748 



GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTURE 



Tliis I consider a success uiuler the most difficult 

 circumstances. 



Muncy, Pa., Aug. 23. W. P. Merrill. 



A GREAT SCHEME FOR WINTERING; MOVING 

 CARLOADS OP BEES FROM THE NORTH TO 

 THE SOUTH DURING WINTER, AND SECUR- 

 ING TWO CROPS OP HONEY AND A HUNDRED 

 PER CENT INCREASE. 



For some years back we have had a dream 

 of moving bees from the North, just at the 

 approach of winter, to a southern clime, 

 where they can gather a part of their own 

 food, and at the same time build up for 

 increase. We expect to move a carload of 

 bees from Medina to a location which we 

 have bought of Mr. A. B. Marchant on the 

 Apalachieola River, Florida. This yard 

 will be situated remote from any other bees, 

 at a point where it can secure the early 

 ti-ti and (later on) the tupelo in March 

 and April. We plan to put 300 colonies 

 in a ear, and with them take about 300 

 liives in the flat, with necessary frames and 

 foundation, and a power extracting-outfit. 

 We aim to build these 300 single-story colo- 

 nies into two-story from the ti-ti and other 

 early bloom. In order that they may have 

 Ijlenty of pollen we are selecting our combs 

 having the most of it, and putting them into 

 the hives. Pollen in combs, by the way, is 

 a splendid asset for the bees. We are feed- 

 ing up only enough to land the bees in 

 Florida in good condition. On arrival we 

 will feed if necessary. If not, we shall 

 expect them to get their own bread and 

 butter, and go into the business of raising 

 baby bees. In order to get a bumper crop 

 from tupelo it will be necessary to have 

 rousing big colonies. The whole scheme, 

 in brief, is to build these single-story colo- 

 nies into two-stoi"y ones, secure the crop of 

 tupelo lioney in March and April, and, 

 when tupelo is over, split up these 300 two- 

 story colonies into 600 or 700 single-story 

 colonies; load them in two or three cars, 

 and arrive in Medina for the early fruit 

 bloom. A man who is thoroughly familiar 

 with the Apalachieola regions will go with 

 the bees — Mr. Ernest Marcliant, who has 

 been in charge of some seven apiaries for 

 us during the past season. He believes he 

 can take the 300 colonies to tlie Southland, 

 where he was born and reared, and wliere 

 he knows the locality thoroughly, build 

 them up, and come back with twice the 

 number of bees, and it is not impossible. 

 He figures that the tupelo crop (if we get 

 it) will pay for the cost of the experiment, 

 and give us, with the bees left at Medina, 

 a total of something like 700 colonies by the 

 first of May. If Mr. Marchant were not 

 thoroughly familiar with the conditions in 

 the Southland theie would be a great deal 



of risk; and there will be risk as it is. We 

 expect to give occasional reports of how the 

 plan works; for if it succeeds there is no 

 reason why any beekeepers in the North 

 can not increase their investment in tlie 

 same way. For example, Mr. R. F. Holter- 

 nianu has a capital of some 600 or 700 

 colonies — that is, capital that is tied up for 

 seven months in the year, barely maintain- 

 ing an existence. During that time they 

 will consume a large amount of sugar syrup 

 or honey. Now, then, suppose he takes this 

 capital, goes south with it, builds the bees 

 up, secures a crop of honey, then comes 

 nortii, ready to take another crop. It is not 

 impossible. Our two carloads of bees a year 

 ago this spring secured a crop of tupelo 

 honey on the Apalachieola River, and then 

 came north and secured a fine crop of clover 

 and basswood. In other words, the same 

 colony (not the same bees) will be on the 

 job practically ten months of the year in- 

 stead of four or five as now. 



As already stated, we bought out a loca- 

 tion on the Apalachieola River that has 

 already made good. It is remote from any 

 other beekeepers; and even if foul brood 

 should develop, which is altogether unlikely, 

 there will be no danger of transmitting tlie 

 disease to other apiaries. All of our bees 

 in and near Medina have been thoroughly 

 inspected by our State inspector; and whe:i 

 next May arrives, all our bees in the Soiitli 

 will be moved northward. Experience 

 shows that we can move bees from Florida 

 to Ohio for a little less than $1.00 a colony. 

 This includes freight and all other expenses 

 of a man accompanying in coiniection with 

 the moving. 



Of course, this whole scheme may prove 

 to be a grand fizzle. There may be a fail- 

 ure of ti-ti and tupelo ; thei-e may be a fail- 

 ure of pollen, and that would be as serious 

 as no nectar. The weather might be bad. 

 A flood might swee]) the bees into the river ; 

 a railroad wreck might play havoc with the 

 whole proposition ; a thousand and one 

 things might happen. Thej' are all possi- 

 ble ; but we are going at this thing as if xoe 

 tvere going to succeed. Our experiment of 

 securing two crops, one in Florida and one 

 in Ohio, with two carloads of bees two 

 years ago was a succees. Mr. A. B. Mar- 

 chant secured the tupelo honey before he 

 delivered the bees to us. We moved them 

 nortli, and caught the clover, and made 50 

 per cent increase. This time we hope to 

 catch both crops, north as well as south, 

 and get 100 per cent increase to boot. 

 It's a great sclieme if only half our dream 

 comes true. In the mean time our readers 

 sliall have the benefit of the failure or suc- 

 cess by reports from the field. 



