ADVANCED BEE CULTURE. 



17 



had taken possession of two of the hives. Even in well-timbered 

 localities, stray swarms are frequently caught in decoy hives. Mr. 

 George A. Fenton, of Pine Island, Minnesota, reported in the 

 Review, in 1900, that he had, the previous year, caught more than 50 

 swarms in decoy hives. He used ordinary boxes instead of hives, 

 and put them pretty high up in tall trees, as a good hive, easily ac- 

 cessible, is quite likely to be stolen. A piece of old, black comb is 

 fastened inside the hive, or box, and the latter firmly fastened to the 

 tree so as not to be easily blown 

 down, a position being chosen 

 where the hive will be in the 

 shade. A tree on the edge of the 

 woods is chosen," as, when a 

 swarm reaches the woods it at 

 once begins a search for a suit- 

 able hollow in which to make its 

 home. The hives are examined 

 as often as once a week, oftener 

 if there is time, and wheb one is 

 found occupied the tree is 

 ascended by the use of climbers, 

 the box lowered by means of a 

 rope, and another box fastened 

 up in its place. Mr. Fenton at- 

 tributed his success to 'the fact 

 that the farmers near him who 

 had a few bees did not watch 

 them, but let the swarms go to 

 the woods, and, further, there 

 was no large timber for many 

 miles around. 



In all probability, more of my 

 readers would be able to secure 

 bees by finding and cutting bee- 

 trees, tha,n by putting out decoy 

 hives, and, as the subject will not 

 be touched upon elsewhere, I will 



here describe how bee-trees are found. In principle, it is simply 

 that of putting out honej^ in times of scarcity, when bees will "rob," 

 watching the loaded bees as they fly home, and following the "line" 

 of bees to the tree, but there are many details the observance of 

 which greatly aids the hunter in his search. Those who hunt bees 

 to any great extent use what is called a "bee-box." This is a small 



DECOY HIVE IN POSITION. 



