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AMERICAN BEE JOURNAL. 



Manapuieiit of Weak Colonies. 



Written for the American Bee Journal 



BY G. M. DOOLITTLE. 



As early in the spring as the bees can 

 be looked over, all of the weaker colo- 

 nies 1 shut on as few combs as they 

 have brood, in using a division-board for 

 contracting the hive. They are now left 

 until warm weather comes, being sure 

 that all have stores enough where they 

 can conveniently got at them to carry 

 them until this period. They are now 

 built up as rapidly as possible by revers- 

 ing the brood, etc., so that by June 1st 

 the best of them will have five frames of 

 brood, others four, and so on down to 

 one, for the very weakest. As soon as 

 the best has its five frames filled with 

 brood down to the very bottom corners 

 (and none are allowed more combs until 

 they have them thus filled), a frame of 

 hatching brood is given to one having 

 but four frames, and an empty comb 

 put in its place. In taking a frame of 

 hatching brood in this way I generally 

 take all the bees there is on it right 

 along, only being sure that T do not get 

 the queen, so that all the young bees on 

 this comb helps to give strength to the 

 next weaker. 



In a few days a frame "of brood and 

 bees is taken 'from each of these two 

 five-frame colonies and given to the one 

 having but three frames, and so keep 

 taking until all have five frames each. 

 Do not make the mistake and try to 

 strengthen the very weakest first, as we 

 are often told to do, for by so doing from 

 J^ to % of the brood will perish from 

 cold. By the above plan we are always 

 safe, and advancing warm weather is in 

 our favor also. 



In a few days, after all have five 

 frames of brood, we are ready to unite, 

 and if all has been done as it should be, 

 the uniting will be done about the time 

 white clover begins to yield honey nicely. 



To unite, look the frames over of No. 1 

 until the queen is found, when this 

 frame having the queen on is put out- 

 side the hive. Now spread the frames 

 apart of No. 2, when the four frames of 

 brood, bees and all from No. 1, are car- 

 ried and placed in each alternate space 

 between the frames of No. 2, closing the 

 hive. Return the frame having the 

 queen on to No. 1, placing beside it an 

 empty comb ; adjust the division-board 

 and the work is done. 



In two or three days put the sections 

 on hive No. 2, or tier up for extracting, 

 and see what a " pile of honey they will 



roll up." At the same time place an 

 empty frame between the two filled ones 

 in No. 1, and in a few days you will 

 have a frame filled with as nice worker- 

 comb as you ever saw. Nearly all the 

 old bees carried to No. 2 will have re- 

 turned by this time, so that No. 1 is a 

 splendid strong nucleus, just right for 

 building nice, straight worker-comb. 



As soon as the first frame is full of 

 comb, insert two more empty frames be- 

 tween the three full ones, and thus keep 

 on until the brood-chamber is filled. If 

 at any time they should start to building 

 drone-comb, then use frames filled with 

 foundation, for this is the time founda- 

 tion can be used profitably. By fall this 

 colony will be in good condition for win- 

 ter, while No. 2 will have given three 

 times the honey the two would have 

 done if left to themselves, or had they 

 been united in early spring. 



Borodino, N. Y. 



[The foregoing article by Mr. Doo- 

 little was published in the Bee Journal, 

 in 1886, but by reason of urgent request 

 we reproduce it for the benefit of the 

 many new readers that have been added 

 to our list since then. — Editor.] 



Straw HlYes anJ Moieni Bee-Culture. 



Written for the American Bee Journal 

 BY HAYCK BROS. 



We desire to explain the merits of the 

 " American Straw Hive," and show its 

 perfect adaption to improved bee-keep- 

 ing. 



We would first cite the reader to the 

 popularity of the old straw skep, which 

 may best be shown by copying from an 

 article in the Illustrierte Bienenzeitunq, 

 and reproduced in Olcanings for 1892, 

 from the pen of that veteran German 

 bee-master, Mr. C. J. H. Gravenhorst, 

 wherein he tells why the bee-keepers of 

 Germany stick to the old straw skep. 

 He says : 



"In one part of North Germany the old 

 straw skep is to-day the hive most in use; 

 thousands of pounds of houey are produced 

 in it, and thousands of men earn the greater 

 part of their livelihood by bee-keeping 

 after the old fashion. Why is it the 

 owners, I might say without exception, 

 stick to their old hives ? Answering this 

 question, I must say: The hive they use is 

 unsurpassed by any other in regard to win- 

 tering bees out-doors, preserving the colo- 

 nies in the spring and through the season. 

 If you go over Europe you will meet with 



