THE AMERICAN BEE JOURNAL. 



189 



one, in the end, though, before cliauging 

 positions in this way, one should be sure 

 that tlie weak one has a queen and is in 

 shape to be benefited. If not, it is better 

 to help it by the addition of a comb or 

 two from another hive. 



Is it necessary to feed bees when 

 swarming or after they have swarmed ? 

 A Beginner. 



In bad weather it is sometimes abso- 

 lutely necessary, at any time it helps a 

 new colony, unless j'ou can give it stores 

 from another hive. 



We have seen a peck of bees in an 

 empty hive, put there after swarming, 

 starve literally, during a long-continued 

 rain. It pays to give them syrup to en- 

 courage in brood rearing and comb 

 building, even in good weatlier. 



Lansingville, N. Y. 

 I would be pleased to make a few in- 

 quiries, in relation to bees and their cul- 

 ture, through the columns of your valuable 



JOUKNAL. 



1st. Do you think bees, if wintered on 

 summer stands, and protected from the 

 north and west winds by a tight board- 

 fence, do the best to face the south or 

 east '? 



2d. Do you think it would be any better 

 for the bees to set upon a row of corn- 

 stalks on the north iiiid west side of this 

 fence? Some say tin- objections to corn- 

 stalks are, if set up thus, that they will 

 draw more or less dampness, and do more 

 harm than good. 



3d. Do you think bees can be win- 

 tered on summer stands in the vicinity of 

 New York or Vermont, with safety? 

 If so, please tell us how to prepare stocks 

 in frame hives, for wintering on summer 

 stands. 



4tb. Do you think comb that bees 

 have died out of tlirough the winter, is fit 

 for use, unless perfectly clean and sweet, 

 and free from bee-bread ? 



5th. Do you think that feeding very 

 weak colonies of bees in the spring, that 

 have plenty of honey in their combs, is of 

 any use towards promoting breeding ear- 

 lier? 



Gth. Do you think bees winter as well 

 on summer stands, with honey at the ends 

 of the frames, as above the cluster V 



7th. Do you think new cotton factory 

 cloth is poison to bees, when made in a 

 quilt and placed over the tops of the 

 frames? I have been informed that such is 

 the case, and that it never should 

 be used unless thoroughly washed and 

 bleached. 1). VV. Fletcher. 



We will answer our correspondent's 



questions, with regard to preparation for 

 winter, in future numbers. 



As to the combs in hives, where the 

 bees have died, being fit for use — we 

 can say that such combs have been used 

 in many cases, and strong, healthy 

 colonies been raised in them. The 

 bee-bread will do no harm. We would 

 brush such combs well and hang them 

 in the shade or under cover, a short time, 

 before using them. If not perfectly clean, 

 a strong colony will make them so in a 

 short time. We would not give them to a 

 weak colony, unless perfectly clean, but 

 you can take a comb from a strong colony 

 to give to a weak one, and replace it with 

 one that is old, and even mouldy, 

 and the bees will in quick time make it 

 all right. 



We do think it pays to feed weak 

 colonies, even if they have honey in the 

 comb; either take all the honey from 

 them, saving it for further use, and feed 

 them syrup, or else uncap some of their 

 own honey for them. 



We have made many, quilts of new cot- 

 ton cloth, both bleached and unbleached, 

 without any injurious effects. 



Mrs. TurPER.— Z'ertr Madam. --The very 

 best cage fi)r introducing queen bees into 

 nucleii or full stocks, is a queen cell. I 

 save all the large ones that hatch and by 

 this m(>ans am successful in iniroduciug 

 UJifertile queens. I enlarge the empty 

 cell at the base with aflat stick or knite 

 blade, put the queen into it iu the natural 

 position, and close up the cell, either by 

 pinching the end together, or by pasting 

 a thin piece of propolis over it, always 

 leaving or making a hole large enough 

 for the queen to put out her '• tongue " 

 that she may be fed. By the time she is 

 cut out by the bees they will be willing 

 to own her. You no doubt have noticed 

 that bees frequently destroy a strange 

 queen cell when given to them to hatch; 

 but when they find a live, sprightly queen 

 in it they do not kill her. At least that 

 has been my experience in a number of 

 trials, all of which have been suceesstul. 

 I have thouglit that an artificial cell made 

 of wax, pretty thick, with pinholes 

 stuck through it might perhaps answer 

 the purpose; but having plenty ol empty 

 queen cells I have, as yet, had no occa- 

 sion to try it. 



I take the liberty of addressing you 

 that you may have an opportunity to try 

 this plan, and an account of your success 

 or failure in the American Bee Journal 

 will be suflicient answer to this. 



Wm. C. Pelham. 



