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Queen Marking 2013
The Q mark colour for 2013 is red
WBKA is supported by
Everyone’s a winner
COMBINGS Vol 23 Number 3
December 2012
Wharfedale Beekeepers’ Association
Pure Honey Pure Delight
Patron The Duchess of Devonshire
Seen at the social
Support your local group activities
Ivor Flatman informs & advises
Honey show Results
Your Committee
President: Bruce Speed 01943 862273 [email protected]
Chairman: Simon Croker 01756 753145 [email protected]
Secretary: Andrew Prior 01756 770424 [email protected]
Treasurer David Bartlett 01943 600097 [email protected] & Webmaster: Membership: Peter Longbottom 01756 792837 [email protected]
General members: Val Ogden, Toni Killingray, Anne Jones , Martin Pettit
Apiaries: Barden Moor Paul Wilby 01756 798641 [email protected] Carter’s Lane Val Ogden 01943 602520 [email protected] Geoff Halsall 01943 608652 [email protected] Tarn Moor Peter Longbottom Youth Liaison Val Ogden Library Laurence Truman 01943 865665 [email protected]
Rhona Finlayson
Courses organisers Jill Campbell 01943 602962 [email protected]
Chris Smith
Social Secretary Toni Killingray
Editors Combings Toni Killingray 01943 865749 [email protected]
Anne Jones 01943 863760 [email protected]
Honey Show Anna Wray 01943 602363 [email protected]
WBKA Groups Martin Pettitt 01943 817677 [email protected] liaison
Special responsibilities
Combings is the newsletter of the Wharfedale Beekeepers Association and the views expressed are
not necessarily those of the Association or editors.
Contributions from the members are always welcome and can be sent to one of the editors:
Contributions are required 3 weeks before the months of publication of December, February, May
and September in Times New Roman, 9 point font with diagrams, photos etc separately .
FERA Bee Inspector for 2013
Regional Bee Inspector Ivor Flatman 01924 252795 or 07775 119436
Diary Dates 2013
Meetings are held at Christchurch, Ilkley unless otherwise specified.
Collecting a swarm in Suffolk
“Billy was one of the old people. The old people have gone and taken a lot of the truth out of the world with them. When Billy died, his wife walked down the garden and told the bees, and hung
black crepe on the hives. My grandfather did this too. He said that if you didn’t, the bees would die as well. Bees are dangerous to some folk and a gift to others. You’ll get someone who’ll get stung once and perish and another who’ll get stung all over and get cured of all manner of things. There were a rare lot of bees in the village in those days. When they swarmed we used to all rush
out into the garden with the fire irons and scuttle and bang away; that brought them down.”
Sammy Whitelaw, Farrier, in Akenfield by Ronald Blythe.
Acknowledgments to Bruce Speed
Tuesday 12th February
The Yard, Ilkley (behind
the Crescent Hotel)
Blow away your winter blues and join us for the Quiz night. The evening will include an update on the Bee Cosy from Chris Wray. You will not need to be a bee keeper to answer the questions and a great opportunity to get to acquaint yourself with other WBKA
members and know who might be able to give you a hand next season. Bring a friend if you wish.
Tuesday 26th March Gill Partridge Will talk on “ Hard Grafting - Two decades of living off bees”
Wednesday 17th April Halifax BKA are hosting a joint meeting
Tuesday 21st May “The Features of Propolis” Anant Paradkat, Bradford University One by product of our bees that is not commonly discussed.
Saturday 18th May Otley Show . WBKA will have a stall with educational displays including the virtual hive, bee friendly plants, honey tasting, honey for sale. Volunteers please contact Rob Claxton-Ingham on 01943 468353 or [email protected]
Saturday 15th June Meet at Tarn Moor for apiary visit and members bring and buy. Any surplus equipment old or new (not bees) and sell it on to others. WBKA asks for 10% of sale price for our funds.
Tuesday 17th September “Queen rearing/bee breeding” Mike Rowbottom, a new member of WBKA and chairman of Harrogate & Ripon Beekeepers
Thursday 24th October
Bolton Abbey Village Hall
Honey Show and AGM
Friday 25th November
Skipton Golf Club
Annual Dinner
disease prevention techniques. They have also set up good apiary hygiene facilities at the Association apiaries and taken heed of suggestions about segregation of colonies and the use of
an isolation apiary for swarms.
The question of the source of the infection still remains. In 2010 two nucs purchased from a supplier in the south had to be destroyed due to EFB, but these were dealt with very quickly and were not thought to present any risk to other colonies. H&RBKA provides me with an annual update of membership and all members are registered on BeeBase and therefore known to the Inspectorate. However, it is possible that there is still an unregistered apiary in the area belong-
ing to a beekeeper who is not a member of the Association. If so this apiary could be a reservoir of disease with the potential to cause recurrence of infection. This illustrates why every beekeeper should be registered on BeeBase, either by signing up on-line or through contacting
me or the NBU office.
Melissococcus plutonius, the causative agent for EFB, is a non-spore forming bacteria and as such relies on physical contact to spread. Bacteria are introduced to larvae within food from nurse bees and one to two days prior to capping, larvae die from the effects of starvation as the bacteria compete for food in the gut. Clinical signs of EFB will then become evident. Some larvae may survive, particularly if food is plentiful and develop normally, but will excrete the bacteria at pupation leaving behind high levels to be moved around by cell cleaners. Bacteria within the colony are present in the comb but also in honey, propolis and on the bees. Infection is spread readily between colonies by the beekeeper through the transfer of infected material but
also by the bees themselves, in the honey carried by swarms and through robbing.
What can the beekeeper do to minimise the risk of EFB occurring and subsequent spread in the apiary? Firstly learn how to recognise symptoms early – the NBU leaflet ‘Foul Brood diseases of Honey Bees’ has good illustrations, or better still attend one of the NBU comb workshops to see
disease at first hand – and examine the brood regularly.
Other measures include:
Practice good apiary hygiene; use clean overalls and gloves (preferably disposable) and wash
gloves and tools regularly in strong washing soda solution during inspections.
Practice partial barrier management (complete barrier management if disease is present) and
minimise robbing by clearing away any honey or wax.
Hive stray swarms onto foundation and do not feed for 3 days (unless starving) to allow the bees
to metabolise honey reserves before brood rearing commences.
Regularly and systematically replace brood comb, e.g. by Bailey comb change.
Finally, if you do see anything that alarms you, don’t delay but get in touch with me or the Sea-
sonal Bee Inspector for your area.
Ivor Flatman, Regional Bee Inspector
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First and seconds quality National Hive parts, clothing, foundation, jars, spacers, tools, smokers,
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Behind Harrogate Arms first left after Harlow Carr Gardens, Crag Lane, Harrogate
Editorial
Web site
Take a look at your web site at www.wharfedalebka.org.uk
Having kept bees now for the grand total of 18 months I have found myself this last month sitting
in amongst WBKA committee members in my first committee meeting. I don’t quite know how
that’s happened! What comes with that is sitting amongst some of the most experienced bee keep-
ers in our part of the UK.
Having always been fascinated by bee colonies, due to work, living in an area which was not
exactly the best region for bees to fly and being a full-time hands-on dad, I haven’t had the
opportunity to keep bees until last year. Within the last year or so though, two things have come
to be in my favour. Firstly I moved back to my home town of Ilkley and this Dad now has more
time for himself.
Having been invited and enjoyed being amongst the class of 2011, I have been very fortunate to
have benefitted from the knowledge and mentorship experience of Geoff Halsall and David
Bartlett, to both of whom I am very grateful. I am enjoying learning fast and now have three
healthy colonies going into winter 2012.
My purpose on the committee is to assist the wider membership to enjoy their bee keeping via the
co-ordination of the sub-groups. Already I have been tasked with the co-ordination and collation
of the winter bulk order, researching the best prices for our winter necessities and their distribu-
tion. Over the next few months I look forward to sharing your company, finding out how many
colonies you have, how they behave, and sharing a laugh and a smile over a coffee or a beer.
Kate joins me in wishing you all a very Happy Christmas and after winter treatments, I’m sure
you join me in hoping for a lot of sunshine with blue skies during 2013 and beyond.
Martin Pettitt
Chairman’s Message
As the year draws to a close so does our three year grant funding stream, so again the association
must be self supporting. However as an association we now have every conceivable item for hire
and use by members that any self respecting bee keeper would wish to find in their Christmas
stocking. David Bartlett and I will be busy through the winter months compiling an inventory and
hire fee list for circulation before next season.
As we all know this year has been disastrous for bees and bee keeping but behind the scenes
positive things have carried on for the association in difficult conditions with the completion of
ground works and installation of Tarn Moor apiary site and Parcevall Hall observation hive and
education display. Although development and maintenance will be on-going, they will be fit for
purpose next season and I will be seeking volunteers to assist in particular with demonstrations at
Parcevall Hall. It is the intention to hold grand openings of both sites next season with family
orientated Bee Fest days; more details in the next Combings.
The recently established area groups are doing great things but I would also invite you all, from
committee member to our newest member to come together as an association to use and be in-
volved in the projects. Most importantly however experienced or not we are we must take great
steps in improving our bee stocks and quality of bee. To this end and the benefit of all, I would ask
you to get involved in our bee breeding and improvement project under Peter Longbottom’s
guidance and leadership. This project was the catalyst for all the funding that will sustain the
WBKA and its membership for many years to come.
Finally don’t forget your oxalic treatments and hefting by way of a Christmas present to your bees.
Wishing you and yours a Merry Christmas & Happy New Year
Simon Croker
Our Annual Social Dinner
As usual the whole evening had a good buzz to it ! This year 60 of us got together at Skipton Golf
Club, the food was delicious and the company very entertaining. Thanks very much to Anna
Wray for her usual contribution of fabulous raffle prizes and to Val Ogden and Jill Campbell,
together they raised an amazing £152. Unfortunately everyone missed Peter’s honey sales this
year, hopefully we’ll all have a more productive season in 2013.
A big thank you to Anne Jones who in my absence organised everything, and also to all of you
who came, you all made it a very enjoyable event.
Toni Killingray
Thanks
The editors are grateful for the interesting contributions from various members for this edition.
Please can you look around for material or write an article for the February edition, copy due by
8th February 2013.
The Incidence of EFB in Yorkshire, Past and Present
For many years Yorkshire was generally thought of as a relatively disease free county. Admittedly there were occasional and sporadic cases of EFB in West Yorkshire in the early to mid 1990’s,
largely along the Calder Valley, but for almost the next 10 years only two apiaries in the whole county were known to be affected. However, since 2005 there has been a significant change in the
pattern with disease occurring more regularly and in many new areas.
Several instances have subsequently been traced back to the movement of affected colonies for
pollination or migratory honey crops – for example to a shared heather site from which other apparently healthy colonies have returned to their home apiaries only to develop disease symptoms the following year. EFB can have quite a long incubation or latent period in the colo-ny. In fact recent research using molecular diagnostics shows that there are many strains of EFB with differing degrees of pathogenicity. For this reason EFB may be considered an apiary disease and difficult to control on a single visit unless the whole apiary is treated at the same time (e.g. by shook swarm) as, by the time clinical symptoms are apparent in one colony it is possible that the
disease has spread to others in the apiary or in apiaries nearby.
Before the advent of Varroa bees were plentiful and hives themselves were more valuable than their contents. Swarms and colonies were often given away for nothing and most new beekeepers were able to source their bees locally. However Varroa, high winter losses and the tremendous surge in interest in recent years has resulted in demand far outstripping local supply and forced
many beekeepers to source their bees from much further afield. Many colonies and nucs have been obtained from more southerly counties where EFB is more prevalent and in some instances disease has been spread in this way. Suppliers are now encouraged to follow Fera’s Best Practice Guidelines for the sale of nucleus colonies so that beekeepers can purchase with confidence of obtaining healthy stock. However, bees from auctions, private sales and the internet should be
checked for disease prior to purchase.
The disease incidence maps on the NBU web site, BeeBase (www.nationalbeeunit.com), show much of East Yorkshire, the Yorkshire Dales and the industrial centre from Sheffield to Leeds to have remained clear of EFB. However, disease is slowly advancing into these areas, particularly
those with higher apiary density, and the source of the disease is not always apparent.
The outbreak in the Harrogate area this year is a prime example. Dhonn Atkinson, the Seasonal Bee Inspector, first found EFB in one garden apiary then another just a stone-throw away. Both cases appeared to be quite recent low level infections. A check of the NBU data base showed the scale of the task ahead with over 100 known apiaries listed within 5km of just the original find. Having just come out of hospital I was unable to help with the inspection programme but Sandra Kinchin came down from Richmond to assist. H&RBKA committee and members cooperated fully, enabling inspections to be carried out despite the often less than ideal conditions. In all 11
colonies in 7 apiaries showed clinical symptoms of EFB and were either destroyed or shook swarmed. None of these apiaries was thought to be a prime source of infection – all were recently set up or had been inspected and found clear in 2010 or 2011. The Association apiary at Harlow Carr was also inspected and found to be clear of infection. Nonetheless, as a precautionary meas-ure, the Harrogate committee imposed a voluntary restriction on the movement of bees out of the
area.
H&RBKA were keen to dispel any complacency that may have arisen through being in an area traditionally free from disease. They arranged a suitable venue for a Disease Workshop provided by the NBU, where members were able to look at examples of diseased comb and learn about
Apology
In the last edition of Combings, there were some inaccuracies in the report on EFB in the Harro-
gate area. We apologise for this and Ivor Flatman has given us a definitive report on the outbreak
this year. Eds
The moor gave less: the heather report
By early July I was weary of feeding bees, and collecting and losing swarms. However the better
weather that followed let me think I would have one colony to take to the heather. I started my
preparations, by ensuring that I would have 11 frames packed with brood and eggs, and only a
small amount of stores.
This year, the heather flowered very late, so it wasn’t until 15th August, 12 or so days later than
usual, that Peter Longbottom and I took our hives up to Barden Moor. Peter had four hives, I had
one, and one or two more appeared later.
My bees were going to be cosy. Based on tips from an article by a commercial bee-keeper, I
covered my hive with thick polystyrene, which I happened to have, and an offcut of thick pond
liner, the idea being to keep the hive warm. I had also made a “heather floor” to a design
following principles explained to me by Alan Thompson. The aim was to cut out draughts. The
floor had two storeys, with a ramp leading up inside from the small entrance so that the bees came
on to the upper storey at the back, and thus entered the body of the hive.
My hive returned with the brood box full of honey, and a small surplus, 8lbs, for me. Using
uninsulated hives, Peter had less. The season, starting so late, had been very short. Ivor Flatman
mentioned at the honey show that we were not unusual; it’s been a poor year for heather honey all
round. All in all, a very poor return for the effort.
However the idea of insulating the hive proved worthwhile, in my experiment of one.
The polystyrene sheets were a nuisance to deal with during inspections, so I will try a polystyrene
hive next year. These are used by a professional bee-keeper in Scotland for his trips to the heather;
see a post showing the photos of “into the lion’s den” (that’s his pseudonym) on the beekeeping
forum, www.beekeepingforum.co.uk. The photos are well worth a look.
We have an excellent site for those who want some pure heather honey. There is no doubt that
there is plenty forage in a good year. If you would like to have a go next year, contact me.
Finally, thanks to Paul Wilby and the Duke and Duchess of Devonshire for allowing access to the
site.
John Forsyth
How to while away those winter days
WBKA has a Burco boiler suitable for cleaning up your frames in readiness for next year.
Contact Simon Croker to borrow it.
Bee Breeding Progress
Peter Longbottom
WoW report
Longbee
Notes from committee meeting—November 2012
Martin Pettit has been co-opted onto the committee as sub-group membership co-ordinator with
a remit to encourage the development of the groups.
WBKA are hoping to hold some an open day at Tarn Moor in conjunction with the cemetery
plot viewing day in early summer and demonstration days at Parcevall Hall Apiary (two hives
and an observation hive) during the summer holidays. If you are able to help with these, please
contact Simon Croker.
The beginners’ course will held over 3 weeks on Mondays and Wednesdays from 4th March
2013 at Craven College. There may still be some vacancies—contact Jill Campbell or Chris
Smith on 01943 602962 if you are interested in attending.
WBKA now has 112 members as of last year and look forward to receiving subscriptions from
the 67 not yet paid for 2012/13.
Beekeeping Berber style
While on holiday in Marrakech, I was delighted to find an exhibition about beekeeping in the Atlas
Mountains.
The Majorelle Gardens are deservedly one of the city's main attractions, with a fantastic collection
of cacti and bamboos, beautifully presented in an atmospheric setting. One of the Garden's
evocative buildings contains a museum of Berber life, including, to my excitement, a display about
beekeeping.
Ok, the display was actually a cabinet of smokers made of pottery. These would have been waved
near the hive, I imagine, like incense burners in church. But there was also a short film.
The film showed a modern-day beekeeper in the Atlas mountains first cleaning his hive, a tube
about 1 metre long, maybe 25 cm wide, made of basket weave and, I guess, clay. Then we saw him
climb a tree to place this hive near a swarming cloud of bees. It was explained that he collected
wild bees.
Next we saw the beekeeper fill his smoker, a familiar modern metal and bellows style, and head off
to tend his hives. He had perhaps 10 tubes laid horizontally side by side, stuck together with clay.
After smoking one colony, he stuck a tool into the hive, fiddled about for a bit and pulled out a
circular comb of honey. All this without protection and no sign of being stung!
The commentary mentioned that honey is an important crop, and that the bees collect nectar from a
wide range of plants, including eucalyptus. Eucalyptus was introduced to Morocco in the 50’s as a
forestry plant to feed pulp mills. Now it’s a major source of nectar.
John Forsyth
Honey Show 25th October Results
Ivor Flatman again judged the show and gave us an informative review. Entries were fewer than
last year, a reflection of the poor weather experienced in 2012.
Class 1 Light honey
1st Peter Longbottom
2nd John Forsyth
3rd David Bartlett
Class 7 Cut Coomb
No entry
Class 2 Medium honey
1st Colin Pack
2nd Brian Spence
3rd David Bartlett
Class 8 Jar for Sale
1st Peter Longbottom
2nd Geoff Halsall
3rd Brian Spence
Class 3 Dark Honey
No entry
Class 9 Wax block
1st Brian Spence
2nd Peter Longbottom
3rd Colin Pack
Class 4 Set/creamed honey
1st Peter Longbottom
2nd Geoff Halsall
3rd Colin Pack
Class 10 Wax exhibit
1st Peter Longbottom
2nd Sue Dixon
3rd Brian Spence
Class 5 Heather Honey
1st John Forsyth
2nd Peter Longbottom
3rd Chris Wray
Class 11 Novice Class
1st Rob Claxton-Ingham
Class 6 Super frame
No entry
Class 12 Photograph
1st Sue Dixon
2nd Rhona Finlayson
3rd Colin Pack
Class 13 Cake
1st Rob Claxton-Ingham
2nd Colin Pack
3rd Val Ogden
Best in Show
John Forsyth
(heather honey)
Wharfedale Cup
1st Peter Longbottom
2nd Brian Spence
3rd Colin Pack/John Forsyth
Novice Cup
Rob Claxton-Ingham
WBKA Groups
Committee liaison: Martin Pettitt
NoW (North of Wharfedale )
Urs Ziltener [email protected]
John Chapman [email protected]
WoW (West of Wharfedale)
Louise Farnell [email protected]
Waleed Al Muhandis waleedalmuhandis|@hotmail.co.uk
Peter Longbottom [email protected]
CoW (Central Wharfedale)
Martin Pettitt [email protected]
Martin Smith [email protected]
MOB (Menston, Otley, Burley)
Colin Pack [email protected]
Rob Claxton-Ingham [email protected]
Making a Good Start
Good bee keeping should be a continuous cycle. Laying strong foundations now will ensure good
wintering so we have strong and healthy bees in early spring to take advantage of a spring honey
flow.
Healthy bees and brood - This is a result of regular monitoring and varroa control. Bees free
from disease – acarine/nosema and the more serious EFB and AFB
Honey and pollen - Stores need to be checked and a strong syrup or fondant should be fed to the
bees if required
Early pollen - Bees need a stimulant or pollen starter
Strong colony - A brood with lots of young bees
Good (young) laying queen -A good brood pattern should be evident , a young queen means
more young’ winter’ bees
Good site and no pests - Keep hives dry and protect them from pests such as mice, woodpeckers
etc. The hive should be sound and waterproof
Notes from Ivor Flatman’s Talk in September
Pollen rich fondant is obtainable from Bradford Beekeepers and Thornes (see web sites) Eds
More stuff I’ve learned from the web
The internet, as you will know, has loads of stuff on it. Here’s more about what I’ve found in it.
I’ve joined Beekeeping Forum (www.beekeepingforum.co.uk). That’s a discussion group which is
full of useful advice. For example recently I’ve read about how to take bees to the heather, on a
discussion thread started by a commercial beekeeper who took several hundred hives to the
Cairngorms. His photos of the trip are amazing. And he took the time to explain what he does, the
equipment he uses and the results he gets.
I bought a cheap refractometer recently; Beekeeping Forum has a super video clip which explains
exactly how to use it. I even saved money by learning that a small amount of extra virgin olive oil
can be used for calibration, instead of an expensive phial of reference oil.
And I also read about a beekeeper who makes hives from Kingspan (the foam sheets which
builders use as insulation). He included photos and plans, so anyone can have a go.
I highly recommend Beekeeping Forum. Most people on it are very serious about beekeeping and
give advice freely. Many are very experienced, a mix of commercial beeks and serious hobbyists.
There’s an entertaining man from Finland, some from France too. So the perspective offered is
wide. Join Beekeeping Forum. You will definitely learn something. And you could save a bit of
money like I did.
John Forsyth
DON’T LET THIS BE YOUR LAST COMBINGS NOR LOOSE YOUR INSURANCE
WBKA 2012/13 SUBCRIPTIONS NOW DUE
Please send you subscription to David Bartlett, Malm House, 53 Grove Road, Ilkley, LS29 9PQ. Full members £30 Social £10 Student & juniors £15
WBKA Library
The WBKA Library currently holds about 90 items, including books
covering most aspects of beekeeping, DEFRA advisory pamphlets and a few beekeeping videos.
The library books are listed on the WBKA web site at
http://www.wharfedalebka.org.uk/library.html. There is also a link on that page there which can
be used to email us with any enquiries. The email address is [email protected] and this is
the best way to contact us although if there are any members without email access,
Laurence's mobile number is 07763 487213.
Continuing the approach taken by John Forsyth, members can contact us to request items from
the library and we will bring them along to the next Association meeting for collection. We will
also try to be at most meetings with a selection of books in case anyone is interested on the
night. A few books or videos seem to have been out on loan for several years. In the interests of
updating the Association records, if there are any members who have had a book for a long time,
they can "renew" the loan by emailing us with the details.
The most recent additions to the library include Bees in the City: The Urban Beekeepers’ Hand-
book by Brian McCallum and Alison Benjamin published in 2011 and The Bee-Friendly Bee-
keeper by David Heef published in 2010. There seem to have been no additions to the Library
this year but we understand that there is money available for new items and if any members
would like to request additions to the Library we will follow this up on their behalf.
Laurence & Rhona
Class 1 Light honey
1st Peter Longbottom
2nd John Forsyth
3rd David Bartlett
Class 7 Cut Coomb
No entry
Class 2 Medium honey
1st Colin Pack
2nd Brian Spence
3rd David Bartlett
Class 8 Jar for Sale
1st Peter Longbottom
2nd Geoff Halsall
3rd Brian Spence
Class 3 Dark Honey
No entry
Class 9 Wax block
1st Brian Spence
2nd Peter Longbottom
3rd Colin Pack
Class 4 Set/creamed honey
1st Peter Longbottom
2nd Geoff Halsall
3rd Colin Pack
Class 10 Wax exhibit
1st Peter Longbottom
2nd Sue Dixon
3rd Brian Spence
Class 5 Heather Honey
1st John Forsyth
2nd Peter Longbottom
3rd Chris Wray
Class 11 Novice Class
1st Rob Claxton-Ingham
Class 6 Super frame
No entry
Class 12 Photograph
1st Sue Dixon
2nd Rhona Finlayson
3rd Colin Pack
Class 13 Cake
1st Rob Claxton-Ingham
2nd Colin Pack
3rd Val Ogden
Best in Show
John Forsyth
(heather honey)
Wharfedale Cup
1st Peter Longbottom
2nd Brian Spence
3rd Colin Pack/John Forsyth
Novice Cup
Rob Claxton-Ingham
What a waste of bees & brandy
I have just finished reading “The Diary of a Farmer’s Wife 1796-1797”, published by Penguin Books. The diarist, Anne Hughes, lived in a remote country farmhouse near Chepstow, Monmouthshire, and for a year in her life (1796-97) she kept a diary of daily events. Of particular interest to beekeepers are the entries for the 28 & 29 September 1796.
On the 28 September her husband tells her it is time ‘to take the honey from the bees’, and ‘so he to the making of sulfur papers’. He puts them too close to the fire and they flare up burning his fingers. However, ‘later (the) Carters wife did cum and make a goodlie pile of the papers.’ The next day a big hole was dug in the ground for each skep ‘where in we (but not the husband because of his burnt fingers!!) put a sulfur paper which we did set alight, and put the skeppe of bees on the topp. The smell of the sulfur do kill the bees, and so we do get the honey therfrom’.
She does admit that the killing of the bees is ‘a waste of good bees’ but comments that they want the honey ‘using a gret lot in the hous for divers things’. When they were sure that the skeps were beeless – the Carter’s wife had already fallen backwards and sat in a skep of bees with dramatic results – they ‘brake the honey comb up and hit it all upp; and hang it up in a clene cotton bag to run it through; then we shall strain it divers times, and when
clere putt it into the potts reddie to use’.
As they have killed their bees they can not give the wet comb wax back to them, instead they use it to make Honey Wine. The wax from three skeps is mixed with 2 ‘big measures’ of water and boiled until the wax ‘do swim on the top’. The wax is skimmed off and while still hot the liquor is put into a ‘vat’ with 6 lemons and 6 oranges cut into pieces and 3 pieces of cinnamon. The ‘vat’ is covered with a clean cloth and left for three days; then stirred hard for 10 minutes.
This process is repeated until 12 days have passed, then it is strained very carefully into a cask. For each large measure (1 gallon?) of liquid 1 quart of fine brandy, 3 dried clover blossoms and 1 egg shell (broken into a fine powder) are added. The bung is left out of the cask until the ‘clover blows do work out on top of the cask’, then the bung is inserted into the cask and it is suggested that you
‘keep a-while before tappeing’.
Incidentally, the wax is boiled many times until it ‘be a nice yeller culler and no bits of black in it’, then it can be stored for use in cleaning and polishing harness.
Maybe we should have a honey wine and harness polish section at the Honey Show next year!!
David Bartlett
Why do bees go ape?
This year has been exceptional, but you don’t have to keep bees for long before you learn the hard way that some bees are born evil, and others just have their moments. The evil ones tend to be the followers too and are bad news. The quick solution is to kill the Q and unit the hive to one better
mannered but how to do if you cannot get near them? – see SOLUTION below.
In a consultative capacity, a frequent ‘complaint’ through this s.c. summer was that moderately behaved bees, gentle even, had suddenly become aggressive to the point of being unmanageable, unmanageable to the point where a sting within 10 seconds of opening became 5 then 25 very rapidly. It is the nature of bees to go to another’s rescue, but they generally don’t bother. That did not apply to all of my hives this year. I don’t pretend to know all the answers of why this should be – you’ll have to ask Geoff for those – but in my experience there are a couple of frequent
reasons and one or two more obscure.
There are always, of course, temperamental bees which modify their behaviour for the better in a honey flow mainly because they are so busy foraging, packing, fanning, comb building and capping that they haven’t the time/energy/will to be anything else and they become a joy to work with. If you get your first bees at that happy time, it could be when the flow stops that your
troubles begin.
It used to be said that, in mating with several drones, the mood of her offspring could change when, with time, a different drone’s spermatozoa came to be employed. This theory has been debunked by the knowledge that the Q receives many times more spermatozoa than she will ever
use and, after a thorough mixing in her spermatheca, any excess is voided.
They say that it takes the bees a day to return to normal after a brood box inspection. It has to be done, but the bees become resentful and tetchy with constant disturbance. Though it is pleasure
for us to look through a hive, overdoing tends to bring diminishing returns.
Generally, bees become possessive as the weather turns colder and naturally want to see off any ‘big bad bears’ going through the motions of wanting to pinch their winter stores. If your bees are queen-right at the end of July, there should be no reason to delve deeply into the hive thereafter.
Work quickly with smoke when inserting porter escapes and that should be the end of it.
Bees that are queenless usually become tetchy, especially if the virgin is delayed from going on
her mating flight(s). I haven’t read of the reason for this but suspect that it could be something to do with, having no brood to foster, the workers lose some of their raison d’etre. It is, of course, even worse when there is no virgin in the hive either – not easy to spot. If a feed does not bring her into lay, the top tip under these circumstances is to put in a frame of brood with eggs in from
another hive. If Q cells aren’t formed - have patience; if they are, you know where you stand.
During intermittent periods of wet/cold weather when a potential flow starts and stops, frustrated foragers can become tetchy. You can always expect more trouble when foragers are at home because they are the ones that fly and sting. Examining bees in the warmest part of the day helps –
well it does if thermals don’t result in a build up of shower cloud just as you get your smoker lit!
Combine any of the circumstances given above and real unpleasantness ensues!
SOLUTION
Like many others I had three colonies this year that became unmanageable, ones for whom no amount of armour was adequate. With the partial success of the breeding programme some re-
queening could (in theory) be done but first the old Q had to be taken out.
I had heard of the old ruse of moving the colony to a different part of the apiary to ‘leak’ the flying bees, leaving only the pussy cats and the Q to handle. What I didn’t appreciate was how short a distance you needed to move the hive, and how quickly the bee’s temper in the brood box im-
proved.
The TECHNIQUE I used so that I could examine the brood without being attacked, then re-unite
the flying bees back with the original brood.
Equipment:-
Spare stand, crown board cover, spare brood box containing several frames of foundation.
Set spare stand about 3m behind the hive.
If crown board feed holes open, have a square of carpet to hand and place in position
quickly after removing roof.
Crack open the hive at the brood box/floor junction and lift the whole hive onto the spare stand. You can be a little rough to get the bees flying from the open bottom of the brood
box (with this in mind, I used no smoke).
Quickly set up the spare dummy brood box on the original stand and replace roof on it.
Watch what happens for a couple of minutes (more bees move into the dummy than you
think).
Again using no smoke, examine the brood frames and manipulate (eg find the queen) as
required – they really did let me!
Remove dummy brood box to one side and replace original hive complete on original floor.
Shake all the flying bees off the foundation – watch them cluster at the entrance.
Move on to the next troublesome unit.
Peter Longbottom
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