BEEKEEPING IN ARKANSAS IS 



much unnecessary trouble. Good fuel for the smoker consists of 

 burlap, dry rotten wood, or dry bark. 



Standing or placing anything in front of the hive should 

 be carefully avoided. For this reason the practice of blowing 

 smoke into the entrance is not recommended, tho it may often 

 be necessary. A little smoke blown over the fnames immediately 

 after lifting one corner of the inner cover, with a few additional 

 puffs from time to time will usually serve to keep the bees in 

 good humor. Smoke is not a narcotic; it alarms the bees and 

 causes them to fill up on honey, and throws into confusion, more 

 or less, the organization of the colony. Bees when they have 

 just filled up their honey stomachs are not so apt to sting as 

 they are otherwise. Smoke must be used with discretion, too 

 much of it is likely to irritate the bees. 



An important consideration in handling bees is that one 

 must work slowly, and deliberately, avoiding all sudden move- 

 ments. The frames are best loosened with a hive tool, though 

 a screwdriver will do. If a number of frames are to be examined, 

 the first one is stood up on end leaning against the outside of the 

 hive. Care must be taken not to place outside a frame holding 

 the queen, for she may get injured or lost. In turning a frame 

 so as to examine both sides, it should be held vertically and 

 turned like a door on the hinges. This will avoid dripping of 

 unsealed honey, and breaking of freshly built combs. 



Spreading the brood. By a proper placing of the combs 

 one is able to increase the amount of brood and thus help in 

 developing a large working force for the honey fiow. This is 

 known as spreading the brood, that is, shifting towards the 

 sides the frames containing larvae and eggs. To do this suc- 

 cessfully requires jiuJf/ciiicnf and experience. In the early spring 

 during cool weather it is dangerous to spread the brood too 

 much; it may readily become chilled and die. In a general way, 

 spreading is accomplished by placing one or two empty combs in 

 the center, next to these on both sides the sealed and emerging 

 brood, and then the combs containing uncapped larvae and eggs. 



Fall Notes. The season in which the beekeeper should 

 start preparations for the following crop begins in August. In 

 order to secure a maximum surplus of honey he must see to it 

 that his colonies are vigorous and strong, consisting of at least 

 80,000 workers, at the time when the first strong honey fiow is 

 on. In order to accomplish this each colony must have in fall 

 a young and vigorous queen which will not only maintain a 

 sufficient number of workers to bring in the winter stores; but 

 which will also produce a large number of young bees up to the 

 time when the brood rearing ceases for the year. This is usual- 

 ly during October. All queens that are two years old or older, 



