EXPERIMENT STATION REPORTS 



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brood mightxhave been reduced by one-lialf without detriment to the 

 well-being of the colony, and one-half the honey saved. Second, what I 

 have just said appropriately introduces this point. The number of bees 

 continually hatching from five L. frames full of the brood constantly in- 

 creases the strength of the colony so that if feeding is continued any 

 length of time, with the crowding necessary for the production of comb 

 honey, swarming is induced. This would be detrimental to the highest 

 success of the work. With about half that amount of brood the strength 

 of the colony would be kept good and swarming avoided, for it must not 

 be too readily accepted that a small brood chamber without reference Lo 

 the degree of smallness conduces to swarming. 



The feeding was begun the 15th of July soon after the closing of the 

 flow from clover and basswood. Two or more cases of sections were kept 

 upon each colony and the honey given as rapidly as the bees would take 

 it. The honey was prepared for feeding by thoroughly incorporating 

 with it about one-half its own weight of water on the supposition that in 

 this condition the bees would handle it more rapidly. 



The work with colonies two, three and four was closed August 6, one 

 day more than three weeks, owing to the fact that on that date or shortly 

 before they had cast swarms, rendering it undesirable to continue them 

 in the work. Colony No. 1 was retained in the experiment until the 29th of 

 August, nearly six and a half weeks. This colony was particularly 

 adapted to comb building and showed that, during the first half of the 

 period, but later owing probably in part to the low temperature which 

 prevailed during August, its work was less satisfactory. 



Up to August 10th there was no noticable amount of honey coming 

 from the fields but later there was some considerable being gathered, 

 though colony No. 1, being fed, seemed to participate to a very small ex- 

 tent in it, not bringing enough to tinge the color of the comb honey in 

 process of construction, and so I judge not sufficient to make it an appre- 

 ciable element in the problem under consideration. 



Turning now to the table we find some questions presented which are 

 not altogether easy to answer. We find there so striking a difference be- 

 tween the work of colonies as that one requires more than two pounds 

 of honey to enable it to add one pound to its store of comb honey while 

 another requires but a trifle more than a pound and a third. It might 

 be surmised that the one requiring the larger amount- had expended it 

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