©l|f i. B. Bill Slibrarg Nnrlb (Earoltna ^tuU (Cnllpgp SP525 K45 14S.263 This book may be kept out TWO WEEKS ONLY, and is subject to a fine of FIVE CENTS a day thereafter. It is due on the day indicated below: XLL fV-D ^^^pr^?! 50M — May-54 — Form 3 Digitized by the Internet Archive in 2009 with funding from NCSU Libraries http://www.archive.org/details/antientbeemasterOOkeys THE Antient Bee-Mafter's Farewell ^ OR, FULL AND PLAIN DIRECTIONS FOR THE Management of Bees to the greatejl Advantage ; PIS CLOSING • FURTHER IMPROVEMENTS OF THE HIVES, BOXES, AND OTHER INSTRUMENTS, TO FACILITATE THE OPERATIONS j Efpecially that of separating Double and Treble Hives or Boxes ^ with Certainty and Safety, zuithout injuring the Bees^ INTERSPERSED WITH NEW BUT IMPORTANT OBSERVATIONS: The whole fludioufly adapted to general ufe; with an appropriate method for the Curious. Alfo brief Remarks on Schirach, and other diftinguiihed Apiators on the Continent. BEPUCED FROM A SERIES OF EXPERIMENTS EURIN* THIRTY YEARS. ILLUSTRATED WITH PLATES. DUBLIN: PRINTED FOR P. BYRNE, P. WOGAN, J. MOORE, and j. rice. 1796. PREFACE. I MPROVEMENTS in the management of Bees, among farmers and cottagers, have been but little advanced, notwithftanding the ?nany ingenious contrivances which have been offered to pubHc notice ; probably from being too operofe and expenfroe for the people of that Jefpription, to whom, in common, the ma- nagement of bees is generally of trifling concern. Whether my prefent attempt will fucceed better, time muft decide. My utmofr exer- ti'ons have been dire6:ed to the remedy of the defe6t ; which, it is hoped, 1 have greatly advanced, if not perfe6led as far as our un- favourable climate will admit. Additional profits, in moft cafes, are una- voidably attended with fome increafe of ex- pence. But from the impartial ejilmate I have ftated (page 62), it will be afcertained, that the management there prcpofed far overbalances the extra expence, and therefore will merit 14S365 IV PREFACE. the adoption of Bee-keepers, and, perhaps? the patronage of- Agricultural Societies. By perfons of a higher clafs a trifle of additional expenditure will not be regarded, in comparifon of the convenience and fafcty with which jhQ operations may be eile6ted : to fay nothing of the gratification of philofo- phic curiofity, together with fiiperior profit. Near the clofe of the year 178a, I ventured to pubhdi a work of this kind, according to^ the beft of the knowledge and experience I had ih^n attrained.. Since that timc^ having" tm ffwmrUe purfmt^ md ^ic^^raged hy dfcs tbe ^va:le of life, ft]%j??it this tre^iifie^ m5 itfas -refuit of aii my refcarche«.; -drawii fwm a.' 3Biic!i iG33ger and more ailiiduous ^xj^rieiace, .and from a cooler judgment, ripened hy num- berlefs experiments, which have led me to new obfervations and improvements, and to differ alfo not more from myfelfth3.n from all OTHERS. Inflead of a fecond edition of my former publication, a neiv book became neceflary, as moft part of my prefent management is on a different plan ; and much tautology and fuperfluity of matter demanded curtailing, and a more judicious arrangement of the whole. PREFACE. V No article inculcated in thefe pages is advanced without its being warranted by my own experience, unbiaffed by any autliority, however otherwife refpev5i:able. Where I am flill dubious, it is fo exprelTed. Apiators may be affured that, to the beft of my knowledge, every information or hint that has been found of any real fervice in any Writer of Note, Foreign or Domeftic*, is comprifed in this volume. - As my prefent defjgn is wholly fir pra5li^ tioners^ the bulk and price is accommodated to the purpofe of becoming generally ufeful ; and confequently precludes the Natural Hif- to ry of Beesf, except in Tome fmali degree, as far as neceffary to their management. A few years fince, warm difputes arofe between different naturalifts and apiarian fo- cieties on the continent, relating to the genera^ tion of bees^ and the formation of artificial fwarjnsj in confequence of fome nezu and luondcrful principles advanced by a Mr. Schirach (fecretary of an apiarian fociety), in his treatife entitled '' Hifloire Nature lie de * Butler, Mew, Geddy, Purchafe, Wolridge, Raf- den, Warder, White, Thorley, Mills, Wiidmans, Debraw, and Broomwich. Foreigners ; Miraldy, Reaumur, Bonnet, Schirach, Needham, Norton, Sey- kers, and others of lefs note f S:^e a judicious book with that title, being a com- pilatio;"! fro:ii the French, pubii/hed bv Knapton 1 744. A 3 VI PREFACE. la Regne des Aheilles^'' ^c. tranllated into French by J. Blaffiere, Hague, printed 1771*. Counter-experiments were made by Need- ham, Rheim, ^rA othersf, with refults of an oppoiite natnre. It being incompatible with the defign of this work to enter into details, or a formal refutation of Schirach's do6lrine, I fhall only briefly declare, that at firft I was ftrongly prejudiced in its favour, and urged thereby to purfue a feries of experiments according to his diredlions, with the mofi: fcrupulous exa6l- nefs, and care, for eight years, but without a SINGLE RESULT in confiimatiou of hisfcheme. I diverfified the experiments, and alfo invented a more fuitable apparatus to perfornpi them, yet ftill met with the fame lamentable difap- pointment. Ya this purfuit many bees and many flocks were unavoidably ruined, befides an accumulation of vexation and trouble. But my anxiety to acquire fo defirable an end urged me beyond the bounds of prudence. I hope vanity will not be imputed to the declaration and inference, that if one of long experience in the handling of bees, and having every conveniency, could notj in fo many trials, * This book I had the honour of having prefented me by the late Ecrl of Marchmc-nt. f Bmffels Meinoires, vol. ii. 1780, prefented me by Thomas Dtiks, Efq. to whom I render rr.y thankful acknowledgments. PREFACE. Vll fucceed, it is more than probable that others, witli only common knowledge, and deftitute of a proper apparatus, will not be more hccefsful, and confequently that Schirach's method cannot prove of public utility. The moft likely means to eJiaUiJlj the bee ART, I believe, w^ill not be accompliflied without the PATRONAGE of Agricultural Socie- ties ; namely, the encouraging a proper perfon or perfons to exhibit in the bee feafon the moll approved nuthod through the chief market towns of the kingdom. The perfon muf!: be capable of explaining the procefTes, and have ■\vith him the neceffarv inftruments. I would alfo recommend this employment to anv ingenious young man, properly qualitied, and provided with the apparatus, as a pradlice that moft likely would turn to much advantage ; taking care not to introduce tricks and fancies, as fome have done, to the deJiruSiion of multi- tudes of bees, inftead ot exhibiting any real improvements. Or, if fuch perfons, refident in villages, would qualify themfelves, they might, even in their limited ftations, exercife the art to their own benefit and that of the neighbour- hood, by performing it at z.Jiaied rate. Rural Curates might confiderably augment their too frequently «/^^^r^/y ftipends, ■ by the cultivation of bees, and a(5l at the fame time Vll'l PREFACE. confonantly with their clerical profeflions, as it is an innocent amufement, botri healthy and profitable. Farmers and others who keep numerous flocks of bees cannot be fuppofed to attend fo minutely to every particular as thofe who have not many, and have more leiiure ; yet in this, as well as in all the other articles of hufbandry, the greater the care beftowed, the greater the return that ufually fol- lows. Beiides, moft 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 bufmefs. To avoid repetitions, the manner of per- forming the operations mufl be feverally learnt from the fecond party to the particulars of which the Index will direct. The firft part contains the principles ; the fecond the manual, or operative part. In generally, 1 have ufed the word hive In- difcriminately for hive or box, as applicable to either ; except when it is otherwife expreiTed, or is felf- evident. The writer fubmlts thefe pages to the can- dour of the learned, under a confcioufnefs of his own inabilities for the tafl^ ; but if it affords /.y^-^w/ improvements in the art, hehopesitmay be pleaded in excufe of his prefumption. JOHN KEYS. Bee -Hall i near Pembroke, 1796' EXPLANATION OF TERMS. Adapter, a Board to fet Glaires on. Apiary, the Place or Spot where Bees arekepti Apiator,- the Perfon who mtaiiages the Bees. of f'warms* Deprtvathn, tj^e S©paratk)fl, oiTakmg^f tfe^ Hives of Hojief , Divider^ the Brafs Plate ufed in feparstiog Hives. Diiplety the Hive fet over or under another. 7o Duplicate, the a(9; of performing this. Fume 'Box, the Box kept for the Purpofe of Fuming. Fumigation, 7 , ^ . r n r - P J the Operation or Itupetying. Hackel, or Coppet, Sec. the Straw Covering fet over a Hive to flielter it. Hive, or Skip, &c. That wherein the Bees dwell, and make their Combs, whether made of Straw or other Materials. X EXPLANATION OF TERMS. Nadir, the Hive which is fet under another. Non-fwarmery a Stock which has not fwarmed. Stock, a Hive of Bees th^t has flood, or is to ftand, the Winter. Storifylng^ the ranging Hives over or under each other. To Storify, to perform this. Super-hive^ to fet one Hive above another. Superior Hive, the uppermcft of a ilonfied %ct. Swarm, a great Body of Bees, which quit the Hive together, and fix in fome Tree, Bufh, tec. To Irehle or Triple, to add a third Hive to a Stock that had two before. Trehlf^y a Stock tliat has three Hives. Triplet^ ditto. To TriplUaU, the aft of triplifying. CONTENTS. PART L - CHAP, Page I. UFthe ^teen^ Drones and Workers i 11. Dtfcoveries — — 8 III. i:he Sting of Bees — — ■ 13 IV. Bee Drefs — — 20 V. ' Apiary — 23 VI. Purchafing of Bees — 27 VII. Straw Hives — — 33 VIII. Bde Boxes — — 43 IX. Bee Hmfe — — 52 X. Storifying — — SI XI. Nature of Sivarms — 75 XII. Hiving of ditto — — *6i xiir. Artificial Swarms — — ni XIV. To fe cure Wild Bees — ns XV. Salvation of Bees -^ *^90 XVI. Glaffes — — — *9+ XVII. Deprivation^ orTaking-up of Bees lOI XVIII. Pajiurage — — 112 XIX. Honey Dews^. — 124 XX. Difeafes of Bees — 127 xxr. Of Feeding — — 134 XXI. Thefts, xii CONTENT S. CHAl XXII. 3 , Thefts, IVars, l^c. — Page 141 XXlI] [. Enemies — — 146 XXIV. Extraaion of Wax, ^c. — 154 XXV. Ohfer^ations on Honey — XXVI. Making of Mead — XXVII. SummaTy of Monthly Manageme\ 162 169 ^M74 PART II. No. THE OPERATIONS. General Rules — Page 182 L II. III. Injlru?nent of Fumigation — The Materials for ditto — The Method of ditto — 184 187 191 IV. V. A Method for Cottagers — Another — — 193 194 VI. vir. VIII. The ufe of Dividers — To Storify — — Deprivation, or Separation — 195 198 199 IX. Re-union of Swarms with Stocks 204 X. XI. To captivate the ^^een — Out~Uers to recruit weak Stocks 207 209 XII. To unite a queenlefs Stock to another 210 XlII. To unite weak Stocks or Swarms in Autufun — — 211 XIV. XV. Driving — — Show Box for Amateurs — 212 2'5 XVI. Manageme'it of the Show Box 219 Foftfcript ^ — 223 THE Antlent Bee-Mafter's Farewell. PART I. CHAP. L OF THE QUEEN, DRONES, AND WORKERS, O N the Jingle female bee y flyled queek, depend the increafe, proiperity, and per- manency of a {lock. No fwarm canpof- fibly be eilabliflied, unlefs accompanied by a prince Is ; although the bees become ever ib numerous, or eager to fwarm. If by any mifchance the queen is killed, the bees, foon fenfible of her lofs, quit r';e hive to aflbciate with their next B D. H. HILL LIBRARY North Carolina State College 2 QUEEN. neighbours, transferring their treafure with them. The QUEEN (pi. I. fig. 6.) being then of fuch confequence, it is neceflary that the apiator fliould be able to dif- tinguiih her at fight. Obferve, there- fore, that fhe is longer and more ilender than the drones, or the workers ; her hinder parts tapering to a point : her belly and legs are alfo yellower ; and the upper part of her body much darker than theirs, neariy approaching to a glof- fy black. The part beyond the wings is divided into four joints, diftinguifh- ed into fo many rings ; whereas the workers have but three, and thofe of a lighter colour. The more full of eggs, the more yellow is her belly. Her v;ings reach only to the third ring, but tholfe of the .workers extend to the end of their bodies. Her appearance is tather clumfy, but her deportment grave, ftately, and calm. She is armed with a fling fhorter than thofe of her fubjeds. Its ufe is only to oppofe rival queens ; for otherwifc fhe will bear the roughed QUEEN. ^ handling, without attempting to wound. She is very rarely to be feen, even with boxes of three windows ; and, if by- chance flie is difcovered, inftantly retires from view. Her FECUNDITY is amazing ; for in the courfe of a year fhe ufually lays forty thoufand eggs, or more : fhe has been feen to lay forty im.mediately one after another. Her body at the height of the laying feafon contains fome thoufands of eggs. If empty cells are not prepared, fhe is obliged to drop them. She is five times longer in laying a royal egg than a common one. The eggs are little white bodies, fix- ed by their fmaller end to the bottom of the cell. The royal cells are conflrudt- ed on the edges or fides of the combs, (pi. II. fig. 4. k.) fometimes to the number of ten or twelve. Thefe cells, when about half finifhed, refemble the cup of an inverted acorn, c, and are lengthened in proportion to the grow^th of the maggot or nymph. They hang in a perpendicular manner with the open B 2 4' QiJEEN. end downwards, c. After the egg is dc^ pofited it remains in that ftate three days ; and then being hatched, appears as a maggot in the 111 ape of a half moon, ly- ing at the bottom of the cell, furround- ed with a clammy white fubftance, con- tinually fupplied by the vrorkers for its nutriment. In five or fix days it grows coniiderably larger, ceafes to take food, is then fealed up, b, with a waxen cap, and continues thus about twelve days, when the royal nymph burfhs open the cover, and ilTues forth a complete prin- cefs. Cold weather makes two or three days difference in the time of exclulion. The queen is impregnated about Au- guft, by virtue of which Ihe is enabled to breed in the ipring, till flie produces frefh drones. Simiiiar to the procefs" above, is that of the drones and zvorkers ; excepting that the eggs are hatched in the common cells, which ferve in a double capacity, either for honey or brood. The ceils for drones are generally the two middiemofh combs of the hive' j the cells are deeper. DRONES. 5 than thofe of 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 thofe large bees (pi. II. fig. 5.) which ufually appear before the rifmg of fwarms. They are the only males, and are larger than the workers ; of a clumfy fliape, and their extremity large, as are their eyes ; their trunk, or pro- bofcisi fhort and thin, and the body more hairy. They make a much loud- er and rougher noife than the workers ; and having no fling, nor inftrument to colledt honey, are fuftained by that of the hive. It feems clear to me, that the drones are of no other u(e but that of pro- pagation, I have, indeed, often found, that flocks will fwarm before any drones appeared ; yet, perhaps, fome were bred long before, reiiding in the warmefl: part ot the hive ; and which fads proved B3 DRONES. true ', for drone nymphs have been cail out in early fpring. Soon after honey- gathering ceafes, they become devoid of the fpermatic milky Hquor, and there- fore are difcarded/ The queen, con- taining fome thoufand eggs at a time in her body, demands a larger fupply of the prolific juice than a few drones are equal tofurnifli. This accounts for the large number of drones found in the hives, as being abfolutely neceffary. As loon as the queen finds no occafion for their fervice, they feparate from the workers to the fides of the outward combs. They are little noticed by the work- ers, and if killed at the f doors of the hives do not refent it. Thofe that happen to remain in the (locks till the cold weather arrives, foon periih by it. As their agency in generation, or, in- deed, their utility at all, is ftill difputed, it is -.vorth notice, they are endowed with a large quantity of whitiQi liquor infum- mer, which the workers are fond of lick- ing, when a drone is fqueezed. The WORKERS. 7 many thoufand tiiries I have obferved drones in the combs, I never beheld one with its tail in a cell. WORKERS. The common bees, or workers, (pi. II. fig. 7.) live about a year, but are very liable to premature death, by hard la- bour, high winds, birds, and many other accidents. They are of neither fex, but abfoliitely neuters. The young bees are diflinguilhable from the old, by being of a lighter brown. They are not all of one fize, a few being ihorter than the others, by being hatched in Ihorter cells ; but the dimenlions of a cell cannot alter the fexual parts, only as to Jize, and not the male organs into female. Their labour feems to be indif criminate : they build the combs, nurfe and fuflain the young, colledl honey, and defend the hive againfl: all invaders. For cleanli- nefs they are remarkable ; have a quick and extenfive fmell, either for honey or honey-dew ; but are not difgufted with B4 S EJISCOVERIES. many odours ofTenfive to us, as paint, tar, urine, &c. partaking Ibmetimes of fuch fubftances as are pernicious to them. Forcfeeing impending ftorms, they make a precipitate retreat in great multitudes. When jirji placed in a hive they work night and day, taking repoie by turns, and Heeping ia clufters. They can rea- dily diflinguiib the bees of their own hive from all other ; and highly refent the killing, or even didurbing, any bees of the fame apiary, with vengeance at- tacking the aggreilbr. As probably the following novel and curious difcoveries may be pleaiing to naturallfls, their infertion will not offend practitioners. CHAP. II, DISCOVERIES. Unexpectedly ijaw a queen on a comb, near the window of a double box 3 the next day I was favoured with DISCOVERIES. g a like view ; (he remained each day about an hour ; the bees very reipedt- fully making a free pafTage for her as fhe approached. About a dozen of them tenderly licked and bruihed her all over^ while others attended to feed her. During this interview I perceived fe- veral eggs drop from her^ which the work- ers took no notice of. The box in which fhe then appeared was a fiiper one ; the " under one had only three bars, and four apertures. The fuper-box feemed quite full of honey and brood. The queen tarrying and not choofmg to defcend, be- ing obilruCled by the middle bar, pro- bably was the occafion of this reludh- ance j as alfo that of the bees from work- ing in the empty nadir box. From fe- veral fimilar difappointments I furmiled, that the fcantinefs -of the opening for communication was the fole caufe. In- ftead of three bars, from that time my boxes v/ere altered tojix, which fucceeded to my utmoft wifli. Another time I (aw the workers very bufy ill demobfhing a royal cell^, B5 10 • DISCOVIRIES. clofe to the window of a box. It had been fealed up fome days : but continu- ing fo beyond the ufual period of exclu- fion, I fufpeded fome mifchance, and] therefore was very intent to obfeiTe the^ refult. At five o'clock one morning, thej workers were very deeply engaged in; opening the fide of the cell: in about two hours they had made a chafm large enough to fee the nymph, and Vv'hich they were endeavouring to pull out, but in vain. They then proceeded to a fur- ther enlargement ; when the queen, with hafty fteps, and anxious looks, as if an- gry at the delay, began herfelf "the ar- duous talk, the workers remaining . qui- et fpeftators. The queen made ieveral violent tugs to difengage it, but her ef- forts proved fruitlefs. She then retired, not v/ithout an appearance of diiplea- fure. The workers then renewed their at- tempts, about a dozen at a time, and at intervals ceafed to enlarge, while they tried to pull the nymph out, but were ftill difappointcd ^ for on pulling the DISCOVERIES^ II nymph upwards fhe was^ preffed more in- to the convexity of the top. ' Four hours were thus employed ; when the queen returned, with hke demeanour as before, and proceeded with redoubled efforts to extricate the nymph ^ but flill, unfortu- nately, with no better fuccefs, and final- ly relinquifhed the toil with great con- cern. However, the labourers re fumed the tafk of enlargement from top to bot- tom, which was not effeded till near twelve o'clock ; a bufmeis of feven hours to draw the nymph out. It was full grown, but — dead ! The feafon having been bad, the wax which compofed the cell was coarfe, and much thicker than ufual, fo as to render it impofiible that the young lady fhouid extricate herieif in due time. During the time of the above obfer- vation, I beheld, in fome other boxes, royal nymphs burfbng open the lower end of their cells, and inftantly ilTuing without affiflance. After many elTays by various means, I never could procure a complete view of tZ BISCOVERIES. an intercourfe between a queen afuiadrone; but had feveral times beenwitnefs to thofe amorous preludes recorded by Reaumur, By confining a queen and a drone under a glafs tumbler, after ibme little time the queen began to carefs the drone, fre- quently repeating fuch wanton geflures as would Simulate a torpedo, or any other male but a drone ! Reaumur s relation of this myfterious afHiir fbates the refult of the royal em- brace to be the death of the drone. The drones knowing, perhaps, this to be the coniequence ^Nhtn fnigiy employed, may be the caufe of their extreme reludance. This, together with the violence ufed during their captivity, and the coldn^s of their fituation compared to the w'armth of the hive, lecms to account for the non-performance of that which natural- ifhs arc fo defirous of difcovering. I have ieveral tim.cs placed two queens, taken from feparate hives, under a turn • bler-giafs, and immediately a royal duel ^niiicd, terminating in the death of both, STINGING. 13 CHAP. III. « OF THE bee's STING,- X HE flinging of bees is. often not on- ly painful, but has fometimes proved fatal to man and bead. Having fre- quently fuifered under the /mart, it has taught me an experimental treatment of the wound. Bees at a difhance from their hives, and while- purfuing their labours, are harmlefs and peaceable ; but if difturb- ed near their habitation, by hammerings buftling, or any other great noife, or by (landing before their hives when very buiv, thele intrufions will urge them to refentment. On thefe occafions the fcice is their chief aim, particularly the eyes. In fuch cafes, cover the face v/ith the hands fpread, and make a fpeedy retreat ; they will not at that time filing the hands. During their adlive feafon, gardeners fliould do their req^uifite bulinefs near 14 STINGING. them early in the morning, or in the eve- ning when the bees are retired to reft. High winds very much difconcert and hinder their labours, and make them ve- ry irritable, and prone to afTauIt any per- fon that comes near their dwelling ; and more fo, if it is at the time of their be- ing anxious to fwarm, and if they are by Tome means delayed therefrom. To fome perfons they have a natural averfion, however unoiiending, or how- ever they may change their drefs, or though at twenty or thirty yards diftance. A fingle bee will fometimes fly into a room, and fettle upon the hands, face, or neck ; but they have no hoftile in- tent, and will prefently fly off again without wounding ; provided no part of the apparel prefTes upon them. They may gently be ftmck off, and they will fly out of the window. The venom of their flings is much ftronger in fummer than in winter. When a bee gets entangled in the hair, the alarm is great, but danger none, if the patient is entirely pafHve, till another STINGING. 15 perfon fearches for it, and, when found, cruihes it between his linger and thumb. When bees have been a Utile dijlurbedy numbers will fly about a perfon near them, and with angry found (well known toapiators) warn them to depart, or they will fting. Retreat in hafte, covering the face with the hands, till the head can be protedied among the bufhes, or in fome dark apartment ; and there re- ♦ main, till the violence of their fury is abated. It is very wrong, when a perfon is befet wdth bees, to flrike, or buffet them ; for this is of no ufe, but will make them ten times more furious, and provoke multitudes to aflifh in the fray. Patience, and a fpeedy retreat, and fprink- ling water over them that remain, are the expedients to get rid of them, which in about half an hour v/ill be effeded : but if any remain on the clothes, tliey may be brufhed off; except thofe on the face and hands, for that will make them immediately fting. Let them alone, they will quit of themfelves, when the reft are departed. If many continue to l6 STINGING. fly about, let water be thrown among them, or blow them forth with a bellows, which they will fufFer without refent- ment. The fmoke of damp draw, or rags, will drive them away foon. But the highefh degree of their rage is provoked by the moving y /Iiaking, or tiifn- bling down of their hives ; for then the whole army will rife in a mafs, and fall upon the aggrefTor, be it man or beafl, hog or dog, to the imminent danger of the creature's life. Immerfion in water is the quickeft method to get rid of them, if any ponds, &c. are near. But if that cannot be conveniently done ; taking re- fuge in a dark room, or out-houfe, and ufing the other means above direfted, will be mod likely to fucceed, till medi- cal help can be procured. REMEDIES. Numberless have been the remedies propofed, and tried, without being ge- nerally benehciai. Thofe which have proved falutary to fome, were the reverfe to others ; conftilutions and the fluids, being infinitely various. STINGING. 17 Some are affected only in a fmall de- gree by a fmgle fling j while others (though few) hardly -at all, though by many. Again, many that are delicate and tender luffei* leverely, though ilung but ili2;htlv : thofe alio who are of an irritable condrtution like that of the bees, fulfer to a hioh desree. o o In a curative point of view, it is of the firft importance that a remedy be at hand, lb that it may be applied immedi^ ately , before the fubtilty of the venom gets into the circulation. After that hap- pens, the medicine can have but a partial or weak effed. I have generally expe- rienced my own faliva (fpittle) to be more beneficial^han more pompous che- micals or galenicals (I fuppofe, chiefly, from its being always ready) ; rubbing it on the wound, tranfverfely from the di- redion of the veins, and not up and down ; for that forces the venom more into the circulation. A fecond remedy from which great be- nefit has been found, is, Extract of fa- l8 STIKGING. turn, half an ounce ; volatile alkaline fpirit, half an ounce -, two drachms lin- feed oil ; Ihake the extrad and the fpirit well together, and then the oil ; it muft be rubbed on the wound well, and con- ftantly, as long as any pain is felt. It is dangerous if taken internally. The lliird is dulcified fpirit of fal am- moniac ', adding one third of water, both being well fhaken together. This has been found more generally efficacious than the preceding. It will not always prevent fome degree of fweiling, but foon affuages pain. It is of a harmlefs quality, and I have often ufed it about the eyes, without prejudice. To fome, dulcified fpirit of nitre has proved of prefent relief. Any of the articles may be had of the chemifts, or apothecaries, at a cheap rate. On great emergencies, if, unfortunate- ly, none of thefe medicines are at hand, common linfeed oil (hould be rubbed on the part ftung : or in want of that, neat's foot oil, frefli butter, or hog's lard fhould STINGING. 19 be applied without delay, or the cure will be retarded^ with an increafe of danger, if the flings have been numerous. In the mean time, tea made of balm, elder flowers, or lime tree flowers, or wa- ter gruel with a little falt-petre diflfolved therein, fliould be prepared 3 of which the patient fbould drink plentifully, and often ; refraining from all folid food, par- ticularly that which is falted, or dried ; as alfo from acrid, acid, or fpicy articles. If a fever Ihould intervene, James's pow- ders give admirable relief. But if there is imminent danger, medical afliftance fliould be called in. Where the fymp- toms are favourable, the tumours will gradually fubfide in a few days, without further applications. The like cooling treatment is alfo to be ufed for horjes^ cattle^ &c. by enlarging the quantities, by maflies, and by keep- ing them moderately warm in the ftable. From the foregoing obfervations, per- fons may jufl:ly conclude, that thole to whom the fl:ings of bees are very afflidl- ive, fliould not, in common prudence. 20 BEE DRESS. attempt the office of an apiator, nor ap- proach bees, deftitute of a proper drefs. Nor is it advifable to employ fervarits about bees, that have a diflike to the bu- finefs ; for, otherwife, it is a great chance but they neglect, or injudicioufly and perhaps fpitefully treat them. CHAP. IV. THE BEE DRESS I S to be made of thin houlting cloth^ which may be bought at about fixpence a-yard. It^t to be fewed to the brim of an old hat, when reduced to two inches and a half 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, doje round the neck, under the chin. But as the nofe, chin, and neck, would be hable to \^f^ filing through the meflies, therefore, to fecure thofe parts, Ibmc oiled linen BEE DRESS. 21 muft be ftitched oppofite the face and neck, within fide, leaving two inches and a half free^ oppofite the eyes. Or, a kind of hood of the like cloth may be made of fuch a breadth, that from the bottom of the cro%vn of any hat in ufe, it may hang a foot below the rim. It is to be gathered up to a ferret binding, to let the crown through, and encircle it clofe round. The portion which hangs down, is to tie round the neck, as before mentioned. Something for the mouth to grafp will be proper in both cafes, to keep the mefli at a requi- fite diftance. This laft hood is calcula- ted to carry in the pocket. The oiled linen is prepared by foaking linen in linfeed oil, and then fqueezing the fuperfiuous oil out, and dr}dng it in the air : this procefs will take two or three weeks. The procefs is then to be a fe- cond time repeated. Gloves made of it, though thin, will be impenetrable to the fling of the bees : indeed they will not attempt it. Garments made of it will cfFedually refift wet. The oil may be 22 BEE DRESS. previoufly coloured by the ufual pig- ments, for green, blue, yellow, &c. Be fides the hood, a thick pair of tan- ned leather gloves will be necelfary, or other leather oiled only once : a portion of old ftockings is to be fewed to the ex- tremities to draw tight over the cuffs of the coat. The legs muft be defended by a thick pair of yarn flockings, drawn over thofe in common wear. The great- eft care muft be ufed in putting on the hood, that no hollows or chafms be left under the chin, or about the neck ; and for better fecurity, it will be proper to tie a handkerchief over the gathering round the neck, befide that of the tape. An apron before will be ufeful to prevent thefe prying infedts from tickling the belly. Thus apparelled^ defiance may be gi- ven to millions of bees, or wafps, and iill the operations may be executed without dread or danger. Or if, by accident, hives are thrown down by cattle, hogs, &c. and the bees enraged ; having this drefs on, the creatures may be aflifted and the hives replaced. APIARt. ^3 Women fliould not meddle with bees, without this bee-drefs ; nor then, with- out the addition of a man's coat, and I had almoft faid breeches alfo. CHAP. V. ON THE APIARY. - A HE propereft fituation for an api- ary is one expoled to the wind as Httle as pofTible ; it being detrimental, and pro- ving often fatal to numbers of bees, by blowing them down, or into the water, or overturning the hives. Trees, high hedges, or fences, on the back and wefl- ern fide of the hives, will be necefTary, to fcreen them from the violence of its force. But they fliould have a free ope- ning in their front to the foiithy or rather fouth-eaft afped. A valley is preferable to high grounds to favour their increale. The hives fliould be weliy^'^wr^^ again ft hogs, or other creatures, which might ^4 APIARY. difplace the flocks, or otherwife diflurb the bees, and injure themfelves. Let the hives be fet as near the dweiHng-houfe as conveniently can be, or to rooms the moil occupied, for the readier difcovery of rifing fwarms, or to be apprized of ac- cidents. Befides, the bees habituated to the fight of the family, will become lefs ferocious, and more tra(5lable ; while the buildings will afford a protection from the wind and cold. The hives mufl be clear of the dripping of trees, nor fhould long grafs, weeds, or dunghills be fuffered near them, as harbouring myriads of in- fedls and vermin, that will prey upon the bees and their produURCHAS1K(5. 3T a cloth. If they are found to quarrel when afcended, they muft be fumed as direcfted hereafter. Removing of Stocks Hiould be in the evening, or very early in the morning. The hive fliould be raifed by three or four wedges, fome hours before, provided the floor is Hol moveable ; otherwife many bees will remain on the floor at tl^e time^ and be very troublefome, A cloth muft be laid on tlie ground behind the hive to be removed j nimbly lift the hive thereon, and, gathering the ' four corners tight, tic them faft on the top : immediately draw a ftring clofc round the body of the hive, to prevent any bees crawling between. If they are to be carried a confiderable dillance, they may be refted on the ground, as occafion may require. Hand bairows, or yokes, with a hive fufpended at each end, or a long pole on men's fhoulders, and a hive or two between, may be advantageoufly ufed for their conveyance. 32 PI^RCHASING* But when it is for feveral miles, a coach, or cart with plenty of ftraw at the bot- tom, to break the (hocks of the carriage, and then proceeding with the floweft pace, and taking the cool of the morning, will prove a fafe and convenient removal. If any of the combs fl:iould, however, be broken, and fallen on the cloth, when the hive is taken off, kt them remain thereon, and fct the hive in the place or Hand defigned for it -, and gently fpread- ing the cloth with the bees on it on the top, by the morning they will have quit- ted, and entered by the door of the hive* A flock fhould not be fet c/ofe to the bee-houfe front, the firft night of its be- ing brought home, that the llraggling bees may find their way into the hive by the door, and then no bees will be crufh- ed. Straw-hives, being of a circular form, leave a confiderable vacancy between the hive doors and front, which next night mufl be flopped, by thaifling part of a hay band, or clay, or fliff cow-dung, to fill the chafms, but leaving the door- way free. STRAW HIVES. ^2 Ptirchafed fivarms in fpring, on bring- ing home, are to be immediately fet on empty hives y and thus, by being doub- led at/r/?, will fave that trouble after- wards. C HAP. VII. ON THE FORMATION OF STRAW HIVES. i^TRAW is the beft material for hives, as beft protedting the bees in the extremes of cold and heat, and alio generally eafi- eft to be procured. Where it is not fo, ruflies, wicker-work plaflered over, or fedses, mud be fubfticuted. Of flraw, unthrajhed rye is preferable, as thrafhing Olivers the fhraw, and makes it rough and fliaggy, which the bees with much labour are obliged to gnaw off. My hive -maker laid the fbaw in a chaff box, and fo readily cut off the ears. The PLAN I propofe is, three hives to each flock. The iize I have found moft convenient is that of half a bufhei ; C3 34 STRAW HIVES, larger are very inconvenient to manage ; while thefe, by Jlorifying, give ample room for all that the bees can want, at the fame time admitting triplets to be taken off the fooner. They are to be nine inches high, and tzve/ve wide, in the clear, on the infide, i. e. exclufiveof the top, (pi. 2, fig. 3.) The l^ody is to have no ftraw top Jixed, or worked to it, as in common, but is to be a feparate piece. The body of the hive, therefore, refembles a broad hoop; and, like that, mull be perpendicular, or ftraight down ; and not one part/9:e;^/A in^, or being wider than ^ another. The flraw cover is to be made quite fat, like a round mat, but wide enough to extend an inch beyond the edge of the liive. There needs only one cover to three hives. The greateft proof of the maker's fkill will confift in his exadly fol- lowing the prefcribed dlmenfions, and in the evennefs of his work ; particularly in both edges, that they, may admit one hive being let on another, without any chafms, and that promifcuoufiy, or hab nab. STRA\V HIVES. 3^ In one of the edges a diftance of full three inches is to be left free of binding, for a door-zvay. But a more proper one may be formed by a fmall piece of wood, four or five inches long, in which a'door- way is to be cut, of three inches long, and thre£'eighths of an inch in height, and worked into the round flraw. Or, what will be ftill better, is to take a rod of willow, or hazel, while green, and bend it Xo a circle of a pi'oper fize for tlie hive. When it is wanted, reduce it fo as to have two fiat and even.fides ; cut a proper door way out, and burn holes at due diftances to receive the brier binding, by which the firft round of flraw is to be faflened to it. If the binding is carried wholly round the hoop, the binding will ^oon be rotted by the wet, and prove of little more fervice than if there had been none ; but otherwife it will preferve the hive much longer, and be more conve- nient in many refpecfls. As foon as hives are made, they ihould be fet feparate on level boards, or the hke, and another on the top, and heavy ftones 36 STRAW HIVES. laid on them ; but firfl a perfon fliould jump upon the boards to reduce the ed- ges to a proper evennefs. This pracftice inufl not be neglected. Befides the flat ftraw cover, all the hives mud have wooden tops, (pi. i, fig. 6.) -to make which, procure a board of the width of the hive, and half an iiTcli thick, free from knobs. Seven fpa- ccs, or openings are to be cut, b, b, b, b, b, b, b ; each exa6lly half an inch wide ; the length of the three innermofl, eleven inches ; the two next, nine ; and the two outermoft, Jix inches. The carpenter inuft be attentive not to deviate from thefe directions in the fmaileft degree, as a trifling neglect will render the whole In cafe boards of a proper width are not to be had, one ten inches wide may be fjbflituted, braiding circular pieces on the fides after the top is cut out, to fill up the deficiency. Round the edges a hoop of tin, or flight ozier, mufi be tacked to ftrengthen it, and prevent its iplitting. A long braid or peg fhouid STRAW HIVES. ^7 pafs through the fore and hind parts, and enter the edge of the hive, to keep the top from being difplaced ; taking care that the heads of the braids are driven rather Mozu the fuiface of the wood. A CHEAPER TOP may be made of narrow flips of wood, which I name bars, Jix in number (pL i, fig. 3. a, a, a, a, a, a) ; defigned to be laid acrofs the top of the hive, at half an inch diftance from each other ; the two outermoft bars to be one inch and a quarter wide, and the others one inch and a half. Two flips of woolI, b, b> an inch wide, are to be braided acrofs the bars within fide (or rather let in, to be flufh on both fides) near the ends, to faften them together, and to keep them at their due diftance. The crofs pieces will thus be below the edge of the hive, while the ends reft on it. But fmce the breadth of this frame of bars will not be quite that of the hive, the deficiency muft be fupplied by two fmall circular pieces braided on the edge of the hive, leaving two half-inch open- ings between, them and the bai's. As 38 STRAW HIVES. the ends of the bars, when laid on the hive, will leave vacancies between, thefe muft be flopped by cow-dung of a due temper, which, when dry, will be fuffi- ciently tenacious. Take care that the whole top be even and fmooth. It fhould be laid on always in the diredion q{ front and back. The draw covers are to be fattened on by loops of cord, or rather leathern thongs, palled within, at about two in- ches below the top of the hive. They are to be four in number, placed at equal diftances, and a cord to each pair, to draw them tight over the top. The HIVE FLOORS fhould be one inch thick, of yellow deal planed on one fide only, truly level, and of fixteen inches diameter. Where boards of that width are not eafily to be procured, an addition- al piece muft be rabbeted and dozveled to it. Two crofs pieces are to be nailed un- derneath, to ftrengthen and prevent its warping ; or rather they fhould be nailed upon the ends. Three of the corners may be cut off, leaving the fourth for a STRAW HIVES. 39 place to alight on. One floor only is re- quifite to every three hives ; but two or \\\x\ztfpare ones will be convenient on ma- ny occalions. Cottagers may contrive tops ixom thofe cuttings of trees which are ftraight, of an equal thicknefs, and of a length as above defcribed. Thele, while green, may be eafily cut flat, with a knife, of a proper meafure, by firil laying them over the top of the hive, at the diflance of half an inch from each other ; they may then be marked, and cut to their juft length. Two pieces are to be braid- ed under their ends, fo as not to prevent the crofs pieces from fmking into the in- fide ; and to hold the bars fteady, with- out fliding backward or forward. The vacancies between the bars on the edge of the hive are to be filled up with cow- dung, which, when dry, will be fuffici- ently tenacious. Care (hould be taken to make every part of the top fmooth and leveT ; which if not fo, reduce it by laying heavy weights thereon. 40 STRAW HIVES. Hive-makers in fome places have affedl- ed confiderable difficulty in making hives of thtform I have prefcribed, but with- out juft grounds : the perfon employed by me, after a httle pradice, could make them as expeditioufly and eafy as thofe of the common fort. His method was to make a common hive, the circumference of whofe bottom was exa6tly to the dimenlions I defired ; on the edge of this he worked a round and a half of flraw, bound on with a €ordy and then continued to proceed with brier binding, having by him a ftraight fbck, of the due width, as a gauge, and to keep the work truly perpendicular, or upright. If the hoop I before mention- ed is provided for the bottom edges of hives^~th€ work might be begun and car- ried on from that. When he had got about half the in- tended width, he finilhed the round even. Then loofmg the cord from the part he began at, that part was taken off and in- verted, and the round left loofe by the cord was re-bound by brier : and thus he STRAW HIVES. 4t proceeded till he completed it. It is to be noticed, that the part firft begun at was in the middle when finifhed, Apiators who underftand what I have written on this head, fhould offer a good price to thofe who are relu^lant in making thefe hives, and fhould ftand by while the workman endeavours to make one j nnd by giving occafional directions it may be eafily effed^d, and they may be in- troduced over the kingdom. It will be a good method to plafter one fide of the ftraw top with cow-dung, even and level, which will prove more eligibk in introducing the Aiders. Hackels or CoppETS are made of wheaten ftraw. The method is this : Take a fheaf, bind it with a cord ten or twelve inches below the ears : with the left hand gripe a fmall parcel or locket (about 60 ftraws) of the part above the cord, and with the other hand a like locket ; and giving it a twift round the firft locket, bring it down clofe to the cord, pulHng the other locket ftraight down. Take a third locket and twift 42 STRAW HIVES. over the preceding j and thus continne to twift and turn down until the whole is finifhed, 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 fiat as can be, run a fhort forked ftick through the knot, to prevent its ftarting. The hackel may be made in about twenty mi- nutes. This form is the beft fuited to the pur- pofe of any that I have k^n > they fit clofe to the top of the hives, keeping -them warmer and drier, which is of great advantage in winter and fpring. Neither are they fo liable to be blown off. The part before the doors fhould be clipped fo as to admit the fun's rays. For fear of ftorms, a hoop may be thrown over them, and faftened by two ftrong flicks with crooks at their ends, and thruft in- to the ground on each fide. This will be a good fecurity at all times. Placing the hives at the diflance be- fore ftated, will preferve the bees from quarrelling, or emigrating from one hive to another. BEE BOXES- 43 Opulent perfons^ to whom the appear- ance of ftraw hives may feem inelegant, mio;ht have them concealed from view by fuch fhrubs as are of fervice to beesy plant- ed at fuch a diftance as not to intercept the funlhine to the front of the hives. Or, handfome covers, fomething in the Ihape of hackels, terminating in a point at top, and painted, would have a pkafing appearance. Or, a scRERN inperfpeftive, of rocks or ruins, &c. with proper openings for the bees to ifTue from behind, on floors properly difpofed, on which they fhould be placed as in a bee-houfe. N. B. ^y Jirazv covers are not meant TOPS, which are of wood, with bars* Nor are hackels meant by the term tops. CHAP. VIII. ON BEE BOXES. JDEE boxes are bed made of feafoned yellow deal, free fr-Om knots, and one inch thick. The boxes are to be ten 44 *EE BOXES. inches high, and nvelve fquare ; clear in the in fide (pi. i, fig. 2.) One of the fides is to have a pane of glajs^ d^ of the whole width, and fix inches in height* with a Ihutter half an inch thick, to be let into a bevel at top, and reft on a ledge at bottom, and to faften with a button, a\ this is to be efteemed the back. There mufl be a door -way in the bottom edge of the front, four inches long, and five-eighths in height, exclufive of the threjlwldy 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 flip of wood is to be fitted for a door, to turn outward to the left, on a pivot orpin, and to fhut in a bevel, with a fmall notch, that it may be opened by the point of a fork. It muft fhut fo far in as to be flufh with the fide of the box. The TOP'*(pl. I, fig. 2.) is to be com- pofed of j/?;if flips of wood, which I name BARS, a, a, a, a, a, a, three quarters of an inch thick ^ the two outermoft, one inch and a quaiter broad ; the other /c?wr, one and a half. The ends of the Jecond BEE BOXES. 45 ^lAffth bars are to be let into the front and back edges of the box, and flufh with the outfide ; the remaining four bars are to be of a due length, to pafs eafily with- infide from front to back. Two fillets, each an inch broad, are to be braided to the bars, or rather let in tranfverfely, of the diameter of the box, and near their ends, not only to keep the bars at half an inch exa<5l diilance from each other, and from the fides of the box, but to conned: the whole like a frame together, and to take in or outy with the combs fixed to them, at pleafure. The bars (lil, 3d, 4th, and 6th) ferve alfo to prevent the frame from Hipping from its fituation. The top, thus made, will have ftx bars, and Jeven apertures, or openings, like the ftraw hives. There is to be but one close cover, or lid of wood, three quarters of an inch thick, to three boxes ; which is to take off and on by means of four fcrews, one at each corner. Loose floors are to be provided with the boxes, to be planed on one lide. 46 BEE BOXES. and filleted at the ends to prevent waip* ing, and c£ an inch more in their dimen- fions than the tops of the boxes. If a board broad'enou2;h cannot be had, a lefTer mufi; be added, rabbeted and dowel- f^ thereto. One floor only is necelTary for a fuit (three) of boxes, but two or three fpare ones will often be wanted. OBSERVATIONS. A minute exadlnefs is abfolutely ne- cefTary in working the boxes ; for though the unexperienced may imagine the de- viation of a quarter or eighth of an inch from what has been dire(51:ed will be of no confequence, neverthelefs fuch miflake or negligence in any part would render the apparatus unfit for the ufe it was in- tended for. Firfh obferv-e, that the edges of the boxes, both top and bottom, are to be truly level, that when indifcriminately fet one over or under another, no chafms or vacancies are left between them. Secondly, that the frame of bars be made to take out with eafe. BEH BOXES. 47 Thirdly, that the Tcrews for the covers (hould be flight but long, to pafs in at the fides, exadly one inch and a half, from front and back, fo that any cover may fcrew on any box, without making frefh holes. They fhould always be greaf- ed before they are put in, or they will be- come rufty, and not to be drawn out wdtjiout great difturbance to the bees, and much inconveniency. Fourthly, great <:are muft be taken that no fnags or fplints of wood, heads, or points of nails, rife in the leaft degree above the furface, as a brafs plate is de- figned to flide over the tops. A neceflary appendage, as well to the hives as boxes, are two brass plates, of ont Jixteenth of an inch thick as near as polTible, fifteen inches wide, and fif- teen and a half long, which half inch is to be turned upright to pull it out by. They muft be fet on a true level. If they are thicker^ the bees will efcape on their introduction : and if thinner, they will not be ftrong enough to retain their 48 BEE BOXES. necefTary elaflicity and level, but will bulge in the middle, and let the bees out. The braziers or ironmongers will fup- ply them, I gave in London fixteen pence per pound, and they came to eight (hillings. But as in many counties large brafs pans or kettles are ufed, and, when unfit for boiling ufe, are fold as old brafs ; the bottoms of fuch of thefe as are of the proper dimenfions, and not having holes of a fize for a bee to pafs, wall do better than new, as being tougher; and any fmith will reduce them to a level, and turn up one edge. They may be bought at the price of old brafs, i. e. about iix- pence per pound, h pair come only to four fliillings. I had an iron plate made which came to near as much as the brafs, but did not keep its level fo well, and was more un- handy. Steel, being elaflic, would re^ tain the level much better, but I fuppofc would be dearer, and liable to rufl ; which brafs is not, and will at all times fetch a large Ihare of its firft coft* BEE BOXES. 49 Eight or nine (liillings by fome may be thought too expenfive ; but the great utility and conveniency of the plates, I am warranted to fay, will much over- balance that increafe of price. Every apiator muft be feelingly convinced of the difficulty and embarrafTment of fepara^ ting hives of bees, and in the other ope- rations, by any of the methods made public. Indeed, by them the bees of under hives are prevented from aflaulting the operator; j^et thofe of the upper ones are left entirely free to execute their whole revenge. By theufe of the two plates, or divi- ders, and by doors to fl:iut, this great danger and inconvenience is entirely avoided, as the bees of both hives are EQUALLY inclofed, and prevented from infulting the apiator. Befides, if only one is bought, it is adequate in advantage with any other contrivance, and will fuit hives as well as boxes. Moreover, the plates are not perifha- ble articles, but with care may lad for D ^O BEE BOXES. generations ; and it myft be remembered that the charge lies on the whole apiary, and that only for once. Cottagers, whom I wifh to benefit, or others, may club in the purchafe, by which the cod will be but flightly felt. Or perhaps country ihopkeepers would find it their interefl to be furniflied with fuits of plates to let out. I have propofed a large window to a boX;, as I found a fmall one of little ufe, and -aifording but little entertainment. Thofe who would choofe a more enlarged view of the bees in boxes, may have large windows in the three fides. " Doors to the hives, and boxes will be found of great advantage on many occa- lions, particularly in pafiing the dividers under hives, to prevent the egrefs of the bees if the door-ways are flopped, and on various other occafions. Boxes of bees placed in the w^indow of a room much incommode the company w^ienevcr tlie window is opened. The Jtde of the room fuits better : a proper open'ng to be made in the v/ali, and a B£E BOXES, 51 fmall tin trough adapted to pals through to the door-way of the box. On the in* fide a flielf is to be fixed, that the box may fland fo clofe as to leave no admifTion for the bees into the room, and be fo fe- cured as not to be difplaced by any care- leflhefs or inadvertency. Apiators who have boxes, but whofe openings are on a different plan to that now offered, may, at a httle expence, have them altered thereto, provided the dimenfions of the boxes do not exceed that of the dividers. The fuperfiuous vacancy may, however, be filled up with folid wood, or new tops may be made with the bars and apertures, as I have defcribed, though the box itfelf be much larger. For fliould the dividers be en- larged, the hands will not extend fuf!i- ciently underneath to keep them clofe, or ileadily to fupport the great weight : therefore the apertures and bars muii: not be longer than thofe of -my plan, com- mencing from the back. Octagon boxes may have a fedion of the back taken off, and a largv^ window funply its p^ace, D 2 5^ BEE HOUSE. The timber of the boxes is direfled to be one inch thick, for one quarter of an inch thinner will render them not warm enough. The floors of the hives and boxes be- ing moveable^ will be of very great utility and advantage in all the operations, and muft be fo evident to every refledling api- ator, as to need no flirther recommen- dation. CHAP. IX. OF A BEE HOUSE FOR THREE STOCKS. XT is to be formed as in pi. i, fig. i, and fix feet long, exclufive of the pofts. Four polls of three inches fquare. Two long rails to nail the floor upon, and two flight ones to nail the roof to. A floor, feventeen inches in breadth, to be laid acrofs the rails. A roof, four boards. Tvv' o fold ine doors. BEE HOUSE. 53 The poils are to be fixed to the due length, and feventeen inches in breadth to their outfide. They are to be lecured in the ground at a proper depth, and five feet above the earth, and fet truly perpendicular. The tops to be bevelled one inch and a half. The two Jirong rails of an inch thick- nefs are to be let into the pofts on the- outfide, and ftrongly nailed, one in front, the other behind : to thefe the floor is to be faflened, crofs-wife, per- fectly leveL T\it Jlight rails are to be let into the tops of the pofts clofe to the ends of the bevel, to nail the roof upon. On the bevel of the pofts are to be fixed two hoards^ each fix inches wide, to extend beyond them two inches be- hind and before. ^zvo more boards^ each at leaft twelve inches wide, and one thick, of yellow deal, and free from knots, are to be nailed Hoping againft each other, to complete the roof. Their edges on both fides are to be bevelled off fo as to D3 C4 BEE Hotrst. meet at top, and make a neat joint ; and to prevent warping, braces acrofs dn the infiJe will be neceflary. The FRONT of the houfe, Ay is to be inclofed by three quarters of an inch boards, placed perpendicularly in lengths, from the top to the rail of the fioot, and rabbeted to each other. The boxes are to ftand fix inches from the ends, and eidit from each other. openings are to be cuf againft each door-way of the boxes, Jtx inches in length, and tzvo in depth, a, a, t?, eftimating from the loofe floors of the boxes. Similar openings are to be cut eleven inches higher up, in a line with the firft, and even with the tops of the boxes when their covers or lids are off. To the edges of the openings circulai' pieces of wood are to be braided, a little dechning, for the bees to alight upon, A batten, bevelled at both edges, fliould be nailed on the outlide, juft under the higheft alighting boards, to BEE HOUSE. ^5 ftrengthcn the front boards, and prevent their warping or cafting. The BACK is to have two doors, fhutting againft each other in a rabbet, and to failcii with a hafp. Tlie ends are to be clofed as the pro- prietor choofes. Good painting will be of advantage to preierve the whole. The door-ways Ihould be of different colo\irs, for the bees the bett-.i to diftin^uifli theif re- fpedive habitations, OBSERVATIONS. The jundion of the boards at the top, however clofe at firft, will gape after- wards by the changes from heat to wet ; to remedy which ftop it with putty, or rather, as foon as it is nailed on, a ilip of thin lead, of two inches broad, (hould be' tacked over the junclion, which will etfeclually prevent wet from getting through. Bohea tea-chcft lead, that which is ^lvJioIc^ will anlwer the purpofe. It is of the moil material D4 ^6 BEE HOUSE. confequence to bees to exclude wet. I have tried feveral other materials for roofs, but none anfwered fo well , and mine is a vcrj trying fituation. If the front is not truly perpendicular, and the floor truly level, the boxes will not fit clofe to the front, and thereby leave vacancies between by which the bees may pafs into the houfci which would be very detrimental. The openings for the paflage of the bees are larger than thofe of the boxes, as being more convenient on many occa- fions. No openings are made in the houfe for triplets^ as being unnecelfary. Three of the front boards of the houfe, in which the openings are to be cut, (hould be eleven or twelve inches wide ; or they will be too much wea- kened, by cutting fix inches in length out, to ftand true. The principal intention of a bee houle and boxes, is for the more commodious infpedion of the bees by the curious and wealthy. Three flocks anfwer this defign as well as a larger number, as they furnilh only a repetition of the fame JJEE HOUSE. £J fcenes. However, a bee houfe is, in Ibme refpedt, of rea/ ufe to thofe who keep a number of ftraw-hived flocks, as STANDARDS, from whicli, by infpedlion, a judgment may be formed of the good or bad condition of the flocks in flraw hives : but, that boxes are more pro- duaive than thofe, is a great mijlake^ if .both are managed by the fame method of STORIFYING. Many contrivances for the purpofe of fheltering boxes have been pradifed as a fubflitute for a houfe ; but, in the end, are not cheaper, and not near fb con- venient for performing the operations; neither are they fo ehgible for infpedion. My bee houfe here, ten feet long, cofl me near thirty fhiUings. CHAP. X. ON STORIFYING. V-/F all the methods which have hi- therto come to my knowledge for the condufting of bees, that oi Jiorifyinz nn^- D 5 ' ^^^ -8 STORIFYIKC. doubtedly yields much the greateft profit^ and is the mofl congenial to their natural habitude, and flyle of working. By ftorifying is meant the fetting of one, two, or three hives over each other, as duplets or triplets. It is found that three pecks of bees in one hive, wilt colle(5l more honey than a bufhel, divided into tzvo ; becaufe ay?;/- gle hive has not combs enough to receive the numerous eggs that a queen is capa- ble of furnilhing, and cells fufficient at .the fame time to hold the honey. Thus being limited to a fmall com- pafs, the increaje muft proportionally be ib too. For great part of the bees are liecelTarily employed in rearing the young, and therefore the number of thofe who are occupied in collecTcing honey is not near fo great as has been imagined. A ^oodi Jlmfier that has not fwarmed, or has had the fv»arm returned, will increafe thirty pounds in feven days,.- in a favourable fituation and feafon r whereas a fmgle-hived ftock in the fame ■ apiary .and leafon, that has fwarmed, will not STORIFYING. 59 increafe above five pounds in the fame time. For every {warm, the lead as well as the greatefl, is provided with a queen, equal in fecundity to the queen of the largeft (lock ; and as the brood flie brings continually demands the labour and attendance of probably near half the bees ; this circumfhance renders the other moiety, from the fmallnefs of their number ^ unable to accumulate a large quantity of honey in the fhort time it moftly abounds. Whereas, by doubhng, and trebling the hives, the bees are never at a ftand for room to extend their combs, as faft as requifite for honey or brood. BeeSy confidered individually, live about a year, progrelTively coming into birth, and as gradually decaying. It hence follows, that thofe born in au- tumn, or fpring, or in the intervening months, inevitably die about the fame time in the fucceeding periods of time, and fo in a regular proportion during the breeding feafon ; but this is not perceived while the brood is rapidly increafing, and 6o STORIFYING. counterbalancing the chafms made by death. The queen often lays two or three hundred eggs in a few hours ; which occafions as fudden a difappearance at the ftated periods, and which accounts for that great thhinefs obfervable in hives after the fwarming feafon is over, as if a fwarm had efcaped. This likewife de- monftrates, that at the general time of deprivation^ all hives, or ftocks, accord- ing to their populoufnefs, are compofed of bees of all ages^ from thofe in em- bryo, to thofe of old age. Confe- quently, although individuals die daily, young ones rife to birth, to fucceed them, as do the human race in towns and cities. But, by ftorifying, the family is perpetuated to any length of time, without the cruel necejjity and iron- hie of dejiroying indijcriminately both old and young. The flory method can in no cafe be prejudic-al, though the bees lliould be prevented thereby from fwarming : on the contrary, it would be a great advantage STORIFYIITG. 6 1 if it did fo ; for then artificial fwarming would not be wanted to perpetuate flocks, which would be effedled without fuch afliflance. Writers have however followed each other, by aflerting that by ftorifying no fwarms will rife. From long experience I am certain of the reverfe. When duplets or triplets do not fwarm, it is not from t/iat caufe : it is from abortions of the royal brood, and feveral other cafualties. Nor is there any danger of being vverjiocked ; for however numerous a ftock may be in bees during fummer, in winter they will be reduced to a quart, Befides which, bad feafons often happen, and many accidents arife that will require recruiting, and which may be happily effedled by forbearing to double a good flock, and a fvs^arm will be the fooner obtained. The following Estimate will fhow how far the advantage inclines to Jiorification, 62 STORIFYING. A Comparati've EJiimate of Stocks keft in Single Hi'ves, and thofe placed according to ike Storifying Method. First year. Dr. J 2 flocks on an average, yielding 15 lbs. of honey each, is 180 lbs. at 6d. /.4 10 o Suppofing each hive to have a caft, each of which ufually affords 3lbs. — 36 ibs. at 6d. o 18 o "Wax I lb. each, and 4 oz. the caft, at i8d. 1 a 6 N. B. They are fuppofed to emit 12 good fwarms, to ftand for ftoclcs. To balance in fa- vour of the ftory method £.6 10 6 ;C-8 u o Thus at the end of the year the ftocks will be equal. SECOND YEAR. iz ftocks being the laft year's fwarms ,^4 10 o Cafts, or fma]l fwarms Wax, ^.6 10 6 Balance in favour of ftorifying 4 «7 6 £.11 8 o FIRST YEAR. Cr. iz ftocks on an average will yield two additio- nal hives of ho- ney, of 16 lbs. at 6d. - £.^ Wax, ih each hive, I 160 £ .11 8 0 Difcount for the extraordinary ex- pences, viz. 24 hives at I4d. 1 8 0 12 floors, 0 6 0 24 wooden tops, 0 12 0 2 biafs plates, 0 10 0 £'% 16 o >C-8 12 o f ■' ' ^r^ SECON D YEAR. la ftocks produce as laft year £.<) 12 o Wax - J 16 o l^ii 8 o STORIFYING. 63 From hence it appears, that by laying out nvo pounds Jixteen Jilt llings for the ex- traordinaiy apparatus of the firji year, a fuperior profit is to be gained of tivo pounds one fliilling and fixpence. But in the fuccee ding years' it will amount to /our pounds feventeen Oiiliings, that is about fifty per cent, per annum, on the two pounds fixteen fhillings fo laid out : or four pounds feventeen fliillings and fix- pence a -year more, gained by fhorifying twelve ftocks, than by a like number in Jingle hives. This flatement is m^ade upon the lozvej calculation in favour of ftorifying, which ufualiy yields much more honey and wax than here afhgned, and that greatly fuperior in quality, and confe- -quently more valuable ; but which can- not be obtained from common Jingle hives. The inllruments are rated higher than what they will' ufualiy coft, befides their advantage of durability. Though I fuppofed each common- hived ftock to emit a good firJi fwarm, which they often do not, or it is frequently 64 STORIFYING. loft, and though fome often afford two or three, they in general are but trifling, and abate confiderably of the produce of the mother ftock, often to its ruin — what I have allowed for cafts, in the common run, will be the full amount. The eflimate is founded on the pro- du6tions of middling fituations ; but in better, a fmgle hive may produce a ftock of from thirty to forty-fix pounds w^eight, grofs ; the higher likewife will be the proportional advantage in ftorify- ing. Where hives weigh ib, they are ufually much larger than the general iize : and I think in the fmgle method, no hive fliould be lefs tjian three pecks, or perhaps a bufhel, but not more than twelve inches in height. The twelve ftocks will require three (hillings and fix- pence to be laid out in new hives, every third year, which I fet againft twelve new hives at leaft, which muft be bought for fwarms in the fingle manage- ment. iVi? other branch of hujbandry (I am inclined to think) will return fo large an intereji onfofmall an expenditure. STORIFYING. 65 Befides the advantages already men- tioned, there are others of confequence which deferve notice, ift. In avoiding the unnecefTary and difagreeable trouble of SUFFOCATING the bees. 2d. In re- lieving fwarms when too large. 3d. In preventing idlenefs in their lying out. 4th. In uniting of fwarms. 5th. In the means of ckanlinefs and wholefomenefs. 6th. In preferving them from moths, mice, and other infers, by the frequent lliifting of the hives. 7th. In giving ample and timely enlargement, 8th. In being provided againfb bad feafons. Laftly, In taking but little room in an apiary : as for inllance, four flocks will require no more ground to (land on than they had at firft ; while common hives will demand twice or thrice as much for fwarms, but producing lefs honey. The INDICATIONS FOR STORIFYING flocks, are the appearance of an i^creafe of numbers, and in their adivity, fa- voured by the mildnefs of the feafon. If the (lock be a lafl year's fwarm, fet a duplet over it j and as foon as that 66 STORIFYING. leems, by its weight, to be three parts full, fet a triplet over tiie duplet ; which /afiy when full, or nearly fo, is to be taken off, and probably wiU be all intire virgin honey, and without brood. Then raife the duplet, or double hive, by placing a triplet under it. But if the flrength of the flock is great, and there is plenty of honey pafturage, fo that another triplet may be expf died to be filled, place the triplet over, inftead of that which was talen off. Perhaps, in fome good feafons and fituations, t^ree or four triplets may be taken, if they are opportunely applied. But if the flock is of tzvo years fhanding, it mufl be raifed on a nadir ^ and as often as it requires enlargement take the fiiperior hive off, and put a triplet in its place ; and proceed thus as occafion may require. Thefe tzvo methods of fuperhiving the laji year's fwarm one year, and the next of nadir - hiving the fame flock, will be a fure means of obtaining the greatefl quantity 5T0RIFYINC. 67 of virgin honey, and the largeft quantity of the bejl wax. Obferve, in all cafes, when hives are f«t over another, that if the nadir is judged to be about three parts full, the door of it mufh be flopped, and that of. the duplet opened, or the bees will not fb foon be tempted to afcend, to work in the duplet, nor will this procedure increafe the labour of the bees in the meanwhile, as the way do\yn is as fhort as the way up. On the contrary, when a hive is placed under, the door of it mufh be flopped for a week or two, or till there is reafon to think there are fome combs made in it ; and then it is to be opened, and in two or three days after y7;r^/ again, difguifmg it with a cloth, &c. 'hung before it, for two or three days. Be particularly careful not to let the flocks be crozvded, before they are flori- fied. For if a princefs is impregnated early, it may occafion a fwarm to rife fuddenly : for often great numbers of brood are hatched together, and there- 68 STORIFYING. fore from want of room become feroci« oiis, and occafion much inconveniency to the apiator and bees ; but prefently become peaceful and fatisfied on en* largement. For an additional hive hav- ing communications in diredt lines with the combs of the hives added, the bees are fed to efleem the whole as ane hive^ in a few days after its application. In fome criiical days or weeks, when honey dews are plentiful, or white clover or other paflurage is abundant, the quantity of honey colledled in a few days will be almofl incredible, if they have room enough to lodge it, filling a hive in feven days : often more than can be accumulated in a whole feafon. But the advantages arifing from addi- tional hives are entirely loft in the old Jingle method. The duplets are in general not to be taken off till late, left the queen fliculd ibe therein, or it be moftly filled with brood. But fuper- triplets may be always taken as foon as filled STORIFYING. 69 Bees never begin to work in an addi- tional 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 fign they have begun to make combs. Bees often want enlargement before fwarm time ; which is denoted by their idly playing about the door and hive. It is the owner's fault and lois if he fuffers it to continue. Duplicated boxes will fometimes appear 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 ufual time of deprivation, it fhould be taken and placed at a confiderable diflance, and the duplified flock raifed on a nadir hive : if, in two or three hours after, the bees of the flock feem quiet, and work as before, as well as thofe removed, it is a fign they have a queen in each ; and the hive taken may be referved as a flock, if fuch is wanted, ^O STORIFYING. or fumed, and the queen taken away : mofl likely there will be much brood, which may be fet over a weak flock, or returned again to its mother {lock. In cafe duplets have idlers, they are to be raifed on a triplet, and in about a month the fuperior hive is to be taken off. For when lying out in hot w^eather, though their hives are not full, and the fwarming feafon is pafl, the bees will not enter notwithftanding ; but by adding a nadir hive, the accommodation of a fpacious and cool hall to regale them- ielves will induce the idlers to enter it. If it is fufpeded that bees are idle (which, though they do not duller out, may be difcovered by their not being lo adive as their neighbours), turn the hive up in the middle of the day ; and if the combs are partly empty, it may he concluded they have either loft their queen, or fhe is unprolific, or is without drones ; in w^hich cafe they are to be flightly fumed in the evening, and {ti over another ftock ; particularly a weak one to ftrengthen them STORIFYING. 7 1 But if the flock is abundant in bees, and niofl likely in honey, let them fland till a young queen can be taken from a . fwarm ; when placing her jufl within the door, llie will be joyfully received. Otherwife, if it is about the middle of the feafon, fume and place them over a flock ; and by that means it will produce a very large quantity of honey. Scanty breeders produce but little ho- ney or brood; fo that, whilfl other flocks are rapidly increafmg in riches, thefe will barely get enough to fupport themfelves in the winter. Empty combs placed in a duplet will not entice them the fooner to work therein; for till the hive is completely full, and they are in want of others, they will not afcend, which in bad fea- fons may not happen for a conliderabie time : neverthelefs, from being ready, they may be of conliderabie advantage. About the tenth of July upper doors of all fhoried flocks fhould be clofed, to induce the queen with more certainty to defcend, and breed in the loiver hive^ ^2 STORIFYING.' except it is defigned to be taken ; for then the door is to be fhut, and the upper one opened. It often happens that in poorjitiiatiom^ or in a long feafon of very inclement wea- thcTy neither duplets nor triplets will have work therein ; and this is not impu- table to a bad method of management, or want of condud, but wholly to a failure of the refources of paflurage, or of op- portunities to gather it ; which fome- times has been fo great as to prevent the ' generality of flocks from procuring a fufficiency for their own winter's fupply. It is necefTary in fummer, when a hive has few bees, to ftrengthen it with a portion of bees from one that is flrong. This will enable the queen to breed fall, and the hive will prove as profperous as any hive you have. But in all fuch rein- forcements, the hive fo rcplenifhed fhould be fet at as great a diftance as your convenience will allow, for feveral weeks. This is a rule to be obferved in all fuch cafes. STORIFYING. 73 Stocks that have emitted fwarms can but rarely be expected to yield a duplet that fummer, nnlefs the fwarm is re- turned. Much iefs can a (warm do it, though I have known fome exceptions in extraordinary (ituations. To repleniJJi a flock that is fcanty of bees, fet fome empty combs, and pour the cells of one fide full of fugared ale, or platters of it, flightly covering it with a little hay or herbs, to prevent the bees from damaging themfelves in it : fet it on a hive floor in the morning, and place an empty hive over it, in the midfl of the apiary. A great multitude of bees will be at- tracted by the odour, and affemble round the feafl. As foon as that is perceived, ilop the door of the hive until night ; when the bees having afcended to the top of the hive, take it, and give them a flight fuming, and place them over or under the flock that mofl wants their afliflance. If a queen is killed or dies in the fum- mer, it may be known by tlie bees not 74 STORIFYING. carrying in any farina, or by the door of the queenlefs flock being much crowded, as well as that to which they carry the honey. Both hives appear prodigioully active, as though a honey dew had com- menced, and with a clear uninterrupted buz, with crumbs of wax about the door. Immediately ftop the door of the unfortunate flock, and unflop it in the evening : the interlopers will then fly home. Early in the morning, take the hive to a proper diflance, 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 fides. If the hive has much honey, cut the combs out ; but take care of thofe that have brood, and add them to fome other ftock. The bees, however, will con- tinue working till all the young are fealed up. If a hke accident happen in winter, take the bees out, put them to a flock, and take the honey. STORIFYING. 75 In the want of a hive upon a fudden demand of enlargement, and not having a proper one ^in readinefs, fet a common one with bars acrofs it, in a pail or buc- ket, and place the flock over it ; next night clofe the joining, and at the ac- cuftomed time feparate it by the dividers, and take the bottom one away. Summers have fometimes been {o HOT as to foften the combs fo m.uch as to tumble them down, occafion the fmothering of the bees, and ruin of the flock. To prevent this, in fuch wea- ther, give them enlargement, and raife fingle hives behind : fcreen them as much as pofTible from the fun, by large boughs, pouring often plenty of water about their hives, and taking off the hackels. Bee houfes fhould have all their doors fet open. CHAP. XI. THE NATURE OF SWARMS. URING the winter, flocks that are populous in the fummer become E 2 D yiS SWARMS. reduced by age and accidents to the fmall quantity of a quart, and the wea- ker flocks fuftain a proportional diminu- tion.' The re peopling the hives, there- fore,. depends on the amazing fecun- dity OF THE QUEEN, which fumilhes thofe new-born nuikitudes that confti- tute the fwarms. In conlequence of a continued great increafe, th,e bees feel a natural impulfe to fwann. This law they are impatient to obey, in defiance of all the obfcacles that the ingenuity of man has contrived to its taking place. A fvvarm does not confiil of all jy^/^;ig- bees^ but of old and young promifcuoully. The breeding of young bees is begun iboner or later, in proportion to the fruitfulnejs of the queen, the populouf- nefs of the ftock, the goodneis of the fituation, 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 thox'e of OLhcr flocks. When bees are SAVARMS. jij carefully fupplied with food in fprihg, they breed faft even in bad weather. When January proves mild, the' breed- ing will fometimes commence at the latter end of that month : but often in Febmary, and in March generally. Js foon as bees carry in farina, or yellow balls, on their legs, it is a fure fign of the queen's having begun to breed. A long feafon of cold and wet weather retards the hatching or increafing of the breed, caufing many abortions, and not uncommonly that of the royal nym.phs. They may be feen caft out in fuch un- kindly feafon s. • The influence of a genial fpring haf- tens the breeding, and no lefs accelerates the blolToms proper for their nourifli- ment ; the fallows, willo'A^s, fnow-drops, crocufes, &c. yielding plenty of farina. But fhould the weather be unfavoura- ble while thefe flowers are in bloom, thereby preventing the bees from ifiuin out td colled: it, thofe already hatched will be ftarved -, and it will alfo delay E d yS SWARMS. a farther increafe, until a more aufpici- ous change takes place. If a fpring is not very cold, but wet, it will not favour the produdlion of royal brood ; yet the common cells will be filled with youngs but no addition of honey ; which will caufe the bees to be very^ anxious to fwarm, and very irrita- ble, flying about the hive in confuiion and difcontent. I have feveral times feen royal cells in which the workers were continually introducing their heads, I fuppofe, to feed the maggot; but, after a few days, they entirely negleded them, probably as being abortive. In fuch cafes no fwarm can rife until another birth yields a princefs. In fpring, when bees that are in no want of food fuddenly give over carry- ing, it may denote the unprolificnefs of the queen ; and if the hive contain but few bees, they had better be united to another flock. \\\ forward JpnngSy when the workers are few, but the queen very pregnant, fhe will be obliged to depofit her eggs SWARMS. 7^ fafter than the fmall number of bees can fupply the maggots with luftenance ; and they will therefore perifh, and be caft out. This is a difadvantage which arifes from keeping weak ftocks. To judge of the fulnefs of a hive in May, obferve the numbers of bees that enter the refpedive hives, and form an eflimate. Queens zvt not equally fruitful. While fome breed Howly or not at all, others will fpeedily increafe in prodigious numbers. Sterile queens fhould be ex- changed for the fpare queen of a fwarm ; or at taking up time deftroyed, and a new flock fubftituted. From the middle of May to the mid- dle of Jime is the moft advantageous time for fwarming; but they often rife, not only at the beginning of Aprily or fooner, but alfo as late as the 20th of Aiigujl -^ counties and feafons being fo very various. Very early ones are feldom large enough to conftitute a good ftock ; and are in danger of perilhing if bad weather fuc- ceeds. Very late ones, though moftly E4 i>0 SWARMS. large, will often not have fufficicnt time to lay up an adequate ftore for the win- ter, nor rear a brood in time : befide which, their emigration diminillics the farent Jlock fo mAich as to endanger its being ftarved during the next fpring. The prevention is, to encourage timely fwarms by zvarmth, and by a trough of fugared ale now and then, in Fe- bmary and March. But whether the fwarms are early or late, is a matter of no confequence in the ftory method, by which they are returned to the flocks. In a good feajon for early honey -gather- ing, the flocks will not be forward to fwarm, though they have a princefs rea- dy j being then wholly intent to colledt the precious fweets, and almoft deferting the hive : the few left, finding fuch fpa- cious room, and full employment, have no temptation to rife, and quit fuch treafure for an empty hive. Though a fpring fhould be cold, and otlierimje unfavourable, a fwarm may rife the firfh or fecond fine funny day, if a princefs is impregnated, notwith- SWARMS 8 I {landing the hive may be very thin of bees. The fwarm, of courfe, will be fmall. New fwarms will gradually de- fert their hive on a continuance of bad weather, and unite with another flock or flocks, without lofs to their mafter. The increafe of fwarms in calm fitua- tions is frequently three from a hive ; and fwarms will emit fwarms, or maiden ones. But it is to be obferved, that in thefe cafes the produElion of honey is pro- portionally lefsy not near fo much as might be expedled from the multitude of bees, for the reafons before afligned. Frequently, when flocks /;/ very good Jituations have many princefTes, fwarms will rife though the weather has been un- favourable ; while flocks only two miles diftant may be flarving, and afford no fwarm. Stocks fingle-hived, on being filled, and having a fuitable princefs, v/ill often fwarm repeatedly, though of fmall bulk ; by reafon that, having no more fpace to work in, they would rather fwarm E 5 82 SWARMS. than be idle, that the precious advantage of honey-gathering may not be loft; In very dry seasons few fwarms are difcharged. On examining the hives, no princefs or royal cell was found. The caufe is uncertain ; perhaps the drought did not favour that kind of prolific nu- triment fit to produce royal eggs or brood, and therefore no fwarms could be formed. Such ftocks fhould be taken at the feafon ; for having, it is moft likely, none but old queens, they will die in the winter, and put an end to the ftock. Bees that are placed near woods find therein abundant farina (the great fource of early fwarms) to feed their young. In all fituations that have plenty of fari- na, the bees are remarkably forward and active. In the heath countries, on the contrar}% they are later in their pro- ductions than In other fiiuations, feldom fwarming till the end of July, owing to heath blowing late. In general, the bleaker the fituation the later the fwarms. A WET EARLY feafon prevents the gathering of farina : then late fwarms SWARMS. 83 will be the confequence ; and if the weather fhould continue very indifferent, they will rife when lead expeded, and be loft for want of watching. After the firjl or frime fwarms have rifen, the fucceeding ones ihould be re- turned to the ftock ; for if a fecond is 1 emitted, it certainly fo much impove- xiflies the ftock that little honey can be colleded afterwards, and will not leare a fufficiency of bees to rear the young, which at that time are abundant. Un- doubtedly there are exceptions, which a difcreet apiator muft be left to judge of. When additional ftocks are not wanted, the frime fwarms are to be returned, as well as cafts ; as being the moft profitable method. The ftocks on the ftoried plan cannot be kept too full of bees in the fummer time. Stocks that have not fwarmed before the firft of July from fingle hives, fhould be returned ; but reference in thefe and the like cafes muft always be had to the difference of feafons and fituations, in 84 SWARMS. which local circumflances only can diredt the determination. . A large early swarm, with good weather fucceeding, will be far more procluclivc than a llmilar one that riles later ; for having more time before them, I their hives will be furniflied' with combs and brood before the honey harveft com- mences, and then are prepared with empty cells and young workers, that will, in a fhort time, enable them to collect a large ftore of honey, if care has been previoully taken to provide them with fpacious room. If bad wea- ther fliouid intervene, it will be prudent to feed them, fjr which their fubfequent labour will amply recompenfe. There have been iujlances of Jiocks which have fwarmed, and notvvitbftand- ing in the middle of July clujiered out ; and on having another hive ict over them, iiill rema'ned, witliout afcending ; but two or three days after, on fetting a hive nnder, they prefently entered, and worked vigorously. SWARMS. 85 With refpect to thofe flocks which do not feem to increase in numbers, or appear to have drones ; a dozen or two fliould be taken from another flock that has plenty, and put to them. To effed: this, in a fine funny afternoon, when the drones iilbe out moft, take them fingly with . the finger and thum.b as they pafs on the refting board, and put them into a long phial, held ready in the other hand, till the number wanted is obtained : ftop the phial with a notched cork, and at night faften the mouth of the phial to the door-way of the hive, and by morning they will have entered. " Thofe perfons who kill the dro- nes, in the fpring, are not aware that thereby they are deftroying the only means of increafe ; for the drones are to bees what males are to other creatures. But if it fhould be obferved that the drones in fi'.mmer are fo abundant, efpecially of a weak flock, as nearly to confume the honey as faft as gathered , in this cafe. 86 SWARMS. and this only, fome of them may be deftroyed. Many fchemes have been tried for di- minifhing the drones, but with Httle fuccefs. For if they are (lopped from entering their own hive, they know their next neighbours w^ill gladly receive them : nor will traps fufficiently deftroy them ; and their application greatly diflurbs and hinders the workers of not only their own hive, but alfo of others. More may be killed on the alighting board in a Ihort time by the end of a cafe knife, than by any other means; and if done leifurely, the workers will not refent it for a while. When they do, retreat, and try again fome little time after. If continuc^d long, the workers will be fo difturbed as to enter other hives, and the whole apiary be alarmed. If the workers do not kill the drones at the ufual time, a few may be killed by the fingers ; and then thrufting a fmall twig into the hive will provoke the workers to finifh the bufinefs. Au- gufl is the ufual time of malfacre. The SWARMS. 87 ftrongeft flocks expel them the fooneft : however, if they are not killed then^ the cold weather eife(flually deftroys them. Great numbers of workers are bred before princefTes or drones, which lafh do not ufually appear before May, unlefs in early fprings ; and the populous ftocks will have them in March, and often in April. Hives, however, will often be fo full of bees as to clufter out, and frequently fwarm, without any appearance of drones ; though it is probable there may be afew^ but the weather too unfavourable for their Ihewing themfelves, as they are more tender than the workers. LYING or CLUSTERING. The lying or cluftering out of bees, on or about a hive, has been commonly looked upon as ^fign of ^eir being ready to fwarm : but this is deceitful. It indeed may denote that there are bees enough to compofe a fwarm ; but it is alfo a token that there is no princefs to go SS . SWARMS. with them ; for, in want of room, they often continue cluftered feveral weeks. It muft be confidered, that when the combs of a hive are /u// of honey and broody the fpaces left between, being only half an inch in width each, contain only a third part of the capacity of the whole hive-— about fourteen thoufand to a half buihel — and confequently become Joon overcharged by a forward queen, and the furplus is obliged to lie out \ which, in fa(5t, they always do, in fuch circum- ftances, and perhaps till the middle of Augufl: in hot and dry feafons, when but few bees can remain in the hive. This cluftering is very prejudicial, not only in the lofs of time, but alfo in what the bees might have acquired by their labour in that interval ufually the moft produdive' of any part of the feafon, when every bee ought to be fully em- ployed. Nor is this all : the bees by this tndidgence contrad a habit of indo- lence not eafily relinquillied The ex- ample tempts others to be as idle as themfelves, greatly obftmding thofe that SWARMS. 89 work, ill their progrei's. Some, indeed, will be induftrious in fpite of their ow- ner's inattention, and proceed to build combs on the outfide, or under the floor of the hive. Although it is a certain fign, when bees lie out fiom day to day, that there is no princefs ready y yet as there is no practical means of knowing when there zvill^ a conftant w^atching is necelTary. Thefe difadvantages are admirably re- me died by Jlorifying. But COTTAGERS, who have not this convenience, 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 againft that of the flock, fixing on a proper fupport, fo as to be on an exadt level with the ftock. ^he vacancy left between the two hives fill up with a piece of hay-band, &c. taking care, however, to leave the paf- fage of the two door-ways free. The bees will then pafs through the empty hive to the full one, till more room is go SWARMS. wanted, 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 confiftence ready ; nimbly force that between the two hives fo effedlually that it may ftop both doors ; take away the foremoil, and place another empty one in its ftead the next night. About an hour after taking up the firfl, you may venture to open the door of the ftock with the end of a long flick, and in the morning entirely clear the dung away. Under this management the bees will conftantly be employed, nor can they poflibly be prejudicial to the owners, though thereby the flocks fhould not fwarm, for doubling does not prevent it. The PROFIT on bees depends, in a great mea ure, on the detention of the fwarms. If they are lost, the in- creafe of honey can be but triflings however carefully all other particulars are obferved. A cajuat infpe5iion will not SWARMS. 91 aniwer this important puqDofe. I have not feen or heard of any apiators (myieif not excepted) who through negle(fl in this point have not loft, more or lefs, fwarms every year, and chiell}^ prime ones ; for bees often fwarm without a minute's notice, perhaps the very inftant after being left. There is no fure way of fecuring fwarms but by a constant WATCHING of a bee-herd^ retained on purpofe, from feven or eight in the morning until three or four in the after- noon, till all the prime fwarms have ifTued. Bad weather may be excepted. Childi'en, or rather aged people, might be employed to do it at an eafy rate ; and if it fhould coft feven or eight (hillings, it is better to be at that charge, than run the great rifque of lofing feveral of the bejl fwarms. You alfo efcape the anxiety and trouble of going conftantly to and fro, which is after all attended with uncertainty. Befides, if a perfon keeps but fix ftocks, and faves only one fwarm, he will be no lofer; to which add, the afliftance given to an indigent family by the money expended. The gi SWARMS. ufual hours of fwarming are from ten to two ; but this is not to be depended on. I have often known, and had them rife as early or late as the hours flated. Another caufe of the lofs of pritne fwarms, is the mijlaken notion that bees always fhew CQXtdAnJigns or tokens of their going to fwarm ; and therefore until thofe figns appear, w^atching is omitted. But it muft be evident to every relledting apiator, that fwarms frequently rife early in the fpring, as well as at other times, v/ithout fliewing any fuch figns at alL On the contrary, in fome feafons the hive may be fo very full of bees as largely to clufter out, and make an aftonifhing noife within, as though that moment they would rife, and yet very often do not ; no, not for fever al days or weeks afterwards, and fometimes not at all. Thefe tokens, indeed, clearly fhew there are bees fufhcient in number for a fwarm, and they are moft anxious to do fo ; but it alfo fhews they cannot break nature's law : NO QUEEN NO SWARM. SWARMS. gi Although there are no figns that pre- cede Jif^l fwarms ; of fecond^ or cafls^ or after ones there are, viz. peculiar sounds or NOTES in the hive not heard at any- other fealbn. They may be heard gene - rally in the evening in fine weather, and fometimes for feveral days together ; be - ing probably expreflive of the princefTes' being ready, and delirous of enjoying empires of their own ; for feveral arc afterwards heard at a time, in a kind of refponfe either more acute or grave, but very dltferent from any founds made by their wings, and feeming to be formed by a tube, refembling the exprefiions of toot^ tooty toot^ or nearly that of a child's penny trumpet, but not near fo loud. Many chimerical conjectures have been formed relative to this particularity ; but one certain meamng they convey to the apiator, that when heard he may be affured that the firft^ or prime fwarm^ has efcaped, if that will comfort him. It indicates alfo, that a fwarm may be expedted very foon, perhaps the next 94 SWARMS. day, or in a few following ones, accord- ino; to the finenefs of the weather. When the number of princejjes is too many to be fuppUed with bees for fwarms, it induces three or more to iflue with a fingle fwarm., and either fettle together, or divide into different clufbers ; well knowing that death will be the fate of thofe that tarry behind. Sometimes, indeed, a princc^fs will coax 2ifew bees to accompany her, and form a fmall cafl, of no profit, but which rather contri- butes to impoverilh the (lock. Second swarms are feldom worth -prefer\'ing^«^/£? ; but by uniting two or three, you may form a good ftock. If a fwarm is wanted from a duplet ^ both doors muft be left open ; but if none fhould rife, the flock at feparation mofl likely will have a queen in each. It is very probable that a princefs may fometimes rife unimpregnated, or not«» ripe for layings and w^hich the bees at their exit with her were not fenfibie of j but when hived, finding their miilake. SWARMS. 95 they abandon her and the hive, and re- turn home again. On the rifing of iwarms, many bees juft returned from the fields with their loads, and many juft entering, join them; by which means they are capable of con- ilructing combs prefently after kltiing; and fometimes do on the branch of a tree, if they are fuffered to remain there a confiderable time. When bees flay idly about the door or hive, and are more than ordinarily mifchievous, it is a fign they are anxious to fwarm ; and probably may rife, though ivitliout a princefs, if it is late in the fcaion, but will return home again. If the w^ind be bnfk at the time of a fwarm's riling, it will fly in the fame di- rection, and will fettle in that fpot which will beft fhelter them from the inconve- niency, regardlefs of their acaifrotned place of cluftering. As none but good fwarms at any time ought to be kept, it will be neceflary to afcertain how fuch may be known. It iliould be in bulk, when hived, not lefs 96 SWARMS. than a peck and a half-, in middling fituations they run more. I have had them in Hertfordfhire frequently half a bufliel, fometimes larger. Near Pembroke they feldom exceed a peck, which is here efteemed a good fvvarm. However, not lejs than a peck will prove a productive one. A fwarm will appear much larger as it hangs on a bulh, than when cluilered in the top of a hive. The number^ ^weight, and meafure of bees, lb. oz. dr, ICO drones . « o i o"^ 0,90 workers o i o j , C. w « /^ I AVOIRD. 4,040 — — — ..... I o 01 ^ ^ \. WEIGHT. 915 ....032? , 1,830 — a pint .0651 WINCHESTER 3,660 - ■ — a quart . o 12 lo I measure. 29,280 — a peck . 6 5 6J This ftatement is made on an average ; for they will not prove twice exadly alike, becaufe of their different degrees of fulnefs, &c. HIVING. 61 V CHAP. xir. THE HIvrNG OF SWARMS. As Iwarms (pL 2, fig. 2.) frequently rife when not expeded, and that with precipitation, common prudence, it might be thought, would induce api- ators to have hives in readinefs. But i have often feen the contrary, though the cxpence of the hiv^es would be lefs, when bought early, and you would alfo avoid the riik of lofing a fwarm while' feeking a hive. The poverty of cottages may be an excufe for fuch fupinenefs. Therefore in fuch an exigency the fwarm may be put in a pail, bucket, bafket, &c. in which let it remain till the evening; when turning the vefTel up, lay two flat flicks acrofs it, place on jt an empty' hive, bind a cloth round the juncture (all but the door-way), and by the morning the bees will have afcended therein ; but if not, gently beating the 6z HIVING. fides of the veffel will caufe them to afcend. To PREPARE hives for the reception of fvvarms, the fnags, or the roughnefs of the ftraw, fhould be clipped off, and rubbed as fmooth as can well be, as this will fave the bees a deal of labour, wdiich they will employ to greater advan- tage in conftruding of combs. Boxes (hould have all holes and crevi* ces ftopped with putty, or other cement, which otherwile the bees muft do, to exclude air and vermin. Spleets, or flicks, are proper to fupport the combs, when extended near the.bottom ; but two only are necef- fary, and placed thus -f, at the height of the fecond round of ftraw from the bottom ; one from the front to the back, the other acrofs that^ from right to left: for as the combs are iifually built in pa- rallel hnes from front to back, each comb, when wrought down, being of confiderable weight, it will have a ready fupport from the Ipleet, and which will ferve to fallen them alfo j but till they HIVING. 63 ^ bccoiTie weighty, no faftening but that which the bees themfeives execute, will at all be needful. But as fometimes the combs are con- ftm(5bed obliquely, or traafverfeiy, a le* cond fpieet is neceflary to take them in that diredtion, In fad:, common kives^ having no occafion for removes till they are taken up, need no fpIeetSy as verified by bees in liollow trees, &c. However, the' two mentioned are enough for any hive, even in the ^ory method : much iefs have they occafion for any fpieet near the top, and which is generally fo pre- pofleroully placed as to be very trouble- fome and prejudicial to the honey, in taking the combs out, No other preparation or drejfmg of hives is neceifary, than that which I have mentioned. The employing herbs, and many other fanciful articles is of no iife j but as people are wedded to old cufloms without rational foundation, fugarcd or honeyed ale, fprinkled on the top of the hive, is the mod alluring fubftance that I know of. The truth is, when a fwarm F % 64 HIVING. quits a clean hive, it is for other caufes, and not through diftafte of the hive, unlefs it is too fmail. It is cuflomary to make a tinkling NOISE to ALLURE fwarms to fettle. Why it does fo is uncertain^ but that it does is as certain. Mofh prime fwarms, that are not in a habit of fettling in an iifual fpot, are moftly loft, if not tinkled. Befides which, it afcertains the right that the apiator who follows it, has to claim it, if ftrayed from his own pre- mifes. The greater the noife, the fooner it is hkely to fucceed ' I find a watch RATTLE (ufed about London) the moft efiicacioys, and that when tlie common method has failed. In prime or lirft fwarms, the noife ihould not begin till fuch a quantity of bees have arifen as will form a good fwarm, for fear of terrifying the princefs from ilfalng ; and if fo, all the bees will return, though hived. A fudden ftorm, dark clouds, or thunder, will caufe them to. return, if not fettled \ or if the prin- cefs, too weak to fuftain the flight, drops HIVING 65 on the ground ; or if the bees are roughly treated in the hiving. The noiie fhould be made on the con- trary fide to that which will be moil pro- per for fettling. Nor (hould it continue longer than the bees begin to clufler ;. there is no danger but the reft will follow on hearing their buz. When they rife in windy weather they are very irritable, and apt to fling ; and though cluftered, often return home. When a prime fwarm is broke or di- vided, \ht Jecond v^ be much fuperior; and therefore, if it is in good time, may be kept, if a ftock is wanted. When bees are hived, but feem dif- contented and tumultuous, it is a fign tliey have no queen among them. Pro- bably flie will be found on the ground, with a fmall clufter fuprounding her. Take the clufter up, and place it on the outlide of the hive which has the fwarm^ or near the door ; it will foon make them eafy, and allure thofe t}n the w?fig to join them alio. F ^ 66 HIVING. Hives fixed n^ar the fpots where bees have been uied to fettle, arid rubbed with lug^ired ale, will fometimes decoy fwarms to refide therein. But this muil not be relied on > for it often happens tliat bees previoufly choofe a place, that they have made clean for their reception, and to which, on rifing> they immediately repair. But a hive of old combs will certainly allure fome of your own fwarms to fettle therein, if not of fome flrayed ©nes.. If a fwarm Is too large to be contained, in a hive, immediately double it y but if it is a common hive turn it upfide down in a bucket, he. and lay two ilat flicks acrofs, and fet another hive over it 3 then take them from the bucket, and fet them on four or ?i\c rounds of an old ftraw hive doubled, as they are, and in the evening place them on their deflined flation, flopping the joining with clay, and allowing a proper door-way. "When fwarms feem reftlefs fome time after hiving, as often happens from their having tv/o princelTes, and being unde- HIVING. 67 termined in their choice s take them to a dark apartment, when the bees, fuppof- ing it near night, will prefently ele6t the moft promifing lady, and expel the other. It is very likely that the okl queen fometimes accompanies the firll fwarm. The reafon perhaps of there being 710 tooting preceding the firfi ftvarms^ is there being then but one young queen qualified to lead them. When more royal cells than one are perceived in a hive,, the fupemumerary ones may be taken out to make a fwarm, if wanted. Bees, when fwarming, are generally very peaceable, as being under many fears and apprehenfions ; fo that they may be hived with much eafe and little danger (unlefs the wind is high), if they are treated with gentlenefs. If they ieem inclined to rove beyond the proper bounds, handfuls o^ fand, dirt, or the like, (hould be thrown up among them : water alio call among them will induce a Ipeedy cluftering. The fame meam Ihould be ufed when two F 4 ^8 HIVING. fwarms rife together, and figlit in rhe air. A great noife fliould be made, efpecially that of a gun, to intimidate them. It" ieveral- prikcesses rife with one 'fwarm, when hrved together/ great com^- xnotions ehliie, until one df the priricef- fes is call out or killed. But when they cannot decide in their choice, they fly out, and continue the conteil^ or, which is nloft frequently the cafe, different parties clufter with the lady they approve, and fettle fepa- rately. Let them alone till they are feverally fettled, hive each parcel fepa- rate, afterwards llrike them out on a. board one after the other, and take the queens from each, all but the largeft cluf- ter, to which put all the reft. Or other- wife, at the clofeof the evening, //^w^ them all together^ when the firfh princefs that re- covers will be acknowledged queen, and the reft expelled or flain by the morning. Stray swarms are often perceived flying in the air, and may be allured to fettle (efpecially if tired with flight) by making fome kind of tinkling with a " HIVING. 69 knife upon a fork, fliovel, or the like; and when fettled, may be bruflied into a hat, handkerchief, or part of the gar-, ment," which being gathered up. by the corners, may fafely be carried home, and laid on the. ground, or table; laying a^ (lick acrofs ; and placing a hive over theni, they 'will alTemble therein. When a Jwurm fettles in several CLUSTERS, hive only the largeji clufter^ and remove it, a fmall diftance at a time, near to the fmaller cluflers, which are fucceffively to be ihook off the places. of ciuftering by a long hooked fhiek, re- peatedly, till the buzzing of thofe in the hive has attraded their notice, and induced them to join. If the clufkers aie equal in bulk, hive both feparately, and fet them at a fmall diftance from each other; and if either of them have a queen, and are diflatisfied with, her, they will quit the hive, and unite with the other ; but if both remain contented, unite them by fuming. Swarms fliould be hived z.%foonzs fet- tled : for their ciuftering is generallv buf F5 70 HIVING. of fliort duration ; efpecially of prime fwarms, or if they have previoufly fe- ledied a place of refidence. When a fwarm attempts to fettle on a perfoHy {landing or walking, &c. let him not be alarmed, nor in any wife oppofe them, but lift the hat a little above the head ; perhaps they will fettle on that : if not, cover yoxtr head and face with a handkerchief for thern to clufter on. But, if, contrary-wife, they begin to elufter on the (lioulders, or under the handkerchief, fling it off, and fpread your hands over the eyes and face, and thus remain entirely pajjlve^ till the whole have fixed, which, if this is punclually obferved, will be done with- out a fmgle fling. Then retreat with leifure to fome room in a houfe, made nearly dark, and then a perfon muft hold a hive, pan, fieve, &e. ((prinkled with ftigared ale) over the clufter, with.th^ edge juft touching it, which will, after a little while, induce them to afcend into it. Blowing with bellows will caufe them to doit the fooner, without irritat- HIVING. 71 ing their propenffty to fting. But if any violent or ofFenlive means are ufed, it will provoke their revenge fo as to be dangerous. When a fwarm is cluftering, and ANOTHER is rifing and endeavours to join it, cover the firft with a thin cloth, and throw duft, or water, among the Others, to caufe them to fettle elfewherc. As likewife if a fivarm that is rifen at* tempts to fettle on a ftock hive, ilop the door, and cover the hive with a cloth. Sprinkle an empty hive with fugared ale, and place it a little raifed over the top of the ftock, and the fwarm will enter therein. If the fwarm feems too large to be contained in the hive, fet another upon the firfl. As foon as the bees have entered, take it away, and unflop the ftock. Or it may be done by flopping the door of the ftock, and immediately re^ moving it to fome diftance. In the interim an afiiftant is to place an empty hive in its place, to which the fwarn^ will enter j and then it is to be taken t0 72 HIVING. an appropriate (land, and the ftocic brought back to its former fituation. Swarms will Ibmetimes duller on, or enter, improper places, as under roofs, or other buildings. Immediately a hive is to be placed cloie by, or juft about the hole of their entrance i encompafs 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 bowl of a pipe of tobacco ^ apply the end to a fmall hole madejult under where the bees entered; take the empty hive away, and then blowing for- cibly, the imoke will generally induce them to fly out, and caufe them to fet-r tie in a more convenient fituation for hiving. ;.:> To avoid repetitions, I would obfervii that the general rule ia: condudling operations about bees is, that they Be executed without noife or talking in ap- proaching the hives, till the doors art ^cured , btherwife the bees will, be alarms cd^ and guard the •d(i>ofs immediately HIVING. ^J A leiiiirely and calm deportment, with gentlenefs yet boldnefs, and giving the leaft diilurbance, will greatly conduce to render the bulinels eafy and fafe. In Hrv^iNG take care that none are crufhed, as that provokes the others to revenge ^ and not only {q^ but it may chance to be the queen, to the ruin of the fwarm. Forbear the ufe of weeds, or throwing water on them, when cluf- tering, or brufhing them off, which they will highly refent ; and it may make them fly quite away. Gently cut away all fpray twigs, or branches, that 'may obftrucl the placing the hive under the clufter. Always fpread a cloth on the ground^ with^ two fmall wedges on it, as near the clufter as may be : the wedges are to keep the edges of the front of the hive 'a little raifed, for the more ready entrancd of. the bees underneath ; as alfo tjo prevent .'injuring any of them. It may be remarked that fwarms often fettle vjithout a queen ; which, therefore, proves, that it is not the queen that leads and b^ins the clufter. Moft hkely thofe 74 HIVING. that arc moft inclined fettle firft, and the reft naturally follow, as (heep through a hedge. Instruments necefTary for hiving are, an empty box or hivSy a hive floor, or loole board, a large cloth, two fmall wedges, and a long fork, or crook-ftick. To HIVE BEES, let the apiator take the hive inverted, and ieifurely introduce the hive under the clufter as conveniently as can be without dillurbing the bees ; then with the left hand give the bough two or three fmart (hakes, which will caufe the greater part of the clufter 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 raifed part open. The bees, as may be expe<5led, will be in great confufion, and make a great buz, but will immediately begin to afcend : the bough, or bufli, &c. muft continually be fliook by the long ftick, whilft any bees endeavour to re- lodge on it : thofe on the wing, hearing the buz of their compaiiions in the hive. HIVINXJ, 75 will gradually fly down and join them. Let them remain on the fpot till the evening, unlefs the fun Ihould be too violent ; and then the heat would make them quit the hive, unlefs fheltered by boughs, or the like. But if it fhould be inconvenient for the hive to remain, they may be removed a little way off. As foon as the bees are nearly retired into the hive, the hive may be carried to its deftined (land ; the few bees that re- main on the wing will return home. Whenever bees are ib cluftered that a hive cannot be put under them, lay a cloth under, or as near as circumftances will allow i iliake the bufli, &c. to make the bees fall, and keep fo doing till the bees relinquish it : when dowrx on the cloth, or ground, fet a hive over them, and they will enter. Or, Ihould a fwarm fettle on a hedge, &c. that a hive cannot be fet under themi it may be be placed over them : this dO by forked (lakes, or cords ; and by fling- ing a cloth over the bees and empty hive, they will in fome hours afcend. But for 76 HIVING. . fear of mifchance, they fhould be watched. Or if they are found not to afcend, fet the hive three parts over a floor, then with a Jpoon very tenderly take up fome of the bees, and turn them out on the floor, within, or near the door of the hive '(its edge being raifed by- a wedge) : repeat it as long as the bees will permit without Ihowing much reientiiient :• the buz of thofe already entered (tli€ larger the number the better) will the fooner allure the others to do fo. But if the bees are fradious at firft, introduce only a fpoonful or two at a time ; and in the intervals retire out of fight. Or to prevent a fwarm from cluster- . ING ii^coNVENiENTLy in a hedge or bufli, immediately lay a handkerchief or hat on the bufh : probably they may fettle on that, and may afterwards be laid on the ground ; and a hive being placed over, they will moil hkely em* brace the ofler. Bees cluftering round the body of a TREE, OR POST, are difficult to hive^ Take a hivs and floor y or board, and HIVING, 77 phce It by means of forked flicks, bar- • rejs, ladders, &c. or with, cords, fo that the floor may be on a level with the bot- tom of the clufler : then raifing the edge of the hive next to the bees, by wedges, gently advance the hive fo as flightly to touch the clufler : this' in 5." little while may induce fome of the. bees to enter, and the reft to follow. But to fave time, ufe the fpoouy as before diredted, to di- minifli the clufter, and increale the buz- zino; in the Live: at times difturb the clufter, by gently fhoving a fmall ftick among the outermoft, to difengage them. As foon as a confiderable number have entered, the reft will furely follow; though, perhaps, but flowly ; unlefsthe queen" has been one of thofe conveyed by the fpoon. Should fwarms fix on the extreme BRANCHES or twigs of high trees, be- yond the reach of the hand, a hive, or rather a Hght bafket, muft be fufpended to the end of a long pole or fork. Then having a ladder, introduce the bafket under the. cli^ler, while an affiftant with yS HIVING. a long €rook fmartly fhakes the bough, by which a great part of the bees will fall into it. It muft then fpeedily be brought down, and turned upfide down on a cloth ready fpread, on which many bees already fallen will be fettled. In the mean while the branches muft be conftantly Ihook, by which the bees, finding no quiet there, and hearing the buz of thofe underneath, will defcend and join them. Or, another method is to tie twigs to the end of a long pole, and therewith diflurb the duller till they take wing again i when probably they will clufter in another fituation more favourable, if treated with the ufual mufic. A third means is to hold a pan of fmoking fubftances, which may make them glad to move their quarters. When fwarms fettle on large bran- ches of trees, too flubborn to fhake, a hive is to be fet on a iloor, and faftened with cords, that the floor may touch the clufter. Then treat them as before men- tioned. HIVING. 75 A fwarm in a hollow tree that has not been lodged therein more than two or three days, may be dilplaced, by care- fully ftopping all the holes, and crevices, except that which they entered by ; then fixing the ^bottom of a hive againil their hole of entrance, fecuring it firmly with cordi, as alfo tying a clotk round th« joinings, that no bees can efcapej beat with a large hammer, or great ftone, violently about tiie tree jufl below the hive ; probably this will terrify the bees, fo as to induce them to feek fecurity in the hive. Now and then ceafe the nolle, and liften whether they make a buz ia the hive ; and repeat the hammering un- til the buz is greatly increafed. Then, loofing the hive from the tree, fet it on a cloth fpread on the ground, and repeat the flrokes and noife on the tree till but few bees rife. Stop the hole of the tree, and thofe on the wing will rejoin their . companions. But if they will not take to the hive^ make a hole with a chilTel, near the upper part of the hollow (for the bee* 80 HIVING. generally lie as high as poffible above the entrance): place the hive jufl above the hole cut, and by hammering it will caufe them to fly furioully out, and take to the hive, or fettle in a more commo- dious fituation. But if they Ihould have fettled below the palTage hole, make the large hole helow the clufter, as near as can be judged, by flriking where the buz may dired. If thefe methods prove urifuccefsful, recourfe • mud be had to fmoking rags, danip ftraw, or cow dung, put into the hole, if it be made large enough; and at the fame inftant hammering under their lodgement, or teafing them by thrufting twigs up till they fly out. Per- haps (for I have had no opportunity of trying) if an opening could be made large enough to receive a pot of fuming piffs under them, for about twenty mi- nutes ; by confining the fmoke, pro- bably the bees might be fo ftupefied as to fait to the bottom, and might care- fully be taken out, by a ladle, or fpoon, and put into a hive, and immediatclv HIVING. Si carried away, and placed in a dark room or out-houfe till the morning. The chafms of the tree fhould be all flopped to prevent the bees from returning to their former lodge. The longer bees have fettled in any place, the lefs dif- pofed they will be to quit it ; efpecially if they have made combs, and have brood therein. They will fooner die than quit it. In fuch a cafe it is better to let thetn remain till autumn ; and then fuffdcate the bees and take their treafure. Bees in the holes of walls may be treiited after a fimilar method. But when bees have fettled under the roefs or vacant parts of buildings^ where Iparks of fire might be dangerous, fum- ing mufl be avoided • and inflead thereof WATER muft be conveyed over the bees, by the rofe of a watering pot, funnel, or pipe, taking fome tiles oiF, or boards down, to come at themj which will often fucceed as well. Where windows have been left open, fwarms fometimes affume the liberty of taking pofTelTion. To fecure them, liril $1 HIVING. (hut the window and door ; then holding a hive under the clufter, draw a wire or thin flick gradually between theni and the cieling, or part to w^hich they are attached : this will caufe the bees to fall into the hive i which being fet on the floor, the ftragglers will foon hear the buz of the others, and rejoin thern, and the fooner if the room is made nearJ^ dark. All fwarms, if the weather is fine, will begin to work as foon as hived ; but if the two firfl days prove foul, it difcou- rages them from labouring for feveral days, even if then it fhould be fine. But in a long cont nuance of bad wea- ther, they will feri/7iy unlefs relieved by a timely feeding. The forgoing dire^ftons^ it is prefumed, will be fully applicable to all other cafes that may arife, though attended with fome variatioa. ARTIFICIAL SWARMIUC. CHAP. xm. ARTIFICIAL SWARMING. 1 AM forry to declare, that I have met with no invention^ among the many that have been publiQied, or among the great number of my own devifing, for artifi- cial fwarming, adapted to common USE, or that has been in general iiic- cefsful. From fo great a difappointment, I am inclined to draw a conclufion, that as nature has implanted in bees a ftrong propenfity to fwarm, as a quality necef- farily conneded with the manner and feafon ; all our attempts, by force or allwementSy to effeQ or prevent it, with a tolerable degree of timely advantage, muft prove inefTedual. I propofe the two following methods, however j as, if not fuccefsful, they will not be prejudi- cial to the flocks, may amufe the curious f and be accomplifhed without much 84 ARTIFICIAL SWARMING. trouble. But they are hmpplkable to ge- neral pradlce. By often looking through the windows of ftoried boxes, in the fwarming feafon, SOMETIMES a queen may be feen in one of the boxes. Immediately fhove a di- vider between the two boxes. Leave them about an hour ; w^hen if the bees of both boxes remain quiet, watt fomc time longer, and then repeat the infpec- tion, by intervals, two or three times, till the approach of night , and if they are flill in a quiet date, introduce the other divider, and take the duplet, to a diftant ftation. On the contrar}^ if the bees of either box have fhowed figns of difcontent, it is a token there is no queen in that which (hows uneafinefs; and therefore the divider mufl. be with- drawn, till another favourable opportu- nity offers. The SECOND METHOD is ! In the fwarming feafon, when the bees feem very numerous, and ihow indications of fwarming, (hove a divider between a duplet in the morning, having before ARTIFICIAL SWARMING. 85 Opened both doors ; and if the bees re- main quiet and purliie their work, in both boxes, till the evening, proceed with them as above. But if the bees of either box are confufed, take out the divider, and try your fortune another time. An artificial fwarm may be made, by purchafing one or more of fecond or third fwarms 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 fuffici- ent to form a good fwarm, by placing the fewefl in number to the moft popu- lous ; fuming them firft to prevent quar- relling. But if fuch fliould happen, fu- migate the duplet. CHAP. XIV. OF WILD BEES IN WOODS. I N February and March bees are very frequently numerous, on fallows, ofiers, Q6 WILD BEES. and other plants that afford farina, in WOODS ; which is a fure token that their liabitations are not far diflant. They may be eafily traced ; and having found them, mark the place or tree. iVged people, or children, may be fet to watch their fwarming, and they may be hived in the .ufual manner. For whetlier in hollow trees,, or any other habitation, bees equally cad out fwarms, as well as thofe in hives. Having fecured and carried away the fwarms, in autumn re- pair to the fame fpot, and take the fum- mer's produce, as dlreded under hiving. If this early attention has been ne- olcffled, make obfexvation in woods on thofe places which are mofl plentiful of bee-fiowers ; or, in very dry weather, of watering places, to which, in fuch fea- fons, they will be obliged to refort. ' If their abode is too far to be traced, dif- - folve fome red or yellow oker in water, and dipping fome fprigs therein, fprinkle the bees therewith as they alight. Being thus marked, they will be eafily diflin- guiihed. For, by obferving whether re- WILD BEES. ~ . 87 turns are fooner or later, or whether in greater or lefTer numbers, a tolerable guefs may be made ; efpecially after a little practice. A perlbn having a watch, may by it more accurately determine this point. A pocket compafs will alfo be greatly aflifling to certify their courle, which is always in a diredl line to their habitation in their return home. If this method proves not kiccefsful, 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 fmall partition between the two hol- lows ; cut a fmall flit over one of the hollows, put fome honey made a little damp with ale in the hollow, and flop the end with a cork, or paper ; and if fire can conveniently be had, melt fome wax on the tube, the fmell of which will be wafted by the wind to a great diflance. Place this joint near their hai^nts, and they will foon be allured to enter into the hollow. When about eight or ten have entered, flop the end with the finger; foon after let one of the bees G 2 S8 WILD BEES. out, purfue it as long as it is in fight, and then let out another. If it conti- ,iui€S the fame courfe, follow that alfo; but if any take a different route, let another fly, and fo proceed till you find feveral take the fame courfe, which will lead to their nefts. The bees that purfue other diredions probably belong to other nefts, which may be difcovered by the fame procefs as the firft. if it be neceffary to take the combs out diredly, a pot of fuming puffs (hould be introduced under them by a hole made on purpofe. During the fu- migation forcibly ftrike the tree. If the vvhole are not fallen from the combs, they will, however, be fo lethargic as to give the operator but little annoyance, if he has on the bee-drefs. The combs are to be taken out as whole as pofTible, and placed in an empty hive, and (up- ported by as many fpleets as are necef- fary, in the beft manner the nature of the cafe will admit of The ftupefied bees which have fallen into the cavity of WILD BEES. 89 the tree, may be taken out by a fpoon or ladle, and put to the combs m the hive ; which had befl be fet on a floor before the combs are put in, and then the bars and cover, and may be removed without much trouble or difplacementj If puifs are not in readinefs, the fmoke of dried cow dung, damp llraw, &c. may be ufed, which will be likely to force the bees out j when, fettling on ' fome tree, &c. they may be hived, and on being carried home, may be fet over the hive of combs. If the nefls are taken during the fwarming feafon, thofe parts of the combs that have honey in them may be cut out, taking great care of thofe with brood, which, with the empty ones, are to be placed in the hive, as well as can be in the fame manner and at the fame diftance as the bees do ; and placing the bees in them, they will foon repair the damap;e, and furniih the hive afrelhi. When the bees are efteemed not worth preferving, rags dipped in melted brim- G3 go WILD BEES*- Hone, and put under their nefts, wiM immediately fuffocate ihem. Hives rubbed with honied ale, and iome poured into an old comb, and put under them, and placed on thofe fpots which bees much frequent, will be likely to allure i warms to fettle therein. Having had no experience in wha4: relates to this article, the above is given from refpeftable authority. CHAP. XV. SALVATION OF BEES. IVIaNY of my readers will be much furprifed at the following declaration,- viz. That the suffocation of bees kept in common hives is not prejudicial to the interefl of ,the owners. This af- fertion, I beg leave to ftate, relates only to thofe who keep bees in single hives, WITHOUT STORIFYING. Contrary to my former principles, prejudices, and pradice, and to the cur* SALVATION OF BEES. 9I rent opinion of writers, nothing lefs than a feries of flubborn fads could have ef- fe(5ted my convidlion and recantation. From theoretic deductions, to facls I appeal ; — to experiments, the juftnefs of which the judicious apiator may be con- vinced of, by making proper obferva- tions. For thofe who keep bees in boxes, with large w^indows, may perceive that in December and January very few bees are to be feen in the boxes that were crowded in Auguft. Thofe who have ftraw hives may, at that time, fafely turn them upon their edge, and have a tolerable view, to anfwer the above purpofe. The diminution isfo great, that the fullefl hives or boxes are then reduced to about a QJJART ! andthis by the natural decreafe of the aged bees. To certify this, I took the bees from feveral hives, and found them to meafure as by the above ftatement ; the weaker flocks lefs in proportion. This refult proves, that all the advan- tage obtained by faving the bees of STOCKS TAKEN, and uniting them to Other flocks (the only eligible means of G 4 92 SALVATION OF BEES. faving), is ultimately only the fa/vafiofi of a (luart. And as the queen muft be kil- led by the hand, or by the Hock bees to which they are to be united, they cannot pofTibly make ^iXij farther increafe in the fpring. The queflion is then reduced to this iflue ; Whether the multitude of bees, united about Auguft, will not confume (though gradually diminifhing) more ho- ney before the fpring gathering commen-- ces, than the quart left will compenfate by their labour ? Befides, it is to be confidered, that the eggs produced by the old queen of the ftock, not being more than ufual, want not an unufual number of workers, to rear them ; a greater number may pofiibly be ufelefs, or prejudicial by the increafe of confumption. Nor do they contribute to the produdion of more early fwarms ; for that depends on the early birth of princeffes, in which the. additional bees have no fliare. The truth of the fad is further con^ firmed by expe):iments on flocks that SALVATION OF BEES. 93 have the bees of other hives united to them, but which proved neither more forward nor more prodii5iive than fingle ones hived in the common way, not only of my own, but of neighbours. On the contrary, storied flocks, in the fame feafon, were abundantly more profperous, having provided themfelves with means fufficient for their own pro- fperity, in a fucceflion of peace and plenty, and without the cruel necejjity or trouble oi fuffocation by fire and brim- flone. From this declaration it by no means follows, that the old pradice of fuffoca- tion can be juftified; but muft be con- demned as impolitic, and highly difad- vantageous -, for they mnjl he very weak who purfne a plan of condu6i of f mall pro-^ Jity when a better is offered of double or treble advantage. 94 "' GLASSES. / CHAP. XVI. BEE GLASSES. JL HE moft convenient fhape to {et over bees, fhould be fimilar to thofe of pi. 2. fig I ', that is, perpendicular to the circular top, or firaight dome. Four are defigned for a box, one at each corner ; and one in the middle which is to hold /wo quarts _; the others, only one quart each. That of the centre fhould be in two parts ; the lower part to be open at both ends ; the upper divifion of the glafs to be circular at top. There muft be a thin circular piece of wood, of proper dimenfiorts, to lay over the top of the under glafs, to fupport it when fet over, nnd in it three apertures, cut out from the middle, by which the bees are to afcend into the upper half of the glafs. It will be necelTary to have an adap- ter, or board of the fize of the top of GLASSES. 95 the box, on which the gli^.iTes are to be fet. Apertures are to be made in it, to correfpond with thofe on the hive-top, but to be hmited in length, and not to exceed the width of the glalTes, as pi. 2. fig- 3- Inftead of flicks to fupport the empty combs, STAGES feem preferable. Three flips of wood, an inch and a half wide, and of a length to fuit the bottom of the glafTes : fmall holes are to be made near their edges, to receive long pegs, or flight fticks, about three or four inches long, and thus form^^^c-j wherein to fix the empty combs. The bottom edges, and ends of the fliages mufl: be round, or bevelled off, and the ends of the pegs are to be cut fmooth v^ith the furface, to prevent any impediment to the entrance of the divider. The fmall glafTes re- quire two fuch flages ; the larger central, three, in each divifion ; and to be placed fo as not to obflru with the glafs thereon, while the other is kept clofe and fleady in its place, till an empty one is fet on. The glafs taken off is to be conveyed to a darkened roomj and turning it on its fide, to- wards the light, the bees will fly diredly thereto, and foon quit the glafs. If they do not, tapping on the fides with the hand, or blowing with a pair of bel- lows, will make them foon relinquifh it. Small glaffes are to be taken off in the fame way , but by taking them to three or four yards diflance, and tapping with the fingers on their fides, with the bot- tom upwards, and gradually walking on, the bees will efcape without anger or danger. Or they may be laid on their GLASSES. 101 fides on the ground, and the bees will quit leifurely of themfelves. Thefe operations will be rather an amufe- ment, than adls attended with fear, when a little pra<^ice has made them familiar. Spare virgin combs fliould annually be referved for decoys to the glaffes. They fhould be kept in clofe boxes, or draw- ers, in a dry room, wrapped in papers, that neither duft nor the wax-moth may injure them. CHAP. XVIL DEPRIVATION, t>R THE TAKING UP OF HIVES OF HONEY. Di DEPRIVATION is either partial or general : the partial is that of taking hives or boxes as foon as they are judged to be full. When a flock has been fo profperous as to have the triplet full, it muft be then taken off, and another triplet fet in its place ^ but the duplet muft remain, while a continued fepara- 102 DEPRIVATION. tion of triplets may be made as often as they become filled. To know when ilraw hives are nearly filled, flrike round the body, and if it feel hollow, and a fmall buz be heard, it is a fign of their not being near full ; but M it feel folid, and dead to the ftrokes, and a great buz of fome continuance follow, it indicates its fulnefs. Through the windows of boxes this may be difcovered at fight. Triplets are to be taken fo long as the feafon and weather are favourable for pro- ducing honey ^ otherwife the flock mufl be raijed on a nadir. Place the hive taken, a confiderable diflance from the ftock y and if in two or three hours the bees remain quiet, there is a prefumptioh of its having a queen, or brood, and it mufl be fet on again. But when all the.^ three hives appear crowded with bees, fo as to want more room, fet the hive that was taken, with its door as near as can be to the flock door, fo as not to obflrudl it ;. laying a flip of wood as a bridge from one to the other: and place an empty DEPRIVATION. IO3 thplef on the flock. The hive being placed thus near to the flock, witii its floor touching, will be efleemed flill as one family, and the brood reared as fuch; and in about three weeks may be taken away. The brood in tliat time v^illbe matured, and the cells filled with honey. But in the interim, if an unufual crowd or diflurbance, or crumbs of wax, are feen at the door, it is a token that the flock bees, or fome others, have begun to pillage. Obferving tliis, take it di- redlly to a dark room, and cover it up for a few hours : if then the bees are quietly efcaping, let it remain till morn- ing, and then fume it, whatever be the flate of the bees. But if, after the triplet has been taken, the flock is in confufion, it is a fign that the queen was therein (though this fel- dom happens), and it mufl be replaced.^ This CAUTION is particularly necefTary to be obferved, in refped of all hives when taken ; as fometimes a young queen may relide in one hive, and the old one in another ^ or the old queen may be in 104 DEPRIVATION* it herfelf. This is often the cafe with duplets which have farina and broody and that even though the upper door had been timely fhut. Generallyy when a nadir is half full of combs, and the door of the upper hive has been kept fhut^ the queen begins to lay her eggs in the nadir; therefore, in about three weeks after, the brood in the fuperior hive will have been hatched, and the cells filled with honey, and proper for taking. No DUPLET is to be feparated in autumn, unlefs the hive left, in all appearance, is quite full ; then that which feems moll likely not to have the queen may be taken ; but if this cannot be determined, it is moft eligible to let both (land. The bees will not be the worfe for having more food than is neceffary (if kept warm in winter) ; but may perifh by having too little, which may happen in a protraded bad fpring. 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 feparated, if farina has DEPRIVATION. IO5 been carried in, it (hews all is well ; but if not, return the hive that fails to the flock again. When it happens that a feparated hive has a queen^ and is well ftored, it may be kept, if fuch an increafe is wanted ; pro- vided the . flock left has alfo a queen. But if, unfortunately, the flock queen has been killed in the operation, reftore the hive taken, to its family. The BROOD COMBS of hives taken, fhould be handled with great tendernefs and circumfpedlion, that none may be damaged or cruflied. Rather cut into the honey cells than into the brood ^ and let them be kept warm, until they are fet over a flock. Place them in an empty hive reverfed, without its cover; the combs to be difpofed fo as to touch each other as little as pofhble, by placing flips of wood, half an inch in thicknefs, be- tween, to give fufficient fpace for the young to be excluded, and for the paf- fage of the bees to nourilh them. At night fet them over the flock they came lo6 DEPRIVATION. from, or fome other with fallows, ofiers, or lime trtes, which would be likely to 124 PASTURAGE. prove of more confiderable advantage for eftablifhing a produ6tive apiary, than to let fuch lands remain covered only with fourgrafs, ruflies, furze, and briers, and fuch like unprofitable vegetables. Per- haps many perfons will find their account in removing their ftocks of bees to fields of clover, buck-wheat, turnips, muftard, or heath, according as the flowers are earlier or later than thofe of their own iituation. CHAP. XIX OF HONEY DEWS, J^ONEY dew has in general been er- roneoufly fuppofed to be a dew that falls indifcriminately on all plants alike ; whereas the true honey dew is an exudation from the leaves of a few fpecies only^ and that at a time when other dews do not exift. The trees and plants on which it is found, are the oak, maple^ fycamorcj HONEY DEWS. 12$ lime, hazel, and blackberry ; and fome- times, though veiy feldom, on cherry trees and currant buflies. Its time of appearance is about ten or eleven o*clock in the morning, and- its duration about four or five hours, ac- cording as the I'ultry heat which produces it continues. Sometimes it is- found as early as- feven o'clock, and though the fun does not fhine cut, if the preceding day and night have been fultry j or when the fun's rays are refiedled from clouds. It is not always found in the feverai fpe- cies at one time, perhaps only on one in particular. This fubflance is as tranfparent and as fweet as honey , in facfl, it is honey. At times it refembles Httle globules ; but more often appears on the leaves like a iyrup, and moftly in the old ones. The SEASON of its ufual appearance is from the middle of June to the middle of July ; but varies in different counties, and according as the weather is more or lefs favourable. In fome years there is none at all. In general, when fruit is 126 HONEY DEWS. backward, fo are honey dews; even fo late as harveft. There have been in- fiances of honey dews izvo months later than the ufual time, owing to the wetnefs ©f the fummer, and then but fmall in quantity. The flocks, when taken^ were light, and thofe left moftly died of famine in the winter ; except in the HEATH COUNTRIES, which blowing late, furnifhed honey that was but very ordi- nary, and barely adequate to their win^ ter*s wants.. When a honey dew is produced, the ftfbivity of the bees is violent and unre- mitting : they almoft defert the hive to import it ; knowing its time of continu- ance to be of ihort duration, and that on the weather fuddenly changing it is entirely over. While the trees are charged with it, the bees are as though Iwarming therein^ buzzing their joys in loud acclamations. But wo and fmart to thofe who obfl:ru(fl their fwi:t defcent to th.ir hives ! More honey will be coiledled in one week from dews, than in many ftom HONEY DEWS. 127 flowers. It is obvious, therefore, how great nuifl be the advantage ofthofe kind of trees in the vicinity, and from tht Jlory method^ by which the bees may (with care) never beat a lofs for enlargement to beftow the treafure in. CHAP. XX. DISEASES OF BEES. v^OLD, foggy, damp weather, in the winter, is very often fatal to bees,; for then having no exercife they become fubjed to a purging, by which they are foon reduced very weak y and cluftering together in a body foil each other, and thus contaminate the whole. The figns of this difeafe are fmall crumbs of wax about the door, or on the floor, with many dead bees, and much filth caked together, and, if of fome time {landing, mouldy, often concealing defl:ruclive wax-moths, &c. If the bees do not 128 DISEASES. fly out, and appear as adlive as other flocks, it is a iymptom that they are either dead orjiarving. In Hertfordfhire I had many flocks affeded ; but in Pem-^ brokefliire I never had one difeafed ^ owing, I fuppofe, to the flrong and frequent ventilation of sea air, to which my fituation is expofed, keeping the atmofphere always pure. The difeafed flocks are to be taken, as foon as difcovered, into a warm room. Brufh away the foulnefs from the edges of the combs, cutting out the parts that are mouldy or black : fet the hive at a moderate diflance from the fire, which will revive the bees that are feeble, or torpid ; as foon as they begin to move, pafs among them a few drops of honied ale ; tie a flight 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 honied ale in which the leaves of rofemary have been infufed, and fet the hive on a clean floor. Contrad the DISEASES. I2Q door, lb as to admit a little of the warm air. Let them remain till next day. If then the bees are few, or are ftiil weakly, cover a dry floor with allies, place on that a little hay, or ftraw, and let the hive therein, conveying it to its ufual ftand. Cover it well with ftraw, bags, &:c. and notice occafionally whether their condition may require further feeding; which fliould be given daily, if the hive is not fuiticiently fiored ^vith honey and farina. When bees fall motionlefs to the bot- tom of the hive, it indicates that they are chilled with cold, or in a flarving con- dition. To prevent a further deftruction, treat them as above, or fet them to a plentiful flock. Bees often fly in a defultory manner about the hives, bee-houfes or dwelling- houfe, in the fpring, with lamenting tones, as though wanting fomething : >i\\'x'iiomething is food ; for they are almofl famiihed. By observing which of the flocks has an unufual crowd at their door, the diflrelfed hive may be difcovered. DISEASES. A frefli, diy and warm fioor muft be given them , and they mufh be imme- diately fed : the dcky of a day may be a day too late. When ftocks appear to be light, a daily feeding is indifpenfable, till a cer- tainty of honey -gathering has com- menced. Or a hive or box may be cut down to five inches, and filled with combs of honey, properly placed, which may laft them a long while. The MORE BEES a hive contains, the - greater their warmth, which caufes them ^ the fooner to become adive in the fprlng ; and accelerates the breeding of the queen, and the production of young. But the quicker alfo will the honey be exhaufled. And this is the reafon why fo many Jocks periJJi in the fpring, when leafl thought of; //"they WQit fcantily Jfored. This confideration fhould operate as a flrong inducement to keep none but * rich flo. ks. ^ A DEGREE OF COLD that fhall throw the few b es of a weak flock into a ufeful lethargy, will not have that eifed on one DISEASES. 131 that is populous. On this principle the weak flock will furvive ; while the popu- lous one periflies, by confuming all the honey by the increafe of numbers ; ad- mitting both to have din equality of ho- ney. When, bees in cold zveather difengage themfelves from the body or clufter that is in the hives, or fly out, they are pre- fently chilled to death. Thefe infects fufter more through the inftability of our climate, in its frequent and fudden tranfitions, than from a long continuance of froil. The milder the zvinter and fpring have been, the fooner their ilorc is exhaufted ; and if it was rather fliort at fird, the fooner the flock dies ; or perchance it may furvive till the latter end of May. The frequent failure of stocks has in mod countries been attributed to WITCHCRAFT, or otYiQV fupeyjiiticus no- tions, inftead of attributing them to their true caiife ; badnefs of weather, or their owner's negle(5l, or want of fiill. 132 DISEASES. Thefe caufes operate alike in every ar- ticle of hufbandry ; often blading the fondeft expe6iations of the farmer. But he will not be fo abfurd as to fuppofe that evilfpirits, or witchcraft, have any power to fport with mortals, or their property, at pleafure ; much lefs that bees in parti- cular fhould be victims to their maHce, more than Iheep or cattle. No ! he pa- tiently fubmits to the Omnipotent Difpofer of all events, from the deftru(5lion of the ant-hill to the diffolution of mighty em- pires. To fecure them from difeafes, it will be neceffary (contrary to the common opinion) to keep the hives zvarm in win- ter, by filling tlie vacancies around and at top of the hives with draw ; efpecially box -hives. In fnowy weather, or very hard froft, the door-ways fhould be wholly clofed, which in fuch a feafon will not be prejudicial ; provided ca.rt is taken to unftop them immediately on the wea- ther changing ; for as foon as that hap- pens they will be very anxious to iflue out for frefh air, as alfo to empty them- DISEASES. T^^ felves. Bees fliould always be fufFered to make their exit, except as above, as they well know what weather they can bear, and how long to ftay in it. It is bed not to houfe becs in winter ; for when a mild day comes, they will rejoice to take the air, which contributes miTcli to pref^ve them in health. The bees in winter fliould be difturbed as little as pofTible. When bees are long confined by levere froft, or rainy weather though in fummer, they grow difeafed for want of exercife, and for want of emptying themfelves. The regulation of the doors of the hives fliould be proportionate to the weather and the populoufnefs.. The warmer the hives are kept the better. In cold fprings the doors .fliould be fliut at night, and opened in the morning ; but be fure that the bees have no exit,, but of the hive, or it may prove their death. J34 FEEDING. CHAP. XXI. OF FEEDING. V ARIOUS have been the methods and materials for feeding bees in winter. I have found none more fuccefsful, cheap, or convenient, than soft brown su- gar, that is not grainy, a pound to half a pint of mild ale, diffolved over the fire. But as fugar is at prefent very dear, honey may at this time fupply its place, though inferior for the puipiofe. This compofition, which fliould be regu- lated to the confiilence of fyrup, comforts and ftrengthens the bees, preventing dii- orders, increafmg their adivity, and for- warding the brood, if given plentifully in tlie fpring. It is to be adminiftered by means of TROUGHS made of joints of elder, ange- lica, or other kexes, ilit down the middle, the pith and bark taken away, and re- FEEDING. i^^ duced to fuch a depth as eafily to pafs the door-ways of the hives. Their length to be eight inches, or fix at the /eoy?, and flatted a httle on the under fide, and the end clofed with putty, or other cement. Thefe troughs, by paffing ^ar into the hive, enable the bees to come down to feed, without danger from the cold, which they would fuffer in coming to feed at the door. They are alfo too narrow to fmother themfelves therein. The larger the number of bees, fo much the larger muft be their fupplies. When STOCKS shew signs of po- verty, pulh into the hive a trough of the honeyed ale (by this term I always mean either honeyed or fugared ale, as may happen to be cheapeft) in the even- ing; and if the combs obftrucl: its en- trance, pafs a long thin knife to cut a free paffage. The next evening take another trough full, and, puUing the empty one out, pufh in the full one j and thus proceed as long as there is occa- fion. If flocks do not come down to I z 1^6 FEEDING. feed, they Hiould be taken into the houfe, and fed. Such a trough holds about half an ounce ; one of them is enough for any flock for a day and night. This I call PRIVATE FEEDING. By this mctliod they are prevented from feeding to ex- cefs, which they are but too apt to do, when they have an abundant fupply at once ; and thereby bring on a loofeneis, and prove both deftruCl:ive and wafteful. Daily feeding, indeed, is more trouble- fome than gK^ing a quantity at once ; but the lafl is more expenfive, and not fo lafe. I fed, one winter, two very hght Hocks, through the dreary feafon of 1777, till the end of the enfuing May. By the means, and at the- expence only of fixteen pounds of fugar, and one quart of ale, I faved my bees to ilourilli in profperity. Care ihould be taken to place no feeding article on the outjide, or at the door-ways, as it will attrad ftrange bees, who may alfo become robbers, and ruin the (locks. FEEDING. 137 In fuch a difaftrous feafon, a public FEEDING may ho, fubftitutedy which is by taking an old empty comb (the deeper and harder the better), filling the cells on one iide with honeyed ale, and placing it on a hive -floor, and over that empty hive, or pan; and fetting it about the middle of the apiary. The bees will foon flock about it in crowds, and emptr the comb : once in 24 hours replenifli it. They will not come out to feed in im- proper weather, though it continues for three or four days. Troughs of food mull be fubflituted during bad weather. Nor mull puhllc feeding be pra«fl:ifed when other apiaries are pretty near, as the bees of thofe will equally partake with the ow^ner's. The bees will entirely negledt public feeding, as foon as honey can be obtained from flowers. At a public feeding much quarrelling will happen, between thofe who are feed- ing, and others that cannot approach near enough to partake for the great crowd; but it will be unattended with mifchief — only mere, boxing bouts I ^ 138 FEEDING. without ufing their Jiings as in fatal duels. Feeding Ihould not be attempted^ un* til the robbing fealbn is over. If any flocks before that time are in diflreft, they fliould have a trough given them at night, and withdrawn in the morning. The zveighing, or pifing of hives, in February, to judge whether they re-^ quire feeding, ought not to be deferred till after they have for fome time begun to breed j left the additional v/eight of them be miftaken for that of honey, when perhaps there may not be a Ipoonful in the hive, and the continual increafe of mouths produce thefpeedier famine. l^oz^ and then a trough, of food given to the flocks as foon as farina is coiIed:ed> will forward the queen's breeding, and likewife add much to invigorate the bees to greater activity in their labour. I weighed a flock November the 1^1 it was then 291b. 30Z. On February 26th, the w^eight was 241b. loz. — Dif- ference 5 lb. 2 oz. From November 2d to February 26th is 115 days (the wea- FEEDING, i^g thcr mild), in which were confumed 51b, 2 oz. or 82 oz. which is but three quar- ters of an ounce per day. On the 8th of December a fiock weighed 21 lb. 11. oz. ^ the nth, 2olb, 150Z. s the 2ift, 20 lb. 80Z. The difference, from the 8th to the nth, is 120Z. i. e. almofi an ounce per day. From the nth to the 31ft, 5 oz. is but half an ounce per day. The weather frolly the whole time. In the firft tiiruen days the confump- tion was 1 2 oz. in the ten laft only 5 oz. On further trials, I found the refults nearly fimilar. From the whole I have been induced to conclude, that a trough holding about Aa/f an ounce of honeyed ale, daily admi- niftered, is a Juffident fupport to any Jhck while feeding is required Where the price of honey is higher than that of fugar, feeding will be of advantage, though flocks do not need it. For what fugared ale they will confume, will be a proportional faving of fo much Hock honey. Befides which, it will I4 140 FEEDING. caufe thofe flocks, in the next feafon, to be . the fooner fit for florifying ; and likewife, if it fliould be rigorous and long, the flocks, neverthelefs, would be rejoicing in plenty, while their neigh- bours would be flarving tlirough fcarcity. The feeding of bees, in fpring, is of great advantage to them, as it enlivens and ftrejigthens them, and ftimulates their adlivily, caufing them to breed the earlier. A little good ale, with honey difTolved in it, will be very accep- table, even though they fhould be well provided. Since the preceding flieets were written, I have found a very eligible method of feeding, by taking a half hive, or box, cutting combs of honey down to the proper depth, and placing them therein, on bars fimilar to thofe of the flock which they are to be fet over. Loofen the cover, thrufl a divider under it, take it off, and then carefully (ct the half box of combs upon the divider, and imme- diately withdraw it, and place a cover over the ftock. The quantity of combs FEEDING. 141 put in muft be proportionate to the wants of the bees, to the time of its ap- plication, and the nature of the feafon. CHAP. XXII. OF THEFTS AND WARS OF BEES, jL he bees of apiaries are often enemies to each other, and wage deftrudiive war, compelled thereto by neceffity. The ROBBING SEASON is fooner or later, as the fummer has been more or lefs favourable ; but in general it hap- pens in March and Augujl, That of March is but feldom and trifling: in Auguft very frequent and formidable. I once had a ftock attacked in this month, and again in O^iober, When fwarms have been late, but numerous, or a bad feafon has followed, it will be a very dangerous time, and make it necefiary to contraft all the door- I 5 142 THEFTS. ways, as a caution of fecuiity. A few bees will defend a narrow pafs agamft a multitude. As very bad feafons often occur, which prevent flocks from procuring fuf- ficient honey for their winter fliore 5 re- duced to the choice of Jlarving or flim' dering^ thofe that are ftrong chiefly prefer the latter. This being determined on, they fend SPIES to difcover the Rate of neighbour- ing ftocks ; and fuch as are found to have but few bees, but much honey, are con- cluded to be proper objects for an attack. A few of the fpies for feveral days donge about the doors, trying to get in to obtain more certain knowledge of their flrength and riches -y but are driven away by the powerful flocks, who then plant guards at their door, which the weak flocks do not, and therefore are the firfl to be aflauited. The next day they return in force, and begin a violent fiege^ and a deiperate conflict enfaes. THEFTS. 143 both within and without the hive, neither fide giving quarter. The flouted warriors make a defperate attempt, and rufh forward and feize the queen ; knowing that, by difpatching her, inilant viclory is the confequence ; for the alTaulted bees ahvays defift, and join the viclorjs, the moment they are apprifed of their queen's deaths become as one fraternity, and aifift to cany their own- treaiure to their new habitation. But in caie the queen is protected, they fight on with rage and fury, and death and pillage foon deftroy the flock. As foon as ftrange bees are perceived, contrad the doors to half an inch ; and when an attack is adlually begun, fiop the doors of all the flocks ; taking care that no admiffion can be had, at any cliafms, into the hives, till a httle before dark j and then open all the doors, and the thieves will rufli out and fly home, and the true bees, that were excluded, will enter in. About an hour after lift the flock up e if it is not heavy ^ it muil be taken and 144 T'HEFTS. feft over another flock, by fuming. But if heav)^ and not much plundered, take it to a dark out-houfe, and keep it there two or three days confined, with fome admiflion of air. Very early in the morning fliut all the doors, and poft a perfon near the flocks that were moft likely to be aflaulted, with a kind of battledore, of flight wood, in his or her hand, with which to llrike all the bees down that fliall appear, and tread upon them. Continue this Jport as long as any approach, and in a few hours tliefe formidable defperadoes will be deftroyed. It will be finifhed about noon. As the apiator's bees are all confined^ thofe killed are fure to be rob- bers only ', but if they fliould happen not all to be killed ki one day, keep them ftiil confined, till night, and finifli the w^ork next day. When flidcks do not fhew refentment againfl the attempts of the fjjies, and thereupon keep guard, it is a very fufpi- cious fign of their weaknefs or poverty. They ihould be roufed to anger by / JHEFTS. 145 thmfting fome twigs into the door-way, which will urge them to revenge, and to guard their door. But if fwt^ take the hive, or the enemy will be fure to flrip it. The guard at the doors will continue two or three wxeks, if robbers are about. But when robbers find all the flocks upon their guard, and courageous, after elTays for t\^o or three days, they will deiifl, and retreat to other apiaries in the neighbourhood more favourable to theii clelign. When a flock has been afTaulted, and all on a fudden becomes quiet, with great crowds of bees pafling to and fro, it denotes the death of the queen -, on which immediately clofe the door, and take the hive into a dark room ; and in the evening unflop the door, when the flrange bees will take wing for their own home. Then take the combs out, and Jave the brood -^ or if the honey or brood be fmall in quantity, referve the hive as it was left, to fitper-kive a llock next year^ or to put a fwarm in, 146 THEFTS. As SOON AS STRANGE BEES are feen about the flocks, it will be prudent, if there are any weak flocks, to unite feveral into a well-flored hive of honey, which will not only roufe the courage of the bees, but render them too powerful to be conquered. The bees of good flocks are always very irritable and revengeful^ whenever invaders are on the Icout 3 nor will they let their familiar friend the apiator at that time approach them. CHAP. XXIII. ENEMIES OF BEES. JVlANY, various, and powerful* are the enemies and deflroyers of thefe in- duflrious and beneficial infeds. But a little timely care and attention would prevent or greatly diminilh their depre- dations* ENEMIES* 147 The Wood-pecker^ or Tree-creeper, ieizes the bees as they are gathering farina off the fallows in the fpring. Robins and fparrows will boldly wait at the hive door, and catch them as they come out ; and fundry birds y^/2;^ them in Xkiz\x flight. Poultry are very prejudicial to bees, by catching them as they pafs in or out of their hives ; and their dung is a great nuifance to them. Mice get into the hives by the large and deep gaps made for the door -ways in common hives readily admitting them in winter, to the defhruclion of the flock. They often alfo 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 fliock. Infpec- tion ihould be taken to prevent it -, and traps fet to catch the mice. A good cat, bred in the garden, would devour them. The doors of the hives fhould be made too low for a moufe to enter, but at leafl: three inches wide. The zv ax-moth is but little noticed, or even fufpecled of being, as it is> a very 148 ENEMIES. dangerous enemy, deftroying many flocks in a concealed manner. The mother moth lays her eggs about the fkirts of the hive, if (lie cannot elude the vigilance of the bees, to lay them in the injide. She fpins a clofe and flrong web to de- fend the young, who burrow in the floors, and progreflively confume the combs, to the total deilrudlion of the bees. Old straw hives, or decayed FLOORS, are very favourable to their de- predations. Frequent fhifting the hives, and cleaning the floors, will prevent the evil ; and will guard againfl other dimi- nutive enemies, as ear-wigs, wood-lice, and ants. The neflis of thefe fliouid be defliroyed ; or platters of honey and wa- ter, covered with brown paper, with many holes, which the ants may pafs, but not the bees, and tied dole round, will entice them to their defl:ru(5lion. Spiders' webs fliould not be fufFered about an apiary. Large slugs, orfnails without fhells, creep into the hives in wet weather; and are troublefome to the bees, by ENEMIES. 149 hindering their labour, and foiling the hive by their excrements -, caufing the bees to be very fradious -, but they neither confume the honey nor wax ; rind generally, fooner or later, blunder their way out again : for I very feldom found one in taking a hive up, though I have often feen four or five at a time in boxes. By chance, they fometimes lie againft the door-way, and flop it quite up; which may be foon difcovered, by the bees not being able to enter. They may be taken out by a fharp-pointed wire in the form of a hook. Wasps are much more deftrudive to fhocks than their other adverfaries, by their fuperior flrength and prodigious numbers ; efpecially in a year favourable to their breeding. They are moft nume- rous m July and Auguil. Soon after that the workers die -, but the mothers furvive the winter, and commence breeding about April. But if cold wet weather enfues, the greater part of the brood are flarved -, becaufe the workers cannot fly out for forage, and wafps never lay up 130 ENEMIES. any ftore. Wet is very injtiricus to Iheir nefts J and therefore, in a long feafon of heavy rain, few wafps will appear till September. But a mild winter, f\ic- ceeeded by a hot fpring, will fo favour the increafe of wafps, that, without the gi'eatefl: vigilance, many flocks will fall viAims to their power. One wafp is a match for three bees* They are very bold, aiid fre^tiently encounter the moft evident danger, un- dauntedly oppofing a hoft of bee«, to filch a belly-full of honey. Therefore, when cold weather lets in, knowing that the bees keep no guard then, great num- bers get quietly in, and carry off abun- dance of honey ; and having once tafted of the fweets, they will not defift till they pofTefs the whole. Perhaps the fame method of deflroying them, in this cafe, as di reded for bee robbers, would prove as effedual againfl wafps. When walps are feen dodging about the hives, contraft the doors to half an inchj and fhould the bees be negligent in guarding . their doors, roufe them to ENEMIES. 151 anger by agitating twigs within the door of the hive, which, will induce them to guard, and aiTail the wafps. Jn the fpring the mot/ter zvafps may be ktn about old timber, with the fphnts which they compofe their neils. On the blolFoms of goofeberries and rafberries they will be found often, and may eafily be knocked down and deftroyed. Their death, at that. time ^ will prevent a like number of nefts from exlftir^ the next fummer. A neft of waips, naturalifts inform us, coniifts of thirty thoufand. Their nefts fhould be fought for by children ; who, for a trifle, would feek, and give information of them. Effec- tually to deftroy a nefl : In the evening, when the wafps have done labour, repair to the place, and flop all the holes of their egrefe or regrefs. Introduce a sc^uiB into the chief paflage, and, in- ftantly flopping it with a fod, &c. they will preiently be fuifocated. Dig the neft up, and burn it. Perhaps a wild- fire, of damp gun-powder, placed on a 1^1 ENEMIES. piece of wood, and introduced, would anfwer the famp purpofe. Another way is, to make a hole in the top of their neft (flopping all the others), and then pouring a quantity of boiling water down. This plan might be fubfli- tuted for any method by means of fire, where gun-powder might be dangerous. I have known wafps fo abundant, that in one feafon they deflroyed ten flocks, in one aphry, out of twelve. A few fhillings, prudently diflributed, probably would have prevented this difafter, and diminifhed their nefts ne:it 3^ear. Hornets, in the fpring, v/ill watch the bees as they ilTue from the hives. When they are feen about the hives, they ftiould be knocked down and trod- den upon. They may be trepanned, by placing an empty hive, with its infide fmeared with honey, among the flocks. Allured by this, the mother hornets will begin to build therein. In the evening Hft up the hive, which may be done with fafety, if the mother is there : then {et it down again, and in about half an hour ENEMIES. 153 after, have a vefTel with water ready i take the hive and plunge it a Httle way into the water; then ftrike Tmartly on the top of the hive, and the hornets will fall into the water, and by a pair of tongs may be cruflaed to death. Or, the hive may be clofely flopped up till morning ; . and then taking it into a room, raife the edge next the window : the hornet will fly di redly thereto, and may readily be cut in two by fciffars, crulhed, or knocked down. Their nefts are ufually hung on the rafters, beams, or roofs of barns, or out-houfes, or fixed in hollow trees. They refemble a globe of brownilh paper. The N£ST MAY BE TAKEN by prepar- ing a large-mouthed bag, with a mnnmg firing, to draw the mouth clofe. On a rainy day, or in an evening, put on the bee-drefs, and with great ftilneis approach the neft, and draw the bag gently over it, inftantly pulling the mouth fo clofe, that not a hornet may efcape. Separate it from the parts it may be attached to. 154 ENEMIES. 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 motionlefs ; then taking the bag out, tread upon it, to crufh the neft flat. Turn the neft out upon a parcel of ftraw, which being lighted, will of courfe burn them ; for the water will not kill them, and they will revive. But if poultry are at hand, the cakes of brood may be taken up by a pair of tongs, and laid be- fore the poultry, and they will foon devour the young as a delicious feaft. The fame may be done with the brood from wafps* nefts. CHAP. XXIV. EXTRACTION OF HONEY AND WAX* JL HE hives fliould be kept in a warm room, till the eombs aie taken out^ fince the honey will drain out the IXTRACTION, &C. I^^ iooner while in a fluid ftate. Turn the hive upfide down, cut through the ends of the Ipieets clofe to the hive ; then with a broad but thin knife cut thoup-h o the edges of all the combs, clofe to the hive, and lift it on a clean board, or fliallow diih, having firft taken off the ftraw cover. Then, by a chiflei or wedge, force the body of the hive up, which will be'effedted if the ends of the combs have been properly loofened ; and by this means the combs will all be preferved in their natural order, as fixed at their tops to the frame of bars : difengage them Jingly with the knife, cutting a notch out of each, where it is faflened to the fpleet (which keeps the combs all in their places) till the lafl is difengaged. The combs being thus preferved entircy lay them in a cleanly manner on dilhes, and Hieing off the cover of thofe fealed up, let the honey run out. The combs of common hives cannot be taken out whole (though (pleeted ac- cording to my -diredions) without an iron injrrument in form of an L. The 156 HONEY AND WAX. fliaft to be that of the depth of the hives, exclufive of the wooden handle ; the Ihort foot is to be two inches long, and half an inch wide, made fnarp to cut both ways ; the handle, of wood, four- fquare. This is to be paffed down be- tween the combs to the hive top ; then turning the inllrument half round, and drawing it to you, the combs will be difengaged from their fattening to the top of the hive. Proceed then to loofen them from the ftdes^ &c. as above direfted, and they may be taken out without crulhing and breaking them to pieces. The taking out the combs whole, or nearly fo, is of great advantage to the prefervation of the broody and the purity of the honey ; which may by thefe means be extraded without mix- ing the fluids of brood, or dead bees, or any other heterogeneous matter with it. Carefully feparate and preferve the parts of empty virgin combs by them- felves, tor placing iii glaffes ^ and thofe HONEY AND WAX. l£'j that are black, droily, or charged with farina or dead brood, keep apart. The FINE COMBS are to be drained and melted by themfelves, as being free from any alloy. They may be maflied by the hands, and put upon hair fieves, as being pure virgin honey. The parts of combs that have brood or farina in them, are to be cut out rather beyond their extent, to guard againft the chance of cutting among the brood cells. The inforior combs mufl have all their defiled parts cut out, and then be fqueezed over fieves, or bolting cloths ftretched over flicks, laid over dripping or other wide pans, &c. and placed at a proper diflance from the fire, or in a room that has one, for the more fpeedy running of the honey. But for greater expedition, in large apiaries />r^j are ufed. The pots of honey fhould not be tied down till a few days after their filling, that the fm.all particles of wax or other foreign matter may rife to the top, and be taken off. . K 158 EXTRACTION OF The portions of combs that were laid afide as very impure, but contair.ing honc}^, may be cut, and throv/n into water, to make ordinary mead ; or brewed with mait, to make what is in Pembrokefhire called bragget ^ or elfe kt before the bees on broad difhes, &c. but fp read thin to prevent the bees from fliiiing themfelves thereby ; as may like- wife the refufe combs after draining, and afterwards the veffels ; firfl: ftrewing over them hay, grafs, or herbs, to keep the bees from being foiled. They will Hck up every drop of honey. It Ihould be let before them towards the evening. But if it is not carefully done, many bees will fuller by quarrelling ; fo that I think fmall m.ead had better be made of them. Having thus drained they honey from the combs, boil the fine combs by themfelves, with a fufficiency of water to keep them floating, till they are thoroughly melted. A three-cornered bag of ftrong linen cloth, tapering to a point, is to be pre- HONEY AND WAX. J ^g pared, which is to be held by an affiftant over a tub of cold water, while the operator pours the melted combs into the bag; injiantly draw the top cf the bag clofe by a ftring, and let two penons preis it flrongly downwards, between tw^o ^llrong flicks tied together at one end iike a flail. Do this repeatedly down the iides of the bag till no more w^ax illues through. When the wax is cold, it is to be taken from the water, and remelted with very little water, merely fufficient to prevent burning. As it boils, take the fcum off as long as any rifes, and' pour it into proper veiTels. Thofe that are narrower at bottom than top (the moil fo) are to be preferred, Rinfmg the veflels and all the inflruments with cold water firfl^ prevents the w^ax from flicking thereto. The vefTels or moulds for wax are to be placed fo as to have the w^armth of the fire, with a cloth over them, that the zvax may cool graduaUy^ or it will crack. When quite cold, turn out the cakes of wax, and pare o^ all the dregs K 2 l6o EXTRACTION OF that may appear on 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. Inflead of perfons to hold the i?ag, which is fatiguing, it may be flung upon a ftrong flaff, with the ends refting on the backs of two chairs, &c. Or a four-legged /r^Wd? might be more eligible ; high and wide enough to admit a tub of water in the infide ; and with ftrong pegs fixed on the top, at proper diftances, for fuftaniing the bag in the middle of the frame. The bag is to, have a running firing to draw the mouth together. The vefTels in which wax is boiled ought to be conliderably larger than the matter contained ; for when the wax boils, it very fuddenly rifes to a great height, and may prove of dangerous CONSEQUENCE. A more expeditious method of ex- trading the wax from fine combs is, by boiling them alone. Prefs them HONEY AND WAX. l6l ilightly down, ufe very little water, keep them ftirring till the fcum rifes, w^hich take off as long as any rifes ; but when only froth appears, blow that afide. When perfectly diirolved pour it into proper moulds, and fet it near the fire, covered over, till cold. On turning it out, the fmall quantity of impurities which has fubfided to the bottom, is to be pared off. If the cake of wax fhould by chance feem difcoloured, re- boil it again without water. * - Wax, when taken off the fire, cools nearly as foon as metals ; therefore the procefs fliould be executed as expediti- oufly as pofTible, or a lefs quantity of wax will pafs through the ftrainers. If combs are kept a confiderable time, without being melted, they will moulder and rot, or the wax-moth wall breed among them, and devour the greatefb part, and pefter the whole apiary. A hive of three pecks, well filled with full honey combs, of two years ftanding will vield in general 251b. of honey, and K3 l62 HONEY AND WAX. not more than 2 lb. of wax. The ave- rage run of common hives is 151b. of honey, and ilb. of wax. CHAP. XXV. CHARACTERISTIC OBSERVATIONS OU HONEY. ilONEY varies in quality, according to the nature of the flowers from which it is gathered. That from aromatic plants is the bell. But often, through very bad weather, the bees are neceflitated to colle(5l from flowers of very ordinary and difagreeable qualities ; caufing the honey of particu- lar fituations to be bad, while in other counties at the fame time (the weather having been more favourable) the honey was of a very fuperior degree of ex«» cellence. ON HONEY. ' 163 Virgin combs are fuppojed to contain none but honey of the finefl: quaUty , yet, if the above principle be true, iuch may be ordinary. All combs taken from SWARMS are commonly efteemed virgin : but this is an error, if by virgin is meant the purefl: and beft. For every comb, or part of a comb, that has had farina or brood in it, is thereby rendered impure, fo that fo much of any comb or combs, whether of /warms or Jocks y thus circumftanced, is not virgin. This is evident from thQ/zvarms breed- ing through the fummer equally with the (locks, and their combs being equally charged with brood and farina. The WAX from fuch combs will indeed be finer, and in greater quantity than that of flocks. The continued ufe of the cells in breeding, firft foils them, and at length renders them impure ; but the cells where nothing but honey has been depofited, and which, when full, have been fealed over, are certainly most PURE. As to equahty, that of virgin combs may be as ordinary as that ot K4 164 ON HONEY. flocks, if both were gathered at the fame time, and from the fame kind of flowers. The older combs are the weightieft ; for the bees will cement the Jkins of the different breeds of maggots to the fides of the cells, to flrengthen them, till at laft they become as ftiif as brown paper. Old farina and other matters are con- tinually an increafing addition to their weight and confidence, fo as with diffi- culty to be feparated from the real wax, even by a long boiling, and then but' partially. Honey depofited in fuch old combs, neceffarily receives a tinge, tafle,' and fome impurities from them. How- ever, parts of fome combs in old hives, that have been lately made, may be virgm. It is for the reafons above, that a hive of ftale combs, though bulky and weighty, difappoints the expedation, by producing, in general, only one pound of wax, The honey generally brought to the London and other markets is molliv foul. ON HONEY. l5^ and of a coarfe quality, from the caufes aboved flated, as well as from the carelefs and uncleanly manner by which it is extraBed. The common method is, by taking the combs out of the hives by piece-meal, indijcrimhiately, andmafliing them, dead bees, brood, farina, and drofs all together; which mufl needs render it an heterogeneous mafs, of a difagreeabie and often naufeous tafle, and unwholefome in quality For fieves exclude only the grofTer parts ; but the fluids of the maggots and dead bees, with many other impure particles, remab intimately incorporated with the honey. By this unikilful ma- nagement a very valuable and falutary article of diet and medicine has been rendered difgufting and inelegant. With fubmiflion, I would recommend to the nobility and gentry to purchafe none but combs of honey, to be drained at. home. Sophifti cations and impurities would ihen be avoided, and fuch combs might be feleded as are fine, or accord- ing to iheir own fancy. Were this con- K 5 l66 ON HONEY. dition inJlfted iipODj the markets would foon abound with combs of honey in- flead of pots. '-The introduction of fuch a ciiftom mufl: depend on the patronage of the gentry ; without which fo ufeful an improvement will not be likely to take root. Doubtlefs the price mufi: be regulated according to the quality of the combs, as in fugar and other articles. Another benefit may arife from it^ the promoting of the improved Ma- nagement of b^es ; for as in the com- mon method few> very fetv^ fine comb^ can be produced, compared to that- of ftorifying ; the peafantiy would thereby by degrees be influenced to adopt it. The comparative tafte and fragrancy of honey are the beft criterions to judge of its excellency. In cold weather it growls hard and grainy^ Ibme forts are of a whitiih colour, as that gathered from white clover. In warm weather, or in warm rooms, it will ferment, and grow acid. In fome years it is naturally very ON HONEY. 167 glutinous and thick, to what it is in others. Honey, as partaking of acidulous and fallne parts, ought not to be kept in vefTels glazed with lead, as all coarfe ware is, but in flone : for though its efFe6cs may not be felt by the ftrong, it may prove detrimental to the weak and delicate. Sometimes a white mealy matter will feparate, and concrete about pots of honey, which is a real m.eal or farina that the bees digefh with their honey. The zMte attracts the notice, from being the more confpicuous. Honey may be clarified by putting it into a bowl, and fetting that in water over a fire. When it boils, part of the im.purities will rife to the top, and is to be Ikimmed off. The heat, in this pro- cefs, however, takes off from its fra- grancy, and, if properly extracted, it is not neceffar}'. It may be thought that honey retains the virtues of the flowers from which it is Gfatliered. This mav be true in a l68 ON HONEY. degree, efpecially of aromatics ; but as it is gathered from a variety of different flowers, of various qualities, the honey muft partake of that of the aggregate. We find, whatever flowers it may have been colleded from, it flill retains its difagreeing quality (though otherwife di- verfified by flavour and colours), and, if expofed much to fire, lofes its fine Jmell and tafie. Neverthelefs, whether it could be deprived of its difagreeing quality, and made as agreeable as fugar, without a diminution of its medicinal virtues, merits the confideration of the chemift. The heating and griping properties of honey probably arife from liseffential oil, with farina largely abounds ; its deter- gent and faponaceous qualities, from a fixed alkaline ialt, combined with the elFential oil. It is wonderful, amidft the great che- mical difcoveries of this age, that this beneficial article fhould never have been thought of importance enough to obtain an analyfis^ by which a procefs might ON HONEY. 1^9 be deduced, to free it from its offending qualities, without impairing its medici- nal ones. Probably _//^f// a refinement as is jifed with fugar might produce the effe6l ; thougli with the lofs of its fragrancy and fine tafte. Bees will not feed on candied honey, nor fyrup formed of rough-grained fugar, but fuck up the liquid part, and leave the granules behind. CHAP. XXVL TO MAKE MEAD. X O every gallon of water add three pounds and a half of honey. Boil it as long as any fcum arifes, which fkim off. If it boils longer, the fermentation will not fucceed fo well, nor will the Hquor prove fo fine. Pour it into a cooler : at a proper degree of heat, put in a flice of bread 170 MEAD. toafted hard on both fides, covered with frefli yeaft, and with a Httie lemon peel, or any other pleafant-tafled fubflance. Set it in a warm place, and cover it from the cold air. When it has fermented two or three days, turn it up, and flightly cover the bung-hole ; iafle it every day, till it is found to have a vinous flavour and fmell. Bung it then flightly ; and when it appears to have entirely done fermenting, flop it quite down. If another fermentation fhould be perceived, leave the vent peg out for fome days. Having flood fix months, if it is fine, bottle it ; if n6t^ draw it off the lees, drain them out, without rinfing the cafk, and return the liquor into it. Then take a long two ounce phial (fuch as Bateman's drops or Godfrey's cordial are ufually put in), put therein a quarter part of chalk, in fmall bits, and to it a quarter of water : then tying round the neck a piece of thread or twine, let it down into the calk, tilt its top is on a level with the bung-hole ; when pour in about a quarter part of the meafure of MEAD. 171 the phial of weak fpirit of vitriol, and inftantly let it down far enough for the bung to go in ; but not fo low as for any of the liquor to pafs into the phial. Hold the firing till the bung is fafh in, to fecure the phial from flipping down. Care mud be taken, when the bung is to be taken out, to fecure the firing that the phial may not fmk into the liquor. The quantity ftated is enough for nine gallons. The fixed air generatedfrom the phial will gradually pafs into the liquor, and not only fine, but tend greatly to pre- ferve it from acidity, and give it the fparkling quality of champagne ; taking off the difagreeable lufcioufnefs fo com- mon in mead. Having 'ftood foiir or fix months longer, it will be fit to bottle. If any part of the fpirit fliould rife with the fixed air, or by other means get into the liquor, it will be harmlefs ; being often prefcribed in medicine.. Perhaps Iharp vinegar may smfv^ei* as well. I conjecture malt and other fermented liquors will equally be benefited by a iy2 MEAD. fimilar ufe of the vitrioUc acid. Per- haps, if ufed at first with the ferment, it would anfwer the purpofe much fooner. Honey is preferable iofiigar for mak- ing domeftic wines, giving the lightnefs, cordiality, and vinofity of foreign wines. Mead may be flavoured by rafberries, currants, &c. by a proper quantity of fuch articles, that have been preferved with honey or fugar, being infufed into the liquors when fet to ferment. A fmall quantity will then flavour. a much larger quantity, than a much larger if boiled in the liquor at firft. If the liquor ferments too long after it is tunned, brimftone thrown or a few live coals, and fet under the caik, will pre- fently reftrain it, or any other fermenting liquor. To promote fermentaliony care mufl: be had that the caiks be not fliook, and that they be kept warm, excluding much air or light j and with the bung-hole but loofely covered. .MEAD. 17^ For conducing the fermentation with fliccefs, the rule is to flop it at th^ vinous ftate, before it commences to be acidulous: for, if not fermented enough, it will be foul, mawkifh, and not keep ^ if too much, it will then turn four. The practice of vintners is to fcent their calks with the match, viz. for a pipe take four ounces of brimflone, of burned alum one ounce, put in a pipkin, and held over a chaffing diih of coals till the brimflone is melted and runs. Slips of canvas or coarfe linen are then dipped into it, and the powders of nutmegs, cloves, and corianders, inilantly fprinkled on them, and then fired, and let down at the bung-hole, and the fames kept within the veflel as much as poffible.- This prevents the ropinefs of "liquors, and a diffipation of fpirits, and confe- quent weaknefs, arifmg from the imbib- ing quality of new cafks. When vinous liquors become flat, they may be reftored with fpirit of wine, and with railins and fugar, or honey. 174 MEAD. Thefe articles foon render them briik, and fparkling, and reflore their flrength. The juice of elder-berries will com- municate a fine claret colour and tafte. An agreeable roughnefs may be alfo given by the juice of ripe floes. CHAP. XXVIL A SUMMARY OF MONTHLY MANAGE- MENT. As the moft natural, it will be proper to begin our bee year with 06ioher. This month requires no other fuperin- tendence, than fome calual obfervations, viz. that the flocks are not attacked by robbers (for this, though not com- mon in this month, fometimes happens) ; and that no infeds or" other vermin harbour about the hives. SUMMARY. if§ November It is proper to clean the fxoors, or rather to exchange them for clean and warm ones. Cover boxes, efpecially about the tops, with matts or ftraw. If any flocks are light, feed them, which in this cafe mufl be continued through the other cold months. Clear away cobwebs, weeds, and vermin. J^tmher, Requires a continuation of the iTame precautions. If an uncommonly fevere froft happens, fecure them effedtually with coverings, and clofe the doon\'ays ; leaving only a very fmall vacancy for frefh air. And in fnowy weather it is to be attended to that no bees may come out. January, The fame directions are to be obferved as for the two preceding months. 176 SUMMARY. February. Feel the weight of the flocks : thofe that f el light feed daily, till honey- gathering arrives. If two or three troughs of honied ale are given each of the flocks in this and the following month, it will contribute to forward the brood. ' March» As foon as the bees begin to work brifkly, the floors iliould be again fhifted, and every annoyance about the hive taken away. Early in the n.orning will be the propereft time. ' Thofe flocks that appear to be very numerous (if the weather be mild) Ihouid be duplicated. Jpril. The flowers in this month are often replete wath honey, and the fbocks with young bees, fo that fwarms are fometimes SUMMARY. ly^ emitted i to which attention is to be given. Through the windows of boxes may be feen whether honey is carried in, and then feeding may ceafe, unlefs on a change to bad weather. Obibrve to double all the fhocks. May, - The weather in this month is moftly very changeable, fo that light flocks require ftiU to be fed, when it is unfa- vourable, even to the lafl day of its continuance. If the weather is hot, take oif the additional coverings put on in the other months. Be fure now to let the bees have a plenitude of room for breeding ; better too much than too little. But if the weather is cold, mi%, and damp for feveral days, and not attended to, famine may be the con- fequence. This month generally flinniflies many fwarms : therefore conftant watching is requilite from eight |tiU three ^ other- IjS SUMiMARY. wife great part of the prime fwarms will efcape. June. By tapping on the fides of the duplets, it may be known whether they want the addition of a triplet. About the latter end of this month it is likely it may be necelTary to take off fome trip- lets, and to kt nadir hives under. Be very circumfped with regard to the ftocks that have not fwarmed, July. Swarms often rife till the end of this month J and therefore the bees muft be watched till all the hives have fet out their prime fwarms. Take hives off, and place nadirs under, as often as may be rcquifite. About the tenth^ the upper doorways of duplets muft be flopped. If the weather is fo hot as to endanger the melting of the combs, give the hives as much air as poffible, and fcreen SUMMARY. 179 them from the fun, and pour water upon the ground around them. Augiifl, This is a dangerous month for robbing Therefore an obfervation mufl: be had ever\^ day, to fee whether hives are afiauited. By negleding that, many frocks are fi-equently loft. Wafps are to be guarded againft. About the Jatter end of this month is the ufual feafon of general deprivation, or taking up of ftock^. Inftead 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 Oclober. September. No other attention is required than a cafuai caft oF the eye, to fee that the fbocks are not annoyed by robbers, or vermin. PART II. INSTRUCTIONS FOK PERFORMING THE OPERATIONS. GENERAL RULES. I. -i- O put on the bee-drefs whenever an operation is to be performed ; for al- though not always necefiary, yet it will be prudent to be prepared againfh the worft, efpecially for the unexperienced. For a foot may flip, or an accident hap- pen that no human forefight could be apprifcd of. Great care fliould be taken after the drcfs is off, of coming near the bees, as they will be eager to fling, for three or four days,, though the perfon be at a co.Pxfiderable diftance. , GENERAL RULES. 1 8 J ' II. Before any operation on a ilock, flop or Iliut the door-v/ays, and be fure to unftop them as foon as it is over, unlefs where it is otherwife directed. The bed material, as well for this purpofe, as for flopping crevices, is long fliaggy i?iofs, found on banks under hedges. III. Though the operations are direded to- be performed in the morning early, or in the evening as foon as the bees are all at home; yet by the ufe 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 previoufly Ihut in very early m the morning. L 2 No. I. 184 INSTRUMENTS OF FUMIGATION. No. I. INSTRUMENTS OF FUMI- GATION Are, firft, a Box, pi. I. fig. 4. adapt- ed to this purpofe, of the cxdidi f^ze of the boxes in ufe. It mufc have a clofe bottom, nailed to the edges, and without crevices. On one fide a round opening mufl be cut to receive the mouth of a quart TIN POT from, within; and at fuch a diftance that the pot may not be nearer than an inch from the fide, and three inches above the bottom. The QUART POT, without a handle, is to be punched round the fides as full of holes as poffible,'^-vithin an inch of the top (except about two inches, which need have but few), as alfo in its bot- tom. Tlie holes Ihould be as large as thofe of a flour -dredger. The pot is to be fixed in the circular opening by mSTRUMENTS OF FUMIGATION. I 85 flat-headed tacks, with the part havino- the feweft holes next the bottom. Another aperture is to be cut on the right of that for the pot, fix inches in length and four and a half wide, 10 receive a pane of glafs ; it is to have a fhutter to let into a bevel at top, and reft on a ledge at bottom. A wooden or cork ftopper muft be fitted to the pot. It will make the box more convenient for vifion, if a fmail window three or four inches fquare is made in the backy about three inches diftance from the bottom. OBSERVATIONS. Without a great quantity of holes in the pot, each at leafl one-eighth of an inch in diameter, the matter for fuming will not burn freely, and will thereby hinder the effect defigned. The pot is placed an inch from the fide, that the bees in falling may not lodge or be obftruded in their paflage, and thereby f corded. For a like reafon the pot is L d l86 OBSERVATIONS. three inclies above the bottom. The circular form of the pot prevents any confiderable number of bees from being detained thereon. The part on one fide having few holes, is for laying the fumins; fubftance on. Annexed to the fume-box is Vi frame ^ pL I. fig. 5. to nail on its edge. It confifls of a hollow fquare^ the rim three inches broad, and three quarters of an inch thick -y the infide hollow, to be equal to that of the box; the other parts to extend over the outfide. This frame is intended for placing//^// boxes as well as hives over it ; and there- fore, to fuiL it to that purpofe, its cor^ ners ha.ve four fmall pieces of wood faf- tened^'inV to adapt it to the circular bot^iii$''of the hives. By the breadth of the rim^ it will likewife admit any common-fized hive. Other instruments are, a long thin and broad knife, with a iquare end, and a fquare wooden handle : TW^O BRASS PLATES, OR DIVIDERS, and tivo flip of ' double tin^ of the fame OBSERVATIONS. 187 length as the plates, and three inches broad ; or in Heu thereof two old faws ivithout handles, and their teeth taken off. No. II. The Material for FumigaiiGn. In my former treatife I flightly men- tioned a method oi Jiupefying bees, but have fince that time heard that fome perfons on trial could not fucceed. Having always been in a habit of driving, I did not give the fubjed: that attention which it fo jufhly defended. But reflecting on the great advantages it was capable of could the difficulties be furmounted, I ftudioufly applied to experiments, to accomplilh this defirabJe end, which I now fubmit to my apiarian friends. The SUBSTANCE bed adapted for this purpofe is the Lycoperdon, or- great puff L4. 1 88 MATERIAL FOR FUMIGATION. ball. It is like wife called frog cheefe, mully puff, punk-fift, and by various other names ; but I fhall mention it only under that of Puffs, in the fequel. In good foils it frequently grows as large as a child's head -, commonly as large as the double fift. There is alio a fmall fort, about the iize of a fmall apple, but of a very weak quality. Both forts grow on dry pafture grounds, and in woods ; and thrive where mufh- rooms do, and nearly about the fame time, or either fooner or later, — or fome- times not at all. They are to be gathered in dry wea- ther, if poffible, and as foon as full grown, which is in about eight days. They then begin to turn brown and powdery, and are f/ien moil fit for the purpofe. But if not come to their growth, when dried, they become too hard to hold fire. Prefently after the puffs are gathered, expofe them as much as poffible to the funfhine to dry; or for want of that, in a dry Ihade, &c. fecure from wet or dew. Drying them MATERIAL FOR FUMIGATION. 189 by tht Jire makes them hard, however moderate the heat. Care muft be taken to preferve them dry, in paper bags, in a dry room, till they are wanted. For as they feldom come in feafon early enough for ufe, they fhould be preferved in readinefs for next fummer. They are to be laid on the hearth for an hour or two, the evening before they are to be ufed, to expel from them the dampnefs their fponginefs makes them liable to j which would render them unfit for burning freely. Age likewile has the fame effeft, bereaving them in part of their fbupefying power. Puffs found in autumn in woods, or under hedges, being dried by a moderate fire, though not fo good, may do for want of better. Puffs kept longer than the fecond year, retain little virtue. Thofe puffs which in a dry feafon have become mature, light, and dry, burn the beft of any. The lighter and more fpongy the puffs are, the readier they burn. Thofe that are gathered in, or I' 5 IpO MATERIAL FOR FUMIGATION. loon after, wet weather will be Ycry tardy in burning, being deprived in a great meafure of their virtue, however dried afterwards ; as will thofe that have been dried, but fuffered to get wet again, but which redrying will not reflore. When a zvet feafon, or any other cauie, has hindered the acquifition of puffs of a good quality, they Ihould be flieeped in •dfolution of nitre (fait petre) •in water, viz. a tea fpoonful of nitre grofsly powdered, to a pint of water. After the puffs are foaked 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 bignefs of a pea, to powder, and then add a little linfeed oil. This being fm eared lightly over a puff, will immediately take flame by a candle; blow the flame out, the puff will conti- nue to hold fire, and fume till reduced to tinder. It is to be noticed, that mofb dry puffs will readily hold fire in the open air : but when intr-^duced into a clofe box, MATERIAL FOR FUMIGATION. I91 excluded from freili air, they cease to FUME. And Ilaould frelh air be admitted, it would counteract tiie flupefying qua- lity of the fume already admitted, and delay the operation, or make it wholly unfuccelsful ; therefore the lead frelh air pofTible lliould be admitted. No. III. The Method of Fuming. Take as many pieces of puff, each about the fize of an egg, as the fume pot vvill hold v/ithout prefiing ; lay the pieces on embers, or live coals, in a chafling-diOi, or the ■ like : when they appear to fame v/ell, put them nimbly into the pot of <:::.; flime-box, and im- mediately flop the mouth. The hive or box of bees being previoicfly fet over the box (with all the crevices flopped, that no fmoke may efcape), in about fifteen 192 METHODS OF FUMING. or twenty minutes the bees will be stupe- fied, and fall from their combs into the fume-box. This will the fooner happen if the hive or bee-box is now and then gently tapped on the top. When the fmoke firft rifes, it caufes a great buzzing among the bees, which gradually ceafes as they become fenfelefs ; and then they may be heard to drop down, and will recover again in about the fame fpace of time on the admiffion of frefli air, and without receiving the leaft injury. A flight fuming will at all times render them very peaceable, though not quite infenfible. A fmall portion of bran may be laid on bad puffs when they are firft put in, left they Ihould not retain the fire. The Jitipefying bees is in no zvife prejudicial to therriy fmce they foon return to their wonted labour and activity, as if no fuch operation had been done. Nor do they afterwards fliow any refentment upon that account, which is always the cafe after driving. METHODS OF FUMING* 193 No. IV. A Method for Cottagers who are not po- vided with Dividers, ' Make a hole in the ground fome- thing lejs than the circumference of the hive, and eight inches deep ; fpread a cloth to cover the bottom and fides. In the evening take a flick feven inches long, having a flit in its end to receive a piece of puJfT about the (ize of an egg ; light it, flick the other end in a clod of clay, and inftantly place a hive of bees over it ; and they will become as eafily ftupefied as when fuffo- Gated by brimftone. li one piece of pufF is not fufficient, put in two or three upon fticks. No. V. 194 METHODS OF FUMING. No. V. Or, inflead of a hole, a circular RIDGE OF EARTH, nine inchcs in height, with the infide hollow, and fuitable to fupport the hive, when fet over it. Leave a part of the ridge open to put in a fuming-pot, which may be a fmall earthen pan, an old tin pot, or the like, in which put the lighted puffs, and cover the pot with an old funnel (the pipe off) with many holes in it, to keep the bees from falling on the burning pufls. Im- mediately on putting the pot under, flop the opening by a ibd of earth, made ready for that purpofe. If the pulFs ihould not hold fire, run a wire, or fmall ilick, through the fod, to let in a little frefh air. Or, an empty hive may be ufed for this purpofe, in lieu of the earth ; turn- ing the hive upfide down, and fettirg another thereon. METHODS OF FUMING. I95 Or, the rido;e of earth may be made on a board, and lb be more convenient to be removed near the hives. If the hives are not of equal circumfe.- rence, two fticks, of the due length, with tv/o others nailed acrofs them, and laid over the hive, pot, or kettle, will conveniently iuit an}' hive you have. Thefe methods are defigned for ftori- fied hives only ; it being of no life to fave the bees of fmgle hives. No. VI. The Ufe of Dividers, In separating storified hives, thrufb in one of the brafs dividers lirft, with its turned end upward, between the two hives ; then fhove in the other with its turned end down-wards, and flide it under the fiiil. At the fame time, an allitlant is to keep bath hives from flip- 196 THE USE OF DIVIDERS. ping out of their places. When the apiator withdraws the upper divider, and hive thereon, the afliftant is firmly to keep the tinder divider from moving with one hand, and with the other keep the under hive fteady. The apiator, in drawing the hive towards him, muft move his hands gradually under the divider, till nearly half is withdrawn ; he will then feel it upon a poife, flill keeping the divider clofe up to the hive, lift it gently and carefully up, and fst it on the fume-box, placed by him in readinefs. The afliftant, in the mean while, is to place another empty hive over the flock in lieu of that taken off, or a cover, as the cafe may require. Keep the hand on the cover, or empty hive, and withdraw the divider. If the divider do not eafily come out, ufe a pair of pincers. Sometimes the irregularities and fnags of the broken binding or ft raw of the hives greatly obftrud the free entrance of the divider. To obviate this, it is pro- per to have two slips of double tin. THE USE OF DIVIDERS. I97 fifteen inches long, and four wide : they are to be fhoved in on the right and left fide of the hive ^ introducing them at the middle of the fides, and not at their ends, they will then generally pafs eafily. But if any impediment occurs, run a broad knife between the edge of the hive and the tin, and raik it a fmall degree at the point of obftruclion. Or, if it arifes from the under hive, the knife is to enter under the tin, to difengage it. The Hips having palTed nearly to their whole width, the dividers are to be fhoved in at the back or front of the hive, as Ihall be moil eafy, and under the flips -y by which means they will enter with great facility. Obierve to turn their ends as before mentioned. If the dividers enter at the back, a perfon muft hold his hand againfl the door-way, to prevent the flopping from being Ihoved out. Particular care fliould be had, in tak- ing out the dividers, to fet them upright againfl fome fupport, or to lay them flat. 198 THE USE OF DIVIDERS. to prevent their being hent^ which would render them unfit to keep the bees clofe m. No. VII. To St or if y. To fet on ^ DUPLET, loofen the cover of the flock, and Aide a divider under- neath it, keeping one hand on the cover. Take it off as foon as the Aider is ad- jufled 5 then fet an empty hive upon the divider, and keep tne hive faft while it is withdi*awn. Early in the morning, or in the evening, will be the propereft time to do it : a pair of gloves only will be needful. To place a duplet under a ftock, fet a {tool behind the ftock ; fhove the divider under it, then lift the hive and Aider on the ftool ; fet an empty hive (with its cover off) and floor in the DEPRIVATION. 199 place of the flock, which lift thereon , pull out the flider with one hand, while the empty hive is kept fteady with th^ other. A TRIPLET is to be managed in the fame manner. No. VIII. Deprivation, or Separation of Hives. First, a triplet is to be taken in the evening. The dividers are to be in- troduced, as by No. VI . 3 the ieparated hive is to be placed on a floor, at fome diflance, and then the door unftopped. In about an hour after, or the next morning, if the bees in the triplet are quiet, as alfo thofe of the ftock, there are queens in both ; but if not, (hut the door of that taken, and fet it over the fume box, and proceed to fume, as by No. III. 20O BEPRIVATION. If an under or nadir hive is to be taken from a double or triple hive ftock, the fame method is to be ufedj — only the two upper hives are to be taken off together, and placed on a flool till the nadir is taken away, and then fet on a frefh floor in its old fituation. Second Method of taking Triplets Is, for a flout man to lift up the triplet, ftock, floor and all, and then take them to fome apartment, in which a ftrong form or bench is firmly prepared clofe to the wall, and to place them on that. It may be done any time in the morning, \S. the bees are very early fe- cured from coming out. Follow the diredions of No. VI. ; only the opera- tion may be more fecurely done, with- out being incommoded by the bees of the apiary, when at a diftance from them ; and being againft a wall, the hives are kept more ileady during the infertion of the dividers. If the middle hive feems full of combs, and has not much broody that alfo may be taken. DEPRIVATION. 201 On the GENERAL DEPRIVATION^, the lilves taken off muft be fet apart in an- other part of the garden, to difcover which have queens ; as aho of the flocks. And if any are without, the hive taken from it mufl be reftored, and remain fome weeks longer. The further flimi- gation is to be deferred till the next day after taking. It is to be noted, when hives are lifted on the fume-box^ it fhould be on the divider^ which is then with- drawn, ]3y which means no bee can efcape. The flupefied bees are always to be put in an empty hive, and placed before the flock, on fome fupport. To SEPARATE DUPLETS, is fo ob- vious from what has been written, as to preclude further dire<5lions. Cottagers mufl purfue the methods of No. IV. Many times the edges of straw HIVES will be fo uneven as to fufFer the bees to pafs under them, fo as to be very troublefome on the introdudion of the dividers. To remedy this default, pre- pare a narrow flip of coarfe linen cloth. 202 DEPRIVATION. about three inches wide, and of a length fomewhat more than the circumference of the ftravv hives in ufe. Two fmall 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 ufed, raife the edge of the cloth, jufl high enough to fuffer them to pafs a little under, and let the cloth drop clofe round. Its weight will render it fo clofe as to exclude any bee from pafling. It will many times happen, that a few bees will flill remain in the hive, notwilhftanding the mofl powerful fumi- gation, by having fecured themfelves in the empty cells ; or by the fume not being flrong enough when Ji?^ put in. In fuch a cafe, throw a cloth over the hive, and take it into the dark room, there to remain till the next day -, when gently drumming or tapping on the fides and bottom of the hive, they will rife to the edge of the combs, and fly home, without iliewing any anger. DEPRIVATION. 205 When a hive is cleared of bees, the brood combs fliould be properly placed in an empty hive, inverted on a divider, and fo placed over the itock. This muft be done very leifurely, left it provoke the bees to deflroy the young. If one hive will hold them, put the refidue in an- other, which fet over fome other Hock. Boxes are much eafier feparated than hives, from having their edges more even, though the like obftacles will fometimes happen ; and which aje re- lieved by the fame means as for hives. But the ufe of tin flips will not be requifite. It will be advifable for the unexpe- rienced to praAife the manner of opera- tion by trials on empty hives with a weight laid over them,, before they at- tempt with hives of bees. Care muft be taken, that as few bees may be killed as pofiible ; efpecially where the queen's death would be the ruin of the hive. Cottagers fhould feparate the combs from the bottom hive the night before. 104 DEPRIVATION. by a knife ; when they are to take the hive off, give it a kind of twift, and then lift it on the ridge of earth, as by No. IV. while a perfon inftantly throws a cloth over the top of the hive left, there to remain till next morning ; then placing the edge of the ftraw cover jufl under the cloth, fhove it nimbly and clofely with the right hand, while the cloth is kept fmooth with the left ^ by which means the bees, and pieces of combs, that were lodged on the top, will be pufhed oif by the Hiding in of the cover. But if the cover does not fit clofe, flop the chafms with mofs till cold weather comes, when the obllru(5tions may be pared away with a knife. No. IX. The Re-union of Swarms with their Stocks, or with each other. Having hived a recent fwarm, take it to a diftance from the apiary. Jay RE-UNION OF SWARMS. 20^ a cloth on the ground, and flrike the edge of the hive thereon ; the bees will fail out in a lump. With a fpoon tenderly divide them into three or four parcels, putting them into as many pans, lieves, &c. and fet each parcel at a con- fiderable diftance from each others* light. Thofe parcels which have no queen will foon return home again. That which remains take to a darkened room, and fume, as by No. III. This done, turn them out upon a table, and w^ith a fmall ftick difengage a few at a time from each other, and look atten- tively for the queen. If not found in the firft number, flrike them off the table into an empty hive, and thus proceed with the reft. When (he is found, inftantly feize her between the finger and thumb, and put her into a phial with a notched cork, and about a dozen workers v;ith her, to keep her warm and eafy. Infpedl the remainder of the par- cel, left there fhouid be another young queen. Include them all in one hive. 2o6 RE-UNION OF SWARMS. and {Qt them down before the flock, to which they will gladly unite. But iliould a queen not be found, it is poflible ihe may have fallen down, and been cruflied. In that cafe the bees will foon fliew their inquietude, and return home. If not, give them a flight fum- ing, and proceed as before, but with more circumfpedion. Keep the captive queen two or three days, when, if there Ihould be no occa- fion for preferving her, death mufl be her portion. For, if let loofe, (he will return to the flock, and occafion a repe- tition of the'procefs. Or elfe mxake an artificial fvvarm with her, if wanted. By the like means , asm a n y swarms as rife may be added to the ftock, or united v;"kh oue another^ to form a pow- erful fliock of themfelves. Only then keep the bees in the hive, with a cloth over it, and take them out by a fpoonful at a time, to examine them, puhing the cloth over after every fpoonful, to prevent their reviving too ioon. • ll.E-'D^NION OF SWARMS. 207 Or, swarms may be united, three or four, or more, together, to form a ftock, as directed at pages 99 and loo, or at deprivation time. When two queens rife together with a fwarm, and are hived, but prove hoftile to each other, fumigation will reconcile- •them. The firft queen that recovers will be acknowledged, the other flain. If a fvvarm that is to be united is tu- multuous and mifchievous, the giving them a flight fuming will make them more tradable. It is worth remarking, that bees are often adverfe to receive ftrangers atone time, buf will cordially receive them at another ; therefore they muft be humoured. No. X. Captivating the Queen of a Stock. Fume the ftock, and examine the bees, as in the foregoing article. Some- M 2 208 CAPTIVATING THE QUEEN. times JJie^ as well as fome other bees, will evade the efFe(5l of the fmoke, by entering the empty cells (which is equally the cafe even with brimftone), and there- fore muft be proceeded againft as before dire^led. To diflinguifh a queen, a previous knowledge lliould be acquired, by inlpedling the bees that have been fuiFocated. A queen may be attached to any part, by pafTing a filk thread round her neck, and clipping off part of one wing. Where flie is fixed, the Iwarm will furround and never quit her. Or a queen may be captivated thus ; Put ^ the ft>ces,that have, a, queen into a hive or box, whofe top has long flits of only five thirty -Jeconds of an inch in width. The working bees, by much tapping on the fides of the box, or by blowing the fmoke of tobacco in, will ilFue out, and leave the queen behind, as flie will not be able to pafs the flits, if accurately made. UNION OF STOCKS. 209- No. XL Out-Iiea to recruit weak Stocks. At the clofe of the evening, place a floor on a level with, and to touch that of the outliers ; bring the zveak flock pretty near ; then with a fmall flick very leifurely flroke the out-liers down on a vacant floor. Inflantly take away the Hock, and fet it at a httle diflance, while an afTiftant places the weak ftock over the floor of out-liers, its edge being kept raifed by a wedge. Let them re- main till day -break, by which time the idlers, in all probability, will have afcended ; when, taking away the wedge. replace the flock in its former fituation, and the other at a confiderable diftance. But when a great quantity of bees clufler round the body of a hive, an empty hive fhould be placed near ; when lifting the flock upon the empty hive, idlers and ail thereon, they will foon find and embrace the new accomm-O- dation. M 2 2IO UNION OF STOCKSj Another method is, to fpread a cloth underneath, and by a brufh or watering pot fprinkle water over them ; by which means they will be unable to rife, and may be brufiied oif on the cloth, and put on the floor of an empty hive, and the weak flock over them- No. XII. To unite a qiieenlefi Stock to another. When a ftock in fimmer has loft its queen, ftop the door immediately, till the * other ftock have done work, tJien open it for about an hour, and then ftop it again -, flide under it the divider, fume it, put the bees in an em-pty hive, and fet them over another ftock. By this means, as they gradually acquire vigour, they will affimilate with the ftock, without any difturbance. The hive of combs taken rnoft likely will have much brood therein, which is to be difpofed of as before mentioned, and what ho* ney there is at the owner's fervice. OR SWARMS IN AUTUMN. 211 No. XIII. . To unite zveak Stocks or Szvarms in Autumn, If, through inadvertence, weak flocks or fwarms have been retained till au- tumn, and one of them has a fuiiicient winter's ftore, incorporate the lighted with the ftrongefl, by fuming each iepa^ rate, and placing the weak one over the other. When the bees recover, they will unite without ftrife, and the fupernumerary queen be cail out. If they are both poor in honey, but flrong in numbers, they will form a good flock, if a good hive of honey is placed over them. Otherwife, ' fuffocate them, and take the honey, and fave the brood, if any. Cottagers may unite them by turning one hive bottom upwards, in a cold day, for feveral hours, till the bees become chilled and feeble : the combs are then to be taken out feveraliv, and the bees M 4 7 5 212 DRIVING. brufned off upon a table, and the queen taken from them. Then put the bees into a pail, j^an, he. lay two flicks acrofs, and place the other hive over it ; clofe the joining with a cloth, all but the door-wa}^ Let them fland thu3 t'\vo or three days, in which time they will have united. If afterwards the hive fhould be found too light, the bees fhould be fed. After all, this is but a fhift, which feldom anfwers. Had they been incor- porated in fummer, they would have turned to good account. No. XIV. Pass a divider under the hive to be drove, and then tie a cord acrofs it and the divider; turn the hive upfide down on an empty hive, bucket, or fomething convenient. Place the fume-box, re- DRIVING. 217 verfeci, over ehe hive, (nrfl: taking the cord off), and gently withdraw the divi- der, taking care that the door of the hive is well clofed ;, then with two flicks beat, as though dramming, on the fides of the hive (all but that fide next you) and at the bottom, not very hard, but very quick, ceafing a little at intervals. In about fifteen minutes th^ bees will beg-in to be terrified : hearken whether^ they make a great buz, and whether a buz is likewile in the box, for by that it may be guefled that many are af- - cended. Some one fhould hold the box Heady while the drumming is made, or ' it will (hake, and let the bees out. The box may then be fafely lifted up on its fide oppofite to the light (for the room Ihould be almoft dark), and the bees w^ill fly direclly towards the light. Hold the box fleadily between your fide and arm, and with the other hand continue tapping round, the fides. The bees by this become tame, and will gradually crawl up from- the hive into the box, with loud buzzing; and the more fo^ M 5 214 DRIVING, when the queea afeends, for then the reft "NiW foon follQw ; but till that happens they rife with great relucla,nce. 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 flraw hive may be ufed in- ftead; and the ft.ock lifted on it (when inverted) over night. In the morning, flopping all chafrns and the door, tie the two hives faft with a cord, and invert them, and then proceed as above. The driving of bees renders them very peaceable and tra6^able, fo that they may be fafely taken up in the hand ; though not fo completely as by fumiga- tion. They may be turned on a table* feverally divided, infpeded, and the queen taken from iJiei-n. Buc this peaceable dif- pofition. continues but a little while in either method; fo that the operator mud be as expeditious as pofTible. Ex* cept when the bees are kept in an empty hive two or three days, it will make them extraordinarily tame. SHOW-BOX FOR AMATEURS. 215 Driving will be useful as a fuccedaneum for puffs, io feafons or cir- cumflances when they cannot be had. To NATURALISTS it may be of ad- vantage, by enabling them to inveftigate the properties of thde wonderful but irritable infects, while in a flate of vi- gour, more fatisfaftorily than \:>^ fumlga- tion or immerfio,:. No. XV. ShozV'Box for Amateurs, This BOX, or frame, is to be made of rattan or mahogany, without top or bottom. It is to be nine inches hio-h^ and two and a quarter wide, clear in the infide, exactly ; and twelve long. There is to' be a pane ot clear glafs on each fide, as large as the frame will admit. The glalTes are not to be let into a rabbet, ss ufual, but to Hide up from the bottom 2l6 SHOW-BOX FOR AMATEURS. to the top within fide, under four fmall tenter hooks, and flopped at bottom by a fmall fcrew, fo that the glaffes may be taken out occafionally. There are tQ be two h^lf -inch Jliutters on the out- fide, to fallen in a bevel (not to flide) 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 fo as to be flufh with the top, and at half an inch diflance from each fide 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 efteemed 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 flips or ledges faftened ; between w4iich are to lie (not to flide in a rabbet) two pieces of glafs, each half the length, and fufficient in width to cover the top between the ledges. A wooden loofe cover muft clofe the whole. SHOW-BOX FOR AMATEURS. 217 It muft have a loofe floor two inches -wider than the box; andhttle abutments ihould be added at the corners near the bottom, to give the box a fteadinefs fufficient to prevent its being turned afide. OBSERVATIONS. The narrownefs of the box, and its having but one bar, is intended to pre- vent the bees from making more than ONE COMB, which they would do if it was a (inarier of an inch wider. By being confined to one comb, the minuti^ of their tranfadions are expofed to view on both fides ; the queens not excepted : a difcovery I fufpecl not to be fo fully obtained by any other means known to the pubhc. A window, full fouth, is the properefl to place the box in. A fituation the leaft expofed to wind is necelTary for their fucceeding. The bees are ufed to great heat, and communicate much them- felves, which caufes a great indraught of 2l8 SHOW-SOX FOR AMATlLUR^. cold air to be very prejudicial and dis- couraging. I invented this box in the year 1783, when removing to this jGtuation (which is an extraordinary windy one, beneficial to my own health, but not propitious to bees) ; and not having a convenient afped to fix the box in, the wind greatly impeded their labour, and fruflrated my defigns ; except one year, which being tolerably favourably, my purpofe was in- part andvered. The two door-ways in the back of the box are the readier to introduce troughs of food, in cafe the bees, through bad weather, are hindered from coiled ing, after being firft put in, or at any other time. The two back door-ways are to be always clofe (lopped when not ufed. The reafon why the panes of glafs are not to be fixed in^ is, that in cafe of ac- cidents they may eafily be repaired.. : MANAO£MENTi ^C. 219 No. XVL Management of tlie Shozv Box. Procure a flip of deal, of the length of the box, one inch and a quarter broad, three quarters of an inch thick : pierce fmall holes in it, at equal diilances, four on a fide, into which put eight flight flicks, four or five . inches kmg, and thus form a flage, cutting off all irregularities at tlie bottom. Place in it a ihick empty virgin comb, four or five inches in length and breadth. Introduce it as far up the middle of die box as to touch the bar y fallen it at the ends by two fine and long fcrews, pafl^d in at the front and. back of the box. Or^ the flage- may be hung to the bar by four firings (horfe-hair will be beft) over th-e bar let into grooves, and tied on the fide of the bar, that ' there may be no obflacles above the level of tfae box. 220 MANAGEMENT OF Having procured a queen from n fzvarm^ cut her wings half off, put her into the box at the top, the door being flopped ; then put a pint o^ fumed httSy including ten or twelve drones, into the box with her. A lefs number of bees than a pint will be too few -, and a greater will fo much crowd the comb as to pre- vent the view defigned. Clofe the top by one half of the glafs, and the other by a perforated piece of tin. Whenever the door is unftopped, both pieces of glafs mud be laid over, or there will be too great a draught of air. Throw over them a cloth, and let them remain till the morning ; then unftop the door fo as to admit a palTage of two bees at a time. If on the fecond day the bees feem contented, entirely unitop the door^ and give them a trough of food. Refrain from opening the fhutters for four or five days, and then but feldom, till they have begun to colled, and repair the combs, or it will difgufl them, and caufe a defertion of the box, wliich will fome- times happen notwithftanding. THE SHOW-BOX. 221 For the queen and her fubjecfls, being ufed to a much greater heat, to a larger fociety, and a more commodious habita- tion, will be very much dilpleafed at fuch a fcanty tenement, and not foon reconciled tp it. But however difgufting it may be, if the queen does crawl out, or her iubjeds fwarm out, the one muft drop, and the others, though cluftered on fomething near, muft return^ and the queen may be found under the window, and again re- turned into the box. The clufter, be- ing fecured, is to be introduced to her. If great winds annoy them very much, they will emigrate, though they have enriched the box with honey and brood. The clufter that fettles may be fhook into an empty hive, and fliook out again upon a table, and the box placed near them, when they will will foon join the, queen. For the purpofe of excluding the wind, it is advifable to have a tin trough, of the (hape of a T j the long end to 2£2 THE SHOW-BOX. fit the door- way of the box, and to be open at the other end, as well as at the ends of the crofs tube. Corks are to be fitted to them, that either of them may be flopped in the point from which the wind blows. When the weather proves cool and chilly, cover the box with a woollen cloth. When the bees are wanted to relin* quifli the box, flide a divider under it, and fet over the fume- box ; fliove the box as near the edge of the hollow, as its width, and withdraw the Aider the like width, and the bees will have a free opening to fall into the fume-box. Fume them according to art. The box muft be fet on a board in the window, and fo that no bee may have egrefs to the room; obferving the like precautions as before advifed for window boxes. POSTSCRIPT. ^UST as my manufcHpt was ready for tho^ prefs, I became , ac<4uainted with a Treatsfe, recently publiflied by Mr. James Br>nner^ of Edinburgh, purporting to be " A Nem Plan for fpeedily increajtng the Number of Bee-Hives in Scotland,'^ &c. Upon a careful perufal, feverai palTages in that work feemed worthy of no- tice y but not to alter- the body of my own, I here give them feparate, with a few brief remarks. Mr. Bonner is a flickler for the ScJiira- clwan do(flrine of raifing young queen bees at pleafure, in order to form artificial Jwarms \ and oppofes thofe of a contrary 224 POSTSCRIPT. opinion, though fortified by numerous experiments of refpedable naturalifls, at home and in Germany, feveral years after thofe of Schirach. '^The fubjedl of difpute is of little con- fequence, as not being advantageous for the general ufe of thofe who feek the beft method of producing the mod ho- ney and wax ; nor is it eligible for the purpofe it was defigned for, viz. Artifir cial fwarming. The champions of both fides- exprels their doubts of its general benefit. Bi> himfelf, in. particular, fays, "It is not a ** great number of hives that will pro- " duce the greatefh quantity of honey " and wax, but only real good ones. I " alfo doubt whether more hives can be ** reared by this method^ as our. bees " generally produce more queens natu- " rally, than they are able to fupply " with a fufficient numbej of common *V bees to compofe a fwarm with, as ap- " pears from their killing the fupernu- *' merary ones y and therefore he " pre-^ « fers natural fwarms/' -POSTSCRIPT. 225 Schirach^s method is by a double hive, and the bees are compelled to aicerid into the upper one by the fmoke of rags, &c. A piece of brood comb is cut out, of tour or five inches diameter, containing a maggot or maggots, precifely of three days old, and properly placed in an empty hive, together with a part of a comb of farina, and another of honey : about a quart of bees is then to be introduced, and the hive flopped up, except a fmall palTage for air, and fo remain three days. There will be a gre^t tumult and noife in the hive for fome hours, when it will fubfide, 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 leifurely. After roving about fome time, they will return to their hive. It fhould be done in the fpring. B.'s procefs is, I think, an improve ment : he drives the bees out, then cuts a piece of comb out that has feveral aiaggois, of various ages, and placing, 226 POSTSCRIPT. &c. atidrlthen fets • the hive at a Very confiderable diftance from the apiary, zvitJiotit Jlopphig the bees in. This I un- derfland to be B.'s method, for he feems referved ab to an expUcit explanation. T make no doubt but the ufe of the piffs will be found preferable. Schirach's flopping the bees was ill judged, and what perhaps, occafioned my bad fuccefs. It is fomewhat ftrange that Mr. B. fhould have puriued his refearches, with- out the advantages of bee-glalfes, or bee boxes, but confined himfelf iojimw hives of the common form holding two pecks and a half, and occafionally eeks. His principal dependance for rearing a great number of flocks y^ by providing a jufficiency of pafluragc adequate thereto ; but the waxen caftle he has raifed for this purpofe feems to have been built on a hill of fand. He fuppofes a perfon to begin with live flocks, v/hich thfe iecond year will be iiicreafed to ten, and fo continue to increafe in a duplicate ratio for ten years, POSTSCRIPT. 227 which wiJl then amount to 2,500. He fuppoies likewife, that if each parifia of Scotland had twenty hives in May the amount of the eight hundred parifhes would be 16,000. Suppofing each of thefe hives to throw out one fwarm in September, we Ihould have 32,000 On thefe principles, with proper manage- ment and tolerable feafons, in the fpace ot feven years the flocks would increafe from 32,000 to 2,048,000; and after his draw-backs, his loweft eftimate is' a clear million, producing 4,000,000 pmts of honey, and 1,000,000 pounds ot wax. On the fuppofition that bees will in- creafe double ever)- year, and therefore that five hives the firft year may increafe to ten the fecond year, &c. I will not Afpute : but will there be double the quantity of honey and xvax ? I doubt, not : for, fuppofing the five hives (the bees of them) can onlj- colled from the vicinage, as tar as their flight for pafturage uma% extends, enough to fill their five hives ; the fecond year being inc.reafed to teii. 228 POSTSCRIPT. the fame quantity of flowers will only yield the fame quantity of honey, ad- mitting the feafon fimilar to the iirft. I infer, therefore, that the produce will be no more, though double the number of bees. To this we may add (which B. acknowledges) that feafons are often bad ; rendering hives impoverilhed inftead of increafmg, and that they often die in the winter. The fecond link of this golden chain being broke, down falls the whole mafs of honey and wax appending thereto, and there I leave it. No ! fay its advocates, that is not fair ! We can increafe 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 fupport, to give place for bee-flowers ? Will gentle- men (whom B. chiefly addrefles) plough up their grafs and corn lands, to cultivate fuch flowers ? Surely corn and cattle are of more value tlmn honey ! We had better be without honey than bread. Eut B. has a refource in heath, which POSTSCRIPT. 229 covers, he fays, more than half of Britain ! If true, I am forry to hear it ; and hope moft part of it will fpeedily be ploughed up for corn, though it ihould prove the ruin of this nezv plan of increafing of bees, I (hould fooner prefer VirgiFs method of raifing bees from a dead heifer, or of Sampfon's procuring honey from a dead lion. I fmcerely hope, as Mr. B. has been a practitioner for twenty fix years he has accumulated a fnug fortune, to compen- sate for his labours and ingenious dif- coveries. But as his native land fo much abounds in white clover, heath, furze, &c. it is wonderful that honey fells at ten-pence and twelve-pence per pound, at Edinburgh. It is alfo obfervable, that he gives no account of the produce of his own apiary, and only five inftances of other perfons', of whom he bought honey and wax. To one^ in particular he paid ^Mt pounds for one hive, which was weighed in the market -houfe of Edinburgh ^ but unluckily he omits the N 230 POSTSCRIPT. weight or dimenfions of the hive. The reader, therefore, is left to his own cal- culations. Mr. B, befides his grand refource of flowers, relies on preferving the bees of the ftocks taken, and uniting them with the flocks left. I think his ingenious method of fwarm- ing deferves a place here j 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 feafon arrives ; and my age, and increafmg infirmities, forbid a longer delay. '« Suppofe one drive all the bees out *' of a hive, and thereby make an arti- " Jicial fzvarm. If the old hive has a " royal cell in it, by introducing into it " about five thoufand bees, they will ** hatch out the young queen, with *' all the eggs and nymphs in the cells, ** and render it a fiourilhing hive. The ** method of introducing; the common *' bees is as Ibllov^^ : Let a flrong out- '* Ivinci hive be removed from its ufual POSTSCRIPT. 231 " fituation, about ten A, M. and place *' the hive that has no bees on the fpot " where it flood; the bees, on their " return from the fields, will enter it, " and finding plenty of honey, and '' abundance of eggs, will rear up the " young bees with great alacrity," But hejie it may be afked, Suppofe there hap- pens to be m royal cell in the old hive, how are we to proceed ? On my plan, inftead of driving, I would/umigafe them out ; then infped whether there is a royal cell ; and, if 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 affiflant take it to fome diflance. In the mean time, care- fully examine the old hive, to be afTured that the queen is not left behind among the combs, as flie is frequently one of the lafl that falls. Being fatisfied on this point, place it on its original fland. The bees, on their return, &c. — The hive with the fumed bees fliould be confined till night, to be certain that N 2 232 POSTSCRIPT. the queen is with them; for, if not, they wiir foon fliew it by their uproar, and, in confequence, muft be taken before the flock, and fet bottom up- wards. But if they remain quiet till night, take them to a very confiderable diftance, in another garden or field. An empty hive Ihould be fet in Heu of the combed hive, during the operation, to amufe the bees as they return from the fields. As Mr. B. approves the Shirachean doctrine of a common egg being capable of becoming a queen by the nurfing of the workers, why fhould he infifl on there being a royal cell in the hive ? when common eggs would ferve the purpofc ', only caufmg a delay of a few days before a young queen, fo reared, would be capable of laying eggs. Another method he gives of artificial fwarmino; is, " to take all the bees out *' of the hive, and put into it a confide- " rable number of common bees, who " will hatch out the brood, and rear POSTSCRIPT. 2^3 *^ them, and often fucceed very well. ** But this plan is liable to fome imper- *' fedions ; for, from the time the old " queen is taken away till the young one " is fit to lay eggs, will be twenty-five " days ; during which fpace not a fingle " egg can be laid. To which add eigh- " teen days more, before the eggs can *' be of any fervice.. It is evident that the " befl part of the honey feafon will be ^ '* over, and confequently, by autumn, " the hive cannot be repleniflied with " bees. If L intend to kill a hive of *' bees in autumn, it feems beft to take " away the queen at the end of July, '' leaving a great number of bees in the *' hive, which, having but fev/ bees to *' nurfe up, would collect a greater quan - " tity of honey in that period, than if " they had a queen to lay eggs." " In the fpring, having two hives that " had but few bees in each, I put the " bees of one hive into the other, fuf- ** pedling, as they had both br^d flowly, ^* there might be a defed in one of the N z aj4 POSTSCRIPT. " queens ; and hoping that, by putting " them together, the leaft healthy would '* have been killed -, but the workers of '* both hives kindly united. On turning ** up the hives twenty minutes after, I ** perceived a few bees cluftered toge- ** ther. On a (;Lofe infpedion, I ob- *' ferved the two queens ftruggling *' together with the utmofl fury. Be- *' ing afraid of the ruin of both,. I fepa- <* rated them, and kept them afunder, *■' though they ran with great fury along " the table in fearch of each other. I *' then took the one that appeared the ** boldeft, and put her again into th£> *' hive, where flie was kindly received. *^ When a duel takes place between two. *' queen-bees, the workers commonly ** kill one of the queens themfelves.'* " In November, December, and Ja- ** nuary, bees eat very little food, as " any perfon may be convinced by *' weighing their hives in the beginning " and end of thefe months. But if he *-* iyiU weigh a hive in the beginning of POSTSCRIPT. 235 " March, and likewife at the end, he *' will find a confiderable decreafe, for ** the bees, having now much exercife, " eat more honey in that month than " during the three cold ones, and three ** times as much in May as in March, ** owing to the increafe of brood. " In a mild winter they eat' more " than in a cold one, which enables " them to /hctc/i earlier^ and increafe the ^^ number of bees in the hive. In a " very cold winter many flocks die 5 " whereas, in a mild one, very few. ** In the midft of a fevere froft I have ** often feen my hives with young brood "in them; they are, therefore, not " inactive, but breed even before they " carry in loads." " About Lammas, thofe who live <* where bee vegetation is early over, " efpecially if they keep numerous hives, " ought to remove them to the neigh- " bourhood of heath grounds, if they " ihould be even fix , or eight miles '« diltance y and allow them to continue N.4. 256 POSTSCRIPT. " in that fituation till the heath is out ** of bloom. The rifk is, if the wea- " ther turn out bad in Auguft, the •* trouble will be loft." [Is there no " riik of robbers ?] When bees are " placed in a new fi tuation, they fliould '' not be permitted to come out of their *' hive for the firft time in cold weather, " but kept clofe prifoners for a day " or two, or many will be chilled to *' death in fearching for theirVnew fet- " tlements.'" " Very little ground wall keep many " bees abundantly at work. One acre *' of land would not be overftocked " with twenty hives, and, confequently, *' the twentieth part of an acre would *' keep one /" — [This ftatement ieems *' vague and unfatisfa61:or}^] " Swarms fhould be covered with " a cloth till the heat of the day is •* abated, left they (hould be urged to " rife. " Nor fliould it be omitted to keep *^ a watch over them, as they fometimes POSTSCRIPT. 237 " rife after being two or three hours In *' the hive, and though they had begun '' to work- — perhaps to fettle in another " place they had previouily prepared. " Sometimes, though feldom, a fwarm " will fly oif, notwithftanding every " method that can be ufed to, prevent *' it. This . happens only in very calm ^^ weather, when bees have had liberty, *' fome days before fwarming, to roam " about in fearch of a habitation to " their liking ; which if once they find, " it is difficult, and often impoffible, to ** preveat them from emigrating to « it/* " If the rays of the fun have been *' intercepted by a cloud, or fliower of " rain, in the time of fwarming, the " fwarms will probably be fmall, as " preventing the greater part . from ilTu- " ing. In which cafe, let the fwarm be *'. placed where the m.other hive flood, " for about a quarter of an hour; in " which time the bees that are returning [' from the fields, will foon make the N5 238 POSTSCRIPT. " Iwarm large enough -, and then, the " fwarm fhould be removed to a mile « diflance, to prevent the bees from « going to the old flock. When bees *-^ are feparated from their mother hive •* by driving, or when the hive is fliifted «* from where it formerly flood, they are « infenfible of the change, and always •* fly back to their former flation; for « which reafon, every artificial fwarm 5. " or reinforced hive, is to be fet at a " confiderable diflance.*" — [Would not removing them to a dark room, and confining them a day or two, produce, the like effed ?] " A fwarm tliat efcapes from the ** apiary to a habitation they have pre- " vioufly chofen, ufually fly to it in a. " dired line. The bee-herd ihould run *< or ride within fight of them, as faft " as he can j and if obflru6tions hinder ** him, he fhould attentively notice the ^' point of the line, and keep or recover ^ it, to march therein flraight forward^ ^- regarding the buflies and hedges as he. POSTSCRIPT. 239 " goes, left they fliould be fettled " thereon. But otherwife the line will " probably lead him to fome apiary, " where he may claim his fwarm. I " know for certain, that a fwarm will *' not fly a mile to an empty hive 5 " whereas they will fly four miles to take " pofleflion of an old one with combs in .« it." It is proper here to remark, that Mr, B. reprefents the fetting of an old hive of combs in a perfon^s own garden, or apiary, as a fraudulent pradice ; as -fuch hives may allure his neighbour's fwarms to fettle therein. So may a field of good pafture allure his neighbour's cattle or fheep to feed thereon. What, then, muft he not have better pafturage than thofe in his vicinity ? If ftrange bees vilit his hive, which he fet, bona fide^ to entice his own fwarms, fliould any efcape tmperceived, and his neighbour's bees take pofleflion of it, zvithont being fol- lowed by a perfon who faw them rife, he feems to have a good title to keep them ; for who can fwear ivhofe property they 2:40 POSTSCRIPT.. were ? They fhould have been watclieot The lofs they deferve for negUgencc, which I hope will make all bee-ownei^ more careful in tliis point, if for no other reafon- No honeft perfon will re^ fefe the reftoration, if they can make good their claim. If a perfon fets fuch hives with a view of trepanning his neighbour's fwarms, it is certainly wicked. The ;^/c3//V^ conflitutes the crime. '-' Driving of bees^ to make artificid *-^ fwarms," Mr. B,. obferves, " is very *' profitable^ whea properly performed " by ikilful bee-rnqfters ^ yet it always *' has been, and ever will be^ deftrudlive '' to bees, if performed by unfkilful ^' perfons. And, indeed, all new be- ** ginners m-ay be aim oft certain of ruin- *^' ing fome hiv!es in their attempts.'' T. Wildman eorfobomtes the alFer* lion, by faying, " It is an art not fpee- ** dily attained j yet, till it is, the deftruc- *-' tion of many hives muft be the confe- ^^ quence, as every one will find, on <*- their firft attempts to perform it,*^ To wl^iich truth, J. K. fets his feal. POSTSCRIPT. 241 Mr. Bonner, it feems, has been a bee- manager from his youth ; and is now a profeffor of the art, anH proffers his fer- vice to the gentry of his countr}', who may be defirous of his afTiilance. He appears to be a fuccefsful pupil of the elder Wildman, and like him enumerates feveral mmtcetivres that he can perform, &c. but he does not, like Wildman, divulge the fecret of how, which he referves for his own ufe. However, we may Ihrewdly,. guefs,. that it is by means of the bee-drefs, by driving, and by tlie managemep-t of the queen-bee; by which, to my thinking, any intelligent perfon,, converfant in practice, may eafily do the like, if any one would compenfate him for his time and trouble of amufing them, which is the only ufe thefe feats feem adapted for. In a few words — Notwithflanding Mr,. B. confidently affures his readers, that his plan is " no chimera^ or IVill 0' the wifpy'' many of them, perhaps, may re- quire more folid proofs on which to^ eftabhfh fuch an idea. The more won.- 242 POSTSCRIPT. derful any thing offered for our belief is, the ftronger fhould be the evidence. It feems requifite they fhould know what number of ftocks B. as well as fome of his principal pupils, keep i the quantity of ground fown with the bee vegetables on purpofe : what the quantity of wild bee flowers is in the circuit of their flight ; and what the produce is, on an average, for feveral years, &c. Till this is done, tkofe that have little faith, but much reafoHy will Jiill doiiht^ i£ not dif- i^lieveo I N D E X. *^* Erratum, After Page (^h the next Page is called 6 1, which double Paging continues to Page 96, and is marked in this Index ivith an afteYiJk, A Page Adapter - - . ^^ Age of Bees - _ ^^ Amateurs, Box for - - - 215 Apiary, the Situation for - - 23 « ', the bell; Management of - 24 Aromatic Flowers good for Bees - 120 Artificial Swarming - • 83 B Bee Boxes, to make - - 43 Drefs, to make - - 20 Flowers, a Lift of - - 1 1^ — — Houfe - - - 52 Bees, their Age - "59 , Numbers, Weight, and Meafure 96 , to find in Woods - 96 — , on the Salvation o£ - 90 244 N D E X. Page Bees, will not quit a Hive that has Brood in , how rendered 'Tame ~ , Britain thinly flocked with , nice in their Sele6lion , Dlflance they fly to colle61: , the Quantity of Honey confunied in Winter - - 138 , Why a Stock increafes in pro- portion if kept from Swarming 61 . , have a Natural Impulfe to Swarm 76 , Decreafe of in Winter - y6 . •, reduced to a Quart in winter - g^i ^ , to judge of a Situation that will be productive - - 115 — « — , to be kept warm in Winter - 133 Borage, the King of Flowers - 120 Boxes, Show, for Amateurs 215 Brood Combs, how to treat - 105 • — , the Prefervation of - :o8 Breeding begun - - 76 Casts, the advantage of, (fee Swarms) iii Cells Royal, defcribed - 3 Cottagers, to aiBft one another in the Loan of Bees - 113 . — Method of Fuming 192 ^^ -of Separation, qr Taking 203 •' - — to double Hives - g^ Commons, Heath, and Woods, near, bell Situation for Bees - 1 14 D Deprivation, Diredlions for - lai ., befl Time for so6; 10.7, loS INDEX. 245 Page Deprivation, General, Time for - io6 , of fmgle Hives * io6 , the Tvlethod of - 1,99 ' , General, how - 200 Difcoveries - - 8 Dividers delcrihed - - 47 , Obfervations thereon - 49 , the ufe - ^ 195 Difeafes of Bees - - 127 — to prevent - - 130 Doors, to manage - 6.7^ 71 Drones defcribed - - 4 , their Brood - - 4 — , proper Treatment of - 85 , improper, do. - 86 , their firfl Appearance - • 87 — — , do not always, precede Swarms 87 Driving of Bees, the Method of - 212 Duplets, will not be worked in till wanted 68 , how long to liand - 109 '— — y when to put on - 65 to take off - _ 5^ — -— , when a Swarm wanted from 94 , to Storify - - 198 Duplets, to Separate - - 201 " — , when expedient to remain all the Winter - - 103 Enlargement, a timely - 67 Enemies of Bees - - 146 Eflimate, fhowing the fuperior Profit from Storifying - - 62 Extraction of Wax • - 15^ 246 INDEX. Page Farina, its Nature - - 117 Feeding of Bees - - 134 — 141- ' Signs of Poverty - 135 — — Jnrtruments for - 135. Public - - 136 Fumigation, Inftruments for - 184 — -, Materials for - 187 ", the Method of - 191 — ,, Cottagers Method of - 194 G Glasses, the mofl.propcr * 94, ■ ' ■ ■■ , Obfervations on • ;- 95 , Management - - 97 H Hagkels, to make - - 4t Hives, to make '- "93 , for Cottagers - 38^ — *-, upon an Emgency - 75 — , only a third left for Bees when filled with Combs - 88 — — , how to Hive Bees in - 73 — , on the Body of a Tree. - 76 — — , on the Branches - - 76, 77 , on a hollo w^ Tree - 77> 7^ - ■ ', in a Room - - 81 , to know when nearly filled - 1 03 — . to judge of their Weight, &c. 109 Hive of a larger Size than common recom- mended for the Single Method 64 , Preparation of • • 6z 1 N D E X» 247 Page Hot Summer melts the Combs - 75. Honey, a quick Importation of - 67 ■ fcanty in ba^ Seafons »- 109 ■ ■ ■■, Extradlion of - 154 . , Obfervations on - - 165 -, Combs, Virgin, Errors about 162 ■-, of bad Quality - - 164 , how to jucfge of - 1 56 — — -, its (lilagreeinff Qualities - 167 , Dews, their Nature - 124. Idlers of Duplets - - 7a J that do not lie out - - 70 ,, not to be fufFered - . - 69 , of a Triplet - 70 — — , though not full - 71 Increafe by Storifying «. • J^S* L Land, wafte, to improve by Bee Plants - - ^ 123, 124. Lift of Bee Flowers - '- 1 15 Lying out, Reafon of - 87 — , what delays them from Swarming 89 M Mead^ to make - • 169 ^ , a new Method of fining - 1 70 , ufeful Obfervations - 1 7 1—174 N Nadik Hives, to manage - 66. 69 248 INDEX. Page O Orchards of little ufe to Bees • i^o Outliers of a Triplet - - 69 — , in July - - 83, 84 , in general, the Caufc of 86. 87 ——3. how prejudicial - 88 ) cannot be made a Swarm of 88, 92 , added to a weak Stock - 209. P Fasturage, defcrlbed - 112 ■ 1 , in great Quantities together 116 Farina, Obfervations on 117 ■ , what Diftance the Bees Hy to ccllecfk - - r23 Princefs, often not icady when Bees want to Swarm - - - 87, 8S , when too numerous - 93 ' , unlmpregnated, will de deferted 94 Puffs for fuming, defcribed - 187 Purchafmg of J^ees, Rules and Cautions for - * 37 Q. Queen defcribed - - i - , to diftingulfli ~ 2 , , her Fecundity - - 3 _- , Royal Brood - _ ^ _ — , of her laying Eggs - 60 , dying in the Summer - 73 — , in Winter «. 74 . , are not alike Fruitful - 79 — , deficient in Royal Brood - 8i , to Captivate - - 207 -^ —,' infertile - - 70 Queenlefs Stock added to another - 210. INDEX. 249 Page Removing of Bees - - ^,1 Rules, General - - ^2. 182 s Salvation of Bees 90 , not beneficial for fin^e Hives 91 Sea Water Bees diiregard - 26 Seaibn verv dry, why bad - g j , what Conlequence - - 82 , wet and cold - yi. 82. 108 Show Box, to make - 21c , Obfervatioiis on - - 217 -- — , Management of - 210 Situation, poor, its Confequence - 72 ; — » gooti - 113, 114 Spring, w^hen bad - . -78 , when good - _ -yy Spleets, proper ones - - 62 Statement of Profit ,. - 5 2 Stinging of Bees - _ ' j« — , Remedies for - 15 Stock, that has fwarmed - • m« , to recruit - » m, , addinonal, when wanted - 82 , to fupply with Drones - 8 C , to replenifli with Bees - ^2 , weak, Difad vantage of - 78 , reduced to a Quart in Winter 01 Storifying, the Method of - y^ — • , does not prevent Swarming - 60 INDEX. «S0 Page Storifylng, Its Superiority to other Methods 6i _, other Particulars in which it excels - - 64 -►, Indications for - 65 , the Manner of - - 19^ , of a Triplet . - ^99 Swarms, the Nature of " . 75 ., the Advantage of a mild Sprmg 77 . , the beft Time - - 79 J when the Bees are reluctant 80 . , may rife in a ccid Spring - 80 : the Number trom a Hive - 81 , why few, or none - 81 j , why imall, from fmgle Hives 81 '^ . , Wouds favourable for - 82 . — - — ^ \V et Seafons bad for - 82 » , after, to be returned - ^^ ^ , difcriminatlng Reafons to judge by - - - 83, 84 . , a Method of double for Cottagers 89 — , Succefs of Bees depends on the Swarms - - 9^ , flridl watching necefTary - 91 , miflaken Notions about - 92 , Signs of - - 92 J a Sign of a prime Swarm's Efcape 93 , how with feveral PrincefTes - 94 , Duplets to have both Doors open 94 — — , Princefs not ready for - 92-95 , a Sign that Bees want to - 95 , fly with the Wind - 95 , to judge- which is a good Swarm 95 . , Hiving of - ^ "^^i ——, Preparation of Hives^for - *62 25^ INDEX. Page Swarms, tinkling neceflary - . ^^7 ) of prime - *5^ , of divers Princefles with one *66, 67 , ftray - - *63 . , of cluftering diverfely - *68 • , Artificial - - "^S? , the Method of uniting with the Stock , - - 204 — ■, or with each other - 206 *-" , what Situations produce moll 81 — , fmgle Hives produce too many 81 ■ — -, early, when beft - _ g^ "~— , the Suddennefs of - qq, gi ■— — — , what occafions the Lofs of gi • —-, fettling on a Perfon - *69, , to decoy - *68 ^ummary of Monthly Management - 174 T Thefts, and Wars . - ij^j — — — , Signs of , 142. 14 r — , to manage - > 14^ Tinkling neceffary in the Hiving of Bees *6^ Triplets, Outliers of - ' . 5^ , when to take - 1 01. 109 — — -, to Storify - - 199 — ' — , to deprive . 65. 69 u Uniting Swarms with the Stock - 204 ■"■^ -, 'weak Stocks in Autumn - 211 • ■ -, of Swarms with one an- <^^]\er - . 67, 68. 206 ^ vvi.h rheir Mother Stock 204, 205 2^2 INDEX. W Page Wax, what drawn from - - 119 Watching indiipenfable - - 91 Wafps Enemies to Bees - ^"^t Weight and Meafure of Bees ^ - 90 Winter, Bees to be kept warm in - 132 Woods, good for early Swarming - 82 Workers defcrihed - - 7 ■■, their Brood - - 4 FINIS.