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THE AMERICAN BEE JOURNAL AND GAZETTE 



For the American Bee Journal and Gazette. 



A Large Crop of Bees. 



While the subject cf restricting the amount 

 of drones reared iu each stock is appropriated 

 by many bee-keepers, a majority doubtless re- 

 gard it as a matter of little practical impor- 

 tance, and for the benefit of such 1 will give an 

 item of my experience. 



The summer of 1860 being a favorable one 

 for bees in this locality, I had a large hive to 

 which I attached a drone-trap iu June, and 

 caught and destroyed 4,900 drones, and did not 

 get them all either. The stocks afterwards 

 sent out one prime and two afterswarms, be- 

 sides yielding twenty or twenty-five pounds 

 surplus honey. 



This amount of drones will not be surprising 

 when we reflect that lo4 square inches of 

 drone-comb would produce them at one brood, 

 or, iu other words, four drone-combs 6 by G^ 

 inches. I have repeatedly found twice that 

 amount, in transferring, (particularly from 

 large hives,) to the Langstroth hive. 



W. J. Davis. 



YouNGsviLLE, Pa., April, 1867. 



A ROW of hives well stocked with bees is 

 always a good sign. It shows that the owner 

 takes pleasure in his home. He has something 

 to fill up his spare minutes better than the grog- 

 shop, and far more profitable, too. Whenever 

 I stop to have a talk with him about the bees, I 

 always get a civil answer, and thanks for any- 

 thing I tell him. 



I HAVE observed that flowers which are 

 favorites with bees in some situations, are in 

 others passed over by them with apparent in- 

 difference. I think that this shows that climate, 

 soil, situation, as w^ell as seasons, have more 

 influence in adapting flowers to bees than 

 many persons would imagine. 



Men in great States, and bees in great hives, 

 suffer a loss of courage and v/armth; accord- 

 ingly now-a-days they join to small countries 

 other small countries, as they do to bee-hives 

 colony-hives. — Jean Paid. 



Honey, whilst in the combs, will keep re- 

 markebly well when left in the supers; when 

 cut out, afterwards, the combs should then be 

 folded in writing-paper or envelopes and sealed 

 up, so as effectually to prevent the free entrance 

 of air. They should be placed in a warm dry 

 closet. 



DziEKZON, the celebrated German apiarian, 

 first discovered the production of males from 

 unfecundated queens, and to him the thanks of 

 bee keepers are due. 



MONTHLY MANAGEMENT. 



May. 



The increased and steadily increasing activity 

 of the bees now demands constant supervision 

 and attention. The hives should be regularly 

 inspected, and all droppings and impurities re- 

 moved from the bottom-boards. These will 

 be accumulating so long as the bees are clean- 

 sing and repairing the combs, and if not 

 promptly taken aAvaj', will become a receptacle 

 for the larv.T of the bee-moth, from which they 

 will make rapid and destructive inroads into 

 the yet unoccupied portions of the hive, and 

 prove ruinous to weak colonies. As it is diffi- 

 cult, if not impracticable, to dislodge these 

 pests from cottage hives, it is wise to deprive 

 them, so far as we may, of all facilities for en- 

 tering. The empty combs in movable comb- 

 hives should also be carefully reinspected at 

 this time, and the worms removed, if any are 

 found. 



If the weather is fair and mild, the bees will 

 be able to gather sufficieut supplies for them- 

 selves and their brood from the early wild 

 flowers and the blossoms of the fru;t trees. But 

 if cold or rain prevent them from foraging freely 

 on these, they should be liberally fed, to pre- 

 vent any interruption in brooding till a favor- 

 able change occurs. 



In some locations, strong colonies will, in 

 propitious seasons, produce swarms about the 

 middle of this month. These coming at a time 

 when pasturage is not yet abundant, and while 

 the weather is still unsettled, require special 

 attention. It is always advantageous to feed 

 such early swarms plentifully, particularly if 

 they cannot be furnished with a supply of 

 empty combs, because then much honey will 

 be needed for the elaboration of wax. But 

 when bad weather follows the hiving of such 

 swarm, feeding may be absolutely necessary 

 for their preservation, and should hence on no 

 account be neglected under such circumstances, 

 even if these arise at a late period. 



An adequate number of empty hives should 

 have been provided in anticipation of the 

 swarming season. These must be kept clean, 

 sweet, dry, and well aired. Damp, mouldy, or 

 tainted hives are unacceptable to bees, and will 

 not unfrequently be deserted by the swarms in- 

 troduced therein. 



Artificial colonies may be made from strong 

 stocks as soon as drones make their appearance 

 in an apiary, or drone-brood is found so far 

 advanced towards maturity as to be sealed 

 over. Drumming or driving out a colony from 

 a cottage-hive should not be undertaken till the 

 population has become sufficiently numerous to 

 compel a portion of the bees to cluster outside 

 of the entrance over night; and then it should 

 be promptly done. 



Poor seasons for honey are school seasons 

 for bee-keepers. He is the best scholar who 

 soonest learns to profit most by his losses. 



