DEVOrED EXOLUSIVELY TO BEES J^JSTT) MOISTEY 



vol. n. 



SEPTEMBER 1, 1874. 



No. IX 



HOW TO CONDUCT AN APIAB1. 



No. 9. 

 #%,NE year ago we said, "in time of peace 

 *^!f) prepare for war" and we say so again 

 now, but really, with less confidence in our 

 ability to direct what preparation is to be 

 made, than we had then. 



So far as dysentery is concerned, we have 

 no fear at all but that it is perfectly under 

 control, but the dwindling away, and rapid 

 depopulation of the colonies in the spring, is a 

 matter which we fear is almost beyond our 

 skill. From great numbers oi' reports, from 

 widely scattered localities we find that some 

 Apiaries winter just as well as they used to 

 years ago, colonies dying only from starvation, 

 while within a short distance at a neighboring 

 Apiary they may all die. These results come 

 when the circumstances are so widely differ- 

 ent, and where almost every kind of treatment 

 has been given, all the way from box hives out 

 doors without care, to movable combs, Italians, 

 and honey extracted until frost comes, that we 

 think we are excusable for thinking it an epi- 

 demic among bees that appears in some Apia- 

 ries and not in others ; and for which we have 

 as yet no positive remedy, for the box hives 

 have failed in one case and those which were 

 extracted came out all right, and the next 

 report would be right the reverse. 



Mr. 1. E. Daniels of Lodi, this Co., purcha- 

 sed several colonies and moved them late in 

 the fall after all pasturage was over. A part 

 of them with the rest of his colonies were left 

 out, and a part put into his cellar, yet all died 

 about alike, while his neighbor a few miles 

 away, from whom these were purchased, hat 

 none. Is it not rather probable that some dis- 

 ease used up friend D's Apiary '. His colonies 

 were remarkably strong in Sept., when we ex- 

 amined them, and he has hitherto been a most 

 careful and successful Apiarist. Again, the 

 honey that apparently killed the bees in '7:5, 

 wintered them successfully in 74, see pages 22 

 and 58, current volume. 



Now it is certainly poor encouragement to 

 be told our bees may all die in the spring what- 

 ever we d/>, but facts are stubborn things. Nev- 

 ertheless we are by no means to fold our hands 

 and give up; strong colonies through this 

 trouble, as with all others, have almost uni- 

 formly been the ones, if any, that came safely 

 through the siege ; we are to bend our ener- 

 gies to the work of making all good. 



P. G. says she could take ont colony and 

 build it up strong, arrange the stores just 

 right, and fix it up so she knows 'twould winter 



either in doors or out; how many of our read- 

 ers feel the same way ? If they can do one, 

 why not fifty ? Is it time only that is needed 'a 

 If such be the case 'twill probab y be a better 

 investment of this precious time, to go to work 

 now, this month, and if conscious that we have 

 too little nerve or energy to put our whole 

 Apiary in "apple pie" order at once, perhaps 

 we had better take one at a time, and make 

 believe for the time being, 'tis our sole posses- 

 sion. 



Now the question comes up as to what is to 

 be done, that is, what do we know from past 

 experience etc., can be done safely ; not in an 

 experimental way, (manure etc.) but establish- 

 ed, that all or nearly all will agree on. 



Suppose our readers stood about us, and 

 we pointed to a colony, and addressed them 

 something after this fashion : 



"Fellow laborers can you all agree on what 

 shall be done to put this colony in good shape 

 for wintering ? How many bees shall we have ? 

 Is there one of you now, that would be satisfied 

 with a pint, a quart, or even two quarts? The 

 hive contains ten Langstroth combs, if we 

 briny; brood if necessary from other hives, 

 (thereby reducing the number of colonies) un- 

 til at least seven of the ten combs contain 

 brood, and bees enough to cover them nicely, 

 will it be too strong this first day of Septem- 

 ber:" 



We think the majority of yon will agree 

 that it will not ; and also that 'twill be just as 

 well to leave the brood in its natural position. 

 If honey should come in during the fall we can 

 put empty combs at one side or above them, 

 to be used in the extractor. 



In regard to the amount of stores needed, 

 you will all probably agree that if the brood 

 combs are all bulged out above the brood with 

 sealed stores, and the other three full and 

 heavy with pollen and sealed stores also, that 

 they have an ample supply. 



Uncapped watery looking honey, you will 

 all admit is not to be considered desirable. We 

 shall use sugar syrup in place of honey, and 

 it will have been fed to them principally du- 

 ring the month of August ; during this month 

 we shall also feed enough to keep up brood- 

 rearing briskly, and shall move the combs 

 about but little; leaving each colony all the 

 pollen they have gathered and just in the po- 

 sition they have placed it. 



If after we have fixed everything the best we 

 know how, they should die, we can console our- 

 selves with the thought of having done our du- 

 ty at least, and that bet' culture is not the only 

 pursuit having its drawbacks, by any means. 



