The Natchitoches enterprise. (Natchitoches, La.) 1888-1965, 1918-07-04
IMPROVED METHODS SUGGESTED
THAT WILL MAKE THE HIVES
MORE PROFITABLE.
SPECIAL ASSISTANCE GIVEN
Honey Is Very Important Food and
a Good Substitute For
SugIr.

ent time. Those who now have bees
or want to get started in honey pro
duction are urged to write at once to
the Extension Division, Louisiana
State University, Baton Rouge. Per
sons whose names are received in
this way will be given special assist
ance during the coming season.
Obsolete Methods Used.
Although Louisiana probably has
more bees in proportion to its size
than any other Southern State its
production of honey is low because of
the large number of bees kept under
obsolete conditions One of these is
the box hive or old time bee gum. az.
cording to Kennith Ha4iiins, spo-
cialist in bee culture, from the Z. S.
Department of Agriculture, who is
working in Louisiana. He urges that
bee keepers transfer theiE e9sonies
kept under such conditions to modern
hives, in order that the many noa-pro-
ductive colonies may pay their OWL
ers a revenue. Modern hives cSn be
bought fEom bee supply houses or
they can be made at home ii hive
pa purchased is used as a pattern.
introduce Italian Bees.
Mr.. Hawkins advises tfat Louisiana
bee keepers introduce Italian bees in
to their apiaries to replace the Ger
man or black bees which are so prev
alent throughout the state. Fhe bulk
af bees Kept IN the state at the pres
ent time are most susceptible to dis
ease and destruction by numeress
pests, and are the least productive OF
any known race pf bees. The intro.
ductian of Italian blood will not only
eliminate these troubles, but will en-
able the bee keeper to largely in.
crease his porduction Of honey.
a9e3alcs Essrasis6 Eioney
Louisiana bee kecnans shcdld pro
duce extracted honey rather than sec
ton or chunk honey, as the produc-
ton Of the latter kinds necassitates
the destruction of the honey comb
each time the honey is removed from
the hives. In the production Of ex-
traeted honey, the sweet Is removed
from the combs by means Of honey
extractor which does not injure the
combs, and enables the bee keeper to
use them again and again. Since It
may take as high as twenty pounds
of honey consumed by the bees to
make one pound of bees wax, the
value of returning the combs to be
refilled by the bees is apparent.
In addition, when extracted honey
is produced there is less trouble from
bees swarming and the bees require
less attention. Extracted honey can
be shipped more safely than comb
honey, as the former can be put in
glass, tin, or wooden receptacles for
shipment Under war conditions, ex'
tracted honey is bringing practically
as much on the markets as comb
honey.
Foul Brood Destructive.
Another important reason for low
production of honey in Louisiana &C
cording to Mr.. Hawkins, is the preva-
.ence of Foul Brood which is known
to exist in many localities in the
state. The presence of Foul Brood
makes practically every colony. in
which it exists non-productive and
usually means the total destruction CT
all the bees in the vicinity in short
time. Bee keepers who believe they
have this disease among their colo
mis- should let this fact be known.
Methods Of handling this disease have
been worked out which are very sue
cessful.
Honey in the Place of Sugar.
Wor.-en of Louisiana can use some
honey in nearly every recipe which
usually requires sugar. One cup Of
honey used in any recipe usually
takes the place of two cups of sugar.
The Government is urging the conser-
walton of sugar in order that the SOL
diers may have what they need. The
use Of honey as a sugar substitute
by Louisiana housewives is therefore
a patriotic duty. Not only. may wom-
en- use honey in cooking, but bee
keeping is an occupation which is
especially profitable to women.
Several bulletins on the use of
honey in the home have been prepar-
ed and may be had free of charge.
Women who are interested in becom-
ing bee keepers, whether they live in
the country or plan to have few
hives in their back yard in town, will
be given assistance in starting. The
Federal Department of Agriculture,
cooperating with the Extension DiEi-
sion Of the Louisiana State Uniyer-
pity at Baton Rouge plans to give all
assistance possible during 1918 to the
women CT the state who will use
honey in their homes in place of some
of the sugar used, end who wish to
become honey prCdacers. Women who
are interested IN this are requested to
send their names to the Extension D.
vision, Louisiana State UnsTe-sity,
Baton Rouge. in order that they may
be given his special assistance which
the government plans to extend TO
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