326 PRODUCTIVE FARMING 



its new home. It is important that hives be watched closely 

 at the season when most of the swarming is done. This will 

 help to prevent loss of swarms. Many swarms are lost each 

 year by not knowing when the queen and bees leave the hive. 

 One way of preventing loss in this way is to keep the wings 

 of the queen clipped so that she cannot fly away. This is a 

 common practice among bee-keepers. 



Winter Care. Bees should be protected during severe 

 winter weather. They may be placed in sheds or dry cellars, 

 or in houses built for the purpose. They must not be kept too 

 warm, but sudden change in temperature is bad for the bees. 

 Hives are sometimes made double and the space between the 

 walls is filled with sawdust or other material. The hives are 

 sometimes covered with straw, carpet or other means of 

 protection. The door is left open so that bees may exercise 

 on warm days. 



EXERCISE. Bee Studies. Students may tell what plants 

 they have seen bees visiting for honey. Also what methods 

 they know to prevent the stinging of bees; how hiving of 

 swarms is done; and what means of protection are used in 

 winter by local bee-keepers. 



REVIEW 



1. Name the several breeds or races of bees. 



2. Which one is most in use in America ? What are its character- 

 istics? 



3. What three kinds of bees are in a colony ? About how many of 

 each kind ? 



4. Describe the development of the young honey bee. 



5. Describe the making of honey. 



6. Tell how a beehive is made. 



7. What is the super? What is it for? 



8. Why do bees swarm ? When is this most common ? 



9. Tell of the need for winter care of bees. 



References. U. S. Farmers' Bulletins 442, Bee Diseases; 447 r 

 Bees; 503, Comb Honey; 653 Honey and Its Use in the Home; 695, 

 Outdoor Wintering of Bees. 



