I have by actual
54 A Modern Bee-Farm

\

experience found 100 average colonies store a surplus from
To acres of an average yielding plant, and should consider
20 or 25 acres would give full occupation at each time the
crop is flowering, for that number of stocks with which to
commence the season. But we have to prepare for the whole
season, say from June ist to September 1st; and; providing ~
we plant such crops as will flower twice in the same year, we
shall require in all at least 75 acres per year for each 100
colonies, in addition to the usual resources of the district.
Without considering the latter, we have then, at the lowest
estimate, allowing for bad weather at times, a return of
something like £200 worth of honey for the 75 acres; it
being considered that Clover, Sanfoin, &c., produce 1o lbs. of
honey per acre each fine day.

A crop of this kind remains in its prime about fourteen
days, so without considering the time ‘coming on” and
‘“ going off”; this estimate is based upon only seven days’
gathering of five pounds per acre upon each first and second
crop.

It should be remembered that the honey is obtained at no
expense to the crop of hay, unless the same be allowed to
stand too long before being mown. Even for the sake of the
bees, most crops should not stand until the greater part of the
heads die off, as such ripening process destroys the chance of
a second crop. Asa rule, those

Plants should be Grown that are Useful for Hay,

after the bees have had their gathering. There are only two
kinds that I can recommend for bees which are scarcely
suitable for cattle, and those are Melilot clover (Melilotus alba)
and Borage. There may be many others that give much honey,
but there is this about them—they require constant care and
attention to keep the ground clean, therefore for honey alone
such plants are quite out of the question. The two named,
however, can take care of themselves; they outgrow everything
else, yield large quantities of the best of honey, and require only
and its Economic Management. 55

that the ground be turned or ploughed, in the case of Borage
every winter, and the other each alternate winter. The latter
flowering only in its second year, two or more layings must be
provided to maintain a succession. Borage comes best with
the ground turned up roughly and needs no further care; but
Melilot requires that the earth be harrowed and then rolled as
often as possible whenever the surface is dry. Do not neglect
to roll again the second year, both before and after the leaf
begins to show. The omission of this very important
matter is why the crop fails with many. We are sometimes
told that this plant does well on poor ground; I have had it
on both that and rich land, with the advantage of three to one
in favour of the latter.

For a Succession,

the following will be found most serviceable. Italian crimson
clover (Trifolium incarnatum) is an excellent honey plant used
for early greenmeat, flowering generally in May, but can be
sown to give a good succession. White or Dutch clover
would follow at 15th of June till first week of July. -Alsike
cut for greenmeat just before it would flower will then, in its
second growth, follow white, which will keep up the succession
till Melilot is in full flower at end of July, the latter remaining
in bloom as late as desirable.

Late Forage Undesirable.

While we can hardly plant anything that will come in too
early, it must be distinctly understood that nothing should
entice the bees to work one day later than the 15th of Septem-
ber. Therefore if you have Melilot or any other large crop
flowering at that date, do not delay, but cut it down. Bees
need at least six weeks to regain lost numbers after winter is
past; they require just as much time to settle down quietly
before the cold season comes on.
56 A Modern. Bee-Farm

Cultivation.

It will be understood that most of the above clover crops,
etc., are sown over corn in the spring, the plant being <well
established by the time the -same is harvested, and having the
ground all to itself the second year. As to manure, that
question is left to the reader to feed his crops as he will, re-
membering that what is worth doing at all is worth doing well.

Sanfoin is an excellent plant on chalk soils, giving two —
crops yearly, as also will several of the clovers if treated liber-.._
ally. The former is allowed to remain from two to ten or
twelve years, according to the nature or cleanliness of the
ground; when brought under cultivation, a second sowing
will be of no avail until after a period of fourteen years. Red
clover (Trifolium pratense) is nearly always ploughed in after
the one full season’s growth, and does not follow on the same
ground again until after a term of seven years. Yellow trefoil or
hop clover, should be mixed with clover and sanfoin to make
a good first crop. After the first mowing the trefoil does not
again appear, but the main crop then branches out and fully
covers the ground.

I have found that for all small seeds such as clovers, the
ground should be finely pulverised and rolled before the seed
is sown. Do not rake or harrow after it isin, but use the
roller again and again, when the ground is dry.

Whatever may have been said in the past, it must be dis-
tinctly understood that Red Clover (Trifolium pratense) is not a
reliable bee plant. I have had considerable honey from it —
when the weather has been just right, following a dry time for
the growth of the second crop, but should the plant have a
favourable season for full development, the bees do nothing
upon it however fine the weather may be. A crop yielding
only one year in four cannot be recommended.

When growing plants for honey which have no further
use, one must make the most of the land under cultivation.
To permit the ground to be occupied by a single variety
and its Economic Management. 57

taking two years to arrive at maturity is sheer folly: and even
with those flowering yearly something else must be growing
at the same time. Thus in preparing for Melilot clover, put
in borage seed at the same season, the latter flowering’ the
first year. Mow the whole in July when the clover is getting
rather long, and a second crop of borage will come on, while
the clover will shoot out stronger. ~Cut all again in Septem-
ber, and if harvested or used as ensilage, some use will be
found for the mixture as fodder. The second year, however, -
the Melilot will be useless for feeding after it has blown, and
the growth will have been so rapid that little borage will be
seen ; but the latter will again come up quite thickly the third.
year, to be cut twice as before with the new Melilot plants.

Again, when white clover is put down for bees, the ground .
can be filled with crocus bulbs, planted about six inches apart.
They thrive exceedingly well, and being very early, will be
found useful without in any way interfering with the clover,
which .can be mown with the crocus grass in July, when a
second crop of clover follows; thus we have three bee crops
yearly on the same ground, without further cultivation ; the
second crop of clover being allowed to seed the ground. The -
white clover is particularly partial to road grit, and where the
sidings, &c., can be secured, they will be found the most
valuable fertilizer that can be obtained for the crop; often
inducing a heavy growth where the plant was seldom seen
previously. A great advantage to be gained from continuous
bloom is that the surplus may be removed at any time
without exciting the bees to rob, as is too frequently the case
when the later harvest is taken at a time they have nothing
more to keep them employed.

‘Systematic Planting makes Profits Certain.

This branch of apiculture has been much neglected, but
ze-keeping as_a_profession can only become a certainty in
this country where systematic planting is carried out. Indeed,
even in America the same “statement would apply to most
58 i A Modern Bee-Farm

: districts, as there is a frequent occurrence of poor honey
seasons, whereas with heavy crops close at home it could be:
so arranged that a good surplus would be obtained every
year, though with scattered crops it sometimes happens that
the bees store little or nothing.

No one has done so much in America to encourage the ©
planting of bee-forage near the apiary as Mr. T. G. Newman,
editor of the American Bee Fournal. He not only recommends.
it as being an advantage, but has always insisted that it is
absolutely necessary, and one of the first duties the bee-keeper
owes himself. I quote the following from Mr.) Newman’s
Bees and Honey :—‘‘In view of the uncertainty of nature pro-
viding sufficient continuous’ bloom, and the certainty of
annually recurring periods of cold weather, and long hazardous:
confinement, the bee-keeper, to ensure success, should as
conscientiously provide pasture from which his bees can
gather food, as to provide hives with which to sheltar them
from the storms. With a liberal allowance of good, whylesome ©
honey in the pn the first vequivement for successful wintering will
be provided.” ‘

Observe the last sentence; what a world of meaning ‘the
_words convey to those American and other bee-keepers who

water put their losses down to bacteria, pollen, cold, etc. ; but

their late-gathered honey is not always good and wholesome,

while in many cases, if it is good, it is gathered often so late

as October. Thus the vitality of the bees is undermined too’
late for recuperation by breeding before the cold of winter is

upon them. Nothing is so exhaustive as the gathering and

storage of a heavy surplus, and thus the too late gathering -
places a colony at a tremendous discount for wintering.

fe often lose heavily during winter! Our cousins across the

a ES ua, He
and its Economic Management. 59

 

 

 

 

CHAPTER VIL.

THE AGRICULTURIST AND FRUIT
GROWER.

HE value of crops suitable for bee-forage has been shown

by the preceding chapter. The bee-keeper who is also

a farmer therefore has every. advantage and can make profit in

. several ways. But while it is necessary that the extensive

‘bee-keeper should also be a farmer, it is quite as important

that the agriculturist should keep a few stocks for the. sole

"purpose of fertilising the clover and other crops he may save

for seed, if it happen that few bees are cultivated in his
neighbourhood.

It should be distinctly understood that the more bees that
can ‘be obtained as fertilising agents, the more seed will be
“perfected, as well as more fruit. Single hives have been
placed in cucumber and peach houses, and though some bees
are of course lost in the first instance, the younger portion of
the population never having flown outside, have no difficulty .
in finding their way about. The results have been reported
to be most satisfactory, and the plan should be more exten-
sively adopted.

Strange as it may appear to those who are inclined to
grumble at the visits of the bees to their fields or gardens, it
is a simple matter of fact that if the honey be not gathered it
will only’ evaporate, and none is secreted after the flower
_ begins to fade.

Fruit growers often complain that the bees damage their
"crops, and in autumn, when there is nothing else ‘to be
obtained, because they see a few bees among the wasps and
60 A Modern Bee-Favm

flies, the former get all the blame; whereas they have never
been known to break through the skin of sound ripe fruit, but
simply lick up the moisture that may be present where birds,
wasps or other insects have first made an inroad.

Fruit Culture

for the purpose of jam making is now making such rapid
head-way in this country, that all growers should have the
subject of bee-culture brought very forcibly before their notice.
The presence of a few hives in the immediate vicinity of fruit
gardens and orchards is not simply a benefit to the grower,
but is a matter of the first importance; and those who wish...
to secure the nearest approach to constantly recurring profitable

crops, will find it an absolute necessity to encourage the

presence of the domesticated honey bee. In some instances

at least, particularly with farm crops, there is simply the loss

of seed where the flowers had escaped fertilisation, but in far

too many cases where the blossom is not fully fertilised by the

agency of the bees, the fruit is not only imperfectly developed °
but in many places does not develop at all. In my own ex- ©
perience, which is also substantiated by other similar reports,
it has been remarkable to find in my bee garden a full, and
sometimes an abundant crop of fruit, while the general reports
have told of failure and scarcity.

In a neighbourhood where many bees are cultivated, and
more particularly in the garden they may occupy, it is very

_ rarely, indeed, a poor crop of fruit is found; simply because :
the bloom is so thoroughly and regularly fertilised by the
action of the bees, in securing a constant transmission, and
mingling of the pollen.

The failure of fruit crops has repeatedly been put down to
the devastating action of various moths, and other possible
and impossible causes; but while the ruin-thus created is very
frequently only imaginary, the absence of suitable insect fertili-
sers is a deplorably frequent and only too noticeable occurrence.
and its Economic Management. 61

It is plainly evident that the fruit grower of the future who
attempts to conduct his business without taking every means
to secure the aid of the industrious honey bee will be like a
captain attempting to carry his ship through the seas without
a rudder. More or less success has of course been obtained in
the culture of fruit in the past; but the growers have not
hitherto had their eyes fully opened, that they could tell why
the greater success, or the least profitable result, and even
loss, should occur. The proximity of a larger or smaller
number of hives will generally be found to sufficiently explain
the variations. The state of the weather, and all supposed
enemies of the fruit gardens, will receive far less consideration
when the foregoing remarks are fully appreciated and acted
upon. A single hive, or even a dozen, will be of little use.
where there are large gardens and orchards. From twenty-
five to one hundred stocks will be needed to secure the best
possible results, according to the extent of the fruit farm ; and
even if no one on the premises understands the management
of bees, after defraying the expense of employing an expert.
either occasionally, or permanently where the number nears.
one hundred, there will be a considerable profit on an apiary
so favorably situated, while the immense benefit conferred
upon the fruit crops will be entirely gratuitous.

Any neighbouring bee-keeper should be encouraged, and.
in many cases expense may be saved by arranging with such
--apiarist to place a few of his hives in some sheltered spot on
the premises, where the bees will be close at hand during the
critical period of fruit bloom.

 
62 A Modern Bee-Farm

 

CHAPTER VIII.

ENEMIES AND DISEASES OF BEES.

LONG list is frequently given under this head, but, so

far as Iam aware, if all colonies are strong, there is

not a single enemy that can make any impression upon our

stocks ; and as to birds, the injury caused by them is more

fanciful than real. They do occasionally take bees, but

according to my own observation it is seldom anything but
drones and dead workers that are consumed. :

Of the diseases, too, there is but one which requires any

serious consideration, and that is

FOUL BROOD,

so called until lately, but now designated Bacillus Alvei by
Mr. Cheshire, who has made most exhaustive experiments
and inyestigations in regard to this matter, and now tells us
that the disease affects not only the brood, but the adult bees,
and queen as well.

It has so frequently been stated that the disease can be
discovered by the foul smell emitted by the stock which may
have it, that I consider it necessary to warn the uninitiated
not to wait for such a rude awakening. At that stage it is
very infectious indeed, and it will be a saving to burn the
hive and contents at once. With a colony in such a state the
novice is certain to do only harm by attempting a cure, and
it is well to be clear of it.
and its Economic Management. 63

The disease is first to be noticed by the unsealed larve
turning yellow, and then dark brown or black, instead of ever
presenting a pearly white appearance, while some of the
capped brood is in the same state, with coverings pierced and
sunken. Now, here is a distinction to be observed between
the genuine foul brood and simple chilled or dead brood. In
the former case none of the larve dries up to a white cinder,
being always rotten and slimy, so that the bees do not, as a
rule, remove it from the cells.

Chilled Brood and Simple Dead Brood.

The former is soon removed by the bees, and should any_
be overlooked, it dries into a hard lump: without changing
colour. Simple dead brood resulting without chill, and with
no apparent evidence of disease, has in some cells the appear-
ance of the genuine foul brood, but with this the greater part
of the nearly mature bees dry up and retain their original form
and colour. By this feature alone I have always been able to

- distinguish the difference between the two, and have put an
end to the more simple affair in all cases by destroying the
queen and giving a young and vigorous one to the colony.

Cheshire Cure for Foul Brood.

Mr. Cheshire has presented to the bee-keeping world what
has in his own hands cured some of the worst cases of foul
‘brood that he could secure. The remedy is absolute phenol
or pure carbolic acid, used in the proportion of 1-400th in the
syrup fed to the bees. ,

Mr. Cheshire considers that the queen must not be re-
moved; but on the contrary, if it is intended to save

. the combs, I have found the first step towards a rapid
recovery is made by deposing the reigning queen, and giving
a young and vigorous queen bred from clean stock, when
the entire attitude of the bees is changed, and great deter-
mination and energy takes the place of the former utter
“ inability to clear out the foul stuff.
64 A Modern Bee-Farm

If the disease begins in early spring it is very likely the
colony will go down hill at a rapid rate, while the remnant will ’
‘not be worth troubling with, and should be cleared out by fire
after sulphuring the bees. This should be done in the evening
when all the other stocks are quiet, taking care to foul as few
things as possible ; burn all you use that is not of much value,
and the rest disinfect thoroughly with a solution of carbolic
acid, 1-200th part in water. If hives can be first steamed or
scalded it will be a great advantage.

Rational and Simple Cures

for foul brood have been so long known to many practical bee-
keepers, that it seems strange there are others quite unable to
cope with the disease when it makes its appearance in their
apiaries. The cause of this in the first instance must be inex-
perience, but on the other hand where the inability to cure can
not be put down to wilful negligence it is almost certainly _
through want of caution. The disease has been cured in the-
past, and can as readily be cured to-day. There is really no

_ excuse whatever for the continued existence of foul brood in
any apiary, in the light of facts already placed before bee- /
keepers.

Cures have been effected, in some instances apparently,
by the aid of some one or other of the many much-vaunted —
remedies to be carried out without removal or destruction of
the diseased combs; but the continued advocation of these
plausible cures, for general application, is nothing but a snare.
and delusion, and the greatest hindrance of any to the entire
eradication of the disease.

My own Experience*

»
occurred some twelve years since, and a cure was effected by
removing the bees from their combs, and confining them in a.

 

* «A Practical Experience with Foul Brood, and How Cured.” 34., of
J. Huckle, King’s Langley, Herts.
and tts Economic Management. 65

box or.skep until a few began to drop exhausted from the
cluster. They were then returned: on to frames with starters
or foundation, and having consumed all the diseased honey
while in confinement, the complaint did not again appear.
Though sometimes recommended, the honey is not worth the
risk of feeding back to the bees after boiling; then there is
the extractor contaminated, and a hundred other chances of
extending the operations of the disease by a little carelessness
or want of thought by the inexperienced.

Both Mr. Cowan and Mr. Cheshire appear to consider
that honey does not contain the germs of disease; but that
it does, and is the most fatal means of communicating foul
brood, I have had opportunities of proving to my own cost.

Everything used when manipulating a diseased stock,
including the hands, must be thoroughly disinfected before
another hive is opened, and in every way the bee-keeper
should be on his guard ;

* CAUTION!”

‘must be his watchword, and extreme vigilance will bring its
early reward.

Another Plan of Immediate Renovation

of my own is carried out by placing diseased bees immediately
upon a new set of combs, the whole of which have just
previously been filled with phenolated syrup by the aid of a
large syringe, as explained later under “ Feeding.” The
novice will do better to destroy every vestige of the original
combs at once, together with the frames and hive, if not of
much value; but the more experienced bee-keeper might think
it worth while to save them. In that case every capped cell of
food and brood must be raked open, and those combs in like
manner be filled with phenolated syrup, immediately after
being cleared of the bees. These combs may then be returned
F
68 A Modern Bee-Farm

are very badly smeared they should be removed and clean
substituted.

Dysentery is very readily induced by any exciting cause,
after the bees have been a long time without a cleansing
flight. Thus, a stock, apparently in the best possible condition,
may from some quite avoidable occurrence have its entrance -
choked by dead bees, and then the more prosperous the colony,
the more disastrous will be the result.

By far the greater number of cases may be put down as
being directly caused by starvation. A small lot of bees
unable to reach stores situated away from the cluster, will
generally perish without excitement during a too-long spell of
cold, the cluster remaining unbroken just as the bees rested:
upon the combs. But take the case of a strong stock, par-
ticularly where a patch or two of brood has been started, and
instead of continued cold compelling them to remain and die
where they sit upon the combs, their very strength is the
cause of their own destruction. They generate too much heat
to remain quietly clustering where all the store within reach is
at last exhausted. Though too cold yet for individuals to
reach the more distant, but still plenteous store, the bees fully
aware of their critical position, soon arrive at an excited
condition, the temperature’ goes up rapidly, the cluster ex-
pands, and the lately unapproachable stores are within reach.
But the instinct of self-preservation does not allow them to
count the cost—the tremendous discount thus made upon their
vital energies ; neither can they avoid the fouling of their once
clean, sweet smelling home.

Should a warm day soon follow this untoward excitement,
the after effects are to a certain extent modified, as a good
cleansing flight can be taken; but when the cold still con-
tinues, the bees never again being able to regain their former
state of semi-hibernation, drag out their existence wandering
aimlessly about, and die at a rapid rate, each day adding to
the accumulated filth of the hive.
and its Economic Management. 69
Prevention.

This form of starvation, with its possible consequences, is
to be avoided by seeing that every hive has heavily stored
combs of good sealed food to winter on. A stock fed with ten
or twelve pounds of thick warm syrup, rapidly, towards the end
of September will store such food in the immediate vicinity of
the cluster, and will stand well, until the following Spring is
warm enough for the bees to move freely about the hive.
Dysentery will probably never follow after such a provision
has been made, unless through carelessness some other exciting
cause, such as a choked entrance, badly fitting roof, &c., is
permitted.

Another Item

of considerable importance as a preventive, is the adoption of
a large frame, when a greater store of food will always be
found within reach of a more compact cluster. In a semi-
hibernating condition, during cold weather a cluster of bees
has no difficulty in gradually moving along the surface of the
same combs, and can do so without there being any reason
for excitement, but when it becomes necessary to shift on to
an entirely fresh set, it means, as we have already seen, a
disastrous disturbance of their natural economy.

TeURRE
70 A Modern Bee-Farm

 

 

 

CHAPTER IX.

MODERN HIVES.
HOW CONSTRUCTED AND FURNISHED.

HE chief feature of the Modern hive is that each comb
is built in a separate frame, enabling such to be re-
moved at will without force, and without in any way soiling
or injuring the comb. Each frame stands about 3-inch from -
its neighbour, and 14-inch from the centre of one to that of
‘the next, though this space may be varied to suit different
requirements as hereafter shewn. The frame rests only upon
-or in the hive proper by a lug or-ear at each end, and a space ©
of not more than 8-inch must be allowed between the two end
bars of the frame and the walls of the hive; while not less
than 4-inch should be provided between the bottom rail and
the floor; or 3-inch at the sides.

I present to the reader a simple hive with frames of the
Standard size as used generally at the present time; and
another hive with the same frames, equally as simple, but more
complete, having an outer case. Also a very practically ar-
ranged hive with frames 16-inch by 10-inch, the more suitable
size for commercial, as indeed for all highly profitable purposes.
  

oF
Fig. 8.

 

Fig. 6. _ Fig. 7.
Position of Frame Frame end resting
resting on zinc runners. on bevelled edge.
and its Economic Management. 73
THE ECONOMIC HIVE.

‘This is a most simple and yet substantial hive, made from
2-inch white deal. It contains nine frames and two dummies,
and the width of the hive inside, measuring across the frame,
is 16 inches. By removing the dummies there is room for
eleven frames for ordinary spacing, or as designed for close
spacing in the first instance, twelve may be used only }-inch
apart. I have practised crowding and close spacing ever
since foundation first came into use, finding it gave a more
compact brood nest and less room for stores below.

The same idea has since been brought forward in America,
with the claim that it prevented the issue of swarms, as the
bees would not, it was supposed, store in such shallow cells as
this arrangement enforced, and on the other hand would be
prevented from breeding in the thicker store combs (sections)
above. In neither case, however, is this correct, as I have
many times noted that not only do bees store and cap combs
which are even thinner than required for brood, but also that
the thickness of the combs in sections above is not the least
hindrance to the bees breeding there, as they simply reduce
the length of the cells to suit their purpose should the queen
be crowded by mismanagement below.

The Economic has a floor composed of one piece of board
17} inches by 11 inches, and another 53 inches wide of the
‘same length. The two are halved together, and a 2-inch
rabbet cut out round the upper edge to keep wet from settling
under. Another 54-inch board, bevelled on the edge, forms
the flight board, and is detachable, being secured by simple
hooks, or hinged, if desired; the object being to ensure
that there is no projection in the way when packing and
travelling.

The front and back boards are each 16 inches long by 8%
inches deep. Both of these are bevelled along the upper edge,
to give a thin ledge for the frames to rest upon. The two side
walls are each 17} inches long by g inches .wide, and overlap

 
74 A Modern Bee-Farm

the back and front walls so far that exactly 144 inches are
allowed between the two, being }-inch to spare beyond the
length of the 14-inch standard frame at each end. A plinth,
16 inches by 24 inches, is inserted at the top and bottom
between the two g-inch sides, filling in the space left at the
ends of the top bars, and at the same time being a very con-
venient arrangement for lifting the hive. The permanent
entrance is three inches wide and cut out of the floor, but full
width can be given by sliding the hive forward.

The Cover

is cut from 11-inch stuff as shewn in Fig.g; the long edge
being 21 inches and the other 7$ inches. The bevelled edges
for mitreing at the joints are cut off on the saw bench, but
where such cannot be obtained, the inside edge should be
gauged at 8-inch, and then planed down to the mark, leaving
the outside edge untouched. Nail together with at least five
2-inch brads down each side. The top square is nine inches
across and screwed on from inside. There is no economy in
planing the wood other than on the outside; but where this is
not done it requires very much more paint, and is liable to rot,
as the surface cannot be so well covered.

The Standard frame and dummy are as represented, Figs.
1o and 11; the top bar of the former being #-inch thick
instead of the usual weak bar of only 3- inch thickness. The
top bar may be either 7-inch or 1-inch wide.

All covers-must be painted also on the lower edge and two
or three inches up underneath as well. The floor requires
painting at least three inches from the edge all round both top
and bottom, as also the bottom edges of all compartments.
This is too frequently omitted, when the hive does not last a
fourth of the time it should. So long as all in sight is painted
that is generally considered sufficient, whereas the very parts
left undone happen to be the most vital, as it is at the joints
that the wet settles and soon causes mischief.
 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

one merere=-, | 4. ween wee eee
Fig. ro. Fig. 11.
Standard Frame. The Feeding Dummy.
té (13M
B pone nneneneeten nce
re yp
wz
(ae
J) | COMMERCIAL ie :
316° ie
. STANDARD. :
V ose
Wg ) Aaa Z LZ 34th
eiegyecsesiess ao
Fig. 12
and tts Econonic Management. 77
THE CONQUEROR HIVE.

In hive construction I now present the very novel feature
of whole bodies HANGING as do the brood frames, and notwith-
standing the clear bee-space allowed all round between each
upper and lower rim of the respective boxes, the sections are
carefully secured against cold by the judicious arrangement of
the quilting; while upward ventilation, around the sides may
be allowed or entirely prevented at will, simply by the careful
adjustment of the same.

This hive, which I have had under serious consideration
ever since my Non-Swarming System was inaugurated, is in
many important particulars quite different to any yet intro-
duced; but there were several points which needed careful
attention before I could carry out some desired: improvements,
and yet secure all, and more than all, the advantages claimed
for excluder zinc, without using that expensive article unless
in preventing the exit of drones.

My Non-Swarming Plan has been before beekeepers for
some years, and has met with approval from all who have
followed the plan intelligently; but so many of the hives in
use are unsuitable for carrying out the method, that the novice
has often found it difficult to adopt with the hives he has
on hand. I therefore introduced during the season 1889-go
‘the above improved Non-Swarming Hive, which gives, (1)
plenty of room in the right direction, (2) perfect ventilation at
all seasons of the year without draught, (3) the most complete
shade during the hottest days of summer, (4) the greatest ease
in manipulation, as the lower body may be examined, also the
upper, or.brood nest proper, QUITE INDEPENDENTLY OF EACH
OTHER, also without removing the supers. The latter points in
> particular, will be welcomed by many bee-keepers, who, while
anxious to examine the brood nest or non-swarming chamber
under it, frequently neglect to do so rather than be obliged to
shift the whole lot. For a period extending over a term of
fifteen years I have had hives in use having a deep outer case,
78 A Modern Bee-Farm

and from these my best results have almost invariably been.
secured.

Inside, we have first the lower chamber (whether shallow
or full depth, arranged: for prevention of swarming) which
touches neither the floor nor stock chamber above it, thus
entirely doing away with propolisation at these points, and
enabling such non-swarming arrangement to be examined
with ease at any time required. The brood chamber comes
next, and on this the supers may rest if desired. The hive
can also be used with neither of the boxes touching its
neighbour ; or with the old-style close-fitting arrangements as
may be required.

Room is allowed for three sets of sections where one is
placed under the stock in place of another body of full size ;
otherwise, two only, as it is not desirable to have a deeper
case. The hive proper is capable of holding either eleven or
twelve frames, while the lower chamber will take as many
more. For extracting, another takes the place of the sections, —
so that in all, néarly three dozen standard frames may be
used for that purpose.

The side walls of the body boxes are only 84-in. deep,
yet the space between the respective chambers is so care-
fully regulated that the distance between the several tiers
of frames never varies. There are: no two level surfaces:
drop upon each other anywhere about the body boxes or
supers, and therefore very little propolisation, and less risk
of crushing bees.

Notwithstanding the open space between the lower and
upper chamber (and the other compartments when so. ar-
ranged), and around the same, it may be as well to meet
any enquiry regarding this arrangement by at-once stating
that with empty frames having simple wax guides directly
under the brood-nest, comb building will never be carried
on outside of the hive proper, and seldom to any extent
in the lower frames, where the surplus is properly looked.
after.
 

/ Fig. 13.
The ‘Conqueror’ shewn with cover
and back removed.
and its Economic Management. 81
A COMMERCIAL STANDARD.

I-must state at once that the Standard frame of the British
Beekeepers’ Association is much too small for any bee-keeper
who is attempting to produce honey on a wholesale scale. It
is true I have been using the Standard frame largely for some
years past, and expect to continue to do so as long as I supply
bees to those who have adopted that size; but its use has only
the more forcibly brought to my mind the decidedly superior
advantages enjoyed when using a frame measuring 16 inches
by 10 inches. Reference to the pages of the British Bee Fournal
will show that there were not a few who held out for a
brood or stock frame of the above dimensions at the time the

‘Association decided on the miserably small stock frame now
almost universally used in this country, and conspicuous
among the opposition was that veteran bee-master, Mr. C. N.
Abbott.

It would indeed appear that almost the sole reason why
the present Standard was adopted, was because of its near
approach to that of the ‘ Woodbury’ pattern, a slight altera-
tion being made that it might accommodate six American
4}-in. by 43-in. sections, and yet.in practice scarcely one bee-
keeper in fifty has ever brought the stock frame into use for
that purpose. This very doubtful advantage was probably the
only reason, not that the majority prevailed, but why that.
majority existed at all, for it is certain there were few, if any,
éxtensive honey producers present at the Association meeting
which then decided upon establishing one of the most serious
hindrances progressive bee-culture has had to contend with
during the past decade.

Evidence in favour of the larger size, as giving greater
security in winter; a larger population more rapidly developed
in spring ; less inclination to swarm; and at all times a more
prosperous and profitable colony, with comparatively little
trouble in maintaining that prosperity—has been accumulating
right along, as shewn by the practical results secured from

G
82 A Modern Bee-Favm

such colonies as remained in the old frames used by myself.
and other apiarists, and which should have been, and will yét .
be recognised as the Standard frame of this country, viz. :—
16-in. by 1o-in.

It does not denote progress to hold to a certain size of
frame simply because that has once been stamped as the
Standard of the British Beekeepers’ Association, whose com- .
mittee, because of its peculiarly exclusive organisation, was
not in a position to deal ‘understandingly’ with the commercial
interests of either the producing or manufacturing industry.

There has long been a smothered feeling of opposition in -
some quarters against the frame now in use, and yet there are
many who refrain from raising a dissenting voice for fear of,
coming in contact with a recognized institution which has not
one valuable point as a recommendation, nor a single excuse
for its continued existence, seeing that every honey producer
using the small frame is at a serious yearly loss, as he may
soon ascertain on trial.

I have already endeavoured to induce beekeepers to adopt
a larger frame in connection with hives in present use, but the
greater depth was not in accordance with the general methods
adopted for working surplus receptacles. Such an objection
does not exist in relation with the large frame formerly used,
and the same supering apparatus may be worked on either the
Standard or the 16in. by roin. frames.

I have no wish to create confusion, or to induce loss by
urging all to at once take up with the frame our old friend
Abbott and other veterans attempted to have recognised as
the British Standard. That frame has thost certainly been
proved, and I therefore recommend it with confidence as being
far superior to the present Standard for the production of
honey on a commercial and profitable scale.

The Commercial Hive is used with eight frames and two
dummies, 1}-in. thick, either packed or used as dry feeders;
or the sides may be permanently packed, the object being to
keep as zavrow a brood nest or cluster as possible, in oppo-
 
and its Economic Management. 85

sition to the usual plan of adopting a wide supering surface
above a shallow chamber. The latter does not give sufficient
power below, neither does it properly economise power for the
rapid and perfect production of section honey above it, as
does a narrow but more populous cluster among our eight
large frames, which arrangement provides for the more
economic distribution and conservation of heat.

The principle ‘of a narrow deep clustey must be continued
throughout the whole tier of sections as well, and hence each
crate of sections contains only three rows of six sections. I
have tried varying numbers upon different surfaces and find it
a serious error to attempt to crowd many sections upon an
extended surface.

The section crates are double walled all round, and packed”
between, giving the most complete protection for the rapid per-
fecting of the combs of honey. The roof is made in the same
manner as that illustrated for the Economic.

SUPER CRATES

to hold from 21 to 27 sections, can be made as follows: Put
together a plain box of the size desired with neither top nor
bottom, and wide enough to take three 4}-inch sections across
besides the thickness of rails supporting them. Such rails are
in the form of an inverted T; the sections resting upon the
ledges which must not be more than }-inch thick, giving that
space between the sections and top bars of the frames. Any
space, left at the one end of the sections must be closed by a
piece of wood to act as a dummy. This I prefer to fit only
just tight, as both wedges and springs are quite unnecessary.
With all crates in general use, the

Space between the sections and top bars

of the frames is objectionable, in that brace combs are nearly
always attached to the underside of the sections. To avoid
 

86 A Modern Beha

this entirely, in 1881 I adopted a crate with the bottom com-

~ posed of slats standing 32-inch apart. | When in position these
-. slats come close upon the frames, but at right angles to them ;
- . thus the bees have simply a number of small holes for passages .

—about 3-inch by 4-inch, which they are compelled to keep
open ; no brace combs are built in consequence, as those are
always continued from the wax that may be along the sides of
‘the frame bars, when the old plan is allowed. During the
twelve years I have used this style of crate I have had no
brace combs attached to my sections.

Fig. 16 will give a good idea of the manner in-which the
said square passages are formed; c being the bottom slats of.
the crate, and p the frame bars. :

But now having the slats close upon the frames it will be
readily understood that a full-sized crate could not be used.
without much inconvenience ; I therefore made it in two as
seen in Fig. 17, each holding twelve to fifteen sections, and
have had no more difficulty in removing one-half at a time
than in taking out a frame of comb. In replacing them a
gentle horizontal motion will cause every bee to run down out

- of the way, though smoke first used will at once clear the
course. :

But perhaps the most important point with my twin crate,
is that as the central combs are completed, by simply turning
the outer row to the centre, the whole are finished off more
evenly and in less time, and thus the usual outside thin
sections are a thing of the past.

With this class of crate I have generally used my bee
space sections giving their own passage under, but if the one-
piece section is used strips }-inch thick should be inserted for

‘the lower corners of the sections to rest upon.

SECTIONS.

The one-piece sections wherein the new comb-honey is
built are made in two forms, either with a bee space at top
 

Fig. 20.
Simmins . Simple Rack
and its Economic Management. 89

and bottom, or such spaces on all sides. In the latter case it
is proposed to give free communication throughout the entire
crate instead of through each row of sections only. The
advantages of intercommunication are doubtful, while the
section of comb is certainly more difficult to handle, does not
look so neat, and cannot be so conveniently packed for market
as the old style.

The widths in general use are—2 inches to be used with
separators, or 12 inches without ; each 44 inches by 44 inches,
to hold 1 Ib. of honey. Sections to hold 2 lbs. are not in
demand, but those to contain about one-half pound may
generally be disposed of; these should be 14 inches through,
44 inches deep, and barely 3 inches wide.

Folding Sections.

By making a block to fit the inside of a section, fastening
-it horizontally to a table, the operation of folding can be
carried through at a rapid rate, and one can always be certain
of them coming true to square. With a lever and cramp
motion to take the strain at two opposite corners, the tenons
may be locked together as fast as the sections can be laid on
the block. In dry weather these sections must first be
damped at the \/-cuts, or many will break.

The one-piece section has now taken such a_ hold in
general estimation that no other style will ever supersede it;
- but where the apiarist has the time and convenience to make
for his own use, my simple bee-space section will cost him
even less than the. other.

Simmins’ Bee-space Sections.

These were introduced some fourteen years since, and
have been much appreciated wherever offered for sale. Glass
was used for the top and bottom rails in the first instance, and
the top rail was split to receive foundation.
go ; A Modern Bee-Farm

The side bars are each 43-inches long by 13-inch wide,
with a sawcut across each end, at 4-inch from the edge, into
which the top and bottom rails (1/16th inch thick), are fixed ;
securely ; these being 14-inch wide and 4% inches (bare) long.
For half-pounds the sides are 44 inches by 14-inch, and- the
thin rails 14-inch by-22 inches.

If the sections are required flat, the top and bottom rails
must be a little thicker, with a tongue and shoulder as shown
by Fig. 27. In that case the sawcut in the side bars will be
only the thickness of the horizontal rails from each edge.

Separators

are made of either thin wood or tin, and are generally arranged
to allow a space above or below them of not less than 3/16th
inch from the upper and lower part of the sections. One with
slots, suggested by ‘‘ Amateur Expert,’ who contributes to
the British Bee Journal, is illustrated (Fig. 28) with slots to
correspond with the side bee-spaces in sections.

Where there are no side spaces in the sections, the slots
are dispensed with.

No Space between Supers.

Fig. 20 shows a still further development with regard to
doing away with all intermediate spacing. This Rack is very
simple, has no bottom rests at all, and allows the sections to.
stand close upon the frames and upon each other. Nothing
can excel the simplicity and at the same time the efficiency of
this arrangement. Practice absolutely confirms the fact that
by dispensing with these useless passages, the surplus stored
above the brood nest is largely augmented. In carrying, the
sections are allowed to bear upon the side strip, and when
not in use the racks lie flat and take up little room.

For years past I have persistently advocated the use of
full sheets of foundation in sections, and found no better plan
of securing such than by its insertion into my sections cut
ft

and its Economic Management. ¥ gI

ie through on three sides, until in 1888 I designed my latest
improvement in the shape of

Completely Divided Sections.

... The advantages of these are—(1) the foundation requires no
at kp -cutting up to fit into each separate section, (2) a full sheet of
foundation, filling three sections at once, can be put in as
quickly and much more securely than inserting a separate
piece in a single section, (3) the foundation can first be
worked out into comb, and without trimming or fitting, or
cutting in any way, the same may be inserted immediately
and securely into the respective sets. of three sections with-
out any special fastening, (4) each set of three sections
when in use and filled with comb can be handled in place of
single sections, with no possibility of either falling out, during
manipulation.

My three-side-cut sections can also be used in. the divided
section frames, and answer equally as. well when worked-out
comb is not to be secured to start with, the sheet of foundation
being placed across the three sections without cutting. This
sheet of foundation is not quite the full depth of the frames, so
that the usual stretching may be allowed for.

 

 
g2 A Modern Bee-Farn

 

CHAPTER X.

COMB-FOUNDATION.

HAVE been using this word while some of my readers may
not as yet know what the article is. The two or three
frames illustrated, showing the same in the centre, will convey
some idea as to its use. This artificially made basis of new
combs is really pure beeswax, and the sheet is first obtained
by dipping nicely planed pine boards into the hot wax; the
plain sheet thus made is afterwards passed between rollers,
which are so engraved as to give the wax the exact form and
appearance of the natural mid-rib of all comb as the bees
make it when left to their own devices, except that the comb
foundation made by man gives the base of a more perfect,
because more regular, comb than the insects themselves
produce. The foundation is gauged to the size of worker
cells (five to the inch); therefore, drone cells, and consequently
drones, are excluded, while our combs are as flat as boards.
According to the thickness of the sheet required, whether
for thin super foundation or for use in the stock frames, so
many dips have to be made before the wax is peeled from the
boards. Of these, two or three sets are required on hand
standing in water, to give time for cooling and saturation.
There are a number of machines in use such as the
Pelham, Root, Dunham, Given, Van Deusen, &c. Of these,
and tts Economic Management. 93

the latter gives the most beautifully finished foundation I have
seen, but, being flat bottomed, the bees appear to waste much
time in converting to the natural base; though it must be
acknowledged that in doing so comb is produced that has so
thin a septum as to be equal to any all-natural comb. I have
been very favourably impressed with the Pelham foundation,
principally because there is no pressure on the side walls;
but I suppose this might be so with all machines if thinner
sheets were used, so that the same need not receive sufficient
pressure to be driven tight into the matrice, while the same
thin base would be retained. There is no advantage in having
high side walls in super foundation, as I find the same nearly
always scraped off to the base before actual building is
commenced by the bees. Indeed, what I should consider a
perfect super foundation would have nothing whatever but the.
bare base of the cells.

Foundation in the brood chamber gives a great saving in
time under some conditions, as hereafter noted, but there are
times when it is an unnecessary expense, more especially when
the beekeeper has all the stock he requires, when he will
become a producer of wax instead of a consumer of that
article.

How to insert Foundation in Frames and Sections.

The original method, and one practised by the late Mr.
Raitt, myself, and others, is by melted wax run along the
sheet of foundation on both sides where it meets the top bar.
A board, 7 inches wide and 13 inches long, has screwed on
the back two strips of 3-inch stuff, which project about an
inch over. The two projections on one side I have arranged
as shown (Fig. 29) with a wide-headed screw to each, enabling
the gauge to be regulated to anicety. When set upon. the
inverted frame it stands }-inch off from the centre of the bar,
thus providing for the thickness of the-foundation that it may
hang exactly in the centre.
94 A Modern Bee-Farm
Simmins’ Divided Section and Holder.

The foundation is secured to one-half of this section frame,
or holder, by using a flat blade which is rapidly pressed along |
the edge as it lies on the top bar, at-intervals of about 1-inch.
The ends are not to be secured. The foundation is either
first worked into comb, or the halved sections immediately
placed on either side. Three halves lying on a flat surface
are first covered with the half-frame having the sheet of
foundation, when the blank half with the other portions of the
sections is put to them, the foundation lying between. -

For Melting Wax,

\

use a common glue pot, with a small brush to dip in, allowing

the drip to run down the angle, joining the foundation and

frame securely. Remove the gauge-board while reversing and

then wax the other side, with the frame always held at a

slight incline, starting the wax at one end, and allowing so

much that it will just run to the other end. Be careful that -
the wax is kept at an even temperature, over a small paraffin

stove; if too hot it will weaken the sheet, and if too cool it

will not hold the foundation in place.

Other Plans

are such as have the top bar split nearly its whole or entire
length to receive the sheet of foundation, when two or three.
nails or screws are driven through, holding the two halves
together with the impressed wax between. There is little
economy in so weakening and disfiguring one’s furniture
“permanently simply for this one preliminary operation, while
the open cut along the top of the bar is the very best harbour
for the wax moth, as the covering over the frames adds still
further protection to such crevices.

_ As a matter of fact, I have had no difficulty in getting
combs built out perfectly true from foundation simply waxed
 

 

 

C——_—e=F

Fig. 21.
Three Side Cut Section. Introduced 1887.

 

 

Fig. 22.
The same folded.

 

 

 

Fig. 23.
Simmins' Divided Section Holder,
shewing arrangement of foundation
and halved sections.

 

 

 

 

 

 

E 1 oe a:
Fig. 24.
Completely Divided Section in the flat.
Fig. 25.
The same folded.

Introduced 1889.
and its Economic Management. ‘ 97

to the top bars; but the frames must be placed closer together,
so that many bees do not cluster upon any one sheet.
Through many apiarists failing at this point, foundation for
brood frames has been made much too heavy, being only four
or five sheets (standard) to the pound; whereas I have no
trouble in working full sheets at eight feet to the pound;
indeed, ten feet to the pound have been frequently worked
without sagging.

Where Swarms are Hived upon Foundation,

the frames should be spaced not more than }-inch apart, with
very light covering for the first few days, and a wide entrance.

Those who desire extra tough combs and well-filled frames,
will find the most satisfactory plan to be that of

Wiring the Frames.

This is done by piercing holes through the top and bottom of
the frames about two inches apart to receive the wires, while
another is ‘run from side to side in the shape of the letter V.
I prefer the parallel wires to run from side to side (Fig. 30)
as the bottom rail is generally too weak to stand the strain,
but in this case the sheet of wax must be secured to the top
bar. Fine tinned wire is used for the purpose, and the
starting point and finish should be at the same place where
both ends are wound round a tack, which is then driven home,
holding all securely. See that all the wires are drawn tight ;
place the sheet of foundation on your block ; the wired frame
upon that, and now press the wires into the mid- rib. Various
instruments are used for the purpose, but a

Simple Imbedder s

can be made from a common nail filed up round at the point,

with a slight indentation to run over the wire, which can be

used at a rapid rate with a convenient handle. If the instru-
H
98 : A Modern Bee-Farm

ment is used cold the point must be frequently passed over a
cloth saturated with oil.

Mr. A. I. Root, editor of Gleanings, and others in America,
have been quite successful in the use of an electrical battery
on a simple scale, and they find the process of imbedding the
wires thereby far more rapid and satisfactory than hitherto.

Sections should be Filled

with new white combs if possible, and never with anything
less than full sheets of foundation. The former should be
cut to go in tight; the latter, when used in sections having
no saw cuts, with about 21-inch to spare on two sides, and
fastened by melted wax at the top. For gauging to the
centre, use a block .similar to that for large frames, but
regulating screws can be placed on each of the four projec-
tions, so that the same block will do for any width of section.

Another plan is to make a saw-cut in the one-piece section
as already shewn, and when folded the foundation is readily
inserted in such a manner that the most perfect combs are
obtained, while for packing to travel long journeys, both this
and the completely divided section give greater security than
is obtained by any other plan. ;

 
and tts Economic Management, 101

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CHAPTER XI.

HOW TO STOCK THE FRAME HIVE.

HAVE shown the reader how to construct and furnish his
hive, and will now explain the different methods employed
for stocking the same.

The most simple way is to insert a swarm. Good swarms
of native bees can generally be bought from a cottager in May
for ros. or 12s. each. They would, in that case, be brought
home in a skep towards evening, when they may be shot out
upon the frames spaced as already shown and provided with
foundation, when a piece of ticking should be laid over them
so as to not quite cover the whole surface of the hive, when all
will soon draw below. When they are quiet, arrange the
quilt carefully and place on the cover, and give an entrance at
least six inches wide. As the centre combs are built out and
filled with eggs, part,them and insert one or two of the outside
frames of foundation in the centre of the cluster until eight or
nine are well filled. By this time close the entrance to about
14-inch, having previously added warmer material above, such
as two or three thicknesses of carpet above the ticking or a
tray of chaff or cork dust two inches thick.

Best Time to Transfer.

Where one has straw skeps he will desire to transfer his
bees to the frame hive. This can be done in April to great
advantage, as it is just then that the stimulation does most
good, and excites the bees to extend the brood nest.
102 oa A Modern Bee-Farm

The bees are first to be removed from the skep by either of
the methods before mentioned (Chap. II.), when the best combs
~ are to be cut to the right size to fit exactly tight into the bar-

frame; all edges being cut quite square so that they go
_ together well, and can be more readily secured by the bees...
- Tie two or three pieces of 4-inch tape round the frames to
keep all in place, and return the combs to the bees, which
may first be shot into the bar-frame hive. They will soon
_draw among the newly-transferred combs and. clean up their
house, where, after a day or two, one will hardly tell where the
joints were. Close up with division boards, cover up warm,
and keep the entrance not more than one inch wide until it is.
absolutely necessary to make it larger. The patches of brood
must be arranged so that the larger are at the centre, and the
smaller graduating to either side, thus securing greater protec-
tion. Should the bees appear crowded with only the combs
transferred, give a frame of foundation in the centre, and
another as soon as they begin to cluster on the, outside of the
division board. Feed carefully so that there is always a little
store in hand, but not enough to hinder the operations of the
queen. Continue such stimulation until honey comes in.
It is so frequently recommended that the contents of fixed-
_comb hives should be transferred twenty-one days after
swarming, that I consider it advisable to show that this waste
of time is quite unnecessary. The swarm should be hived
upon six or seven sheets of foundation close to the parent
colony and facing the same way. Within ten days the young
queens will be hatching out when a cast or second swarm
would issue from the old stock. This appears to have been
overlooked ; therefore I advise transfering on the seventh day
after the issue of the first swarm, first carefully removing one
of the queen cells before druming on the hive. While shift-
ing the combs, cut out all the other royal cells, and after the
operation return the one previously removed, which meanwhile
should have been placed above the first swarm between the
quilting to prevent chill. As soon as the young queen hatched
and its Economic Management. 103

therefrom is laying freely, destroy the other and unite the
two colonies on the second evening following, when supers
may be at once put on.

It-is better that transfering operations be carried out in
some warm room, or manipulating house, first laying a sheet of
paper on the table whereon the tapes are to be arranged, with
the frames on those, so that all is in readiness for tying as soon
as the combs are fitted. While it is not absolutely necessary
that the combs be fitted in just the same way up as they were
built, it is not desirable to have them inverted, but to save
material it is often advisable to put them in on end, or half
inverted, as I have done for many years past. Certainly there
is the brood to handle if transferred before the twenty-one days
have expired, but with ordinary care this is not damaged,
except where the knife cuts a straight line, and that is far
preferable to having the combs full of honey.

Other Plans of Transferring,

such as the following, may commend themselves to either the
novice, or those who have little time to spare.

The first is to place the fixed comb-hive upon the frames of
the modern hive, with a slatted board between, and allow the
bees to work downwards on the combs or foundation placed
for them. Towards the end of the season the stock will have
its brood located in the frames, while honey will probably
occupy the whole of the upper combs. This can then be
removed, but the stock must not be allowed-to starve, as it is
quite likely very little store will be in the brood combs.

The other method is that of placing the skep or other
‘fixed comb-hive in an inverted position- immediately undey the
frame-hive, allowing communication through an opening in an
improvised floor. In this case the inverted combs will be
gradually emptied of everything. The stock will then take up
its abode in the frames, and also work in supers above. These
empty combs can then be transferred at leisure.
104 A Modern Bee-Faym

 

CHAPTER XII.

GENERAL MANAGEMENT.

HILE it is my intention to go through twelve months’
management, and as everything depends upon proper
treatment at this period, I shall begin with the

AUTUMN.

If the apiarist keéps only young queens he will have not
need to stimulate the hive for the production of young bees at
this time; while the only reliable stimulation for early spring
breeding is secured by correct autumn preparation. If any
colony: has not sufficient food to last till the following April,
give all it wants rapidly before the end of September. Among
novices there is much uncertainty as to the quantity required
to store a colony for winter, but not less than six square feet
of sealed comb (including both sides) should be provided ; if
more, so much the better: but on no account should weak
stocks, if allowed to stand, be forced to store beyond their
actual capabilities. Thus if in August a stock covers only
six combs, there are not sufficient workers to store more
than ‘one-half that number of combs, and that quantity will
certainly be enough and to spare for their needs. (See Feeders
and Feeding.)

Unite Stocks of doubtful Strength.

As mentioned elsewhere, all weak colonies must be united
before feeding takes place; and not simply weak lots, but others
and its Economic Management. 105

about which there is the slightest doubt as to them coming
through all right. The reader will ask: ‘‘ How are those
others constituted about which there can be any doubt, other
than really weak stocks?” In the first place I should say
those which have old, or otherwise unsatisfactory queens ;
those which through any oversight may have ‘been without a
laying queen for a few weeks during the latter part of the
summer ; as well as those which may be short of stores. It
will be found impossible to alternate the combs with ten or
eleven-frame hives where they are populous, and in that case
‘place the whole hive upon another’near to it; or if a little too
far apart, bring’each hive half-way; and in all cases of uniting,
place a wide board from the ground to the flight board, not
only to attract the flying bees, but also that both lots may be
aware of a strange location, and so have no inclination to
fight. (Refer to Uniting.)

‘What is a Strong Stock ?

Will be a frequent question. Can I explain the situation
fully? I will endeavor to do so for the benefit of the many
who never seem to realise that ‘ Unity is.strength,’ and that
nothing less than the most intense power, as exhibited in the
almost hurricane strength of profitable colonies, will ever
bring them a reliable income year after year.

You want for the production of honey just that strength of
numbers which turns the ordinarily gentle workers into ever
suspicious defenders of their home, ready to assail, if need be,
any intruder who disturbs them without due precautions !
You want during the summer that teeming hive which all day
long shows you such a continuous stream going and coming,
that the tiny insects appear almost thicker than hailstones!
You want, after the removal of the surplus receptacles, a hive
of ten or twelve frames so over-crowded that great lumps of
clustering bees hang outside until really cold nights compel
them to crowd inside !
106 A Modern Bee-Favm

Do you want honey? Honey by the hundredweight and
by the ton? Then again read, and re-read the commence-
ment of this chapter, and let the autumn not pass without a
general renovation and uniting of poor colonies. Pray do not.

- cling to those miserable weaklings, fearing you are sacrificing

all hope of future increase. Ah! that is just the word; in the
completion of that last sentence is found the whole trouble.
How many there are who cannot bring themselves to * close
down’ their scattered forces, and so make their chances of
wintering almost certain, and positively securing stocks which
will give six times the increase (if required) that any three
weakly lots would do, even supposing the latter will all winter
safely.

So far as food and strength are concerned, we are now.
ready for

WINTER,

and the next thing to be considered is whether .or not more
warmth, in the shape of packing, is required. Mr. Raitt said
that the best packing for bees in winter is “‘ bees,” and I quite
agree with him; in fact I use nothing more about my hives
than they have had all the summer, and at all times consider
that the most vital point is the top of the hive, where they are
always covered with warm material, such as chaff, or cork-
packed trays, pieces of carpet, or sacking.

It is not important whether there are chaff-packed dummies
on the outsides of the brood nest, or not; though of the two
I give the preference to old tough combs. :

Position of Frames.

All hives should stand so that the frames are ‘‘end on” to
the south wall, that every seam of bees is warmed up during
each gleam of winter sunshine, enabling them to change their
position and take food, while bringing stores nearer the cluster.
Bees will winter all right if so situated and in good heart, but
where placed behind thick walls, they are subject to a con-
 

and its Economic Management. 107

tinued low temperature, as the mid-winter sun does not
penetrate to the cluster. There is no warmth in double walls
at this time, just when it is most required, though of course I
-admit that they are a benefit as soon as the cluster expands,
retaining the heat given out by the bees; but this does not
compensate for the greater disadvantage in mid-winter as
before mentioned. :

Mr. Abbott, when editor of the British Bee Journal, was
quite aware of the immense advantage of admitting the sun’s
rays during winter, and recommended that a piece of glass be
let into the outer wall of double-sided hives. However,
double-packed walls to hives do not pay for the extra expense
as compared with single walls, and besides being more cum-
bersome, are a positive nuisance during the heat of summer,
when shade only is required, rather than additional heat.
For as a matter of fact packed walls cannot be cool in
summer, as the advocates of the same would have us believe.
Why.the more frequent swarming complained of with these?
and are we not-told that more warmth is given in ‘winter ?
how much more then, 7m excess, in summer ? -

One thing of the utmost importance to which I have often
had occasion to call attention, is the

Space below the Frames.

The regulation distance of 2-inch is certainly allowed between
the bottom rail of the frame and the floor of the hive when
first made, but this is not enough, as the exposure causes the
side walls to shrink fully one-fourth of an inch. This makes
it quite inconvenient and disagreeable in replacing frames, as
well as where hives are tiered up ; and though $-inch clear may
not work quite well between upper stories at first, it-will soon
come right by shrinkage when anything like 9-inch stuff is
used, though it may be considered that the wood has been
already well seasoned. Now the 3-inch space is not sufficient
for winter, and where a lower rim cannot be added to the
108 A Modern Bee-Farm

hive, a circular hole should be cut in the centre of the floor
board, about 2 inches in diameter, which will greatly assist
ventilation, while providing the inmates with a ready means
for disposing of their refuse, dead bees, &c. Failing either of
the foregoing, the frames can be raised by placing 3-inch
strips under the projecting ears.
Dysentery and other ills are brought on by the too com-
mon neglect of this matter, dead bees drop to the floor and
_ clog the too shallow space under the frames, then getting into
a mass ventilation is impeded, and when a fine day does
occur the bees have enough to do to find the entrance, while
the dead and rubbish remain untouched, only to be added to
during the next cold spell. Insufficient ventilation and foul
matter now begin to tell upon the constitution of the popula-
tion, and there is little chance that the stock will ever be of
much use unless it has immediate attention, as many of the
bees are now unable to fly when warm days do offer them a
chance; particularly is this the case where the frames run
across the entrance with double walls. With single walls and
the frames end on to the entrance the bees are not so liable to
be blocked in.

Covering above Frames.

Much uncertainty exists among novices ‘as to whether the
frames should be covered with porous or non-porous material ;
but, dear Reader, it is just this: if you use porous material
above your winter cluster, an entrance not more than three
inches in width should be allowed; if a non-porous covering
such as American oilcloth be used next above the frames (of
course with warm material above that), then a wider entrance
must be provided according to the strength of the colony.

A perfect Winter Arrangement

of the combs is secured in the manner already shewn with
reference to the description of the Conqueror hive.
and its Economic Management. 109

A similar arrangement has long been used by myself with
the Economic hive, by placing an empty chamber under the
stock-hive, and this, though not so satisfactory as the other,
is the best substitute.

With hives in general use I find the best way to secure
ventilation to be as follows:—Place the combs to one end
farthest from the entrance; there may or may not be a
dummy on that side nearest the vacant space, but such
dummy must not touch the hive side, and will hang as an
ordinary frame; for my own use I prefer no dummy. © Cover
‘the frames with non-porous cloth as usual, but allow clear
communication from the entrance to the roof, which is, of
course, ventilated. Thus we have no draught through
the brood nest, but a thorough ventilation in front of the
same, with a certain change of air for the occupants of the
hive.

As an instance, I have put up driven bees in Autumn on
standard frames of empty combs ; closed up with chaff-packed
dummies ; a medium entrance, and warm porous covering on
top, with no through ventilation. They were fed carefully
and had young queens. Others were made up on large frames
(14 inches by 14 inches) of comb of the same strength, and the
same food, but the combs were placed to one end of the hives
where the wall was only 4-inch thick; at the opposite side
nothing protected the comb, while there was a large unoccupied
space with three, 2-inch holes in the side wall, and one in the
centre of the floor. Communication was quite open to the
roof, where there was ten times the space generally allowed
for ventilating ; the frames were covered with porous material,
and yet with all this extra ventilation and no dummies, these
stocks came out 5 to 1 better than those prepared as usual on
Standard frames. '

Where bees are wintered on Standard frames in long hives,
whether the brood nest is placed at the back. or front of the
hive, the dummy next the open spacé must stand clear of the
side wails, just as the frame does. Those who have followed
110 A Modern Bee-Farm

the advice sometimes given, to the effect that such dummy
must be tight fitting and have an entrance of only two inches ~
or less cut out of the bottom edge, will have reason to
appreciate the loose fitting board.

When keeping bees in a loft, Mr. Cowan, the present editor
of the British Bee Yournal, raised the crown board of his hives
with small pieces of wood, such as match ends, as. well as —
giving the same space between the floor and body of the
hive. Perfect ventilation was in this manner secured without
draught, being ina large closed space; but the same plan ~
could not be thought of with hives standing in the open.

Really there is nothing to be done to the bees during the
winter months, and all the foregoing provisions have to be
settled before the cold weather arrives. Cold, with judicious
ventilation, and clear space under the frames, a good cover,
plenty of stores, and stocks in good heart, can do no harm.

SPRING.

About the 21st of December the queens will begin to
deposit eggs; in due time the young will hatch oat, and
slowly the brood nest is enlarged, until by the’ time the older
bees begin foraging, the consequent heavy losses are fully.
compensated by those brought to life while outside all
appeared quiet.

The production of young bees at this early date is not '
always without intermission ; cold in itself never hinders it,
as the brood is at the very heart of the cluster, but if unable
to obtain water for many days together ‘brood-rearing ceases, .
only to be renewed as soon as the workers can get abroad.
Pollen is as a rule always present in well-stored stock combs,
and when this comes in freely (March to April), all fresh from
the fields, the brood nest is rapidly extended. Now is the
time to see that the bees have more than sufficient food to
keep them going. With a good queen it can hardly happen
that the combs will be too heavily charged with honey at this
1
,

and its Economic Management. eet

season, but by taking the outside combs, one at a time, and
inserting them in, the centre of the brood nest after the
cappings are first bruised, great progress will be made. One
such comb as yet at an interval of seven or ten days, as
needed, will keep the bees and queen busy, and by May 1st
the whole ten or more combs will be one mass of brood, and
the hive so crowded with bees that another set of combs will be
required below the stock hive. If one has no combs on hand,
then use sheets of foundation, alternating them with the combs
of brood throughout both storeys, and see that the older brood
goes below, with the pollen combs near the outside. Now
_ proceed as explained for extracted honey, but if comb be desired
let the lower storey have starters only in the frames. In any
case feed from ‘‘ hand to mouth,” until honey comes in freely,
as such a large population is liable to be rendered perfectly
useless by the loss of the brood, by the slightest neglect at this
time.
Where stocks cannot be got up to the desired strength
for the opening of the

SUMMER

season, or when one wishes to take every possible advantage
of the harvest, he will not hesitate to work on

The Doubling System. ef

At this moment honey may be coming in rapidly, with
every appearance of fine weather to continue. The first is
always the best chance, and it is a question whether the
apiarist will simply allow the bees to waste their energies in
excessive brood rearing, or at once cut short their work in
that Or and direct far greater power towards the
“piling up” of stores. What is done must now be done
quickly, and though the usual plan has been to simply place
the brood combs-of one stock with, or upon its neighbour, and
saving the queen with the swarm thus made, the following
112 A Modern Bee-Farm

definite methods of proceeding will give the highest profitable
results. For producing 3

Comb Honey,

select any two desirable stocks standing near to each other.
Unite the entire force of workers on to eleven frames of the
most completely packed combs of brood; allow the non-
swarming chamber under, and put on supers already filled
with comb to the capacity of some 4olbs., or even more. If
the other queen is old, destroy her, otherwise reserve her
majesty in a nucleus. The surplus combs can be placed
above any pair doubled for securing

Extracted ‘Honey.

In this case, after removing one queen, place one hive bodily
upon the other, having first arranged the non-swarming
chamber below all. Thus: we have three chambers teeming
with life, but at least one other must be added above with
empty combs, or odd brood combs that may be left over from
stocks united for surplus comb honey. If foundation must
be used in the absence of sufficient combs to fill further
chambers, then it will be better to alternate frames of comb
and foundation, to secure the more rapid completion of the
latter.
Where extracted honey is to be largely worked for,

Surplus Brood Combs

are the most valuable stock-in-trade the bee-keeper can have,
if he only takes care when out of use to keep them in a dry
store with free ventilation, and all vermin excluded.

A Great Evil

noticeable in nearly all apiaries is the absence of any attempt
to keep on hand a supply of surplus hives. In calling attention
and its Economic Management. 113

to this, I have no intention whatever of seeking accommoda-.
tion for swarms, but have in mind the best means of restraining
them, and making far more profitable use of the ever swelling
numbers in the mother hive.

What reasonable man can for a moment imagine he is to
secure large results from the one brood chamber which still
constitutes the rule in Modern (?) Bee-keeping? and this
often with a fixed hinged cover as well as permanent legs,
which the owner does not conceive the idea of removing !

A hive which does not permit of rapid extension either
above or below the original brood chamber, by the seasonable
addition of other like chambers always held in stock, is one
more suitable for fire-wood than progressive bee-culture.

Further detailed management for the Summer season will
be found fully explairied in the following pages, where separate
chapters will be devoted to the various necessary proceedings.

 
114 A Modern Bee-Favm

 

CHAPTER XIII.

SIMMINS’ NON-SWARMING SYSTEM.

HIS System of Management was first made public by
the issue of my Pamphlet on the subject in February,
1886. In the same work I claim.that ‘No colony in normal
condition attempts to swarm unless it has all its brood combs completed ;”
and, further: “To reduce the matter to a greater certainty,
while admitting that bees may sometimes swarm if such open
space and incomplete byood combs happen to be situated at the
back, or the point farthest from the entrance, the author
insists that the open space and unfinished stock combs shall always be
at the front, ov adjoining the entrance.” That is, at the front
where long hives are used; or between (and under) the brood
nest and the entrance where hives are tiered one above the
other; the latter plan always being the more setiatielany for
general working.

The idea had been long fixed in the minds of bee- ages
that unless the bees were crowded into the supers nothing
would induce them to work there. On the contrary, however,
I have had them storing freely in several sets of supers, while
at the same time they had eleven empty ‘“‘ standard” frames
immediately below the brood nest, with free communication
between.

But an important item in the new management consists in
supplying every section with fully-worked combs, so that the
and its Economic Managemenr. . 115

bees are induced to store above rather than build to any
extent either in front or below, as the case may be, where
frames with 3-inch starters only are placed.

If through any inattention to the supers, or a-sudden influx
of honey, the bees have no room above, nfo time is lost, and
they can go on building below. Nevertheless, these frames
with starters must never be allowed to have finished combs,
and should any be nearing completion they are to be cut out
to be used in the sections, first extracting the honey if any,
and exposing for two or three days those which may contain
eggs, that they may be removed by the bees when such combs
are returned.

The Working of New Combs
“
is now more satisfactory, while the cutting of them up for
sections can now be entirely avoided by the use of my com-
pletely divided sections and section holders. __

When it is desired. to draw out the foundation before
placing the divided halves in position, a sheet is attached to
cone side of each alternate half of the section frames; or, in other
words, only one-half of the sectional parts required, being
furnished with foundation attached to the inner side, a shallow
chamber is filled up with them, and placed next above the
stock chamber as early as the bees can possibly be induced, by
warmth and careful feeding, to work out the foundation
rapidly. Any kind of hot water vessel placed above, especially
at night, where it can be regularly attended to, will. induce
rapid work, so that three or four days only need elapse before
the foundation is sufficiently worked out for removal.

The removed set may be placed above the quilt, and the
section halves adjusted as soon as the bees go down, if not
shaken off in the first instance. Another set may follow close
.on the brood nest, and when the season fairly opens these new
combs will prove a remarkable stimulus, while the bees will
then be strong enough to start. other foundation in the lower
116 A Modern Bee-Farm

chamber, used for the time being in place of, or next above,
the swarm preventing chamber.

; When the section halves are placed upon either side of the
‘newly built combs, simple pressure under a board will fix all

securely.

When combs are completed, remove the halved section
holders and clear away all odd wax and propolis. Each set
of three sections may be handled as one, or, if preferred, then
divide with fine wire.

Let it be borne in mind that

The True Principle of Management

consists in so manipulating the supers that none of the frames with
starters have finished combs all the season.

The space below and in front of the brood nest gives ample
ventilation, keeping the hive cool; and the combs never being
- completed the desire for swarming does not exist.

As will be seen, the system is particularly applicable to the
production of comb-honey, and without doubt is the only
process that will prevent the issue of swarms while securing
that article. At the same time it makes a greater certainty of
prevention while working for extracted honey, though generally
in getting the latter article stored no swarming will occur, as
there is no object in having the combs well finished, and
unlimited room can be given.

This is the first time the long-vexed question of prevention
has been reduced to systematic management; but, as usual
with anything new, there are not wanting those who claim
that there is nothing original in it. The editor of the British
Bee Fournal endeavoured to prove that it had been in use many
years since, and that the Stewarton Hive was worked-upon
the same principle; and while attempting to shew how to.
produce comb-honey without swarming, I find he could not
tell how to work entively for that article with any given colony;
but only that a limited quantity could be obtained while at
and its Economic Management. 117

the same time using many combs under the sections as and
for extracted honey—a most unsatisfactory process, by which
few finished sections can be obtained unless my plan of filling
the same with worked-out comb is adopted.

Bee-keepers generally have saved over unfinished combs in
sections from year to year, and these were found to give a
good start to the bees, but nothing was done to institute the
systematic production of such new white combs for all sections
before being placed on the hive until the present system was
inaugurated.

All that has ever been given as to the manipulation of the
Stewarton Hive relates chiefly to the insertion of several
swarms into the set of boxes. This does not look like pre-
vention, and moreover, whether with swarms or established
stocks the principle did not consist in keeping the same or any
empty chamber always below the brood nest. In hives 3 feet
long itis claimed that in America the plan was tried 20 years
since. The bees in this case working from back to front all on
the same level. Here the combs were removed as completed at
the front.

Just here the Reader will not fail to see the difference—a
contrast decidedly in favour of my own plan, which is this:
The surplus is worked and continually removed from above,
while no attention is needed below or in front of the brood:
combs ; as in the first place no combs are there permitted to
become completed, and the same frames remain in the same
place all the season, because with careful attention above little:
or no comb is built in them, as my own experience has shewn.

While many consider that they have no need to prevent
the issue of swarms, and can obtain better results by allowing
one swarm to each colony, there are many districts where the
season is of short duration, and the largest surplus is only
obtained by prevention. The system, moreover, should be of
advantage to all, enabling increase to be made at the most
fitting opportunity ; and not, as is too often the case, just asa
good honey-flow is on.
.

118 : A Modern Bee-Farm

My non-swarming system is here illustrated for the better
guidance of the Reader. Fig. 31 represents the manner of
proceeding where long hives are used, with the empty frames

-arranged on the same floor, between the ~brood nest and

entrance. Fig. 32 shews the plan adopted when tiering up,
with the lower hive having empty frames. Both sectional |
views exhibit two crates of sections above the brood nest.

‘The Worked-out Combs for Sections

are obtained by using foundation which runs nine or ten feet
to the pound, having a very thin base, otherwise an objection-
able mid-rib will be found in the centre of the combs.

All my other methods formerly used are giving place to
that now adopted with my halved sections and section holders,
‘which offer a perfect means of obtaining beautifully worked-
out combs, which can be placed directly into the sections (or
rather the halved sections placed upon that) without the
trouble of fitting or cutting either them or the foundation in
any way.

A sheet of foundation, about 13in. by qin., is fastened on to
the flat side of one of the half-frame section-holders. A num-
ber of these are worked out above a strong colony, which, if
necessary, is carefully fed, and the foundation is soon ready to
be placed over other stocks and they will not hesitate to
complete the work so begun.

It is a mistake to suppose, as some do, that the foundation
will in the first instance be drawn out to fully extended cells.
Nothing but disappointment and loss of time would result
with such an object in view. A day or two only should be
allowed before the partly worked comb is removed and further
sheets supplied for the same purpose.

The companion parts of the section holders as well as the
halved sections are put together as already shewn under the
chapter.on ‘ Foundation.’ Slight pressure secures all in place,
when a most perfect arrangement is presented.
 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Fig. 31. Fig. 32.
Non-swarming Plan, with Long Hives. Non-swarming Plan,
with Tiering Hives.

 

=
— SS
= ed ent oe
fa
Sed Cl Y
a ~~
~——
a
er ae ae ae ee
hag ey
anond

 

Fig. 33.

    

Fig. 34. Fig. 35.
Comb Cutting Box. Comb Cutting Saw.
and its Economic Management. 121

The gauged cutting box and the frame saw for. cutting odd

combs to fit into sections as hitherto used are shewn as Figs.

34 and 35. The blade of the saw is of the thinnest possible
material, with very fine teeth.

Swarm Attachments

for securing swarms when they issue, were devised by me in
the year 1888, and for some years past similar contrivances
have been mentioned both in- English and_foreign journals,
though complete satisfaction seems seldom to have been
attained by their use.

I still adhere to my non-swarming plan, or that which helps
to restrain bees from the desive to swarm, as being by far the
more simple and effectual, but as there are many who for
various reasons are unable to control swarming, I illustrate my_
latest design in Swarm Catchers (Fig. 33), which requires
little attention when once in position.

It is simply the arrangement of my usual swarm preventing
chamber under the brood nest, with a floor. between having a
central opening covered with excluder zinc. The whole front
of the lower chamber is covered with excluder zinc, set out
1#in., and reaching up to and covering the front of a porch
which comes in front of the main entrance.

The alighting board has here several inverted cones so
inserted. that the queen failing to make her way out with the
swarm finds a passage into the lower chamber from which she
cannot return, and where the bulk of the swarm, after vainly
seeking her abroad, re-assemble and go on to work. If allowed
to continue there they work in connection with the original
force; but, in this case, all surplus queen cells must be cut
out, and the zinc removed ‘from the upper entrance that the
young queen remaining may leave for her natural purposes.
122 A Modern Bee-Farm

 

CHAPTER XIV.

THE PRODUCTION OF HONEY.

HE system hereafter to be described will be based upon

the non-swarming principle just explained; the reader

will therefore understand that though not always expressed, it

is necessary that the vacant space, having only empty frames,

be provided either below or in front of the brood nest, according
to the style of hive in use.

EXTRACTED HONEY

is that which is removed from the combs by centrifugal force,
without breaking them up; while the liquid is consequently
clear, and of far superior quality to that which by old-fashioned
methods was obtained by straining the whole mass of honey,
pollen, comb, and larve, through a cloth.

A common practice is to remove the honey before the cells
are capped over, and large weights of such “ green stuff” are
often boasted of. Asa matter of fact, however, such honey
never equals that left in the upper tiers until thoroughly
“ripened” by the heat and perfect ventilation of the hive.
When the combs are at least two-thirds sealed extraction may
commence, when generally an article of good consistency will
be procured.

In the process of ripening, “‘green”’ honey loses considerable
weight by evaporation of the excess of water, and being passed
over a series of heated plates, its quality is inferior in every

 
, and its Economic Management. 123

respect, as both the colour and usual characteristic aroma of
honey is impaired. The sooner beekeepers give up these
honey-ripening fads the better it will be for themselves and
their customers ; the best article only is that which will create
a demand. :

The word “extracted” has been objected to in the American
Bee Fournal as being inappropriate, and that the consumer does
not understand it. Nevertheless, the term will stand as long
as the extractor endures ; and if the public mind is likely to be
impressed with the idea that ‘‘extract of honey” is being
offered, all the apiarist has to do is to show on his labels why °
it is called ‘‘ Extracted” honey, and in what manner it is

 

PURE ENGLISH HONEY

SUPPLIED DIRECT FROM
@he Southern Apiaries.,

ONE BUT PURE HONEY GRANULATES; when this

,_has become so, it can be made liquid again (if desired) by %
placing the jar in another vessel containing hot water, when it
will become as when first sealed up.

NOTICE. |
‘ GUARANTEE this Honey to be quite pure, and free from
the usual impurities of the old-fashioned “ strained’ honey. {
4

This is “extracted” from the combs (without being broken in
the least), by the aid of centrifugal force; hence its superior

quality.
(Signed) SAMUEL SIMMINS.

 

 

 

 

 

 

oo ao ato hoo ale + a0 ee o ah 0 ee ate oh

removed from the combs; as seen by a copy of my own label.
The word ‘liquid’ is certainly out of place, as our
commodity is not always in that form, while the honey is
liquid in our beautiful sections.

‘Bottled Honey.

In glass the wholesale demand is generally for 1-lb. jars.
The most popular kind is the jelly glass, and being in such
demand the manufacturers are of course enabled to place them
124 A Modern Bee-Farm ae

at a lower figure than any other kind. They are neat,
elegant, and with a nice label, most attractive, costing 10s. 6d.
per gross; with corks, 12s. 6d.; so that including carriage,
bottling, &c., the total cost is a little over 1d. each (Fig. 37).
Half and quarter-pounds can also be retailed at home, but
are useless to the trade.

The bottles illustrated are especially suited for honey.
Fig. 36 makes a good exhibition bottle; 37, the Greek design
jelly glass; 38, a bottle very much appreciated by customers
generally. These are manufactured. by te Breuitey” 83, Upper
Thames Street, London.

For bottling, the honey must be particularly clear; and
whatever shade of colour it may have, it should be bright and
in all cases as before stated of such a consistency that it
“ piles”’ up well when drawn off.

Fill all bottles as evenly as possible and cork up at once,
driving the latter home with a mallet, while holding the bottle.
in the left hand clear of any bench or shelf. Having filled
your bottles, of course those with corks need some finish, and
for capping the whole nothing is more simple and inexpensive
than

Sealing Wax;

‘but this article must be made at home. Procure common
yellow resin and heat it above a small oil stove in an
earthenware vessel, or if preferred a large glue pot. Use one
part of beeswax to three of the other to toughen it and make
it hold to the glass. Now an important item is the

Colour

of the sealing wax. A bright colour will contrast well against
the contents of the bottle, and the colouring matters used in
common paint answer every purpose. Stir all thoroughly to
get an even mixture, but at no time let the wax boil.
  

Fig. 37. Fig. 38.

 

Fig. 41.
Comb Honey Crate.
and its Economic Management. 127

To Wax the Bottles

invert them with the cork and upper surface of the bottle just
hidden in the heated substance for a moment. The operation
can be rapidly carried out, and in lifting the bottles, give one
or two turns that no bead of wax may run down the side.
Now all is ready for the label, which must be of such a
character as to contrast favourably with the contents. _

Canned Honey.

With prices much lower, together with a general and
increasing demand, honey in tins is becoming popular. Two,
three, and six pounds seem to be mostly in demand, and at
reasonable rates large quantities of good honey can thus be
disposed of. Colour is not of so much importance, and when
granulated this is a good way to dispose of our produce ; but
the article must be thoroughly ripened, and of good flavour.
The most elaborate label that can be obtained is required to
make tins attractive.

Bee-keepers frequently complain that they cannot dispose
of their honey ; but if they only take the trouble to work their
own neighbourhood at a selling price they will be surprised to
find that instead of producing more than can be. disposed of,
they will be unable to supply the demand. Only recently I
have been offered honey in considerable quantities at rates
higher than what I could myself obtain ten years ago. Honey
has to compete with many other articles, themselves much
reduced in value in these ‘‘cheap times,” and supply and
demand must regulate the price. =

- Having shewn how to prepare and market extracted honey,
we have yet to consider the best means of obtaining it. First
we must | :

Provide for extracting

by arranging our hives in the best manner for its production.
A good stock: of. worked-out combs is invaluable: for this
and its Economic Management. 127
To Wax the Bottles

invert them with the cork and upper surface of the bottle just
hidden in the heated substance for a moment. The operation
can be rapidly carried out, and in lifting the bottles, give one
or two turns that no bead of wax may run down the side.
Now all is ready for the label, which must be of such a
character as to contrast favourably with the contents. .

Canned Honey.

   

With prices much lower, together with a general and
creasing demand, honey in tins is becoming popular. Two,
ree, and six pounds seem to be mostly in demand, and at
"-.cMeasonable rates large quantities of good honey can thus be

osed of. Colour is not of so much importance, and when
gra ed this is a a good way to dispose of our produce ; ; but
the article must be thoroughly ripened, and of good flavour.
The most elaborate label that can be obtained is required to
make tins attractive.

Bee-keepers frequently complain that they cannot dispose
of their honey ; but if they only take the trouble to work their
own neighbourhood at a selling price they will be surprised to
find that instead of producing more than can be. disposed of,
they will be unable to supply the demand. Only recently I
have been offered. honey in considerable quantities at rates
higher than what I could myself obtain ten yearsago. Honey
has to compete with many other articles, themselves much
reduced in value in these ‘“‘cheap times,” and supply and
demand must regulate the price.

-Having shewn how to prepare and market extracted honey,
we have yet to consider the best means of obtaining it. First
we must

Provide for extracting

by arranging our hives in the best manner for its production.
A good stock of worked-out combs is invaluable: for this
128 A Modern Bee-Farm

purpose, as we desire to give the bees plenty of storage
room.

Those hives only are suitable for extracting purposes
which admit of tiering up one above the other. Such
chambers may all be of one pattern; though with the stock
hive only having standard frames, and that surmounted by
successive stories of shallow frames, would be better. In

either case use the empty chamber below, which will also to
some extent prevent the queen ascending higher than the
brood nest proper.

Perforated zinc is- frequently recommended to keep the
queen down, having slots ,4,-inch, wide, which presu —
ably admit neither queen nor drones.

Deep hives, with the extra chamber for prevention ©£...-—-
swarming, will rarely be left by the queen, and with the sh How
extracting super, having its frames placed_at_ri figles to
those below, no adapter is needed. :

All combs arranged for extracting should stand at a set
distance apart all the time, as the surfaces will then be finished
off evenly, thus making the uncapping process more rapid.
Shallow combs are filled better than deep ones, and can be.
more readily manipulated.

Metal ends are used where frames are spaced at set.
distances, but none such are in use for extracting purposes, as
then the frames should be farther apart—about 4-inch more
than usual.

Where there is any difficulty in restraining the queen, as.
where all shallow, or all standard frames may be used, if the
queen excluder is objectionable, then place all succeeding sets
of combs below the brood nest as recommended in Non-Swarm-
ing pamphlet.

Mr. Howard has designed single strips of excluder slots
with plain 2-inch sides, which can be inserted between the
frame bars, thus spacing the frames at the same time, and
being adapted to few or many frames.
and its Economic Management. 129
Spare Combs

for extracting may be obtained early in the season by inducing
the bees to build out foundation (wired or otherwise), inserted
in the brood nest; or later above it. The combs will be
tougher, and a larger population will be obtained if such new
combs remain in the hive for breeding purposes, while the
outside older combs can be removed for storage.

With plenty of store combs and the “safety valve” below,
the bees cannot well be idle if there is anything to be gathered.
A common practice is to lift the upper storey and place another
under, but where excluder zinc is-used the brood nest is always
retained at the bottom.

When removing completed sets, let it be done during the
busy hours of the day, when what few bees are in will soon
leave if piled up in a room with large windows arranged as
explained under Bee-houses. Another way is to shake the
bees from the combs, using a feather for the stragglers; and-
still another, with shallow frames when fixed securely, is that
first adapted to modern hives by James Heddon, of Dowagiac,
Mich., who had not the slightest knowledge that his “ shaking
out”? process had been long practised in this country with
fixed combs, where we call it ‘‘ throwing.”

Empty sets of combs must be in readiness to give the bees
where more room may be required, and when full combs have
been’ emptied, they should always be returned in the evening
that all may be cleared up, and the consequent excitement
subsided before another day’s work commences.

Bee-Traps

have been revived both at home and in America, under the
name of bee-escapes and super clearers. Some fifteen years
since these were much in vogue, but fell into disuse, as practical
bee-keepers found they preferred, when once having raised the
super, to clear it away at once, and it is not a little surprising

K
130 : A Modern Bee-Farm

to find several advanced apiarists themselves entrapped into
thinking there is anything to be gained by re-adopting this old
and discarded fad.

Well, we have our stored combs in the outer honey house,
and now they must go forward into the extracting room, having
been cleared of bees. We must first be sure that our

Extracting Machine

is quite clean, and that it has been firmly secured in a suit-—
able place, high enough that the honey may be run off into
another large cylinder or tank, which again must have a treacle
valve at a convenient height for drawing off. The strainer
must cover the entire mouth of the tank, and be placed directly
under the valve of the extractor. We now require an

Uncapping Can

which is to be in two sections ; the upper part to receive the
cappings, with a strainer at bottom and one or more bars of
wood across the top whereon to stand the comb, while with
the
Uncapping Knife,

resting one end of the comb on the bars, and the upper end
held by the projecting ear in the left hand, with the top bar
towards you, with a slightly diagonal and sawing motion carry
the knife from top to bottom, removing not only the cappings
but all comb that may project beyond the plane of the frame;
reverse, and serve the opposite side in like manner, when the
comb.is to be inserted in one of the cages of the extractor with
the top bar standing in a direction opposite to that in which
the revolutions are to be made, as the cells inclining towards
the top bar the honey leaves more readily. Now, unless the

Rate of Speed

be carefully regulated, the operator is liable to break his
combs, and thus render them difficult to handle; but by
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turning slowly while emptying the first side the great weight
of the other will not force the combs into the wire netting.
Now reverse all combs, at first working at a slow pace, but
gradually increasing the speed, until you may set the machine

going as fast as it can be made to revolve, having already _ ;

removed the bulk from the opposite sides, though with a
steady motion. When at full speed, slip off the multiplying
gear if on the horizontal pattern, when a great many-revolu-
tions will be made while you can go.on uncapping. The
combs should again be reversed, and the sides first done are
to be rapidly turned round in the same way. In this manner
no combs are damaged, while every drop of honey is obtained;
and most of the vevolutions take place while the opevator is uncapping
the next set of combs.

The idea of again using simple motion is creeping in, being
recommended under some false notions of economy. In
these days of competition we cannot afford to ‘‘ creep” along
at a snail’s pace, and if we can do double the work in a given
time, better and cleaner than the “ slow-coach ” method,
surely we are threefold the gainers.

‘

Combs containing Brood

can be extracted from only in warm weather, when the speed
required for the first side of, heavy combs to prevent them
breaking must not at any time be exceeded. ‘With care, none
of the larvee will be displaced, and here again the multiplying
gear will give the more even motion. It is safer to extract
not at all from combs containing brood.

~

Storage.

Our honey is running through the strainer, and presently
-the tank will be full; when it will be necessary to draw off
and again strain into other receptacles, all of which must be
convenient for filling smaller vessels as needed. In lieu of
lids, the storage tanks must be covered with cloths carefully

 
134 A Modern Bee-Farm

secured, when the honey will be more perfectly ripened, and
after a few days it can be drawn off and will be remarkably
clear, with the exception of two or three inches of the upper
surface, which may be again strained and placed with other
surface honey. I have found no harm resulting from honey
being stored in galvanized vessels, but where it may be
required to stay for a considerable time, tanks should be of
tin, though more expensive.

The produce of an apiary varies considerably in colour
according to the plant it may be collected from, and each kind
must be extracted and stored separately, as the different
grades have varying values; while one kind may granulate
more rapidly than another, and if all were mixed together
the entire mass would soon follow the action of the smaller
proportion. ‘ .

To prevent Granulation,

it is recommended that honey be heated to 190 degs. Fahr.,
and then corked up; nevertheless some kinds will granulate

in spite of this.
Crates

for bottles should be made to hold either one or three dozen,
the latter being most useful, as being the extent of the more
frequent order.. The divisions are bést made of thin wood
crossing and halved together, to form square recesses to take
the bottles just tight. (See Fig. 40.)

For tins little is needed except a plain strong box of the
right depth to take a 6 lb., two 3 lbs., or three 2 lbs.; all of
which must be of the same diameter, a point too often over-
looked, but an advantage appreciated when packing a large
number, and being able to use one-sized crate for all.

Extractors.

The machine illustrated (Fig. 43) is of American make
(Stanley’s Automatic), in which the comb baskets are shewn
and its Economic Management. 135

to swing either way as required for emptying the reverse sides
of the combs without removing them each time. The illustra-
tion. is selected as presenting the uninitiated with a good idea
of the manner in which extractors are made. The advertiser
claims that it is the only one, of the kind in the world ; but it
is a matter of fact that Mr. p; “W. Cowan was the inventor of
the principle some years before the above was brought out ;
his “Automatic” having gained many honours, and more
recently this principle has been accredited to the inventor by
prominent American apiarists.

However, there appears to be some objection made to
these, as the parts are liable to get out of order, and many
bee-keepers prefer the old style where the combs have to be
lifted out each time they are reversed.

Mr. W. P. Meadows, of Syston, has introduced a very
important improvement in extractors. As shown by Fig. 44,
_ the wire cage against which the comb rests is itself backed by
a sheet of tin; the two being firmly fastened together, with an
intervening space. The cage, or comb basket, is made in-
capable of bulging by strips of tin secured to the back at right
angles to the same, and running from top to bottom; thus
permitting of a higher rate of speed without danger of breaking
the combs. The extractor requires multiplying gear to make
it more perfect, though a novice might certainly find it to his
advantage to have an extractor wherewith he could not get up
that excess of speed which would ruin. his combs.

Exhibition.

Extracted honey for show purposes must be bright and
transparent, enclosed in a bottle having a screw cap, that the
contents may be readily reached. The glass should be of the
finest quality and the jar as narrow as possible.

Messrs. Abbott, of Southall, provide a very neat glass as
Fig. 39, designed especially for exhibition purposes. The jar
already mentioned, in 1 lb. and } Ib. sizes, will also be found
very suitable.
136 A Modern Bee-Favm
COMB-HONEY.

So far many more people have gone in for producing this
article than that in the liquid form; consequently the price
has gone down considerably during the past ten years. It has
fallen something like 6d. or 7d. per pound, whereas the other
has come down about 2d. It is time therefore that extracted |
honey had more attention if only to place comb at a better
paying rate, as the latter has ruled too low until the past year
ortwo. Supply and demand, however, must regulate the price,
and it is no use bee-keepers asking as much now as they
obtained a few years since when the article was scarce, as
wholesale and retail dealers alike are quite powerless to alter
the state of the market.

The greater trouble, however, is that all the small producers
throw their comb-honey upon the market as soon.as it is re-
moved from the hives, and thus a false impression is made,
and prices rule low, accordingly, though the probability is that
the total output may be under the average.

Sections

have already been noticed in their various forms; and the
kind one intends to adopt should be on hand before April rst,
when the foundation can be inserted during that month; that
all may be in readiness, as a flow of honey is liable to occur
any time after May rst, or even earlier. In

Preparing Stocks for Comb-Honey

it has been shewn under General Management that the brood
nest should not be increased beyond the capacity of a ten or
eleven-frame chamber of combs. The hive may appear over-
crowded, but while you are waiting for the honey flow, put on
an upper storey and work out foundation, feeding as elsewhere
shewn, for inserting in the sections. It may be asked
and its Economic Management, . 137
Why the Brood Nest should not be extended

at thistime? As a matter of fact, having already a complete
brood nest, every day passing without an extension adds a
balance of power to the future working force of the hive. Extend
the brood nest and you not only. require a greater proportion
of the stores to feed the young, but a larger number of the
population is needed to attend to the enlarged nursery instead
of adding to the stores.

It should be distinctly understood that it is not always the
larger population which gives the heaviest surplus, as it is
possible for the hive of medium strength to send out a much
larger gathering force. These are delicate points which require
careful consideration but which are too often overlooked.

An Exception

will be made where the plan of uniting is carried out prior to
the honey flow, when for such doubled colonies two or more
brood chambers must be allowed -for the excess of numbers.

In this connection it may be mentioned that more often
than not valuable queens of any prolific race are inserted
at a time it is desirable an excess of brood should not be
produced. A black queen, or any one that has bred heavily
during the early part of the season, is removed from a stock
that is gathering abundantly and even crowding her out. The
young queen is inserted, and this being her first chance to
enjoy her occupation, the stores rapidly give place to brood.
The owner soon comes to the decision that the queen is too
prolific and that her bees do nothing; and yet the fault is
simply his own.,- That the same bees will gather honey as
well or better than his original stock, he can at once prove for
himself by simply removing the brood and giving empty combs,
when he will in a short space of time see these combs as heavy
with honey ‘as the others were with brood (see page 50, on
proper times for Queens to breed heavily). Well, the
138 A Modern Bee-Favm

First Honey Flow

is upon us; weather steady, and temperature from 70° to 80°
in the shade, with plenty of forage in all directions. Our
sections are all ready on the hives, providing not less than
40 lbs. capacity with combs all drawn out; or 20 lbs. to start
with if only foundation is given, or with weaker colonies.

We are now in full working order, and in looking around
we find here a hive and there another which require more
surplus room, or the bees will be at work below the brood
nest. Where any crates are completed remove them, inserting
a fresh set in place of each. If foundation has to be used let
that go next above the brood frames; and combed sections if
on hand are to be placed above those already on the hive.
Great care must be taken to

Reduce the Super-Space

towards the end of the season ; and this is done by gradually
removing completed sections, and then closing up with the
dummy. The open spaces thus left above the frames may be
stopped by strips of wood or carpet. This plan is preferable
to adding further sections, and the almost certainty of a great
number being left incomplete.

An additional advantage is secured by this process of con-
traction as the season is closing. The bees are compelled to
“crowd” on all the remaining comb space, and it does not
appear to be generally known that while under this condition
a far greater number of sections will be completed by the
bees using honey carried up from the stock combs, even after
gathering has actually ceased.

Remove Sections

during the working hours of the day, when a few puffs of
smoke will generally send all the bees below. If this fails, take

sd
é

and tts Economic Management. 139

out the combs one at a time and brush the bees off with a
feather, first giving the section a shake; but the operation
must be rapidly carried out, because as soon as once frightened
they will commence to tear open the beautifully capped cells,
and it will therefore be seen that the sooner they are out the
better. This too, is one of the most forcible arguments that
can be used in condemnation of the super clearers, for the bees
once frightened by the lifting of the super, will not hesitate to
break countless pin holes in the beautiful cappings, more par-
ticularly when separated from the queen..

Grading.

When brought in-doors every comb must be looked over,
while at the same time all propolis or other stains are to be
scraped off from the wood, taking care not to injure the face
of the combs. All the whitest and best finished are to be
first selected and stored in crates piled one over the other,
with ventilation right through the whole tier. The next in
order are those which, while being well finished, are not of
such good colour. These are to be piled up fully exposed to
the light and air for a time, when the colour will be equal to
the first with which they may then be classed. If placed in
crates for bleaching, the latter must stand singly or on end, so
that the light may penetrate. A piece of strainer cloth or wire
netting should take the place of the usual lid meanwhile, that
there may be a free circulation of air.

What will constitute the second grade -will be all that are
not nicely finished, though there must not be too many incom-
plete cells. Those that are a little discolored can be restored
as before. Any that cannot come in as second-rate must have
their contents extracted and the combs stored for future use ;
first making sure that no moisture remains about them by
placing a number over any strong stock towards evening,
when the bees will soon clean them.
140 A Modern Bee-Farm
The Store Room

‘should. be perfectly dry, thoroughly ventilated, having a con-
crete floor, and all so carefully arranged that neither mice,
bees, nor other insects can gain admission. (For further
particulars see Bee-houses, &c.)

Preparing for Market.

Crates tan be made to hold anything from one to three
dozen, the latter being mostly required. It is imperative that
there be glass on each side parallel with the face of the combs,
not only to make the package more attractive, but as the
greatest safeguard against rough handling. As an additional
protection against friction, the sides and bottoms should be
lined with patent corrugated paper, when there will be little
fear of breakages. 3

Though more expensive, the crate may be placed on a
false bottom with coiled springs, of a power necessary to resist
the weight that is to be placed above.

Sections should be enclosed in clean white paper, pasted
securely where overlapping, when if any breakage does occur,
the contents of the damaged one will not escape. and spoil
others.

The above should be done with each section, whether fancy
boxes are used or not, but while the latter additional expense
may do if retailed at home, it will certainly not pay at’ whole-
sale. I have obtained as much for sections without as others
were getting with fancy boxes, in the same town; one should’
therefore be very careful before adding this expense to his
commodity.

Section holders introduced by Mr. Woodleigh have been
used largely, and will no doubt be more appreciated in the
future. They are made of tin, folding somewhat like the
American section, and will be found very durable, as, if soiled,
they can be readily cleaned. They can be had ‘in several
and its Economic Management. I4t

colours, and though expensive in the first instance, that is not
a very serious consideration, seeing they can be used many
times without injury.

=

Selling Honey.

Where the apiarist retails his honey, of course he will
always have his own label on it; something as neat and
attractive as possible. It is surprising what a number of bee.
keepers there are who will send from 100 to 500 lbs. of honey
to a distant town at a very much lower rate than could be
. obtained at retail near home, if only a little perseverance were
~ used. This shows a great want of business tact, in thus de-
priving themselves and injuring producers at large by reducing
the value of their crop.

In securing some efficient tradesman to handle cee
where one has a large quantity, some difficulty will be ex-
perienced at times, as there are many who will not put it
- forward. Ifa grocer himself owns bees, his honey is very soon

passed over the counter; and why not that of others where
. the grocer is not following the pursuit ? Perhaps the fault is
with the price, but, nevertheless, being a comparatively new
article the retailer must be induced to take a lively interest in,
_it. Make it attractive by providing a good show case, and
cards; and let him have a consignment ‘“‘on sale or return’”’ to.
start with, and there is no doubt he will soon send for more. _
Do not attempt to send any without complete protection from
flies, &c., as this is one of the most frequent objections made.
- against having it in stock.

For Exhibition,

..Combs must be visible on both sides, using for the purpose.
only those sections of the very best colour and finish. In some
quarters it has been considered that the comb should not: be.
“sealed close to the wood all round, but this is a serious error,
142 A Modern Bee-Farm

the idea being that the section can be more easily cut out; but ae

I have yet to find the retailer who does not prefer those for his
window which are sealed perfectly all round the edges; and

when one of each may be placed on the scale, is there a doubt =: as

as to which the customer would select? Moreover, those that
are filled close up to the wood will stand the risk of transit far
better than would otherwise be the case.

ib

 

 
 

and tts Economic Management. 143

 

CHAPTER XV.

QUEEN REARING.

T should be understood that when a colony is deprived of
its queen the bees are soon aware of the loss, and forth-
with special cells are constructed upon larve that may be from
one to three or four days old, but very seldom are eggs selected
in such a case of emergency. In due time a queen is hatched
from one of such cells, and though she may have enjoyed the
usual quantity of royal jelly, it frequently happens that the
first to emerge from her cradle is one that is not well developed,
as the oldest larve would naturally come soonest to maturity.
Thus those which had been selected from the egg, or one- or
two days after hatching therefrom, and would have received
only the royal food- from the first day of their existence, and
consequently are destined to be perfect in formation, are
sacrificed to a dwarfed and ill-formed queen.

As already shewn, only one of the queens. is reserved,
though several may be raised. There are two points, therefore,
-of importance to the bee-keeper who wishes to obtain a number
’ of queens. The colony that is to produce them must either be
made: queenless, or be maintained at a swarming condition ;
and then he is to guard pepe the destruction of the sur-
plus queens.

The Plan often Recommended,

and that only recently in the British Bee Journal, of simply
removing a queen from a colony in normal condition and then
144 A Modern Bee-Farm

i ‘inducing the bees to start queen cells where desired by, en-
larging the mouth of worker cells, is really more simple than
practical. In the first place, one cell only is never large
enough to form the base -of a queen cell; two at least are
thrown into one, but more often three; and where the bees
have unlimited material at hand a queen cell will not be built
upon one in fifty of such enlarged cells. I have had the proof:
of this assertion in my own apiary, and where Ligurians are
-concerned very often only two or three cells are started.

One of
My own Plans

is to remove the queen and all the brood combs with adhering
bees from a crowded hive, and place them in a new situation,
with the exception of those shaken from two combs, into the
old hive, when with the flying bees a fair swarm will be
obtained. Next, go to the hive containing the queen you
desire to breed from and look up the comb of eggs, or such
just hatching by preference, and in a warm room cut the comb
asunder from end to end, horizontally at about one-third of its
depth from the top bar. Now along each side of the lower edge
of the septum make vertical incisions with the point of a pen-
knife, cutting away the cell walls in the shape of the letter V
inverted. Do not cut so close to the base as to displace the
eggs, and let the incisions be made about }-inch apart. Our
cells will generally be built from these hollow spaces, and
though not perfectly regular it is seldom that any two are
joined together.

The reader may be tempted to put the whole comb in just
as he takes it from the hive, or simply as sliced asunder, but
only to find that he will not get one cell in five, and those not
so regular as with the V-cuts. The remainder of the comb
may be cut into strips and fastened into other frames in like
manner, but unless the bees are very numerous it is not
desirable to put more than one prepared comb into one hive
atatime. I have used frames with parallel bars and strips
 

 

Fig. 45. :
Comb prepared for :
Hi Fig. 46.
R A
paneen. eating Queen Nursery (on end)
for Top of Hive.

 

 

Tin Boiler for Queen Lamp Nursery.

 

Fig. 48.
Tubular Virgin Queen Cage.

 

/ Fig. 49.
Circular Queen Cage.
and its Economic Management. 147

of comb with eggs on each, but find nothing more simple and
practical than the one piece, which gives from ten to twenty
cells at a time.

By the time the prepared comb is ready the broodless and
queenless bees will have found out their loss, and being greatly
excited are in the best condition possible for starting queen
cells. Place a comb or two of stores at each side, and after
two or three days add combs of hatching brood to keep up a
population of young bees.

Another Method

frequently. adopted with great success in my own apiary is
that of selecting combs heavily charged with brood on the
point of hatching with all the adhering bees—using one from
each of eight or nine good colonies, taking care not to remove
either queen. Place these combs in a new hive which for
convenience should have been carried round in collecting
them, and after a few hours, or next day, insert the prepared
comb of just hatching larve near to the centre. The young
bees thus congregated (of course, well provided with stored
combs of unsealed honey and pollen) will produce some of the
finest queens ever seen. Remove all queen cells that may be
started on others than the prepared frame and add other
combs of brood just being capped, so that later on as many
good nuclei as possible may be made up.

The Cell Nursery.

Where a large number of queens are required, as soon as
any queen cells are capped, they are to be removed with
adhering bees to another queenless hive retained for this
express purpose. s

Mark each frame with the-date of setting the eggs, and
allow eleven days before cutting out the cells, that they may
remain in the correct temperature of the hive until the last, and
yet be certain that none hatch to cause mischief.
148 A Modern’ Bee-Farm

Our cells, therefore, are not removed until the queens are
almost at maturity, and now they are to be placed in the

Queen Nursery.

This may consist of a shallow frame composed of a number
of compartments 14-inch wide with a wire loop in one side to
hold the cell. Place this frame on top of the cell nursery hive
with a piece of linen intervening; the lower side of the frame
is to be covered with a piece of ticking, glued to the partition
_ walls, and the top of each compartment is to be covered with
a piece of wire cloth. (Fig. 46.) For this purpose, the sides
of the hive should project above the frames so that the heat
may be retained, and the whole is to be covered first by a layer

of felt, next a sheet of American oil cloth, and again one or
- more pieces of felt. The entire heat of the hive is thus
reserved, and the temperature of the nursery will be about go°.
It should not descend below 85° nor rise above 95°, and must
be carefully regulated by the size of the entrance, in accordance
with the outside temperature. This plan will be found far
preferable to those nurseries hanging in ‘the hive like an
ordinary frame, as the temperature is more certain, and one
can see at a glance when a queen has hatched; it is useless,
however, to place the nursery over any but the most powerful
colony.

Where one does not mind handling the bees more frequently,
the best plan that can possibly be devised is to use the cage,
Fig. 49, which is placed over queens or queen cells, where
both honey and pollen is to be seen in the cells; in this case
the queens need little attention, and always feed in the most
natural manner. Where hatched in other nurseries they
should at once be placed over natural.stores in this manner, as
no other plan of feeding them will compensate for the loss of
pollen.

/ The Lamp Nursery
is frequently used and is invaluable for hatching queens. It
consists of double walls and bottom of tin, with stays inside to
and its Economic Management. 149

keep the water from bulging out the sides; and the internal
capacity is large enough to take some half-dozen brood frames,
with plenty of lateral space to spare. What might be added
with benefit are small holes punched through near the upper
inner margin of the tin wall to give moisture. The lid must be
of wood covered with warm material, and if the whole is cased.
in wood, with the exception of an opening above the lamp, the
temperature will be more even, and a very small flame will
suffice to keep the chamber at about 0°, the boiler being filled
in the first place with water at about 100°. The frames are
placed in as the cells near maturity, and the young queens are
removed as fast as they gnaw their way out ; several visits
daily being required, as they are liable to destroy each other
_ and tear open the other cells as soon as their strength is gained.
For the first few hours, however, they can do little harm.

The lamp nursery is sometimes ‘objected to as being
unnatural. Where is.reason, if we allow such ill-founded
statements to influence our actions? Are our processes of
queen-raising natural? Is our entire management: natural?
No! only in so far that natural conditions do not interfere
with greater profits. Let me ask those who use the hanging- .
frame nursery if they have observed the temperature sur-
rounding a queen cell with the bees always packed.closely
around it, thus giving greater or at least more certain heat
than is required for the rest of the hive? If so, they will be
surprised to. find how much lower is the temperature sur-
rounding cells where no bees can cluster upon them, and
where they do not even care to crowd upon the metal at each
side of the little cages so many apiarists use in hanging-frames.
All animal life is produced by heat, varying according as the
nature of the creature may require, and for our purpose the
lamp nursery supplies the correct and even temperature
desired.

The illustration, Fig. 47, gives the metal portion of my
own queen nursery, an apparatus ] had made in the first
instance as an incubator for chickens’ eggs. The-rectangular
150 A Modern Bee-Farm

portion shows the opening at the side, with a double casing on
all other sides, with about 1-inch between the inner and outer
walls. The whole of this compartment is enclosed by wood
with a closely-fitting door which closes the said open side.
The inside is fitted with skeleton framework wherein slide
several drawers, each covered on the underside with woven
wire. The same arrangement will also take whole frames of
comb, but I prefer to have the cells built that they may be cut
out singly and so placed in the trays. A thermometer lies on
‘the centre division of one of the drawers; while another is
fixed in a vertical position under glass in the centre of the
door; this glass being again covered by a close fitting shutter
to avoid extremes; thus the internal temperature can be noted
at a glance without exposing the cells. With my arrange-
ment, however, the heat is always given from above, and even .
after examination of the interior there is not the same loss of
heat as with the nurseries hitherto used where the whole top
is opened, as such have no large body of heat just where most
needed for the immediate restoration of the correct temperature.
Though shown at one end, the hollow heating cylinder H C
is at the centre of the back. Under this is placed the lamp,’
which has a wick of such a size than it cannot very well have
a flame which will overheat the chamber; the latter being
about 18 inches by 12 inches by ginches. The boiler contains.
between the walls about six gallons of water, so that when the
right temperature is once secured it does not vary one degree
in twelve hours. The whole stands upon legs with a small
table for the lamp to rest upon; this is trimmed once in
twenty-four hours, regularly every evening, so that there is no
chance for the flame to drop during the night, when no at-
tention is needed. Any cells expected to hatch may have the
point passed into the tubular perforated cages, as used for
inserting virgin queens, Fig. 48, thus obviating the constant
attention otherwise necessary.
A sponge or cloth saturated with water, or a shallow tray
holding a small quantity, should be placed in the chamber to
and its Economic Management. 151

induce the necessary moisture. The outer casing of wood has
a movable lid, not very tight fitting; but between it and the
boiler several folds of flannel are laid, thus permitting a gradual
change of air to take place in the cell chamber without loss of
heat. A tin plate is placed under the bottom to guard against
fire, an opening, of course, corresponding with that in the
hollow cylinder.

Though the time of hatching is delayed under a tempera-
ture of 85°, I find queens will come out with perfect wings,
but I prefer it regulated nearly as possible at go° rather than
95°, so that in case of any accident there may be no danger

. resulting from either extreme. When properly managed, no
intelligent apiarist will deny that the incubator or lamp
nursery gives a more even temperature than can be obtained
in the hive. That of the former is almost perfect, while the

hive varies considerably, having its entrance always open to-

the outer air.
We have provided for the hatching of our queens, and
must now prepare for their reception in

Nuclei.

These are small hives to hold from three to six frames, the
latter being more serviceable for our purpose, as there is room
to add fresh combs of brood when necessary.

It seldom happens that good nuclei can be made up from a
stock which at the time has its queen, therefore my own plan
is in the first place to make up a nucleus with the queen of the
most suitable colony, being one very populous, having a
number of combs with hatching brood in each. Place this
queen with one frame of brood and bees,.and enough more to
cover two other combs, on a new stand. On the third day
thereafter make up further nuclei in like manner from the
same hive, leaving the younger brood in the original hive, as
there will be plenty of bees to take care of the same. Bearing
in mind they have already lost their queen and having pre-
152 A Modern Bee-Farm

pared for building queen cells, no further excitement will take
place, and not one-fourth the number of bees will return to
the old hive, as when the nuclei are drawn from one with a
queen presiding.

Insert the young queens the same evening by allowing
them to run in direct, or place them in my

Virgin Queen Cage,

Fig. 48, which is a small tube of finely perforated tin or zinc,
about 4-inch in diameter and 2 inches long, one end being
stopped with the same material; and after the queen is placed in,
the open end is pressed into super foundation, when with a slight .
turn a piece is cut out which completely stops the opening.
The cage is now carried to the nucleus and inserted between
the upper part of two combs, wax end downwards. The
young queen soon bites her way out, just as she has done from
her natural cradle. The cage should be passed down so as to
bruise the cappings of honey to ensure that she is well provided
for, and as she will then partake of the same honey as the
workers it is allin her favour. The best time for inserting
them being the evening; and when a laying queen is removed,
the young one to follow must not be inserted until the second
day after.
We shall probably have

Surplus Virgin Queens,

and where these cannot be accommodated by breaking up
other stocks, one-frame nuclei must be on hand provided with
thorough ventilation, and in which are to be placed a comb of
stores (both honey and pollen), with three or four hundred
bees. These may be side combs from nuclei already estab-
lished, and should contain no brood.

After the confined bees have been in an uproar for a short
time, having already made provision for a small opening, allow
and tts Economic Management. 153

the young queen to run in. Keep these in.a dark room and
use as needed in outside nuclei.

It has been observed that a young queen feeds upon pollen
extensively until she has met the drone, from which time she
is fed by the bees entirely upon digested food. Now, just here,
I wish to show the

Folly of keeping Young Queens confined

in the frame nurseries for a number of days after hatching, as
is done extensively, especially in several American queen-
raising apiaries.

Without the nitrogenous food at this time, when their con-
stitutions should be established, they are dragging out their
existence upon sugar alone at the most important period of
their growth. The editor of the American Bee Fournal has
repeatedly given his voice against the cheap queen traffic, and
is it any wonder when they are produced wholesale with con-
stitutions thus impaired ? :

By all means let us have cheap queens—they have been far
too high in price, though unavoidably so hitherto, for the
general benefit; but we do not want them produced without
due regard to the laws of re-production.

The confined one-frame nucleus certainly takes up more
space and time, but both are amply paid for by getting more
substantial stock, while queens being able to feed naturally
will get mated sooner than those with a weakened frame.

On p. 50 it will have been noticed that for

Supplying all Hives with Young Queens*

yearly, and to compensate for the non-increase of stocks, one
colony in ten is to be devoted to increase by nuclei. In this
case, the tenth hives are to be stimulated for brood rearing
until the end of June, when there should be at least three
chambers nearly full of brood in all stages. However, to be

 

* Simmins’ Non-Swarming System, Feb., 1886.
154 A Modern Bee-Favm

within limit, we will say twenty combs of brood and a number
of stored and partly-stored combs.

The whole tier should now be shifted to a new location,
one storey at a time, and then give the swarm (made as before)
the eggs for queen raising ; this time an upper storey of combs
or foundation is to be added, besides filling up below, as the
much larger number of bees will probably store heavily. The
moved stock will still have sufficent bees to care for the brood,
the extent of which will now be immensely increased, as there
are not enough gatherers left to crowd the queen out, though
before shifting the hive the apiarist should have been able to
give the queen plenty of room by alternating brood combs
with foundation as the upper storeys were added, and ex-
tracting if necessary.

On the ninth day after setting the eggs, make up a nucleus
with the queen (of the moved lot), this time standing the same
by the hive, to be returned after forming the nuclei in a
manner similar to that before mentioned, standing a nucleus
by each of the full hives working for honey, to be united to
them in the autumn.

By waiting till the date named more than sufficient nuclei
can be made up, while the original queen will havea full hive
of bees to build up with again, and thus provide against loss,
and have combs of eggs to spare for the nuclei.

The Young Queens

may be mated from after their seventh day until they are as
much as four weeks old. In fair weather, the rule is for them
to be laying in ten or eleven days from hatching; but through
unfavorable weather, I have had a number of queens under
the closest observation failing to mate until the twenty-eighth
day, and then successfully, having seen them come in with the
drone attachment and in due course produce properly capped
brood. I have had many mated at twenty-one to twenty-five
days.
and its Economic Management. 155

However, when a queen gets much beyond fourteen days,
it requires the most sunny and calm day to enable her to be-
come successful in securing a mate, though such days are, of
course, always desirable. Young and vigorous queens will
occasionally fly at an opportune moment, and become suc-
cessful in somewhat windy weather. But the temperature
must not be low. It is only under a high temperature with
little or no wind that general success is attained where queens
are reared on a large scale.

Nuclei should be constantly renovated by the addition of
fresh brood, whether they are to be soon united or not; and
they should always be in possession of stored combs, in pre-
ference to any form of daily feeding, other than Simmins’ dry

feeders.
Eggs for Queen Raising

are more readily obtained from our select queens if the latter
are in small colonies, having not more than four combs well
crowded with bees, and protected at.the sides with chaff
dummies. When a comb of eggs is removed, at the same
. operation insert another, empty, or a sheet of foundation if not
too late in the season. Continue the process every two or
three days if many queens are being reared, with a number of
such hives to keep up the supply; and where it is likely that
too much honey will be brought in to hinder the queen by the
little lot getting strong, then carry the queen and two or three
of the best combs of brood and accompanying bees to a new
situation, thus providing her with attendants mostly too young
to store a surplus. Use the remainder as a nucleus, or add to

another hive.
Drones

-are to be produced by stock which has shown good qualities
and correct colour (if pure) for two generations back, as the
colony directly producing them does not impart to our drones
its own characteristics. For their good qualities we must look
to the grand-parent, and the colony producing the drone which

‘
156 A Modern Bee-Favm

mated with her, if possible. Early drones are best secured by
arranging drone comb at the centre of a well-provided' stock
the previous autumn. No useless drones should be produced
as they consume considerable stores. A strong colony, well{
provided and made queenless in autumn before the slaughter-
is likely to commence, will save their drones till winter, but:
the special breeding of drones for autumn work must be,
carried on during July:

 
and tts Economic Management. 157

 

CHAPTER XVI.

INTRODUCTION OF ALIEN QUEENS
TO STOCKS.

EXT to Queen Rearing, one of the most interesting
features in connection with modern Bee-keeping is that
of inserting queens, that they may preside over another colony
with which hitherto they have had no relation. At first sight,
therefore, ,it would appear that the bees will not hesitate to
destroy the stranger; under some conditions this is the case,
and various ways have been devised to guard against this
disposition of theirs. The different methods come under two
distinct systems: the old, called ‘“‘Caging,” and the new,
‘known as “‘ Simmins’ Direct Introduction.”

Generally speaking, the caging process is carried out by
- placing the queen in a small perforated compartment, wherein
_ she is confined between two combs among the bees for forty-
_ eight hours, when the bee-keeper opens the hive carefully and
allows the queen to run among her new subjects. If then
pe _ attacked, she must be again confined, and tried after the lapse
of another twelve hours.

Direct Introduction consists in so inserting the queen with-
out confinement that the bees are either unaware of the new
.° © arrival, or are taken advantage of in such a manner that they
: do not attempt to molest her.

 
158 A Modern Bee-Farm

Of course it is understood that no other queen is to be in
the hive at the time another is to be given, or the new one will
certainly be destroyed. The novice may experience some
difficulty in

Finding the Queen
to be superseded, and he will certainly do better to leave his
queens alone until he gains more experience, unless he is
absolutely certain that any are actually failing. If he tries
any new race, as yet he is hardly capable of forming a correct
opinion of them, and the probability is that the natives will
answer his purpose best for the first year or two at least.

In frame hives the fertile queen can generally be found
without much trouble, as she is parading the brood combs, the
hive being opened with as little disturbance as possible, and
the frames gently lifted and examined one by one. If not to
be seen there, look well around the edges of the combs, or she
may be found on the floor, or at one corner among the bees:
it may even be necessary to remove the combs to a temporary
hive while looking for her around the sides, taking care not to
get the brood chilled. An unfertile or virgin queen is often
most difficult to find, and at times even-an expert bee-keeper
would be tempted to say that no queen was there, were it not
that the actions of the bees tend to show otherwise. A careful
examination will generally reveal her presence; but failing to
find her, when you think there should be one, give the bees a
comb of unsealed brood, and if they build queen cells thereon
it is almost certain no queen is there; if otherwise, do not
risk the life of a valuable queen until the other has been found.
With fixed combs the only way is to “drive” the bees out and
catch the queen as she ascends. If that cannot be done, then
look well among the deserted combs and the bees clustering in
the empty skep. The length of the body, as well as its
brighter color, should enable one to distinguish the royal
form, while it should be remembered that the queen’s legs are
always of a reddish brown color, those of the workers being

much darker.
and its Economic Management. 159
INTRODUCTION BY CAGING.

Procure a cage made of fine perforated zinc 14-inch in
diameter, and 1-inch deep, having one end only closed with the
same material. When the queen arrives place her in this.
cage while yet indoors, slip a thin card under and carry her to:
the hive. Without removing the frames other than to give
plenty of room laterally, slide the cage carefully from the card
on to uncapped cells of honey, within the margin of the
cluster, and press it down to the mid-rib of the comb with a
cutting motion. The queen now has plenty of food, and if the
perforations are fine enough the bees are unable to molest her.
After forty-eight hours, give a puff or two of smoke, carefully
examine the condition of the bees nearest the cage, and if
simply passing their tongues through the perforations, the
queen may be released without fear of the bees attacking her,
but all the same watch their actions closely for a few moments.
If all is well the bees will gather around her, but not thickly ;
those nearest will clean her with their tongues, while one or
two may be seen feeding her. Under that condition the hive
may be closed and left, but should they be found clustering
tightly in large numbers about the cage, at once close the hive.
and wait another twelve hours; and in case a queen is attacked.
after being released (which is known by the bees forming into.
a knot about her and stinging each other in their endeavour to
so do to the stranger, called “ balling”), then confine her
again, first dispersing the angry cluster by heavy smoking.

When inserting queens by caging, it is necessary to keep.
all- queen cells destroyed, or the new-comer will seldom be.
received. She is to them unserviceable, and yet present in
the hive all the time the bees know they- have the means of
raising their own, and hence a dislike once began is only fed
into an angry flame simply by the continued irritation caused
by the constant attempt to get at the stranger, and not seldom
by the bee-keeper’s own interference.

Under this process of frequent disturbance, the queen.
160 A Modern Bee-Farm

‘will sometimes even herself be the first to attack the bees,
and then, of course, there is no hope for her if not again
confined. All these misfortunes are brought about through
the necessity of operating by daylight, but there are one or
two other methods which do not necessitate so much manipu-
lation. The ‘“ Raynor” cage, consisting of a narrow and long
wire cage, can be passed down between two combs from the
feed hole in quilt (if one), while with a wire rod connected
with a small hinged plate at the bottom, the operator can,
after the usual lapse of time, release the queen without
‘opening the hive. I must here add what I know to be an
improvement :—Release the queen aftey darkness has set in, on the
night of the same day she is inserted.

Mr. Cheshire places a flat cage on (not cut into) the capped
brood, where it is held by a spring passed over the top bar,
when in the course of a few hours the bees cut a passage under
the edge of the cage, and thus liberate the queen without
‘ further disturbance. For greater security let me advise some-
thing more definite: Put the queen in towards evening, so that she
may be liberated of a certainty duving the quiet hours of the night.

Though there are many methods ‘of caging, I will call
-attention to only one more, which is deserving of some notice.
Mr. G. M. Doolittle, an American bee-keeper, uses a flat cage, °
having an area of 4 or 5 inches square; this, with the queen
in, is pressed down to the mid-rib of the comb just over
hatching brood. Of course all the young beés hatching out
pay homage to the only queen they know; and the cells thus
vacated are occupied by eggs laid by the confined queen. By
this time there is not much doubt about the queen being
accepted by the rest of the population, and she may be
released. In this case it is evident that food must be present,
‘therefore see that the cage also takes in an inch or more of
sealed store. Where food is given to a queen confined in the
“« Raynor,” ‘‘ Cheshire,” or any other cage, honey from the same
hive should alone be supplied ; and on no account may any of the
‘bees which accompanied her be placed in the cage; but it is
and its Economic Management. 161

advisable to give her an escort of some half-dozen young
workers picked from the comb just after hatching, and taken
from the hive in which the queen is to be caged. By these
methods the most favourable time for inserting queens is
during the months when they are breeding and storing; but in
autumn the bees are more inclined to resent intrusion, where
so much disturbance is necessary.

DIRECT INTRODUCTION.

A term first applied by myself in the year 1881, will be
found much more simple than the foregoing, in that it enables
the bee-keeper to insert a queen without loss of time and by
two of my own methods to any colony, at any time of the
year, whatever be the condition of the hive, whether it
contains queen cells up to the point of hatching, brood in
every stage of development, fertile workers, or no brood at all.

Simmins’ ‘*Comb Method,”

first brought to public notice by my pamphlet in 1881, consists
in taking a queen from a nucleus, or otherwise, upon the comb
she is parading among her own bees, and then inserting the
whole into the desired hive, using a little smoke as in ordinary

“manipulation. Be careful to carry the comb in an uncovered |
box from nucleus to full colony, and before inserting the same,

-part the combs of the hive to give plenty of room and admit
light. (See also ‘‘ Uniting.”)

Simmins’ “ Fasting Method,”

long since practised by myself and first mentioned in the

pamphlet upon Direct Introduction, I have since improved by

inserting the queen at night. The three things of importance

to be observed are as follows:—(1) Keep the queen quite alone

for not less than thirty minutes; (2) she is to be without food

meanwhile ; (3) and to be allowed to run down from the top of
M
162 A Modern Bee-Farm

the frames after darkness has set in, by lamplight. It is also
_ important that the same receptacle be not used twice over for
holding the queen during the thirty minutes’ probation without
| first being scalded or otherwise cleansed. Of course a metal
| cage is easily made clean, though there is no objection to the
cheap ‘“‘ safety” match boxes so commonly in use, as there is °
nothing obnoxious about this kind. My own practice is to
carry the queens in the vest pockets, in small tubular cages
made of fine perforated zinc or tin, one end permanently
closed, while the other end is pressed into a piece of foundation
after the queen is in. When ready, remove the foundation
and let her run into the hive. Caution:—Make no examination
after inserting a queen, by either of the two foregoing plans,
until 48 hours have expired.

The above meets all requirements, whether the colony has
been long, or only a short time queenless; if it has brood or
not, or queen cells in any stage of development. It is also
applicable to any season of the year.

Mr. Pond’s Method.

Mr. J. E. Pond, jun., an American apiarist, gives his,
method as follows: Remove the old queen about mid-day, and
towards evening, or when the bees have ceased working for
the day, let the new queen run into the entrance. He says it
is important that the queen be inserted the same day. It
would appear that the interval named gives the bees time to
discover their loss, and thus provides them with another queen
when they feel most inclined to accept one, just before making
any serious attempt to raise one of their own. The plan is,
however, not so successful as when the queen is first confined
alone, without food, and then inserted after darkness has set in.

Introduction by Chloroform,

puffball, &c., is sometimes recommended, but I cannot
advise such a course as to reduce the bees to a state of
and its Economic Management. 163

stupefaction, being not only injurious but totally unnecessary.
Mr. D. A. Jones, late Editor of The Canadian Bee Fournal,
formerly a great advocate of this method, has discarded it in
favour of my Fasting plan, which he now considers the most
satisfactory.

Covering Queens with Honey.

It is claimed by some that a queen is generally accepted
if first covered with honey and then placed among the bees;
but the practice is one of doubtful utility; in the first place,
there is no restriction as to what honey, and if any desire to
try the plan, I must say that no other honey should be used
but what is then and there taken from the hive the queen is to
be dropped into. An ordinary pocket knife can be used to
scoop out a little honey from the capped cells ; or failing that,
use the same syrup that is being fed to the bees. The body
of the bee is studded with breathing tubes; it is, therefore,
evident that much mischief, if not permanent injury, is caused”
by all being clogged with honey, if only for a few minutes.

Running Queen and Bees in at the Entrance.

Another method sometimes recommended, but long since
tried and discarded by myself, is this :—Shake all the bees
from the combs on to a board in front of the hive, and as they
draw back through the entrance let the new queen run in with
them. There is considerable risk with this plan, even when all

are sprayed with thin syrup, scented or not, but I mention it

more as a caution to the novice, that he may not be led astray,
particularly as he would be liable to’ get the brood chilled
before the bees regained their former position.

Simmins’ Nucleus Method.

A plan which I have found very satisfactory, and which
was first suggested to my mind by the fact that J had long
made a practice of sending queens off with bees they had
164 A Modern Bee-Farm

never seen until the moment of fastening down in the various
receptacles they were to travel in, is as follows :—Make up a
3-frame nucleus in a small hive 144 inches by 11 inches
inside (allowing 2} inch space under the “standard” frame) ;
then confine the bees, with ample ventilation, and as soon as.
they are in an uproar, having found themselves to be queenless, _
let the new arrival run under one corner of the quilt, first.
driving the bees back with a little smoke. Keep them thus
confined in a darkened room, and liberate on the evening of the
third day, standing the nucleus where it is to remain; and as
soon as strong enough give a frame of hatching brood at
intervals of seven days. Before inserting queen, she should,
for greater security, be kept alone and without food for 30.
minutes.

Mr. Doolittle (of America) also appears to have discovered
that confined bees will readily accept a strange queen. His.
plan is to shake the bees into a box, well ventilated, and as.
soon as they are in distress at the loss of their queen, he
allows the new one to run among them through a small open-
ing, otherwise kept closed. In a day or two the bees are.
placed upon brood and store combs, where it is intended they
shall remain.

Few bees will return to the old hive in either case, but ©
there appears to be more labour than with my own plan, in that _
bees are twice shaken from the combs; first to place them in
confinement, and next to provide the brood and other combs.
to start them in a new situation. By my plan, the bees have.
their own combs all the time, and when liberated the same
have already been largely stocked with eggs by the new queen.

Colonies long Queenless.

When I am aware a colony has been queenless for any
length of time, I generally take out one of the central combs.
and allow the queen to run among the bees; if favourably
received, replace the comb, but if, as it seldom happens, they
and its Economic Management. 165

reject her, then give them a frame of honey and brood, and
insert the queen at night according to the “fasting” method.
In times of scarcity it is always better to have the feeding-
bottle going when it is decided to insert a queen by any caging
process.
All the foregoing plans have reference to fecundated
queens, but with regard to the introduction of

Virgin Queens,

hitherto there has been great uncertainty, and the only satis-
factory plans I have found are:—(1) By introducing to a
confined nucleus as shewn above for fertile queens ; (2) by the
tubular cage before mentioned ; in this case pressing the open
end into thin foundation after putting in the young queen;
and (3) by allowing three days to pass after the removal of a
fertile queen, and then inserting at night. (See also Queen
Rearing.) .

Queens Dying in Cage.

When inserting queens by the cage it sometimes happens
that they are found dead. ‘This results from one of two
causes : either want of food, or death by stinging or worrying,
as the perforations are too large in almost all cages used. The
former shows the danger of using such cages as do not press
into the combs, should the bees be disinclined to feed the
stranger; while the latter evil can be remedied by using
perforations no larger than an ordinary pin will pass. We
may now, indeed, consider the period of uncertainty, as in the
days of queen caging, to have passed away. Under the
author’s own management, the subject of queen introduction
thas been reduced toa certainty. In addition to the methods
of direct introduction, already enumerated, the experience
gained by an extensive practice has resulted in the following
additional observations, which must prove of service to many
who may have cause to introduce queens.
166 A Modern Bee-Farm

A fertile queen is rarely objected to where queen cells are
already capped over, and one may be run in at any time of
the day. :

Any such colony will also accept a virgin queen right
away, and if broken up into nuclei the respective divisions will
accept one or more unfertilised queens.

Upon the removal of a virgin queen, a fertile one will
almost certainly be accepted if inserted at once; or any other
virgin queen will be treated equally as well.

A colony deprived of the queen and the whole of its brood
will accept either a virgin or fertile queen as soon as they are
in an uproar because of such loss. The absence of the queen
is detected almost immediately when the brood also is removed.
Many bees are lost if bees are allowed to remain thus deprived
for any length of time. My first Holy Land queen was
introduced in this way fifteen years since, and though there is

“some trouble in removing the brood, I have always found the
plan reliable, and the bees humming merrily, in possession of
a new queen, within an hour of the removal of their own queen
and brood.

The Loss of Valuable Queens

has frequently been deplored, and yet the persons attempting
the introduction went at it in a most clumsy way, especially
when we consider that better and more certain methods were
known to them. Valuable or other queens need not be lost if
only the most simple precautions are taken. For instance,
absolute safety can be ensured by removing a frame of
hatching brood from a hive, and after shaking off all the
adult bees, this brood comb placed in a narrow nucleus box
will soon produce many hundreds of young bees. who of a
necessity will do homage to the only queen they know. The
box can be stood in a hot-house for a few days, or hot water
bottles can be kept going on either side, and within a week
another like comb can be added and full liberty given by
placing the nucleus in the permanent hive. Food should be
and its Economic Management. 167

present while confinement lasts, and a supply continued if the
weather is not favorable.

Simmins’ Direct Introduction Proved.

It is only in the ordinary course of human nature that my
very successful system of direct introduction should have some
envious, detractors; but a more extravagant statement than
that made by one bee-keeper can hardly be imagined. It was
to the effect that while he admitted ‘‘the queens would be
safely introduced, they would not lay for many days, and the
bees paid them no attention, consequently, in a short time a
number were thrown out of the hive.”

In his eagerness to condemn the system he only shewed |
the more plainly his own ignorance of the nature and habits
of bees. It is no fault of the system, if he experimented
only with aged queens, or, on the other hand, inserted virgin
queens, which, failing to mate, turned out useless, or were
lost because of unsuitable weather for them to fly and become
fertilised. Strange, indeed, he does not know that if a queen
is once accepted she is at once treated as the reigning queen,
and no amount of specious reasoning to the contrary can alter
the fact. 7

Why is it, in my own case, my queens go on to lay at once,
and remain in the respective hives month after month, and are
only removed when:sold, it may be one, two, or twelve months
thereafter ?

And why should numerous correspondents write as follows:
‘“‘T have inserted thirty queens by your method and all have
been successful and done well”? The number miay be more
or less, but the unsolicited testimonials must have some element
of truth in them! Note Mr. D. A. Jones’ statement, already
given. Surely the bee-king of Canada would not favor the
method if it only meant loss of queens!

Who has once read Mr. F. Cheshire’s testimony in his
valuable work, and can for a moment doubt the value of my
168 A Modern Bee-Farm

system? ‘Following up the question, I tried many dozens of

experiments, and found that by Mr. Simmins’ method it was

quite easy, and not only to introduce, but to get one queen

to lay in half-a-dozen distinct hives in a single week.

My trials have, I believe, embraced almost every supposable

difficulty and variation in season and in the condition of the

stocks, and show the system to be practically perfect. . . .

. . Direct introduction, as taught by Mr. Simmins, has -
saved me queens, time, and anxiety, and I feel pleasure in

expressing my indebtedness.”

Yet other evidence is given by the editor of the Beekeeper’s .
Record of Dec. 1st, 1887. After detailing his experience in
inserting by my method seven queens “at a season and under
circumstances such as made us formerly careful to an extreme,
we are glad to be able to pronounce the method a complete
success. . . . . We can now understand how friend
Simmins is able to guarantee safe introduction for queens sold
by him, and we rejoice at being able to chronicle another point
gained.” |

The foregoing statements will show the value of the system
as applied to varying conditions of the bees, or the seasons,
and as the editor of the Record himself says, ‘‘ The introducing
cage bids fair to be relegated to our collection of curiosities.”

 
and its Economic Management. 169

 

 

 

CHAPTER. XVII.

INCREASE, AND ITS RELATION TO
PROFITS.

XCEPT in the few districts where the season is pro-
E tracted, increase is obtained. at the expense of honey;
but in any case it is not desirable to take more than one swarm
from the old stock; and this division to give the best results
should be made either before the first honey-flow occurs, pro-
viding the colony can be made strong at that time, or during
July, when little work is generally being carried on by the bees
in most districts. But, that we may allow for uniting in the
autumn, it will be-safe to reckon only upon 50 per cent. increase,
as it is imperative that all be kept in good condition. In the.
table of estimates tuis has been placed at a much lower rate,
so that there is little fear of the apiarist weakening his stock.

A division of stocks can also be made during any interval
of dearth, if not too late in the season, but in any case a young
queen should be on hand. The operation of

Dividing

will consist in removing from a strong colony one half of the
brood combs containing mostly hatching brood, with the bees
clustering thereon, as well as the queen; placing these in a
new location, with all the brood near the centre of the hive
170 A Modern Bee-Favrm

' with empty combs or foundation on either side of the same.
The brood combs remaining on the old stand are to be alter-
nated with foundation, as the larger number of bees will be
here, and on the evening of the third day following, unite with
them the nucleus having a young queen, or insert the queen
alone if the nucleus is again required. The reason for waiting
three days in this case is solely because of the bees returning
from the removed portion which may not always be friendly to
the queen which they know is not the one they have just left.

Having their own queen, there are not so many bees leave
that portion placed in another situation, and possessing the
older brood the hive will soon be crowded, when the outside
sheets of foundation are to be inserted one or two at a time in
the centre of the brood nest. The number of frames to be
allowed for breeding will depend upon the approach or return
of the honey-flow, and it may even be necessary to remove
some of the least filled with brood, where comb-honey is to be
worked for, crowding the bees on to eight or nine of the combs
most densely packed with. brood. I formerly practised

Contraction

both in summer and winter, but with the institution of my
non-swarming system it is found unnecessary either for sum-
mer or winter. When increasing, however, it is the only way
to make the most of the honey harvest, by thus curtailing the
powers of the queen in less populous colonies. Treatment for
either comb or extracted honey with divided‘stocks will be as
before mentioned ; but where

Natural Increase

is permitted, the plan of proceeding will be somewhat different.
Constant care and attention is needed where swarming is
allowed, and if due precautions are not taken the prospects of
a good harvest are ruined. In the first place we will consider
my own method of
and its Economic Management. 171

Swarming without Increase.

Where a swarm is not seen to issue, a glance around at the
entrances of the hives only should show the bee-keeper from
which it came. Hitherto, all was life and activity, but look!’
here'is your hive ‘with the entrance clear of bees, and but a
few returning, while hardly one is seen to issue; it is the
“calm after a storm.”. A closer inspection of the hive will
reveal the true state of affairs, and now remove all but one or
two of the combs. to another hive standing by the original,
with the entrance turned away from the same. Secure the
swarm in a skep or any other convenient article, standing the
same upon the ground with clear space for ventilation under,
and shade above. As soon as most of the bees have entered
or clustered about the skep, carry the same to their original
location and shake them into the hive, having previously
arranged six or seven frames with full sheets of foundation, or
}-inch strips of such ; and not more than two frames of brood
near the centre, with dummies at either side.

The sections are to be replaced on the new swarm which
will soon receive so many bees in addition from the removed
combs that the remaining population will give up any idea of
again swarming, and will destroy all but one queen. When
the latter is mated and laying, the brood will be hatched, when
the old queen left with the swarm is to be destroyed, and on
the following evening unite the two lots with the young queen
presiding. The united stock should not have more than ten
or eleven frames in all, while the remainder of the broodless
combs can be used for extracting purposes.

Where more than’ one young queen may be desired, break
up the removed combs into the necessary number of nuclei
with a queen cell to each on the eighth day after swarming,
and re-unite as soon as the queens can be appropriated.

For obtaining one swarm from each stock, and. in desiring
to
172 A Modern Bee-Farm

Prevent After-swarms,

proceed in the same way, except that the removed combs and
~ bees are to be placed at a distance from the old position, and
no uniting takes place. This plan of obtaining one swarm and >
throwing the whole working force with the same, while making
it a certainty that the other portion will cause no. further
trouble was well known to, and practised by, most of the old
masters. In this case, there is no time wasted in cutting out
queen.cells, an operation that cannot be tolerated in a modern
honey-producing apiary. Should there be any fear of the bees
being strong enough to swarm again, a few more shaken off
with the new swarm will settle that matter. As soon as the
young queen, or one already on hand, has six or seven combs,
_ crowded with brood, supers may be placed on her hive also, at:
the same time giving two more empty combs or foundation
near the centre. Upon removal of the sections there will
probably be hardly an ounce of honey in the stock combs,
when another empty comb or two must be inserted and feeding
be followed up, so that the brood nest is gradually reduced’
and the combs stored for winter.

Securing a Profit in Poor Seasons

is a matter of the greatest moment, but one seldom success-
fully grappled with by any beekeeper. The hives are arranged
for the summer’s work, and should the weather continue
unfavourable for the storing of honey the owner sees the season
. gradually slipping away from him while he remains perfectly
helpless. He does, perhaps, feed when necessary, and return
swarms as they may issue, but this is too frequently the full
extent of his ‘management’ (?), while the end of the season
finds him only out of pocket on the year’s unsatisfactory work.
Even if only an improvement in the quality of the stock.
had been made during the year, there could have been no loss,
but, on the other hand, a decided gain. Indeed, it is the first
duty of the progressive apiarist to rear young queens yearly .
and its Economic Management. 173

from his best stocks, or by purchasing desirable queens from
apiaries that can be relied upon for excellence and healthiness
of stock. :

However bad it may seem, there is almost certain to be
one or two fair weather spells of a few days’ duration, when,
by a careful amalgamation of forces, fairly good returns may
be secured; and, even in uncertain weather, stocks in good
heart, placed close to any heavy crop, are almost sure to do
well, and repay any trouble taken in removing them.

Where there is a demand for it, increase should be obtained
as soon as it is found the season is likely to end with no surplus
honey. Besides imiproving his stock and disposing of surplus
colonies, there are other plans that may be followed to prevent
loss during a season considered unfavorable for honey.

The cultivation of fruit will be a great advantage, and pay
both ways if close at home; and where it is convenient to.
grow large flowering field crops, with due thought for the bees
as well as the profit on the hay or seeds, a failure in the honey
returns will seldom be known.

 
174 A Modewrn Bee-Favm

 

 

 

 

 

CHAPTER XVIII.

FEEDING AND FEEDERS.

HEN and how to feed are questions of considerable
importance to bee-keepers genéfally. In the apiary
where bees and queens are raised for sale, feeding has often to
be resorted to, as nothing is so exhaustive as the production of
bees and queens on a large scale. Many colonies are reduced
to such an extent that the remaining bees are occupied entirely
in brood rearifig, forced on to the utmost by the master.
Honey is quite a secondary object; bees must be had. Con-
sequently, honey cannot always be obtained even when the
average colony is storing, and the forcing process must there-
fore be kept up by some substitute.

Dry Sugar Feeding.

For spring feeding generally, and for use with nuclei, I have
found nothing so stimulative as my plan of dry sugar feeding.
The feeder consists of a hollow dummy with one side hinged
on simple wire nails and held by the same above; or by staples
turned at right angles to project over the margin below ‘and a
turned wire inserted at either corner at the top, which can be.
moved out of the way to allow of easily removing the side.
The space between the sides should not be more than one
inch, or comb will frequently be built therein.

Sugar known as Porto Rico, a soft, moist article, is used,
being pressed in tightly, and the bees, entering above the
movable side, which does not reach the top bar by 4-inch,
are soon busily engaged in reducing the food to syrup.
and tts Economic Management. 175

In spring it is necessary that the moisture of the hive be
retained by placing American oilcloth next above the frames
and plenty of warm material above that. All that is required
is that the air does not become too dry, and then the sugar
will attract moisture to itself and greatly aid the bees in their
own processes of adding the necessary liquids. If so little
covering is placed above the non-porous cloth that condensation
takes place, the sugar is used up too rapidly and the queen
crowded out ; especially as the temperature is reduced enough
that the brood nest cannot be extended.

The feeders (Fig. 11) are placed as an ordinary frame at
the outside of the brood nest and the bees allowed only so
many combs that they are crowded into them.

Another very serviceable frame feeder I have in use holds
g or 10 lbs,, and is 3 inches across inside, The bottom is
simply a sheet of finely perforated tin placed in an arched
form, so that the bees may cluster under and appropriate the
sugar through the perforations.

Syrup Feeders

used in my own apiaries dispense with the tedious process of
preparation by cooking as hitherto carried out.

If a stock happens to be very short-“of stores in spring, I
find it best to give a feed of syrup to put the bees in good
heart, and then follow with the dry sugar. In autumn, when
surplus receptacles are removed, it may be too early to finish
off feeding all at once, and it is well to give ten or fifteen
pounds of syrup. immediately and finish gradually with a ten-
pound dry feeder. This is, of course, where all the honey has
been placed above, but where any have considerable stores on
hand but not enough to winter, the balance must be made up
rapidly with syrup not later than the end of September.

‘

Simmins’ Syrup Frame Feeder

(Fig. 53) holds about twelve pounds; is 44 inches wide, and
otherwise of the ‘“ standard” frame dimensions. The joints.
176- A Modern Bee-Farm

are all tongued and well put together that no leakage may
occur, though it is advisable to paint the whole inside to
prevent saturation. There is a slot along the top on one side
nearest the bees, by which they are allowed to enter a $-inch
passage between the outer and inner wall, where a good footing
is obtained while taking up the syrup. The sugar is held
clear of the bottom by a piece of perforated tin in an arched
form, thus admitting of a free circulation of liquids under the
dissolving sugar. No cooking therefore is necessary, as the
usual quantity of sugar and water (a pound of sugar to half
a pint of water) soon amalgamate in the form of syrup. The
proportions named happen to be correct for this system, as it
will be found that a residue of sugar will be given where
more than the pound is placed in the half pint of water.
Another feeder for the top of the hive is the

Circular ‘‘ Amateur,”’

which I have arranged upon the same principle, as will be.
readily understood by the illustration (Fig. 50). This holds
about 7 or 8 lbs. at a time, and the inner funnel leading up to
the syrup passage around the same is lined with wood, or a
lamp-wick can be used leading down into the cluster in cool
weather ; though if feeding is necessary at such times it is
always more satisfactory if the syrup is warmed. Among

Bottle-feeders,

we have the “ Raynor” (Fig. 51) arranged to give a graduated
supply, with a projecting point attached to the perforated
metal cap of the bottle, indicating by the figures to which it
points on the stand the number of holes to which the bees
have access. The underside of the excavated block is lined.
with warm material, though generally of the kind that is
annoying to the bees, and which they soon tear away. If
painted with wax it’ would be equally as warm, and more
appreciated by the bees.
 

  

STAND

Fig. 50. | seer oF Nt

Circular ‘‘Amateur" Feeder.
Raynor Botta Feeder.

 

 

Fig. 52.
Self-acting Syrup Can.
and its Economic Management. 179

Messrs. Abbott have long had something similar, though
more simple and less expensive; but there is one great dis-
advantage with all bottle-feeders, in that they are subject to
atmospheric pressure, and with a sudden rise of temiperature
the expansion causes much waste of syrup. The syrup has
usually been boiled when prepared for this class of feeder, but
for my own use J have large cylinders on the self-acting feeder
principle which reduce about 2 cwt. of loaf sugar at a time,
the syrup being drawn off by'a treacle valve at the bottom.
The syrup-can illustrated (Fig. 52) will also be found very
suitable for smaller quantities, saving much time and trouble
in cooking: the self-acting principle being the great feature in
this, as in my Champion Feeders.

A very simple feeder is one adopted by myself some years
since when using. frames 16 inches by'1o0 inches. Good sound
wood is selected, and plain boards fastened on each side of a
frame of any desired width. Put the nails in rather close
together and paint all joints with white lead before making up.
- The top bar is 2-inch thick with projections reduced to 3-inch.
This is secured by four screws so that it can be removed for
cleaning. The syrup is poured in at the circular hole, after
turning back the quilt, and the bees go-in by a slot on the

: side; no float is needed; Fig. 54.

In many apiaries feeding is seldom resorted to, but there
are times of dearth when valuable colonies would be utterly
ruined were it not for the timely assistance rendered by the
owner—assistance that sooner or later is repaid a hundredfold.

Of course, if feeding is absolutely necessary after the sur-
plus receptacles have once been occupied, it must be simply
from “hand to mouth,” that nothing be stored in supers;
while it may even be desirable to remove such entirely,
replacing them when better times put in an appearance,

Feeding without Feeders

is something that needs our attention before closing this
chapter. Of the various methods offered for filling stock
180 A Modern Bee-Farm

combs with syrup, to be placed in the centre of the brood
nest for stimulation, or near the outside for storing, no plan
can be so effective and simple as that employed by Mr. W.
Raitt, of Scotland. He used a common syringe, placing the
comb in a drip pan; while driving the syrup into the cells.
The filled combs are carried to the hives requiring them,
while sometimes a chamber is filled up with them and placed
bodily under the stock chamber which has to be stored.

A simple method of giving “dry sugar” is that of first
placing a layer of strainer cloth upon the frames; the sugar
above that, and pressed into a compact mass, with the usual
quilting next that, nicely tucked up to keep all warm. Com-
mon paper will do in place of the straining cloth if two or three
holes are first made through to give the bees a start.

Feeding with Candy

is another matter requiring serious consideration, for certainly
it is a process more frequently abused than properly used.
This article has generally been brought into requisition where
stocks from any cause have run short of food too late in the
Autumn, or during Winter, when it is supposed other plans
of feeding could not be adopted. But with due care, no stock
-need be left alone long enough to get into that state.
It should be distinctly understood that

No Feeding should take place in Winter,

and though candy is often recommended, it is far better to
unite to a well-stored stock in the autumn than to feed in any
way during the months of repose. If a stock is found deficient
in stores at the latter part of winter, then give combs of sealed
food with as little disturbance as possible; placing such flat
on top of the frames and covering up warm if the weather is
very bad. It is better at any time in Winter to give a dose
of hot thick syrup, if only two or three pounds, than to rely
“

and its Economic Management. 181

on candy. The object is to get the bees along until February
is well advanced, and to feed not at all until then if possible.

No stock, however disheartened, will refuse to take a bottle
of hot syrup, placed directly over the cluster on to the naked :-
frames, and in two days or less they have the best of food
around them, with but little excitement, while candy is a
cause of constant activity. When bees begin to move, then
that article can be used to advantage, and may even be used
in place of any other feeding up to the approach of the honey
season. For

Making Candy.

the usual proportions recommended are one pint of water and
one wine glass of vinegar to eight pounds of good loaf sugar.
This is stirred well over a clear fire until all is melted, and is
then allowed to simmer with occasional stirring, until a drop

or two Placed on a cold plate will almost immediately set
hard, or will at least not stick to the plate. A large news
sheet placed on a table with the edges folded and turned up at
right angles all round, and these blocked upright with pieces —
of wood or other articles, will form the most convenient
receptacle for general use. As soon as the surface is set, it
should be cut across with a knife so that suitable sized cakes
may be had without waste in breaking. *

Where systematic Candy feeding is to be carried on in
Spring, the better plan is to pour the hot liquid into wired
frames, fastening them down to the table or a flat board, with
paper between, by means of a couple of nails, or specially
prepared blocks.

The vinegar can be dispensed with and a much better
quality of Candy secured by using only one pint of water with
one pound of honey to eight pounds of sugar.

Out-Door Feeding.

I must not fail to notice this question as it is one of con-
siderable importance, and yet. just here is a rock on which all
182 A Modern Bee-Farm

~ hopes of success may often be dashed to pieces. It is at once
the most desirable method of feeding, and the greatest of
stimulants to increased energy and development on the part of
the bees; while it can also be shewn as the most destructive
to bee-life where all the points to be considered are not well

understood.
During the Spring

nothing of the kind should be allowed until the population of
the hives has been largely venewed by young bees, and then with
due care in placing the feeding apparatus in a warm sheltered
corner, the results will be remarkable.

At least double the usual quantity of water must be added .

to the syrup and the feeders placed some distance from the
apiary, that robbing may not be induced.

,In the Autumn

out-door feeding should not be carried on later than September,
and if the supply can be kept warm all the time, it will bea
decided advantage. No more bees will then be lost than are
old and that will be quite useless, and in any case would
hardly live to help winter their colony, while the stores are
arranged in the best possible position, and sufficient young
bees are brought into existence to place the hives in good
condition for Winter.

It is some twelve years since I first practised this kind of
feeding, and having tried nearly every way that could be
thought of, Ihave found the

\

Most suitable Feeders for the purpose

to be large glass or other jars, with porous cloths tied over the
mouths, and inverted. Any number of these can be used,
turning them down over boards with circular openings cut out,

that they may be held in a suspended position. Float feeders
and other similar arrangements are sure to go wrong, causing
and its Economic Management. 183

many deaths, but with the above, all is clean, there can be no
daubing, and empty jars can soon be replaced by others, or
the whole quickly cleared away should any cause arise for so
doing.

Feeding by Syrup-filled Combs in Spring

is another process which requires a degree of caution in
carrying out, such as few are aware of. The excitement
caused by introducing whole combs of unsealed food before a
younger element of life has been created, causes unnecessary
flights with its consequently increased death rate among the
older inhabitants of the hives. The stimulation is apparent,
but the anticipated increase of a youthful addition to the
population is not forthcoming; for though almost at the birth,
frequently the sadly wanted natural fostering warmth has been
rendered non-existant by a too hasty attempt at stimulation.

 
184 A Modern Bee-Farm

 

CHAPTER XIX.

BUYING, PACKING, AND MOVING
BEES.

'N an early chapter, much has already been explained as to
the best time to buy bees. If possible, they should be
obtained in hives that are in general use, and can be adapted-.
to modern management.
~ In most cases the seller packs the bees and delivers them
to the rail, the buyer paying carriage; but if he has the time
and can make it convenient, the buyer will find it greatly to
his advantage to see them packed and delivered to the railway
company, especially where many hives are concerned.
Though some are more suited to the purpose than others,
I have yet to see the hive, legs or no legs, that could not be
turned ‘“‘top-side-down”’ for travelling ; and all should be so
sent as the combs then ride more securely, having their base
resting upon the top bar of the inverted frame. Tapes may or
-may not be fastened round the frames to enclose the combs
more securely ; but to dispense with this, where I can make
my own selection, IJ use combs that are well fastened down ~
the side bars of the frame. ;
Shade must be provided in hot weather, with more ventila-—
tion than at other times. Bees are lost more from want of
ventilation in travelling than anything else, and due provision
should be made according to the number of the occupants in
 

  

Fig. 53. Fig. 54.
Champion Frame Syrup Feeder, Simplicity Frame
Feeder,

   
 
 
 
  
 

 

z = = aS

if SSS SSS SSS == SSS
Fig. 55.

Benton Queen Postal Cage.

 
 

Fig. 57.

Nucleus Hive. Sectional View of Wax Extractor,
and its Economic Management. 187

whatever receptacle may be provided. If sacking can be
artanged to give shade and at the same time exclude light
without interfering with the admission of air, bees will travel
and stand confinement very much better than where they are
continually striving to get out, and thus to a great extent
impeding free circulation.

Packing Stocks.

Before inverting the hive, fasten a thin board along the
whole length of the hive at the ends of the frames, overlapping
these at least one inch. A piece of porous sacking is first to
be placed above the frames and held in position by a few tacks
till the slips of wood are fixed. With the left hand find where
the frame ends come, and with a bradawl bore a hole through.
the thin board into each bar; then insert French nails pressed
not quite home. Screws are to be used with this exception,
as little hammering should be allowed for fear of injuring the
comb attachments. ,

We have to provide for a free circulation of air under, after
the hive is inverted; therefore on each upper side, parallel
with the frames, thick strips of wood are to be screwed, so that
these only will rest on the ground when turned over. The
entrance may be closed with perforated zinc before or after, as
‘is most convenient. The packing can take place several days .
before moving, if desired, leaving only the entrance to be
closed on the eve of departure. In very hot weather for long
journeys additional ventilation should be provided by holes
bored at the sides and covered inside with perforated material,
or an additional storey or half-storey can be given under the
other before inversion.

By inverting the combs we not only place their weight

upon, instead of depending from their base, but also provide
, that there is free circulation throughout the hive above them ;
whereas in the natural position the heated air- ascending is
unable to escape and tends still further to weaken the founda-
tion of the combs.
!

188 A Modern Bee-Faym
When delivered on Rail,

or placed in vans, the combs should always travel in a line
parallel with the road, so that with any incline, or sudden
movement, they are not thrown to one side. When necessary.
to tier up the hives, place boards between each set. Plenty of
straw is needed to give them an easy motion, but on no account
is it to be arranged so that the inverted hives rest directly
upon it, though some must be packed between to prevent
sliding, or jolting against each other. Place a good layer first
upon the floor, spread it out evenly, and then lay boards down;
on these place the first set of hives; then straw and boards
again, thus always keeping a clear space under the sacking
next the frames.

All covers and odd material must be packed separately, and
where the stock hives are simple square boxes, with no pro-
jection whatever, the entire process will be more satisfactory
and expeditious.

For Export,

additional care will be necessary, while a sponge must be
provided at one side in a perforated box, with directions
requesting that the same may be moistened occasionally; or a
zinc vessel may be supplied with a cotton wick held in a funnel
reaching nearly to the bottom that the water cannot be spilled.
It may be necessary, according to the strength of the
colony, to give an outer case, thoroughly ventilated to provide
for excessive heat; though when it is known that-bees have to
undergo a high temperature, a nucleus only will travel far
better and give more satisfactory results than a full colony.

On receipt of the Bees,

they should be placed out where they are to stand permanently.
The packing need not be removed for a day or so, but the
entrances are to he opened as soon as the bees are a little
quiet. Do not liberate each hive in rotation, but go from one
“2

and its Economic Management. ; 189

spot to another as far distant as possible, and so let the first
quiet down before a neighbouring hive is opened.

It is well not to examine the interior of the hives for two '
or three days, that the bees may have first noted their location ;
but it will then be necessary to determine if any queens have
been lost, which frequently is the case. Where any are gone
it will be desirable to unite to others at once if this happens
to be the first stock of the apiarist ; but when other colonies
are on hand one may be able to insert another rather than
unite.

Packing Queens.

An admixture of honey and sugar, first- mentioned in Rev.
L. L. Langstroth’s book as a substitute for honey in wintering,
was afterwards used by Mr. I. R. Good, another American, in
queen cages when transmitted by the post. However, -per-

fection had yet to come; the food was right, the candy was.

“good,” but until the introduction of F. Benton’s mailing
cage, general success was not attained. Queens may now be.
sent by post just as safely as an ordinary letter, and Benton’s
cage has rendered the system absolutely perfect, though until
recently through some short-sightedness, or prejudice on the
part of the postal authorities, many foreign queens have been.
returned to the senders.

The Benton Cage

consists of three compartments; one is ventilated for general _

accommodation, and particularly for advantage to the bees —
under high temperatures; from this a small passage com-
municates with the central compartment, otherwise having no.
ventilation. The last has another small opening ae into,
the third space wherein is

The Food,

which is made by thoroughly incorporating with finely pow-
dered loaf sugar just sufficient liquid honey to form a thick
190 A Modern Bee-Favm

paste; this should be almost dry, and give no sign of
‘‘running ” under any temperature.

It is best made up some time before actually required for
usé, so that any excess of moisture may descend, leaving the
upper portion just right for the cages. When the compartment
is filled a sheet of wax or a piece of parchment covers the
opening, while a thin lid of wood fits over the whole, being
secured with brads or tacks. (See Fig. 55.)

Inserting the Bees.

The lid is first to be tacked on only at one corner, at the
side of the food compartment. Hold the cage in the left hand
with the thumb on the lid just above the ventilated chamber,
and now pick from the combs about a dozen young bees with
the right hand, inserting them one at a time while the thumb
moves the lid back to receive each in its turn. The queen is
to be put in last to make sure of no mistake, when the
remainder of the tacks can be driven in.

If the weather is cold more bees must accompany the
queen, and additional warmth may be given by outside packing,
though this is seldom necessary with Benton’s cage. Instead.
of the brad holes I have found a sawcut through the end more
effective for ventilating in hot weather.

Packing Swarms.

A “‘rough-and-ready” way is to tie a piece of strainer cloth
over the mouth of a skep in which the swarm may have been
taken ; but for long distances something more substantial is
necessary, and a frame of honey will be required.

The box must be as light as is possible consistent with
strength, and ventilation must be given on at least two
opposite sides. I have had very good results with air space
all round the top, the lid being raised and secured to the main
body with perforated zinc.
and its Economic Management. IgI

Swarms should always be purchased by weight, and the
buyer ought to insist upon receiving no other. There are
3,500 bees to the pound, and four or five pounds would give a
good working swarm. The plan of offering swarms containing
so many thousand bees, when in reality not more than a third
of the number make up the swarm forwarded, is becoming a
thing of the past, and I do not suppose many would be caught
in the trap now; nevertheless, swarms of no guaranteed
weight are still advertised, and it is time bee-keepers set their
faces against the practice.

Weighing Bees.

Where natural or other swarms are weighed after clustering
inside the travelling box, they can be first secured and carried
to the scales, and the weight marked upon the label. If they
have to go a long journey, either place a feeding bottle over
the zinc until starting or see that a frame with sufficient sealed
stores is securely fixed in before the swarm is hived; the
weight of such comb and the box to be noted, and presently
deducted from the gross weight.

Where a definite quantity is ordered, the scales are to be
carried to the hive by any convenient arrangement that
provides correct balance; take the weight of the package, and
if the opening is not wide enough to admit a comb end-way,
use a funnel lined with zinc. Now make sure of the queen
and then shake from the combs the necessary quantity of bées,
and insert the queen last of all; close at once and pack for the
journey.

They are to be first smoked in the usual way, and all the
time they do not miss the queén, the bulk of the bees shot into
the box will remain simply clustering on the sides. ~ The
operation should take place in early morning or towards
evening as the bees are more restful, and they can be put up
in less time as there are more at home. Give food if necessary
as: before.
192 A Modern Bee-Farm

I consider the most satisfactory way and the more profit-
able to the purchaser when wishing to establish a stock of any
new variety is to get them in :

Three-frame Nuclei;

but I do not mean such as are often sent out, and as some I
have myself received from abroad with- not enough bees to
cover one of the frames; but such as can be built up-with
little trouble by the receiver.

To make up a fair nucleus of three frames, take from a
strong hive all the bees from one comb, and one comb full of
brood. where young bees are rapidly coming forth, with all the
bees thereon. Place the brood comb at the centre of the small
hive, the other bees having first been shaken in, and look up a
comb partly stored to place on each side. Screw the lid down
after inserting the queen; place wire nails through into the
frames at each end, and invert as for full stocks. Strong
combs should be selected, and sufficient ventilation given
without danger of chilling the brood.

The frame of hatching brood will presently give enough
bees to cover three combs, so that with the other bees a queen
gets a good start, though if the apiarist has them to spare,
another comb of brood in like condition added every seven
days will do wonders in building-up a full colony.

Standard Colonies

of definite quantities are now offered for sale, and are far more
reliable than stocks bought in the old ‘hap-hazard’ kind of
way. For so many combs offered, one may rely upon having:
that number covered with bees, and all except the two outer
combs pretty well filled with brood. Thus a six-frame stock
should have four frames of brood, an eight-frame six of brood,
and so on.
and its Economic Management. 193.

 

 

 

 

CHAPTER XX.
HOUSE APIARIES, STORE ROOMS, &c..

T would be a difficult matter to give hard and fast rules for

putting up buildings to suit every bee-keeper who owns a.
large number of colonies. One may have premises that with —
little or no alteration suit his requirements. Another may.
have no room to put up convenient sheds, or the situation is
_ such that any given plan could not be carried out.

I will therefore give ground plans of buildings, &c., that I
have found to be convenient, and the reader may then make
such modifications as may suit his own particular require- ~
ments, having the general idea in mind.

The Building

as Fig. 58 is put up with 3-inch by 2-inch scantling as.the.
. framework, and 3-inch by 6-inch boards, matched and beaded.
-_ The roof leans to a stone wall at the back, and is there ro feet

from the ground. The front of the main shed is 6 feet from
ground to roof; the outer store about’ 4 feet at the front.

The Workshop

is 20 feet by 12 feet, with communication to the apiary at D,.

‘passing a shallow water tank which is constantly supplied,

_ and has cork dust floating on top for the bees to settle upon.
es , ,
194 : A Modern Bee-Farm

This article, recommended by a correspondent in the British
Bee Fournal, is more satisfactory than anything I have tried for
the purpose. Only the coarser material is used, after the fine
dust is sifted from it.

The plan, to a great extent, explains itself; F R are frame-
racks for hanging up: frames as put together, or foundation
when inserted ready for use. CC are closed comb-cupboards, ©
‘with ventilation through the hinged doors at both top and
‘bottom by auger holes covered with perforated zinc.

The bench stands in front of

The Window,

the panes of which are in one piece, and do not veach the bottom
of the frame by 43-inch; thus, when combs are first taken into
the workroom any stray bees soon find their way out, as also
at anytime. To prevent them returning, perforated zinc is
tacked outside along the bottom of the frame, and reaching
6 or 7 inches above the said opening, with a space of 3-ths of
an inch betweenit and the glass. The above arrangement
with fixed windows I prefer to any revolving sash, because a
room may be left for days together, and the bee-keeper knows
that not a bee will lose its life in the vain endeavour to escape,
as with the other which needs constant attention to prevent .
much loss. io

From the workshop we pass into the :

Honey Room,

where by the passage from end to end the recess is occupied
by frame-racks which will accommodate several thousand :
frames, empty combs, or those stored brought in from the
apiary for extracting. At the other side of the passage we see
the counter ;, with staging on two sides near that, where crates
of both bottled and comb-honey can be stored.

The open space gives room for extracting, arranged with or
without a stage to assist in drawing from the extractor, as the
ae
i.
ays

and its Economic Management. 197

apiarist may desire. Passing the other door, D, we again look
upon a portion of the apiary, with the gateway G leading out
of the premises. OD is an open doorway to the store for
odd materials, timber, &c. The latter may be placed over-
head in the workshop for greater convenience. L W is a
Jatticed window, giving all the light required besides the open
doorway. The honey room. is lighted by a window in the
roof, having no arrangement for clearing out bees as this is
done in the workrooms before our honey is taken in, and
every care is taken to keep out any intruder, while at the same
time a thorough change of air is provided.

The floor of the honey room must be concreted, but the
other is not of so much importance. It is sometimes recom-
mended that a paraffin stove be -kept burning in the honey
store, but with the skylight sufficiently large, the heat of the
sun will be quite enough to complete the ripening process,
taking care that it does not shine directly upon the honey. -

A COVERED APIARY,

as illustrated, for 150 colonies, occupies a space 118 feet by
50 feet, being compactly built, with the entrances arranged so
that no two are alike within several yards. The base of all
the walls is a plank, 6 inches by 3 inches, under which is laid
a single row of 3-inch bricks as with the building first men-
tioned. All the framework is of 3-inch. by 2-inch scantling
and matched boards as before, put on when dry. The ground
plan is as seen by Fig. 59. The only door communicating -
with the outside leads first into a closed room, 50 feet by :
12 feet. Just beyond the centre we have the honey safe and

extracting room, which stands two feet clear of the ground _.

with woven wire on two sides opposite the window. Steps

“lead to-the door, which is carefully fitted, and no bees are able

to get in.
The long room has two windows also with the glass
arranged that no bees are ever found dead inside, as before
198 A Modern Bee-Farm

mentioned. Stray bees are here disposed of before the honey
goes into the safe. Between the latter “and the outer door
stands a table, 12 feet by 3 feet, for general manipulations.
On either side with intervening passages are shelves for
storing crates and other materials.

The larger shed has a span roof, 10: feet high at the centre,
dropping to 8 feet at the sides, and upon turning to the right
after entering by the outer door, we can‘pass into either of the
parallel bee sheds, each of which is 8 feet high, dropping to:
5 feet on the lower wall. The hives are situated all along
inside the south wall, with flight holes cut through, and. the
outside of the same varied in appearance. Here no glass is
used, but shutters provided at suitable intervals.

The advantages

x,

that can be claimed for a covered apiary are as follows :—The
bees as well as the master have shade during the heat of the
day at the season most attention is required. Shelter is
afforded from wind and rain, so that any necessary work is.
carried on without hindrance; and lastly the entire arrange-
ment provides for a great saving of time in that all is compactly
arranged in the smallest convenient space.

Provision is made for:150 colonies,-and nuclei can be placed
in narrow hives close to the walls about four feet from the.
ground, resting on the central rail of the framework.

Bee-houses so-called, .

but being merely cupboards, with two or more rows of hives,.
leaving neither room for tiering nor ordinary manipulations, .
are not worthy a place in the modern apiary; moreover, no.
arrangement in larger houses can be in any sense convenient
where an attempt is made to arrange an upper and lower row
of standard hives.
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and its Economic Management. 201

 

CHAPTER XXI.

THE PRODUCTION OF WAX;
AND NON-USE OF FOUNDATION.

“| *HE more one studies the matter the more is he convinced
that wax should be a profitable product of the apiary.
- We have been told over and over again that the bees consume
‘20 lbs. of honey while producing 1 lb. of wax therefrom.
Upon the face of it the idea is merely theoretical, as in the
first place it is ridiculous to presume that an article costing, if
- we say only 5s. (20 lbs. of honey at 3d.) could be sold for rs. 6d.
Supply and demand regulate prices, and, as a matter of fact,
“wax is comparatively scarce; therefore it is time the question
“of cost is set at rest once and for all. In making

: A Test by Experiment, i

- there were several important factors to be considered ; the
“bees experimented with had access to both water and pollen,
_ but no brood was allowed at the time. The experiment was
carried out where the bees were not confined to the hive, and
‘they gathered no other food than that supplied to them for the
‘purpose. A test of this kind should be carried out under a
high temperature, and a fair swarm used for the occasion, but
in my own case I had to be content with rather a low tem-
perature. but the result was very satisfactory, and I found
that 64 Ibs. of honey gave a pound of wax.
202 A Modern Bee-Farm

Aids to Production.

The apiarist who has all the colonies and all the combs he
requires is the one who will make. the production of wax
profitable. He will have a great deal from cappings in
extracting, and many an odd piece, all of which should be
placed in some convenient receptacle till enough is obtained
to run down. There are the queen cells even; shavings from :
combs when reduced to brood thickness in spring; also the
scrapings from the tops of frames, not including the propolis... ~

Then, again, new worker combs can be produced in spring '
between the others containing brood, while feeding dry sugar,
at a great saving over foundation; the apiarist then being
able to run down his more irregular combs, or those that are
getting too old; or, as is sometimes the casé, the wax being
perished, such would only be torn down by the bees, as they :
do not appreciate combs that have been out of use for a whole
season, and if possible all should be passed through the hive
every year to keep them in good order.

During the’ season that bees are storing heavily I have
reason to believe that the secretion of wax is continually going ©
on, and if the scales cannot be utilised they are allowed to
drop and be carried out as so much refuse. Now the space
allowed below the brood chamber provides that full employ-
ment shall ever be given should it happen from any cause that
the supers are not removed in due time and the bees there
kept busy. Thus we have another step towards the produc-
tion of wax. When one desires

To Produce Wax in Quantity,

a colony must be run for extracted honey, and at suitable
intervals alternate the combs of brood or stores with starters |
-only in the frames. Between the stored combs these would:
be built rather thin, but the sealed combs are to be removed
and the honey extracted as soon as the new ones are built to
and its Economic Management. 203

about two-thirds of the frame capacity ; other empty frames
take their place, and so on in rotation. This process cannot
be carried out to any extent between brood combs, except as
described for spring work or when a young queen presides
over the colony, otherwise some drone comb will be built ;
and the production of useless drones shows a great defect in
management.

Another plan, by which a large number of colonies can be
kept and much wax produced at little expense of labour, is to
place several chambers fitted up with starters under the brood
nest early in May. The bees will gradually work down, and
the production of brood will be regulated in accordance with
the amount of income, and no trouble with swarming will be
experienced.

The most economical plan for producing even and useful
worker combs is that of arranging small colonies of three and:
four combs with vigorous bees and queen. Shift about occa-
sionally, making nuclei on old stand to dispose of the older
bees and so prevent the clogging of combs with honey. Keep

all closed up warm and feed gently, but always. Put in a
frame with narrow guide only, and in three or four days such
colonies will produce a beautiful worker comb nearly filling.
‘the frame and being generally crowded with eggs. These
may be utilised as required, and the same process continued.:
*For three months at a stretch such small (carefully-tended)
colonies will continue the process, giving something like two
dozen good combs, while the brodd removed will represent
two powerful stocks. Such a profit, and saving of outlay in
foundation, should satisfy the most economic bee keeper.

Where Swarms have been Hived upon Starters,

I have avoided the building of drone combs by placing the
frames rather less than 12-inch from centre to centre. This
~ point appears to have been overlooked by many in America
who have followed Doolittle, who for a long time stood almost
204 A Modern Bee-Farm

alone in his endeavour to show that foundation was used in
many cases at a loss.

W. Z. Hutchinson took up Doolittle’s idea, and has been
the cause of the plan becoming more generally used: but not
only does the complaint come that much drone comb is .
built, but also that

Pollen is Stored in the Sections.

The latter trouble also I learned to avoid when hiving swarms
upon full sheets of foundation in my endeavour to get the best. ~
work started in the sections. Just:as I hived swarms upon |
foundation (when made by division), I now put them upon
starters, with the addition of two combs of brood; one with:
uncapped larve, and the other having brood hatching. Thus
the bees have room to store the pollen carried the first day or
two, without spoiling the partly finished sections when they —
‘happen to be removed from the old stock to the swarm; and
what is of equal importance, there is just sufficient brood to .
make up for wear and tear before a general hatching would
otherwise take place. Moreover the queen is kept below 7
without the useless and expensive addition of the excluder zine
Mr. Hutchinson is obliged to use where starters only are
given under the sections.

My plan is not to throw the bees entirely into the sections
as soon as they are hived, but simply to prevent the produc-
tion of an excess of brood in the height of the season, and ©
with the two combs of brood so arranged the colony is worth
‘wintering after the season is over ; whereas in the other case
several have to be united to get a fair stock. But, I am told, the -
bees will not work in the sections with so much room below !
Have I not already shown how full stocks will do so with
plenty of room under or in front of the stock combs? -And if
your bees will not go into the supers, when they are strong
enough and honey is to be had, do not wait for their pleasure,
put put them in by either of two ways.
\

and its Economic Management. 205,

To make the Bees go into the Sections,

first secure the queen and cage her above the sections for a
few hours, and when you go to the hive you will find the super
crowded; remove her quietly and let her go in by the entrance.
“Another plan I have found successful is to place the crate on
a sheet of paper on the ground, raised on one side that the
bees may draw under, when many of the bees are to be shaken
off the frames close to the same when they will cluster in the
sections. They may be thrown on top. without lifting the |
crate, and though some will of course return when the super’
is replaced, our object is accomplished. :

This is best done towards evening, and when desirable to
add other swarms within a few. days, these can be hived in
“upper crates without their queen.

All the above has reference to the profitable production of
- wax, and J shall be excused for bringing these particulars of
“Management in here, more particularly as the whole question
has received but little attention from bee-keepers generally.

When Foundation may be used to advantage. _

Now I do not consider that foundation is always. used in.
the stock chamber at a loss; in fact it can be adopted at
considerable profit when extension of stock is the object.

A bee-keeper may have to increase his stock of both bees
and combs, and then considerable time will be gained by
‘taking advantage of foundation; though it should be borne in
mind that increase is obtained at the expense of honey.

When the honey season arrives we have to be prepared

* with. plenty of storage room, and therefore nothing less than
full sheets of foundation can be tolerated in our séctions, while:
if already drawn out in preparation for the harvest, the results.
-will be far better. If suitable foundation with a thin base is .
used-there will be no difference to be distinguished between
such combs and those built from starters only, while the.
206 / A Modern Bee-Favm

appearance of the surface when capped will be much better
than that of those so often finished off with drone cells. |

“ While the profitable production of wax will be carried out
by those who have completed their stock, much will depend
upon locality, as well as the culture of bees most suited to the
purpose.

Wax Extractors.

Solar wax extractors are frequently used, with a large
surface of glass, on a frame; all being air-tight enclosing a
perforated vessel to take the wax anda pan under, but these
are not so satisfactory as those worked by steam. A cross
section of a suitable wax refiner is shown in two sections. A
piece of fine flannel should be stretched across, under the
perforated comb holder A, thus’thoroughly refining at the first |
operation. The wax running on to the false bottom passes
out by the spout into a convenient receptacle. When it
is required to work from a steam boiler, the steam pipe
should enter just above the water line shown, and no water

: will, be required below, as when placed over a stove. The
wax will be of still finer quality if the vessel it runs into
contains warm water.

The illustration is that of Mr. Cheshire’s pattern, and is
manufactured by Mr. Meadows, of Syston. (See Fig. 57).

Cost of Producing Wax.

My experiment was conducted in a large flight room, 50
feet by 10 feet. A swarm of nearly 3 lbs. weight was made’
up and given frames, with a line of wax asa starter to each.
I determined to avoid the complication that would arise if
brood were produced, but at the same time it was necessary .
to have a fertile queen presiding, or the bees would not work
to the best advantage. The new combs were therefore ‘
removed every three days, and though occasionally eggs were
to be seen, no food was consumed in their production other
and its Economic Management. 207

' than that fed to the queen. The removed combs were placed
behind the division board, and were emptied of their contents
by the bees, to be again used in filling fresh frames.

Thus without extracting, the combs were taken away
perfectly dry, with the exception of the three last built; and
to make sure of wasting none of this remaining honey the
combs containing it were run down in a vessel with no added
water. The bees had access to both pollen and water while
building, and from 6 Ibs. of honey fed .to them they gave
64 ozs. of clear wax, with a balance of 15 ozs. of honey left
over. “If I say an even pound left I shall be nearer the mark,
as the bees had the means of loading themselves much more
heavily than when the swarm was made, as they were then
forced to consume what they had before commencing to build.
Five pounds therefore giving that quantity of wax, it would
be supposed that it takes 124 lbs. of honey to.give a pound.
But our experiment is not yet completed ; the bees had to live
during the twenty days taken to carry it out. Being ina con-
fined area during autumn when the weather was far from being
as warm as could be desired, the expense of production would
be very much more than when new combs are built in the height
ofthe season. The bees did not get on so fast, especially as
the best combs were removed in time to prevent the produc-
tion of brood, and towards the last the supply of honey became
very limited. 4

To Get at the Cost of Living,

after removing the last of the combs and balance of the honey,
the bees were given just 1 Ib. of honey in a feeder arranged so
that they would not get it fast enough to go on building.
After the fourth day there were 6 ozs. left ; but here is a little
difficulty: they could not require ro ozs. in that time, and on
removing the feeder with balance of honey, and giving four
empty combs they put about 2.0zs. into the cells. This would
still leave 8 ozs. consumed, or 2 ozs. per day while in active
flight. Then for the twenty days we have 40 ozs. consumed
208 A Modern Bee-Favm

to preserve life, which deducted from the 5 lbs. leaves 2 Ibs..
8 ozs. actually used in producing the 6} ozs. of wax; thus, to.
produce 1 Ib. of wax 62 lbs. of honey would be consumed.
When the cost of-living was carried out the bees were
reduced about one-third, so that 2 ozs. per day should. be.
within the mark. In the height of the season with everything:
favourable it is only reasonable to say that the cost of pro-..
duction is really much less, and probably less than 5 lbs. of”
honey are consumed in actually producing one pound of wax.

Comparative Cost. °

In the course of the’ experiment I found that about eight
standard frames (14 inches by 8} inches) of new comb will
give one pound of refined wax. It is surprising what a large.
amount of refuse is left after melting the most beautifully
white combs, so that the actual weight of wax obtained is..
much less that-that of the original combs. Obsevve this: one
pound of wax, costing the producer less than is. 6d., fills eight -
frames with finished comb. To do this with foundation 14 Ib..
- of that article is required, costing in hard cash at the least
as. 6d. for the base only ; to this the bees add considerable of
their own production before the combs can be’ completed ;
making the total cost much over 3s. Facts are stubborn
things, and cannot be ignored.

 
.

and its Economic Management. 209 |

 

CHAPTER XXII.

MANAGEMENT FOR HEATHER
HONEY.

AVING had considerable experience in former years, |
between 1870 and: 1880, in sending my bees every

autumn to extensive heath-lands, the information placed
‘before my readers in this chapter will doubtless prove of
considerable value. Hitherto no work has given special
treatment for the production of heather honey’; and yet it is a
subject of the first importance to hundreds of bee-keepers,
nearly all of whom wish for some better method than they
have had for making the most of this late harvest.

Late in the season bees must be close to, or in the midst
of, the crop they are to gather from, and in the case of heather
large quantities of honey can be, and often are, secured ; but
in very many cases the stock combs receive, and are totally
blocked up with, what the apiarist desires to get stored in the
sections. .

Heather honey being so thick, it is quite impossible to
extract it unless removed as fast as gathered, and thistis not
desirable. It is usual for bees to crowd the stock combs late-
in the season, as many find to their cost; but why is it so?
It is not that the nights are cooler, as frequently the tempera-
ture at night is much higher in August than during May, when

. ‘
210 : * A Modern Bee-Farm

bees work well in the supers. It is not even that the bees are
aware that the season is drawing to a close, as many consider;
but if we would go to the very starting point of the trouble,
we shall find that

The whole question centres upon the Queen,

as every bee-keeper may prove for himself, and as he will
admit as he follows my statements. -

Now, what is the condition of the colony which goes first
into the supers in early summer? Have I not already shewn
that the hive must be full of bees, and have every stock comb
literally crammed with brood, when the honey must go-into the,
sections? Well, go and do likewise for your heather crop !..
Imagine that you have another year, a new season coming in,
instead of a late season in the same year; and-then you will
have your honey where you want it.

But, you say the bees will not breed to any extent late in
the year. True, the same queen that you have used all the
summer will be of no use to you in this emergency, and just
here is the point. You are, then, to

Use a Young Queen,*

and the best way to have one in readiness for every hive is to
follow my plan of using every tenth colony for nuclei as
already shewn. Your first harvest closes towards the latter
part of July, and as soon as the supers can be removed, de-
throne the old queen and unite the sada nucleus. You.
now have a stronger colony and a young queen who will take
good care that her domains are not crowded with honey. Hey
first season is just coming. and the bees will act accordingly. ha
This is a special case and special treatment is requi dy,as
the honey nearly always comes in so freely that, by toe
method, the already exhausted queens are soon crowded ' i

 

* See also Stumntnst Non-Swarming Pamphlet (Feb., 1886).
and its Economic Management. 211

and-by the time the harvest is over, the workers are worn out;
whereas with the young queen we have a good stock left, with
bees still hatching to make up for the tremendous loss of life.
More honey is accumulated because the population is larger
and does not decrease as only too frequently has been the case.

Of course only worked-out combs are to be used in the
sections, including those not completed from the first harvest,
after being cleared by the extractor.

At the termination of the earlier harvest if any stores are
left in the stock combs, the same should be extracted and, in

Uniting with the Nucleus,

only those combs most crowded with brood should be used.
The odd combs of brood can be given to one or more lots left
athhome. Some reader may say that his hives ave crowded
when his bees go to the moors. They may be, but like the
queen sué¢h bees are already exhausted by .their previous
labours, anil new blood is required throughéut if one wishes to
make the most of this last important harvest.

If necessary feed “from hand to mouth” after uniting,
until time for the heather, but on no account feed heavily, as
advised recently by a correspondent in the British Bee Fournal,
who hoped thereby to fill up the space the old queen could not.
occupy, expecting that the heather honey would all go above,
and that when the bees came home they would require no
more feeding. “True indeed, for there would in many cases-be
no bees to require it. How utterly inconsistent, to add wear
and tear, when the whole energy of our workers should be
reserved for the storage of this last crop! And how very.
injudicious to crowd the queen out at the very time we require
one that will still-further extend the brood nest in preparation
‘for the good time near at hand.

* Moreover, it is a fact that no amount of false reasoning
can gainsay, that where heavy feeding is done just before
supering, especially in Spring, the greater portion of the syrup
212 AM wdern Bee-F, ‘avm

thus fed is stored above after the sections ave put on. Thus the
result is both delusive and dishonest.

On the other hand, the process is so much like killing the
goose to get the golden egg, that one should bear in mind the
fact that heavy feeding causes the destruction of brood which ,
the bees do not hesitate to remove for the accommodation of
stores thus forced upon them, so that not .only does the bee-
keeper add wear.and tear without cause, but actually gets rid
of many young bees which should have been relied upon for
his heather harvest. A young queen, the union of forces, and’
gentle stimulative feeding, are just as necessary now as when
preparing for the first honey flow of the season.

When Moving. to the Heather,

everything should be got ready and loaded on the vans over-
night, and if not desirable to travel during the night the-journey °
ought not to be delayed later than 3.0 a.m. Upon reaching
their destination the hives should be treated as before shewn
after a journey.

The Supers should Travel separated

from the hives, and be arranged in position on the next day

after the bees have been liberated or on the same day, as soon

as the bees are settled, if inconvenient to attend next day.

Each stock should have an extra chamber for better ventila-

tion, and all openings for the admission of air must be shaded, .
so that there may be as little excitement as possible to exhaust

the bees.

My ‘Tenth ” Method

of providing a young queen for every hive yearly; uniting at the.
right time; 7¢., before feeding up where there is no late
harvest, or just before a late gathering is expected, will also
prove invaluable in many places in the States of America and. .
other localities where the gathering of stores so late as Sep-
and its Eosnomic Management. 213

tember, and sometimes in October, leaves the bees totally
unfit to stand the rigours of winter, through the queen that
has been used all the season failing to keep up the necessary
supply of young bees. :

The young queens are not to be raised before July, while
in some instances it may be desirable to have them come on
in August when the last flow is extra late. - ;

After uniting, the capacity of ten or eleven,standard frames
only should be allowed at this date, and no empty chamber
will be required under or in front of the same, as no swarms
will issue with the young queens.

Another Plan.

,

" Where one will not take the trouble to raise young queens
for the purpose, and desires to make use of the heather honey
stored in the stock combs, such must be removed one or two
at a time and placed in another chamber below the brood nest
after having the cappings sliced off, when the stores will be
carried above provided the sections are filled, not with founda-
tion, but combs already drawn out. In long hives such
removed combs should be placed behind the division board.

 
214 "A Modern Bee-Farm

 

CHAPTER . XXIII.

DRIVEN BEES.

HERE these can be secured in Autumn the general.
rules laid down for management of ordinary stock

will of course apply in their case.
There are, however, a few minor matters that oe
_attention, especially by those who have had no practice in this
undertaking. Where the surrounding cottagers are willing to.
part with their bees instead of killing them, the general way
is for the bar-framist to have them for his trouble, but on no
occasion should he give more than 1s. for each lot, or x they
may turn out a dear bargain. °

How to Carry the Bees.

By using lightly-made straw skeps, the bee-keeper can’
carry eight or nine around his shoulder, slung on a broad
strap. Thus by uniting, after driving, two or three lots into
one, I have been able to carry home the bees from a large
number of cottagers’ skeps, over a distance of four or. five
miles where no trap could go. Whena conveyance can be.
taken, light well-ventilated boxes can be used to greater
advantage. ,
and its Economic Management. 215

As soon as the bees are driven from their combs, secure
them at once by tying a porous cloth over the mouth of the
skep ; and when two or three are to be placed together, let
them be united as soon as driven, first securing the queens ..
not wanted that a young one may preside. If there is any use
for other surplus young queens, place such in Benton cages

' with a dozen or:more workers éach.

The Novice

should always begin by driving a skep or two of his own at
home, and never attempt to practise first on the property of
*- others, not only for the sake of his neighbour, but for his own
and that of bee- keeping generally. After some experience in
- driving, then Mr. Lyon’s ‘‘ Bumping” process can be followed
to advantage in many cases, though driving will often be
more satisfactory, as being less inducive ‘to robbing, there

_ being no broken honey to excite the bees.

Mr. Lyon advises that all hives not being operated upon
are to have their entrances closed- with a bunch of grass’
inserted lightly, that ventilation may not be impeded. Where

-an outhouse can be utilized, however, there is no need for this

“Speration.

“Attention has already been called to
Foul Brood,

‘and the bee-keeper should be on the watch for this when ‘he
may. be taking bees. Where found the bees will be perfectly
rc useless, as probably it would have developed. during the
spring, and the remaining occupants of the hive will not pay |
for their carriage home. Tell the owner of the condition of
his bees and get him to smother them the same evening by
the old plan, both for his own sake and the benefit of his
neighbours. The whole skep must be burned; and do not fail
to impress him with the importance of leaving none of se
, honey in any way exposed.
216 A Modern Bee-Farm

When to Hive the Bees.

One is so often told that it is necessary to place the bees
in their new hive the same evening they are brought home,
that I think it necessary to shew how robbing need not occur, |
even if combs wet from extracting are given to them at the ‘
middle of a warm day. It is considered that when put in
during the evening all the bees congregate to the hive, but
they would not in the daytime, besides being liable to get:
robbed out.

The fact is, with cool evenings often experienced in
autumn, many bees are lost by their not being able to note
their location ; whereas in the middle of the day they gradually
settle down to the one spot like a new swarm and not one is

_lost, while the bee-keeper is able to find his extra queens, and
is in no trouble about darkness coming upon him before he
has half finished.

Place the Frame-hives in Position,

quite empty, and shoot in the bees, taking care that only one
queen is left to preside over the two, three, or more lots
united. Now get your stored combs, or those fresh from the
extractor, and arrange them in position; put on the quilt and
cover all securely, leaving the entrance several inches wide.
As the stored combs are given just before closing no robber
bees are on hand ; but where empty combs or foundation have’
to be inserted, feed carefully until the hive is well supplied.

Taking average lots, the number to put together to make a
fair stock should be as follows, according to the manner in
which their house may be furnished—with stored combs, two
swarms ; with empty combs, three ; foundation, four.

Uniting to other Stocks.

-A wasteful plan, which results only in loss of bees and
time, is that of adding driven bees to weak colonies at home. '
and tts Economic Management. 217

Without considering that fighting is almost certain to cause
the death of thousands in the hands of many bee-keepers, but
too frequently these bees only die out before winter is half
over, leaving the stock worse off than before.

To be in any way satisfactory for this purpose the driven
bees must first be made to develop a fair-sized brood nest in
another hive on the spare combs of such lot; when plenty of
young bees are hatching then unite to your weak lot, saving
the queen most to be desired. Feed and prepare for winter
as hitherto shewn.

 
218 A Modern Bee-Favm

 

CHAPTER XXIV.

HONEY, AND SOME OF ITS USES.

ONEY is a wonderful gift of nature, and stands almost.
alone as a pure natural sweet, perfect in itself. There

are very many who have the impression that bees make honey ;“
but this is far from being the case. Flowers secrete nectar
under the chemical action of the atmosphere upon the juices
of the plant, and this process is continued daily until the bee -
while gathering such production is the means of mixing the
pollen of different flowers, almost invariably of the same kind,
and thus being fertilised and the plant made capable of repro-

duction by seeding, the object of the sweet attraction is
accomplished; the flower fades, and the nectaries’ are

dried up.
; The Crude Nectar,

on being disgorged by the bee from its honey stomach, has
then imparted to it its remarkable preservative quality in the
“shape of a minute proportion of formic acid. Even now it does
not’ form honey as we use it. The newly gathered liquid ‘is
distributed over as large a comb surface as the number of
vacant cells will allow; and thereafter the heat and ventila-
tion afforded by the prosperous condition of the colony at the
time, together with the constant circulation of air maintained
in a systematic manner by the vibration of their wings kept
and its Economic Management. 219

up by a regular force of workers, in due time ensure the
evaporation of all excess of moisture. The honey then being
ripened is gradually shifted to the upper and outer, margins of
the combs, where the cells are being purposely lengthened for
storage (or to the super space when provided), and ultimately
capped over, as filled.

Medicinal Qualities.

Honey requires no digestion, but enters immediately into
the system ; it is productive of heat, and by its regular use,
thé entire organism is benefited in a high degree, as it not only
stimulates the appetite and aids digestion, but is at the same
time better than any medicine for regulating the system. .

Persons inclined to be costive, especially children, will find
honey restore them to a perfectly normal condition ; while the
continued use of purging medicines on the other hand causes
a distressing reaction, because each dose impairs the delicate
membrane of the stomach ; whereas the only rational course
to pursue is to endeavotir to restore the injured or relaxed

‘parts.
“  Consumptives have received great benefit from the con-
stant use of honey. Instances are on record where persons
have been quite cured by it; while others past all hope of
“recovery have enjoyed many years of life they had ceased to
hope for or expect.
In that honey aids digestion, it of course gives healthy’
"action to the liver, purifies the blood, and improves the general
health. |
“A very distressing malady which will seldom yield to
allopathic treatment is that known as “gravel.” Honey taken
daily will soon effect a cure, and I am quite sure those tor-
tured with this complaint will not fail to avail themselves of
such a simple remedy. .
For colds, coughs, and sore throats, I suppose there is
hardly a household but has had some experience with the use
220 A Modern Bee-Farm

of honey either alone, or mixed with vinegar, lemon juice, or
‘even butter, in case the palate does not appreciate the pure
article alone; but for

Definite Treatment

the following instructions, if carefully carried out, will prove. -
more efficacious than any system of drugging, because
‘Nature’ is judiciously assisted in her well-known endeavors ~
to throw off disease; whereas drugs frequently check this
attempt, or destroy life entirely. ;

In the first place, judging from the manner in which honey
is generally applied, it is necessary to bring thick ripened
honey -to a gentle heat after adding a little boiled water.
Whether granulated or not, and particularly if in the former
condition, full benefit cannot be derived from its use until the
honey has been brought back to the same condition as when
first sealed up by the bees, and a tablespoonful of water to
one-pound of honey will generally be sufficient. Newly-
extracted honey needs no addition of water, when used at
once, as part of it comes from uncapped cells, from which the
excess of moisture has not been removed.

For Sore Throat and Night Cough

mix the juice of one good lemon with one pound of honey,
stir thoroughly, and take of this one or two teaspoonsful —
‘frequently in connection with the following soothing and
always beneficial treatment. At night, upon retiring to rest,
fold a large linen handkerchief, and wring it out of tepid
water; lay this right round the throat, and over that several
folds of dry flannel. The latter keeps up internal warmth and
materially assists in the speedy restoration of a normal con-
dition of the throat. Do not remove the throat packing until
rising, and then wash thoroughly with soap and water, cold by
preference, but tepid if the person has a weak constitution.

‘
and its Economic Management. 221

In serious cases of night coughing, take the lemon honey
night and day, and upon retiring to rest procure a jug holding
about two quarts of boiling water. Sit up in bed and inhale
the steam with the mouth open, continuing for ten ot fifteen
minutes, according to the strength of the patient, who must at
the time be completely covered with a blanket, or mackintosh
sheet by preference, that the steam may be retained. Wipe
dry after, and lie down; repeating the process each night until
relieved. Adopt the throat packing also if troublesome. For

Bronchitis,

!

or severe cold on the lungs, especially in children, the supple-

mentary treatment should be :—Bran poultices on back and
chest, put on not too hot, and changed every twelve hours for
the first day or two; then use them only each other six hours.
It is imperative that several folds of dry flannel be wound round
and across the shoulders and chest, over the poultices, as well
as when they are not in use; and the body must be carefully
and quickly washed with warm water-(and soap) at every
change of the poultices. Keep in one room with a fire and-
the temperature at 60°; also have the bronchitis ‘kettle steaming
all the time.

Honey as Food.

Though the sweetest of all sweets, honey is not suitable
for cooking purposes in such a general manner as sugar,
requiring a much larger quantity to sweeten many articles of

food, as well as ‘being more costly. There are many things, .
‘however, which are much improved by the addition of honey,

such as fruit pies or puddings, cakes, &c.; while a basin of
bread and milk is made very palatable when sweetened with it.
The following are among many excellent recipes given in
Mr. T. G. Newman’s “ Honey as Food and Medicine.”
‘Extracted honey is superior in every way for preserving
fruit. Add one-third as much honey as fruit, boiling until the
taste of the honey has evaporated.
222 : A Modern Bee-Farm

“Those engaged in harvesting and other occupations
tending to create thirst, will find the following preparation’
a very palatable and healthful drink in hot weather :—Take
12 gallons of water, 20 lbs. of honey, and the white of 6 eggs..
Boil one hour; then add cinnamon, ginger, cloves, mace, and.
a little rosemary. When cold add a spoonful of yeast from -
the brewery. Stir well, and in twenty-four hours it will be -
ready for use.

‘For cooking green fruit use only extracted honey, which -
being the only liquid, holds the fruit firm and gives a very rich
flavour. Sweeten or season with spices to suit the taste, and
cook slowly until done. Serve dried fruit the same, only.
adding enough water to swell the fruit.

“To make Ginger Honey Cake, take 12 lbs. of honey, 2 Ib.
of butter, 14 lbs. of flour, 1 ounce of ginger, } ounce ground~
allspice, 1 ‘teaspoonful of carbonate of soda, quarter of a pint-
of sour milk, cream if you choose, 3 eggs; put the flour into a _
basin with the ginger and allspice; mix these together, warm
the butter and add it with-the honey to the other ingredients; _
stir well; make the milk just warm and dissolve the soda in
it, and make the whole into a nice smooth paste with the eggs
which should be previously well whisked. Pour the mixture
into a buttered tin; ‘bake it from three-quarters to one hour;-.
take the white of 1 egg and beat it up with a little sweet milk,
then brush the same over the top with a feather to give it a
glossy appearance.

“‘ Honey Sponge Cake is nice eaten warm, and consists of
two-thirds of a breakfast cup of sour cream, 3. of flour, an even.
teaspoonful of soda, 1 cup of butter, 3 eggs, 14 Ibs. of honey,
1 tablespoonful of cinnamon, 4 ditto of allspice, and a little.
extract of lemon; mix the spices with the flour; put the soda .
in the milk and stir well, that all the ingredients may thoroughly
mix; beat the cake well for another five minutes; put it
in a buttered tin—bake from one-half to three- -quarters-of-
an-hour.
and its Economic Management. 223

“ Butter Honey Cake is pronounced by all to be excellent.
One pint of flour, 1 tablespoonful of butter, 1 teaspoonful of
soda, 2 ditto of cream of tartar, and honey sufficient to make
a thick batter. Spread out an inch thick, and bake in a hot
oven.

‘To make Mead, not inferior to the best foreign wines, put
3 Ibs. of the finest honey to two gallons of water, two lemon

peels to each gallon; boil it half-an-hour, and skim well. Put
in the peel while boiling. Work this mixture with yeast, and
then put it in a vessel to stand five or six mionths, when bottle
for use. If desired to keep it for several years, add four pounds
of honey to a gallon of water.

*“©A cheap Honey Tea Cake is made with one teacup of
extracted honey, half ditto of thick sour cream, 2 eggs, half
teacup of butter, two’ of flour, scant half teaspoon of soda,
one ditto of cream of tartar; flavour to taste. :

-METHEGLIN.—‘“ Mix honey and water strong enough to
carry an egg; let it stand three or four weeks in a warm place
to ferment; then drain through a cloth, and add spices to suit’
the taste. -

«« Honey Vinegar is obtained as follows :—Heat 30 gallons
of rain-water and put it into a barrel; add two quarts of
whisky, three pounds of honey, three-pennyworth of citric
acid, and a little mother of vinegar. Fasten up the barrel,
place it in the cellar, and in a short time it will contain vinegar
unsurpassed for purity and excellence of taste.”

Mr. Allan Pringle gives a substitute for tea and coffee :—
Take three quarts of good, clean, wheat bran; and bake in
the oven till it becomes.quite brown. Then add one quart of
liquid honey and stir thoroughly ; put it back in the oven to
bake still more, stirring it frequently until it gets dry, granu-
lated and very brown. Draw it the same as coffee and use
with milk and honey, or milk and sugar to suit taste.

Honey-Lemonade.—Make it in the usual way, using honey
instead of sugar; nothing can be used as a summer beverage
224 A Modern: Bee-Farm

that is more grateful and refreshing. Try it. Many thousands |
of pounds of honey may be used in this way, and all the users
be benefited.—British Bee Fournal.

General Uses.

Besides the foregoing, honey is used in preparations for
preserving leather; in ointments for various purposes, such as
for chapped hands, sores, &c.; and is very largely used by
chemists in their many preparations. For printers’ rollers it
takes the place of sugar, doing better work, and making a
more durable article.

The reader will thus see that honey is not simply an article
of luxury, nor of ordinary diet; and instead of bee-keepers
complaining that there is little démand for their produce, let -
each endeavour to find some new use for it; and thus make an
opening for the consumption of honey by the ton, where other-
wise it would never have been thought of.

A large firm of biscuit makers were induced to start a new
biscuit sweetened with honey, and thereupon required two
tons of the bees’ product weekly. Though we may not often
find an opening for it to this extent, there are many ways in

which honey is, and can be disposed of, other than for table
use.

 
and its Economic Management. _ 225

 

 

 

 

CHAPTER XXV.

WORKING TWO QUEENS IN ONE
HIVE.

THE WELLS’ SYSTEM.

FEW years back Dr. Stroud, of South Africa, mentioned

A in the British Bee Fournal that he had a system of

working any number of queens in one hive or colony, and that

_ he had long practised that method. . No details, however, were

given by him, and if there were any merits in his process he

appears to have been careful to keep the supposed secret to
himself.

A more recent correspondent makes in the same journal

a statement to the effect that he had saved five queens over

“winter in one colony of bees, all having free access to the

‘... respective queens. This is no more than has been known to,

and carried out by many other bee-keepers, especially in the

process of modern queen-rearing. Mr. Heddon, of Dowagiac, '

Michigan, laid claim to being first to point out the possibility

of working more than one queen in a hive: Doolittle and
Q
226 : A Modern Bee-Farm

others made some practical demonstration of the fact, but
neither of them preceded Dr. Stroud. Simple tiering hives ©
were used for the purpose in America, similar to Fig. 63, but
the plan was adopted solely for queen-rearing purposes. So
far as is known, Mr. Wells, of Aylesford, has been the first to
reduce the matter to practical working as a system in honey pro--
duction. The entire correspondence upon the subject will be
found in the British Bee Fournal of the current year and in the
issue of November roth, 1892, after stating he had made up his
mind to work none but ‘two-queen’ colonies in future, upon
further consideration and in deference to other expressed ©
opinions, he says: “In order to compare results, and make the
matter as plain as possible, I decided to change my plans, and
work five single-queened stocks through the season, and very
carefully note results. It will, perhaps, not be out of place just
to say once more that the double stocks have two queens in each
{one queen in each brood chamber], divided in centre of hive
with the thin wood perforated dummy, so that neither queen |
nor bees can pass beyond their own part of the hive; but_at
supering-time a sheet of queen-excluder zinc is placed on ‘top
of the frames, and on this the super, into which both lots of
bees are allowed to run and mix together as they please.
«+. « + « Most of my hives hold fourteen standard frames,
though I consider a hive of this size is not large enough for
the two queens, and so when more room is wanted for brood, »
I put a box of shallow frames, with a thin solid dummy in
centre, exactly ovey the perforated one below. This I thought
would give plenty of breeding room, and I wished to prevent
swarming as much as possible. I have not, however, made a
‘success of that part of the business yet. . < .. . The
five double hives gave 762 lbs. surplus extracted, ana 27 Ibs.
surplus sections ; total, 789 lbs. The five single queen hives
205 lbs.; or a grand total from all the hives of 994 Ibs.”

The figures showing the financial situation for the year,
given by such. a practical and painstaking apiarist as
and its Economic Management.

Mr. Wells, will be of considerable interest, and are as
follows :—

£ s d.

940 Ibs. extracted honey at 8d. we 31 6 8-
54 », comb ” » If se 6 2 14 OO
30 4, Wax » 2f- “4 30 0 OF
37 0 8

Total expenditure wo» 5 I 10

Balance... se cw £3C 2B 30

 

Mr. Wells considered the season below the. average, but
-. besides the above balance of profit he had a lot of surplus
brood combs left over, either empty or partly stored; and
these form one of the most valuable * stock-in-trade’ adjuncts.
of the apiary.

Mr. Wells will doubtless adopt a hive which will give him
more room, as well as aid in prevention of swarming, but
in the absence of any further particulars I give several.
illustrations of a hive which I think will meet. the case and
help to more clearly ‘explain the process, while the addition of
my ‘ safety-valve’ or non-swarming chamber UNDER the brood
nest must largely assist in disposing of the trouble complained
of, as well as dispense with the need of a dronEne floor.

The Illustrations

shew (Fig. 60) the double brood chamber, A, with the
perforated division board, P D, between, and the non-swarming
arrangement under, having a perfectly plain, tight-fitting divi-
sion board, D, between the two compartments, B B, and fitting
close to, and immediately under, the perforated board. The
hive allows nine frames on either side, and with the frames
below having starters only there will be little inclination to
swarm when the supers also are in position. __
228 A Modern Bee-Farm

The perforated dividing board is thus described by Mr.
Wells: . . . “The kind of wood I use is the best yellow
pine, about i inch thick, shoulders projecting the same depth,
as the thickness of top bar of frames used . . . so as to
be level with top of frames when in position. Warping is.
prevented by folding a‘strip of light tin around the ends,
leaving a small piece long enough to turn over top and bottom.
I make holes first with a bradawl, then run a hot iron through |
about 4-inch thick, each hole being about 4-inch apart.”

A board of soft wood so thin as 3-th of an inch will soon be
rendered useless for the purpose, as bees have a peculiar habit
of continually scraping. and biting and will in time make
openings large enough to pass through. It seems therefore.
advisable either to use harder wood or a slightly thicker board.
Moreover, a thin board as a divider is very inconvenient, and
will doubtless be far more useful and permanent if itself let
into a broader rim forming a close-fitting frame as illustrated.

The Perforated Zinc

may or may not be secured in a frame, but the frame shewn
under the super crate in Fig. 61 appears to me the better way
of using it. The centre stay, P, is the same thickness as the
rim, and in these pieces the zinc is secured by running into a
saw-cut made along the centre of the edges. The stays, H H,
‘are only half thickness, the zinc being fastened to the under-.
side of these and thus keeping all clear of the frames. ‘a

The Super Crate

is arranged so that through and free communication is to be
had from end to end (Fig. 61), though it is probable that the.
divisional super in three separate crates of full length will be
found more convenient than one heavy crate.
 

Fig. 61.
Queen Excluder, fitted in frame, shewn under double
super crate.

MMT

 

Fig. 60.
Double Hive, with Wells’ Perforated Divider between, P D;
shewn with Simmins’ Non-swarming Chamber under.
and its Economic Management, 231
The Floor

is secured to, and rests upon, two pieces of stout deal, 3-inch
by 2-inch, while the alighting boards are each set under the
main level; thus a full width entrance is allowed, and is
regulated by simple wood blocks as shewn at E.

By using the frame all round the thin perforated dummy,
the floor board can be made in two separate pieces, and hinged
to a centre strip across the bottom, and thus the supposed
advantage of slanting the floor can be carried out on either
side with no disturbance to the other, and the far more con-
venient form of opposite and distinct entrances retained. In
this case, legs can be secured to the stand as in Fig. 62.
T do not myself see the- necessity of a dropping floor, but there
are doubtless others who will be pleased to know how to
carry out Mr. Wells’ plan without the sad inconvenience of
legs fastenéd to the body of the brood chamber.

For commercial purposes, plinths around the rims of hives
are found unnecessary, as also are porches, but these can be
added to suit the tastes of those who require such.

The Trouble in case of Swarming

will probably be the greatest difficulty to contend with, as the

two queens must. go out with the double swarm; but this

difficulty will be entirely overcome by adopting my swarm

catcher to each compartment, thus retaining each queen under

her original brood chamber, and after the removal of the
> surplus queen cells, work will go on merrily again.

s

The Disadvantages of the System

are: The extra labour required throughout, as well as more
cumbersome hives; the use of perforated zinc being also a
necessity ; while the greater inclination to swarm, together
with the fact that both lots with their respective queens go out
232 AM odern Bee-Farm

at the same time, will sadly inconvenience many who attempt —
to carry out the plan.

The Comparative Advantages. -

At first sight, to many bee-keepers, the ‘dual’ plan appears
to give extraordinary results; but it must not be forgotten
that there are two stocks working together. Thus the average
of, say 160 lbs., if divided between the two will be 80 lbs. only
for each stock, and that nearly all extracted honey. It is no
unusual thing for a single-queen stock to produce from 80 lbs.
to 100 lbs. of comb honey during an average season. But in an
apiary run for honey alone the practical bee-keeper carries out
the well-known :

Doubling System

and secures far better results from the population of two
colonies thrown with ove queen than can be shewn by the
twin hive system; while the hive is far more simple, there
need be no perforated zinc used, and, moreover, there is less
fear of swarming. The Wells’ plan can hardly stand against.
the more simple and reliable practice which many bee-keepers
seem to have lost sight of, but it should at least bring more
forcibly to their notice the undeniable fact that none but the most
powerful colonies ave really profitable, and that because at the
right time the working force is far in excess of the number of
young who require constant attention and make heavy
demands upon the incoming stores.

Working two or more Queens in Storifying Hives.

Having so far considered the plan of working two stocks -
together on the same floor, I shall not be doing justice to my
readers if I leave them without shewing how not only two,
but any number, of queens may be worked in a far more
simple manner on the storifying plan; so that those using the
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and its Economic Management. 235

lighter hive need not go to much expense in giving the method.
a trial, and need not alter their existing hives in the least.

With populous colonies there is no advantage in wintering”
two clusters of bees close together, though it may be done
with the smaller hive if desired. The extra furniture required
will be a small-hole perforated divider, placed as an adapter: _
between each brood chamber until the bees are considered
mutually good tempered. These boards will then be removed
_and excluder zinc adapters inserted.” The entrances to both.
may remain open, or the lower one only left, as found most.
convenient. In the latter case it will be observed that where:
the lower chamber is provided for prevention of swarming,
and a queen excluding board also placed between it and the
first brood chamber, that the queens are each confined to their
own compartment, and can not be lost even if the bees do on.
any occasion swarm out.

My own objection to perforated zinc has been explained
again and again, and I am prepared to assert that better
results are to be obtained without its use. One'good queen

can supply more brood than is generally wanted, and the
~ whole question turns simply upon the proper amalgamation of
forces at the right time. .

Dropping Floors.

Mr. Wells considered his hives were not quite suitable for
working double stocks, and therefore one can not be surprised
to find him advocating a floor such as was generally fitted ‘to
the first bar-frame hives introduced, with legs attached to the
walls. The floor was secured by means of long wedge-like
pieces of wood inserted at each side, and when these were
removed of course it dropped directly upon. the ledges. The
only reason why Mr. Wells appears to require this dropping
floor is to accommodate an excess of bees just after uniting
any two stocks into one, but this requisition simply shews
236 A Modern Bee-Farm

three serious defects in the method of working. First, as he
himself has already pointed out, his brood nest was not large
enough; next, no legs should ever be fastened to the hive
proper; and lastly, the fact was overlooked that by adopting
my non-swarming chamber undey the brood nest ample room
is given for any quantity of bees. In the face of these facts,

therefore, it seems useless to give an illustration of a pattern | -

which has long since been discarded by practical bee-keepers ;
as legs fixed to the stock hive form the most serious obstacle to
profitable bee-keeping.

This is so well understood in America that one might —
search the States and Canada through and not'find one per
cent. of the hives with anything approaching legs attached to
the stock hive.

A Caution.

There is one item with regard to Mr. Wells’ system which _
does not appear to have been noticed. It should beremembered —

that the supers being removed, he immediately closes the ..
upper part of the hive by replacing the quilting, and thus there
are again two separate stocks. Should the supers remain
until late in the year, or the two queens be left at the heather,
the almost certain result will be that the bees unite into one
body on one side of the division board, and at the same time
destroy or leave the other queen to her fate. The same will
also occur, as the cold nights approach, with the hive tiered
up, with two or more queens, as shewn in Fig. 63; and, there-
fore, upon removal of surplus chambers, the respective colonies
must be divided if it is desired to keep them distinct ; or the
small-hole dividers can be replaced between the different body
boxes. Where this

Tiering-up Plan

is followed the small-hole perforated wood or zinc is to be
used between the respective storeys for a few days, and then
and its Economic Management. 237

its place taken by the ordinary queen-excluder, as shewn in
the illustration. Mr. Wells considers the queens will fight
with only the ordinary excluder zinc between them, but he
overlooks the fact that queens once fertilised never fight, and
if they attempted so to do could not injure each other because
the sting then becomes useless. I have had as many as a
dozen fertilised queens all in one compartment without injury
to either; but the result with virgin queens, under such a

condition, would have been death téJall but one in a very few.
minutes.

 
238 A Modern Bee-Farm

 

 

NOTES dy THE WAY.

Dear Reader, to enable you the better to succeed, set up a
standard of perfection that you wish to attain in your manage-
ment. Never mind if it appears almost impossible to gain
that end; if you will only keep the desired object in view, and
work earnestly, depend upon it you will be almost certain to
reach your goal.

 

In these days there are so many ladies looking out for an
occupation which will be helpful in meeting the general
_expenses at home, that the subject of modern bee-keeping
must be one that will command greater attention from the
gentler sex in the future.

 

If in possession of a small space of garden ground a few
_ hives of bees can be cultivated in a manner that will bring a
handsome profit and a delightful sense of independence to the
happy owner of the industrious workers.

 

In the absence of a garden plot, bees may be placed in
cabinet hives—two to a window—inside of any room which
does not face a main street ; and thus protected will do better
than outside.
and tts Economic Management. : 239

There is not the slightest sense of degradation attached to
the occupation. It is in every respect a soul-inspiring and

intensely interesting study, followed by hundreds of cultured
people.

 

Bees are never idle except from sheer force of circum-
stances; and what do you think they do in winter? When
it is very cold they simply clustefin one compact mass; but
with each returning spell of milder weather this living ball
expands, and many of the little insects travel to and from the
most distant sealed combs of honey, and commencing on the
outer surface of each outside comb the whole of the honey
there stored is carried to those cells in close contact with the ~
cluster. Though this process is repeated as often as oppor-
tunity occurs, there is no variation in the manner of proceeding,
for the food in the intermediate combs is never disturbed until
its turn comes in due-order for clearance.

 

Now I will tell you of the best swarm catcher, the most
simple and the least expensive ; indeed it costs nothing and is
~ not new either. Just think of all the clap-traps on this and
the other side of the ‘big pond,’ and you may well ask why

bee-keepers are running after these expensive swarm-catching

fads when by simply clipping the wings of the queens the whole
question is popped into a nutshell. :

 

Pick your queen up in the left hand; hold her firmly but
gently between the thumb and forefingers, and with a pair of
small sharp scissors clip off a small portion of the larger wing
- onone side. She will never lead a swarm away, and the bees
will return to the mother hive as surely as if the complicated
traps were in use.
240 A Modern Bee-Farm

Mr. S. Deacon, of Knysna, Cape of Good Hope, in a letter
dated Nov. 23rd, 1892, says, ‘1 am a struggling apiarist, and
can fully endorse your statement at bottom of Page 1 of your
immensely valuable and valued little work, ‘‘A Modern Bee
Farm.” I and my son (a regular bee enthusiast, aged 18)
are agreed that it is worth its weight in gold! I should
certainly be sorry to take £5 for the copy I have just received
from home if I knew it jvere impossible to obtain another.
, ; ; , ‘and some half-a-dozen others, who

 

 

 

 

have sought to teach us our business, can in future rest on
the shelves! There are a thousand and one little matters we
have in vain sought information on in the works of the
authors- above-named. They generalize, but the novice wants
details. . . . . Jamnot going to waste any more money
on bee books, convinced that what Simmins’ work doesn’t
teach us isn’t worth knowing! . . . . for really I can
not say enough in praise of your book.”

 

The above gentleman reminds me he has a trouble I
have not mentioned in my work. He complains that it is the
rule, rather than the exception, for the bees out there to leave
their hives and combs—every bee deserting and going off like
aswarm. Once in a while a similar thing, happens in this
climate, where, through inattention, the bees have not been
properly supplied with stores. These swarms are called
“starvation” swarms.

 

It may be that Mr. Deacon thought feeding unnecessary in
his locality, but as he states that the combs deserted are
perfectly empty, it points.to the fact that the bees, were
arriving at the starvation point, and made the one desperate -
effort in the hope of finding more favourable pastures.
and its conomic Management. 241

It should never be forgotten that whether bees are
situated in a hot or cold climate, the period equal to a
winter’s rest is an absolute necessity. But the necessary
_ Quietude for ensuring the benefits of that period is only to be
attained when the bees find themselves in possession of an
abundance of sealed food.

 

Indeed, in the warmer climate eyen more food is required,
as there is likely to be a longer period of activity before the
main honey harvest actually comes on, and without the stored
food to fall back upon, the aged bees wear themselves out,
without attempting to rear a younger population to succeed
them. Hence it is quite possible a colony may in some cases
die right out ; and such deaths occurring on the wing, a not
too. observant beekeeper may well think his bees have swarmed
out.

 

California is considered the Bee-keeper’s paradise, and

' probably there is no other place on the face of the earth where

bee-keeping is carried on so generally, and on the other hand,

no country where so many.bees die out wholesale. This is

both because some of the bee-keepers, relying upon the

generally favourable climate, rob their bees too close, and
neglect to feed when a dull time arrives.

 

The general rules for bee-culture extend to all climes, but
-when we hear of bees in warm climates yielding comparatively
_ light surplus stores, or even becoming idle, and not working
_ at all, it simply points to the conclusion ‘that the owner does
not pay proper attention to their management. While there
they require more stores to fall back upon during the time of
rest than is wanted in the coldest localities; when honey
_ does come in, it must be removed quickly, and an enormous
comb space allowed for its daily storage.

2
242 A Modern Bee-Farm

On the other hand, in the absence of surplus combs or
space, the queens are crowded out, little or no brood rearing |
can be carried on, and then with no young workers, we meet
the opposite extreme—the older workers must die off—this
time leaving a fully-stored hive, instead of empty combs. .

L

Under very favourable conditions, even with all possible ©
storage room, the brood nest cannot be extended sufficiently,
to make up for the wear and tear of bee-life. Thus we see
the reason why a district capable of producing 400 or 500
. pounds of honey annually per colony, seldom gives as much
as zoo, more frequently considerably less.

 

Under these circumstances, nothing but a judicious system
of combined division and re-uniting—keeping up the brood
supply with the young bees and young queen—will ever give
results fully equal to the resources of the district.

 

i
During a heavy flow bees will unite anyhow, therefore
’ select any two colonies standing near together ; unite the
whole of the bees and brood in one of the two, excepting such
as return to the empty hive with the queen. Fill this with
frames of foundation, or having starters only attached to the

top bars. This new swarm will soon fill up with brood and
- store.

 

But our object is to ensure that this new swarm rears’ a
continuous supply of brood and bees. Meanwhile, bring it within a
foot or so of the hive, which has already received its combs
and adhering bees. After three weeks remove the new swarm
quite behind the other, and the latter will then receive all the
flying bees. After a day or two shift the new lot to the
opposite side, always standing a little back, but facing the
same way as the larger stock. :
and its Economic Management. 243

By shifting this breeding stock: as often as it is found the
bees are increasing and working sufficiently to crowd the
queen, her hive then always has a population capable of
nursing rather than storing, while the main working hive has a
constant renewal of young workers, without the usual trouble
of uniting and changing surplus receptacles. The queen in
the main working stock has very little room for breeding,
while there is little inclination to swarm. It is the nearest
approach I know of for practically working a ‘colony without a
laying queen, with none of its disadvantages, while there is a
continuous supply of young bees from the companion hive.

 

Young queens can be secured from the breeding stock,
while combs of brood from the same are used for thé nuclei ;
and the young queen, when mated, exchanged at a convenient
opportunity. In case of swarming, work the new swarm
alone until a young queen is mated and laying, and then
re-unite after deposing the old queen as already shewn; bu
when the non-swarming chamber is used that trouble wi
seldom arise.

 

Notwithstanding that hot thick syrup in cases of emergency
is better in cold weather than candy, it must not be supplied
in large quantities. Three or four pounds given all at once is
sufficient, and will carry any needy colony through until the
middle of February, when feeding can be more satisfactorily
carried on.

 

But, frequently, is there any need to feed at all at un-
seasonable times? If there is a fair amount of sealed stores
in November, far better leave the bees alone until February.
244 A Modern Bee-Farm

From November to February, bees make but little im-
pression upon their stores; but as soon as breeding is on the
way a difference can be seen, and it is from that time forward
where the real danger lies and when bees are most frequently

_ neglected.

 

On the other hand, where bees go into winter with the
combs heavily charged with unsealed syrup given late in the
year, they can not possibly cluster in a compact body, and
being divided into thin seams they soon succumb to the
additional cold caused by the unsealed food all among them.

 

If syrup feeding in winter is a necessity it is better to take
advantage of a warm spell and slip in one or two empty frames
so that the bees may cluster in large masses; indeed, it is
advisable in any case to prepare stocks for winter in this
manner. °

 

Let it be: considered that during cold weather the combs
are really unnecessary except as the store cupboards. Under
normal conditions, during late autumn, at the central lower
portion of the combs the cells are all empty, just as vacated
by the later batches of brood. As the cold weather comes on
the bees form upon that portion of the combs, the nearest
possible approach to a perfectly unbroken cluster. Some of
them occupy the empty cells and rest head to head on opposite
sides of the centre wall of the combs, while others crowd
between.

 

Thus they make the best of the situation as they find it;
but careful experiments conducted over a series of years have
always shewn me that the bees prefer to cluster in winter
where there are no combs at all to intersect them, and in this
and tts Economic Management. 245

situation have less difficulty in maintaining that animal heat
so necessary for the preservation of life.

 

We can therefore meet them half-way as it were, and while
not removing the stores can alternate heavy combs with empty
frames, thus bringing the cluster into a more compact mass,
and entirely avoiding the frequent destruction of the un-
fortunate outer seams of bees.

 

Mr. Wells shews g94 lbs. of honey (nearly all extracted)
from five single hives and five double-queen stocks ; that is,
from fifteen stocks in all. The dual queen system, therefore,
with its more cumbersome and inconvenient hives ‘does not
compare favourably with the result of 1,360 Ibs. obtained by
Mr. Cowan from seven single-queen hives.

 

In 1874, Mr. Cowan also reported go7 Ibs. from twelve
hives, of which 707 Ibs. were comb-honey.

 

In the following year, a very wet season, the same gentle-
man took the first prize at the Crystal Palace show for comb-
honey taken from one colony and weighing 80% Ibs. ; besides
this, 20 lbs. of extracted had also been removed from the same
hive.

 

Just as the proportion of adult bees, before the opening of
the season, exceeds those being nursed up to maturity, so may
the prosperity of a colony be gauged. This does not imply
that an already limited brood nest should be reduced by
application of the fads generally proposed, but it points to the
absolute fact that such disproportion should not have existed.
at all.
246 - A Modern Bee-Farm

It has been considered that practical bee-keeping owes
much to science, and that scientific bee-keeping owes little to
practice. What is science but ascertained knowledge, gained
by the continued practice of ages, the good being consolidated,
while the chaff has been expelled? Correct practice alone
constitutes and establishes true science.

 

By a careful experiment I have found there are 3,500
worker bees to the pound. Queens will live from three to four
years; drones, three months; workers during summer, six
weeks, and through the quiet months of winter six months.

 

Cyprian and Syrian queens are much smaller than those of
either the Carniolan or native kinds. The drones also are
smaller, consequently I find where only males of the larger
races are flying, the Cyprian or Syrian queens are often long
in finding a mate.

 

Whatever requires doing about the apiary should be done
at once. If left for another day, an important matter is liable
to be forgotten when many other things require attention, and
considerable loss ensues. Where any need cannot be attended
_to immediately some note or sign must be made, but the
apiarist should not make a note of every little detail that
requires his attention, or such a course will only tend- to
weaken the intellect.

 

Fertile workers are not often troublesome except in the
queen-raising apiary. When they persist in laying in nuclei,
do not attempt to give virgin queens, but at once supply a
good fertile queen on a comb of brood, with accompanying
bees; this also being the very best and simplest cure where
and its Economic Management. 24.9

‘they are found in stocks of greater strength. The worker
deposits eggs in a very irregular manner, sometimes a dozen
or more. in one cell; but this must not be confused with the
work of a young or prolific queen, which because of limited

room or too small a number of bees will often lay several eggs
in a cell.

 

Where eggs of fertile workers are placed in worker cells,
many of the larve die before reaching maturity, otherwise the
cappings are much raised above the surface, as with normal
drones; and those that do hatch appear equally as perfect as
the latter, though, of course, dwarfed in appearance.

 

While it is impossible for one to make a success of bee-
keeping on an extensive scale if he has another “ business” on
hand which requires constant and regular attention, there
are, of course, a number of light occupations that can be
adopted to fill up one’s spare time. If bee-Keeping is a
secondary consideration, then the bees must often be neglected /
at the most critical time, and loss consequently results. One
may keep poultry to advantage, especially where certain crops
are grown for the bees as elsewhere shown. A large apiary
will keep the owner busy during the winter months preparing
for the following season; but there are long evenings in
winter, and other times when the want of some suitable work
will be felt. Each must consider what is best suited to
himself; what he can obtain ; or what course of study may
ultimately be of advantage to him. Something must be taken
in hand that can be picked up at any opportunity and that
can be laid down the moment the bees require attention. One
may be at work during the usual hours of the day, but that is
no reason why he should spend the remainder in idleness and,
frivolity. Not for a moment do I intend that a holiday should
248 A Modern Bee-Farm

never be taken ; but a bee-keeper especially, though his work

“is often laborious, has a holiday every day ;. for is he not
always in the open air, gaining health and. strength, as well as
having constant pleasure in studying the wonderful works of
Nature?

 

Many writers have fallen into the error of supposing that
young queens often commence by laying a number of drone
as well as worker eggs. In nuclei it is frequently to be
noticed that many cells contain drone larve, but a little more
careful observation will always show that this is the result of
fertile workers, which often continue to deposit eggs after the
young queen is in full work. I have even had these pests
start laying side by side with a queen after she had been at
work long enough to hatch her first batch of brood. The
queen was a Carniolan crossed with black drone; the fertile
worker was frem a Ligurian queen crossed by Cyprian drone,
the resulting drones being very yellow. The yellow bees had
been united to the stock to strengthen it, and without this
proof it might have been considered that the queen had pro-
duced the drones. Again, a queen does not deposit eggs until
her ovaries are developed.

 

While I have had ample evidence to show that bees are
able to retard the development of both eggs and larve by
withholding food ; where a colony has been queenless for more
than ten days, the presence of uncapped larvae, whether in
queen cell cups or ordinary cells, may be put down to the-
action of fertile workers. ‘

 

Many bee-keepers appear to understand that my non-,
swarming plan can be carried out in a single ten or eleven-
and tts Economic Management. 249

frame hive, allowing only two ar three frames at the front with
starters. I would never attempt such a pretence as this, and
could not myself work with so little space. I must have longer
hives and six or seven empty frames in front of the brood nest ;
or, in the case of ten-frame hives, another chamber having only
starters must be placed under the brood nest, as distinctly
pointed out in my Non-Swarming pamphlet, and now illus-
trated in the chapter on that subject.

 

Bees winter best with plenty of room helow the frames.
Many of my own stocks have been wintered with the lower
body under the stock. chamber, as used for prevention of
swarming, with very satisfactory results. :

 

Chickens will be found very serviceable in the apiary, as.
they destroy a large number of insects. Earwigs especially,
and sometimes ants, swarm about the hives, but though they -
do no harm they are a gréat nuisance. Chickens turned
down as soon as they can take care of themselves, can soon be
taught to look in the right place for the pests, and will be on
hand when the hives are opened.

 

With a quarter of an acre of borage, the seed from a
number of sunflowers, and a good grass run, in all rather more
than an acre, I have had about a dozen fowls come along fit
for the table, with no other feeding, except a little corn for a
week or ten days before killing.

 

None of the ‘birds have been actually stung, though some-
times attacked. At first they simply pick off the ‘bee; but
finding their enemy returns to the charge, they soon learn how
to settle it, and then invariably give the bee a sound grip

~~ before it can leave the ground.
ca

°
250 A Modern Bee-Farm

While borage, melilot clover, and other plants may not be
suitable for cattle, my own experience goes far to show that
chickens can be brought up at little expense where they have
admission to a large area of such plants, which throw suitable
seed. Borage especially is very valuable, giving a constant
supply for several months. Old birds must not have the run
of the plants or they will pick off the bloom and cause waste
by treading down the plants before they get a good growth.

 

Sunflowers cannot be considered suitable for bees, judging
by half-an-acre grown as a test near one hundred colonies,
when with fine weather the flowers were almost entirely neg: |
lected. Nothing else of importance was in reach of the bees
at the time. The same area of melilot clover, in the same
place, the following year, simply roared with bees.

 

The best show card I have been able to find for the retailer
is an Observatory Hive, placed in the shop window. A single
comb with bees and queen has proved to be a very great
attraction, introducing new customers in quite an unlooked-for
manner.

 

We know how distressing it is to see the usual observatory
hives at bee exhibitions, with the insufficient ventilation and
numbers of dead bees, resulting from overcrowding, but we
want our bees to remain confined quite three weeks in good
order, as it would be out of the question changing them eyery
few days. I have had them in good condition for more than
four weeks ;' and three weeks’ confinement in the window with
daily exposure with few stains to be seen.

 

The single-comb observatory is made as illustrated at
Fig. 64, with a 3-inch space below the comb and three 1-inch
holes both sides, covered on the inside with perforated zinc for -
 

Fig. 65.

— ele mee

[| Teng

  

Fig. 66. Ps Fig. 67. —
Abbott's Comb Honey
_ Exhibition Crate.

    
 

 

Frame Feeder, Self-acting
Process.

 

. Fig. 70.

The inner portion of same,
Fig 68." shewing Perforated Sugar
Simmins’ Close-end Frame Hive (1878). Holder and Bee-passage,
and its Economic Management. 253

thorough ventilation; while at the same time such darkened
recess hides any refuse or dead bees that may drop from
above. A comb should be selected not too light nor too dark,
about half full of stores; not more than enough bees to cover
one side of the comb; having no brood, but a nice yellow
queen. If the bees are mostly young very few will die, as the
window will be shaded from the sun, and before they are
ready to be exchanged young bees are hatching out from the
small patch of brood generally started. A suitable darkened
craté with convenient handle must be provided for transit. As.
no brood is inserted in the first instance, this kind of adver-
tising can be carried on in all but the coldest weather.

 

For exposition at Bee Shows the same arrangement would.
be found much more convenient than most of those used, and,
with fewer bees the observatory would be presentable for a.
much longer period.

 

The exhibition of bees for the purpose of obtaining prizes.
is but a farce, to say the least. The working qualities of the.
bees cannot be considered, and I will show how easily the
judges may be deceived as to colour and markings. When-.
ever friends have asked my opinion about the preparation of
bees.for competition I have recommended the following course ;,
and the result has justified my advice. —

 

Whatever kind you intend to exhibit, see that they are all
young bees placed in your observatory, and on a newly-built
comb of brood; the framework to be painted a pale green in
- contrast to the light-coloured comb. The young bees are.
secured by making up a nucleus a few days before they are
required, with plenty of hatching brood; most of the old
254 A Modern Bee-Farm

workers returning to the original stand. It will readily be
seen therefore that bees from inferior stock may thus gain the
prize in competition with others not so prepared, though the
latter may on the whole possess the better qualities.

 

The man who enters a large bee-farm for a term in the
hope of gaining an insight into the practical management of
the same, must not think all the necessary information is to
be picked up simply by looking around and paying occasional
visits to the apiary. On the contrary, he must make up his
mind to go there to work just as any other apprentice or
assistant. The daily routine must be gone through in every
particular, and though some manipulations may be repeated
constantly, it will be only by such close study and application
that he will make himself master of the entire practical
management.

 

Many inquire how they are to know when honey is coming
in. Examination of the hive will, of course, show every
vacant cell being more or less occupied with the thin newly-
gathered nectar. The bees, too, come in with distended
bodies, falling heavily upon the flight board. Sometimes the
aroma of the incoming stores is distinctly noticeable, more
particularly at evening when many bees are ventilating at the
entrance, and a perfect roar is heard throughout the.apiary.
Apart from this, the advanced apiarist has an instinctive
feeling that honey is, or is not, being gathered. The state of
the atmosphere and his knowledge of surrounding crops tell
him at once what to expect. The temperature may range
anywhere from 70° to go° in the shade, but if it continue too
hot and dry for more than ten or fourteen days, the amount of
honey brought in will decrease daily, unless there happen to
be a succession of heavy ground crops coming along, when,
and its Economic Management. 255

the earth being shaded, moisture is still retained. A shower
once in a while is beneficial, but frequent rainfalls destroy all
chance of a good honey flow, as such induce also a low tem-
perature. Even with fair weather it sometimes happens that
the temperature rules too low for the secretion of nectar; but
usually if none is stored during a fine season, it implies either
that the district is poor in honey plants, or else that there are
too many colonies in one place.

 

The question of over-stocking is one that has received con-
siderable attention, though nothing satisfactory has been
arrived at in regard to this matter. It may safely be said,
however, than in any fairly good district 100 colonies will
each put out as much surplus as one only. But with a large :
number, however, there are greater risks, and the whole cannot
receive the same attention individually that would be given to
a few. It will generally be found that it is not the district
which is at fault, but rather that our stocks are not always
ready when the first or only glut of the season occurs. Honey
.is seldom secreted so abundantly as when everything is burst-
ing into new life, but it so happens at that early date it is
often difficult to get the bees strong enough to do much more
than provide for the expanding brood nest. When bees can
. beso wintered that they will come out stronger in spring than
when they settled down for winter, we shall hear little more
about *“ over-stocking.”

 

We are frequently told that drones are useful in keeping
the brood warm; but why raise drones, if not required for
breeding, when in the same space of comb a larger number of
workers could be produced, who would add to the prosperity
of the hive instead of being useless consumers? The state-
ment is contradicted on the face of it, for why is it the drones
256 A Modern Bee-Farm

are present only when additional heat can be dispensed with ?
As a'simple matter of fact, they have but one use, and that_is
the fertilization of the young queens. :

 

There are two important points in reference to feeding that
were first brought forward by Mr. Abbott, late editor of the
British Bee Fournal, and which require careful consideration. _
That veteran always insisted that to stimulate bees to extend
the brood nest when desired they must have a gentle continuous
supply. Again, when it is necessary to supply food for winter
it should be given during the month of August, because the
bees are then better able to store and seal it. Now, while we
may not all quite agree with the latter statement, there is
much of truth behind it. Where there is no late harvest I do
not see how one can improve upon such advice; certainly it
is not. advisable to extract from the brood chamber later than
that month, and the substituted food can hardly be given too
soon, if we wish the bees to settle down quietly -before cool
weather comes on. Moreover, if the food be supplied im-
mediately after the harvest, the remaining strength of the old
workers will be utilized in storing it, and so they perform a

‘beneficial act to the colony before expiring, as it is desirable
they should do.

 

Many complain that the more prolific varieties use up all
_ the-autumn stores in brood rearing, and the same bee-keepers
wilt tell us that if fed up in August their bees will want feeding
again by October. But at this time stores must not be given:
slowly ; all a colony requires should be supplied in one dose in
the course of two or three days. Give nothing more, when
breeding soon ceases and the bees invariably quiet down.

 

Dear Reader, whatever the side issues may be, I need
hardly say that bees are cultivated for the production of honey.

 
 

 

 

 

 

 

 

  

Fig. 71. Fig. 72. .
Sectional View of Simmins’ Self-acting View of the Perforated Strainer
Syrup Feeders. (Non-cooking or cold for holding sugar.
water process )

 

 

 

 

 

Fig. 73. Fig. 74.
Standard Frame, shewing position Ditto at approach of spring.
of stores and cluster at fore-part

of winter.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Fig. .75. Fig. 76.
Commercial Standard, shewing position Ditto at approach of spring.
of stores and cluster at fore-part of winter.

s
and its Economic Management. 259

We have then to consider which plan of procedure will give
the largest surplus with the least amount of time and capital
invested. Your stock also is to be held in the highest state of
excellence generally year after year. The desideratum to be
followed is that mentioned as the “Tenth Method,” which,
worked together with the non-swarming system, will be found
the very foundatign-stone of success.

 

Spring Dwinpiinc.—Avoid it by retaining only young
queens ; let your stocks be well stored for the winter; avoid
stimulative feeding after August; see that the combs are well
stored with pollen. The production of young bees up to cold
weather ruins the colony—such bees are of no use in
wintering.

 

On the other hand a well found’stock will not (if undisturbed)
breed during October, November, and December, but with
the New Year several patches of brood begin to appear,
gradually increasing in size, until the full combs are occupied
as the returning warmth encourages its more extensive pro-
duction. Allis progress, and a large youthful population is
secured before the older bees take frequent flights.

 

Such colonies are ready for anything, and the severest cold
cannot prevent the starting of brood at the centre of the
cluster during January. Stocks stimulated in Autumn are
those which dwindle most in Spring, because young bees are’
not then produced in quantity before the older workers are

worn out.

 

Natural laws cannot be violated with impunity. The
period of rest is absolutely necessary, and if that term com-
mences in August better far than in November. Remember
260 A Modern Bee-Farm

that the earlier bees settle down, the earlier they will be in
Spring. The vital energies of a sound population have not
been wasted in producing a less hardy unseasonable batch of
youngsters, produced too at the expense of the stores of pollen
which were put by for early Spring use, and the absence of
which totally prevents the production of brood until a new
supply can be obtained from the fields.

 

Even in Summer the great and constant loss of life is.
occasioned almost entirely by continued flights; this is the
hard work of the bee, though frequently its wings are first to.
wear, and refuse at last to carry home the body that could still.
labour. Only add the liability to chill in early Spring, and
after considering the practical relation of the foregoing facts
one has not much trouble in finding the cause of Spring”
dwindling. Very late storage of a heavy crop is on a par
with late Autumn “ tinkering ” with bees.

 

It has sometimes been stated that by depriving a colony of
its queen during a honey flow a much larger harvest will be
secured. Quite true; if one can always depend upon a heavy
flow following her removal ; but what is to compensate for the:
wear and tear during the six weeks, more or less, when no»
young bees are coming forward to take the place of those worn,
out? There is no compensation, and when a queen is given,.
these old bees will not raise enough young ones to go through:
the winter. The additional surplus, therefore, does not pay
for the total loss of stock.

 

i

To bein the highest degree profitable, year after year,.a
colony must always be in possession of a good queen. Hitherto.
it has been considered that a queen is at her best during: her
and its Economic Management. 261

second season ; but in the future, the apiarist who wishes to
compete with the times will give his stock a young queen
every yeay. Such young queen is not to be inserted either in
the spring or usual swarming time; but by observing the
“Tenth Method” it will be seen that the whole matter is
reduced to a system.

 

Systematic management is the corner-stone of successful
bee-keeping. Plans and methods may be well in themselves,
but unless carried out at the right time with due regard to
what has preceded or may follow a certain manipulation, they
are like broken links in a chain; bringing only disaster where
success should have been attained.

 

I have found bees working two and three miles away from
home in good weather, but when there has been nothing nearer
little or no surplus would be stored. In the best of weather
stores accumulate slowly, and at great expense of life if the
bees have to go more than one mile; but with a sea of bloom
within half-a-mile or less, honey almost pours into the hive ;
hence the necessity of planting large crops'to come on in
succession near the apiary—the only course that will give a
certain income year after year.

 

Syrup witHout Cooxinc.—American bee-keepers are just
now enquiring for the best means of feeding bees with syrup
without the trouble of cooking the sugar. A cold process, or
self-acting principle, was introduced by me some ten years
since, was illustrated in my Non-Swarming Pamphlet, and
described under three forms: (1) The ‘“‘ Amateur,” all metal
and circular, holding g lbs., for top of the hive; (2) The
“Frame” feeder, all wood, except perforated sugar holder
inside, holding about the same quantity; and (3) The ‘‘Com-
262 A Modern Bee-Farm

mercial,” a double compartment feeder of full size, to go on
top of the hive, and holding anything from 20 to 40 lbs. of
syrup; all arranged for the simple process of putting in the
usual proportions of sugar and water, when with no further
attention the whole is shortly reduced to syrup.

 

The sugar must be suspended in the water by means of the
perforated compartments as shown in Figs. 50, 52, 53, 69, 70,
71, and 72; thus allowing a free circulation of liquid under.

 

I have frequently used a large cylinder, holding nearly
2 cwt., constructed in a manner similar to the feeding-can
arrangement, Fig. 52, except that a treacle valve at bottom
was provided for drawing off.

 

It is only when we come to consider the immense saving of
time and labour in connection with this method of syrup
making, as also the plan of feeding dry sugar (Fig. 11), that
one sees the possibility of conducting out-apiaries to the
greatest advantage.

 

Tue WinTER Custer will generally be seen located
towards one or other of the outside walls at the ends of the
frames, and starting from near the floor at the commencement
of cold weather will be found to slowly advance upwards as
the stores are consumed close at hand. The illustration, as
represented in Figs. 73-76, will shew clearly enough that the
cluster is formed upon the empty cells wherefrom the later
batches of brood were hatched, and it is at once evident the
larger frame shews decided advantages in that an abundance
of food is present on each frame occupied by the bees, thus
ensuring that restfulness so necessary for the well-being of our
and its Economic Management. 263

little friends, and avoiding the too frequent occurrence of
starvation while the distant (smaller) frames may be well
stored.

 

The situation of the cluster is represented {by the letter Cl;
the stores by S.

 

It should not be forgotten that before the quilt frame’
covering came into use most hives were constructed with a
bee-space between the frame bars and the crown-board.
When the close*fitting quilt was adopted this space was closed,
to the detriment of the bees, in that the cluster could no longer
communicate at the spot most favorable for the purpose; ,
consequently the outer seams of bees frequently perished.

 

This trouble can always be avoided by placing one or two
4-inch strips of wood at right angles to the frames, and between
them and the quilt. Candy, when necessary, will do the
same; so also will an additional shallow story placed above ;
and this latter will ever be found to give very desirable results.

 

Tuick Top Bars,—Just note the g-inch top bar, the
thickness used in my apiaries since 1878. They do not sag at
the centre; do away almost entirely with comb attachments
above; and help to keep the queen from ascending to the
supers.

 

INVERSION OF THE Broop Comss.—About the year 1875
British bee-keepers were exercising their minds over the sup-
posed advantages of inversion; but nothing of value was
found in the practice. Ten years later the same idea cropped
up in America. Now what do we hear of it ?
264 A Modern Bee-Farm

From my Non-Swarming Pamphlet (1886) I quote the
following statement I then made in reference thereto: ‘* Much
stress has been laid upon the fact that an American bee-
keeper, who also is a supply dealer, has made and used several
thousand reversible frames. Having taken such a stride, of
course he would do all he could to maintain his position. But
in a short time his 5,000 or more of such frames will, like all
others now in use, remain unreversed, or will be entirely
thrown aside.”

 

Queen Excrupers.—After expressing my own adverse
opinion of the article it is only right I should tell you of the
very best queen excluder it will ever be in your power to
obtain. There is no patent on it, and it costs nothing. It
has been shewn up over and over again throughout these
pages, and yet, perhaps, you have arrived so far without
grasping the situation. I do not offer a substitute for queen
excluder zinc; that in itself is but a sorry substitute for the
correct method of working, and the article has come into use
simply because so many will not comprehend the exact state
of affairs. Unite, or carry out the system of doubling, at the
right time, and your bees will conduct the excluding business
right enough; they will save the expense and inconvenience
of the zinc, and give you larger profits into the bargain!

 

Eccs DELayeD In Hatcuine.—It does not follow because
eggs are deposited in the cells that the warmth of the hive
must hatch them. Such is far from being the case ; no eggs
will hatch until the workers first surround them with the pre-
paratory food upon which the tiny grub is to feed.

 

Consequently, in spring, eggs laid in drone cells are some-
times not brought to the hatching point for days or weeks
and its Economic Management. 265

after the usual three days period. There they remain just as
deposited by the queen, and as soon as favorable weather
appears the food is supplied and they are allowed to hatch.

 

Eggs that should produce workers are sometimes held over
in this way in early spring; but more frequently it happens
with these in late autumn.

 

SWARMING v. Hongey.—The apiarist who is presumably
working simply for honey must not only rigidly repress all
natural swarming but will be compelled to double up, or unite
at least two colonies into one, at the commencement of the
season if he has the least hope of securing a heavy paying
crop.

 

It is useless to attempt to vely upon any one apparently
strong colony. The certainty must be attained at one stroke,
and the act of doubling at the right time will enable him to
secure enormous crops.

 

The individual stock is too frequently relied upon, only for
the bee-keeper to find that the season is too far gone before
earnest work is really commenced.

 

Pure v. CRoss-BREEDS.—One of the greatest mistakes
the honey-producer can make is to attempt to secure the
highest profitablé results from any known pure race of bees.

 

The foreign varieties are of value almost solely as a means
of improving our stock by maintaining that high state of
vigour and excellence which always follows judicious crossing.
266 A Modern Bee-Farm

An important development in the economical production of
honey, upon which I have been working for ten years past,
promises at last to be a decided success; but as I must wait
for a full trial during the coming season, I regret that I can
not give particulars in the present edition of this work.

 

We tts’ System.—It is among the most likely of possibili-
ties that three years hence this plan will be a thing of the past.
We have only to look at the higher results obtained from single
hives to see that greater economy is secured all round by the
use of one queen only to each working stock.

 

Wipe or CLosE-END Frames have been through various
experiments under my hands since '75, and in ’78 I was
awarded a Special Prize for a hive of this class at South
Kensington. The original block is as Fig. 68, and the main
features were that the frames could be inverted as a whole ;
they had an inner side rail, while the outer ends were put on
in reverse position so that the combs could lay close against
the cage of the extractor. Another point was the arrangement
of a crate of sections undey the brood chamber, such as the
Conqueror hive now has situated in a more convenient manner
for working.

 

Quinby had great success with wide or close-end frames ;
Capt. Hetherington, one of the largest bee-keepers in America,
uses them exclusively; and besides others, we have Mr.
Heddon with his shallow chambers unknowingly following the
character of the far-famed Stewarton horizontally divided
brood chambers.
and its Economic Management. 267

With these frames the great disadvantage has been not so
much the actual contact of the frames as the fact that screws
or springs were necessary to keep all up close together to
avoid the trouble caused by the contraction or expansion of
the wood. So much for the past ; we await the developments.
of the future.

 

Metal ends for keeping brood frames equi-distant are as.
illustrated at Fig. 65. These were the invention of Mr.
W. B. Carr, and are so cheaply produced by the well-known
manufacturer, Mr. W. P. Meadows, that the cast metal ends
have been driven out of the field. Their formation permits of
using frames at two distinct distances from centre to centre,
though the fact is seldom taken advantage of, and when once
placed on the frames the set distance is retained.

 

FERTILIZATION OF QUEEN BEES IN ConFINEMENT !—Ah|}!
here is one wished-for attainment which appears never likely
to be accomplished. My experiments in this direction only
convince me that the task is hopeless, as the drone and queen
must have a full and vigorous exciting flight just prior to the
act of copulation.

 

ArtiFiciaL Heat!—What numerous and costly experi-
ments have I not conducted in this direction, extending over
the last ten or twelve years? It is both a destructive and a
helpful process. Hurtful if applied before warm weather is
really near at hand; greatly beneficial if used in a proper
manner, only afterthe bees have once hatched plenty of

young.
268 A Modern Bee-Farm

Greenhouses, coal-stoves, paraffin stoves and lamps; all
of these have I brought into requisition, and in the light of
past results all are condemned.

 

A joyous sight though it was to an enthusiast to stand in
summer heat at mid-winter and watch the hundreds of busy
workers at the artificial pollen, and rushing with their loads to
the hives as though they made sure summer was upon them.

 

But judged by the stern light of facts it remained a pleasant
experiment only, for of what value were those stocks after the
excessive unseasonable loss of life and consequent failure to
pick up when the second and real summer approached ?

 

And yet artificial heat gave me some of the most forward
stocks I ever possessed—they were up strongly in the supers
by the end of April. But it was not until March was well on
the way that they were placed upon and carefully packed
round with long stable manure. They did well right along,
and being almost exempt from all outside changes there was
nothing to hinder their very rapid progess.

 

While I am not an advocate of double packed walls in
winter, nor such arrangement even for summer, yet where
shade is provided by an independent outer case during hot
weather, very great progress is made by the bees.

 

Mr. Cheshire has repeatedly pointed out that queens
should be reared artificially instead of using those raised
under the swarming impulse, if we wish to diminish the
inclination to swarm. But I goa step farther and breed from
and its Economic Management. 269)

queens that have not swarmed, and whose parent and grand-.
parent also had neither of them swarmed. Thus only can a
non-swarming race be secured; and in this manner I have
raised Carniolans, so that the excessive swarming frequently
attributed to them has been quite unknown in my apiaries.

 

The English Journals devoted to Bee-culture are the British:
Bee Fournal and Beekeeper’s Recovd, both of which are published
at 17, King William Street, Strand, London. The most
prominent in America are The American Bee Fournal, 199,
Randolph Street, Chicago; Gleanings in Bee Culture, Medina,
Ohio; The Review, Flint, Michigan; Apiculturist, Wenham,
Mass.; and The Canadian Bee Fournal, Beeton, Ontario.

 

Dear Reader, as a parting sentence, allow me to remind
you that bee-keeping’ cannot be carried on extensively by
everyone. Success is not to be attained except by diligent
study and hard work. The earnest and enthusiastic worker
will find the pursuit give a reliable income if he will strive
to keep only young queens bred from stock showing persistent
good qualities; while additional security is offered where:
planting can be carried out in a systematic manner. I trust.
that herein you have found that I do not merely give you the.
usual and well-nigh worn-out advice, ‘‘ Keep your stocks.
strong”; but instead of then leaving you to find out for
yourself how it is done, I have placed before you the means.
_ that will enable you to attain the desired end.

FINIs.
INDEX.

 

PAGE
A
Advertising, caution in ........ 12
Apiary, covered ......... eistarsig 107.
vy —- Hous — ee eee eee eeeeee 193
» Location of ...........- 3
Apiculture, studying as a profes-
sion ..... Bisa) eeaigrere ares oe + 2, 254
Appliances, manufacture of .... 13
Artificial Heat ....-..--.-. eeee 267
Autumn Management.......... 104
Average Returns, only reliable.. 5
B

>

‘Bee Culture as a Profession ....
‘Bee-houses . :
Bee keeping, for recreation... ..
for Ladies
in South Africa ..
in windows
making a certainty

Obs sia cig e ee 2 sts Ste
with other occupa-

tions
Bees, as aids to fruit culture....
Black or Native....
best time to move ........
to purchase ....

ory ” ”

», Bumping ......seeeeevece
vy» Carniolan .......seeeeee
cy CYPTIan we ceee cece ee eeee
», Cost of Living ..........
oy) Carrying ...eeeeeeee eens

Driven ...ccavccccscecucs
how to drive ........++19,
how to handle ......
hatching ........
-»y hybrids

Ligurian
Manipulating in Frames ..
most suitable .
number to the Ib. ..
Palestine ......-eseeeeese
pure v. cross-breeds ......
» Sale of ......006-
subdued by shaking ......
cy GyTian wo cceeeecees
a, Throwing

se eeeceee

eer m eres ee seen

238
240

 

 

 
 

 

 

   

PAGE
Bees, Transfering ........ seve IQ)
» Uniting...... 22, 51, III, 171
» Winter cluster of ........ 33

» young, when commence to
work ......e00. oe0029, 30
Bee Traps is scis 2c sasax sieees 129
Benton Cage, ventilation of .... 189
a food for.......... 189
ts putting bees in 190
Borage ......eeeeeeeee 054, 55» 249
i cultivation of .......... 56
Bottled Honey..............-. 123
Breeding, commencement of.... 33
Bronchitis, treatment for ...... 220
Brood, chilled ..... BIW eewsen OF
» . when to limit .......... 32
Brood-rearing, cessation of .... 32
Butter Honey Cake .......... 223
Buying .........e.eeee sosnees 2

Cc

Candy, feeding with .......... 180
We) AMALING S c'ss sce ’siere ccasiesdios EOL
» how to mould in cakes.. 181
1 _ to form winter passage.. 263
Canned Honey ............0006 127
Capital, amount required ...... 4
Carniolan Bees........sesee00. 42
zi » temper ........ 43
4 », cross-breeding of 44
Cell Nursery............eee00. 147
Cells, formation of ............ 26
»  howstored............-. 32
» _ Special for queens ...... 34
Chickens in the Apiary ........ 249
Clover, white ...........0000. 53
0 melilot..........54, 55, 250
i Italian crimson ..... eee 55
7 NEO dgssieseccccweaanse: 50
es cultivation of ...... 56
Close spacing ..............46. 74
Colonies, number of to work.... 9
Comb-building, manner of...... 19
Comb-foundation ............ 92
Comb Honey ..........0.... 127
a » grading of........ 139
a3 » Selling ...... 141, 250
INDEX.

PAGE

141
109

Comb Honey for exhibition ....
Combs, arrangement of in winter

si distance between ...... 26
<c inversion of............ 263
icf production of new ..115, 118
in surplus...... ewes 112, 129
unnecessary in winter .. 244
Contraction of brood nest ....., 170
Cough, treatment for .......... 220
Covered Apiary, advantages of.. 198
Crates, super ............. wee 85
for bottles ......... eee 134
» +» Comb Honey ...... 140
Crops, growing suitable ...... 4
Cross bees, how to dispose of .. 19
Cyprian Bees ...... eds aeaeres 44
* » Character of...... 45

D
Dead Brood ..... $s dN bbr6 Gh reo - 63
Diseases of Bees.............. 62
Dividing for increase .......... 169
Double-walled Hives ...... 107, 268
Doubling .............005 III, 232
Driven Bees .......... 0.0004 + 214

foul brood among. :
uniting with others

» when to hive...... 216
Driving 65 WS Gparsla Wiehe aires ie «» I9
Drones, first hatching of ...... 34

a production of ........ 155
is sole use of ....... eenee 34

useless production of se » 255
Dropping floors ........ sists 235
Dry sugar feeding ...... sesone 174
Dummies, arrangement of...... 110
Dysentery, caused by neglect .. 108

‘a cureOf sissscvecsss 67
ev how induced ...... 68
ia prevention of .. 67, 69
E
Economy of the Hive....... wae 25)
Eggs, development of.......... 26

» retarded hatching of..248, 264
Expenses, estimated for two years 5
i Total first year...... 6

»  secondyear.... 7

Extracted Honey for Exhibition 135
% ie Production of 122

i Storage of .. 133

Extracting from brood combs .. 133
is preparing for ...... 128
ms rate of speed when.. 130

Extractors.......cececeseeeues 134

 

271

PAGE

F

Feeders, cold (self-acting) princi-
ple eT
» «- GFYSUgar ceseesscves
» Raynor bottle ........
» Simple Frame........
iy SYTUP! > cosde¥evees eae
Feeding, Abbott's plan ..... Soe
» by syrup-filled combs..
» dry sugar ......
» in winter .....
1 Out-doors ........e005
» when supers are on....
» With candy .....
without fenders Sigma

Fertile workers 246,
Fertilization in confinement eaahe
Fixed Combs, driving bees from
is 7 Transfering......

_ bumping ........

Flight, distance of when working
Foul Brood, Cheshire’s experi-
ments ........
Cheshire cure....
medicated food for
my own experience
simple cures ....
Foundation ............ sréveravars
es fastening i in frames. .

i for supers ........
a swarms hived upon

a wired in frames ....
Frames, comparison of ........
» covering above........

» position of in winter ..

» space below ........05

» thick top bars of ......
wide or close-end......

Fruit ‘preserved with honey. .221,

«ee 180,

: G

Ginger Honey Cake
Gloves .....esseeceee Biareiaiercters
Good Stock, how to obtain ....
Granulation, to prevent...

H

Handling Bees...........e-e0.
Heat, artificial ..........cceeee
Heather Honey ............. ‘
it i how to secure..
preparing for..
re-storing of ..
young queens
OF wisieaieaceie

176

+ 175

176
179

134

16
267
209
210
2I1
213

212
272
PAGE
Heather, moving to......... save BED.
Hives, commercial standard.... 81
» construction of...... 70, 113
». ‘Conqueror’ ..... ..6. 77
» = Covers for... cece ee ee ee 74
, Economic Standard .... 73
a How to Stock .......... IOI
»  mon-swarming .......-.. 77
Stewarton ........ 112, 136
Honey AS OO) 5. 2)s/64 Gia. oiatee os 221
»  asmedicine..... peed 219

for Bronchitis ....
» Sore Throat ..
General uses of
a staple article

extent of daily sources .. 30
how stored...... 31, 32, 218
kind to produce ........ 10

 

» late harvests of ........ 209
large yields of . acie 240
Honey Flow, signs Distances o. 254
Honey Lemonade ...... eeeeee 223
Honey, Bottled..........+e005 123
»  Canned......... Seiieiiee: 127
Wabelscsiccceweeas saa 123
» production of comb..112, 136
i % » Extracted,
II2, 122, 128, 130
A Se secret of,
48, 245, 259. 269
a ei system in.... 242
5% a with other pur-
suits...... 13
Honey Room ...... Seles +e. 194
Honey Sponge Cake .......... 222
Honey Tea Cake ...... saloga ee + 223
Honey Vinegar..... sigelneios 64's 223
House Apiaries .......eseees - 193
IJ
Increase, by dividing....... ea 169

”

”

its relation to profits .. 169
natural ............. . 170
swarming without .... 171

Introduction of Queens ........ 157

by Caging.... 157, 159

* ,, Chloroform .... 162

i” », covering with
honey...... + 163

iy av Pond’s method. . 162

” Raynor, Cheshire,
Doolittle .... 160

i Simmins’ Direct,
157, 161, 163, 167
i Virgin Queens .... 165

Inversion of brood combs ...... 263
Journals devoted to Bees ...... 269

 

PAGE

L

Ladies, Beekeeping for ..
Lamp Nursery......- eee
Legs fixed to Hives..........++
Ligurian or Italian Alp Bees....

is Character of .......-
Location, choice Of ......--+e0.

 

M

‘i Spring ......+.

svstemin ..... :
Winter ....... .
Market, preparing for..........
Mead ........---e ee asa ea eee y

104
1I0
IIz
261
106
140
223

Metal Ends, W.B.Ce .a.:ss0a0 267

Metheglin sno iatie els iouadoveseceis geese

Nuclei.........005 Sateniee aE SU,
‘i formation of..... Fete w de
» Introduction by formiag
,, Purchase of .......... a

fe)

Observatory Hive .....sseeeee
,, exhibiting in.

Over-production ....sesesseees

Over-stocking ......seseeeeees

Pp

Packing Stocks .......... 184,
is Queens ......... syaxeiera:
Swarms ....esccevesee
Palestine Bees ...... {oie paren wx
Planting for Bees ........05 53,
+ LOO Colonies saeiete''s

Pollen, absent from sections....
4 respective colors of ....

a0 substitute for .........-

» when mostly gathered ..
where stored ....seee0-
Punic (North African) Bees ....

Q

Queen Cage, virgin .........00.
Queen cells ..ccccsccsscccsees

223
46
188

170
153
I7I
163
192

250
253

15
255

187
189
Igo

58
53
30
29
30
29
30

152
INDEX.

a
PAGE

Queen excluders ..............

Queen nursery ..........0005 e

Queen rearing ........

eggs for ........

my own plans....
Temperature for,

149,

Queens, buying in nuclei ......

» Changing when diseased

i Se ee g wings of......

» ‘confining young ......

» destruction of .... 35,

 

» dying incage ...

» fertilization of ........
« fighting sicssc.scxas its
ws finding thes sssses. asia

» going with swarm .. 36,
» hatching of ........35,
» Introduction of fertile,
159,
i of virgin...
» loss of in Introduction
_» Making best use of .

» Mating of ............
» removing during honey

flow ......0. 000 243,
» retaining only young ..
ay “SOUR sae circ eds
e surplus VIPRI Sis ccc cee

two in one hive....225,
Quieting bees, agents used for..
by sweetened

water ........
Quilt, position of in winter ....
R
Returns, estimated ............

Robbing mania
” precautions against
» preventive measures ..

Ss

Sealing wax, color of .......-.
» dipping bottles in in.
Section Honey, pollen absent
HOM 6 c.0e0'e 0:0 2s wieieie ise Ha
Sections, completely divided,

91, is
» folding the ........
» forcing bees into......
» holders for ....
+ humber to start with..
os OME-piece .....e ee eeee
fs replacing after swarm-
ING weceeeee

ee eeee

264
148
143
155
144

151
192
66
239
153
37
165
267
237
158
37
37

161
165
166

50
» 154

260
260
I2
152
232
23

24
263

17
16

17

124
. 127

30
115
205
140
138

86

171

 

273
PAGE
Sections, Simmins’ glass rail.... 89
»  Three-side-cut........ 91
¥ when to remove ...... 139
Separators.....c.eeesseeeceeee QO
Science and practice .......... 246
Skep, examination of .......... 18
Smoker, position of.......... 19
PA ow touse ........-. IQ
Sore throat, treatment for...... 220
South African Bees ........ 241, 46
Spring Dwindling ............ 259
» Management .......... IIo
Stocks, buying standard ...... 192
» GXPOTtINg.... wee eee eee 188
a | DACKIDG | ccecida sos 4. 187
» unpacking ........ ieee SBE
Store Room ...... eee sere eee 140
Storifying Hives, two queens in 232
Strong Stock, what isa........ 105
Successful Honey Production .. 48
Summer Management ........ III
Sunflowers, experience with.... 250
Super Crates, space between..85, 90
i iy Slatted: asawawearne 86
ss » when to reduce
space in........ 138
Swarming, act of...........005 36
2 colony near ........ 35
as equivalent of........ 50
a uv. honey ...... 169, 265
a indiscriminate ...... 52
ia prevention of,
50, 114, 116, 235, 248, 268
without increase .... 171

Swarms, attachments for catching 121

  

», hived on foundation 97
i an » Starters...... 203
» not stinging ..... seine 2B
»  packing....... ayinciaras Igo
es securing ead one iecan 36
be starvation...... saeeee 240
weighing ........6.+. I9I
Syrian Bees Aa ceves weyers SOO AS
Syringe for filling combs ...... 180
Syrup Can, self acting ........ 179
»  Feeders..... Koeei Reeees 175
» proportions for ........ 176
», without cooking ........ 262

of bs
Throwing with fixed combs .,.. 20
Transfering .......eeceeeeeees 19
3 best time for ...... 101
i various plans of.... 103
INDEX.

24 |

274

PAGE

U
Uncapping can........+-+0+-++ 130
is knife ....... siieeieins 130
Uniting... .. cece ee ence oe0622, 106
» before the season ..... . III
»  iMautuMn .....eeeeeee L0G
», special cases of ...... w6 242

Vv

Ves sincinmovnnesen ciweaaends

Virgin Queens ........153, 154, 165

WwW
Water, as indicating honey flow 30
» method of supplying.... 193
» Most necessary ........ 30
Wax, cost of ..... eeeeeeeeeZOI, 206
,, comparative cost of...... 208
a «= EMIPACHOP sca awe weidviserewites. 200
» «Melting .....ceceeeeeeee 94
» production of.......+.... 202
vo S@aling cc cece se seescene 124
» securing foundation with.. 94

 

PAGE

Wells System, a caution ......
comparative ad-
vantages of,
232, 245,
crates for
disadvantages of
floors for.......-
on tiering plan ..
perforated dummy
fOr. cceeeeesees
results from ‘...
swarming with ..

Weighing bees ......-2+05+
Wings, worn by flying .... 31,
Windows, formation of.... 194,
Winter cluster ......
cause of loss during 241,
management ..

» period of rest in......0+
Workshop, the......-++

wenn esee

” en ecesns

eeoceee

Y

Yields, exceptional ......eeeeee
average per hive ......

 

236

266
228
231
231
236

228
227
231
Igi
260
198
262
259
106
241
193
J. H. HOWARD, MANUFACTURER

“The Model Aptary,”
HOLME, neaR PETERBORO’,

Our 1893 Catalogue

Is Now Reapy, and will be sent to any address for 2 penny

stamps. This is fully illustrated, and descriptive of every

remunerative system of Bee Management up to date. It

contains much useful information, and describes appliances

(protected by letters patent) which are not offered by any
other House.

 

Our Queen and Drone Trap

Beneath the hive floor, not only retains Drones, but brings
back every swarm to cluster under its old home.

 

OUR COMBINED

“Self Hiver” and “Super Clearer”

Is so simple that it has only to be put in position, and its
work is certain.

a Py

We have been awarded more Top Prizes and Certificates for Original Inventions

than we can here enumerate; and our Prizes, with Guarantee of ‘ SATISFACTION

GIVEN OR MONEY RETURNED,” should decide every Beekeeper—''! will give
Mr. Howard a trial.”

ee a ne

 

Twice in OpEN CompeTITION have our

BROOD & SUPER FOUNDATIONS

Been before att others; this on occasions when every manu-
facturer in Britain “turned out to the fray.”
W. P. MEADOWS,

Engineer, Fronmonger,

AND -- MANUFACTURER + OF -- BEE -+- APPLIANCES,
AONSYSTON, cercesrer.4 Os

”
’

” 6/6
|

or Hanging ‘Section Crates

if

for 21 Sections
Perforated entrance will cover when dropped.

Outer Lifts, 2/-each. Queen Excluders for 11 Frames, 1/- 20 Frames, 2/- ,

20
II
If with both floors hinged to drop rin., 2/6 extra. _

Shallow
Shallow

   

Extra Standard Bodies for 20 Frames, 2 Plain, 1 Wells Dummies 4/6 each
,

  

Se SSE

‘c 9 fitted on the W.B.C. plan, with outer cas -
The WELLS HIVE, taining twenty frames with W.B.C. ends. ane ee
metal runners, the ‘‘ Wells” perforated Dummy, two ordinary dummies, Queen Excluder,
two outer Cases, and two either Section Crates or Shallow Bodies (one of each is shewn
in illustration), Improved Roof, with new pattern Bee Escape Ventilators. Shallow Body
or Section Rack has bee space under one side, allowing them to be worked in pairs; this is

covered by quilts when working singly. A crate of Sections or Shall B i
over full size of top, could not be handled when fall. Soe yex tentang

PRICE OF HIVE (as illustration and description), 25/-

EXTRACTORS, with new Patented Improvements.

OVER 2000 MADE.

The Windsor, with Tap.. .. 45/- | The Original, with Top Cross Bar 24/-
The New Guinea .. .. .. 24/-| The Raynor... .. 4. 1... 30/-

All fitted with new Patent Steel Open Cages and Non-splashing arrangement.
Smokers, Feeders, W.B.C. Metal Ends, Metal & Wood Work of every Description.

t= CATALOGUE POST FREE. .=

 

New ideas in Wood or any kind of Metal perfected and made to order, Also
see my new Carpenter's Work Benches shewn in Catalogue,
The “CONQUEROR”

IMPROVED

NON-SWARMING HIVE AND SYSTEM.

 

A Surrey Beekeeper, writing February 29th, 1892, says—
““C—., my bee-friend, remarked he never saw Hives so
strong in Bees, and in such good condition at this time of the
year.” (Hives and Bees supplied by us.)

ABERCROMBIE Manse, St. Monans,

January 17th, 1893.
“It gives me pleasure to say a word in favor of your
Conqueror Hive. It has various good features. (1) No bees
are crushed in the manipulation of the different parts. (2) The
floor-board and all other parts can be much more easily kept
clean than any other hive I know. (3) I have found your plan
for preventing swarming quite successful. (4) The arrangement
for obtaining honey in the supers is excellent and I have ob-
tained more honey from the “ Conqueror ” than from any of my
other hives. . . . The thin sides (of outer case, then only 2
now made of Zin. stuff) are quite sufficient for the coldest winter
or the hottest summer. . . In Autumn my stock (in Conqueror)
was in first rate condition, and I have no doubt that in Spring

it will again be my best.”
(Rev.) “J. TURNBULL.”

Ss. SIMMINS,

THE SOUTHERN APIARIES,
SEAFORD, SUSSEX.
STOCKS, SWARMS, QUEENS, NUCLEI,
WITH OR WITHOUT HIVES.

The Season of 1892 will long be remembered by the
Beekeepers of the North as the cold, stormy, and almost
honeyless season. Many had to feed all through, or simply
let their Bees die. And yet where other Bees did nothing,
in the same apiary Bees received from us starting as mere
nuclei in June were the only ones to store a surplus.

‘« STANLEY, N.B.,
 Fuly 25th, 1892.

“You will remember I got from you 4 lots—2 Carniolan and 2 Ligurian,
beginning of last July—on 6 frames each. Last season was extremely bad; I
sent all my bees to heather, and those I got from you were the only ones that
came home heavier than when sent. . Isold one Carniolan and one
Ligurian. . . . My Carniolan swarmed on the 26th May (the first and
earliest in this district). The ‘ top’ swarm has a super of 21, the sections all
but finished, and a super below full of Bees (for heather).

“The Ligurians have not swarmed, but are on two supers, one of them
finished, the other nearly so.

“D, FENTON.”

‘* COALBROOKDALE, SHROPSHIRE,
“ August 24th, 1892.
‘“The Black crossed with Carniolan I had from you last August has
broken the record here—srlbs from super, ‘‘such slabs of Honey," with
several pounds left in brood chamber.
“W. MARSHALL.”

‘EpNEy, STONEHOUSE, GLOs.,
“ September 30th, 1892.
“I had two queens from you two years ago; they have done well,

and have been my best this season. Would like the same again (a Cyprian-
cross) if you have such to part with.
“0. KNIGHT.”

“ TaNRAGO, BALLISODARE, IRELAND,
“ August 20th, 1892.
‘The four nuclei (sent May a have done well. I had aswarm from
each, and one has given some surplus besides. Your Bees are wonderful
breeders and good tempered.
“RJ. Vv.”

 

S. SIMMINS,:
The Southern Apiaries, SEAFORD, SUSSEX.
LIBERAL DISCOUNT TO THE TRADE.
WHY I ICS K Envelopes
& Stamps ?
Use Simmins’ Effective Sanitary -

Postage Damper

And discontinue this unpleasant practice.

 

 

 

(PROTECTED.)

 

 

Self-contained—Direct in action—Simple—Clean—Effectual—
No Brushes—No Rollers—Only the paper handled.

 

This little apparatus which is so simple, yet direct and certain in its
application, fills a void long felt by-all, whether they have little or much
correspondence. — . : : / ‘

Licking the gum on Envelopes, Stamps, etc., is not by any means a
process which commends itself to the refined tastes of this century, though
until now has been put up with as a distaseful, if not a disgusting necessity.

- Srmmins’ Damper is introduced in a most simple form, puposely to meet.
the requirements of the general public. It has a convenient reservoir for
water, and will damp any varying thickness as needed, whether wrappers,
folded papers, or envelope enclosures. 2 ;

A great feature is that a more vapid and perfect adhesion is secured than by
the disagreeable practice of licking, while it is remarkable that less pressure
is afterwards required.

 

DIRECTIONS FOR USE.

First nearly fill the water vessel; replace the cover, and in a few seconds
the damping pad is fully saturated ready for use. g =

EnvELopEs.—Turn the flap back, and while resting the gummed portion
upon the shaped side of damping pad, pass the fore-finger of the right hand
rapidly over the same. ;

Stamps.—Use these in strips held in right hand. Damp the envelope

‘corner under firm pressure, or the stamp with light quick pressure, pressing

on with left-hand while at the same time tearing off with the right hand.

PostacE Wraprers.—Fold round as usual until near the gummed line,
hold over pad and run the fore-finger quickly along the margin above gum.

 

The Official - - 1/6.| The Little Gem - 1/-

ANY SIZE MADE TO ORDER FOR ANY PURPOSE.

 

Can be had through all Stationers and Fancy Wavehousemen,

— OR OF —

S. SIMMINS, SEAFORD, LEWES.
= BER APPLIANCE & COMB-FOUNDATION
MANUFACTURER,

THE APIARY, POTTER’S BAR.

ees

THE EMPORIUM FOR BEE-KEEPERS’ REQUISITES.

GRDERS PROMPTLY EXECUTED.

 

 

CHEAPNESS and QUALITY combined. CATALOGUES FREE.

 

Sell your Honey at Home at Good Prices!

 

-READY IN APRIL. SAMPLE COPY FREE.

 

1888.] [REVISED, 1892.

HONEY AND ITS USES;

A short Treatise interesting to all,

SHEWING

HOW HONEY IS GATHERED

AND
HARVESTED BY THE TON.
Sg

New Edition—8 page Pamphlet. Issued at a ridiculously
Low Price, to enable Honey Producers to distribute them
freely.

S. SIMMINS, SEAFORD, SUSSEX.