THOUSAND ANSWERS 33 



Q. How would it work for bulk-comb honey to put on an extra 

 body of Hoffman brood-frames with brood foundation, or would 

 it be better to use section foundation? 



A. The thinner foundation would be better for table honey, 

 and yet some have reported that the heavier foundation was 

 thinned down by the bees. It would not be a bad plan to try each, 

 and then you would know better what to do in future. 



Bumblebees. — Q. Do bees and bumblebees ever sting each 

 other to death? 



A. I think it is not very uncommon for a bumblebee to attempt 

 to enter a hive and to be seized by the bees. I have seen such 

 cases, and oftener I have seen the dead body of a bumblebee at or 

 near the hive entrance, the hairs stripped from its body. I have 

 an impression that the honeybees are never stung by the bumble- 

 bees, although the honeybees often sting the bumblebees. 



Burr-Combs. — Q. Should burr-combs be cut out from between 

 frames when t-hey appear? 



Would bees tear them down as they do queen-cells? 



A. It is better to cut them out every year or two, as they are 

 in the way, and make it difficult to crowd the frames together 

 without killing bees. 



No, the bees never clean out burr-combs, and the presence of 

 any of them between frames seems to be an invitation to the bees 

 to build more. On the whole, it may pay to clean them out every 

 spring. 



Q. How can I prevent burr-combs? 



A. You cannot prevent burr-combs entirely, but you will get 

 along with a minimum if you will avoid too large spaces wherever 

 burr-combs are likely to be built — don't have spaces more than 

 one-quarter inch. 



Buying Bees. — Q. When would you advise to buy bees? 



A. Rather late in the spring, say about the beginning of fruit- 

 bloom, is a very good time. The troubles resulting from wintering 

 are likely to be over then, with nothing to hinder a prosperous 

 career. 



Q. I want to start an apiary and don't know where to obtain 

 some Italian bees. Will you please give me the desired informa- 

 tion? 



A. I have no means of knowing any better than you. Your 

 first effort should be to get the bees as near by as possible, since 

 expressage is very expensive, and the railroads will not accept 



