Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1909-04-29
Spring Care Of Bees.

On every farm there should be few
nish the family with all the honey it
needs, fresh from nature. Bees help to
fertilize the fruits and flowers on the
farm and aid the bumblebees during
July in fertilizing the red clover.
Many farmers have wintered few
hives of bees, and If they were put in
a good dry, cool cellar with a plenti-
full store of honey, and have been CIV
en- proper ventilation, they should be
in good condition in March. OF course,
there will be moro or less dead ones.
and it is necessary to take a bent wire
and scrape those out that have fallen
to the bottom board.
If the bees are uneasy and are roar
ing in the hive wait for a warm day,
with the thermometer about so, take
out the hives, set them some distance
apart, let them take a fly and then put
them back in the cellar in the even
ing.
The reason bees roar is because they
have had some kind of impure honey
in their store, and it has given them
what large beekeepers call dysentery.
They lie in a sort of semi-torpid state
during the winter are punched togetn-
er in cluster, eat but little, and it is
necessary when they become uneasy
and roar from using impure honey to
take them out and let them have a
fly and then put them back.
1t is we'll to keep them in the cellar
until there is something for them to
do; for example, until the pussy
willows are in bloom. Then take them
out and put them on their summer
stands, and let them remain there. 1t
is not best to take out too many hives
at a time, for If this is done, they will
get confused and go to the wrong
hives. When they are put on the stand
the entrance must be closed up, only
sufficient space being left for one or
two bees to pass in and out of the
hives. This is done for the purpose of
maintaining the warmth in the hive
and to give the bees chance to de-
fend themselves against robbers.
AS soon as the season permits it is
good thing to put out some shorts
or oatmeal on a board in the yard, in
order that the bees may find substi-
tute for pollen, which is necessary at
this time of the year for the supply of
the young brood. 1t is we'll to put out
a pan of water with chip or piece of
shingle floating in it. ae
If the bees have been ALLOWED to
remain on their summer stahS6 ~
that is necessary is to see tn
mouth of the hive is narrow
stated above 1t is best ndi
turb the cluster in the cent
hive at this time of the year,
the cellar or out of doors If,
is suspiciously light and it isAl
ed that they are in need Of hQl
feeding must be done insilEF
hive, never outside. If my I'D
exposed outside troublsEMiM re
I have kept bees ongmy far
good many years and an
them in the spring, even
| is plenty of stores With
purpose of encouraging biQ
All who have had experIehd
understand the importanc
as large corps Of workers.
by, the time the fruit TEE T.
bloom. To do this, brood TearN0 mus
begin early. But as about all { + old
bees except> the queen are dead BY -
time the honey season opens, 10 lis In.
portant to have as large q stock al
possible by the first of June. before
which time there is no very consider,
liable honey harvest. is
My method Of feeding the bees Is e