90^ 



aLEANlNGS IN BEE OULWRE 



using the end entrance will continue it, and 

 we have a queen-rearing nucleus in working 

 order. 



It is thus that queens are reared without 

 extra equipment, and without interfering 

 with the legitimate occupation of honey pro- 

 duction. When practicing the method of 

 100 per cent increase in connection with a 

 full crop of honey, when no increase of 

 stock is desired, it is advisable to make the 

 division at the close of basswood bloom, 

 and winter the two colonies separately, and 

 in early spring place them both in one hive 

 separated by a thin division-board into two 

 distinct colonies, and utilize the empty hives 

 and extra queens for the current season's 

 increase. The extra queen and two combs 

 of brood covered with bees are removed for 

 this purpose at the beginning of the clover 

 harvest, and held in reserve for the autumn 



division. The division-board is also re- 

 moved at this time, and the two colonies 

 united for the harvest, and again divided at 

 its close. This method ensures a strong 

 force of workers for the early harvest with- 

 out any attention, and is a safeguard against 

 queenlessness, and queens are always on 

 hand for the annual division. Whether the 

 increase is sold in the spring or united is 

 optional. In either case, however, the re- 

 turns will more than pay for the extra 

 hives in one season. This system was for- 

 mulated for the express purpose of operat- 

 ing in conjunction with the Convertible hive, 

 and such results as herein demonstrated, 

 while a spontaneous production with this 

 hive and system are possible only with a 

 hive of extra large capacity. 

 Birmingham, Ohio. 



BEEKEEPING IN THE SWAMPS OF NORTH CAROLINA 



BY F. L. HUGGINS 



Having kept bees for ten years I feel as 

 if I knew just a few points in the business. 

 Probably not over five per cent of the bees 

 in this locality are kept in movable-frame 

 hives, the old-fashioned " gum " still being 

 in vogue. Having from the first used only 

 the most improved methods my progress 

 has been watched with interest by the 

 natives ; and this year, when I got 6000 lbs. 

 of extracted honey from 50 colonies, they 

 were dumbfounded. From four colonies I 

 got 70 gallons, or 840 lbs. This honey 

 comes almost entirely from black and tupelo 

 gum; and as these trees do not bloom until 

 May there is no danger of frost, so, as the 

 natives say, they " hit every year." 



My colonies have an excellent chance for 

 early brood-rearing, as the soft maple 

 blooms early in February, furnishing abun- 

 dant pollen. I have had queens fertilized 



as early as February and as late as Novem- 

 ber. 



Up to this year I have used queen-exclud- 

 ers, but have discarded them. Last year, 

 by accident, a few of my colonies did not 

 have these boards, and I noticed they did 

 better than those that had them, so this year 

 I used none, and my average was the best 

 I ever had! 



I also discarded escape-boards this year, 

 simply taking off the shallow extracting- 

 supers after smoking, and putting them in 

 the honey-house, this being provided with 

 escapes. The next day extracting could be 

 carried on with ease. 



We are absolutely free of bee disease — 

 not a single case ever being known in this 

 State. 



Wilmington, N. C. 



BY GRACE ALLEN 



Down within the darkness where the bee republic 



dwells, 

 Packed in polished centers of a thousand silver cells 

 Hangs the fragrant honey like a wonder-dream come 



true, 

 Hangs the fruit of summer, shot with beauty through 



and through. 



Fairy-like the sun-lit gift of scented sweetness rare! 

 A million times have silken wings gone throbbing 

 through the air 



To draiu it, drop by shining drop, from some bright- 

 hearted bloom. 



And bear it from the brilliant fields to ripen in the 

 gloom. 



Oh visionings of virgins! when the joy of service 



yearns 

 Till it fills to overflowing all the waxen-welded urns, 

 And seals them with a dainty seal, and lifts a song 



of praise 

 That summer's living sweetness shall not die with 



summer days 1 



