GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTURE 



Lone Tree apiary of Bell E. Berryman, Central City, Nebraska. This apiary of 190 colonies was built up 

 from 55 weak colonies in tTie spring of 1912, and yielded 9000 lbs. of honey. 



pendence on any or.e at the place looking* 

 after them. 



While it is essential to have some one pay 

 occasional visits to the yard to see that all 

 is well in so far as general conditions are 

 concerned, such as hive-covers being all 

 on, etc., I have found it best not to depend 

 on anybody watching for swarms, etc., as 

 1 then know what I have to do, and experi- 

 ence has proven to me that this is the best 

 policy. 



Water for the bees in the spring months 

 is a very im.portant matter — in fact, one of 

 the necessary things to see to if you wish 

 to avoid heavy losses of bees, as will surely 

 result if they have to travel a mile or more 

 for their water; for assuredly they must 

 have water, and lots of it, if brood-rearing 

 is to go on at the rate it has to in order 

 that the colonies be strong enough for the 

 main honey-flow in June. Many arrange- 

 ments have been suggested, and actually 

 used, for providing water right in the yard ; 

 but if the bees can get it near the apiary in 

 a nicely sheltered position they seem to 

 prefer it to getting it from a barrel or 

 other arrangement fixed up for them. 

 While one can fix up a place for the bees 

 to get water right in the home apiary, it 

 is a different proposition in an out-apiary, 

 and — ^well, to be perfectly frank I shall 

 have to confess that I have to let the bees 

 get their water the best they can, as it 

 would be a lot of work to drive around to a 

 number of yards, filling up barrels, etc. 

 At the same time. 1 am free to admit that 

 this work would pay, if the bees had no 



access to water Cjuite near their hives. At 

 each of my yards at present, water is quite 

 near, so I am saved the trouble of supply- 

 ing it artificially. 



This spring I have to move one of my 

 apiaries; and as the location I have selected 

 seems to be about ideal I have taken a 

 picture for the purpose of illustrating 

 what I have been trying to describe as the 

 desirable features of a good location. As 

 will be noticed, the honey-houses have al- 

 ready been moved, and are standing upon, 

 temporary foundations till the snow gees 

 in the spring, when the buildings will be 

 lowered and leveled, and placed on cedar 

 blocks. The bees ^^^ll not be moved till 

 after they have had their first flight. They 

 are wintei'ing outdoors half a mile from 

 where they are soon to be moved. Two emp- 

 ty hives, one on top of the other, are shown 

 in the open space, and this spot will be 

 about the center of the apiary when bees 

 are placed. The cedar swamp shown will 

 be on the north, northeast, west, and south- 

 west, while the onlj^ open space will be at 

 the southeast. On this side the buildings 

 are placed end to end, not so much for pro- 

 tection as to save fencing, as I shall have 

 to fence the plot to keep stock from roam- 

 ing among the hives and upsetting them. 

 This piece of ground (about half an acre) 

 is level, and high and dry, and while the 

 shelter is a little too good(?) to suit me, 

 still, it is a different matter from a board 

 fence, as bees will not be tempted to fly 

 over a wide space of trees as easily as they 

 can go over a high board fence, to drop at 



