256 ANNUAL RF.rORT 



without getting drowned, and I find this plan simple and effectual, 

 and so long as I keep bees they shall never have to go away from 

 home to get a drink. My bees after they had fininshed swarming, 

 would in a sultry*day consume 3 common pailsful of water includ- 

 ing the evaporation, and what my neighbors' bees consumed. 



On May 20th, I put sections on my hives, and some colonies 

 went to work in them immediately, while others did not appear to 

 have their hives filled; but they all in due time took very kindly to 

 the supers, as I had put starters in all the sections. Everything 

 went very quietly till June 23d. Of course that day was Sunday, 

 and No. 4, issued a swarm! I immediately joined the stingers, 

 caught their queen, and on their return had a new hive ready for 

 them. 



I got them in with some difficulty, but introduced the queen as 

 soon as they got nicely started into the hive, and soon had another 

 happy family. 



My bees continued to swarm until July 18th, issuing thirty-four 

 swarms in all; but in dividing, doubling up, etc., I only used twen- 

 ty-six new h'ives, and did not allow a single swarm to escape. None 

 of my hives contain less thsn 214 cubic inches. I use the Lang- 

 stroth brood frame, and as far as my judgment goes I am well 

 pleased with it. 



Owing to a lack of knowledge and experience, I lost four colonies, 

 they being queenless, which will not be likely to happen next year 

 should I be counted among the bee raisers and not among the bee 

 killers. My honey was gathered largely from white clover, Bass- 

 wood, Buckwheat, and Golden rod. And when the honey flow was 

 past my bees received from their green master the welcome applaud 

 'well done", for they furnished me 1,400 lbs. of very beautiful 

 comb honey. My crop is sold at from 10 cents to 15 cents per 

 lb., according to the grade, and I now have in my cellar 42 colonies 

 apparently in good shape with plenty of stores. To old bee-keep- 

 ers I have nothing to say, as I, myself, am looking to them for 

 light; but to the beginner, let me say: — if your bees are hard at 

 work, do not disturb them for anything or anybody. Give them 

 plenty of room to stow honey and they will take care of the hive. 

 In swarming season, fill your new hives with bees if it takes two 

 or three swarms; then tier up the supers to give them room, and you 

 will get more honey and have stronger colonies to go into winter 

 quarters. It is not the thing to look into hives when bees are at 

 work, it disturbs them. It is time enough to experiment when you 

 find a swarm that is in trouble, (jive your bees a good hive, so 

 that when they get home it is a home. Don't drive your bees into 

 some old soap box, and stick them off in the fence corner, or some 

 out of the way place where the sun will bake them out to-day, and 

 the rain drown them out to-morrow, and expect them to work for 

 nothing, board themselves, and give you a profit in the fall, for 

 they wont do it. I would abuse myself any day before I would 

 my bees. Give your bees a good chance, and, then if they fail, let 

 it be in a manner their fault. 



Set your hives up out of the grass, and let your bees and ponltry 



