Moving Bees

Moving bees is by no means as difficult as might first appear. First they must be securely inclosed and secondly they must have adequate ventilation while in transit. An entrance block or strip fastened over the hive entrance by means of two nails driven into the bottom board in such a manner that they bear against the block makes a good rig to close the entrance. It may be placed in position leaving a small opening during the day and closed In the evening by a ap or two when the bees are all in. The moving screen will provide ventilation (see "Moving Screens"). It also should be nailed on during the day. The colony is then ready to be loaded into a truck or shipped by express. In cases where the hives are piled tier upon tier they must be spaced apart by 1x2 strips laid across the screens to provide ventilation and bind the load together. Two story colonies may be moved as easily as single stories by cleating or stapling supers to brood chambers. In moving bees a great deal depends on the weather. If the days are hot and the colonies strong then moving them should be done at night if possible. During the winter bees may be moved long distances with no other ventilation than entrance screen. Bees require very little oxygen. The object of ventilation is to get rid of the heat generated by excitement. Bees that are confined during the hot weather should be watered ever day by sprinkling the screen.

Late evening is the best time to open bees that have been moved. This is not an important point. Open them any time rather than subject them to unnecessary confinement. Some confusion may result due to their headlong rush for the open but the loss will be inconsequential.

Rendering Beeswax

Rendering beeswax from uncappings or new combs is a very simple process. Put four inches of water in a wash boiler, five gallon can or other vessel. Bring it to a boil then add the uncappings from time to time till the vessel is about full of melted wax. Bring the mass to a boil then strain it through a screen wire strainer and allow it to cool. The residue and impurities will settle and may be chipped from the bottom of the cake.

Rendering wax from old combs is complicated by the presence of a large amount of insoluble matter that absorbs the melted wax which only can be recovered by means of pressure and steam heat. A wax press is the only practical means of rendering old combs. Many beekeepers prefer to send their old combs to a wax rendering plant for treatment. When melting beeswax for any purpose always remembers that it is highly inflammable; also inclines to boil over into the fire if it gets too hot.

Queen Bees by Mail

Shipping queen bees by mail has become such a science that they may now be sent across an ocean or a continent with reasonable prospects of arriving in good condition. In the United States the practice has become so widespread that there is scarcely a postmaster in the country to whom a queen cage is not a familiar sight. A small morsel of queen candy supplies the queen and her attendants with food while enroute. Introducing instructions accompany the cage. Queens are rated as untested, tested and select tested. An untested queen is one which is mated but not guaranteed to be purely mated. A tested queen is one that has been held by the breeder till her progeny has hatched and been found pure therefore giving conclusive evidence that she is purely mated. A select tested queen is simply a choice tested one. Breeding queens are select tested queens that have been bred from and whose daughters have proven to be uniformly marked and otherwise satisfactory queens.

Many extensive beekeepers find it more economical to buy queens for their increase and requeening when they may be had than to raise them.

Package Bees

Selling bees by the pound has of late years developed into quite an extensive business. Bees may be sent long distances by express if properly packed and supplied with liquid food. Regular packages holding from two to four pounds are made for the trade. One can make a start in the business by buying package bees with queens. Their arrival should be timed to meet a good honey flow for they will be obliged to build comb before the queen can lay. Instructions for caring for them accompany the cage. A strong point in favor of buying bees by the pound is that they are certain to be free from disease.