ALBERT R. MANN LIBRARY New YorK STATE COLLEGES OF AGRICULTURE AND Home ECONOMICS AT CORNELL UNIVERSITY EVERETT FRANKLIN PHILLIPS BEEKEEPING LIBRARY TEXAS DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE BULLETIN Published Bimonthly by the Texas Department of Agoealture AUSTIN, TEXAS March-April, 1912 Number 24 Texas Beekeeping By LOUIS H. SCHOLL Consulting Apicultural Expert Texas Department ot agriculture, ED. R. KONE Commissioner of Agriculture. For a copy of this Bulletin apply to the Commissioner of Agriculture, Austin, ‘Texas. _ t d-class matter, May. 8, 1909, at” fi Post Office at Austin, Texas, under” Rae See “Act of dune 6, 1900. “AUSTIN, PRINTING COMPANY ‘Austt “oie Texas. 1 Cornell University The original of this book is in the Cornell University Library. There are no known copyright restrictions in the United States on the use of the text. http://www.archive.org/details/cu31924003421439 TEXAS DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE BULLETIN Published Bimonthly by the Texas Department of Agriculture AUSTIN, TEXAS March-April, 1912 Number 24 Texas Beekeeping By LOUIS H. SCHOLL a Consulting Apicultural Expert Texas Department of agriculture. ED. R. KONE Commissioner of Agriculture. For a copy of this Bulletin apply to the Commissioner of Agriculture, Austin, ‘Texas. Entered as second-class matter, May 8, 1909, at the Post Office at ‘Austin, Texas, under Act of June 6, 1900. ys AUSTIN PRINTING COMPANY Austin, Texas. 1912 Ad : HONEY MAP OF TEXAS, FFTs AST HETTUDNT TN GTA AN EEH rHMUN HO EG en ESTES EHH: eit otitytet oy ri Pie ee Te) a a ee alan si ‘ aah LGGRNEANETTRAT NTT EAE ETNA RRTENEUTGOAUTROEUOSRRT TG SNUTTSUUTIDSGDUSTOI pon URI UOTE CHOUTUOpTEITE The Leading Honey Producing State in the United States. (Built by the bees of Wm. Wiede. Maxwell, Texas. ) PREFACE. This bulletin is printed to meet the requirements of those who desire more complete practical instruction in the art of successful beekeeping in Texas than is afforded by any other publication that has issued from the press—men who have grown old in the business, and yet who realize that they can still learn something from a work of the sort, and others who contemplate engaging in apiculture, either exclusively or as a side line to horticulture or general farming— and, also, to promote the spread of beekeeping over the State, for the direct advantages of increased production of honey and beeswax, and for the still greater benefits of larger yields of fruit and many farm crops that will acerue from the pollenizing activities of the bees. The author, Mr. Louis H. Scholl, of New Braunfels, is one of the most widely and thoroughly experienced and eminent beekeepers in the United States, and owner and operator of apiaries that, in num- ber of colonies, magnitude and value of output, and profit-yielding, rank with the best in the country. An old and good rule is that, where success is desired, it is well to take the advice of the successful. It can be applied in this instance with certainty of excellent results. Mr. Scholl is Consulting Apicultural Expert of the Texas Depart- ment of Agriculture, and, as such, will answer any question, addressed to this Department, that readers may wish further light on, after reading the bulletin. There is not a farmer in Texas to whose interest it would not be to have an apiary on his place, and comparatively few, who, on account of location, could not have one at small initial expense and Maintain it in paying condition without consuming time needed for other farm operations. To have for the home table an abundance of choice honey—the most delicious and wholesome sweet—is an item that would, alone, compensate for money and labor invested. Added to this, under proper management, there would be sure to be a surplus of honey and considerable beeswax that could be sold at good prices, and, under some circumstances, there could be made every year a barrel or two of superior vinegar that there would be no difficulty in find- ing purchasers for. Furthermore, an apiary situated in the right place, would result in larger crop yields than if there were invested in fertilizers many times the money and the value of the labor put into it. I hope that this clear, concise and admirable monograph will be like the little leaven that was placed in the measures of meal and that soon leavened the whole mass, and the result be that, in the near future, Texas will be dotted over with apiaries and there will be solved an important part of the problem of producing larger per aere yields of crops, at less expense than smaller yields are now ob- tained. Ep. R. Kone, Commissioner of Agriculture. PREVACEH giivic. deine ae tn ieee aie ans Boece CONTENTS INTRODUCTORY, © sic cacard star tails Bes eee Gr Raed dear at Nas eee ee aa TEXAS BEHKEMPING 4 cc ge cucee eek ess a Woes wie Ha re ted ee gs Be The Old and the New Beekeeping............ 000s eee eeee The Farmers’ Greatest Friends................0 ec eee eee The Bees’ Real Mission. 2.0.64 seis a ca ea eee ee ee ew ree Ree Some Striking Examples.......... 0... cece eee eee More: Bees, Better Crops... 6. 6 cc cv ee eee ed we DR ee orale Poison Sprays and Bees. .<:csis286 sie eee see i Re Des ee Ss BEEKEEPING PROFITABLE .... 2... ec eee eee Fart, BCeKEGUINS «ak .ca os baile RTE OO ERAS 4 Cee we me ee City Beekeeping ......... Seta A cane. ere satlemte dhe oe eee Seo arena Beekeeping for Women................-.0005 Sr aAee ee ee Making ia Beginning, «408 Hex saaek se ee Os eee wesee Conese The Study of Good Books... ... ccc e eee eee eee et eee ene VAMOS: BESS) 5. i851, ococ ee iee Ser eetaesd noun esternaye nid Uaisoist ge areata celta Jacke U8 ghar THE FAMILY OF HONEY BEES........... 0.00 cece ee eects Worker Be@s sak dosed) aie Stes Med ace ania eee ee ARE Ne lw LM Gee Development: Of RECS) ec ei. codes wee Re gees Sas ed Sw ted eee The Queen, or Mother, B6@. ick ick eke ea eae ee a a eee The: .Dronés, or Males< ssc carne ces Oe he ae Ga sO ee eee RACES OF BRS so chicie 8a ol eis WM PE TAS OTST ES BES Ba Black, or German, Bees..............00 eee eee Bhapeie arene Ftalian: (B6G@S) sister sn wax. oy tone akelane evs ied OWN ete ey diape Saucd at Sada A Sets e Ges Cyprian: Beess vecc scqadcrs qceac aed aah deh eva wie whee wd oe WO eda SUES Holy Land, or Palestine, Pees ¢ec24s6¢4 B¥GN esd wee KS u wo Carniolan: Be6S: o> ¢oe4 hae ak SEA WAM SOSA Se EOS MCAS Bevel Beco oc oss cae y es ees es eHeeaee ke. BERS Te eee ee ree CAUCASIANS) ciecctni acu: Byq hares Ae ee OR LGA. Ca eae BUYING: BHWS: fiesce ata acces es Se me Pla ade) ody ds Meee aa Pee 8 ONE PA MAIOTINS (6 daw od oe owe eh OES RRS Oe Oe Starting Wath Nucl s.i.46.0e hee eK aww eee BWR E Ke wR Moving and Shippine Bees. wos a execs SER EEE HOME REO Moving Bees Short Distances.......... 0.00200 eee eee eee Transporting Long Distances..............2. cece eeeee HOW 0: SHIP: B6OCBi soko aens sitecatided aco ea eh Ss AS SS hs eee ers Shipping Bees by Freight....... 0... 0. 0c eee eee eee LOCATING BEES IN THE APIARY.......0 2. ce eee eee eee HIVE Water for Bees .......... Gb saris tone sete re Aa Met toe ceed eee tae a ea al aCe Locating Out-Apiaries 2... 0.0... cee ee cee eee Renting: Locations CA Mieveeduvey sade aes oa Preparing the SuperS ........-.e+eeree eS Tai Ssh etalon eta e ak He Putting in the Foundation. ..... 0... cee eee eee ee renee ae When to Put on Supers... .. eee ee ee ee eee eens ae Why Bees Don’t Work in Supers. ...... cee eee eee ee eee ee COMB BUILDING AND BEESWAX........ 0. cee cee eee ee eee 65 Rendering BeeSwax ....... cee ee ee eee eee eee 66 Sun-Extractors and Presses..... 2... ee cee eee eee etnies 67 Comb: Foundation: «044.3 96666 sae eae ee ses aay Waeanare 68 Why Comb Honey Costs More.........-....0 eee tree eens 70 Artificial Comb: s...3.¢ es @ seers Gh EER Oe A ES Ee Wedge Vw 70 WORK SHOP AND HONEY HOUSBE...... 2... cee ee eee 71 Under One Root, But. Separate. 4 oc. s denna cacarcea wed eee T1 Everything in Its Place........ it cesridh ab ME NclNeh cahlies cade CNA dae cahtoc mane 73 Where to Keep Honey.............00 000% a ae ae 74 Honey’ as: a. POO Ges ct este Be ee ONG BLS ee Was Bes eg ngs ons 74 Fone y Vin Cg aT! 22 sc s2 sais, or tates EOE ERE CL ee OS se FED COMPARATIVE PROFIT IN COMB AND EXTRACTED HONEY..... 76 Texas Standard, Packages occ.cse ccc evese sere cous cee oe ve Blew ea ee ae 17 Bulk? COMP TOMY” coca i Savard ee Wal ye dace Ween alco ah a oS 78 Taking: Off: TON CY*. ccea.eee-4 Great saayeecswere Soe ae Hue Soar arectale 80 How Its: Packe dss. s jecsccace-cre aig eee e Geka ak Set ioagee, 3 83 Extracted Homey .ii.cc. ees ee eevee teas tah, Soa ete eee 85 MARKETING HONESY. oss een aie eccnee se dente eta digo araary Saeed ces 88 LOW: HONG y> Prices). necucdeaa ee lalate: win hoe! wera alallond 8 job ae s 88 A “Honey Price: Lists... occa sce thew 0.4 Ab deste eed Beth Sw TAL ele ees 90 Shipping, Sight Draft Attached....... ...........00005 . 91 Shipping: ONC y. aiid aa ls ae Bow Oke Sak A ek RRA R r 92 Granulation: Of ROMCY xg cy 3 ess doa tw Se ia to ag Ne eS 93 IS WeABUMIING ge. ecco) selene cig asia 05, Gone od loan deo sob sik teslg) Sinn desl coating om eeeaecacvast sa “a 94 Scouts Before Swarming ...........0. cece eee ee tee eeee 96 Swarm Prevention .......... 0c cece cence eee cece een enees 97 Preventing After-Swarms ......... 0.0... ce cceeeeeceeeee 99 Clipping Queen’s Wings ......... 00.0. cece cece eee eun 100 Natural or Artificial Increase ............. ceeeeeue cone “LOL Making Rapid Increase ......... 0... ccc cece cece ee nuaue 102 QUBEN -RBARUNG® vc sces lac Salesintstanesrg ade ela wctyn iw We we “bla saeco hte 104 TMD POVINE BOOS? sic a nsscieisieeg os scyeu dae > tee sola. doe cabs higt Bho BSE ts ote 106 Re=QUCOMIM 243. 34.29 chs co heen re Atte Mees ain ah RE SES a ene ete hae 107 Kind of Queens to: Buy .idccoke-s b6 4.54 Roe 64 OM Sea dR Ol td » es Rearing, or Buying, Queens............ 0.00. c cece eee 108 Introducing: Queens: <5 5 ss. sya a Gea Roars Que Ba Peek Bin 109 TEXAS DIVIDED APICULTURALLY ....... .................. 110 Main: FONE Y SOUL COS cs. ane istiey sdnscgih aw abee @uahlal 8 Weng Rodiabane cols eo he Lid Other Honey: Plants 02s. Gneckcdee oe es EA w Reco nk ae 113 Planting for Honey json sissg siete a eh 8 2s Meer cd aesg oom scans Love 115 Bees and Alar a. a. sic sey way doe eG bl ecw ata Kc de a aeoimid 115 Buckwheat as a Honey Plant............................ 115 White and Yellow Sweet Clover ............... ......... 116 Cotton very Important ecco a seme usec hee keh Ayetond ak oa aes 118 DISEASES AND ENEMIBS............... 000000. c cee cece eee 119 Foul Brood ...... .... ieee suey ss Ara case a sade ainta nad ooiaeiseze 120 Giving: Treatment: wacccue (yaaa gested ating acess Rega Sac ce, 124 Other Diseases: tox iat aate Wi Gi es) Viesadacd Sie) Aub nie 4 once oo ce 125 Bee MOUs! avs aang pic cesece aokd a Miouindihgreid irate Sweden en wank oan 127 Other Wnem less eioy ween ised) ing wg heats awsacwt Scag ack Ghee ae 131 WINTERING ..................... ea NS xu cats ates Stat kee Galen ie oe eae 133 HDUCATIONADD eo pease a-socteewcle glen we hls aueieeoa salyene te sied wok tka, 134 Mield “Meetings: aici scons gr Rip ccauasncw aeeeeyd bane ween 134 Beekeepers’ Associations ............................, 135 Exhibiting at Fairs...... 2.0... 136 Books on Beekeeping ..........................00000000 136 Bee Journals eels swine Aang veberatira’ 4 aoe kev kreue GR dice dean 138 INTRODUCTORY. As in many other things, Texas, the great Lone Star State, ranks first in the beekeeping industry. So large in size that the area of fourteen Northeastern States, if superimposed upon it, would not cover its surface without leaving a good portion exposed to view and Com Pp ared with Fourteen op the Yorth eastern States, extending over a distance of more than seven hundred miles from North to South and another hundred miles more than this in breadth, it can well pride itself on advantages no other State in the Union possesses. In this wide extended and magnificent area the beekeeping indus- try hag been characterized by great expansion and marked improve- ment in the last quarter of a century and, as a consequence, the demand for reliable information pertaining to the pursuit has in- creased to a remarkable extent. This information is desired not Re 8 Texas DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE. only by our own people of Texas, but by outsiders more especially, whose attention has been attracted to the exceptional possibilities in Texas beekeeping. It may be well to state that no other part of the country is receiving as much attention in the apicultural world at this time as Texas is, and that, although Texas 1s now the leading honey producing State, it is destined to become still more important apiculturally. With a great number of its localities unoccupied by bees and much of its beekeeping vet unimproved, the opportunities for the progressive apiculturist are excellent indeed. ; ; The growing desire for reliable information on the subject is grat- ifying, since it shows an active interest in beekeeping, to the advan- tage of the State, which is already in the first rank in so many things and of which we as Texans are so justly proud. Letters of inquiry have become so numerous that it is impossible to reply to them promptly and intelligently by correspondence and, for that reason, this bulletin has been prepared and, it is hoped, will prove acceptable. It is impracticable to cover all subjects in a bulletin of this kind, however. The vast extent of the State, its great differences in alti- tude, latitude and climatic conditions, together with the consequent variety of its flora and the variance of the numerous blooming periods of these, call for modifications of methods and application to suit the several localities. While the apiarist must deal with conditions resembling almost identically those of the tropics in the most southern portion of the State, North Texas presents others that are very much different. This is not only true as regards temperature, but the whole range of at- mospheric phenomena and resulting effects on the floral vegetation upon which the honey bees find their subsistence. Such other information as is not contained in this bulletin will be cheerfully supplied, and may be obtained by directing inquiries to the Consulting Apicultural Expert of the Texas Department of Agriculture, Austin, Texas. The tendency is for old apiarists to keep more bees and for others to engage in the business. I hope this spirit will continue and dif- fuse itself till all who can profitably embark in the pleasant and profitable pursuit will do so, for it would mean gratifying pushing forward of the car of progress in the State. I trust that all who re- spond to the impulse will do so with the determination to keep bees better than ever has been done before. The opportunities in Texas for energetic, interested persons are excellent. It must be remembered that adverse seasons may be met with here, as elsewhere: but. they are comparatively few and far between, and that, compared with other parts of the country, they are above the average of favorable- ness. Taking everything into consideration, the future of Texas api- culture is one of great, and, in my opinion, assured promise. Louis H. Scott. TEXAS BEEKEEPING. Many who see the busy honey bee, with its merry hum, flying from flower to flower, in its daily toil, little realize what an intensely inter- esting and fascinating study is connected with so small a bit of insect life. Closer investigation will reveal that while a single bee, with all its energy and industry and the innumerable journeys that are made by it during its short life of toil, will collect only about a teaspoonful of honey during a season, yet more than a hundred pourds have been taken from a single hive, or colony, of bees. Time and again single colonies have stored from two hundred to three hundred pounds, or more, of honey during a year. Although this does not prevail with every colony of bees, it shows to what extent nature makes use of little things to accomplish large results. It is thus that these small creatures, the honey bees, are responsible for no less an accomplish- ment than that of placing Texas in the lead of all other States as the foremost producer of crops of honey, beeswax and other products of the apiary. From a small beginning the beekeeping industry in this State de- veloped rapidly until, several years ago, Texas attained first place in honey production. The annual output of honey gathered: and stored by honey bees in Texas is enormous. It is impossible to give figures covering present production, since reliable statistics are not at hand at this writing. THE OLD AND NEW BEEKEEPING. Although honey bees are not native to America, it was not very long after they were brought to Florida by the Spaniards in 1763 that they drifted westward and finally into Texas, where they found easy cubsistence upon the great abundance and variety of natural flora. While the early settlers depended upon obtaining their supply of honey from bees in hollow trees and caves in which they dwelt, it was not long until honey bees were kept in sawed-off ‘‘logs’’ brought from the forests and set on end under orchard trees, or in a convenient place in a fence corner. These ‘‘logs’’ were later replaced by plain upright box hives, or ‘‘box gums,’’ as they were called, and which are still to be seen in many places. These rudely constructed and un- 3 profitable hives h A and the attendant ? crude methods of aol beekeeping — are “| waning rapidly, however, and modern movable frame hives are everywhere tak- ing their place. The antiquat- ed way of ‘‘rob- bing’ ‘‘bee gums’’ should become a_ thing of the past. The Old Style Bee Gums. cruelty connect- qs 10 Texas DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE. ed with the old method of ruthlessly cutting the combs of honey from the box hives after these have been carelessly pried open, is nothing short of barbarous. The bruising and mashing of beautiful combs is a disagreeable process in itself, and the drowning of, and otherwise destroying, thousands of little innocent bee lives by the rude hands of a merciless owner is to be detested. How different the beekeeping of today, with the movable frame hive by which every part of the interior of a colony of bees can be examined at will, without the destruction of the most tender comb or the life of a single bee! And it is hoped that the instructions in this bulletin will help to bring about a more complete change, that the old-time, unprofitable ‘‘bee gum’’ may go, and the modern frame hive take its place everywhere. THE FARMERS’ GREATEST FRIENDS. Most of the bees in the State are kept on the thousands of Texas farms, each farm containing generally only a few hives, or colonies, of The unprofitable “bee gum” from which only a very small crop of honey is obtained. bees, or just enoueh to supply home demand for honey for the farmers’ table if the bees are given the proper care and attention. To find bees on so many farms is a gratifying: circumstance, as there are very few places where several colonies of bees cannot be kept profitably and it is to be hoped that more of the great number of farms where none are kept now will be stocked with a proper supply. No farm is TEXAS BEEKEEPING. 11 complete without a few colonies of bees that will furnish that most delicious natural sweet, pure honey, that can not be replaced as a most palatable, healthful, nourishing food. A serious trouble and a great mistake of the majority of farmers, however, is their neglect of these most important of their friends, the honey bees. Nothing suffers more easily from this than these little creatures, They should receive as good care as is given to anything else on the farm, Their value on the farm can not be overestimated. THE BEES’ REAL MISSION. It is not generally sufficiently understood that honey bees were not only created for the purpose of furnishing mankind with delicious honey, but for another and much more important reason—that of fructifying the flowers visited by them so it may be made possible for these to bear fruit and seeds. The most of our host of plants abso- - lutely require the visits of the honey bees, or other insects, to carry pollen from one flower to another and thereby fertilize the blossoms. Pollen is gathered by bees from flowers and carried to the hives in little bright colored pellets on their hind legs, for food. They must have pollen to prepare the partly digested food with which the ~ *i*hg larvae are fed. Inability to secure sufficient pollen causes delayed, or diminished, progress of the colonies of bees. Ordinarily but one kind of flower is visited on a trip when pollen is being gathered. In gathering either pollen or honey the bees come in contact with the pollen grains of the blossoms, which adhere to their hairy bodies and are then carried to other flowers visited by them. In passing from flower to flower some of the pollen grains come in touch with the stigmas of each flower visited, which effects cross fertilization and thorough setting of fruits and seeds. It is thus that the bees pay abundantly, by their services, for the treasures the nectar yielding blossoms offer to them. The exceeding interdependence of flowers and insects and the vast necessity of this has long been recognized by hor- ticulturists and other authorities. Honey bees are the most important distributors of pollen of all in- Where the orchard pays. 12 Texas DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE. sects because they appear in larger numbers, especially early in the season, and their greater activity makes them more useful in the great work they help to perform. It is estimated that the value of honey bees as pollen distributors is far greater to our country than the value of the crops of honey produced. We owe it to honey bees that we have larger quantity and better quality of fine fruit, vegeta- ble and cereal crops than we would otherwise have. Of this there is not the least doubt. Since honey bees are general pollen gatherers, appear in greater numbers, visit a far larger number of blossoms over a greater territory, and do this more thoroughly than any other in- sect, it is apparent that they are indeed most valuable friends to mankind, a fact that should receive more than passing notice. In plants or flowers we have sex very similar to that in animals, and it is just as necessary that fertilization take place in these before fruit can be borne or seeds be developed. While both male and fe- male sexes exist in the same flower of many plants, there are some plants in which the male sex exists in one and the female in another flower of the same plant, and in still others each sex is confined en- tirely to one plant. In any case the arrangement is so that it is neces- Apple sary that the pollen grains from the anthers of the male part of one blossom reach the stigma of the female part of another where they enter into the ovules within the blossom and complete fertilization, after which the development into fruit or seed follows. Without the pollenation of the blossom, fertilization can not take place and the blossom must wither and die instead of bearing fruit. If this phe- nomenon is kept in mind it is possible to grasp quickly why the agency of the honey bees as pollenators is of immense importance and we ean better understand the examples that prove absolutely facts that have been long established, but which are, as yet, well. understood by com- paratively few. . ete _, SOME STRIKING EXAMPLES. Where many varieties of trees are mixed in an orchard there is less trouble from the lack of proper pollenation if the weather is warm and dry and the wind can earry the minute pollen grains from flower to flower; but, even under these conditions, visits of bees make the Texas BEEKEEPING. 13 work more thorough. Such ideal conditions do not always exist. This is especially true where the period of bloom is a long one. It is during conditions not so perfect, when the weather is damp and the pollen is sticky and not so easily blown about, that the journeying back and forth of the insects plays a conspicuous part in the produc- tion of harvests of fruit or seeds. It is also apparent that when cer- tain varieties are isolated from others of their kind or when the dis+ tance between them is great, or they are in a direction from each other that the wind can not carry the pollen, the chances of pollena- tion are cut off, with the result that there is no setting of fruit. .There have been instances where insects were not present, that the side of a tree from which the wind was blowing the pollen bore no fruit, while the other side yielded abundantly, showing how the bees might have aided. Careful investigation has demonstrated beyond a PEARS APPLES Seroll Showing the perfect and imperfect development of the carpels of fruits due to proper and improper pollenation of the blossoms. 14 Texas DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE. doubt where the agency of the honey bee was not only essential, but absolutely necessary, to insure satisfactory crops. bok e Even Darwin, the greatest naturalist, recognized, in his time, the value of the honey bees as an important agent in relation to plants when he wisely said: ‘‘No bees, no seed. No seed, no increase of the flower. The more visits from the bees the more seeds from the flower. The more seeds from the flower the more flowers from the seeds.’’? This he proved by extensive experiments, and others have done this many times after him. He found in one of his experiments the following results: ‘‘Twenty heads of white clover visited by bees produced 2,990 seeds, while twenty heads so protected that bees could not visit them, produced not one seed.’? The same kind of ex- periments have been made with strawberries and various other kinds of fruits. Fruit trees that were covered half way with netting, so that the bees could not visit the flowers, bore fruit abundantly on the unprotected parts but none at all, or very little, and that of a very inferior quality, on the other. MORE BEES, BETTER CROPS. This shows the importance of keeping a few colonies of bees on every farm, aside from the honey they may yield for their keeping, and it is hoped that this will be appreciated to the extent that not only more bees will be kept, but that they will be kept better. For the large commercial orchardists, or extensive growers of cu- cumbers, melons, and various other crops, this question is of more importance still. Where large orchards or fields are planted in solid blocks, or where there are a number close together, cross pollenation is not satisfactory, on account of the lack of sufficient insects to do the work properly, especially when the main part of the trees, or plants, are in bloom. Therefore, the keeping of honey bees near them is to be encouraged, to increase the quantity as well as the quality of the crops. In one instance the owner of a large orchard did not get any fruit from it for eight years and he was about to dig up the en- tire orchard. Being advised to try keeping honey bees to fertilize the blossoms, he did so. The result was that he sold thousands of dollars worth of fruit thereafter. The idea of keeping bees in this case was mainly to fertilize the fruit blossoms. But the usual crop of honey yielded by them, aside from the beneficial service rendered, in- creases their value. Many other instances might be given. DO BEES PUNCTURE FRUIT? It is sometimes stated that honey bees destroy fruit, but this is an erroneous conclusion. Since their mouth parts are not constructed for biting, they are unable to pierce the sound skin of any kind of fruit. They do not appear until birds, wasps, or some other agency breaks the skin and causes the juices to exude; then they only come to gather up the wasting juices from the bruised fruit. They do no harm whatever to fruits. Many experiments in which sound fruits apples, pears, peaches, bunches of grapes, etc., were placed for days Texas BEEKEEPING. 15 in hives of bees from which all other food was kept, prove absolutely and conclusively that honey bees can not puncture the skin’ of sound fruit even if they are starving for want of food. POISON SPRAYS AND BEES. Since the spraying of fruit trees and other plants is coming more and more into practice, it is well to mention here briefly some points of value to both fruit growers and others, as well as to beekeepers. It goes without saying that a poison spray on the open blossoms frequented by honey bees may have a fatal effect on these friends of ours. Careful experiments have shown that all spraying should be done before the blossoms open or after they have ceased to bloom. It has been found that it is not necessary to spray during the period when the blossoms are in full bloom, and this should be remembered by all who may have occasion to spray. Do not kill off your best friends—the honey bees. In many States laws exist that prohibit spraying during the blooming period, for the purpose of protecting bees and other beneficial insects. Good judgment should induce everyone to use necessary precautions and prevent the killing of these most valuable aids, even though restricting laws do not exist. BEEKEEPING. PROFITABLE. When conducted along legitimate business lines and with proper knowledge of requirements, beekeeping is a profitable business for the amount of capital invested. The foundation of success is a good lo- cation, as a great deal depends upon locality. The situation must be well suited for beekeeping, with sufficient honey yielding flora of the right kind to insure paying crops. A good stock of bees is also a. prime essential. With these and the exercise of knowledge of what to do and when to do it, no industry can be placed on a more stable basis than the bee business. A few colonies may be kept in almost any location with compara- tively little time and attention and the work may be done during spare moments. As a vocation apiculture demands the entire time of the beekeeper, and it should be borne in mind that success in the bee business can not be obtained without thought, energy and hard work. It is difficult to state just what profits may be obtained, since honey yields per colony depend very largely upon locality, the man, the condition of the bees and the number of colonies of bees already in the district. While only enough forage for a few colonies may ex- ist in some places, a much larger number may be supported in others. The beginner should not be mislead and base his figures for the future on the large yields of honey he is securing from a few colonies, as the average yield diminishes with the increase of the number of eolo- nies kept in a place. While it is not unusual to obtain one hundred pounds, or more, per colony in many locations during favorable years, the average in dry seasons may be very much less, or an en- tire failure may result and necessitate feeding the bees to save them 16 Texas DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE. The ditference between care and neglect. from starvation. Although this is rather rare in most loealities, it is better to guard against such possible failures than to be carried away by alluring caleulations that make beekeeping appear as a source by which one may become quickly rich. Sixty-five pounds of surplus, of both comb and extracted honey per colony, is a fair yield for the average beekeeper, and an average of abeut nine cents a pound for both together is a remunerative price for which it may be sold. From the $6 worth of honey and wax ob- tained from each colony ought to be deducted approximately 25 per cent to cover the expense of production, interest on capital invested and depreciation from wear of the supplies and apphances in use. While the net profit of 44.50 per colony may tempt beginners to plunge into beekeeping without due preparation, they are cautioned not to do so, since one must begin slowly, grow into the business and expand as experience may warrant, or failures are the sure results. With only a few colonies, the matter of labor is not very important, and to allow 25 per cent for it would be rather high. In such in- stances there would be a greater relative profit ; but, if large numbers of colonies are kept, the labor must be taken carefully into account, sinee it becom 2s quite an item. It becomes necessary to employ additional Texas BEEKEFPING. V7 labor when large apiaries are to be managed, since the work and running expenses increase as the number of these becomes larger. HOW MANY COLONIES FOR A LIVING? This question has been asked many times, and is a hard one to an- swer. While some persons are possessed of superior executive ability and can manage 1,000 colonies, or more, of bees profitably, the major- ity do not succeed with more than a few hundred. Assuming that the questioner has carefully begun with only a few colonies and has grown into the business so he understands it thoroughly, he ought to have no difficulty in managing 500 colonies in several apiaries. Of course, it will be necessary to employ extra help during the main part of the season; but, by doing so, more can be accomplished than by the beekeeper working single-handed. The average yield per colony would perhaps hardly be as high; but, during a normally favorable year, the figures used above ($6 worth of honey and wax per colony) should not be too high. In less pene ble seasons the output would be less, as a matter of course. Allowing $5 per colony, the total yield of 500 colonies would be $2,500. Less the 25 per cent for operation and other expenses, the net income from them would be about $1,875. While these figures are only estimated, they will serve, at least, as a guide in determining, approximately, the possible income from any number of colonies. Due allowance should be made for the favorableness, or the unfavorable- ness, of the year, however, and ‘proper consideration given to the lo- cation and the forage where the bees are situated, and last, but not least, the kind of care and attention the bees receive on the part of their owner. All these are factors that determine whether the bee business is profitable or not. WHO MAY KEEP BEES ? Bees may be kept in many places and by many persons and in the city as well as in the country. They may be kept either in a small way, or on a more extensive scale, for both pleasure and profit. Any person who possesses the interest, energy, ability and will-power to apply himself earnestly and intelligently to the pursuit may adopt beekeeping and be rewarded not only by the direct profits made, but in the pleasure, the enthusiasm and the fascination that attaches to it and the better health from outdoor exercise it affords, FARM BEEKEEPING. It is but natural that beekeeping prevails to the greatest extent on farms; at the same time there are a great many farms that have no colonies of bees, for the reason, perhaps, that the value of keeping them has been overlooked, or, it may be, fear of handling them or, ‘leven, having them-on the place. The fact is, that it is not nearly so hiffeult a task to keep at least a few colonies of them on every farm 18 Texas DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE. as some people imagine and their intrinsic value ought to cause it Hi be done, There is nothing nicer than being able to supply the tab e with delicious, ripe honey right from one’s own hives. To pe the family with this healthful and nutritious food is a duty which every farmer, as the head of his household, should feel himself obhi- vated to perform. The honey produced should not, by any means, be the only item of value considered, although it is a good source of revenue: the great value of bees as fertilizing agents 1s of still more importance and in many instances should be the deciding reason for keeping them on the farm. CITY BEEKEEPING. Even the resident in town or city is not barred from enjoying the pleasures derived from keeping a few colonies of bees. More than Dh A city roof apiary. that, many extensive beekeepers, the writer among them, enjoy both the conveniences of city life, while the bees, kept in the city, or scat- tered far and wide over the country, afford all the pleasures con- nected with the pursuit. If there is no suitable place in the back yard where they may be kept, there may be an empty lot or an out- of-the-way corner on some neighbor’s place nearby, which might be rented or obtained for the purpose by some satisfactory arrangement. Texas BEEKEEPING. 19 A colony or two may be kept in an upstairs room or the attic, or a small apiary be maintained on the roof of a building. There are many such roof apiaries in even our largest cities. As a last resort, it may be feasible to locate the bees somewhere in the outskirts of the city, especially where the street cars can be used to go to and from the apiary. Out-aparies by the dozen are kept by the writer, ranging in distance from the city from two to nearly two hundred miles away. But no matter where the bees may be located, they provide a great deal of recreation for the person in the city whether he wishes them for a ‘“hobby,’’ a ‘‘side issue,’’ or to make beekeeping a sole business. BEEKEEPING FOR WOMEN. The avocation offers fine opportunities for women beekeepers, of which there are a great number. Most of the work is light and easy. and especially well adapted for their hands, while the heavier work ean be done by stronger hired help. The pursuit provides a great HN | TPMT § {HII PTET UT She. I I i] il Located in an upper window. 20 Texas DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE. deal of pleasure and profit, and the outdoor exercise in the pure air and sunshine promotes better health. Thus, many women who suffered ill health or were feeble and weak, have been restored to health and made robust by following beekeeping. For busy housewives, and others, too, who need occasional rest and recreation, there 1s nothi better than these ‘‘pets’’ to occasionally take their minds away : their daily cares and worry. As a specialty, beekeeping is very profitable for either man or woman, if proper attention is given to it. It would be folly to try to pursue it as a business in a poor locality, or to attempt to get isfactory results if managed in anything short of a business-lhke Maan ner. Effort to do so is what has caused many failures in beekeeping. MAKING A BEGINNING. There are many ways in which,a person may start beekeeping ¢ this is one reason why so many questions are asked regarding how beginner may best start out in this new field. Others make a begin- ning without any questions and work themselves in, as it were. while still others plunge heavily into the new undertaking on a large seale, only to discover later that they are not capable of handling it properly and, as a result, find themselves, often at the end of a single season, without any bees, but in possession of a lot of empty hives. Some valuable but costly experience is the only remuneration ob a. It is in such instances that beekeeping is pronounced a failure when, in reality, the blame rests on the operator. To be successful in bee- keeping one must make up his mind to go slowly, be willing to read, and think and study, and be content with only a few colonies i experience permits an increase in numbers. It is the really inte#€St energetic, industrious, and hustling person, who has his mind on his business, studies everything pertaining to the subject, observes care- fully and does things, that will make a successful beekeeper in the truest sense of the word. THE STUDY OF GOOD BOOKS. The very first thing that should be procured is one, or more, books on beekeeping, which should not only be read, but studied to become well posted, or ‘‘book learned’? as some call it, before getting thp hees. This will familiarize a beginner with the mysteries of th hives and the care of the bees and the appliances required, and fit hi to intelligently undertake apicniture when bees are procured. Besides the large number of books on beekeeping there are publishe}] numerous excellent bee journals, Often the information gained from) a single article is worth more than the price of a year’s subseripti All beekeepers of any importance subscribe for not only one, but/s eral, bee journals, as it is impossible to keep up with the times make a success of the business without readine them, For this re he son, it is always advocated that at least one or more bee journals } subseribed for as soon as, or even before, the bees are obtained, in a dition to vettine books, as already advised, TEXAS BEEKEEPING. 21 \ A profitable way to begin in beekeeping is to visit successful bee- keepers and, if possible, arrange to learn under them. It is a good plan to engage with such for a season’s work, in order to gain knowl- edge of the art. It is really the best way to make a beginning. Above all, it should be remembered that the start should be made with only a few hives and the number of colonies be increased as experience gained will allow. Go slow at first and do not plunge into beekeeping. It does not pay. It should also be borne in mind that there is not only a bright side to the avocation, but that in it, as in everything else, unfavorable conditions may be encountered and short honey crops, or even failures, . _ be the result after the very best efforts in some years. HANDLING BEES. | Persons not acquainted with the habits of bees will feel as if the most important thing to have before getting the bees is a suit of rmor. This is not as important as many persons imagine; but, with ost bees, proper protection of the face and hands is decidedly de- sirable; and, although some experienced beekeepers claim that they never use veils and gloves, they are to be recommended, especially for beginners, to guard against mishaps that might end seriously. Same races of bees are more easily handled than others and some per- sons find all bees hard to manipulate, which is more a fault of theirs than the bees. Persons who are naturally afraid of bees incite their anger to a certain extent by their actions, while those who show no fear are rarely ever stung. Patience, care and good judgment are necessary in managing bees to advantage. The best time to handle fhe is during the middle of warm days and never at night or during cold, or wet days, unless absolutely necessary, All that is required is c a good smoker and a good veil to protect the face. It is not so nec- essary to wear gloves, and it takes but a short time to acquire sufficient confidence to run the risk of a few stings on the hands rather than have the inconvenience of any covering that interferes with the free use a of the fingers. For the beginner, or timid person, cotton gloves with long wrists are preferable. These are made with, or without, fingers and, while not absolutely sting proof, are cheaper and more comfortable than rubber gloves. A good smoker is the most essential equipment for handling bees. The smoker, in which dry rotten wood, the best fuel for smoke, has been started with some live coals, or a match, iy used to frighten the bees and cause them to fill themselves with honey, after which they are noti inclined to resent disturbance. As the hive is approached, a little meres should be blown in at the entrance, then a little under the cover as {t is raised off, when a little more, from time to time, as the bees aré handled, will enable one to examine every part of the hive. Too mubh smoke must not be employed. It should be used at the right 22 Texas DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE. time, in which event very little will be needed, While the smoker is not in actual use it may be held between the knees so as to be in easy reach when required. Three sizes of Root bee smokers. Various kinds of veils are used, according to the individual taste of different beekeepers. Cotton tulle is much used for such veils; those with an elastic cord in the top to go over the hat, and another in the bottom of the veil, to go about the neck, being most generally preferred. A permanent ‘‘bee hat’? is made by sewing the veil about the brim of a large hat. Silk material is also employed for bee veils; but, since it is more expensive and easily torn, only a small piece of it is usually sewed up in the front of the cotton tulle veils, as one can see through this finer material much better. For a more permanent bee hat wire screen cloth is much utilized, sewed to the hat and with an apron of cloth on the lower edge to drop over the shoulders. A width of cloth may also be sewed to the upper edge, in place of the hat, and this provided with a rubber cord to go over the crown of the hat. No matter what material is selected for the veil, it should be black in color, as it is the only color which does not Bee et ee interfere with the vision, especially in ; F sunlight. ae geet ac case It is not only not advisable for the d beginner to try to handle bees with- out protection to the face, but every beekeeper should use a bee veil, as a number of stings in the face are not only unpleasant, but may, under certain conditions, produce bad results when least ex- pected. Bee stings are very disagreeable, but how to avoid them, to a certain extent, may soon be learned, A few stings are inevitable, and a person may become more or less immune to them, so that they will not produce any swelling. While they do not affect some persons, others are given much pain and swelling. Texas BEEKEEPING. 23 Muth’s ideal wire cloth veil. Cotton tulle veil. The first thing to do with the sting is to remove it carefully by scraping it out with a knife blade, or the finger nail, in such a way that the poison bag, which is attached to the sting, is not squeezed and the contents forced into the wound. The best care for a sting is to forget all about it as soon as possible. The application of am- monia and other remedies supposed to neutralize the poison are, in most cases, useless, as they can not enter the wound because it closes immediately from swelling. In severe cases inflammation may be reduced by wrapping the affected parts in cold, wet cloths, or bathing with ammonia. As bees seem to resent dark colored objects, especially black hats and clothing, upon which they pounce much more vehemently and sting with greater fury, light colored clothing should be worn by the apiarist in his work with them: THE FAMILY OF HONEY BEES. In order to better understand the necessary manipulation in the successful management of bees, a somewhat general knowledge of the life-habits of the inmates and the economy of the hive is of great ad- vantage. Honey bees belong to the family Apidae, long-tongued bees, one of the families of the order of insects of which bees, ants and wasps are the most prominent members. There are many members of this family—some solitary in their habits, living alone and making their own nests; some living as guests in the nests of other bees, and some social bees living in colonies, a trait which is a distinguishing char- acteristic of the honey bees, with which we have to do. The scientific name of the honey bee is Apis millifera, to which the many races, or varieties, the German or Black, Italian, Carniolan, Cyprian, Holy Land, Caucasian and other bees belong. 24 Texas DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE. A normal colony of bees consists of several thousand to upwards of sixty thousand worker bees, a few hundred drones, and one queen, or, more correctly speaking, the mother of the hive. The queen is a fully developed female and lays the eggs from which all the other inmates of the hive are born. She is capable of laying eggs which produce either drones or workers, and is probably able to control fertilization of the egg which determines sex. Many more worker eggs are laid, which are always fertilized and are deposited in worker-size cells in the combs, while the drone eggs, very much le