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THE AMERICAN BEE JOURNAL 



Dec. 21, 1905 



therefore would be highly valuable. If, as irrigation and 

 the growing of alfalfa advances, the honey-yield is rela- 

 tively increased, many localities for the location of new 

 apiaries will be opened, and it will mean thousands of 

 dollars to this State. 



Am.-junt of Honey to Make a Pound of Wax. 



To determine definitely the amount of honey con- 

 sumed by bees in making 1 pound of wax. 



It is claimed by some apiarists that from 12 to 24 

 pounds of honey are required to produce one pound of wax. 

 Others claim this to be too high, and give 7 to 8 pounds 

 of honey to one of wa.x. 



Swarming. 



Careful study and experiments with proposed methods 

 ■ f°"*r°"'"S ^"d preventing swarming. In connection 

 with this, manipulations of the brood-nest and combs to 

 stimulate additional brood-rearing and added surplus pro- 

 duction. 



If this can be overcome in the College apiary it should 

 be possible to produce a fair crop of surplus honey an- 

 nually in an average season with 20 colonies, a greater 

 number exceeding the supply of the locality. 



Length of Life of Different Races of Bees, 



A test of different races of bees to determine the com- 

 parative length of life of the individual bees in these 

 different races: Holy Lands, Goldens, Three-banded 

 Italians, Cyprians, Carniolans, and Blacks. 



Get all colonies ready and of the same strength, and 

 dequeen and introduce a queen of a different race and 

 color. Subtract the days between dequeening and re- 

 queening. 



Race of Bees for Texas. 



Race of bees adapted to the varying conditions in 

 different parts of Texas. - 



Queens of selected races to be reared at the College 

 and distributed among experienced apiarists in different 

 parts of the State, who will take careful note of observa- 

 tions and report to the Department. A reasonable amount 

 ot cost IS to be charged for such queens, in half-dozen lots 

 which will contribute to the income of the apiary and vield 

 results at the same time. 



Queen-Rearing. 



, Experiments in queen-rearing. 1st. To determine the 

 quickest and best methods of rearing good queens; and 2d 

 an attempt to determine method of controlling the mating 

 ot queens, or mating in confinement. 



Would naturally come under No. 6, in rearing the 

 selected queens and getting them purely mated. 



Diseases of Bees. 



Investigation of foul brood, black brood, pickled 

 brood, and bee-paralysis, to determine needed facts re- 

 garding the same, as method of infection, resistance of 

 germs and spores, etc.; method of treatment in eradica- 

 tion, fumigation, etc. 



Not practical without a well-equipped bacteriological 

 laboratory, but which can easily be established with ma- 

 terial already in the Department. 



Distance Bees Range. 



How far may bees travel to gather honey pr^ifitably' 

 How far should bees range to secure the maximum amount 

 ot honey (with most profit) from a given territory"^ 



A valuable factor in locating apiaries, as on the Brazos 

 river, to determine whether bees can be profitably located 

 on high bank on the College side of the river in compari- 

 son with those located on low land nearer the honev- 

 producing territory which is subject to overflows. 



Honey-Plants of Texas. 



A study of the honey-plants of Texas and of the terri- 

 tory surrounding College Station. 



(a) Card cataloging above' honey-plants as alreadv 

 under way. ^ 



(b) Listing distributions of honey-plants of the State 

 on area maps of Texas. 



(c) Making a complete herbarium collection of Texas 

 hciney-plants. 



(d) Making a complete card catalog according to their 

 blooming periods, with the length of blooming periods 

 importance of honey or pollen, and their distribution. 



Hive Temperatures. 



Testing various styles of hive-covers to determine 

 their resistance to heat, by the use of thermometers, 

 making close observations during the hot season. 



Ascertaining the difference in temperature existing in 

 hives placed in direct heat of the sun, with and without 

 shade-boards, compared with several in the shade. 



For Future Experiments. 



Experiments that might be taken up later, but neces- 

 sitating a location of better honey-production than is 

 possible at College, could be made possible by having 

 established an out apiary in the Brazos river bottom, 

 about 10 miles from College. Valuable data on the fol- 

 lowing could be obtained by locating such a yard. 



(a) Establishing outyards; the selection of the loca- 

 tion; best arrangement to make with the land-owner in 

 regard to permit to locate, rent, and hiving of swarms. 



(b) Best method of moving bees to outyard; placing 

 and arrangement of hives. 



(c) Management of outyards, with a view toward the 

 largest amount of profit with the least amount of time of 

 labor and expense. 



(d) Best race of bees for outyards; the best for the 

 largest yield of honey; a comparison of different races for 

 such. 



(e) Hives. Best for honey-production; best for 

 manipulation to prevent swarming. 



(f) Prevention of swarming, to increase the yield of 

 honey and profits, to decrease amount of labor and ex- 

 pense; and to prevent loss of swarms where no person is 

 present to care for them. This can be accomplished to a 

 great extent by the right method of management with the 

 right kind of hive, and the right kind of race of bees. 



There are also other matters under consideration for 

 experiment, and these will be taken up as time permits. 

 The above is simply an outline that was written out some 

 time ago, and it may be changed from time to time, as best 

 suits the time and the favorableness of the seasons. 



Lnuis H. SCHOLL. 



It was moved and seconded that a vote of thanks be 

 extended to Mr. Scholl for his kindness and generosity 

 towards the bee-keepers. 



Mr. White thought that the Texas Bee-Keepers' Asso- 

 ciation should give Mr, Scholl such help and encourage- 

 ment as would enable him to carry out the work at the 

 College apiary. Much good could be done if the bee- 

 keepers put all heads together, and he believed that the 

 bee-keepers ought to help him. 



Mr, Aten moved that a committee be appointed to 

 consult with the proper persons in regard to having experi- 

 mental work done at the experimental apiary, and concern- 

 ing other matters pertaining to the apiary. The motion 

 was seconded and the following committee was appointed: 

 F. L. Aten, W. O. Victor, C. A. Butts, and W. H. Laws. 



J. F. Teel related some experiments with different 

 kinds of honey-plants that he has conducted. These in- 

 cluded alfalfa, buckwheat, and clovers of all kinds. Alfalfa 

 yields some honey during the heat of the day, buckwheat 

 yields until 9 or 10 o'clock when dewy mornings prevail, 

 but few of the clovers, however, amount to anything with 

 him. 



Election of Officers and Members' Reports. 



The election of officers for the next term resulted as 

 follows, each one being unanimously elected, the secretary- 

 treasurer of the Association being re-elected for the eighth 

 time: President, F. L. Aten of Round Rock; vice-presi- 

 dent, Willie Atchley of Beeville; and secretary-treasurer, 

 Louis H. Scholl of College Station. 



On account of lack of time the minutes of the last 

 meeting were not read, and a committee was therefore 

 appointed to inspect and report upon the books of the 

 secretary-treasurer at the next meeting. This committee 

 consists of Willie Atchley, C. A. Butts, and J. F. Teel. 



The total number of colonies represented by the mem- 

 bers present who reported to the secretary was 7,SS0 

 colonies. The Texas honey crop thus far was short, but 

 prospects were good in most localities, while not so good 

 in others 



The members reporting, the number of colonies, the 

 amount of honey obtained to date, and prospects at pres- 

 ent, are as follows: 



F. L. Aten of Round Rock — 200 colonies. Bees in fine 



