The Rice belt journal. (Welsh, Calcasieu Parish, La.) 1900-19??, 1918-03-29
BEE KEEPERS URGED TO
INCREASE PRODUCTION
IMPROVED METHODS SUGGESTED
THAT WILL MAKE THE HIVES
MORE PROFITABLE.
SPECIAL ASSISTANCE GIVEN
Honey Is Very important Food and
Good Substitute For
Sugar.

he increased prO0uctlOn OF money,
which is an important sugar substi-
tute, could be profitably undertaken
by Louisiana bee keepers at the pres.
ent time. Those who now have bees
or want to get started in honey pro.
duCtlon 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 it's
production of honey is low because of
the large numbers of bees kept under
obsolete conditions. One of these is
the box hive or old time bee gum, &C,
cording TO Kennith Hawkins, a spe-
cialfst in bee culture, from the Z. S.
Department Of Agriculture, who il
working in Louisiana. He urges that
bee keepers transfer their colonies
kept under such conditions to modern
hives, In order that the many non-pro-
ductiNe colonies may pay their OWL
ers revenue. Modern hives can be
bought from bee supply houses or
hn Il l. =:
so putchaSed is used as a pattern.
Introduce italian Bees.
Mr.. Hawkins advises that 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. The bulk
of bees kept in the state at the pres
emf time are most susceptible to dis.
ease and destruction by numerous
pests, and are the least productive of
any known race OF bees. The intro
duction of Italian blood will not only
eliminate these troubles, but will en-
able the bee keeper to largely In.
crease his porducton of honey.
Produce Extracted Honey.
Louisiana bee keepers should pro-
duce extracted honey rather than sec
ton or chunk honey, as the produc-
ton Of the latter kinds necessttates
the destruction of the honey comb
each time the honey is removed from
the hives. In the production of sD
tracted 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 10
make one pound of bees wax, the
value of returning the combs to be-
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 ae.
cording to Mr.. Hawkins, is the preva.
lence 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 a short
time. Bee keepers who believe thew
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.
cessfuI.
Honey in the Place Of Sugar.
Women Of Louisiana can use some |
honey in nearly every recipe which
usually requires sugar. One cup OF
honey used In any recipe usually