THE BEE-KEEPERS' REVIEW 



109 



place the paper next the bees. In either 

 case the idea is to retain the heat in the 

 hive that would otherwise escape through 

 the hive from the top. 



Bees protected in this way at our Kal- 

 kaska Co., yard last spring went through 

 the heavy breeze of May 1 0th without 

 the loss of a particle of brood. 



We have examined many colonies of 

 bees, in the spring, both in chaff packed 

 hives and those that were paper-wrapped, 

 and we could never see much, if any, dif- 

 ference between them. 



don't paint hives in cold weather — USE 

 PLENTY OF "ELBOW GRBASE." 



Never paint hives during cold freezing 

 weather. The paint will not penetrate 

 the wood, just sear over, and about one 

 season will be the life of it. 



During April or May is when we do our 

 painting. Now there is a knack about 

 this painting. In the first place, we buy 

 pure mixed paint. Be sure it is pure. I 

 don't know as I can tell you how to tell 

 pure paint, but good painters tell me that 

 a pure paint does not separate; or. if it is 

 a mixed paint, there should be no sedi- 

 ment. It should be of one consistency, 

 like a paste, when you buy it As soon 

 as it is warm weather in April we are 

 ready to do our painting. Stir the paint 

 until it is of a good, smooth consistency, 

 then rub it well into the wood when 

 applying it. Use a good pliable brush. 

 We like them about three inches wide for 

 hive-work; rub the paint in well, for here 

 lies the great secret of good durable work. 

 The majority in learning to paint, use 

 about twice the paint they should, at each 

 painting. Put on a light smooth coat 

 each time, and instead of trying to put it 

 on with one or two coats, go over the 

 work two or three times; this will give 

 you a very smooth surface. Then do not 

 forget the most important part of letting 

 the paint dry thoroughly between coats. 

 This will insure a lasting paint; while if 

 just daubed on, it will only last a very 

 little while. I have had good paint com- 

 mence to cleave off from our hive covers. 



in one season, for no other cause than 

 being improperly applied. 



PUTTING FOUNDATION INTO BROOD FRAMES. 



April and May are the months in which 

 we put in our foundation. Only a few 

 have a suitable place to handle founda- 

 tion during cold weather; so we plan to 

 have our hives and frames all nailed up 

 and wired during winter. For you see, 

 with our management, after our bees are 

 on their summer stands, and papered, 

 there is nothing more to do with them, 

 until the upper stories are put on the last 

 of May. 



This gives us April and May to do our 

 painting, putting in foundation, moving 

 bees, etc. 



We use the double groove and wedge 

 to fasten our foundation into all brood- 

 frames. Have the wires just moderately 

 taut, be sure to push the wedge clear 

 home, then you will have no trouble with 

 the foundation dropping out. 



The rocker wire-imbedded is as good 

 as any. Although not so fast as the spur 

 wheel, it leaves the foundation as smooth 

 as a board, while the spur wheel weakens 

 the foundation; so much so that, in ex- 

 treme cases, it breaks in two along the 

 wire, when given to the bees. We al- 

 ways use full sheets of foundation in both 

 brood-frames and sections, and consider it 

 money well spent. 



MOVING BEES ON A WAGON. 



We usually have a plenty of cool days 

 during May, in which to do all our mov- 

 ing of bees. We used to move during the 

 night, but, of late, we have found we 

 could do just as well to move them in day- 

 light. It is much more agreeable to do 

 it in daylight; then we found that, by 

 watching our chance, we could select a 

 day. or days, that the bees could not fly 

 on account of cool weather. This is much 

 more desirable than night moving. For 

 short hauls, where one is sure of reaching 

 one's destination before the weather would 

 have a chance to change, a piece of sec- 

 tion, under the corner of the cover, just to 

 give a little ventilation, is all that is nee- 



