12 



TH.n BBB-KBEPERS' REVIEW. 



They were heavily manured. Heavy 

 manuring will cause any tree to blight; 

 and, when once started, it will quickly 

 spread unless cut out; and it will 

 spread just the same if there is not a 

 blossom in the orchard. I have watch- 

 ed carefully, and I have never seen 

 a bee visit a pear tree when it was 

 not in bloom. I don't believe they 

 visit leaf buds. In Mr. Brown's re- 

 port before the Denver convention, he 

 says that the trees covered with net- 

 ting were also blighted. 



So far I have proven the correct- 

 ness of my theory, by my experience, 

 and my orchard is the wonder of the 

 community. 



In conclusion, I would say that 

 neither the climate nor the soil of Cali- 

 fornia are adapted to pear growing, 

 yet men have rushed into it on a large 

 scale, planting Bartletts, which are 

 the worst blighters in existence. The 

 remedy is to exterminate the blighters 

 and then care for the others properly. 



Williamsfield, Ills., Nov. 15, 1902. 



SHOOK SWARMING. 



BY GEO. SHIBER. 



What to do with the Brood, and what to do with the 

 Gombs after the Brood is Hatched. 



I notice in your comments on my 

 article from Gleanings, on the subject 

 of shook, or brushed, swarms, you 

 leave the question open as to what to 

 do with the surplus combs. The dis- 

 position of them until after the brood 

 hatches and the honey flow is over, is 

 an easy matter. But I suppose, after 

 that, is where you left the question 

 open. 



COMBS ARE BUIIvT AT A PROFIT. 



First, let me lay down the premise 

 that combs built from starters, wheth- 

 er by natural or by brushed swarms, 

 are always built at a profit. I am 

 sure of this. This is the same logic 

 that you have used so strenuously for 

 so many years, Mr. Editor, and I think 

 that this statement can almost, if not 

 quite, be laid down as a maxim in 

 bee-keeping. 



I am now talking about comb honey 

 production. The question will be 

 asked, what will be done with the sur- 

 plus combs? For one thing, they may 

 be sorted over, rendering the poorest 

 ones into wax. In cutting out the 



combs, about an inch and a half of 

 the comb should be left attached to 

 the top-bars, thus making ideal start- 

 ers for new swarms to work on. 1 

 would rather have them than to have 

 foundation, for, with the comb start- 

 ei-s, no pollen is put into the sections. 

 The wax secured by this method is 

 quite an item, and the stock of combs 

 is continuously being improved with- 

 out any cost for foundation to use in 

 the brood-frames. 



GETTING QUEENS FOR THE INCREASE. 



Another thing that has not been 

 touched upon the in the shook swarm 

 discussion, is where to get the queens 

 for the increase. Dr. Miller, in a 

 "stray straw," in Gleanings, spoke of 

 a plan which I have practiced, and 

 that is to rear queens from the best 

 honey gatherers, 'and have cells ready 

 for the old combs of brood, and the 

 bees, at the right time. I have read 

 all of the talk about the superiority 

 of "swarm ing-queens," but I believe 

 that the ones reared "by hand" are 

 every bit as good. But that will make 



