The Washington herald., 1908-09-06


as the sole means OF Iivelihcod-in prac-
tically any available spot.
a prosperous aplary has for some years
been in operation on the roof Of a sky
scraper ofice building in the heart Of
New York City Another was conducted
by an ambitious college girl on a bal
cony outside her chamber window, and.
notwithstanding its limited proportions,
supplied funds for the purchase Of a num-
Der OF costly text bo0Rs. besides adding
wholesome variety 10 the modest bin OF
fare
Other successful bee farms have been
established in gardens, orchards. vacant
lots. forests. prairies. mountain regions
II short. wherever suitable pasturage
could be obtained within a radius Of three
or four miles. as bees are able 10 range
freely over areas inaccessible 10 ordinary
farm stock, and viii often ind an abun-
dance Of wild honey-producing plants and
trees IN regions totally Unsuited 10 agrI-
culture
Agriculture IS not only profitable, but
extremely fascinating 10 those blessed
with an inherent love for outdoor life
Needs SeIf-cOntroI.
The cardinal requisite TO success in
handing bees is self-c0ntr0L fLet every
movement be quiet and deliberate.
Abrupt motion Of any description. even a
nervous jerk Of the head as q bee scout
comes "zooning- uncou1fortabIy near. IS
apt 10 be misc0usJrUed into an attack and
followed by instant retaliation in the form
Of sting or course. the danger Of un-
friendly attentions can be minimized by
the use of heavy gloves, preferably Of
rubber. and q bee veil which is simply
a curtain Of black net gathered about the
hat crown with an elastic cord and falling
10 the shoulders The gloves. however,
are clumsy and Incouvenieut. and are
usually discarded as soon as little con
fdence has been acquired
Even the veil may De dispensed with on
most occasions provided care has been
taken 10 select tGe zenrlesL breeds In
stocking the apiary-
The most Vicious as wei as the least
profitable. frcm Eouey-pro6ucing stand
point are The common black or brown
varieties which have been bred from the
ordinary wild species Of America They
are irritable. ind1leEt and poor defenders
OF the hive
TtaIiau Bees PuEnacIOuS.
Next in point OF pugnacity come the
Italians. the first OF the foreign races in
troduced into the United States They
are excellent honey satHerers. but some
what inferior in wintering qualities The
pure Italians have better dispositions than
the nUmberIess crosses with the domestic
bee which have Deen produced in this
country.
Cypria1s are The best honey gatherers.
but their aggressIveneSs makes them diff
cult for the novice 70 handle This draw
back may. however. be largely overcome
by crossing the queens with drones Of an
exceedingly gentle race
Next 10 selecting the stock itself the
choice OF hives Is perhaps the most i'm
portanL The s0-caued Langstrofz type.
whose distinctive feature IS the SUSPENDED
frame. Is more used than any other, al
though the closed frame hives have nu-
merous advocates Many apiarists. even
among women. build their own equip
ment. but since the best and most durable
hives cannot be made without special
machinery. the substitution Of the home
made for the factory product is generally
mistaken economy
smoker Important Adjunct.
Before attempting 10 install the bees IN
the homes prepared for them. il viii be a
good plan for the beginner 70 acquire per
feet control OF the bellows smoker used
for subduinE the inmates when Il is nee
essary 10 open hive and 70 practice re-
moving and replacing supers. sections.
and frames until the various operations
nave become almost automatic Remem-
Der that a little later. whenever q frame
is lifted out. a clump Of active easily
angered bees VIII be found cIinginE 10 f.
and that TO drop. tumble. OF severely jar
the frame is liable to provoke attack #
the novice has previously familiarized
herself with every necessary movement
there viii be less likelihood Of a disas-
1rous ending 10 her first attempt al actual
bee handling
One CT TIE first problems TO confront the
inexperienced apiarist Is The management
~ the stock in zwarning. Instead Of
banging on tin pans. blowing horns. and
ringing bells when a swarm is discovered
leaving the hive. the best course is simply
10 wait After short time the bees will
probably cluster on some nearby tree
when Il VIII be an easy matter 10 shake
them gently into a basket and turn them
out on the srou-d before the entrance TO
an empty hive which has been held fn
readiness for just such an emergency. II
Il has been placed IN a cool shaGv. sDor-
the bees viii nearly always take inuedi-
ate possession The parent colony should
be moved some distance away. and an
but one Of the queen cells cut out in
order 20 prevent the issuance Of a second
swarm
How - Prevent SvvarmIns=.
When the maximum number of colonies
which can conveniently be handled brS
been reached, and It IS desirable 10 en-
tirely prevent swarming. the most eHca-
cious method IS 10 replace the old queen
with one Of the current year This sbouTI
be done in the spring. before the season OF
exodus commences Queens rarely swarm
during the first season. and II the added
precautlon IS taken Of placing frames
with starters between the brood chamber
and hight hole Of the hive. with additional
storing space above or behind the broad
nest. as advocated by Mr.. Samuel swim
Tilins, the noted English apIa-isr- frnmuni-
y from sUarmins is practically assured.
In considering the advisability OF start
ing bee farm. question naturally
arises as 20 what may reasonably he ex-
pected N the way Of financial returns
OF course the amount OF income viii be
governed. first. by the number Of coIonists
which IL is possible 10 handle. and. sec
ond. by the extent and quality Of the pas
Iurage Afforded by the surrounding coun-
Try
The honey IS permitted 10 stand for a
week OF so 20 "ripen" in q dry. warm
place IN tanks covered with cheesecIoth.
Il Is SKINNED every DAY. and when per
1ectly clear Is ready for shipment SQUARE
tin cans holding sixty pounds each are
commonly used for packing the finer
grades. and kegs or barrels coated inside
with parafiiL for .he cheaper ones
Product viii Vary.
The product OF the hive viii necessarily
vary with the season and The character