14 



A YEAR'S WORK IN AN OUT-APIARY 



apiary it had only 22 colonies in it, and as I ttiought at that time that I 

 did not care to increase the number to more than 30 colonies, it was laid 

 out and planned for that number. And as, later on, I was overworked to 

 an extent that retrenchment was considered rather than enlarging, it 

 has remained the same as when first laid out. My first object when 

 buying this apiary was, the forming of nuclei for queen-rearing at the 

 home yard, as bees, no matter what their age, brought four or five miles 

 from home, do not return so as nearly or quite to spoil a nucleus newly 

 made, as do the bees taken from the same apiary. 



My experience, based upon the time taken to work this 30-colony 

 apiary by the plan here given, is that from 60 to 75 colonies would be 

 the right number for each out-apiary to be worked by one energetic man, 

 in a fairly good locality, without any help from others, except in setting 



CENTEE FBAME IS TAKEN OUT AND A FEAMB OF BBOOD PUT IN ITS PLACE. 



in and out from the cellar. One man can do this, but I consider it 

 money well spent when paid for help to do this carrying part. 



I always begin any work with bees, where I can work in rotation, 

 at hive No. 1, row 1, for this reason: If any colony becomes unduly 

 disturbed at any time during any manipulation or work about it, I am 

 soon behind and away from their range of fiight, so am less liable to be 

 tormented by angry bees; for if the object of their anger is out of sight of 

 the entrance of their hive, they soon forsake the following of that object. 

 Any colony after being worked at, or after having work done about its 

 hive, is much more liable to resent having a moving object in front of 

 them, and in line with their flight, than they are before being disturbed. 

 Here is also "another something" which is well worth "pasting in the 

 hat." 



Lunch over, I take an empty hive and go to hive No. 1, this being 

 one of the 13 having an upper story put on during the third visit. The 

 empty hive is put down on the ground, close by the side of the colony, 

 as a temporary stand, so that by a lifting, swinging motion, the upper 

 story can be easily set on It with scarcely bending the back,* which is 

 now done, after prying it up at the back side and sending a few puffs of 



* See cut on page 13. 



