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THE AMERICAN APICULTURIST. 



know how common it is for bees to 

 " trim down" the very thin sheets, us- 

 ing the wax to thicken them up to re- 

 spectable starters. 



4. No. Quite extensive experimen- 

 tation has satisfied me that the whole 

 thing is a mere conceit. 



5. If a novice should ask this ques- 

 tion I should be tempted to answer 

 that it was a case of robbing. But I 

 have seen this murderous conduct go- 

 ing on at a time when bees would pay- 

 no attention to honey when exposed 

 on top of a hive all day long. I have 

 but a dim idea of the cause and heuce 

 give it up. 



6. As the bee-moths deposit the 

 eggs before the honey is removed from 

 the hive, I feel certain that no time can 

 be fixed when the larvae will hatch and 

 commence to prey upon the combs. I 

 havesealednip packages when first re- 

 moved from the hive and found them 

 infested by the moth larvae in eight or 

 ten days after. These experiments 

 proved that the eggs were present 

 when the honey was removed from the 

 hives. I would avoid the use of brim- 

 stone if possible; it certainly does the 

 honey no good. I have succeeded in 

 getting along without it. When I 

 remove my comb honey from the hives 

 it is arranged in tiers on the store- 

 house floor (sheets of paper under it) 

 so that the light and air come in con- 

 tact with the surface of the combs. 

 Managed in this way I have had no 

 trouble with worms. Of course I keep 

 a close watch over it while in bulk. 



7. Answered above. 



8. I have had queens mated late in 

 the fall which never laid eggs to my 

 knowledge till spring; and notwith- 

 standing this irregularity made excel- 

 lent queens. But when queens fail to 

 mate in the fall they have never been 

 of any service to me. I believe it 

 impossible for them to mate after 

 twenty-three days. 



9. Now you have launched into a 

 wide, wide field. If any body hasn't 

 got the best "case" or "rack," or 

 "fixin'"to hold sections, please hold 

 up ycmr hand. " Mine," of course. 

 I like a case best which is just the size 

 of the brood department and just deep 

 enough for one tier of sections with 

 strips of tin for " rest" for the sec- 

 tions, and with movable division- 

 boards (or partitions) the same depth 

 of the case, provided with projecting 

 strips of tin for " rests"— the balance 

 can be guessed at— all so arranged as 

 to " tier up" handy. 



10. Tliey always work well for me ; 



but it is no remedy against swarming 

 in a good season, as far as I have tried 

 it. 



QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS. 



BY J. E. POND, JR. 



Sk.vrral questions have been asked 

 me by letter which, owing to pressure 

 of business, and illness and death in 

 my family, I have been unable to an- 

 swer personally. Thinking it may 

 however reach the eyes of my corres- 

 pondents, and perhaps be of value to 

 some others of the readers of the Api- 

 cuLTUHisr, I will answer them through 

 its columns, and I am more inclined to 

 do so from the fact that they are all of 

 a practical nature, and such as are lia- 

 ble to come to the miud of beginners 

 at any time. 



1. Is smoking injurious to bees? 



Several have asked this question, and 

 I do not wonder at it, for at first 

 thought it would seem so to be, but 

 my experience has taught me that 

 vviien used judiciously, no injury can 

 result from it. In one way, however, 

 cohmies can be injured, viz., by open- 

 ing the hives more often than is neces- 

 sary, and thus disturbing and exciting 

 the occupants. In order that the best 

 results may be had, a colony should 

 not be opened and pulled over ofteuer 

 than actual necessity requires. Bee- 

 keepers of experience can generally 

 tell by a single glance whether all is 

 going on well with a colony ; and un- 

 less something is needed to be done, 

 it should be allowed to work in peace 

 and quietude; and if this is not done, 

 a profitable yield need not be expected. 



2. What shall I use for stimulative 

 food? 



A diluted syrup of granulated sugar, 

 or diluted honey; the sugar syrup is 

 preferable, but either will answer the 

 purpose well. I do not advise stimu- 

 lating as a rule in this section, as more 

 injury is apt to be done thereby than 

 will be overbalanced by good results 

 therefrom. A good colony of bees, 

 having plenty of stores, will ordinar- 

 ily rear brood in early spring as fast as 

 is safe for them to do. We are liable 



