THE BEB-KEEPERS' REVIEW 



195 



to nail the decoy hive so that the wind 

 will not blow it out. 



The hive that I used to put out as a 

 decoy was the eight-frame hive, but I do 

 not put out many now, as I lose quite a 

 few by light-fingered boys; a box is as 

 good a decoy as is needed, is light and 

 costs less than a hive. If I use a hive as 

 a decoy, I take one that has had bees in 

 before, as it will smell of wax, and will 

 attract the bees. 



The decoy hive should be clean and 

 free from bad odors, and set level. I 

 put on a bottom board, the same as I use 

 on a hive, with about four inches for the 

 bees to light on, as I find the bees prefer 

 it to one without any. 



I take a piece of comb, the older and 

 blacker the better, as it will smell 

 strongly, and fasten it to the inside of the 

 hive with a couple of nails. 



I make the decoy as near like a hive as 

 the box will permit. About 2,000 cubic 

 inches will be about the right size. In 

 putting out a great number of decoys it is 

 better to put out a few extra large ones, 

 ami a few small ones, so as to get them 

 all. A small swarm will go into a small 

 place if they can find it. 



I take the bees home as soon as found 

 occupying a decoy, and put them in a 

 hive early the next morning, as I fetch 

 them in at night. 



When I find I have a swarm, I take a 

 box and go to the place, tie a rope to the 

 box, climb the tree, draw up the bo.x, let 

 the swarm down, fasten the box in the 

 same place, and rejoice. 



I try to look at all of the decoys at least 

 once a week; oftener if I get time, which 

 will depend on the number of decoys and 

 the distance I have to go. I put six de- 

 coys about seven miles from home, and 

 did not go near them untill fall, when I 

 brought home six nice swarms. 



I can see no diHerence in the kind of 

 tree a decoy is in, and I would select a 

 smooth-bark one, as that would be the 

 best to climb. I have caught swarms in 

 a small tree eight or ten feet from the 

 ground. The decoy must be in the shade; 



as the bees will not occupy one sitting in 

 the sun. 



I believe the edge of the woods is the 

 best, as I have the best results there. If 

 Mr. A loses a swarm and it goes to the 

 woods, a ni'le or two away, the first part 

 of the woods the bees get to will be the 

 place they will look for a location. 



I know of no reason why so many 

 swarms were caught here, unless the 

 farmers who have a few colonies do not 

 watch them, and there is no large timber 

 (except near here) for about thirty miles 

 around. 



I'iNE ISi..\ND, Minn., Dec. 18, 1899. 



EDITORIAL 



fferings. 



Dox'T Strike at cross bees to kill 

 them. Take a little paddle, or thin 

 strip of wood, and wave it rapidly back 

 and forth in front of the face — something 

 as one would work a fan on a hot day. 

 The rapid movement excites their fury; 

 the}^ make a dive for the moving object, 

 and get their heads cracked; so says 

 E. R. Root, in Gleanings. 



Photographs have not come in very 

 freely in response to my offer of f 5.00 for 

 one to use as a frontispiece in the July 

 Review. Only one has been received 

 that is suitable. The most of them that 

 come are too small and indistinct. They 

 are lacking in definition, or sharpness, as 

 I explained a few months ago in the Re- 

 view. A certain amount of softness, if in 

 the right place, is very desirable in an 

 artistic picture, but the half-tone process 

 puts so nmch sofmess into the picture 

 that it is almost impossible to get a 

 photograph too sharp for this purpose. 

 I shall be glad of more photographs, and 

 will pay $5.00 for any that I think well 

 enough of to use as a frontispiece. 



