The Weekly Kansas chief. [volume] (Troy, Kan.) 1872-1918, 1880-09-09
for the farmer.
FALL MANAGEMENT OF BEES.

Mr. A. J. King editor of the Bee Keepers Nag
a.ipe gives the following timely and sensible
advice in the August number of that journal;
All successful apiarists know that TO winter
safely. and have stocks in a condition in spring
10 avoid "spring dwelling" preparations TO Sc
cure these objects must be made during the sum-
mer and fall At least three conditions must be
coInDlied with to accomplish the desired result:
1. Plenty of good sealed honey stored in the sum
mer 3 Plenty of Young bees reared in the fall
g. A warm hive which will retain heat, pass oil
all excess Of moisture, and at the same time,
except in the far North. permit the bees TO ny
ont during the warm DAYS frequently occurring
in the latter part of winter and early spring. II
| these simple requirements are fully complied
with we believe that nine-tenths of all the NAL
aides affecting our bees, and an equal amount OF
the dismal bowling of bee men % would at once
disappear. This new industry would then as
sHme an aspect at once inviting and lucrative.
Honey stored in June and July is thicker and
| contains less acid than that stored later in the
season. and for this reason is a better winter food
than fall honey; hence, during these months full
frames of honey should lie removed from the
hives and be put away il dark. dry and airy
room for winter purposes. and their places IN
the hive be filed with frames full of comb foun-
dation set in the centre of the hive; and If
dearth of honey in the flower occurs, just feed
little syrup from the best brown sugar each
evening from the entrance of the hive, thus
rapid breeding will be promoted, and by the time
the fall flowers ''spread their honey petals to the
bees" You will have a host of young, vigorous
workers 20 store il away. And those who are
posted know that bees are not inclined to store
honey in the boxes in fall, You should take the
hint by using the extractor and always rcpla-
cling the empty combs in the centre of the breed
ing department of the hive, process which in
variably exctcs the bees to the most intense
| tivity, and which the knowing ones" take adj
vantage Of and, in consequence take thousands
of pounds Of honey, while you complaineTs either
suck your fingers, or stand with your hands in
your pockets wondering why your bees cluster
on the outside of the hive and appear 81 lazy.
When this fall harvest is going on, the queen
will appropriate enough of the space in these
centre frames of the empty comb to insure Il
sufficient number of the young bees TO go into
| winter quarters with. Lastly extract all the
combs containing honey, and no brood Ia speak
| of. and set them away for use in early spring,
and in their place put the frames full of summer
| stored honey Now, with about six or seven
frames in the centre of each hive bring the po-
rous, clOsc-fittng division boards close up. Place
chat cushion ON the top of the frames about
four inches thick; leave the air-holes in each end
| of the cap open, contract the entrance To about
| one inch space, and your bees will pass the Sc
verest winters of this latitude ON their summer
| stands and begin breeding rapidly by the middle
| of March, when yOur empty combs should he
| brought into use for the queen 10 fill up with
| eggs Feed n little regularly, and by the time
the first honey harvest of the spring comes, your
stocks will he in condition to store il III the little
boxes which they will now use freely. Thus, by
the constant supply of young bees, the use of a
good article of honey for winter, the absence of
| an over-supply of moisture in the hive, you have
| all the conditions to insure success And if you
will but follow out our plan given here in a nut
| shell, you will succeed nine times out of ten /;
| but if you are too stingy to feed your bees when
| they need it, too timid TO examine into their
condition, too lazy stupid to post yourself on
the correct theory of bees in order to read their
condition and know their needs as soon as You
see the interior of the hive, or if you are afraid
of steady hard work and imagine your bees twill
| work for nothing and board both themselves and
you," then advise you by all means to quit
| the business, for You will only disgrace it and
bring unmerited contempt on our little favorites,
| the bees We like custom and enjoy the profits
arising from large business, but not well enough
| TO encourage lot Of blOckheads TO engage in or
continue a business for which they We're never
| qualified.