Bradford reporter. [volume] (Towanda, Pa.) 1844-1884, 1866-06-28
Spring Hill Cheese Factory.
REPORT FOR MAY, 1866.
Care Of Bees.

All upward ventilation should be stop
ped, in order that all the heat OF the colo
nv nav be confined in the hive, to ald III
the development of the brood, and the en-
trance. should be contracted, 50 that but
one bee will be able to pass at time,
which. when done as soon as they com
mence to fly in the spring will be an effect
i've preventative against robblng
Bees will ordinarily begin to gather pol
len this month in most sections, yet, still IN
some localities where many swarms are
kept, there may be deficiency OF this pas
turage, or, if an abundance, 1t may be ce-
stroyed for successive days by trostS IN
either case they should be supplied with a
substitute, in the form of rye or buckwheat
four-rye is preierable-which h they will
readily appropriate to their purpose.
The Importance Of providing bees with
tlour in early spring is not fully felt by the
majority of bee-keepers. firmly believe
that the profits of an apiary might be III
creased at least one third, by judicious
feeding at this period with trlting ex-
pense, and a slight expenditure OF time.
Last season | noted the difference OF re-
turns of apiaries, where in some flour had
been used in the spring, and in others not
and the difference was more than that al
ready expressed. Those ed threw out ear
", and numerous swarms, while those
which were not supplied with the article
necessary for early rearing OF brood, yield
ed scarcely any swarms.
For the purpose of feeding flour, construct
a stand, say three feet by two for thirty
stocks, and provide it with rim two inch
es in height, to prevent wasting. keeE
this supplied with two or three quarts OF
unbolted -four, or if your flour is bolted, ,mIA
it with any kind of bran, even sawdust viii
answer-the only object being to prevent
it sticking too much to their bodies.
This feeding will induce early and active
breeding, and little care will be necessary
to observe that any stock does notify then
attempts to rear too large brood, exhaust
its stores of honey, and thus endanger the
lives of the whole colony. To avoid this
test quite frequently, and if any are sus
piciously light examine, and If destitute
feed them, using for this purpose either
pure honey or sugar melted and thorough
iy boiled, putting it in shallow vessels, pro
vided with floats, and placing it upon the
top of the hive, covering with good cal
Bees should be provided with both waite
and salt the first being indispensable il
the rearing of brood, and also in comb-buil
ding. A little trough a foot square, provl
dcd with floats, will be all that Is requlr
ed keep it well supplied with water occa
sionally throwing in handful OF salt. BY
thus having water convenient, much vaiu
able time will be saved the bees, and many
preserved from being lost III the pools anl
deep vessels which they would otherwise
be compelled to frequent.
Where movable combs are used, and ar
tiicial swarming is contemplated, prcpara
tions should be made by the middle OF May
in the way of rearing queens tor the new
swarms, so that nothing will be lost by be
ing obliged to deprive hive OF laying
queen even for a few days, for III the helgh
OF the breeding season IA fertile queen vii