710 



GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTURE 



September, 1917 



cannot do good work in gloves. He should 

 wear a good veil, and have it securely 

 fastened around the neck in such a way that 

 it does not leave gaps between the shirt or 

 coat and the edge of the veil. The direc- 

 tions sent out by the manufacturers explain 

 how this is done. 



With everything in readiness, and assum- 

 ing that the operator has selected the hou.rs 

 of from 10 to 2 o 'clock, with sun shining, 

 atmosphere warm, he may now proceed. He 

 should blow a little smoke in at the en- 

 trance' — two or three short puffs. No matter 

 how much smoke is used on toj) of the hive, 

 if he does not use it at the entrance the 

 breaking of the jiropolis at this time of the 

 year may enrage the guards at the entrance, 

 with the result that they may or may not 

 make an onslaught on the bewildered oper- 

 ator. To keep back these guards and those 

 near the entrance, two or three puffs of 

 smoke in the entrance is a safeguard to the 

 beginner, tho by no means essential to the 

 expert who can avoid these snaps and bangs. 



The next operation is to enter the hive- 

 tool, screwdriver, or putty-knife, between 

 the super cover and the hive proper. This 

 tool should be thin enough so as to leave a 

 gap of not more than an eighth of an inch. 

 As soon as a gap of that width is made, 

 blow a little smoke in; remove the tool and 

 make another gap, and blow some smoke in 

 tliere. If one has to be extra cautious, let 

 him loosen the cover in this way clear around 

 the hive. Every time he makes an opening 

 of not more than an eighth of an inch he 

 should blow in a little smoke. Now place 

 the hive-tool between the hive and super- 

 cover. Follow this up with smoke. Gently 

 lift the lid, following it with more smoke. 

 Each movement should be deliberate. 



If the bees rush out, which they will do on 

 an unfavorable day, do not jerk the hands 

 back. Most of the bees' movements are 

 mere bluffs; but if the hand is jerked back 

 these bluffs may be turned into real action — 

 stings. 



If the bees appear quiet, the smoker can 

 1)0 set down; but we would advise holding 

 the smoker in one hand and the hive-tool in 

 the other. Gently loosen each frame. Next 

 select a very thin comb — the thinnest in the 

 lot. Very often this will be the outside 

 frame. Make a gap between it and the other 

 frames as wide as possible. Blow a little 

 puff of smoke over the top. Gently lift the 

 frame out, being careful about rolling the 

 Ijees between the combs; for nothing will 

 enrage bees more than to pinch or maim 

 them when taking out the frame. 



After the first frame is out, make plenty 

 of room so any one of the combs can be re- 

 moved without pinching a bee. After the 

 hive is once opened up, there will be but 

 little trouble; and all one needs to do then 

 is to be careful about putting back the last 

 frame. Make as wide a space as possible, 

 and gently set it in place. The last thing of 

 all is to take the hive-tools, if the frames 

 are self-spacing, and shove them together. 



for the bunch of frames must be centered in 

 the hive. Never leave frames unequally 

 spaced, for the result will be fat and lean 

 combs. When next one comes around to lift 

 the frames out he will be greeted with stings 

 because one or more fat combs have filled up 

 all the available space in the hive for re- 

 moving a comb. 



If one will practice deliberation in manipu- 

 lating hives, always forming correct habits, 

 he will find that he can accomplish more 

 work by moving slowly than by rip-banging 

 thru the hive. The beginner should select 

 a time that is favorable for handling bees; 

 for then he will discover he can get along 

 without a sting, even when conditions are 

 not right. We once worked a whole month 

 without a single sting. The bees were gentle 

 Italians and the weather favorable. 



W. L. C, Missouri. — -What makes my bees .sting 

 much worse in the fall than in the summer ? 



A. One reason for this is that in cooler 

 weather the propolis will yield with a snap. 

 In warm or hot weather it lets go by merely 

 stretching. A snap or a bang to a hive, un- 

 less a large amount of smoke is used, makes 

 many bees cross. Usually all necessa-ry 

 manipulations in the fall should take place 

 in the middle hours of the day when the air 

 is warm. 



More propolis will be deposited in the fall 

 than during the summer. Bees at such times 

 have nothing to do. and will then gather an 

 abundance of it. This abundance, together 

 with its greater brittleness, and the cooler 

 weather, make it more difiicult to handle 

 bees in the fall than in the summer. 



J. R., Ohio. — Wliy do my bees hang out in front 

 of the hive every night, in a great bunch, as they 

 have done for a month past ? 



A. It is possible that your colony is very 

 strong, and that it is impossible for all the 

 colonies to get into the hives. Theremedy is 

 to give more room if the season is not over, 

 and also enlarge the entrance. If the colony 

 is a very strong one it may be necessary to 

 set the hive up on four %-inch square blocks. 

 Hives should be lifted off the bottom and 

 the four blocks put under the four corners. 



F. M. M., New York. — In outdoor wintering what 

 kind of packing should be used? 



A. Any material that is jiorous and cheap 

 may be used. Wheat or oat chaff gives ex- 

 cellent results; but with modern thrashing 

 these cannot be secured. Dry forest leaves 

 when well packed down give good results. 

 Planer shavings can be secured by the bale 

 at any planing-mill, and they are cheap and 

 serviceable. Ordinary sawdust from the 

 sawmill is generally a little too dense and 

 heavy. The same may be said of clover 

 chaff". Mineral wool is good, but expensive. 

 Ground cork is excellent, but in most locali- 

 ties it is not now obtainable. In the absence 

 of any of the materials mentioned, straw, 

 when closely packed, will be as good as any- 

 thing. Hay would be just as good, but it is 

 too expensive. 



