AMERICAN BEE JOURNAL. 



617 



Topics of Interest. 



Drivii Bees, Winter Food, Soow, Etc, 



G. M. DOOLITTLE. 



A subscriber to the Amekican Bee 

 JouRisrAL propounds the following ques- 

 tions, which 1 will answer by number: 



1. "Would bees, driven out now into a 

 hive, without honey in it, work as well 

 as a swarm ?" 



The date given in asking this question 

 is Sept. 3, and if I am to reply for that 

 date, I should say that neither a driven 

 or a natural swarm would do anything 

 in this locality after that time. How- 

 ever, there are sections of country where 

 the asters, golden-rod and heart's-ease 

 abound, in which both might be got 

 ready for Winter by filling their hives 

 with combs when they were hived. As 

 a rule, however, all increase should be 

 made during June and July. 



As to which is the best, a driven or a 

 natural swarm, good authorities differ ; 

 some claiming that a driven swarm is as 

 good as a natural one. I notice, how- 

 ever, that the advocates of natural 

 swarming are increasing, and others 

 diminishing, as the years go by. 



It is always safe to say, in any event, 

 that a swarm issuing in the "good old 

 way," is fully as well equipped for the 

 battle of life, if not better, than they 

 can possibly be by the interference of 

 man by way of a division. In artificial 

 swarming the division of bees, as to the 

 proper amount taken, suitable age, etc., 

 is not likely to be as nearly perfect as it 

 is by nature's plan. 



FEEDING BEES FOR WINTER. 



2. " What time is best to feed up for 

 Winter, and how is it done?" 



The proper time to feed when bees are 

 lacking in Winter stores, is at the ear- 

 liest possible moment after the bees 

 cease to make a living from the fields, 

 and as soon as most of the brood is 

 hatched out of the combs. This time 

 comes about Sept. 1, in this locality, 

 and if possible, I should say feeding for 

 Winter ought to be done in September 

 in any locality. This gives the bees a 

 chance to get the food evaporated and 

 sealed over before freezing weather 

 sets in. 



Unless plenty of honey is on hand, 

 make a food of water, sugar and honey, 

 as follows : Take 15 pounds of water, 

 and bring to a boil ; add 80 pounds of 

 granulated sugar, stirring it in. Bring 



to a boil again, and upon setting from 

 the fire,_stir in 5 pounds of honey. This 

 makes 50 pounds of food, equal to the 

 best of honey, and it is ready to feed as 

 soon as lukewarm. The honey is added 

 to prevent crystal ization in the feeder 

 and combs. If the honey is not at hand, 

 add a little vinegar or tartaric acid. The 

 honey is much better, however. 



To feed, remover the cover or cap 

 from the hive, and set on top a large 

 baking tin or basin, or a milk pan of the 

 right size. Fill it with syrup, and put 

 on a float of some kind, to keep the bees 

 from drowning. I generally pull up a 

 handful or two of grass near the hive, 

 and put it on top of the syrup for this 

 purpose. 



Now, open a hole in the honey-board, 

 or turn up one corner of the quilt, where 

 such is used, and set a chip from the 

 hole to the edge of the tin, so the bees 

 can climb up to the feed. Pour a very 

 little feed down through the hole to 

 show them where it is, and put the cover 

 on over all, making sure that no crack 

 is left so any robber bees can get in. To 

 guard against robbing, it is best to feed 

 just at night, at all times. 



PREVENTION OF ROBBING. 



3. "What is the best and right thing 

 to do when bees are robbing '?" 



The best and right thing to do is not 

 to let the bees get to robbing. This is 

 quite easily accomplished by keeping 

 none but strong colonies, and allowing 

 each colony an entrance, or doorway, 

 according to the strength of the colony. 

 In early Spring, when robbers are the 

 most persistent, allow only room for one 

 or two bees to pass at a time -for the 

 weak colonies, and give not more than 

 ^2 inches in length of entrance to the 

 very strongest. Colonies so weak as to 

 be unable to defend themselves should 

 be united with others. 



If it is desirable to save a colony which 

 has been neglected till robbing has com- 

 menced, close the entrance so that only 

 one bee can pass at a time, and leave 

 them until near nlglit, when all the 

 robbers have gone home, then go to 

 some strong colony, and get a frame 

 having the most young bees hatching 

 from it that you can find. After brush- 

 ing the bees off from this, insert it in the 

 center of the colony that has been 

 robbed. Now, carry the hive to a dark- 

 ened cellar, and leave it for three or four 

 days, till the robbers have partially for- 

 gotten the place, and the young bees 

 have hatched from the comb. Take the 

 hive from the cellar in the evening, and 

 place where it stood before, and you will 



