The Stark County Democrat. [volume] (Canton, Ohio) 1833-1912, 1899-11-24
THE~eEE KEtPeR.
How Many Coionies-whai Kind ofs Hivs
to Buy-Transfering Ise~s.

TO oBuy-Trnnsfering Bees.
How many colonies would you sd-
| wise a beginner to start with? Is the
| question frequently asked by persons
who are contemplating embarking in
the Bee business. One. or two at the
most, will be enough with proper care.
| They will increase as fast as ones
knowledge and ability to core for them.
a few colonies we'll cared for will be
| much more profitable than larger
| number neglected or mismanaged. A
| bee keepers wealth consists not In the
number but in the strength of his coll
| onies.
What kind of hive shall l use? in
another question that often bothers the
beginner. Probably one Of the best
hives on the market Is the "Dove-tailed
Hives" as size would recommend
ten frame hive; it is very easy
matter to make hive smaller by 'eans
of division boards or dummies. but not
SO easy to make small hive larger.
And in some localities, and at certain
seasons. a ten frame hive Is none too
large. For frame, all things con-
sidered, the Hoffman is probably one
of the best; 1t will profit the novice
IL he will consult the catalogues OF
those who furnish Bee keepers sup
plies. Many of these catalogues are
profusely illustrated with engravings
Of hives and nearly every thing used
in the apiary, and they also contain
much valuable information. They af-
ford one of the best methods for the
beginner to become familiar with the
various terms and appliances used In
modern Bee keeping.
At this season of the year bees can
often be bought very cheaply in box
hives, but how to get them out Of the
box hive and get the combs fastened
into frames in modern hive seems
like a formidable task to undertake.
But It can easily be done by anyone
who Is not afraid of the bees The
proper time to do this is about the
time apple trees commence to bloom;
then the bees will have consumed near
ly all Of the stores and the combs will
be nearly empty, except for brood and
pollen and are much more readily fast
ened in the frames. First provide some
wires for fastening the combs into the
frames; these can be made from bale
ing wire cut into proper lengths and
bent at each end half an inch, SO as
to spring over the top and bottom bar
of the frame. Now get box the size
of your box hive; remove the cover |
from the box, give the bees several
puffs of smoke and await until they |
have filled themselves with honey. |
Then gently turn the hive upside down |
If the bottom board is nailed fast pry !
it off as gently as possible-turn the |
box upside down on top of the hive Qt |
should be just the size of the hive so
that no bees can get out), close up the
entrance to the hive and all cracks with
rags, cotton, wool, or grass. go that
drum on the sides of the hive with a
stick, and the bees will all go up into
the box. At the end of fifteen minutes
bhe bees will all be clustered at the
top like a swarm when they should be
shifted off carefully and set to one side
Until the combs are cut out and fasten-
I'd nj the frames. Take large butcher
Knife and cut the combs loose from the
sides of the hive, carefully splitting off
one side Of the hive so that you can
ret at the tops Of the combs Remove
hem one at time, and save only the
straight worker combs. Have piece
If burlap laid on table or board to
ay the combs on, so as not to injure
he brood, and cut the combs to fit
he frames. It don't matter II you do
ret them upside down the bees will fix /,
hem up all right. AS fast as the
ombs are fastened In the frames hang
hem in the new hive. If there are
lot enough good straight worker
ombs to fill all the frames the rest
an be filled with full sheets of founda-
ion.
After the frames are filled and hung l
n the new hive spread large news
aper in front of the new hive and j
hake the bees out on the box onto It;
his can best be done by humping one
orner Of the box on stone or block q
I wood. The bees will usually run In {
Ike new swarm. If they do not seem q
isposed to go in lift up the outer edge d
I the paper and shake them up to- @
ard the entrance Of the hive, when a g
lff or two of smoke will start them in. s
s soon as the bees have waxed the IL
ombs fast to the frames-which they b
Ill proceed to do at once and will Of II
IN have 1t done by the next day-all o
ne wires should be removed, as they 4
over some of the cells containing p
rood, and If left on too long will pre- v
ent 1t from Matching. All honey that d
spilled or dropped about should be II
ashed or wiped up so as not to leave
drop for robbers.--M. e. Flower. in 4
merican Gardning. "
Kennir Ynur E.... Ip