250 EXPERIMENTAL FARMS 



4-5 EDWARD VII., A. 1905 



Miller feeders were placed in empty section supers, close to the top of the brood 

 frames, any part of the brood frames not covered by the feeder being covered by 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 themselves with the liquid. In both experiments the bees 

 had a constant supply of syrup and honey. Both the honey and the syrup were stip- 

 plied to the bees at about blood heat. The 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 the stove and the sugar having been poured in, the 

 mixture was stirred until all was dissolved. 



The four colonies fed sugar syrup when put into winter quarters November 24, 

 weighed as follows: — 



IS^o. 1, 61 lbs. 4 oz. ; No. 2, 62 lbs. 9 oz. ; No. 3, 62 lbs. 7 oz. ; No. 4, 62 lbs. ; or an 

 average of 62 lbs. 1 oz. each. 



The four colonies fed extracted honey when put into winter quarters on Novem- 

 ber 24, weighed as follows : — 



No. 1, 62 lbs. 13 oz. ; No. 2, 62 lbs. 14 oz. ; No. 3, 62 lbs. ; No. 4, 62 lbs. 5 oz. ; 

 or an average of 62 lbs. 8 oz. each. 



The four colonies fed sugar syrup when taken from their winter quarters March 

 22, weighed as follows: — * 



No. 1, 47 lbs, 3 oz. ; No. 2, 49 lbs. 4 oz. ; No. 3, 51 lbs. 5 oz. ; No. 4, 51 lbs. 8 oz ; 

 average, 49 lbs. 13 oz. 



The four colonies fed extracted honey when taken from their winter quarters 

 March 22, weighed as follows: — 



No. 1, 50 lbs. 9 oz. ; No. 2, 53 lbs. 1 oz. ; No. 3, 51 lbs. 12 oz. ; No .4, 51 lbs. 2 oz. ; 

 average, 51 lbs. 10 oz. Difference in favour of the honey feeding, 1 lb. 13 ounces per 

 colony. 



When the hives were put into winter quarters and placed on the shelves in the 

 cellar, the wooden covers were raised at one end 4 an inch, while the sealed propolis 

 quilt was left undisturbed. The hives were all given extra ventilation at the bottom 

 by placing at the entrance a wooden block between the bottom board and the brood 

 chamber, thus raising the front of the brood chamber 3 inches extra. During the 

 balance of November and December very slight humming could be heard ; during 

 January and February scarcely any /appreciable hum could be heard. During the 

 whole winter there was no sign of uneasiness of any kind, and very few dead bees 

 v\^ere found about the entrance; the 'bottom boards were quite clean and there was no 

 sign of dysentery in either experiment. All came out in first-class condition and built 

 up rapidly for the honey flow. 



V. — EXPERIMENT WITH QUEEN EXCLUDERS IN HIVES FOR THE PRODUCTION OF EXTRACTED 



HONEY. 



Eight colonies were taken for this test — 4 in Langstroth hives, 4 in Heddon hives. 



Two colonies in each case had queen excluders between, the brood chamber and 

 the extracting frames; tluis, every pound of honey secured was pure. 



The two remaining colonies in each set had no queen excluders. The queen in 

 every instance went up into the extracting frames where eggs were laid and 

 young brood raised. This latter plan is practised by too many who call them- 

 selves bee-keepers. It is impossible to extract honey from frames where brood is pre- 

 sent without throwing out the young larvae at the same time. There are also many 

 who do not use any surplus cases, especially those who use the old box hive. They 

 take their honey out of the brood chamber after smoking or killing the bees. Thia 



