. \) ; \ Y 4 wi ARO ‘ SONATA w\ Aina * PO Ry ert: q ASA RUS RU RR ' \weoreda toe taeth: : i NY AY ANG Aaa 4 PO I sR ; ‘ 5 A senna alee AILSA DIAS ESE Wada GP a F S CD > PS || ALBERT R. MANN i] LIBRARY NEw YorkK STATE COLLEGES OF AGRICULTURE AND HOME ECONOMICS |S: AT CORNELL UNIVERSITY EVERETT FRANKLIN PHILLIPS BEEKEEPING LIBRARY Presented by Mrs. C. and Dr. J. R. Anderson in Memory of Dr. John Anderson hve 2 13 A reae 166 oc9 €00 ye6l € | jeonoesd & Bulag ‘saaq Jo yoo Apuey ay 6881 LLSd'EzS AS Aseaqr) Ayssaaiun [feusoD THE HANDY BOOK OF BEES OPINIONS OF THE PRESS ON THE ‘HANDY BOOK OF BEES.’ “The author of this volume is evidently a practical man, and knows a great deal more about bees and their habits than most of the bee-keepers in England: indeed he may be said to be a very master in the art of bee mysteries.”—Bell’s Life in London. “This volume is throughout so obviously the result of observation and ripe experience as to leave no doubt of its value as a manual for the apiarist.”—Bristol Mercury. “How to manage bees properly, so as to make a profit, is so clearly and pleasantly told in this capital work, that we need not trespass on its pages longer.”—Sherborne Journal. “‘We recommend his book to all who wish to spread a knowledge of this useful art among their neighbours and friends.”—Land and Water. THE HANDY BOOK OF BEES BEING A PRACTICAL TREATISE ON THEIR PROFITABLE MANAGEMENT BY A. PETTIGREW FIFTH EDITION WILLIAM BLACKWOOD AND SONS EDINBURGH AND LONDON MDCOOLXXXIX 1889 PREFACE. SoME years ago, I was induced by my respected friend, Mr W. Thomson, then editor of ‘The Gar- dener,’ to contribute a series of articles on bees for that ‘periodical. Mr Thomson heralded these ar- ticles with a few complimentary remarks. He then said: “ We had practical proof of the extraordinary success resulting from Mr Pettigrew’s system of bee- management when he was our foreman in the gar- dens at Wrotham Park, Middlesex, twenty-five years ago. We assure our readers who may peruse his letters, that though he may recommend what may clash violently with their present knowledge of the subject, he is, notwithstanding, a safe guide; and that where profit is the object, no writer that we have ever read can be compared to him. We predi- cate that his letters will be of far greater value to all interested than the cost of the journal for many years to come.” My father, James Pettigrew, was a labouring man, and perhaps the greatest bee-keeper that Scotland ever produced. He was so successful and enthusi- astic in the management of his bees that he earned vi PREFACE. and received the cognomen of “ The Bee-man ;” and by this name he was:well known for thirty years in a wider circle than the parish of Carluke, Lanark- shire, in which he resided. The district of the parish in which he lived when he kept most hives, took then the name of “ Honey Bank,” which it still bears. While a common labouring man he saved a great deal of money from his bees; indeed it was reported in the Glasgow newspapers that he realised £100 profit from them, one season. His example and success have, twenty-five years after his death, not yet lost their influence on the successful bee- keepers of Carluke, who say, “The old bee-man taught us all we know.” The bee-man saved money enough to purchase the Black Bull Inn of the village, and therein commence business as a publican and butcher. When his sons reached their teens, the management of his bees was left in great measure to them. It was then that the foundation of what I know of bees was laid; and though I left my native village thirty-five years ago, I am still known there as “the bee-man’s son.” As most readers of a book like to know a little of the author, I may be par- doned the egotism of saying, that at the-age of eight- een I was apprenticed to the occupation of gardening at Carstairs House. In about four years afterwards I went to London to pursue my business. While an apprentice at Carstairs, and a journeyman in Middle- sex, I kept bees in “hidden places” in the planta- tions and shrubberies; and while acting in the capacity of head gardener, managed the bees of my PREFACE, vii employers. Now I have a small garden of my own, in which bees are kept for profit. Such is a brief outline of my history. The work before the reader, then, is a practical one, and written by a practical man. Indeed the book is simply an exposition of a system of management practised by my father for forty years ; and profitably, for forty years since his day, by myself and others. Dr M‘Kenzie, in a small book on bees, says he was induced to study the subject from the fact that one of his two labouring men, having found a swarm of bees in a hedge, and therewith commenced bee- keeping, was enabled to go without his wages till they were earned. Previously, both labourers got their wages in advance. The lift given to the one man by the possession of this fugitive swarm was so pleasing to the Doctor, that he ‘pormenoel to read works on bees, and study their management both in this country and on the Continent. This little in- cident shows what a swarm or two of bees may do for a poor labourer. Indeed there are few things more profitable to cottagers living in the country or on the skirts of towns, than a few swarms of bees, or more easily managed. “Bees,” says Cobbett, “are of great use in a house, on account of the honey, the wax, and the swarms they produce: they cost noth- ing to keep, and want nothing but a little care.” In bee-keeping I reckon the question of profit is of first importance. Stings do not seem half so pain- ful to the man whose annual proceeds of bee-keep- ing amount to £10, or £20, or £50. It is my desire, viii PREFACE. therefore, in this work to show how bees may be kept with both profit and pleasure. In addition to the profits of bees, there is a fund of interest and enjoyment derived from keeping them, uplifting in its nature and tendencies. One of the most pleas- ing sights on earth is that of a son of toil, after the labour of the day is done, taking a child in his hand, and going to see his pig, or cow, or bees in his gar- den. Who has not seen hundreds of working men charmed beyond description in attending to their bees or cows! I hold that all employers of labour would do well to encourage their servants to spend their leisure hours in a profitable way. A. PETTIGREW. NOTE TO THE SECOND EDITION. THE author gratefully acknowledges the many favourable notices of the first edition of this book by the press, and the kindly reception it met with from the bee-loving community. More gratifying still are the statements and evidences of priv- ate letters to the author. Hundreds of apiarians, in all positions of society, are now masters of the art of bee-keeping, and are successfully practising the system of management unfolded in the pages of this work. He trusts that this edition will be found as useful as the first, in giving its readers a firm grasp of the subject ; and that it will encourage all who are seeking profit or honey from bee-keeping, to carry into practice most of its lessons, NOTE TO THE FOURTH EDITION. Tue author gratefully acknowledges the kindly welcome given to former editions of this work, and is pleased to know that the perusal of its pages affords gratification and encouragement to bee-keepers of every class. Every week evidence of this fact is received. As the system of management which it unfolds stands on the stable foundation of experience, and has been successfully and widely practised for half a century, there is no reason to doubt that the work will long be considered a stand- ard one, and a safe guide in bee-keeping. As there are other schools of apiarians, a Supplement has been added to this edition. In this Supplement a description of the best system of managing the bar- frame hive and the Stewarton hive has been given. The reader of this work will thereby have an oppor- tunity of gaining a comprehensive knowledge of the best systems of bee-management practised in Great Britain CONTENTS. PART FIRST. THE NATURAL HISTORY OF BEES. CHAPTER I. PAGE The queen bee, .....-....c0 - 1 Her shape and appearance,..... 1 Mother and monarch, ............ 2 The age of queens,................. 2 How long in being hatched?... 2 The food of princesses,........... 3 The fertilisation of queens, ..... 4 Where fertilisation takes place, 6 Sometimes lost on their mar- Tiage-tour, 6 Egg-laying, 7 How many eggs laid daily ’..... 8 The sexes of eggs,.......... Poe: The ovaries of queens,... 9 The eggs of virgin or unmated GUCENS, decccosspasovaaniae heaters 10 CHAPTER II. Drones saswas sciveniseenenacisemsiacies 10 How long in their cells ? . il Why so many ?..........6 wed Their idleness,..... 11 Their sorrowful end,.... ......... 12 CHAPTER III. Working bees,...........:eseerereee 13 Imperfect females, .............00+ 13 PAGE Possess five senses, .......-...00006 14 Their industry,...... juve, Ke Their ingenuity,.. . 16 Their courage, ..........-.eeeeeeeeee 17 How to tame and domesticate Vicious beeS,.........ssseceeeeeres 18 Have bees a language ?.......... 19 CHAPTER IV. Ligurian or Italian bees,......... 20 CHAPTER V. Government of a hive,..........+5 21 CHAPTER VI. Swarming, Preparations made for it, The signal and the rush,......... Piping,.....ceeeeeeeereceeseeeeeeeees Second and third swarms,....... 26 Royal battles, .....:cseceeseeeesees 27 CHAPTER VII. FLOnCY,.. 1s eeeeeeeeeceeeeeeeeseeeeeeee 27 Crude and perfect honey, ....... 28 No two kinds of different sect yield honey alike,... eaeives2o xi CONTENTS. ; CHAPTER VIII. CHAPTER X. a i crate om Beo-bread,, seececmetere-mnnanaraas 32 CHAPTER IX. Too much collected, ...........06+ 33 WAX 5 ecueveeton cap aaiawiinteiwenseasaiiies 30 The product of bees,............. 30 CHAPTER XI. How much honey is consumed to make 1 1b. of wax ?......... 30 | Propolis and water, .......-..+0 33 PART SECOND. PRACTICAL MANAGEMENT. CHAPTER XII. The materials of hives,........... 62 The apiaryy...cccccceeecceeee en gg | Straw hives best,.......... seen 52 How far should hives be off the The quackery of new inven- QTOUDA 2. seeececcccecensteeseeeees 37 | _ thoms,...-seeeceseeeeteeeeetetes 53 How far asunder ?.........0.0000 3g | Improvements and success,..... 54 Bee-houses,.......cccceeereee es 39 | Shapes and sizes, vee 55 The bar-frame hives,.............. 58 CHAPTER XIII. The American slinger,............ 58 The advantages and disadvan- EEG PISBtAERRD OF BER cicieset- me tages of bar-frame hives,...... 59 Much honey ungathered,......... 40 Can a parish be overstocked ?.. 40 All localities not equally good, 40 Honey-plants, ...........ccseeeeeeee 40 Rich soil better than poor,...... 43 Exposed and sheltered pasture, 44 How far will bees go for honey? 44 Short journeys desirable,........ 44 CHAPTER XIV. FLIVES stort satis pantineib-cenisenlaidetiatin 45 Agriculture and horticulture,.. 45 Apiculture has loitered, ......... 45 oe at Facts and figures,..c.c..cscees+ee- 4g | Covers for hives, ........2...ssse0 65 Successful management at Car- CHAPTER XVII luke, paocetiaatese syarteeasiaeoae 47 SEBS ccc shcednthaamemencihieed 66 Mr Reid’s letiters,..............000 47 English bee-keepers far behind, 48 CHAPTER XVIII. Varga NiVess sooiscasnutecenceneteete 50 | Fumigation. 0.00.0... cece 68 CONTENTS. xili The Irishman’s secret,............ 68 | Can be performed at any hour, 89 Old corduroy,.........ccecenee 68 | How to know when hives are Nothing else necessary,.......... 69 ready for swarming,.......... 90 Where to place swarms,........ 91 CHAPTER XIX. Bee-barrow,...........sae0s 92 Swarming and non-swarming,.. 70 Vacant thrones,. ijnajocanieaisee a cree (OD) Can swarms and honey be ob- Successors provided,............. 98 tained from hives the same A little difficulty with second BOASODT ace soecscesdavese seisuevaer 70 SWATINS, oo sseseseeeseeceeeeeeeeeee 94 Swarming system best,.. . 71 | Surplus queens,........... cee 95 Reasons givey........ccccceesee 71) Very useful in many ways,.... 95 Which system yields most su- How to find the queens in a POLST acecsanssusxitseaasnsenicevaes 74 SWATT): sesicvserissancedermicvaaine 97 Great success of Mr Fox,........ 75 His magnificent supers,... . 76 CHAPTER XXIV. His adjusting principle, ......... 76 | Natural swarming, 98 Time of swarming, . 98 CHAPTER XX. Small hives cluster before,..... 98 Supers and supering,............ 77 | Large hives seldom cluster, ... 98 Straw, wood, and glass supers, 77 | Miscarriages, 99 The art of supering unfolded, 78 Their CAUSE, ....ce eee eeee . 99 Assisting bees to fill large su- The hiving of swarms, .......... 100 PETS) secre ds Aaa cesds anes 79 | Artificial thunder and rain,... 101 .. 82 | Fugitive swarms, ws Cutting supers off,................ 838 | Cannot be stopped,............. American swarm-catcher, ...... 102 CHAPTER XXI. Third and fourth swarms,...... 103 Ries il ent te ks 84 | Conflict of queens, ....... - 108 Better for gettinga great weight Regicidal knots, .... . 108 of honey than supers,........ g4 | The loss of queens,........0..... 104 They prevent swarming,....... 84 | Making good the loss,........... 104 Virgin swarms,..........00.cc00 105 CHAPTER XXII. NAGS sice cavestecmesdionnaendasncts 85 aaeaineii Used when both honey and stocks are sought from the swarms of the current year, 86 CHAPTER XXIII. Artificial swarming,............. 87 | Disappointment of beginners, 109 Probably invented by Bonner, 87 | Success is certain to the per- Invaluable, 87 BOVETING ccs setaren er ietuedate 109 Easily performed. 87 | The profits of bee-keeping dur- How 2a. .eseeceeseeeees 87 | ing the last five years, ....... 110 Prevents waste of time, 88 |! The author’s profits since 1870, 110 XIV The importance of feeding well, 110 What happens if not well fed, 111 Hunper-swarits, siscscasconaveves Til Wealthy mill- owners of Lanca- In what proportions mixed,.. Many ways of feeding bees, .. Feeding - board, cistern, said trough, i: svvesceserescaevevesooars 118 The express method of feeding, 115 Feeding in winter, ............... 116 Feeding at home,..............0 116 CHAPTER XXVII. The diseases of bees, ............ 117 Dysentery, .. Foul brood, How to discover its existence, 119 DACRE Opes cccnapumanaeene 120 U7 CHAPTER XXVIII. Mice, Robbers, How bees know each other,... 122 CHAPTER XXIX. Transporting bees,............... Great care required, Ventilation, ..cecessere The value of cross-sticks, ...... CHAPTER XXX. The selection and preparation se stock-hives for another Of COMDSE),