688 



AMERICAN BEE JOURNAL. 



many warm sunshiny days to allow our 

 bees to be shut up in a double-walled 

 hive. The direct rays of the sun on a 

 single-walled hive in our sunny State, 

 warms our bees up, and warns them to 

 be up and doing ere the fields are white 

 with clover ; in other words, it makes 

 them " hustle." 



The all-important item in Spring 

 management, is plenty of good, whole- 

 some food for brood-rearing. This they 

 must have, or our flowers will bloom in 

 vain, and when a brother bee-keeper 

 asks us about our honey crop, we will 

 only greet him with a shake of the head 

 and a sickly smile. 



Just as soon as the weather will per- 

 mit, every colony should be examined, 

 and combs of sealed honey given to those 

 that need it. Weak colonies and those 

 that are queenless should be united. 



How to feed bees that are out of. 

 stores, is an unsettled question. A great 

 many believe in daily stimulative feeding, 

 but wliere one has 100 or 200 colonies, 

 oh, my ! It would be too much of a job 

 for me. 



Mr. Doolittle says a frame of honey 

 hung outside of the division-board, and 

 the bees allowed to carry it around, is 

 best. We do not all have division-boards, 

 or a hive so constructed that we could 

 use them ; then what? I say it is best 

 to see that enough honey is given in the 

 Fall to last to the middle of May. 



If some colonies should run out of 

 honey before there is any to gather, by 

 all means feed them. Give them honey 

 if you have it; if not, give sugar syrup. 

 I prefer to fill combs with either honey 

 or syrup, and hang them in the hive. Do 

 this late in the evening to prevent rob- 

 bing. 



A great many bee-keepers object to 

 spreading the brood. In the hands of 

 an experienced apiarist it is only second 

 in importance to feeding, but I would 

 say to beginners, "go slow," I know 

 whereof I speak. I would spread it if 

 the weather is favorable. Just as soon 

 as I found from four to six frames of 

 brood, I would move two frames of 

 brood to the outside of the brood-nest, 

 placing two empty combs next ; then 

 the rest of the brood, and the remaining 

 empty combs to the other side. 



In from four to eight days, according 

 to the weather, and the condition of the 

 bees, we can spread the brood again, 

 and here we must exercise caution, or 

 we may spread it too much. If the 

 weather is fine, and the colony is an 

 average one, I would divide the combs 

 having brood, placing those with hatch- 

 ing bees out to the side of the hive, and 



the empty combs in the center. The 

 above is for a 10-frame hive. 



If we use a smaller hive, commence 

 sooner — that is, with a less number of 

 combs filled with brood. If there are no 

 cracks in the hives, the entrances are 

 contracted to the right size, and packed 

 warm and snug on top. I do not know 

 of anything more to be done. 



I know it pays to draw a frame of 

 brood from a strong colony to help build 

 up a weaker one. Perhaps those of you 

 who have all the colonies you want, 

 could unite weak colonies to better ad- 

 vantage. — BrRO^f IlAMS. 



Adjourned until 1:30 p.m. 

 Q,iiestion-Box. 



What would be the best plan to build 

 up the bee interests in the State ? Stick 

 to your business. 



Is it the duty of all bee-keepers to 

 join the National Bee-Keepers' Union ? 

 Yes, if they can afford to pay the dues. 



Is it right for one bee-keeper to move 

 into the territory of another, who has 

 the pasture fully occupied ? He has a 

 right, but it would not be profitable. 



Is wooden comb-guides reliable?' No. 

 Foundation is better, but costs more. 



Will bees winter on honey-dew? Some 

 said yes ; others had no experience. 



Is it advisable to follow the craze for 

 fancy queens, at high prices ? For honey 

 production it is not. 



What constitutes a colony of bees ? 

 An ordinary hive full of combs, bees 

 and a queen. 



Miscellaneous. 



The report of the Committee on Reso- 

 lutions was received and adopted. 



Warrensburg was selected as the next 

 place of meeting in April, 1892. The 

 date was left to be fixed by the Executive 

 Committee. 



Moved and seconded that the medal 

 of the North American Bee-Keepers' 

 Association be awarded to J. S. Atkins, 

 for the best comb-honey. 



Ordered that the Secretary be in- 

 structed to purchase books for keeping 

 the business of the association. 



The report of the Committee on Reso- 

 lutions was as follows : 



Resolved, That we, the State Bee- 

 Keepers' Association, extend thanks to 

 the people of Sedalia for their interest 

 in our meeting. 



Resolved, That we extend thanlvs to 

 the proprietor of the Sicher Hotel, for 

 hospitality received." 



Resolved, That we extend thanks to 



