MAY 15, 191G 



391 



and quality of the honey. Not any of it 

 was packed according to the standard tixed 

 so deeply in my mind. 



In my opinion, a ruling' of higher prices 

 than we have been able to obtain need not 

 be expected until there is a much more 

 uniform method of packing the honey for 

 the market as well as a more uniform grad- 

 ing. " Honey is not honey," as it used to 

 be when the market was less educated. 

 There is always a good demand for a better 

 quality of honey, while the poorer kinds 

 have to hunt for a market. But this is not 

 all. The poorer gi'ades affect the market 

 materially in " pulling down " the price of 

 the better grades. That is why we suffer 

 from prices lower than tliey ought to be, 

 even when the supply is not so large. Here 

 is work for our organizations to spend a 

 good deal of time on during this year, and 

 before the new crop is ready for market. 



THE PROPER TIME TO MOVE BEES. 



I have tried to ascertain for some time 

 whether there is any material difference in 

 the time of winter or early spring moving 

 of bees, and the effect upon the colonies of 

 bees themselves. 



In moving bees to new locations I have 

 observed that those which are transported 

 very early in the year or during the winter 

 before any brood-rearing had begun to any 

 extent continue in fine condition throughout 

 the entire year. Apiaries that are moved 

 somewhat later, with brood-rearing already 

 well under way, but the weather yet quite 

 changeable, and very cool nights predomi- 

 nating, seem to be more or less affected by 

 the move according to the time and weather 

 conditiors prevailing. Later moves of bees 

 to new locations, after the weather becomes 

 more settled, altho brood-rearing was fur- 

 ther advanced, apparently escape the bad 

 results. It is apparent that there is a dif- 

 ference in the welfare of apiaries of bees 

 moved at different times of the season and 

 in different stages of development of the 

 colonies as well as a marked difference in 

 the honey yields. 



Is it possible that colonies moved after 

 brood-rearing has advanced to a certain 

 degree, with unfavorable weather conditions 

 still prevailing, may not be able to take care 

 of the brood as properly as to preserve 

 the welfare of the colonies'? Is it possible 

 that the disturbance causes not only the 

 brood to suffer materially, but the old bees 

 as well"? The bees wintered over from the 

 preceding season are becoming older from 

 day to day, and dying off rather rapidly. 

 The nurse bees are not of the jDroper age 

 for best results. It is difficult, too, with 

 bad weal her coiulitions, to get water and 

 fresh pollen; and even with a supjjly in the 



hives, (he cool weather is not very favorable 

 for rapid progress in brood development; 

 and the decreasing number of bees appar- 

 ently often have a difficult time to keep 

 the slowly increasing brood-nest warm. The 

 colonies are in a critical condition at this 

 moment, and the least disturbance must 

 have an effect upon their welfare. Is it not 

 possible, then, tliat this is not the best time 

 to disturb them by subjecting them to the 

 severe test of moving to new locations'? 



It seems that, in the event earlier moving 

 is not possible, it is better to wait until 

 settled warm weather has arrived, and the 

 colonies have had an opportunity to build 

 up in numbers so that the brood can be 

 better cared for. Under such favorable-con- 

 ditions there need be no bad results. Our 

 experience has proven, in adidtion to the 

 above, that colonies moved later, especially 

 just before a honey-ffow, show increased 

 vim and vigor, and yield more excellent 

 crops of honey than those not disturbed. It 

 seems that the shaking-up of the colonies at 

 this stage of development stirs them to 



greater activities. 



* * * 



The Guadalupe Valley Beekeepers' Asso- 

 ciation is a new district organization launch- 

 ed recently at Seguin, Texas. Guadalupe, 

 Comal, and Hays counties are at present in 

 this district, with adjt)ining counties to 

 come in later. Jon. Donegan, Seguin, is 

 President; John Herbold, Sega;in, Vice- 

 president for Guadalupe Co.; H. Franke, 

 San Marcos, Vice-president for Hays Co.; 

 Herman Oelckers, New Braunfels, Vice- 

 president for Comal Co.; Louis H. Scholl, 

 New Braunfels, Secretary. A vice-presi- 

 dent from each county is provided for in 

 order that the counties may all have proper 

 representation on the executive board. 



Besides the business of organization, there 

 was other discussion on beekeeping sub- 

 jects, making an interesting gathering. 

 Much enthusiasm was shown by those pres- 

 ent. Regular quarterly meetings were de- 

 cided upon, besides occasional outings and 

 picnics and field days. Except for an in- 

 itiation fee of one dollar there will be no 

 dues. Funds, if needed, will be raised by a 

 nominal assessment of the members. 



Prof. Paddock, State Entomologist, of 

 College Station, was present and addressed 

 the meeting on the foul-brood work and the 

 importance of beekeepers organizing them- 

 selves for the purpose of obtaining the ap- 

 pointment of apiary inspectors. The dis- 

 trict inspector of the new organization is 

 John Donegan, of Seguin. A standing 

 committee on program and entertainment, 

 and a committee on bee-disease eradication 

 is also ijrovided for. 



