Skptember. 1920 



G L E A N I N G S IN B K F, C l' I. T U K K 



winters. Wintering results were excellent, 

 but again the disadvantages seemed pro- 

 hibitive. We now gain depth by using the 

 reversible bottom-board deep side up, and 

 in two yards where we used to produce comb 

 honey the wedges are nailed fast to the 

 bottom-boards. The lower space is again 

 increased by the fact that special frame- 

 rests bring the frames up flush with the 

 top of the hive. Finally, over the frame is 

 the bee-space of the feeder-board, which 

 will be described later. Hives having food- 

 chambers are deep enough for all winter re- 

 quirements. 



Every method has some objections which 

 must be weighed against the advantages. 

 At present our preference is divided be- 

 tween a single case left packed all summer 

 and what we have heard gravely called the 

 ' ' quadruped ' ' case, by some who were not 

 up in their Latin. The advantages of the 

 permanent packing in single cases are the 

 saving of labor and storage space, and it is 

 claimed that the equalization of colony tern 

 perature increases the honey crop. We have 

 not tested them sufliciently to vouch for the 

 latter claim, but have found that certain of 

 our standard manipulations are made im 

 possible and others are hindered by the 

 presence of the case. . Another objection is 

 that when the covers are raised by extra 

 supers, driving rain sometimes soaks the 

 j)acking on one side, and the covers occa- 

 sionally blow off. With the expectation of 

 reducing these objections we are making up 

 a number of single cases on an original plan 

 wliich is not sufticiently tested for publica- 

 tion. 



After all, however, the labor of packing 

 and unpacking is not so great as it might 

 seem, if the work is done systematically and 

 the cases go together well. For this we 

 much prefer a collapsible quadruple case 

 made of %-inch matched pine, with 

 stand and floor in one piece contain- 

 ing bottom packing, sides of equal 

 heiglit all around, and a flat roof. We nsi' 

 four inches of packing underneath, ;six 

 inches on the sides, and a foot or more on 

 the top. The hives are supported by a i-inch 

 X 4-inch piece and two 1-inch x 2-inch pieces 

 running lengthwise in the stand. These also 

 support the bridges, and cheap thin lumber 

 nailed on their under sides makes a retainer 

 for the packing. The cases are so placed in 

 the apiary that when the hives are set off 

 on their summer stands almost directly in 

 front of their winter locations they form 

 double rows, alternately facing east and 

 west, with just room for the cases between 

 the rows which back each other. After the 

 cases are piled away this alley provides a 

 safety zone for apiary work. Of course, all 

 parts of the cases are interchangeable, and, 

 as the hives are all supered before unpack- 

 ing, we would not consider lifting them out 

 of permanently nailed boxes. 



It is quite true that these cases are ex- 

 pensive. Still, with the best of equipment, 

 the capital investment in beekeeping is much 



less in proportion to the retuins than in 

 other l:)ranches of agriculture. If well made 

 and painted and given reasonable care, de- 

 preciation is negligible, especially with ad- 

 vancing prices of material. Ten years ago 

 we paid $3.25 each for 35 quadruple cases 

 all made up of %-inch matched pine at the 

 mill. They have been in use ever since, and 

 have traveled s«me, but with extra nailing 

 and a few patches they would be good for 

 another ten. Even if half worn out they 

 are now worth 50 per cent more than they 

 cost. How shall we figure depreciation? 

 Feed and Feeders. 

 While September is our month for remov- 

 ing supers, and getting all hives into cases, 

 October is the feeding month. Brood-rearing 

 is pretty well finished by then, and the gath- 

 ering of inferior fall honey is out of the 

 way. As a final preparation for the long 

 winter siege it is fitting that the winter 

 nest should be well stocked with the best 

 possible food for the Canadian winter — 

 thick syrup made from extra-standard gran- 

 ulated sugar. With colonies warmly packed. 



Pettit quadruple ease with side removed to show 

 method of applying and packing food pails. 



by feeding now instead of earlier, and by 

 giving each practically all it will take, we 

 consider we secure the best results. 



To our way of thinking there is only ouv 

 type of feeders for late feeding on an ex- 

 tensive scale. Ten-pound friction-top honey 

 pails with perforated lids inverted right 

 over the cluster place the supply where it 

 can be taken with the least effort. With 

 hives in cases and the pails themselves 

 warmly packed, feeding may go on without 

 interruption at a season when any other 

 feeder I have tested would attract no no- 

 tice. On the other hand, if it happens to 

 turn warm when feeding there is no danger 

 of colonies in cases being robbed, and the 

 work of putting ©n need not be interrupted. 

 Careful owners of small apiaries may criti- 

 cise our late feeding, and it is true that if 

 practicable we would like to feed all of our 

 apiaries about the first of October, then get 

 into our car, and drive off to Dixie; but as 

 one's business extends the season must be 

 prolonged, especially when reliable help is 

 so scarce. Anyway, I have fed bees experi- 

 mentally at the Ontario Agricultural College 

 as late as January without seeing any ill re- 



