264 



GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTURE 



,EEKEEPENG IN CALIFORNIA 



P. C. Chadwick, 



Mr. Arthur C. Miller gives an 

 interesting account of stopping a 

 bad case of robbing. It is inter- 

 esting to me because of the fact 

 that no argument can convince me 

 that I would not be getting into 

 a worse muss than ever if I tried 

 the same plan in my apiary. 

 * * * 



I am glad to note that the necessity of 

 producing a clean ripe quality of honey is 

 constantly increasing. The present de- 

 pressed condition of the market is having a 

 wonderful influence in this respect. The 

 beekeeper has come to the realization that, 

 if he is to sell his product, it must be up to 

 a high standard in color and body. A few 

 with whom 1 talked at our state convention 

 argued that the producer can still sell a thin 

 honey at a price almost equal to the heavier 

 qualities, and very much more could be 

 produced. This idea should be discouraged 

 — first, for the reason that it is not strictly 

 honest; and, second, because it has a de- 

 pressing influence on the market. When a 

 consumer buys a poor grade of honey that 

 sours on his hands he is very reluctant 

 about buying more. Then, too, I am of 

 the opinion that thin honey will not pass 

 the inspection of consistency required by 

 the pure-food law. It is greatly to be hoped 

 that it will not, for that would eliminate it 

 from the market quicker than any argument. 

 There are many of our producers who are 

 none too particular about this point in 

 honey production. It should be the object 

 of every producer, however, to put up an 

 article that would give him first thought in 

 the minds of honey-buyors. 



In this connection I am going to rehash 

 my views on the necessity of plenty of comb 

 room. There are many who argue that there 

 is a great loss in waiting for honey to ripen. 

 This is quite true when there is a lack of 

 room in which the raw nectar can be stored 

 while the ripening process is in progress. 

 That is why I am always preaching plenty 

 of room. Now, by plenty of room I do not 

 wish to convey the idea that an unreason- 

 able amount of combs should be placed on 

 tlie hive. In fact, I hold the opinion that 

 no more than two supers above the brood- 

 chamber should be used in producing ex- 

 tracted honey. When tiered up to a greater 

 height there is both time and bee force 

 wasted — time, because of the necessity of 

 the bees having to go so far from the en- 

 trance to such a great height ; bee force. 



Redlands, Cal. 



because, when the product is finished, it will 

 be constantly guarded by bees that might be 

 better employed. The season should be 

 started with a single super. If the season 

 is favorable when sealing is begun, another 

 super of empty combs should be placed 

 under. When sealing begins in the lower 

 the upper will be ready to come off, be 

 extracted, and be replaced under the re- 

 maining super. In this way plenty of room 

 can be furnished for the raw nectar while 

 the ripening of the upper super is being 

 completed. That a crowded condition fol- 

 lows the single-super plan, causing a great 

 loss, there is no doubt. I have tested this 

 out on the scales to satisfy my own mind. 

 Take a single super that is a half to two- 

 thirds sealed when nectar is coming in free- 

 ly; weigh the hive for two or three days, 

 then place an empty super of combs under, 

 and note the increase in the daily weight. 

 * * * 



In the editorials, page 94, Feb. 1, will be 

 found some data relative to the chilling of 

 bees in winter, that may well be considered 

 by us in " sunny " California — not that we 

 have temperature that hovers below the 

 zero-mark, but that we lose many bees by 

 being chilled in the field. In the above- 

 mentioned editorial an instance is given 

 where bees were suddenly chilled by a cold 

 wind and rain storm, while at play, and 

 were unable to return to their hives. A 

 coat of ice was frozen over them for a 

 period of three days, after which they were 

 thawed out and warmed sufficiently to en- 

 able them to return to the hive, which they 

 did. I have had such a variety of experi- 

 ences with freezing, chilled, and so-called 

 ■' winter killed " bees, that at the present 

 time my mind is unsettled on the subject. 



Our loss during the spring months by 

 bees being chilled while in the field is a 

 well-recognized fact. If a bee will stand 

 the plight of being frozen in a coat of ice 

 for three days and then be able to return 

 to its hive, why should our loss be so great? 

 There is seldom more than a few days at 

 a time when the sun does not sliine suffi- 

 ciently to give any bee that may have been 

 chilled by the wayside sufficient warmth to 

 renew its activity. Then what becomes of 

 bees tliat are left in the field on cold days? 



During the later 80's I made some obser- 

 vations in the East relative to bees remain- 

 ing in the field over night. I satisfied my- 

 self that they quite often did so, returning 

 in many instances in the early dawn when 



