Chapter II: Preface

This treatise is designed to make the practical management of an apiary plain to those whose acquaintance with the subject is limited, and to direct such as may find in it a pleasant and profitable occupation to a system of management which may be followed on an extensive scale with the certainty of fair remuneration for the labor and capital required. With this object in view the author has deemed it best to treat the natural history of the bee but briefly, and also to give little space to matters which are in question, or to different methods of accomplishing given results, or to such as are only adapted to a limited portion of the country, but rather to explain one settled way widely applicable and which will lead to success. The methods advised here are such as the author has found practical during an extended experience, yet in regard to numerous details many works--both foreign and American--have been consulted, none more freely than Langstroth on the Honey Bee, revised by Chas. Dadant & Son, and Bees and Bee Keeping, by Prof. F. R. Cheshire.

Many of the illustrations were specially prepared for this bulletin. Some have been taken from publications of the Department of Agriculture. These include some of the smaller illustrations of honey-producing plants and also Plates III to X, which are from reports of the Botanist of the Department. Plates II and XI, and figures 5, 6, 8, 44, 50, 51, and 76 are copied from Cheshire; figs. 08 and 69 from Simmins. The Department is also under obligations to the A. I. Root Company, to Chas. Dadant & Son, T. F. Bingham, Hayek Bros., Tan Allen & Williams, and Dr. T. L. Tinker, for electrotypes.

Frank Benton.

Washington, D. C.

CONTENTS.

Page.
Chapter I.--Classification of the honey bee 11
The different species and races 11
Common East Indian honey bee, _Apis indica_ 12
Tiny East Indian honey bee, _Apis florea_ 13
Giant East Indian honey bee, _Apis dorsata_ 13
Common hive or honey bee, _Apis mellifera_ 15
Cyprians 15
Italians 16
Carniolans 17
German, common black or brown bees 18

Chapter II.--Kinds of bees composing a colony Bee
products and description of combs--Development of brood 19
Kinds of bees in a colony 19
Bee products and organs used in their preparation 21
Nectar and honey 22
Propolis 24
Bee poison and the sting 24
Water 25
Silk 25
Wax 25
Combs 26
Development of brood 28
The worker 29
The drone 30

Chapter III.--Quieting and manipulating bees 31

Chapter IV. Establishing an apiary: Time--Selecting hives
of bees--Moving bees Selection of site 35
Selection of stocks 35
Moving bees 37
Selection of site 38

Chapter V.--Hives and implements 40
Hives 40
Implements 47
Bee smokers 47
Veils 48
Honey extractors and honey knives 49
Wax extractors 50
Queen introducing-cages 50
Bee feeders 51
Section folders 52
Bee escapes 52
Foundation fasteners 52
Comb-foundation machines 54

Chapter VI.--Bee pasturage 56
Cultivation of honey plants 59
Bees as cross fertilizers 62
Honey and pollen producing plants 64

Chapter VII.--Spring manipulation 69
Transferring 71
Queenlessness in spring 74

Chapter VIII.--Securing surplus honey and wax 75
Extracted honey 75
Comb honey 79
Putting on sections 81
Production of wax 84

Chapter IX.--Rearing and introducing queens 87
Mailing queens 92
Introducing queens 93

Chapter X.--Increase of colonies 95
Natural swarming 95
Clipping queens 97
Automatic hivers 98
Prevention of after-swarming 98
Artificial increase 99
Dividing 100
Driving or brushing 100
The nucleus system 101
Prevention of swarming 101
Dequeening 102
Requeening 102
Space near entrances 103
Langdon non-swarming device 104
Selection in breeding 105

Chapter XI.--Wintering bees 106
Outdoor wintering 109
Indoor wintering 111