BEE-spoke-data/bees-v0 huggingface dataset:
**Buy** Meadows' patent " Raynor Extractor " (20s.) as soon as you have any quantity of honey to extract. Take some of the shallow frames in which all the cells are sealed ; have a carving-knife as sharp as possible, a narrow jug fall of hot water, and plunge the knife in the hot water ; pare off the cappings with the knife (carefully keeping these), put two frames in the machine, and turn quickly enough to throw out the honey, but not to break the comb ; then reverse the frames, and the honey will flow from the other side. It is sometimes advisable to extract from the frames of the body hives, but not if there is brood in them.
**Extract** at a distance (if possible) from the hives, in a room into which the bees cannot penetrate; return extracted comb at night. A Bingham knife is good, price 1s. 9\(d\). Honey must not be bottled at once; it needs time to clear.
**Drain** from extractor into a can of the size according to need; pass the honey through a funnel bag (some people prefer a cream cloth) on the valve of the extractor, or spread out on the top of the can.
If kept in a temperature over \(80\,^{\circ}\) Fahrenheit, it will soon be fit for bottling, but the thin honey floating on the top should be given to the bees, and not bottled. Cleanse extractors and cans thoroughly with boiling water before use and when done with. 1-lb. bottles for holding extracted honey cost from \(10s.\)\(6d.\) a gross. Serew tops are useful, but more expensive.
**Feeding** is often essential to success. If we take away surplus honey, we must feed when there is no honey. In January, February, and March place one or two pounds cakes of soft candy under the quilt of any hive short of food; these can be purchased very cheaply. In spring (from the end or middle of March), stimulate breeding by giving thin syrup (see recipe at end). The queen, finding food coming in, will lay, and the stock become strong before the clover or lime harvest. Put the bottle on the hive in the evening, and give the food warm. Should a spell of cold weather occur when the bees are increasing rapidly, feed liberally. In a cold, bad year, when the hives are full of bees and there is little food, liberal feeding may be needed to keep the bees alive. In autumn (early in September), feed gently to induce the queen to lay; before the frost sets in, give (by rapid feeders) food enough to carry the bees through the winter (see recipe at end), if their own supplies are at all short.
**Robbing** is a favourite and dangerous pastimeof the bee if food is scarce. Honey or syrup spilt about or easy of access, soon rouses the robbing instinct. Avoid anything of the kind ; carefully cover, all feeders. When the honey**harvest** is over, narrow the entrances ; on any sign of robbing, lean a strip of glass 6 inches by 4 against the entrance, allowing the bees to pass out at either end. Place a piece of rag moistened with carbonic solution against the glass, and, if the attack continues, spray the solution on the alighting-board.
**Foul brood** is the **worst** disease to which bees are subject. It is very contagious, yet is not likely to appear in any healthy hive in which **naphthalene** has been placed.* Cut two balls in half and place on the floor-board near the corners. Beware of giving more! If some of the cells are sunk, look dark, are apparently broken, and contain putrid coffee-coloured matter, there is foal brood. Send a postcard to the Agricultural Department, Whitehall, London, asking for their leaflet on "Foul Brood," and proceed accordingly, or consult the local expert, or larger works. In weak hives, if there is much disease, destroy bees (by sulphur), the combs, frames, and quilt (by fire). Scrape and clean the inside of the hive, scrubbing it afterwards with boiling water and soap. When the hive is partly dry, wash with carbonic acid solution (1 oz. acid to the pint warm water), and then expose to the open air. Medicare all syrup (if there is fear of foal brood) with naphthol Beta.+ Keep foal brood away with naphthalene and naphthol Beta ; dysentery (made known by stains on the combs and floor-board), by clean, dry hives and good food. Damp is a deadly enemy to bees ; keep your hives always rainproof and dry. Damp quilts and coverings should be exchanged for others free from damp.
**Winter strong stocks** only ; unite weak stocks in September, putting two or three together. See that the bees cover five or six frames at least. But there must be empty cells to cluster upon, and there must be a good supply (20 to 30 lbs.) of sealed food. Add small pieces of naphthalene at the bottom. Put division boards each side of frames ; fill empty spaces (if any) on either side with bags of chaff, drugged, paper, or long dry straw. Place the frames 1\(
rac{1}{4}\) inch apart from centre to centre. Above the frames and under the calico cover (or American cloth) put two pieces of wood \(
rac{1}{2}\) of an inch square, \(
rac{1}{2}\) of an inch apart, that the bees may pass_over. On the calico or other cover place several quilts of flannel or carpet. Some recommend a chaff cushion. A wooden case with canvas bottom fitting the hive, and filled with chaff, or cut straw, or cork dust, keeps the hive warm and dry. Add a piece of naphthalene among the quilts to keep away insects. See that the top and the hive are weatherproof. The entrances may be open 4 to 6 inches wide. If the bees are at all short of food, put flour candy over the cluster under the quilts in January, February, and March. Candy medicated with naphthol Beta (p. 13) can easily be bought.
In **uniting,** bring hives very gradually together ; open the hives; sprinkle all the bees with thin syrup seated with a little peppermit ; give a little
**smoke;**: insert combs with brood alternately in the centre; fill up the ends with combs containing honey, and close the top. Some use naphthalene in both hives, or dredge both lots with flour to make the accent uniform.
**In removing**, great care is needed. Don't move hives above \(2\cdot\)or \(3\) feet a day, unless their new home is more than \(2\) miles distant. The hives with new combs should not \(bq\) sent by rail, unless the combs are wired. Secure frames by tight-fitting wedges, and place perforated zinc on top and at the entrances. Remove quilts and cover to prevent suffocation.
**Don't waste wax**, but keep all cappings and pieces in a covered pan. Place small quantities in a fine sieve over a pan of water--put this into the oven; the heat will melt the wax, which will pass through the sieve, leaving impurities behind. For large quantities, buy Gerster's wax-extractor (useful also for holding cappings from the combs), price \(10\)s. \(6d\).
**Keep away (1) Ants** by paraffin or turpentine rubbed round the legs of the hive; (2) wasps, by narrowing the entrances in autumn; (3) the wax moth, by strong stocks; (4) earwigs, by small prices of naphthalene among the quilts. The **best books** are "Modern Bee-Keeping," 6d. published by the B.B.K.A., 17, King William Street, Strand, and by Longmans & Co.; Cowan's " Guide-Book" (Houston & Sons), \(1\)s. \(6d\). (many of the details above are from these books); Cowan's " Honey-Bee" (the physiology of the bee) (Houston & Sons), \(1\)s. \(6d\).; Cheshire's " Bee-Keeping," \(2\) vols. (Upcott & Gill).
**The art is always advancing, and the detailsare endless. Beside these books, buy weekly the _B. B. Journal_ or _Record_ monthly (v. p. 3).
The following recipes are from the "GuideBook."
**Bpring food.--** Lump cane sugar, 10 1bs.; water, 7 pints ; vinegar, I oz.; salt, 1 oz.; adding naphthol Beta (v. p. 18), directions are sent with it) if foul brood is feared. Boil for a few minutes.
**Autumn food.--**White lump cane sugar, 10 1bs.; water, 5 pints; vinegar, I oz.; salt, 1 oz. Boil as before.
**Provide water** (with a little salt added to each pint) if there is none near. Invert a glass jar filled with water on a plate, and put it near the hives.
**Clean the hives** in spring (April or May), lifting the body box, scraping the floor-board and sweeping it, adding a little naphthalene ; or, better still, put the frames and bees into a clean hive, clean and paint the old one, then use it for another stock.
In winter, cleanse and scald all spare hives and floor-boards, and keep old combs carefully in a hive, or wrapped in paper with a little naphthaline added. If there is a bee-room, fumigate all hives, combs, etc., with burning sulphur to Kill disease.
Secret or Success.
Strong stocks, patience, gentleness, sound simple hives, freedom from foul brood, thorough knowledge, gradual progress, a good locality, and a good season.
This book is due on the date indicated below and is subject to an overdue fine as posted at the circulation desk.
EXCEPTION: Date due will be earlier if this item is RECALLED.
200M/09-98-981815
## Appendix BEGINNER's BEC BOOK
**Preface**
**In writing this book the author has answered such questions as are put to him in the hundreds of letters that come to his desk from every part of our own country and from many foreign lands. There is a constantly increasing interest in bekeeping. Men and women in large numbers are looking to bekeeping as a possible source of livelihood, while others find an interesting diversion from routine duties with a few colonies of bees. The novice wants a book that covers the fundamental without going too much into detail regarding the various systems of honey production. This book is designed to meet such a need, and does not pretend to cover the whole field of bekeeping. The business is too complicated to make possible anything more than a casual introduction in a book of this size. Those who desire to make a more extended study, will find " ProductiveBeekeeping," by the same author, or some similar book, of assistance in pursuing the subject further.
It has been the author's aim to set down only such facts as will be of practical value to the beginning beekeeper in producing and marketing honey. The author has had practical experience in the commercial production of honey. His work as State Apiarist of Iowa and as Associate Editor of _The American Bee Journal,_ has given him opportunity to visit many of the most extensive beekeepers in the United States and Canada, and to observe the various systems of honey production which are profitably followed.
Nothing is included here which it is not believed will stand the test of general usage under a variety of conditions.
Frank C. Pellett.
Hamilton Ilinois,
April, 1919.
List of Illustrations
The Queen, the Drone, and the Worker. _Frontispiece_
1. A Good Smoker.
2. The Value of the Hive Tool is Far Above Its Cost.
3. It is Easy to Remove Honey from the Hive by Pricing a Bee-escape under the Super.
4. Honey is Extracted by Placing the Combs in the Baskets and Revolving Them Rapidly.
5. The Langstroth Frame.
6. The Ilievbody is Like an Empty Box.
7. Ilievbody With Frames in Place.
8. Hive for Production of Honey in Sections, or Comb Honey.
9. Hive for Producing Extracted Honey.
10. A Good Brood Comb as a Result of a Full Sheet of Foundation.
11. A Comb Composed Largely of Drone Cells as a Result of a Narrow Starter.
11. Full Sheet of Foundation in Wired Frame, Ready for the Bees
11. Different Methods of Using Foundation in Sections.
11. The Thin Sheets of Wax Are Impressed With the Cell Bases of Proper Size to Induce the Bees to Build Worker Combs.
12. Queen Cells Produced by the Cell Cup Method.
13. The Queen Excluded Prevents the Queen from Passing into the Super.
14. Hive Divided into Three Compartments for Mating Queens
## Chapter 1 attractions of bekeeping
Beekeepers as a class are very enthusiastic about their occupation. The successful beekeeper who is not an enthusiast is an exception and there is no class which welcomes new recruits more warmly or gives the secrets of the business more freely. One who having once attended a typical convention of beekeepers, or a field day, does not feel something of this animated interest commonly spoken of as " bee fever," is never likely to become a honey producer.
Beekeeping has some decided advantages over poultry, gardening, fruit growing, or other light occupations often spoken of as in the same class. The first advantage is that no special situation is necessary. If the bees are within flying distance of nectar-producing flowers they can be kept almost anywhere. It is surprising in what unpromising places bees are to be found. An occasional hive will be found in the attic with an opening through a window sash, or on the roof when there is no more convenient place for them. **R**oof apiaries are not uncommon in the cities. The author has visited many back lot apiuries in various cities and has found that many of them are the source of several hundred dollars of yearly revenue. By placing the bees at the back end of the lot and facing the entrances away from the street there is seldom complaint of annoyance of neighbors, especially when a gentle strain of Italian bees is kept.
Another great advantage of beekeeping lies in the fact that one can so plan his work that a day's absence from home does not result in disaster or inconvenience. In fact, at some sea sons of the year, the bees need little attention for days or weeks at a time. Poultry must be fed daily, while the bees gather their own food. Business or professional men or women who are looking for a light occupation to take them into the open air will find just the thing in caring for a few bees. On stormy days when it is unpleasant to go out, the bees are better for being undisturbed. The work is mostly clean and light, just the kind of work that should engage the attention of one who is tired from office work.
The product of the apiary is ready to serve when it is taken from the hive and needs no special preparation on the part of the housewife. This fact is too often overlooked in comparing the price of honey with other foodstuffs. If the housewife who buys the family groceries will take account of all the time spent in preparing fruits, vegetables, etc., for the table and add the cost of fuel for cooking them, she will find that honey is a very economical food to serve as frequently as her family can enjoy it.
The Busy Bees.--The activities of the bees are sufficient in themselves to attract many people, even though there was no profit to be made from the production of honey. On bright days when one most enjoys being in the open air, the bees are tremendously active. There will be a great bustle and hurry about the hive that makes one feel like sitting in the grass and watching them for hours at a time. There is something of mystery, also, in the little community where many thousand active little creatures live together in perfect harmony, all bent on the one aim of piling up as much honey as possible while the nectar is abundant in the fields. When the workers are no longer of use to the community they receive no consideration from their busy sisters, but are permitted to drag themselves off to die alone. If they are slow about leaving the hive they are often dragged out, as there is no place for the decrepit and the infirm in the economy of the bee. When the season is over the drones are no longer likely to be useful in the fertilization of virgin queens, they are also driven out without mercy to die of cold or hunger in the open air. On chill autumn days little groups of disconsolate drones huddled together beside the hive are a common sight. When they are no longer permitted to return to the warmth of the cluster they gather into little bunches to get such comfort as they can from each other.
While we may not be pleased with their conduct toward the helpless members of the community, we cannot but admire the singleness of purpose with which they pursue their daily activities. Seldom do we find a student of nature but sooner or later becomes interested in bees and since there is so much to be learned concerning them it is usually a lifelong attraction.
Beginner's Bee book
Bekeeping for Women.--The woman who keeps bees does not have problems that are essentially different from those which confront a man. Many women are engaged in honey production successfully, and while there is some work for which she is not physically adapted, such as putting the bees into the cellar, where they are wintered in that way, it is usually possible to have such heavy work done by men or boys.
Bekeeping can be developed to occupy one's entire time for the year or merely the summer season, as best suits one's inclination and opportunity.
## Chapter 1 Outlook for bekeeping
The outlook for bekeeping was never better than it is now. Greater prosperity for an agricultural specialty has always come with its general development over a large scope of country. This has been notably true of the dairy industry which formerly returned but a small part of the revenue that it does to-day.
Beekeeping as a business is very new, so new in fact that many people do not yet realize that bekeeping offers an opportunity as an exclusive occupation. It is only within the past half century that honey production has become commercially possible and but a very few years have passed since the first agricultural college established beekeeping as a regular part of its curriculum. Within the recent months manymore agricultural colleges have added this subject to their regular work.
The total output of the apiaries of the entire country probably does not amount to more than a pound or two of honey per capita for the population of the country, while many times the amount of sugar is consumed by the public. This fact should offer assurance that there is no immediate danger of over-production if the beekeepers use good business methods in the development of markets.
Food Value of Honey.--In a recent bulletin by the Food and Dairy Department of Iowa, it--has been shown that for actual food value, honey is one of the cheapest of foods. While with most foods, a large part of the bulk is waste which adds neither fuel to warm the body nor rebuilds dead tissue, the bees have removed most of the waste from honey, so that it is nearly all consumed within the body. When its actual food and fuel value is considered, it is
reason its use has been neglected by many, who have substituted the cheaper corn syrups so widely advertised. When it is considered that these low-priced substitutes are low in sweetening value and also injurious to the digestive system, it will only require that the public be informed of the facts to restore honey to its former popularity as a food product.
The establishment of courses in beekeeping in so many agricultural colleges will tend to popularize its use, since its merits will be investigated and made known by the domestic science departments as well as apiculturalists.
Beekeeping a Specialty.--Beekeeping is becoming more and more a specialty. While there are still thousands of professional people who keep a few bees as a diversion, the bees under the apple tree on the general farm are becoming fewer every year. The spread of disease is largely responsible for this condition. While it is not difficult for the well-trained be keeper to deal with bee diseases, bees that receive no attention, other than to give them a super for surplus in the spring and to remove it in the fall, sooner or later fall victims to adverse conditions.
While bekeeping is not difficult, bees can never be profitable without intelligent attention. Those who are devoting their attention to bee culture are receiving as large returns as those who follow other agricultural specialties and the work is no more trying nor is the risk any greater.
In few localities are there bees enough to gather the nectar in the fields, most of which now goes to waste. While good bee pasture is not plentiful in an occasional limited locality, there are many places where commercial orcharts are offering some inducement for beekeepers to locate within reach of their orchards, because of the better fruit crops that will result from the increased number of insectsamong the blossoms. There are untold hundreds of good locations that will support profitable apiaries in any one of several of the northern states and perhaps as good openings in many of the southern states. In only a few states has beekeeping been commercially specialized, although the development bids fair to be much more rapid in the very near future.
Possible Development.--There are nen of limited observation who are breaking into print with a warning against a possible overproduction of honey. Their arguments are very weak, and it is safe to say that the present output might be doubled two or three times over before there would be any danger of overproduction. As an example of the possibilities of market development, it is only necessary to point to the growth of the orange business during the past few years. Concerning the growth of that industry Mr. R. C. Gano, in the _American Bee Journal,_ writes as follows:
load was ready for shipment it knew from its agents where to send it to get a good price. Fear of over-production soon became a thing of the past.
During the first five years of the Exchange's operation the citrus crop increased 255 per cent, from 1900 to 1905 it increased 71.7 per cent, from 1905 to 1910 it increased 10.9 per cent, and from 1910 to 1914 it increased 48.5 per cent. Two hundred million dollars is now invested in this industry in California.
The development of the markets can be expected to keep pace with the growth in production, at least until such a time as the amount of honey produced equals the output of many minor articles of food not in general demand. When we consider the enormous development of which the beekeping industry is capable, there is certainly no need of being alarmed about over-doing it, while still much less than one per cent. of the available honey harvest is being gathered. To the author's way of thinking there is no better opportunity for the man of limited means in the whole agricultural field than is offered by beekeping.
## Chapter 3 The honey bee family
With all the multitude of species of insects, man has been able to adapt very few to his own immediate needs. Hundreds of insects render an indirect service, such as the pollination of blossoms, and a few have been used for food, as John ate locusts in the wilderness. Because of the social habit whereby thousands of bees live together in a single community and lay up a common store of honey, man has been able to provide them with a suitable home, in the live, and so to manipulate the combs which they build as to greatly increase the amount of honey stored and to profit thereby. By the prevention of swarming at the time when the honey harvest is at its best, by reducing the number of non-producing drones which the colony is permitted to raise and by improving the strain by selecting queens from the most vigorous stock, it is possible to secure several times the amount of surplus that could be taken from bees in the old-fashioned box hive or gum, managed on the let-alone plan.
Other insects, such as ants, termites, etc., have formed communitites and live from a common store. However, none of the others are of direct service to man as is the bee. For centuries their habits have been studied and much still remains to be learned concerning them.