12 
SPRING MANAGEMENT OF BEES 
colonics, and have received very complimentary letters after- 
ward from prominent bee-keepers, saying that this idea was 
worth more than $100 to them. 
This is something we have been practicing for more than 
twenty years. Some seasons we have a large number of weak 
colonies on top of strong ones during early spring, and we 
don’t lose five per cent of them. I am sure it goes a long 
way toward preventing spring dwindling. I will quote what my 
friend J. A. Pearce, of Grand Rapids, Mich., says in the 
April Review, 1905, on this subject: “In regard to putting light 
swarms on top of heavy ones in the spring, I believe it is a 
great thing: in fact, I look upon it as one of the best things 
brought to light in modern bee-keeping. Last spring I had 16 
swarms marked heavy, and just 16 marked light — in fact, so 
light that I almost despaired of getting them up to the honey 
harvest by any process; but when that article by Mr. Alexander 
■came out in the April Review, telling us how to save weak 
colonies by setting them on top of strong ones, I concluded it 
would work, so I placed the whole 16 weak swarms on top of 
the 16 strong ones. I examined them some three weeks after- 
ward, and such a change I never saw. Those weak swarms 
had built us so they were as strong as if not stronger than 
the ones below, and had more honey because of the tendency 
to store above. I could scarcely believe that such results were 
possible. Then, again, instead of detracting in any way from 
the strong swarm below, it really seemed to be the reverse, 
as though they had been stimulated by it to greater activity. 
Having the two queens depositing eggs instead of only one, 
the bees went out with a rush on all occasions when they 
could get out. It also proved another thing, which is that 
the upper queen is all right, only she was handicapped for want 
of bees and warmth; and as soon as these conditions were sup- 
plied she proved herself to be as prolific as her sister below, 
instead of being the worthless thing that she had been supposed 
to be.” 
I think I have shown you how we can keep our bees warm 
and comfortable through the sudden changes of early spring; 
also how we can stimulate them to early breeding by keeping 
them warm and feeding a little thin syrup every day. This 
is very important; and how you may save those little weak 
colonies and have them ready for your early harvest. 
Delanson, N. Y. 
To this the editor of Gleanings replies: 
It should, perhaps, be stated at this time that Mr. Alexander 
will illustrate and describe his special form of feeder in 
future article. For the present I will simply state that the 
device in question is a Simplicity trough feeder put under the 
bottom of the hive, and flush with the back end, the bottom 
board being shoved forward sufficiently to accommodate it. 
I wish to draw attention particularly to Mr. Alexander’^ 
method of uniting a weak colony to a strong one, whereby bot^ 
queens are preserved and both do duty at once. In the event 
that either queen is not quite up to the standard, the two will 
more than make up for the deficiency. That two queens can 
do duty at once in one colony after uniting, being separated 
