BEE-spoke-data/bees-v0 huggingface dataset:
Swarm control is different from swarm prevention, in that it does not necessarily prevent swarming, but forestalls the event by substituting the artificial for the natural swarm. Thus by working in harmony with the instinct of bees the swarming impulse is satisfied, swarming is controlled, and our bees are placed in that highly desirable psychological condition without which it is impossible to secure best results in honey-production. The question is no longer, Can swarming be controlled? but, how to control it with the minimum of labor is what the bee-keeper of to-day wants to know, and what it is the purpose of this book to explain.
CRUEL METHODS DISCOURAGING.
Cruel methods, such as decapitating brood, have been employed to discourage swarming, and may prevent it; but such unnatural practices can have no part in solving the problem of the perfect control of bees. If our ambition reaches no higher mark than the mere prevention of swarming, we are not living up to our privileges. We are working in a very narrow channel, and the end does not justify the means.
**Bee-keeping by Twentieth Century Methods.**
THE PERFECT CONTROL OF BEES.
Perfect control of bees in its broadest sense can be attained only by applying correct principles in harmony with the habits and instinct of bees. The perfect control of bees is by no means limited to swarm control; but its principles are so closely entwined around every necessary manipulation with bees as to eliminate unnecessary labor, and render that which is necessary more agreeable as well as less laborious.
FORMER METHODS INEFFECTIVE.
For many years progressive bee-keepers have recognized the importance of a sure method of swarm control; and the brainiest men in the bee-keeping ranks have put forth every effort within their power in an earnest endeavor to solve the swarming problem. Expensive and complicated hives have been invented to hold in check the swarming impulse of bees; but their expense does not'end with their first cost. It is multiplied by the amount of labor that is required to operate them. Likewise tubes, traps, and cages without number have had their day of disappointment and doom, and bees continue to swarm as of yore, all because, during these years, inventors have been groping in darkness, unmindful of the fact that bees can be controlled only through their instinct. Thus while others have been blindly and unsuccessfully combatting nature, the real inventor has been assisting her by working in harmony with the God-given instinct of bees. As might reasonably be supposed, his efforts have been crowned with success, having discovered principles by which bees may be controlled with the same precision and certainty that the experienced engineer controls his engine.
## The Equipment.
The object of my invention, which consists of a special double bottom-board, is, primarily, for the control of swarms; and, secondarily, for the control of bees along other lines. This is accomplished without any special construction of hives, so that hives of ordinary construction may be manipulated with a minimum of labor. The equipment is inexpensive, and requires but little effort to operate. It involves no conflict nor interference with the habits and instincts of bees, but, rather, takes into account these instincts.
The casting of a swarm by a colony of bees is the result of an overcrowded condition of the brood-chamber, which the bees themselves seek to remedy by swarming. If at the time of the development of conditions that would foster the swarming impulse the bees that would soon make preparations for swarming are transferred to another hive in which there is no brood, and, therefore, in which conditions that would favor swarming do not exist, the swarming instinct is satisfied, and swarming is controlled. In carrying my invention into practice I provide for the shifting of bees from one independent hive to another. It is a fact well known, that, when bees become accustomed to a particular location or hive, as well as to the position of the hive-entrance, they will return with un-erring certainty to the exact spot of their former hive-entrance; and any disturbance of the hive in respect to these conditions is productive of excitement and disturbance on the part of the bees on their return to the hive from a nectar-gathering flight.
Taking into account the considerations mentioned, I provide a bottom-board adapted to support, side by side, two hives of ordinary construction. These consist of bottomless bodies, containing the usual brood-combs, as well as the usual extracting-supers or section supers above. The bottom-board, of course, is oblong in form, and at each of its four sides there is an upward extending rim or flange upon which the bottom edge of the lowermost hive-body or brood-chamber is set; and at its transverse center, extending from front to back, is a strip or cleat, against the sides of which the inner sides of the lowermost hive-bodies are positioned. On the central portion of the rim or flange on each long side of the bottom-board thereis an entrance or opening that extends the same distance on both sides of the transverse center of the bottom-board, and, hence, constitutes what, in effect, is a common entrance into both hives, so that the flying bees coming to either hive will find a familiar location and surroundings, and thus, so far as reaching their entrance is concerned, will be involved in no confusion or difficulty whatever. By means of a switch to be described they may be led or directed without trouble into one hive or the other at the will of the operator, as will be hereafter fully demonstrated.
A suitable alighting-board is shown at each entrance. Each passageway or entrance opens under a V-shaped or triangular plate or partition that extends horizontally inward with its apex toward the center of the bottom-board, and at the same time extends equidistant on opposite sides of the transverse center of the bottom-board. Bees must pass beneath said plate or partition when entering or leaving the hives.
For the purpose of ventilation, holes are provided in the plates. Beneath each plate, and at or near the apex thereof, is pivoted a simple bar or switch that thence extends out through the entrance or passage, where it projects a short distance outside, so that it may be readily grasped by the fingers and swung horizontally from side to side of the entrance. Vertically, said bar or switch is thick enough to close the space between the to? surface of the bottom-board and the under side of the plate, so that, when said bar or lever is swung to its limit of motion in one direction, it closes communication between one hive and opens the other. By throwing the lever to the other side it opens the entrance to the other side. The bar, it will thus be seen, forms a gate or switch-lever by which, at the will of the operator, and by the most simple operation, communication between one hive and outdoors may be shut off and communication between the other hive and outdoors opened so that all flying bees, whether belonging to one hive or the other, may be caused to enter one hive or the other. On the opposite side of the double bottom will be found a duplicate switching device, the purpose of which will be explained further on.
At each side of the bottom-board, in the rim or flange thereof, is provided an auxiliary hive-entrance, or opening, with a suitable alighting-board for the opening and closing of which is provided a hinged shutter that may be swung into and out of closing position. The purpose of these auxiliary entrances, each of which, as will be evident, communicates with but one hive, will also be described later.
## The Dual-Hive System; Or, the Perfect Control of Bees.
The system of procedure which I pursue for the control of swarming with the minimum of labor, in accordance with my invention, is as follows: 'pon the approach of conditions that would result in swarming, one of the switch-levers is moved to one side to close the entrance to the hive on that side, so that flying bees that are outside of the hive, as well as all bees that have become accustomed to using that entrance on returning from the fields, will enter the other hive, on the opposite side of the double bottom. It will be understood that, in connection with the first manipulation of the swi:ch-lcv, a hive must needs be provided for the swarm, for this is virtually a system of swarm control by substituting the artificial for the natural swarm, which, however, does not necessarily mean increase unless it is desired, as will be hereinafter fully explained.
Every bee-keeper in the North knows how difficult the task is of getting all colonies in condition to enter the supers at the beginning of clover bloom. It is safe to assume that not to exceed 65 per cent of the colonies in the Northern States are in that condition by June 10--the usual time of clover bloom. The result is that many colonies will yield but little surplus, and some will be barely self-supporting. Equalizing colonies by exchanging combs of brood from strong colonies for empty combs from weak ones is a waste of time, since it is merely robbing Peter to pay Paul. A system that will give us the strongest force of workers right at the beginning of harvest has a great advantage in securing paying crops of surplus honey. Twenty-five strong colonies will store more surplus honey than a hundred weaklings; therefore all colonies that are not in condition to work in supers at the beginning of the honey-flow should be united with some other colony. There is no more excuse for a bee-keeper to allow a part of his apiary to remain unproductive than there is for a farmer to allow a part of his farm to become unproductive by neglecting to attend to the simple details of his occupation. It is true that it requires some skill to control a rousing colony of bees; but it is the rousing colonies that give us rousing crops of* [14]**Bee-keeping by Twentieth Century Methods.**
**surplus honey if we possess the skill to direct their energies in the proper channel. To prevent strong colonies from contracting the swarming fever before the main harvest, it is advisable to give them a full-depth upper story of empty combs above a queen-excluder. This will have a tendency to prevent the crowding of the brood-chamber with honey--a condition that may lead to swarming.**
**The Hand Bottom-board. The Proof of the Pudding is in the Eating.**
**When the harvest is in full blast, and the top story is found to contain considerable honey, don't wait until it is more than one-fourth full, nor until the bees have made preparation to swarm, but nip the swarming impulse in the bud in the following manner: We will assume that our hives are all on the double-switch-board bottom. The stronger colony with its upper story that is to be manipulated we will call for convenience No. 1, and the hive into which the flying bees are to be switched, No. 2. Please remember this in all subsequent references in connection with this double bottom, to avoid confusion.
Begin operations for swarm control by placing the top-story, bees and all, of No. 1 down upon the vacant side of the double-switch-board bottom, and exchange the central comb for a comb of brood and bees, including the queen from hive 1; put on a queen-excluder and a super of sections on No. 2, and close the hives. Next throw the front switch, thus closing the inner entrance to hive 1, and opening the one leading to hive 2, at one operation. This is done without changing the appearance or position of the outside entrance, which is always open full width.
The returning field bees, laden with nectar, will enter the new hive, or No. 2, without a moment's hesitation, and through their accustomed entrance. No time is lost to the bees in getting accustomed to new surroundings, which means a gain of several pounds of honey in favor of this system over other methods where the position of the entrance is changed or where bees are shaken or brushed, and otherwise roughly treated, throwing them into an abnormal condition.
We will now throw the switch on the back side to provide a new entrance to hive 1, which has been so smoothly robbed of its field bees, and which is now given a young laying queen or a virgin just hatched. The honey in the new brood-chamber, or No. 2, will go into the sections to make room for brood below. A strong point in the new system is, that the brood in No. 1 is held in reserve to re-enforce the swarm in No. 2, one hive being a storehouse for honey and the other a nursery for re-enforcements of young bees, both being connected and under perfect control.
As soon as there is a goodly force of young bees again flying from the rear entrance of hive 1 (which will be in eight to ten days) we again shift them over into hive 2 by throwing the switch of the rear or back entrance, again closing the inner entrance to hive 1 and opening that to hive 2. The returning field bees will scamper into hive 2 through their accustomed entrance as though nothing out of the ordinary had happened. Again, this is what we understand by perfect control of bees. Both of the switch-lever entrances to hive 1 being closed, we will provide a new one this time by opening the auxiliary entrance on the side. This will usually settle the swarming question during an ordinary honey-flow. However, in locations hav
ing a prolonged honey-flow the method should, perhaps, be modified by using full sheets of foundation in the new brood chamber; or No. 2, if there is still an inclination on the part of the swarm to cast a swarm they should be shifted back into 1. This is quickly done by reversing both levers, front and rear, and opening the side entrance to 2, to provide for young bees not flying, and for brood hatching out. Next transfer the supers, bees and all, over to 1. Colony 1, having a young queen that has laid but few eggs, will not be likely to cast a swarm, especially since it has a double entrance, front and rear, and a side entrance, aided by a one-inch space under the frames, making about the strongest combination imaginable for the control of swarming. However, in very hot weather we usually block up one end of the cover half an inch and provide shade-boards for colonies that are exposed to the direct rays of the sun. These are the little things that help to make up the sum total of the perfect control of bees. It is superfluous to add that very few colonies in a normal condition will cast a swarm under the conditions above mentioned.
## Increasing colonies.
In the preceding chapter we outlined methods for the control of bees in a location where the honey-flow comes from clover and basswood or other early-blooming flowers. While the general principles must of necessity be equally effective in every location, the method of applying them must be governed by location, time, and duration of the honey-flow. A little carelessness at this point would render the system less effective; however, the method may be modified t, suit existing conditions. For example, in a location having a light honey-flow early in the season, the main harvest coming from buckwhcat, heartsease, or other late-blooming flowers, it would be advisable to work for increase early in the season and enter the main harvest with twice or three times as many colonies as we started with in the spring.
In this case we would open the side entrance to hive 1 a week before making the first shift. This will retain a part of the field bees for still another division, since the bees that have the habit of using that entrance will not be shifted by the lever. Proceed as before with the first shift; however, instead of making another shift in the same direction we will, ten days after making the first, remove colony 1 to a new location, putting a new hive in its place, and give them two frames of brood and bees, filling up with empty combs or full sheets of foundation, and give a queen to No. 3 now in the place of No. 1. We have now trebled our number of colonies with little manipulation, and will have plenty of time to build them up to strong colonies in time for the late harvest. In order to build up such colonies rapidly, they must be liberally fed when there is no nectar to be gathered.
In the methods above outlined we run for increase, as well as for honey. While this system will give \(100\) per cent increase, and more surplus honey than any other system of swarm control that has ever come to our notice, there are times when no increase is desired, in which case no queen is given to colony No. 1, and at the time of making the second shift in the same direction, eight days after the first, insert a specially constructed bee-escape in the entrance of No. 1, back of the switch-lever. This is pushed up tight against it.
The exit discharges all the flying bees close to the main entrance, which the returning bees will enter, since no bee can enter No. 1. When most of the brood has hatched, and the bees have been added to the swarm automatically, the hives and combs may be used as desired.
## 6 Swarm Prevention by Requeening.
The statement that "an ounce of prevention is better than a pound of cure" is literally true when applied to swarm control. It is easier to prevent a colony from contracting the swarming fever than it is to break it up after it gets a good start. It is a fact well known, that bees will not, as a rule, begin work in sections until there is no more room in the brood-chamber. Right here is where the swarming fever is usually contracted. If bees can be induced to begin work in the sections right at the beginning of the harvest, before the brood-chamber becomes clogged with honey, there will usually be no more trouble from swarming than in the production of extracted honey. We accomplish this by using full sheets of foundation in sections with an empty extracting-comb (in which no brood has hatched) on each outside. This method, when used in the manner to be described, will give excellent results in honey-production with no swarming. When the harvest has nicely begun, and the hives are boiling over with bees, place two section-sopers, prepared as above described, down upon the vacant side of a double switch-board beside a strong colony and throw the switch, shifting the field force over into the supers. Cage the queen and push the cage into the entrance underneath the supers to satisfy the bees and keep them at work. When work has nicely begun in the sections the bees will not desert them. The supers are then placed upon the hive, and the switch reversed, shifting the returning bees over into the hive proper. The first honey will thus go into the sections instead of into an overcrowded brood-chamber, and swarming is reduced to the minimum with little manipulation. When practicing this method, if a ripe queen-cell (or, better still, a young laying queen) is given to the colony after switching the field bees over into the supers,the colony will be a non-swarmer for that season. \(\Lambda\) point that should always be recognized when shifting bees is that the side entrances are safety-valves against the possibility of weakening a colony to such an extent as to cause the loss of unsealed brood or jeopardize the queen; therefore, when practicing this method the side entrance should be opened a week before making the shift. The bees that have become accustomed to using this entrance will not be shifted by the switch, and there will be sufficient bees left to nurse the brood and young queen. In the ordinary shifting of bees for swarm control, however, we do not find this precaution necessary, for the reason that at this season the loss of a little uncapped larvae can not be considered a calamity since they would not come upon the stage of action in time to be of any use as honey-gatherers, and therefore would be consumers instead of producers.
As a rule, young bees do not become field workers until they are ten days old or over; and as it is only the flying bees that are shifted, there will usually be sufficient nurses of a proper age to care for the unsealed larvae if a little thin syrup be given in a feeder, as there will be no flying bees to carry water, which is very necessary to the welfare of young larvae. It will be seen that, while the methods previously outlined control swarming by substituting the artificial for the natural swarm, this method is widely different, in that it entirely prohibits swarming, and with little manipulation.
## 7 The Plural-Hive Method.
In all the methods previously outlined we began the season with a single colony on a double-switch-board bottom. While, as a rule, this plan is perhaps preferable where the colonies are all strong, the fact remains that all colonies are not strong at the beginning of harvest. In this case two colonies are united by placing one upon the other, separated by a queen-excluder. This should be done after the bees have quit flying for the day. If a sheet of newspaper is placed between them the bees from the top hive will not fly out for several days; when they do they will not return to their former location. These double deckers having two queens should be provided with a set of extracting-combs above another queen-excluder to prevent the brood-chambers from becoming clogged with honey.
When the honey-flow is on in good earnest it is time to begin operations for the control of swarming, and we will place the last super of extracting-combs containing bees and honey, but no brood, down on the vacant side of the switch-board, and exchange the central comb for a frame of brood and bees, including the queen from the top hive, or No. 1. Put a queen-excluder on No. 2, the hive with the extracting-comb, and the super of sections, and throw the switch, shifting the field bees from two colonies over into one hive. The honey in the new brood-chamber will go into the sections to make room for brood, the swarming instinct is satisfied, swarming is controlled, and the colony is in condition to do the best work that they are capable of performing under the most favorable conditions. The top hive containing brood but no queen may now be used as an extracting-super above a queen-excluder.
## 1 The Hive to Adopt.
In touching lightly upon this important subject I am not without the knowledge that much that I feel it my duty to say upon the hive question will conflict with the opinion of many who may read it, therefore I will endeavor not to seem too radical. I do not wish to go on record as saying that there is such a thing as a best hive for all men and all locations, nor do I wish to convey the idea that any particular hive will enable the bee-keeper to realize vastly superior results in honey-production, but, rather, to show wherein a medium-sized general-purpose hive is best suited to the needs of the masses.
It is said that a wise man seldom changes his mind, and a fool never. Before passing judgment, however, concerning the wisdom of the author, it is important that those who are familiar with his former views upon the hive question should bear in mind that he is now viewing the subject from a new standpoint as well as under an entirely new light.
Since the Langstroth frame has stood the test of time until it has become the standard for American bee-keepers, it is hardly worth while to consider any other at this late date;and the only question that remains is, how many frames shall we use in a hive? I am aware that this in a subject upon which there is a wide diversity of opinion. It is generally conceded to be safer to choose a medium course, avoiding the extremes, and it is undoubtedly the part of wisdom for the bee-keeper, and especially the beginner, to follow this rule in the selection of a hive.
The tendency of the times is unmistakably toward larger brood-chambers than formerly. Time was, and not so very long ago, when a goodly number of up-to-date bee-keepers were willing to go on record as saying that the eight-frame hive was large enough for best results in honey-production.
Year by year the number has decreased until to-day there are few who wish to take such a stand; and the former advocates of this hive have cither adopted the ten-frame size or else are advocating two eight-frame bodies for a brood-chamber instead of one.