TBS AMERICAN BEE-KEEPER. 



121 



which has taxed the manufacturing fa- 

 cilities of the, country beyond their ca- 

 pacity, must necessarily have resulted 

 in disappointment to many who de- 

 layed ordering too late. The lesson 

 contains an obvious moral, and the ad- 

 vantages of early ordering will be re- 

 alized more keenly in the future. 



MOVING BEES— SOME PEESONAL 

 EXPERIENCES. 



The occasional reference to this sub- 

 ject in current bee literature, bearing 

 evidence, as it does, of a general inter- 

 est in the preparation and care of bees 

 in transportation, together with the 

 many requests received from our read- 

 ers for more of our personal experi- 

 ence in The Bee-Keeper, are the only 

 apologies we have to offer for devoting 

 so much space this month to a subject 

 that we had grown to regard as pretty 

 well worn. 



But here we are reminded that each 

 year adds to our fraternity many young 

 members, from whose ranks must de- 

 velop the Doolittles, the Heddons, the 

 Hutchinsons, etc., of the future. And 

 their enthusiastic missives, pleading 

 for light upon the subject of their 

 newly-awakened interest, recall per- 

 sonal experiences eminently calculated 

 to incite a deep appreciation of our 

 pleasant privilege, and present duty, to 

 freely impart to this most earnest and 

 ever-hopeful multitude, whatever aid 

 may be derived from the lessons of our 

 own bee-keeping life. 



At some period in the life of most 

 bee-keepers the matter of moving be- 

 comes one of personal and direct inter- 

 est. If this condition transpires during 

 his earlier day in the business, con- 

 siderable anxiety is involved, and in- 

 formation from every available source 

 is eagerly sought; while, though not 

 having had occasion to give the sub- 

 ject previous consideration, the ex- 

 perienced apiarist who finds himself 

 making preparations for a move, does 

 so almost instinctively. Every detail 



tending to success in the projected 

 move receives minute attention, with- 

 out an anxious thought as to the re- 

 sult. Guided by a thorough knowledge 

 of their characteristic peculiarities and 

 requirements, gained by years of 

 practical work, the bees' every need is 

 considered and provided for; and 

 necessary variations, conforming to 

 varying conditions, are readily recog- 

 nized by the practiced eye, and treat- 

 ment is accordingly applied. 



That it would be impossible to give 

 stated rules for the preparation and 

 care of bees in moving, that would suit 

 all cases, is one lesson which our ex- 

 perience will illustrate. 



The transportation of bees in box 

 hives is rarely practiced beyond a local 

 move, which we have upon several oc- 

 casions accomplished with success by 

 simply confining the bees with a strip 

 of wire screen over the entrance, load- 

 ing them into a wagon and driving to 

 the new location. The combs in such 

 hives are secured naturally, and after 

 having been in use for several years 

 are very tough, so that no special care 

 need be observed in handling; and to 

 facilitate loading compactly, may be 

 carried bottom upwards as safely a$ in 

 their natural position. 



There is one rule, however, that has 

 a general application m preparing bees 

 for a move — one that is effected neither 

 by the style of hives, extent of the trip 

 or other conditions — viz: Always carry 

 a wad of cotton batting as a ready and 

 effectual means of checking any possi- 

 ble escape of bees that may occur. 



Under certain favorable conditions 

 bees may be kept confined to their 

 hives in transit for weeks, with perfect 

 safety; while under the excitement of 

 adverse circumstances they may die 

 within a few hours. It is a fact also 

 worthy of note that as bees differ in 

 temperament, otherwise displayed, so 

 are some colonies disposed to take con- 

 finement seriously, and keep up a con- 

 stant hue of complaint; while others, 



