It is always a joy to encounter someone who excels at some worthy pursuit! Mr. Manum was one of these individuals and his contributions to apiarists were considerable. A. E. Manum was a more scientific beekeeper than many of his contemporaries.
The entrance is through the stand underneath the brood chamber and cannot be clogged by snow, is protected from rain, and by means of a slide can be graduated from two inches long by three-eighths of an inch wide in winter to fourteen inches long by two inches wide—the full summer width when the slide is removed.
Figure 4 shows a Crane clamp of seven two-pound sections, with the separaters.
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Addison County, Vermont, celebrated for its pure-bred Merino sheep and horses, also stands high as a honey producing region. The heavy clay soil favors an abundant growth of white clover, which usually yields large quantities of the finest honey. Basswood trees also abound. The surplus honey yield being of short duration and very heavy, allows quick work by the bees, which insures delicate white comb and, with good management, completely filled boxes. This, with its fine quality, gives Addison comb honey its justly-deserved reputation.
Numerous farmers and a few specialists scattered about the county keep bees. In some cases 200 colonies are kept in one yard with good results, while from forty to 100 is the usual number. Many with no love for the pursuit, but who have engaged in it simply for the dollars and cents to be made by following the instructions of leading bee masters, have found it as profitable or more so than any other branch of their farm work, and now market their ton or two of comb honey yearly. The specialists who run a number of large yards in different locations and make it their principal business, have also been successful in securing from ten to twenty tons of honey in a single good season.
The most extensive apiarist in this section and probably the one having the largest number of colonies in New England is A. E. Manum. He commenced in 1870 with two colonies and, although like other beekeepers he soon found that a good season was usually followed by a poor one, his success led him to extend the business, and in the spring of 1885 he had in five different yards 470 colonies. That season was an unusual one, and he obtained from them nineteen tons of comb honey and three tons of extracted honey, and an increase in bees, making 850 colonies in the fall. This large crop was nearly all gathered in twelve days, and one of the best colonies on scales at Yard No. 2, while working on basswood, gathered in one day thirty-three pounds and in four days 124 pounds. The largest yield from one hive was 228 pounds of comb honey. His greatest yield in 1883 was 312 pounds of comb honey from the bees in one hive.
The most extensive apiarist in this section and probably the one having the largest number of colonies in New England is A. E. Manum. He commenced in 1870 with two colonies and, although like other beekeepers he soon found that a good season was usually followed by a poor one, his success led him to extend the business, and in the spring of 1885 he had in five different yards 470 colonies. That season was an unusual one, and he obtained from them nineteen tons of comb honey and three tons of extracted honey, and an increase in bees, making 850 colonies in the fall. This large crop was nearly all gathered in twelve days, and one of the best colonies on scales at Yard No. 2, while working on basswood, gathered in one day thirty-three pounds and in four days 124 pounds. The largest yield from one hive was 228 pounds of comb honey. His greatest yield in 1883 was 312 pounds of comb honey from the bees in one hive.
The following illustration and indented description are NOT from this article. I thought they added to it, however.
No. 1.—This picture shows A. E. Manum's sidehill apiary. This spot was selected because the ground is descending, thus affording good drainage and Mr. Manum thinks the bees can locate their hives better in such a place, especially the young queens when they go out to mate; and as every hive can be seen from the honey-house, the attendant can be watching for swarms while working inside. It must not be supposed that this hill is very steep, as the picture would lead one to think, as the descent is very slight; neither are the hives arranged on the amphitheater plan, but are set In straight rows. Mr. Manum has three apiaries on level ground, and he finds the water from melting snow often makes it too damp for the bees; hence his preference for a slope.
As an offset to this and the previous good years, each season since 1885 has been a poor one, and his bees have not paid expenses. With a few exceptions in favored localities, beekeepers everywhere have fared the same, although three such poor seasons in succession are unparalleled in the history of the industry in this country.
Mr. Manum’s out-apiaries are from two to sixteen miles from the home yard, and the accompanying engravings present an idea of their arrangement and surroundings. The long rows of symmetrical and neatly-painted hives covering a hillside or appearing from among the trees of an orchard arrest attention and excite interest. In the lower left-hand corner is a view in the home apiary at swarming time, showing three swarms clustered on catchers, and Mr. Manum about to carry one to its new hive. The upper picture is a view of the Sincon apiary, on Yard No. 6, now moved to a more favorable location; and in the lower right-hand corner is a winter scene at the home apiary.
At the start Mr. Manum tried all the different hives and studied and experimented to get the best for practical work. By combining, modifying and inventing new features he turned out that which met his ideas and which with a system of management suited to it is now used in all his apiaries and many others.
The hive is double-walled and consists of a stand, inner hive 0r brood chamber and an outer case (see Figs. 2 and 3).
The outer case is movable and is in three separate sections. The roof is of clapboards. In each gable is a two-inch auger hole for ventilation. This is protected by a wire cloth funnel projecting outward, which allows the bees to leave one at a time, but not to enter. This is an important proviso when bees are hastily shut in or when surplus honey is removed. The three inch space between the walls is filled with chaff or sawdust, which is allowed to remain winter and summer. When damp, it can be readily replaced. Having so many loose parts, the hive can be moved without heavy lifting, and when properly packed is sufficient protection from New England winters. The hive stands rest on two lengths of joist to keep them off the ground, and are set perfectly level. Hives once located are not afterward moved unless carried away from the yard.
The brood chamber is covered by a board, when the sections for honey are not in place, and contains twelve hanging frames twelve inches long by nine-and-one-half inches deep. The surplus arrangement consists of cases, at one end of which are a follower and wood screw by which the sections are tightly clamped together. Each section is supplied with a full sheet of foundation and between each row are placed thin wood separators to insure perfect combs.
Figure 4 shows a Crane clamp of seven two-pound sections, with the separaters.
Figure 5 illustrates the Bristol clamp of sixteen one-pound sections, one of which is raised and shows the sheet of foundation in place.
Mr. Manum was probably the first to make a white poplar dovetailed section, which is not so much used.
Previous to this they were of pine, and made to nail. This section. put together with glue, is not only the strongest but the neatest section in use.
Two of the Bristol clamps cover the brood chamber and can be tiered up as high as desired.
Figure 3 shows the hive with the outer case removed and three Crane clamps in position.
Mr. Manum has lately discarded all but one-pound sections. When filled with finished combs, the cases are disconnected from the brood chamber, and before they are removed to the honey house the bees find their way out at the bee escape in the gable. A cord and a simple device allows the hive cover to be tipped back instead of having to lift them bodily when opened.
The hives are five feet from each other in rows twelve feet apart. To prevent upsetting by heavy storms in winter, a large cord is thrown across the roof and fastened to a stake driven in the ground on each side. During the winter everything needed in the summer campaign is prepared ready to be quickly supplied to the different yards by the teams which are then constantly on the road. In the spring at certain intervals Mr. Manum and his assistants spend a day in each apiary giving that aid to colonies which is so important.
The hives are five feet from each other in rows twelve feet apart. To prevent upsetting by heavy storms in winter, a large cord is thrown across the roof and fastened to a stake driven in the ground on each side. During the winter everything needed in the summer campaign is prepared ready to be quickly supplied to the different yards by the teams which are then constantly on the road. In the spring at certain intervals Mr. Manum and his assistants spend a day in each apiary giving that aid to colonies which is so important.
These rounds are made more and more often until the swarming season is about to commence, when one competent person is placed in charge and is in constant attendance for six or eight weeks, or until the honey season is over. Board is usually obtained at the farm house near which the yard is located, and the help are continually employed in hiving swarms, putting on or taking off boxes and in attending to other necessary details.
As experienced men are not always to be had, many knowing nothing of the business must be taught, and as they usually commence for themselves as soon as really competent, this instruction must be given again and again. After a few weeks instruction some are able to do nicely the remainder of the season with occasional looking after. Women are also employed, and one who did not know a queen from a drone when she commenced, took entire charge of 116 colonies the second season.
At each apiary there is a building containing a honey room where clamps of honey are temporarily stored, and a work room where fixtures not in use are also housed. In each yard one hive stands on scales, of which a close watch is kept after the clover and basswood blossoms open. On the front of every hive in plain black figures is the colony’s number, while inside is a record of the colony, its origin, age of queen, date of each examination that season and their condition when examined. This is written in abbreviated characters on a piece of section or smooth board and laid on the packing.
At each apiary there is a building containing a honey room where clamps of honey are temporarily stored, and a work room where fixtures not in use are also housed. In each yard one hive stands on scales, of which a close watch is kept after the clover and basswood blossoms open. On the front of every hive in plain black figures is the colony’s number, while inside is a record of the colony, its origin, age of queen, date of each examination that season and their condition when examined. This is written in abbreviated characters on a piece of section or smooth board and laid on the packing.
The apiarist also keeps in a book a list of the colonies casting swarms, and of those requiring special attention at a certain time. The wings of all queens are clipped to prevent their going off with the swarms. When the latter attempt to leave, they are caught by an arrangement consisting of a wire cloth cage fastened to a pole. It is made to stand anywhere by two legs, which fold up when not in use. A sufficient number of these are always at hand. When a swarm issues, the queen is caught on the ground near the hive and placed in the cage of the catcher, which is stood or held in the midst of or near the flying swarm, and the bees soon settle upon it, as seen in Figure 1.
They are then left, and attention is given to the others, which usually issue at about the same time. If the swarm has gone some distance, or clustered in the top of a tall tree. it will soon return, as it is without a queen. So the catcher containing their queen is stood in front of the hive from which they came, and as they return they find her and cluster upon it. To make this more certain, the entrance of the old hive is covered with a cloth.
This plan differs from that of most beekeepers and enables Mr. Manum to quickly handle many swarms. In hiving, when time is more plenty, about a third of each swarm is shaken back in front of the old hive and the balance of two or three swarms, with one queen, is hived in a new hive. As this makes a powerful working colony in the new hive, abundant room in sections is immediately given.
A close watch is kept of the apiary, and more storage room is added as fast as used to advantage, and the filled clamps are removed as soon as they are completely sealed. A large crop can be cut off from communication with the brood chamber in a short time, and when free from bees is carried to the honey room and afterward carted to the central honey house. It is then scraped clean of propolis by women and girls, and after being graded is stored in the honey room to ripen.
A close watch is kept of the apiary, and more storage room is added as fast as used to advantage, and the filled clamps are removed as soon as they are completely sealed. A large crop can be cut off from communication with the brood chamber in a short time, and when free from bees is carried to the honey room and afterward carted to the central honey house. It is then scraped clean of propolis by women and girls, and after being graded is stored in the honey room to ripen.
In the fall, wood sides of white poplar instead of glass are fastened to each section, and they are shipped to market in white poplar crates holding two one-pound sections. Sections full of nice white comb, those full of darker combs and those light in weight, are each crated separately and the crates are marked “Green Mountain,” “Comb Honey” and "Light Weight," according to contents. A few of the very best and most perfect are selected from the first quality and go as the “Snow Flake” brand.
As most of the crop is secured as surplus and but little is gathered after its removal, that remaining below is no more than the bees need during the season. Therefore, to keep them alive until spring, each colony must in early fall have its ration of sugar syrup. This season twenty-eight barrels of the best granulated sugar were required to insure sufficient winter food. For feeders, maple syrup cans with small holes punched in their bottoms are used. Three short legs of tin raise them enough to give the bees room to get at the holes. These cans are filled with syrup and set over a hole in the cover of the hive, and are renewed until the proper amount of food is consumed.
After the honey season, instead of a constant attendant at the out-yards. frequent visits are made, as in the spring, and are continued until the bees are snug for winter. Then an occasional trip is made on a warm day when the bees can fly to see that all entrances are clear.
Mr. Manum has, at present, about 700 colonies in eight different yards. The number in each is limited to 125 in the fall. The colonies in excess of this number are either sold or carried to a new location. For this work a double and a single team are used. By the use of rocks which hold a second tier the former takes fifty colonies and the latter twenty-three colonies. Before loading, the frames are immovably fixed and a sheet of muslin is tacked over the brood chamber to give air, while in very warm weather a rim covered with wire cloth is necessary to their safety.
As most of the crop is secured as surplus and but little is gathered after its removal, that remaining below is no more than the bees need during the season. Therefore, to keep them alive until spring, each colony must in early fall have its ration of sugar syrup. This season twenty-eight barrels of the best granulated sugar were required to insure sufficient winter food. For feeders, maple syrup cans with small holes punched in their bottoms are used. Three short legs of tin raise them enough to give the bees room to get at the holes. These cans are filled with syrup and set over a hole in the cover of the hive, and are renewed until the proper amount of food is consumed.
After the honey season, instead of a constant attendant at the out-yards. frequent visits are made, as in the spring, and are continued until the bees are snug for winter. Then an occasional trip is made on a warm day when the bees can fly to see that all entrances are clear.
Mr. Manum has, at present, about 700 colonies in eight different yards. The number in each is limited to 125 in the fall. The colonies in excess of this number are either sold or carried to a new location. For this work a double and a single team are used. By the use of rocks which hold a second tier the former takes fifty colonies and the latter twenty-three colonies. Before loading, the frames are immovably fixed and a sheet of muslin is tacked over the brood chamber to give air, while in very warm weather a rim covered with wire cloth is necessary to their safety.
Mr. Manum’s bees are most Italians, although in some apiaries there is a touch of Black and Holy Land blood. He is about to test a few Carniolan queens. The working queens are raised from the best Italian hives, which are selected out of this large number as possessing unusual excellences. I saw many fine large queens a shade darker than the average Italians, having very plump and thick-set bodies. I each yard, distributed among the regular hives, were many nucleus colonies - the temporary quarters of surplus queens.
Mr. Manum has planted honey-producing crops in a limited scale, but is not certain that they can be made to pay.
LINKS:
LINKS:
- Nice photos and article in the Burlington Free Press.
1887 - Chapman's Honey-plant: #4 of Root's Bee Plants -letter from Manum at end of post
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