Bee-Keeping in the West Indies presents practical apiary work for a tropical setting. Written by W. K. Morrison and issued in 1901 by the Imperial Department of Agriculture for the West Indies, it combines a beginner’s introduction with advice on honey, wax and the commercial handling of the crop.
The pamphlet’s regional purpose is clear throughout. Morrison cautions that books written for temperate countries do not always fit island conditions, and connects equipment and handling decisions with heat, forage, local experience and the products a beekeeper intends to sell.
Starting a tropical apiary
The opening discussion considers the prospects of beekeeping in the islands and the personal qualities needed for steady work with bees. A numbered list of hints gives beginners a manageable starting point.
Site selection includes shade, protection from strong winds, suitable flight paths and room around the hives. Morrison also describes simple shelter arrangements and the value of learning from an experienced local keeper.
The chapters on bee strains and the members of a colony introduce the queen, workers and drones. They lead into the choice of hives, where standard parts and the ability to obtain replacements are practical considerations.
The biological explanations and the author’s judgments about particular strains belong to their period. They are useful for understanding the management system described, rather than as a complete account of current bee science.
Hives, frames and handling
Illustrations show a standard hive, supers, comb-honey sections and alternative frame arrangements. The text explains how these parts fit together and why their dimensions and spacing matter.
Buying bees and queens receives separate treatment. Shipping containers, receiving a colony and introducing bees to prepared equipment appear alongside comments on obtaining stock locally.
Under the heading “Taming Bees,” Morrison discusses the smoker, veil, opening a hive and lifting frames. The emphasis is on calm movement, preparation and learning to handle a colony without unnecessary disturbance.
A section on swarming describes catching and housing a swarm. The following discussion of clipping queens’ wings also records the author’s reservations about the practice, giving readers a more qualified account than a simple list of operations.
Honey and beeswax as distinct crops
The pamphlet distinguishes liquid honey, comb honey and wax production. It considers the arrangement of brood chambers and supers, removal of the crop and the equipment used to extract honey.
A solar wax extractor and a centrifugal honey extractor are illustrated. The accompanying text connects these appliances with the recovery and preparation of products for sale.
Comb honey has its own requirements. Morrison discusses foundation, finished sections, bee escapes and packing crates, showing why production and careful transport must be considered together.
Another section explains comb foundation and its placement in frames. It treats straight, useful comb as a working asset that affects both colony management and the form of the harvest.
Forage, records and the island setting
Short sections cover robbing, the value of bees to fruit growers, enemies and disease. The disease and remedy discussions are historical material and should not be used as present-day treatment instructions.
Record keeping receives unusually direct attention. Morrison recommends tracking the age and performance of queens and noting the time when honey plants begin to flower.
The closing bee-flower list includes common, regional and botanical names. It is a useful companion to the discussion of forage, though names and classifications should be checked when identifying plants today.
A glossary explains hive and beekeeping terms. Lists of books, journals, manufacturers and sample outfits preserve the commercial context of the period; their addresses and prices are historical information.
Reading the scan
This free ebook is useful to readers interested in tropical agriculture, traditional apiary equipment and the history of Caribbean beekeeping. Its strongest feature is the way it adapts a general craft to local conditions.
The PDF has 94 digital pages, including preliminary material, covers and blanks; the main printed sequence runs through page 73. The pages are scanned images rather than searchable text. Enlarge the diagrams, use the contents page for navigation and distinguish the original printed pagination from the PDF page count.
Book details
- Author: W. K. Morrison
- Publisher: Imperial Department of Agriculture for the West Indies
- Year: 1901
- Edition: Pamphlet Series No. 5; issued by the Commissioner of Agriculture
- Digital length: 94 PDF pages
- Language: English
- File size: 2.71 MB
