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EXPERIMENTAL FARMS 



2-3 EDWARD VII., A. 1903 

 REPORT OF MR. JOHN FIXTER. 



Season of 1902. 



The honey flow of 1902 has been below the average in many parts of the Dominion, 

 but in some localities in Ontario and Quebec fair crops have been secured. Stocks have 

 been strong and active ; swarming has been good, in some cases excessive. The cool 

 damp weather of the past season has been unfavovirable, though some apiarists had a 

 fairly good honey crop. The yield, however, will not average over 40 pounds per 

 colony. 



The season opened very early ; the colonies were set out on their summer stands on 

 March 22, the temperature on that date being 55° and the day clear, bright and mild. 

 There followed about ten days of very fine weather for the bees to fly and cleanse 

 them.selves and their hives. Pollen was gathered about April 1, and all colonies built 

 up rapidly and were in excellent condition when clover bloomed. May 25, many colonies 

 were showing signs of clustering ; so, supers were put on to keep them working and 

 keep down swarming. June 18, considerable honey was stored in supers and brood 

 chambers. On June 18 the first swarm of the season issued. During the swarming sea- 

 son many swarms came off at the same time and were hived two or three together, so as 

 to keep down the number of swarms. There being very little buckwheat grown in this 

 district and no fall flow from any other source, all supers were removed on August 15. 

 September 1 all colonies were weighed ; any that did not weigh 50 pounds and over 

 were given sugar syrup made with granulated sugar fed in a Miller feeder. On 

 November 18 all colonies were weighed and found to be in good condition. They 

 were then put into their winter quarters. 



Returns from the Central Experimental Farm apiary averaged 40 pounds per 

 colony. 



Experiments with different kinds of Hives. 



^ The experiments commenced last year with different kinds of hives for comb and 

 extracted honey, have besn continued. Two hives of each of the following sorts were 

 used, one being arranged for section honey the other for extracted honey, the Lang- 

 stroth, the Hedden and two other kinds more or less used in Canada, one measuring 15 

 X 15 X 12 inches, the other 15 x 20 x 15 inches. Eight colonies of bees were selected 

 all of about the same strength and having good laying queens. The results from the 

 four kinds of hives are shown in the following table. The hives are tabulated in the 

 order of the returns they gave. 



• The 16 sections were only partly filled. 



