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TREATISE
ON THE
3SreeDtng aWO iManagement
OF
BEES,
TO THE GREATEST ADVANTAGE.
Interspersed with Important Observations,
ADAPTED TO GENERAL USE,
QEDt'CED FRO.M A SEPvIES OF EXPERIMENTS DURING
THIRTY YEARS.
BY JOHN KEYS.
A NEW EDITION.
I'RINTED FUR LACKINGTON, ALLEN, AND CO.; F, C.
AND J. rivington; lo.ngman, and CO.; c. law;
J.WALKER A.NDCO.; R.BALDWIN; B. A N D R. CROSBY
AND CO.; SHERWOOD AND Cn.; AND T. HAMILION.
1814.
PriaUd by Macdouald and Sen, 46, CluUi I'air, Louil«o.
PREFACE.
ImPROA^EMENTS ill the manage-
ment of Bees, among farmers and cot-
tagers, have been but little advanced,
notwithstanding the many ingenious
contrivances which have been offered
to public notice; probably from being
too operose and expensive for people
of that description, to whom, in com-
mon, the management of bees is ge-
nerally of trifling concern.
Whether my present attempt will
succeed better, time must decide. My
utmost exertions have been directed to
the remedy of the defect ; which, it
is hoped, I have greatly advanced, if
^ ^ 14SC9S ^
PREFACE.
not perfecied, as far as our unfavour-
able climate 'will admit.
Additional profits, in most cases,
are unavoidably attended with some
increase of cxpence. But from the
imparlial (s:(iniaie I have stated (page
60), it will be ascertained, that the
management there proposed far over-
balances the extra expence, and there-
fore will merit the adoption of bee-
keepers, and, perhaps, the patronage
of a2:ricuhural bociclies.
By persons of a higher class a trifle
of addiiional expenditure will not be
regarded, in comparison of the conve-
nience and safety with whicli the ope-
rations may be effected : to say no-
thing of the gralification of philoso-
phic curiosit}^ together with superior
pro tit.
Near the close of the year 1780, I
ventured to publish a work of this
kind, according to the best of the
PREFACE.
knowledge and experience ! had then
atiained. Since ihat lime, iiavincr no
avocaiion to withdraw my attention
from my (avouriie pur5^uir,and encou-
laged by ihe favourable leceplion of
tliat work, 1 now, in ihe vale of life,
submit this 'realise, v^ the re.^ult of
a!! my rc-eaichcs ; drawn fiom a much
longer and moie a siduous experier<ce,
and honi a coo'er Judgment, lipened
by numberle:^s experiments, whicli have
led me to 7iew observaiions and im-
provements ' and 10 dij^cr t\ho, not
more (Vom mysc/f, ihsn from a/l
oi iters.
Instead of a second edition of my
former pubhcation, a new book became
necessary, as most part oF my present
management is on a different plan;
and much tautology and superfluity of
matter demanded curtailing, and a
more judicious arrangement of the
whole.
a 3
vi PREFACE.
No article inculcated in these pages
is advanced without its being warrant-
ed by my own experience, unbiassed
by any author, however otherwise re-
spectable. Where 1 am still dubious,
it is so expressed.
Apiators may be assured that, to the
best of my knowledgey every informa-
tion or hint that has been found of any
real service, in any writer of note,
foreign or domestic*, is comprised in
this volume.
As my present design is wholly for
pi adit toners, the bulk and price is ac-
commodated to the purpose of becom-
ing oenerally useful ; and consequently
precludes the Natural History of Bees-f,
• Duller, Mew, Geddy, Purcliase, Woliidge, Rus-
deii, "VVaiacr, While, Tliorley, Mills, Wildmans, De-
braw, and Bruoinwich. Foreigners— Miraldy, Reau-
mur, Boiuiel, Sliiracli, Nccdham, Norion, Seykcrs,
and ollicrs of less note.
t See ajudiciuus book wiih ihat title, being a com-
pilallou from il.c Vrencli, published byKnapton, 1741'
PREFACE. Vll
except in some small degree, ay far as
the knowledge of it is necessary to their
management.
A few years since, warm disputes
arose between different naturafists and
apiarian societies on the continent, re-
lating to the generatioyi of bees^ and
the formation of artificial swarms, in
consequence of some 7ieio and iconder-
ful principles advanced by a Mr. Schi-
rach (secretary of an apiarian society),
in his treatise entitled " Histoire Natu-
relle de la Regne des Abeilles,'^ &c.
translated into French by J. Blassiere,
Hague, printed 1771*.
Counter-experiments were made by
Needham, Rheim, and others f, with
results of an opposite nature.
* This book I had the honour of having presented
me by the late Earl of Majchmont.
f Brussels Memoirs, vol. ii. 17JJ0, presented me by
Thomas Diiks, Esq. to wliom I render my thankful
acknowledgments.
a 4
Vm PREFACE.
It being incompatible with tlie de-
sign of this \vo)k to enter into detai's,
or a formal refutation of Schivach's doc-
trine, I shall only briefl)' declare, that
at first I was blrongly prejudiced in its
favour, and urged thereby to pursue a
series of expeiimcnts accoiding to his
directions, with the most sciupulous
exactness and caie, for eiglit yea's, but
without a single result in confirmation
of his scheme. I diversified the expe-
rimenf^, and aLso invented a more
suitable appar?Uis to peifoim them,
yet still met wiihthe same lamentable
disappoinlment. la thispurouit many
bees and many siocks weie unavoid-
ably ruined, besides an accumulation
of vexation and troub'c. But my
anxiety to acquire so desirable an end
urged me beyond the bounds of pru-
dence. I hope vanity will not be im-
puted to the declaration and inference,
that if one of long experience in the
PREFACE. IX
handling of bee=^, and having every
convenicncy, yet coukl noi, in so many-
trials, succeed, it i<? nioie ibnn proba-
ble that oihe>?, with on's^ common
knov^'ledge, and des^itiiie of a proper
appaaius, vvi'l not be moie succcssfnl ;
and conseqiien'i!v ilint Schiiach's me-
thod cannot prove of pLiblic utility.
The most likely means to establish
the BEE ART, I believe, wi'l not be ac-
complif^bed wiibout the pa'ronage of
Agricultural Socielien ; namely, the
encouraging a p<oper person or per-
sons to exhibit, in ihe bee ^eason, the
most approved m.ethod through the
chief maiket-lowns of ihe kingdom.
The person mu t be capable of ex-
plaining the ptocesses, and have wilh
him the neces ary instruments.
I wou'd al-o recommend tliis em-
ployment lo any ingenious young man,
properly qualified, and provided v^^ilh
the apparatus, as a practice that most
X PREFACE.
likely would turn to much advantage ;
taking care not to introduce tricks and
fancies, as some have done, to the de-
struction of multitudes of bees, in-
stead of exhibiting any real improve-
ments.
Or, if such persons, resident in vil-
lages, would qualify themselves, they
might, even in their limited stations,
exercise the art to their own benefit,
and that of the neighbourhood, by
performing it at a stated rate.
Rural curates might considerably
augment their too frequently niggardly
stipends, by the cultivation of bees,
and act at the same time consonantly
with their clerical profession ; as it is
an innocent amusement, both healthy
and profitable.
Farmers and others, who keep nume-
rous stocks of bees, cannot be supposed
to attend so minutely to every particu-
lar as those who have not many, and
PREFACE. XI
have more leisure ; yet in this, as well
as in all the other articles of husbandry,
the greater the care bestowed, the
greater the return that usually follows.
Besides, most of the operations on bees
are to be performed in the evening, or
early in the morning, and, therefore,
will not interfere with more important
business.
To avoid repetitions, the manner of
performing the operations must be
severally learnt from the second party
to the paiticulars of which the Index
will direct.
The first part contains the princi-
ples ; the second, the manual, or ope-
rative part.
In general, I have used the word
hive indiscriminately for hive oi'bo.v, as
applicable to either; except when it
is otherwise expressed, or is self-
evident.
Xll PREFACE.
The writer submits these pages to
the candour of ihe learned, under a
consciousness of his own inabilities for
the task ; but if it affords w'?^/'/// im-
provements i'l the art^ he hopes it
may be pleaded in excuse of his pre-
sumption.
JOHN KEYS.
EXPLANATION OF TERMS.
Adapter, a board to set glasses on.
Apiavi', the place or spot where bees are kept.
Apialcr, tli8 person who manages ihe bees.
Bee-Herd, the person who watches the rising of
sv.arrns.
Casts, second, third, <^'C. swarms.
Deprivation, the separation, or taking of the
liivcs of honey.
Divider, the brass plate used in sq^arating hives.
Duplet, the hive set over or under another.
To Duplicalc, the act of performing this.
Fume-Bcv, the box kept for the purpose of
fuming.
Fumigation, ") • r
^ T > the operation of stupefyinar.
Fuming, 3 i j c
Hackle, or Coppet, <K:c. the straw covering set
over a hive to shelter it.
xlv EXPLANATION OF TERMS.
Hive, or Skip, cVc. that wherein the bees dwell,
and make their combs, whether made of straw
or other materials.
Nadir, the hive which is set under anotiier.
Non-swarmer, a stock which has not swarmed.
Stock, a hive of bees that has stood, or is to
stand, the winter.
Storifying, the ranging hives over or under each
other.
To Storify, to perform this.
Super-hive, to set one hive above another.
Superior Hive, the uppermost of a storified set.
Swarm, a great body of bees, which quit the hive
together, and fix in some tree, bush, tic.
To Treble, or Treph, to add a third hive to a stock
that has two before.
Trebled, a stock that has three hives.
Triplet, ditto.
To Triplicate, the act of triplifying.
CONTENTS.
PART I.
Chap. Page
I. (JF the Queen, Drones, and Workers 1
II. Discoveries 8
III. The Sting of Bees 12
IV. Bee-Dress 19
V. Apiary 22
VI. Purchasing of Bees . ... 26
VII. Straiv Hives 32
VIII. Bee-Boxes 42
IX. Bee-House 51
X. Storififing 56
XI. Nature of Swarms 73
XII. Hiving of ditto 93
XIII. Artificial Swarms . . . . . J 14
XIV. To secure Wild Bees .... 117
XV. Salvation of Bees 122
XVI. Glasses 126
XVII. Deprivation, or Taking-up of Bees 133
XVIII. Pasturage 143
XIX. Honey-Dews 155
XX. Diseases of Bees 158
XXI. Of Feeding 165
XXII. Thefts, Wars, S^c 172
XVI CONTENTS.
Cdap. Page
XX ill. Enemies 177
XXIV. Extraction oj Wax, Sfc. . . .185
XXV. Observations en Honey . . .192
XWl. J\ Jan II g of Mcfid li)9
XXVI I. Summary of Monthly Management 204
PART II.
THE OPERATIONS.
No.
General nvhs .... -211
I. Instrnmcnts of Fit., igalion . . . 213
W. The Materials for ditto . . . .216
III. The Method of ditto 220
IV. A Method for Cottagers . . . 221
V. Another . ■ 222
VI. The Use of Dividers 224
VII. To Slorify 22(J
VIII. Deprivation, or Separation . . 227
IX. Re anion of Strarms ivith StocLs . 232
X. To capture the Quern 235
XI. Out-licrs to recruit IViak Stocks . 23G
XII. To iir.iie a Qacenlcss SlocJc to another 237
XIII. To unite Weal Stcclcs cr Swarms in
Azitunm 233
XIV. Drii'ing 240
XV. Show- Box fcr Amateurs .... 242
XVI. Management of the Shoiv-Box . . 24G
Postscript 251
Platel.
Flatell.
ON BEES.
PART I.
CHAP. I.
OF THE QUEEN, DBONES, AND WORKERS.
\JN the single female bee, styled queen,
dependiJ the increase, prosperity, and per-
manency of a stock. No swarm can pos-
sibly be established, unless accompanied
by a princess; although the bees become
ever so numerous, or eager to swarm. If,
by any mischance, the queen is killed, the
bees, soon sensible of her loss, quit the hive
to associate with their next neighbours,
transferring their treasure with them.
The queen fpl. JI. fig. 6) being then of
such consequence, it is necessary that the
apiator should be able to distinguish her at
B
D. H. HILL LIBRARY
North Carolina State Conegcf
8 * QUELS.
sight. Observe, therefore, that she is longer
and more slender than the drones or the
workers, her hintler parts tapering to a
point; her belly and legs are also yellower;
and the upper part of her body much darker
than theirs, nearly approaching to a glossy
black. The part beyond the wings is di-
vided into four joints, distinguished into so
many rings; whereas the workers have but
three, and those of a lighter colour. The
more full of eggs, the more yellow is her
belly. Her wings reach only to the third
ring, but those of the workers extend to
the end of their bodies. Her appearance is
rather clumsy, but her deportment grave,
stately, and calm. She is armed with a
sting, shorter than those of her subjects.
Its use is only to oppose rival queens; for
otherwise she will bear the roughest hand-
ling, without attempting to wound. She is
very rarely to be seen, even with boxes of
three windows; and if by chance she is
discovered, instantly retires from view.
Her fecutidity is amazing; for in the
course of a year she usually lays forty
thousand eggs, or more : she has been seen
QUEEN. 3
to lay forty immediately one after another.
Her body, at th^ height of the laying sea-
son, contains some thousands of eggs ; and
if empty cells are not prepared, she i$
obliged to drop them. She is five time*
longer in laying a royal egg than a com-
mon one.
The eggs are little white bodies, fixed by
their smaller end to the bottom of the cell.
The royal cells are constructed on the edges
or sides of the combs, fpL II. Jig. 4, k,J
sometimes to the number of ten or twelve.
These cells, when about half finished, re-
semble the cup of an inverted acorn, c, and
are lengthened in proportion to the growth
of the maggot or nymph. They hang in a
pei'pendicular manner, with the open end
downwards, c After the egg is deposited, it
remains in that state three days ; and then
being hatched, appears as a maggot, in the
shape of a half moon, lying at the bottom
of the cell, surrounded with a clammy
white substance, continually supplied by
the workers for its nutriment. In five or
six days it grows considerably larger, ceases
to take food, is then sealed up, 6, with a
B 2
4 DRONES.
waxen cap, and continues thus about twelve
days, when the royal nymph bursts open
the cover, and issues forth a complete prin-
cess. Cold weather makes two or three
days difference in the time of exclusion.
The queen is impregnated about August,
by virtue of which she is enabled to breed
in the spring, till she produces fresh drones.
Similar to the process above, is that of
the drones and u-orhers; excepting that the
eggs are hatched in the common cells,
which serve in a double capacity, either for
honey or brood. The cells for drones are
generally the two middlemost combs of the
hive; the cells are deeper than those for
the workers, and when they happen not to
be long enough, are lengthened by a cap'
of wax. They are generally hatched in
twenty-one days.
DRONES
Are those large bees fpl. IL Jig. 5,) which
usually appear before the rising of swarms.
They are the only males, and arc larger
than the workers ; of a clumsy shape, and
their extremity large, as are their eyes;
DRONES. O
their trunk, or proboscis, short and thin,
and the body more hairy. They make a
"much louder and rougher noise than the
workers; and, having no sting, nor instru-
ment to collect honey, are sustained by that
of the hive.
It seems clear to me, that the drones are
of no other use but that of propagation.
I have, indeed, often found, that stocks will
swarm before any drones appeared; yet,
perhaps, some were bred long before, re-
siding in the warmest part of the hive: and
which facts proved true; for drone nymphs
have been cast out early in spring. Soon
after honey -gathering ceases, they become
devoid of the spermatic milky liquor, and
therefore are discarded. The queen, con-
taining some thousand eggs at a time in her
body, demands a larger supply of the pro-
lific juice than a few drones are equal to
furnish. This accounts for the large num-
ber of drones found in the hives, as being
absolutely necessary. As soon as the queen
finds no occasion for their service, they se-
parate from the workers to the sides of the
outward combs.
b3
# WORKERS.
They are little noticed by the workers ;
and if killed at the doors of the hives, the
latter do not resent it. Those that happen
to remain in the stocks till the cold weather
arrives, soon perish by it.
As their agency in generation, or, indeed,
their utility at all, is still disputed, it is
ivorth notice, they are endowed with a
large quantity of a whitish liquor in sum-
mer, which the workers are fond of licking
when a drone is squeezed. The many
thousand times I have observed drones in
the combs, I never beheld one with its
tail in a cell.
■WORKERS.
The common bees, or workers, fpL II.
Jig. 7,) live about a year, but are very
liable to premature death, by hard labour,
high winds, birds, and by many other acci-
dents. They are of neither sex, but abso-
lutely neuters. The young bees are distin-
guishable from the old, by being of a
lighter brown. They are not all of one
size, a few being shorter than the others,
by being hatched in shorter cells ; but the
IVORKERS.
dimensions of a cell cannot alter the
sexual parts only as to size^ and not the
male organs into female.
Their labour seems to be indiscriminate:
they build the combs, nurse and sustain the
young, collect honey, and defend the hive
against all invaders. For cleanliness they
are remarkable ; have a quick and exten-
sive smell, either for honey or honey-dew ;
but are not disgusted with many odours
offensive to us, as paint, tar, urine, &c.
partaking sometimes of such substances as
are pernicious to them. Foreseeing im-
pending storms, they make a precipitate
retreat in great multitudes.
When first placed in a hive, they work
night and day, taking repose by turns, and
deeping in clusters. They can readily dis-
tinguish the bees of their own hive from all
others; and highly resent the killing, or
even disturbing, any bees of the same apiary,
with vengeance attacking the aggressor.
As probably the following novel and cu-
rious discoveries may be pleasing to natu-
ralists, their insertion will not offend prac-
titioners.
B 4
DISCOVERIES.
CHAP. II.
DISCOVERIES.
Unexpectedly I saw a queen on a
comb, near the window of a double box ;
the next day I was favoured with a like
view; she remained each day about an
hour ; the bees very respectfully making a
free passage for her as she approached.
About a dozen of them tenderly licked and
brushed her all over, while others attended
to feed her.
During this interview I perceived several
eggs drop from her, which the workers took
no notice of. The box in which she then
appeared was a super one ; the under one
had only three bars, and four apertures.
The super box seemed quite full of honey
and brood. The queen tarrying and not
choosing to descend, being obstructed by
the middle bar, probably was the occasion
of this reluctance, as also that of the bees
from working in the empty nadir box. From
DISCOVERIES. 9
several similar disappointments I surmised,
that the scantiness of the opening for commu-
nication was the sole cause. Instead of three
bars, from that time my boxes were altered
to six, which succeeded to my utmost wish*
Another time I saw the workers very busy
in demolishing a royal cell, close to the win-
dow of a box. It had been sealed up some
days: but continuing so beyond the usual
period of exclusion, I suspected some mis-
chance, and therefore was very intent to
observe the result. At five o'clock one
morning, the workers were very deeply en-
gaged in opening the side of the cell: in
about two hours they had made a chasm
large enough to see the nymph, and which
they were endeavouring to pull out, but in
vain. They then proceeded to a further
enlargement; when the queen, with hasty
steps, and anxious looks, as if angry at the
delay, began herself the arduous task, the
workers remaining quiet spectators. The
queen made several violent tugs to disengage
it, but her efforts proved fruitless. She then
retired, not without an appearance of dis-
pleasure.
B 5
10 DISCOVERIES.
The workers then renewed their attempts,
about a dozen at a time, and at intervals
ceased to enlarge, while they tried to pull
the nymph out, but were still disappointed ;
for on pulling the nymph upwards, she was
pressed more into the convexity of the top.
Four hours were thus employed : when the
queen returned, with like demeanour as be-
fore, and proceeded with redoubled efforts
to extricate the nymph ; but still, unfortu-
nately, with no better success, and finally
relinquished the toil with great concern.
However, the labourers resumed the task of
enlargement from top to bottom, which was
not effected till near twelve o'clock; a bu-
siness of seven hours to draw the nymph
out. It v/as full grown, hut-~^dead ! The
season having been bad, the wax which
composed the cell was coarse, and much
thicker than usual, so as to render it impos-
sible that the young lady should extricate
herself in due time.
During the time of the above observation,
I beheld, in some other boxes, royal nymphs
bursting open the lower end of their cells,
and instantly issuing without assistance.
DISCOTERIES. 11
After many essays by various means, I
never could procure a complete view of an
intercourse between a queen and a drone; but
have several times been witness to those
amorous preludes recorded by Reaumur.
By confining a queen and a drone under a
glass tumbler, after some little time the queen
began to caress the drone, frequently repeat-
ing such wanton gestures as would stimulate
a torpedo, or any other male but a drone !
Reaumur's relation of this mysterious
affair states the result of the royal embrace
to be the death of the drone. The drones
knowing, perhaps, this to be the conse-
quence when slngUj employed, may be the
cause of their extreme reluctance. This,
togetlier with the violence used during their
captivity, and the coldness of their situation
compared to the warmth of the hive, seems
to account for the non-performance of that
which naturalists are so desirous of disco-
vering.
I have several times placed two queens,
taken from separate hives, under a tumbler-
glass, and immediately a royal duel ensued,
terminating in the death of both.
12 STINGING.
CHAP. in.
OF THE bee's sting.
The stinging of bees is often not only
painful, but has sometimes proved fatal to
man and beast. Having frequently suffered
under the smart, it has taught me an ex-
perimental treatment of the wound.
Bees at a distance from their hives, and
while pursuing their labours, are harmless
and peaceable; but if disturbed near their
habitation, by hammering, bustling, or any
other, great noise, or by standing before
their hives when very busy, these intru-
sions will urge them to resentment.
On these occasions the /ace is their chief
aim, particularly the eyes. In such cases,
cover the face with the hands spread, and
make a speedy retreat: they will not at
that time sting the hands.
During their active season, gardeners
should do their requisite business near them
STINGING. 13
early in the morning, or in the evening
when the bees are retired to rest.
High winds very much disconcert and
hinder their labours, and make them very
irritable, and prone to assault any person
that comes near their dwelling; and more
80, if it is at the time of their being anxious
to swarm, and if they are by some means
delayed therefrom.
To some persons they have a natural
aversion, however unoffending, or however
they may change their dress, or though at
twenty or thirty yards distance.
A single bee will sometimes fly into a
room, and settle upon the hands, face, or
neck ; but they have no hostile intent, and
will presently fly off again without wound-
ing, provided no part of the apparel
presses upon them. They may gently
be struck off, and they will fly out of the
window.
The venom of their stings is much
stronger in summer than in winter. When
a bee gets entangled in the hair, the alarm
is great, but danger none, if the patient is
entirely passive, till another person searches
14 STINGING.
for it, and, when found, crushes it between
his finger and thumb.
When bees have been a little disturbed,
numbers will fly about a person near them,
and with angry sound (well known to api-
ators) warn them to depart or they will
sting. Retreat in haste, covering the face
with the hands, till the head can be pro-
tected among bushes, or in some dark
apartment; and there remain, till the vio-
lence of their fury is abated. It is very
wrong, when a person is beset with bees, to
strike or buffet them; for this is of no use,
but will make them ten times more furious,
and provoke multitudes to assist in the fray.
Patience, and a speedy retreat, and sprink-
ling water over them that remain, are the
best expedients to get rid of them, which in
about half an hour will be effected: but if
any remain on the clothes, they may be
brushed off; except those on the face and
hands, for that will make them immediately
sting. Let them alone, they will quit of
themselves, when the rest are departed. If
many continue to fly about, let water be
thrown among them, or blow them forth
STINGING. 15
with a bellows, which they will suffer with-
out resentment. The smoke of damp straw,
or rags, will drive them away soon.
But the highest degree of their rage is
provoked by the moving, shaking, or tum-
bling down of their hives; for then the
whole army will rise in a mass, and fall
upon the aggressor, be it man or beast, hog
or dog, to the imminent danger of the crea-
ture's life. Immersion in water is the
quickest method to get rid of them, if any
ponds, &c. are near. But if that cannot be
conveniently done, taking refuge in a dark
room, or out-house, and using the other
means above directed, will be the most
likely to succeed, till medical help can be
procured.
REMEDIES.
Numberless have been the remedies pro-
posed, and tried, without being generally
beneficial. Those which have proved sa-
lutary to some, were the reverse to others ;
constitutions and the fluids being infinitely
various.
Some are affected only in a small degree
l6 STINGING.
by a single sting; while others (though few)
hardly at all, though by many. Again,
many that are delicate and tender sufler se-
verely, though stung but slightly : those
also who are of an irritable constitution, like
that of the bees, suffer to a high degree.
In a curative point of view, it is of the
first importance that a remedy be at hand,
80 that it may be applied immediately ^ before
the subtlety of the venom gets into the cir-
culation. After that happens, the medicine
can but have a partial or weak elVect. I
have generally experienced my own saliva
(spittle) to be more beneficial than more
pompous chemicals or galenicals (I sup-
pose, chiefly, from its being always ready) ;
rubbing it on the wound, transversely from
the direction of the veins, and not up and
down, for that forces the venom more into
the circulation.
A second remedy fromnvhich great bene-
fit has been found is — Extract of saturn,
half an ounce; volatile alkaline spirit, half
an ounce; two drachms linseed oil ; shake
the extract and the spirit well together, and
then the oil: it must be rubbed on the
STINGING. 17
wound well, and constantly, as long as any
pain is felt. It is dangerous if taken inter-
nally.
The third is dulcified spirit of sal ammo-
niac, adding one third of water ; both being
well shaken together. This has been found
more generally efficacious than the pre-
ceding. It will not always prevent some
degree of swelling, but soon assuages pain.
It is of a harmless quality, and I have often
used it about the eyes, without prejudice.
To some, dulcified spirit of nitre has proved
of present relief. Any of the articles may
be had of the chemists, or apothecaries, at
a cheap rate.
On great emergencies, if, unfortunately,
none, of these mtdicines are at hand, com-
mon linseed oil should be rubbed on the
part stung; or, in want of that, neat's foot
oil, fresh butter, or hog's lard, should be ap-
plied without delay, or the cure will be re-
tarded, with an increase of danger, if the
stings have been numerous.
In the mean time, tea made of balm, elder
flowers, or lime tree flowers, or water gruel
with a little saltpetre dissolved therein.
18 STINGING.
should be prepared ; of which the patient
should drink plentifully, and often: refrain-
ing from all solid food, particularly that
which is salted, or dried; as also from acrid,
acid, or spicy articles. If a fever should
intervene, James's powders give admirable
relief. But if there is imminent danger,
medical assistance should be called in.
Where the symptoms are favourable, the
tumours will gradually subside in a few
days, without further applications.
The like cooling treatment is also to be
used for horses, cattle, &c. by enlarging the
quantities, by mashes, and by keeping them
moderately warm in the stable.
From the foregoing observations, persons
may justly conclude, that those to whom
the stings of bees are very afflictive, should
not, in coiomon prudence, attempt the office
of an apiator, nor approach bees, destitute
of a proper dress.
Nor is it adviseable to employ servants
about bees, that have a dislike to the busi-
ness; for, otherwise, it is a great chance but
they neglect, or mjudiciously and perhaps
spitefully treat them.
BEE DRESS. 19
CHAP. IV,
THE BEE DRESS.
Is to be made of thin boulting cloth, which
may be bought at about sixpieuce a yard.
It is to be sewed to the brim of an old hat
when reduced to two inches and a haif in
width ; the cloth is to hang down a foot in
breadth all round the head. A broad tape
is to be prepared, long enough to tie the
cloth, close round the neck, under the chin.
But as the nose, chin, and neck, would be
liable to be stung through the meshes,
therefore, to secure those j)arts, some oiled
linen must be stitched opposite tiie face and
neck, withinside, leaving two inches and a
half free, opposite the eyes.
Or, a kind of hood of the like cloth may
be made of such a breadth, that from the
bottom of the crown of any hat in use, it
may hang a foot below the rim. It is to be
gathered up to a ferret binding, to let the
20 BEE DRES«.
crown through, and encircle it close round.
The portion which hangs down, is to tie
round the neck, as before mentioned. Some-
thing for the mouth to grasp will be proper
in both cases, to keep the mesh at a requi-
site distance. This last hood is calculated
to carry in the pocket.
The oiled linen is prepared by soaking
linen in linseed oil, an^ then squeezing the
superfluous oil out, and drying it in the air:
this process will take two or three weeks.
The process is then to be a second time re-
peated. Gloves made of it, though thin,
will be impenetrable to the sting of the
bees: indeed they will not attempt it. Gar-
ments made of it will effectually resist wet.
The oil may be previously coloured by the
usual pigments, for green, blue, yellow, &c.
Besides the hood, a thick pair of tanned
leather gloves will be necessary, or other
leather oiled only once: a portion of old
stockings is to be sewed to the extremities,
to draw tight over the cufls of the coat.
The legs must be defended by a thick pair
of yarn stockings, drawn over those in com-
mon wear. T'he greatest care must be used
BEE DRESS. ?1
in putting on the hood, that no hollows or
chasnns be left under the chin, or about the
neck; and, for better security, it will be
proper to tie a handkerchief over the ga-
thering round the neck, beside that of the
tape. An apron before will be useful, to
prevent these prying insects from tickling
the belly.
Thus appareled, defiance may be given
to millions of bees, or wasps, and all the
operations may be executed without dread
or dangtr. Or if, by accident, hives are
thrown down by cattle, hogs, &c. and the
bees enraged; having this dress on, the
creatures may be assisted, and the hives
replaced.
Women should not meddle with bees,
without this bee-dress; nor then, without the
addition of a man's coat, and, 1 had almost
said, breeches also.
18^ APIARY.
CHAP. V.
ON THE APIARY.
The pioperest situation for an apiary is
one exposed to the wind as little as pos-
sible; it being detrimental, and proving
often fatal to numbers of bees, by blowing
them down, or into the water, or overturn-
ing the hives. Trees, high hedges, or
fences, on the back and western side of the
hives, will be necessary, to screen them
from the violence of its force. But they
should have a free opening in their front to
the south, or rather south-east aspect. A
valley is preferable to high grounds to fa-
vour their increase.
The hives should be vitW secured against
hogs, or other creatures, which might dis-
place the stocks, or otherwise disturb the
bees, and injure themselves. Let the hives
be set as near the dwelling-house as con-
veniently can be, or to rooms the most
APIARY. 99
occupied, for the readier discovery of rising
swarms, or to be apprized of accidents.
Besides, the bees habituated to the sight of
the family, will become less ferocious, and
more tractable; while the buildings will
afford a protection from the wind and cold.
The hives must be clear of the dripping of
trees ; nor should long grass, weeds, or
dunghills, be sutfered near them, as har-
bouring myriads of insects and vermin, that
will prey upon the bees and their produc-
tion. Neither are rivers, ponds, or large
tubs of water, eligible to be near an apiary,
as great numbers will be blown therein.
It is very wrong to place hives on
benches, which is always the source of
mistakes, quarrels, and often slaughter, by
their interference with one another. A still
worse contrivance is that of little cots, or
sheds, with shelves therein, one above an-
other; aifording a great harbour for their
enemies, very inconvenient for the manage-
ment, and indeed impracticable in the story
method.
The arrangement I would recommend,
is, that of separate stands for each hive.
54 APIARY.
made by driving four strong stakes into
the ground, at equal distances, as thus : :
corresponding to the dimensions of the hive
fioors, to rest thereon : they are to be sixteen
inches above the earth, and the tops to be
upon a level with each other.
The stands should be three or four feet
distant from one another, and from any
wall or fence, in uniform rows, for the api-
ator's conveuiency of managing each stock;
nor should the hives be set higher than
sixteen inches, in the story method ; for
then their height would be attended with
many difiiculties. Where persons have
many stocks, it is better to divide them into
several gardens; as being too numerous in
one, frequently occasions quarrels : eight or
ten in one place are enough.
Water is necessary near an apiary, in a
long season of dry iccather. Put the water
in a broad dish, covered with small stones,
or duck-weed, to assist the bees in drinking,
without wetting their wings, or being
drowned.
In very windy situations, especially near
the sea, or great rivers, numerous bees are
APIARY.
destroyed, by being blown therein, and
others very much injured and hindered, by
being drove with violence to the ground, or
other hard substances, with the loss of their
farina, so laboriously obtained.
Some have thought that an apiary near
the sea-coast would be abundantly produc-
tive, by reason of the bees being fond of
sea-water. This point I have made ob-
servation on, my residence being only four
miles from the shore, but could not perceive
that the bees showed any such partiality,
unless necessitated by a long season of
very hot and dry weather. Nor did they
much affect the wild thyme that grew on
the sand-hills adjoining ; nor are they fond
of salt.
Q6 PUKCHAPIXG.
CHAP. VI.
ox PURCHASING OF BEES.
The best time for establishing an apiary,
is just before the taking up season, which
is generally about the latter end of August ;
for then bee-keepers reserve as many of the
best stocks as they judge expedient for
their next summer's supply; and, therefore,
after that period are not disposed to part
with any, unless at an advanced price:
whereas, by purchasing some time before, a
choice may be made of the best, and at the
accustomed rate.
They should be selected by a skilful per-
son, in a cool evening, or rather morning
very early. By tapping about the hive, a
pretty near guess may be formed, whether
or not it is full of bees, as also if full of
combs. But for greater certainty, turn
those that seem heavy upon the edge of tlie
hive, and observe if the interstices between
PURCHASING. 97
the combs are crowded with bees, and the
combs worked down to the floor. If white,
or of a light yellow, it denotes their being
of the present year's produce, and fit for
the purpose ; but if they are of a very deep
yellow, or brown, they are of the last sea-
son, and not so proper ; while those that
are dingy, or blackish, are old, and wholly
unfit to furnish a prosperous apiary. To
avoid deception, observe, that though a
hive may have the edges of the combs of a
light yellow, they may be old stocks never-
theless, v7hose combs the preceding year
not having been completed, have in the
present had new borders added to them of
virgin wax, so as to look like young stocks*
Look carefully beticeen the combs, as far as
the bees will admit ; and if the interior
parts appear favourable, form a judgment
accordingly. The hive should be poised
in the hand; and if it be about half-
bushel size, and weigh twenty-five pounds
or upwards, it is another test of its being a
good stock. But the weight alone, of old
stocks, cannot be relied on, as great part
of the combs may be crammed with old
c 2
28 PUKCHA.SING.
farina, and other impurities, as mentioned
hereafter.
One good stock bought at the proper
time, is worth two swarms bought in the
spring : for such a stock will swarm once or
twice, or yiehl two or three hives full of
honey; whereas, from a swarm, little or no
profit can be expected ihefint year.
But should the proper season have been
neglected, aprime or Jin t swarm should be
sought, at least large enough, in com-
mon situations, to fill a peck, and if a
o-ood one, half a bushel. Small swarms
will turn to little account, and baulk the
expectation.
The swarm is to be brought home in the
evening of the day it rises. If a large one
cannot be had among the neighbours, two
or three may be united, to form a powerful
stock.
If a swarm is delayed being brought
home for two or three days, portions of
combs will have been constructed, which
mav p-.obably be displaced in the removal,
witii the bees thereon, and may be da-
maf^ed, or crushed, and so be the ruin of
PURCHASING. 29
the swarm : to avoid which, let it be re-
moved at day-break.
To transfer the swarm from tlie common
hive into one of your own, or into a box,
invert that which has the swarm in a pail,
bucket, or the like; lay two thin flat sticks
across, and then set the empty hive over it .
stop the juncture with a cloth, and before
morning the bees will have ascended into
the upper one. But if not, let them stand a
day longer; when, if they still are reluctant,
stop the juncture quite, and beat round the
lower hive with two small sticks, till they
ascend, which may be known by the great
buz in the upper hive.
Or, as soon as two swarms are brought
home, spread a cloth on the ground, and
lay a stick across: then strike the edge of the
hive with violence on the ground; the bees
will fall out in a lump: then take the other
swarm, and serve them in the same manner,
close by the first; set an empty hive over
them, resting one edge on the stick, and
cover them with a cloth. If they are found
to quarrel when ascended, they must be
fumed, as directed hereafter,
c 3
so PURCHASING.
JRemooing of Stocks should be in the even-
ing, or very early in the morning. The hive
should be raised by three or four wedges,
some hours before, provided the floor is not
moveable ; or otherwise many bees will re-
main on the floor at the time, and be very
troublesome.
A cloth must be laid on the ground be-
hind the hive to be removed ; nimbly lift
the hive thereon, and, gathering the four
corners tight, tie them fast on the top : im-
mediately draw a string close round the
body of the hive, to prevent any bees crawl-
ing between.
If they are to be carried a considerable
distance, they may be rested on the ground,
as occasion may require. Hand-barrows, or
yokes, with a hive suspended at each end,
or a long pole on men's shoulders, and a
hive or two between, may be advantage-
ously used for their conveyance.
But when it is for several miles, a coach,
or cart with plenty of straw at the bottom,
to break the shocks of the carriage, and
then proceeding with the slowest pace, and
taking the cool of the morning, will prove
PURCHASING. 31
a safe and convenient removal. If any of the
combs should, however, be broken, and
fallen on the cloth, when the hive is taken
off, let them remain thereon, and set the
hive in the place or stand designed for it;
and gently spreading the cloth with the bees
on it on the top, by the morning they will
have quitted, and entered by the door of the
hive.
A stock should not be set close to the
bee-house front, the first night of its being
brought home, that the straggling bees may
find their way into the hive by the door,
and then no bees will be crushed. Straw-
hives, being of a circular form, leave a con-
siderable vacancy between the hive doorS
and front, which next night must be slopped,
by thrusting part of a hay-band, or clay, or
stiff cow-dung, to fill the chasms, but leav-
ing the door- way free.
Purchased swarms in spring, on bringing
home, are to be immediately set on empty
hives; and thus, by being doubled ntfrsty
will save that trouble afterwards.
c 4
32 STRAW KITES.
CHAP. VJI.
ON THE FORMATION OF STRAW HIVES.
Straw is the best material for hives, as
best protecting the bees in the extremes
of cold and heat, and also generally easiest
to be procured. Where it is not so, rushes,
wicker-work plastered over, or sedges, must
be substituted.
Of straw, unthrashed rye is preferable, as
thrashing shivers the straw, and makes it
rough and shaggy, which the bees with
much labour are obliged to gnaw off. My
hive-maker laid the straw in a chaff-box,
and 60 readily cut off the ears.
The plan 1 propose is, three hives to each
stock. The size I have found most conve-
nient is that of half a bushel : larger are
very inconvenient to manage; while these,
by storifying, give ample room for all that
the bees can want, at the same time admit-
ting triplets to be taken off the sooner.
STRAW HIVEF. 33
They are to be nine inches highland twelve
wide, in the clear, on the inside, i.e. exclu-
sive of the top. f PL II Ji<r. 3.) The body
is to have no straw iop fixed, or worked to it,
as in common, but is to he a separate piece*
The body of the hive, thv.reibre, resembles a
broad hoop; and, like that, must be perpen-
dicular, or straight down ; and not one part
swelling, or bemg wider t^ran -another.
The straw cover is to be made quite flat,
like a round mar, but wide enough to extend
an inch beyond the edge of the hive. There
needs only one cover to three hives. The
greatest proof of the maker's skill will con-
sist in his exactly following the prescribed
dimensions, and in the evenness of his work ;
particularly in both edges, that they may
admit one hive being set on another, with-
out any chasms, and that promiscuously, or
hnb nab.
In one of the edges a distance of full three
inches is to be left free of binding, for a
door-way. But a more proper one may be
formed by a small piece of wood, four or
five inches long, in which a door- way is to
be cut, of three inches long, and three*
c o
34i STRAW HITES.
eighths of an inch in height, and worked into
the round of straw.
Or, what will be still better, is to take a
rod of willow, or hazel, while green, and
bend it to a circle of a proper^size for the
hive. When it is wanted, reduce it so as to
have two flat and even sides ; cut a proper
door-way out, and burn holes at due dis-
tances to receive the brier binding, by
which the first round of straw is to be fast-
ened to it. If the binding is carried wholly
round the hoop, the binding will be soon
rotted by the wet, and prove of little more
service than if there had been none ; but,
otherwise it will preserve the hive much
longer, and be more convenient in many
respects.
As soon as hives are made, they should be
set separate on level boards, or the like, and
another on the top, and heavy stones laid
on them: but, first, a person should jump
upon the boards to reduce the edges to a
proper evenness. This practice must not
be neglected.
Besides the flat straw cover, all the hives
must have wooden tops {pi. L Jig. C); to
STRAW HIVES. 35
make which, procure a board of the width of
the hive, and half an inch thick, free from
knobs. Senen spaces or openings are to be
cut, b, b, b, b, b, b, b; each exactly half an
inch wide; the length of the three inner-
most, eleven inches; the two next, nine; and
the two outermost, six inches. The carpen-
ter must be attentive not to deviate from
these directions in the smallest degree, as a
trifling neglect will render the wliole useless.
In case boards of a proper width are not
to be had, one ten inches wide may be sub-
stituted, braiding circular pieces on the sides
after the top is cut out, to fill up the defi-
ciency. Round the edges a hoop of tin, or
slight ozier, must be tacked to strenghen it,
and prevent its splitting. A long braid or
peg should pass through the fore and hind
parts, and enter the edge of the hive, to keep
the top from being displaced; taking care
that the heads of the braids are driven ra-
ther helow the surface of the wood.
A cheaper top may be made of narrow
slips of wood, which I name bars, six in
number [pL 1. fig. 3, a, a, a, a, a, a) ; de-
signed to be laid across the top of the hive, at
36 STRAW HIVES.
half an inch distance from each other; the
two outermost bars to be one inch and a
quarter wide, and the others one inch and a
half. Two slips of wood, b, b, an inch wide,
are to be braided across the bars within side
(or rather let in, to be flush on both sides)
near the ends, to fasten them together, and
to keep) them at their due distance. The
cross pieces will thus be below the edge of
the hive, while the ends rest on it. But since
the breadth of this frame of bars will not
be quite that of the hive, the deficiency
must be supplied by two small circular
pieces braided on the edge of the hive,
leaving two half-inch openings between
them and the bars. As the ends of the
bars, when laid on the hive, will leave va-
cancies between, these must be stopped by
cow-dung of a due temper, which, when
dry, will be sufticiently tenacious. Take
care that the whole top be even and smooth.
It should be laid on always in the direction
of front 3nd back.
The straw covers are to be fastened on by
loops of cord, or rather leathern thongs,
passed within, at about two inches below
STRAW H1VE9. 37
the top of the hive. They are to be four in
number, placed at equal distances, and acord
to each pair, to draw them tight over the top.
The hive floors should be one inch
thick, of yellow deal planed on one side
only, truly level, and of sixteen inches dia-
meter. Where boards of that width are not
easily to be procured, an additional piece
must be rabbeted and doweled to it. Two
cross pieces are to be nailed underneath, to
strengthen and prevent its warping; or ra-
ther they should be nailed upon the ends.
Three of the corners may be cut off, leaving
the fourth for a place to alight on. One
floor only is requisite to every three hives;
but two or three spare ones will be conve-
nient on many occasions.
Cottagers may contrive tops from those
cuttings of trees which are straight, of an
equal thickness, and of a length as above
described. These, while green, may be ea-
sily cut Hat, with a knife, of the proper mea-
sure, by first laying them over the top of
the hive, at the distance of half an inch from
each other ; they may then be marked, and
cut to their just length. Two pieces are to
38 STRAW HIVES.
be braided under their ends, so as not to pre-
vent the cross pieces from sinking into the
inside; and to hold the bars steady, without
sliding backward or forward. The vacan-
cies between the bars on the edge of the hive
are to be filled up with cow-dung, which,
when dry, will be sufficiently tenacious.
Care should be taken to make every part of
the top smooth and level ; which if not so,
reduce it by laying heavy weights thereon.
Hive-makers in some places have affected
considerable difficulty in making hives of
the form I have prescribed, but without just
grounds; the person employed by me, after
a little practice, could make them as expe-
ditiously and easily as those of the common
sort.
His method was to make a common hive,
the circumference of whose bottom was ex-
actly to the dimensions I desired ; on the
edge of this he worked a round and a half
of straw, bound on with a cord, and then
continued to proceed with brier binding,
having by him a straight stick, of the due
width, as a gauge, and to keep the work
truly perpendicular, or upright. If the hoop
STRA-vr HIVES. 59
I before mentioned is provided for the bot-
tom edges of hives, the work might be be-
gun and carried on from that.
When he had got about half the intended
width, he finished the round even. Then
loosing the cord from the part he began at,
that part was taken off and inverted, and the
round left loose by the cord was re-bound
by brier: and thus he proceeded till he com-
pleted it. It is to be noticed, that the part
first begun at was in the middle when
finished.
Apiators, who understand what I have
written on this head, should offer a good
price to those who are reluctant in making
these hives, and should stand by while the
workman endeavours to make one ; and, by
giving occasional directions, it may be easily
effected, and they may be introduced over
the kingdom.
It will be a good method to plaster one
side of the straw top with cow-dung, even
and level, which will prove more eligible in
introducing the sliders.
Hackels, or coppcts, are made of wheaten
istraw. The method is this: Take a sheaf.
40 STRAW HIVES.
bind it with a cord ten or twelve inches
below the ears: with the left hand gripe a
small parcel or locket (about 60 straws) of
the part above the cord, and with the other
hand a like locket; and giving it a twist round
the first locket, bring it down close to the
cord, pulling the other locket straight down.
Take a third locket and twist over the pre-
ceding; and thus continue to twist and turn
down, until the whole is finished, except
three locks, one of which is to be brought
between the other two, which are to be tied
in a knot over it. Then reducing the whole
as flat as can be, run a short forked stick
through the knot, to prevent its starting.
The hackel may be made in about twenty
minutes.
This form is the best suited to the purpose
of any that I have seen ; they sit close to the
top of the hives, keeping them warmer and
drier, which is of great advantage in winter
and spring. Neither are they so liable to be
blown off. The part before the doors should
be clipped so as totidmit the sun's rays. For
fear of storms, a hoop may be thrown over
them, and fastened by two strongsticks with
STRAW HIVES. 41
crooks at their ends, and thrust into the
ground on each side. This will be a good
security at all times.
Placing the hives at the distance before
stated, will preserve the bees from quarrel-
ling, or emigrating from one hive to ano-
ther.
Opulent persons, to whom the appearance
of straw hives may seem inelegant, might
have them concealed from view by such
shrubs as are of service to the bees, planted
at such a distance as not to intercept the
sunshine to the front of the hives.
Or, handsome covers, something in the
shape of hackels, terminating in a point at
top, and painted, would have a pleasing
appearance.
Or, a screen in perspective, of rocks or
ruins, &c. with proper openings for the
bees to issue from behind, on floors properly
disposed, on which they should be placed
as in a bee-house.
N.B. By straw covers are not meant tops,
which are of wood, with bars. Nor are
hackles meant by the terra tops»
42 BEE BOXES.
CHAP. VIII,
OK BEE BOXES.
Bee boxes are best made of seasoned
yellow deal, free from knots, and one inch
thick. The boxes are to be ten inches high,
and twelve square ; clear in the inside [pL I.
Jig. 2). One of the sides is to have a
pane of glass, d, of the whole widths and six
inches in height, with a shutter half an inch
thick, to be let into a bevel at top, and rest
on a ledge at bottom, and to fasten with a
button, a ; this is to be esteemed thei back.
There must be a door-way in the bottom
edge of the front, four inches long, and
five-eighths in height, exclusive of the threS'
hold, which is to be one-eighth of an inch
thick, to be let into the edge of the box,
and on a level therewith.
A slip of wood is to be fitted for a door,
to turn outward to the left, on a pivot or
pin, and to shut in a bevel, with a small
BEE BOXES. 43
notch, that it may be opened by the point of
a fork. It must shut so far in as to be flush
with the side of the box.
The top [pi. I. jig. 2) is to be composed
of six slips of wood, which I name bars,
a, a, a, a, a, a, three quarters of an inch
thick; the two outermost, one inch and a
quarter broad ; the other four, one and a
half. The ends of the second and fifth bars
are to be let into the front and back edges
of the box, and flush with the outside; the
remaining four bars are to be of a due
length, to pass easily icithinside from front
to back. Two fillets, each an inch broad,
are to be braided to the bars, or rather let in
transversely, of the diameter of the box,
and near their ends, not only to keep the
bars at half an inch exact distance from
each other, and from the sides of the box,
but to connect the whole like a frame toge-
ther, and to take in or out, with the combs
fixed to them, at pleasure. The bars (1st,
3d, 4th and 6th) serve also to prevent the
frame from slipping from its situation. The
top, thus made, will have six bars, and seven
apertures, or openings, like the straw hives.
44 BEE BOXES.
There is to be but one close covers or lid
of wood, three quarters of an inch thick,
to three boxes ; which is to take off and on
by means of four screws, one at each cor-
ner.
Loose floors are to be provided with the
boxes, to be planed on one side, and filleted
at the ends to prevent warping, and of an
inch more in their dimensions than the tops
of the boxes. If a board broad enough
cannot be had, a lesser must be added, rab-
betted and doweled thereto. One floor only
is necessary for a suit (three) of boxes, but
two or three spare ones will often be
wanted.
OBSERVATIONS.
A minute exactness is absolutely neces-
sary in working the boxes; for though the
unexperienced may imagine the deviation
of a quarter or eighth of an inch from what
has been directed will be of no consequence,
nevertheless such mistake or negligence in
any part would render the apparatus unfit
for the use it was intended for.
First observe, that the edges of the boxes.
BEE BOXES. 45
both top and bottom, are to be truly level,
that when indiscriminately set one over or
under another, no chasms or vacancies are
left between them.
Secondly, that the frame of bars be made
to take out with ease.
Thirdly, that the screws for the covers
should be slight but long, to pass in at the
sides, exactly one inch and a half, from
front and back, so that any cover may screw
on any box, without making fresh holes.
They should always be greased before they
are put in, or they will become rusty, and
not to be drawn out without great disturb-
ance to the bets, and much inconveniency.
Fourthly, great care must be taken that no
snags or splints of wood, heads, or points of
nails, rise in the least degree above the sur-
face, as a brass plate is designed to slide over
the tops.
A necessary appendage, as well to the
hives as boxes, are ttco brass plates ^ of one
sixteenth of an inch thick as near as possi-
ble, fifteen inches wide, and fifteen and a
half long, which half inch is to be turned
upright, to pull it out by. They must be
Ad BEE BOXES.
set on a true level. If they are thicker, the
bees will escape on their introduction ; and
if thinner, they will not be strong enough to
retain their necessary elasticity and level,
but will bulge in the middle, and let the
bees out.
The braziers or ironmongers will supply
them. I gave in London sixteen pence per
pound, and they came to eight shillings.
But as in many counties large brass pans
or kettles arc used, and, Avhen unfit for boil-
ing use, are sold as old brass ; the bottoms
of such of these as are of the proper dimen-
sions, and not having holes of a size for a bee
to pass, will do better than new, as being
tougher; and any smith will reduce them to
a level, and turn up one edge. They may
be bought at the ])rice of old brass, i. e. about
six-pence per pound. A pair come only to
four shillings.
I had an iron plate made which came to
near as much as the brass, but did not keep
its level so well, and was more unhandy.
Steel, being elastic, would retain the level
much better, but I suppose would be dearer,
and liable to rust; which brass is not, and
BEE BOXES. 47
will at all times fetch a large share of its
first cost.
Eight or nine shillings by some may be
thought too expensive ; but the great utility
and convcfiiency of the plates,! am warranted
to say, will much over-balance that increase
of price. Every apiator must he feelingly
convinced of the difficulty and embarrass-
ment of separating hives of bees, and in the
other operations, by any of the methods
made public. Indeed, by them the bees of
wider hives are prevented from assaulting
the operator; yet those of the upper ones
are left entirely free to execute their whole
revenge.
By the use of the two plates, or dividers,
and by doors to shut, this great danger
and inconvenience is entirely avoided, as
the bees of both hives are equally inclosed,
and prevented from iusulting the apiator.
Besides, if only one is bought, it is ade-
quate in advantage with any other con-
trivance, and will suit hives as well as
boxes.
Moreover, the plates are not perishable
articles, but with care may last for genera-
4lB BEE BOXES.
tions; and it must be remembered that the
charge lies on the whole apiary, and that
only for once.
Cottagers, whom I wish to benefit, or
others, may club in the purchase, by which
the cost will be but slightly felt. Or perhaps
country shopkeepers would find it their in-
terest to be furnished with suits of plates to
let out.
I have proposed a large window to a box,
as I found a small one of little use, and af-
fording but little entertainment. Those who
would choose a more enlarged view of the
bees in boxes, may have large windows in
the three sides.
Doors to the hives and boxes will be found
of great advantage on many occasions, par-
ticularly in passing the dividers under hives,
to prevent the egress of the bees if the
door-ways are stopped, and on various
other occasions.
Boxes of bees placed in the window of
a room much incommode the company
whenever the window is opened. The side
of the room suits better : a proper open-
ing to be made in the wall and a small tin
BEE BOXES. 49
trough adapted to pass through to the door-
way of the box. On the inside a shelf is to
be" fixed, that the box may stand so close
as to leave no admission for the bees into
the room, and be so secured as not to be
displaced by any carelessness or inadver-
tency.
Apiators who have boxes, but whose
openings are on a different plan to that
now offered, may, at a little expence, have
them altered thereto, provided the dimen-
sions of the boxes do not exceed that of
the dividers. The superfluous vacancy may,
however, be filled up with solid wood, or
new tops may be made with the bars and
apertures, as I have described, though the
box itself be much larger. For should the
dividers be enlarged, the hands will not ex-
tend sufficiently underneath to keep them
close, or steadily to support the great
weight; therefore the apertures and bars
must not be longer than those of my plan,
commencing from the hack. Octagon boxes
may have a section of the back taken off,
and a large window supply its place.
D
50 BliE BOXES.
The timber of the boxes is directed to
be one inch thiols, for one quarter of an
incii thinner will render them not warm
enough.
The Jioors of tlie hives and boxes being
moveable, will be of very great utility and
advantage in all the operations, and must
be so evident to every reflecting apiator, as
to need no further recommendation.
BEE-HOUSE. 51
CHAP. IX.
OP A BEE-HOUSE FOR THREE STOCKS.
It is to be formed as in pi. I. jig. 1, and six
feet long, exclusive of the posts.
Four posts of three inches square.
Two long rails to nail the floor upon, and
two slight ones to nail the roof to.
A floor, seventeen inches in breadth, to
be laid across the rails.
A roof, four boards.
Two folding doors.
Thepostsareto be fixed to the due length,
and seventeen inches in breadth to their out-
side. They are to be secured in the ground
at a proper depth, and five feet above the
earth, and set truly perpendicular. The tops
to be bevelled one inch and a half.
The two strong rails of an inch thickness
are to be let into the posts on the outside,
and strongly nailed, one in front, the other
behind ; to these the floor is to be fastened,
cross-wise, perfectly level.
» 2
62 EEE-IIOUSE.
The slight rails are to be let into the tops
of the posts close to the ends of the bevel,
to nail the roof upon.
On the bevel of the posts are to be fixed
two boards, each six inches wide, to extend
beyond them two inches behind and before.
Two more boards, each at least twelve
inches wide, and one thick, of yellow deal,
and free from knots, are to be nailed sloping
against each other, to complete the roof.
Their edges on both sides are to be bevelled
off, so as to meet at top, and make a neat
joint; and to prevent warping, braces across
on the inside will be necessary.
The frofit of the house, A, is to be in-
closed by three quarters of an inch boards,
placed perpendicularly in lengths, from the
top to the rail of the floor, and rabbeted to
each other. The boxes are to stand six
inches from the ends, and eight from each
other.
Openings are to be cut against each door-
way of the boxes, six inches in length, and
two in depth, a, a, a, estimating from the
loose floors of the boxes.
Similar openings are to be cut eleven
BEE-HOUSL. 53
inches higher up, in a line with the fust, and
even with the tops of the boxes when their
covers or lids are off.
To the edges of the openings circular
pieces of wood are to be braided, a little
declining, for the bees to alight upon.
A batten, bevelled at both edges, should
be nailed ou the outside, just under the
highest alighting boards, to strengthen the
front boards, and prevent their warping or
casting.
The back is to have two doors, shutting
against each other in a rabbet, and to fasten
with a hasp.
The ends are to be closed as the propri-
etor chooses.
Good painting will be of advantage to
preserve the whole. The door-ways should
be of different colours, for the bees the
better to distinguish their respective habi-
tations.
OBSERVATIONS.
The junction of the boards at the top,
however close at first, will gape afterwards
by the changes from heat to wet: to remedy
D 3
54 BEE-HOUSE.
which, stop it with putty ; or rather, as soon
.as it is nailed on, a slip of thin lead, of two
inches broad, should be tacked over the
junction, which will effectually prevent wet
from getting through. Bohea tea-chest lead,
that which is whole, will answer the purpose.
It is of the most material consequence to
bees to exclude wet. I have tried several
other materials for roofs, but none answered
^ well ; and mine is a very trying situation.
If the front is not truly perpendicular, and
the floor truly level, the boxes will not sit
close to the front, and thereby leave vacan-
cies between, by which the bees may pass
into the house; which would be very detri-
mental.
The openings for the passage of the bees
are larger than those of the boxes, as being
more convenient on many occasions. No
openings are made in the house for triplets,
as being unnecessary.
Three of the front boards of the house, in
which the openings are to be cut, should be
eleven or twelve inches wide ; or they will
be too much weakened, by cutting six
inches in length out, to stand true.
BEE-HOUSE. 55
The principal intention of a bee-house and
boxes, is for the more commodious inspec-
tion of the bees by the curious and wealthy.
Three stocks answer this design as well as a
larger number, as they furnish only a repe-
tition of the same scenes. However, a bee-
house is, in some respects, o? real use to those
who keep a number of straw-hived stocks,
as standards, from which, by inspection,
a judgment may be formed of the good or
bad condition of the stocks in straw hives;
but, that boxes are more productive than
those, is a great mistake, if both are ma-
naged by the same method of storifying.
Many contrivances for the purpose of
sheltering boxes have been practised as a
substitute for a house; but, in the end, are
not cheaper, and not near so convenient
for performing the operations : neither are
they so eligible for inspection. My bee-
house, ten feet long, cost me near thirty
shillings.
D 4
56 STORIFTINC.
CHAP. X.
ON STORIFYING.
Of all the methods which have hitherto
come to my knowledge for the conducting
of bees, that of storifying undoubtedly
yields much the greatest profit, and is the
most congenial to their natural habitude,
and style of working.
By storifying is meant the setting of one,
two, or three hives over each other, as
duplets or triplets.
It is found, that three pecks of bees in one
hive will collect more honey than a bushel
divided into two; because a single hive has
not combs enough to receive the numerous
eggs that a queen is capable of furnishing,
and cells suflicicnt at the same time to
hold the honey.
Thus being limited to a small compass,
the increase must proportionally be so too.
For great part of the bees are necessarily
STOniFYING. 57
employed in rearing the young, and there-
fore the number of those who are occupied
in collecting honey is not near so great as
has been imagined.
A good storifier that has not swarmed, or
has had the swarm returned, will increase
thirty pounds in seven days, in a favourable
situation and season: whereas a single hived
stock in the same apiary and season, that
has swarmed, will not increase above five
pounds in the same time. For every swarm,
the least as well as the greatest, is provided
with a queen, equal in fecundity to the
queen of the largest stock ; and as the brood
she brings continually demands the labour
and attendance of probably near half the
bees; this circumstance renders the other
moiety, from the smallness of their number,
unable to accumulate a large quantity of
honey in the short time it mostly abounds.
Whereas, by doubling, and trebling the
hives, the bees are never at a stand for room
to extend their combs, as fast as requisite
for honey or brood.
Bees, considered individually, live about
D 5
58 STORIFYI^G.
a year, progressively coming into birth, and
as gradually decaying. It hence follows,
that those born in autumn, or spring, or in
the intervening months, inevitably die about
the same time in the succeeding periods of
time, and so in a regular proportion during
the breeding season ; but this is not per-
ceived while the brood is rapidly increasing,
and counterbalancing the chasms made by
death.
The queen often lays two or three hun-
dred eggs in a few hours; which occasions
as sudden a disappearance at the stated pe-
riod, and Avhich accounts for that great
thinness observable in hives after the swarm-
ing season is over, as if a swarm had escaped.
This likewise demonstrates, that at the ge-
neral time of deprivation, all hives, or stocks,
according to their populousness, are com-
posed of bees of all ages, from those in
embryo to those of old age. Consequently,
although individuals die daily, young ones
lise to birth, to succeed them, as do the hu-
man race in towns and cities. But, by sto-
rifying, the family is perpetuated to any
STORIFYING. 59
length of time, without the cruel necessity
and trouble of destroying itidiscriininately
both old and young.
The story method can in no case be pre-
judicial, though the bees should he prevented
thereby from swarming: on the contrary,
it would be a great advantage if it did so ;
for then artificial swarming would not be
wanted to perpetuate stocks, which would
beetfected without such assistance. Writers
have, however, followed each other, by as-
serting that by storifying no swarms will
rise. From long experience I am certain
of the reverse. When duplets or triplets
do not swarm, it is Tiot from that cause it
is from abortions of the royal brood, and
several other casualties.
Nor is there any danger of being over-
stocked ; for however numerous a ^5tock may
be in bees during summer, in winter they
will be reduced to a quart. Besides which,
bad seasons often happen, and many acci-
dents arise that will require recruiting, and
which may be happily effected by forbear-
ing to double a good stock, and a swarm will
be the sooner obtained.
60
STORIFYING.
The following estimate will show how
far the advantage inclines to storijication.
A Comparative Estimate of Stocks kept in Single
Hives, and those placed according to //(eSTonirY.
iNC Mel/tod.
IN SINGLE HIVrS.
First Year. £. s. d.
12 stocks on an ave-
rage yielding 15
lbs. of honey each,
is 180 lbs. at 6(/. 4 10
Supposing each hive
to have a cast,
each of which usu-
ally affords 3 lbs.~
36 "lbs. at 6d. 18
Wax 1 lb. each, and
4 oz. the cast, at
18d. 1 2 6
=£6 10 6
N. B. They are sup-
posed to emit 12
good swarms, to
stand for stocks.
To balance in favour
of the story method 2 16
^8 12
Thus at the end of the year
the stocks will be equal.
BY STORIFYING.
First Year. £. s. d.
12 stocks on an ave-
ragewill yield two
additional hives of
honey, of 16 lbs.
each— 384 lbs. at
6d. 9 12
Wax, lilb. each hive 1 16
=£11
Discount for the ex-
traordinary ex-
pcnces, viz.
24 hives at 14d.
12 floors
2i wooden tops
2 brass plates
8
1 8
6
12
10
Second Year.
12 stocks, being the
last year's swarms 4 10
Casts,or small swarmsO 18
AVax 1 2 b
£6 10 6
Balance in favour
of storifying 4 17 6
^11 8
=£2 16
=£8 12
Second Year.
12 stocks produce as
last year 9 12
Wax 1 16
>:il 8 ©
STORIFYIXG. 61
From hence it appears, that by laying out
two pounds sixteen shillings for the extraor-
dinary apparatus of the Jirst year, a superior
profit is to be gained of two pounds one shil-
ling and sixpence. But in the succeeding
years it will amount to four pounds seventeen
shillings, that is, about fifty per cent, per
annum, on the two pounds sixteen shillings
so laid out ; or four pounds seventeen shil-
lings and sixpence a-year more, gained by
storifying twelve stocks, than by a like
number in single hives.
This statement is made upon the lowest
calculation in favour of storifying, which
usually yields much more honey and wax
than here assigned, and that greatly superior
in quality, and consequently more valuable ;
but which cannot be obtained from common
single hives. The instruments are rated
higher than what they will usually cost, be-
sides their advantage of durability.
Though I supposed each common-hived
stock to emit a good first swarm, which
they often do not, or it is frequently lost;
and though some often afford two or three,
they in general are but trifling, and abate
02 STORIFYING.
considerably of the produce of the mother
stock, often to its ruin ; what I have allowed
for casts, in the common run, will be the
full amount.
The estimate is founded on the produc-
tions of middling situations; but in better ,71
single hive may produce a stock of from
thirty to forty-six pounds weight, gross;
the higher likewise will be the proportional
advantage in storifying. Where hives weigh
so, they are usually much larger than the
general size: and I think in the single me-
thod, no hive should be less than three
pecks, or perhaps a bushel, but not more
than twelve inches in height. The twelve
stocks will require three shillings and six-
pence to be laid out in new hives every
third year, which I set against twelve new
hives, at least, which must be bought for
swarms in the single management. No
other branch of husbandry (1 am inclined to
think) will return so large an interest on so
small an expenditure.
Besides the advantages already mention-
ed, there are others of consequence which
deserve notice. 1st. In avoiding the unne-
STORIFYING. 63
cessary and disagreeable trouble of suffo-
eating the bees. 2d. In relieving swarms
when too large. 3d. In preventing idleness
in their lying out. 4th. In uniting of
swarms. 5th. In the means of cleanliness
and wholesomeness. 6th. In preserving
them from moths, mice, and other insects,
by the frequent shifting of the hives. 7th.
In giving ample and timely enlargement.
8th. In being provided against bad seasons.
Lastly, In taking but little room in an api-
ary : as, for instance, four stocks will require
no more ground to stand on than they had
at first; while common hives will demand
twice or thrice as much for swarms, but
producing less honey.
The indications for storifying stocks,
are the appearance of an increase of num-
bers, and in their activity, favoured by the
mildness of the seasons. If the stock be
a last year's swarm, set a duplet ouer it;
and as soon as that seems, by its weight,
to be three parts full, set a triplet over the
duplet; which last, when full, or nearly so,
is to be taken off, and probably will be all
entire virgin honey, and without brood.
64 STORIFYING.
Then raise the duplet, or double hive, by
placing a triplet under it. But if the
strength of the stock is great, and there is
plenty of honey pasturage, so that another
triplet may be expected to be filled, place
the triplet over, instead of that which was
taken off. Perhaps, in some good seasons
and situations, three ox four triplets may be
taken, if they are opportunely applied.
But if the stock is of two years standing,
it must be raised on a nadir; and as often as
it requires enlargement, take the superior
hive off, and put a triplet in its place; and
proceed thus as occasion may require.
These two methods of superhiving the last
year's swarm one year, and the next of nadir-
hiving the same stock, will be a sure means
of obtaining the greatest quantity of virgin
honey, and the largest quantity of the best
wax.
Observe, in all cases, when hives are set
over another, that if the nadir is judged to
be about three parts full, the door of it must
be stopped, and that of the duplet opened,
or the bees will not so soon be tempted to
ascend, to work in the duplet; nor will this
STORIFYING. (55
procedure increase the labour of the bees
in the meanwhile, as the way down is as
short as the way up.
On the contrary, when a hive is placed
under, the door of it must be stopped for a
week or two, or till there is reason to think
there are some combs made in it; and then
it is to be opened, and in two or three days
after shut again, disguising it with a cloth,
&c. hung before it, for two or three days.
Be particularly careful not to let the
stocks be crowded, before they are storified.
For if a princess is impregnated early, it
may occasion a swarm to rise suddenly : for
often great numbers of brood are hatched
together, and therefore from want of room
become ferocious, and occasion much in-
conveniency to the apiator and bees; but
presently become peaceful and satisfied on
enlargement. For an additional hive hav-
ing communications in direct lines with the
combs of the hives added, the bees are led
to esteem the whole as one hive, in a few
days after its application.
In some critical days or weeks, when
honey dews are plentiful, or white clover or
00 STORITYING.
other pasturage is abundant, the quantity
of honey collected in a few days will be al-
most incredible, if they have room enough
to lodge it, filling a hive in seven days ; of-
ten more than can be accumulated in a
whole season.
But the advantages arising from addi-
tional hives are entirely lost in the old single
method.
The duplets are in general not to be
taken off till late, lest the queen should be
therein, or it be mostly filled with brood.
But super-triplets may be always taken ae
soon as filled.
Bees never begin to work in an addi-
ditional hive, until new combs are wanted
for eggs, or honey; and then the bees will
begin to hang down, in ranges, or curtains,
which is always a sign they have begun to
make combs.
Bees often want enlargement before
swarm time ; "which is denoted by their
idly playing about the door and hive. It i«
the owner's fault and loss if he suffers it to
continue.
Duplicated boxes will sometimes appear
STORIFYING. C7
full of combs and bees, through the back
windows, though perhaps they are not above
a quarter or half filled, the combs being only
at the back.
If the bees of a triplet lie out, before the
usual time of deprivation, it should be taken
and placed at a considerable distance, and
the duplified stock raised on a nadir hive:
if, in two or three hours after, the bees of
the stock seem quiet, and work as before, as
well as those removed, it is a sign they have
a queen in each ; and the hive taken may
be reserved as a stock, if such is wanted, or
fumed, and the queen taken away: most
likely there will be much brood, which
may be set over a weak stock, or returned
again to its mother stock.
In case duplets have idlers, they are to be
raised on a triplet, and in about a month
the superior hive is to be taken off. For
when lying out in hot weather, though their
hives are not full, and the swarming season
is past, the bees will not enter notwith-
standing; but by adding a nadir hive, the
accommodation of a spacious and cool hall
6s STORITYING.
to regale themselves will induce the idlers
to enter it.
If it is suspected that bees are idle
(which, though they do not cluster out,
may be discovered by their not being so
active as their neighbours), turn the hive up
in the middle of the day : and if the combs
are partly empty, it may be concluded they
have either lost their queen, or she is un-
prolific, or is without drones; in which case
they are to be slightly fumed in the even-
ing, and set over another stock ; particu-
larly a weak one, to strengthen them.
But if the stock is abundant in bees, and
most likely in hone}^ let them stand till a
young queen can be taken from a swarm ;
when placing her just within the door, she
will be joyfully received. Otherwise, if it
is about the middle of the season, fume, and
place them over a stock ; and by that means
it will produce a very large quantity of
honey.
Scanty breeders produce but little honey
or brood ; so that, whilst other stocks are
rapidly increasing in riches, these will
STORIFYING. 09
bavely get enough to support themselves in
the winter.
Empty combs placed in a duplet will not
entice them the sooner to work therein ; for
till the hive is completely full, and they are
in want of others, they will not ascend,
which in bad seasons may not happen for a
considerable time : nevertheless, from being
ready, they may be of considerable advan-
tage.
About the tenth of July the upper doors
of all storied stocks should be closed, to in-
duce the queen with more certainty to de-
scend, and breed in the loicer hive, except
it is designed to be taken; for then the door
is to be shut, and the upper one opened.
It often happens that in poor situations,
or in a long season of very inclement wea-
ther, neither duplets nor triplets will have
work therein: and this is not imputable to
a bad method of management, or want of
conduct, but wholly to a failure of the re-
sources of pasturage, or of opportunities to
gather it; which sometimes has been so
great as to prevent the generality of stocks
from procuring a sufficiency for their own
70 STORIFYING.
winter's supply. It is necessary in sumKier,
when a hive has few bees, to strengthen it
with a portion of bees from one that is
strong. This will enable the queen to breed
fast, and the hive will prove as prosperous
as any hive you have. But in all sucb re-
inforcements, the hive so replenished should
be set at as great a distance as your conveni-
ence will allow, for several weeks. This is
a rule to be observed in all such cases.
Stocks that have emitted swarms can but
rarely be expected to yield a duplet that
summer, unless the swarm is returned.
Much less can a swarm do it, though I have
known some exceptions in extraordinary
«ituations.
To replenish a stock that is scanty of
bees, set some empty combs, and pour the
cells of one side full of sugared ale, or plat-
ters of it, slightly covering it with a little
hay or herbs, to prevent the bees from da-
maging themselves in it: set it on a hiv€
floor in the morning, and place an empty
hive over it, in the midst of the apiary.
A great multitude of bees will be at-
tracted by the odour, and assemble round
9T0RIFYING. fl
the feast. As soon as that is perceived,
stop the door of the hive until night; when
the bees, having ascended to the top of the
hive, take it, and give them a slight fuming,
and place them over or under the stock that
most wants their assistance.
If a queen is killed or dies in the sum-
mer, it may be known by the bees not carry-
ing in any farina, or by the door of the
queenless stock being much crowded, as well
as that to which they carry the honey. Both,
hives appear prodigiously active, as though
a honey dew had commenced, and with a
clear uninterrupted buz, with crumbs of wax
about the door. Immediately stop the door
of the unfortunate stock, and unstop it in
the evening: the interlopers will then fly
home. Early in the morning, take the hive
to a proper distance, and fume it, or keep
them confined till next day, in a darkened
room. They will then very peaceably and
readily quit the hive on a little drumming
on the sides. If the hive has much honey,
cut the combs out; but take care of those
that have brood, and add them to some other
1jf9 STORIFYING.
stock. The bees, however, will continue
working till all the young are sealed up.
If a like accident happen in winter, take
the bees out, put them to a stock, and take
the honey.
In the want of a hive upon a sudden de-
mand of enlargement, and not having a
proper one in readiness, set a common one
with bars across it, in a pail or bucket, and
place the stock over it ; next night close the
joining, and at the accustomed time sepa-
rate it by the dividers, and take the bottom
one away.
Summers have sometimes been so hot as
to soften the combs so much as to tumble
them down, occasion the smothering of the
bees, and ruin of the stock. To prevent
this, in such weather, give them enlarge-
ment, and raise single hives behi^id : screen
them as much as possible from the sun, by
large boughs, pouring often plenty of water
about their hives, and taking off the hackels.
Bee-houses should have all their doors set
open.
SWARMS. 73
CHAP. XL
THE NATURE OF SWARMS.
During the winter, stocks that are po-
pulous in the summer become reduced by
age and accidents to the small quantity of a /
quart; and the weaker stocks sustain a pro-
portional diminution. The repeopling the
hives, therefore, depends on the amazing
fecundity of the queen, which furnishes
those new-born multitudes that constitute
the swarms.
In consequence of a continued great in-
crease, the bees feel a natural impulse to
swarm. This law they are impatient to
obey, in defiance of all the obstacles that
the ingetiuity of man has contrived to its
taking place. A swarm does not consist of
all young bees, but of old and young promis-
cuously.
The breeding of young bees is begun
sooner or later, in proportion to the fruitful-
74 SWARMS.
ness of the queen, the populousness of the
stock, the goodness of the situation, and of
the weather. The more numerous the bees
are in the hive, the greater will be the heat
to enable the queen to begin breeding earlier
than those of other stocks. When bees are
carefully supplied with food in spring, they
breed fast even in bad weather.
When January proves mild, the breeding
will sometimes commence at the latter end
of that month ; but often in February, and in
March generally. As soon as bees carry
in farina, or yellow balls, on their legs, it is
a sure sign of the queen's having begun to
breed. A long season of cold and wet wea-
ther retards the hatching or increasing of
the breed, causing many abortions, and not
uncommonly that of the royal nymphs.
They may be seen cast out in such unkindly
seasons.
The influence of a genial spring hastens
the breeding, and no less accelerates the
blossoms proper for their nourishment ; the
sallows, willows, snow-drops, crocuses, &c.
yielding plenty of farina.
But should the weather be unfavourable
SWARMS. 7»
while these flowers are in bloom, thereby
preventing the bees from issuing out to col-
lect it, those already hatched will be starved;
and it will also delay a farther increase, until
a more auspicious change takes place.
If a spring is not very cold, but wet, it will
not favour the production of royal brood;
yet the common cells will be filled with
young, but no addition of honey; which
will cause the bees to be very anxious to
swarm, and very irritable, flying about the
hive in confusion and discontent. 1 li^ve
several times seen royal cells in which the
workers were continually introducing their
heads, I suppose, to feed the maggot ; but,
after a few days, they entirely neglected
them, probably as being abortive. In such
cases no swarm can rise until another birth
yields a princess.
In spring, when bees that are in no want
of food suddenly give over carrying, it may
denote the unprolificnessof the queen; and
if the hive contain but few bees, they had
better be united to another stock.
In forward springs, when the workers are
few, but the queen very pregnant, she will
E 2
76 SWARMi?.
be obliged to deposit her eggs faster than the
small number of bees can supply the mag-
gots with sustenance; and they will therefore
perish, and be cast out. This is a disadvan-
tage which arises from keeping weak stocks.
To judge of the fulness of a hive in May,
observe the numbers of bees that enter the
respective hives, and form an estimate.
Queens are not equally fruitful While
some breed slowly or not at all, others will
speedily increase in prodigious numbers.
Sterile queens should be exchanged for the
spare queen of a swarm ; or at taking up
time destroyed, and a new stock substi-
tuted.
From the middle of. May to the middle of
June is the most advantageous time for
swarming; but they often rise, not only at
the beginning of April, or sooner, but also
as late as the 20th of August; counties and
seasons being so very various. Venj early
ones are seldom large enough to constitute
a good stock; and are in danger of perish-
ing, if bad weather succeeds. Very late
on^'e's, though mostly large, will often not
have sufficient time to lay up an ade-
SWARMS. 77
quale store for the winter, nor rear a brood
in time ; beside which, their emigration di-
minishes the parent stock so much as to en-
danger its being starved during the next
spring. The prevention is, to encourage
timely swarms by warmth, and by a trough
of sugared ale now and then, in February
and March, But whether the swarms are
early or late, is a matter of no consequence
in the story method, by which they are re-
turned to the stocks.
In a good season for early honey-gathering,
the stocks will not be forward to swarm,
though they have a princess ready ; being
then wholly intent to collect the precious
sweets, and almost deserting the hive : the
few left, finding such spacious room, and full
employment, have no temptation to rise, and
quit such treasure for an empty hive.
Though a spring should be co/rf, and other-
wise unfavourable, a swarm may rise the first
or second fine sunny day, if a princess is
impregnated, notwithstanding the hive may
be very thin of bees. The swarm, of course,
will be small. New swarms will gradually-
desert their hive on a continuance of bad
E 3
78 SWARMS.
weather, and unite with another stock or
•tocks, without loss to their master.
The increase of swarms in calm situations
is frequently three from a hive; and swarms
will emit swarms, or maiden ones. But it
is to be observed, that in these cases the
production of honey is proportionally less,
not near so much as might be expected fron:>
•the multitude of bees, for the reasons before
assigned.
Frequently, when stocks in very good sitU"
ations have many princesses, swarms will
rise though the weather has been unfavour-
able; while stocks only two miles distant
may be starving, and afford no swarm.
Stocks single-hived, on being filled, and
having a suitable princess, will often swarm
repeatedly, though of small bulk ; by reason
that, having no more space to work in,
they would rather swarm than be idle, that
the precious advantage of honey-gathering
may not be lost.
In very dry seasons few swarms are dis-
charged. On examining the hives, no
princess or royal cell was found. The cause
is uncertain; perhaps the drought did not
SWARMS. 79
favour that kind of prolific nutriment fit to
produce royal eggs or brood, and therefore
no swarms could be formed. Such stocks
should be taken at the season; for having,
it is most likely, none but old queens, they
will die in the winter, and put an end to the
stock.
Bees that are placed near woods find therein
abundant farina (the great source of early
swarms) to feed their young. In all situa-
tions that have plenty of farina, the bees are
remarkably forward and active. In the heath
countries, on the contrary, they are later in
their productions than in other situations,
seldom swarming till the end of July, owing
to heath blowing late. In general, the
bleaker the situation, the later the swarms.
A wet early season prevents the gathering
of farina : then late swarms will be the con-
sequence ; and if the weather should conti-
nue very indifferent, they will rise when least
expected, and be lost for want of watching.
After the first or prime swarms have risen,
the succeeding ones should be returned to
the stock ; for if a second is emitted, it cer-
tainly so much impoverishes the stock that
E 4
■SO SWARMS.
little honey can be collected afterwards, and
will not leave a sufficiency of bees to rear tlie
young, which at that time are abundant.
Undoubtedly there are exceptions, which a
discreet apiator must be left to judge of.
When additional stocks are not wanted, the
prime swarms are to be returned, as well as
casts; as being the most profitable method.
The stocks on the storied plan cannot be
kept too full of bees in the summer time.
Stocks that have not swarmed before the
first of July from single hives, should be re-
turned ; but reference in these and the like
cases must always be had to the difference of
seasons and situations, in which local circum-
stances only can direct the determination.
A large early swarm, with good vveather
succeeding, will be far more productive than
a similar one that rises later; for having
more time before them, their hives will be
furnished with combs and brood before the
honey harvest commences, and then are
prepared with empty cells, and young work-
ers, that will, in a short time, enable them to
collect a large store of honey, if care has
been previously taken to provide them with
SWARMS. 81
spacious room. If bad weather should in-
tervene, it will be prudent to feed them, for
which their subsequent labour will amply
recompense.
There have been instances of stocks
which have swarmed, and notwithstanding
in the middle of July clustered out ; and on
iiaving another hive set over them, still re-
mained, without ascending; but two or
three days after, on setting a hive under, they
presently entered, and worked vigorously.
With respect to those stocks which do
not seem to increase in numbers, or appear
not to have drones; a dozen or two should be
taken from another stock that has plenty,
and put to them. To effect this, in a fine
sunny afternoon, when the drones issue out
most, take them singly with the finger and
thumb as they pass on the resting board,
and put them into a long phial, held ready
in the other hand, till the number wanted is
obtained: stop the phial with a notched
cork, and at night fasten the mouth of the
phial to the door-way of the hive, and by
morning they will have entered.
Those persons who kill the drones in the
£ 5
83 SWARMS*
springy are not aware that thereby they are
destroying the only means of increase ; for
the drones are to bees what males are to
other creatures. But if it should be ob-
served that the drones in summer are so
abundant, especially of a weak stock, as
nearly to consume the honey as fast as ga-
thered ; in this case, and this only, some of
them may be destroyed.
Many schemes have been tried for dimi-
nishing the drones, but with little success.
For if they are stopped from entering their
own hive, they know their next neighbours
will gladly receive them : nor will traps
sufficiently destroy them ; and their appli-
cation greatly disturbs and hinders the
workers of not only their own hive, but also
of others.
More may be killed on the alighting
board in a short time by the end of a case
knife, than by any other means; and if done
leisurely, the workers will not resent it for a
while. When they do, retreat, and try
again some little time after. If continued
long, the workers will be so disturbed as to
enter other hives, and the whole apiary be
SWARMS. 83
alarmed. If the workers do not kill the
drones at the usual time, a few may be killed
by the fingers; and then thrusting a small
twig into the hive, will provoke the workers
to finish the business. August is the usual
time of massacre. The strongest stocks
expel them the soonest : however, if they
are not killed then, the cold weather etfec-
tually destroys them.
Great numbers of workers are bred before
princesses or drones, which last do not usu-
ally appear before May, unless in early
springs ; and the populous stocks will have
them in March, and often in April.
Hives, however, will often be so full of
bees as to cluster out, and frequently
swarm, without any appearance of drones ;
though it is probable there may be a few,
but the weather too unfavourable for their
shewing themselves, as they are more ten-
der than the workers.
LYING, OR CLUSTERING.
The lying or clustering out of bees, on or
about a hive, has been commonly looked
84 SWARMS.
upon as a sign of their being ready to
swarm : but this is deceitful. It indeed
may denote that there are bees enough to
compose a swarm; but it is also a token
that there is no princess to go with them ;
for, in want of room, they often continue
clustered several weeks.
It must be considered, that when the
combs of a hive are/M.// of honey and brood,
the spaces left between, being only half an
inch in width each, contain only a third part
of the capacity of the whole hive — about
fourteen thousand to a half bushel — and
consequently become soon overcharged by
a forward queen, and the surplus is obliged
to lie out ; which, in fact, they always do, in
such circumstances, and perhaps till the
middle of August in hot and dry seasons,
when but few bees can remain in the hive.
This clustering is very prejudicial, not
only in the loss of time, but also in what the
bees might have acquired by their labour
in that interval, usually the most productive
of any part of the season, when every bee
ought to be fully employed. Nor is this
all: the bees by this indulgence contract a
SWARMS. 85
habit of indolence not easily relinquished.
The example tempts others to be as idle as
themselves, greatly obstructing those that
work, in their progress. Some, indeed, will
be industrious in spite of their owner's inat-
tention, and proceed to build combs on the
outside, or under the floor of the hive.
Although it is a certain sign, when bees
lie out from day to day, that there is no
princess ready; yet as there is no practical
means of knowing when there will, a con-
stant watching is necessary.
These disadvantages are admirably reme"
died by storifying.
But cottagers, who have not this conve-
nience, may cut a door-way in the back
of an empty hive that already has one in
front. Set the empty hive with one of its
door-ways against that of the stock, fixing
on a proper support, so as to be on an exact
level with the stock. The vacancy left
between the two hives fill up with a piece of
hay-band, &c. taking care, however, to leave
-the passage of the two door-ways free. The
bees will then pass through the empty hive
to the full one, till more room is wanted.
8(5 SWARMS.
and then they will begin in the additional
one.
To separate them when full, at night
gently take away the hay-band ; have a
lump of clay or cow-dung of a proper con-
sistence ready ; nimbly force that between
the two hives so effectually that it may stop
both doors ; take away the foremost, and
place another empty one in its stead the
next night. About an hour after taking up
the first, you may venture to open the door
Of the stock with the end of a long stick,
and in the morning entirely clear the dung
away.
Under this management the bees will
constantly be employed, nor can they pos-
sibly be prejudicial to the owners, though
thereby the stocks should not swarm, for
doubling does not prevent it.
The profit on bees depends, in a great
measure, on the detention of the swarms.
\itliey are lost, the increase of honey can be
but trifling, however carefully all other
particulars are observed. A casual inspec-
tion will not answer this important purpose.
I have not seen or heard of any apiatorg
SWARMS. 87
(myself not excepted), who, through neglect
in this point have not lost, more or less,
swarms every year, and chiefly prime ones ;
for hees often swarm without a minute's
notice, perhaps the very instant after being
left. There is no sure way of securing
swarms but by a constant watching of a bee-
herd, retained on purpose, from seven or
eight in the morning until three or four
in the afternoon, till all the prime swarms
have issued. Bad weather may be ex-
cepted.
Children, or rather aged people, might be
employed to do it at an easy rate ; and if it
should cost seven or eight shillings, it is bet-
ter to be at that charge, than run the great
risk of losing several of the best sicarms.
You also escape the anxiety and trouble of
going constantly to and fro, which is after
all attended with uncertainty. Besides, if
a person keeps but six stocks, and saves
only one swarm, he will be no loser; to
which add, the assistance given to an indi-
gent family by the money expended. The
usual hours of swarming are from ten to
two; but this is not to be depended on. I
88 SWARMS.
have often known, and had them rise as
early or late as the hours stated.
Another cause of the loss of prime
swarms, is the mistaken notion that bees
always shew certain signs or tokens of their
going to swarm ; and, therefore, until those
signs appear, watching is omitted. But it
must be evident to every reflecting apiator,
that swarms frequently rise early in the
spring, as well as at other times, without
shewing any such signs at all. On the con-
trary, in some seasons the hive may be so
very full of bees as largely to cluster out,
and make an astonishing noise within, as
though that moment they would rise, and
yet very often do not; no, not for several
days or weeks afterwards, and sometimes
not at all. These tokens, indeed, clearly
shew there are bees sufficient in number for
a swarm, and they are most anxious to do
so ; but it also shews they cannot break na-
ture's law — no queen, no sicarm.
Although there are no signs that precede
first swarms; oi second, or casts, or after
ones, there are, viz. peculiar sounds or notes
in the hive not heard at any other season.
SWARMS. 8d
They may be heard generally in the even-
ing in fine weather, and sometimes for se>-
veral days together; being probably ex-
pressive of the princesses' being ready,
and desirous of enjoying empires of their
own; for several are afterwards heard at a
time, in a kind of response either more
acute or grave, but very different from any
sounds made by their wings, and seeming
to be formed by a tube, resembling the ex-
pressions of toot, toot, toot, or nearly that of
a child's penny trumpet, but not near so
loud. Many cliimerical conjectures have
been formed relative, to this particularity ;
but one certain meaning they convey to the
apiator, tiiat when heard, he may be as-
sured that the Jirst or prime sicarm has
escaped, if that will comfort him.
It indicates also, that a swarm may be
expected very- soon, perhaps the next day,
or in a few following ones, according to the
fineness of the weather.
When the number of princesses is too
many to be supplied with bees for swarms,
it induces three or more to issue with a
single swarm, and either settle together, or
90 SWARMS.
divide into different clusters ; well knowing
that death will be the fate of those that
tarry behind. Sometimes, indeed, a prin-
cess will coax a few bees to accompany
her, and form a small cast, of no profit, but
which rather contributes to impoverish the
stock.
Second sicarms are seldom worth pre-
serving single; but by uniting two or three,
you may form a good stock.
If a swarm is wanted from a duplet, both
doors must be left open : but if none should
rise, the stock at separation most likely will
have a queen in each.
It is very probable that a princess may
sometimes rise unimpregnated, or not ripe
for laying, and which the bees at their exit
with her were not sensible of; but when
hived, finding their mistake, they aban-
don her and the hive, and return home
again.
On the rising of swarms, many bees just
returned from the fields with their loads,
and many just entering, join them; by
which means they are capable of construct-
ing combs presently after settling ; and
SWARMS. 91
sometimes do on the branch of a tree, if they
are suffered to remain there a considerable
time.
When bees play idly about the door or
hive, and are more than ordinarily mis-
chievous, it is a sign they are anxious to
swarm ; and probably may rise, though
without a princess, if it is late in the season,
but will return home again.
If the wind be brisk at the time of a
swarm's rising, it will fly in the same direc-
tion, and will settle in that spot which will
best shelter them from the inconveniency,
regardless of their accustomed place of
clustering.
As none but good swarms at any time
ought to be kept, it will be necessary t©
ascertain how such may be known. It
should be in bulk, when hived, not less than
a peck and a half; in middling situations
they run more. I have had them in Hert-
fordshire frequently half a bushel, some-
times larger.
Near Pembroke they seldom exceed a
peck, which is here esteemed a good swarm.
93
SWARMS.
However, not less than a peck will prove a
productive one.
A swarm will appear much larger as it
hangs on a bush, than when clustered in the
top of a hive.
Tht Number, Weight, and Measure of Bees,
100 drones . . .
290 workers , . .
4,640 . . .
915 . . .
1,830 a pint
3,660 ' ■ a quart
29,280 a peck
AVOIRD.
WEIGHT.
lb. oz. dr.
10-
10
1
3 2 J>
6 5 I ^^'INCHESTER
12 10 i ME'^urvE.
6 5 6j
This statement is made on an average ;
for they will not prove twice exactly alike,
because of their different degrees of ful-
ness, &c.
iiivixG. 93
CHAP. XIL
THE HIVING OF SWARMS.
As swarms [pLIL fg.^) frequently rise
when not expected, and that with precipi-
tation, common prudence, it might be
thought, would induce apiators to have
hives in readiness. But 1 have often seen
the contrary, though the expence of the
hives would be less, when bought early, and
you would also avoid the risk of losing a
)?warm while seeking a hive.
The poverty of cottagers may be an ex-
cuse for such supineness. Therefore in such
an exigency, the swarm may be put in a pail,
bucket, basket, &c. in which let it remain
till the evening: when turning the vessel up,
lay two flat sticks across it, place on it an
empty hive, bind a cloth round the junc-
ture (all but the door-way), and by the
morning the bees will have ascended there-
in ; but if not, gently beating the sides of
the vessel will cause them to ascend.
94 HIVING.
To prepare hives for the reception of
swarms, the snags, or the roughness of the
straw, should be clipped off, and rubbed as
smooth as can well be, as this will save the
bees a deal of labour, which they will em-
ploy to greater advantage in constructing of
combs.
Boxes should have all holes and crevices
stopped with putty, or other cement, which
otherwise the bees must do, to exclude air
and vermin.
Spleets, or sticks, are proper to support
the combs, when extended near the bottom ;
but two only are necessary, and placed
thus +, at the height of the second round
of straw from the bottom ; one from the
front to the back, the other across that, from
right to left : for as the combs are usually
built in parallel lines from front to back,
each comb, when wrought down, being of
considerable weight, it will have a ready
support from the spleet, and which will
serve to fasten them also; but till they be-
come weighty, no fastening but that which
the bees themselves execute, will at all be
needful.
HIVING. dft
But as sometimes the combs are con-
structed obliquely, or transversely, a second
spleet is necessary to take them in that di-
rection. In fact, common hives, having no
occasion for removes till they are taken up,
need no spleets, as verified by bees in hol-
low trees, &c. However, the two men-
tioned are enough for any hive, even in the
story method : much less have they occasion
for any spleet near the top, and which is ge-
nerally so preposterously placed as to be
very troublesome and prejudicial to the
honey, in taking the combs out.
No other preparation or dressing of hives
is necessary, than that which I have men-
tioned. The employing herbs, and many
other fanciful articles, is of no use ; but as
people are wedded to old customs without
rational foundation, sugared or honeyed ale,
sprinkled in the top of the hive, is the most
alluring substance that I know of. The
truth is, when a swarm quits a clean hive,
it is for other causes, and not through dis-
taste of the hive, unless it is too small.
It is customary to make a tinkling noise
to allure swarms to settle. Why it does so
96 HIVING.
is uncertain ; but that it does, is as certain.
Most prime swarms, that are not in a habit
of settling in an usual s|)ot, are mostly-
lost, if not tinkled.
Btsides which, it ascertains the right that
the apiator who follows it, has to claim it,
if strayed from his own premises. The
greater the noise, the sooner it is likely ^o
succeed. I find a watch rattle (used about
London) the most eflicacious, and that
when the common method has failed.
In prime or first swarms, the noise should
not begin till such a quantity of bees have
arisen as will form a good swarm, for fear of
terrifying the princess from issuing; and if
so, all the bees will return, though hived.
A sudden storm, dark clouds, or thunder,
will cause them to return, if not settled ; or
if the princess, too weak to sustain the
flight, drops on the ground ; or if the bees
are roughly treated in the hiving.
The noise should be made on the contrary
side to that which will be most proper for
settling. Nor should it continue longer than
the bees begin to cluster: there is no danger
but the rest will follow on hearing their
HIVING. 97
buz. When they rise iu windy weather,
they are very irritable, and apt to sting;
and, though clustered, will often return
home.
When a prime swarm is broke or divided,
the second will be much superior; and there-
fore, if it is in good time, may be kept, if a
stock is wanted.
When bees are hived, but seem discon-
tented and tumultuous, it is a sign they have
no queen among them. Probably she will
be found on the ground, with a small cluster
surrounding her. Take the cluster up, and
place it on the outside of the hive which
has the swarm, or near the door; it will
soon make them easy, and allure those on
the wing to join them also.
Hives fixed near the spots where bees
have been used to settle, and rubbed with
sugared ale, will sometimes decoy swarms to
reside therein. But this must not be relied
on ; for it often happens that bees previ-
ously choose a place, that they have made
clean for their reception, and to which, on
rising, they immediately repair. But a hive
of old combs will certainly allure some of
F
98 HIVING.
your own swarms to stttle therein, if not of
some stra3'ecl ones.
If a swarm is too large to be contained in
a hive, immediately double it; but if it is a
common hive, turn it upside down in a buc-
ket, &c. and lay two flat sticks across, and
set another hive over it; then take them
from the bucket, and set them on four or
five rounds of an old straw hive doubled,
as they are, and in the evening place them
on their destined station, stopping the join-
ing with clay, and allowing a proper door-
way.
When swarms seem restless some time
after hiving, as often happens from their
having two princesses, and being undiiter-
mined in their choice; take them to a dark
apartment, when the bees, supposing it near
laight, will presently elect the most promis-
ing lady, and expel the other.
It is very likely that the old queen some-
times accompanies the first swarm. The
reason perhaps of there being no tooting pre-
ceding t{\t first swartns, is there being then
but one young queen qualified tjo lead
them.
HIVING. ^
When more royal cells than one are per-
ceived in a hive, the supernuraierary ones
may be taken out to make a swarm, if
wanted.
Bees, when swarming, are generally very
peaceable, as being under many fears and
appreliensions; so that they may be hived
with much ease and little danger (unless the
wind is high), if they are treated with gen-
tleness.
If they seem inclined to rove beyond the
proper bounds, handfuls of sand, dirt, or the
like, should be thrown up among them:
water also cast among them will induce a
speedy clustering. The same means should
be used when two swarms rise together, and
fight in the air. A great noise should be
made, especially that of a gun, to intimidate
them.
If several princesses rise with otie swarm,
when hived together, great commotions en-
sue, until one of the princesses is cast out
or killed.
But when they cannot decide in theif
choice, they fly out, and continue the con-
test ; or, which is most frequently the case,
F 2
100 IIIVINO.
different parties cluster with the lady they
approve, and settle separately. Let them
alone till they are severally settled, hive
each parcel separate, afterwards strike them
out on a board one after the other, and take
the queens from each, all but the largest
cluster, to which putall the rest. Or other-
wise, at the close of theeven\ng,fu}ne them
all together, when the first princess that re-
covers will be acknowledged queen, and
the rest expelled or slain by the morning.
Stray swarms are often perceived flying
in the air, and may be allured to settle (es-
pecially if tired with flight) by making some
kind of tinkling with a knife upon a fork,
shovel, or the like; and when settled, may
be brushed into a hat, handkerchief, or part
of the garment, which being gathered up by
the corners, may safely be carried home,
and laid on the ground, or table, laying a
stick across ; and placing a hive over them,
they will assemble therein.
When a swarm settles in several clus-
tersy hive only the largest cluster, and re-
move it, a small distance at a time, near to
the smaller clusters, which are successively
HIVING. 101
to be shook off the places of clustering by a
long hooked stick, leptatedly, till the buz-
zing of those in the hive-has attracted their
notice, and induced them to join. If the
clusters are equal in bulk, hive both sepa-
rately, and set them at a small distance from
each other; and if either of them have a
queen, and are dissatisfied with her, they
will quit the hive, and unite with the other;
but it both lemain contented, unite them by
fuming.
Swarms should be hived as soon as set-
tled ; for their clustering is generally but of
short duration, especially of prime swarms,
or if they have previously selected a place
of residence.
When a swarm attempts to settle on a
person, standing or walking, &c. let him not
be alarmed, nor in any wise oppose them, but
lift the hat a little above the head; perhaps
they will settle on that: if not, cover your
head and face with a handkerchief for them
to cluster on. But if, contrary-wise, they
begin to cluster on the shoulders, or under
the handkerchief, fling it off, and spread
your hands over the eyes and face, and thus
Y 3
10^ HIVING.
remain entirely passive, till the whole have
fixed, which, if this is punctually observed,
will be done without a single sting. Then
retreat with leisure to some room in a
house, made nearly dark; and then a person
must hold a hive, pan, sieve, &c. (sprinkled
with sugared ale) over the cluster, with the
edge just touching it, which Avill, after a
little while, induce them to ascend irito it.
Blowing with bellows will cause them to
do it the sooner, without irritating their
propensity to sting. But if any violent or
ofiensive means are used, it will provoke
their revenge, so as to be dangerous.
When a swarm is clustering, and ano-
ther is rising, and endeavours to join it,
cover the first with a thin cloth, and throw
<]ust or water among the others, to cause
them to settle elsewhere. As likewise, if
a swarm that has risen attempts to settle on
a stock hive, stop the door, and cover the
bive with a cloth. Sprinkle an empty hive
with sugared ale, and place it a little raised
over the top of the stock, and the swarm
will enter therein. If the swarm siems
too large to be contained in the hive, set
UIVING. 103
another upon the first. As soon as the bees
liave entered, take it away, and unstop the
stock.
Or it may be donsj by stopping the door
of the stock, and immediately removing it
to some distance. In the interim an assistant
is to place an empty hive in its place, to
which the swarm will enter; and then it is
to be taken to an appropriate stand, and
the stock brought back to its former situ*-
ation.
Swarms will sometimes cluster on, or en-
ter, improper places, as under roofs, or other
buildings. Immediately a hive is to be
placed close by, or just about the hole of
their entrance : encompass the hive and
bees with a cloth, and it is very likely after
a little time they will give the preference to
the hive. If not, put a piece of paper with
holes made in it over the bov. 1 of a pipe of
tobacco; apply the end to a small hole made
just under where the bees entered ; take the
empty lave away, and then blowing forcibly,
the smoke will generally induce them to fly
out, and cause them to settle in a more con-
venient situation for hiving.
F 4
104 HIVING.
To avoid repetitions, I would observe,
that the general rule in conducting ope-
rations about bees is, that they be executed
without noise or talking in approaching
the hives, till the doors are secured ; other-"
wise the bees will be alarmed, and guard
the doors immediately. A leisurely and
calm deportment, with gentleness yet bold-
ness, and giving the least disturbance, will
greatly conduce to render the business easy
and safe.
In hiving, take care that none are crushed,
as that provokes the others to revenge; and
not only so, but it may chance to be the
queen, to the ruin of the swarm. Forbear
the use of weeds, or throwing water on
them, when clustering, or brushing them off,
which they will highly resent; and it may
make them fly quite away. Gently cut
away all spray twigs, or branches, that may
obstruct the placing the hive under the
cluster. Always spread a cloth on the
ground, with two small wedges on it, as
near the cluster as may be: the wedges are
to keep the edges of the front of the hive a
little raised, for the more ready entrance of
HIVING. 105
the bees underneath ; as also to prevent in-
juring any of them.
It may be remarked that swarms often
settle icithout a queen-, which, therefore,
proves, that it is not the queen that leads
and begins the cluster. Most likely those
that are most inclined settle first, and the
rest naturally follow; as sheep through a
hedge.
Instruments necessary for hiving are, an
^mpty box or hive, a hive floor, or loose
board, a large cloth, tv/o small wedges, and
a long fork, or crook-stick.
To hive bees, let the apiator take the hive
inverted, and leisurely introduce the hive
under the cluster as conveniently as can
be without disturbing the bees; then with
the left hand give the bough two or three
smart shakes, which will cause the greater
part of the cluster to fall into the hive:
nimbly take it away, and turn it on one
edge on the floor, and the other on the
wedges; draw the cloth up over the hive^
leaving the raised part open. The bees, a(«
may be expected, w'lW be in great confusion,
and make a great buz, but will immediately
F 5
iOG HIVING.
begin to ascend: the bough, or bush, &c.
must continually be shook by the long stick,
whilst any bees endeavour to relodge on
it: those on the wing, hearing the buz of
their companions in the hive, will gradually
fly down and join them. Let them remain
on the spot till the evening, unless the sun
should be too violent; and then the heat
would make them quit the hive, unless shel-
tered by boiighs, or the like. But if it should
be inconvenient for the hive to remain, they
may be removed a little way off. As soon as
the bees are nearly retired into the hive, the
hive may be carried to its destined stand;
the few bees that remain on the wing will
return home.
Whenever bees are so clustered that a
hive cannot be put under them, lay a cloth
under, or as near as circumstances will al-
low; shake the bush, &c. to make the bees
fall, and keep so doing till the bees relin-
quish it: when down on the cloth, or
•ground, set a hive over them, and they will
enter.
Or, should a swarm settle on a hedge, &c.
that a hive cannot be set under them, it may
HIVING. 107
be placed over them: this do by forked
stakes, or cords ; and hy flinging a cloth over
the bees and empty hive, they will iu
some hours ascend. But for fear of mis-
chance, they should be watched. Or if they
are found not to ascend, set the hive three
parts over a floor, then with a spoon very
tenderly take up some of the bees, and turn
them out on the floor, within, or near the
door of the liive (its edge being raised by a
wedge): repeat it as long as the bees will
permit without showing much resentment :
the buz of those already entered (the larger
the number, the better) will the sooner al-
lure the others to do so. But if the bees are
fractious at first, introduce only a spoonful
or two at a time; and in the intervals retire
out of sight.
Or, to prevent a swarm from clustering
inconveniently in a hedge or bush, immedi-
ately lay a handkerchief or hat on the bush: -
probably they may settle on that, and may
afterwards be laid on the ground ; and a
hive being placed over, they will most likely
embrace the ofler.
Bees clustering round the body of a tree.
108 HIVING.
or post, are difficult to hive. Take a liive
and floor, or board, and place it by means
of forked sticks, barrels, ladders, &c. or with
cords, so that the floor may be on a level
with the bottom of the cluster: then raising
the edge of the hive next to the bees, by
■vvedges, gently advance the hive so as
slightly to touch the cluster: this in a little
while may induce some of the bees to enter,
and the rest to follow. But to save time,
use the spoon, as before directed, to dimi-
nish the cluster, and increase the buzzing in
the hive: at times disturb the cluster, by
gently shoving a small stick among the out-
ermost, to disengage them. As soon as a
considerable number have entered, the rest
will surely follow ; though, perhaps, but
slowly; unless the queen has been one of
those conveyed by the spoon.
Should swarms fix on the extreme
branches or twigs of high trees, beyond
the reach of the hand, a hive, or rather a
light basket, must be suspended to the end
of a long pole or fork. Then having a lad^
dtr, introduce the basket under the cluster,
while an assistant with a long crook smartly
HiviNcr. 109
shakes the bough, by which a great part of
the bees will fall into it. It must then
speedily be brought down, and turned up-
side down on a cloth ready spread, on which
many bees already fallen will be settled. In
the mean while the branches must be con-
stantly shook, by which the bees, finding no
quiet there, and hearing the buz of those un-
derneath, will descend and join them.
Or, another method is to tie twigs to the
end of a long pole, and therewith disturb
the cluster till they take wing again ; when
probably they will cluster in another situa-
tion more favourable, if treated with the
usual music.
A third means is to hold a pan of smok-
ing substances, which may make them glad
to move their quarters.
When swarms settle on large branches of
trees, too stubborn to shake, a hive is to be
set on a tloor, and fastened with cords, that
the floor may touch the cluster. Then treat
them as before mentioned.
A swarm in a hollow tree that has not
been lodged therein more than two or three
days, may be displaced, by carefully stop-
110 HIVING.
ping all the holes, and crevices, except that
which they entered by; then lixing the bot-
tom of a hive against their hole of entrance,
securing it firmly with cords, as also tying
a cloth round the joinings, that no bees can
escape; beat with a large hammer, or great
stone, violently about the tree just below
the hive : probably this will terrify the bees,
so as to induce them to seek security in the
hive. Now and then cease the noise, and
listen whether they make a buz in the hive;
and repeat the hammering until the buz is
greatly increased. Then, loosing the hive
from the tree, set it on a cloth spread on the
ground, and repeat the strokes and noise on
the tree till but few bees rise. Stop the hole
of the tree, and those on the wing will re-
join their companions.
But if they will not take to the hive, make
a hole with a chissel, near the upper part of
the hollow (for the bees generally lie as
high as possible above the entrance): place
the hive just above the hole cut, and by
hammering it will cause them to fly fu-
riously out, and take to the hive, or settle
in a more commodious situation. But if
HIVING. Ill
they should have settled below the passage
hole, make the large hole heloio the cluster,
as near as can be judged, by striking where
the buz may direct.
If these methods prove unsuccessful, re-
course must be had to smoking rags, damp
straw, or cow dung, put into the hole, if it
be made large enough; and at the same
instant hammering under their lodgment,
or teasing them by thrusting twigs up till
they fly out. Perhaps (for I have had no
opportunity of trying) if an opening could
be made large enough to receive a pot of
fuming puffs under them, for about twenty
minutes; by confining the smoke, pro-
bably the bees might be so stupified as to fall
to the bottom, and might carefully be taken
out, by a ladle, or spoon, and put into a
hive, and immediately carried away, and
placed in a dark room or out-house till the
morning. The chasms of the tree should
be all stopped, to prevent the bees from re-
turning to their former lodge. The longer
bees have settled in any place, the less dis-
posed they will be to quit it ; especially if
112 HIVING.
they have made combs, and have brood
therein. They vi^ill sooner die than quit if.
In such a case it is better to let them re-
main till autumn; and then suflbcate the
bees, and take their treasure.
Bees in the holes of walls may be treated
after a similar method.
But when bees have settled under the
roofs or vacant parts of buildings, where
sparks of fire might be dangerous, fuming
must be avoided ; and instead thereof
water must be conveyed over the bees, by
the rose of a watering pot, funnel, or pipe,
taking some tiles off, or boards down, to
come at them: which will often succeed as
well.
Where windows have been left open,
swarms sometimes assume the liberty of
taking possession. To secure them, first
shut the window and door ; then holding a
hive under the cluster, draw a wire or thin
stick gradually between them and the
cieling, or part to which they are attached:
this w^ill cause the bees to fall into the
hive; which being set on the floor, the
HIVING. 113
Stragglers will soon hear the buz of the
others, and rejoin them, and the sooner if
the room is made nearly dark.
All swarms, if the weather is fine, will
begin to work as soon as hived ; but if the
two first days prove foul, it discourages
them from labouring for several days, even
if then it should je fine. But in a long
continuance of bad weather, they will
perish, unless relieved by a timely feeding.
The foregoing directions, it is presumed,
will be fully applicable to all other cases
that may arise, though attended with some
variation.
114 ARTIFICIAL SMTARMING.
CHAP. XII I.
ARTinCIAL SWARMING.
I AM sorry to declare, that I have met
with no invention, among the many that
have been published, or among the great
number of my own devising, for artificial
swarming, adapted to common use, or that
has been in general successful. From so great
a disappointment, I am inclined to draw a
conclusion, that as nature has implanted in
bees a strong propensity to swarm, as a
quality necessarily connected with the
manner and season; all our attempts, by
force or allurements, to etl'ect or prevent it,
with a tolerable degree of timely advantage,
must prove ineffectual. I propose the two
following methods, however; as, if not
successful, they will not be prejudicial to
the stocks, may amuse the curious, and be
accomplished without much trouble. But
they are inapplicable to general practice.
^UTIFICIAL SWARMIKG. 115
By often looking through the windows of
storied boxes, in the swarming season,
sometimes a queen may be seen in one of the
boxes. Immediately shove a divider be-
tween the two boxes. Leave them about
an hour ; when if the bees of both boxes re-
main quiet, wait some time longer, and then
repeat the- inspection, by intervals, two or
three times, till the approach of night; and
if they are still in a quiet state, introduce
the other divider, and take the duplet to a
distant station. On the contrary, if the
bees of either box have shown signs of dis-
content, it is a token there is no queen in
that which shows uneasiness; and therefore
the divider must be withdrawn, till another
favourable opportunity offers.
The second method is — In the swarming
season, when the bees seem very numerous,
and show indications of swarming, shove a
divider between a duplet in the morning,
having before opened both doors ; and if
the bees remain quiet, and pursue their
work, in both boxes, till the evening, pro-
ceed with them as above. But if the bees
116 ARTIFICIAL SWARMING.
of either box are confused, take out the
divider, and try your fortune another
time.
An artificial swarm may be made, by
purchasing one or more of second or third
swarms of your neighbours, as they will be
of little value to them, and therefore may
be had cheap. Unite as many of them in
one hive, as are sufficient to form a good
swarm, by placing the fewest in number to
the most populous; fuming them first, to
prevent quarrelling. But if such should
happen, fumigate the duplet.
WILD BEES. 117
CHAP. XIV.
OF WILD BEES IN WOODS.
In February and March, bees are very fre-
quently numerous, on fallows, osiers, and
other plants that afford farina, in woods ;
which is a sure token that their habitations
are not far distant. They may be easily
traced ; and having found them, mark the
place or tree. Aged people, or children,
may be set to watch their swarming, and
they may be hived in the usual manner.
For whether in hollow trees, or any other
habitation, bees equally cast out swarms, as
well as those in hives. Having secured
and carried away the swarms, in autumn re-
pair to the same spot, and take the sum-
mer's produce, as directed under hiving.
If this early attention has been neglected,
make observation in woods on those places
which are most plentiful of bee-flowers;
or, in very dry weather, of watering places,
lis "WILD BEES.
to which, in such seasons, they will be ob-
liged to resort. If their abode is too far to
be traced, dissolve some red or yellow ochre
in water, and, dipping some sprigs therein,
sprinkle the bees therewith as they alight.
Being thus marked, they will be easily dis-
tinguished. For, by observing whether re-
turns are sooner or later, or Avhethcr in
greater or lesser numbers, a tolerable guess
may be made; especially after a little prac-
tice. A person having a watch, may by it
more accurately determine this point. A
pocket compass will also be greatly assisting
to certify their course, which is always in a
direct line to their habitation in their return
home.
If this method proves not successful, take
a joint of a large reed, or of kex; force a
part of the pith out at one end, and do the
like at the other, only leaving a small parti-
tion between the two hollows: cut a small
slit over one of the hollows, put some ho-
ney made a little damp with ale in the hol-
low, and stop the end with a cork, or
paper; and if fire can conveniently be had,
melt some wax on the tube, the smell of
WILD BEES. 119
wbicli will be wafted by the wind to a great
distance. Place this joint near their haunts,
and they will soon be allured to enter into
the hollow. When about eight or ten have
entered, stop the end with the finger; soon
after let one of the bees out, pursue it as
long as it is iu sight, and then let out an-
other. If it continues the same course,
follow that also; but if any take a different
route, let another fly, and so proceed till
you find several take the same course, which
will lead to their nests.
The bees that pursue other directions
probably belong to other nests, which may
be discovered by the same process as the
first.
If it be necessary to take the combs out
directly, a pot of fuming puffs should be
introduced under them by a hole made on
purpose. During the fumigation, forcibly
strike the tree. If the whole are not fallen
from the combs, they will, however, be so
lethargic as to give the operator but little
annoyance, if he has on the bee-dress. The
combs are to be taken out as whole as pos-
iible, and placed in aa empty hive, and sup-
120 >VILD BEES.
ported by as many spleets as are necessary,
in the best manner the nature of the case
will admit of. The stupified bees which
have fallen into the cavity of the tree, may
be taken out by a spoon or ladle, and put to
the combs in the hive; which had best be
set on a floor before the combs are put in,
and then the bars and cover, and may be
removed without much trouble or displace-
ment.
If pufTs are not in readiness, the smoke of
dried cow dung, damp straw, &c. may be
used, which will be likely to force the bees
out; when, settling on some tree, dec. they
may be hived, and, on being carried home,
may be set over the hive of combs.
If the nests are taken during the swarm-
ing season, those parts of the combs that
have honey in them may be cut out, taking
great care of those with brood, which, with
the empty ones, are to be placed in the hive,
as well as can be in the same manner and at
the same distance as the bees do ; and plac-
ing the bees in them, they will soon repair
the damage, and furnish the hive afresh.
When the bees are esteemed not worth
>TILr» BEES. 121
preserving, rags dipped in melted brim-
etone, and put under their nests, will imme-
diately sufl'ocate them.
Hives rubbed with honeyed ale, and some
poured into an old comb, and put under
them, and placed on those spots which bees
much frequent, will be likely to allure
swarms to settle therein.
Having had no experience in what relates
to this article, the above is given from re-
spectable authority.
12? SALVATION OF BEES.
CHAP. XV.
SALVATION OF BEES.
Many of my readers will be much sur-
prised at the following declaration, ri:. That
the suffocation of bees kept in common hives
is not prejudicial to the interest of the
owners. This assertion, I beg leave to state,
relates only to those who keep bees in sin-
gle hives, loithout storifijing.
"Contrary to my former principles, preju-
dices, and practice, and to the current opi-
nion of writers, nothing less than a series
of stubborn facts could have effected my
conviction and recantation.
From theoretic deductions to facts I ap-
peal — to experiments, the justness of which
the judicious apiator may be convinced of,
by making proper observations. For those
who keep bees in boxes, with large win-
dows, may perceive that in December and
January very few bees are to be seen in the
SALTATION OF BEES. 123
boxes that were crowded in August. Those
who have straw hives may, at that time
safely turn them upon their edge, and have
a tolerable view, to answer the above pur-
pose. The diminution is so great, that the
fullest hives or boxes are then reduced to
about a quart! and this by the natural de-
crease of the aged bees. To certify this, I
took the bees from several hives, and found
them to measure as by the above statement;
the weaker stocks less in proportion.
This result proves, that all the advantage
obtained by saving the hees o{ stocks tal^en^
and uniting them to other stocks (the only
eligible means of saving), is ultimately only
the salvation of a quart. And as the queen
must be killed by the hand, or by the stock
bees to which they are to be united, they
cannot possibly make any farther increase
in the spring.
The question is then reduced to this is-
sue : Whether the multitude of bees, united
about August, will not consume (though
gradually diminishing) more honey before
the spring gathering commences, than the
quart left will compensate by their labour?
Q 2
121 SALVATION OP BEE3.
Besides, it is to be considered, that the
eggs produced by the old queen of the stock,
not being more than usual, want not an
unusual number of workers to rear them*
a greater number may possibly be useless,
or prejudicial by the increase of consump-
tion. Nor do they contribute to the pro-
duction of more early swarms; for that
depends on the early birth of princesses, in
which the additional bees have no share.
The truth of the fact is further confirmed
by experiments on stocks that have the bees
of other hives united to them, but whicli
proved neither more forward nor more pro-
ductive than single ones hived in the com-
mon way, not only of my own, but of
neighbours.
On the contrary, storied stocks, in the
same season, were abundantly more pros-
perous, having provided themselves with
means sufficient for their own prosperity,
in a succession ot" peace and plenty, and
without the cruel necessity or trouble of
suffocation by fire and brimstone.
From this declaration it by no means
follows, that the old practice of sutfoca-
SALVATION OF BEES. 125
tion can be justified; but must be con-
demned as impolitic, and highly disad-
vantageous: for they must he very iceaJc,
who pursue a plan of conduct of small
profty ichen a better is offered of double or
treble advantage.
G 3
126 GLASSES.
CHAP. XVL
BEE GLASSES.
The most convenient shape to set over
bees should be similar to those of pi. IL
fig. 1 ; that is, perpendicular to the circular
top, or straight dome.
Four are designed for a box, one at each
corner; and one in the middle, which is to
hold two quarts ; tlie others, only one quart
each.
That of the centre should be in two
parts; the lower part to be open at both
ends ; the upper division of the glass to
be circular at top. There must be a
thin circular piece of wood, of proper di-
mensions, to lay over the top of the un-
der glass, to support it when set over,
and in it three apertures, cut out from
the middle, by which the bees are to
ascend into the upper half of the glass.
GLASSES. 127
It will be necessary to have au adapter,
or board of the size of the top of the box, on
which the glasses are to be set. Apertures
are to be made in it, to correspond with
those on the hive-top, but to be limited in
length, and not to exceed the width of the
glasses, as pL II- fg- 3.
Instead of sticks to support the empty
combs, stages seem preferable. Three slips
of wood, an inch and a half wide, and of
a length to suit the bottom of the glasses:
small holes are to be made near their
edges, to receive long pegs, or slight
sticks, about three or four inches long,
and thus form stages wherein to fix the
empty cornbs. The bottom edgesi, and
ends of the stages, must be round, or be-
velled off; and the ends of the pegs are
to be cut smooth with the surface, to pre-
vent any impediment to the entrance of
the divider. The small glasses require
two such stages ; the larger central, three,
in each division ; and to be placed so as
not to obstruct the apertures of the box
by which the bees must ascend into the
glasses.
G 4
12S GLASSES.
OBSERVATIONS.
When the glasses are filled with combs,
the edges are to be cut through with a thin
knife, close to the gh\ss ; and a stiff wire,
bent like an L, with its short end made flat
and sharp, is to be introduced between the
combs. Give it a twist, to turn the flat
end, so as to separate the upper part of the
combs from the top of the glass. The glass
of two parts is intended for the conveniency
of taking the upper part off when full, and
to be succeeded by placing another. All
glasses are difficult to crawl up by the bees,
occasioning extraordinary labour. In small
glasses especially, the crowds entering
with their load, after much struggling
find it not wanted there, nor perhaps in
several others; and after all this toil are
obliged to descend with it into the hive.
For this reason, I have advised none under
a quart. But to those who are not anxious
about quantity, small glasses to their own
taste Avill be more pleasing. The greater
the number of glasses, or their magnitude,
the greater should be the proportion of bees-
GLASSES. 129
to fill them; or tiie box will contain mostly
brood, and very little honey. An addition
of a good swarm or two is, in that case,
necessary.
Those who have largeglobular glasses may
have them cut in two (by the glass-cutters),
and have a division-board adapted to the
under half, as directed for a central glass.
It may be thought that, by the use of
glasses, the queen might be often discovered:
but the reverse is true; she very seldom
visits them, having no business there, brood
hardly ever being found therein. Once I
had some in a large globular glass, owing to
want of room in the box below. The drones
often ascend in the glasses to repose them-
selves. Glasses do not prevent swarming,
for I have liad swarms rise, even after they
were half filled.
MANAGEMENT.
To place glasses over a box, set them as
in pi. II. fig. 1, properly upon the adapter;
slide the divider under the cover of the
box, and set the adapter and glasses on the
G 6
130 GLASSES.
divider; then holding it steady with the left
hand, withdraw the divider by the right.
Then cover the whole with a dark-coloured
cloth. It is proper to omit inspecting them
for two or three days. Any chasms that
may happen by the glasses not fitting close,
or by not being wide enough for the open-
ings, may be covered with slips of bohea
tea-chest lead.
Glasses may be set on straw hives, by
having a c/rcw/ar adapter set over, as before
mentioned; only be careful that the glasses
do not stand too near the edges, so as to
prevent the body of a straw hive from sur-
rounding them, or the straw cover from
being laid over, and which may be removed
at pleasure for inspection.
No glasses ought to be set over stocks,
until a duplet is about half full, lest the
after-season should prove unfavourable for
storing the boxes. No glasses should be set
over weak stocks. About the tenth of July
glasses should be taken off; but if duplets
are well furnished, they may be safely ad-
mitted so long as the bees continue to place
honey therein. In case the bees of a duplet
GLASSES. ISl
lie out, take the glasses off, and raise the
stock on a nadir.
In bad seasons, glasses cannot be filled
without too much impoverishing the stock;
probably to their utter ruin.
In four or five days of bad weather, the
bees will feast on the honey of the glasses;
to prevent which, take them od'. But they
must not be put on again, on a favourable
change ; for they will take the rest of the
honey; although, when done, they will re-
fill them. Therefore put on fresh glasses,
with empty combs.
The glasses should be taken off as fast as
filled, and replaced by empty ones, or the
openings covered with tea-chest lead.
Two slips of double tin, each about half
an inch wider than the bottom of the largest
glass, are necessary to take the glasses oft' by.
Slide one under the glass to be separated,
and the other under the first; then with-
draw the upper tin, with the glass thereon,
while the other is kept close and steady
in its place, till an empty one is set on. The
glass taken off is to be conveyed to a dark-
ened room : and turning it on its side, to-
J32 GLASSES.
wards the light, the bees will fly directly
thereto, and soon quit the glass. If they do
not, tapping on the sides with the hands, or
blowing with a pair of bellows, will make
them soon relinquish it. Small glasses are
to be taken ofV in the same way; but by
taking them to three or four yards distance,
and tapping with the fingers on their sides,
with the bottom upwards, and gradually
walking on, the bees will escape without
anger or danger. Or they may be laid on
their sides on the ground, and the bees will
quit leisurely of themselves.
These operations will be rather an amuse-
ment, than acts attended with fear, when a
little practice has made them familiar.
Spare virgin combs should annually be
reserved for decoys to the glasses. They
should be kept in close boxes, or drawers,
in a dry room, wrapped in papers, that nei-
ther dust nor the wax-moth may injure
them.
DEPRIVATION. 133
CHAP. XVII.
DEPRITATIOX, OR THE TAKING UP OT
HIVES OF HONEY.
Deprivation is either partial or general :
the PARTIAL is that of taking hives or boxes
as soon as they are judged to be full.
When a stock has been so prosperous as to
h?i\e the triplet full, it must be then taken
off, and another triplet set in its place; but
the duplet must remain, while a continued
separation of triplets may be made as often
as they become filled.
To know when straw hives are nearly
filled, strike round the body, and if it
feel hollow, and a small buz be heard, it is
a sign of their not being near full; but if
it feel solid and dead to the strokes, and a
great buz of some continuance follow, it
indicates its fulness.
Through the windows of boxes this may
be discovered at sight.
134 DEPRIVATION.
Triplets are to be taken so long as the
season and weather are favourable for pro-
ducing honey; otherwise the stock must be
raised on a nadir. Place the hive taken, a
considerable distance from the stock; and
if in two or three hours] the bees remain
quiet, there is a presumption of its having a
queen, or brood, and it must be set on again.
But when all the three hives appear crowded
with bees, so as to want more room, set
the hive that was taken, with its door as near
as can be to the stock door, so as to not to
obstruct it; laying a slip of wood as a bridge
from one to the other: and place an empty
triplet on the stock. The hive being placed
thus near to the stock, with its floor touch-
ing, will be esteemed still as one family, and
the brood reared as such ; and in about three
weeks may be taken away. The brood in
that time will be matured, and the cells filled
with honey.
But in the interim, if an unusual crowd
or disturbance, or crumbs of wax, are seen
at the door, it is a token that the stock bees
or some others have begun to pillage. Ob-
serving this, take it directly to a dark room.
DEPRIVATION. 155
and cover it up for a few hours; if then the
bees are quietly escaping, let it remain till
morning, and then fume it, whatever be the
state of the bees.
But if, after the triplet has been taken, the
stock is in confusion, it is a sign that the
queen was therein (though this seldom hap-
pens), and it must be replaced. This caU'
tion is particularly necessary to be observed,
in respect of all hives when taken; as some-
times a young queen may reside in one hive,
and the old one in another; or the old
queen may be in it herself. This is often
the case with duplets which have farina and
brood ; and that even though the upper
door had been timely shut. Generally, when
a nadir is half full of combs, and the door of
the upper hive has been kept shut, the queen
begins to lay her eggs in the nadir; there-
fore, in about three weeks after, the brood
in the superior hive will have been hatched,
and the cells filled with honey, and proper
for taking. No duplet is to be separated
in autumn, unless the hive left, in all ap-
pearance, is quite full ; then that which
seems most likely not to have the queen may
136 DEPRIVATION.
be taken; but if this cannot be determined,
it is most eligible to let both stand. The
bees will not be the worse for having more
food than is necessary (if kept warm in
winter) ; but may perish by having too
little, which may happen in a protracted
bad spring.
Bees will not quit a hive that has brood,
whether upper or under, without fuming or ^
driving. The following day after a hive"
has been separated, 'if farina has been car-
ried in, it shews all is well ; but if not,
return the hive that fails to the stock again.
When it happens that a separate hive
has a queen, and is well stored, it may be
kept, if such an increase is wanted ; pro-
vided the stock left has also a queen. But
if, unfortunately, the stock queen has been
killed in the operation, restore the hive
taken to its family.
The hrood-comhs of hives taken should
be handled with great tenderness and cir-
cumspection, that none may be damaged or
crushed. Rather cut into the honey cells
than into the brood ; and let them be kept
warm, until they are set over a stock. Place
DEPRIVATION. 137
them in an empty hive reversed, without
its cover; the combs to be disposed so as
to touch each other as little as possible, by
placing slips of wood, half an inch in thick-
ness, between, to give sufticient space for the
young to be excluded, and for the passage
of the bees to nourish them. At night set
them over the stock they came from, or
some other that needs recruiting.
Deprivation should always be done in the
evening, as soon as the bees are retired to
rest; that there may be sufficient light
leisurely to perform the operation.
The GENERAL time of deprhmtion, or
taking up of stocks, varies in duL rent coun-
ties, according to their diflereuL tempera-
tures; but about the latter end of August
is the usual season.
Bees kept in single hives ought to be taken
when honey-gathering begins to cease. This
may be known by a diminution of activity
in the bees (if not from bad weather): for,
when this happens, they begin to feed on
the hive honey, beginning with the un-
sealed or exterior cells first. Therefore,
the longer they are permitted to stand, the
138 DEPRIVATION.
less honey there will be in the hive, when
taken; and that in proportion to the num-
ber of bees it contains; which at that time
consume a great deal in a little time, and
consequently prove an absolute loss. This
is meant of stocks taken the common way
to be , destroyed. What hive honey they
have eaten can be of no profit, when the
bees themselves are soon to be killed.
But this is not the case in the story me-
thod, the bees of which are always saved;
and therefore no disadvantage can arise
from their standing. For if a duplet that
has stood be taken after having eaten a
good part of the honey, it has saved a like
quantity of the stock's, which they would
have consumed, had they staid on.
At the usual season of deprivation there
is generally much brood, whose preserva-
tion is of much importance; for, coming
into birth so late in the season, they will
survive through the next summer, till the
honey harvest terminates. This brood, thus
preserved, is of more worth than twenty times
the number of promiscuous bees, taken from
a stock, and incorporated with another ; even
DEPRIVATION. 139
if the stock should prosper, which is very
doubtful, as experience verities.
It is surprising, that the salvation of the
brood has never been noticed; although
every one, on taknig combs out at this sea-
son, might have observed brood therein, in
their several stages of maggots, or nymphs,
and often of eggs. Regardless thereof, they
are mashed indiscriminately with the honey-
combs; thus greatly injuring its quality by
such ill-judged conduct.
In the storied method, instead of the gene-
ral deprivation of duplets in August, I appre-
hend, for the reasons above assigned, it will
be eligible to defer it to the latter end of
Septonber, or the beginning^f Octoher; or
till the weather is too cool for the bees to
work much out; by which time all or most
of the brood will have been matured, and
have left their cells, without the risk of de-
stroying any of them : besides the advantage
of performing the operation with more ease,
safety, and satisfaction ; as at that time, from
having neither brood nor princess, the bees
will quit the duplet, when separated, in a
few hours, of themselves, without fuming.
140 DEPRIVATION'.
In wet and cold seasons, honey-gathering
is very scanty ; a circumstance which leaves
numerous vacant cells for the rearing brood,
and thereby renders deprivation much later
than usual. For the hives may feel heavy,
but it will not be from honey, but mostly
from farina and brood (especially if the stock
is of two years standing); which may lead
the apiator into a fatal error, as thinking the
stock rich, though in fact it may be very
poor, and die of famine in the spring. Stocks
left double are not liable to this casualty.
To judge of the weight and condition of
a stock fit for standing, besides the direction
given before in this chapter, lift the stock a
little up: if it feels of a due weight, that
is, about twenty pounds exclusive of the
hive, it may be safely concluded as fit to
keep.
It will be useful, on several occasions to
number and weigh the hives and floors,
before the bees are put in. By this means,
any evening, by stopping the hive door,
they may be readily weighed, without any
disturbance to the bees.
If any of the stocks remain trebled till
DEPRIVATION. 141
August, take away the most empty; for it
is adviseable, that tlie stocks, in general, be
reduced to duplets at this period. Those
that have bjt few combs, are obviously to
be taken. In a cold evening or morning,
an assistant may lift the hive high enough
up, to permit the apiator to look underneath,
vi'hich he may do with little dnnger, or dis-
turbance to the bets. The doors of all
duplets that seem most vacant should be
shut.
All stocks in common hives, that are light,
should be taken; and none kept, unless
about twenty pounds weight. Weak stocks
seldom survive the next spring; but, if by
chance they do, turn to liitiB account, not
adequate to the trouble and expence of feed-
ing. One strong stock will be more pro-
ductive than four weak ones. Nevertheless
in extraordinary situations and seasons, they
may yield tolerably well.
In favourable seasons three hives have
been taktn oft", each yielding twenty pounds
of combs, though in a situation that was but
middling.
Two or three casts joined together have
148 DEPRIVATION.
accumulated honey very rapidly; while
their feeble neighbours, having few col-
lectors, lost that short but precious oppor-
tunity.
It is best to separate boxes about ten in
the morning, when the greatest number of
bees are out ; as it can be done with more
ease and security than in straw hives.
In small apiaries, the divider had better
be shoved under a hive the night before, and
then the bees will be so little disturbed as
hardly to resent it.
When bees are terrified by the operation
of deprivation, or other violence, they be-
come regardless of their queen, till the panic
has subsided, ^t the season of deprivation,
the light stocks had better be incorporated,
three or four, at discretion, in a hive, and
proportionally furnished with honey.
PASTURAGE. 143
CHAP. XVIII.
OF PASTURAGE, OR BEE-FLOWERS.
A PLENTIFUL assortment of bee-flowers
is a consideration that requires attention, if
we design to favour an ample production of
honey. The nearer the pasturage is to the
apiary, the more journeys the bees can make
in a day, and consequently the sooner they
will be able to till their hives.
The product frorfi a large supply, but at
a small distance, and in a temperate situa-
tion, even with the common management,
will be superior to that of the most skilful
in a bad one. On the contrary, with bad
management, and with scanty pasturage,
and indifferent situation, a very trifling
profit can be expected.
Britain, in general, is but thinly stocked
with bees. Few farmers in comparison
esteem them worth their notice; it is from
the attention of cottagers we derive the chief
144 PASTUllAGE.
supply of honey and wax. It will be rea-
dily admitted, that a large number of stocks
kept within a small circuit and in a bad
situation, will be prejudicial to that circuit,
as being more than can be supported in
affluence, and will necessarily impoverish
each other. The state of any particular
situation may be known by the general pro-
duct for several years together, and not
from one or two years only; but more cer-
tainly from what a very good season will
produce, which may be accounted as a
standard.
But there are many situations capable of
feeding a much larger number of stocks
than are to be found on them. However,
if the generality of farmers and cottagers
individually would kfep a few stocks, nearly
all the honey and wax this country could
produce might be collected. This would
not only benefit individuals, but might also
be of real national utility.
In many counties, cottagers' wages are
too low to enable them ever to purchase a
swarm or stock of bees, especially if they
have families. It is a prudent and com-
PASTURAGE. 145
mendable method they have here, of giving
credit for a swarm, to be compensated for
by the first good one that it yields the next
year, and about a quart of honey for interest.
I hope this practice will become general,
among these industrious and useful people.
I flatter myself that the well-known bene-
volence of the British gentry will induce
them to assign some part of their influence
to promote it.
Large heaths and commons, surrounded
with woods, are noted for being abundantly-
productive: the first abounding with wild
thyme, and various other flowers untouched
by the scythe ; and the other with a profu-
sion of farina and honey-dews. Heath and
broom are very serviceable, as continuing
long and late in bloom.
It is remarkable, that the domestic bees
are very nice in tht^ir selections, and do not
rove from one sort of flowers to those of
another, indiscriminately. They are li-
mited to a few kinds. Those of the most
gaudy colours, and which afford the most
resplendent show, and agreeable odours, are
mostly neglected by them, as hyacinths.
14G
PASTURAGE.
jasmines, roses, lioney-suckles, &c. while
very small floweis, or those of little note,
are to them plentiful sources of nectareous
sweets.
A Lisl of Bcc-Floicers.
Winter aconite
Lauristinus
Hazel
Snowdrops
Crocus
Sallows
Osiers
Primroses
Hepaticas
Violets
Stand arrl almonds
Single tcull-Jlowcr
Onion
Gooseberry
Apricot, and
other fruit-trees
Laurel
Tit inij)!
Brussiru, or cab-
bage, a Hi he spe
cies
Dwarf almonds
Rosemart/
Strawberry
Tulip
Wliite-tliorn
Ileatli
Gorbe
Starof Bethlehem
Borage
Viper's bu gloss
liusberry
Lalninuiin
Tacamal.acca
Columbine
Barberry
Bian
Yellow lupine
Syrinj^a
Sweet-briar
Miislard
T;'.res
White Clover
Cucumbers
Greek
Valerian
Senna
French willows
Ilolly-hocli
Serpyllia, or
creeping le-
mon thyme
Capers
]V Idle poppies
Mignonette
Blackberries
Lime-lrce
Chesnut
Mallows
Hyssop
Teazle
Buck-wheat
Nasturtium
Yellow vetches
Saintfoin
Alders
Scabious
Sun-flower
Broom
PASTURAGE.
147
Michaelmas dai-
sies
Winter savory
Jacob's beard
Purple houseleek
Tree-ivy
And a few other*
of less note.
N. B. Those printed in Italics are such as produce
ihe grea/fs/ yuaH^//^/ of honey, or farina; and those
in Capital Letters, such as yield ihejinest honey.
Some of theni atrbrd both honey and farina. They
are ranked nearly in the order in which they blo\y.
Bees are most fond of spots where large
quantities of their favourite flowers are to
be found together. Fields of buck- wheat,
or ichite clover, will be thronged with bees
buzzing their joys, so as to be heard at a
great distance; while plants that afford
finer honey, but scattered here and there,
will be neglected. When several sorts of
honey flowers grow near each other, they
will only collect at first from those that fur-
nish the best honey. For instance, if several
species of thyme are planted together, they
will prefer the creeping lemon thyme only,
as long as its flowers last. In seasons of
scarcity, they are obliged to take up with
species of a very inferior quality, and such
as they would despise at another time.
H 2
148 PASTURAGE.
Besides the acquisition of honey , farina
is of great importance to make bees flourish.
It is the dust or flour found on the stamina
of flowers, and which contains much essen-
tial oil, visible to the naked eye on holly-
hocks. This precious concrete substance
the bees collect in little bails, on their hind
legs, or by the hair of their bodies. The
balls, on their return home, are struck oft'
from their legs, in its crude state, or by
biting it oft" piecemeal, and are deposited in
their cells ; other bees often assisting. Pro-
bably the farina of ditVerent colours may be
also as difterent in quality.
Its ?ise is partly to feed themselves, and
partly to nourish the young. That gathered
in summer is immediately swallowed, and
by their digestive faculties converted ei-
ther into food, or wax wherewith to form
the combs, and which is discharged at their
mouths in a soft state; so well adapted is it
to its intended purpose. Therefore, when a
swarm is newly hived, little or no farina is
seen to be carried in; and a proof of this
may be had, by an attentive observation to
boxes.
PASTURAGE. 149
Wax is also drawn by the bees from the
resinous and balsamic juiced of trees; the
purer sort from the leaves, and imported
under the folds of their bellies. The bees
that have the good fortune to acquire this
l)recious article, on their arrival in the hive,
shake themselves very much, as though they
had a difficulty to disengage it; and yet are
impatient that others should do it for them.
Tar and paint they will likewise load them-
selves with, much to their prejudice, Ta-
camahacca yields resin so abundantly, that
the bees are very profuse of it, daubing the
box windows so much therewith as scarcely
to be seen through. Combs made with it
are coarse and clumsy. On the contrary,
those made from white clover, or white
poppies, are white and elegant.
Wax from Africa is chiefly drawn from
resins of the nature of turpentine sub-
stances, and for that reason bears a less
price than British, which is chiefly from
flowers.
Sallows furnish a larger quantity of farina
than most other plants, and that as early
as the bees have occasion for it. Rosemary
H S
150 PASTURAGE.
is the first aromatic plant that blows; it
grows wild in some parts of France, and is
the cause of that superiority for which the
Narbonne honey is esteemed. Mignonette
yields good honey, and is valuable for its
long continuance in bloom, even till No-
vember. Beds of it near an apiary will be
of advantage, as will edgings of creeping
lemon thyme along the borders of the gar-
den. Single wall-flowers in plenty will be
serviceable. Lime trees are not to be neg-
lected about apiaries, serving in a double
capacity, by their flowers, and by their
leaves, which are frequently covered with
honey-dews.
Neither beans nor orchard trees afford
any great quantity of honey; as may be
observed by the stocks in Herefordshire,
which, though abounding in orchards, is
not more productive in honey than other
counties. In contrast to this, the borders
of Cambridgeshire and Hertfordshire, and
part of Hampshire, abounding with large
heaths, commons, and woods, are much
more productive than any other part of the
kingdom. Farmers there have been knovva
PASTURAGE. 151
to keep from an hundred to an hundred
and fifty stocks of bees.
Viper's bugloss is a plant much like bo-
rage. It is a very troublesome weed in
corn, among which it is found in many
places in great plienty; and is sure to make
rich hives; it has a biennial root, delights
in chalky or dry soils, and will grow on
old walls.
But BORAGE is the king of bee-flowers;
it is annual, and blows all the summer, till
the frost cuts it off. It affords honey even
in cold and showery weather, when other
flowers do not, owing to the flowers being
pendulous. The seeds drop, and sow them-
selves ; the honey from it is hne.
To find the quality of the honey from any
particular species of flowers, if they are in
considerable quantity, set small glasses over
a stotjk at the time of their flowering, and
tliey will chiefly be filled w.th honey of
the predominant flavour.
Lavender and balm, though fine aroma-
tics, yield little or no honey in our cli-
mate; though they do in warmer countries.
In ours, where wet and cold so often occur,
H 4
152 PASTURAGE.
the changes are so sudden (but generally
not in all counties alike at the same time)
as to affect the flowers in the dili'erence of
their products, suiting one sort, and not an-
other. Lavender is a particular instance,
which is very abundant, and yields a large
quantity of honey late, when most others
have done.
Very dry summers are as unfavourable, in
causing the flowers to fade and die tuo
speedily to yield much honey. Furze or
gorse, in many parts of Britain, the bees
collect from; yet, in the vicinity of Penv
broke, I have observed it to be entirely neg-
lected by them : whereas, the quantity here
is so large in the hedges and fields, that the
product of honey would be very great.
Rape is ver}' beneficial to bees, as also tur-
nip, and, as it is later in bloom, will be ser-
viceable when tlie other is gone.
Some flowers, it is probable, contain at
once all the honey they can furnish, and,
when deprived of that, yield no more,
though continuing in bloom much longer.
As for instance, white clover. I have seen
fields of it covered with bees; but in two
PASTURAGE. 153
or three days they had not a single bee on
them, although continuing in bloom, and
the weather equally favourable.
In very scanty seasons of honey-gather-
ing, bees have been observed to feed on
mellow gooseberries, and ripe saccharine
pears ; but I believe none was carried in for
store.
Bees do not fly to so great a distance as
has been imagined for pasturage. The
hotter the weather, and greater the profu-
sion of flowers to be found on one spot,
the farther they vpill be allured to fly, and
pasture thereon; perhaps a mile, or a mile
and a half: but generally, it is most pro-
bable, they do not exceed half a mile. When
it is cool and windy, though they are short
of provisions, they will perish rather than
fly beyond that distance. Instances of this
I have seen in stocks in that condition, situ-
ated in a large garden; which, on being
removed to the side of a large common, not
a mile distant, presently resumed tlieir la-
bours with vigour, and prospered.
Where land i<} very cheap, is seems rea-
sonable to suppose, that it might be culti-
H 5
154 PASTURAGE.
vated with some of the most productive of
bee- flowers ; such as white clover to stand
and seed, rape, mustard, borage, viper's
bugloss, strawberries, rasberries, or buck-
wheat: marshy wet soils, with sallows,^
osiers, or lime-trees, which would be likely
to prove of more considerable advantage for
establishing a productive apiary, than to let
such lands remain covered only with sour
grass, rushes, furze, and briers, and such
like unprofitable vegetables. Perhaps many
persons will find their account in removing
their stocks of bees to fields of clover, buck-
wheat, turnips, mustard, or heath, accord-
ing as the flowers are earlier or later than
those of their own situation.
HONEY-DEWS. 155
CHAP. XIX.
OF HONEY-DEWS.
HoNEY-dew has, in general, been erro-
neously supposed to be a dew that falls
indiscriminately on all plants alike; whereas
the true honey-dew is an exudation tVonn
the leaves ot" a few species onfy, and that
at a time when other dews do not exist.
The trees and plants on which it is found,
are the oak, inaple, sycamore, lime, hazel,
and blackberry; and sometimes, thouo-h
very seldom, on cherry trees and currant
bushes.
Its time of appearance is about ten or
eleven o'clock in the morning, and its du-
ration about four or five hours, according
as the sultry heat which produces it con-
tinues. Sometimes it is found as early as
seven o'clock, even though the sun does not
shine out, if the preceding day and night
have been sultry; or when the sun's ravs
150 HONEY-DEWS.
are reflected from clouds. It is not always
found in the several species at one time,
perhaps only on one in particular.
This substance is as transparent and as
sweet as honey; in fact, it is honey. At
times it resembles little globules ; but more
often appears on the leaves like a syrup,
and mostly in the old ones.
The season of its usual appearance is from
the middle of June to the middle of July;
but varies in different counties, and ac-
cording as the weather is more or less fa-
vourable. In some years there is none at
all. In general, when fruit is backward, so
are honey-dews; even so late as harvest.
There have been instances of honey-dews
two months later than the usual time, owing
to the wetness of the summer, and then but
snjall in quantity. The stocks, when
taken, were light, and those left mostly
died of famine in the winter; except in the
heath countriesy which, blowing late, fur-
nished honey that was but very ordinary,
and barely adequate to their winter's wants.
When a honey-dew is produced, the ac-
tivity of the bees is violent and unremitting:
HONEY-DEWS. 157
they almost desert the hive to import it;
knowing its time of continuance to be of
short duration, and that on the weather
suddenly changing it is entirely over.
While the trees are charged with it, the
bees are as though swarming therein, buz-
zing their joys in loud acclamations. But
woe and smart to those who obstruct their
swift descent to their hives !
More honey will be collected in one
week from dews, than in many from
flowers. It is obvious, therefore, how great
must be the advantage of those kind of trees
in the vicinity, and from the story method,
by which the bees may (with care) never be
at a loss for enlargement to bestow the trea-
sure in.
158 DISEASES.
CHAP. XX,
DISEASES OF BEES.
Cold, foggy, damp weather, in the win-
ter, is very often fatal to bees : for then
having no exercise they become subject to
a purging, by which they are soon reduced
very weak: and, clustering together in a
body, soil each other, and thus contami-
nate the whole. The signs of this disease
are small crumbs of wax about the door,
or on the floor, with many dead bees, and
much filth caked together, and, if of some
time standing, mouldy, often concealing
destructive wax-moths, &c. If the bees
do not fly out, and appear as active as other
stocks, it is a syinptom that they are either
dead or starving. In Hertfordshire I had
many stocks aftected: but in Pembroke-
shire I never had one diseased; owing, I
suppose, to the strong and frequent ventila-
tion of sea air, to which my situation is
DISEASES. I5<?
exposed, keeping the atmosphere always
pure.
The diseased stocks are to be taken, as
soon as discovered, into a warm room.
Brush away the fouhiess from the edges of
the combs, cutting out the parts that are
mouldy or black : set the hive at a moderate
distance from the fire, which will revive the
bees that are feeble, or torpid : as soon as
they begin to move, pass among them a
few drops of honeyed ale ; tie a slight cloth
over the hive that none may crawl out, and
let it remain three or four hours, to purify
the damp and foul exhalations. When the
bees are pretty well recovered, give them a
trough of honeyed ale in which the leaves of
rosemary have been infused, and set the hive
on a clean floor. Contract the door, so as to
admit a little of the warm air. Let them
remain till next day. If then the bees are
few, or are still weakly, cover a dry floor
with ashes, place on that a little hay, or
straw, and set the hive therein, conveying
it to its usual stand. Cover it well with
straw, bags, &c. and notice occasionally
whether their condition may require further
100 DISEASES.
feeding ; which should be given daily, if
the hive is notsufFiciently stored with honey
and farina.
When bees fall motionless to the bottom
of the hive, it indicates that they are chilled
with cold, or in a starving condition. To
prevent a further destruction, treat them as
above, or set them to a plentiful stock.
Bees often fly in a desultory manner
about the hives, bee-houses, or dwelling
house, in the spring, with lamentable tones,
as though wanting something: that some"
iking is food ; for they are almost famished.
By observing which of the stocks has an
unusual crowd at their door, the distressed
hive may be discovered. A fresh, dry and
warm floor must be given them ; and they
must be immediately fed : the delay of a day
may be a day too late.
When stocks appear to be light, a daily
feeding is indispensable, till a certainty of
honey-gathering has commenced. Or a
hive or box may be cut down to five
inches, and filled with combs of honey,
properly placed, which may last them a
long while.
DISEASES. 101
The more bees a hive contains, the
greater their warmth; which causes them
the sooner to become active in the spring,
and accelerates the breeding of the queen,
and the production of young: but the
quicker also will the honey be exhausted.
And this is the reason why so many stocks
perish in the spring, when least thought of ;
if they were scantily stored. This consi-
deration should operate as a strong indute-
jnent to keep none but rich stocks.
A degree of cold that sliall throw the
few bees of a wtak stock into an usetV.l le-
thargy, will not have that etfect on one that
is populous. On this principle the weak
stock will survive ; while the populous one
perishes, by consuming all the honey by
the increase of numbers; admitting botii to
have an equality of honey.
When bees, in cold weather, disengage
themselves from the body or cluster that is
in the hives, or fly out, they are presently
chilled to death.
These insects suffer more through the in-
stability of our climate, in its frequent and
162 DISEASES.
sudden transitions, than from a long conti-
nuance of frost. The milder the winter and
spring have been, the sooner their store is
exhausted ; and if it was rather short at
first, the sooner the stock dies ; or per-
chance it may survive till the latter end of
May.
The frequent failure of stocks has in
most counties been attributed to icitchcraft,
or other superstitious notions, instead of
attributing them to their true cause, — bad-
ness of weather, or rather their owner's
neglect, or want of skill.
These causes operate alike in every arti-
cle of husbandry; often blasting the fondest
expectations of the farmer. But he will not
be so absurd as to suppose that evil spirits,
or witchcraft, have any power to sport with
mortals, or their property, at pleasure; much
less that bees in particular should be victims
to thi'ir malice, more than sheep or cattle.
No! he patiently submits to the Omnipo-
tent Disposer of all events, from the de"
struction of the ant-hill to the dissolution,
of mighty empires.
DISEASES^. 163
To secure thein from diseases, it will be
necessary {contrary to the common opinion)
to keep the hives warm in winter, by filling
the vacancies around and at top of the hives
with straw ; especially box-hives. In snowy
weather, or very hard frost, the door-ways
should be wholly closed, which in such a
season will be not prejudicial, provided care
is taken to unstop them immediately on
the weather changing; for as soon as that
happens, they will be very anxious to issue
out for fresh air, as also to empty them-
selves. Bees should always be suffered to
make their exit, except as above, as they
well know what weath; r thiy can bear,
and how long to stay in it. It is best
not to house bets in winder; for when a
mild day comes, they will rf joice to take
the air, which contributes much to pre-
serve them in health.
The bees in winter should be disturbed
as little as possible.
When bees are long confined by severe
frost, or laiiiy weather, though in summer,
they grow diseased for want of exercise,
and for want of emptying themselves.
164 DISEASES.
The regulation of the doors of the hives
should be proportionate to the weather and
the populousness.
The warmer the hives are kept, the
better. In cold springs, the doors should
be shut at night, and opened in the morn-
ing; but be sure that the bees have no
exit, but of the hive, or it may prove their
death.
TEEDING. 16c
CHAP. XXL
OF FEEDING.
Various have been the methods and ma-
terials for feeding bees in winter. I have
found none more successful, cheap, or con-
venient, than soft brown sugar, that is not
grainy ; a pound to half a pint of mild ale,
dissolved over the fire. But when sugar is
very dear, honey may supply its place,
though inferior for the purpose. This
composition, which should be regulated
to tlie consistence of syrup, comforts and
strengthens the bees, preventing disorders,
increasing their activity, and forwarding
the brood, if given plentifully in the
spring.
It is to be administered by means of
trojighs, made of joints of elder, angelica,
or other kexes, slit down the middle, the
pith and bark taken away, and reduced to
such a depth as easily to pass the door-ways
1Q6 FEEDING,
of the hives. Their length to be eight
inches, or six at the least, and flatted a lit-
tle on the under side, and the end closed
Avith putty or other cement. These troughs,
by passing far into the hive, enable the bees
to come down to feed, without danger from
the cold, which they would suffer in coming
to feed at the door. They are also too nar-
row to smother themselves therein. The
larger the number of bees, so much the
larger must be their supplies.
When stocks shew signs of poverty, push
into the hive a trough of the honeyed ale
(by this term I always mean either honeyed
or sugared ale, as may happen to be cheap-
est) in the evening; and if the combs ob-
struct its entrance, pass a long thin knife
to cut a free passage. The next evening
take another trough full, and, pulling the
empty one out, push in the full one; and
thus proceed as long as there is occasion.
If stocks do not come down to feed, they
should be taken into the house, and fed.
Such a trough holds about half an ounce;
one of them is enough for any stock for a
day and night. This I call private feeding.
FEEDiyCr. 167
By this method they are prevented from
feeding to excess, which they are but too
apt to do, when they have an abundant
supply at once; and thereby bring on a
looseness, and prove both destructive and
Avasteful. Daily feeding, indeed, is more
troublesome than giving a quantity at once;
but the last is more expensive, and not so
safe. I fed, one winter, two very light
stocks, through the dreary season of 1777,
till the end of the ensuing May, By the
means, and at the expence only of sixteen
pounds of sugar, and one quart of ale, I
saved my bees to flourish in prosperity.
Care should be taken to place no feeding
article on the outside, or at the door-ways,
as it will attract strange bees, who may also
become robbers, and ruin the stocks.
In such a disastrous season, a public
feeding may be substituted, which is by
taking an old empty comb (the deeper and
harder the better), filling the cells on one
side with honeyed ale, and placing it on a
hive-floor, and over that an empty hive or
pan, and setting it about the middle of the
apiary. The bees will soon flock about in
W8 FEEDING.
in crowds, and empty the comb: once in
twenty-four hours replenish it. They will
not come out to feed in improper weather,
though it continues for three or four days.
Troughs of food must be substituted durinf^
bad weather. Nor must public feeding be
practised when other apiaries are pretty
near, as the bees of those will equally par-
take with the owner's. The bees will en-
tirely neglect public feeding as soon as
honey can be obtained from flowers.
At a public feeding much quarrelling will
happen, between those who are feeding
and others that cannot approach near
enough to partake for the great crowd ;
but it will be unattended with mischief —
only mere boxing bouts, without using
their stings, as in fatal duels.
Feeding should not be attempted, until
the robbing season is over. If any stocks
before that time are in distress, they should
have a trough given them at night, and
withdrawn in the morning.
The weighing, ov poising of hives, in Fe-
bruary, to judge whether they require feed-
ing, ought not to be deferred till after they
FEEDING. lf)9
have for some time begun to breed ; lest the
additional weight of them be mistaken for
that of honey, wheii perhaps there may not
be a spoonful in the hive, and the continual
increase of mouths produce the speedier
famine.
Now and then a trough of food given to
the stocks as soon as farina is collected, will
forward the queen's breeding, and likewise
udd much to invigorate the bees to greater
activity in their labour.
I weighed a stock on the 5d of November ;
it was then 29 lb. 3 oz. On February 26th,
the weight was 24 lb. loz. — ^Difference, 5 lb.
2 oz. From November 2d to February 26th
is 115 days, (the weather mild,) in which
were consumed 5 lb. 2 oz. or 82 oz. ; which is
but three quarters of an ounce per day.
On the Sth of December a stock weighed
211b. iloz.; the 11th, 20lb. 15 oz. ; the
21st, 20 lb. 8oz. The difference, from the
Sth to the 11th, is 12 oz. or almost an
ounce per day. From the 11th to the 31st,
5oz. which is but half an ounce per day.
The weather frosty the whole time.
In the first thirteen days the consumption
T
170 FEEDIlfG.
was 12 oz. ; in the ten last, only 5 oz. On
further trials I found the results nearly
similar.
From the whole I have been induced to
conclude, that a trough holding about half
an ounce of honeyed ale, daily administered,
is a sufficient support to any stock while
feeding is required.
Where the price of honey is higher than
that of sugar, feeding will be of advantage,
though the stocks do not need it. For what
sugared ale they will consume, will be a pro-
portional saving of so much stock honey
Besides which, it will cause those stocks, in
the next season, to be the sooner fit for sto-
rifying; and likewise, if it should be rigorous
and long, the stocks, nevertheless, would
be rejoicing in plenty, while their neigh-
bours would be starvmg through scarcity.
The feeding of bees, in spring, is of great
advantage to them, as it enlivens and
strengthens them, and stimulates their acti-
vity, causing them to breed the earlier. A
little good ale, with honey dissolved in it,
will be very acceptable, even though they
should be well provided.
FEEDING. 171
Since the preceding sheets were written,
I have found a very eligible method of feed-
ing, by taking a half hive, or box, cutting
combs of honey down to the proper depth,
and placing them therein, on bars similar to
those of the stock which they are to be set
over. Loosen the cover, thrust a divider
under it, take it off, and then carefully set
the half box of combs upon the divider,
and immediately withdraw it, and place a
cover over the stock. The quantity of
combs put in must be proportionate to the
wants of the bees, to the time of its appli-
cation, and the nature of the season.
1 2
172 THEFTS.
CHAP. XXII.
OF THEFTS AND WARS OF liEES.
The bees of apiaries are often eneuiics to
each other, and wage destructive war, com-
pelled thereto by necessity.
The robbing season is sooner or later, as
the summer has been more or less favour-
able; but in general it happens in March
and August. That of March is but seldom
and trifling; in x\ugust, very frequent and
formidable. I once had a stock attacked
in this month, and again in October.
When swarms have been late, but nume-
rous, or a bad season has followed, it will
be a very dangerous time, and make it ne-
cessary to contract all the door-ways, as a
caution of security. A few bees will defend
a nanovv pass against a multitude.
As very bad seasons often occur, which
prevent stocks from procuring suftjcient
honey for their winter store; reduced to
THEFT?. 173
the choice of starving or plundering, those
that are strong chiefly prefer the latter.
This beinj^ determined on, they send
spies to discover the state of neighbouring
stocks; and such as are found to have but
few bees, but much honey, are concluded
to be proper objects for an attack.
A few of the spies for several days dodge
about the doors, trying to get in to obtain
more certain knowledge of their strength
and riches; but are driven away by the
powerful stocks, who then plant guav^'s at
their door, which the weak stocks do not,
and therefore are the first to be assaulted.
The next day they return in force, and be-
gin a violent siege ; and a desperate conflict
ensues, both within and without the hive,
neither side giving quarter.
The stoutest warriors make a desperate
attempt, and rush forward and seize the
queen; knowing that, by dispatch mg her,
instant victory is the const-quence; for the
assaulted bees always desist, and j^jn the
victors, the moment they are apprised of
their queen's death, become as one frater-
nity, and assist to carrj' their own treasure
1 3
174 THEFTS.
to their new habitation. But in case the
queen is protected, they fight on with rage
and fury, and death and pillage soon destroy
the stock.
As soon as strange bees are perceived,
contract the doors to half an inch ; and
when an attack is actually begun, stop the
doors of all the stocks ; taking care that no
admission can be had, at any chasms, into
the hives, till a little before dark; and then
open all the doors, and the thieves vt'xW rush
out and fly home, and the true bees, tliat
were excluded, will enter in.
About an hour after, lift the stock up; if it
is not heavy, it must be taken and set over
another stock, by fuming. But if heavy,
and not much plundered, take it to a dark
out-house, and keep it there two or three
days confined, with some admission of air.
Very early in the morning, shut all the
doors, and post a person near the stocks that
were most likely to be assaulted, with a kind
of battledore of slight wood, in his or her
hand, with which to strike all the bees down
that shall nppear, and tread upon them.
Continue this sport as long as any approach,
THEFTS. 1
70
and in a few hours these formidable despe-
radoes will be destroyed. It will be finished
about noon. As the apiator's bees are all
confined, those killed are sure to be robbers
onl}'; but if they should happen not all to
be killed in one day, keep them still confined,
till night, and finish the work next day.
When stocks do not shew resentment
against the attempts of the spies, and there-
upon keep guard, it is a very suspicious sign
of their weakness or poverty. They should
be roused to anger by thrusting some twigs
into the door-way, which will urge them to
revenge, and to guard their door.
But if not, take the hive, or the enemy will
be sure to strip it. The guard at the doors
will continue two or three weeks, if robbers
are about.
But when robbers find all the stocks upon
their guard, and courageous, after essays
for two or three days, they will desist, and
retreat to other apiaries in the neighbour-
hood more favourable to their design.
When a stock has been assaulted, and all
on a sudden becomes quiet, with great
crowds of bees passing to and fro, it denotes
I 4
176 THEFTS.
the death of the queen ; on which immedi-
ately close the door, and take the hive into a
dark lOom; ami in the evening unstop the
door, when the strange bees will take wing
for their own home. Then take the combs
out, and save the brood; or if the honey or
brood be small in quantity, reserve the hive
as it was left, to super-hive a stock next
year, or to put a swarm in.
As soon as strange bees are seen about
the stocks, it will be prudent, if there are
any weak stocks, to unite several into a
well-stored hive of honey, which will not
only rouse the courage of the bees, but ren-
der them too powerful to be conquered.
The bees of good stocks are always very
irritable and revengeful, whenever invaders
are on the scout; nor will they let their
familiar friend the apiator at that time ap-
proach them.
ENEMIES. ' 177
CHAP. XXIIL
ENEMIES OF BEES.
Many, various, and powerful are the
enemies and destroyers of these industrious
and beneficial insects. But a little timely
care and attention would prevent or greatly
diminish their depredations.
The wood-pecker, or tree-creeper, seizes
the bees as they are gathering farina off the
sallows in the spring. Robins and sparrows
will boldly wait at the hive door, and catch
them as they come out; and sundry birds
seize them in their flight.
Poultry are very prejudicial to bees, by
catching them as they pass in or out of
their hives; and their dung is a great nui-
sance to thera.
Mice get into the hives, by the large and
deep gaps made for door-ways in common
hives readily admitting them in winter, to
the destruction of the stock. They often
I 5
178 ENEMIES.
also make a lodgment, and breed, under the
crown of the hackel, and eat their way
through the top of the hive, to the ruin of
the stock. Inspection should be taken to
prevent it ; and traps set to catch the mice.
A good cat, bred in the garden, would de-
vour them. The doors of the hive should
be made too low for a mouse to enter, but
at least three inches wide.
The wax-moth is but little noticed, or
even suspected of being, as it is, a very dan-
gerous enemy, destroying many stocks in a
concealed manner. The mother moth lays
her eggs about the skirts of the hive, if she
Qonnot elude the vigilance of the bees, to
lay them in the inside. She spins a close
and strong web to defend the young, who
burrow in the floors, and progressively
consume the combs, to the total destruc-
tion of the bees.
Old straw hives, or decayed floors, are
very favourable to their depredations. Fre-
quent shifting the hives, and cleaning the
floors, will prevent the evil; and will guard
against other diminutive enemies, as ear-
wigs, wood-lice, and ants. The nests of
ENEMIES. 179
these should be destroyed; or platters of
honey and water, covered with brown pa-
per, with many holes, which the ants may
pass, but not the bees, and tied close round,
will entice them to their destruction. Spi-
ders' webs should not be suffered about an
apiary.
Large slugs, or snails without shells,
creep into the hives in wet weather; and
are troublesome to the bees, by hindering
their labour, and soiling the hive by their
excrements, causing the bees to be very
fractious; but they neither consume the
honey nor wax ; and generally, sooner or
later, blunder their way out again; for I
very seldom found one in taking a hive up,
though I have often seen four or five at a
time in boxes. By chance, they sometimes
lie against the door-way, and stop it quite
up; which may be soon discovered, by the
bees not being able to enter. They may be
taken out by a sharp-pointed wire in the
form of a hook.
Wasps are much more destructive to
stocks than their other adversaries, by their
superior strength and prodigious numbers;
180 ENEMIES.
especially in a year favourable to their
breeding. They are most numerous in
July and August. Soon after that the
workers die; but the mothers survive the
winter, and commence breeding about
April. But if cold and wet weatheren-
sues, greater part of the brood are starved;
because the workers cannot fly out for fo-
rage, and wasps never lay up any store.
Wet is very injurious to their nests; and,
therefore, in a long season of heavy rain,
few wasps will appear till September. But
a mild winter, succeeded by a hot spring,
will so favour the increase of wasps, that,
without the greatest vigilance, many stocks
will fall victims to their power.
One wasp is a match for three bees. They
are very bold, and frequently encounter the
most evident danger, undauntedly opposing
a host of bees, to filch a belly-full of honey.
Therefore, when cold weather sets in, know-
ing that the bees keep no guard then,
great numbers get quietly in, and carry off
abundance of honey; and having once
tasted of the sweets, they will not desist
till they possess the whole. Perhaps the
ENEMIES. 181
same method of destroying them, in this
case, as directed for bee robbers, would
prove as effectual against wasps.
When wasps are seen dodtjing about the
hives, contract the doors to half an inch;
and should the bees be negligent in guard-
ing their doors, rouse them to anger by
agitating twigs within the door of the hive,
which will induce them to guard and assail
the wasps.
In the spring, the mother wasps may be
seen about old timber, with the splints of
which they compose their nests. On the
blossoms of gooseberries and rasberries they
will be found often, and may easily be
knocked down and destroyed. Their death,
at that time, will prevent a like number of
nests from existing the next summer. A
nest of wasps, naturalists inform us, con-
sists of thirty thousand.
Their nests should be sought for by chil-
dren ; who, for a trifle, would seek, and
give information of them. Effectually to
destroy a nest— In the evening, when the
wasps have done labour, repair to the place,
and stop all the holes of their egress or re-
^9 ENEMIES.
gress. Introduce a squib into the chief
passsage, and, instantly stopping it with a
sod, &c. they will presently be suilocated.
Dig the nest up, and burn it. Perhaps a
wildfire, of damp gunpowder, placed on a
piece of wood, and introduced, would an-
swer the sarne purpose.
Another way is, to make a hole in the
top of their nest (stopping all the others),
and then pouring a quantity of boiling
water down. This plan might be substi-
tuted for any method by means of fire,
where gunpowder might be dangerous.
I have known wasps so abundant, that
in one season they destroyed ten stocks, in
one apiary, out of twelve. A few shillings,
prudently distributed, probably would have
prevented this disaster, and diminished
their nests next year.
Hornets, in the spring, will watch the
bees as they issue from the hives. When
they are seen about the hives, they should
be knocked down and trodden upon. They
may be trepanned, by placing an empty
hive, with its inside smeared with honey,
among the stocks. Allured by this, the
ENEMIES. 183
mother hornets will begin to build therein.
In the evening lift up the hive, which may
be done with safety, if the mother is there :
then set it down again, and in about half
an hour after, have a vessel with water
ready ; take the hive, and plunge it a little
way into the water ; then strike smarth^ on
the top of the hive, and the hornets will
fall into the water, and by a pair of tonga
may be crushed to death. Or, the hive
may be closely stopped up till morning ;
and then taking it into a room, raise the
edge next the window : the hornet will fly
directly thereto, and may readily be cut
in two by scissars, crushed, or knocked
down.
Their nests are usually hung on the
rafters, beams, or roofs, of barns or out-
houses, or fixed in hollow trees. They re-
semble a globe of brownish paper.
The nest may be taken, by preparing a
large-mouthed bag, with a running string,
to draw the mouth close. On a rainy day,
or in an evening, put on the bee-dress, and
with great stillness approach the nest, and
draw the bag gently over it, instantly pull-
184 ENEMIES.
ing the mouth so close, that not a hornet
may escape. Separate it from the parts
it may be attached to, by a long knife;
plunge it into a proper depth of water, and
let it remain till morning. By this time
the hornets will be motionless ; then taking
the bag out, tread upon it, to crush the
nest flat. Turn t^e nest out upon a parcel
of straw, which, being lighted, will of
course burn them ; for the water will not
kill them, but they will revive. But if
poultry are at hand, the cakes of brood
may be taken up by a pair of tongs, and
laid before the poultry, and they will soon
devour the young as a delicious feast. The
same may be done with the brood from
wasps' nests.
EXTRACTION OF HONEY, &,C. 185
CHAP. XXIV.
EXTRACTION OF HONEY AND WAXr
•1 HE hives should be kept in a warm room,
till the combs are taken out; since the ho-
ney will drain out the sooner while in a
fluid state. Turn the hive upside down,
cut through the ends of the spleets close to
the hive; then with a broad but thin knife
cut through the edges of all the aorab^,
close to the hive, and lift it on a clean
board, or shallow dish, having first taken
oft the straw cover. Then, by a cbissel or
wedge, force the body of the hive up
which will be effected if tiie ends of the
combs have been properly loosened ; and
by this means the combs will alt be pre-
served in their natural order, as tixed at
their tops to the frame of bars: disengage
them sin::,dy with the knife, cutting a notch
out of each, where it is fastened to the
spleet (which keeps the combs all in therr
186 EXTRACTION OF
places) till the last is disengaged. The
combs being thus preserved entire, lay them
in a cleanly manner on dishes, and slicing
off the cover of those sealed up, let the
honey run out.
The combs of common hives cannot be
taken out vv^hole, though spleeted according
to my directions, without an iron instru-
ment in form of an L. The shaft to be that
of the depth of the hives, exclusive of the
wooden handle ; the short foot is to be tv70
inches long, and half an inch wide, made
sharp to cut both ways; the handle, of
wood, four-square. This is to be passed
down between the combs to the hive-top ;
then turning the instrument half round,
and drawing it to you, the combs will be
disengaged from their fastening to the top
of the hive.
Proceed then to loosen them from the
sides, &c. as above directed, and they may
be taken out without crushing or breaking
them to pieces.
The taking out the combs whole, or nearly
so, is of great advantage to the preservation
of the brood, and the purity of the honey;
MONEY AND XTAX. 187
which may, by these means, be extracted
without mixing the fluids of brood, or
dead bees, or any other heterogeneous mat-
ter, with it.
Carefully separate and preserve the parts
of empty virgin combs by themselves, for
placing in glasses ; and those that are black,
drossy, or charged with farina or dead
brood, keep apart.
The f^ne combs are to be drained and
melted by themselves, as being free from
any alloy. They may be mashed by the
hands, and put upon hair-sieves, as being
pure virgin honey. -rn:
The parts of combs that have brood or
farina in them, are to be cut out rather
beyond their extent, to guard against the
chance of cutting among the brood cells.rt
The inferior combs must have all their
defiled parts cut out, and then be squeezed
over sieves, or bolting cloths stretched over
sticks, laid over dripping or other wide
pans, &c. and placed at a proper distance
from the lire, or in a room that has one,
for the more speedy running of the baney.
But for greater expedition, in large apiaries.
188 EXTRACTION OF
presses are used. The pots ot lioney should
not be tied down till a few days after their
fiiiiug, that the siuali particles of wax or
other foreign matter may rise to the top,
and be taken off.
The portions of combs that were laid
aside as. very impure, but containing ho-
ney, may be cut, and thrown into water, to
make ordinary mead ; or, brewed with malt,
to make what is in Pembrokeshire called
hragget ; or else set before the bees on broad
dishes, &c. but spread thin to prevent the
bees from stifling themselves thereby ; as
may likewise the refuse combs after drain-
ing, and afterwards the vessels, first strew-
ing over them hay, grass, or herbs, to keep
the bees from being soiled. They will lick
up every drop of honey. It should be set
before them towards the evening. But if it
is not carefully done, many bees will suffer
by quarrelling; so that I thmk small mead
had better be made of them.
Having thus drained the honey from the
combs, boil the fine combs by themselves,
■with a sufficiency of water to keep them
floating, till they are thoroughly melted.
HONEY AND WAX. 189
A three-cornered 6ag, of strong linen
cloth, tapering to a point, is to be prepared,
which is to be held by an assistant over a
tub of cold water, while the operator pours
the melted combs into the bag; instantly
draw the top of the bag close by a string,
and let two |iersons press it sirongly down-
wards, between two strong sticks tied toge-
ther at one end lii<e a flail. Do this repeat-
edly down the sides of the bag till no more
wax issues through. When the wax is
cold, it is to be taken from the water, and
re-melted with very little water, merely
suflficient to prevent burning. As it boils,
take the scum off as long as any rises, and
pour it into proper vessels. Those that are
narrower at bottom than top (the most so)
are to be preferred. Rmsing the vessels
and all the instruments with cold water first,
prevents the wax from sticking thereto.
The vessels or moulds for wax are to be
placed so as to have the warmth of the fire,
with a cloth over them, that the wax may
cool gradually, or it will crack. When
quite cold, turn out the cakes of wax, and
pare off' all the dregs that may appear on
190 EXTRACTION OF
the top or bottom, that it may be clear and
marketable. The dregs that are pared off
may be re-melted, and will yield a little
more wax.
Instead of persons to hold the bag, which
is fatiguing, it may be slung upon a strong
staff, with the ends resting on the backs of
two chairs, &c.
Or a four-legg€d frame might be more
eligible; high and wide enough to admit a
tub of water in the inside; and with strong
pegs fixed on the top, at proper distances,
for sustaining the bag in the middle of the
frame. The bag is to have a rurming string
to draw the mouth together.
The vessels in which wax is boiled ought
to be considerably larger than the matter
contained: for when the wax boils, it very
suddenly rises to a great height, and may
prove of dangerous consequence.
A more expeditious method of extracting
the wax fTomJine combs is, by boiling them
alone. Press them slightly down, use very
little water, keep them stirring till the scum
rises, which take oft" as long as any rises ;
but when only froth appears, blow that
HONEY AND WAX. IQl
aside. When perfectly dissolved, pour it
into proper moulds, and set it near the fire,
covered over, till cold. On turning it out,
the small quantity of impurities which has
subsided to the bottom is to be pared off.
If the cake of wax should by chance
seem discoloured, re-boil it again without
water.
Wax, wben taken off the fire, cools near-
ly as soon as metals; therefore the process
should be executed as expeditiously as pos-
sible, or a less quantity of wax will pass
through the strainers.
If combs are kept a considerable time
without being melted, they will moulder
and rot, or the wax-moth will breed among
them, and devour the greatest part, and
pester the whole apiary.
A hive of three pecks, well filled with
full honey combs, of two years standing,
will yield in general 25 lb. of honey, and
not more than 2 lb. of wax. The average
run of common hives is 15 lb. of honey,
and 1 lb. of wax.
192 ON JIONEY.
CHAP. XX f.
CHARACTETllSTIC OBSERVATIONS ON
HONEY.
Honey varies in quality, according to the
nature of the flowers from which it is ga-
thered.
That from aromatic plants is the best.
But often, through very bad weather, the
bees are necessitated to collect from flowers
of very ordinary and disagreeable qualities ;
causing the honey of particular situations
to be, bad, while in other counties at the
same time (the weather having been more
favourable) the boney was of a very supe-
rior «'egree of excellence.
Vit\S[!n combs are supposed to contain
none but honey of the iincst quality; yet,
if the above principle be true, such may be
ordinary. ^11 combs taken from swarms
are CDmmonly esteemed virgin; but this is
an error, if by virgin is meant the purest
ON HONEY. 195
and best. For every comb, or part of a comb,
that has had farina or brood in it, is thereby-
rendered impure ; so that so much of any
comb or combs, whether of swarms or
stocks, thus circumstanced, is not virgin.
This is evident from the swarms breeding
through the summer equally with the slocks,
and their combs being equally charged with
brood and farina. The wax from such
combs will indeed be finer, and in greater
quantity, than that of stocks. The conti-
nued use of the cells in breeding, first soils
them, and at length renders them impure;
but the cells where nothing but honey has
been deposited, and which, when full, have
been sealed over, are certainly most pure.
As to quality, that of virgin combs may be
' as ordinary as that of stocks, if both were
gathered at the same time, and from the
same kind of flowers.
The older combs are the weightiest; for
the bees will cement the skins of the difi'er-
ent breeds of maggots to the sides of the
cells, to strengthen them, till at last they
become as stiff as brown paper.
Old farina and other matters are conti-
K
914 ON HONEY.
nually an increasiog addition to their weight
and consistence, so as witli dilficulty to be
separated from the real wax, even by a
long boiling, and then but partially. Honey
deposited in such old combs, necessarily
receives a tinge, taste, and some impurities
from them. However, parts of some combs
in old hives, that have been lately made,
may be virgin.
It is for the reasons above, that a hive of
stale combs, though bulky and weighty,
disappoints the expectation, by producing,
in general, only one pound of wax.
The homy generally brought to the Lon-
don and other markets is mostly foul, and
of a coarse quality, from the causes above
stated, as well as from tlie careless and un-
cleanly manner by which it is extracted.
The common method is, by taking the
combs out of the hives by piece-meal, in-
discriminately, and mashing them, dead
bees, brood, farina, and dross, altogether;
which must needs render it an heteroge-
neous mass, of a disagreeable, and often nau-
seous taste, and unwholesome in quality.
For sieves exclude only the grosser parts;
ON HONEY. 195
but the fluids of the maggots and dead bees,
with many other impure particles, remain
intimately incorporated with the honey.
By this unskilful management, a very valu-
able and salutary article of diet and medi-
cine has been rendered disgusting and in-
elegant.
With submission, I would recommend to
the nobility and gentry to purchase none
but combs of honey, to be drained at home.
Sophistications and impurities would then
be avoided, and such combs might be se-
lected as are fine, or according to their own
fancy. Were this condition insisted upon,
the markets would soon abound with combs
of honey, instead of pots. The introduction
of such a custom must depend on the patron-
age of the gentry ; without which so useful
an improvement will not be likely to take
root. Doubtless the price must be regu-
lated according to the quality of the cojiibs,
as in sugar and other articles.
Another benefit may arise from it, — the
promoting of the improved management of
bees: for as in the common method few,
very few, fine combs can be produced,
K 2
196 ON HONEY.
compared to that of storifyiug; the pea-
santry would thereby, by degrees, be influ-
enced to adopt it.
The comparative taste and fragrancy of
honey are the best criterions to judge of its
excellency. In cold weather it grows hard
and grainy; some sorts are of a whitish co-
lour, as that gathered from white clover. In
warm weather, or in warm rooms, it will fer-
ment, and grow acid. In some years it is
naturally very glutinous and thick, to what
it is in others.
Hone}', as partaking of acidulous and
saline parts, ought not to be kept in vessels
glazed with lead, as all coarse ware is, but
in stone: for though its effects may not be
felt by the strong, it may prove detrimental
to the weak and delicate.
Sometimes a white mealy matter will se-
parate, and concrete about pots of honey,
which is a real meal or farina that the bees
digest with their honey. 7'he white at-
tracts the notice, from being the more con-
spicuous.
Honey may be clarified by putting it
into a bowl, and setting that in water over
ON HONEY. 197
a fire. When it boils, part of the impuri-
ties will rise to the top, and is to be skimnned
off. The heat, in this process, however,
takes off from its fragrancy, and, if properly
extracted, it is not necessary.
It may be thought that honey retains the
virtues of the flowers from which it is ga-
thered. This may be true in a degree, espe-
cially of aromatics; but as it is gathered
from a variety of different Mowers, of various
qualities, the rioney must partake of that of
the aggregate. We iind, whatever flowers
it may have been collected from, it still re-
tains its disagreeing quality (though other-
wise diversified by flavour and colour), and,
if exposed much to fire, loses its fine smell
and taste. Nevertheless, whether it could be
deprived of its disagreeing quality, and made
as agreeable as sugar, without a diminution
of its medicinal virtues, merits the consider-
ation of the chemist.
The heating and griping properties of ho-
ney probably arise from its essential oil, with
which farina largely abounds; its detergent
and saponaceous qualities, from a fixed alka-
line salt, combined with the essential oil.
K 3
198 ON HONEY.
It is wonderful, amidst the great che-
mical discoveries of tliis age, tliat this bene-
ficial article should never have been thought
of importance enough to obtain an analysis ;
by which a process might be deduced, to
free it from its offending qualities, without
impairing its medicinal ones. Probably such
a refinement as is used with sugar might
produce the effect; though with the loss of
its fragrancy and fine taste.
Bees will not feed on candied honey, nor
syrup formed of rough-grained sugar, but
suck up the liquid pari, and leave the gra-
nules behind.
MEAD. 199
CHAP. XXV L
TO MAKE MEAD.
To every gallon of water add three
pounds and a half of honey. Boil it as long-
as any scum arises, which skim off. If it
boils longer, the fermentation will not suc-
ceed so well, nor will the liquor prove so
fine.
Pour it into a cooler : at a proper degree
of heat, put in a slice of bread toasted hard
on both sides, covered with fresh yeast, and
with it a little lemon peel, or any other
pleasant-tasted substance. Set it in a warm
place, and cover it from the cold air.
When it has fermented two or three days,
tim it up, and slightly cover the bung-hole ;
taste it every day, till it is found to have a
vinous flavour and smell. Bimg it then
slightly; and when it appears to have en-
tirely done fermenting, stop it quite down.
If another fermentation should be per-
K 4
SOO MEAD.
ceived, leave the vent-peg out for some
days. Having stood six months, if it is
fine, bottle it ; if not, draw it off the lees,
drain them out, without rinsing the cask,
and return the liquor into it. Then take a
long two ounce phial (such as Bateman's
drops or Godfrey's cordial are usually put
in), put therein a quarter part of chalk in
small bits, and to it a quarter of water: theu
tying round the neck a piece of thread or
twine, let it down into the cask, till its top
is on a level with the bung-hole; when
pour in about a quarter part of the measure
of the phial of weak spirit of vitriol, and in-
stantly let it down far enough for the bung
to go in ; but not so low as for any of the
liquor to pass into the phial. Hold th€
string till the bung is fast in, to secure the
phial from slipping down.
Care must be taken, when the bung is to
be taken out, to secure the string, that the
phial may not sink into the liquor. The
quantity stated is enough for nine gallous.
The fixed air generated from the phial
will gradually pass into the liquor, and not
only fine, but tend greatly to preserve it from
MEAD. 201
acidity, and give it the sparkling quality of
champagne; taking off the disagreeable
lusciousness so comnrion in mead. Having
stood four or six months longer, it will be
fit to bottle. If any part of the spirit should
rise with the fixed air, or by other means get
into the liquor, it will be harmless; being
often prescribed in medicine. Perhaps sharp
vinegar may answer as well.
I conjecture, malt and other fermetited
liquors will equally be benefited by a simi-
lar use of the vitriolic acid. Perhaps, if
used at first with the ferment, it would'
answer the purpose much sooner.
Honey is preferable to sugar for making-
domestic wines, giving the lightnets, cordi-
ality, and vinosity of foreign wines.
Mead may be flavoured by rasberries,
currants, &c. by a proper quantity of such
articles, that have been preserved with ho-
ney or sugar, being infused into the liquors
when set to ferment. A small quantity will
then flavour a much larger quantity, than a
much larger if boiled in the liquor at first.
If the liquor ferments too long after it is
tunned, brimstone thrown on a few live
202 ~ MEAD.
coals, and set under the cask, will presently
restrain it, or any other fermenting liquor.
To promote fermentation, care must be
had, that the casks be not shook, and that
they be kept warm, excluding much air or
light; and with the bung-hole but loosely
covered.
For conducting the fermentation with
success, the rule is, to stop it at the vinous
state, before it commences to be acidulous:
for if not fermented enough, it will be foul,
mawkish, and not keep; if too much, it will
then turn sour.
The practice of vintners is to scent their
casks with the match; viz. For a pipe, take
four ounces of brimstone, of burnt alum one
ounce, put in a pipkin, and held over a cha-
fing dish of coals till the brimstone is melted
and runs. Slips of canvas or coarse linen
are then dipped into it, and the powders of
nutmegs, cloves, and corianders, instantly
sprinkled on them, and then fired, and let
down at the bung-hole, and the fumes kept
within the vessel as nmch as possible.
This prevents the ropiness of liquors, and
a dissipation of spirits, and consequent
MEAD. 203
weai:iiess, arising from the imbibing quality
of new casks.
When vinous liquors become flat, they
may be resiort;<l with spirit of wine, and
with raisins and sugar, or honey. These
articles soon render them brisk and spark-
ling, and restore their strength.
The juice of elder-berries will communi-
cate a fine claret colour and taste. An
agreeable roughu' eg may be also given bj
the juice of ripe sloes.
*04 StJJMMi.RY.
CHAP. XXV IL
A StJMMARY OF MONTHLY MANAGE"
MENT.
As the most natural, it will be proper to
begin our bee year with
October.
This month requires no other superin-
lenHance than some casual observations;
viz. that the stocks are not attacked by
robbers (for this, though not common in
this n:onth, sometimes happens); and that
no insects or vermin harbour about the
hives.
November.
It is proper to clean the floors, or rather
to tx -hunge them for clean and warm ones.
Co\er boxes, especially about the tops, with
mats or straw. If any stocks are light, feed
them; which, in this case, must be conti-
SUBTMART. 205
nued through the otlier cold months. Clear
away cobwebs, weeds, and vermin.
December
Requires a continuation of the same pre-
cautions. If an uncommonly severe frost
happens, secure them effectually with co-
verings, and close the door-ways, leaving
only a very small vacancy for fresh air.
And in snowy weather it is to be attended
to, that no bees may come out.
January.
The same directions are to be observed
as for tbe two preceding months.
February.
Feel the weight of the stocks: those that
feel light feed daily, till honey-gathering
arrives. If two or three troughs of honeyed
ale are given each of the stocks in this and
the following month, it will contribute to
forward the brood.
March.
As soon as the bees begin to work brisk-
ly, the floors should be again shifted, and
206 SUMMARY.
every annoyance about the hive taken away.
Early in the morning will be the properest
time.
Those stocks that appear to be very nu-
merous, if the weather be mild, should be
duplicated.
April.
The flowers in this month are often re-
plete with honey, and the stocks with
young bees, so that swarms are sometimes
emitted; to which attention is to be given.
Through the windows of boxes may be
seen whether honey is carried in, and then
feeding may cease, unless on a change to
bad weather. Observe to double all the
stocks.
May.
The weather in this month is mostly very
changeable, so that light stocks require still
to be fed, when it is unfavourable, even to
the last day of its continuance. If the wea-
ther is hot, take off the additional coverings
put on in the other months. Be sure now
to let the bees have a plenitude of room for
SUMMARY. 207
breeding; better too much than too little.
But if the weather is cold, misty, and damp
for several days, and not attended to, famine
may be the consequence.
This month generally furnishes many
swarms : therefore constant watching is
requisite from eight till three; or otherwise
great part of the prime swarms will escape.
June.
By tapping on the sides of the duplets, it
nfiay be known whether they want the ad-
dition of a triplet. About the latter end of
this month, it is likely it may be necessary
to take off some triplets, and to set nadir
hives under.
Be very circumspect with regard to the
stocks that have not swarmed.
July.
Swarms often rise till the end of this
month ; and therefore the bees must be
watched till all the hives have sent out their
prime swarms. Take hives off, and place
nadirs under, as often as may be requisite.
SOS SUMMARY.
About the tenth, the upper door-ways of
duplets must be stopped.
If the weather is so hot as to endanger
the melting of the combs, give the hives as
much air as possible, and screen them from
the sun, and pour water upon the ground
around them.
August.
This is a dangerous month for robbing.
Therefore an observation must be had every
day, to see whether the hives are assaulted.
By neglecting that, many stocks are lost.
Wasps are to be guarded against.
About the latter end of this month is
the usual season of general deprivation, or
taking up of stocks. Instead of taking
off duplets in this month, it would be
better, I think, to defer it till the latter
end of the next month, or beginning of
October.
Septejnber.
No other attention is required than a
casual cast of the eye, to see that the stocks
are not annoyed by robbers, or vermin.
PART II.
INSTRUCTIONS
PERFORMING
OPERATIONS.
GENERAL RULES,
To put on the bee-dress whenever an ope-
ration is to be performed ; for although not
always necessary, yet it will be prudent to
be prepared against the worst, especially
for the untxperienced. For a foot may
slip, or an accident happen; that no human
foresight could be apprised of. Great care
should be taken afier the dress is off, of
coming near the bees, as they will be eager
to sting, for three or four days, though the
person be at a considerable distance.
II.
Before any operation on a stock, stop or
shut the door-ways, and be sure to unstop
them as soon as it is over, unless where it
SIS GENERAL RULES.
is otherwise directed. The best material,
as well for this purpose, as for stopping
crevices, is loug shaggy moss, found on
banks under hedges.
III.
Though the operations are directed to be
performed in the morning early, or in the
evening, as soon as the bees are all at home;
yet by the use of the dividers they may be
done at any hour; in cloudy mizzling days;
when the bees are out at their labour, or
have been previously shut in very early in
the morning.
INSTRUMENTS OF FUMIGATION. 213
No. I.
Instruments of Fumigation
x\re, first, a box fpl. I. fig. 4) adapted to
this purpose, of the exact size of the boxes
in use. It must have a close bottom, nailed
to the edges, and without crevices.
On one side a round opening must be cut
to receive the mouth of a quart tin pot
from within ; and at such a distance that
the pot may not be nearer than an inch
from the side, and three inches above the
bottom.
The quart poty without a handle, is to be
punched round the sides as full of holes as
possible, within an inch of the top (except
about two inches, which need have but
few), as also in its bottom. The holes should
be as large as those of a flour-dredger.
The pot is to be fixed in the circular open-
ing by flat-headed tacks, with the part hav-
ing the fewest holes next the bottom.
214 INSTRUMENTS OF FUMIGATION.
Another aperture is to be cut on the right
of that for ihe pot, six inches in length and
four and a half wide, to receive a pane of
glass; it is to have a shutter let into a bevel
at top, and rest on a ledge at bottom, and
to fasten with a button. A wooden or cork
stopper must be fitted to the pot. It will
make the box more convenient for vision,
if a small window three or four inches square
is made in the back, about three inches
distance from the bottom.
Observations.
Without a great quantity of holes in the
pot, each at least one-eighth of an inch in
diameter, the matter for fuming will not
burn freely, and will thereby hinder the ef-
fect designed. The pot is placed an inch from
the side, that the bees in falling may not
lodge or be obstructed in their passage, and
thereby scorched. For a like reason the pot
is three inches above the bottom. The cir-
cular form of the pot prevents any consider-
able number of bees from being dt-tained
thereon. The part on one side having few
holes, is for laying the fuming substance on.
INSTRUMENTS OF FUMIGATION. 215
Annexed to the fume-box is a frame
fpl. I. Jig. 5) to nail on its edge. It consists
of a hollow square, the rim three inches
broad, and three quarters of an inch thick;
the inside hollow, to be equal to that of the
box ; the other parts to extend over the
outside.
This frame is intended for placing full
boxes as well as hives over it; and there-
fore, to suit it to that purpose, its corners
have four small pieces of wood fastened in,
to adapt it to the circular bottoms of the
hives. By the breadth of the rim, it will
likewise admit any common-sized hive.
Other instruments are, a long thin and
broad knife, with a square end, and a square
wooden handle:
Two brass plates, or dividers, and ttco siips
of double tin, of the same length as the
plates, and three inches broad ; or, in lieu
thertof, two old saws without handles, and
their teeth taken off.
tSl6 MATERIAL FOR FUMIGATION.
No. II.
The Material for Fumigation.
In my former treatise I slightly mention-
ed a method of stupefying bees, but have
since that time heard that some persons on
trial could not succeed.
Having always been in a habit of drivings
I did not give the subject that attention
which it so justly deserved. But reflecting
on the great advantages it was capable of,
could the difficulties be surmounted, I stu-
dioush' applied to experiments, to accom-
plish this desirable end, which I now sub-
mit to my apiarian friends.
The substance best adapted for this pur-
pose is the lycnpcrdon, or great puff ball.
It is likewise called frog cheese, mully puff,
punk-fist, and by various other names; b
I shall mention it only under that oi puffs,
in the sequel.
In good soils it frequently grows as large
MATERIAL TOll FUMIGATION. 21T
as a child's head; commonly as large as the
double fist. There is also a small sort,
about the size of a small apple, but of a
very weak quality.
Both sorts grow on dry pasture grounds,
and in woods; and thrive where mush-
rooms do, and nearly about the same time,
or either sooner or later, — or sometimes not
at all.
They are to be gathered in dry weather,
if possible, and as soon as full grown, which
is in about eight days. They then begin to
turn brown and powdery, and are thefi
most fit for the purpose. But if not come
to their growth, when dried, they become
too hard to hold fire. Presently after the
puffs are gathered, expose them as much as
possible to the sunshine to dry ; or, for want
of that, in a dry shade, &c. secure from wet
or dew. Dicing them by the fire makes
them hard, however moderate the heat-
Care must be taken to preserve them dry,
in paper bags, in a dry room, till they are
wanted. For as they seldom come in sea-
son early enough for use, they should be
preserved in readiness for next summer.
218 MATERIAL TOR FUMIGATION.
They are to be laid on the hearth for an
hour or two, the evening before tliey are to
be used, to expel from them the dampness m
their sponginess makes then:^ liable to; I
which would render them unfit for burning "
freely. Age likewise has the same effect,
bereaving them in part of their stupefying
power. Pufls found in autumn in woods,
or under hedges, being dried b}' a moderate
fire, though not so good, may do for want
of better. Puffs kept longer than the second
year, retain little virtue.
Thos.e puffs Vvhich in a dry season have
become mature, light, and dry, burn the
best of any. The lighter and more spongy
the puffs are, the readier they burn. Those
that are gathered in, or soon after, wet wea-
ther will be very tardy in burning, being
deprived in a great measure of their virtue,
however dried afterwards; as will those that
have been dried, but suffered to get wet
again, but whicli re-drying will not restore.
When a wet season, or any other cause,
has hindered the acquisition of puffs of a
good quality, they should be steeped in a
solution of nitre (saltpetre) in water, viz. a
MATERIAL FOR FUMIGATION. 219
tea-spoonful of nitre grossly powdered, to a
pint of water. After the puffs are soaked
therein, they are to be well dried ; and, thus
treated, will quickly take fire, and retain it.
But if puffs are very bad, rub a piece of
camphor, of the bigness of a pea, to powder,
and then add a little linseed oil. This
being smeared lightly over a puff", will ini-
mediately take flame by a candle; blow
the flame out, the puft'will continue to hold
fire, and fume till reduced to tinder.
It is to be noticed, that most dry puffs will
readily hold fire in the open air: but when
introduced into a close box, excluded from
fresh air, they cease to fume. And should
fresh air be admitted, it would counteract
the stupefying quality of the fume already
admitted, and delay the operation, or make
it wholly unsuccessful; therefore the least
fresh air possible should be admitted.
L 2
920 METHODS OF FUMING.
No. 111.
The Method of Fuming.
Take as many pieces of puff, each about
the size of an egg, as the fume-pot will
hold without pressing ; lay the pieces on
embers or live coals, in a chafing-dish, or
the like: when they appear to fume well,
put thera nimbly into the pot of the fume-
box, and immediately stop the mouth.
The hive or box of bees being previously
set over the box (with all crevices stopped,
that no smoke may escape), in about fifteen
or twenty minutes the bees will be stupe-
fied, and fall from their combs into the
fume-box. This will the sooner happen if
the hive or bee-box is now and then gently
tapped on the top. When the smoke first
arises, it causes a great buzzing among the
bees, which gradually ceases as they become
senseless ; and then they may be heard to
drop down, and will recover again in about
I
METHODS OF FUMING. 221
the same space of time on the admission of
fresh air, and without receiving the least
injury.
* A slight fuming will at all times render
them very peaceable, though not quite in-
sensible.
A small portion of brand may be laid on
bad puffs when they are first put in, lest
they should not retain the fire. The stupe'
fying bees is in no loise prejudicial to them,
since they soon return to their wonted la-
bour and activity, as if no such operation
had been done. Nor do they afterwards
show any resentment upon that account,
which is always the case after driving.
No. IV.
* A Method Jor Cottagers icho are not pro-
vided with Dividers.
Make a hole in the ground something
less than the circumference of the hive, and
L 3
522 METHODS OF FUMIXG.
eight inches deep ; spread a cloth to cover
the bottom and sides.
In the evening, take a stick seven inches ^
long, having a slip in its end to receive a 1
piece of puff about the size of an egg ; ^
light it, stick the other end in a clod of clay,
and instantly place a hive of bees over it;
and they will become as easily stupefied as
when suffocated by brimstone. If one
piece of puff is not sufficient, put in two or
three upon sticks.
No. V.
Or, instead of a liole, a circular ridge
of earth, nine inches in height, with the
inside hollow, and suitable to support the
hive, when set over it. Leave a part of
the ridge open to put in a fuming-pot, which
may be a small earthen pan, an old tin pot,
or tlie like, in which put the lighted puffs,
and cover the pot with an old funnel (the
pipe of!) With many holes in it, to keep the
bees from falling on the burning puffs. Im-
METHODS OF FUMING. 223
mediately on putting tlie pot under, stop tlie
opening by a sod of" earth, made ready for
that purpose. If the puffs should not hold
fire, run a wire, or small stick, througli the
sod, to let in a little fresh air.
Or, an empty hive may be used for this
purpose, in lieu of the earth; turning the
hive upside down, and setting another
thereon.
Or, the ridge of earth may be made on a
board, and so be more convenient to be re-
moved near the hives.
If the hives are not of equal circumfe-
rence, two sticks, of the due length, with
two others nailed across them, and laid over
the hive, pot, or kettle, will conveniently
suit any hive you have.
These methods are designed for storified
hives onhj-, it being of no use to save the
bees of single hives.
L 4
'^C4 THE VSE OF DIVIDER?
No. VI.
The Use of Dividers.
Is separating storified hives, thrust in one
of the brass dividers first, with its turned
end upwards, between the two hives ; then
shove in the other with its turned end down-
wards, and slide it under the first. At the
same time, an assistant is to keep both hives
from slipping out of their places. When
the apiator withdraws the upper divider,
and hive thereon, the assistant is firmly to
keep the under divider from moving with
one hand, and with the other keep the un-
der hive steady. The apiator, in drawing
the hive towards him, must move his hands
gradually under the divider, till nearly half
is withdrawn; he will then feel it upon a
poise: still keeping the divider close up to
the hive, lift it gently and carefully up, and
set it on the fume-box, placed by him in
readiness. The assistant, in the mean while,
THE USE OF DIVIDERS. 22S
is to place another empty hive over the
stock in lieu of that taken off, or a cover, as
the case may require. Keep the hand on
the cover, or empty hive, and withdraw the
divider. If the divider do not easily come
out, use a pair of pincers.
Sometimes the irregularities and snags of
the broken binding or straw of the hives
greatly obstruct the free entrance of the di-
vider. -To obviate this, it is proper to have
two slips of double tin, fifteen inches long,
and four wide; they are to be shoved in on
the right and left sides of the hive; intro-
ducing them at the middle of the sides, and
not at their ends, they will then generally
pass easily. But if any impediment occurs,
run a broad knife between the edge of the
hive and the tin, and raise it a small degree
at th^ point of.obstruction. Or, if it arises
from the under iaive, the knife is to enter
under the tin, to disengage it. The slips
having passed nearly to their whole width,
the dividers are to be shoved in at the back
or front of the hive, as shall be most easy,
and under the slips; by which means they
will enter with great facility. Observe to
L 5
226 STORIFYING.
turn their ends, as before mentioned. If the
dividers enter at the back, a person must
hold his hand against the door- way, to pre-
vent the stopping from being shoved out.
Particular care should be had, in taking
out the dividers, to set them upright against
some support, or to lay them flat, to prevent
their being bent, vs^hich would render them
unfit to keep the bees close in.
No. VII.
To S.torify.
To set on a duplet, loosen the cover of
the stock, and slide a divider underneath it,
keeping one hand on the cover. Take it off
as soon as the slider is adjusted ; then set an
empty hive upon the divider, and keep the
hive fast while it is withdrawn. Early in
the morning, or in the evening, will be the
properest time to do it: a pair of gloves, only
will be needful.
To place a duplet under a stock, set a
stool behind the stock; shove the divider
DEPRIVATlOy. 227
under it, then lift the hive and slider on the
stool; set an empty hive (with its cover off)
and floor in the place of the stock, which
lift thereon ; pull out the slider with one
hand, while the empty hive is kept steady
with the other.
A triplet is to be managed in the same
manner.
No. VIII.
Deprivation, or Separating of Hives.
First, a triplet is to be taken in the
evening. The dividers are to be introduced,
as by Xo. VI.; the separated hive is to be
placed on a floor at some distance, and then
the door unstopped. In about an hour after,
or the next morning, if the bees in the triplet
are quiet, as also those of the stock, there
are queens in both ; but if not, shut the door
of that taken, and set it over the fume-box,
and proceed to fume, as by Xo. III.
228 DEPUIVATION.
If an under or nadir hive is to be taken
from a double or triple hive stock, the
saKie method is to be used ; — .only the two
upper hives are to be taken off together, and
placed on a stool till the nadir is taken
away, and then set on a fresh floor in its old
situation.
Second Method of taking Triplets
Is, for a stout man to lift up the triplet,
stock, floor and all, and take them to some
apartment, in which a strong form or bench
is firmly prepared close to the wall, and
to place them on that. It may be done any
time in the morning, if the bees are very
early secured from coming out. Follow the
directions of No. VI; only the operation may
be more securely done, without being in-
commoded by the bees of the apiary, when
at a distance from them ; and being against
a wall, the hives are kept more steady
during the insertion of the dividers. If the
middle hive seems full of combs, and has
not much brood, that also may be taken.
On the general deprivation, the hives
DEPRIVATION. 22D
taken off must be set apart in anoilier
part of the garden, to discover which have
queens; as also of the stocks. And if any
are without, the hive taken from it must
be restored, and remain some weeks longer.
The further fumigation is to be deferred
till the next day after taking. It is to be
noted, when hives are lifted on the fume-
box, it should be on the divider, which is
then withdrawn, by which means no bee
can escape. The stupefied bees are always
to be put in an empty hive, and placed be-
fore the stock on some support.
To separate duplets is so obvious from
what has been written, as to preclude fur-
ther directions.
Cottagers must pursue the methods of
No. IV.
Many times the edges of straw hives will
be so uneven as to suffer the bees to pass
under them, so as to be very troublesome
on the introduction of the dividers. To re-
medy this default, prepare a narrow siip of
coarse linen cloth, about three inches wide,
and of a length somewhat more than the
circumference of the straw hives in use.
230 DEPRIVATION.
Two small wire hooks are to be fixed at
one end. This cloth is to be thoroughly
wet, and drawn round the body of the hive,
about an inch and a half above the bottom
edge. When the dividers are to be used,
raise the edge of the cloth, just high enough
to suffer them to pass a little under, and let
the cloth drop close round. Its weight will
render it so close as to exclude any bee
from passing.
It will many times happen, that a few
bees will still remain in the hive, notwith-
standing the most powerful fumigation, by
having secured themselves in the empty
cells, or by the fume not being strong
enough when first put in. In such a case,
throw a cloth over the hive, and take it
into a dark room, there to remain till the
next day; when gently drumming or tap-
ping on the sides and bottom of the hive,
they will rise to the edge of the combs, and
fly home, without shewing any anger.
When a hive is cleared of bees, the brood
combs should be properly placed in an
empty hive, inverted on a divider, and so
placed over the stock. This must be done
DEPRIVATION. 231
very leisurely, lest it provoke the bees to
destroy the young. If one hive will not
hold them, put the residue in another,
which set over some other stock.
Boxes are much easier separated than
hives, from having their edges more even,
though the like obstacles will sometimes
happen ; and which are relieved by the
same means as for hives. But the use of
tin slips will not be requisite.
It will be advisable for the unexperienced
to practise the manner of operation by trials
on empty hives with a weight laid over
them, before they attempt with hives of
bees.
Care must be taken, that as few bees may
be killed as possible; especially where the
queen's death would be the ruin of the
hive.
Cottagers should separate the combs
from the bottom hive the night before, by
a knife; when they are to take the hive off,
give it a kind of twist, and then lift it on
the ridge of earth, as by No. IV. while a
person instantly throws a cloth over the
top of the hive left, there to remain till
232 RE-UNION OF SWARMS.
next morning ; then placing the edge of the
straw cover just under the cloth, shove it
nimbly and closely with the right hand,
■while the cloth is kept smooth with the
left ; by which means the bees, and pieces
of combs, that were lodged on the top,
will be pushed off by the sliding in of the
cover. But if the cover does not sit close,
stop the chasms with moss till cold weather
comes, when the obstructions may be pared
away with a knife.
No. IX.
The'J^e-Union of Sioarms with their Stocks,
or with each other.
Having hived a recent swarm, take it
to a distance from the apiary, lay a cloth
on the ground, and strike the edge of the
hive thereon; the bees will fell out in a
lump. With a spoon tenderly divide them
into three or four parcels, putting them
into as many pans, sieves, &c. and set each
SE-UNION OF SWARMS. 233
parcel at a considerable distance from each
other's sight. Those parcels which have
no queen will soon return home again. That
which remains take to a darkened room,
and fume, as by No. HI. This done, turn
them out upon a table, and with a small
stick disengage a few at a time from each
other, and look attentively for the queen.
If not found in the first number, strike
them off the table into an empty hive, and
thus proceed with the rest. When she is
' found, instantly seize her between the finger
and thumb, and put her into a phial with a
notched cork, and about a dozen workers
with her, to keep her warm and easy. In-
spect the remainder of the parcel, lest there
should be another young queen. lucl.ude
them all in one hive, and set them (town
before the stock, to which they will gladly
unite. But should a queen not be found,
it is possible she may have fallen down and
been crushed. In that case the bees will
soon shew their inquietude, and return
home. If not, give them a slight fuming,
and proceed as before, but with more cir-
cum pection.
234 RE-UNION OF SWARMS.
Keep the captive queen two or three days,
when, if there should be no occasion for
preserving her, death must be her portion.
For if let loose, she will return to the stock,
and occasion a repetition of the process.
Or else make an artificial swarm with her,
if wanted.
By the like means, as many swarms as
rise may be added to the stock, or united
with one another, to form a powerful stock
of themselves. Only then keep the bees in
the hive, with a cloth over it, and take them"*
out by a spoonful at a time to examine them,
pulling the cloth over after every spoonful,
to prevent their reviving too soon.
Or, swarms may be united, three or four,
or more, together, to form a stock, as di-
rected at pages 99 and 100, or at depri-
vation time.
When two queens rise together with a
swarm, and are hived, but prove hostile to
each other, fumigation will reconcile them.
The first queen that recovers will be ac-
knowledged, the other slain.
If a swarnj that is to be united is tumul-
tuous and mischievous, the giving them a
CAPTURING THE QUEEN". €35
slight fuming will make them more tracta-
ble. It is worth remarking, that bees are
often adverse to receiving strangers at one
time, but will cordially receive them at an-
other; therefore they must be humoured.
No. X.
Capturing the Queen of a Stock,
Fume the stock, and examine the bees
as in the foregoing article. Sometimes she,
as well as some other bees, will evade the
effect of the smoke, by entering the empty
cells (which is equally the case even with
brimstone), and therefore must be proceed-
ed against as before directed. To distin-
guish a queen, a previous knovi'le(5ge should
be acquired, by inspecting the bees that
have been suffocated. A queen may be
attached to any part, by passing a silk
thread round her neck, and clipping off
part of one wing. Where she is fixed, the
swarm will surround and never quit hey»
23(3 UNION OF STOCKS*
Or a queen may be captured thus: — Put
the bees that have a queen into a hive or
box, whose top has long slits of only jive
thirty -seconds of an inch in width. The
working bees, by much tapping on the sides
of the box, or by blowing the smoke of to-
bacco in, will issue out, and leave the queen
behind, as she will not be able to pass the
slits, if accurately made.
No. XI.
Out'liers to recruit loeak Stocks.
At the close of the evening, place a floor
on a level with, and to touch that of the
outliers ; bring the weak stock pretty near ;
then with a small stick very leisurely stroke
the out-liers down on a vacant floor. In-
stantly take away the stock, and set it at a
little distance, while an assistant places the
weak stock over the floor of out-liers, its
edge being kept raised by a wedge. Let
them remain till day-break, by which time
UNION OF STOCKS. 237
the idlers, in all probability, will have
ascended; when, taking away the wedge,
replace the stock in its former situation,
and the other at a considerable distance.
But when a great quantity of bees cluster
round the body of a hive, an empty hive
should be placed near; when lifting the
stock upon the empty hive, idlers and all
thereon, they will soon find and embrace
the new accommodation.
Another method is, to spread a cloth
underneath, and by a brush or watering-pot
sprinkle water over them ; by which means
they will be unable to rise, and may be
brushed off on the cloth, and put on the
floor of an empty hive, and the weak stock
over them.
No. XII.
To unite a queenless Stock to another.
When a stock, in summer, has lost its
queen, stop the door immediately, till the
3SS UNION OF WEAK STOCKS
Other stocks have done work, then open it
for about an hour, and then stop it again ;
shde under the divider, fume it, put the
bees in an empty hive, and set them over
another stock. By this means, as they gra-
dually acquire vigour, they will assimilate
with the stock, without any disturbance.
The hive of combs taken most likely will
have much brood therein, which is to be
disposed of as before mentioned, and what
honey there is is at the owner's service.
No. XIII.
To unite iceak Stocks or Sicarms in Autumn.
If, through inadvertence, weak stocks or
swarms have been retained till autumn, and
one of them has a sufficient winter's store,
incorporate the lightest with the strongest,
by fuming each separate, and then placing
the weak one over the other. When the
bees recover, thty will unite without strife,
and the supernumerary queen be cast out.
OR SWARMS IX AUTUMN. 235
If they are both poor in honey, but strong
in numbers, they will form a good stock, if
a good hive of honey is placed over them.
Otherwise, suffocate them, and take the ho-
ney, and save the brood, if any.
Cottagers may unite them by turning
one hive bottom upwards, in a cold day, for
several hours, till the bees become chilled
and feeble : the combs are then to be taken
out severally, and the bees brushed off upon
a table, and the queen taken from them.
Then put the bees into a pail, pan, &c. lay
two sticks across, and place the other hive
over it; close the joining with a cloth, all
but the door- way. Let them stand thus two
or three days, in which time they will have
united. If afterwards the hive should be
found too light, the bees should be fed.
After all, this is but a shift, which seldom
answers. Had they been incorporated in
summer, they would have turned to good
account.
240 DRIVING.'
No. XIV.
Driving.
Pass a divider under the hive to be driven,
and then tie a cord across it and the divider;
turn the hive upside down on an empt}'^
hive, bucket, or something convenient.
Place the fume-box, reversed, over the hive
(first taking the cord off), and gently with-
draw the divider, taking care that the dooi'
of the hive is well closed; then with two
sticks beat, as though drumming, on the,
sides of the hive (all but that side*Yiext you),
and at the bottom, not very hard, but very
quick, ceasing a little at intervals. In about
fifteen minutes the bees will begin to be
terrified ; hearken whether they make a
great buz, and whether a buz is likewise
in the box, for by that it may be guessed
that many are ascended. Some one should
bold the box steady while the drumming is
made, or it will shake, and let the bees out.
The box may then be safely lifted up on its
» HIVING. 241
side opposite to the light (for the room
should be almost dark), and the bees will fly
directly towards the light. Hold the box
steadily between your side and arm, and
with the other hand continue tapping round
the side?. The bees by this become tame,
and will gradually crawl up from the hive
into the box, with loud buzzing; and the
more so when the queen ascends, for then
the rest will soon follow; but till that hap-
pens, they rise with grerit reluctance.
By chance a few may be left behind,
which may be drummed out the next day.
If no fume-box or divider is provided, a
common straw-hive may be used instead;
and the stock lifted on it (when inverted)
over night. In the morning, stopping all
ch"Ssms ai'.d the door, tie the two hives fast
with a cord, and invert them, and then pro-
ceed as above.
The driving of bees renders ihem very
peaceable and tractable, so that they may be
safely taken up in the hand; though not 60
completely as by fumigation. They may be
turned on a table, severally divided, inspect-
ed, and the queen taken from them. But this
M
242 SHOW-ilOX 10 11 AMATKUUS.
peaceable disposition continues but a little
while in either method ; so that the opera-
tor must be as expeditious as possible : ex-
cept when the bees are kept in an empty
hive two or three days, which will make
them extraordinarily tame.
Driving will be useful as a succedaneuni
for puffs, in seasons or circumstances when
they cannot be had. To naturalists it may
be of advantage, by enabling them to in-
vestigaie the properties of these wonderful
but irritable insects, while in a state of
vii.^our, more satisfactorily than by fumiga-
tion or immersion.
No. XV.
Show-Box for Amateurs.
This box, or frame, is to be made of rat-
tan or mahogany, without to}) or bottom.
It is to be nine inches hii^h, and two and a
quarter wide, clear in the inside, exactly;
and twelve long. There is to be a pane of
SHOW' 15 ox FOU AMATEURS. 243
clear glass on each side as large as the frame
will admit. The glasses are not to be let into
a rabbet, as usual, but to slide up from the
bottom to the top withinside, under four
small tenter hooks, and stopped at bottom
by a small screw, so that the glasses may be
taken out occasionally. There are to be two
half-inch shutters on the outside, to fasten in
a bevel (not to slide) at bottom, and with a
button at top.
The top is to have a bar one inch wide,
and the full length of the frame, and is to
be let in at each end so as to be flush with
the top, and at half an inch distance from
each side of the box.
A door-way is to be cut at one end,
one inch and a half long, and half an inch
high; this is to be esteemed the front. At
the other end, or back, a like door-way is to
be cut; and another, three inches higher.
On the top edges of the box are to be two
narrow slips or ledges fastened ; between
which are to lie (not to slide in a rabbet)
two pieces of glass, each half the length, and
sufficient in width to cover the top between
M 2
244 SHOW-BOX I' OR A-MATEtrilS.
the ledges, A wooden loose cover must
close the whole.
It must have a loose floor two inclies
wider than the box ; and little abutments
should be added at the corners near the bot-
tom, to give the box a steadiness sulficient
to prevent its being turned aside.
Observations.
The narrowness of the box, and its hav-
ing but one bar, is mtended to prevent the
bees from making more than one comb,
which they woidd do if it was a quarter of
an inch wider.
By being confined to one coiiib, the nii-
iiutias ot their transactions are exposed to
view on both sides, the queen's not except-
ed : a discovery 1 suspect not to be so fully
obtained by any other means known to the
public.
A window, full south, is the properest to
place the box in. A situation the least
exposed to wind is necessary for their suc-
ceeding. The bees are used to great heat.
SIIOM'-BOX FOR AMATEURS. 245
~ - 9
and communicate much themselves, which
causes a great indraught of cold air to be
very prejudicial and discouraging.
I invented this box in the year 1783,
when removing to this s'tuation (which is
an extiaordinarily win-ly one, heneticial to
my own health, but not propitiou- to bee«) ;
and not having a conv. nient ?spect to fix
the box in, the wind greatly impeded th^ir
labour, and frustrated my d^'igns; except
one year, which being tolerably favourable,
my purpose was in part nnswered.
The two dooi-ways m the back of the
box are the leadier to introduce troughs of
food, in case the bees, through bad wea-
ther, are hindered from collecting, after
being first put in, or at any other time. The
two back door-ways are to be always close
stopped when not used.
The reason why the panes of glass are not
to be fixed in, is, that in case of accidents
they may easily be repaired.
»i 3
546 MANAGEMENT OF
No. XVI.
Management of the Shoiv-Box.
Procure a slip of deal, of the length of
the box, one inch and a quarter broad, three
quarters of an inch thick : pierce small holes
in it, at equal distances, four on aside; into
which put eight slight sticks, four or five
inches long, and thus form a stage, cutting
o& all irregularities at the bottom. Place in
it a thick empty virgin comh, four or five
inches in length and breadth. Introduce it
as far up the middle of the box as to touch
the bar; fasten it at the ends by two fine
and long screws, passed in at the front and
back of the box. Or, the stage may be
hung to the bar by four strings (horse-hair
will be best) over the bar let into grooves,
and tied on the side of the bar, that there
may be no obstacles above the level of the
box.
Having procured a queen from a swarm,
THE SHOW-BOX. 24?
cut her wings half oiY, put her into the box
at the top, the door being stopped; then put
Sipint oi fumed bees, including ten or twelve
drones, into the box with her. A less num-
ber of bees than a pint will be too few ; and
a greater will so much crowd the comb as
to prevent the view designed. Close the
lop by one-half of the glass, and the other
by a perforated piece of tin. Whenever
the door is unstopped, bolh pieces of glass
must be laid over, or there will be too great
a draught of air. Throw over then^ a cloth,
and let tnem remain till the morning; then
unstop the door so as to admit a passage of
two bees at a time. If on the second day
the bte? seem contented, entirely unstop the
door, and give them a trough of food. Re-
frain from opening the shutters for four or
five days, and then but seldom, till they
have begun to collect, and repair tht combs,
or it will disgust them, and cause a desertion
of the box, which will sometimes happen
notwithstanding-.
For the queen and her subjects, being used
to a much greater heat, to a larger society,
and a more commodious habitation, will be
M 4
#48 MANAGEMENT OP
very much displeased at such a scanty tene-
ment, and not soon reconciled to it.
But however disgusting it may be, if the
queen does crawl out, or her subjects swarm
out, the one must drop, and the others,
though clustered on something near, must
return, and the queen may be found under
the window, and again returned into the
box. The cluster being secured, is to be
introduced to her.
If great winds annoy them very much,
they will emigrate, though they have en-
riched the box with honey and brood. The
cluster that settles may be shook into an
empty hive, and shook out again upon a
table, and the box placed near them, when
they will soon join the queen.
For the purpose of excluding the wind,
it is adviseable to have a tin trough, of the
shape of a T ; the long end to fit the
door-way of the box, and to be open
at the other end, as well as at the ends
of the cross tube. Corks are to be fitted
to them, that either of them may be stop-
ped in the point from which the wind
blows.
THE SHOW-BOX. 9iB
When the weather proves cool and chilly,
cover the box with a woollen cloth.
When the bees are wanted to relinquish
the box, slide a divider under it, and set it
over the fume-box; shove the box as near
the edge of the hollow as its width, and
withdraw the slider the like width, and the
bees will have a free opening to fall into the
fume-box. Fume them according to art.
The box must be set on a board in the
window, and so that no bee may have
egress to the room ; observing the like
precautions as before advised for window-
boxes.
M 5
POSTSCRIPT.
Just as my manuscript was ready for the
press, I became acquainted with a Treatise
recently pubUshed by Mr. James Bonner,
of Edinburgh, purporting to be ^' A New
" Plan for speedily increasing the Number
*• of Bee-Hives in Scotland" &c. Upon a
careful perusal, several passages in that work
seemed worthy of notice; but, not to alter
the body of my own, I here give them se-
parate, with a few brief remarks.
Mr. Bonner is a stickler for the Schi-
rachean doctrine of raising young queen bees
at pleasure, in order to form artificial
sicarms; and opposes those of a contrary
opinion, though fortified by numerous ex-
periments of respectable naturalists, at
home and in Germany, several years after
those of Schirach.
S52 POSTSCRIPT.
The subject of dispute is of little con-
sequence, as not being advantageous for
the general use of those who seek the
best method of producing the most honey
and wax; nor is it eligible for the pur-
pose it was designed for, viz. artificial
swarming^
The champions of both sides express their
doubts of its general benefit. Bonner him-
self, in particular, says, " It is not a great
** number of hives that will produce the
" greatest quantity of honey and wax, but
" only real good ones. I also doubt whe-
" ther more hives can be reared by this
" method, as our bees generally produce
•* more queens naturally, than they are
" able to supply with a sufficient number
" of common bees to compose a swarm
" with, as appears from their killing super-
" numerary ones;" and therefore he *' pre-
" fers natural swarms."
Schirach's method is by a double hive,
and the bees are compelled to ascend into
the upper one by the smoke of rags, &c.
A piece of brood comb is cut out, of four
or five inches diameter, containing a mag-
POSTSCRIPT. £i>S
got or maggots, precisely of three days old,
and properly placed in an empty hive, toge-
ther with part of a comb of farina, and
another of honey ; about a quart of bees
is then to be introduced, and the hive
stopped up, except a small passage for air,
and so remain three days. There v^ill be a
great tumult and noise in the hive for some
hours, when it will subside, and the bees
will begin to build a royal cell. The fourth
day an opening is to be made of a quarter
of an inch, that the bees may come out lei-
surely. After roving about for some time,
they will return to their hive. It should be
done in the spring.
Bonner's process is, I think, an improve-
ment : he drives the bees out, then cuts a
piece of comb out that has several maggots,
of various ages, and placing, &c. and then
sets the hive at a very considerable distance
from the apiary, without stopping the bees in.
This I understand to be Bonner's method,
for he seems reserved as to an explicit ex-
planation. I make no doubt but the use of
the puffs will be found preferable.
Schirach's stopping the bees was ill-
€54 POSTSCRIPT.
judged, and what, perhaps, occasioned my
bad success.
It is somewhat strange that Mr. Bonner
should have pursued his researches, without
the advantage of bee-glasses, or bee-boxes,
but confined himself to straic hives of the
common form holding two pecks and a half,
and occasionally eeks.
His principal dependance for rearing a
great number of stocks, is by providing a
sufficiency of pasturage adequate thereto ;
but the waxen castle he has raised for this
purpose seems to have been built on a hill
of sand.
He supposes a person to begin with five
stocks, which the second year will be in-
creased to ten, and so continue to increase in
duplicate ratio for ten years, vvliich will
then amount to 2500. He supposes like-
wise, that if each parish of Scotland had
twenty hives in May, the amount of the
eight hundred parishes would be 16,000.
Supposing each of these hives to throw out
one swarm in September, we should have
32,000. On these principles, with proper
management and tolerable seasons, in the
POSTSCRIPT. 955
space of seven years the stocks would in-
crease from 32,000 to 2,048,000 ; and, after
his draw-backs, his lowest estimate is a clear
million, producing 4,000,000 pints of ho*
ney, and 1,000,000 pounds of wax.
On the supposition that bees will increase
double every year, and therefore that five
hives the first year may increase to ten the
second year, &c. I will not dispute; but
will there be double the quantity of honey and
wax? I doubt, not; for, supposing the five
hives (the bees of them) can only collect
from the vicinage, as far as their flight for
pasturage usually extends, enough to fill
their five hives; the second year being
increased to ten, the same quantity of flowers
will only yield the same quantity of honey,
admitting the season similar to the first. I
infer, therefore, that the produce will be no
more, though double the number of bees.
To this we may add (which Bonner ac-
knowledges) that seasons are often bad ;
rendering hives impoverished instead of in-
creasing, and that they often die in the win-
ter. The second link of this golden chain
being broke, down falls the whole mass of
950 POSTSCRIPT.
honey and wax appending thereto; and
there I leave it.
No, say its advocates ; that is not fair!
We can increase the flowers in proportion
to the number of bees. Can the cottagers
extend their land? or will they extirpate
from their little allotment the vegetables of
their daily support, to give place for bee-
flowers? Will gentlemen (whom Bonner
chiefly addresses) plough up their grass and
corn lands, to cultivate such flowers ? Surely
corn and cattle are of more value than ho-
ney ! We had better be without honey than
bread. But Bonner has a resource in heath,
which covers, he says, more than half of
Britain! If true, I am sorry to hear it;
and hops, most part of it will speedily be
ploughed up for corn, though it should
prove the ruin of this new plan of increasing
of bees. 1 should sooner prefer Virgil's
method of raising bees from a dtad heifer,
or of Sampson's procuring honey from a
dead lion.
I sincerely hope, as Mr. Bonner has been
a practitioner for twenty-six years, he has
accumulated a snug fortune, to compensate
POSTSCRIPT. S57
for his labours and ingenious discoveries.
But as his native land so much abounds in
white clover, heath, furze, «Scc. it is wonder-
ful that honey sells at ten-pence and twelve-
pence per pound, at Edinburgh. It is also
observable, that he gives no account of the
produce of his own apiary, and only five
instances of other persons', of whom he
bought honey and wax. To one, in particu-
lar, he paid five pounds for one hive, which
was weighed in the market-house of Edin-
burgh; but unluckily he omits the weight or
dimensions of the hive. The reader, there-
fore, is left to his own calculations.
Mr. Bonner, besides his grand resource of
flowers, relies on preserving the bees of the
stocks taken, and uniting them with the
stocks left.
I think his ingenious method of swarm-
ing deserves a place here ; and I recom-
mend it to a trial, as it will be too late for
me to do it. My work, I hope, will be
printed before the season arrives : and my
age, and increasing infirmities, forbid a
longer delay.
" Suppose one drive all the bees out of %
258 POSTSCRIPT.
" hive, and thereby make an artificial swarm.
" If the old hive has a royal cell in it, by
" introducing into it about five thousand
" bees, they will hatch out the young queen,
" with all the eggs and nymphs in the cells,
" and render it a flourishing hive. The
" method of introducing the common bees
" is as follows: Let a strong out-lying hive
" be removed from its usual situation, about
** 10 A. M. and place the hive that has no
** bees on the spot where it stood; the bees,
** on their return from the fields, will enter
" it, and, finding plenty of honey, and abun-
** dance of eggs, will rear up the young bees
** with great alacrity." But here it may
be asked. Suppose there happens to be no
royal cell in the old hive, how are we to
proceed .? On my plan, instead of driving, I
wou\(\ fumigate them out ; then inspect whe-
ther there is a royal cell; and it' not, return
the bees into the hive. But if there is a
royal cell, cover the hive of fumed bees with
a cloth, and let an assistant take it to some
distance. In the mean time, carefully exa-
mine the old hive, to be assured that the
queen is not left behind among the combs.
POSTSCRIPT. 250
as she is frequently one of the last that falls.
Being satisfied on this point, place it on its
original stand. The bees, on their return, &:c.
—The hive with the fumed bees should be
confined till night, to be certain that the
queen is with them; for, if not, they will
soon shew it by their uproar, and, in conse-
quence, must be taken before the stock, and
set bottom upwards. But if they remain
quiet till night, take them to a very consi-
derable distance, in another garden or field.
An empty hive should be set in lieu of the
combed hive, during the operation, to amuse
the bees as they return from the fields.
As Mr. Bonner approves the Schirachean
doctrine of a common egg being capable of
becoming a queen by the nursing of the
workers, why should he insist on there be-
ing a royal cell in the hive? when common
eggs would serve the purpose; only causing
a delay of a few days before a young queen,
so reared, would be capable of laying eggs.
Another method he gives of artificial
swarming is, " to take all the bees out of
" the hive, and put into it a considerable
" number of common bees, who will hatch
260 POSTSCRIPT.
*' out the brood, and rear them, and often
*' succeed very well. But this plan is liable
*' to some imperfections ; for, from the time
" the old queen is taken away till the young
" one is fit to lay eggs, will be twenty-fiv$
"days; during which space not a single
" egg can be laid. To which add eighteen
" days more, before the eggs can be of any
" service. It is evident that the best part
*' of the honey season will be over ; and
" consequently, by autumn, the hive cannot
** be replenished with bees. If I intend to
" kill a hive of bees in autumn, it seems
** best to take away the queen at the end of
*' July, leaving a great number of bees in
*' the hive, which, having but few bees to
*' nurse up, would collect a greater quantity
*' of honey in that period, than if they had
** a queen to lay eggs." —
" In the spring, having two hives that
" had but few bees in each, 1 put the bees
" of one hive into the other, suspecting, as
*• they had both bred slowly, there might
" be a defect in one of the queens; and
" hoping that, by putting them together,
" the least healthy woald have been killed;
POSTSCRIPT. 2<Jl
" but the worktrs of both hives kindly
•' united. On turning up the hives twents'
" minutes after, I perceived a few beesclus-
" tered together. On a close inspection,
*' I observed the two queens struggling
*' together with the utmost fury. Being
*' afraid of the ruin of both, I separated
" them, and kept them asunder, though
" they ran with great fury along the table
" in search of each other. I then took
" the one that appeared the boldest, and
" put her again into the hive, where she
" was kindly received. When a duel takes
" place between two queen- bees, the work-
" ers commonly kill one of the queens
" themselves." —
" In November, December, and January,
** bees eat very little food, as any person
" may be convinced by weighing their hives
" in the beginning and end of these months.
" But if he will weigh a hive in the begin-
** ning of March, and likewise at the end,
*' he will find a considerable decrease; for
" the bees, having now much exercise, eat
" more honey in that month than during
" the three cold ones, and three times as
2(5'2 POSTSCRIPT.
•' much in May as in March, owing to the
•• increase of brood."
" In a mild winter they eat more than
*' in a cold one, which enables them to
" hatch earlier, and increase the number of
" bees in the hive. In a very cohl winter
*' many stocks die; whereas in a mild one,
" very few. In the midst of a severe frost
" I have often seen my hives with young
" brood in them : they are, therefore, not
" inactive, but breed even before they carry
•' in loads."—
" About Lammas, those who live where
*' bee vegetation is early over, especially if
•' they keep numerous hives, ought to re-
" move them to the neighbourhood of heath
" grounds, if they should be even six or
** eight miles distant; and allow them to
" continue in that situation till the heath is
" out of bloom. The risk is, if the wea-
*• ther turn out bad in August, the trouble
" will be lost." [Is there no risk of robbers?]
" When bees are placed in a new situation,
" they should not be permitted to come out
" of their hive for the first time in cold wea-
" ther, but kept close prisoners for a day or
posTScniPT. 2(53
" two, or many will be chilled to death in
" searching for their new settlements." —
" Very little ground will keep many bees
" abundantly at work. 0}ie acre of land
" would not be overstocked with twenty
" hives; and, consequently, the tvv'entieth
" part of an acre would keep one .'" [This
statement seems vague and unsatisfactory.]
" Sicanns should be covered with a cloth
" till the Ik at of the day is abated, lest they
" should be urged to rise.
" Nor should it be omitted to keep a watch
" over them, as they sometimes rise after
" being two or three hours in the hive, and
" though they had begun to work — perhaps
" to settle in another place they had previa
" ously prepared. Sometimes, though sel-
" dom,a swarm will fly off, notwithstanding
" every method that can be used to prevent
" it. This happens only in very cahii wea-
" tiier, when bees have had liberty, some
" days before swarming, to roam about ia
"search of a habitation to their liking: :
" which if once they find, it is difficult, and
*' often impossible, to prevent them from
'• emigrating to it." —
2G4 posT.scniPT.
" If the rays of the sun have been inter-
*' cepted by a cloud, or shower of rain, in
" the time of swarming, the swarms will
" probably be small, as preventing the
" greater part from issuing. In which case,
" let the swarm be placed where the mother
*' hive stood, for about a quarter of an hour;
" in which time the bees that are returning:
•' from the lields, will soon make the swarm
" large enough; and then the swnrm should
•' be removed to a mile distance, to pre-
" vent the bees from going to the old stock.
" When bees are separated from their mo-
" ther hive by driving, or \^hGn the hive is
" shifted from where it formerly stood, they
" are insensible of the change, and always
" fly back to their former station; for which.
" reason, every artificial swarm, or rein-
*' forcfd hive, is to be sot at a considerable
" distance." [Would not removing them
to a dark room, and confining them a day
or two, produce ttie like (fleet ?]
*' A swarm that esi apes from the apiary
" to a habitation they have previously
" chosen, usually fly to it in a direct line.
" The bce-heid shouid run or ride within
POSTSCRIPT. 965
" sight of tliem, as fast as lie can; and if
" obstructions hinder him, he should atten-
" tively notice the point of the line, and
" keep or recover it, to march therein
" straight forwaixl, regarding the bushes
" and hedges as he goes, lest they should be
" settled thereon. But otherwise the line
** will probably lead him to some apiary,
** where he may claim his swarm. I kaow
*' for certain, that a swarm will not fly a
" mile to an empty hive; whereas they will
" fly four miles to take possession of an old
*' one with combs in it."
It is proper here to remark, that Mr.
Bonner represents the setting of an old hive
of combs in a person's own garden, or api-
ary, as a fraudulent practice; as such hives
may allure his neighbour's swarms to settle
therein. So may a field of good pasture
allure his neighbour's cattle or sheep to feed
thereon. What! then must he not have
better pasturage than those in his vicinity?
If strange bees visit his hive, which he set,
bond fide, to entice his own swarms, should
any escape unperceived, and his neighbour's
bees take possession of it, without being
^66 POSTSCRIPT.
followed by a person who saw them rise, he
seems to have a good title to keep them ;
for who can swear whose property they
were? They should have been better
watched. The loss they deserve for their
negligence; which I hope will make all bee-
owners more careful in this point, if for no
other reason. No honest person will refuse
the restoration, if they can make good their
claim. If a person sets such hives with a
view of trepanning his neighbour's swarms,
it is certainly wicked. The motive consti-
tutes the crime.
" Driving of bees, to make artificial
•• swarms," Mr. Bonner observes, " is very
" profitable, when properly performed by
" skilful bee-masters; yet it always has
*• been, and ever will be, destructive to beesj
" if performed by unskilful persons. And,
•• indeed, all new beginners may be almost
" certain of ruining some hives in their
•* attempts."
T. Wildman corroborates the assertion,;
by saying, " It is an art not speedily attain^
" ed; yet, till it is, the destruction of many
" hives must be the consequence, as everjr
POSTSCRIPT. 2G7
" one will find, on their first attempts to
•' perform it." To which truth, J. K. sets
his seal !
j\Ir. Bonner, it seems, has been a bee-
manaser from his youth ; and is now a
professor of the art, and proH'ers his ser-
vice to the gentry of his country, who may
be desirous of his assistance. He appears to
be a successful pupil of the elder Wildman,
and, like him, enumerates several manoBU-
vres that he can perform, &c. but he does
not, like Wildman, divulge the secret oihoic,
which he reserves for his own use. How-
ever, we may shrewdly guess, that it is by
means of the bee-dress, by driving, and by
the managementof the queen-bee; by which,
to my thinking, any intelligent person, con-
versant in practice, may easily do the like,
if any one would compensate him for his
time and trouble of amusing them, which is
the only use these feats seem adapted for.
In a few words — ZN^otwithstanding ^Ir.
Bonner confidently assures his readers,
that his plan is " no chimera, or JViil o the
" wisp,'' many of them, perhaps, may require
more solid proofs on which to establish such
K 2
268 POSTSCRIPT.
an idea. The more wonderful any thing of-
feied for our belief is, the stiOiiger shou'd be
the evidence. It seems requisite they should
know what number of stocUs Boiiiier, as
well as some of h's principal pupi's, keep;
the quanl^ly of ground sown w'iih bee vege-
tables on purpose; what the quanti;y of
wild bee-flowers is in the circuit of their
flight; and wtiat the produce is, on an ave-
rage, for several ye.rs, &c. Till this is
done, those that have little faila, hut much
reason, will still doubt, if not disbelieve.
INDEX.
Adapter - page ice
Age of bees - - 57
Amateurs, box for - 242
Apiary, tiie situation for 22
best muQageaient of 23
Aromatic Jlowers good lor bees 151
Artificials-warming - 114
B.
Bee boxes, to mi'.ke
dress, to m.ike
flowers, a list of
house
Bees, ilieir age
42
19
146
- 50
57
nuQiber, weiglit, measure 92
to find in woods - 117
OQ ti;e Sdlvii "u of - 122
w'.il no. qu .. a ii've that
lias biood ill - - 136
how lende.ed ;..me 142
B;',t;!:at i.;'ys;ocked w'.h 143
nice in iie'rse'ec oa 145
disvaace iieyflv lo co ect 153
the qu.;ii.ltyo.'i;oi:ey con-
sumed in wioer - 169
wuy a s.ock i^ceiscs
more in propor ioa if kept
from swyrmng - 59
have a nalur;;! impu'se ;o
swiirm . - 73
dec.ea<;e o.', in wlnler 73
reduced to a qu. rt in
■wiuler - - 125
- ;o judge Of a si.u..L'on
that will be produc.ive 144
to be kept warm in winter l64
Borage, the king of flowers
page 151
jBorfs, SJtow, foramsteuis 242
Brood Combs, how to neat 136
preservation of 139
Brccdirg begun - 73
C.
Carsfj, L.ie advan.^ige of, (see
Swarms) - 141
Cells Royal, described - 3
Cottagers, .0 ass!=C one ano-
ther ill liie 'oan of bees 144
_-^— — methou of fuming 221
■ separa*
r<.'.oo, or tal;:ng - 231
to dou-
b'e ii'.ves - 85
Commons, Heat?is, and Woods,
near, best siu:i Ioa for bees 143
D.
Deprivation, d'rections for 133
best ime for 137, 139
gene al ■ Inie for 137
of s ag'e iiives 137
le roetiiod of 227
general, how 228
Discoveries - - 8
Dividers desc 'bed - 45
■ — oDse, vations lliereon 47
'■ to use - 224
Diseasts of bees • 158
;o prevent - 162
Doors, n manage - 64, 69
Drones described - 4
proper trtatmeut of 81
f70
INDEX.
Drones, improper treatment
of - - page 82
' their first appearance 83
do not always precede
swarms
Driving of bees, method of
Duplets will not be worked in
till wanted
■ how long to stand
■ when to put on
when to t<tke off
when a swarm wanted
from
to storify,
to separate
— ^ when expedient to re-
main all the winter
E.
Enlnrgement, a timely
E'lCDiies of bees
Estimate, shewing the supe-
rior profit from storifying
Extraction of wax
V.
Farina, its nature
Feeding of bees
83
240
66
140
6.3
63
90
226
229
135
65
177
60
188
148
165—171
signs of poverty
■ instruments for
public
166
166
167
Fumigation, instruments for 213
materials for 216
. the mctliod of 220
cottagers' me-
thod of
G.
Classes, the most proper
observations on
nianageuicnt of
II.
Hackcls, to make
Hives, to rnxke
for cottagers
upon an emergency
only a third left for
126
127
129
39
32
37
72
bees when filled ^Yitll combs 81
Hives, how to hive bees in page 104
on the body of a tree 107
on the branches 108
on a hollow tree I09
in a room 113
to know when nearly
filled - - 13.3
to judge of their weight 140
of a larger size than
common recommended for
the single method - 62
preparation of - Qi
Hot Summer melts the combs 72
Honey, a quick importation of 65
scanty in bad seasons 140
extraction of - 185
observations on - 195
■ combs, virgin, errors
about - - 192
of bad quality - I94
how to ju(lj;e of - I96
its disagreeing qualities I97
dews, their nature 155
1.
Idlers of duplets
■ • that do not lie out
not to be suffered
of a triplet
lhou"h not full
151
146
84
Increase by storifying -
L.
Land, waste, to improve by
bee plants -
List of bee Rowers -
Lying~out, reason of -
■ what delays tliem
from swarming - 85
M.
Mead, to make - - 199
a new method of fining 200
■ ■ useful observations 201-203
N.
Kadir hives, to manage C4, 67
O.
Orchards of little use to bees 15©
INDEX.
271'
Out-lien of a triplet page &t
in July - 81
in general, the Cduse 38
how prejudicinl 84
cannot be made a
swarm of - 8t, 88
added to a weak
sloefc - - 235
P.
Pasturage described - 143
■ in great quantities
together - 147
farina, observations
on - - 148
what distance the
bees fly to collect - 153
Princess often not ready when
btes want to swarm — 84
when too numerous 89, 99
unimpregnated, will
be deserted - _ 90
Puffs for fuming described 2l6
Purchasing of bees, rules and
cautious for — — C6
Q.
Qucot described — - 1
to distinguish - 2
her fecundity - 3
royal brood - 3
cf iier laying eggs 58
dying in the summer 71
dying in winter - "2
;ire not alike fruitful 76
d;ficient in royal brood 78
to capture - - 235
infertile — 68
Queeitlcsi stock added to an-
ollier - - 237
R.
Removing of bees - 30
Rules, general - 104, 211
S.
Saltation of bees - 122
uot beoeScial for
MDgle liives - 123
Sea- n'ater, bees disregard pagt C9-
Season, very dry, why bad 78
what consequence 79"
wet and cold 69, 70, 139
Show-box, to make - 242
observations on 244
management of 246
Situation, poor, its consequence 69
good - 144, 145
Spring, when bad - 75
when good - 74"
Splects, proper ones — 94
statement of profit - 60
Stinging of bees - 12
remedies for - 15
Stock, that has swarmed • 70
• to recruit - - 70
. ^ddilional,when wanted 80
to supply with drones 81
~ to replenish with bees 70
weak, disadvantage of 75
reduced to a quart in
winter — - 123
Storifi/ing, the method of 56
does not prevent
swarrrtiug — 5g
its superiority to
other methods - 60
. other particulars
in which it excels - 62
indicitioDS for 63
the manner of 226
of a triplet 2£7
Szcurms, the nature of . 73
- ■ the advantage of a mild
spring - - 74
• the best time - 75
when the bees are re-
luctant - - 77
may rise in a cold spring 77
the number from a hive 78
why few or none . 75
why small, from single
hives - - 73
— — woods favourable for 7?
272
INDEX.
Swarms, wet seasons bjd /or p. 79
af.c-, to be leturoed • 79
disci'minaiing reasons
to judje by - - 80
a me'.'.iod o." doubling,
for CO tiijers - — 85
successor" bees depends
OJ ilie swarms - 86
s^L.ct walci.iiis neces-
sary — - 87
' mist.ikea notions ;<bout 88
signi of - 88
■ si jn of a prime swarm's
esc.ipe - - 89
l)0W,w':ih several pr'ii-
cesses ' - - 89
duplets to ii.ive bo.ii
doais open - 90
pi iacess DOi. ready lor 88, 91
a S'gn tli.il bees waut lo 9]
fiy -ttiin ,iie wiad 9'
to judge wiiicu is a
good swai m • 91
\n\■\^z of - ' 9i
. preparation of iiives "or 9*
. — tinkling necessary • 95
— oi' prime - 96
■ of divers princesses
Willi one - 98, 99
■ stiay - - 100
of c'usLer 13 diversely 100
_ an.ficial - - 114
_ . liie me'.iiod of uniiing
wilii tne stock - - 232
— or with eacii Oilier 234
wliat siLuatioDS pro-
duce most - "- 73
.Swarm;, single hives produce
too many - puge 78
early, wlien best 80
liie suddenness of 87, 93
• cause of liie los>ol° 87,88
sealing on a persoD 101
to decoy - - 100
nummary of monllily manage.
204
17*
173, 175
- 174
ment
T.
Thefts and Wars
signs of
to manage
Tinkling necessary in tlie
liiving of bees - 75
Tri/jieis, ouiliers of - 6T
wuen lo take 133, 140
to storify - S27
to deprive - 63, 227
U.
Uniting swarms will) the stock 234
weak slocks in aiitumn 23S
. of swarms ^nilli one
anollier - - 99. 234
with tlieirraolberslotk 232
W.
Wax, what drawn from
Watching indispensable
Wasps enemiss lo bees
Weight and measu.e of bees
Winter, bees lo be kept warm
in - •
Woods, good for early sw.am-
ing -
rror/fcrs dcscibed
• i'..eir biood
149
87
179
93
165
FINIS.
frinua ty KACDONALa *nil SO, 4!, C:«;h fair, I.»«J«.
^
yr.