Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1907-09-14
iONEY MADE IN BEES
S SUCCESSFUL IN CITY AS IN
THE COUNTRY.
Details About Starting Apiary and
Care in Winter and
Fall.

Scientific bookkeeping Is one Of the pleas
ntcs' and most profitable of feminine I'm
is;rirs II differs from other moncy-maklng
Irsui,s In that 1t can be conducted-on a
pin-mouty' scale If not as the sole means
IvoNlood-in practically any available
pot; y prosperous apiary has for some
ears been in operation on the roof of sky
rrapcr office building in the heart Of New
OK Ditv Another was conducted by an
m"itluus college girl on a balcony outside
Ter chamber window. and. Notwithstanding
= limited proportions, supplied funds for
% pur ,h1sr of number of costly text
ooks besides adding wholesome variety
the modest bill of fare. other successful
go farms have been established in gardens.
richards. vacant lots. forests. praircs.
mountain regions. IN short. wherever suit
BILE pasturagc could he obtained within a
adIus OF three or four miles. as bees are
bic 70 range freely over areas Inaccessible
ordinary farm stock. and will often find
n abundance of wild producing
lants and trees in regions totally unsuited
agriculture.
Agriculture is not only profitable. but
Extremely fascinating 20 thosa blessed with
inherent love OF outdoor Ire
The cardinal requisite to success in hand
ng bees Is self-controI. Let every move
ent be quiet and deliberate Abrupt mo-
on of any description. even 4 nervous
Prk of the head as bee scout comes
zooning'' uncomfortably near, is apt to
misconstrued into an attack and followed
instant retaliation In the form of a sting.
L course. the danger of unfrendIy atten-
ons can he minimized by the use of heavy
owes. preferably Of rubber. and a bee
Pill" which Is simply curtain of black
et gathered about the hat crown with an
asj'c cord and falling to the shoulders.
h gloves, however, are clumsy and incon-
en!cnt. and are usually discarded as soon
4 little confidence has been acquired.
Even the veil may be dispensed with on
ost occasions, provided care has been
ken to select the gentlest breeds in stock
< the apiary.
The most vicious. as we'll as the least
Foftahle from a honey producing stand
pint. are the common black or brown va
cites. which have been bred from the ordi
bry Wild species of America. They are
ritable. indolent and poor defenders of the
We.
Next in point of pugnacity come the
alians. the first of the foreign races in
oduced into the United States. They are
kCellent honey gatherers. but somewhat
ferior in wintering qualities. The pure
alians have better dispositions than the
imberless crosses with the domestic bee
hich have been produced in this country
Cyprians are the best honey gatherers,
pit their aggressiveness makes them diff
pit for the novice to handle This draw
hck may. however, be largely overcome
crossing the queens with drones of an
kceedingly gentle race.
Choose Hives Carefully.
Next 10 selecting the stock itself the
Poice of hives Is perhaps the most i'm
Prtant. The so-ealled Langstroth type.
hose distinctive feature is the suspended
anne. is more used than any other, al
ough the closed frame hives have numer-
Is advocates. Many apiarists even among
omen, build their own equipment, but
nee the best and most durable hives can
II be made without special machinery, the
bstitutIon Of the homemade for the fac
ry product is generally mistaken econ
Before attempting to install the bees in
e homes prepared for them. 1t will be a
pod plan for the beginner to acquire per-
ct control of the bellows smoker used for
lbdung the inmates when IT is necessary
open a hive and to practice removing
hd replacing supers sections and frames
htil the various operations have become
ter whenever a frame is lifted out a
Jump of active. easily angered bees will
3 found Clinging to 1t, and that to drop.
Imble or severely jar the frame is liable
, provoke attack. II the novice has pre-
fously familiarizei herself with every
ecessary movement there will be less like
hood OF a disastrous ending to her first
tempt at actual bee handling.
One of the first problems to confront the
experienced apiarist is the management
the stock in swarming Instead of bang
< on tin pans. blowing horns and ringing
lis when a swarm is discovered leaving
ne hive the best course is simply to wait.
fter ii short time the bees will probably
ulster on some nearby tree. when It will
an easy matter to shake them gently
to basket and turn them out on the
POUND before the entrance TO an empty
i've which has been held in readiness for
Fst such an emergency. If II has been
aCed In a cool. shady spot the bees Will
Party always take immediate possession.
he parent colony should be moved some
stance away. and all but one of the queen
IS cut out in order to prevent the issu-
- OF q second swarm.
When the maximum number OF colonies
HIGH can conveniently be handled has
ben reached, and Il Is desirable TO en-
by prevent swarming. the most effica-
us method Is 10 replace the old queen
IN one OF the current year. This should
done in the spring before the season of
kodus commences. Queens rarely swarm
bring the first season. and If the added
Fecaution is taken of placing frames with
arters between the brood chamber and
ght hole OF the hive with additional
oring space above or behind the broad
st, as advocated ny Mr.. Samuel SWIM
ms. the noted English apiarist immunity
ON swarming is practically assured
Pm considering the advisabllity of starting
bee farm question naturally arises as
what may reasonably be expected in
Q way OF financial returns OF course the
mount OF income will be governed, first
the number of colonists which II is
ssible to handle. and second, by the ex-
M and quality of the pasturage afforded
the surrounding country.
The honey is permitted to stand for
fek or so to "ripen" in a dry, warm place
tanks covered with cheesecloth. 1t is
lmmed every day. and when perfectly
.ar Is ready for shipment Square tin
ms holding sixty pounds each are COM
pnly used for packing the finer grades
d kegs or barrels coated inside with par
bin for the cheaper ones.
Yrhe product per hive will nece ssarily
nv with the season and the charact
ld extent OF pasturage. as we'll as with
|e number OF bees in the colony. The
erage hive should contain not less than
go workers. and during the height of the
ecding season a large hive may some
mes contain four or five times that num-
A fair sized colony should produce
how ID. N-y I'll