C. P. Dadant, of Hamilton--Number of colonies, 350; increase, 30; honey
produced, 400 pounds of honey-dew and 500 pounds of Spanish-needle
honey. Bees in good condition for winter, packed out-of-doors.
Geo. Poindexter, of Kenney--Number of colonies, 90; increase, 3. Amount
of honey obtained, 2,000 pounds of clover, and 800 pounds of extracted
fall honey. Bees wintered in the cellar, and are in good condition
now. He clips the queen’s wings to prevent swarming, and believes in
ventilation to induce the bees to work in the supers.
A. N. Draper, of Upper Alton, had about 300 colonies in the spring,
and sold 60 colonies, with no increase during the season. He had about
enough honey to winter the bees out-of-doors, packed in forest leaves.
His bees are kept in four apiaries. He says that white clover was a
failure this year. He prevents swarming by having large hives, and
plenty of ventilation. He harvested the most honey from asparagus, of
which there are a hundred acres in the neighborhood. This honey is of
poor quality.
Chas. Becker, of Pleasant Plains, had 53 colonies in the spring, and
increased to 62. He took about 700 pounds of honey. The bees are in
good condition for winter. He grows small fruit in connection with
bee-keeping. For extracting he uses three sets of full frames--supers
full of comb to each hive. Induces the bees to go into the supers by
placing partly-filled sections in the middle of the supers. He raises
the hives from the bottom-board during the swarming season, and thinks
it prevents swarming, and induces the bees to work in the supers.
J. Q. Smith, of Lincoln, had 53 colonies in the Spring. Increase 23. He
had no honey until August, except honey-dew, which he fed to the young
swarms. In the latter part of August he got 1,800 pounds of fair fall
honey, principally heart’s-ease and sweet clover, with Spanish-needle
at the last. He wintered his bees on the summer stands, packing the top
with leaves, and no protection on the sides.
Geo. F. Robbins, of Mechanicsburg, had 60 colonies, spring count, and
increased to 80. He produced 1,100 pounds of honey, half comb and half
extracted. There was some honey-dew, and the balance heart’s-ease and
Spanish-needle. Bees are in good condition for wintering out-of-doors.
He covers the brood-frames for winter with honey-boards made of cheap
lumber and burlap, with chaff or leaves above. He covers some of the
smaller hives with larger ones, and fills the space with leaves.
Mr. Black asked Mr. Dadant if spring stimulating paid. Answer--If
properly done, it may pay. He used to practice it when they did their
own work, but quit it when they began to hire. Mr. Dadant thought that
bees wintered, and also went through the spring, better in the sun than
in the shade. He thinks the chaff hive a failure.
C. M. Beall, of Clayton, had 10 colonies in the spring, and no
increase. He had no honey except 150 pounds of honey-dew. The bees were
in good condition for wintering in the cellar. He has no winter loss in
the cellar.
J. M. Hambaugh, of Spring, had 115 colonies in the spring, and
increased to 120. He produced 1,000 pounds of extracted--half honey-dew
and clover mixed, the balance Spanish-needle of superior quality. His
bees were in good condition for wintering, partly in the cellar and
partly on the summer stands. He removes the honey-board for cellar
wintering and replaces it with a ventilator, giving air at the top.
S. N. Black, of Clayton, had 37 colonies in the spring, and 44 now. He
produced 150 pounds of mainly white clover, buckwheat and heart’s-ease
honey. Bees were in fair condition for wintering. He has but little
loss either in cellar or out-door wintering. He expected to put them
into the cellar this winter.
On motion by A. N. Draper, Article 5 of the By-Laws was amended,
changing the words “Upon the Executive Committee,” to “Upon an order
signed by the President, and countersigned by the Secretary.” Carried
by a two-thirds vote.
The convention then adjourned _sine die_.