The Hays free press. [volume] (Hays, Kan.) 1908-1924, 1919-05-01

ment of Agricultural
For increased production of honey II
IS not necessary TO have more bee
keepers II is necessary only for those
beekeepers the country now has to i'm
prove their knowledge of honey pro-
ductiOn and to devote themselves more
seriously TO the care of their bees, say
experts of the United States depart
ment of agriculture. Statistics show
that the annual average yield of sur
plus honey to the colony is exceedingly
low. and when compared with the av-
erages of the better beekeepers it is
inexcusably low and indicates unsatis-
factory management due to neglect or
to ignorance.
A casual survey of Bookkeeping prac-
tees makes it evident that the greatest
cause of this low production is lack of
care during the critical periods of the
year. Broadly, the Bookkeeping year
may be divided into two distinct
periOds-the period of preparation for
the honey flow and the period of the
honey flow. During each the problems
are different and may be clearly de-
fined. Usually there is only one period
of preparation. which begins at the
end of the honey flow in the fall and
lasts until the main honey flow the sue
ceeding year. However, where there
IS more than one main honey flow.
there Is Il period of preparation OF
varying length between each one. The
Bookkeeping problem is the same. how
ever and it consists in securing
colony overfiOwing with bees ready for
H.,
Must Be Ready for Work.
In the North this problem is called
wintering. and to- the average bee
keeper the chief concern is to care
for each colony of bees so that it will
be in condition TO pass successfully
through the winter period. This, how
ever, is but a small and easy part OF
the problem. Bringing bees through
the winter viii not in itself accom-
plish the main object of the preparation
period, that of securing a colony over
flowing with bees at the time of the
honey flow. In a large measure the
strength of the colony is u direct gauge
of the amount of surplus secured and
it is TO the beekeeper's advantage to
do everything which will in any way
favor rapid brood rearing during the
two months previous to the main flow.
This means not only that bees must be
wintered. hut they must be in such con-
dition in the fall that spring will find
them ready and able TO undertake this
tremendous increase in population
1t will be seen, therefore, that the
preparation of bees for the harvest be
gins not when winter threatens. but
Immediately after the last main honey
flow and continues TO the beginning of
the first main flow the succeeding year.
1t is imperative that during all this
period each colony have stores in adj
vance of its needs at all times. room
for brood rearing and protection from
low temperatures and winds These
things are discussed in the bee publ
cations of the United States depart
ment of agriculture.
Swarming Must Be Stopped.
Toward the beginning of the main
honey flow the problem changes. 1t
is now essential that each colony be
prevented from reducing its working
force by swarming and that its instinct
to store and gather honey be kept
dominant. During the period of prep
aratiOn, the instincts of the bees are
in harmony with the desires of the
beekeeper, but during the swarming
season the instincts of the bee are
directly opposed to his interests. Any
breaking up of the colony and reduc-
ton of the working force by swarm |
ing brings a corresponding reduction |
in the amount of surplus which may
be obtained from that colony There
fore it is to the beekeeper's advantage |
to prevent swarming in every possible |
way, and if swarming still occurs, to |
care for the swarms so that as much |
as possible of the original large work |
ing force may be kept together and |
may be kept storing honey.
Space an Essential.
The improper understanding of these |
problems no doubt causes the loss of |
more honey and has more to do with |
the low average production than any |
other factor, specialists believe. The /
study of these problems is important /
fer those who wish TO keep bees COM
merciaIly. and much information may
IS, obtained concerning them from the
bee publications of the department Of /
agriculture The usual methods Of i
swarm prevention are concerned to a
large extent with the supplying Of /
for brood rearing and |
room for the storing of surplus honey. |
This is fundamental Many beekeep-
ers fail TO supply enough room for |
these purposes, and probably no bee /
keeper supplies too much. During the 1
period of rapid brood rearing. crowded |
conditions quickly result If Il single /
hive body is all that the colony has in