MillerThousand AnswersBeekeepingQuestions.pdf - BioBees

THOUSAND ANSWERS 33Q. How would it work for bulk-comb honey to put on an extrabody of Hoffman brood-frames with brood foundation, or wouldit be better to use section foundation?A. The thinner foundation would be better for table honey,and yet some have reported that the heavier foundation wasthinned down by the bees. It would not be a bad plan to try each,and then you would know better what to do in future.Bumblebees.—Q. Do bees and bumblebees ever sting eachother to death?A. I think it is not very uncommon for a bumblebee to attemptto enter a hive and to be seized by the bees. I have seen suchcases, and oftener I have seen the dead body of a bumblebee at ornear the hive entrance, the hairs stripped from its body. I havean impression that the honeybees are never stung by the bumblebees,although the honeybees often sting the bumblebees.Burr-Combs.—Q. Should burr-combs be cut out from betweenframes when t-hey appear?Would bees tear them down as they do queen-cells?A. It is better to cut them out every year or two, as they arein the way, and make it difficult to crowd the frames togetherwithout killing bees.No, the bees never clean out burr-combs, and the presence ofany of them between frames seems to be an invitation to the beesto build more. On the whole, it may pay to clean them out everyspring.Q. How can I prevent burr-combs?A. You cannot prevent burr-combs entirely, but you will getalong with a minimum if you will avoid too large spaces whereverburr-combs are likely to be built—don't have spaces more thanone-quarter inch.Buying Bees.—Q.When would you advise to buy bees?A. Rather late in the spring, say about the beginning of fruitbloom,is a very good time. The troubles resulting from winteringare likely to be over then, with nothing to hinder a prosperouscareer.Q. I want to start an apiary and don't know where to obtainsome Italian bees. Will you please give me the desired information?A. I have no means of knowing any better than you. Yourfirst effort should be to get the bees as near by as possible, sinceexpressage is very expensive, and the railroads will not accept