CIENERAL SYSTEMS OF MANACIEMENT 4<J 



an experienced beekeeper who is readily able to incur losses sus- 

 tained by unfortunate occurrences which are to be expected with 

 this plan in too great frequency, and who knows the ins and outs 

 of moving bees on a large scale. 



The Central Plant 



An increasing number of our larger beekeepers dispense with 

 equipment at each yard and have a central plant, all supers being 

 stored at home, and all honey being hauled in by truck to be 

 extracted. 



This has the advantage that, in the central plant, all con- 

 veniences may be installed permanently. Many items of equip- 

 ment may be added that would otherwise not be practical. 



With such equipment and a central force, a larger daily average 

 of honey can be extracted. The apiarist is usually surer of regular 

 hours, and one set of equipment is all that is necessary. 



At the end of the season, all supers are at home where they 

 can be overhauled for the coming crop. 



The disadvantages are that there is greater chance of spreading 

 foulbrood; in fact some of the champions of this system would 

 not use it were foulbrood prevalent in their vicinity. There is 

 some danger to run from melting or breaking the heavy combs 

 while hauling them, and, moreover, roads must be good enough 

 for your truck to travel. 



In hauling the sticky combs back to the apiaries, robbing 

 is likely to occur. Then, too, if some of your apiaries are 30 or 

 40 miles away the long haul may increase trucking costs possibly 

 to the point of overbalancing the advantages. 



If bees are cellar-wintered, cellars will be needed at the out- 

 yard in addition. 



