184 



THE BEE-KEEPERS' REVIEW. 



many places in the State, in May, I 

 found dead or weak colonies without 

 honey. 



When our honey season is over, the 

 extra combs, after being cleaned up by the 

 bees, are stored in racks in the bee-house, 

 the hive entrance nearl}' closed up by the 

 large button, and the little space over 

 the bees, under the roof, filled with dry 

 oat chaff or straw. This is all the work 

 we do to fit our bees for winter. 



Allow me to describe some of the 

 methods of handling the six or seven 

 hired, inexperienced boys from 15 to 20 



bee veil to take care of and return at 

 close of the season. As we near an out- 

 apiary, each man gets his trousers ad- 

 justed bee-tight at the ankles, and veil 

 on his hat ready for business. Each 

 apiary is located on a gentle slope to the 

 south, with a heavy, timber wind-break 

 on the north and west, and a private 

 road from the upper side of the apiary, 

 through the yard by the side of the ex- 

 tracting house that is in center of yard. 

 This road leads on down the slope below 

 the apiary so that the wagons, when 

 loaded, can be run by hand easily to a 



AN OUT-APIARY BELONGING TO E. FlUXCE & SON. 



years of age. I board them for the days 

 they help me, about four weeks, and pay 

 from |i2 to $20 per month. Each one, 

 by number, has duties assigned and will 

 take special interest in his work, and 

 soon become an expert in his department. 

 Each is furnished a good straw hat and 



safe distance in the grove to hitch on the 

 teams. There is a freight wagon fpr 

 barrels, uncapping-box, etc., and a 

 canopy top four-seated rig much like a 

 stage. Having but one team, I hire a 

 team for a few days to haul one of my 

 wagons. We generally arrive at an out 



