The Waxahachie daily light. [volume] (Waxahachie, Tex.) 1894-current, 1903-03-19
The UnIearned Bee- Kseper.
nyF.J. h. Davenport
TO the ENTERPRISE:

AS have nothing to do / will
give the unlearned bee-keepers few
points on bees, as all indications
point to big honey crop in 1903.
In almost any locality in the state
there may be seen in many of the
door-yards a few "bee gums or
box hives, as they are popularity
called. These are no more nor less
than upright boxes, about twelve
inches square and froms one to
three feet In height. In each of
these will be found domiciled a col
ony of bees, with the earth for a.
floor and q few anger holes for
doors. There is no way of examin-
ing them or ascertaining the condi-
ton of the colony without frst
making a determined attack with
hammer and cold chisel In order TO
remove the top of the box hive.
This done, mass of combs, usually
crooked, Irregular, and pfomiscious-
ly attached to the walls, greets tho
eye. The broad chamber In which
will be found the queen, the young
bees, or larva, and in which the
household work of the hive 10 car
ried on, Is In the lower part of the
hive. To reach this one must cut
of the combs in the upper part.
which results in the honey flowing
down over the bees below, and fire.
quently I'm severe MASKING and
breaking OF brood-comhs them
selves. Once opened, the combs
cannot be replaced and the inhab-
itants must sight matters as best
they can, often requiring for them
weeks or even months of time and
labor. In many eases the result Of
"robbing," as this process is called,
is so wearing on the colony that the
wax-moth gains access to the hives
and deposits eggs, while later hatch
into worms or larvn that will
destroy combs and honey so rapidly
that the colony in a short time dies
out.
The owner has no means of assist
ing the bees in their battle against
the worms and the result 10 that the
latter wins the battle.
In a southern climate such as
prev ails ia Texas, the wax-moth is
peculiarly abundant and its growth
and reproduction is rapid. In many
localities its ravages have beer so
severe that II has DESTROYED more
than the natural increase Of the
bees resulting from swarming.
The author recently asked a bee
keeper how many colonies he had
Reply: Seventeen ia box hives 80 e
Had sixteen three years ago. =
Worms Killed them out. Think
! have done well The natural
increase from sixteen colonies Ia
three years would, under average
conditions, amount to no less than
l3S colonies al the calculation.
nov AHtFAbs an y &tfNE va EAs N@&AHA48tf ~
due TO the wax-moth. or a loss Of 693
per cent, as compared To the origin
al sixteen colonies. The use OF
modern Bookkeeping methods and
frame hives dtsposes OF the wax
moth. Further argument in favor
OF the frame hive, or patent gum, -
and In favor of intelligent manage
ment is unnecessary.
The fact that any man or woman
with average Intelligence can, with
little study OF literature easily
obtained, and with a small expen-
diturs Of money, install the proper
apparatus and conduct becker in z
I'm profitable way. IL assurance
that there Is no possible excuse for
the continued existence of the box
hive With the latter the farmer
considers himself lucky II he gets
an average OF fifteen pounds OF
honey per year from each colony.
With frame hives the experienced
and enlightened bee keeper considers
himself unlucky IL he does not gs,
an average OF at less, forty pounds
per colony. Yields Of 10 pounds
per colony on an average are not
unusual Ina certain localities and
individual colonies have produced
as high as 600 pounds in a single
year. IL will thus be seen that with
antiquated methods tie best results
can not be obtained.
This does NOT necessarily mean
that large amount of capital must
be invested. Ten dollars properly
expended will provide everything
necessary for one 10 begin intelli
bookkeeping, with the best of hives
and supplies. Nor is previou'
knowledge of the industry necessary
for the beginner. The great major
lty of successful bee-keepers o.
today were without instruction o.
any Kind at the out set, and bS