REPORT OF THE ENTOMOLOGIST AND BOTANIST 



253 



SESSIONAL PAPER No. 16 



Meetings at the following places were attended and addresses delivered : — Cum- 

 berland, Chard, Eockland, Dunraven, Ont. ; Calumet Island, Que. ; Gananoque and 

 Woodstock, Ont.; and at the American National Bee-keepers' Association at Buffalo, 

 N.Y. Many apiaries were visited near Ottawa during the past summer, and it was 

 noted that all bee-keepers are increasing the number of their colonies very fast and 

 greater interest is being taken in bee culture. 



Experiments with different kinds of Hives for comb and extracted honey. 



Two hives of each of the following sorts were used : — the Langstroth, 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, one hive of each kind being arranged for section 

 honey, the other for extracting honey. The hives are tabulated in the order of the 

 returns they gave. 



Hive. 



1. Langstroth 



2. 15 x 15 x 12 inches 



3. Hedden 



4. 15 x 20 x 15 inche3 



Swarms. 



1 

 1 





 



Sections 

 produced. 



67 



66 



64 







Extracted 

 honej'. 



Lbs. 



79 

 63 



62 

 23 



The large hive 15 x 20 x 15 inches appears to be too large ; the bees building up 

 well in the brood chamber but not going up into the surplus boxes, either in sections 

 or extracting frames. 



Further Experiments in feeding Sugar Syrup for Winter Stores. 



During the autumn of 1900, an experiment was started with four colonies. All 

 the natural stores were removed on September 17, 1900. A Miller feeder was placed 

 in an empty section super, close to the top of the brood frames, any part of the brood 

 frames not covered by the feeder being covered with a propolis quilt cut so as to allow 

 the bees a passage through it. By keeping the feeder well packed around, except where 

 the bees enter, the heat is kept in and at the same time the bees cannot daub them- 

 selves with the liquid. In this experiment the bees had a constant surplus of syrup. 

 This syrup was made of the best granulated sugar, two parts to one of water by weight. 

 The water was first brought to a boil, then the boiler was set back on tha stove an:l the 

 eugar having been poured in the mixture was stirred until the sugar was all dissolved. 

 This syrup was supplied to the bees at about blood heat. When put into winter quar- 

 ters the wooden covers were removed and replaced with a chaff cushion ; the hives were 

 also given extra ventilation at the bottom by placing at the entrance a wooden block 

 between the brood chamber and the bottom board, raising the front of the brood cham- 

 ber about 2 inches extra. During December and January considerable, though not 

 excessive, humming could be heard. During February and March and until they were 

 get out, there was but very slight humming. There was no sign of uneasiness nor any 

 dysentery during the whole winter. Each colony when put into winter quarters 

 weighed on an average 52 J lbs. ;when taken out in the spring, 40 lbs. 10J oz. The 

 hives were set on their summer stands April 1, 1901. The bees then began to work at 

 once and built up rapidly and were in excellent condition when the honey flow came on. 

 During the summer each hive gave one swarm and made on an average 78 sections of 

 honey. This experiment will be continued with the same colonies and their progeny 

 ior several seasons. 



