Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1861-04-18
Honey Bees Spring MANAGEMENT.

honey Bees SPnng Management
The first attention that honey bees require
in the spring j. 10 ascertain which families are
SHIRT oil ioaey in order TO supply them a.
soon a. possible IN experienced bce.kcepcr
can readily te.i which hives need feeding,
simply from the weight Of them. In many
cases Al. will be found TO have a supply Of
honey, bat when one doas lack food, if not
promptly attended to, there is danger oi
losing il.
The way to feed bees in spring depends
on the manner in which the hives are con.
struciod. If HEY have pyerS or chambers
over tie main hives where the bees cluster,
into which the bees can easily pass through
holes, all that is 10 be done is first to call
them up by rappDg On he hive, and then
place piece Of honey on the comb near the
bees. resting on strips If wood alb ut half an
inch ihlcs fer the purpose Of giving the
bees an opportunity 10 pass under as well as
over the comb Several pieces OF comb con
tanning honey may be thus paced at the same
time, and sufficient to supply the bees with .
food, I'LL they can obtain supply from the
flowers.
The question may occur, what is to be
79aa raea one as 10 Louey Ia Tie comb 10
ed 10 that case, take empty combs,
which every hce-kcepct should hayc-if he
expects TO meet with success in an cases
md lly them Loriz)nt,liy close to the holes
IN the safers If the hives then take strain.
q honey Or if son have none syrup Of So.
5aT warm IT, place it in a pitcher, and Gll
ne cells with IT, turning i cut carefully aul
iclaly while in VAIN state.
\ syrup ], made as follows Take any
ind q brown or white sugar, mix about
half gill of water with each round, heat
over fire I'll ittcachcs ID, boiling pofnt,
ben remove it, let il cool, and. skim on
be ifoih rom The surface When cool il
aoall be Of tho binary consistcncc of
trained honey.
In no case should bees be led in very cold
leather bat # needing food, supply them on
he hrs, pleasant, mid day.
Some bce-Aeepers adopt the plan Of feed f,
lg un'er the bees, upon the bottom boards 1
the hives or stands That way is not adj a
isablc 10 cod weather nor even in auy I
Gather Wien the bees do not leave their Y
ives freely, because they will not leave their I
lmbs even il in a starving state, unless the
'uey be placed 10 immediate contact with c
he combs Of The hives.
BY feeding outside Of the hives there is 5
anger OF causing the bees to rob each other Il
ores, as soon as the outside supply is dis. I
The same danger also occurs by Il
.aclug honey on the bottom boards orstands c
hives, as the scent OF it attracts the bees a
ether families, and when they have once II
uud out where tie honey is, rotaiog but It's !!
imoyal, or the closing OF the hive will Il
reveal destructive r-bbcry from taking d
lace.
Anoih r feature in spring management is ?
turn over the hives, md cut out all the D
ouldy combs, and to remove dead bees, clus- II
red thlckly between the combs, which may a
> done vita the feather end of quill CT
his work sloud be done on 4 mild, sunny O
y IN April, 50 sooa as the bees begin to i'
lily out freely. "
The bce-keeper must now be on his guard, q
I'd secure his weak families from robbers, O'
: contracting the entrance to the hivos.--.
here is no other way TO prevent robbcries, III
I'd this must be done before The depreda- m
,ns are commenced, or ruin is sa,e to fol. NJ
", in nine cases out Of ten. r. B. NJ. /
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