74 



GLEANINGS IN BEE CUTjTURE 



February, 1918 



spring stimulation and when all danger of 

 the bees being confined to the hive by cold 

 is past. Cane molasses has not been com- 

 mandeered and, we are advised, can be ob- 

 tained in small quantities. The objection 

 to cane molasses is it contains a considera- 

 ble amount of gum, according to Dr. Phil- 

 lips, and will cause dysentery; but for use 

 in the spring, for spring stimulation or as a 

 last resort to prevent starvation, or at any 

 time after the bees can fly once or twice a 

 week, it will cause no trouble. 



Where one cannot obtain any form of mo- 

 lasses or sugar, we would suggest the use 

 of karo — for spring stimulation only and 

 when the bees will not be prevented from 

 flight by cold. While bees will not take raw 

 glucose, yet the fact that karo contains 15 

 or 20 per cent of cane sugar or refiners' 

 syrup, we are told, makes it acceptable to 

 bees. We would not consider karo, however, 

 equal to molasses made from cane but it may 

 prevent bees from starving in the spring. 

 Karo could be obtained probably in any 

 quantity anywhere. 



We caution our readers that the use of 

 cane molasses or karo in the spring is ac- 

 companied by danger of unfavorable weather 

 conditions that may keep the bees from fly- 

 ing and so result in dysentery. 



To those beekeepers, in states where of- 

 ficials have not informed them as to how 

 and where to get sugar for feeding, we say 

 again: Write direct to the U. S. Food Ad- 

 ministration, Sugar Division, Washington, 

 D. C, stating your needs. 



We suggest to all beekeepers needing 

 sugar that you fill out the blank form* print- 

 ed at the bottom of this page, swear to it (or 

 affirm it) before a notary public or other 

 official who can administer an oath, and send 



such filled-out form to whatever source you 

 apply- for sugar for feeding, whether it be 

 the Sugar Division, U. S. Food Administra- 

 tion, Washington, D. C, or a source nearer 

 home. It will make your application doubly 

 certain and forceful and more likely to se- 

 cure promptest attention. Either copy this 

 form as given below, filling out the spaces 

 left blank, or cut out the blank below and 

 fill it out. 



THE EAELY WINTER prevailing generally 

 thruout the East and Middle West, followed 

 by zero cold »-vith 

 General almost no break, has 



Wintering caused some con- 



Conditions, cern to beekeepers. 



There is no doubt 

 but there will be some winter losses in the 

 East and northern central parts of the coun- 

 try, and particularly in the New England 

 states, where winter packing has not been 

 practiced to any large extent. In most 

 cases where the colonies have been put m 

 the cellar or properly packed, the losses will 

 not be above the normal, providing that 

 zero weather does not continue unduly. 



Conditions in the far West are much bet- 

 ter. While beekeepers lost heavily in Idaho 

 and Montana a year ago, the winter thus 

 far in that section has been much more fa- 

 vorable. 



As a rule, early cold, if it does not con- 

 tinue unbroken, does little damage except 

 to bees in single-walled hives. Unfortunately 

 many beekeepers, relying on their success 

 in wintering in such hives during normal 

 winters, are going to be caught this winter. 



So farj. no one needs to be alarmed unless 

 he failed to pack his bees or has not pro- 



*APPLICATION FOR SUGAR TO FEED BEES. 



STATE OF 



County of 



I, , being duly sworn, state 



iipon oath (or affirm) that the following statements are true: 



I ain the owner or have in my possession colonies of bees. The bees 



above mentioned will need sugar for food in order to live or be in suitable condition for 



gathering surplus honey during the season of 1918. I estimate that I will need 



pounds of granulated sugar for the purpose of feeding. If I am permitted to secure this 

 sugar or any part of it, I will use it for food for the bees and for uo other purpose, and if 

 any remains unused at the beginning of the surplus honej^ flow, I will return it to the dealer 

 from whom I purchased it or to whomsoever the Federal Food Administrator shall direct. 



Mj' postoffice address is 



My nearest shipping point is 



(Signature) 

 Subscribed and sworn to before me this 



.day of , 191. . 



Notarv Public. 



My commission expires. 



