'I HE BEE-KEEPERS' REVIEW. 



275 



Doabling colonies as they issue is readily 

 accomplished. Where swarming is allowed 

 several are liable to issue simultaneously 

 and cluster together. When two so unite it 

 will not pay to separate them, taking into 

 consideration that increase in these times 

 of overproduction is not desirable ; and, 

 the two if hived together will store rather 

 more in average or poor seasons than if 

 hived separately. 



Of course, in uniting it is always advisable 

 to preserve the best queens. A choice of 

 queens cannot be made when swarms 

 cluster together. Instead of swarms issu- 

 ing at haphazard, I prefer to control them, 

 and unite as the circumstances require. 



In treatiug this subject I shall confine my 

 remarks to autumn work. Many bee-keep- 

 ers raise a few queens, and consequently, 

 have nucleus colonies to dispose of ; others, 

 from various causes have small colonies at 

 the close of the season. 



The humane bee-kteper will never destroy 

 a colony, even if desired. Large colonies 

 are, as a rule, more successfully wintered, 

 and are the first, other things being equal, 

 to be ready for the honey harvest. 



As small or nucleus colonies are usually 

 deficient in stores, feeding is concomitant 

 to the work of uniting. Colonies 

 properly united and fed will arrange 

 their food supply so as to be acces- 

 sible during winter. Even if the combs are 

 well supplied with honey a little feeding 

 will bring about a better arrangement of 

 the stores. 



Having decided that certain colonies are 

 to be united, the hives should be gradually 

 moved together. In bo doing, if one is 

 properly located, the others may be brought 

 to it. By moving them about one foot 

 every three or four days, the work can be 

 readily accomplished with no loss of bees 

 adhering to tlie old location. 



In uniting colonies I shall differ some- 

 what from the methods set forth by most 

 bee keepers, and the popular works on 

 bee culture, especially in reference to the 

 use of smoke. The excessive use of smoke 

 both in queen introduction and uniting is 

 something to be deprecated, and is not 

 humane. I shall here disgress somewhat 

 from the subject of uniting and speak of the 

 humanity side of bee keeping. 



Let those who are indifferent to the in- 

 jurious effects of too much smoke, recall the 

 instances when even a little has been pour- 



ed into the eyes and nose. Although the 

 eyes of bees are doubtless less susceptible 

 than our own, still, the breathing organs are 

 perhaps, equally affected. The immedi- 

 ate fanning of the wings is un- 

 doubtedly an instinctive act to drive the 

 suffocating smoke from the spiracles or 

 breathing organs. To say nothing of the 

 injurious effects resulting from the exces- 

 sive use of smoke, the colony is con- 

 pletely interrupted in its workings. With a 

 proper or moderate use of smoke, the colo- 

 ny is scarcely interrupted, and many bees 

 may be seen continually going and coming 

 at the entrance. I have also been much 

 shocked at seeing bee keepers when tiering 

 supers, carelessly crush many bees, also 

 when manipulating frames, irritate the 

 bees by rolling them against the adjoin- 

 ing combs — also, crushing them under the 

 frame ends upon the rabbets. Further- 

 more,*the rough usage in jarring the hives 

 by the careless use of covers and otherwise, 

 has a great tendency to make them irritable. 

 I take this opportunity to urge bee keepers 

 to consider the importance of being humane, 

 to exercise this kindly treatment to all the 

 creatures entrusted to our care. 



In proof of this argument let me say that 

 I have never used a bee veil in my apiary^ 

 and, although occasionally, by some accident, 

 I have felt the need of one, still, taking in- 

 to account the inherent disadvantages in 

 the use of them, I prefer the freedom of 

 cool currents of air, and unobstructed vision, 

 as well as the convenience afforded by bare 

 hands. However, not every bee keeper can 

 do the same under these circumstances. 

 The peculiar odor from some persons 

 would not permit the nonuseof the bee veil. 

 Personally, itsnon use is due to humai ebee 

 keeping. I have had visitors who, upon 

 walking through my bee yard were surprised 

 at the docility of my bees, when really I 

 have two colonies of yellow bees as difficult 

 to subdue as Cyprians, and always ready to 

 resent and remember rough treatment. 



I find that the honey bee becomes ac- 

 quainted and familiar with the beekeeper 

 who walks among the hives. In my apiary 

 one locality containing a few colonies not as 

 convenient to visit, I notice a perceptible 

 difference in the disposition of the bees — 

 they seem to regard me as an intruder, and 

 with their characteristic shrill note of in- 

 quiry dodge rapidly about my head. In- 

 stead of using a paddle upon such or any 



