26 GLEANINGS IN SEfiCtlLTURS January, 1921 



^ FROM THE FIELD OF EXPERIENCE 



ture was too low, and the nights were too form one strong colony before feeding was 



cool for clover to yield any appreciable proceeded with. 



amount of honey, and but little work- was The failure of the honey crop added many 

 done in sMpers- difficulties to the work of the queen-breeder. 

 To the light interrupted flow during June In my own apiary nuclei were found to be 

 and the drenching July, with one-half day in constant danger of starvation because, 

 in three fair to fine, must be laid the altho strong in bees, they were not able to 

 cause of the tremendous swarming reported forage and thus become self-supporting. 

 by all beekeepers this summer. It is well Queen-mating was also restricted and uncer- 

 known that during a hot summer, if near tain- In ordinary seasons nuclei should be 

 fields of white Dutch clover, sainfoin, or able to produce two queens per mouth for 

 lime groves, strong colonies will fill super June, July, and August; but, owing to the 

 after super without attempting to swarm abnormal length of time taken between the 

 more than perhaps once. But this year, when dates of emerging and mating of queens, not 

 prevented from working in the fields, bees more than two queens every six weeks 

 developed instead the swarming fever. could be removed, whilst the number lost 

 Many swarmed four to six times; indeed, was rather higher than usual. The restricted 

 the number of swarms which flew away mating weather resulted in a fair percent- 

 must be very large because far more issued age of pure matings from drones bred in 

 than the beekeepers had hives for or were the apiary; but, on the other hand, the cool 

 able to deal with properly. Skeppists had summer temperature had the effect of dark- 

 more swarms and casts than they had straw ening the color of queens bred from light 

 skeps to place them in, and in one village I Italian stock. Light queens are never so 

 am acquainted with, the bee stock in the bright as when raised during hot weather 

 church tower threw so many swarms that while a flow is in progress, 

 practically every one from the postman The net result of the season is that comb 

 downwards finished up with a stock in his liouey is almost unknown, and extracted 

 garden. No surplus could possibly be stored l\oney' tho fair in quality is exceedingly 

 after such excessive swarming. Strong colo- f^^^rt. The country is well stocked with 

 nies 'became weak, and the brood combs ^^'\ ^^"^ ^'f^'^ ^PP^f^« ^o be rather on 

 ,. „ ' , J- . o 1 the decline. As sugar stores are not so sate 

 were practically empty of stores. Several ^ ^,.^^^^^. ^^^^j as honey, wintering cannot 

 cases of starvation were noticed in August. ^^ ^p ^^ ^1^^ average. Strong stocks formed 

 Feeding has therefore had to be carried out ^y mating weak lots together are likely to 

 on a large scale, 15 to 20 pounds of sugar winter in fair shape. Weak stocks are almost 

 being required by practically all stocks to sure to die out, and a heavy loss in this 

 carry them over till April next. Generally direction is more than likely, 

 three or four light stocks were united to Cheltenham, England. A. H. Bowen. 



Mr. Admire's apiary, shaded by castor bean plants, with the lower leaves trimmed away. 



