MillerThousand AnswersBeekeepingQuestions.pdf - BioBees

+4 DR. miller'strp-bars prevents the cell from falling down. Generally, however,there is no need of the nail, for the frames come nearenough together to hold the cell; the wire serving to hold the cellii' place till the frames are shoved together.Cement for Hives.—Q. Do you think it would be all right tomake supers out of cement? Would it agree with the bees? Ican make them much cheaper than with lumber. (Arizona.)A. My guess would be that cement supers would be quiteobjectionable on account of their weight. It is also possible thatwith lis degrees in the shade they might be too hot.Q. How about concrete for hive-bottoms? I am setting someof my bees on blocks I make for them right on the cool ground.Can they be used for winter?A. They will probably work all right for either summer orwinter. Of course, it would seem as if concrete would give thebees "cold feet" in winter; but then, they don't need to put theirfeet on the concrete.Chaff Hives.—Q. I wish to work up to about 20 or 23 coloniesof bees and have no bee-cellar to winter them in. I think of usingnothing but chaff hives. Would you advise me to depend entirelyon such hives?A. I hardly dare advise. Chaff hives will make you less troublepreparing for winter, but they are cumbersome and unwieldy,and if they should perchance at any time pass into the possessionof someone having a cellar or wanting to take them to an outapiary,they would be objectionable. So it would not be a badplan for you to experiment a little trying both kinds, only be sureto have only one size of frames. In northern latitudes the chaffhive is counted valuable.Chestnut.—Q. How would chestnut lumber do for beehives?A. From my recollection of it in boyhood, I should call it bad.Chickens Eating Bees.—Q. Is it a common thing for chickensto eat bees? We had one that would stand in front of a beehiveand eat bees until it was full. I thought it would die, but it keptit up for two weeks, and was doing well.A. Testimony is somewhat mixed on this subject. For themost part it is claimed that chickens do not eat bees, or if theydo, it is only the drones. Some, however, say that chickens eatworkers, especially some chickens that have learned the trick.Chunk Honey (See Bulk-Comb Honey.)Cleome.—Q. What about artificial pasturage for bees? Is