ALBERT R. MANN 
LIBRARY 


NEw YorK STATE COLLEGES 
OF 
AGRICULTURE AND HOME ECONOMICS 


AT 


CORNELL UNIVERSITY 


EVERETT FRANKLIN PHILLIPS 


BEEKEEPING LIBRARY 


A modern bee-farm and its economic manag 


inv ; 


Cornell University 


Library 


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/cu31924003428038 


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By Royal Warrant to H.M. the King. 


NON- 
POISONOUS 


NON- 
CORROSIVE. 


The Ideal Disinfectant * 


THE SIMPLE AND EFFECTIVE CURE 


FOUL BROOD 
or BEE PEST, 


Recommended for many years as A CERTAIN CURE FOR BEE 

DISEASES when applied in the active definite manner advised by 

the Author of A Modern Bee-Farm, and who has recently offered 
Bee-Keepers another boon in the shape of 


— VETERINARY IZAL, ——— 


A durable and perfect HIVE WASH for preventing or curing the 
ISLE OF WIGHT PLAGUE. This is known as 


SIMMINS’ NEW 1.0.W. CURE, 


And is used as a PERFECT DISINFECTANT in the shape of 

a Hive Wash, prepared by adding three times its bulk of water. 

After painting all insides of the Hive it is allowed to dry before 
returning the Bees or exchanging the Hive for another. 


Manufacturers : g : 
NEWTON, CHAMBERS & Co,, Ltp., 


THORNCLIFFE, NeaR SHEFFIELD. 


BRITISH APPRECIATION. 


Press Commendations. 
British Bee Journal. This is a useful book for those intending to 
cultivate bees, more particularly for such as intend to make it a business.” 


Live Stock Journal.— Other journals must deal with this very 
intelligently written book from its other sides. . . . We never saw 
a bee-book which seemed better worth buying by those who wished to 
keep bees.” ; 


Bee-Keepers Record.—" We have perused this book with a consider- 
able amount of interest, mainly from the fact of its being the’ first 
attempt on the part of a really experienced man in the United Kingdom 
to face the problem, ‘Will a bee-farm pay?’ . . . We cordially 
recommend the new bee-book.” 


Most Practical in Three Languages. 

“T have been reading every book (in English, French and German) 
on Apiculture, and of all the works that I have studied (especially as 
regards practical information) I much prefer your ‘Modern Bee-Farm,’ 
the style of which is so charming.” CLEMENT COKE. 


Worth £5 a Copy. 

“My son and I are agreed that ‘A Modern Bee-Farm’ is worth its 
weight in gold! I should certainly be sorry to take £5 for the copy I 
have received from home, if I knew it were impossible to obtain 
another ; i ‘ , and some half-a-dozen others who have 
sought to teach us our business can in future rest on the shelves.” 

Knysna, Cape of Good Hope. S. DEACON. 


Hundreds Repeat These Words. 
“Your ‘Modern Bee-Farm’ is worth all other books on bees put 
together.” ; H. S. CHAPMAN. 
Sandon, Frodsham. 


From the Hands of a Master. 

“T have read ‘A Modern Bee-Farm’ with,—well, where shall I find a 
word that can convey my feelings ?—' pleasure’ is a shadow. It is a 
work from the hands of a master of Apiculture.” 

Brechin, N.B. BENJAMIN BERNE. 


Not a Dream, but Verified Fact. 

An experienced bee-keeper of many years’ standing writes 
(July, 1909):—"' I had heard of your system for years, but always thought 
of it as an ‘enthusiast’s dream,’ until the other day I visited an apiary 
and saw the Conquerer Hives filled to overflowing with bees (from 
your queens); then at a glance could see that for the production of 
honey, for ease with which the brood chamber could be examined when 
supers are on, etc., your system is Al.” 


£10 for 5s. 4d. 
“J would gladly have given £10 to have had it a year ago, as it would 
have saved me far more than that in experiments.” HL. 
Var Trees, Dorchester. 


“A Modern Bee-Farm” different to all others. 
“T never was so pleased with a book in my life; shall recommend it 
to my bee-keeping friends.” 
Letchworth, Herts. 


AMERICAN AND OTHER OPINION. 


American Bee Journal.—\t covers the whole field of Apiculture, 
and is written in a terse and interesting manner.” 


Gleanings in Bee Culture (1888 edition).—" The work is beautifully 
printed on a fine quality of paper. In plan it is excellent; each subject 
and its sub-head being distinctly separated by strong black head-lines, 
So that a novice can easily find such information as may be desired.” 


Editor of Gleanings (1904 edition).—" This is a work of no ordinary 
merit, and reads like a novel. One of the best bee books.” 


; Mr. Frank Benton, 
of the United States Department of Agriculture, Washington, writes: 


“The new book came to hand this morning. It is now midnight, and 
I have spent the whole day with. it. You have indeed done well what 
few accomplish at all—made a book which is full of interest to every 
enthusiastic bee-master ; yet for the beginner a simple, pointed guide to 
success. . . . Since Langstroth’s book, nothing, except Cheshire’s 
magnificent work, compares in interest or value to this.” 


“Good Stuff, Indeed !” 


“T have just finished reviewing a copy of the 1904 edition of ‘Modern 
Bee-Farm.” Good stuff, indeed! I am truly glad to see that you are 
not bound down by the old dogmas of bee-keeping. We have nothing 
which shows the results of careful experiments as yours does.” 

Clark University, ~ BURTON U. GATES. 

Worcester, Mass. 


An American Specialist, 
of Knox, Starke Co., Indiana, U.S.A , says :— 


“A few months ago I bought your book. 1 have read the same three 
times from cover to cover, and the chapter about Foul Brood about ten 
times. It is the best book, and I have a good number of books about 
bees, as I am a specialist.” F. W. LUEBECK. 


“The Bee-Wizard,” ; 
of Lincoln, Nebraska, U.S.A., writing May 8th, 1911, says: 
“Amongst the most prized and most often reviewed volumes in my 
library is your ‘Modern Bee-Farm,’ and I have long thought of sending 


you this word of personal commendation and thanks.” 
: , FRANK G. ODELL. 


'A New Zealand Bee-Keeper, 


Writing from Timaru, says: “I have read ‘A Modern Bee-Farm’ 
through with much pleasure and profit. I think, without exaggeration 
it is the best of all my bee-books, and I have a good many.” 

: JOHN YOUNG. 


“A Modern Bee-Farm” Well in Front. 


“T find your ‘Modern Bee-Farm’ full of useful information. I see 
methods that you advocated twenty years ago are being brought to the 
front here as something new.” . DAVID F. DOW, 

Ipswich, Mass. Landscape Architect. 


rr, Qe. 


PRINTED BY 
HEPWORTH AND Company, LIMITED, 
TUNBRIDGE WELLS, 

AND 165, QUEEN VICTORIA ST,, 
Lonpon, EC. 


COX 


A MODERN BEE-FARM 


AND ITS ECONOMIC MANAGEMENT. 


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


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


NEW AND IMPORTANT INFORMATION RELATING TO THE TREATMENT 
AND CURE OF 
BEE-PARALYSIS, OR THE ISLE OF WIGHT DISEASE, 


INCLUDING THE AUTHOR’S DEFINITE LAW FoR ENSURING 
THE DECLINE OF THAT MALADy. 


Includes a Treatise on 


HONEY: ITS USES IN HEALTH: AND DISEASE ; 
WitTH Notes oN GENERAL HEALTH. 
ALSO NOTES UPON 


PROFITABLE GRASS-FARMING AND DAIRYING 
AND ORCHARD PLANTING 


AS SUITABLE AUXILIARY OCCUPATIONS FOR THE BEE-KEEPER. 


S. SIMMINS, 


Author of * Direct Introduction of Queens,” “ Simmins’ Non-Swarming System,” 
&e., Ge. 


we 


HEATHFIELD, SuSSExX: PUBLISHED BY THE AUTHOR. 


May, 1914. 


BE 839 


Editions of this @ork: 


1888, 1893, 1904, 1914. 


DIRECT INTRODUCTION, 1882. 
SIMMINS’ NON-SWARMING SYSTEM, 1886. 
SIMMINS’ NEW QUEEN REARING, 1894. 
PLUMPING; OR RAPID INCREASE IN SPRING, 1894. 


PREFACE, 


ITH few exceptions, the instructions contained 
rar herein will be confined to the Author’s own 
practical experience, which has extended over 
more than forty years of close observation.* The reader 
will therefore have the benefit of a lengthened and varied 
experience, and by following a recognized system, there 
will be little possibility of the novice being confused by the 
usual multiplicity of ideas upon any one subject. When 
the beginner has mastered the present system he will then 
be in a position to use his own judgment in selecting the 
good and leaving out the errors of others. 

The Author does not hesitate to say that he has himself 
learned more by his failures than by success, in that where 
he has failed there has been a direct incentive to overcome 
such difficulty; and as the result, some of the most 
important methods of management have been brought 


about, while time and labour-saving implements have 
been devised ; all of which will be found invaluable to 
the Apiarist of the present day. 

It has been the Author’s utmost endeavor to place the 
management of Bees before the novice in as clear and 
straightforward a manner as possible. He knows full well 
how difficult it is for one more advanced in the science 
to fully expose every detail of procedure, and how equally 
difficult it is for those just entering the ranks to grasp 
many of the details which go to make up the grand total 
of success; hence the reason why some apparently simple 


* Any reader desiring to study the complete, anatomy and 
physiology of the hive bee should secure the works of Cheshire or 
Cowan. 


x Preface. 


matters are gone into at length, that the learner may profit 
by the writer’s own earlier experiences—in some cases, 
costly experiments and failures. 

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

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

The man who finds himself adapted to the undertaking 
may safely invest his money, and be assured of obtaining, 
to say the least, better returns, than very many other 
occupations offer at the present day. 

And now a word as to other subjects—other kindred 
occupations that the bee-keeper may follow to advantage. 
I hold out no hopes that bee-keeping alone will support a 
family, at least in this country. Many young people who 
fail at office work, or in other occupations, turn to poultry, 
to bees; or it may be fruit or other farming ; and in the 
following pages I endeavor to show how a reasonable 
profit may be secured from a few acres of grass land by 
making the most of everything that can be worked upon 


Preface. xi 


it, so that one branch of agriculture may help another ; 
while on the other hand, if the season is unfavorable for 
one item, it is often even more suitable for some other of 
the several occupations carried out upon the farm of 
moderate dimensions. 

Among the small-holders starting in increasing numbers 
about the country there are many who are persuaded to 
take to bee-keeping, without knowing anything of practical 
management, and what is worse, do not know bee-diseases 
in any form. These and others taking up the subject in a 
careless manner, are the greatest source of danger to the 
general community of practical bee-keepers, and it is time 
an Act was passed which should restrict these and other 
dangers that may otherwise seriously affect the industry 
because of such carelessness. 


GENERAL INTRODUCTION. 


HE Culture of Bees is one of the most healthful 
ry occupations that can be named, and at the present 
day it is being adopted as a business, while the 
number of people in all ranks of life who keep only a few 
hives as a pleasant pastime is very large, as may be judged 
from the fact that the members of the various associations: 
in this country make up a total of many thousands. 

Honey, the matchless gift of Nature, has become 
much cheaper than it was when the supply was very 
limited ; but while. an increased production lowered the 
value, there is at the same time a larger-and increasing 
demand for the bee-keeper’s commodity; and as he now 
has the benefit of improved appliances there is no difficulty 
in competing with present rates, which, however, should 
now improve, as all other commodities are rising in price. 

There is as yet much to be desired in methods of 
management among the majority of bee-owners, as will 
be evident by a perusal of these pages. 

When honey was superseded by sugar, bee-keeping 
seems to have fallen into the background, but after a time 
light began to dawn, and some forty years since, by using 
hives wherein all the combs could be removed separately 
at will, a great stimulus was given to both practical and 
scientific bee-keeping ; consequently, the ranks began to 
swell, as it became known that much larger harvests could 

“be secured than by the old fixed-comb methods, and in 
every way the bees could be brought more under control. 

But more light was yet needed, and Bee Journals were 
established, but it was not until the year 1873 that this 
country could boast of one, and that was founded by 


Introduction. xiii 


Mr. C. N. Abbott, of Southall, as a monthly, and who ably 
conducted it for about ten years, when it passed into the 
hands of the Rev. H. R. Peel. In May, 1883, the Brztesh 
Bee Journal was issued fortnightly ; in August, 1885, Mr. 
T. W. Cowan became editor and proprietor, finally issuing 
it as a weekly in Jan., 1886. Soon after the above journal 
was established we find Mr. Abbott inaugurating the 
British Bee-Keepers’ Association, his object being the 
diffusion of the knowledge of bee-keeping, especially 
among the poorer classes, as a means of bettering their 
condition. 

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

The manufacture of hives and appliances has become 
quite an industry, giving employment to many ; but it is 
generally carried on in connection with the making of 
foundation, as well as with some other, or all of the 
several, branches of apiary work. 

Honey in the comb will ever remain a luxury, but that 
in the liquid form should be found in every household, 
besides being used in various manufactures; and the 
apiarist should do his best to place the latter upon the 
market in as cheap a form. as possible, at the same time 
being careful that such shall have a neat and attractive 
appearance. 

Among the early pioneers of movable comb-hives, may 
be mentioned Mr. Woodbury in England; the Rev. L. L. 
Langstroth, in America, and Dr. Dzierzon, in Germany ; 
and though the latter cannot be said to have used movable 
frames, he nevertheless adopted movable top bars, which of 


xiv Introduction. 


course could only be withdrawn after the comb attachments 
were separated from the walls of the hive. 

It is possible that M. Francis Huber, the eminent blind 
bee-keeper, used the first movable frame hives for purposes 
of observation. 


INTRODUCTION TO REVISED EDITION. 


It should be understood that small (less than 11b.) packages for 
honey find little favor in general commerce. In every direction we 
see that prices are ruling lower than they were some few years since; 
and the consequence is that larger receptacles are required, so that 
jams and similar articles may be supplied to the public at a minimum 
of cost. Nevertheless, prices: generally reached their lowest level 
prior to 1910, and the honey-producer should now expect better rates 
for his produce. 

While there is now an unlimited demand for honey, the prices 
obtainable will vary, according to the energy displayed by the 
individual bee-keeper. If he is his own salesman and will use some 
of the methods given herein for creating a demand, or some novel 
plan of his own, his returns will be considerably in excess of those 
secured by the less active producer. ‘ 

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

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

My non-swarming system and the working of new section combs 
expressly for the current season’s work, as first set out in my 
pamphlet of 1886, is herein explained, and illustrated according to 
latest developments. 

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

The Chapter on honey and its uses has had some important 
additions made to it, in showing the practical uses of honey in both 
chest and throat complaints; in what form to use it, as well as giving 
such recommendations for other rational treatment in connection 
therewith, which will seldom fail in affording speedy reliet. This 


Introduction to Revised Edition. XV 


knowledge should be spread broadcast by every bee-keeper who has 
honey to sell. 

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

The treatment of Foul Brood is of such vast importance to bee- 
keepers generally that I include in my new work the several 
propositions formerly published by me in another paper (1898-9), in 
connection with the origin, development, and cure of Foul Brood, 
both with and without medicine, and without the destruction of 
valuable combs and other material. 

Some of the most important features in connection with the 
Author’s definite and successful treatment of brood disease therein 
offered have since been confirmed by other writers, who, unfortunately 
for their own reputation, have claimed the processes as their own. 

My method of Direct Introduction, published some 30 years ago,. 
commended at the time by the late Mr. D. A. Jones, of the Canadian 
Bee Fournal ; by the late Mr. W. B. Carr,in the Bee-Keeper’s Record ; 
as well as by Mr. Fk. Cheshire, in his magnificent work, and by 
numerous other practical bee-keepers, has quite recently been 
claimed by American and other writers as their own idea. 

Thus, in addition to original and profitable methods of management 
in developing immense populations at the right moment, the Author 
offered, in 1886, the only correct method of clarifying extracted honey 
in tall cylinders; also in the same year a new method of greatly 
improving Comb Honey in sections by a simple process of bleaching ;. 
the systematic production of new combs in sections before the honey 
flow occurs, thus nearly doubling the usual yield; and a perfectly 
cushioned Comb Honey Case for railing (or shipping). In 1894 the 
Author offered the first separate and removable queen-cell bases, 
and he herein shows how the cell cups may be constructed without 
using melted wax. In 1883 he offered percolating, or self-acting 
feeders, syrup caus and cisterns, for use in out-apiaries, where it is 
inconvenient to make syrup by cooking. 

The Author’s methods of working two queens in twin hives or 
more queens in treble, as well as in storifying hives, as first offered 
in the 1893 and 1904 editions of the work, are very fully illustrated 
and described. 

The only rational method of improving honey gathering stock by 
establishing a Pedigree strain by a process of registration, and direct 
line breeding as regards both drone and queen rearing parents, as. 
conducted for many years by the Author, is here fully exposed for 
the first time. 

Since the issue of the last edition of this work, a disease previously 
unknown to the majority of British bee-keepers, but quite common in 
America, started in the Isle of Wight and in Cornwall in the same 
year (1904), and has swept over the country like some irresistible 
wave, destroying whole apiaries, and in all, thousands of colonies. 
The owners, including many first-class experts, taken by surprise, 
were helpless in the face of the malady, until the Author showed his 
numerous correspondents how simple a thing it was to deal with by 
following common-sense methods that aim at raising the vitality of 


xvi Introduction to Revised Edition. 


affected stocks. In addition to Chapter XI., see pages 444-449, and 
page 454. ere ; 

Radical change or revolutionary teaching, though proving correct 
in application, is seldom accepted as an economic principle for at 
least a decade after its advent. The same may be said of my original 
principle of advanced hive construction, and prevention of swarming, 
as finally represented in the Conqueror hive which was illustrated in 
my 1893 edition and left to work its way upon its own merits. 

By referring to the bee-literature of that period, it will be found 
that neither at home nor abroad was there any mention of a non- 
swarming hive or system until after the publication of the Author’s 
pamphlet upon the subject in 1886; many copies of which were 
circulated both here and in America, as well as in the colonies, 
and other countries. 

In the same work was given also ny Systems of Controlling Swarm- 
ing with common hives, such as ‘“‘ Swarming without Increase,” and 
«Combined Swarming and Doubling without Increase”; definite and 
vital principles laid down in the said pamphlet of 1886, and such as 
are not even yet realized by the majority of bee-men who are still 
striving after what has already been given them to see and to use— 
processes which will enable them to double the strength of their 
honey colonies. 

I may be excused for suggesting that this work will not become 
out-of-date, when I refer my Readers to the American Bee-Journals, 
wherein quite recently a number of methods offered by our cousins as 
new and valuable items in management, were first published by 
myself in definite form twenty to thirty years ago. 

Some of the latest of these adaptations being the Author’s 3-side- 
cut sections, with the whole sheet of foundation placed across three 
to four sections in a line without other fixing (1887); the only 
practical method of (uncooked) soft sugar feeding, described as ‘‘ dry 
feeding” to distinguish it from syrup feeding (1883); the systematic 
production of ‘‘drawn-combs” for all sections prior to each season 
(1886); and other items herein enumerated. 

The Author holds very moderate views as to the necessity of legis- 
lation for controlling the actions of bee-owners in regard to bee- 
diseases. He would welcome a reasonable law regulating this 
matter; but that will only be by the extremists on either side sinking 
their prejudices, and agreeing upon a mutually beneficial and 
moderate line of action. 


S. SIMMINs. 
QUEENLAND, 
HEATHFIELD, SUSSEX. 
May, IgI4. 


‘RUVIdV ATSIAHLVAH SMOHLNV AHL AO MAIA TvILavd 


os aa 


Show me an owner of bees who is a genuine enthusiast, 
be he or she a novice or professional bee-keeper, and 
I see the man or woman who is going to succeed ; 
whether the occupation is adopted as a hobby or a 
business undertaking. The non-enthusiastic owner will 
never succeed in the management of the honey-bee. 


CHAPTER I. 


BEE-CULTURE AS A PROFESSION, 
AND FOR RECREATION. 


m= production of Honey on a commercial basis being 
J now an established industry, there are many induce- 

ments offered to those who wish to take up a light 
and pleasant occupation, as a. secondary aid in augmenting 
a perhaps too restricted income; or as an adjunct to 
farming, or even as the principal item upon the farm. As 
will presently be shewn, almost the entire farming opera- 
tions may be made subservient to the need of the bees, so 
that the agriculturist’s profits may be almost doubled. 

In the case of fruit farming, too, the benefits to be 
acquired by the culture of bees on the spot, cannot be over- 
estimated, for the better the fertilization of the bloom, the 
more productive will the fruit trees become. 

A natural ability, and a rational enthusiasm are necessary 
for the making of a successful bee-keeper ; and therefore, 
unless a man makes himself thoroughly acquainted with 
the peculiarities of bees, he is doomed to disappointment 
should he attempt to give his time and capital to this 
occupation. 

There are two courses open to those who wish to follow 
the art of bee-keeping, whereby to gain a living, or for 
the purpose of adding to their present income. First, by 
having a few hives, and gradually increasing the number 


B 


2 A Modern Bee-Farm 


over a term of years, until the experience gained justifies 
one in making extensive additions to his working stock ; 
though, unless under such very favourable circumstances 
as are sometimes found to exist, it will be unwise to 
discard any present occupation. By far the better plan 
will be to 

Work in some Established Apiary 


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

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


To obtain the necessary Materials. 


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

If it can be so arranged, the student should by all 
means buy his stock from the apiary where he served his 
apprenticeship. He ought to know something about the 
condition of the same, and may rely upon the proprietor 


and tts Economic Management. 3 


treating him honorably. Failing this, the owner will 
probably know where and how he can secure stock that 
can be relied upon. 

Under ordinary conditions there is a certain risk about 
bee-keeping ; but the reader, by refering to the chapters 
relating to Planting and Breeding, as well as the general 
conditions and cure of disease, will at once see how the 
whole thing can be rendered a certainty by those capable 
of following out the instructions to be found therein. 


The Choice of Location 


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

When you know that you will presently be entering into 
the business, have a good look around, and endeavour to 
secure a few acres in a district favourable to the under- 
taking ; a locality abounding in clovers, with the White 
or Dutch, in particular, as that most to be desired, 
and ensuring the highest average returns. Unless other 
conditions are exceedingly favorable, the absence of 
White Clover will result in indifferent returns, if not actual 
failure. This clover is sometimes grown as a crop, but 
more frequently the bee-keeper relies upon what is to be 
found in nearly all pastures, as well as by the road-sides, 
where the grit is very suitable to its growth. There is the 
Yellow Trefoil in May, also the 7rzfolzum Incarnatum (Red 
Italian Clover); in July Alsike Clover, and after the White 


4 A Modern Bee-Farm 


has bloomed from the early part of June, as a crop, until 
near the middle of July in the pastures, there are the Limes 
in some places, yielding much nectar. The Sycamore, too, 
generally gives a quantity of honey in May ; then there are 
market gardens growing the various small fruits ;-also large 
orchards, the honey from which, though not often large 
in quantity, is of considerable value to: the bees while 
supplying the wants of a rapidly increasing population. 
It is seldom all the foregoing are to be found in the 
neighbourhood of Heather, though in Autumn it will pay 
well to move bees to the same if within a reasonable 
distance, as the honey generally commands a good price. 

On chalk soil, particularly among the South Downs, we 
find the first crop of Sanfoin early in June, and the second 
about the middle of August; Wild Thyme in July, and 
numerous wild flowers of the thistle family during the 
Autumn ; as well as a species of Trefoil (Lotus Corniculatus) 
during the Summer. Red Clover is also grown in great 
quantity, upon the second crops of which some of the 
foreign races of bees can work; and as the first cutting 
of this plant would otherwise be very light, Yellow Trefoil 
is mixed with it, and this flowers freely for nearly a month 
before the first mowing. The ‘blackberry must not be 
forgotten, in some parts being so abundant as to give 
quite a surplus of fairly good honey. Privet hedges, after 
further experience, I am inclined to regard with suspicion, 
as yielding: poisonous honey; while the Laurel, when 
occasionally in flower, is decidedly injurious. 

The Ivy, both wild and garden varicties, will often keep 
the bees busy during October, giving perhaps a little 
honey, but certainly a great quantity of pollen when the 
season is mild. 2 : 

Should the bee-keeper’s lot fall upon any spot not 
favorably situated, and expecting to work many stocks, he 


and tts Economic Management. 5 


can only do so by making such arrangements as will allow 
him to 

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


What Amount of Capital should be Invested 


to ensure a certain income; but, considering I know 
nothing of the capabilities of those who apply by letter, 
it would be useless to attempt a satisfactory answer other 
than such as can be found in the estimates offered, and in 
many cases it would be unwise to give any encouragement 
at all, where the fullest particulars as to locality and 
personal qualifications are not given. Everything relating 
to his surrounding honey-producing plants and trees should 
be well known to the advanced apiarist, who will not be 
certain of success on a large scale just because a few 
particular colonies have yielded comparatively large 
weights. He will first find it his duty to pay the greatest 
attention to securing the hzghest posszble average return 
from his stock, both by carefully breeding by a process of 
selection, and ‘systematic union of forces, that immense 
populations: may be on hand at the right time. He who 
has thus far mastered the science, will have no need to ask 
the foregoing question, but the list of estimated expenses 
may in some cases aid enquirers to obtain much needed 
information. 

It should be almost unnecessary to point out that 
“everything must be done at the right time ;” there must 
be “a place for everything, and everything should be in 
its place.” Thus by constant and careful attention, and 
by keeping all things in order, the specialist will command 
success ; but the man who is not naturally of an orderly 


” 


6 A Modern Bee-Farm 


and temperate disposition, and moreover is not enthusiastic, 
and a lover of Nature (the natural. qualifications of a 
bee-keeper), had better keep out of the business, or failure 
will surely be the result. At the same time, it is by no 
means certain that reverses will® not occasionally be met 
with by the most expert and painstaking man; but such 
difficulties should be looked upon as inducing a greater 
stimulus, with renewed effort and:more determination to 
overcome every obstacle. 


The Estimated Expenses for the First Two Years 
will be found in the Appendix, the apiarist, having had 
two years’ apprenticeship, starting with not less than 100 
colonies, and with some £500 as his capital ; otherwise he 
will struggle on for years before his business can be 
satisfactorily established. This will be admitted by many 
who have gained their experience by a long and laborious 
process. 

The greater part of the expenses go towards stock-in- 
trade ; but after the second year, the outlay will be smaller, 
while the returns will be considerably higher, as the 
apiarist consolidates his working force. The quantity of 
sugar required may amount to more or less according to 
the season, and the extent to which the bees are deprived 
of honey. The better management is that whereby the 
largest surplus is obtained w7thout depriving the stock- 
chamber of honey at all; in which case the labour and 
expense involved in feeding will often be unnecessary. 
Having charged the cost of bottles and tins, the same 
should be added to the selling price of the extracted honey, 
as showing the more correct estimate. 


Number of Colonies. 


In reference to the estimates given in the Appendix, it 
will be seen that it is proposed to keep the number of 


a 


and tts Economie Management. 7 


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

Where the apiarist is capable of making up most of his 
own appliances, his time will be mostly occupied during 
the winter, and then timber will stand in the place of many 
of the articles enumerated, making a considerable reduction 
in cest. The owner’s labor in the apiary has, of course, net 
been estimated, as that can only be valued by the balance 
of profit shown at the end of the season; the laborer is 
worthy of his hire (profit). 


The Average yields per Hive 


for both comb and extracted honey, taking a series of. 
years, have been placed on a fair basis, but in a fairly good 
district the bee-keeper should have no trouble in exceeding 
those figures, if there are not more than a total of 150 
colonies standing in his area, or range of bee-flight. In 
a very favorable locality, or where the owner plants 
bee-forage, the average will be still higher, and more 
stocks may be placed in one apiary without any apparent 
diminution in the “ out-put” per hive. 


8 A Modern Bee-Farm 


The editor of the British Bee Journal states that he 
obtained 1,360 Ibs. from seven hives. This was extracted 
honey, but his results in comb have often exceeded 100 lbs. 
per hive. These weights were obtained from a limited 
number of stocks; it will be seldom, however, that 
such returns will be gained where a larger number are to 
be managed. I have had 50 lbs. stored by a single colony 
in seven days: and in 1886 had a queen sent me, whose 
bees, without attempting to swarm, had given upwards of 
250 Ibs. of honey, about 200 lbs. of which were in nicely- 
finished sections. Such results show what is possible if the 
apiarist will always breed from the best strains, as set forth 
in the chapter upon that subject. 


What Kind of Honey to Produce. 


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


and tts Economic Management. 9 


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

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


One Point of the Greatest Importance. 


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

I have known apiaries purchased during mid-winter, 
and sent many miles by rail, to be simply wiped out 
before the summer arrived ; the seller thereafter being 
sued for damages, and made to refund a large proportion 
of the value, because the purchaser could shew that some 
of the stocks were slightly diseased, and considered that 
was the trouble ; whereas the fault was mostly his own for 
making the purchase and moving them at that unseason- 


10 A Modern Bee-Farm 


able time, and thus making it impossible for the bees to 
regain their normal hibernating condition. 

Other stocks moved in February or March, have 
dwindled terribly after a long railway journey, simply 
because the bees that had wintered were unfit to bear 
confinement, and thereafter, through the too-early excite- 
ment soon wore themselves out, without first being able 
to renew the population of the hives. 


Bees moved in April or May 

undergo just that condition of excitement which induces 
healthy activity. at exactly the right time; the queens 
become equally energetic under the consequent stimula- 
tion ; and better progress is made than if they had not 
been disturbed. If moved in February or March the 
same excitement causes the loss of thousands of the older 
bees, through flying for what they cannot obtain at that 
early date; the large patches of brood lose the warmth 
hitherto afforded by such workers, and the hive deteriorates 
to such an extent that the whole season is unprofitable. 
By purchasing as I advise there are plenty of young bees 
to fall back upon if the stocks have been properly seiected ; 
you get only good stocks which have stood the ordeal of 
winter ; there is no further risk, and the whole season is 
before you. These statements are based upon hard facts 
and experience, and the reader will do well to be guided 
thereby. 

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


Sale of Bees and Queens. 
This is most profitable, more certain, and the returns 
’ quicker than when producing honey; but, at the same 
time, special qualifications are necessary to enable a man 
to conduct a queen-rearing business successfully, and unless 


and tts Economic Management. II 


he finds himself peculiarly adapted to the undertaking, he 
had better confine himself to honey, as continued applica- 
tion, constant care and thought, are required in a much 
higher degree, to enable one to carry on. this interesting 
work. It should also be understood that where bees and 
queens are raised for sale, the apiarist will have to be 
satisfied with but a limited quantity of honey ; in fact, if 
his demand is large, in some seasons instead of a surplus, 
a considerable amount of sugar will be required for winter 
store, while his stock is seriously handicapped during 
prolonged spells of bad weather, when many virgin queens 
are on hand. It will take some years to gain a connection, 
and in the meantime your advertisements must be frequent, 
but limited in extent and cost. 

Do not attempt much in the way of selling bees and 
queens until you have a substantial stock of at least 100 
hives to draw upon, or you will never obtain much benefit 
from them if you are depending largely upon this source of 
income. 

Still another department is connected with apiculture ; 


The Manufacture of Appliances 


is carried on by a number of reliable men, each of whom 
has an apiary; some of them add the making of comb- 
foundation, while nearly all find it necessary to continue 
some other business. I do not mean to imply that no good 
is ever to be done in a small way ; but it is better for the 
beginner who can turn out a decent article to confine 
himself to local requirements, while continuing his usual 
occupation. Even well-known firms often turn out cheap 
hives to meet a certain demand, that are not creditable 
either to the maker or the user. 

It is so far doubtful whether honey-producing alone will 
ever become a reliable source of income except under 


. 


12 A Modern Bee-Farm 


particularly favorable conditions, or where conducted in 
connection with growing crops on the farm, but with the 
manufacture of appliances and foundation, the sale of 
bees, etc., it is possible to secure good returns where 
capital is judiciously invested, and labor is economised. 
There are several rural occupations that can be carried 
on in connection with bee-keeping to advantage. Fruit- 
growing is generally profitable to those who understand 
its culture. Poultry, on a small scale, can be made most 
profitable, and a large portion of the proceeds, in eggs and 
fowls, may find their way to the owner’s table, in addition 
to those sold. Other pursuits may occur to the individual 
bee-keeper, such as may not seriously interfere with the 
main occupation, though his surroundings, and space at 
command, will largely influence his pians. 


Bee-Keeping for Recreation. 


While the greater number of amateurs endeavour to get 
all the profit they can out of their bees, there are many 
who keep them because of the pleasure afforded by studying 
their habits; though, of course, the delight experienced in 
being able to place pure honey, in its most chaste form, 
upon one’s own table, and that of friends, is by no means 
a secondary consideration. Nothing can be more appre- 
ciated than a present of beautifully white honeycomb in 
sections or bell-glasses; and what, moreover, can exceed 
the pride and pleasure of thus being able to present that 
which is your own production ; a thing of beauty, which 
has been gradually “ growing” under your fostering care. 
The busy man who occasionally spends a few minutes 
with his bees, finds healthful and soothing recreation for 
both body and mind; and fortunate are those whose 
leisure gives them almost unlimited time to carry out the 
‘study of these remarkable insects. It can truly be said 


and its Economic Management. 13 


that they are a never-failing source of interest, there being 
always something new to discover, either as to their habits 
or Management. 

Modern bee-keepers are usually enthusiasts, and among 
all who study the subject there is a general understanding 
and mutual sympathy. The novice may therefore go to his 
nearest neighbour who may be following the pursuit, and 
be certain of a hearty welcome, and a free gift of all the 
knowledge about bees that he may have gathered by many 
years of practice; but nevertheless, just here, I advise the 
beginner not to go to his more expert neighbour every 
time a difficulty occurs. He must bear in mind his past 
lessons, and strive to help himself. 

It does not much matter at what time of the year you 
may begin in a small way; you have first to gain confidence 
in handling bees before you can make much out of them. 
Get some friend or other apiarist of experience, if possible, 
to overhaul the stock you wish to purchase, and be guided 
by him as to its value. In the absence of friendly advice, 
you cannot do better than buy a first swarm from some 
cottage bee-keeper. Obtain your hives from a well-known 
maker, and do not select the cheapest style, as makeshift 
hives of this class are dear at a gift, and your expected 
pleasure will be somewhat marred, and your manipulations 
sadly complicated. 

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

The cry of “over-production” is but a false alarm, and 


14 A Modern Bee-Farm 


we need not fear, however many become honey-producers 
in our generation. No genuine article of food will long 
want for a customer, if only it is presented in an attractive 
manner at a reasonable rate. There are many ways in 
which honey can be utilised, not only as food and medicine, 
but also for a number of manufacturing purposes ; and 
while many others will continue to enter into the occupa- 
tion, the value of honey will become more generally known, 
to the advantage of all concerned. 

It may be taken for granted that the prices of all articles 
of food reached their lowest level about the year 1910, 
since when everything has advanced in value. We may 
not again see a period of low prices, as for all practical 
purposes the world has reached the limit of comparative 
production. This is a condition accelerated by the means 
of rapid intercommunication of late years, though in the 
meantime this resulted in low prices. New worlds are now 
becoming as old worlds, with dense populations, which 
demand food from the newer countries, and these, in short 
course, will have larger populations to support. 


a 


and its Economic Management. 15 


It is as easy to handle bees as flies; nay, more so, when 
one is once acquainted with their peculiarities and 
temperament under varying conditions. The owner 
should always be assured that his little friends are 
under perfect control before he proceeds to carry 
forward any manipulation. 


CHAPTER. II. 


HOW TO HANDLE BEES. 
i ae the uninitiated the general impression is that 
Se, 


bees are certain to sting if molested, but if let alone 

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


Precaution against Robbing. 


Where an expert is called upon to put an apiary in 
order, or remove the crop of honey, difficulties are likely 


16 A Modern Bee-Farm 


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

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

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


Robbing Mania 


has once commenced, as may also be induced by the 
‘injudicious opening of hives, or badly fitting floors, etc., 
then the uninitiated will find he has let loose a power 
which will require his coolest judgment to enable him 
to subdue. I have known horses, chickens, dogs, and 
other animals severely attacked by bees because the skep 
of a neighbour having been placed upon an old block 
cracked in every direction, offered capital openings for a 
host of determined robbers, whom I found coming and 
‘going like some irresistible hurricane. All openings, 
except one reduced to a j-inch tubular passage-way, were 
immediately stopped; the watering can was freely used, 


and its Economic Management. 17 


and dripping sacks left over the skep. In a few minutes 
all was quiet. Where the ire of bees has been aroused 
by the careless removal of honey in Autumn. similar 
difficulties are likely to occur, but in this case they will 
remain irritable for days or weeks, unless fed with a little 
thin syrup in the evening. 

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


Serious Robbing develops in Early Morning. 


It will be found that bad cases of robbing nearly always 
start early in the morning, before the owner is about. So 
convinced has the Author been as to this fact, that he is 
always on hand as soon as the bees may move about, 
especially during mild Autumn mornings. 

Some entrances may face the early sunlight, and the bees 
are on the move, while others, especially if they be nuclei, 
standing in the shade are not on guard. But one load of 
honey carried home, and soon excited pilferers in hundreds 
are mysteriously directed to the same sweet source, and all 
opposition is brushed aside by the determined onrush. 

His first approach to the apiary should inform the owner 
if any bees are darting about with unusual determination, 
even before he sees them. A handful of grass hastily 
thrown against the entrance is of course the handiest thing 


* This simple method of quieting the whole apiary was given in 
the es edition of this work. 


Cc 


18 A Modern Bee-Farm 


for the time being, as it checks the marauders; but the 
best plan is that of 


Puzzling the Robbers at their own Entrance, 


a point too frequently overlooked. The most determined 
onrush of pilferers can be stopped at once, and everything 
be quiet in five minutes, if their own entrance is at once 
disguised by placing a sack over the front of the hive, 
leaving the returning thieves just a small opening at 
one side. 

The sack may be drawn closely at the sides in the 
evening, giving but slight egress rather late in the mornings 
for a time. This is better than distressing that lot being 
robbed, though their entrance may be reduced, or protected 
by a shallow funnel made of perforated small hole zinc. 

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


Clustering Swarms do not Sting. 


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


and tts Economic Management. 19 


none, as a rule, attempt to retaliate when the hive is 
examined. 

When necessary to look into a fixed-comb hive (com- 
monly called a “skep”) first drive a few puffs of smoke 
in at the entrance from a bellows smoker, as illustrated, 
which is of the “ Bingham” pattern. Give the sides of 
the hive several sharp raps, then turn it up in a line 
parallel with the combs, so that none may fall on one 
side, when, after a little more smoke driven across the 
now exposed combs, any necessary examination may be 
made; though of course the investigation can be little 
more than a superficial one. The smoker is so arranged 
that when placed in a vertical position there is a con- 
tinuous draught, but if put down the other way the 
draught is at once stopped, and the fire goes out. While 
it is desirable that no more be used than is really 
necessary, the operator should on no account proceed 
until he has used sufficient smoke or other intimidant, that 
he may be quite certain he has the bees well in hand. 
Many overlook just this necessary precaution, causing 
needless loss of bee-life, as well as inconvenience to others, 
if not to themselves. After any operation these little 
insects should, if carefully treated, be no more disposed 
to sting than before. Of course exceptions to this rule 
will be met with, and while at some more favorable 
seasons, and with some quieter races of bees, little or no 
smoke may be needed, there are other stocks nothing 
seems to thoroughly subdue ; and though these are often 
the best honey-gatherers, the novice will soon want to be 
rid of them; this is best done by deposing the queen, 
and giving one from a quieter strain. When it is desired 


To Drive and Transfer 


bees from a straw skep, or other fixed combs, to movable 


20 A Modern Bee-Farm 


frames, then after smoking and inverting the old hive, let 
its crown rest upon the ground; place an empty skep or 
box above, fitting exactly mouth to mouth, and then 
continue to rap upon the sides of the lower hive with the 
hands. or a stout stick; but on no account jar in such a 
rough manner that the combs become broken from their 
attachments, or many of the inmates will be smothered in 
the honey. Soon the bees will be heard roaring on their 
march upwards, being in fear of the trembling combs 
falling about them. In the first instance a cloth may be 
secured around the junction of the two hives, thus 
ensuring that no bees rush out; after a few minutes this 
should be removed, and the upper skep tilted from front 
to back, having first been secured to the other by a 
skewer, or anything that will keep the rims together 
without shifting. The operator will soon prefer to do 
without the cloth and keep the skeps parted from the 
first, when the queen may be captured as she ascends, if 
desired. It should be so arranged that the back where the 
bees are to run up should be the highest point, and that at 
the ends of the lines of combs, or the bees will not go up 
readily. Then transfer the combs to the frame hive if they 
are not irregular, and return the bees, as explained in 
Chapter XIV. One is often told to procure a pail or table 
whereon to place the skeps while driving, but the operator 
will find the earth a far better “stand” than any other. 


Bumping. 


After first intimidating the bees, another way to get 
them out, is to invert the hive and give it one or two 
sharp “bumps” on the ground, at the edge of the crown 
on the side parallel to the combs. If carefully done the 
combs break away from the sides and top of the hive 
much cleaner than they can be taken out by any other 


and tts Economic Management. 21 


way. Brush the bees off into an empty skep with a 
feather, and transfer the combs as desired. This plan 
was first introduced by Mr. F. Lyon, and is very simple 
and expeditious. 

Throwing. 


This is quite an old plan, and where the combs are 
fixed, either by cross sticks through them in skeps, or in 
shallow-framed hives, nothing can exceed its simplicity 
and rapidity. Place an empty hive on a sheet upon the 
ground, mouth upwards; stand over the same with the 
stocked hive held by the hands at the rim between the 
legs of the operator; raise the ‘hive and lower it quickly, 
then stop the motion with a sudden jerk just as the empty 
hive is neared; repeat as often as necessary and the bees 
will be all thrown out. Wait a few minutes after smoking 
them, lift the hive and proceed, when the bees having 
discontinued feeding at the cells, will come out more 
readily. This rough and ready process was carried out 
only with the cross sticks through the hives and combs so 
that the latter could not fall; and Mr. Heddon has more 
recently adopted the same thing with his shallow fixed 
frames. In the case of frame hives the bees will be shaken 
down on the top, or at the entrance of the lower hive, by 
handling one frame at a time. 


if 
Manipulating Bees in Frame Hives. 


The foregoing operations are seldom necessary with 
movable-comb hives, as each frame may be removed at 
will, and this meets all requirements. When any operation 
has to be carried out, first lift the material covering the 
frames, and drive a few puffs of smoke among the bees, 
replace the “quilt,” and after a few seconds peel the same 
off with care, and make the necessary examinations. 
Remove and replace each comb carefully, taking care 


- 


22 A Modern Bee-Farm 


not to crush any bees while so doing, and see that your 
smoker is on hand in good order, in case they may get 
troublesome. If the combs are to- be cleared, shake the 
bees back into the hive, or at the entrance by a.motion 
similar to that of throwing, beginning however with a 
gentle shake, and then more vigorously, as the bees become 
frightened. Nothing tends to subdue them so thoroughly, 
and on no account should a brush or feather be used until - 
the bees have first been so shaken; as by brushing them 
from the combs in the first instance they are much irritated. 

Italian and Carniolan Bees seldom require to be intimi- 
dated. They can be handled almost anyhow, and what 
is remarkable with both these varieties, and also some 
stocks of Syrian bees, it matters not how long the hive 
may remain uncovered, they continue perfectly peaceful. 
With these, begin by peeling off the quilt gently, and 
then proceed to remove the combs in the same manner, 
and hardly a bee will take wing. Get them from the 
combs by shaking as above, when necessary, and no stings 
will be given as a rule. 


Uniting. 


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

Bees in frame hives can be joined by alternating the 
combs of one with those of the other. Smoke each hive 
and then part the combs so that no bees hang from one 
to the other, and then proceed to ‘unite the two. Leave 


ana tts Economic Management. 23 


only one queen, cover up carefully and do not disturb 
them again. If two standing near together are to be 
united, move the hive to be occupied half-way between the 
two, and take the other hive right away. A board placed 
against the entrance, slanting to the ground, will aid the 
bees in collecting at that spot, while the original inhabitants 
of the hive will also feel in a strange position. 

If both (or all) lots are smoked a few minutes before 
uniting, and the bees presently shaken from their combs 
and mixed up in the hive to be retained, fighting will be 
out of the question. 


Late Autumn Uniting. 


In general, when preparing for winter I nearly always 
wait until October and November, and then a stock can 
be carried any distance in the same apiary and joined to 
another, with little loss of flying bees, as none get far from 
home at that date, and not flying frequently they will 
always make a note of their new position. Many use thin 
syrup scented with peppermint wherewith the bees are 
sprayed, thinking that a common scent will make them 
unite peaceably, but there is no need for anything of the 
kind, if but one queen is allowed, and my directions are 
followed with regard to separating the combs of the 
respective lots and fully exposing the whole of the bees 
to the light for a few minutes before the union is 
accomplished. : 

Another very satisfactory way is that of removing the 
best of the brood combs, and adhering bees of a colony 
to any distant hive requiring them, while the remainder 
may be united to any neighbouring hive, without the 
possibility of losing any flying bees. The queen, if one, 
being utilised as may be most desirable. 


24 A Modern Bee-Farm 


Uniting Queenless Bees. 


By uniting after three days from the removal of one 
queen, the operation is usually perfectly safe and satis- 
factory, while if both colonies had been queenless prior 
to uniting,* the merest novice will find no difficulties in 
the way of this frequently dreaded operation. 

In the former case the selected queen may be caged in 
the queenless lot about mid-day, and the bees united in the 
evening. 

I have frequently been asked how to prevent fighting 
when placing one stock over the other. I have sometimes 
suggested wire-cloth between the two; but a still older 
plan I have advised has been that of placing a sheet of 
newspaper between, with a few holes pricked through the 
paper. This is not very tidy, but is always successful. 


Uniting by Exchanging Combs 


a day or two beforehand, is also another novel item I 

have frequently offered to my correspondents. This is | 
particularly useful where a nucleus having been confined 

in transit by rail or otherwise, is to be united to a weak 

stock on arrival. If the nucleus is placed near the stock 

and given a flight, it may next have one or two of its 

combs (without bees) exchanged for the same number 

from the stock, and the union completed during the third 

evening thereafter. 

Sprinkling with flour when uniting has been brought 
to notice through ‘the columns of the Bee Journals ; 
and there are many who will gain confidence by using 
it, though probably in the hands of a novice, careless 
handling will even then bring about a disaster occasionally. 
During the season J] am daily uniting bees under all 


* This plan of making both stocks queenless before uniting was 
given in my 1888 and following editions. 


and its Economic Management. 25 


conditions without any extraneous aid, and always without 
fighting ; therefore to me the various recommendations 
are simply amusing. 

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

Agents used in Quieting Bees. 


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


Gloves. 


While I can but regard gloves as a great hindrance to 
manipulation, it is necessary that the novice should 


* 6’ Bees and Bee-keeping,” Vol. II. 


26 A Modern Bee-Farm 


commence with something of the kind, just to give him 
confidence. Thick woollen gloves dipped in vinegar and 
water, wrung out, will answer better than anything, but 
as soon as possible these should be discarded. 


Veils. 

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


Sweetened Water for Quieting Bees. 


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

Bee Stings : 
are, of course, dreaded by the bee-keeper when he is 
making his early attempts at manipulating, and occasion- 
ally he is so severely punished, even by a solitary sting, 
that he may begin to think seriously of giving up. Jn a 
few instances the difficulty is never overcome, but as a rule 
the apiarist becomes in time, not only used to, but quite 
careless of bee-stings. Ihe system becomes inoculated, 
and whereas formerly uncomfortable and even painful 
swellings may have followed a sting, after a few years 
little is felt beyond the first sharp prick. 

As for myself, I can hardly tell where the place is within 
five minutes after being stung, the little weapon usually 
being scratched off, or quickly brushed away against the 


WORKER 
CELLS 


DRONE 
CELLS 


QUEEN CELLS 


WORKER DRONE. 


and tts Economic Management. 29 


clothing. The white part seen at the rear of the sting 
being the poison bag should never be pinched when 
removing it, or the remainder of the venom may be 
pressed into the wound. 


The Sting may be Removed by the Bee, 
contrary to general statements. It is not usually done, 
because the bee is, of course, hastily knocked off, so that 
not only the sting but part of its body is also torn away. 

When the reader becomes so inured to stings, that when 
a bee darts straight at his hand, not a muscle will 
quiver, no matter what operation he is carrying out, 
then he may perhaps do as I] have done—allow the 
bee to remove its sting in its own way. As _ soon 
as the first act is over, the second very natural act 
begins, in that the bee rapidly spins round upon its 
sting as a pivot, while all the time drawing away from 
the wound. Thus only can the barb be withdrawn, and 
the bee having vented its anger retires, without being in 
any way injured. 

Rheumatism, Stings, and other Things. 


It has been frequently suggested that bee-stings will cure 
rheumatism. It is possible that some isolated cases may 
have appeared to be benefited as a result of the application. 
One might as well suggest that bee-stings will cause death, 
for as a matter of fact about as few of each event have 
occurred as a result of the injection of the formic acid. 

The application of bee-stings is on a par with the 
barbaric practices of leeching and bleeding, and about as 
unscientific as those now discarded practices. It is useless 
hoping to permanently cure local affections while the seat 
of the trouble—the digestive system—is neglected. The 
patient should be restricted to a temperate diet and the 
use of honey instead of common sugar. 


30 A Modern Bee-Farm 


Swollen joints will then more readily be relieved by warm 
bathing, by soothing poultices, and by gentle massage.* 

As a dietetic cure I have known the constant use of 
apples most beneficial in expelling the uric acid. The 
pain and stiffness is caused by this poison accumulating 
in the veins, more especially at the joints, in the form of 
crystals, and the best cure must be that which frees the 
system from that acid, or prevents an accumulation of it. 


This is Important. 


When at rest the patient should as far as possible, 
straighten his limbs, or fingers if also affected. It is so 
easy and apparently restful to bend one’s iimbs when in 
repose, and undoubtedly that position aids the deposit or 
accumulation of uric acid at these artificially-made bends 
in the crimson rivers that ought not to be so obstructed. 


Cures for Bee Stings. 


The usual remedies are seldom effectual, for the reason 
that the poison instantly circulates in the blood, and the 
usual period of three days occurs before the swelling goes 
down, when a person may not yet have become inoculated. 

Vinegar may allay the irritation, while sometimes a raw 
onion cut in half, or damp earth laid on the wound, is 
advised by old skep hivists. In any case cold water 
should be avoided, as tending still further to check the 
circulation. P 

Warm Water Applications, 
on the other hand (really applied as hot as can be borne), 
will reduce the swelling and irritation in the only natural 


* Dr. Macaura has made good his claim that his pulsocon 
treatment will break up and distribute the acid crystals in the 
blood. The Magic Foot Drafts have proved effectual, under the 
Author’s observation, in withdrawing uric acid from all parts of 
the body. 


ana its Economic Management. 31 


and effective manner, both by actively relieving the con- 
gested blood, and sending it coursing through the veins; 
thus diffusing and thinning the poison, while at the same 
time the pores of the skin are fully opened and are aiding 
in giving prompt relief. While considering this subject, 
it would be well to remember that 


A General Application of Hot Water 


would save many a limb, many a life, and many a doctor’s 
bill. People, as a rule, even highly-educated persons, 
have not sufficient confidence in themselves, and but too 
frequently send for the doctor, who, perhaps, knows less 
about. their own peculiar ailment than they should do 
themselves. 

Many a well-meaning practitioner has brought a limb 
from bad to worse, by using his “stock ” remedies, or by 
advising cold water applications, until in the end the poor 
limb is taken off. And yet it might have been saved, and 
made as good as ever, in many cases, by rnere rest, and 
no applications whatever ; while in-.most instances the 
cure would have been rapid and effectual had Nature’s 
own remedy been applied from the first. 


Moist Warmth Alone 


generated life, maintains the function of life, and that alone 
when rationally applied effectually restores deranged 
members. In sprains, it relieves the painful part, by 
thinning the congested blood, and again setting it in 
motion, bringing into its place the new and life-giving 
fluid, which immediately sets to work in renewing the 
bruised tissues,.and carrying off the worn and wasted 
cells. Congestion — inactivity — is death ; movement — 
circulation—is life; and circulation of the blood is only 
secured by moist heat. 


32 A Modern Bee-Farm 


The most valuable member of the hive community is 
the queen. A fertilised queen deposits none but 
fertilised eggs, resulting in neuters, drones or queens, 
at the will of the workers. A mis-mated queen pro- 
duces mixed-bred drones, workers and queens. 

A non-impregnated queen, like the occasional 
laying worker, can deposit none but drone-producing 
eggs, the males from which are not fully virile. 


CHAPTER III. 
THE ECONOMY OF THE HIVE. 


RESUMING a swarm has been duly hived in movable 
4) frames, each of which has a wax guide down the 
centre of the top bar, we shall find that the bees 
‘begin to extend themselves in festoons from the highest. 
point should the hive not stand on the level; if perfectly 
flat, then the cluster is formed near to one side, and forth- 
with waxen cells are added to the guide placed to 
ensure straight building. If the weather is favorable, the. 
delicate white comb will be found to increase rapidly in 
semi-circular form, until the centre reaches to. within 
¢-inch of the lower rail of the frame, when the side spaces 
are soon filled in. Sometimes combs will be started in 
different places along the guide, and as the circular edge 
of each nears its neighbour, these are joined, and the 
several united continued as one comb; but in this case 
we may frequently observe many irregular cells at the line 
of junction. 
By using a sheet of glass next above the frames, or 
better still, my glass rail sections, kept warm with woollen 
material, the interesting operation of comb-building may 


EET? OF Savererareeamyesee 


ry ge On ew i+4 


Bees at home—lower illustration showing the bees enlarged. 


and its Economic Management. 33 


be watched.* Many bees will be seen with strips of wax 
just removed from the “wax pockets” on the under-side 
of the abdomen, arid this they are moulding into shape as 
added to the thick rim on the outer edges of the cells. 
This rim is always present, not only as a reserve of wax 
for lehgthening the cells, but more especially for giving 
strength to the structure, and the better to withstand the 
tramp of many feet ; the actual cell walls being as fine as 
tissue paper. With a few exceptions, as when joining 
two combs, or where drone cells meet those of the worker 
size, each cell is hexagonal in shape, with a base composed 
of three irregular squares, so that the centre point of 
contact is deeper than the sides; thus, the centre of the 
base of the cell comes opposite the junction of three walls 
on the other side of the “ septum.” 

The natural distance from the centre of one comb to that 
of the next is barely 14-inch. It is not, however, absolutely 
_ necessary that this gauge should be retained, and it will 
be found by making the distance 13-inch to 14-inch when 
starting new combs that the bees will build them almost 
entirely of worker cells—five to an inch. When the 
natural distance is allowed, many larger cells are con- 
structed ; these are for storage or for the production of 
drones or males, their measure being four to the inch. 

As soon as the combs are sufficiently advanced, the 
queen deposits an egg in each available cell; this remains 
for two days, when the workers add a milky fluid; and it 
may be taken as a fact that no matter how high the 
temperature these eggs will never hatch without the addi- 
tion of such fluid. In the Spring eggs laid in drone cells 
may be seen day after day, week after week, during 


* Although this method of observation was first described in my 
1888 edition, I do not advocate glass quilts in winter, nor for 
general use. ‘ 

D 


34 A Modern Bee-Farm 


unfavorable weather, simply because the workers do 
not see fit to have them develop, and in late Autumn 
exactly the same thing will occur with worker eggs laid 
in worker cells. The queen is allowed to deposit them, 
but the workers as much as say “No, they shall not 
hatch only to produce useless consumers.” 

Under favorable conditions the egg hatches on the third 
day, and the tiny embryo floats in the liquid, to which the 
bees continually add, until the seventh day, when the larva 
surrounds itself with a silken web, its cell being then 
capped over with a porous mixture of wax and pollen. 
According to Cheshire many more important changes 
then take place than hitherto have been supposed, and the 
student of nature will find much pleasure in perusing his 
work.* When fully developed, the insect bites its own 
way through the cap on the twentieth day after the egg 
was laid, and is readily distinguished by its light downy 
appearance. It immediately proceeds to the open cells of 
honey, and helps itself liberally. The youngster is 
generally assisted by an older bee in removing the filmy 
skin from its body, and after two or three days it goes 
out for a cleansing flight at the warmest part of the day, 
at the time many others are having an airing and taking 
stock of their surroundings. This flight of the young 
bees, when they are of the bright yellow varieties, is an 
interesting and beautiful sight. 

Our little friend gets stronger daily, and, soon after the 
seventh day we may find her coming home with a load of 
pollen on each back leg in what are called the pollen- 
baskets, being hollow parts in the legs, with strong hair 
so overhanging that the load cannot fall. She enters the 
hive, travels up the comb to near the margin of the brood 


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


and its Economic Management. 35 


nest, and after finding a convenient cell, in which quite 
likely pollen has already been deposited, she pushes off 
her load with the middle legs, which Cheshire has shown 
have a peculiar instrument adapted to the purpose, and 
which is passed down the hollow behind the pollen, and 
thus it is forced off into’the cell. The bee will then turn 
round and entering the cell, presses the pellets down into 
a thin layer, where probably many such are already placed, 
varying in colour according to the nature of the plant 
they may have been gathered from. It is well-known that 
the bee nearly always confines itself to one kind of flower 
when out foraging, hence its load of honey is of one kind 
only and the pollen is of one colour ; the bee-keeper may 
therefore frequently tell what his bees are working upon 
by carefully noting the colour being brought in. Thus 
mustard gives yellow pollen; white clover, brown; red 
clover, dark brown ; sanfoin, brown ; willow, yellow ; furze, 
dark orange ; dandelion, bright orange; apple blossom, 
light yellow; pear, crimson; poppy, black; blackberry, 
greenish white; borage and lamb’s-tongue, white; while 
the various garden flowers give every conceivable 
shade. 

It is but seldom a bee gathers a large load of both 
pollen and honey on one and the same journey. A pollen 
gatherer will have little honey, while those carrying the 
most honey will seldom stay for a particle of pollen, more 
than what may be brushed into honey as collected. The 
pellets are brought in most freely up till 11 am. while 
everything is moist from the dew of night ; or at any time, 
immediately after a shower, if warm. As a rule, the honey 
sources of the day are about dried up by three p.m., and the 
bees do not often work actively after that time, except in 
very still, fine weather, when it is not unusual to find bees 
working almost up to dark, if favorable crops be near. As 


36 A Modern Bee-Farm 


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


Substitute for Pollen ; Water Supply, &c. 


If there is any sign of scarcity, nitrogenous food can be 
given in the shape of a thick paste, formed by mixing 
pea-flour with good honey (syrup will not answer, as it 
simply cakes into a hard lump). With a thin broad stick 
press this into the cells of a tough comb to the extent of 
half of one side and place the same next the cluster. 
The pea-flour may also be dusted into the comb in a dry 
state, or in that form shaken upon shavings,f placed in an 
old skep or box, arranged in a sheltered corner. 

Water can be given in large milk pans, either with 
sawdust at the bottom; moss; or wood to float as a 
resting place; taking care that the vessel shall stand in 
a warm spot. It is better, however, to supply water in 
Spring in the form of thin syrup. 


* Large quantities of water are also used, especially when the 
bees have old stores of thick honey. 


| The Author does not himself practice out-door feeding of 
pea-flour, finding it wastes bee-life by constant flights just when 
the mature bees can least be spared. 


' and tts Economie Management. 37 


Young Bees take their Share of Work. 


The honey gatherer will frequently give up its load to 
the younger bees, returning at once to the fields, and it 
will be found that during the day the hives contain, 
almost exclusively, the younger bees not yet able to 
work outside. Pollen is required near the brood nest, but 
much of it is purposely stored and covered with honey in 
view of future requirements. 

Young bees take a large share of the work of nursing and 
comb-building while the adults are busy abroad, showing 
remarkable economy of labor, and disproves the theory 
that there is no benefit to be derived from brood hatched 
out less than three weeks previous to the probable close of 
the honey harvest. During a heavy flow, which implies, of 
course, very warm weather, I have seen hives with none but 
newly-hatched bees at home, proving also that upon an 
emergency young bees begin to carry much earlier than is 
often supposed. Few of those which have gathered the 
stores are to be found within three weeks after the close 
of the season. Examine the hive, and you will find every 
field worker has its wings more or less worn; look again, 
after the interval named, and they are gone. 


How the Honey is Stored. 


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


38 A Modern Bee-Farm * 


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

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

As soon as the wants of the rapidly increasing brood 
nest are supplied, stores begin to accumulate, and presently 
we find the upper portion of the central combs filled with 
honey and neatly capped, while one or more of the combs 


* This observation was made in 1878 by the use of glass rail 
sections. As it has been denied that the bee uses her tongue as 
stated, by a writer in the ‘‘ American Bee-Keeper”’ for Feb., 1907. 
I repeated the experiment with the same result, and must re-affirm 
that the worker does so moisten the cell wall, while the honey leaves 
the tongue, or by the tongue, as of course this member is not 
extended as when collecting the honey. 


and tts Economic Management. 39 


at one or both sides will often be a solid block of honey. 
Meanwhile the population has been entirely renewed by the 
brood hatching in successive batches, but presently no more 
store is to be gathered, and then the drones are destroyed ; 
the size of the brood nest is greatly diminished, until by 
September brood rearing ceases entirely, unless there be a 
qucen of the current year, and in that case, with plenty of 
food on hand, it will be continued until late into October. 
The whole of the stores accumulated by a swarm thus left 
to itself will seldom exceed 20 Ibs. but let the reader 
compare this with the product of a swarm worked as 
explained under “ General Management,” and he will find 
that there is but poor economy in the “ let-’em-alone ” 
policy. 

As the cool weather comes on, the bees which but 
lately appeared to fill the hive, crowd into a compact 
mass, occupying not one-tenth of the space. The winter 
cluster is formed where brood has lately been hatched, 
towards the central lower part of the comb; thus the 
bees are able to enter these cells, head to head on opposite 
sides, as well as cluster between, forming an unbroken 
mass, and so keeping up the necessary temperature. In 
this state the bees do not rely upon any outside covering 
other than simple protection from direct draught. The 
older the combs the more protection is afforded in 
Winter ; but one wall of the hive, at least, that on the 
south side, can hardly be too thin, as an occasional gleam 
of sunshine penetrates at once, and so enables the bees to. 
shift their position, and re-arrange the stores around the 
cluster, even though the temperature may be too low for 
any to fly out. Wherever the entrance may be placed, it 
is absolutely necessary that the frames of comb shall stand 
well up from the floor, so that the bees may readily find 
their way out when the opportunity is given them. 


40 A Modern Bee-Farm 


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

Presuming that the colony we have had under considera- 
tion has plenty of stores of both kinds, and a good queen 
at its head, at the approach of May some of the large cells 
have eggs deposited in them: these also hatch on the 
third day, and the larve then undergo much the same 
process of change as does the worker, though each condition 
is more prolonged, and it is not until the 25th day that 
the perfect insect begins to bite a way out from its cradle. 
Nearly everyone has heard of these burly fellows, but 
people generally appear to consider that a drone is so 
called simply because he will not work; but the fact is he 
cannot work, and has nothing in common with the 
worker, the latter being a neuter and its whole organism 
so constituted as to fit it for work alone, while the drone is 
exactly the reverse, and being the male its sole occupation 
is that of fertilising the young queens brought to life during 


and tts Economic Management. 41 


the swarming season. It is therefore in view of this 
colonising instinct that the drones are now brought for- 
ward ; this being the first indication that a stock is 
expecting to swarm at no distant date. If we suppress 
the production of drones then, by allowing no drone comb, 
one step is taken towards the prevention of swarming. 


Royal Cells. 


The next and more important step taken by the bees, 
is to build special cells, either on the surface of the 
combs, or more often around the edges, something in the 
shape of an acorn; indeed in their first stage, they are 
almost an exact counterpart of the cup. They may remain 
in this state, as they often do, for many days if the weather 
is not quite favorable ; but in due course the queen deposits 
in each an egg when the cell walls are extended downwards, 
and as soon as the tiny larve hatch from these they are fed 
excessively upon what is called “ Royal Jelly,” a substance 
much thicker than that given to the common larva. From 
the sixth to the seventh day the developing insect has its 
cell capped over; it then spins a cocoon which does not 
completely surround itself, as the abdomen is not covered, 
and it is just there that the cell is torn open, and the 
immature queen stung to death by the first hatched young 
queen, when the workers decide that the rest are not 
wanted. It is remarkable that the first rivals to be so 
destroyed are those which are nearest maturity, although 
all cells are alike sealed up. 

On the fifteenth to sixteenth day from the laying of the 
egg the perfect female, or a bee destined to be the mother 
of tens of thousands, emerges from the cell, though she is 
not fulfilling her destiny, until being established at the head 
of the old colony or one or other of the after swarms, she 
mates with a drone when about six days old, and on the 


42 A Modern Bee-Farm 


second day after begins to deposit eggs in the worker 
cells only. Contrary to the opinion of some writers, who 
affirm that a young queen is incapable of producing drones 
the first year, I have repeatedly had cases in prosperous 
colonies where a queen not two months old produced 
drones. Nevertheless, it is the rule for after swarms, 
having young queens, to build only worker cells the first 
season, hence no drones can be produced, and this would 
account for the erroneous conclusion arrived at by the old 
writers. Of course there is a lesson to be learnt at. this 
point: “When wishing to obtain worker combs without 
the aid of comb foundation, insert young queens at the 
head of those stocks used for the purpose.” But we have 
to note the 


Condition of a colony nearing the swarming point, 


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

The bees have not always time to finish capping all the 
queen cells started ere the excitement culminates in the 
issue of the first swarm, the old queen coming with them, 


* The old queen is not so likely to injure maturing queen-cells 
as a young queen recently hatched. The latter can both tear open 
the cell and quickly despatch the inmate without aid, but in many 
cases the workers will assist ler. 


and its Economic Management. 43 


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


Securing the Swarm. 


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


* Sometimes the bough may be sawn partly through near the 
junction with the trunk of the tree, so that it may slowly descend, 
and the swarm be more easily secured. 


44 A Modern Bee-Farm 


certain by first capturing the queen and secure her in a 
cage fastened under the edge of the skep when placed on 
the ground: in this case if only a handful of bees can first 
be brushed into the skep, all the rest will follow. On no 
account, in any instance, expect the bees will go up of 
their own accord into a hive placed above the cluster ; it 
will only cause waste of time and disappointment ; it has 
to be done, therefore carry the thing through at once. 
Many bees will continue to return to the clustering place, 
unless it is well damped with water. 


‘ 


Hatching of the Young Queens. 


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

The young queens may be ready to hatch, they may 
even bite all round the covering of their cells, and yet not 
be allowed to leave them, should the weather be unsuitable 
for swarming, so that when the favorable moment comes 
several leave their cradles at the same time, and are quite 
ready for flight, but as a rule the first hatched young 
queen leads off,-or rather goes with the second swarm ; 
though the after, and sometimes even the second swarm, 
is accompanied by more than one virgin queen. Though 


ana its Economic Management. 45 


I am well aware that such queens will, if placed together, 
immediately fight until one receives its instantaneous death 
wound ; when several accompany a swarm, or in case two 
or more swarms settle together, each having a fertile 
queen, the bees themselves settle the matter by “ balling” 
those not required. After the hive is so weakened that 
the bees know it is useless to attempt to swarm again, or 
should the weather be unfavorable, the queens still unborn 
are destroyed, as I have reason to believe, by the workers 
tearing open the side of the cells and there stinging their 
helpless victims, or tearing them out piecemeal. 


Young Queens Piping. 


This peculiar sound will always be heard during a day 
or so before the issue of the second swarm. The sound 
appears to be an answering call or challenge from one 
young queen to another, and strange though it may seem, 
if the colony is still populous, several of these young 
queens may be running about the combs at the same 
time without harming each other. But this sound or call 
has a magnetic influence over the workers, who appear 
spell-bound, themselves being held motionless and flattened 
on the combs, in imitation of the queen’s own action and 
attitude, while piping. This I have repeatedly noticed 
while holding the comb in my hand. 

Within seven days after the issue of the first swarm there 
are.no more uncapped larvae, and therefore no more feeding 
required from the nurse bees until the last remaining 
queen is laying, a period of some 20 days, so that if 
excessive swarming is not indulged in, stores continue to 
accumulate while there is a reduced force to gather it. It 
is well that this is so, as the young queen is generally so 
very prolific that unless the workers can get in advance of 


46 A Modern Bee-Farm 


her requirements at the start, they are liable to reach 
winter with no stores on hand. 

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


The Sense of Touch and Communication. 


How do bees work in the dark? How does each 
home-coming worker find the cells used for storing the 
newly-gathered pollen around the margin of the brood 
nest; or the new honey in cells still farther from the 
slight ray of light given by the comparatively small 
entrance, and where thousands of laborers are moulding 
fresh waxen cells, to receive the rapidly incoming store? 
And how do they find the eggs, the just hatched larvee, or 
those nearly ready for sealing over—each requiring little or 
more food in proportion to age? Do they continually 
appear to be looking into each cell out of mere idle 
curiosity ? Certainly not ; everything, is done systemati- 
cally, and with intelligent purpose, just as the queen mother 
will investigate every cell before she will deposit an egg 
therein. 

How do they build the marvellous waxen cells, in 
hexagonal shape, or at all; and how do they know when 
to cap them if in semi-darkness? How do they know an 
enemy at the entrance, even in the darkness, while 
immediately recognising a friend? The answer is that 
they know all, and do all of these things by the one sense 
of touch, by the aid of those wonderful feelers, or antennz. 

A worker on guard at the entrance will often rush 
towards another just alighting ; they cross feelers, and in 


ana tts Economic Management. 47 


an instant the unspoken pass-word is given, and they know 
each other as denizens of the same home. Their antenne 
are their eyes in all internal work, in constructing their 
combs, shaping those wonderfully delicate cells, it may be 
worker size, or drone size, or the occasional queen cells ; 
in feeding their young, worker larve, drone, and queen 
larve ; each with distinctive food for a definite sexual. 
purpose or limitation. 


The Antennz 


are the outward and visible signs of the bee’s individuality 
—of its every sense of being. As the brain controls all the 
actions of the body, so these little apparently simple feelers 
convey every sense of touch to the brain. Without them 
even the power of sight is of no avail, and conveys no 
knowledge of direction or locality to the brain of the 
otherwise unerring insect. 

In nearly all animated beings the brain is the essential 
illuminator of life; but in the bee that vastly important 
generator of the electric spark of motion is subservient to 
the outer senses, as conveyed by the antenne. 


Removal of the Queen’s Antenne. 

If we remove a queen’s antennz, the poor insect imme- 
diately loses all sense of her economic duties. She no 
longer solicits food from the workers, indeed, they know 
her no more, and she is to them hardly more than a 
common fly. The unfortunate insect forgets to deposit 
her eggs, for a queen in normal condition never lays an 
egg in a cell without first inserting her head, and by the aid 
of her antenne making sure the compartment is fit to 
receive it. She no longer stays on the combs nor regards 
the hive as her home; nor that thousands had relied upon 
her as the mother of their race; nay, she forgets that she 
needs a home, and crawls forth from the hive, away from 


48 A Modern Bee-Farm 


the busy hum of the multitude, like some miserably 
degraded being, she knows not nor cares not whither. 


The Case of the Worker. 


If we should be so callous as to continue the process, and 
remove a worker's feelers, we should find that she will forget 
all her various duties. She will not help to feed the young, 
will even forget to feed herself; she will gather no more 
honey, and will help to build no more waxen cells ; she will 
not even be aware she has a weapon of offence ; and dike 
an outcast, knowing no friends, she will wander helplessly 
beyond the shelter and luxuries of the hive. 


The Case of the Drone. 


The drone treated in like manner will never seek a mate, 
he will neglect to prey upon the golden stores that he never 
helped to gather, and will not even solicit food from the 
workers. He, too, like the more useful members of the 
hive, when thus maltreated, will blunder forth never to 


return. 


The Sex of Eggs. 


It may be mentioned that occasionally a neuter or 
worker, or several of them, will, in the absence of a fertile 
queen, take up the business of depositing eggs. Among 
some varieties, such as Cyprians and Syrians, this peculi- 

.arity is noticed at times even while a fertile queen is in 
the hive. 

The normal queen, as a rule, deposits only one egg in a 
cell; the laying worker, however, while very rarely doing 
likewise, will usually place numerous eggs in each cell over 
a limited space. These,. or rather one in each cell, as: 
ultimately left by the nurse bees, result in useless, or non- 
virile males. 

It also occasionally happens that a virgin queen fails to 


and its Economic Management. 49 


mate within a reasonable time, when she likewise can only 
produce males, whether she does mate with a drone or not; 
and certain it is many of these queens, though delayed in 
the act, do mate, and then commence to deposit eggs 
within three days thereafter, as is the case with the properly 
fertilised queen. 


Non-Virile Drones. 


The majority of prominent bee-keepers assume that the 
males produced by laying workers and non-fertilised queens 
are the same in every respect as those reared from the eggs 
of a fully impregnated queen. In other words, they assure 
us that drones from any non-impregnated mother are virile 
in every sense of the word. 

This is a most erroneous assumption, that should not be 
advanced by any thoughtful and observant bee-keeper. 
Now listen! Mot one of these mistaken, non-observant 
apiarists would pay an average price, nor, indeed, would he 
pay any sum for, nor accept as a properly fertilised queen, one 
that he was assured had been mated to a drone bred from a 
laying worker, or from a arone-breeding unfertilised queen. 
Hence our disbelieving friends expose their weak point, 
and their reasoning tumbles into dust. 

No self-respecting queen-breeder would send out queens 
mated to such non-virile drones, as his business would soon 
be ruined, and deservedly so. 


Queens, Neuters and Virile Drones. 


A normally fecundated queen will deposit eggs which 
produce either queens (perfect females), neuters (undeveloped 
females or workers), or virile drones (males). 

These eggs are all either fertilised or tainted by the 
action of the recent or final sire who mated with the queen 
producing them ; and the fully fertilised mother can produce 


none other but fertilised eggs. 
E 


50 A Modern Bee-Farm 


We have seen that eggs deposited in worker cells by such 
perfected queens, are fed to produce neuters, those in queen 
cell cups to result in fully developed virgin queens, and 
those in drone cells to become males. There is no altera- 
tion in the fertilising germs attached to the eggs intended 
to become workers or queens, but in the case of those in 
drone cells it is interesting to note that 


Workers have the means of removing the germs 


as when first deposited by the queen; thus normal males 
are the result of a very simple manipulation. I have 
repeatedly experienced this truth when preparing worker 
combs for queen-rearing purposes. The half of the comb 
given to the queenless bees, though containing only worker 
eggs, soon gave evidence of carrying workers, queens, and 
drones, at a date too early for any possible fertile worker 
eggs to result in drones. The other half of the same 
comb retained with the fertile queen had no drones in 
evidence. 


Drone Eggs exchanged for Worker Eggs. 


Since my own observations were carried out a German 
bee-keeper, named Dickel, has traversed similar ground, 
and on one occasion he removed a portion of the eggs from 
a drone comb, replacing them by worker eggs of another 
variety, when, instead of workers, the bees had so manipu- 
lated the inserted eggs that drones of the same variety (as 
the alien eggs) resulted. 


Fertilised Queens Deposit no Untainted Eggs. 


Repeatedly has it been stated that eggs laid in drone 
cells have no spermatozoa or germ attached, and therefore 
they must be unfertilised or non-impregnated. This is 
another of those amazing assumptions founded upon inde- 


and its Economie Management. 51 


finite or crude experiment. Zhe investigator was too late, 
the workers had been before him. 

But apart from the actual germ, no queen can mate 
without her whole system being changed. The germs 
received at copulation are naturally carried in a fluid 
medium, which is largely absorbed into her system while 
the spermatozoa are being slowly directed (over the course 
of an hour or more) to their permanent location, the germ 
sac, at one side of the oviduct. 

Because these germs are ultimately located in one 
compartment, it is erroneously considered they are conse- 
quently isolated from any contact with the rest of the 
queen’s system. It has been generally taught that the 
queen is able to fertilise all eggs intended to become 


workers or queens, and that she is equally able to withhold’ 


the germs when depositing eggs in drone cells. 

The same theorists overlook the fact that the ovaries of 
the queen, because of the fluid injection and absorption, can 
never again be in the original virgin state. They would 
also consider, or so their method of reasoning demonstrates, 
that the spermatozoa are so many dry shot, or hard peas, 
when once locked away in the sperm sac; entirely ignoring 
the fact that they are a living, perpetually writhing mass, 
that must have continual sustenance from the queen’s body. 

If this active mass must exist by drawing upon secretions 
expressly prepared for its use in maintaining the utmost 
vitality, then is it a fact that there can be no flow without 
a return; and these germs cannot live within without 
affecting the whole of the queen’s system. 

There are, then, three distinct points referring to the 
inevitable taint of the drone progeny of a fertile queen. 
First, the unavoidable mingling of serum at mating; 
secondly, the change in the queen’s nature by carrying the 
spermatozoa that may not be locked away from her general 


52 A Modern Bee-Farm 


system like some inert or dead thing; and lastly, her eggs 
will not produce males unless at the will of her attendant 
workers. 

Finally, in the event of accident or exhaustion, the drones 
she may produce are still of two natures, because of the 
first point set out, as also are those from the drone breeding 
queen that may have been mated too late to be fully 
impregnated. . 

The Author has many times proved in results attained, 
that of a number of daughters bred from a pure and 
correctly mated queen, the said daughters would produce 
hybrid drones if themselves mating with dark males. 

Furthermore, a daughter of a first cross queen, if mated 
to a pure yellow drone, will tend to produce more evenly 
colored drones. At the same time, another daughter of 
such (first cross), if mating a dark drone, will have nearly 
black drones, 

Finally, no drones from a mis-mated yellow queen can be 
responsible for producing equally yellow workers as those 
of the original strain. 


and tts Economic Management. 53 


There is as much variation in the honey gathering 
qualities of different races of bees as there is in the 
milking characteristics of distinct types of dairy cattle. 
But there is also a vast difference in the output of 
colonies of bees of the same race ; and it is solely by 
selection in breeding from the best, or by purchasing 
from the best known strains, that the highest success 
can be assured. 


CHAPTER IV. 
VARIETIES OF BEES. 
THEIR CHARACTER AND DISPOSITION. 


Sf evs time to time, throughout a lengthened experi- 
ae 


ence, the Author has seen various foreign races of 
bees tried and discarded after a short period of 
popularity. Someone had found “something fresh” that 
somebody else had tried and discarded many years before. 

In this list will be found North African bees, Caucassians 
and Banats of similar derivation, Carniolans, Goldens, 
Cyprians and Syrians; none of which appear to be 
superior to the Ligurian varieties for general purposes. 

In the United States the Italian or Ligurian bee is 
almost universally adopted, and the bee-keepers of that 
vast range of honey producing States nearly always come 
back to this variety as the most reliable, for all purposes of 
profit, and because of their amiable disposition. 

Jn Great Britain opinion is divided about equally over 
the choice of Italians and so-called natives, which latter 
now largely owe their superiority to the constant infusion 
of Italian blood all over the land. 


54 A Modern Bee-Farm 


THE BLACK, OR NATIVE BEES, 


are still cultivated in many apiaries ; their newly-stored 
combs are beautifully white, and therefore comb-honey 
produced by them commands a good sale. They are not 
so prolific as other races, and hence do not give as much 
surplus, and consequently are of little use in an apiary 
where increase is desired; indeed, I can assert as a fact, 
the bee-keeper who expects to build up a large and 
prosperous apiary from black bees alone, will be certainly 
disappointed. Among others I knew of a_ prominent 
bee-keeper who was going to build up a large’ apiary of 
native bees because he was certain there was no better 
kind. His expectations have been dashed to the ground, 
and now he proposes to rely on “ foreign” admixture, 
which he already finds superior to natives. It will be 
found more profitable to introduce some foreign blood,: 
both for ensuring larger yields and because of the added 
vitality, helping to avoid disease. 


To Perpetuate their Working Qualities, 

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

I have found many black bees more irritable than any I 
have ever had, even rushing from the hive to attack a 


and tts Economic Management. 55 


person many yards off; but by crossing the queens with 
Ligurian, or Carniolan drones, this disposition is corrected. 
It has been considered that hybrids are very vicious, but 
this is only half true; what I have stated above is strictly 
in accordance with fact, but when a yellow queen of some 
varieties is allowed to mate with a black drone, then, of 
course, the progeny resulting therefrom will be irritable, 
while their working qualities will be inferior to those of 
the cross recommended. Black drones are not required 
in breeding up a new strain, and should be rigorously 
excluded. 
Native Bees and Disease. 


Although I have shown these bees have some good 
qualities, nothing is so disheartening to the experienced 
bee-master than to see a bee-keeper clinging to native 
bees in a neighbourhood where foul brood, or the Isle 
of Wight disease, may be prevalent, and where he is, 
therefore, constantly subject to these complaints, and is 
always destroying good material, with no hope of ultimate 
profit. . 

Natives have several faults, apart from a rather bad 
temper. They are not sufficiently prolific, and do not 
store so late in the season as do Italians. But beyond 
all, they are helpless in the face of disease, and will not 
work with their owner when he attempts to cure the 
malady. 

Native bees rarely recover from brood diseases, and it 
has been noticed that nearly all apiaries lost by the Isle 
of Wight disease consisted of natives. 


LIGURIAN, OR ITALIAN BEES. 


These were the first yellow race introduced, and though 
much abused in some quarters, they have gradually gained 
ground until there is perhaps hardly a district where the 


56 A Modern Bee-Farin 


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

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

I do not by any means recommend Italians generally ; 
and during a period of some 40 years that I have imported 
them I have only found one or two strains of really high- 
class honey gatherers. These can be still further improved 
by a process of careful selection. 

As with all yellow races, Ligurian workers have three 


Fic. 6. 
Front view of Single ‘ Conqueror,” with cover. 


Hive, having the stock chamber 
Shown with cover and back removed, 


and three supers of divided sections and frames. 


The Single ‘ Conqueror” 


and its Economic Management. 59 


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

A notable feature in connection with these bees, is a 
fact which I have noticed for many years. While common 
bees may be gathering honey-dew or other dark honeys, 
these bees are at the same period producing honey of the 
clearest whiteness. They evidently are able to work on 
flowers which the natives are unable to make use of. 


GOLDEN ITALIANS. 


In this and other countries there has arisen a demand 
for golden queens and bees. To a large extent queen- 
breeders have been responsible for this demand, vieing 
with each other in producing the most yellow strain at 
the expense of general utility. 

Many of the golden queens produce bees that are unable 
to secure any surplus, and will hardly support themselves 
in the finest weather. They are flimsy and delicate, often 
dwindling rapidly in Spring, when they should be building 
up to strong colonies. 

These bees have done a great deal of harm to honey 
producers who have been unwise enough to throw away 
their money on them, and at the same time cut off any 
profit they may have hoped for from their apiaries. 

One may certainly have yellow queens which produce 
workers with definite yellow bands, and yet have a good 
honey getting strain; but if one goes farther, and desires 


60 A Modern Bee-Farm 


workers yellow all over, then he is looking for something 
quite useless. 

When hybridised, the golden queens mating with dark 
drones, then some improvement is found in the working 
qualities, but the temper of the workers is not very 
desirable. 


CARNIOLANS. 


While Carniolans are not quite such good honey 
gatherers as some others, few can compete with them for 
colour of comb-honey. It has been stated that they swarm 
immoderately, and this is where they have failed in public 
estimation. There is one thing, however, which would 
give that impression; the demand for ‘imported queens 
has been so great that I am afraid many old queens have 
been sent over, more especially as few of the native 
holders make any attempt to raise queens for the market. 
Therefore, in the natural order of things, the old mothers 
would be superseded, and a number of swarms come 
forth headed- by young queens. Where old queens are 
avoided there is less trouble with these bees in that 
direction. 

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

One great point in their favour is their good temper. 
Without smoke, or other intimidants, hive after hive can 
generally be opened, and no stings are received. 

Carniolans are active* during the summer months, and 
yet are restful when confined during winter ; in fact, they 
come from a cold mountainous region, and there is, 


* Somehow their activity never seems to result in the accumula- 
tion of a proportionate amount of stores, unless they are hybridised, 
and then not only is their temper somewhat vicious, but they | 
become chronic robbers. 


and its Economic Management. 61 


therefore, no doubt either as to their energy or good 
wintering qualities. 

There has been a tendency to regard Carniolans as free 
from disease or having but a slight tendency in that 
direction ; but although the Author has sent out queens 
of this race that have given remarkable records in the 
midst of diseased apiaries, he does not regard them as proof 
against all diseases. 

The queens vary in colour from yellow to black ; some 
being “ ringed,” the colour of the abdomen shading alter- 
nately from light to dark, but all produce workers of the 
typical sort, having on the abdomen near the thorax a 
mere shade of bronzed yellow, and then follow several 
extremely broad white bands, giving the bees an attractive 
appearance. 

Many of the queens imported throw workers having 
one or two distinct bands of yellow, which shows that 
either the native bee-keepers have introduced some of the 
yellow kinds, or that the ancient admixture of yellow 
blood is still strongly in evidence. 


CYPRIANS. 


Among the yellow races these were at one time expected 
to take the front rank. Though not suitable for the 
production of comb-honey, they are active and extremely 
docile, except in the cool season, while their great beauty 
is undeniable. They have three yellow bands on the 
abdomen, followed by broad bars of light yellow hair. 
Unlike Ligurians, the yellow extends to the under-side 
of the body, as it does also in a less degree with Syrians. 
The body is much smaller than that of the native variety, 
tapering to a fine point, quite unlike the more rounded 
form of the other. 

After an extensive experience, however, this variety was 


62 A Modern Bee-Farm 


largely discarded, as their faults far out-balanced their 
virtues. Hybrids * from these are more vicious than any, 
while both the pure race and the hybrids: have a very bad 
habit of starting fertile workers, either with or without 
a queen. This is a serious matter in any queen-rearing 
apiary. 

Another disadvantage is the fact that they will not 
usually seal their stores when fed up before winter ; and 
comb honey, when capped by them in summer, has a dark 
and watery appearance. 

There is reason to suppose that some of the imported 
Italian queens have been crossed with Cyprian drones, as 
these will sometimes produce workers having all the vices 
of that strain, such as the frequency of fertile workers, 
watery cappings to their comb honey, and the excessive 
use of propolis. Pure Italians should not have these faults, 
being the result of using Cyprian drones. If, however, the 
apiarist has the opportunity of ensuring the mating of 
Cyprian queens with Italian drones of the leather colored 
strain, he will find these troubles less in evidence, while 
the temper of the resulting workers will leave nothing to 
be desired. 

If there is any race almost proof against disease, or that 
can quickly overcome these troubles, it will be found in 
Cyprians. The first cross with pure Ligurian or pure 
Carniolan drones will be found hard-working, gentle and 
prolific. They will also be long-lived and largely free from 
disease, even though it be chronic in the neighbourhood. 

Cyprians have been credited with producing the 
enormous quantity of 1,000 lbs. of honey from a single 
colony in a single seasan. While it is known that 
Cyprians are among the most active in flight, and possess 


* By hybrids, it is generally understood as a term applied to the 
workers produced when natives and any foreign race intermix. 


and tts Economic Management. 63 


the desirable quality of longevity, the pure race cannot be 
relied upon for heavy yields; hence the bees responsible 
for this large result were probably crossed with another 
variety. 

I knew a case a few years since where a stock of bees, 
a cross between Italians and Cyprians, yielded over 350 lbs. 
to one colony in a favorable district. Those who can- 
not rely upon their young queens mating to Italian or 
Carniolan drones should hesitate to introduce pure 
Cyprians into their apiaries. 


SYRIANS. 

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

I have found among them queens producing workers 
almost unmanageable, while a larger number gave bees 
that could be handled like flies. 


PALESTINES. 

These are, perhaps, more yellow and beautiful than 
Cyprians, but can hardly be recommended, as they develop 
fertile workers to a greater extent, use more propolis than 
any others yet named, and while being handled have a 
very disagreeable habit of biting the fingers. These have 
often been confused with Syrians, but the two are quite 
distinct: Palestines come from the Holy Land _ proper, 
while the others are found farther north, in the Lebanon 


64 A Modern Bee-Farm 


mountains. Successful results have been secured from a 
large apiary of these bees, in their native country, by Mr. 
Baldensperger, in Jaffa. Their temper is very disagreeable 
at all times. 


Other Varieties 


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

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

The Tunisian is another of the darker varieties which, 
however, at one time came in for some notoriety, but the 
race has been proved inferior to our native variety. 

The novice should be careful about investing in new 
varieties of bees, unless he can see some tangible evidence 
of superiority after careful trial, or he is convinced by 
independent testimony that he is running no risks in 
changing his stock. 


* This opinion was gathered from the Author’s personal experi- 
ence with this variety, imported from a prominent South African 
bee-keeper some 30 years ago. Since this time many Italians have 
been used in the colony, so that the darker shade of the workers has 
been largely obliterated, and a more uniform type of bee is the 
result in a few districts. 


and its Economic Management. 65 


The apiarist must not be content with bees of average 
or less than average quality, as too frequently happens. 
The usual yield is from 25 lbs. to 30 lbs. of surplus, 
and yet it is possible, by careful selection in breeding, 
to secure an average exceeding 100 lbs. per hive. 


CHAPTER V. 


HOW TO OBTAIN GOOD WORKING 
STOCK. 


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


The Whole Secret of Successful Honey Production 


consists in always maintaining the proper proportion of 
_adult working bees in relation to the quantity of brood 
and young bees on hand. Here, then, can be discerned 
the difference. One colony was so favorably constituted 
that the queen was able to produce the full working force 
before the honey flow came on; while the other could 
not breed to her fullest capacity until after the season 
commenced. In the latter case the working force is unable 
to do much more than keep the rapidly increasing brood 
nest and large population of young bees supplied. 

The colony which gained the proper balance of population 
at an early date, on the contrary, has the larger proportion 

iy 


66 A Modern Bee-Farm 


of adult workers. This is the hive which will give the 
heavy surplus, and the other can never compete with it, 
even though it has twice the population. Of course 
excessive (too late) breeding can be to a certain extent 
modified by contracting the size of the brood nest, but 
nevertheless the actual hardy working force will not be in 
excess until the season is far advanced. 

We must now consider the causes of such a wide 
difference. They ‘are many, one of the first being that 
the queen may be stimulated to breed too late in the 
autumn; consequently she will be late to begin breeding 
the following season. The hive may have been short of 
stores, or the combs so overloaded in early spring that 
there was really no chance for the bees to develop the 
brood nest. Perhaps they were thrown back by being too 
much exposed, instead of having warm material above 
them. In either case an early hatching of young bees 
would be out of the question ; and these are the mainstay, 
compensating for the loss of many veterans when frequent 
flights become necessary. Consequently the best powers 
of the queen are not expended before the season opens. 


i 


To obtain good Stock, 


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


and tts Economic Management. 67 


To be prolific a queen must not simply keep pace with 
her workers while building up in preparation for the 
season, but must actually force them to make room for her. 
Such queens are to be had, and with them no “ brood 
spreading” by the apiarist is necessary. A well-developed 
queen is more hardy and energetic than a smaller one; 
and, as a rule,-will get mated in risky weather when 
twenty inferior queens fail to meet a drone. 

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


Queens cannot be too Prolific. 


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

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

As a rule, especially where no honey is obtained after 


68 A Modern Bee-Farm 


July, the best results are secured by preventing the issue 
of swarms, unless obtained from three to four weeks before 
the first honey flow is usually expected >but nevertheless, 
unless 

The Equivalent of Swarming 


is allowed, our stock must deteriorate as a natural conse- ' 
quence. Therefore select one out of every 10 colonies 
and devote it to queen-raising (see chapter on same), 
and allow one nucleus with a young queen to stand by 
the side of every stock. By the Autumn such nuclei will 
have themselves become fairly strong, when the old queens 
can be destroyed and the two lots respectively united in 
the evening of the following day. 

Having studied the general rules to be observed if we 
wish to have only good working stock, we must now. 
consider which are the 


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

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

For extracted honey a good Italian strain will be found 
to give the best results. Pure black bees are not at all 
desirable for either purpose, as they cease storing quite a 
month sooner than the foreign varieties or hybrids ; more- 


and tts Economic Management. 69 


over, they are frequently troubled with the wax moth, 
while the latter never are. Let it be observed that black 
(native) drones are to be rigorously excluded, as these 
give bad-tempered workers when crossed with a queen of 
either of the foreign varieties. 

In concluding this chapter, I must insist that unrestricted 
or indiscriminate swarming, as hitherto generally practised, 
ts totally at variance with all true principles of breeding. To 
obtain the best results, it is absolutely necessary that all 
queens be carefully bred from the best stock only, and in 
a direct line from both queen and drone mother. 


<a SRE OTF» 
Bes 


70 A Modern Bee-Farm 


Unrestricted or indiscriminate swarming, as hitherto 
generally practised, and the use of drones and queens 
from many different mothers in the same apiary, are 
non-progressive practices, absolutely at variance with 
all true principles of breeding. 


CHAPTER VI. 


BREEDING PEDIGREE. STOCK IN DIRECT 
LINE. 


DRONE-MOTHERS SELECTED AND REGISTERED 
AS WELL AS QUEEN-MOTHERS. 


N aiming to obtain the highest possible results as 
regards quantity and quality of produce, it is 
absolutely necessary that all queens be carefully 

bred in a definite line from the best stock only; selecting 
not only the queen-mother, but the drone parent also, in 
the manner carried out by the Author for many years, 
and here fully explained for the first time. 

Where the apiarist allows natural swarming, or saves 
swarming queens from any stock that has queen-cells 
handy, he, is always crossing and re-crossing his previous 
land-marks—if he ever had any. He is like a ship without 
a rudder, swaying here and there just as the wind likes to 
carry him. He is as often going backward as forward, 
and can never fix upon a definite line of breeding. 

And yet some of the most prominent bee-keepers will 
say there is no way of securing a fixed type, or fixed 
qualities in any strain of bees without isolation of the 
breeding stock on some island, or a spot where no other 
bees are known for a radius of ten miles or so. 


and tts Economic Management. 71 


Nevertheless, [ have been trying for many years to show 
that any intelligent apiarist may isolate his own apiary ; 
he may isolate his own breeding stock without any unusual 
expense, and yet be able to mate his queens exactly as he 
wills ; while his selected drones will be so much stronger 
on the wing that odd drones from neighbouring apiaries 
will have no chance in the pursuit of his virgin queens. 

It is a very bad practice to allow drones to be produced 
indiscriminately in the apiary, as it is also to save any or 
all of the swarming queen cells the owner may find in 
various stocks. 

Perhaps he will say he saves only from several of his 
best. But that is not a sufficiently restricted line, as the 
several will never help him on the straight road to secure 
the best possible stock. The several allow for too many 
turnings ; he cannot follow them all without presently 
going astray. 

One Queen—One Season. 


Don’t forget that point ; there must be a selection of one 
queen only for the one season. One mother for drones 
and one mother for queens; and the one for drones must, 
if there is any difference, be the best of the two when 
starting. 

This is the method of isolation: there must be no other 
queens reared in securing breeding stock, and absolutely no 
other drones allowed to fly. 

Where the owner is well acquainted with the nature and 
color of his stock, he will know if his queens mate with 
his choice drones. If he only secures a smal! proportion 
mated as he wishes the first season, he has enough for a 
good selection the next year 


For the following Season’s Drones. 
He will then be able to select four to six daughiers of the 


72 A Modern Bee-Farm 


previous year's queen breeder, using these for swamping the 
locality with drones, 

He will still use but one mother, not that of the former 
year, but a selected one from his own stock, or a tested 
queen purchased from a good strain, as the parent of his 
second year queens. 

Thus every year the apiarist will select a fresh extra 
tested queen for his current queen-breeder, and every 
following year he will use his previous year’s queen- 
breeder, or her selected daughters, for providing his drones. 
Thus: 


The mother of queens one year is the parent or 
grand-parent of drones the following year. 


In this way the owner is going straight ahead all the time 
through the one selected queen each season, with his drones 
following in the same line, so that he never loses any new 
blood he may select, or bring into the apiary. He is 
building up all the time, and whether he occasionally buys 
a high-class breeder for any year, or may pick out some 
extraordinary quéen already in his earlier line of breeding, 
he is getting full value, and is never looking back or 
jumping off the track. 

These selected direct-line queens, on both drone and 
queen sides, must of course be named, lettered or 
numbered, and a careful register maintained ; but it is 
useless to endeavour to name or register those not selected 
for breeding. 

One cannot keep in line with a lot of different queens 
each year; he is sure to come to grief in attempting it ; 
though of course two or three may be held in reserve in 
case of accident to one selected for the season. 

The foregoing is the method of breeding the Author has 
been carrying out for many years, and an outline of the 


and tts Economic Management. 73 


plan was first given in the American Bee-Keeper a few 
months before that journal ended its useful career. 

Sometimes a fresh strain, resulting from an imported 
queen, with her descendants successively mated to the 
selected drones, is kept under observation for five years 
or more before a selection is made. It is only when a 
queen is first used as the breeder for the season that she 
is registered, although of course notes and observations are 
made in the meantime. 

I have shown the necessity of making a definite selection, 
and we have now to consider 


What constitutes a Good Queen. 


The reader should set up a Standard of Proficiency, and 
then strive his utmost to work up to it. He may not do 
just so well as he would like to, but he will be all the 
better, and will succeed better for trying to reach the goal 
in front of him. 

Without a good queen presiding in every colony our 
best plans are likely to go astray. She is the one essential 
item of force behind all our manipulations. 

Having procured good queens, and being assured we 
can rely upon them to perpetuate their superior qualities 
through each succeeding generation, we have yet to 
consider that the best queen going may be worn out by 
intensive management after one. season of full work. 

The bee-keeper who, under average conditions, secures 
his 50 lbs. or less yearly from each stock, is content to say 
his queens are good for at least three years. But we must 
aim to have those three years produce rolled into one. 

Instead of a queen that may maintain three-fourths of one 
set of combs occupied with brood, we require queens that 
will fill two or three sets of stock combs by the time the 
first honey-flow is in evidence, reducing to one set at 


74 A Modern Bee-Farm 


supering for comb honey,* but turning the removed force 
back as soon as the brood results in adult workers. No 
excluder bogies will be wanted under the supers with such 
colonies and properly selected queens, as they will crowd 
the supers with honey while average lots may be doing but 
little. 

In this way a good queen that is willing to expend 
herself, may be relied upon for only one season, and we 
must prepare each season for another, uniting a young one 
and her nucleus to the old stock every Autumn, thus 
ensuring rapid spring breeding and ultimate prosperity. 

There is the alternative of wintering the older queen, 
and changing to a young one when swarming without 
increase by the methods described herein. The reader 
should all the time bear in mind the great possibility of 
securing in one year as much as the average bee-keeper 
gets in three seasons, consequently the mere money value 
of a queen is trifling compared with such a profitable 
result. ‘ 


Selecting Queens for Longevity. 


It has been shown that for dividing early or for supering 
to the best advantage, one must have a young and 
unusually fertile queen with the colony. But she must 
be bred for other good qualities besides fertility. The 
strain must have, and should be eminently capable of 
transmitting, that stamina which ensures longevity ; and 
this means first-class wintering capabilities, rapid building 
up in Spring, no dwindling, and consequently the develop- 
ment of enormous populations, and large yields of honey. 

We are not anxious about keeping a queen over a year 
(unless it be as a selected breeder), but she must come from 


* A natural and moderate reduction of brood will occur when all 
the chambers are left as in working for extracted honey. 


and its Economic Management. 75 


such a strain as just mentioned. If we secure bees that 
average eight weeks during the busy season, instead of a 
life of six weeks, the difference in work done, and the 
accumulation of population, is readily realised. 

Furthermore, if we get workers to live eight months 
through the dull winter period, instead of six months, we 
are gaining still more, and such stocks stand long winter 
confinement, while all the time the bees are found to be 
bright, slim and active. 

Remember it is the queen behind every good quality we 
are striving for; and queens that produce these long-lived 
workers ensure for the owner nearly every good quality 
required in a high-class strain. 

These bees are strong on the wing, and do not chill so 
readily during cool winds. They may not always be good 
tempered, but that is a trait very easily bred out, and bees 
good in every other respect should not be discarded for that 
trouble alone. Bees that are very gentle are not usually 
good honey gatherers, nor rapid comb builders, and are 
not so quickly shaken or brushed from the combs as more 
active workers. 

There are several other good qualities not to be forgotten 
when selecting queens for first-class results; and in the 
case of comb-honey production these are: readiness of 
the workers to enter supers, rapid comb-building, white 
sealing of the combs, and perfect filling of the sections 
with regular and even attachments all round. 

These desirable traits can be had with the most prolific 
of three-banded Italians if the bee-keeper will secure the 
best and breed solely by the methods of selection as 
previously explained. Great results can only follow great 
endeavor. 


76 A Modern Bee-Farm 


Where a bee-owner, adopting the pursuit as an im- 
portant addition to his income, expects to make the 
best of his surroundings, he can only ensure the highest 
success as a honey producer, if he has sufficient land to 
enable him to grow large clover and other crops in the 
immediate vicinity of his apiary. 


CHAPTER VII. 


PLANTING FOR BEE-PASTURAGE, 
AND INCREASED PROFITS. 


N many localities the honey harvest is over by July; 
¢ but on the South Downs throughout August the 
Dwarf Thistles in myriads keep the bees busy ; 
while in the valleys lying between the hills, the second 
crops of Sanfoin are often of great value early in the 
same month. On the moors and hill sides of the North 
the heather helps the bees during August and early 
September. 

In many parts of America heavy yields of honey are 
secured in Autumn from wild flowers; while in tropical 
and semi-tropical localities bees will often gather “some 
honey all the year round. 

Nine years out of ten we have a fine Autumn spell in 
the South of England after the usual flowers have 
succumbed ; and the bees having nothing better to do, 
are in too many cases on the alert for the least chance 
to rob a neighbouring hive. 

How often has the bee-keeper wished that such fine 
weather, so enjoyable a period, could be made a time of 
busy labour to his now idle thousands, so that they might 
take to the more pleasant paths of industry and good 


and its Econouie Management. vis 


behaviour. Oh! for the magician’s wand, that flower 
laden fields might spring into existence and waft their 
honeyed odours to the still crowded hives. What a 
marvellous change should we behold! Instead of robbing, 
worrying and fighting—the industrious hum of roaring 
thousands—in place of shrinking stores, we shall see every 
open cell glistening with the golden nectar, and the 
winged multitudes darkening the air as they speed in 
shoals to and from the honeyed mine of flowers. 

And yet, dear reader, this is all quite possible. Why 
should man sit down helplessly, and remain content with 
the shortcomings of his locality? °Tis not Nature that 
is at fault, but man’s own want of foresight and ingenuity. 
Do you expect to make bee-keeping a success on a large 
scale? Then there is only one way that will do it in this 
country. You must plant intelligently. By the acre? 
Aye! by the tens and hundreds! Then will you pile up 
half-a-dozen supers where now you have one. You will 
have little or no more Autumn feeding, and no more 
unpleasant robbing. 


Estimate of Honey Yields per Acre. 


It has been estimated that an acre of white clover 
yields some 10 lbs. of honey per day. Suppose we allow 
the ordinary local resources to support a medium number 
of stocks, say 100, and take only our specially pianted 
fields for the surplus. We will plant say five successive 
crops each of 20 acres to yield 200 lbs. for one day. At 
20 days each crop, that will be for 100 days 20,000 lbs. of 
honey from 100 acres,: thus allowing 20 days only to 
each crop, without counting anything for second crops. 

Less than 100 colonies would gather this from special 
clover crops close at hand, but we have to allow for the 
natural yields as well, and must not make the expenses 


78 A Modern Bee-Farin 


too small. The 20,000 Ibs. at 6d. would work out at about 
£500. 


And now the cost. 


£ sd. £ Sd 
Rent at £1 per acre will be... es «. 100 0 0 
zo Ibs. seed per acre average r1od., and : 
sowing, say wie des as .. 100 0 O 
Ploughing, rolling, &c. as re . 100 0 O 
300 0 O 
Profit... se ses sii oe en ss «+ 200 0 0 


Hay,* 100 acres, say 100 tons at £3, equals 300 0 Oo 


Less haying, £1 per acre, {100 _ sig | 200 


0 0 100 0.0 
Less manure, £1 per acre, £100 


Total, profit first year a Sag £300 0 o 

Now some of these crops would last several years after 

first cost of sowing, while the cost of cultivation would be 

almost nil for a time, and less manure would be required. 
Thus taking the second year we have 


£ Bd £ S5-d. 


Honey ... spe w. 500 0 O 
Rent tes wis «. 100 0 0 


Profit... +» 400 0 O 


Hay 100 acres—1oo tons 
at £3, equals 300 0 0 
Less haying {£100 
Manure ... £100 200 0 O 100 0 oO 


Total, profit second year ... £500 0 0 


Now a month is a short period for some crops to be in 
flower. I shorten it to 20 days, allowing for cutting. 
But I have shown nothing for honey from the second crop 
of blossoms, nor yet for the second crop of hay, both of 


* Hay is sometimes less than £3 per ton, but occasionally, after 
bad seasons, it would be nearly double that value. As these crops 
will consist of clover hay, the average value will be much above £3. 


and its Economic Management. 79 


which many of the clovers will give in one season. But 
-against this there may be a set-off in the fact that a part 
of the rotation of bee-crops may not be hayed at all, 
though in that case it would be such as remain in blossom 
for six or eight weeks at a time, while, of course, the yield 
of honey would be greater. Taking the whole matter 
into consideration, the estimate as to the profits from 
planting must appear very moderate indeed. 

This is simply an estimate of the lowest possible profits 
to be secured where crops are sown for the use of 50 to 
100 colonies of bees. But this quantity of ground could 
not be so cultivated without an additional profit to be 
secured from grazing and otherwise feeding cattle; a 
process which would largely increase the proceeds. An 
average of only one ton of hay to the acre is shown, but it 
is no uncommon thing to secure, as I have done myself, 
two tons from a first crop, and one ton from the second 
crop in one year. 


Manuring the Ground. 


Nevertheless, it will ever remain a prime factor that the 
ground must be moderately good to start with, and must 
be kept up in good condition, otherwise the bee-keeper’s 
attempts to supplement his local resources will meet 
with grievous disappointment ; just as any other tiller of 
the soil must fail utterly if he wili not reward Nature’s ever 
willing hand. 


The Great Thing 


with such planting is the broad fact that the crops are 
close at hand, and are brought into due rotation, so that 
often when the weather is not such as will entice the bees 
to distant crops, they will simply roar on fields almost 
adjoining the apiary. The best crops for honey will be 
our first great consideration, while at least two-thirds of 


80 A Modern Bee-Farm 


the area sown shall be utilised for hay, and sometimes as 
pasturage. 


Quantity of Seed per Acre. 


Good ground will require less seed per acre than poorer 
soil, for the simple reason that more seed will germinate 
where it is offered more nourishment ; hence a wide margin 
is allowed. 

White and Alsike clovers may be sown at the rate of 
14 lbs. to 20 lbs. per acre; Melilot and Yellow Trefoil, 
10 Ibs. to 15 Ibs. ; Trifolium, 20 lbs. to 25 lbs. 

Where two varieties are sown together, I should prefer 
not to halve the quantities, but to use about two-thirds of 
each. If three varieties are grown together, then say half 
the above quantities of each. 

In ordinary seed leys these clovers are often sown with 
Rye or other grass, and usually in Spring, on land put 
down to corn the previous Autumn, or it may be earlier 
in the same season. Nevertheless, for the object we have 
in view, it is’ better to leave out grass seeds and corn, 
allowing Melilot to stand in the place of the corn, and 
sowing with it either one of the other varieties, or two of 
them where Yellow Trefoil is included. 


The Earliest Field Crop (Plot No. 1) 


is the yellow hop clover, but if sown alone, nothing will 
follow on the same ground after the June cutting. This 
starts with apple bloom and flowers continuously from 
early May until June, and the bees may have the benefit 
of the bulk of blossom before cutting. It makes sound 
feed and heavy crops of hay, and will at times realise about 
twice the value set out in my estimates. e 

But this miniature clover must be mixed with Alsike 


and Dutch, and may be sown any time from April until 


‘GUVHOYO AHL SGUVMOL ONIMOOT ‘AUVIdV ATAISHLVAH AHL JO M3IA 


and tts Economic Management. 81 


September,* as the ground may be prepared, or at liberty. 
After the June cutting we get white and Alsike to follow— 
making nearly three months on the same ground, cutting 
the second time (Alsike and white only) early in August, 
giving probably three tons in all per acre, as against the 
one ton estimate. Alsike and white would follow for 
several years if the ground is generously treated. That is 
one plot of 20 acres, and now for 


Plot No. 2. 


The intermediate early crop will be the Zrzfolium 
mmcarnatum, flowering from the month of May until 
mid-June. Now if this is left for the bees it will not 
make the best of hay, so we will sow it in September 
.with Melilot or sweet clover. We will then cut our 
Trifolium early in June, together with the not yet 
flowering Melilot, leaving the latter to flower from July 
until frost. 

Now if the Melilot is cut when in full bloom, there is 
nothing to follow, and No. 2 plot is again empty, but 
before deciding upon this course we will consider 


An Alternative. 


As both the Trifolium and Melilot flower once and then 
die away, after the first cutting the Melilot may be allowed 
to stand and re-seed the ground as the seed ripens and 
falls. The stalks will then only do for litter. 

The Trifolium may be sown again each Autumn, the 
seed being very cheap, and the plant readily established 
if sown in a showery time, not later than September 15th,+ 
and then simply harrowed in and rolled well. 


* This is for purposes of bee-forage; otherwise, clovers as farm 
crops are usually sown in Spring, Trifolium incaynatum excepted. 

+ While Trifolium should not be sown later than this date, for 
our purpose it must be sown soon after the crop is cut, before the 
Melilot again shoots up. 


G 


82 A Modern Bee-Farm 


On the other hand, no cutting need be made on plot 
No. 2, leaving the 7rzfolium to.re-seed itself, while not 
being cut the Melilot will flower earlier and the plants be 
very much stronger. They will, however, not continue 
flowering so late. 

I should prefer to cut the first crop, unless, indeed, I 
had two similar plots, cutting one and not the other, so 
ensuring a better. succession of the two most valuable of 
all honey plants. 

Plot No. 3. 

And what shall we do with this? This will be wholly 
white clover, and if cut three times in the year on very 
good ground, or say twice on the average, a very good 
succession will be got; but not a very heavy crop of hay, 
unless rye-grass be sown with it. 


Plot No. 4. 


This also shall be white clover, and is to be cut a 
fortnight after plot No. 3 on each occasion. There wiil 
then be an abundance of snowy white blossom, from the 
time the plant first bursts into fruitfulness until far into 
August. 

Plot No. 5. 

Now it must be remembered that very few cultivated 
plants will yield honey after the month of August is 
nearing its end, no matter how fair the weather may be. 
Consequentiy I must return to Melilot as being almost 
the only profitable bee-plant that will continue to yield 
honey far into the Autumn. This plot should be pastured 

‘a month later than plot No. 2, or if not so utilised, then 
cut a fortnight later only, as the plant will take longer to 
' recover from cutting than if it had been fed off. 


Other Crops. 


1 a . 
There are some other plants which have been regarded 


and its Economic Management. 83 


as very good for bees, and though they have no value for 
hay, it might be worth while to give them a trial. Thus 
we have mustard, which may be sown six to eight weeks 
before needed for flowering; but mustard for Autumn, 
like rape for the following Spring, should not be sown 
later than July. 

Mustard is useful for sheep feeding, or for cleaning the 
ground and ploughing under when just in bloom. Rape 
is also used for folding sheep and then ploughed under ; 
while as a feed for cows, cut as required daily, it is an 
invaluable producer of milk; and if cut during the 
Autumn, will shoot out and flower freely in Spring. 


Poor Lands 


can frequently be restored without ploughing at all. I 
had a very inferior field, and during a wet season in July 
had it heavily manured. After the manure was spread 
over the ground I sowed a mixture of clover seeds. The 
whole was then simply dredged with a heavy bush, and 
in a few days the clover was sprouting thickly over the 
ground. The new growth had all the nourishment required, 
and the following year J cut nearly three tons of valuable 
hay to the acre, where formerly it was not worth cutting. 
In such cases seeds sown without manure would only be 
wasted. 


Area required for 100 Colonies, and Cost of Living. 


Each square mile of 640 acres, it may be computed, will 
support 50 colonies of bees, if we consider the average 
irregular supply; but though this would give the bees 
only half-a-mile to fly each way, from a given centre, I 
hope to show that a much smaller area devoted exclusively 
to bee-forage, will support double that number of colonies 
in full profit. 


84 A Modern Bee-Farm 


During the season a fair colony requires for its support 
during six months of actual work—while feeding large 
patches of uncapped brood, in feeding thousands of young 
bees before they are able to work, in sustaining the wear 
and tear consequent upon the constant activity of the 
-adult bees themselves, wax-working, &c.—something like 
Io Ibs. weight of honey, or its equivalent, weekly ; or 
some 200 lbs. actually consumed during the several busiest 
months.* Add to this, 30 Ibs. left as winter store, and 
70 lbs. as a surplus, all items being really under-estimated, 
we have then the large total of 300 Ibs. required by each 
populous ‘hive. For 50 colonies this would amount to 
15,000 lbs., or over six tons of honey to be gathered in one 
busy season. 

The surplus would be put at 3,500 lbs. in the above case, 
but, dear reader, there is another way to look at this 
matter. The correct practice would be that of uniting 
two stocks into one at the commencement of the honey 
flow. This brings in a larger surplus, with a smaller 
consumption of valuable stores for the total number of 
bees cultivated. Thus the balance of available produce 
would be at the rate of three times 70 lbs. to each of the 
united 25 hives; z.e, 200 lbs., or 5,000 lbs. instead of 
3,500 Ibs. from 50; with a consumption in balancing wear 
and tear, etc., one-third less, or say 130 Ibs. to each of 
25 hives, in place of 200 lbs. to each of 50, an enormous 
economy in valuable material, and one which fully accounts 
for the larger yield given by the smaller number of more 
populous stocks. 

These doubled colonies, moreover, will seldom require 


* It may be said that during a dearth of honey at mid-season it 
is known that stocks do not consume as much as this. But it 
should be considered they are’ then almost inactive, and have little 
wear and tear to provide for. 


and its Economic Management. 85 


further feeding, as the single colonies certainly do in most 


cases, and thus a further saving, not enumerated above, is 
effected. 


How can 640 acres produce 15,000 Ibs. 


of honey, more or less, according to management, in one 
season ? We will consider that one acre of flowering 
plants yields an average of 5 lbs. of honey daily, and if 
allowing only, 100 acres to yield honey, this brings it out 
at 500 lbs. for each good honey day ; while out of the six 
months of the working season, in allowing only 30 days 
as good for honey gathering, we have then 500 Ibs. 
multiplied by 30, giving the total of 15,000 Ibs. for the 
season. 

It may be safely considered that these averages are 
very low indeed, and it may well be said, “What then 
becomes of all this valuable food, so liberally provided by 
the hand of Nature, seeing it is so very seldom any apiary 
yields a surplus anything like approaching these figures?” 

It can only be that this gratuitous secretion of the 
flowery lovers of our tiny workers is lost by mismanage- 
ment in many instances. Stocks are not strong when they 
should be; the right kind of bees may not be cultivated ; 
while lastly, too many colonies are often placed in one 
locality, when, indeed, the whole number are little more 
than useiess consumers. 

In many localities, therefore, it may be considered as a 
great point in management that 50 really sound colonies 
are all-sufficient for securing the highest results, and these 
for the time being should again be reduced at the right 
time, when the very best returns are anticipated. 

But why confine an apiary to one square mile? Of 
course the bees from a given spot will cover a wider 
radius, but there are other bees, probably, in the neighbour- 


86 A Modern Bee-Farm 


hood, and it will in any case always be safer to keep 
well within the range of possibility, rather than extend 
our desires towards improbabilities. To sum up, therefore, 
it is not wise to exceed 50 stocks where honey alone is 
to be worked for, unless the apiarist is certain he has an 
exceptional locality, or has the land and ability that will 
enable him to supplement his local resources. 

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


Plants should be Grown that are Useful for Hay 


after the bees have had their gathering. There is only one 
kind that I can recommend for bees which is unsuitable 
for cattle, and that is Borage. There may be many others 
that give much honey, but there is this about them—they 
require constant care and attention to keep the ground 
clean, therefore for honey alone such plants are quite out 
of the question. Borage, however, can take care of 
itself ; outgrows everything else, yields the best of honey, 
and requires only that the ground be turned or ploughed, 
in the case of Borage every winter. This plant comes best 
with the ground turned up roughly and needs no further 
care; Melilot (Melzlotus alba) is a most valuable honey 
plant, and when seeding down requires that the earth be 
harrowed and then rolled as often as possible whenever 
the surface is dry. Do not neglect to roll again the second 
year, both before and after the leaf begins to show. The 
omission of this very important matter is why the crop 
fails with many. 


and tts Economic Management. 87 


For a Succession, 


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


Trifolium Incarnatum, 


to give the best results for honey-production, should be 
sown with Melilotus Alba in August or September. The 
following Spring will see a grand supply for the bees, 
the crimson clover flowering from May to June, when the 
crop should be cut. The Melilot will soon follow and 
keep the bees busy for several weeks. This second crop 
can be allowed to stand and re-seed the ground, if a 
yearly crop following is required. 

Trifolium incarnatum has of late years been highly 
extolled by American bee-keepers who seem only recently 
to have discovered its value, though a correspondent 
writing to the American Bee Journal of October, 1895, 
says he, has been most successful with it, and considers it 
one of the most valuable crops that can be grown. The 
following advantages are claimed for it by the same 
writer :— 

“Tt grows in the winter, and prevents the land washing. 
It yields more abundantly than common red clover, a 
kind of forage which horses and cattle prefer to almost 
any other. According to the report of the Experiment 
Stations its nutritive value is of the highest. I know that 
my horses keep in the best condition on it. It never 
causes “slobbering,” as red clover often does. It can be 


88 A Modern Bee-Farm 


grown on sandy land where red clover will not thrive. But 
its greatest value is as a fertilizer, and as such is the best 
and cheapest known. It possesses more highly than any 
other leguminous plant, the power of conveying to the 
soil the nitrogen of the atmosphere. Its roots grow deeper 
into the soil than red clover, and are more numerous. It 
loosens stiff clay land, which, after a time, becomes as 
friable as if sand had been mixed with the soil. It has 
been shown by one of the Experiment Stations than an 
expenditure of 2.65 dols. on crimson clover as- a fertilizer 
put as much nitrogen into the soil as 15 dois. worth of 
nitrogen purchased in commercial fertilizers.” 

Every bee-keeper should bring the advantages to be 
derived from the growing of this clover before the notice 
of his farming neighbours. It will benefit them, and 
at the same time help largely to make his own success 
assured. 


Melilot Clover. 


In my own trials with this clover on several acres, the 
sowing was made in April, followed by a very dry summer. 
It soon rooted, however, and threw out strong shoots, 
which showed green all through the dry weather, supplying 
a never failing source of feed for the cows, while old- 
‘established meadows were almost bare. The following year 
it was mown in July, and together with the rye-grass sown 
with it, afforded a very heavy crop. The plant was rather 
coarse, and the haying time very wet, but after it had been | 
down some seven or eight days, just three hot days enabled 
me to get it dried and stacked. Notwithstanding the 
succulent nature of the plant and the wetting it had 
experienced, the hay came out as brown as a berry, and 
exceedingly sweet, though, of course, there was no bloom 
at the time of cutting. 


and its Economic Management. 89 


The second crop was all that could be desired as a plant 
for hay, but being late and rather too thin, the cows again 
had the benefit of it, as soon as the blossoms were of no 
further use to the bees. The plant is useful for improving 
the land, and even if not ploughed under, the great roots 
rotting after the second year, and opening up the soil to 
a great depth, must be of vast service to following crops, 
as I have certainly found to be the case with this particular 
field. 

At the Illinois State Bee-Keepers’ Convention, held at 
Chicago, January 9th, 1896, Mr. Baldridge read a very 
interesting letter he had received from a farmer in 
Mississippi, who had grown 100 acres of sweet clover for 
pasturage of cattle and for hay. He had at the time 150 
tons of sweet clover hay, and found that both his horses 
and cattle ate it as readily as that from the red variety. 
The same farmer said: “I have kept this season 55 head 
of stock on 50 acres of sweet clover as pasturage, and 
besides I have cut and saved from it 50 tons of hay. 
My stock had all the pasture from the sweet clover they 
could eat, and they are now very sleek and fat. The 
plant makes such a rapid growth that the stock and 
mowing-machine could not keep it back. Of course, if I 
were to go into the field and cut the sweet clover all down 
at once, I might then use it up, but I simply cut small 
plots at a time, so as to let the stock graze all the time. 

The first year’s growth of sweet clover is the finest 
grazing-plant to fatten stock of any kind that I ever saw, 
and especially late in the fall, when all other plants are 
gone.” 


The Queen of Forage Plants 


_is undoubtedly Lucerne ; and in many of the great plains 
of America it is known to yield tons of honey under 


90 A Modern Bee-Farm 


irrigation systems; but in this country, no matter how 
it is treated, nor how fine the weather may be, bees rarely 
visit it, and then only in late Autumn in very small 
numbers, when most other plants have ceased to yield. 
This is unfortunate, as there is no forage plant which 
grows so luxuriantly, or recovers from cutting so quickly 
as lucerne; it may also remain on the same ground for 
many years in succession, but we must have the truth, and 
therefore I say, and say it regretfully, that the plant is 
useless for honey in any other than irrigated areas. 


Late Forage Undesirable. 


While we can hardly plant anything that will come in 
too early, it must be distinctly understood that nothing 
should entice the bees to work later than September in 
England. Bees need at least six weeks to regain lost 
numbers after winter is past. They require just as much 


time to settle down quietly before the cold season” 


comes on. 
Cultivation. 


It will be understood that most of the above clover 
crops, etc., are sown over corn in the spring; the plant 
being well established by the time the same is harvested, 
and having the ground all to itself the second year. As 
to manure, it should be remembered that what is worth 
doing at all is worth doing well. Wood ashes are probably 
the best dressing for clovers, but as these cannot be got 
in sufficient quantity the most economic substitute will 
be Basic Slag. Among other manures may be mentioned 
Sulphate of Potash, $ cwt. to 1 cwt. per acre, and Super- 
phosphate of Lime, 6 cwt. to Io cwt. per acre. Kainit is 
also useful; while ground lime is understood to be very 
beneficial where honey yields are desired. It is a fact 


beyond dispute that a dressing of light manure at the rate - 


. 


and its Economic Management. gi 


of 5 cwt. per acre will be more profitable than 2 cwt.; 
8 cwt. than 5 cwt. ; or 10 cwt. more so than 8 cwt. That is, 
the heavier dressing will give a much larger proportionate 
increase and profitable returns; but, of course, this does not 
refer to concentrated potash and nitrates, of which 4 cwt. 
to I cwt.is sufficient. It should not for one moment be 
forgotten that “light manures” encourage clover develop- 
ment, while heavy manures smother it, and produce rank 
grasses. 

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

IT have found that for all small seeds, such as clovers, 
the ground should be finely pulverised and rolled before 
the seed is sown. Do not rake or harrow after it is in, 
but use the roller again and again, when the ground is 
dry. In too many instances the farmer gets a thin stand 
of clover, and then blames the soil rather than his own 
practice of setting the seeds so low that only a small 
proportion of them germinate. 

Whatever may have been said in the past, it must be 
distinctly understood that Red Clover (Trifolium pratense) 
is zo¢ a reliable bee plant. I have had considerable honey 


92 A Modern Bee-Farm 


from it when the weather has been just right, following a 
dry time for the growth of the second crop, but should 
the plant have a favorable season for full and coarse 
development, the bees do nothing upon it, however fine 
the weather may be. A crop yielding only one year in 
four cannot be recommended. 

When growing plants for honey which have no further 
use, one must make the most of the land under cultivation. 
To permit the ground to be occupied by a single variety 
taking two years to arrive at maturity is sheer folly: and 
even with those flowering yearly something else must be 
growing at the same time. The white clover is particularly 
partial to road grit, and where the sidings can be secured, 
they will be found the most valuable fertilizer that can be 
obtained for the crop; often inducing a heavy growth 
where the plant was seldom seen previously. A great 
advantage to be gained from continuous bloom is that 
the surplus may be removed at any time without exciting 
the bees to rob, as is too frequently the case when the 
later harvest is taken at a time when they have nothing 
more to keep them employed. 


Systematic Planting makes Profits Certain. 


This branch of apiculture has been much _ neglected, 
but bee-keeping as a profession can only become a 
certainty in this country where systematic planting is 
carried out. Indeed, even in America the same statement 
would apply to most districts, as there is a frequent 
occurrence of poor honey seasons, whereas with heavy 
crops close at home it could be so arranged that a good 
surplus would be obtained every year; but with scattered 
crops it sometimes happens that the bees store little or 
nothing. 

In this country it is almost useless for any bee-keeper 


and its Economic Management. 93 


to attempt to get a living from honey-production unless 
he can afford to farm sufficient land to materially assist 
his apiary. In that case he should at least clear his rent 
by his hay-crops, so that he will have the entire produce 
in honey as clear profit, while the proceeds of the necessary 
farm stock will pay his labor bill. 


Does Artificial Pasturage Pay ? 


A remarkable letter appeared in “Gleanings in Bee- 
Culture” for July 15th, 1902, from Dr. Gandy, who appears 
to have made a financial success of planting for bees. He 
says: “I give herewith some ideas obtained during my 
30 -years’ experience as a bee-keeper, the last 17 of which 
I have handled them as a commercial pursuit, keeping 
during this time from 500 to 3,000 colonies, 100 of them 
being in my home apiary. . . . I claim by my method 
of handling, of which I can describe only some of the 
principal features, bees can be made to produce double 
the ordinary surplus and perhaps more. I assume that 
the reader is a bee-keeper who has plenty of nectar- 
secreting plants in his neighbourhood, as any section can 
be made a good place for bees at an expense of 60 dols. 
for catnip and sweet clover seed, and this sum is less than 
the profit I derived from a single colony last year. Much 
of this increase is attributable to the plants; but I am 
confident that my particular methods helped largely to 
bring about the greater yield. 

“When I started bee-keeping on a large scale my 
neighbour bee-keepers did not average a surplus yield of 
over 50 lbs. per year to the colony. I immediately set 
about improving the bee-pasture, and my average yield of 
surplus for eleven years was 150 lbs. to the colony, and 
for the last six years it has been 300 lbs. 

“My increase has always paid all expenses, including 


94 A Modern Bee-Farm 


IO per cent. interest on the investment. I produce chunk, 
extracted, and section honey, and sell all at 15 cents. per Ib. 
in this and neighbouring towns. My net profit for eleven 
years was a little over 400 per cent., and for the last six 
years it was a little over 800 per cent. Last year my home 
apiary, of which I am now writing, 75 colonies (spring 
count), gave me 407 Ibs. to the colony. . . .” 


CaN oa 


and tts Economic Management, 95 


The Fruit Grower is largely indebted to the honey-bee 
for the abundance of his crops ; while the Farmer 
would not be able to rely on seed crops if there were 
no bees to fertilise the blossoms. Consequently the 
farmer and fruit grower should either encourage any 
local bee-owner, or otherwise keep bees close at hand, 
thus ensuring the best possible results. 


CHAPTER VIII. 


THE AGRICULTURIST AND FRUIT 
GROWER. 


HE value of crops suitable for bee-forage has been 
C shown by the preceding chapter. The bee-keeper 
who is also a farmer therefore has every advantage 
and can make profit in several ways. But while it is 
necessary that the extensive bee-keeper should also be a 
farmer, it is quite as important that the agriculturist should 
keep a few stocks for the sole purpose of fertilising the 
clover, turnip, rape, and other crops he may save for seed, 
if it happens that few bees are cultivated in his neighbour- 
hood. 

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


96 A Modern Bee-Farm 


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

Fruit growers often complain that the bees damage 
their fruit crops, and in autumn, when there is nothing 
else to be obtained, because they see a few bees among 
the wasps and flies, the former get all the blame; whereas 
they have never been known to break through the skin 
of sound ripe fruit, but simply collect the juices that may 
be present where birds, wasps or other insects have first 
made an inroad. 


Spraying Fruit Trees in Bloom. 


Fruit growers should be cautioned against spraying fruit 
trees when in full bloom with any poisonous substance. 
Not only is the process an unneighbourly and cruel act, 
causing the deaths of thousands of bees that visit his trees 
for his own certain benefit; but he is at the same time 
showing his own unwisdom and want of thought, inasmuch 
as the dressing at that period of development does more 
harm than good. 

So convinced is the Author of this fact that he avoids 
spraying at that season, and carries out other measures 
which largely do away with the necessity of spraying the 
trees in his orchard unless it may be in the winter. 
Permanent metal guards are placed round the stems of 
the trees, and while these may not absolutely prevent the 
female moth ascending it will be found that numerous 
earwigs collect under these cone-shaped guards, while 
ultimately spiders with their webs, and these are enemies 
of the moth. The cones also prevent other creatures from 
ascending the trees. 


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The “Cowan” Hive as used for 
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The “Cowan” Hive as used f 
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Comb Hone 


lest types of modern h 


e 


and its Economic Management. 99 


The Author also sows sulphur thickly about the trees 
in Autumn, and while this helps to keep the moths away, 
it will be found most beneficial to the ground, both in 
cleansing the soil and in making its chemical constituents. 
more readily available as food for the trees. An occasional 
heavy dressing of ground lime will also be found beneficial 
in a similar manner, as this also renders available hitherto. 
insoluble matter. 

It should, however, not be forgotten that where trees. 
are actively growing and provided with every chemical 
requirement for maintaining that activity and fruitfulness, 
insect enemies and other pests make little or no impression 
upon them. 


A Disagreeable Feature 


in connection with bee-keeping, when carried out near 
towns, is that the bees will persist in visiting the fruiterers’ 
stalls. The. proprietors have of course every right to 
defend themselves from what, to them, is a_ perfect. 
plague, as they dare not expose anything sweet, or fruits. 
with the least sign of broken skins during the autumn. 
Frequently the bees outnumber wasps by hundreds until 
the fruit is black with them, and where possibly a wasp. 
only makes a beginning, the bees soon make a finish. 
Thousands of these innocent pilferers are trapped and 
destroyed like common wasps and flies, and no doubt in 
many instances the owners of the bees see their colonies. 
dwindling down to sheer uselessness, while helplessly 
looking on. One cannot persuade the fruit-seller to put 
all his wares under glass, and the usual netting is of little 
avail. So die the bees must, unless the apiarist takes. 
active means to prevent these dishonest visits. If he does. 
not, he not only deserves to suffer, but has no right to. 
keep bees that are a nuisance to his neighbour. 


bere) A Modern Bee-Fari 


Possibly in the case of breweries, or jam factories, the 
owners, for their own protection and profit might be 
persuaded to cover their windows, etc., with woven wire ; 
but nevertheless there is just one way whereby the bee- 
keeper can avoid all this trouble and loss of bee-life. 
Let him 

“Feed Solid ” 
as soon as he finds no more honey is to be gathered, 
and therefore immediately he can remove the surplus. 
Bees with their combs solid with sealed stores, will have 
no reason to search for injurious sweets. They will sit 
quiet, and not even trouble ‘to rob during that period 
when half-fed or starved stocks are ever on the alert. 
The owner will not only save his bees, while doing his 
duty to his neighbours, but will have his stock in the best 
possible condition for wintering, and rapid progress 
thereafter. 
Fruit Culture 

for the purpose of jam making is now making such rapid 
headway in this country, that all growers should have the 
subject of bee-culture brought very forcibly before their 
notice. The presence of a few hives in the immediate 
vicinity of fruit gardens and orchards is not simply a 
benefit to the grower, but is a matter of the first importance ; 
and those who wish to secure the nearest approach to 
constantly recurring profitable crops, will find it an absolute 
necessity to encourage the presence of the domesticated 
honey bee. In some instances at least, particularly with 
farm crops, there is simply the loss of seed where the 
flowers had escaped fertilisation, but in far too many cases 
where the blossom is not fully fertilised by the agency of 
the ‘bees, the’ fruit is not only imperfectly developed but in 
many places does not develop at all. 

In a neighbourhood where many bees, are cultivated, 


and its Economic Management. IO! 


and more particularly in the garden. they may occupy, it 
is very rarely, indeed, a poor crop of fruit is found, simply 
because the bloom is so thoroughly and_ regularly 
fertilised by the action of the bees, in securing a constant 
transmission, and mingling of the pollen. | 

It is plainly evident that the fruit grower of the fature 
who attempts to conduct his business without taking 
every means to secure the aid of the industrious honey 
bee will be like a captain attempting to carry his ship 
through the sea without a rudder. More or less success 
has of course been obtained in the culture of fruit in the 
past; but the growers have not hitherto had their eyes 
fully opened, that they could tell why the greater success, 
or the least profitable result, and even loss, should occur. 
The proximity of a larger or smaller number of hives will 
generally be found to sufficiently explain the variations. 
The state of the weather, and all supposed enemies of 
the fruit gardens, will receive far less consideration when 
the foregoing remarks are fully appreciated’ and acted 
upon. <A single hive, or even a dozen, will be of little 
use where there are large gardens and orchards. From 
25 to 100 stocks will be needed to secure the best possible 
results, according to the extent of the fruit farm ; and even 
if no one on the premises understands the management of 
bees, after defraying the expense of employing an expert 
either occasionally, or permanently where the number nears 
100, there will be a considerable profit on an apiary so 
favorably situated, while the immense benefit conferred 
upon the fruit crops will be entirely gratuitous. 

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


102 A Modern Bee-Farm 


Pruning Fruit Trees. 

Bush, pyramid and standard fruit trees require the excess 
of branches removed rather than any systematic pruning, 
which is generally understood to mean cutting back the 
tips of the shoots. 

This latter plan should be avoided so far as possible 
until the young trees are well developed, and only when 
the dwarf trees are beginning to crowd each other. If, 
then, about two-thirds of the current year’s shoots are cut 
back in November, they will be found to set fruit buds 
instead of continuing to grow wood. 

Some of the upper shoots should still be allowed 
to grow in a manner that they will not become crowded. 
If too many spurs form where the shoots are set back, 
these must be thinned out when pruning the following 
year. 

Where a tree sets too many fruit buds at the expense of 
growth, these should be nearly all removed for at least 
one season, leaving only the leaf buds, when the tree will 
rapidly recover if well nourished. 

The growth of too much wood is sometimes checked by 
digging down to the roots and cutting through some of the 
stronger ones, when finer rootlets will be thrown out and 
the tree become more fruitful. Anything that checks 
the too rapid preduction of wood will tend to induce 
fruitfulness. 

For instance, if the bark is injured short of destroying a 
tree that has not been fruitful, it will be found to crop 
heavily thereafter. It has been shown that barren trees, 
after being shot in the main stem, will in like manner bear 
abundance of fruit; but of course this is only an example, 
and not by any means a process to follow. 

Some trees may be “ hide-bound,” and will immediately 
take a new lease of life if the bark is slit in a vertical line. 


ana tts Economic Management. 103 


Walnut trees are considered to bear better, or begin to bear 
if beaten, and there is an old saying, “ A wife, a dog, and a 
walnut tree, the more you beat them the better they'll be.” 


The Author’s Orchard 


consists of some four acres, with standard Bramley’s 
Seedlings, set out at 27 feet apart. Between these again 
are dwarf trees grafted on Paradise stock; the varieties 
being limited to Cox’s Orange Pippin, Bramley’s Seedling, 
Worcester Pearmain, and one or two others. In new 
orchard planting the great object is the production of large 
quantities of apples or pears in limited variety, each variety 
being carefully selected, and separated. These require little 
or no expensive labor in gathering, but in growing small! 
fruits, much hired labor is necessary, while the marketing 
is often a risky business. 


Bee-Keeping Alone. 

I have had many applications from those who would 
leave their present occupation, so that they may keep 
bees only, as a source of income. There could be no 
greater mistake in this country, than for an inexperienced 
man to set aside everything and go in for honey-producing 
only. If he wants to go into the country, he must have 
land; then if he has land he must have stock; and in a 
small way his stock should be principally good ‘milking 
cows. Consequently when he has land and stock, he will 
also be a producer of hay, and now we begin to see how a 
man, pining after a freer and healthy outdoor life, may 
support his family, if not in affluence, then, at least, in 
comfort. 

If the reader wishes to see this desirable state of life 
realised in his own case, he must be a man with a certain 
amount of capital, and be prepared to spend a year or 
so on a suitable farm where he can see how the routine 


. 


104 A Modern Bee-Farm 


is carried out day by day. But if one has little or no 
capital, he must, of course, be content to start from little 
beginnings, and work up gradually upon the rules herein 
laid down, when if he has sufficient energy and “grit” he 
will ultimately push on over every obstacle. 


Profit from the Land, 


we are told, is something belonging to the past. But it is 
only the grumblers, the shiftless, and those who cannot or 
will not change with the times, who tell us this tale. Until 
quite recently the holder of a 300 acre farm was clearing 
41,000 per annum from ordinary farming. Another well- 
to-do farmer having good grazing ground, made better by 
being constantly stocked, recently told me he would buy 
in a lot of two-year-old bullocks, and within a few months 
always sold them fattened at a clear profit of £5 per head. 

Then just profit by the case of an old gentleman, who 
in that wonderfully dry year of 1893 had on hand seventeen 
hay stacks, each representing the proceeds of a different 
year; and all sold at 410 per ton. Now if each stack 
amounted to only ten tons, what a nice little sum, 41,700 
quietly accumulating, during all those years. But, of 
course, the farmer will not always be so fortunate as this, 
but why should he sell for £2 or so when hay, sooner or 
later, goes up to 45 or 46 per ton? At these figures it 
should be held no longer, for it does not do to be too 
certain about such prices continuing; as instance another 
farmer in 1893 was offered £10 per ton for 50 tons; but no, 
he must have ten guineas; when lo! by the following 


Spring the value went down rapidly to less than half. 
f 


A Thirty Acre Farm. 


Of these, 20 acres should be laid off for hay, leaving 
eight or nine for pasturage for stock; the balance being 


and tts Econonte Alanagement. 105 


occupied by the house, farm buildings, gardens, etc. After 
the land is worked up into a condition of settled stability, 
by the use of farm-yard manure, by pasturing cattle, the 
keeping of poultry, the judicious use of artificial manures, 
and re-seeding if and when required, the occupier will have 
a bank at his own back-door, such as few other investments 
can offer; as when land is once brought into a state of 
great fertility, the cost of keeping it so is comparatively 
little. If he has not in the first place the means to bring 
it rapidly to this condition, then as before stated, it will be 
a matter of years in the doing. 

Very well, at this stage, at a moderate estimate, the 
20 acres will produce 30 tons of hay yearly, which at an 
average rate of £3 per ton will be worth 490; but leaving 
ten tons for home use, we can allow for 20 tons to be sold 
for £60. 

Cows and Growing Stock. 

The remaining eight acres, after excluding other plots 
and a large garden, should be worth £10 per acre as pasture 
for cows in milk, and young growing stock, for the open 
season, say from March to September; this being equal 
to 480. I will now show how this is understating the 
facts. A four-acre field which would hardly yield one 
half ton of hay per acre when I took to my farm, has 
yielded £2 a week in milk and butter for seven months 
from two cows and one heifer ; besides supporting for that 
period two other heifers, thereafter coming into profit; a 
total of 456 from the four acres. But these were Jersey 
cows, and good Jerseys at that, such as average 10 dbs. of 
butter weekly during the whole period they are in profit. 
It costs no more food or attention to keep good stock than 
is required for poor profitless animals ; then why should a 
man bother himself with sheer rubbish on which he is 
losing money daily ? 


106 A Modern Bee-Farm 


Folding Fowls on the Land 


just as you would a flock of sheep, is something which 
many people are not acquainted with, and which our 
old-style farmers do not understand, and it is doubtful if 
they would take the trouble to do it. Well, this is how 
fowls can be made to pay to-day, in large pens which 
are shitted two or three times a week regularly and 
evenly over the land; so that where formerly half-a-ton 
of hay was secured, two tons and more is now the yield. 
Even in this district wherefrom 100 tons of dead fattened 
fowls are sent up from one station weekly, the Author is 
probably the only breeder who thus shifts his chickens 
over the land in movable pens. A 30 acre farm may 
easily carry 


100 Breeding Hens, ' 


besides the thousand or two chickens reared therefrom 
during the season, and the profit from each hen is usually 
found to be ten shillings for the year, in eggs and chickens 
produced. Here we have another £50 after paying all 
expenses. Consequently we are still left with the most 
important and most profitable department of culture upon 
the farm, that of the bees; and yet these require less’ 
labour and attention, and far less feeding’ than any 
other stock upon the place, when once the hives are 
well established. a 

They will show larger and more valuable returns than 
the cows, or the hay, and yet I will place the profits 
so low that the greatest grumbler will not be able to find 
fault with this, the modest sum of 41 per hive for 50 
colonies of bees, standing upon less than one-fourth of an 
acre. But then you see they take toll from your 
neighbours’ acres, from woodland and forest, his open 
pastures, gardens and orchards, and his waving fields of 


and its Economic Management. 107 


clover, with dancing heads bright with many attractive 
colours. And above all no rent is paid for this innocent 
trespass, and no harm is done to the owner, for the busy 
bees take that which he can never harvest, and that which 
he hath not cannot from him be robbed. 


The Total. 

Now what do our figures show from 30 acres :— 
fos. d. 
20 tons of hay at £3 (less all expenses), say .. 60 0 0 
8 acres of pasture at {10, as profit from dairy, say 50 0 0 
too hens (eggs and chickens from), say aan w= 50 0 0 
50 stocks of bees, yielding £1 each... es we = =50 0 0 
Profit on horned stock sold annually ... des -. 20 0 0 
£230 0 0 


If a smallholder pays £3 an acre this will leave him 
4140. If he pays 44, then only £110. 

I have therefore allowed the usual margin upon the 
expenses of getting in the hay, for carting, and artificial 
manures, if required; there is also a second cut from one 
or other of the fields, to be utilised for home use. On the 
eight acres of pasture also enough margin is allowed for 
paying a large part of the rent, or labor; though an active, 
healthy man will not require much hired labor on a little 
grass farm apart from the haying. The 100 hens and the 
several thousand chickens reared therefrom will leave a very 
large margin towards rent and other expenses, in the 
valuable manure left upon the land. Then again the 
20 acres after cutting, will in value of pasture alone, make 
a heavy item towards the rent of the farm. 

When I state that in apiaries worked for honey the 
stocks will often average 100 lbs. per colony, while some 
colonies of bees have stored up to 300 lbs. and more, and 


108 A Modern Bee-Farm 


my own apiary yields several times the amount shown, it 
will be agreed that the profits from a 30 acre farm are 
not by any means overstated, especially as I have not set 
anything down as a profit from the young orchard of four 
acres, which should form part of a 30 acre farm when | 
owned by the occupier. 

The proportion of profit from a larger holding will, 
of course, decrease, because of the greater expenses in 
labor and other items; but I am aware that very small 
holdings when used for market gardening purposes will 
show much larger returns at times, but there is more 
expense in labor, and more risks to run, 

Unfortunately the average small holder will prefer to go 
out to work rather than make the most out of bees and 
fowls; while the stock usually kept is of very inferior 
quality. Such stock does not pay for itself, and often 
there is little more than the produce of the land to set 
against rent, leaving but a poor sum for family expenses. 

Why will so many men “stay down?” It is because 
their eyes are sealed, and they have “no vision beyond.” 


and tts Economic Management. 109 


The diseases from which bees and bee-brood are likely 
to suffer should cause little or no depreciation in the 
annual honey yields—if the owner is wide awake, and 
will apply immediate curative treatment, such as the 
Author explains. Every known disease of bees can be 
and must be excluded from the apiary by systematic 
endeavour. 


CHAPTER IX. 


ENEMIES -AND DISEASES OF BEES. 


HERE are many creatures that will eat dead bees, 

ris but if all colonies are in good condition there is 

no enemy known in this country that can cause 

any serious depreciation in the population of our stocks. 

Birds occasionally take bees, but according to my own 

observation dead drones and workers are usually eaten, or 
those which may have become chilled. 

Wasps do the same, but are not often able to rob the 
stores of a hive unless it has a small population. Hornets 
will pick up workers from the entrance more readily than 
any bird, but luckily they are not very numerous, and are 
rarely seen. : 

Ants are at times somewhat worrying, but these may be 
checked by fixing special cast-iron cups to the legs of the 
hive, and placing therein oil, Izal, or some other liquid 
disagreeable to them. Izal powder dusted around the base 
of the hive, when there are no legs, will check the ants, as 
well as moths and earwigs, if dusted over the quilting 
where these are troublesome. 


11O A Modern Bee-Farm 


Dysentery 

is one of the more simple diseases to which bees are subject, 
and this is known by the bees soiling their combs and the 
flight-board with their excrement, being unable to rise on 
the wing before voiding the same. This occurs in early 
Spring, just as it is hoped the bees have passed the worst of 
the Winter. It can generally be prevented by providing that 
they have plenty of good stores, judicious ventilation, and 
free passage under the frames (see “ Wintering”). A cure 
is to be effected by feeding warm syrup on the first fine 
day, thereby also inducing the bees to take a general flight. 
If the combs are very badly smeared they should be 
removed and clean substituted. 

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

By far the greater number of cases may be put down 
as being caused by semi-starvation. A small lot of bees 
unable to reach stores situated away from the cluster, will 
generally perish without excitement during a too long 
spell of cold, the cluster remaining unbroken just as the 
bees rested upon the combs. But take the case of a 
strong stock, particularly where a patch or two of brood 
has been started, and instead of continued cold compelling 
them to remain and die where they sit upon their combs, 
their very strength is the cause of their own destruction. 
They generate too much heat to remain quietly clustering 
where all the store within reach is at last exhausted. 
Though too cold yet for individuals to reach the more 
distant, but still plenteous store, the bees fully aware of 


and its Economic Management. II 


their critical position, soon arrive at an excited condition, 
the temperature goes up rapidly, the cluster expands, 
and the lately unapproachable stores are within reach. But 
the instinct of self-preservation does not allow them to 
count thé cost—the tremendous discount thus made upon 
their vital energies ; neither can they avoid the fouling of 
their once clean, sweet smelling home. 

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


Prevention. 


This form of semi-starvation, with its possible conse- 
quences, is to be avoided by seeing that every hive has 
heavily stored combs of good sealed food to winter on. 
A stock, even if already partly stored, if fed with ten or 
twelve pounds of thick warm syrup, rapidly, towards the 
end of September will store such food in the immediate 
vicinity of the ‘cluster, and will stand well, until the 
following Spring is warm enough for the bees to move 
freely about the hive. Dysentery will probably never 
follow after such a provision has been made, unless 
through carelessness or some other exciting cause, such as 
a choked entrance, sour, watery food, or the other extreme 
—granulated stores. 


Another Item 
of considerable importance as a preventative, is the adoption 
of a large frame, when a greater store of food will always 
be found within reach of a more compact cluster. In a 
semi-hibernating condition, during cold weather a cluster 


112 A Modern Bee-Farm 


of bees has no difficulty in gradually moving along the 
surface of the same combs, and can do so without there 
being any reason for excitement, but when it becomes 
necessary to shift on to an entirely fresh set it means, as 
we have already seen, a disastrous disturbance of their 
natural economy. 


Foul Brood, or Bee Pest, 


was the only really serious disease the bee-keeper had to 
contend with prior to the recent advent of infectious 
paralysis. The late Mr. F. R. Cheshire conducted many 
experiments and investigations in regard to this matter, 
and was certain in his own mind that the disease affects not 
only the brood, but the adult bees and the queen as well. 
He also assured me that the disease could not exist in the 
presence of acids, and though he was able to show a stock 
completely cured by his own treatment with a solution of 
carbolic acid, it would appear by the light of my own 
experience, and the numerous failures reported by others 
who have tried to follow out his treatment, that he was not 
quite on safe ground, as we shall presently see. 


Initial Stages of Disease. 


It has so frequently been stated that the disease can be 
discovered by the foul smell emitted by the stock which 
may have it, that I consider it necessary to warn the 
uninitiated not to wait for such a rude awakening. At 
that stage it is very infectious indeed, and it will be a 
saving for the inexperienced person to burn the contents 
of the hive, after first suffocating the few remaining bees. 
With a colony in such a state the novice is certain to do 
only harm by attempting a cure, and with his want of 
experience, he will do well to be clear of it. 


A TYPICAL JERSEY COW; 


The property of Dr. Alfred Brown, of “ Summerlands,” Heathfield, Sussex. 


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and its Economie Management. 113 


CAUTION ! 


should be the bee-keeper’s watchword, while extreme 
vigilance will bring its own reward. Those who have 
never seen foul brood should be most careful to note that 
frequently in summer its appearance is to be discovered 
by irregular or “patchy” slabs of brood, among which 
there are no black or rotting grubs whatever; for while the 
bees are actually storing, every sickly larva is at once 
removed ; so that when patches of brood known to have 
been quite compact are presently of irregular ages and 
appearance, it is time to be suspicious. Even at this stage 
the experienced eye may detect occasional sickly grubs, 
and some may not even be discolored. If a single larva 
lies in an irregular position in its cell, then the owner’s 
suspicions must be aroused, and the combs kept under close 
observation. 

There is only one position that the unsealed larva should 
occupy, and that may be described as a crescent form, and’ 
always so presented to the observer. The exception is 
sometimes to be found in the case of: drone brood in 
worker cells when the grub is too large for its cradle. 


Several Forms of Brood Disease. 

Cheshire found bees were troubled with several brood 
diseases, though he did not name them all. Later investi- 
gators with improved instruments have been able to verify 
his statements, and have named other disease germs which 
they consider more fatal than Baczllus alvet. 

Our American friends are now describing B. alvez as 
European foul brood, or black brood; and the more 
virulent form as American foul brood. The reader may 
rest assured that the treatment given herein will enable 
him to cure any form of the disease, if he will only act 
without delay. 


114 A Modern Bee-Farm 


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


Chilled Brood and Simple Dead Brood, 


the former is soon removed by the bees, and should 
any be overlooked, it dries into a hard lump without 
changing colour. Simple dead brood resulting without 
chill, and with no apparent evidence of disease, has in 
some cells the appearance of the genuine foul brood, but 
with this the greater part of the nearly mature bees dry 
up and retain their original form and colour. By this 
feature alone I have always been able to distinguish the 
difference between the two, and have put an end to the 
more simple affair in all cases by destroying the queen 
and giving a young and vigorous one to the colony. 


Cheshire’s Remedy 


was absolute phenol or pure carbolic acid, used in the 
proportion of 1-4ooth in the syrup fed to the bees. I 
have found the first step towards a rapid recovery is 
made by deposing the reigning queen, and giving a young 
and vigorous queen bred from clean stock, when the entire 
attitude of the bees is changed, and great determination 
and energy takes the place of the former utter inability to 
clear out the foul stuff. 


and tts Economic Management. 15 


If the disease begins in the early spring and is not 
noticed, it is very likely the colony will go down at a 
rapid rate, while the remnant will not be worth troubling 
with, and should be cleared out by fire after sulphuring 
the bees. This should be done in the evening when all 
the other stocks are quiet, taking care to foul as few 
things as possible ; burn all you use that is not of much 
value, and the rest disinfect thoroughly. 


Rational and Simple Cures 

for foul brood have been so long known to many practical 
bee-keepers, that it seems strange there are others quite 
unable to cope with the disease when it makes its appear- 
ance in their apiaries. The cause of this in the first 
instance must be inexperience, but on the other hand 
where the inability to cure can not be put down to wilful 
negligence it is almost certainly through want of cautzon. 
The disease has been cured in the past, and can be as 
readily cured to-day. There is really no excuse whatever 
for the continued existence of foul brood in any apiary, in 
the light of facts now being placed before bee-keepers. 


Foul Brood a Terror no Longer. 


So many bee-keepers have been wrecked upon this 
hitherto dangerous rock, that my somewhat extensive 
treatise upon the subject may be excused by my deter- 
mination to end once and for all, if possible, those endless 
worries, and constant waste, to which sufferers have been 
subject. 

I have endeavoured to show how the disease, if handled 
in a rational manner, need have no further terrors either 
for the amateur or the commercial bee-keeper, and there 
is therefore no reason why the industry should not be 
placed upon a firmer basis than hitherto. 


116 A Modern Bee-Farm 


The Definite Izal Treatment 
followed by those who have experienced the lasting 
pleasure of seeing their diseased stocks turned into 
healthy, profitable colonies was recommended by me, as 
follows :— 

(1.) Use one teaspoonful of Izal to one quart of water, 
and dash the solution over the tops of the frames and bees ; 
or use a powerful spray syringe. Replace the quilt quickly. 
Combs not occupied by bees may be well saturated and 
returned one at a time as the bees are able to cover 
them.* i 

(2.) In commencing to treat any very weak diseased 
stock (seeing that this treatment obviates any destruction 
of combs where there are sufficient bees) first of all give 
the said colony a full comb of healthy hatching brood. If 
this cannot be done, then burn comb, frames and bees at 
night, first smothering the bees. 

(3.) Treatment with Izal Solution. Have a change of 
hives, and wash out each week (three times will generally 
suffice) with solution of one teaspoonful to one quart of 
water. At the same time saturate the whole of the 
quilting by dipping it into a pan of the solution, and if 
warm, do not wring it out; and continue this once a week 
until satisfied all is well. 

(4.) If requiring to shake the bees off their foul combs 
for starting on new foundation, they should be thoroughly 
sprayed overnight—bees, combs and everything. Next day 
they may be safely started in a clean hive without any 
intermediate starvation or confinement. 

(5.) Jf desired to feed. Use only half teaspoonful to 
ten pounds of sugar made into syrup. 


* Common rubber sprays are quite useless for treating bee 
diseases. A powerful dust spray or fine spray syringe will be 
found effective. 


and tts Economic Management. 117 


(6.) The Water Supply. One teaspoonful of Izal to 
eight quarts of water. 

Izal and Foul Brood. 

Experiments conducted with Izal, and especially the 
methods of applying it as advised by the Author, have 
placed this germicide in the first rank as a cure for foul 
brood. It should be made known to every struggling 
bee-keeper, who too often falls under after using the many 
useless applications he has been told to apply, in the face 
of repeated failures known to have occurred where such 
have been tried. 

At my recommendation, many  bee-keepers have 
absolutely expelled the disease from their apiaries by the 
use of Izal. Phenol and many other supposed remedies, 
hitherto advocated, have been obnoxious to the bees, if 
not absolutely poisonous both to them and the operator ; 
whereas Izal is not only harmless, but is decidedly liked 
by them ; so much so that if the Izal bottle is left exposed, 
bees will frequently crowd into it, as if it were honey or 
sugar. This is a very great point gained in the treatment 
of the dread plague, as syrup to which the remedy has 
been added, is readily accepted at all times. 

Curing Disease without Medicine. 

We have seen how brood diseases may be checked by 
the aid of simple byt effectual medicinal agents ; and 
although bees are somewhat more difficult to -treat by 
hydropathic methods, I will show how disease may be 
disposed of without medicine. 


118 A Modern Bee-Farm 


Queenless bees, especially Cyprians, Italians and 
Carniolans, or such as have a virgin queen meanwhile, 
will not fail to clear out all evidence of brood disease. 
Replacing an old queen by a young vigorous one of 
either of the above varieties will also result in the 
same condition.—_Change of Queens, ‘‘A Modern Bee- 
Farm,” 1888, 1893, 1904 editions; also “‘ Bee Chat” 
Propositions, 1898. 


CHAPTER X. 


BEE DISEASES ; YOUNG QUEENS AS 
THE FOUNDATION OF CURE. 


Supplying a young queen after an interval; by 
immediate exchange, with certain varieties ; or by 
adding fresh brood and bees; also swarming so as to 
leave young bees on the combs. 


URING my experience with foul brood in 1875-8, I 

X gave whole sets of diseased combs to gueenless lots ; 

and at the same period I also found by removing 

the original queen from Italian bees, and leaving them 

without a fertile queen until they could rear another, or 

had a virgin given them, that every vestige of the disease 
was cleared out by the bees. 

By the year 1886 my experiments were fully confirmed, 
and I published the knowledge I had gained, that the 
removal of the original queen, presently followed by the 
introduction of a vigorous young one, was one of the very 
first steps to be taken in effecting a cure. I pointed out 
this fact in the pages of the British Bee Journal at that 


period, and have since mentioned the advantages of such 


and tts Economic Management. 119 


change of queens in each of the several issues of this work ; 
and more particularly in “ Bee Chat” for 1898, where I set 
forth several definite propositions. 


Addition of Healthy Brood and Bees. 


I was able to prove that the addition of clean brood and 
bees was another very effective item in reconstructive 
management, as such augmentation of healthy bees ensured 
a more rapid recovery. 


Swarming Diseased Stocks. 

Where the disease is discovered in good time, and the 
season is favorable for honey gathering, there is no better 
way than that of dividing the colony, leaving all young 
bees on the old combs by moving them away to a distant 
stand. In this case the flying bees returning to the original 
site may have the queen and a supply of foundation. 

The young bees may rear their own queen or have one 
given them at about the same period, and by preference 
an Italian, Carniolan or Cyprian, if the latter can be mated 
to drones of either of the two first named. The starvation 
plan can be avoided if the stock is treated with Izal 
overnight, and only in that case, unless the hive can be 
removed quietly at mid-day without smoking or jarring, 
when the bees will not gorge themselves with honey. 


Clearing an Apiary at a Stroke. 


An old correspondent, a doctor, once wrote me his bees 
had become badly affected with foul brood, and he feared 
unless I could help him to quickly cure them he would soon 
be without his beloved bees. He was an enthusiast with 
an open mind, and was quite ready to act upon my advice 
—and he did, without one question. I suggested that he 
should at once remove all his queens which were natives. 
On the third day thereafter he was to exchange places, the 


120 A Modern Bee-Farm 


stronger with the weaker, and in ten days after the 
exchange to give each stock a young Italian queen. 
Within three weeks he wrote me that his stocks were 
cured, and all building up with none but healthy brood.* 


The Author’s Position Confirmed. 

Some two years after the publication of my 1904 edition, 
Mr. Alexander, an extensive bee-owner in America, con- 
tributed an article to “Gleanings in Bee Culture,” showing 
how he had cured large numbers of diseased stocks during 
1904-5, and by exactly the same means that | had for so 
many years been placing before bee-keepers.t 

Notwithstanding the interest created by Mr. Alexander’s 
article, and others by myself in the same Journal, my 
English and other critics would not believe there was any 
advantage in a queenless interval ; in the exchange of 
queens ; or the addition of healthy bees and brood. 

Presently my position was further endorsed by a French 
bee-keeper, M. Wimel (Srztesh Bee Journal, December 3rd, 
1908, p. 481), who was able to offer convincing proof that 
the period of probation, followed by the insertion of a 
vigorous young queen, resulted in a complete cure where 
otherwise medicinal agents had failed.t . 

Truth will come to the surface sooner or later, and 
although my critics of the Brétish Bee Journal were 
incredulous, and a writer referred to me as “one of the 
simpletons” who expected to cure foul brood by these 
methods—overlooking the fact that I had done so many 


* The Isle of Wight pest can be successfully treated in the same 
way; always allowing unusual ventilation. 

{+ Mr. Alexander had quite recently declared that he had read every 
bee-book published in the English language for 40 years, so without 
question he was aware of the facts I had already set forth. 

{ M. Wimel also doubtless had seen the translation of Mr. 
Alexander’s and my own articles in the French Bee Journals. 


and its Economic Management. 123 


times over—it is interesting to find that Journal publishing 
the facts of M. Wimel’s success in following my plan. 

In the next number of the same Journal Mr. Crawshaw, 
then “almost convinced,” said, “Here is strong evidence 
that disease may be controlled, if not actually cured, by 
systematic re-queening.” 

It is because this “ great truth ” is of such vast importance 
to the bee-keeping community, and is equally applicable in 
ensuring renewed vitality as the first element in the cure of 
the Isle of Wight disease, that I have shown how my 
position has at last been vindicated. 


Failures. 


As some bee-keepers have failed to effect permanent 
cures by the methods advocated, I find it necessary to 
give a few cautions. For instance, where the outer combs 
have not been used for breeding, or the bees may not have 
crowded on them, they have not undergone a thoroughly 
renovating process. This should be evident to any practical’ 
bee-keeper, and all combs should be exchanged so that 
each one goes through the brood nest while the young 
queen is doing her best. ‘ 


Disease Reappearing in Spring. 


Why does foul brood sometimes reappear in Spring? 
In addition to the above reason, the reader may have 
noticed that as soon as his bees become active under the 
influence of bright weather, they begin to clear out any 
dirty corner, or accumulated rubbish they find about the 
floor. 

This is just where any lurking germs of disease may be 
hidden, and it points to the necessity of exchanging or 
thoroughly cleansing all hives if one wishes his bees to 
remain free-from disease. 


124 A Modern Bee-Farm 


Micro-organisms and Disease. 


It is a fact, not yet acknowledged by the scientific world, 
or the medical faculty—a fact, nevertheless, which I am in 
a position to prove by numerous examples—that what are 
considered the most deadly microbes in connection with 
various forms of disease can be-entirely ignored, where a 
rational form of cure is adopted, and no medicine whatever 
need be given to the patient ; the cure being more effectual, 
and the system at the same time is given greater vitality— 
as opposed to the weakening, and not seldom destructive, 
effects of powerful drugs. 

What then becomes of the deadly invoice Being 
simply an evidence, and not the “ origin” of disease, they 
have no power for ill in the face of the healthy tissue 
established under a naturally regenerative system of cure. 
They are expelled both through the resumption of its 
normal action by that wonderful . health preserver, the 
skin; and by the usual processes of worn-out matter 
“passing off by the alimentary system. My final proposition 
(of a series published in 1898) in relation to bees will show 
what momentous changes can be created by developing a 
new condition of vitality. 

Now, if microbes were the “origin” of disease, such 
cures would be impossible. It is, however, evident from 
the facts I present both now and hereafter, that micro- 
organisms are solely the “ effect” of disease ; though they 
may be, and often are, a cause of infection where a 
lowered vitality affords them encouragement. 


‘New Light on a Dark Subject. 


I am now presenting my readers with a number of 
propositions in regard to the origin, general development, 
and treatment of foul brood, from a thoroughly practical 


and its Economic Management. 125 


standpoint ; placing on record only such statements as are 
supported by sound experience.* 


1.—The origin of foul brood is found in a fermenting mass of 
neglected dead animal matter and excretions, combined with the 
presence of a weakened colony, breeding and feeding amongst and 
warning up to blood heat such neglected matter, which they in a 
deteriorated state ave unable to remove. 


Ever since my very severe lesson experienced more than 
thirty-five years since I have held to this declaration as a 
truth to be maintained in the face of continued opposition, 
and more recently I have been pleased to notice that 
among my supporters I have Mr. McEvoy, the foul brood 
expert and Government Inspector of Canada, who probably 
has handled—and cured—more of this disease than any 
other bee-keeper. 

Our scientific friends say at once, “Dead brood cannot 
turn ‘into foul brood, and there. can be no such thing as 
spontaneous generation.” It is of no use replying that I 
quite agree with them. Dead brood as they think of it, 
may remain, and even rot down, and no disease such as 
foul brood need exist. But, if they will only follow my 
proposition to the very letter, they may have the same 
experience that I have done, they will have the same 
ending to their experiments, and a new light will enter 
their understanding. 

Notwithstanding the expression has many times been 
thrown at me by prominent scientists, I need not support 
any theory of spontaneous generation, and until my 
critics will go over exactly the same ground that I indicate 
in my proposition—and none have done so—they cannot 


* These propositions were first published by the Author in “‘ Bee 
Chat ” for 1898-9; and re-issued in the 1904 edition of ‘* A Modern 
Bee-Farm.” 


126 A. Modern Bee-Farm 


conscientiously assail my position. They rely upon what 
they know, and what most of us have known since my 
lamented friend Cheshire’s researches have been published 
on the subject, regarding the action of the Baczllus alvet 
as a “continuing” cause of foul brood. Thus, what is 
only a cause of infection is erroneously looked upon as 
the origin of the disease. 


Decomposed Animal Matter and Excreta, 


when once gaining access to the food or water taken 
into the system of the living subject, has resulted in 
infectious diseases (micro-organic) from time immemorial. 

It should be self-evident that only healthy tissue existed 
prior to the arrival of that disordered condition which 
primarily enabled the parasitic microbe to live and thrive 
upon it; z¢. before there existed any other relative 
animal matter in a diseased state from which micro-. 
organic infection could be carried. The same disease can 
therefore again “originate” in those combinations of 
matter acting in opposition to the laws of health, without 
any contact with existing infected animal matter. 

One may build a new house, he may place there a 
family with no trace of disease for years before or after, 
and yet ultimately through some defect in sanitary condi- 
tions, that house becomes the habitation of disease, and a 
source of infection through the medium of micro-organisms 
therein developed. It may be the water is contaminated 
by the choking of a sewage pipe, but its contents 
nevertheless are the refuse of the inmates, and from them 
has been conveyed some hidden seed undiscovered and 
unsuspected until the suitable soil occurred for the seed 
to germinate and spread devastation around. 

We may well consider that man carries within him 
hidden seeds of disease, which may or may not develop 


and its Economic Management. 127 


into destructive germs according to his conditions of living 
or vitality. It has even been suggested that though in 
perfect health, within his mouth may be found disease 
germs identical with those accompanying that dreaded 
malady diphtheria. And why should not the unsanitary 
conditions presented by our  proposition—the _ living, 
feeding and breeding among the rotting dead—why 
should they not, I say, result in organic disease? Then 
we have to admit that every colony carries within itself 
the primary seeds of disease which lie dormant while a 
natural vitality is maintained, and sanitary conditions are 
ensured. On the other hand, with the contrary conditions 
presented we arrive at the origin of foul brood, as 
distinguished from infection. 


Foul Brood without Infection. 


It is my intention to show that foul brood can and does 
appear in a district hitherto free from the disease without 
importation from any existing affected hives. 

Nearly 40 years ago I had my first great battle with 
the dreaded destroyer. I should be correct in saying it 
was my only great battle with foul brood; for I fought, 
and conquered, and that too at a period when less was 
known about the complaint than at the present day. And 
from that time to this I have had only occasional 
experiences, solely with bees bought; sometimes from 
irresponsible people, whom I would be inclined to believe 
hardly knew what the malady really was. 

However, in my own hands, these cases were always 
isolated, and my original stocks were never contaminated. 
The diseased bees were very soon on nothing but healthy 
brood, and I have often had to regret, as I do at the 
present day, that I have no material wherewith to carry 
out further experiments. 


128 A Modern Bee-Farm 


My early experience was such a very severe lesson, that 
I cannot overhaul any hive, however crowded with bees, 
or combs crammed with brood, without catching sight of 
the merest speck of dead or diseased brood, and the value 
of the experience thus gained can well be imagined. My 
apiary at the time referred to was in a perfectly healthy 
district, and I was so careful during the prevalence of the 
malady among my own bees that it did not extend to the 
neighbourhood. I was in the habit of driving and otherwise 
manipulating the bees within a radius of three to four 
miles, and in no case did I find the least evidence of the 


complaint. 
How then did the plague find its way to my own 
apiary ? How indeed! Well, I was engaged in a 


business which did not permit me to give any of the usual 
hours of the working day to the bees. Honey had been 
coming in rapidly, and I thought to relieve the brood 
combs of the new honey, just as many another enthusiast 
with the wonderful honey extractor liked to do in those 
days; but unfortunately my operation was carried out 
with the rising sun just beginning to smile upon me, and 
if I had not been so preoccupied it is just possible I 
should have noticed him giving an approving nod at my 
industry, and a smiling whisper that “the early bird 
catches the worms.” 

Anyhow my catch was something of quite an unexpected 
nature, and ultimately most industrious labor indeed was 
required to undo that early morning’s work. I can see 
now, those beautiful combs of healthy brood, and I can also 
see how utterly impossible it was for it to remain alive 
after those incautiously induced revolutions during the 
chilly morning air. At the time, however, and for months 
after I did not consider the harm that might result, 
and was otherwise too much occupied to examine the 


EXTENT AND CONSTRUCTION OF “ CONQUEROR” ENTRANCE. 


Showing entrance shielded by Stock-chamber, #in. clear 
of front wall. 


The Porch with deep slides. 


and its Economic Management. 129 


hives. I eventually found the combs almost denuded 
of bees, and one mass of foul brood which by all 
appearances died immediately after the combs were passed 
through the extractor. As every comb in the respective 
brood chambers had been operated upon, the bees had 
become disheartened and could not remove so much dead 
matter, and after starting another smaller brood nest their 
efforts appeared to have been gradually restricted, until 
the conditions culminating in a state parallel with those set 
forth in my proposition, the combs were in the worst stage 
in which the disease of foul brood is known. 

But how do I know this wholesale death-rate was the 
foundation of the complaint? Juz the first instance the 
disease was found only in those hives operated upon during 
that early morning process. It was first brought to my 
notice by another stock robbing one of the above, and 
henceforth foul brood was revealed to me. The robbing 
stock was the next to show signs of the disease. This 
was in early Spring; and then in one hive after the other 
specks of the disease began to show themselves. This, I 
have since found, was in some cases because I was not in. 
the first place sufficiently cautious in cleansing my hands 
and implements after each manipulation. 

Some of the hives within a few feet of those badly 
diseased, and whose brood combs were not disturbed at 
any time, remained perfectly healthy. The rest of the 
apiary was finally renovated by starting the bees on new 
combs in new frames, after the so-called “ starvation ” 
treatment. 

I do not stand alone in my conviction that foul brood 
may originate in a'district where hitherto it has not been 
known, and without being imported from an_ infected 
source. Mr. McEvoy, in particular, has offered much 
convincing evidence on this point, from extensive experi- 

ee 


130 A Modern Bee-Farm 


ence gained while carrying out his onerous duties as Foul 
Brood Inspector in. Canada. 

He gives numerous instances of foul brood resulting 
wholesale in large apiaries, hitherto free from disease, after 
being flooded so that most of the brood was killed, and 
the colonies of bees being so reduced, that after trying 
in vain to clear out the enormous amount of dead matter, 
continued to rear brood in small patches, until the usual 
result proved only too plainly that the living and the dead 
may not thrive and procreate in the same limited space 
without ultimately inducing an organic state of disease ; 
the natural warmth, with its consequent fermenting effect 
being not the least agent in bringing about the final act. 


2.—The Secondary causes of foul brood ave: (a) Robbing 
from an already diseased stock; (b) Carelessness on the part of 
the owner in working from an infected to a clean hive; (c) 
Mixing diseased combs and appliances with those of clean stock ; 
(d) Feeding with diseased honey. 

My second proposition does’ not, apparently, contain 
much that is new, and most of the clauses considered are 
already established fact. It was, however, only in recent 
years that some of the more prominent scientists could be 
brought to believe that honey contained the spores of the 
Bacillus alvez, But there can be no doubt that honey 
has always been the most dangerous medium for the 
propagation of the disease; certainly it is the most 
tempting bait one may leave within reach of the olfactory 
senses of the bees, who are ever on the alert ready to 
appropriate that God-given sweet, even though the death- 
dealing touch of the dark angel may be upon it. 

In years long gone by I have found repeated cases of 
disease being started in the previously healthy combs of 
colonies which had been traced robbing from a diseased 
source ; and this has been quite a general experience. 


and tts Economic Management. 131 


The honey may quite possibly contain no germs of disease 
as it lies in the combs of a stock affected by foul brood, but 
it cannot be removed by “robbing,” nor as extracted by 
man, without becoming contaminated ; while the act of 
robbing in itself, because of the mad rush and searching into 
every cell by the marauders must result in contamination. 

I next come to the question of carelessness in handling 
stocks. During my own experience I found no sign of the 
disease being permanently cleared off until that “extreme 
caution” born of repeated disaster and hard experience 
taught me never to work from any Azve to another, 
whether infected or clean, without disinfecting everything 
used, including the hands, after each operation. A 
correspondent bewailing the unfortunate state of his 
apiary, in the most matter of fact manner states: “ Every 
hive [ examined became infected.” 

The mixing of combs and appliances may be carried out 
quite innocently, and often is done, before the apiarist is 
aware he has the disease. This causes a lot of trouble, 
and the owner of the apiary begins to think the disease is 
spreading from one stock to another with a lightning-like 
rapidity ; when in fact, nothing could be farther from the 
truth. As in handling without care, so in this case it is 
simply a matter of infection by actual contact. 


Feeding with Honey. 

Feeding with diseased honey is a subject which requires 
careful consideration. I do not feed with honey, and have 
always condemned the practice as regards bought honey. 
One can never feel safe in using the latter for feeding, and 
candy offered as partly made with honey should be rigidly 
excluded from the apiary.* 


* For many years the Author has used no honey in queen mail 
cages without it being both boiled and medicated. During rg1z 
many queen breeders in the United States adopted this plan. 


132 A Modern Bee-Farm 


The honey found in diseased stocks which are reduced 
to death’s door, is seldom in sufficient quantity to be worth 
saving, and the combs should be destroyed just as they 
are in the frames by the one great purifying element—fire. 
On the other hand stocks not so far reduced may be made 
to use up their own stores (without daubing the extractor, 
and a hundred other things) in the manner I have already 
set forth, and by other means I shall later dilate upon. 


3.—The disease is probably never communicated without divect 
contact. 


I now come to a proposition that probably does set 
forth a new theory, which however I trust has already 
been reduced to fact by my own practice. During 
my severe trial of many years since, for two to three 
seasons in succession I had several hives standing within 
a few feet of others diseased, but for the reason that the 
combs of the former were built across the frames, having 
been purchased in that condition, they escaped ordinary 
manipulations, and were simply supered each _ year. 
Strange to relate, these stocks escaped infection, and the 
fact largely helped me in finally clearing the apiary, 
because I quite saw I had previously been the means of 
infecting further hives by not being sufficiently careful. 
I then had no hesitation in saving all the brood combs 
but slightly diseased, during the gradual decline of the 
malady, and I began to get the upper hand of it. 


Partially Diseased Combs set over Queenless 
Colonies. 

Thus one or two queenless stocks were made to take 
such brood combs as another stock would be completely 
renovated, and when all the living brood had hatched, 
those stocks were finally renovated and the combs 


and tts Economic Management. 133 


destroyed.* Then at last I knew once more the true 
pleasures of bee-keeping, and enjoyed the sight of all 
healthy stocks with the combs occupied by larve of the 
usual pearly whiteness, which denotes health, vigour, and 
an end to the long period of anxiety and losses. 

I am convinced that the spores of the disease need cause 
no anxiety just because it is considered they may float 
in the air and would naturally adhere to one’s clothing. 
I had another apiary some two miles from the one then 
suffering from the disease, and I would go straight from 
the infected stocks to this apiary, and make the usual 
examinations. My hands only had been cleansed, but 
during the whole period, the said out-apiary remained 
perfectly free from the disease. I have stronger evidence 
to show you yet, that even the bees themselves do not 
carry infection by leaving their own diseased stock and 
entering a clean hive, but this will be explained in due 
course. 


4.—Bees flying from their own diseased hives do not carry 
infection to any point of ‘contact with other workers, from, or in 
other hives, except only under the conditions of natural swarming ; 
eg.: (a) No disease is communicated from flower to flower in 
consequence of the visits of such bees. (b) No outside watering or 
feeding apparatus is thus contaminated. (c) A bee flying from 
its own (diseased) hive may enter a clean hive without danger to 
the latter.+ 


In proceeding to give proofs in support of clause (c), I 
shall have shown sufficient to prove all other points 
contained in my present proposition. 

Some of my most remarkable experiences occurred some 
fifteen years since, when I carried out an important 


* After this early experience I found it was not necessary to 
destroy any but quite old or irregular combs. 


+ When swarming, the bees fill themselves with honey before 
leaving the hive. 


134 A Modern Bee-Farm 


experiment which entirely changed my own views as to 
the nature and destructiveness of foul brood ; for whereas 
formerly I considered the combs must be destroyed 
utterly, I have been able to point to perfectly clean 
combs which were at one time diseased, and yet they 
were not niedically treated in effecting the cure. 


Exchanging Diseased Stock with Healthy Colony. 


The said experiment consisted in exchanging places 
with two stocks; one of which was badly diseased, but 
strong in workers, old and young, while the other was 
more backward but perfectly healthy. 

And the result! Well, it will astonish the reader to 
know that the healthy hive remained perfectly clean, 
though it received the whole of the working force and a 
great number of the younger nursing bees of the diseased 
hive. But throughout this experiment it is to be distinctly 
understood ¢he dees were not first smoked or in any way 
intimidated, so that the normal condition of the workers 
was not upset in any way. They did not therefore gorge 
themselves with honey—but the workers in the fields 
from the diseased hive returned to the clean hive then 
in its place. | 


Queenless Interval by Swarming.* 


The next case was simply one of zzcreasing from a badly 
diseased hive which had a native queen. At the middle 
of a warm day’ the hive was lightly smoked and the queen 
removed, so that she might be left in a clean hive on the 
old stand, with foundation in the frames, to collect the 
flying bees. They were given one frame of healthy capped 


* By this method there is no loss of time, as in removing a queen 
from a stock without swarming, while young bees only are left on the 
diseased combs. 


and its Economic Management. 135 


brood as well, while the original hive of combs was 
removed to some distance. The young bees in the 
latter were without a fertile queen for some three 
weeks, by which time they had one laying, from a 
queen cell given them. In the interval, honey coming in 
rapidly, the whole of the diseased matter was cleaned out 
by the young bees; and after the young queen started 
laying, everything continued so satisfactory, and perfectly 
clean, that another division of the stock was made in July. 
The first swarm continued to build up nicely, and no sign 
of disease was at any time evident. Turning a diseased 
stock into three strong and healthy colonies was certainly 
better than destruction. 

This is only one example of others that were treated in 
precisely the same way—making healthy increase instead 
of destroying the original ; but it must be borne in mind 
‘ that no bees were shaken from the combs, the whole hive 
was removed with as little disturbance as possible, the 
operations were carried out with stocks before they were 
allowed to become seriously depopulated; the time was 
favorable for swarming and rapid honey-gathering, and 
lastly, but almost more important than all, there remains 
the fact that the diseased combs were covered with none 
but young bees, and these being queenless for a period, 
cleaned out every vestige of the disease before the young 
queen again made up a brood nest. 

The reader should make a note of this last fact in big 
capital letters, for I have never known Italian or Carniolan 
bees (with a virgin queen) when fairly numerous, to refuse 
to clear out all evidence of disease during the active season 
of honey gathering. Nevertheless, our scientists are 
puzzled right here. Even though they be witnesses of 
the above facts, they will ‘still adhere to a theory of the 
indestructible nature of the foul brood spores. 


136 A Modern Bee-Farm 


There is a more simple way of disposing of foul brood 
spores than by boiling. Zhe prenciple of germination is at 
once their power, and, on the other hand, may be made the 
means of thetr own destruction. It is simply a question of 
manipulation by the bee-keeper at the right moment, for, 
strange as it may appear, the above results were attained 
without medication in any form. 


5.—The spores of foul brood need not be dreaded, as they may 
be destroyed by a most simple and efficacious process, which is that 
of causing them to germinate where such germs find no congenial 
soil; as also where a suitable antiseptic then immediately acts upon 
the successive germs so that they have no power of reproduction, or of 
maintaining their own existence. 

The spores are considered by scientists to be inde- 
structible ; they will not freeze, no heat less than actual 
fire can kill them, no germicide destroys them. This is 
the theory to which prominent teachers adhere; they 
will tell you of “cultures ” 
sealed tubes ; they. will explain how the germs cannot exist 
where certain medicinal agents are introduced, but do what 
you will, no germicide, they say, will destroy the spores. 

These writers, nevertheless, not only deceive themselves, 
but are like the blind leaders of the blind, and in following 
this theory teacher and student alike fall into the pit of 
destruction together. If these teachers would only realise 
that a cold culture will not readily cause the spores to 


made in various substances in 


germinate and thus meet their prepared destruction they 
would then see how far they are from giving material aid 
to suffering bee-keepers. 

It is an error to teach the indestructible nature of 
the foul brood spores, for in that they readily germinate 
in the living temperature of the populous hive, they are 
easily disposed of in detail, and therefore, with a little 
assistance, the fairly strong colony will have no more of 


and tts Economic Management. 137 


ry 


them. Only cause the spores to germinate where the said 
germs find no means of continued propagation and 
sustenance, and there is an end of them. 

I have repeatedly proved by practical demonstration, 
in fact, and in results, that a fairly strong colony will, 
under certain conditions, give no resting-place to spores 
or germs, either with or without the aid of medicinal 
applications. 

Look at the method employed by Mr. McEvoy, of 
Canada. The original combs are all removed, the bees 
brushed back into the same hive where they are not 
confined, but having been supplied with frames containing 
starters only, are allowed to remain three days, and build 
what comb they will. The whole of this is then removed 
and the bees placed straight on to foundation. The hive 
is not, neither are the bees, disinfected, or fed with 
medicated food ; and in not one, but in thousands of 
cases, has this treatment resulted in a perfect cure. 
Where are the dreaded spores? Surely the bees should 
have been scalded if the scientific (?) opinion holds good 
as to the otherwise impossibility of killing the enemy. 

Mr. McEvoy considers the bees use up all the diseased 
honey they have in building the new combs during the 
three days. Possibly they do, but the probability is that 
when shaken from them they still have some of the same 
honey, though this is apparently all used up before the 
foundation can be used for storage. Even then it is some 
few days longer before larve make their appearance. But, 
again, asks the scientist, what becomes of the spores? 
The fact is, in the meantime they have germinated without 
the means of reproduction. 

I must also consider the so-called starvation plan, which 
is very similar to the above, except that the bees are 
confined without the means of comb-building for some 


138 A Modern Bee-Farm 


48 hours. And, again, what becomes of the great enemy? 
for without giving any medicated food, in years gone by, 
I have often cured in this way. There can be only one 
reply to the query; the act of cure is the same in both 
cases. 

I come now to the apparently more intricate cases as 
presented in problem 4, where the disease was not only 
once, but repeatedly disposed of without destroying the 
combs, without medication, and with no manipulation of 
the diseased cells whatever. 


Interval without Laying Queen. 


There was in each case granted an interval of two to 
three weeks without a laying queen, during which space 
of time the population being numerous, and honey coming 
in, all the diseased matter was disposed of. Even then we 
have been taught to believe the bees could not dispose of 
every cause of infection. But what are the facts? The 
bees having thoroughly cleared out every particle of the 
soil suitable for the germs to thrive in—and this they will 
not so readily do all the time they have a laying queen—any 
spores left in the hive were bound to germinate where 
there was no soil to support them, therefore their existence 
terminated.* 

Consequently we now see that the spores which might 
remain indefinitely without germinating in a comb removed 
from the genial temperature of the hive, are as it were, 
under a forcing process while remaining there during the 
active period of summer. Moreover, where a suitable 
remedy such as Izal is used to combat the disease, it 


* It has been demonstrated by careful experiments that while no 
extent of cold will kill the spores, that repeated boiling may with 
difficulty do so—when diluted in water at about 60° they perish 
in less than six months; while germs, when so diluted, will be 
destroyed by placing them in the sun for a few days. 


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and tts Economic Management. I4I 


acts in the presence of brood in a manner similar to the 
removal of brood without medication. In each case the 
germ reaches a finality without reproduction ; z.e., without 
the means of propagation, and because there is no soil for 
its further development. 


Foul Brood Correctly Named. 


Every experiment resulting in a successful cure goes to 
disprove the theory that Baczl/us alvez is, as some will 
have it, a disease of the bees. Take away the brood, or 
the means of continuing its production, and behold the 
bees need no medicine to .cure them, while they are 
almost at once capable of tending a perfectly healthy 
brood nest, and of keeping it so. Then again the germs 
of disease, when present in the bees, are only to be found 
in comparatively small numbers. The soil is not suitable 
for rapid development, and should a worker die, the 
extent of its malady is confined to its own body. In the 
workers the disease does not pass from the dead to 
the living. In the larve that is its most terrible means 
of infection. 

The same state of restriction is found in the case of the 
queen; for I have on numerous occasions during many 
years’ experience, given queens from diseased stocks to 
those quite healthy, and on no single occasion have I 
found the complaint communicated by so doing.* 

Moreover, there is the fact of the exchange of stocks 
before mentioned. Not only were the large number of 
workers of all ages from the diseased hive incapable of 
transmitting the complaint to their new nursery, but the 
same bees rapidly built up a weak into a powerful colony. 
The saving clause was that they arrived there without 


y 1 
* Nevertheless, it is possible a queen removed from a very badly 
affected stock may be the means of infection when given to another. 


142 A Modern Bee-Farm 


being frightened, and so did not first gorge themselves 
with their own stores. 


Honey and Disease Germs. 


It would be strange indeed if honey in a foul broody 
hive did not become contaminated to a slight extent. But 
here again the spores have no suitable soil wherein to 
extend their numbers, which therein are comparatively 
small; many investigators having been unable to discover 
any. This is not to be wondered at, for the humid summer 
temperature of the hive must cause them to germinate in 
detail, only to end their existence, for not only is there 
nothing in honey to encourage such parasites, but. rather 
is it a substance detrimental to all disease germs, and in 
many cases a strong antiseptic in itself. 


Abortive Germination. 


It is well known that the seed germs of all plant life 
may be induced by warmth and moisture to make an 
abortive attempt at development, even when no soil is 
present to encourage further growth. The greater the 
heat and moisture the more rapid is the germination ; and 
so also is their extinction more quickly ensured in the total 
absence of nourishment. The very few exceptions where 
plants may scrape a living on air and bare rock do not 
alter the general rule. & 


Boiling Honey. 

Now it is a question if, after all, the act of boiling 
really does destroy the spores. The proof seems evident 
and simple enough that it does not. In the first place 
the process of applying heat alternately with cooling, is 
absolutely necessary. If boiling would do it the first 
application would be sufficient, but that is not so. It 
appears to be simply a question of germination, while the 


and tts Economic M anagement. 143 


said germs are destroyed as they develop under this 
process. 

Consequently we have but one evidence of fact; and 
that is the spores simply germinate during the intermediate 
temperature, the germs being destroyed at the next boiling, 
and the boiling being followed by further germination, and 
so on till the process is completed. The logical conclusion, 
then, is this, that (a) the spores of foul brood may exist 
indefinitely in combs or honey stored apart from the bees ; 
(6) they must germinate rapidly among clustering bees 
during warm weather ; (c) the germs can only zucrease by 
the alternative process of reproduction* in dead animal 
matter ; and lastly, where the temperature is favorable for 
germination without the means of reproduction the end of 
the disease is reached. 


6.—The presence of foul brood in a hive is an evidence of low 
vitality. 

How do we know this? The facts supporting this 
proposition are unassailable; and they are numerous. 
In the first place I will call attention to the opinion of 
nearly every writer who has had any acquaintance with 
the disease. All agree that the complaint is most virulent 
in the early spring. It gets a hold of the colony hardly 
before it is aroused from its winter’s slumber, while the 
workers have as yet no incoming stores, and what little 
activity is apparent is only intermittent, such as the 
brighter intervals of sunshine tempting a few of the 
workers to gather fresh supplies of pollen. Otherwise 
the bees sit quietly upon the combs covering the slowly 
developing brood nest; and though only specks of the 
malady at first appear, long before general activity is 


* Spores to germs, and germs to spores; or, seeds to plants, and 
plants to seeds. 


144 A Modern Bee-Farm 


aroused the brood may be half dead and putrid, while 
never a bee has attempted to remove the foul matter. 

But, you go one fine morning to the apiary later in 
spring, and the bees are tumbling over each other in their 
hurry, while many are so loaded as to reach the entrance 
laboriously. Ah! that means honey, natural excitement, 
new vigour and vitality! Watch now the combs from day 
to day of any colony that has not become utterly 
depopulated. There will be no further extension of the 
malady, but first a restriction, then a decline, and with 
such manipulation as I have already offered my readers, 
finally a complete cure. Indeed, what disease can stand 
in the face of a renewed life, a greater vitality built upon 
new food which is creating such active tissue as bids 
‘defiance to disease germs. 


A Rest from Brood-rearing. 

Then again, suppose you remove the queen, not because 
she may perpetuate the disease, but just to give the workers 
a rest, for there is nothing in any state of life so wearing 
as the giving of one life for another, in driblets, as it were. 
After such removal the bees, soon having no nursing to do, 
turn their attention to cleaning out the foul cradles, and 
presently everything is so neat that one would never 
imagine disease had so recently lurked in many of the 
cells. Of course, a queen-cell must be given them, and if 
this is done during the active season, the improved tone 
and vigour of the workers is such that the brood nest 
shortly developed by the action of the young queen, is 
proof against further inroads of the disease. 


Renewed Vitality—Basis of Cure. 
Nevertheless, though I have shown that in such cases a 


rousing activity will always end in a cure, I do not by 
any means advise such attempts to be made by any but 


and tts Economic Management. 145 


experimentalists, without the free use of Izal, in the 
manner [ have frequently set forth, as success is then 
doubly assured. 

Former failures with Cheshire’s remedy, and others that 
have been brought forward from time to time, have 
resulted largely because this great principle of vitality 
has not been jirst raised before the operator started in 
his attempt to cure. What did Cheshire do? The stock 
he operated upon was so nearly depopulated, as well as 
being queenless, that as a matter of necessity, before he 
could proceed at all, he added a comb of healthy bees 
and brood with a new queen. Here then was the real 
foundation of his cure, and without knowing it himself, 
he was both misleading himself and others who attemptéd 
to follow him, inasmuch as he pointed out that Phenol was 
the cure, and that alone. 

In concluding this chapter I must assure the reader that 
disease among bees can only become a serious plague 
where it is not discovered early, and is allowed to run 
riot by the non-observant bee-keeper. Neither infectious 
paralysis nor any other bee-disease is to be feared by the 
careful bee-master, who gives immediate attention the 
moment signs of any malady are in evidence.. The 
successful bee-keeper’s policy will not be to “ drift,’ but 
to ACT. 


' a _ 
© ans aa 2 


146 A Modern Bee-Farm 


The so-called Isle of Wight disease (Infectious Paralysis) 
may be successfully treated by the definite methods of 
cure advocated by the Author. These are: (2) change 
of queens after an interval ; (4) the addition of healthy 
bees and brood to weak lots; (¢) feeding rapidly with 
properly medicated food, especially before winter ; (2) 
saturating the bees with efficiently medicated warm 
water ; (¢) the Author’s method of vaporising ; (7) dress- 
ing insides of hives with Veterinary Izal; (g) effectual 
ventilation ; (2) the use of practically immune bees. 


CHAPTER XI. 
BEE-PARALYSIS. 


Isle of Wight Disease ; Paralysis from Poison ; May 
Disease ; Dysentery ; Overheating ; Bad Ventilation. 


HE general cause of Paralysis in bees is to be found 
ris in the insects’ inability to breathe freely and fully, 
in consequence of the spiracles and air sacs becoming 
congested, and rendered useless for the time being, either by 
local poisoning, bad ventilation, acute dysentery, or, it may 
be, the action of some obscure disease germ * as in the case 
of infectious paralysis (Isle of Wight disease), with its 
consequent econstipation. ‘ 
It is all too frequently forgotten that the dark and 


* In one issue of the British Bee Fournal, the editor, describing 
acute dysentery, concluded this was the same as Isle of Wight 
disease. In a following issue, referring to Nosema apis, he again 
assured his readers this was the same thing as the Isle of Wight 
complaint. Nevertheless, in the said editorial it was shown that 
on the Continent bees are not apparently affected, and continue as 
vigorous as usual, when N. apis is present. 


and its Economie Management. 147° 


offensive contents of the bowel are not the primary cause 
‘of the disease and inability to fly, but the ultimate result 
of the malady. Jt may be concluded that neither acute 
dysentery nor Mosema apis is the cause of the so-called 
. Isle of Wight disease, although in the case of general 
debility and loss of exercise Nosema apis may be present 
in larger numbers than usual. 

Hence the cause should not be sought in the bowel, but 
will probably be discovered in some other important organ 
of the insect. In the earliest stages of the disease, bees. 
incapable of flight may be found in front of the hive, with 
the abdomen free from pollen or offensive accumulations, 
and it is only after confinement through stress of weather 
that the dark-colored masses are found. 

If the complaint is a disease of the bowel, then neither 
queen, drone, nor brood would escape ; whereas it is 
generally found that only the adult workers are diseased. 
In rare instances, however, it may be considered that the 
queen is affected, and will be unable to continue her 
maternal duties. The drones appear to be only occasionally 
found under the spell of the disease, though, being so 
robust and stronger on the wing, the affection does not. 
seem to be serious in their case. 


The Early Stage of Infectious Paralysis 


may be noticed by the following symptoms: bees falling 
before the hive entrance, clinging to grass or clustering in 
lumps, unable to take wing; no dead except from continued 
exposure.; in a period of fair weather the abdomen is free 
from dark or offensive matter ; no dislocation of the wings ;. 
no inclination by the stock to discontinue work in fine 
periods ; falling bees will often put out the sting if touched ; 
no discolored or bloated bees found clinging to the frames, 
combs, or anywhere inside the hive, in a helpless condition ; 


148 A Modern Bee-Farm 3 


the first evidence of the malady may occur with a sudden 
accession of heat * ; may also be seen soon after giving fresh 
sheets of foundation. 


The Secondary or Final Stage 


is a more serious matter, and should not be allowed, if 
possible, as the observant bee-owner should generally be 
able to check the complaint at the first evidence of trouble. 

The sick workers now die in the hive, or are found 
expiring on the alighting board, or in front of it, many 
being drawn out by the more able workers, who may soon 
be in like condition. Few or no bees crawling or clustering 
on the ground; the abdomen not of necessity distended, 
though more frequently so in cool weather ; contents of the 
bowel generally offensive, but not always of a dark color ; 
workers die off quickly, many becoming denuded of hair 
and turning a dull black while yet alive,f hence the 
complaint has been referred to as Bacillus depilis. The 
stock shows less inclination to work in fine weather than 
formerly. The sick bees are constipated in all cases, except 
it may be occasionally in winter, when they are unable to 
hibernate perfectly. The affected bees have neither the 
power nor the inclination to use the sting. At this stage of 
the malady even quite young bees may be among the dead. 
The dislocation of the wings, so often referred to, is not 
peculiar to this complaint. 


Curative Treatment. 


Many prominent teachers, and also experts holding first- 
class certificates, have allowed the bees they owned, or 


* Where losses occur in autumn, winter and spring, the disease 
probably developed in the previous summer. 


+ These should not be confused with old, lean, dark bees that 
the workers may be turning out from some hive, often a vain 
undertaking, as these will frequently fly back. 


and tts Economic Management. 149 


those under their charge, to die out through sheer helpless- 
ness and incapacity; or have destroyed other stocks in a 
panic of fear, and ignorance of the true principles of 
recuperative and life-giving vitality. 

These and other bee-keepers have allowed lethargy and 
decay to reign supreme, where otherwise they might have 
secured increased vigour, and a rousing vitality that would 
have ensured a large increase and more profitable results. 

Many writers whose experience is limited by their own 
failures, insist that the disease is incurable, despite definite 
and conclusive facts to the contrary. 


Definite Treatment Ensuring a Definite Cure. 


In the successful treatment of foul brood I was able to 
show, many years ago, how the affected stock could be 
renovated by a change of queens after an interval, as well 
as by the addition of healthy brood and bees; and the 
reader may rely upon the Author’s statement, as a fact 
beyond all controversy, that the removal of the original, 
and more particularly if an old queen, and then introducing 


A Vigorous Young Queen,* 


when paralysis is found during the active season—as a 
virgin after seven days, or a fertile queen after fourteen 
days—will ultimately result in a complete cure, where 
supplementary treatment herein recommended, is also 
carried out. 


The Links in the Chain of Disease 


are severed by the period allowed between the lives of 
the older workers, and the renewal of the population by 
the addition of numerous young from the vigorous and 


* The young queen should be either Italian, Carniolan or 
Cyprian, if the latter be crossed with a drone of either of the 
first-named varieties. 


150 A Modern Bee-Farm 


youthful queen; while the workers produced by her are 
of a more hardy constitution. 

I frequently hear from correspondents whose apiaries are 
free from disease, largely because of the yearly renewal of 
young queens* and the persistent use of medicated food,t 
while neighboring apiaries, in some cases just over the 
road, are being ruined by the Isle of Wight or other 
complaints. 


In Spraying the Bees and Combs 

with the Author’s preparation, it is not sufficient that the 
operator use the common rubber spray, which is quite 
inadequate for the purpose of saturating them short of 
drowning. the bees. A fine-spray syringe should be used, 
damping the bees thoroughly to just that extent they will 
not crawl away from the hive. The combs need not .be 
shifted, except in the secondary or fatal stage of the 
complaint, when every comb must be saturated on each 
side. The quilt must be quickly replaced after spraying 
over the tops of the frames, the whole operation being 
carried out in less than three minutes. The bees will at 
once start a merry hum, while busily cleaning themselves 
and each other. 


Steaming or Vaporising 
may be adopted, even in cool weather, using a small kettle 
with a rubber tube passed under the quilting. Apply for 
three to five minutes, using double the quantities of Izal, 
etc., as set out for spraying. This plan is very useful when 
supers are on. 


* The annual renewal of queens has been persistently advocated 
by the Author since the issue of his 1886 pamphlet, and many have 
benefited by following this plan. 


+ In using Izal, one teaspoonful to one pint of water is necessary 
for spraying, or two teaspoonfuls of B-well.” For feeding, use the 
same proportions to 8 lbs. of sugar. 


and its Economic Management. 151 


The Enamel quilt, or American oilcloth, is finally con- 
demned in view of the prevalence of bee-paralysis. Nothing 
must check ventilation, and all corroded quilts should be 
removed and clean ones returned after being saturated 
with the B-well solution, and left wet. 


Out of Season Applications. 


The foregoing plans can hardly be carried out from the 
end of October to the end of February, but at any time 
during winter, when fairly mild, if it is absolutely necessary, 
just two or three pounds of medicated syrup may be given 
to an affected stock. 

This food should be quite warm, and supplied in a plain 
bottle having a double thickness of thin old linen, or cheese 
cloth, tied over the mouth, inverting it close on the bare 
frames, just over the cluster. The bottle should be 
carefully covered up, and applied so that the whole of 
the food is taken down while warm. 

By the end of February, if mild, thin medicated syrup 
(warm) may be given with great advantage, allowing 
one-fifth more water than for early winter stores. 


Early Autumn Treatment Imperative. 


Where the bees are already in a bad state in Autumn, 
the case is somewhat difficult for the average owner to 
deal with. A young queen should have been given in 
August ; and if the stock is already depleted, a comb of 
brood and healthy bees will work wonders, if such can 
be spared. The added bees are not readily affected, 
particularly if preventive measures are being employed, 
and these fresh workers quickly re-invigorate the stock, 
ensuring a populous colony. 


Natural Stores Condemned. 
Where there is any possibility of disease, either in his 


152 A Modern Bee-Farm 


apiary or the neighborhood, no wideawake bee-keeper will 
in future leave his bees with natural stores for the winter. 
One may not say, “ That is well enough, I’ll leave it alone.” 
I assure you it is not well enough, and you may not leave 
it alone, if bee-paralysis is anywhere near you. 

The stored honey must as far as possible be removed,* 
not that this may be a source of danger, but because the 
careful owner must make up his mind to feed his stocks 
with efficiently medicated syrup. In this way the bees 
have only medicinally prepared food to live upon, and are 
‘thus able to keep free from disease. Stocks not so treated 
are frequently found to be failing with the Isle of Wight 
disease in late autumn and winter, when any sort of 
manipulation is out of the question, and it is then too 
late to change the stores. 

These points were advanced by me in the British Bee 
Journal, August 24th, 1911, and more particularly insisted 
upon in that Journal for September 5th, 1912, as a helpful 
warning, so that bee-keepers might certainly avoid the 
usual winter losses from this complaint. I showed that 


The Bee-owner’s Great Opportunity 


occurred in the Autumn, and if my advice as to feeding up 
with medicated food was followed, I declared it to be a fact 
that winter and early spring outbreaks need never occur. 
Many have already profited: by this advice, and at last 
bee-keepers generally are beginning to realise the above 
truth. The process of cure is always hastened by the 
addition of a young queen, clean brood, and healthy bees, 
when available, even if only as many as will cover a single 
comb. Another point is that feeding with medicated food 


* With a July reared queen inserted in August there will be no 
difficulty in turning much of the natural store into young bees, 
before finishing by rapid feeding. : 


and its Economic Management. 153 


should recommence from the end of February, as the 
essential curative principles of any germicide stored for 
several months in the food either evaporate or become 
weaker. 

The partial success of a writer in the British Bee Journal 
of April 24th, 1913, who followed the plan of wintering on 
medicated food, is to be explained by the facts set out in 
the preceding paragraph. 


Sources of Danger disposed of. 


An essential feature is that young bees must be produced 
in September in sufficient numbers that the old stores of 
pollen, etc. are largely disposed of; as also the old. bees 
that are another source of danger, 


Adding Driven Bees. 


Where brood is not available, the reduced stocks may be 
made up with driven bees if these can be procured locaily, 
or from not too great a distance. In all cases the bees 
should be fed up rapidly with medicated food. Human 
beings can be treated without medicine, but bees living in 
such vast numbers and in close contact may not be 
managed in just the same way. Nevertheless I have 
always insisted that recuperative measures are of as much 
importance as the best germicide, and should always be 
adopted in combination. 


May Disease 


is a malady sometimes mistaken for the Isle of Wight 
paralysis, but it does not appear to be infectious, and 
usually only the very young bees seem to be affected, 
and should these be picked up they are quite prepared 
to use their stings. 

The cause is to be found in a sudden accession of heat 
just as a badly ventilated hive may be hatching a large 


154 A Modern Bee-Farm 


number of young bees; thus increasing the population so 
rapidly that the older workers may not be able to drive in 
enough fresh air; or they may be so busy gathering honey 
that they do not leave a sufficient number to do it 
thoroughly. It is quite probable that overheating injures 
the delicate gauze-like wings just as they are unfolding as 
the bee nears maturity, and hence the young thus affected 
will vainly attempt to fly. 


The Cure for May Disease 


is of course very evident, but with proper ventilation 
provided, the effect though certain as regards further 
young that may leave the cells, is not, of much avail so 
far as the bees already affected may be concerned. 

It is a very strange fact that the sudden advent of great 
heat will frequently show the first symptoms of the Isle of 
Wight disease in a stock hitherto apparently quite healthy, 
while others known to be slightly affected are immediately 
found to be in a worse state. Thus 


The question of thorough ventilation* 
is one that must be very seriously considered by every 
bee-keeper. In the above-mentioned rapid development 
of Isle of Wight disease usually oniy the adult bees are 
troubled, as distinguished from May disease, affecting the 
very young. 


Paralysis from Local Poisoning 


will sometimes be found to occur with bees that have 


* This must not be confused with excessive ventilation in cold 
weather. A wide entrance in cool weather, exposed to wind is 
detrimental; but a restricted entrance and heavy quilting will 
always be fatal. A small entrance, with the quilts removed, will 
be beneficial. Swarms slightly affected may always be cured if 
hived with no quilting until ready for supering. See also ‘‘ Swarm- 
ing without Increase.” 


and its Economic Management. 155 


visited some injurious plant or tree that may be in bloom 
when there is not much else they can work upon. I have 
always advised the immediate and rapid feeding of several 
pounds of thin warm syrup, and this simple remedy has 
proved most beneficial, as the poisonous honey collected 
is diluted, and the bees have less inclination to work on 
the laurel, which is usually the offending plant. 


Dysentery 
will sometimes result in partial or temporary paralysis, 
and the trouble may result from the winter food being 
unsuitable ; or because the bees have a damp and shady 
position, with prolonged confinement. 


Spring Dwindling, 
as usually understood, is not a result of Isle of Wight 
disease ; indeed, it is not in any sense a disease, but is 
always-an accidental circumstance, generally resulting from 
mismanagement. 

Nevertheless, this or any other trouble can be aggravated 
by infectious paralysis ; but it would be a wrong conclusion 
to set down spring dwindling or common dysentery as a 
result of this malady. 


Where did Infectious Paralysis come from ? 


In the July, 1896, issue of Gleanings in Bee Culture 
(America), the editor expressed a fear that bee-paraiysis 
was spreading over the whole of the United States ; but 
fortunately such has not been the case, although the trouble 
has been reported by bee-owners in a dozen different States 
over a period of some 30 years or more, but especially in 
Florida, Texas and California. : 

Infectious paralysis has been known in Australian 
apiaries since 1894, at different periods, and there can be 
no doubt that less serious cases occur occasionally in other 


156 A Modern Bee-Farm 


countries. The trouble has sometimes been considered a 
form of dysentery, but it is not so, being essentially a case 
of constipation. The hives and combs are very seldom 
soiled, unless occasionally the bees are unable to hibernate 
because of the malady being aggravated by cold. 


Means of Infection. 


A whole list of most improbable causes has been given 
from time to time; the writers entirely ignoring the most 
simple rules of reasoning, and overlooking the fact that 
thousands of colonies existing under the same conditions 
have remained healthy and prosperous. 

Poor and wet seasons can have nothing whatever to do 
with originating the disease, otherwise the complaint 
should have been with us before the late plague and more 
frequently in years past. Indeed, excessive heat, rather 
than bad seasons, tends to develop and aggravate the 
complaint where it is in evidence. 

Pollen and honey-dew, as mediums of carrying the germs 
of disease, and also the practice of feeding sugar as a 
supplementary store, have also been considered causes of 
the Isle of Wight disease, but with no shadow of proof to 
support such theories, for the reason set out above. 

And seldom can the disease be’ spread because bees 
visit flowers that have been searched by diseased bees,* 
otherwise other stocks in the apiary, or neighborhood, 
would not remain free from the complaint, as they certainly 
have done in many instances. 

Contaminated water may be one means of spreading the 
disease, but undoubtedly the sick and dying workers lying 
around are the greatest source of infection to other colonies, 


* Tt is even a question whether an ailing bee goes out to work 
when its condition of disease is so far advanced that it could thus 
disseminate the fatal germs. 


and its Economic Management. 157 


as they certainly are to the other members of their own 
hive. Hence every sick or dead bee should be collected 
and put out of harm’s way every day, or several times 
daily. 

But probably the worst offender of all is the owner 
himself, if he is careless in manipulating, and in treading 
upon diseased bees. In working with affected hives the 
hands should always be kept moist with a strong disin- 
fectant, as also the smoker and any other tools while in 
use. The ground should be well treated with chloride of 
lime, as well as the outsides of hives when the bees are 
quiet. The insides of all empty hives should also be 
treated in the same way, or by some recognised germicide, 
the most effective being veterinary Iza]. Salt may also be 
freely used all over the ground; it may be sprinkled on the 
floors, and particulariy near the fronts of the hives. It will 
also be beneficial supplied in syrup, and all known drinking 
places that the bees visit. 


There is no excuse ; 
there is no reason whatever that the disease should spread 
through a whole apiary, and certainly far less reason why it 
should spread to other apiaries in the district, except from 
utter carelessness and incapacity. 


Robbing 

is probably another unfortunate means of spreading the 
Isle of Wight complaint, but even where this is found to 
occur the owner is entirely at fault should any evil 
consequences follow. The bees, as well as the stores 
appropriated, may be at once rendered harmless by 
spraying with the B-well solution, or with Izal. The 
advantage of supplying medicated food to all stocks will 
be evident in this case, as no serious result can possibly 
follow after robbing. 


158 A Modern Bee-Farm 


Rats, Mice, Ants, Birds, 


and other creatures that stir up the dead in front of affected 
stocks, and then pass over the alighting boards, are 
undoubtedly to blame (next to the owner who allows such 
to lie about), in spreading the malady from hive to hive in 
the same apiary. Mice are particularly fond of eating 
bees ; they live in the ground everywhere, and their name 
is legion. While the owner is asleep they are all over the 
fronts of his hives, carrying destruction to successive 
colonies, while he is dreaming of some mysterious means 
of infection, instead of awakening to the fact that this and 
most diseases are spread by direct contact—and that 
contact he may prevent. 


Flowers and Water 


should not be provided near the apiary. Even where there 
is no immediate danger the bees will soil many objects 
around the apiary, and it is best to be on guard against 
all forms of disease. 


ana its Economte Management. 159 


It is sheer folly to suppose that a given swarm of bees 
will store just as much surplus honey in a common 
skep or any old box or tub, as they can do in a bar- 
frame hive ; or even that they may produce as much 
in a makeshift, incomplete frame hive, as they will in 
a properly constructed modern hive, built upon a com- 
prehensive scale for carrying out the most economic 
methods. 

Movable frames—large frames—and large hives 
admit of such manipulation that a given swarm may 
yield four to five times as much as it would do ina 
skep or makeshift hive. 


CHAPTER XII. 
MODERN HIVES. 
HOW CONSTRUCTED AND FURNISHED. 


P' EE-KEEPERS who have failed to obtain good 
G results from the use of modern hives are at times 

in the habit of comparing their poor results with 
better conditions they have seen, where the old straw 
skep was in use. 

Nevertheless, it is not the modern hive which is at 
fault, but the bee-keeper who fails to carry out modern 
methods. The straw skep has severe limitations, and is 
in no sense, either for large populations, for wintering, or 


good honey results, equal to the modern bar-frame hive. 


The Cowan Hive. 


The hive illustrated (Figs. 7 and 8) is that adopted by 
Mr. T. W. Cowan many years ago, as an improvement 
upon the Woodbury, one of the earliest types of bar-frame 


160 A Modern Bee-Farm 


hives used in this country. The hive is self-protecting, 
and can be packed with chaff or cork dust between the 
inner and outer walls, and even between the double floor. 

This was one of the most substantial and workable of 
the early pioneer bar-frame hives, and its constructor had 
cansiderable success with it. The hive was in use and 
was described by Mr. Cowan in the English Mechanic long 
before there was any Bee Journal in this country, and at 
a period when most of the prominent bee-keepers found 
the columns of the Journal of Horticulture one of the best 
mediums for the interchange of opinions and experiences. 

Mr. Cowan, who was always a clever mechanic, was also 
the inventor of the Automatic Extractor, which bears his 
name, and is now almost universally adopted as the best 
machine. 

The Stewarton Hive 


4 


was one of the best known in Scotland in those days, but 
as it had only bars and slides, it had to disappear before 
the rapid advance of the more convenient hives, having 
every comb built within a separate, easily removable frame. 
. The Stewarton was apparently the first divisible brood- 
chamber hive, and was responsible for some large yields of 
honey, principally because of the method of management 
adopted. 

A swarm would be hived in a body box, with a super 
added ; then another, and often a third swarm would be 
added in another brood box below the first, or second, 
respectively ; while at the same time further supers would 
be placed above. The slides were at first drawn at the two 
sides ; with the added supers, more than two slides, and as 
the stock became established still more surplus room was 
given. 

- Pettigrew’s large flat skep also fell into disuse, although 


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and its Economic Management. 161 


he had been very successful in adopting a peculiar system 
of his own in connection therewith, 

But the pioneer manufacturers of movable frame hives, 
Messrs. Neighbour, Messrs. Lee & Son, and Mr. Abbott, 
of the British Bee Journal, and a few others, were able to 
’ give a great impetus to the demand for improved hives at 
the Bee ‘Exhibition held in the Crystal Palace in 1874, 
and with the Brzt7sh Bee Journal already started, and the 
British Bee-Keepers’ Association inaugurated, modern bee- 
keeping methods rapidly extended. 

Another hive came into notoriety when the late Mr. 
W. B. Carr became sub-editor of the Brztzsh Bee Journal, 
bringing to the same office the Bee-Keeper’s Record, which 
he had edited for many years. 


The W.B.C. Hive 


has perhaps been used as much as any by the many who 
require a cheap article; but its principal feature and 
recommendation was its 53-inch frames for extracting. 
The hive is not so substantial as the Cowan hive, and 
has often been produced too cheaply to be of any real 
value, and in a manner not creditable to certain makers. 


The Abbott Hives 
are generally furnished with frames having wide ends of 
wood as part of the frame-bar for self-adjustment. 

Another feature in Messrs. Abbott’s frames is the double 
groove in the underside: of the bar for inserting the sheet 
of foundation, and then fixing with a slip wedge. This was 
an ingenious idea, and has been adopted by the largest 
manufacturers in the United States. 

This plan of fixing foundation is better than the top bar 
split through and nailing, but for my own use I prefer 
wiring, and waxing the sheet to the top bar, as being 
more simple, strong and expeditious. 


M 


162 A Modern Bee-Farm 


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

I present to the reader a simple hive with eleven frames, 
occupying a space across the case, inside, of 16} inches; 
and another hive with frames, equally as simple, but more 
complete, having an outer case, as shown in the illustrations 
of Simmins’ “ Conqueror,” which was introduced to bee- 
keepers in 1888, as the perfection of his “ Non-Swarming 
System ” offered some years previously. Also a very 
practically arranged hive with frames’ 16 inches by 
10 inches, the more suitable size for commercial, as 
indeed for all highly profitable purposes. 


THE ECONOMIC HIVE. 


This is a simple and substantial hive, made from 32-inch 
deal. It contains nine frames and two dummies, and the 
width of the hive inside, measuring across the frames, is 
163 inches. By removing the dummies there is room for 
eleven frames for ordinary spacing, or as designed by me 
for close spacing in the first instance, twelve may be used 
only 4-inch apart. I have practised crowding and close 
spacing ever since foundation first came into use, finding 


and its Economic Management. 163, 


it gave a more compact brood nest and less room for stores. 
below. 

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

The Economic (Fig. 20) has a floor composed of one 
piece of board 173 inches by 11 inches, and another 

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

The front and back boards are each 163 inches long by 
'88 inches deep. Both of these are bevelled along the 
upper edge, to give a thin ledge for the frames to rest 
upon. The two side walls are each 174+ inches long by 
9 inches wide, and overlap the back and front walls so far 
that exactly 144 inches are allowed between the two, 
being }-inch to spare beyond the length of the 14-inch. 
standard frame at each end. A plinth, 163 inches by 
24 inches, is inserted at the top and bottom between the 
two g-inch sides, filling in the space left at the ends of the: 


164 A Modern Bee-Farm 


top bars, and at the same time being a very convenient 
arrangement for lifting the hive. The permanent entrance 
is 3 inches wide and cut out of the floor, but full width can 
be given by sliding the hive forward. 


The Cover 


is cut from 11-inch stuff as shown in Fig. 13 ; the long edge 
being 21 inches and the other 7} inches. The bevelled 
edges for mitreing at the joints may be cut off on the 
saw bench, or even better, by hand, straight from the 
plank in the first instance, reversing the plank at each 
cut. Otherwise, the inside edge should be gauged at 
8-inch, and then planed down to the mark, leaving the 
outside edge untouched. Nail together with at least five 
2-inch brads down each side. The top square is 11 inches 
across and screwed on from inside. There is no economy 
in planing the wood other than on the outside; but where 
this is not done it requires very much more paint, and is 
liable to rot, as the surface cannot be so well covered. 

The Standard frame and dummy are as represented, 
Figs. 14 and 15; the top bar of the former being 3-inch 
thick instead of the usual weak bar of only 3-inch thickness. 
The top bar may be either $-inch or 1-inch wide, the former 
being generally adopted. 

All covers must be painted on the lower edge and 
2 or 3 inches up underneath as well. The floor requires 
painting at least 3 inches from the edge all round both 
top and bottom, as also the bottom edges of all compart- 
ments. This is too frequently omitted, when the hive does 
not last a fourth of the time it should. So long as all in 
sight is painted that is generally considered sufficient, 
whereas the very parts left undone happen to be the 
most vital, as it is at the joints that the wet settles and 
soon causes mischief. 


Fic. 13. 
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(IN ao 
= en 
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Fic. 14. Fig. 15. 
Standard Frame. The Author's Original Feeding 
Dummy. 
[Lin 7 5 1 


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||| COMMERCIAL iS 
STANDARD. 
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FIG. 15a. Fic. 16. 


The Author’s Improved Dummy 
Feeder. 


and tts Economic Management. 167 


Simmins’ Thick Top-bar. 


Having used a top-bar from #-inch to $-inch thick for 
more than 30 years, during the whole of which period I 
have strongly condemned the thin 38-inch bar generally 
manufactured by hive-dealers, 1 am so strongly convinced 
as to the superior advantages of the thick top-bar that I 
must urge all to use no other. 

The thick bar is not so readily built over by the upward 
extension of the comb, while I have frequently pointed 
out that the queen is less likely to travel over it into the 
supers, hence one reason why excluder zinc may be 
dispensed with. I have carried out so 


Many Experiments with Frames 


in various styles that my readers may be assured the 
plain frame {$-inch wide is the best to adopt as herein 
illustrated. Top-bars varying from I-inch to 14-inch. 
have repeatedly been tried, only to be discarded as non- 
practical, except in the case of shallow extracting frames, 
which may have 14-bars and be spaced at 1#-inch. Frames 
with wide ends for stock purposes should be barely 14-inch. 


SIMMINS’ CONQUEROR “ HANGING-CHAMBER ” 
HIVE. 

In hive construction I presented in my 1893 edition the 
very novel feature of whole bodies HANGING as do the 
brood frames, and notwithstanding the clear bee-space 
allowed all round between each upper and lower rim of 
the respective boxes, the sections are carefully secured 
against cold by the judicious arrangement of the quilting ; 
while upward ventilation around the sides may be allowed 
or entirely prevented at will, simply by the careful adjust- 
ment of the same. The section crates are further secured 
against chill by double packed sides. 


168 A Modern Bee-Farm 


This hive, which I had under serious consideration 
when my Non-Swarming System was inaugurated,* is in 
many important particulars quite different to any yet 
introduced. My method has been before bee-keepers for 
many years, and has met with approval from all who 
have followed the plan intelligently ; but so many of the 
hives in use are unsuitable for carrying out the method, 
that the novice has often found it difficult to adopt with 
the hives he has on hand. 


All Chambers a Bee-space Apart. 


I therefore introduced during the season 1888-9 the 
above improved Non-Swarming Hive, which gives (1) 
plenty of room in the right direction, (2) perfect ventilation 
at all seasons of the year without draught, (3) the most 
complete shade during the hottest days of summer, (4) the 
greatest ease in manipulation, as the lower body may be 
examined, also the upper, or brood nest proper, QUITE 
INDEPENDENTLY OF EACH OTHER, also without removing ° 
the supers. The latter points in particular, will be welcomed 
by many bee-keepers, who, while anxious to examine the 
brood nest or non-swarming chamber under it, frequently 
neglect to do so rather than be obliged to shift the whole 
lot. For a period extending back prior to 1875 I have had 
hives in use having a deep outer case, and from these my 
best results have invariably been secured. 

Within this Hanging-Chamber Hive we have first the. 
lower chamber (whether shallow frames or sections, or a 
second stock hive arranged for prevention of swarming) 
which touches neither the floor nor stock chamber proper 
above it, thus entirely doing away with propolisation at 
these points, and enabling such non-swarming arrangement 


* Special Prize Hive, South Kensington, 1878, Simmins’ Non- 
Swarming Pamphlet, 1886. 


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and tts Economic Management. 169 


to be examined with ease at any time. The brood chamber 
comes next, and on this the supers may rest if desired. 
The hive is also used with neither of the supers or chambers 
touching its neighbor, either for extracting or comb-honey 
production. The hive was set up either for comb-honey 
or extracting ; with a deep stock and shallow supers; with 
all standard stocks for extracting ; with a divisible brood 
chamber of all shallow frames for extracting; or a 
combination of shallow frames and sections. 

Room is allowed for three to four sets of sections where 
one is first worked under the stock in place of another 
body of frames. The hive proper is capable of holding 
either eleven or twelve frames, while the lower chamber 
will take as many more. For extracting, another takes 
the place of the sections, so that in all, nearly three dozen 
standard frames may be used for that purpose; or eleven 
stock frames and 24 to 30 for extracting, when these are 
shallow. 

The side walls of the body boxes are of the same depth 
as the frames, yet the space between the respective 
chambers is so carefully regulated that the distance 
between the several tiers of frames never varies. There 
are no two level surfaces drop upon each other anywhere 
about the body boxes or supers, and therefore very little 
propolisation, and less risk of crushing bees. 

Notwithstanding the open space between the lower and 
upper chamber (and the other compartments when so 
arranged), and around the same, it may be as well to meet 
any enquiry regarding this arrangement by at once stating 
that where the surplus is properly looked after, and the 
super of sections is started below with full sheets of 
foundation, and the entrance contracted meanwhile for 
the purpose of encouraging work there, no combs can be 
built outside of the chambers. 


170 A Modern Bee-Farm 


The Large Entrance Accommodation 


is a great feature in Simmins’ Hanging-Chamber Hive ; 
in summer it may be some 18 inches by 2 inches deep. 
Next we have the independent space all round the lower 
rim of the Non-Swarming Chamber (as temporary super) 
and between it and the floor, a further opening of 70 inches 
by 43-inch. But more than this, taking the upper spaces 
between three other chambers, we get another clear spacing 
equal to 210 inches by }-inch deep, or a grand total of 
entrance accommodation of over 120 square inches. The 
fact cannot be denied that such a feat has never before 
been accomplished in a modern bee-hive, in solid workable: 
practice, and with results in honey-production far in excess 
of the restricted, non-ventilating methods still adopted by 
the majority of bee-keepers. 


Perfect Ventilation 


cannot be secured in any other manner, either in summer 
or winter. Many of the old bee-masters have striven to 
secure thorough ventilation by using perforated metal 
and other devices, all of which failed utterly, through 
the bees immediately ‘stopping every opening with 
propolis. 


Brace-Combs, Burr-Combs, 


or comb-projections and attachments such as are found 
between frame ends or under the sections, have always 
been the result of the old-fashioned crowding plan which 
the majority of bee-keepers still adhere to when working 
for comb-honey. But once and for all the apiarist should 
disabuse himself of this prejudice against Simmins’ new 
system. Comb-honey is finished off just as well, or even 
better, and moreover in larger quantities, where so much 
space is allowed below the stock, and between all the 


and tts Economic Management. 171 


rims of the non-contact chambers. And lastly, but not 
by any means the least desirable feature, is the fact, so 
strongly pointed out by users of this hive of advanced 
construction, that everything is cleaner and so much more 
easily manipulated than is the case with common hives. 

With the space below the stock hive proper, never being 
completely filled or finished off, the bees are not induced 
to start inconvenient comb attachments at any part of 
the hive. Thus, in 


Starting Sections below the Stock,* 


these are not left permanently, but must be moved up— 
crate, bees, and all—just as they are clustering to make a 
good start on the foundation. 

When manipulating the chambers any super or stock 
hive may be placed corner-wise on the back door as it lies 
on the top of the case, forming a convenient table, with the 
cleats uppermost, and on which the supers may rest without 
crushing a bee. The cover may be inverted on the ground 
for a similar purpose. 


The Vital Question of Wintering. 


My hanging-chamber hive fulfils all the necessary 
conditions for ensuring successful wintering in the highest 
degree. That the hive stands pre-eminent in this respect 
is shown by the fact that the stock chamber proper not 
only hangs quite clear of the floor, but may be several 
inches above it. It is then self-evident that the usual 
refuse and moisture collecting about the junction of the 
common hive and floor have no place in this hive. 


“* The Author has at no time advised that sections should be 
completed below the stock; and critics who have imagined such to 
have been my teaching have wholly missed the great principle of 
honey production, and the starting of new combs, for completion 
above the stock. 


172 A Modern Bee-Farm 


Every part is always dry and clean, and being thoroughly 
ventilated, because of such construction, with the 


Heavier Foul Air 
constantly carried away at the bottom, a colony of bees 
can maintain in perfection that semi-hibernating condition 
so essential to their well-being at this critical period of 
the year. Moreover the combs do not become mouldy, 
and therefore remain sound for a greater length of time. 
Consequently one of the 


Most Important Features 

in connection with this system is the fact that a vast 
population is brought into existence almost before the 
bee-keeper realizes the fact in early Spring. Unlike other 
laborious attempts to secure control of bees, the manage- 
ment of the Conqueror Hive is carried out, especially 
when controlling swarming, with the least possible 
disturbance to the normal condition of the constantly 
progressive colony. 


A System 

inaugurated by my prize hive at South Kensington, 1878, 
and perfected in my Conqueror hive introduced in 1888, 
having stood the test of practical experience, while other 
ideas and plans based upon no positive system have come 
and gone, deserves the most serious consideration from all 
practical bee-keepers, seeing that it is founded upon sound 
economic, scientific, and natural principles combined. 


A Strange Objection 
made by many prominent bee-keepers is that there is too 
much ventilation allowed in this hive. It is indeed very 
strange that many men should be as much afraid of allowing 
ventilation in their hives as they are in their own sleeping 
apartments, 


Fic. 19. 


Design of “Economic” Hive. 


Fic. 22. 


Fic, 21. 


Frame end resting on 
bevelled edge. 


Position of Frame resting on zinc 
runners, 


and its Economic Management. 175 


It has been shown how the foul damp air is disposed of ; 
consequently bees are warmer in this hive than they are in . 
the old-fashioned close-fitting hives that retain the cold 
damp air; and it is passing strange that so many teachers 
do not yet understand the first principles of hive construc- 
tion and bee-control, . 


Bee-Paralysis 
has been both cured and prevented by the use of this 
hive and its method of ventilation, without any other aid 
whatever ; but those “authorities” who are frightened by 
revolutionary, but rational methods, will not allow them- 
selves to believe these statements. 


The Complete Success 
accorded to this hive and system must be the final proof 
of a correct construction and management, and the 
results of 100 lbs. to 200 lbs. of comb honey per hive, 
even in poor seasons, leave little to be desired by the 
ardent and persevering apiculturist. 


The Conqueror Supers 


are all fitted with double walls on two sides, while slatted 
dividers (fence separators) are placed at each end of the rows 
of sections, with a clear bee-space between them and the 
walls of the super, thus giving exceptionally free admission 
to the sections, and at the same time disposing of the old 
trouble of thin combs in the sections at the ends. Hence 
the process of comb-building is very rapid, and consequently 
the brood combs are not crowded to the exclusion of the 
queen, and the population of the colony is therefore 
maintained at the highest power. 

For the sake of uniformity, the Standard Stock Chamber 
is also made with double sides; but the Commercial 
Chamber has single sides. All chambers are then of the 


176 A Modern Bee-Farm 


same width, so that the same outer case is used for all, 
the same supers being worked with either a Standard or 
Commercial Stock Chamber. 


The Removable Back of the Case 


is adjusted in the most simple manner possible, the result 
of many years’ practical study. It simply drops into its 
place without any metal fastening whatever; hence I am 
occasionally amused by correspondents asking if hooks and 
eyes or hinges ought not to be used? Certainly not, unless 
you wish to go backwards over the same experimental 
ground that I have traversed, before finding the most 
practical method of securing the back. In addition to 
the above, the sides are made to “bind” inwards at the 
back, while the shape of the cover also aids in securing 
the top more firmly. In opening, the sides are slightly 
pressed away while at the same time the back is lifted up 
and outwards. 


In Painting 


it is quite necessary to give at least two coats of paint 
along the angle formed at each side by the inner plinths 
_or stays; also up under (inside) the floor rim, and fully one 
inch up under the lower edge of the cover; otherwise wet 
is sure to soak up, and ultimately destroy the wood. 


A COMMERCIAL STANDARD FRAME. 


I must state without hesitation that the Standard frame 
of the British Beekeepers’ Association is much too small 
for any bee-keeper who is attempting to produce honey 
on a wholesale scale. It is true I have been using the 
Association Standard frame largely for some years past, for 
queen-rearing purposes, and expect to continue to do so as 
long as I supply bees to those who have adopted that size ; 


and tts Economic Management. 177 


but its use has only the more forcibly brought to my mind 
the decidedly superior advantages enjoyed when using a 
frame measuring 16 inches by 10 inches. Reference to the 
pages of the Brztesh Bee Journal will show'that there were 
not a few who held out for a brood or stock frame of the 
above dimensions at the time the Association decided on the 
too small and shallow stock frame now almost universally 
used in this country, and conspicuous among the opposition 
was that veteran bee-master, C. N. Abbott. 

It would indeed appear that almost the sole reason why 
the present Standard was adopted, was because of its near 
approach to that of the “Woodbury” pattern, a slight 
alteration being made that it might -accommodate six 
American 44-inch by 44-inch sections, and yet in practice 
scarcely one bee-keeper in 50 has ever brought the stock 
frame into use for that purpose. 


The Langstroth Frame, 
used extensively in America, and exported largely to other 
countries, is also too shallow, and used as the Hoffman, 
spaced only 13-inch from centre to centre, is the cause of 
many winter losses, as the thin shallow frame does not 
carry sufficient store above the cluster. 


Great Security in Wintering. 

Evidence in favor of the larger or deeper size, as giving 
greater security in winter; a larger population more rapidly 
developed in spring ; less inclination to swarm; and at 
all times a more prosperous and profitable colony, with 
comparatively little trouble in maintaining that prosperity 
—has been accumulating right along, as shown by the 
practical results secured from such colonies as remained in 
the old frames used by myself and other apiarists, and 
which should have been, and may yet be recognised as the 
Standard frame in this country, viz., 16 inches by 10 inches. 

N 


178 A Modern Bee-Farm 


It does not denote progress to hold to a certain size of 
frame simply because that has once been stamped as the 
Standard of the country. 

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


The Shallow Langstroth Frame. 


This frame, adopted so largely in America in the first 
place, because it was supposed to induce the bees to enter 
the supers more quickly when only guides were used ; has 
also encouraged users to adopt four sections in a line, 
instead of three, the latter being more quickly and 
completely finished. 

Another feature that was allowed to rule the shallow: 
depth of both the Langstroth and British Association 
frames was the width of boards required for the outer walls, » 
the narrower boards being slightly cheaper. Thus the 
manufacturer, for the sake of initial false economy, offers 
an article which is a constant and permanent loss to the 
honey producer. 

A deeper, shorter stock frame is more economical for all 
purposes and in all climates, as numerous reports show that 
have been received by the Author over a period of many 
years. 

Moreover, where the Langstroth is used, as in many cases 
it is, as the Hoffman frame, spaced permanently at the 
narrow gauge of 18-inch, the store cells above the cluster 
are so shallow that no powerful colony is safe during a long 


i 


and tts Economic Management. 179 


spell of cold weather, as the stores are gone almost before 
the owner is aware of it. 

My critics say, “We can space the frames wider before 
feeding up for winter;” or, “We can leave the stock a 
double chamber.” But 99 times out of 100 this is not 
done; partly because the owners think the Hoffman 
close-ends keep the bees warmer; or in the other case that 
they fear two stories would be colder. In neither case does 
the objection hold good, and as single stock chambers are 
the rule for wintering, a deeper frame will be found more 
economical, and will also give better results in summer. 
These are facts gleaned from all directions—north, south, 
‘east and west. 


“How am I to Extract 


from these large frames, having a machine that will only 
take the Standard Frame?” This is a frequent query, 
but, my dear readers, why should you wish to extract from 
these larger stock combs? Your present Standard frames 
may be used for extracting, leaving the Commercial stock 

frames with their stores intact for winter. There is no 
economy at any time, but a serious loss a/ways, where 
stores are extracted from the brood nest*; but if any of 
the combs are heavily stored during the early summer, by 
all means remove any well sealed, replacing by foundation 
near the centre. The removed stores should be 


A Golden Reserve, 


to be returned if required before or after winter ; although 
where bee-paralysis is prevalent it is better to feed 
medicated syrup for winter stores. 


* An exception would be where Infectious Paralysis is feared, 
when natural stores should be replaced by efficiently medicated 
food for winter. 


180 A Modern Bee-Farm 


“How am I to Stock the Commercial Hive ?” 


is a frequent question. Well, if you wish to stock it to 
the best advantage, of course you must begin well. You 
may unite, and at the same time transfer to it, two other 
stocks from standard frames, thus making a grand working 
colony at a stroke. 

Then again, you may, towards June, select two good 
colonies standing near together ; place the Conqueror hive 
between them to receive a swarm artificially made from 
each, and uniting with one queen. The standard hives, 
from which the swarms are taken will then be moved 
away, and these again united, with the other queen 
presiding. Thus my plan of combined swarming and 
uniting, without increase, will give two rousing colonies 
for honey production.* The entire contents of two straw 
skeps may also be made use of in the same way, if these 
are on hand. There is really no reason whatever for the 
bee-keeper to use single swarms and stocks when he is 
assured the same bees will be doubly profitable when 
united ; while if worked singly, little or nothing may be 
obtained from them. 


“Tf I Adopt Commercial Frames 


what am I to do with my Standard combs?” is another 
query frequently presented. If not transferred to the 
‘Commercial frames the Standard combs will always do 
for extracting, and will be most useful for that purpose, 
as it is quite unnecessary, and not intended that the 
Commercial stock frames should be extracted from. 


Convincing Facts 


relating to the superiority of large frames and large hives 


’ 


* This is one of the best methods to follow in treating bee-paralysis. 


and its Economic Management. 181 


were given some years ago by a writer in Gleanings, a 
prominent American bee journal. After stating that he 
preferred the Quinby frame, which is even larger than my 
Commercial, while at the same time he had also the 
smaller Langstroth frame in use, he says: “But as we 
found again and again, that the smallest crops came from 
the smallest hives, on the average, and that whenever the 
crop was short, 27 out of every 30 small hives had to 
be fed, while the large colonies had generally enough, we 
transferred all the bees out of these Langstroth hives. 

For 20 years our large hives have given us better 
results than our small ones. . . . I have the Budletin 
a’ Aptculture for October, 1894, and I find in it twelve 
selections from letters coming from Switzerland, Belgium, 
France and Spain, praising the large hives and the 
“ Dadant ” hives, showing 4y comparison that they are 
more profitable than smaller hives.” 

The late Captain Hetherington, another extensive 
American bee-keeper, working nearly 1,000 colonies at 
a time, was also assured that nothing but a large frame 
would give him a certain income year after year, and 
the position he attained among honey producers is 
undoubtedly one of the most convincing arguments I 
can bring forward. 


For Comb Honey. 


The Commercial Hive as a single stock, is used with 
eight frames* and two dummies, 14-inch thick, either 
packed or used as dry feeders; the object being to keep’ 
as zarrow a brood nest or cluster as possible, in opposition 
to the usual plan of adopting a wide supering surface 
above a shallow chamber. The latter does not give 


* The stock should at least be worked up to the full complement 
of eleven frames, reducing to eight when supering. 


182 A Modern Bee-Farm 


sufficient ower below, neither does it properly economise 
power for the rapid and perfect production of section honey 
above it, as does a narrow but more populous cluster 
among our eight large frames, which arrangement provides. 
for the more economic distribution and conservation of 
heat. 

The principle of a marrow deep cluster must be continued 
throughout the whole tier of sections as well, and hence 
each crate of sections contains only three rows of seven 
sections. I have tried varying numbers upon different 
surfaces and find it a serious error to attempt to crowd 
many sections upon an extended surface. On one occasion 
I supered a small stock with crates of sixteen sections only 
in each set. These were completed rapidly in the most 
perfect manner, and five sets were more quickly completed 
than three supers of 21 each in other hives. Our American 
friends spread too many sections in each crate, more 
especially in the non-protected hives so generally used. 

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


SUPER CRATES 


to hold from 18 to 21 sections, can be made as follows: 
Put together a plain box of the size desired with neither 
top nor bottom, and wide enough to take three 44-inch 
sections across besides the thickness of rails supporting 
them. Such rails are in the form of an inverted T; the 
sections resting upon the ledges which must not be mare 
than }-inch thick, giving that space between the sections 
and top bars of the frames. Any space left at the one 
end of the sections must be closed by a piece of wood to 


and its Economic Management. 183 


act as a dummy. This I prefer to fit only just tight, as 
both wedges and springs are quite unnecessary. With 
crates in general use for common hives, the 


Space between the sections and top bars 


of the frames is objectionable, if it should exceed 4-inch, in 
that brace-combs are nearly always attached to the under- 
side of the sections. To avoid this entirely with ordinary 
hives I adopted, in 1881, a crate with the bottom composed 
of slats standing 3-inch apart. When in position these 
slats come close upon the frames, but at right angles to 
them; thus the bees have simply a number of small holes 
for passages—about @-inch by 4-inch, which they are 
compelled to keep open; no brace-combs are built in 
consequence, as those are always continued from the wax 
that may be along the sides of the frame bars, when the 
old plan is allowed. During the many years I used this 
style of crate I had no brace-combs attached to my 
sections. 

Fig. 27 will give a good idea of the manner in which the 
said square passages are formed ; C being the bottom slats 
of the crate, and D the frame bars. 

But now having the slats close upon the frames it will 
be readily understood that a full-sized crate could not be 
used without much inconvenience; I therefore made it 
in two as seen in Fig. 28, each holding twelve to fifteen 
sections, and have had no more difficulty in removing one 
half at a time than in taking out a frame of comb. In 
replacing them a gentle horizontal motion will cause every 
bee to run down out of the way, though smoke i used 
will at once clear the course. 

But perhaps the most important point with my twin 
crate, is that as the central combs are completed, by 
simply turning the outer row to the centre, the whole are 


184 A Modern Bee-Farm 


finished off more evenly and-in less time, and thus the 
usual outside thin sections are a thing of the past. 

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

In the Conqueror Hive, the space below the stock 
prevents that overcrowding which induces the building 
of brace-combs in old-style hives. 


SECTIONS. 


The one-piece sections. wherein the new comb-honey is 
built are made in several forms, either with a’bee space at 
top and bottom, or such spaces on all sides, or no bee 
spaces at all. 

The widths in general use are—2 inches to be used 
with separators, or 1? inches without.; each 4} inches by 
4+ inches, to hold 1 lb. of honey. Sections to hold 2 lbs, 
are not in demand, but those to contain about 4 lb. may 
generally be disposed of ; these should be 14 inches through, 
4+ inches deep, and barely 3 inches wide. The deeper and 
narrow section 5 inches by 4 inches by 14-inch is now 
used to a large extent. Thin combs are sealed- more 
quickly, but a total change of furniture is a serious matter 
to most bee-men. 

The 5-inch by 4-inch by 14-inch section, worked with 
cleated (plain or fence) separators, weigh exactly 1 Ib. 
Any section thinner than 14-inch is objectionable and 
should not be used. 


Folding Sections. 


By making a block to fit the inside of a section, fastening 
it horizontally to a table, the operation of folding is carried 
through at a rapid rate, and one can always be certain of 


METHODS OF WIRING FRAMES. 


Fic. 22 A. Fic. 22 B. 


“The way that is wavy and wrong.” 


Fic. 22 E. 


The most expeditious method of fastening Foundation 
in Brood Frames. 


Ss 


Fic. 22 c (Standard). Fic. 22 D (Commercial). 


“The way that ensures Combs straight and strong.” 


and tts Economic Management. 187 


them coming true to square. With a lever and cramp 
motion to take the strain at two opposite corners, the 
tenons may be locked together as fast as the sections can 
be laid on the block. In dry weather these sections must 
first be damped at the \/-cuts, or many will break. 

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


Simmins’ Bee-space Sections. 


These were introduced prior to 1880, and the comb-honey 
in them has been much appreciated wherever offered for 
sale. Glass was used for the top and bottom rails in 
the first instance, and the top rail was split to receive 
foundation (Fig. 85). 2 

The side bars are each 4} inches long by 12-inch wide, 
with a saw-cut across each end, at }-inch from the edge, 
into which the top and bottom rails (1-16th inch thick), 
are fixed securely ; these being 14-inch wide and 44 inches 
(bare) long. For 4-lbs. the sides are 44 inches by 14-inch, 
and the thin rails 14-inch by 2? inches. 

If the sections are required flat, the top and bottom 
rails must be a little thicker, with a tongue and shoulder 
as shown by Fig. 86. In that case the saw-cut in the side 
bars will be half the thickness of the horizontal rails from 
each edge. 


Separators 
are made of either thin wood or tin, and are generally 
arranged to allow a space above or below them of not less 
than 3-16th inch from the upper and lower part of the 
sections. One with slots, suggested by “ Amateur Expert,” 
who at one time was a contributor to the Brztesh Bee 


188 A Modern Bee-Farm 


Journal, is illustrated (Fig. 87) with slots to correspond 
with the side bee-spaces in sections. Other separators are 
the Author’s double fence, and the single cleated dividers. 


No Metal in Supers. 


Woven wire separators, as also those of the new pattern 
wire excluder are sometimes used, but if one wishes for the 
heaviest results in comb-honey, he should use none but 
wood separators. 

When sections have no bee-ways they are used with 
fence or gate separators, having the bee-space fixed by 
vertical cleats or cross-pieces,; which hold the several slats 
together. The first expense is greater, but the separators 
are stronger than ordinary wood dividers; and wood is 
decidedly better than metal in every way. 


Simmins’ Simplicity or Makeshift Rack 


has no bottom rests at all, and allows the sections to 
stand close upon the frames and upon each other, should 
occasion require. In carrying, the sections are allowed to 
bear upon the side strip, and when not in use the racks 
lie flat and take up little room (Fig. 31). 

For years past I have persistently advocated the use of 
full sheets of foundation in sections, and found no better 
plan of securing such than by its insertion into my 
sections cut through on three sides, until in 1888 I 
designed my latest improvement in the shape of 


Completely Divided Sections. 


The advantages of these are—(1) the foundation requires 
no cutting up to fit each separate section, (2) a full sheet of 
foundation, filling three sections at once, can be put in as 
quickly and much more securely than inserting a separate 
piece in a single section, (3) the foundation can be worked 


and tts Economic Management. 189 


out into comb, prior to the honey season; and without 
trimming or fitting, or cutting in any way, the same may 
be inserted immediately and securely into the respective 
sets of three sections without any special fastening, (4) each 
set of three sections when in use and filled with comb can 
be handled in place of single sections, with no possibility of 
either falling out during manipulation. (See Fig. 39). 

The three-side-cut sections (4+ inches by 44 inches) can 
also be used in the divided section frames, and answer 
equally as well when worked-out comb is not to be secured 
to start with, the sheet of foundation being placed across 
the three sections without cutting. This sheet of foundation 
is not quite the full depth of the frames, so that the usual 
stretching may be allowed for. 

Where 5-inch by 4-inch sections are used with three 
_ sides slit, these can be used for starting the foundation (as 
drawn combs) in the same manner as the wider, but 
completely halved sections. 

The length of the full sheet of foundation (to be placed 
directly and rapidly across three or more sections at a 
time), is gauged by trimming with a board made just 1-16th 
inch shorter than the width of the row of three or four, 
whether 42 inches by 4} inches by 2 inches, or § inches by 
4 inches by 14-inch. 


CORRS 


190 A Modern Bee-Farm 


No foundation should be purchased without an assur- 
ance from the manufacturer that wax from which it is 
made up has not been procured from any apiary 
affected with disease. 


CHAPTER XIII. 


COMB-FOUNDATION. 


HE several frames illustrated, showing the foundation 
OC in the centre, will convey to the novice some idea 
as to its use. This artificially made basis of new 
combs is really pure beeswax, and the sheet is first obtained 
by dipping nicely planed pine boards into the hot wax *; 
the plain sheet thus made is afterwards passed between 
rollers, which are so engraved as to give the wax the exact 
form and appearance of the natural mid-rib of all comb as 
the bees make it when left to their own devices, except 
that the comb foundation made by man gives'‘the base of 
a more perfect, because more regular, comb than the 
insects themselves produce. The foundation is gauged to 
the size of worker cells (five to the inch); therefore, drone 
cells, and consequently drones, are excluded, while the 
combs produced are as flat as boards. 
Drone foundations may be prepared from dies of that 
gauge, and these are often used in extracting supers. 
According to the thickness of the sheet required, whether 
for thin super foundation or for use in the stock frames, so 
many dips have to be made before the wax is peeled from 
the boards. Of these, two or three sets are required on 


* Rollers may also be used throughout the process, but this 
explains the original method. 


and tts Economic Management. 1gI 


hand standing in water, to give time for cooling and 
saturation. 


Salt as a Lubricant. 


The process is modified where rollers are used, but in 
either case brine appears to be the best lubricant, and at the 
same time a disinfectant. 

There are a number of machines in use, such as the 
Given, Van Deusen, and more recently the “Weed” 
Process. Of these, the Van Deusen gives the most 
beautifully finished foundation I have seen, but, being 
flat bottomed, the bees appear to waste much time in 
converting to the natural base ; though it must be acknow- 
ledged that in doing so comb is produced that has so thin 
a septum as to be equal to any all-natural comb. I should 
consider a perfect super foundation would have nothing 
whatever but the bare base of the cells. 

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


How to insert Foundation in Frames and Sections. 


The original method, and one usually practised by 
myself and others, is by melted wax run along the sheet 
of foundation on both sides where it meets the top bar. 
A board, 7 inches wide and 13 inches long, has screwed 
on the back two strips of #2-inch stuff, which project 
about an inch over. The two projections on one side 
I have arranged as shown (Fig. 88) with a wide-headed 
screw to each, enabling the gauge to be regulated to a 
nicety. When set upon the inverted frame it stands }-inch 
off from the centre of the bar, thus providing for the 


192 A Modern Bee-Farm 


thickness of the foundation that it may hang exactly in 
the centre. 


For Melting Wax, 


use a common glue pot, with a small brush or a spoon 
with its sides bent up to meet, allowing the drip to run 
down the angle, joining the foundation and frame securely. 
Remove the gauge-board while reversing and then wax 
the other side, with the frame always held at a slight 
incline, starting the wax at one end, and allowing so much 
that it will just run to the other end. Be careful that the 
wax is kept at an even temperature, over a small paraffin 
stove; if too hot it will weaken the sheet, and if too cool, 
it will not hold the foundation in place. 


Other Plans 


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


Abbott’s Frame 


has an ingenious device on the under side of the top bar. 
Twin grooves are cut with a thin strip left between. One 
groove takes the edge of the foundation, and a long wedge 
is then pressed into the other, holding all secure. 

As a matter of fact, I have had no difficulty in getting 
combs built out perfectly true from foundation simply 
waxed to the top bars; but the frames must be closer 


‘0j0NT VP morg | “AUVIdVY GAYAAOD FHL 


and its Economic Management. 193 


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


Where Swarms are Hived upon Foundation, 


the frames should be spaced not more than 34-inch apart, 
with very light covering for the first few days, and a wide 
entrance. The Author has hived swarms on foundation 
with no covering for a few days beyond the deep roof. 
Those who desire extra tough combs and _ well-filled 
frames, will find the most satisfactory plan to be that of 


Wiring the Frames. 


This is often done by piercing holes through the top and 
bottom of the frames about two inches apart to receive the 
wires, while another is run from side to side in the shape 
of the letter Y. I prefer the parallel wires to run from 
side to side (Figs. 22 C, 22 D) as the bottom rail is generally 
too weak to stand the strain, but in this case the sheet of 
wax must be secured to the top bar. 


Horizontal versus Vertical Wires. 


Vertical wires are undesirable, not only because there is 
no “stay” in the bottom bar, but also for the reason that 
the combs built on them are “wavy,” and frequently almost 
divided by the weight of the bees while the incomplete 
comb is soft. 

Crossed wires and those hooked around the frame are 
also detrimental, and non-practical, as the bees never build 
properly over the hooks and crossed wires. . 

There is no advantage whatever in using hooks, with 

Q 


194 A Modern Bee-Farm 


wires running close to the frame ends and top bar. 
Horizontal wires are threaded through holes pierced in 
the end bars only, and in this way the combs are finished 
as true and flat as boards. (Figs. 22 A, B, C, D). 

The Commercial frame has five parallel wires ; the 
Standard four wires ; and the shallow extracting frame has 
three. As a rule, amateurs use an insufficient number of 
wires. ; 

Fine tinned wire is used, and the starting point and 
finish should be carefully fastened, the ends being wound 
round a tack, which is then driven home, holding all 
securely. See that all the wires are drawn tight; place 
the sheet of foundation on your block; the wired frame 
upon that, and now press the wires into the mid-rib. 
Various instruments are used for the purpose, the Woiblet 
Embedder being the best, but a 


Simple Embedder 


can be made from a common nail filed up round at the 
point, with a slight indentation to run over the wire, 
which can be used at a rapid rate with a convenient 
handle. If the instrument is used cold the point must be 
frequently passed over a cloth saturated with oil. I prefer 
to use the wheel embedder with hot water only, and have 
used no other plan for many years, always having an 
assistant to warm the sheets as worked in. 

Even new foundation may require warming before the 
wires are fixed ; and no old foundation should be used 
without carefully turning before a fire. 

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


and tts Economic Management. 195 


Sections should be Filled 


with new white combs if possible, and never with anything 
less than full sheets of foundation. The former, when not 
worked directly into the sections, should be cut to go in tight. 

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


Simmins’ Divided Section and Holder. 


The foundation is secured to one half of this section 
frame, or holder, by using a flat blade which is rapidly 
pressed along the edge as it lies on the top bar, at intervals 
of about one inch. The ends are not to be secured. The 
foundation is either first worked into comb, or the halved 
sections immediately placed on either side. Three halves 
lying on a flat surface are first covered with the half-frame 
having the sheet of foundation, when the blank half with 
the other portions of the sections is put to them, the 
foundation lying between. (See Fig. 39). 


Inserting Foundation across Several Sections. 


Some 25 years since the Author showed how to insert 
the foundation in three or more sections in a line at one 
stroke without any other fixing than the cuts in the three 
sides of each section ; or between a line of completely 
halved sections. And this is done quicker than when a 
small sheet has been usually secured in each section 
separately. 

With the three-side-cut sections, whether 4} inches by 
44 inches, or 5 inches by 4 inches, the illustrations will show 


196 A Modern Bee-Farm 


how the three sections are first pushed early half out by 
using a suitable block. The three upper halves are then 
raised with the left hand, when the full length sheet of. 
foundation is at once passed in with the right hand. The 
frame of several sections is then turned over, and quickly 
pressed on a flat surface, returning all in place. 

The sheet of foundation should be cut to leave about 
+-inch between it and the bottom of section; while the 
length should be trimmed by a’ gauge to 1-16th inch less 
than the width of the three sections. 


Removing Finished Combs. 


The combs when finished are helped out of the frame by 
‘the same push block, and the three sections parted with 
fine wire or a thin blade. Meanwhile the set of three may 
be handled as one, and it will be seen there is less danger 
of any section slipping out of the frame, as where separate 
foundation has been used to fit each section. 


Out-of-Date Methods. 


Many beekeepers in America and elsewhere still adhere 
to various tedious plans of inserting foundation into single 
sections ; while in Great Britain and Ireland the majority 
fill the single section by the split top bar only. 

Those who once try the Author’s expeditious plan of 
furnishing the entire row of sections at a stroke never go 
back to the old slow and less secure devices. 


and tts Economic Management. 197 


In stocking a bar-frame hive the swarm, or bees-that 
may be transferred, should be induced to complete 
their combs and fill them with brood as rapidly as 
possible, by interchanging the outer combs or founda- 
tions with those near the centre, one or two at a 
time, thus securing a solid brood-nest before there is 
any appreciable loss of the adult bees. 


CHAPTER XIV. 


HOW TO STOCK THE FRAME HIVE. 


Goed swarms of native bees can generally be bought 

from a cottager in May for Ios. or 12s. each. They 
would, in that case, be brought home in a skep towards 
evening, when they may be shot out upon the frames * 
spaced as already shown and provided with foundation, 
when a piece of ticking should be laid over them so as to: 
not quite cover the whole surface of the hive, when all will 
soon draw below. When they are quiet, arrange the quilt 
carefully, set on the cover, and leave an entrance at least 
six inches wide. As the centre combs are built out and 
filled with eggs, part them and insert one or two of the 
outside frames of foundation in the centre of the cluster 
until all are well filled. By this time reduce the entrance 
to about three inches, unless the weather is quite warm, 
having previously added warmer material above, such as, 
two or three thicknesses of carpet above the ticking or a 
tray of chaff or cork dust two inches thick. 


C HE most simple method is that of inserting a swarm. 


* Most of the ‘‘ Guides” advise that the swarm be turned out on. 
a board slanting up to the entrance, but this is not so satisfactory. 


198 A Modern Bee-Farm 


Feed in Unfavorable Weather. 


It is very necessary that swarms should be fed if no 
honey is coming in, so that the foundation may be quickly 
drawn out as complete combs well filled with brood, thus 
securing a good supply of young bees before the adults 
are much reduced in numbers. ' 


Best Time to Transfer. 


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

The bees are first to be removed from the skep by 
either of the methods before mentioned (Chap. II.), when 
the best combs are to be cut to the right size to fit 
exactly tight into the bar-frame; all edges being cut quite 
true so that they fit together well, and can be more 
readily secured by the bees. Tie two or three pieces of 
d-inch tape round the frames to keep all in place, and 
return the combs to the bees, which may first be shot into. 
the bar-frame hive. They will soon draw among the 
newly-transferred combs and clean up their house, where, 
after a day or two, one will hardly tell where the joints 
were. Close up with division boards, cover up warm, and 
keep the entrance not more than one inch wide until it is 
absolutely necessary to make it larger. The patches of 
brood must be arranged so that the larger are at the 
centre, and the smaller graduating to either side, thus 
securing greater protection. Should the bees appear 
crowded with only the combs transferred, give a frame 
of foundation in the centre, and another as soon as they 
begin to cluster on the outside of the division board. 


and tts Economic Management. 199 


Feed carefully so that there is always a little store in 
hand, but not enough to hinder the operations of the 
queen. Continue such stimulation until honey comes in. 

It is so frequently recommended that the contents of 
fixed comb hives should be transferred 21 days after 
swarming, that I consider it advisable to show that this 
waste of time is quite unnecessary. The swarm should 
be hived upon six or seven sheets of foundation close to 
the parent colony and facing the same way. Within ten 
days the young queens will be hatching out when a cast 
or second swarm would issue from the old stock. This 
appears to have been overlooked; therefore I advise 
transferring on the seventh day after the issue of the first 
swarm, first carefully removing one of the queen cells 
before druming on the hive. While shifting the combs, 
cut out all the other royal cells, and after the operation 
return the one previously removed, which meanwhile 
should have been placed above the first swarm between the 
quilting to prevent chill. As soon as the young queen 
hatched therefrom is laying freely, destroy the other and 
unite the two colonies on the second evening following, 
when supers may be at once put on. 

It is better that transferring operations be carried out in 
some warm room, or manipulating house, first laying a 
sheet of paper on the table whereon the tapes are to be 
arranged, with the frames on those, so that all is in 
readiness for tying as soon as the combs are fitted. While 
it is not absolutely necessary that the combs be fitted in 
just the same way up as they were built, it is not desirable 
to have them inverted, but to save material it is often 
advisable to put them in on end, or half inverted, as I 
have done for many years past. Certainly there is the brood 
to handle if transferred before the 21 days have expired, 
but with ordinary care this is not damaged, except where 


200 A Modern Bee-Farm 


the knife cuts a straight line, and that is far preferable to 
having the combs full of honey. ' 

The edges of the combs should be cut evenly, and well 
matched to fill out the frame, when they will be more 
quickly repaired by the bees. 


Other Plans of Transferring, 


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

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

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


Uniting Two Stocks or Swarms 


when furnishing the bar-frame hive will always prove the 
more satisfactory process in the end; and this fact should 
never be lost sight of. ; 

When uniting either stocks or swarms it is most desirable 
that only one queen be left, otherwise there will be some 
loss of workers as they “ball” the surplus queen, killing each 


and its Economic Management. 201 


.other while the queen herself may be safe for several 
hours. 

While it is not always desirable that both queens should 
be removed, the selected queen may be caged at mid-day 
and liberated in the evening after the union is accomplished. 

In my own apiary I use the tubular cage, and after 
uniting, either push the open end diagonally into the honey, 
or plug the end lightly with a piece of dandelion leaf. In 
the former case the bees help the queen out; in the latter 
the leaf withers and she is out in two or three hours, thus 
no further attention is required. 


202 A Modern Bee-Farm 


The commercial bee-keeper of to-day cannot hope to 
secure adequate or reliable returns from a single stock 
chamber of small frames. He requires the equivalent 
of three Standard ten-frame stock chambers ; two 
eleven-frame Langstroth chambers; or two ten-frame 
Commercial (16 in. by 10 in.) chambers, full of brood 
before the honey-flow commences. 


CHAPTER XV. 


GENERAL MANAGEMENT. 


Carp ELIABLE queens and workers, large frames, large 

K hives, and enormous colonies can alone ensure 
surplus honey in paying quantities. 

Nearly everything depends upon proper treatment in the 


Autumn ; 


hence I begin with the management for this period, and if 
the apiarist keeps only young queens he will have no need 
to stimulate the hive for the production of young bees at . 
this time ; while the only reliable stimulation for early Spring 
breeding is secured by correct Autumn preparation. 


Feed “ Solid” in September. 


I think most of us put off this feeding business as long 
as possible, and not always is it from idleness, but in 
many cases doubtless with the hope that some favorable 
spell of honey weather will bless us by helping the bees 
to fill up their combs naturally. 

Mr. Abbott, the founder of the Bretzsh Bee Journal, 
considered that feeding should be carried out slowly 
throughout August. This certainly is wise advice to follow 


ana tts Economic Management. 203 


where no honey is gathered, but when that month is allowed 
to “slide” by, or when the heather is relied upon and fails, 
then I say “Feed Solid” in September, and not later than 
the middle of that month, if possible. 


Rapid Feeding the only Safe Way. 


In Autumn rapid feeding does what? It ensures a high 
temperature, and a high temperature ensures sealing’ of 
the combs so stored; then a dry atmosphere within the 
hive, no matter how cold it may be during the Winter. 


Protracted Slow Feeding means Waste ; 


waste of energy, waste of life, and of time; useless and 
expensive brood-rearing late into the Autumn. Waste of 
time the following Spring, as such overworked stocks will 
not start early brood-rearing. 

Slow feeding does not stimulate the bees to that extent 
which causes them to “roar” in expelling the excess of 
moisture, hence a large portion of the stores remains 
uncapped, resulting in a cold moist atmosphere; a serious, 
very serious detriment in Winter. 

Young bees produced too late in Autumn do not winter 
well, and die off rapidly ; while the hardy adult bees 
become prematurely aged in the process of rearing them. 

Feeding should all be finished in September. Bees 
hatched in early August should live until April and May 
of the following year, provided they are not disturbed by 
feeding candy, and are of the right strain. 


Feeding 100 Colonies in a Week 


is not at all an impossible undertaking where one has 
suitable frame feeders, which hold twelve or fifteen pounds 
each. A strong colony will empty such a feeder in less 
than 24 hours, with little waste of energy. Consequently 


204 A Modern Bee-Farm 


the whole Winter's supply may not only be stored, but 
most of it will be sealed up in little more than a week. 
From that time, without any further attention, breeding 
will steadily go on, until most of the uncapped stores. will 
be used up, and finally, sufficient empty cells will be found 
just where the bees decide to cluster, in the usual compact 


mass. 
Leave all the Combs 


for the bees to winter on, with a passage communicating 
over all frames, otherwise insufficient stores may be 
allowed, and the bees at once realizing the situation, will 
not expand the brood nest rapidly in Spring; or they may 
even die out before the owner has a chance to add more food. 


Unite Stocks of doubtful Strength. 


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


and its Economic Management. 205 


What is a Strong Stock ? 


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

You want for the production of honey just that strength 
of numbers which turns the ordinary gentle workers into 
ever suspicious defenders of their home, ready to assail, if 
need be, any intruder who disturbs them without due 
precautions! You want during the summer that teeming 
hive which all day long shows you such a continual stream 
going and coming, that the tiny insects appear almost 
thicker than hailstones! You want, after the removal of 
the surplus receptacles, a hive of ten or twelve frames so 
overcrowded that great lumps of clustering bees hang 
outside until really cold nights compel them to crowd 
inside! This, of course, will not be so, noticeable in the 
Conqueror hive, with its chamber under the stock and the 
well ventilated space around. 

Do you want honey? Honey by the hundredweight 
and by the ton? Then again read, and re-read the 
commencement of this chapter, and let the Autumn not 
pass without a general renovation and uniting of poor 
colonies. Pray do not cling to those miserable weaklings, 
fearing you are sacrificing all hope of future zzcrease. 
Ah! that is just the word; in the completion of that 
last sentence is found the whole trouble. How many 
there are who cannot bring themselves to “close down” 
their scattered forces, and so make their chances of 
wintering almost certain, and ‘positively securing stocks 


206 A Modern Bee-Farm 


which will give six times the increase (if required) that 
any three weakly lots would, even supposing the latter 
will all winter safely. 

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


WINTER, 


and the next thing to be considered is whether or not 
more warmth, in the shape of packing, is required. The’ 
late Mr. Raitt, a Scottish bee-keeper, once said that the 
best packing for ‘bees in the Winter is “ bees,” and I quite 
agree with him; in fact, I use little more about my hives 
than they have had in Summer, and at all times consider 
that the most vital point is the top of the hive, where they 
are always covered with warm material, such as chaff, or 
cork-packed trays, pieces of carpet, or sacking. 

It is not important whether there are chaff-packed 
dummies on the outsides of the winter nest, or not ; 
though of the two I give the preference to 


Tough Old Combs. 


A correspondent once wrote to me saying that in 
accordance with the advice given him, he was renewing 
his stock combs about each other year. Such teaching 
is amazing ; and such practice nothing short of suicidal. 
Why, the poor man was throwing away with his left hand 
what his right hand gave him. Show me a colony 
wintering on tough, dark, well-matured combs, and I 
will show you a colony which is coming out well, if only 
it has fair average treatment. That stock is so well 
protected by those sound warm combs, that the bees. 
consume less food in maintaining the necessary animal 
heat ; they need little other protection as a matter of 
fact; they will breed early and constantly ; indeed, you 
can hardly open the hive at any time from Autumn to 


and its Economic Management. 207 


Spring without finding breeding going on to some extent ; 
consequently sound old combs must be looked upon as a 
mine of wealth, which only the most reckless bee-keeper 
would think of destroying. 


Here is another Picture. 


Just look at the stock on nearly new combs, and the 
totally different state they present. They may be the 
stronger lot in Autumn ; but now watch how rapidly their 
stores disappear, there is little or no breeding through the 
cool season, and in Spring no great energy is displayed in 
that direction until the other hive is almost ready to swarm, 
and yet the latter still has the larger reserve of stores. 
Can any sane man question which is going to be the more 
profitable colony ? 


Large Combs. 


There is another very important matter to be re-con- 
sidered where honey-production as a profitable pursuit on 
a commercial scale is to be carried out. No bee-keeper 
dare neglect the advantages offered by large combs in the 
stock chamber if he is looking for a reliable source of 
revenue year after year. This desirable consummation of 
many a bee-keeper’s hopes has time after time been 
utterly unattainable, because of the simple fact that the 
hive and frames used, more often than his own manage- 
ment, have been quite unsuited to the object in view. The 
larger comb-surface of the Commercial frame affords 


Greater Security in Winter, 


from the fact that the combs are better filled because of 
the more prosperous condition of the colony at all times, 
while a larger stored surface is within reach of the winter 
cluster, and early Spring breeding is more regular. 


208 A Modern Bee-Farm 


Winter Passages 
enable the bees to cluster above the frames. forming a 
connecting link with the small outer seams, which are then 
less attenuated; while the distant stores may be more 
readily appropriated. Half-inch sticks may be placed 
across the frames, or as preferred by the Author, shallow 
V-shaped tunnels of thin wood. 


Yet another Point 


of the greatest value, is the kind of stock the apiarist 


keeps. A colony of bees that winter well, will usually do ~~: 


well all the time. Consequently these should be bred 
from as far as possible for securing queens to preside over 
all hives in the apiary. Whether they be hybrids, or 
some special strain of any pure variety bred up to a high 
standard of excellence, no pains should be spared in 
perpetuating these good qualities. 


Position of Frames. 


All single walled hives should stand so that the frames 
are “end on” to the south wall, that every seam of bees is 
warmed up during each gleam of winter sunshine, enabling 
them to change their position and take food, while bringing 
stores nearer the cluster. Bees will winter all right if so 
situated and in good heart, but where placed behind thick 
packed walls they are subject to a continued low tempera- 
ture, as the mid-winter sun does not penetrate to the 
cluster. There is no warmth in such double walls at this 
time, just when it is most required, though of course I 
admit that they are a benefit as soon as the cluster 
expands, retaining the heat given out by the bees; but 
this does not compensate for the greater disadvantage in 
mid-winter as before mentioned. 

Mr. Abbott, when editor of the Brztzsh Bee Journal, was 


% and tts Economic Management. 209 


quite aware of the immense advantage of admitting the 
sun’s rays during Winter, and recommended that a piece 
of glass be let into the outer wall of double-sided hives. 
However, double-packed walls to stock hives seldom pay 
for the extra expense, and besides being more cumbersome, 
are a positive nuisance during the heat of Summer, when 
shade is required as offered in the Conqueror Hive, rather 
than additional heat. For as a matter of fact packed 
walls cannot be cool in Summer, as the advocates of the 
same would have us believe. Why the more frequent 
swarming complained of with these? and are we not told 
that more warmth is given in Winter? how much more 
then, zm excess, in Summer ! 


Packed Walls to Supers 


must be considered a very different thing, and just here is 
where the heat is needed, not only to attract the bees to 
start comb-building, but to keep them constantly producing 
wax, even during. cool nights. The rule is to provide 
flimsy walls to the super crates or none at all in most 
cases where racks only are adopted. Here is a strange 
contradiction in the practice of the majority ; and yet it is 
well known that heat—the constant reservation of heat— 
will always bring the best work in the supers. 


Frames in the Conqueror Hives. 

As the Conqueror chambers hang clear of the floor, the 
position of the frames is immaterial, the hive having a deep 
entrance giving very free access to light and air. 

The outer case is protective, and with each gleam of 
sunshine the whole interior of the hive is warmed up as 
one finds a greenhouse, hence as a matter of economy in 
construction of the single Conqueror the frames are placed 
across the entrance. In the double hiye they are at right 


angles to the entrance. 
P 


210 A Modern Bee-Farm a 


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


Space below the Frames. 


The regulation distance of 3-inch is certainly allowed 
between the bottom rail of the frame and the floor of the 
hive when first made, but this is not enough, as the 
exposure causes the side walls to shrink fully 4-inch. 
This makes it quite inconvenient and disagreeable in 
replacing frames, as well as where hives are tiered up; 
and though $-inch clear may not work quite well between 
upper storeys at fitst, it will:soon come right by shrinkage 
when anything like 9-inch stuff is used, though it may be 
considered that the wood has been already well seasoned. 
Now the $-inch space is not sufficient for winter, and where 
a lower rim cannot be added to the hive, a circular hole 
should be cut in the centre of the floor board, about 
2 inches in diameter, which will greatly assist ventilation, 
while providing the inmates with a ready means of 
disposing of their refuse, dead~ bees, etc. Failing either 
of the foregoing, the frames can be raised by placing 2-inch 
strips under the projecting ears. My pamphlet of 1886 on 
Prevention of Swarming, explained how the non-swarming 
chamber was left all the winter under the stock with good 
results, but it is only within the last few years that the 
advantage of a deep space under the stock frames has been 
realized by the majority of bee-keepers. 

Dysentery and, other ills are brought on by the too 
common neglect of this matter, dead bees drop to the 
floor and clog the shallow space under the frames, then 
getting into a mass ventilation is impeded, and when a 
fine day does occur the bees have enough to do to find 
the entrance, while the dead and rubbish remain untouched, 
only to be added to during the next cold spell. Insufficient 


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ventilation and foul matter now begin to tell upon the 
constitution of the population, and there is little chance 
that the stock will ever be of much use ‘unless it has 
immediate attention, as many of the bees are now unable 
to fly when warm days do offer them a chance; particularly 
is this the case where the frames run across the entrance 
with double walls. With single walls and the frames 
end on to the entrance the bees are not so liable to be 
blocked in. 
Dysentery 


may also result from the winter food being too thick and 
candied, while the bees are unable to search for water; or 
the stores may be too thin and watery, therefore sour and 
unfit for the bees. Thus in either case the result is 
semi-starvation—a case of deficient nourishment with a 
derangement of the digestive system, and ultimate inability 
to hibernate perfectly. 

Bees that stand entirely in the shade all Winter may 
finally succumb to dysentery from the simple fact that 
they have been unable to take a cleansing flight. 

Warm syrup applied by inverting a bottle directly on 
the frames, and immediately over the cluster, will help the 
bees to recover, more especially if it can be given during a 
warm gleam-of sunshine. The mouth of the bottle should 
be covered with a double thickness of cheese cloth or old 
thin linen, so that all can be entirely taken while it remains 
warm. 

Covering above Frames. 


Much uncertainty exists among novices as to whether 
the frames*should be covered with porous or non-porous 
material ; but, dear reader, it is just this: if you use 
porous material above your winter cluster, an entrance 
not more than three inches in width should be allowed ; 


214 A Modern Bee-Farm 


if a non-porous covering such as American oilcloth be 
used next above the frames (of course with warm material 
above that), then a wider entrance must be provided 
according to the-strength of the colony. 


Wintering with no Quilts 


above the frames may be supposed by my readers to be 
something unheard of, and yet some of my best stocks 
have been wintered in that manner, with a 6-inch entrance. 
The bees, of course, had tough combs to cluster in, and 
by the Spring were breeding merrily; in fact, they had 
larger patches of brood than some others covered up 
snugly. The large entrance no doubt caused immediate 
activity when any sunny spell occurred, while those stocks 
behind double walls, or having smaller entrances, were 
not so readily aroused to make the most of their oppor- 
tunities. 


Small Entrances Detrimental. 


I had two other hives in a bee house with very large 
entrances facing a constant westerly wind. Upon examina- 
tion in Spring, these showed three and five combs 
respectively occupied by brood. The entrance was then 
considerably reduced when the bees began to contract the 
extent of the brood nests. Evidently a free opening to the 
outer air is an, item of the first necessity, checking any 
undue inclination to fly, while at the same time allowing 
rapid flight when the temperature is suitable.* 

While small entrances appear to be detrimental, even in 
cool weather, with the close-fitting hives, the case is largely 
modified in respect of the Author’s hanging chamber hive, 


* Jt is usual to allow small entrances to nuclei, more especially in 
Autumn, when robbing is prevalent. 


and tts Economic Management. | 215 


which has its stock chamber raised from the floor, and is 
allowed free ventilation within the outer case. 
The position I have taken up in regard to 


Plenty of Air both in Summer and Winter 


in connection with large hives and frames, is confirmed 
in a very decided manner by an experience related by 
Mr. Chas. Dadant, in the American Bee Journal of 
December 26th, 1895. This champion of large hives, 
and the largest frame in use (the Quinby), states that a 
bee-keeper he once visited “had five or six hives in a 
covered apiary facing south. Those hives were placed 
upon strips made of I-inch timber, two inches wide, and 
nailed edgewise on stakes driven into the ground, so as to 
form a sort of rack. The hives had no bottom boards, for 
our friend thought that bees succeeded best when they had 
plenty of air. . . . Strange to say, colonies in these 
hives wintered successfully, and we were very much 
astonished, in one of the hardest winters, to find that he 
had not lost a single colony, while our losses had been 
heavy.” 

There is nothing at all strange about the bees doing well 
with no floor boards. For many years past I have been 
trying to get bee-keepers to adopt an empty chamber under 
the actual stock, both Summer and Winter. The reports 
that come in show conclusively that the deep space under 
the stock is the only means of keeping the hive cool in 
Summer, and thoroughly dry all’ Winter without the least 
draught through the cluster, which actually hangs in a 
dense mass below the combs during the severest weather. 


Thus 
A perfect Winter Arrangement 


of the combs is secured in the manner already shown with 
reference to the description of the Conqueror hive, which 


216 : A Modern Bee-Farm 


with its 6 to 10 inches below the stock hive offers every 
possible advantage in respect of disposing of the whole of 
the calamities previously mentioned as to bad ventilation. 

Where bees are wintered on Standard frames in long 
hives, whether the brood nest is placed at the back or front 
of the hive, the dummy next the open space must stand 
clear of the stde walls, just as the frame does. Those who 
have followed the advice sometimes given, to the effect 
that such dummy must be tight fitting and have an 
entrance of only two inches or less cut out of the bottom 
edge, will have reason to appreciate the loose fitting board. 

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

Hives such as the W.B.C., with the stock chamber within 
a loose outer case, may have a shallow (empty) chamber 
under the stock hive; as also should those hives that are 
wintered in the cellar. In the latter case this additional 
rim should have the sides freely ventilated. If this 
ventilated rim is not used then the floors are left off and 
the hives, like bricks, resting on each other’s edges. 

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


Excessive Packing is Useless ; 


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and its Economic Management. 219 


Summer. There is no warmth in extra packing during 
cold weather; none in double walls or added dummies. 
though they may be packed with chaff, until at the 
approach of Spring the bees expand their cluster under 
the influence of brood rearing, and the higher temperature 
induced by the greater consumption of nitrogenous food. 
It is then only that the walls or coverings are warm, or 
retain the warmth generated by the bees then clustering 
upon them. 


The Winter Cluster 


will generally be seen located towards one or other of the 
outside walls at the ends of the frames, and starting from 
near the floor at the commencement of cold weather will 
be found to slowly advance upwards as the stores are 
consumed close at hand. The illustration, as represented 
in Figs. 26, 75—78, will show that the cluster is formed 
upon the empty cells wherefrom the later batches of brood 
were hatched, and it is at once evident the larger frame 
shows decided advantages in that an abundance of food is 
present on each frame occupied by the bees, thus ensuring 
that restfulness so necessary to the well-being of our little 
friends, and avoiding the too frequent occurrence of starva- 
tion while the distant (smaller) frames may be well stored. 

The situation of the cluster is represented by the letter 
C; the stores by S. 

It should not be forgotten that before the “quilt” or 
frame covering came into use, most hives were constructed 
with a bee-space between the frame bars-and the crown- 
board. When the close-fitting quilt was adopted this space 
was closed, to the detriment of the bees, in that the cluster 
could no longer communicate at the spot most favorable 
for the purpose; consequently the outer seams of bees 
frequently perished. 


220 A Modern Bee-Farm 


This calamity can be avoided by placing one or two 
34-inch strips of wood across the frames, under the quilt. 


Compact Winter Nest. 


It may be considered that during cold weather the combs 
are really unnecessary except as the store cupboards. 
Under normal conditions, during late autumn, at the 
central lower portion of the combs the cells are all empty, 
just as vacated by the later batches of brood. As the cold 
weather comes on the bees form upon that portion of the 
combs, the nearest possible approach to a_ perfectly 
unbroken cluster. Some of them occupy the empty cells 
and rest head to head on opposite sides of the centre 
wall of the combs, while others crowd between. 

Thus they make the best of the situation as they find it ; 
but careful experiments, conducted over a series of years, 
have always shown me that the bees prefer to cluster in 
Winter where there are no combs at all to intersect them, 
and in this situation have less difficulty in maintaining 
that animal heat so necessary for the preservation of life. 
~ We can therefore meet them half-way as it were, and 
while not removing the stores can alternate heavy combs 
with empty frames, thus bringing the cluster.into a more 
compact mass, and entirely avoiding the frequent destruc- 
tion of the unfortunate outer seam of bees. 


More Bees—Less Food. 

The more compact the cluster, the more warmth is 
maintained at less cost in consumption of stores. A 
strong colony will consume less food comparatively than 
a weak lot, which is compelled to use a larger quantity in 
maintaining the necessary warmth. 

Hence we see the want of economy in wintering weak 
stocks ; as also in dividing the cluster of strong colonies by 
such frames as are spaced only t#-inch from centre to 


and tts Economic Management. 221 


centre, a very dangerous plan in cold latitudes, as these 
also carry insufficient stores.* 


Hibernating as applied to Bees.t 


Do bees hibernate? certainly they do. Perhaps not in 
the same way that we are accustomed to view the torpid 
state of the dormouse, the squirrel, or that more voracious 
animal the bear. While the little brown fellows lay up 
a store to which they may repair at periodical awakenings, 
the flesh-eating monster stuffs to repletion and piles up 
layers of fat on his bones till his shaggy coat will hold no 
more. He seeks a retreat with the drowsiness of gluttony 
already perhaps creeping upon him; and then whether 
dead or alive for weeks he knows not, until it may be fitful 
dreams preceding a final awakening, cause him to realise 
that his bones are nearly bare, and his once sleek and 
tightened coat now folds loosely over his ungainly 
carcase, the result of Nature’s long-continued, if niggardly 
draughts upon the stored fuel, that just a bare flame of 
life may be maintained during his dormant state. 

How like all this is to the conditions governing the hive 
bees! These have their period of preparation ; their term 
of low vitality ; their occasional break in the monotony 
of rest; and finally a glorious awakening to all the 
beauteous gifts of light and life. The only thing different 
being that whereas the quadruped sleeps—a sleep almost 
like unto death, the insect may be said simply to “rest” ; 
and in that she is thus free from labour and from) any 


* The losses in America during the severe Winter of 1911-12 
amounted to 75 per cent., through the owners relying on the 
shallow Langstroth frame, so spaced. 


+ It should be observed that quite young bees cannot hibernate ; 
and where the stock has been injudiciously stimulated late into the 
Autumn, there are more of these ‘‘soft”’ bees die off than there are 
of the adults. 


222 A Modern Bee-Farm 


exciting cause whatever, there is then no need for an 
undue exertion of the digestive organs; food is partaken 
of less frequently, and the numerous members of the 
winter nest, but more especially those farthest from the 
centre of the cluster, are very slow to awake to a 
consciousness of any change in their surroundings. 

It may almost be said that the bees take turns in 
hibernating, those cooling on the margins changing to the 
interior of the nest, while the centre of the throng, like 
the pulsating heart of a single being, maintains a blood-heat 
temperature, without which the marginal units would soon 
become extinct. 


Hibernating is the Essence of Economy ; 


economy in food—economy in vital force and energy 
—a saving of life to the bees and of money to the owner, 
at a time when flights abroad would mean instant death 
to the individual members of the community, which only 
exists as a whole, through the combined heat of the 
clustering, compact mass of units. 


Excitement 


on the other hand—even the simple excitement of 
muscular action—means the consumption of stores beyond 
normal requirements; and consumption means a corre- 
sponding waste of energy, which in Autumn and Winter 
should be avoided as far as possible, because at that period 
there is no compensation—no profit to balance the waste. 


The Winter Season. 


On some cold morning just take a peep under the quilt 
at the bees of your strongest stock. Be as quiet as you 
can, dare hardly to breathe, and jar nothing near the hive. 
Well if you have not made such an examination at any 
other period of cold, you will be almost startled into 


and tts Economic Management. 223 


wondering where your bees have gone to. What a mere 
handful compared with the rousing populous colony you 
knew to be there when you left them snug and well stored 
for Winter! It seems hardly possible such a vast host can 
so contract themselves that a gallon measure will more 
than hold a population you imagined would fill at least 
half-a-bushel. 

The bee nest at this season is practically its own life 
preserver, and what heat there is present is only to be 
found towards the centre of this compact mass of bees. 
The hive itself acts as a shelter, preserving them from the 
direct influence of the cold winds and wet, while the 
temperature around the walls (inside) of the hive is but 
a few degrees higher than that on the outside. The only 
change that takes place, and that a highly beneficial one, is 
when during a spell of sunshine the interior of a thin 
walled hive “anil rises in temperature ; the bees, quickly 
responding to this genial warmth, immediately expand 
their cluster, while many set about bringing the distant 
honey to be restored in the cells adjoining their winter 
nest. This is done in such a systematic manner that the 
extreme outer combs are first relieved of their contents, 
while the whole outer face is cleared before the other, 
nearer, side is touched. 

It has been declared that the temperature on the inside 
of the hive walls stands at 80° to go° during Winter. 
There was never a greater mistake; as we have already 
seen it cannot possibly be much higher than the outside 
air, and such a high temperature is only to be found at 
the centre of the cluster. Bees not only chill to death, 
when in small numbers near any wall where the mass of 
the bees do not cluster, but cannot maintain life if 
separated by only a single comb from the actual bee nest. 
A high temperature can only be registered after the bees 


224 A Modern Bee-Farm 


have been disturbed, or by withdrawing a previously 
arranged thermometer from the heart of the cluster. 


Disturbing Influences. 


The act of breeding which re-commences in normal 
colonies about mid-winter at the centre of the cluster, is 
not in itself a disturbing influence, for as yet its extent 
is never developed beyond the means at hand for its 
moderate continuance. But when the owner begins 
unduly to feed candy, and meal added thereto, then the 
elements of additional unnecessary excitement are 
immediately apparent in a large death rate caused by the 
premature flight of the workers in search of large 
quantities of water. The cluster expands unnaturally and 
thereafter a serious drain is made upon the vitality of the 
bees in keeping up a higher temperature generally. 

It is far more profitable to leave natural conditions 
undisturbed until Spring fairly opens, when the first balmy 
day which permits of a large ingathering of natural 
pollen will see the last of the hibernating cluster, and then 
judicious feeding will carry forward a rapidly advancing 
condition of progress. 

Queenlessness. 

A colony losing its queen before or during Winter, will. 
seldom hibernate perfectly, unless they “are fortunate 
enough to have a small patch of eggs left by her from 
which they raise another, though of course a useless queen. 
The only drawback then is the loss of time before another 
queen can be supplied to recuperate the population. 
Where there is no possibility of rearing a substitute, the 
bees though overcoming the first stage of extreme excite- 
ment, cannot rest naturally, and the consequence is the 
stores are rapidly consumed, and even if dysentery does 
not intervene the bees are scarcely worth uniting to another 


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and tts Economic Management. 225 


stock by the time suitable weather for such operations 
arrives. I frequently leave late virgin queens with stocks 
when failing to mate in Autumn, and unite during the 
following February or March to some other hive with 
a fertile queen, the stock hibernating perfectly mean- 
while. 


Insufficient Stores. 


This really unnecessary condition is unfortunately too 
frequently allowed; and is a serious impediment to 
successful hibernating. The bees fully realize their 
beggarly condition, and during the coldest weather may 
often be heard mournfully roaring while other more 
fortunate stocks are perfectly quiet. Candy, as I have 
always pointed out, if supplied, is only a further evil, but 
the. addition of good sealed stores, inserted in the centre 
of the cluster, or placed flat on the frames, in an 
emergency, will always bring about the necessary restful 
condition once more. 

When inserting stored combs at this season, these should 
not be solid with food if dividing the cluster, and moreover, 
an opening of }-inch diameter should be cut through the 
comb near the centre, 


SPRING. 


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

The production of young bees at this early date is not 
always without intermission; cold in itself never hinders 
it, as the brood is at the very heart of the cluster, but 
if unable to obtain water for many days together brood 


Q 


226 A Modern Bee-Farm 


rearing ceases, only to be renewed as soon as the workers 
can get abroad. Pollen is as a rule always present in 
well-stored stock combs, and when this comes in freely 
(March to April), all fresh from the fields, the brood nest 
is rapidly extended. Now is the time to see that the bees 
have more than sufficient food to keep them going. With 
a good queen it can hardly happen that the combs will 
be too heavily charged with honey at this season, but by 
taking the outside combs, one at a time, and inserting 
them in the centre of the brood nest after the cappings 
are first bruised, great progress-will be made. One such 
comb as yet at an interval of seven or ten days, as needed, 
will keep the bees and queen busy, and by May Ist, the 
whole ten or more combs should be one mass of brood, and 
the hive so crowded with bees that another set of combs 
will be required delow the stock hive. If one has no combs 
on hand, then use sheets of foundation, alternating them 
with the combs of brood throughout both storeys, and see 
that the older brood goes below, with the pollen combs 
near the outside. In any case feed carefully, until honey 
comes in freely, as such a large population is liable to be 
rendered perfectly useless by the loss of the brood, by 
the slightest neglect at this time. 


Avoid all Candy 


if possible, until April or May, when the hives becoming 
crowded with young bees, it will be quite safe, and will 
act as a powerful stimulant both towards comb-building 
and the rapid extension of the brood nest. 

If syrup must be used, give a pint or two rapidly at 
first, then feed slowly from a half to one pint daily, 
according to the strength of the stock. 

The apiarist should on no account commence feeding with 
combs just filled with dripping syrup. This, and too early 


and its Economic Management. 227 


candy feeding, will destroy the original members of the 
colony by excessive excitement, long before a new popula-. 
tion can be reared to take their place. 

This is quite a different thing to feeding slowly with thin 
warm syrup from the end of February if mild, as the bees. 
often suffer much from the want of water early in the year,. 
especially if they have thick or candied stores ; yes, and if 
they have thin soured stores. 


Until Warm Weather 


and a mass of new pollen are in evidence, allow stocks to. 
rest; then, where you have good queens, they will soon 
bring the stocks up to a prosperous and profitable condition. 
This must not be considered as a statement that stocks are 
not to be examined. On the contrary, if a warm spell 
occurs from mid-February onwards, it is absolutely necessary" 
that the stores be re-arranged, or full combs of stores given. 
where any are deficient. 

Nevertheless, the bee-keeper should be careful not to. 
divide the cluster too early with solid combs of stores. 

All fair weather in early Spring is not necessary for: 
securing the best results. Certainly frost and snow after 
the opening of spring-like weather are not to be preferred,. 
but a constant period of fine and mild days will the sooner 
wear out the older bees; while the dull days are a cause of 
rest and recuperation, if other conditions internally are 
correct for continued progress. 

One often hears of bee-keepers regreting that a sudden. 
cold snap has checked brood development and caused a 
lot of chilled brood to be thrown out of the hives, and yet,. 
after once developing a brood nest, a stock properly 
adjusted and fed will take no notice of sudden frost or 
snow, and will continue its progressive state in spite of 
the elements. 


228 A Modern Bee-Farm 


As a result of imperfect wintering a great many bee- 
keepers are troubled with 


Spring Dwindling,* 


so called, ‘because after making exertions to develop the 
brood nest, the bees rapidly decrease in numbers instead 
of continuing a progressive state of increase. This is 
almost entirely due to the owner’s own mismanagement, 
or miscalculations. Where it is not directly traceable to . 
disease, . 


The Causes of Dwindling 


may be the retention of old queens; bad ventilation and 
consequent dampness in winter; insufficient food causing 
a feeling of poverty; yes, and even an excess of food 
where no effort is made at the right time to convert it into 
life and force. 

Feeding during Winter, and more particularly with 
candy, between October and February, inclusive ; as well 
as stimulating the bees to breed too late in Autumn, or 
too‘early in Spring, should all be avoided where one hopes 
to push forward with the greatest rapidity when warmer 
weather is approaching. 


The Golden Rule 


in stimulative feeding must never be lost sight of; it is 
this :—“ Do not commence until all conditions are 
favorably combined for the rapid development of the 
brood nest, from the first moment you decide to break up 
the semi-hibernating condition of the winter cluster.” See 
“Plumping” ; also “ Feeding and Feeders.” 


* Ordinary Spring dwindling is am accident, and not a disease; 
but the presence of disease germs will of course aggravate the 
trouble, or may be the sole cause of dwindling at any season. 


SUPERS FOR GLASS RaIL SECTIONS, AND OTHERS USED OVER 
ORDINARY HIvEs. 


Fic. 27. 
Position of Slatted Crate, Twin Slatted Crate. 
resting on Frames. 


Fic. 29. FIG. 30. 


Simmins’ Glass Rail Sections, Crate, with JT Rests. 
in Twin Crate. 


Fic. 31.—Simmins’ Simple Rack. 


and its Economic Management. 231 


SUMMER. 


Where stocks cannot be got up to the desired strength 
for the opening of the Summer season, or when one wishes 
to take every possible advantage of the harvest, he will not 
hesitate to work on the 


Doubling System. 

At this moment honey may be coming in rapidly, with 
every appearance of fine weather to continue. The first 
is always the best chance, and it is a question whether the 
apiarist will simply allow the bees to waste their energies 
in excessive brood rearing, or at once modify their work 
in that direction, and direct far greater power towards the 
“piling up” of stores. What is done must now be done 
quickly, and though the usual plan has been to simply 
place the brood combs of one stock with, or upon its 
neighbor, and saving the queen with the swarm remaining 
on the old stand, the following definite methods of 
proceeding will give the highest profitable results. For 
producing 

Comb Honey, 


select any two desirable stocks standing near to each other. 
Unite the entire force of workers on to eleven frames of 
the most completely packed combs of brood ; allow the 
non-swarming: chamber under, and put on supers already 
filled with prepared comb to the capacity of some 40 lbs., 
or even more. If the other queen is old, destroy her, 
otherwise reserve her majesty in a nucleus. The surplus 
combs can be placed above any pair doubled for securing 


Extracted Honey. 


In this case, after removing one queen, place. one ,hive 
bodily upon the other, having first arranged the non- 
swarming chamber below all. Thus we have three 


232 A Modern Bee-Farm 


chambers teeming with life, but at least one other must 
be added above with empty combs, or odd brood combs 
that may be left over from stocks united for surplus comb 
honey. If foundation must be used in the absence of 
sufficient combs to fill further chambers, then it will be 
better to alternate frames of comb and foundation, to 
secure the more rapid completion of the latter. 
Where extracted honey is to be largely worked for, 


t 


Surplus Brood Combs 


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

Where the producer confines himself to shallow extracting 
combs,* especially if these are all drone combs, his 
manipulations are restricted and his honey results seriously 
curtailed. 


A Great Evil 


noticeable in nearly all apiaries is the absence of any 
attempt to keep on hand a supply of surplus stock 
chambers, In calling attention to this I have no intention 
whatever of seeking accommodation for swarms, but have 
in mind the best means of restraining them, and making 
far more profitable use of the ever swelling numbers in 
the mother hive. 

What reasonable man can for a moment imagine he is to 
secure large results from the one brood chamber which still 
constitutes the rule in Modern (?) Bee-keeping ? 

A hive which does not permit of rapid extension either 
above or below the original brood chamber, by the season- 


* The largest yields have been secured by using standard brood 
frames in the extracting supers; 360 lbs. in the West of England 
and 357 lbs. from one colony in the East. 


and its Economic Management. 233 


able addition of other like chambers always held in stock, 
is one more suitable for fire-wood than progressive bee- 
culture. 

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


234 A Modern Bee-Farm 


Solid masses of capped brood, with a crowd of hardy 
mature bees, and many young hatching, will induce the 
rapid development of further new combs packed with 
brood, while using frames having guides only along the 
top bars; and these placed one at a time between such 
solid capped brood. 


é 


CHAPTER XVI. 


THE ART OF PLUMPING ; 
OR, RAPID INCREASE IN SPRING. 


NEW term applied in bee-culture by my pamphlet 
of March, 1894, was that of “ Plumping,” a process 


7 whereby one or more colonies of bees can be 
supplied at once with a large complement of brood in 
Spring ; nuclei can be helped during the Summer, or 
backward stocks strengthened when Autumn arrives. 

It may surprise my readers to know that the most 
’ prolific queen ever reared can be worn out in six 
months. 

How is it Done ? 


As soon as natural pollen comes in freely, a stock is 
carefully arranged so that it completely crowds three 
combs. Two of the combs have plenty of young hatching 
from large patches of brood, while the central frame has a 
part or whole sheet of foundation, or a wax-guide only if it 
be early in the season. 

This central comb is built out so rapidly that every three 
or four days it can be removed, with eggs in every cell, 
each time being replaced by another frame with a guide to 


and tts Economie Management. 235 


be built out in like manner. But the more important item 
to consider is the 


Special Plan of Feeding, 


which is not allowed to fail at any time while honey is not 
coming in. Slow-feeding as generally practised, is of no 
avail in producing the largest quantity of brood. In 
times of scarcity constant and /eavy stimulative feeding is 
the only course that can be adopted for this purpose, and 
that [ have found can be carried out only by a combznatzon 
of dry sugar or candy feeding, and a rapid supply of 
syrup. That is, the dry feeder with moist sugar, or a 4 lbs. 
candy frame at one side; a frame syrup feeder on the other 
side—acting as the dummies on either side of the three 
crowded combs. 

This combined process is the only one that can be 
made the means of forcing the /argest amount of brood in 
early Spring, and yet hitherto fast feeding has been 
condemned, because it has been considered that the bees 
will then fill up everything with food to the exclusion of 
brood. With ordinary colonies this is often so; but 
following the times, bee-keepers have become too closely 
wedded to the modern practice of using full combs, or 
sheets of foundation in the stock chamber. Their minds 
do not travel back to the possibility of making bees build 
their own combs to far greater advantage, and frequently 
more profit, without the expense of foundation. 


In Spring 
therefore, to enable one to get the greatest advantage in 
brood production, J put in a guide only to the central 
frame, when by feeding as already shown, the result is 
astonishing. The queen occupies each cell as the work 
proceeds, and there being no part thereof occupied by 
old stores or pollen, each of these new combs will be 


236 A Modern Bee-Farm 


productive of more brood than two combs partly occupied 
by stores at this season. Indeed, in early Spring the old 
stores, particularly of pollen, are the greatest impediment 
to the rapid extension of the brood nest. By all means 
keep such stores in the hives generally, but unless 
intersected by new combs a stock cannot be pushed on 
rapidly towards the swarming point. During Autumn 
and Winter, tough warm combs are a necessity, but as 
mild weather approaches, and the bees again expand, clean 
new combs are a convenient medium for producing the 
greatest possible numbers; but these. combs must be 
constructed while the queen is following with eggs close 
behind the workers. 

The general principles of rapid brood production are 
now before the readers; but we want the best results 
without the usual stimulation of aff stocks, which does not 
always bring on the happy results expected. Under 


The New Process 

the object is to prevent this general stimulation, and 
additional loss of life ensuing thereafter. The great thing 
is to “ Plump,” or fill up each stock in rotation, with all 
the brood it can care for (according to the season) at one 
operation, beginning on the strongest, and so on down to 
the weakest in rotation; otherwise disturbing none, and 
feeding none until so “plumped.” That is another Golden 
Rule in feeding operations; always leave the weaker 
colonies alone until the stronger can help them by brood, 
and perhaps some sealed stores. 


Proportion 3 to 10. 

The proportion of plumping to plumped lots will be three 
to ten; thus each of the latter may receive three new 
combs nearly filling the frame, and every cell with just 
hatching larve at each operation, each week, or twice a 


‘ 


ana its Economic Management. 237 


week, according to the age of the brood, the condition of 
the weather, or the skill of the operator. 

The plumped stocks should be fed rapidly six to eight 
pounds of warm syrup the evening prior to the addition of 
brood. 


As the Season. Advances, 


and there may be some danger of drone cells being built 
in the central frame of those hives being drawn upon by 
“ Plumping,” there are several ways of securing all worker 
combs. First by shifting the hive to a new stand, and so 
getting rid of the older workers, making a nucleus of them. 
This is almost as good as giving a young queen, as 


Young bees may always be relied upon 


to produce only worker combs, no matter what age the 
queen is so that she is not really worn out. Otherwise 
full sheets of foundation may be given as fast as others are 
filled with eggs. Old combs will never give the same 
amount of brood, as so'many cells are immediately filled 
with food ; but while comb-building is the order of the day, 
the queen is also under a yreater stimulus to do her best. 

Where several stocks are forced for comb-building and 
brood production each stock that is “ Plumped” in rotation 
may be given a full complement of brood within afew 
days. The bees that are present on the first return of 
Spring are usually half gone before a good brood nest is 
developed. By the new process the brood nest is 
extended before many of the old bees fly in earnest. It 
must be remembered that 


Brood makes Brood ; 


and therefore, the forced lots, rearing the brood for 
“Plumping? other colonies must always retain the two 
combs of brood at either side of the new comb being 


238 A Modern Bee-Farm 


built : the work must not begin until the two combs can 
be secured with hatching brood, and, moreover, the desired 
process of rapid work is always most satisfactory when 
only the three frames in all are used. 


Thin Syrup in Spring. 

Both the forcing lot, and the stock plumped are supplied 
with thin warm syrup, using one-fifth more water than for 
winter store. This is in addition to the permanent candy 
frame required by each lot, and which is the great 
“stand-by” providing against any possible cessation of 
the liquid food supply. 


Alternative Operations. 

One or other of the first selected brood combs may 
become overloaded with store. In‘ that case an occasional 
new comb of brood is left to mature, and as the remaining 
brood hatches from the clogged comb, the latter is placed 
behind the dummy, as a substantial reserve for the bees to 
appreciate, as they certainly will. 

As the forced or Plumping stocks develop towards 
Summer some of the syrup may be left off, and the dry 
feeder or candy will be the main stay, until bees are 
gathering natural stores. -By beginning first to “ Plump” 
the strongest, the weaker lots come in for “hatching” 
brood before they need be stimulated at all. 


Producing Worker Combs without Foundation. 

-A method of producing new and straight worker combs 
without foundation was mentioned in the earlier editions 
of this work, especially as regards utilising strong nuclei 
during the Summer for this purpose. 

As the Autumn approaches, it is desirable to use the 
brood when mostly capped, and finally for building nuclei 
into stocks brood that is hatching is to be preferred. 


NNN 


and its Economic Management. 239 


Even one such comb will often set up a fair nucleus as a 
moderate stock. : 


Can a Single Stock Plump Itself ? 


It is sometimes objected that the process is not possible 
with only two or three stocks in an apiary. Nevertheless 
a single stock may plump itself by the same method of 
feeding. When fairly strong make a swarm as shown for 
“Swarming without Increase.” Continue the process of 
feeding with the swarm on foundation, and re-unite with 
the young queen. 


Se Serre = P] 
ia =i am Sale 


240 A Modern Bee-Farm 


While the bees’ natural preparation for swarming may 
not always be prevented, the act of swarming can 
certainly be controlled so that a larger yield shall be 
ensured. 

The Expert will risk his reputation as a bee-master 
upon his ability in so directing this natural disposition 
of his workers that he shall be a gainer and not a loser 
thereby. 


-CHAPTER XVII. 


SWARMING—ITS CAUSE, ITS CONTROL 
. AND PREVENTION. 


Sir ine when uncontrolled, is undoubtedly one 


of the greatest hindrances to honey production ; 

it is in fact a stumbling-block with a vast number 
of bee-keepers, who lose the best part of the season before 
the bees can be induced to re-enter the supers which had 
been left in an unfinished state when the swarm issued. 
The act of swarming should be so controlled that work is 
not hindered, but the average owner appears to prefer 
increase to consolidating his working force. 

The primary cause of swarming is to be found in the 
completion and over-crowding of the brood-nest. How 
can this be proved? (1) Very small skeps are productive 
of numerous swarms. (2) The ordinary ten-frame Standard 
hive which accommodates more than double the contents 
of such skeps, seldom throws off more than two swarms 
when working for comb honey. (3) But when extracted 
honey is to be secured, so many more combs can be given 
than are occupied with brood, that swarming is of even less 
frequent occurrence. (4) Going still further, where very 


and its Economic Management. 241 


much larger frames of comb than the Association Standard 
are used in the stock chamber (such as will absorb the 
contents of three or four skeps), yet a smaller percentage 
of swarms will be found to come out. (5) Where bees 
take up their abode in the walls of old houses, under the 
weather boards or tiles, the combs are often so long (I have 
found them three feet in length) that the queen is not 
crowded, and the brood nest is, as it were, never complete. 
Under these conditions a swarm is seldom known to issue ; 
indeed I have not heard of one from the many stocks of this 
kind that have come under my notice. 

Following up this process of reasoning, and after experi- 
menting in various directions, I have found the most 
effective means of prevention to be that of providing a 
secondary-chamber, under the stock, and which is never 
filled’ with finished combs. This arrangement, as regards 
ordinary hives in connection with other essential features 
hereafter explained, constitutes the only method of pre- 
vention that can be founded upon those natural principles 
which govern the actions of the inmates of the hives. 


Simmins’ Non-Swarming System. 


This method of management was first made public by 
the exhibition of my Special Prize hive in 1878 at South | 
Kensington, and later by the issue of my pamphlet 
on the subject in February, 1886. An immense interest 
was created at the time, and many copies of the work were 
distributed by the late T. G. Newman, then editor of the 
American Bee Journal ; while large sales were effected in 
this and other countries. 

In that work I claimed that “ Mo colony im normal con- 
dition attempts to swarm unless it has all its brood combs 
completed”: and further: “To reduce the matter to a 
greater certainty, while admitting that bees may sometimes 


: R 


242 A Modern Bee-Farm 


swarm if such space and incomplete dvo00d combs happen to 
be situated at the back, or the point furthest from the 
entrance, the author sists that the open space and unfinished 
combs shall always be at the front, or adjoining the entrance.” 
That is; at the front where long hives are used ; or between 
(and under) the brood nest and entrance where hives are 
tiered up one above the other ; the latter plan always being 
the more satisfactory for general working; and as now 
perfected in the Conqueror hive. 

With this hive the supers are started under the stock, and 
then moved—above—with the clustering bees, just as soon 
as work is proceeding therein.* 


The idea has long been fixed 


in the minds of bee-keepers that unless the bees were 
crowded into the supers, and overcrowded in the stock 
chamber, nothing would induce them to work in these 
supers or surplus receptacles. The same idea remains 
to-day, fixed as ever in the non-progressive minds of the 
majority of teachers, and of a vast multitude of others who 
will probably wait, to make room for more enlightened 
successors before the grand idea of surplus unoccupied 
space, in addition to surplus comb-building capacity 
becomes generally acknowledged as one of the first 
principles in the. production of a large surplus of honey. 


An important item 


in the new management consists in supplying every section 
with worked-out combs, and these prepared just prior to the 
current honey season, so that the bees are induced to store 
above rather than build to any extent either in front or 
below according to the style of the hive in use. 


* Comb-honey should never be completed under the stock, and 
the Author has on no occasion advised such a course. 


and tts Economic Management. 243 


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


Bottom to Top. 


It is much better, however, to adopt the plan of working 
as used in the Conqueror hive, lifting the crate of sections 
above the stock as soon as the bees are clustering and 
working on the foundation. 


Causes of Failure. 


So many questions are put forward by those who 
fail to prevent swarming that without enumerating all, 
I will refer to the main points and endeavour to make 
the matter clear to my correspondents. I do not pro- 
pose that all the benefits which may be derived from 
my system are to be attained by simply using the 
Conqueror, and then just leaving everything without 
further control. 

The principal causes of failure generally brought to light, 
after examination, prove to be—(1) Want of sufficient 
ventilation. (2) Using excluder zinc between the stock 
and super. (3) Not starting the supers with prepared 
combs. (4) Not removing the surplus as ready, and so 
failing to keep the bees at work in the right direction. (5) 
Not using the new combs when started below the stock for 
super work, or, with the Conqueror hive, not moving the 
lower super above the stock. (6) The failure to keep young 


244 A Modern Bee-Farm 


and vigorous queens. (7) Stocks too backward to start 
early work. 

Taking in detail the points thus enumerated— 

(1) “WANT OF SUFFICIENT VENTILATION.” With a 
strong colony in full swing during favorable weather, the 
entrance should be fully open, and if necessary, the cover 
raised. | cannot imagine a well-found colony with a young 
queen attempting to swarm from the four extracting 
chambers of the Conqueror when thus ventilated, or from 
the comb-honey chambers as presently mentioned. 


(2) “UstnG ExCLUDER ZINC.” This is an impediment 
from my point of view, and has much to do with preventing 
the bees working in the supers and so bringing on a desire 
to swarm by over-crowding the stock combs. I have 
always insisted upon the rule that the best queen-excluder 
is the early and powerful colony ; and with such the queen 
has no chance to rear an excess of, or mis-placed brood 
when honey is to be found. This assertion finds ready 
support from prominent writers. 

‘Nos. 3, 4, and 5 are all related to each other in the order 
given, and tend to cramp the bees for storage room where 
most wanted, at the very time the owner should be prepared 
with all the available cells for storage. 

I also find that 6 and 7 are very closely connected. 
Young queens or the stocks possessing them are less 
inclined to swarm ; generally winter satisfactorily and start 
off in very good condition in the Spring. I repeat it is the 
backward, and not the powerful early stocks, which give 
the most trouble in swarming, and if, as usually happens, 
the late colony has an old queen and comes into full 
condition about the middle of the honey flow, nothing will 
prevent the issue of a swarm, unless the queen and all cells 
but one are destroyed. On the other hand the forward 
stock with a young queen begins to store from the first, and 


and its Economic Management. 245 


with the advantages offered by the above hive, there is 
seldom any inclination to leave work just for the pleasure of 
swarming, 


Virgins to Supersede Fertile Queens. 


It has been claimed by a number of writers that the issue 
of swarms may be prevented by introducing a virgin queen 
to populous colonies ; when the reigning queen is destroyed, 
and also the queen cells when any had been started. 

An Australian bee-keeper considers this plan is not 
effectual where the original queen is under two years of age. 
He, however, uses the process so that both old and young 
queen may work together, as Italians will frequently do. 
The old queen is more likely to be destroyed where blacks 
or hybrids are used. 

In the latter case it would be somewhat risky leaving a 
number of valuable stocks with a virgin queen during a 
spell of bad weather, and the plan is in other ways subject 
to much uncertainty. : 


The Working of New Combs in Sections 


with the author’s hanging-chamber hives is now more satis- 
factory, while the cutting of them for fitting into sections 
can be entirely avoided by the use of his completely divided 
sections and section holders, as provided in the original 
Conqueror hive, class C.* 

When it is desired to draw out the foundation before 
placing the divided halves in position, a sheet is attached 
to one side of each alternate half of the section frames ; or, 
in other words, only one-half of the sectional parts required, 
being furnished with foundation attached to the inner-side, 
a shallow chamber is filled up with them, and placed next 


* See illustrations of halved sections and holders; also manner of 
inserting the foundation in a line of three-side-cut sections. 


246 A Modern Bee-Farm 


above the stock chamber as early as the bees can possibly 
be induced, by warmth and careful feeding, to work out the 
foundation rapidly. Any kind of hot water vessel placed 
above, especially at night, where it can be regularly attended 
to, will induce rapid work, so that three or four days only 
‘need elapse before the foundation is sufficiently worked out 
for removal. 

The removed set may be placed above the quilt, and the 
section halves adjusted as soon as the bees go down, if not 
shaken off in the first instance. Another set may follow 
close on the brood nest, and when the season fairly opens 
these new combs will prove a remarkable stimulus, while 
the bees will then be strong enough to start other foundation 
in the lower chamber, used for the time being in place of, or 
next above, the swarm preventing chamber. 

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

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


The True Principle of Management 


consists in so manipulating the supers that none of the frames 
or sections arranged below the stock have finished combs all 
the season ; z.¢., they must be removed and used above as 
fast as the bees make a start thereunder. 

The space below or in front of the brood nest gives ample 
ventilation, keeping the hive cool; and the stock chamber 
being, as it were, duplicated, but never filled, the desire for 
swarming does not exist. 

As will be seen, the system is particularly applicable to 
the production of comb-honey, and without doubt is a 


l 4 


Fic. 32. i Fic. 33. 
Non-swarming Plan, as adapted to old style Non-swarming Plan, 
Long Hives. adapted to old style 


Tiering Hives. 


Fic. 34.—Swarm Catcher. Excluder zinc covers the whole 
front, but cut away to show openings. 


Fic. 35. FIG. 36. 


Foundation, or Comb Foundation, or Comb Cutting Saw 
Cutting Gauge-box. for use with the Gauge-box. 


and its Economic Management. 249 


process that will prevent the issue of swarms while securing 
that article. At the same time it makes a greater certainty 
of prevention while working for extracted honey, though 
generally in getting the latter article stored no swarming 
will occur, as there is no object in having the combs well 
finished, and unlimited room can be given.* 


Another Important Item, 

and one always neglected by those who fail to carry out the 
process, is that a large entrance be provided during the 
working season. In the Conqueror Hive, the outer entrance 
is about 18 inches by 2 inches ; and a definite regulation of 
this entrance decides at any time whether the bees shall be 
permitted to work below the stock, by partial closing ; or 
be forced by extra ventilation below, to finish their work 
farther away from such opening. 


Simmins’ Non-Swarming Chamber 

has been confused with the ancient “Eke” and “ Nadir.” 
The eke was a portion of the lower rim of a skep placed 
under another similar hive, raising it so that the original 
combs were then extended permanently to within the usual 
distance of the floor; thus securing additional breeding 
space in the enlarged combs. No open space was left, and 
the enlarged combs remained until the stock was finally 
broken up. 

Here was no attempt at prevention, just as there was none 
in the case of the “ Nadir,’ which was a distinct frameless 
chamber placed under the original stock, whose combs 
could not be extended because of an adapting board 
between the two. This “Nadir” was always given as a 
surplus chamber, wherein the bees built solid combs of 


* The Conqueror Hive was introduced in 1888 as the final 
development in successful and easy management in checking the 
swarming propensity. 


250 A Modern Bee-Farm 


newly gathered honey. Thus in both cases the receptacles 
were filled with comb for the respective purposes, unlike the 
Author’s non-swarming chamber, which is never allowed to 
become crowded with combs. The Author has always 
insisted that no comb-honey is to be produced under the 
stock, as a finished article. 

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

My non-swarming system is illustrated for the better 
guidance of the Reader, both as regards the hanging- 
chamber hive, and the common close-fitting hives, Figs. 5- 
23-24-25 represent the Author’s hanging-chamber hive. 
Fig. 32 shows the. manner of proceeding where long hives 
are used, with the empty frames arranged on the same floor, 
between the brood nest and entrance. Fig. 33 explains the 
plan adopted when tiering up with the old-style storifying 
_ hive, with the lower chamber having empty frames. 


The Conqueror Hive 


is especially adapted to this method of working, and has 
stood the test of many years’ practical application, as well 
as adverse criticism from various sources. Its great 
simplicity of management when understandingly applied, 
has been its greatest recommendation, and a mass of 
independent testimony has finally established its reputation 
as the most rational method that can be adopted for the 
suppression of swarming, and as a safe guide to the bee- 
keeper of to-day, and of the future. 


and tts Economic Management. 251 


Other Methods 


have been tried for preventing the issue of swarms, since I 
introduced the term “Non-Swarming System”; but all 
have come short of the desired object through incorrect 
application, and a failure to understand the needs of the 
case; requiring constant attention and more labor than 
usual; while at each operation, whether in using a double 
hive with a revolving motion, or shifting the entrance from 
one chamber to another by other means, the entire economy 
of the hive was disturbed, unless inter-communication was 
allowed as in the Double Conqueror hive. 


Swarm Attachments 


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

I still’ adhere to my non-swarming plan, or that which 
helps to restrain bees from the deszve to swarm, as being by 
far the more simple and effectual, but as there are many 
who for various reasons are unable to control swarming, I 
illustrate my earliest design in Swarm Catchers (Fig. 34), 
which requires little attention when once in position. 

It is simply the arrangement of my usual swarm pre- 
venting chamber under the brood nest, with a floor between 
having a central opening covered with excluded zinc. The 
whole front of the lower chamber is covered with excluder 
zinc, set out 13-inch, and reaching up to and covering the 
front of a porch which comes in front of the main entrance. 

The alighting board has here several inverted cones so 
inserted that the queen failing to make her way out with 
the swarm finds a passage into’ the lower chamber from 
which she cannot return, and where the bulk of the swarm, 


252 A Modern Bee-Farm 


after vainly seeking her abroad, re-assemble and go on to 
work. If allowed to continue there they work in connection 
with the original force ; but, in this case, all surplus queen 
cells must be cut out, and the zinc removed from the upper 
entrance that the young queen remaining may leave for her 
natural purposes. 

As young queens will be hatching within nine days, the 
original stock may otherwise be removed within that period, 
replacing the supers over the swarm until the bees may be 
re-united with the young queen:as in “ Swarming without 
increase.” 

A similar plan of treating the swarm and stock (without 
the swarm catcher) has been recommended more recently 
by the late Mr. Alexander, of America, and others, as a new 
development, but no attempt has been made to re-unite the 
total force with the young queen. 


Two or more Queens in Tiering Hives. 


The illustration first given in my 1893 edition will show 
how two or more queens can be worked with stocks one 
above the other. The bees are first united by leaving a 
sheet of woven wire or small-hole zinc between the stocks 
for a few hours; but the tiering plan is not so simple or 
convenient as the Double and Treble hive management: 
described in Chapter XIX. (See also Fig. 12.) 


THE CONTROL OF SWARMING 
By Division, and Re-uniting with Young Queens. 


Except in the few districts where the season is protracted, 
increase is obtained at the expense of honey, but in any 
case it is not desirable to take more than one swarm from 
the old stock; and this division, to give the best results, 
should be made either before the first honey-flow occurs, 
providing the colony can be made strong at that time, or 


and its Economic Management. 253 


during July, when little work is generally being carried on 
by the bees in most districts. But, that we may allow for 
uniting in the Autumn, it will be safe to reckon only upon 
50 per cent increase, as it is imperative that all be kept in 
good condition. In the table of estimates this has been 
placed at a much lower rate, so that there is little fear of 
the apiarist weakening his stock. 

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

Dividing 

will consist in removing from a strong colony one-half of 
the brood combs containing mostly hatching brood, with 
the bees clustering thereon, as well as the queen; placing 
these in a new location, with all the brood near the centre 
of the hive with empty combs or foundation on either side 
of the same. The brood combs remaining on the old stand 
are to be alternated with foundation, as the larger number 
of bees will be here, and on the evening of the third day 
following, unite with them the nucleus having a young 
queen, or insert the queen alone if the nucleus is again 
required. The reason for waiting three days in this case is 
solely because of the bees returning from the removed 
portion which may not always be friendly to the queen 
which they know is not the one they have just left.* 

Having their own queen, there are not so many bees 
leave that portion placed in another situation, and possessing 
the older brood the hive will soon be crowded, when the 
outside sheets of foundation are to be inserted one or two 
at a time in the centre of the brood nest. The number of 
frames to be allowed for breeding in divided stocks will 


* When starting the swarm without brood combs it is better to 
leave the queen on the old stand. 


254 A Modern Bee-Farm 


depend upon the approach or return of the honey-flow, and 
it may even be necessary to remove some of the least filled 
with brood, where comb-honey is to be worked for, crowding 
the bees on to eight or nine of the combs most densely 


packed with brood. 


Where increase is needed the better way is that of 
building up to at least two full chambers, and then divide 
into single chambers. I formerly practised 


Contraction 


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


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


Swarming without Increase. 

In the earlier days of the Brztzsh Bee Journal, 1 was on 
one occasion challenged to show how swarming could 
be carried out without allowing increase of stocks. I 
immediately accepted the challenge, and gave my plan 
of swarming without increase; and the same method was 
afterwards fully explained in my pamphlet of 1886. It 
consisted in either making an artificial swarm, and presently 
re-uniting ; or could be adapted to natural swarming. 

Where a swarm is not seen to issue, a glance around at 
the entrances of the hives only should show the bee-keeper 


and tts Economic Management. 255 


from which it came. Hitherto, all was life and activity, 
but look! here is one hive with the entrance clear of 
bees, and but a few ‘returning, while hardly one is seen to 
issue; it is the “calm after a storm.” A closer inspection 
of the hive will reveal the true state of affairs, and 
now remove all but one or two of the combs to another 
hive standing by the original, with the entrance turned 
away from the same. Secure the swarm in a skep or any 
other convenient article, standing the same upon the 
ground with clear space for ventilation under, and shade 
above. As soon as most of the bees have entered’ or 
clustered about the skep, carry the same to their original 
location and shake them into the hive, having previously 
arranged six or seven frames with full sheets of foundation, 
or }-inch strips of such; and not more than two frames of 
brood near the centre, with dummies at either end. It 
seems hardly necessary to advise my readers that no queen 
cells should be allowed on the two combs of brood given to 
the swarm. Any attempt at forming such should be 
discovered when occasionally adjusting the new combs 
being built. 

The sections are to be replaced on the new swarm 
which will soon receive so many bees in addition from 
the removed combs that the remaining population will 
give up any idea of again swarming, and will destroy all 
but one queen. When the latter is mated and laying, 
the brood will be hatched, when the old queen left with 
the swarm is to be destroyed, and on the third evening 


Unite the Parent Stock and Swarm * 


* Stocks showing early symptoms of Isle of Wight disease if 
swarmed and re-united in this way, will overcome the trouble with 
but little other assistance, and will become more populous and 
vigorous. In this case the swarm should be hived without quilting 
and left in that condition until supering. 


256 A Modern Bee-Farm 


with the young queen presiding. The united stock should 
not have more than ten or eleven frames in all if comb- 
honey is desired, while the remainder of the broodless 
combs can be used for extracting purposes. 

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

For obtaining one swarm from each stock, and in 
desiring to 


Prevent After-swarms, 


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


and tts Economic Management. 257 


Combined Swarming and Doubling without Increase. 

In my 1886 pamphlet, page 29, under “ How to Control 
Swarming,” J described my method of avoiding increase, 
while making swarms and securing immense populations, 
thus : “Select any two strong colonies . . . no matter 
how far apart, remove from one all the brood combs but 
two left in the centre with no queen cells; give their own 
queen and fill up with three frames, having guides only on 
either side. Now return aM the bees by shaking and 
brushing from the combs, and also one-half of those bees 
from the second colony. On the third day remove the old 
queen, and insert one of those recently fertilised. Then 
put on supers of a capacity of not less than 40 lbs. at one 
time, with all sections filed with combs. As soon as the 
upper set is completed, remove, and insert another in its 
place, though if the weather is promising, the district good, 
and the season still young, it would be much better to 
place the empty combs under that crate remaining. 
If the apiarist is working with such stocks as alone give a 
profit, a large super room should be given at the start 

but cramp them to begin with, and they are 

cramped in every way to the end of Summer. 

“Returning to the second hive, which had been deprived 
of half its bees, we place above them another hive 
containing the remainder of the brood combs from No. 1, 
filling up with empty combs or starters on either side. 
First arrange a hive with guides only at the bottom, and 
proceed as previously mentioned for extracting. The old 
queen in this case is not to be superseded until all surplus 
has been removed, when the nucleus reserved for them may 
be united to such colony, and the combined forces fed up 
for Winter, if more stores be needed. 

“By the above, though with more labor, all the advan- 
tages of non-swarming are obtained, and neither stock 

s 


258 A Modern Bee-Farm 


hive (whatever distance apart) is moved from its own 
stand.” Modifications of this method of 


Doubling Swarms and Uniting the Parent Stocks 


can be secured by using the whole of the flying bees of two 
stocks near together for making the new swarm, and then 
arranging the stock combs as another colony, as before. | 
The other alternative is that of doubling the stocks as 
they are with the whole of the combs, bees, and brood, 
not forgetting the gréat point of supplying a young queen 
at the time. 

Now is it not strange that prominent bee-men, year 
after year, are still straining after some method of con- 
trolling swarming. My pamphlet, from which the above 
is taken, was sold largely in this country and America, 
and prior to its issue no mention of a non-swarming hive 
or system had appeared in bee-literature of the period. 
Only quite recently our American friends have been 
exercising their minds over artificial swarms which they 
propose to call “shock” swarms, because they shake off 
part of the bees from the combs of a stock to form a 
swarm to be hived upon starters or full sheets of founda- 
tion ; thus in attempting to control swarming they make 


One Strong Stock into Two Weak Ones, 

a process which no advanced dee-master should tolerate. 

Bees can be sé easily united during a honey-flow that 
it seems hardly credible any honey producer can fail to see 
the advantages of uniting the double swarm near the old 
stands, and the two old stocks on a fresh site. This does 
away with any necessity of weakening a single colony in 
preventing swarming, and it is the basis of vast honey 
yields. : 

To those who wish to work their ordinary hives to the 
best advantage, I may say that 


and its Economic Management. 259 


The Young Queens 


mentioned are first reared in nuclei, one is given to the 
united swarm soon after the operation, for two reasons, 
one being that no further swarming will occur, and another, 
that all worker combs are more likely to be built by the 
bees. In the case of the old combs doubled on a new site, 
the bees are not likely to swarm with so much comb space 
allowed, and the young queen with her nucleus is added to 
the stock in Autumn. 

Throughout all bee-operations the fact must never be 
lost sight of that every manipulation must tend towards 
developing that vast population at the right time, so 
absolutely necessary to a great success. 


260 A Modern Bee-Farm 


Taking the average of seasons, one eleven-frame 
British Standard (14in. by 8in.) stock chamber, 
crammed with brood prior to the honey-flow, should 
yield 75lbs. of comb-honey; one eleven-frame Lang- 
stroth (17iin. by 93in.) chamber, 90 Ibs. ; one eleven- 
frame (16in. by 10in.) commercial stock chamber, 


120 lbs.* 


The progressive increase of surplus when a second 
chamber is filled with brood and bees by the same 
queen, is three times that secured from one chamber. 
Extracted honey may be shown as one-fifth more 
than comb in sections, as compared with the above 
estimates. 


CHAPTER XVIII. 


THE PRODUCTION OF HONEY 
AS AN ABUNDANT SURPLUS. 


N endeavoring to secure large yields of honey the bee- 
} keeper is obliged to rely upon a vigoros strain of 
bees, and correct manipulation at the proper moment, 
in connection with commodious hives and the early develop- 
ment of a vast working force. 
Liliputian, incomplete, and makeshift hives, such as 
frequently used, are unfit for profitable bee-keeping on a 
large scale, and account for many of the failures recorded. 


Large Brood-nests prior to Supering. 


One should breed by selection, or otherwise procure 
queens that can fill nearly solid with brood, the equivalent 


* The form of the commercial frame ensures a more compact 
brood nest, and a much larger population. 


and its Economic Management. 261 


of three British standard eleven-frame stock chambers prior 
to the main honey flow. Oh, yes! this will wear out any 
good queen in one season, but the cost of a queen is nothing 
as compared to a yield’ per stock 2” ome season, equal to that 
more frequently procured over a period of three years. 

“No queen can do that,” says the reader! But it has 
been done with a result up to nearly 360lbs. of extracted 
honey from a single colony. The methods of management, 
showing how to work double or treble stories of brood, with 
either one, two or more queens, are unfolded herein. 


Native Queens and Bees a Failure. 


In extra good seasons many owners working with native 
bees allow the smaller standard frames to become largely 
choked with pollen and some honey, using one stock 
chamber only ; hence the yield is very considerably smaller 
than it should be. 

The larger, deeper frame is not so quickly restricted in 
this way, even under inferior management, while the double 
chambers, when filled. with brood quite early, will result in 
heavy yields. 

When supering, one of the two stock chambers (or two if 
there are three) will be removed to one side, and, as 
repeatedly explained in this work, the removed portion may 
be used to swell the numbers of the actual working stock in 
due course; or at a later date may be supered separately if 
the division should have been made quite early. 

The non-swarming chamber may be either a comb-honey 
or an extracting super for the time being. 


What is meant by Honey Production ? 

Do you know what it means to become a producer of 
honey, a producer on a large scale, a king among honey- 
producers? You will certainly not then leave each indi- 
vidual colony to just do its best upon its own merits, its 


262 A Modern Bee-Farm 


own basis of strength, and doubtful possibilities. No, you 
must do the acting—yow must be a man of action. 

Why should you put down a colony of bees, simply place 
on a super when you think the fine weather has come, and 
so secure your 30 lbs. or 40 lbs. of honey, or less—or none at 
all, when on the other hand a rational manipulation on your 
part will reward your endeavors by the 100 lbs. and more, to 
each hive. ‘ 

Keep the brood nest freely open for the queen, so that 
her egg-producing powers may not be restricted, and see 
that the supers are fully expanded for storage. Cramping 
gives poor results, but a large hive, with large surplus 
room, will always, and will alone, be productive of heavy 
yields. : 

A large frame for brood-rearing, and a prolific queen of a 
good strain, will provide an immense force of working bees. 
As previously shown there is no reason why a queen should 
be restricted to one brood chamber prior to the honey-flow, 
while “doubling” may be resorted to if necessary in an 


emergency. : 


When Honey Flows. 


! 


Many novices ask how they are to know when honey is 
coming in. Examination of the combs will, of course, show 
every vacant cell being more or less occupied with the thin 
newly gathered nectar. The bees, too, come in with dis- 
tended bodies, falling heavily upon the flight board. 
Sometimes the aroma of the incoming stores is distinctly 
noticeable, more particularly at evening when many bees 
are ventilating at the entrance, and a perfect roar is heard 
throughout the apiary. Apart from this, the advanced 
apiarist has an instinctive feeling that honey is, ‘or is not, 
being gathered. The state of the atmosphere and his 
knowledge of surrounding crops tell him at once what to 


‘ 


aes | 


Two-bee-way Section. 


Ein == S 3 
Fic. 37. Fie. 38. 


Plain Three-side-cut Section. Introduced 1886, Two-bee-way 
Section, folded. » 


Simmins’ Divided Section Holder, and Halved Sections 
(1889) ; showing how the sheet of foundation is placed 
across three Sections. 


nnn 


yo 


Completely Divided Two-bee-way Section. 


d Il 3 
FIG. 40. Fic. 41. 
Plain Completely Divided Section in the flat. Halved Section, 
Introduced 1889. folded. 


The Author’s Three-side-cut Section was first illustrated in his 1888 
edition. His completely divided section and divided holders were 
introduced in 1889, and illustrated in the 1893 edition. 

The plain (no-bee-way) section, Figs. 37 and 40, are from original 
engravings cut in 1892, and the Author's preference for no-bee-way or 
plain sections was first mentioned in the Brztésh Bee Journal some 
eight years earlier. It appears that plain (no-way) sections were first 
made by G. B. Lewis, Watertown, Wis., in 1882. 


and tts Eronomic Management. 265 


expect. The temperature may range anywhere from 70° 
to 90° in the shade, but if it continue too hot and dry for 
more than ten or fourteen days, the amount of honey 
brought in will decrease daily, unléss there happen to be a 
succession of heavy ground crops coming along, when, the 
earth being shaded, moisture is still retained. A shower 
once in a while is beneficial, but frequent rainfalls destroy 
all chance of a good honey flow, as such are accompanied 
by a lower temperature. Even with fair weather it some- 
times happens that the temperature rules too low for the 
secretion of nectar; but usually if none is stored during a 
fine season, it implies either that the district is poor in 
honey plants, or else that there are too many colonies in one 
place. 

Now, dear Reader, granted you have the most suitable 
hive, and the best bees for the purpose, and moreover have 
carefully studied how to secure your strong stocks, and then 
how to control their natural inclination to swarm, you are, I 
trust, fully prepared to gather in a very large proportion of 
that delicious sweet so abundant all around you. 


EXTRACTED HONEY 


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

A common practice is that of removing the honey before 
the cells are capped over, and large weights of such “ green 
stuff” are often boasted of. Asa matter of fact, however, 
such honey never equals that left in the upper tiers or 
supers until thoroughly “ripened” by the natural heat and 
perfect ventilation of the hive. When the combs are at 
least two-thirds sealed they may be removed, and the 


266 A Modern Bee-Farm 


contents extracted, when generally an article of good con- 
sistency will be procured. _ 

In the artificial process of ripening, “ green” honey loses 
considerable weight by evaporation of the excess of water, 
and being passed over a series of heated plates its quality is 
impaired, and is, of course, inferior in every respect, as both 


WADE Se API PEI PHI PLIES e APIS + GPLIPH + PEI 


PURE ENGLISH HONEY 


SUPPLIED DIRECT FROM 
THE PRODUCER’S APIARIES. 


FRR ER 


ONE BUT PURE HONEY GRANULATES; when this 

has become so, it can be made liquid again (if desired) 

by placing the jar in another vessel containing hot water, 
when it will become as when first sealed up. 


NOTICE. 


GUARANTEE this Honey to be quite pure, and free from 
the usual impurities of old-fashioned “strained” honey. 


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


quality. 
(Signed) 


Dace dS. 
pi cesta ak BS cl a 


s 
PRTC He 


DShideeadhicd 
oe 


<> 


PPLIDY PEI + PLIES +S 


Lae 
Paw AE 


bh Sr 
MSS 
Ea ae Be 


OE ROE SOE SOE BOS SIE SOE top toe 


the color and usual characteristic aroma of honey is 
destroyed. The best article only is that which will create a 
demand; and that must be such as is largely ripened 
within the hive. This is judged, with few exceptions, by 
the completion of the sealing. 


Bottled Honey. 


In glass the wholesale demand is generally for 1 lb. jars. 
A popular kind is the jelly glass, and being so largely used 
the manutacturers are of course enabled to place them at a 
lower figure than any other kind. They are neat, elegant, 
and with a nice label, most attractive, costing Ios. 6d. per 
gross; with corks, 12s. 6d.; so that including carriage, 


and tts Economic Management. 267 


bottling, &c., the total cost is a little over 1d. cach (Fig. 50). 
Half and quarter-pounds can also be retailed at home, but 
are useless to the trade. 

The bottles illustrated are especially suited for honey. 
Fig. 52 makes a good exhibition’ bottle ; 50, the Greek 
design jelly glass; 51, a bottle very much appreciated by 
customers generally. 

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

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


Sealing Wax; 


but this article must be made at home. Procure common 
yellow resin and heat it above a small oil stove in an 
earthenware vessel, or if prefered a large glue pot. Use one 
part of beeswax to three of the other to toughen it and 
make it hold to the glass. Now an important item is the 
color of the sealing wax. A drzgh¢ color will contrast well 
against the contents of the bottle, and the coloring matters 
used in common paint answer every purpose. Stir all 
thoroughly to get an even mixture, but at no time let the 
wax boil. 


* Color in itself is not a distinguishing feature of good honey. 
Heather honey is dark but bright, and commands a higher price 
than any. Honey-dew is both dark and muddy in appearance, and 
is of the worst possible quality, and of little value. Some light 
honeys may be bitter and unsaleable. 


268 A Modern Bee-Farm 
To Wax the Bottles 


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


Home-made Self-sticking Parchment 

for ensuring the air-tight sealing of honey or jam in jars, is 
an item many of my readers will be glad to know about, 
especially as it is so economical a process. Common thin 
paste is used, and into this the paper is dipped so that both 
sides are moistened. This is then pressed down over the 
mouth of the bottle and all round the under side of the rim. 
When dry this is superior to real parchment, no air can get 
in, and no tying is needed. 

Milk, skimmed or otherwise, will also answer in the same 
manner ; while both of these articles are cheaper, and more 
easily applied than the white of egg. 

Paper similar to bakers’ flour bags is suitable for the 
purpose, and for commercial use a piece of cardboard cut to 
the right size may first be dipped into the paste and laid 
over, when the paper over this’ will make a very strong 
sealing. Screw-cap jars are expensive, and where a cheaper 
bottle will answer, this substitute for parchment will be 
more effectual in preserving the contents. 


Canned Honey. 


With prices much lower, together with a general and 
increasing demand, honey in tins is becoming popular. 
Two, three, and six pounds seem to be mostly in demand, 
and at reasonable rates large quantities of good honey can 


and its Economic Management. 269 


thus be disposed of. Color is not of so much importance, 
and when granulated this is a good way to dispose of our 
produce ; but the article must be thoroughly ripened, and of 
good flavor. The most elaborate label that can be obtained 
is required to make tins attractive. 

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

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


Provide for extracting 


by arranging our hives in the best manner for its production. 
A good stock of worked-out combs is invaluable for this 
purpose, as we desire to give the bees plenty .of storage 
room; while there is no great necessity that the combs 
shall be completely sealed. 

Those hives only are suitable for extracting purposes 
which admit of tiering up one above the other. Such 
chambers may all be of one pattern ; though with the stock 
hive only having standard frames, and that surmounted by 
successive stories of shallow frames, may be better in some 
localities. In either case use the empty chamber below, 
which will also to some extent prevent the queen ascending 
higher than the brood nest proper. 

Perforated zinc is frequently recommended to keep the 


270 A Modern Bee-Farm 


queen down, having slots jin. wide, which presumably |. 
admit neither queens nor drones, but its use is detrimental. 

Deep hives, with the extra chamber for prevention of 
swarming, will rarely be left by the queen, and with a 
careful and judicious adjustment of the stock-combs before 
supering no adapter will be needed. 

All combs arranged for extracting should stand at a set 
distance apart all the time, as the surfaces will then be 
finished off evenly, thus making the uncapping process more 
rapid. It may even be an advantage to use supers with 
dividers, as first illustrated in my paimphlet of 1886. 


All Drone Cells in Supers. 


Many bee-keepers follow the practice of using drone-comb 
in extracting supers, hence they are compelled to use 
excluder zinc between the stock and supers. Otherwise the 
drone cells are a great inducement for the queen, at the will 
of the workers, to deposit eggs therein during the honey 
season. 

The Reader may accept my assurance as an undoubted 
fact, and one of serious importance, that he loses much 
surplus by adopting excluder zinc, while the bees are more 
inclined to swarm when it is in use. It is not only that less 
honey is carried through this impediment, but also that 
more may be stored below in the stock combs, thus cramping 
the brood nest, and curtailing the increase of population. 


Metal Ends 


are often used on the ends of brood-frames, for spacing at 
set distances, being barely I4in. wide. For extracting the 
ends should not be more than Ijin. without dividers, or 2in. 
if any form of separator is used. 

Where there is any difficulty in restraining the queen, as 
where all shallow, or all standard frames may be used, and 
the queen excluder is objectionable, then place all suc- 


and tts Economic Manageiment. 271 


ceeding sets of combs Je/ow the brood nest as recommended 
in Non-Swarming pamphlet; then extracting from the 
upper set as the brood is replaced by honey. 

Mr. Howard designed single strips of excluder slots with 
plain 3in. sides, which can be inserted between the frame 
bars, thus spacing the frames at the same time, and being 
adapted to few or many frames. It will be found far better, 
however, to work entirely without excluder zinc in any 
form. 


The best Queen-Excluder 


is the powerful colony, 4%¢ why should you super it just 
as you find it when you think it is ready, and becoming 
over-crowded? This is just what the average bee-keeper 
does, and then he wonders why he cannot do without 
excluder zinc, and moreover why his bees swarm as soon as 
they have made a beginning in the surplus chambers. 

I must repeat that the numerous teachers who are 
advocating the use of queen-excluder zinc between stock 
and super. are missing the great principle in honey- 
production, and general bee-management. Every advancing 
bee-master should grind this fad under his heel, and will rely 
upon the 


Re-arrangement of the Brood-nest before Supering, 


for the purpose of giving the queen plenty of room, while 
at the same time ensuring a large population. The older 
capped and hatching brood combs you will place at the 
centre, while the uncapped brood will be placed to the 
outsides.* This must be made a great point in manage- 
ment just.prior to supering, and then the bees are obliged 
to carry all the incoming harvest upstairs ; while the queen 


* Two or three sheets of foundation may be placed near the 
centre in exchange for some of the heavily stored combs that may 
be near the ends. 


272 A Modern Bee-Farm 


will have so much room below, where most needed, that 
she will not trouble to shift her quarters; and the outer 
combs will be so long occupied with brood that the workers 
will not get into the habit of storing there to begin with. 
See also the “Control of Swarming by Combined Swarm- 
ing and Doubling.” 


Double Brood-chambers. 


Where the stock has been developed to fill two or more 
stock chambers before the honey-flow, these may be left 
when working for extracted honey. — 


Old Combs or New. 


Many bee-keepers who however produce extracted honey 
only in limited quantities, appear to prefer white combs for 
extracting ; such as have never been used for breeding. 
They claim that the honey is cleaner and lighter in color ; 
But this is simply a theory which cannot be supported by 
sound practice. Now, new combs have little to support 
their delicate construction, and when these are emptied and 
stored away the wax rapidly deteriorates, losing its oily 
nature, so that a wasteful process of renewal is repeatedly 
necessary. 

Tough breeding combs are less likely to break in the 
extractor, the stored honey leaves the cells more readily ; 
while it is absolutely as clean and beautiful in colour as that 
from the whitest combs. I have had it so very white from 
my dark breeding combs in the surplus chamber, that it has 
been as light and clean as sparkling water, and was mistaken 
for sugar syrup; and too at a period when no feeding had 
taken place for many weeks, and the light honey was being 
brought in by the hundredweights. When we consider that 
all cells are well cleansed and polished by the bees of 
healthy stocks before being used as receptacles for honey ; 
and as it is self-evident that the tough combs will keep in 


V 


and its Economic Management. 273 


store to far better purpose than the new and fragile combs, 
while the others may constantly be passed through the 
brood chamber to keep them in condition, there can be no 
question as to the greater economy in using breeding 
combs for extracting purposes. 

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


No Bees Brushed from Combs. 


When removing completed sets, let it be done during 
the busy hours of the day, when the few bees therein will 
soon leave if piled up in a room with large windows 
arranged as explained under Bee-houses.* This, to my 
mind, is far better than using bee-escapes to supers, and if 
a bee-house is not available, a large box or other case can 
easily be set up to answer the same purpose. Another 
way is to shake the bees from the combs, using a feather 
for the stragglers ; and still another, with shallow frames 
when fixed securely, is that first adapted to modern hives 
by James Heddon, of Dowagiac, Mich., who had not the 
slightest knowledge that his “shaking out” process had 
been long practised in this country with fixed combs, 
where we call it “throwing.” Still another method of 
clearing supers is that employed with the Double Conqueror 
hive. 

Empty sets of combs must be in readiness to give the 
bees where more room may be required, and when full 


* This item, given in the same words in my earliest and following 
editions of this work, has quite recently been offered in the American 
Bee Journals as a new method of removing surplus. 


T 


274 A Modern Bee-Farm 


combs have been” emptied they should always be returned 
in the evening that all may be cleared up, and the 
consequent excitement subsided before another day’s work 
commences. 


Bee-Traps 


have been revived both’ at home and in America, under 
the name of bee-escapes and super clearers. Some 35 years 
since these were much in vogue, but fell into disuse, as 
practical bee-keepers found they prefered, when once 
having raised the super, to clear it away at once, and it is 
not a little surprising to find several advanced apiarists 
themselves entrapped into thinking there is anything to be 
gained by re-adopting this old and discarded fad. 


Carbolised Cloths. 


The late Rev. Geo. Raynor used carbolised cloths, both 
in general manipulations and when removing supers. The 
cloth, about 18in. square, is dipped into the solution, and 
laid over the frames or sections, after first wringing out the 
excess of moisture. No one would use a super clearer after 
once trying this method. 

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


Extracting Machine 


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


and its Economic Management. 275 


Uncapping Can 


which is to be in two sections, one fitting into the other. 
The upper part receives the cappings, having a strainer 
at bottom and one or more bars of wood or metal across 
the top whereon to stand the comb. While resting one 
end of the frame of comb on the bars, and the upper end 
held by the projecting ear in the left hand, with the top 
bar towards you, with a slightly diagonal and sawing 
motion carry the uncapping knife from top to bottom, 
removing not only the cappings but all comb that may 
project beyond the plane of the frame; reverse, and serve 
the opposite side in like manner, when the comb is to be 
inserted in one of the cages of the extractor with the top 
bar standing in a direction opposite to that in which the 
revolutions are to be made, as the cells inclining towards 
the top bar, the honey leaves more readily. The uncapping 
stand (Fig. 46) provides for melting the wax cappings at 
the same operation. Now, unless the 


Rate of Speed 


be carefully regulated, the operator is liable to break his 
combs, and thus render them difficult-to handle; but by 
turning slowly while emptying the first side, the great 
weight of the other will not force the combs into the wire 
netting. Now reverse all combs, at first working at a slow 
pace, but gradually increasing the speed, until you may 
set the machine going as fast as it can be made to revolve, 
having already removed the bulk from the opposite sides, 
though with a steady motion. When at full speed, slip 
off the multiplying gear if on the horizontal pattern, 
when a great many revolutions will be made while you 
can go on uncapping. The combs should again be 
reversed, and the sides first done are to be rapidly turned 


276 ; A Modern Bee-Farm 


round in the same way. In this manner no combs are 
damaged, while every drop is obtained; and most of the 
revolutions take place while the operator is uncapping the 
next set of combs. 


Combs containing Brood 


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


The Automatic Extractor, 


with comb-cages that swing in either direction (as reversed) 
without removal of the combs, is the most useful form of 
machine. This was designed by Mr. T. W. Cowan, and is 
the Standard Extractor (Figs. 42, 43). 


Storage, and Ripening in Deep Tanks.* 


Our honey is running through the strainer, and presently 
the tank will be full; when it will be necessary to draw off 
and again strain into other receptacles, all of which must be 
convenient for filling smaller_vessels as needed. In lieu 
of lids, the storage tanks must be covered with cloths 
carefully secured, when the honey will be more perfectly 
ripened, and after a few days it can be drawn off and will 
be remarkably clear, with the exception of two or three 
inches of the upper surface, which may be strained and 
placed with other surface honey. I have found no harm 
resulting from honey being stored in galvanized vessels, 


* When not intended for exhibition the honey need not be 
strained into the deep ripening tank (first offered in the Author's 
1886 pamphlet) as all dross will rise to the top, and may be 
skimmed off. 


% eB e Ss. eB f Vy ) I0JICIXY 9neWojny s Agju 1S 
° CI wo hy uemo ) s Mop oN (aemoy Joye e 
10jde1}x 9 ] : 


‘opluy Aauozy 
‘bb org 


and its Economic Management. 279 


but where it may be required to stay for a considerable 
time, tanks should be of tin, though more expensive. 

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


To prevent Granulation, 


it is recommended that honey be heated to 160 degs. Fahr., 
and then corked up; nevertheless some kinds will granulate 
in spite of this. The honey-producer, however, must be 
very careful that he does not injure his commodity. 
Honey should never be placed over a fire without the vessel 
containing it being in another with hot water. Indeed in 
this case the water may be almost at the boiling point 
without doing any harm, providing the honey vessel is 
properly secured that no moisture may gain access. The 
washing copper to be found in most houses will perhaps 
be the most convenient vessel for the purpose, of course 
leaving off the copper lid. 


Crates 


for bottles should be made to hold either one or three 
dozen, the latter being most useful, as being the extent of 
the more frequent order. The divisions are best made of 
thin wood crossing and halved together, to form square 
recesses to take the bottles just tight. (See Fig. 53.) 

For tins little is needed except a plain strong box of 
the right depth to take a 6lb, two 3]bs., or three 2 lbs. ; 
all of which must be of the same diameter, a point too 
often overlooked, but an advantage appreciated when 


280 A Modern Bee-Farm 


packing a large number, and being able to use one-sized 


crate for all. ; 


Uncapping Machines : 


have been brought forward from time to time, but although 
the Author has devised a perfect apparatus for the purpose, 
and another very similar has been offered in America, none 
can so far be manufactured at a ‘price that will encourage 
the. apiarist to discard the ordinary honey knife. 


Exhibition of Extracted Honey. 


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

Clover and sainfoin honey, also that from yellow trefoil 
and bird’s-foot trefoil, is light.in colour; while that from 
dwarf-thistles is water-white, and has been disqualified by 
judges as sugar-fed, in their ignorance of this variety. 

Apple and pear trees provide little honey, but usually get 
the credit of produce. from other sources that are available 
at the same time, notably the trefoils, as well as the 
sycamore. Cherry blossom is much frequented by bees, 
while plums, apricots, nectarines and’ peaches, all produce 
light honey. , 

Wild thyme honey is rather dark; while that from 
heather is still darker, and of greater density, but these 
would be judged upon their respective merits. 

Honey from basswood trees would be classed separately, 
as also mountain sage, and that from the immense irrigated 
areas of the United States, where nothing but lucerne is 
grown. 

Although several countries may have certain varieties of 
honey plants in common, there are many that are not 
found in all, On the whole, however, flower honey is 


and tts Economic Management. 281 


bright and sparkling, notwithstanding its color or flavor, 
unless perchance the season or locality may be favorable 
for the collection of honey dew, which impairs the quality. 


Honey Dew 


is usually abundant after a fine dry Spring, when the aphis 
is encouraged to propagate rapidly, and cluster about the 
young shoots of trees, which become dwarfed and distorted 
in consequence of the young leaves being injured. 

The aphis, usually referred to as “blight,” appears to 
convert the starchy properties of the delicate leaves into 
saccharine matter,* which they exude and drop upon the 
leaves that may be below them, and from which the bees 
collect this unsuitable food when other supplies are deficient. 

A wet Spring prevents the unusual propagation of these 
pests, and a fair Summer usually follows an unsettled 
Spring, thus the bee-keeper is favored. On the other hand, 
in this temperate climate I have noticed a particularly fine | 
early season is almost invariably followed by an unsettled 
Summer, thus compelling the bees to collect the honey dew. 


COMB-HONEY 


was formerly produced in straw caps, in shallow boxes 
without frames, and the far-famed shallow Stewarton 
supers, from which also the combs had to be cut out. 

The nearest approach to small combs was found in the 
beautiful bell-glass supers of various sizes, and the glass 
and wood boxes holding two or three small combs, as 
seen in the charming illustration taken from the Rev. 
Langstroth’s work. 


* In this connection it is well to remark that buds develop sugar 
from starch while expanding, and the dwarfed condition of the leaves 
struggling to expand may be attributed to the result of this extrac. 
tion. of nourishment by the aphis. 


282 A Modern Bee-Farm 


Then came the four-piece section, quickly followed by 
the one-piece folding section. The 2 1b, section soon gave 
place to the 1 lb. size, when there were several attempts to 
work 41b. sections, but these, like the 41b. bottles of 
extracted honey, were soon discarded as being unprofit- 
able. 

Simmins’ Double Slatted Separators. 

The 1 lb. sections rule the market, and these are offered 
in several forms. The atin. by 44in. by 2in. section is used 
between plain separators, setting close to the edges of the 
sections ; and with the Author’s double slatted separator, 
also setting close, but at the same time allowing both direct 
and intercommunication between. Thus many of the bees 
may go right up through one super to the next without 
travelling over the combs. 

The qtin. by 44in. by 1#in. may be used either without 
separators or with the single cleated separator. 

The 5in. by gin. by rin. section, first adopted in 
America with slatted separators and no bee-ways, was a 
non-practical adaptation, being too thin. The Author has 
always advised the use of Sin. by qin. by I4#in. sections, 
with the single slatted separator or fence. This section 
looks better, and being the natura] width is worked well by 
the bees, and averages 16 0z. when nicely filled. 

The aAuthor’s double slatted separators cannot be used 
with these tall sections unless they measure 13in. through. 

In working without separators it is desirable to use a 
spirit level that the hive may stand true. The sections 
should also be fitted with full sheets of foundation firmly 
secured in saw-cuts. 

The completely divided sections have reference only to 
the 44in. by 44in. size. The tall narrow sections are slit on 
three sides only. 

The Author sold clover comb-honey at Is. 3d. to 1s. 6d. 


and its Economic Management. 283 


per lb. wholesale in the ’7o’s; but at the present time 
heather honey only reaches or exceeds these figures. 

The kind of section one intends to adopt should be on 
hand before April 1st, when the foundation can be inserted 
during that month; that all may be in readiness, as a flow 
of honey is liable to occur any time after May Ist, or even 
earlier. In 


Preparing Stocks for Comb-honey 


it has been shown under General Management that the 
brood nest should be reduced to the capacity of a ten or 
eleven-frame chamber of combs when supering. It may be 
asked 


Why the Brood Nest should be Restricted 


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

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

The First Honey Flow 
is upon us; weather steady, and temperature from 70° to 
80° in the shade, with plenty of forage in all directions. 


* A powerful colony tiered up for extracting, especially where 
two have been united, will restrict the queen quite as much as is 
required. 5 


284 A Modern Bee-Farm 


Our sections are all ready on the hives, providing not less 
than 60 lbs. capacity with combs all drawn out; or 40 lbs. 
to start with if only foundation is given, or with weaker 
colonies. 

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


The Super-Space should be Reduced 


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

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


Swarming Late to Finish Sections. 

Now, is it worth while taking a little trouble when you 
know your last honey flow is nearing its close? Then try 
this plan. 

Instead of reducing the brood space or combs, move the 
whole lot away to one side in another hive. Fill up the 
original hive with frames having. sin. guides (starters) only. 


and tts Economic Management. 285 


Return the queen, when the bees about the sides of 
the hive, and the large number returning will make a good 
swarm. A full size stock chamber is as good as a shallow 
one for this purpose. After 24 hours replace the sections 
you require to be completed, above this swarm. Being late 
the bees will not build much below, but they finish 
perfectly the section combs above, as the fresh start under 
the swarming impulse has excited them just enough to 
make them secrete more wax for comb building than 
they would otherwise do towards the end of the honey 
season. 

Considerable judgment is required as to whether a fresh 
set of sections is to be added above those being finished ; 
but certainly after the first are completed and removed, one 
may start another set, if only that drawn combs may be 
secured for the following year. 

The original combs will be covered by young bees 
meantime, and will have a young queen laying (or one 
supplied), which will take the place of the old one, when 

the two lots may be re-united. 


Feeding Back to Complete Sections 


over these improvised swarms will be found far better than 
the attempts that have hitherto been made to feed back 
extracted honey to normal stocks in the hope that unfinished 
sections may thus be completed. With colonies retaining 
the whole of their stock combs (or any of them) there has 
always been too much waste to allow of the operator 
seeing any profit on the process as generally attempted. 
By the adoption of this plan of swarming on starters at the 
close of the season, the feeding back of extracted honey to 
complete comb-honey will be found eminently satisfactory 
if a little water is added to the honey when very thick or 
quite ripe. 


286 A Modern Bee-Farm 


The used-up bees 


may or may not be worth re-uniting with the stock and 
young queen; but that will depend largely upon the 
locality and condition of the apiary. In any case these 
old bees would not be greatly missed by the original 
stock, 


; Remove Sections 


during the working hours of the day, when a few puffs 
of smoke will generally send all the bees below.’ If this 
fails use the carbolic cloth. With the Double and Treble 
Conqueror hives the sections can be removed free from bees 
a few hours after the stronger force has been turned back. 


Grading and Bleaching. 


When brought indoors every comb must be looked 
over, while at the same time all propolis or other stains 
are to be scraped off from the wood, taking care not to 
injure the face of the combs. All the whitest and best 
finished are to be first selected and stored in crates piled 
one over the other, with ventilation right through the 
whole tier. 

The next in order are those which, while being well 
finished, are not of such good colour. These are to be 
piled up fully exposed to the light and air for a time, when 
the colour will be equal to the first with which they may 
then be classed. If placed in crates for bleaching, the 
latter must stand singly or on end, so that the light may 
penetrate. A piece of straining cloth or wire netting 
should take the place of the usual lid meanwhile, that 
there may be a free-circulation of air, and no fear of mice 
or flies soiling the combs. 

This question of bleaching comb-honey was first given 
to the bee-keeping world in my pamphlet of 1886, and 


Fig. 45. Iie. 46. 


Meadow’s Heater for Meadow’s (Gray’s) Complete Uncapping 
Uncapping Knives. Stand and Capping Melter. 


2 
ZZ 
ze 
ES 
= 
= 
Ss 
EA 
a 
A 
s&s 


EAR 


Fic. 47. Fic. 48. 
Meadow’s (Rymer) Honey Press, for Meadow’s Honey and Fruit 
extracting Heather and other thick Press. 


Honey. 


ana its Economic Management. 289 


in recent years the subject has received more attention, 
especially among American bee-keepers, some of whom 
think sulphur should be used; but this is not necessary 
unless there is any fear of wax-moths developing. Light 
and air quickly alter the appearance of comb-honey, giving 
it the shade of comb rapidly filled with sugar syrup. 

From my Non-Swarming pamphlet (1886), page 16, we 
find this about improving sections of honey :—“ The 


vs 


appearance of comb-honey is immensely improved after 


ity 


removal from the hive by being exposed to the air, and 


ic3 


a woven wire screen should be arranged for that purpose 
“in some light dry room, free from dust. I need hardly 
state that no honey should be placed in the direct rays 
“ of the sun.” 

Those constituting the second grade will be all that 


are not nicely finished, though there must not be too 


its 


many incomplete cells. Those that are a little discolored 
can be restored as before. Any that cannot come in as 
second-rate may have their contents extracted and the 
combs stored for future use; first making sure that no 
moisture hangs about them by placing a number over any 
strong stock towards evening, when the bees will soon 
clean them. (See also “ Feeding Back” to complete.) 


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


Preparing for Market. 

Crates can be made to hold anything from one to three 
dozen, the latter being mostly required. It is imperative 
that there be glass on each side parallel with the face of 
the combs, not only to make the package more attractive, 

U 


290 A Modern Bee-Farm 


but as the greatest safeguard against rough handling. As 
an additional protection against friction, the sides and 
bottoms should be lined with patent corrugated paper, 
when there will be little fear of breakages. 


Cushioned Comb-Honey Crates, for Rail or Shipping. 


The best form of comb-honey crate is that illustrated at 
Fig. 54. A similar “shipping” crate has recently been 
adopted by the proprietor of Gleanzngs in Bee Culture, but 
with only one thickness of corrugated paper at the bottom, 
none at the sides or top. 

The editor of that paper, in the fulness of his joy at 
having discovered a good thing, exclaimed, “ Why did not 
somebody think of it before?” Well, somebody had 
thought of it, and had adopted it in a more perfect form 
more than 20 years earlier; thus, in Szmmzns’ Non- 
Swarming System, p. 39, 1886 :-— 

“For a perfect travelling case, which can always be 
“ready to travel any distance, the bottom should be lined 
“ with double thickness of patent corrugated paper, and she 
“ sides, where is no glass, one thickness of paper, with the 
“ ribbed side next the sections. Should any leakage occur 
“the recesses in the corrugated paper hold it, while the 
“sections ride high and dry. No better cushion could be 
“ designed to prevent friction or jarring, and with the glass 
“ left uncovered, so as to expose the honey-comb to view, 
“no other packing is needed.” 


The Perfect “Shipping” Crate 


therefore has a double-lined bottom, with the corrugations 
of the two pieces at right angles, while the sides are single. 
Another piece of safety paper is provided to place over the 
sections before securing the lid. The paper for the sides 
and bottom is in one piece, creased along the angle where 


Fic. 54a.—Corrugated Lining for Crate (Fig. 54). 


and tts Economic Management. 293 


turned up, thus always remaining in place. The bottom 
and upper single pieces lie with the ribs across the 
sections. 

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

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

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

Fancy section holders have been used largely, and will 
no doubt be more appreciated in the future. They are 
made of tin, folding somewhat like the American section, 
and will be found very durable, as, if soiled, they can be 
readily cleaned. They can be had in several colors, and 
though expensive in the first instance, that is not a very 
serious consideration, seeing they can be used many times 
without injury. 


The Sale of Honey. 


Where the apiarist retails his honey, of course he will 
always have his own label on it; something as neat and 
attractive as possible. It is surprising what a’ number of 
bee-keepers there are who will send from 100 to 500 lbs, 
of honey to a distant town at a very much lower rate than 
could be obtained at retail near home, if only a little 
perseverance were used. This shows a great want of 


~ 


294 A Modern Bee-Farm 


business tact, in thus depriving themselves and injuring 
producers at large by reducing the value of their crop. 

In securing some efficient tradesman to handle honey, 
where one has a large quantity, some difficulty will be 
experienced at times, as there are many who will not 
put it forward. If a grocer himself owns bees, #zs honey 
is very soon passed over the counter; and why not that of 
others where the grocer is not following the pursuit? 
Perhaps the fault is with the price, but, nevertheless, 
being a comparatively new article, the retailer must be 
induced to take a lively interest in it. Make it attractive 
by providing a good show case and cards; and let him 
have a consignment “on sale or return” to start with, and 
there is no doubt he will soon send for more. Do not 
attempt to send any without complete protection from 
flies, &c., as this is one of the most frequent objections 
made against having it in stock. 


Exhibiting Bees in Shop Window. 


From time to time comes the same old tale :—“ How or 
where can I sell my honey?” And yet there are hundreds 
of bee-keepers who not only sell all they get without any 
difficulty, but have repeated calls for more. 

One of my earliest designs in show-cards was to send 
the grocer in a large town an observatory hive, with stores, 
brood, and a nice yellow queen with the bees; exchanging 
the same as often as the brightness of the exhibit began 
to wear off. This item was first given in “A Modern 
Bee-Farm,” 1888 edition, but the process, however, is an 
expensive one to keep up. Almost any producer with a 
few hundred pounds for disposal could afford to make a 
“start off” with just one exhibit, getting the grocer to 
make room for a nice glass case of comb and extracted 
honey on either side. 


and tts Economie Management. 295 


Country Fairs. 


I have often wondered why those who are troubled 
about selling their honey do not make some effort to 
dispose of it at the combined cattle and pleasure fairs 
so often held about the country. I know from experience 
that if only shown on such days there are to be found 
numerous buyers, who have not hitherto used honey 
simply because they did not know where it was to be 
obtained. Stick on your name and address, and if 
possible, distribute honey leaflets by the hundred, and 
soon you will be wanting to lay out for a much larger 
“output.” 


Fruit and Vegetable Markets. 


I wonder how many of my readers are still in bed and 
asleep, while an immense business is being done in the 
early morning markets of large towns? Probably not one 
in a hundred is astir, and yet what a number of likely 
purchasers of honey the early riser might find if he were 
only there with his commodity all ready for convenient 
handling ! 


Commission Agents. 


Here is an opportunity for those who still say they 
have no chance of disposing of their crop. Why not try 
some one of the many fruit and vegetable salesmen in 
the central markets? There are many reliable business 
men among these, of long standing, who, doubtless, 
would be only too pleased to handle honey if put up in a 
convenient form. There is no delay, and back comes 
your cheque by return of post. 

I came across a genuine cottage honey producer the 
other day, and said he: “I was talking to a gentleman one 
“day, and he says, ‘How about bees, do you sell any 
“¢honey?’ ‘Oh, yes,’ I said, ‘there is no trouble about 


2096 A Modern Bee-Farm 


“* that. ‘Well, send me some, and I will see what I 
“*can do with it’? So I did, as I found he was a selling 
‘agent, or whatever you may call him, and he got me a 
“very fair price, too, and is always ready for more. But 
“ other people I have usually supplied are already speaking 
‘for my crop that’s yet to come.” 

This is as it should be, where a man keeps steadily on 
and works away with a will. There are many ways and 
means yet for the disposal of honey, if the producer will 
carefully look about, without depending upon his County 
Association to do the work for him. 


For Exhibition 


combs must be visible on both sides, using for the purpose 
‘only those sections of the very best color and finish. In 
some quarters it has been considered that the comb should 
not be sealed close to the wood all round, but this is a 
serious error, the idea being that the section can be more 
easily cut out; but I have yet to find the retailer who does 
not prefer those for his window which are sealed perfectly 
all round the edges; and when one of each may be placed 
on the scale, is there a doubt as to which the customer 
would select? Moreover, those that are filled up to the 
wood will stand the risk of transit far better than would 
otherwise be the case. Fig. 92 shows Abbott’s comb-honey 
exhibition crate. 


Producing a Surplus. 


How many hundreds of bee-keepers are there who are 
not bee-masters, and who seem unable to do at the right 
time the correct thing, and to carry out that comprehensive 
management which alone will give a large and profitable 
surplus ? 

One man will produce honey by the 100 Ibs. to each 
stock and more, while at the same time some of his 


and tts Economic Management. 297 


neighbors get their twenties, their tens, and their noughts. 
I give the reader an instance of a cottager who secured 
an average of 72 lbs. of section honey from his eleven hives 
during the unfortunate season of 1902, with no unusual 
crop near him, while other bee-keepers near secured 
twenty-one sections from one bar-frame, and nothing from 
another. Another had 110 lbs. from three frame hives; 
while among straw skeps, few had sufficient store for 
winter. 


Young Queens ; No Swarming ; Large Profits. 


My non-swarming system as relating to the management 
of the Conqueror Hive; and my original methods of 
controlling swarming are all set out in conjunction with 
the great corner stone of practical procedure—the pro- 
duction of young queens yearly, to take the place of the 
older queens at exactly the right time for ensuring the 
highest results according to the operation in hand. 

I have already demonstrated that the Conqueror Hive 
is the nearest approach to perfection in the economic 
restriction of swarming, but it is not to be supposed that 
there ends all need of care on the part of the owner. For 
instance, if he will make a nucleus in early Spring, and rear 
a young queen, she can be given to the stock while the 
older queen will build up the nucleus to a stock, to be 
united to the full hive after the season is over; while, in 
the meantime, the presence of the young queen avoids 
swarming, and prevents the excessive production of drone 
combs.* 

Then, as regards “Combined Swarming and Doubling” 
without increase; a young queen is given to the united 
swarm, so that further swarming may be avoided, and 


* Even with all worker foundation supplied, the bees will replace 
patches by drone cells at times. 


208 A Modern Bee-Farm 


worker combs produced, ensuring the maintenance of a 
large working population. 

Again, in simple “swarming without increase”; as 
soon as the young queen with the old stock combs is well 
at work, the swarm and stock are re-united with the young 
queen presiding. The older queen may be destroyed or 
given a small nucleus to build up for further uniting at the 
end of the season. 


The Cause of Low Averages 

is the want of initiative—the absence of definite action, 
by the average bee-keeper. He is content to take things 
as he finds them, supering each stock in rotation as he 
thinks it becomes strong enough. There is often no 
thought of doubling or of rearing young queens in nuclei 
from his best stock; that they may be united to the 
colonies at the right moment. ‘ 

Weak or backward stocks, instead of standing all the 
season, probably with a poor queen, doing little or nothing, 
should be used as nuclei with young queens, each standing 
by a stock to which it can be united in Autumn, or just 
before the heather harvest where it occurs. This question 
of young queens and doubling or uniting is-so important 
that it would bear repetition on every page, and yet not be 
out of place. 

The hive, of course, has much to do with the yield, but 
even improved hive construction is of little avail if its 
benefits are not supplemented by the works of 


The Man of Grit. 


The cottager mentioned secured 120 lbs. from the 
Conqueror Hive, all in sections well filled, while his other 
best hives gave about 80 lbs. each. In another instance, 
an Irish bee-keeper secured 208 well-filled sections from a 
-Conqueror stock and its first swarm, the issue of which 


ana its Economic Management. 299 


being a reminder that he had been too busy to attend to 
their wants. 

Mr. Wells’ report shows an average of 66 lbs., nearly all 
extracted ; but this is often largely exceeded by the more 
simple single hives; and Mr. Cowan’s report of some 
years since, though also extracted, shows a higher average ; 
his yield from seven hives being 1,360 lbs., or 194 lbs. per 
hive. In 1874 the latter gentleman also secured 907 Ibs. 
from twelve hives, of which 707 lbs. were comb-honey, 
an average of 753 lbs. per colony. These are profitable 
returns, certainly, but by no means so high as the reader 
should set himself to accomplish. . 


«0% 


€ CBR. , Be 


300 A Modern Bee-Farm 


Pure Oxygen versus Disease.—The time has come 
when bee-keepers dare no longer neglect this important 
question of efficient ventilation. 

Bee-Paralysis can be checked, and in many cases 
cured by unusual, but systematic, ventilation ; while 
on the other hand this disease is greatly encouraged 
by the universal neglect of this First Principle in Bee- 
Management. The complaint continues to-day largely 
because of this deplorable neglect, and the want of 
initiative among all classes of bee-owners. 


CHAPTER XIX. 
THE HANGING CHAMBER HIVE. 
SCIENTIFIC VENTILATION zersus DISEASE. 


or HILE the Plague was not, and bee-keepers slept 
j the Sleep of Folly, in ignorance of the rolling 


stone that had started down the mountain-side to 
crush them, slipshod methods of ventilation seemed not so 
much to matter. 

The enemy was as yet inactive, unknown,* unthought of. 
Cramped entrances and unsuitable hives mattered little, for 
did not the bees themselves ventilate for all they were 
worth when fresh air was necessary? But I assure the 
Reader they do not, as many owners now have found to 
their cost. 


* The majority of British bee-keepers were totally unprepared for 
the visitation of infectious paralysis that spread over the land from 
the year 1904, although it had been known for many years in 
America, Australia, and other countries. The Author had a severe 
experience of this malady in 1878, but was able to effect a permanent 
cure with no loss of stock. 


and its Economic Management.. 301 


Not only are the bees unable to force a sufficient supply 
of pure air into the average hive when very popuious, and 
the weather is hot, by the usual openings allowed ; but in 
cool seasons, when ventilation is also much needed, they do 
not ventilate at all. 

Hence the utmost necessity of using a hive that is 
ventilated fully and freely at all times, without incon- 
venience to the inmates; and in such a manner that no 
perforated zinc is required, and therefore the air spaces (as 
bee-spaces) are never closed up. 

Few disease germs can exist in the presence of a plentiful 
supply of pure oxygen, as it helps to build up the vital 
properties of healthy tissue, while at the same time con- 
suming waste matter, thus expelling or destroying all 
harmful parasites, which, like vultures scanning the plains 
from afar, and yet ever near, are ready to swoop down 
upon their prey the moment the light of life is over- 
shadowed. 


Unusual Ventilation. 


I am compelled to use the term “unusual,” as that is 
really the condition that is required, and if it ‘is not so 
explained, the average Reader will not realize that he must 
provide more fresh air than the ordinary hive allows, if he 
is going to keep free from disease in the future. 

In the Conqueror hives the quilting is tucked down to 
the front and two sides close against the outer case, duz 
the space up the back (13in.) zs mever so closed, hence there 
is always a free passage of air under the stock, du¢ not 
through tt. The outer entrance in Summer is some 2in. 
deep by I6in., but may be considerably reduced for Winter, 
because of the perfect internal ventilation. 

The gin. space between all chambers and the front wall 
of the outer case permits of the majority of the honey 


302 : A Modern Bee-Farm 


gatherers entering directly into the supers without passing 
through the brood nest. 


Increased Yields of Comb-Honey. 


When one has made up his mind to start with nothing | 
but drawn comb, he will find it can be done, and an 
immensely increased yield will be secured thereby. The 
difference between using foundation and drawn, or partly 
worked foundation, in sectional supers will often represent 
some 30 lbs. in favor of the latter, as the bees store all their 
surplus above from the first. 

In an apiary where other stocks were yielding 60 lbs. to 
80 lbs. each, one worked with drawn combs as above gave 
120 lbs. It will therefore be seen that Simmins’ Non- 
Swarming plan, really a carefully organized and definite 
system, was founded upon the fact that Drawn -Comds in 
sections, expressly prepared each season for that purpose, 
would ensure bees working therein, while all the time a 
large space existed below the stock hive. 

Bee-keepers generally have saved over unfinished combs 
in sections from year to year, and these were found to give 
a good start to the bees; but nothing was ever done to 
institute the systematic production of such new combs for 
all sections before being placed in position, until the 
Author’s system was published in 1886, as a result of 
several years’ previous development. 


No Waiting for Full Depth Cells. 


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

The line of halved (2-in.) sections, or the line of narrow 


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and tts Economic Management. 305 


three-side-cut (13-in.) sections may be started between 
brood frames, leaving each set only 24 hours; but if one 
has a good locality and favorable weather he may take 
some risks by starting with all foundation, and get four or 
five supers partly drawn, over each stock by the following 
method of 


Rapid and Wholesale Comb Preparation. 


The process is somewhat difficult to follow with common 
semi-fixed chambers, the use of which largely discount 
the advantages of some of the valuable processes herein 
described, and prevent many from realizing the great value 
of the Author’s hanging chambers. 

With these, all hanging an exact bee-space apart (bare 
din.) the stock may be started comb building just as the 
season opens, with one super below and one above. Within 
three days one or both will be occupied, and the foundation 
already well drawn. A third super is then placed next 
above the stock, and in another day or so a fourth may 
take the place of that below. This last may again be 
exchanged for another as soon as the foundation is well 
drawn; and the process continued below while the three 
above are being filled and sealed ; when the several drawn 
sets secured earlier will be exchanged for those completed 
above the stock. 


Prevention of Swarming. 


In connection with the large entrance (2in. deep), and 
the stock being raised some inches from the floor, this 
method presents the best means of prevention, while at the 
same time ensuring the largest yield of comb-honey, the 
bees never having finished combs below the stock chamber. 
In due course the stock is moved down next the floor (not 
~ touching it), with the final supers above only. 

Vv 


306 A Modern Bee-Farm 


The Double Conqueror 


was introduced by the Author in 1894, and unlike the 
Well’s hive, the chambers are quite distinct, being simply 
the Author’s usual hanging eleven-frame chambers, and the 
non-swarming chamber (a super started) under each. In 
fact it is arranged as two single Conquerors back to back, 
having an excluder zinc passage-way between, which may 
be opened or closed at will. 


The Management 


of the Double and Treble Conquerors is quite simple, and 
heavy yields are secured from them. Swarming, Dividing 
or Uniting (or the removal of bees from finished supers) 
may be carried out merely by shifting one of the slides, 
which results in “Turning Over” or “ Turning Back ” the 
whole of the working force of one side to the other- as 
desired, while the bees hardly know the difference. 

On page 242 of my 1893 edition of this work will be 
found formulated the first definite and workable system of 
using two stocks (or one stock and its swarm) in combina- 
tion. Other plans since offered all fall short of the 
simplicity of the Conqueror Double and Treble hives, 
which require no alteration in construction for developing 
any number of combinations or divisions. 


s 


The “ Turnover,” with Two Stocks. 


The Double Conqueror has two entrances to each stock 
(therefore two at the back and two at the front). Conse- 
quently when the two stocks are strong enough one is 
supered, while the other has its entrance closed. ‘This 
throws all the actual workers into the one supered hive, 
while the queen of the denuded stock fills up rapidly with 
brood, having few gatherers to clog the cells with honey. 

When thus “ turning over” the middle excluder partition 


THE DOUBLE CONQUEROR HIVE AND METHOD OF “TURNOVER.” 


Fic. §7.—The two entrances shown open on the same side; but one 
may be open at the back. The excluder passage-way in the dividing 
panel is shown by dotted lines between the Stock Chambers. 


1 a Ne Se 
4Af | A ~ A | 


Fic. 58—The two forces iinited by moving the slide as before; but 
with the back entrance slightly opened the same day. As an alternative 
the front entrance (at first closed) may be opened half an inch after three 
days. The dark lines represent the entrance slides. Letter D, painted 
dark; L, painted a light colour; thus preventing the workers mistaking 
their own entrance when working from the same side. 


and its Economic Management. 309 


is opened, and is left open all the season, no matter 
how many times the bees may be turned over or turned 
back. 

The denuded side is not left with its doorway (entrance- 
slides) quite closed ; but three days after the “turnover” 
the same entrance may be opened half-an-inch. Otherwise 
instead of this opening on the other side, the back way 
may be opened slightly the same day that the turnover 
is made. 


-A Single Stock 


may be worked in a similar manner, first making an early 
nucleus from the stock and placing it in the other side; 
using the young queen when in full work for producing the 
surplus population for its parent hive; or the process may 
be reversed, using the nucleus when ready as the supering 
hive. In this case the brood combs may be first made up 
from the stock. 


Stock and Swarm. 


A swarm may also be hived in one side for carrying out 
the same process of helping a stock in the other; or the 
stock itself may be swarmed early and presently worked 
in combination. Lastly two swarms may be used for 
stocking the Double Conqueror, and presently helping 
each other upon the same plan. 

The lot that is “turned over” must never be quite shut 
in. Of course it always has a way out through the 
excluder partition and the other stock ; but where the back 
entrance is not slightly opened on the day of the “turn- 
over,” they may have their former entrance opened half-an- 
inch only on the third day thereafter, as then the recently 
united forces will be using, and will continue to use, the 
full width entrance of the supered lot, until they may 
again be “turned over.” 


310 A Modern Bee-Farm 


The Treble Hive. 


This is worked very much in the same way, but of 
course allows of a more powerful combination. Indeed 
nearly all the methods advocated under general manage- 
ment, having reference to “Swarming without Increase” 
with both single and double stocks, can be more readily 
and profitably conducted under the one cover, and simply 
by just moving the ordinary entrance slides. 


Immediate Feeding Important. 


Stocks that are depleted of the majority of their adult 
bees should be fed while the weather may be unfavorable. 
For this purpose there is nothing so useful as a large frame 
of candy. . 

Let me repeat that the entrance of the depleted stock 
must be re-opened to Sin. by the third day after the 
operation, on the same side, or on the opposite side (of 
the same stock) the same day. 


Ventilation by Raising Stock from Floor. 


I have repeatedly advised many correspondents to raise 
the stock chambers of ordinary hives with blocks under the 
four corners. Many producers of honey raise thé front on 
deep blocks, thus exposing three sides; while others push 
the stock forward some inches beyond the floor edge during 
a heavy flow. 


Why Swarming is Checked. 


These old plans, much neglected by the younger genera- 
tion of bee-keepers, certainly check swarming, for the reason 
that the bees discontinue brood-rearing along the lower 
margins of the exposed combs ; while the extra ventilation 
is beneficial, and helps to avoid disease. 


and its Economic Management. 311 


The Queen-Mother of a colony of bees should be the 
life and soul of the hive. A reliable, highly prolific 
queen, reared from a_ strain possessing the most 
desirable characteristics in relation to honey gather- 
ing; as also white and otherwise perfect sealing ; 
eager and rapid comb-building; as well as that in- 
valuable trait—longevity—ensures the highest possible 
results where the energies of the workers are intelli- 
gently directed. 


CHAPTER XX. 


QUEEN REARING 


BY NATURAL, IMPROVISED AND SCIENTIFIC 
MEANS. 


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


312 A Modern Bee-Farm 


A Surplus of Milky Food not Scientific. 


In the case of artificial rearing of queens, several writers 
have insisted upon the necessity of providing the transferred 
larve with a double dose of the milky food found in the 
worker cells. 

But in transferring larve for this purpose we want to 
make sure of rearing real queens—the very best of queens ; 
and certainly nothing approaching neuters. Therefore why 
add more than is absolutely necessary of that food which 
has been prepared for the development of the stunted 
worker ? 

Can we be quite sure the workers do not remove the bulk 
of that undesirable food one may take so much trouble in 
adding? Anyway it is an act to be avoided. 

The Author has, in the past, started queen cell cups with 
common larve, and after a few hours the grubs have been 
removed and replaced by selected larve. -No advantage 
could be detected over the plan of starting in the first 
instance with those desired. 


Foster-bees and Queen Rearing. 


It is not generally realized that the workers selected for 
rearing queens may to a large extent transmit their own 
peculiarities to the workers of those queens to whom the 
former have acted as foster-mothers. 

Hence the great necessity of using vigorous bees for this 
purpose; while those possessing any disagreeable habits 
should be rejected. The Author has also made a practice 
of using workers for rearing that are unrelated to the queens 
being produced. 

As already shown, in the case of emergency queens only 
one is reserved, though several may be raised. There are 
two points, therefore, of importance to the bee-keeper who 
wishes to obtain a number of superior queens. The colony 


and its Economic Management. 313 


that is to produce them must either be made queenless, or 
be maintained at a swarming condition ; while another plan 
is that which divides a strong colony, using the queenless 
swarm for starting the queen cells, and then he is to guard 
against the destruction of the surplus queens. 


The Plan often Recommended 


of simply removing the queen from a colony in normal 
condition and then inducing the bees to start queen cells 
where desired by enlarging the mouth of worker cells, is 
really more simple than practical. In the first place, one 
cell only is never large enough to form the base of a queen 
cell; two at least are thrown into one, but more often 
three ; and where the bees have unlimited material at hand 
a queen cell will not be built upon one in fifty of such 
enlarged cells, and where Ligurians are concerned very often 
only two or three cells are started. 
My own Plans 


vary according to the condition of the hive under treatment 
and the season of the year. Thus, early and late in the 
season it is better to provide, or leave part of a comb in 
the frame, upon which to attach the cells containing the 
selected larve for queen-rearing. During settled bee- 
weather, the plain bars across the frame may be used for 
the purpose, or my original revolving bars and cell-cups 
attached, for greater convenience. 

The bars with cell-cups may be inverted so that the flat 
sides may be used also for attaching the single worker cells 
without removing the egg or larve. 


My Methods of Preparing Stocks 


for queen-rearing consist, early in the year, of removing the 
queen one day, and the next day shaking off all the bees 


314 . A Modern Bee-Farm 


from the combs of brood, which latter are then removed, 
and the prepared comb of selected eggs inserted. 

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


Another Method 


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

Or the same collection of young bees and brood may be 
placed in the cellar for two days, and the prepared cells 
given the third evening, when setting them out on anew 
stand. 


Queen Rearing under the Swarming Impulse 


is a plan that should not be adopted, though frequently 
recommended. The bee-keeper should do all he can to 
avoid rearing queens under the swarming impulse. More- 
over, stocks kept up to this state are a great annoyance to 


and its Economic Management. 315 


the queen-rearer in various ways. They are, of course, not 
available early and late, but when in season will always be 
building comb where it is not wanted, and making every- 
thing sticky with honey when these combs must constantly 
be broken. These and other difficulties are not so much 
in evidence when all young bees are used for queen-rearing. 
while the cells are equally as fine, and the queens certainly 
more desirable. 


Queen-cells without Removing the Presiding Queen. 


It is not generally known that at certain periods of the 
year one may ensure the building of fine queen-cells in 
the hive where the original queen is laying all the time, and 
no zinc excluding divider need be used; in this case not 
under the swarming impulse, but at the season swarming is 
quite out of the question. 

Towards the Autumn a full sheet of foundation may be 
used to divide the brood-nest. As soon as this is partly 
worked about the centre and there occupied by eggs, a fresh 
sheet of foundation takes its place, while that with eggs is 
placed between brood-combs on that side of the plain sheet 
where the queen is not. She will rarely pass the latter at 
this season, and a number of fine cells are built on that sheet 
first inserted. . 

Instead of inserting the second sheet of foundation, the 
queen may be removed just as the eggs are hatching in the 
new comb. Fine queens may thus be secured at a season 
when other methods will largely fail, although the weather 
may still be quite suitable for mating. 


Retaining the Original Queen in Summer. 

The above plan represents the principle upon which a 
very simple method of queen-rearing can be carried out 
during the active season, without the least necessity of 
maintaining a stock at the swarming point. A moderately — 


316 A Modern Bee-Farm 


strong colony may be divided by an excluder dummy, and 
as soon as the queenless portion makes preparation for 
building queen-cells, the selected eggs or larve may be 
given them for rearing the desired queens. Those first 
started are at the same time destroyed, or the combs 
removed. 


Quadruple Nucleus and Queen-rearing Hive. 


This method of queen-rearing can be carried out with an 
average colony during the whole season, by using a long 
hive capable of being divided into four compartments, and 
having four entrance ways. 

The original position of the stock is shown by the 
illustration No. 1. The first development finds the stock 
divided as No. 2, with the queen-rearing compartment at 
the right (A) taking a portion of the combs, while the stock 
has foundation given to replace them. 

The original entrance at é is retained; while the stock 
throughout the further developments is allowed the use of 
the entrance at the back as it is moved to the rear. 

The first, second, and third nucleus queen-rearing lots as 
developed, retain the one entrance at e only, as common 
to all; unless, or until, either may be allowed to retain a 
queen of its own. 

The second development (No. 3) finds at B a further 
queen-rearing nucleus pushing A further back. 

The third development shows that both A and B are 
moved back to make room for C, No. 4. 

Soon after this A will have its cells ready to be removed, 
when those in B may be transferred to A ; those in C to B, 
leaving C to start again. 

These developments, of course, imply that a large number 
of cells are wanted ; but the process can be modified to suit 

“the requirements of the owner. 


METHOD OF REARING SUCCESSIVE BATCHES OF QUEEN-CELLS, 
WHILE LEAVING THE FERTILE QUEEN. 


No. 1. 


ij 


\ 


Fic. 60.—First development 
with Queen-rearing nucleus A 
between stock and _ entrance. 


Fic. 59.—Original Stock 
with entrance at e. 


e Notr.—The wide blank spaces 
are dividing dummies with 
excluder zinc on each side. 


L 
fs 


Fic. 61.—Second develop- 
e ment with nucleus B next 
the entrance. The entrance 

' at f also open. 


Fic. 62.—Third development 
with nucleus C next the entrance. 
The entrance at falso open. 


A fourth development would 
be the removal of the cells in A, 
starting C with a fresh set as 
the others are moved back. 
Otherwise the queen at D may 
be started elsewhere. 


No. 4. 


and its Economic Management. 319 


Finally the portion with the original queen may be used 
to start a fresh stock, leaving the four compartments to 
accommodate nuclei with young queens. 


The Dividing Dummies 

are fitted with double queen excluders, and with these 
dummies the nuclei not only feel more secluded from the 
original stock; but in the event of young queens being 
allowed in each, they may be left longer than can be the 
case with single excluders, a feature hitherto overlooked. 

The Author has had queens mated on either side of such 
excluder dummies for a period dating back prior to 1890; 
the bees mixing indiscriminately ; and therefore he can 
fully recommend the plan to his readers. 


Combs in Queen-rearing Frames. 


Except during the early and late manipulations, I find 
the queen-rearing frame with detachable cells is much 
better if worked without any comb being allowed in the 
same frame. c 

The honey stored in these small combs is always in the 
way ; but I frequently work the cell-frames with foundation 
in frames on either side, or a full sheet of foundation between 
two cell-frames. It is a great saving of time and material 


in working, 


Two Cell-frames in one Colony 
or in the successive divisions of one colony, sometimes 
securing 30 to 40 fine queen-cells in one batch. Thus the 
three or four divisions of a colony as just illustrated may be 
carrying something like 100 queen-cells at one time. 


Several Ways of Starting the Queen-cells. 


The new worker combs containing the larvee just hatched 
from the eggs may be sliced crosswise as shown in Fig. 63, 


320 A Modern Bee-Farm 


so that at least one whole cell is left in each ; these are then 
attached to the lower edge of a comb reduced toa semi- 
circular form; to plain bars across the frame; or to the 
Author’s removable cell bases when these are inverted ; 
the attachments being made in a vertical manner by 
melting the wax on the then upper side of the base. All is 
done in a warm room, and the frame carried quickly to the 
desired stock. 

Having experimented with artificial cell-cups since 1881, 
I must say that by the above plan, using worker cells, the 
' bees can produce the queen cups upon them far more 
economically than the bee-master. In 1894 I carried out a 
series of experiments with drone cells attached to my bars 
and removable pegs, transferring the larve thereto. 


Drone Cells for Queen-Rearing. 

The experiments with drone cells as the bases of queen- 
cells were carried out with the Author's original and 
separately movable cell bases in 1894, and any queen-cell 
could be removed without detaching it from its base. 

New clean drone comb is selected, and cut into single 
cells when used for attaching to bars or the flat inverted 
ends of the movable cups; or strips may be used and 
fastened to the lower edge of a shortened comb. In the 
latter case the larvee selected are transferred to each other 
cell. 


Origin of Detachable Cell-cups. 


The earliest movable cells used by the Author are 
illustrated opposite page 311, from a photograph taken in 
1894. This photograph, showing the method of securing 
the young queens as they hatch, was sent to the Editor of 
Gleanings in Bee Culture during the same year, but he did 
not appear to realize the advantages offered by detachable 


cell bases; for in the same journal for September 15th, 


‘suaanb Suryoyey 10 s][ao ay} Burmyuos soy sade sejnqn yz (4ggt) sig pue ‘saseg-[[9D aqeyoejaq [eau siy YUM 


“AWNVUS ONIYVAUNAINO .SNIWIWIS : 
ota) AL ee Aq) [ojoyd D0 wows 


and its Economic Management. 321 


1903, he ‘described and illustrated an aimost identical queen- 
rearing frame, with the very same perforated tubular cages, 
as an invention recently patented by one named Stanley. 
From this date Gleanings and other journals at last 
awakened to the advantages of detachable artificial cell-cups. 


Economic Construction of Wooden Cups. 


If the artificial cups are made too deep, or the wood is at 
all too thick, the embryo queen will take longer than the 
usual period to develop, through the loss of the necessary 
“contact warmth,” 

Hence the necessity of having the artificial cups as 
shallow as possible, say not more than jin. deep, by in. in 
diameter internally, and gin. externally. 


Natural Based Cells—No Melted Wax. 


The frame is placed flat on a table with the revolving 
‘bars turned half round, thus bringing the line of wooden 
cups with the openings uppermost. Circular discs of brood 
foundation are first prepared by cutters in two sizes in. 
and din. in diameter. The smaller disc is first placed in a 
cell-cup, then the larger one on that. 

The cell-forming stick, shaped to form a natural base, but 
slightly larger than that of a drone cell, is retained in a cup 
of warm water. The drip is shaken from this moulding 
stick, when with quite gentle pressure the two discs are 
fixed as one piece firmly into the wooden base as a cell-cup. 

Meanwhile the collar or rim of wax, as it turns upwards, 
is worked round the stick with the thumb and forefinger of 
the left hand; the stick is then slightly eased and with- 
drawn. Although quickly and perfectly fixed, these wax 
bases are easily removed, and leave the wood quite clean, 
when so required, for a fresh start. 

The fact that queen-cells, when started by the bees on 
new combs, have natural bases, appears to have been 

WwW 


322 A Modern Bee-Farm 


disregarded by queen-rearers generally, as they have adopted 
the blunt rounded base as found in old dark combs. 


Inverting Cell-bases—No Flanges. 

The original cell-cups were attached by looped wire, but 
in the following year I used rows of circular openings cut in 
my revolving bars, and in these the cell-cups fit just tight. 
From the first I rejected the idea of having a flange such as 
others have since adopted. In this case the cell must be 
withdrawn upwards, although the queen-cell may be, as it 
often is, widened beyond the diameter of the opening, 
necessitating more trimming than if the cell had to be cut 
away from the combs. 

Inverting Cell-bases. 

Now the Author’s cell-cups, having no flange, may be 
inverted, so that the plain ends may be used early and late 
in the season for attaching the single worker cells without 
disturbing the eggs or larve therein. 

See the methods of cutting the combs crosswise for 
obtaining single worker or drone cells. This plan will 
assume far greater importance in the eyes of the Reader 
when I assert that 


Longevity—the Great Desideratum— 


can only be ensured where the apiarist, in addition to 
selecting his most desirable stock for breeding, determines 
to rear his queens from the eggs, or such larve as may be 
just hatched, and consequently too small for transferring 
with any certainty of the bees not rejecting them. 


The Cell Nursery. 


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


and its Economic Management, 323 


Mark each frame with the date of setting the eggs, and 
allow ten days before removing the cells, that they may 
remain in the correct temperature of the hive until the last, 
and yet be certain that none hatch to cause mischief. 

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


Queen Nursery. 


The best plan that can possibly be devised is that of 
using the cage (Fig. 64), which is placed over the queen or 
queen cells, where both honey and pollen are to be seen in 
the cells; in this case the queens need little attention, and 
always feed in the most natural manner. Where hatched 
in other nurseries, they should at once be placed over 
natural stores in this manner, as no other plan of feeding 
them will compensate for the loss of pollen. 


The Lamp Nursery 

is frequently used and is invaluable for hatching queens. 
It consists of double walls and bottom of copper, with stays 
inside to keep the water from bulging out the sides; and 
the internal capacity is large enough to take some half- 
dozen brood frames, with plenty of lateral space to spare. 
What might be added with benefit are small holes punched 
through near the upper inner margin of the copper wall to 
give moisture. The lid must be of wood covered with 
warm material, and if the whole is cased in wood, with the 
exception of an opening above the lamp, the temperature 
will be more even, and a very small flame will suffice to 
keep the chamber at about 95°, the boiler being filled in 
the first place with water at about 100°. The frames are 
placed in as the cells near maturity, and the young queens 
are removed as fast as they gnaw their way out; being 
retained in the tube cages in the first instance. 

Let me ask those who use the hanging-frame nursery if 


324 A Modern Bee-Farm 


they have observed the temperature surrounding a queen 
cell with the bees always packed closely around it, thus 
giving greater or at least more certain heat than is required 
for the rest of the hive? If so, they will be surprised to 
find how much lower is the temperature surrounding the 
cells where no bees can cluster upon them, and where they 
do not even care to crowd upon the metal at each side 
of the little cages so many apiarists use in hanging-frames.* 
All animal life is produced by heat, varying according as 
the nature of the creature may require, and for our purpose 
the lamp nursery supplies the correct and even temperature 
desired. 

The illustration of the Author’s nursery shows the 
Opening at the side, with a double casing on all other 
sides, with about one inch between the inner and outer 
walls. The whole of this compartment is enclosed by 
wood with a closely-fitting door which closes the said 
open side. The inside is fitted with skeleton framework, 
wherein slide several drawers, each: covered on the underside 
with woven wire. The same arrangement will also take 
whole frames of comb, but I prefer to have the cells built 
that they may be removed ‘singly and so placed in the 
trays. A thermometer is fixed in a vertical position at one 
side, thus the temperature can be noted at a glance without 
exposing the cells. With my arrangement, however, the 
heat is always given from above, and even after examination 
of the interior there is not the same loss of heat as with the 
nurseries hitherto used where the whole top is opened, as 
such have no large body of heat just where most needed for 
the immediate restoration of the correct temperature. 

Under the hollow heating cylinder H C is placed the 
Jamp, which has a wick of such a size that it cannot very 


* Excluder zinc used to separate cells in a queenless colony 
largely overcomes this objection. 


ana its Economic Management. 325 


well have a flame which will overheat the chamber; the 
latter being about 18in. by 12in. by gin. The boiler 
contains between the walls about six gallons of water, so 
that when the right temperature is once secured it does not 
vary one degree in twelve hours. The lamp is trimmed 
once in 24 hours, regularly every evening, so that there is 
no chance of the flame dropping during the night, when no 
attention is needed. 

A sponge or cloth saturated with water,.or a shallow 
tray holding a small quantity, should be placed in the 
chamber to induce the necessary moisture. 

Though the time of hatching is delayed under a 
temperature of 90°, I find queens will come out with 
perfect wings, but I prefer it regulated nearly as possible 
at 95°, so that in case of any accident there may be no 
danger resulting through slight variations. When properly 
managed, no intelligent apiarist will deny that the incubator 
or lamp nursery gives a more even temperature than can 
be obtained in the hive. That of the former is almost 
perfect, while the hive varies considerably, having its 
entrance always open to. the outer air; and when a cold 
snap occurs, the bees shrink away from the caged cells. 

The cells are not placed in the nursery until they are 
capped ; but I can take a céll before it is capped (when of 
course it is not closed at all), and relying on the perfect 
temperature maintained, can see the process of development 
gradually evolved day by day, until the young queen is 
matured ; the delicate tracing of the wings being unfolded 
from white pap-like balls almost at the last day. 


Make Nuclei from Queenless Stocks.* 


We have provided for the hatching of our queens, and 


* First offered as the best method in Simmins’ Non-Swarming 
Pamphlet, 1886. 


326 A Modern Bee-Farm 


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

It seldom happens that good nuclei can be made up 
from a stock which at the time has its queen, therefore my 
own plan is in the first place to make up a nucleus with 
the’ queen of the most suitable colony, being one very 
populous, having a number of combs with hatching brood 
in each. Place this queen with one frame of brood and 
bees, and enough more to cover two other combs, on a new 
stand. On the third day thereafter make up further nuclei 
in like manner from the same hive, leaving the younger 
brood in the original hive, as there will be plenty of bees 
to take care of the same. Bearing in mind they have 
already lost their queen and having prepared for building 
queen cells, no farther excitement will take place and not 
one-fourth of the number of bees will return to the old 
hive, as when the nuclei are drawn from one with a queen 
presiding. 

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


Tubular Virgin Queen Cage, 


originated by myself, and which has been in use in my own 
apiary for many years. It was described in my 1888 
edition, and again in that of 1893. It is a small ‘tube of 
perforated tin or zinc, a full half-inch in diameter, and some 
two inches long. 

The numerous advantages of this tubular cage have 
unfolded themselves by a gradual process of adaptation in 
my practice over a period of many years. As soon as I 
designed my new cell frame with detachable pegs in 1894, 
I saw how readily they would work in confining the young 


and tts Economie Management. 327 


queens just about hatching, until one had time to remove 
them. I have shown in former editions how my tubular 
cage was used for inserting virgin queens, either by stopping 
the open end with a piece of super foundation, as shown 
below the comb (Fig. 64) on the right ; or by pressing the 
open end into the honey at the top of the comb; or again 
by inserting a ripe queen cell; and in either case, just 
pressing the cage into the stores near the top of the frame, 
the open end always being downwards. The tubular cage 
to the left shows. the detachable cell base used as a plug 
for retaining the queen while shifting her. 


In uniting, 


the queen to be reserved is just popped into one of these 
tubular cages, the end pressed down into the stores, and 
presently when all is quiet, out she walks, with no further 
care from the operator. If she is wanted out soon, then 
the end should be stopped ever so lightly, but if it is 
desirable she shall not be out for a day or two, the open 
end is pushed harder into the honey. Perhaps you find 


A Queen being “ Balled,” 


and instead of caging her fast, and perhaps only irritating 
the bees when again liberating her, all you have to do is 
to place her in my tubular cage, and simply press it into 
the comb diagonally as illustrated, where there are stores, 
so that she may quietly walk out after the bees have 
amused themselves for a few hours clearing away the 
broken comb, and dripping sweets. One can also 


Remove one Queen and insert another 


at the same operation, without any further care, or thought 
of failure; and it does not much matter whether it is a 
virgin or fertile queen to follow. With a fertile queen 
press the cage home rather hard in this case, but with the 


328 A Modern Bee-Farm 


virgin much harder, so that the latter may not be out 
until about the third day, I have practised this plan with 
distant apiaries, leaving a virgin where I removed a fertile 
queen, and at the next visit the then virgin would be a 
laying queen. 

In Catching Queens 


I present a novel method of securing them without 
pressure and with no need of touching them by the hand 
of the operator. My tubular cage is placed lightly over 
the queen as she is found upon the comb, and in a few 
seconds at latest she is running up the tube, which is 
lifted and at once stopped with the finger. 

The illustration of the hand shows how I frequently 
carry queens round to the hives; for whether the cages 
have to be left or not, I find this a very convenient way, 
and after getting rid of one I often lift a frame from the 
hive with the four fingers still holding the cages. Of 
course a whole handful of these cages may be carried 
round with queens, if the ends are stopped with the cell 
pegs, with foundation, cork, a leaf,* or paper ; or they may 
just as well be in the pockets of the operator. We now 
come to the 

Flat Circular Cages 


illustrated upon the same comb. The reader of my former 
editions will know how severely I have condemned the 
practice of 


Holding Virgin Queens in Candy-stored Nurseries. 


It is a plan which I have never followed, being convinced, 
as Cheshire has also assured us, that the virgin queen 


* If the opening of the tubular cage is stopped lightly with a 
small portion of a dandelion leaf, the cage may be inserted and left 
‘where the Author’s fasting plan is first followed; the leaf soon 
withers. 


ANS 
SORTS 


Author’s method of holding Queens on natural stores of pollen and honey. 


Author's (1887) Original Tubular Queen Cages and method of carrying 
Queens to the hives. 


and tts Economic Management. 329 


absolutely needs free access to the cells containing natural 
stores of pollen, as well as honey. When free, she receives 
no care from the workers, and consumes a_ considerable 
amount of pollen in building up her wonderful constitution 
ready for the onerous duties to follow. Consequently I 
select unsealed combs of stores consisting of pollen and 
honey, whereon the young queens are caged as shown, 
until they can be utilized. Twelve to 20, or even 30, are 
placed on a suitable comb, and these inserted between the 
brood cémbs of a strong nucleus. In this way I also have 


Duplicate Queens in Nuclei ; 

and liberate a virgin. soon after the earlier queen has been 
removed. This has always saved me much time and 
material, as a small number of nuclei will bring along 
many queens during suitable weather. I have frequently 
mentioned that | knew of only one way of giving a virgin 
immediately upon removing a fertile queen, and that is 
how it is done. The virgin being caged all the time in the 
hive, the bees accept her soon after the fertile queen is 
removed. It is a rule that virgin queens are not accepted 
until after the third day from removing a fertile queen. 
There are exceptions, but even with duplicate queens, each 
must have fair play, and when considered fertile should not 
be sold as untested fertile queens until they have capped 
brood distinct from that started by the earlier queens. 


Surplus Virgin Queens 

will probably be on hand, and where these cannot be 
accommodated by breaking up other stocks, one-frame- 
confined nuclei may be made up provided with thorough 
ventilation, and in which are to be placed a comb of stores 
and some three or four hundred bees. These may be side 
combs from nuclei already established, and should contain 
no brood. 


330 A Modern Bee-Farm 


After these confined bees have been in an uproar for a 
short time, having already made provision for a small 
opening, allow the young queen to run in. Keep these 
in a dark room and presently use as ordinary nuclei. 

This one-frame nucleus, as recommended in former issues 
of this work, is better than using twin frames or sections as 
“baby nuclei.” . 

It has been observed that a young queen feeds upon 
pollen extensively until she has met the drone, froth 
which time she is fed by the bees entirely upon digested 
food. 

The confined one-frame nucleus certainly takes up more 
space than the candy cages, but this’ is amply paid for by 
getting more substantial stock, while queens being able to 
feed naturally will get mated sooner than those with a 
weakened conétitutton. 


The Age of Virgin Queens 


as regards natural feeding and ultimate fertilization, is 
practically determined as from the date they are liberated. 
Let there be no mistake about this, for indeed a queen 
hatched at a later date than one confined for a long period 
in a nursery, and given full liberty from the hour she 
hatches, will as a rule be the first to secure fertilization, 
and who shall say that the latter will not prove the better 
queen, as she has already shown herself to be the 
stronger. 

Nevertheless surplus virgin queens of necessity confined 
for the first few days upon natural stores, especially pollen, 
do not suffer loss of vitality as in candy cages. This will 
be readily understood, when I show that naturally fed 
queens which may not be used through oversight or other 
cause in my own apiary, have been known to fly off 
immediately they were liberated from the cage, after being 


ana its Economic Management. 331 


confined on pollen and honey for over four weeks. On 
one occasion several were so confined for 45 days, and 
these were quite ready to fly when removed from the 
comb. 


Queens Dying in the Cage. 


Some of my correspondents appear to have a difficulty 
in preserving surplus queens even for a few days. 

Of course care must be taken to cage the young queens 
on unsealed shallow cells -containing honey and _ pollen; 
and they are of course in a better position where the stock 
has no presiding queen. But more than anything, natural 
vigor must be an essential feature of the strain of bees and 
queens that produce the virgins. 

It is a fact that native queens do not stand long 
confinement, while the bees are more excitable than any 
when shut in for any reason. Some Italian queens and 
Cyprians, as well as Carniolans, may be confined for a 
longer period without much inconvenience ; but the queens 
bred from the ordinary imported Italians and Carniolans 
will not sustain confinement much better than native 
queens. 


Waste of Material and Vitality. 


Where the apiarist desires to rear a large number of 
queens it is undoubtedly better to have a surplus of nuclei 
set out, rather than a surplus of queens waiting too long 
before they can be given a free flight. 

Queens in the highest state of vitality can only be those 
that are free from the first. Anyone can prove that these 
become fertilized sooner than older queens that have been 
confined for some days. 

This same rule, I may also add, holds good with queens 
reared from eggs rather than from larve that may be 
somewhat advanced. 


332 A Modern Bee-Farm 


No Waste of Queens. 


As shown above, there is more certainty of the free and 
active queens becoming mated; but it is equally certain 
that queens some days confined are not so readily accepted 
by nuclei. 

Where one has a number of nuclei queenless in advance 
of his supply of queens, and these have been at least three 
days without, there is always a greater possibility of success 
in the introduction of virgin queens, or ripe queen cells, 
with the other favorable points added. 


Rule for Acceptance of Virgin Queens. 


The older the virgin to be inserted the longer must the 
nucleus have been queenless, if the queen is to be gladly 
accepted. Thus where queen cells are capped almost any 
queen will be welcomed. Bees recently made queenless, or 
where they yet retain an aged queen, will accept a virgin 
not long hatched, where an older one would be destroyed. . 

If not protected, or if slightly damaged, a queen cell will 
be torn down where the bees have not been over three days 
queenless. Nevertheless an undisturbed queen cell may 
be given with its own comb and adhering bees in safety the 
same time that a fertile queen may be removed. 


Simmins’ Method of Nucleus Swarming.* 


It will have been noticed that for supplying all hives 
with young queens yearly, and to compensate for the non- 
increase of stocks, one colony in ten is to be devoted to 
increase by nuclei. In this case, the tenth hives are to be 
stimulated for brood rearing until the end of June, when there 
should be at least three chambers nearly full of brood in all 
stages. However, to be within limit, we will say 20 combs 
of brood and a number of stored and partly-stored combs. 


* Simmins’ Non-Swarming System, Feb., 1886. 


and tts Economic Management. 333 


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

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

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

Feeding Nuclei. . 

The most satisfactory way of feeding nuclei is by using 
candy in frames hanging by the combs as a dummy. 
Permanent syrup feeders, being part of the side walls, are 
not satisfactory, often leak, and syrup induces robbing 
where small lots are so fed. (See also “ Dry Feeding.”) 


The Young Queens 


may be mated from their seventh day until they are as 


334 A Modern Bee-Farm 


much as four weeks old. In fair weather, the rule is for 
them to be laying in ten or eleven days from hatching ; 
but through unfavorable weather, I have had a number of 
queens under the closest observation failing to mate until 
the twenty-eighth day, and then successfully, having seen 
them come in with the drone attachment and in due course 
produce properly capped brood. I have had many mated 
at 21 to 25 days, while I have on several occasions seen 
queens return more than once with evidence of a successful 
union with a drone.* 

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

Nuclei should be constantly renovated by the addition 
of fresh brood, whether they are to be soon united or not ; 
and they should always be in possession of stored combs, 
in preference to any form of daily feeding, other than 
Simmins) dry feeders, or frames of candy. 

The dry sugar feeder, with or without the flap, is the 
best thing to use in supplying candy, which is poured into 
the frame, after the back is first studded with small nails to 
prevent the candy falling. 

Eggs for Queen Raising 


are more readily obtained from our select queens if 
the latter are in small colonies, having not more than 


* These queens had full liberty meantime; but it is a fact that 
queens confined for three to four weeks, though subsequently 
meeting a drone, will produce only males. 


and its Economic Management. 335 


four combs well crowded with bees, and protected at. the 
sides with chaff dummies. When a comb of eggs is 
removed, at the same operation insert another, empty, 
or a sheet of foundation if not too late in the season. 
Continue the process every two or three days if many 
queens are being reared, and see that your nuclei are well 
prepared in advance; and where it is likely that too much 
honey will be brought in to hinder the queen by the little 
lot getting strong, then carry the queen and two or three 
of the best combs of brood and accompanying bees to a 
new situation, thus providing her with attendants mostly 
too young to store a surplus. Use the remainder as a 
nucleus, or add to another hive. 


Drones 


are to be produced by stock which has shown good 
qualities and correct colour (if required pure) for several 
generations back. Although the drone progeny is affected 
to some considerable extent by the final mating, the quality 
of drones used must be judged by the sister workers of the 
queen mother. Early drones are best secured by arranging 
drone comb at the centre of a well-provided stock the 
previous autumn. No useless drones should be produced 
as they consume considerable stores. A strong colony 
well provided and made queenless in Autumn before the 
slaughter is likely to commence, will save their drones till 
Winter, but the special breeding of drones for Autumn 
work must be carried on during July. 

Many bee-keepers and some of the various breeders 
endeavour to secure the 


Correct Mating of Italian Queens 


in this country, but the process is such a disappointing 
one to the majority that the attempt is soon given up as 
an impossibility. Ninety-nine queens out of every hundred 


336 A Modern Bee-Farm 


turn out mismated, and the average breeder is content to 
produce mere hybrids. The native drone is so much 
stronger on the wing than the average Italian that the 
latter is sure to fail. Consequently | 


A Process of Selection 
and breeding the most vigorous drones has alone enabled 
the Author to secure a complete reversal of the above 
ordet of mating. By this means alone he finds it possible 
to secure correct mating in nearly every case, because he 
flies only those drones that are capable of outstripping any 
native males that may be in the neighbourhood.* 

But, dear Reader, you may spend many years, or even a 
lifetime, in endeavoring to breed up a more vigorous 
strain, if you will not see the necessity of “swamping” 
the neighbourhood with your picked drones. They must 
be flying in their 

Tens of Thousands, 
and you must not only be able to do this, but also quite 
prepared to sacrifice several stocks in doing it. Drone 
breeding colonies are of very little use for honey, and 
after midsummer are kept up with some difficulty, as 
no queen must be allowed them after the middle of July, 
when with liberal feeding your drones will be permitted 
to reach Winter if so desired ; but by then the workers, 
though brood may have been given occasionally, are not 
worth wintering. Consequently during October I usually 
appropriate the stores for other more serviceable stocks. 
On the other hand, the queenless stock may be saved by 
giving a fertile queen early in October, or sooner if there 
are no more young queens to be mated. 


* The Author also confirms his system of pedigree breeding by 
securing the mating of*many selected queens in Autumn after all 
odd drones are disposed of. 


The Author’s Cell-frame, with removable cups, which can be inverted ; 
the single worker cells as B being attached to the plain side when 
eggs or larvee are not removed. 


A. Cell cup started with discs of foundation, without 
using melted wax. 


B. Diagram showing how separate cells are cut when 
eggs or larvee are not removed therefrom. 


and tts Economic Management. 337 


The Color of Combs 


adjoining newly capped honey is known to determine to 
some degree the shade of the cappings then used, but it is 
a fact not generally realized that if dark combs are used 
for the rearing of queens, those of a yellow’strain will to a 
large extent have their color impaired by the contact ; 
while very new and thin combs will have exactly the 
opposite effect, ensuring bright yellow queens. 

One may lubricate or wipe out his cell-cups with honey, 
only to find that the queens therein produced are much 
darker than others from a yellow queen, whose cells may 
have been cleaned with warm water or-not at all, if new. 

Dark queens may also result from a lowered temperature, 
and more particularly if stinted in food, when reared at an 
unsuitable season, or started from larve already well 
advanced with the food designed for producing a worker. 


Stock Frames versus Twin Frames. 


The late Mr. F. Cheshire illustrated in his early work, 
Practical Beekeeping, a set of twin-frames that could be 
used in the full stock chamber or a smaller nucleus hive 
when folded; and others have advocated similar frames ; 
but the Author has: found no economy in using anything 
smaller than the British standard size; as with the 
larger frame stocks may be readily built up from nuclei, 
or nuclei replenished as desired from stocks without waste 
of material and bees. 


338 A Modern Bee-Farm 


Each stock should be supplied with a young queen 
every year; not only as a greater safeguard against 
disease, but also that a supply of young bees may be 
ensured (from a July-reared queen) before Winter ; 
and as a guarantee that the colony shall rapidly 
build up to unusual numbers in time for the first 
early yield of the new season. 


CHAPTER XXI. 


INTRODUCTION OF ALIEN QUEENS TO 
STOCKS AND NUCLEI. 


NE of the most interesting features in connection 
with Modern Bee-keeping is that a stock may be 
wholly changed,as to colour of the bees, their 

temper and general disposition, by the simple act of 
inserting a fresh queen. Under some conditions the bees 
will not hesitate to destroy the stranger, and various ways 
have been devised to ‘guard against this disposition of 
theirs. The different methods come under two distinct 
systems : the old, called “ Caging,” and the new, known as 
“ Simmins’ Direct Introduction.” 

Generally speaking, the caging process is carried out by 
placing the queen in a small perforated compartment, 
wherein she is confined between two combs among the 
bees for 48 hours, when the bee-keeper opens the hive 
carefully and allows the queen to run among her new 
subjects. If then attacked, she must be again confined, 
and tried after the lapse of another twelve hours, 

Direct Introduction consists in so inserting the queen 
without confinement that the bees are either unaware of 


and tts Economic Management. 339 


the new arrival, or are taken advantage of in such a 
manner that they do not attempt to molest her. 

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


Finding the Queen 
to be superseded, and he will certainly do better to leave 
his queens alone until he gains more experience, unless 
he is absolutely certain they are actually failing. 

In frame hives the fertile queen can generally be found 
without much trouble, as she is parading the brood combs, 
the hive being opened with as little disturbance as possible, 
and the frames gently lifted and examined one by one. If 
not to be seen there, look well around the edges of the 
combs, or she may be found on the floor, or at one corner 
among the bees; it may even be necessary to remove the 
combs to a temporary hive while looking for her around 
the sides, taking care not to get the brood chilled. An 
unfertile or virgin queen is often most difficult to find, 
and at times even an expert bee-keeper would be tempted 
to say that no queen was there, were it not that the actions 
of the bees tend to show otherwise. 


How to make Sure. 


A careful examination will generally reveal her presence ; 
but failing to find her, when you think there should be 
one, the bees should be given a comb of unsealed brood, 
and if they build queen cells thereon it is almost certain 
no queen is there; if otherwise, do not risk the life of a 
valuable queen until the other has been found. With fixed 
combs the only way is to “drive” the bees out and catch 
the queen as she ascends. If that cannot be done, then 
look well among the deserted combs and the bees clustering 


340 A Modern Bee-Farm 


in the empty skep. The length of the body, as well as its 
brighter color, should enable one to distinguish the royal 
form, while it should be remembered that the queen’s legs 
are always of a reddish-brown color, those of the workers 
being much darker. 


INTRODUCTION BY CAGING. 


Procure a cage made of fine perforated zinc I4in. in 
diameter, and rin. deep, having one end only closed 
with the same material. When the queen arrives place 
her in this cage while yet indoors, slip a thin card under 
and carry her to the hive. Without removing the frames 
other than to give plenty of room laterally, slide the cage 
carefully from the card on to uncapped cells of honey, 
within the margin of the cluster, and press it down to the 
mid-rib of the comb with a cutting motion. The queen 
now has plenty of food, and if the perforations are fine 
enough the bees are unable to molest her. After 48 hours, 
give a puff or two of smoke, carefully examine the 
condition of the bees nearest the cage, and if simply 
passing their tongues through the perforations, the queen 
may be released without fear of the bees attacking her, 
but all the same watch their actions closely for a few 
moments. If all is well the bees will gather around her, 
but not thickly ; those nearest will clean her with their 
tongues, while one or two may be seen feeding her. Under 
that condition the hive may be closed and left, but should 
they be found clustering tightly in large numbers about 
the cage, at once close the hive and wait another twelve 
hours ; and in case a queen is attacked after being released 
(which is known by the bees forming into a knot about her 
and stinging each other in their endeavor to so do to 
the stranger, called “balling”), then confine her again, 
first dispersing the angry cluster by heavy smoking. 


vues 


and tts Economic Management. 341 


When inserting queens by caging, it is necessary to 
keep all queen cells destroyed, or the new-comer will 
seldom be received. She is to them unserviceable, and 
yet present in the hive all the time the bees know they 
have the means of raising their own, and hence a dislike 
once began is only fed into an angry flame simply by the 
continued irritation caused by the constant attempt to get 
at the stranger, and not seldom by the bee-keeper’s own 
interference. Under this process of frequent disturbance, 
the queen will sometimes even herself be the first to attack 
the bees, and then, of course, there is no hope for her if not 
again confined. 


The Benton Mailing Cage 


has made it possible to insert queens safely without | 
removing them from the mail cage. Most cages sent out 
by breeders now have a plug at one end, nearest the supply 
of food ; and the cage being placed above the frames after 
removing this plug the bees gradually dispose of the food 
and so quietly liberate the new queen. 

But many losses occur by this plan where bee-keepers 
will not acknowledge the simple natural laws which govern 
the action of these interesting insects. If the queen is not 
likely to be liberated the first night after the old queen has 
been removed, she should not be allowed to escape until the 
second day has passed ; this being the most fatal period of 
any, as the bees having a lot of queen cells just prepared 
are bent upon destroying any new arrival inserted by the 
caging processes. 

Mr. G. M. Doolittle, an American bee-keeper, uses a flat 
cage, having an area of 4in. or 5in. square; this, with the 
queen in, is pressed down to the mid-rib of the comb just 
over hatching brood. Of course all the young bees 
hatching out pay homage to the only queen they know; 


4 


342 A Modern Bee-Farm 


and the cells thus vacated are occupied by eggs laid by the 
confined queen. By this time there is not much doubt about 
the queen being accepted by the rest of the population, 
and she may be released. In this case it is evident that 
food must be present, therefore see that the cage also takes 
in an inch or more of sealed store. 


Self Introducing Mail Cages. 


It may be taken as a fact that the perforated zinc or wire 
netting covering so generally adopted in a non-practical 
application, is detrimental, and frequently defeats the object 
in view. 

The supposed object of the metal perforations is to 
prevent thé immediate destruction of the queen; while the 
fact is overlooked that this semi-contact only inflames the 
anger of the bees, and prolongs that undesirable condition, 
as with all caging methods. 


The wide Saw-cut sufficient. 


The -better plan is that provided by the Author from his 
earliest use of the mail cage—a wide saw-cut made through 
one end of the cage, and which also ensures more efficient 
ventilation than the small and almost useless pinholes so 
frequently used. This saw-cut allows of all-sufficient 
communication, while avoiding the needless anger aroused 
by the perforated metal sandwiched between the cage and 
the hive bees. 

A queen inserted by the mail cage should not be 
deprived of the workers, as she may thus be left indefinitely, 
and die before the bees can liberate her. 


DIRECT INTRODUCTION. 


A term first applied by myself in the year 1881, will be 
found much more simple than the foregoing, in that it 
enables the bee-keeper to insert a queen without loss of 


Fic. 65. , Fic. 66, 
Champion Frame Syrup Feeder, 


Simplicity Frame 
Feeder, 


Single Nucleus Hive, 


Sectional View of Wax Extractor, 


and tts Economic Management. 345 


time and by two of my own methods to any colony, at 
any time of the year, whatever be the condition of the 
hive, whether it contains queen cells up to the point of 
hatching, brood in every stage of development, fertile 
workers, or no brood at all. 


Simmins’ “ Comb Method,” 
first brought to public notice by my pamphlet in 1881, 
consists in taking a queen from a nucleus, or otherwise, 
upon the comb she is parading among her own bees, and 
then inserting the whole into the desired hive, using a 
little smoke as in ordinary manipulation. Be careful to 
carry the comb in an uncovered box from nucleus to full 
colony, and before inserting the same, part the combs of 
the hive to give plenty of room and admit light. (See also 
“ Uniting.”) 

Simmins’ “ Fasting Method.” 


The three things of importance to be observed (after 
removing the old queen at mid-day, if one) are as follows: 
—(1) Keep the queen quite alone in a temperate place free 
from strong odours for not less than 30 minutes ; (2) she is 
to be without food meanwhile; (3) and to be allowed to 
run down from the top of the frames at dusk. There is no 
objection to the cheap “ safety” match boxes so commonly 
in use, but my own practice is to carry the queens in small 
tubular cages made of fine perforated zinc or tin, one end 
permanently closed, while the other end is pressed into a 
piece of foundation after the queen is in. When ready, 
remove the foundation and let her run into the hive; 
otherwise stop the end with a thin leaf. Caution :—make 
no examination after inserting the queen, by either of the 
two foregoing plans, until 48 hours have expired. 

The above meets all requirements, whether the colony 
has been long, or only a short time queenless; if it has 


346 A Modern Bee-Farm 


brood or not, or queen cells in any stage of development. 
It is also applicable to any season of the year. 


Immediate Introduction, 
so named by the Author, as a slight variation from Direct 
Introduction, is a practice he has followed for many years. 
The fresh fertile queen is given at the same moment the 
other is removed, during the day, and with just ordinary 
smoking. , 

If the new queen had been laying in the same apiary and 
is young, no preparation whatever is necessary ; otherwise 
she may be placed alone as before for not less than 
30 minutes before making the exchange. 


‘ Twelve Hours without Food. 

Late evening, after the 30 minutes fasting, is the best 
time for the average bee-keeper to insert queens; but 
nevertheless the Author does not confine himself to this 
late hour, and frequently inserts queens at any time of 
the day. 

A queen may be confined alone for an hour, or two or 
three hours, if warm, without detriment. In one case the 
Author left a queen quite alone in a tube cage for twelve 
hours without food, at a temperature of 50°, and when 
given to a colony she appeared to be none the worse for 
her solitary confinement, and produced worker brood in 
regular order. 


Loss of Queens by Flight. 


While being transferred to the hive after the period of 
fasting, a queen is sometimes lost. This can be avoided by 
using the Author’s tube cages, stopping the opening with a 
piece of dandelion leaf, lightly inserted. The tube cage 
can then be placed across or between the frames, and left 
just as it is, as the leaf very soon withers and the queen 
quietly walks out. 


and its Economic Management. 347 


Being hungry, she has no thought but that of immediately 
soliciting food from the workers or seeking it herself. 


Waiting 30 Minutes. 


There is no loss of time in thus waiting. Asa matter of 
fact, the apiarist confines the queen in a tube, and places it 
in his vest pocket while he does something else. 

In the Author’s case he may so prepare 20 or 30 at one 
time, and presently insert them in many less minutes. It 
may safely be said that no more expeditious or simple 
method can be found. 


\ 


Strong Odors 


should be avoided as far as possible as regards to the queen 
to be inserted, but it may be generally accepted as a fact 
that where the bees are in a naturally receptive condition, 
they will accept a vigorous young queen regardless of any 
slight odor that may be strange to them. 


Introduction by Chloroform, 


puffball, &c., is sometimes recommended, but I cannot 
advise such a course as to reduce the bees to a state 
of stupefaction, being not only injurious but totally 
unnecessary. Mr. D. A. Jones, late editor of the Canadian 
Bee Journal, formerly a great advocate of this method, 
discarded it in favor of my Fasting plan, which he 
considered the most satisfactory of any. 


Covering Queens with Honey, Flour, &c. 


It is claimed by some that a queen is generally accepted 
if first covered with honey and then placed among the 
bees ; but the practice is one of very doubtful utility. 
Another plan offered is that of giving the queen a bath in 
tepid water, when it is asserted she will be at once accepted. 
The body of the bee is studded with breathing tubes; it is, 


348 A Modern Bee-Farm 


therefore, evident that much mischief, if not permanent 
injury, is caused by all being clogged with honey ; while 
dust, such as flour, for uniting bees or introducing queens, is 
a crude and unnecessary process. 


Running Queen and Bees in at the Entrance. 


Another method of doubtful utility sometimes recom- 
mended, is that of shaking all the bees from the combs 
on to a board in front of the hive, and as they draw 
back through the entrance allowing the new queen to run 
in with them. 


Introducing Queens to Hatching Brood, 


denuded of bees, is another plan sometimes offered, but of 
somewhat doubtful value. The brood should be kept warm, 
and of course the queen is safe for the time being if the hive 
is closed with perforated zinc. But the fertile queen is not 
properly nourished, no honey is being gathered, and no 
food will be taken from feeders by these soft youngsters. 
Probably much of the younger brood dies, and presently 
the valuable queen is missing. 


Bees Refusing Queens. 


Sometimes a nucleus or stock will refuse queen after 
queen, and in that case they may be given a capped queen 
cell. If this fails they will often be reasonable by the time 
they may have been allowed to rear one for themselves. 
Otherwise they may be treated by the confined nucleus 
plan as a swarm, and allowed to build new combs, all 
others being removed. 


Inserting by Heavy Smoking. 


The late Henry Alley claimed uniform success by 
smoking queens in at the entrance, using dense volumes 
of smoke. Mr. A. C. Miller also, an American bee-keeper, 


ana its Economic Management. 349 


has more recently claimed the idea as universally successful. 
He drives a dense mass of smoke into the entrance before 
and after running the queen in, and then stops the opening 
with grass for a few minutes. Mr. Alley omitted the latter. 


Simmins’ Nucleus Method. 


A plan which I have found very satisfactory, and which 
was first suggested to my mind by the fact that I had long 
made a practice of sending queens off with bees they had 
never seen until the moment of fastening down in the 
various receptacles they were to travel in, is as follows :— 
Make up a 3-frame nucleus in a small hive 14$in. by Ilin. 
inside (allowing 2}in. space under the “ Standard” frame) ; 
then confine the bees, with ample ventilation, and having 
found themselves to be queenless, let the new arrival run 
under one corner of the quilt, first driving the bees back 
with a littlke smoke. Keep them thus confined in a 
darkened room, and liberate on the evening of the third 
day, standing the nucleus where it is to remain; and as 
soon as strong enough give a frame of hatching brood at 
intervals of seven days. Before inserting the queen, she 
should, for greater security, be kept alone and without food 
for 30 minutes. ‘ 

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

In times of scarcity it is always better to have the 
feeding-bottle going when it is decided to insert a queen 
by any caging process. All the foregoing plans have 


350 A Modern Bee-Farm 
\ 


reference to fecundated queens, but with regard to the 
introduction of 
Virgin Queens, 

hitherto there has been some uncertainty, but satisfactory 
plans I have found are :—(1) By introducing to a confined 
nucleus as shown above for fertile queens; (2) by the 
tubular cage before mentioned ; in this case pressing 
the open end into. ¢hzz foundation after putting in the 
young queen, or by pushing the open end diagonally 
downwards into the sealed stores near the top bar; (3) by 
allowing three days to pass after the removal of a fertile 
queen, and then inserting at night, and (4) by duplicate 
queens caged where a queen already laying is to be 
removed. (See also “ Queen Rearing.”) 

Queen-cells may be inserted three days after removing 
‘a fertile queen ; or at the same time if given with a comb 
and bees just as removed from another hive, and without 
being damaged in any way. 


Two Queens Working Together. 


It is quite often found among Italian bees, that two 
queens—an old and failing mother and her daughter—will 
be allowed in the same stock, and deposit eggs side by side. 

An Australian bee-keeper, Mr. Beuhne, not long since 
said he thus always gave a queen-cell where the original 
queen was over two years old, and he presently found both 
laying. But as old queens should not be allowed there can 
only be loss by waiting so long before replacing the old 
queen. 

Many years earlier Mr. D. M. Doolittle offered his spiral 
queen cell protector for inserting queen cells with a similar 
object in view. j 


Queens Dying in Cage. 


When inserting queens by the cage it sometimes happens 


and its Economic Management. 351 


that they are found dead. This may result from either 
want of food, or death by stinging or worrying, as the 
perforations are too large in almost all cages used. The 
former shows the danger of using such cages as do not 
press into the combs, should the bees be disinclined to feed 
the stranger; while the latter evil can be remedied by using 
perforations no larger than an ordinary pin will pass. We 
may now, indeed, consider the period of uncertainty, as in 
the days of queen caging, to have passed away. Under 
the Author's own management, the subject of queen 
introduction has been reduced to a certainty. In addition 
to the methods of direct introduction already enumerated, 
the experience gained by an extensive practice has resulted 
in the following further observations, which must prove 
of service to many who may have cause to introduce 
queens. 


Certainty in Giving Valuable Queens. 


A fertile queen is rarely objected to where queen cells 
are already capped over, and one may be run in at any 
time of the day. Any such colony will also accept a 
virgin queen right away, and if broken up into nuclei the 
respective divisions will. accept one or more fertilized or 
virgin queens. Upon the removal of a virgin queen, a 
fertile one will almost certainly be accepted if inserted at 
the same operation. In each case it is of course safer to 
keep the strange queen alone for 30 minutes. 

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


352 A Modern Bee-Farm 


this way prior to 1880, and though there is some trouble 
in removing the brood, I have always found the plan 
reliable, and the bees humming merrily, in possession of a 
new queen, within an hour of the removal of their own 
queen and brood. 


; Simmins’ Direct Introduction Proved. 


The late Mr. F. Cheshire’s testimony in his valuable work 
confirms the value of my system. “ Following up the 
question, I tried many dozens of experiments, and found 
that by Mr. Simmins’ method it was quite easy, and not 
only to introduce, but to get one queen fo /ay in 
half-a-dozen distinct hives in a single week. . . . My 
trials have, I believe, embraced almost every supposable 
difficulty and variation in season and in the condition of 
the stocks, and show the system to be practically perfect. 

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

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

In his issue of July Ist, 1889, the same editor, in reply 
to a query as to how the frequent losses of valuable queens 
could: be avoided, gives some further very pertinent and 
convincing evidence: “ Our advice is that readers should 
adopt the method of direct (fasting) introduction, as 
advocated by Mr. Simmins. It is simple, involves little 


and tts Economic Management. 353 


trouble or disturbance, and as to its efficiency, well, we 
have never lost a queen by it.” 

The foregoing statements will show the value of the 
system as applied to varying conditions of the bees, or 
the seasons, and as the editor of the Record himself says, 


“The introducing cage bids fair to be relegated to our 
collection of curiosities.” 


PE (ics © SANE 
Se eS 


354 A Modern Bee-Farm 


The careful bee-keeper will no more think of neglecting 
to feed his bees in proper season than a stock owner 
will fail to provide suitable food for his cows, from 
which he anticipates a profitable yield of milk and 
butter. 

The recognised substitute for the nectar of flowers, 
either as refined cane or beet sugar, is found to be 
fully equal, and for some purposes superior to the 
natural produce, for the preservation of bee-life. 


CHAPTER XXII.' 


FEEDING AND FEEDERS. 


HOUSANDS of colonies are carelessly lost every 
Winter—in many cases where the bees are left with 
natural stores, and in very large numbers where a 

deficiency of food has not been made up by supplying 
sugar syrup. 

Many owners take all they can from their bees, giving 
nothing in return, thus robbing their own pockets, Others 
deliberately rely upon candy as a substitute in Winter ; 
instead of feeding with syrup during September, and thus 
leaving the bees comfortably settled between properly 
sealed stores. 


Sugar Syrup versus Honey. 


Reports from many very extensive owners of bees, with 
30 to 40 years of practical and extended experience behind 
them, show conclusively that syrup from refined sugars is 
a more satisfactory food for bees in Winter than the nectar 
of flowers. Hence the statement made by some amateurs 
of little experience that sugar feeding is detrimental, and 


and its Economic Management. 355 


predisposes bees to disease, is but a phantom that exists 
in their own imagination only. 

Where disease has been prevalent in a given locality, it 
has been shown over and over again that the only stocks 
escaping have been those fed with syrup during the 
Autumn. On the other hand, syrup feeding gives one 
the opportunity of adding a germicide to the bees’ Winter 
food ; and it has been then demonstrated that the stocks 
to become first affected with the Isle of Wight disease, or 
those that died out during Winter from the same malady, 
have been such as were left entirely upon natural stores, 
the owner thinking the latter quite satisfactory. 

The Author feeds refined beet sugar by the ton in his 
queen-rearing apiary ; and does this practice, think you, 
cause any deterioration in his stock? Let the reader judge 
for himself when I tell him that starting as a nucleus in 
Spring the stock as it developed yielded 170 lbs. of honey 
the same year; another, queen from the Author’s apiary 
gave 357 lbs. of honey from one stock; others during the 
rather poor season of 1912 gave from 100 lbs. to 185 lbs. 
to the colony. . 

After the 1912 season, one of the great daily papers had 
a startling heading, “Sun-starved Bees,” and gave a doleful 
account of bees dying all over the country because there 
had been so little sun! This was a calamity that the 
Author could not realize, as such a situation had never 
come under his notice and could only occur through 
negligence. His own bees were snugly tucked away 
between sugar-stored combs; and even normal deaths. 
appeared to be less than usual. 

Although August of that year was persistently wet, 
and September unusually cold, the bees consequently 
discontinuing the production of young earlier than usual, 
the whole apiary roused up and the stocks developed 


356 A Modern Bee-Farm 


more quickly than usual during the Spring of 1913; still 
with an unusually small number of normal deaths—and, 
be it remembered, sugar syrup was the great stay. 

In the apiary where bees and queens are raised for sale, 
feeding has often to be resorted to during a dearth of 
honey, in the production of bees and queens on a large 
scale. Colonies are depleted by sub-division to such an 
extent that the remaining bees are occupied entirely in 
brood rearing, forced on to the utmost by the master. 
Honey is quite a secondary object; bees must be had. 
Consequently, honey cannot always be obtained even 
when the average colony is storing, and the forcing 
process must therefore be kept up by some substitute. 


Simmins’ Dry* Sugar Feeding. 


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


Correct versus Incorrect Application. 


Uncooked, soft sugar feeding became practical only when 
I introduced the feeder that enabled it to be carried out 
in an economical manner; but unfortunately substitutes 
have since been offered, being incorrectly constructed and 
applied. 

You see, the bees must cluster in a dense mass in the 


* As distinguished from syrup. 


ana its Economie Management, 357 


narrow chamber (Fig. 15), therefore maintaining a high. 
temperature, and under this stimulus they quickly reduce 
the soft grains of sugar without waste. 

The advantages of this feeder have been acknowledged 
by many British bee-keepers during the past 30 years, but 
our American friends are but just realizing the benefits 
offered by the plan for stimulative feeding, for feeding 
nuclei without constant attention, and for the economic 
feeding of out-apiaries in times of dearth. 

Ed. E. R. Root, of Gleanings in Bee-Culture, suggests 
the use of Coffee A sugar for this class of feeding, and 
recommends its use over the cluster in paper dishes in 
times of scarcity. The Author used moist sugars in this 
way over skeps as well as frame hives in the early 80's. 

The bees should be crowded into the feeder, and if placed 


Next to a Frame of Brood 


they will quickly work into this frame or dummy feeder, 
when the temperature of the whole hive will rise, and the 
brood nest be greatly extended. 

Granulated sugars cannot be used, but that known as 
Porto Rico, a soft, moist article, is used, being pressed in 
tightly, and the bees, entering above the movable side, 
which does not reach the top bar by jin., are soon busily 
engaged in reducing the food to syrup. No dark moist 
sugars are suitable as a Winter food in cold latitudes. 

Any moist cane sugar will do for this class of feeder, and 
the same frame also makes an excellent candy feeder. 

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

Another very serviceable frame feeder I have in use for 
moist sugar holds 9 lbs. or 10 Ibs., and is 3in. across. The 
bottom is simply a sheet of finely perforated tin fixed in 


358 A Modern Bee-Farm 


an arched form, so that the bees may cluster under and 
appropriate the sugar through the perforations. 


Syrup Feeders. 


If a stock happens to be very short of stores in Spring, 
I find it best to give a feed of syrup to put the bees in 
good heart, and then follow with the dry sugar or candy. 
In Autumn, when the surplus receptacles are removed, it 
may be too early to finish off feeding all at once, and it is 
well to give 10 lbs. or 15 lbs. of syrup immediately and 
finish gradually with a 10-lb dry feeder. This is, of course, 
where all the honey has been placed above, but where any 
have considerable stores on hand but not enough to winter, 
the balance must be made up rapidly with syrup not later 
than the end of September; when it is necessary that the 
combs should be almost solid with food. 


Simmins’ Syrup Frame Feeder 


holds about 12 1bs.; is 3in. wide, and otherwise of the 
dimensions of the frame in use. The joints are all tongued 
and well put together that no leakage may occur, though’ 
it is advisable to paint the whole inside to prevent 
saturation.* There is a slot along the top on one side 
nearest the bees, by which they are allowed to enter a 
8-in. passage between the outer and inner wall, where a 
good footing is obtained while taking up the syrup. The 
sugar is held clear of the bottom by slats of wood, thus 
admitting of a free circulation of liquids under the 
dissolving sugar. No cooking therefore is necessary, as 
the usual quantities of sugar and water (a pound of sugar 
to half a pint of water) soon amalgamate in the form of 
syrup. The proportions named happen to be correct for 


* In this case the sides must either be roughened-after painting, 
or covered with gritty paint, unless the boards are unplaned. 


SECTION OF STAND 
Fi oO. Fic. 71. 
Simmins’ Circular ‘‘ Amateur” Feeder (1883). Raynor Bottle Feeder. 


Fic. 72. 
Simmins’ Self-acting Syrup Can (1884) 


and tts Economic Management. 361 


this system, as it will be found that a residue of sugar will 
be given where more than the pound is placed in the half 
pint of water. 


The Circular “ Amateur,” 


for use above the quilt, I have arranged upon the same 
principle, as will be readily understood by the illustration 
(Fig. 70). This holds about 7 Ibs. or 8 lbs. at a time, and 
the inner funnel leading up to the syrup passage around 
thé same is lined with wood, or a lamp-wick can be used 
leading down into the cluster in cool weather ; though if 
feeding is necessary at such times it is always more 
satisfactory if the syrup is warmed. Among 


Bottle-Feeders, 


we have the “Raynor” (Fig. 71), arranged to give a 
graduated supply, with a projecting point attached to the 
perforated metal cap of the bottle, indicating by the figures 
to which it points on the stand the number of holes 
to which the bees have access. The underside of the 
excavated block is lined with warm material, though 
generally of a kind that is annoying to the bees, and . 
which they soon tear away. If painted with wax it would 
be equally as warm, and more appreciated by the bees. 
Messrs. Abbott have long had:something similar, though 
more simple and less expensive; but there is one great 
disadvantage with all bottle-feeders, in that they are 
subject to atmospheric pressure, and with a sudden rise of 
temperature the expansion causes much waste of syrup. 


Percolating or Self-Acting Feeders. 


I have used large cylinders on the self-acting feeder 
principle which reducé about 2 cwt. of loaf sugar at a time, 
the syrup being drawn off by a treacle valve at the bottom. 
The syrup-can illustrated (Fig. 72) will also be found very 


362 A Modern Bee-Farm 


suitable for smaller quantities, saving much time and 
trouble in cooking ; the self-acting principle being the 
great feature in this, as in my Champion Feeders. Cold 
water reduces the sugar to the correct consistency, but 
hot water is best in cool weather. 


Inexpensive Bottle-Feeders. 


A double thickness of cheese-cloth, or old linen, being 
tied over the mouth of a common jam jar, the bottle is 
inverted and placed flat on a thin block at the back of the 
hive. If slow feeding is desirable, then use the plain side 
of the block as on the left: if faster then invert it over the 
grooved side ; or for rapid feeding, tilt the bottle up at one 
corner. Of course, in this case two or three of the combs 
are removed from the hive, and the plan is not only 
inexpensive, but has the advantage over top feeders in that 
the syrup is soon raised to the temperature of the hive, as 
also is the case with my frame feeders. These bottles can 
be used inverted close on the bare frames when in cool 
seasons it is found necessary to feed a stock. 


Feeding up 100 Colonies in a Week. 

A very simple feeder is one adopted by myself many 
years since, and by its use it is possible to feed up 100 
colonies in less than a week, each stock being capable of 
carrying 12 lbs. to 15 lbs. of syrup from the feeder to the 
combs in a single night; the best time for filling the 
feeders being about dusk, as this avoids robbers, and also 
prevents loss of bees through flying because of the sudden 
excitement. 

Good sound wood is selected, and plain boards fastened 
on each side of a frame of any desired width, the corner 
joints being tongued. Put the nails in rather close together 
and paint all joints with white lead before making up 
(Fig. 66). The syrup is poured in while warm, after 


and tts Economic Management. 363 


turning back the quilt, and the bees go in by a slot on 
the side. It does not at all matter about pouring the 
syrup over any bees that may be in the feeder, as they 
are soon cleaned up by their fellows. A float is used and 
should be 4in. narrower and shorter than the inside of the 
feeder. 

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

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


Feeding without Feeders 


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

A simple method of giving moist sugar is that of first 
placing a layer of strainer cloth upon the frames; the 
sugar above that, and pressed into a compact mass, with 
the usual quilting next that, nicely tucked up to keep all 


364 A Modern Bee-Farm 


warm. Common paper will do in place of the straining 
cloth if two or three holes are first made through to give 
the bees a start. 


Feeding with Candy 


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


No Feeding should take place in Winter,* 


and though candy is often recommended, it is far better to 
unite to a well-stored stock in the Autumn than to feed in 
any way during the months of repose. If a stock is 
found deficient in stores at the latter part of Winter, then 
give combs of sealed food with as little disturbance as 
possible ; placing such flat on top of the frames and 
covering up warm if the weather is very bad. It is better 
at any time in Winter to give a dose of hot thick syrup, 
if only two or three pounds than to rely on candy. The 
object is to get the bees along until February is well 
advanced, and to feed not at all until then if possible. 

No stock, however disheartened, will refuse to take a 
bottle of hot syrup, placed directly over the cluster on to 
the naked frames, and in two days or less they have the 
best of food around them with but little excitement, while 
candy is a cause of constant activity. 


* Some bee-keepers, knowing their stocks are short of stores in 
Autumn, deliberately rely upon candy as a Winter food, and 
frequently suffer heavy loss in consequence. 


and its Economic Management. 365 


The most Profitable Period for using Candy, 


indeed the only safe and profitable time, is from the month 
of April onwards, while building up stocks ready for the 
harvest. The progress of a colony at this time is most 
remarkable where candy is judiciously applied in frames 
holding 6 Ibs, or 8 lbs. at a time, while thin syrup is also 
supplied, This has been my practice for many years, 
ensuring as it does, constant progress, no matter even if 
there may be a temporary return of frost and snow, as 
frequently happens to the serious detriment of many 
apiaries. 
In making Candy 

the usual proportions are one pint of water and one wine 
glass of vinegar to 8 lbs. of good loaf sugar. This is 
stirred well over a clear. fire until all is melted, and is 
then allowed to simmer with occasional stirring until a 
drop or two placed on a cold plate will almost immediately 
set hard, or will at least not stick to the plate. A large 
news sheet placed on a table with the edges folded and 
turned up at right angles all round, and these blocked 
upright with pieces of wood or other articles, will form the 
most convenient receptacle for general use. As soon as 
the surface is set, it should be cut across with a knife so 
that suitable sized cakes may be had without waste in 
breaking. 

Candy is sold by British manufacturers in common 
sections, and larger boxes to be placed over a feed hole 
cut in the quilt, and with a sheet of glass over the top. 

Where systematic Candy feeding is to be carried on in 
Spring, the better plan is to pour the hot liquid into wired 
frames, fastening them down to the table or a flat board, 
with paper between, by means of a couple of nails, or 
specially prepared blocks. It can also be poured into the 
dry feeders, which are first studded with fine nails, 


\ 


366 - A Modern Bee-Farm 


The vinegar canbe dispensed with and a much better 
quality of: Candy secured by using only one pint of water 
with 1 lb. of honey to 8 Ibs. of sugar, but: this should only 
be used where it is known the honey is free from disease. 
Honey Candy should never be bought, unless the seller 
gives a guarantee that the honey used is free from danger. 


The Author’s Candy 


is made as follows. Place 8 Ibs. of good loaf sugar in the 
saucepan ; upon this pour three parts of a wine glass of 
vinegar ; add three parts of a dessertspoonful of salt ; and 
finally one pint of docdzmg water. This is placed over a 
steady fire, and constantly stirred until all the sugar is 
melted. Bring it to the boil, keeping a strong clear fire ; 
now stir occasionally and presently try a few drops on a 
cold plate. When these do not stick to the plate, setting 
hard quickly, it is ready to turn out ; but before doing this 
remove the pot or saucepan from the fire, and allow the 
boiling to subside slightly. It is just now that any 
medicinal agent, if needed, should be added. Any scum 
should be skimmed off. ‘ 


Candy and Isle of Wight Disease. 


Where this disease is in evidence, the application of 
Candy at any period is very detrimental, largely increasing 
the rate of mortality. In late Autumn and Winter its use 
is suicidal and will always hasten the destruction of any 
affected colony. : 


Out-Door Feeding. 


I must not fail to notice this question as it is one of 
considerable importance, and yet just here is a rock on 
which all hopes of success may often be dashed to pieces. 
It is at once the most desirable method of feeding, and the 
greatest of stimulants to increased energy and development 


and its Economic Management. 367 


on the part of the bees; while it can also be shown as 
the most destructive to bee-life where all the points to be 
considered are not well understood. 


During the Spring 


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

At least double the usual quantity of water must be 
added to the syrup and the feeders placed some distance 
from the apiary, that robbing may not be induced. 


In the Autumn 


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

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


Most Suitable Feeders for the Purpose 


to be large glass or other jars, with porous cloths tied 
over the mouths, and inverted. Any number of these can 
be used, turning them down over boards with circular 
openings cut out, that they may be held in a suspended 
position. Float feeders and other similar arrangements 
for out-door use are sure to go wrong, causing many 
deaths, but with the above all is clean, there can be no 
daubing, and empty jars can soon be replaced by others, 


368 A Modern Bee-Farm 


or the whole quickly cleared away should any cause arise 
for so doing. 


Feeding by Syrup-filled Combs in Spring 


is another process which requires a degree of caution in 
carrying out, such as few are aware of. The excitement 
caused by introducing whole combs of unsealed food 
before a younger element of life has been created, causes 
unnecessary flights with its consequently increased death 
rate among the older inhabitants of the hive. 


Making Syrup. 

In making syrup over the fire, the operator frequently 
boils it too long after all the lumps are melted. This gets 
rid of too much moisture, and the food ultimately granulates 
in the combs. 

The best way is not to boil a minute longer than is 
required to reduce all the sugar to syrup. It is hardly 
necessary to boil at all, if the sugar is first put in the 
vessel and boiling water then poured over it, when constant 
stirring will soon reduce the whole. 

For Autumn use the usual proportion is one pound of 
sugar to half-a-pint of water. In Spring one-fifth more 
water may be used, and this thin syrup is much required 
by the bees from the end of February, as it prevents a great 
waste of adult bees, in that they have no need to fly for 
water, as they otherwise would. 


Cane versus Beet Sugar. 


There is probably no jam now made, or marmalade for 
that matter, with pure cane sugar. ' Not only is beet sugar 
used, but generally a poor quality at that, with the addition 
of “glucose” to give it “body,” or that firmness so well 
known in bought jams. 

Cane sugar in cubes is always quoted at a shilling or two 


and tts Economic Management. 369 


per cwt. more than the best beet cubes, but the latter will 
be found quite suitable for bee-feeding. Cane sugar is so 
marked or described, when offered in cases or bags, and 
that which ts not so branded zs beet sugar. 

It is more difficult to distinguish between the moist 
sugars, except that the beets are less sweet, and bees will 
not touch these inferior grades either as syrup or when 
offered dry. It is these low grades of “refined sugar 
only,” which give many jams that dark muddy appearance, 
It may not be generally known that good moist sugars 
make the softest cakes; while of course honey is still 
better in that respect. 

Fine crystallized sugar, whether from cane or beets, is 
unsuitable for making syrup, while the buyer in procuring 
such has no guarantee that he is obtaining cane sugar. 

Although chemists find that sugar-syrup is converted 
by the bees into what is practically honey—by certain 
manipulation and additions—making it a correct food for 
sustaining insect life; it does not by any means follow 
that sugar-fed honey is to be, or can be sold as flower 
honey. 

Original cane sugar as expressed from the plant, is a 
perfect life sustaining food in itself, but the refining 
processes eradicate the color and primary odor, which the 
bees cannot replace. 


370 A Modern Bee-Farm 


No intending purchaser should procure Bees or Queens 
without a guarantee that they are free from disease. 
Many disastrous failures have occurred where this 
precaution has been neglected. 

All Stocks, Swarms or Driven Bees should be fed 
upon medicated food for some days after arrival; and 
should certainly be placed in hives previously dressed 
with some well-known powerful antiseptic preparation. 


CHAPTER XXIII. 
BUYING, PACKING, AND MOVING BEES. 


UCH has already been explained as to the best 
St time to buy bees. If possible, they should be 
‘obtained in hives that are in general use, and 
can be adapted to modern management. In most cases 
the seller packs the bees and delivers them to the rail, 
the buyer paying carriage ; but where many hives are 


concerned the buyer will find it greatly to his advantage to 
see them packed and delivered to the railway company. 


Combs Inverted for Travelling. 


Where stocks are sent long distances by rail or otherwise, 
the hive and combs should be inverted, as the combs then 
ride more securely, having their base resting upon the top 
bar of the inverted frame. Tapes may or may not be 
fastened round the frames to enclose the combs more 
s€curely ; but to dispense with this, where I can make my 
own selection, I use combs that are well fastened down the 
side bars of the frame, as well as being strongly wired. 

Shade must be provided in hot weather, with more 
ventilation than at other times. Bees are lost more from 


and tts Economic Management. 371 


want of ventilation in travelling than from any other 
reason, and due provision should be made according to 
the number of occupants in the receptacle which may be 
provided. If sacking can be arranged to give shade and 
at the same time exclude light without interfering with the 
admission of air, bees will travel and stand confinement 
very much better than where they are continually striving 
to get out, and thus to a great extent impeding free 
circulation of air. 
Packing Stocks. 

Before inverting the hive, fasten a thin board along the 
whole length of the hives at the ends of the fraines, 
overlapping these at least one inch. A piece of porous 
sacking is first to be placed above the frames and held in 
position by a few tacks till the slips of wood are fixed. 
With the left hand find where the frame ends come, and 
with a bradawl bore a hole through the thin board into 
each bar ; then insert French nails pressed not quite home. 
Screws are to be used with this exception, as little 
hammering should be allowed for fear of injuring the 
comb attachments. 

We have to provide for a free circulation of air under, 
after the hive is inverted; therefore on each upper side, 
parallel with the frames, thick strips of wood are to be 
screwed, so that these only will rest on the ground when 
turned over. The entrance may be closed with perforated 
zinc before or after as is most convenient. The packing 
can take place several days before moving, if desired, 
leaving only the entrance to be closed on the eve of 
departure. In very hot weather for long journeys 
additional ventilation should be provided by holes bored 
at the sides and covered inside with perforated material, 
or an additional storey or half-storey can be given under 
the other before inversion. 


372 A Modern Bee-Farm 


By inverting the combs we not only place their weight 
upon, instead of depending from their base, but also 
provide that there is free circulation of air throughout the 
hive above them ; whereas in the natural position the 
heated air ascending is unable to escape and tends to 
weaken the foundation of the combs. 


Straw Skeps 
containing stocks should be very carefully treated, when 
railing a long distance. The skep, after slight smoking, is 
gently turned over on to its crown, a stick, one inch thick, 
is placed across all the combs, and slightly pressed down. 
A piece of sacking is tied over the whole, and the skep set 
with its crown into a common cheese box, or any other 
receptacle that will keep it from rolling, and all is secured 
as one parcel with strong string or a cord. The stick 
prevents suffocation by holding the cloth away from the 
combs, and also prevents the latter from falling to one side. 


When Delivered on Rail, 


or placed in vans, the combs should always travel in a 
line parallel with the road, so that with any incline, or 
sudden movement, they are not thrown to one side. 
When necessary to tier up the hives, place boards between 
each set. Plenty of straw is needed to give them ah easy 
motion, but on no account is it to be arranged so that the 
inverted hives rest directly upon it, though some must be 
packed between to prevent sliding, or jolting against each 
other. Place a good layer first upon the floor, spread it 
out evenly, and then lay boards down; on these place 
the first set of hives; then straw and boards again, thus 
always keeping a clear space under the sacking next the 
* frames. 

All covers and odd material must be packed separately, 
and where the stock hives, are simple square boxes, with 


and tts Economic Management. 373. 


no projection whatever, the entire process will be more 
satisfactory and expeditious. 


For Export, 
additional care will be necessary, while a sponge must be 
provided at one side in a perforated box, with directions 
requesting that the same may be moistened occasionally ; 
or a zinc vessel may be supplied with a cotton wick held 
in a funnel reaching nearly to the bottom that the water 
cannot be spilled. 

It may be necessary, according to the strength of the 
colony, to give an outer case, thoroughly ventilated to. 
provide for excessive heat ; though when it is known that 
bees have to undergo a high temperature, a nucleus only 
will travel far better and give more satisfactory results 
than a full colony. 


On Receipt of the Bees, 

they should be placed out where they are to stand 
permanently, The packing need not be removed for 
a day or so, but the entrances. are to be opened as 
soon as the bees are a little quiet. Do not liberate each 
hive in rotation, but go from one spot to another as far 
distant as possible, and so let the first quiet down before . 
a neighbouring hive is opened. 

It is well not to examine the interior of the hives until 
the bees have first noted their location; but it will then 
be necessary to determine if any queens have been lost, 
which frequently is the case. Where any are missing it 
will be desirable to unite to others at once if this happens 
to be the first venture of the apiarist ; but when other 
colonies are on hand one may be able to insert another 
rather than unite. 


Moving Bees Short Distances. 


I am frequently asked how it is possibie to move bees 


374 A Modern Bee-Farm 


only a few hundred yards ‘from their old location. Of 
course it is a very easy matter to shift them only a few 
yards by easy stages, while actively flying, but in the 
above case when they cannot be moved -in Winter, it will 
be necessary to make artificial swarms from them ; uniting 
two swarms with one queen, and then uniting the two 
deprived stocks with the other queen. Thus the united 
old stocks can be moved at once to their destination ; and 
on the second evening the double swarm may also be 
moved, but this should go into a cellar or other darkened 
room until another two or three days, and set out towards 
evening, with a board reaching partly over the entrance. 

An alternative plan which would not work quite so 
well, would be to move the stock towards evening, and 
when in position, shake all the bees from the combs on 
to a wide board reaching up to the entrance. Bees 
treated like this will often stay like a new swarm. 


Packing Queens. 


An admixture of honey and sugar, first mentioned in 
Rev. L. L. Langstroth’s book as a substitute for honey 
in wintering, was afterwards used by Mr. I. R. Good, 
another American, in queen cages when transmitted by the 
post. However, perfection had yet to come; the food was 
right, the candy was “good,” but until the introduction 
of F. Benton’s mailing cage, general success was not 
attained. Queens may now be sent by post just as safely 
as an ordinary letter, and Benton’s cage has rendered the 
system absolutely perfect for moderate distances. 


The Benton Cage 
consists of three compartments; one is ventilated for 
general accommodation, and particularly for advantage to 
the bees under high temperatures; from this a small 
passage communicates with the central compartment, 


Fic. 73. 


Sectional View of Simmins’ Self-acting Enlarged View of the Perforated 
Syrup Feeders (1883). Strainer for holding Sugar. 
Non-cooking hot or cold process. 
PT Perforated Strainer. 


This Feeder is made the full dimensions of the Hive in use, and it is used with no 
quilt or crown board between. 


It is invaluable for distant or out-apiaries. 


Pita | 
Fie. 75. Fie. 76. 
Standard Frame, shewing position Ditto at approach of Spring in 
of stores and cluster at fore-part of shallow Standard or Langstroth 
Winter. Frame. 
S oe s 
Fa cof 
/ | 
{ } 
s a af 
Fic. 77. 


Fic. 78. 
Commercial Standard, shewing position 


Ditto at approach of Spring. 
of stores and cluster at fore-part of 
Winter. 


and tts Economic Management. 377 


otherwise having no ventilation. The last has another 
small opening leading into the third space wherein is 


The Food, 


which is made by thoroughly incorporating with finely 
powdered loaf sugur just sufficient liquid honey to form a 
thick paste; this should be almost dry, and give no sign 
of “ running ” under any temperature. 

It is best made up some time before actually required 
for use, so that any excess of moisture may descend, 
leaving the upper portion just right for the cages. When 
‘the compartment is filled a sheet of wax or a piece of 
parchment covers the opening, while a thin -lid of wood 
fits over the whole, being secured with brads or tacks. 
(See Fig. 67.) For long journeys abroad duplicate © 
compartments are needed, with also a few more bees. 


Cooked and Medicated Food. 


The Author has for many years heated the honey for 
some hours (first adding a little water), and medicated the 
mixture used in his queen-mailing cages, even though 
assured in his own mind the honey may be quite free from 
any germs of disease. 


Mail Candy without Honey. 


Mr. Fuller, an American queen-breeder, claims to have 
perfected the making of mail-cage candy without the use 
of honey.. He got the idea from the “Old Country,” as 
also the method of applying candy in glass covered boxes 
over stocks when short of food. , 

His revised composition for this candy is as follows :— 
Graulated sugar, 5 lbs. ; coffee A sugar, 1 lb.; glucose, r Ib. ; 
water, 14 pints; one teaspoonful of cream tartar. Boil, 
but do not stir until at 240° F. Stir quickly when cooling, 
and pour out. : 


378 A Modern Bee-Farm 


American friends are anticipating great benefit in 
wintering bees on this candy ; but any wholesale attempt 
to set up a substitute for properly stored combs will only 
result in disaster where long periods of cold weather are 
the rule. 


Inserting the Bees. 


The lid is first to be tacked on only at one corner, at 
the side of the food compartment. Hold the cage in the 
left hand with the thumb on the lid just above the 
ventilated chamber, and now pick from the combs about a 
dozen young bees with the right hand, inserting them one 
at a time while the thumb moves the lid back to receive 
each in its turn. The queen is to be put in last to make 
sure of no mistake, when the remainder of the tacks can 
be driven in. 

If the weather is cold more bees must accompany the 
queen, and additional warmth may be given by outside 
packing. Instead of the brad holes I have found a sawcut 
through the end more effective for ventilating in hot 
weather ; indeed, I originated this plan and have used no 
other means of giving air, considering the small holes 
quite inadequate. 


Packing Swarms. 


A “rough-and-ready ” way is to tie a piece of strainer 
cloth over the mouth of a skep in which the swarm may 
have been taken; but for long distances something more 
substantial is necessary, and a frame of honey will be 
required, 

The box must be as light as is possible consistent with 
strength, and ventilation should be given on at least two 
opposite sides. I have had very good results with air 
space all round the top, the lid being raised and secured 
to the main body with perforated zinc. 


and tts Economic Management. 379 


Swarms should always be purchased by weight, and the 
buyer ought to insist upon receiving no other. There are 
3,500 bees to the pound, and four or five pounds would 
give a good working swarm. The plan of offering swarms 
containing so many thousand bees, when in reality not 
more than a third of the number make up the swarm 
forwarded, is becoming a thing of the past, and I do 
not suppose many would be caught in the trap now; 
nevertheless, swarms of no guaranteed weight are still 
advertised, and it is time bee-keepers set their faces 
against the practice. 


Weighing Bees. 


Where natural or other swarms are weighed after 
-clustering inside the travelling box, they can be first 
secured and carried to the scales, and the weight marked 
upon the label. If they have to go a long journey, either 
place a feeding bottle over the zinc until starting or see 
that a frame with sufficient sealed stores is fixed in before 
the swarm is hived ; the weight of such comb and the box 
to be noted, and presently deducted from the gross weight. 

Where a definite quantity is ordered, the scales are to 
be carried to the hive by any convenient arrangement that 
provides correct balance ; take the weight of the package, 
and if the opening is not wide enough to admit a comb 
end-way, use a funnel lined with zinc. Now make sure of 
the queen and then shake from the combs the necessary 
quantity of bees, and insert the queen last of all; close at 
once and pack for the journey. 

They are to be first smoked in the usual way, and all 
the time they do not miss the queen, the bulk of the bees 
shot into the box will remain simply clustering on the 
sides. The operation should take place early in the 
morning or towards evening as the bees are more restful, 


380 A Modern Bee-Farm 


and they can be put up in less time as there are more at 
home. Give food if necessary as before. 

I consider the most satisfactory way and the more 
profitable to the purchaser when wishing to establish a 
stock of any new variety is to get them in 


Three-Frame Nuclei ; 


but I do not mean such as are often sent out, and as some 
I have myself received from abroad with not enough bees 
to cover one of the frames; but such as can be built up 
with little trouble by the purchaser. 

To make up a fair nucleus of three frames, take from a 
strong hive all the bees from one comb, and one comb full 
of brood where young bees are rapidly coming forth, with 
all the bees thereon. Place the brood comb at the centre 
of the small hive, the other bees having first been shaken 
in, and look up a comb partly stored to place on each side. 
Screw the lid down after inserting the queen ; place wire 
nails through into the frames at each end, and invert as 
for full stocks. Strong combs should be selected, and 
sufficient ventilation given without danger of chilling the 
brood. 

The frame of hatching brood will presently give enough 
bees to cover three combs, so that with the other bees a 
queen gets a good start, though if the apiarist has them to 
spare, another comb of brood in like condition added every 
seven days will do wonders in building up a full colony. 


Standard Colonies 
of definite quantities are now offered for sale, and are far 
more reliable than stocks bought in the old “ hap-hazard ” 
kind of way. For so many combs offered, one may rely 
upon having that number covered with bees, and all except 
the two outer combs pretty well filled with brood. Thus 
a six-frame stock should have four frames of brood, an 


and tts Economic Management. 381 


eight-frame six of brood, and so on. These may frequently 
be supered within a week or ten days after receipt. 


Feeding Nuclei and Stocks. 


Unless good honey weather is in evidence these should 
be carefully fed upon arrival ; and on no account should the 
brood be spread ; as this may not only prove a hindrance, 
but will often be the cause of ruin. Additional combs or 
foundation may be safely added on either side. 


382 A Modern Bee-Farm 


No apiary of any pretensions can be properly con- 
ducted without a suitable house, so that the surplus 
honey may be accommodated ; extracting carried out 
under cover ; and queen-rearing operations be free 
from exposure. 


CHAPTER XXIV. 
HOUSE APIARIES, STORE ROOMS, &c. 


T would be a difficult matter to give hard and fast 

} rules for putting up buildings to suit every bee- 

keeper who owns a large number of colonies. One 

may have premises that with little or no alteration suit his 

requirements. Another may have no room to put up 

convenient sheds, or the situation is such that any given 
plan “could not be carried out. 

I will therefore give ground plans of buildings, etc, 
which I have found to be convenient, and the reader 
may then make such modifications as may suit his own 
particular requirements, having the general idea in mind. 


The Building 


as Fig. 79, is put up with 3-in. by 2-in. scantling as the 
framework, and #-in. by 6-in. boards, matched and beaded. 
The roof leans to a 10-ft. wall at the back. The front of 
the main shed is 6ft. from ground to roof; the outer store 
about 4ft. at the front. . 


The Workshop 


is 20ft. by 1zft. with communication to the apiary at D. 
The plan, to a great extent, explains itself; FR are 
frame-racks for hanging up frames as put together, or 


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and tts Economic Management. 385 


foundation when inserted ready for use. C C are closed 
comb-cupboards, with ventilation through the hinged 
doors at both top and bottom by auger holes covered 
with perforated zinc. The bench stands in front of 


The Window, 


the panes of which are in one piece, and do not reach the 
bottom of the frame by }in.; thus, when combs are first 
taken into the workroom any stray bees soon find their 
way out, as also at any time. To prevent them returning, 
perforated zinc is tacked outside along the bottom of the 
frame, and reaching 6in. or 7in. above the said opening, 
with a space of in. between it and the glass. The above 
arrangement with fixed windows I prefer to any revolving 
sash, because a room may be left for days together, and 
the bee-keeper knows that not a bee will lose its life in the 
vain endeavor to escape, as with the other which needs 
constant attention to prevent much loss. “ Why not have 
the opening at the top of the glass?” is a frequent query. 
Simply because in practice it does not answer. The bees 
get tired before reaching the top, and if there is a draught 
they at once fall back. 
From the workshop we pass into the 


Honey Room, 

where by the passage from end to end the recess is 
occupied by frame-racks which will accommodate several 
thousand frames, empty combs, or those stored brought 
in from the apiary for extracting. At the other side of 
the passage we see the counter ; with staging on two sides 
near that, where crates of both bottled and comb-honey 
can be stored. 

The open space gives room for extracting, arranged 
with or without a stage to assist in drawing from the 
extractor, as the apiarist may desire. Passing the outer 

AA 


386 A Modern Bee-Farm 


door, D, we again look upon a portion of the apiary, with 
the gateway G leading out of the premises. O D is an 
open doorway to the store for odd materials, timber, &c. 
The latter may be placed overhead in the workshop for 
greater convenience. L W is a latticed window, giving 
all the light required besides the open doorway. The 
honey room is lighted by a window in the roof, having no 
arrangement for clearing out bees as this is done in the 
workrooms before our honey is taken in, and every care 
is taken to keep out any intruder, while at the same time 
a thorough change of air is provided. 

The floor of the honey room must be concreted, but the 
other is not of so much importance. It is sometimes 
recommended that a paraffin stove be kept burning in 
the honey store, but with the skylight sufficiently large, 
the heat of the sun will be quite enough to complete the 
ripening process, taking care that it does not shine directly 
upon the honey. 


A COVERED APIARY, 


as seen by ground plan illustrated (Fig. 80), for 150 colonies, 
occupies a space I18ft. by 5oft., being compactly built 
with the entrances arranged so that no two are alike 
within several yards. ‘The base of all the walls is a plank, 
6in. by 3in., under which is laid a single row of 3-in. bricks 
as with the building first mentioned. All the framework 
is of 4-in. by 2-in. scantling and matched boards as before, 
put on when dry. The only door communicating with 
the outside leads first into a closed room, soft. by 12ft. 
Just beyond the centre we have the honey safe and 
extracting room, which stands 2ft. clear of the ground 
with woven wire on two sides opposite the window. 
Steps lead to the door, which is carefully fitted, and no 
bees are able to get in. 


and tts Economic Management. 387 


The long room has two windows also with the glass 
arranged that no bees are ever found dead inside, as before 
‘mentioned. Stray bees are here disposed of before the 
honey goes into the safe. Between the latter and the 
outer door stands a table, 12ft. by 3ft. for general 
manipulations. On either side with intervening passages 
are shelves for storing crates and other materials. 

The larger shed has a span roof, 1oft. high at the 
centre, dropping to 8ft. at the sides, and upon turning 
to the right after entering by the outer door, we can pass 
into either of the parallel bee sheds, each of which is 8ft. 
high, dropping to 5ft.on the lower wall. The hives are 
situated all along inside the south wall, with flight holes 
cut through, and the outside of the same varied in 
appearance. Here no glass is used, but shutters provided 
at suitable intervals. 


The Advantages 


that can be claimed for a covered apiary are as follows :— 
The bees as well as the master have shade during the 
heat of the day at the season most attention is required. 
Shelter is afforded from wind and rain, so that any 
necessary work is carried on without hindrance; and lastly 
the entire arrangement provides for a great saving of time 
in that all is compactly arranged in the smallest convenient 
space. 

Provision is made for 150 colonies, and nuclei can be 
placed in narrow hives close to the walls about 4ft. from 
the ground, resting on the central rail of the frame-work. 


Bee-houses so-called, 


but being merely cupboards, with two or more rows of 
hives, leaving neither room for tiering nor ordinary 
manipulations, are not worthy a place in the modern 


388 A Modern Bee-Farm 


apiary ; moreover, no arrangement in larger houses can 
be in any sense convenient where an attempt is made to 
atrange an upper and lower row of standard hives. 

For the production of honey, only a single row is 
possible, where the supers have to be tiered up. 


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ana its Economic Management. 391 


The Secretion of Wax is carried on by the workers to 
the fullest extent during a flow of honey, particularly 
after swarming ; as well as at such periods as artificial 
feeding is found necessary. 

If there is no income there can be little or no 
secretion of wax. One pound of wax represents an 
expenditure of something over six pounds of honey. 
Unrefined cane sugar will yield more wax than can 
be secreted from honey. 


CHAPTER XXV. 


THE PRODUCTION OF WAX ; 
AND ECONOMIC USE OF FOUNDATION. 


T is probable that during a good honey flow wax may 
} be produced by the bees in excess of their current 
needs, and thus largely wasted, particularly where the 
owner is negligent in not allowing sufficient surplus room 
for the development of additional combs. 

The Author has seen myriads of fine wax scales scattered 
like chaff into the air where a strong swarm recently hived 
has been disturbed. The bulk of these scales appeared to 
rise from the floor, although it is possible that others may 
have been prematurely dislocated from the wax pockets 
because of the sudden excitement and fanning set up. 

It will be realized that only the most vigorous and active 
honey gatherers would present such an object lesson as the 
foregoing. A great part of the refuse accumulating on the 
floor of a hive is pure wax, much of this being carried out 
deliberately or during the act of ventilation. And what 
becomes of the cappings removed from the winter stores ? 


392 A Modern Bee-Farm 


One can only realize that they are ultimately wasted like 
the virgin wax scales produced in excess, and help further 
to litter the floor. 

The more one studies the matter the more is he convinced 
that wax should be a profitable product of the apiary. Bee- 
keepers had been told over and over again that the bees 
consume 20 lbs. of honey while producing 1 lb. of wax 
therefrom ; but on the face of it the idea was merely 
theoretical. An article costing, if we say only 5s. (20 Ibs. 
of honey at 3d.) could not be sold for 1s. 6d. Supply and 
demand regulate prices, and it will be shown herein that 
the market value was, after all, the best test as to the cost 
of producing it. ; 

Practical and Definite Conclusion. 

I built a frame house, soft. long by troft. wide, and 
covered it with calico, so that the bees could not get out 
and would only fly in that space. There were several 
important factors to be considered ; the bees experimented 
with had access to both water and pollen, but no brood was 
allowed at the time. The experiment was carried out where 
the bees were not confined to the hive, and they could 
gather no other food than that supplied to them for the 
purpose. A test of this kind should be carried out under a 
high temperature, and a fair swarm used for the occasion, 
but in my own case I had to be content with rather a low 
temperature, but the result was very satisfactory, and’ I 
found that no more than 64 Ibs. of honey are required in the 
production of a pound of wax. 


Aids to Production. 

The apiarist who has all the colonies and all the combs 
he requires is the one who will make the production of wax 
profitable. He will have a great deal from cappings in 
extracting, and many an odd piece, all of which should be 


ana zits Economic Management. 393 


placed in some convenient receptacle till enough is obtained 
to run down. There are the queen cells even; shavings 
from combs when reduced to brood thickness in Spring ; 
also the scrapings from the tops of frames, not including the 
propolis. 

Then, again, new worker combs can be produced in 
Spring between the others containing brood, while feeding 
dry sugar or candy, at a great saving over foundation; the 
apiarist then being able to run down his more irregular 
combs or those that are getting too old ; or, as is sometimes 
the case, the wax being perished, such would only be torn 
down by the bees, as they do not appreciate combs that 
have been out of use for a whole season. If possible all 
should be passed through the hive every year to keep them 
in good order. 

During the season that bees are storing heavily I have 
reason to believe that the secretion of wax is continually 
going on, and if the scales cannot be utilized they are 
allowed to drop and be carried out as so much refuse. 
Now the space allowed by my system below the brood 
chamber provides that full employment shall ever be 
given should it happen from any cause that the supers are 
not removed in due time and the bees there kept busy. 
Thus we have another step towards the production of wax. 
When one desires 

To Produce Wax in Quantity, 
which can only be done when natural stores are plentiful, 
a colony must be run for extracted honey, and at suitable 
intervals alternate the combs of brood or stores with 
starters only in the frames. Between the stored combs 
these would be built rather thin, but the sealed combs are 
to be removed and the honey extracted as soon as the new 
ones are built to about two-thirds of the frame capacity ; 
other empty frames take their place, and so on in rotation. 


304 A Modern Bee-Farm 


This process cannot be carried out to any extent between 
brood combs, except as described for spring work or when 
a young queen presides over the colony, otherwise some 
drone comb will be built; and the production of useless 
drones shows a great defect in management. 

Another plan, more suitable for hot countries, by which 
a large number of colonies can be kept and much wax 
produced at little expense of labour, is to place several 
chambers fitted up with starters under the brood nest early 
in May. The bees will gradually work down, and the 
production of brood will be regulated in accordance with 
the amount of income, and no trouble with swarming will 
be experienced. Any old queens should be replaced by 
young ones reared in nuclei at one side. 


Crowded Nuclei for Comb Building. 


The most economical plan for producing even and useful 
worker combs is that of arranging small colonies of three or 
four combs with vigorous bees and queen. Shift about 
occasionally, making nuclei on the old stand to dispose of 
the older bees and so prevent the clogging of combs with 
honey. Keep all closed up warm and feed carefully if no 
store is coming in. Put in a frame with narrow guide only, 
and in three or four days such colonies will produce a 
beautiful worker comb nearly filling the frame and generally 
being crowded with eggs. These may be utilized as 
required, and the same process continued. For three 
months ata stretch such small (carefully tended) colonies 
will continue the process, giving something like two dozen 
good combs, while the brood removed will represent two 
powerful stocks. Such a profit, and saving of outlay in 
foundation, should satisfy the most economic bee-keeper. 


The Production of All-Worker Combs 


is assured where all young bees are retained, hence the 


and tts Economic Management. 395 


reason for shifting the nucleus occasionally. In that case a 
young queen is not an absolute necessity, unless the other 
begins to fail. Where swarms have been hived upon 
starters, I have avoided the building of drone combs by 
placing the frames rather less than 1%in. from centre to 
centre. This point appears to have been overlooked by 
many who have been troubled in that direction. 


Pollen Stored in the Sections. 


This trouble I learned to avoid when hiving swarms upon 
full sheets of foundation in my endeavor to get the best 
work started in the sections. Just as I hived swarms upon 
foundation (when made by division), I also put them upon 
starters, with the addition of two combs of brood ; one with 
uncapped larve, and the other having brood hatching. 
Thus the bees have room to store the pollen carried the 
first day or two, without spoiling the partly finished sections 
when they happen to be removed from the old stock to the 
swarm; arid what is of equal importance, there is just 
sufficient brood to make up for wear and tear before a 
general hatching would otherwise take place. Moreover, 
the queen is kept below without the useless and expensive 
addition of excluder zinc generally used where starters are 
given under the sections. 


When Swarming, 


the plan is not to throw the bees entirely into the sections 
as soon as they are hived, but simply to prevent the pro- 
duction of an excess of brood in the height of the season, 
and with the two combs of brood so arranged the’colony is 
worth wintering after the season is over; whereas in the 
other case several have to be united to get a fair stock. 


\ When Hiving on Starters 


. the brood combs may, however, be dispensed with if the 


396 A Modern Bee-Farm 


supers are not put on (with drawn combs) until the third day 
after making the swarm. 

In tropical localities where the bees may crowd out the 
queen and refuse to store above the stock in consequence I 
can conceivé of no better way than that of keeping them 
working on starters. This ensures profit.in wax, a constant 
succession of brood, and larger honey yields. 

All the above has reference to the profitable production 
of wax, and I shall be excused for bringing these particulars 
of management in here, more particularly as the whole 
question has received but little attention from bee-keepers 
generally. 


When Foundation may be used to advantage. 


Now I do not consider that foundation is always used in 
the stock chamber at a loss; in fact it can be adopted at 
considerable profit when extension of stock is the object. 

A bee-keeper may wish to largely increase his stock of 
both bees and combs, and then considerable time will be 
gained by taking advantage of foundation ; though it should 
be borne in mind that increase is obtained at the expense 
of honey, unless the stocks are very early. 

When the honey season arrives we have to be prepared 
with plenty of storage room, and therefore nothing less 
than full sheets of foundation can be tolerated in our 
sections, while if already drawn out in preparation for the 
harvest, the results will be far better. If suitable founda- 
tion with. a thin base is used there will be no difference to 
be distinguished between such combs and those built from 
starters only, while the appearance of the surface when 
capped will be much better than of those so often finished 
off with drone cells. 

While the profitable production of wax will be carried 
out by those who have completed their stock, much will 


and its Economic Management. 3907 


depend upon locality, as well as the culture of bees most 
suited to the purpose. 


Wax Extractors. 


Solar wax extractors are frequently used, with a large 
surface of glass, on a frame; all being air-tight, enclosing a 
perforated vessel to take the wax and a pan under, but these 
are not so satisfactory as those worked by steam. A cross 
section of a suitable wax refiner is shown in two sections. 
A piece of fine flannel should be stretched across, under the 
perforated comb holder A, thus thoroughly refining at the 
first operation. ‘The wax running on to the false bottom 
passes out by the spout into a convenient receptacle. 
When it is required to work from a steam boiler, the steam 
pipe should enter just above the water line shown, and no 
water will be required below, as when placed over a stove. 
The wax will be of still finer quality if the vessel it runs 
into contains warm water. 

The illustration is that of the late Mr. Cheshire’s pattern, 
and is manufactured by Mr. Meadows, of Syston. (See 
Fig. 69.) 

Cost of Producing Wax. 


My experiment was conducted during the Autumn of 
1886 in a large flight room, 5oft. by 1oft. A swarm of 
nearly 3 lbs. weight was made up and given eight frames, 
with a slight line of wax as a starter to each. I determined 
to avoid the complication that would arise if brood were 
produced, but at the same time it was necessary to have a 
fertile queen presiding, or the bees would not work to the 
best advantage. The new combs were therefore removed 
every three days, and though occasionally eggs were to be 
seen, no food was consumed in their production other than 
that fed to the queen. The removed combs were placed 
behind the division board, and were emptied of their 


398 A Modern Bee-Farm 


contents by the bees, to be again used in building new 
combs. 

Thus, without extracting, the combs were taken away 
perfectly dry, with the exception of the three last built, 
and to make sure of wasting none of this remaining honey 
the combs containing it were run down in a vessel with no 
added water. The bees had access to both pollen and 
water while building, and from 6 lbs. of honey fed to them 
they gave 61 ozs. of clear wax, with a balance of 15 ozs. of 
honey left over. If I say an even pound left [ shall be 
nearer the mark, as the bees had the means of loading 
themselves much more heavily than when the swarm was 
made, as they were then forced to consume what they had 
before commencing to build. Five pounds, therefore, giving 
that quantity of wax, it would be supposed that it takes 
124 lbs. of honey to yield a pound. But our experiment is 
not yet completed ; the bees had to live during the 20 days 
taken to carry it out. Being in a confined area during 
Autumn when the weather was far from being as warm as 
could be desired, the expense of production would be very 
much more than when new combs are built in the height 
of the season: The bees did not get on so fast, especially 
as the best combs were removed in time to prevent the 
production of brood, and towards the last the supply of 
honey became very limited. ( 


To get at the Cost of Living, 


after removing the last of the combs and balance of the 
honey, the bees were given just 1 lb. of honey in a feeder 
arranged so that they would not get it fast enough to go 
on building. After the fourth day there were 6 ozs. left ; 
but here is a little difficulty ; they could not require 10 ozs. 
in that time, and on removing the feeder with balance 
of honey, and giving four empty combs they put about 


and its Economic Management. 399 


2 ozs. into the cells. This would still leave 8 ozs. con- 
sumed, or 2 ozs. per day while in active flight. Then for 
the 20 days we have 40 ozs. consumed to preserve 
life, which deducted from the 5 lbs, leaves 2 lbs. 8 ozs. 
actually used in producing the 64 ozs. of wax; thus, to 
produce I lb. of wax 62 lbs. of honey would be consumed. 
When the cost of living was carried out the bees were 
reduced about one-third, so that 2 ozs. per day should be 
within the mark. In the height of the season with every- 
thing favorable it is only reasonable to say that the cost 
of production is really much less, and probably less than 
5 lbs. of honey are consumed in actually producing one 
pound of wax under natural conditions. 


Comparative Cost. 


In the course of the experiment I found that about eight 
standard frames (14in. by 84in.) of new comb will give one 
pound of refined wax. It is surprising what a large amount 
of refuse is left after melting the most beautifully white 
combs, so that the actual weight of wax obtained is much 
less than that of the original combs. Odserve this: one 
pound of wax, costing the producer less than ts. 6d., fills 
eight frames with finished comb. To do this with founda- 
tion it will cost, in hard cash, 2s. 6d. for the base only ; to 
this the bees add considerable of their own production 
before the combs can be completed ; making the total cost 
much over 3s. Facts are stubborn things which cannot be 
ignored, and the bee-keeper will do well to consider if it 
is better to produce wax by saving the cost of brood 
foundation rather than attempt to make his bees manufac- 
ture it for sale, though the latter might very well be done 
in tropical regions, or even some other localities where 
Nature’s bounteous hand provides honey by the scores of 
tons, and the market value of it is but small. 


400 A Modern Bee-Farm 
4 

With honey yields that occur in Autumn on the 
heather-clad moors and hill sides of the north; or 
the heavy flow of nectar occurring during the cooler 
season of the tropics ; or any other late yield ; the 
largest results can only be obtained where young 
queens have been fertilised and introduced to the 
stocks some three weeks prior to the expected harvest. 


CHAPTER XXVI. 


MANAGEMENT FOR LATE YIELDS. 


THE HEATHER HARVEST ; CONDITIONS IN 
TROPICAL CLIMATES. 


4d) AVING had considerable experience in former years, 

between 1870 and 1880, in sending my bees every 
Autumn to extensive heath-lands, and for some 
years also having an apiary in the midst of hundreds of 
acres of heather, the information placed before my readers 
in this chapter will doubtless prove of some _ value. 
Hitherto no work has given special treatment for the 
production of heather honey or other late yields; and yet 
this is a subject of the first importance to hundreds of 
bee-keepers, nearly all of whom wish for some better 
method than they have had for making the most of late 
harvests. 

Our Scotch friends have not by any means a monopoly 
in heather resources. Many counties to the south, and the 
western isles have large areas of this honey plant; but the 
honey secured in the north is considered to be better in 
quality. 

Late in the season bees must be close to, or in the 


and tts Economic Management. 401 


midst of, the crop they are to gather from, and in the 
case of heather large quantities of honey can be, and 
often are, secured ; but in very many instances the stock 
combs are totally blocked up with this valuable honey 
which the apiarist desires to get stored in the sections. 
Heather honey being so thick, it is quite impossible to 
extract it unless removed as fast as gathered, and this is 
not desirable. It is usual for bees to crowd the stock 
combs late in the season, as many find to their cost; but 
why is it so? It is not that the nights are cooler, as 
frequently the temperature at night is much higher in 
August than during May, when bees work well in the 
supers. It is not solely that the bees are aware the 
season is drawing to a close; but if we would go to’ 
the very starting point of the trouble, we shall find that 


The whole question centres upon the Queen, 
as every bee-keeper may prove for himself, and as he will 
admit as he follows my statements. 

Now, what is the condition of the colony which goes 
first into the supers in early Summer? Have I not already 
shown that the hive must be full of bees, and have every 
stock comb ¢:terally crammed with brood, when the honey 
must go into the sections? Well, why not do likewise for 
your heather crop? Imagine that you have another year, a 
new season coming in, instead of a late season in the same 
year; and then you will have your honey where you want it. 

But, you say the bees will ot breed to any extent late 
in the year. True, the same queen that you have used 
all the Summer will be of no use to you in this emergency, 
and just here is the point. You are, then, to 


Use a Young Queen,* 
and the best way to have one in readiness for every hive 


* See also Simmins’ Non-Swarming Pamphlet (Feb. 1886). 
BB 


402 \ A Modern Bee-Farm 


is to follow my plan of using every tenth colony for nuclei 
as already shown. Your first harvest probably closes 
towards the latter part of July, and as soon as the supers 
can be removed, dethrone the old queen and in due course 
unite the stock and nucleus. You now have a stronger 
colony and a young queen who will take good care that her 
domains are not crowded with honey. Aer first season is 
just coming, and the bees will act accordingly. 

This is a special case and special treatment is required, 
as the honey nearly always comes in so freely that, by the 
old method, the already exhausted queens are soon crowded 
out, and by the time the earlier harvest is over, the workers 
are also largely worn out; whereas with the young queen 
we have a good stock left, with bees’still hatching to make 
up for the tremendous loss of life. More honey is 
accumulated because the population is larger and does 
not decrease as only too frequently has been the case. 


Queenless Period—More Brood. 


It is not generally realised that after a queenless period 
the bees, when again in possession of a young fertile queen, 
will be more determined to develop a large brood nest.* 
Hence the old queen may be removed some ten days before 
uniting with the nucleus and young queen. 

Where young queens are not secured, or those used may 
not be very prolific, the number of brood combs must be 
restricted just before supering ; and where swarms may not 
be set up on starters, the nearest equivalent is the use of a 
shallow brood chamber ; but with these plans there is 
always a loss of stock, which rarely pays for the extra 
yield from late crops. . 


* An exception may occur where a late reared queen is given toa 
stock, and neither natural nor artificial food is obtainable, the young 
queen then waiting until the following Spring. 


Comparison of Tall and Square Sections. 
(After Root Co.) 


Fic. 83. 


Simmins’ Divided Section Holder 
with Slatted Divider on one 
side, 


=] ll 


Fic. §2. . 
The Root Co.’s design of Fence Separator. 


Fic. 84. 
The Root Co.’s method of working sections. 


and tts Economic Management. 405, 


Of course, only worked-out combs are to be used in 
the sections, including those not completed from the first 
harvest, after being cleared by the extractor. At the 
termination of the earlier harvest if any stores are left in 
broodless stock combs, the same may be extracted, and in 


Uniting with the Nucleus, 


only those combs most crowded with brood should be 
used. The odd combs of brood can be given to one or 
more lots left at home. Some reader may say that his 
hives ave crowded when his bees go to the moors. They 
may be, but like the queen such bees are already exhausted 
by their previous labors, and new blood is required 
throughout if one wishes to make the most of this last 
important harvest. 

If necessary feed “from hand to mouth” after uniting, 
until time for the heather, but on no account feed heavily, 
as once advised by a correspondent in the Srztish Bee 
Journal, who hoped thereby ‘to fill up the space the old 
queen could not occupy, expecting that the heather honey 
would all go above, and that when the bees came home 
they would require no more feeding. True indeed, for 
there would in many cases be no bees to require it. 


Young Queens every Year. 


My position in regard to this all-important item of 
rearing young queens every year, towards the Autumn, as 
first set out in my 1886 pamphlet, caused considerable 
comment at the time, but practical bee-keepers have since 
realised the necessity of following this method, as well as 
that of having the hives full of brood, such as can only be | 
secured by such queens when preparing for a late harvest. 


Tropical and Semi-Tropical Conditions. 


There is often a peculiarity about the production of 


406 A Modern Bee-Farm 


honey in hot climates that is not so frequently met with 
in temperate zones. Queens bred from strains of bees 
acclimatized in temperate localities, producing workers in 
every way desirable for honey-production, may be compara- 
tive failures when transplanted to places near the Equator. 

Ordinary Italians, Carniolans, or Black bees will be of 
little use ; but better results will be secured by using 
Cyprians or Holy Lands; or the first crosses from these 
with Italian or Carniolan drones, where the situation is 
very carefully studied. 


Crowding the Stock Combs. 

Near the tropics bees may crowd the stock combs with 
stores to such an extent that the population is never 
sufficient to ensure the production of large yields, while 
all the time honey is wasting everywhere by the ton.* 
Then it is often said the bees are lazy ; but how about the 
owner ? 

But there are practical bee-keepers who are certainly not 
lazy, and who know that their bees are not lazy; but they 
nevertheless have great difficulty in maintaining a brood 
nest, and without a succession of young bees no profitable 
result is to be gained. 

In some instances the great difficulty is that the heaviest 
flow may occur just in the cooler season, when the bees 
naturally require a rest from brood rearing—and they take 
it. This does not prevent them gathering some of the 
honey that is everywhere available, until they have crowded 
the broodless combs. 


No Brood—No Surplus Comb-Building. 


If bees have no brood in the combs already covered they 


* The very same thing happens occasionally through inattention 
in Great Britain, the United States, and elsewhere; but not as a 
general climatic condition. 


and its Economic Management. 407 


do not usually see the necessity of building further combs, 
nor do they then care to store in secondary chambers, hence 
the deadlock in a comparatively cool and late season. 

As we have seen, the difficulty is one largely governed by 
the annual rest required by all Nature. Consequently a 
period of queenlessness should be allowed before adding 
the recently fertilized queen; and this period should be 
carefully judged that it may be just prior to the flow 
expected. 


Swarming on Starters, 


or narrow guides in the frames, with the young queen, will 
almost invariably ensure a compact brood nest, when the 
chambers with extracting combs, or sections in heather 
districts with drawn combs, may be placed above. 


Why not Extract ? 

Yes, why not extract the honey from the heavily stored 
brood combs, instead of swarming on starters? Because 
the combs are largely clogged with pollen, and every 
available cell is again filled up with honey, but no brood. 
Extract by all means, but do not return the combs for 
several days after placing the bees on starters, when there 
will be a better opportunity of continuing the process to 
profitable advantage. 


Cyprians and Holy Lands 
naturally breed later than other varieties, and they are a 
desirable acquisition in apiaries where the troubles under 
consideration are experienced ; but these bees are not 
suitable for comb-honey production unless crossed with 
Italians or Carniolans ; and are certainly far better honey 
gatherers for extracting purposes when so crossed. 


Doubled Stocks for Heather Work. 


There is always the opportunity of uniting two colonies 


408 A Modern Bee-Farm 


before taking the bees to the moors, using all the bees of 
the two in one stock chamber, except for a few left at home 
on the combs containing least brood, with the spare queen. 

By following this plan, the owner will have to pack and 
carry only half the number of stocks, while his yield of 
honey will in all probability be doubled or trebled. 


Doubled Swarms on Starters. 


Another plan is that of uniting all the available bees 
from any two adjoining hives, placing them on starters in 
the frames, and then doubling the swarmed combs, and 
remaining bees, with the spare queen, to be left at home. 
The latter may be helped to build up to useful stocks in 
the meantime, and so compensate for the loss of the adult 
bees used up at the heather, and which in any case would 
not have lived through the Winter. The remnants may 
be united upon their return. 

Such swarms should be prepared the first week in 
August ; the hive being well ventilated while travelling. 
All supers may be taken to their destination free from bees 
and arranged in position on arrival. 

There is of course a risk of starvation * with these 
combless swarms when first set up, and if the weather does 
not become favorable they should be supplied with candy, 
which is the most convenient and reliable food for this 
season. 


Driven Bees for the Heather. 


Where these can be procured in time they may also be 
started on guides, placing two or three lots together, and 
supering three days after hiving them, with a supply of 
candy, or a little syrup; otherwise they may abscond. 


* A similar mishap may occur five years out of six where a single 
colony is reduced to a shallow stock chamber for heather work, 


a dummy. 


Small Feeder with Float, 
used as 


ana tts. Economic Management. 4II 


There is always a danger of contracting disease in 
procuring driven bees wholesale, as very many northern 
bee-men have found to their cost, and none should be 
purchased without a guarantee that they are free from 
any disease. 


When Moving to the Heather, 


everything should be got ready and loaded on the vans 
over-night, and if not desirable to travel during the night 
the journey ought not to be delayed later than 3 a.m. 
Upon reaching their destination the hives should be treated 
as before shown after a journey. 


_The Supers should Travel Separated 


from the hives, and be arranged in position on the next 
day after the bees have been liberated, or on the same day, 
as soon as the bees are settled, if inconvenient to attend 
next day. Each stock should have an extra chamber for 
better ventilation, and all openings for the admission of 
air must be shaded, so that there may be as little excite- 
ment as possible to exhaust the bees. 


Honey Presses 


are much used by those obtaining heather honey, which 
as before stated, is so thick that the extractor is useless 
for removing it from the combs. At the same time it is 
desirable that old combs containing pollen and other 
extraneous matter should not be passed through the 
press, at least when the honey is intended for sale. 


412 A Modern Bee-Farm 


The Great Secret of Comb-honey Production.—Where 
the bee-owner strives to set up his supers with “ Drawn 
Combs” (partly worked foundation of the current early 
season), his yields will be largely augmented. 

The supers will be quickly occupied, and com- 
pleted, while the stocks are more populous ; yet at the 
same time less inclined to swarm, as shown in the case 
of working for extracted honey with unlimited comb- 
space provided.— “‘ Simmins’ Non-Swarming System” 
and Comb-Honey Production, 1886. 


CHAPTER XXVII. 


DRAWN COMBS IN SECTIONS ; 


AND THEIR SYSTEMATIC PRODUCTION FOR 
THE CURRENT SEASON. 


N the early 80’s the Author experimented largely in 

t the preparation of drawn foundation, or partly worked 

combs in the forepart of successive seasons, in pre- 
paration for the current season’s comb-honey yield. 

In 1886 he published the results of his experiments, and 
endeavored to get. bee-keepers to realise that this process 
was the basis of larger comb-honey yields, while at the 
same time the supers were taken to more readily ; and in 
that more prepared comb space could be given at the 
start, he pointed out that swarming was largely checked. 
He also insisted that this plan was the basis of his Non- 
Swarming method as then published (1886) for working in 
connection with the production of comb-honey on a more 
extended scale. 

The Author also showed that without contraction or 
crowding of the brood-nest—indeed with unlimited room 


and tts Economic Management. 413 


below the stock—bees would immediately take possession of 
several supers such as have first been filled with newly built 
combs.* 

Again quoting from the said early publication, we find: 
“Neither strips nor full sheets of foundation in sections 
“ will induce the bees to work in them while so much room 
“is allowed below, and when one has once made up his 
“mind to start with nothing but comb, he will find it can 


“ 


be done, and moreover, an immensely increased yield 
“will be secured thereby. The difference between using 
“ foundation and ready-built combs in supers will represent 
“at least 30 lbs. in favor of the latter (per stock), as the 
“ bees store all their surplus above from the very first, and 
“the brood nest is not cramped, as is frequently the case 
“ where foundation is used” (in the sections). 

In these original experiments the foundation was built 
out early above strong colonies which had a dry feeder on 
etther side of some ten or eleven stock frames,ft each with a 
full sheet of thin foundation that when partly drawn, would 
. cut up exactly six section combs. In the same early work 
I illustrated the best form of gauging box for cutting the 
squares of drawn foundation to the exact size to fit firmly 
into each section, and the same engraving has been given 
in each edition of this work, together with the illustration 
of the most suitable form of comb cutter I had been able 
to use, being a taut saw blade as fine as a fret saw. 


The Author's Original Completely Divided Sections 
and Holders. 


But I was not content to continue with these methods, 


* These italics are as given in the Author's 1886 pamphlet. 


“+ Under the influence of this method of feeding, a moderately 
strong colony will expand to cover double the usual number of 
combs, hence the new combs are quickly drawn out. 


414 A Modern Bee-Farm 


and by 1889 had developed my completely divided sections, 
and section holders, which then disposed of the necessity of 
cutting out any combs after they had been partly drawn 
by the bees. 


No Cutting to Fit in Sections. 


As already illustrated and explained in this and former 
editions the foundation is attached to the one side of the half 
frame and three half-sections fitted theretn. The shallow 
super crates are then placed over strong stocks and fed as 
before if early, and as soon as partly drawn, the correspond- 
ing half frame and three halved sections are simply pressed 
in place on the other side, thus making the complete set. 

By this simple method one secures all the benefits of the 
new (current season’s) drawn combs, with none of the 
former troublesome cutting of combs and fixing into each 
separate section. 


The Author’s Original (1886) Three-side-cut Sections. 


The above refers to the 44in. by 44in. by 2in. completely 
divided sections, but now we use the Sin. by qin. by 14in. 
tall section; this latter is simply split on the three sides, the 
plan first offered by the Author in 1886; and the tall 
section being no more than the ordinary comb thickness, 
can also be worked out in shallow supers, by special feeding 
and additional warmth, before the honey season opens. 


« 


Section Frames between Brood for 12 Hours. 


The sets of halved frames and sections, with foundation 
attached, may be drawn very quickly when placed. between 
brood—a few in each stock—towards evening, where feeding 
is carried on, and removing them next morning. The 
narrow sections may also be started in the same way where 
only a limited number are required. 


\ 


and tts Economic Management. 415 


Making a New Swarm Draw out its own Super 
Foundation. 


Swarms are rarely made to store as much honey in 
sections as they should do, and yet when they are first 
hived they are always in the best possible condition for wax 
working, 

The process to be followed is this :—Instead of giving a 
full set of stock frames in the first instance, whether they 
have combs or brood foundation, only half the usual 
number should be allowed to start with, and these inter- 
sected by narrow sections, or halved (2in.) sections in the 
twin holders. These are removed and exchanged for fresh 
sets, as fast as partly drawn, leaving them only a few hours 
as before. 

As soon as sufficient drawn combs are secured to start 
two supers, the full complement of brood frames is made 
up and the two supers placed above. 


No Full-depth Cells ; the Scent of the Hive. 


I have repeatedly pointed out that there is nothing to be 
gained by waiting for full-depth cells to be worked before 
removal of the drawn combs. It would only result in loss 
of time and partly storing of food or honey not required in 
these raised cells. 

Being partly worked, and the combs and sections once 
having the scent of the hive, further colonies, or the swarms 
as above, over which the drawn combs may be placed, will 
readily occupy them, and complete the work very rapidly. 


Wholesale Production of Drawn Combs on the. 
Advent of the Honey Flow. 


If the reader will refer to page 305, he will see how he 
may secure a very large number of sections started with 
newly drawn combs as the season opens, and just when 


ta, 


416 A Modern Bee-Farm 


populous, stocks are in the pink of condition for work of 
this kind. But the apiarist must be lively and get the 
supers changed as rapidly as the work of a progressive 
stock will permit. A day lost in this direction may mean 
a complete super of comb honey missed later on. 


Some American Friends 30 Years Behind. 


Apart from the general practice of saving over unfinished 
section combs left from a previous harvest, as bait combs 
for the following season, the Author’s early experiments 
and definite recommendations given in his pamphlet of 
1886, marked the frst ‘systematic process of providing 
drawn combs for ad{' sections prior to the current season’s 
operations. 

Our American friends during the Autumn of 1913, again 
started a discussion upon this question; and although my 
earlier and later works explaining the system—including 
the latest plan of securing drawn combs prior to each~ 
season, without any fitting or cutting out—have been freely 
circulated in that country, several writers are still considering 
my earlier plans of cutting out the combs and fitting them 
into sections, as first published in the 1886 pamphlet. 

Nevertheless there are many who have already adopted 
the later plans I have offered of working the new combs 
right in the sections without any after cutting and fixing, 
and the results have shown upwards of 50 per cent. 
additional yields in consequence. 


The Ideal (Manufactured) Drawn Comb 


was produced by the A. I. Root Co. some twelve years 
since, being a comb of very delicate construction more than 
half the completed thickness of section combs. This, 
however, was too costly and difficult to make, and would 
not bear transit in bulk, hence the best way of purchasing 


and tts Economic Management, 417 


super-foundation is still that of securing in the first instance 
such as is as thin as possible, with no side walls, while the 
wax itself should be very clean and of a light straw color. 


Cutting and Fitting Finished Comb-Honey into 
Sections. 


Some attempt has been made by American bee-keepers 
to cut sealed comb-honey from larger frames, fitting the 
squares into sections and giving them back to the bees for 
them to fasten and finish. 

This process can only be regarded as a very crude and 
non-economic method, as it is very certain the same sections 
could be better filled, and the comb-honey just as quickly 
built from drawn combs started as herein described, while 
they would be more secure, without any of the sticky mess 
and labor involved in transfering the dripping combs. 


CC 


418 A Modern Bee-Farm 


The value of cottagers’ condemned bees depends 
largely upon them being obtained as early as possible, 
and at a merely nominal cost. Those procured locally 
are of far more value than such as are purchased from 
a distance, and therefore confined for a long time 
on rail. , 

These bees should always be started in hives 
previously dressed with a. powerful antiseptic, and 
supplied with medicated food. 


CHAPTER XXVIII. 


DRIVEN, OR CONDEMNED BEES. 


SiS HERE these can be secured the general rules Jaid 
rare | down for management of ordinary stock will of 
course apply in their case. 

There are, however, a few minor matters that require 
attention, especially by those who have had no practice in 
this undertaking. Where the surrounding cottagers are 
willing to part with their bees instead of killing them, the 
general way is for the bar-framist to have them for his 
trouble, but no more than one shilling should be given for 
each lot, or they may turn out a dear bargain. 


How to Carry the Bees. 

By using lightly-made straw skeps, the bee-keeper can 
carry eight or nine around his shoulder, slung on a broad 
strap. Thus by uniting, after driving, two or three lots 
into one, I have been able to carry home the bees from a 
large number of cottagers’ skeps, over a distance of four or 
five miles where no trap could go. When a conveyance 
can be taken, light well-ventilated boxes may be used to 
greater advantage. 


and tts Economic Management. 419 


As soon as the bees are driven from their combs, secure 
them at once by tying a porous cloth over the mouth of 
the skep ; and when two or three are to be placed together, 
let them be united as soon as driven, first securing the 
queens not wanted, leaving a young one to preside. If 
there is any use for other surplus young queens, place 
such in Benton cages with a dozen or more workers. 
each. 


The Novice 


should always begin by driving a skep or two of his-own 
at home, and never attempt to practise first on the property 
of others, not only for the sake of his neighbor, but for 
his own and that of bee-keeping generally. After some 
experience in driving, then Mr. Lyon’s “ Bumping” process. 
can be followed to advantage in many cases, though 
driving will often be more satisfactory, as being less. 
inducive to robbing, there being no broken honey to 
excite the bees. 

To prevent robbing it is sometimes advised that all. 
hives not being operated upon are to have their entrances. 
closed with a bunch of grass inserted lightly, that ventilation 
may not be impeded. Where an outhouse can be utilized, 
however, there is no need for this operation. 

Attention has already been called to 


Foul Brood and other Diseases, 


and the bee-keeper should be on the watch for these wher 
he may be taking bees. Where disease is discovered the 
bees will be perfectly useless, as probably it would have 
developed quite early in the season, and the remaining 
occupants of the hive will not pay for their carriage home. 
Tell the owner of the condition of the bees and get him 
to smother them the same evening by the old plan, both 
for his own sake and the benefit of his neighbors. The: 


420 A: Modern Bee-Farm 


whole skep must be burned; and do not fail to impress 
upon him the importance of leaving none of the honey in 
any way exposed. 

The owners of skeps cannot be induced to carry out 
any beneficial treatment, while the fact that the combs are 
fixed largely precludes any possibility of cure if attempted.* 


When to Hive the Bees. 


One is so often told that it is desirable to place the bees 
in their new hive the same evening they are brought home, 
that I think it necessary to show how robbing need not 
occur, even if combs wet from extracting are given to them 
at the middle of a warm day. It is considered that when 
put in during the evening all the bees congregate to the 
hive, but they would not in the daytime, besides being 
liable to get robbed out. 

The fact is, with cool evenings often experienced in 
Autumn, many bees are lost by not being able to note 
their location ; whereas in the daytime they gradually 
settle down to the one spot like a new swarm and not 
one is lost, while the bee-keeper is able to find his extra 


queens, and is in no trouble about darkness coming upon 
him before he has half finished. 


Place the Frame-hives in Position, 


quite empty, and shoot in the bees, taking care that only 
one queen is left to preside over the two, three or more 
lots united. Now get your stored combs or those fresh 
from the extractor, and arrange them in position; put on 
the quilt and cover all securely, leaving the entrance several 


* The Managers of the British Bee Journal have to deal with 
queries from many owners of bar-frame hives who are not self- 
reliant; and in these cases also, their advice to destroy bees 
affected by Isle of Wight disease, may not be objected to. 


and tts Economic Management. 421 


inches wide. As the stored combs are given just before 
closing no robber bees are on hand; but where empty 
combs or foundation have to be inserted, feed carefully 
every evening until the hive is well supplied. 

Taking average lots, the number to put together to 
make a fair stock should be as follows, according to the 
manner in which their house may be furnished—with 
stored combs, two swarms; with empty combs, three ; 
foundation, four. 


Driven Bees and Foundation. 


It should be realized that it is quite useless to supply 
driven. bees, or equally late swarms, with both combs and 
new sheets of foundation. They will neglect or only work 
the foundation in a patchy way, while bulging out the 
combs with the stores supplied to them. 

With foundation only, if the bees are fed rapidly the new 
combs are evenly developed, and soon a fair sized brood 
nest is set up. With combs only, rapid feeding also results 
in a more satisfactory condition, and develops the larger , 
brood nest. 


Uniting directly to other Stocks. 


A wasteful plan, which results only in the loss of bees 
and time, is that of adding driven bees to. weak colonies at 
home. Without considering that fighting is certain to 
cause the death of thousands in the hands of many bee- 
keepers, but too frequently these bees only die out before 
Winter is half over, leaving the stock worse off than before. 

To be in any way satisfactory for this purpose the 
driven bees must first be made to develop a fair-sized 
brood nest in another hive on the spare combs of such lot ; 
when plenty of young bees are hatching ¢hen unite to 
your weak lot, saving the queen most to be desired. 
Feed and prepare for Winter as hitherto shown. 


422 A Modern Bee-Farm 


Uniting has already been explained in Chapter II, 
especially as regards making the bees queenless. 


Plumping. 

The Author’s system of “plumping” will be-found highly 
beneficial in building up driven bees. Under the usual 
conditions there has always been great difficulty in inducing - 
the bees to develop a brood nest of sufficient extent to 
compensate for the loss of life in storing the necessary food 
for Winter. 

Rapid feeding with syrup followed by a large cake of 
candy,* will always be found to start a good brood nest in 
the case of condemned bees, when re-established in bar- 
frame hives. 


* This candy is used up before Winter, and none should be 
supplied after September. 


LS} NGA XS I re) 


and tts Economic Management. 423 


The time is not far off when the bottles on the doctors’ 
shelves will be reduced to a very small number, and 
resort will be had to simple living, suitable diet, plenty 
of sun and fresh air. I look forward to the time when 
people will leave off the extraordinary habit of taking 
medicine.*—S1rk FREDERICK TREVES. 


CHAPTER XXIX. 
THE PRODUCE OF THE HONEY-BEE. 


THE USES OF HONEY IN HEALTH AND 
DISEASE.—NOTES ON GENERAL HEALTH. 


MY is a sweet which pleases the palate of the 
multitude; but instead of being regarded solely as 
a luxury, it should be the producers’ aim to teach 
the public to use it as a daily necessity; and also as a 
food-medicine that restores health where drugs will fail. 
There are, of course, various medicinal substances, apart 
from injurious drugs, which act beneficially in building up 
healthy tissue or living cells, and honey is one of the most 
valuable of these.t 

Potassium salts appear to be not only a helpful, but an 
absolutely necessary item in building, or in completing the 
combination necessary in building up the vital cells and 


* The Author has taken no medicine for fifty years, but while 
deploring the reckless use of injurious drugs, he is always anxious 
to acknowledge any well-proven efficient medicinal medium. 

+ In this connection may be mentioned the distressing malady 
known as Goitre, which is most successfully treated by~ the 
application of an extract from the thyroid gland of the sheep ; 
treatment so simple that it should always be used in preference 
to Iodine and similar noxious drugs. 


424 A Modern Bee-Farm 


tissue composing the animal body.* These very necessary 
natural salts are largely excluded from the dietary of 
civilized peoples, through their suicidal policy of washing 
these invaluable food particles down the drains, instead of 
retaining them when cooking the various vegetables in 
daily use. 


Cancer Curable. 


Only a few years ago Dr. Forbes Ross, after many 
decisive experiments, startled the medical world by 
declaring that the absence of potassium salts was the 
cause of cancer; allowing an unnatural or incomplete 
combination of cells or tissue in certain parts of the 
body ; while contusions or friction were only hastening 
or aggravating causes where there was a_ predisposition 
to cancer. This celebrated investigator, and others have 
since demonstrated, to the untold joy of numerous sufferers 
(already given up as incurable by their own doctors), that 
the regular use of potassium salts is a positive cure for 
cancer, and as a matter of course, a cértain preventative.}+ 


Potash in Relation to Soil and Plant Life. 


When we come to the question of the mineral con- 
stituents of the soil, and their relation to plants (and 
animals) extracting their living principles therefrom, we 
find that nearly all plants have a starved appearance if 


* “ Assimilable salts of potassium when administered to a bona 
fide case of cancer, will be found to benefit the. patient in an 
astonishing manner, and will never cause the least harm or injury 
even to the most feeble and exhausted sufferer.”—Dr. Forbes. Ross. 

‘‘ The enormous death-rate from cancer is to a large extent due. 
to the fatuous and almost universal resort to operation, with its 
accompanying mutilation.”—Dr. Robert Bell. 


+ Further interesting and most valuable information may be had 
from the Natural Cancer Cure Co., Lebanon Park, Twickenham, 
Middlesex. 


and tts Economic Management. 425 


the soil is deficient in potash. The grasses have little or 
no nutritive value; the clovers are almost non-existent ; 
while fruit trees may shed their blossom without forming 
fruits. 

A dressing of potash immediately improves the feeding 
value and increases the bulk of grass crops; while plants of 
the clover family, hitherto starved to death or unable to 
germinate from dormant seed, will be found thickly 
crowding the ground and growing most luxuriantly. 
Fruit trees put forth new root and top growth, bearing 
more and larger fruits. 

Of course this is only one, but without doubt the most 
important item in connection with plant life, not even 
excepting lime or phosphates; and the facts set out must 
further demonstrate the absurdity of civilized man in largely 
discarding potassium salts from his diet, seeing that his 
own body must be built upon the proper balance of the 
mineral constituents of the soil which supports him. 


More Potash, more Starch, more Sugar. 


It has been shown that clover land becomes “ sick,” and 
some clovers will not grow again in the same field for seven 
years ; that is until available soluble potash has again been 
unlocked from the soil. An added supply of soluble 
potash therefore means more starch manufactured in fibre 
and leaves, with a more robust growth, and ultimate 
development into sugar in fruits, and nectar in flowers, 
all in greater quantity. 


Basic Slag and Potash for Honey, Milk and Hay. 


Careful experiments have shown that the most profitable 
returns in: farm crops are gained by dressing the soil with 
10 cwt. of basic slag, and 1 cwt. of sulphate of potash to 
the.acre. As the beneficial result lasts beyond two years, 
and the first cost is under 42 per acre; the estimated 


426 A Modern Bee-Farm 


return of at least 43 per acre (clear of incidental expenses) 
for hay each year, may be regarded as all profit, where the 
owner’s bees work on the clover, and his milch cows are 
pastured after mowing; with largely increased milk yields 
in consequence of this mineral dressing. 

Honey is a truly wonderful gift of Nature, and stands 
almost alone as a pure natural sweet. There are very 
many people who have the impression that bees make 
honey ; and the term usually applied by authors to the 
domesticated honey-bee— Apzs mellifica *—is in accord with 
that belief, which may be allowed to pass as half the truth. 
Flowers secrete nectar under the action of the atmosphere 
upon the juices of the plant in connection with the chemical 
constituents of the soil from which its roots extract 
nourishment ; and this process is continued daily during 
favorable weather, until the bee, while gathering such 
production, is the means of mixing the pollen of different 
flowers, almost invariably of the same kind; and thus 
being fertilized and the plant made capable of reproduction 
by seeding, the object of the sweet attraction is accom- 
plished ; the flower fades, and the nectaries are dried up. . 

Nectar as gathered is next digested and otherwise 
manipulated by the bees, and so converted into true honey 
as we use it; just as sugar syrup may be turned to honey 
after treatment by the same workers. 

The starchy substances of plants are converted into 
sugar under a naturally maturing process, just as we know 
the same routine takes place in the ripening of fruits. 

In the case of nectar, heat is the great.ripening and 
productive agent, the quantity also being largely determined 
by the available chemical constituents of the soil. A high 
temperature always ensures a rapid secretion and flow 


* “ Abis mellifica” refers to the bee as a honey-maker; the term 
Apis mellifera as a honey bearer. 


and tts Economic Management. 427 


towards the plant’s flowery mouths and tempting lips, 
encouraging the bees to frequent visits; while a cool 
state of the atmosphere will be found to immediately 
check the flow of sweet juices. 

It may be of interest to consider that seeds develop 
sugar from starch as they germinate under the influence 
of warmth and moisture, hence the early and rapid develop- 
ment of the young plant. The plant again develops sugar 
from starch, particularly at the bases of the new buds, 
whether destined to unfold as further chemical laboratories, 
as leaves, or as flowers with exposed nectaries. 


Honey from Sugar. 


Chemists are usually agreed that cane, beet, and honey 
sugars have a similar composition, and that sugar syrup 
after being fed to, and treated by the bees, is found to be 
honey. 

Under manipulation by the bees both crude nectar and 
sugar syrup undergo chemical changes and additions, and 
finally are closely allied in composition and food value ; 
the characteristic flavor and aroma of flower honey being 
absent from sugar-fed honey. Refining and heating, it 
should however be observed, remove the original color and 
odor of raw sugars. Nevertheless some of the best of 
honey from flowers is as white as sugar syrup, so that color 
is not a very important distinction. 


Raw Nectar, 


as gathered, is not a suitable food for man or insect, and 
may then be inferior to the sugar of commerce. Original 
cane sugar (as expressed from the plant) is regarded as a 
complete natural food in itself. Chemists conclude that 
all plants used for the purpose, including beet, (as well as 
many not brought into requisition), yield “ cane” sugar. 
This does not alter the fact that chemically refined sugar 


428 A Modern Bee-Farm 


is inferior in food value until it may be again rectified by 
the bees as they manipulate and store it; just as they 
change crude nectar into honey, fit for sustaining life. 

There appears to be no reason for the supposition that 
formic acid is added to honey by the bees, as many have 
imagined. Rather is it likely that the bees obtain their 
own formic acid involuntarily by the natural process which 
crude honey is subjected to under their manipulation ; as 
this acid is also developed in connection with the usual 
manufacture of ordinary sugar. 


The Crude Nectar, 


on being disgorged by the bee from its honey stomach, 
does not form honey as we use it. The newly gathered 
liquid is distributed over as large a comb surface as the 
number of vacant cells will allow ; and thereafter the heat 
and ventilation afforded by the prosperous condition of the 
colony at the time, together with the constant circulation 
of air maintained in a systematic manner by the vibration 


of their wings, kept up by a regular force of workers, in 
due time ensure the evaporation of all excess of moisture. 
The honey then being ripened is gradually shifted to the 
upper and outer margins of the combs, where the cells are 
being purposely lengthened for storage (or to the super 
space when provided) and ultimately capped over, as. 
filled. 

In addition to evaporation by ventilation, the bees are 
able while flying to discharge a great deal of the excess 
of moisture; while chemical changes are carried out while 
the honey is being shifted as above. 


Medicinal Qualities. 


Honey requires no digestion, but enters immediately into: 
the system ; it is productive of heat, and by its regular 
use, the entire organism is benefited in a high degree, as 


and its Economic Management. 429 


it not only stimulates the appetite and aids digestion, 
but is at the same time better than any medicine for 
regulating the system. 

Persons inclined to be costive, especially children, will 
find honey restore them to a perfectly normal condition ; 
while the continued use of purging medicines on the other 
hand causes a distressing reaction, because each dose 
impairs the delicate and marvellous membrane lining the 
stomach ; whereas the only rational course to pursue is 
that of endeavoring to restore the already injured or 
relaxed parts. 

Persons in fear of consumption have received great 
benefit from the constant use of honey. Instances are on 
record where people have been quite cured by it; while 
others past all hope of recovery have enjoyed many years 
of life they had ceased to hope for or expect. 

Experts have found that most people, at some period 
of their lives, are affected more or less by the action of 
the microbes peculiar to consumption ; but the greater 
proportion of mankind fortunately do not succumb to this 
malady. It is really wonderful that so many do escape 
self-destruction, when we consider that many people 
deliberately shut themselves into a bedroom at night, to 
breathe the same poisonous air over and over again during 
the hours of darkness. And yet these same good people 
would be horrified if they could but fully realize how 
rapidly they are travelling towards destruction; that the 
lungs are simply choking for the want of that life-giving 
oxygen so soon consumed in a closed room, and which the 
blood is asking for at every fresh breath. Breathing 
vitiated air feeds the dread microbe, and encourages it to 
take up its permanent abode, while each succeeding cell 
of the lung thus slowly destroyed is never replaced. A 
reasonable supply of fresh air, and a rational diet of 


430 A Modern Bee-Farm 


nutritious foods, including fruit and honey, should go far 
towards maintaining that pure state of the blood which 
defies microbes of all kinds. 

A very distressing malady which will seldom yield to 
allopathic treatment is that known as “gravel.” Honey 
taken daily is said to effect a cure, and IJ am quite sure 
those tortured with this complaint will not fail to avail 
themselves of such a simple remedy. 

Several instances have been given of children almost 
wasted to skeletons, and at death’s door, being brought 
back to robust life and health by the constant use of 
honey. 

For colds, coughs, and sore throats, I suppose there is 
hardly a household but has had some experience with the 
use of honey either alone, or mixed with vinegar, lemon 
juice, or even butter, in case the palate does not appreciate 
the pure article alone ; but for 


Definite Treatment 


the following instructions, if carefully carried out, will 
prove more efficacious than any system of drugging, 
because “ Nature” is judiciously assisted in her well-known 
endeavors to throw off disease; whereas drugs frequently 
check this attempt, or destroy life entirely. 

In the first place, judging from the manner in which 
honey is generally applied, it is necessary to bring thick 
ripened honey to a gentle heat after adding a little boiled 
water. Whether granulated or not, and particularly if in 
the former condition, full benefit cannot be derived from 
its use until the honey has been brought back to the 
same condition as when first sealed up by the bees, and 
a tablespoonful of water to one pound of honey will 
generally be sufficient. Newly-extracted honey needs no 
addition of water, when used at once, as part of it comes 


and its Economic Management. 431 


from uncapped cells, from which the excess of moisture 
has not been removed. | 


For Sore Throat and Night Cough 


mix the juice of one good lemon with one pound of honey, 
stir thoroughly, and take of this one or two teaspoonsful 
frequently in connection with the following soothing and 
always beneficial treatment. At night, upon retiring to 
rest, fold a large linen handkerchief, and wring it out of 
tepid water ; lay this right round the throat, and over that 
several folds of dry flannel. The latter keeps up internal 
warmth and materially assists in the speedy restoration of 
a normal condition of the throat. Do not remove the 
throat packing until rising, and then wash thoroughly with 
soap and water, cold by preference, but tepid if the person 
has a weak constitution. 


For Bronchitis in Adults, 


and in serious cases of night coughing, take the lemon 
honey night and day, and upon retiring to rest procure a 
jug holding about two quarts of boiling water. Sit up in 
bed and inhale the steam with the mouth open, continuing 
for ten or fifteen minutes, according to the strength of the 
patient, who must at the time be completely covered with 
a blanket, or mackintosh sheet by preference, that the 
steam may be retained. Wipe dry after, and lie down; 
repeating the process each night until relieved. Use the 
wet pack for the throat if that is troublesome. 


For Influenza ; Bronchitis in Children ; 


for severe cold, on the lungs especially, the supplementary 
treatment should be:—Bran poultices on back and chest, 
put on not too hot, and changed every twelve hours for the 
first day or two; then use them only each night. It is 
imperative that several folds of dry flannel be wound 


432 A Modern Bee-Farm 


round and across the shoulders‘and chest, over the poultices, 
as well as when they are not in use; and the body must 
be carefully and quickly washed with warm water (and 
soap) at every change of the poultices. Keep in one room 
with a fire and the temperature at 60°; also have the 
bronchitis kettle steaming all the time. 

Without doubt, many cases of severe influenza terminate 
fatally, where the patient is made to stay in bed; more 
especially is this the case where poultices are not used in 
a rational manner for aiding in the removal of the matter 
clogging all.the passages of the lungs. 

A fresh chill taken while the patient imagines he is 
recovering, is more dangerous than the primary attack of 
influenza, and will often result in pneumonia. Incorrect 
treatment at this stage is followed by death or consumption. 

Like every other part of the body, the lungs require 
exercise, not only by their own natural action, but also by 
assistance through ‘the muscular movement of the body. 
While lying still day after ddy, the bronchial tubes are 
becoming more and more corroded ; but when an effort is 
thade to rise, even if only for a few hours, natural action 
immediately sets in, and. portions of the strangling phlegm 
are set in motion by natural expectoration. 

Strong acids do only harm, but the mixture of honey 
and lemon, together with the warm moisture from 
poultices, etc., will always help on towards a rapid recovery. 
The bronchial tube is lined with a minute hair-like growth, 
which is always in active motion, constantly passing 
onwards and upwards the mucous secretions of the lungs. 
These restless agents are destroyed by that inflammation 
generally known as “sore throat,’ hence the difficulty in 
then keeping the lungs clear, and the retarding action of 
drugs and strong acids so frequently administered. On 
the other hand, the warm pack, and rationally applied 


and its Economic Management. 433 


‘poultices, will immediately raise the vitality and natural 
vigor of the parts affected. 


Sore and Cracked Hands, Chilblains, etc. 


For rough skin, cracked hands, itching, spots, etc., the 
parts should first be bathed with warm water and then well 
rubbed with honey. If the part is convenient for a plaster 
the cure will be more rapid and soothing. Take a piece of 
linen of suitable size, cover one side with honey and bind it 
on with strips of linen and flannel sufficient to keep in the 
warmth. Chilblains treated in this way will disappear as 
if by magic. -For eczema add salt to the honey, and a 
certain cure will result. 


Correct vers#s Incorrect Application. 


Will our friends of the medical fraternity ever understand 
the true principles of applying poultices, wet packs, etc., 
to the poor human body? Under their treatment we nearly 
always hear of the poultice to be put on as hot as possible, 
and to be renewed as soon as it cools. Now as a matter 
of fact, a poultice when correctly applied never does get 
cold ; and should be so covered up by flannel or other 
bandages, not too tightly, that the natural heat of the body 
responding to the soothing warmth of the poultice, keeps 
all at a moist blood heat for so long as it is desirable 
to remain on. This principle may the more readily: be 
understood when I state that a person of strong constitution 
may just as well use cold water for the wet throat pack, for 
the simple reason that its temperature will at once begin to 
rise, and the pack will even appear warmer than if he had 
used tepid water. 


In all Cases of Fever 


the application of moist warmth, either by a process of 
wet packs, or bathing, is a God-given remedy for which 
DD 


434 A Modern Bee-Farm 


the thirsty body, choked skin, and sluggish crimson river, 
ever crave, but seldom get under the usual allopathic 
systems. And what is more remarkable where the soothing 
hydropathic treatment is carried out the skin does not peel 
off as is always the case with the destructive drug treat- 
ment. The skin is parched because the heated blood has 
no moisture to spare it, its own circulation being already 
impeded for the want of sufficient water. It can readily be 
seen therefore, how the moisture of the pack or the bath, 
at one stroke, relieves the pores of the skin, while at the 
same time it gives back to the blood its needed proportion 
of water, giving it again that mighty circulation, which 
restores its purity, casting out its dross, and enabling it to 
laugh at the fever microbes which are now hustled to 
destruction with no aid whatever from drugs, which only 
too surely impede the life-giving circulation. 

Just one instance, but I could give many. A patient 
with fever was given up by his doctors; the fever had done 
its worst, and he was to die. But he could just beg to be 
placed in a bath of warm water ; “ What does it matter ? it 
can do him no harm, after the doctors’ hopeless decision.” 
And so be was placed in the bath, when that blessed 
sleep which drugs and fever had hitherto denied him, 
came upon him there. He slept for a long time; he 
slept on after they laid him back in his bed—and he slept 
to get well. 

I have had several estimable friends among the medical 
faculty, but it is when one has retired from active practice 
that he is most ready to speak lightly of the medical 
practices of that honorable profession. One of the 
fraternity, a greatly esteemed friend, asked what medical 
attendant I had for my family? After explaining that we 
never have a doctor in the house (professionally), and relied 
upon common-sense treatment only : “Well, there is one 


and its Economic Management. 435 


, thing,” he replied, “if you call one in it is very uncertain if 
he will do you any good, but it is quite certain you will 
have to pay him.” 

Where one has no knowledge of his own anatomy, and 
no confidence in himself, of course he feels he must rely 
upon the medical practitioner; and it is better that he 
should do that than to drug himself. Again, there is of 
course a great responsibility incurred in serious cases of 
illness where a doctor is not called in, as whether he is 
right or wrong, the law upholds his profession, and forces 
it upon those who are convinced that his practice is 
founded upon shifting sands which frequently engulf both 
his patient, and at the same time his faith in his own 
methods of treatment. 


Lifting the Veil. 


Dear reader, have you ever read Smedley’s book on 
the Hydropathic treatment? If not, then you can get it 
from Smedley’s Institute, at Matlock Bath, Derbyshire ; 
where hundreds of medical men have gone to regain that 
strength, and a new life, which their own medicines have 
failed to restore to them. Yes, and patients by the 
thousand which they have failed to cure, have been able 
to return from Matlock as from death, unto blessed health 
and life. 

Under the heading “Medical Facts,” some startling 
statements were made by Dr. Tyrrell in Gleanzngs for 
November Ist, 1890, page 774. “JI used to think,” said he, 
“and am now of the same opinion, that the science of 
medicine . . . . was the root of more evil, suffering, 
and death, than all other evils combined.” 

“An old doctor of the ‘ regular faculty’ told me that he 
did not know that he ever cured a patient, and said that 
he knew he had killed some, but not intentionally.” 


436 A Modern Bee-Farm 


“For many years I have admired the candor and, 
honest acknowledgments of Dr. O. W. Holmes. When 
he said ‘It were better for the people were all the medicine 
of the world cast into the sea,’ he meant medicine used 
by the regular faculty, such as he had been taught to use. 
I don’t think he meant water, honey, and other domestic 
remedies.” 

“ An experienced doctor in Louisville, Kentucky, told me 
that the people would be better off without than with 
medicines as he used ; but he said he had to visit patients 
and they would not be satisfied without medicine.” 

“Many years ago one of my comrades was sick with 
fever, and the doctor said he would die, as most of his 
fever patients did; but in the night, when the watcher 
was asleep in his chair, the patient, ‘burning up with 
fever, tongue and lips cracked’ open, ‘dying with thirst,’ 
reached the pitcher of water and drank all he could. 
When the doctor came the next morning he was surprised 
to find his patient better—saved by Nature’s remedy, 
contrary to the doctor’s science (?)” 


These Remarks 


my reader will believe, are not set forth as the dagger 
striking in the dark, but rather as the lancet used in the 
light of day, which our friends of the profession employ 
that it may prick only, in the hope of giving relief; and I 
have not any doubt that at least some members of 
this honorable profession will ultimately agree with me. 
My only object is to give some relief to suffering humanity, 
and having myself passed through more than 50 years 
without seeing any benefit gained by the reckless use of 
injurious drugs, but too frequently sad and permanent 
injury therefrom, the foregoing statements may be taken 
as having a very considerable basis of truth behind them. 


and tts Economic Management. 437 


Honey as Food. 


Though the sweetest of all sweets, honey is not suitable 
for cooking purposes in such a general manner as sugar, 
requiring a much larger quantity to sweeten many articles 
of food, as well as being more costly. There are many 
things, however, which are much improved by the addition 
of honey, such as fruit pies or puddings, cakes, etc.; while 
a basin of bread and milk is made very palatable when 
sweetened with it. 

The following are among many excellent recipes given 
in the late Mr. T. G. Newman’s “ Honey as Food and 
Medicine.” 


“ FOR PRESERVING FRUIT.—Extracted honey is superior 
in every way. Add one-third as much honey as fruit, 
boiling until the taste of the honey has evaporated, 


“SUMMER DRINK.—Those engaged in harvesting and 
other occupations tending to create thirst, will find the 
following preparation a very palatable and healthful drink 
in hot weather:—Take 12 gallons of water, 20 lbs. of 
honey, and the white of six eggs. Boil one hour; then 
add cinnamon, ginger, cloves, mace, and a little rosemary. 
When cold add a spoonful of yeast from the brewery. 
Stir well, and in 24 hours it will be ready for use. 


“FOR COOKING GREEN FRUIT use only extracted 
honey, which being the only liquid, holds the fruit firm 
and. gives a very rich flavor. Sweeten or season with 
spices to suit the taste, and cook slowly until done. Serve 
dried fruit the same, only adding enough water to swell 
the fruit. 

“GINGER HONEY CAKE.—Take 13 lbs. of honey, } Ib. 
of butter, 14 lbs. of flour, I oz. of ginger, 4 0z. ground 
allspice, one teaspoonful of carbonate of soda, quarter of a 
pint of sour milk, cream if you choose, three eggs; put the 


438 A Modern Bee-Farm 


flour into a basin with the ginger and allspice; mix these 
together, warm the butter and add it with the honey to the 
other ingredients ; stir well; make the milk just warm and 
dissolve the soda in it, and make the whole into a nice 
smooth paste with the eggs, which should be previously 
well whisked. Pour the mixture into a buttered tin ; bake 
it from three-quarters to one hour; take the white of one 
egg and beat it up with a little sweet milk, then brush the 
same over the top with a feather to give it a glossy 
appearance. 


“ HONEY SPONGE CAKE is nice eaten warm, and consists 
of two-thirds of a breakfast cup of sour cream, three of 
flour, an even teaspoonful of soda, one cup of butter, three 
eggs, Ii lbs, of honey, one tablespoonful of cinnamon, half 
ditto of allspice, and a little extract of lemon; mix the 
spices with the flour; put the soda in the milk and stir 
well, that all ingredients may thoroughly mix ; beat the 
cake well for another five minutes; put it into a buttered 
tin—bake from one-half to three-quarters of an hour. 


“BUTTER HONEY CAKE is pronounced by all to be 
excellent. One pint of flour, one tablespoonful of butter, 
one teaspoonful of soda, two ditto of cream of tartar, and 
honey sufficient to make a thick batter. Spread out an 
inch thick and bake in a hot oven. 


“TO MAKE MEAD, not inferior to the best foreign 
wines, put 3 lbs. of the finest honey to two gallons of 
water, two lemon peels to each gallon; boil it half an hour, 
and skim well. Put in the peel while boiling. Work this 
inixture with yeast, and then put it in a vessel to stand five 
or six months, when bottle for use. If desired to keep it 
for several years, add 4 lbs. of honey to a gallon of water. 


“A CHEAP HONEY TEA CAKE is made with one tea-cup 
of extracted honey, half ditto of thick sour cream, two eggs, 


ana tts Economic Management. 439 


half tea-cup of butter, two of flour, scant half teaspoon of 
soda, one ditto of cream of tartar ; flavor to taste. 


“ METHEGLIN.—Mix honey and water strong enough 
to carry an egg ; let it stand three or four weeks in a warm 
place to ferment; then drain through a cloth,'and add 
spices to suit the taste. 

“HONEY VINEGAR is obtained as follows :—Heat 30 
gallons of rain-water and put it into a barrel; add two 
quarts of whisky, 3 lbs. of honey, three pennyworth of 
citric acid, and a little mother of vinegar. Fasten up the 
barrel, place it in the cellar, and in a short time it will 
contain vinegar unsurpassed for purity and excellence of 
taste.” 

HONEY VINEGAR.—Take 15 lbs. of honey, 8 gallons of 
warm soft water, one pint of yeast. Mix well, and let it 
ferment in an open vessel, covered with cheese cloth. 
After it has fermented for about a week, make a mixture 
of 6 ozs. of alcohol, 6 ozs. of chemically pure acetic acid, 
4 oz. of tincture of cardamom, in 2 gallons of soft water, 
and add it to the vinegar that is in a state of fermentation. 
The tincture is to go into the alcohol before the water is 
added. If the vinegar is kept in a dry, warm place, it will 
be fit for use in about a month. The crude commercial 
acetic acid is detrimental and should not be used.— 
Canadian Bee Journal. 

Honey LEMONADE.—Make it in the usual way, using 
honey instead of sugar ; nothing can be used as a Summer 
beverage that is more grateful and refreshing. Many 
thousands of pounds of honey may be used in this way, 
says the British Bee Journal, and all the users be benefited. 


General Uses. 


Besides the foregoing, honey is used in preparations 
for preserving leather; in ointments for various purposes, 


440 A Modern Bee-Farm 


such as for chapped hands, sores, etc. ; and is very largely 
used by chemists in their many preparations. For printers’ 
rollers it takes the place of sugar or treacle, doing better 
work, and making: a more durable article. 

The reader will thus see that honey is not simply an 
article of luxury, nor of ordinary diet; and instead of 
bee-keepers complaining that there is little demand for 
their produce, let each endeavor to find some new use 
for it; and thus make an opening for the consumption of 
honey by the ton, where otherwise it would never have 
been thought of. 

A large firm of biscuit makers was induced to start a 
new biscuit sweetened with honey, and thereupon required 
two tons of the bees’ product weekly. Though we may 
not often find an opening for it to this extent, there are 
many ways in which honey is, and can be disposed of, 
other than for table use. 


and tts Economic Management. 441 


SUPPLEMENTARY NOTES. 


Estimates as to General Expenses and Returns for 


Two Years. 


First YEAR: GENERAL EXPENSES. 


£ s. d. 
100 stocks in makeshift or second-hand hives’ ...at 30/- 150 0 0 
too extra body boxes, with frames* sa ..at 3/6 37 10 0 
200 dry-feeding dummies _... a ia vat I/- 10 0 0 
sorapid frame feeders _... ..at 3/- 710 0 
One 2-cwt. cylinder for reducing sugar a ae 10 0 
Large glue pot, for melting wax to fix guides... ivi ot 6 
Flat-blade scraper o 1 6 
Wax extractor ... ae sie os ee o17 6 
Timber for work-shop and honey: room... sre 20 0 0 
Labor... oat 10 0 0 
Timber for frame rack, aoe ope aad sundries, labsox: be, 10 0 O 
Rail carriage, cartage, etc. ... see ww. 10 0 0 
Carpenter’s bench and tools, nails, screws, pein, ols, .. II 10 0 
Rent (more or less). aes ve ae 15 0 0 
Sugar... ani ide ae uss i Hae ae 5 00 


Total £268 10 6 
Or about $1340.00. 


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


x 


£s.da f£ sa. da 
300 sets of super crates ... fee ...at 2/6 37 I0 oO 
6,000 1-lb. sections a ..at20/- 6 00 
100 14-doz. crates, glass two ges ..at 2/6 12 10 0 
too lbs. super foundation wis ..at 2/- I0 0 0 
General expenses... eae -_ ee ... 268 10 6 
Total, first year za we £334 10 6 


Or about $1,670.00. 


* The 100 extra body boxes must be included as forming an essential item in 
management. 


442 A Modern Bee-Farm 


Add the following if Extracted Honey is desived : 


fs.da fs 4 
300 extracting supers ... ..at 2/6 37 10 0 
Uncapping stand, knives, etc. a 2 2 06 
Honey extractor 2 115 0 
6 honey cylinders, 500 lbs. auch, at r5/- 410 0 
50 three-dozen crates . «at 3/- 7 10 0 
25 one-dozen crates ... «at 2/- 210 0 
lbs. 100 lbs. brood foundation ...at 2/- 10 0 o 
1,728 12 gross 1-lb. glass jars ..atig/- 8 8 0 
12 ,, corks ... oe .. at 1/6 0 18 oO 
1,728 6 ,, 2-lb. tins Bes ..ati8/- 5 8 0 
1,296 a a cn ee ‘vs ..at24/- 312 0 
864 Era 6° a; ies ..at3o/- 1 10 0 
— General expenses ‘ite 268 10 6 
5,616 — 
Total, first year... ai £354 3 6 
Or about $1,770.00. 
GENERAL EXPENSES, SECOND YEAR. 
£ s..d. 
Rent (more or bs ee Mall sais . I5 0 0 
Sugar ots wet sie -- 10 0 O 
Sundry expenses, vardage, etc. ee we § 0-0 
£30 0 0 
Or about $150.00. 
Working for Comb Honey : 
£ s. d 
Total first year... ase ax iss ws 334 10 6 
roo extra super crates ... th «at 2/6 12 10 0 
6,000 1-lb. sections ee = ...at20/- 6 00 
50 14-dozen Crates we ees at 2/6 6 5 0 
too lbs. super foundation ahs «at 2/- 10 10 0 
General expenses... 8 sie 6 w. 30 0 0 
Total, second year ... ate £399 15 6 


Or about $1,995.00. 


and its Economie Management. 443 


Working for Extracted Honey: 


£ os. d. 

Total first year... ae rie an B54. 33. 6 

50 3-doz. bottle crates... ..at 3/- 710 0 

lbs. 100 extracting supers ... ... at 2/6 12 10 o' 

2,880 20 gross 1-lb. jars ee ..atiq/- 14 0 0 

20 ,, corks ... sit ..at 1/6 110 0 

1,728 6 ,, 2-lb. tins ise at 18/- 5 8 oO 

1,296 3 ay Bp aes ..at2q/- 312 0 

864 Tgp Oe oy a ... at 30/- 110 0 

—- General Expenses... ee .. 30 0 0 

6,761 —_—_— 
Total, second year ... ae £430 3 6 


Or about $2,150.00. 


EsTIMATED RETURNS, AT A Low AVERAGE, TAKING A SERIES OF 
YEARS. 


Comb Honey: First Year. 


100 stocks, at 50 lbs. per hive— £ s. d. 
5,000 lbs. aoe st .. at 8d. 166 13 4 


Total for the year... ae £166 13 4 


Or about $830. 


Second Year. 


Increased to 125 stocks, at 50 lbs. per hive— £ s. d 

6,250 lbs. -... wei Sit ... at 8d. 208 6 8 

Increase to 150; sell 25 ... sii ...at30/- 37 10 oO 
Total for the year... ee £245 16 8 


Or about $1,225.00. 


Extracted Honey: First Year. 


100 stocks, at 75 lbs. per hive— £ s. d 

7,500 lbs. an aes .. at 6d. 187 10 oO 

Wax ... : ae ae «2 0 0 
Total for the year... re £189 10 oO 


Or about $945.00. 


444 A Modern Bee-Farm 


Second Year. 


Increased to 125 stocks, at 75 lbs. per hive— ££ s. d. 


9.375 lbs... se oe .. at 6d. 234 7 6 

Wax... A me dee ae ais 210 O 

Increase to 150; sell 25... Set «at 30/- 37 10 Oo 
Total for the year... oes £274. 7 6 


Or about $1,370.00. 


In reply to repeated enquiries, the Author wishes to state 
that he has no catalogue. of sundry bee-furniture, and does 
not supply any of the articles mentioned herein, with the 
exception of the Conqueror Hive, of which he will be 
pleased to forward particulars upon application. 


Candy, its Use and Abuse.—Bee-candy is almost uni- 
versally regarded as a supplementary winter food. That is 
a great error, and modern progressive bee-keepers should 
condemn the practice. 


When and How to Use Candy.—For many years the 
Author has endeavored to show that candy is best supplied 
in 6-Ib. to 8-lb. slabs run into wired or box frames, and so 
hung hext the brood frames for stimulative feeding oxy, 
as soon in Spring as the bees break up their own Winter 
cluster, and have free access to natural pollen. When used 
for a similar purpose in Autumn, before finishing with syrup, 
candy frames should all be cleared away before September 
15th. 


Nosema apis.—Self-contradictory Statement.—It has 
recently been stated that Mosema is the cause of all bée 
complaints save that of foul brood! Nevertheless, if Mosema 
apts is, as already declared to be, the cause of the I.O.W. 
trouble; and now is erroneously said to have been the cause 
of all minor bee ailments for generations past, then most 


ana its Economic Management. 445 


assuredly we ought to have had, and without question should 
have had, the I.O.W. plague in dire evidence for centuries 
prior to its advent into this country in the year 1904. 

There could be no better proof advanced than this quite 
unintentionally contradictory attempt to tack Nosema apis 
on to all bee complaints (save one), thus showing so clearly, 
by the simple act of retrospection, that this organism is not 
responsible for the I.0.W. disease, which was not known in 
Great Britain before 1904, while bee-paralysis of any kind 
was of very rare occurrence. 

Hence, so far from being the “cause” of any serious bee 
disease, osema apts may be regarded solely as an “effect” 
' of a diseased condition—a common microbe—appearing in 
greater numbers when some other ailment reduces the 
vitality of the bees. (See footnote, page 146.) 


Experts and no Cure !—One of the most astounding 
features in connection with the I.O.W. trouble is that 
experts—and among them some of the most prominent 
lecturers and experts holding certificates—declare there is 
absolutely “no cure.” And yet the Author has repeatedly 
shown that the cure is most simple, and may be described 
in a few words. 


(1) The substitution of a young queen of a vigorous prolific variety 
during the active season, will turn a dwindling stock into a prosperous, 
highly profitable colony—every time. 


(2) Any plan of division that, during the active season, separates the 
older and more seriously affected workers from those slightly or not 
affected, from the younger bees, and the brood still to hatch, will always 
form a basis of cure. 


(3) Feeding any affected stock rapidly with suitably medicated food, 
will subdue the worst case in twelve or fourteen days; changing the 


queen meantime. 

(4) Where the earlier symptoms of the disease are noticed—with no 
hairless, dark or bloated bees the trouble is instantly checked by 
spraying the bees with warm medicated water. 


446 : A Modern Bee-Farim 


In the Case of Division, the older bees are left on 
their own stand, with their own hive and original queen, to 
prevent disorganisation for the time being. These are to be 
fed with medicated food with starters only in the frames, 
and a young queen supplied as soon as available. The 
removed stock will also have a young queen. Swarm and 
stock may be re-united in due course. 

Winter Losses.—The Reader will avoid this trouble absolutely 
after taking the precautions to feed and change queens as above, during 


the Autumn. Also be careful to provide free ventilation, and avoid 
restricted entrances. 


Combs and Hives not affected.—While the foregoing 
progressive facts show that hives and combs do not become . 
affected unless actually soiled, undoubtedly dirt accumu- 
lating on the hive floor must be regarded as a source of 
danger, and no reasonable owner will neglect to carefully 
cleanse and disinfect every hive periodically. 


The Absence of Initiative-—Weak lots, old and long 
queenless bees, should they become affected, may sometimes 
run out; but there is no excuse whatever where the 
owner allows: his whole apiary, or any number of 
colonies, or even a single stock of ordinary strength, 
to die out under his helpless gaze. Such a calamity can 
only result from sheer incapacity and the want of initiative. 


Early and Late Stages of I.0.W.—The earlier more 
simple form of this disease may not always occur, or may 
escape notice, particularly where the first indications of 
trouble are found in cool weather, when the more fatal stage 
has been reached. 


1.0.W. Cures and Small Entrances.—Any proposed 
cure which necessitates a permanently restricted entrance, 
and at the same time disorganises the bees so that they will 
not repel robbers, is self-condemned. Small entrances are 
fatal where I.O.W. disease is in evidence. 


and its Economic Management. 447 


Best Colonies first affected.—It frequently happens 
that the most populous and prosperous colony is the first to 
show signs of paralysis. Hence over-heating evidently 
aggravates the malady, showing the necessity of moderate 
covering and efficient ventilation. If such colonies are at 
once divided (according to the Author’s definite methods 
of swarming without increase) the trouble is immediately 
checked, and with the most simple supplementary pre- 
cautions, as advised herein, the malady is soon cured. 
It has solely and always been the helpless “ drifting ” 
that has allowed such stocks to go to destruction. 


Individual Diseased Bees in Fatal Stage.—It is quite 
true that individual workers once reaching the secondary or 
fatal stage of the I.0.W. complaint can seldom recover ; 
hence the “no cure” theory of those who court failure by 
joyfully embracing it with both eyes blindfolded. 

The Author has, however, definitely explained—(1) how 
to separate the badly infected from the non-affected and 
slightly affected workers ; (2) how to check further infection 
by other applications ; (3) and finally how to build up a 
rousing population of hardy, healthy, young bees before the 
remaining adults die off in the ordinary course. 


I.0.W. and Immune Bees.—Many bee-owners persist 
in retaining, or recommencing with black or native bees, 
which are unable to resist the I.O.W. plague, and even 
under recognised treatment fail to recover so readily as 
some other kinds are known to do. Some of the yellow 
varieties, more especially such as are carefully bred by 
selection, with revitalising blood periodically added, are 
known to be practically immune to this disease. 


What means “ Practically Immune? ”—It is not to be 
imagined that any such more vigorous strain of bees may 
not under any circumstances contract the malady. It is 


448 A Modern Bee-Farm 


nevertheless an absolute fact that they will not go under 
should they become affected, but will readily. respond to 
treatment, and during the active season will often throw off 
the malady without assistance. It should be realized that 
bees of this quality are more profitable, also carrying more 
populous colonies, notwithstanding any temporary trouble. 


No Rapid and Spontaneous Infection.— There is usually 
no such thing as wholesale or immediate successive infection 
of the colonies of an entire apiary with the I.0.W. disease 
as regards local conditions. Stocks may become infected 
one after the other, at more or less lengthened periods, by 
actual contact only (see page 158) through carelessness 
on the part of the owner, or because his neighbors may leave 
weak or worn out lots to be robbed. 

Where stocks appear to be affected one after the other in 
rapid succession, it is not a case of infection from neighbor- 
ing hives, but is only a proof that such stocks had already 
contracted the complaint from some source in common 
at a much earlier date. 


An Exception.—Where stocks are in very similar hives 
placed too close together, and working in the same line of 
flight, bees enter the hives indiscriminately, and thus affected 
workers may start the trouble as sometimes found to be the 
case at the moors. 


No Mysterious Infection.—If the owner of bees will 
only realize, and take comfort from the fact that the I1.O.W. 
disease is only spread by some form of actual contact 
(pages 157, 158), then he may keep his mind free from 
panic, and will see the folly of beginning to destroy good 
material, where he might otherwise have renewed vitality 
and greater profits. 


Salt versus Slugs.—Salt spread over the ground in front 
of affected (or other) hives, will effectually dispose of slugs, 


and its Economic Management. 449 


which otherwise may crawl over bees dying from disease, 
and then carry their slimy trail across the fronts of neigh- 
boring hives. 


Robbing induced needlessly.—Where the hives may 
be treated with some strong antiseptic dressing such as 
creosote, the bees make no attempt to keep out robbers, 
which are immediately encouraged to appropriate the stores. 
A similar condition is presented where heavy smoking is 
adopted when inserting queens, the bees being thoroughly 
demoralised under the process. 


Beneficial Treatment of I.0.W.—The Author has 
frequently advised the following successful plan. Have a 
spare hive and dress it thoroughly inside with Izal (using 
two parts of water to one part of Izal), and when nearly dry, 
with no excess of the liquid left on the floor, insert the bees 
and combs towards evening ; close the entrance with per- 
forated zinc, and leave the bees for some 24 hours, removing 
the zinc at dusk. The zinc covered entrance will be from 
1in. to 6ins. wide, according to the season and strength of 
the colony. The entrance is shaded during the day by a 
board or slate. 

In Summer, strong colonies are safer divided, treating the 
removed old stock and remaining bees towards evening ; 
the swarm will not remain in a dressed hive, and must be 
treated at a later date. Other recuperative and preventive 
measures advised by the Author should never be neglected. 


Not I.0.W. Disease.—Newly hatched bees too long 
confined by bad weather, may often be found about the 
ground when attempting their first flight, and with the bowel 
charged with thick matter. This condition is greatly 
aggravated should such a stock be packed and sent by rail, 
during a dull period and the absence of a cleansing flight 


for many days previously. 


450 A Modern Bee-Farm 


Nearly mature brood when slightly chilled, by careless 
spreading of the brood combs, or from some accidental 
cause, will result in the bees hatching with dwarfed or 
crippled wings. Hence many of these will be found about 
the ground when attempting their first cleansing flight. 


The Langstroth Hoffman Frame is in no sense related 
to the original Hoffman frame as regards its successful 
application and dimensions, which latter are some {3ins. 
deep by 16ins. long. Mr. Hoffman wintered his bees safely 
year after year, while every Spring he had some hundred 
surplus colonies he sold to others who had lost their bees in 
shallower frames.. 

It should be noted that Messrs. Dadant & Sons, who 
edited a revised edition of Langstroth’s work, did not accept 
the Langstroth frame, but were compelled to reject it in 
favor of a much deeper frame after a 20 years’ test of the 
two sizes side by side. 

Mr. Eddowes, a very practical bee-keeper, residing now in 
Jamaica, used the 16-in. by io-in. frame as well as the 
Langstroth and the British Standard frames in the 
Argentine, and later in Jamaica. He states that from 
the first named he procured 330 lbs. of honey to the single 
stock, but no more than 150 lbs. from the Langstroth and 
British frames, standing side by side and the stocks starting 
on equal terms. He adds that with the shallower frames he 
had more trouble in securing the 150 lbs. than the larger 
yield with the deeper frames. In Jamaica he still finds the 
16-in. by 10in. better’ than the others. 


Severe Losses with Langstroth Frames.— During the 
winter of 1911-12 in the United States, some 50 to 75 per 
cent. of the colonies were lost in many localities where the 
Langstroth shallow frames were in use. 


FIG. 91. 


The “W. B. Carr” Metal 
End. 


‘FIG. go. 


iH 


FIG. 92. FIG. 93. 
Abbott's Comb_Honey Spring Travelling Case for 
Exhibition Crate. same. 


Queen Nursery. 


Fic. 96.—Circular Cage. 


: and its Economic Management. 453 


American Opinion in a number of instances is opposed 
to the shallow Langstroth frame, spaced only rgin. from 
centre to centre, and that frame must not be regarded as 
the only style used in the States, although unfortunately it 
happens to be the one most largely exported to other 
countries, where a deeper, shorter frame would be found 
more profitable. 


Letter from American Bee-keeper.—< The hives in 
this country are very simple and easy to manipulate, but I 
do not think they go far enough to make any records as to 
honey gathered. Of course tons of honey are produced 
here, but we have to thank the immense richness of our 
country (in bee flora) more than any intensive or exact 
manner of handling bees.—Michigan, U.S.A., June 9th, 
IQII.” 


Unprotected Hives and Supers; Flat Covers; No 
Roof Ventilation.—Perhaps many Americans will not 
agree with the above letter, but it is possible, and I have 
always considered it to be a fact, that except where chaff 
hives may be adopted, both American and Canadian hives 
and supers are often too cheaply made and non-protective. 


Transport, Shipping, etc.—Of course there is always the 
question of transport, moving many hives to the cellars, etc. ; 
when it is evident that a light hive takes up less room, and 
is more readily handled. But do these advantages com- 
pensate for the loss of 50 to 100 per cent. extra hard cash, 
such as more protective methods ‘would certainly ensure ? 
An exception certainly occurred in the State of Michigan, 
where, during the very exceptional season of 1913, Dr. C. C. 
Miller secured an average of over 200 lbs. of comb honey. 


Loss of Energy.—There are of course plenty of flimsy 
hives in Great Britain, but British bee-keepers could not use 
flat covers with no top ventilation. In Winter the bees 


454 A Modern Bee-Farm 


would consume too much food and lose vitality ; while in 
Summer the workers would waste much time in fanning, or 
hanging out during the day, and at night the exposed comb- 
supers would be neglected to a large extent. 


For Extracting, the more simple hive is not so objection- 
able in Summer, as unlimited space may be allowed. The 
Dadant hive (with the large “Quinby ” brood frames), No. 
I, is seen with a protective cover; the dovetailed hive, 
No. 4,appears almost too slight to be of any practical value. 


Swarming without Increase.—Doubling and Swarm- 
ing without Increase.—One cannot over-estimate the vast 
benefits to be gained by these original methods advocated 
by the Author since his 1886 pamphlet, and which enable 
the bee-keeper to take the question of swarming entirely into 
his own hands, so that he will secure honey by the hundred- 
weight, and by the ton; instead of having persistent 
swarming and poor results. 


Paying the Rent.—In just one little corner of your farm 
or garden there may be a few hives of bees, prepared to pay 
the rent, foraging over hundreds of acres, gathering in 
produce of great value, paying nothing for the privilege, and 
doing no one any harm because of this gentle art of appro- 
priation. 


How I.0.W. Disease may Decline.—When all bee-owners 
will realize—and follow, as many have already done—the rule laid 
down by the Author in the British Bee Journal of September 5th, 
1912 (back page of cover), this disease will gradually, and certainly, die 
out. The Law is this: ‘Young Queens, and medicated food supplied 
to every stock every Autumn; and always when feeding is needed. 
Natural stores, and candy in Winter are finally and absolutely con- 
demned where this complaint may be in evidence. 


and tts Economic Management. 455 


Comb Honey for Exhibition.—Combs intended for 
exhibition are objectionable when worked between fence 
separators, because of the wavy or ridged surface ot the 
combs. On the other hand a greater yield may be’secured 
by using these dividers. 


Starters in Sections are also objectionable from the same 
point of view, in that the combs being often finished off 
with drone, or large store cells, have a coarse appearance. 
Full sheets of very thin worker foundation should be used 
in every section, whether intended for the show bench, or as 
the more profitable investment. 


Sections to Hold Sixteen Ounces.—The 43-in. by 44-in. 
by bare 2-in. with flat separators, which may be either single 
or double as designed by the Author; the 44-in. by 44-in. 
by 1#-in. through, with cleated separators; or the latter 
with no dividers. 

The 5-in. by 4-in. by 14-in. with cleated separators, and 
no bee-ways; or the same with no dividers, with bée-ways ; 
and the 5-in. by 4-in. by 13-in. with flat separators, also with 
bee-ways. 

Those tall sections which are only 1gin. through must be 
condemned, as they not only hold considerably less than 
16 ozs., but are non-practical, with the extra thin comb. 


Free Passages to Sections.—The Author was so con- 
vinced that much surplus honey is lost to the bee-keeper by 
the restricted spaces allowed between sections where single 
separators have been used, that he devised a double 
separator (either fence or metal slotted) with jin. between, 
thus allowing double the number of bees to pass more 
quickly. Many thus reach the upper crates without passing 
cover the lower sealed comb surfaces ; consequently there is 
less discoloration from “ travel stain.” 


' 456 A Modern Bee-Farm 


Slight Variations in Weight may be rectified by making 
the cleats slightly thinner or thicker as required. 


Cyprian Queens were first introduced into England and 
America when Messrs. Benton and Jones returned from the 
_ Far East in 1880. After exploring the Indian jungles in 
search of Agzs dorsata (the giant honey-bee) Mr. Benton 
returned to Europe and arranged with a bee-keeper in 
Cyprus to procure and despatch queens of that island to his 
various customers ; and later proceeded to Carniola where 
he was located for several years, déspatching many queens. 
to various countries. | These included Carniolans, Cyprians, 
Holy Lands and Syrians—the latter two varieties being 
procured through Mr. Baldensperger (Senr.), who had 
resided at Jaffa for many years. 

Consequently Holy Land queens were available some 
time before the return of Mr. Benton from the Far East ; 
the Author having used one earlier than 1880, while his. 
first Cyprian was procured from the earliest parcel brought 
back by Mr. D. A. Jones in that year, on his return to 
America. 

Mr. Dervishian was sending out Cyprians from about 
1882; and during the latter year Mr. T. B. Blow went out 
to Cyprus and brought back a number of queens which he 
distributed among various English bee-keepers. 


The Reverse every time.—Many unfortunate bee- 
keepers have been advised that thin syrup supplied early in 
Spring causes dysentery. But numerous stocks would have 
been saved from destruction, and others from dwindling, had 
they been given thin syrup instead of candy from the end 
of February. That is the most. economic method of sup- 
plying water at the time the bees urgently need it. 

Such is the Author's practice, while he gives no candy in 


and tts Economic Management. 457 


Winter ; and dysentery is a unique experience with colonies 
in his apiary. 


The Author’s Hive Scraper.—If the Reader would like 
the best hive scraper ; one that he may hand down to suc- 
cessive heirs unimpaired, then he may secure a mason’s 
trowel of the smaller size—and be happy ever after. 


Extra Prolific Queens.—These cannot be managed by 
the “let ‘em alone” policy generally adopted by “single 
chamber” bee-keepers, who failing to work correctly, con- 
demn such as useless. The Author's methods of “ Swarming 
without increase,” and using two or more stock chambers, 
will always give magnificent results from extra _prelific 
queens of a good strain. 


Poor Seasons and Inferior Localities.—So many 
owners imagine prolific bees are useless in a short season, or 
in such as they are pleased to imagine isa district of limited 
capabilities. Hence their results are always restricted by 
their own limited visions, which will not allow them to realize 
that the short season requires the greater number of bees to 
gather quickly what is to be got. 

Under the Author’s instructions districts formerly averag- 
ing 25 lbs. of honey to the hive, have been found capable of 
yielding up to 170 lbs. per colony. 


The British Bee Journal and the British Bee-keepers’ 
Record were formerly conducted upon the principle that no 
trade interests were to be connected with the management, 
thus, as it was considered, ensuring an unbiased expression 
of opinion. 

Nevertheless, while I at no time agreed with that 
principle, as not serving the best interests of the trade 
which supported the journals ; it is now satisfactory to note 


458 A Modern Bee-Farm 


that the old dogma of exclusiveness has been departed from, 
to the benefit of the whole community. 

Mr. T. W. Cowan has associated with himself a prominent 
bee-master and lecturer, and one who has worked practically 
right through the appliance trade from A to Z, whose well- 
known ability has already made its influence felt in the 
conduct of the journals mentioned. 

It can only be those from within the trade circle who can 
best serve the interests of the entire bee community, where 
honest and disinterested endeavor is the main-spring of 
action. : 

Mr. Herrod has also recently taken up the reins of man- 
agement of the British Bee-keepers’ Association, with such 
evident success that it is to be wished he may long continue 
to vitalize its new-born and rapidly extending influence. 


A most Instructive Report of the doings of an Irish 
bee-keeper was given in the Britésh Bee Journal on March 
22nd, 1894. The apiarist, it will be observed, expended 
little labour over his apiary, and felt assured that his uniform 
success had been attained solely through the supertor advan- 
tages possessed by a large frame. After describing the apiary 
the correspondent proceeds—‘ the hives were all with 16-in. 
by to-in. frames; and what struck me as peculiar about 
these hives, was their size, solidity, and fine finish, * * *” 
I append an account of returns of his apiary in the Canon’s 
own words, from a letter I had received from him on the 
15th of this month. “My unvarying success through all 
seasons for the past 15 years is remarkable; as I have 
neither fed, nor stimulated, or requeened, nor done anything 
to promote greater activity among my bees, so I disclaim 
all credit for my success, except that of providing room and 
material to work upon. The season of 1892 was generally 
a bad one, yet my take of finished sections amounted to 


Fic. 98.—The Root-Hoffman Langstroth Frames. 


awaran 
eae N 
EN aD aos a 


g wedge- 


-grooved Frame-bar with lon 


slip for securing foundation. 
(Patented by Mr. S. W. Abbott, Feb. 4th, 1887, No. 1802.) 


pont 


Fic. 97.—Abbott’s Twin 


1oo (favor of L. Upcott Gill, Esq.). 


Fic. 
Methods of Sp 


acing at natural and reduced distances. 


C D, type-metal ends. 


AB, with W. B.C. ends. 


Fic. 99.— Abbott’s Self-spacing Wide-end Frame-bars. 


and tts Economic Management. 461 


1,792, and from unfinished 34 cwt. of extracted. Notwith- 
standing the great interruption of work by swarming, no 
less than 40 out of 45 that had made advance with section 
work having swarmed again and again ; but the late harvest 
made up lost way. Again, 1893 was a very broken season, 
so much so that when you visited me I told you I did not 
expect to exceed 1,400 finished sections ; yet, although the 
weather continued much of the same character, I obtained 
over 1,800 finished and 54 cwt. of extracted ; all of the latter, 
and 1,728 of the former, I sold to one firm in London, at I 
may say, ahigh price, and with huge praise as to the quality 
of both,so I have reason to be satisfied with my results.” 
This is not bad for an octogenarian (considerably over a ton 
of honey last season from 50 working hives), and for one 
who has often no time to attend to his bees when they 
require it. They swarmed six times last year, five of which 
swarms he lost, having been obliged to be from home on 
more important duties than bee-keeping. I have noticed 
that this apiary has yearly, for these last seven seasons, 
turned out nearly a ton of honey, and can come to no con- 
clusion but that the large frame has a great deal to say for 
such high results. The Canon writes in reply to a query of 
mine—‘“ With regard to the 16-in. by 1o-in. frame, it 
certainly gives greater scope to the working powers of our 
stocks, which would be cramped in small standard frames, 
especially if used in my locality.” 


Selling Honey.—A bee-keeping chemist who wrote me 
not long since says :—“ I commenced bee-keeping two years 
ago, and have about 20 stocks. Asa help to some of your 
clients I would suggest they endeavor to persuade some 
chemists in fashionable watering-places to put a large show 
of honey in their windows—sections and pots ranging from 
one to ten pounds, and if properly displayed the sale is very 


462 A Modern Bee-Farm 


great. I have sold over my counter since July (letter dated 
April 24th), nearly two tons, not at a low figure, as that 
would kill the sale, but clover honey at ts. 3d. per lb. and 
heather honey at ts. 5d. Clover sections at Is.; heather 
sections at 1s, 3d. I would also advise that any chemist, 
making honey a leading line, should keep one or two hives 
of bees ; he is then in a position to interest his customer, 
who at once has confidence, and moreover, is in a position 
to answer any questions and silence people who are so very 
ignorant that they know better than the seller.” 


The Bees, the Forage, and the Man.—lIn an article 
in Gleanings in Bee-culture for July 15th, 1902, Mr. J. L. 
Gandy unfolds one of the most interesting experiences that 
ever fell to the lot of a bee-keeper. He has had as much as 
45,000 from his bees within two years, but here are his own 
words :—“I give herewith some ideas obtained during my 
30 years’ experience as a bee-keeper, the last seventeen of 
which I have handled them as a commercial pursuit, keeping 
during this time from 500 to 3,000 colonies, 100 of them 
being in my home apiary, of which I more particularly write. 

When I started bee-keeping on a large scale my 
neighbor bee-keepers did not average a surplus yield of over 
50 lbs. per year to the colony. I immediately set- about 
improving the bee-pasturage, and my average yield of 
surplus for eleven years was 150 lbs. to the colony, and for 
the last six years it has been 300 lbs. 

“My net profit for eleven years was a little over 400 per 
cent., and for the last six years it was 800 per cent. Last 
year my home apiary, of which I am now writing, 75 
colonies (spring count), gave me 407 lbs. to the colony.” 

After saying that he started bee-keeping through his 
health failing, and being in debt to the tune of 25,000 
dollars, he gradually bought up bees until he had 500, 


and tts Economic Management. 463 


presently 2,000, and finally some 3,000 colonies, and mean- 
time had paid off his debts from the proceeds, and had 
regained his usual health. Then began a series of invest- 
ments in farm and fruit lands to the extent of thousands of 
acres, all being by profit from the bees. He found a small 
hive of little value, and these were soon discarded for large 
double storied hives. 

Large Hives and -Judicious Planting were the founda- 
tion stones of his remarkable success. “ . . . Bees,” 
he says, “even in an eight-frame hive, generally use the two. 
outside frames on each side of the hive for honey and pollen, 
and this leaves but four frames for brood rearing. This will 
not produce one-sixth as many bees as the colony should 
contain. I went through a colony having on six ten-frame 
hives last summer, and it had brood in 32 frames. That 
hive produced over 500 lbs. of surplus, while the same 
colony, in an eight-frame, with a queen-excluder used, would 
not have produced to exceed 100 lbs. of surplus. A queen- 
excluder will exclude the queen, and will also, to some 
extent, bar or greatly hinder a well-filled hive.” 


Working two or more Queens in one Hive.—Many 
years ago Dr.-Stroud, of Port Elizabeth, South Africa, 
mentioned in the Brztzsh Bee Journal that he had a system 
of working any number of queens in one hive or colony, and 
that he had long practised that method. 

Mr. Heddon, of Dowagiac, Michigan, claims to have been 
the first to point out the possibility of working more than 
one queen in a hive. Doolittle and others made some 
practical demonstration of the fact, but neither of them 
preceded Dr. Stroud. 

Mr. Wells, of Alresford, however, was the first to reduce 
the matter to practical working as a system in honey pro- 
duction. See the British Bee Journal of 1892. 


464 A Modern Bee-Farm 


The stock hive is divided by a perforated wood dummy, 
while the bees from both sides have common access to the 
supers placed over excluder zinc. 

See Chapter XIX. for the latest methods of working two 
or more queens together. 


Two or more Queens in Tiering Hives.—In my 1893 
edition of A Modern Bee-Farm | illustrated a method of 
tiering up single stock chambers, with two, four, or more 
queens, before adding the supers, and showed how to unite 
them safely. This plan, however, is not in any sense equal 
to the lateral “ turn-over ” plan, which (with my intermediate 
way) crowds the whole maturing working force into one 
stock chamber, so that the supers are more rapidly filled, 
and no stores can accumulate in surplus stock chambers, as 
in the usual tiering up methods. 


Glass Rail Sections were used by the Author prior to 
1880, with split top rails, and grooves down each inside of 
the uprights. 

V-groves substituted as a so-called “improvement ” upon 
my plain-cut three-side-slit sections are detrimental in 
practice, and necessitate the foundation resting upon the 
bottom bar, when it buckles up, and is inclined to drop from 
its insecure hold at the top and sides. ; 

Foundation in sections should never reach the bottom rail 
by a space equal to din. This allows for stretching by the 
heat and weight of the bees ; the foundation remains even 
all over, and when held within the plain-cut groove will 
never fall. 


By a careful experiment I have found there are 3,500 
worker bees to the pound. Queens will live from three to 
four years ; drones, three months ; workers during Summer, 
because of the wear and tear and risks by flight, the average 


FIG. 101, Fic. 103.—Glazed Earthen- 
Wilkes’ Wire Divider (Standard). ware 1 Ib. Honey Jar. 


a: 


Wilkes’ Wire Divider (Shallow). 


Li 
| 


| | 


| 


| 


Fic. 105 —Glazed Section Case. (A page from. Mr E. H. Taylor’s catalogue). 
FF 


ana tts Economic Management. 407 


is six weeks, and through the quiet months of Winter six,to 
eight months. The Author has had many live ten months. 


Fertile workers are not often troublesome except in the 
queen-raising apiary. When they persist in laying in nuclei, 
do not attempt to give virgin queens, but at once supply a 
good fertile queen on a comb of brood, with accompanying 
bees ; this also being the very best and simplest cure where 
they are found in stocks of greater strength. 

Where eggs of fertile workers are placed in worker cells, 
many of the larve die before reaching maturity, otherwise 
the cappings are raised much above the surface, as with 
normal drones. The males resulting are dwarfed and non- 
virile. ; 


While I have had ample evidence to show that bees are 
able to retard the development of both eggs and larve by 
withholding food ; where a colony has been queenless for 
more than ten days, the presence of uncapped larvee, whether 
in queen cell cups or ordinary cells, may be put down to the 
action of fertile workers. 


Bees winter best with plenty of room below the frames. 
Many of my own stocks have been wintered with the lower 
body under the stock chamber, as used for prevention of 
swarming, with very satisfactory results. The Conqueror 
supplies this space without a second chamber. 


Syrup without Cooking.—A self-acting principle was 
introduced by me some 30 years since, was illustrated in my 
Non-Swarming Pamphlet, and described under three forms : 
(1) The “ Amateur,” all metal and circular, holding 9 lbs., for 
top of the hive ; (2) The “ Frame” feeder, all wood, except 
the perforated sugar holder inside, holding about the same 


468 A Modern Bee-Farm 


quantity ; and (3) The “Commercial,” a double compart- 
ment feeder of full size, to go on top of the hive, and holding 
anything from 20 to 40 lbs. of syrup; all arranged for the 
simple process of putting in the usual proportions of sugar 
and water, when with no further attention the whole is 
shortly reduced to syrup. 

The sugar must be suspended in the water by means of 
the perforated compartments as shown in Figs. 65, 70, 72, 
73 and 74; thus allowing a free circulation of liquid under. 


Abbott’s Self-spacing Frames (Fig. 99).—These frames 
present a very neat appearance, they are less affected by 
propolis than other frames of the self-spacing kinds, and are 
always cleaner than metal ends, which present a sorry 
spectacle as soon as they become rusty. 

By-the-way, Messrs. Abbott offer metal ends constructed 
from aluminium, which, of course, do not become discolored. 


Metal Ends for keeping brood frames equi-distant are 
illustrated at Fig.91. These were the invention of the late 
Mr. W. B. Carr, and are so cheaply produced by several 
manufacturers that the cast metal ends have been driven out 
of the field. Their formation permits of using frames at two 
distinct distances from centre to centre, though the fact is 
seldom taken advantage of, and when once placed on the 
frames the set distance is generally retained. 

The Author uses no metal ends, finding them most 
inconvenient ; as doubtless most bee-keepers would do, if 
they once tried to do without them. 


Artificial Heat !—What numerous and costly experi- 
ménts have I not conducted in this direction, extending over 
many years? It is both a destructive and a helpful process. 
Hurtful if applied before warm weather is really near at 


and tts Economic Management. 469 


hand ; gteatly beneficial if used in a proper manner, only 
after the bees have once hatched plenty of young. 

Greenhouses, coal stoves, paraffin stoves and lamps; all 
these have I brought into requisition, and in the light of 
past results all are condemned. 

A joyous sight though it was to an enthusiast’ to stand in 
Summer heat at mid-Winter and watch the hundreds of 
busy workers at the artificial pollen, and rushing with their 
loads to the hives as though they made sure Summer was 
upon them, 

But judged by the stern light of facts it remained a 
pleasant experiment only, for of what value were those 
stocks after the excessive unseasonable loss of life and con- 
sequent failure to build up when the second and real Summer 
approached ! 

_ And yet artificial heat gave me some of the most forward 
stocks I ever possessed—they were up strongly in the 
supers by the end of April. But it was not until March was 
well on the way that they were placed upon and carefully 
packed round with long stable manure. They did well 
right along, and being exempt from all outside changes, 
there was nothing to hinder their very rapid progress. 


Condemned ! Condemned !! Condemned !!!—During 
many years the Author has repeatedly endeavored to 
convince bee-keepers, both through the pages of the 
British Bee Journal and by private correspondence, that 
‘their only hope of escaping the fatal consequences of the 
I.O.W. disease is that of removing or otherwise using up 
natural stores before Winter, replacing them by efficiently 
medicated food. 


A Word to the Wise, etc.—Many will not realize this 
until it is too late. They laugh at the idea of natural 


470 A Modern Bee-Farm 


stores being condemned; and yet the moment these 
advocates of natural stores are overtaken by the disease 
their apiaries are wiped out. 


Wiring Foundation.—To prevent the sheet sticking to 
the board the Author uses nothing but cold water, wiping 
the wiring block over occasionally—about once for a dozen 
sheets. 


Heating Wax Sheet v. Embedder.—The wax sheets 
are warmed by an assistant as required, in rotation, while 
the embedder is simply placed in a vessel of hot water 
between each operation, the drip shaken off before using. 


Old Wax good as New.—Nothing can be more ex- 
peditious than the above plan, which the Author has always 
followed, and wax sheets left over from a previous season 
are equally as good as new when carefully warmed on each 
side before the fire. . 


Warming Foundation before Supering.—It is well 
not to set up foundation sheets separately in frames and 
sections too long before required for use ; and where only 
a small number of hives are used, the owner cannot do 
better than warm each sheet immediately before supering, 
as the bees will then more quickly occupy and work out 
the foundation. 


I trust that herein you have found I do not merely offer 
the usual and well nigh worn-out advice: “Keep your 
stocks strong” ; but instead of then leaving you to find out 
for yourself how it is.done, I have placed before you the 
definite methods that will enable you to attain the desired 
end. 


471 


INDEX. 


PAGE 
A 


Agriculturist and Fruit Grower 95 


Apiary, covered . 386 
» house : 382 
4 location of uae set 83 
Antenne, uses of .. ce w. 646 
deprivation of... we 47 
Apiculture, studying... igy 32) 
Appliances, manufacture of ... 11 
Area required for 100 colonies... 83 
Autumn management 202 
Average returns 7, 299 
Pe causes of low 298 
B 

Bee-culture as a profession... 1 
Bee-flora, necessity of Bid: 
Bees and queens, sale ot as IO 
Bees, best for comb- honey. we 38 
» varieties of . j ave 53 
» Black or Native ... we 54 
» Ligurian or Italian sees 155 
» Golden Italian... we 59) 
»  Carniolan  ... cue .. 60 
» Cyprian ake des waa, OF 
a Sprang ei aa . 63 
» other varieties ae we 64 
, their sense of touch we 646 
» and other pursuits 105 
» as aidsto fruit culture ... 95 
» best time to move. we OD) 
me 5 purchase ee) 
» buying aa 6, 9 370. 380 

» bumping 
» driven F ans 
» how to drive nee ane 20 
» how to handle es ie ES 
» hatching... a tan Bh 
» hybrids a ay -. 56 
», in fruit shops is =. 99 
} manipulating bets as 21 
» most suitable se sx, 68 
» Moving short distances . » 373 


» number to the pean 379, os 


» throwing... 4 
, transferring... ‘ £08 
» uniting .. 24, 200, 204, 231 
» Winter cluster 39, 219, 220, 223 
» weighing... iss si - 379 
» yearly cost of Sis a. 83 
young, commence work ... 37 
Bee-paralysis . 146 


iy and ‘natural stores 151 


PAGE 
Bee-paralysis, avoid in winter ... 152 
curative treatment 


for : ws 149 

i early stage of . 147 

“i from poisoning ... 154 

- not May disease... 153 

‘A means of infection 155 

ai secondary stage of 148 

i traps . 274 

7 where originating 155 
Bee-keeping, alone + 103 


i for recreation ip JZ 
ss making acertainty 2 
ie and other occupa- 
ae 14, mr 95, sa 103 
Black bees . 54 


Brace-combs . 170 

Brood after queenless period .. . 402 

» restricted at supering ... 283 

» re-arrangement of 271 

» rest from rearing 144 

» chilled and dead... 114 

» combs, surplus 232, 269 

» frames, kind to use 167, 178 

increased between brood 237 

Benton mailing cage... ws 374 

Borage F es 86 

Bottles for honey .. 266 
Breeding, rapid after queenless- 

ness ... see 402 

af commencement ‘of se. 40 

re early 202, 227, 261 

Bronchitis, treatment for . 431 

Butter honey cake . 438 

Cc 

Candy and plumping ver 235 

%y 2) O.W. 1 366 

» making 365, 366, 377 

» to be avoided 226, 444 

» when to use - 365, 444 

Capital, amount required ee 5 

Carniolan bees... sia .. 60 

Caucassian.. ag i we 64 

Cell nurseries. ae vse 322 

Cells, formation of wae sie 338 

» how started ioe ie. BT. 

» Special for queens we 4I 

Chilblains, &c. ... “at 433 

Clover, cultivation of ... «90 

oe Italian crimson ... 81, 87 

1 Melilot ea 81, 88 

wy (Te Qaes av ae sw QO) 


472 

PAGE 
Clover, white 81, 82, 87, 91 
Close spacing of frames... 163, 193 
Colonies, number to work tae 
Comb-building, manner of wee, 33 
and brood . 406 
Comb-foundation .. . 191 
Comb-honey “i ie w+ 281 
‘i cut to fit sections... 417 
re for exhibition . 296 

grading and bleach- 
ing awe 286 


4 increased yields of 302 
ii never finished below 171 
a preparing for mar- 


ket «+» 290 
"4 preparing stocks 
or we 231, 283 
selling we 204 
Combs, arrangement of in winter 179, 
203, 208 
ij crowded with honey ... 406 
‘i distance between ae 38 
i drone, in supers . 270 
- old or new . 272 


$i new, in sections 238, ae 245 


i producing all worker ... 394 
surplus, for extracting ... 269 
Commercial frames . 176 


- » why extract 
from? ... 179 
is » how to stock 180 
» facts about... 181 


Conqueror, hanging chamber hive, 167 


v Double Hive 306 
‘i ensures correct win- 
tering sa TPT 
ai supers ; vee 175 
- the back of... . 176 
‘i Treble Hive | ses 310 


painting, and others 176 


Cough, treatment for 431 
Covered apiary, sce cian of... 387 
Crates, super ; . 182 
a for bottles | . 279 
aly », comb-honey ... .. 290 
‘sj perfect cushioned . 290 
Crops, clover seed for... .. 80 
»  cultivationof —... jie OB 
» growing. suitable... 4, 76 
.»  Manuring ... 79, 83, 90 
» profit from... ae See 
Cross bees, disposing of... ioe 54 
Cyprian bees wes wea we OF 
‘i » for hot climates ... 407 
D 
Dairy, profits from 105, 107 


Index. 


PAGE 
Diseases of bees 109, 118, 146, 444-449 
Disease, and value of young 


queens 118 

Fr and addition of brood 
and bees 119 

" swarming to dispose of 
old bees ins 11g 
“ the Author vindicated 120 
- failures in curing . 123 
increasing while curing 134 
Dividing for increase wee 253 
Double-walled hives ss. 208 
Doubling wi 231 
¥ for late harvests . 407 


swarm and stock 230, 255 

ia two swarms and stocks 257 

ii swarms on starters ... 408 
Drawn combs in sections 242, 245, 
302, 305 

‘i special features 412 

Driven bees 418 
aided by plumping 422 


- » and foul brood . 419 
‘i » for the heather .» 408 
- », on foundation «421 
iy » uniting 153, 421 
» when to hive +++ 420 
Driving ss + 20 
Drones from worker eggs” va 5 
» breeding in direct line. 71 
» first hatching of .. we 40 
» production of 335 
» selection of aes wee 330 
» sole use of ie we. 40 
virile and non-virile we 49 
Dry sugar feeding w+ 356 
Dwindling in spring 155, 228 
Dysentery . 109, 213 
i) prevention of.. . II 
E 
Eastern queens +» 456 


Economy of the hive re wey 32. 


Enemies of bees ... s+ 109 
Entrances, small, detrimental ... 214 
large ... 170, 305, 310 
Eggs, development of ... sad Bal 
» Yetarded hatching of _... 2 

» sex of 
Estimates of expenses, &e. es 
Excluders, the best - + 271 


Expenses, estimated for two years 441 
Experience, value of —... we 10 


Extracted honey ... tas wee 265 
n » for exhibition... 280 
4 storage of 276 


Extracting from brood combs ... 


index. 


PAGE 
Extracting, preparing for we 269 
si rate of epeed when... 275 
Extractor, Cowan.. : 276 
Excluder zinc . 244 
F 

Feeders, self-acting 358, 361, 467 
r dry sugar i ws 356 

i. Raynor bottle ... . 361 

" simple frame 362 
Feeding... oe aa 354 362, 
* by syrup-filled combs ... 368 

a close on frames.. ws 362 

i golden rule for i in spring 228 

i’ in winter, none . ss 364 

‘ out-of-doors . 366 

a rapid ; See 203, 358 

“y solid, in autumn 100, 358 

‘i special plan of ... ia: 235, 
sugar v. honey ... . 354 

Ka when wasteful . +. 203 

a with candy 2 235, 364 

Ms without feeders... 363 


100 col’s in a week 203, 362 
Fertile workers... a es 
Fever treatment ... 
Flight, extent when working 83, 2 
Forage late, undesirable... ses 90 
‘i plants for bees ... we 76 
»  queenof. ww. 89 
Foul brood .. : 
abortive germination 
an evidence of low 
vitality 
Author’s early expe- 
rience 
boiling to kill ‘spores 
caution regarding . 
Ms ., Cheshire’s exp'm’ts 
cure 
correctly named 
cured by Izal 
initial stages of 
new light on. 
not spread without 
_ contact vee 132 
origin of sis 125 
secondary causes of 130 
simple cures 115 
sporesnot to befeared 136 
without infection ... 127 
Foundation a w+ 190 
‘ across ‘several sec- 
tions 19 
fastening in “frames 189, 
192, 195, 245 
7% for supers... wee 455 


. 14! 
. 116 
. 112 

124 


473 


PAGE 
Foundation, swarms hived in ... 193 


i used to advanlage -. 396 

‘i wired into frames ... 193 
Fowls, 100 breeding . 106 
mA folding on land ... 106 
Frames, British Standard 178 
5 Commercial 176 

‘i Langstroth 178 

- comparison of ... ... 260 

if covering above... eee ie 

i experiments with 167 

ij fixing foundation in 192 


vi large ..176, 180, 207, 458 
. position in winter vee 204 
‘5 self-spacing 468 
space below... 210 
is thick top bars of 167 
wiring °.. se .-. 193 

Fruit culture and bees... we 95 
‘3 » aided by bees 100 
» trees, guards for ... .. 96 
3 » pruning ae ve. 102 
ais » Spraying... w 96 
» preserved in honey 437 
» Stallsand bees... ws 99 


G 


GreAT SECRETS OF HoNnEy PRo- 
DUCTION, as relating to the follow- 
ea items :— 

rood re-arranged before 
supering 1. 271 
Combined swarming and 
doublin : . 257 
Control of awarmiua . 252 
Correct autumn treatment... 202 
Doubling stocks before har- 
vest ... + 231, 257 
Drawn combs for section 
honey . 242, 245, 302, 305 
Large brood nests prior to 
supering.. 5 202, 260 
Large stock frames 176, 180, 207 
Prevention of swarming 240, 305 
Swarming without increase 254 
Young queens 244, 255, 259, 297 


Ginger honey cake 437 
Gloves ae a aes wa 25 
Golden Italians... ve 59 
Good stock, how to obtain ix, 905 
Granulation, to prevent .. 279 
H 
Handling bees... ues ve 19 
Hay and honey 78, 107 
Heat, artificial . 468 


474 


Index. 


PAGE 

Heather honey and driven bees 408 
a ‘a » late yields... 400 

i 5 a agi 401 

ii moving tothe ... ee AUL 

‘6 and stocks doubled ... 407 
Hibernating and bees ves 221 
Hive scraper, the best -- 457 
Hives, commercial sx, 176 
» construction of ws 189 

» how to stock 180, 197 

» large entrances tu . 249 

» non-swarming 249 

ie painting 176 

» Surplus at rnp 232 
» ventilating 146, 154, 172, 300 

» Abbott waa ie .. 161 

» American ... 453 

» Cowan 1 159 

+i Conqueror... 167, 300 

» Economic Standard we 162 

” 6 covers 164 
sh large, for neany geld w+ 463 
Stewarton .. a vse 160 
W.B.C. . 161 

Holy Land bees 63 
» for hot climates 407 

' Honey at country fairs ... 295 
»  » fruit markets ... 295 

» and commission eee 295 

»  aStaple article P I 

» bottled 266 

» canned ‘ .. 268 

», crude, as gathered 427, 428 

» dew ; -. 281 

» disease germs in. 142 

» exhibition of comb .. 296 

oa a », extracted... 280 

» extracted 231, 265, 269, 272 

,» extent of daily resources 35 

» feeding with 131 

i ej back 285 

» flow, signs of 262, 283 

» for sore throat, &c. 431 

» from sugar 427 

», from 640 acres 85 

» granulation prevented .. | 279 

» how stored 38 

‘i 'y to ripen and clarity 276 

Pe 3 ys Sell re 293 

» in cookery... 437 

» 4 health and disease 423 

» 4, Shop windows.. 294 

» large yields of 93) 208, 462 

» lemonade... se w+ 439 

» light, from Italians 59 

» presses 4ll 


» production, and 


other 


pursuits, 11, 76,95 


PAGE 
Honey production, what is . 261 
i 6 of comb . 281 
3 » extracted... 265 
» producing surplus —_ 260, 296 
” secret of 1, 9, 65, 
73, 84, 160, 235, eae eh 
» room 385 
» substitute for we 354 
» supers for . wee, 175 
» sponge cake vee 438 
» tea cake . 438 
» vinegar - 439 
I 
Increase by dividing - 253 
is controlling . 252 
‘i natural ... 42 


swarming without 254, 257 


Introduction of queens ... ina 33 
‘i and strong odors... 347 
‘ by caging ... see 340 
+ » chloroform - 347 
- », comb method... 345 


heavy smoking 348 
honey, flour, &c. 347 
mail cage » 342 
Simmins’ direct 342 
» immediate 346 

nucleus 
plan 349 
350, 362 
332, 350 
351 


146 


” ” ” 


a » tube cage 

si of virgin q’ns 

‘with certainty 

Isle of Wight Disease. (See Bee- 

Paralysis) <a 
Izal, definite treatment with 

», cures without destruction 119, 

134, 138 

» and Isle of Wight disease 150 


» for cleansing hives... . 146 
» saturating quilts with . 116 
L 
Lamp nursery... as soe 923 
Land, profits from 104, 107 
Langstroth Frame ‘ wee 450 
Larve, development of ... tue 34 
Late harvests, uniting for 405, 407 
Ligurian or Italian ee bees 55 
Location, choice of ‘ 3 
Longevity in bees.. 74 
Lucerne 89 
Lungs, and exercise 432 
“M 
Management, Autumn 202 

3 Spring 225 


lndex. 


PAGE 

Management, Summer ... 231 

‘i Winter ... 206 

proof of correct ... 175 

Manipulating bees x om “21 

i agents used in ... 25 

‘i gloves for.. sin, 215 

ai veils for ... ve. 26 

Market, preparing for 289 

Mead ; ics . 438 

Medical failures ... . 435 

Metal ends.. 270 

Metheglin ... ies Bee ss 439 

Minorcan bees_.... ans we 64 

Moving bees wine as 10, 372 
N 

Native bees a failure .. 261 

Natural increase ... ee 251, 254 

Nuclei, buying... we 380 

* connected with stock +. 316 

» feeding .. 1% 333 

» for comb building 394 

» formation of 325 


» from queenless stocks . » 325 
» increase by forming 
introduction by forming 349 
Nucleus hives, frames for a5 SBF 
Non-swarming system .. 
Ms failures with 
2 true principle of 246 


ai and Conqr 244, 246 
0) 
Observatory, Lee’s ae eal 
goers die veo TI 
Orchard planting .. w+ 103 
Over-production ... 216 as 13 
‘Over-stocking... Seis we 85 
P 
Packing stocks wat BUT 
” queens 374, 378 
swarms ... oe sos: BT 
Palestine bees... . we 63 
Parchment, home- made .. 268 
Paralysis in bees . 146, 444—449 
4 Bs, ts law as to decline 

Ob- uc - 454 

Planting for bees . ai 76 
” 4, 100 colonies 2, 83 

¥ » a succession . 80 
is profits from... fan O03 
| systematic x oe «82 
ts quantity of seed for 1. 80 
Plumping 234, 239 


Pollen, absent from ‘sections ... 37 


475 
PAGE 
Pollen baskets... dex 1345 
» respective colors a 35 
» substitute for  ... 36 
» when mostly gathered .. 35 
where stored ss te BF 
Poor land, renovating ... vie 83 
Potash, and plant life 424 
Presses for thick honey .. . 4il 
Production, limit of bee we «IG 
Q 
Queen cage, circular... we 328 
i » tubular 326 
» bees refusing 348 
» color of at 337 
» development of ....  ... 41 
» excluders ... 244, 270, 271 
» fasting twelve hours... 346 
» finding the... 339 
, how to catch 328 
» interval without ... 138 
» hursery ay ax 322 
» Whatisagood ... ws 9 
» Yearing . 311 


and combs between 319 


K » cell cups for 320 
" » drone cells for 320 
» » eggs for . 334, 
. ip long hive 316 


preparing stocks for 313 


i » Starting cells for... 319 
‘4 », temperature 321, 323 
‘ » under swarming 
_ impulse... . 314 
<} » With foster bees ... 312 
‘i » Without removing 
queen ... Sis 
with worker food 312 
Queens, and virile drones ww. 49 
oa “balled” ix 327. 


* breeding i in direct line.. 71 
iy buying in nuclei - 380 
post . - 378 
changing i in disease 114, 118, 

122, 134, ap 149, 152, 


+i confining virgin.. we 328 
i destruction of ... .. 41 
at dying in cage 331, 351 
5 fertilization of ... 330, 333 
i" for late harvests . 401 
- going with swarm ny AD 


‘i hatching of a 44 

re immediate exchange of 327 
‘i introduction of fertile ... 338 
” " bapa 332, 350 
' late, not laying... « 402 
i lost by flying . 346 


476 
PAGE 
Queens, mating of... -- 41, 49, 335 
‘ never too prolific 67, 457 


" piping... soe weap 45 


me retaining young... 244, 255, 
dace 259, 297 
* surplus virgin ‘i. 329 


two in one hive 252, 350, 463 
i virgin, rule of acceptance 332 
rr waste of . 332 
i young, before late har- 
VESt sis - 401 
every year + 405 
for tropical con- 
ditions ... 406 
to displace old 
queen, 244, 255, 259 
and large profits 297 
uv. disease 114, 118, 
120, 135, 145, 146, 149 
Queenless bees, uniting... we 2h 
forming nuclei 
with ... wee 325 
- » persistently .. 348 
i period—more brood 402 
Quieting bees, agents used for... 25 


3 » When uniting ... 23 
Quilts eee ae we B13 
» excessive, useless .. 216 
» wintering without . 214 
»  hiving without 154, 255 

R 
Returns, estimated . 441 
Robbers, encouraged . 449 
ii how to check . a. «18 
Robbing mania... we 16 
A precautions against vee 15 
i prevention Of sis 16 
” starts in early morning 17 

s 
Sealing wax for bottles ... . 268 
Sections — we 184 
5 divided ... 138, 195, 413 
af », holders for 188, 195,413 
i folding 184 


‘ grading and bleaching 286 

5 how to feed back for ... 285 

‘i inserting foundation 
across several + 195 

number to start with... 284 
i preparing new combs 

: or see 242, 245 
in Simmins’ ‘glass rail 187, 464 
‘3 starting below .. . 171 
. swarming late to finish 284 


Index. 


PAGE 
Sections, three-side-cut .... 262, 414 
‘i various ... agin we 282 
45 removing 196 
58 to hold 16 ounces 455 
Separators .. 187 
Re Simmins’ double 282, 455 
‘a slatted (fence) 455 
Skep, removing bees from we 19 
swarms by rail in. +. 372 
s hivedin ... wn, 43 
Smoker, how to use a5 way EO 
Sore throat, treatment of 431 
South African bees He wa. 64 
Spring dwindling ... 228 
Starters, swarms on : we. 407 - 
Stings, and rheumatism.. ve 29 
‘i cures for ... ‘ os 30) 
», removed by bees. 29 
Stock chambers clogged with 
honey 401 
cn »  twoormore ... 272 
95 what is a strong ... ses 205 
Stocks, buying 370, 380 
» contracting wee 254, 
, dividing . 253 
» feeding - a we 381 
» obtaining good ... w 65 
» packing ss wee 371 
» strong 205 
» unpacking » 373 
Store room. 289 
Sugar a perfect food 369 
» as honey . 369 
» cane and beet - 368 
Super-crates, slatted 183 
os space between 305 
i when to reduce ... 284 


‘i with double walls 209 

Supering, ee brood nests prior 

7 ena ae ” prood 
nest before.. : 

Supers, drawn combs wholesale 


in i wee 305 


i drone cells in 270 
ii no metal in 188 
Surplus, averages from different 
frames.. a .. 260 
i producing | a .+. 260 
»  Temoving 273 
is rr with bee-traps 274 
ss “4 », carbolic 
cloth... 274 
Swarming, act of .. ved 42, 44 
0 and doubling... 257, 408 - 
» Virgin queens ... 245 
is » young queens ... 259 


Index. 


PAGE 

Swarming by dividing 253 
“ » nuclei 332 

a cause of 240 

- control of 240 

i equivalent of... 68 

- indiscriminate “69, 70 

‘7 prevention of... 240, 256, 

305, 310 

si v. honey. . 240 


without increase 254, 257 
Swarms, attachments for catch- 


ing... 251 

é feeding ... ef see 198 

‘i on foundation ... 193, 197 

ei » Starters 285, 395, 407 

i not stinging sists ae 18 

packing... ae . 378 

preventing after . 256 

Syrian bees is . 63 

Syringe for filling combs .. 363 

Syrup cans, self-acting .., . 361 

» cisterns, self-acting -» 361 

» feeders, self-acting 358, 361 

» proportions for w+ 367 

» Without cooking ... . 361 
T \ 

Thirty acres, ae from... 107 

Throwing ... - 2i 

Transfering : 20 

best time for 198 

Trifolium nite y 87 

Turnover plan... sis 306 

af feeding after ... 310 

Tunisian bees 64 

U 

Uncapping can... 275 

+ knife ... 275 

‘ machines 280 


22, 327 
- after swarming 239, 254, 257 


“9 » three days 24 
. before the season +. 200 
‘i » late harvests ... 405 
a by exchanging combs... 24 
i" in Autumn 23, 204 
. queenless bees ... 24 


+ stk and swarm 254, 255, 257 
ib young queen to st’k 255, 259 
Vv 1 


Varieties of bees ... 
Veils... 


53 
26 


477 
PAGE 
Ventilation, cures paralysis 175 
o effectual 146 
a‘ insufficient . 244 
i perfect 170 
8 scientific, v. disease 300 
“7 Summer and Winter 215 
si thorough 154. 
unusual 300 
Virgin queens sag 45 
‘i » and swarming 245 
» Safe insertion of... 350 
Vitality renewed . 144 
i v. disease 301 
WwW 
Water, as indicating honey-flow 36 
» method of supplying 36 
» necessity of 36, 456 
Wax, cost of producing .. 307 
4, comparative cost of 399 
»  €xXtractors - 397 
» melting 192 
» pockets, and cell building 33 
» production of wee 391, 393 
> sealing bottles with .. 267 
» securing foundation with 192 
scales wasted . 391 
Wells’ system . 463 
Weighing bees 379 
Windows, formation of . « 385 
Wintering cluster 39, 219, 220, 223 
- great security in 177 
; on all the combs 204 
* » old combs... 206 
a vital question of 171 
a8 without quilts . 214 
“é with no floor boards 215 
; without a queen 224 
Fe with heavy quilts 216 
‘i .» Chamber below 467 
Winter passages ... s+. 208 
Windows, self-acting wee 385 
Wiring, horizontal v. vertical ... 193 
Workers and virile drones ss 50 
Fe hatching of ws. 40 
» laying 48, 467 
Y 
Yields, average... 08 7, 260 
4 exceptional ae 8 
»  Gandy’s remarkable 93 
» increased by piecing ss 93 
»  late.. 400 


478 


INDEX TO. ILLUSTRATIONS. 


FIG. PAGE 
95 Cages, circular and tube ... 451 
1 Comb and queen cells ee 

92 ,, honey crate, Abbott's 
exhibition ... ws 450 

81 ,, in tall and square sec- 
tions.. 403 
64 ay honey crate, cushioned 290 
10 Commercial stock chamber 121 
9 ‘i super ... wee 120 
5 Conqueror hive, single ... 57 
6 t v with cover 57 

26 ‘4 » and winter- 
ing won, OTF 

23 ri Class A, cross 
section see 211 

24 if Class B, cross 
section sae BUI 

25 Class C, cross 
section ven 217 
17 is Double (inset) ... 168 

18 a1 » after ‘turn 
over” ... 168 

55 7 Treble, ground 
plan ... aie. BOR 

56 “1 Double, ground 
oe Au wee 303 
57 Ditto si san 307 
58 Ditto ss, 307 
7 Cowan Hive forcomb ... 97 


" » extracting 97 


8 
9 Covered Apiary, plan of ... 389 
27 Crate with glass sections ... 229 


53 


» forbottles  ... s.. 290 

» simplicity sey ses 229 
» twin (slatted)... see 229 

» With slats sii ses 229 

i » rests ... se. 229 
Drawn comb cutting box ... 247 
" » saw for wee 247 
Dummies, wire excluder ... 465 
Extractor, Cowan automatic 277 
Ditto 277 
Feeders, dry (non- cooking) 165 
Feeder, circular amateur ... 359 
i “little gem” wee 409 

‘ Raynor its wee 359 

5 self-acting frame ... 317 

‘3 a for top... 374 

ie simple float as BLT 
Foundation guide ... ++ 409 
»  fasteningin frames 185 


Frames, Abbott’s grooved... 459 


i self spacing 459 
Commercial 165 
» before Winter 374 


FIG. PAGE 
78 Frames, cmrcl., after Winter 374 
98 ‘3 Hoffman- -Langstroth 459 
14 a Standard ... . 165 
75 * », before Winter 374 
76 ns » after Winter 374 
21 + hanging on bevel... 173 
22 i Pa metal edge 173 
222A, wiring and waxing 184 

100 a spaced 2 distances 459 
35 Gauge box for cutting comb 247 
11 Hive, W.B.C... 139 
1204 Economic, for several . 

queens... 139 
20 4 j and cover... 173 
13, covers,howtocut ... 165 
49 Honey bottles (50, 51, 52) ... 290 

104 ,,_~—s case, fancy (105)... _ 465 

103. ,, + +jar, earthenware... 465 
ye press (48) , ... 287 
67 Mail cage, Benton’s... “843 

100 Metal ends for two spaces... 459 
9! + » W.BC.... see 451 
32 Non-swarming long hive ... 247 
33 s and tiering... 247 

» Con- 

queror hives (23, 45, ae 57 
68 Nucleus hive . » 343 
59 i multiple 317 
94 Nursery, lamp : 451 
go Observatory hive, single 451 

is Lee & Sons ... I. 

Ea Langstroth ... Il. 

fi Taylor’s II. 
59 Queen-rearing in long hives 317 
2 Queen, (3) worker, (4) drone 27 
36 Saw for cutting comb .. 247 

39 Sections, (40, 41) Simmins’ 
halved ... 263 
37 1 (38) Simmins’ three- 

side-cut .. 263 
81 7 tall and square 403 
84 ss and crate (Root’s)... 402 
85 ” Simmins’ glass rail 409 
86 four- -piece 409 
83 Section frame (holders) 403 
82 Separators, fence 402 
87 iy slotted ... 409 
19 Smoker, Bingham 173 
34 Swarm catcher 247 
72 Syrup can, self-acting 359 
45 Uncapping apparatus 237 
44 is knife 277 
69 Wax extractor 343 
22a Wiring foundation... 185 
79 Workshop and store room... 383 


HALF-TONE (INSET) PLATES. 


OPP. 


American Hives, types of... 3 
Author’s Apiary at Heathfield, aaa view of 
i ‘5 < another view 
Bees at Home sia 
Cell Frame with revolving bars.... 
Conqueror Hives, double... 
‘i 5 construction of entrance ... 
Covered Apiary 
Cow, wonderful Jersey 


Die for pressing natural base Queen Cells, with cups and discs... 


Dividing Panel of Double Conqueror Hive (4) 


Foundation, Author’s method of inserting across several sections 


Movable Cell Bases, Author’s original 
Queen-rearing by cross cutting Worker Cells 


Tubular Cages, and Queens caged on natural unsealed stores 


CORRECTIONS. 


479 


For “warm” cells, page 48, 7th line, read “ waxen” cells. 


Medicating with [zal—The quantities given on page 116, 


lower paragraph, have been revised, and the correct mixture 


is given on page I50. 


JAMES LEE & SON 


LIMITED. 


Our Catalogue, post free, gives full 
particulars and price of 


British Weed 


:: Foundation :: 


and in which all 


MODERN BEEHIVES 
AND APPLIANCES 


Manufactured by us are freely illustrated. 


£2 cash orders, carriage paid, except 
Bees and Bottles. 


Head Office and Works: 


GEORGE STREET, UXBRIDGE, MIDDLESEX. 


Showroom: 10, SILVER STREET, BLOOMSBURY, W.C. 
Bee-Farm : FULBOURN, CAMBRIDGE. 


The Two BEE Journals that 
have stood the test of time 


No Bee-keeper can afford to be without one or both of 
these papers, which deal with the most modern and 
advanced methods, and apply science and theory to 
approved and profitable practice. These papers are read 
by all the best Bee-keepers and Traders, and therefore 
prove the most profitable media both for display 
advertisements, and for Sale or Exchange paragraphs. 
Technical matters simply explained, and experiences 
of Bee-keepers in all parts of the world given. Answers 
to correspondents in need of advice, in the columns, a 
speciality. Urgent matters answered by post or telegram. 


The BRITISH BEE JOURNAL 
Established 18738 


Weekly One Penny, post free 6/6 per annum. Zhe Only 
Weekly Bee Paper in the World. Edited by T. W. 
COWAN, F.L.S., F.R.M.S., &c., &c., assisted by W. 
HERROD, F.E.S. Articles, some exclusive and copyright, 
contributed regularly, and answers to correspondents, 
by the best practical writers of the day, including T. W. 
COWAN, D. M. MACDONALD, L. S. CRAWSHAW, 
. N. SMALLWOOD, W. WOODLEY, CoLonet 
H. J. O. WALKER, F. W. L. SLADEN, and “NEMO.” 


The BEE-KEEPERS’ RECORD 
Established 1882 


Monthly Two Pence, post free 2/6 per annum. 

Edited by T. W. COWAN, F.L.S., F.R.M.S., &c., &c., 

assisted by W. HERROD, F.E.S. A Paper written 

by Bee-keepers for Bee-keepers. Regular contributions 

by T. W. COWAN, D. M. MACDONALD, 

WM. McNALLY, W. WOODLEY, and W. HERROD. 
It also contains Association Notes and News. 


Can be obtained of all Newsagents, most 

Secretaries of County  Bee-keepers’ 

Associations, and Touring’ Experts. 

Send us your address on a post card 

and we will post you a specimen copy 
of either free for your inspection. 


Office : 23, BEDFORD STREET, STRAND, LONDON, W.C. 
GG 


The Permanent Cure. 


NUMEROUS COLONIES SAVED. 


Since this disease first appeared S.S. has on no 
. . m occasion offered his widely recognised remedy as 
a cure, without at the same time insisting upon 


the great necessity of recuperative measures being adopted in 
combination. 


NO WINTER LOSSES need occur where stocks are fed up-in 
Autumn with B-well in warm syrup, with a vigorous young queen 
added; (2 teaspoonsful B-well to 8lb. sugar). 


FEED AGAIN EARLY.—From end of February feed slowly 
with B-well in syrup (2 teaspoons to 1olb. sugar, and one-fifth more 
water than usual), Remove, or cover dead bees with chloride of lime. 

o 


INITIAL (SLIGHT) STAGE.—Spray over combs and bees 
when mild, closing entrance with perfoyated zinc for an hour. (No 
discolored or bloated bees in this case.) Two teaspoons to one pint 
warm water. 


FINAL (FATAL) STAGE.—This condition, with bees black 
and hairless, dying rapidly, can be checked by rapid feeding as above, 
and finally cured by changing to young and vigorous queens. 


EMPTY HIVES DRESSED WITH IZAL.—In serious cases 
the bees should be shifted to a hive previously dressed with Izal—one 
part to two parts water. Leave no excess of moisture. Close bees in 
with perforated zinc for 24 hours, liberating at dusk. If warm shade 
entrance meanwhile; if cold, leave in warm room 24 hours, Entrance 
according to strength of colony. (Prepared dressing, 1/6 quart tin.) 


QUILTS REMOVED.—Corroded quilts should be burned and 


clean ones returned soaked in B-well—two teaspoons to one pint water. 


SMALL ENTRANCES are fatal; but do not expose a wide 


entrance to direct winds. 


WINTER FEEDING is only possible in extreme cases by 
inverting jam jar with hot syrup (and B-well) over the cluster, close on 
the bare frames. Cover up to ensure it being taken while warm. 


NO APIARY OR STOCK LOST.—Where above directions are 
followed, and neither black nor dark hybrid bees are retained, no apiary 
and no stock need ever be lost. Numerous rapid recoveries where 
Simmins” Queens have been used. 


B-WELL, 1/6 Bottle; Special Syringe, 2/6; post free, of 
S. SIMMINS, Queenland, Heathfield, Sussex. 


om Spraying to Cure. ve 


If you wish to spray TO CURE disease, use our special Spray- 
Syringe; fill once only for each operation; then spray quickly all 
over top bars of fraines, and bees. 2s. 6d. post free. 


Without fear of the result, and with no shade of. 
hesitation, pass the nozzle to and fro, while forcing. for all you 
are worth,—literally driving the bees down. Cover up quickly, 
closing entrance with perforated zinc for an hour. Time occupied 
under three minutes. To be carried out early morning, or 
evening when mild. Any other form of spraying is just useless 
and accounts for many failures. 


Spray unoccupied combs and dress hives a few days before 
using again. Spray all over front boards and into entrances 
every evening. 


B-WELL—the Premier Germicide—consists of Four powerful 
germicides in combination, while one of these prevents the usual 
constipation found in the I.0.W. disease. Another important item 
compensates for a serious deficiency found with refined sugars, 
making the syrup equal or superior to honey as a bee-food. 


Simmins’ Practically Immune Bees. 


“T introduced some of your Queens during 1913 to black 
stocks dying away with I.0.W. disease, and now they are 
wonderfully strong, and one would say they are the best in the 
apiary.” 

Later :—‘* So far I have kept free from I.0.W. trouble, thanks 
to the splendid qualities of your Queens. Some of these were 


given to small nuclei, and gave 3olb. surplus after building up to 
10 frame stocks.” 
Feb., 1914. A NorFoL_k BEE-KEEPER. 


‘“‘T have lost all my black bees—every stock except those to 


which I gave your W.S. Queens last autumn.” 


Feb., 1914. A WILTSHIRE BEE-KEEPER. 


Numerous other reports are received confirming the above experiences. 


E. H. TAYLOR, 


WELWYN, HERTS. 
= MANUFACTURER 


OF 


Beehives ana 


Appliances, 


INCUBATORS 
and REARERS. 


Hives from 9s. 


LARGE ILLUSTRATED CATALOGUE 
POST FREE. 


STANLEY G. SIMMINS 


(Member of ‘‘ The Poultry Club,” ‘‘Sussex Poultry Club,” ete.), 


BROOMHAM, HEATHFIELD, SUSSEX. 


BREEDER AND EXHIBITOR 


SPECKLED AND LIGHT SUSSEX, 
BUFF, BLUE AND WHITE ORPINGTONS, 
SICILIAN BUTTERCUPS, 


ALSO 


R.C. Rhode Island Reds, Black Leghorns, White 
Leghorns and Aylesbury Ducks, etc. 


Stock Birds, Eggs for Hatching, and Day-old Chicks 
for safe. 


Stock Cockerels, from 7/6 each. Pullets, from 5/- each. 
SATISFACTION GUARANTEED. 


AMERICAN BEEKEEPERS. 


APFRECIATE DIRECT FROM 


“QUEENLAND”—-QUEENS, 
THE ONLY TRUE LINE-BRED QUEENS. 


EXPORT PRICES. 
Tested W.S. Queens - - $3.50 
Select Tested Breeders - - $5.00 


You want to know what American friends say about Simmins’ 
world-renowned direct from “ Queenland ”— 


“WHITE STAR ITALIANS.” 


ENTIRE SATISFACTION. 
“The two W.S. you sent me last year gave me entire satisfaction.” 
Blackstone, Mass. O.F. F. 


WELL PLEASED. 

“The W.S. Queen came to hand in perfect condition. She is 
large and vigorous, and a perfect beauty, I am well pleased with my 
investment. Your shipping cage is admirably suited for sending long 

é distances, and doubtless the bees could have remained another week 
in it in good condition.” D. F. D. 


Ipswich, Mass. 


SURPASSED EXPECTATIONS. 

“The W.S. Pedigree Queen, which you mailed me, arrived in 
splendid condition—not a dead bee in the cage. Sheis a beauty both 
in size and color. To say she surpassed my expectations would be 
putting it feebly.” R. B.M. 


Owensboro, Ky. 


THREE TIMES COMMENDED. 
‘The W.S. Queen we received from you is all that you have 
represented her to be, and we are greatly pleased with her.”—(Sept. 
23rd, 1909). C. & H. 


After Wintering —" Your W.S. has proved such a wonderful suc- 
cess that we have concluded to use none other than your Queens.”— 
(May 21st, 1910). C. & H. 


Five weeks later—‘ Your W.S. of last season beats anything we 
have ever Seen in all our 25 years of experience. Nothing can equal 
your plan of Queen-rearing in our estimation.”—(June 6th, 1910). 


St. Louis, Mo., U.S.A. C. & H. 


True Line Breeding can only be ensured where one Queen only, 
or the daughters of that Queen only, that are all mated to one-queen- 
drones of the same class—are used for producing the breeding males 
for any one season, and the W.S. are the only bees bred in this way. 


, 


SIMMINS’ WONDERFUL PEDIGREE 
“WHITE STAR” QUEENS. 


One Quality—One Price, 10/6 (from May 1st to Sept. Ist). 


Extra rates for March & Oct., 15/-; April & Sept., 12/6. 
Safe arrival anywhere within the British Isles. 


EXPORT: 25 per cent. extra to North America or any part of Europe. 


To Asia, Australia or Japan, 50 per cent. extra. 
} 


So many gratified clients are astonished at the results attained by using 
this, the only strain of true line-bred Queens, that we can publish but 
; a few of the many reports received. 
t 


No Swarming—Cleared out Disease—120 lbs. 


“We adopted your non-swarming plan successfully. The W.S. 
Queen was introduced to a hive of Natives having foul brood last 
autumn, but is now free trom disease and gave 120 Ibs. extracted honey 
this season.” | (Misses) S. & C. 

Bere Alston, September 8th, rorr. 


S.S. Pedigree Stock in Ireland. 


“T got a White Star Queen from you last year, and she has 
surpassed my greatest expectations.” T. J.FS. 
Co. Armagh, May 6th, 1911. 


One Stock and Increase—357 lbs. 


“Your Italian Queen built up to three standard chambers of eleven 
frames each, almost solid with brood, and gave 327 lbs. extracted honey. 
An artificial swarm from same gave. 3olbs., and a further swarm was 
made after surplus was removed.” J. ELL. 

Hunstanton North, August 14th, rgr1. 


That is our aim, anyway ! 
“Your bees have certainly proven themselves to be the best in the 
world.” i Rev. R. W. R. 
Ireland, August 9th, 1909. . € 


Facts versus Blacks. 


“T have worked one of your Queens (W.S.) for three seasons, and 
she seems as fit as ever, and has yielded more than all my Blacks. 
This speaks well for your selection.” A.W. 

Croydon, August 28th, 1910. 


W.S. in 1910. Blacks nowhere. 


“The Italian I had from you was put in a 3-frame zzcleus latter 
part of May. From June 2oth bees covered ten frames. June 30th, 
extracted 20 lbs. honey; July roth, further zolbs. Other s¢ocks of Natives 
doing nothing.” JEL. 

Hunstanton North, August 4th, 1910. 


S. SIMMINS, Queenland, Heathfield, Sussex. 


W.S. Queens and Conqueror Hives. 


A gratified client, who has used S.S. Hanging-chamber Hives for 
some 20 years, writes: “At the middle of May I deprived the W.S. 
stock of a comb of brood and bees to save a Black stock. At the end 
of May I removed another comb of brood. End of June, removed 
seven combs of brood and an artificial swarm. Nevertheless, I have 
extracted solbs. and taken 35 finished sections from the original stock.” 

Eye, Suffolk, October, 1911, Rev. D. D. B 


From One Queen: Five Stocks and 142 lbs. 


“T think they (W.S.) are the most prolific bees I have ever had. 
I have five stocks and 142 lbs. of honey for the season from one Queen.” 


Weak Foul Brood Lot Regenerated and—100 lbs. 

« The second W.S. was introduced to a very weak lot affected with 
foul brood. Nevertheless, she built it up to a very strong colony and 
gave 1oolbs. In spite of the foul brood this became the strongest 
colony I had.” 6 

November goth, 1900. 


W.S. versus Natives. 


“Your W.S. Queens placed by the side of Natives outstripped 
them altogether, both in building up and gathering honey. They did 
splendidly.” H.C. 


Wigston, October 24th, 1911. 


‘After buying a score, 
Must still have more and more. 


“T want to start next season with all W.S. Queens. They are so 
much nicer to handle than Blacks, and the Queens more easily found. 
They cap their honey almost as white as Blacks do.” H.F.S. 

Etherley, September 11th, 1911. 


Sudden Rise in a “Poor District.” 

“The Queen I got from you last year has done well this season. 
She gave 173 lbs. of honey; the largest take ever known in this district, 
which is considered a poor one.’ A.B. 

South Boldon, October 4th, 1911. 


S.S. Method of Breeding does it—190 lbs. 
“ The W\S. (spring stock and its increase) gave 190 lbs. in sections 
by weight.” .M.E 
Ussie Valley, September 5th, 1911. 


First Season with Conquerors and W.S. Bees. 

“Two 6-frame nuclei received May 1oth. June 1st, both booming 
full colonies ; June 2oth, finishing off supers. They exceed for work 
anything I ever had in New Zealand. The 16-in. by 10-in. frames are 
none too large; should have no time for the English ‘Standard.’ One 
hive especially is a colony the like I have never seen before.” J. Y. 

Seven Oaks, June 2oth, 1913. 


Another Progressive Fact. 


“In September, 1907, I gave a White Star Italian to my weakest 
stock; and in the following summer that stock gave me the largest 
amount of surplus, which speaks well for the W.S. strain.” U.W 

Arnold, Notts, March 27th, 1909. 


S. SIMMINS, Queenland, Heathfield, Sussex. 


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