2
7%
%
SF si
ty. & ee
\¥w49
Formerly owned by MBRE Roy
ALBERT R. MANN
LIBRARY
New York STATE COLLEGES
OF
AGRICULTURE AND HoME ECONOMICS
AT
CORNELL UNIVERSITY
EVERETT FRANKLIN PHILLIPS
BEEKEEPING LIBRARY
Gift of
Lyman C, Root
Cornell University
Library
The original of this book is in
the Cornell University Library.
There are no known copyright restrictions in
the United States on the use of the text.
http://www. archive.org/details/cu31924066713409
wOFELTER SC
THE
AMERICAN
BEE KEEPER’S MANUAL;
BEING A
PRACTICAL TREATISE
ON THE
HISTORY AND DOMESTIC ECONOMY OF THE HONEY-BEE,
EMBRACING A FULL ILLUSTRATION OF THE WHOLE
SUBJECT, WITH THE MOST APPROVED METHODS
OF MANAGING THIS INSECT THROUGH EVERY
BRANCH OF ITS CULTURE, THE RESULT
OF MANY YEARS’ EXPE-
RIENCE. Pa
By T. B. MINER.
EMBELLISHED BY THIRTY-FIVE BEAUTIFUL ENGRAVINGS.
Worker. Drone.
NEW YORK:
PUBLISHED BY C.M. SAXTON,
121 FULTON STREET.
1849
RR errrrnernnrrnrnnnnnnnn errr neem
Entered according to Act of Congress, in the year 1849, by
T. B. MINER,
In the Clerk’s Office of the District Court of the United States for the Southern
District of New York.
rR ae ose aed Ln AANA RR
O FES CI
PRO enmenmnmmnrnronmmn#*
C. W. BENEDICT, Stereotyper,
201 William street, cor. of Frankfort.
PREFACE.
RR nner
Tue following treatise has been written to fill a
vacuum in this country, that has long existed. How it
has happened that the management of the honey-bee
should have been so neglected by writers in the United
States, I am at a loss to comprehend; but so it is, and
we cannot boast, up to the present time, a single volume
on this subject, worthy of being called a full, practical
treatise on the culture of this insect.
Such small essays as have appeared from the pens of
American authors, have given little, or no information
of practical utility ; the most of them, not even present-
ing a single engraving, as an illustration. In this work,
the expense of the embellishments alone, will equal the
entire cost of publishing any of the works of American
origin, that have preceded it; and it has been my pride
and aim, to render it a production, that will not only com-
pare with, but even exceed the most popular European
treatises on the same subject, especially in all matters of
a practical nature.
The great difficulty in the way of producing a truly
popular work on the honey-bee, has hitherto been, the
imaginary dryness of the subject, operating as a great
discouragement to practical apiarians to write thereon ;
iv PREFACE.
but in this work, I have divested the subject of its dry-
ness, and_have placed it before the reader in a new and
more attraetive form, than has ever appeared before. [
have endeavored to discuss the various questions in a
clear, ample, and comprehensive manner, divested of
the superstition of the ignorant, and the errors of those
who profess to be learned in the science. I have also
shown the true position that Huber should occupy as an
apiarian ; believing, (and I have good reasons for my
opinion,) that the almost universal credence given to his
alleged discoveries, is based upon a fictitious platform,
to a very great extent.
What I have written in the following pages, is most-
ly the result of my own practical experience, during
many years of close application to the management, and
the study of the honey-bee. On some points I have
taken an entirely new course, in my own management
of bees. For instance, I treat them differently in the
winter season especially, from the ordinary custom,
keeping them much cooler, &c.; and my general course
of management is peculiar to myself, with a full know-
ledge of all systems, yet based upon the true principles
of the nature and economy of the bee. My success in
the culture of this insect, has been beyond precedent,
and having the test of a long series of years to support
me, I offer this work as one worthy of the confidence
of the public,
THE AUTHOR.
CHAPTER I.
ARR
THE QUEEN.
Every association of bees is composed of three classes,
viz: a queen, drones and workers, and when separated
from their natural connections, they loose all their attri-
butes of industry and soon perish in inaction.
The queen is the mother of the entire increase of
every family of bees, unless in rare cases of the exist-
ance of a few fertile workers, that produce drone eggs
only, of which I shall speak hereafter. The queen is
longer than either drones or workers, and much larger in
every respect than a worker, but not so large as a drone.
Her trunk or body is shorter than that of the other two
classes, and her abdomen tapers to a point, in the form
of asugar-loaf. Her legs are longer than those of drones
and workers, but have no cavities or baskets for holding
gathered stores. The most remarkable feature pertain-
ing to her majesty, is the shortness of her wings, reach-
ing only to about two-thirds of the length of her abdo-
men. Her color is much darker than workers, and
sometimes approaching to a jet black; that is, upon her
6 MINER'S AMERICAN
upper surface, but her belly is of a dark orange color.
It is this latter hue that enables one to easily distinguish
her in a cluster, even without seeing any other part of
~ her body.
WHEN SEEN, AND HOW FOUND.
It is only in particular instances that the queen is to
be seen, such as during swarming, or on her erial excur-
sions, which takes place on the second or third day after
being hived, or upon some occasion of her being found in
a cluster of bees upon the alighting board. In this latter
case, which occurs with recent swarms only, as a gene-
ral rule, and very seldom, a close cluster of bees is seen
about the size of a hen’s egg, remaining quiet, and when
the feather end of a quill, or a stick is used to separate
them, and they instantly re-form into a cluster again, it
is almost certain that the queen is in the centre. The
kind of cluster that I allude to, is very different from
ordinary clustering upon the side of the hive, or on the
bottom board, when the bees are driven out by heat;
then the bees cluster with their heads upward; but in
clusters where the queen is to be found, nothing of such
a regularity is to be seen.
STING OF THE QUEEN.
The queen is armed with a sting which is curved, but
she seldom uses it, except against rival queens. Indeed,
she may be taken with the bare fingers, at any time,
with perfect impunity ; but a worker taken in that man-
ner, would be dropped as a piece of hot iron.
BEE-KEEPER S MANUAL. 7
HER FECUNDATION,
The fecundation of the queen has ever been a subject
of deep interest to naturalists, and it is not at the pre-
sent day so fully decided, in what manner, or by what
agency it is effected, as to put the question entirely to
rest ; and I may safely add, that the day will never come,
when this long disputed point will be so fully cleared up
as to silence all opposition to the now generally received
opinion of the case.
Some naturalists and apiarians have supposed that the
queen is se/f-impregnated ; that is, that the fecundating
germ of the ovary is inherent in her, and when her eggs
are laid, that the drones fertilize them, and generate the
principle of animal life by incubation, or sitting upon
them. Others have supposed that a vivifying seminal
aura exhaled from the drone, penetrates the body of the
queen, and that produces impregnation. This opinion
arose from the fact, that a strong odor is sometimes ex-
haled from them.
Naturalists rightly supposed, that a sexual union did
take place between the queen and drones in some man-
ner, but how, or when, was beyond the scope of their
knowledge, since such an union had never been beheld
by mortal eyes. However, during the latter part of the
eighteenth century, light seemed todawn upon this long
hidden mystery, which had lain shrouded in darkness
for thousands of years. The fact that the sexual union of
many species of winged insects takes place in the air,
while on the wing, did at last, after centuries upon cen-
8 MINER'S AMERICAN
turies had past in wild speculation, cause the films to fall
from the eyes of the naturalists of the day, and they
came to the conclusion that the impregnation of the
queen bee must be effected in the like manner.
That eighteen hundred years should have past away,
before this simple fact should have become developed, is
truly a matter of surprise! Yet it is a matter of still
greater surprise, that many apiarians of the present day
pertinaciously adhere to ancient notions in regard to
the agency of the drones in the impregnation of the
queen, and utterly refuse to divest themselves of tradi-
tions founded in error and superstition.
That such is the natural use and purpose for which
drones were created, viz: to effect impregnation on the
wing, I presume the reader will readily believe, on
hearing what I have to say on the subject hereafter, in
Chap. iii. devoted to “drones.”
HUBER, THE GREAT (?) APIARIAN.
Huber, a German naturalist of distinction, who flour-
ished at the close of the eighteenth century, has placed
this question beyond a doubt; provided that we may
place confidence in his statements, which I consider
somewhat questionable.
Since Huber is cited as orthodox authority by almost
every writer on the honey bee, or at least by a very
large portion of them, and inasmuch as many emi-
nent naturalists and apiarians consider the greater por-
tion of his writings as an ingenious fabrication of expe-
BEE-KEEPER S MANUAL. 9
riments, that never occurred save in the imagination of
this naturalist, or of his assistant, I deem it necessary to
place the position of this author fairly before my readers,
that they may be able to judge for themselves, in some
measure, whether he is, or is not, entitled to full cre-
dence. I do this, partly for the reason that some authors
on this subject, within the reach of an American public,
servilely tread in the footsteps of Huber, without ever
having read his writings from his own pen, which is
perfectly apparent, from the limited knowledge of his
work, possessed by the writers, as their essays plainly
manifest. -
At the time that Huber wrote, about the year 1790,
the natural history of the honey bee, as well as its do-
mestic economy and management, was in a state of ob-
scurity. Very few men of talent had given the subject
a profound attention, and the traditions and absurd fan-
cies of olden times, in regard to this insect, were believed
and acted upon, by the majority of bee-keepers. At
this epoch, Huber professed to have made a series of
experiments, during a period of some five or six years,
illustrating the physiology and economy of the honey
bee to an extent that had never been reached before.
But his writings throw no light whatever upon the do-
mestic management of bees; therefore, they are of no
value to the apiarian who studies the economy of bees,
merely for the profit derived from them. The natural-
ist alone considered his discoveries as highly important
and valuable, and being a novelty, the world at once
took the truth of his theories and experiments for grant-
j*
10 MINER’S AMERICAN
ed, and Huber was forthwith placed upon the pinnacle of
apiarian science.
Many apiarians who subsequently wrote upon the bee,
servilely followed him through both truth and fallacy,
without being able, from their own experience, to either
refute or corroborate his theories and hypotheses. En-
cyclopcedias and other publications cited him as unex-
ceptionable authority, and he was styled the “ Prince of
Apiarians;” hence we find American authors taking
their cue from some foreign proselyte to his theories,
and blindly re-echoing many of his discoveries as facts,
which may be as far from the truth, as the east is from
the west!
The reader may here inquire, if the natural history
and domestic economy of the honey bee, is so involved
in mystery and obscurity, as not to be fully understood
at this late day, and susceptible of being clearly ex-
pounded and laid down, without the possibility of error ?
Yes sir, it is thus involved; and the day will never
come, when the veil of obscurity that now shrouds much
pertaining to this interesting little insect will be wholly
removed.
Man may experiment—he may send forth theory and
hypothesis to the end of time; yet the natural instinct
and wisdom of the bee, in many of her acts, and the
modus operandi of her internal domestic labors, to a
great extent, will forever be terra incognita to all hu-
man knowledge!
Let not the reader suppose from the above remarks,
that we are doomed to remain ignorant of important
BEE-KBEPER'S MANUAL. 11
facts, to enable us to meet with perfect success in our
management of bees—the curtain Aas been raised, and
man has beheld—enough for man to know.
As the wisdom of God is past finding out, so is the
instinctive wisdom of the little bee, a direct attribute of
the Architect and Creator of all animate and inanimate
nature, beyond the pale of human knowledge. .
HUBER’S AUTHORITY DOUBTED.
As it will be necessary for me in the following work,
to frequently allude to Huber and his writings, since the
history of the bee is based, to a great extent, upon the
foundation laid by him, the reader will excuse a continu-
ation of remarks touching the confidence due to his
statements. His writings comprise simply a series of
letters to his friend and patron, Bonnet, of Geneva.
Bonnet’s reputation as a naturalist stands high, and
those letters were written at his suggestion of various
things pertaining to bees, then in obscurity, and which,
for the benefit of science, it was necessary to unfold.
Huber being in affluent circumstances, and unable to
attend to any ordinary pursuits, in consequence of his
blindness, he being unable to discover the difference be-
tween a white person and a colored one, he, with the
aid of a servant, instituted his experiments in the econ-
omy of bees, to avoid that tedium vite that ever accom-
panies the unemployed.
Now, had Huber had personal ocular demonstration
of what he has written, as being verified by him,
through his assistant, we might consider him entitled to
12 MINERS AMERICAN
credence; but he trusted entirely to his servant, in all
those alleged discoveries that have astonished and
amazed the world.
I can give but a faint credence to discoveries thus
verified, so far as the authority is concerned; but where
Huber’s statements tally with well known principles, we
should give him the benefit of our confidence in his as-
sertions.
The reader may be interested to know what wonder-
ful discoveries this man has made? They consist in
discoveries relative to the impregnation of the queen,—
retarded impregnation and its effects—verification of
the existence of fertile workers—the power of the bees
in raising a queen from any ordinary worker's egg at
pleasure—combats of rival queens—massacre of drones,
&c., &c., interwoven, as many apiarians presume, with
considerable fiction, since many things which he alleges
to have seen, or rather that his servant saw, have never
been beheld by any one else.
HUISH’S OPINION OF HUBER,
Huish, a writer of some celebrity on bees, whose
work was published in London, in 1844, says, “ Huber,
from a natural infirmity of the eyes, was wholly disabled
from prosecuting his researches into the natural economy
of the bee, and consequently that he relied solely on the
skill and information of his servant, Francois Beurnen’s,
for the veracity of those singular discoveries, which,
BEE-KEEPER'S MANUAL. 18
under the sanction of his name, have been sent forth
into the world, but which will never stand the test of a
rigid and scientific examination.
Now, this same Francois Beurnens was a rude, un-
educated Swiss peasant, with a mind immersed in all
the prejudices of his country, and who pertinaciously
adhered to many of the Swiss customs in the manage-
ment of bees, which have for their basis the grossest
ignorance and superstition. Thus, for instance, when
any of the family died in which Beurnens was a domes-
tic, he turned all the hives in the garden topsy turvy, in
which condition they were obliged to remain until after
the funeral, as it was most proper and becomirig that the
bees should be made to sympathize with the loss which
the family had sustained.”
Notwithstanding that the lash of ridicule has been
well applied to Huber, by those apiarians whose expe-
rience has proved a portion, at least, of his writings as
fallacious, yet some of his discoveries are undoubtedly
true, inasmuch as they accord with the observations of
apiarians in general; and of this kind is the discovery
of the manner in which the impregnation of the queen
takes place in the air, by the drones, the subject on
which I was speaking, that gave rise to the introduction
of this author; and I think I cannot more profitably
occupy the attention of the curious reader for a few
moments, than to give his account of this discovery in
his own words. Here it is:—
14 MINER'S AMERICAN
HUBER’S DISCOVERY OF THE IMPREGNATION OF A QUEEN.
“ Aware that the males usually leave the hive in the
warmest part of the day, in summer, it was natural to
suppose that if the queens were obliged to go out for
fecundation, instinct would induce them to do so at the
same time as the others.
“At eleven in the forenoon, we placed ourselves
(Beurnens was the one to watch for the queen, directed
by Huber, the reader will understand; yet Huber al-
ways wrote as if he could see,) opposite to a hive con-
taining an unimpregnated queen, five days old. The
sun had shone from his rising, the air was very warm,
and the males began to leave the hives. We then en-
larged the entrance (Huber had contracted the entrances
of several hives to prevent the egress of the queens,) of
that selected for observation, and paid great attention to
the bees entering and departing. The males appeared
and immediately took flight. Soon afterwards the
young queen came to the entrance ; at first she did not,
but during a little time traversed the board, brushing
her belly with her hind legs, neither workers nor males
bestowing any notice on her. At last she took flight.
When several feet from the hive she returned and ap-
proached it, as if to examine the place of her departure,
perhaps judging this precaution necessary to recognize
it; she then flew away, describing horizontal circles
twelve or fifteen feet above the earth. We contracted
the entrance of the hive that she might not return un-
observed, and placing ourselves in the centre of the cir-
BEE-KEEPER’S MANUAL. 15
cles described in her flight, the more easily to follow
her, and witness all her motions. But she did not re-
main long in a situation favorable for our observations,
and rapidly rose out of sight. We resumed our place
before the hive; and in seven minutes the young queen
returned to the entrance of a habitation which she had
left for the first time. Having found no external evi-
dence of fecundation, we allowed her to enter. In a
quarter of an hour she reappeared, and after brushing
herself as before, took flight, then returning to examine
the hive, she rose so high that we soon lost sight of her.
This second absence was much longer than the first, it
occupied twenty-seven minutes. We now found her in
a state very different from that in which she was after
the former excursion; the organs distended by a sub-
stance, thick and hard, very much resembling the mat-
ter in the vessels of males, completely similar to it in
color and consistence.”
Huber afterwards says, that from subsequent discove-
ries, he found that what he took for the generative mat-
ter, was the male organs left in the body of the female.
QUEEN’S FLIGHT TO MEET THE MALES.
That queens do thus sally forth on the second or third
day after entering a new habitation with a swarm, is a
fact that has come under the observation of many apia-
rians, yet it is doubtful whether the change in the ap-
pearance of them on their return, as spoken of by Hu-:
ber is generally, if ever visible. If the young queens
are to be seen at all, it is at this period, and it is not
16 MINER'S AMERICAN
unfrequent, that queens of all swarms, after the first,
during the first few days of their inhabiting their new
tenement, are found in a cluster of bees at the entrance
of the hive or near it. The reason of this is, that on
the return of the queens from their excursions in search
of drones, they are immediately surrounded by their-
subjects and held prisoners for a brief period. The
reason why the queens of first swarms are not thus
found is, that such swarms are accompanied by old
queens, whose impregnation is already effected.
ANALOGY PROVES IMPREGNATION ON THE WING.
It is a well known fact that the sexual union of the
humble bee takes place on the wing. I have frequently
witnessed it; and it is the same with the most of insects
of the winged tribe ; hence analogy is strongly in favor
of the theory of the impregnation of the queen honey
bee as aforesaid.
HUBER CONFINES QUEENS TO PROVE THE THEORY OF
IMPREGNATION ON THE WING.
Huber states that he confined the queen with a large
number of males, and also confined her with the males
excluded from the hives; at the same time admitting the
ingress and egress of the workers as usual, and in every
case, which were numerous, the queens remained sterile.
He confined them over a month, which was enough to
test the question whether a queen can be fertile and not
leave the hive.
REE-KEEPER S MANUAL. 17
RETARDED IMPREGNATION.
Huber also states, that when a queen is retarded
twenty-one days from her birth in her impregnation, she
then, and ever thereafter, lays drone eggs only.
As no one has ever experimented on queens in the
manner of the above two cases,—at least, no one having
yet given publicity to any observation, refuting or cor-
roborating Huber’s discovery, it is not easy to say,
whether the last case be true or false.
In regard to the sterility of queens that have not been
allowed to leave their hives, there is no doubt. Their
impregnation being effected on the wing, it follows, of
course, that confinement with, or without males, must
render them barren.
That retarded impregnation does cause queens to lay
drone eggs, is quite possible, yet the fact might not come
under the observation of an ordinary bee-keeper in a
century, in most cases, since nature has so amply pro-
vided for the effectual impregnation of queens, that to
be retarded by any natural event, is out of the question,
except in cases of the death of a queen, at a: period
when the drones are exterminated, or so few of them
existing as to jeopardize the impregnation of the suc-
cessor to royalty.
I, myself, have had a case in which drones only were
produced, but whether it was owing to a retarded im-
pregnation of the queen, or whether it was the produc-
tion of fertile workers, 1 am unable to say positively,
MINER'S AMERICAN BEE- d :
18 ; KEEPERS MANUAL
owing, unfortunately, to the destruction of the stock, by
my own act, before the question could be decided.
I shall give the full details of this singular case in my
remarks on “workers,” as it more properly belongs to
that class of bees.
CHAPTER II.
THE WORKERS.
Tue workers are the smallest bees of the family. A
worker's head is of a triangular shape, as well as that of
the other classes,—the abdomen is connected with the
trunk or thorax, by a small ligament, of a thread-like
nature, and it is composed of six scaly rings, at the apex
of which, is the sting, which is full of barbed points like
an arrow, which can only be seen by the aid of a strong
magnifier, and which prevents the extraction of the
sting when darted into one’s flesh, causing a portion of
the entrails of the bee to be drawn out with it, and thus
causing death to the insect.
Every bee has four wings; and on queens the num-
ber of wings is more preceptible than on workers or
drones. They have six feet-—The eyes are situated upon _
the upper surface of the head.—Every bee has a pair of
antenne, of a fine wiry flexible nature, protruding dia-
gonally from the head, which are used as organs of feel-
ing, or perhaps of smell, since a stranger-bee is known
*-at once,.on applying the antenne to it.
20 MINER'S AMERICAN
The antenne of the queen generally are turned or
curved downward.—This is their natural position, and
the inexperienced bee-keeper may know her majesty
from this circumstance, when he is in doubt as to her
identity.
Workers have spoon-like cavities or baskets upon
their posterior legs, that hold the pollen or farina gath-
ered by them. No other bee has these cavities. Work-
ers also have a honey bag, or stomach, expressly to hold
the gatherings of the day. It will hold about half a drop
of honey. The bodies of bees are covered with a hairy
down, which, through a microscope, appears like a de-
fence of palisades. :
Wonderful are the labors of this class, and truly may
they be called “workers,” for never did industry show a
brighter example of indefatigable perseverance, than in
the labors of this little insect.
The following little stanza often recurs to one’s mind
as he surveys these ever industrious workers, hurrying
to and fro, on a bright sunny day.
“How doth the little busy bee,
Improve each shining hour ;
Gathering honey all the day,
From every opening flower.”
The workers are the architects of the association.
They construct the cells, arrange their size and distan-
ces, repair damages, é&c., &c. They are the laborers
of the family; they gather the honey and farina, and
compound the food for the young bees, and upon their
skill and labors depend the prosperity of the colony.
BEE-KEEPER'S MANUAL. 21
Who that has witnessed this class of bees, during the
height of their harvest, has not been forcibly impressed
with their indefatigable industry! They sally forth be-
fore the rising of the sun, and return when evening twi-
light has cast her sombre mantle over the face of nature,
laden with sweets, which but for this industrious insect,
would be lost on the desert air. Neither the scorching
rays of a vertical sun, nor the peltings of the storm, can
restrain their zeal in securing to themselves life and
prosperity, by availing themselves of every moment that
can possibly be employed, when the fields are decked
with the flowers that most invite them.
They do, indeed, afford a theme worthy the attention
,of the philosopher and moralist. Man is here taught a
lesson that should never be forgotten; but ever be in-
delibly impressed on his mind. The improvident and
lazy may here learn, from the book of nature, truths that
would lead them to fortune and prosperity, were not
their consciences seared and callous to all lessons of
wisdom.
The little bee, aware that the days of her harvest are
few, “makes hay while the sun shines,” and that Divine
injunction, “ Whatsoever thy hands find to do, do with
all thy might,” is here acted upon, and carried out to
the letter, to the shame of man, for whose especial bene-
fit it was given.
To the bee, no written law can be given by their Cre-
ator; consequently, an instinct is given them to guide
them in their labors; and when the flowers are faded
and gone, and the bleak blasts of winter flit around, she
22 MINER'S AMERICAN
looks upon her loaded combs, as the reward of her toils,
and laughs at the raging winds and pitiless storms.
But how stands the case with man—the being who
is made but a grade inferior to Angels? Does he show
himself worthy of his vocation—does he even show him-
self equal to the little puny honey bee, in foresight of
those evils that delay, neglect, procrastination, inaction,
or downright laziness produce ? e
For an answer, just cast your eye around.—In yon-
der hovel is a human being clothed in rags, surrounded
by a large family of children, who are crying for bread.
The emaciated mother, the unwilling victim of the fa-
ther’s improvidence, is fast approaching the grave. Her
leaky tenement has, year after year, caused the seeds of
disease to germinate, and now friends éall to console—
to alleviate; it is too late. Ah! how is this? has this
man had his health—has he had the use of his limbs, in
this land of prosperity, where poverty need be known
only in name, to be thus impoverished, and to have his
house falling around his head? Indeed, he has been
as hale and hearty as the most robust among us. He
is also an excellent workman, but he has never heeded
the old adage, “make hay while the sun shines ;” and
when winter comes, it finds him naked and penniless—
his children cold and hungry, and his wife without the
ordinary comforts of life. Would he but follow the ex-
ample of the little bee, and from her learn wisdom, pov-
erty would be banished from his door, and the bleak
winds of winter would bring no terrors, and their howl
would be music in the ears of the little fire-side group,
BEE-KEEPER’8 MANUAL. 23
as they sing their merry songs of contentment and hap-
piness.
THE EFFECTS OF A SUDDEN STORM ON BEES.
I have often seen these workers returning so late in
the evening, in warm sultry weather, that they were
barely able to find their respective hives; and so eager
are they to devote every. moment to their labors, that
many of them, suffer themselves to be overtaken by the
tempest and storm, before they take their homeward
flight. ; ,
It may be supposed, that under. such circumstances,
storms and winds arise so suddenly, that the bees are
taken by them unawares; but such is not the case.
Wishing to note particularly the return of bees from
the fields, in the height of their harvest, and to what ex-
tent they would remain out, on the approach of a heavy
thunder storm, I, in the month of June last, took a sta-
tion among my hives, on the approach of a shower, and
minutely watched their course. It was about the mid-
dle of the day, or noon; the sun had been shining all
the morning, and the bees were out in their greatest
numbers.
On the appearance of dark clouds, in the west, and
accompanied with thunder, the bees commenced return-
ing more than is usual in fair weather. In about a
half an hour, the heavens were darkened byclouds, with
a slight sprinkling of rain, and the roar of thunder shook
the earth. At this crisis, the bees came in with a rush
24 MINER'S AMERICAN
and a few, in the face of the approaching storm, darted
forth to the fields again.
This state of things lasted forty minutes, with suffi-
cient rain to have given every bee full warning, even
were they both blind and deaf.
Even the most distant bees, I considered within the
reach of the rain, and I supposed, that in fifteen minutes
from the commencement of the shower, every bee would
have been in; but such was not the fact. They con-
tinued to pour in during the whole of the forty minutes ;
then the winds commenced blowing furiously, and the
rain fell fast; I took an umbrella, and standing in the
midst of the apiary, beheld the bees beating in against
winds and rain, until the water came in such torrents,
that a perfect sheet encompassed me; and at this junc-
ture, several bees on their return, finding it impossible
to gain their hives, came under my umbrella for protec-
tion. Every bee that was out at that crisis, must have
been dashed to the ground, unless they sought refuge on
the nearest thing that came in their way. ji
This observation proved that bees can fly a conside-
rable distance to their homes, while the rain literally
pours down. Before the last heavy dash to which I re-
fer above, 1 noticed the bees coming in very slowly in-
deed, for the rain came down in torrents; yet they did
slowly make headway through it. Their speed, as they
approached ‘the apiary, was much slower than a man
usually walks; and I presume, that-it would have been
impossible for them to have proceeded much farther.
This observation also shows how indefatigable they
BEE-KEEPER’S MANUAL, 25
are, in the pursuit of their natural avocation. The
sturdy iron-bound frames of the laborers of the adjacent
field had taken flight, long before the bees considered it
necessary to vacate the flowery hills and vales, as if
those iron frames were made of salt, while the little frail
bee, with her fragile silken wings, braved the tempest,
and bid defiance to the driving storm!
THE SEX OF WORKERS.
Much diversity of opinion has been expressed, in re-
gard to the sex of workers, by naturalists and apiarians;
and this is not the only question in dispute among them.
The natural history, physiology, and economy of the
honey bee, has perplexed and baffled more scientific
men in their attempts to unveil the secrets of their na-
ture, than any other subject whatever. As I before
stated, much that pertains to the bee, is beyond the pale
of man’s knowledge; and a thousand years hence, dark-
ness and mystery will hang over this subject, and man
will behold and wonder ;—but to fathom the secrets of
their intuitive wisdom, he never will be able.
The reader may possibly ask, “what benefit is it to
know, whether the workers are males, females or neu-
ters, so long as we know sufficient to enable us to man-
age our bees with perfect success ?”
Why, sir, so far as pecuniary advantage is concerned,
it is of no consequence to know many things concerning
the bee, that will occupy much of my attention in these
pages; but there is a curiosity extant, that is not satis-
fied with any thing short of all the knowledge, touching
2
26 MINER’S AMERICAN
the nature and habits of this insect, that is attainable by
man ; and while many will pass these pages, with a hur-
ried glance, for those that reveal a knowledge, that
comes home to the pocket of the reader; saying, “why
is this long useless expenditure of words upon queens,
workers, drones, fecundation, sex of workers, &c., §.,”
others will wish for a more lengthy and elaborate trea-
tise, on the same subject.
The sex of workers is neither male nor female. They
appear to be strictly a phenomenon in nature, and by
many, are termed neuters.
WORKERS SAID TO BE SOMETIMES FERTILE.
The workers approximate very nearly in their internal
organization, to the queens, having ovaries like them,
but not so fully developed. In their natural capacity,
they never produce eggs ; yet it is contended, that under
peculiar circumstances workers exist, partaking of the
nature of queens, to a much greater extent, than in their
ordinary state; and that such workers lay drone eggs
only. The most positive proof of this assertion, ever
given to the public, so far as I have been able to learn,
is adduced by Huber. He states, that having a hive in
which drone eggs only were produced, and believing its
legitimate queen to be lost, his servant caught every bee
in the hive, examined them carefully, made them show
their stings, in order to test their gender, as small males
are sometimes found that very nearly resemble workers,
which males have no sting; and he then put them into
a glass cylinder; and so on, to the very last, and not a
BEE-KEEPER’S MANUAL. Q7
bee was found, except workers. Indeed, he experi-
mented on two hives in this way, as he says; and so
tedious was the job, of catching and examining the bees,
that it took ¢hirteen days to perform the operation.
From this experiment, he says, that he was certain
that workers do sometimes produce drone eggs, as be-
fore stated—in short, his servant, Beurnens, actually
took one in the very act of laying.
How far we can credit Huber’s statements in regard
to this transaction, I cannot say. His hives were of the
kind termed leaf hives, which he was enabled to open,
like the folds of a book; and it is possible, that the ope-
ration of catching the bees, may have been performed;
but I doubt whether it will ever be done again.
FERTILE WORKERS, AND THE POWER OF WORKERS TO PRO-
DUCE QUEENS FROM ORDINARY WORKER Eces!
The manner and cause of the production of workers
that lay drone eggs, is as follows :—provided that such
do ever exist, though I came within an ace of verifying
the fact myself, as I shall relate.
It is necessary here to inform the reader of the power
of workers in forming, or producing a queen, in order
that he may rightly understand the question.
KINDS OF EGGS LAID BY THE QUEEN.
The queen lays but two kinds of eggs, viz: drone
and worker eggs; and when queens are wanted, ordi-
nary worker eggs are laid by the queen, in cells made
expressly for royal use, termed queen cells. Here is a
28 MINER'S AMERICAN
cut of a royal cell, precisely as taken from one of m
hives:
ROYAL CELLS—HOW CONSTRUCTED.
The queen cell is of the exact natural size and shape
as it here appears; but the worker cells are on rather
too small a scale to give the tout ensemble in its regular
proportions, but that is of little account, since the only
object of the cut is, to illustrate the position and natural
shape of royal cells alone.
It will be perceived, that this cell hangs vertically ;
that is, with the mouth downward. These cells are
generally built upon the edges of the combs; and for
this purpose, the bees leave one side of their combs,
without much support along the edges, except an occa-
sional bar, or brace, while the opposite edges are firmly
cemented to the hive, through their whole length. The
distance between the combs that are intended for royal
cells, and the side of the hive, is from a quarter toa
half an inch; giving just room enough for these cells,
BEE-KEEPER'S MANUAL. 29
which are about the size of a peanut, and look, in shape
and outward appearance, very much like this nut, with
one end cut pff, and the nut extracted. The bases of
these cells, however, are broader than a peanut; and the
shape is somewhat like a sugar loaf, placed upon its small
end. Royal cells are also constructed in the centres of
combs, on the edges of passages through them. They
who have been in the habit of cutting out combs, have
undoubtedly perceived small orifices, about the size of a
half dollar, through which the bees pass from one comb
to another, and on the edges of these apertures, royal
cells are as frequently built, as on the edges of the combs.
Why such a large, cumbrous cell is necessary for the
raising of queens, that are of less size than a drone, is
very singular! There is more material put into one of
these royal tenements, than would be required to build a
dozen drone cells; and then, they must hang downward!
Here is one of the mysteries pertaining to bees, that
man can never unfold. A drone cell, lengthened a little,
would be just the thing for these young queens; yet
these stubborn bees will not be taught improvement ;
they seem so attached to the customs of their fore-
fathers. :
HOW YOUNG QUEENS ARE PRODUCED—THE NUMBER OF
ROYAL CELLS IN A HIVE, ETC.
When the young queens are wanted, several of these
zells are constructed ; say from five to twenty-five; and
the queen deposits worker eggs therein at intervals, so
as to mature, at about the period that they will be wanted
30 MINER'S AMERICAN
to go off with swarms. I have noticed some difference
of opinion in regard to the largest number of royal cells,
ever found in a single hive. Huber is denounced by
Huish, for asserting that he discovered twenty-seven in
a single hive; and he (Huish) contends, that no hive
ever contained at once, more than seven; but I have
myself, the present season, taken twenty-two from one
hive, and seventeen from another, but they were not all
perfect cells. There are always more or less royal cells
that are not completed, in every case; for, as soon as a
certain number are so far advanced, that the young
sovereigns are sure of being perfectly developed, the re-
maining cells are discontinued.
It should be borne in mind, that these royal cells
are not completed, and then made the receptacles of the
eggs; but when about half constructed, they receive the
egg; and as the larvee* progress, the cells are completed.
These half-constructed cells, resemble an acorn, devoid
of the nut.
DIFFERENT FOOD PROVIDED FOR THE YOUNG QUEENS.
When the royal cells have received the eggs, and
they become hatched out, the workers provide different
food for the larve from that which is fed to workers
and drones. This food, which has been termed royal
*Larve is the term given to the worms or grubs until the cells
are sealed. From the sealing of the cells, to full development, a
nymph, pupa or crysalis ; yet the term larve is properly applied,
by some naturalists, during the whole period of the embryo state.
BEE-KEEPER S MANUAL. 31
jelly, immediately changes the nature of its recipient,
and the properties of a queen begin to be unfolded. The
size of the cell, and its vertical position, perhaps has
some influence and agency, in producing a royal scion ;
but the grand elixer, is the royal jelly, as is universally
supposed, that effects the change.
The only man that ever pretended to have actually
discovered this royal pap, is Huber; for there was no-
thing under heaven that he could not discover, through
his assistant, Beurnens, who used “to upset the bee hives
on the death of a member of the family!” He not only
saw it, but tasted it, as he states.
Huber gave it the name of royal jelly, and on giving
his discoveries to the world, naturalists promulgated his
theory, and many apiarians have become re-echoers of
it. Some, indeed, do contend, that it takes a queen egg
to produce a queen, but they are behind the age. This
assumption will not stand a moment. I have time and
again, proved that a worker egg will produce a queen!
as I shall relate, at the proper time. And in regard to
the theory of “royal jelly,” it is quite plausible, for, if it
be not a different food, that produces queens, what can
it be? No man, in my opinion, knows anything more
about this royal jelly, or whether it does or does not
exist, than perhaps the reader, who perchance does not
know a queen bee from a worker or drone; yet the great
and wonderful truth stands impregnable, that a different
treatment does produce queens, and that positively, there
is no difference in the egg used for this purpose, and
that, from which a worker emerges!
32 MINER'S AMERICAN
We must, then, come to the conclusion, that it is the
food that makes the change; and we will continue to
affirm, that it is the royal jelly, that effects the change,
not at all fearing, that any one will ever be able to prove
us to be in error, as it is not in the power of man, ever
to go beyond simple conjecture on this point.
THE FORMATION OF A NEW QUEEN IN THE PLACE OF ONE
THAT DIES, OR IS LOST.
The bees having the power to make queens at will,
from worker eggs, it follows as a natural consequence,
that in the case of the death of a queen, or of her loss when
absent from the hive, which does sometimes happen,
they can at once supply her place, provided that she left
any eggs, or larvee less than four days old. Here we find
one of the most wonderful provisions of nature, pertain-
ing to the natural economy of the bee; for, were they
not able to thus replace the loss of a queen, this insect
would soon become extinct.
There are seasons, however, in which the queen may
die and leave no eggs, or larvee behind her under four
days old; and in such cases, the family must perish,
unless supplied with a new queen by their proprietor,
or a piece of comb, containing eggs, or larve of a suit-
able age; and in such a case, the proffered comb, if pro-
perly attached in the hive, in a natural position, answers
every purpose of larve left by the queen. But such
seasons or instances are not frequent with well peopled
hives, for larvae may be found in such hives, to a greater
or less extent, almost every month in the year. Even
BEE-KEEPER'S MANUAL 33
in the dead of winter, larvee have frequently been found
in the centres of very strong stocks* or swarms; and it
appears to be thus ordained by nature, in erder to always
admit of the bees being able to provide against the loss
of their sovereign. In their natural state in the forest
with an abundance of room, perhaps they never expe-
rience the loss of a.queen, without being able to replace
her, except in cases of small swarms issuing, in which
case, they would be liable to the same casualties of do-
mestic swarms, until they have existed a season or two,
and have become numerous.
THE SUPPOSED CAUSE OF THE FORMATION OF FERTILE
WORKERS.
The reader now having a little insight into the man-
ner in which queens are made, I will proceed to state
in what manner these semi-fertile workers are supposed
to be produced ; for, I must inform the reader, that all
the insight that has ever yet been obtained on this sub-
ject, is nothing more than simple conjecture and hypo-
thesis. This is, as I have observed, “terra incognita,”
or unknown land, to the apiarian explorer, and may be
set down as one of the unfathomable mysteries of the
nature of the bee.
The royal cells being constructed, or in progress of
construction, and containing the larvee to be transformed
into queens, and being fed on the royal jelly, as afore-
* Every family of bees is termed a stock, after the first year of
their existence, and a swarm during the first year or season.
34 MINER'S AMERICAN
said, it is supposed that on some occasions, that the
worker larva, situated immediately adjoining the royal
cells, may, either by accident, or otherwise, be fed a
little of the royal pap, which, not being sufficient to pro-
duce queens, and only enough to so far develop their
ovaries, as to enable them to lay drone-eggs only.
It is not probable, even if the above hypothesis be
true, that workers would become sufficiently fertile to
be able to lay both drone and worker-eggs, by being
wholly fed on royal food, since the shape and position
of a royal cell, has its peculiar effect upon its tenant,
otherwise such cells would not be constructed, as bees
do nothing without a good reason.
.
A CASE OF RETARDED IMPREGNATION IN THE QUEEN, OR OF
FERTILE WORKERS, COMING UNDER THE AUTHOR’S OWN
OBSERVATION.
I will now relate what took place under my own im-
mediate observation, iu regard to the laying of drone-
eggs in one of my hives.
On examining one of my hives early the present sea-
son, (1848) I found a swarm of last year in a very weak
condition, not having above two or three hundred bees
in it. How this diminution in numbers happened, or
what the cause was, I could not imagine; since the
swarm was large, and in good condition apparently, last
fall; having filled the hive with comb, and having laid
in an abundance of honey for winter consumption. I
closely watched this hive, to ascertain whether any of
the few bees it contained gathered farina; as that fact
BEE-KEEPER S MANUAL. 35
would throw some light on their condition{since where
the queen is lost, the bees never gather this food of the
larvee,}because they have no necessity for it, while in
that condition. I did perceive an occasional bee enter
with pellets of farina, and I at once took it for granted,
that the queen was among them, and that she would
prove fertile; but owing to the very small number of
bees composing her family, I was aware that it would
be very late in the season, before she would be able to
replenish the hive in numbers, owing to the difficulty in
generating the necessary animal heat. After watching
during the month of May, in vain, for any apparent in-
crease, I concluded that if the hive remained much
longer in that condition, the moths would take posses-
sion, and give the handful of bees therein “notice to
quit ;” and if they should manifest any disposition to
refuse to comply with so reasonable a requisition, a
“writ of ejectment” would speedily follow; and not
wishing to have any controversies arise between my
bees and so stubborn a creature as the moth, touching
the right of possession, I immediately commenced cut-
ting out a portion of the combs, in order to give the
bees a better chance to defend themselves, in case of
being intruded upon.
In cutting out these combs, I discovered:in one of the
centre combs, near to the top of the hive, a piece of
brood, about two or three inches square, which was en-
tirely drone-brood. I searched in vain for any trace of
worker-brood, nor did I find a solitary worker larva, up
to about the 20th of June, when the family was destroy-
36 MINER'S AMERICAN
ed; but I found a small increase of drone-larve, and the
most of what I originally discovered, regularly matured.
On making the discovery of drone-brood, J searched
in vain for the queen, and being able, with the feather
end of a quill, to almost bring every bee in sight, and
after many attempts at her discovery, not seeing any
signs of royalty, save the brood as before stated, I came
to the conclusion, that I had a veritable instance of the
fecundity of workers! Iwas forced to become a dis-
ciple of Huber, on the fertility of workers in certain
cases, and that they lay drone-eggs only, that is, for the
time being, until a new feature was thrown over the
subject. About the 20th of June, I had several swarms
issue on the same day, and unexpectedly finding myself
without hives, I concluded that I might as well take the
hive in question, and use it; since it was out of the
question, for it to be re-peopled by its present occupants,
and I accordingly took it, and used it in a case where
two swarms had clustered together. I took it just as it
was, with its bees, honey and combs, and having put
about half of the two swarms into another hive, I im-
mediately put the other half into this hive, and placed
the two about a foot apart, so that in case I missed get-
ting a queen in either of them, the bees in the hive in
which no queen should chance to be, would find the
other hive easily and enter it. How great was my sur-
prise to find that a war of extermination was immedi-
‘ately waged against the few bees in the hive containing
the drone-brood, and in half an hour, every bee that
originally inhabited it, Jay dead upon the blanket, upon
BEE-KEEPERS MANUAL. 37
which the hive was placed, and among the slain was a
queen, perfect in size and form! The question then
arose, where did this dead queen come from? If there
had been a queen with that portion of the two swarms,
that I had forced into this hive, such queen would then
not have been killed by them. Had there been more
than one queen in this portion of the swarm, then it
would have been very natural for one to have been im-
mediately killed by the other; and in such case the bees
would have remained contented with the remaining
queen ; but in a few hours the whole of the bees left this
hive in which the queen had lost her life, and joined the
other half of the swarms, thus giving conclusive evidence
that both queens of the two swarms were in the first
hive, and consequently, the small family of bees, that I
had considered to be without a queen, did actually pos-
sess one, and it was her majesty that had perished with
her subjects.
In all cases of my experience, I had found that differ-
ent families of bees, or swarms mix peaceably together,
while being hived; hence my surprise at. the fight in this
instance ; but it must have been the existence of a queen
among’ them, and the treasure of honey that engendered
so deadly a strife.
When the bees departed from this hive, in which the
battle had taken place, not a drop of honey remained.
It had all been taken in their honey bags, to deposit
wherever a permanent abode should be found.
Huber has stated that queens are never slain by
workers in combat, but here is an instance to the con-
38 MINER’S AMERICAN
trary, of such a nature, as not to admit of a question, of
the queen being killed in the general melee, and by the
workers, too.
I recently met with another instance of an attempt
on the life of a queen by workers. During a remarka-
able season of cold, wet and drizzly weather, that lasted
about two weeks, some of my bees commenced robbing
their weaker neighbors, and one day, while standing in
front of one of these invaded hives, watching the de-
structive strife, I beheld a queen on the ground directly
in front of the combatants, struggling with a worker.
The worker embraced her, with curved abdomen, en-
deavoring to find a penetrable point, in which to plant
its deadly sting. I seized the queen, but in my anxiety
to save her from harm, she escaped and flew away. At
evening, I found her in a cluster, near the entrance of
the hive, in front of which I first discovered her.
I mention this fact to show that workers pay no re-
spect to royalty, when engaged in a general warfare.
In this case, it is probable, that the queen was forced
out of the hive, in the conflict that was raging within,
and was passively the object of one of the robbers’ ven-
geance when discovered. I say passively, for whatever
may be the attack upon a queen by a worker, she never
retaliates. She never lowers her dignity sufficiently to
return a thrust made by a subject, but, as it were, bares
her breast and says, “slay me, if you have a heart to do
it. I choose death rather than defence.” But let queen
be pitted against queen, and how changed the scene!
The modest non-resisting queen, that tamely suffers
BEE-KEEPER 8 MANUAL. 39
death from an unfeeling subject, now rises in her ma-
jesty, and with eager and deadly aim, rushes to the com-
bat—the struggle is short, one of the two soon lies in
the last pangs of death!
To return to our little family, that met so untimely an
end—the dead queen changed the aspect of the case
materially, and I was forced to conclude, that instead of
the drone-brood being the production of fertile workers,
it must have been the work of a queen; and here comes
up the question of retarded impregnation.
The reader will recollect, that I have stated, that
Huber experimented on retarded impregnation, and
that he states, that when a queen is retarded beyond
the twenty-first day of her age, in her impregnation,
she lays only drone-eggs thereafter, during her whole
life!
In the foregoing case, J examined the premises thor-
oughly, to see what ground I had for taking this latter
assumption of Huber, as being applicable to the case be-
fore me, and I found much to strengthen me in the be-.
lief, and in fact to render it almost certain, that it was
an instance of retarded impregnation, beyond a reason-
able doubt. In the first place, I found some six or eight
royal cells in this hive, that had been constructed the
season previous; and since a swarm never constructs
any royal cells the first season) unless it be in very rare
instances of large early swarms, that throw off a swarm
the same season, and this swarm not being an early
one, and to my certain knowledge, not being in a con-
dition to throw off a swarm at any time during the sea-
40 MINER’S 4MERICAN
son, the question arises, why were these royal cells con-
structed ?
The probable solution to this query is, that sometime
in August or September, the queen belonging to this
hive, from some cause, was lost, and the workers avail-
ing themselves of their power to replace her, or create
another in her stead, constructed the royal cells as above,
and reared aqueen. This queen coming into existence,
at a period when very few drones exist, if any at all,
must, from that cause, have found great difficulty in
encountering them on the wing, and hence, a retarded
impregnation is almost certain to result to every queen,
under such circumstances. In large apiaries, say of fif-
teen or twenty hives, there is generally some one or two
hives that allow a portion of the drones to survive much
later than usual, and where such drones do exist, a
young queen may, after many flights, succeed in her
amours.
DIFFICULTY OF EFFECTING THE IMPREGNATION OF QUEENS
AT PARTICULAR SEASONS.
Huber states, that on the occasion of a young queen
coming forth at a season of the year, after the usual
massacre of drones, he witnessed her ineffectual flights
in search of them, for many days; at last she returned
bearing evidence of success. This accords with my own
experience in similar cases, and I must, therefore, come
to the conclusion, that mine was a case of retarded im-
pregnation of the queen, since every fact pertaining to
the case, goes strongly to prove it. We account for the
BEE-KEEPERS MANUAL. 4]
great decrease of bees thus:—the fall months of the
season were a perfect blank in the increase of this family ;
hence, when spring came, as a matter of course, we find
but a very few bees alive, for the majority of all’ bees
existing in the spring of the year, are brought into being
during the fall months previous.
FERTILE WORKERS NEVER EXIST, EXCEPT IN CASES OF A
FAILURE TO PRODUCE A QUEEN.
Another circumstance attending the existence of fer-
tile workers is, that they never do exist, only in cases in
which the bees have been unsuccessful in rearing a
queen. :
When a queen comes into existence, her natural aver-
sion, and unrelenting animosity towards any thing like
rivalry, cause her to rush on all other queens yet in
embryo, and such workers as have had the misfortune
to take a sip of royal jelly, are scented out for immedi-
ate slaughter. But when a failure in raising a queen
takes place, these poor royal pap workers are allowed
to exist so long as no queen is present to immolate them.
Thus it will be seen, that the chances of such fertile
workers coming under the observation of apiarians, is
quite limited.
There is much interesting information concerning
the habits and economy of this class of bees, that can-
not well be embraced in an especial chapter devoted to
workers; but such matter will be unfolded, through the
various subjects that I shall consider essential to dis-
cuss hereafter, in succeeding chapters. The same
42 MINER’S AMERICAN BEE-KEEPER’S MANUAL.
may be said of both queens and drones; yet I have
thought it best to confine as much matter as possible,
in separate chapters, devoted to each respective class—
the better to guide the reader in his researches, for
any particular information that he may wish to refer
to.
CHAPTER III.
e
DRONES.
Tue drones are the largest class of bees in the family.
Their bodies are thick, short and clumsy, and obtuse at
each extremity. There are two descriptions of males—
one not larger than a worker. This class of drones is
but seldom seen. How they are produced, is a subject
for speculation. It is probable, however, that they only
exist, when the queen has deposited a portion of drone-
eggs in worker-cells; the size of which will not admit
of a full development. The common dronesare as large
as two workers. The head and trunk are covered with
dense hairs—much more dense than on workers, or on
the queen. Their wings are large, and extend to the
full length of the abdomen. Drones have no sting, and
may be handled with perfect impunity. They make a
loud, buzzing noise when on the wing. ‘
NATURAL USES OF DRONES.
The natural uses of drones have hitherto been a sub-
ject on which the greatest contrariety of opinion has
existed; especially in Europe> In our own country,
44 MINER’S AMERICAN
those few authors who have written on the bee, have,
as I before stated, servilely copied the endorsement of
Huber’s theory, from foreign works circulated here ; that
is, in such treatises as have made any attempt to eluci-
date the natural history of the bee; consequently the
question has not been subject to that dispute here, that
it has been in England and on the continent.
Huber’s theory of the impregnati¢m of the queen, has
met with a very strong opposition in Europe, even to
ridicule; yet I consider him right—yes, not admitting
of a doubt in the mind of any man, who will look into
the subject, with a mind untrammelled by prejudice.
The drones appear to be a superfluous legion, of no
use at all, but rather a disadvantage. This class of the
honey-bee, derive their name from their general lazy
habits, spending their time in luxury, and feeding upon
the stores gathered by the ever industrious workers.
They collect no honey at all, for the reason, that nature.
has not provided them with honey bags, such as the
workers possess, to contain collected sweets; neither
have they any cavities, or baskets upon their legs, as
workers have, to hold pollen or farina. This insect is
the only thing known to exist in the animate creation,
unprovided with the means of supplying itself with food
from the boundless store-house of nature. A drone could
not exist a day, were it deprived of the privilege of feed-
ing on the stores of the hive already gathered. They
are never seen to alight on any flower, or doing any
thing to aid the prosperity of the colony. In one re-
spect they differ entirely from the workers, having the
BEE-KEEPER S MANUAL. 45
liberty of entering different hives with perfect impunity,
while a worker enters any hive but its own, at the peril
of its life.
Now, the question is, what are these apparently use-
less bees for? Would not our apiaries be generally
benefitted, could we banish these lazy drones from our
hives? This may reasonably seem to be the case, to
one not acquainted with the natural history of the bee;
but should we banish these bees from our hives, depopu-
lation would speedily follow.
CAUSE OF THE EXISTENCE OF SO MANY DRONES.
However mysterious the ways of animate nature may
appear, nothing is created in vain. Nature, in order to
ensure her legitimate objects of fructification, is ever
profuse, often far exceeding the positive requirements of
the case, as we may view it; but after all, nature is
right and we are wrong. Look, for instance, to the
fructifying farina of the tassel of maize, that contains a
thousand times the quantity that is necessary to give
birth to the ears that brace each stalk around. The
captious and precarious winds, that are commissioned
to waft this farina to its destiny, are not to be relied
upon; hence the vast superabundance that nature has
provided to render fertility sure.
Not unlike this is the legion of drones that lazily hang
arouud our hives; and where a thousand exist, nine hun-
drcd and ninety-nine are perfectly useless, save upon the
same principle of superabundance, as shown above.
46 MINER’S AMERICAN
The only object for which drones are brought into
existence is the impregnation. of the queen, and if a less
number existed, her fecundity would be jeopardized, in
the ratio of the decrease.
IMPREGNATION OPERATIVE FOR LIFE.
Coition is always effected high on the wing, and when
once effected, it is operative for an entire season—even
during the entire life of the queen. The cavillers at
this theory, attempt to cast ridicule on the hypothesis,
of a single impregnation being sufficient for the natural
life of the queen; and, say they, “ we admit that if your
theory has any ground to stand upon, it is reasonable to
suppose, that a single impregnation would suffice for one
season, since analogy teaches that; but howdo you sup-
pose that an impregnation this spring, effects the queen
at her next spring laying ; since the winter months are
a season of barrenness with her, and certainly no man
in his senses would suppose that the coition of the year
before, could possibly have any influence on her at that
period! You may as well say, that the dung-hill fowl
has no need of the male after the first impregnation, to
render her eggs productive during her whole life !”
All this is reasonable logic, but it avails nothing in
the case before us, since there is so much in the history
of the bee, that has no analogous bearing with any other
similar matter in animate nature, that we cannot rest
any theory solely upon such a basis.
We must, and do confess, that if any positive proof
can be adduced, showing that impregnation is not ef-
BEE-KEEPER'S MANUAL. 47
fectual, even during the natural life of the queen, then
the theory of impregnation with the drones on the wing
is untenable. But such proof cannot be adduced—on
the other hand, it is perfectly reasonable, that the queen
should never lose the virtue of a primary coition, be-
cause there is seldom, or never, a ¢otal cessation of lay-
ing in the strongest families. I contend that in every
strong and healthy family of bees, brood may be found
every month in the*year, and that the ovary of the
queen is never wholly void of the fecundating principle,
after once being fully impregnated. I do not say that
brood may be found in every hive, because half of the
hives in existence at the present time, are not in that
condition that nature intended a family of bees to be in.
There have been so many tinkers at work, of late
years, in forcing bees out of their natural habits, that it
would not be surprising if the whole race of bees should
become extinct, before the beginning of the next cen-
tury. Nature so intended a family of bees, that a suf-
ficient body of them should always be together, to be
able to generate a natural animal heat even in the dead
of winter ; and such families, having a healthy queen, will
seldom or never be wholly void of brood in their tene-
ments. I do not suppose or contend, that in the winter
season, the bees are breeding so as to make any mate-
rial accession to their numbers, even in a state of the
greatest prosperity, but a very few larve may be found
in the coldest weather, in many strong families.
But what are we to do with those families that are
weak, and in which the queens discontinue laying in
48 MINER'S AMERICAN
the fall, and do not commence again until the following
spring? Such queens have no possible opportunity to
have commerce with the drones, and yet they are fer-
tile. Here is undoubtedly a cessation of ovi-positing,
for some four months. Does the impregnation of the
spring previous, operate in this case? It unquestion-
ably does, however strange it may appear. I look upon
the question in this light:—that the germ of the ovary,
after having been fructified, never wholly loses the effi-
cacy of coition, and though there be a cessation of lay-
ing, yet the germinating principle is never lost, but
rather lies dormant, until the genial warmth of spring
arouses it to action.
If the foregoing premises be fallacious, let us have
a proof of its fallacy. They who deny this theory,
do not pretend to adduce any theory at all, but rather
suffer the case to go by default.
VISIONARY ALLEGED USES OF DRONES.
Some apiarians, however, contend that the drones fruc-
tify the eggs as fast as laid, by some means that they can-
not well explain, and this is their sole use; but when
asked how the eggs that are laid in the spring, before
any drones exist, become fructified, they acknowledge
their inability to answer. Thus is this question beset
with difficulties that will probably remain as long as
time lasts.
The time when drones appear, as well as the time
when they disappear, strongly shows that their use can
be no other than the fructification of queens. If their
BEE-KEEPERS MANUAL. 49
use were for the various purposes that have been ascribed
to them, such as fructifying the eggs—feeding the lar-
ve—sitting on the eggs—producing the necessary heat
in the hive, for maturing the brood in due Season, &c.,
how is it, that the brood is regularly perfected, when not
a solitary drone exists? In the spring and fall, we find
the brood going through the different stages, to perfect
development ; but no drones exist at that time; hence
it is time lost to argue this question, with those who ad-
vance so unreasonable positions.
I consider the above uses ascribed to drones perfectly
chimerical; rather exciting a smile of contempt, that so
palpable errors should be promulgated at this late day,
by men professing a scientific knowledge of the nature
and economy of the bee.
Another gross error is promulgated, and confidently
believed, in many parts of Europe, and especially Poland,
in regard to the uses of drones, which is, that they are
especially and solely the “water carriers” of the family!
I have a Polish work on bees before me, making this as-
sertion,‘as gravely as if the author were promulgating a
well known truth, that admits of no refutation, or even
question of its accuracy. This, as well as the foregoing
uses of drones, are the visionary fallacies of bee-keepers
of old times—many centuries ago; and which, with
humerous others, as wild and ridiculous as the ignorance
and. superstition of the times could engender, still exist
to a great extent, among the bee-keepers of every coun-
try. It were a Herculerian task to eradicate these su-
perstitious traditions—sooner would I attempt to civilize
3
50 MINER'S AMERICAN
and educate the Hottentot of Africa, than to attempt to
unlearn the unread bee-keepers of our country, of all
their whims and traditionary notions, respecting the
honey-bee. Their knowledge of this insect is rated by
the length of time that bees have been kept in the family ;
and that man who dates a family possession through
several generations, would be a dangerous person to ex-
postulate with on the impropriety of his management,
for, it were ten chances to one, that we should receive
a forcible illustration of the strength of his arguments,
in the way of ejectment from his premises.
HUISH ENCOUNTERS A SAVAN BEE-KEEPER,
Huish relates an instance of his being introduced
to a genus of this species, who had kept bees a long
time, and who supposed that he was the veritable
“Prince of apiarians ;” and on some improvement being
suggested by him, followed and backed by argument, he
was politely shown the way to the street, in so signifi-
cant a manner, that it would have been rashness to have
delayed the parley.
Nothing will excite the ire of these gentry so much
as to question their knowledge of the true science of
bee-management. In consequence of this fact, I have
ever avoided any controversy with people of this de-
scription; and on a recent tour through the State of
New York, I made it a point tocall on every bee-keeper
in my route, that I could visit conveniently, merely to
gratify a curiosity that I felt, to see how they generally
managed bees. I elicited their management by simple
BEE-KEEPER’S MANUAL. 51
questions, and they generally took great pains to give
me all the information in their power; for I never ven-
tured to play the teacher, but humbly and civilly re-
ceived instruction from them, such as they were able to
impart, being a stereotype of the management that was
in vogue centuries ago, to a great extent.
Thad the pleasure of meeting with many apiarians,
who have not despised to read and learn. One gentle-
man opened the chamber of one of his hives, and to my
surprise, drew forth several volumes on the management
of bees, which he was accustomed to study, under the
balmy shade of ‘the surrounding trees. I found, on the
whole, a spirit of inquiry abroad on the subject, and
many had been the willing victims in the purchase of a
variety of patent hives—not one of which answers the
purpose, as recommended !
One gentleman said that he would give a large sum
of money, if his bees were out of a lot of patent hives,
and back in his old-fashioned bores; and I found the
same desire prevalent among almost every one, who had
embarked in patents, to any great extent of time.
WHEN DRONES APPEAR AND DISAPPEAR.
Dr. Bevan says, “the drones make their appearance
about the end of April, and are never to be seen after
the middle of August, except under very peculiar cir-
cumstances.”
In my experience, I have found that the drones do
not appear, to any great extent, until the latter part of
May; and the general massacre takes place in July, and
52 MINERS AMERICAN
is continued through August. 1 have this day (August
23d, 1848) seen many drones about my hives, and still
under no “peculiar circumstances.”
The great slaughter has generally been consummated
among the tenants of my apiary; yet scattering drones
are found here and there that have escaped an unnatu-
ral death. I am fully aware of the “peculiar circum-
stances,” to which Dr. Bevan refers, but I think that
author is in error, when he says, that drones are never
to be seen after the middle of August, unless under pe-
culiar circumstances. He should have put it one month
later.
It will be seen that the appearance of the great body
of the drones is coeval with swarming, and their disap-
pearance as a body, when the swarming season is ter-
minated. Now, admitting that their sole use, is the im-
pregnation of the young queens, that issue with the
swarms,—is it possible for them to appear at a more
appropriate period, or leave at a season that would be
better for the prosperity of the colony? Since , they
must live on the stores gathered by the workers, they
should not appear before the time of actual requirement;
and when their services can be dispensed with, they
should not remain a day to consume the food that is
gathered with so much toil and industry. Man, with
all his wisdon, could not better this wonderful operation
of nature! Had I the direction of the production of
drones, I should say, “let them appear in force from the
20th of May to the 1st of June”—precisely the time
that they doappear. On the first week in July, I should
BEE-KEEPERS MANUAL. 58
say ‘ depart”—just the time that the massacre is com-
menced. On the 6th of July, I discovered the first at-
tempt to expel the drones, this season. Thus, nature
has ordained this matter; and blind indeed, must he be,
who can resist the almost self-evident truth, of the legi-
timate uses of drones.
“ But,” say the cavillers, “why should a thousand or
more drones be brought into existence, when one is suf-
ficient, according to this theory.”—It is a true adage,
that “none are so blind as those who won’t see.” Thus
it is, in the present case. Now, the queen cannot pos-
sibly become fertile, without meeting a drone on the
wing, in the air. This is her nature, and she may be
confined with thousands, yet it is utterly impossible for
her, to be fructified by their presence. Then, since she
must go forth, and that too, in the regions above, far
out of the sight of man, to effect her object ; she must
nov go in vain.
The life of a queen is too valuable to be jeopardized
in fruitless sallyings, subject to be caught by the fowls
of the air, or to mistake her domicil, on her return, and
enter another and perish. A young swarm is solely de-
pendent on the safety of their queen ; and if she perish,
ten thousand subjects die with her.
The great Creator of animate nature foresaw all this,
in his infinite wisdom, and wisely created so many
drones, that the queen could not well fail, to come with-
in the circle of their flight, soon after leaving her hive,
and thus render her fertility sure, on her first exit.
54 MINER’S AMERICAN.
DRONES GO FORTH TO MEET THE QUEEN.
The drones have received a command from the mouth of
Him who created them, to “ go forth to meet their royal
mistress ;” and for five thousand years, this mandate has
been implicitly complied with. Time may roll on, yet
these drones, faithful to the Omnipotent hand that gave
them instinct, will continue to take their rial flights,
as regularly as the sun rises and sets.
Perhaps the reader may not have been impressed with
the circumstance of the drones, at a certain hour of
the day, coming forth from their hives, and taking their
flight heavenward! This isa singular truth. Gene-
rally from one to three o'clock, P. M., on every fair day,
aloud buzzing noise may be heard among the bees. A
great commotion ensues, and one is often mistaken, sup-
posing that a swarm is about to issue. This is the gen-
eral egress of the drones. They ascend in horizontal
circles, in an oblique direction ; and after being absent
an hour or more, return to their hives. This flight
takes place daily ; and since the drones have no possible
cause for leaving the apiary, to gather food, does not
their periodical flights, in this manner, show conclusively,
that nature has bidden them to go forth to meet the
queen? Now mark the harmony of the arrangement!
The queens, by the same power of instinct, leave their
hives about the same time that the drones take their
exit; or generally, a short period before, and seldom re-
turn unimpregnated.
Huber says, that at eleven o’clock, A. M., he witness-
BEE-KEEPER 8S MANUAL. 55
ed a queen go forth; but I have never yet seen one
sally out at that hour.
DANGER OF THE QUEEN BEING LOST, DURING HER
EXCURSION.
That all these things should be thus made to harmon-
ize, for the well-being of the bee, is apparent. How
easy a thing it would be, for a queen to lose her way,
on her return to her hive, if she had to go forth many
times.
In her flight, every object that presents itself is new,
save what may have been noticed by her on the day of
swarming. She sees many hives of the same color and
size, and it is only by the most astonishing sagacity, that
she is enabled to escape the vicissitudes of a single flight ;
and were she compelled to go out daily, for any consi-
derable time, not one family in ten would escape de-
struction; for to be without a queen, is certain ruin,
when no eggs or larve exist in the hive.
HUISH’S VAGARIES RELATIVE TO THE USE OF DRONES.
Huish is a great advocate of the drones being for the
purpose of fecundating the eggs, instead of the queens.
Hear him:—“If by any accident or untoward event, a
hive be deficient in drones, the fecundation of the eggs
of the queen does not take place, and consequently, no
swarms are produced.”
Whether to impute the foregoing delusion to igno-
rance, or to a disordered brain, I am at aloss. Who
does not know, that the eggs are fecundated in March
56 MINER'S AMERICAN
and April, long before a drone exists? It makes no dif-
ference at all with swarming, whether drones exist or
not, as every ordinary bee-keeper knows.
Huish also says,—“ When a hive swarms, a number
of drones follow the emigrants, in the proportion of the
number of working bees.”
In regard to this point, it is true, that a portion of the
drones in the hive go out with the swarm; the numbers
varying, according to the number of drones in it—a
mere matter of chance. They go with the swarms
from instinct, so as to divide their maintenance more
equally among the colony.
THE CONFLICTING OPINIONS AND THEORIES OF OTHER
WRITERS DISREGARDED.
T should only be adding mystery to the subject, were
I to fill my pages with the conflicting theories and decla-
rations of Huish, Huber, Bevan, Shirach, De Reaumer,
Riems, De Braw, Swammerdam, Hunter, Dunbar, But-
ler, Thorley, Wildman, Keys, Bonner, and a score of
other foreign writers on the bee; and I think I study
the interest of the bee-community, for whom I write, by
thus doing.
Dr. Bevan’s work is almost entirely made up of the
conflicting views and theories of different authors; and
when one has perused it, he is about as much in the
dark, on many important points, as before reading it.
It is my aim to give a straightforward treatise, with-
out vacillating to the right or to the left, to follow this
or that author; but to unfold the truth as it is, and
BEE-KEEPER S MANUAL. 57
which I have demonstrated, from personal observations.
I cannot, however, suffer the fallacies of some of the
above authors to go without comment, but I shall be as
brief with them as possible.
PARTICULAR INSTANCES OF DRONES BEING ALLOWED TO
LIVE THROUGH THE WINTER.
Huish further says,—“ Huber says, that he has seen
drones in a hive in January, and Mr. Duncan supposes,
that they were allowed to remain in the hive, on account
of the additional heat which they would generate in
winter, or perhaps, they may be preserved for the pur-
pose of pairing a new queen. Thosesuppositions, how-
ever, of Mr. Duncan have not a tittle of truth to stand
upon ; not a drone was ever seen in a hive in January.”
In this case, Huber is right, and Huish shows himself
very ignorant on the subject that he discusses.
It does not admit of a question, that occasionally a
few drones are allowed to winter over, in some hives.
What these drones are thus allowed to live for, is a
question that will never be answered, so as tocover the
whole ground. It is not for the additional heat that Mr.
Duncan speaks of, because their numbers are so small,
that such a thing is out of the question. A hive is
never seen with a full complement of drones in the win-
ter. A dozen or so, is the most that I ever heard of,
and four is the most that I ever found myself.
Last spring, in the month of March, I saw four drones
issue from one of my hives.—It is true, I never saw any
in January; but those that I saw in March, were in ex-
58 MINER'S AMERICAN
istence in January, and if I had driven out the bees, I
should have seen them, of course.
The reason why drones are sometimes left is, that the
family is without a queen, or that- the condition of the
family is such, as to possibly require them to impregnate
anew sovereign. If the queen is not in a healthy and
sound condition, the drones, or a few of them, are al-
ways allowed to exist. This is right—who could order
better ?
In case of the death of the queen, how important are
these drones! In case of the absence of a queen at the
time of the general massacre, and no larve are left to
replace her, the drones are reserved as being needful, in
case of the bees being put in possession of a new queen,
on which they can make no calculation by any natural
means ; yet instinct teaches them to preserve the drones,
and trust in Providence for a queen.
It may be set down as a fact, that when drones are
found long after the general extermination, something
is wrong, and needs ‘the attention of the apiarian; but’
in some cases, it defies the knowledge of man, to con-
ceive why they are left. In the case in which I saw
the four drones, mentioned above, the family was in the
most perfect prosperity. The queen was very fertile,
and I cannot say why the drones were permitted to
winter over, unless something was amiss with the queen
in the fall, of which she recovered before spring.
For the purpose of impregnating a new queen, a few
drones would render the act somewhat precarious, but
I presume that instinct teaches them in every emergen-
BEE-KEEPER’S MANUAL. 59
cy, to so act that the end will be effected, for which
nature designed them.
THE OLD QUEEN ALWAYS GOES OFF WITH THE FIRST
SWARM.
It is not necessary, that the drones should appear in
force, until the second swarms issue; for the reason,
that the o/d queen goes off with the first swarm. This
is another point, that has also been disputed; yet it is a
fact, that can never be subverted. This is a circum-
stance, that may well excite our admiration.
Nature is ever careful of the perpetuity of her species
of the animate creation; and in the case of the bee, she
is not lacking in that wonderful chain of circumstances
that produces one harmonious result.
In order to effect this object, viz: the sallying forth
of the old queens with the first swarms, nature implanted
an implacable enmity between all queens, from the mo-
ment of their existence ; and even so far, as to force the
mother to destroy her own progeny, before it emerges
from the cells.
A young queen, that has not been out of her cell,
more than five minutes, rushes upon her sisters in roy-
alty, and wrests them from their tenements, while «yet
in the pupa state, but for the restraint held over her by
the workers, who stand in the defence of their young
sovereigns, and when a queen approaches, with deadly
aim, they seize her, and hold her a prisoner. This nat-
ural instinctive hatred of rivalry in queens, is the basis
Bpon which the rationale of swarming rests.
60 MINER'S AMERICAN
In order to arrive at the point, that I had in view, viz:
to illustrate the fact of the old queen going off with the
first swarm, as briefly as possible, and not run into a
chapter on swarming at this place, I will simply state,
why the old queen does thus leave the hive with a pri-
mary swarm.
As soon as the young queens’ cells are sealed, or a
few days thereafter, say about eight or nine days before
the development of the oldest among them, the natural
hatred of the rivals, that she has produced, or at least,
deposited the eggs in the royal cells for their production,
is so great, that sooner than remain to encounter them,
she quits the hive, and in her exit, takes a portion of the
family with her. If she were to remain in the hive un-
til one or more of the young queens should emerge from
the cells, she would, from her superior strength and com-
mand over the workers, fall upon such queens, in despite
of the efforts of the workers to prevent it, and slay them,
without the least compunction or mercy. Nor would
she stop there—if any queens yet remained in the em-
bryo state, she would, in her rage, tear off the seals of
their cells, and drag them out, as if they were the dead-
liest enemies to her race. Thus would there be no
swarming, since the old queen would not go off, and
leave the family without a sovereign, and she will spare
none, when once her appetite for slaughter has been
whetted. There is much of interest that may be said
on the general circumstances of swarming, which I shall
endeavor to lay before my readers hereafter.
BEE-KEEPER'S MANUAL. 61
DRONES SAID TO DIE IMMEDIATELY AFTER COITION,
A remarkable circumstance is said to occur to drones,
in their amours with the queen; which is, that death
ensues immediately after coition! Since it is impossible
that man should ever witness the act of connection be-
tween the drones and queens, it is a very difficult question
to determine, whether the drone dies immediately or not.
However, we have analogy, it is said, in some of the
insect tribes, to corroborate this alleged fact.
THE GENERAL MASSACRE OF DRONES,
The general or usual time that the massacre of the
drones takes place is, as I have already observed, in the
month of July. There may, however, be instances of
their being expelled in June, say the last of the month;
and there may also be instances of their being allowed
to exist until August, before any expulsion takes place.
The time of massacre or expulsion is earlier or later,\
according to the latitude of the location of the apiary.:
For instance, the expulsion may take place in the lati-
tude of the city of New York, two weeks sooner than
in the latitude of Buffalo or Boston.
Strange as it may appear, the manner in which the
extermination of drones is effected by the workers, is a
matter of contention among the apiarians and naturalists
of Europe. Some assert that the bees use their stings,
while others contend that the drones are simply disabled,
and then cast out of the hives.
Huish says,—‘“It is the opinion of some naturalists,
62 MINER’S AMERICAN
that the bee kills the drone by means of its sting, but in
the many hundred times that we have witnessed the
destruction of drones, we never yet observed that the
bee made use of its sting.”
Huber is an advocate of their being stung to death ;
he says:—“On the 4th of July, we saw the workers
actually massacre the males in six swarms, at the same
hour, and with the same peculiarities. The glass table was
covered with bees full of animation, rushing upon the
drones as they came from the bottom of the hive; they
seized them by the antenne, the limbs, and the wings,
and after having dragged them about, or, so to speak,
after quartering them, they killed them by repeated sting-
ings directed between the rings of the belly.”
The truth is, that both the way of Huish and also that
of Huber, is practised by the bees. In some instances,
I have noticed that scarcely any were stung, but the
bees cut the cords of their wings, and then expelled them
from the hives. Drones that have been treated in this
manner, may be seen running to and fro upon the
ground, every now and then making a fruitless attempt
to rise on the wing. On other occasions, when the pa-
tience of the workers has become exhausted, they seize
the drones, and curving their abdomen in close contact
with their bellies, continue to make their deadly thrusts,
between the wings, until successful. In this case, the
drones may be seen running around the hive, upon the
~’stand, carrying the workers along with them, which never
_give up their hold until their object is effected. The
workers do seem to have some mercy at times, for long
BEE-KEEPERS MANUAL. 63
and enduring is their patience on most occasions, in en-
deavoring to drive the drones away, without doing them
any bodily harm. In such cases, the drones quit their
usual abode and take refuge in other hives, where, in
turn, they meet with the same treatment; finding every
hive too hot for them, they return to their original
homes, when the workers say, if I may be allowed the
term, as the old man did to the boy who was in one of
his trees stealing apples—The old man did not wish to
injure the lad, if he could get him out of the tree by the
use of moderate means, so he threw a few small tufts of
grass at him, and told him that it was wrong to steal
apples, and desired him to come down, but this, as the
story reads, “only made the young sauce-box laugh.” —
“Well, well,” said the old man, “if neither gentle words
nor tufts of grass will do, I'll try what virtue there is in
stones, §-c.” Now the position of these drone-bees is
not wholly dissimilar to the above case. The workers
wish to get rid of them, indeed, must get rid of them.
They at first push or drive them off the floor-board by
gentle means; finding gentle means ineffectual, they say,
“let us try what virtue there is in stings.”
The drones, in rushing for shelter from hive to hive,
find the best accommodation in those hives in which
recent swarms have been placed, and which have not yet
been filled with combs. In such hives, they can enter at
evening when the bees are clustered above, and congre-
gate on the floor, or bottom-board, huddled together like
a flock of sheep, not daring to venture up into the hive.
In this manner many nights are passed during the heat
64 MINER’S AMERICAN
of the conflict, and as soon as day dawns, they are again
driven out to wander about from hive to hive. In cases
of artificial swarms being made, in which the queen is
not developed, the bees in such hives give the drones a
welcome reception; for the reason that they are abso-
lutely necessary to their prosperity. I had a number of
swarms of this kind this season, when the persecution
of the drones took place, and on raising the hives in the
evening, several hundred drones were found on the bot-
tom-board, as before stated; and it is not unfrequent,
that the drones perish from hunger while in this situa-
tion. I found two hundred drones dead one morning,
in one of my hives, in which an artificial swarm had
been placed, all lying precisely as they were the previous
evening, with their heads towards the centre. In other
hives I found many dead drones in the same manner, on
different occasions. It is very singular, that every drone
in this hive should perish at the same time, but such is
the fact; yet not a hair of their bodies had been dis-
turbed by the workers. When I saw this circumstance
at first, I was led to believe that some unnatural agency
had caused their death ; but subsequently finding them
dead in the same way in several hives, J attributed the
cause to starvation. It was natural to suppose, that this
was the cause, since the unremitting warfare made on
them generally, gave them no opportunity to partake of
any food; for no sooner did one enter a hive, than he
was instantly ejected ; and the hives in which I found
them dead, had not a drop of surplus honey, owing to
the unfavorable weather at, and before the period of
BEE-KEEPER S MANUAL. 65
their persecutions. Had a part of their number been
dead,—some dying, and others lively, I should not con-
sider it as a singular case; but every bee was dead, and
in precisely the upright sitting posture, in which they
had arranged themselves at.evening!
There is, in the circumstances attending the destruction
of drones, much to excite our curiosity and surprise-much
to reflect on pertaining to the instinctive agency that is
brought into action with the workers, at the period when
further swarming is known to them not to take place;
and the intuition that produces a concert of action, and
steels their consciences to all feelings of kindred affec-
tion in their merciless ejectment of fellow bees, whose
agency has been no less important to the welfare of the
community, than that of the executioners themselves,—
all of which conspires to elicit the admiration of man,
and causes him to exclaim, “ verily the wisdom of nature
is past finding out !”
One or two points more, and I have done with drones.
It has been frequently asserted, that drones have been
seen to effect their amours with the queens in the hive,
or in tumblers where they had been placed for the pur-
pose of experimenting with them; but the evidence has
never been adduced, in so strong a shape, as to be en-
titled to credence. One thing is certain, which is, that
no person ever confined a queen from birth, either with
or without drones, that proved fertile. This has often
been tried, but no queen has ever been productive, until
she was at liberty to leave the hive, consequently, I con-
sider that the question ought to be forever set at rest,
66 MINER’S AMERICAN
that the impregnation of the queens ts exterior to the
hive, and of course while on the wing.
There are two kinds of drones that may sometimes
be seen. I refer to a small black drone that occasion-
ally appears, differing from the ordinary drone, only in
color and size. The difference in color may not, in
every case, be very perceptible; yet they are generally
of a darker hue than the larger drones. This kind of
drone is supposed to be bred in those cells that immedi-
ately connect the full-sized drone with the worker-cells.
On inspection, it will generally be found, that a tier or
two of cells exist between the drone and worker-cells,
of an intermediate size; and the queen would very na-
turally be liable to deposit drone eggs in them; and in
consequence of the size of the cell, the drone has not
room for the natural expansions of his body, and conse-
quently is of less size.
This is undoubtedly the true solution of the question ;
for it is a well-known fact, that a drone-ege may be put
into a worker-cell, by any apiarian, having an observa-
tory hive for experimental purposes, and that it will be
nursed by the bees precisely as a worker is treated, and
a small drone will be the issue. On the other hand, a
worker-egg or larva, being placed in a drone-cell, comes
forth an ordinary worker, not a whit the larger for the
capaciousness of its tenement.
It has been said, that drones caress and treat the
queen of the hive with great attention and fondness;
but those who have made this assertion, are generally
the advocates of the impregnation of the queen by the
BEE-KEEPER'S MANUAL. 67
drones within the hive, and consequently find it con-
venient to make out as plausible a story as the case will
admit cf; but they state, what is not a fact. If the
thousand or more drones of a hive, each felt a natural
affection for the queen, she would be so harrassed, that
she would not be able to attend to her natural duties..
The drones pay not the least regard to a queen, any
more than to a worker. They remain almost motion-
less in the centre of the hive, until the middle of the day,
when instinct teaches them to depart, as I have already
related. This is a wise enactment of nature, in order
to preserve harmony within the hive. But no sooner
does the drone ascend in his erial flight, than the in-
stinct of his nature is developed, and he then manifests
a desire to meet his royal mistress.
It is with reluctance that I feel myself compelled to
draw my remarks to a close, on this subject, which I
consider one of the deepest interest in the history of the
bee, to make room for other matter of importance; and
if at any time in the progress of this work, 1 shall fail
to meet the reader’s wishes, in the description of any
branch of my subject, on the score of general details, I
trust I shall be excused, since the subject, in all its vari-
ous phases and bearings, is too vast for an ordinary
volume like this.
CHAPTER IV.
ew
EGGS—LARV#Z.—TIME TO DEVELOPEH, ETC.
THE queen commences laying as soon as tne genial
warmth of spring opens. If the weather be very mild,
she may commence as early as February, but generally
in March and April. She does not, however, com-
mence her “ great laying,” as it has been termed, until
about the first of May. At this period, she deposits
from 100 to 200 eggs per day, and as it takes just twenty
days for a worker to emerge from its cell, fully devel-
oped, reckoning the time from the day of laying the egg,
it follows that all eggs laid on the Ist of May, will pro-
duce perfect bees on the 21st of May.
For a period of about ten years, my bees have not
generally swarmed before the first week in June; and
the second swarms have issued about the 12th or 15th
of June; consequently, those bees that went off with
second swarms, must have been produced from eggs de-
posited about the 20th of May, since a bee is able to
leave the hive on the first or second day of its leaving
the cell.
BEE-KEEPER'S MANUAL. 69
DRONE-EGGS-——WHEN LAID.
Dr. Bevan says, “the laying of drone-eggs, which is
called the great laying, usually commences at the end
of April, or the beginning of May.”
The great laying of drone-eggs is always air the
laying of worker-eggs, consequently, I think Dr. Bevan
has put the laying of drone-eggs too early, but different
climates affect the laying in some measure, and perhaps
in England the great laying takes place somewhat ear-
lier than in this country. The bees, of course, have in
most cases of swarming, been in existence several days,
yet in cases of first swarms, not over a week, and less
time in after swarms, and some bees go off the day of
their leaving the cells. The appearance of drones takes
place in the latter part of May, and in some instances,
a few appear by the 15th of May; but I have never
found them in large numbers, before about the general
swarming season, viz: the first week in June, and since
it requires twenty-four days for drones to mature from
the egg, the great laying of drone-eggs must take place
about the 10th of May, in the latitude of New York.
I observed that the laying of drone-eggs always takes
place after the laying of worker-eggs, which is a fact ;
yet when the laying of drone-eggs is over, the queen
immediately resumes the laying of worker-eggs, and at
the time of her going off with a first swarm, she is ready
to proceed with the laying of worker-eggs for some days,
when she again commences the laying of drone-eggs ;
but not so.extensively as at first. |
70 MINER’S AMERICAN
ROYAL CELLS CONSTRUCTED SIMULTANEOUS WITH
DRONE-EGG LAYING.
There is a relation existing between the commence-
ment of laying drone-eggs and the construction of royal
cells, worthy of notice.
When the queen has discharged her ovary of its bur-
den of worker-eggs, then she is aware that she will com-
mence the laying of drone-eggs ; for, be it known, that
the two kinds of eggs are germinated in perfectly dis-
tinct and separate bodies, though no organic separation
exists in the formation of the ovary, as has ever yet been
discovered. How she knows the fact, that her worker-
eggs are exhausted, and that for a few days, she can pro-
duce drone-eggs only, is not for me to say; yet she does
know that fact, and the workers know it also; for no
sooner does this crisis arise, than they at once set them-
selves to constructing drone-cells; provided, that they
be not already constructed, and they build them as fast
as the queen requires them, and stop with her termina-
tion of laying this kind of egg.
The secret relation between the laying of drone-eggs,
and building royal cells is this. The royal cells are al-
ways commenced on the occasion of drone laying, when
they aré commenced at all. It seems to be a signal for
the workers to commence this work ; yet, if the hive
be large, and only partly filled with combs, not a royal
cell will be fabricated. The reason of this is evident,
because the bees well know, that they will not have a
bee to spare in swarming; for all their increase will be
BEE-KEEPER S MANUAL. 71
wanted at home to complete the labors of their own do-
micile. The bees fully understand their business in all
its various branches.{ No hive ever yet threw off a
swarm that was not fudl of bees.
T say, that my bees generally swarm during the first
week in June; yet I have had numerous swarms issue
in May; and on one occasion, a swarm in the early
part of April, which I considered a very remarkable
circumstance.
My general remarks on the subject of swarming, with
its attendant circumstances, must be reserved for an
especial chapter.
THE OPERATION OF LAYING DESCRIBED.
After impregnation, the queen begins to lay in about
forty-eight hours. Huber says forty-six, but I have
found it to be full forty-eight in most cases, in which
I have tested the question. There is no use in being so
very particular as to the hour and minute. No man
will care a fig whether it be two hours sooner or later.
A description of the operation of laying is correctly
given by Mr. Duncan, an English apiarian.
Mr. D. says ;—“ In the operation of laying, which we
have a thousand times witnessed, the queen puts her
head into a cell, and remains in that position a second
or two, as if to ascertain whether it is in a fit state to
receive the deposit. She then withdraws her head,
curves her body downwards, inserts her abdomen into
the cell, and turns half round on herself; having kept
this position for a few seconds, she withdraws her body,
72 MINER'S AMERICAN
having in the meantime laid an egg, The egg itself,
which is attached to the bottom of the cell, by a gluti-
nous matter, with which it is imbued, is of a slender,
oval shape, slightly curved, rather more pointed in the
lower end than in the other.”
TIME THAT EGGS REMAIN IN THE CELL.
The egg remains three days before it bursts its integu-
ment, and becomes a worm, or larva ; that is, in natural
heat of from 60 to 70 degrees of Fahrenheit, and in
colder circumstances the time may be prolonged, even
to a perfect suspension of vitality for a long period ; and
then, on being subjected to the usual heat, the develop-
ment takes place in the natural way.
LARVEZ—HOW LONG FED—-WHEN SEALED OVER, ETC.
After the hatching of the eggs, which is effected solely
by the natural heat of the bees in the hive, generated
by the workers, the larve are fed from four to six days,
according to the heat within the hive, and the cells are
then sealed over by the workers, by making numerous
rings of wax, commencing at the outside, and finishing
at the centre. When the larve are sealed over, they
commence weaving around themselves a cocoon, or
shroud, which requires about thirty-six hours, and from
this period until their perfect development, they are called
pupe, nymphs, or chrysalis. The covering, or seals of
drone-cells are quite convex, resembling a half pea in
rotundity. The convexity of worker-cells is much less,
—almost flat; and the seals of honey-cells are concave ;
curving inwardly.
BEE-KEEPER 8 MANUAL. 78
PERIOD OF DEVELOPMENT, ETC.
The period of development of the different classes of
bees is as follows, viz :—
Queens from the egg, 7 days,
Drones “ “ “ “
Workers“ “ “* 20 .
The formation of queen-cells, as 1 have stated, takes
place on the occasion of the great laying of drone-eggs _
in May; the manner of the construction of which is
pretty well defined at page 28. The construction of
these cells takes place about the 20th of May, and con-
sequently the young queens are ready to go off with
swarms in the early part of June.
NUMBER OF BEES IN A HIVE.
Various are the statements in regard to the ordinary
number of bees in a hive, and the number of bees that
a single queen usually produces in a single season. As
regards the number of bees in a hive, it depends much upon
whether it be a large or small hive, and whether any
swarms have issued from it. Some queens are much
more fertile than others, as is the case with the female
portion of all animated nature. I suppose the following
statement of what an ordinary queen annually produces,
to be as near the truth, as we can well get at :
Bees in a first swarm, . . : . 6,500.
“ in asecond “ . . . 4,500.
“ remaining in the parent hive, 8,000.
“~ produced in the first swarm, 6,000.
25,000.
74 MINER'S AMERICAN
In the foregoing calculation, I have made an allowance
of 2,000 bees, as being in the parent hive, on the opening
of spring; and consequently, 10,000 is the number I
compute, as belonging to the parent hive, after the issue
of the second swarm. The above aggregate of 25,000
bees from one queen in a single season is moderate.
If we take into consideration the number of bees pro-
duced by the queen in the second swarm, and also that
of the queen left in the parent hive, both of which are
the indirect production of the parent queen, through her
own progeny, we should then swell the grand total to
about 40,000 ; allowing the said two queens to produce
15,000!
The above estimate is made on the supposition that
two swarms are sent off, and the old queen goes with
the first, as she ever does.
If the family had been in a large hive in which no
swarming had taken place, the result would have been
the same as in the first case; for the reason, that the
number of bees sent off in both swarms, viz ;—11,000,
and the 6,000 that the queen produces with the first
swarm, would all have been residents of the original
hive, together with the 8,000 produced, and left in the
parent hive, according to the foregoing estimate,
making in all, as before stated, 25,000. If no swarms
are sent off, we lose the 15,000 bees produced by the
two queens in charge of them. A queen possesses the
power of producing a certain number of eggs in a
season; and whether she remain in the parent hive, or
sally out with a swarm, it does not affect the aggregate
BEE-KEBPER S MANUAL. 75
of her laying; provided, that she has room in which to
deposit her eggs.
RELATIVE PROPORTION OF DRONES.
The relative proportion of drones and workers is
about one to twenty, that is, for a family of workers |
amounting to 8,000 the ordinary number of drones is
about 400. Some writers state the number of drones
in a hive to be from 1,000 to 2,000; but they are beyond
the mark, as a general rule. There is no law that
governs the production of drones, so as to enable the
apiarian to make any calculation, in regard to their
relative proportion, when compared with the number of
workers, that may be relied on in allcases. Some fami-
lies may have a thousand, while another, equally strong,
may have but 500.
Nature doés not, in all cases, operate without a loss,
or waste of the animal functions; for, in the case of the
laying of drone-eggs by the old queens, after they have
left the parent hive with a swarm, we find that brood
entirely useless, coming as it does after the swarming
season is past.
The old queens are aware of the uselessness of this
drone-brood, and consequently, the larvee are drawn out
of the cells and cast on the ground. Why queens are
thus compelled by nature, to lay a brood of eggs, that
are worse than useless, some one must answer, more
deeply versed in the nature of the bee than I am.
It may be said, in the case of the drone-brood pro-
duced by queens with swarms, that since a swarm some-
Sy
76 MINER'S AMERICAN
times sends off a swarm, that in such a case, drones are
necessary ; consequently, nature has ordained, that a
thousand queens shall continue to produce drones, and
then cast them out half developed, in order to ensure
safety to one family that throws off a swarm; for, not
‘more than one swarm in a thousand does cast a swarm
the same season. On the whole, this feature of the case
appears reasonable; because it is the same principle of
nature, that is manifested in the production of 500 or
1000 drones, to render the fertility of a queen sure,
when a single drone would be sufficient, if that drone
could be made, through the instinct of his nature, to be
on hand, when occasions should demand his services.
YOUNG QUEENS PRODUCE FEW OR NO DRONE-BROOD.
In the case of a swarm sending off-a swarm the same
season, it is always‘a first issue that contains the old
queen ; and it is she that produces drone-brood; since
drones in such a case, would be absolutely necessary to
_impregnate the virgin queen. But with young queens, the
case is very different, and they produce few or no drones
during the first season of their existence; but after the
first season, they produce the regular number.
POSITION OF EGGS OR LARVS.
The position of eggs and larve in weak families,
where every degree of heat must be economically hus-
banded, is worthy of remark. In well-peopled hives,
the queen deposits her eggs in such locations as may
be free from honey and pollen, without any regard to
BEE-KEEPER’S MANUAL. 17
the locality, since the numbers of bees will always admit
of generating the proper degree of heat; but when a
few workers exist, comparatively speaking, the case is
widely different. I have often noticed this circum-
stance; but a particular instance of this nature has
very recently come under my observation. In driving
a very small swarm into another hive, for the reason,
that there were not bees enough to winter over safely,
I found in cutting out the combs, a laying in the middle
of the centre comb, about as large as the top of a tea-
cup, and about as circular. In the centre were the
nymphs or crysalis sealed over; and on the outside of
these, were larve three or four days old; and exterior
to these were larvee just bursting their shrouds from the
egg; and exterior to these were the eggs that had just
been deposited. If a needle had been run through the
cells of the aforesaid nymphs, larve and eggs, it would
have passed through cells on the opposite side, contain-
ing nymphs, larvee and eggs of precisely the same age!
This is only another evidence of the remarkable instinct
of the bee! The nymphs requiring more heat than
larve three or four days old; and the larve of this age,’
requiring more heat than eggs, how wisely does the bee
arrange her broods to the best advantage! In this hive, in
which the combs were built, there were not bees enough
to allow the least heat 1o be wasted ; and when a cluster
of bees is huddled together on one side of a comb, the
heat produced is much greater, by having a corres-
ponding number of bees clustered directly opposite.
Could human ingenuity devise a better way of economy,
78 MINER’S AMERICAN
in the expenditure of animal heat, in the development
of the young of this insect ?
CHAPTER V.
DIVISION OF LABOR OF BEES.
Huser’s theory in regard to the division of labor is,
that the workers are divided into wax-workers, or those
that build the combs, nursing bees, and honey-gatherers ;
and he contended, that there is a difference in the or-
ganic structure of these different classes, so as to render
them ‘incapable of doing anything except the particular
labor, that nature designed for them; though such dif-
ference in the organic structure is not visible to the
naked eye. Huber went a little too far in this assump-
tion, since it would puzzle all his adherents to explain,
how such a difference in structure is produced, when
they all come from the same kind of egg, and receive
precisely the same treatment, throughout their whole
development.
But it is true, that labor in a family of bees has its
divisions ;—there are waz-workers, nursing bees, and
gatherers; but there is not the slightest difference in
BEE-KEEPER S MANUAL. 79
their organic structure. Man has found, that in exten-
sive laboratories, a division of labor is highly essential :
thus, in the manufacture of the pin, a single pin passes
through many hands before completion.
The builder does not cause his layers of brick to bring
them to the place of use, nor to compound the mortar
in which they are laid. He finds that each branch of
labor, performed by persons for that especial business, best
tends to harmony and to a rapid completion of the edifice.
The bee, in this respect, is not behind man, in its know-
ledge of the most effectual application of labor, since it
receives its wisdom from a source that knows no error.
Man has studied, and found this truth out by experience—
the bee has this instinct implanted in its censorium from
the day of its birth.
When man attempts to properly define the beauty
and harmony of the domestic labors of the bee, and its
wonderful instinctive powers, he is lost in a labyrinth
of amazement !
T have, more than once, been inclined to throw down
my pen, overwhelmed with the magnitude of the task
before me; yet I trudge along slowly, doing but faint
justice to the subject-trusting in the charity of my
readers, for an exoneration of having failed to meet the
case as it merits. &. .
DIVISION OF LABOR PROVED.
When a swarm of bees commence the fabrication. of
combs in a new hive, a certain number of bees com-
mence the building of them; and another portion go
80 MINER'S AMERICAN
forth to the fields to gather honey and farina; and as
soon as the young brood require being fed, a certain
number take charge of that duty. This fact, so far as
it relates to wax-workers, and honey-gatherers, may be
proved in this manner. viz ;—remove a hive containing
a swarm vigorously at work making combs, to a short
distance, beyond the reach of its tenants on returning
from the fields, and mark the result. In a few minutes
not a single bee will be seen to leave the hive, after such
discharging bees have left, that were in it at the time of
its removal. Scarcely a bee will be seen to leave the
hive during the first day or two after its removal, for the
_ wax-workers are patiently awaiting the return of their
comrades that bring in the materials. When it has be-
come evident to the bees that their comrades are lost,
(they have no idea of the removal of their tenement,)
then a new division of labor takes place, and the gather-
ing is resumed with lessened numbers. I have wit-
nessed the above case often, in the formation of artificial
swarms from a swarm of such magnitude, that half of
its members could be safely spared. The same disor-
ganization of labor is found in the new hive that receives
the honey-gatherers only, as they return from the fields;
and after a day has past, a portion of the bees that were
gatherers to the original hive, now become waz-workers
to the new hive that is placed in the position of the ori-
ginal one, thus proving that all workers are alike, and
equally able to lend a hand, at gathering, nursing, or
wax-working. The particulars of making artificial
swarms, will be given in a future chapter.
BEE-KEEPER’S MANUAL. 81
POLLEN AND PROPOLIS GATHERERS, ETC.
There is also another division of labor in gathering ;
for a certain number of bees gather pollen, or farina,
which is the same thing, for the food of the larvae ;
while others gather honey to store in the cells, and to be
used in the fabrication of combs; and, if need be,
others gather propolis, the wax that is used in stopping
up crevices and holes in the hive.
BEES GATHER FROM ONE KIND OF FLOWER ONLY
DURING THE SAME EXCURSION.
Again, a division of labor takes place in gathering
honey from different kinds of flowers. A bee that com-
mences on the blossoms of the cherry-tree, never leaves
that kind of tree for any other, or for any flower, but
continues gathering the same kind of honey. So it is
with the bee that commences her labors on the apple or
pear-tree, &c. In the fields, also, the same flowers are
adhered to; and the bee that gathers from the white
clover, does not alight on any other flower during that
particular excursion! I have witnessed this singular
fact, when bees gathering from different flowers came
under immediate observation, and almost in contact with
each other ; yet there was no promiscuous gathering by
them.
SENTINELS.
‘
The duty of guarding the hive against the intrusion of
enemies, is another feature in the division of labor.
82 MINER'S AMERICAN
Come when you will to examine a family of bees, you
will ever find, at least, one or more sentinels on duty ;
unless it be in cold weather. If the entrance to the
hive be small, but a few bees act as guards; but there
they stand, thrusting out their antenne towards any bee
‘that is suspicious; and let a stranger approach, and
there is always some bee on the qui vive to arrést its
progress. These sentinels are as regularly relieved as
those of an army on duty.
THE WONDERFUL OPERATIONS OF VENTILATING BEES !
Last, not least, is the duty of those bees, that in close
sultry weather, ventilate the hive, by causing a current
of air to be put in motion, by the vibration of their
wings. It has often been a matter of surprise with some
people how bees can exist in hives densely populated,
and having but a very small entrance, that often appears
to be entirely closed by the numerous bees around it,
when man finds it difficult to find air for free respiration,
during the sultry weather of summer; and such per-
sons have supposed that the bee requires little or no air
to successfully prosecute its labors within the hive. If
such people could witness the indefatigable labors of a
large portion of such families of bees, that night and day
toil without cessation, to renovate and purify the air
within their hives, their minds would soon be changed,
and if they were bee-keepers, measures would at once be
taken, to admit a little of the pure air of heaven, that is
so very essential to their welfare. I cannot better illus-
trate this subject than to give my observations, in a sin-
BEE-KEEPER’S MANUAL. 83
gle case, of the ventilation of a hive by the bees, in my
own apiary.
Having a swarm lodged in a hive that I felt particu-
larly anxious should prosecute their labors speedily, in
consequence of its being an ornamental domicil, and it
being quite late in the season when the swarm was put
therein, (22d June,) contrary to my custom, the
weather being cold, or rather not warm, for the season,
I let the hive down in close contact with the stand, only
allowing a few small holes for the egress and ingress of
the bees, in order to facilitate the internal heat of the
hive. The weather suddenly changing from moderate
to extremely hot, the bees clustered in large numbers on
the outside of the hive, and their labors seemed almost
suspended. On opening the door to the hive, that ad-
mitted a full view of all the inside, through a pane of
glass, the bees having but partially filled it with combs, I
there had a fair and full opportunity to witness the
manner in which the bees renew the air of their hives.
by the vibration of their wings.’ On the’ bottom-board
of the hive were arrayed files of bees in platoons, as
regularly arranged as an army on parade, all with their
heads the same way, and keeping up a constant motion
of the wings. They were stationed in rows from front
to rear, thus giving the laboring bees, that went forth to
the fields, an opportunity to pass in and out with the
least possible inconvenience ; since the avenues between
the rows of ventilating bees converged to a focus at
the rear of the hive, at which point the bees had built
down their combs near to the bottom; and hung there
84 MINER'S AMERICAN
in a cluster around their works, and resting on the bot-
tom-board ; and at this point, the bees took their depar-
ture, when leaving for the fields, first running along the
lanes, or avenues aforesaid, to the point of egress; and
those entering, pursuing the same pathway. Being
anxious to know what result the letting in of a plenty
of pure air, would have on the bees engaged in venti-
lating, I raised the hive on all sides, three-eighths of an
inch, and supported it by small blocks at each corner.
I then looked into the hive, through the glass door, and
saw after a minute or two, the bees commence leaving
their stations by degrees, until every column of bees,
engaged in renewing the air, disappeared !
CHAPTER VI.
BLACK BEES.
TuereE is a class of bees denominated “ black bees,”
that occasionally appear, and which have caused much
speculation among apiarians—some even denying that
such a class do ever exist. That such black bees do
sometimes appear, is beyond all question; yet many
years may pass with the apiarian, without appearing in
BEE-KEEPERS MANUAL. 85
sufficient numbers to be observed. They are of the
same size as the ordinary workers, differing in nothing
relative to their organic structure, that can be perceived,
the only difference being the color, which is a jet black.
Huber states that a war of extermination is waged
against them, and that they meet a violent death in the
same manner that drones are expelled and slain; but
this does not coincide with my observations, nor with
the observations of any other apiarian, as far as my.
knowledge extends. :
These black bees, when they do appear, which is sel-
dom, are only seen in the summer season, and then in
very small numbers. They do not appear to take so
active a part, in the labors of the family, as the ordinary
workers, and sometimes they seem to do little or nothing.
Where they come from, or by what cause they become
black, has never been shown. Huber thought that they
came forth from the cells black, but it is far more rea-
sonable, to suppose them to become black from age.
We know that the very young bee, is of a light grey
color; and a few days exposure to the atmosphere turns
its color to a darker hue, and old age may cause some
bees to become entirely black, at the season of the year
when such bees appear. Man’s locks turn white with
age—some much more than others; and why may we
not suppose that age will also change some bees to a jet
black, since we positively know, that time does gene-
rally give them, in all cases, a darker hue?
CHAPTER VII.
POLLEN, OR BEE-BREAD.
Every bee-keeper knows what bee-bread is; yet every
bee-keeper does not know all in regard to this substance,
that ought to be known. Bee-bread is the pollen, farina,
or dust of flowers, that is gathered by the workers in
the baskets, or cavities of their legs—the yellow sub-
stance that is carried into the hives so abundantly, in
the spring of the year. Bee-bread is the food of the
larvee, or young brood; and the most abundant gather-
ing of it takes place in the spring, when the breeding
season is at its height. But this commodity is stored
up at all seasons, it being a substance that is not in-
jured by age. In the morning, when the dew is on the
flowers, the bees are engaged at this labor, because the
dampness of the farina packs better upon the cavities of
of their legs, and also that at this period of the day, no
honey can be gathered. Here is wisdom!—Man plans
his work no better. The bee gathers farina, also when
the honey season is past, and when it is not wanted for
immediate use. The wants of the following season are
BEE-KEEPER § MANUAL. 87
cared for, even when the gatherers are extinct, for few
live to use the following season, that which is gathered
the season preceding.
BEE-BREAD INJURIOUS WHEN STORED IN SURPLUS
QUANTITIES,
The gathering of bee-bread at all seasons, though
showing forth the indefatigable industry of the bee, is
attended sometimes, with serious consequences to the
general prosperity of the family. It is in this way :—
Bees being ever prone to labor, will sometimes gather
a large surplus of bee-bread, taking up the room of the
hive for years, when there is no possible necessity for its
use. The cells that ought to be used for honey and
brood, being filled with this substance, lessen the gene-
ra] prosperity of the. bees, as a matter of course; and in
consequence of this superabundance of farina, the bees
require changing from old to new hives, about every
four or five years, even if no other cause existed for a
removal, which is not the case.
COLOR OF BEE-BREAD—DIFFERENT COLORS KEPT DISTINCT.
Bee-bread is generally yellow, but it may often be
seen of a pale reddish hue, and at other times of a slate
color. The colors of this substance, as generally gath-
ered, appear to be about the same throughout the world.
No change takes place in its hue after being gathered,
but it is found of these colors in the nectaries of flowers.
A singular circumstance in the packing of this substance
in the cells, is worthy of notice. No two colors are ever
88 MINERS AMERICAN
found in the same cell! How the bees are enabled to
keep each color separate and distinct, is beyond our pale
of knowledge; yet it is but in keeping with their gene-
ral habits, and regulations in labor.
HOW FED TO LARVA,
How this farina or bee-bread is fed to the larve is
another mystery—that is, whether it be given dry, and
in its original state, or whether it be compounded with
other substances? No man can ever say of his own
knowledge, from ocular demonstration, that a combina-
tion of different substances does actually take place;
yet collateral evidence does exist, showing plainly that
water is used in preparing it for use, if nothing more.
Water and honey are the only things that apiarians have
imagined were compounded with it.
CELLS ONLY PARTLY FILLED WITH POLLEN.
Another singular circumstance attends the packing
of bee-bread ; it is this :—The cells are never filled be-
yond about two-thirds of their depth! The remaining
space is either left unoccupied, or it is filled with honey.
When there is a lack of room to store honey, these bee-
bread cells are filled with that substance. Some apia-
rians have supposed, that the cells are but partially filled
with farina, because a covering of honey is necessary to
protect it and keep it in good condition. This does not
appear to be the case, since a great proportion of the
combs containing farina, are generally found to have no
such covering of honey.
BEE-KEEPER’S MANUAL. 89
The cause is probably this:—the bees in traversing
the combs, require a foothold convenient, and perhaps
quite necessary. In filling the cells two-thirds, or per-
haps, three-quarters full, the bees leave a footing;
whereas, if every cell were filled to its fullest capacity,
of farina and honey—the honey-cells being sealed over,
the bees would undoubtedly find difficulty in passing
over the combs with the requisite facility.
CHAPTER VIII.
WATER AND ITS USES.
Writers on the management of bees have hitherto
given no elucidation of the necessity of bees having
water within their convenient reach, beyond the simple
assertion, that they either should have water placed
daily in pans near the apiary, or that they should be
situated near to some stream, lake or river of fresh wa-
ter. What the effect would be to have no water within
the ordinary range of their flight, has never been shown ;
perhaps for the reason, that an apiary cannot be placed
where the bees cannot find fresh water in some place,
within the range of their flight, unless it be in a desert.
90 MINER'S AMERICAN
Even the wells of the neighborhood frequently afford all
the water that is required, from the drippings of the
bucket, or from the troughs that often stand beside
them.
I have often seen bees around my own well, in great
numbers, extracting the moisture from the outside of the
bucket, or arranged along the gently-sloping sides of a
trough, that I had placed there expressly for them. Bees
do not like to descend the vertical sides of a bucket, or
of any other vessel to obtain water ; because there is
danger of falling in; but a sloping, shallow trough, the
sides of which form an angle of from 30 to 45 degrees
with the horizon, suits them much better.
HOW FURNISHED TO BEES.
Every bee-keeper should either afford his bees a sup-
ply of water at his pump, or well, or place a shallow
vessel near the apiary, filled with small stones about
the size of a pigeon’s egg, in order to give a resting
place for the bees, and the vessel then to be filled with
fresh water every morning, unless there be a stream of
fresh water near, in which case, both modes might be
dispensed with. A tin baking pan, about an inch or
more deep, is very suitable. Should no stones be put
into the pan, many bees would be drowned. Ihave even
known many to be drowned, in cool spring weather, when
the stones in the pan were so large, as to admit of spaces
or surfaces of water only two inches across! One
would suppose that so small a space as this, would be
overcome by the bees at once ; and when losing a foot-
BEE-KEEPER'S MANUAL. 91
hold, and falling into the water, they would paddle across
to the stones, and soon take wing again ; but such is not
the case in cool weather, such as we generally have from
March to June. In very warm weather, fewer bees
under the same circumstances would perish; yet water
is so benumbing to them, at almost any season, that
when once immersed they seldom recover, unless as-
sisted by man, in placing them in some warm, sunny
place to dry.
EXPERIMENTAL EVIDENCE OF THE USE OF WATER.
I will now relate what came under my observa-
tion, at my own apiary last spring, (1848,) relative to
the use and necessity of water in the labors of the
bees.
Early in April I placed a tin-pan, filled with small
stones, on a bench near my hives. .This pan held
about a pint and a half of water, when filled with stones.
Every morning I filled it with fresh water—sometimes
with rain water, and at other times with well water, as
it happened to be. I then noted the daily use made of
this water by the bees. I had, at that time, but fifteen
hives ; yet I found that the pan did not hold enough for
them, by once filling every morning. Some days it
would be emptied before evening, and on other occa-
sions, the quantity was sufficient for them.
SINGULAR DISCOVERY IN REGARD TO THE USE OF
WATER ON VERY WINDY AND WET DAYS.
I particularly noticed a very singular circumstance
92 MINER’S AMERICAN
in regard to the quantity of water taken on very windy
days, and also on wet, drizzly days, when the bees could
not go to the fields. During such days as the winds
were so high, that the bees could not safely go abroad—
and we had a few such—the bees crowded around, and
into the water pan, in three-fold the number they did in
ordinary mild, pleasant weather. My apiary had recently
been removed toa high and exposed situation, where the
winds had a fair sweep ; andon one or two days during
the month of April, the winds blew so hard, that the
hair on a man’s head, almost, I think I may say, re-
quired to be held on. I had erected a board fence on
the most exposed sides of my hives, to be let down,
when the high spring winds had subsided; and the
water-pan being within this enclosure, the bees could
approach that without feeling the effects of the blast that
swept past them without the yard.
It was on the occasion of the prevalence of such high
winds, as before stated, that the bees finding it impossi-
ble to go forth to the fields, without being in danger of
being dashed to the ground, that they turned their atten-
tion to the use of water, to an extent far beyond what
they were ordinarily accustomed to use.
a
THE USE THAT BEES MAKE OF WATER.
Here is a question to be solved, viz :—what use did
the bees make of this large quantity of water on those
windy days? One would suppose, that when the gene-
ral labors of the bees were suspended, that no water at
all would be required.
BEE-KEEPER S MANUAL. 93
The solution of this question, in my opinion, is this:
Bees are wise insects, with a natural instinct that goes
far ahead of the brains of man, in many cases. I mean
to say, that a large portion of mankind do not possess
the genius to adapt means to ends, so well as the little
puny honey-bee, so far as its ramifications of domestic
economy extend. This being the case, as I presume
will be admitted, by all persons acquainted with their
general labors, it follows, that the bee studies economy
of labor ; and when the fields canaot be explored, such
labor as can be performed, to advance the general pros-
perity of the family, is undoubtedly attended to.
The agriculturist, when driven from the fields by the
storm, says :— come boys, let us see what is to be done
within doors—our potatoes are to be cut, and prepared
for planting; or fodder for the cattle and horses should
be got ready; the straw cut,” &c.
Now, the bee acts on precisely the same principle.
Water is used in compounding the bee-bread, and fitting
it for the young bees. In the spring, when the weather
is cool, a few days’ consumption can safely be made in
advance, and it is thus that I account for the more
abundant use of water on such occasions, as do not ad-
mit of the usual labors of the family being performed.
WATER USED IN WET WEATHER ABUNDANTLY.
Not only in windy weather, but also in rainy weather,
do bees make use of a more abundant supply of water
than usual. Ihave noticed almost the same rush to the
water-pan, on a damp day, when it did not rain enough
94 MINER'S AMERICAN
to keep the bees confined to their hives, that took place
on a windy day; even when every plant and leaf was
studded with rain-drops. I was somewhat surprised,
that the bees should take the water from the pan, when
it could be obtained in a thousand other places with the
same facility. ‘The same reason that caused the greater
use of water in windy weather, led to the use of it more
abundantly in wet weather; and the reason why the
bees preferred the pan to other places, in obtaining it in
wet weather, I presume is, that the liability to get wet
is more when alighting in promiscuous places, when
everything is wet, than when alighting on the stones in
the pan.
DECREASE AND FINAL TERMINATION OF THE USE OF
WATER.
The use of the water from the pan continued through
the months of April, May, and a part of June, when a
great decrease took place in the use of it; and this de-
crease in the use of water was coeval with the decrease
in the production of larve. Finally, in July the bees
frequented the water-pan so little, that I considered it
useless to fill it daily, and omitted to pay any further
attention to it.
That the bees use water in preparingthe food, (fa-
rina, or bee-bread,) for their young, is apparent, from
the fact, that when breeding declines, the use of water
diminishes.
Now, from the foregoing remarks, it appears that
water is a much more important article in the economy
BEE-KEEPER S MANUAL. 95
of the bee, than it has hitherto been considered to be;
and how far the bees are benefitted in their general
prosperity, when they have an easy access to it in the
spring, is impossible to truly define; yet there is no
doubt that they are greatly benefitted thereby. The
case that came under my observation, as above stated,
shows that the time was not lost when too windy or too
wet to go forth to the fields; but it would have been
lost, had there been no water placed, especially for the
use of the bees, in close proximity to the apiary.
A CLOSE FENCE AROUND THE APIARY NECESSARY
IN CERTAIN CASES.
It is clearly shown in the foregoing remarks, that
where the apiary is placed in a high situation, where the
winds meet with nothing to break their force, a board
fence around it is indispensable—not too near, but suf-
ficiently so to break the force of the winds. Had I not
had such a protection, the bees could not have come out
for water, on the aforesaid windy days; therefore, let
every bee-keeper, having a large apiary, afford his bees
a pan of water in April, May, and June; and those
having fewer hives should do the same ; unless the bees
can get water in the immediate vicinity. ,
CHAPTER IX.
Pr ews
SALT—HOW TO. BE USED.
Various are the benefits ascribed to the use of salt,
by the bee-keepers of our country, who profess to have
no further knowledge of bees, than that which has been
taught them from tradition, or from such experience as
they have had in the management of bees, which
amounts to letting them take care of themselves, and if
they live—well—if they die—it is the same. This is
about all the knowledge, that the majority of the bee-
keepers of the world over possess.
SALT PUT UNDER THE EDGES OF HIVES.
Salt, say these sapient bee-keepers, should be placed
under the edges, and perhaps under the whole hive, as I
have seen many instances, to prevent the moths enter-
ing! This is a perfect fallacy. No quantity of salt
ever yet kept a moth owt of the hive. The moth is a
winged insect, and enters the hive, without coming
in contact with this salt, even if there were a peck of it
there. The moth alights on the outside of the hive,—
runs in through the entrance, on the upper side gene-
BEE-REEPER'S MANUAL. 97
rally, and turns directly upward, without touching the
bottom-board at all. When the worms are produced
from this winged moth, they creep down the side of
the hive, and search for a hole or crevice in which to
wind up in a cocoon, from which a winged moth is-
sues in a few days, to take its turn at entering the hive,
if itcan. The salt placed under the corners, or edges
of hives, as tradition recommends, from time immemo-
rial, will keep the worms from winding up in a cocoon,
under the edges:.of the hive, where this salt is placed,
but the worms have only to crawl entirely out of the
hive, and in most cases, they will find a convenient crack
or nook to suit their purpose, close at hand. Hence, it
follows, that so long as these worms can find any place
about the hive, to wind up in, the salt placed under the
hives is of little or no use, since a moth leaving its
cocoon a rod from the hive, is just as able to gain ad-
mission, as one emerging from a cocoon directly under
the hive ; for, if the bees are not strong enough in num-
bers, to protect themselves in the one, they are not
in the other case. Even if a place cannot be found to
wind up in above ground, these worms will go below the
surface of the earth for this purpose ; but itis a last resort,
or forlorn hope for them, in such cases, and few winged
insects are produced by them in such instances. The true
policy of bee-keepers is, to keep everything so snug and
close around their hives, as to preclude the possibility ot
the worms finding any winding-up place ; then place
salt under the hives, and a good result will follow. It
is a very difficult thing to place hivesin such a position,
98 MINER’S AMERICAN
that no winding-up place shall be afforded to moth-
worms ; yet it can be effected, and I will hereafter show
how it can be done. This chapter is on the use of salt,
and I cannot inform you at this place, but I will do so,
when I come to a subject to which the construction of
bee-stands, &c., legitimately belongs.
SALT NECESSARY FOR BEES.
The question, “ is salt necessary for bees ?” is asked
a thousand times annually, in every State in the
Union. That is, is it of any benefit to place a lump of
salt within their reach ?
I answer it is. My reasons are simply these: Every
thing in animate nature, that seems todesire the taste of
salt, it is beneficial to. The cow and the sheep can
hardly do without it, as well as many other animals ;
and it seems to be necessary, in a greater or less degree,
to all animated nature. The dung-hill fowl craves it to
such an extent, as to jeopardize its life by partaking of
too much, when an opportunity occurs. I once lost
about twenty young fowls, in consequence of emptying
into the barn-yard a pork barrel which contained a few
quarts of salt; and I also lost a favorite pet canary
bird, by allowing it to come out of its cage, and peck
the salt standing on the dinner-table. But bees will not
hurt themselves by the use of salt. A lump placed near
the hives, under cover, will do no harm, and since the
bees will occasionally partake of it, we should judge,
that it is best to give it to them.
Ido not consider it of much consequence, whether
BEE-KEEPER’S MANUAL. 99
salt is given to bees or not. I have stated my own
views on the subject, and leave the matter to the option
of the reader, or bee-keeper, to use it, if he pleases.
CHAPTER X.
PROPOLIS.
Here again, we broach a disputed subject, viz ;—
whether propolis is a natural or a manufactured sub-
stance? It makes no difference to us, in the prosperity
of our bees, to know whether it is the one or the other ;
yet we all have an inkling of Yankee inquisitiveness to
know more than is absolutely necessary of every sub-
ject in which we feel an interest; and methinks I hear
some curious “Jonathan” exclaim—“I wish I knew
what it’s made of!” Well, perhaps you can guess. If
you can, you can do what has never yet been done.
But it may be well to inform the reader, what sub-
stance is meant by the term propolis. Propolis is the
glutinous substance, that is used by bees to fill all cracks
and crevices about the hive. It is much darker than
wax, the substance that the combs are constructed of,
and it is of a more adhesive, tenacious nature. The
quantity that a family of bees sometimes produce is
astonishing.
100 MINER’S AMERICAN
I have some singular and interesting remarks to make,
on the use ,f this substance in particular cases, that
came under my own observation, which will come in
under the head of the “instinct” or “sagacity” of bees.
HUBER’S OPINION ON PROPOLIS.
Huber considered propolis to be a positive genuine
production of nature, and not manufactured, but col-
lected by the bees from the leaves and branches of cer-
tain shrubs and trees, the principal one of which, some
apiarians consider to be the tacamabac.
Huber’s opinion on this subject does not, by any
means, set the question at rest. Neither he nor any
other person, it is probable, ever saw the bees in the act
of gathering this substance ; nor even when gathered by
them, on their return to the hives to deposit their bur-
dens. The first appearance of this substance is at the
places where it is used, and since we never see the sub-
stance gathered, and know of no shrub, plant or tree,
that exudes any precisely such adhesive material, we
have no positive proof that it is a natural substance;
still, it seems that it ought to be gathered from shrubs
or trees, since so many trees do send out an exudation
of analogous features; but if obtained from trees, why
do we not witness the bees returning loaded with it, as
they do with pollen? The fact that we do not see the
bees thus returning loaded with it, almost sets the ques-
tion at rest, on the score of its being a natural sub-
stance.
According to Huber, the bees have been observed to
BEE-KEEPER'S MANUAL. 101
i)
draw out long threads of this viscous substance from the
exudations of trees, and to lodge them in the cavities of
their legs, and as soon as one bee had completed its load,
another bee was very conveniently at hand to continue
the same process, until a sufficient quantity had been
obtained. They then bggan to knead and work it like
an Irish laborer compounding a heap of mortar, and
when ina proper state of attenuation, they proceeded
to line and solder their cells. By the way—dlining and
soldering cells with propolis, is not a branch of labor be-
longing to the architecture of the bee at all. Cells are
made perfect with wax alone, and Huber has here made
an assertion that proves him not to be entitled to what
has been awarded to him, viz: the reputation of being
an accurate aplarian.
PROPOLIS AN ELABORATED SUBSTANCE.
It is probable, however, that propolis is an elaborated
substance—to say that it is positively so, would be pre-
sumption; for it is barely a possible thing, to discover
the bees in the act of producing it, even admitting that
they do make it; so impenetrable to the eyes of man is
much of their labors, when clustered in darkness.
Some apiarians consider it an elaborated substance,
of the same nature as wax—even wax itself, but a little
more colored; yet this hypothesis cannot be correct,
since wax and propolis are so different in tenacity and
color, that they cannot be one and the same thing.
If it be elaborated, and of a separate and distinct
nature, then arise difficulties as to the modus ope-
102 MINER'S AMERICAN
randi by which it is produced; and here the ques-
tion must forever rest. The bees produce it when it is
required, but where they obtain it, or how they make it,
must be a secret not for man to unfold, Huber’s asser-
tion to the contrary, notwithstanding.
It has been asserted by apiarians of considerable dis-
tinction, that propolis is used in laying the foundation
of combs; but this assertion is at variance with my ex-
perience. The first rudiments of new-made combs
have come under my observation so many times—even
the very first beginning of constructing combs, up to
every stage of their prosecution, that what my own eyes
have so often beheld, cannot be controverted by the
statements of all the apiarians of Europe, should they
declare that propolis is used to lay the foundation of
cells. Ihave ever found the first rudiments of cells, to
be composed of wax, the same substance that the entire
combs and cells are composed of—not the slightest dif-
ference in construction and color, could I ever discover.
CHAPTER XI.
WAX.
Wax is the substance of which the bees construct
their combs. This is not an elementary or natural sub-
stance; but it is produced by elaboration. The most
universally-acknowledged theory of the production of
wax is, that it is an exudation from the abdomen of the
bee, through the openings of the scaly rings which com-
pose that portion of the honey-bee, and that honey is
the only original substance from which it emanates.
This is truly a wonderful theory, and without a perfect
knowledge of the economy of the bee, relative to comb-
making in particular, one might be justified in casting
ridicule upon it; but when we take into consideration
all the circumstances attending their labors, in this de-
partment of their duties, we find abundant evidence that
honey is the original substance from which wax is pro-
duced, and that its elaboration takes place within the
bee, coming forth in strings of pearly whiteness.
HONEY AND POLLEN THE ONLY SUBSTANCE THAT BEES
GATHER.
The only material that bees are known to gather is
104 MINER'S AMERICAN
honey and pollen. No other substance was ever seen
‘to be brought in by them; and the consequence is, that
waz is either made of one or the other of these two sub-
stances. There is no mistake on this point. Now, let
us consider what ground we have for supposing that
wax is formed from pollen or bee-bread. Firstly : pol-
len is only known to be placed in the cavities of bees’
legs—not taken into the stomach of the bee, in its ori-
ginal state at all. Secondly ; pollen is known to be the
food of the larvee, and the manner of gathering this arti-
cle shows conclusively to most apiarians, that this is
its sole use.
APIARIANS CONTEND THAT WAX IS MADE OF POLLEN.
There are a few apiarians who contend that wax is
elaborated from pollen, but I consider, from the perusal
of their arguments, that a desire to contend with higher
authorities, has influenced them in the promulgation of
their theories.
Pollen is gathered in the months of April, May and
June, in the largest quantities. At this season breeding
is at its height, and consequently more of this substance
is required. In some hives, during these months, comb-
making is carried on extensively; for instance, when
the bees commence labors in the supers or chambers of
their hives, or in cases in which the whole interior of
their permanent domicil is not yet filled with combs ; but
in no instance did I ever know of a family of bees gath-
ering a particle more pollen on account of such comb-
BEE-KEEPERS MANUAL. 105
building, or working in wax being carried on, and I
have given the subject my most faithful attention.
I now affirm, that a hive well filled with combs and
bees, having no extra room for wax-working, may be
placed along side of a hive, having the same number of
bees, but the hive only half filled with combs, and the
pollen gathered by the bees of the hive that is filled with
combs, shall even exceed the quantity that is gathered by
the bees of the other hive, which shall be vigorously
working in wax in filling their domicil with the usual
combs.. Now, if pollen were the constituent principle
of wax, the case would be reversed, and more pollen
would be gathered in the hive but partially filled with
combs, than in the full one.
POLLEN ADMITTED TO BE A COMPONENT PART OF ORDINARY
BEES-WAX.
Again, pollen being a dryer substance than wax, and
containing but few adhesive properties as it is brought
into the hive; and the color of wax always being white,
while pollen is of various hues, seems to put the question
at rest, proving that wax must be made from some
other substance. It is true, however, that pollen forms
a part of wax; when the combs are immersed in boiling
water for the purpose of extracting it, the pollen then
gives it its yellow hue; but ordinary bees-waz is quite
a different substance from that which is used to build
combs, and the difference arises from the fact that pol-
len composes a large proportion of this latter substance,
when prepared for market; whereas, the original sub-
5*
106 MINER'S AMERICAN
stance used in comb building, is wax in its purity; and
this original wax is much superior to ordinary bees-wax,
for the purposes for which this latter substance is used.
Combs, when first built, will melt down to pure wax,
without any waste from impure substances, and it is
much whiter and better in every respect, than ordinary
wax sold in the market.
BEES, WHEN SWARMING, GO LADEN WITH HONEY.
When a swarm of bees issue from a hive, it is a well-
known fact, that they carry with them as much honey
as their honey vesicles or bags will contain. I have
often known the boxes in the chambers of my hives to
be emptied of their contents, during the night previous
to the issuing of swarms from the same hives. When
this circumstance is noticed in the morning, viz: the
emptying of the cells of the supers or boxes in the cham-
bers suddenly, it is a sure sign that a swarm will go off
on that day, if the weather continues favorable; yet it
is not an easy matter to make such a discovery, since
the bees remain closely packed in the chambers, up to
the very moment of sallying forth.
The object of the bees in thus going forth laden with
honey is, to have wherewith to sustain life for several
days, and thus be prepared to withstand any unfavorable
change of weather that might intervene before a supply
of provisions could be secured. Like the traveller who
starts on a journey across some desert waste, not only
taking provisions for the journey, but also taking a sup-
ply to provide against any reasonable contingency that
BEE-KEEPER’S MANUAL. 107
may retard his progress to the land of plenty whither he
is bound.
A FEW BEES JOIN THE SWARM WITH PELLETS OF FARINA.
When the swarms thus issuing from their tenements
are hived, perhaps a dozen or more bees may be among
each emigrating family that carry with them from the
old hives, pellets of farina. That there are any bees
among them with such pellets, is a matter of chance
merely; for it often does happen, that not a solitary bee
thus laden goes off with the swarm.
NO POLLEN GATHERED THE FIRST DAY OR TWO AFTER
+ SWARMING.
Now, the bees, in most cases, commence comb-build-
ing within an hour after being settled in their new home,
and during the first day, at least, no pollen is brought ~
in; still, if the bees be dislodged after twenty-four hours,
large sheets of new combs will be found constructed.
The question then is, what do the bees make these new
combs of? It cannot be pollen, for the quantity of that
substance carried along with the issue of the swarm,
would not construct a half-dozen cells at most, and
more likely not a single cell. Nothing except honey is
brought into the hive during the first day or two; still,
the comb-making goes on the most rapidly from the be-
ginning. It follows, of course, that honey is the elemen-
tary principle of wax.
CHEMICAL CHANGE OF HONEY TO WAX.
The chemical change that honey undergoes in the
108 MINER'S AMERICAN
stomach of the bee produces it in its proper state for
working. I say chemical change, for the reason that the
‘honey being probably combined with some other fluid
natural to the body of the bee, and both substances ex-
posed to a gentle heat, produce virtually and truly a
chemical change. Nor is it in the power of the bee to
stop this chemical change, if the honey remain in the
vesicle over a certain length of time, say over four or
six hours. No person, to my knowledge, has ever be-
fore ventured to make this declaration; yet, if we look
properly into this subject, we are forced to this conclusion.
How often have bees commenced the construction of
combs upon the branch of the tree where they clustered
on swarming, on occasions when they have been neg-
lected by their owner, or have not been discovered by
him! The bees certainly must know that they could
not exist in such situations Igng, and it would be con-
trary to their well-known habits in the economy of labor,
and their wonderful instinctive wisdom, to build combs
where they could be of no use, if they could avoid so
doing.
I do not say that the bees cannot possibly avoid build-
ing combs under such circumstances; yet I say this;
that if the honey-bee fills its honey-bag with honey, and
finds no place in which to store it within a certain time,
under twelve hours at most, the honey thus placed in the
vesicle of the bee, undergoes a chemical change, over
which the bee has no control;—that the new chemical
substance, which is wax, exudes through the scales of
the abdomen, that lap over each other like the scales of
BEE-KEEPER S MANUAL. 109
a fish, and is taken therefrom by the bee, in threads or
strings, and at once made into combs, or it is cast away.
That such exudation is ever cast away by the bees, we
have no evidence; yet they can cast it away if they
please, consequently, I cannot say that the bees cannot
avoid making combs when their honey-vesicles have
been filled. There are instances in which bees are
known to remain twenty-four hours in a new hive, with-
out working at all in wax; but in such cases, it is pro-
bable that they were not provided with any more honey
than just enough to sustain life:
EXPERIMENT SHOWING FURTHER PROOF THAT WAX IS
PRODUCED FROM HONEY.
In order to show more conclusively that wax-working
is carried on, without the use of pollen, or of any sub-
stance except honey. I will narrate an experiment that
took place last October.
Thad a couple of weak swarms that had gathered no
honey beyond their daily supply, and had built but a
few short combs. Their numbers were so small that I
had no hopes of their being able to survive through the
winter. On going to the apiary on a pleasant day,
about the 20th of October, I was surprised to see a
swarm of bees in the air. They soon clustered and
formed a bunch about the size of a quart measure. I
found this to be one of the weak swarms before men-
tioned, that had left its original tenement for some un-
certain destiny.
I took a new clean hive, and having, with the aid of
110 MINER'S AMERICAN
melted bees-wax, fastened a few pieces of clean, new
combs in the hive, and saturated them with honey, I then
hived the bees, and set the hive in a new location, and
fed them plentifully with pure honey. The next day,
another swarm deserted, of the same character ; leaving
alittle brood and no honey. I hived them also, pre-
cisely in the same way, and fed both swarms with as
much pure honey as they could consume, or carry
away. I found that both swarms began to build combs
rapidly, it being very warm weather for the season ; but
not a solitary pellet of farina was brought into the hives,
as I could discover ; and none being in the combs that
I fastened in myself, how can it be possible that wax is
formed from any other substance than honey? I think
my own experiments have settled the question, in con-
nection with the general economy of the bee in wax-
working, that has come under my own observation—
that is, so far as my own opinion on the subject is con-
cerned, but lest some of my readers should still require
further proof, I will now give the experiments of the
“ Prince of apiarians” on this subject, as a quietus.
THE EXPERIMENTS OF HUBER, SHOWING THAT BEES WORK
IN WAX WHEN CONFINED, AND FED ON HONEY OR
SUGAR ONLY.
He says: “ The existence of the organs before de-
scribed, and the scales seen under different gradations,
induce us to believe them appropriated for the secretion
of wax. But in common with other animal and vege-
BEE-KEEPER 8 MANUAL. 111
table secretions, the means by which this is accom-
plished appears to be carefully veiled in nature.
Our researches, by simple observation, thus being ob-
structed, we felt it essential to adopt other methods for
ascertaining whether wax actually is a secretion, or
collection of a particular substance.
Providing it were the former, we had first to verify
the opinion of Reaumer, who conjectured that it. came
from an elaboration of.pollen in the stomach, though we
did not coincide with him in the opinion that bees then
disgorged it by the mouth. Neither were we disposed
to adopt his sentiments regarding its origin ; for, like
Hunter, it had struck us that swarms, newly settled in
empty hives, do not bring home pollen, notwithstanding
they construct combs, while the bees of old hives,
having no combs to build, gather it abundantly.
We had, therefore, to learn whether bees, deprived of
pollen for a series of time would make wax, and all that
is required is confinement.
On the 24th of May, we lodged a swarm which had
just left the parent stock, in a straw hive, with as much
_honey and water as necessary for the consumption of the
bees, and closed the entrance so as to prevent all possi-
bility of escape, leaving access for renewal of the air.
At first, the bees were greatly agitated ; but we suc-
ceeded in calming them by carrying the hive to a coal-
dark place, where their captivity lasted five days. They
were then allowed to take flight in an apartment, the
windows of which were carefully shut, and where the
hive could be examined conveniently. The bees had
112 MINER’S AMERICAN
consumed their whole provision of honey; but their
dwelling, which did not contain an atom of wax when
we established them in it, had now acquired five combs of
the most beautiful wax suspended from its arch, of a
pure white, and very brittle. Siler eases sit ate
We did not‘expect so speedy a solution of the pro-
blem ; but before concluding that the bees had derived
the faculty of producing wax from honey on which they
fed, a second experiment, susceptible of no other expla-
nation, was necessary.
The workers, though in captivity, had been able to
collect farina; while they were at liberty, they might
have obtained provisions on the eve, or on the. day
itself of their imprisonment, and enough might have
been in the stomach or on the limbs to enable them to
extract the wax from it that we found in thehive. But
if it actually came from the farina previously collected,
this source was not inexhaustible; and the bees being
unable to obtain more, would cease to construct combs,
and would fall into absolute inaction.
Before proceeding to the second experiment, which
was to consist in prolonging their captivity, we took
care to remove all the combs they had formed in that
preceeding. Buernens made them return to their hive,
and confined them again with a new portion of honey.
The experiment was not tedious. From the evening
of the subsequent day we observed them working in
wax anew; and on examining the hive on the third day,
we actually found five combs, as regular as those they
had made during their first imprisonment.
BEE-KEEPER S MANUAL. 113
The combs were removed five times successively, but
always under the precaution of the escape of the bees
from the apartment being prevented ; and during this
long interval, the same insects were preserved and fed
with honey exclusively. Undoubtedly, the experiment,
had we deemed it necessary, might have been prolonged
with equal success. On each occasion that we supplied
them with honey, they produced new combs, which puts
it beyond doubt that this substance effected the secre-
tion of wax in their bodies, without the aid of pollen.
As the reverse of the preceding experiment would prove
whether the pollen itself had the same property, instead
of supplying our bees with honey, we fed them on no-
thing except fruit and farina. They were kept eight
days in captivity, under a glass bell with a comb, having
only farina in the cells; yet they neither made wax, nor
were scales seen under the rings. Could any doubt
exist as to the real origin of wax? We entertained
none.”
Huber also tried the result of feeding on sugar, in-
stead of honey, while the bees were confined. The
bees produced wax sooner, and in greater abundance,
than when fed on honey.
A. pound of refined sugar, reduced to a syrup, and
clarified with eggs, produced 10 drams, 52 grains of
wax, darker than that extracted by the bees from honey.
An equal weight of dark brown sugar produced 22
drams of very white wax—the like came from maple
sugar; that is, two ounces and three-quarters was the
114 BRE-KEEPER’S MANUAL.
greatest quantity of wax obtained from a pound of
sugar.
Having now given the reader a brief view of the pre-
liminary features of my subject, I think he is enabled
to advance to the more interesting part of the work, and
to fully understand the merits of the case. I say “to
advance to the. more interesting part, &c.—I mean to
the practical apiarian, whose sole object is not amuse-
ment.
PART SECOND.
CHAPTER XII.
REMARKS.
A coNSIDERABLE portion of this work will now be de-
voted especially to the practical management of bees.
Every person who is at all acquainted with the writ-
ings of the present day on the honey-bee, will bear me
out in the assertion, that there is a perfect vacuum in
this, the most important branch of bee-culture.
Where can the apiarian put his hand on a work that
throws aside the shroud, that like a dark pall, hangs over
the practical management of bees? It is true, that the
world is well supplied with works professing to dis-
cuss this subject in all its ramifications; but we look
and look in vain for aught save the stereotype opinions
and thoughts of a few master-spirits, who have given us
large volumes illustrating the physiology and natural
history of the bee, but when we ask, “where are the
rules laid down for the practical management of bees ?”
echo answers, “where?” ‘“ How is this,” exclaims one.
116 MINER'S AMERICAN
“There are Thacher, Weeks and Townly, who have
published works on the management of bees, in our own
country; and there are Dr. Bevan, Bagster and Huish,
whose works have circulated here, to some extent—
what are these? I thought everything that the bee-
keeper could desire to know, could be found in these
works ?” My dear sir, have you read these works? If
you have not, goand read them. You will find nothing
to satisfy—nothing to fill the void, on the true practical
management of bees, that seems to be so much desired.
Almost the whole vast schedule of works on the
honey-bee extant, in the English language, seem to be
a stereotype re-echo of each other’s sentiments and theo-
ries. Huber, the blind apiarian, bears off the palm, and
he is indeed original. He could affirm his discoveries,
and his servant could swear to them. Here is one ad-
vantage in being blind; therefore, if any one hereafter
wishes to raise his name to the pinnacle of fame, let him
become blind, and then employ a servant to verify his
theories, and his name will be immortalized.
The art of managing bees in this country is probably
as little understood as any other branch of rural econo-
my; that is, so far as profit, health and productiveness
are concerned.
It is generally supposed, that bees require little or no
care, and if they prove unproductive, or are destroyed
from the ravages of the bee-moth, it is a mere matter of
chance, wholly beyond the control of the owner.
This is a gross error. The same care and expense
that a farmer bestows on his pigs or his poultry, would
BEE-KEEPER'S MANUAL. 117
produce much larger profits if bestowed on the culture
of his bees. But bees are not to be looked after or
cared for. When their owner passes the hives, he barely
condescends to look at them, as if they were crying out,
“noli me tangere !’—Stand off!—Keep your distance,
sir!” This is not right. Every bee-keeper should cul-
tivate a better familiarity with his bees, and know at all
times their condition and their wants. The time neces-
sary for doing this is comparatively trifling.
Indeed, the cultivation of bees may not only be made
a source of moderate profit in all cases, but when pro-
perly attended to, a fortune might be accumulated from
the labors of this insect alone!
CHAPTER XIII.
HIVES.
Durine the last twenty years, many new and useless
bee-hives have been palmed off on the ignorant and too
confiding bee-keepers of our country. Men who have
had sufficient brains to devise some new plan and style
of hive that did not before exist—who never understood
‘a single principle of the management of bees correctly,
have, by dint of unblushing falsehood and impudence,
118 MINER'S AMERICAN
bled the bee-keeping community pretty freely. There
seems to be a greater cloud of darkness hanging over
the management of bees, than over any other branch of
rural economy. Every new-fangled “patent” hive that
is brought along, is represented as the ne plus ultra of
improvement, and the very acme of perfection ; and the
lesson that is so glibly recited by their venders, of the
wonderful and astonishing merits of their inventions,
often causes one to become duped again and again,
until he gives up in despair, and returns to his first love
—the simple box and brimstone management of ages
past.
I have an instance of the deplorable effects of confid-
ing too freely in the pretentions of a patent hive vender,
in the case of a neighbor, who went to a great expense
in building bee-houses, which he filled with hives from
an apiarian of the city of New York, at an enormous
cost, and now where are they? From six hives pro-
cured several years ago, he has only one now remaining,
and when I last saw that one, “solitary and alone,”
throwing out an occasional pale, sickly bee, in quest of
food, while the air of my premises was literally “vocal
with music,” and the furious dashing whiz that resound-
ed about my ears as I approached them, giving indica-
tions of power, vigor and prosperity:—I say, when I
saw this great difference, in positions only a few rods.
distant, I was grieved that darkness should yet hover
over the apiaries of thousands who seem indifferent to
their success, or rather consider success-as a matter of
chance rather than of science.
BEB-KEEPER 8 MANUAL. 119
SIZE OF HIVES.
The first desideratum with the apiarian is, the proper
dimensions of hives. As the builder in rearing his edi-
fice, sees that its foundation is firmly laid, that the super-
structure may not be impaired; so does the apiarian
look to the correct size of his bee-hives, that his subse-
quent labors may not prove in vain, in the management
and culture of his bees.
Notwithstanding the enquiry has been abroad through-
out all christendom during centuries, in regard to the
true shape and size of bee-hives; yet we stand in the
same position that we did a hundred years ago, relative
to this important question. Every bee-keeper has his
size and shape, and no one is able to set the question at
rest. We find hives from the little box of six inches
square, made expressly for very small swarms, up to
almost any dimensions, even to the size of a barrel.
There seems to be a perfect chaos existing in the minds
of men on this subject, or rather, that every man’s views
on this subject, are so vague and undefined, that a cha-
otic confusion is the general state of public sentiment
on this very important branch of bee-culture.
Now, can any one reasonably suppose that there is
no solution to this query ? Does any one presume, that
a small hive or a large hive ; a short hive or a long hive,
is all the same ; making no difference at all in the gene-
ral prosperity of the apiary ? No one can thus think, for
it is contrary to the general principles of common sense ;
yet bee-keepers, to a great extent, act on this principle,
120 MINER'S AMERICAN
and fill their bee-gardens with every manner of hive,
throwing all system to the winds.
As I look upon this subject, there must be a right
size, and a wrong size—a right shape, and a wrong
shape. But the grand question is, what is the right size
and shape? There’sthe rub! Whocan answer? In
my opinion, every bee-hive in the United States should
be of a certain size and shape.
SPACE NECESSARY FOR SWARMS.
The queen is able to produce a certain number of
larve, or brood, in a season. She requires a certain
area of space in which to deposit her eggs, and more
than enough is worse than useless. Like the coat upon
one’s back, a close fit is required; beyond, or short of
this, is either ruinous, or highly disadvantageous.
It is true, that some queens are more fertile than others
—even the same queens produce more larvz some sea-
sons than in others. This is quite natural, since a bee
is liable to be affected by various vicissitudes of life, as
well as any other animate being. But admitting this,
we then wish to know what space is necessary to af-
ford an average area for a queen’s use, giving, as a
general rule, as much room as can be used, and at the
same time leave no waste space ?
@
NUMBER OF WORKERS ADVANTAGEOUSLY EMPLOYED.
Again, how many workers can -be employed in the
same hive to advantage? There is an answer to this
—a definite answer; yet I never beheld the subject
BEE-KEEPER’S MANUAL. 121
mooted, as well as many other important questions,
touching the management of bees, in any work pub-
lished in either Europe or America.
The case lies simply here :—you may put a queen
into a hive suited to her requirements, and you may then
give her just as many workers as she ought to have ;
that is, the number that will readily construct the re-
quired complement of combs, and have the various
branches of labor pertaining to the family all progress-
ing harmoniously, without any branch being retarded, to
the detriment of other branches. You may then add to
this specific number of bees that constitute just enough,
a few more thousand, and you derange all their labors,
by an excess of laborers. Every one knows, that when
a body of mechanics are at work on any kind of employ-
ment, and as many are thus employed, as can conveni-
ently find room to labor in, that if another body of men
be thrust in to aid them, that instead of being an aid to
them, they would actually retard the work. So it is
with a family of bees. When once a family have
enough laborers, more are worse than useless, and they
retard the labors of the family, by crowding among the
combs, and also farther injury is done, in consuming the
stores in a greater ratio to their increase, than when the
proper number of bees only occupy the hive.
A LACK OF WORKERS DISASTROUS TO THE FAMILY.
The same, or rather equally disastrous effects follow
the lack of a sufficient number of bees to perform the
necessary labors of the family. The queen requires
122 MINER'S AMERICAN
some five or six combs, about twelve inches square, in
which to deposit her eggs; and on taking possession of
a newhive, on swarming, she requires these combs as
soon as they can be constructed. If the swarm be
small, these combs are not built until the season is so far
past that they are of little use, and the chances are, that
they are not built at all. Some four or five segments of
combs, of about half the usual size, are all that are built
generally. In these combs the queen finds but a small
portion of the space, that she would use, as a receptacle
of her eggs, if she had the necessary room; and even
what space she has, under such circumstances, cannot
be devoted to the young brood, since the sparseness of
the laborers of her family calls for so many to be con-
stantly abroad, that but a very few remain at home;
consequently, the necessary heat to develope the brood
cannot be generated, and the queen knowing this, will
only deposit a few eggs in the centres of such few combs
as she has, and do the best she can. In such cases, the
queen may confine her laying to two or three places,
where the most warmth can be generated, of about the
size of a tea-cup, when, if she had a hive full of combs,
and workers enough, she would cover some five or six,
or more combs, twelve inches square ; and pfoduce more
bees in one month in this way, than in a year, as before
stated.
The only way for such families, short in numbers, to
make up their complement, is to await another season,
when, taking time by the forelock, they will have the
usual numbers by midsummer.
BEE-KEEPER'S MANUAL. 123
In the foregoing case of a superfluous number of bees,
it is not advisable to give more room, for the reason, that
when we determine what is the exact size of a bee-hive,
we should adhere to that size in all cases.
EFFECTS OF TOO SMALL AND TOO LARGE HIVES.
Various are the reasons for making all hives of the
same size. If we make them too small, the bees are
more liable to perish from the effects of an unfavorable
winter, and from the ravages of the bee-moth, in conse-
quence of the weak condition of the family. The queen,
in such cases, as before stated, is curtailed of her neces-
sary room, and not as many bees will be produced; and
and whatever operates as a check to the production of
larvee, is a fatal error in the management of bees.
If we construct our hives too large, the bees will re-
quire two years to fill them; and the natural increase
by swarming is much lessened, and, in some cases, en-
tirely prevented for a series of years. Hives of this
character are those made about fourteen inches in diam-
eter, by about fifteen or eighteen inches in Jength. Such
a size I consider to be entirely at variance with the na-
tural requirements of the bee.
On the other hand, hives made about a foot in diame-
ter, by six or eight inches deep, or eight or ten inches in
diameter, by a foot in length, I consider equally fatal
to the prosperity of the bees. Such hives do not afford
the area of combs that a queen requires; and hence,
she is debarred the opportunity of giving that increase,
that she otherwise would. Such small families do not
124 MINERS AMERICAN
winter as well; as it has been thoroughly tested, that
strong stocks winter better, and consume less honey
than weaker ones! This may appear strange to those
who are unacquainted with this subject ; yet it is true,
for the reason, that the bees are less exposed in
strong stocks, to the various winter changes of weather,
to which our climate is subject.
A few warm days in winter will put the whole of a
small stock in motion ; whereas, a strong one is much
less affected ; and when a family of bees is once aroused
from their lethargy, they consume double the quantity of
-honey that they do when in a state of quietude. But
setting this matter entirely out of the question, there are
yet good reasons for having larger hives. When bees
are placed in hives adapted to their natural wants,
giving no excess of room, nor curtailing the use of such
space, as they actually require, they then cast off their
first swarms of such numbers as nature teaches them
are best adapted to prove prosperous ; and it matters not
how large your hive may be, if a swarm be cast, which
is seldom with families in large hives, it will not be in
proportion to the size of the hive, but in accordance
with the laws of nature, governing the bee.
Now, to come to the point, with as few words as pos-
sible, and do justice to my subject, I will say, that I have
found, from many years of close application to the.sna-
ture, economy, and general management of bees, that
hives about one foot square in the clear ; that is, in the
inside, conform more to the natural habits and acquire-
ments of bees, than any other size. .
BEE-KEEPER'S MANUAL. 125
THE INSTINCT AND NATURE OF THE BEE UNCHANGEABLE.
There is not a solitary feature pertaining to the do-
mestic honey-bee of the United States, that is not found
just as fully developed in Siberia, Russia, China, Africa,
Greenland, or in any other part of the world. Kingdoms
may perish, and the giant oak may thrive amid the ruins
of cities now teeming with life and gaiety, but the in-
stinct and wisdom, and natural habits of the little bee,
‘implanted in her censorium from the beginning of the
world, will stand as immutable as the great Creator of
all. Not all the art and genius of man can teach the:
bee one jot or tittle of knowledge beyond what Gop has
given the impress of! Nor does she need man’s wis-
dom. Perfect in every work, she stands forth an exam-
ple for man, at least in-her habits of industry. In her
architecture, no man can imitate her. From her un-
changeable course, that has marked her career since the
creation of the world, no power on earth can cause her
to deviate. The folly of man is now busy in prescribing
limits, in forcing her to act contrary to her wonted na-
ture, or rather surrounding her with useless contri-
vances, to force from her what nature has not bestowed
upon her, in great and extraordinary labors and products
of the mellifluous juices ; but it is all time spent in vain.
The honey-bee is capable of doing just so much, when
she has wherewithal to do with; and it requires no
stimulus from man to bring her to her task. All that
man can do, is to give her a tenement suited to her
wants, and if the fields afford honey, she will gather it.
126 MINER’S AMERICAN
There is no such thing as /aziness with the bee. Far
more depends upon the bee-pasturage and season than
upon anything that man can do; yet we have our part
to do also, and it is only by a proper attention to our
duties, that the bee is protected in her labors, that result
in her own prosperity, and to our own advantage.
RESULT OF THE AUTHOR’S EXPERIENCE IN LARGE HIVES.
In 1842 I had a few hives made 12 by 18 inches in
the clear; that is, 12 inches wide, and 18 inches long.
In speaking of the size of hives, I refer to the body of
the hive for the dwelling of the bees, without any regard
to what are termed supers* for storifying. I found that
it took the bees two seasons to fill my large hives; and
when filled, they did not swarm at all some seasons ; for
the reason, that however great the quantity of bees may
be in a hive, in the summer and fall, they dwindle away
before spring, to a certain quantity ; and thus leave a
vacant space at the bottom of the hive, of some six
inches or more, to be filled up with the increase of
spring; while smaller hives are full, and are throwing
off swarms in profusion. Here lies the philosophy of
adapting the hive to the natural wants of the bee. I
will illustrate this point by a supposable case.
An apiarian places a swarm of bees in a hive, say 14
inches in diameter, by two feet in length ; the bees might
possibly fill the hive with combs, the second year, but
* Supers are such hives, or boxes, as are placed above the regu-
lar hive, and receive the surplus gatherings of the bees, aad may
be removed at pleasure.
BEE-KEEPER 8 MANUAL. 127
swarming is entirely out of the question with a family of
bees in such a hive. The increase of every succeed-
ing year would disappear before the following spring, or
rather numbers equaling the increase; since all the
bees existing in hives in the spring of the year, save the
queen, were the young of the preceding summer and fall.
Now, ten years have past, and this hive is in precisely
the same condition that it was in nine years ago. Not
a solitary swarm has ever issued therefrom. Ten gene-
rations of bees have existed, nine of which are past
away. :
We now pass to what would have been the result, if
said swarm had originally been put into a hive about 12
inches square.
The second year, aswarm would have issued, without
doubt, and perhaps two; but we'll say one, in order to
be on the safe side, as it is not my intention to give an
over-wrought picture in anything I that may discuss. We
will now take the very reasonable, and low estimate, of
one swarm from every stock, every season, and count
up how many would be the result at the end of ten years.
The second year, 2, in all; the third year, 4; the fourth
year, 8;.the fifth year, 16; the sixth year, 32; and so
on—the tenth year showing FIVE HUNDRED AND TWELVE
families from a single swarm!!! In this calculation, we
allow no drawbacks to the prosperity of the bees, such
as destruction by the bee-moth, &c.; yet the usual cas-
ualities attending the culture of bees, I contend, can be
almost, if not wholly prevented by proper management.
So confident am I, that 512 families of bees can, in ten
128 MINER’S AMERICAN
years be produced from a single swarm, that I should not
hesitate to enter into heavy bonds, (the uncertainty of
life considered,) to produce that number, or forfeit the
whole actually produced.
512 stocks of bees are worth, at least, five dollars per
stock, amounting to the enormous sum of $2,560, while
the same swarm, from which so vast a profit arises, if
placed in too large a hive, at the end of ten years, is
worth but the paltry sum of $5, with no increase! I
leave the reader to his own reflections, on the wretched
management of bees, as too generally practiced in every
part of the country.
HIVES DIMINISHED IN LENGTH.
In regard to my large hives, I saw the fallacy of such
dimensions, and concluded to try the experiment of
cutting them off, nearly filled with bees as they were,
which I performed with a common hand-saw ; the man- *
ner of doing which, was as follows :—
It was in the month of April, that I performed the
operation. I ought to have done it in February or
March, but the idea did not occur to me, until those
months had past. On acool morning, I examined my
hives, and found a vacant space of about six inches at
the bottom of each hive, unoccupied by bees. I then
set them, one at a time, on a table with the bottom-
board up, in close contact with the hive, giving the bees
no opportunity to escape. Having my saw put in prime
order, and having secured the table against a sup-
port, to render it firm, I was then ready to operate.
BEE-KEEPER'S MANUAL. 129
Here allow me to say, that a man’s success in almost
any undertaking, depends upon his calmly surveying the
whole ground, and foreseeing this or that result before
he gets through; and being fully prepared and commen-
cing aright. Had I taken a dull saw, and commenced
this operation without securing my table firmly, I should
have probably failed in my attempt; besides, by some
mishap, perhaps I might have been mortally stung.
These are small matters, it is true, yet in all of our ope-
rations with bees, it requires a nicety of calculation and
phifSsophic view of the case; that we may coolly per-
form our task, and know what effect every move we
make will have upon that insect, so tenacious of her
rights.
Having marked off the part of the hive to be cut
asunder, and having made niches on the corners of the
me in order to set in the saw the more easily, I cut
ently on one side, until I felt the saw perforate the combs.
I then placed small wedges in the seam at the corners,
and commenced on another side; when this side was
also sawed through, I inserted wedges as before, and so
on until I had completely cut the hives in two. The
bees did not seem to be molested much, if any. I then
took a small wire, about a yard long, and having wound
the ends around sticks, to serve as handles, I then drew
it gently and carefully across the combs, through the
aperture made by the saw, taking especial care to
have the wire sever them across the edges, rather than
the sides; since that course would displace the position
of them less, and much less disturb the bees. Having
6*
130 MINER'S AMERICAN
cut the combs entirely off, nothing remained to be done
but to place the hive in its proper position in the apiary.
I allowed it to remain fifteen minutes, to quiet the
bees, and then went out and placed it in its position;
and not a bee seemed to know that a change had taken
place in the size of the hive, so tranquil and’ peaceable
were they.
The time had now arrived for the bees to sally out,
and I deferred the operation of another hive until the
following morning. I thus continued cutting one off
every morning, until all were finished.
Thus, it will be seen, that if any of my readers should
have hives of a size that a portion of their length would
be desirable to cut off, the manner of accomplishing it
is easy.
After cutting off my large hives,I found that they
contained no more bees than hives one foot square, th
I possessed; and those of that size actually swarme
first, and had also swarmed the preceding season, while’
my large hives had not cast a swarm for a period of two
or three years!
This result renders it conclusive to my mind, that it
is folly for the apiarian to pay no regard to the proper
size of hives, or rather suppose that the size has but a
secondary bearing upon the prosperity of his bees. The
size, sir, is everything; and until you learn this fact,
and act upon it, your time is spent in vain.
SMALL HIVES NOT APPROPRIATE FOR SMALL SWARMS.
Some apiarians consider that the hive should conform
BEE-KEEPER'S MANUAL. 131
to the size of the swarm; rather than place small swarms
in ordinary hives, and allow the bees to remain therein
until they are filled by the natural increase of the family.
This is a great error; but, say they who defend this
principle :—* A large family requires a large house, and
a small family, a small house.” This is true of people,
but it has no bearing at all on the room suitable for a
swarm of bees, if future prosperity and gain are to be
taken into the account.
t us take a rational view of this question. So far
as@the mere comfort and convenience of the swarm is
concerned, during the first season, I admit that hives
of such size as the bees can just fill with combs, during
the first summer of their existence are best; but we
must look beyond the first year, if we expect the greatest
prosperity that is attainable.
In the first place, we must entirely. discard the idea,
Phat if a swarm be very large or very small, at the time
of issuing from the hive, its existence and prosperity in
succeeding years is thereby effected. I say its existence
in succeeding years; but I mean the existence of suc-
ceeding generations of the same original family; because,
no swarm of bees ever lived through two seasons.
In order. to more fully illustrate :this point, we will
suppose that A has a very large. swarm issue from
one of his hives, say about double the usual numbers;
and B has a very small swarm also issue, about half the
usual size. A obtains a hive of double the usual size,
for his swarm, and B looks about for a very small hive
for his swarm, to suit the bulk of it.
1382 MINER'S AMERICAN
The bees are hived and they go to work freely. At
the end of the season, A finds that he has a fine hive of
bees, with a good supply of honey for winter use, and
on raising his hive, he finds that it is about three-quarters
filled with combs. (If you give a large swarm double
the usual room, it is not generally a// occupied the first
year.) B examines his little family and finds his little
hive full of combs, but from the weight of it, he con-
cludes that he'll have to feed the bees, in order to carry
them through the winter, and he begins to wish that he
had not been to the trouble of hiving them at al and
almost wishes that he had found them all dead; since
the prospect before him, of feeding his little family, so
as to enable it to safely pass the winter looks cheerless
and forbidding. Well, the winter is past, and the genial
warmth of the sunny month of May, arouses the bees
to great activity. The medium-sized hives are throw-
ing off swarms in profusion, and A wonders why hi
family in the large hive does not swarm! “I'll get a
rouser out of that hive when it does come,” said A, one
day to a neighbor. He might well say, “when it does
come ;” for, if he had known anything about the science
of bee-management, he might have known that a swarm
would never be thrown off from a hive of such unnatu-
ral dimensions. :
A watched in vain for a swarm :—none*came off, and
on turning up the hive on the 10th of June, lo! he dis-
covered that the bees had not added any new combs
to those built the season before, and there was yet a
large space of spare room unfilled by them. The
BEE-KEEPER S MANUAL. 1383
second, third and fourth seasons passed away, and ‘A’s
“rouser” had not made its appearance, and not a bee
more could be discovered in the hive, at the end of that
period, than he had at the commencement.
Now for B and his family. B expected one or two
good swarms from his little 5 by 7 box, but he found the
young bees produced in this hive were few, compara-
tively, in numbers, and when every other family on his
premises had thrown off very large swarms, and some
ten s beyond this period had past, a little weak,
scrdlbokin, swarm did issue from this small hive, and
B was sent for in great haste. After he had surveyed
it for a moment, said he; “ You can go. I’m not going
to fuss with another goose-egg swarm, and feed it, to
get it through the winter.” He suffered the bees to
perish on the branch where they clustered.
Year after year past, and B derived no manner of
fo from his little hive. It seldom swarmed, and
hen it did throw one off, it was very late in the season,
and the swarms were so small, that they were seldom
hived.
The result of the foregoing imaginary cases, is pre-
cisely what would be the consequences, of such a course
of actual management. The swarm in A’s hive could
not, with all its natural increase, so fill the hive in the
spring, as to be able to spare a single bee, since it is an
invariable principle of the bee, to never suffer emigra-,
tion, while an inch of their domicil remains unfilled with
combs, and unfilled with bees. Let this remark be
deeply impressed on your minds, ye who know it not,
134 MINER’S AMERICAN
and much time and anxiety in regard to the swarming
of your bees may be averted.
Had I been present when the aforesaid two swarms
of A and B issued, I should have advised them as fol-
lows :—
Gentlemen, by all means, put your bees into the regu-
lar-sized hives. Yours, Mr. A, is now large, and perhaps
you may, during this very warm weather, think that a
common hive cannot possibly afford room for them; but —
you may depend upon it, that they will all find agcgomo-
dation therein. They appear to be more numerous'than
they really are, in consequence of the heat of the weather
causing them to extend in clustering, in order to allow
a current of air to pass through them. When hived, it
you find a large portion to cluster outside the hive, do
not be alarmed; the first few cool days we have, will
drive every bee in, and next September you will ac-
knowledge that what I say is right. sail
And you, Mr. B, do throw that 5 by 7 box into the’
fire, lentreat you. It always gives me a fit of the ague,
to see the management of bees thus butchered, if 1 may
be allowed the use of that term. Do get one of your
foot-square boxes, and let them fill such a portion of it
as they can. They will not more than quarter fill it
this season, but, sir, next year, you will have as good a
stock of bees as any in your apiary. You may have to
feed this swarm a little in the fall; for, small swarms
never do lay up much honey, but when the time comes
for feeding, I will inform you how you can, for twenty-five
cents, feed them enough in one day, to carry them safely
BEE-KEEPER 8 MANUAL. 185
through the winter, and then you will have a stock that
will be worth something. i
CHANGE FROM BARGE TO SMALL HIVES—DECEPTIVE
APPEARANCES OF SWARMS, ETC.
When a bee-keeper is accustomed to use very large
hives, or the hollow trunks of trees, called gums in some
parts of the country, and in Virginia, in particular, the
swarms are sometimes somewhat larger than those issu-
ing fyom the proper-sized hives ; but, as I before stated,
if they pass certain dimensions in their hives, they sel-
dom get any swarms at all; and when such large
swarms do issue, if the weather be very warm, the bees
extend so much, in order to allow the air .to circulate
among them, when in a cluster, that it is thought impos-
sible to hive them in boxes 12 inches square. I have
been written toon this subject, from various parts of the
country, by those who have made use of hives that I
have recommended, and the complaint was, that their
swarms were so large that hives of my size could not
afford the bees room; and in some instances, the bees
deserted them. To persons thus circumstanced, I
answer, that appearances are very deceptive sometimes
inhiving a swarm of bees. A moderate-sized swarm,
in a very warm day, appears much larger than it would
on a cool day ; and when a swarm enters a hive during
very warm weather the bees find the atmosphere within
insupportable, and a large portion of them are compelled
to cluster on the outside of the hive, until the combs are
so far advanced as to protect the interior of the hive to
136 MINER'S AMERICAN
some extent. On such occasions, should the hive be
raised, it might appear to be filled with a solid mass of
bees, when, in reality, not half of an ordinary swarm
are there. The deception is produced by the bees
clustering on each side, within the hive, and then throw-
ing a sheet of bees across the bottom, connected with
festoons of bees from the top of the hive. In such
cases, almost the whole of the interior of the hive is an
open, unoccupied space. I have often witnessed this
delusion, and in nine cases out of ten, bee-keepers,would
suppose that the hive was filled to a perfect jam. This
case often occurs when a large body of bees cluster
outside; and one would say that it was utterly im-
possible that the hive could afford sufficient room for the
whole family ; but let the weather change—let the wind
veer around to the north, and let the sun be shut out by
cold, damp clouds, and presto! what a change! Why,
a person not in the secret, would say positively, that
half of his bees had deserted their tenement! Instead
of a hive full to overflowing, a snug, compact, moderate-
sized swarm, is closely formed in the top of the hive,
through which the white tips of a row of beautiful
pearly combs appear.
Bee-keepers should, in very warm weather, be particu-
lar in shading the hives of new swarms fully and effec-
tually, and in case of having swarms that appear to be
hard pressed for room, an abundance of fresh air should
be admitted at the bottom of the hive—even raise
it on blocks, at each corner, one inch high. This
proceeding will prevent the bees from clustering on the
BEE-KEEPER S MANUAL. 137
outside of the hive, and when the bees have been at
work about a week, the blocks at the corners may be
removed, and the hive lowered down to its proper po-
sition.
I cannot, however, Sy that cases may not happen
in which all of my prescribed rules will avail nothing.
I refer to cases where two, and even three different
swarms issue at the same time, and cluster together on
the same branch. In such cases, if the apiarian be not
present when the bees swarm, he very reasonably con- -
cludes, that the whole mass is but one large swarm.
Hives 12 inches square are of no use in such cases;
that is, for the whole of them together, neither is any
hive suitable for the whole of them. They should be
divided, and the way to do that will be developed, when
I come to a chapter on “ swarming.”
DR, BEVAN’S OPINION ON THE SIZE OF HIVES.
That no portion of my readers may think that I am
decidedly wrong in recommending hives so small as one
foot square, in the.clear, I here quote a few remarks
of Dr. Bevan, an English writer on the honey-bee, whose
work was re-published in this country some years ago,
and circulated to a considerable extent.
He says: “In a former edition of this work, a prefer-
ence was given to those of Keys, but subsequent infor-
mation and experience induce me to recommend their
diameter to be three-eighths of an inch less than his,
viz: eleven and five-eighths’ inches square, by nine
inches deep in the clear.”
188 MINER'S AMERICAN
Here we have hives recommended more than one-
quarter less in size than those that I recommend.
I have had several of Dr. Bevan’s hives, or such as
appear in his work, engraved, and I shall lay them be-
fore the reader; not that I approve of them at all, but
being the nearest approximation to hives in use in the
United States, and, perhaps, identical with many in use
in this country, I think it expedient to comment on their
qualities, in order to cover the whole area of my subject,
or so much of it as is practicable.
BEVAN’S CROSS-BAR HIVE.
The above engraving represents what is termed a
cross-bar hive. The object of this kind of hive is to
guide the bees in their comb-building; that combs may
be more regularly constructed, thus affording more
brood-combs than are generally built, when the bees are
left to themselves, and less irregularities in their archi-
tecture. It is intended, that the bees shall construct
their combs on the bars. The centre bars are placed
suitably for brood-comb, and the outside bars are wider
apart, and adapted to store-combs. This is all very
well, provided the bees will follow these bars; but they
will not. They must have one or two guide-combs
BEE-KEEPER'S MANUAL. 139
attached, before they will follow the bars at all; and
with this trouble on the part of the bee-keeper, not half
of the time, will the bees pay the least regard to the
bars, but will build combs directly across or transversely,
and every other way that can be imagined.
This kind of hive is entirely too complicated for gene-
ral use in this country, as well as scores of other kinds
that I shall not condescend to notice. It is entirely
useless to attempt to introduce into general use,
any kind of hive, but such as is easily. and cheaply
made, and that does not require an engineer to put in
order and oversee, as many of the gim-cracks of the
present day do. But a wise Providence has so ordered,
that the bee requires merely the simplest tenement.
Screens, ventilators, valves, &c., are but hindrances to
their natural prosperity, and the thousand and one com-
plicated inventions of the day aré but so many decep-
tive tricks of the astute and keen, to filch our pockets of
a few spare dollars.
I will let Dr. Bevan tell his own story relative to ad-
justing the bars, &c., of his hive.
He says: “ The sides of the boxes should be an inch
thick, and have the upper edges of the fronts and backs
rabbeted out half their thickness, and half an inch deep,
to receive a set of loose bars upon their tops, which
should be half: an inch thick, one and one-eighth of an
inch wide, and seven in number. If the distances of the
bars from each other be nicely adjusted, there will be
inter-spaces between them of about half an inch. The
precise width of the bars should be particularly attended
140 MINER'S AMERICAN
to, and also their distances from each other; as any de-
viations in this respect, would throw the combs wrong,
particularly if that deviation gave an excess of room.
It would be better, therefore, for them to be somewhat
within the rule, than to exceed it by ever so little, for
whenever the bees evince a disposition to depart from
the prescribed dimensions, its tendency is generally to
make the combs approximate. This has induced me to
have my boxes surmounted by bars varying a little in
their relative distance, thus: the three centre bars are
_placed at the distance of only seven-sixteenths of an
inch from each other, while the rest gradually recede
from that distance, so that the two last inter-spaces on
either side of the box, are nine-sixteenths of an inch in
width. The same precision must be observed in the
length of the bars, as it is of great importance to have
them indiscriminately applicable to every box; and in
case the joiner should exceed the specified dimensions
of a box, the extra space must be thrown to its sides.”
After these bars are adjusted, a cover is placed on the
hive, of the usual thickness, and screwed down, so as to
admit of being taken off at any time. Through this
cover, a hole may be made some three inches square, and
a super placed thereon, as in other cases.
He claims this advantage in this hive over ordinary
ones ; that at any timea leaf of comb may be withdrawn,
and in this manner the surplus honey is obtained, or
from the supers as may be desirable. Let those try this
hive who choose, it is not very expensive ; but I must
say, that I can see nothing valuable about it.
BEE-KEEPER'S MANUAL. 141
In regard to causing the bees to build their combs
with regularity, it is truly important to devise some
method to produce such a result, and the only effectual
method that can be practiced without trouble, will be
given when I come to speak of my own hives, or such
as were planned by me.
I condemn Dr. Bevan’s hive, on account of its bars,
and also on account of its size. Put three inches more
on its depth and take out the bars, and it would then
answer the purpose very well.
LW OTT
DU TT TH Ms
ni
h
> |
!
an A ATT TTT TT TT TT
lt
se
SUBTENDED HIVE.
Here is a cut of a kind of hive that is in use to some
extent in thiscountry. This is also from Bevan’s work ;
and the size of each box is presumed to be the same as
the bar-hive, viz: eleven and five-eighths inches deep,
by nine inches wide. Through the two lower boxes,
holes about four inches square are cut, with a slide to
142 MINER’S AMERICAN
shut off the opening when the supers are not placed in
position. The doors in front open to admit the apia-
rian to observe, through a pane of glass, the operations
of the bees. These glass windows may be dispensed
with, if one choose to do so. The opening or entrance
for the bees, as seen in front, was not in the original
drawing of this hive, in Bevan’s work, but I have placed
it there as essential, as the reader will hereafter observe.
The glass windows may be in front or in the rear of the
hives, according to the desire of the apiarian. If the
hives be placed against a fence or wall, they should be
in front; but should there be a passage-way between
the hives and such fence or wall, then the doors should
be on the backs of the hives, in order to observe the
labors of the bees, without the least disturbance of them.
There is a hive on this principle now in use in some
part of New Jersey, and perhaps in other States also,
with which some savan is deluding the good people, by
causing them to believe that it is original, and the very
best hive in existence, of course.
HOBBY OF A PORTION OF THE ITINERANT BEE-HIVE
VENDERS.
The hobby of a portion of the itinerant bee-hive ven
ders of the United States is, “an easy method of renew
ing the combs every third year.” The idea has struck a
few of those geniuses, that in consequence of the difficulty
to the inexperienced bee-keeper attending the transfer
or change of families of bees, from old to new hives,
when the combs have become blackened-and vitiated
BEE-KEEPER S MANUAL. 143
from several years’ use, that if anything could be “got
up” that would obviate the necessity of such a change,
even if it ruined every other principle of correct man-
agement, money could be made by the operation, before
the bauble would burst. This, of course, is a gratuitous
assertion; yet I may, perhaps, be able to “look as far
into a mill-stone,” as any man.
TWO KINDS OF SUBTENDED HIVES.
There are two kinds of these “subtended” humbugs
now offered to bee-keepers in the vicinity of New York,
and to what extent they are used, I cannot say.
One kind is on the principle of the foregoing cut, as I
before stated, and the other only varies from the first,
in substituting drawers, that slide in and out in a frame.
The size of these drawers is somewhat smaller, I think,
than the boxes that are placed over each other; yet the
principle is the same.
RULES FOR MANAGEMENT IN SUBTENDED HIVES.
The rules for management.in the foregoing hives, as
I have it from those bee-keepers wh) have purchased
them is, that the bees are hived in the lower box, and
when this is filled, add a second, and if that be also
filled, then add a third box. If all be filled with
combs and honey, then at the proper season, the two
upper boxes may be removed, and the bees expelled
therefrom to return to the lower’ one, where the whole
family should pass the winter. This is all very well in
theory, and even in practice, the first and second years;
144 MINER'S AMERICAN
but we shall meet with this damper to our fond hopes,—
an ordinary swarm will not in one case in ten, go be-
yond the first box, during the first season, if they mea-
sure about nine inches by twelve. If they be smaller
than this, they will ascend to upper ones; but.there is
ruin in hives under the above-named size, in the sequel,
as I think I shall fully show.
In speaking of swarms entering supers or boxes above
the one in which they are hived during the first season,
and working therein, I would observe, that in different
parts of the country, the labors of bees vary accord-
ing to the bee-pasturage about them. In a location
where the white clover (Trifolium repens) abounds pro-
fusely, as in Herkimer county, State of New York, and
some other great grazing counties, a swarm will produce
much more honey and wax, than on Long Island, where
the honey harvest is not so abundant.
We now return to our “subtended” hive; and we
will suppose that three years have past, and we now
wish to change our stock or family, into a new tene-
ment, the old combs having existed long enough; an-
other year, however, would not affect the prosperity of
the bees, according to my experience.
Well, how is this change or transfer to be made? In
“the first place, you remove the box containing the bees
far enough to admit of an empty one to occupy its posi-
tion. You then remove the slide of the empty one, and
set the full one over it. We will suppose that this ope-
ration is performed sometime during the month of April.
The bees soon begin to increase rapidly, and when the
BEE-KEEPER 8S MANUAL. 145
original box becomes crowded, they descend and com-
mence their labors in the lower one, having from the
beginning, to pass through the lower box, to and from
the hive. During the season, the lower one is filled
with combs and bees, and if the hives be quite small,
perhaps a third may also be filled, which may be
placed on the top, or the top one may be raised, when
two boxes only are in use, and the third placed in the
centre. °
October arrives, and the two upper hives may be
removed, and the bees driven out, which will return to
the bottom box, where they are to winter as before
stated. The honey in the two supers removed, is the
owners gain. These supers may be removed betore
October, even as early as the first of August, at which
time, the combs will be much whiter, and the honey
better. An empty box may then be placed on the first,
provided that the bees are crowded, and if any farther
harvest may beexpected. In the vicinity of New York,
the honey-harvest is entirely past at this period, save
what little the bees may gather for their daily supply.
Now we come to the grand “hobby,”—the great dis-
covery! The bees are now in a hive with new combs !—
just what is desired, and no trouble at all! Nosmoking
out! No driving or whipping out! The bee-keeper is
in extacies! Presently comes along the great inventor
himself—* Mr. Genius, why, how do youdo? Let me
put your horse in the stable, and you come in and stay
with me, to-night. You must come—John, put Mr.
7
146 MINER'S AMERICAN
Genius’ horse in the stable—brush him down—water
and feed him.
Mr. Genius passes the night with our extatic friend,
talks over the astonishing merits of his invention, and
when they part in the morning, Mr. Bee-keeper bids
him farewell, adding, “youre a lucky man, your for-
tune’s made !”’
A few days subsequent to this occurrence, a gentle-
man passing that way, called at Mr. Bee-keeper’s door
to ask the favor of a glass of cool water. Mr. Bee-
keeper was standing at his well, and had just raised a
bucket of water. “Certainly,” replied he, “water is as
free as air.”
“You have a fine apiary, sir,—some patent hives, I
presume.”
“ Yes, sir, and they can’t be beat.”
“Pray, sir allow me to examine them; I have spent
much time in studying the history and economy of the
bee, and there is nothing that attracts my attention so
quickly as a bee-garden.”
“ With pleasure, come in, and I’ll show you my ‘sub-
tended’ hive ;—one of the greatest inventions of the
age!”
“TI think I have seen the same kind before. If I mis-
take not, every third year you can change your bees
from old to new combs.”
“Tixactly so, sir; and here’s a hive changed in that
manner. Last spring the old combs of this hive were
as black as your hat, and now see, (turning up the hive,)
what beautiful white combs they have!’
BEE-KEEPER S MANUAL, 147
“Just so, sir, but pardon my familiarity—there are
some things connected with this change, that will sooner
or later ruin your bees!”
“Ah! (looking serious,) indeed! Ruin the bees, do
you say ?”
“Yes, ruin them—destroy them—annihilate them !”
“Mercy on me! are you sure.”
“ Aye! positive.”
“Pray, sir, what is it ?”
“Look here! (turning up the hive,) do you see these
thick, irregular combs.”
“T do.”
“You are aware that such combs are unfit for breed-
ing ?”
“For breeding ?—why, yes—no, don’t know as Iam.”
“Well, sir, not a solitary bee will ever be produced
in these combs. There are one, two, three, yes, three,
and perhaps four combs in this hive, that the eggs of the
queen may be deposited in. They are these thin, regu-
lar combs that you perceive in the centre of the hive,
which are called brood-combs. The others are store-
combs, and are only made for the reception of honey.
Next spring, the queen will do what she can to increase
her family; but she must be restricted to three or four
combs, or parts of combs, for none of them appear to be
of a regular shape, as they should be; and her increase
will not equal one half the number that she would. pro-
duce, if she had a hive filled with the proper combs.
Where is the hive that they were in last season ?”
“ Here it is, with the combs undisturbed.”
148 MINER'S AMERICAN
“ Now, do you perceive how regular each comb is
constructed,—just so far apart, and every comb about
one inch thick. Every comb here would be used by
the queen, and three times as many bees would be
brought into existence in this hive asin that. Here are
the drone-combs on one side, a little thicker than the
worker-combs. Let us examine the other hive —Not
a single drone-comb !”
“Well, now, I will give up. I thought that I had got
a kind of hive that would be just the thing. Ah! well,
it’s of no use to try any of the new inventions, now-
a-days. I see, sir, what you say must be so—I see—I
see.”
“Well, that is not all, sir, Pll lay a wager there is no
queen in this hive.”
“No queen ?”
« Aye! no queen.”
“What next!—John! John! (calling at the top of
his lungs,) if you see old ‘Genius’ go past to day, tell
him I want to see him. Don’t let him go past, anyhow.
Now, sir, be so good as to tell me—what was it? Oh!
the—the queen, that’s it—the queen—No queen, did you
say ?”
“Exactly so. You see that these bees are not at
work bringing in pellets of farina, or what you call bee-
bread. That hive isnot so. See how busy they are!
There come half a dozen with farina at once; but
you see nothing of that here. The fact is, sir, that
when you took off the two upper boxes, the queen was
in one of them, and on being driven out of the box with
BEE-KEEPERS MANUAL. 149
the rest of the bees, she was lost, not being accustomed
to going out like workers, she did not know the position
of the hive where she ought to have entered. Queens
are liable to be lost in this way, since they go out but
once during life-time, and then they mark carefully the
appearance and position of their hive. She probably
entered the wrong hive and was killed by the queen be-
longing to it.” ?
“ Astonishing! What a fool I am! Are the queens
always in the upper boxes ?”
“Not by any means. The queen passes from one
box to another, and always makes it her home where
the greatest portion of brood-combs exist ; consequently,
she draws the most of the bees after her, if there be
room for them. The hive that you just showed me
filled with brood-combs, she was in undoubtedly.”
“But they say, that if a queen is lost, it makes no
difference ; that the-bees will make another queen.”
“That is true, if the bees have anything in the hive to
make a queen from. They want eggs or larve under
four days old. There were both eggs and larve in the
hive where she made her residence, without doubt ; but
it is very doubtful whether any were in either of the
other boxes, so late as October, when you drove out the
bees, and there would be no positive safety in perform-
ing that operation, even in August or September, for
the reason, that there would ever be the uncertainty of
having eggs or larve as before stated; and if they
should happen to be left in the lower box, and a queen
should be made, then she is to be impregnated by the
150 MINER'S AMERICAN
drones, and if no drones exist, how is that to be ef-
fected.”
“ITsee! I see! You talk like a book. I’ve been
humbugged, and no mistake !”
The reader will excuse the foregoing digression from the
regular train of my remarks on “subtended” hives, since
an illustration of this kind is often more forcible than
can be given in any other manner.
The “subtended” hive that I was speaking of, having
drawers, operates in all its ramifications like the hive
just described.
CASE IN WHICH TWO OR MORE BOXES MAY BE USED.
I have no objections to the use of two or three boxes
together, provided that the lower one be about one foot
square in the clear ; in which case, as many boxes above
as you please may be used; but one is as many as will
be filled generally, and not even that in many parts of
the country, if it contain over twenty or twenty-five
pounds of honey. I hear of two hives, or boxes, each
one foot square, being used in the western part of the
state of New York, near Buffalo, with success. The
family winters in one, and in the spring it is supered by
the empty one which is generally filled full during the
season, affording from forty to sixty pounds of honey.
I disapprove of transferring the family by a change of
boxes, in order to place the stock in hives with new
combs, as before illustrated. This course, I contend, is
absolutely ruinous to the prosperity of the bees, in
placing them in hives filled with combs, not at all
BEE-KEEPER’S MANUAL. 151
adapted to breeding ; and where the natural increase of
the bees is prevented, the prosperity of the family is at
an end. My method of effecting this change is by
driving out, and it is attended by no difficulty whatever,
and I consider it the only way that it can be done safely.
REMARKS ON SUPER AND NADIR*™ HIVING.
The reason why the combs built in a box placed un-
der or above the main hive, are not fit for a permanent
residence of the bees, is, that the bees in ascending into
a super, look upon such space in the light of a store-
room, and the combs built in such places are almost
always thick, and especially adapted to the storage of
honey ; being constructed in all manner of thickness and
shapes. The same may be said of hives placed under
the family to a certain extent. There is not so great a
deviation from regular brood-combs, in hives placed un-
der, as in those placed over the family; yet the devia-
tion is enough to render such hives unfit for a permanent
abode. The bees, when originally hived, are actuated
by certain fixed principles in the construction of their
combs,—the production of brood-combs always being the
most prominent, since their prosperity lies wholly in the
certainty of a rapid and extensive increase. But when
bees are driven from their usual habitation into hives
immediately connected therewith, or rather, when such
extra,room is afforded them, they take possession of it,
and if there be a surplus population in the main hive, a
portion of the bees will commence comb-building in
* A hive placed under the stock.
152 MINER’S AMERICAN
such extra space tendered them ; and, as I before stated,
they will regard such room as a space for laying up their
winter stores; paying but little regard to the form and
thickness of their combs, and disregarding the building
of brood-combs, in some instances entirely. This is
perfectly natural, and proper that they should do so;
since the idea that their home, or main tenement, is to
be taken away, and they driven out, never enters their
craniums. Having already constructed all the brood-
combs that the queen can use, what necessity have they
for more? The regular drone-cells, so important to the
welfare of every family, or of its descendants, in supers
and nadirs are disregarded. It is true that their store-
combs are built in cells of.the ordinary size of drone-
cells; but they are not suited to the raising of drones,
by any means. Some of said combs measuring three
inches in diameter, while a regular drone-comb is not far
from one inch thick. There may be instances in which
the combs in a nadir may be built with considerable re-
gularity ; yet to trust to such for the purpose of giving
bees a change of combs, once in three or four years, is a
mistaken fallacy.
Again, we are subjected to the loss of the queen, as I
have already shown ; and I was recently informed by a
gentleman, who had practiced this method of change, on
his being made acquainted with my objections to the
plan, that he had no doubt that he had destroyed the
queens to his hives, in the aforesaid manner, several |
times ; but that he should never have known what the
BEE-KEEPERS MANUAL. 153
difficulty was with them, had not my remarks opened
his eyes to the true state of the case.
BOX-HIVE AND SUPER.
Above I give a cut of a hive well suited for general
use ; and especially for the use of those bee-keepers who
have not the means to construct hives, that do not come
within the most economical prices. This hive is made
of pine boards, one inch thick. The lower section is
entirely separate from the upper one. Its dimensions
are twelve inches square, in the clear. The top board,
or cover, projects a little to render it easier to carry,
when filled. A couple of sticks, about a half an inch
thick, are crossed in the hive, running from the corners
to each opposite corner, and put in the centre of the
hive, or as near it as may be. The same may be said
of every other hive here described.
Nothing remains to be done now but to make the ap-
7*
154 MINERS AMERICAN
pertures in the top for the bees to pass through into the
box above, when the upper box is on. I use an inch
and a quarter bit, and make five holés; one in the cen-
tre, and one about half way from the centre to each
corner, always being sure that all the holes will come
within the diameter of the super, and have some space
to spare. These holes I stop with plugs made to nicely
fit, and leave the ends out far enough to take hold of,
and with a slight tap of the hammer, be able to remove
them at pleasure. I allow them to reach through the
thickness of the cover, or top of the hive, but no farther.
They should be made to fit so close, that water will not
pass into the hive, through the holes when plugged.
The super, or upper box, I construct of the same di-
ameter as the lower one, but only eight inches deep, in-
stead of twelve, the depth of the lower box. I allow the
top board of this also to project a little, say an inch.
The looks of the hive is much improved by this projec-
tion, and the boxes are removed from place to place,
when necessary, much more easily. When I put a
swarm into the lower box, I generally leave off the upper
one during the first season, because here on Long Island,
the bees generally have as much as they can do the first
season to fill the lower one; but in many places, both
boxes would be easily filled. The spring following, I
unstop the holes and put on the super. As the bees in-
crease they enter it, and by swarming time I generally
find it half filled with combs, and sometimes quite filled,
and the bees densely packed within it. When a swarm
goes off, the super is emptied of its bees, and sometimes
BEE-KERPER'S MANUAL. 155
of its honey, as I alluded to previously. I do not find
these supers to prevent swarming, unless it be second
and third swarms. I generally get one good swarm,
and sometimes two. I consider that one good swarm is
enough, and better than more.
The foregoing hive, it will be seen, stands on a stool
about 18 inches from the ground. This stool will be
fully described when I speak of “ bee-stands,” in an es-
pecial chapter on that subject.
The reader may observe, that this hive rests on small
pins or legs at the corners; giving the bees an oppor-
tunity of entering, and sallying forth on every side of
the hive. This is one of the fundamental principles of
my management, which I discussed in the American
Agriculturist, during the years 1846, 47 and ’48; to-
gether with much other matter, as some of my readers
may recollect. The way in which these hives may
be raised is, by driving pieces of stout wire as thick
as a pipe-stem, into the corners of the hives, so as to
leave just three-eighths of an inch of the pin projecting
from the wood. Theends of the pins should be filed off
smooth, or nearly so, that the weight of the hive may
bear alike on all corners, and not sink any one part into
the wood beyond another. These pins will support ten
times the weight of the hive, without sinking into the
bottom-board, if the ends be flattened.
The reason why such iron pins are recommended
is, that the smaller the pin, the less liability there is
of the moth-worm, that leaves the combs in the spring
of the year, to find a convenient place to wind
156 MINER'S AMERICAN
up in a cocoon, or return back to the combs, when
once precipitated upon the floor-board. If wooden
blocks should be used at the corners, these worms would
be more apt to run up into the hive again, by the way
of these blocks, than by the way of the iron pins; and
I have often found the moth-worm wound up in its co-
coon, in the corners made by such small blocks of wood,
say half an inch long and three-eighths of an inch thick,
being inserted under hives; yet such blocks may be
used when it is not convenient to get the pins. Even
nails or screws would do; yet I can recommend nothing
that makes an imperfect job. ,
The reader perceives a small orifice about two inches
long, and half an inch wide, in the centre of the bottom
of the lower section of the hive. This opening is ex-
pressly for use in cold weather, and in the spring and
summer, when the hive stands on its iron pins, or
wooden blocks, this opening is closed with a tin or zine
slide, perforated with holes to admit the air into the hive,
at certain seasons during the winter, when the bees are
to be shut in. This opening has a greater bearing on
the prosperity of the bees, than any one would imagine.
I would not do without it, or a substitute, for any con-
sideration ; since, from a misapplication of the uses of
this orifice, all other measures might fail to produce a
prosperous state of our apiaries. The value of this open-
ing will appear in the “winter management” of bees.
The reader may be at a loss to conceive how the bees
are to be shut in, with an opening all around the hive,
besides the aforesaid orifice. It is done as follows: four
BEE-KEEPER S MANUAL. 157
small holes are made in the floor-board to suit the size
of the pins at the comers, in such positions that the
whole four pins can at any time be lowered therein.
When this is done, the only place of ingress and egress
for the bees, is the small door-way, as seen in the cut,
and run the slide over this, through the wire staples
placed to receive it, and you have the bees imprisoned.
It is important to have an opening, with a slide per-
forated with holes, on both sides, that is, in the front
and in the rear of the hive; to admit a free circulation
of air under the bees in the winter. This is another
important principle of my management; but I must not
digress too far; you shall hear the whole in due time.
When small blotks are used instead of pins, the bee-
keeper has only to pull them out, let down his hive, close
the opening in front and rear, and the bees are shut in
as before.
We now come to the upper structure or super, and it
will be perceived, that a glass window is placed on one
side. This is placed in that position to save expense.
It would, perhaps, be a little better to place it in the
centre ; yet the joiner who made hives for me, informed
me, that a considerable time could be saved in placing the
windows in this position, with a sliding door torun ina
groove. The sliding door may be seen in the cut drawn
out. They who have but a few hives to make, would
not save much in this way; and I should recommend
the door to be placed in the centre, and hung with very
small butts. Indeed, this door may be altogether dis-
pensed with, by those who may so choose; yet these
158 MINERS AMERICAN
windows are important for other purposes besides look-
ing in to see the operations of the bees.
The foregoing remarks on the pins or supports of the
hive, as well as those on the glass-windows, are appli-
cable to every hive that I shall illustrate, except such as
are suspended, and which do not rest upon floor-boards.
CHAMBER-HIVE.
I here give a cut of a chamber-hive adapted to the
natural requirements of bees. The design and principle
are not new; but I have improved on the shape and di-
mensions. The main body is one foot square, in the
BEE-KEEPER 8 MANUAL. 159
clear; the same size as the preceding box-hive. The
chamber is eight inches deep, with a door hung on butts,
and shutting with a small hook and staple. A glass
window is shown in front, which may be omitted, if you
please, as before stated. Two boxes are made of very
thin boards, each with a pane of glass covering the
whole front, and let into a groove in the sides cut for
that purpose. There should be no bottoms to these
boxes, but they should rest on the floor of the chamber,
through which three inch and a quarter holes should be
made under each box. When filled with honey, a long
slender knife run under them, will easily detach such
portions of the combs, as may be built down in close
contact with the chamber floor or division board; and
when the boxes are taken out, the bees are much easier
driven out of them, than they could be, if they were
enclosed on every side. If the apiarian does not sell
any of his’ honey, it is preferable to have but one box to
fill the whole space, because bees will work better in a
single box, and lay up more honey, as a general rule,
than in two small ones.
The door to the chamber, and the glass window ap-
pear in this cut to be in front, yet you can have either
side to be the front, that you please. Both sides are
adapted to be the front, or the back of the hive.
This hive is made twenty-two inches high, and Sour-
teen inches broad. These dimensions allow one inch
for the top, one inch for the division-board or chamber-
floor, and two inchés for the thickness of two sides—
that is, one inch for each. The two sides of ‘full length
160 MINER'S AMERICAN
on either side of the chamber, are rabbeted out half an
inch, so as to admit the door of the chamber to shut
against the rabbet, making a better job.
The top of the hive should project all round, about
an inch or more.
This hive is made to be suspended, or to set down
upon a stand. There area couple of bars, about an inch
thick, placed on each side of the hive, near where the
division-board separates the lower from the upper sec-
tion, as may be seen in the engraving. These bars
should be screwed on ; yet, for a common hive, nailing
may do very well. The use of these bars is to support
the hive, when the apiarian wishes to suspend it, rather
than rest it on a floor-board, as the preceding cut repre-
sents.
This, as well as every other kind of hive that I shall
illustrate, when resting on a floor-board, should rest on
pins in the summer season; and in the winter season,
the bees should enter the small openings, in the front
and rear only, as directed in the case of the box-hive, in
the preceding cut ; and be subject to the same manage-
ment in every particular.
BEE-KEEPER S MANUAL. 161
SUSPENDED CHAMBER HIVES.
The above engraving represents a couple of chamber-
hives, suspended on arms nailed across joists, (timber, 3
by 4 in.) This mode of suspending hives is original ;
no one but myself ever adopting it, that I know of. I
have also shown in the next engraving, another mode of
suspending hives, of my own invention ; that, for some
reasons, is superior to this method.
The manner of suspending, on the above plan, is as
162 MINER'S AMERICAN
follows :—Take any timber, about three or four inches
thick, say 3 by 3, 8 by 4, or 4 by 4, and cut off pieces
six feet long ; such timber generally being about twelve
feet Iong, one strip makes two pieces. Then sink one
end in the ground, at least two feet, leaving the other
end four feet above the ground. Then nail a strip of an
inch board across the top of the post, as seen in the cut,
on the side of the post towards the hives, and even with
the top of it. Said cross-bar should be as small
as it can be, and be strong enough to support one-half
of a loaded hive, with a roof above, as will be shown.
It should be broader in the centre, and taper towards the
ends, as represented in the cut, in order to give greater
strength. The length of this cross-bar should be about
four inches longer than the width of two hives and the
post ; in order to allow the hives to stand off some two
inches from the post. When a post is thus set, and the
cross-bar adjusted, taking care to have the bar rest hori-
zontally, and also to have it face the exact direction that
the hive should front; then you have only to set a cor-
responding post directly in the rear of the front one,
supposing that to be the one first set into the ground,
and place your cross-bar thereon, as before directed, and
your stand is complete. You have, however this calcu-
lation to make, viz; the exact distance that the posts
should be set from each other, so that in sliding in the
hives, a close fit may be secured. Let us suppose that
our hives measure fourteen inches wide, then allowing
two inches for the two bars, it follows that the posts
should be sixteen inches apart. As the foregoing cut
BEE-KEEPERS MANUAL. 163
only shows the front view of the stand, only one post
appears ; the other must be imagined to stand directly
behind it.
. i
ROOF FOR SUSPENDED HIVES.
This cut represents a convenient roof for hives sus-
pended on the foregoing plan. That every bee-stand
should have protection from the scorching rays of the
sun, is evident to every apiarian. I will not discuss this
subject here ; but will simply show how to construct a
roof on the above plan, which | consider all that is ne-
cessary ; or rather that this answers the purpose, with a
little more attention on the part of the bee-keeper, of
more costly roofing. My object is to show how these
things may be done economically, as well as expensively.
According to the above cut, we take pine boards, one
inch thick, and fifteen or eighteen inches wide, cut them
in lengths.of four feet, then strap two of them together,
as seen in the cut; first, securing them from warping,
by cleats nailed across them, on the under side, with
wrought nails, and clinched. The ends of such cleats
may be seen in the cut. Thestraps that hold the boards
together at the top, may be stout leather, or butts, as the
apiarian may choose. When the roof is finished, some
blocks of wood may be placed on the top of each hive,
in order to give a slight inclination to the sides of the
roof; otherwise the two boards would rest horizontally
164 MINER'S AMERICAN
on the hives. If the hives front the south, this roof
should be drawn forward past the centre of them,
and thus shade the side that needs protection, while the
north side requires no shading. In the spring, when
all the heat that the sun produces is beneficial, the roof
may be moved back, so as to allow the sun to strike the
hives, with the full force of his rays.
This kind of roof will, perhaps, require some fasten-
ing as security against very high winds, when fences and
trees are prostrated. A strap, or strong cord secured to
each side, directly over the posts, and then brought down
and secured to the posts would be effectual. I would
recommend, that an auger-hole be made both through
the posts and the roof, when constructed for that pur-
pose.
I recommend the roof to be in portions of four feet,
for the reason, that such lengths are just sufficient for a
single stand of two hives; and such are removed with
more facility than longer portions. If there are only
two hives suspended, then, no longer roof can be conve-
niently used, nor is a longer one necessary ; but in case
that a half dozen stands are existing, then longer roofs
might be used, but not to advantage.
On this plan, a single hive cannot be suspended, since
it requires two to effect an equilibrium. When more
than one stand is erected, the adjoining ones should be
placed at such distance, that the hives can be easily put
in, and taken out, without coming in contact with the
hives in the neighboring stands. If, for instance, our hives
are fourteen inches wide, we should allow about sixteen
BEE-KEEPER'S MANUAL. 165
inches space between the ends of the cross-bars of tie
different stands ; thus affording facility for placing a hive
in position, or removing it to another location, at pleasure.
The timber used in the postsshould be equal in dura-
bility to chestnut, and chestnut joists 3 by 4, are the very
best that can be used. It is necessary to have body to
the timber below the ground ; but above it is not neces-
sary to be so strong. There is a way to economize, and
at the same time beautify these posts, as follows, viz :—
take a piece of 3 by 4 joist, eight feet long, and at a dis-
tance of two feet from the end, set in your saw obliquely
till you come to the centre of the stick; then running
the saw along through the centre four feet, you stop, and
on the opposite side to that, on which you commenced
sawing, you cut off the stick, thus giving two posts, six
feet long, each with a shoulder two feet in length of full
size, to be set into the ground, while the diminished por-
tions, four feet long, above the ground, are quite strong
enough, and much improved in beauty by the operation.
The end of one piece will have to be squared at the top,
in consequence of the necessity of cutting obliquely, to
get the saw into the centre of the stick. If the joists are
just twelve feet long, and by this operation the extra
four feet become useless, nothing is gained on the score
of economy ; yet something is gained in the looks of the
posts when erected. If joists can be obtained sixteen
feet long, then a saving may be made, or if the apiarian
chooses to lessen the height of his hives, perhaps three
feet above, and eighteen inches below the ground, would
answer; and in such a case posts only four feet six
166 MINER’S AMERICAN’
itiches, are required, and an ordinary joist, thirteen feet
long, would suffice for four posts.
It must not be supposed that this kind of bee-stand
is the most beautiful that can be devised. I am now
talking to the man of moderate views, who wishes a
snug, plain bee-stand, at a moderate cost ; yet as good
as the best in practical utility,
When I come to the gentleman of leisure, with a
purse ready to burst for the want of an ezit-vaive, I
shall then unfold a magnificent diorama to his view;
but here, among the plain every-day hives, I must stifle
the utterance of these sublime views, which are re-
served for those who enjoy their otiwm cum dignitate.
It may be thought by some apiarians, that stands or
posts, on the foregoing plan, bring the hives too close
This is not the case. The distance will be about eight
inches for the two hives occupying the same stand; and
the hives of the adjoining stands will be much farther off.
It is true, that bees do not thrive so well when placed in
hives on a stand close together; resting on a floor-board,
for the reason, that they are apt to run to and fro to
each other’s hives; but when the hives are suspended,
this difficulty is avoidedf and a bee is no more likely to
enter the adjoining hive in this case, than if it were ten
feet off.
There is a feature pertaining to hives suspended, not
belonging to those resting on floor-boards, it is this: the
alighting-boards for the bees to rest on, as they enter the
hives, are in the position of an inclined plane.
Here is a side view of a suspended hive, with the
BEE-KEEPER'S MANUAL. 167
floor-board suspended under the hive by little wire
hooks and staples. See the bees entering at the side.
They enter at every side, but much more in front than
elsewhere, because that part of the floor-board projects
two inches beyond the hive.
TTT |
A
i
It is not absolutely necessary that the bottom-board
should have an inclination from back to front in this
manner; yet it is better than to have it hanging hori-
zontally, for various reasons; one is, that it allows the
water that may beat in under the hives, in storms, to
easily run off; also any moisture from the interior of the
hive that may drip down, readily finds its way to the
ground. Again, any substances or insects that the bees
have.ta thryst from the hive, can be expelled with much
greater facility, since any one knows, that a great stone
168 MINER'S AMERICAN
may be rolled down hill, that cannot be moved on level
ground. The moth-worm, in the spring of the year, is
dragged out of the hive much easier, with floor-boards
on this plan. This inclination may be about an inch;
that is, take half an inch from the back of the hive, and
add it to the front. It is not best to have any projec-
tion except in front, as the suspension would thereby be
attended with more trouble. The sides and back of the
floor-board coming even or flush with the outer surface
of the hive, the wire hooks secure it in its proper posi-
tion much better than if it projected an inch or two all
round.
The winter management of such hives is precisely the
same, as I stated for hives resting on stationary floor-
boards; so far as closing up the entrance on all sides,
and compelling the bees to enter the narrow apperture
in front isconcerned. The method of closing the whole
general entrance around the hive must be different, of
course; yet the same narrow passage-way for use in
cold weather, is reserved in hives suspended, as well as
those not suspended. The manner of raising up the
bottom-boards in the fall, when cold windy weather sets
in, say in November, is by having two sets of staples,
one for lowering down and the other for raising up the
floor-board; or a projection of the floor-board in the
rear, may be left, so that by sliding it forward, it will
close itself; when a wooden button placed at the back
of the hive, near the centre of the bottom, may be turn-
ed on its pivot and hold the floor-board firm in its closed
BEE-KEEPER 8 MANUAL. 169
position. The distance that a floor-board is hung from
the hive is three-eighths of an inch, in all cases.
It will be observed, that in the foregoing cut of the sus-
pended hives, no door or window appears in front. In
this case, the door of the chamber is supposed to be on
the back of the hive, and that of the glass window below,
on the same side. If there be a passage-way back of
suspended hives, it is best to have these things in the
rear. For the use of the thorough, practical apiarian,
the glass windows in the body, or lower section of the
hive, are of little value; but for the amateur apiarian,
let them be inserted, if he is willing to pay for the extra
expense that it will incur, of about fifty cents each, or
perhaps less.
Every hive, whether suspended or otherwise, would
be benefitted by having a floor-board on the inclined-
plane principle; yet it is attended with some trouble
to have such, when the hives rest on a bench or stool.
I have, however, obviated that difficulty, in a new hive
that I have recently constructed, denominated the
“Equilateral Bee-Hive,” the engraving of which ap-
pears in this work. It is effected by beveling off the
floor-board on every side, forming a slight cone in the
centre, with the inclined sides diverging therefrom.
170 MINER'S AMERICAN
| ef
Hl | (F I
| ns il
IL
SECOND PLAN OF SUSPENDED HIVES.
I now introduce a second method of suspending hives,
which I consider preferable to the first, on some ac-
counts. On this plan, only three posts are used for sus-
pending two hives; whereas, on the other plan, four
are necessary. In this case, the bars that are attached
to the hives to support them, are placed on the sides,
instead of on the fronts and backs. Then correspond-
ing bars are nailed across the ends of the posts, even
with the tops of them, and of the same length and size
of the bars on the hives. The ends of these bars are
seen in the cut, as they appear when correctly adjusted.
The posts, on this plan, stand opposite the centres of the
hives; and the cross-bars on the posts being so placed that
an equal length projects on each side. The weight of
the hive, bears on the bars where-they are nailed to the
posts; or rather, the weight is equal on each side of the
BEE-KEEPER'S MANUAL. 171
fulcrum or centre, and the bars are able to sustain a
very great weight.
The remarks relative to posts, the hanging of the bot-
tom-boards on an inclined plane, the construction of a
roof, &c., are all applicable to these hives, as well as those
hung on the first-mentioned plan.
« the door to the chamber, and the glass window in
the lower section of the hive, here appear in front.
They can, as I before observed, be on either side; yet
I think hives have a better appearance to have them in
front.
It is desirable in erecting a bee-stand, to have as little
shelter for insects as possible, and here lies the advan-
tage of this stand, to some little extent, over the one first
named. Everything fits very closely in the above
method, affording less crevices for moth-millers, spiders,
&c., than the other mode. The difficulty in the first
case, merely lies in the necessity of the cross-bars being
much wider than those of the second case; and as the
posts will gradually work out of position, in a small de-
gree, openings between the said bars and the hives will
appear; and unless the apiarian uses a brush to clean
out these crevices quite often, they become filled with
spiders’ webs, and various insects that do no good to
the apiary ; yet with care on the part of the attentive
bee-keeper, there is nothing to fear. If a channel ap-
pears between the bars and the hives on the above plan
a brush-broom will clear out any insects that may get a
lodgment there very easily; but in the first case, there
172 MINER'S AMERICAN
is more difficulty in effecting a dislodgment in conse-
quence of the greater depth of the opening.
There is another method of suspending hives, quite
common. It consists in setting two parallel tiers of
posts in the ground, three in number, of such height as
may be desired; and then nailing long strips of boards,
three or four inches wide, and in length, say twelve feet,
if such length is desired. The posts are so arranged,
that when the boards are attached, the hives may be
slid in at the ends, and rest on the bars, as in the two
cases that I have adduced. The difficulty in this case
is, that when half a dozen hives are thus suspended, and
it becomes necessary to remove any but the two occu-
pying the ends of the stand, it cannot be easily done,
unless the bottom-boards are taken off, and the hives
raised up perpendicularly, which is not convenient.
Some persons may suppose that hives need not be re-
moved at all, at any time; yet such is not the case.
Hives should never be removed in the spring or sum-
mer season, unless an artificial swarm is to be made, or
some operation performed that is necessary ; and every
thorough, practical bee-keeper will often see the neces-
sity of removing his hives for such purposes occasion-
ally.
TOWNLY'S HIVE.
Mr. Edward Townly, of the city of New York, has,
during the last ten years, disposed of many hundreds of
his “ patent premium hives,” as I have been informed.
I have not thought it expedient to furnish an engraving
BEE-KEEPER 8 MANUAL. 173
of his hive ; for the reason, that they who have them in
use would not be benefitted thereby; and they who
have not used them, had better not see them. I under-
stand that Mr. Townly has recently removed to the
west, since the merits of his hives have become generally
understood in this vicinity. This is, indeed, strange!
Many a tyro in apiarian science will now seek to throw
away a V on a hive worse than useless, and will find no
one to accommodate him. But not so with our western
apiarians ; they will see hives paraded on the walks of
some western city, with tumblers nicely adjusted in the
chambers, a part filled with beautiful combs, and a part
unfilled, containing these words written thereon, “ Not
to be filled,” as if to show some mystic charm that keeps
the bees in abeyance ; filling such only as contain no
spell-bound mandate! But, alas! “Othello’s occupa-
tion’s gone.” The schoolmaster is abroad. Men’s
eyes are now open, and no longer can humbug stalk
among us without being denuded of its assumed qual-
ities.
In sober reality, I do not think Mr. Townly’s hives
of any value, except for kindling-wood. This language
may appear too severe; yet I but “speak the words of
truth with soberness.” If any gentleman would make me
a present of a dozen of these hives, and a ten dollar
bank bill with each, and bind me to use them in my
apiary, I would not accept of the donation.
After this exordium, I presume that the reader will
expect to hear my objections to these hives; and I will
state them as briefly as possible.
174 MINER'S AMERICAN
The dimensions of Townly’s hive are, for the lower
section, where the bees have their permanent abode, about
ten by fourteen inches ; and since I discussed the size of
hives in the Am. Agrt., in 1846-7, I learn that he has
constructed some of his hives nearer my size, about one
foot square. The chamber, or super, projects over the
main body of the hive, on every side, some three inches,
being raised to admit the boxes. It turns on hinges
placed on one side. The communication from the body
of the hive to the boxes in the super is by holes some-
what similar to my own method. At the botttom of the
hive is a screen made of wire, which is represented as
affording fresh air, and at the same time, protecting the
hive against the bee-moth. About an inch from the
bottom of the hive a tube is inserted, about six inches
long, with a bore about an inch and a half in diameter,
through which the bees enter and depart. Near the
top of the hive, in front, another similar tube is placed,
for the ingress and egress of the family.
Now, in the first place, if he still makes his hives 10
by 14 inches, as at first, 1 consider that size as entirely
too small. The solid contents of such a hive is much
less than a hive 12 by 12in., because the fourteen inches
is the depth, not the breadth of the hive. In the next
place, I condemn his wire screen as ruinous, rather than
beneficial, to the bees; at least, doing no good at all.
The only way to ventilate hives is by giving ingress and
egress on every side of the hive, as I have shown in the
suspended hives, before illustrated.
Again, the upper tube is downright ruin to any
BEE-KEEFER 'S MANUAL. 175
family of bees. On this principle, a current of air
is constantly passing up through the brood-combs,
where the bees are doing all that lies in their power
to get up a high degree of heat, in order to de-
velop the larve. If a man were to try his best to
invent something that would prove the most destructive to
bees, and he should produce a hive with a large tube, or
opening near the top of it, I should award him a pre-
mium for the bes? article offered, or that could be offered.
I could state many things pertaining to Townly’s hive
that I disapprove of, but it would be a waste of space
and time. There is nothing but the xovelty of it that
enables the patentee to sell them, and it only requires, to
have the merits of this invention fully understood, from
a few years actual use, to cause the proprietor to
vend them in parts unknown.
WEEKS’ VERMONT HIVES.
Mr. Weeks, of Vermont, has invented several hives in
his day, and he has also published a small work on the
honey-bee, and so, indeed, has Townly. Both of these
little works are of sterling merit, so far as they go; but
they are but introductions to the subject, and I am as-
tonished, that gentlemen having the means of unfolding
the interesting habits, economy, and management of
bees, should have stopped on the very threshhold of their
subject ; but so it is, and they stand not alone. Others
have done the same, and perhaps I am following them;
but I think the reader will, on wading through these
176 MINERS AMERICAN
pages, when he comes to “finis,” exclaim, “enough—
enough—I want no more.”
Mr. Weeks’ ‘hive, properly denominated the “ Ver-
mont Hive,” is on the same principle of my suspended
hives, as illustrated at page 167. The size and shape
of his hive is different, however, from mine. His bot-
tom-board is suspended by wire hooks and staples in the
same manner ds I have described. He also has a cham-
ber to his hive, in which two boxes are placed with
glass fronts, on my plan ; but in order to obtain a greater
surface for these supers, or boxes, and not destroy the
symmetry of the hive, he has (as J presume) given an in-
clination to the back of it. Here is a side view of one
of them.
i i
An
Mn
i
Now, this shape is not necessary at all; but if a man
expects to have his hives “ take” with the public, there
must be a mystery about them,—a grand secret, and a
novelty pertaining to them. Thus reason men of the
present day, in a great measure; yet, after all, “honesty
is the best policy.”
Mr. Weeks gives as a reason for having the back of
BEE-KBEPER S MANUAL. 177
his hive incline in the above manner, that it is
expressly to hold the combs up, and also to carry off the
sweatings, or drippings from the interior of the hive,
which sometimes occur. This inclination is of about
the same relative value as a fifth wheel to a wagon,—of
no use whatever. If Mr. Weeks’ hive has merits, it is
independent of this inclination; yet anything for nov-
elty! JI disapprove of the shape of Mr. Weeks’ hive,
and think the size of the lower section too large; beyond
these objections, it is very near what a hive ought to
be ; and it is far preferable to Townly’s hive; indeed, if
no worse hives than Weeks’ “ Vermont Hive,” is palmed
off on the public, we ought to think ourselves well off.
Mr. Weeks has also constructed another hive termed
the “ Non-Swarmer,” which is entirely too unwieldly,
and too costly for general use. We cannot afford to
employ engineers to work our hives; and I do hope, that
hive inventors will hereafter bear this in mind’ Let us
have something plain, simple, original, compact, and
economical, and then you'll go it.
The principle on which Mr. Weeks’ “ Non-Swarmer”
is based, is upon the principle of collateral hiving, or in
other words, the placing of boxes at the sides of the
main hive, instead of under, or on the top of it. He
also supers this hive, at the same time, and thus prevents
swarming.
I shall discuss the relative merits, of collateral hiving,
nadiring, and supering, in a chapter devoted to that sub-
ject.
It is hardly worth my while to comment on the merits
178 MINER'S AMERICAN
of every hive that has had its brief existence, since [
know of none, that is of any particular value.
COLTON’S HIVE.
A Mr. Colton has invented a hive, that I saw repre-
sented in the Albany Cultivator. How far this hive has
been introduced, I am unable to say ; but it cannot be
of any real, practical utility. The principle on which it
is constructed is something like this :—
The main body of the hive is of a triangular form;
with one of its sides horizontal with the ground. On
each side of the angle, are placed three boxes, in posi-
tions somewhat like the steps of stairs, each with its com-
munication with the main hive. These boxes, which must,
of course, be small, constitute the supers of the hive,
and if the bees would fill all of them annually, it would
be a very profitable hive ; but this they will not do. I
speak from a knowledge of what a family of bees ordi-
narily can perform, and if I should be shown a hive with
double the room in the chamber, that a stock of bees can
generally fill, I should condemn it as impracticable, how-
ever much to the contrary the inventor might assert.
GAYLORD AND TUCKER'S HIVE.
This is a hive invented by a gentleman residing at
Poughkeepsie, or somewhere up the North River, if I
mistake not. It is on the “subtended” principle, of
placing boxes over each other. I have only to remark,
in regard to this, as well as all other hives on this prin-
ciple, that if it be intended to transfer the bees from old
BEE-KEEPER'S MANUAL. 179
to new combs, in the manner as shown at page 142, then
they will prove a failure, if the most of them have not
“ blown up” already.
There is another style of hive in use, to a considera-
ble extent, that has no principle that is particularly at
variance with my chamber-hive, represented at page 158,
except the floor-board has a double inclination. It is
done thus: the bottom of the hive is level ; that is, hav-
ing no inclination from back to front.
The bottom-board, or boards, are then placed with an
inclination from the centre of the hive, about two or
three inches from the bottom, towards each side; so
that when the hive is viewed with the floor-boards in
their places, two of them appear; one projecting in
front some two inches, and slanting up into the hive to
near its centre, from front to rear, and as I before
stated, about three inches from the bottom of the hive ;
then, another projecting in the rear, or on the back of
the hive, having the same inclination upward as the
other. This description is given from a hasty exami-
nation, and I may possibly not be correct, as regard dis-
tances ; but the general features of the alighting-board,
I think, are as above represented. This hive is termed
a “patent hive,” in the section of country where I saw
itin use. I infer, that some one, desirous of “ raising
the wind,” by introducing a hive with some new “ gim-
crack” about it, that would look mysterious and novel,
has taken the common chamber-hive, that is public pro-
perty, and open for any man’s use, and attached this
180 MIUVER’S AMERICAN
humbug of a bottom-board, to make it “take” with the
public !
STRAW HIVES.
Straw hives are not much used in this country ; and
they never would have been made in any country, but
for their cheapness. The peasantry of Europe, who are
not able to furnish their apiaries with wooden hives, still
continue in the use of those made of straw. I consider
this kind of hive as wholly unfit for the use of people
who live in a land of plenty, and who are able to make
wooden ones at a rate but a little dearer than those made
of straw. Straw hives are only worthy of a state of
abject poverty, and I hope that I shall never see one in
use in this land of milk and honey, where every man
can sit down to his “roast beef and plum pudding,” and
go to bed with his pockets jingling with “ mint drops.”
LOG HIVES.
Every one, I presume, has seen hives made from hol-
low trees, by cutting off the log of a suitable length, and
then nailing a board on the opening at the top. This is
a much better hive than those made of straw. These
log-hives are called “gums,” in some parts of the coun-
try. I recommend this kind of hive to those who wish
to keep bees without any expense whatever. There is no
principle of the habits and economy of the bee, that
conflicts with log-hives ; yet when boards are as cheap
as they are, in those sections of the country that abound
=f]
il
|
il
i
i
ij
|
i
‘a eS
we 2 Se eS
182 MINER'S AMERICAN
size of hives, I have demonstrated certain requisites, that
every hive should possess.
Firstly, hives should be of such a size as nature will
admit the bees to keep full, and yet have room enough
to perform every ramification of their labors to the best
advantage.
Secondly, facility to be afforded the bees in ascending
to the supers. If we have long and narrow hives, the
bees find much more difficulty in forcing their way
loaded, through a long space crowded with bees, than
they would through a less space. This is so reasonable,
that the mere avowal of it is convincing ; consequently,
we must give a more compact form to our hives, and
shorten the distance to the supers as much possible, and
not interfere with any other principle of management.
Thirdly, the supers should be so arranged, that the
honey stored therein, may be taken with the greatest
possible facility. Every apiarian is aware, that most of
the hives now in use, do not offer the facility of perform-
ing this operation, that is desirable. It is true, that with
a bee-dress, the removal of the boxes is not attended
with any particular trouble, unless it be in the chamber-
hives, where the boxes are a tight fit, and are hard to
loosen from their positions ; but everything should be so
arranged, that the bees will receive little or no disturb-
ance. It is not the mere operation of removing supers,
at the time that it is being performed, that we should look
to. If we irritate the bees, they will not forget it for
several days ; and when we do not expect it, one may
plant its sting in our face; saying, as it were, “there,
BEE-KEEPER S MANUAL. 183
take that, for the way you jammed and knocked us about
the other day.”
In my saumareray uive, I have effected all that I
think can be done, in the way of improvement in respect
to the foregoing considerations. The easy manner in
which the boxes in the upper section may be removed,
when filled with bees, and the communication shut off
with the family below, by a simple and beautiful contri-
vance, are very prominent features of its merits. I
offer no novelty!—no grand discovery !—no wonder-
ful invention, that allows the bees to produce great and
unprecedented harvests of surplus honey! But I claim
to have simplified, and divested the management of bees
of its complexity, and rendered the business easy to the
inexperienced apiarian.
Connected with the foregoing important results, I have
beautified the general appearance of my hive, so as to
render it an ornament, at the same time that its utility
is admitted, and not increase the expense of making it
to any amount worth taking into consideration.
The foregoing cut gives a tolerably correct view of
one style of ornamenting; but I have another hive that
I think surpasses this in beauty; that is, the ornamental
portion, but the size and shape are the same as that re-
presented by the cut. On either of these two hives, a
handsome wooden urn may be placed, if desired, which
will greatly improve their appearance.
This kind of hive may be made without any glass
windows, and thereby lessen the expense somewhat, but
gentlemen wishing but a few hives, should not stand for
184 MINER'S AMERICAN
the extra trifle that it will cost to have the windows
made.
The cost of making my ornamental hives is no more
than the common chamber hive; and the difference in
appearance is very great. Nothing could exceed the
beauty of a row of these hives handsomely arranged
on a well-made platform, or on stools suitably con-
structed, and with a tasty roof to protect them from the
heat of the sun at noonday, which is all that hives re-
quire. Iam strongly opposed to close bee-houses, as
the reader will learn by my remarks on that point here-
after. . sas
_ My equilateral hive is intended to rest on a floor-
board, beveled on its sides as before alluded to, and pro-
jecting two or three inches all round the hive. The
small entrance for the bees seen in front,-is for use in
winter, and during cold spring weather. In the sum-
mer, the hive rests on four small pinions or legs, three-
eighths of an inch high, as represented in describing the
box-hive at page 153. When it is necessary to lower
down the hive, the legs are let into small holes in the
floor-board made expressly to receive them, and very
near to the position of them, when the hive is raised up
as it stands during the summer.
The full particulars of every part of this hive cannot
be given here, and do justice to myself. It is a true
saying, that “the laborer is worthy of his hire.” The
production of this hive has caused me much mental
labor, and I think that I am justly entitled to reap the
BER-KEEPER’S MANUAL. 185
benefit, to a trifling extent, that will result to the public
from its adoption.
I intend to offer this hive for sale at a very moderate
rate: and also to furnish full and complete drawings of
every part thereof, to gentlemen residing at a distance,
or otherwise, accompanied by a neat pamphlet, giving
the most ample details in regard t6 every thing con-
nected with it, or pertaining to its construction ; as well
as the proper management of bees in this kind of hive—
all for the reasonable sum of two dollars, which will
entitle the applicant to make as many hives as he may
require for his own use. As this book will exist, when
the author has past to “that bourne whence no traveller
returns,” the above remarks apply no longer than it may
please God to spare his life. An advertisement wil
probably accompany each edition of this work, rela-
tive to furnishing the before-named hive, or the engra-
vings, &c., which may be found at the sequel of the
treatise. . .
.
COLLATERAL HIVING, ETC,
~
Besides supering and nadiring, there is yet another
method of obtaining the surplus honey gathered, termed
collateral hiving. This system consists in placing boxes
at the sides of the hives, instead of over or under them.
The following cut represents a couple of boxes on this
plan.
186 MINER'S AMERICAN
In one of the above boxes the family of bees is sup-
posed to be permanent residents; and if success is to
crown the efforts of the owner, as I view the subject,
the box where the bees pass the winter, should be a
foot square, or near it. Some apiarians think, that a
certain number of inches in width will cause the bees
to construct a certain number of combs; that is, a box
twelve and a half inches square will admit of nine combs
being made, whereas, one twelve inches square will only
afford room for eight leaves. According to the width
of brood-combs, and the interstices between, there is an
abundance of space in a box one foot square, to con-
struct nine combs; but the bees will only make eight,
because the outside leaves are generally store-combs,
and thicker than those built expressly to rear the larve
in. No more than eight combs, as a general rule, would
be built if the other half inch were added. I havea
remedy for this difficulty, which will appear hereafter.
The English method of collateral hiving on the above
plan, is to have two boxes about ten inches square, and
to be put together with hinges on one side; and when
closed, secure them by a hook and staple. The com-
BEE-KEEPER'S MANUAL. 187
munication from one box to the other, is by two or three
such horizontal openings as appear in the cut, besides
that at the bottom. The sides of the hives that come in
contact, are but half an inch thick, instead of one inch,
the thickness of the other portions of them. The covers
or tops, are screwed on, and the loose bars are used as
represented in the cross-bar hive at page 188. When
the honey is taken from the collateral box, the lid is
taken off, and the leaves of combs extracted, when the
bees return to the original box.
RELATIVE MERITS OF SUPERING, ETC.
The foregoing plan of obtaining the surplus honey
bears no comparison to supering or placing the box over
that occupied by the family. There is not a solitary
feature pertaining to it, that recommends its adoption.
The hives take up double the usual room;-and the
quality of the honey is inferior to that stored in supers,
being subject to much more bee-bread and larve, and
besides this, the bees will not produce as much honey
and wax on this plan, as when supered or nadired.
There is no plan equal to supering, when we take
everything into consideration. , The queen seldom as-
cends ; but she will go into collateral hives, and into
those placed under her domicil, and absolutely destroy
the honey with her brood, so far as a ready sale or the
beauty of its appearance is concerned.
There are instances in which the bees seem to dis-
relish ascending into supers, even when there is no lack
of numbers; and the same is the case with collateral
188 MINER'S AMERICAN
boxes and hives placed under the family; but there is
generally a good reason for their not entering and work-
ing in wax, that our eyes are closed to. In all cases of
supering, one or two guide-combs should be secured to
the top of the boxes, at the sides, and in the natural po-
sition. By this course, the bees are attracted to the
boxes sooner than if no guide-combs were inserted. I
do not wish to be understood, that guide-combs are ab-
solutely necessary ; because the bees will work in the
supers, whether there be any such combs or not; pro-
vided there be a supernumerary portion of workers
existing ; yet they are inclined to commence their labors
as I before observed, somewhat earlier with them.
|
COLLATERAL HIVES JOINED.
When the two boxes are closed, they present the
above appearance, with the exception, that no hook in
front is here shown to hold them together.
If any of my readers should feel inclined to try this sys-
tem, since there is nothing like learning by experience,
I would recommend that the boxes be secured together
wholly by hooks and staples ; say, one on top, and one
on each side, at the centre. Have nothing to do with
BEE-KEEPER'S MANUAL. 189
cross-bars; but when you take away the honey, separate
the boxes a few inches, during 24 hours, and the most of
the bees will return to the old combs; unless there be a
large quantity of larvee among the new ones.
If it be found that the bees do not desert the new
combs at all, perhaps the queen may be among them, in
which case, she would draw a portion, if not all of the
bees in the other box after her, as soon as they might
become aware of their isolation. A very good way is
to cause a commotion among the tenants of both boxes,
by shaking or beating the hives, when the separation |
takes place ; and the bees will at once, from instinct,
endeavor to ascertain whether the queen be safe, and
among them, and the box that does not contain her will
be certain to be evacuated in a great degree; and
wholly, if there be no larve therein.
BEES REMAINING IN COLLATERAL BOXES—HOW GOT
RID OF, ETC.
When a few hundred bees remain among the combs
of a collateral box, they may be so frightened, as to be
rendered perfectly harmless. All you have to do, is to
beat the box well with a rod; and every comb may be
cut out with the greatest facility ; and as each comb is
withdrawn, brush off the bees with some soft brush,
which should be kept for the use of the apiary. An or-
dinary window brush, with a handle a foot or eighteen
inches long, is what is wanted.
190 MINER'S AMERICAN
CASE IN WHICH A TRANSFER FROM OLD TO NEW COMBS
MAY BE EFFECTED.
If it should happen, that the new combsin a collateral
box, or even in any other, whether placed above or be-
low, should be regularly constructed ; that is, such as are
used for brood-combs only, and devoid of those ill-
shapen, thick store-combs, that generally occupy all
extra room afforded the bees, in such a case, it would be
safe to effect a transfer from old to new combs, on the
“subtended” plan, which I so emphatically condemn.
There is no general rule without its exceptions; and
cases may occur in which a transfer may be safely made,
if it be done in a manner that will not endanger the
safety of the queen. The regular drone-cells would be
lacking, but the bees would change, or cut down a por-
tion of the store-cells, for the production of drones in the
following spring. Ido not wish to be understood as fa-
voring this system at all, except in cases where we know
that no injurious consequences can arise, which are not
likely to occur.
ONLY ONE SUPER TO BE PUT ON AT A TIME.
In placing hives over each other, it is best to place
but one super at a time, and when that is filled, place
another box in its position, and raise the first one over
it. The bees, in this case, having filled the upper one,
and that box probably containing some larve, they will
still adhere to it to some extent; and the spare room,
being afforded between two bodies of bees, is sooner oc-
BEE-KEEPER’S MANUAL. 191
cupied than when placed over all, or when the first box
-is removed away, and the second occupying its position,
with nothing above it.
BOXES IN CHAMBERS NOT LIKELY TO BE FILLED TWICE.
I would also observe, that in placing boxes in the
chambers of hives of a small size, it is not advisable to
place any dependence on having them filled twice or
three times the same season, as some apiarians assert ;
because the bees manifest a dislike to commence labors
anew, when they are robbed of their treasure. The
safest way is to give them all the space that they can
probably fill at first, and not disturb them at all, until the
season of general deprivation. Bees will, however
often fill two sets of small boxes in a good season; but
it is bad policy to trust to their doing so.
TIME TO TAKE AWAY SUPERS.
The question may here arise, at what time should the
supers be taken off? It depends, to some extent, upon
the nature of the bee-pasturage in the vicinity of the
apiary ; that is, the main reliance of the bees for their
gatherings. If it be white clover mainly, the first of
August is the proper time; or perhaps at any time du-
ring that month. If the supers be left until September
or October, the combs are apt to become blackened, in
consequence of the bees constantly passing over them.
There are instances often, when the boxes in chambers
may be removed in June; and where the boxes are
found perfectly filled, and the cells sealed over, it
192 MINER'S AMERICAN
is as well to remove them at once, and substitute
others with a guide-comb, and if you get another har-
vest, very well; if not, no harm is done.
The honey, if left in boxes, should be covered with
paper, or cloths, perfectly tight, in order to keep out in-
sects. If the boxes be intended for market, bottoms
should be made for them, and laid aside, and put on
when the supers are withdrawn from the chambers, after
driving out the bees.
HOW TO DRIVE BEES FROM THE BOXES, ETC.
You would, perhaps, like to know how to get the bees
out of the boxes with the least trouble. In order to dis-
turb the family as little as possible, carry your boxes to
any dark place, where the bees can find their way out,
by a little light being admitted near them, and in the
course of the day the most of the bees will have depart-
ed, and returned home. Care must be taken not to
leave the boxes where other bees will scent them out,
and be attracted to them; unless you wish to divide
pretty freely with them. You can, if you please, drive
out the bees at once, with a rod which should be applied
pretty freely to the sides of the boxes, with the open bot-
toms upwards. This way requires a person to be well
protected by a bee-dress ; but it makes the bees more
irritable than the other method. In taking out the
boxes, the greatest care should be observed to not crush
many bees, as this arouses their anger to its greatest
height.
BEE-KEEPER 8 MANUAL. 193
OBSERVATORY HIVE.
Every apiarian who has leisure to study the habits
and economy of the bee, should have one observatory
hive; that is, a hive with only a single comb, of suffi-
cient magnitude to afford space for the entire operations
of a moderate-sized family. This hive, of course, must
be very narrow, merely affording the necessary room to
build one comb, and that must be brood-comb; and
allow space on each side for the bees to labor, but not
to cluster thickly.
The ordinary width of a brood-comb is about an inch,
and the bees require at least three-eighths of an inch
space on each side; consequently, the distance between
the glass sides should be, say, one inch and three quar-
ters. One and five-eighths inch wide will do very well,
and perhaps just as well as to add the other eighth of an
inch; yet I think the safest way would be, to make the
width as I first stated; because, if the bees should be
pressed into too close quarters, it would, perhaps, affect
their regular labors materially.
The area of the sides of such a hive should be, at
least, two feet long, and eighteen inches high; but a
single comb of such large dimensions, would require a
support in the centre of the hive. Here is a cut show-
ing the form of such a hive, with cross-bars through the
centre both ways, as a support to the combs.
194 MINER'S AMERICAN
Sey
Hl] Ressesssy
REY
%
-orestaags
SESS
RN
Ee ||
SESSA
These bars should be about one inch wide and half
an inch thick, supporting each other in the middle, at
the junction. This size would simply occupy the same
space in width that the combs will; consequently, the
bees will have perfect freedom in passing over any part
of the interior of the hive.
The above cut represents the comb in progress of
construction in each division of the hive. The bees
will often do this in this manner, when unable to work
to advantage at a single point. They will even work
upwards, when no other means affords labor to the
whole of the family. Here isa cut showing the manner
in which they work upwards and downwards at the same
time.
ETAT
Say”
ESS
eS
The cross-bars in these two cases afford them an op-
portunity of working upwards and downwards; when,
if no bars were inserted, the bees would be compelled
to work from the top only, since the distance from the
roof to the floor, would deter them from commencing at
BEE-KEEPER S MANUAL. 195
the bottom. So perfect is the skill and architecture of
this insect, that the parts of combs are united at the
apex of each, with such astonishing workmanship, that
it is impossible to perceive where the union takes place,
or any difference from a comb worked down entirely in
the usual way.
In fitting in the cross-bars, care should be taken to
have, at least, three-eighths of an inch space between
the edges of them and the glass sides of the hive; since
a less space than that would, not give the bees a pas-
sage-way of sufficient diameter.
From this kind of hive, piéces of brood-comb may be
easily taken, when larve are wanted to form artificial
swarms, or for the purpose of replacing a lost queen.
In order to obtain easy access to the combs, the glass
sides should be hung on hinges, so as to be opened at
any time, and admit the apiarian to perform any opera-
tion within, that he may choose. The glass sides or
windows should be divided in the centre, and open each
way, or right and left. Here is an engraving of one side
of the hive, with the two glass doors closed.
The doors should be hung with small butt-hinges on
each side, being secured in their places when closed, by
196 MINER'S AMERICAN
a wooden or brass button in the centre of the upright
standard, against which, in a rabbet made for that pur-
pose, they close. The glass doors will each contain a
pane of glass about one foot wide and 18 inches long,
allowing that the inside of the hive measures two feet
by 18 inches, as it should measure. The frames for the
doors may sink into a rabbet, planed out of the main
frame of the hive, and thus admit of glass being used in
them, of such size as to cover almost the entire surface
of the hive. The frames for these doors should be as
light as possible, and be durable and firm.
Outside of the glass doors, are to be a couple of close
shutters; since the bees will not carry on their labors
when exposed to the light, for any considerable length
of time. The outer doors are to be hung with butts,
also, and they should sink into a rabbet in the frame,
exterior to that made for the inner doors. The frame
for the body of the hive should be made of inch and a
quarter plank, pine if you please; and every joiner can
make his own calculation, relative to the proper width
and thickness, to render the whole substantial, when
finished. The diameter between the two glass doors, is
to be one inch and three-quarters. This is a “fixed
fact,” we will suppose. The frames for said doors need
not be over half an inch thick, and the glass can be
secured in the frame, and be flush, or even with the in-
side thereof. The outside doors need not be over half
an inch thick also, with clamps nailed across the ends,
to keep them from warping. Now we have one and
three-quarters inches to begin with, for the diameter of
BEE-KEEPER'S MANUAL. 197
the inside, half an inch for each door, and being two on
each side, make three and three-quarters inches, as the
whole diameter of the frame, allowing that all the doors
are sunk into rabbets equal to their several thicknesses.
A joiner must be dull indeed, who cannot now make the
frame-work of an observatory hive, from the foregoing
illustrations.
The outside doors, when closed, may be secured in
their places by a button at the top, on the frame of the
hive.
In the foregoing cut, the outside doors are shown as
being thrown open.
After this observatory hive is made as already de-
fined, the question arises, how is it to be supported in
its upright position? This is very easy to perform.
Take a board, say two and a half feet long and eighteen
inches wide; plane and smooth it nicely; nail, if you
please clamps across each end, to prevent its warping ;
then attach it to the under side of the frame of the hive
with screws, having the frame in the centre of the board,
lengthwise. The board may be'narrower or wider than
the before-named diameter; but it should be of such
width as to prevent the hive from falling over. This
kind of hive should be placed entirely under cover, be-
yond the reach of rains and the rays of the sun, during
the heat of the day.
There is yet another important consideration before
we finish with this hive. We have it finished except
the entrance for the bees, and that is quite neeessary.
The- places of ingress and egress may be made by cut-
198 MINER'S AMERICAN
ting out an apperture from the lower section of the
frame, under the two doors. This passage may be six
inches long and half an inch deep, on each side of the
hive; thus affording the bees the facility of passing out
in two directions.
The object of a hive of this character is, to witness
the operations of the different classes of bees,—to see
how the workers discharge their burdens—how the lar-
ve are fed, if you can—how the queen is treated by
drones and workers—how she deposits her eggs—her
treatment of young princesses, when sacrificed by her-—
her power to excite the bees to swarm, and many other
interesting developments of deep interest to the scien-
tific apiarian.
HUBER’S OBSERVATORY HIVE.
Huber constructed an observatory hive, consisting of
eight frames, hung on butt-hinges, and secured by hooks
and eyes when closed. There were glass windows in
the outside frames only. When he wished to witness
the labors of the bees in the interior of the hive, he
opened the leaves as we would those of a book. The
bees having become accustomed to have their hive
opened in this manner, were not annoyed by the opera-
tion. In opening the leaves of such a hive, the opera-
tor must be very steady in all his movements, as sudden
jars tend more to arouse a family of bees, than any other
interference with them. A hive full of bees to its great-
est capacity, may, at any time, be turned over carefully
and set down on its top, without any protection to the
BEE-KEEPER S MANUAL. 199
operator ; provided, that the hive receives no jar in the
operation. The setting down of the hive on its top,
must be done in so careful a manner, that the bees will
not feel the force of it. Let but a slight mishap occur
from inattention on the part of the apiarian, and a hun-
dred bees will dart at his face and show him no mercy.
The success of all operations with bees rests on the use
of asteady hand. Not the least attention should be
paid to their attacks upon you, when you are perfectly
protected; and you should never attempt to do any act
pertaining to them, involving the least liability of being
stung, without full protection to every exposed part of
your person. Running and dodging to get out of the
way of bees, is but an incentive to still further attacks
from them.
I have not considered it expedient to give a cut of
Huber’s leaf hive, for the reason, that I do not believe
that any of my readers would ever attempt to construct
one of the kind. It is expensive, cumbrous and useless ;
since all that we desire to see may be witnessed by the
use of the single leaf hive, that I have described.
In the use of my leaf hive as before described, there
may be some difficulty in getting a swarm toenter, pro-
vided the bee-keeper has had no experience in this busi-
ness. A large swarm should never be selected for a
leaf hive. The opening for the bees to enter on each
side, should be much larger than those that I have dis-
cribed for other hives, to be used in winter, in order to
afford the greater facility to the swarm in entering the
hive. These openings may be cut on a bevel, sloping
200 MINER'S AMERICAN
down -to the board upon which the frame stands. If the
apiarian choose, he may make any openings for the
swarm to enter, that his own judgment may suggest ;
for instance, holes may be bored an inch in diameter in
the end pieces of the frame, and near the floor of the
hive, and when the bees are hived, they can be plugged
up or left open. I should leave them open in very warm
weather. If it be found that the bees will not readily
enter, one door may be opened a few inches, and a cloth
thrown over the hive, to extend down to within an inch
or two of the bottom; then the bees will enter, and at
evening when they are fully clustered within, the door
may be closed. Perhaps the door may have to be closed
by degrees, say partly at evening and fully in the morn-
ing, in consequence of a portion of the bees clustering
along the rabbet, into which the door closes.
There are many things pertaining to the management
of bees, that must ever be treated according to the best
of the apiarian’s judgment. Every case that may come
within the scope of his experience, cannot be anticipated
in any work on this subject; therefore, if any one
should, at any time, find himself in a dilemma in his
management of this insect, and find no especial rule in
this Manvau for his guidance, let him use the best of
his judgment, according to the general principles here
laid down. I do not think that anything of a serious
nature will ever occur to any one engaged in the cul-
ture of the bee, from which I shall be accused of with-
holding information, that I ought to have given to the
public. That I shall omit some things that would be
BEE-KEEPER 8 MANUAL. 201
well to insert, I have no doubt. Indeed, to write a work
of this character, and not do so, would be beyond the
power of man.
Here is something in point. I came very near for-
getting to inform you, that before you place a swarm in
your observatory hive, you should attach two or three
pieces of guide-comb to the roof of the hive. Take the
tips or edges of any new comb that you can obtain ;
say pieces two or three inches long, by an inch or more
wide; cut them off evenly and smoothly, with a sharp
carving-knife; and then, with the aid of a little melted
bees-wax, attach them in the centre of the upper section
of the frame or roof of the hive. Perhaps I may as well
inform you at this place, how to melt the bees-wax in
the best manner, and how to attach the comb.
In the first place, you want a little tin pan about six
inches long, and three or four inches wide, and one inch
deep. Place your bees-wax into this pan and melt it;
then take a small brush, about as large around as a pipe-
bow] and lay some of the melted wax, as quickly as pos-
sible, upon the place where your piece of comb is to be
attached ; and before the wax thus laid on has time
to cool, you should dip that edge of the piece of comb
to be secured in position, into the pan as quickly as
possible, taking it out quickly to prevent its melting, and
as soon as a coating of wax is obtained, then join it to
that laid on the roof of the hive, taking particular care
not to move the comb in the least, after its first adjust-
ment. This whole operation must be done with a dex-
trous hand, while the wax is yet pliable, on the roof, as
202 MINER'S AMERICAN
well as on the comb to be attached. The first trial will
prove a failure with the amateur apiarian, I have no
doubt. With old combs, the difficulty of attaching is
not so great as with new combs, that are tender and
brittle. New combs will melt, when put into the hot
wax, very easily; and it requires considerable skill to
perform the operation successfully. When the piece of
comb is attached in its position, which must be in pre-
cisely the same place that the bees require it, always
giving about half an inch space on either side for the
bees to pass over, then it may be necessary to give it
further security, since the weight of the cluster of bees
will often disconnect it, when we think it perfectly firm
in its attachment. The further security may be given
by dipping the brush into the melted wax, and rubbing
a little on at the ends of the combs, which being pressed
firmly by the thumb in connection with a few of the
end cells, the whole, when cooled, will afford perfect
security.
The brush that I use, is a small paint-brush, but any
one can make a brush with bristles or hair, to answer
the purpose. When no brush is at hand, a swab made
by tying a rag on the end of a stick will do in the place
of something better ; but here I am doing wrong to ini-
tiate the apiarian into habits of carelessness, in not hav-
ing such things at hand, as he should have, in order to
operate with facility and success. I condemn half-way
work ; and a man that feels interest enough in bees to
purchase a swarm, should feel interest enough in their
proper management, to have such things as are neces-
9*
BEE-KEEPER’S MANUAL. 203
sary, to carry that management into successful opera-
tion, when the cost and trouble of obtaining them is not
of the least account.
EUROPEAN HIVES.
The majority of bee-keepers of the old world still use
the common straw hive, in consequence of its cheap-
ness, or from prejudice. I say the majority—this in-
cludes the cottagers, who compose a majority of those
who keep bees in the old world. The hives used by
the many scientific apiarians of England, France and
Germany, are mostly of wood, and of every shape and
size that can be imagined. The box-hives, as repre-
sented at page 141, are in use to a considerable exent—
that is, the same principle ; but no two bee-keepers unite
on the same dimensions! Huish adheres to straw hives
still, with a cover on top to be raised, and having cross-
bars to his hives, as represented at page 138; he cuts
out one or two leaves or combs when the bees can spare
them, and inthis manner takes all the surplus honey
that the bees can afford. I consider this method unwor-
thy of notice, except to show the folly of men at this late
day, in thus adhering to a custom that is founded in
ignorance and prejudice.
Of all the various styles of hives used in England, and
on the continent, I find none that I can recommend to
the bee-keeping community. There is the same de-
sire for experiment and novelty exhibited there, that
is manifested here. Occasionally a hive is brought
forth as doing wonders; but a few years’ experience
204 MINER'S AMERICAN
consigns it to oblivion. Thesame spirit is extant there,
that in our own country cries “vive le bagatelle;’ and
inventors are never at a loss to find a public to fleece of
their loose cash, in exchange for hives, not worth the
nails that hold them together.
POLISH HIVES.
As a matter of curiosity, I will give a brief descrip-
tion of the kind of hive used in Russia, Poland, and
other adjacent countries. It is made of staves like a
churn, being largest at the base. Its length is about two
feet, and its breadth at the base about 15 inches. The
staves are thick and clumsy, and the dimensions inside
are not much over ordinary box-hives. The upper half
of the hive is wound closely with rope; in order to pro-
tect it from the heat of the sun and from dampness. A
board closes the opening at the top. In the fall of the
year, the cutting out of a portion of combs takes place,
according to the productiveness of the season. A stave
is removed which does not extend beyond the lower
coil of rope, and the cottager, with knife in hand, and
smoke apparatus convenient, commences operations.
When the bees come out rather furiously, a whiff of
smoke drives them in again, and in this manner he takes
away as much honey as he thinks can be safely spared,
and have enough for winter use; and this method is
considered the acme of perfection.
DIRECTIONS FOR MAKING HIVES.
Good, sound inch, pine boards, thoroughly seasoned,
BEE-KEEPER S MANUAL. 205
are suitable for bee-hives. Some recommend inch and *
a quarter plank; but such are not necessary. In south-
ern latitudes, the hives will require being better secured
from the heat of the sun, than at the north; but no dif-
ference in the material for their manufacture is required.
It is true, that plank will make a better hive than boards;
yet, as a general rule, boards must be used, since plank
do not come of a proper width in all cases ; and, besides
that. objection, they are dearer than boards. Plank
makes a heavy, clumsy hive, and they are objectionable
on that point. Nothing less than boards full one inch
thick, will answer ; or rather, boards of a less thickness
should never be used, because the different changes of
heat and cold would affect the bees much more in hives
made of thiner ones.
There has been some controversy in regard to the
best material for the construction of hives. Some apia-
rians have recommended one kind and some another
kind of boards for their manufacture ; but after all, the
grand secret of success in bee-culture lies not in the
wood of which the hives are made. Dr. Smith, of Bos-
ton, an apiarian of considerable celebrity, strongly
recommends red cedar for the especial purpose of keep-
ing out the bee-moth. I have no doubt of red cedar
being an excellent material to make hives of; and were
it as plenty and as cheap as white pine lumber, I should
say, use it by all means. In regard to its keeping out
the moths, I do not believe any such thing. I believe,
that if any wood possess an odor so offensive as to pre-
206 MINER'S AMERICAN
vent a bee-moth from entering a hive, the same odor
will drive away every bee also.
DIRECTIONS TO THE JOINER.
The joiner, in constructing the hives, should be very
particular to have close joints; as every open joint will
be filled by the bees with propolis, at a great expense of
their valuable time. The nailing of the hives should be
particularly attended to, as they are liable to spring open
after being exposed to the weather a few months. No-
thing less than tenpenny nails will answer the purpose;
and then, some of them should be driven obliquely, or
what the joiner calls toed, which will prevent the joints
opening. The safest way, however, is to haive out, or
rabbet the edges of the boards, so that when put together,
they may be nailed both ways. .
The doors to the windows should be beveled on every
side, except where they are hung; and the door-way of
the hive should have a corresponding bevel. This pre-
vents open joints, and the doors not closing in damp
weather. Every door should be clamped at each end,
to prevent warping, and so should the floor-boards also.
Where hives are exposed to the sun a portion of the
day, it requires the greatest care to keep many parts of
them from warping out of their proper shape.
A thin strip may be run around the inside of the
window, with a rabbet, to receive the glass. Let this
strip be as thin as possible. When the glass is in its
place, a brad driven in against it will keep it in its posi-
tion. Don’t forget the cross sticks to be placed in the
BEE-KEEPERS MANUAL. 207
hives, to run from corner to corner diagonally, and in
the centre. A brad in each end will hold them fast.
These sticks should be half an inch square, or more.
In making the box-hive, as shown at page 153, the
super or upper section will require dowelling ; that is, a
couple of wooden pins at two of the corners, to sink into
holes made in the roof of the lower section, in order to
hold the super in its proper position. The pins should
not be sunk into the roof over half an inch, and they
should be placed at the diagonal corners.
The boxes for the chambers of hives represented at
page 158, should be made of the thinest materials that
can be obtained. Whitewood will do very well, but
any material of the thickness of segar boxes is much
better. A groove is plowed out near the front end, to
receive the glass. No bottoms are required for these
boxes, as I have already explained, in the description of
chamber-hives. There is a difficulty arising, when the
boxes are withdrawn from the chambers filled with
honey, in the manner of cutting out the combs with fa-
cility. What we then wish is, to be able to sever the
combs from the top of the box. It is quite easy to cut
the ends and sides, but unless we have a knife made with
a right angle, we cannot separate the attachments on
the upper side, without taking an end or a side off.
Now, it is necessary that every apiarian should have
such a knife, with an angle, as I shall give a cut of here-
after ; but not one in ten will probably ever provide one ;
consequently, I must give such directions in making
208 MINER'S AMERICAN
these boxes, as to obviate, in a measure, the necessity of
such an instrument.
The way to construct the boxes, is simply as follows,
viz: let the back ends of them be covered by the end
pieces over the ends of sides and bottoms; that is, in
such a manner that they can be taken off with the great-
est facility. If no directions be given on this point, the
joiner will slide the ends down between the sides; but
this is wrong; they should be on the outside of all, so
that they can be removed easily. Every part of the
boxes, except the ends, should be fastened with inch
brads, but the ends should be secured with the smallest
brads that will hold them in their place, and as few to
be used as possible. When the honey is to be taken
out of a box thus arranged, a knife is to be run down at
the end and sever the combs; then take off the end, and
run the knife along the top of the box horizontally, and
the work is done at once: then replace the end of the
box, and it is ready for use again.
PAINTING HIVES.
When your hives are made, you will wish to know
what color they should be painted. Some apiarians
recommend white as the proper color, since that color
does not draw the rays of the sun; but others object to
white, because it attracts the moth-miller in the night,
more than darker colors. I do not think it makes a
whit of difference, whether your hives are white, red,
black or grey, so far as the general prosperity of the bees
is concernéd. We should have a durable color; one
BEE-KEEPER 8 MANUAL. 209
that will stand the weather well. I have used a choco-
late color with good results. I make it thus :—take
white lead and raw oil, with which mix Venitian red
and lamp-black, to produce the color desired. The rela-
tive quantities of each can be ascertained by any per-
son, when the same is mixed. . The white lead and oil
should be mixed first, then add the lamp-black to pro-
duce a lead color; then the Venitian red, and you have
the shade desired. Raw oil stands exposure to the
weather much better than boiled oil; yet if you wish to
have your hives dry speedily, and if the weather be not
very favorable for such a result, you can use a little
litharge, or, if you please, a little boiled with the raw oil.
CHAPTER XIV.
os,
re
ID.FELTER BC
On the receipt of THreE Dotzars, Dr. Gunn’s book will be sent, free of
postage, to any part ofthe United States.
All letters must be addressed, (post-paid,) to C. M. SAXTON, 121 Fuuron Sr.,
New York.
“‘ Raymond’s Copy” is the only complete edition, and isso marked on the back
Works published by C. M. Saxton.
THE AMERICAN AGRICULTURIST;
A MONTHLY PERIODIOAL
Designed to tnrprove the Harmer, the Planter, the Stock-Wreever,
and the Worticulturist.
A. B. ALLEN, Epiror.
“ Agriculture is the most healthy, the most useful, and the most noble employment
of man.” —W ASHINGTON.
TERMS.
FOR SINGLE COPIES ...... ONE DOLLAR PER ANNUM.
THREE COPIES ...... TWO DOLLARS.
EIGHT COPIES ...... FIVE DOLLARS.
TWENTY COPIES...... TWELVE DOLLARS.
The AMERICAN AGRICULTURIST is now in the seventh year of its publication
From its commencement it took a high stand ; and has ever since been considered
by the press and all unbiased judges, as the LEADING PERIODICAL of its class
in America. It has a large and rapidly increasing circulation throughout the
United States, the Canadas, and other British possessions, the West Indies, and
South America ; and we may fearlessly assert, that it has given more reliable in
formation on rural subjects, and been perused with greater general satisfaction,
than any paper of the kind yet published.
The American Agriculturist treats of every description of domestic animals
and poultry ; their characteristics, breeds, the best and the worst ; their advanta-
ges and disadvantages ; their mode of breeding, feeding, rearing, and treatment;
their uses, profits, management, &c. It also treats of all cultivated crops, inclu-
ding fruits, shrubbery, &c. ; the best seeds, mode of planting, cultivating, gather-
ing, and preparing for markets ; the general principles of vegetation and the laws
of vegetable life. It describes the principles of mechanics as applied to machine-
ry used by farmers and planters; the best machinery and implements for agri-
culture, their uses and the particular superiority of some over others, and their
adaptedness for particular purposes, &c.
Address all subscriptions to C. M. SAXTON, 121 Funron Sr., New York.
It also gives the latest improv. ts in those imp] ts which may have been
made, and suggests others ; tells where they are to be found, and the benefits that
will follow from their use. It also specifies new objects of cultivation, and how
they may be better prepared for a profitable market and more general use. These
are a part only of the objects of this paper; yet they, with the other subjects
treated, are of universal interest and general application. Nineteen-twentieths of all
that is to be found in it is of the same use to one part as to any other part of
America. Yet we find people constantly objecting that it is not printed in their
particular section of country, and that it is not suited to their wants. Does it
make any difference where a boy acquires his education, provided it be a good
one and he be correctly taught?’ Where he studies his profession of divinity,
medicine, or even law? Cannot he take the principles he has acquired, and apply
them equally well in any part of America? Are not the blessed sunlight ot
heaven, the rain, the dew, the heat, and the frost, though sometimes differing in
degree, of equal relative effect wherever they are felt, whether within the tropics
or the polar circles, the eastern or western hemisphere?
If the question were as to a choice between a good paper printed here or there,
it were another matter. But throughout extensive regions this is not the case,
and it is either a good paper or none at all; and even if there were one for every
particular section of country, we might still urge a general circulation for our
own; for no one will embrace all that is important to be known.
EVERY FARMER’S BOOK!!
Ten Thousand Copies printed in six Months!
AAR ANA
ILLUSTRATED TREATISE ON DOMESTIC ANIMALS,
Being a history and description of the Horse, Mule, Cattle, Sheep, Swine, Poul=
try, and Farm Dogs ; with Directious fur their Management, Breeding, Crossing, Rear-
ing, Feeding, and preparation for a profitable market. Also, their Diseases and
Remedies 5 together with Full Directions for the Management of the Dairy, and the Com-
parative Economy and Advantages of Working Animals, the Horse, Mule, Oxen, &e., by Re Le
NW, Author of Compend of Ameriwan Agriculture,’ §c.
The above work contains more than 40 Engravings and Portraits of Improved Animals
illustrative of the different breeds and various subjects treated in it.
The most minute as well as general principles for Breeding, Crossing, Rearing, Feeding, and
Management of all Domestic Animals, are herein given. to produce the utmost marketable
value for the food and attention bestowed on them; as well as to prevent disease, and save the
immense losses which annually occur from this source. 1t can be sent_by Mail, in Cloth Bind-
ing, for 75 Cents--Paper, 50 Cents, Published by C. My SAXTON, 205 Broadway, New
York. For sale by all the Booksellers throughout the country.
Agents wanted for every county in every state. Address, post paid, the Publisher.
OPINIONS OF THE PRESS,
The Compactness yet completeness will make it a favorite with agriculturists.— Chronicle,
Philadelphia.
Its greateat worth is, as a complete farrier, showing the Jiseases of animals, their treatment,
and cure.—Far. §& Mee.
The portion which relates to the dairy alone, is worth the cost of the book.— Worcester
Transcript.
Itis every way adapted to be serviceable in every h hold which has domestic animals.—
Adv., Newark. ‘
We believe it a complete guide for the farmer and dairyman in the purchase, care, and use ot
enimals.—Jeffersonian.
Here is a work which should be in the hands of every farmer.—Highland Courier.
We can confidently recommend this work as a very instructive one to those engaged in farm-
ing, raising stock, or husbandry.—Northampton Courier.
The author is a practical farmer and stockbreeder, and is able to vouch for the correctness of
the remedies for diseases of Domestic Animals, as well as the best mode of managing them.—
Huron, O. Reflector. :
It costs but seventy-five cents, and cannot fail to be worth ten times that amount to any far-
mer.—Summit S. C. Beacon.
It is the best of that character we have yet seen ; no farmer should be without it.—Demoerat,
Curlisle, Pa.
This is just such a book as every owner of stock should be possessed of.—Easton Md Star.
Here is a book which all—those who follew the plow, and those who direct it—can read to-
profit. It is a library of knowledge, presenting the latest improvements and discoveries, on all
the topics treated uf; and illustrated by a great variety of cuts. The “ Allens,” one of whom is
the author of the work before us, are quite famous in their especial role, so that what proceeds
from them may be confidently credited atall events. The present book is a most interesting and
instructive one, and must meet with a great sale.—Sciota Gazette. iz
This work, to the farmer and stock raiser, will be useful, instructive, and profitable, enabling
them to improve the breed of their stock, preserve them from sickness, and cure them whea
infected with disease.—Herald, Morrisville, Pa.
The time hag gone by when farmers can expect to succeed withont giving some attention to
Book Farming, and we trust they begin to see it for themselves. We should like to hear that
this work was in the hands of every farmer in the county.—_Mereury, Potsdam, N. Y.
The title page of this work gives a good idea of its scope and intent. It is a comprehensive
summary of farm operations, and will prove very acceptable to the great mass of our farming
population. We are informed that 3,000 copies of this work have been sold since the first of
January. It is well printed and profusely illustrated.—N. Y. Tribune.
It is furnished with numerous illustrating cuts, and will form a complete “vade mecam” for
the agriculturist, convenient for reference, and to be relied 6n when consultcd.—Baltimore
merican.
- This is a practical book by a practical man, and will serve extensive practical ends. It is
a companion which every farmer will feel that he cannot well be without.—N. Y. Observer
We cheerfully recommend this work to farmers.—Signal, Juliett, It.
We anticipate an extensive sale for this work.— Ohio Cultivator.
This work ought to be in the hands of every planter.—W. O. Delta.
The author is a gentleman of fine attainments, and who ranks as one of the most accom:
plished writers on agricultural subjects in the country.—Ala. Planter.
Many a valuable animal is lost, every year, for want of the knowledge here conveyed.—Hagle
Brattleboro, Vt.
The author (Mr. Allen), is a practical man, and everything from hia pen, on subjects con
nected with agriculture and cattle breeding, is valuable to those who prefer matter of faet te
rere theory.— Maine Farmer.
NEW-YORK AGRICULTURAL WAREHOUSE
AND SEED STORE.
A. B. ALLEN & CO,,
189 & 191 WATER STREET, NEW YORK.
es
it uo
Farmers, Planters, and Gardeners will find in our Warehouse, the largest and
most complete assortment of Agricultural and Horticultural Implements, Field
and Garden Seeds, Fertilizers, Fruit and Ornamental Trees, &c., &c., in New
York. H will do “the work of 100 men, and go
iN ie } ane by horse or hand power, $30
I Na ‘o $60.
Mt nl Gold Digging Implements of all kinds,
picks, crow-bars, hoes, shovels, &c.
Gold Testers, Retorts, Crucibles, Fur-
naces, &c., &c., of all kinds.
Blasting Tools, Drills, Chisels, &c.
Lead Pipe of various sizes and thick-
ness, at 6 to 7 cts. per lb.
Leather, India Rubber and Gutta
Percha Hose, of all sizes.
Corn SHELLER. r
Seeds for the Field and Garden.—Such as improved Winter and Spring Wheat,
Rye. Barley, Oats, Corn, Beans, Peas, Rutabaga, Turnip, Cabbage, Beet, Carrot,
Parsnip, Clover, and Grass Seeds, improved varieties of Potatues, &c,, &c., &c.
These are warranted fresh and superior of their kind.
Fertilizers.—Peruvian and Patagonian Guano, Lime, Plaster of Paris, Bone Dust,
&e., &e. ane
Fruit and Ornamen-
tal Trees and Shrubs.
—Orders taken for
these, and executed
from a choice of the
best Nurseries, Gar-
dens, and Conserva-
tories in the United
States,
ee ——— Horses, Cattle, Sheep
——~ and Swine.—Orders
MALLU LUBE received for stock of
Sausace STuFFER. all kinds, to be exe-
cuted to the best advantage, and shipped in the most careful manner.
a Copper Stills Complete—Iron Chests, Brick Machines,
Bark Mills.
Portable Furnaces—Blacksmiths’ Bellows, Sledges,
Hammers, Tongs, &c.
Whitney's Celebrated Buena Vista Rifles, with Molds,
and all extras, Percussion Caps, &c., &c., &c.
Post-hole Augers—Ornamental Fountains, Iron Garden
Chairs, Garden Engines, Morticing Machines.
Bullets of all sizes, and Buck Shot, 8 cts. per Ib.
Agricultural Books.—A varied and general assort-
ment of these for sale.
New Implements, Seeds, §c.—The subscribers request
% samples sent to them of any new or improved Imple-
%, ments, Seeds, &c., which, if found valuable, extra pains
will be taken to bring them before the public.
Produce on Consignment.—All kinds of Produce will
be received for sale on consignment.
A discount will be made from the above prices to dealers.
A Catalogue of over 100 pages, with numerous en-
gravings, containing a part of our Implements, with
prices, will be forwarded by mail, if requested post
aid,
? A. B, ALLEN, & Co.,
189 and 191 Water street, New Yurk.
ADVERTISEMENT.
MINER’S
PATENT EQUILATERAL BEE-HIVE,
This valuable hive is now offered For Sale by the single hive, at
FIVE DOLLARS, which will entitle the purchaser to an individ-
ual right to make the same, for hzs own use only, during life; or the
ENGRAVINGS
of it, and all its parts, will be furnished for the sum of TWO DOL-
LARS, and full instructions to make it will be given in pamphlet
form, with a right as above, including information illustrating and
explaining the whole nature of this hive.—Also, a cut will be in-
cluded of my
ORNAMENTAL BEE-HOUSE,
so much admired for its originality and architectural beauty.
Monies may be remitted by mail at my risk, and as soon.as re-
ceived, the hive, or the engravings, &c., as the purchaser may
order, will be
FORWARDED IMMEDIATELY
to the address of the applicant. Please be particular to state the
Town, County, and if necessary, the Post Office, where to direct.
AGENTS wanted to sell both hives and engravings, and a very
liberal discount allowed.
N. B.—AII persons are cautioned against the least infringement
of the right of the above hive.
§g-Address T. B. MINER, No. 40 Peck Slip, New York.
New York, March, 1849.