The Manipulation of Bees 251 



beekeeper should not err by giving inadequate ventilation. 

 In transporting colonies on a wagon, the length of the frames 

 should be across the wagon bed, while on a train they should 

 be parallel with the length of the car. 



It is customary to ship colonies in hives with combs, but 

 recently the shipping of bees in wire-cloth cages without 

 combs has been practiced. This has much to commend it, 

 especially in reducing the danger of introducing bee diseases 

 into new locations. The cages contain numerous slats on 

 which the bees hang, and they are provided with food for 

 the bees en route. The bees are put into the cage by means 

 of a funnel, either with or without a queen. Bees are now 

 regularly sold by the pound in such packages and shipped 

 to all parts of the United States. It is probable that as this 

 method is perfected it will be used in migratory beekeeping, 

 thus avoiding danger of carrying disease to the home apiary 

 and reducing the transportation charges. 



ELIMINATION OF NON-ESSENTIAL MANIPULATIONS 



While it is necessary in any discussion of beekeeping which 

 aims at completeness to describe the various manipulations 

 which may be needed during the course of the year, the bee- 

 keeper should early in his experience establish a system for 

 the care of his bees so that unessential movements and 

 manipulations may be avoided. If bees are kept solely 

 for pleasure, it matters little whether they are disturbed in 

 their work, and the time of the beekeeper need not be con- 

 sidered an important consideration, but when bees are kept 

 for profit, these factors become vital. Every manipulation 

 which does not benefit the beekeeper by increasing his 

 profit should be ruthlessly eliminated, and every time a 

 colony is opened it should be for some definite purpose. 



Two essentials. 



There are two factors necessary to the production of the 

 maximum honey-crop over which the beekeeper has no 



