THE BEE-KEEPERS' REVIEW 



2S7 



MOW O N 1>: M A N U N I) E R - 

 S T A N n S HIS LOCALITY. 

 ny JOHN n. risl\g. 



Perhaps it was as well to 

 express this subject as "Localitj' and Its 

 Influence on Bee-Keepers." Anyone 

 kt'eping bees and not being adequately 

 informed as to his loialify will soon cease 

 to keep bees. This matter of locality is 

 of prime importance also in deciding 

 whether to produce comb or extracted 

 honey, or both. In my present location, 

 South New York, both can be produced 

 much cheaper than either alone. In Cuba 

 and Havana extracted is the onh' honey 

 that can be produced satisfactorily. 



In this locality out-door wintering is 

 cheapest and best, although some sort of 

 protection is necessary. Early flights, so 

 essential to early brood-rearing, are thus 

 obtained. 



Divisible brood chambers with closed 

 end frames are best for wintering as well 

 as for building up in the s])ring. 



Use plain sections with fence separators 

 to get most comb honey in marketable 

 shape. Extract most dark grades of 

 honey. 



Italian bees are generally preferable for 

 extracted honey, and Hybrids (Italian- 

 black) for comb honey. 



In Cuba I should corral some of the 

 Spanish bees so common in the forests. 

 The stingless bees are of no use. The "L" 

 hive is best for Cuba as well as Hawaii. 

 Its size from lo-frame up. 



In this section spring feeding is not 

 necessary or desirable. Apple bloom 

 from April 25th to May loth is all the 

 spring feed necessary. There is usually 

 some honey earlier from popples and 

 maple and colonies should be in good 

 shape at the close of apple bloom. In 

 Cuba "summer feeding" is sometimes 

 necessary. 



All colonies should be in fine shape for 

 white clover, which blooms during June 

 and well into July. The surplus recep- 

 tacles should be put on as soon as the 

 brood combs begin to whiten along the 



top-bars. As soon as basswood bloom is 

 past, usually July 15, remove all surplus 

 receptacles and exiract, or remove fin- 

 ished sections. Return unfinished sec- 

 tions to be filled if you are running for 

 comb honey. In this section buckwheat 

 blooms from August ist to 25th and is 

 usually the best flow we have. Buck- 

 wheat honey sells well in the comb in 

 the eastern markets. It is usually finished 

 and capped so quickly that the comb is 

 of that crispy freshness so desirable and 

 finds ready sale. Many people call for 

 buckwheat honey, prefering it to bass- 

 wood, hence it is more profitable to run 

 all colonies for comb honey during the 

 buckwheat flow. 



It is always best to shade the hives 

 with shade boards during the summer 

 season. I would also have a few small 

 trees in the apiar}'. Have the apiary in a 

 valley or low place. It is easier for the 

 bees to fly down hill when loaded and 

 will result in a larger yield of honey. 

 Bees invariabl}' fly up hill when going 

 afler honey, provided they can find it in 

 that direction. 



GASKit,!,, N. Y., August 30, 1900. 



EDITORIAL 



fferings. 



Fastening Strips in the no-drip case 

 is important. If left loose, they slip 

 around and get the sections out of place 

 and cause them to be damaged. This is 

 the report of commission men at Chicago. 



"Ykry Essicntial" is the advice given 

 on page 251 regarding the feeding of a 

 colony for three days after releasing the 

 queen. Mr. Johnson writes me that this 

 emphasis should have been ])ut upon the 

 second smoking of the bees three-fourths 

 of an hour after tlie queen is released, in- 

 stead of upon the feeding. 



