94 



AMERICAN BEE JOURNAL 



March 



which is apparent under the present 

 law. I realize that this plan is not per- 

 fect, and that valid objections may be 

 raised, but in a State like Iowa, where 

 58,000 square miles of territory must be 

 covered, and where th*re are 30,000 

 beekeepers, big and little, I am con- 

 vinced that far more can be accom- 

 plished with the small funds zvhich can 

 be secured for this work than by the 

 present plan. 



It is hardly within the province of 

 the State to examine every individual 

 colony of bees in localities where dis- 

 ease is present any more than it is to 

 examine every pig where there is an 

 outbreak of cholera or other animal 

 disease. Quarantine methods are jus- 

 tified and necessary in dealing with 

 some new malady which has not yet 

 become generally spread, but it is a 

 hopeless task to undertake to eradicate 

 any wide-spread contagion by these 

 methods. I am fully convinced that 

 this plan will shortly be abandoned 

 and educational methods substituted 

 very generally. 



Atlantic, Iowa. 



[We have hesitated to insert the 

 above article because of the probable 

 objections of men placed in entirely 

 different circumstances, who find ad- 

 vantage in the inspection of bees and 

 feel the need of it. But Mr. Pellett has 

 had experience and is entirely disinter- 

 ested, two valuable qualities. We want 

 the opinions of others who differ with 

 him. But we trust they will first care- 

 fully read the statements made in the 

 article. In most States the appropria- 

 tion is insufficient. In Illinois, our in- 

 spector, Mr. Kildow has repeatedly 

 said that the work of inspector should 

 be mainly a work of education. 



On the other hand, it is necessary 

 that some method should be used to 

 compel the treatment of bees where 

 the apiary is neglected and becomes a 

 danger to the public. Sooner or later 

 we should be able to secure the thor- 

 ough control of diseases. There is 

 already a great decrease in the spread 

 of foulbrood. Whatever we do, we 

 must secure efficient men, men of ex- 

 perience for both the educational work 

 and inspection. Beekeeping is thriving, 

 in spite of diseases, but it is imperative 

 that we should continue our efforts. 

 The best way to secure good results is 

 what we want to discuss Editor.] 



Moving Bees by Wagon and 

 Automobile 



BY WESLEY FOSTER. 



THE writer's first experience in 

 moving bees overland was in 

 1903, when 125 colonies were 

 loaded, together with extra comb-honey 

 supers, supplies, etc., upon two flat- 

 bottom hay-racks and a one-horse 

 spring wagon and hauled 35 miles. The 

 moving was done during our often de- 

 lightful winter weather, during the day, 

 warm enough for the bees to fly and 

 cool enough morning and evening so 



the bees did not care to venture forth. 

 As we had no screens at that time 

 and the weather was quite warm, the 

 covers (and inner covers where we 

 had them) were nailed to the hive- 

 bodies. The bottom-boards were al- 

 ready nailed to the hives, so all that 

 was needed to close the hives was soft 



will be able soon to re-enter their own 

 hive or one just as good. 



When moving by auto, if the weather 

 is cool, it is often unnecessary to fas- 

 ten either cover or bottom-board, and 

 I have closed the entrances with snow 

 successfully for a haul of 5 to 15 miles. 



Where 25 colonies to 100 are hauled 



A FORD AUTO AND TRAILER HAVE A CAPACITY OF ABOUT ONE TON 



cotton to close the entrance. The bees 

 were loaded in the evening and early 

 in the morning, and the start was made 

 about 9:00 o'clock in the morning. As 

 we had nothing in the way of springs 

 on the hay-racks, all the cushioning 

 was of straw, and while that helps, it is 

 not sufficient unless one drives care- 

 fully and the combs are tough. 



During the day the sun shone very 

 warm and some bees were continually 

 coming out and flying around the 

 loads. When we stopped for dinner 

 and an hour's rest, it seemed as though 

 a swarm was about each wagon — the 

 bees, however, were gentle and did not 

 offer to sting, and by the time we were 

 ready to proceed, most of the bees had 

 clustered upon the outside of the hives 

 on the wagons. 



In loading we loaded two tiers high 

 and on top of the two tiers we piled 

 the supers, extra hives, etc. Over the 

 whole load we put large wagon sheets 

 which darkened the hives consider- 

 ably and helped in keeping the bees 

 (that did get outside their hives) from 

 flying around. 



The drive of 35 miles took one and a 

 half days, so we had the last half day 

 for unloading and arranging the apiary. 



I have moved bees without a single 

 bee getting out of the hives, but this 

 cannot always be depended upon, so 

 one should always be ready for any 

 emergency. 



It does little damage for some bees 

 to get out when moving by wagon, as 

 most of them cluster on the hives, but 

 when moving by auto, the motion is 

 so rapid that what bees get away from 

 the machine, do not get back. 



Often on the rear of the wagon will 

 be clustered near a half bushel of bees 

 riding contentedly over rough roads 

 and smooth, firm in the faith that they 



by auto, the covers and bottoms should 

 be nailed or stapled on tight. 



Much of my moving has been done 

 in spring or early summer, moving the 

 bees in close to the foothills for the 

 mountain bloom and out to the alfalfa 

 fields for the July and August flow. 

 When moving the bees in March and 

 April, no screens are needed, unless 

 the days are very warm, or a few colo- 

 nies are extra strong. 



When it comes to moving colonies 

 to the alfalfa fields again, then is 

 where care must be taken to give abun- 

 dant ventilation and clustering space 

 for the bees. I have never fastened the 

 bottoms of the brood-frames and it is 

 unnecessary when hauling by auto if 

 the frames are self-spacing. 



All colonies of full strength are pro- 

 vided for clustering above the brood, 

 and the wire-screen is placed on top 

 and nailed on with four 6-penny nails; 

 the bottom, body, super and screen are 

 then crated together strongly with an 

 upright lath strip at each corner nailed 

 on with shingle nails or cement coated 

 nails. It is not necessary (unless the 

 weather is extremely warm) to place 

 strips of wood between one tier of hives 

 and the next on top for the free circu- 

 lation of air, as enough air gets through 

 if the bees do not become overheated. 



If bees become overheated and emit 

 that tell-tale smothering smell, unload 

 at once and release the overheated 

 bees. If sufficient clustering space and 

 air be given, this will be unnecessary, 

 but often we mistake the strength of a 

 colony. 



An auto is by far the most satisfac- 

 tory for moving bees, as the bees ride 

 so quietly that it seems many of the 

 colonies do not know they are being 

 moved. 



My equipment now for moving bees, 



