4 N. H. COLLEGE EXTENSION SERVICE [Bulletin 15 



then, under neglect, will return no profit and will serve only as centers of disease infection 

 for all bees in the community. 



For these reasons, while naturally a certain number of new beekeepers must and will 

 begin the work each season, it does not seem wise to advocate indiscriminately large 

 numbers of persons starting in each season as small beekeepers. It is beheved that 

 better progress from the standpoint of the industry is to be made rather by encouraging 

 those who now have bees and are interested in them to improve the beekeeping practice 

 and to develop larger apiaries. 



BEES AND BLOSSOM POLLINATION 



It is well known that the pistils or female elements of the blossoms of many varieties 

 of our common fruits are not capable of fertilization by the pollen of the same variety, 

 also that many excellent varieties of strawberries and grapes produce Httle or no pollen. 

 These are known as self -sterile varieties; many other varieties are partially self -sterile. 

 From a long list of experiments it seems right to conclude that nearly all varieties of 

 fruits are benefited when their blossoms are subjected to cross pollination with other 

 varieties of the same species. This work of poUination constitutes undoubtedly the 

 chief economic value of bees. 



Bees often do not fly far from their hives in cool showery spring weather such as occurs 

 in northern New England at blossoming time; hence it is highly probable that yields of 

 fruit may be largely increased by keeping colonies of bees in or very close to orchards. 



THE PRESENT A GOOD TIME TO START BEEKEEPING 



The results of recent investigations have removed much of the element of chance 

 from beekeeping. This is a good reason for beheving the present to be an opportune 

 time to increase one's colonies of bees, or to make a start in beekeeping. We now know 

 much more of the fundamental principles governing such phases of beekeeping as winter- 

 ing, feeding and the control of diseases. There will always be good opportunities in 

 this industry when the yields, through better beekeeping, are brought up to 50 pounds 

 or more of honey per colony. Sometimes, but rarely, one finds this being done now; 

 with a better understanding of fundamental principles it is sure to be more frequently 

 accomplished. One very bright feature of the case is that the field of beekeeping in this 

 state is certainly not overworked. In New Hampshire there is still plenty of room for 

 bees and excellent markets, as yet but partially developed, for the fiiner grades of clover 

 and wild raspberry honeys that are naturally produced. 



THE HOME OF THE BEES 



The natural home of the wild honey bee is in a hollow tree, or, in milder chmates, in 

 an opening under a rocky ledge or in some hole in a cliff . For several hundred years 

 man has kept bees in a semi-domestic state, but they have in no sense lost their inherent 

 wildness or ability to take care of themselves as have many of our domestic animals, but 

 win just as happily go back to the hollow tree, emerging through some knot hole, as to 

 live in the best painted up-to-date hive. 



A good hive must meet two requirements: 



1. It must be a good and comfortable home for the bees. It may be noted here that 

 neither the single-walled hive nor the double-walled hive affords protection enough to the 

 colony during late fall, winter and spring. This is further discussed under the heading 

 of "Wintering." 



2. The hive must be so constructed as to enable one readily to examine the condition 

 of the colony and to conveniently perform the various operations required in modern 

 beekeeping. 



A hollow tree may ideally fulfill the first requirement of providing a comfortable home 

 for the bees, but the second is only supplied by the movable frame hive, with its various 

 parts separate and interchangeable. 



THE MODERN HIVE 



The modern hive (Fig. 2) consists of a box or body with separate top and body and 

 with the combs of the interior built on hanging, readily removable frames. A bee-way, or 

 bee-space of i to | of an inch, is provided for on both sides and ends of these frames. 



Hives are made to contain usually eight or ten frames; the latter size is by far the more 

 common and may be considered the standard. The Jumbo and the large Dadant hive 

 are also used, especially for extracted honey production. A sheet of comb foundation reach- 



