374 



GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTURE. 



May 15. 



a queen from worker br d, which fact was 

 then Known to only a fe But as the hives 

 then in use were ill adapted to artificial in- 

 crease; and as many facts having an impor- 

 tant bearing in the mattt^r were then unknown, 

 the practice seems to have met with little suc- 

 cess. When Huber partially developed the 

 movable comb system, and made important 

 discoveries in the physiology of the bee, a 

 greater success iu artificial swarming wis at- 

 tained; still, it was seldom practiced successful- 

 ly, even then, except by the most expert and 

 well-informed apiarists. It would be well for 

 the readers to consult our books on bee culture 

 before undertaking artificial increase to any 

 great extent; for in the most of them this sub- 

 ject is discussed quite extensively, and at great- 

 er length than would come in the space allotted 

 to this department. 



Artificial swarming is based on the following 

 facts: First, a queen and some workers, 500 or 

 more, constitute a swarm or colony of bees, ca- 

 pable of carrying on all the labors of the hive. 

 Necessity for drones comes only in case of 

 young unfertile queens. Second, worker bees, 

 without a queen, can rear a queen if they are 

 furnished with a comb containing eggs or larvfe 

 under three days old. Third, a part of the 

 bees of any colony, unless too small, may be 

 taken from the hive, with or without the 

 queen, without disorganizing the others. 

 Fourth, a part or all of the comb may be taken, 

 with its contents, from a colony of bees without 

 destroying them, as they will immediately go to 

 work to replace it, if fed, when honey is not 

 coming from the fields. Fifth, queens can be 

 reared in any desirable number by taking the 

 queen away from any populous colony or colo- 

 nies, according to the number desired; and, 

 when nearly mature, they can be given to the 

 queenless part of any division made. 



These facts, while they form the basis for ar- 

 tificial swarming, are subject to many qualify- 

 ing conditions; and a knowledge of them alone 

 would not enable a novice to multiply his colo- 

 nies to the best advantage. But a thorough 

 knowledge of the economy of the hive, and 

 of the habits and peculiarities of its inmates, 

 coupled with the above, will, with a person 

 of ordinary ability, give success in proportion 

 to the energy and perseverance of the person 

 undertaking the matter. 



The greatest and most damaging error that 

 nearly all beginners fall into is an Inclination 

 to overdo the matter. After getting started 

 they generally "swarm" their bees to death, as 

 the multiplying seems so easy during the honey- 

 flow, and they find themselves in possession of 

 a great number of weak colonies, with few 

 stores, when winter arrives, only to drag out a 

 miserable existence for a little while, or die 

 of spring dwindling before settled warm weath- 

 er arrives. 



Another error, in the average locality, is 

 almost as bad as the above, which is, putting 

 off the multiplying of colonies till too late in 

 the season. No definite time can be given, 

 as much depends upon the season and locality; 

 but it is well to do it as early as you can. In 

 the Northern States it can generally be done 

 with safety from the 10th to the 25th of June, 

 and in the Southern States from one to two 

 months earlier, according to latitude. The 

 only safe guide is the condition of the colonies 

 to be operated on. The hives should be well 

 filled with brood and bees, and honey coming in 

 from the fields, to have the proper condi lions 

 exist. This will often occur from two weeks to 

 a month before natural swarming would take 

 place. The parent colony, as also a swarm 

 made at that time, will, by the time when 

 honey becomes abundant, be filled with comb 

 and brood, and ready to take advantage of the 

 honey harvest by storing a nice surplus; while, 

 if left till later, each part would have all this 

 work to do at the most important period of the 

 year. Two or three weeks, thus saved, fre- 

 quently amounts to the difference between an 

 excellent yield of honey and not enough to pay 

 expenses. Many colonies of bees will not come 

 into proper condition for dividing when the 

 more advanced are ripe for the operation, on ac- 

 count of all not coming through the winter 

 in equally good condition, having old or failing 

 queens, etc. Such colonies may be united with 

 others, after destroying old queens; or if the 

 queen is vigorous, a frame of hatching brood 

 may be given from one of the most prosperous 

 colonies, as soon as the weather becomes warm 

 enough so there is no danger of the brood per- 

 ishing on account of too few bees to care for it 

 properly. Having the colonies in proper con- 

 dition, it is well to decide whether a great in- 

 crease of bees is desired or a good crop of honey. 

 Both can not be secured at the same time. If 

 we are satisfied with doubling our colonies, and 

 do that in time, a fairly good yield of honey can 

 be expected in most localities; but a greater in- 

 crease can not be ventured upon without a 

 great sacrifice of honey, often to the exclusion 

 of the whole crop. As I have given, in a recent 

 ■issue of Gleanings, different plans for dividing 

 colonies, I will not attempt to touch on that 

 matter here. This reply has been written from 

 a comb-honey standpoint. 



HONEY-JUMBLES WITHOUT SUGAR OK MOLASSES. 



I will give you a recipe for making honey- 

 cookies or cake, that does not need sugar or 

 syrup. It is one of my own devising. I kept 



