366 



THE BEE-KEEPERS' REVIEW 



Compensation for the use of the 

 ground occupied will have to be fixed 

 somewhat according- to the ideas of the 

 owner. I find that, as a rule, if they 

 will allow the bees on the place at all, 

 they are not usually exhorbitant in 

 their charges, and honey for family 

 use forms a large part of the consider- 

 ation. 



APIARIST BETTER MANAGE OUT-APIA- 

 RIES HIMSEI>K II- COMPETENT HELP 

 CAN BE SECURED. 



The help-problem is getting to be one 

 of serious importance in all rural in- 

 dustries. Having had several years ex- 

 perience in managing hundreds of col- 

 onies myself and ?lso having several 

 yards let on shares, I think I would 

 prefer running the bees myself, provid- 

 ing competent and trustworthy help 

 can be secured at reasonable wages. 



I have bought very few hives from 

 the factory, as I think I can make 

 them cheaper. 



HOW TO MANAGE THE SWARMING 

 PROBLEM. 



The swarming problem is not so diffi- 

 cult if one has got sufficient time at his 

 disposal to attend to it. By drawing 

 brood from those preparing to swarm. 



and forming nuclei, or building up the 

 weaker ones according to the require- 

 ments of the apiary, it can be kept 

 pretty well under control. 



I think the raising of two or three 

 frames of sealed brood into the extract- 

 ing super, and filling their places with 

 foundation or drawn combs earlj^ in 

 the season, practiced on the stronger 

 colonies, will give the queen the neces- 

 sary room and tend to diminish 

 swarming. 



Mj' increase is secured by forming 

 nuclei as early in the season as we can 

 secure natural cells; and I consider a 

 colony which has built several cells 

 preparatory to swarming, the latter 

 part of May or first of June, as a prize 

 to be used as a base in forming these 

 nuclei. 



As our main honej' flow comes from 

 buckwheat during August, it is possi- 

 ble, if formed early, to get a 3-frame 

 nucleus built up into a good colony in 

 time to catch the flow. 



I winter bees packed on summer 

 stands, except in the home yard, as I 

 would consider it too much trouble to 

 haul them back and forth to a winter 

 repositor}'. 



Moravia, N. Y., Nov. 19, I9O4. • 



^^■^>^^f^l 



^m 



0)11 s 



Ouxe Sem©©ii« 



J. E. GRANE. 



[The following- is part of a private letter, but it 

 contains so many good ideas that I hope friend 

 Crane will pardon me for giving it this publicity. 

 Ed. Review.] 



T OFTEN feel, after reading the Re- 

 i view, as I have this afternoon, like 

 sitting down and having a chat with 

 you about bees and beesness. 



I have long wanted to tell you how 



much I have enjoyed the Review, espe- 

 cially its editorials. The masterful 

 way in which you have conducted it, 

 and the sweet, christian spirit you have 

 shown, with charity for all, and no un- 

 kind word for any one, has charmed 

 me, and been "sweeter than robins' 

 sonefs in the rain." 



