Jantarv. 1922 



G r. E A N T X G S IN BEE CULTURE 



35 



HEADS OF GRAINl P(FB^a rDTFFMEm^~F^^^ 



Circumventing Here are some photos tak- 

 Ants in Florida, en on Key Biseayne, near 

 Miami, of apiaries owned 

 by Ilufih i\r. Mntlicson. Mr. Bartholomew, 

 formerly of the Bureau of Entomology, 

 Washington. D. C, is in charge of the api- 

 aries. He was in a fair way to make a 

 total of 1000 colonies as he expected to do. 

 I found Mr. Bartholomew fighting the Flor- 

 ida ants in a uviique way. Each of his yards 



lot apiary next to my garage and chicken 

 run in the heart of our city. You will no- 

 tice the heavy covers on the hives. I am 

 experimenting with them and thus far have 

 found them of good service in this sub- 

 tropical climate. I have no other shades 

 than these covers, padded inside with about 

 a dozen sheets of newspapers. When these 

 covers are removed the sub-cover is only 

 normallv worm. No need to sav that in the 



An apiary of Mr. Matheson near Miami, Tla., surrounded by ditches that ward off the ants. 



(four at that time) had ditches around with 

 water in them even at low tide water, and 

 all the ants inside of the ditches have been 

 exterminated. Since ants do not like to 

 swim the water they have to look on at the 

 bees from the opposite shores with envious 

 eyes. Mr. Bartholomew stated that ants 

 are his bees' greatest enemies, which state- 

 ment I can second, having lost several colo- 

 nies myself thru their persistent attacks. 

 Key Biseayne being a sand-bar island, the 

 actions of the sea tides serves a good pur- 

 pose in this instance. 



I am also enclosing a picture of my back- 



winter season it works admirably in keep- 

 ing the bees nice and warm even in the 

 coolest nights (but not too warm). 

 Miami, Fla. A. L. Hefinger. 



The Winter "What about a winter nest 

 Nest. . of empty cells for bees to clus- 



ter on?" I hear some one 

 say. As many know, I do not for a moment 

 believe that many empty cells are nece?;- 

 sary for bees to cluster on; in fact, I might 

 say that I know that such is not the case. I 

 have tested the matter out thoroly, and I 



Heavy liive covers in an apiary in Miami, Fla,, that serve instead of shade. 



