1502 



GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTURE. 



Dec. 1 



geigbr's method of packing hives in buckwheat chaff. 



hive on the right under the smoker you will 

 notice a pair of glasses, which is an excellent 

 protection from robbers. 

 Bracebridge, Ont., Sept. 30. 



[The hive-lifter shown is very similar to 

 Mr. Hand's device illustrated in the Aug. 1 

 issue for this year, although a windlass is 

 substituted for the self-locking tackle. Both 

 plans are good; and those who believe that 

 hive-lifters are unnecessary should try one 

 and see the advantages. 



For a swarm-catcher, a wire-cloth box is 

 usually found to be more satisfactory than a 

 wooden one, for the reason that it is then 

 necessary to shake only a part of the bees 

 into it. If the queen is shaken into the box 

 with the bees, the cover may be put on and 

 the pole propped up near the former cluster- 

 ing-place. In a few minutes practically all 

 the rest of the bees will cluster on the out- 

 side, when the swarm may be carried away 

 and hived. 



It would seem as though the hive-carts as 

 shown would be very convenient. The 

 scheme of picking up the hives is the same 

 as that used by H. R. Boardman and illus- 

 trated in the old edition of the A B C of Bee 

 Culture. Mr. L. E. Mercer, of California, 

 makes use of the same general plan of a 

 cart or barrow, only he goes still further and 

 uses wheels from old bicycles, with the pneu- 



matic tires and all. The one here shown is 

 very simple and can be made by any mechan- 

 ic at a small expense. — Ed.] 



COLONIES PACKED IN BUCKWHEAT 

 CHAFE. 



BY JOHN P. GEIGEK. 



The engraving shows my five colonies pack- 

 ed in buckwheat chaff for the winter'. 



I have kept down swarming by requeen- 

 ing and removing queen-cells. One, how- 

 ever, has swarmed and succeeded in defeat- 

 ing me by escaping to quarters unknown. 

 Now, after hiving a swarm I always put a 

 frame of brood in the hive, and this induces 

 the bees to stay. As I am away from home 

 during the day I can not give them proper 

 attention; but they have yielded honey at the 

 rate of 35 lbs. per colony, selling at 20 cents 

 a pound. 



Orwigsburg, Pa. 



[Some seasons the cutting-out of queen- 

 cells for the purpose of restraining swarm- 

 ing is very unsatisfactory. You will do well 

 not to rely on this too much. 



Although you do not say so, any good dry 

 packing material besides buckwheat chaff 

 would do equally well. Your general ar- 



