1901 



GI^EANINGS IN BEE CULTURE. 



635 



least little mishap will ruin a whole row of 

 dipped cell-cups. Fourth, compressed cell- 

 cups may be worked over and over again — 

 they are practically indestructible, either by 

 the bees or the bee-keeper himself. Fifth, 

 compressed cell - cups are marketable and 

 mailable ; they are also practicable to both 

 maker and user. Being encased or surround- 

 ed with wood they are protected at all times. 

 Sixth, compressed cell-cups are readily mend- 

 ed by simply smoothing them a bit with a 

 forming- stick and a little spittle; both of 

 which are always at hand. Seventh, the mak- 

 ing of compressed cell-cups is comfortable 

 work, while the dipping of cell-cups is exas- 

 perating — especially during a hot summer's 

 day. Eighth, in the wholesale dipping or 

 molding of cell-cups an endless list of para- 

 phernalia (hot wax, fire, water, steady nerves, 

 etc ) more or less intricate and ingenious, is 

 necessary ; but with compressed cell-cups only 

 the one simple hand tool is required, which 

 anv child can work. 



The "shells" are designed to fit the holes 

 in the top-bars of the Swarthmore cages to 

 render the cells easily removable ; but with a 

 drop of wax they may be stuck on to any 

 thing anywhere. 



Suppose one is starting a batch of cells. If 

 one or two cells should fail they may be re- 

 placed with others that are on the way toward 

 development, thus saving much cage space. 



And, again, suppose the apiarist desires a 

 hatching cell, he can at any time draw one 

 from any cage, without taking the cage apart 

 or even lifting out a frame — simply roll back 

 the sheet of the hive containing the cageful, 

 and — there you are. Draw one, close the hive, 

 and all is well — no trouble — not even smoke 

 being necessary. 



[These tools will form cells very quickly ; 

 and it is surprising how perfect and smooth 

 they can be made. — Ed.] 



PRODUCING COMB AND EXTRACTED HONEY IN 

 THE SAME HIVE AT THE SAME TIME. 



The Use of Divisible Brood-chambers. 



BY LOUIS SCHOLI,. 



Having described the hive I use, page 591, it 

 will, perhaps, be of interest to some to know 

 how colonies in such hives were managed for 

 the surplus honey. As I have a demand for 

 it, my object is to produce both comb and ex- 

 tracted honey, and, instead of manipulating a 

 certain number of colonies to produce the re- 

 quired amount of comb honey, and using oth- 

 er colonies solely for extracted honey, as is 

 generally done, I have found that I could 

 produce both at the same time with all the 

 colonies, and with greater satisfaction. 



Now, before giving my mode of operation 

 for the season I wish to state, as there is a dif- 

 ference between our seasons here in the South, 

 that these rules will not apply to the North, 

 and will, therefore, have to be changed ac- 

 ccrlingly. Then, too, as we have such change- 

 able weather here in Texas our honey re- 

 sources are not alike each season, so each 



must know his locality, study his honey re- 

 sources, and must also know when to expect 

 his honey-flows. He must also have every 

 thing in readiness beforehand, by having his 

 supers and every thing else in shape when a 

 flow happens. 



The fall before, all colonies are put in order 

 for winter in three-hive sections, with plenty 

 of honey. Each colony must have a good 

 queen to keep up a strong colony of bees dur- 

 ing the season ; and, indeed, much depends 

 on what kind of queens we have. We can 

 not afford to keep any but good ones. 



No further attention is given till about Feb- 

 ruary, or when we expect continuously warm 

 weather. Then we overhaul the bees to see 

 that all are supplied with sufficient stores to 

 last till the main honey-flow ; for as pollen 

 and honey have been coming in, brood-rearing 

 is going on rapidly now, and during this time 

 more honey will be consumed than at any oth- 

 er time of the year. To examine the colonies, 

 simply pry apart the two lower cases. By 

 tilting the upper one back we can easily as- 

 certain the strength and condition of the col- 

 ony, which we note. If some are found short 

 of stores, these are provided either with combs 

 of honey, or fed diluted honey or sugar syr- 

 up. All quefcnless colonies are supplied with 

 good queens as soon as possible, and, if none 

 are on hand, they are purchased of some reli- 

 able queen-breeder. 



After all are in proper order they are let 

 alone for a few weeks ; and when the weather 

 is warm and favorable, and honey coming in 

 ( we generally have enough honey coming in 

 all along to keep up brood rearing, and some- 

 times we get some surplus), we again go 

 through all ; and, taking off the top (or third) 

 story, we go through the brood-chambers, put- 

 ting all combs with honey in the top, or the 

 third super, and all the empty combs in the 

 two chambers of the brood-nest, arranging the 

 combs so as to spread the brood, and to push 

 brood-rearing, as we want a great force of 

 bees just at the beginning of the main flow, 

 which with us is about the first of May. The 

 other super, containing the combs of honey, 

 is now set on top. This operation will gener- 

 ally be done at about swarming-time in the 

 month of March, sometimes sooner or later, 

 depending on the earliness or lateness of the 

 season ; and at this examination, if some col- 

 onies are overpopulous, combs of hatching 

 brood are taken from them and used either to 

 strengthen weaker colonies or for making nu- 

 clei. If some of the colonies have already 

 started queen cells they are destroyed or oth- 

 erwise as the case may be. I have already 

 said something about swarming; but with such 

 a large brood-chamber, and providing plenty 

 of room for the queen, there will be very little 

 if any swarming ; but I gave the foregoing for 

 the "exceptions." Now comes the time of 

 our main flow, which is just beginning ; and 

 if every thing has been favorable we shall 

 have strong colonies with a large force of 

 bees ; and, besides having had plenty of hon- 

 ey for breeding purposes, they will have some 

 surplus stored in the shallow extracting-super 

 above. 



