The Bulletins of this Station are mailed free to citizens of Connecticut who apply for them, and to others as far as the editions permit. OFFICERS AND STAFF. BOARD OF CONTROL. His Excellency, Marcus H. Holcomb, ex-officio, President. James H. Webb. Vice President... George A. Hopson, Secretary. E. H. Jenkins, Director and Treasurer.. Wilson H. Lee.. Elijah Rogers.. Administration. Hamden Wallingford New Haven ..Avon . Orange .Southington E. H. JENKINS, PH.D., Director and Treasurer. Chemistry. Analytical Laboratory. JOHN PHILLIPS STREET, M.S., Chemist in charge. Protein Research. Botany. Entomology. Forestry. Plant Breeding. Vegetable Growing. V. L. CHURCHILL, Sampling Agent. T. B. OSBORNE, PH.D., D.Sc., Chemist in charge. G. P. CLINTON, SC.D., Botanist. E. M. STODDARD, B.S., Assistant Botanist. Assistants. Miss F. A. MCCORMICK, PH.D., Scientific Assistant. W. E. BRITTON, PH.D., Entomologist; State Entomologist. I. W. DAVIS, B.Sc., M. P. ZAPPE, B.S., Assistants. WALTER O. FILLEY, Forester; also State Forester DONALD F. JONES, M.S., Plant Breeder. C. D. HUBBELL, Assistant. W. C. PELTON, B.S. † Absent on leave. In U. S. Service. BEEKEEPING FOR CONNECTICUT. By A. W. Yates. INTRODUCTION. Beekeeping is a possible source of both pleasure and profit requiring a small amount of attention. Honey has considerable value as food, and in these days of food conservation and shortage of sugar, its value is correspondingly greater than in normal times. Beeswax is also valuable and both honey and wax find a ready market. Beekeeping has never been properly developed in Connecticut. There are many beekeepers, each with a few colonies, but in most cases the bees are left to shift for themselves. There is need of more bees in the hands of energetic beekeepers, who will give them more intelligent care. The outlook for honey production never was better, from the money standpoint, than at present, and the possibilities, through the suppression and control of infectious diseases, are much greater in recent years; therefore it is hoped that this bulletin, while not complete or by any means final, may encourage more people to keep bees, and induce those who already have them to give them better care, so that beekeeping and honey production generally will be much improved. Bees on the farm, if rightly managed, will prove very often the best paying investment the farmer has for the amount of capital and time expended, and farmers who become interested in apiculture will often find that the profits far exceed their expectations. Bees not only are valuable as honey producers but are of great value as pollen carriers, fertilizing a great many fruit and vegetable crops, thus increasing their productiveness. The sting, no doubt, is the reason why beekeeping is not more popular. This, however, can be almost entirely avoided by the use of the smoker and veil, and by the keeping of races of bees that are less prone to stinging. Of course, all honey-gathering bees have stings and will use them when aroused, but some races, such as the Italians and Carniolans, are much less given to using them. Almost any persons, except those of a nervous temperament, can keep bees if they desire. Although there are many hundreds of beekeepers in the state, only a very small percentage make apiculture their sole occupation. There are locations, without doubt, where an experienced beekeeper would be well paid for devoting his whole time to the pursuit. Almost any location in the state would support a few colonies with profit to their owner. Backyards in cities and villages, or barren places in the country, could be utilized for this purpose with surprising results. Beekeeping is also popular with invalids and people of sedentary habits, affording them mental relief and healthful, outdoor exercise. The apiary inspectors of this department are always ready to give instruction or information to those desiring it. One or more of the text books or pamphlets listed in the back of this bulletin will be found helpful. The hives and accessories illustrated and described in the following pages are such as have been tested by practical beekeepers and can be recommended to the beginner. He must remember, however, that beekeeping is no "get-richquick" scheme. To succeed and to secure a crop of honey requires work, and work at the right time. A little delay at such times may spell failure. Poor seasons intervene when colonies will have to be fed to take them through the winter and it may need a good deal of enthusiasm on the part of the beekeeper to keep up his courage. These seasons, however, do not occur very often and the practical beekeeper knows that he must make the best of them. HIVES. Before starting beekeeping it is well to decide on the style of hives to be used and some other necessary equipment. The bees are as contented in an old box or tub as in the best modern hive, but for economical production of honey a carefully made hive is essential. Below are described two of the most popular kinds. THE STANDARD OR LANGSTROTH HIVE. This is the regular standard hive used by nearly all practical beekeepers and shown in figure 6. A more thorough description is given in supply catalogs. The hive consists of a bottom board, the brood chamber or living quarters, which is a box containing either eight or ten movable frames, and a cover. This hive, less a few minor improvements, was invented in 1851 by the Rev. L. L. Langstroth and is sometimes called the Langstroth hive. It was his knowledge of the peculiarities of the bee that enabled him to invent a hive that revolutionized beekeeping. All other movable frame hives are but modifications of this, though some of them are but poor substitutes. It is usually better for the beekeeper to buy his hives in the flat, nailing them together himself, rather than to try to make them, especially if he values his time at anything. Factory-made hives are made with great accuracy. This hive being adopted as the standard, it is very reasonable to suppose that it combines within itself more good qualities than any other and should therefore have the preference. |