BEE-spoke-data/bees-v0 huggingface dataset:
How different the beekeeping of today, with the movable frame hive by which every part of the interior of a colony of bees can be examined at will, without the destruction of the most tender comb or the life of a single bee! And it is hoped that the instructions in this bulletin will help to bring about a more complete change, that the old-time, unprofitable 'bee gum'' may go, and the modern frame hive take its place everywhere.
THE FARMERS' GRETEST FRIENDS.
Most of the bees in the State are kept on the thousands of Texas farms, each farm containing generally only a few hives, or colonies, of bees, or just enough to supply home demand for honey for the farmers' table if the bees are given the proper eare and attention. To find bees on so many farms is a gratifying circumstance, as there are very few places where several colonies of bees can not be kept profitably, and it is to be hoped that more of the great number of farms where none are kept now will be stocked with a proper supply. No farm is complete without a few colonies of bees that will furnish that most delicious natural sweet, pure honey, that can not be replaced as a most palatable, healthful, nourishing food.
A serious trouble and a great mistake of the majority of farmers, however, is their neglect of these most important of their friends, the honey bees. Nothing suffers more easily from this than these little creatures. They should receive as good care as is given to anything else on the farm. Their value on the farm can not be overestimated.
THE BEES' REAL MISSION.
It is not generally sufficiently understood that honey bees were not only created for the purpose of furnishing mankind with delicious honey, but for another and much more important reason--that of fructifying the flowers visited by them so it may be made possible for these to bear fruit and seeds. The most of our host of plants absolutely require the visits of the honey bees, or other insects, to carry pollen from one flower to another and thereby fertilize the blossoms. Pollen is gathered by bees from flowers and carried to the hives in little bright colored pellets on their hind legs, for food. They must have pollen to prepare the partly digested food with which the ''mg larvae are fed. Inability to secure sufficient pollen causes delayed, or diminished, progress of the colonies of bees. Ordinarily but one kind of flower is visited on a trip when pollen is being gathered. In gathering either pollen or honey the bees come in contact with the pollen grains of the blossoms, which adhere to their hairy bodies and are then carried to other flowers visited by them. In passing from flower to flower some of the pollen grains come in touch with the stigmas of each flower visited, which effects cross fertilization and thorough setting of fruits and seeds. It is thus that the bees pay abundantly, by their services, for the treasures the nectar yielding blossoms offer to them. The exceeding interdependence of flowers and insects and the vast necessity of this has long been recognized by hortieulturists and other authorities.
Honey bees are the most important distributors of pollen of all in sets because they appear in larger numbers, especially early in the season, and their greater activity makes them more useful in the great work they help to perform. It is estimated that the value of honey bees as pollen distributors is far greater to our country than the value of the crops of honey produced. We owe it to honey bees that we have larger quantity and better quality of fine fruit, vegetable and cereal crops than we would otherwise have. Of this there is not the least doubt. Since honey bees are general pollen gatherers, appear in greater numbers, visit a far larger number of blossoms over a greater territory, and do this more thoroughly than any other inset, it is apparent that they are indeed most valuable friends to mankind, a fact that should receive more than passing notice.
In plants or flowers we have sex very similar to that in animals, and it is just as necessary that fertilization take place in these before fruit can be borne or seeds be developed. While both male and female sexes exist in the same flower of many plants, there are some plants in which the male sex exists in one and the female in another flower of the same plant, and in still others each sex is confined entirely to one plant.
In any case the arrangement is so that it is necessary that the pollen grains from the anthers of the male part of one blossom reaeh the stigma of the female part of another where they enter into the ovules within the blossom and complete fertilization, after which the development into fruit or seed follows. Without the pollination of the blossom, fertilization can not take place and the blossom must wither and die instead of bearing fruit. If this phenomenon is kept in mind it is possible to grasp quickly why the agency of the honey bees as pollinators is of immense importance and we can better understand the examples that prove absolutely facts that have been long established, but which are, as yet, well-understood by comparatively few.
some striking examples.
Where many varieties of trees are mixed in an orehard there is less trouble from the lack of proper pollination if the weather is warm and dry and the wind can carry the minute pollen grains from flower to flower; but, even under these conditions, visits of bees make the work more thorough. Such ideal conditions do not always exist. This is especially true where the period of bloom is a long one. It is during conditions not so perfect, when the weather is damp and the pollen is sticky and not so easily blown about, that the journeying back and forth of the insects plays a conspicuous part in the production of harvests of fruit or seeds. It is also apparent that when certain varieties are isolated from others of their kind or when the distance between them is great, or they are in a direction from each other that the wind can not carry the pollen, the chances of pollination are cut off, with the result that there is no setting of fruit. There have been instances where insects were not present, that the side of a tree from which the wind was blowing the pollen bore no fruit, while the other side yielded abundantly, showing how the bees might have aided. Careful investigation has demonstrated beyond a doubt where the agency of the honey bee was not only essential, but absolutely necessary, to insure satisfactory crops.
Even Darwin, the greatest naturalist, recognized, in his time, the value of the honey bees as an important agent in relation to plants when he wisely said: "No bees, no seed. No seed, no increase of the flower. The more visits from the bees the more seeds from the flower. The more seeds from the flower the more flowers from the seeds." This he proved by extensive experiments, and others have done this many times after him. He found in one of his experiments the following results: "Twenty heads of white clover visited by bees produced 2,990 seeds, while twenty heads so protected that bees could not visit them, produced _not one_ seed." The same kind of experiments have been made with strawberries and various other kinds of fruits. Fruit trees that were covered half way with netting, so that the bees could not visit the flowers, bore fruit abundantly on the unprotected parts but none at all, or very little, and that of a very inferior quality, on the other.
## More Bees, better crops.
This shows the importance of keeping a few colonies of bees on every farm, aside from the honey they may yield for their keeping, and it is hoped that this will be appreciated to the extent that not only more bees will be kept, but that they will be kept better.
For the large commercial orchardists, or extensive growers of euumbers, melons, and various other crops, this question is of more importance still. Where large orchards or fields are planted in solid blocks, or where there are a number close together, cross pollination is not satisfactory, on account of the lack of sufficient insects to do the work properly, especially when the main part of the trees, or plants, are in bloom. Therefore, the keeping of honey bees near them is to be encouraged, to increase the quantity as well as the quality of the crops. In one instance the owner of a large orchard did not get any fruit from it for eight years and he was about to dig up the entire orchard. Being advised to try keeping honey bees to fertilize the blossoms, he did so. The result was that he sold thousands of dollars worth of fruit thereafter. The idea of keeping bees in this case was mainly to fertilize the fruit blossoms. But the usual crop of honey yielded by them, aside from the beneficial service rendered, increases their value. Many other instances might be given.
## Do Bees puncture fruit?
It is sometimes stated that honey bees destroy fruit, but this is an erroneous conclusion. Since their mouth parts are not constructed for biting, they are unable to pierce the sound skin of any kind of fruit. They do not appear until birds, wasps, or some other agency breaks the skin and causes the juices to exude; then they only come to gather up the wasting juices from the bruised fruit. They do no harm whatever to fruits. Many experiments in which sound fruits, apples, pears, peaches, bunches of grapes, etc., were placed for days in hives of bees from which all other food was kept, prove absolutely and conclusively that honey bees can not puncture the skin of sound fruit even if they are starving for want of food.
## 6 Poison sprays and bees.
Since the spraying of fruit trees and other plants is coming more and more into practice, it is well to mention here briefly some points of value to both fruit growers and others, as well as to beekeepers. It goes without saying that a poison spray on the open blossoms frequented by honey bees may have a fatal effect on these friends of ours. Careful experiments have shown that all spraying should be done before the blossoms open or after they have ceased to bloom. It has been found that it is not necessary to spray during the period when the blossoms are in full bloom, and this should be remembered by all who may have occasion to spray. Do not kill off your best friends--the honey bees. In many States laws exist that prohibit spraying during the blooming period, for the purpose of protecting bees and other beneficial insects. Good judgment should induce everyone to use necessary precautions and prevent the killing of these most valuable aids, even though restricting laws do not exist.
## 7 Bekeeping profitable.
When conducted along legitimate business lines and with proper knowledge of requirements, beekeeping is a profitable business for the amount of capital invested. The foundation of suecess is a good location, as a great deal depends upon locality. The situation must be well suited for beekeeping, with sufficient honey yielding flora of the right kind to insure paying crops. A good stock of bees is also a prime essential. With these and the exercise of knowledge of what to do and when to do it, no industry can be placed on a more stable basis than the bee business.
A few colonies may be kept in almost any location with comparatively little time and attention and the work may be done during spare moments. As a vocation apiculture demands the entire time of the beekeeper, and it should be borne in mind that success in the bee business can not be obtained without thought, energy and hard work.
It is difficult to state just what profits may be obtained, since honey yields per colony depend very largely upon locality, the man, the condition of the bees and the number of colonies of bees already in the district. While only enough forage for a few colonies may exist in some places, a much larger number may be supported in others. The beginner should not be mislead and base his figures for the future on the large yields of honey he is securing from a few colonies, as the average yield diminishes with the increase of the number of colonies kept in a place. While it is not unusual to obtain one hundred pounds, or more, per colony in many locations during favorable years, the average in dry seasons may be very much less, or an entire failure may result and necessitate feeding the bees to save them from starvation. Although this is rather rare in most localities, it is better to guard against such possible failures than to be carried away by alluring calculations that make bekeeping appear as a source by which one may become quickly rich.
Sixty-five pounds of surplus, of both eomb and extracted honey per colony, is a fair yield for the average beekeeper, and an average of about nine cents a bound for both together is a remunerative price for which it may be sold. From the $6 worth of honey and wax obtained from each colony ought to be deducted approximately 25 per cent to cover the expense of production, interest on capital invested and depreciation from wear of the supplies and appliance in use. While the net profit of $4.50 per colony may tempt beginnps to plunge into beekeeping without due preparation, they are cautioned not to do so, since one must begin slowly, grow into the business and expand as experience may warrant, or failures are the sure results.
With only a few colonies, the matter of labor is not very important, and to allow 25 per cent for it would be rather high. In such instances there would be a greater relative profit; but, if large numbers of colonies are kept, the labor must be taken carefully into account, since it become quite an item. It becomes necessary to employ additional labor when large apiaries are to be managed, since the work and running expenses increase as the number of these becomes larger.
## How many colonies for a living?
This question has been asked many times, and is a hard one to answer. While some persons are possessed of superior executive ability and can manage 1,000 colonies, or more, of bees profitably, the majority do not succeed with more than a few hundred. Assuming that the questioner has carefully begun with only a few colonies and has grown into the business so he understands it thoroughly, he ought to have no difficulty in managing 500 colonies in several apiaries. Of course, it will be necessary to employ extra help during the main part of the season ; but, by doing so, more can be aecomplished than by the bekeeper working single-handed.
The average yield per colony would perhaps hardly be as high ; but, during a normally favorable year, the figures used above ($6 worth of honey and wax per colony) should not be too high. In less favorable seasons the output would be less, as a matter of course.
Allowing $5 per colony, the total yield of 500 colonies would be $2,500. Less the 25 per cent for operation and other expenses, the net income from them would be about $1,875. While these figures are only estimated, they will serve, at least, as a guide in determining, approximately, the possible income from any number of colonies. Due allowance should be made for the favorableness, or the unfavorableness, of the year, however, and proper consideration given to the location and the forage where the bees are situated, and last, but not least, the kind of eare and attention the bees receive on the part of their owner. All these are factors that determine whether the bee business is profitable or not.
## Who may keep bees?
Bees may be kept in many places and by many persons and in the city as well as in the country. They may be kept either in a small way, or on a more extensive scale, for both pleasure and profit. Any person who possesses the interest, energy, ability and will-power to apply himself earnestly and intelligently to the pursuit may adopt bekeeping and be rewarded not only by the direct profits made, but in the pleasure, the enthusiasm and the fascination that attaches to it and the better health from outdoor exercise it affords.
## farm beekeping.
It is but natural that beekeping prevails to the greatest extent on farms; at the same time there are a great many farms that have no colonies of bees, for the reason, perhaps, that the value of keeping them has been overlooked, or, it may be, fear of handling them or, even, having them on the place. The fact is, that it is not nearly so difficult a task to keep at least a few colonies of them on every farm as some people imagine and their intrinsic value ought to cause it to be done. There is nothing nicer than being able to supply the table with delicious, ripe honey right from one's own hives. To provide the family with this healthful and nutritious food is a duty which every farmer, as the head of his household, should feel himself obligated to perform. The honey produced should not, by any means, be the only item of value considered, although it is a good source of revenue: the great value of bees as fertilizing agents is of still more importance and in many instances should be the deciding reason for keeping them on the farm.
Even the resident in town or city is not barred from enjoying the pleasures derived from keeping a few colonies of bees. More than that, many extensive beekeepers, the writer among them, enjoy both the conveniences of city life, while the bees, kept in the city, or scattered far and wide over the country, afford all the pleasures connected with the pursuit. If there is no suitable place in the baek varied where they may be kept, there may be an empty lot or an out-of-the-way corner on some neighbor's place nearby, which might be rented or obtained for the purpose by some satisfactory arrangement.
A colony or two may be kept in an upstairs room or the attic, or a small apiary be maintained on the roof of a building. There are many such roof apiaries in even our largest cities. As a last resort, it may be feasible to locate the bees somewhere in the outskirts of the city, especially where the street cars can be used to go to and from the apiary. Out-aparies by the dozen are kept by the writer, ranging in distance from the city from two to nearly two hundred miles away. But no matter where the bees may be located, they provide a great deal of recreation for the person in the city whether he wishes them for a "hobby," a "side issue," or to make beekeeping a sole business.
## 6 Beekeeping for women.
The avocation offers fine opportunities for women beekeepers, of which there are a great number. Most of the work is light and easy and especially well adapted for their hands, while the heavier work can be done by stronger hired help. The pursuit provides a great deal of pleasure and profit, and the outdoor exercise in the pure air and sunshine promote better health. Thus, many women who suffered ill health or were feeble and weak, have been restored to health and made robust by following bekeeping. For busy housewives, and others, too, who need oeeasional rest and recreation, there is nothing better than these "'pets' to occasionally take their minds away from their daily eares and worry.
As a specialty, bekeeping is very profitable for either man or woman, if proper attention is given to it. It would be folly to try to pursue it as a business in a poor locality, or to attempt to get satisfactory results if managed in anything short of a business-like manner. Effort to do so is what has caused many failures in bekeeping.
## making a beginning.
There are many ways in which, a person may start bekeeping and this is one reason why so many questions are asked regarding how a beginner may best start out in this new field. Others make a beginning without any questions and work themselves in, as it were, while still others plunge heavily into the new undertaking on a large scale, only to discover later that they are not capable of handling it properly and, as a result, find themselves, often at the end of a single season, without any bees, but in possession of a lot of empty hives. Some valuable but costly experience is the only remuneration obtained. It is in such instances that bekeeping is pronounced a failure when, in reality, the blame rests on the operator. To be successful in bekeeping one must make up his mind to go slowly, be willing to read, and think and study, and be content with only a few colonies until experience permits an increase in numbers. It is the really interested energetic, industrious, and hustling person, who has his mind on his business, studies everything pertaining to the subject, observes carefully and does things, that will make a successful bekeeper in the truest sense of the word.
The very first thing that should be procured is one, or more, books on bekeeping, which should not only be read, but studied to become well posted, or "'book learned" as some call it, before getting the bees. This will familiarize a beginner with the mysteries of the hives and the care of the bees and the appliances required, and fit him to intelligently undertake apiculture when bees are proeured.
Besides the large number of books on bekeeping there are published numerous excellent bee journals. Often the information gained from a single article is worth more than the price of a year's subscription. All beekeepers of any importance subscribe for not only one, but several, bee journals, as it is impossible to keep up with the times and make a success of the business without reading them. For this reason, it is always advocated that at least one or more bee journals subscribed for as soon as, or even before, the bees are obtained, in addition to getting books, as already advised.
A profitable way to begin in bekeeping is to visit successful beekeepers and, if possible, arrange to learn under them. It is a good plan to engage with such for a season's work, in order to gain knowledge of the art. It is really the best way to make a beginning.
Above all, it should be remembered that the start should be made with only a few hives and the number of colonies be increased as experience gained will allow. Go slow at first and do not plunge into bekeeping. It does not pay.
It should also be borne in mind that there is not only a bright side to the avocation, but that in it, as in everything else, unfavorable conditions may be encountered and short honey crops, or even failures. may be the result after the very best efforts in some years.
## Handling bees.
Persons not acquainted with the habits of bees will feel as if the most important thing to have before getting the bees is a suit of armor. This is not as important as many persons imagine; but, with most bees, proper protection of the face and hands is decidedly desirable; and, although some experienced beekeepers claim that they never use veils and gloves, they are to be recommended, especially for beginners, to guard against mishaps that might end seriously. Some races of bees are more easily handled than others and some persons find all bees hard to manipulate, which is more a fault of theirs than the bees. Persons who are naturally afraid of bees incite their anger to a certain extent by their actions, while those who show no fear are rarely ever stung. Patience, care and good judgment are necessary in managing bees to advantage. The best time to handle them is during the middle of warm days and never at night or during cold or wet days, unless absolutely necessary. All that is required is a good smoker and a good veil to protect the face. It is not so necessary to wear gloves, and it takes but a short time to acquire sufficient confidence to run the risk of a few stings on the hands rather than have the inconvenience of any covering that interferes with the free use of the fingers. For the beginner, or timid person, cotton gloves with long wrists are preferable. These are made with, or without, fingers and, while not absolutely sting proof, are cheaper and more comfortable than rubber gloves.