Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1877-06-22
Management of Bees.

lnrOu8Q June anu up 10 Jne Uluule OF
July is in most sections of the North the
harvest time for the bee-keeper. If di-
rections IN the former issues have been
followed, "harvest hands" will be throng-
ing every hive, eager to start all they
can find. The bee e-keeper who wishes to
increase his stocks as fast as possible
may continue to divide judiciously, be-
ing compelled to keep as many prolific
queens as possible, depositing and hav-
ing in mind that Uhene0er honey is not
abundant in the feLds-even for few
days-dH ne,oIy-mdde hires, or those not
loeLL- prOUisioned, must be fed. We think
more failures in dividing bees come
through neglect of this than in any other
way.
If the aim is to secure the largest yield
possible of surplus honey from the hives,
the extractor should now be used often,
to prevent any preparation for swarming
and to give empty comb for the use of
the queen. 1t must be remembered that
there must be constant rearing of
brood, that bees may be on hand to store
the honey, build comb, etc. Large yields
of honey cannot be obtained without
bees, any more than new colonies can be
made without them. If one has strong
colony of bees in convenient hive,
plenty of comb, and good extractor, in
most seasons very large amounts of honey
can be taken through the blooming of
white clover and linden trees.
No one need fear taking too much
honey from any strong colony, nor TAX
ing it too often while the secretion of
honey lasts. Even if a storm comes up
the day after the extractor is used, the
bees will have retained enough in their
sacs during the process of extracting to
amply sustain the colony until there is
new yield. One who has not tried it
could hardly believe how rapidly the
bees refill the combs after the honey has
been emptied from them. In the large hives
described in former number we have
often had bees filling surplus boxes on the
top and continuing busily at work in them
while we were extracting honey three
times week from the frame in the main
hive. There are some who do not care
to use the extractor, but prefer to have
all their surplus honey stored in boxes
and frames, thus taking all the honey in
the comb. We have often secured more
honey in the comb, in small boxes and
frames, from colonies where the extractor
was used judiciously than from others,
of apparently the same strength, where
we did not use it.
In all cases it is we'll to keep boxes or
supplies of some kind on all hives during
warm weather. Many colonies are
cramped for room in which to store
honey, and hang idly about the hive,
when if they had room sufficient they
would be easily filling it. Boxes should
be watched continually, and removed as
soon as full, an empty one being put in
its place.
While we have in some seasons and
with some hives succeeded in having
honey stored freely in side-boxes, we
think beginners will do best with hives
in which the main supply-roOm is above
the brood-chamber.
Bees sinstinctively store their honey above
the place where their brood is. All who
have ever cut "bee-tree" have noticed
that in the top of the cavity the choicest
honey is always found,
| There are two reasons, we think, why
they should do this: First, it is an in
stinct with them to place it as far from
the entrance as possible, to secure it from
their enemies, the wasps, yellow jackets
etc. Secondly, when IL is stored above
the cluster of bees, the heat from the
colony ascends among it and keeps the
comb warmer and free from frost in cold
weather; while during summer the heat
as it ascends, aids comb-building.
When putting bees into new hives, be
sure there is no corner or crevice where
moth can hide and bee cannot follow
We have seen movable cOmb.hives with
the frames touching the side, so that
worms might hatch in many places un'
disturbed by the bees. Such hives are
| perfect nurseries for the moth.
! All who have Italian bees bear testi
mony that they show more energy and
more power to eradicate the worms thar
the black bees manifest. Give then
well-made hives and keep the colonies
strong, and you need have no fear oi
worms
Give hives ample ventilation now, anC
you will greatly aid the bees in theil
labor. The boxes for surplus honey can
not be too close, for heat is necessary u
the secretion and working of wax; bu
the main hive, or brood-department
should have air throughout the warn
weather. .--Mrs, e. S. Taper, in the Bee
keepers Magazine.
N a n a l.. A.