254 



THE AMERICAN APICULTURIST. 



EXPERIMENTAL 

 BEE FARM NOTES. 



There is so little doing at the pres- 

 ent time in the apiary, that we have 

 but few notes to make. The colo- 

 nies are ready for winter quarters, 

 and at the proper time they will be 

 placed in the cellar, under our 

 new factory. The situation is such 

 that we can take the bees into the 

 cellar without climbing over an} 

 steps or a long flight of stairs. 

 When we get ready to put the bees 

 under cover for winter, we can do 

 all the work in about one hour's 

 time. The ventilators are so ar- 

 ranged that the fresh air will enter 

 at the bottom and the foul air will 

 pass out through the tall chimney 

 erected to take the smoke from the 

 boiler. 



Our colonies consist of Cyprians, 

 Syrians, Albinos, Carniolans and 

 ItaUans. All are about in the same 

 condition as to stores and bees. 

 We shall note from time to time 

 which of the races are wintering the 

 best. While such experiments may 

 prove nothing, or be of any practi- 

 cal value, yet it will be interesting to 

 know which of the races will best 

 stand the confinement they will have 

 to endure for four long months. 



When the hives are placed in the 

 cellar, the back ends will be elevated 

 four inches higher than the fronts. 



We do this so that the bees as 

 they die may roll out at the entrance, 

 which is the full length of the hive 

 and about one-half an inch high. 

 Should the dead bees lodge under 

 the frames, as they most always do 

 in winter, it will be an easy matter, 

 where the hives are thus prepared, 

 to remove any accumulation of dirt 

 from under the combs, by using a 

 small stick for the purpose. We are 

 quite sure it can be done by a care- 

 ful person without scarcely disturb- 

 ing the bees. 



While the bees are in the cellar 

 very little ventilation will be given. 



We consider that a large entrance 

 furnishes about all the ventilation a 

 strong colony will need. A small 

 aperture might be left at the top of 

 the hives, without in the least en- 

 dangering the health of the colony. 

 There cannot be much air pass 

 through a hive while the bees are in 

 the cellar, and out of the way of all 

 wind. The temperature of the bee- 

 room will be kept as near 45° as is 

 jDOssible to do. So often as once a 

 month the dead bees will be swept 

 up and removed from the cellar, so 

 that the atmosphere will be kept 

 sweet and pure. 



Experience has proved that the 

 Italians are the poorest nurse bees 

 of any race we have. The Cyp- 

 rians and many colonies of our 

 Syrians were reared for the express 

 purpose of cell-building another year. 

 The two latter races rear the best 

 queens of any bees we have used 

 for the purpose. We will say as to 

 the disposition of the Cyprians, that 

 we have but one colony that are real 

 "tigers." Unless this colony is han- 

 dled in a scientific manner the op- 

 erator will get badly punished. We 

 have used this particular colony for 

 no other purpose than cell-building. 

 They are fine nurse bees, and so well 

 adapted for such work, that this is 

 the only reason they are permitted to 

 exist in our apiary. We have other 

 colonies of Cyprians that are as do- 

 cile and as easy to handle as the 

 Italians. 



We are favored by a large number 

 of visitors. All who come are desirous 

 to see the different races of bees ; 

 so this fall we have added to our 

 stock a fine imported Carniolan 

 queen. Possibly we may rear some 

 queens from her another year, to 

 supply the demand for the few or- 

 dered. When beekeepers have fur- 

 ther tested these bees the sale of 

 them will be small. The second or 



