486 



GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTURE. 



June 1 



an operation. This window attracts every 

 bee because it is the only light spot in the 

 house at the time; and when I have finished 

 my work I can turn the rascals outside in 

 a twinkling-. They like it, and so do I. 



The floor of my operating-room is carpet- 

 ed with linoleum, the walls and ceiling- are 

 papered in buff, with a wainscoating- of 

 bright red. There is a rug or two to stand 

 upon. I even have neat Swiss drapery at 

 the window, for adjusting the strength of 

 the light more than any thing else; but it 

 makes an attractive appearance as well. 

 There are some photographs of apiarian 

 subjects on the walls, and some decorative 

 useful articles about. At certain seasons I 

 have a growing plant or two, because I like 

 them always near me. The lighting ar- 

 rangement at the present time (I frequently 

 shift cells at night) is an oil-lamp, but I 

 expect to pipe for gas. The heating stove 



a 



I REACH DOWN UNDER THE BENCH AND DRAW NUR- 

 SERIES FILLED WITH VIRGIN QUEENS." 



is oil too, but of course that will be gas 

 when the change is made. Water I catch 

 from the roof, and always have a generous 

 supply. 



Across the window end of the house is the 

 work-bench, and along the wall at the 

 right hand are several shelves for holding 

 the numerous articles used in queen-rear- 

 ing. My tools are all at hand without 

 moving from the bench. Along the side, di- 

 rectly beneath the shelves, is a long, low, 

 removable bench for holding the cell- start- 

 ing chambers. Beneath this bench is a 

 slatted ventilator which can be opened and 

 closed at will, and which does not admit 

 light; and above this, on the opposite side, 

 is a wide screen-covered opening into the 

 extracting- room, densely shaded, which can 

 also be opened and closed at will. Thus 

 I can regulate my room to perfect darkness, 

 and at the same time supply ample ventila- 

 tion. 



Under the benches are several booming 

 colonies which are used exclusively for cell- 

 construction, and there is also nursery ca- 

 pacity within these hives for over 200 virgin 

 queens. Upon the workbench, close to my 

 right arm, are the miniature hives contain- 



ing the breeding-queens; and at the entrance 

 to the house is a glass hive to show the 

 quality of the queens and bees reared within. 

 All the woodwork inside the house is stain- 

 ed walnut, in dull finish, and the hives are 

 painted pure white, making a very pleasing 

 contrast, and, taken as a whole, is pro- 

 nounced " an artistic scheme." 



The outside of the house is painted dark 

 olive, with white trimmings. I have a wide 

 awning on the two sunny sides. A vine is 

 fast covering the front and rear. In sum- 

 mer I have palms under the awning and a 

 bench or two for visitors to rest upon. When 

 the sun gets around I can lower a flap for 

 a screen — " it is all so comfortable, so pret- 

 ty! " 



Now for the convenience of the thing: 

 When I wish to start cells I go early to the 

 hives, before the sun is high, and take up 

 my bees. They are carried directly to the 

 operating-room and placed up- 

 on the low bench I have men- 

 tioned. It is so cool and com- 

 fortable inside that the bees do 

 not thrash as they would out- 

 side in the sun and broad day- 

 light. When it has come time 

 to give them the larvje I go in- 

 side, open the breeding-hive, 

 draw what eggs are needed, 

 and place them directly with 

 the bees set ready to receive 

 them. All is close at hand; I 

 do not have to stir from my 

 tracks. Rain or shine, cold or 

 blow, cell- starting proceeds, 

 for I am under cover, and sc- 

 are my bees. Furthermore, 

 temperature inside can be reg- 

 ulated to suit the operation. 

 In early spring I have a sum- 

 mer heat within mj' house, 

 though it be but 40 outside. Thus I can 

 make an early start. 



When the cells are fairly under way I 

 simply draw them and place them with the 

 nursing colonies under the bench — no open- 

 ing of hives. Simply raise the covers and 

 peg them in — that is all. The queenless 

 bees are then divided into small nuclei for 

 mating the young queens, by this time 

 hatching in large numbers, as explained in 

 Gleanings, Jan. 1. I simply reach up to 

 the shelves and take down the forming- 

 screens, admit light to the room, and out 

 will pour the bees into the screens. None 

 are lost, for none can escape the confine- 

 ment. The arrangement is quite as pretty 

 as the house in which the deed is done. 

 Along the lower shelf are arranged the 

 mating-boxes; and as the screens are filled 

 they are immediately attached to the boxes; 

 and when all are supplied with their quota 

 of bees I reach down under the bench and 

 draw nurseries filled with virgin queens, 

 and introduce one to each box. All this 

 work is done under cover, mind you, and 

 without moving from my tracks. If I were 

 a lazy man I would seat myself upon a 

 stool and be done with it. 



