NOTES FOR BEEKEEPERS.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XXVIII, Issue 3603, 28 November 1905, Page 4

NOTES FOR BEEKEEPERS.

With good management it costs little to keep a few hives of bees. Do not neglect to look for the queens or brood when opening the hives in the spring. No matter wheh, bees are moved, they should be fastened'up so that none can escape.

To a very considerable extent spring Swindling is the result of poor winter ssanagement.

Have ithe entrance to the hives and tbe vicinity around 1 them clean and eonvenient for the bees to get out and Is readily. The life of bees during the working reason is very short, and it requires a good laying queen to keep up the force pt bees in the hive.

The proper time to transfer bees Ijam box hives to movable frame® is ea«fcn the' spring, before the comb beccHms heavy with brood and honey. fW Hives should be located in good son in whatever particular location they are expected to occupy in readiness to receive the swarms as they come off.

If any colonies are found too weak In the spring to take care of a frame of brood give them bees from the strongest colonies, but be careful not to give them the queen. ' When the warm enough for the bees to fly without becoming chilled give them finely ground cornmeal, wheat or the finer parts of sifted ground oats. The secret of large honey crops is strong colonies and plenty of room for fie bees to store honey. Give each frame in the hive exactly one and a half inches of space.

Do not open the hives to excite the bees when it is too cold for them to fly. The best time to remove surplus for brood frames is after two or three days of good honey weather. Do not open the hives to excite the bees when it is too cold for them to fly. The best time to remove surplus for brood frames is after two or three days of good honey weather.

If ia tho spring any of the colonies are iffiind without queens give them a frame of brood. Do not allow the colonies to rear queens until drones are batched to insure mating.—St. Louis