A YEAR'S WORK IN AN OUT-APIARY 



3 



we go to an out-apiary a plan must be used that will allow us to set out 

 the bees on that day and at that time without danger from mixing so 

 that a part become too strong and a part too weak, and the above is that 

 plan. The bottom-board No. 1 had occupied all winter was now turned 

 summer side up and placed on stand No. 2, when colony No. 2 was 

 brought out in the same way No. 1 had been, and placed on it, and so 

 on till all were out. 



In this way all dead bees, dirt, etc., which had accumulated during 

 the winter were at once done away with, leaving all sweet and clean, 

 and in a prosperous condition. Owing to too much work of all kinds for 

 two or three years previous when I was alone, the bees at the out-apiary 

 had been allowed to become reduced in numbers to 21 colonies in the fall 

 of 1904, one of which was queenless and weak in bees. An inventory 

 taken after all were out gave 11 good colonies — 5 fair, 3 weak, and 2 

 dead — the dead ones being the queenless colony, and one which was 

 made by setting an upper story off late in the season, thinking it had a 

 queen because the bees did not go down through the bee-escape when it 

 was put under to rid the hives of honey from bees. 



After the bees had settled down a little from their first flight, two 

 or three that seemed light in stores when putting them on their stands 

 were fed by exchanging two frames of empty combs for two full combs 

 of honey left over from the year before. The entrances were now ad- 

 justed to suit the size of the colonies, 3 inches by % being given the 

 good colonies; 2 by % for the fair, and % by % for the weak. 



ENTEANCES ADJUSTED. 



Next each hive was looked after to see that all was as tight as pos- 

 sible about the top, and that everything was in good condition for leaving 

 till pollen became plentiful from the elm and soft maple, when we 

 started for home. This was what was done on the first visit for the 

 season of 1905. 



