Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1890-03-13
BEE CULTURE.
some Pertinent Inquiries Answered
Best Time to Transfer Bees.

some Pertinent Inquiries Answered-The
Best Time to Transfer Bees.
A subscriber asks the following ques-
tions: Can he take bees in old box
hives. that have occupied the same for
ten Or fifteen years, and transfer them
TO frame hives. and Italisnize them sue
cessfully, at a less cost than to buy
Italian bees already in frame hives?
Also, at what time Of the year is it best
to start in either case?
We think it much cheaper, says the
Ohio Farmer in. answer to the above
inquiries. to invest in Italian bees in
good frame hives. In quite a good
many instances we can purchase such
at very reasonable figure. If the
box hives Of bees can be had at
mere trihe il may be cheaper 10 use
them, The experience and knowledge
gained by thus going through the work
OF transferring and Italianizing is of
much value to the amateur. and such
one would do we'll to thus commence,
but an experienced apiarist need not be
told which Of these plans is the cheap
est and best. The great trouble that
arises from transferring IS that we can
seldom obtain a set of combs that we can
handle with satisfaction Old combs,
when used, are more or less crooked and
uneven, so that it IS troublesome to get
them in and out OF the hive There is
much of the old comb that is not fit to
use on this account and after transfer
ring all the brood combs We would not
use any comb that is not straight and
~ hue fni
space with foundation comb. The work
of transferring and Italianizing is all
right, if We are successful in getting
straight combs 50 that we can handle
them to an advantage
The best time of the year to transfer
bees is during the early spring months,
and after warm weather has come Dur.
ing fruit blossoms is considered the best
time to transfer bees; in fact it is almost
impossible to transfer later, as during
the honey season the combs are so full
Of honey and 50 very tender that we
could not do it successfully. Hence
early in the spring. when the combs are
light and but few bees in the hives, is
much the best time for this operation.
During spring time is also the best
time to buy bees. 1t is true they cost
more, but you do not run the risk of
wintering and your investment is sure
to pay you we'll 1t is cheaper to pur-
chase the best and strongest colonies if
they do cost more. The first of April is
a very good time TO procure them il
they are in good condition, but many
times bees at this season are not in good
condition. and often they die at this
period Colonies that have been affect
ed with dysentery badly during the
winter often die out in April and con-
time TO do SO until May, or until nice
warm weather has made its appearance.
! If the season is very backward it is soon
/ enough to start with bees in May.
| To get the best results bees should be
fed daily during spring. at all times, un-
less they are gathering honey. This
+ feeding should be continued up to the
/ commencement Of the honey harvest.
4 BY this means We have strong colonies,
and large force Of bees to store honey,
which makes all the difference in the
world in the honey crop