Apiculture Commons^™

Evicting Bees From Houses, A Kessell

Journal of the Department of Agriculture, Western Australia, Series 3

Every year, the Apicultural Branch receives a number of inquiries from harassed householders concerning methods of evicting bee colonies which have taken up their abode in houses. Cavity walls often provide cosy quarters for swarms seeking accommodation, while others establish themselves in chimneys, ventilators and under floors.

[One of an ongoing series of articles, collectively titled: Bees and Honey]

Raising Queen Bees, R S. Coleman

Journal of the Department of Agriculture, Western Australia, Series 3

Most beekeepers are constantly seeking new and better methods of raising good queen bees and these suggestions, while capable of many refinements, will give good results for small-scale beekeepers when they wish to re-queen their hives. Most commercial apiarists have their own favourite methods incorporating variations of these ideas.

[One of an ongoing series of articles, collectively titled: Bees and Honey]

Control Of Swarming, R S. Coleman

Journal of the Department of Agriculture, Western Australia, Series 3

It has often been said that the secret of getting a high yield of honey is to have a large field force of young bees in every hive at the beginning of the nectar flow. The colonies should not have to build up numerical strength when they should be collecting nectar. It is just as important for the apiarist to have a large proportion of field bees compared with hive bees as it is to have well-bred queens, efficient equipment and all the other factors which make for success in beekeeping.

Preparing Beeswax For Market, R S. Coleman

Journal of the Department of Agriculture, Western Australia, Series 3

Beeswax is an extremely valuable commercial product in these days, and no apiarist can afford to neglect this important by-product of the honey industry. Apart from the large quantities needed within the industry for the manufacture of foundation comb, beeswax has a wide variety of industrial uses. It is an important component of polishes and is widely used as a waterproofing agent and in the insulating of delicate electrical equipment.

[One of an ongoing series of articles, collectively titled: Bees and Honey]

Bees In Box Hives, A Kessell

Journal of the Department of Agriculture, Western Australia, Series 3

The keeping of bees in other than properly appointed hives with standard frames is illegal in Western Australia as such hives make it almost impossible to inspect the swarms in order to check for disease. Nevertheless, beekeepers occasionally encounter swarms which have established themselves or have been established in fruit cases or other types of boxes or containers.

[One of an ongoing series of articles, collectively titled: Bees and Honey]