March, 1918 



GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTURE 



w 



c 



HEN the 



bees start 



their 

 spring flying, the 

 beekeeper begins 

 to think about 

 his spring work. 

 There m a y be 

 very little to be 

 done at first, and 



if the bees were generously provided with 

 stores in the fall, as they should have been, 

 and if they have ample room, letting them 

 alone until the weather is fairly steady is 

 probably about the best thing the beekeeper 

 can do, esjieeially the beginner. Unless up- 

 ward ventilation is used, the covers are seal- 

 ed down tight, and it is a pity to break the 

 seal while chilly winds are still rampant and 

 nights are cold. But if, upon lifting one end 

 of the hive, it is found to be dangerously 

 light, it may be well to investigate. Combs 

 of honey can be slipped in without much 

 disturbance of the hive, or a warm, heavy 

 syrup — say, two parts sugar to one of water 

 — -may be fed in pans in the supers. 



After the days have warmed up a bit 

 more, a general inspection of all colonies is 

 advisable. If some very weak ones are 

 found, it is usually better management to 

 unite them, not weak with weak but weak 

 with strong. Then the others can be brought 

 to about equal strength by taking brood or 

 stores from those that have plenty to give 

 to those that lack. This, however, is not to 

 be done haphazard, but carefully, with sys- 

 tem and understanding. The stronopr of the 

 needy ones must be helped first, because, you 

 see, they are most worth while and will soon- 

 est respond to assistance, and will soonest 

 come out from the class of the needy into 

 the class of the givers. Do not levy too 

 heavy a tax on these strong contributing 

 colonies — Dr. Miller advises exempting at 

 least four good combs of brood. When thus 

 equalizing brood, give that farthest advanc- 

 ed, some already emerging, if possible. (And, 

 by the way, let us always say "emerging" 

 when emerging is what we mean. "Hatch- 

 ing" is something quite different. Worker 

 brood hatches from the egg about 18 days be- 

 fore it emerges from the cell.) And in giv- 

 ing either brood or honey, of course care 

 must be taken that the queen is not on the 

 comb transferred. 



Another really important matter for at- 

 tention at this time, and one often overlook- 

 ed by beginners, is that of providing water. 

 Plenty of water near at hand means both 

 time and wing conservation. When brood- 

 rearing gets well under wav, b.^es need a 

 great deal of water, and if they have to fly 

 long distances, a heavy toll is often paid in 

 the rapid wearing out of the old bees that 

 have already survived the winter. There are 

 scores of excellent suggestions for watering 

 devices, but a mere pan of water, with chips 

 floating on top will serve very nicely. Many 

 luH'keepers put salt in the water, claiming 

 that the bees prefer it so. I have used it 



Beekeeping as a Side Line 



1 



Gface Allen 



LJ 



157 



both salted and 

 unsalted, b u t 

 never the two 

 methods side by 

 side, which is of 

 course the only 

 proper way to 

 decide intelli- 

 gently between 

 them. If there 

 is danger of the bees bothering neighbors ' 

 iuim])s or watering troughs, and water is to 

 be offered them in some new places, it would 

 be well to sweeten it slightly at first, to 

 attract them, till they get the habit of jom- 

 ing to this particular spot. Care must be 

 constantly exercised to keep the supply from 

 becoming exhausted. If the bees cannot 

 depend steadily upon your watering system, 

 they are likely to go to some more dependa- 

 ble source, possibly either wearing out their 

 own wnngs in long, unnecessary flights, or 

 wearing out the patience of the neighbors, 

 with their steady attentions. 



A great many backlotters keep both chick- 

 ens and bees. It is no unusual sight during 

 the early days of spring to see the bees take 

 possession of a hopper of dry mash. Many 

 a time I have seen a flock of complaining 

 baby chicks and a greatly disturbed mother 

 hen, with ruffled feathers and a generally 

 ruined disposition, fussing around the low 

 box of bran or mash in the corner of the 

 brooder coop. This indicates a shortage in 

 the pollen supply. When in real need, the 

 bees may be fed artificial pollen but not too 

 early nor in too large quantities. Some bee 

 keepers have successfully given rye or gra- 

 ham flour or even corn meal, or a mixturo of 

 several of these pollen substitutes. Lt is 

 comical indeed to see the bees load up on 

 this stuff, carrying it off in their pollen bas- 

 kets like a housewife with a victory loaf 

 But when the natural pollens become plenti- 

 ful, there will be no more bees around your 

 meal or flour. 



MARCH. 



March has set the whole world shaking 



There is storm and sun, 

 Earth and roots and hearts are waking 



Miracles are done. 



From a secret place, a whirring ; 



See the sudden wing! 

 All around is something stirring — 



March has brought the spring! 



While the sullen clouds and leaden 



Get them grimly b.v, 

 March has let the maples redden 



Up against the sky. 



There the bees are coming, going, 



Thru the fringy trees — 

 Tell me how you knew, you knowing 



Uninstrueted bees I 



