March, 1919 



GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTURE 



kept niulor shade. The usual form is a shed 

 covered with dried grass, or what is techni- 

 cally called arrow weed. This shed runs 

 nearly east and west; and during midsum- 

 mer, with the sun directly overhead, the 

 bees are in the shade from morning till 

 night. During the winter and early spring, 

 the sun, being at a lower angle, strikes the 

 hives all day long at a time of year when 

 it is needed. The arrangement is ideal for 

 hot climates. It is also used in Arizona, 

 New Mexico, and the West Indies. 



In place of arrow weed a number of bee- 

 keepers of the valley have found that com- 

 mon lath (such as is ordinarily used in 

 plastering) is not only cheaper but better. 

 It is actually cheaper to buy common lath 

 at $8.00 per thousand than it is to hire a 



man, if you can get him, to cut the arrow 

 weed, haul it, and fasten it upon the frame- 

 work of the shed. As will be seen by the 

 illustrations, the laths are nailed % inch 

 apart upon the frames. This is better than 

 a solid top. When the rays of the sun are 

 broken up it answers the purpose. 



J. \V. Culver, as will be seen by one of 

 the illustrations, is trying the experiment 

 of putting one apiary between two rows of 

 eucalyptus. He does not believe this will 

 give as good I'esults as the shed. 



J. W. George of Imperial, Cal., and "W. W. 

 Culver of Calexico, near the Mexican bor- 

 der, are the two leading beekeepers in the 

 valley. Mr. George has been gradually re- 

 tiring, while Mr. Culver seems to be in the 

 business as much as ever. 



TAKING BEES FROM CELLAR 



IVhen and Ho'W it Should be Done 

 for ^est Results. Varying Condi- 

 tions Require Varying Treatment 



By Belva M. Demuth 



OF the four 

 or five 

 months 

 that bees are in 

 the cellar, the 

 month of March 

 is the most de- 

 structive to 

 their vitality. 

 This is especial- 

 ly true if the stores consumed during the 

 winter have been inferior or if the tempera- 

 ture of the cellar during the earlier portion 

 of the winter has been too low. During our 

 earlier experience in cellar wintering we too 

 frequently had both of these conditions in 

 considerable degree, which, in every case, 

 caused some extremely anxious days during 

 the month of March on account of the rest- 

 lessness of the bees. We have had many 

 colonies that consumed more stores during 

 March than during the entire previous pe- 

 riod of confinement in the cellar. This 

 meant, of course, that the bees were burn- 

 ing out their lives rapidly by the extra ac- 

 tivity which was induced by their discom- 

 fort. 



This extra activity serves no useful pur- 

 pose whatever, and, when once started the 

 destruction of vitality and the consumption 

 of the honey from which the extra energy 

 is derived go merrily on with constant ac- 

 celeration until the hives are placed on their 

 summer stands and the bees have had a 

 cleansing flight. In such cases the condi- 

 tion of destructive restlessness has over- 

 taken the bees before the arrival of spring. 



Some years ago many beekeepers advo- 

 cated setting the bees out when they became 

 restless, choosing for this a day suitable for 

 a safe cleansing flight, after which they 

 were returned to the cellar. This was in- 

 tended to stop the rapid destruction of vi- 

 tality during the latter part of the winter. 

 Fortunately, it is possible by using better 

 stores and keeping the cellar warmer, es- 

 pecially during the early part of winter, to 

 prevent this condition instead of applying 



a doubtful rem- 

 edy after it de- 

 velops. Midwin- 

 ter flights, there- 

 fore, are not 

 now recommend- 

 e d . However, 

 the beekeeper 

 who attempts to 

 winter on poor 

 stores in a cold cellar has reason to "Be- 

 ware the Ides of March," for restless colo- 

 nies previous to the arrival of spring pre- 

 sent a serious problem. 

 Restless Colonies Weaken Themselves. 

 If they are placed on their summer stands 

 at this time, on a day suitable for a cleans- 

 ing flight, they will quiet down and may 

 still have sufficient vitality left to care for 

 brood to produce bees enough to take their 

 places; but, if the restlessness previous to 

 their removal from the cellar has greath' 

 exhausted their vitality, they may spring 

 dwindle badly and therefore be rendered 

 useless for the season. Their subsequent 

 safety and prosperity depend upon how 

 nearly their vitality has been exhausted be- 

 fore they have had their cleansing flight 

 and the character of the weather after they 

 are set out. If they are left in the cellar, 

 they burn out their lives rapidly by cease- 

 less and increasing activity. A good cleans- 

 ing flight stops this useless activity, but we 

 know of no remedy that can restore the ex- 

 hausted vitality of colonies at this time 

 except brood-rearing. Brood-rearing itself 

 consumes bee life rapidly, and there may 

 not be a sufficient amount of vital energy 

 remaining to apply this remedy in time to 

 save the colony. 



When the Cellar's Usefulness Ends. 

 Colonies that are but slightly restless dur- 

 ing early March may usually be left in the 

 cellar until the arrival of favorable weather 

 and the advent of natural pollen. However, 

 when the time arrives that the bees are 

 wasting their energy in the cellar more 

 ]apidly than they would spend it to keep up 



