. The American bee keeper. Bee culture; Honey. 72 TEE AMERICAN BEE KEEPER. March. (From American Bee Journal). PREPARING AND MOVING BEES IN MARCH. BY C. P. DADANT. QuES.—" I must move on the first of March. Will my bees suffer by be- ing packed and transported at that time ? and would I better cover them up again ?—W. ; Ans.—It is difficult to answer such a question by yes or no. The safety of transporting bees at that time de- pends considerably upon their condi- tion. After a winter like the present, when they have had a chance to take a flight every few days, there is much less
. The American bee keeper. Bee culture; Honey. 72 TEE AMERICAN BEE KEEPER. March. (From American Bee Journal). PREPARING AND MOVING BEES IN MARCH. BY C. P. DADANT. QuES.—" I must move on the first of March. Will my bees suffer by be- ing packed and transported at that time ? and would I better cover them up again ?—W. ; Ans.—It is difficult to answer such a question by yes or no. The safety of transporting bees at that time de- pends considerably upon their condi- tion. After a winter like the present, when they have had a chance to take a flight every few days, there is much less danger of any loss in transporting them as early as March, for they are usually very strong in numbers, and have been breeding quite freely, often as early as January. The hatching of young bees early in the year is the best security against spring dwindling. On the other hand when the colony has been weakened by repeated losses due to extreme cold, or tu the death of a part of the cluster from its being on the outside combs away from the main body, during a protracted cold spell, there is but little tendency to brood rearing and the colony is unable to recuperate its losses be they ever so small, until the warm days enable them to create a sufficient heat to en- courage the queen to lay. Thus after a long cold winter, if the bees have barely commenced to breed, there is a great deal of danger in the transport- ing of them early, as the loss of a few bees that may occur will weaken the colony that much more. If the breed- ing is not sufficient to keep up the force there are continuous losses of bees in cool windy days, especially when they feel the necessity of going out after pollen or water. Some of the most noted naturalists tell us that bees do not need water for their brood, that they can rear plenty of young bees without a drop of water, but the practical apiarist who learns bee culture by the experience of daily observation knows that the bees do use a great deal o
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Keywords: ., bookcentury1800, bookdecade1890, booksubjectbeeculture, bookyear1
