THE BEE-KEEPERS' REVIEW 



167 



hives then put on top of these; 

 comb honey cases for 50 to 150 

 pounds and have or put this outfit 

 in a shelter and where they will be 

 away from all storms and mauraud- 

 ers and you can go about your busi- 

 ness till about the first of Novem- 

 ber then the bees will have cluster- 

 ed down in this big hive out of 

 your surplus honey and you can lift 

 off your honey without seeing or 

 hearing a bee and you will receive 

 your sweet supply with far less 

 labor than you have received a 

 like valuation of property from any 

 other source on the farm. And this 

 method may be repeated from 



year to year just set on your honey 

 cases about the first of May and 

 lift off your honey about the first 

 of November two visits a year this 

 is about as near automatic as we 

 should expect to get things in this 

 world. And it opens great possibil- 

 ities not only for our farmers, but 

 City dwellers as well where they 

 have attic room. And it should be 

 of still greater value to our men 

 with large numbers in out yards 

 where bees are kept on a large 

 scale. For with a modified plan the 

 apiary may be doubled artificially 

 in one visit at the time of taking 

 (Continued on page 189) 



Field Notes From Michigan 



By F. ERIC MILLEN, Inspector of Apiaries for Michigan 



Belgian Hares and Guinea Pigs to Keeij the Grass Down in the 

 Apiary. Also Sonietliing .4 bout their Food Value 



All appearances point to a good 

 clover yield this season, in this 



part of the state. On a recent trip 

 1 questioned several farmers about 

 the condition of clover and all 

 seemed optimistic. Fall wheat too 

 has come through the winter strong 

 and that usually augurs well for 

 clover. 



Wherever one goes, the high cost 

 of living is a vital question. Often 

 too, where the bee inspectors go 

 the high grass and weeds are almost 

 as serious. 



I would like to outline a plan 

 whereby the bee-keeper can keep 

 both his grass and cost of living 

 from soaring too high. This plan 



Wonder whether every bee- does not need very hard work and 



keeper has lots of super room to 

 hold a good crop? So many of us 

 usually wait until the flow starts 

 and then after a few days realize 

 that all supers are in use and nec- 

 tar still in the field. Now is the 

 time to prepare all you need, If 



will kill two birds with one stone. 

 During the fiscal year of 1912- 

 1913, there were imported into 

 the United States 12,112 guinea 

 pigs, while in the previous year 

 there were only 1,471 brought in. 

 These guinea pigs were imported 



aot already prepared, why wait un- almost solely for laboratory pur- 

 til you have lost part of your crop? poses and according to Farmers Bui- 

 May be you are satisfied with a letin 525 Diepartment of Agricul- 

 fair crop anyway and don't care for ture, Washington, scientific institu- 

 a heavier crop. tions are now paying as high as $1 

 Dton't forget that other things to $1.50 for their supply of young 

 being equal, those colonies which animals. The price for these the 



are packed warmest on top will 

 build up more rapidly than those 

 with poorly fitting covers; how are 

 yours? Conserve all the heat you 

 possibly can, until the real warm 

 wefither comes. 



If you lose any colonies from star- 

 vation at this season it will prob- 

 ably be your strongest colonies, 

 thofce use the stores rapidly in 

 feeding the brood, watch them 

 and feed if necessary. 



previous year was 75 cents, so the 

 market appears firm. 



Besides the guinea pig there is 

 the Belgian Hare rabbit, while the 

 rabbit is not in demand for scienti- 

 fic use to the extent of the guinea 

 pig, yet they too are very useful as 

 1 shall try to show. 



Both rabbits and guinea pigs 

 will live and do well on green food 

 and if the bee-keeper has his apiary 

 fenced in, he can turn either, or 



