720 



GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTURE. 



July 1 



and eight frames of brood when those 

 outside had only two and three, I 

 must say that, taking all points into 

 consideration, the two first years' ex- 

 perience with this house-apiary has 

 not proved it to be a success. Com- 

 paring the result for the whole sea- 

 son of those fifty colonies in the 

 house-apiary with a like number of 

 similar ones located outside in the 

 open air, those in the house-apiary, 

 in spite of having had at times so 

 much more brood, did not yield more 

 honey than those located outside. The 

 total yield of honey from both lots 

 was about even. It remains against 

 the house-apiary, the unhandiness in 

 working bees and hives there; and 

 the extreme heat in the house dur- 

 ing the day time, in spite of same be- 

 ing provided with ventilation, makes 

 it so uncomfortable to work in that 

 the boys dislike to work in it, and 

 take turns in working in the "oven," 

 as the boys call the house-apiary. 

 Taking, besides, into consideration the 

 extra cost, I consider this house-api- 

 ary plan impracticable and unprofitable. 



I send you also a picture showing a cart 

 loading honey. I suppose you have seen so 

 many pictures of honey being loaded that it 

 will be of no interest to you; but this pic- 

 ture will show you the good nature of our 

 oxen, and especially of this one particular 

 one, which does not mind one of the boys 

 lying on his back. This cart is somewhat 

 different from the kind of carts generally 

 used here. Its body can be tumbled down; 

 and, while in this position, the back part of 

 it touches the ground, which makes it easy 



DE BECHE'S house-apiary JUST COMPLETED. 



A GOOD LIST OF "DON'TS." 



Requeen in the Fall ; Winter Cellar Bees on 

 Good White Honey. 



BY R. G, CAREY. 



LOADING HONEY ON AN OX-CART IN CUBA. 



for our heavy casks of honey to be rolled 

 upon it. 



While talking about our guasima-trees, I 

 remember Mr. James Hilbert, Vidal Cruz, 

 and some others say that it would be just 

 the thing for section lumber. If the bass- 

 wood supply runs out, as you fear, and it is 

 a fact that guasima can take its place, there 

 is a big field of supply here. 



Havana, Cuba, June 8. 



I have had a great many failures which 



might have been prevented if I could have 



known where I was in the wrong. I will 



give a few suggestions and cautions for the 



benefit of the beginners. 



Don't dig the snow away from the hives 



unless it is a very warm day, for 



the least little jar will set the bees 



to crawh'ng. and break the cluster, 



and they will die. 



If you winter bees in the cellar, 

 don't go down every day or two and 

 hold a light under the hives to see 

 the bees, for it makes them crawl 

 about, and many will not get back 

 in the cluster. Those that do will 

 load up with honey, bringing on 

 dysentery. 



If you give the bees a midwinter 

 flight, don't set the hives within 

 three rods of each other, for they 

 have been in the cellar all together, 

 and all have the same smell, so 

 that, when they fly, some hives will 

 get lots of bees and some will have 

 a mere handful. 

 Don't tinker with your bees in the 

 spring unless they are flying freely, for you 

 will chill a lot of brood if you take the cov- 

 er ofi' and stir them up the least bit. 



Don't put your sections on until the bees 

 whiten the top edges of the combs, and 

 stick little bits of wax on the under side of 

 the cover, for if you do you are liable to 

 chill the brood and set them back. They 

 won't work in the sections until the right 

 time comes any way. 



