The Somerset reporter., 1898-01-06

A half hour spent with Fred L Grant,
of Fairfield Center, gave your correspon-
dent some very interesting points on bee
culture. This young mon has made a
study of the scientific treatment of bees,
and the return for the untiring care and
study on his part. is stronger colonies oil
bees that made more honey and of better
quality then is generally found.
Mr.. Grant has just put into winter
quarters lo colonies of strong, healthy
bees. In preparing the hives for the Gel
lar. he informs me IL is Necessary in order
to secure ventilation to raise the hive on a
two inch rim (above the summer bottom
board), this rim having openings to allow
current of air to pass under the hive.
He takes the top of the hive off entirely,
and in its place puts on a chaf cushion Of
about four or five inches depth--the top
while the bottom is CO, ereo with thin
cotton to allow any possible moisture to
be readily absorbed. This cushion also
| affords much warmth.
This room is in the celler, is sealed
| tightly, has cement floor, and is kept abso-
lutely dark at a temperature of 30 to 45
degrees. The temperature is regulated
by ventilation pipes. He tells me that the
temperature in the center OF cluster OF
bees is 90 degrees, and that the outer
bees form wall to keep the cluster warm,
and when these on the outside get too
cold they begin to move toward the center
and force some of the others 10 the out
side, thus TO ming new wall
Tprinx The uptp ta M
that from each colony from one to two
cupfuls of bees may die from natural
causes. The length of time that a bee
lives during the working season is only
six weeks.
1t if interesting to watch these busy
bodies from the time the egg is first laid
(about the size of the period in ordinary
newspaper prinD through all the different
stages. The egg matches in three days,
remains in larva state six days. during
which time it is fed by the nurse bees"
is then sealed ovei in the cells to remain
twelve days, at the end of which time it
is found that wings, legs, ETC., have been
added and the bee comes forth, full
fiedged.
Now it serves its time of two weeks as
nurse bee (whose duty it is to feed the
larvae) and then. our little friend launch
es out to geather sweetness and store it
for our use.
MIR. Grant informed me that the eggs
for the different bees (drones, queen and
workers. are exactly alike, but the differ
ent treatment during the development of
the embryo is what makes the difference.
The queen, with extra care and food,
coming to maturity in sixteen days, the
worker in n,nteen and the drone taking
twenty five.
This past season (which was so wet it
was called very poor for honey Mr.. Grant
got from eighteen colanies, ro6 pounds of
honey. was surprised to learn that when
the honey was first stored by the bees it
was nearly of the consistency of water,
but these industrious and knowing little
things array themselves all over and
around the comb and by quick and
Constant movement of the wings soon
eyaporate the water.
A Cowen reversible extractor is proving
very satisfactory machine to Mr. Grant.
With it, he estimates he can extract from
400 to 500 pounds Of honey in a day. He
has recently purchased four cell battery
and next season will wire the foundation
comb by electricity. He also claims that
his wax extractor is very great labor
saving device; also that he gets much
more wax by using it. He calculates that
it saved him $500 worth of wax extra
this season. and as the machine costs but
81 90 and is quite as good as ever. one
may judge that he is pleased with his
labor sa. ing machine.
Mr.. Grant is very pleasing young man
to converse with and readily and kindly
answers all questions in regard to his
work A half hour may be very proftably
spent in his work-room by any one
interested in bees and the keeping.-S in
Bangor Commercial