Rensselaer Union, Volume 1, Number 50, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 9 September 1869 — Removing Honey-Boxes from Hires. [ARTICLE]

Removing Honey-Boxes from Hires.

Every skillful apiarian knows that if be depends upon the increase of the colonies alone as the only means of making his apiary profitable, arid render the business of keeping bees worthy of his attention, he will fail to realize success. Hence it is that hives have been invented, and brought to a high standard of excellence, for the purpose of obtaining surplus honey, and at the same time not to interfere with the operation of the bccß in rearing broods, und increasing their numbers. Supposing the hives to be of the most improved patterns, and honey-boxes placed upon them at the proper time, I propose to give a few directions as to the best way of removing them when filled. It is never good policy to, destroy a single bee when it (yin be avoided, and especially in the honey harvest, when every bee is required to gather the produce of the flowers. Careless apiarians are very apt to destroy bees unnecessarily while obtaining surplus lioney. When hives are so constructed as to allow of the use, a piece of sheet iron of tin to slide under the l>ox to be taken off, so as to prevent the bees from below from flying out when the box was removed, is very handy. Smoke of some kind, (either tobacco, rags or wood, will answer the purpose) and should always be used to quiet t fie bees, and prevent them from stinging the operator. A little blown under the box as it is lifted from the hive will cause the bees to be very peaceable and harmless. As soon as a box is removed, an empty one should be put on, for if it be delayed, the bee keeper will often lose the best of the harvest, for a few days in the height of the honey-sea-son are often of more value than weeks afterwards would-be. The best method I have ever tried for driving the bees from the boxes, is to take them off just before night and place them upon the table alter supper. They should be inverted, as several of them can be placed side by side, and a box of some kind turned over them, which is just large enough to cover the entrance of the caps. In the morning the bees will be found clustered together, when they can be set out of doors and allowed to seek their own hives. Or if it is preferred, each set of boxes may be numbered, and kept separate from others, and the bees emptied in front ot the hive from which they were taken. The chief advantage this plan possesses over others is that it prevents the jarring of the boxes, which in warm weather, when the comb is tender, often does serious injury to the honey, both in appearance anil value.— Cor. Rural American.