146 



GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTURE 



March, 1922 



bees so that we must manipulate them as 

 little as possible. 



The preparation of bees during the fall of 

 the year, as outlined in last month 's arti- 

 cle on the "Orange Flow in California," 

 showed that under ordinary conditions no 

 further attention was required until the col- 

 onies had bred up to nearly their full 

 strength. When they have about reached 

 the point where they might swarm, they are 

 treated to prevent swarming. Thenceforth, 

 as an aftermath of the swarming treatment, 

 they are requeened and examined for pur- 

 poses of giving more room or taking off 

 honey according to the character of the 

 flow. 



Thus, it is seen that normal colonies un- 

 der ordinary c(Tnditions are manipulated but 

 little. Colonies that require the least spring 

 work produce the most honey. Unfortun- 

 ately, however, it is impossible to keep all 

 colonies normal, and still further impossible 

 to control abnormal weather conditions 



which bring about a greater amount of man- 

 ipulation. For this reason and, likewise, for 

 the reason that colonies vary so greatly as 

 to the time when they approach the treat- 

 ment for swarming, we must spend all the 

 time we can get with the bees. 



What is more important tlian doing the 

 right thing at the right time? The difference 

 between today and tomorrow may mean the 

 difference between 50 pounds or 1.50 pounds 

 to any individual colony. If we can so plan 

 our work that we have made it possible to 

 squeeze in an extra 20 or 30 or 35 minutes 

 more per day actual working time in a 

 yard, then we know we are working in the 

 right direction. As we become more pro- 

 ficient, our bees will be kept better and soon 

 we can keep more of them. Much that is 

 written herein, you have read often. To 

 plan in oi'der to save time is obvious. Yet 

 why is it that we heed so little that which is 

 so obvious? 



Big Sur, Calif. 



SOME WESTERN HONEY-HOUSES 



Permanently Equipped Central Ex- 

 tracting Plants Becoming More Com- 

 mon. Importance of Room and Light 



By H. H. Root 



TEN years ago 

 a honey- 

 house or a 

 hone y-building 

 of any descrip- 

 tion costing 

 thousands of 

 of dollars was of 

 rare ; occurrence. 

 Likewise, even 

 five years ago, a five or six horse-power 

 steam boiler was not considered a necessary 

 part of the extracted-honey producers' 

 equipment. Today both are common. 



We find, of 

 course, a variety 

 of opinions in 

 regard to the 

 proper construc- 

 tion of buildings 

 for beekeepers' 

 use. One produc- 

 er, to keep down 

 expense, will 

 construct the cheapest shed that can be 

 made bee-tight (and not all of them are 

 bee-tight), of a size just large enough to- 

 house the equipment and a few supers of 



tJopey-liQUsp pnd workshop bu}lt by Eo^ Jlabbitt, PftWwell, Ida, It has plenty at room and plenty of light, 



