Weekly graphic. [volume] (Kirksville, Adair Co., Missouri) 1880-1949, 1884-05-30

BEE CULTURE.
sprlRg Management Again.

BY MRS. L. HARRISON, PEORIA, co., ILL.
The bees are hurried with pressing
work, and seem to feel the Importance
of doing it well. The fertilization Of
the fruit crop is a great undertaking,
for such tiny folks. May cherry trees
are furnishing large amount Of work,
for they are crowded with blossoms.
Pear and crab.apples ale in full
blossom. and apple buds are now
opening MAY sth. Apple honey is
dark, but Of good flavor. Mr.. Muth,
of Cincinnati, in speaking Of this hon.
ey, related the mistake Of a druggist,
in reference to it: He ordered honey
and that made from apple blossoms
was sent. The druggist sent wor1 the
honey was not the right kind. He
wanted bees honey. Mr.. Muih re.
piled. "come and visit me ard will
show you different kinds of honey
He came, was convinced, and said "he
thought he could detect the favor of
roses in the honey sent" inferrng it
was manufactured and scented with
altar of roses.
do net try to save surplus honey
during fruit bloom, but have it all man.
ufactured into bees. In order TO be
producer of fine honey, the bee-masser
must be acquainted with the source
from which it is obtained, and keep
the different kinds separate. A person
who runs for extracted honey, and has
his combs in the upper story now. and
extracting during white clover bloom,
will have mixed article, favored with
dandelion. friit-bloom, etc. Raspber-
ry honey is light and OF delicate favor
and the season lasts three weeks.
Apiaries contain colonies of differ
ent strength, and during fruit bloom is
good time to equalizc them. 1t is
much better than to let the large col
onies gather surplus, and hang in clus-
tiers secreting wax, to be followed by
an interim of scarcity. A frame of
chipping brood may be taken from a
prosperous colony, and given to a
weaker one; the bees should be brush
ed off, as they might sting the strange
queen. In place of the frame taken
from the large colony, substitute one of
comb. and it will be Immediately ap-
propriated by the queen and flied with
eggs. have noticed that if an empty
frame be given such colony, it will be
filled with drone comb. When the
bees have all crawled out of the comb
gwen to the weaker one, and the queen
does not take possession Gift, it can be
exchanged for one of Matching brood
fla frame containing Larvae and eggs is
given to weak colony, it is little
mysterious where they have gone to.
have opened such colonies in a day
or two after giving them larvae ano
eggs, and there was not one to be seen
The bees looked innocent enough, bu
what had become of them?
Every fine day inspect the interior
of some hives, and ascertain their ex
act condition, and shall continue doini
so until familiar with each one. Som'
colonies have a comb OF honey t.
spare, and the queen is short of laying
room; by removing this comb of hon
ey to a colony poor in stores, and sub
shutting therefor an empty one, bot
are benefited. Ifa colony is weak
sometimes contains dead bees, mould
and stuck together. It IS best 10 re
move the living to clean, sweet hiv
and cleanse the old hive. using it i
like manner for another in bad cond
ton. Strong colonies keep thei. hive
clean, unless from long continued colo
the cappings and dead bees get dam
and matted together, so that it is in
possible for the bees to remove then
When brood frame is removed fror
a strong colony, and they have littl
honey, it is well to substitute an III
capped frame of honey. The bee
will fix il in condition for the queer
and she lays in accordance with he
income, and not with reference
stores on hand. l have placed a
empty comb in a strong colony i
spring, and have seen it af-erward
full of brood to the top, when the
generally store honey above i.
Before opening a hive, puff littl
smoke in at the entrance, and unde
the covering of the frames; allow
little time for them to fill themselve
with honey, which puts them in goo
humor. A loaded bee never venture
an attack. Il is we'll to have an emp
ty hive by the side OF the one opened
to hang frames in, as they are take
out; remove with as little jar or bustl
as possible; nothing excites bees S
much as jar, as their instinct teache
them it will break down the comb!
Quick motions also make them irrita
BILE, as does the smell of tobacco an
beer. When one frame is removed t
the empty hive, the others can b
easily lifted up and inspected, and
all is right, returned to their places j
the hive. If the hive is foul, place a
in clean hive, remove the old one
putting the new one in its place; ia
the remaining bees out in front of the
old stand, and they will enter the me-
hive, and soon be actively ar work.
A goose quill, little twig wit
leaves on, or branch of asparagu
will answer to brush bees from fran
with. Dealers i'll apiarian supple
sell little brushes made of vegetabl
fibre for this purpose, but beginner
should not gather too many traps
about the apiary, and may get alon
,y,.bout fha bruehae DS1,.is E,y,pe,