170 



THE AMERICAN BEE-KEEPER. 



November 



so that its functions may be perform- 

 ed. 



Cheshire tells us that some of the 

 trachea, or breathing tubes, are so 

 small that a quarter of a million bun- 

 dled together would hardly be larger 

 than a human hair ! — Old Exchange. 



MANAGEMENT OP WEAK COLONIES. 



As early in the spring as the bees 

 can be looked over, all of the weaker 

 colonies I 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 

 get at them to carry them until this 

 period. They are now built up as 

 rapidly as possible by reversing 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 fill- 

 ed), a frame of hatching brood is giv- 

 en 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 I 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-framed 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 weak- 

 est first, as we are often told to do, 

 for by so doing from \ 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 

 outside the hive. Now spread the 

 frames apart of No. 2, when the four 

 frames of brood, bees and all from 

 No. 1, are carried 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 ; ad- 

 just the division-board and the work 

 is done. 



In two or three days put the sec- 

 tions on hive No. 2, or tier up for ex- 

 tracting, and see what a " pile of 

 honey they will roll up." At the 

 same time place an empty frame be- 

 tween 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 work- 

 ker-comb 



As soon as the first frame is full of 

 comb, insert two more empty frames 

 between the three full ones, and thus 

 keep on until the brood-chamber is 



