398 



THE BEE-KEEPERS' REVIEW 



method brings the extracting- after the 

 comb honey rush is over, and the qual- 

 ity is so much better that I feel fully 

 paid for the extra stock of combs, hives, 

 etc. I was once an advocate of green 

 honey ; that is, extracting before capping, 

 but that was when I did not know 

 any better. I don't think it makes any 

 difference, as to the amount gathered, 

 for by my method the bees are not dis- 

 turbed and all broken up, as in the 

 case of extracting every week or so. 

 Hive-ripened honey will always hold 

 the trade in this locality. I believe 

 the wax secured from the cappings is 

 clear gain, as, otherwise, it is dropped 

 on the bottom-board and carried out by 

 the bees; for bees secrete wax when 

 honey is coming in freely whether they 

 use it or not. 



ADVANTAGE OF BOTTOM-VRNTILATORS. 



One of the beauties of the house- 

 apiary is the ventilation and the ease 

 bv which the bees secure it. When the 

 colonies get strong enough in the early 

 summer to require more air than can 

 easily be[taken through the entrances, I 

 push the slides back, giving full open- 

 ings at the bottom. We never have col- 

 onies hanging on the outside, as in the 

 ordinary yard, on a hot day. The 

 bees are more comfortable inside and 

 stay in at work where they belong. 



The increase from colonies run for 

 extracted honey, is best made after the 

 white harvest is over, about August 

 1st. I have as many little nuclei, 

 with queens from selected stock, as 

 colonies are wanted, and dividethe most 

 populous. It is better to take most of 

 the hatching brood and some bees for 

 the nucleus. These little nuclei or 

 new colonies, will build up nicely for 

 winter, and furnish the very best col- 

 onies for another season. 



FALL-FEEDING AND ITS ADVANTAGES. 



My fall treatment is the same for 

 both house-apiaries. If the weather 

 has been favorable during August, 

 man}' of my colonies will have stored 



enough for winter. About September 

 15, I take an inventory, and all colonies 

 not having at least 20 pounds are fed. 

 For feeders at this time of the year I 

 use ordinary gallon syrup cans. Test 

 them, for one that has a hole in is no 

 good as a feeder. I mix granulated 

 sugar, honey, and water with a little 

 tartaric acid, heating it by steam, and 

 making a fairly thick syrup, then fill 

 the gallon cans. Be sure to keep the 

 syrup free from dirt. This is done by 

 straining. Load the filled cans into 

 the wagon and draw to the house- 

 apiary, taking enough to do all the 

 feeding, for j'ou know we can put on 

 tivo gallons at a time, one on each 

 shelf-board if necessary. This would 

 make 23 pounds — enough for any col- 

 ony. Have some little pieces of wire 

 cloth yi inch square. Take out the 

 little stopper from the grooves. Crowd 

 in one of the wire cloth pieces so the 

 bees cannot get out. Invert the syrup 

 can by holding a strip of postal card 

 on the opening as you put it into the 

 cup, then draw the strip of card away. 

 (See cut No. 4.) After a little practice 

 this can be done without spilling a 

 drop, and the bees will do the rest. I 

 much prefer to do the feeding up quick 

 in the fall as there is no waste. Again 

 I say, strain the syrup so the little 

 wire screens will not get clogged, and 

 then the bees could not get the syrup. 

 In conclusion, while I do not like the 

 job of feeding, yet I have noticed when 

 I feed quite liberally in the fall I get a 

 large crop of honey from that lot of 

 bees next season. Add to liberal feed- 

 ing, young, queens, and our chances 

 are the best for a successful apiarian 

 run. 



STILL FURTHER ADVANTAGES OF A 

 HOUSE-APIARY. 



Then, too, with the house apiary, 

 there is practically no robbing. This 

 is a great relief, especially in the 

 spring when some colonies may be 

 weak. It is surprising how quickly 



