586 IOWA DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE. 



winter quarters select a warm, still day after the snow has all gone, 

 about the first of April. Have yourself provided with an extra bottom 

 board which has been placed at some convenient place near the summer 

 stands and immediately after taking them out remove the bottom board 

 and place the hive upon the one which you have provided. The hive 

 is then ready to be placed with the new bottom board on the summer 

 stand, which should be done at once and the bees liberated. Thoroughly 

 scrape off all the dead bees and dirt from the bottom board which has 

 been in use and use it in like turn with the next swarm placed upon the 

 summer stand. The work of moving bees should be done very carefully 

 and precaution should be taken not to jar them or get them excited. 

 You should be provided with a good veil and gloves and have them well 

 adjusted at all times during the different processes of handling, for one 

 never knows at what time they may attack him. After the bees have 

 been placed on the summer stands careful observation is perhaps all they 

 will need for a month or two. Should they begin to rob, close up the en- 

 trance to the hive which has been attacked, allowing only space enough, 

 for a single bee to pass in and out. As the first blossoms put in an ap- 

 pearance, watch your bees and if they are carrying pollen, it is a safe 

 sign that they have a prolific queen. If you find them queenless you 

 must immediately supply them with another or join them to a colony 

 having a queen, the latter being advisable to the new beginner. If 

 they are found to be short of stores it will be necessary to feed them 

 either honey or sugar and water in the form of a thick syrup. If you 

 are not capaible of judging the proper time to put on supers, you had 

 better put them on quite early, about the first of May, before the swarming- 

 season commences, which is about the first of May and extends to the 

 15th of July, and is usually a very busy time, especially if the man- 

 ager has a number of swarms to look after and one in which the whole 

 family becomes greatly interested in, and more especially if the more- 

 ancient modes of handling bees is practiced. At that time you would 

 probably have heard the rattle of the dish pans, the ringing of the din- 

 ner bell and all the available ways of making a loud noise brought into 

 use, even to the parting salute of the old family protecting shotgun and 

 finally the bees have been compelled to light in the top of a tree, and a. 

 great task must be performed if they are secured and safely housed. But 

 we are thankful that these old notional ways have passed away, especially 

 with those who have become better skilled in bee culture. When swarm- 

 ing time commences have your empty hives all ready for receiving the 

 new swarms supplied with starters or full foundation sheets and stand in 

 a cool, clean place. If artificial swarming is desired this is the proper 

 time to do it. If transferring is necessary this is also a good time or 

 can be done a little earlier. If beginners allow their bees to swarm 

 naturally they are most likely to meet with good success. When the 

 swarm comes out the bees will usually settle on some suitable object near 

 by. It is not necessary to beat on pans or create a loud noise to make 

 them settle. Watch them closely and follow them up, usually they do not 

 go far. After the bees have clustered in a compact bunch hive them 

 either by shaking them on top of the brood frames or on top of the hives. 

 This is usually done by cutting off the limb with the bees attached and 



