A modern bee farm bee

ELEVENTH THOUSAND REVISED EDITION 1914 1914 IJUEtH A MODERN BEE FARM S SF&M SIMMWS EELtS 5/ ALBERT R MANN LIBRARY New York State Colleges of Agriculture and Home Economics AT Cornell University EVERETT FRANKLIN PHILLIPS BEEKEEPING LIBRARY =°" A modern bee-farm and its e SK,S a9 | 1924 003 428 038 The original of this book is in the Cornell University Library There are no known copyright restrictions in the United States on the use of the text http ://www arch i ve o rg/detai Is/cu31 924003428038 Messrs Lee & Son's Royal First Prize Observatory Hive A mr TUT Mr A H Taylor's Semi-Observatory Hive, WITH FULL COMPLEMENT OF FRAMES E Semi-Observatory Hive Illustration of the Early Methods of Securing Comb^Honey from Bar-Frame Hives From theI&ev L L Langstroth's Book fine By Royal Warrant H.M the King NON- POISONOUS NONCORROSIVE The Ideal Disinfectant THE SIMPLE AND EFFECTIVE CURE FOUL BROOD or BEE PEST, Recommended for many years as A CERTAIN CURE FOR BEE DISEASKS when applied in the active definite manner advised by the Author of A Modern Bee-Farm, and who has recently offered Bee-Keepers another boon in the VETERINARY A shape of IZAL, HIVE WASH for preventing or curing WIGHT PLAGUE This is known as durable and perfect ISLE OF SIMMINS' NEW the CURE I.O.W DISINFECTANT in the shape of is used as a PERFECT Hive Wash, prepared by adding three times its bulk of water After painting all insides of the Hive it is allowed to dry before returning the Bees or exchanging the Hive for another And a Manufacturers : NEWTON, CHAMBERS & Co., Ltd., THORNCLIFFE, near SHEFFIELD BRITISH APPRECIATION Press Commendations British Bee Journal.—" This is a useful book for those intending to cultivate bees, more particularly for such as intend to make it a business." — Live Stock Journal " Other journals must deal with this very We never saw book from its other sides a bee-book which seemed better worth buying by those who wished to keep bees." intelligently written — We Bee-Keepers' Record " have perused this book with a considerable amount of interest, mainly from the fact of its being the first attempt on the part of a really experienced man in the United Kingdom to face the problem, 'Will a bee-farm pay?' cordially recommend the new bee-book." We Most Practical in Three Languages have been reading every book (in English, French and German) on Apiculture, and of all the works that I have studied (especially as regards practical information) I much prefer your Modern Bee-Farm,' the style of which is so charming." CLEMENT COKE " I ' Worth £5 a Copy son and I are agreed that A Modern Bee-Farm is worth its weight in gold I should certainly be sorry to take £5 for the copy I have received from home, if I knew it were impossible to obtain another and some half-a-dozen others who have sought to teach us our business can in future rest on the shelves." Knysna, Cape of Good Hope S DEACON " My ' ' ! , ; , , Hundreds Repeat These Words "Your 'Modern Bee-Farm' is worth all other books on bees put H S together." CHAPMAN Sandon, Frodsham From the Hands of a Master have read 'A Modern Bee-Farm' with,— well, where shall word that can convey my feelings ? pleasure is a shadow work from the hands of a master of Apiculture." " I — ' I ' find a It is a BENJAMIN BERNE Brechin, N.B Not a Dream, but Verified Fact experienced bee-keeper of many years' standing writes (July, 1909):—" I had heard of your system for years, but always thought of it as an 'enthusiast's dream,' until the other day I visited an apiary and saw the Conqueror Hives filled to over-Jlowing with bees (from your queens); then at a glance could see that for the production of honey, for ease with which the brood chamber could be examined when supers are on, etc., your system is Al." An £10 for 5s 4d would gladly have given ^10 to have had it a year ago, as have saved me far more than that in experiments." Var Trees, Dorchester " I "A Modern Bee-Farm" would H.L different to all others never was so pleased with a book in to my bee-keeping friends." Letchworth, Herts " I it my life ; shall recommend T.C it " AMERICAN AND OTHER OPINION American Bee Journal — " It covers the whole and is written in a terse and interesting manner." Gleanings in Bee Culture (1888 edition) printed on a fine quality of paper In plan — of Apiculture, field The work is beautifully excellent; each subject and its sub-head being distinctly separated by strong black head-lines, so that a novice can easily find such information as may be desired." " it is — Editor of Gleanings (1904 edition) "This is a work of no ordinary and reads like a novel One of the best bee books." merit, Mr Frank Benton, of the United States Department of Agriculture, Washington, writes " The new book came hand : now midnight, and I have spent the whole day withf it You have indeed done well what few accomplish at all made a book which is full of interest to every enthusiastic bee-master yet for the beginner a simple, pointed guide to success Since Langstroth's book, nothing, except Cheshire's magnificent work, compares in interest or value to this." to this morning It is — ; " Good Stuff, Indeed ! have just finished reviewing a copy of the 1904 edition of Modern Bee-Farm." Good stuff, indeed I am truly glad to see that you are not bound down by the old dogmas of bee-keeping We have nothing which shows the results of careful experiments as yours does." Clark University, BURTON U ,GATES Worcester, Mass " ' I ! ' An American of Knox, Starke "A few months Co., Specialist, Indiana, U.S.A says :— bought your book have read the same three times from cover to cover, and the chapter about Foul Brood about ten times It is the best book, and I have a good number of books about bees, as I am ago I a specialist." F W LUEBECK "The Bee- Wizard," of Lincoln, Nebraska, U.S.A., writing May 8th, 191 1, says: "Amongst the most prized and most often reviewed volumes in my library is your Modern Bee-Farm,' and I have long thought of sending you this word of personal commendation and thanks." ' FRANK A New G ODELL Zealand Bee-Keeper, Writing from Timaru, says: "I have read 'A Modern Bee-Farm' I think, without exaggeration through with much pleasure and profit it is the best of all my bee-books, and I have a good many." JOHN YOUNG " A Modern Bee-Farm " Well in Front I see your Modern Bee- Farm' full of useful information methods that you advocated twenty years ago are being brought to the DAVID F DOW, front here as something new." Landscape Architect Ipswich, Mass " I find ' , -*â.đxPrinted by Hepworth and Company, Limited, Tunbridge Wells, And 165, Queen Victoria London, E C -^ww^ St., 478 INDEX TO ILLUSTRATIONS FIG PAGE 479 HALF-TONE (INSET) PLATES OPP American Hives, types of Author's Apiary at Heathfield, partial view of „ ,, Bees Cell at another view ,, 336 168 construction of entrance ,, 128 Covered Apiary 192 Cow, wonderful Jersey Die 80 32 revolving bars^ Conqueror Hives, double ,, 60 Home Frame with PAGE for pressing natural 112 base Queen Cells, with Dividing Panel of Double Conqueror Hive cups and discs 336 224 (4) Foundation, Author's method of inserting across several sections 224 Movable Cell Bases, Author's 320 original Queen-rearing by cross cutting Worker Cells 336 Tubular Cages, and Queens caged on natural unsealed stores 328 CORRECTIONS For "warm " cells, Medicating with page Izal 48, 7th line, read " waxen" —The quantities given on page cells 116, lower paragraph, have been revised, and the correct mixture is given on page 150 JAMES LEE & SON LIMITED Our Catalogue, post free, gives particulars and price of We ed British :: full Foundation and which in :: all MODERN BEEHIVES AND APPLIANCES Manufactured by us ape freely £2 cash illustrated orders, carriage paid, except Bees and Botties Head Office and Works : GEORGE STREET, UXBRIDGE, MIDDLESEX Showroom: 10, SILVER STREET, BLOOMSBURY, W.C Bee-Farm: FULBODRN, CAMBRIDGE : The Two BEE Journals that have stood the test of time No Bee-keeper can afford to be without one or both of these papers, which deal with the most modern and advanced methods, and apply science and theory to approved and profitable practice These papers are read by all the best Bee-keepers and Traders, and therefore prove the most profitable media both for display advertisements, and for Sale or Exchange paragraphs Technical matters simply explained, and experiences of Bee-keepers in all parts of the world given Answers to correspondents in need of advice, in the columns, a speciality Urgent matters answered by post or telegram The BRITISH BEE JOURNAL Established 1873 Weekly One Penny, Weekly Bee Paper COWAN, The Only Edited by T W post free 6/6 per annum in the World F.R.M.S., &c, &c, assisted by W F.E.S Articles, some exclusive and copyright, contributed regularly, and answers to correspondents, by the best practical writers of the day, including T W D M MACDONALD, L S W WOODLEY, Colonel N J H J O WALKER, F W L SLADEN, and "NEMO." F.L.S., HERROD, COWAN, SMALLWOOD, CRAWSHAW, The BEE-KEEPERS' RECORD Established 1882 Monthly Two Pence, post free 2/6 per annum Edited by T W COWAN, F.L.S., F.R.M.S., &c, &c, assisted by W HERROD, F.E.S A Paper written by Bee-keepers for Bee-keepers Regular contributions by T W COWAN, D M WM McNALLY, W WOODLEY, and W HERROD and News It also contains Association Notes MACDONALD, : : : Can be obtained of all Newsagents, most County Bee-keepers' and Touring Experts Send us your address on a post card and we will post you a specimen copy of either free for your inspection :: :: Secretaries Associations, Office : 23, of BEDFORD STREET, STRAND, LONDON, W.C GG The Permanent Sure NUMEROUS COLONIES SAVED Since this disease first appeared S.S has on no occasion offered his widely recognised remedy as a cure, without at the same time insisting upon the great necessity of recuperative measures being adopted in combination I.O.W NO WINTER LOSSES need occur where stocks are fed up an B-well in warm syrup, with a vigorous young queen teaspoonsful B-well to 81b sugar) Autumn with added ; (2 FEED AGAIN EARLY.— From end of February feed slowly with B-well in syrup (2 teaspoons to iolb sugar, and one-fifth more water than usual) Remove, or cover dead bees with chloride of lime INITIAL (SLIGHT) STAGE.-Spray over combs and bees when mild, closing entrance with perforated zinc for an hour (No discolored or bloated bees in this case.) Two teaspoons to one pint warm water FINAL (FATAL) STAGE.— This condition, with bees black and hairless, dying rapidly, can be checked by rapid feeding as above, and finally cured by changing to young and vigorous queens DRESSED WITH EMPTY IZAL.-In serious cases HIVES the bees should be shifted to a hive previously dressed with Izal one part to two parts water Leave no excess of moisture Close bees in with perforated zinc for 24 hours, liberating at dusk If warm shade entrance meanwhile; if cold, leave in warm room 24 hours Entrance according to strength of colony (Prepared dressing, 1/6 quart tin.) QUILTS REMOVED.— Corroded clean ones returned soaked in B-well SMALL ENTRANCES quilts should — be burned and — two teaspoons to one pint water are fatal; but not expose a wide entrance to direct winds WINTER FEEDING is only possible in extreme cases by with hot syrup (and B-well) over the cluster, close on the bare frames Cover up to ensure it being taken while warm inverting jam jar NO APIARY OR STOCK LOST.—Where above directions are and neither black nor dark hybrid bees are retained, no apiary and no stock need ever be lost Numerous rapid recoveries where Simmins' Queens have been used followed, B-WELL, S 1/6 Bottle; Special Syringe, 2/6; post free, of SIMMINS, Queenland, Heathfield, Sussex — : Spraying to Cure If you wish to spray TO CURE disease, use our special SpraySyringe fill once only for each operation then spray quickly all over top bars of frames, and bees 2s 6d post free ; ; Without fear of the result, and with no shade of hesitation, pass the nozzle to and fro, while forcing for all you are worth, literally driving the bees down Cover up quickly, closing entrance with perforated zinc for an hour Time occupied under three minutes To be carried out early morning, or evening when mild Any other form of spraying is just useless and accounts for many failures Spray unoccupied combs and dress hives a few days before Spray all over front boards and into entrances using again every evening — B-WELL the Premier Germicide— consists of Four powerful germicides in combination, while one of these prevents the usual constipation found in the I.O.W disease Another important item compensates for a serious deficiency found with refined sugars, making the syrup equal or superior to honey as a bee-food Simmins' Practically Immune Bees introduced some of your Queens during 1913 to black dying away with I.O.W disease, and now they are wonderfully strong, and one would say they are the best in the " I stocks apiary." — to " So far I have kept free from I.O.W trouble, thanks Later Some of these were the splendid qualities of your Queens given to small nuclei, and gave 3olb surplus after building up to 10 frame stocks.'' A Norfolk Feb., 1914 " which have I I lost all my black bees gave your W.S Queens Feb., 1914 Numerous other —every last Bee-keeper stock except those to autumn." A Wiltshire Bee-keeper reports are received confirming the above experiences TAYLOR, WELWYN, HERTS E H MANUFACTURER OF Beehives and Appliances, INCUBATORS and Hives from REARERS 9s LARGE ILLUSTRATED CATALOGUE POST FREE STANLEY G SIMMINS (Member of "The Poultry Club," "Sussex Poultry Club," etc.), BROOMHAM, HEATHFIELD, SUSSEX BREEDER AND EXHIBITOR OF SPECKLED AND LIGHT SUSSEX, BUFF, BLUE AND WHITE ORPINGTONS, SICILIAN BUTTERCUPS, ALSO R.C Rhode Island Reds, Black Leghorns, Leghorns and Aylesbury Ducks, White etc Stock Birds, Eggs for Hatching, and Day-old Chicks for saje Pullets, from SATISFACTION GUARANTEED Stock Cockerels, from 7/6 each 5/- each — — AMERICAN BEEKEEPERS APPRECIATE DIRECT FROM "aUEENLaND"-OUEENS, THE ONLY TRUE LINE-BRED QUEENS EXPORT PRICES Tested W.S Queens Select Tested Breeders You want a - - $3.50 - - $5.00 to know what American friends say about Simmins' world-renowned direct from " Queenland " WHITE STAR ITALIANS." ENTIRE SATISFACTION sent me last year gave me "The two W.S you entire satisfaction." Blackstone, Mass O F F WELL PLEASED " The W.S Queen came to hand in perfect condition She is large and vigorous, and a perfect beauty I am well pleased with my investment Your shipping cage is admirably suited for sending long distances, and doubtless the bees could have remained another week in it in good condition." D F D Ipswich, Mass SURPASSED EXPECTATIONS "The W.S Pedigree Queen, which you mailed me, splendid condition in size and putting it — not a dead bee in the cage To say she surpassed my color feebly." She is arrived in a beauty both expectations would be R B M Owensboro, Ky THREE TIMES COMMENDED "The W.S Queen we represented her to be, and received from you is all that you have we are greatly pleased with her." (Sept — C 23rd, 1909) & H — "Your W.S has proved such a wonderful success that we have concluded to use none other than your Queens." (May2ist, 1910) C & H After Wintering — Five weeks later "Your W.S of last season beats anything we have ever 'seen in all our 25 years of experience Nothing can equal your plan of Queen-rearing in our estimation." (June 6th, 1910) St Louis, Mo., U.S.A C & H — True Line Breeding can only be ensured where one Queen only, or the daughters of that Queen only, that are all mated to one-queendrones of the same class are used for producing the breeding males for any one season, and the W.S are the only bees bred in this way — WONDERFUL PEDIGREE SIMMINS' "WHITE ST»R" QUEENS One Quality— One Price, 10/6 (from May & 1st to Sept 1st) & Extra rates for March Oct., 15/-; April Sept., 12/6 Safe arrival anywhere within the British Isles EXPORT : 25 per To cent, extra to So many gratified 50 per cent, extra clients are astonished at the results attained the only strain this, North America or any part of Europe Asia, Australia or Japan, a by using of true line-bred Queens, that we can publish but few of the many No Swarming— Cleared reports received out Disease — 120 lbs "We adopted your non-swarming plan successfully The W.S Queen was introduced to a hive of Natives having foul brood last autumn, but is now free from disease and gave 120 lbs extracted honey this season." & (Misses) S Bere Alston, September 8th, 191 S.S Pedigree C Stock in Ireland "I got a White Star Queen from you last year, and she has surpassed my greatest expectations." T J F S Co Armagh, May 6th, 191 One Stock and "Your Queen up Increase — 357 lbs chambers of eleven frames each, almost solid with brood, and gave 327 lbs extracted honey An artificial swarm from same gave 30 lbs., and a further swarm was made after surplus was removed." J E L Hunstanton North, August 14th, 1911 Italian built to three standard That is our aim, anyway Your bees have certainly proven themselves ! " world." Ireland, August 9th, 1909 to be the best Rev R in the W R Facts versus Blacks "I have worked one of your Queens (W.S.) for three seasons, and she seems as fit as ever, and has yielded more than all my Blacks This speaks well for your selection." A W Croydon, August 28th, 1910 W.S in 1910 Blacks nowhere had from you was put in a 3-frame nucleus latter part of May From June 20th bees covered ten frames June 30th, extracted 20 lbs hoiiey; July 10th, further 20 lbs Other stocks of Natives "The Italian I doing nothing." Hunstanton North, August S J E L 4th, 1910 SIMMINS, Queenland, Heathfield, Sussex W.S Queens and Conqueror Hives who has used S.S Hanging-chamber Hives for some 20 years, writes " At the middle of May I deprived the W.S stock of a comb of brood and bees to save a Black stock At the end End of June, removed of May I removed another comb of brood seven combs of brood and an artificial swarm Nevertheless, I have extracted 50 lbs and taken 35 finished sections from the original stock." A gratified client, : Eye, Suffolk, October, 191 Rev D D B From One Queen I Five Stocks and 142 lbs "I think they (W.S.) are the most prolific bees I have ever had have five stocks and 142 lbs of honey for the season from one Queen." : — Weak Foul Brood Lot Regenerated and 100 lbs to a very weak lot affected with Nevertheless, she built it up to a very strong colony and foul brood gave 100 lbs In spite of the foul brood this became the strongest colony I had." L Q " The second W.S was introduced November gth, 1900 W.S versus Natives "Your W.S Queens placed by the side of Natives outstripped them altogether, both in building up and gathering honey They did H C splendidly.'' Wigston, October 24th, 191 After buying a score, Must still have more and more "I want to start next season with all W.S Queens They are so much nicer to handle than Blacks, and the Queens more easily found H F S They cap their honey almost as white as Blacks do." Etherley, September nth, 1911 "The Queen Sudden Rise in a " Poor District." I got from you last year has done well She gave 173 lbs of honey; the largest take ever is considered a poor one." which South Boldon, October S.S "The W.S known A B 4th, 1911 Method of Breeding does it— 190 (spring stock and its lbs increase) gave 190 lbs in sections by weight." J Ussie Valley, September "Two this season in this district, 5th, 191 M E First Season with Conquerors and W.S Bees 6-frame nuclei received May 10th June 1st, both booming colonies; June 20th, finishing off supers They exceed for work The 16-in by 10-in frames are I ever had in New Zealand none too large should have no time for the English Standard.' One hive especially is a colony the like I have never seen before." J Y full anything ' ; Seven Oaks, June 20th, 1913 Another Progressive Fact I gave a White Star Italian to my weakest stock and in the following summer that stock gave me the largest amount of surplus, which speaks well for the W.S strain." U W Arnold, Notts, March 27th, 1909 " In September, 1907, ; S SIMMINS, Queenland, Heathfield, Sussex ... "Your 'Modern Bee- Farm' is worth all other books on bees put H S together." CHAPMAN Sandon, Frodsham From the Hands of a Master have read 'A Modern Bee- Farm' with,— well, where shall word that can... various every household, manufactures ; and the place the latter upon the best to cheap a form as in possible, at the same time being careful that such shall have a neat and attractive appearance... all my bee- books, and I have a good many." JOHN YOUNG " A Modern Bee- Farm " Well in Front I see your Modern Bee- Farm' full of useful information methods that you advocated twenty years ago are