BEE-spoke-data/bees-v0 huggingface dataset:
_Camiolian bees_. A race of bees peculiar to Carniola, in Austria.
_Cell_. The hexagonal division in which brood develops or honey is stored.
_Chyle food_. Food elaborated by the bees for feeding brood.
_Chryscalis_. The last stage of the life-history, before the perfect insect
**energes. More correctly termed " pupa."**
_Colony._ **A swarm of bees ; several bees with one queen.**
_Comb foundation._ **An artificially prepared sheet of wax, stamped with the beginning of cells.**
_Comb honey._ **Honey as produced by the bees ; usually prepared in small boxes, called "sections."**
_Cyprian bee._ **A yellow bee similar to the Italian, native of Cyprus.**
_Division board._ **A small board, the same size as a frame, used to contract the size of a live.**
_Entrance blocks._ **Small pieces of wood used to contract the hive entrance.**
_Extracted honey._ **Liquid honey** **extracted from the combs with a centrifugal machine.**
_Extractor._ **A machine for removing honey from the comb without injury to the latter.**_Feeder_. A receptacle for the syrup used for feeding bees.
_Fixed frames_. Frames automatically spaced the right distance apart.
_Foul brood_. A malignant bee disease.
_Frame_. Four small bars of wood nailed together to hold one comb.
_Honey comb_. The double layer of cells in which bees rear brood or store honey. Worker comb has 28 cells to the square inch, each side. Drone comb has 16.
_Honey knife_. A double edged, bevelled knife for removing the cell cappings of comb, to allow of the extraction of the honey.
_Hybrids_. A term incorrectly applied to a cross breed.between such varieties as black bees and Italians.
_Italian bee_. The bee of northern Italy, erroneously termed Ligurian.
_Italianizing_. Changing a colony of bees from the common sort to Italians,
the Langstroth, but " sitting" instead of " hanging" in the hive ; size 182 inches by 114 inches. Ripe honey. Honey that has been closed up in the cells and is sufficiently thick not to ferment. Robbing. Bees invading other hives to rob ; done only when flowers are scarce. Royal jelly. Food elaborated by the bees for feeding young queens. SectionA small frame to hold a pound of honey in the comb. SeparatorA thin slip of wood or tin, placed between the sections to insure regular comb building. Solar extractorA wooden tin-lined box, used to melt wax with the heat of the sun. StarterA small piece of comb foundation inserted as guide to the bees in comb building. SuperA box for holding sections above the brood chamber.
_Swam._ A large number of bees, led by a queen, who leave the hive and settle on a branch near by.
_Tested queen._ One whose progeny show pure markings.
_Transferring._ The operation of removing bees from a box to a modern hive.
_Unripe honey._ Thin honey not sufficiently evaporated.
_Wax._ A fatty substance extracted by the bees from honey or sugar. It is supposed that only young bees make wax.
_Worker bee._ An undeveloped female bee, often erroneously termed a " neuter."
_Worker egg._ A female (fertilised) egg, which will produce either a worker or a queen according to the food administered by the bees.
## Order for 6 hives for extracted or liquid honey.
* $ c.
* $ two-story no frame hives for extracted honey... 8^:$o
* $ Cowan honey extractor......... 10^:$o
* $ lbs. light weight brood foundation...... 4^:$o
* $ Bingham smoker......... 75
* $ Veil............ 50
* $ Swarm catcher......... 80
* $ pair bee gloves (not rubber)......... 50
### $ 25^45
####.1.1 N.1. -This is an ideal outfit for a beginner.
####.1.2 Order for 25 hives.
$ c.
* $ one-and-a-half stories for comb honey no frame... 35^o
* $ extracting supers with frames $ g$in. deep... 75o
* $ lbs. brood foundation light weight...... 11^:$o
* $ lbs. extra thin foundation for sections... 5^:$o
* $,oo Sections......... 6^:$o
* Cowan extractor......... 10^:$o
* Daisy foundation fastener (without lamp)... 7o
* Bingham uncapping knife......... 7o
* Comb bucket............ 1^:$2
* Boardman solar wax extractor......... 7^:$o
* $o Tinker honey boards for 10 frame hives... 2^:$o
* $ Porter bee escape boards......... 1^:$o
* $o Shipping cases for sections......... 1^:$o
* $ Smoke engine (Bingham)......... 1^:$2
* Foundation roller........... 15
* $o Simplicity feeders......... 50
* $ Globe bee veil............ 1^:$o
* Book, _A. B. C. of Bee Culture_ or Cook's _Manual_, or Langstroth _on the Honey.Bee_...... 1^:$2
* $ lb. of tinned wire............ 25
* Bee brush............ 15
* Bee gloves (not of rubber)......... 50
* $ lo start 25 hives, at least five swarms of bees ought to be purchased. These will usually cost $i each.
# Bee-keeping in Victoria,
3 1924 003 053 935The 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/cu31924003053935](http://www.archive.org/details/cu31924003053935)
Blossom of Yellow Box Eucalypt. A 2.
## Appendix A (' E.
This Bulletin, into which are collected the articles on Bee-Keeping which have appeared in the _Journal of Agriculture_ from January, 1912, to April, 1915, is not intended to take the place of a text book of Bee Culture, but as a guide that should enable the reader to employ profitably such of the information as is contained in the standard works of other parts of the world, and has been approved of as suitable by the practical experience of Australian apiarists.
I am afraid that an immense amount of effort and time has bee! and is still being wasted in attempts to follow the methods and practices of other countries, which however successful where they originated are often quite unsuitable for our Australian seasons and flora.
Bearing this in mind, and aware that the searcher for knowledge is often confused and bewildered by the mu'tiplicity of advice given and choice offered, much of the matter not essential to the successful practice of Bee-Culture usually found in Bee Books has been entirely omitted, and of numerous methods only those best suited to Australian conditions are given.
The illustrations are from original photographs, with the exception of three, reproduced from Root's _A B C of Bee-Culture_.
'The honey flora of Victoria is not included in the present publication ; it is being dealt with in a series of articles appearing in the _Journal of Agriculture_, and when complete will also be published as a separate Bulletin.
F. R. BEUHNE,See-Keeping in Victoria.
_By F. R. Benhne, Government Jpican/Invisit._
No other rural occupation will give a better return for the capital invested and the labour applied than bee-keeping, if intelligently pursued.
In the State of Victoria, and in Australia generally, bee culture is still in its infancy. Large numbers of colonies are still kept in box-hives, and, therefore, the statistics of production do not convey a correct idea of the possible scope of the industry. There are, however, a limited number of specialist bee-keepers, working with the most modern appliances, and their returns for a number of years indicate the great possibilities of development of the industry.
**A Typical Victorian Apiary.**
**1.-Location.**
Bee-keeping in Victoria is carried on under different conditions to those existing in other countries. In the Northern Hemisphere, and also in New Zealand, the principal supply of nectar comes from ground flora on meadows, roadsides, fields and woods. In Victoria, we depend almost exclusively on our eucalyptus and a few other native trees and shrubs. Owing to our not summers, which prevent the secretion of nectar in soft herbaceous plants, except on irrigated land and in exceptionally cool districts, the amount of honey obtained from other than native flora is small in comparison with the quantity harvested from eucalyptus.
Even where climatic conditions are favourable to the secretion of nectar, the system of closely feeding down pastures, which is largely practised in Australia, does not permit of the proper development of the nectar-producing plants and the maximum production of nectar. As probably over go per cent, of the honey produced in Victoria is obtained from eucalyptus, this fact should be borne in mind when selecting a district in which to commence bee-keeping.
With the opening up of country to settlement, the natural honey resources are to a large extent destroyed. It is a natural and inevitable result and no claim can be made on behalf of bee culture to have the whole of the country kept in its natural state.
Every country, however, must have forests and timber reserves to maintain the supply of timber, to protect the sources of water supply, and to exercise a beneficial influence on the climate. As the forests of Victoria are now permanently reserved and are being improved by thinning, protection against fires, and new plantations, they afford ample scope for agricultural enterprise and a great expansion of the bee-keeping industry. Moreover, the advent of irrigation settlement on a large scale, together with the practice of cutting fodder crops instead of feeding them off, will make bee-keeping profitable in many places where, under the old system of continuous eating off, it could not be engaged in.
## Profits of Bee-keeping.
One of the first questions asked by people becoming interested in be culture is--How much honey will each hive produce in a season? This question is a very difficult one to answer, as the return per hive depends upon three main factors. The first is the flora and climate of the locality where the bees are kept. The second, the ability and experience of the bee-keeper, and, third, the race or strain of bees kept. A return of zos, per hive per annum for a number of years may be considered a fair general average. For different apiaries, the return may vary all the way from nothing up to 8os. per hive, according to the character of the season, the flora of the locality, and the skill of the bee-keeper. Taking zos, as a fair general average per hive, it must not be assumed that the annual income can be increased indefinitely by increasing the number of hives. The number of hives kept is limited to what the owner can personally supervise, and what the locality will carry without overstocking it, and ther-by reducing the yield. A skilled and experienced apiarist can manage zoo colonies without assistance if located in one or two apiaries not too far apart.
Examples of what has actually been done by apiarists given hereunder will indicate the possibilities of the industry.
Mr., a city dweller, commenced bee-farming in 1906. He had no previous experience. At the end of that year he had go hives; at the end of 1911 he had 270, and received 4406 13s. 5d. for his products.
Mr. -- commenced operations in--
No. of Colonies. -- Honey Return. -- Wax. -- Value. -- lbs. -- & -- s. d. -- 1905-6 -- 84 -- 3,780 -- 40 -- 49 5 0 -- 1908-9 -- 140 -- 49,200 -- 410 -- 635 0 0 -- 1912-13 -- 150 -- 30,000 -- 280 -- 391 0 0 -- 3
Mr. -- commenced in 1900 with two hives; has now 200 lives, obtaining \(\mathcal{L}_{375}\) for honey only, and values his apiary at \(\mathcal{L}_{4,000}\).
Mr. -- commenced in 1899; for fourteen years he has averaged \(\mathcal{L}_{337}\) per annum.
See-keeping, if adopted as a calling by any one having an aptitude and love for it, combined with good business methods, is a profitable and fascinating occupation. If carried on in connexion with some other rural industry, it is a valuable side issue; if pursued as a hobby, it is highly interesting. Bee culture is, above all things, a healthy outdoor occupation of a not too laborious kind, to which many more might turn with whom city life and an indoor occupation do not agree, and who either do not possess the physical strength or the inclination to engage in some other more monotonous and laborious rural occupation.
## Selection of Locality.
For the purpose of becoming conversant with the habits of bees, to get some practice in handling them, and to gain the knowledge and experience not obtainable from literature, bee-keeping may be commenced almost anywhere. When, however, it is taken up as a business, a suitable district is essential to success. In selecting a site, due consideration should be given to the two main factors; namely, the amount and variety of bee flora within a radius of two or three miles of the site chosen. The permanency of the bee flora is, however, the most important consideration, and the intending bee-keeper should locate on, or close to, some permanent forest or other reserve, so as to avoid the risk of having his honey resources destroyed by the ring-barking of the trees.
In some of the best honey country in Victoria, consisting almost entirely of yellow box and red gum for many miles in extent, there is a deficiency of pollen-producing plants before and after the honey-flow. With a scarcity of pollen, colonies cannot attain their maximum development, and therefore the best results can only be obtained where the bees, prior to the honey-flow, are kept elsewhere. Thus, a practice has sprung up amongst bee-keepers of having two sites for an apiary--one for breeding uj in spring and wintering ; the other for securing the honey crop. The moving of the bees from the winter site to the honey country, and back again when the honey-flow is over, entails a considerable amount of work, which can be avoided if a site is secured on the border line of the two classes of country.
## Iicences.
When locating on forest or other Crown lands, it is necessary to obtain two licences--a bee-farm licence for one acre upon which to place the apiary, and a bee-range licence which secures to the holder the exclusive use of the bee flora for a radius of one mile. No other bee-farm licence is allowed at a lesser distance than two miles. The payments to be made are los, a year for a bee-farm site, and \(\frac{1}{2}\)d, per acre for the radius of the live range, or about \(\mathcal{E}_{4}+\)s. a year.
## Site of Apiary.
Having decided upon the locality, the spot upon which the hives are to be set out should be selected, with due regard to its suitability for the bees and convenience of working the apiary.
An even, gently sloping surface, of gravelly or sandy soil, will be found most suitable. It should, if possible, be sheltered by a natural or artificial breakwind on the south and west. A slope to the north or east is preferable to one to the south or west.
The honey-house should be placed at the lower end, and the hives arranged in such a way that a good general view can be obtained from the door and windows of the building, so that during the swarming season the apiary may be under observation while necessary indoor work is being done. Having the building at the lower end of the ground has the double advantage of getting a better view of the whole apiary and of moving the supers of heavy honeycombs down hill at extracting time
It is not advisable to stand hives under evergreen trees, such as pines or eucalyptus. Colonies in permanently shaded positions never thrive so well as others out in the open. If placed under deciduous trees, as for instance in an orchard, the hives will have shade during the hottest part of the day in summer, and sunshine during the cold months of the year when the trees are not in leaf.
## Arrangement of Hives.
In laying out the apiary, it is better to place the hives in groups of twos, threes, or fours, with a longer distance between the groups, than to stand the hives singly in rows. The group system lends itself better to the various necessary operations of uniting or dividing colonies and in moving about amongst the hives ; it gives more space between the groups than would be the case between the same number of hives placed singly.
When grouping hives, the entrances should point in different directions. None, however, should face the south, as the strongest and coldest winds come from that quarter. It is also advisable to vary the grouping so that no two adjoining groups will be exactly alike. This will to a great extent prevent the straying of returning field bees and the loss of virgin queens returning from their mating flight. The latter frequently occurs when hives stand in symmetrical rows and without any variation in the arrangement and without distinguishing landmarks.
## II.--The Bees.
There are many terms used in connexion with bees which are liable to cause misunderstanding when wrongly applied by the uninitiated. Some of these words have a general as well as a specific meaning. Any community of bees may be called a colony, but in practice the term is only applied to bees established in a dwelling provided by man. Colonies in trees, rocks, or other natural abodes are known as bees' nests. While a hive of bees denotes a colony in an artificial dwelling the dwelling itself without bees or combs is known as a bee hive. Communities of bees on the wing, clustered outside away from the hive, or inside the hive without combs, are called swarms.
Every normal colony of bees in the active season consists of three classes of individuals, viz., the queen, a large number of workers, and a variable number of drones. The queen is the mother of all the other bees and the only fully-developed female. The workers are sexually undeveloped females, and constitute the largest part of the colony, numbering from 40.000 to 70.000 in a streng colony in the height of the season.
On the average, it takes 4,500 worker bees to equal one bound in weight. The drones, which are of larger size than the workers, are the males, and their only use in the economy of the hive is to mate with the virgin queen. Towards autumn, when they are no longer required, or at any time during a scarcity of nectar, they are driven out of the hive by the workers and left to die of starvation, except in the case of a colony with an old or failing, queen, or a queenless stock. Both of these will retain their drones and also admit those expelled from other hives--a provision of Nature to enable the mating of the future young queen to take place.
## Life History.
A knowledge of the life history of bees will assist any one to better understand what conditions are necessary to the highest welfare of the colony and the maximum profit to the bee-keeper. While such knowledge will not take the place of practical experience in the management of bees, it will form a good basis for an understanding of the various manipulations.
The bee, like other insects, goes through four stages of development, viz., (1) egg, (2) larva, (3) chrysalis, and (4) imago or perfect insect.
The ovaries of the queen contain up to 500,000 eggs, which she deposits in the cells of the comb during the breeding season--after the cells have been prepared for her by the worker bees. The life of a queen bee is about three years. Under the most favorable conditions, she will deposit up to 3,000 eggs in twenty-four hours. The eggs in the ovaries of the queen are all alike as to sex. The act of fertilization takes place in the oviduct when the egg is on its way out, _i.e._, it is to produce a female--a queen or a worker bee ; the egg producing a drone is not fertilized. Thus, even a queen which has never met a drone will, after a delay of two or three weeks, deposit eggs. None of these, however, can produce anything but drones. This reproduction without fertilization was first discovered by Dr. Dzierszon in 1853. It is known as parthenogenesis or virgin-development, and has a very important bearing on practical bee culture.
The drones of a pure bred queen of any race are always pure of the same race, even though the queen herself was mated to a drone of a different variety. Thus, by having one single pure bred and purely mated queen, and raising from her eggs a new queen for each colony, the race or strain of bees of an entire apiary of hundreds of colonies may be changed in one season. As each young queen is pure bred, her drone progeny are also pure, irrespective of how she mated. The following season there will therefore be none but pure drones in the apiary. All young queens will then be mated to pure drones ; and, if from a pure bred mother, will produce queens, workers, and drones of pure race. The mating takes place in the air, often a considerable distance away from the apiary, and some of the queens will most likely be mis-mated when other bees exist within two miles of the place.
Fertilized eggs are deposited by the queen in the smaller or worker cells of the comb ; the cells are 1-5 in. in diameter--twenty-five to a square inch of comb surface. Unfertile eggs are laid into drone cells, which are \(\frac{1}{4}\) in. wide--sixteen to the square inch. By the use of full sheets of comb foundation in the frames of the modern hive, the raising of drones is reduced to a minimum, because the wax sheets are embossed with the pattern of worker comb only. Any egg which is fertilized, and would in the ordinary course produce a worker bee, can at the will of the nurse bies be made to produce a queen, when necessary. This fact is made use of in what is known as artificial queen-rearing, by depriving a suitable colony of its queen and brood and substituting a comb containing eggs or young larvae from a queen of the race or strain desired.
After the egg which produces a worker is laid, it remains unaltered for three days. It is then supplied with a minute quantity of larval food by the nurse bees, and a scarcely visible grnb or larvae, which lies coiled at the bottom of the cell in the shape of the small c of ordinary type emerges. It grows rap:dlv ; and, on the sixth day after emerging from the egg, it assumes an upright position in the cell. The worker bees cap the cell with a paper-like substance, the grub meanwhile spinning a cocoon round itself in the cell. The young bee has now entered the third or chrysalis stage, from which it emerges as the perfect insect, eighteen days from the time the larva first appeared, or twenty-one days since the egg was laid. In the case of the queen, the time of development is five days less, _i.e._, three days in the egg stage, six days in the larval state, and
Italian is the Golden Italian which was secured by select breeding for colour, or by crossing with Cyprians. It has five yellow bands instead of three--practically the whole of the abdomen is yellow. Bees of this variety are more susceptible to cold and wet than the three banded Italians and rather predisposed to Bee-Paralysis. Italians, when pure, do not cap their combs so white as black bees do, and are therefore less suitable for the production of comb honey.
_The Cipprunar_ in appearance, and many other respects, resembles the Italian. It is somewhat slimmer, the yellow rings are of a deeper shade, and the fuzz rings of the segments whiter. Cyprians are good breeders, sometimes continuing brood rearing when a honey-flow has stopped till all stores are consumed. They raise a large number of fine queen cells at swarming time or when made queenless. Their undesirable characteristic is viciousness during a dearth of nectar, when even the use of smoke, so effective with other races, will not subdue them. As they are not superior to Italians in honey gathering they are not desirable, and not many are now kept in Victoria.
_The Carnolan_ is one of the more recent introductions, in appearance and habits resembles the black bee, from which it is distinguished by the greyish colour of the segment rings. Carniolans are excessive swarmers, as gentle as Italians when pure, but owing to their close resemblance to blacks it is difficult to maintain purity of race. Taking the experience of the largest honey producers of this State for guidance the three banded Italians can be recommended as the best bees to keep for honey production.
Handling of Bees.