Middletown transcript., 1896-01-25
UNITING COLONIES OF BEES.
An Experts Plan For Uniting Weak Colo
nies In the FALL

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An Experts Plan For Uniting Weak Colo
mics In the Fall.
It often happens that some Of the col
onies are too weak in numbers, and the
remedy is to unite two or more colonies
In one hive. There are many plans for.
uniting bees, but g. M. Doolittle, sac-
cessful New York apiarian, prefers The
following for fall use. He says in The
American Bee journal:
In the first place, the queens in part
of the colonies are to be taken away and
disposed Of in some way, either by SELL
ing or destroying them. Having the
queens disposed Of, wait three days to
a week, SO the colonies may realize their
Queenlessness, for some cool, cloudy
day, when it is few degrees colder than
the bees desire to fly in, when you will
find the bees all clustered compaetly,<.
something the way they are in winter.
When taking the queens away, take all
the combs from the hive but three, un-
less the colony is too large, leaving only
those which contain the most honey.
The combs left are to be spread apart
from three-fourths to an inch, setting
them out two or three inches from the
sides OF the hive, SO that the bees may
all be clustered on these combs instead
OF hanging to the sides or any part Of
the hive. The hive which is to receive
these bees and combs is to be also pre-
pared beforehand by taking away all
the combs but three or four, those left
being the ones having the most honey
in them, said combs being placed close
to one side Of the hive.
When the day arrives, light the smok-
er and put on your bee veil. Now go to
the hive having the queen and uncover
it, giving the bees q little smoke to keep
them quiet, and leaving the hive open
so that you can set the other frames
right in without any hindrance. Next
go to one Of those you took the queen 5
from, blowing smoke in at the entrance
quite freely while uncovering the hive.
Blow few puffs of smoke around tbs
combs and over them, when the smoker
Is to be set down and the front fingers
placed between the first two frames near
their ends, the large fingers between the
second and last frames, while the third
md little fingers are placed beyond the
ihird frame. Now close up with the
humbs and all Of the fingers, thus lift
ng the frames and cluster Of bees all
nut Of the hive at once, when they are
o be carried to the open hive where
hey are to stay and set down in it all
ogeth6f close up to the frames of bees
hat are in this hive. Go back and get
he smoker, and blow smoke enough on
he bees to keep them down, when you
an arrange the frames, division board
nd hive, as you like, without very
many, If any, bees flying.
Should few. bees stick to the hive
on took the frames out Of, bring the
i've to the one having the united colony
, it, and brush them ont on top Of the
'ames, as they will be pretty. well
ailled by this time. In doing this you
ill have to smoke those in the united
'lony pretty well, or many will fly at
~, for these partly chilled bees will
row their poison out on their stings
that the scent Of it will anger the
es Of that colony that are in the
lited hive. If you fixed all as it should
when taking the queen away and
eparing for uniting and smoked the
es as told. there will be only now and
en- one that will require this last
GRAFTON, as all will be snugly clustered
the combs. Close the hive as soon as
q have things fixed to suit you, when
erything is to be removed from the
md of the colony that was united
tn the other. Some bees will fly or
yer over the old spot where home
IS, but not finding it will return to
} united colony, having marked their
" location enough on flying out to
ow where to go, seeing the old home
lot found.
In Making Change.
a .lrious incident occurred in Paris
taurant the other day. A high official,
opening to be in the Montmartre dis -
ct about dinner time. walked into
taurant frequented much by foreign
), and took his dinner there, his bill
ounting to francs. When calling
waiter to pay for his meal, he hand
him 20 franc goldpiece, which the
tier put into his mouth, as is the Gus
l OF the Paris walters. Making
nge, he only gave him Q francs. The
tleman looked up and said Beg
r pardon, ! want 10 francs and not
ancs. " Excuse me, sir, !" said the
ter. "You gave me 10 franc piece.
?" And Herewith he took from be-
en- his lips smaller gold coin,
wing it to the gentleman. The off,
, considerably wrought up for being
N for fool, without any warning
, the waiter such slap in the face
the 20 franc piece given him fell
Of his mouth and rolled across the
n. Tho gentleman got his change,
purposely forgot to tip the waiter.
had received quite setback by the
king" argument of the guest.
8 Letter.
Finding Verdict.
Texas paper says that in one Of tho