DECEMBKIJ 15, 1915 



1031 



j^-i 



^. A Ja^ 



The first three hives (right to left) are cell-builders; the fourth a honey-producer, and the fifth a mating- 



box. 



BUILDING UP A BUSINESS IN SHIPPING BEES WITHOUT COMBS 



Will Winterine Bees Become Obsolete in the Extreme North ? 



BY W. D. ACHORD 



About four years ago I began to ship 

 oiic-pouiul packages of bees withnut queens 

 by April 1, aiul with queens by April 10. ] 



Two 



sticks, one black and one white, turned in variouf directions 

 constitute a record for each mnting-box. 



find that this size of package is best as 

 early as weather in the North will permit 

 the buyer to receive them. The first year 

 or two we had consid- 

 erable loss at times; 

 but last year it was 

 only about 4 per cent 

 or less, while this year 

 it wa^ less than 2 per 

 cent for the entire 

 year. We make our 

 own cages and candy 

 in a way which we find 

 is good for the two 

 extreme conditions — 

 the heat here in April 

 and cold in the North. 

 Perhaps half of these 

 packages go into Can- 

 ada and all of them 

 north of the Mason 

 and Dixon line. 



Judging from re- 

 ports from buyers I 

 feel quite sure the one- 

 pound package from 

 the South, early in the 

 season, is the most 



