Albuquerque daily citizen. [volume] (Albuquerque, N.M.) 1895-1903, 1902-05-17
THE BUSY BEE.

1t used to be thought bees were not
necessary to secure proper fertiliZa-
ton of fruit trees but it is now gener-
ally accepted that while blossoms can
he fortified without the bees. the work
is better done with the help of insects.
Apple pollen can be distributed in part
by the wind but it is better done by
the bees. Some varieties fertilize more
readily than others and in some sea
sons there is a great difference. in that
sometimes the wind does better SER
vice IN securing the proper fertiliza-
ton of blossoms. 1t is not best to plant
large blocks of any n variety, for the
mixed planting will secure better re-
suits whether the work is lone by bees
or wind. AS to the number of bees
needed, if the day is sunshiny and not
too windy, twenty colonies will cover
one acre quite completely.
Scientists tell us that it is not posi-
BILE for two queen bees to occupy the
same hive for they will at once fight
for supremacy. Even the birth of the
queens from the eggs laid by the old
queen is disputed by the first queen
Matched from these eggs. for not pre-
vented by the workers. this first-born
queen will at once break open the cells
in which are located the unborn ones
and destroy them. The following plan
of introducing a queen will be success
full in the majority of cases: From the
hive into which the queen is to be in
troduced remove four or five frames OF
capped brood with the bees adhering
thereto and place them in an empty
hive, leaving the mother queen in the
old hive. Place the cage containing
the new queen on top of the frames In
the new hive, close it up and reduce
the size of the entrance to one inch
The bees will remain in the
new hive and in a few days will lib
crate the new queen and "a good
care of her, while the older bees re
moved on the frames will probably re
turn to the old hive. In some cases
the bees will kill the new queen BIT
very rarely and when such catastrophe
occurs the bee man St. has the ole
bee to depend upon for new broods.
During fruit blooming or any period
in spring when bees are bringing In
some honey is a good time to transfer
them. If the bees are in box hives II
will be a sticky, mussy job, so have the
tools in readiness before beginning
Besides a good smoker, a hammer ano
chisel and a long, sharp, ~thin-bladec
knife, a wide board will be needed or
which to lay the combs. Blow a little
smoke in at the entrance. Tip the hive
over backward and with a little more
smoke drive the bees down among the
combs. Set the new hive in its place
and spread a sheet in front. Now !
, more smoke upon the bees, then mt {
small box on top of the inverted hivt
and drive the bees up into it by rap
ping the sides with a stick. When mos
of the ices are clustered in the box Sc
il aside. Leave the hive standing up
side down and with hammer and chise
open that side of the hive where tn
combs can be reached to the best ad
vantage. Before this time the return
ing workers from the fields have dis
covered the change and are rushing II
and out of the new hive in the wildes
confusion. Prepare a frame of com
and give - to them as soon as possible
and they will feel more at home. La.
a folded cloth upon the comb board Z
prevent injury to the brood while nj
ting the combs in the frames. Tie tn
combs with strings and when the bee
have them fastened they can remov'
the strings themselves. When all IN
good comb is transferred dump tn
bees from the driving box in front O
the new hive and run them in. wiz
the remaining frames and NIL theI
with full sheets of ~undatl