July 15. 1911 



435 



lion. They are effectually controlled by 

 placing an empty super under the hive- 

 body for 36 hours, when it must be removed 

 or tiiey will build combs below the frames. 

 I have practiced this method for some 

 years, and have never had a swarm issue 

 when an empty super was underneath the 

 brood chamber. It provides an air-space 

 ami also a place for the bees to cluster be- 

 low the frames while they are transforming 

 their honey into wax. 

 ("amillus, N. Y. 



THE SHORT COURSE IN APICULTURE AT THE 

 ONTARIO AGRICULTURAL COLLEGE. 



The apicultural short course, May 1 — 6, 

 which was the first short course of its kind 

 ever held at the Ontario Agricultural Col- 

 lege, was a success. In all, 4o bee-enthusi- 

 asts were in attendance, including eight reg- 

 ular apicultural students of Macdonald Hall, 

 and six ladies from different parts of the 

 Province. The counties represented were 

 the following: Bruce, Carleton, Dufferin, 

 Elgin, Haldimand, Kent, Lambdon, Leeds, 

 Lincoln, Middlesex, Perth. Stormont, AVel- 

 land, Wellington, Wentwarth, York, and 

 the Province of Quebec. Nine of the six- 

 teen Provincial A])iary instructors were 

 present, also Dr. G. Gordon Hewitt, Ph. D., 

 Dominion Entomologist, and his assistant 

 apiarist Mr. Beaulne, of the Central Experi- 

 mental Farm, Ottawa. 



The program consisted of forenoon devot- 

 ed to lectures, the afternoons to demonstra- 

 tion and practice, and the three evening 

 lectures of a more popular nature, copiously 

 illustrated with lantern views. The weath- 

 er being cold most of the week, the practical 

 work took the form of demonstrations in the 

 apicultural laboratory — rendering wax from 

 combs, nailing up hives, nailing and wiring 

 frames, and putting in foundation, etc. A 

 rather complete display of different kinds of 

 combs which bees build, also of machinery 

 used in the production of honey and bees- 

 wax, attracted much attention. 



By Thursday it was warm enough to visit 

 the college apiary. The hives were still in 

 the boxes where they had been i)acked with 

 planer shavings for the winter. These boxes 

 were taken off by members of the class, and 

 stacked; the shavings were removed, and 

 the class was given a drill on handling combs 

 and looking for different condition^ of the 

 internal economy of the hive. Friday after- 

 noon was spent in a similar way, giving 

 more attention to the symptoms of Ameri- 

 can foul brood. Saturday morning local 

 ajiiaries were visited, and some members of 

 the class became discoverers of real causes 

 of disease, much to their own satisfaction. 

 ' The lecture work was divided largely be- 

 tween Mr. Morley Pettit, Provincial Apia- 

 rist, and Dr. E. F. Phillips, Ph. D., in charge 

 of apiculture for the L'nited States. Mr. 

 Pettit handled the more ])ractical problems 

 of apiculture, and Dr. Phillips discussed the 

 question of general behavior, anatomy, and 



disease of bees. Professor Edwards intro- 

 duced the subject of diseases by a general 

 discussion of the nature of Vjacteria. Prof. 

 Harcourt demonstrated simple chemical 

 tests for the purity of honey. Prof. C. A. 

 Zavitz explained the work of the Ontario 

 Agricultural and E^xperimental L^nion, and 

 suggested ways in which it could serve the 

 bee-keepers of Ontario in addition to the 

 work already done. Mr. LeDrew explained 

 the principles of cooperation which might 

 be applied to the business of honey-iiroduc- 

 tion. 



The evening lectures by Dr. Phillips, en- 

 titled "The Behavior of the Bee," and on , > 

 "The Hawaiian Islands and their l?ee-keep- J^ 

 ing Industry," were largely attended by 

 members of the Normal Teachers' Class, 

 and the students of the O. A. C. and Mac- 

 donald Hall. At the Friday-night lecture, 

 President G. C. Creelman, B. S. A.. LL.D., 

 occupied the chair in his usual genial man- 

 ner. 



There were many expressions of apprecia- 

 tion from the members of the class as they 

 dispersed to their homes on Saturday, May 

 6th. Secretary. 



SMOKING BEES AT THE ENTRANCE. 



Does it Pay at Any Time? 



BY S. D. CHAPMAN. 



[Mr. Chapman is one of the leading bee-keepers 

 of his State. He is a successful fanner and a bee- 

 keeper— one who knows how to economize his time 

 to get results. His views on any subject deserve 

 careful reading. — Ed.] 



It has been but a short time since the edi- 

 tors of two of our bee-journals told us why 

 bees fear smoke, and I hardly think they 

 agree. It seems to me an easy matter to 

 find out why bees fear smoke. Take a four- 

 inch smoker; and when it is going nicely, if 

 we would hold the nozzle close to our face, 

 and pump vigorously, and wish to get the 

 best results, we should open our eyes and 

 mouth. It will take but a short time to 

 convince us why bees dislike smoke, but I 

 am not advising any one to try this. Smoke 

 has the same effect upon our bees that it 

 has upon ourselves. If we administer the 

 same amount of smoke upon our hands we 

 would scarcely notice it. That is why I be- 

 lieve the first move we make about a colony 

 is for the purpose of bringing as manv bees 

 as possible facing us, ready for the first puff 

 of smoke. We have all noticed that, during 

 cool and windy weather, it is difficult to 

 handle bees though we use a large amount 

 of smoke. It is my opinion the whole trou- 

 ble comes from the sudden change of tem- 

 perature inside the hive. The instant we 

 remove a cover, the heated air escapes, and 

 there is a draft of cool air coming in at the 

 entrance, though it affects only the outside 

 of the cluster; but they are the very bees 

 that attack us. 



One cool morning, with a large bicvcle- 



