A reply to another facet of keeping bees in orchards---please get rid of
the dandilions and other blooming weeds IN THE ORCHARD ---24-d in the fall
is a cheap and effective method.. Blooming flowers such as dandilions are
readily contaminated by the insectidal sprays within the orchard and can
create havoc with your colonies.
 
 
 
 
At 04:05 PM 3/10/97 UT, you wrote:
>I'm new to beekeeping, and will be installing 2 packages this spring.  We have
>a small orchard and would like to keep bees for pollination.My questions are:
>
>1)Foundation:  I am considering starting with cut comb honey foundation, but
>I've seen differing opinions on this for beginners from different authors -
>what do you think?  Also, I figured I could just crush the combs and let the
>honey drain out instead of cutting into chunks and this way I could get some
>beeswax too.  Could I put new foundation in the supers every year like this,
>or it would it be too stressful on the bees?  I would like to get enough
>beeswax to make candles, etc. and with only a few hives figured I would not
>get much from cappings and excess comb.
>
>2)Feeding:  Is it  a good idea to feed the newly installed package with pollen
>substitute patties in addition to syrup?
>
>Thank you to everyone who takes the time to reply to my message.  I have
>learned a lot from the list, and hopefully someday I may even be able to
>contribute to the discussion ( with a little experience)!   :)
>
>Susan Starr
>St. Louis, MO
>
>
Janet Montgomery
104 Fallis Road
Columbus, Ohio  43214-3724
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