British bee journal and bee-keepers adviser (1905) (20228010418)

Title: British bee journal & bee-keepers adviser
Identifier: britishbeejourna1905lond (find matches)
Year: 1873 (1870s)
Authors:
Subjects: Bees
Publisher: London
Contributing Library: UMass Amherst Libraries
Digitizing Sponsor: Boston Library Consortium Member Libraries



Text Appearing Before Image:
June 1, 1905) THE BRITISH BEE JOURNAL. 215 HOMES OF THE HONEY BEE. THE APIARIES OF OUR READERS. In response to our request, Mr. Knew- stubb, who is seen in his bee-garden illus- trated below, sends the following notes of his bee-experiences. He says: — " I cannot claim to be the pioneer of our household in the art of bee-keeping ; the palm in this particular case must be given to my elder -Brother, to whose perse- verance and interest in the craft the apiary shown in the accompanying photo is a standing testimony. Although for some nine years now he has been out of touch with the bees, I am still able to draw upon his experience in time of need. "As will be guessed, the hives (number- in the background, are all home-made, and the hives will, I think, compare favourably with those from well-known manufacturers costing well on for £1 each ami over. No bees are kept in the house, which is used solely for manipula- ting and storage purposes. The hives are worked mainly for extracted honey ; we find that the best results are obtained in this way, taking into account the minimised risk of conveyance, and the comparative ease with which honey in bulk can be pi-oduced and dealt with. " The figures seen in the centre are my two sisters, the one to the left being my chief helper in the work ; the other one is away from home most of the year and
Text Appearing After Image:
MR. A. KNEWSTUBBS APIARY, LOXG MARTON, CUMBERLAND. ing about twenty-five) are all on the movable frame system, but an examina- tion of our storage-room would reveal the old, old story of evolution from the straw- skep to the modern frame-hive, and I can just recall the time when the original straw-skep was re-instated in its old place to adorn the garden—at least, that was the purpose my father declare! it was brought out for, but he doesn't say so now. " Although always taking good care to keep at arm's length myself, I remember very well the tortures that my brother had to endure in the form of stings until a better knowledge of bee management and the introduction of the frame hive brought about an improved state of things. " The hives, along with the bee-house consequently cannot take part in the many duties that can always be found for femi- nine hands in the apiary. " For myself it cannot be said that I took to bee-keeping simply for love of the cause. I'm afraid it was more for the sake of the ' grist' that the produce of the bees' labour would bring to the mill than for any interest I had in them as a hobby. Nevertheless, I find a good deal of pleasure in working amongst the little labourers, even though much of it has to be done after working hours ; while with regard to the £ s. d. I have never yet found the balance on the wrong side, and sometimes they have left a substantial sum to the good. " As regards the past season of 1904, howeVer, I am sorry to say it was a some-