ALBERT R. MANN LIBRARY NEw YORK STATE COLLEGES OF AGRICULTURE AND HOME ECONOMICS AT CORNELL UNIVERSITY EVERETT FRANKLIN PHILLIPS BEEKEEPING LIBRARY ite . ers , * Gibetorant deli ican . ae AH hy ache 3 ga 4 i my Me in " ‘Sh vile te aly yaa j it ¥ mantel ae ane real 18 Na ; chile is) ol ib re oe eg C27 a a ee ae tat Y eee pe vee ee | Oe Ya 9 2S Tiered : hat May 18. 1676.. sf ¥ € * Roger L’Efirange. | } ; ® © ; jest WL ai i 4 ig) ~ ay 7. is ie a | l we A Bere ent OF AN : "Excellent Method OnF AND - COLONIES, COW ATOM (PRE ES _ The owners fiom the great charge and trouble thas attends the Swarming of Bees, and delivers the Bees from the evil reward of Ruine,for the benefit they brought their Mafters; advantaging their “Owners many-fold, above what ever any Method heretofore pradtifed doth. _ Experienced Seven Years by ohn Gedde Gent. In- ventor; and approved by the Royal poe) at Gr ofan Colledge. Ge Third @ dition, ‘Enlarged, with feberat A Dbjectons anftoered, LONDON; - Printed for the Author, and fold by feveral Book? hare in the City and Country, 16 77° Advertifement. | Hat his Majefty bath given and granted by Letters Pa- tents under the great Seals of the Kingdoms, to John’ Gedde | and his Partuers, and Deputees, ‘the full and fole Power, Priviledge and Authority of ufing, practifing, exercifing and enjoying the new Art aud Invention for the Ime — provement of Bees, during the Space of fourteenYears, according tothe Statutes madein that be- half: Barring and excluding all others whatfoever from Making, _ Ufing, Prathifing, Counterfeit- ‘ang, Imitating, or Refembling the fame, without the Special Licence — ‘and. confent of the faid John — Gedde and his Partners, or De- — putees, firft had and obtained, — under ihe Penalties by the faid — Statutes in tike cafe provided. SPE ewes TOTHE He formerly given the Publick fome directions concerning the right way and manner of improving Bees, in _ the form of Bee-Houle, Boxes, - and Colonies, which have beet put in practice in many parts of thefe Kingdoms, Efpecially in twenty and feven Counties of Lug- land, where they have had a full years tryal and experience there- of, to their great fatisfa ion; fo that now the demonftration of the invention, is experienced fo practicable, and profitable, that 1 fearce think there needs any more arguments to perfwade all yah Oe A 3 indu- To the Reader. indufiriows perfons to take and | make uf of its But becanfe Cas all > Bee-maflers-know ) there is nota year, in which thefe pretty Ar- . ifis produce not aliquid. No- vi, worthy obfervation , which . CHecnek to experienced Bee-Ada-— fers, may prove a great encou- “ragement.) to the unexperienced affords ground of new objections. ~ Therefore, for the [itisfa- ion fie who have already raifed objeGions, and for the better informing of all perfons to pradife the fante in a right way and manner, I have been at expenfes and much travel through the Country, to learn way felf, and caufe others to take no- tice of all the objefions raifed by any perfon, worthy confiderati- on: and all obfervations worthy the publifhizg. - All which I have caufed to be added in this Editi- on to what mas in the former lit- Ses ny te i . To the Reader; | the Trad: Ihave alfo amended - fame confiderable faults, occa stoned by the wifplacing of fe- . veral Letters.in the explication of the Schene of the Boxes and Houfes I have taken away all, which I judged fuperfluows, that ‘fo you need be troubled with r0- thing, but whatis neceffsry, for pour better underfianding, and pradifing this new Inventi- on: Allj which ¥ have-done, for the satisfaction of all con- cerned, and for the advance- ment of this fo publick a good, that it may be pracdtifed not on- dy by the Rich, but even by the poorest countryman. 7 / Iwill make no Apology either for the fiyle, or any other de- feds, which may be obvious to the Critical Readers The ap- probation of the Royal Society, and of the moft farsons Fee- Mafters in Englands The ocz- alee A 4 lar Tothe Reader, lar demonfiration of the praitice of this invention, in fome bun-— dreds of places in England, my own feven years experience, the Experience of many Perfons of — Quality, and many others of all — Ranks, with the approbation 4 of his Royal Majefty, # a faf- ficient Testimony of the com- — modioufnefs and +g a this new savention. i Hoole eka NEW DISCOVERY ce. oO B An Excellent Method OF BEEHOUSES Pes ine ey COLONIES HE mane famous and learned Authors, who have writ concerning | the Honey-Bee, have fo abundantly enlarged ‘them- felves in the praifes of that : excellent Creature, which by F fe) [10] fo long and many experiences, — if ig found to be fo induftrious and ‘profitable, that not only — the laborious and learned, but even many Kingsand gteat Men have .accompted it a delight- ful and profitable Jabour, to be- {tow time and expences, to pro- vide convenient places for their prefervation, work, and feed- ing. Amongft thefe, ALliffs _ King of Crete, isreported to be the firft who invented and taught the ufe of Hives, and Honey. Gulieluus 2 Conchis writes that in’ his time, a Ro- man Conful was fo much de- lighted with this excellent — Creature, that he caufed Hives of fine Hornto be erectedin his — Gardens, that through the Horn he might obferve their work. ~ _ Hiltory affords many more inftances of Honourable Per- fons, who, in all ages, have delighted = | [1] delighted in this eare of Bees: Yea, many at this time in Po- land,and other Kingdoms, make good Reveuues by the profita- ble i improvement of Bees; and It is certain, that if Apifacto- | ries were encouraged, a King- dom might be conliderably ad- vantaged thereby. ; But the ufual formas of {traw- Hives, are fubje@t tofo many in- conveniences, charge, trouble, and other cafualties, that men . have been much difcouraged from the pleafant and profita- ble improvement of Bees. This many have difcovered and com- plained of, and have tryed many experiments to get a full and clear prof{pect of their work and Jabour, and to continue. the fame in their Gardens fo long as they could all thefe inconveniences I found in my experience, which acimated’me ay , | to - 4 [12] to eflay, if by a new form of | Hives, thefe might be redrefled or prevented 3 After I had try- ed feveral forms, atlaftIfound — one which anfwered my ex-_ peCation. And after [ had communica- ted in general my experience ta feveral perfons of Quality, they judged’ the invention mor commodious, and better than any hitherto ufed, and defired me to. publith it; which I was unwilling to do, untill by fur- — ther experience [ had found the great, advantage and conveni- ency of the fame. Burt while I thought only of communicating this invention to my friends and acquaintance, I was advertifed by an ingeni-. ous Gentleman, that the J fe luftrious Royal Society at Gee fhane Colledge (thofe great en- COMIABEES and “promoters of hearoine PM t ri | | | © feagt _ Léarning and all good inven- tions) had in a Tranfa@ion CNumb. 96. July 21. 1673:) given a defcription of one of my Boxes (which they had got- ten from the learned Sir Robert Murray, and he from Sir William Thomfon, who had got it from -me, together with a written de-_ ‘{cription of its parts and ufe, not intended for publication, but for private fatisfa@ion on- | ly) and that they had appro- ved the fame, as the beft form of Hives yet invented. This encouraged me to the publication of the Houfe and _ Hives together; for (i fuppo- } fed) if the: Uluftrious Society efteemed fo mucha lame and defective reprefentation of a part, then would they much _ more approvethe whole Inven- | tion when certified of the long experience, commodioufnels , | and [14] and conveniency of the fame. — But becaufe [ defign not to | heap up more words than are — - gpeceflary for a plata underftand- . ing of the right improvement | -of the induftrious Beess I re- commend the Curious to the obfervation of the Creature it felf, where they may have fatif-. _ fying contemplations dayly re- _ newed. Before I proceed to the pra. | tical part of the experiment, I fhall only add a word of the ufefulnels of Wax and Ho- ney. Thereis none who knows not how much they conduce to the health and fatisfaGion of man; it is thefe which adorn your Feafts and Funcrals, they have their own fhare in your food and Phyfick. They who “would be better informed of ‘their particular ufesmay con- fult Phaie, Diofcorides or any other | | | L153] other Naturalift. I fhall con- clude this with the anfwer of Democritus, who lived (as they write) an hundred and nine years, and being asked by what means men might continue in perfect health, and live long, _anfwered, by anointing their bodies with Oyl, and eating Honey. © 7 | Before I defcribe the Boxes, Colony, and Houfe, for their fecurity and prefervation, I would propofe the following Hypothefes or Fundamentals, proved by experience ofall Bee-Matters, upon which, ason abafe or foundation, the whole {tru@ure of the enfuing dif- courfe is founded, and they are thefe. | oq, Firft, it is natural for all Bees to begin at the top, and work downwards.5 > 9. That Bees {warming &- | : broad, [16] broad, is occafioned through : their wantof roomathome. » 3. That a great hinderance of their labour, is confufion a- bout {warming abroad, and mi- {pending their time in luxury. 4. That idlenefs caufes In- — xury, extravagant, unprofitable and unfeafonable increafe of ~ Bees3 which being by thiscom- -modious method, in the right: ufe thereof, prevented, the -ufual, but unkind requital of {mothering and drowning, 1s likewife avoided. 5. That Bees do not live in vigor above three years, and | that all of them ordinarily die infouryears at moft, - | 6. That the great. sigue and troublein attending on the {warming of Bees, does. dif- courage the owner, aH con- fume his profit. FO aK the — ti] The Defcription of ihe Boxes or Hives. ‘HE Boxes may be made of Wain(cot or Fir Deals, or of the fame materials, which Pails for earrying water are made of, or as your Bufhel or Peck meafare. For their dimenfion, it is convenient, that each Box be of that largenefs, that it may con- , tain a Bufhel, the height not exceeding ten inches; and its breadth eighteen inches; that they may more conveniently _ ftand upon one another, and that when the Bees come in loaden, they may not have a great height t togo up. The Box isin figurean 0d2- sho or eight {quare, each {quare 17 nine [13] nine inches in breadths it is covered clofe at the top, having ~ a {quare hole in the middle, — four inches long, and broad, with a (hutter that flidesto and fro ina grove,about half an inch” longer than the hole: It hath - four windows, eachin figure a- Rhombus or fquare, or likean- ordinary Pane of Glafs, oppo-- fitetoone another; in themare- Panes of Glafs with Shuttersto— cover them. © Thedoor for the Bees is divided into fix holes, or two large ones3 at the bot- tom ofthat (quare which {tands for the front, each hole halfan inch broad,and an inch high,for - helping the Bees better to carry — out their dead; each of thefe holes have a fhutter which- {lides up and down in agrove, to cover lefgs or more as the fesfon requires, or as occafion offers: Each Box hath two tron | | handles [19] handles with joints to'be placed about the middle of the Box,on the fides thereof, -for lifting it up when another is to be placed under it, or for tranfporting the fame for ule when the Bees have wrought down to the lower Box. At the top of the Box there is a creafe or rebbet all round it about half aninch in depth on the ourfide, and an inch in height, and another in the innet fide at the bottom, which fervesto fix them when placed upon oneanother. Each ‘Box hath alfo a hole at the fide which fhuts- with a fliding caver, or little Door with hinges 5 this isto be open‘d and ufed (when the Boxes are pla- ‘ced upon one another, andthe ~uppermoft is full of Honey, and when all the Bees are wrought down to the lower Boxes) for pein the (quare’ hole in the 708 B 2 top ee] se ‘top of the lower Box, that fo its cover may divide and cut the work in the upper Box, from the work in the lower, and for this end it Is fit, that the fquare end of the fliding fhutter be covered with Latten, — ‘or iron well fharpened, that it may cutthe work the better. or Within each Box there ts a fquare Frame made of four Pofts, joyned together by eight fmall fticks, and four others croffing thefe, and one ftanding perpendicular in the middle of the Frame: the whole Frame confifting of the four Pofts andof thirteen {mall {ticks, is to be put within the Box, and faftned to four fides’ thereof, by eight Screws, two in each Poft. Upon this Frame do the Bees faften their work, which is very convement, for when you have removed a full wo ‘Box, | [20] Box, you need but unfcrew the Frame, and then may you take out all the work without breaking 1t, or the Box or. Frame, and then you may with pleafure behold the excel- lent Fabrick which thefe inda- {trious Infects have ingentoufly framed. i _ The ufe of the Panes of Glafs, is not only for pleafure, that through them you may behold the work and labour of the Bees, but alfo to Jet you know their f{trength, idlenefs, ful- nefs. or want of room, that fo | you may enlarge or remove - them as youpleafe. And where fome may think that the work of the Bees will darken the Glafs; Ideclare that I have al- . ways found the contrary by ex- perience. : : 2B 3 A [22] A Defiription of the feveral Fi gures of 4 a fingle Box, its Frame, and of a Colony on three Boxes placed on the top of one another in a houfe. Fig. 1. Reprefents a Box projected, lying on its fide, with © its Open end tothe eye where. the Frame is projected. 7 -" BBBB The Box. | C CCC The Screw: pins to faftenthe Frame inthe Box. DD The Brine within the Box. . EE The Wikkdows: _ FF The Doors forthe Bees to goin and out.. G The place by which the cover of the hole i in the of is {bate ) 43: | HH The inner “ rebbet: or creafe at thebottom. | I The {quare hole in the top of tkeBox. © Fig. 2, [23] Fig. 2. Prefentsthe Frame. a The Frame for the Bees to faftentheir work on. Fig. 3. A Reprefents a Box {tanding upright, B The fquare hole through which the Bees work down. | € The thutter chat covers the hole upen occafion. D The piece of wood that © fills up the grove in the Box that is upmoft. E The Doors forthe Bees. F Shutters for covering the doors in Winter. G The windows with panes of Glafsin them. , H Handles for !ifting the - Box when full. I The rebbet or creafe at top for faftning the Boxes anos one another. - K The Pegs that faften the eax. together. ) B 4 Fig. 4. [ 24) 4 A Reprefents a Houfe ith the doors ftanding open, — with one Colony of Boxes» ftanding therein. [t needs no defcription, for it is nothing elfe but three Boxes placed a top one another. --B The Bees flying out aa in at their little doors. | The | ae ae | The Deferigton of the Bee-Honfe. | HE Houfe may be made either of Wood, Bricks, or Stone, @c. and covered ei- ther with Lead, Tile, ec. yet what ever it be covered with, it mutt be fiel’d cloiely with good well feafon'd Wood, fo fmooth- ly that no Vermin may have ac- cefs or placeto lodge in, alfo the bottom mutt be lin’d with boards well joyned together. It will be convenient that it be two foot. high above the ground, and ftretched half a foot without the door, thatthe Bees may more. conveniently reft on it before they enter the » Houfe, or when they come forth to view the weather, orto ley | an [26] 2 and fun themfelves in a good ’ day. This extenfion of the floor will ferve alfo for pre- ferving the Honfe from Ver-— min that none creep up the wall and enter. A The height of the Wall of the Houfe, which ts two yards from the floor to fhe lower part of the roof, - B-The Doors ftanding open, being the fore-part of the — Houle, which muft be fo co- vered as at convenient times it may be all laid open tothe Sun; wherefore it muft have _C Firft a long and broad door hanging down upon iron hinges to fold up, and fo faft- ned by aniron. The breadth of this Door muft be half the height of the wall of the Houfe, and it 1s fo long as betwixt one corner of the Houfe and the é other. | : . : | Ez iro. | ae Mag E* Two Doors faftned with iron . hieges fide- Ways joining In two creafes made in them, astwo opening doors are com- monly made to joing they are of equal breadth and length. F Two narrow Doors each i Jength equal to the pre- ceeding, but far lJefs in breadth. The‘e open fides-ways and fhut inarebbet or creafe made as in © the former door. Thefe are open all the fummer, aud fhut all the winter.’ The reafons why the doors are thus fafhioned and faftned are firft, the greater Door hanging downward, is only to belifted. up, and open- ed once or twice in the year, at moft,- when you are to re- move any Boxes for taking your Honey, or when you are to add aBox more, -thenare all opened. The other twodoors nextit are opened upon the like occafions [23] occafians or ofter, as the Bee- Mafter pleafes, whenhe defires _ to view their work, for they give lightto the glafs windows, fo thac when he looks through the doors in the back of the Houfe, the glaffes receiving light at the other fide will fhow the work better; but obferve, this muft not be done in the heat of the day. The upper folding-door is kept fhut alfo at thofe times, to keep off the rays of the Sun from the Boxes and Bees:.4)/ . In the figure of the back of the Houfe C C Creprefent the three doorsthereia oppofite to the three Colonies placed with- in the Honfe; if you place more Colonies, you may make more © doors. ) : H Reprefents that part of the floor of the Houfe, ‘which below the two loweft doors. [29] | doors in the front of the Houfe is protracted fome three or four inches. . i Ib Back Piller .o€ the Houte muft be protracted one half oot below the floor, forfeet for the Houfe to {tand on, and to keep out Vermin. _ K -Your Houfe muft be fur- nifhed with good Locks, Hin- ges, and other things thereto belonging; alfo you muft have a {pout of Lead to convey the water, which drops from the roof to the corners of the Houfe, that it fall not upon that part of the floor in the front of the Houfe, where the Bees reft themfelves, when go- ing out or coming in, left it fhould killany Bees. . The Houfe may be wade | nine foot long and a yard in _ breadth within from fide to fide. As for the asighe of the roof above [30] ‘ ‘above the walls, it may be madé flat,or of any conventent length as the Bee- Matter pleafes. | 4 — % Of the Convenient Situation — of your Bee-Honfe. {_J Aving defcribed the Boxes — | and Houle, it will be con- venient in thenext place to ad- vife you how to fituate your Honufe with greateft cooveni- ency, forthe warmnefs, quiet, and conveniency of flying a- broad and returning home of your Bees; ; ai 1. Firft, of all your Gardens, Commons, and inclofures, that upon which you would beftow ‘moft pains in planting and — hedging, is the fitteft place for building your Bee-Houle, for . Bees G3). - Bees get their molt profitable food off Trees. 2, Take care you be well guarded from the North- winds | or cold ftorms, and fee that the Houfe be fenfible againft all their enemies and yours; their enemies are ordinarily Swal- lows, Mice, Smoak and all uncleanly things; yours and theirs are Thieves. 2 Place your Houfe in the mott Vally ground, that the af- cent may be when they go a- broad, and the defcent when they return home loaden. 4. Placenot your Houfe di- rectly Eaft and Welt; but a point or two from the South- Eatt to the North-Welt, be- caufe the Bees come not ‘forth in the Morning before the Sun is rifen above an hour, and. they continue above an hour at work and exercife after the Sun T2]} Sun is fet, if the night be fait hi and calm, whereby feveral days — fomé hours are gainedto their — advantage. s. Beware you overlay not your ground with too ma- — ny Colonies, for you will have © ‘more profit of a few Colonies well nourifhed, than of many in overlaid ground; but where there are Forefts or Woods, — there can be no overlaying; — wherefore build your Houle — -according to your ground. “A 6 demas Beaonehsthesom aa pence and pains of any Bee- Matter to plant fuch Trees in his ground as conduce moft for the food and nourifhment: of Bees, fuch are the Oak, Sal- low Tree of .all forts, except the Privie Sallow, but efpeci- ally the Willow which is the ‘gray Sallow, and hath a green early bud before Eafter, which t oO are [33] are called bs the Vulgar, Palms, upon which the Bees begin their early work, as alfo upon moft others. It will be conve- nient to plant in their Gardens of Tyme and Balm abundance, with many other {weet- -(melliog Garden hetbs. : 7. You. may build your Houfe nigh Meadows, where Gattel feed, for it will conduce for their thriving: for it is ob- ferved that Cattel thrive beft where there are moft Bees. The reafon may. be that the Bees fuck out, fome of that which “may hurt. the Cattel.. Your Bee-houfe being buile of Timber, Brick or Stone, and ‘fituate in 4 convenient place, is next to be furnifhed with Co- ‘loniesof Boxes made of proper Materials." - and thofe Boxes with Bees. according as is direct- ed. Which, that you may_the c - better [34] . better do, take thefe following inftructions. . Pirft, it’s oben thet fil, ure not furnithed with’ Bees already, do provide themfelves. with ffocks of good old Hives, The bett Bees are’ known by their great notfe atid’ buz, after you have blown | hard in their Hives; for it ts not’ ‘always the heavieft Hive which 1s ftrong- e(t in Bees. “As for their bo- dies, ‘they are black; bright, finall and {mooth. ° The moft proper’ feafon for ‘tranfplant- ing of Bees is betwixt Afichael- mas and Candleneas, that is, ifthe Bees aré'to be broiight ‘from a far place, becaufein the Winter : Bees are: motl at reft. van Secondly;- Your Bees being. dnee fetled in the ‘place where. you intend to keep them, ‘mutt be tranfplanted ‘from the’ old Form ee Straw-Hives into their new | [asd new Colonies of Boxes, at or a- bout the beginning of 4zarch, asthe feafoa fhall favour; chat fothey may begin their labour with the early (pring, and their owners may at the end of Gx or feven Months of the fame year, both reap the profit, and meke ‘proof of the contrivance. Yea (hakiog a Swarm off from the bough of a Tree into your Boxes, may prove a very fuc- cefsful way of planting them, af they be good early Swarms. The manner of tran{planting your Bees out of the Straw Skeps into the Boxes is as fol- lows, viz. Take one of your Boxes, rubbed with Honey, {weet Herbs ,Water,and Salt; as _youufe todrefs your old Skeps _ when a Swarm is to be put in- tothem 3 Then having opened the fquare hole in the top of your Box, and your Colonies z C2. placed [36] e placed at equal diftancé from eachother in the Houfe, take your ftrongeft and beft furni- fhed Straw-Hive, and place it on the top of the aforefaid Box, — with its front to the front of © the Box, and plaifter it round, | fo as to {top all paflages where- — by the Bees might come out any other way than through — the little holes in the lower part of the front of the Box; — Jet all the windows of the Boxes — and all the doors of the Houfe — be fhut and kept clofe, except — at fuch times as you have oc- cafion to look through them — (which ought to be at the Evening or Morning) either to — obferve what progrefs the Bees — make intheir work, or forplea- — fure and delights ‘only the — {mall ledge at the bottom muft | always be kept open unlefs in | Winter, for then the Bees by — aE thee [37] ‘their going abroad receive ‘much damage and no adyan- tage. When you perceive your firft Box full of work and Bees, take another prepared as the former, and lifting up the firft Box with the Straw- Hive ftill on its top, place this fecond under its; which when you obferveta _ be full as the former, you muft in like manner fapply a third, unlefs it be very late in the years which continual fupply of Boxes, as often as occafion requires, and conftant circle and fucceffion of work therein, is an unqueftionable convenience (which many have attempted, but none ever heretofore attain- ‘ed) for preventing the Swarm- ingof Bees, abroad; which are known never fo to Swarm, un- lefs for want of room and fit- ting accommodation for them- - - felves and their work. ‘But if Cc 3 any [38] any be defirous that their Bees Swarm out of the Boxes in or- der tothe planting of new Co- “a4 er oe as lonies, this you may ealily ef. fe by forbearing to fupply. a them with aa additional Box — whea needful: fo may you at once be furnifhed with a Stock for a new plantation, and with | a'convincing proof, that want of room is the only reafon why Bees Swarm abroad; for itis not in the Jeaft to be queftioned, but that the Bees will defcend and continuetheir work out of the Straw-Hive into the Box on which it is placed, and out of that into the next under it,and fo ftill on io purfuie of their labour, it being Natural for Bees ever to begin their work in the top and upper part: of their lodging, and from, thence to work downward, The manner of taking your Honey, [39] Honey, according to this new Model is bricfiy thus, wiz, Re- gardmuft be hadtothe featon, the richnefs of the ftore, and firength of the Bees3 that is, af there be two Boxes full of Wax and Honey before Augu if, you may. EEMOVE the Straw- Hive nee you pleafe, where- in you will find no Bees but Wex and. Honey, andthen will there. be no more ule for any Straw: Hives. At Michaelmas which is. the ufual. th me for tak- ing ¢ of Honey, if the third Box be. placed before this, and the bars have {ome work i in it, you may. take. off. the upper Bex, which . will alfo. be full of Har ney 5 and after a right Judgment made: anent the ftate of your Beesy you may take half or whole cf the Honey, and Wax thereis according to.difcretion. Thus for the firft year,,and fo ri Cc 4 yearly, Veo] Rt yearly, as the feafons ‘Prove goodor bad. The way of removing the Boxes when full of Honey is” this, wiz. to open the Hele | door in ‘the fide of that Box | which is uppermoft, and with — the (better at once to cut the work (perfectly dividing be- éwixt the Bees and upper work) — andclofe the fquare hole of the © lower Box, thereby © fecuring thé Bees and their work in the - lower Boxes; fo that by this dextrous and commodious w. of removing the Honey, ‘the _deftruétion of the Bees, by ftifling, drowning, violent dri- - ving or othérways (the ufual — but unkind requital of their in- — duftrie) and one great reafon of the foarcitie of Honey and Wax, and of the adulteration of both, ‘is prevented 5 ‘and fuf- ficient winter ftore i is referved for «4rd for the Bees, according to the _ feafon; ab being made thereof by infpection through the Glafs Windows If through the indifcretion or: miftake of the Bee-Mafters, by reafon of an ll feafon, too {mall a quantity of provifion {hall be left; then, feeding them may be aneallany For this end the beft expedient is to put a Box with fuitable provifion under them. There are feveral forts _ of provifions ufed by Bee-Ma- {ters, as Honey, boiled Wort, Bean Meal mixed with Honey, _ and many others, to which we refer perfons according to the Conditions of their F ‘amily and the Country. - If there be no {mall Springs or Brooks, wherein there are Pebble Stones, alittle farmoun- ting the furface of the Water, then | fet Troughs with Wa- ter | [42] ter, and little chips {wimming ia it for the Bees tolight on, that they may have the advantage — of the Water without hazard, Lhe °F the Excellency of this Net ve | Method above Wee old. ‘ly ¥ HE exéhiency” “of fed ‘@ New Method above the | Old. will moft clearly appear by : comparing: ‘them together, an | fhewing the i inconventencies of — the Old and ‘the’ conventencies of the New3 for it is an appfo- ved axiom, Contraria juxta fe | pote magis eluce/cunt : Firft t hall propofe the inconveni- encies of the Old Method : which ee elie Pile eek tie charge “of aids ipg a perton, near the whole ' *" three C43] three Months of Hay and Corn ‘Harvelt to attend them, . 2. The trouble of prefer- _ ving them in their Swarming, from going away, and then, the difficulty of getting them into their Hives. Here may be (defervedly). reckoned. the great inconveniency which may follow upon the Swarming of Bees, if they fhall chance to have bad or ftormy weather, then runthey the hazard of be- ing (tarved and famifhed.; . 3. There is a great lofs of time, in the.confufton. which _ they are in before they Swarm, for three Weeks or a Month, and their uofettlement for a week afterwards, which takes up one third of their time. «4. The mifpending of their time in idlenefs and luxury, wherein they only beget a nu- merous brood of beggers. we ie Ta Se she to die inthe Winter, in ftead of employing all that time in a courfe of profitable labour for their owners, which with the former lofs makes twa thirds of their time. | 5. The deftroying ofthe moft indufttious’ part of the Bees by {mothering or drowning, which is'an ill reward of the indultry of fo good fervants, anda great lofs to the owners of them. 6. A further Incanvenience,is their being expofed to Cattel, Vermine,’ exceflive heats dua colds, with many eae cafual? ties Me Cen Secondly [ will Pie dpale the conveniences or pts ight of this new way. 1. In this new way there is no need of any to attend them. It will prove a recreation to the Bee-Mafters to take infpection of them, and mark how they go FE Bie oe £45) go forward intheir work, fince they never Swarm here, but. . only hive themfelves by an ad; ditional Box. : 2. By their additigual Box which preferves them from Swarming,idlenefs, and Juxury, there are two thirds of their time gained for their owners profit; andthe Bees are freed from the hazard of being ftar- ved, thoughthe weather {hould be never fo bad. . 3 3. All the vigorous Bees are preferved alive to repeat © their induftry for their Ma- {ters advantage. 4. By the commodioufnefs of your Houfe which is clofe and ftrong, and the conve-— -miencie of your Boxes which are alfo clofe, you have fafe- ty and pier duen to your «Bees. 5- By reafon of your GlaG lights C46] . a lights you are always able to — make a Judgment of the State — ~ of your Bees: The pleafure of beholding thefe excellent Ar- — tifts fir(t build, and then reple-— nifh their Houfes, their excel- — lent order in all thetr work, — and many other rarities which you may fee daily in all their Houfes, may juftly be ac- -compted among the convent- . encies of this method, which > the old had not. — All which confidered, itmay be very ealtly computed, what — great gain, proficand advantage _ may redound to the publick, — and every Bee-Mafter in parti- cular, from this new form and methodof improving, beyond» any other whatfoever Bees, through the excellency of the Honey and Wax, which is free from{moak aad water, its great -encreafe and quantity, and ad- : vantage [47] varitage in poiat of time, two entire Months at leaft, atid thae inthe chief feafon of the year, being gained by this new way which’ was wholly loft by the other, through the great con- fulion and unferlement of the Bees before, in ‘and after Swarming. : : ise a) Anfoired. objedt. 1. Since the Bees are ftill preferved from deftrudt- on, then wefiad by Calculati-. on, they will increafe to fo great anumber and Swarm, thatthe Colonie will not be able to con- tain them. Anfw. 1. Suppofing allto be true which the objection afhirms, the inconyeniencie would be no more than ‘this, that we would be obliged to havea ee number of Colonies, for a / keep- [48] | keeping thefe induftrious Crea- tures in. And fure there 15 fcarce any fo churlifh, that he would not be at the expenceto buy them a Houfe, who will - requite him with double yea trebleintereft, andpay him the principal the very firft year. But Anf. 2. 'f the Honey be feafonably taken from them, fo as room be left to workin, they will be more induftrious and lefs luxurious; fo that ex- perience will teach you, that they increafe to excefss only becaufe of. idlenefs and ~ heat, for thefe make them luxurious. Anf- 3. Ic is fire by ex- perience that Bees live not a-— bove three yearsin vigour, and after that time they ordinarily dies fo that according to the courfe of Nature they livenot above four yearsin all, which is the. chief reafon for provid- — ing [49] ing three fo convenient rooms for each Colony. | Objed. 2. That by depriving them of their Honey and not deftroying them, you preferye them alive to be ftarved in ‘Winter. : Anf: It being clear the premiffes that they have re- deemed of their time, andcon- fequently made two third parts of provifion more in that time, the Owners may alfo faiely take _ away two third parts of their Honey upon a right Judgment _ made by in{pection through the _Glafs, and leaving but one _ third, asthey who leave a Hive - full of Rees and Honey. } —— Obje#é. +3. Why might not ‘the Boxes have been made four {quatre rather than Oétagonal ? Anf. 1.The Cells of the Bees ,themfelves (as may be eafily p pated). are Sexagonal, and [ ( ~D have tooth [50] ; have found the Oétagonal fet gure convenient for the Bees working. Anf. 2. There is not any fquare which is not needful, and has not fome one part or other of the Frame joined to. -it, as you may evidently fee if you buttakea view of 1 it with- intheBox. _ | For anfwering any other - objections, I judged the pe- rufal of the following Letter would be very neceffary, writ- tento me by a worthy and Re- verend Gentleman, who for ma- ny years paft hath been a curi- ous obferver of the contri- vances of thefe moft curious: and induftrious Creatures, with — the anfwer thereunto, as 3 fol- - loweth. me Taal The Copy of a Letter di- rected by the Reverend Mr. Samuel Mew, to Mr. Fobn Gedde. ‘Worthy Sir, Have with a great delight perufed the directions yon _ have given the publick, concern- ing your new inuertion, and excellent Method for the better ordering and improvement of Bees, for their conveniency, and fafety, and the owners profit. Upon the review of the ats (the Frame, the Boxes, the Colonies, the Houfe or Cafe, ‘and your excellent defign by all thefe) I must needs fay, that to me the contrivance feems enriows and ingenious, befit- ng thofe admirable Creatures,. 2 2 «yon a nb fo induttcion ty provide for | ‘and hat (ai fint vatum pre- fagia vana) you have built your felf a Monument as well as them an Houfe ; ; thereis not a Bee which is not your debtor jor her eafé and life, and that wall mot be yet more induftrious to : prefe rue her benefacours name — a Honey. I have had for thefe twenty years and upward , the opportu- nity and content to obferve thefe pretty’ Artifts, jou con- trive for, at work, through — Glaf placed for that purpofe, and therefore am an ocular witnefs of what you moft tru-— ly affirm, that they all begia their work at the top of their Hive; and I alfa eafily believe that their Swarming is for want of roow in their old Man- fions, and that Swarming is as well an hindrance to them as ie a Ae, EEE ogee ee ee se a ee ee L53] : #t is certainly a trouble and charge tothe owner. Good grounds thefe for your undertaking 5 and you have alfo happily made ufé of thew: but there is one thing yet (it's mot to find fault, but to be informed, that this uncivil But comes in) which my obfervation will not let me foreadily fubfcribe to. | _ You are pleafed to fuppofe, at leaft, if wot affirm, that wher _ the upper Box is full of work, and more room is made for the work folks, by the under fet- - ting of an empty Box, thatthey pill fo generally quit the full one, as to betake themfélves wholly to the empty Box} and that they may after fome convent- ent time, without, ‘confiderable -— dammages be fout from their rich labours. This is that which % flnmbles me, for at this infant "2 am. writing, the apper D 3 Story Oe a Pst oe Story of my Glafs Hive # as full as it or any other Hive can well be imagined to be, of Combs and Honey, and the “Bees have for this fourtnight — continued their work down unto the lower part, and their great bufinefs at prefewt is there. Now fhould 1 at any time of the day adventure to fever between thefe two flories Cwhich might — be done, for they are loofe) it could not I conceive be without great dammage, if not ruin of — the whole: for befides that at the bufteSt time of the day when yy noft are employed abroad, there is a confiderable number of the wmoft induftrious Bees mending ‘or viewing or fecuring their — work, there is alfo the Queen Bee in perfon with her guard - and attendants, as within this three or four days, others with my fel{ had the content fora Ae BY conlt- 4 [55] confiderable time to be witnefs of foould, I fay, all thefe Com- weons be taken away, it would be 4 dangerows maim or if, their . Queen chance to beof their num- ber, I fuppofe a deadly one. If jou ita to folve this knot for me, Eris mihi magnus Apollo, and I doubt aot but you can do it, either by direttion to the fitteft time of the year for the operation, or to fome way to force them downwards. a: congratulate you your happy "invention, and the perfection it 7 already reached to, the Royal Societies approbation and your own feven years experiences vi am the more:reall herein iwre- . gard IX have formerly imploged and wearied my own thoughts on this Shia and was fain at. laft t 0 give it over as un- feafi ible; partly frow the incon- cg saad abovefaid, forefeers Dy 4 and a pe i al and partly for want of an appre- henltve workman 5 but now I am, J where Iwould be, at anothers trou- ble, and may enjoy the fruit of your pains at an eafy rate: a heartily wilh your profit may py your labors both as jou are an In- ventor and a Bee-Mafier. If sir, your occafions will fuffer, and you. q think fit to o favour me mith a line ovtwo, in anfwer tothis (crible of mine, be pleafed, 1 pray, at the fame time, to fend the price of one of your Boxes with the Frame, as alfo a Licence from your felf to make ufé of it, and you will yet farther engage, Eafton in Glowe Your unknown, cefter{bire, ; as ee Wee but real Friend and Servant , Samuel Mew. The “ban ‘The Copy of a Letter fent by Me. Foba Gedde, to the Reverend Mr. Sa- muel Mew, Minifter of Eaftow in Gloucefter fbire, in anfwer to the former. SIR, Ours I received, and re-— ‘ turn you hearty thanks jor the encouragement of the ‘fiall endeavours ufed by me for preventing the Cruelty con- mitted upon, and the violent — death of fo profitable friends and fervants, as our Common friends the Bees; which (frone fuch a worthy and intelligent perfor as you) may be a fufp- cient fhade and fhelter from moft other prejudices. | But, C58] But, Sir, for anfwer to the objection which you very mo- defily raife, which is, that you doubt, whether or no the Bees _ will fo generally quit an up- per full Box, for the room of — un empty one put under them? For your fatisfattion herein , Cr Shall telh you what £ have wa- ny times found in my experi- | y Relies Ls : en Te ee ee Tae ee Ce Rel ee ENE a ence, and what I have fiill ob- ~~ ferved of late, in the viewing of several Bees in England, which are in this new form of Hives, which to all Bee-Ma- fiers is evident that when Bees have wrought the upper Box full, they continue their work 4 through the square hole in the empty Box, and fo down to a third under Box;' as the feafon is good. Then may you eafily be- hold the body of the Bees down with the morkers , and few or wOne ae Lead none in the upper Box, yea at fuch times of the day or night there are fcarce any (if you ex-_ cept a firaying Bee, as if it were _ @ Sentinel) tobe [een inthe up- permost Box, but the whole bo- dy of the Commonwealth will be in the lowest, as hath been faid wherefore at fich times, by opening the door in the fide of the Box, and fhutting the flider ‘in the grove which covers the | hole in the top of the fecond Box, — you will eafile feparate betwixt | the Bees and their uppermoft work, without any dammage to the Commonwealth or Co- long. Of this there are many pradical ‘demonstrations to be now feen in England: And for your further fatisfadion, 1 have fent with the Gloucefter Carrier one Evlony of Boxes, one Li- cence, anda Book of directions, to ; oo) : ‘to be ufed by yous asa Token of my Refpedds to a Perfon of fo much worth, and fo profitable — . to the Commonwealth you live — . ins hoping that after you have received and viewed the Colony; — there will ref? no place for any farther Scruple, from fich an objection, I will add no more but that Lane, London, SI R, 18. Dec. ae fe 1675. Your humble Servant, Shit Geddes Another pote LGR Another ObjeCtion that I bave frequently met wih; 16 Hat the | Bees Huieally loving warmnefs, thefe Boxes will prove too cold, which isa great enemy to Bees. For anfwerto this objection I thall give youatrue account >of an Experiment I made on my own Bees for {atisfying my _felf of this objections; Which was, I apprehending this to be true that the Boxes would prove cold, I did take as much Linnen cloth, dipping the fame in their own wax melted for - that purpofe, and lined the _ boxes therewith, fixing the fame between the frame and the box to the board. Then IT placed them under the Bees fo foon as the proper feafon | came | [62]. came of their defcending, to — go abroad and fall a working. © ve a Te) y They begin at home. And I obferved the whole Hive — with one confent divide them- felves incompaniess; fome part following otherin Ranks, cut- — ting the cloth thorow by a q thread, until a large piece of | cloath at once would fall a down. Then another come pany dividing that piece in parts; another company di- viding ithairby hair: Somany ~ Labourers carrying it forth at doors, andthen fo many Por- — ters carrying it (when the wea- ther was fair) off their pre- cinéts 3 thatin fomecornersnear their Aives a handful of Cot- ton might be found each week. 4 fortwo orthree months. This — was all the profit I had for a whole year of this Hive, and was forced to feed them all win- ‘fer: 2 Toate ter - but I judged the obferya- tion and daily beholding their: labour (which I could not help at all, nor prevent after begun, without great prejudice to them) worth all my lofs, which | Hive did afterwards fucceed as well, as any other who had not been fo diftreffed. And this did alfo anfwer my objection, that the Boxes were not toocold for Bees, having a Houle well fixed to ftand in. PLAC LS. 651 POSTSCRIPT Be Tren 0 sorta ‘ELE Occafion of this Poft- £&. {eriptas, becaufeof fome Obfervations. ately come to my knowledge, and from view- ing of the pradife of thenew way for Improvement of Bees, in my travelling through feve- ral Counties; of Exgland;|afcer the, Printing sof the former trads And foranfwering fome ‘doubts and, queftions that.did -arife from others, through their unskilful managing ofyaheir ‘Bees, in this new way3 rot eb- ferving the divehions given to the publick contorning the fame. | That orhers; may avoid thelike — _Inconvenijences,in the managing of their Bees, according tqithis ew, way, iheve féc down! the . molt. material ef the fame, as “fol ows. Boe Be Such LOOT ya 1. Such as are too late in . the year in Traofplanting their Bees when Awd Feige place of their old Abode and _ Acquaintance: to a new one, ‘where they are intended to be , placed on Boxes, which is moft proper betwixt Michaelmas ses “Candlemas. | | Such as have Bees at meni ftanding in the places where they intend to fet their Colonies, being too ‘late in placing of them on their Co- ‘lonies 5 whichis moft proper ye “March. ~ 3. Others fieptbClive to eed their houfés clofe, to be a fuf- ficient thade from the violence of the hot Sunfhine, which » furprizes,and breeds fach aCon : fufion and Reeling among the Bees; that fometimes provokes C674 anuntimely, unadvifed and un- prepared fwarming,to the great prejudice of that. Common- wealth from. whence Pa are. yoate not only giving hes bad houfes or (hades, but aone at all, more than the ordinary Hives; expofing the Boxes to be rent, crackt and torne, with the. heat of the Sun; “that fo the Bees have no peace at allinthem ; but i in a continual confufion, * aad” ia much worfe cpndition thanif . sh were in {traw Hives. . Orhers not feafoning the Bie rightly with Water and Salt firft, then with (weet fen- ted Herbs, and anointiog | the corners Ls the Boxes and the fess with Honey. ee There are others that are Bia) tS, Che NE id | too” Sy s [ 68] too long in placing fecond Boxes under the firfts, which ~ Mage occafioned an unex{pected forced {warming out of the firft Boxes; wherefore fpecial no- tice would be taken, to obferve ‘when the Bees have wrought — down three’ quarters of the firft’Box, that they be always. fupplied with an empty Box prepared as before; efpecially if it be in the month of A¢ay or z. Others there ‘are who | through their unsklfulnefs (ne- ver being much acquaiated — with Bees) take no care to af- fift them feafonably, in deftroy- ing the drones who confume their Honey; which a few hours attendance, in fome hot days, — _ when drones come forth, may do, efpecially in the months of": ine Thefe | Lege ee Thefe Defects being. helped and amended, without doubt’ they will find this‘ Inventiott ? commodious both’ for profit! and pleafure. °°) ight Belides thefe i incoavenienci€s” through - mifmanagement of” Bees. yl bear. there are’ fome” who. ‘do ftumble and (cruple, ne the practife of’ this new way, of Improving Bees, by occafi=> on of a difcou iif, lately spub> —lithed’; wherein ithe Difeourler! would pretend t td the beft ie for Improve: ent ¢and advance ment of Beéss and yet in the ) dior reff “of thele fo: ute: a, Cre atures , “the's who! efeope efign feems. to” ‘be, to dil fwade all from | fing any means or indeavours | ‘to. preferve the i life. of thefe excellent Artilts tts, ! aad, by what Ary eu ents he can, to per rlwade al to fe dettroy. them by eh motheri ing,them bib > ga! sp l aiceeibs E-3.” eth { tae. gett Silas with Brimftone, gc. which cere tainly is a moft unjuft and un- ~ grate requital of fo careful and induftrious fervants , by their’ cruel Matters, if poftibiy they can know any way how to pre-_ ventit. Therefore for further and fullerfatisfaction to all who” fhall meet with this Difcourfers — Arguments; I do hereby de-_ clare, thar what is - afferted | therein, or rather ignorant- ly. propoled, is. exprefly con- tradictory , to the manifold. known , received , and reite- rated experiences, of many, hundreds of. feveral Suede? M4 who have prattifed the afore- faid new way for Improvement a -of Bees; and have been care- ful to obferve the Direétions; 4 For there is none, that have fet Ae gc NP re and placed theiy Hives on them, and obferved the Printed Dire: Y Cions 5