AVGUST, 1919 



G I. K A N T N G S IN BEE C U I. T IT R E 



N' 



C 



THE BEST FROM OTHERS 



lona Fowls 



■0 S E M A 



api-^, says 

 G. F. White 

 i 11 the Jul y 

 American Bee 

 Journal, was re- 

 ported as long 

 ago as 1857. The 

 gorm that causes 

 the disease is a 



one-celled animal parasite. This parasite has 

 a vegetative form and a resting spore form. 

 When the latter forms are taken into the 

 stomach of the adult bee, with the food or 

 water, the digestive fluids act on the cover- 

 ing of the spores and release the young para- 

 sites that then invade the wall of the stom- 

 ach, where they multiply enormously, pro- 

 ducing quantities of spores which are void- 

 ed with the excrement, thus becoming a 

 source of infection to other bees. 



In the experimental yard, when inoculat- 

 ing for the disease, Mr. White says the colo- 

 nies were fed a pint of sugar syrup to which 

 had been added the crushed stomachs of 

 diseased bees. Most of those which became 

 infected were middle-aged bees. In out- 

 ward appearance such bees are quite normal, 

 but the diseased stomach is lighter in ap- 

 pearance than a healthy one. It is more 

 easily torn, and when crushed it has a milky 

 appearance. In a late stage of the disease 

 the walls of the stomach are white. 



Altho Xosema apis under certain condi- 

 tions may kill a colony, still the disease is 

 not very infectious, and the usual effect is 

 simply to cause a weakness from which the 

 colony readily recovers. 



* « « 



Saving a few cents in the cost of a ship- 

 ping-container at the expense of highei* 

 freight rates is poor economy. — American 

 Bee Journal (July). 



■X- * ■)(■ 



Thru the instrumentality of the Tupelo 

 Honey Exchange, according to the Dixie 

 Beekeeper for June, the Legislature of Flor- 

 ida has made an appropriation of $10,000 

 for inspection work in the State. 



* * * 



It has been estimated that there is more 

 profit, with less investment and labor, in 

 300 colonies of bees than in 160 acres of 

 farm land. — The Beekeepers' Item (July). 



* * * 



I believe the price of section honey is go- 

 ing to rule high for some time to come, and 

 pay well those who are willing to produce, 

 pack, and market it with care. — J. E. Crane, 

 American Bee Journal (July). 



* * * 



HOW ROBY REARS QUEEN'S. 



E. G. Carr, in the July American Bee 

 Journal, explains how Eobey raises queens. 

 To prepare the cell-starting colony he moves 

 it from its stand, replacing with a hive of 

 four combs of honey and pollen and one of 

 brood. Four combs of bees from the re- 



3 



w^^^^^^^^^ 



LJ 



529 



moved colony 

 are shaken into 

 the prepared 

 hive, and in five 

 hours fifteen 

 grafted cells are 

 given after re- 

 moving the 

 frame of brood. 

 (These grafted 

 cells are Doolittle cell cups into which, after 

 priming, are grafted very small larvse.) The 

 next morning the started cells are given to 

 the upper story of a strong colony for com- 

 pletion. When the queen-cells are ripe, they 

 are given to nuclei, containing two or three 

 frames, the frames being of such a size 

 that three will just fit into a Langstroth 

 frame. Mr. Robey uses some twin mating- 

 hives and some hives containing four nuclei. 

 The small frames are stocked by placing in 

 bodies of such a size as to carry twelve 

 frames crosswise, two such bodies being used 

 as a colony. 



To insure well-fed larvae late in the season 

 he removes the larvae after they have been 

 fed two days, and replaces with very small 

 larvse, shaving down the cups with a hot 

 sharp knife. The larger size of the result- 

 ant queens pays well for the extra trouble. 



* * * 



Another season's experience in hiving 

 swarms, both- natural and "shook," with an 

 empty body below the frames of foundation, 

 convinces me of the value of the method in 

 preventing absconding swarms. A swarm, 

 immediately after hiving, needs a large 

 quantity of wax, and the opportunity to 

 cluster compactly with no division of the 

 cluster by frames or combs, seems to facili- 

 tate the secretion of wax. I have never 

 known a swarm to abscond when hived in 

 this way. — The Western Honey Bee (July). 



* » « 



Colonies which have been transported 

 from one spot to another some distance away 

 in the spring show more activity than others 

 that have remained at the old stand. There 

 appears to be something in the change of 

 surroundings or in the shaking-up which 

 they have experienced which impels them 

 to greater activity. — American Bee Journal 

 (July). 



[We have often noticed that bees moved 

 in the spring breed up faster than others, 

 and are, therefore, in better condition for 

 the honey flow. — Editor.] 



* » * 



We mav need larger brood-nests; yes, but 

 let us make them by adding a second story, 

 thus giving the queen the room she needs 

 ,iust where she needs it. Especially is this 

 desirable when using 8-frame hives. With 

 me, this practice greatly decreases manipu- 

 lation, as well as the propensity to swarm. 

 One scattering of the brood after the second 

 story has been on a few days, is usually suf- 

 ficient. — The Western Honey Bee (July). 



