444 BOARD OF AGRICULTURE. 



is not good policy to shake them back into the top of the hive. You have to 

 brush them four or five times, and this is just what would irritate them. After 

 you brush them off once, next time they are hard to brush. I always have my 

 blankets lined with cotton on which to shake my bees. 



Mr. Mulh. I take out the first frame, and brush them off and set it out, then 

 take the next one, and so on until all are out. Once out I put the frames in 

 again. 



Ml. Davis. The first comb I took out, with a quill I brushed the bees off. 

 Commence at the top, brush the bees off the comb in the upper story down into the 

 lower story, brushing down from one cap to another, until you reach the bottom of 

 the hive. You can get the bees off quicker by brushing than shaking, and have 

 no flying of the bees. They go down into the lower story, and there is no danger 

 of hurting the queen. 



3fr. Cox. Some don't understand it They get up and shake all the honey out 

 instead of the bees. We should understand how to shake those foundations before 

 leaving the subject. 



Mr. Leming. I practice shaking off in front of the hive for several reasons ; 

 one is this : time is money to me, and I take the quickest way possible. I use my 

 extractor in the rear of the hive, take the lid off and shake a little, and the main 

 bulk of the bees are off. If they don't shake off sufficiently, T use a brush of 

 broom-corn. 



Mr. Scholl. Is not a broom-corn brush too rough ? 



3Ir. Leming. I take the fine broom-corn. The feathers are too irritating to 

 the bees. 



Mr. Scholl. I use a brush made out of blue grass with the seed off. I tried 

 feathers, but they did not work satisfactorily. I think broom-corn is too rough. 

 Take blue grass, cut it when just heading out, lay in your honey house until you 

 get time to make it, tie it in a brush as large as your wrist, and let it spread out 

 some. It is soft and not irritating to the bees. It should not be used endwise, as it 

 would then brush out the honey. 



Mr. Muth. Some have the brush on the side, but I prefer to have it on the end. 



Mr. Catterson. A certain lot of foundation I purchased would sag and get out 

 of shape. I think the quality of the wax has something to do with the ill-shape 

 of the comb. 



Mr. Daugherty. The quality of the wax has something to do with the sagging, 

 but the time of year has more to do. At certain times of the year it can be used 

 without difficulty, while at other times it will hardly hold together at all. 



BEE PASTURE. 



Mr. Davis. We have been experimenting some in the waj of bee pasture. We 

 have the alsike clover and have good pasture, but it comes along with white clover, 

 and doesn't benefit much. If it came some weeks earlier or later it would benefit 

 greatiy. If I could have something to bridge over from apple bloom to white 

 clover, I could get along well. I can bridge over from white clover to fall, but 

 there is nothing comes in between apple bloom and white clover. The wild cherry 



