Evening Republican, Volume 18, Number 269, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 13 November 1914 — BEES AND BEE KEEPING [ARTICLE]

BEES AND BEE KEEPING

FOR BEGINNERS WITH BEES. Suggestions Which May Maks His First Ysar Successful. A few suggestions may bs helpful to the beginner in bss keeping and enable him to make his first year’s work a marked success. 1. Shade your hives If possible with t; es carrying heavy foliage. Swarms should be shaded from nine a. m. to five p. m. during the hottest season of the year. * ' - 2. Get a super of honey from the hive wintered o.ver by putting a super containing sections with full sheets of foundation or a super containing extracting frames on the hive as soon as there* is a - good working force. 3. . When the swarm issues remove the super from the old and place It upon the new stand. Your new swarm will not leave their hive and will be quite likely to continue working In the super. 4. Arrange a wind-break to prevent loaded bees from being dashed against the hive fronts by the prevailing strong winds.

5. Provide supports for the hives which will lift them a foot or more from the ground. Ants and insecteating animals may give trouble If the hives are on the ground. 6. Get your -extra hives and supers set up for use several weeks before any swarms are expected -or the honey flow may be half over before you are ready to take care of it 7. Keep all comb-honey in moth proof cases and examine frequently. 8. Set the hive with the front of the bottom board a half-inch lower than the back but it should be level sidewise or, combs will be built at an atf&fe with the frames or sections. 9. Do not attempt to handle bees on cold damp days but while they are workiiig in the field. 10. If bees are found hanging in chains in a super do not smoke them down, thinking they are idlers, for they are probably secreting wax. 11. Prevent much swarming by removing extra queen cells and by giving plenty of space at the bottom. Strong swarms produce surplus honey. 12. Grow with your business by reading a bee journal, a bee book, or both.