STATE bee-keepers' ASSOCIATION, Hi 



WORKING FOR COMB HONEY. 



Mr. Black — I had intended to write what I had to say, 

 for the reason that I don't like repetition, and in talking one 

 is likely to repeat things not necessary, but circumstances 

 prevented my doing it. In working for comb honey I have 

 sometimes thought I knew what to do, and sometimes I was 

 pretty sure I did not know what to do. To illustrate : I had 

 60 colonies of bees and 40 were the strongest I ever had in 

 spring, and I thought I would try spring stimulating and 

 get comb honey. I got less honey from those — considerably 

 less — from those I stimulated than those I did not. They 

 commenced swarming before the honey-flow got well on, 

 and they gave me much more trouble than those weaker in 

 the spring, and swarmed less. So I found I did not know 

 quite so much as I thought I did. 



Now the point, it seems to me to get comb honey, is to 

 have lots of bees at just the right time; to have the hive 

 below pretty well filled with honey or brood; and lots of 

 bee^ together at the time. If you have too many bees when 

 the honey-flow comes in, with me they are inclined to get 

 to swarming, and sometimes I have been unable to control 

 them, and sometimes they control me. I once thought I 

 could control swarming pretty well, but they commenced 

 early in the season, and swarmed, and swarmed, and I could 

 not stoo them. 



For comb honey you should watch very carefully at the 

 time of putting the first supers on the hive. I think one has 

 made a great mistake, and it will cost him honey, if he 

 defers many days after the proper day to put on the supers. 

 I think to continue that, to get the greatest flow of honey, 

 the supers should be put on early. If your honey-flow will 

 hold out put another super on below when the first one is 

 but half way filled. A third one should go on if you have 

 any great honey-flow. During the last season I put on a 

 super and waited for it to fill. I put on two every fall, and 

 get both full as quickly as I get the one. 



Now, there is another thing I feel benefited about in 

 getting bees into the super. Sometimes the bees, if it is 

 warm, lay out on the hive and take it easy. I had some 

 that were decidedly lazy. I took a preparation I had and 

 sprinkled it over the glass, and made them get into the super 

 and I found that when I did that several times they went in 

 the more readily. I found it was a good plan to make them 

 go into the super. If it is hot it is a good plan to keep it 

 cool, as cold protects it. 



I will not take up any more time as the discussion may 

 bring out some more points. 



Mr. Becker — I move you that we appropriate from the 

 State fund $100 for the purpose of defraying the expenses 

 of this meeting and other meetings. 



Mr. Smith — It has been moved and seconded that $100 

 be appropriated out of the State fund for the expenses of 

 our meeting. Any remarks? 



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