The L'Anse sentinel., 1919-05-09

tPrcparcd by the United states Depart
ment OF Agrculturc)
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 anl to devote themselves more
seriously to the care os their bees, say
experts OF the United States depart
mcnt of agriculture. Statistics show
that the annual average yield of sur.
plus honey to the colony Is exceedingly
lo;y, and when compared with the av-
crages OF the better hcckeepers 1t is
nexcusably low and indicates unsatis-
factory management due TO neglect or
TO ignorance.
a casual survey of beckecping prac-
ticos makes it evident that the greatest
cause of this iow production is lack OF
care during the critical periods Of the
year. BrOadly, the beekceping year
may be divided into two distinct
periods--the period cf preparation for
the honey flow AMI the period of the
honey Gow. During each The problems
are different and may be clearly de-
fined. Usually there is only one period
of preparation, which begins Mt the
end of the honey flow in the fall and
lasts until the main honey flow the sue
ccedlng year. However, where there
Is more than one main honey flow.
there Is period of preparation OF
varying length between each one. The
bookkeeping problem is the same, how
ever, and 1t consists in securing
colony ovcrAbwing with bees ready for
the field when The honey flow starts.
Must BE Ready for Work.
In The North this problem Is called
winterlng, and TO the average bee
keeper the chief concern Is to care
for each colony Of bees so that 1t Will
be in condition to pass successfully
through the winter period. This, how
ever, Is but small and easy part OF
the problem. Bringing bees through
the winter will not In itself accom-
plish tho main object Of the preparation
period, that OF securing Il colony over
flowing with bees at the time or the
honey flow. In large measure the
strength of the colony is direct gauge
Of the amount CT surplus secured and
it is to the beekceper'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, but they must be In such con-
ditlon in the fall that spring will find
them ready and able to undertake this
tremendous increase in population.
II will he 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 ad-
vance of it's needs at oil times, room
for brood rearing and protection from
low temperatures and winds. These
things are discussed in the bee publi-
cntlons of the United States depart
ment of agriculture.
Swarming Must Be Stopped.
TIE DtbiiIuiuS Va tiiS 'h"'''
honey flow the problem changes. IL
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
aratinn. the instincts OF the bees are
IN harmony with the desires Of the
5cekecpcr, 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 corresponding reduction
In the amount of surplus which may
be obtained from that colony. There
fore IL Is TO the beekeeper's advantage
to prevent swarning In every possible
way and II swnrming still occurs. to
cnre for the swarms 10 that as much
M possible of the original large work
Ing force may be kept together aud
may be kept storing honey.
Space an Essential.
The improper understanding of these
problen.s 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
for those who wish to Keep bees COM
mcrcially. and much information may
be obtained concerning them from the
bca publications. of the department of
agriculture. rThe usual methods Of
swarm prevention are concerned to n
large extent with the supplying Of
room--room for brood renring and
room for the storing Of surplus honey.
Tids Is fundamental. Many beekeep-
ers fall to supply enough room for
thcse purposes. and probably no bee
keeper supplies too much. During the
i,..r.ind of r;n,d hrnnd renrinR crowded.