BEEKEEPING PRACTICE IN NORTH CAROLINA 
By RB. G. ban 
Specialist in Beekeeping, Bureau of Bntomology, 
U. 8S. Department of Agriculture. 
INTRODUCTION. 
The purpose of this circular is to carry to the beekeepers of the State infor- 
mation concerning the particular methods of beekeeping which seem most 
needed. In another publication2 the author has presented the results of a 
survey of beekeeping conditions in the State made in 1915, and the informa- 
tion presented in tDis circular is that which seems of most immediate impor- 
tance to those beekeepers visited. The following manipulations are well known 
and have been described in other publications. Every beekeeper, present or 
prospective, should obtain one of the numerous books published on the subject. 
It is advisable also to subscribe for a bee journal. These sources of informa- 
tion will add many details which can here only be suggested. 
MAKING A START WITH MOVABLE-FRAME HIVES. 
Profitable beekeeping is difficult or impossible when bees are kept in log 
“gums” or “boxes,” because many manipulations which are essential to success 
are impossible with such hives. In order that substantial returns may be 
obtained from bees, they must be kept in movable frame hives, so they may 
be controlled and their work directed into lines which will bring profit to the 
beekeeper. 
The operation of changing bees from a log “gum” or “box” to a movable 
frame hive is called “transferring.” There are several methods of trans- 
ferring. Practically all the plans for transferring the entire colony require 
some skill in handling bees. There is one, however, which can be used suc- 
cessfully without much skill. It is simply to hive swarms in the movable- 
frame hives. This, of course, is possible only if the old colony swarms, and 
if the swarm does not fly away. Unless however, a large, early, first swarm 
is used, success is not likely to follow this plan. When a large early swarm 
is used, it should gather a crop the same season. 
Each frame of the new hive, in which the swarm is placed, should be fur- 
nished with a full sheet of comb-foundation. This is a thin sheet of pure 
beeswax which has been passed between rolls which print on it a pattern resem- 
bling the central wall in a comb. Unless comb-foundation is used, it is useless 
and unprofitable to buy movable-frame hives, and it would be just as well to 
leave the bees in logs or plank “gums,” as the combs are likely to be built 
crosswise of the frames, and therefore cannot be removed for examination. 
The use of narrow strips of foundation will insure straight combs, but is not 
recommended because so much drone-comb is usually built that the bees rear 
thousands of useless drones which consume the stores of the colony and do no 
gathering. 
Other methods of transferring will be found discussed in books and bulle- 
tins3 on beekeeping. 
1 Mr. Carr was engaged by the Bureau of Entomology, U. 8S. Dept. Agric., in 
fall and early winter of 1915 to make a survey of beekeeping conditions in 
North Carolina. This Circular has been prepared as result of his observations. 
2Carr, E. G., 1916. A survey of beekeeping in North Carolina. Bul. 489, 
U. S. Dept. Agr., Washington, D. C. 
3 Phillips, BE. F., 1911. Bees. Farmers’ Bulletin No. 447, Bureau of Ent., 
U. S. Dept. of Agric., 48 pp., 25 figs. 
