The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1879-04-02
AGRICULTURAL.


The stime for active work in the apiary is
again near at hand. Indeed, in the more
southern latitudes vegetation has already be-
gun, and with the month of March the swell
ling buds will develop into tender sprigs of
greer, land open their inviting blossoms to
the busy bee that will eagerly search them for
fresh food after the long winters rest. 1t may
be well briefly to consider few points of in
terest in connection with the opening of
spring work and Bookkeeping in general, and
especially would We recommend such consd-
GRAFTON to amateurs who have, as yet, but lit
tie experience, as well as those who contem-
plate starting in this pursuit in the near fu-
ture. There are two classes of persons that
will, and profitably may, engage in bee-keep-
lDg-th0se who begin the work with a view
to make it their business, who make it their
only or, at least, their main occupation, and
those who begin it, not so much for the pro-
tit as for the sake of the recreation and pleas
ure it affords. This latter class is by far the
larger of the two, embracing the majority of
our farmers and many professional men. We
may add third class; those who have heard
of the profits realized from the business, and
think it a most excellent way to get rich with
out any outlay, study or work, madly rush
into it with the idea that all they have to do
is to market the honey and pocket the money.
For these write not, however; they had bet
ter never begin. The first step one should
take in this direction is to study bee literature
Study the physiology ofthe bee. Acquaint
yourself with what others have done and are
doing. Learn which are the most difficult
points, such as ItalianziDg, queen raising,
them. By having all this clear in the mind,
you can begin with confidence and work in
telligently. There will then be nothing mys-
FERROUS about it, which, because not under
stood, you must leave,to chance and guess
work. Next study the facilities you have for
Bookkeeping, your locality, your hoDey-pro-
duciDg plants, your market; and see what
difficulties you will be likely 10 encounter.
When all this is clear, you can start: but do
not begin on 200 extensive a scale; half a
dozen stocks are sufficient to begin with. II
the enthusiasm is Kept up and all goes well,
their number can be readily increased.
The time to remove the bees from their
winter quarters to their place in the apiary
will vary with the latitude and the season.
In many of the northern States it is we'll to
wait until the beginning of May. At any
rate, if they are not diseased and have a suf-
fcient supply of food, it is best to let them
remain in winter quarters till there are sping
flowers enough to gather honey from. and
until there is no more danger of cold wealth
er. By keeping the bees packed up, they
There are more bees lost during the early
spring from cold, dwindling and lack of food,
than perish during the whole winter. If on
examination when brought out, they should
be found to have consumed their whole store
of food, it is necessary to feed them at once
In every hive found without enough of food
frame of capped honey must then be ex-
changed for an empty one. Ii no comb hon.
ey is on hand. feed them extracted honey, or
the best quality of sugar made into syrup
by dissolving it in hot water. Half pound
to pound daily is usually sufficient. The
situation of the apiary is also of importance.
A place sheltered from the high winds, and
partially though not densely shaded by trees
and bushss, is preferable. Next to shell
tered orchard, grove of evergreens. which
may be kept low and spreading by pruning
them back, is perhaps the best. Place the
hives on the north side of these so that they
may be shaded from the hot MONDAY sun,
and let them face the east to protect the en-
trance from the fierce westerly winds. The
hives should not be more than four or five
inches from the ground, and piece of board,
on which the bees can alight, should be put
slanting up to the entrance. The old prac-
tice of raising the hive two or two and half
feet from the ground has no advantage that
we are aware of, and it has the positive dis
advantage that bees coming home chilled, or
weary and heavily laden, often fail to strike
the entrance, and falling to the ground below
the hive, there perish, being unable to rise
again. Realizing the important position this
branch of industry occupies among the rura
pursuits, and believing that every farmer, be
his farm large or small, ought to keep a few
hives of bees, we shall in future have more
to say on apiarian matters than we have had
eretofore.-Rural Neau Yorker.