Grand Forks herald. [volume] (Grand Forks, N.D.) 1916-1955, 1918-02-09

III THESE Gays OIL 1000 saving, the
little honey bee should be given a
millions of pounds of honey equal in
food value to sugar. going to waste
each year because we do not take the
time to care for a few hives of bees
on. each farm.
Bees do remarkably we'll in this
region. as is proven by the results OBJ
tanned by local bee keepers. Fifty to
seventy-tive pounds of honey to each
hive may be expected each year, which
is very profitable considering the
small outlay in expense and work.
Bees. like any other project. require
some care and attention, but their
management is not at all difficult, and
is easily learned. There are splendid
bulletins issued by the bureau of
entomology of the United States de-
nartment of agriculture, which may
be had for the asking.
The Beginner.
1t would be best to buy bees from
a neighbor, or as near home as pos
sible. This would insure their being
acclimated. eve can furnish the ad-
dress of a number of bee keepers near
Grand Forks.) The bees should be in
standard hives. with enough extra
.parts-supers and frames-to begin
with. Extra hives ready for use
should be on hand and ready for use.
in case a new swarm comes out.
The necessary tools and equipment
for handling bees are very few, but
like an automobile, there are many
accessories advertised. A good smoker
Of standard make and a stout jack
knife or a screw driver will suffice.
There are many firms handling bee
supplies. from whom the necessary
equipment may be had. A day or a
few hours spent with a good bee man
among his bees is the best means of
acquiring the necessary information
for beginning.
Bee Pasture.
The great increase in acreage of
sweet clover and alfalfa, with the
many wild flowers. furnishes an
abundance of bee pasture. Especially
along the many wooded streams.
where there are tree blossoms which
come on early, there is a splendid OPP
%portunity to handle bees. Bee pas
lures should be near the hives. as time
is rquired in making trips. A mile is
as far as bees find it profitable to
range. although they go much further
when necessary.
Spring Condition.
The hives should be examined just
as h bees begin to get active in the
'PA A'es =" AUNS S0AL LldI lllCS
have plenty of food with which to
start a good strong early brood. If
there is not plenty of honey, they
should be fed graduated sugar syrup.
1t takes nearly three week from the
time the eggs are deposited by the
queen until the workers are ready to
gather honey. They must eat during
this time, and If there is to be a full
hive of 80 to 40 thousand bees ready
fnr tho hnnov he rtync< ry11~
there must De stores to feed the
brood. 1t is probable hat a shortage
of food with which to feed a large new
brood, early in h spring, will reduce
the mount of honey gathered during
the season more than anything else.
Wtntering Bees.
In this region bees should be put in
a dry cellar, where the temperature
remains about the freezing point. or
a little above. They should not be-
put in until cool weather begins, and
need not be taken out until the
weather is warm enough, so that thew
can fly about.
The hives should be protected from
direct sun during the hottest weather.
but the first morning sun should
strike them, SO that the bees will be
warmed up and begin work early.
The late evening sun should also
strike; the hive. to leave it warm. as
the bees make the wax and form the
honey comb at night, and it must be
quite warm for them to work the wax
properly.
'Bees is Bees,'
There are many bees besides the
common hive or honey bee, and there
are several kinds Of honey bees. The
following description from '.The
Honey Bee" u. 8. department Of agri-
culture. will be interesting.
The Common Hive or Honey Bee.
ported from Europe to this country
some time in the seventeenth century.
and NOW widely spread from the
Atlantic to the Pacific. several other
|races haye been brought here-the