ALBERT R. MANN LIBRARY NEw YorK STATE COLLEGES OF AGRICULTURE AND HoME ECONOMICS AT CORNELL UNIVERSITY EVERETT FRANKLIN PHILLIPS BEEKEEPING LIBRARY BEEKEEPING INTERIOR OF BRITISH COLUMBIA f ra ee The general adoption of the permanent outer case described in this booklet. to enclose the ordinary single-wall hive, would give better wintering results, quicker building up of colonies in spring, and fewer swarms, and thus considerably increase the honey production of British Columbia. : PUBLISHED BY THE BRITISH COLUMBIA HONEY PRQDUCERS' ASSOCIATION, — ; » i922, ie \ oF 53 Cle Bo British Columbia Honey Producers’ Association (Incorporated 1920) OFFICERS AND DIRECTORS FOR 1922. CENTRAL EXECUTIVE. A. E. PITTAWAY (President), Representing Kootenay Division. WwW. H. TURNBULL, Representing Lower Mainland Division. R. H. BROWN, Representing Okanagan Division. R. R. HOMERSHAM, ‘Representing Shuswap and Thompson Valleys Division. W. J. SHEPPARD (Secretary-Treasyrer), Nelson, Be, KOOTENAY DIVISION. HONORARY PRESIDENT, Major-General Lord Aylmer, Queens Bay. HONORARY VICE-PRESIDENT, Hon. E. D. Barrow, Minister of Agri- culture, Victoria. PRESIDENT, A. E. Pittaway, Castlegar. ey VICE-PRESIDENT, R. V. Ramsden, Nelson. SECRETARY-TREASURER, W. J. Sheppard, Nelson. AUDITOR, 8S. Fawcett, Nelson. ‘ DIRECTORS, -E. Alpaugh, Nelson; A. M. Black, Nelson; J. Blinco, Creston; Gordon R. Brown, Robson; Ian C. Campbell. Willow Point; “J. W. Cockle, Kaslo; J. R. Hunter, Nelson; C. C. Heaven, “Grand Forks; J. A. Hutton, Grand Forks; W. J. Kidman; Craw- ford Bay; B. Lockwood, Nelson; W. Romain, Nelson; W. J. Sheppard, Nelson; A. Harvey Smith, Nakusp; Dr. E. G, Smyth, Nelson. \ LOWER MAINLAND DIVISION. HONORARY PRESIDENT, Dr. S. F. Tolmie, Victoria. HONORARY VICE-PRESIDENTS, Hon. E. D. Barrow. Minister of Ag- riculture, Victoria; Dr. D, Warnock, Deputy Minister of Agri- culture, Victoria. PRESIDENT, J. W. Winson, Huntingdon. VICE-PRESIDENT, Fred E. White, Abbotsford. , SECRETARY: TREASURER, W. H. Turnbull, Sullivan Station. “AUDITOR, J. W. Pennington, Bradner. DIRECTORS, Mrs. N. McCallan, Ladner; Bevan L. Hugh. Cloverdale; Lynn Harvey, Langley Prairie; H. L. Chittenden, Bradner; F. E White, Abbotsford; Geo. Dennis, Rosedale; Chas. E. Moore, Mis sion; Jos. T. Brooks, Port Hammond; Arthur Smith, New West- minster; W. H. Turnbull, Sullivan Station; W. H. Lewis. Ed- monds; Eber Stride, Edmonds; A. W. Finlay, Huntingdon; W. C. F. Gillam, North Vancouver. OKANAGAN DIVISION. PRESIDENT, H, B. D. Lysons, Kelowna. VICE-PRESIDENT, P. T. Dunn, Kelowna. SECRETARY-TREASURER, /R. H. Brown, Kelowna. ‘AUDITOR, R. L. Dalglish, Kelowna. : DIRECTCRS, Miss Murray, Kelowna; S. J. Weeks. Kelowna; John Birch, Kelowna; J. E. Britton, Kelowna; J. HE. Reekie, Kelowna; Thos. Renwick, Kelowna; H. C. Mellor, Summerland; J. F Roberts, Rutland; Alex. Mott, Benvoulin; R. H. Caesar, Oka- nagan Centre; W. K. Whipple, Cyama; i: C. Kemp, Rutland; Mrs. McConnachie. Penticton; Hugh Mackie, Coldstream;- R H. ~Brown, Kelowna. SHUSWAP AND THOMPSON VALLEYS DIVISION. PRESIDENT, J. C. Booth, Salmon Arm. VICE-PRESIDENT, Miss A, E. Bostock, Monte Creek, SECRETARY- TREASURER, R. B. Homersham, Rayleigh Mount. ~ AUDITOR. L. B. Pangman, Salmon Arm. DIRECTORS, Mrs. Lott, Kamloops; W. C. Graham, Kamloops; McNab, Kamloops; J. McPherson, Rayleigh Mount; Salmon Arm; H. Lambert, Salmon Arm; Arm; A. Kelly, Salmon Arm; R. B, Homers 2 J. OW. J. S. Salt,’ D. H. Ebéch: Salmon ham, Rayleigh Mount. ‘ Provincial Exhibition, New Westminster, B.C. SEPTEMBER 11th to 16th, 1922. For entry forms apply D. E. MacKenzie, Manager. DIVISION G—APIARY PRODUCTS. In charge of the’ B..C, Honey Producers’ Association, W. H. Turnbull, Secretary, Sullivan P. O., B. C. “Entries close September 2nd, 1922. Entry fee, 25c each entry. All exhibits must be arranged by 10 o’clotk, Monday, September ,llth, 1922. ~" The prizes are awarded ‘only for the quantity! and in the containers specified in each section. ' All exhibits, except containers, must be the production of the ex- hibitor, and all exhibits of honey or wax (except granulated honey) must be the product of the current year. “ Exhibitors will not be allowed to Change their exhibits after the judges have given their awards. i Exhibitors will not be allowed to remove honey from their exhibits during Exhibition. ) Exhibitors in the 300-lb. display, the ‘100- lb. display and the display of Apiary work classes, will be allowed to stage and decorate their é exhibits in as attractive manner as they_see fit. : No “distinctive private labels allowed in any class. Association labels, where the name of the exhibitor has not been printed in; will be allowed in the 100-lb. and the 300-Ib. classes, Exhibitors will’ be allowed to remove their exhibits from 10 to 12 o'clock on the last night. ’ : Score for Honey. Extracted Honey— sa Color - 25 - Brightness : 25 Density ; 35 Flavor ; Seni ED: ' _ |, Total 100 Section Honey— — Absence of pop holes.. Uniformity of cells -.. Cleanliness Color, of capping .......----.-------- 1 °Thinness of capping a Flavor Total PRIZES. 2 3 4 5 6 vd $5.00 $4.00 $ $ $ $ 6.00 5:00 400 7,00 6.00 5.00 4.00 : , i 8.00 7.00 6.00: 5.00 4.00 . 41 or more .... 8.00 7.00 6.00 5.00 4.00 3.00 Class 2090—Honey, white,. 20 12-0z. or 16-oz. jars. \2091—Honey, amber, 20 12-oz. or 16-0z, jars. 2092—Honey, white, 50 12-0z. or 16-0z. jars. ‘ 3 2093—Honey, amber, 50 12-o0z. or 16-0z. jars. 2094—-Honey, white, 100 12-0z. or 16-o0z. jars—Double prize list. 2095—Honey, amber, 100 12-oz. or 16-0z, jars—Double prize list, oe 2096—Honey and wax, 300 pounds, floral decorations allowed. Four* times prize list. ; Score for 300-pound class— AttractiveneSS -..csceceeceeeeeeeceeee 50 Quality 25 Variety 25 2 Total 100 Class . . ; ,2097—Honey, granulated, not less than 10 Ibs, in glass containers, size optional. : 2098—Honey in comb, 25 sections—Double prize list. 2099—Honey, “chunk,’! in glass, not less than 10-lb., size optional. 2100—Most attractive, comprehensive, educational and instructive (to the public) display of apiary work and products—Three times prize list. * 2101—Display of “Individual portions” of honey, (comb and extracted). 2102—Beeswax, not less than 5. pounds. : Score for wax— Color : 25 Aroma 25 Cleanliness 50 1 100 2108—Honey and wax, 100 pounds, Floral decoration allowed—Three times prize list. This class is open to any one who has nat won a prize in the 300-pound display class in previous ex- hibitions. ; 4 aH Score for 100-lb. class— Attractiveness Quality Variety NOVICE CLASS. Beginners who have not yet exhibited, 2104—Honey, white, 10 12-o0z. or 16-oz. jars—One-half prize list 2105—Honey, amber, 10 12-0z. or 16-oz. jars—One-half prize list. , 2106—Honey, 6 sections—One-half prize list. 2107—Fruits preserved in honey, 6 quarts, assorted fruits—One-half ; prize list. 2108—Italian bees, in observatory hive. Score for bees— / Color 25 Size é 25 Evenness of marking _...WW.. 50 100 2109—Any new and useful appliance in connectio i 2 ¢ n i One-half prize list. Nee ES eee 2110—To the exhibitor scoring the highest total i Diploma and $25.00. a a 2111—To the second highest—Diploma and $15.00. Special prize donated by the BRITISH COLUMBIA HONEY PRODUCERS 2112—For the best collection of Native Honey rane ey es ed)—First, $10.00; Second, $7.00; Third, $5.00 ee aan 4 Bee Keeping in the Interior of Bnitish Columbia \ ‘Beekeeping is practically a new industry in the Interior. of British - Columbia, which is making good progress, and is capable of consider- able expansion. In most of the best districts for honey production, even where ‘beekeepers are already located, there is likely to be plenty of room for more colonies for some time to come, and there are many excellent locations where no bees are, at present kept at all. The honey produced, which is nearly all extracted honey, is in popular fa- vor, and the demand is increasing, as it is superior to most that is im-— ported. It may be described as a nice attractive honey, of uniformly good quality; usually light. amber in color, and of delicate flavor, so that it is capable of holding its own, either in.home or distant markets. With suitable management a paying crop can, as a general rule, be depended on every season. White Dutch Clover (Trifolium repens) which now grows wild, and in great profusion, in many ‘places, is one of the main sources of production, and it is surprising how rapidly it becomes established and spreads, after the ‘forest trees have been cut down. This is more particularly noticeable where cattle are rang- ing, as they help to keep down the ranker vegetation, and also act as distributors of the ssed. In some localities, Aslike Clover (Trifolium hybridum) is being cultivated to a greater extent than ‘formerly, and is also spreading naturally in the same manner’ as White Clover. As Alsike Clover is considered to stand at the head of all other plants, in the production of honey, this will be of benefit to the beekeepers. Alsike succeeds better than Red Clover, where there is an excess of) - moisture, or acidity in the soil, or a deficiency of lime. Red Clover, largely grown_for ploughing in, unfortunately does hot ‘help the bee- keepers very much as the tongues of hive-bees are not: sufficiently long to reach the nectar secreted by the blossoms, unless the latter become dwarfed. by drought, or by: flowering the second time. , Experiments have been made in some places in growing the biennial Bokhara Clover, ‘generally known as. White Sweet Clover (Melilotus alba) which yields honey freely over a long period. Inoculation, the same culture as for alfalfa, and a hard seed bed, are usually necessary to get it started. It will grow on any soil except that which is water-logged. An annual: white variety has been lately’ introduced, and may prove valuable. There are extensive areas of the biennial yellow Sweet Clover in the Shuswap and Thompson Valley district. Alfalfa yields honey in the ir- yigated districts. The Siberian yellow flowered Alfalfa (Medicago falcata) which has the reputation of being a dry land Alfalfa, very hardy, and a good honey and pasture plant, is béing tested in the Dry Belt: Hairy Vetch, largely used as a cover crop in the fruit growing . districts, yields quantities of honey of good quality. acs In some localities, the wild flowers yield a somewhat large propor: tion of the honey. The most important of these are the common Dan- delion (Taraxacum officinale) (introduced), and the Bearberry (Arc- tostaphylos DUva-ursi) early in the season, and later on, during July and August, Spreading Dogbane. commonly known as Milk-weed (Apocynum androsaemifolium). Snow-berry bush (Symphoricarpos racemosus), Wolf-berry bush (Symphoricarpos occidentalis), and the Great Willow Herb, usually known as Fire-weed (Epilobium angusti- folilum). There are also Wild Raspberries growing in abundance in many places. 5 HONEY YIELDING WILD FLOWERS. Willows—Salicacae. (Willow family.) Pussy Willow—(Salix discolor). Flowers in March and April. Both honey and pollen are obtained from the staminate flowers, honey only from the pistillate. Dandelion—Composite. (Composite family). (Taraxacum officinale). Flowers in April and May. Bearberry—(Kinnikinnik). Ericacae. (Heath family). Arctostaphylos va-ursi. Blueberry—Ericaceae. (Heath family). Vaccinium ovalifolium. Huckleberry—Ericaceae. (Heath family). Gaylussacia resinosa. Choke Cherry—Rosaceae. (Rose family). Prunus demissa. Bird or Pin Cherry—Rosaceae. (Rose family). Prunus pennsylvanica. _ All these flower in May. Barberry—(Oregon Grape) Berberidacae. (Barberry family). Berberis aquifolium and Berberis repens. Wild Red Raspberry—Rosaceae. (Rose family). Rubus strigosus. Wild Black Raspberry—Rosaceae. (Rose family). Rubus occidentalis, All these flower in June. : i Dogbane—(Milk-weed) Apocynaceae. (Dogbana family) Apocynum androsaemifolium (Spreading Dogbane). Snowberry—Caprifoliaceae. (Honeysuckle family). Symphoricarpos race- mosus. Wolfberry—Caprifoliaceae (Honeysuckle family). Symphoricarpos occi- dentalis. \ Canada Thistle—Compositae (Composite family). Cirsium arvense. All these flower in June and July. Great Willow Herb or Fire-weed—Onagraceae. (Evening Primrose fam- ily) Epilobium, angustifolium, Golden Rod—Composite. (Composite family). Solidago canadensis, etc. Flower in July and August. ‘In districts principally devoted to the production of fruit there are not nearly enough bees kept’ at present to ensure the pollination of the’ blossoms. 1 \ “ The chief problems that have confronted the beekeepers have been difficulties in wintering, and in the control of swarming. The latter has -often been contributory to the former, Excessive swarming. fre- quently caused by not providing the bees with sufficient room in the hive, and generally occurring during the short honey flows, peculiar to this region, has resulted in their being unable to store enough honey to winter on, so that they have died of starvation, unless fed with sugar syrup in the fall. The use of single-walled hives, with little or no ad- ditional protection in winter, has also been responsible for many of the losses that have been sustained. In some localities honey-dew, the excretion of aphides. and fruit juice, collected and stored in the combs by the bees, have been, the main cause of winter fatalities. ‘If. the combs containing fruit juice or honey-dew are removed in September and the bees fed up quickly with thick syrup (two parts of sugar to one of water) while the weather is warm enough to enable them ‘to store it in the combs and seal it over, this trouble. is easily overcome Snow, as a rule, commences to fall early in Novem ber, and may re- main on the ground until about the end of the followin 1 einer % ng March, the bees may be confined to the hives for nearly five months. poe . » 7 = time, however, during this period. there may come a warm eee ae “Chinook’’, which, combined with brilliant sunshine, may raise the ‘eth. perature for a few days to almost summer heat.. is liable to bring the bees out of the hives prem sult that thousands of them alight on the soft and are not able to get back again. Under such 6 When this occurs it aturely, with the re- Snow, become chilled circumstances the bees are not so likely to fly from hives that are well insulated, as they are from hives, not well protected, as the inside temperature does not warm up so quickly, and cause them to become restless. Bees win- tered on wholesome food, consisting: of. good honey or sugar syrup, as a rule, remain. quiet and contented all the winter. a - bas 3 - ee i ’ The. bees kept in’ the Interior are mostly pure. el aliene, This race does so, remarkably well here that it would seema pity to introduce any other, except in isolated districts for purposes of experiment. These khees are well’ suited for beginners as they are very quiet under manip- ulation, not much inclined to use their stings, and therefore easy to yhandle' The. queens are so very prolific that there is no trouble in making increase, .During . the years 1916 and 1917 a considerable num- ber cf combless ‘two-pound packages, including queens, of this race, were shipped in from the United States. Those that came from California, being only three or four days on the journey, genefally arrived in good condition, but shipments from greater distances. such as the Southern States, being- longer in transit, a ‘lark fe proportion were dead on arrival. “Te these bees can be obtained in good condition during April, or early in May, when they seem to travel best, and placed on four or five built out combs, for a start, and fed with thin syrup. until they are able to -obtain sufficient food from ‘outside,: they have been found to produce enough honey the first season to pay for their cost several times’ over.; The postal regulations in the United States have récently been revised so that bees in combless packages can be sent through the mails. This has been extended to Canada. The importation of bees on combs is not permitted. Queens are allowed to come in through. the mails. There is no customs duty on bees, Bees and queens. from Europe are now prehibited' from entering Canada as ae precaution © against the introduc- tion of Isle of Wight disease. 4 ORGANIZATION OF BEEKEEPERS. The British Columbia: Honey Producers’ Association was organized and incorporated in January, 1920. It consists ‘at present of four di- visions, viz.: ‘Kootenay, Lower Mainland, Okanagan, and. Shuswap and. Thompson Valley Divisions. Each Division has its own officers and directors, and ‘has control of its own funds. One representative is elected annually to the Central Executive. The Constitution and By- laws can be obtained from the Secretary-Treasurer. The objects of the association are:— To promote and encourage the keeping: of bees by the most suitable methods for their profitable management. To .assist mémbers in Gisposing of their produce to ine best ad- ‘vantage by. the adoption of uniformity in the grading, packing, and labelling for market. : .To obtain the most advantageous terms for members in the pur- ‘chase of bee supplies. To effect the standardization of such bee appliances as may be found most suitable for the province. To promote and regulate local exhibits oF bees, honey, wax, etc, “and arrange for the judging of same. a 2a Sai = To promote the - growing of niectar—bearing. plants, To aid in the’ dissemination ‘of relable and practical * ‘ inforpation with regard to the bee industry and further. its is es in every way possible. - Ly The annual , subscription is one dollar, vines. on the first. day of Janpary, ‘in each year. " METHODS OF BEEKEEPING. . t Hives. ‘what is Knowfi as the ten-frame hive, each story tanine een pane: stroth frames, is considered to ‘be the most convenient and suitable for general use. If preferred this can take the form’ of a double- -wall brood chamber, . with single- -wall nies -bodies as supers. # \- 7% KOOTENAY HIVE-CASE Permanently packed. There are 3 inches of. packing below the floor and on all four sides. The flat cover is % inch larger all around than the top of the case, and small triangular blocks nailed in the front corners, inside, raise it and ensure permanent ventila- tion. The stories are all alike, and as supers are put on are added as necessary. In this hive-case the bees are warmer in winter and cooler in summer. When packing for winter all that is necessary is to add the top cover— ing over the frames. A Provincial Demonstration Apairy. Bees all in Kootenay Cases. 8 < Yer KOOTENAY HIVE-CASE. Approximate Scale: ———s Designed by WJ dheppard. \ 9 i Kootenay Hive-case, as been introduced in the i ble-wall hive h Sse RS to enclose the ten-frame form of a permanent hive-case, made of cedar, single-wall hive-bodies, and provide a three-inch space all ro This space, as far as the top of the first single-wall hive-body, chamber, is kept permanently “packed with planer shavings, suitable material, all the year round. vent the packing from falling into the hive when opened. i a three-inch space underneath the floor which is kept permanently packed as well. The bees have more protection in this hive-case than in the double-wall hive, and the temperature is kept cooler and more uniform in summer. The supers being all under cover are shaded from the hot rays of the sun. There is no trouble of packing in the fall, and unpacking in the spring. It is simple in design, and can all be easily taken apart. The floor is made to slope. half an inch from back to front, at the same time permitting the case itself to stand perfectly or other level. Blocks on the two front inside corners of the cover raise it so. as to provide permanent ventilation, and allow any bees to escape that may get shut in, and this also makes a slope to the back to shed the rain. Single-Wall Hive- Bodies. The outside dimensions of the ten-frame singte-wall hive-bodies are 16% inches wide, 19% inches long and 91% inches deep, the bee space being above the frames. The material used is white pine lumber, dressed on both sides, % inch in thickness. These hive-bodies take ten Lang- stroth frames, spaced 1% inches from centre to centre. and a division board % inch in thickness. Or, ten frames can be used, spaced 1% inches from centre to centre, without any division board, the inside width, viz. 15%, inches, béing just right for this purpose, with the al- lowance of a bee-space (%4 inch) on the outsides of the outer combs. When the single-wall hive-bodies are utilized as supers, for the pro- duction of extracted honey, it is a good plan to use nine frames only, spaced wider apart, without any division board, as the combs will then be correspondingly thicker when filled with honey, making it much easier to slice off the cappings with the uncapping knife. Langstroth Frame. The specification of the Langstroth frame that is generally used is as follows: Material, white pine. Top Bar, length, 18 15-16 inches, width 1 1-16 in., depth % inch, Slip cut out for nailing in foundation. End Bars.or Posts, length 9% inches, width 1 1-16 inches, thickness 5-16 inch. Housed at each end to receive top and bottom bars. Pierced for wiring. Bottom Bar, length 175% inches, width % inch, thickness % inch. Lugs, width % inch, thickness 5-16 inch. Metal Spacers extend width of end bars to 1% inches. SPRING MANAGEMENT. As soon as the bees begin to cover the outside combs in the brood chamber add a second story above, containing built out combs, or full sheets of foundation, with one or two built out combs in the centre: Outside combs .may be taken from the brood chamber for this purpose. Add other stories later, as required, for storing surplus, after placing queen age above the second story. Feed Sugar syrup, if necessary made of white granulated sugar, dissolved ji 1 : of each. in hot water, equal parts SWARM CONTROL AND THE TREATMENT OF SWARMS As' only one main honey-flow, usually commenci ; ; , cin ab middle of July, can, as’ a rule, be reckoned on, and thie of oF Ped atively short duration, it is essential to have all the. hives at their maximum strength at this particular time, so that the bees ar “th just the right condition, and therefore, in readiness to take the pes 10 und them. . or brood- — It is covered in at the top to pre- oe There ‘is also. advantage of it. quantity of honey possible. ly, be relied on to accomplish this. They may then be expected to store the largest A good system of swarm control can, usual- If the bees swarm, as they gen- erally, do under ordinary circumstances, when left to their own ,devices, just before, or at some period during this honey flow, the crop will be nearly’ all lost to the beekeeper, unless the colony is built up again, as near as can be, to its original strength, before swarming. Failing this the bulk of the honey that is gathered is used up by the beés in the production of brood--and more bees, ,instead of being stored in the supers. Some beekeepers make the mistake of dividing their colonies just before the honey flow and thereby lose the honey crop. Methods of Swarm Control Found to Be- Satisfactory. The one that is mostly used Demaree Plan Super 8 frames of brood and 2 frames of drawn comb, one on each side. a ES = Wire Queen E Excluder "2 frames of. “brood and ‘Queen in centre of 8 | frames of drawn comb. : — ‘Another method, which worked as follows: When the bees cover all the frames in the brood chamber, ‘is operated as follows: is. known as the Demaree plan, and Just before the -colony is ready to swarm put all the brood, excepting one or two frames, in queen excluder, best, as otherwise the a second story over a (two frames seem ~to.be the bees may neglect the queen), leaving the queen below with the one or two frames of brood, the vacancies at the sides being ‘filled with empty combs, failing which full sheets of foundation. queen cells at the same time, Cut out all -if there are any, and search for and destroy any queen cells, on the eighth or ninth day afterwards, ‘that may be found in the second story, in the second story, frames The brood as soon as the brood hatches out, will be used by the bees for storing honey. Add other supers above the second story, as needed. -is a variation of the Demaree plan . is _time in May, find the queen and place her with two frames of brood in the centre of a second story, over a queen excluder, adding empty combs, or frames containing full sheets of foundation, Put in-frames containing built out combs or full sheets of foundation, at the sides of the brood cambs left below. The bees will usually build queen cells below the excluder, all but one of which should be destroyed on the eighth or ninth day afterwards. After the young queen has hatched below, and is mated and laying, the old queen above can be removed. of Demaree Plan Super Variation 2 frames. of brood and Queen in centre of 8 frames of drawn comb. Zine Queen Excluder 8 frames of | brood and 2 frames of drawn - comb, one on each side. I put into a fresh hive will’ make a good nucleus. If she is provided with two or three frames of: brood and on «a new stand this The old queen, ‘*however, can be left until the combs below are psrtly filled with brood. By this method, if carefully followed, it is scarcely possible for the bees to swarm, the old queen being above the excluder, with ample room for egg laying. A powerful colony can by this means be built up in readiness for the honey flow in July, and a young queen assured to each hive so treated is. every year. removed from the cells may possibly be built there. After the old queen second story queen If so these should be ‘destroyed on the eighth or ninth ‘day afterwards. ’ A colony headed by a queen of the current year does not swarm as a general rule, Bees will sometimes not build queen cells when an all-wire queen excluder is used, but will more often do so, either above, or below, a zine excluder, the queenless part. 11 if there is brood in at the sides. N some > 1 The following has also given good results: After the second ‘story has been added in the spring and it is time to put on 4 ‘third story the queen is transferred to the bottom story, on which a queen ex—- cluder is placed. A story of empty combs is put on the bottom story, next to the excluder, and the brood that was formerly the second story now becomes the third story. Other stories are added as required. Queen cells are likely to be started in the third story and if not re- quired it is advisable to destroy them about the eighth day. Another plan for swarm prevention, which has the merit of sim- plicity, is to remove or cage the queen, when the bees are strong enough. to make preparations for swarming, and cut out all queen, cells but one on the eighth or ninth day afterwards. When swarms issue methods may be followed and a good crop of honey obtained, as well as increase of colonies. When as much. increase as possible is desired the well known plan of hiving’ the swarm in a. new ‘hive on the old stand, transferring the supers to it, and dividing up the brood frames into two-frame nuclei, with a queen cell to each, is good procedure. For moderate increase the following directions can be put into practice: After a first, or prime swarm issues, (1) Move old hive to a fresh stand. (2) Hive swarm in a new hive on the old stand, on built out combs, or full sheets of foundation. (3) Transfer supers to swarm. (4) On the third or fourth day afterwards transfer four or five-frames of sealed brood from the old hive to the swarm after cut- ting out all the queen cells they may contain. Put these’ in the second story over queen excluder. (If preferred the old queen, that is with the swarm, may be taken away at this stage, and a queen cell or newly hatched queen ‘substituted which should prevent the possibility of ‘sec- ond swarming). A variation of this method, which is sometimes followed, is to place the old hive close ‘to the swarm, that has been hived on the original stand, and face it the same way. A week later the old hive is moved to a new location, ten feet or more distant. The swarm is by this means further strengthened with the flying bees from the old hive, and the latter wi]l be too weakened to swarm again. \ When a first swarm issues and increase is not required a very good plan is to remove all the brood from below and place it in a top story above the supers. Then return the swarm to the brood chamber, that has been filled with empty combs, or full sheets of foundation, below a queen excluder. Cut out all the queen cells in the brood frames above and also any more that may be built there, on the eighth or ninth day afterwards. Or a smiall entrance can be given above so that a young queen can fly out and get mated and then be used to replace the old queen: below. ‘If this is done it would be advisable to use’ another queen excluder so as to confine the young queen to the top story and so prevent. her from laying eggs in the super. If preferred the swarm may be returned by hiving it in a top story over a queen excluder, afterwards taking away the old queen and leay- ing a queen cell to hatch below. } , THE PRODUCTION OF EXTRACTED HONEY, Extracted honey is usually produced by using the ordinary deep “Langstroth frames in the supers. Shallow extracting frames 4% inches in. depth are sometimes used. The latter are made 4% inches deep so ‘as to be interchangeable with hanging section frames. If a g00d sup ply of built out combs is on hand, this being a beekeepers THOSE “valu 12 : 1 able asset, large yields of heney can be obtained, provided that the hives are at full strength, and this is maintained while the flow is on. It is “important .to keep on adding supers as soon as the bees require > more room, which it is better in this climate, to place on the top, in- stead of between, as the nights are often-cold. Three deep supers will generally -be found sufficient and need to be kept in readiness. When filled these will contain about 150 lbs. of honey. One of the largest amounts of extracted honey reported as having been taken from one hive in a single season was 342 pounds, at Castlegar in 1918. 2100 pounds of honey was taken from three hives, Spring’ count, in the Slocan Valley, in 1919, which were increased to ten. THE PRODUCTION OF SECTIONS AND CHUNK HONEY. Comparatively few ‘of the beekeepers have as yet’ started to produce. sections and chunk honey, although there is a good demand for both. Bees will commence work in sections more readily if they are alter- nated with extracting frames, especially if the latter contain built out combs, For this purpose hanging section frames made to take, ‘prefer- ably 44%x44x1% inch, plain, or no-bee-way sections are required, with two hanging separators fo each. If shallow frames are used full sheets of super foundation may be put in‘ them and the combs can then’ be cut out and sold as chunk honey, or they may be extracted in the. usual way. They should not be wired. ‘ The most perfect sections, free from pop-—holes, are usually obtained by using top and bottom starters. The top. starter of thin super foun- dation should be about 3% inches in depth, placed in ‘the centre, and firmly fixed at the top and sides, and the bottom starter about % inch deep. The space between each should be not less than % inch nor more than 4 inch. An easy and expeditious. way of fastening the foundation is to use liquid wax, melted,on the top of hot water, prefer- ably in a double-boiler. An ordinary glue-pot can be used for this purpose and kept heated over a small oil or spirit stove. Water is put in with the wax in the top boiler, and a brush about % inch wide, cut > in the shape of a wedge. is required, which is dipped down low enough to reach well into the water every. time it is used. The hot water, with the wax, keeps the brush from cooling too quickly and getting ~ clogged. A very thin layer of wax can be quickly laid on by this means. It is a good plant to coat all the inside of ‘the section with wax, at the same time, which will-make it easier for the bees to form their attach-. ments when building comb. -The inside of frames might with ad- vantage be treated in the same way. After embedding the wires in the foundation in ‘the: frames they can also -be covered with a thin coating of wax, if this work has been done with a spur embedder. -If, how- ever, an electric\embedder is used, which does the best work, this will ‘not be necessary. , “A NEW ELECTRIC EMBEDDER A new type of electric embedder has been designed and has proved a great success. It is so simple that anyone can make it at a small cost. It does first class work expeditiously and more satisfactorily than, if performed with a spur embedder. Only a little practice is nec¢- essary to get into the way of using it. The wires will then be firmly embedded and waxed over in the ‘centre of the ‘foundation greatly add- ing to its strength and rendering it less liable to stretch or break down from the weight of the bees while being built out into comb. The ma-: terial required is two 22 inch lengths of single flexible electric lighting . cord, and two pieces of stout insulated wire, such as is used for out- door wiring, about seven inches long,.the latter being for holding in the chhands, A small loop is made at one end of each of the two flexible wires, so that they can be attached to two dry cell batteries. The other is joined to one end of the stouter insulated wire, which has a loop made for this purpose. The other ends are stripped of the insulating material for about three-quarters of;an inch and’ are flattened with ‘a hammer or filed to a chisel point. all is then ready for use after being 13° : attached to two dry cell batteries, The frame, already wired, dnd filled with foundation, is laid on the board ordinarily used for the spur em- bedder. Commence at one end of each wire, and hold the chisel points against it a few inches apart. As soon as the wire becomes heated and melts the wax sufficiently lift the point at one end, so as to break the circuit, pressing the wire into the middle of the foundation at the other, and holding it in this position until the melted wax has cooled, which is almost instantaneous. Then start off again. The length of wire that can be embedded at one operation depends on the strength of the current, and also on the tightness of the wires. The wires. should be as tight as possible. If there is much embedding to be done, and electric lighting current is available this can be used instead of the dry cell batteries. ‘In this case, it will be necessary to make a trans- ' former, so as to reduce the voltage. This can be done by passing the current through an ordinary electric flatiron, but a better way is to: pass it through water in a quart jar. An Economy or Mason jar ans- < wers well. Two coarse perpendicular wires, reaching from top to bot- : tom, are fixed inside the jar so-that they cannot touch each other. The,, connections with the embedder are made at the top of these wires.” The jar is filled with water and a little salt is added, it may be as much + as half a teaspoonful, which will bring the current up to the strength | required to do the work. This current will be found more regular than . from the dry cell batteries which are gradually getting weaker all the time. The strength of the current should not be great enough to make the wires too hot and is regulated by the amount of salt, which re- quires to be added a little at a time, until it is found to be just right for embedding all the wires at one operation. DOUBLE SCREEN-WIRE SUPER CLEARER. ‘ This is one of the most valuable of the modern appliances that have _ been introduced as it can be used for a multiplicity of purposes With the addition of the Porter or Lewis Bee Escape it can be used for clearing supers. It can also be used for uniting colonies, for getting queens mated in a top story, for hiving swarms above supers, providing a passageway over frames in winter, etc. \ PREPARATION OF HONEY FOR MARKET Honey for the retail trade is usually put up in either upright screw- cap glass jars, holding 12 or 16 ounces net, or metal pails with lever lids, of four or five pounds capacity, net. Members of the. British Cor lumbia Honey Producers’ Association can obtain the Association regis- tered honey labels, specially designed ‘for use thereon... The honey labels are obtainable from the Secretary-Treasurer of each Division, at the - following prices, post free: : 100 $ .60 250 wn 1.30 500 . 2.50 1000 . 4.50 ‘ 2000 or over (per 1000)........ 4.00 ' Cans holding 60 Ibs. are a handy size for storin i it in bulk. Sections are generally sold just as they on ton bee ‘hives, after being scraped free from propolis and wax. It would be an improvement, however, if they were put up in cartons so as to protect them from dust and insects. Chunk honey, also called “bulk . _honey,” is comb honey cut into strips and put into glass jars, the s at the sides being filled with liquid extracted honey. The latt ee quires to be heated first of all to about 130 degrees (Fah.) and oe Pe that temperature for two or three hours so as to retard granulati ae long as possible. Under the provisions of the Apiaries Act 1919. ith honey produced in the Province that is offerea for sale must be labe = “British Columbia Honey” and have the net weight stated ee 14 % f a -dopun ou} uo uosyyeIossy sis9npolg AguOFT Biquinjog YsHug e43 Aq ponssr st [Oqe| S14], BCP RNT ELITES LS All pure Honey will granulate sooner or later = To liqnefy, set jar or can in warm water no hotter than the hand can bear, and allow it to stand intil the Honey becomes per- fectly clear. This label is issued with the view of encouraging the sale of pure British Columbia Honey. NET WEIGHT not less than pounds. FEEDING AND FEEDERS, Feeding, to some extent may be necessary every year. Syrup feed- in early spring is often essential, equal parts of sugar and water ng given at this period. If sufficient honey for\winter, about 30 Ibs.,- not left in the hives at the time of extracting, it will be, necessary feed syrup, two parts of sugar to one of water, to make. up the de- iency. This feeding which should be as rapid as possible should be tished by the end of September, but. if not then by the middle of tober, at the latest; so that the bees are able to store and seal it EF in the combs “before the weather gets too cold. ‘A good feeder can made out of a four or five pound lever lid honey pail. About a zen small holes, just about large enough-to pass an ordinary pin \rough, are pierced in the lid. It is then filled with syrup and in- arted over the feed-hole that has been cut ‘in the centre of the quilt. glass Mason-jar with the lid perforated in the same way also makes fh excellent feeder, only in this, case a small wooden platform covered ‘tth screen wire has to be made so as to provide a bee-way under it. ry sugar feeding with brown sugar answers well for supplying col- nies in need in June and is good for stimulating nuclei. The dry sugar seder is made by nailing a thin piece of board on each side of a angstroth frame, the greater part of ‘the top bar being sawn out so nat- the sugar can be put in and the bees able to take it from the top. t is intended to- hang at one side of the hive and has the advantage of tot requiring attention for some time as it will contain five pounds of ugar. Candy is a make-shift and only used for feeding bees when the heather is too cold for them to be able to take syrup. WINTERING. . Bees require to be packed for winter about the end of October, be- ore the snow comes, and ‘then left undisturbed until the following pring. ~Entrances may need looking to occasionally during the winter’ bi case they should be clogged with dead bees which can be raked: out with a bent wire. Bees in single-wall hives, if well provided with good food, will come safely through the winter, as a general rule, if several icknesses of sacking are tied outside and covered with tar paper to, keep out the wet. A hive-body half filled with. sacks makes a-good_ porous top covering. If double-wall hives, or hive-cases, as previously described, are used, all that is necessary is to add sufficient top cover- ‘ing, about six inches in depth, over the frames. It is a good plan to leave the queen excluder on all the winter. If it is reversed, it will provide a double bee-space and thus ensure a clear passage way over - the combs... The bees require at least thirty pounds of sealed Stores to earry them through the winter. Any honey dew, or fruit juice, the ‘bees may have stored, should be removed from the hives, and kept for Spring feeding, honey,-or sugar syrup being substituted, With porous ‘coverings, winter entrances are best left about three inches long by three-eighths of an inch deep. Non- -porous coverings necessitate a glarger entrance. ; : Experiments, carried out with packed. hives by the Bureau of Ento- mology, United States Department of Agriculture, have shown that ‘much heat is lost from unprotected hive bottoms. It ‘is stated that “failure to insulate the bottom of the hive largely offsets the value of insulation around the hive in the wintering of bees. Experiments con-