GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTURE 



Beekeeping Among the Eocki 



Wesley Fostei 



HONEY PROSPECTS. 



Bees came thi'ough the winter 

 with ^ot an excessive loss in any 

 districts of the Rocky Mountain 

 region. The cold backward spring 

 was not very conducive to building 

 up early, and some weak colonies 

 died during the long-continued cold weath- 

 er in March. However, during April breed- 

 ing was done, and the weak colonies with 

 good queens certainly made a good report 

 of themselves. 



Bees are not swarming in May this year 

 as was the case last year. Early in May 

 the Rocky Mountain region was visited by 

 freezing weather that ruined a large pro- 

 portion of the fruit prospects in western 

 Colorado and elsewhere. At the time of 

 this freeze the alfalfa was up nearly one 

 foot, and much of the fruit was in full 

 bloom; bees were prej^aring to swai'm, and 

 a number of colonies had swarmed in Delta 

 County. The freeze was a very serious 

 thing for the fruit men, and jDut back the 

 honey season several weeks, no doubt. 



There has been such a generous amount 

 of rainfall this spring that it is doubtful 

 whether the shortage of irrigation water 

 will be felt. The reservoirs are now fuller 

 than it was hoped they could be, so that 

 there should be water enough in most dis- 

 tricts for the late irrigation. 



The precipitation so far this year is 2i/2 

 inches above normal; and if it keeps on 

 raining we shall have plenty of moisture. 



Sweet clover is thicker this year than 

 last; and while it was frozen down pretty 

 badly it will recover. 



DRIFTING BEES. 



Bees cut up some queer eapei's when a 

 large number of colonies are placed in one 

 location. Recently we were preparing 800 

 colonies for shipment; and to facilitate 

 loading, about four hundred were placed 

 close to the switch. Entrances were con- 

 tracted prior to moving, and the hives were 

 faced east and south, so that as little con- 

 fusion would result as possible. 



When the apiai-y was inspected the open- 

 ing of the hives caused more drifting. Some 

 drifting had been going on all the time until 

 a number of hives were simply running- 

 over with bees while others had hardly 

 enough to care for their brood. Almost 

 wholesale distribution of the bees had to be 

 done, and many weak colonies were placed 

 on the stands of the strong ones. The bees 

 were necessarily \'ery cross from this mix- 



ing-up ; but the bees were finally pretty well 

 distributed. 



In order to prevent drifting, do not place 

 colonies too close togetlier; and avoid long 

 straight rows all faced the same way. Do 

 not release the bees so they rush out of the 

 hives all at once (as they do when overheat- 

 ed). After moving an apiary it is best not 

 to examine the hives if any drifting is going 

 on, as the opening seems to aggravate the 

 trouble more. 



BUILDING UP COLONIES FOR THE FLOW. 



It is certainly surprising how rapidly a 

 very weak colony will build up if it has a 

 young vigorous queen, plenty of lioney, 

 warm weather, and abundant pollen. 



Proportionately a weak colony will build 

 up faster than an average or a strong colo- 

 ny. There is such a thing as having a 

 colony too strong early in the season. If 

 you have, or can get, extra queens at the 

 right time, increase can be made from the 

 strong colonies without impairing the honey 

 crop. It is all a matter of understanding 

 how to take advantage of the season and its 

 eccentricities. 



In western Colorado I saw swarming the 

 latter part of April. On a Thursday bees 

 were swarming. Friday it was freezing, and 

 Saturday it snowed. Such changes in the" 

 weather are hard on bees, especially swarms. 

 Old colonies can protect their brood in pret- 

 ty cold weather, as they are pretty populous 

 at this time of the year. 



In all that a beekeeper does he should 

 work cautiously in the spring. Spreading 

 brood need not be done till the middle of 

 May, and then it must be done with care. 

 Bees will spread their brood if they have 

 abundant pollen and fresh nectar from fruit 

 bloom and dandelions. 



Most of our beekeepers are now busy 

 equalizing stores, inspecting their apiaries, 

 and getting things in shape for the honey- 

 flow that is not due ordinarily till June 15 

 to July 1. Our season is now late, and 

 July 1 will come before sweet clover blooms. 



IS THIS TRUE SCIENTIFIC METHOD? 



There has been so much said about spray 

 poisoning that it may be out of place to say 

 more; but the opinion of Professor Wood- 

 worth, that bees are not poisoned by spray- 

 ing with arsenite of zinc, and that bees are 

 not poisoned by arsenate of lead, is worth 

 an answer. 



Professor Woodworth should conduct his 

 experiment with a hundred colonies instead 

 of one. It should also be remembered that 

 Continued on page 439. 



