690 



AMERICAN BEE JOURNA1-. 



enormous amount of honey generally 

 abounding throughout a lengthened sea- 

 son, without a judicious process of in- 

 creasing, which shall do away with the 

 pollen-bound combs, while allowing the 

 queen unlimited space in newly-built 

 cells. 



Old queens, with much drone-comb 

 built in consequence, and an excess of 

 pollen, have much to do with the meagre 

 results reported from some of the lands 

 enjoying almost continuous sunshine; 

 and where a boundless wealth of bloom 

 would lead us to expect a harvest of ten 

 times the quantity. 



In conclusion, I would repeat the ne- 

 cessity of so working, without at all 

 disturbing the economy of the hive, 

 that the desire to swarm does not 

 exist: making increase when desirable 

 by division as the most profitable method 

 to follow. Use only young queens rear- 

 ed in autumn. Allow plenty of room 

 under the brood-nest, which being also 

 a cause of better ventilation, permits of 

 more continuous work being carried on, 

 and at the same time does away with 

 continual shifting of heavy weights, as 

 well as useless clap-traps. 



Samuel Simmins. 



Mr. Simmins essay was then discussed 

 as follows : 



Mr. Boardman — Some years ago I 

 wanted to prevent swarming, now I do 

 not. When I wish to prevent swarming, 

 I shake the bees out of the hive upon 

 empty combs. If I want no increase, 

 after the surplus honey has been taken, 

 I return the bees to the colony with the 

 young queen. 



At this stage Mrs. Mason entered, and 

 calling for Dr. Mason, said that Mr. 

 Newman was very ill in the outer hall. 

 Dr. and Mrs. Mason, Dr. Besse, C. E. 

 Parks, and Mr. and Mrs. York went out 

 to care for Mr. Newman. 



In a few minutes Dr. Mason returned, 

 and said that Mr. Newman was feeling 

 better. On motion of the Doctor, it was 

 voted that the association tender Mr. 

 Newman their heartfelt sympathy in 

 his aliliction, and wish him a speedy re- 

 turn to health. 



Swarming and the Production of 

 Comb Honey. 



This question was then asked : " For 

 the best results in comb honey, is it de- 

 sirabl.e to prevent swarming ?" Thirty- 

 one favored prevention, and 42 did not. 



Byron Walker — I think the season has 

 much to do with it, whether it is best to 

 prevent swarming. If the season is 

 short, I want to prevent swarming. 



Mr. Boardman — I have had a hive on 

 a scale, and it gained about 5 pounds 

 per day. After swarming, .^another 

 gained 10, 9 and 8 pounds. ^I think 

 they were equal in strength. 



R. C. Aikin — I have favored for years 

 a system to control swarming. In a 

 term of five years I would compete with 

 the best man in the convention, and lie 

 practicing swarming and I non-swarm- 

 ing, and I would secure better results 

 than he would. There was a great deal 

 of deception in the idea of bees gather- 

 ing more honey after swarming. 



Extracted Honey Production and 

 Swarming. 



" Is it desirable to prevent swarming 

 in the production of extracted honey ?" 

 In reply to this question, 49 favored 

 non-swarming, and 2 favored swarming. 



Mr. Crane — Circumstances very much 

 alter cases. The length of the season 

 made the difference. He had several 

 hundred colonies — had four yards with 

 only two to manage them. This season 

 was short, and to divide forces was not 

 advisable. The largest colonies gen- 

 erally gave the best result. 



Mr. Kretchmer asked Mr. Boardman 

 if the additional hives and labor would 

 be paid for in increased honey. 



Mr. Boardman — I can comprehend 

 conditions under which such would be 

 the case. In reply to another question, 

 he said that he put his swarms on the 

 old stand. 



Byron Walker — I have had 100 

 pounds of comb honey per colony, and 

 have had 3,000 pounds of comb honey 

 from a late flow. Under these circum- 

 stances swarms pay me. 



Mr. Alpaugh — In criticism of Mr. Sim- 

 mins' essay, I do not believe in giving an 

 empty hive under the brood-chamber. I 

 tried it extensively one season, but the 

 bees did not accept of it in many cases. 

 I would sooner put the empty hive 

 above, and tier up as required. This 

 system will largely prevent swarming. 

 For comb honey I like new swarns. I 

 hive them on starters, contracting the 

 brood-chamber, making it half the size. I 

 space the frames very closely. If sec- 

 tions are on the parent colony, I remove 

 them at once to the new, with queen- 

 excluders between. If the old hive con- 

 tains no partly-finished sections, give 

 the new swarm new sections at the time 

 of swarming, and put a slatted honey- 

 board between ; but about this latter I 

 am not very particular. I have had 

 100 pounds of comb honey from a 

 swarm, and 100 pounds of extracted 



