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ats MANUAL:
OR AN
EASY METHOD

OF

MANAGING BEES,

IN THE MOST
PROFITABLE MANNER TO THEIR OWNER,
WITH

INFALLIBLE RULES TO PREVENT THEIR
DESTRUC'RION BY THE MOTH.

’ o rm
No \ ~ : »% fo
yb oe x j \ Nae d
i Tee : a
ahs BY JOHN A WEEKS e Sede CONG
“RE? Of Salisbury, Vt. (ax goP RIG Ky» &
pay UG an
MIDDLEBURY:

RNAPP AND JEWETT, PRINTERS.

2 PO ee eseeIeesesas

1836.

Entered according to act of Congress, in the year 1836,
By Joun M. WEExs,
In the Clerk's Office of the District Court of Vermont

RGF S-
7 92

PREFACE.

It appears to the writer of the following pages, that a work
of this description is much needed in our country.

The cultivation of the bee (Apis Mellifica) has been too
long neglected in most parts of the United States.

This general neglect has unquestionably originated from the
fact, that the European enemy to the bees, called the moth, has
found tts way into this country, and has located and naturalized
itself here: and has made so much havoc among the bees, that
many districts have entirely abandoned their cultivation. Many
Apiarians, and men of the highest literary attainments, as well
as experience, have nearly exhausted their patience, in exam-
ining the peculiar nature and habits of this insect; and have
tried various experiments, to devise some means of preventing
itsdepredations. But, after all that has been done, the spoiler
moves onward with sg little molestation, that but very few
of our citizens are willing to engage in the enterprize of culti-
vating this most useful end profitable of all insects, the honey-
bee.

The following work is eomprised in a set of plain, concise,
rules, by which, if strictly adhered to and practised, any person,
properly situated, may cultivate bees, and avail himself of ali
the benefits of their labors,

If the Apiari: n manages strictly in accordance with the fol-
lowing rules, the Author feels confident, that no colony will
ever materially suffer by the moth, or will ever be destroyed
by them.

The author is aware of the numerous (treatises published on
this subject; but they appear to him, for the most part, not to
be the resultof so much experience as vague and conjectural
speculation, and not sufficiently embodying what is practical
and useful.

This work is intended as an accompaniment to the Vermont
hive, and will be found to be the result of observation and ex-
perience, and it is thought comprises all that 1s necessary to

make a skilful Apiarian.
THE AUTHOR.

INDEX.

Page.
Route I. On the construction of the hive, = - . - 5
Rue If. On swarming and hiving, = - =i 3 ee ie al
Ruxe 111. On ventilating, - - reba abi‘o - 22
Ruxe lV. On preventing robberies, - - - =f) #23
Rute V. On equalizing colonies, by doubling, trebling, &c. 26
Rue VI. On rercoving honey, ee MEPS NG ARRON eae
Roe VIL. The method of compelling swarms to make
extra Queens, and keep them for the use of
their owner, = - - - - - - $3
Ro.e VUI. On supplying swarms with Queens, when
necessary, - - - - - : 37
Rute IX. On multiplying colonies to any desirable ex-
tent, without swarming, - - - - 4!
Rue X. On preventing the depredations of the moth, 4:
Rue XI. On feeding, oh RINE a SoS 2 vi Biadnany sagan
Rouue XI. On wintering, - - - - - = &

Ruce X11. On transferring bees from one hive to another, 6)

XIV. General observations, - - - ~

6!

MANUAL, &c.

RULES. :
ON THE CONSTRUCTION OF A BEE HIVE.

A beehive should be made of sound boards,
free from shakes and cracks; it should also
be planed smooth, inside and out, made in a
workmanlike manner, and painted on its out-
side.

REMARKS.

That a beehive should be made perfect, so
as to exclude light and air, is obvious from the
fact, that the bees will finish what the work-
man has neglected, by plastering up all such
cracks and crevices, or bad joints, which are
left open by the joiner; this substance is nei-
ther honey nor wax, but a kind of glue or
cement of their own manufacturing, and is
used by the bees to fill up all imperfect joints
and exclude all light and air. This cement

2

6 AN EASY METHOD OF

or glue is very congenial to the growth of the
moth in the first stages of its existence.

The moth miller enters the hive, generally,
in the night, makes an incision into the glue
or cement with her abdominal sting, leaves
her eggs deposited in the glue, where it re-
mains secure from the bees; it being guarded
by the timber on its sides. Thus, while a
maggot, (Larva) the moth uses the cement for
food until it arrives so far towards a state of
maturity as to be able to spin a web, which ts
more fully explained in our remarks on Rule
10.

The size of a hive should be in accordance
with the strictest rules of economy, and adap-
ted to the peculiar nature and economy of the
honey-bee, in order to make them profitable
to their owner.

The lower apartment of the hive, where
they store their food, raise their young bees,
and perform their ordinary labors, should hold
as much as a box thirteen inches and one half
or fourteen inches square in the clear or area.

if the hive is much larger than the one de-

MANAGING BEES. 7

scribed above, with their chamber in propor-
tion, which should hold about two thirds as
much as the lower apartment, the bees will
not be likely to swarm during the season.

Large hives never swarm ; and those, much
less than the one already described, do but
little else than raise young bees and lay up a
sufficient quantity of food to supply them
through the coming winter, and are more liable
to be robbed.

All hives that swarm are liable to swarm
too much, and reduce their colonies so low in
numbers as to materially injure them, and is
frequently the cause of their destruction by the
moth, which is more particularly explained in
our remarks on Rule 2.

The chamber of the hive should be made
perfectly tight, so as to exclude all hight from
the drawers.

Drawers should be small like No. 2, for all
purposes except such as are used for multi-
plying colonies and transferring, which should
always be large like No. 1.

Hives should have cleets on their sides, so

2%

8 AN EASY METHOD OF

as to suspend them in the air some distance
from the floor of the apiary, the better to se-
cure the bees from destruction by mice, rep-
tiles, and other vermin. *

The back side or rear of the lower apart-
ment of the hive should project or slant for-
ward, so as to render the same smallest at the
bottom, the better to secure the combs from
falling when cracked by frost or nearly melted
in hot weather.

No timbers or boards should come very
near the lower edge of the hive, because it
facilitates the entrance of depredators. That
the back side should slant forward, is obvious
from the fact, that bees generally rest one edge
of their combs on the same and build towards
the front in such a manner as to enter upon
the same sheet where they intend to deposit
their stores, where they first enter the hive,
without being compelled to take any unneces-
sary steps.

The bottom of the hive should slant down-
ward from rear to front, so as to afford the
greatest facility to the bees to clear their ten-

MANAGING BEES. y

ement of all offensive substances, and let the
water, which is occasioned by the breath and
Steam of the bees, run off in cold weather.
It also aids the bees very much in preventing
the entrance of robbers.

The bottom board should be suspended by
staples and hooks near each corner of the hive,
in such a manner as to afford a free entrance
and egress to the bees on all its sides, which will
better enable them to keep their tenement
clear of the moths.

There should be a button attached to the
lower edge of the rear of the hive, so as to
enable the Apiarian to govern the same in
such a manner as to give all the air they need,
or close the hive at pleasure.

The hive should have two sticks piaced at
equal distances, extending from front to rear.
resting on the rear, with a screw drawn through
the front into the end of the stick, which holds
it fast in its place.

‘The door to the chamber should be made
to fit in the rabitings of the same against the
jambs, in such a manner as to exclude the

10 AN EASY METHOD OF

light from the windows of the drawers, and
also to prevent the entrance of the little ants.
It should also be hung by butts, or fastened by
a bar, running vertically across the centre of
the door, and confined by staples at each end.

There should be three sheet iron slides, one
of which should be nearly as wide as the
chamber, and one or two inches longer than
the length of the chamber. ‘The other two
should be the same length of the first, and half
its width only.

All hives and all their appendages should
be made exactly of a size and shape in the
same apiary. ‘The trouble of equlaizing col-
onies is far less than it is to accommodate hives
to swarms. Much perplexity and sometimes
serious difficulties occur, where the Apiarian
uses different sized hives and drawers. But
this part of the subject will be more fully dis-
cussed under its proper rule.

MANAGING BEES. il

RULE If.

ON SWARMING AND HIVING.

The Apiarian or bee owner, should have
his hives in readiness and in their places in the
apiary, with the drawers in their chambers
bottom up, so as to prevent entrance.

When a swarm comes forth and has alighted,
cut off the limb if conveient, shake it gently,
so as to disengage the bees, and let them fall
gently on to the table, board, or ground (as
the case may be) place the hive over them
before many rise into the air, taking care at
the same time to lay one or more sticks in
such a manner as to raise the hive so as
to give the bees rapid ingress and egress.
If the bees act reluctantly in taking pos-
session of their new habitation, disturb them
by brushing them gently with a goose quill or
some other instrument, not harsh, and they will
soon enter. In case it is found necessary to
invert the hive to receive the bees, (which is
frequent, from the manner of their alighting,)
then, first, secure the drawers down to the floor
by inserting a handkerchief or something above
them ; now inveri the hive and shake or brush
the bees gently into it ; now turn it gently right

4 AN EASY METHOD OF

end up on the table, or as’the case may be,
observing the rule aforesaid.

REMARKS.

Bees swarm from nine o’clock in the morn-
ing to three o’clock in the afternoon on a fair
day, differing in the season according to the
clmate. In Vermont they generally swarm
from the middle of May to the fifteenth of
July; in late seasons some later. I have
known them to swarm as early as seven in the
morning and as late as four in the afternoon.
{ have also known them to come forth when
it ramed so hard as nearly to defeat them by
beating down many to the ground which were
probably lost from their colony ; and I once
had a swarm come forth on the sixteenth day
of August.

Experience and observation has taught that
the Queen leaves the old stock first, and her
colony rapidly follow. They fly about a few
minutes, apparently in the greatest confusion,
until the swarm is principally out of the hive.
They then alight, generally on the limb of some
tree, shrub, or bush, or some other place con-

MANAGING BEES. 13

venient for them to cluster in a bunch not far
from the old stock and make their arrange-
ments for a journey toa new habitation. Per-
haps not one swarm in a thousand knows
where they are going until after they have
left the old stock, alighted, formed into a
compact body or cluster, and not then until
they have sent off an embassy to search out a
place for their future residence. Now if the
bees are hived immediately after they have
alighted, before they send off their embassy to
seek a new tenement, they will never fly
away, admitting they have sufficient room, (for
itis want of room that makes them swarm
in the first place) and their hive is also clear
of every thing that is offensive to them.

The old custom of washing hives with salt
and water and other substances, to give it a
pleasant effluvia, should be speedily abolished.
Nothing but bees should ever be put into a
hive.

When bees die, the hive should be cleared
of its contents and scraped out clean, and the
the chamber rubbed with cloth wet in clean

14 AN EASY METHOD OF

water ; then set it in its place in the apiary,
and there let it stand until wanted foruse. An
old hive, thus prepared, is as good as a new
one for the reception of aswarm. ‘The Api-
arian should exarnine before using to see that
the hive is free from spiders and cobwebs.
When bees are not hived immediately after
they have clustered in a body, they should be
removed to the apiary, or several rods from
the place where they alighted, as soon as they
can be hived, to prevent their being found on
the return of the embassy. Since I have thus
practised, I have never lost a swarm by flight.
Experience has taught that it is best to re-
move the new swarm to the place where it Is
intended to stand during the season, immedi-
ately after hiving. Fewer bees are lost by
a speedy removal, than when permitted. to

stand until evening, because they are creatures.

of habit, and are every moment establishing
themselves in their location. ‘he longer they
stand in the place where they are hived, the
greater will be the number lost when removed.
But more of this hereafter.

EE ————————

MANAGING BEES. 15

When bees are collected in drawers for the
purpose of equalizing colonies, by doubling,
&c., they should be permitted to stand until
evening before they are united, it being a more
favorable time for them to become acquainted
with each other by degrees; and the scent of
the bees in the lower apartment will enter
through the apertures during the night so
much that there is a greater degree of same-
ness in the peculiar smell of the two colonies,
which takes off their animosity, if they chance
to have any.

No confusion or noise which is uncommon
to the bees should ever be made during their
swarming or hiving. ‘The only effect of noise,
ringing of bells, &c. that | could ever discover,
was, to render them more hostile and unman-
ageable.

When bees are treated in accordance with
their true nature, they are sometimes hostile,
which originates from two causes. First, some
of them lie out of the hive before swarming,
and some of them, in consequence of their
confusion in swarming, are not apprised of the

16 AN EASY METHOD OF

intention of the Queen to leave the old stock
and seek a new habitation, and they sally forth
with the swarm without filling their sacks with
stores, which always makes them more irrita-
ble than when their stomachs are filled with
food.

The Vermont hive possesses advantages in
this respect, as well as others, far superior to
the old box. Instead of lying out before
swarming, as in the old box, they go up into
the drawers, and are constantly employed in
depositing the delicious fruits of their labors :
and being in the hive, where they can hear
and observe all the movements of the Queen,
they go forth well stored with provisions suited
to the peculiar contingency of the case; which
ordinarily repels all their feelings of hostility.

The second reason why bees are sometimes
irritable, and are disposed to sting when they
swarm, 1s, the air is forbidding to them, by
being cold or otherwise, so as to impede them
in their determined emigration. In all such .
cases, the Apiarian should be furnished with a
veil, made of millinet, or some light covering,

MANAGING BEES. 17

which may be thrown over his hat, and let
down so low as to cover his face and bosom,
and fixed in such a manner as to prevent their
stinging. He should also put on a pair of
thick woolen stockings over his hands, thus
managing them without the least danger.

A clean hive is all that is needed for a swarm
of bees, with careful and humane treatment.

I know of no rule by which the exact day
of their first swarming can be known with
certainty. The Apiarian will estimate near
the time by the number of bees in and about
the hive, as it will become very much crowded.

The day of second swarming, and all after
that during the same season, may be most
certainly predicted as follows. Listen near
the entrance of the hive in the evening. if
a swarm is coming forth the next day, the
Queen will be heard giving an alarm at short
intervals. 4d'he same alarm may generally be
heard the next morning. The observer will
generally hear two Queens at a time in the
same hive, the one much louder than the other.
The one making the least noise is yet in her

18 AN EASY METHOD OF

cell, and in her minority. The sound emitted
by the Queens is peculiar, differing materially
from that of any other bee. It consists of a
number of monotonous notes in rapid succes-
sion, similar to those emitted by the mud-wasp
when working her mortar and joining it to her
cells, to raise miss-wasps. If, after all, the
weather is unfavorable to their swarming two
or three days while in this peculiar stage, they
will not be likely to swarm again the same
season. |

Two reasons, and two only, can be assigned
why bees ever swarm. The first is, want of
room, and the second, to avoid the battle of
the Queens. It is indeed true that there are
exceptions. Perhaps one ina hundred swarms
may come forth before their hive is filled with
comb; but from nearly forty years experience
in their cultivation, I never saw an instance of
it, where the hive was not full of bees at their
first swarming. When the first swarm comes
forth, eggs, young brood, or both, are left in

the combs, but no Queen; for the old Queen |
always goes forth with the swarm, and leaves

MANAGING BEES. 19.

the old stock entirely destitute. Not a single
Queen, in any stage of minority, is left in the
hive.

The bees very soon find themselves desti-
tute of the means of propagating their species,
for the Queen is the only female in the hive,
and immediately set themselves to work in
constructing several royal cells, probably to
be more sure of success; take a grub (larva)
from the cell of a common worker, place it
in the new-made royal cell, feed it on
royal jelly, and ina few days they have a
Queen. Now as the eges are laid in about
three litters per week, the bees, to be still
more sure of succeeding in their laudable en-
terprize, take maggots, differing only in age,
so that if more than one Queen is hatched,
one will be older than the others. ‘This fact
accounts for hearing more than one Queen at
the same time, because one comes out a per-
fect fly, while the other is a nymph, or a little
younger, and has not yet made her escape
from the cell where she was raised, and yet
both answer the alarm of the other, the young-
est more feebly than the elder.

20 AN EASY METHOD OF

Bees will never swarm but once-the same
season, unless they make more than one
Queen, immediately after the departure of the
firstswarm ; and not then, if the bees permit the
oldest Queen to come in contact with the cell
where the younger ones are growing. Queens
entertain the most deadly animosity towards
each other, and will commence an attack upon
each other the first moment opportunity of-
fers; the old Queen will even tear all the
cradles or cells to pieces where young ones
are growing, and destroy all the chrysalis
Queens in the hive.

If the weather becomes unfavorable to
swarming, the next day after the alarm of the
Queen is heard, and continues so for several
days, the oldest Queen may come in contaet
with the other, or gain access to theircells ; in
either case the life of one of them is destroy-
ed by the other, and the colony will not be
likely to send forth another swarm the same
season. If the old Queen succeeds in taking
the life of the younger, or vice versa, the re-
maining nymphs will be likely to share the

~~

MANAGING BEES. 2]

same fate of her martyred sisters, by the hand
of the reigning Queen, who considers all oth-
ers in the same hive as her competitors.

Second swarms would be as large and nu-
merous as any others, if it was not the fact,
that they come forth to avoid the battle of the
Queens. Bees are very tenacious to preserve
the lives of their sovereigns, particularly those
of their own raising ; and when they find they
have more than one in the hive, they will
guard each so strong as to prevent, if possible,
their coming within reach of each other. They
being thus strongly guarded to prevent the
fight, is unquestionably the cause of their giv-
ing the alarm, as described in the foregoing
article. The knowledge of the existence of
another Quéen in the same hive inspires them
with the greatest uneasiness and rage; and
when the oldest one finds herself defeated in
gaining access to her competitor, she sallies
forth with as many as see fit to follow her, and
seeks a new habitation.

The drawers should be turned over, so as

to let the bees into them as soon as they have
3

22 AN EASY METHOD OF

built their combs nearly to the bottom of the
hive. If the swarm is so large that the lower
apartment will not hold all of them, they should
be let into one or both of, the drawers, at the
time of hiving ; otherwise they may go off for
want of room.

RULE TTI.

ON VENTILATING THE HIVE.

Graduate the bottom board at pleasure, by
means of the button or otherwise, soas to give
them more or less air, as the circumstances
may require.

REMARKS.

Bees require more. air in order to enable
them to endure the heat of summer and the
severity of winter, than at any other time.
If they are kept out in the cold, they need as
much air in the. winter as:in the heat of sum-
mer. It is in a mild temperature only, that
it is safe to keep them from. the pure air. If
placed below frost in a dry sand bank, they:

MANAGING BEES. oS

seem to need scarcely more than is contained
in their hive at the time they are buried, dur-
ing the whole winter. If kept in a clean,
dry cellar, the mouth, so contracted as to keep
out mice, gives them enough. But if they
are kept in the apiary, the bottom board should
be suspended as low as in heat of summer.
My stocks have wintered best, which have
had at least one inch space betwixt the bottom -
board and the lower edges of the hive.

RULE, EV.

ON PREVENTING ROBBERIES.

_ At the moment it is observed, that robbers.
are within, or about the hive, raise the bottom
board so near the edge of the hive as to pre-
vent the ingress or egress of the bees, and stop
the mouth or common,,entrance. At the
same time take care that a small space on all
sides of the hive be left open, so as to afford
them all the air’they need. Open the mouth’
only at evening and close early in the morn-
ing, before the robbers renew their attack.

3*

24 AN EASY METHOD OF

REMARKS.

Bees have a peculiar propensity to rob each
other, and every precaution, necessary to pre-
vent it, should be exercised by the cultivator.
Families in the same apiary are more likely
to engage in this unlawful enterprize than any
others, probably because they are located so
near each other, and are more likely to learn
their comparative strength. I never could
discover any intimacy between colonies of the
same apiary, except when they stood on the
same bench; and then, all the social inter-
course seems to subsist between the nearest
neighbors only.

Bees are not likely to engage in warfare
and rob each other, except in the spring and
fall, and at other times in the season, when ~
food is not easily obtained from blossoms.

Bees do not often engage in robbery in the
spring, unless it is in such hives as have had
their combs broken by frost or otherwise, so
Xs to cause the honey to drip down upon the
bottom board. Much care should be exercis-
ed by the Apiarian to see that all such hives

MANAGING BEES. Q5

are properly ventilated, and at the same time
closed in such a manner as to prevent the en-
trance of robbers in the day-time, until they
have mended the breach, so as to stop the
honey from running.

Clear water should be given them every
day, so long as they are kept in confinement.

I have known many good stocks to be lost
in the spring, by being robbed; and all for
want of care. Bees rob each other when they
can find but little else to do; they will rob at
any time when frost has destroyed the flow-
ers, or the weather is so cold as to prevent
their collectig honey from them. Cold, chil-
ly weather prevents the flowers from yielding
honey without frost, as was the case m the
summer of 1835, in many places.

Bees need but little air at any time when
they rob, and yet more is necessary for them,
when confined by compulsory means, than atany
othertime. When deprived of their liberty, they
soon become restless, and use their best efforts
to make their way out of the hive; hence the
importance of leaving a small space all around

26 AN EASY METHOD OF

the bottom, to admit air and to prevent their
melting down.

RULE V.

ON EQUALIZING COLONIES.

Hive one swarm in the the lower apartment
of the hive; collect another swarm in a draw-
er, and insert the same in the chamber of the
hive containing the first. Then, if the swarms
are small, collect another small swarm in an-
other drawer, and insert the same in the cham-
ber of the hive containing the first, by the
side of the second. In case all the bees from
either of the drawers, amalgamate and go be-
low with the first swarm and leave the drawer
empty, then it may be removed, and another
small swarm added in the same manner.

REMARKS.

It is of prime importance to every bee culti-
vator, that all his colonies be made as near
equal in numbers and strength, as possible.
Every experienced bee-master must be aware
that small swarms are of but little profit to

MANAGING BEES. Q7

their owner. Generally, in a few days after
they are hived, they are gone; no one can
trace their steps ; some suppose they have fled
to the woods, others that they were robbed ;
but, after all, no one is able to give any satis-
factory account of them. Some pieces of
comb only are left, and perhaps myriads of
worms and millers finish off the whole. ‘Then
the moth is supposed to be their destroyer, but
the true history of the case 1s generally this:
‘The bees become discouraged, or disheartened,
for want of numbers to constitute their colony,
abandon their tenement, and join with their
nearest neighbors, leaving their combs to the
merciless depredations of the moth. They
are sometimes robbed by their adjoming hives,
and then the moths finish or destroy the combs
and bread.

Second swarms are generally about half as
large as the first, and third swarms half as
Jarge as second ones.

Now if second swarms are doubled, so as
to make them equal in number with the first,
the owner avails himself of the advantage of a

25° AN EASY METHOD OF

strong colony, which will not be likely to be-
come disheartened, for want of numbers, nor
overcome by robbers from stronger colonies.

It is far less trouble, and less expense, for
_the bee owner to equalize his colonies, than
to prepare hives and drawers of different sizes
to fit colonies.

When colonies and hives are made as near
alike as possible, many evils are avoided, and
many advantages realized; every hive will fit
a place in the apiary, every drawer a hive,
and every bottom board and slide willin any
case be used without mistakes.

Swarms may be doubled at any time before
they become so located as to resume their
former hostility, which will not be discovered
in less than three or four days. Now bees
are provided with a reservoir, or sack, to car-
ry their provision in; and when they swarm,
they go loaded with provision suited to their
emergency, which takes off all their hostility
towards each other; and until these sacks are
emptied, they are not easily vexed, and as
‘hey are compelled to build combs before they

MANAGING BEES. 2G

can empty them, it takes them several days.
I have doubled, at a fortnight’s interval m
swarming, with entire success. ‘Ihe operation
should be performed within two or three days,
at the farthest four days. The sooner it is
done, the less hazardous is the experiment.

As a general rule, second swarms only
should be doubled. Third and fourth swarms
should always have their Queen taken from
them and the bees returned to the parent stock,
according to Rule 10.

RULE Vt.
ON REMOVING HONEY.

Insert a slide between the drawer and floor,
to the chamber, so far as to cut off all com-
munication between the lower apartment and
the drawer. Insert another slide between the
first slide and the drawer. Now draw out the
box containing the honey. Set the drawer
on its window end, a little distance from the
apiary, and remove the slide. Now supply
the place of the drawer, thus removed, with

a0 AN EASY METHOD OF

an empty one, and draw the first inserted
slide.
REMARKS.

Care must be exercised in performing this
operation. ‘The apertures through ‘the floor
into the chamber must be kept closed ‘during
the process, so as to keep the bees from rush-
ing up into the chamber when the box is drawn
out. The operator must likewise see that the
entrances into the drawer are kept covered
with the slide, in such a manner as to prevent
the escape of any of the bees, unless he is
willing to be stung by them. If the bees are
permitted to enter the chamber in very warm
weather, they will be likely to hold the oceu-
pancy of it, and build comb there, which will
change the hive into one no better than an old
fashioned box.

I have succeeded best in removing honey
by the following method, to wit: Shut the
window blinds so as to darken one of the rooms
in the dwelling house—raise up one casement
of a window—then carry the drawer and place
the same on a table, or stand, by the window,

MANAGING BEES. 31

on its light or glass end, with the appertures
towards the light. Now remove the slide,
and step immediately back into the dark part
of the room. ‘The bees will soon learn their
true condition, and will gradually leave the
drawer, and return home to the parent stock ;
thus leaving the drawer and its contents for
their owner ; not however until they have suck-
ed every drop of running honey, if there should
chance to be any, which is not often the case,
if their work is finished.

There are two cases in which the bees man-
ifest some reluctance in leaving the drawer.
The first is, when the combs are in an unfin-
ished state, some of the cells not sealed over.
The bees manifest a great desire to remain
there, probably to make their stores more se-
cure from robbers, by affixing caps to the un-
covered cells, to prevent the effluvia of run-
ning honey, which is always the greatest
temptation to robbers.

Bees manifest the greatest reluctance in
leaving the drawer, when young brood are re-
moved in it, which never occurs, except in

32 AN EASY METHOD oF

such drawers as have been used for feeding in
the winter or early in the spring. When the
Queen has deposited eggs in all the empty
cells below, she sometimes enters the drawers;
and if empty cells are found, she deposites
eggs there also. In either case, it is better to
return the drawer, which will be made perfect
by them in a few days.

Special care is necessary in storing ,drawers
of honey, when removed from the care and
protection of the bees, in order to preserve the
honey from insects, which never make sweet,
but are great lovers of honey, particularly the
ant. A chest, made perfectly tight, is a good
store-house.

If the honey in the drawers is to be pre-
served for winter use, it should be kept in a
room so warm as not to freeze. Frost cracks
the combs, and the honey will drip as soon
as warm weather commences. Drawers should
be packed with their appertures up, for keep-
ing or carrying to market.

MANAGING BEES. 30

RULE eerer:

THE METHOD OF COMPELLING SWARMS TO
MAKE AND KEEP EXTRA QUEENS, FOR
THEIR APIARIAN, OR OWNER.

Take a drawer containing bees and brood
comb, and place the same in the chamber of
an empty hive; taking care to stop the en-
trance of the hive, and give them clean water,
daily, three or four days. ‘Then unstop the
mouth of the hive, and continue to them their
liberty. ‘The operator must observe Rule 6
in using the slides.

REMARKS.

The prosperity of every. colony depends
entirely on the condition of the Queen, when
the season is favorable to them.

Every bee-master should understand their
nature in this respect, so as to enable him to
be in readiness to supply them with another
Queen when they chance to become destitute-

The discovery of the fact, that bees have
the power to change the nature of a grub
(larva) of a worker to that of a Queen, is at-

*»

o4 AN EASY METHOD OF

tributed to Bonner. But Bonner, nor the in-
defatigable Huber, nor any other writer, to
my knowledge, has gone so far in the illustra-
tion of this discovery as to render it practica-
ble and easy for common people to avail
themselves of its benefits.

The Vermont hive is the only one, to my
knowledge, in which bees can be compelled
to make and keep extra Queens for the use
of their owner, without extreme difficulty, as
well as danger, by stings, in attempting the
experiment.

The idea of raising her royal highness, and
elevating and establishing her upon the throne
of a colony, may, by some, be deemed alto-
gether visionary and futile: but I will assure
the reader, that it is easier done than can be
described. I have both raised them, and sup--
plied destitute swarms repeatedly.

When the drawer containing bees and brood
comb, is removed, the bees soon find them-
selves destitute of a female, and immediately
set themselves to work in constructing one or
more royal cells. When completed, which is.

MANAGING BEES. 35

commonly within forty-eight hours, they re-
move a grub (larva) from the worker’s cell,
place the same in the new made Queen’s cell,
feed on that kind of food which is designed
only for Queens, and in from twelve to six-
teen days they have a perfect Queen.

As soon as the bees have safely deposited
the grub in the new made royal cell, the bees
may have their liberty. Their attachment
to their young brood, and their fidelity to their
Queen, in any stage of its minority, is such,
that they will never leave nor forsake them,
and will continue all their ordinary labors,
with as much regularity as if they had a per-
fect Queen.

In making Queens in small boxes or draw-
ers, the owner will not be troubled by their
swarming the same season they are made.
There are so few bees in the drawer, they are
unable to guard the nymph Queens, if there
are any, from being destroyed by the oldest,
or the one which escapes from her cell first.

In examining the drawer, in which I raised
an extra Queen, I found not only the Queen,

36 AN EASY METHOD OF

but two royal cells, one of which was in per-
fect shape; the other was mutilated, proba-
bly by the Queen which came out first. Now
when there are so few bees to guard the
nymphs, it would not be very difficult for the
oldest Queen to gain access to the cells, and
destroy all the minor Queens in the drawer.

When a drawer is removed to an empty
hive, for the purpose of obtaining an extra
Queen, it should be placed some distance
from the apiary, the better to prevent its being
robbed by other swarms. When it is some
distance from other colonies, they are not so
likely to learn itscomparative strength. There
is but little danger however, of its being rob-
bed, until after the bees are out of danger of
losing their Queen, which generally occurs in
the swarming season.

The Queen is sometimes lost, in conse-
quence of the young brood being too far ad-
vanced at the time of the departure of the old
Queen with her swarm. If the grubs had ad-
vanced very near the dormant or chrysalis
state, before the bees learnt their necessity for

MANAGING BEES. 37

a Queen, and the old Queen neglected to
leave eggs, which is sometimes the case ; then
it would be impossible for the bees to change
their nature, and the colony would be lost,
unless supplied with another.

RULE VE:

ON SUPPLYING SWARMS, DESTITUTE OF A
QUEEN, WITH ANOTHER.

Take the drawer from the hive, which was
placed there according to Rule 7, and insert
the same into the chamber of the hive to be
supplied ; observing Rule 6 in the use of the
slides.

REMARKS.

Colonies destitute of a Queen may be sup-
plied with another the moment it is found they
have none; which is known only by their ac-
tions.

Bees, when deprived of their female sove-
reign, cease their labors; no polen or bee-
bread is seen on their legs ; no ambition seems

4

33 AN EASY METHOD OF

to actuate their movements; no dead bees are
drawn out; no deformed bees, in the various
stages of their minority, are extracted, and
dragged out of their cel's, and dropped down
about the hive, as is usual among all healthy
and prosperous colonies.

Colonies that have lost their Queen, when
standing on the bench beside of other swarms,
will run into the adjoining hive without the
least resistance. They will commence their
emigration by running in confused platoons
of hundreds, from their habitation to the next
adjoining hive. They immediately wheel
about and run bome again, and thus continue,
sometimes for several days, in the greatest
confusion, constantly replenishing their neigh-
bor’s hive, by enlarging her colony, and, at
the same time, reducing their own, until there
is not a single occupant left; and remarkable
as it is, they leave every particle of their
stores for their owner or the depredations of |
the moth.

Colonies loose their Queens more frequent-
ly during the swarming season than any other.

MANAGING BEES. 39

In the summer of 1830. I lost three good
stocks of bees in consequence of their losing
their Queens, one of which was lost soon after
the first swarming, the two others not many
days after the second swarming, all of which
manifested similar actions, and ended in the
same results, which will be more particularly
explained in remarks on Rule 10.

The Queen is sometimes lost, when she
goes forth with a swarm, in consequence of
being too feeble to fly with her young colony ;
in which case the bees return to their parent
stock, in a few minutes. In fact all occurren-
ces of this kind originate in the inability of
the Queen. If she returns to the old stock,
the swarm will come out again the next day,
if the weather is favorable. If the Queen is
too feeble to return, and the Apiarian neglects
to look her up, and restore her to her colony
again, (which it is his imperative duty to do,)
the bees will not swarm again until they have
made another, or are supphed, which may be
done immediately by giving them any sparc

4%

40 AN EASY METHOD OF

Queen. I have done it with entire success,
and never failed in the experiment.

The Queen, when lost in swarming, is easily
found, unless the wind is so strong as to have
blown her a considerable distance. A few
bees are always found with her, which prob-
ably serve as her aids, and greatly assist the
Apiarian in spying her out. She is frequently
found near the ground, ona spire of grass, the
fence, or any place most convenient for her
to alight, when her strength fails her. I once
had quite a search for her majesty, with-
out much apparent success. At the same
time, there were flying about me a dozen or
more common workers. At last her royal
highness was discovered, concealed from my
observation in a fold of my shirt sleeve. [I
then returned her to her colony, which had
already found their way home to the parent
stock.

The Queen may be taken in the hand
without danger, for she never stings by design,
except when conflicting with another Queen;

MANAGING BEES. 41

and yet she has a stinger at least one third
longer, but more feeble than a worker.

The Queen is known by her peculiar shape,
size, and movements. She differs but little
in color from a worker, and has the same num-
ber of legs and wings. She is much longer
than any of the bees. Her abdomen is very
large and perfectly round, and has an addi-
tional number of folds, which makes her known
to the observer the moment she is seen. ‘The
wings and proboscis are short. Her move-
ments are stately and majestic. She is much
less in size, after the season for breeding is
over. She is easily selected from among a-
swarm, at any season of the year, by any one
who has often seen her.

RU LE), bX.

ON MULTIPLYING COLONIES TO ANY DESIR-
ABLE EXTENT, WITHOUT THEIR
SWARMING.

The large drawer, No. 1, should always be
used for this purpose. Insert slides, as in

42 AN EASY METHOD GF

Rule 6, and remove the drawer containing
bees and brood comb; place the same in the
chamber of an empty hive; stop the entran-
ces of both the new and old hives, taking care
to give them air, as in Rule 4. Give clean
water daily, three or four days. Now let the
bees, in both hives, have their liberty.
REMARKS.

This operation is both practicable and easy,
and is of prime importance to all cultivators,
who wish to avoid the necessity of hiving
them when they swarm; and yet it will not
prevent swarming, except in that part of the
divided colony which contains the Queen
at the time of their separation. The other
part being compelled to make another Queen,
(and they generally make two more) will be
likely to swarm to avoid their battle, as ex-
plained in Remarks on Rule 2. The hive
containing the old Queen may swarm for want
of room; but, at any rate, in performing the
operation, it has saved the trouble of hiving
one swarm, and prevented all danger of their
flight to the woods.

Multiplying colonies by this rule is a per-

MANAGING BEES. 43

fectly safe method of managing them, admit-
ting they are not allowed to swarm themselves
so low as to leave unoccupied combs, which
will be explained in Remarks on Rule 10.

RULE X.

ON PREVENTING THE DEPREDATIONS OF
THE MOTH.

All such stocks as are infested with the
moth, will manifest it as soon as warm weath-
er commences in the spring by dropping some
of the worms upon the bottom board. Let
the Apiarian clean off the bettom board every
other morning ; at the same time strew on a
spoonful or two of fresh, pulverized salt.

Immediately after a second swarm has come
forth from a hive, the same season, the old
stock should be examined; and if swarming
has reduced their numbers so low as to leave
unoccupied combs, the Apiarian should take
the Queen from the swarm, and let them re-
turn to the old stock. In case they remain
in a cluster, hive them in a drawer, and return
them immediately.

44 AN EASY METHOD OF

Third and fourth swarms should always
have their Queens taken from them and the
bees returned to the parent stock.

REMARKS.

‘This insect is a native of Europe; but has
found its way into this country, and naturali-
zed itself here.” —THatcuer.

This unwelcome visitor has interested the
attention and called forth all the energies of
the most experienced A piarians of our country,
and of many of the greatest naturalists in the
world. ‘Their movements have been observ-
ed and scrutinized by the most learned, their
nature has been studied, various experiments
have been tried to prevent their depredations ;
but after all the monster in gaudy hue marches
onward, committing the greatest havoc and
devastation, with but little molestation.

I have lost my whole stock at least four
times since 1808, as I supposed by the moth.
1 tried all the experiments recommended in
this and other countries, that came to my
knowledge; but, after all, I could not pre-
vent their ravages.

MANAGING BEES. 45

In 1830, I constructed a hive (which has
since been patented) which I supposed would
afford all the facilities for managing bees in
every manner that their nature would admit
of, and at the same time render their cultiva-
tion most profitable to their owner. By con-
structing windows of glass, on every side of
the hive, nearly the size of its sides, and dark-
ening them by closing doors on the outside of
the windows, which may be opened at pleas-
ure, [ have been able to discover many im-
portant facts, both in relation to the nature
and economy of the bee, and its enemy the
moth ; but, probably, much yet remains to be
learned concerning both.

The moth, when first discovered by the
common observer, is a white worm or maggot,
with a reddish crusted head, and varies in
size according to its living. ‘Those which
have full and unmolested access to the con-
tents of a hive, will frequently grow as large
as a turkey quill, and an inch anda half in
length. Others are scarcely an inch in length
when full grown. ‘They have sixteen short

46 AN EASY METHOD OF

legs, and taper each way from the centre of
their bodies to their head and exterior or
abdomen.

The worms, lke the silk worm, wind them-
selves into a cocoon, and pass the dormant
(chrysalis) state of their existence, and in a
few days come out of their silken cases per-
fect winged insects or millers, and are soon
ready to deposit their eggs, from which anoth-
er crop will be raised.

The miller, or perfect moth, is of a greyish
color, from three fourths of an inch to an inch
in length. They usually lie perfectly still in
the day time, with their head downwards,
lurking in and about the apiary. They enter
the hive in the night, and deposite their eggs
in such places as are uncovered, of course un-
guarded, by the bees. ‘These eggs hatch in
a short time, varying according to circumstan-
ces, probably from two or three days to four
or five months. At an early stage of their
existence, while yet a small worm, they spin
a web, and construct a silken shroud, or for-
tress, in which they envelope themselves, and

MANAGING BEES. AT

form a sort of path, or gallery, as they pass
onward in their march; at the same time
being perfectly secure from the bees, in their
silken case, which they widen as they grow
larger; with an opening in their front only,
near their head; they commit the great-
est havoc and devastation on the eggs, young
bees and all, that come in their way as they
pass.

When the moth has arrived to his full state
of maturity, he makes preparation to change
to a miller, by winding into a cocoon, as has
been already explained. The miller is sur-
prisingly quick in all its movements, exceed-
ing by far the agility of the quickest bee, ei-
ther in flight or on its legs. Hence the
enemy becomes so formidable that the bees
are easily overcome and soon fall a sure prey
to him.

Now in order to remedy the evils of the
moths, and prevent their ravages, and at the
same time aid the bees in their prosperity, and
make them profitable to their owner, I found
it necessary to use a hive differing materially

48 AN EASY METHOD OF

from the old box, and commenced operations
in the one already referred to, (called the
Vermont hive,) in a course of experiments
which have produced results perfectly satis-
factory. From six years experience in its
use, I have not the least doubt that bees may
be managed to the best advantage, and with-
out ever being materially injured by the
moths.

A beehive should be made in a perfect
workmanlike manner, so as to have no open
joints ; the boards should be free from shakes
and cracks, because the bees will make their
tenement perfectly tight, so as to exclude
light and air, by plastering up all such places
as are left open by the workman, with a kind
of mortar, or glue, of their own make, which
is neither honey nor wax, but is very congen-
ial to the growth of the worms in the first sta-
ges of their larva state, and being secured from
the bees by the timber, in a short time they
are able to defend themselves by a silken
shroud.

Now the miller enters the hive and makes

MANAGING BEES. 49

an incision into the bee-glue, or cement, with
ner abdominal sting, and leaves her eggs.
These eggs hatch there, and the brood subsist
on the glue until they have arrived so far to-
ward maturity as to enable them to encase
themselves in a silken shroud ; and then they
move onward.

Now unless the bees chance to catch him
by the collar, or nape of his neck, while feed-
ing, and drag him out of his place of conceal-
ment, they will be compelled to cut away
the combs all around his silken path, or gal-
lery, and drag out the worm and his fortress
all together. At the same time, the bees are
compelled to cut away the combs so far as to
destroy many of their young brood in making
room to remove the annoyance. I have
known them to cut away their combs from
four to eight or ten inches to remove this
silken shroud, and have known them to cut
and drag out their only remaining Queen be-
fore she was transformed to the perfect fly,
which occasioned the entire loss of the whole
colony.

50 AN EASY METHOD OF

Repeated experiments have demonstrated
the fact, that placing bees on the ground, or
high in the air, is no security against the moths.
I have lost some of my best stocks by placing
them on the ground, when those on the bench
were not injured by them. Ihave made a
groove in the bottom board, much wider than
the thickness of the boards to the hive, and fill-
ed the same with loam, I then placed the hive
on the same, in such a manner as to prevent
any crack or vacancy for the worms ; and yet,
in raising the hive four weeks afterwards, |
found them apparently full grown all around
the hive in the dirt. I have found them very
plenty in a tree ninety feet from the ground.

The best method, in common practice, to
prevent the depredations of the moth, is, to
suspend the bottom board so far -below the
lower edge of the hive as to give the bees
free entrance and egress al! around the same
during the moth season, or to raise the hive,
by placing under it little blocks at each cor-
ner, which produces nearly the same effect.
But I know of but one rule, which is an infal-

MANAGING BEES. Ht |

lable one, to prevent their depredations, and
that is this: keep the combs well guarded by
bees. See Rule 10.

Large hives, that never swarm, are never
destroyed by the moth, unless they lose their
Queen, melt down, or meet with some casu-
alty, out of the ordinary course of managing
them. They are not often in the least annoy-
ed by them, unless there are bad joints, cracks,
or shakes, so as to afford some lurking places
for the worms. ‘The reason for their prosper-
ous condition is obvious. The stock of bees
are so numerous that their combs are all kept
well guarded during the moth season, so that
no miller can enter and deposit her eggs.

Hives made so small as to swarm, are lia-
ble to reduce their colonies so small as to leave
combs unguarded, especially when they swarm
three or four times the same season. All
swarms, after the first, sally forth to avoid
the battle of the Queens ; constantly making
a greater draft, in proportion to the number
left, until the combs are partly exposed, which
gives the miller free access to their edges.—

52 AN EASY METHOD OF

The seeds of rapine and plunder are thus
quickly sown, and soon vegetate, and fortify
themselves by their silken fortress, before the
bees are aware that their frontiers are invaded.
While the moths are thus engaged in estab-
lishing their posts on the frontiers of the bees,
the latter are constantly and indefatigably en-
gaged in providing themselves with another
Queen, to supply the place of the old one,
which has departed with a swarm, and rais-
ing young bees to replenish their reduced col-
ony. Now as the moths have got possession
of the ground on their frontiers, it requires a
tremendous effort on the part of the bees to
save their little colony from a complete over-
throw.

If late, or second and third swarms, are al-
ways returned immediately according to the
rule, the combs are kept so guarded that the
moths are compelled to keep their distance,
or be stung to death before they can accom-
plish their purposes.

Hives made so large as not to swarm may
joose their Queen, and then they will-aban-

MANAGING BEES. 53

don their habitation and emigrate into the ad-
joining hive, leaving all their stores to their
owner, which, unless immediately taken care
of, the moths will not fail to destroy.

The moths are often complained of when
they are not guilty. Hives are frequently
abandoned by their occupants, in consequence
of the loss of their Queen, unnoticed by any
observer, and before any thing is known of
their fate, the hive is destitute of bees, and
filled with moths.

In the summer of 1834, one of my neigh-
bors had a very large hive that never swarm-
ed, which lost their Queen; and in the course
of a few days the bees entirely vacated their
tenement, and emigrated into an adjoining
hive, leaving the whole of their stores, which
amounted to 215 lbs. of honey in the comb.
No young bees or moths were discovered in
the hive. Instances of this kind frequently
occur, and the true cause is unknown, from
inattention.

The Queen may be superanuated, or may
become diseased in the breeding season, so as

5

54 AN EASY METHOD OF

to render her unfruitful; or she may die of
old age. {n either case, the colony will be
lost, unless supplied with another Queen»
as explained in Remarks on Rule 8; for
when the Queen becomes unfruitful by either
of the foregoing causes, the bees are not ap-
prized of the Joss which will in future be sus-
tained by them, until after the means of re-
pairing the same are gone beyond their reach.
All the grubs may have passed the various
stages of their transformation, or at least ad-
vanced so far towards the perfect insect, that
their nature cannot be changed to a Queen.
The Queen is much more tenacious, of life
than any other bee, and may live to a great
age. But one Queen exists in the same hive
any great length of time. When there are
more than one, the peculiar sound of each, as
explained in Remarks on Rule 2, is heard by
the other, which always results in a battle
between them, or the issue of a swarm in the
course of a day or two.
Bees, when placed in.a.dark room in the
upper part of the house, or some out-house,

MANAGING BEES. 55

are easily cultivated a short time with little
trouble, and are sometimes made profitable to
their owner; but as they are liable to some
of the same casualties as those kept in swarm-
ing hives, they cannot be as profitable.

Large colonies never increase their stock
in proportion to the swarming colonies. There
is but one female in a large colony, and they
can do but little more in raising young bees,
than to keep their stock good by replenishing
them as fast as they die off or are destroyed
by the birds, reptiles and insects, which are
great admirers of them and sometimes swallow
them by dozens. Now if it requires five
swarming colonies to be equal in number. to
one first described, it is not difficult to imagine
that five times as many bees may be raised
by the swarming colonies; for one Queen
will probably lay as many eggs as another.

The swarming hives are more liable to be
destroyed by the moth during the swarming
season, and no other, if the hives are kept
well replenished with bees according to Rule
10.

5%

56 AN EASY METHOD OF

RULE XI.

ON FEEDING BEES.

If it is found that a swarm need feeding,
take off the bottom board, and hitch on the
feeder, well stored with good honey, while the
weather is warm in October.

The Apiarian should use the same precau-
tion in feeding, as directed in Rule 4, to pre-
vent robberies.

REMARKS.

The best time to feed is in the fall, before
cold weather commences. All hives should
be weighed, and the weight marked on the
hive before bees are hived in them. ‘Then,
by weighing a stock as soon as frost has killed
the blossoms in the fall, the Apiarian will be
able to form a just estimate of their necessi-
ties. When bees are fed in the fall, they will
carry up and deposite their food in such a
manner as will be convenient for them in the
winter. 3

If feeding is neglected until cold weather,

MANAGING BEES. 57

the bees must be removed to a warm room,
or dry cellar, and then they will carry up their
food, generally, no faster than they consume
it.

A feeder should be made the same size of
the bottom of the hive, and in such a manner
as to fit with its floor level, when hitched on
like the bottom board. It should be of suffi-
cient depth to lay in broad comb, filled with
honey, without coming in contact with the
combs of the hive. If strained honey with-
out combs is used for feeding, a float, perfo-
rated with many holes, should be laid over the
whole of the honey in the box, or feeder, so
as to prevent any of the bees from drowning ;
and at the same time, this float should be so
thin as to enable them to reach the honey-
It should also be made so small that it will
settle down as fast as the honey is removed
by the bees. As soon as warm weather com-
mences in the spring, the feeder may be used,
Small drawers cannot be depended on as feed-
ers, except in the spring and summer, unless
they are kept so warm that the vapor of the

58 AN EASY METHOD OF

bees will not freeze in them. It would be
extremely hazardous for the bees to enter a
frosty drawer. They will sooner starve, than
attempt the experiment. Drawers may be
used without danger from robbers, but when
the feeder is used, robbers must be guarded
against as directed in Rule 4.

Care should be exercised, in fall feeding, to
supply them with good honey, otherwise the
colony may be lost before spring by disease.
Poor honey may be given them in the spring,
at the time when they can obtain and provide
themselves with medicine, which they, only,
best understand.

Sugar dissolved, or molasses, may be used
in the spring to some advantage, but ought
not to be substituted for honey, when it caa be
obtained.

Bees sometimes die of starvation, with plen-
ty of honey in the hive atthe same time. In
cold weather they crowd together in a small
compass in order to keep warm; and then
their breath and steam collect in frost, in
all parts of the hive, except in the region they

MANAGING BEES. 59

occupy. Now unless the weather moderates
so as to thaw the ice, the bees will be com-
pelled to remain where they are located until
their stores are all consumed that are within
their reach. One winter we had cold weather
ninety-fonr days in succession, during which
time the bees could not move from one part
of the hive to another. I examined all my
hives on the eighty-third day, and on the
ninetieth day I found four swarms dead. I im-
mediately examined for the cause, which was,
as already stated. I then carried all my hives
into a warm room and thawed them, so that
the bees could move. Some hives that I sup-
posed were dead, revived ; some few swarms
I found nearly, destitute of stores, which I
carried into the cellar, turned them bottom
up, cut out a few of the combs, so as to make
room to lay in combs filled with honey, which
served as good feeders.

7

60 AN EASY METHOD o¥

RULE XII.

ON WINTERING BEES.

On the near approach of winter, as soon as
the bees have receded from the drawers and
gone below, insert a slide, take out the draw-
ers, and supply their places with empty ones,
bottom up. Suspend the. bottom board at
least half an inch below the lower edge of the
hive. Clean off the bottom board as often as
the weather changes from cold to warm, giv-
ing them nearly as much air as in summer.
Close no doors upon tiem, unless they are
kept in a spacious room and in such a place
that the breath and steam of the bees will not
freeze.

REMARKS.

Various methods have been practised by
different individuals. Some have buried them
in the ground, others kept them in the cellar,
chamber, &c. One course only will be ob-
served in this place.

MANAGING BEES. 61

RULE? RIE
ON TRANSFERRING SWARMS.

This operation should never be effected by
compulsion.

First Mernopv. Insert drawer No. | into
the chamber of the hive, to be trans#rred as
early as the first of May. Ifthe bees fill the
drawer, they will recede from the lower apart-
ment and winter in the drawer. As early in
the spring as the bees carry in bread plenti-
fully on their legs, remove the drawer, which
will contain the principal part of the bees, to
an empty hive. Now remove the old hive a
few feet in front, and place the new one, con-
taining the drawer, where the old one stood.
Now turn the old hive bottom up. If there
are any bees left in the old hive, they will soon
return and take possession of their new habi-
tation.

Seconp Metuop. ‘Take drawer No. 1,
well filled by any hive the same season, insert
the same into the chamber of the hive, to be
transferred in September, (August would be
better.) If the bees need transferring, they
will repair to the drawer and make the, same

62 AN BASY METHOD oF

their winter guarters. ‘Then proceed in the
spring as directed in the first method.
REMARKS.

This management should excite a deep in-
terest in every cultivator, both in a temporal and
moral point of view. ‘Temporal, because the
lives of all the bees are preserved ; moral, be-
cause we are accountable to God for all our
acts. We are not to be justified in taking the
lives of animals or insects, which are but lent
blessings, unless some benefit to the owner
can be derived from their death, which will
outweigh the evils resulting from such a sacri-
fice. Duty compels me to protest, in the
strongest terms and feelings, against the mhu-
man practice of taking the lives of the most
industrous and comforting insects to the
wants of the human family by fire and brim-
stone.

When bees have occupied one tenement
for several years, the combs become thick and
filthy, by being filled up with old bread and
cocoons, mace by the young bees when trans-
formed from a larva to the perfect fly.

MANAGING BEES. 63

Bees always wind themselves in their cells,
in a silken cocoon, or shroud, to pass their
torpidand defenceless (chrysalis) state. These
cocoons are very thin, and are never removed
by the bees. ‘They are always cleaned im-
mediately after the escape of the young bees,
and others are raised in the same cells. Thus
a number of bees are raised, which leaves an
additional cocoon as often as the transforma-.
tion of one succeeds that of another, which
often occurs in the course of the season. Now
in the course of a few years the cells become
so contracted, in consequence of being thus
filled up, that the bees come forth but mere
dwarfs and sometimes cease to swarm. Combs
are rendered useless by being filled up with old
bread, which is never used except for feeding
young bees. A greater quantity of this bread
is stored up yearly than is used by them, and
in a few years they have but little room to
perform their ordinary labors. Hence the
necessity of transferring them, or the inhuman
sentence of death must be passed upon them,
not by being hung by the neck until they are

64 AN EASY METHOD OF

dead, but by being tortured to death by fire
and brimstone.

It is obvious to every cultivator that old
stocks should be transferred. Ihave repeat-
edly transferred them in the most approved
manner, by means of an apparatus constructed
for that purpose ; but the operation always
resulted in the loss of the colony afterwards,
or a swarm which would have come from
them.

When it is necessary to transfer a swarm,
insert drawer No. 1 into their chamber in the
spring, say the first of May. If they fill the
drawer, let it remain there; if they need to
be changed to a new hive, they will recede
from the lower apartment and make the draw-
er their winter quarters, which should remain
until warm weather has so.far advanced as to
afford them bread. ‘Then they may be re-
moved to an empty hive, as directed in the
Rule. Now the drawer contains no bread,
and should remain in the old stock until the
bees can provide themsevles with a sufficient
quantity of that article to feed their young

MANAGING BEES. 65.

bees with; for bread is not collected early
enough and in sufficient quantities to feed
their young as much as nature requires. If
the bees fail in filling the drawer, one should
be used that is filled by another swarm.

GENERAL OBSERVATIONS.

The reader might have expected many
things demonstrated in this work, which are
omitted by design.

The structure of the worker is too. well
understood by every owner of bees to need a
particular description. So also of the drone;
and the Queen has already been sufficiently
described to enable any one to select her out
from among her subjects. If any further de-
scription is desired, the observer can easily
satisfy himself by the use of a microscope.
Every swarm of bees is composed of three
classes or sorts, to wit: one Queen or female,
drones or males, and neuters or workers. The

66 AN EASY METHOD OF

Queen is the only female in the hive, and lays
all the eggs from which all the young bees
are raised toreplenish their colony. She pos-
sesses no authority over them, other than that
of influence, which is derived from the fact,
that she is the mother of all the bees; and
they, being endowed with knowledge of the
fact that they are wholly dependent on her to
propagate their species, treat her with the
greatest kindness, tenderness and reverence,
and manifest at all times the most sincere at-
tachment to her by feeding and guarding her
from all danger.

The government of a hive is nearer repub-
ican than any other, because it is administer-
ed in exact accordance with their nature. It
is their peculiar natural instinct, which prompts
them in all their actions. ‘The Queen has no
more to do with the government of the hive
than the other bees, unless influence may be
called government. If she finds empty cells
in the hive, during the breeding season, she
will deposit eggs there, because it is her na-
ture to. do so; and the nature of the workers

MANAGING BEES. 67

prompts them to take care and nurse all the
young larve, labor and collect food for their
sustenance, guard and protect their habitations
and do and perform all things, in due obedi-
ence, not to the commands of the Queen, but
to their own peculiar instinct.

The drone is probably the male bee, not-
withstanding the sexual union has never been
witnessed by any man; yet so many experi-
ments have been tried, and observations made,
that but little doubt can be entertained of its
truth. That the sexual intercourse takes
place high in the air, is highly probable from
the fact, that other insects of the fly tribe do
copulate in the air, when on the wing, as I
have repeatedly seen. ‘The doctrine that the
drone is the male bee, is probable from the
fact that they are not all killed at once; but
that at least one in each hive is permitted to
live several months after the general massa-
cre.

i examined four swarms, whose colonies

were strong and numerous, three months after
the general massacre of the drones, and in

68 AN EASY METHOD OF

three hives I found one drone each ; the other
was probably overlooked, as the bees were
thrown into the fire as fast as they were exam-
med. But there are many mysterious things
concerning them, and much micht be written
to little purpose ; and as it is designed to go
no further in illustrations than is necessary to
aid the Apiarian in good management, many
little speculations have been entirely omitted
in the work, and the reader is referred to the
writings of Thatcher, Bonner, and Huber,
who are the most voluminous and extensive
writers on bees within my knowledze.

- Bees are creatures of habit, and the exer-
cise of caution in managing them is required.
A stock of bees should be placed where they
are to stand through the season before they
form habits of location, which will take place
soon after they commence their labors in the
spring. They learn their home by the objects
surrounding them in the immediate vicinity of
the hive. Moving them, (unless they are car-
nied beyond their knowledge,) is often fatal to
them. ‘The old bees forget their new loca-

MANAGING BEES. 69

tion, and on their return, when collecting
stores, they haze about where they formerly
stood, and perish. I have known some fine
stocks ruined by moving them six feet and from
that to a mile and a half. It is better to move
them before swarming than afterwards. The
old bees only will be lost. As the young ones
are constantly hatching, their habits will be
formed at the new stand, and the combs will
not be as likely to become vacated, so as to
afford opportunity to the moths to occupy any
part of their ground.

Swarms, when first hived, may be moved at
pleasure without loss of bees, admitting they
are all in the hive; their habits will be formed
in exact proportion to their labors. The first
bee that empties his sack and goes forth in
search of food, is the one whose habits are
first established. I have observed many bees
to cluster near the place where the hive stood,
but a few hours after biving, and perish. Now
if the swarm had been placed in the apiary,
immediately after they were hived, the num-
ber of bees found there would have been less.

6

70 AN EASY METHOD OF

Bees may be moved at pleasure at‘ any
season of the year, if they are carried several
miles, so as to be beyond their knowledge of
country. ‘They may be carried long journeys
by traveling nights, only, and affording them
opportunity to labor and collect food in the
day time.

The importance of this parc of bee-man-
agement is the only apology I can make for
dwelling so long on this point. I have known
men of high attainments in literary knowledge,
as well as others, to suffer serious losses, in
consequence of moving their bees after they
were well settled in their labors.

Bees should never be irritated, under any

“pretence whatever. ‘They should be treated
with attention and kindness. ‘They should be
kept undisturbed by cattle and all other an-
noyances, so that they may be approached at
any time with safety.

An aplary should be so situated, that swarm-
ing may be observed, and at the same time
where the bees can obtain food easily, and in
the greatest abundance.

MANAGING BEES. 7)

It has been a general practice to front bee-
houses either to the east, or south. This doc-
trine should be exploded with all other whims.
Apiaries should be so situated as to be con-
venient to their owner, as much as any other
buildings.

I have them front towards all the cardinal
points, but can distinguish no difference in
their prosperity.

Young swarms should be scattered as much
as convenient during the summer season, at
least eight feet apart. They should be set
in a frame and so covered as to exclude the
sun and weather from the hive.

It is not surprising, that this branch of rural
economy in horticulture, in consequence of
the depredations of the moth, is so much neg-
lected. Notwithstanding, in some parts of
our country, the business of managing bees
has been entirely abandoned for years, I am
confident they may be cultivated in such a
manner as to render them more profitable to
their owners, than any branch of agriculture,
in proportion to the capital necessary to be

120 AN EASY METHOD OF

invested in their stock. ‘They are not taxa-
ble property, neither does it require a large
land investment, nor fences, neither does it
require the owner to labor through the sum-
mer to support them through the winter.
Care is, indeed, necessary, but a child, ora
superanuated person can perform most of the
duties of an Apiarian. The cobwebs must be
kept away from the immediate vicinity of the
hive, and all other annoyances removed.

The management of bees is a delightful
employment, and may be pursued with the
finest success in cities and villages, as well as
towns and country. It is a source of great
amusement, as well as comfort and profit.
They collect honey and bread from most
kinds of forest trees, as well as garden flow-
ers, orchards, forests, and fields ; all contri-
bute to their wants, and their owner is grati-
fied with a taste of the whole. Sweet mignon-
ett cannot be too highly recommended. ‘This
plant is easily cultivated by drills in the garden,
and is one of the finest and richest flowers in the

”%

: a
MANAGING BEES. 13

world from which the honey-bee can extract
its food. |

The Vermont hive is the only one I can
use to much advantage or profit, and yet
there are many improvements, which are far
superior to the old box. In the summer of
1834, I received in swarms and extra honey
from my best stock thirty dollars, and from my
poorest, fifteen dollars. My early swarms
afforded extra honey which was sold, amount-
ing to from five to ten dollars each hive; and
all my late swarms which were doubled, stored
a sufficient quantity of food to supply them
through the followmg winter.

The rules in the foregoing work, perhaps,
may be deemed, in some instances, too partic-
ular; yet, in all cases, they will be found to
be safe and unfailing in their application, liable
to exceptions, such as are incident to all spe-
cific rules.

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