SOUTHERN BEE CULTURE 103 



or to keep for home use, but put it up in small jars, 25 or 50 cents' worth 

 in each one; for after the comb gets torn up, stirring through it to find -'ce 

 chunks, its beautiful appearance is spoiled, and it will not bring a fancy pri^e. 

 See "Chunk Honey." 



The first large swarms that are hived can be robbed as soon as the 

 honey-flow is over; but if they are small swarms, or are hived late, they 

 should not be robbed the first year, for they v .. need what surplus honey 

 they have; and, besides, small swarms rarely buik' their comb very far down 

 the first season; and if the tops are removed the combs are apt to break 

 loose and fall; and the result i<; the colonies are lost. Hundreds of colonies 

 are destroyed in this way each season. Bee-keepers should know about how 

 much honey there is in hives when they are robbing them, so as not to rob 

 them unmercifully. Sometimes bees store all their honey in the top of the 

 hive; and if it is removed they are soon starved. If a colony has not plenty 

 of stores it should not be robbed at all, for they need what httle they have. 

 Also, a more prolific variety of bees can be introduced — see "Finding and 

 Introducing Queens." After the old queens have been removed, place the 

 caged queens down in the comb just in the edge of the cluster of bees or 

 the brood-nest. 



The care that bees can receive in old-style gums or box hives is very 

 limited, and I have mentioned only these few things that you may keep the 

 bees along until better hives and appliances can be obtained for them. 



SOUTHERN HONEY FLORA. 



The South is rich in honey resources, and many sections and locations 

 are a paradise for bees, and there are many of them that have not one colony 

 of bees in them, to save any of the vast amount of honey that is wasted each 

 season. Truly, if honey-saving were given its due attention the South would 

 flow with honey, and a vast amount of the wholesome sweet would be saved 

 and consumed in place of other inferior sweets. Our natural appetite calls 

 for it from childhood up; and our weak bodies need it to nourish them. 

 There are thousands of farmers scattered over the South who are tied fast 

 to the post of constant toil for the necessities of life, and the children of 

 many of them are deprived of educational advantages to help stay the 

 ■"wolf from the door, when there is enough honey going to waste in the 

 fields, along the ditches, and the fence-corners, and over the waste land and 

 around in the forest to help or make them independent if they would only 

 turn a little of their attention toward saving it. 



The field for hustling bee-keepers is extensive and rich, and transporta- 

 tion, health, and climate are all that could be expected ;. and there are lo- 

 cated here and there all over the 'South progressive '. c-keepers who are 

 reliable, and ready to give information to those who desire and ask /or it. 



There are many kinds of blooming plants which yield some necta- rx}^ 

 pollen, and are of some value to bee-keepers; but to go into full details 01 



