Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1901-01-05
hives and tie it up with a string. They
don't Ike this at all. and get the string out

hives and tie it up with string. They
don't like this at all, and get the string out
as soon possible. l have seen dozen
of them at work on a piece of string, tug
gtng 1t out of the hive They allow no for
eign matter to remain inside of the hive
any longer than the time needed by them
in getting it out.
- 1.-The past three years have been bad for
the bee business. 1t has been too dry. In
such cases as these l feed them on strip
made by melting sugar. Last year I lost
seven colonies by cold. 1 shall now put my
bees in the cellar in few days. When l
give them sirup 1 put it in box at the top
Of the hive and the bees come up and get
it during the night and take 1t to the
combs, where 1t is put into the cells. I
have known them to take away as much
seven pounds of this strip in a single
night. They can see to work in the dark
just as well as by day, and they like it
better, too. In putting sirup into the
combs there is no chemical change 1t still
remains strip, but they refuse to eat it
until 1t is first put into the comb.
THE bees can heat their hive al will.
1t Is done by buzZing, and seems 10 be a
natural gift with them. They are very
soon heat their hive so you can easily feel
the difference in lifting the cover.
"If a bee dies in winter they lug the
body out at once, and this is done in the
everything else. There is nothing that will
make bees mad to brush them. When
they light on you pay no attention to them
and they will not sting, but If you try to
brush them off there will be trouble at
once You must never show fear around a
beehive.
'In swarming the queen always gives .he
word of command to get out of the hive.
The old ones always are the ones TO go.
leaving the young ones in full possession
Of the hive. 1t usually works the other
way in the human family. The bees then
cluster around the queen to guard her from
harm, and they move off and settle on some
convenient spot.
"Bees are like famlies-some are large
and others small. The bees are exactly
what the queen makes them. If she is
smart they will be the same, but lazy
queen sets the example for all the workers
to be the same. They do exactly as she
tells them to do. My experience with them
has always been pleasant, and have come
to love them as any one will do under
similar circumstances"
At this point the Journal man ventured
to open the top Of one of the hives. when a
bee came out and lighted his clothes.
The good advice that he had received from
Mr. Bolster was unheeded and the Insect
was brushed Off The experience when
followed convinced him of his folly. The
spurned bee Immediately went into the
hive, and in less time than 1t takes to tell
the story returned with a score or more Ct
it's fellows and proceeded to make things
lively with their business ends. An inglo-
rious retreat followed. during which Mr..
Bolster, who remained calmly by the side
of the hive was heard to say: There.
What did tell you? If you hadn't brush
ed that bee off you could have stayed here
as long as you wanted to. Now you VII
have to get out. They don't know you and