1906 



GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTURE. 



875 



been feeding for several weeks. From re- 

 ports, hundreds of colonies that were neg- 

 lected, mostly by farmers, and others too, 

 have died of starvation. The unusual cold 

 and cloudy weather in that part of the 

 State has been the cause, retarding the 

 blooming of plant-growth. Parts of South- 

 west Texas have been much more fortunate, 

 and some surplus honey was obtained. Less 

 favored locations there have suffered too, 

 however. It is hard to tell at present what 

 the rest of the year will bring us. It is hop- 

 ed, however, that a change for the better 

 will soon come. 



SHADE FOR BEES. 



Whether shade is really essential has been 

 discussed by several. Mr. Alexander, I be- 

 lieve, claims that shade is not necessary. 

 That is all right for his northern locality, 

 but not for those in the South, where the 

 sweltering sun of the long days of our hot 

 summer months would quickly change the 

 opinions of those who dispute the necessity 

 of shade for bees. It was with sorrow that 



FIG. 1. — scroll's half-barrel SHADE- 

 BOARDS. 



I heard one of our your ger but enthusiastic 

 bee-keepers proclaim that shade is not es- 

 sential, and that better results would be ob- 

 tained without it. He had made up his 

 mind to rearrange his hives, and have them 

 in the Texas sun. Upon questioning him he 

 had made these deductions from one of Mr. 

 Alexander's articles, but failed to remember 

 that "locality" m.akes a great difference. 

 Some shade is necessary. Too dense shade 

 is unessential— yes, detrimental— to the wel- 

 fare of the bees and for the production of 

 honey. With no shade at all in hot climates, 

 the melting of combs and the destruction of 

 colonies will result, while a great loss of la- 

 bor is entailed by the necessity of the great 

 number of ventilating bees to keep down 

 the temperature inside the hive. Natural 

 shade is preferred. Trees that are decidu- 



ous in the fall, and produce a light shade 

 during the summer, are ideal. The most 

 abundant of this here is the Texas mesquite- 



FIG. 2.— PEARSALL SHADE-BOARDS IN USE. 



tree, and most of the apiaries are located in 

 such groves. 



For artificial shade, many kinds of shade- 

 boards have appeared; but any light boards 

 nailed together on cleats that will rest on 

 the cover of the hive and raise the shade- 

 board up above it a few inches to allow cir- 

 culation of air is sufficient. Cheapness should 

 be one of the main objects. 



Two unique shade- boards were those shown 

 here. Fig. 1 is made out of common light 



DETAIL OF PEARSON'S SHADE FOR TOP AND 

 SIDE OF HIVE. 



barrels cut in halves. A piece of baling- 

 wire is tied across the ends of the hoops to 

 hold it in shape. These shades protect the 



