GLEANINGS IN BEE CULT U H E 



IMay, 1920 



of a liquid is secreted by eight wax scales 

 on the under side of the abdomen. This 

 liquid soon changes to delicate scales of 

 wax, which after being chewed with secre- 

 tion become plastic enough to be used in 

 comb-building. 



Eequeening. 

 Good results can never be expected from 

 any colony unless it is supplied with a good 

 queen. The most tlesirable strain is the Ital- 

 ian. They may be distinguished by the 

 three yellow bands on the abdomen. These 

 bees are very gentle, are good honey-gather- 

 ers, and are quite resistant to disease. Ital- 

 ians are greatly to be preferred to the cross 

 nervous blacks or to hybrids, which are 

 mostly a cross between Italians and blacks 

 but may be a cross between any two strains. 

 Those possessing a colony of either blacks 

 or hybrids will find it advisable to requeen 

 with a good Italian queen, which may be 

 purchased from any reliable breeder and in- 

 troduced according to the directions that 

 accompany her, not opening the hive for at 

 least live days after introducing. 



Clipping the Queen. 



When for any reason a colony becomes 

 dissatisfied with its home — usually because 

 of insufficient ventilation or a crowded con- 

 dition of brood-chamber or supers — the bees 

 start preparations for swarming. When colo- 

 nies swarm, two-thirds or three-fourths of 

 the bees, together with the queen, leave for 

 a new home. To prevent swarming, there- 

 fore, certain measures should be taken, 

 among which is the clipping of the queen 's 

 wings. Having the queen 's wings clij^ped 

 does not prevent the colony from swarm- 

 ing, but it does prevent the bees from leav- 

 ing for new quarters, because, at the time 

 the swarm issues, the queen, finding herself 

 unable to fly, finally crawls back into the 

 hive, and the swarm, unwilling to leave 

 without her, is compelled to return. 



During the middle hours of any warm 

 day when most of the field bees are out 

 gathering nectar, the queen should be found 

 and clipped. She will probably be on one 

 of the central frames of brood and may be 

 readily distinguished by her size and bear- 

 ing, and also by the bees ' attitude toward 

 her as previously described. If picked up 

 by the abdomen, the queen may be injured 

 or killed. She should be carefully picked 

 up by the wings or thorax. With the thumb 

 and forefinger of the left hand hold the 

 queen securely by the thorax, Tjringing the 

 second finger under her so that she may 

 grasp it with her feet. This gets her legs 

 out of the way so there will be no danger of 

 accidentally cutting one and thus rendering 

 her useless. With a pair of sharp scissors, 

 about one-half or two-thirds of the wings on 

 one or both sides may be cut. The begin- 

 ner should overcome whatever reluctance 

 he may feel toward clipping the queen, for 

 if these directions are followed she will not 

 be hurt in the slightest. 



Preventing Swarming. 



If a colony becomes so crowded that 

 queen-cells are started, they should be torn 

 down and more room given, but it is much 

 better to give the room fast enough so that 

 no cells will be started. Those colonies that 

 become crowded for room early in the sea- 

 son, while the nights are yet quite cool, 

 should have a super of empty combs placed 

 under the brood-chamber. This will enable 

 the queen gradually to extend her brood- 

 nest lower, and will leave the brood all in 

 the warmest part of the hive where there 

 will be no danger of chilling. 



Two or three weeks before the opening of 

 the main honey flow, when the nights are 

 warmer, those colonies that become crowded 

 for room may be given a super of combs or 

 foundation immediately above the brood- 

 chamber, and two frames of eggs and larva? 

 from the lower story placed in the ui^per 

 one, replacing with empty combs or foun- 

 dation. Of, if preferred, the order of these 

 two stories may be reversed. It is to be hop- 

 ed that combs will be used; for, if founda- 

 tion is used when no honey is coming in, 

 it is necessary to feed syrup in order to get 

 the foundation drawn out, and one always 

 objects to feeding syrup too near a honey 

 flow for fear of getting syrup stored with 

 the honey. When some brood is thus kept 

 in the second story the bees become so ac- 

 customed to occupying the second story 

 that they store above readily when the 

 flow actually starts. A week or so after 

 the opening of the honey flow, the queen 

 should be placed below and a queen-excluder 

 inserted between the two colonies. 



Early swarming can probably be prevent- 

 ed if these directions are followed, and, as a 

 general thing, more honey can be obtained 

 if no increase is made. 



If one desires increase, however, he may 

 tear down all capped queen-cells, and insert 

 a queen-excluder between the two stories, 

 leaving the story of brood above and the 

 queen with a little brood below, and then 

 eight days later move the upper story to a 

 new location. The capped cells may be left 

 or, if desired, all but the best maj' be torn 

 down. The hive should be left with con- 

 tracted entrance so the brood will not be 

 chilled. 



Other Spring Work. 



It is a poor plan to remove packing too 

 early in the spring. As long as there is 

 danger of cool weather, the colonies are bet- 

 ter off with the added protection. 



Weak colonies that are in danger of being 

 robbed or of having their brood chilled, 

 should have contracted entrances; but 

 strong colonies will need a larger entrance, 

 probably a full entrance a few weeks before 

 the honey flow. 



As stated in our last talk, there is no 

 more important spring work than seeing 

 that the colonies are continually supplied 

 with plenty of stores right up to the main 

 honey (low. On this one condition the bee- 

 keeper's failure or success often depends. 



