1C2 



GLEANING S IN BEE CULTURE 



March, 1918 



had the snow swept into the entrances with 

 such force that it was driven up among the 

 combs and the space under the combs packed 

 solid. Our hives are lower in the front than 

 in the rear so that in most eases the snow 

 thawed and ran out of the entrances but 

 in a few hives we had to clear the entrances 

 of ice. 



How this continuous cold weather (no 

 change at this date, Feb. 2) will affect 

 the bees outside is still a matter of conjec- 

 ture but it looks as though the cellar win- 

 terers will have their innings this season. 

 Two-thirds of our bees are almost completely 

 covered with snow, many of the hives with 

 snow over the tops two feet or more deep 

 and this snow is solid too. But I have better 



hopes for them than for those all uncovered, 

 as I find after having dug down to a couple 

 that quite a large open space has thawed 

 around the front and the entrances of the 

 hives and that the bees are quiet. Should 

 we have mild weather soon, conditions would 

 be greatly improved but we have no signs of 

 such weather yet. 



While I have the floor I would also like 

 now to say to the two aforesaid gen- 

 tlemen, that this year will prove again th.; 

 fallacy of providing a "winter nest" for 

 outdoor wintered bees. Do all you can in 

 the fall to get rid of the "winter nest" and 

 the bees will get along splendidly, even if 

 combs are about solid at the beginning of 

 the winter. 



IN TEXAS 



TEXAS is 

 able to join 



in the chorus, c o r> jj i o i- i ■ 



"Th'*? ■ th r.D. faddocK, btate bntomologist 



hardest winter in many a year." The cold spring to save the 

 weather of January was a record-maker. 

 From the prospects at this writing it looks 

 as if the drouth record of the past two years 

 will be equalled, if not surpassed. The un- 

 usual snows have resulted in some good, for 

 in a few localities the spring weeds have 

 been able to get enough moisture from the 

 snow to germinate. 



In the extreme southern part of the State 

 brood rearing began by the fijtst of February, 

 and, altho the honey prospects were only fair 

 at that time, the bees were gathering con- 

 siderable pollen. In the extreme western 

 section of the State an early spring was en- 

 joyed. The winter rains were enough to 

 give an early flow of honey. 



Wherever weak colonies went into the 

 winter the}^ are dead now; the extreme win- 

 ter was more than they could withstand. 

 The beekeeiier who says, "I do not know 

 how my bees are — I have not seen them since 

 last fall, ' ' will have a surprise coming when 

 spring inspection is finally made. There are 

 others who did no feeding as they expected to 

 sell the remains of their apiary this spring. 

 Such beekeepers will not realize a penny. 

 From every section comes the report that all 

 bees that were not fed died at least during 

 the late winter. Some of the ' ' gum ' ' bee- 

 keepers have felt that this spring would be 

 a good time to sell their bees and they are 

 due for a disappointment. With fair offer- 

 ings of bees in most every locality, the ques- 

 tion arises as to the price to be expected for 

 a hive. Those who are buying are not in a 

 mood to give much for most of the colonies 

 that are for sale. 



condition of ev- 

 ery one. Much 

 can be done 

 in the early 

 weaker colonies and 

 to get all started so they will build up 

 readily for the early honey flow. In some 

 instances there will be found to be an excess 

 of stores on a few hives and this can be dis- 

 tributed among several of the weak colonies. 

 Many a colony of bees has been saved by a 

 frame of sealed honey. Those who are not 

 so fortunate as to have excess honey in 

 frames or otherwise should plan to feed an 

 artificial feed. Those who have the most bees 

 are usually the ones who are most anxious 

 to save every possible colony. Feeding on an 

 extensive scale was conducted by some in the 

 southern part of the State during the latter 

 part of January and thru February. 



Spring management is a term that is new 

 to many of our beekeepers. Yet during the 

 latter part of January in the southern part 

 of the State some of the beekeepers had ex- 

 amined their colonies and learned the exact 



A meeting of the county apiary inspectors 

 of Texas was held at College Station on 

 Feb. 11 and 12. This conference of inspec- 

 tors resulted in great good to all in atten- 

 dance, and was considered a big step in the 

 scheme of general improvement of the in- 

 spection service. The meeting consumed two 

 days, during which time several profitable 

 lectures were given and experiences were 



exchanged. 



» * * 



Sugar for the feeding of bees is still avail- 

 able thru the Texas Honey Producers' .\sso- 

 ciation of San Antonio. Not enough bee- 

 keepers are availing themselves of this op- 

 portunity to obtain sugar with which to feed 

 their bees. Empty hives can not produce 

 honey during the season of 1918 with which 

 to aid the sugar shortage of the world. Never 

 in history has honey been so popular as it 

 Avill be during the season of 1918, and every 

 effort should be made to produce every pound 



possible. 



« » * 



Frank C. Pellett, staff correspondent of 

 the American Bee Journal, on Feb. 20 began 

 a seven-weeks tour of the State. He is to 



