52 



MANAGEMENT OF OUT-APIARIES 



piled away (using the wheelbarrow as much as possible in all this worlj), 

 tlie same as were the supers, those heavy with honey being piled by 

 themselves, and the light ones in a separate place. These are our reserve 

 combs for next year.i By thus piling the hives heavy with honey by 

 themselves, and those light in honey, or having none in them, at the time 

 of taking off in a different place, we are "master ,of the situation" at 

 any time that a frame of sealed honey or a frame of empty comb is 

 needed. How often, in visiting apiaries, have I seen the apiarist go 

 through three or four hives of combs, which have been stored away 

 during the winter, for a frame of honey to his liking, and, perhaps, not 

 finding it then; while had he pileli Ihe heavy hives by themselves, and 

 the light ones in a different place, it would have taken only a moment to 

 find just what was needed. I well remember in one case of going to the 



storehouse for a frame of drone comb with a beekeeper who had been 

 showing me his drone-breeder, we leaving the hive having this breeder 

 all open with two or three frames standing out around the hive, this being 

 at a time of scarcity of nectar in the spring. He hunted over seven hives 

 of comb before he found what he wanted, taking from 10 to 15 minutes, 

 when, upon going back to the bee-yard, we found a case of robbing going 

 on that it took an hour to stop. Had his combs all been sorted, with drone 

 combs in one place, empty combs in another, it would have been only the 

 work of a moment to "put the hand" on just what was wanted. All of 

 these little things, looked after at the right time, often make the difference 

 between a success and a partial failure. 



"svteetening" up the neighbors. 



I now take off the escape-boards, put the covers on the hives, and 

 store away the escapes for the next year. Some care should be used in 



1 Not many beekeepers would care to leave this honey out-of-doors all winter, 

 even if there were no danger from thieves. Honey stored outside in this way, being 

 exposed to changes in temperature, would ordinarily granulate during the winter. In 

 addition to this in damp climates it would absorb moisture, causing it to become' thin 

 and probably sour. Combs of honey keep much better if in a warm dry room. If no 

 such room is available, they can be stored in a basement, preferably one containing 

 A furnace, where they will not be exposed to freezing teraperaturea or Saropness, 



