Author: Biggie, Jacob
Title: Biggie bee book
Place of Publication: Philadelphia

Copyright Date: 1909

Master Negative Storage Number: MNS# PSt SNPaAg084.7

.,-r ■*tA»Mf&9ii>,

'^ j™**! -War 51"^^,"

<1480620>*OCLC* Form:mono2 inputJAG Edit:FMD

008 ENT: 980325 TYP: s DT1: 1909 DT2: LAN: eng

035 (OCoLC)38116623

037 PSt vSNPaAg084.7 $bPreservation Office, The Pennsylvania State

University, Pattee Library, University Park, PA 16802-1805
090 00 SF523 $b.B6 $crbM6161771
090 20 Microfilm D344 reel 84.7 $cmc+(service copy, print master, archival

master)
100 1 Biggie, Jacob.
245 10 Biggie bee book $ba swarm of facts on practical bee-keeping, carefully

hived $cby Jacob Biggie.
260 Philadelphia $bW. Atkinson Co. $c1909.
300 136 p. $bill. $c14cm.
490 0 Biggie farm library.
500 Includes index.
533 Microfilm $bUniversity Park, Pa. : $cPennsylvania State University

.^HlQQft .^p1 mirmfilm reel : 35 mm. SffUSAIN state and local literature

preservation project. Pennsylvania) $f(Pennsylvania agricultural

literature on microfilm).
590 Archival master stored at National Agricultural Library, Beltsville, MD

: print master stored at remote facility.
590 This item is temporarily out of the library during the filming process.

If you wish to be notified when it returns, please fill out a Personal

Reserve slip. The slips are available in the Rare Books Room, in the

Microforms Room, and at the Circulation desk.
650 0 Bees.

830 0 USAIN state and local literature preservation project. $pPennsylvania.
830 0 Pennsylvania agricultural literature on microfilm.

^ « t if I, 1^*9^

^•mA 'V.if- i«i lOiii -ix^m^. «-5«r'

The Edwin J. Anderson

A Pin TTT.^TT 13 A T

T T 1^ ~-i

r. '■-> -x y-

•^ x^ -^l*JL2w-LJ -LJ J.J«i^^w^^_^ _

State College, Ponnsvivania

//

I

ift of

Ldwin J . Anderson

The
Pennsvlvania
State University

- Libraries

WITH A QiJUV VEIL, SMOKER AND GLOVES, YOU MAY DEFY

THE worker's sting

(

^

\

G

C

le Bee j^

o

o

^

■jBWiB&inHWWiiiffiiirTiiiiiWHl aMt^*gimimmmi\mmi»

/ '1

A SWARM OF FACTS ON PRACTICAL BEE-
KEEPING, CAREFULLY HIV^ED

BY

JACOB bic;c;lp:

ILLUSTRATED

^0 ivork (he honey hee^^ creatures, that h\ a rule in nature teach
the art of order to a peopled kingdom. — Shakespeare.

Philapelphia

WILMER ATKINSON CO.

1909

WITll A liUOU VKIL. SMoKKR AND (.loVKS, YOl MAY DEIY

THE WORKER'.S ijTING

I

I

I

ff

^7.^

\

c

-A

\.F RiK /<

O

o

4

• riU'iiiMilglBfiW

A SWA KM Ol FACTS ()\ PKAC'TU'AL HKK
KKEIMNC;, CARKFl LL^ HINKO

BY

|.\C'()B HK.CLK

I I.I, is IK A ri.i>

So ivork the /loney /7Y<, ttcitutrs that h\ a rule h: nature teuih
the iitt 'if ot litf to a fndpleJ iivirJom. SHAk'KsrF.ARE.

Phh.ahei.phia

WILMF.R ATKINSON CO.

1909

»IHinKW^WiP«p.pi]iwi I I ■

Intentional second exposure

1

i

Copyright, 1909.
WiLMKR Atkinson Co.

PREFACE

As long as I can remember, even as a boy,
there were bees kept on our farm. Father, early
in his career as a successful farmer, recognized the
importance of keeping bees on the place, and this
not alone because of the delicious honey they pro-
duced, but rather because their presence meant the
proper fertilization of the fruit blossoms.

It is not surprising, therefore, that Harriet, my
good wife, to say nothing of Tim and Martha, are
all deeply interested in the apiary out in the apple
orchard.

Honey has become such a necessary part of our
daily diet, especially during the fall and winter when
griddle-cakes are in order, that we should be lost
without it.

Our fifty colonies of bees, though reciuiring but a
small part of our time, have paid us a larger return
than any other stock on the i)lace, and we would
as soon part with our team of faithful greys, whose
steady steps I have frequently followed behind the
plow, as to part with our bees.

Not only as a ])redigested food has honey found
a i)lace ui)on our table, but in the treatment of
colds and throat troubles we have found it to be
invaluable.

If there are any so-called secrets in the art of
beekeeping, they are fully exposed in the following
treatise, and it is my earnest desire that the reader
may learn to his profit.

Most of the photographs herein reproduced
have been taken by Tim. especially for this little
volume.

(5)

I iBIWiiii![ii*iWiW^iai»«iiiWWiit"iiaiiiiii»i!iHii

G

BIGGLi: BEE BOOK

The book is written noi only for the profes-
sional beekeeper, although hv will hnd within its
lids much that will be new to him and much that he
has in his experience proved, but also for the
farmer and others interested in rural life who are
beekeepers on a small scale, and for those who have
not as yet become the happy owners of these in-
teresting httle people.

It IS a mistaken notion to suppose that bees are
naturally vindictive, and prone to sting, as the
opposite is the truth; for if one will but avoid doing
consciously or unconsciously those things which
irritate the bees, he will, in the language of my old
r.end the late Rev. Lorenzo Langstroth, the
ather of American beekeeping, "Need to have
ittle more fear of the stings of his bees than the
Horns of his favorite cow. or the heels of his faith-
ful horse. '

If one is timid, however, the use of bee veil
gloves and smoker will enable the beginner to
avoid being stung at all.

My readers will doubtless be surprised to know
that there are localities where bees are not kept
which would bring in splendid returns to those
who will keep them; and even on the roofs of city
dwellings hives are kept with success, their busy
denizens laying tribute upon almost impossible
sources for their honey.

My endeavor has been to eliminate from this
book all useless material and proved failures in
both methods and implements, give to the reader
the cream ..f it all. and outline onlv methods that
are up to date and successful.

JACOB BIGGLE.

Klmwood.

CONTENTS

Chapter I.
Chaitkr II.
Chapter III.
Chapter IV.
Chapter V.
Chapter VI.
Chai»tkr VII.
Chapter VIII.
Chapter IX.
Chapter X.
Chai'ter XT.
Chapter XII.
Chapter XIII.
Chapier X IV.

CU M'l IK X\'.

Chap PER X \ i

Cl! MTTI: Wl I

Chapter XVI II
Chapier XIX.

page

Reasons for Keeping Bees .... 9

What Race to Keep 15

How to Make a Start 21

Hives and Implements 27

Spring Manipulation ZZ

Swarms and Swarming 43

Comb and Extracted Honey ... 53

(^ueen Rearing and Introducing . . 61

Out Ai)iaries. Moving Bees. . . 69

Bee Stinj^s. Remedies 75

How to Winter Bees 79

Diseases of Bees 87

Mnemies of liees 9'

Honey as a InmmI 95

Honey as a Medicine 103

Beeswax 1 09

Honey Plants i 1 ^

Marketing Honey 123

Beekeepers' Calendar 127

(7)

i;

Chapter I

>
<

H
I

U

Z

<

<

<

o

a

S

<

REASONS FOR KEEPING BEES

O velvet bee, you re ii dusty fellow, you've powdered your
legs with go Id / — Jean Inge low.

If for no otluT reason than to in«;iirc the proper

punctu

(9>

r^-

. -fe

<

.f '. »»

■A

A

fi

■j^

<

r.

■ji.

<

o

a.

CllAI'TKK f

REASONS I'OR KI'Ja'lXG BEES

O velvet I't-e, you' re a dusly fe/hw, you'x^e poivJered your
le^s with i^olil ! — jfan Intjt'low.

If for no oilur rrasoii than to insure tlic proper
fertilization of fruit and other l)h)ssonis every lar-
mi-r, fruit ,^r(»\vcr or uardrncr should keep a few
bees upon his ^rouncN.

In our hahit of re^ardin^^ beekeeping from the
commercial standpoint, and measuring its ])rofit
S()lel\ by the amount of honey produced, many
of us have overlooked the real mission of the

h

lonev-bec i n

1 i f

( )

which is properlx

pollenize our blossom^.

In lookinu at the

\ o

bod.
disco\ cr

I the 1

)ee

we

tl

lat u IS

coated all o\iT with a
fu/./.v down, to whieh

adheres the pollen oi
the bloss(nii it enters

ni <|iieNt ot nectar, a

Ui

as the
lea\ es
itl

itlle

1.11

< »w

I I <; OF WOKKFK WV.V .
WW I oil. IN l> r,\l<h'l I l» • 'N IIIK

1 1

1 e

bl

0'>s( »ni

»"UZ/.V DOWN

arnes tile

With a spiral motion, it uneonseiou- 1\ e
polK-u from the anthers <»f tlu- blos^Min to its
-ti.uina. and performs .m imp<»;tam work which all
p-io-date horticulturists ha\e provi-il.

ntirch mistaken notion tliat bees

u

b

rom an c

puncttire fruit, some fruit growers liave been an-

(!»)

liSfTENTIONAL SECOND EXPOSURE

10

l{l(iGLE BEE BOOK

■n

}

REASONS FOR KEF.l'ING BEES

11

tagonistic to the keeping of bees by their neighbors,
and httle knew that by so doing they were opposing
their own best interests.

Frequently a liornet, wasp or other insect has
with its strong mandibles punctured a grape, peach
or other fruit, and after taking its fill, has gone its
way leaving the sweet juice to continue to exude;
then the little bee. coming along and finding the
puncture, has taken a sip, and being observed
when so doing, has but confirmed the opinion in
the mind of the observer that bees are " injurious
to fruit."

Bees have no organ sharp or strong enough to
accomplish the puncture of fruit, unless it be their
sting, and we know absolutely that this organ is
never used for that purpose; so bees are surely
innocent of the charge brought against them. The
late Lorenzo Langstrotli. who more than any other
man had carefully observed the habits of the honey-
bee, once made an experiment that forever silenced
all opposers on the subject. He selected a bunch
of nice ripe grai)es. carefully placed it in a hive
of bees, right over the centre of a strong colony,
and left it there for several days, and when he re-
moved it he was overjoyed to find that not a grape
had been harmed or pierced.

In a number of states, conventions of fruit
growers have discussed this question pro and con,
and have acknowledged that the keeping of bees
was an important factor in the production of fruit.
The main damage is done to fruit by birds, and
other insects than bees, as proved by the fact that a
viney.'ird or orchard in close proximity to wood-
land seems to suffer most. The United States
Apicultural Station was instructed in 1885 to test

4

the matter thoroughly, by shutting up bees with
sound fruit, and the results conclusively showed
that the bees were innocent.

Some years ago in California the fruit growers
raised such a protest that the beekeepers of that
locality were com])elled to move their bees from
the neighborhood; but when the fruit growers found
the following season that their output was greatly
reduced, they were glad enough to implore the
beekeepers to bring their bees back again, with the
result that the output went back to its original
quantity.

Up in Schenectady County. N. Y.. the heart of
the buckwheat country, a man who made it a busi-
ness to go around in the fall threshing the buck-
wheat, by machme. declared that when he got into
the area that was visited by the bees from one of
the largest apiaries in the state, the buckwheat was
larger and finer than that of other sections where
bees were not in evidence. Yet, strange to say.
some of the farmers of that section were inclined
to think that the bees robbed the buckwheat of
something which the beekeeper had no right to
take.

Everyone realizes that in recent years it is a
hard matter to get red clover seed that is strong in
power of reproduction, and this is due to the fact
that the little bumblebee has in certain sections
of the country become extinct, owing to the break-
ing up of its habitat in the meadows. The corolla
blossom of the red clover is too deep for the
ordinary bee to reach the nectar, and the result is
that it seldom visits it. and much of it is not prop-
erly fertilized.

Until recent years Germany was a large buyer

II

12

BIGGLE BEE BOOK

RKASONS FOR KKKl'l NO BEES

U

of our red clover seed, and a few years ago that
government sent to this country a commissioner
to secure thousands of humblebees for introduction
in that country, and some of us recall how the boys
up in New York state were kept busy catching
these little bees for him, with the result that Ger-
many now largely raises its own red clover seed.
The disappearance of the bumblebee in some
sections has led the Agricultural Department at
Washington, D. C, to experiment along the line
of increasing tlie length of the tongues of the
ordinary honey-bees, so that they would visit the
red clover bloom and thus insure its proper fer-
tilization, to say nothing of securing from this
source the millions of pounds of honey that every
year remain unharvested; and the results were so
satisfactory that a large number of queen-bee breed-
ers are selling the well-known " long-tongue red
clover queens," whose bees work on red clover and
secure some of the richest honey and insure a
strong and vigorous seed for the coming season.
There have been cases where fruit growers have
located many miles away from bees, and though
their trees blossomed abundantly, no fruit was
produced until bees were brought into the vicinity
At Morganville, N. J., Mr. J. F. Becker who has
nearly three acres in glass hothouses, some vears
ago conceived the idea that if he could securr the
pollmation of cucumber blc^soms in tl,, months
of February and March he could over. nni. th,-
climatic advantage of Florida and put into the New
York markets cucumbers that would bring too-
notch prices.

At that season of the year it would have been
lolly for him to expect that the bees would be fly-

i

\

.'V #^

ing; so to overcome this, he placed in each of his
greenhouses a hive of bees, and lured forth by the
genial atmosphere they fairly swarmed from blos-
som to blossom, and as a result enabled him to
produce the goods. The bees, however, seemed
unable to find their hives again, and died from
butting against the glass top of the hothouses, so
that it was necessary
for him to buy new
bees each season ;
but this was a small
item of expense
compared with the
tremendous crops of
cucumbers he annu-
ally produced.

Professor Liberty
Bailey of Cornell
University declares
thai *' bees .'ire much more efificient agents of pol-
lination than wind, and their ab.sence is always
deleterious." Other authorities have experimented
by tying a bag around a branch of blossoms until
the pollination period had passed, and although the
tree bore abundantly on other branches, no fruit
was produced by the bloom that had been secluded
from the bees.

riirre are other considerations besides the (jues-
tion of fruit bloom that make beekeeping a delight-
ful adjunct to other farm work — namely, the honey
produced and the real pleasure of working among
bees.

BEE FERTILIZING CUCUMBER BLOSSOM

1

i

t

\

Chapter ! I
WHAT RACE TO KEEP

A>^/ (ifiy kind of bees and they' II keep you.— \\a\x\&\.

In (jrdcr to manage bees successfully, it will
be well to understand a little of tbeir life history.

The common honey-bee belongs to the order
Hymenoptera or membranous winged insects, in
the family Apid.x. several types of which compose
it_such as Apis or hive-bee, Bond)Us the humble-
bee, and Xylocopa the carpenter-bee, Megachile or
leaf-cutter, and Melipoma the stingless-bec of South

America.

Our common bee is Apis mellifica, and is scat-
tered all over the country, having been originally
imported from Europe in the seventeenth century.

In each hive or colony of bees there are between
twenty and f(»rty thousand worker bees, with one
queen, and in the spring of the year drones or male
bees may be present in large numbers.

The queen bee. easily distinguished by her un-
usually long tapering body, is the only perfectly
developed female in the hive, and thus she is the
mother of tin- family, laying as many as three ()r
four thousand eggs in twenty-four hours and living
to be three and four years old. Usually she mates
but once, with a drone on the wing, from which
union her eggs are fertilized for life. She is m no
sense a 'jueen as regards royalty, and there is no
evidence that the workers regard her as havmg
royal traits or prerogatives, although some romantic
writers have attempted to prove it; on the contrary

(15)

jjiiTMpi^Mwnriiiiirritfi.

Cn.\i'ri:i< 1 I

WHAT l^\l■l•: to kkkt

Keep nnv khuf of bees .imf they' II keep you. — \ liirnct,

I

n orcKr to nianaj4<-'

)C'cs success

full'

It \V1

11

»(• \vc

to nn<

Ki-^tand a little of tlu-ir lite history.

Tlir common hoiu\ hci- belongs to the onler

iftflMMlBWfTMiWWinilfcl

11 \ iiienoptcra or imMiihranons w

iiiLieil insects, in

the family Apid.'O. several typrs ot

\v

hid

1 compose

such as

Ai

pis or nive-hec

P)Oinl)ns the hunihle

hie. and Xylocopa tlu- car])eni«r hee. Mei^achile or
leaf-cutter, and Melipoiua the stiu.nles.s hee of South

nierica.

O

ur CO

mmon hee is Apis niellitica. and is scat

terec

1 all

«\er

ll

u- coiinirv. ha\iiu

imported from lMiroi)e in the seventi-enth century

heeii oriyinallv
th

1

n (."ai

h 1

mi' or colonv < >f hee^

tlur

e an-

hit

ween

twenty and forty

thon^aixl worker he<s. with one

lie mes or mah

(lueen. and in tin- sj^nni; ol the > ear drones or mali
hees may he i)reseiit in larue mimhei

us

'i'l
uall

le <|

|Ueen h*-e. < as

Iv distinguished hy her

un

\ loll Li tape nil:

l)0(h

Is

the onl\ i)erfectly

e is

tl

le

developed female in the hive. an<l ih'is >li
nnttlur of the fainil\. la\in:4 as maii\ as three ot

f

our ihoUsaiH

1 e.n;

's in tweiitx four hours am

ll livi

UK

to he ihne and 'our year- o

1(1 I'snallv she mates

hut once, with a drone on the win.ii. irom w

hich

union

her

euns

are fertilized for life. She is in no

srilsr a •

lUeen as reLi.'irds royalty, a

nd there is no

•vidence that the workers re.uard her as Itavin^

h

roval traits or prerogative

althou«,di some romantic

writer? ha\e attempted to i)rove it; on the ccuitrary

(15)

.■y^.. , ,^. ,>^-.

.^^•(f^ ;•;.'-, if.v.f^

If^TENTION AL ^ECOND EXPOS URE

16

i{i(;GLK JJKK ]}()0K

she is sininlv merit-. i i i

""t be rcplaocl, and 'u : f ""Vf ■^'■^' -"

prompts (ho workers t„ t-.i- l^nowlcdBc that

She deposits 1 e;Ji:.'s ;,,:''[;^'-f «- of her.

and in twentv-„nc d-,vs (1,?; n °"'' '" "'^' "'"s.

comes forth.- At t n ■ 1 "l' '."■■"'"■^■'' '^"rke;

abdon.cn in a cerai position H ' '^>' . '"^'ding her

-''-'' ..ro<h,ce drone' b':"',5"r "''^Tf"'-' '^^^
twenty-four davs f„r tl„,l " UMially takes

Sometimes CO ony:-,;^^" '" '''''''^''•

. "^ '"" '^<:come qiieenlcss. and

*?^-^-^#^-^^£r. .,71 ,"■'". '■'■"H-dy it hy se.

Mi<<ii[i&^ ''■""*-' ''^^-^ "'••'t were

""^•"•'^■d to produce
;voi-kers, and, by en-
■•rKm.ij their celks and
feeding them a stimu-
Jlatue food known as
royal jelly." pro.
fi''oc from them other

WHAT K.\l.l. lU KKEP

17

K<'0 TO niRTU

'l."eens (in which case the T, '"'"' "'^^'" "«'H-r
-xteen days fron, the h " the •"^''' '"" "' "''"nt

The drones eontribute to , ^'^' '""' '«'d^-
•-•.nd are per.nit.cd to r "m- h, ' r''"""""' "^ "'c hive.
"""= as the honey fl^;"' ' '"''^"'rbed until such
over, and are then de roved' "?""*^ "'''°" 's
h've by the little worker? Th'' /"''" ^^"'" "'^
'"Ks and gather no ho, ev Jh ","'' ''^^^ ""

'■fc beutg to fertilise v i "'i^' ;"■ '"^' P-H-n.,. i„

The average life of , , 'H'cens.

as they liierallv work U, ,■■ '' ^''O'-t five weeks

or .he drone.^ I Mp o;';"e" '^ 'r'' -"' -

'■"- << the workers 'dM nt ^ 7"'^ "ve sonte

business. "'^ ""t put them out of

One would think thof -.

'""IK tiiat amonc snrli - , ■

•k sucn a mu titude

(

of bees, everything would be chaos, but just tlie
reverse is the case. The young bees for the first
few days of their existence act as nurse bees .ind
feed the unsealed larvae a mixture of pollen and
honey, and do not venture from the hive till several
days old, and then only take occasional play-spells
flying near the entrance to their home. As they
grow older they venture farther from home, and
soon become field bees in every sense, gathering
nectar, propolis or bee-glue, pollen and water.

There are many races of bees, and their racial
characteristics are as pronounced as the dominant
traits of different races of the human family. Some
are noted for their gentleness, others are more
prone to swarming, while others are vicious of
temper.

In such a limited treatise it will not be possible
to go into an exhaustive account of the various
races, but rather will I call attention to races of
acknowledged merit, for the average beekeeper
is not interested in freaks or costly experiments.

Common Black or German Bees. — These bees
need little de-
s c r i ]) t i o n. as
they are found
in almost every
locality and are,
as their name
implies, black.
They are much
inclined to rob,
are very nervou"^
under manii)ula-
tion. running all over their combs and falling in
bunches on the grass. They are easily discour-

giJi':i:N IN (i:NrHir, dhunk »»n lf.ft,

\Vf)KKKK AT KKiHT

18

BIGT.LK BEE BOOK

\VH \T RACF TO KKF.P

19

a^ed, and more prone to allow the bee-moth to
ravage their combs than the \ellow races, and have
the nasty habit of flying directly at one who
approaches their hives. The beekeeper had better
pass this race by, and select another that has more
desirable traits of character.

Carniolans. — These large grey bees are origi-
nally from the cool alpine regions of Carniola,
Austria, and are remarkably gentle and the pro-
ducers of the best comb-honcv ever seen. Thev are

FKOM VA.r, Tf) MNISHKI) WORKER

very prolific, rearing much brood, and owing to
their hardiness are afield in the morning long be-
fore other races, and work later in the afternoon.
These bees have many desirable traits; the only
fault that can be found with them is that they are
great swarmers, but with proper precautions this
can b'j held in check.

Italians. --Perhaps nine-tenths of professional
beekeepers keep bees of the Italian race, as they
seem to possess, in a larger measure than any

others, all desirable traits. They are not only very
gentle, but. being of a bright golden hue, are
beautiful to behold. This race is very quiet when
handled, and will not run all over their combs as
do the blacks; and seldom sting unless provoked to
it. They are rarely ravaged by the bee-moth, and
defend their hives well from robber bees. If prop-
erly cared for in the matter of ventilating and
shading their hives, they are not much given to
swarming.

Caucasians and Banats. — These two races of
bees are of recent introduction into the country, and
are noted for their great gentleness and energy
in gathering honey.

There are other races, such as the Cyprians,
Holy Lands. Syrians, etc., from the region of the
Mediterranean Sea; but so vicious are their tempers
that few have dared to keep them, despite the fact
that they are great honey gatherers.

Taking all things into consideration, the begin-
ner will make no mistake in adopting the Italian
bees, and then as he becomes acquainted with them
he can occasionally buy queens of other races and
try them in comparison.

The writer has tried many different races and is
compelled to say that all things c(Misidered the
Italian bee is the best general-purpose bee to keep.

lȴiWfillinWHir>i m^

IS

btgcij: bkk book

WH A I KACI I() KI.I.I'

H)

a^c<l. atxl more prone t<» allow the bee-moth lo
ravage their emiih-^ than the > ellow races, and have
the na^^ty hahit o|' llyinj^ directly at one who
ai)])roaches thi ir hi\e>. I'he heekeei)er had better
pass tlii> race 1)\. and >elect anotbei' that lia-> more
desirable trails oi character.

Cakmof.ans. — These lar^e grey bees arc origi-
nally from the cool ali)ine regions of Carniola,
Anstria. and are n-markably gentle and the pro-
dncers of the best comb-honev ever seen. Thev are

others, all desirable trait:

T\

lev are not onlv verv

IKOM i:»,r. TO iiMSiivi) \\ orkI'I?

very j)rolttic. rearing nmcli brood, and owing to
their hardiness are afield in the morning long be-
fore other races, and \\orl< later in the afternoon.
Tlu'se bee-> ha\e many desirable traits: the only
faidt that can Ijc foinul with them is that they are
great swarnier^. bnt with propi-r precautions this
can b" held in check.

li Ai.i.\.\s.- I\'rhai)s nine-tenths of professional
beekeei)ers keep bees of ijie Italian race, as they
seem to ])ossess, in a larger nuasiire than any

•■.-.•<«fw.-f«

mmmmmmttL

gentle, bm. being of a bright golden hue. are
beam i ltd to bchcild. This race is very (pnet when
handled, and will no< run all o\i'r their combs as
do the blacks; and seldom sting unless i)ro\-oke(l to
it. They are rarely ravaged by the bee-moth, and
defend their hives well from robber bees. If prop-
erly cared for in the matter of ventilating and
shading their hives, they are not much given to
swarming.

Caucasians a.\i» Baxats. — These two races of
bees are of recent introduction into the countr\. and
are noted for their great gentleness and energy
in gathering hone\.

There are otlur races, such as the Cyprians,
Holy Lands. Syrians, etc., from the region of the
Mediterranean Sea: but sf) vicious arc- their tempers
that lew have dared to keei> them, despite tlie fact
that they are great honey gatherers.

Taking all things into consideration, the begin-
ner will make n<t mistake in adopting the Italian
bees, and then as he becomes accpiainted with them
lie can occasionally bu\ (pieeus of other races and
try them in comparison.

The writer has tried many ditYereiit races and is
compelled to say that all things considered the
Italian bee is the best general-purpose bee to keep.

i^ti I ii*fMyii:i.«»iHii<iii<iiEiWiiiar«*iiiMJ''i>wi*iiw

(l^tENTIONAL SECOND EXPOSURE

A (JLASS-SIDEI) "OBSERVATION IIIVE" IS IJOTH A
PLEASURE AM) A (IKEAT HELP IN STUDYING

YOUR HEES

Chaptp:r III

HOW TO MAKE A START

Hindsight is better than foresight, therefore, start right.

— Farmer Vincent.

There are several ways in which the reader may
make a start keeping boes. One way is to buy a
few hives of bees from a neighboring beekeeper,
or a dealer, and with the aid of new hives make
artificial increase by dividing and shaking the bees.

Another way is to purchase bees in old box hives
in the fall, and in the spring transfer them to
modern hives.

A third way is to buy a complete apiary, a
method I should not advise; for, apart from the
expense involved, it would be the height of folly
to invest a lot of money in such an enterprise,
without the requisite experience.

The best way is to start on a small scale and
increase your colonies as you become more ex-
perienced, and in two or three years you will be
able to handle successfully many colonies, whereas
at the beginning they would but result in failure.
It It is the purpose to make beekeeping a profes-
sion, then spend a season or two in the yards <)f :i
successful beekeeper; thus the beginner will learn
more in one season than by years of unaided work.

By all means get the bees into modem liives as
soon as possible, for by so doing disease can be
avoided and the work of the apiary carried on
expeditiously. The various methods of transferring
are treated in the chapter on Spring Manii)ulation.

(21)

A r.I.ASS SIDKl) " OUSKRVATION IIP K" IS i:()TII A
PLKASl KK AND A <;KKA1 II KM' IN SlUDVINc;

VOIR i;ki:s

Chaptkk III

now TO MARK A SI ART

Hindsii^ht is better than foresight, t/ierefort-, start ri^ht.

— I'ariiu'r Xincent.

'lliere arc several ways in wliicli the reader may
make a start keei<iiiK bees. One way is to buy a
few hives of bees from a nei^liborinj^^ beekeeper,
nr a dealer, and with the aid <•! new hives make
artifieial increase by dividinj^^ and shaking the bees.

in
m

Another way is to j)nrehase hees m old box hives
the fall, and in the sprin^^ transfer them to
odern hives.
A third way is to buy a eomi)lete apiary, a
method I should not advise: for. apart from the
Ived it would be the heij^ht of folly

exi)ense invo

to invest a lot ol money ni such an enterprise

w

ithout the re(piisite experience

The best wav is to start on a small scan

am

1

increase vour colonies as yon become more ex

>erienced. and in two or three years you wi

ill be

able tn handle success

lullv manv colonies, whereas

It the bei;iniiin^^ they w«nild but resu

It in failure

If it is the purpose

to make beekeepniL; a protes

sion. then spend a season o

r two in the yards of a

success

ful beekeeper: thus the beginner will learn

mo

re in one season than l^y years o

f unaided work.

P>V all means ^et tlir bee

into modern hives as

b

soon as possible, for by so doin.^ disease can l)i
avoided and the work of the a])iary carried on
expeditiously. The var

are tr*.

ions methods of transferrin^^
ited in the chapter on Sprin^^ Manii)ulation.

(21)

I .^-mmim iJi** .MNlliiiM-ffM-^. n -| iilii<ir.ww»*-«

iggjjSa"---^-

22

BICGLK BKK JJOOK

The profits of heckeepiiiR will dcp. „<! upon
three th,ngc.__the adaptability 'M the man to the
work the nietliod.^ pursued, and the number of
bees kept in a favorable loeality.

Wliiie It is true that the question of locality will
have an important bearing upon the amount of
profit to be derived, yet this can be very easily
controlled by not overstockintr the neighborhood
and by the use of out apiaries. AlthouKrh i„ niost
sections it wouKl br unwise to keep more than
one hundred colonies in each vard. yet bv a system
of out apiaries, located from three to 'five miles
from the home yard, one can run several hundred
colonie^s, ,t capital and exi)erience are back of them
(bee Chapter IX for details.)

There are of course sections of the country
vvhere buckwheat and alfalfa bloom in abundance
allowing several hundred hives to be kept in one
yard, but these are not the average conditions For
instance, Mr. E. VY. Alexander, of Delanson.N.Y.,

runs nearly eight hun-
dred colonies all in
one yard and pro-
duces honey by the
car-load, his crop one
.vc'.'ir running up to

l.l»-Ul HI NDKKI) MIVESOP nKPS IN "*-*'''"ly eighty tllOU-

ONK YARD. IMK HH . S HAVINf; A( CKSS Saiul pOUUds Oriuci-

T0 5,cx>0 ACRES OF hUCKWHHAT ^,11, ; "' < PHUCl

K,,* :, , , P'"'> •''oni buckwheat;

•>^'t 1 mu.t be rcmu-mbered that his location is
exceptional. l>,eekeeping. however, can be iru e a
success in almost any section of the co in trv ere
agricultural pursuits are successiullv carried o
and a fine margin of profit can be der'ived

The number of pounds of honey produced by

How TO

MAKE A START

2:^

each colony will dcpnul laiK^^ly >'l'"" ^1^^' strength
of the colony when the flow comes on, and the
ability of the beekeeper to have his colonies in good
condition for the flow is what means success.

The question of whether comb or extracted
honey is to be produced, has very little bearing on
the actual profit per colony, for although comb-
honey will bring nearly twice as much per pound
as the extracted honey, yet a colony will produce
nearly double the number of pounds of extracted
honey, so that the actual profit per colony will
be about the same.

There are some advantages in producing ex-
tracted honey (notablv that of swarm control),
which accounts for the fact that perhaps the major-
ity of professional beekeepers adopt this method,
a further discussion of which will be found under
the chapter on Comb and l':xtracted Honey.

Roughly speaking, taking one season with an-
other, there should be an average profit of $4 per
colon v; this average will often be doubled and in
some 'instances trebled, especially if the honey
is sold at retail by the beekeeper.

An experienced beekeeper can without help take
care of two hundred colonies, and not be under
much expense; but more than this will recpiire
an assistant whose services will be needed during
the busy season.

Much will depend upon the bloom of the local-
ity where the bees are kept, and if there is much
clover and basswood present the returns will often
be surprising. As an index to how profitable bees
are even under adverse conditions, I find that
even in nianv of our large cities bees are kept on

24

BIGGLK HEE liuCJK

HOW TO MAKE A START

2r>

the roofs of office l.niKlings. by janitors, and give
a fair return for tlu little attention they require.

However, take my word for it and do not go
heavily into beekeeping, without the experience

and a location that is
promising, for while
it will give a large re-
turn for the time and
work recjuired. yet it
is not a royal road to

fort
ntell

une

but

re(|mres

igcnt m a n a g e-
nent in many details.

\Vh

ere the

largel}

y a matter of cho

shall be 1

apiary

ocated is

orchard, other

s on the hillsid

ice. some placing it in the

tions remote from the 1

c. and others in loca-

placed. be sure t

louse; but where

ground and a safe dist

f> see that it i

with

seen and tal
M

HI easy reach so that emerging s

en care of.

ver it is

s on well -drained

ance from the live stock, and

warms mav be

uiy beekeepers simply
a succession of orderlv r'o

y arrange their hives
vvs. while others h

in

groups of four or five; but though I h

them in

tried almost every method I ha

to sx^e that one has any advantage over "tlie^ other
oce that the vr:\<i< i< ,x -.11 I * i .. . i,

ave

ave

ve never been able

0 grass IS well kept and not all

to grow so tall as to choke the ent

wed

for every such obstruct

ranees

of h

work; and ev

ion hinders the b

ives.

ces in their

lone

cry such handicap means a loss of

y. Some beekeepers keep a few si

>ee yard at night; thi

ing the grass d
either the b<

leep in the

IS a very good way of kecp-

e never heard of

own. and I hav

cs or the sheep suffering thereby.

It is a good practise to have a stand of some
kind for each hive, even though it is only a piece
of board at the front and the rear of the hive, as
this tends to keep the hive out of the mud when
it rains, and adds to the life of the bottom board
of the hive, to say nothing of the welfare of the
colony.

There are soujc hives that have a combination
stand and bottom board, but the majority of bee-
keepers use either boards or bricks for the pur-

pose, finding them cheaper and just as effective.
Whatever hive may be adopted, be sure to stick
to it as long as it is a success, for it is a nuisance
to have different kinds of hives in the same yard;
the advantage of having all hive i)arts interchange-
able is manifest, especially during a rush when bees
are swarming.

iiiiii'i^1»<iMii||imiliTiiWTii li |i

Vi

<

Chapter IV

HIVES AND IMPLEMENTS

A^^ o much depends upon the hive as upon the man behind
the hive. — Tim.

The kind of hive to use will be largely deter-
mined by whether comb or extracted honey is to
be produced. While it is true that here and there
a beekeeper will run an apiary for both comb and
extracted honey, the majority of them stick to
either one or the other.

Whatever the method adopted, by all means do
not be led into the folly of attempting to make
your own hives.

The writer well recalls some early experiences
in home-made hive making, and did not until after
some sad experiences learn the wisdom of getting
his hives from the supply dealers. The supply
dealer with his modern
machinery, and the ex-
perience of hundreds of
beekeepers behind him.
IS better able lo turn out
a hive and fixtures than
the amateur without thai

experience.
When on
eeper has

ce the bee-
used the

A VILLAGE ATTEMI'T AT A HIVK

TKANSFF.R Tf> A MODHKN ONE

k

smooth and well-made it doesn't .-ay : hettek
hives of some reputable
dealer, he will never again return to the ])oor apol-
ogies of his early efforts. Adopt the dovetailed

(27)

I irtigimiiwiwiMiaijiiaMWBHtiMBBariMt'wiwi iTr"-fiaiiiTr

Y.

Chaptkr IV

HIVKS AND IMPLEMENTS

Not so much JepenJs upon the hive as upon the man behind
the hive. — Tim.

The kind of hivo lo use will be larj^ely deler-
niined l)y wlietlier comb or extracted lione\ i«^ t<«
l)e produced. W'liile it is true that lure and there
a beekeeper will run an apiary for both cond) and
extracted hone\ . the niajoritv' of them .stick to
either one or the other.

Whatever the method adopted, by all means do
not be led into the folly of attemi)ting to make
your own hives.

'I'he writer well recalls some early experiences
m home-made hive makinj^, and did not until after

some sad experiences learn tlu- wisdom ol j^ettmj^

th

Ills hives irom the supply (
dealer witli his modern

rleal

ers.

Tl

le supply

niachiner\

an

d tl

le ex

pcrience of hundreds of
beekee])ers behind him.
is better able to turn out
a hi\e and fixtures than
the amateur without that

experunce

When oner the 1

kteper
smooth

has use

)i'('

the

aiK

w c

11

madi

A VI i.i,A(.i". .\ I 11 Ml r A r A iiivi;,

I I itiji-SN'l IA\ ; r.i I I i;i<

ll<A^^I•l■:K K' A Miii>i:|{N «)MC

hives of some reputable
dealer, lu- will ne\» r ai^ain n-turn to the p<»or apol-
ogies ((f his earl\ etfoits. Ado])! ihc dovftaih-d

(27)

■,f^--'^^fi<j^.-

■.i',.-m;mff-^

JiSfTENTIONAL SECOND EXPOSURE

28

BICGLE I?FI liooK

Ui\I-:S AND IMIM.KMKNTS

20

hive, as its locked comers arc a sure safeguard
against leaking or warping, and it will last for
many years.

While some beekeepers use the hand-spaced
frames, a larger proportion use a self-spacing frame,
for by so doing the bees are the more easily moved
and the danger of mashing them in going over the
colonies is largely overcome.

Much could be said concerning the tops and the
bottom boards to be used, but as there are many
manufactured, and most of them good, a safe way
will be to get the catalogues of a number of manu-
facturers and take your choice.

If extracted honey is to be the aim, then be
sure to adopt the ten-frame hive, as the tendency
is more and more toward large hives for extracted
honey, for there is no doubt that a booming
colony in one hive is far better than two small ones
in smaller hives. There are some supply dealers
who advocate small eight-frame hives for extracted
honey production, and the only reason I can see
for their action is that the smaller the hive the
more of them nmst be used.

Use full sheets of foundation in the frames, and
not simply starters, and see that they are well wired
in horizontally, as this will prevent breaking down
of the combs when being whirled around in the
extractor.

If the aim is the production of comb-honey,
then use a hive having the main body or brotul
nest more shallow than that to be used for ex-
tracted honey, for by so doing the bees are com-
pelled, by lack of storage room over the brood, to
carry the surplus up into the surplus section boxes
in the upi)er stories.

i

A smoker is a necessary adjunct to every apiary,
and there are many on the market, some good
and some not worth a cent. Personally i prefer
the Root Jumbo. The smoker is used for puffing
a little smoke in at the entrance of the hive to be
opened, which alarms the bees, subdues the n^ and
renders their
handling easy.
The fuel used va-
ries. Some use
dried leaves, oth-
e r s old rags,
while others ])urn
planer shavings;
I have found the
latter to be a very
satisfactory fuel.
Oil waste is be-
coming VerV pop- A GOOD SMOKEK WILL CONTKt)L IMK
, f ' 1 MOST VICIOUS BEES

ular as a fuel.

The idea is to get a fire that will give out lots
of smoke and no tlame. To accomplish this many
beekeepers take old bags, soak them in saltpetre
water and allow them to dry, which does the
business very satisfactorily. Little pieces of rotten
wood, or pieces of dried apple-tree branches, will
give a fire that will last for several hours without

refilling. •, ,

Another necessary article is a bee veil, and it
can either be bought' of the supply dealer or made
at home. Take some black mosciuito-nettiuK -nul
sew it to the outside brim of a big straw hat; let
it be long enough to tuck down under the coat
collar, or else have a drawing siring that will
permit of its being tied down over the shoulders.

-'•>iwa»j.Tii«"iiiii»'Wi'ttli» mms-'mi»Mt<fm*

30

BIGGLE BEE BOOK

HIVES AND IMPLEMENTS

:n

I

If it is made ri-lit not a single bee can ever reach
the face.

I never work among the bees except in painter's
white cotton suit, for it is with me a well-estabhshed
tact that bees will not attack so readily if I am
clothed in white as when I have on ordinary woolen
clothes. Whether this is because thev detect the
wool of the animal in the woolen suit, or have an
aversion to dark colors, I am not able to deter-
mine, but I do know that a white cotton suit is
best.

good tool with which to pry ofif hive lids and

elevate frames from the brood

A f;00D WHRKMIARKOW

IN THK AFIAKY

IS A NECESSITY

nest, is a large
screw-driver, an
oyster knife, or
a butcher knife;
in fact, any one
of these will
prove t o b e
about as satisfac-
tory as many of
the hive tools
that are offered
for sale.

A good bee
dress for women
is a pair of men's
overalls with

the bottoms, which can be tied al

and when this has b

over it and no annoyance fro

experienced.

drawing string at

)out the ankles;

een put on. the skirt can be put

m the bees will b(

I use a basket in which t

hive tools and oth

o carry the smoker, fuel

cr needful things, and

as 1 .till through using one tool I ])Ut it back into
the basket and carry all from hivo to hive; thus they
are always at hand when I want them.

I have often been amused to watch a beekeeper
hunt in the grass for some tool that has been left
around a hive; much valuable time is thus lost.
The use of a basket with handle avoids all of this.

i>itwii.iiiti--iai i»aertw#.ji

as soon

I

SKILL AND FKAKLESSNESS (^OME WITH EXPERIENCE
SEE TIIL HEES ON THIS COMl:

Chapter V

SPRING MANIPULATION

A dead bee gathers no honey. — Martha.

Whether the bees have been wintered indoors
or oiudoors, it is the height of folly to tinker with
them until warm weather is on, as the opening
of a hive on cold days allows the warmth of the
colony to escape, and may chill and kill much
brood, which means a loss of young bees at the
honey flow later on when they are most needed.

If the truth were known many a beekeeper has
failed to reap a harvest of honey because of a reck-
less opening of hives during the cold days of early

spring.

When settled warm weather is on, the first
thing to be done is to go over the apiary and make
a careful examination of the colonies, to see if
any have died or have lost their (pieen.

If any have died, remove the hive and its combs
to a safe place away from the bees, so that robbing
will not be encouraged. If any have lost their
queen, remedy the condition at once by giving to
that colony a frame of young larvae or eggs from
another colony, being careful not to have the queen
of the colony from which it is taken, on it.

A better way is to buy a (lueen at once, from one
of the many reputable queen breeders of the
country, and introduce her to the queenless colony
according to the directions on the cage in which
she comes through the mail. Sometimes a large
number of queens will be required if many hives

(33)

li*..' «i>wiBi>.i»-wa«iiiM>r«i*

4

>KII.I. AM> IKAKIKSSNKSS (OMl Willi I \ I'KK HACK
>\:V. I 111' |:Kr> « .\ III Is < ( ,\; |

(llAPTI.K V

SPRIXG MAXirULATION

A dead bee rathcrs uo //.?y/rr. — Martha,

Wlu'tlicr llic l»rcs liavc l)i'c'n

wintered indoors

t)r iinid<><>rs

it i^ llu- lu-i^ln ot folly to tinker wi
.1

th

llieni nniil warm wraJur is on. as the (»peninK'
of a hive on cold days allows the warmth of the
colony to escai)e. and may chill and kill mnch
brood, which mean- a lo^s of yonn;^ bees at the
lioney tlow later on when they are iiio-t lueded.

It thf truth wrre known many a heekec-jH-r lias
failed to reap a harvot of honey because of a reck-
less openinii of hive- diirini; the cold <lays ol i-arly

si)rin^.

Whrn settled warm weather is on. the first
tiling to br done i- to ^o over the apiary and make
a carefnl examination of the colonies, to sec if
anv have «lied or have lo>t their (|ncen.

If anv have died, remove the hivi- and its combs
t(^ a -ale ]>lace away from the bees, -o that robbing
will not be cncoiirai^ed. If any have lo>t their
(Hieen. remedy the condition at «»nee by .i^iviiii^ to
that c<»lony a frame of yonni; larv;e or ei:i;s iroin
another colony. btin.i4 carefnl not to have the cpiecn
of the colony from which it i- taken, on it.

.\ Ixtter way i- to buy a (|men at once, from <me
of tin- many reputable (|neen breeders of the
coiintrv. and introduce her to the (pieeiiless colony
accordini; to the directions on the cai^c in which
she conus thron.^h the mail. Soimtinus a lar^H-
number of (|ueens will be re(|uired if many hives

■^liii.lrMraWir.ii^MiiiiaiiiJIg-ww

■mrf^m^f^)

isfTENTlbNAL SECOND EXPOSURE

34

BIGGLE BKK IJOOK

SPRING MANIPULATION

35

II
II

arc kept, and in this case it will pay the beekeeper
to rear his own 'iiiecns (which see in chapter on
Queen Rearing and Introducing).

Before opening a hive see tliat the smoker is
smoking satisfactorily, and then go to the hive to
be opened and puff a little smoke in at its entrance
and wait a few moments; then the operation should
be repeated. When the bees appear to be quiet,

5£S**Wai^~~v'*

m-^^m'

OPEN HIVES CAREFULLY ; IT WILL SAVE MANY A STING

gently pry up the lid of the hive just a little bit
and send a pufT of smoke over the tops of the
frames, and the hive is ready to be opened. It is
a shame the way some beekeepers deluge their
bees with smoke, and then proceed to jerk or
kick the hive lids off. No wonder that in a few
seconds the air is filled with stinging bees, which
could have been entirely avoided had a little more
patience and a little less smoke been used.

After the hive is open, select a frame in the
center of the brood nest and gently lift it from the

'

hive and examine it carefully to find the (pieen. I
never hunt farther than ilir first frame if it be well
filled with young larvx, for it is a sign that the
queen is present and laying all right.

One by one each hive can thus be examined, and
it is astonishing how many hives can be examined
in the course of an hour. We have frequently gone
over a hundred colonies in four or five hours and
not hurried at that.

If any colonies are weak they should be
strengthened by giving a frame or two of brood
and ?3ees from a strong colony, being careful not
to give them the (jueen; and if suffering from lack
of food they should be fed a thick syrup made of
equal parts hot water and good granulated sugar;
made without cooking.

For this purpose there are many feeders, but
nothing is better than an ordinary Mason glass
fruit-jar with a number of small holes punched in
the metal cap, and when the jar is filled it is given
to the colony in an extra hive body that is placed
on top of the brood body for that purpose.

First saw a piece of board just the size of the
outside dimensions of the hive body, and in the
center of this board cut a hole big enough to insert
the cap of the jar. tlic jar having first been filled
and cap and rubber hand screwed securely on, and
lifting the hive lid from its pla^^e. put the piece of
board referred to over the brood nest with the tilled
jar in the hole. Then place over this an extra
body, and inside of this body ])ack some old clothes
or bags to conserve the warmth of the colony. — and
the trick is done; the bees will soon carry the feed
below. I have used all kinds of patent feeders, but
have found nothing to equal this.

mMit>m'»ifA mittmwmt mamii*

34

j;i(.(ii.i: r.i;K nooK

SI'UI NC M \M I'll. A rio.N

arc kept, and in this case it will i)ay the beekeeper
to rear his own queens (which sec in chapter on
Queen Rearing .'iiul Introducing^).

Bef

ore openni}4

a hive see that the smoker is

smoking satisfactorily, and then go to the hive to
be opened and puit a little smoke in at its entrance
and wait a few moments; then the operation should
be repeated. When the bees api)ear to be (luict,

s'^^S'J'iSL'vl

'<* ■y,^'i..w.

A t:4f^'

wi

;■■'*

ef^

^4

■ -^t. ■\.

j»j»^

•^>^

OPEN Hivis < AKi;rt'i.LY ; ir will savk many a siinj;

gently prv up the lid of the hive just a little bit
and send a pufT oi smoke over the t()i)s of the
frames, and the hive is ready to be opene(i. It is
a shame the way some beekeepers deluge their
bees with smoke, and then jiroceed to jerk or
kick the hive lids otT. Xo wonder that in a few
seconds the air is filled with stinging l)ees, which
could have been entirely avoided had a little more
patience' and a little less smoke been used.

After the hive is open, select a frame in the
center of the brood nest and gently lift it from the

hive and examine it carefully to hnd the (pieen. I
never hunt farther than the tirst frame if it be well
filled with young larv;e, for it is a sign that the
queen is present and laying all right.

One by one each hive can thus be examined, and
it is astonishing how many hives can be examined
in the course of an hour. We have freciuently gone
over a hundred colonics in four or five hours and
not hurried at that.

If any colonies are weak they should be
strengthened by giving a frame or two oi brood
and bees from a strong colony, being careful not
to give them the <iueen; and if sulTering from lack
of food tluy should be fed a thick syruj) made of
e(jual i)arts hot water and good granulated sugar;
made without cooking.

For this purpose there are many feeders, but
nothing is belter than an ordinarv Mason glass
fruit-jar with a mnnber of small holes punched in
the metal caj). and when the jar is filled it is given
to the colony in an extra hive body that is placed
on top of the brood body for that purpose.

First saw a piece of board just the size of the
outside dimensions of the hive body, and in the
center of this board cut a hole big enough to insert
the cap of the jar. the jar having first been tilled
and cap and rubber band screwed securely on. and
lifting the hive lid from its i)la\.e, put the j^iece of
board referred to over the brood nest with the filled
jar in the hole. Then place over this an extra
body, and inside of this body i)ack soinc old clothes
or bags to conserve the warmth of the colony. — and
the trick is done; the bees will soon carry the feed
below. I have used all kincN of patent feeders, but
have found ntHhing to espial this.

ii.iirifiiiftti.iii>in»iii

■:»*--*<'Kr^'mi^

30

J5i(i(.ij-; i!i:i-: isook

SPRING MANMPrT.ATION

37

In a couple of days the bees will liavc carried
all the syruj) below and have stored it in their
combs; if they need mon', till the jar for them again
(if a two-(iuart jar is used, more syrup can be
given them at a time).

It is the practise of some beekeepers to resort
to stimulative feeding in the spring; that is, to
give the colony a little syrup every day for a
number of days preceding the honey flow, as it
tends to make the bees rear brood earlier and in
larger numbers than they otherwise would, and
thus ha\e the colonies strong for the honey flow.
For this purpose nothing is better than the feeder
already referred to.

If the bees have been wintered on their stands
outdoors with proper protective packing, it will
be best not to remove the packing until settled
warm weather makes it safe.

If the bees have been wintered indoors in a
cellar, they should not be brought out until winter
weather is entirely over. Then when they are
brought out, every hive should be given some
added protection for some time or until settled
warm weather, as this will overcome the possibility
of the colony being chilled by the change of atmos-
phere from the cellar to the outdoor air.

Many beekeepers when placing their bees out-
doors immediately wra]) the hive with some kind
of waleri)r()of building-paper, b(.'ing careful not
to close the hive entrance, and in almost every case
it i^roves effective and prevents si)ring dwindling.
— the bane of tlie old-time l)eekeeper.

Be sure to remember the foregoing point, for it
is important and one of the fundamentals, and its
neglect will surely lead to failure.

The first work among the bees in spring should
be short and simply f«»r the purpose of finding
out the condition of the colony— whether dead,
queenless or short of stores— and should not be
needlesslv prolonged. As the weather gets warmer
and more settled, other necessary work among them

can be done.

Tkanskkkking.— Early spring is the best time
to transfer to modern hives, bees that have been
bought in old box hives,' for at that season the
brood ne>t is not large and little honey is present,
so that it is an easy matter to drive the bees from
their combs; and by cutting their combs to the
proper shape they can be fitted in frames and held
in place with rublx'r bands until the bees can fasten
them securely, which they will do in a couple of

days.

There are various ways of transferring bees from
their old box hives to those with movable frames.

Another good way to transfer is to take the old
box hive just about swarming time and bore two
or three holes in its r^v and place over it a modern
hive with frames of mil foundation in it; in a few
davs the bees will go up into it. and as soon as the
queen gets to laying well the bees will carry up
the honey from the old hive and when the brood
is hatched the old hive can be taken away and
its old combs melted into wax. Be sure, however,
to stop up every crack around where the new hive
fits over the old one. The transfer is accomplished
without mussing with honey, brood, etc.

When I say U> have the new frames filled with
sheets of foundation. 1 mean the sheets of bees-
wax that are sold by supply houses, which sheets
have been run thrcjugh rollers and have had stamped

■ifeifrTfcawwWiirrflii*

38

BKIGLE BEE BOOK

SPRING MANirULATION

39

11

H

I

on them the beginning of worker cells. There
are other methods of transferring, hnt the two
given are the l)est, especially the latter method.

Inckeask, How to Make, in the Si'Rino. — There
arc several ways to increase the number of colonies
in the spring, but as this book aims to give only
the cream I will describe the best two methods in
vogue and give what experience has demonstrated
to be the best.

One method of increase is accomplished by
simply dividing the colony, which enables one to
double the number of colonies in the apiary; if
carefully done this may in many instances also re-
sult in a crop of honey as well, but if rapid in-
crease is carried on no surplus will be produced,
as the colonies divided are not sufficiently strong
to build up in time for the honey flow, — but what
is lost that year in honey is many times made up
in added colonies. You can not make bees and
honey at the same time, if the increase is very
large.

To increase by simple division, take a strong
colony of bees and lift from a ten-frame colony
six or even seven of its frames of sealed-up brood
and (lucen and place in a new hive and carry to a
new stand; put in front of the entrance a slanting
board so that the bees will mark their new location.

The reason I give the queen and most of the
!)ees and sealed brood to the division that is moved,
is because many of the bees will return to the old
stand and thus make the division about equal,
while the possession of the queen by the colony
that is moved will keep the bees from deserting it
completely.

The original hive containing the three frames of

bees and unsealed brood is left on its stand, and,
from the frames of brood, will rear another queen,
—provided there are egg^> in tlir frames, which
should always be the case.

Then place in the hive that was moved, also
in the one that was left on its original stand, frames
of full foundation to fill them out. and the thing
is done. If the division is made in the early part
of May, both colonies will, if the season is good,
produce a surplus and go into winter quarters with
good strong stocks.

Whether the increase be made by one division,
or many (as will be explained), great care should
be used and no increase started much later than
June, for if it is, there is danger that the colonies
will not build up in time for winter, which is special-
ly the case if the increase is rapid.

I have known of instances where one division
of the colony has been made as late as August and
both colonies did well, but there was a good big
late flow from buckwheat and fall bloom, which
made it possible; for the average beekeeper I say,
make your increase early.

When it comes to the matter of rapid increase
I should advise the beginner to go carefully, for
unless it is backed by experience it will result in
failure; but in the hands of one who understands
the bees it is perfectly safe.

The following is the method that T have practised
for years, and though as many as four Inindrcd
nuclei, or small colonies, have been started it has
proved to be successful in almost every case.

Sometimes it will happen that after a large
number of these nuclei have gotten under way.
the honey flow will cease; in which case it will be

iiiiiriBiiipiB)iKrwwi>riiriririiH"in

40

BIGGLE BKE BOOK

SPRING MANIPULATION

41

II

O

41'

necessary to feed them for some time, even a
month, giving, say, one-half pint of syrup each
day, or as much as they will take up over night.
For this purpose there is no better feeder than the
one before referred to.

I might add that the supply dealer can supply
you with the Mason jar caps with perforations that
have been stamped in them by dies, and the jars
themselves can be taken from the pantry or pur-
chased at any store.

Select a strong ten or eight-frame colony, and
toward evening (say 4 or 5 P. M.) open it, lift
out two frames of bees and brood, and place them
in an empty hive; then fill the hive out with new
frames of comb, or if combs are not on hand,
with frames of full foundation. Take two other
frames and i)lace in another hive, and so on until
from the ten-frame colony you have made five small
ones, being sure to see that each colony has if
possible some young brood from which to rear a
queen. The old cjueen will of course be in one
of the divisions and that will not need any other.

Take each hive so started and move it to the
stand it is to occupy, and completely close the en-
trance with a strip of wood, with a half-inch hole
bored in. v,hich close with a cork; the bees are not
strong enough in numbers to suffocate. Leave
them imprisoned for three days; at the end of
which time, draw the cork from the entrance block,
which will allow one bee to pass out at a time (and
don't forget a slanting board at the entrance).

Watch them carefully, and be sure that they
start a queen cell, and if they don't, give them one
that has been built in a strong colony whose queen
has been caged to make them start, in which case

you will get a larger and better qtiorn, and wIumi
mated she will begin to lay.

A better way. however, is to have on hand at the
time of division a number of queens that have been
reared or purchased for the purpose, and when the
division is made fill the smoker with tobacco and
send a few good puffs down over each little colony
and then puff some on the queen to be introduced;
drop her down between the frames and close the
hive, and in ninety-nine cases out of a hundred she
will be accepted at once. The tobacco smoke gives
both the bees and the queen the same odor, so
that there is nothing about her to indicate that
she does not belong to them, and it prevents the
possibility of her being recognized as a strange
queen and being balled and killed.

Some beekeepers practise feeding half a teacup-
ful of syrup to these small nuclei, right from the
beginning. This is not really necessary if there is a
steadv flow from the fields, but upon its first sign
of cessation begin feeding at once; and to avoid
robbing among the bees, give the feed late in the
afternoon or early evening, when the bees are not

flying.

After each increase has marked its new location,

the slanting boards can be removed.

Every few davs look at the nuclei, and if in-
creasing in strength, take one of the frames of
foundation and slip it between the two frames of
comb and brood, being careful not to repeat the
operation faster than the bees can draw it out and
cover it. and in this way every frame will soon
be filled with nice worker combs; by fall each of
the small nuclei will have built up to a strong
colony.

TjjMilliiniiiriiWililfffM ni-aii^iwftifiBfcmirfi "*«•"■■■"'■ li

Chapter \ 1

SWARMS AND SWARMING

A FEARI.^:SS 1{EKKKKI'KR AFTKR SCOOl'INc; HI' A SWARM

WITH HAKK HAN US

A swarm in the hive is rvorth two on the tree.—W\ncex\\.

A great deal has been written on this phase
of beekeeping, much that is both nonsensical and
confusing: and it is not my purpose to add to the
confusion, but rather to give a few simple instruc-
tions as to detecting signs of swarming and meth-
ods for controlling it.

It must be remembered that swarmmg is a per-
fectly natural act on the part of a colony, and is
brought about by conditions that prevail at certain
seasons of the vear. May and June are the princi-
pal months during which swarms emerge, though
they often come out at other times.

He who depends upon natural swarming for
his increase will make a mistake, for in the majorhy
of cases natural swarming will about make up for
winter losses, and no more. ■

During the early part of May much honey is
being gathered by the bees and the brood nest is
conse.iuentlv crowded for room. It is this condition
that induces the old queen and a large part of the
colony to swarm out in quest of more commodious

quarters. . r •* •

Sometimes the colony will give notice of its in-
tention to swarm, by the bees clustering on the
front of the hive, though this is not an infalhb.e
sign as bees will do this at other times when the
swarming impulse is farthest from them. ^

The surest way of determining the matter is

(43)

JiimiMmtmmmmm'twmmmm-.'im'ii.mimi

CllAl'TKK \ I

SWARMS AND SWARM I XG

A KP.AKI.KS.^ I;KI:KKI:I'KR ATIKK ScomI-JNC 11- A SWAKM

WIIM HAKK HANDS

A swarm in the hiv,- is 7vorth two on the //yv.— Vincent.

A ^roat deal lias been wriUen on this phase
of beekeepinK^ nmch that is both nonsensical and
conlnsin^: and it is not my pnrpose to add to the
confusion, but rather to j^ue a lew simple instruc-
ti(ms as to detecting signs of swarnnng and meth-
ods for controlling it.

It must be remembered that swarnnng is a per-
fectly natural act on the part of a colony, and is
brought about bv conditions that prevail at certain
seasons of the vear. May and June are the princi-
pal months during which '^warms emerge, though
they often come out at other times.

' He who depends upon natural swarming for
his increase will make a mistake, fur in the majority
(,f cases natural swarming will about make up for
winter losses, and no more.

During the earlv i)art of May much honey is
being gathered by the bees and ihc brood nest is
conse.pientlv crowded f.>r room. U is this ccmdition
that induces the old (ineeii and a large part o the
colony to swarm out in (piest of more commodiou>

'' '^Sometimes the colony will give notice of its in-
tention to '^warm. by the bees clustering on the
front of the hive, though this is not an infallible
sign, as bees will do this at other times when th.^
swarming impulse is farthest trom them.

The surest way of determining the matter is

(43)

MMW^immmmim*imm

II^TENTIONAL SECOND EXPOSURE

44

BIGGLE P.KE BOOK

S WARMS AND SWARMING

45

II

u

by an examination of the brood nest, which uil]
usually be found to be in a crowded condition, the
cells filled with honey, pollen and brood, and queen
cells started on a number of frames. When these
signs are present, prepare for a swarm almost any
day, usually between the hours of 9 A. M. to 3

.. . a.t>..

When once the swarming fever has reached its
highest point, and thoroughly infected the mass,
they come tumbling out of the hive like mad and
whirl around in the air, their buzzing being heard
at even a considerable distance. This they will

continue to do
foi a few min-
u t e s. \v h e n ,
joined by their
<iueen, they will
generally settle
on the branch of
a tree nv bush,
awaiting the re-
t u r 11 0 f their
scouts who have
been looking for
a home in the heart of some tree or under the clap-
boards of a house, to which on their return the
scouts will escort the swarm. I^'^or this reason the
swarm had better be liived at once, and the method
is both simple and easy.

Sometim<\s the swarm will cluster in the top of
a tall tree or other inaccessible place, and the
beekeeper will have to use his wits to meet the
condition that will arise. Sometimes a ladder can
be used to reach them, and by sawing ofY the branch
or part of it on which tl:cy have clustered they

IIHSK l!Ki:S AKK (;KTTINC; KKADV If)
SWAKM

can be brought to the ground and shaken in front
of an empty hive that has frames with either starters
or full sheets of foundation in them. Usually they
will enter the hive, and all trouljle is over.

When swarming, bees can generally be handled
without either veil or gloves, as they seldcMii sting
at this time; due to the fact that they filled up with
honey before swarming, which has so distended
their abdomens that they can not contract them-
selves to sting.

With the swarm has gone the working force
of the colony, and for this reason it is best to take
all surplus tops in which they had been working
or storing honey and place same on the hive
which the swarm has entered; experience teaches
that the hive out of which the swarm emerged will
seldom produce any more surplus, for by the time
the brood therein has hatched and become field
bees, the honey How will be about over.

Sometimes the hive that cast the swarm will,
upon the hatching of the queen cells that were left
in it, cast another swarm known as an " after
swarm," but as these are small and undesirable
it is best to prevent them by cutting out all queen
cells but the best one in each hive, thus thwarting
this possibility. Be sure, however, in a few days
to see that this cell has hatched and that the queen
is laying, for if for any reason it should fail to
hatch, th.e colony is without the means to rear one,
as the old cpieen has been gone so many days that
there are nij eggs sufficiently young for this pur-
pose.

Some beekeepers early in the season see that
all queens in the yard have their wings clipped, and
so when the swarm comes out the queen, unable

JMTii^MHiiMilW mi.t

44

liH.cu: i:i.i: iJooK

]

by an examination oi {hv brood nest, which will
usually be found io be in a crowded condition, the
cells tilled with honey, pollen and brc^od. and (lueen

cells started on a ininiber of frames. \Vh

en

th

esc

signs are present, prepare ior a swarm almost any
day. usually between the hours of 9 A. M. to 3
P. M.

When once the swarming fever has reached its
highest point, and thoroughly infected the mass,
they come tumbling out of the hive like mad and
whirl around in the air. their Iniz/mg being heard
at even a considerable distance. This they will

continue to do

K xm

m

lor

;i

lew

nnn

u t e >

j< MUei
<|Ueen,

w n t- n

1 1

)\

tl

leir

tl

le\

W

11

Liener.'i

.-i;>i

.^^<.-

>]]

IK
tlu- i-

M,

111.

raneh ot

a tree

bu^l

^:,

MwailniL! tile re

turn o t

tl

1 e 1 r

I II r^i' i;i' 1^ AKi:

f.i rriN(. i:i,\ii\ I'l

;^\\ AK.M

(■out
H'ell

W

ho 1

lodl.

Ill:

1 a \c
f< ir

a lionie 111

h

the li
ll

eart oi ^oiiir tree- or under tlu' cl;ip

)oar(ls ol a hou^e. to w

seotits wil

e^c« »:

hich on their return ll
the swanii. l-'nr tlii- re.-i--on tl

s\\

is

aim had l)elter be li'ved at

< >1UH'

aiK

1 tl

1e llU

both
S

le

le
tliod

1 sinii)le :iii(| ea-\
tl

onieiinies the ^w:inn will ilii-tir in the top of

a lal
bee Is

tri'i-

or

( 1

ll

ler inacce

eeper w

ill h

ihle plact-

aiH

1 tl

le

lave to u>e his wits to meet the

condition that will arise

•onic'times a

ladd

er can

be u>ed to reach them, and by sawing off the branch
or part of it on whi( Ji ti ey have clustered they

• WARMS AM) SWAKMINC

i-aii be hrou;
of an ein])ty

o

iht lo the gronnd and ^liakni in iroiit
ln\ I' that lia- iranie-> with either starters
lalion m them. Tsually they

wi

r full sheets ol loniu
11 enter the hive, and all trouble is over

When swarming, bees ca

n generally be handled

without either veil or glovo. as they seldom sting
at this time; due to the fact that they tilled up wiih

honey before swarming, w

hich has so distended

tl

leir a

bdomens that they ca

n not contract them-

selves to stinij

With the swarm has gone the working force

tluN reas(.n it is l)est to lake
hich thev had been working

n-m-mmwiMim-mimimih

1 e c o I o n \"

aiRl

1 for

of ll

all surplus tops in w

0

r storing honey and place same

on

the hive

which the swa

nil has entered; experience teac-

hes

that the hive out o
d

f which the swarm emerged will

seldom produce any more suri

ilu:

lor

by tl

ihe brood therein

has hatched and become Ik

le time

1<1

)ees.

the 1

K nu-v

ll

( > w w

ill be about over.

Soinelimes the hive that easl the swariii wi

11,

u

j)on the hatch'iig <
in il. cast .aiioih
swarni." ])iii ii
it is best to preveii

if the (|ueen cells thai were

vv swarm known as

an

left

after

these are small and undesirable

t them 1)V cutting out all quce

n

c«
tl

lis but the be.st one in eac

h hive, thus thwarting

lis possi

bilit'

R

c sure

however, in a lew (

day

to see I

hat this ce

avniL'

11 has hatched and that the (juecn

1 it should fail to

for if lor anv reasoi

hateh. the eolonv 1

\\

ithout the im-ans to rear one

as

the old (ineeii has been gone so many days

that

ll

ure are in; e

suflicienlly young tor tins i)ur-

pose

Some beekeepers early in the season se(

that

d have their wings clipped, and

lable

all (pieens in the yar

so when the swarm comes out the (pieen, un

IKfTENTIONAL SECOND EXPOSURE

44

BIG(]IJ-: HKK BOOK

SWARMS AND SWARM INC.

45

by an examination of the brood nest, which will
usually be found to be in a crowded condition, the
cells filled with honey, pollen and brood, and (lueen
cells started on a number of frames. When these
signs are present, prepare for a swarm almost any
day, usually between the hours of 9 A. M. to 3
P. M.

When once the swarming fever has reached its
highest point, and thoroughly infected the mass,
they come tumbling out of the hive like mad and
whirl around in the air, their buzzing being heard
at even a considerable distance. This they will
X ''T*' continue to do

for a few min-
u t e s, w h e n ,
joined by their
(jueen. they will
generally settle
on the branch of
a tree or bush,
awaiting the re-
t u r M (» f their
scouts who have
been looking for
a home in the heart ol some tree or under the clap-
boards of a house, to which on their return the
scouts will escort the swarm. For this reason the
swarm had better be hived at once, and the method
is l)oth simple and easy.

Sometimes the swarm will cluster in the top of
a tall tree or other inaccessible place, and the
beekeeper will have to use his wits to meet the
condition that will arise. Sometimes a ladder can
be used to reach them, and by sawing off the branch
or part of it on which they have clustered they

IIIHSK HI'-.I'S AKI-: (.ICITING KICADV
SWAKM

TO

can be brought to the ground and shaken in tront
of an empty hive that has frames with either starters
or full sheets of foundation in them. Usually they
will enter the hive, and all trouble is over.

When swarming, bees can generally be handled
without either veil or gloves, as they seldom sting
at this time; due to the fact that they filled up with
honey before swarming, which has so distended
their abdomens that they can not contract them-
selves to sting.

With the swarm has gone the working force
of the colony, and for this reason it is best to take
all surplus tops in which they had been working
or storing honey and place same on the hive
which the swarm has entered; experience teaches
that the hive out of which the swarm emerged wdl
seldom produce any more surplus, for by the time
the brood therein has hatched and become held
bees, the honey tlow will be about over.

Sometimes the hive that cast the swarm will,
upon the hatching of the queen cells that were left
in it, cast anotlier swarm known as an '* after
swarm," but as these are small and undesirable
it is best to prevent them by cutting out all queen
cells but the best one in each hive, thus thwarting
this possibility. Re sure, however, in a few days
to see that this cell has hatched and that the queen
is laying, for if for any reason it should fail to
hatch, th.e colony is without the means to rear one,
as the old queen has been gone so many days that
there are no eggs sufficiently young for this pur-
pose.

Some beekeepers early in the season see that
all queens in the yard have their wings clipped, and
so when the swarm comes out the queen, unable

iiiifiiiiliiiiriBiiiiiiiiiiii

46

BIGCJLE BEE BOOK

SWvXRMS AND SWARMING

47

lliji

to join them in llij^lit, is found hoppinjj^ about in
the grass in tront of the liive and can be caged
until wanted later.

No attention then need be paid to the swarm,
for though they may go a mile from home and

cluster on a tree, and a

neighbor shake them
into a hive, they are
sure to return as soon
as they discover that
their (pieen is not with
tliem, and for this re-
turn you sh(nild make
ready.

After the swarm
has gone, take tlie hive
out of whicli it came
and carry it to some
other locaticjn if in-
crease is desired, and
in its place put on the
old stand an empty hive
with frames, founda-
tion, etc., and when the
swarm returns it will
immediately seek the
old location nnd begin
to enter iIk hive, thr
bees making a sound
with their wings that is
pleasant to hear. When
about half of tho bees have entered, the caged
(lueen can be gently dropped upon the entrance
board and she will quickly enter; and thus the
swarm *' hives itself." without a lot of worry and
climbing on the part of its owner.

A (iOOI) '• CATCH ; nON T DI'I.AV

IN (;ettin(; thk svvakm

INTO A HIVE

The clipped queen can be picked up with naked
fmgers, she will not sting; Itni be careful not to in-
jure her, as she is very tender and delicate at this
time, being filled with eggs.

A pair of curved manicure-scissors are about
the best thing with which to clip a queen's wings.
It can be done at one clip, as she moves
slowly over the combs, without even touching her
with the hands or without fear of cutting off a
leg as often happens when ordinary scissors are

used.

Swarm Control, or How to Prevent Swarming.
—I confess that I feel like the majority of beekeepers
when I say that it causes me no pleasure to have
my bees swarm, and for this reason many methods
and devices have been employed by me to prevent

it.

The beekeeper who has several out apiaries is
often worried with the thought that some of his
bees remote from home may swarm and the swarm
get away, as it hardly pays to keep a man on watch
all the time; so there has been much discussion
at the different bee conventions as to how to con-
trol swarming, for in rare instances only has it
been entirely prevented. Sometimes in spite of
all we can do a swarm will occasionally come out,
but we are able to keep it in bounds so that u
ceases to be a nuisance.

Some of tlie things used to control swarming
have to do with the hive used, while others have
to do with its manipulatifjn.

Personally I have no faith in patent swarm self-
hiving hives, and believe it to be money wasted to
purchase them; nor have I any patience with those
who offer to sell secrets for $i about " How to

II lartiiTitinriiiijnriii' 'i imimt

46

liKiCiLK BKJ: liUOK

1

S WARMS AND S \V AK M 1 NLi

47

to join ihcni in llij^lit. is found lioppin.Lj: about in
the grass in ironl of the hive and can be caged
until wanted hiter.

\o attention then need be ])aid to the swarm,
for tliough they may go a mile from home and

■-* cluster on a tree, and a
neighbor shake them
into a hive. tlie\' are
*"* .sure- to return as soon

as they discover that
their (jueen is not with

tl

uni,

an<

1 f

or

tl

lis re

turn vou should make

readv.

a" ft

er

tl

le

swarm

lias gone, take the hiv

nut
and
< itlier

( >i

w

hiel

1 It came

earrv it to some

ocation 1

f

in-

crease IS (lesiri'c

h

il,

an<

in its j)lace put on the

old
with

taiid

an i'liiptx' hive

ranus. founda-
tinii. t'tc. and when the

ill
le

swarm returns it

w

iiiinuM

liateb

set

k tl

( )

Id 1

ocation a

nd 1

)eL!ni

to enter the hive, iIk

A (.(Mil)

( AK II

DON r 1)1 I. A ^

)ees

mak

ing

a so

und

IN <.l-.l ll\(. III! SWAKM
l\|i) A IIIXI-:

Wl

th tl

leir wings

that

IS

pleasant to hear. When

about half of the bees ha\f entered, tl

le cage<

(jueeii can be gently dropped ui)on the entrance
board and she will (juickly ent/.r: and thus the
swarm " hives itself." without a lot of worry and
climbing on the part of its owner.

The clipped (lueen can be picked up with naked
lingers, she will not siing; but be careful not to in-
jure her. as she is very lender and delicate at this
time, being filled with eggs.

A pair of curved manicure-scissors are about
the best thing with which to clip a (pieen's wings.
It can be d<Mie at one clip, as she moves
slowly over the combs, without even touching her
with the hands or without fear of cutting otT a
leg as often happens when ordinary scissors are

used.

Swarm Control. (>r How to Pri\i:.\t Swarm ix(;.
—I confess that I feel like the majority of beekeepers

when

I

sav

that it causes me no pleasure to have

mv bees swarm, an

d for this reason many methods

an(

it.

I devices have been employed by me to prevent

The beekeeper who has several out apiaries is
often worried with the thought that some of his
bees remote from home may swarm and the swarm
get away, as it hardly pays to kec)) a man on watch
all the time; so there has been much discussion
at the different bee conventions as to how to con-

trol swarming, for in rare instances on

ly h

as

been entirely lu'even

we

can do a ^w

ted. Sometimes m spite o
.inn will (K'casioiially come out

It
f

all

but we are able to keep it in bcjunds so that it

ceases

to 1

)e

a nuisance,

Some of the things usee.

1 to control swarming

have to do with the hive use
to do with its manipulation.

d. while others have

Personallv 1 have nc

faitl

1 in patent swarm sc

If-

iving hives, an

d bel

leve 1

t to be monev wasted to

purchase them; no

r have I any i)atiencc with those

\v

ho offer to sell secrets for $i about " How to

lisfTENTIONAL SECOND EXPOSURE

48

BIGGLK BKE BOOK

SWARMS AND SWARMING

V.)

Attract Swarms," for in most instances the so-
called secret simply says to place a lot of empty
hives in the woods, first rubbing their inner sides
with anise-seed oil and tacking a little red flag to
each hive to notify passing swarms that here is
a home. Experience has shown that a dollar
given up for this or any other so-called bee secret,
but illustrates the truth of the adage which says,
"The fool and his money are soon parted."

Swarming can largely be con-
trolled by using large hives, giving
them a wide entrance for ventilation,
and by giving added storage room
for the surplus honey as it is gath-
ered: this is the *' secret " if it can be
called such. In addition to this it is
a good practise to cut out all (jueen
cells that have been started, not over-
looking even one, and giving more
room to the colony.

The foregoing method has proved
very successful where extracted
honey is produced, for the constant
extracting of the honey from the
combs as soon as they are filled and sealed, keeps
the colony from being crowded for room.

When it comes to the production of comb-
honey it is not so easy a matter, for the combs
are not extracted but must be left on the hive till
finished, and this fact causes bees kept for comb-
honey to swarm more than those kept for extracted
honey. Adding storage boxes, cutting out queen
cells, ventilation, and shade, will in a measure
tend to keep swarming within bounds when pro-
ducing comb-honey, but even then it will con-

THIS SWAKM

TfM>K l'f)SSESSION

OF A

IMKI) HOUSE

I

ll
I

stantly b-.- a menace, especially in the out apiaries,
and this is why most out apiaries are run on the
extracted plan.

There is, however, a method for controlling
swarming even when working for comb-honey, and
it is what is known as the " Shook" or " shaken
swarm" plan, and simply swarms the colony
artificially, at the beekeeper's convenience, and not
when it suits the bees. The plan is as follows:

A few days before a colony swarms, having
first shown signs of an intention so to do, remove
it to one side of its stand, and in place of it put on
the old stand a hive exactly like it, filled with frames
with nothing but narrow starters of foundation in
them, under no circumstances using full foundation
or combs. The bees from the old colony are then
shaken from their combs on to the entrance of the
entrance board of the new hive: and if the weather
is warm, almost all if not all of the bees can be
shaken or brushed from the combs of the old hive.

The surplus bodies of the old hive are placed on
top of the new hive, being sure to place a queen
excluding board between the hive body and the
surplus bodies to confine the (jueen to the starters
below. Having no combs in the brood body m
which to store their honey, the bees will store it in
the supers with a vim. just where the beekeeper

wants it.

In some localities where the flow is shiHi this
plan will insure a good crop where otherwise such
a surplus would be impossible. If increase is
wanted, the old colony can be remc. . to a new
location and a ([ueen given to it. If no increase
is desired, the old hive can be left standing beside
the new hive, and, as the brood hatches, the bees

ta»»^'..ia'iimmiim'mmm^

50

BIGGLK BKK HOOK

SWARMS AND SWARMING

51

II'

from it can every few days be shaken in iront of the
new hive, being careful to cut out all queen cells
from the old hive for the first un days.

When all the bees have been shaken from the
old combs after they have all hatched, the combs
can be cut from the frames and melted into bees-
wax and a hand-
some return re-
ceived from them :
but when euttinijf
tluni out, be sure
to leave about an
inch of comb at-
tached to the top
bar of each frame,
as it will serve for
starters the next
season when the
same frames are used for shakinji: bees on to them
in another hive.

For comb-honey the foregoing plan is without a
peer. Those who advocate it say that it prevents
swarming because the shaking of the bees in front
of the new hive convinces the bees that they have
swarmed, and thus cures the fever. This is wrong;
the reason they do not swarm is simply because
a colony will seldom swarm from a hive until that
hive is filled with combs in the brood nest, and by
the time they have drawn the starters out to full
combs the flow is usually over and the swarming,
too.

Some beekeepers practise dequeening their
colonies just before swarming, and by cutting out
all queen cells a few days before, prevent it.
While the absence of the queen under this method

SMOKINC; A NKWLY HIVKI) SWARM TO
HURKY THE ISKHS IN

means a cessation of brood rearing dnrnig this
period, vet its advocates claim that there is no
real loss, as the bees that would be reared during
this time would come on after the flow is over and
be consumers. Although this is true, yet I know
that a colony will work with more energy with a
laying queen than without one.

Mr. L. A. Aspinwall, of Jackson, Mich., has in
a quiet way for the past twelve years been carrying
on some experiments with a hive of peculiar con-
struction for comb-honey, and during all that period
has never had a swarm, and has produced large
surplus through ability to keep the entire working
force in the hive.

These hives are not on the market yet and may
not be for some years, but my opinion is that they
will eventuallv be universally adopted. The frames
are closed-end ones, and where the comb ends the
frame for a distance on each end of four inches is
slatted, which permits a clustering space for the
colony when crowded, and yet the slats prevent the
bees from building burr or brace combs, which
they certainlv would build were the space left open.
Just before the swarming season, these brood
frames are spread apart and between each of them
is slipped a slatted dummy frame of the same size,
which gives additional clustering space in the hive,
and as the frame so inserted has no comb in it.
but is filled with slats just a bee space apart, it en-
ables the beekeeper to give the colony all the room
it needs and removes the crowding that produces
the swarming.

amtma-mummM

r)()

BIGGI.K 15KK I'.OUK

}

from it can every few days he shaken in front of the
new hive, heinjjr careful to cut out all cjueen cells
frcMu the old hi\e for the first [vu da\s.

When all the bees have been shaken from tlie
old combs after they have all hatched, the combs
ean be cut from the frames and melted into bees-

>')nie return re-
ci'ived from them ;
bui when cuttinii

lem oU

incli ol com

b at-
tached to the top
bar of each frame.

ill

a> It will serve tor
sMOKiNf; A M.wi.v nivi:i) swakm t<> starter> the next

tl

to li
■1

I. 1
il

)e sure

ea\c- ahout an

IllKKV llll- ]!l IS IN

season when

tl

le

same Iranu-s are u^ed for .shakiiij^ bees on to them
in another liive.

F
peer,
swarnn'njj: ])ecause the -baking «>f the b

or cond)-lioney the fore^oin^ plan is without a
Those who advocate it say that it prevents

ees m front

o

f th<

e new hive convinces the bees that thev hav

swarmed, and thus cures the fever. This is wro

th(

n«

e reason they do not swarm is simi)ly because
a colony will seldom swarm from a hive until that

hive is tilled with cotid

)^

m

the 1.

• rood nest, an

d by

the time they have drawn the starters out to ful
combs the flow is usually over and the swarming,
too.

Some beekeepers practise deriuecning their
colonies just before swarmin<^. and by cuttin^^ out
all (|ueen cells a few days before, |)revent it.
While the absence of the (jueen under this method

SWAUM.s A.Xn ^\\ AKM l.\'«'.

51

means a cessation of brood rearing durmg this
period, yet its advocates claim that there is no
real loss, as the bees that would be reared during
this time would come on after the How is over and
be consumers, .\lthough this is true, yet I know
that a colony will work with more energy with a
laying (jueen than without one.

Mr. L. A. Aspinwall. of Jackson, Mich., has m
a (luiet way for the past twelve years been carrying
on some e-xperinunts with a hive of peculiar con-
struction for combdioney. and during all that period

has never had a swarm,

and has produced large

su

rplus through ability to keep the entire wo

>rking

force in the hive

nves are no

n

These
ot be for some years.

t on the market yet and may
but my opinion is that they

w

ill evcntuallv be univc

rsally adopted. The frames

are closed-end one

s. and where

th

e con

lb t'tids the

frame for a distance oi

1 each end of four inches is

slatted, which permits a c

lustering space for the

colonv when crov.ded. aiu

1 vet the slats preveii

bees from building burr or brace coniDs

lb

w

t the
hich

they

certainlv won

Id build were the space left oi)en.

Just before the s warming

season,

tl

lese

brood

frames are si)read a]

d apart and betwetn each of them

IS slipi

which gives a(
tl

lipped a slatted dummy irame ol the same size,
Iditional clustering space in the hive,

and as the Irame so

inserted has no comb in it,

n

but is filled with slats just a bee s])ace apart, it e
ables the beekeeper to give the colony all the room
it needs and removes the crowding that produces
the swarming.

^jt.,»^...„f*.,i>-j

lisfTENTIONAL SECOND EXPOSURE

II

Chapter ^'TT

c

c

<
H

X.

If.

u
>

*/:

O

ai
<
u

oi

O

<

I

COMB AND EXTRACTED HONEY

A little honey now and then u relished by the best of men

— Revised Proverb.

Having satisfied his bee fever by the possession
of some bees, and having safely brought them
through the wmter and by careful "-^jff^^-^"!
made the colony strong for the ^.^^^^^ ^^^'^ ^^
beginner is ready to make preparations for a crop

H^t^he object is to produce comb-honey, Uie
super cham-
b e r s with
sections
must b «^'
ready to
place upon
the top of
the colony as
soon as the
bees have
begun to
store n e w
h () n e y i n
the tops of

t h e brood determined by seeing

1 c th c,,,nl.s are being capped over vvuh new
w te as Generally speaking, alx.ut the early
; t of May, or during apple bloon. .s the proper
:• ♦^ t^iar,^ the uDuer stones on, one at a umc.
'■'' U:,l.?aU c.ra,mstances ttse full sheets of super

(53)

A NFTTINC. TENT WILL KKKl' <..-H KO.UUK HHES
^^MKN N<. HONEY IS C..M.N<; IN AN.. MIVKS
MUST BE OPENKO

1

y.

o

y.

<

■r.
<

'J

CllAl'TKH \'l I

COMB AND EXTRACTED HONEY

A Utile honey now and then :s reUslwd by the best of men
"^ -^ _K«-vistHl Proverb.

Having satisfK-.l Lis bee fever by the possession
of some bees, and havng safely brouj^lu them

rough the winter and by careful '"ana.en.e
,„aae the colony stron, .or the '""'>■ "-^'J'^,
l.eninner is ready to make preparation, for a crop

"* 'Jf "the object is to produce comb-honey, the
super cliam-
b c r s with
s f c t i <> 11 >

111 u s I 1' ^'

r I- a (I y to
place upon
tlu- top of
till- colony as
suoii as tlu'
1) r I- s l\avf

1) I- jA u n t <*
Mort- II e w
h »• 11 e y i u
tlu- tol)N ol

iu-. ^"-h can IK. eaMh detevnnn.d by .eem.

iihon.bs are bein.- eappe.l over wt.h new

if ax C.enerally MH-'kinu. .bou. the ea,l>

. t <,f Mav, or duri.,« apple bloo.n. .. the proper

part Ol Aia>. ,„,rics on. one at a tune.

lime to place th. ui)pi r .i„,,.k of suocr

riid.r all eireuni-lances use full shuts ot super

(5-')

■'Amgfmk^ i* m»i!i'mim'nmmi\isuiB

i«jt>«*L4.

V N, I MS.. TI^M Wn.I. KIFl- ...•.• K..HhlK U..l.^^
WM.S N.. MoNrV ,S...M.N.. .N AN.. ...Vhs
MI SI r.l- <>|MNM»

- V-<M|«/

Mtentional second exposure

54

B1GGLJ-: I3KE BOOK

COMH AND EXTRACTED HONEY

55

I

foundation in the little section boxes, as the bees
will enter them iniicli more readily than if only
starters are used. Fasten each sheet in securely
by aid of one of the fasteners sold for that purpose,
leaving just a little space at the bottom of the sec-
tion box to allow for sagging:.

When the super is filled with sections properly

HANI! EXTRACTOR IN OPF.RATION

prepared, lift the lid of the hive and place the super
on it. putting the hive lid on the super,— and all
is ready.

In a few days carefully examine it and if the
honey continues to come in and the section boxes
are nearly filled, prepare another super for the
hive in the same way and add it to the hive, placmg
it between the super nearly completed and the hive
body proper, but never put it on top of the first
super.

li" ihe flow continues, it is possible to place as
many as tour supers at a time on a strong colony,
adding ihem onlv as needed.

As soon as the combs are capped over remove
them at once; nothing is gained by leavmg them
on till the end of the season, as they become
travel-stained and the white caps unsightly.

The best way to take the supers off is to place
a board with a Porter bee-escape in it between
the hive bodv and the supers, and in twenty-four
hours the bc'es will have gone through it below
and the supers can then be taken off without the

bees to bother. , , r i

Some beekeepers simply blow clouds of smoke
down through the supers and in this way drive the
bees below, but it is a poor practise and is open to
the objection that it makes the bees uncap some
of the cells to fill up with honey.

When removed, the sections should be scraped
of anv propolis or bee-glue that has been deposited
on the little boxes and the honey placed in a warm,
dry place where the bees can not get at it. Under
no circumstances store it in the cellar or other
cool place, for this will make the surfaces of the
combs sweat and drip, but store it in the kitchen
pantry or in the attic, as these are admirable places.
Much could be written on this phase of honey
production, but it would only tend to confuse; ami
exp( ri( nre proves the foregoing method to be the

best. , I

Extracted HoNEV.--In tin production ot ex-
tracted honey the method is in some respects
similar to that used in comb production, only in-
stead of using a -.uper containing small section
boxes, full hive bodies are used.

BWiiiii r>r*rn-iiiMi

56

BIGGLE BEE BOOK

COMB AND EXTRACTED HONEY

57

li

i di

II

I

By all means use a tcn-frainc hive in i)roducing
extracted honey, as it gives larger storage space
and the hives do not have to be tiered up so high.
As soon as the same conditions prevail in the
brood nest as in the case of preparing for comb-
honey, place over the hive body an extracting
super, or full-sized hive body fitted with frames of
comb; or if these are not on hand, frames with
full sheets of foundation (being sure that the combs
or foundation are wired in to prevent their being
torn from the frames in the extractor).

Between the hive body and the extracting super

be sure to place a
(|ueen excluding
board (which is a
piece of zinc with per-
forations in it suffi-
ciently large to per-
mit the workers to
pass through up into
the super, but too
small to jillow the
<l 11 e e n to pass
through), for should
she get above and rear
brood in the extracting super it will be in the way
when in the extractor, and liable to be thrown out.
(Note: A queen excluding board should also be
used when i)ro(lncing comb-honey.)

Perhaps the majority of beekeepers use but one
extracting super on a hive at a time, extracting as
often as filled, but it will be well to have an extra
one handy for each hive in case of a heavy How, or
to leave on for the thorough ripening of the honey.
The time to extract is when about two-thirds of

HANniNG CDMIIS f)P HONKY INTO
THH KXTKACTINC; HoUSK

the celh in the frames are capped over, although
some beekeepers leave the supers on till the end
of the season, claiming that the honey ripens better,
but I have never seen any advantage m so doing;
most bee men extract as soon as ready, usually
twice or oftener as occasion requires.

A good practise is to extract during the early
and the latter part of July when the clover flow is
over and then again m the fall after the fall flow,
for in so doing
the clover honey,
which is lighter
in color and of a
more delicate fla-
vor than the fall
honey, is kept
separate and is
sold for a higher
price. (This ap-
]) 1 i e s also t o
comb-honey.)

When the
combs are ready
to be extracted,
take an empty hive, place it on a wheelbarrow and
cover it over with a wet towel (which will keep rob-
ber bees out) and go to the f^r^t hive, smoke the
bees a little, and then lift the coinb.s out one by one
shaking all adhering bees on the entrance board
of their hive, using a bee brush to clean them off
entirely These combs are then placed m the
emptv'hive and covered, and carried iiito a room
where the extractor is to be worked; with an
extracting knife the cell-caps are shaved of^ and the
frames placed in the extractor and whirled around

VATS FOK HOLDING HONEY TILL VVT IN
BAKKF.LS FOR SHIJ'MKNT

■WrMiti-WiiBiaiiiiliEiiiaBiii iiiiifjlllii iiTnjnili|.^)i II

^JL^

50

BIGGLE BEE BOOK

By all means use a tcn-franie hive in producing
extracted honey, as it gives larger storage space
and the hives do not have to be tiered up so high.
As soon as the same conditions prevail in the
brood nest as in the case of preparing tor comb-
honey, place over the hive body an extracting
super, or full-sized hive body fitted with frames of
comb; or if these are not on hand, frames with
full sheets of foundation (being sure that the combs
or foundation are wired in to prevent their bemg
torn from the frames in the extractor).

Between the hive body and the extracting super

be sure to place a
<|U«.'in r X c 1 u (1 i n g
Ixtard (which is .-i
piece of zinc with per-
loratioiis in it suffi-
cieiitl\ large to per-
mit tin- worl<crs to
pass iJironnli up into
tlu- super, but too
small to allow the
<| u e f n to p a s s
through), for should
she get above and rear
extracting super it will be in the way
when in the extractor, and liable to be tlir(.\\ii out.
(Notk: a (|ueen exeluchng board should aKo be
used when produeing comb-honey.)

Perhaps the majority of beekeepers use but one
extracting super on a hive at a lime, extracting as
often as filled, but it will be well to have an extra
one handy for each hive in case of a heavy How. or
to leave on for the thorough ripening of the honi-y.
The time to extract is when about two-thirds of

JCANDINC, CrjMI'.s 0|' H(>M.:Y INTO

riiK I xiKA(TiN<. iiorsi':

brood in the

i

COMB AND EXTRACTED HONEY

57

the cells in the frames are capped over, although
some beekeepers leave the supers on till the end
of the season, claiming that the honey ripens better,
but I have never seen any advantage in so domg;
most bee men extract as soon as ready, usually
twice or oftener as occasion requires.

A good practise is to extract durmg the early
and the latter part of July when the clover flow is
over and then again in the fall after the tall flow,
for in so doing
the clover honey,
which is lighter
in color and of a
more delicate fla-
vor than the fall
honey, is kept
sei)arate and i
sold for a higher
price. (This ap-
]» 1 i e s also t o
eonib honey. )

W h e n the
combs are ready
to be extracted,
take an empty hive, place it on a wheelbarrow and
cover it over with a wet towel (which wdl keep rob-
ber bees out) and go to the first hive, smoke the
bees a little, and then lift the combs out one by one
shaking all adhering bees on the entrance board
of their hive, using a bee brush to clean them otT
entirelv These combs are then placed in the
emptv'hive and covered, and carried into a room
where the extractor is to be worked, with an
extracting knife the cell-caps are shaved off and the
frames placed in the extractor and whirled around

VATS Vi'U Hol.niN'-. HoNI V Till. I'VT IN
IJAKHia.S F<iK SHII'MHNT

tlSITENTIONAL SECOND EXPOSURE

58

BlGiiLE BEE liUUK

COMB AND KXTRACTEl) HONEY

;)'.!

,1:1 I
1)1 "

until all tlu' honey is extracted. wIkh tlu-y are re-
turned to tlKir hive again, either immediately or
at the close of the day when bees are not flying.
Extractors are two, four or eight-frame size,
but unless one has an apiary of fifty or more
colonies a two-frame extractor will suffice, although
there are advantages in having a four-frame one, as

it extracts more
frames for the
same anunint of
work.

A piece o f
cheese-cloth may
l)e tied over the
honey gate at the
bottom of the ex-
tractor and the
honey can be run
into kegs, cans
or buckets as ex-
tracted, and sealed
up to keep it away from the bees. Great care
should be exercised, however, to sec that the
extracting room is bee tight, or a good case of
robbing may be developed.

Many beekeepers store their extracted honey in
sixty-pound cans, two of which come in a case; and
although this is a very satisfactory way of storing
and shipping extracted honey, these cans are quite
expensive; they cost eighty cents for a case of
two.

Other honey producers buy from the manufac-
turers half-barrel kegs holding one hundred and
sixty pounds of honey. These kegs can be bought,
delivered to the beekeeper, for about forty cents

I'OWHK i:XTKACT()K

each, and being new the honey is not contaminated.
The various styles of honey packages will be further
discussed under the chapter on Marketing Honey.

It is a question as to how many frames of
comb should be in the extracting super, but it
is a good plan not to have the super crowded with
as many as it would take if used for a brood body.

If the super is a ten-frame one it will be a good
thing to put but eight frames in it and spread them
well apart, so that the bees will have plenty of room
to cluster and store honey; by so doing the combs
will be fat and, when uncapped, provide a good
surplus of beeswax from the caps and combs.

iii'riar.HMW«*ift«iilitfi|.mMiMi:iwiiii«iiiiiii(iii?f

f

MATINd H(>XKS USKI) IN nl EEN KEARlNc;

CHAnrr.R VIII

OUEEN REARING AND INTRODUCING

'' A bee has the right to have the b.^st of ancestors ; blood
will telir

While it is true that the majority of beekeepers
prefer to buy from queen breeders what queens
they need, yet a great many rear their own queens,
especially if they
have a great hon
e y - prod ucing
strain of bees
which they desire
to ])erpetuate.

If left to them-
selves a colony
would rear (luecns
o n 1 V at the

swarming season, artificial cell eers rbaoy to kkceivk

. '^ J GKAFTEU ECIGS

or when made

(lueenless. or when about to supersede an old

(lucen that shows signs of faihng.

When a colonv casts a swarm it will generally
be found that there are a number of nice cells left
in the hive from which they swarmed, and as these
cells are built under the most favorable conditions
they are generally the best. To let the colony
tear down the surplus ones when the f^rst virgin
queen hatches would be the height of folly, as a
little care will result in securing some of the very
best queens imaginable. .

To do this, cut out every cell but one, being

(61)

MATINC l!(>\Ks 1 SKI) IN .,1 KKN K KA K I

N(

I

Chaptkr VIII

OUEEN REARING AND INTRODUCING

" A bcchas the right to hare the. best of ancestors ; blood
will tell."

While it is true that the majority of beekeepers
prefer to buy from (juecn l)reeders what queens

'tmm^-mimfmamMmmmiimitmmtm

IOTNTIONAL SECOND EXPOSURE

62

UICXiLE BEE liOOK

careful not to open or crush the cell in so doing,
then place each cell in a West cell protector and

stick the i)rotector on

the comb of some

strong colony, and

when it hatches in a

few days the (|ueen can

be mated from a small

nucleus or else given as

>a virgin to increase, or

to a queenless colony

and allowed to mate

from her i)ermanent

home. In this way a

nice lot of (pieens can

^ U ^^^' ^<-'«»red each season

ll U to supply the needs of

Wt - ^ B the yard.

If a considerable
number of (pieens are
needed, it will be necessary to use some inexpen-
sive appliances for the purpose, and then they can
be reared in unlimited numbers.

First select a strong colony and take from it
their queen, and in about two days it will be
ready to begin cell building. Then from (hat
colony, or some-
other, select .1
frame of ])roo(l
not more than
three days old.
and with a small
grafting needle
gently lift one of
the larvae from its p^^^^ ,,p cn.MrLin.cn cklls

CKLl.S COMPLKTFI> HV QHHENLESS
( OLONY

gUEEN REARING AND INTRODUCING

r.;?

cell and place it in the little artificial cup made for

the purpose. , ^ ,

After a number of these have been grafted, place
them in the frames made for such purpose, and
deposit the frame of cell cups in the center of the
queenless colony. In about fourteen days take the
cells from the frames, put each one in a little cage
by itself and fill a frame full of these cages and

return to the cpieenless
colony, or any colony
having a queen, as the
cages protect the cells, and
all that they require at
this period is the heat of
the colony; when they
hatch they are ready for
4 ' introduction as virgins, or

^ * to be placed in little mat-

ing boxes until mated.
Personally I advocate
giving to such
colonies as need
t h e m . virgin
(|ueens. as they
are more read-
ily accepted, and T thus avoid llie trouble of looking
after a lot of little mating boxes.

Mr. E. L. Pratt, of Swarthmore. Pa., is the
originator oi the Swarthmore (lueen-rearing sys-
tem, which has proved a great success in the hands
of those who have tried it, its simplicity rendering
it effective even ir. the hands of a beginner.

If from any cause a colony has become queen-
less the condition can be remedied by giving the
colony a frame of young eggs and permitting them

i:i.i.s IN I'Koc. 1.

C4

BICKJLE BEE BOOK

QUEEN REARING AND INTRODUCING

05

to rear their own (jiucn. As this involves a wait
and loss of brood, a good many prefer to rear or
buy queens and give them one at once.

Ii tlu' (jueens are bought, the directions for in-
troducing are printed on the mailing box in which
they arrived; but for the benefit of those who pre-

til fer raising them, I
will describe two
methods of introduc-
t i o n that have
proved to be the
best.

Whether the
q u e e n has been
reared or bought,
she should be taken
in the little introduc-
ing or mailing cage
and (with honey
candy sufificient to
keep her, stored in
the box) i^laced be-
tween two frames of
brood or bees in the colony to which she is to be
given. Of course it is understood that the colony
to wliich she is to be introduced is at the time
queenless. and has been so for at least three or
four days or even longer.

This honey candy is made by mixing to a stiff
dough some extracted honey and pulverized sugar.
The candy fills up the space between the queen and
the little hole in the cage through which she is to
escape, and by the time the bees have eaten away
the candy so that she can get out, she will have ac-
quired the scent of the colony and will be accepted,

CELL PROTECTORS IN I'LACE

as the odor of their hue is the only means by which
the bees know their queen !n a few days she will
be found walking over the combs, laying, when the
cage can be taken out for good.

CUTTING OFF FINISH F.n fF.LLS

Another method by which the queen can be
immediately introduced, is to fill the smoker with
strong tobacco and give the queenless colony a
good smoking every five minutes till it is well
scented, being careful not to give it too much (as

iHiiiwlinnwBaLiiW— ■wi^iTjMffiiii'nirii

G4

bi(k;le bek liooK

to rear their own (luccn. As this involves a wait
and loss of brood, a good many prefer to rear or
buy ciueens and ^ive them one at once.

If the (|ueens are bought, the directions for in-
troducing are i)rinte(l on the mailing box in which
they arrived; but for the benefit of those who pre-

^|l fer raising them. I
'* will describe two
methods of introduc-
t 1 <• n that have
proNcd to be the
best.

W h e t h e r the
i\ u c e n h a s been
reared or bought,
she should be taken
in the little introduc-
ing or mailing cage
and ( with honey
candy sufficient to
keep her, stored in
the box ) i)laced ])e-
twcen two frames of
brood or beis in ibe colony to which she is to be
given. Of course it is understood that the cohuiy
to which she is to be introduced is at the time
<|ueenless. and has been so for at least three or
four days or even longer.

This honey candy is made by mixing to a stiff
dough some extracted lioney and pulverized sugar.
The candy fills up tlie space between the queen and
the bttle hole in the cage through which she is to
escape, and by the time the bees have eaten away
the candy so that slie can get out. she will have ac-
cpiired llie scent of the colony and will be accepted,

CELL PROTFCTORS IN 11. ACE

I

OUFEN KKARING AND INTRODUCING

65

as the odor of their hive is the only means by which
the bees know their (jueen. In a few days she will
be found walking over the combs, laying, when the
cage can be taken out for good.

\

CUTTING OFF FIN'ISHKH ( RKLS

Another method by which the queen can be
immediately introduced, is to fill the smoker with
strong tobacco and give the (lueenless colony a
good smoking every five minutes till it is well
scented, being careful not to give it too nnich (as

v_/

TENTIONAL SECOND EXPOSURE

G(i

r,I(.(.l-K RKK l;(H)K

OUKKN KKAKING AND INTRODUCING

07

!s

too iiiiich is worse lliaii lou lilllc), ami then j)utf
a few whiffs on the queen in the cage, and p^ently
drop her on top of the frames, — and in a jiffy ii
is done.

I use this method exclusively and seldom lose
a queen, with the advantage of having her introduc-
ed at once; in fact, I have taken a queen from a
colony and in five minutes introduced another in
this way.

Queenlessness is too serious a loss to a colony
to be allowed to continue, and u])on its discovery
should be remedied at once. It may be discovered
in several ways.

One way is to examine the combs, and if there
is no brood or eggs present it is reasonable to
suppose that the queen is gone, although some-
times you will be fooled, — as in the case of a hive
having a virgin that has not yet begun to lay.

Not finding the brood, then look over the combs
for her majesty, and if careful search fails to re-
veal her, it is pretty certain that the colony is
queenless.

Unless young eggs are given to them or a new
queen provided, there is danger that they will in-
troduce a laying worker, with disastrous conse-
quences to themselves. They will select one of
the workers and feed her stimulative food, and she
will lay, but all of her eggs will i)rove to be drones;
and the eggs will be deposited irregularly over the
comb, sometimes as many as three in a cell.

In most cases, giving the colony some young
brood will make them raise a queen, and tlic laying
worker will quit. Rut sometimes they will refuse
to rear a queen from the brood given, and will even
kill a queen given them; in which case it will

I

be well to move the hive now depleted in numbers.
and on its stand place a strong colony; takmg the
queenless colony a few yards away and shakmg the
bees ofY in the air, when they will return to the
colony on their stand and, if the honey Bow is on,
will be allowed to enter and go to work. The lay-

SECUKING ATTENDANTS TO CARR FOR QUEEN UUKING
liKK JOURNEY BY MAIL

ing worker, if she enters that hive or any other,
will be put to death by the workers.

It would be impossible in this brief treatise to
go extensively into the question of queen rearmg.
as there are a number of books on the subject; but
I have outlined enough to enable the average bee-
keeper to go ahead and rear the best of queens.

GO

i;i(,(,i.i. I'.i.i; iMxtK

( )

UKKN UlAKlNd AND I N IKODUCl NC,

67

too iiiiich i^ worse than too little), and ihcn i)iiff
a few wliilTs oil the cjiieen in the ca^e. and gently
drop her on top of the frames, — and in a jiffy it
is done.

I use this method exclusively and seldom lose
a (jueen. with the advantage of having lier introduc-
ed at once: in fact, 1 have taken a (jiieen from a
colonv and in five minutes introduced another in

th

is way.

Qneeiilessness is too serious a loss to a colony
to be allowi'd to continue, and upon its discovery
should be remedied at once. It may be discovered
in several ways.

One way is to examine the combs, and if there
is no brood or eggs present it is reasonable to
suppose that the c|ueen is gone, although some-
times yon will be fooled. — as in the case of a hive
having a virgin that has not yet begun to lay.

Not finding the brood, then look over the combs
for her majesty, and if careful search fails to re-
veal her, it is j^retty certain that the colony is
queenless.

Unless young eggs are given to them or a new
(jueen provided, there is danger that they will in-
troduce a laying worker, with disastrous conse-
(|uences to themselves. They will select one of
the workers and feed her stimulative food, and she
will lay, but all of her eggs will i)ro\ e to be drones;
and the eggs will be dei)osited irregularly over the
comb, sometimes as many as three in a cell.

In most cases, giving the colony some young
brood will make them raise a (|ueen, and the laying
worker will (piit. P»ut sometimes tliey will refuse
to rear a (pieen from the brood given, and will even
kill a cpieen given them; in which case it will

he well to move
and on its

the hive now depleted in numbers,

([ueenless co

stand place a strong colony; taking the
lonv a few yards away and shaking the

)ees o

wi

ff in the air, when they will return to the
land and. if the honey tlow is on,

rk. The lay-

colony on their

11 be allowe

d to enter and go to wo

^ ■»' v-rjEf -^

\P "*

.* ^^-

h^.*^ f /*J *

r *

SEClIKIMi ATTENDANTS Td CAKK 1< -K (JUKKN IHTKING

Hi-K j()i;kni:y hy mail

ing worker, if she enters that hive or any (jther,
will be put to death by the workers.

It would be impossible in this brief treatise to
go extensivelv into the (piestioii of (pieeii rearing,
as thvre are a number of book^ on the subject; but
I have outlined enough to enable the average bee-
keeper to go ahead and rear the best of (lueens.

INTENTIONAL SECOND EXPOSURE

(S-

I

I

0

75

X

0

0

0.

0

z

<

C/5

U

Si

Chapter IX

OUT APIARIES. MOVING BEES

Don't bite off more than yvii can cheuK—T\vc\.

Unless the beekeeper is located in an unusually
favorable locality, he will have to resort to a system
of out apiaries, especially if he depends upon bee-
keeping for a livelihood.

Generally speaking, it is the height of folly to
overstock a locality with too many colonies, for
there is a limit to even the most promising dis-
tricts. It is the lack of bee forage that has led
the large beekeepers to adopt the plan of having
several vards. ranging about three miles from each
other, and thus securing a splendid return from each
yard; whereas, if all were located in the home yard,
there would be little or no surplus, and in the
majority of cases the beekeeper would have to
feed for winter.

As a rule bees will not go more than three miles
from their homes for honey, which gives them a
circle of territory about six miles in diameter; so
for this reason it will be best to have the yards
no nearer to each other than three miles.

For instance, one yard could be located at the
home, and a yard each three miles in opposite
directions from the home yard, so that no out
yard would be more than three miles from home,
and all within easy driving distance.

A small piece of ground can be bought or rented
for the out yards and a small building erected for

(69)

/.

r.

A

y

Y

y

CiiAnrK IX

OUT APIARIKS. MOVING BEES

Don t bite off more than Vuit can iheu'.—'\ im.

Unless the beekeeper is located in an uinisnally
favorable locality, be will have lo resort to a system
of out apiaries, e

MSiBliMaW'WHWghaiilMinilllTMI'il'aim-JWiiii-ii. i

pccially if be depends npon bee

keepinj^ for a

livelihood,
ki

it is the lKiL;bt of folly to

Generally sl)eakln}^^ i
overstock a locality with too many c

o

loni

es.

there is a

tncts.

limit to even the most prt)nusm^
It is the lack of bee forage thai has

for

dis-

led

the lar^^e beekeepers

sevi

ral

vards. raiv-^ni^ a

l«) adopt the plan of havinK
bout three miles from each

other, and thus securing- a splendid return irom each

vard; whereas, if all were

located in the home ya

rd.

would be little or no surphis.
thi- beekeeper wo

lh«r(

majority

teed for winter.

oi cases

and in the
uld have to

A
from

s a ru

til

le 1
1

)ees w

ill not ^o mo

re than three miles

uir h<»mes lor

hoi

circle oi territory a

bout

ley.

<i\ 1

w

hich

^iv

e^

tl

U'ln a

niles in diameter; so

tor this

reason it wi

II be best to h;

ive

th.

va

rd«

in »

nearer to e

ich other than three miles

til

il.

For instance, one yar(

I

lonie

am

a va

rd

eac

I rould be located at the
b three miles in opposite

directions from the home yard, so

that no ont

vard would be more than three

miles from home

aiK

1 all

itl

sn

within easN
.f

V driving di>lance

lall ]

)iece OI ^roiin

d can be boUM;bl »>r rented

for tlu' out yards and a suial

l)U'ldim^ erected for

INTENTIONAL SECOND EXPOSURE

06

nicGiJ-: RKK r.ooK

too much is worse than too little), and then puff
a few whiffs on the queen in the cage, and gently
drop her on top of the frames,— and in a jiffy it

is done.

I use this method exclusively and seldom lose
a (jueen. with the advantage of having her introduc-
ed at once: in fact. 1 have taken a queen from a
colony and in five minutes introduced another in

this way.

Queenlessness is too serious a loss to a colony
to be allowed to continue, and upon its discovery
should be remedied at once. It may be discovered
in several ways.

One way is to examine the combs, and if there
is no brood or eggs present it is reasonable to
suppose that the (pieen is gone, although some-
times you will be fooled.— as in the case of a hive
having a virgin that has not yet begun to lay.

Not finding the brood, then look over the combs
for her majesty, and if careful search fails to re-
veal her. it is pretty certain that the colony is
queenless.

Unless young eggs are given to them or a new
queen provided, there is danger that they will in-
troduce a laying worker, with disastrous conse-
(piences to themselves. They will select one of
the workers and feed her stimulative food, and she
will lay. but all of her eggs will prove to be drones;
and the eggs will be deposited irregularly over the
comb, sometimes as many as three in a cell.

In most cases, giving the colony some young
brood will make them raise a (pieen, and the laying
worker will quit. But sometimes they will refuse
to rear a queen from the brood given, and will even
kill a queen given them; in which case it will

OUKKN KKAKINC. ANP IN TKODUCINC.

67

be well to move the hive now depleted m numbers.
and on its stand place a strong colony; takmg the
nueenless colonv a few yards away and shakmg the
bees off in the air, when they will return to the
colonv on their stand and, if the honey fiow is on,
will be allowed to enter and go to work, ihe lay-

SECURING ATTENDANTS TO CAKF. FC-K QUEEN UUK.NG
HKK JOUKNKY UY MAIL

ing worker, if she enters that hive or any other,
will be put to death l)y the workers.

It would be impossible in this brief treatise to
go extensively into the question of queen /earing
as there are a number of books on the subject; but
I'bave outlined enough to enable the average bee-
keeper to go ahead and rear the best of queens.

on

i;|(,(,l.l I'.l I r.noK

too iiillCll 1^ W <

a t c \v u

1

>r^r tli.-m too littlt-). and llirn ]>nff
liilTs o!i llu- (nunn in tin- oaK*^'. and gently

—and in a jiffy it

dro]) lur oil lop <>t the iranu-s

is d<>iK'
I V.

sC

a (lucrn. \\i'

fd at onci': m lai

tliiN nutliod c'xcln>i\ rl>' and .scddoni lose
h thr ad\anta:^c ot having Iut introdno-

l. I 1

ia\c'

tal

<vu a (pui-n ironi a

c-oloiu a

r.d in U\c innintr-> introdnn-d anotlu-r ni

ill

is way.
( )nc(.'nlrs-^n<'>s is t< >< » ^c

rion-- a loss to a col(»nv

to ])v .allow

cd to contmnr. am

1 ni

ion 1

sjinnld \)v rcnirdird at onfi-. It may
in sr\ rial \va\ s.

ts (1

hr (1

lsro\ CTV

isi'ovrrcM

I

( )\\v wav Is to cxamnu' thr ro

ind)S. antl if thiTc

Is n«

)ro( K 1 or f

,.i^> !>'■

rsi

nt il Is rrasonaldi' t<)

sni)i)<»st' that iIu- <|n('rn is ^oiu-. altlion.uh soinc-
tinu'< \on will lu' t'oolrd.- a- in llu- casr oi a liivc
liaxiti!-' a \ir,i^iii thai lias noi yrt hr^iin to la\ .

Not tnidinn llu- hiood. tlun look o\rr the combs
for lur maifstx. and if carrinl srandi faiK to re-

veal lur. It is j.rrtl\ t-i
(}neenles^.

rtain that tlu" eolonv is

Till

c^s vomm »u:;js

are ;^i\rn to tluni or a m\v

iliiei'ii pritvidid. thrre is <lan'4rr that tlie\- will in-
ker, with di-a-troiis eoiise-
Tlux will

trodn

lee a la\inu woi

<Hun(T
ih

to tlu-nisiKi.'

u\ will srliet one ol

c- uot

ker.s and I'rd lur stininlalive food, and she
will lay. hnt all oi lu r ciiP- will l)r<)\r to he drones;
;ind the rj^.u.s will hr dc-poNitrd irre^nlarle over
comh. s(,inetim<s as mam ;;^ thrcr in a eril.

tlu

In most e.'.^r

l: 1 \- 1 n 1

ll

le eolonv ^ome vonnj^

brood will make lluin rai-i- a (|neen. and the layiii).r
worker will (|nit. r>nl -ometime> llie>- will refuse
to rear a <|ueen from the brood Lii\t'n. and will even

iveii them; in wliicii case it will

kill

a (llleeil i;

on IN Kl \l<l

N(, AM* IN I UOHIU I N«,

be well t

o mo\e

the hive now dei)leled in nnniber

and «»n

iineeiiless c

:)ees ol

il> stand place a stron.n c»)

h)ir

lak

niK

th(

(.loiu a tew yan

Is a

\v

IV and shakiim the

II m ihr air. w

hen they wi

11 reltini to the

C(

)lonv on

llu-ir

;land and. if the honey Ih'W is on,

wi

be allowed to enter and g

o to wo

rk. The lav-

111".-^ WoV

■ker. if

lu- ei

Iters that hive or any <

ithiT.

wil

be ,
I WO

111

I t«. (baih b;. the worker;

nld be iiiipo--i

ble in this brief treatise to

iro extell-^ivt

Iv into the (piestioii ot (pieeii reariii}^.
|„M.k^ on the subject : but

a^ ih'.re are a number oi

I h

;i\e *

.ntlineil eiioii

oil to enable the avera^r

)ee

keei)er to go a

hea<l and rear ilu best ol (pieen

INTENTIONAL SECOND EXPOSURE

y.

tort

<

a:
r.

'A

C
<

C/5

u

Chapter IX

OUT APIARIES. MOVING BEES

Don't bite off more than yun can cheiv.—T'\m.

Unless the beekeeper is located in an unusually
favorable locality, lie will have to resort to a system
of out apiaries, especially if he depends upon bee-
keeping for a livelihood.

Generally speaking, it is the height of folly to
overstock a locality with too many colonies, for
there is a limit to even the most promising dis-
tricts. It is the lack of bee forage that has led

the large beekeepers

to adoi)t the plan of having

seve

ral vards. ranging about three miles from

each

other, an

yard; whereas, i

d thus securing a splendid return from eac

f all were located in the home yard,

there wou

Id be little or no surp

lus. and in

the

maj

oritv of cases

feed for winter.

As a rule bees wi
from their homes for honey, w

the beekeeper would have to

11 not go more than three miles
hich gives them a

circle of territory about six miles in diameter; so

11 be best to have the yards

f(jr this reason it wi

no neare

r to each other lliaii three miles

For instance, one y

ard

coil

Id be located at the

1 a vard each three miles in opposite

home. aiK

directions from the home ya

vard would be more

rd. so that no out
than three miles from home,

and all within easy driving distance

A small piece of g
for the out yards and a s

f trround can be bought or re

nted

mall building erected for

(tiy)

•*^

/

y

Chapter IX

OUT APIARIES. MOVING BEES

Don t bite off more than yvu ain rA^u-.— Tim.

Unless the beekeeper is located in an unnsually
favorable locality, be will bavc K. resort to a system
nt out apiaries, especially if be depends upon bee-
keeping for a livelihood.

Generally speaking, it i^ the height ot tolly to
overstock a locality with too many cob)nies, for
built Ui even the nu)st pri)misnig dis-
be lack ^A bee forage that has led
to adoi)t the plan of having

there l^ a

tricts.

It is t

the lar^e beekeeper

^e\ era
.tb

I vards. raULiinj;- about three miles ir

om eac

(tther. am

1 thu

s seen

rini; a splendid return ir.tui

each

li

var

d: w

her

:is, il all wer«.

11

located in the home yard,

there would be little or no Mir])

lu>

majority ot case
feed for winter.

V the beekeeper would liav

am

1 in the

A

s a ru

le I

)ee

will not ^o u

lore than three miles

to

iroui

lb

eir

boiue^ for houey. which ^ivi

tb

em a

ciri
for

b- of territory about •^lx

miles iu diameter; s

o

tb

is reason it wil

be be-l

to 1

lave

tb

c vards

uo Ilea

rer to each other than thne mile

I'^or instance, one > arc

luMue,
direction

lud a va

rd

eac

1 e..uld be h»cated at the
h three miles in oi)posite

from the liMiue yard, so

that no out

vard would be mo

aui

1 all wilhiii e

.re than three miles from houie
asv driviui; distance

A small piece of ^
rd!

f proimd can l)e bought or rt

•n

ted

fur the tiut yards ami a >ma

(by;

ill buildinii erected t(»r

INTENTIONAL SECOND EXPOSURE

'0

HIGGLE BEE BOOK

a work house in which to store hives and do the
extracting.

Even thoii^^h a building is not erected, it is a
wise thing to have at least some kind of a box or
storage place there in which to keep smoker, veils
and tools, as each yard should have its own working

A HIVK ON SCALKS HEI.FS TO KEFP TAll ON THH APIARY

tools, independently of each other, and thus avoid
all possible delays in getting to work when once
the out yard is reached. The tools for the out
yards should be of the same character as those
used in tlie home yard, and a good supply of
smoker fuel should always be on hand.

Tie who begins to establish out yards should
keep constant account as to ju^t how much each

OUT AriARlHS. MOVING BEES

71

vard is gathering, for while one yard may be
taring a%oodly surplus, anot^.r -y -ed ^ be

''\ ^^d'rhlvrupon ;:a^s':o't£ras .s we^gUt
^c^^l^^^it'^falrind™^^

U se.led vvill be necessary to have some room
oV vred-in place where the -tractu.g can be

■ A ..^ ;n «;ecuritv from robber bees.
""■i't «,, v.r b S,„.,rc. co„.un. wa.ching lo.

he a distinct loss. . , ^„„,,pr

U the bees are wintered outdoors with proper

Mck "d forth '?oth:'honte 'for cellar wintering.
For tWs rc-ason I have adopted cxclus.vely the ot,t-
L'r wintering of bees, both at -">' J-'-/ ! J, !
^nt v-irds- -ind as the packing is ample and inec
H^ Mso ;^even,s the spring dwindhng so com-

r„ "when bees are t^- ^Vi; b ^^ .^ "o
cellar n the sprnig. (Note, i ni "'.;,,
>ack bees in either the ho.ne or o.n yard> ^u be
fully treated under the chapter on How to W utter

^%l cuestion as to the number of out yards a
n.an c^n'Trofi.ably run. will '^^V^"'} ^^l^^!^
the man's ability as a manager and h.s adapt.it.on

'" Titer;' e some people who can successfully
manage a few colonies at the home yard, who, .f

70

1{k;(;lk bke 1500k

.1 work house in which to store hives and do the
exiractinir.

E\<.n thon^h a hnildiniT is not erected, it is a
wise tliinu to h.ive at least some kind i)\ a l)ox or
storage i)lace thrrc- in which in keep smoker, veils
and tools, as each yard -honUl have its (jwn working

A H I \ I-: "\ ^<A!.i >^ iii;i rs i" km p tm.

''\ I III- AI'IAKN

lool^. iiidfix iidrntly of <.'ach othi
all po-^sihK- dila\ s in ^cttinL! t

O \\(ll

,nd tl
k wl

uis avoid

len once

th

le out yard i< reaclu d. 'Vhv tools for th

vards vhonld 1

)(■ (I

f th

le same iMiaractcr as those

e out
th

Used in ihe home vard. and a

iH

smoker fn»l should alwavs be on hand.

)o(i sujiply of

]{

e w

ho 1

krt'l

n'.mns lo i-slahli^h out varcN should

» Constant account as lo jn-i how nmch each

OUT AP1AK1K>. M«»\1NC. I'.KI-S

71

,,,a i. ^atherin^. tor whde one yaul ma e
•io nr a ooodlv surplus, another may ^^^-'f ;^\ ^
d or tlus rea>on it is a good plan to ha^ e n
^^ b V rd 1 luve upon scales, so that as its weight

::e!ia::^i;i:afa!ru.i.^^^^^

,,, .angular yard need m^^

::/;S:d-in place where the e.tntcun. can be

nrric.l >m in socuruy irom robber bus.

"'tu ou, vara, ro.uir. -H,s.a,u watch.ne or

;:;;r;;:;l::;,.SJ'r:^.>r:?l.;:cr:::^r;:.

mt aw

l)e a (

li^tinct loss.

if the bees are wmterec

1 outdo<M-s with proper

protective pac

vear

as It w ou

king, a l<>t oi work
1(1 be ([uite a j<

wii

)e save(

I each

],,,,], and forth to the home t.u- c
i;,.r ihi< rrason 1 have adopted exc

!•

b hauling the bees

•liar wintering.

lusivelv the out-

door wintering o

f 1

)ees.

both at my

bonn

an

d at

nut var(

1-

am

1 a:

the 1

>a(.

kinu i^ ample am

1 etT

ec

live it al<o prevents t

nion \v

bvn

1

)ees

ari'

he spring dwindling ^o eom-
l of their winter

ci-

l)ac

ar in ihe <i»nng.

taken ou
( XoiK :

The best way to

k 1

)ee

in n

tin r the b«>me or ou

t vards Wl

11 b(

fuUv trea

ted under the chapter on

11

i iW

to Winter

B

ees

)

The (juestion a^

t(^ the nil

mber of out yav

■(b

man c

th( man s a

an protitably run. w

ill depend entirely upon

bilitv as a manager am

1 bis adapt atio

n

to \V

e wor

k.

There arc some

people who can

success

ni

anage a few co

Ion

les a

t the home yar(

\\

fully
ho, if

INTENTIONAL SECOND EXPOSURE

72

BICXILE BEE BOOK

they should launch out in a system of out apiaries,
would make of it a monumental failure; so for
this reason my advice would be to " go slow,"
work into it gradually and let your growth be in
proportion to your success.

There are some beekeepers who each year move
their apiary from place to place, following the

A WHLL-KEPT OUT APIARY

bloom; but as this method is precarious at best,
I should not advise its adoption except in rare
instances, and even then only in the hands of an
expert.

In moving bees to and from the out yards, a
great deal of caution should be exercised; for
should the hive be rudely jarred and the bees
escape while in transit, disastrous consequences
will surely follow, and possibly the horses may
be stung to death.

Ihe hives may be prepared by having wire

OUT API.ARIES. MOVING BEES

73

screen tacked over their tops and bottoms the
night before, and then in the cool of the morning the
hives should be placed on a wagon having springs
and the body filled with hay or other soft and
yielding material. Personally I use a frame of
wood seven-eighths of an inch thick and on one
side of this frame I tack wire netting like a window
screen; a few nails will hold one in place on the
top and the bottom of the hive body. They can
be used indefinitely and are also just the thing for
shipping bees away by express or freight.

Above all things, have the hives so prepared and
arranged on the wagon that there shall be ample
ventilation while in transit, and when the out yard
is reached unhitch the horses and take them some
distance away until every hive is safely lifted from
the wagon.

It is best not to liberate the bees till toward
evening. In case no bees have gotten out the
horses can again be harnessed to the wagon and
the wagon drawn away some distance, till the
screens can be taken off. the bees liberated and
each hive left in position with bottom board and
lid in place.

72

V.lCA.Li: BKL BOOK

they should launch out in a system of out apiaries,
would make of it a monumental failure; so for
this reason my advice would be to " go slow,"
work into it gradually and let your growth be in
proportion to your success.

There are some beekeepers who each year move
their aj)iary from place to place, following the

A W M.l.-KIIT Orr Al'IAKV

bloom: but as this method i- precarious at best,
1 should not advise it- adoption excei)t in rare
m>tances. and even then only in the hands of an
expert.

In moving bees to and from the out yards, a
great deal of caution should be exercised: for
should the hive be rudely jarred and the bees
escape while in transit, disastrous consecjuences
wdl surely fo'iou. and possibly tin- horses may
be stung to death.

Ihe hives may be prepared by havir.g wire

OUT APl.XklKS. MOMNG BEKS

73

screen tacked over their tops and bottoms the
night before, and then in the cool of the morning the
hives should be placed on a wagon having springs
and the body tilled with hay or other soft and
yielding material. Personally I use a frame of
wood seven-eighths of an inch thick and on one
side of this frame I tack wire netting like a window
screen; a few nails will hold one in place on the
top and the bottom of the hive body. They can
be used indefinitely and are also just the thing for
shipping bees away by express or freight.

Above all things, have the hives so prepared and
arranged on the wagon that there shall be ample
ventilation while in transit, and when the out yard
is reached unhitch the horses and take them some
distance away until every hive is safely lifted from
the wagon.

It is best not to liberate the bees till toward
evening In case no bees have gotten out the
horses can again be harnessed to the wagon and
the wagon drawn away some distance, till the
screens can be taken off. the bees liberated and
each hive left in position with bottom board and
lid in place.

INTENTIONAL SECOND EXPOSURE

S^^^i^^^^n^^

^>v,';-

EXTRACTlNci A BEK STINd — EASILY DoNK

-.

Chai»ter X

BEE STINGS. REMEDIES

An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cnre.-WxxWx:^

From a mistaken notion that bees are naturally
vindictive and sting without the slightest provoca-
tion, many people are deterred from havmg them
on the place at any price. r .• .

As a matter of fact, a large number of stmgs
that annuallv come to beekeepers as the tribute
naid for the profits of the work, might with a little
care be avoided. A lot of irritating causes can
easily be removed, and preventives be employed
to reduce stinging to a minimum. For instance,
bees are not so cross when I don a white cotton
suit instead of dark woolen clothes.

Another cause of freciuent stings arises rom
the fact that the beekeeper often goes right from
the barn to the bee yard; and the odor o cattle,
especially that of the horse, is sure to make bees
mad. so for this reason 1 make it a point to wash
up and don my white painter's suit.

Many times I am stung because. I am in a hurry
to open a hive and do not smoke it properly and
wait a few minutes before opening it; a little
patience would have prevented a sting

Kicking or bumping against hives will also make

bees angrv; a little care in this respect would

remove to'a large extent the stings we all receive^

The proper way to open a hive is to blow in a

few puffs of smoke at its entrance and then pound

(75)

wrii>.Jll'iiaiiuiii'i„fiMitiiliiltni

'V

■ ^

F\' riv.\tiiN(; A i:kksiim; — ka>ii.\ \t>>\i.

B

CHAI'TKK X

KK STIX(;S. RKMKDIES

An ounce of prevention is u

orth a pound of cur

.— Martha

VltK

From a
liciiv

mistaken

notion that bees

arc naturally

an<

Axw^ wi

ihout the slightest provoca

people are chterrt

lion, many

on the place at any pnc

d from having them

As a matter o

I tact, a large nu

mber of stings

that annnally come k

) beekeepers a

the tribute

paid for the pr

( )

tit

s < >

f tl

U' wor

k, might with a little

care

easi

avoK

k(l. A lot of irritating causes can

Iv 1
du

)c removec

1.

anc

1 pr

even

tives be employed

ce

to r*.

bees are not so cro

,tinging to a minimum

<s

when 1 don a white cott.>n

For instance
hit(

suit ins

tcad of dark woolen clothes

Another cau>>e o

f ire(iuent stings arises

from

the fact tha;
the I

the beekeeper (jften goes ri

ght f

rom

arn to t

he 1

)ee var(

an(

1 the odor o! c

attle.

especia

llv that of the horse, is sure to nia

ke 1

ma<

so lor

th

IS reason

1 make it a point to w

)ees
ash

up am

1 don my white pamte

>!' S s

ml.

Manv times I am stung

tung because, I am in

a hurrv

to open a hive aiu
wait a few mi mi

1 do not smoke it properly and
tcs before opening it; a bttle

patience won

1<1 have prevented a sting

Kicking or Inimpmg again

A h

ives \vi

11 al

so make

bee;

angry

remove- to a

lari

little
-e e\

ca

re in this respect w

ou

Id

tent the stings we all receive

The proper w;iy to open a mve
few puffs of Muoke at it- entrance

is to blow in a
and then pound

( /•>)

INTENTIONAL SECOND EXPOSURE

76

BIGGLE BEE BOOK

Upon the cover a few times, which so alarms the
bees that they fill up with honey immediately;
this so distends their abdomens that they are
physically incapacitated from stinging. The next
move is to pry open the lid just a little bit and
puff some smoke over the frames, placing the lid

on again, and in a
few minutes the
h i \- e c an b e
opened and the
bees will be as
cjuiet as cjuiet can
be.

It's the quick
'' jerk and jump "
methods of open-
ing hives that ac-
count for so many
stings, and not
because the little
fellows are mali-
J cious.

A good 1)1 an
to save time is to
take a row of

THE STINC. (r.REATI.V MAC.NIFIEU IN THIS
IMCirKK) IS FEAKH I.I.Y A.NU
UDNDKKH I.LV MAIJIC

hives that are to be examined, and beginning at
one end go down the line smoking ten or fifteen
hives in succession: and by the time the last one has
been smoked the first one will be ready to be
opened, and all the rest in their order.

I always use a veil but work with bare hands, as
I don't mind an occasional sting on them; where-
as one on the face might be very painful and might
close the eyes and compel me to stop work for a
while.

BEE STINGS. REMEDIES

77

/:

'V- ^

i

If. however, you do get stung, don't be foolish
enough to try to pull the sting out with the fingers,
for in doing so you will be certain to force more
poison into the wound. The proper way is to
take a knife blade and push it out; and if you will
then take the smoker and puff" a lot of hot smoke
on the place, until it gets so hot as to be almost
unbearable, you will find that the hot smoke will
act as a counter-irritant and in most cases take away
the pain and prevent swelling. This is a little trick
1 learned by experience, so paste it in your hat.

If we must get stung we may all take satisfaction
in the knowledge that the
poison of the bee sting
is an invaluable remedy
for rheumatism, as the
formic acid of the bee off-
sets the uric acid of the
disease.

It has been known
for many centur-
ies that, general-
ly speaking, bee-
keepers are im-
mune from this
affliction, due, no
doubt, to the agency of the bee sting; and there are
a number of reputable preparations on the market
made from the stings of the honey-bees, for the
cure of rheumatism.

While there have been rare instances where
the sting of a single bee has produced death, yet
in the majority of cases the pain is but for a few
minutes and the inconvenience slight. In any case,
an ounce of prevention is w^orth a pound of cure.

STINT, ! HF.'l.I. V,V. CAKKFIL NOW

■8

HlfK.LE BKK BOOK

As far as remedies are concerned 1 have but lit-
tle faith in them. I have never known an instance
where the application of mud to the part stung
has made any great difference. As before stated,
the puffing of hot smoke on the place, after the
sting has been scraped out, seems to be about the
best remedy.

I know a beekeeper who declares that frequent
applications of a solution made from equal parts
of tincture aconite, chloroform and laudanum have
proved very helpful; no harm can be done by giv-
ing this a trial.

if the part stung should swell a great deal and
become painful and feverish, the application of an
ice bag, or cloths wet with cold water, will feel
very comfortable and reduce the swelling and re-
move the burning.

If the sting is on the hand much relief will be
experienced by holding the hand in very cold
water from time to time.

It is a fact that almost anyone may. from being
constantly stung, become immune to the effects of
the bee sting.

Be (|uiet in all your movements about the bees;
never dodge or strike at a bee whose constant buzz-
ing before your face may but be an expression of
curiosity (m its part; a sling is almost sure to fol-
low a quick move on your part. If a bee viciously
follows you about and shows signs that he expects
to sting, just take a shingle and hit him and kill
him; but be sure of your aim.

Chapter XI

HOW TO WINTER BEES

Be sure to tuck the little folks in a warm bed for their lon^
«j/>.— Harriet.

There are two plans in vogue among northern
beekeepers as to wintering bees, some practising
the o'udoor wintering, while others store their
bees in the cellar; and as each plan possesses real
merit 1 shall describe them both. , . , ^

The arguments advanced in favor of mdoor
wintering are that it does away with the rouble
o havmg to pack for winter every hive outdoors;
ako thai it is a distinct saving in honey as bees
w nt'e 'd indoors need only about half the stores
Tor feed as compared with those left outside, and
h.t the danger of winter losses is greatly reduced.
^ P onally I have found that the packing of bees
for winter is no more troublesome than the work
of cardng them in and out of the cellar, while the
extra amount of honey required for outdoor wint^r-
[ng is more than made up by the absence of
dwindling in the spring. • -^ ^r

I must be said, however, that the majority o
nrofessional beekeepers prefer to wmter their bees
in a cellar or special repository or them, even
,hou?h it entails a great deal of work to carry them

in and out of the same. . • i' ,.c tl,pv

If the colonies arc to be wintered indoors, they

should be carefully looked over bejo'-e ^°''l
weather sets in. Every colony should ha\e at
Tea fi teen or twenty pounds of f °<|/-'^^d-over
honev. and if any arc liflht they should have their

(79)

80

bilKjLe bee book

rKF.PAKiN(; Mivi:s for outdoor

WINTERING

needs supplied by taking combs of honey from
extra-heavy colonies that can stand it; but if these
arc not at hand then they should be given a syrup
made of equal parts hot water and
pure granulated sugar, fed to them
over the brood nest from a' glass jar
with perforated cap as described in
another jiart of this book.

All queenless colonics should be
uivcn queens; and if these are not ob-

t a i n a b 1 e . the
(jueenless colo-
nics should be
united each with a
"queen right" col-
ony that mav be
weak in numbers; and in all cases unite all weak
colonies, as a weak colony has little chance of com-
ing through a winter whether wintered in or out-
of-doors.

The time to place the bees in the cellar is
after real cold weather sets in, say about the 15th
of November for the northern states; but each bee-
keeper must be governed by the weather conditions
of his locality, the time mentioned being simply
given as a general
guide.

Almost any good
cellar where the tem-
perature ranges be-
tween 45° and 65° will
be a good nlace to
winter them, and a
slight variation in

A. . ', , , ONE A AV O 1 I'Ki I J 1- I 1 I Si . it I 1. t -^

temperature will do m winter

HOW TO WINTKK I'.KKS

81

„o ,natcr,al luun,. But be sure o "^'l^ -^'^ '.^,
„r l.uikln,.^ paper over every w>ik1<,w 'V^'^ "••;''
l.-.ht lor llie l.ees must be wnUere.l ,n absoh.
larkness. It is a good plan to partition off, with
bmlding paper or otherwise, a part of the vege-
,-,l,lo cellar and \)Ut the bees in il.

Toward evening gently carry the bees, one h.vc
at a time, into the cellar: with each hive on its
own bottom board, with full entrance oi'«^" '-"'d ''^
?n place- put them in orderly rows and pile them
one on the other even though they reach to tl^e
top of the cellar.

After they have
all been placed in
the cellar don't
tamper with them
any more, as it
only tends to
make them rest-
less and d<K's no
good whatever.

T h e o n 1 y
things you have
to do now are to

WINTER IS HKRE,«ITT IT MAS NO TF.KROK

FOR A COLONY XVKKL FROTFCTEn AND

WITH AMPLE FOOD

ITeep'in o med about the temperature, keep them
fn darkness, and occasionally ventilate the cellar

"' Thf best wav to ventilate is to let some cold
air come into the part of the cellar that is outside
the partitioned-off bee room and then shut the
e lar window: when the fresh air admitted ha
been tempered a little, open the door to the part
vWure the bees are stored and let the tempered

fresh air go in to them. , ^i ^

If there is no way to do this as outlined, the

IHWKMttil'ttM

82

BIGGLE BEE BOOK

next best way is to wait until after dark and then
open the windows of the bee part of the cellar,
and for an liour or so allow the outdoor air to come
in; then shut all up again.

If, toward the spring of the year before it is
safe to put the bees out again, there should come
some warm days that make the bees restless to
get out. then it mav be necessary to open all
windows after dark and leave them open all night,

making sure to
close them again
in the morning
before daybreak,
as the entrance of
light will make
the bees tly out
into the cellar.

The time to
take the bees out
of the cellar will
have to be de-
termined by the
peculiar climatic
conditions s u r-
rounding e a c h
beekeei)er: but as
a general guide I sh(»uld say that some northern
beekeejuTs never take their bees out until the
pussy-willow is in bloom, while others go by the
calendar and weather, putting them out anytime
from March 5th to Ai)ril loth.

When taken out in the spring the colonies need
not necessarily be placed upon the stands they
occupied the season before, but can be placed any-
where if they are put out toward evening.

honf:y and ri'LVERiZFi) ser.AK mixkd
TO A STiFp i)or<;n makk candy

FOR II KF F<i(iD

should sav
take their

HOW TO WINTER BEES

83

Outdoor Wintering. — The second plan for
wintering, and the plan practised almost universally
by the small beekeeper in the North, is the outdoor
wintering plan. While it is true that a great many
people leave their bees out on the stands without
any added protection, and in
many cases thus winter them
successfully even in old box
hives, yet there occasionally
come winters when they lose all
their bees as a result, when a
little packing would have en-
tirely prevented the loss.

Perhaps the easiest and least
expensive way to prepare the
colonies for outdoor wintering,
is to wrap each hive in about ten
thicknesses of old newspapers,
leaving the entrance open, and
tying a string abtnit the hive to
liold the paper in place. Over
this should be placed a box
which will telescope, and be water and wind tight
and fit snugly over and about the paper. I have
practised tliis plan many winters and have had
great success with it.

Another and still better plan, although a little
more expensive the first season, is to make a square
case 01 boards that will have a space of four inches
between it and the hive body and fill that space
with shavings, sawdust or chaff: having the case
made so high that there will be at least four inches
of packing between the cloth over the frames and
the upper edges of the square case; and when the
case is full there should be a telescoping cap to go

MOLDINC; CANDY INTO
MIAl'F. FOR WINTER

FOOD

S4

BIGGLK BEE BOOK

over the top of the case, all of which should be
made wind and water tight with some good roof-
ing-paper covering.

Of course you must so make your case that the
bees will have their hive entrance open at all times.
These cases with their caps can be left on all sum-
mer, taking out the packing down to the top of the
hive body, and arc the best things with which to
winter bees outdoors that I know of; when properly
made they will last for years.

By this method the bees can fly out and empty
their bowels during warm days in winter, and thus
avoid bowel trouble so prevalent with colonies

HOW TO WINTER BEES

85

added protection is not at all necessary, although

' t^outrrn'^tions of the country, where bees
fly more or less all day, the smgle-walled hives

will answer very well. • , •„ .u^ wirmer

The main thing to gimrd agamst ^^ I'^^^^l^^^
climate is that the bees do not r.m shot o s^^ore
as they will be rearing more or less brood

""'In'any case see that the lids are water and wind
tight and If possible have the hives sheltered by
-1 windbreak of boards or trees.

Even n the South the bees will be a trtfie more
contfortable if a super containing a chaff cushion js
pbced over them in an empty super, although ,h,s
is not universally practised.

BEES ON IIOTII HANDS. lUIT WIJo's AFRAID?

CllAl'TER XII

DISEASES OF BEES

The time to cure bees is before they are sick.—Txm.

If care is taken to keep each colony strong,
with a good hiyn.g queen at its head, the bee-

eper has l.ttle to fear from d.seases to wh.ch
bees are prone. It is well, however, for the bee-
keeper, whether the owner of few or many colo-
n OS to be familiar with the prevalent bee diseases:
and 'should they appear he should be ab e to head
them off at the very start, or better sfU, prevent
their appearance entirely. t i „

In all the years that I have kept bees. I have
never had a diseased colony in any of my apiar.es,
and Ihis is the experience of the majority of bee

"'"-There arc some diseases like foul and black
broo,l that are very contagious, ^'"f /^•'';:': °""
they have started precautions shou <1 be taken to
prevent their spread, and this can in the majority

^ L-s be accomplished by '^-^^^^'^^ ^^^^^

Bees are like human beings, and if ke strong

an.l well nourished by good food they will escape

''"bp"' ;i.M'",s.-This disease is more prevalent
in warm climates than in cold ones, although some
beleepers even in cold climates, have no iced
once ii 1 while a colony or two that have been
Xcted by it; but, fortunately, it is a disease that
seldom spreads in the North.

J^ I

BEKS ON IlO'I'Il n WDs lie I

^\ il" •'> A I RAID?

CuArTKK XII

DISKASKS OF Bl^KS

The time to rurc bct-s is before they are sick.— \\\\\.

If care is taken to keep each colony strong,
.vith a ^ood h.y>n^ qucc-n at hs head, the bcc-
k..]HT has Httlc to icar troni disease, t, nn nch
b.cs arc pr<.ne. It is well, however, lor the bee-
keeper whether the owner oi lew or many colo-
nic to be familiar with the prevalent bee diseases;
"nd'.honld thev appear he shonld be ab e to head
them off at the very start., or better still, prevent

their appearance en
In all the years

n

ever had a disease
and this is the experience ol t

at' I have kept bees. I have
1 colon V in any of my apiaries

he majority of bee

men.

There are some diseases

br
tl

i)» •(

1 that are very c

onta.uions. i

like foul and black
in<l when once

lev

1

lave

.tarted precaution

s s

preveii
uf ca-^e

t th
1

eir spre

ad.

an

d tl

lis can

jc acco

niplished by eiv

honld be taken to
in the majority
T^'etic measures.

V

ce< arc

like human beiiv^^. aiu

1 if kept strong

and wc
disease

11

nou

rished by goo(

1 food they will escape

en

tirelv

BiK Pakai.y.is.

-This disease is more preva

lent

in warm c

limates than in cold one

beekeepers, even in co

Id climates, have

althouvih some
have notice'

< »nce

m a w

hil(

a CO

loir

iffected bv it; but. fortunatclv

or
tcl'

two that have bee

n

It V

di

sease

that

seldom si)rea(

1< in the North.

67)

INTENTIONAL SECOND EXPOSURE

''\

88

PTcr.LF TIFF. r.onic

The bees affected have a black and greasy ap-
pearance, and in the early stages an occasional
bee will be seen running around on the alighting
board, with its abdomen swollen. Sometimes the
bees will walk unsteadily with trembling in the
legs, and will of their own accord leave the colony
and crawl off in the grass to die.

Re-queening the colony will often result in a
cure, although in the South and West this method
seems to have but little effect.

The most effective plan is to sprinkle powdered
sulphur over the combs of the diseased colony,
and should this fail to stop the trouble, then split

the colony up, giving
a frame each to a
number of strong col-
onies; and as the sul-
phur will have done
its work. n(j si)read of
the disease need be
feared.

I'On. Brood. — This
is a disease to be
feared when once it
has gotten under way.
as it will (|uickly spread from hive to hive, especi-
ally if healthy bees from other colonies steal some
of the infected honey from the diseased colony.

The presence of this disease is easily detected
even by the beginner, as its odor is very offensive.
The ])rood fails to hatch, while here and there are
cells of sealed brood, the cappings of which are
sunken and of a very dark color.

I would impress it upon the reader that he
should not confuse chilled brood with foul brood,

J li.H I Ml .NUHkl) I (JI.()NIi:s AKK
WIMKKII) IN THK CKl.l.AR UNI)1"k

THIS HONKY HOISI', AND THl V
KFEH VERY FKEH FKOM DISEASE

DISEASES OF RERS

89

for they are not similar in any respect (Note: The
reference to chilled brood needs no further expla-
nation than to say that it is not a disease, but a
condition brought about by opening the hives when
the weather is too cool; it results in loss of brood.
Whatever brood is chilled is taken care of by the
bees, as thev will carry it out of the hives. To
avoid chilled brood the beekeeper should be cau-
tious about opening his hives in cold weather. )

To determine whether it is foul brood, take a
match and stick it into the cells that are sealed
Tnd whose caps are sunken, and if the contents
of the cell are ropy and stick to the match it is
without doubt the real thing.

While many methods looking to a cure have
been tried the onlv satisfactory method seems to
be to shake all the bees of the colony on to new
frames with full sheets of foundation on them,
using^ither a new hive for the purpose or one
that has been thoroughly cleansed by washing with
a strong solution of hot carbolic-acid water.

The old combs can then be melted up for wax.
and the resultant wax will more than pay for the

new foundation. . i ^ „

Black BROon.-This disease, sometimes known
as •• European toul brood." differs in ai-pearance
from the American foul brood already described,
and first made its appearance in this country m

New York state. „f^,,.

The disease is seldom it ever ropy, has a watery
consistency, seems to be confined entirely to the
dead grub in its cell, and varies m ^'or from a
Dale to a very <lark brown. In foul brood tl e
S. after death dry up and adhere very tightly
to the lower side of the cell; but u, th- .:.-- of

90

BIGGLE BEE BOOK

black brood the dead grub never adheres to the
walls of the cell.

To Mr. E. W. Alexander, of Delanson, N. Y.,
belongs the credit of discovering a cure for the
disease which many years ago devastated thou-
sands of colonies in New York state. Each affected
colony is made queenless and left so for three
weeks, until all the brood has hatched; and in
anticipation of a new queen the bees of the colony
will clean out and polish every cell for the new
queen to lay in, and thus the disease is eliminated
entirely.~as I can certify after a careful exami-
nation of the colonies so treated.

In treating diseased colonies do all the work
late in the evening when no bees are flying, for
should there be any rcjbbing, the entire apiary is
m danger of becoming infected.

Any towels or hive tools that have become
smeared with foul honey should be boiled, and if
the honey is extracted it should also be boiled
before being fed back.

As I said at the beginning of this chapter, if
colonies are kept strong one need have little fear
of disease.

I might say in passing that the brown and the
black bees are more prone to these diseases than
the yellow races, which is another argument in
favor of keeping only Italian bees in the apiary.

Chapter XI IT

ENEMIES OE BEES

" Lock the stable door before the horse gets ^;//._-Vincent.

To say nothing of two-legged thieves, there are
a number of enemies that constantly lie in wait to
pounce upon the busy bees. Ants, bee-moths,
birds, skunks, toads, wasps and even bears all have
a liking for honey, and it is well to keep a con-
stant lookout for them and. as far as possible,
prevent their ravages.

Where thieving ra

seals rob apiaries, a resort

to the law is

the most effective method of stopping

it: an(

sign

. 1 if the identity of the thief is not known a
hung in a conspicuous place offering

z a rewar<

for information concerning the thieves will, in most
cases, prove effective.

As with diseases of bees, so with enemies,— a
little care will almost entirely remove their rav-
ages. The ignorant beekeeper is perhaps the worst

eiu'iuv w

ith which the bees have to co

ntend.

]\l',CF,.— Mice do harm only when they get into
the hives or when they have access to empty combs
that have been improperly stored for the winter.

trong colony will take

Generally spc

akin

R»

a s

care of any strav mouse that may be unfortunate
enough to'enter'a hive, but there are times when

a weak colony will not resis

t the entrance of mice

in

the late fall, and I know by experience

that

thev can do considerable damage

Even i

n

the case of a weak colony, they can be
(91)

02

niCGLE r.F.E BOOK

kept out if the entrance to the hive is not deeper
than a quarter of an inch.

If surplus combs are not packed away in mouse-
proof boxes, mice will get after them' and com-
pletely riddle them.

Skunks.— In some localities these odoriferous
httle rascals are a positive nuisance, and have the

EN EM I K'^^ OF BEES

93

KILLING A SKUNK CAVGUT IN' THF. ACT OF LAIC1IIN<. AND

KILL1N(; I,IVE UEES

habit of approachin.c: the hives at night; by scratch-
ing on the entrances of the hives they lure the bees
out and enjoy a luscious repast. How these imps
succeed in eating the bees without being stung
IS a mystery to me; but eat them tliev do. with
little fear of stings.

The only way to get rid of these pests is to

.ei trips properly baited, about tlie yard; ancl
ter iwo or three are caught, the rest seem to

? \ vvUp and ffive the apiary a wide berth.

'"an s -Som" umc-s ants w.U .nako their forma-
• 1 l,lv.. of boos and will bo a nuisance

[rthe'tek ei but th^y can be gotten rid of by
n, rL a hot carbolic-ac.d solution on their nests.

P°"^ ' ^. _K ng-b,rds and other insectivorous btrds
wtU " h and 'cat .M.eo. and oiteu a v.rg.n ...een

when on her matrimonial flight; but this is ^^ chance
that the beekeeper must take, and usually the dam-
ace done is inconsiderable.

^ WASPS.-Wasps and hornets will often capttire
and eat honey-bees, but as few are lost in this
way little concern need be given them. In the
louth notablv in Florida, large numbers of virgin
Mucins in Right are captured by the dragon flies
with which that state abounds.

02

]'.](](]].]■. ]'.]■]■. i;of)K

il

KNKMIV > <»K nri"S

93

kept out if the cnlrance to the hive is not deeper
than a (|iiartcr of an inch.

U snrphis conihs are not packed awav in mouse
proof boxes, mice will get after them and com-
pletely- riddk- them.

Ski-nk-.s. — Tn some localities these odoriferous
httle rascals arc a positive nuisance, and have the

habit of approach im: the 1

lives at night ; by scratch'

ing on the entrances df the hives they 1
out and enjoy a luscious repast. Ho

succeed in eating the I

is a nusterv t

o me

but

little fear of stings.

nre the bees
\v these imps
)eing stung
<^at them thev do. with

)ees without 1

Th(

e only way to get nd (.f these

pests is to

.^•1 irap>. pr^'l
after tw .

become wise and give

>roperlv baited, about the yard; and.

ght, the rest seem to

-^fter two or three are can., • , , ,,u

^^^^^ • • the apiary a wide berth.

Ants.— Sometimes
ne- under a hive ol
to the beekeeper, but ih
ptni

ants will make their lorma-

i.c-cs and will be a nuisance

ev can be gotten rid of by

wi

11

SiwirMUtiiUii

mXENTIONAL SECOND EXPOSURE

THE rROoF OK MI,., n I„„N,; •• _ ^l U. ICNKY'

Chapter XIV

HONEY AS A FOOD

Eat honry because it is ^<i,.</.— rrovcrlis 24 : 13-

If the food value of honey were fully realized
bv our people it would oftcner be found on our
tables not only during griddle-cake season but
throughout the ent.re year. It is a known fact
that honey is a predigested food, made so by the
bees, and that it does not tax the digestive organs

as do other sweets.

For centuries our forefathers had no other
sweet save honey, but in recent times refined sugars
have become so common that honey has been put

to one side as a luxury. • r , f„,„

When vou realize that the possession of a lew
colonies of bees makes it possible to produce honey
at a ridiculously low cost, you can sec how im-
portant it IS that folks should keep bees

It is estimated that in the United States the
consumption of sugar averages about eighty pounds
oer capita annually, while in the British Isles the
^v rage is much greater. This shows that the
human system craves sweets of some kind; and
from the standpoint of health it is better m many
ways that this craving should be satisfied, at least
in a large measure, with honey. _

It is superior to sugar in many ways, having an
aroma of its own, and when used in "kes and
cookies will keep them moist and fresh much
longer than sugar.

Chattfu XIV

IIONEV AS A FOOD

Eat h.^nrv he. ///w // i^ i:^^>^d. — Vxosvx\^^ 24 : U-

If ihc fond value of hoiu'v were fully realized
by our people il would oftener be found on our
tables, not only during- ^^riddle-c

like season but
It is a known fact

throughout the entire year
that honev is a predigested food, made so by the
bees, and 'that it does not tax the digestive organs
lo other sweets.

as

For

centuries

our

forefathers had no (^

ther

swee

t save honey, but in rece

n

t times refined sugars

have become so common
ide as a luxury

that honey has been put

to one s

When vou rea

lizc that the possession o

f a few

CMionu-- '

:\ \

)r(.'

lU'lkrs It pos<i

ble to produce honey

at a

portan

ridiculously low cost, you can see

t it i< that folks

;hould keep bees

It 1;

e>

timated that m

the United States the

how im-

c< t

n-umpiiou of sugar average- :

Jx.nt eighty pouiu

V

per capita annu

average

human

illv. while in

the British Isles the

is

muc

h greater.

Th

IS snows

that the

v.stem craves swee

from the >tandpoi

n

ts of some kind; am
t of health it is better in many

wavs

that this cravin

**■ s

hould be satisfied, at least

in a large mea-ure

with honey

It is superior to >ugar m m

anv ways, having an

aroma c)f it
cookies w

s own. a

nd when u-ed m cake

cak(

ill keep them moist a

m

i fr

esi

> an(
mucl

longer than >ugar.

(^•■>)

INTENTIONAL SECOND EXPOSURE

\m

BICGLK IIKE ROOK

HONEY AS A FOOD

07

Honey is a better sweet than sugar, in that it
does not tax the system to throw off a lot of use-
less material, as perhaps not more than one two-
hundredth part of it is actual waste.

The children especially crave sweets to build
u\) tlu'ir rapidly developing bodies, and honey can
be made to fill this need without the attendant
digestive disturbances that so frequently follow
free indulgence in candy and sugar.

Many of the large baking concerns use enormous
quantities of honey in the making of honey cakes,
and instances are known where they have kept
fresh and sweet twelve years, requiring only to be
placed in a damp place for a few days to restore
them to their original condition.

For permission to print here the following
recipes I am indebted to the courtesy of the A. I.
Root Company. These recipes show but a few of
the many uses to which honey may be put.

Ai kin's Honf-y Cookies.— One teacupful ex-
tracted honey, one pint sour cream, scant teaspoon-
ful soda, flavoring if desired, flour to make a soft
dough.

Fowls' Honey Cookies.— Three teaspoonfuls
soda dissolved in two cupfuls warm honey, one cup-
ful shortening containing salt, two teaspoonfuls
ginger, one cupful hot water, flour suflficient to roll.

Fowls' Honey Fruit Cake.— One-half cupful
butter, three-quarters cupful honey, one-third cup-
ful apple jelly or boiled cider, two eggs well beaten,
one teaspoonful soda, one teaspoonful each of cin-
namon, cloves and nutmeg, one teacupful each of
raisins and dried currants. Warm the butter, honey
and apple jelly slightly, add the beaten eggs. iIkmi
the soda dissolved in a little warm water; add

unices and flour enough to make a stifT batter, then
stir in the fruit and bake in a slow oven. Keep m
a covered jar several weeks before usmg.

Fowls' Honey Layer CAKE.-Two-thirds cupful
butter one cupful honey, three eggs beaten, one-
half cupful milk. Cream the honey and butter to-
gether then add the eggs and milk. Then add two
cupfuls flour containing one and one-half teaspoon-
fuls baking powder previously stirred m Then stir
n flour to make a stiff batter. Bake in jelly-tms.
When the cakes are cold, take finely flavored can-
died honey, and after creaming it spread between

lavers

Ginger Honey CAKE.-One cupful honey, one-
h-ilf cupful butter or drippings, one tablespoonful
boiled cider, in half a cupful of hot water (or one-
Ja cui^ful sour milk will do instead). Warm these
ingredients together, and then add one tablespoon^
uf ginger and one teaspoonful soda s.fted m w.th
flour enough to make a soft batter. Bake m a

"^^HoNF.Y Arn-E BuTTER.-One gallon good cook-
ine apples one quart honey, one quart honey vm-
"g'ar!'one heaping teaspoonful ground cmnamon.
Cook several hours, stirring often to P™' bur""
in" If the vinegar is very strong, use part water

HONFY C.M<E OR CoOK.ES, WITHOUT SUCAR OR

Molasses -Two cupfuls honey, one cupful butter,
four egg (mix well), one cupful butterm.lk m,x)
one good quart flour, one level teaspoon^ soda
or s^eratus. If it is too thin, st.r >n a ^f^^^'l
flour If too thin it will fall. It does not want to
IT., thm as sugar cake. I use very th-k honey.
Be sure to use the same cup for '^--^^K
Be sure to mix the honey, eggs and butter well

98

BIGGLE HKK BOOK

together. \'oii can make it richer if you hke by
using clabbered cream instead of buttermilk. Bake
in a rather slow oven, as it burns very easily. To
make the cookies use a little more flour, so that
they will roll out well without sticking to the
board. Any kind of flavoring will do. I use ground
orange peel mixed soft. It makes a very nice
gingerbread.

Honey Caramels. — One cupful extracted honey
of best flavor, one cupful granulated sugar, three
tablcspoonfuls sweet cream or milk. Boil to ** soft
crack." or until it hardens when dropped into
cold water, but not too brittle — just so it will form
into a soft ball when taken in the fingers. Pour
into a greased dish, stirring in a teaspoonful ex-
tract of vanilla just before taking off. Let it be
one-half or three-quarters inch deep in the dish,
and as it cools cut in squares and wrap each square
in paraffine paper, such as grocers wrap butter in.
To make chocolate caramels add to the foregoing
one tablcspoonful melted chocolate just before tak-
ing off the stove, stirring it in well. For chocolate
caramels it is not so important that the honey be
of best ([uality.

HoNEY-DROP Cakes.— One cupful honey, one-half
cupful sugar, one-half cupful butter or lard, one-
half cupful sour milk, one cfffx> one-half tablcspoon-
ful soda, four cupfuls sifted flour.

Honey FRrir Cake. — One and one-half cupfuls
honey, two-thirds cupfuls butter, one-half cupful
sweet milk, two eggs well beaten, three cupfuls
flour, two teaspoonfnls baking powder, two cup-
fuls raisins, one teaspoonful each of cloves and
cinnamon.

Honey Gems. — Two quarts flour, three table-

HONEV AS A FOOD

99

spoonfuls melted lard, three-quarters pmt honey,
one-half pint molasses, four heaping tablespoonluls
brown sugar, one and one-hall level tab espoon-
fuls soda, one level teaspoonful salt, one-third pmt
water, one-half teaspoonful extract vanilla.

Honfy Gingersnaps.— One pint honey, three-
ouarters pound butter, two teaspoontuls ginger
Boil tog.ther a few minutes, and when nearly cold
put in flou. unti: it is stiff. Roll out thin, and bake

1 »i
''"'honfy JuMm.FS.-Two quarts flour, three table-
spoonfuls molted lard, one pint honey one-quarter
;^nt tnolasses. one and one-hall level tablespoon-
luls soda, one level teaspoonful salt one-quarter
pint water, one-halt teaspoonful vanilla.

These jumbles and the perns preceding are trom
recipes used hv bakeries and confectioneries on a
larRC scale, one firm in Wisconsin alone using ten
tons of honev annually in their manufacture.

HoNF.Y NuTC.\KF.s.— Right cupfuls Sugar, two
cupfuls honev. four cupfuls milk or water, one
pond almonds, one pound English -^'""ts^ three
cents' worth each of candied lemon and orange
pee five cents' worth citron (the last three cut
fine), two large tablcspoonfuls soda, t-- teaspoon
fuls cinnamon, two teaspoonfuls K^o'ind cloves^
Put the milk, sugar and honey on the stove to
boil fifteen minutes; skim ofT the scum and take
from the stove. Put in the nuts, spices and cM
r°it. Stir in as much flour as can be foncj.X^.
snoon Set awav to cool, then mix in the soda
(dc^^"' make the- dough too stiff). Cover up and
let tnnd over night then work in flour enough
o male a stifT do'ugh. Bake when you get ready^
It is well to '.-■• it stand a few days, as it will not

100

BIC.GLK I5KK HfXIK

Stick SO badly. Roll out a little thicker than a
common cooky, cut in any shape you like.

This recipe originated in (ierniany, is old and
tried, and the cake will keep a year or more.

HoNLY Popcorn Balls. — Take one pint extracted
honey; put it into an iron frying-pan, and boil until
very thick; then stir in freshly pepped corn, and
when cool mold into balls. Thece wil specially
delight the children.

Honey Shortcakk. — Three cupfuls floui*, two tea-
spoonfuls baking powder, one teaspoonful salt, one-
half cupful shortening, one and one-half cupfuls
sweet milk. Roll quickly, and bake in a hot oven.
When done, split the cake and spread the lower half
thinly with butter, and the upper half with one-half
pound of the best-flavored honey. (Candied honey
is preferred. If too hard to spread well it should be
slightly warmed or creamed with a knife.) Let it
stand a few minutes, and the honey will melt grad-
ually, and the flavor will permeate all through the
cake. To be eaten with milk.

HnxFY Ti:a Cakk. — One cupful honey, one-half
cupful sour cream, two eggs, one-half cupful but-
ter, two cupfuls flour, scant half teaspoonful soda,
one tablespoonful cream of tartar. Bake thirty
minutes in a moderate oven.

Howell Honey Cake. — (It is a hard cake).
Take six pounds flour, three pounds honey, one
and one-half pounds sugar, one and one-half pounds
butter, six eggs, one-half ounce saleratus; ginger to

vour taste

Di

irections for mixing

fl

ave

th.

flour in a i>an or tray. Pack a cavity in the center.
Beat the honey and yolks of eggs together well.
Beat the butter and sugar to cream, and put into the
cavity in the flour; then add the honey and yolks

honey as a food

101

nf the eggs. Mix well with the hand, adding a little
rtnnf during the mixing, the hall ounce sale-
; us XsoWedmboilmg water m^^
AM L irin-er and finally add the whites of
^.e sx eggs well beaten. Mix well with the
hand to ^'s'mooth dough. Divide the dough into
seven eciual parts, and roll out ^J^-; g-^^^^-^^
Bake in ordinary square pans made for P^e.. trom
folia thi Alter putting into the pans mark off

;rd::'in no ouch each other. Cover tight. Keep

r .\- 1 arv place. Don't nsc nnt.l three month.

V=:t least.- The cake improves wjth age and

will keep good as long as you will let it. 1 nno

nnv c- ke sweetened with honey does not dry out

"Z sugar or molasses cake, and age improves

,.r ih-vrloDS the honev flavor.

So T Honev CAKE.-One cupful butter, two cup-
f.df hon y two eggs, one cupful sour mdk, two
easpoonfr,is soda^'one teaspoonful ginger, one
,..-,.,,o<.nfnl cinnamon, four cupluls flour.

sLmm™ Hokkv DinNK.-One spoonful f u.
juice and one spoonful honey in onM g a

... ctir ;n IS much soda as will he on a buvci
d^"' and ,he,r stir in half as much tartaric acid

and drink at once.

y

y

Chapter XV
HONEY AS A MEDICINE

,. ... preser..l Hnn.clf to -;^ ;,^f ^^^I^J^^"^.^:);;.
Pollio replied: - Internally unth honty, exhrnMiy

U honey holds a place - a Perfect food it^^^^^^

^^T^^r'rut \Z^:Z' :";:^^m.ny of
wholesale drug ^^"^'"'\'", market Apart from

being an agrceaDie in remedia specific

rr:; *»*"■ - «'-'"' "^ "- ■"•■""'

fraternity. , . ^j-eatly benefited,

^^•Jnrifc" "fof cow? :.nl lun'. troubles.

Thr bunJa" testimony that chron.c cases

mere is a ^^tlmn have been much ncipea

^ (lo:;)

y

Chaptek

XV

HON

KV AS A Ml-DICINE

C'-^ar-,

when dining ivi

<h ins fnni.U P^-'l^i^' ^rn^uircd how

h, h.id pfc-st-r.
Poll 10 replifi

If honey

,/ himself to su,

h a

and hcjrty o

Id a.

Intt-rnoJ'

Iv :oiih honey, fxtrr/'

'itn 01

/.

holds a place as a porioc

:t food, it also

is mipo

rtanl as a nu'

dicin<

an<

IS

largi

:ly used by

..h(,k-sak' dru- hniiscs iii^c
the popular rL'iiu-d

o

inpou'.iding many

o

{

ics on

tl

10 nia

bcin:^^ an aL;rcca

l)k' nu'tlinm in w

n

;iusct)us nun

licni

e>.

It

va

In.

rkct. Apart from
hich lo administer
u remedial specific

\n m
fraternity

:inv disort

Krs is rccoi^ni/.e

d l)y the me

Dv its regular use

the body is g

reatly bene

dical

fitcd.

especia
Tl

Uv in cases

ot

C«)

Uls and Inui; tro

ubl

es.

lere

IS

a

bundant testimony

that chronic casc^

of bronc

hiti

> «

mc

1 asthma

have been muc

h helped

)V

Its use

Honey, ta:

Is.

:ind hoarhound ar*

we

W

known l«'r coiC

In Germany, many o

1(1 people make a ^

honey tea by m
extracted honey

ixinv; a cou
in a cupfu

U'licious
Is of

.,.|,lc of teaspooniu

1 of hot water; and they

liribute

their

1i

It .IT

li

ve

to this a

lone

lloiu-y ha«^ a

niihl laxative

•tTect

aiH

1 i- va

In-

ablc in keepm-
dition.

the dij^estive or<4:u\^ ^

n ^ood con-

It has a specially

beneficial eflect upo

n

,lrlirau' nund.raiu-. and

therefore. ^

( n

)d tor

stomac

h

an<

I intestinal trou

bl

es.

Beim; V^c

di-

ges

led by ibe bees, it v

nn

mediately a^.slm

dated

(n>:

INTENTIONAL SECOND EXPOSURE

*•- ;.

n.

104

HIGGLE BKE ROOK

without iVnnentation. and becomes at once a build-
er-iip of the constitution.

In Denmark, honey is very popular with phy-
sicians in the treatment of chlorosis, based on the
theory that the insufficiency of sweets in the sys-
tem is responsible for the an.'emic condition for
which it is prescribed.

Nursing babes are cured of constipation by its
nse, and there is no i)eriod of life in which it is not
of decided benefit.

To the A. I. Root Company I am indebted for
permission to reprint the following hints and rem-
edies that any one can practise or compound with
honey :

C()U(;hs, Com>s. Whooi'ixc Oh'gh. ktc. Fill a

loarhound leaves and soft

bell-metal kettle with 1
water, letting it boil until the 1

— th

en strain through a

mu:

much honey as desired — th

i(|uor becomes strong
din cloth, adding as

en cook it in the sa

kettle until the water evaporates, when tl

me

may be poured into shall

until needed, or pulled like mol

le candy
ow vessels and remain

u

hit(

;isses c

and'

until

Dk. Knkiit'.s IIoxk

mended

S.M.VK.— Tl

as an excellent dre

boils. Take ecjual parts of 1

us IS recom-
ssing for sores and

little water and stir it th

loncv a

nd i\

OU!

a(

Id

oroughly. Don't uvaUc t

oo

thin. Then apply as usual

tried a mixture of honey and cream— half and half
—for freckles? Well, it

KKCKi.Ks. — Hav

vou

hand
H

a good thing

s. wear gloves on going to bed.
oxKv Ck()i'i> Kk.mkdy.— Tl

If

on tin

to the medical prof

lis is llu' best I

nUOWU

ed\ in a

11

ession. and is an infallible rem

cases t»l

mucous

and

>I)asmodic croup

HONKY AS A .Ml.lJlCINE

ion

Raw linseed oil. two ounces; tincture of blood root

tuH rarhms; tincture of lobelia, two drachms.

^ctu of aconite, one-half <lrachm; honey, four

n'ces Mix. Dose, one-hall to one teaspoon tul

!"rv" fifteen to twenty minutes, according to the

,;^ncv Of the ca.e. h is also excellent in a 1

throat and lung troubles originating ^^^-^ ^^ ^;:^^

This is an excellent remedy in lung trouble. Make

n strong decoction of hoarhound herb and sweeten

with honey. Take a tablespoonful tour or hve

times a dav. ,

HoNKV FOR Dvsi>Ki-.MA.-A youug man who was
troubled with dyspepsia was advised to try hotkey
and graham gems for breaklast. He ^hd so an
need to gain, and now enjoys as good health

comi

as

the average man; an

d he does n

ot take medicine

llonev IS

th.

h that leaves no re

f the stomach whatev

either.

stomac

tion c)

is merely absorbed aiK

by the action o

foe to (Jyspepsia a

fnr the human system

on

Iv iood taken int(^

th.

idue; it reciuires no ac

cr to digest it. as

It

1 taken up into the system

rthe"blo()(l. Honey is the natural

nd indigestion,

as well as a loo<

I

Hon IV AS \

l" WATivi:.— Tn olden time the good

effects of honey as a

remedial agent were wei

known,
'••reat mistak.
in constipatio

but of late little use

is made thereof. A

sure

Iv. Notably is honey va

n.

\ot as an immec

liat

e cure

soiiu' me(

licines which momentarily give re

on

Iv to leave the ca<e worse

than

ever a

fter

luabl.
like
lief,
rd.

wa

l)Ut i)V its per

sivtent daily use

bringing about a

healthy con
proper

dition (►

f the bowels, en

Iv to perform their tunctions

daily Irom an irri
.sflve> nerv.'U^s. aiK

tabl.

CO

ndition. calling

abling them
Many suffer
them

I all that sort nf thing, n<»t rval

km;

T^ir.c.LF. ]\\:v. r.()()K

izing that constipatiun is at the root of the matter,
and that a faithfuji daily use of honey fairly per-
sisted in would restore cheerfulness of mind and
a healthy body.

HuNKv FOR Old Peuplk's Coucihs. — Old people's
coughs are as distinct as the coughs of children,
and re(|uire remedies especially adapted to iIkmu.
It is known by the constant tickling in the pit of
the throat — just where the Adam's apple projects
— and is caused b\ phlegm that accumulates there,
which, owing to their weakened condition, they
are unable to expectorate.

Take a fair-sized onion — a good, strong one —
and let it simmer in a cpiart of honey for several
hours, after which strain and take a teaspoonful
frecpiently. It eases the cough wonderfully, though
it may not cure.

lIoNKV FOR Stomach Corcii. — All mothers know
what a stomach cougli is — caused l)y an irritation
of that organ, frecpiently attended with indigestion.

The child ofte

n

tl

irows up " after coughing

D

ig

[own

to the roots of a wild cherrv tree

and peel off a handful of the bark. i)ut it into a pint
of water, and boil down to a teacu])ful. Put this
tea into a (|uart of honey, and give a teaspoonful
every hour or two. It is pleasant, and if the child
should also have worms, whicli often happens, they
are i)retty apt to be disposed of. as they have no
love for the wild-cherry tlaxor.

IIoM.N AMI T.Wi C(H(iii Caxdv. — Put a double
liandful of Lirrtu hoarhound into two (piart^ of
water, boil down to one (|uart; strain, and add to
this tea two cui)fuls of extracted hone\ and a
tables])oonfu1 I'acli of lard and tar. Boil down to
a candy, but not enough to make it brittle. Begin

Il;)Xr.Y AS A MlKlClNn

107

to cat this, increase from a piece the size of a pea
to as much as can be relished. It is an excellent
cou'di candv, and always gives relief in a short

time

HoNFV AM. Tak Cok.u CiRK.— Put ouc tablc-
' spoonful liciuid tar into a shallow tin di^h. and place
it in boiling water until the tar is hot. To this add
•i pint i>i extracted honey, and stir well tor half an
hour ad<lino to h a level teaspocmful pulverized
borax. Keep well corked in a bottle. Dose, cme
teaspoonful every one. two or three hours, accord-
ing to severity of cough.

CilArTKR

XVI

Iloio skillfully s

Ri:i:s\VAX

he builds her cell^ how neat she sp

reads the

7ihlX

And labors hard to store it vc

II, -iK'ith the su'cet food she makes.
—Watts* Divine Sony's.

Even \v

here

bee

ire kepi in liiniled n

mil

hers, there will accuniu

ilat(

a season <|
combs, cappiii^^^
trom extractin^^
etc. riii> wax,
if ]n-operly ren-
dered, besides
forming a consid-
erable som-ce of
revenue, is indis-
pensable l<> ibe
beekeeper, as no-
thing lias been
discovered ill at
will lake i I s
place t o r I b e
makin.i; of foun-
dation

(inite a (|uanlily ot beesw

in
f b<

ib(

course o

f

ax from old

:/

J

WAX S. ALKS .IS ABDOMHN "F WOKKHH HEB

JW practise (.1 nx.st bockccpcrs is to melt u up
,,Hl end it to tlte sttpplv hot.se.. taking ioundafon
i, re r.r lor it is a needless expense, to say
nothhi« oi the ti,t,e required, to undertake to man-
uiacturc one's own foundation.

(109)

CllAlTl K

Wl

r,i:i:s\\ AX

//,,.',< skillfidly s

he builds her ci'

7, /r

tu

,;/ Jir >f>ft\l

,/s Iht

ax

And labors hari

d to store it ior//, ioit/i thr su;;

■/ /',',>,/ <hi' mo^'t's.

IK'

,v»n w

her*

DCC

AW

— W.iti- I)ivin.> Son.i^s.

krpt in liniiud mini

\vi

11

aciMinni

laU' 111

ll

U' c<»iir"<^'

, ....-isoii <|'»'l'' 'i quanlity .
roiiil)-. rapi)inj4-
I,-,, 111 rxtraclin;-;.

)Lc>\\a.\ ir^nn u

Id

■10

Tl

!!■

A a\.

i' niMnrrly wn-

,Ki

(Uin

1. 1

I r

1 <U' >

iniiiim a ron-^n

I

rranu

1.1<

.tdirrr <

>l

rr\ ri

iiu'. 1- nnii-^-

lirll->al»l<

iM

ll

u*

l)rrla-il>vr. a- ii'»-

tl

mm

lia'

|i-,r< iv <• 'o*

bci-n
1 til at

w 1
;>la

I a Is I'

1 I

ic <.

1 <• r

1 1

1 0

L

nialsiiiu
(lalion.

.1 lollll-

w w

\l.l -^ •

iV \V.\M 'M IN " '1

W 'KKIi; I'll-

Tin- praoti-i- <•

f ,11, ,-«i hrrkrr)

)rr«> 1

11,1 »cil(l it !<•

in return
n« 'tiling <•

tin- >ui>i)l> li'»nsi-. lakiii!

I,) iiu-lt it up
toundatioii

i,.r It 1

a lU'c'dU

i-\prn>c

to .sav

I tlio tinu' rcipinT

,1. to luidcriakc l<' man-

uiaciurc uiic s

own foundation.
(109)

no

i5i(i(,ij-: r.i.i: imiok

In the arts, as well as in llu- coninicrcial field,
beeswax is an important article, [ind the beekeeper
will do well to save even the smallest particles
and melt them up at his leisure.

The original method o\ rendering wax was by
aid of the solar wax-extractor first used in Califor-
nia in 1862: and while still used to a certain extent
by some, has been replaced by wax presses using
steam or boiling water, for a larger percentage of
wax can thereby be secured, especially in the case
of old combs.

There are many i)resses made for this purpose,
the best of which is the Hatch (jamil, which can
be procured from the various supply houses.

The old combs are ])laced in sacks (feed sacks
will do), boiled for a while and then ])iu into the
press imder pressure.

A small cider-])ress answers very well and in
princii^le is similar to the press referred to. Even
a lard press may do good service, provided the old
combs are properly boiled.

There will ]irobably never be a surplus of
beeswax on the market, as its use is essential in
the sciences and arts, and no satisfactory substi-
tute has yet been found.

T am amazed at tlie great loss of beeswax to
some beekeepers who do not render it i)roperly.
as nearly twelve ner cent, is often left in the
shun gum which is thrown out as waste. This
accoimts for the man\- advertisements in bee jour-
nals where careful beekeejH'rs seek to buy slum
gum: they are able to extract a large amount of
wax from it, even after the average man has
thrown it aside as worthless.

The main thing to be followed in getting it all

BKKSWAX

111

:. to steam and re-steam the mass of old combs
^^,,a to have a press wuh surtkient pressure to get
all as far as possible. Of course there wdl be
ef in the slum gum, even alter careiul rendet-

A GOOn WAX PRESS

ing. possibly four per cent, of wax, but this is far
better than 'losing twelve per cent, of U.

Any man is foolish (to say nothmg about being
dishonest) to adulterate his wax in any way.

r.

•r.

CuArTKR X\'Il

HONKV PLANTS

^^How doth the little bu>y bee improve each shining hour,
AndKcithcr honey all the day from every opening floiocr.

There is no section of the country in which
agncuUural pursuits are carried on where bee-
keepin^r can not be made very proh table. It is a
mi take to suppose that the .urroundmg neighbor-
o ^ nn St be a paradise of cU)ver.. buckwheat or
ba swood for there are many unexpected sources
even in u

nfavorable locahties trom

w

hich the busy

bees will procure a

good surplus for their owners

Th.

a

dvantage

()

t favorable location si

mid;

means

that the beekeeper c

an profitably mamta

in

a

greater num

ber of colonies in a given

place.

Where the bloom r
keeping a succes

not so abundant, to make bce-
the keeper will have

to the system of out apiarie:
in this book.

\'ory little if any honey
from tile early fruit bloom
mainlv in raising

men

to resort
tioned elsewhere

is secured as a surplus
^ as the bees use this

till \j * ^-^ ^-' • ■ ' • *

bees to be ready for the clover

flow, so

that the clovers

form, with bass woo

d. th<

main sources o

f the ea

rlv and white honey

In some localities the swe

>t bush clover is a

verv impo

rtant source of honey ant

1 should not be

cu

t down as a wee(

1.

as

it furnishes nec-

tar for a

consK

Icrable length m tinu

The development

o

f the red clover strai

n oi

bees n

ow makes it possi

ble to secure a large return
(U3)

/

CiiArriK \\ I 1

iioNi;v iM.wrs

//.ro; doth the littU' bioy /''V /////"<

'!'<' < I

uh shniiui^ h^^ur

And ,i:athcy honey

riuTc i"> no

II the d.iy from every openi

tn

/A

(K.V

,c'Ctu»n <>

I ilu- count r\ 111 \v

ricultiiral pur-int

a^

arc

carru't

1 on w

luT

liicli

i,,l 1)1 iiiadr vcTv pr*)

tual)l<

n

listakc to -iipposc

that tlu' su

rrounclini; ikm;

I !>> a
ihbor-

liood inn

4 W a para

di

c o

i" clover

hnck wheat or

)a^>>u*

c-vcn in nn

,,,,\, n.r tluTc arc many tincN]

>IH

tc.l

-^( )nrcc

lavoraVdc localities ir

oni w

1

)(.'(.'>

w

ill procure a i;«'"(

1 -nrplns lor their owner

liich the l»u-y
th

The advantaLic oi

a\ < >ra

means

a c;r<-'«itcr n

that the heekcel»er cai

1,K- location -^nnply
1 i)rotuahly maintain

Where

kei-i)in;
to ih

innher ol «-'o

the hl«Him 1- not

lonn

ni a

uiven pla

ce

>( I a

bundant. to ma

ke 1

»ee-

;i sUCCe

the keeper will Ha

ive

to re->o

rt

m

^. .v>tem ol out apiarn

thi> book.

Wrv little il any honey

mentione(

1 el >e where

1^ >ecn

red a> a <m'P

In;

from tlu

arlv I'rmt bloom

he 1

)ee

u->e

thi:

niainlv m rai^inj

si he t

to 1

)e rea<

t1

o\\ . ■-<•

that the clove

lorm. w

ly t..r the clover
uh bas-\\oo<l. the

main source

( )

I the earl\ am

1 white h<»ney

I

11 -^itme

localities the -wei

ver\ imix

.rtanl source oi

hon

•\ bn>h clover i< a
1 ^honhl not be

em down a^ ;i \\ce<

1. a- It inrnisiu

e\ aiK
h

nectar lor a

c» »nsi<

Irrable len.Lith "I tmu

The develoi)mem

• 1

tl

ie re(

1 elover -train <>t

i.)ce> tu'w make

It I

X >>>

il)le to seen
(U3)

re a larire return

StENTIONAL SECOND EXPOSURE

114

RIf.CLF. 15KK BOOK

from a plant which until recently was overlooked
entirely by the bees, owing to their inability to
reach the nectar in the deep corolla of the blossom.

ANike. which is becoming more and more pop-
ular as a forage croj), is one of the best honey-
producing plants in the world, antl if mixed with
timoth>- will overcome the objection raised to its
cultivation, namely, that it does not stand u\) well.
I know a number of beekeepers who tind it profit-
able to supply the neighl)oring farmers with the
seed free, as the returns in hone\- are an lumdred-
fold.

Cioldenrod and the wild asters are heavy ])ro-
ducers of a late fall t1ow,, and are abundant in
many parts of the country.

It would hardly ])v wise to raise special crops
on the farm for honey, although this has l)een done
with alsike. buckwheat, etc. The better wa>' woidd
be to supply the seed to nearby farmers: and where
there are several ])eekeepers in the neighborhood,
divide up the exi)ense. as all will be 1)enetited.

The list of flowers that are of value a'- hone\-
and pollen-producing ones is long, and the fol-
h)wing list taken from a United States Department
of .\gricidture l)idletin will give >'ou some idea ot
the many sources of supi)ly. An elTort has hcvn
made to indicate bx the t>pe the relative import-
ance of the i)lants as uollen and hone\- i)ro(hicers:
the larger the t\i)e the nu)re important the plant.

NORTH AM) NORTHKASr
NAME [.\bove 40*^ N] TIME OF BLOOM

Red or Soft Maple (.-/r<v- ;7//^;7^/;/) A]iriL

Alders (A/nns) April.

Elm [(7mi/s) April.

HONKV TLA NTS

11.")

ay
. . May.

. . ^lay-

. Mav.
. . Mav.

Apr. -Mav.

Willows {S.i/ix) ' *^ •' ■/

VamMum [ 'laraxacum taraxacum 7. ofTuinalc

of r.rav's Manual) . . • • • Apr.-Mav.

Swuv; Rock, or Hard Maple ( Acer uucharum .

'' / wz.r//..;'/,////;/ of (^.ray's Manual) . . . . Apr. -May.
lumbcrrv, or Service Berry {Amelauchier <-^^'^-

aensis)

Wild Crab AppU's ( Pvnis) ......

C.OOSEBKRRY andC'iKRANT (AV/v.O . .

Pkach, ChkrrY, and PlA m [^Prnnus) .
Vv.\K and Ai'ri.K ( rvnis) • • •

Huckleberrio and HUuberrics iCay/ussaca -^'^\^^^__^^^^^^
I'dcciniuni) . . ■'''''..

f>seii(facacia)

Kun,.u.n ll.,r..-dK.s,nut (./V.v,/,. ^">A""-"- . __^^,

Comn"on'Barl>erry(/jiv-/v;vVrv,/c."-«) ■ ■ Mnv-.I""-^--
Ti ...r TRKK, or " Wimtkwoo,, " ( /.»•/..,/,«,/-..« ^^^^_^^^^^^

'"''^•■'"'''1. ; ; '. Ma'v-June.

(Grapevines ( / itis i

Rape ( Bnissioj luipm ■>••••••„ . _

olb.i ami />'. "'■;''•■;') ..••■■

M mKl- CLOVKR ( Trifoliun, hyhi./,,,,,) . . June-July.
Eail.le C-hes.nnt ( C :../.,>„:, .l.nM,, C '. .u,n.., -'■

,„„,,,■,„„„ ,.f Cray's Manual. . • . • .""> • >;
X,,M..A.... I,r.KKN(.Wv//,v,,..W,V.) . . .JuK-JuU.

_ 1^ K ^^wtMM^ I yy/i/j (r/f/encana ) • pn>-

>hiy-June.

June.
June.

lJM)KN,i)r BASS\V( )()!)( Tilia ameru
Smooth Sumac ^Rhtis i^labra)

July.
July.

116 BIGGLE BF.E BOOK

Btittonhush [^Ccphalanthus occidentalis) . . . . July-
Melilot, Bokhara, or Sweet Clover {Melilotiis

alba) J"ly-Aug.

Indian Corn {Z<77 wrt-vj) J"ly-Aug.

Melon, Cucumber, Squash, Pumpkin { Citrullus,

CuctimiSy and Cucurbita) ... . July- Aug.

Firaveed {Erechthitcs hieracifolia) July-Sept.

i:\\\Qory {Ciihon'Nm i ft tybus) July-Sept.

Knotwkeds ( Polygonum, especially P. pennsyl-

vanicum and P. persicaria) Aug. -Sept.

BUCKWHEAT {Fagopyrum fagopyrum ^- F.

^j<-///r/////w of Gray's Manual) Aug. -Sept.

Indian Currant, f)r Coral Berry ( Syniphorirnypos

syniphoricarpos - S. vtf/garis of Gray's

Manual) Aug.-Sept.

Great Willow-herb [Epiiobium angustifolium \

Aug.-Sept.
Thorough wort, or Boneset ( F.upatorium perfoliatum )

Aug.-Sept.
Bur Mangolds ( Pidens, especially Spanish

Needles, Bidtns bipintiata) Aug. -Oct.

Wild Asters {Astcr\ Aug.-Oct.

GOLDENRODS (.SW/r/<7;v) Aug.-Oct.

MIDDLE SECTION
[Between 35^ and 40° N]
Redbud [Cercis canadensis) Mar. -Apr.

Alder {A In us rugosa =- A. serrulata of Gray's

Manual) . Mar. -Apr.

Red or Soft Maple ( Acer rubruni ) Mar. -Apr.

Kim ( Clmus) Mar. -Apr.

Willows {Salix) Mar. -May.

TIONEY PLANTS

117

and

May.
May.

Dandelion ( Taraxanm taraxacum = l-offu _^^^^_

of Gray's Manual , . • Apr. -May.

Aprhot (.Prunm armemaca) Anr.-May.

lu,uben-y [Amelanchier canadens,^) Apr.-May.

Wild Crab Apples ( />'W). ■ . Apr.-May.

6V«./'.vO'andt«;v„«/(A/te) Apr.-May.

R,„Kl<.<lenclrons(AV„.W<W..«) . • Ap,._May.

AW., a..'-r. and />/«.« (/''•««-) • • ■ ' ^'p,._,4.

Pear 2CC^A Apple {Pyriis) ' Anr Mav

CK;i.soNC.7.vEK(/n>/""'"'-"'""""l • •,'^P'-^'^''-
Huckleberries and Hluel)erries (Gaytussana

V'accinium) . • •

American Holly (/A'^^/^^^) ' ' ' ' ' .,

Bnu. 0,..,, .w. o«.. r..p.io^ P^^

,/.•■/» - A svlvatica ot uray :*
i^Syssa aquatna ^- iv. ^ya^ ^^^^

Manual) .' ,*r ' • v Mav

Man,.anU.s ^An,os,at>.y'os^ ^^f ^"'"'! .;,.„.,, '•
COMMON, B>.ACK, or VK....OSV l---^'-tA"""""^^^y

fu;idacada\ . ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ' ^,^y

Rirberrv ( Z?'''*'" <■""'"''''"" ' ' .'.'/ j ..
MrKKE,or"POH..XR"^/-'-'-^^^^^^^

tu!ifif-ra) '.',,'■[ ' May-June.

Mountain Laurel yKal'nia hUJoha) ^ . . • ■ • ^^^_^^^^

Grapevines (('//«; . ■ • • • • ' ' May-June.

IWsimmo,, (Diospyrosviramuma) May-June.

/(/„■/,• Chmr ( TrifolUw, nfens) ■ May-June.

Ahike CUnur ( Trifolwrn hybndum) . . • • • ^^^^^^^^

Rasi'BKRRV ( Ki'hits) . ■ ■ ■ May- Aug.

CoNVi'KA ( ViX"" shu-fisis) ■ ■ ■ ■

E>..B.,E CHKsr..T iO,sta,.a dentate. sa,n
var.,.«^W<««« of Cray's Manual) ... J

m immMmjm'mSM'iMm

11'^ r.lCCLi: BKK l!()()K

Chinijuapin [Castauca p::})nhi^ June.

CataljKis, or Indian Bean 'IVees i^Catalpa) . . . June.
MAdNoi.iA, or SwKF.T B AY ( J A/ -,'■;/ <>//>? Glauca) . June.
LlNDKN, or " Linn " {'rHia anwricaua) . , .June.
SOURWOOI), or SORRKLL i RKK ( 0.vv</r;!-

ihion arboreum ) June -July.

Oxeyc J)(iisy^ or Wliilciihwi^ Chrysanthciniini liu-

canthcmuni) June July.

Smooth Sumac [ R/ius x^/ahni) J"')'*

Buttonbush [ Ctp/io/an/Zi us oicii/t'ii fa/is) .... July.

Cl.KOMK, or *M<()(KV MolNTAIN Wv.V. I'l.AM'"

( ( Iconic scrndata - ( '. intts^rifolia of ( Iray's

Manual ) I West) July-Aug.

A I . FA 1 . V A ( . Mi Jiaii^o satii ui ) ( West ) . . . .July- A u^^ .
MKLILOT, BOKHARA, or SW KKTCLOVKR

( Mr/i/ofns <ilb(i) July Au^.

Indian Corn (/, 7/ w^n'.s) July-Aug.

Cucumber, Melon, Scjuash, Pumpkin (('i(<nn/i<,

CitrulliiSy and Ctiiinbitn) lulv-Aue.

Knohoct'iis ( Piily^^ouiini^ especially /*. printsv/-

vaniium and P. pcrsicaria ) July-Sept.

BinkicJu'iit {/'(li^i'pyntni fa^^opyrum F. esc u I en -

////// of Cray's Manual ) Auj^.-Sept.

Wild Asters {Aster^ especially 1 1 1: A TH-I.I KK As iKk,

Aster erieoiiies) Auj^.-Oct.

Thorou<)[lnv()rt, or Bcmeset { I',upiitoriufn perfoli-

atitni) Aug. -Oct.

Bur Marij^olds {Pidens, especially Si'ANISH

Nfedi.ks, Biiieus bipinnata) Aug.-Oct.

Goldenrods {Soliiiago) Aug. -Oct.

HON FY n.ANTS

119

Feb.- Mar.

Feb.- Mar.
Feb.- Mar.

Fel).- Miir-

sol'TH
[Helow :i5° N.l

RedbudlCVrm^^;/^^^'"^'^) • ' " ■." . .'.riv's
Alder ^Ahins rugosa ^ A. sent

Manual) •■■•■"' Feb.-Mi^^-

Red or Soft Maple (.^rr;v./^r/./^/) ' ' '

VMu {C7ff///s) . Feb. Mar.

Willows iS'i/ix) . • • • ' ■ ' ' V \,mnniile
Dandelion ( r.ra..a.n t^^ra.aeun. /• offunud ^^^^^

of Cray's Man"'^^) ; . Feb.- Mar.

Apiuoi \i > (MiHirv iPrunns euro-

Carolina Cherry, or Faurel Chen) (/ March.

lini'Uin) ' ' ' March

Juneberry!.//'/^^'''-^"''''''-^'''^'^''''''^ Mar. Apr.

OR.^NC.Kand/..7//.;/ ((V;-//5) • • • • ' Mar.- Apr.

Cforjjia, wrstwurai Mar.-Apr.

c;.mse\.nryan.U».mnnA>;/v.O . • • • • _^

/.,.,„■/,. r/.vn.,.na /'/„«( /V;»»-.0 ^^^^^

/'v,;- ind App^L* ^^'i'''"'"^ •••'•■*. ,

Wueiniiini) .•••••• ' • ^ ,.j|

Manual) ..•••• " ' ■,,. i*

: „ri etc -.: A,.Merth sl,ul,yo.,l.-s. etc..

p., In,.,, etc. (Calif..rni;v. Apnl.

of the Uotany "f Cilitornia) ^ .\,„. _Mav.

Man.anitas ,..Mos>.,pM-) (CM.f.>""«> ••■••'!

120 BIGGL1-: 15EK BOOK

Acacias {Acaciii) . Apr. -May.

Common^ Blacky or YelUno Locust {Kobitiia pscn-

dacacia) Apr. -May.

Persimmon { Diospyros virginiana) Apr. -May.

Edibm-: C'hkstnut ( Castunca dcutata - C. satha

var. flwr;7rV7//(^7 of Clray's Manual) .... Apr -May.

Chinquapin (cV75A/^/<v: /'////'///</ ) Apr.- May.

Catalpas {Catalpa\ Apr. -May.

Magnolias {Magnolia) Apr. -May.

Rhododcndrtms, Rosebays, Azaleas ( Rhodoilcu-

dron) Apr. -May-June.

Mesqi'ITE {Prosopis julijlora) (Texas and west-
ward) Ajir -July.

Cowpca { I'/gfta stficfisis) Apr. -Aug.

Tl'LIp Trkk, or "Poplar," {Liriodcndnm

tulipifcra) May.

Mountain Laurel {Kalniia lili/olia) May.

Grapevines (/ 7//V) May.

Raspbcrf-y (Rubus) May.

China Herry, China Tree, or Pride of India

{ Mclia azcdarac/i) . May.

\VIHTE SACE yRamona polystachya Aiidi-

bertia polystachya of the Botany Calift)rnia)

(California) May-June.

\\i)KS)L\\\yi'X {Mofiarda citriodora) . . . .May- July.
SOU R\V( )()!), or SORRELL TREE [^Oxyden-

driim arboreutn) May- fune.

SAW PALMETTO {Scrcnoa scrndata) (coasts

of Georgia and Florida) May-June.

Banana [Musa sapi^Nlum) May-Sept.

Linden, or *' Linn " ( Tilia americana) . . . June.

l'2l

llONl Y I'LANTS

Red Bay ( Persea borbonia ^ P. canKWcnsis of

, ik» 1 \ . June.

Gray's Manual ^

. I \ . . • June-July.

Indian Corn (/<rrtw^?;'^) . -^ •' '

Cucumber, Melon, Squash, Pumpkin {Cucu.ns,

Citrullus, and Cucurbita) June-July.

CABB \C;E V\\.y\ 1^^ "I'O ySabal palmetto\ coasts

of South Carolina, Georgia, and Florida) . . June- July.
Bl -\CK MANGROVE {Avicenma tomentosa

^^ ,ndA.ob/on,./olur){Y\ond.) |""''i"^^;

ALFALFA (/l/^^Z/V^.^^^^^^'^'O • ••'••• •'""^ "^"
MKUU.,-. BOKH.K.S or SWKKTC>..>VK. i^^^"^-""^^^^^^

alba) • • _ \utl

COTTON {Gossypium herbaceum) ....••• J""^ ^ ^•
\Vii I) Pennyroyal (//^^^^///^/«/>^'>'''''''^) June-Sept.

BiuK Gt M and Rki> GuM {Eucalyptus globulus

.^nCi E, rostrata) iCzXiioxm^) July-Oct.

Wni, BlvKNVMKAr [EHogonum fasciculatum)

. . . Aug. -Sept.

(California) ' " , c t

l,Mn or Bush Clover ( Lespedeza st, iata) . . Aug.-Sept.
Bur Marigolds ( B.lens, especially Spanish ^^-^^^^^ ^^^^^

Bid-ns bipinnaia)

Wild Asters (AsUr, especially IIkatm - ...KE

\srER, Aster encoules) » r .

Aug.-lrost.
Goldenrods ( Sohdago)

.-r— 3tvTt

l^

Chaptkk XX'UT

MAKKF/riNG HOXEY

-A prophet is not without honor save in his o..n country
Joes not.pply to the beekeeper ..ho produces a choue artule.

rhe .luestion of disposing of the season's product
1. . n n or ant o.,c. and upon its proper handhng
win nge tlK. question of profit. Except in the case

1 e b< nev producer whose product runs np n.to
K on Tnd vho for tins reason will hnd .t more
; .nr.en, to ship his honey '''-ct to c._s..o

1 . ■ , *Ua inrtyp rnies I shouiG sa\ i>y ""
merchants in the large curs.

,„,..,ns sell vour honey to the local tradi, anu n
. VaU firsi-class grade of well-r,pened honey s
i'.rodnced. no trouble will be experienced n, d,s-

'''^^M^nv' i^-erln ^i:^>y towns will be glad
.,. , Se h on consignment, and .W.c.e th,s ,s no^
possible, a house-to-house canvass can be
with satisfactory results.

Comb-honey will of course '^7" '^ '^> ;'.^ ^^'/j.
tion; bu. in the case of extracted hone • " ' •^^.^^

-1 ^. S.r;::bel';v;;h1i.u.to-reproduc.ion of

, n it with owner's nanio and address,

i =r::at;,:..u ^ itis pure honey. w„l com-

"'^'n -wdl' ::T:::!^T... th. the extracted

(123)

Cn Ai'i I K \ \ III

M XKKlVriN^"' lU)Ni: V

•/ prophet i

nor i>.

! loith.'iil honor .uiv,- i

./.'f'.f no

t ixpph

n his >•:•// iOitntry
rtiilf.

to the beeko,pcr who produ.es a ihowe a

riu- Miu-

;ti(Mi of (li-i)o>in;j, <>1

ill

(.' -vC

a^ttii ■- i>r

( K

Inol

'> a

n iinjx'riaiil one

iud upon 1

w 1

11 hiiv^A- llu- (nu--tn>n oi 1

irotil

t^ proprr haiKllnii:;
l^xcrpl ni llu- ca>c'

,1 llu- lionr> i.rodnciT w

li.,.c proiliu-l rnn- up inl«»

llu- ton- :m<

1 wlin lor tln> rca-on

coll

vcuKUi lo -hip hi- lionrv dir

will find il nioro
c-cl lo (.•oiiinii-^ioti

nuTcliaiit- in

llu' larL^c '-'i^i'^"

I slinnld -ay by a

11

nu-aii:

a r<^"a

.^■11 y«»iir li"ii«->
11 V t'lr-t-cla-- .m-:»

lo 1

lu' local iradc. and it

K- oi \\a

ll-ripriu«l lioiu-y

1-

M't X

Inccd. no

ironhU- \^

ill 1)C c\pcTu-iuT<

M t-nn.

o »)l il al ;4

I K II

1 pn

Cr

Mai

ban

i\ «4rt H'».

]•>. m

luarbv lown- wn

(IK-

n on r

(n-iunn.u'iil. ^m*

)* »--n »ii

l.h

lit »n-<.' I' '

lion

r «.

1 m di--

\n- i;lad

1 wlu-n- llii- i- not

1.

anva-- '^"an

\\c Iliad*

w

iili -aii-iac

t.>r\ la'-n

It

r«iinl> In'ncy wil
ii,.n : 1>in in llu- i-a-

,i c(»ur-c \n

v( »

1,1 1)V llu' -^'^'

o <

• t c\

irai-U-d lioiuy

an aliract-

1\ r

Ix.tllr W

ill l)c iUHn'--ar\

I'mi- llii- pni-])

I »-i"

1

know oi no
Lila-- jar. a

lliiiiLi Ik'IUT

than Ih

( )

rdiiiar\ «inart

llu- iar i- n-clii

1 p. llu- pnrclia-rr

v\o\

1 aM<.T t

lu- lioiu-x i- n-r<

1

\ nice w

liit

\,,\\,.\ uith pli"t"' rri.roiliu-lion

ot

llu' apiarx on

II. with o\\

lui'"- iianu- ant

1 addre

111(1 a

-laU-nunt t

],;il it 1. i.nre lioiu-\.

w

ill coin-

,1,.,,.K fill llu- rc.piirenu-nt-.
I, uill l,i' nrc«---ary lo >rr

0 ■-'•■•)

that th

« «

\trart< »

INTENTIONAL SECOND EXPOSURE

124

i:i(;glk hkk hook

honey is well strained and clear; heating it to, say,
145°. and keeping it there for three hours before
bottling, will prevent its granulation for a consider-
able period. In heating it be very careful not to
get it too hot. as that would spoil the delicate
aroma of the honey.

Much depends ui)on the individual in the matter
of selling honey to the local trade, and no rule
can be laid down for everybody.

I know of one beekeeper whose method is to
go to nearby tOvN-ns with a large can of extracted
honey. He rings the door-bell and when the lady
of the house appears he politely informs her that
he is giving away a sam])le of fine. ])ure honey,
and if she will kindly bring a dish he will be
pleased to have her try some. The ofTer is seldom
refused, and a half-teacupful of honey is left at
each home.

The following day. or later the same day. he
returns and in(|uires if the honey was good, and
if so would be pleased to take an order for a (piart.

Ra

lion,

or as nuic

as wi

11 1

)e

lesirc'

an

d h.

nearly always makes a sale. The honey is deliv-
ered in a day or two with his address on the pack-
age, and it is astonishing how many subse<iuent
orders come to him by mail.

Another beekee]^er goes among the offices of
the larger towns, and has a little frame of honey
and live bees in a udass-sided case with wire screen

1

on top: and m this way he attracts attention aiK
disposes of thousands of pounds every season, as
many ju-ople appreciate the novelty of buying
honey for the famil}- direct from the l)eekeeper.
Still others l)ottle their honey in one-pound

d supi)ly tlu- gro-

jars. two

do/

M.SRKl.Tl.NC. noNKY

125

1 .vnerience no difficulty in getting about
t"A"por ao^cn "rs\.>r them, as they vou.l U.r

;;e7„y-r.vo "■"^^.,;;;7^.j;";i;;:; ,';;;, ,,, „., saU.s,nan,

*""' rr ,n the cl .aeU.n, y,.t,v con.h-honey
"""■''' ,ur heel bv the supply house>) hav.ng
:;:,;.:^te!/ ;::;'.. ,„ -t-K. hou,,,,. ..f each case t.,

''^<=(vh:.''s:Snra:^vhI.s:U., the best package is
When selling extracted honey.

the regt,lar ^-O-"""'"';" e h honev is ntore

'"","'," uVb' the in, ve when i.t this shape,
easily haiuUed b> ' ■- - ,^ ,nsive. many pro-
As those cans are ^""\^ '";,.', ^\,,,ir honev in thc
aucers of extracted honey P-u-U 1 1 u r

,i„K, kegs hokhns "7.'" f ,t^it- ,fihisb.K.k.

which were mcnfoned .n the "•^P"^. ,,„„^.^. „,

Under no o.rcnmstane s k < ^^^^^^^-^^^

old cans or kegs nnkss -> "^^\,^^ „f femtented
;-'^Tt nkfLr and see that notte of the
honev to laKt i'"^ .
packages leak before shipping.

en 111 a case

an

/.

•X.

■J.

/

Chapter XIX

BEEKKKIM-RS' CALEXDAR

A time and place for everything, ar d crerythn,^ ,n its tune
and place, spell success -\\ax\\X'^.

Mtenlion to little details at the proper season

rV mnkes the successful beekeeper, and the

;;aS wm^: weU to n.ake a study of this chap-

'''ixNrxuv.-At this season of the year the bees
.re ma' state of repose, and havin^^ been properly
'^^' ^^' ' - irds feeding and stren^nh-

prepared in the fall as re^^^
eninp. will retpi'

ire no attention o

ther than to l(M)k

a

fter the tempo ratu

re and venti

lation.— if wintered

m

th

e ce

ar.

Erom now t>n m

uch

can

be done in

of orderinji

uippl

les a

nd puttin^^ them to^^o

the matter
ther.

so

that this wor

k will be ^^\\^ of the way

\v

hen

the

rush conies m tl
EF.r.KrAKV.— \N

the spring- and summer,
hile it is true that in some

o

f the

s(

nuhern sectii)ns o

I the conn

trv bees be^m to

gather p<i

lien and honey (

n

speakni^

kine for the Xorth, the sa

th. vet.

me conditions pre

luring this mo

va

il as (
Makch

lurin

ir

Janu

irv

—With the comm^^

1

)e^m

to a^^sunie a

different aspec

be pin

to bestir themsc

Ive

having

f March things
t. as the bees
wakened from

their wm

ter's sleep and begun w

o

rk on the maples

This is the mon

th for removmg

the colonies

from their wm

ter cellars, an

d the late afternoon

o

f a clear c

kiv is the best time to do it,

(V^T)

/

/

CllAi'TI K

XIX

Bi':i':Ki:i-ri.KS" iali:xi).\r

/ timt- .ui

J pl,uc for evrryfliinx^ <''•

J t-rn-vfliin- in its time

in

J place, spe// MiiiC

Manlui.

1^ w

UT.

AttrlUi'Mi to
hal makes ihc >uccc
K-r will d" \vr

IhiK' .K-lail> ai ilu' piMpcr season

,ful l)irki(i>vr. aiK

I th<

11 \i) niakf a >UH

Iv ot this chap-

I AMAi

• Y _-.\t ihis season

< ti

1 ilu- vcar t

lu- 1

)0<.'s

art' ni a
pnparct
rnini;'. wil

>iaic oi vv\

>C'l

,.l)...c. and liavini; l>*nMi pro]
N iccdinLi and stronv;

I in tlu- fall as vvv^iWi

rr.pnre no altcnliou o

tluT than to

Iv
til-

1» X )k

a I

irr tin- trnip^ratnre am

1 ventilation.— 11 wnitcrr.

1

ll

in ino C'

•llar

I'roni now tm nnu

ll can 1.0 done in the matter

( )

<>( »

that tlii- woi

rnsh eonu's m u
I'l r.Ki AKV.- \\

lus and pnttin- tlieni t<>};i
k will l)e ..nt oi ihe way
tlu' -pi'iiV-i 'iiid -nninier

tiler,
when tlie

liiU. ii ,. irne that ni snni

e < •

til

t tnc

SI )

mhern -eetion

( I

( the eonntr\ h*^

•es

hej^ni to

uatlnr p<

,lU-n and honey (

Inrinii this nio

n

th. vet

.jieakniLi ior

lu Norih. tl

u- >anie e<

^nditions ])re-

\ a

ll a- <lnrin'^ January

he^in to
beuin to he^tn'

^ With the eonini:4

)t

Mareh things

a---nnie a

ilitYerent a-pei

t. a- t

he 1

)ees

them

rive

ha\in:-i wa

krned ironi

their winti-r

U-ep and l.e;4nn woi

1< nn the ma

pic;

Tl

11- 1

llu- month tor reinovmii

till- colonies

from their wmtc-r c

ellar

am

nt a c

-U.:i,- ,lav 1- the l)e-t time

1 the late alternootl
ti) <lo it,

mUm,>>.'n-mlf,^iimmt

128

L:^ LI-: lihK BOOK

If any colonics have died, put their combs awav
from robber bees: and if any of such combs are
heavy with honey, they may be used to slip into
the brood nest of any that are short of stores.

April. — As the bees are now gathering much
l)ollen and some honey, they are rearing consid-
erable brood, and if they have not sufficient food

AN Al'IAKY SIKKOUNUHI) HY FKUIT OK( HAKDS

it will mean a light honey surplus later on, as
there will not be a sufficient working force to
gather it.

For this reason it is a decided advantage to
give them stimulative feed, using the jar with per-
forated cap referred to in the chapter on Spring
Manipulation; there is no better all-around feeder
in existence, and any one can (piickly make one.

Feed about a half-])int of syrup every night for
a mc^nth, and the results accomplished in the in-

BEE keepers' calendar

129

:reased strength of the colonies fed will be aston-

.shing. .

If any colony is queenless, remedy it at once
by buying a new queen, or else by giving it a
frame 'of young eggs from a strong colony, for
this is a condition that should not be contmued.

]V[ay.— Colonies are building up rapidly now,
and unless measures are taken to prevent it,
swarms may be looked for from the strong ones
the latter part of the month.

Don't be in a hurry to put on the supers; better
wait a while, unless the condition of the colonies
demands it to prevent swarming.

June.— While some swarms will emerge dur-
ing May, yet it can be said without contradiction
that this' is the great swarming month of the

Put on the supers, as many as are needed, tor
the clover flow will soon begin and happy is the
beekeeper who has an abundance of such.

Enlarge the entrances of the hives, cut out
all queen cells and give added storage room as
indicated, and swarming can be kept withm reas-
onable bounds.

July.— About the middle or last of this month
the clover flow will be over, and it is best to remove
the surplus as soon as sealed, so as to keep it
separate from the dark, fall honey that begins to
come in during August.

With the end of the early flow look out for
robbers, as these bees are alert to pounce down
upon any hive that is opened even for a very few

seconds.

August.— For the majority of beekeepers, it can
be safelv said that there is little or no honey

•2S

\j. iii.i: \'.(ti)K

\\ an\ colonics lia\r dwd. luu iluir i-(.mI>-> .'i\va\

.1)1

tin r<»i)i)(.'r hco

a I

id if

;in\ (It' >iu-li conil)

ar(

li(a\> with li<tni-y. tlu'\ nia\ Ik- u<vi\ to slip iiitn
I he I)r«Ht(l iir>>l <»i' any that arc slmrt <•! stores.
Ai'KH.. — As liu- bees arc now j^athcriiiii nuicli

pollen ai

1(1

sonu- lioiicv

fr;i

1.1.

t.roou

aiK

th
I il tlicy 1

c\- arc reaiMnn consid

y have not sulticiciU looc

AN MIAIV ■-! i:i; I MH l! l;V VKCIT OKI IIAK'DS

\\ will mean a liv^ilu lioiu\ -^nrpln- lati-r on. a^
there will not be a sufticient workiii;^ force to
leather it.

I*'or this reason it is a dccidc<l ad\antai:e to
Llivc them stinuilati\e ivcA. iisinLi the jar with j.cr-
foratcd cap referred to in the chapter on S])rin.L!;
Manii.nlation ; tlu-re is iid better all around feeder

in e\isteiu"e. and any one can <piii

■kl

\ make one

\\'vi\ al)<>nt a half-i>int of syriij) e\ery ni.Liht for
a month, and the results accniiipli>li'-d 'n the in-

BF.K KKEPKHS* CVLKNOAR

120

d strength of the c

o

rcasc

shing.

If any
i)V biiviim a new (iiiceii. or c

ionics fed will be aston-

colony is (piccnlcss, remedy it at once

Isc bv giving it a

rame o

f voung eggs trom a >^trong colony

tor

this is a eon

dition that should not be c

ontinucd.

May.— Colonies

are l)nilding u]) rai)idly now

and. unless measures are

lak

en

to prevent it.

swarms may

be looked tor iroiii the strong <.ncs

the latter part of the mon

th.

Don't be in a hurry to put on the super

th

wait a w

hih

unic

the coiubtioii ot the colonies

belter
>1.

demands it to i)revent swarming

jj^'VK.— While some

sw

irms will emerge

dur

m

g M

i\'

\ct It can

be said without contradiction

that this is the great swarming mon

th

< )

f tl

ie

vear.

Tnt on tlu

th

le clo\er

tl

oW W1

;uper
11

a< man\ .'

S( )( (11

beekeeper w

Enlarge
all (picen cc

Is ari' needed, for
begin and hai)i>y is the
k

ho has an abundance ot sue

\hi

entrances o

lis and give
1

indicated, and swarmi
onable bounds

ni!

f the hives, cut out
added storage room as
can be kept within reas-

It'iY — About the middle or la^t

( Il

l1

ii> month

tl
th^

ic clover t1ow w i

ill 1

)C ove

r. and it i- be>t to remove

• ur]

>lU'

a<

• oon as sea

led.

v( »

a> to keep it

separate tro

m

the dark, fall honey that begins t*^

come in

during August.

1 of the ear

With the enc
robber^, as these bees are

Iv fi

OW

look

on

t for

\\])f)r\ any
seconds.

Ar(;i'sT

aUrt to pounce down
hive that is (.pened even for a very few

—For the majority of beekeepers, it can

he

"iate

Iv ^aid that there is little or no honey

INTENTIONAL SECOND EXPOSURE

130

BlUiLK 15KE BOOK

gathered by the bees until the goldenrod, asters
or other fall flowers come on.

In localities where buckwheat is extensively
grown. August is the best season of the year for
the beekeeper, as his early expectation of this
late flow has permitted him to strengthen his weak
colonies on the early flows so as to have them in
prime condition now for this almost unfailing crop.

BF.EKREPKRS' CALENDAR

i;u

BFKKBKPING IS A NOBLB PROFESSION

It is the practise of progressive Inekeepers to
requeen all of their colonies during August, for
by so doing each colony comes to the following
spring headed by a vigorous layer, and the chances
of swarming are greatly lessened by having young
queens at the head of each colony.

Ski'Tkmiikr. — In some sections of the country
this is a busy month for the bees, especially if
there is much fall bUxnn.

The latter part of this month is the time to
feed up colonies for the winter, as thev will then

take up feed much better than later on. although
Itis the practise of many beekeepers to watt unfl
the fall flow is entirely over in October.

OcToi.FR -Verv little honey is now bemg gath-
ered in the Nortli, and for that reason the extract-
Ino a d comb supers had better be taken off; so
"h'^i the bees can store, what little may be gath-
ered in tlie brood nest for wmter.

After extracting, be careful to put the combs
in a safe place from the bee-moth, also froiii nuce.
and t,nt7free.ing weather sets in it wdl be w.se
to examine them occasionally.

NovF..MiiER.-Prepare your colonies for winur
ing. If wintered outdoors, put on their winter

"■"hTlast of the month remove them to the
cellar, it wintered indoors: doing so late m the

^" D"cEMBKK.-If you haven't disposed of your
honev crop before now. make haste to do so.-
especiallv before the holidays. Read the chapter
on M rketing Honey, and then get busy at once^
Look over the bee journals. ev^-">"f .;"<; £'
for a better vear. Also 6gure up profit or loss
and know ju^t how you stand: don t guess at

^'';?:ncU,ding words: Solomon has said. "^ Of
making many books there is no r^.^^J'Z
studv is a weariness of the flesh. \\luthcr tnc
perusa of this brief treatise has proved wearisome
fo he reader I do not know; but one thing 1 do
X^^J^ writing has been an -a loyed p easur.
I could have made it many times larg r but I
nuestion whether it would have been better. The
qucMioii > iirired are the result of

plans and devices 1 liavc urgiu

i;]2

HIGGLE BEE BOOK

many years of experiment, and many thousands of
miles of travel among the leading beekeepers of
the country.

Everything I have urged has stood the test of
time, and nothing that has been discarded has been
placed before you.

Beekeeping is a noble profession, and it is my
sincere desire, as well as that of Tim. Martha and
my beloved wife, that farmers and gardeners every-
where may in the years to come be more and more
successful in apiculture.

If this purpose is fulfilled. I have not toiled in
vain.

INDKX

After swarm

Alexander, K. W. .

Ants

Apis mellifica

Artificial swarming
Aspimvall, L. A. . .

B
Bailey, Prof. L. H.

Hanat bee

Becker, J. F

Beeswax

«>'>.

PAGE

45
90
93
15
49
51

13
19
12

109

PAfiE

extractors ^1"

for foundation 1^^

rendering 110-111

waste of ^^^

93

17

Bird enemies

Black bee

Black brood ^^

Bottles for extracted

honey ^-'*

Bottom Iwards 25

Cages for queen cells . .
Calendar for beekeepers

•lanvuiry work ....

Februarj'

March

April

May

. I vine

July

.\\igust

S«'ptemV)er

October

Calendar for beekeepers:

November

December

Candy, honey 64,

Cans for extracted honey
Carbolic acid solution 89,

63
127
127
127
127
128
129
129
129
129
130
131

131
131

84
125

93

Carniolan bee ^^

Caucasian bee 1^

Chilled brood ^^

Clipping wings of queen 47

Clothing 30

Clover, fertilization of .. H

raising ^^

time of bloom . . 113-115
Colonies, number of ...22-23

strengthening 35

D

Dead bees 33

R7
Diseases

black brood 8^

chilled brood 89

foul brood 88

... 87

... 87

16. 66

36, 79

paralysis

prevention

Drone

Dwindling in spring

B

Enemies

ants

birds

mice

skunks

wasps
Excluding

91

/. 93

' 93

* 91

''-

93

lK)ard ^6

(133)

134

MU.C.LE BEE BOOK

Extractors for beeswax-
Extractors for honey .

fAGK

110

58

F

Fi'tdcr. home-niade SH

Feeding; bees 84

Fertilization of blossoms 9-13

Foul brood 88

F.mndation 28, 53, 109

use of 50

Frames, hand spaced ... 28
for extracted honey . 59

self spacing 28

Fruit, puncturing of ....9-10
Fuel for .smoker 29

a

German l)ee 1"

GranuPation 124

Grass, keeping down .... 24

H

Hand-spaced frames 28

Hives, arrangement of . .. 24
for preventing swarm-
ing 51

home-made 27

opening in spring . . 33

transferring to new . 37

types of 28

Honey, storing 55, 58

as food 9;>

as medicine lO.'i

extracting 55-57

flavor 57

marketing 57

sources of 113

PACE

Honey-candy 64, 84

lloney-producing plants. . 113

alfalfa lis, 121

buckwheat 110

clover 113-115, 118

general list 114-121

goldenrod 114

horsemint 120

linden (basswood) . 115

mangrove 121

palmetto 120-121

raspberry 115

sourwood 118, 120

tulip poplar 117

white sage 120

Home-made hives 27

feeder 35

I

Increase, how to make

38-41, 49
Italian bee 18

Kegs for extracted honey 125

L

Langsfroth, Ixjrenzo .... 10
Life, length of 10

M

Marketing honey 123

c«)inmission 125

jars 123

methods 124

Miee 91

Moving hives 72-73

INDEX

i:r)

Opening hives

Out apiaries

distance aparl
equipment . .

moving

swarming ;»t
wintering . •

PAGE

.33-34, 30, 76

22, 69

()9

70

...72-73

47

71

PAGE

Paralysis

Porter bee-escape

Pratt, E. L

Precautions in movmg

hives

Presses for honey

Profits ."

Protecting hives for win

ter

72-

87
55
63

73
58
23

83

98
98
97
99

Recipes with honey:

fruit cake 96,

gems

ginger cake

gingersnaps

honey cake 100-101

junibles '•^•'

layer cake 97

nutcakes ^^

popcorn balls 100

shortcake 1^^

summer drink 101

tea cake ^^^

Remedies for stings 75, 77-78
Rendering beeswax ..110-111

Re-queening 66-67

for paralysis 88

Rheumatism prevented . . 77

ItobUr bees 5<

Royal jelly 1^

Queen bee. duties

clipping wings

exchanging

excluding board for .

introdming ^^

product i<m of . . .

rearing

Swart hmore system

Queenlessness

01

15
47

66
56
-67
16
-02
63
60

Races of bees ^'l

Recipes with lumey ^-^

apple butter ^7

caramels

cookies «fi-^7

drop «^kes ^^

Samples of honey for

customers

Self-spacing frames

Selling honey

Skunks

Smoker, kind of

fuel for

use of 34, (

Spring dwindling, preveti-

tion of ^0,

Stings

causes

remedies <

smoking to prevent .
Strengthening colonies . .
Sugar, honpy instead of. .

124
28

123
92
20
29

5-76

79
75
75
7-78
7«".
35
9. J

136

BIGGLE BEE BOOK

PAGE

Sulphur for paralysis ... 88

Supers, placing 53-54

for extracted honey . 5«)

removing 55

Swamiing, arlifiLial 49

control 47-4y

indications of 43-44

prevent ion 51

treatment 44-46

T

Territorj' covered by bees 69

Tobacco smoke 65

Tongue, length of 12

Tools 30

PACK

Transferring to new hives 37
Traps for skunks 93

V

Veils 29

use of 76

W

Wasps 93

West cell i>r()lector .... 62

Wheelbarrow 30

Winter care 71, 79

indoors 79-82

in the South 84-85

outdoors 83

Worker bee, duties 16

.li

V„ .^^.'v "Jifn*'"' l»'%Vi1

." -■■■*.'(

'- t- .j;

•Jt-MW

^^- ■ -, -■454