. American bee journal. Bee culture; Bees. 380 AMERICAN BEE JOURNAL November workers, the queen must necessarily be very prolific. From these causes flow the quali- ties which make the native breed distinguishable and render it a bet- ter race. Early in May, often, the colony is already overstocked. It sends forth its swarms. These are hived in skeps similar to those of the mother colony. A good colony usually gives 2 to 4 swarms; the swarms them- selves occasionally cast others, if the season is somewhat favorable. The swarms in general do not weigh over a kilogram ( pounds). Even those of
. American bee journal. Bee culture; Bees. 380 AMERICAN BEE JOURNAL November workers, the queen must necessarily be very prolific. From these causes flow the quali- ties which make the native breed distinguishable and render it a bet- ter race. Early in May, often, the colony is already overstocked. It sends forth its swarms. These are hived in skeps similar to those of the mother colony. A good colony usually gives 2 to 4 swarms; the swarms them- selves occasionally cast others, if the season is somewhat favorable. The swarms in general do not weigh over a kilogram ( pounds). Even those of a half kilogram may be accepted. Though certain of fail- ure if they remained at the same lo- cation, their transport to the heather permits them to build up; often the last swarms succeed in storing enough for winter. The colonies which, at the end of the season, have not gained sufficient weight, are fed with denatured sugar. (A wartime provision.—translator). The old stocks and the first swarms often reach the weight of 15 to 20 kilos (33 to 44 pounds). The colonies nursed especially in expec- tation of a crop may reach the weight of 25 kilos (55 pounds), and even more. This method of cultivation pre- sents a great disadvantage, as re- gards the quality of the honey pro- duced; at the end of the season the hive containing only heather honey; harvesting, being altogether by the use of a honey press; it gives a very inferior product. For this reason, many Hollandese apiarists have placed honey produc- tion in the background and have es- tablished themselves as "fabricants" . of colonies. Very expert in the mat- ter, acquainted usually with the handling of bees and immovable comb skeps, helped by the ownership of a very rustic race, and early and prolific queens, they succeed in ob- taining a first-class product. The proof of it is in the extensive export commerce which takes place in the Netherlands, sending thousands of populated skeps every year to Eng- land and
Size: 2121px × 1178px
Photo credit: © Library Book Collection / Alamy / Afripics
License: Licensed
Model Released: No
Keywords: ., bo, bookcentury1800, bookdecade1860, booksubjectbees, bookyear1861
