Sifp 1.1.1 mm ICtbrarg North (Earnltna i'tate (Eollpgp 5F5Z5 C6 9471B This book may be kept out TWO WEEKS ONLY, and is subject to a fine of FIVE CENTS a day thereafter. It is due on the (lay indicated below: 12Jun'5l6 4m ^ ' Digitized by the Internet Archive in 2009 with funding from NCSU Libraries http://www.archive.org/details/mybeebookOOcott ^-^^/ 7 ; HUiJuiy ("^a^ j ^vuj^. (ru JutuJ iia^ UaA/tc\/u fiMfEAI2rn.voriA; or, the Female Monarchy. By the Rev. John Thorley 143 The Author to the Candid and Judicious Reader 145 Chap. VI. Sect. I. Language of Bees 155 IX. Of Ordering and Improving them in Colonies 161 X. How to Preserve them in Common Hives, uniting two in one by Fumigation 169 _. Sydserif's Treatise on Bees 177 The Preface 179 Chap. I. An Anatomical Description of the Common or Working Bees, and of the Effects of their Stings 183 III. The paiticulars of the Queen or Mother Bee, with various practical Experiments to prove the Loyalty of her Sub- jects 191 IV. On the Breeding of Bees, Wasps, and other Insects, with Directions for making yourself known to Bees, and to prevent being stung 200 V. Of tlie Swarming of Bees, and the Methods of discovering when they may be expected, with other matters 206 VI. On the Driving of Bees, with necessary Instructions for that purpose 216 \'II. The Manner of Bees' Working, and when and in what manner only they ought to be removed 218 VIII. On the Feeding of Bees, with Instructions for late Swarms, and the Hives most proper to be taken 223 XI. On the probable Profits of Bees, and of their Increase, with someof their Medicinal Properties 227 II. Letter to Cottagers on the Natural Theology of Bees 233 Appendix, No. II: — Hiiber's Preface 315 Extracts from My Own Note-Book 318 A Battle among the Bees 319 Apiarian Notes, from 1835—1838 321 PAGE Extracts from My Own Note-Book, continued. Swarm on an Espalier 321 Subjects of Investigation 326 Weight of Bees— their Burdens 327 Oxford Apiarian Society 329 Rules of the Society 330 Notes from Society's Scrap-Book « 332 Bean Piercing ib. Bees Drinking ib. Imperfect Embryos thrown out 333 Queen's Trumpeting ib. Queens cast out of Hives ..» 'b. Drones kUled ib. Wasps' Nest in a Hive >b. Weight of a Swarm ib. Prevention of Swarming - ib. Bottom-boards 334 Passage of Communication in Collateral Boxes 335 Nadir Hives 'b- Objections to our System 'b. Popular Objection answered 336 Collateral Straw Hives '*• Pasteboard Hives ib- Extracts from My Own Note-Book. Bees in Siberia 337 in Surinam (Cap/aJ7i Stedman) 338 Extract from Kirby 340 Bee Cuckoo and Honey Ratel 341 Bees in South America {Basil Hall) 342 Extract from 'SMute of Selbourne— Jesse's Gleanings 344 Sir Thomas Bro^-ne on the Bee's Voice {Vulgar Errors) i6. Translation from an Arabic Dictionarj' 346 -— Washington Irving's Tour on the Prairies. A Bee Hunt in America 350 Haitlib's Reformed Commonwealth of Bees. Virgil's E.xperiment tried in Cornwall 354 Taking Bees to New Zealand 355 Alphabetical Index to Letters I. and II 365 ERRATUM. Page 83, line 4 from bottom, for " fingers," read " fungus." LIST OF WOOD-CUTS. LIST OF WOOD-CUTS. Title Page. page Wasp's Nest. I. and II To precede Contents Straw Hive xvii Comb xxii Bee Castle xxx Comb in a Glass To face p. xxxi Glass of Honey xxxi Sting xxxvii Frontispiece to Letter I.— Piece of Comb To face p. 59 Queen laying Eggs 59 Chamouni 03 MurgThal 65 Smoking Tools 68 Hive prepared for Smoking 70 Bottom Board and Side Hives 77 Wooden Hive 79 Bee Stealing and Box 82 Winter Quarters and Condensing Glass 85, 8C Hives before Moving 88 Old and Young Bee 90 Bee Feeders 94^ 95 Bee Flowers 95 Bee Tools ;.. 99 Edmund Southern's Mark 101 Grecian Scene 107 Aqueduct near Carthage 108 Thorley's Frontispiece 142 Front View of a Colony 162 LIST OF WOOD-CUTS. PAGE Inside View of a Colony 170 Thorley in his Study 175 Sydserffs Frontispiece 176 Frontispiece to Letter II.— Piece of Comb To face p. 235 Comb and Slug 235 Bees' Honey Bag 252 Bee magnified, showing Scales of Wax 252 Wax-pockets and Scales magnified 253 Observatory Hive 262 Comb, showing the Hexagonal Top of the Cell 272 Cuts from Huber 274 Honey-combs 278 Drones' & Workers' Cells 279 Queen's Cell 280 Egg and Grubs 280 CeUs with Grubs 281 Comb with Silk Web 282 Stings 283 Queen's Cell 284, 287 Young Bees 289 Bees' Legs To face p. 290 Comb and Bee 292 Old and New Comb joined 293 Box with Combs 294 Suspended Hive 303 Seven Ages 305, 306, 307, 308 Vignette 312 Portrait of Hiiber 315 Hiving from an Espalier 322 Bees 326, 327, 340, 342, 344 Cottage Hive 328 Oxford Apiarian Society's Arms 329 Temple Hive 332 Sicilian, or Barrel Hive 337 BeeCuckow 341 Hornet 345 Arabic Device and Legend 346 Comb 349 A Bee Hunt 350 Arras 355 Plans for taking Hives to New Zealand 358, 3G1, 362 Vignette, Ship 364 Smoking Bees 365 Vignette. Waters Mete 368 LIST OF BEE BOOKS. A LIST OF BEE BOOKS. Albrecht, J. F. E. A Treatise of Bees ; entitled Zooto- mische und Physikalische entdeckungen von der innern einrichtung der Bienen, besondcrs der art ihrer begat- tung 8vo. Gotha: 1775. Allen, Beiij. On the Gall Bee. Phil. Trans. Abridg. ii. 769. Bagster, S. The management of Bees. 12mo. London: 1838. Bazin, N. Histoire Naturelle des Abeilles. 12 mo. Paris: 1784. Gouvernement admirable, ou la Republique des Abeilles Svo. Haye : 1746. Abrege de I'Histoire des Insectes, pour servir de suite k I'Histoire naturelle des Abeilles. 12mo. Paris : 1747. LIST OF BEE BOOKS. xxiii Beaunier, S. Sur I'Education des Abeilles. 8vo. Vendome: 1806. Bee, a numerous Genus of Insects, which have attracted an uncommon share of Attention in all Countries, and in every Age, on account of their Industry, Art, and Utility. 1539. Bee Friends, Almanack for . 12mo. without place : 1792. Bee Master and Bee Friend, Drops of Gold for. Nutte's System. Svo. Ulm: 1839. Bertin, M. Instruction sur la Culture des Abeilles. Svo. Paris: 1836. Bevan, E. The Honey Bee. . . 12mo. London: 1838. Beville, P. C. G. Traite de I'Education des Abeilles. 8vo. Paris: 1804. Bienayme, M. Memoire sur les Abeilles. 12mo. Mets: 1803. Bonner, J. Plan for increasing the number of Bee Hives. 8vo. Edinburgh : 1795. Bromwich, B. J. The experienced Bee Keeper. 8vo. London : 1783. Busch, F. B. Hand-book on Bees . . . Arnstadt : 1830. Butler, Chas. The Feminine Monarchic ; or, The History of Bees 4to. Oxford: 1634. Butler, Chas. The Feminine Monarchic ; or, a Treatise con- cerning Bees, and the due ordering of them. 12mo. Oxon: 1609. Butler, Chas. Monarchia Foeminina, sive Apum Historia. Interprete R. Ricardi 12mo. Londini : 1673. Chambon, A. Manuel de I'Education des Abeilles. 8vo. Paris : Thermidor, an 0. Christ, J. L. von. The Bee Catechism for Country Folk. 12mo. Leipsic: 1820. LIST OF BEE BOOKS. Christ, A. von. The Practical Adviser in Bee Keeping. 12mo. Quedlinburg and Leipsic : 1839. Chitius, Theo., or Dirck Cluyt. Upon Bees. {Van de Byen.) 12ino. Leyd. 1597. Comfort to Aristaeus ; or a few useful Hints on the Manage- ment of Bees 12mo. London : 1800, Copons, T. Marquis von. Short Guide to profitable Bee Keeping 12mo. Dresden : 1798. Cordier, Edmund. L'Abeille Fran^aise. 8vo. Paris: 1799. Cotte, C. Extrait des Memoires sur I'Education des Abeilles. Paris, an 11. Cotton, W.C. Letter to Cottagers. . 8vo. Oxon:1838. Cotton, C. The Planter's Manual. 12mo. London : 1675. Cramer, J. G. The wise and careful Bee Friend. 12mo. Leipsic : 1S03. Day, John. The Parliament of Bees; with their proper Characters. 4to London : 1G41. De Blangy, D. Traite de I'Education des Abeilles. 2 torn. 12mo. Paris: 1771. Debraw, John. Discoveries on the Sex of Bees, explaining the Manner in wliich their Species is propagated, with an Account of the Utilities that may be derived from these Discoveries, by their application to practice. 4to. Phil. Trans. London : 1777. Dedekind, L. C. Profitable Bee Keeping for Countrymen. 12mo. Giittingen: 1812. De Gelieu, J. Le Conservateur des Abeilles. 8vo. Mulhouse. 1837. De Grave, P. F. New Instructions in Bee Keeping. 8vo. Ghent: 1816. De la Lauze, C. F. A. Trailcs sur I'Education des Abeilles et des Vers a Soie. 8vo Paris: 1809. Lisr OF BEE BOOKS. Delia Rocca, M.l'Abbe. Traite complet sur les Abeilles. 3 torn. 8vo. Paris: 1790. Denys de Montfort, P. Ruche a trois Recoltes Annuelles. 8vo. Paris: 1813. Dercum, L. A. Discursus de Apibus, Melle, et Cera, prse- fixus Dissertationi sistenti anatomicE cereee prsestantiani. 4to. Wire: 1743. Dobbs, Arthur. Letter concerning Bees, and their method of gathering Wax and Honey. Phil. Trans. Abridg. xi. 841 : 1750. Dring, T. Treatise on Husbandry. Fol. London: 1681. Dublin Society. Listructions for Managing Bees. 8vo. Dublin : 1733. Dubost, J. F. Methode Avantageuse de gouverner les Abeilles 8vo. . Bourg : 1800. Ducouedic, P. La Ruche Pyramidale. 8vo. . Paris: 1813. Dudley, Paul. On the Method of discovering where the Bees hive in the Woods, and of obtaining their Honey, in New England Phil. Trans. Abridg. vii, 403. Ehrenfels, J. M. von. Bee Keeping. . 8vo. Prag. : 1829. Engel. Instruction sur la Culture des Abeilles. 8vo. Strasbourg: 1808. Fontenay. Manuel des Proprietaires d'Abeilles. 24ino. Bar-sur-Aube : 1829. Franconian Apiarian Society and Bee Calendar, Transactions of. 12mo. Nuremberg: 1770-1774. Fredei-ick, J. P. Practical Bee Keeping, in Alphabetical order 24mo. Beriin : 1800. Galissardus, Pet. Encomium Pulicis. . 8vo. Lugd. : 1550. D. H. HILL LIBRARY North Carolina State College LIST OF BEE BOOKS. Gedde, J. The English Apiary. 12mo. London : 1721. i Googe. Whole Art and Trade of Husbandry. 4to. London: 1614. Hartlibb, S. Reformed Commonwealth of Bees. 4to. . London : 1655. Hill, Hyll, or Hylle, Thos. Profitable Instructions for the perfect ordering of Bees. . . . 8vo. London : 1579. Londoner. A pleasaunt Instruction of the parfit Ordering of Bees, with the mervelous Nature, Propertie, and Government of them ; and miraculous uses both of their Hony and Waxe (serving diversly) as well in inwarde as outwarde causes : gathered out of the best writers. Black letter. 8vo. London: 1568. Londoner. The profitable Art of Gardening, &c. ; with The maruellous Gouernement, Propertie, and Benefite of the Bees, with the rare Secretes of the Honie and Waxe. 4to. London: 1579; and 12mo. 1568; and 4to. 1586. Hints for promoting a Bee Society. 8vo. . London: 1796. Histoire Naturelle des Abeilles. 2 tom. 12mo. Paris : 1744. Histoire Particuliere de I'Abeille Commune. 8vo. Paris: 1805. Hoffman, G. F. The newest Experience in Bee Keeping. 12mo. Quedlinburg and Leipsic : 1837. Hiiber, F. Natural History of Bees. 12mo. Edinburgh ; 1808. Natural History of Ants. 12mo. London: 1820. New Observations on Bees. 12mo. Edinburgh : 1821: Nouvelles Observations sur les Abeilles. 12mo. Paris: 1796. Nouvelles Observations sur les Abeilles. 2 tom. 8vo. Paris: 1814. Hiiber, P. On Humble Bees. . Trans. Linn. Soc. vi. 214. LIST OF BEE BOOKS. Huisb, R. Treatise on the Nature, Economy, and Practical Management of Bees 8vo. London: 1815. Hunter, John. Observations on Bees 1792. Isaac, J. The General Apiarian. . 12mo. Exeter: 1803. Janscha, A. Treatment of Swarms. 12mo. "Vienna: 1774. Jardiue, Sir W. Naturalist's Library. 12mo. Edinb. : 1840. J. M. Account of a strange sort of Bee in the TVest Indies. Phil. Trans. Abridg. ii. 775. Kastner, A. G. Collection of Plans for Bee Keeping. 12mo. Gotha and Gottingen : 1766. Keys, J. The Practical Bee Master. 8vo. London : 1780. The Ancient Bee Master's Farewell. 8vo. London: 1796. Kirby, W. Monographia Apum Anglise. 2 vols. 8vo. Ipswich : 1802. Knight, T. A. On the Economy of Bees 1807. Lawson, Wm. A new Orchard and Garden ; as also the Husbandry of Bees, with their several Uses and Annoy- ances, &c 4to. London: 1618, 1626, 1648. Levett, J. The Ordering of Bees. . 4to. London : 1634. Limburg, C. F. The Origin and Nature of Robber Bees. 12mo. Langensalza : 1776. Lister, Martyn. Account of Bees breeding in Cases made with Leaves Phil. Trans. Abr. ii. 772. Lombard, M. Manuel des Proprietaires d'Abeilles. 8vo. Paris: 1825. Sur les Abeilles. . . . 8vo. Paris: 1805. Maclaiurin, Colin. Of the Basis of the Cells where the Bees deposit their Honey. . . Phil. Trans. Abr. ix. 2 : 1743. Markham, G. The English Husbandman. 4to. Lond. : 1613. xxviii LIST OF BEE BOOKS. Martin, A. Manuel du Proprietaire d'Abeilles. 12mo. Paris: 1828. , J. & A. Traite sur les Abeilles. 8vo. Paris: 1826. Matuschka. Contributions to the Knowledge of Bees. 2 vols. 12mo. ZUllichau : 1804. Mills, John. An Essay on the Management of Bees. 8vo. London : 1766. Murphy, Arthur. The Bees : a Poem. Svo. London: 1799. Nagel, H. Complete Review of the Monthly Directions for Bee Keeping 12mo. Munich: 1823. Natural History of Bees. Translated from French. Svo. London: 1744. Nutt, T. Humanity to Honey Bees. 8vo. Wisbeach : 1835. Palteau, M. Construction de Ruche de Bois. 12mo. Metz : 1756. Payne, J. H. Apiarian Guide. Svo. . . London : 1838. Pingeron. Les Abeilles. (Poem.) 12mo. Amst. : 1770. Polhiil, Nathaniel. On Mr. Debraw's Improvements in the Culture of Bees. . . . Phil. Trans. Ixxiii. 107 : 1778. Purchas, S. Theatre of Politicall Flying Insects. 4to. London : 1657. Quiqueran, Beaujeu, M. T. Veuve Barras. Memoire sur I'Education des Abeilles Svo Paris : an 8. Radouan, J. Manuel des Proprictaires d'Abeilles. 12mo. Paris: 1828. Reaumur. Natural History of Bees. Trans, into German. 4to. Frankfort and Leipsic : 1759. Reed, Rich. Some Communications about on an early Swarm of Bees, &c Phil. Trans, vi. 2138 : 1671. LIST OF BEE BOOKS. xxix Remnant, Rich. The History of Bees. 4to. London : 1637. Riem and Werner. Practical Bee Father. 12mo. Leipsic : no date. Hand-book of Bee Keeping. Trans, from Chambon. 12mo. Dresden : 1804. Rucellai, G. Le Api, (Poema) colle annotazioni di R. Titi. 4to. Pad.: 1718. Rusden, Moses. A further Discovery of Bees. 12mo. London : 1679. Serain, P. E. Instruction sur la Maniere de gouverner les Abeilles Svo. Paris : 1802. Smith, R. Cottager's Bee Book. . 12mo. Oxford: 1839. Southerne, Edward. A Treatise concerning the right Use and Ordering of Bees, newlie made and set forth, ac- cording to the Author's own Experience ; which by any heretofore hath not been done. 4to. . London : 1693. Spitzner, J. E. Perpetual Bee Calendar. Svo. Leipsic : 1810. Practical Guide to Bee Keeping in Straw- Hives r2mo. Leipsic: 1775. Stiles, Sir F. H. F. A Specimen of the Labour of a kind of Bees, which lay up their Young in Cases of Leaves, which they bury in rotten Wood. Phil. Trans. Abr. xi. 521. Thorley, John. Melissologia, or Female Monarchy, being an Inquiry into the Nature, Order, and Government of the Bees 8vo. London : 1744. Turner, R. Plane Trigonometry; in which is shewn a curious Trigonometrical Method of discovering the Places where the Bee hives in large Woods. . Folio. London : 1765. Vauquelin. Analysis of the Propolis, or Mastic of Bees. Nicholson's Journal, v. 48. LIST OF BEE BOOKS. VVaider. True Amazon ; or, Monarchy of Bees. f 8vo. London : 1720. White. Collateral Bee Boxes. . . 8vo. London: 1706. Wildman, D. Guide for the Management of Bees. 8vo. London: 1819. Wildman, Thos. Treatise on the Management of Bees. 8vo. London ; 1770. Willughhey, Fran. About the Hatching of a kind of Bee, lodged in old Willows. . Phil. Trans. Abr. ii. 774 : 1670. Worlidge, John. Apiarium, or a Discourse of the Govern- ment and Ordering of Bees, with their Nature and Pro- perties. 12mo London: 1078. k p Floriferis ut apes in saltibus omnia libant, Sic nos. — Ll'CRETIVS. The careful Insect 'midst his works I view, Now from the flowers exhaust the fragrant dew; AVith golden treasures load his little thighs, And steer his distant journey through the skies. Some, against hostile drones, the hive defend. Others, with sweets the waxen cells distend ; Each in the toil his destined office bears, And in the little bulk a mighty soul appears. Gay. etc 13ce ts small among t^c fotolcs, stt Uotft its fruitc passe in stDfttntsse. EcCLESlASTlcus xi. 3. Translation, ed. 1603. PRELUDE OF MOTTOES. How dolh the little busy Bee Improve each shining hour ! And gather honey all the day From every opening flower ! IIow skilfully she builds her cell ! How neat she spreads the wax ! And labours hard to store it well With the sweet food she makes ! Watts's Divine Songs. Je pique mais j'attache. Madame de Sevigne's Motto. So work the Honey Bees, Creatures, that, by a rule in nature, teach The art of order to a peopled kingdom. They have a king, and officers of sorts : "Where some, like magistrates, correct at home ; Others, like niei chants, venture trade abroad; Others, like soldiers, armed in their stings, Make boot upon the summer's velvet buds ; Which pillage they with merry march bring home To the tent royal of their emperor: Who, busied in his majesty, surveys The singing masons building roofs of gold ; The civil citizens kneading up the honey ; The poor mechanic porters crowding in Their heavy burdens at his narrow gate ; The sad-eyed justice, with his surly hum Delivering o*er to executors pale The lazy yawning Drone. Shakspeare. Henry /'. Act i. Scene 2. Qfiuv ri TO yivos ru tuv MeAiTTOf. Old Greek Piiilosophek. Sic vos non vobis nielli ficatis Apes. Maro, an old Bee-master PRELUDE OF MOTTOES. AioKf, Tjfj,fpodaWes tap (palvovcra, MeAjtrcra* s,ovda., e \a\6((r(Ta, tov fvirrepov d irrfpSeffffa PRELUDE OF MOTTOES. Tov ^evov &. ^elva, tov Oepivdv Oepivd. Oux^ Toxoy ()l\l/eis ; ov yap de/xis ovSt S//c«ioj/ 'OAAu(r0' xiixvoiroXovs vii.voi:6\ois arofxacriv. EUVENUS. attic mailren, f)ont^ fetr, €f)irpinff tpartilev, trars't atoay, HLf^ou. tftc tusg tuning lUee. €o tt8 callolD trooti a jreg. SMarbler t^ou a toartler seije; SliSaiugcli, one toitfj lobely toings ; ©ufst t^usclt fig cummer firougl^t, gellotD guest, to^om summer firings. 312ailt not (lutrfelg let it Irrop ? •JTis not fair, inUeeD 'tis torong, ©tat tfjc ceaseless tuarfiler sfioullr mic ftp moutfi of ceaseless song. Merivale's Translation. Where the Bee sucks, there suck I. Shakspeare. Tempest, Act V. Scene 1. Pope Urban VIII. had for his bearing, azure, three Bees, or. A Frenchman, who regarded him as more attached to his nation than to the Spaniards, wrote this line: CALLIS MELLA DABUNT, HISPANIS SPICULA FICUNT. To which the Spaniard answered : SPICULA SI FICANT EMORIENTUR APES. The Pope was made to answer in an ingenious way, and in a manner perfectly consistent with his office of pastor to the church, CUNCTIS MELLA DABIT, SED NULLIS SPICULA FICET, SPICULA REX ETENIM FIGERE NESCIT APUM. Louis XII. entered Geneva bearing a coat studded with a swarm of Bees, or ; a King in the middle with this motto : REX NON UTITUR ACULEO, to show that he pardoned the rebellion of the Genevese. Guillim's Heraldry. PRELUDE OF MOTTOES. The Commons, like an angry Hive of Bees, That want tlieir leader, scatter up and down, And care not whom they sting. Shakspeare. 2 Henry VI. Act iii. Scene 2. A DEAD BEE MAKETH NO HONEY. Herbert's Proverb. EVERY BEES HONEY IS SWEET. Herbert's Proverb. As God hath given them stings, let us adore The awful emblem ; nor in God's great world Wish adders baneless ; but by graver thought, Gather sweet honey from the stinging Bees ; And adder's oil 'tis said will heal its wounds. The Baptistery. But for your words, they rob the Hybla Bees And leave them honeyless. Ant. Not stingless too. Brti. O yes, and soundless too ; For you have stolen their buzzing, Antony, And, very wisely, threat before you sling. Shakspeare. Julius Casar, Act v. Scene 1. STINGS. IF YOU DO NOT HURT HER; BUT IF YOU DO MOLEST HER, PREFACE. The following Work is printed in its present en- larged form, as it seems not unlikely that it may prove acceptable to Bee-keepers of another class than that for which it was originally written. Simplicity of style and clearness of expression were mainly aimed at in the two ^^ Short and Shuple Letters to Cottagers, from a Bee Preserver" I believed, and I have found on trial, that if any one sets about writing, after making up his mind to draw only from " the well of English, pure and undefiled" he will be able to give form to at least all the ideas which he could do by adopting a more bombastic style : one, tainted and defiled, I must call it, by an useless admixture of barbarisms and words of foreign fashion. I have therefore not at all altered the style of the Letters, which were intended for the Cottagers of England. English is no where spoken so purely or so forcibly as it is by the villagers in those counties which have no dialect of their own. AU classes therefore cannot do better than try to speak and write as the poor speak. The poor have not the same temptations from foreign travel, the reading of ill-written books, and the senseless fashions of the times, to corrupt and debase their mother tongue. And a distinct language is one of the bad signs of a sepa- ration in thought and interest among those who should be bound up together as one great family, by the tie of blood and of country, to say nothing of that higher bond of union, in virtue of which we are all brethi-en. It is more than a sign. — It has contributed to bring about this unhappy result, and unless we spui'u it from us, will be the means of perpetuating it.* I have added an Appendix, containing some expe- riments and observations, which woidd be useless to cottagers, but which other Bee-keepers may repeat if they please. I have also appended a cui-ious account of the management of Bees in the far-famed Mount Hymettus, for which I am indebted to the late la- mented Davies Gilbert, himself an exjierieuced Bee- keeper of no ordinary standing. Many communications have oh'eady been received, addressed to me by kind, though unknown, friends, in consequence of the invitation at the end of the first Letter. These I shall stiU be happy to receive and to answer, as far as lies in my power, if directed to me, care of ]Mi-. JNIilton, Italian Warehouse, Great Mary- lebone Street, f I have pi-efixed to this "Work a list of * Instances of this will occur to every one at all read in history, both in ancient times, and in those which preceded the French Revolution. May God keep us from these evils, and give us wisdom to see the signs of danger even in the changes of language! t At his Apiarian Repository, models of all the Hives described in this ^Vork may be seen, and any one or more of the full size may be procured, simply by sending to him the number prefixed to the desired article in the list of Hives, which is contained in the Appendix, with a remittance for the amount. The Hives will be sold at 15 per cent, above the contract price; 10 per cent. B 2 Bee books, the most complete, I believe, whicli has hitherto appeared. It includes a large number in my own possession, to which my initials are prefixed. I shall be most happy to lend any which my readers may wish to see, and will thank them much if they will put me in the way of completing my list, by sending me the name of any bookseller who may have works on the subject not named therein. But my list is not confined to those in my possession : — it includes a large number be- longing to Mr. Dawson, Botesdale, Bury St. Ethnond's, a kind though unseen friend ; also the collection of Mr. Payne, author of the Apiarian Guide ; and those belonging to INIr. Milton, the agent for the sale of the Hives described in this book. The list is brought still nearer to completion by the aid of Watts's Biblio- theca, and the works contained in the British Museum. I shall thank any one who will aid me in filling up the list, by sending the name of any work not will be the retailer's profit, and 5 per cent, will he applied as prizes to the most successful and deserving Bee-keepers. Particulars as to the places where the prizes are to be given will be made known in the respective districts around each Apiarian depot. The con- ditions to be observed by competitors are given in the Appendix. Mr. Milton will be happy to receive names of tradespeople in the country, who may be willing to take charge of branch depots upon the same terms. PREFACE. xli contained therein, which they possess or have Ifeard of, directed to me, care of IMi*. Milton. My first Letter has, I am happy to say, fully an- swered the end for which it was written. A very large impression has already been sold; many have found their way into the hands of cottagers, but doubtless the largest part of the impression has been taken oiF by those who cannot lay any claim to this houoiired name. This is in itself a good, as it has, I trust, led very many to put their own poor in the way of keeping Bees, and by the best teaching, that of example, to show them how it may be done. As for profit, I do not pretend to have made much by my Bees, though I hope the Bees of England will make much by me before I have done with them. At least, they will get as much by me as their lives are worth, and I will leave each Bee to put a price upon his own life, and the sum total which they put on them- selves will be the value of the good I have, or shall do to English Bees : to say nothing of what my book, if any copies go into foreign parts, may do to outlandish Bees. I have aU along looked not to my own profit, but to the good of others as my first object. I trust I shall always do so, even if I were to pay as much every xlii year as my Bee experiments have hitherto cost. I think I have now learned about common things, and the way of Bee-keeping, as much as a man of my age can hope to do ; as much as time, care, and trouble can teach a man : so henceforth, I hope to get more honey with less trouble ; and to find that I have benefited MYSELF, WHILST I HAVE MAINLY TRIED TO HELP OTHERS. This is the best reward that a Christian man can get in this world, even in greater things than Bee- keeping. I have ah-eady made many Bees my friends, and Bee-keepers too, and hope before I die to increase my stock. My first Letter was intended to be a manual of Bee-keeping, my second of Bee-observing. The second cannot stand without the first ; the first is needed for profit — but he who neglects the second, loses all the pleasure and instruction wliich may be derived from this most delightful of all country pursuits. I would venture to give one or two pieces of advice, thougli wcll-nieaut advice is often taken ungraciously. I. Do not attempt too much at first, especially with the poor, — show them how they may take up their stocks in Autumn in the old way, using the fungus, and then join the Bees to their other stocks. xliii I would most earnestly beg the aid of the clergy and resident gentry, but, above all, their good wives ; in a word, of all who wish to help the poor who dwell round about them in a far humbler way, yet perhaps not less happily ; I would beg them, one and all, to aid me as an united body, in teaching their poor neighbours the best way of keeping Bees. Many people think the poor may be helped most, by giving them small allot- ments of land. I think this may do much ; and 1 will, whenever I am able, help on this plan. But much difficulty is often found in getting land ; and I do not think it is so certain or so safe a way of doing good, as by giving a poor man a stock of Bees, and then showing him how to take care of them, and to profit by them ; for digging is thirsty work, and the beer-shop often stands hard by the allotment : so, although the labourer after his daily toil may go by himself to his plot of ground, yet he is very Ukely to find one or two gar- deners, tliirsty like himself, to walk toward home with him, but before they get there to drop into the beer- shop ; and when once there, snugly seated in the chimney corner, neither I, nor, what is worse, their poor wives, can tell when they will get out of it. But a row of Bees keeps a man at home : all his spai-e moments may xllv PREFACE. be well fiUed by tending them, by watching theii' won- di'ous ways, and by loving them. In winter, he may work in his own chimney corner, at making Hives both for himself and to sell. This he will find almost as profitable as lus Bees, for well-made Hives always meet a ready sale. Again, his Bee-hives are close to his cottage door ; he will learn to like their sweet music better than the diy squeaking of a pot-house fiddle, and he may listen to it in the free open air, with his wife and children about him. They wiU be to him a countless famUy. He will be sure to love them if he cai'cs for them, and they wiU love him too, and repay all his pains. Many u lesson a man and his wife may teach their chikh-en at the mouth of their Hives ; for a Bee-garden is only second to a Sunday-school. As I told the Cottagers, in my first Letter, a good Bee-master must not bt uncfiastc ariU tmrlranli.) ; for impuritj? a\xls Blut= liiirss (tfjcmsflbrs being most rtiastc anlr neat) tfirj) uttnig abfjor : tf)ou must not romr among tfirm cmrlUng of stDcat. or fja))ing a sttnktng trratl^, raiisrli citOrr t^roug^ rating of Ifffes, onton. garlirfe. anti t^r lifer, or tjj ana otlirr mrang, ti^c noisomrnrss tDfjrirof is rorrrrtrli toitlj a cup of trrr; tf)ou must not be gibrn to surfriting or Itvunfernnrss. The best Bee-master is a water-drinker, for Bees only xlv di'iuk water ; — but they are no tee-totallers, as I have shown in my first Letter, for beer and sugar is their best winter food ; and as a Bee-keeper's breath must be corrected by a cup of small beer, I should recommend, above all other diinks, one filled with good honey ale. The most simple method of joining stocks is given in the present edition of my Letter. I myself instructed a cottager, Joseph Bai'uett, whose name I must here mention, in the method of doing this, and sent him round to other Bee-keepers. Where they would not adopt it themselves, his plan was this : he said, " I will give you a shilling to let me take your honey for you, if you will let me take the Bees away with me." " Take them, and welcome," was the usual answer, " and much good may a parcel of Bees, if you don't kill them, do you, without the comb." I had a small deal box made to cai"ry them in, and when he got home, he united them to my own stocks. I have now one in capital condition, to which the Bees of four stocks were joined in the autumn of 1839. It is the most healthy and strong stock I ever had. On the 7th of March, 1840, I began feeding them ; as I always do in the spring, to put my Bees into heart. On the 9tli. which was a Avarm day, they took into the middle box B.3 :lvi four pounds Aveight of sugar, besides a little water, with whicli I mixed it. They immediately raised the temperature of their Hives twenty degrees at least, and the work of breeding no doubt went on rapiiUy. Any cottager who sold me his Bees that year, would, I am sure, be unwilling to do the same again, and learn that he may profit by no more using the sulpliur match. Some people have thought that it is impossible to introduce a new system, like that which I recommend, generally among the cottagers, who are so much wedded to the ways in which their fathers have walked before them. "With this feeling I am the last to quai-rel ; but I was resolved to try what I could do ; for I was sure that if I gained my end, I should benefit them by the change. Now success, far beyond what any teacher of new ways has a right to expect, has been granted to me. As a proof of this, I will give a conversation which took place the other day between Joseph Barnett and myself. " Well, Barnett, what do the people about Cumnor now think about our plan ?" " Oh, Sir, they take to it wonderful." " Wliy how is that ? they would have nothing to do with it at first." PREFACE. xlvi " Yes, Sir ; but they saw tliis year that my double Hives — what you call the mai'riecl Hives — were the first to swai-m, whilst many of them got no swarms at all. So this year they have all smoked theii- Bees instead of burning them." " Well, how many Hives have you this year ?" " Not so many as last. Sir." " Wliy how is that — I thought you said they were all taking to it ?" " Why you see. Sir, my eldest son is so deadly fond of smoking Bees, that I have given the job up mainly to liim ; and he has got many a shilling this yeai' by taking up the stocks of the people round about me." " Well, I am glad to see, Barnett, that he is walking in his father's steps, and makes an honest penny by saving the Bees' lives ; — but do not call it deadly fond, though I know what you mean — you should say, lively fond ; for both he and you pre\'ent much Bee-murder." II. Do not be put out of heart by tAvo or three bad seasons — the years 1838 and 1839 were the worst, for Bees, I ever i-emember. Many persons who have not succeeded as they could wish have laid the blame at my door, though the weather was the cause. I should xlviii PREFACE. hope, however sorry they may be for the bad sea- sons, they will not dare to blame IIim "who layeth the beams of His chambers in the waters : who maketh the clouds His chariot : who wallvcth upon the wings of the wind."* " He maketh peace in thy borders, and filleth thee with the finest of the wheat. He sendeth forth His commandment upon earth : His word runneth very swiftly. He giveth snow like wool : He scattereth the hoar-frost like ashes. He casteth forth His ice like morsels : who can stand before His cold ? He sendeth out His word, and melteth them : He causeth His wind to blow, and the waters flow."-]- ni. Do not begin keeping Bees with a single stock ; some accident may happen to them, and then you may cliance to be discouraged, and give it up altogether, or at best have to begin again. I have been a Bee- keeper for four-and-twenty years, and of course have in my time met with failures and reverses : sure success in any pursuit is not the lot of man ; but the three maxims, " "\^liat's done can't be helped," — " Better luck next time," — " Try again," — are good • Ps. civ. 3. t Ps. cxlvii. 14—18. PREFACE. xlLx Stock mottoes for the Apiary, and of great use there, as in the common affairs of life. IV. Al\\^ays believe your own eyes if you see a thing ten times ; you may be mistaken once, but each time you will keep a better look-out. Wlien you are sm'e of a thing, do not be laughed out of it by those who think they know more about it than yourself. For instance, I myself have united stocks over and over again, and so if all the world was to tell me that it was impossible, as one man has done, I should not believe it. But always keep your temper when you try to show them that they are wrong. I have said that I have been a Bee-keeper four-and- twenty years ; my first liking for it was given to me by my kind father reading to me a translation of the fom-th Georgic of Yirgil. I suppose I was born an experimentalist, so I went out next morning with a full determination to try a grand one. I found a shed wliich would do nicely, which had all that Virgil requires. jfivit. tficrr is fouiitr a plarr, small nntr narrotDrU for ti&e brrg use, sfiut in tij a Icrtlr ttlflt^roof anU rIosrtJ tDallrs. tfirougt toftirft tftc lig^t romrs tn asfeaiit by four toiniioiBM, farrtug tfjc four potntrs of ffjc rompass.* flrit is founiJ a ttooijjrar-oltr bull ralf, toftosr rrooftrtr fjornrs trr just itquu ning to tuti; tf)f bract bis nosr^fjolrs antr brratbing arc stoppfti, in spitr of bis murb Ittrfeing ; anti after !)f batb brrn tbumprti to iirat^r, bis rntrailrs, bruisrU as tbnj brr, mrlt insiHr f)is rntirr sUiimr. Cbis Hour, br is left in tf)c plarr aforr=prrparrt(. anlr untirr bis sitrrs arc put bitts of bougbrs, anii tbcmf. a"^ frrsf)=plurfefir roscmarir. 3nii all tf)is tiortbr take plarr at ttr srason tobrn tbr }rpbi)rrs arr first rurlring tf)r toatrrs, brforr tfte mratrrs brr rutrtrj? toitb tbrir spring^ilrr rolours, anti brforr tftc stoallohj, tf)at Irrtlr rftattrrrr, tiortbr bang brr nrst again tf)t bram. En timr, tl^r toarm bumour brginurtb to frrmrnt tnsiiir tbr soft bonrs of tbr rarrasr ; anti toontirrful to trll tftrrr apprar rrraturrs, footlrss at first, but Inbirb soon grtting unto tfirmsrlbrs toingrs, minglr togrtfirr anti biij$ about, joging morr anti ntorr in tbrir ainj lifr. at last, burst tbri? fortft, t^irfe as rain=tiropprs from a summrr rloutir. tfjirlt as arrolnrs, tbr tobirfi iMbr tbr rlanging stringrs to^rn tftc nimble IDartfiians mal^r tbrir first battrl on6rt."t— OW Transhifwn. * This sliglit anaclironism was, no doubt, introduced by the man who has so faitlifully done into English these true lines of Old Maro, in consequence of the invention of the compass attracting universal attention at the time he wrote. Perhaps some one learned in MSS. may find the original in the British Museum. At all events, Mr. , who thinks himself infallible in detecting the date of composition by its style, may favour me with the exact year when it was done into English. t Exiguus primuni, atque ipsos contractus ad usus Eligitur locus : hunc angustique imbrice tecti Parietibusque premunt arctis ; et quatuor addunt, Quatuor a ventis obliqua luce fenestras. Tum vitulus, bima curvans jam cornua fronte, Quaeritur : hulc geminse nares, et spiritus oris Multa reluctanti obstruitur ; plagisque perempto Tunsa PREFACE. 11 I had no pity for the poor cow — no, not I — when a swarm of Bees was to be the glorious result : she would surely, I thought, be happy in her death, as she , would give life to so many glorious creatiu'es. But I was not quite sure that I should be able to act the part of Guy, Earl of "Warwick, the cow -killer, however much I might resemble him in spirit. I mistrusted my infant strength, and doubted much whether I could stop up her nose-holes without assistance ; so I straightway let the farming man into my counsels, promising him — what I considered an irresistible bribe not to tell — a very small taste of my first honey ; he, however, to my astonishment, did not enter into my views ; my cow -killing propensities were divvilged abroad, and the Tunsa per integram solvuntur viscera pellem. Sic positum in clauso linquunt ; et ramea costis Subjiciunt fragmeuta, thymiim, casiasque recentes. Hoc geritur, Zephjris primiim impellentibus iindas, Ant6 novis rubeant quiim prata coloribus, ante Garrula quani tignis nidum suspendat liirundo. Interea teneris tepefactus in ossibus humor iEstuat : et visenda modis animalia miris, Trunca pedum primo, mox et stridentia pennis Miscentur, lenuemque magis, magis aera carpunt : Donee, ut SEstivis effusus nubibus imber, Erupere ; aut ut nervo pulsante sagitt^, Prima leves ineunt si quando prsElia Parthi. YiKGiL. Geors. IV. 295—314. Hi matter was compromised, and the cow's life spared, by the gift of a stock of Bees. If any excuse were wanted for my infant credulity, I would refer to an extract from the work of a fuU-growu man, which . I have quoted in the Appendix, who declai-es that Virgil's experiment was in liis time repeated with success in Cornwall. I am, therefore, I trust, quali- fied, by a long apprenticeship to the ai't, to know a Drone from a Worker, though it be written in a book that I do not. I wrote a simple unpretending Letter of four-and- twenty pages, for the sole purpose of putting my friends, the Cottagers, in the way of keeping their Bees on a better sjstem. I was careful to say nothing I which I had not myself proved ; for, not to speak of the love for truth, which I trust I sincerely feel j in common with all good men, I well knew that the , adoption of my plan, as a whole, would be entirely I mai'red by the detection of even the slightest inaccu- I I racy in any of the details. I Avas doubly careful, then, : to state nothing but facts. Judge then of my surprise . when I heard that my little pamphlet of twenty-four ; pages was to be i-efuted, and myself overwhelmed, by a I book which would never have appeared had I not liii written. My tract, as I liave said, was twenty-four pages. The first nineteen pages of tliis new work were entirely occupied by exposing my inaccuracies, detecting my falsehoods, and wai-ning every one against the adoption of the plan which I recommend, without pretending that it is at all new. TTell ! here I am, none the worse for this attack, and beai'ing no malice against jNIi'. Smith. I know him not personally, and can only trust that the good traveUing title, jMi\ Smith, is a nom de guerre, adopted for the purpose of this 'pretty onslaught. It has had one good effect on me : it has led me to go over the same ground, step by step, by wliich I was brought to my former conclusions, and I am happy to say that they are still unshaken. IMi". Smith had better look at home ; for I think that when the Bees are appealed to, they will fail to confirm many of his statements. Hequiescat in pace ! that is, may his book rest imdistm'bed on his publisher's shelf, for so alone it can do no damage to the poor Bees. To give one example of a thing which I stated on my own personal experience, in the accuracy of which statement my veracity is of course involved, and in which Mr. Smith attempted that difficult thing, to prove liv PREFACE. a negative. I said in mj first Letter, " If you want to catch any of the Bees, make a bold sweep at them with your hand, as though there was no such thing as a sting in the world. I have so caught three or four at a time." To this it is answered, " They were Drones, I appre- hend. I don't recommend this experiment."* I repeat, without hesitation, my former statement, and can appeal to swarms of my friends who have seen me among my Bees, whether I cannot do stranger things than this. Moreover, I do recommend the experiment, at least to every one who desires to become the familiar friend of his Bees ; and without being so, no Bee- keeper can be successful. He loses the high pleasure of feeling that liis Bees know him, and confide in him ; and is enabled to do fearlessly and jn-omptly whatever they require. Mr. Smith may have kept Bees twenty years, but I have kept them four-and-twenty, and so by this time may have learnt what a Drone is. Even were I blind, like poor Iluber, I could tell one by the sound it nuikes wlien fiying. I could tell one by the touch, for I can * The Cottager's Bee Book, containing Remarks on the Con- servative Bee-keeper, founded on Twenty Years' Experience. By Richard Smith, Oxford, 1839. PREFACE. Iv put my hands into a parcel of Bees, and pull out the Drones with my eyes shut. Above all, then, be kind to your Bees, and be patient, be watcliful, be ready to learn a lesson even from them ; and then, whether or no you succeed in Bee-keeping, your temper, whoever you ai'e, must be improved. Many a man, out of health and spirits, has gone to bask in the cleai' sunshine, at the mouth of his liives, and has thus, for a time at least, for- gotten his cai'es or his pains ; with heart attuned to their sweet music, he has learnt fresh confidence in that heavenly Father who " correcteth those whom he loveth ;" and has been led to feel that none of his actions, even the most trifling, are beneath the care of that God who made him as well as them ; who showeth the same wisdom in these small insects as in man, created in His own image — to whom He hath given His sure promise, that " the Lord is good to all, and His tender mercies are over all His works." * * Psalm cxlv. 9. POSTSCRIPT. A Postscript, I have heard from Ladies, often contains the most important part of a letter. I am sure that I have herein to discharge one of the most pleasing as well as important duties which falls to my share as the writer of this Preface, viz. to acknowledge my sincere obligations to Josiah "Wood Whimper, No. 20, Canterbury Place, Lambeth, for the great care and infinite trouble he has taken in drawing and cutting the illus- trations of this volume. I would particularly refer to the figures of Comb in its several stages, which I think have never been equalled. Whenever any drawing did not please me, it was done again, without one word of complaint. The result has fully repaid me for all the pains I have taken ; but I shall have an additional reward, if other students of Natural History are induced to follow my example, and publish the result of their experiments and observations ; and I cannot doubt but that many of my readers, when they have finished my volume, will wish to hear from me again, and respond to my parting words, VOS VALETE ET PLAUDITE. LITTER T© '^©TTA^Em. iii=M^i.pini:. rl^it m-iU #mp5i %rim t^ mnmtm A BEE PRESERVER. " Sweet dropping words, like honey, he did shed." Spekser. i\lY GOOD Friends, XoTHEVG gives me greater pleasure in a country walk than to hear a busy Bee buzz by my ear, as I pass the fence of a cottage. A row of Bees is 60 NEVER KILL YOUR BEES. always a good sign. It shows that the owner takes pleasure in his home. He has something to fill up his spare minutes better than the beer- shop, and far more profitable too. Whenever I stop to have a talk with him about the Bees, I always get a civil answer, and thanks for any thing I can tell him. There is an old and true saying, that it is no use trying to help a man who will not help him- self Now the cottager, who keeps Bees, is trying to help himself and his family too ; and the help . which I can give such a man will most likely come to good. I often hear, that when a man has good luck in the swarming time, and when it is luckily a good Bee year, the money he gets for his honey goes a good way to pay his rent, or to get some warm things for the winter. Xow some years are certainly better Bee years than others. Man has nothing to do with the weather. But I wish to show you, my friends, how to make the most of good years when they do come, and that a little common senses with pains taken in a good way, has more to do with the matter than what you call LUCK. In the first i)lace, then, never kill your bees. Many of you will say, " Our father and grand- father did so, and why should not we ?" (Now it is a very good rule to do as your fathers did, when THE OLD OXFORDSHIRE THATCHER. 61 you are not quite sure you can do better, but I hope to show you that this new path is better and straighter too.) " We tliink it far the best way to bm-n the lightest and the hea^-iest. The first would not live through the winter ; we may get something from them, and plenty from the heavi- est." This is very well for those who know no better ; but I am sure you are all willing to try a better way if you hear of one, as every one of you must feel some sorrow when you murder by thou- sands in the autumn those who have worked hard for you all the summer, and are ready to do so again next year. I myself was told by a Bee- master that he always saw the ghosts of the Bees the night after he burned them ; and have heard of an old woman who never went to chm'ch the Sunday following. She felt she had done a most cruel deed, and she was right in so thinking, though wrong in staying away from church for this reason. If she felt it a sin, she ought to have gone to church, to pray God from her mmost soul to pardon her, and then gone home, with her mind quite ready to learn from any one wiser than her- self a better mode of taking her honey. She might have taken a lesson from the Bee-master about whom I am going to tell you, had she been so happy as to know him. An honest Oxfordshire thatcher, who had all his Ufe long kept Bees, and made a FRENCHMEN, SWISS, AND GERMANS. good profit of them too, was asked by a brother Bee-master why lie liad got rid of his stock. " Oh," said he, " I am an old man, (he was above seventy,) and like to die soon, and I know I shall then liave to give account of the least thing I now do ; and so I cannot bear to murder my poor Bees by thou- samls !" A copy of this Letter was then given to him. He was much pleased with it, and took kindly to his Bees again in his old age ; and I hope tlicy Avill not only help to keep liim, but cheer him too, all the days he has to live. But to pass over the cruelty ; — if I can show that you may get mucli more honey without killing your Bees, the least you can do (if you will not take a friend's word for what he himself has done, and seen many otliers do in England and in foreign parts,) the least you can do is to try the plan with half your stock. Keep an account of what you get from each, and use that plan with all, which after five years gives you most honey. In France, Germany, Switzerland, indeed every- where, except in England, they never kill their Bees. AVhenever I asked if they did so, they smiled at my question, and said, " Oh, that would never do ; we should never keep up our stock !" " How, then, do you get the honey?" " Oh, nothing is easier!" Even in hard things, the proverb holds, 3iLll)f« tftrrfs a bill, tijrrc's a toag ; CHAMOUNI BEES. and these very poor cottagers, Avithout half the means we have, never hiirn their bees ; and surely an Englishman is as clever and as little fund of cruelty as a Frenchman or Swiss. I remember but one place abroad, Avhere they kill their Bees — Chamouni in Switzerland, close under ISIont Blanc. The winter there is very long and tedious, and the honey season very short. The honey also is very good, and so fetches a very high price. All these terys combine against the poor Bees. The peasants wish to get every ounce of i honey they can to sell to John Bull ; so they take i up all their stocks directly they begin to wax OUTLANDISH HONEY TAKING. lighter, and trust to their friends and partners in the low country to supply them with swarms in the following spring. Then the same system of murder goes on as before. But even here, where the cold makes the case an unusual one, I think a different plan would be found more profitable, as certainly it would be more humane. I do not know whether the plan of keeping the stocks through the winter has ever been fairly tried at Chamouni, l)ut think it would succeed; for a whiter cannot be too cold for Bees if they are kept dry. The spring there comes on with a jump, un- like "the spring that comes slowly up this way," — unpleasant both to English Bees and Englishmen ; but there the snow melts, and the flowers are out, as if by magic, in a week or so ; and my belief is, that the Bees would come out in full force, all the l)ettcr for their long sleep, as soon as the flowers are ready for them ; but, even if it is found a bad plan to keep stocks all through the printer, they might, by smoking their Bees, instead of burning them, take all the honey which they do at present. They should then send their Bees in a bag or box to Salenchc and other places, whence they look for swarms in the spring, and they would get both earlier and better swarms from these united Hives than they have on their j^-esent plan ; but this one cxccj)ti()ii rather ])rovcs my rule. I know BEE-KEEPER IN THE MURG THAL. G5 no other place where Bee-murder goes on abroad as it does amongst us. Let us try to do the same; for what you now think hard, they find easy, though they do it in a rough sort of way. Some of them make their straw Hives with the top to take off, and fasten it down with wooden pegs: in July, they pull out the pegs, and with a large knife cut aAvay the top of the Hive from the combs which are fixed to it, like the top of a pumpkin :* they then cut out w4iat honey the Bees can spare, never caring for those which are flying about their heads : for they will not touch them if they have a * See the second volume of this work, being extracts from some books in the author's possession. FROGS' CHEESE-PUFF I'ALI.S. pipe in their mouth. AVlicn they have helped themselves, they peg the top down again, and leave the Bees to make all straight, and gather ho- ney enough for the winter in August and Septem- ber, which they can easily do in heath countries. Others put another large Hive on the top of a strong stock in May, as is done in some parts of England, which prevents their swarming. This Hive they take off when full. Others turn up their Hives in July or August, and cut out some of the combs. Others, who know more about it, place square wooden boxes one on another, putting empty boxes below, and taking away full ones from the top. I saw a doctor in Switzerland take ho- ney from twelve Hives; he got lolbs. from each; but this gives coarse honey, as I shall soon shoAV. Some who know more about it, put an empty wooden box in front, and take it when full. These ways arc clumsy, much worse than those I am going to teach you, Init all better than burning the Bees. AVcU then, let this be your first rule. Never kill one. That you may be able so to do, every thing nuist be got ready beforehand. You may find in damp meadows a fungus, which chil- dren call "Frogs' Cheese," and "Puflf Balls." When quite ripe, if you pinch them, a dirty powder, like smoke, will come out. Pick them when half ripe. The largest are the best, and they often grow to the HOW TO MAKE BEES OVERTAKEX. G7 size of a man's head. Put them in a bag, and when you have squeezed them to half the size, dry them in an oven after the bread is drawn, or before the fire. The fungus is fit for use when it will hold fij*e like tinder ; keep this dry till the time you take your Bees. Linen rags soaked in nitre will do, when the fungus cannot be had ; but even rags are worth money. The fungus may be had for picking. In the autumn weigh your Hives ; mark those which are heaviest and lightest. This, of com'se, you cannot do r'lglitlij, unless you know the weight of your Hives when empty. So always weigh them before you put the swarms into them, and mark the weight on the outside, that you may not forget it. Casts, except they are very early and strong, will seldom stand the winter, or they will be so weak next spring, that they will do no good. Wlicn the honey season is over, stop up over night all you intend to take up. These stocks should, if possible, stand next to good hea-sy ones, to wliich you may join the Bees in the way I am going to tell you. You should get a little tin box fitted to the nose of your bellows, having a sort of spout coming from it, which fits the door of your Bee- hive. Take a piece of fungus twice the size of a hen's Qgg, light it, and Avhen it burns freely, put it into the box; fit it into your bellows, and blow the smoke into your Hive. Stop that part of the SMOKING TOOLS. door u]) with wet clay wliich the tin spout does not fill, that none of the smoke may get out. The Bees at first will make a great buzzing ; in about five minutes all will be as still as death. Lift the Hive 1 OLD MAIDS SMOKER. 2 BELLOWS AND SMOKER. 3 TIN BOX SMOKER. 4 CLAY PIPE SMOKER. o < gently off, and tui*n those Bees which have fallen on to the bottom board into a large white dish. They will be quite harmless and still, as if they had been burned with brimstone ; but the fungus docs them no harm ; it only makes them drunk, which is very good i'or Bees, tliough bad for men, as they get well in twenty minutes, have no head-ache next WHERE TO LOOK FOR THE QUEEN. morning, and are all merrier afterwards, and it was not their fault that they were so overtaken. Look for the Queen Bee, which may be easily known from her likeness to the Cut. It is well to have many people round the table to search for her, as also to cut out the combs and sweep the Bees off; for many hands, as well as eyes, are bet- ter than one. If you find her at first, put her softly on one side, and sweep all the other stupid Bees with a feather into the white dish. Then cut the combs carefully out, one by one, and if you have not abeady found the Queen, look sharp for her on each comb. Nine times out of ten she does not fall down, but holds fast to the top of the Hive, in the very middle : so that the sharp man — sharp as a Bee's sting, like Joseph Barnet — who keeps the Hive in his own hands, and cuts the combs out (mind you do it carefully, or you may be so unhappy as to become a regicide,) has a much better chance of finding her majesty than those who are hunting for her among the Bees that have fallen down. If you are only going to take the combs out of one Hive, and wish to make sure that there is a good healthy Queen in the other in which the united stock is to live, you may get a sight of the Queen in this way; we will sup- pose that she has not fiillen down with the rest, for, be the reason what it may, the Queen is stupi- now TO FORCE THE (iUEEN OUT OF HIVE. ficd by the fungus less easily than the ^^algal• herJ, either the Bees in their loyalty crowd round her, and so ward off the fumes as long as they can, till they themselves drop, or sh'3 has a stronger consti- tution than the rest ; be this as it may, she very often does not drop from among the combs. In order to get a sight of her, turn tl.e Hive upside down, combs, Bees, and all; then blow a little smoke through the bung-hole in the top of the Hive, which is now the bottom, put a thick cloth over the Hive, and the Queen will be among tlie first who will crawl up to its upper edge; seize her. USE IIRIl TF.XDERLY, FOR ON HER thc llvCS and happiness of tliousands depend ; then go on with your work. Pour the Bees all back into the Hive from which you have cut the combs, and set it in it^ old phicc till thc evening. You ought to leave little bits of coml) sticking to the top of the Hive, al)out which thc Bees, whose honey you have taken, will cluster like a new swarm ; they will set about iiOW TO MARRY STOCKS. clearing out the broken bits of wax and putting the Hive straight, as fiist as they can. Anybody who does not know what you have done, who comes into your garden, would think this your strongest stock, instead of being a kingdom of paupers without a Queen. In the evening blow a little smoke into the strong Hive which stands next to them : when the Bees are a little quiet, turn it up gently, and pom* some large spoonsfiil of honey and water, or sugar and ale, into the combs where most Bees are clustered together. Put three bricks on the bottom board, so that when you set the Hive down again, no Bees may be crushed; then take the Hive from which you took the combs in the morning, and, with one smart blow, knock all the Bees out upon the bottom board of the strong Hive whose Bees you have sugared. Set their Hive gently in its place on the bricks, over the Bees wliicli you have just knocked out ; they will begin to lick the first drops of honey wliich trickle on to the board, and will be led up by the scent of that which you have poured into the combs, to mix themselves with the other Bees. They will take to one another Avhen they have helped each other to clean oif the sugar with thcu- tongues. The fact of their helping each other in their troubles makes them friends, just as it does urowu men, and children, who are small men 72 HOW TO BLOW PUFF-SMOKE FROM A PIPE. and women. Or, to give you a still easier way : turn that Hive topsy-turvy from which you have taken the combs, and in which the queenless Bees are; tie a wet cloth round the part where the two hives join, after you have sprinkled the Bees, who are to be married, with, some honey sweets ; tliis will draw the others up, and it will be all right by morning ; then put the married Hive back in its place. Those cottagers who cannot stand sixpence to buy the tin smoking-box, may blow the fungus smoke into their Hives in any other way they please. I have seen it done with a tobacco-pipe, made three or four times larger than usual on purpose. The smoker puts the bowd into his mouth and jiuffs away. This cannot be very plea- sant, though it answers very well. To give you another way: — An empty Hive may be set topsy- turvy in a pail, to steady it. A lump of the fungus may then be stuck in a stick, split at one end, and made sharp at the other. The fungus must ])c lit, and the sharp end of the stick stuck at the bottom of the empty Hive ; then place the Hive to be smoked over this, and tic a w'ct cloth round, to keep the smoke in : of course the two Hives must be the same size, or this plan will not do. In a few minutes the Bees will begin to drop dow^u, and you will hear them rattle at the bottom of the empty Hive like hail ; tap it a little, and they TOO MANY COOKS. will drop tliicker; when they are all quiet, take the Hive off, and treat them as before. The bad part of this plan is, that some of the Bees are sure to fall on the bm'ning fungus, and I am sure you would be very sorry to kill any one of them ; so if you cannot get a tin-box to fit into your bellows, or the smoking tin, or the tobacco-pipe, try this plan; light a lump of fungus, and put it on a saucer, place a cup topsy-turvy over it, to prevent the Bees falling into the fire ; a piece of wood must be put under the cup, to keep the edge up, that the smoke may rise ; then place tliis old maid's smoker, — for cups and saucers are old maid's peculiars, — in the Hive which is topsy- turvy. The last plan is the simplest, costs nothing, for the cup and saucer may be returned unhurt if unbroken, and is therefore the best All this may be done in less time than I have taken In writing about it, if you have any one or two people standing round you to help you : you will not get a single sting in doing it. Remember the old saying. Coo tiiang Coofes sjioil tf)f bvo\f} : they spoil Bees too ; so do not let many people crowd into your garden, besides those who are there to help you ; except some neighbour who is a Bee-keeper wishing to learn the plan, and then YOU SHOULD BE WILLING TO TEACH HIM ALL YOU HOW TO MARRY CASTS. KNOW, JUST AS I HAVE SHOWN YOU THIS BETTER WAY. The best way to join two casts is to smoke them both, and then jioiir the Bees from two dishes into a large milk pan, first some of one and then some of the other, sprinkhng them gently (not enough to daub them) with a little honey and water. Take away one Queen, and then put the united parcel into a Hive with one comb fastened to the crown of the Hive. This will make them take readily to one another, as an united and loving family to their new home. You will thus get a good, strong, and profitable stock, instead of two weak and compara- tively worthless casts. Always do this Avith your casts, if you chance to have two, on the same or following day; but make this a standing rule, never keep a cast in a Hive by itself; either join it to another, or marry it to one of your stocks which wants strengthening; or, if you do not know what to do with it, give it to one of your neighbours, that he may start Bees. You may make him, or one of his children, a little fortune, without hurting yourself; for, with care, a cast taken to a good Bee-place, which is up to that time un- stocked, may become the founder of a vast colony. By carefully following these directions, any cottager may be saved the hateful task of becoming- executioner to his own Bees; indeed, the common THE GOLDEN GOOSE. 73 way of taking honey is as if a shepherd were to kill his sheep for the sake of the wool. It is the story of the golden goose acted on a large scale, only in this case the murdering Bee-master is hmiself a very sorry goose. By following my directions, the cottager gets all the honey he would obtain by the old, cruel, and wasteful plan. Always join yoiu' weak stocks at swarming time in this way. Even if you are lucky enough to have none weak, always unite your casts to a Hive which, though strong, has plenty of room, for the same NUMBER OF BEES (as I shall show you soon) will DO 3IORE GOOD TOGETHER THAN THEY WILL IN TWO parcels; but, above all, never use the sulphur match in the autumn, now you know my better way ; if you do, you deserve to be sulphured your- self, for Cfje fBcrrtful {Ban ts mnriful to Ijts 13rast, and so is the merciful Bee-master to his Bees. The most wonderful thing is this, — that a DOUBLED HIVE WILL EAT NO MORE HONEY IN THE WINTER THAN A SLNGLE ONE. The rcaSOU of it seems to be, that where there are many Bees in a Hive, they can keep warm by hanging close toge- ther, instead of eating; so that, in a full Hive, the same quantity of honey goes further than in a weak one, as each Bee eats less. They keep them- CHANGE OF BEE PASTURE. selves warm from the outside, and so do not require to be heated in the inside; as a man who can, by keci)ing Bees, or any otlier honest way, have a good coat on his back, is warm enough Avithout a brandy bottle. This alone wovdd show how good the plan is. It was found out one hundi'ed years ago by a INIr. Thorley, and was always used by him. The wonder is, it has not been moi'e used. Make your Hives with a hole at the top, an inch and a half over, with a bung to fit into it. This is needful for the plan of capping, which I am now going to teach you. In May, w hen your Hives get full of Bees, and they begin to hang out, put a small straw Hive, which will hold about lOlbs., on the top of the strong stock, after you have jiulled out the bung from the hole at the top. It should have a bit of glass worked into the back, that you may see when it is full. In good places, or where honey-dew is plenty, the Bees wiU fill it sometimes in a week or ten days. Directly it is full, take it off, it will be white honey; and, as the first in the market, will fetch at least sixpence, sometimes a shilling more than that taken in Sep- tember on the old plan. "Well, Barnet, what have you made by your Bees this year ?" " Oh, Sir, not much, for the latter part of the summer, as you well know, has been very bad for Bees. But, thanks to God and my little caps, I have still THE USE OF CAPPING. 74 made a pretty penny by them. I took some caps, some of them weighing 10 lbs., and, as we had a very fine May, they were quite full, and perfect pictures. I got two shillings a pound for them from the Oxford gentlemen. The summer and autumn have been so wet, that my stocks have no honey to spare, though I hope they will get safe through the winter; and I shall have a rare stock for next year, if God pleases to send us a good Bee year, for we have had none of late." These little caps will give room for the Bees to work, who other- Avise would hang out idle at the mouth of the Hives, waiting for swarming. I have had them hanging out for a month together. The Bees do not know the time when the Queen will be ready to swarm. Even when she is ready they are often kept back many days by clouds or winds ; and they are too wise to tire themselves by work on a day when they may have a long journey to go in swarming. Not only are they idle, but the other Bees are forced to feed them ; for every Bee that goes off with a swarm has his stomach full of honey, which is taken from the common stock. By means of the cap, you make those Bees work for you, who would otherwise be idle. The cap must not be larger than the size I have told you. If you put on a full-sized Hive, as done abroad, p. 66, you give them so much room, and 75 A BEE HUNTER AT SPA, WHO HAD 200 HIVES. make the Hive so much cooler, that they will not swanu at all. But this cap will not make them swarm one clay later than they would otherwise do. Besides, if the cap is too large, the Queen will lay her eggs there also ; and when you take it off, you will find black combs instead of virgin honey. This is the most simple and easy change in the com- mon way of keeping Bees, which any one may try. So much for the stocks which you wish to swarm. I will now show you, that when you have once got your stock up to its full numl^er, it is much more profitable to prevent their swarming. I am no enemy to Bee-swarming; far from it. There is no pleasanter sight in a garden than to see a Bee-swarm : there are no pleasanter sounds than those which wait upon your Bees when they swarm. Keep some good stocks for the sole pur- pose of swarming ; they will keep up your Hives to their full number. Do your best to prevent the others from swarming, and then they will be profitable to you. And as to the number of stocks, few cottagers keep enough; there is hardly more trouble in taking care of twenty stocks than two. In Germany I saw a man, in a good honey country, who had two hundred ; he managed to kcc}) them all rich, and so to make money of them, by changing their j)lace as the honey season varied. Sometimes he sent them to the moors, sometimes to the meadows, COTTAGERS DO NOT KEEP UP THEIR STOCKS. 75 sometimes to the forest, and sometimes to the hills. On the old plan of burning the Bees, a cottager's stock is sometimes large, sometimes small. After a bad honey year, he is often tempted to burn many of his good old stocks, in order to make up l^y numbers the same quantity of honey which in better years he will get from few. Suppose he leaves three stocks, of wdiich two stand the winter, and the next year turns out a very good Bee year, he is then not ready to make the most of it,* and of course only gets one- tenth of the honey which he would if he had twenty stocks, as he ought to have. Man has nothing to do with the weather, as I said before : and I am very glad of it, for I am sure it is managed much better as it is. All I can do is to show you how you may make most use of a good year, get a fair quantity of honey in a middling year, and not lose all your Bees, as many people do, in a bad one. It is found that in ten years, four are very bad years; four middling years; and two very good, when almost any quantity of honey may be got on a good plan. 2901bs. have been taken from one stock, without hurting the Bees, by a method which I will teach you presently; while the heaviest cottage Hive I ever heard of was under lOOlbs., and this was not a first year's stock, so the * Tliis happened to me in the capital Bee year, 1S32. MORE HONEY MY WAY, honey was not of fine quality. I just now said It is better not to let all your Bees swarm ; tliis you don't think ; but wait a little, and listen to me. If I with ten stocks get 601bs. of honey, which I easily can, from each, without destroying one of my stocks, am not I better off at the end of the year than you, whose ten stocks have all swarmed, and who, when you take up all the swarms in the autumn, think yourself well off if you get 20lbs. from each ? You get 200, I get GOOlbs. of honey. But I Avill show you how to be as well off" as I am. I have said it is best to prevent swarming : now hear the reason. The Queen Bee lays from 10,000 to 30,000 eggs in the year. In a stock containing 3000 Bees, ahuost all of them in mid- dling years will be busy in nursing the grubs, for they are such good mothers that they think it their first duty to feed their young ; gathering honey is their second. A swarm goes off: you have two Queens, each with 3000 Bees, busy in rearing the eggs which the two Queens lay all tlu-ough the summer. They have no time to gather honey, and so in a bad year, a stock with plenty of Bees in it will be often almost empty and worthless when you take it up in the autumn, and sometunes even die in the summer if it is not fed. In Sussex I saw a man who took up four stocks in the autumn of 1838, and only got 61bs. of honey from them BY PREVENTING SWARMING. all. Xow, if jou prevent swarming by giving tliem plenty of room, 3000 Bees, who were nurses before to the grubs of one Queen, wall be enough to do the nursing work to the Hive, though it be so much larger ; for each Hive has only one Queen, and one Queen cannot lay eggs enough to require more nurses, though two may. The other 3000 will store honey for you in the spare room you give them, which you may take as I will show you. But before I fully explain my own plan, as I am going to speak of bottom boards, I w^ill say that stone and slate stands, I think, are very bad for Bees. They are too cold; the Bees which in the winter come down upon them get cliilled, and cannot get up again. "Wooden bottom boards are far best, as well as most handy; the harder the wood is, the better, as it is less liable to dry rot. I w^ill now teach you a plan by which fresh room (more than a cap can give) may be added to a straAv Hive ; it acts as Avell as side boxes, and costs less. Side boxes w^ere invented by the Rev. Mr. AAHiite, a hundred years ago, and the plan I am now going to teach you is so simple, that any cottager who can use a chisel, or even a knife, may make liis own bottom boards. Its great merit' is, that it costs nothing. It all liinges upon making the Bees of a Hive, wliich in jNIay would swarm, on the old plan, pass into the SEEKING A NEW HOME. open air through an empty Hive, wliich is a sort of entrance-hall to the full one. A strong stock Avill soon take possession of this new land, instead of being forced to the painful step of sending out a colony, and thus seeking a new home. This seems as painful to Bees as it is to Englishmen, for they avoid it whenever, and as long as they possibly can, though it must often be done by both. My plan is, as if an empty country, as big as England, were by some magic art moored alongside our little isle, and were to present an open field for our over-teeming people. Such a move would doubtless increase the happiness of Old England as it does that of the Bees. As the matter now stands, Canada or New Zealand must be the English- man's home, just as the new Plive is to the Bees. You do not like to leave your own fire-side, and go many miles across the rough sea, unless you are forced to do so ; but many more of your children must make up their minds to quit their own fire-side, unless God sends a plague or a Avar to cut us off by thousands and tens of thousands at once. This cure for the evil none of us, I hope, wish to see, though we must take it patiently if it comes. We must send out Colonies, for England cannot be enlarged as a Bee-hive may. I will now teach you how this may be done. It sounds very pretty in writing, and would be as pretty in prac- SIDE HIVES. 77 tice if you will but try. Look at the wood cut. The bottom board is made so Ions; that two Hives can stand on it, side by side ; the ring in the middle shows the place where your old stock must work during April and the beginning of May. AYhen it gets so full of Bees that it will soon swarm, shift the old stock to the right, and put an empty Hive on the other ring to the left. Stop them nicely round; the Bees will soon become used to their new house, and you may take 78 BETTER LUCK NEXT TIME. it as soon as it is full. Nothing is easier: you have only to blow a little smoke into the new Hive, and the Bees will quit it, then take it to a small distance, and they will fly home ; if they are unwilling to leave it, you may be quite sure that the Queen is in the Hive. She is gone to visit her new kingdom, just as Queen Victoria will go some day to visit Ireland and Scotland. Put it back to its old place, and comfort yourself with the good old proverb, Haetttv hicfe iipxt time. Try again some fine day, and you will find, I hope, the Queen in her own proper home. Any old box, or a large flower-pot, will do to put on, very well, instead of a second Hive, A drum which has had figs in it will do capitally, for you can put a bit of glass neatly into the back, and thus see when the Hive gets quite full, as well as watch the Bees whilst working. Mind that you cover this glass over, when you are not looking at them, as the Bees do not like the light. The square hole, wliich is under the new Hive, is to let in cold air for ventilation, of which I shall talk to you pre- sently. A plan something similar to this is men- tioned in an old book on agriculture, printed in 1681, by Thomas Dring, at the corner of Fleet Street; but it failed, from the ignorance which the ROBERT JONES. 78 author shows in it, on many points, about Bees. I am glad, however, to find that some one else has thought of that before, Avhich was found out afresh by a clever Welsh gardener, Eobert Jones, in the summer of 1837. KeassttB is tlje inctl&fr of inbrntion. He found it so, as others. The man men- tioned in Thomas Dring's book put a glass Hive in front of his full straw Hive, and did not put on any cover to keep the light out, and then won- dered that the Bees did not take to it kindly. It would have been odd if they had done so. But Eobert Jones covered his glass, and so the Bees straightway took to their new home. A board should of course be fixed to the top of the straw Hive, to carry the cap. It should be strong, so that it may not warp. If you make it of inch and a half stuff, you may drive four auger holes from the outside into the hole by which the Bees pass from the full Hive. Nail a piece of zinc with holes in it, at the end of each hollow way, to pre- vent the Bees passing through them into the open air. Now, the black mark in the left-hand side of the board (p. 77) is a square hole cut in it, with two bits of zinc sliding in it, one full of holes, the other without any. Wlien the Hive gets hot, pull out the one without holes; open the hole at the top of the 79 TO VENTILATE CAPS. j Hive, and put something full of small holes there, I to prevent the Bees coming out, or insects getting in. A piece of cotton wool will do. You all know I hot air goes up ; so there will be a free draught through the Hive, which will keej) the Queen j away, and make the Bees work all the better. A i little care in opening and shutting these holes i will keep the honey quite pure. And this is Avhat ventilation means. Side boxes should be ventilated when the thermometer is at 70", not before. A cottager must guess at it, if he cannot I get a " thermometer," which means a measurer of \ heat, and costs about four shillings. 1 Tliis plan of ventilation may also be used with the small caps, or glasses, if you have any. They sometimes get so hot (for the heat, as I said before, all goes up) that the Bees cannot stay in to work. Fit a cork to each hole on the outside. When the cap gets too hot draw them out, and the cool air will pass into the cap without altering the heat of the Hive, or hindering the hatch of the young grubs. If this does not make it cool enough, take a turn with your smoking bellows, if you have a pair. You must every now and then poke a piece of pointed wire down these holes, to clear out the gum with which the Bees will stop up the holes in the zinc. Like men, they do not know what is best for them. But in this act you are wiser SIDE BOXES. than they, though I fear not always; if you do not give in to them, they will be forced to give in to your better way. (Eanmt gou, hil&ocba: sou it tfjat nais tibts, tafer a Ifsgon from tfic 13cfs, bg gtfaing in to tl^ose tofto are toiscr t^an gou ? I ^abe alrcaUy Ifarneir somctl&ing ty tl&ts Irssoit, anl> I trust to get it tg tieart more pcrtcctig rbcrg &ag I Itbc. The next cut is a wooden Hive, acting on the same plan of ventilation and side room. Now some of you do not fancy wooden boxes, because you say the Bees do not like them. Now I would ask whether Avild Bees live in wooden trees or in trusses of straw .? Believe me, they choose what is best for them. They choose wood ; and wooden boxes, if thick enough, are warmer in winter, cooler in summer, freer from insects, and more handy than straw Hives. Only try it. If you. can use carpenter's tools, make them at spare times. Have them strong enough; and never d2 USE OF SIDE BOXES. niiiKl turning- out a rough job at firs>t, if you do your best. 54se btfon brauts is a good old sa^v. To be sure, tliey cost more to buy than straw Hives ; but I will show you that with boxes like the wood-cut, you may pay w^hat they cost the first year, and leave some profit besides ; and then the second year, and ever after, all is gain. The Bees are swarmed into the middle box, and never after disturbed. It is to be as hot as they choose to make it. There the Queen lays her eggs; there the nurse Bees do their Avork ; there they lay up honey sufficient to keep them through the Avinter ; there they sleep through that winter ; in short, it is their NURSERY, their dintng room, their palace, their HOME, and, like every Englishman's home, their CASTI.E, FOR THEY MUST NEVER BE DISTURBED THERE. The side boxes are only barns, where they lay up their spare honey for you, and which you may take as fast as they are filled. In a good honey year, you will often get a box weigliing thirty pounds, early in June. There is a slide at the top and bottom of the middle box, working from the front, which opens or cuts off the way from the centre box to the side. Always keep one of the side boxes empty. As soon as the one on the right hand gete pretty full of honey, and the Hive 80 hot that if you do not give them more room PROPER SIZE FOR SIDE BOXES. 80 they will soon swarm, pull out the slide, and let the Bees into the left-hand box ; this will make them cooler. As soon as they have taken to this new BARN, carry oiF the ftdl one, as you took the hive, page 78. Empty it, and place it back again, to be used as soon as the left-hand one gets full. The boxes must each be about eleven clear inches on the inside, by nine inches high. This is the best size for common use. In very good honey coun- tries, they may be made a httle bigger; but this size is more handy, since you are able to meet more quickly any order for honey early in the year, and so get a better price for it. In June a box of this size is often filled in thi-ee weeks, where there is plenty of honey-dew on the oaks and lime trees. I have made what I tliink a still fturther improvement, since I wrote the first edition of this Letter, in the make of side-boxes. The worst part of them is, if they are made full size the Bees are not able to fiU them, in a middling summer ; if they are made smaller, you do not get in good seasons so fine a box of honey as you otherwise might : so to meet both these difficulties, I have shifted the wooden end of the side box from the place where it used to stand, next to the castle, into the very middle of the side barn. This is good in two ways ; — there is not, on this plan, a thick double wooden wall between that and SIDE BOXES DIVIDED IN TWO. the castle. This is the first good; the second is not far behindhand. By means of the par- tition placed on the middle of the barn, I can, by pulling out the slides which run in, in the middle of it, give the Bees a barn big enough to store forty pounds of honey, instead of about twenty, which the first half would hold. Always keep the slides in, till the Bees have taken well to the first half; then draw all these out, and if honey- dews are plenty, they will soon take to the second. Mind, the Hives should be as hot as possible when the combs are building, and as cool as possible when honey is being stored. So, as soon as the barn is two-thirds filled with comb, push the top slide in altogether, the middle slide almost all the way, and leave the bottom one, quite open. Do the same with the passages from the middle Hive ; this will let the heat pass from the centre box while the combs are building ; and when all the slides but those at the bottom are pushed in, the side boxes will be kept cool, and the Bees still have a free passage by the bottom slide. Boxes are also far more safe than the common straw Hives in those places where there is much of that cruel and wicked thing. Bee stealing. I say cruel and wicked, because I think so. All stealing is wicked, and so Bee-stealing among the rest; and it is most cruel both to the poor Bees, and THE POOR PLUNDERED BEE-MASTER. 81 also to the Bee-master. I can imagine no greater picture of misery than a poor Bee-master, who gets up on a dull November morning, and then goes straightway to his Bees, with the intent of doing sometliing among his Hives, and finds j them all gone or destroyed. He sees all his rich i stocks taken bodily away, and the poor ones thrown on the ground as not worth stealing, though they were worth half a sovereign to him, for they would have swarmed next summer. He sees the poor Bees of these stocks crawling about the ground, half-numbed with the cold, and won- dering what in the world has disturbed that sleep, in wliich they had quietly settled, for a long winter. Happy is he, if, by collecting the Bees which the robbers have shaken out on the ground, from the rich stocks which they have taken, as well as from the poor ones which they have left, happy is he if he can find enough of these poor misused beasts, or birds, if you like, to put into one Hive, under one Queen, maltreated, like her subjects, to enable them to live through the winter, and start afresh in the spring. I know not what punishment the law gives to Bee-stealers : beside being guilty of stealing so many pounds of honey, which bear a certain marketable value, they are also guilty of Apicide. I should think such a man met with no more than liis deserts, if his 82 APICIDE, A SAD CRIME. wicked intentions were by some power revealed to the Queens of ten hives against whom he medi- tates this foul treason, and they were straightway to issue their orders to their faithful subjects to sting that man within an inch of his life, fixing as many of their sitings as possible, quite close to the Bee-stealer's cold and insensate heart. I know not how many Bee-stings can be planted within a square inch, but I remember that some learned schoolmen gravely maintained that a certain num- ber of angels can stand upon a i)in's point. I would leave such triflers to settle such like questions among them. All that I know is, that when they have settled the number, I will engage that my Bees shall plant the same number of stings in an equal share of the miserable Bce-stcalcr's body. A greater punishment man, at least, cannot inflict upon him. I know not its extent, for I happily have never been so far at enmity with my Bees as to provoke their just fury. I cannot trust my- self further to paint the poor Bee-master's grief, who is made the victim of such miscreant Bee-stcalcrs ; so I give you a sketch of the scene which his garden presents, on such a fatal morning. Taught by the fate which awaits many a poor man's Bees, I beg you, — for ^rfbrntion is trtlcr \f)an rurc— BEE STEALING. 82 to make the bottom board fast to the stand with a bit of strong iron hoop, and a few good nails ; fasten the box itself to the board in the same way ; and then you may give the cleverest Bee stealer leave to do his worst. To come back from this talk about the poor Bee-master, to his side boxes, here is one of them ^- ^\^ J ij turned upside down, that you may see the board with the three slides in it, fixed in the middle. [ You see it has no end, but will fix close to the d3 83 THE VENTILATORS, HOW TO MAKE. middle box. I have, at p. 77, given a drawing of the ventilator. It is made of two pieces of zinc, the lesser fitting loosely inside the larger ; which should be about an incli and a half over, more or less. The larger one has holes an inch and a half over, punched all the way uj) ; it is also open at the bottom. The smaller pipe is full of small holes, through which the Bees cannot pass. The use of the large pipe is to prevent the Bees stopping up all the holes in the small one. The hot air will go through these big holes, or in at the bottom, and so out through the little pipe ; the little pipe is closed at the bottom, to prevent the Bees going through. You must, however, every now and then pull out the little one, to clear out the holes. Over all is a tin cap, fitting like tlie top of a box, with an overhanging roof, to keep the rain off. It must be raised up when the Hive is too hot, and then the warm air will pass freely through the four round holes which are i)unchcd in the rim, and under the over-hang- ing roof. The board on which the three boxes stand should be strong, with three square holes cut in the bottom, (as I told you when speaking of the other bottom boards,) with tin slides work- ing in them to let in the air. No air must ever be let into tlie middle box, on any account. But still the hole is of use in joining other Bees to MR. XUTT— MR. AVIIITE. 83 your strong stock, and for many other uses which a crafty Bee-master will soon find out, — €rs again, being his standing rule. The Hive should be made of very strong stuff, for the price of the wood is small when set by the side of the labour. If made strong, and well painted, they want no Bee-house ; they will stand any weather. Indeed, without thinking of the cost of making a good Bee-house, I would rather that Bees should be in the open air. In spring, the close Bee -houses keep off the warmth of the sun's rays, so useful for hatcliing the early brood. In sum- mer, they get so hot, that the Bees are forced to hang out long before they are ready to swarm. They often build combs on the outside of the Hive, and inside the house, instead of swarming. These Hives were first brought into general use by Mr. Nutt. Side boxes were, however, made one hundred years ago by Mr. White, but without ventilators, wliich is the grand thing. He was the first box Bee-master I ever heard of, — so a cottager who wishes to take to tliis plan, cannot do better than begin where he left off. You Avill see directly how much easier it is for the Bees to store their honey in a side box, than in one Hive put on the top of 84 DRY COLD GOOD FOR BEES. another, if you think how you would like to stack your corn up four pair of stairs instead of a ground-floor barn. Besides, it is much easier to keep a side box cool, than one Hive when put upon another. The fanning which Bees make with their wings on a hot day at the door shows how they like coolness. You often see hundreds • hanging out when it is too hot to work ; and cases have even been known, where the combs, made soft by heat, have fallen down, and smothered the Bees. All this is prevented by that hard word VENTILATION. The long continuance of severe cold in the win- ter of 1837 was very good for Bees — as it is only damp cold which hurts them. If the warm sun is carefully kept from them in the middle of the day, they will remain asleep, and the Hives will be found to have lost very little weight during the last six weeks. But if they are left where the warm sunshine can tempt them out, the east wind will catch them hj t/wusands, and they will fall by thousands, without strength to rise. A curious fact fell midcr my own eyes, showing the great heat which they keep up during the coldest weather, and how much better the wooden boxes are than straw Hives. At the mouth of one of my boxes made on Mr. Xutt's plan, I saw, on the morning of the 22d of January, after two days WINTER QUARTERS. of most severe frost, an icicle, several inches long, hanging from the lighting board, along which it stretched, like a frozen river, to the mouth of the Hive, hut no further. This proves that even when the thermometer is at zero, as it had then been in the open air, the Bees have the power of keejiing their own heat above the freezing point, or 32 de- grees. Their breath, after having been turned into water by the cold, ran dow^n along the bottom board, which was purposely put sloping to throw out the wet, in a stream of warm water, to the mouth of the Hive, and there froze. ]My straw Hives had nothing of the sort ; their moisture was ail sucked in by the straw, and then frozen ; when the thaw comes, the wooden box will be drier, and so more healthy than the straw Hives. Your Bees, now, I will suppose, have done well in the smnmer. The place where you put them in the winter is of no less matter. If they are left in their summer place, fronting the sun, every bright day, even in December, tempts many out. They find nothing, are of course more hungry, and eat more on their return. Many of them never get back ; when they get out of the warm sun into the cold wind, they fall stiff, and die. You may have seen hundreds lying on the ground about your Hives : if you pick them up, and wann them in your hand, they will come to. If you are afraid 85 GLASS TO CONDENSE BEES' BREATH. of wanning them in your hand by your breath, which you ought not to be, gather them into a small chip-box, and put them in your pocket for an hour or so. This will act like a vapour-bath on a man who is half-dead from frost. Then turn them out, when they begin to Ijuzz, on the light- ing-board at the mouth of your Hive. They will then, with a merry song of joy, and thanks to you for your kindness, speedily rejoin their fellow- subjects in the Hive, who have not suffered from the frost as they have done, or been revived by the care of a good Bee-doctor such as yourself In damp places many Bees die of the rot. Even in dry places a good deal of water settles on the top of the Hives inside, made by the breath of I the Bees. The following is a good way to prevent i this harming the Bees. When you put your Bees ' into their winter quarters, take the bung out of the hole in the top, and put a tin on the l>oard on which tlic cap stood in the summer. It is an upright ring, standing on a flat plate of tin, or BEES TO BE SCREENED IN WINTER. 85 zinc, Avith a hole through the middle. Over this turn a glass topsy-turvy. The hot air comes up through the hole, turns into steam, and runs down the glass, outside the upright ring. The best place to put Bees in is a di-y, cold, and dark room, or out-house, if you can get it. (The colder the winter, the better, if the air is dry. Damp cold gives them the rot, as it does sheep.) Put your Bees there the last week of November, and let them sleep quietly till the flowers begin to come out at the end of February. Set their bot- tom board slanting, that all the wet may run out at the door; or, still better, hang them up in a coarse cloth. This will let in the air, and suck in the water, which will soon dry away. Weigh them before you put them into their winter 86 BEES MAY BE BURIED. quarters, and again when you bring them out, and you will find them much stronger, as well as heavier, than any you leave on their summer stands. Again, I say, try it, even if you do not believe me. If you have no such room or out- house, at least keep the sun away from them, or put them on the north side of your house, if the place is dry. The old Oxfordshire thatcher, men- tioned at page 61, had long done so. He had learned this plan by always finding hornets and wasps laid up for the winter in the north side of the thatches which he pulled to pieces, and never in the south. Bees have lived very well through the winter, when buried ; and this you may try, if you please, only mind you bury them in a dry place. The best plan is to dig a hole, put dry cinders into it, half a foot thick ; place your Bees, tied up in a cloth, on the cinders, and then fill up the hole with cinders to the level of the ground; then thatch the mound of cinders, DO AS YOU WOULD BE DONE BY. 86 which should rise above the ground, with some straw, to prevent any wet trickling through. In Switzerland a whole village clubs together, and hires a cold dry room, which they darken, and put all their Bees in. Why should not any of you, who has such a place, take his neighboiu-'s Bees in during the winter ? But mind you mark them first, that each man may have his own in the spring. Nothing like the good old golden rule, — Do as gou tDouHr far Uonc tg. Tliis will come in, a hundred ways in Bee-keeping. In olden time, any man who wished to begin had no difficulty in borrowing a swanu from a neighbour ; a year or two afterwards he repaid it by a first sAvarm, with from five to ten pounds of honey for interest, according as two or three years had passed since he borrowed. Why should you not do so too ? If you thus help your neighbour all you can, you are none the worse off because he gets a share of the honey, which would otherwise be wasted : he is all the better, and so are you too, because you do him a kindness, — and no kindness is easier. If more cottagers kept Bees, much of the honey, which is now wasted, would be gathered. I have taken the trouble to see how much Bee produce is brought into England every year from foreign parts. It is 32,000/. in wax alone, besides honey. Every 87 CHARITY BEGINS AT HOME. sixiJence of tliis might go amongst those to whom it is of the greatest consequence, namely, the cot- tagers. There is an old saying, that — CSaritg irgins at fjomc, and so it may well do, if it does not end there. Let your charity then enable your neigh- bours, together with you, to get a fair share in that money, which otherwise goes out of the country. The flowers, too, are all the better for the honey being taken. So to a kind man, the more he gives, the more he has to give^ because he has a blessing on ichat is left. I heard a farmer say, that his orchard bore double the crop it had done before he took to Bees. And what is the reason honey is found in flowers? Its only use — rather, its chief use — is not for men to eat, but to draw Bees and honey-eating flies to the flowers. They carry the farina, or dust, on then- legs from flower to flower, which makes them bear fruit. If there were no Bees, or flies, there would be no apples. Some of my readers may be much pleased by the following proof of the advantage of a cold, dry, and perfectly dark place for putting Bees in during the winter months. Six stocks of Bees were hung up in a room, darkened on purpose, in the neighbourhood of Oxford. They were weighed LOSS OF HIVES IN WEIGHT DURING WINTER. 87 on the first of every month, and I give below, in a tabular form, the weight at each date, the loss of each per month, and the total loss : — Total Av. loss Dec. Jan. loss. Feb. loss. Mar. loss. loss per m. No lb. lb. lb. lb. lb. lb. lb. lb. lb. oz. 1. weighed 34^ .. 33 1^ ... 31 2 . . 2W U .. 5 1 10 2. 23 .. 22* i ... 21 I| . . ISi 2i .. 4i 1 8 S. 26 .. 25 1 ... 23i n . . 20 3i .. 6 2 0 4. — m .. 38 24 ... 35i 2i . . 341 1 .. 5a 1 15 5. 29 .. 2S 1 ... 26 IJ . . 23i -H .. 5.1 1 13 6. 26 .. 241 u ... 2:5 2 . . 1S| H .. 7i 2 7 Total loss of six Hi ves 31 11 5 Here we see that the Hives only lost 51b. lO^ oz. per Hive, or about lib. 14 oz. per month. They were taken off tlieu" bottom boards, and a coarse cloth tied round them to admit the air, and then hung up in the room, wliich was dark, as dark as night. Again: one place is good for Bees, in spring and summer, near meadows and lime-trees; an- other in autumn, near commons, when heather is in bloom. In Switzerland you often see a man trudging the mountains with a Hive of Bees on his back ; so well do they know how good change of place is for them. He takes it to a good Bee district, and leaves it there for a month or so. I confi- dently repeat, that change of pasture is a most excellent thing, wherever it can be accompKshed. The only thing to be carefully minded is that their BEES ON A VISIT. new place be three or four miles off their old stalls ; this will prevent many of the Bees straying home to their old place. The few who so do would of course perish if there were no Hive to receive them when they come home; but even these stragglers may be saved in the following way. Of course, you will remove your strong stocks, from which you have taken, a portion of the honey, for they alone will be able to profit by the heather. Manage to have a stock which wants strengthening standing next to the stock which is about to take this journey ; put a sack, or some other covering, over them both for a week or two before the day when you move one, as is shown in the wood-cut ; then, when the strong one is gone. place the weak one where his absent neighbour stood. Any Bee which strays from his new place will then find an open door ready to receive them ; and as these visitors drop in singly, they will be received without suspicion : but we need not go so far as Switzerland to see this plan. In Yorkshire it is the regular custom of the country FLOATING BEE HOUSES. to send the stocks to the moors for change of pas- ture, in August and September. Cotters, who have a little garden by the moorside, take in dozens every year, and get a shilling a stock for their trouble. The trouble is a mere nothing, at least not one sliilling's-wortli in all, and the pleasure is surely very great ; for what can be a greater pleasure than to have ten additional stocks of Bees on a visit to your own, and to cheer you with their glad music whenever you are walking in your garden. To say nothing of the pleasure you must feel at their honied stores, by playing the part of a kind host to these busy Bees ; and then, what is more, you may have the still greater pleasure of showing your friend, (for all Bee-masters are, or ought to be, friendly,) how to take up his Bees who have been your guests so long, as I trust you do your own, that is, without KILLI^^G them. You and he may do so, if you try; A]st) I, a Bee-master like yourself, beg you most earnestly to try. ^Yliat I have found a very good way with my Bees, you cannot find a very bad one. The stocks are taken up in the old way, as soon as the heather goes out of flower. I hope many a man will learn by my Letter to take them up by the fingers, instead of the sulphur match, that ready instru- ment of Bee murder. In France they put their hives into a boat, some hundi'eds together, which BEE FLOWERS. floats down the stream by night, and stops by day. The Bees go out in the morning, return in the evening, and when they are all back and quiet, on the boat floats, I have heard they come home to the ringing of a bell ; but I believe they Avould come home just the same whether the bell rings or no. I should like to see this tried on the Thames, for no river has more Bee food near its banks ; — willows, the best Bee food in spring; meadows, clover, beans, and lime trees, in difierent places and times for summer. A handy man, who could make his own boxes, though not up to hard work, might, I am pretty sure, gather through the mouths of his many thousand Bees^ enough to fill his own one mouth, though it be somewhat larger. He might float softly down the river, as the flowers go off" at one place and come on at another; and any barge- man would be glad, for the small price of one pound of Thames honey, to give him a tow up, when he wishes to go back. I should like to SEE IT TRIED. I have not said anything about the garden flowers which are best for Bees, as no cottager can grow enough to be of much help to him. His Bees are sure to do well if he has clover fields and lime trees near him, though he have never a rood of garden ground. Borage, however, is the best garden plant I know; it keeps in flower all the THE BEE'S ENEMIES. 89 summer, and the Bees take to it beyond any thing else. It will sow itself after the first year ; indeed, it is very hard to get rid of it altogether when you have once let it into your garden. I have been told by an unseen friend, himself learned in Bees, that Salvia Nemoralis is another prime Bee jilant. Mignionette also is a plant of which you cannot sow too much. He is surely a hard man to please, who is not well pleased by the scent it yields, as well as by its look in his garden ; and the Bees work at it early and late ; no one who has tasted mignionette honey would wish to have better. I must repeat again, never kill a Bee. Let this be your one golden rule ; golden I am sure it will prove in more senses than one. That which seemed, I dare say, impossible to you, when you first heard my advice, you now may see Iioav to set about. If you were sorry for your cruelty before, when you did not know how to do without it, you will be without excuse if you still keep to it, and, I may almost say, deserve to be stung to death by your Bees. The poor Bee has enough enemies to contend with — starvation and damp in the winter ; moths, hornets, and robbers of their own kind in the autumn ; dry summers, which often press them very hard ; cold and backward springs. 90 A BEE IS A ONE-YEAR BIRD. It has been well said, that man who ought to be their best friend, is often their worst enemy. They have no defence against the brimstone matches, though, with some help from man, they can conqvier all their other enemies. Be kind to them, and, like reasonable creatures, they will fully repay you. Do not listen to those who tell you that, after two or three years, the Bees will do no more good ; that they get old and lazy ; and that therefore they had better be taken up. They do no such thing. " A Bee," as an old writer quaintly said, " is a one-year Bird." Indeed, aU that are hatched this year die next year, about July and August, after they have done the work of nursing up the young ones who are to take their places. You may know the old Bees by their ragged wings, torn durmg their year of hard work ; they look larger, more stupid, and not of the nim- ble and light shape Avhich the young Bees have. ^^ YOUNG BEE. So that all the Bees which you burn in September are of that year's brood, and ready and willing to OLD STOCKS RENEWED. 90 begin work for you next year. True it is that the comb gets old and black ; because Bees store up more Bee-bread, when it is plentiful, than they can use, and they never clean out the cells in which the young Bees have been reared, but leave the sort of cloak which they spin round them glued to the sides of the cells. In very old Hives Bee-bread and the cast silk cloaks make them heavy; so that in weighing them, you must allow several pounds for this, if you want to know whether they have honey enough to stand a winter. So in this way, after many years, the cells become too small for breeding, and the Hive dwindles away, and dies a natural death. But for this there is a cure, a good and easy one. In the spring, before the breeding time begins, smoke the Hive which is to be doctored, turn it up, cut out half the old combs, put in the Bees again, and that summer they will fill up the gap. The next spring do the same with the other half, and you will thus have a new stock, to all intents and purposes, instead of an old one. In this way a good parson in Switzerland had one stock sixty years. " But the straw Hives grow old and rotten." Not if you protect them from the weather by a good thick coat of whitewash. This is better than the straw hackle covering; and much cheaper, as well as better, than the milk pan, as it keeps all the Hive 91 TO KEEP OFF ROBBER-BEES AND MOTHS. from the rain, and prevents insects getting in. The straw hackle is the worst, as it often harbours a mouse, who will sometimes gnaw through the Hive, make his nest inside, and eat the combs and the honey. When this is the case, he may be dis- lodged by the magic fungus. This, too, is a cure when moths have laid their eggs in the Hive. Turn it up, and cut freely out the whole of such combs as have the grubs of moths in them ; for it is easier for the Bees, if you do it in the spring, to make a new comb, than to mend an old one ; and you may, perhaps, leave some grubs or eggs, unless you do so. But prevention is better than cure. Prevent wasps, moths, or robber-bees from coming in, by making the door smaller when they are about. The Bees will be better able to fight for themselves. They teach you what they want, by building up little pillars of Avax in the doorway. If robbers have taken a Hive, use your fungus directly ; take what honey is left for yourself, and join the smoked Bees to some Hive which Avants strengthening. Keep them shut up for a day after, till they get all friends. None but the poorer ones rob ; none but the weak are robbed. So you can prevent robbery, though not cure it. Unite all your weak Hives, and unite and feed your poor ones. You say that feeding costs sometliing; so it FEEDING NO LOSS. 91 does. But every pound of food given at the right time, as in a cold late spring, like the year 1837, will be repaid by the Bees when the weather changes. Another time, when feeding is quite needful, is when the weather comes bad within two days after a swarm is put into a Hive. The Bees, as I said before, swarm with their honey-bags full. You may have noticed that very few Bees go out the day after they swarm. They are then busily en- gaged in building their combs from the honey which they carried with them. You will stare at the notion of building combs with honey ; but it is true, nevertheless. WTiat they carry in on their legs is Bee-bread, not wax. The honey goes from their honey-bag into their stomach, and then drops out in little white plates of wax from under the scales of their abdomen, or tail. I have watched it myself for half an hour, coming out of a Bee, who was hanging in a cluster, with his belly towards me, close to the glass. I always feed my Bees for two or three days after they have swarmed, be the weather fair or foid. This saves time, for it helps them to get their combs sooner made, in wliich to store up honey for themselves and you too, directly they can get it. If the combs are not built all ready, they may perchance lose a good Honey Dew, which often comes about the tune of swarming. Nothing you give your Bees is tlu'own away ; all is repaid 92 YOUNG GRUBS THROWN OUT IN HONEY FAMINES. with interest. Not a single ounce of honey has ever been wasted by Bees since the world was made. You do not waste your honey by feeding; but only, as it were, pour it out of one pot into another, where you may find it whenever you want it, and not only so, but you find a peck where you put a quart. Another time when feeding is needed is in the dry hot months of those summers when the flowers have no honey, but fade as soon as they blow; feeding will then always cheer your Hive, and save the lives of many young Bees, whom their dry nurses cannot otherwise feed, and even save a whole Hive. Sometunes I myself have seen, in a dry summer, thousands of Bee grubs lying before the Hive, which the old Bees, unable to keep, have thrown out. This seems cruel, but it is in truth kindness; when thus thrown out, they quickly die, whilst if kept in the Hive, they would linger on a long time, half starving. Any one may see the same sad sight near any wasps' nest, the morning after the first frost in September or October. I am always sorry for the poor little grubs who thus die (as we may say) before they are bom ; but, when I think that if they had been hatched, and come to years of discretion, they would have been sad enemies to the Bees, my sorrow is very much lessened. Autumn feeding should not be done later than THREE AND A HALF POUNDS IN ONE NIGHT. 92 September. Weigh the Hives you wish to keep ; if they are 2 lbs. or 3 lbs. short of 20lbs., give it them all at that time : they wiU lay it aU up in their cells. They will take it up almost as quickly as you can give it them. I had a married stock which, in one warm night of September, between six in the even- ing and six in the morning, took up 3|lbs. of Bee food ; and though feeding in the winter is better than no feeding at all, and has often saved Hives, still it murders many Bees who come down into the cold. It is as if you had always to go out and dig yoiu" potatoes in the frost and cold of December, instead of laying them up safe and handy. I hope many a Bee-Master who reads my letter, will think, by the time he gets to this place, that Feeding is no such bad thing ; and that if he has not up to this time fed his Bees when they wanted it, he has not done his duty properly by them. Let him try, and he will find it will repay both his time and money. But it would be a poor thing were I to make you think that feeding is a good thing, if I do not tell you how to do it. Now, then, for it. First, as to food, There is nothing so good as honey. It is natural to the Bees, and there- fore cannot disagree with them ; so never press your combs, for the honey which you squeeze out is nearly worthless to sell ; put your combs care- fully by till your Bees want food. 93 TWO HARD WORDS — "ATMOSPHERIC-PRESSURE." If you feed Bees on sugar and beer, which is next best, do not put more than 1 lb. of sugar to a quart of beer ; nor boil it more than five minutes; this melts the sugar : longer boiling would make it thick and unwholesome. If you wish to give your Hives a feed all round, which is a very good thing in spring, put the old combs from which the major part of the honey has drained, or empty combs filled with honey and beer, in front of your Hives. The Bees will clear them in a very short time, and not only thank you, but repay you too. If you want to strengthen one Hive, pull the bung out of the ring at the top of your Hive, (this you should always have,) and put the honey-combs on the toj). Then turn an emj^ty Hive over them. Here is a clever contrivance for giving a Hive a pound or two of food at a time. INIost of you know how a bird-glass acts. A good supply of water is kept in it by atmospheric PRESSURE. You do not perhaps know what this means, but listen to me for a few moments, and I will try to teach you. The air which we breathe, and in which we live and move, just as the fishes do in the water, though we see it not, is to us what the water is to them. Now we do not think that the air has any weight, for we say "lighter than air," when Ave want to talk of a HOW TO FEED MANY HIVES. OR ONE. 93 thing as light as possible. But it has weight, nevertheless; and we can measure the exact Aveight of it, by pumping it out of a vessel, with an air pump, and then seeing how heavily the out- ward air presses on it. It has been found out that there is a weight of 14lbs. pressing on every square inch of our bodies, and of every thing else in the world, but we do not feel it, as it presses equally all round. Now this weight is just equal to a column of water thirty-two feet high ; that is to say, if you had a bird-glass thirty-two feet high, the water woidd still be kept up in it. This is the law of nature, so to speak, — (though I wish men, when they speak of the law of natiu'e, would think more of the law of God,) — by which barometers are made, which enable farmers to give a good guess when rain is coming. It is the law by wliich every old woman gets a supply of water from the pump to fill her tea-kettle : it is the law by wliich a bird-glass acts. Below the level of the hole through which it is supplied, a little air rises up through the water, and a little more water comes down, so that the bird always has a fresh supply. I feed my Bees in the same way. The feeder, of wliich I hav-e given you a drawing. Is nothing more than a very large bird-glass, made of zinc. For a Bee, as I have said before, is only a sort of bii'd. 94 A BEE-FEEDER ON THE TOP OF THE HIVE. The wood-cut on the left hand side, shows it placed on the top of a Hive; the one on the right is what is called a section of it, that is, it shows what you would see were it cut right in half. The upright column is three-fourths full of sugar and beer; it is kept there by the hydro- static pressure of wliicli I have been telling. The Bees travel up from the Hive through a ring, which is shown cut in half, on to a plate of zinc with holes in it, through which they suck their food. It always keeps at the same level, for when they draw it down below the top of the hole through which it is supplied, a little air forces itself up through the food, and the same quantity of food trickles down. Thus the Bees are kept from daubing themselves, and always have a con- TO FEED AT THE T-HOLE, OR BACK. OF THE HIVE. 94 stant supply. At about the third of an inch above the collar and the perforated zinc which lies above it, — (N.B. the perforated zinc must of coiu-se have a hole in it, the same size as the collar, that the Bees may travel up,) — is placed a piece of glass, exactly the same size as the feeding trough. This will prevent the Bees flying out; and you may have the pleasure of seeing them take to that food kindly with which you have supplied them. This is perhaps the very best way of feeding, for as hot air goes up, the feeding trough will always be of the same temperature as the Hives, and so the Bees will not get chilled, — which they often are, if you feed them below. The next cut shows a feeder made on exactly the same plan, but with the feed- ing trough made to fit to the T-hole of the Hive. The same cut also shows another mode of feeding. A little shallow pond, about a quarter of an inch deep, is cut in the middle of the bottom board. A large gimblet hole is di'iven from the outside of the Hive into this pond, half the way down. In the bottom board, just outside where the Hive stands, a hole is bored, with a centre bit, into the gimblet hole, the size of the rim of an old physic bottle, which you intend to apply to the nobler use of feeding the Bees. Fill it with Bee-food, and turn the neck neatly down into this hole ; it must fit tight, and then by means of atmospheric pressure, — 95 FEEDING BY ATMOSPHERIC PRESSURE. I the hard word, the meaning of which I have i ah-eady explained to you, — this physic bottle will act just like the zinc Bee-feeder. If you have side boxes, put a piece of comb full of Bee-food into one of them ; draw out the slides, and the Bees will then carry the supply you have given them into the centre box, and store it up. Lastly, I will tell you how to strengthen a weak stock, the combs of which do not come down to the bottom board. Turn the Hive up in the even- ing, softly slip the comb in, stop up the T-hole, and leave them in until the morning. The Bees will then have cleared it. Repeat this as often as JOHN" EVELYX, OF SAVES COURT. 95 needed. Now, then, I tliiuk I have said enough about feeding ; remember. Don't tc stings, nothing is ioastfti. Now, before I end this Letter, I will give you two Bee Calendars ; one from the Kalendarium Hortense, of good John Evelyn, of Sayes Court, more for its curiosity than its use; as I woidd rather advise you to follow my plain monthly orders, wliich I have myself proven. Do at least ALL which I there tell you is needed, and when you do that well, go on to somethuig farther ; it is a goott tfjing to Irarn to Icalft, tfforc gou trgin to run, in other things beside Bee-keeping. Do not laugh too much at Mr. Evelyn; he has told us all he knew, and I for one am much oblio-ed to him. EEE FLOWERS. P. 89 EVELYN'S BEE KALENDAR, VERSUS MY OWN. Extracts from Evelyn's " Kalen- darium Hortense." January. — Turn up your Beehives, and sprinkle them with a little warm sugar and sweet wort; do it dex- terously. February. — Half open your pas- sages for the Bees, or a little before (if weather invite), but continue to feed weak stocks. March. — By this time your Bees sit; keep them close night and morning, if the weather prove unkind. April.— O^en now your Beehives, for now they hatch ; look carefully to them, and prepare your Hives, &c. May. — Now set your Bees at full liberty; look out often, and expect swarms. June. — Look to your Bees for swarms and casts, and begin to de- stroy insects with hoops (?), canes, and tempting baits; gather snails after rain. /?. I. Of the Bee-garden and Seats for the Hives ^ 112 II. Of the Hives, and manner of Dressing them 114 III. Ofthe Breeding of Bees, and of the Drone 119 IV. Ofthe Swarming of Bees, and the Hiving of them ib. V. Ofthe Bees' Enemies, and how to Destroy them 124 VI. Of the Removing of Bees 126 VII. Of the Fruit and Profit of Bees 128 Glossary of Bee Terms used in this Reprint 141 ENGLAND'S INTEREST, jparmcr's iF^^itntr, ^cc. Chap. VI. Of the Husbandry and Employment of Bees, and the great Profit and Advantage thereof. The Introduction. Among all the creatures which oiir bountiful God has made for the use and service of man, in respect of great profit with small cost, of their ubiquity, or being in all countries, of their comely order and continual labour, the Bees are most Avorthy of oiu' admiration. For first, with the provision of a Hive and some little care and attendance, (which need be no hindrance to other busi- ness, but rather a delightful recreation in the midst of our labours,) they bring sweet product both for food and me- dicine. G 2 112 THE BEES' GOOD CHARACTER. There is no fruit or flower, no wood or forrest, no hill or dale, no promontary or campaign land, no fruitful or un- fruitful soil, but what affordeth matter for the Bee to work upon. In their labour and order at home and abroad, they may be a pattern unto men both of the one and the other ; for unless they are hindered by weather, weakness, or want of stuff" to work upon, their labour never ceaseth ; and for their oi'der, it is such that they may well be said to have a commonwealth, since all they do is in common without respect to private interest. They work for all, they watch for all, and they fight for all. In their private quarrels Avhen they are from their Hive, how much soever you abuse them, they will not resist, if they can by any means get away ; but when they are at their Hive, the common trea- sury for themselves and their young, they'll fight it out and contend for this properly to the last shanks. The epi- thets given to Bees by several authors which have written on this subject, are prof table, laborious, busie, loyal, swift, nimble, quick of scent, bold, valiant, cunning, chaste, neat, brown and chilly. I. — Of the Bee-garden and Seats for the Hives. 1. Your Bee-garden must be in a plat of ground, near your house, that you may always have them in sight, your assistance being often suddenly required in all storms and fighting, when 'tis your business to provide them with a new house, and to part them in the fi'ay. 2. See that they be securely fenced from all cattle, and especially from hogs, and that they be secured from wind, that when the Bees come home laden and weary, they may soon settle at their Hives. 3. Let your north fence of your garden be very close, and high withal, to secure them from the piercing winds of the quarter, and therefore, if possible, set your Bees on the STOOLS FOR BEES. 113 south side of your house, where they will have most sun in winter, and best settle to their Hives. 4. Let the east fence of your garden be big and high, to keep the Bees as well from the wind as sun, for the morn- ing sun does often bring them forth of their hives, when the wind is so cold and sharp that they cannot endure it. But in no wise let the place be shadowed from the south sun, for that does not only dry the leaves and relieve the Bees in winter and spring, but causes them to swarm in summer. A house or wall, or good pales, is fittest for the north fence, and a quickset edge for any of the other quarters, and it may serve for the first, if it be thick. Take care that the garden be always kept clean and sweet, free from noisome scents. I have known a good Hive spoiled by having poultry roost over them. Take care that it be neither cold in winter nor very hot in summer. Locus cestate non fervidus, heeme* tepidus. A bare flower t is very prejudicial ; a grassy ground I esteem to be best ; but let it be kept cut in summer, for long gi-ass har- bours the Bees' enemies ; and let it not be wet in winter. Let it be conveniently set with trees and bushes, fit to receive the swarms, as plum, cherry, apple, filberds, hazels, and thorns, and these chiefly in the south and east fences, and not too near the stalls. The place being thus fitted, the seats are to be provided, which, whether stools or benches, must be set a little shelving, that the rain may neither run into the hive nor stay at the door. 'Tis not good to set many stalls on a bench, because in winter it may cause the Bees to fight ; for hereby they have access, by foot, to one another's houses, which they may sometimes mistake for their own. The single, therefore, are best, which I woiild advise to be set at least two feet apart, and rather supported with four legs than to be flat on the ground ; if the legs are * Sic. t Qy- Flower-garden. 114 A WORD FOR STRAW HIVES. twelve or fourteen inches, three or four inches may be forced into the ground for their surer standing. For their size they should not be above half an inch or an inch without the Hive, save only before, where there ought to be the space of three or four inches, that the Bees may have room enough to light upon it. The best stools are of wood ; those of stone are too hot in summer, and too cold in Avinter. The stools must be set towards the south, or rather with a point or two towards the west, that the Hive may some- what break the east wind from the door, and that the door may be light at sun setting. The stools shoidd stand in straight ranks or rows from west to east, five feet one from another, measuring from door to door, and from south to north, six feet one behind another ; besides, let them stand as far from three of the fences as they do from one another. The number of the Hives in a garden is not to be deter- mined. But it is generally computed that the climacterical number of nine times seven, which is also tiie climacteric of man, is a sufficient stock for a Bee-garden ; and out of this a man may supply himself with a competent maintenance. II. — Of the Hives, and manner of Dressing them. In some countries they use Hives made of straw bound with brambles ; in some, wicker Hives, made of prive willow,* or harl, dawbed with cow dung, tempered with gravelly dust, or sand, or ashes. The straw Hives are the best, because in them the Bees do best defend themselves from the cold, when they hang round together in the form of a globe, (which the philoso- phers do account a perfect figure,) and therefore the nearer the Hive doth come to the form thereof, the warmer and safer will the Bees be kept ; but of necessity the bottom must be broad for the upright and sure standing of the * Sic. TO PRUNE HIVES. 115 Hive, and for the bettei' taking down of the combs, and the top must rise from two or three inches higher than the form of a globe. A handle on the top of each hive is requisite for two uses ; viz. carrying the Hive, and staying the hackle from falling off. Your Hive must be of any size, between five or seven gallons, that any swarm, of what quantity or time soever, may be fitly hived. Have always by you Hives enough in store, but most of the middling sort, lest jow should want when you have an occasion. Your Hive being thus made, it must be dress 'd after this manner: take off all the staring straAvs, twigs, and jags, that are offensive in the Hive, and make it as smooth as possible ; if you need but few Hives, you may pi-une them clean with a knife ; if many, then you may singe or sweep the inside ; but do it which way you auII, rub it well at last with a piece of a grind-stone, or rough sand-stone. Your Hives being pruned put in your spleets, three or four of them, as the largeness of your Hive shall require, the upper ends whereof set together at the top of the Hive, and the lower fasten about a handful above the skirt ; be- sides these spleets within the Hive, the straw Hive must have four other spleets driven up into the skirts, to keep the Hive from sinking when it is loaded ; two of them are the two door-posts, the other two are hind-posts, set at equal distances. In swarming time, season the Hives that you are minded to use, thus : rub them down with sweet herbs, such as the Bees love, as thyme, baulm, savory, maijoram, fennel, hysop, mallows, bean-top, &c. And when the swarm is settled, take a branch of the tree whereon it is, and \npe it clean, and then wet the inside of j^our Hive with a little honey mead, or salt and water, or small-beer. And thus the Hives are to be prepared and dressed. You must be sure always to keep your Hives close covered, and the best covering is a thick hackle. Alvearia 116 TO MAKE CLOOM. straminea operire utilissima. The manner of making tlie hackle is thus ; take four or five good handfuls of wheat or rye-straw drawn out of the sheaf; beat out the corn, draw out the ears of each handful longer on the one side than the other, and putting the long sides together in form of a sugar-loaf for casting off the rain, bind them all in one under the ears as fast as you can : the head is to be covered and bound fast with a cap, which must be artificially wreathed or platted on the top. For the length of the hackle each one is to be fitted to the Hive, so that the skirts thereof may reach to the stool, or within half an inch of it round about, save only before, where it must be parted somewhat shorter, that the Bees' passage be not hindered; and then gird the hackle close to the hive, lest the wind disorder it : the hackle thus fitted and placed is now and then to be removed, not only to meet with mice, moths, spiders, earwigs, &c. which harbour u,nder it, and to see what breaches the mouse and titmouse have made, but also to air the moist Hive ; and this must be done in a warm and windy day after much wet. In the next place, your Hives must be kept close, for defence of the Bees against their enemies ; the best doom for the purpose is cow-dung, tempered with lime or ashes, with sand or fine gravel, which are also good against the gnawing of mice ; with the doom close up the skirts and bracks * of your Hives, that there be no way into them but only by the door, and then take care not to move them without urgent occasion. When you have occasion to remove them, tile up a side of the Hive with a little tile-shard, lest the Bees should be crush'd by the rhumf of the Hive ; and when removed, doom them up fast again, as before directed. Care must be taken of the Bees' entrance into the Hive, which must have three doors, — a summer door, which must be made of such a size, that the Bees in summer, when their * 'Ooes bracks meaxi backs ? t Is this a misprint for " rim"? WINTER DOOR OR WICKET. 117 number is greatest, may have air enough, and free egTess and regress : the space of four square inches is sufficient for any stall. The summer door is thus made : first cut away the lowest rowl the space of five inches, and \\ith the thread which bound that part make fast both ends ; then fill it up again, the two extream half inches of the place, with two door-posts, which are splits of four or five inches long, run thro' the bottom of the Hive. The winter door or wicket is made of a piece of wood an inch and a quarter thick, and almost an inch high, and five inches long ; at each end whereof cut away half an inch, all save before, leaving the uncut ends a quarter tliick, with the full height, to fit the door-posts ; then in the middle of the nether side, cut through the thickness a passage of a third part of an inch wide and three inches long. The use of this door is to restrain the passage, when there needeth not so much room, that the Bees may the better keep out the robbers, that the cold may have the less force, and that the mice may not enter. The bar or shutting is to be made four square, of some heavy matter, as lead, that neither the wind nor the crafty titmouse may remove it : with this bar you may shut or half shut your Avicket, as you see occasion, to defend your Bees according to the rigour of the season. Every Hive ought to have its settle before it, which is a piece of board of the breadth of the stool, and that length ; it may stand leaning from the ground to the fore-part of the stool, on which the Bees may settle when they come home, and on which they may smi themselves. I shall conclude this chapter with giving you some rules for ordering your Hives in the four quarters of the year. But you must understand, that the four quarters of the Bee year begin one month sooner than the astrologers ; and, contrary to usual custom, I must begin with the summer. In the summer season the Hives must have their large 1 1 8 GEMINI.— VIRGO.-SAGITTARIUS.— PISCES. entrance open, that they may have air enough, and that they may not hinder one another as they return home from their Avork, or be stopped in swarming ; and therefore at Gemini set the doors wide open, without bar or wicket, and so let them stand all the season. The Bees' autumn begins at Virgo, which is the most dangerous time of all the year for wasps, who now learn the way into the Bees' Hives, and rob 'era of their honey ; therefore shut up your winter gates and bar them close to keep out the thieves and robbers. The Bees winter begins with Sagittarius, in which, as the plants lie still in the earth, waiting the sun's return to re\-ive them, so the Bees lie still in their Hives sleeping away their fruitless hours, and living on the product of their summer labours : yet if there happens a mild and warm day they presently go abroad to take the fresh air, recreate themselves, drink, exercise their wings, carry forth their dead, &c., and having thus refreshed themselves, re- turn to their Hive ; but many of these days are dangerous, because by warmth of the weather they imagine the sum- mer is at hand, and so they revel and consume the victuals which they Avould spare in frost and snowy weather. You must be sure this quarter to keep your doors close shut when it is cold weather, and never to open them but in a warm air, and be sure you shut them again at night. The last quarter of the Bee year is the spring, which enters with Pisces, at which time the plants begin to sproiit, and the Bees begin to breed again. The first fair day, therefore, in this quarter, open the doors of your Hives, and so let them continue ; for the colds will not at this time of year hurt your Bees, and the day cold avUI do them more good than hurt : the weaker swarms which are more sub- ject to cold, you must leave but just I'oom enough in the door for one Bee to pass, that the robbers may not have too large an entrance ; for now, by the help of the sun, they are able to maintain a vigorous seige. THE DRONE, A GROSS STINGLESS BEE. 119 At this time iu a morning, before the Bees come much abroad, gently lift up your Hives, and quickly sweep away the dead Bees and other rubbish, and scrape your stool clean, then set the Hive down, and doom it close up. III. — Of the Breeding of Bees, and of the Drone. There is a great contest amongst philosophical Bee- masters how the Bees are generated : some are of opinion that they never generate, but receive and brmg home their seed from flowers ; others say that they have amongst 'em both sexes, yet do not agree which are the males and which are the females. The Drone is a gross stingless Bee, that spendeth his time in idleness ; yet is there such a necessary use of him, that without him the Bee cannot be : it is the opinion of some that he is made of a Honey Bee, which is even as likely as that a dwarf, ha^ong his gixts pull'd out, should become a giant. The truth is, the Drone is of the same species with the Honey Bee, but of a different sex, and by whose masculine virtue and natural heat the Honey Bee secretly conceiveth, and beginneth their breeding at the sun's entrance into Pisces, when they first gather on flowers ; but their chief time is in Aries, Taurus, and Gemini, which months yield ambrosia in great plenty, variety, and virtue. The Bees will be sure to serve themselves first, their first generation being always females. IV. — Of the Swarming of Bees, and the Hiving of THEM. The stocks having bred, and fiUed their Hives, do send forth their swarms, which consist of such parts as doth the stock ; namely, of a Queen Bee, Honey Bees, as well old as young, and Drone Bee. 120 GEMINI AXD CAXCER. Many are of opinion that the swarm consisteth only of young Bees, and that the old ones tarry behind ; yet indeed the swarm is not younger than the stock, for there is both of both sorts. The young Bees remain in the stock with the old for their defence and for the greatest labour ; and the old ones go with the young m the swarms for their aid and guidance in the work. The Drones they take with. them for the propagation of their kind; and therefore those swarms that have many Drones with them will surely prosper. A Avarm, calm, and showery spring causes many and strong swarms, but sudden rains prevent them : dry weather makes plenty of honey, and moist, of swarms. The chief time for breeding Bees is the spring, and the summer for gathering of honey; so that when a dry summer foUoweth a moist spring, the Bee-folds will be rich. The Bees delight to SA'^arm in cabii and warm weather, but especially in a hot gleam, after a shower of rain. The swarms for the generality rise between the hours of nine and three, and sometimes an hour sooner or later. But they chuse rather the forenoon, if the weather please them. The swarming months are two, Gemini and Cancer; that is, one month before the longest day, and one month after. Those swarms that come in the first swarming month are very good ; but such as come in the last fortnight of the last swarming month are but indiiferent. Those that come before the blowing of knap-weed, come in very good time, and before the blowing of blackberry ; but blackberry swarms are never good. A good stock doth usually cast a prime swarm, and an after swarm : one prime swarm is v orth two or three after swarms, imless the prime swarm be divided in the s^Aarm- ing, or some part thereof stay belund. The signs of the Hive's fuhiess and readiness to swarm are SIGNS OF AN AFTER SWARM. 121' seen at the Hive door, 1. By the Bees hovermg m cold even- ings and mornings. 2. By the moistness or sweating on the stool. 3. By their hasty running up and down. 4. By then* first hang forth in foggy and sultry mornings and evenings, and going in again when the au- is clear. 5. When they will swarm, sometmies they gather together without the door, not only upon the Hive, but the stool also, which is a sign of swarming : but when they Lie and hang forth continually, it is a sign that they will not swarm. For those stocks which, not swarming in Gemini, happen to lie forth, keep the Hive as cool as may be, by shadowing of it, and watering romid about it, and by enlarging the door to give them air, and move the cluster gently with your brush and drive them in. For such as will not swarm, your best way is to double the stall, by turning the skirt of the Hive upwards, and setting an empty prepar'd Hive upon it, into which they will ascend, and Avork and breed as well as in the old. Such a stall Avill be very good to be taken, or, being young, to be kept. The signs of after swarms are more certain, the sign being always heard before they begin to swarm. If the prune swarm happen to be broken, the second will both call and swarm the sooner, it may be the next day, and by that occasion haply a third and soiuetimes a fourth, but all withm a fortnight after the pruue swarm, except in some extraordinary years both for breed and honey. After a second swarm, I have heard a young Lady-Bee call, but the queen, not being wUling to part with any more of her company, did not answer, and the next day she, with seven others, were brought forth dead ; and sometimes when the qiieen hath given her consent to a third or fourth swarm, the Bees, finding their stock like to live, shew themselves loth to go out. When the swarm is up, it is common to beat a pan, kettle, mortar, or brass candlestick, near the place where 122 TO HIVE A SWARM. 'tis convenient for the swai'ra to pitch, and the Bees will follow the sound ; and if they are got up into the air, the sound will bring them down, or else you may flmg dust or sand at them, which will cause them to pitch. Sometimes they will fly so fast that you cannot take them, and then they belong to the happy finder ; yet the law of Christendom allows you to follow them into any place where you can see them. Sometimes they will lodge themselves in a hollow, or in an empty Hive, and therefore it is convenient to keep empty Hives in your garden. A poor woman having taken a swarm to keep for half, by New Year's tide had lost her half and her partner's ; and being careless of the Hive when the Bees were dead, she let it stand abroad till she had forgotten it. The next summer, coming into her garden, she found some Bees passing to and from her Hive, which Bees were then busie in cleansing and dressing it. She, wisely fearing that the Bees came to carry away the wax that was left, bid her daughter take the Hive and carry it in. The wench, follow- ing her play, did happily forget her mother's commands, and by that means the Hive stood till an unexpected swarm came, which afterwards stocked her garden. The manner of Hiving a swarm is as foUoweth : when the swarm is fully settled and at biggest, having prepared your Hive as before is ordered, take a mantle, or any con- venient broad cloth, and lay it on the ground just under the swarm ; then take two rests, which are pieces of wood some- what longer than the bottom of your Hive is broad, and about an inch and a half thick, these lay at equal dis- tances on your cloth, no farther asunder than that the bottom of the Hive may rest upon them both : you must also have a brush made of a handful of rosemary, hysop, fennel, or other Bee-herbs. This being finished, let the Hiver first drink of the best beer, and wash his hands and face therewith ; then let him go gently to work, taking good heed where he sets his foot, and how he handles. Having TO PLACE A SWARM IN THE BEE GARDEN. 123 laid liis rests and mantle, let bim hold the Hive in one arm, and shake the Bees into it, and immediately, with great gentleness, set the Hive on the rests. If any of the Bees remain behind or return to the place of the swarm, let him lay in the place some stinking arable, or other noisome herb, which will keep the Bees from returning : this to be done if they pitch on a bough. If they light on the ground within two foot of it, shake 'em or brush 'em on the mantle, and set the Hive on the rests over them ; if they light at any small dis- tance higher, you may raise the mantle and rests \^ith stools, and do as before ; if upon a high tree, you must cut off the bough with a sharp instrument, and, covering it Avith a mantle, or putting it into a large canvass bag, bring them gently down to the Hive ; if they light on the body of a tree, then you must brush them into a mantle or bag, and Hive them as before ; if they light on the top of any tiling, then must you support the Hive on the top of a prong over them, and drive them upwards into it ; if they fall in the middle of a hedge, then must you work away the nether part of the hedge, till you can come under them vnth your Hive. It is very difficult to move them if they get into a hollow tree ; the only way I know of, is to smoke them before they are well settled, by which means they will seek out for another resting-place, or return to their stock. If a swarm parts, you must, as before, take one part of the swarm into your Hive, and spreading your man- tle over it carry it to the other part ; then, giving the Hive a gentle shock to bring them to the bottom, shake the other part into your Hive, and set it gently on yoiu' rests. After sun setting that day you have taken you swarm, remove it to its seat in the Bee-garden, carrying it thither in the mantle; discharge it from the rests at that time, and from the mantle the next morning. All swarms, if the weather be fair, will desire to be abroad on the morrow, and knowing their want, having a house unfurnished with- A SAMPSON'S POST— WHAT IS IT? out provisions, will bestir themselves in their labours ; but they are much discouraged if they are kept in by the foul weather the first day : tho' they can live five or six days without honey, they grow weak and often dye. The means to recover a drooping swarm is thus : the first sunshiny day turn up the Hive to the sun, that the heat may revive them, and sprinkle the sides of the Hives, and also the Bees with a little mead or honey- water ; hold them in the heat of the sun till you see many of them fly abroad, and then set it down. V. — Of the Bees' Enemies, and how to Destroy them. The good Bee, as other good people, hath many bad enemies, which she herself cannot overcome without the assistance of man, for whom she labours; and therefore the wise Bee-man will take care to destroy the enemies of his best friend, the Bee, whose enemies are — 1. The mouse (whether he be of the field or house) is a dangerous enemy, for if he gets into the Hive he tears down the combs, makes havock of the honey, and so starves the Bees : some gnaw a hole thro' the top of the Hive; some keep their old homes, and come to the Hive only for food ; and some make their abode between the hackle and the Hive. To prevent which, take care that your Hives be well and close wrought ; for if the straw be loose and soft, they will the easier make their way thi'o' the Hive ; also take care that your Hive be close dawbed with doom, that they may have entrance nowhere about the skirts, but at the door only ; it is also good that ever and anon you take ofl" the Hives, not only for this but other causes. A Sampson's post is very good to place near your hives. 2. The woodpecker and sparrow are both enemies to the Bees; the woodpecker, with his round long tongue, draweth out the honey ; but he doth more mischief to TITMOUSE.— SWALLOW.— HORNET. 125 Wood-Bees than those of the garden ; the sparrow doth devour the Bees from the time of the fost breeding tUl the wheat be kerned. 3. The titmouse is another enemy, of which there are three sorts. The great titmouse, from his black head and breast, is called a cole-mouse, and is the worst enemy to the Bees ; he always watches at the Hive for the coming and going out of the Bees ; he will stand at the door, and there never leave knocking 'till one cometh to see who is there, and then suddenly catching her, away he flies with her ; and when he hath eaten her, he comes again for more: eight or nine will scarce serve his turn at once. If the door be shut, that none can come out, he labours to remove the bar. If that be too heavy, he falls to undermining the door for a new way ; and when these devices cannot get them out, some have the skill to break the dawbed walls of the Hives above, over-against the place where they lie, and there they are sure to have their purpose. This is the greatest enemy the good Bee bath ; and, therefore, by the Bee-men of Hampshii'e, he is called a Bee-biter. The little russet titmouse in the winter feedeth only on dead Bees ; but in the spring he will take part Tvith the great ones. The little gi-een titmouse can only be accused of eating some few dead Bees, and that only in some hungi-y time. 4. The swallow is another Bee-eater, who catcheth the Bees in her chops as she flies, and that not far from the Hives, when they come laden and weai-y home. The only way to destroy these birds is by traps and springs, baited with dead Bees, set round the Hives, or by shooting them ^vith guns. 5. The hornet, being much too strong for the Bees, is also a great devourer of them. Her manner is to fly about the Hive, till she have spy'd her prey settled at the door, and then suddenly she taketh it in her feet, and flies away with it, as a kite with a chicken. In destroying the hornet you must be wary, for their stinging does oftentimes 12G "WASP.— FLYING-MOTII.— EMMETS.— SPIDER. cause a feavcr ; and less than thirty, as some say, will kill a man. 6. The wasp is a great enemy to the Bees, and more hurtful than the hornet ; for the wasps destroy the honey as well as the Bees themselves. The best way to desti-oy them is by killing the mother wasps when they first come abroad ; you may take them Avith your flap at your Bee- doors, on the hives, when they sit sunning themselves, and on the gooseberry bushes from the beginning of May. 7. The flying-moth is also another enemy ; he lieth be- tween the hackle and the Hive, and breedeth little worms, or crawling-moths, some on the skirts of the Hives, and some withm on the stools. You are easily rid of these guests, for these and the snails are soon crushed ; they are some of the meanest enemies, and are the soonest destroyed. 8. If you have any emmets or ants near your Hive, they will be a perpetual trouble to your Bees. While the Bees are strong and in health, they will fight and destroy the ants ; but Avhen they grow weak, the ants get the mastery of them, and take possession of the Hive. The best way to destroy this enemy is by scalding them. 9. The spider is another enemy, which harbours between the hackle and the Hive; and you shall seldom find but that she hath two or three Bees in store to feed on ; and some- times when the Bees are weak, they will be bold to enter the Hive, and there weave their fatal web. Ashes strewed on the outside of the Hive will not suffer the spider, moth, or anything of that nature, to harbour there. And thus much for destroying the Bees' enemies. VI. — Of the Removing of Bees. In removing of Bees, be careful to avoid the five evils;— hindering of their swarming, and of their honey; gathering, breaking of their combs, robbing, and loss of Bees. REMOVE BEES IN LIBRA. 127 Remove always in a fair day, and as near as you can guess in settled weather; for when they are removed to another place, they will fly to their old standing as soon as they are let go, and hanker about for some days, where, if they meet with cold or w^et, many of them will lose their lives. The time of the year for removing the Bees is in the three still months, or Avithin a fortnight before or after. You must not remove them in summer. You must never remove them in Virgo, for the old inhabitants of the gar- den finding new neighbours come among them, will be sure to Aisit them at a time Avhen the chief of their strength is straggling abroad, seeking for their old dwelling ; and they will bring the rest such cheer to their house-warming, as may happily make the house too hot for them ; and then they must be forc'd to go along with them, and make them carry their own goods after them. The fittest of all to remove them is in Libra. In the evening, when you design to remove, an hour before suu- setting (having first shut the Hive close), immediately lift up the stool; then having prepared another stool of the same height, and covered it with your mantle, so that the middle of the mantle be over the middle of the stool, set this covered stool in its place, or, if the old stool cannot well be moved, then set the covered stool by it. This done, lift up the stall from the old stool, and set it on the new ; and then, w iping the Bees from the old stool with your brush, either take the stool away, or cover it with a cloth. Within awhile, when the Bees are all in, fill up the door Avith grass, and tie the mantle at the four corners over the Hive, so that the knots may not slip ; and then bind it to the Hive about the middle slackly, and rest it fast with a little stick. The best way to carry your stall is upon a coul-staff, be- tween two persons ; if it be light, one may carry it iu his hand. Be sure it be hung perpendicularly, for fear of WHAT STOCKS TO BE TAKEN UP. breaking the combs, especially if you happen to remove before Libra, when the wax is soft, and the honey is plentiful. When you have brought the stall home, you may let it stand, bound as it is, all night in the house; on the morrow, when the weather serveth, set it on its seat ; but if it be foul all that day, keep it bound until it be fair ; and then, ha\'iug loosed the line and taken away the mantle, cloom it up presently, leaving for three or four days a very nar- row entrance, for fear of robbing. VII. — Of the Fruit and Profit of Bees. The most usual, and generally most usefid manner of taking the combs, is by killing the Bees, for which the uatm-al and seasonable time is in Virgo, from the end of the dog-days. At this time, therefore, consider with your- self what stalls you will kill : swarms that may live are yearlings ; and two yearlings that are in proof, and may be kept in store. Those of three or four years, which by reason of their swarming this last summer are full of Bees, most likely are fat, and therefore worth the taking ; but they are also good for store, unless the frequent honey dews makes them over fat ; but those of that age which are cast Hive are not likely to continue, and therefore are to be taken, as are also poor swarms not worth the feeding — all light stocks — for they Avill surely dye. Such also as they as do not carry out their dross, and drive away their Drones in good time, also those whom the robljers do easily assault, are to be most suspected; and if their combs be once broken, delay not their taking. Moreover, all stalls of three years old and upwards, that have mist swarming two years together, and especially those that have lain out the summer before, and did not cast this last summer, for such do seldom prosper. It is better, therefore, to take 'em WHAT STOCKS TO BE TAKEN UP. 129 noAv they are good, than, in a vain hope of encrease, to keep them till they pei-ish. Neither is it safe to trust any, after they have stood five years and upwards, that have mist swarming two years together, unless it be some special sort of Bees, which always keep themselves in good heart : such as these I have kept nine or ten years. Likewise, if you have any that are very fat aud full of honey, as some years some will be even down to the stool, those are ripe and ready to yield their fruit ; one such stall is Avorth three or four. Take them, therefore, in the seasou. Take the worst and the best of them. Having made choice of your stalls, to be taken two or three hours before sun-setting, dig a hole in the ground (as near the stalls as may be) of about nine inches deep, and almost as wide as the hive skirts, laying the small earth roimd about the brims. Then having a little stick slit in one end and stripped at the other, take a brimstone match five or six inches long, and about the bigness of your little finger, and making it fast in the slit, stick the stick in the middle of the bottom or in the side of the hole, so that the top of the match may stand even with the brim of the pit, or Avithin one inch of it, and then set another by him drest after the same manner, if the first be not sufficient. When you have fired the matches at the upper ends, set over the Hive, and presently shut it close at the bottom with the small earth, that none of the smoke may come forth ; so shall you have your Bees dead and down in a quarter of an hour. But a moveable pit is much better, being always ready without any labour, for any stall in any place of the garden, which is to be made of the round trunk of an elm or other tree ; the length or depth ten inches of the concave or hollow part, ten at the top, and eight at the bottom, the confex superfices eighteen inches ; and so the trunk will be five inches thick below and four above. The pit being 130 GREECE, SICILY, ITALY, Src. placed, fasten the stick with the matches in the middle of the bottom, fire the match set over the stall, and stop in the smoke with linnen cloths. If any Bee escapes he will die that night ; and yon may kill them that do any harm, if you find them on the place. I shall here omit the manner of driving of Bees from one stall to another, the invention having in it much of curi- osity, and nothing of profit in it ; and whilst some have endeavoured to enrich themselves by getting the honey, and saving the Bees at the same time, they have but made good the old proverb, All covet, all lose. There is another way which has been try'd with success, which is called exsection or castration, T^hich is done by cutting out part of the combs, part being left for the Bees' proAision; but what is to be taken and what left, I find it not determined. This practice was anciently used m plen- tiful countries, as Greece, Sicily, Italy, &c. But, however they might succeed in those countries, I take our climate to be very unfit for that practice. The Hive being taken and housed, lay it softly on the ground, upon the sides, not the edges of the combs ; and loosing the ends of the splits with your fingers, and the edges of the combs, where they stick to the sides of the Hive, with a wooden slice, take them out one after another. Then having wiped off the half dead Bees with a goose- feather, break the combs presently, while they are warm, into three parts. The first, honey and wax ; the second, honey and wax with sandarack ; the third, dry wax withoiit honey ; and that they may break right where you would have them, mark the place deeply with the edge of jour knife. But first provide necessary instruments, as pans, knives, tongs, sieves, or wheat-ridders ; a slice, a wax-grate, knives, sti-aining-bags, a tub or kive, with a tap and tap-ware ; a hairen-cansive, honey-pots, wax molds, mcath-barrels. These things provided, take out the first combs, and set- THE HAMPSHIRE HAIR BAG. I31 ting the lioney-ends in a ridder (resting on tongs over a clean pan or kiver,) which will not leak ; mark and break off the first part for honey, and leave it there ; then going to the kive, fitted with a tap and tap-ware, mark and break off the second part for meath or hydromel ; leave it there, and lay aside the third part for wax ; then taking out one and the other, do the like till the ridder is full. That honey which first flows of itself from the combs, is called virgin-honey; tho' the honey which comes of the first year's swarm is called by the same name. In Hampshire, where there are great quantities of Bee- gardens weU-stock'd, the Bee-man does not take the care as is here set doAvn, but takes all the honey-combs out of the Hive with a light shovel ; he puts all into a tub, and pounds 'em altogether; and then putting it confusedly into a strong-haired bag, does violently press out all that Avill rim, and this (having first its season of heat over the fire) they put in barrels or other vessels to work. This done, they put what remains in the bag into a troiigh or other vessel, and wash it for meath. When the sweetest is all washed out, being crushed dry, the balls they try for wax. The honey being put up Avarm into pots, will in two or three days' time work up a scvma of course wax, di-oss, and other stuff, wliich must be taken off. Good honey is clear, odoriferous, yellow, like pale gold, sharp, sweet, and pleasant to the taste of man, between thick and thin, and the best honey is at the bottom. The virgin honey is more chrystallme at first, and will be neither hard nor white, but changeth its liquidity and chrystalline clearness into a thick softness and bright yellow colour. Meath or hydromel is of two sorts ; the weaker and the stronger meath, or metheglin. If your mead be not strong enough by the refuse of your combs, then put so much of your course honey into it, as will make it strong enough to bear an egg the breadth of a 132 TO MAKE MEAD. twopence above the top of the liquor, which is sufficient for ordinary mead ; and afterwards, till night, ever and anon stir it about the kive. If you would make a greater quan- tity, tlien you must add a greater measure of water and honey ; namely, six gallons of water to one of honey. Some will boil this proportion of six to one, to four, but I think to five is very sufficient; the spices to this proportion are cin- amon, ginger, pepper, grains of paradice, cloves, of each two drams. The next morning, put to the liquor some of the scum of the honey ; stir them together, and stoop the kive a little backwards ; when it hath settled an hoiu- or two, draw it off to be boiled ; and when you see the sediment appear, stop, and let the rest run into some vessel by itself, Avhich, when settled, strain into the boiler, and the dregs of all cast into your garden for the use of your Bees. When your liquor is set over a gentle fire, and a thick scum is gathered all over, and the bubbles by the sides begin to break the scum, ha\ing damp'd yoivr fire to cease the boiling, skim it clean, and then presently blow up your fire; and when you see the second scum ready, having again damp'd the fire, take off the scum as before ; and then having again stirred your fire, let it boil handsomely for the space of an hour, or thereabouts, but be sure you always keep scumming of it as there is occasion. After all this is done, put in your spices according to the former receipt, and let it boil a quarter of an hour more at least. The end of boiling is to cleanse the mead, which once done, any farther boiling does but rather diminish, than encrease the goodness and strength of the mead. As soon as it hath done boiling, take it from the fire and set it to cool ; the next day when it is settled, strain it thro' a hair sieve or linnen bag into the kive, reserving still the dregs for the Bees, and let it stand cover'd three or four days till it work, and let it work two days ; then turn it into a barrel scalded with bay-leaves, making the spice bag METHEGLIN: A ROMAN DRINK. 133 fast at the tap. If you make no great quantity of mead, you may tun it the next day, and let it work in the barrel ; your ordinary mead which turns sour, will make excellent good vinegar. MethegUn is the more generous and stronger sort of hydromel, for it beareth an egg to the breadth of a six- pence, and is usually made of finer honey with a less pro- portion of water, namely, of four to one. To every barrel of sixteen gallons of skimmed liquor, add thyme one ounce ; eglantine, sweet marjoram, rosemary, of each half an ounce ; ginger, two ounces ; cinamon, one ounce ; cloves and pep- per, of each half an ounce ; all gross beaten, the one half boiled loose in the liquor, and the other half put into a bag before in mead ; so that after this manner being made, as ordinary mead will not keep above half a j^ear : this, the longer it is kept, the stronger it is, and hath the more deli- cate flavour and taste. This was a drink frequently used among the ancient Romans, who, I suppose, first taught the ordering of Bees, and brought this wholesome liquor into our island. We find by history, it was the approved and common drink of our ancestors, even of our kings and queens, who, in former ages, prefer 'd the liquors of the product of this island, before those imported from foreign countries, as did the famous and renowned Queen Elizabeth, who every year had a vessel of metheglin made for her own drinking. A receipt of this Queens metheglin coming to my hands, I shall oblige the reader therewith, as follows : Take a bushel of sweet briar- leaves, as much of thyme ; half a bushel of rosemary-leaves, and a peck of bay-leaves ; and, having well-washed them, boil them in a copper of fair water : let them boil the space of half an hour or better, and then pour out all the water and herbs into a fat, and let it stand till it be but milk warm ; then strain the water from the herbs, and take to every gallon of water, one gal- lon of the finest honey, and beat it together for the space 134 VIRTUES OF HONKY. of an hour ; then let it stand 2 days, stirring it well twice or thrice a day ; then take the liquor and boil it again, and skim it as long as there remains any scum ; when it is clear, put into a fat as before, and let it stand to cool. You must then have in readiness a kive of new ale or beer, which as soon as you have emptied suddenly, presently put in the methcglin, and let it stand three days a working, and then tun it up in barrels, tying at every tap-hole, by a pack-thread, a little bag of beaten cloves and mace, to the value of an ounce. It must stand half a year before it be drank. As the vertues of honey ai-e transcendent, so are the ver- tues of meath and metheglin : when old, it is a wine most agreeable to the stomach. It recovereth, 1. A lost appe- tite. 2. It openeth the passage for the spirit and breath. 3. It softeneth the bowels. 4. It is good for them that have the cough or ptisick. 5. If a man take it not as his common drink, but every now and then as physick, he shall receive much benefit thereby, against quotidian agues, cachexies, and against all the diseases of the brain, as the epilepsy, &c. for which wine is pernicious. G. It is very good against the yellow jaundice. 7. It is also a counter- poison. 8. It nom-isheth the body, and is consequently good against the consumption, and all emaciating diseases. 9. It is the best thing in the world for the prolongation of life. PoUio Romulus (who was a hundred years old) imputed the continuance of his health to this sovcraign liquor, who, being asked by Augustus the emperor, by what means especially he had preserved that vigour, both of mind and body ; his answer was, Intus mulso, foris oleo, by the use of metheglin inwardly, and of oyl outwardly. The same thing is manifested from the example of the ancient Britains, \\ ho have all along been addicted to meath and metheglin, and than Avhom no people in the world have more clear, beautiful, and healthful bodies ; of whose metheglin, Lobel writcth thus : Camhiicus illc potus melhcegla, est altera ORDERING OF WAX. 135 Uqii'ida, et Hmpida se/jlentrioiiis llieriaca. The British methe- glin, says lie, is a sort of liquid and clear treacle of the North. And as good and old metheglin excelleth all wines, as well in pleasantness of taste as for health, so being burnt, it is better than any burnt wine for comforting and settling a weak and sick stomach. The manner of burning of which, being not common in this age, I shall set down the method thereof. Set over the fire a deep pot or kettle, almost full of water ; when it boUeth, put in a pewter pot fiill of me- theglin ; before that beginneth to boil skim it, and put in two or three bruised cloves, and a branch of rosemary; then beat the yolk of an egg in a spoonful of cold meath, and stir them together ; then put to that a spoonfid of hot meath, and after that another, always beating them to- gether ; and then by degrees pour it into the pot, stirring it continually ; then as soon as it boileth, take up the pot and pour it into a warm pot of the like bigness, firing it as it runneth, and so let it burn as long as it will. A metheglin posset is of the like vertue. The manner of ordering the wax is as followeth : — take the wax and dross, and set it over the fu'e in a kettle or caldron, that may easily contain it ; then pour in so much water as will make the wax swim, that it may boil mthout burning ; and for this reason, while it is boiling gently over the fire, stir it often ; when it is thoroughly melted, take it off the fire, and presently pour it out of the kettle into a strainer of fine thin linnen, or of twisted hair, ready placed upon a screw or press ; lay on the cover, and press out the liquor, (as long as any wax comes) into a kiver of cold water; but first wet both the bag and the press to keep the wax from sticking : at the first cometh most water ; at the last most dross, and in the middle most wax. The wax groAving hard, make it into balls, squeezing out the water with your hand. When you have thus done break all the balls into crumblets, and in a skillet or kettle H 2 136 TOKENS OF GOOD WAX. set it over a soft fire ; while it is melting, stir it and skini it with a spoon wet in cold water ; and as soon as it is melted and skimmed clean, take it off. And having pro\-ided the mold, first warm the bottom, especially if the cake be small, and besmear the sides with honey, and then instantly pour in the wax (being as cool as it will run) through a linnen strainer ; when you come near the bottom, pour it gently till you see the dross come, which strain into some other mold by it self; and when it is cold, either try it again, or, having pared away the bottom, keep it as it is, for some use or other. When the wax is in the mold, if there be any froth yet remaining on the top, blow it together at one side, and skim it off lightly with a wet spoon. This done, set not the cake abroad where it may cool too hastily, but put it in a Avarm house not too far from the fire ; and if it be a large cake, cover it over warm to keep the top from cooling, till the inward heat be allay 'd, and so let it stand, not moving the mold till the cake be cold ; if it stick, a little warming of the vessel or mold will loosen it, so that it will presently slip out. The tokens or properties of good wax, according to Sylv. de Med. Simp. Delect, lib. i. Cera sit flavissima, odorafa, pin- guis coacta, levis, pura et aliena omni materia carens ; i. e. good wax is yellow, odoriferous or sweet, fat, fast or close, light, pure, and void of any other matter. That which is most light and yellow, farthest from red and nearest to white ; for as in gold the deepest, so in wax and honey the palest yellow is best ; yea, the pure virgins wax at the first is white ; wax must not be hollow, as is the froth ; for wax like oyl is best in the top, as honey is in the bottom ; and therefore the bottom, into which dross does descend, is not good. Having thus given directions for the working of the wax, I have shewn all the profit of the industrious Bee, Avho, like a good common-wealthsman, works for the good of TOKEN'S OF GOOD WAX. J 37 others, tlio' she loseth her life in the enterprise. The honey, the meath, raetheglin and wax, are all of 'em as good commodities as any, but the wax more especiallj^, it beuig fuU as good as the choice metal of its OAvn colour : it is always a ready money commodity in London, especially English-wax, which generally sells at London betwixt five and six pound per hundred weight, when foreign-wax will not yield near that price. But, as I have given you an accoimt of the noble and generous wines pressed from the Bee-Aineyards, and their vertues, I shall here give you a short account of the vertues of their Avax. Wax hath no fixed elementary quality, but is a mean between hot and cold, and between dry and moist. It mollifies the sinews ; it ripeneth and resolveth ulcers ; the quantity of a pea of wax being swallowed doAvn by nurses, dissolveth the milk curdled in their breasts ; and ten round pieces of wax, of the bigness of the grains of millet or hemp seed, will not suffer the milk to curdle in the stomach. Moreover, it maketh the most excellent light for clearness, and sweetness, and neatness, to be preferred before all others ; and is such as is used in the palaces of kings and princes. The yellow wax is by art, for certain purposes, turned into divers colours, as white, red and green : the doing of it is so common, and so well known, that I shall omit giving any account thereof; besides, it is of use or profit but to the wax-chandlers of the city of London. And such is wax in its kuids, both natural and artificial. Natural wax is altered by distillation into an oyl of mar- vellous vertue : it is rather a cajlestial or divine medicine, than humane ; because in wounds it worketh miracles, and is therefore opposed by the surgeons, tho' they use it themselves ; for it healeth a wound, be it never so wide and big, being before stitch'd up, in 10 or 12 days at the most; but it healeth those that are small in 3 or 138 WAX OIL WOKKETH MIRACLES. 4 days, by only anomtiiig the wound therewith, and ap- plj-ing a cloth wet in the same. It stayeth the shedding of the hair, either on the head or face, by anointing there- with. For inward diseases this oyl worketh miracles. If you give 1 dram at a time in white-wine, it will provoke urine, helps stitches and pains in the loins, the cold gout, and all other griefs coming of cold. The manner of making this oyl is as follow s : take of pure new yellow wax as much as will fill half your retort or body of glass ; melt it on the fire, and then pour it into sweet wine, wherein let it soak ; Avash it often, and wring it between your hands ; then melt it agam, and pour it into fresh wine, and order it as before ; this done seven times, every time putting it into fresh wine, then add to every pound of wax four ounces of the powder of red-brick finely bruised, put it altogether in your retort or glass well luted ; then set the retort in an earthen pot, filling it roiuid about and beneath with fine sifted ashes or sand, and set the pot with the body in it on a furnace, and so distil it with a soft fii'e, and there will come forth a fair yellow oyl, which will congeal in the receiver like pap when it is cold ; if you should rectifie this oyl by often distilling, it would be too hot, and not fit for use. It is marvellous to behold, at the coming away of this oyl, all the four elements, the fire, air, water, and earth, at one and the same time in the receiver. Such is the vertue of wax, both in its kind, and altered by distillation ; it is also the ground of all cerecloths and salves. The Bee helpeth to cure all your inward and out- ward diseases, and is the best little friend a man has in the world. Having gone thro' the vertues of wax, meath, and metheglin, I shall conclude this treatise with the vertues of honey, which, indeed, are many and extraordinary. Honey is hot and dry in the second degi-ee ; it is of subtil HOXEY: ITS VIRTUES. 139 parts, and therefore doth pierce as oyl, and easily passeth the parts of the body ; it hath a power to cleanse, and some sharpness withal; and therefore it openeth obstructions, and cleareth the breasts and lights of those humours Avhich Ml fi-om the head ; it looseth the belly, purgeth the foul- ness of the body, and provoketh urine. It cureth and briugeth away phlegmatick matter, and sharpneth the sto- mach of those, who by reason thereof have but little appe- tite. It purgeth those things Avhich hurt the clearness of the eyes ; it nourishes very much, and breedeth good blood ; it stirreth up natural heat, and prolongeth life and old age ; it keepeth all things imcoiTupt which are put into it ; and therefore physicians do temper therewith all such medicines as they design to keep long ; yea, the bodies of the dead being embalmed with honey, have been preserved from putrifaction. It is a soveraign medicament both for out- ward and inward maladies. It helpeth the gi-ief of the jaws, the kernels growing within the mouth, and the sqiiin- ancy or inflammation of the muscle of the inward gargil ; for Avhich purpose it is gargarized, and the mouth washed therewith. It is drank against the biting of a serpent, or a mad dog. It is good for such as have eaten mushrooms, or have drank poppies, against which evil the honey of roses is taken warm. It is also good for the falling-sick- ness, and better than wme, because it cannot arise to the head as T^ine doth. It is a remedy against the surfeit ; for they that are skilful in physick, ai hen they perceive any mans stomach to be overcome, they first ease it by vomit, and then (to settle the brain and to stay the noisome fume from ascending unto the head) they give the patient honey upon bread. In respect of which gi-eat vertiies, the right com- position of those gi'eat antidotes, treacle and methridate, although they consist, the one of more than 50, and the other of more than 60 ingredients, require thrice so much honey- as all the rest ; all which premises considered, 'tis no wonder the wise king, who knew the vertues of all 140 HONEY FIT FOR OLD MEN, WOMEN, AND CHILDREN. vegetables and drugs, said, " My son, eat honey, for it is good," Prov. xxiv. 13. The holy land is often, and much commended for flowing therewith ; and the Eternal Ema- nuel did eat it for his food, Isa. vii. 15; Luke xxiv, 43. Honey, if it be pure and fine, is so good in itself, even for those squeamish stomachs which are against it. But, in- deed, the vulgar honey may be disliked, as being skittishly handled, and much corrupted with stopping, and Bees both young and old, and some with other mixtures also. Honey is most fit for old men, women and children, for such as are rheumatick and phlegmatick, and generally for all that are of a cold temperature; for young men, and those of a hot constitution, it is not good, because it is easily turned mto choler ; and yet Lobel saith, That honey taken fasting, doth much good to such as have hot livers ; and seemeth to say. That our honey is hurtful to none, because it purgeth that evil humour, which other honey in some bodies is thought to breed. All honey immoderately taken causeth obstructions, contrary to its natural quality, and so in time breedeth the scab. Raw honey doth more loosen the belly, causeth the cough, and filleth the entrails with wind, especially if it be of the courser sort. Being boiled, it is more nourishing, lighter of digestion, and less laxative, as also less sharp ; for which reason they use it to knit together hollow and crooked ulcers, and to close other disjoynted flesh. It is also good against the pleurisie, against the ptisick, and other diseases of the lungs. Honey is clarified by boiling, and that either by itself, or with a fourth part of water or other liquor. But always in boilmg skim it, that it may be clear. By it self you must boil it, till it will yield no more scum, which Avill be about half an hour, and that with a very soft fire, or in a double vessel, lest by over-heating it gets a bitter taste, and lest it suddenly run over and flame. With water it is to be boiled an hour at least, even until TO CLARIFY HONEY. HI the water be evaporated, which may be known by the bub- bles that rise from the bottom ; then to make it pure, put to every pound of honey the white of an egg, and after- wards skim it again m the boiling. Towards the end of the boiling you must slacken your fire, for the honey is apt to be set on fire, and to become bitter by too vehement a heat. When your honey is boiled enough, take it from the fire, and that rather too soon than too late ; for if here be any dross remaining, you shall find it on the top when it is cold ; but over much boiling consumeth the spirituous part of the honey, and turueth the sweet taste into a bitter. EXPLANATION OF A FEW TERMS USED IN THE FOREGOING. Page 115. Spleets, the cross sticks in a Hive. — IIG. doom, a cement made to join the bottom of the Hive to the stool. — 127. Coul-staff, a piece of wood, on which the Coul (a tub or vessel with two ears) is carried. — Eailet. — 131. Ridder, a cullender, adapted to run honey. H 3 MEAI22HAOriA. OR, THE Female JMonarchy. Being an ENQUIRY into the Nature, Order, and Government OF BEES, Those Admirable, Instructive, and Useful INSECTS. "With a New, Easy, and Effectual ^Method to preserve them, not only in Colonies, but common Hives, from that cruel Death, to which their Ignorant, Injurious, and most Ingrateful OWNERS so commonly condemn them. A Secret unknown to past Ages, and now Published for the Benefit of Mankind. Written upon Forty Years OBSERVATION and EXPERIENCE. By the Reverend Mr. JOHN THORLEV, of Oxon. Illustrated with Copper-Plates. MeAfVo-ais earlv fiyefj.cni', icrrl 5e aKoKovdia re Kai Oepamia Kal iroKe- fxoi Kal viKai Ka\ rwv rjTTrjixevwv alaepds, Kal TroAeis Kal TrpoiroXus Te Kal epyccv diaSoT^ri. Kc.l S'lKai Kara Twr apy(2v re irovfjpQv. ToiJy 5e Kr](pTJvas aviXaivovcn T6 KoXa^ovaiv. Celsus ap. Origen cont. Cels. L. 4. p. 217. LONDON : Printed for the AUTHOR ; and Sold by N. Tiiorlev, at the Loci; and Key facing the Mansion-House ; and J. Davidson, at the Angd in the Poultry, Cheapside. MDCCXLIV. CONTENTS. PAGE The Acthoh to the candid and judicious Reader (145) ili Chap. I. Of the Bees Nature and Property 1 II. Of their Polity, or Form of Government 35 III. Of the Anatomy of the Bee 54 IV. Of their Sorts, Sex, and Manner of Breeding 73 V. Of their Works, or Architecture 126 VI. Of the Swarming and Hiving of Bees 138 Sect. I. Their Language (155) 144 VII. Of their Wars and Robberies 163 VIII. Of their numerous Enemies 109 IX. Of Ordering and Improving THEM IN Colonies (161) ... ISO X. How to preserve them in common Hives, uniting two IN ONE BY Fumigation (169) 169 MEAISSHAOriA, jptmale iWonarcj^g. The Author, to the Candid and Judicious Reader. The belief of a Deity is necessarily presvipposed to all religion, whether natural or revealed. Herein I find the heathen and the Christian fully agreed.* And the behef of a Divine revelation is necessary to give it it's due influence upon us.f Where the Word of God is not credited, what force can all it's arguments have ? The threatenings of the law have no terror, and the pro- mises of the gospel have no sweetness in them to an un- believer. If men do not believe themselves concerned in the threatenings and promises; do not apprehend that it is • Primus est Deonim Cultus Deos credere. Sen. Heb. xi. 6. niareiJo-a. Yap 5ei TOK TTpotrepxo/Je'""' Ttt) ©e« on tirri. t Heb. iv. 2. 146 CREATION A BRIGHT MIRROR. their own danger which the Scriptures warn them of ; their own misery which they describe ; and their own interest and happiness which they teach ; they can receive no im- pressions answerable to snch a revelation. And final in- fidelity fixes the sonl under wrath.* In an age of reigning infidelity, when vice and immo- rality are under no restraint, but practised with impunity, and without controul, triumphing over all laAvs, both human and divine; when men not only degi'ade and villify the sacred oracles ; look on the Gospel as no better than a cunningly devised fable, and the most important truths, as the greatest impcrtinencies ; and treat the blessed Author of our most holy religion as a vile and wicked imposter ; but also dispute, and even deny the being of a God : a serious essay to establish that first principle of religion, may be of some service to the world. " In an age so degenerate as the present, so miserably over-rim with scepticism and infidelity, not only among sensual men of meaner rank, but even among those Avho pretend to an uncommon measure of wit and learning; an humble endeavour to fix this first and fundamental truth (however it may be censured and ridiculed by men of corrupt minds and morals,) will not be thought, by the more sober part of mankind, either needless, or out of season." And what can more effectually promote the kind design, than a due and diligent attention to the many convincing evidences Avhich Nature, (the work of God), and Scripture, (the word of God), offer in it's favour? The visible creation is a bright mirrour, wherein men behold and contemplate the invisible things of God. A large volume lying open to every eye, which is seen and read of all men, or at least should be so ; seeing it is wrote in such fair and legible characters, that every man may read ; yet how sadly disregarded by the generality of the children of men, who will be left without excuse. * John iii. 36. RAY, OxV THE WISDOM OF GOD. 1 47 Who, but ;i being of intiuite perfection, could raise so noble and glorious a canopy, as tliese visible heavens, beautified and embellished with sun, moon, and stars ? Or lay such an area, or floor, as this terraqueous globe on which we ti-ead, and in Avhich we sail ; furnished with so great a number of proper inhabitants ; situate in the fluid, yeilding air, and supported by no pillars, but almight}^ and eternal power? An hmnble and serious view of these, Avould lead men to the acknowledgement of a supreme Being, who formed both. " Nature with open volume stands, To spread her Maker's praise abroad ; And ev'rj- labour of his hands. Shows something worthy of a God."* Not a creature, rational or irrational, animate or inani- mate, from the glorious sun, to the meanest insect, but bears it's testimony to this important trvith. " There is no greater, at least not a more palpable and conAincing argiuneut of the existence of a Deity, than the admii-able art and wisdom that discovers itself in the make and constitution, the order and disposition, the ends and uses of all the parts and members of this stately fabrick of heaven and earth. " For if in the works of art ; for instance, a curious edifice or machine, counsel and design, directing to an end, appear in the whole frame, and the several parts of it do necessarily infer the being and operation of an architect or engineer ; why shall not that grandeur and magnificence in the works of Nature, together with that contrivance of beauty, order, use, &c, &c., which is observable in them, wherein they as much transcend the effects of human art, as infinite power and wisdom excel finite, infer the ex- istence and efficiency of an Omnipotent and All-wise Creator?"! • Dr. I. Watts. + Ray, on the Wisdom of God in Creation, p. 32. 148 RAY, ON THE WISDOM OF GOD. " From that excellent contrivance there is in all natural things, both with respect to that elegance and beauty they have in themselves separately considered ; and that regular order and subserviency wherein they stand towards one another ; together Avith the exact fitness and propriety for the several purposes for which they are designed, it may be inferred that they are the productions of some wise agent."* Not only the greater, more glorious and majestick parts of nature, sun, moon, and stars, but even the very meanest, evince the necessity of an eternal Being. "The meanest of creatures, iu the judgment of Pliny, that great naturalist, are as perfect in their kind, and as much art shown in their formation, as the greater; nay, and I may add much more. " In forming such things, such nothings, what curious art, what amazing power was necessary, there being in them such inextricable perfection."t The creatures are so many mirrours, wherein we may see God ; the meanest having a beam of God's majesty.]: And afterwards he adds, I cannot conceive it unworthy the greatest mortals to contemplate the miracles of Nature, since the meanest, and most contemptible creatures express the infinite power and wisdom of the great Creator, drawing the minds of the most intelligent to the first cause of all things, teaching them both the power and presence of the Deity in the meanest insect. The minutest thmgs in nature were appointed to some particular ends and purposes ; and the Deity is as consi)i- cuous in the structure of a fly's A^ing, as he is in the bright globe of the sun itself. § And did we but contemplate the great variety of insects, their exact order, just proportions, perfect policy, &'C., • Wilkins's Nat. Rel. ch. vi. p. 78. t Inmapnissiquidemcorporibus in his tarn panis, atquetamnuUis, quae Ratio, quanta vis el inextricabilis perfectio? Pliii. lib. ii. c. 2. : Pure. Epist. Ded. § Nat. Delin. Transl. from the Orig. Fr. MAN'S REASON OPPOSED TO ATHEISM. 149 which proclaim the Divine wisdom m their creation, they must be objects worthy of our notice. And if what is obvious to our observation, so much charms an mgenious mind, how much more would those charms concealed from our eye and reason (once unveiled) excite our admiration? " Though their minuteness at first view may seem a just argument for that contemptible idea which the vulgar en- tertain of them, yet he that views them with due attention, and reflects on the art and mechanism of their structure, wherein is collected such a number of vessels, fluids, and movements, into one point, and that oft tunes invisible, cannot but discover an All-wise Providence therein." My reason assures me there is a Supreme Being; an infinite and eternal ISIind ; the original cause of all beings, and on whom they necessarily and constantly depend. And it is against reason as well as revelation, to say there is no God, when we behold the heavens wliich are the work of his hands. If this prmciple be true, and confirmed by two such un- exceptionable witnesses, it necessarily follows that religion is a most reasonable service; and the misery of those who never own God by their prayers, nor inqiiu'e after him, must be inexpressible, and beyond the power of thought. There is good reason for a man to quit his estate, if he cannot keep it with the favour of God. And a man may easUy answer for not saving his life, if he could not do it without wounding his conscience, and losing his soul. A man's poverty may not be his own fault, and sometimes may be both his duty and his choice ; but what can justify that man, who neglects heaven ; despises immortal glory, and wilfully desti-oys his own soul ? The reasonable part in man most strongly opposes the principles of an atheist. And serious inquiries would surely lead men to a Deity. This appears a principle wherein all men have agreed in 150 MAN'S CONSCIENCE WITNESSES TO GOD. all places and ages. Numerous testimonies miglit be pro- duced. "There is no nation so savage and barbarous, as not to believe the existence of a deity, and by some kind of service, to express their adoration of him. " There is not a nation so entirely lost to every thing of law and morality, as not to believe the existence of God."» Whence sprang all the idolatry and polytheism m the world, if not from hence .' Nations on earth may be foimd without cities, schools, dwellings, garments, coin, &c. ; but where is a nation to be found without it's gods ? Nay, rather than have no altar, they will set up one to an unknown God.f They greatly differ in their rites and modes of worship, institutions and customs ; but all worship some deity or other. Nature itself has impressed the notion of a God on the minds of all men.t " Both the hopes and fears of men, lead them to a Being above them. Do we not find men in matters of difficulty, and in times of danger naturally running to God ? For mstance, the priests of Baal,§ and the mariners in the storm. II "And'nvhen the messengers of death arrest theni. and bring them tidings of a future world, how are they terrified with apprehensions of that Deity they have so much derided?"^ The consciences of men bear Avitness to the being of a God. There hath he established the knowledge of himself. There is a conscience in man, in every man ; therefore there is a God, who is lord of conscience, and to \\hom alone that empire belongs. Nulla Gens usquam est adeo extra Leges Moresque projecta, ut non aliquos Deos credat. A. Sen. Epist. t Acts xvii. 23. t In omnium anirais Deorum notionem impressit ipsa Natura. Cic. de Nat. Deor. § 1 Kings xviii. 26. || Jonah i. 6. f Sir C. Wolf, of Atheism. THE ROYAL PHILOSOPHER AND PREACHER. I conclude the argument with the testimonies of a few inspired writers, which make it canonical. Job, for antiquity and integrity, justly demands to be first heard : " Ask now the beasts, and they shall teach thee, and the fowls of the air, and they shall tell thee ; or speak to the earth, and it shall teach thee, and the fishes of the sea shall declare unto thee. Who knoweth not in all these, that the hand of the Lord hath Arrought this ?"* Deplorable indeed is the state of apostate man, when he is sent to siich creatures as these for instruction; to learn God's power, and his universal empire, that wise Provi- dence which guides and governs them all. The royal Psalmist tells us, " the heavens declai'e the glory of God ; and the firmanent shews forth his handy work. There is no speech nor language where their voice is not heard."t From all these the being of a God is most evident to the whole world. And what he says of the sun, moon, and stars, those majestick parts of Nature, may as truly be affirmed of the most contemptible insects. The royal philosopher and preacher send us to the very ants for insti-uction. " Go to the ant, thou sluggard, con- sider her ways, and be wise ; who ha^-ing no g-uide, overseer, or ruler, pro^ideth her meat in the summer; and gathe.s her food in the harvest."t So degenerate is the state of man, that the very insects shame and condemn him, tho' he hath reason and con- science to direct hun to a diligent improvement of present opportunities. Finally, St. Paul has delivered it as an oracle of Divine truth ; " that the invisible things of God from the creation of the woi'ld are clearly seen, being luiderstood by the things that are made, even his eternal power and Godhead ; so that they are without excuse. "§ "Through faith we understand that the worlds were • Job xii. 7, 8, 9. t Psalm six. 1, 2, 3 ; viii. 3. t Prov. vi. 6, 7, 8. § Rom. i. 20. \:y> WORKS OF CREATION. framed by the word of God ; so that the things which are seen, were not made of things that do appear."* Query. "Can there be matter without a maker? Or motion without a first mover ?t Or can there be an effect without a cause? Could this glorious fabrick of heaven and earth be reared by chance ? Could the sun, moon, and stars have any light, but from the Father of lights ? Or could the earth be hung upon nothing, but by Him who upholds all things by the woi'd of his power ? Is it not demonstrable, that something must needs have been eternal ? For nothing produces nothing ? " Or can there be any excellency in the effect, which is not some way or other in the cause? Therefoi-e, since so much power, wisdom, and goodness, shine forth in the gTcatness, order, and usefulness of the several parts of creation, and their aptitude and tendency to the beauty and perfection of the whole ; if so much that is unsearchable in the meanest creatures ; and since in the enumeration of causes it is absurd to run in infinilum, you must needs come up to a first Cause, eternal, and of incomprehensible per- fection."! The works of creation being such fiill and bright displays of the wisdom, power, and other perfections of the Deity, demand the most diligent and serious attention of all men, and ought to be the subject of their daily and most delight- ful study. If the arguments from Nature and Scripture do demon- strate the being and perfections of the Deity ; convince men of the natural and indispensible obligation of moral duties, and persuade men to religious practice ; and if what is proposed and urged in the following history prove effectual for the preservation of millions and myriads, of such excellent, exemplary, and useful creatures, the author will Ileb. xi. 3. t rrinium mobile. Maiilovc ollmmoit. p. 117. IMPATIENCE OF SUBSCRIBERS. 153 freely acknowledge any pains employed in the composure amply and abundantly recompensed. It is not material, neither would it be of ser-\-ice, to tell the world, Avhat led me at first into such an acquaintance, though very remarkable, with these little creatures, whose wonderful parts and properties are so many e^^ident proofs of the infinite power and wisdom of the Creator. They have ever since been an agi-eeable amusement to me, and the delightful employment of my leisure hours. But as I never was ambitious of being an author, chusino- rather a silent passage through the world ; no sollicitations or importunities could have mduced me, hud not justice to the publick, with tenderness and pity to these excellent and profitable creatures, annually desti-oyed by their owners, in such multitudes, without any distinction, or the least compassion, determined me to write ; which will be admitted as a sufficient apology for this publication. Had siich a design been formed a few years ago ; or had not the subscribers impatience to see it in print hastened it to the press, (conti'ary to my inclination and purpose,) it might have appeared much more correct, and to greater advantage. I hope, therefore, the candid reader will the more freely excuse what defects are found in it ; and forgive the aiithor any involuntary mistakes, who promises to recant upon the first conviction. I have carefully perused several of our English writers of the greatest esteem, obviated many of their errors, and collected what I apprehended most material and useful in them, which the reader wiU find inserted in the following pages. Provided the reader will but diligently attend to, and pursue the directions given in the latter part of the book, for preserving the lives of these delightful, profitable, animals, at the same time that he puts himself in full possession of the treasure they have with so much pains 154 TO BEE MASTERS AND BEE MISTRESSES. and labour gathered together, he will assuredly find, what the title page promises, in every particular perfectly ac- complished; without the least reason to complain of any abuse or imposition. And woidd but the Bee-masters and mistresses in Great- Britain and Ireland unanimously enter into the measures here recommended, a few years practice and experience woidd undoubtedly show, how much this Avay of manage- ment would promote, not only their own private advantage, but the riches of the kingdom ; and there would be less occasion for such large importations of honey and wax every year from Russia, Barbary, or other remote parts of the world. But if neither private nor publick interest, separately or in combination, can influence and persuade, I conclude it would be altogether ineffectual and vain to try other argu- ments with the indolent, stupid and unthinking part of mankind ; who though they are placed a degree above yet are in many respects inferior to the A'ery brutes them- selves. Yet after all, that a design and labour so compassionate andjust, viz. the publick prosperity and preservation of these most valuable insects, may be acceptable and successful, not only through the British dominions, but in all it's travels through neighbouring kingdoms, and to the most distant parts of the globe, is the earnest wish, and the humble expectation and hope of, Courteous Reader, Thy very faithful Friend, And most humble Servant, John Thorlet. From my Sliidy at Chippinq-Nor- ioii, in llie Cdinilij «! Oxford, November the 2illi, 1713. THE REGENT AND YOUNG PRINCESSES. 155 THE HISTORY OF BEES. CHAP. VI. SECTION I.* THEIR LANGUAGE. As to the time of second swarms, we, generally, fix it to a day or two, and know when to expect them, by means of those distinct, peculiar, and musical notes, which are always heard two or three days before they rise. Bees certainly have a language among themselves which they perfectly understand, tho' we do not, or at best, very imperfectly. Eight or nine days after the prime swarm is departed, one of the young princesses, addressing herself in a very humble and submissive manner to the Queen-mother, petitions for leave to withdraw, and erect a new empire, with a select body of the populace. The regent for a time seems silent, and for a day or night there is no answer, nor any grant given ; however the young princess, bent on a cro^vn and kingdom, continues her suit, and at last succeeds. The second night you may hear the queen, with a very audible voice (being an eighth) giving her royal grant, and proclaiming it, (as by sound of a * Edit. 1744, p. 144. 156 THE BEES' GAMUT. trumpet) thro' the whole kingdom. Her voice is a grant, her silence a denial. And the day following, the weather being tolerable, you may expect the swarm. It is delightful to attend to those peculiar and musical sounds or notes, being an eighth chord, which is truly harmo- nious. Dr. Butler has taken pains to show us the compass the song contains in the gamut, or scale of musick ; the queen composing her part, or bass, within the four lower cliffs ; and the princess hers, a treble, in the four upper clift's. The swarm read}' to come forth, the notes are louder, quicker, and more constant. When the greater part of the swarm is out, tlie musick is at an end, and we hear no more. Sometimes the royal grant is revoked, and then all the royal issue are slain. As every general rule has an exception, I must tell my reader, that the second day of June, 1716, after a swarm was come out, that very evening, and the two following, they gave notice for a second swarm, which rose the fifth day, when I joined them to the first. That night, and the next, tliey called as before, and rose twice ; I returned tliem both times, at each taking a Queen from them. A few days after, they rose a tliird time, settled, yet went home again. Finally, they rose a fourth time, when I took two Queens from them, putting them back to the old stock, after which they came forth no more. I mention this as being very singular, and what I never observed before, nor since. I very perfectly remember, tho' many years ago, I heard these previous notices given for a first swarm, which are exceeding rare (that being the only time I ever took knowledge of them) and in a colony too ; where placing my ear close to the top of the uppermost box, I could very easily and distinctly hear the least noise, and what was acting about the throne. And just as the swarm began to rise, there seemed to be the greatest lamentation among the branches of the royal family. Notes of woe expressive of the deepest sorrow, as tho' they were taking an eternal farewel of one another. It was really in some measure moving and affecting. JOINING CASTS. 157 I could resemble it to nothing better, than to the nearest dearest relations, and most loving faithful friends taking a final leave of each other, with the tenderest, most affectionate em- braces, and with floods of tears. But to return. With the second swarm, two of the royal princesses go forth very often, and sometimes three, in hopes to gain a kingdom. That princess, who is so happy as to get the throne first, is proclaimed Queen, and crowned ; the rest are all slain, as 1 have found them the next morning. It is very seldom I keep these second swarms, well knowing they seldom answer any good purpose, except two or three are joined together. Besides, the old stocks greatly suffer thereby ; for which reason I frequently return them, knocking them out before the old stock. I would advise others to do the same, which would not a little help the old stocks, and in the end turn to the advantage of the owners. And taking their Queen from them, they would not be so apt to rise again. To put two casts together has little difficulty in it, especially if they come the same day ; it is only at night fixing the mouth of one of the Hives upwards, and placing the other directly upon it, when one smart stroke with your hand will beat the whole body down into the under Hive, which you must presently set again upon a cloth, that they may settle and compose them- selves. After which put them in their place. But so many and various are the circumstances about the swarming and hiving of Bees, that it is impossible to give directions in them all. Common prudence will direct in many cases, and the rest must be learned by observation, and by practice and experience. In hiving swarms, if you are afraid of their stings, you may secure yourself by a thin veil over the face, or by washing it with the sweet liquid used in dressing the Hive. In a very hot season, when the Bees are more apt to strike, I have, tho' not often, put on such a veil ; but I have sel- dom been stung, unless accidentally I happened to crush one. The last swarm I had a summer or two ago never settled at 158 BKES SMOKED OUT OF A CHIMNEY. all, but crossing a wide street, they fled over the houses, and entering in at the side-piece of a back building, they were (juickly out of sight of the spectators, (it being market-day,) who all concluded them to be past recovery. I likewise tliought the same. But that night I began to think virhether it might not be jiracticable to regain them, and in short, determined the next day to make a trial ; upon the owner's leave, which was easily obtained, I employed a mason to make a breach in the inside of the wall, close to the side-piece, and near to the place of their entrance, but discovered nothing of them, neither gained the least intelligence. The next day, being Friday, I sent for a plaisterer, sup- posing they had concealed themselves under the slates, and met with an agreeable place of retreat ; he removed a consi- derable number of the slates, but with no success at all, there was nothing to be seen or heard of them. Both the breaches were immediately repaired and made good. They were not in the wall, nor were they under the slates and. within the cieling ; therefore, in all probability, they had found a passage into the funnel of the chimney, and had chose that for their habitation, of which I intended to make trial the next day ; when, having collected a large quantity of com- bustible matter, fit for such a purpose, I set it on fire, which presently brought them to light. No sooner did the smoke begin to fill the chimney, but first we heard a strange uproar and confusion, and presently considerable numbers came down into the room thro' the fire and the smoke, and some perished therein, and the rest were let out at the window, but the main body escaped through the old passage, settling on the outside wall, whence we got them with some difficulty into an Hive that evening, in which they prospered for some years, pro- ducing several swarms. I conclude this section with a very memorable event, not to be buried in oblivion, or passed over in silence. In or about the year 1717, one of my swarms settling among the BEES SWARMING ON A MAID'S HEAD. 159 close twisted branches of some codling-trees, and not to be got into an Hive without more help, my maid-servant, hired into the family the Michaelmas before, being in the garden, very officiously offered her assistance, so far as to hold the Hive while I dislodged the Bees, she being little apprehensive of what followed. Having never been acquainted with Bees, and likewise afraid, she put a linnen-cloth over her head and shoulders, concluding that would be a sufficient guard, and secure her from their swords. A few of the Bees fell into the Hive ; some upon the ground ; but the main body of them upon the cloth which covered her upper garments. No sooner had I taken the Hive out of her hands, but in a terrible fright and surprize, she cried out, the Bees were got under the coveiing, crouding up towards her breast and face; which immediately put her into a trembling posture. When I perceived the veil was of no further service, she at last gave me leave to remove it. This done, a most affecting spectacle presented itself to the view of all the company, fiUing me with the deepest distress and concern, as I thought myself the un- happy instrument of drawing her into so great and imminent hazard of her life, which now so manifestly lay at stake. It is not in my power to tell the confusion and distress of mind I was in, from the awful apprehensions it raised; and her dread and terror in such circumstances may reasonably be supposed to be much more. Every moment she was at the point of retiring with all the Bees about her. Vain thought! To escape by flight. She might have left the place indeed, but could not the company ; and the remedy would have been much worse than the disease. Had she enraged them, all resistance had been in vain, and nothing less than her life would have atoned for the ©ffence. And now to have had that life (in so much jeopardy) insured, what would I not have given ? To prevent, therefore, a flight, which must have been attended with so fatal a consequence, I spared not to urge all BEES SWARMING ON A MAID'S HEAD. the arguments I could think of, and use the most affectionate intreatics, begging her with all earnestness in my power, to st TJ - I ' il fa ■ :. ',!--■''! ;, i J O : M',,i I 1 2: , - ' 'i 1; i-i H '-M 'h < r" '-* 1! it ■•': 1 , U W •>■ ' '' ■ 1^ ^ v.. ■ , ':■: Il 0 -" ■■■•;;: 11 0 > 0 ■■ i 0 IH '1 0 r 1*,, i a V 'rf' ^:i«| iilir H A B C D E The front view of a Bee-house for five colonies, each to be painted of different colours. N N N N N The doors or entrance info each colony. 12 345 The ledges where the Bees light when tlioy return from he field, and when they come out to view the weather. TlllUTY SHILLINGS GOT FROM EACH COLONY. ](;;5 are the advantages arising from Bees kept in colonies, than can be gained in the common way of Hives. For instance : — The certain preservation of so many thousands of these noble and useful creatures ; which surely should not be esteemed the least. Thus you every year reap the delicious fruits of their indefatigable and faithful labours, and yet have all their lives secured. Once I took a box, with every cell in it full of honey, and most of all sealed up ; wherein I found only two common Bees, and one drone. Another advantage is their strength (which consists in their numbers) and by consequence their greater safety. By this means they are better able to defend themselves against their enemies, the robbers, and preserve both their lives and fortunes. Yet I have known, tho' not often, colonies in good state, as well as Hives, invaded, but not vanquished. A little assist- ance has put them out of danger. A third advantage arising to the owners in this method, is their wealth and riches, by means of their united laboui's. This necessarily turns to the greatest profit of the proprietor. I have in some summers taken two boxes from one colony filled with honey, and yet sufficient store left in the other two boxes for their maintenance, each box weighing forty pounds ; and allowing ten pounds for each box, with the wax, &c., there must be sixty pounds of honey for the Bee-master ; which at 6d. per pound, is 1/. 10^. But it really is of more worth, be- cause of the goodness and sujierior excellence of the honey, the far greater part thereof being pure virgin-honey, and per- fectly neat and fine. Besides all this, the liberty and pleasure of viewing them and inspecting them at all seasons, summer and winter, even in the busiest times of gathering, with the greatest safety. Neither do they require, as the Hives, a constant attendance in swarming times. This method, so compassionate, and yet so useful, con- 104 DR. WARDlill'S MEAD VERY GOOD. tributing both to profit and pleasure, must appear greatly preferable to the other, and far more eligible. It might be added, they are also effectually secured from wet and cold, mice, and other injuries. I had not been many years conversant with Bees, before common report informed me that Dr. Warder, who kept Bees in Hives and colonies, made no less of them than 50/. per annum ; which was a very great inducement to pay the Doctor a visit the first opportunity, in hopes of gaining a farther insight into them, which might turn to my advantage. Not long after, being in London, I rode to Croydon to consult the Doctor; and learn, if possible, his way of manage- ment, which was so very profitable. I went directly to the Rev. Mr. Davis, the Doctor's son-in- law, where I was courteously received, and treated with a great deal of civility. Having told him my design, he very readily accompanied me to the Doctor's house, when to my great disappointment, I found he was not at home ; nevertheless I had a full view of his apiary. The front of his colonies made an appearance not at all agreeable, being painted with lions, and other creatures, which I looked upon as foreign to their improvement. And when I came to examine his Hives, but especially his boxes, I found them so contrary to common report, as proved a nmch greater disappointment. To the best of my remembrance, I saw not above two boxes in any one of his colonies ; the rest were single, and not in very promising circumstances. But I ought to tell my reader this view was in September, after the colonies and Hives were reduced both in numbers and riches; so that I saw them at a disadvantage. Neither did the position of many of his Hives please me. In short, by the best judgment I could form upon the whole, all the annual profits of his apiary could not amount to ten pounds. I afterwards drank some of his mead, of several years old, which was very good. At night I returned to the city, as FIT SIZE TO MAKE BOXES. 165 wise as I left it, greatly disappointed in my expectations. And found how I had been imposed upon by common report. SECT. I. THE FORM OF THE BOXES, WITH DIRECTIONS HOW TO MAKE THEM. Deal, being spungy, is most proper, and sucks up the breath of the Bees sooner than what is more solid; yellow dram-deal is the best, thoroughly seasoned. An octagon, being nearest to a sphere, is the best form ; since as the Bees in winter lie in a round body in or near the center of the Hive, a due heat is conveyed to all the out parts, and the honey kept from candying, which in a square would not be so effectually prevented, and is many times prejudicial to the Bees, and sometimes pioves their ruin. Thus much for the materials. The dimensions of my boxes, and which I would, on so long a trial, recommend to others, are in depth ten inches the inside, the top-board a full inch ; and the breadth within twelve or fourteen inches. Any gentleman, who chuses boxes of a larger extent, may order the depth a full foot, and the breadth within sixteen inches, not forgetting to make the house proportionable. I have tried boxes containing a bushel and more, but found them not to answer the design like those of a lesser size. The larger are not so easily managed ; they are much longer in filling, so that it is later e'er you come to reap the fruits of their labours ; the first year you must not expect it, perhaps not the second either, nor will the honey be so good and fine. The best and purest honey is what is gathered the first five or six weeks, which is worth one shilling a pound. And in boxes of less dimensions, (planted as hereafter directed) prc- I .3 166 HOW TO MAKE BOXES. vided the season be at all favourable, you may take in a month or little more, a box full of the finest honey, and in an extra- ordinary season the same colony will spare you two boxes, re- serving what will be sufficient for their own support. For the top of the box, an entire board would be best, or else two boards very firmly glued togetlier, and a full inch thick when planed, and at least an inch more in breadth than the dimension of the box, which, in the management of the colonies, you will find to be an advantage ; the edges under- neath may liave a little mould, merely for ornament's sake. In the middle hereof must be a hole five inches square, for a commimication between the boxes, covered with a sliding shutter, of deal or elm, running easily in a groove, over the back-window. The eight pannels or squares nine inches deep, and three parts of an inch thick when planed, are to be let into the top so far, as to keep them in their proper place ; secured at each corner with plates of brass, and at the bottom cramped with wires, to keep them firm ; since the heat in summer will try their strength. A glass window behind, fixed in a frame, with a thin deal cover, two small brass hinges, and a button to fasten it. Here you may inspect into your colonies, and see their state, em- ployment, prosperity, and improvements, with pleasure and safety at any season. Front doors to your colonies, and two glasses to one box, I am sensible are of so little service, and attended with so many inconveniences, that I utterly dislike them, and never use more than one, which I find well enough answers the design. Tliose who are otherwise minded may have more. Two brass handles, on each side one, are necessary to lift up the box or boxes, fixed in with two thin plates of iron, near three inches long, to turn up and down within the box, and put in three inches beneath the top board, which is nailed close down with sprigs to the other parts of the box. Those who chuse a frame within, to which the Bees may fasten their combs, need only use a co\iple of deal sticks of an HOW TO MAKE A BEE-HOUSE. 167 inch square, placed across in the box, and supported by two pins of brass, one an inch and a half below the top, the other two inches below it, by which means the combs will quickly find a rest. But if at the first plantation an Hive is put into the house, together with a box, there will be no occasion for such supports. One thing yet is wanting to perfect the work, viz. a passage for the Bees to go in and out, four or five inches in length, but in depth less than half an inch. Now we are in readiness for a house. Any gentleman, Src, may have a box compleat, or an exact pattern, at the Golden Lock and Key, facing the Mansion house, or at the Author's, in Chipping-Norton, Oxon. SECT. II. A DESCRIPTION OF THE BEE-HOCSE FOR SIX COLONIES. In keeping Bees in colonies, a house is necessary, or at least a shed ; without which the weather, especially the heat of the sun, would soon rend the boxes to pieces. Your house may be made of any boards you please, but deal is the best ; but let the materials be of what sort you please, the house must be painted, to secure it from the weather. The form and dimensions of the house are these ; the length thereof full twelve foot and a half. Each colony should stand a foot distant from the other. The height three foot and a half, to admit four boxes together. If only three boxes be employed, two foot eight inches. The breadth two foot on the inside. The four corner posts to be made of oak, and well fixed in the ground, that no stoi-my winds may overturn it; and all the rails of oak, sup- ported by several uprights of the same, before and behind, that ihey may not yield, or sink under six, seven, or eight hundred 168 HOW TO MAKE A BEE-HOUSE. weight, or upwards. The floor of the house, (about two foot from the ground,) should he strong and smooth, that the lowest box may stand close to it. This floor may be made with boards or planks of deal the full length of the Bee-house ; or, which I prefer, with a board or plank to each colony, of two foot four inches long, and fixed down to the rails ; and that part which appears at the front of the house may be cut into a semicircle, as a proper lighting place for the Bees, which plane down, that the wet may fall off. When this floor to a single colony wants to be repaired, it may with ease be removed, and another placed in it's room, without disturbing the other colonies, or touching any other part of the floor. The interspaces may be filled with other pieces of boards, or planks of an equal thickness, which will last for many years. I only propose this, leaving the reader to his choice. Upon this floor, at equal distances, all your colonies must be placed, against a door or passage cut in the front of the house. Only observe further, to prevent any false step, that, as the top-board of the box, being a full inch broader than the other part, will not permit the two mouths to come close together, you must cut a third piece of deal of sufficient breadth, and place it between the other two, so close that not a Bee may get that way into the house. And fixing the said piece of deal down to the floor with two lath nails, you will find afterwards to be of service, when you have occasion either to raise a colony, or take a box of honey, and may prove a means of preventing a great deal of trouble and mischief The house in this forwardness, you may cover it to your own mind, with boards, fine slates, or tiles ; but contrive their position so as to carry oflTthe wet, and keep out the cold, rain, snow, or whatever might any way prejudice and hurt them. The back-doors may be made of half inch deal, two of them to shut close in a rabet cut in an upright pillar ; which may be so contrived as to take in and out by a mortise in the bottom rail, and a notch cut in the inside of the upper rail. MR. GEDDIE FIRST SAVED BEES' LIVES. 1G9 and fastened with a strong hasp. Place those pillars in the spaces between the colonies. Concluding your house made after this model, without front doors, a weather-board will be very necessary to carry the water off from the places where they settle and rest. Good painting will be a great preservative. Forget not to paint the mouths of your colonies with different colours, as red, white, blew, yellow, &c., in form of a half moon or square, that the Bees may the better know their own home. Such diversity will be a direction. Thus your Bees are kept warm in the coldest winter, and in the hottest summer greatly refreshed by the cool air, the back doors being set open, without air-holes made in the boxes. This is another advantage of the colonies above the Hives. From this pattern it will be easy to project an house for two, three, four, or any other number of colonies. CHAP. X. CONT.\INING FULL AND PLAIN DIRECTIONS, HOW TO PRESERVE THE PRECIOUS LIVES OF THESE MOST VALUABLE AND SER- VICEABLE INSECTS, WHEN YOU BECOME MASTERS OF THEIR TREASURE, AND WHOLE ESTATES J PROMISED IN THE TITLE PAGE. The preservation and improvement of Bees in colonies, has been no secret, since Mr. Geddie's happy invention. And how effectually to promote the said ends in the way of common Hives, is the kind design of this chapter. From the long con- versation I have had with these very wonderful creatures ; their inimitable excellencies, and many commendable qualities mentioned before ;• together with their great usefulness to mankind, I am become one of their greatest admirers, and a * Chap. I. 170 INSIDE VIEW OF A BEE-HOUSE. An inside view of a Bee-liouse, containing five wliole colonies : with the doors that cover the glass windows; the sliders, to cut off the way between the boxes ; and the handles to lift off the boxes. AGOODMANREGARDETIITHELIFEOF A DEAST. 171 publick (may I prove a prevailing and a successful) advocate for them. Most solemnly protesting against all that notorious injustice, and inexcusable ingratitude of their cruel and mer- ciless owners ; who, not content with all their treasure, collected with infinite pains and many perils, devote them to de- struction, without any distinction, or the least pity and com- passion. Not unlike so many bloody ruffians and murtherers, who, not satisfied to rob others of their substance, do sacrifice their lives, their dearest possession ; for which they are the just abhorrence of mankind. A righteous man regardeth the life of his beast* And is no regard due to these creatvu-es of God, which are so excellent in themselves, and serviceable to men ? Was Balaam rebuked only for beating his ass?t What censure do those deserve, who thus destroy such multitudes of innocent useful creatures, and most faithful servants? Are they righteous, who are thus cruel and barbarous ? or do they act consistently with their own or the publick interest ? When, therefore, the following pages will make it appear with how little trouble, and without any expense, the owners may come at their riches, with safety to their lives, those who shall hereafter doom them to the common death, must be altogether without excuse. The method I have pursued with so great success for man}' years, and now recommend to the publick as most effectual for preserving Bees in common hives, is incorporation, or uniting two stocks into one, by the help of a peculiar fume, or opiate, which for a time will put them entirely in your power, to divide and dispose of at your pleasure. Yet know that dominion over them will be but of short duration, therefore you must be expeditious in the operation. But before you enter upon action, and that you may proceed prudently, with safety and success, it will be necessary to premise and observe as follows, viz. You must know the Queen or commanding Bee perfectly • Prov. xii. 10. t Numb. xxii. 28. 172 AN INTRICATE PATH WITH A GUIDE. well, which you are immediately to search for among the multitude, to apprehend and imprison, returning her no more to her beloved and most loyal subjects. Search among the Bees which you destroy by brimstone, whereby you may learn to know her. No new swarms or stocks should be thus united, except very late ones, and casts which have not gained a sufficient quantity of honey for their winter-store. Such I always unite to save their lives. Hives or stocks, which have swarmed once or twice, consequently reduced in their numbers, are the fittest to be joined together, which will greatly strengthen and improve them. Nevertheless, if you have a stock both rich in honey, and full of Bees, which you are desirous to take, it is but dividing the Bees into two parts, and put them into two other hives, instead of one. I must add one precaution more under this head, i.e. ex- amine first that stock to which you design to join the Bees of another, whether there is honey enough in it to maintain the Bees of both ; it should be full twenty pounds in weight, the heavier the better. SECT. I. OF THE MATERIALS, OR MANNEK OF OPERATION. The way thus prepared, I must now lead my readers into an intricate path, to which, I take it for granted, they are perfect strangers. And tho' it hath many windings and mean- ders in it, yet having travelled it myself so often, and with so much safety and advantage, I doubt not but to conduct others thro' it to their satisfaction, provided they diligently observe the following directions. I am first to inform them what the materials are, and after that the manner of operation. BUNT, PUCKFIST, OR FROGCHEESE. 173 The narcotic, or stupifying potion, is only the fume of the fungus inax'imus,* or larger mushroom, commonly known by the name of bunt, puckfist, or frogcheese ; it is as large, or larger than a man's head. I had one of these brought me the last summer unripe and white, which weighed some pounds ; but when ripe, of a brown colour, and turning to powder, they are exceeding light. Shepherds and herdsmen, &:c., frequently find them in the fields, and will supply you with them towards the latter end of the season. When you have procured one of these pucks, put it into a large paper, pressing it down therein to two thirds, or near half the bulk, tying it up verj' close. Put it into an oven some time after the houshold bread is drawn, letting it continue all night. When it will hold fire, it is fit for your use in the manner following. W'ith a pair of seissars cut a piece of the puck, as large as an hen's egg (better at first to have too much than too little) and fix it to the end of a small stick, slit for that purpose, and sharpened at the other end, which place so that it may hang near the middle of an empty Hive. This Hive you must set with the mouth upwards, near the stock you intend to take, in a pail or bucket. This done set fire to the puck with a candle, and immediately place the stock of Bees over it, tying a cloth round the Hives, which you must have in readiness, that no smoke may come forth. In a minute's time, or little more, will you with delight hear them drop like hail into the empty Hive : when themajorpart of them are down, and you hear very fewfall, you may beat the top of the Hive gently with your hand, to get as many out as you can. Then loosing the cloth, lift it off to a table or broad board prepared on purpose, and knocking the Hive against it several times many more will tumble out, perhaps the Queen among them, as I have often found her lodging near the crown. She often falls one of the last. If she is not there, then search for her among the main • Fungus pulverulent us. TO UNITE HIVES. body in the empty Hive, putting them forth upon the table, if you discover her not before. During this search you must proceed after the same manner with tlie otlier Hive with which these are to be united. No sooner are those Bees composed and quiet, and you have found and secured the Queen, but you must put the Bees of both Hives together in one, mingling them thoroughly together, and sprinkling them at the same time with a little ale and sugar putting them among the combs of the latter Hive, and shake them down in it. When they are all in, cover it with a cloth bound close about it, and let them stand all that night and the next day shut up, that a Bee may not get out. Some time after you will be sensible they are awaked out of sleep. The same night would be best to put them in their place, and if you had another garden, wherein to fix them, I would chuse it myself, and recommend it to others. The second night after the union, in the dusk of the evening, loosing the string, move the cloth from the mouth, taking care of yourself, and they will with a great noise immediately sally forth ; but being too late to take wing, will go in again ; then putting in two pieces of tobacco-pipes, to let in air, stop them close in as before, and keep them so for three or four days longer ; after which you may leave the door continually open. But in getting away the cloth you must use discretion and caution, since they will for some time resent the affront and offensive treatment. The best time of the year for union is after the young brood are all out, and before thy begin to lodge in the empty cells, which they do in great numbers in cold weather and winter-time, tho' Mr. Rusden denies it.* As to the hour of the day, I would advise young practitioners to do it early in the afternoon, that having the greater light, they may the better find out the queen. The few Bees left * Rusden's Discov. p. 33. GOOD MR. THORLEY, IN HIS STUDY. 175 in the Hive suffocate with sulphur. I never knew such com- bined stocks conquered by robbers ; and they will either swarm the next summer, or yield you an Hive full of honey. A little practice will make you perfect. As one view of such an operation would form a more perfect idea of the whole transaction, than what the ablest pen possibly can ; if any gentleman, or others, are desi- rous to see the performance, the author freely offers that, or any other service in his power, in which he can oblige them. If the directions contained in this history are but diligently and constantly observed, I durst, barring accidents, engage for the prosperity of your Bees, whether in colonies, or com- mon Hives. ,',iip'i>!vr'ii.'i.iir 176 FIGURES OF BEE-BOXES AND BEE-GRUBS. B An entire colony of four boxes. A The square hole for communication between the boxes. S The sliding shutter. C The appearance of the cells through the glass. Q. The queen. D The drone. E The labouring Honey-Bee. H The handles. K A view of the cells when open. L A view of the cells reversed. M The egg at the bottom of the cell. N The young worm. O The worm converted into a chrysalis. P The chrysalis at the point of transformation. Q The fore-part of the head magnified. D The doors to cover the glass. X The section of a box, showing the frame, with four pins fasten it. SYDSERFF'S TREATISE ON BEES; BEING THE RESULT OF UPWARDS OF THIRTY YEARS EXPERIENCE. EXECUTED ON A more general, extensive, familiar, and useful Plan, THAN ANY OTHER WORK OF THE KIND YET PUBLISHED. BY R. SYDSEEFF, LEIGH ON MENDIP. SALISBURY: PRINTED BY B. C. COLLIN! SYDSERFF'S TREATISE ON BEES. THE PREFACE. Some years ago I met with an old treatise on Bees, wliich mentioned many kings and queens in one and the same Hive ; and also related, that males and females are found among the working Bees, with many other strange absur- dities, which I think unnecessary to be repeated in this place. From that time I was desirous of seeing a treatise which should be every way instructive, easy, and practical, and confined entirely to matters of fact ; but I was at a loss where to find it, and made many enquiries, without effect, for that purpose. For the instruction of my own children, I determined, after some consideration, to vrrite down what I had proved and believed to be true, from my own experience, without any intention that it should be seen by them, or any one else, until I was taken from them. But before I began to write, I met with a compendium of natural philosophy, with which I was highly entertained and delighted ; and the 180 NO LONGER PUT BUSINESS OFF TILL TO-MORROW. rather, as the greatest part of it was on the subject of Bees, and contained many circumstances which I had before proved, and believed to be strictly true. On this accoimt I have extracted it, almost verbatim, unless where he tells us that the Bees are as kind to a strange female, and shew the same respect to her as to their proper sovereign, which certainly is a great mistake. But of this I am ready to acquit the translator, who perhaps had neither opportunity nor leisure to try the experiment, having work of greater importance always on his hands. Mr. Reaumier, therefore, must have propagated the error, as one who pretended that he had tried it. When I had wTote about thirty pages, I laid it by inclosed in a book, without thinking any more about it ; but some time after, a person, opening the book, saw it, and, unknown to me, took it away. He shewed it first to one, then to another, till it was no longer a secret. Being under many obligations to different persons, I was under a necessity of lending it from one to another. Most of those who had then seen it, earnestly intreated me to get it printed ; this was a measure I could thmk nothing of. I was then desired to write it over again (as much of it as was lost), and finish it, which I promised to do, but postponed from time to time, until I was importuned by the Rev. IMr. Watkins, of Leigh on Mendip, for that purpose. On assuring him that I w ould get a book and do it, he then gave me one ; telling me, at the same time, that now I had no excuse for delay- ing it. Though I fully intended to do it, it was still put off from time to time, until the latter end of the year 1788. I was then seized with a putrid fever, and soon became in- sensible. Being given over by the physician, and nothing but death appearmg probable, it lay much on my mind in the interval of my senses, and I was determined (if I should be spared) no longer to put off the business till to-morrow. Having thus informed the reader by w hat steps this trea- tise has arrived to its present state, I have only to add, that ROBERT SYDSERFFS TERMS. 181 there is not, in the whole book, one page, nor even a line, which I do not know, or have not reason to believe to be true ; but as part of it may appear strange to ignorant per- sons, who know nothing of the nature of Bees, the several facts are attested in the leaf immediately preceding the first page of the work, by persons who were eye-witnesses to the same, whose characters are too well known to admit a doubt of their truth and reality. As the principal object of this treatise is to promote the mstruction and good of others, I have only to say, that if in any thing I am mistaken, I shall be glad to be set right ; for the more we know of those industrious and profitable insects, the Bees, the more we may be perplexed — but we shall be led to admire and adore their wonderful properties and ceconomy, though no man can search them out to per- fection. RuBERT SyDSERFF. Leigh-on-Mendip, July 14, 1792. P. S. Any gentlemen whose Bees have omitted swarming until the latter end of June, and are desirous of increas- ing their stock, may have swarms taken oiit of any old Hive, by Mr. SydserflF, the author, which shall do as well, or better, than those which come forth of their own free choice. In like manner, Bees are taken out of hollow trees, walls, or any other places, on the following terms, if not farther than four miles from his house. s. d. For taking a swarm from an old Hive i 0 Out of a hoUovr tree, or other place of danger 2 6 Taking the honey and comb without htirting the Bees... 1 6 For a common swarm from a bush or tree 1 0 182 WITNESSES TO R. SYDSERFF'S TRUTH. CONTENTS. Chapter /.—An Anatomical Description of the Common or Working Bees, and of the Effects of their Stings. [Chapter 11.— A Description of tlie Jfale or Drone Bee, with Experi- ments to prove his Utility, Oflice, and Importance in the Hive.] Chapter III. — Tlie particulars of the Queen or Mother Bee, with various practical Experiments to prove the Loyalty of her Subjects. Chapter IV.— On the Breeding of Bees, Wasps, and other Insects, with Directions for making yourself known to Bees, and to pre- vent being stung. Chapter T.— Of the Swarming of Bees, and the Methods of discover- ing when they may be expected, wiih other matters. Chapter VI. — On the Driving of Bees, with necessary Instructions for that purpose. Chapter VII.— The manner of Bees' Working, and when and in what manner only they ought to be removed. Chapter VIII. — On the Feeding of Bees, with Instructions for late Swarms, aud the Hives most proper to be taken. [Chapter IX.— On the Bees' Enemies, and Remedies against them.] [Chapter X. — Of their Outward Senses, and their Internal Faculties.] Chapter XI.— On the probab'e Profits of Bees, and of their Increase, with some of their Medicinal Properties. This j.« to certify, that we whose names are hereunto subscribed, having carefully inspected the following pages, do declare the same to be au- thentic : — Pages .'>, G, \5, 27, 40, 67, 85, 86— R. Sydserfp. — 8, y — William Tapp. Page 17 — John Edwards. — 24— BfNJAMlN BUDGETT, M. MiLLARD. — 25 — Mahy Christie, E. Furfitt. — 25 — John Stekds, jun. — 30— M. Holder. Pages 29, 76, 97— Thomas PADFI^ ld. — 8,9,53,54 — Joseph Millard. — 68, 76— John Parrkt. Page76— Theopuilus Ponting. — 66 — D. HORTON, Jr)H>J WeBB. Pages 24, 25, 27, 28. 56, 71, 72, 76— Isaac Budgett. — 50,51 — James NoKE. Page 59 — Abraham Potter. Pages 80, 81— John Season. Page 82— Zeei-.dee Beachim. — 94— William Ashman. THE WORKING BEE SHORT-SIGHTED. ISZ SYDSERFF'S TREATISE ON BEES. Chap. I. AN AXATOMICAL DESCRIPTION OF THE COMMON OR WORKING BEES, AND OF THE EFFECTS OF THEIR STINGS. Among tlie variety of insects, there are none can compare with the Bees, Whether we consider their curious form, their indefatigable labour, their admirable work, in building their cells, &'c., we must be forced to acknowledge the infi- nite wisdom which directs their unerring steps, and has made them fit to be an emblem of art, industry, and fru- gahty to mankind. The "Working Bee is about three-quarters of an inch in length, ha\ing a very large head, with large eyes, covered over with a horny membrane ; this is the occasion of their being so dim-sighted when they first fly abroad, and that they take so much pains at the door in rubbing and wiping their eyes, that they may the better discern their way forth and back again. The horns, which grow a little above the k2 I 184 BEES HAIRY ALL OVER, LIKE DOGS. I eyes, are about the length of a ^^ heat corn, in each of which i are two joints, one in the middle, the other near the end, by which they can put them forth to the full length, and draw them in close to the head, when they please, and are the instruments of feeling, which do greatly help their dimness of sight. I In the mouth are the teeth, which meet in a different j way from those of other creatures : not one over the other, j but side-ways, like a pair of pincers ; with these they lay hold of robbers, and bring forth their dead, bits of old comb, and whatever is offensive to them. The tongue is much longer than the mouth will contain, and is so doubled underneath, and reacheth a good way down the breast ; it is divided into three parts, whereof the two outermost serve as a case to cover the third, which being the chief, the Bee, in its work, putteth fortli beyond the other, and draweth in again, as it please ; and this third part is likewise di\ided into three, so that there are five in the whole. The Bees have also four wings, by which they can fly into any part of the earth with the greatest swiftness. In the same manner, they are enabled to fly back again with their loading, until their incessant labour hath worn out their wings ; \\hich happens, Avith some of them, when they are about thirteen months old ; for this reason none live more than fifteen months, the decay of their wings being the cause of their death ; for, although they may be able to fly with their ragged wings from the Hive, when they are loaded they cannot recover the Hive again, but drop on the ground, and can rise no more. This is very easily proved, by ob- serving the old Bees in the months of July and August, when they fly from the Hive, and when they return. The old Bees are easily known, not only by their ragged wings, but also by the colour of their hair ; for Bees are all over as hairy as a dog. The Bee has also six legs, and stands fast upon four, THE BEE KILLETH AND IS KILLED. 185 while he useth the other two to wipe his eyes, his wings, his tongue, or any other part which is not perfectly clean ; they serve also to convey the farina which is thrown out of the mouth to the thighs. In the spring this may sometimes be seen, when their little legs are chilled with cold ; but in hot weather it is done so instantaneously that it cannot be seen with the most acute eye. The Bee is doubly armed against its enemies, and makes use of its fangs in laying hold of strange Bees, wasps, &c. ; also in killing the drones (of which more hereafter). This little insect, if possible, will get hold of their wings at once ; but if not, it will pinch and hold them by the legs (unless they are too strong) imtil another Bee comes to its assistance. The stranger now must hope for no mercy ; they immediately take him fast at the root of the wing, and then it is in vain for the poor prisoner to make any resistance, for they ivill never let go their hold until the wing he broken. He is then thrown down on the ground to shift for himself, as they well know that he mU never fly more. Sometimes, in the struggle, the poor captive is desirous of extricating himself by putting forth all his strength, and is like to get free; then the Bee will strike with his poisonous spear, so that often he killeth and is hilled with the same stroke. The reason is, that if the sting chances to hit the breast or shoulder, it is left behind with part of the entrails, which are fastened to it. But if the sting hits any other part, though some die presently, almost as soon as they receive their death's wound, others more gradually expire, by first losing the use of their wings, and then tumbling on the groimd like mad things, until they die also ; others run away, dra^ving one or both of their hinder legs after them, or doubling their netlier part toAvard the ground, or turning the same awry to the left or right side ; but as many as are thus wovmded, within an hour after ^vill not be able to move out of the place, and within two hours atHI be quite dead. ONE BEE'S STING CURED BY ANOTHER. After the same manner do tliey deal with the drones, about the end of July; hut some of the drones do not jiresenlli/ complain, Jly'tmj lustily away, but returning no more, for they soon drop to the ground and die as the other Bees. The sting of a Bee is very curious ; it is a hoUow tube, within which is a sheath, or two sharp barbed or bearded spears, somewhat like the barbs or beards of fish-hooks. These spears in the sheath lie, one ivith its point a little before that of the other ; one is first darted iiito the flesh, which being fixed by means of its foremost barb, the other strikes in too, and so they alternately pierce deeper, until the sheath follows, so that the poison is conveyed into the wound. When the barbs or beards are thus lodged deep in the flesh, the Bees leave their stings behmd them, not being able to withdraw their spears into their scabbard, and the Bee loseth his life Avithin an hour after he loseth his sting, and some within ten minutes. With respect to the poison which is left in the wound, from more than thirty years' experience, I have the gi-eatest reason to believe that the sting of one Bee serves to mol- lify, PREVENT THE SWELLING, AND IN EFFECT, CURE THE STING OF ANOTHER. Innumerable instances have I known, which have confirmed me in my belief; two or three I will set down here, for the reader's information, which, I think, may serve for the whole. In the year 1761, my brother, John Sydserff, who was then a child in coats, went into my father's bee-garden, where a Hive of Bees lay out very big ; the child having a stick in his hand, hooked down part of the bunch, when the Bees immediately fell on the child, and, for want of thought, he made no attempt to run from them, but stood still, cry- ing vehemently. At that time I was at work in my father's chamber, and, calling to my mother-in-law to know what the child cried so violently for, she ran to see, and no sooner came into the garden, than I heard her exclaim so A TRUE HOMCEOPATHIC REMEDY. loudly that I could not hear the child's cry. I ran as quick as possible into the garden, and saw the mother running about and grasping the child in her arms, endeavouring to save him from the furious Bees. On seeing me she cried out, "The child is stung to death;" and as she also vras stung very much, so I did not escape being stung in several places, only in taking the child from its mother and running with it into the house. Many Bees followed us; and, I believe, more than a score were seen flying up and down the glass of the window, on the oiitside, in less than half a minute. I found several Bees entangled in the child's hair, and to prevent their stinging him, I pidled them out in a hurry. Bees and hair together. As soon as I had extricated the chUd fi'om the Bees, my next work was to pluck out the stings that were to be found, more or less, from head to foot ; but all over the head they gi-eatly abounded. Several I pulled out of the tongue, and thirteen out and off one of the ears. Imme- diately applying to Mr. Robert Grimsteed, apothecary, for advice, he said, he could not tell what could be done, unless I was to anoint him all over with sweet oil. This I did, as fast as possible ; but I believe it did the child neither good nor harm. The effect of this disaster was, that he looked pale and appeared to be sick, but there was not the least sign of any swelling. Soon after this he fell asleep, and lay sleeping in his mother's lap for several hovirs ; and about ten o'clock in the evening (to the joy and surprise of his weeping parents) he opened his eyes, and appeared to be perfectly recovered. We all went to rest for the night, and not a single complaint was heard of afterward. From hence I take the opportunity of observing, that J if I am stung by a Bee in the face, I generally 'swell almost blind; if on the back part of the hand, the swelling ascends to the tops of my fingers ; but if I am stung by two Bees near the same place, the swelling is not so much ; and if I am stung by ten or more Bees, the sivelling is very little, or 188 THOMAS HORNOR, ESQ.— MR FORBES. none at all. I would not of choice he stung hij them, if it can he avoided, hut after I have been stung once, J have no objection against being stung twice ; and after I have been stung twice or three times, I do not mind if I am stung ffty or a hundred times. Some, no doubt, will be ready to say, what I here assert is very unreasonable. It may appear so to those who have not proved it ; ])ut if I did not know it to be a matter of fact, I should not relate it. How often have I ascended a tree of such a height that my head would not suffer me to look down, and I have been obliged to take a rope and tie myself on to the tree, for fear of falling ; how often have I then stripped naked to the waist, and put my arm into the tree among the Bees i;p to the shoulder, and pulled them out by handfuls, in the sight of numbers of spec- tators ! But, as a farther proof of the above, in 1780, in taking an old stock of Bees, for Thomas Hornor, Esq., in MeUs Park, out of an high ash tree, I was stung to such a degree, that my flesh was as tender as if cut with lancets, but without any appearance of swelling ; and as I had to rise the Bees in the garden (which lay out very big), I went the next day to do it, and I felt such a fear of being stung again as I never felt before for upwai-ds of thirty years. This was observed by Mr. Forbes, the gardener, who told me that I was more afraid of the Bees than he was ; which, I believe, at that time was true ; but, as Mr. Forbes was a stranger to what I then felt, it is not improbable that if he had been stung but half so much as I Avas the day before, he would have been afraid ever to have gone into a Bee- garden more. However, as I expected no pay unless my work was completely done, I raised them up, and was again stung severely from head to foot. But what was mij sur- prise, when I found these fresh stings to be of very great service ! the pain I felt was removed almost instantaneously, and the tenderness in the flesh very soon passed off. On MK. JAMES FUSSELL, OF MELLS. 1S9 the third day I made new hackles, and plaistered the Bees round, to the satisfaction of my employer ; and in doing this also I Avas stimg very much, but these stings had not the least effect on me, and I felt nothing of them but only when pricked by them. Another proof I shall mention was in 1783, in taking a swarm out of a tree for farmer Luke Ashman, of Leigh on Mendip. After I had handed out the greatest part of the Bees without finding the queen, I was obliged to search every small hole, where my hand would not go, with my fore-finger. By this means the finger was stung to such a degree, that WUliam Tapp, who attended me, did often take out of it three stings at once. When I had done, I asked him how many stings he thought he had taken from the top to the fii-st joint of my finger? He told me they were out of number. I then asked him if he thought he had taken out thirty? Yes, said he, and more than twice thirty. / must observe, that this finger felt a little benumbed, but no way tender or swelled, nor had it the least appearance of being stung at the first ; but for days after black specks appeared in the skin. Upon another of my fingers I was stvng by one single Bee, which made it swell greatly, and it was very tender for several days after. Another proof I met with in the year 1784, which is the last I intend at this time to mention. It was on the 19th of May, in taking a swarm of Bees out of a high elm tree, for Mr. James Fussell, of ]Mells, when I was stung on my fingers, and on the back of my right hand, in near twenty places. On this hand there was not the least appearance of swelling, and very little tenderness ; but on my left hand, which was accidentally stung by one single Bee, the sting of this one Bee caused my arm to swell to such a degree, that I could not, without some difficulty, take my coat off in the evenuig. The next morning I had greater difficulty to put it on, and my arm was very tender for several days after. From these circumstances I formed a K 3 190 MICROSCOPIC VIEW OF BEES' BRAINS. resolution never to be stung by o?ie Bee alone unless another cannot be had. ^ Many more observations of the like nature have I made the last seven years past to the present time, 1791 ; and can add uith certainty, that the more I am stung, the less effect I feel from it. I have farther to observe, that when I am stung in cleaning out the Bees in March, I feel them abund- antly more sharp than in the months of July, August, Sec. Whether the same stings have the same effect on all bodies, is what I have long desired to know, but have not yet had an opportunity. Many have asked my advice when stung, and I have always recommended that another sting them KEAR THE SAME PLACE, AND ALL WILL BE WELL. OuC in particular who attended me at times for many years past, in taking Bees out of trees, and other places, when stung in the face, asked me what he should do, and exclaiming he should be blind ; my advice has constantly been, as I have just said, that another Bee sting him near the same place, and he will swell but very little, or none at all. But though, in many respects, he is a man of uncommon boldness, and will climl) a tree of any height, and put his hand into the hole of the tree among the Bees, the same as into a bird's nest, yet sooner than take my advice, and make use of my infal- lible, speedy medicine, he will be content to be swollen almost blind, and go blinking like an owl for near a week together. But some will say, what you here assert is against all reason : I answer, it is just the same as when a man has taken a dose of poison, for a physician to order another dose of poison, more strong than the former, to be given him immediately, in order to expel what he has first taken. As to the other internal parts of the Bees, by the help of the microscope, maybe discerned the brain in the head; and within the breast a reddish fibrous flesh, with heart and lungs, the proper instruments for breathing : in the hinder part is a gut, and also the bladder or ba7 death they teach us a lesson, which I have taught you elsewhere. But as for the man who suffers by the sting, and so is often afraid of meddling with the Bees again, he does not die, — far from it. The pain goes off in a moment, and the swelKng in a day or two. I have always tried to put my own rules in force when these Men Bees, as I may call Bee-masters, come buzzing about my ears. I told you (page 98,) " Many remedies have been given for a sting ; above all, pull the sting com- pletely out, as it is barbed lil^e a fish-hook, and will work into the flesh. Then squeeze the poison out." And again, " Never blow on them ; they will try to sting directly, if you do. If they come all about you, making the noise which you will soon learn to know as a sign of anger, go quietly away, and put your head into a thick shrub, if any is near." This is a good way to treat angry Honey Bees ; I have tried it, and found it so. It is a good Avay, too, against Men Bees ; and this I know, not only because I have tried it, but on the word of a wiser and better book than my own : it is the way of the Bible. The Bible tells us to give none occasion of offence ; that " A soft answer turneth away wrath, but grievous words stir up anger;"* it teaches us when "We are reA-iled, to revile not again." We know that God Himself has given us the * Prov. XV. 1. M 3 238 PURE BIBLE HONEY. Bible to be the cure for all evils, and what is more to my present subject, He who gave us the book has told us what it is like. " The judgments of the Lord are true and righteous altogether. More to be desired are they than gold, yea, than much fine gold ; sweeter also than honey, and the honey-comb."* Now what do I mean by all this ? I will tell you ; and, as the plan has answered well wuth me, I would ad\dse you to try it. One of the best cures for a Bee sting is to put a little honey on the wound. The Bee makes the antidote for her own poison, just as every hedger and ditcher will tell you that there is no cure for the bite of an adder like his own fat. In this case the old saw, — a ill antr (Turr, holds good. Now for the mode in w^hich I have treated Men Bees. AMienever one made an ugly noise at mo, I walked away ; I held my breath; that is, I did not write an angry answer. Whenever I chanced to get stung, I pulled the sting out, and put a little honey ON the place ; that is, I satisfied myself that I Avas right, and allayed the smarting pain by that pure honey I was speaking of just now. And when a number came buzzing about me all at once, I put my head into a bush, and l)rushed * Psalm xix. 9, 10. TWO FAMILIES— EYES AND NO-EYES. 239 them off by the leaves : that is, I sent them a few leaves of writing pai)er to explain what I meant, and mostly found that this sort of " soft answer tm-ned away wrath." In this second Letter, I do not intend to talk much about the care to be had of Bees, but to tell you some facts about them, their ways and instincts, which is a hard word I shall explain du'ectly. This will, I hope, please you, and teach every one who keeps Bees how to set about watching them ; and if every Bee-master Avould do this for a" few minutes of his spare time every day, and for a few hours every month, and so for a few days every year, and would write down plainly what he sees at the very time, we should not long be in the dark on so many matters touch- ing our Bees. They live close to vis in many of our gardens, and it is a shame we should know so little of their goings on. Xow there are tvvO sets of persons in the world — one party I have heard called Eyes, the other Xo-Eyes. The last set of men walk out in the world as if there was no creature in it but man, and hardly any man beside themselves ; they turn all their thoughts in upon themselves. They \\Q.\e no time or wish to care for any other. They are selfish, and I need not tell you whether they are happy. Eyes, on the contrary, sec everything. 210 " THE BEE IS SMALL AMONG THE FOWLES." and only give themselves a due sliare of thought. Wlien they walk out in the beautiM world, they sing to themselves, or act as if they sung these sweet lines : — " Farewell, farewell, but this I tell To thee, Bee-master, blest, He prayeth best who loveth best Both man and bird and beast ; " He prayeth best who loveth best All creatures great and small ; For the great God Who loveth us, He made and loveth all." Coleridge, Ancient Mariner, {altered for the purpose.) They often read the parables of Christ, Who drew lessons from the clouds of the sky, the trees of the forest and the garden, the fowls of heaven, and the blade of corn or grass, as well as the weeds which grow with it until the harvest. They read the Old Testament too— and there in the Pro- verbs of Solomon they see that he, the wisest of men, learned a lesson from the little ant ; and so they are ready to hear what the Bee has to say — that near relation of the ant. Nor is the Bee left quite out of the Bible. AYe read, in Ecclesiasticus, CTfie UfE is email among \^t fotolrs, gft liotl^ its fnittf passr iw stDrrtnrssr.* Now I am not going to preach a sermon to you, though I think the Bible is the book to take in * Ecclus. xi. 3. Old Translation.— Ed. 1603. HOW TO STUDY NATURAL THEOLOGY. hand, even when you go to watch your Bees, or study any of the beautiful tilings which are about our path, and only wait for us to find them out. This is our best text-book in this, as in all study : — Avhen our hearts are full of the pleasant songs of the Bible, we shall be able to learn the proper lesson which every sight brings to our eyes, and every sound to our ears. We shall see " all the works of the Lord," from the " sun" and " moon" down to the " fowls of heaven," (amongst which we see the Bible reckons the Bee,) " praising the Loi'd,blessing Him and magnifying Him for ever."* We shall hear all nature joining in this glorious hymn ; and when we come to the verses which call upon " the servants of the Lord, the spirits and soids of the righteous," " and the holy and hum- ble men of heart," to join with the angels in blessing the Lord, praising Him and magnifying Him for ever, we shall, I hope, be ready to take each one his own part, with voice, with heart, with soul. Before I go on to the very strange facts about Bees and their instinct, which I have to tell you, I must say one word more of the way in wliich we should study what is called Natural Theology. This means the nature of God as seen through His works. Take the Bible, and read it through; * Book of CL-nimon Prayer,— Canticle of the Three Children. 242 MAN'S LIFE SHORT-ETERNITY, HOW LONG! study it carefully, with prayer to God for the light of His Holy Spirit; and then, with its pages in your hand, and its spirit in your heart, turn to the book of nature. You will then see the same God, AVho speaks to you plainly in one book acting in the other, and showing loving mercies over all His works. But many men have gone to learn from what they call Nature, before they have learned of God. They have done as sillily, as if a man were to read a book backwards, or take the last volume before the first ; and we all know what sad work he woiUd be sure to make of it. It is, for another reason, the wrong way to begin. Human life is short — short because of death, the wages of sin ; and hoAV that sin and that death came into the Avorld, I need not stop long to tell you. It Avas because man would learn of the devil, and not of God ; it was the fruit of the forbidden tree, which was pleasant to look at, and good for food, and a thing to be desired to make one wise. It Avas the i)ride of false knoAvledge by Avhich man fell. Man's life is short, and the book of nature is a long one; it avould take man an eternity to TURN OVER ALL ITS PAGES, AND SO I TRUST WE SHALL HAVE MORE TIME IN HEAVEN TO READ THIS BOOK, lint Avhat I Avould say is this — He aviio PUTS OFF the STUDY OF THE BiBLE TILL HE HAS DEAD MEX, SUN AND MOUN, CATS, MONKEYS, &c. 243 GOT TO THE EXD OF THE BOOK OF XATUIIE, TAKES THE WROXCx EXD FIRST ; AXD MAXY, I FEAR, -WILL NEVER GET TO THAT EXD, AT WHICH THEY SHOULD HAVE MADE THE BEGDOflXG. It is very true that St. Paid tells us that " The invisible things of Him fi-om the creation of the world are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even His eternal power and Godhead ; so that they are without excuse."* But how many lessons did the heathen, of whom St. Paul wrote, learn from the book of nature ? Some of them worshipped thousands of gods, dead men, the sun and moon, beasts, serpents, cattle, nay, even monkeys, cats, and onions ;t they made gods of their lusts and evil desires ; and so their forms of worship were filled with the most gross acts, which I will not name, as it is painful even to think of them. Others were content with two gods, one good and kind, and the other evU and spiteful. They worshipped both. They prayed to one, to do them good ; they gave offerings to the other, to bribe hun, as it were, not to do them evil. In many parts of the world this worship, the worship of de^•ils, is still kept up. Nay, more, in some parts of India, the devd alone is worshipped, though liis servants believe in a God. But He, say they, only wishes them good — and as * Rom. i. 20. f See Juvenal, Sat xiv. 244 MISERABLE END OF THE POOR DRONES. He is powerful, will do good to them without their asking. The devils, they well know, seek their hurt ; and so, instead of praying to God to destroy the works of the devil, they hope (vain hope !) to make him their friend. Now why have I said all this ? To teach you how to look at all nature, and your Bees among the rest. I indeed most truly believe, that al- though every insect that breathes has more plea- sure than pain, and so " blesses the Lord," yet there are many things, even about Bees, M'hich by the light of the Bible are quite plain, but which, Avithout this Lantern in a dark place, are indeed dark. For instance, you know how the working Bees turn out the Drones in the autumn ; they do not sting them and put them out of their pain at once, but pinch them with their hard mouths. When the poor Drones try to enter the Hive again, they push them out by main force, and bite their wings, so as to hinder their flying. These poor miserables fall down to the ground, and can- not rise again. I myself in the autumn of 1837, when there were a great many Avasps about, saw some of these cruel robbers fasten on the poor Drones, and whilst they craw^led about on the ground, and strove in vain to escaj^e, ate the soft part of their body while they Avcre still alive. This cannot, at all events, be very pleasant ; and now TO THINK OF IT. 245 I killed as many of the wasps as I could. All we can hope about is, that these Drones, and the Bees who lose their stings and then die, do not feel pain so sharply as we do. Xow you will say that this is a painful and dark page in the book of nature ; but does not the Bible thi'ow some of its own light on it ? I verily beUeve it does ; though it is not the first object of the Bible to teach us natural history. Look to these six verses of the Bible : — " For I reckon that the sufferings of tliis present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us. For the earnest expectation of the creature waiteth for the manifestation of the sons of God. For the creatm-e was made subject to vanity, not willingly, but by reason of Him who hath subjected the same in hope, Because the creatm'e itself also shall be delivered from the bondage of corruption into the glorious liberty of the children of God. For we know that the WHOLE CREATION groancth and travaileth in pain together until now. And not only they, but ourselves also, which have the first-fruits of the Spirit, even we ourselves groan within ourselves, waiting for the adoption, to wit, the redemption * Rom. viii. 18—23. 246 TAUGHT FROM THE lilliLK. am, here as in many other things ; and I shall be very glad to submit my judgment to any learned doctor of our Church, whom I am bound to reverence and obey. But till I find any decided judgment on this point, I cannot but think that these verses teach more of the condition of beasts, as well as of men, as it is in consequence of the fall, than all that the wit of men has ever found out. It seems to me to bear especially on that pain which we often inflict heedlessly, but seldom, I trust, willingly, on dumb beasts as well as on our fellow-men ; still more does it bear upon the pain which one brute beast often suifers at the hands, or rather I should say at the feet and mouths of his fellows. I could not explain this in the least, without turning to the Bible ; but when I do so, much is plain. I there find in the first chapter of Genesis these verses: — " So God created man in His own image, in the image of God created He him ; male and female created He them. And God blessed them, and God said unto them, Be fruitful, and multiply, and re- plenish the earth, and subdue it : and have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over every living thing that moveth upon the earth. And God said, Behold, I have given you every herb bearing seed, which is upon the face of all the earth, and every tree. SIX, PAIN, AND DEATH. in the which is the fruit of a tree yielding seed ; to you it shall be for meat. And to every beast of the earth, and to every fowl of the air, and to every thing that creepeth upon the earth, ^vllerein there is life, I have given every green herb for meat : and it was so. And God saw ever}^ thing that He had made, and, behold, it was very good. And the evening and the morning Avere the sixth day."* There was no pain then in the world, for there was no sin or death. Sin, pain, and death, all came into this world of ours together, or rather into God's world, for He made it very good, full of life, gladness, and peace. Beasts at first did not eat one another. ISIan harmed them not, and they had no fear of man ; nor was this tameness, we may be sure, shocking to Adam, for it was the fruit of confidence and love. He had delight in the beauty of every, the smallest living creature. He knew more about them, about Bees among the rest, than I, or the Avisest men of om- time ever can know. He knew more than King Solomon liimself. The wisdom of Solomon is thus spoken of in the Bible: — "And God gave Solomon wisdom and understanding exceeding much, and largeness of heart, even as the sand that is on the sea shore. And Solomon's wisdom Gen. 248 THE WISDOM OF SOLOMON. excelled the wisdom of all the children of the east country, and all the wisdom of Egypt. For he was wiser than all men ; than Ethan the Ezra- hite, and Heman, and Chalcol, and Darda, the sons of IVIahol : and his fame was in all nations round about. And he spake three thousand proverbs : and his songs were a thousand and five. And he spake of trees, from the cedar-tree that is in Lebanon even unto the hyssop that springeth out of the wall : he spake also of beasts, and of fowl, and of creeping things, and of fishes. And there came of all people to hear the wisdom of Solomon, from all kings of the earth, which had heard of his wisdom."* I wish I myself had been to hear the wisdom of Solomon, for I have many things about Bees to ask him which I am sure he could tell me. God has not handed down to us any book which Solomon wrote about Natural History, but He has given us his Proverbs. I only wish men would read them more, and what is still better, as well as harder, act upon them. For they might be the best manual to every Christian gentleman, as I doubt not they were, and still are, to many a Jew. Solomon's wisdom, we knoAV, came from God ; * 1 Kings iv. 29—34. DEBORAH— THE BEE. 249 but he was a fallen man, fallen even at his birth by nature, and still more afterwards by his own wilful sin ; so his wisdom, though God's good gift, profited him not as it might have done. Adam's wisdom was pure ; it, too, was the free gift of God in the state of innocence ; he studied the wondrous works of God, not for vain glory, as we often do, but that he might be led to love, praise, and worship their Maker and his Maker. " And out of the ground the Lord God formed every beast of the field, and every fowl of the air ; and brought them unto Adam to see what he would call them : and whatsoever Adam called every living creature, that was the name thereof. And Adam gave names to all cattle, and to the fowl of the air, and to every beast of the field."* We know from the Bible that the Bee is called in Hebrew rniaT (Deborah,) " She that speaks" and the Bee's speech is both as sweet and as wise as that of her namesake Deborah, whose wondrous song of victory is written in the book of Judges for us to read. This name Adam gave to her at the first, as he did to all the other beasts which God brought to him. He knew that the Bee was able to speak many a wise saying, to the man who is willing to learn at her school, and so he gave * Gen. ii. 19, 20. 250 LIFE IN HALF A BODY. her this name. But Adam's knoAvledge was not gained by cruel experiments; as ours too often is ; for when lie named all the beasts, I verily believe he did not so much as brush the down off a but- terfly's wing. Again ; it is certain that Bees will live in a state, which would kill any other live thing, under the sun. I was clearing away the moths from one of my Hives, a veiy old one, as recommended (page 91), in my first Letter, when I saw an insect, which I knew not what to make of; I caught it, and it crawled briskly over my hand. It had been a Bee once, though it could then hardly be called more than half a Bee. Some insect had gnawed away all one side of his abdomen or tail joint, had cleaned out all the entrails, leaving it only a mere shell ; had bitten off three of his legs, and both his wings, and had begun to gnaw into his body beneath his wings. And yet this Bee ran about my hand, and ate some honey which I gave it, though it had no stomach to put it into. I have said there is a family of Eyes, and a still larger family of No-Eyes. Now I am going to speak of a gi-eat friend of mine, (I do not mean that I ever saw him, and yet I love him, though he is dead and gone,) who, one would think, could not help belonging to the family of No-Eyes, and yet, as I shall show you, he was the father of the HUBER— BIRTH OF THE RACES OF EYES AND XO-EYES. 251 other family of Eyes, for lie found out more about Bees than any man that ever lived. His name was Hiiber, of Geneva ; he was quite blind, and how think you that he managed to watch his Bees ? Another man lent him his eyes ; that is, he narrowly watched the Bees day by day, told his friend what he saw, and then the poor blind man thought it out in his mind.* Xow do you know how wax is made ? Xobody did before Hiiber found it out. I dare say you think it is made of the yellow and red stuff which the Bees carry into their Hires on their hind legs. This has no more to do with wax than sugar- plums have to do with an apple pie ; it is only used to feed the young Bees with: but I shall tell you more about this presently. Wax is really made of honey. The Bees can, we know not how, make their Hi^e very hot all of a sudden : so hot, that a room like it would be very unpleasant to you or me : but the Bees are then in prime working order ; they hang like a curtain from the roof of their Hive, and keep quite still for hours and days together. They have two stomachs, like cows ; in the first stomach, the cow * See Huber's most kind and feeling testimony to his servant's and friend's services, quoted in the Preface to his " Nouvelles Obser- vations sur les Abeilles," translated in the Appendix to this Letter. 252 BEES' HONEY BAGS AND INSIDE POCKET. and the Bee, when tliey are feeding, put the one grass, and the other honey : if the Bee wants to make wax, she shifts some honey into her second stomach, which is a regular " inside pocket," just Hke that into which men put their breakfasts and their dinners. But the Bee does not use all the honey on herself; she does not Avish to grow fat and lazy. For who ever saw a fat Bee in summer ? Mind, I say in summer, and I shall tell you why presently. But most of it oozes out slowly, through six little pouches called wax-pockets, they are un- derneath the Bee, in her tail-joint, three on a side. WAX— HOW MADE. 253 If you have a little glass window at the back of your straw Hive, you may often see these little scales just peeping out from the folds of the wax- P ^^ifff pockets, I myself have watched one of them for half an hour together ; it grew longer and longer, and was just ready to faU, when the Bee hid him- self in the crowd. They often shake themselves very sharply, as if they were in a passion ; but I am sure a Bee never did anything sp Avrong ; they only do it to help the wax out of their pockets. Take a bit of one of these small scales on the point of a needle : burn it, it smeUs like wax ; 25-1 MR. THORLEY— HIS XOTIOXS ABOUT WAX. taste it, it tastes like wax ; est fact, it is wax. I give you a cut of it magnified many times. With these little plates the Bees build their combs by gluing them together, just as a tiler makes a roof for a cottage, by laying tiles one over another, and pinning them. down. Kow it has been said that the Bees cany these little plates in from the flowers, hut no one ever saw one in a foiver, or caught a Bee putting it into his icax-pockets. It is true that Mr. Thorlcy, a man who wrote on Bees a hundred years ago, caught Bees as they were coming into the Hive, and found aU their wax-pockets full ; and I have done so myself. But this proves nothing ; doubtless these Bees left the cluster where wax was being made, when the fineness of the day tempted them out to gather honey ; and no doubt the Bees asked the Queen's leave before they left their post. But this does not prove that the plates of wax are found in the flowers. Suppose a pastry-cook and con- fectioner were, directly he had finished making sugar-plums, to run over to his friend, the baker, and get an apple pie from the oven for the children's dinner, not his own, and I were to stop him in the street with the tray on his head. Were I, on looking in his trowsers pockets, to find there six pounds of sugar-plums, hoAV would this, I ask, prove that he is in the habit BEE— COXFECTIONER— POLLEN— APPLE-PIE. 255 of getting his siigar-pliiias at the baker's ? He may have had the sugar -pkims in his pocket, days, or months, for all I can say to the contrary. Now apply tliis to the Bees. The bee is the cox- FECTiojTER of the flowers ; she gets her honey ready made from them, as the confectioner does his SUGAR from the AVest Indies. She makes her WAX from the produce, just as the confectioner does sugar-plums from the raw sugar. The wax in the Bee's wax pockets is the ready-made SUGAR-PLUMS, whicli are not bought at the baker's, but may be kept in the confectioner's pocket a long time, just as the Bee keeps a stock of ready- made wax in hers (as I shall soon show you). The baker's shop is that sort of tree whose flowers give pollen, or Bee-bread, which the Bee can-ies on her legs, just as the confectioner chd the apple- pie for his MARRIED SISTER and little nieces, that is, for the queen bee and yol-ng grubs. The bee- hive where honey is turned into wax is the con- fectioner's bake-house, where he makes up the REFINED SUGAR into SUGAR-PLU3IS for good boys and girls. Now I will tell you how Hiiber found all this out. He took a swarm of Bees the day they rose, shut them up in a close Hive, and did not give them anytliing to eat. In twenty-foiu' hoiu-s he stupi- fied the Bees, and found six combs ah-eadv begun. 256 HUBER'S WISE ANSWER. " These," said he, " were formed by means of the lioncy they liad in them when they swarmed," " No," said the otlicr party, " they were made of that stufT' (which, I say, is Bee-bread,) *' which they carried with them from the old Hive." " Was it ?" said Hiiber. He did not contradict them in words, but showed them it was not so. He put the Bees back into the Hive, fed them with sugar melted in beer; and in twenty-four hours after, a new set of combs was begun. " Oh," said his enemies, " these were made from the pollen they had left," " Well," he answered, " we shall see." He kept on feeding the Bees in the same way for very many days, and never let one go out, and every day fresh combs were formed, which every day he took away. It was quite impossible that the Bees could have carried enough with them when they left the parent stock to make all this comb. Indeed, a swarm of Bees does not weigh more than four pounds in all, and the wax which Hiiber took was many more. Thus Hiiber found out about the wax plates. Mr. Thorley, indeed, was puzzled by seeing them in the pockets of the Bees when flying home. Now I myself have lately found out something on this point. On the 1st of January, 1840, I took a Bee which had died a natural death, and had, certainly, not made, or wanted wax for some JOHN HUNTER AND HIS WISDOM. 257 months past, for she belonged to a Hive which was put into winter quarters, and had certainly done no work since September. On dissecting care- fully this Bee (that is, cutting it up to see how it was made) to my great surprise, and, at the same time, joy, I found a plate of wax in her wax- pocket ; I could hardly believe my eyes at first, but I showed it to a person older and wiser than myself: he said I was right, and was pleased with what I had found out. The part of the Bee was immediately put into spirits, and may be seen by any one who Avill take the trouljle of going to the College of Surgeons, in Lincoln's Inn Fields, where he will meet with every kindness, and may spend a happy morning in looking over John Hunter's glorious collection of things relating to Bees as well as men, for John Hunter thought nothing too LITTLE OR TOO GREAT FOR MEN TO NOTICE. He was only second to Francois Hijber in what he found out. Tliis, I believe, sets the whole matter of wax at rest ; if a Bee can keep it tlu-ee months or more in her wax-pocket (and if this Bee had not died, she would have kept it through all the winter till it was wanted in the spring, for a bee wastes nothing), sm-ely Ave must not Avonder that she should carry it out with her Avhen she goes to "gather" honey in a "shining hour." NoAV I promised to help you to understand what 258 DEFINITION OF A DEFINITION. is meant by " instinct ;" and I will do so as far as I am able. The matter is a hard one, and so I will first shortly state in words what it means, and then give you some few examples, wliich will help you to the true sense of it better than a world of talk. When we have a whole class of creatures or tilings Avhich we want to describe as a icJiole, because we have not time or power to go fully into each, we give what we call a definition, that is, a string of words, which goes round them just as cord would the tilings themselves, if bound aU together. The worst of a definition is, that as it must be true of all, it fidls fiir short of giving a full account of the best and highest in the class, as it must be true as completely of the worst as the best. If it is to be true of all, it must fall short of some. Now look at a Bee ; it has a most wonderful stomach, which enables it to turn part of the honey it swallows to poison, to give its sting force agamst its enemies : — part to wax, to build its cells at will ; — part it stores up, as a provision for the winter, in these cells; — and with the remainder its own body is nourished. Now this we call vital power. It is the lowest kind of instinct, the instinct of the parts of the Bee, not of the whole Bee itself; and yet men generally limit instinct to this, its lowest kind. Again : look at it when it is building its cells ; all is order, all is Ijcauty; no Bee has to serve an LITTLE CHILDREN AND A BIRD'S NEST. 259 apprenticeship ; but on the first clay of its life can build a cell as well as the most aged Bee in the Hive ; and what is more, every generation of Bees builds its cells just as their forefathers did, and have always done from the beginning of the world. They at once do that which, as I shall show when I come to talk of the comb, the wisest man who ever lived cannot improve upon in. thought, far less in practice. Let him who thinks himself wiser than a Bee try to make a piece of comb, or even a single cell, and he will soon find that however great he is in his own conceit, he will make but a poor hand at this kind of Avork. A wren's nest is the most wondrous thing I know, next to a Bee- cell. A crow's nest is, perhaps, the most common- place of all birds' houses. I know some good folk who, when children, thought it woidd be a nice thing to build a nest for themselves; but they made no more hand of it than you would, if you were to try to build a Bee-cell. If you do not believe me, only try. The instinct by which Bees build their cells, and birds then* nests, is the second kind of instinct, wliich I will call instinctive mind. Once more : read then, I beg you, the stories I am going to tell you about Bees; you will there see those same Bees acting in circum- stances in which they never were placed before; nay, in wliich no Bee, perhaps, was ever placed. 260 HUBER TRIES THE HUMBLE BEES' PATIEXCE. They act in these cases, shall I say, by in- stinct ? If you please ; but something more must be meant by the word than is usually so done. Some of these facts can hardly be traced vl\) to the desire implanted in all things by God, of preserving themselves and their young. And I Avould ask the man who can say that all Ijeasts act by blind instinct only, to draw the line where in- stinct ends and understanding begins. I am sure I know men who have less of this instinctive mind than my Bees have. I will give you one or two examples of the way in which this instinc- tive mind shows itself in Bees ; and let the man l)eat it who can : — I. Hiiber put a dozen Humble Bees under a bell- glass, along with a comb of about ten silken cocoons (which are the cells in which the young Bees are bred), so unequal in height as not to be capable of standing steadily. To remedy this, two or three of the Humble Bees got upon the comb, stretched themselves over its edge, and with their heads downwards, fixed their forefeet on the table on which the comb stood, and so with their hind feet kept the comb from falling. A^^len these were weary, others took their places. In this painful posture, fresh Bees relieving their comrades at in- tervals, and thus, each working in his turn, did THE OBSERVATORY HIVE. 263 these aiFectionate little insects support the comb for nearly three days, at the end of which they had prepared sufficient wax to build pUlars with ; but these pillars having accidentally got displaced, the Bees had recoiu'se again to the manauvre, or ra- ther pied-ceuYve (the first is a French word for work of the hands, the last for work of the feet ; Hiiber was a Frenchman) ; till Hiiber, pitying their case, fixed the comb for them. 11. I myself saw what I am going to tell you. This and the two next stories will, I hope, prove my right to belong to the family of Eyes, though, without strong glasses, I am nearly as bUud as poor Hiiber was. I have a Hive called the Observatory Hive (because in it I can observe or watch all the Bees do), — as Hiiber woidd say, mark all their man- ceutres ; it is made of two plates of glass placed in a frame, just one inch and five-eighths in the clear ; this gives them room to build one comb and no more, so I can see every Bee at work, and not even the Queen herself can long hide from me. I put a swarm in, and they built a comb, which, by a sudden jerk, was broken off from the top. I knew the Bees were not strong enough to lift it uj) into its place, so I was curious to see what they would do, and I watched them narrowly. They first held the broken piece of comb in its place, just as ZCl INSTIN'CTIVE KINDNESS. Hiiber saw their first cousins the Iluml^le Bees do; they next made wax, and fixed the broken comb firmly in its place ; they then went on to saw off, with their sharp and strong jaws, just enough of the comb which pressed against the glass, to let themselves pass. One poor Bee had got pressed between the plate of glass and the comb ; they very kindly began to saw away the comb in that place which set the poor Bee soonest at liberty ; they might have begun any where else, but in- stinctive kindness led them to begin where they did. This they did more evenly than I could have done for them, the size of their bodies being the rule by which they worked. A razor could not have cut sharper. Last of all, they lengthened the cells on the other side, so that the whole comb was the same thickness as before, though made of long cells on one side, and short on the other. Another time, I saw a Bee in the same fix, for he had slipped down with his feet to the glass, and his back towards the comb, so that he coidd not get a firm hold, to exert that power which was needful to set him free. Another Bee saw liis hard case, and went straightway to succour him, laid hold of his hind legs with his jaws — tenderly, no doubt ; ])ut I am sorry to say, he did not stand by him till he got free. PERSEVERANCE, A BEE-VIRTUE. 265 III. I had a strong stock in a straw Hive; on the top of this I put a large glass, Avhich they soon filled with comb, as I kept the light quite out. This glass had a flat wooden top, with holes to put bell glasses on ; these, of course, I could take off whenever I pleased, and so drop anything intci, the Hive. I one day took a single flower of stock, which, I should think, weighs as much as twenty Bees ; this I popped through the hole into a party of them who were hard at work. They were, of course, rather surprised to see this large flower tumbling in upon their heads ; they seemed to say to themselves, " Hllloa {Buzz), lohere does this come from 9 It has " no busijiess here ; hut as it is very certain that it " has not grown larger whilst it has been in our Hive, " ice can turn it out of the hole, through which some " spiteful fellow has dropped it in upon m5." Hilloa, translated into the Bee tongue, is, I am sure, Buzz- buzz; but I am sorry I am not sufiiciently versed in Bee speech to set down therein the rest of what they said. I must, therefore, be content with plain English. But I am sure, from what they did, that I understand them, nevertheless. " Spite- ful fellow," said the Bees. (Now I was not really spiteful, I only wanted to show how clever my Bees were.) " We icill not tale the " trouble to carrg it all through the Hive to our " proper door -way ^ and so disturb all the Bees who A SAD DISASTER. " are hard at work, but we will carry it again to " the upper chamber, from ichence we all saw it " ch'op, and there turn it out, as it has no business " here.^^ No sooner said than clone. They seized it with their strong jaws, cari'ied it up into the bell glass, and worked it round and round, trying to find the hole tlirough which it had come. But I had been before them there, as I had put the bell glass back into its place. They could not find the Avay out, and after a time the flower dropped down again into the Hive ; they would not be so beat, and pulled it up again at least a dozen times, till I, like Hiiber, pitying their hard case, took the bell glass off again, and merrily did they fly away with the hated flower ; they then went round to the front entrance, and, I have no doubt, told the Queen all they had done, but, I am sure, chd not boast what great Bees they were. I saw, whilst all this Avas going on, what gave me a great idea of the strength of the Bee, — one alone, who had a strong gripe of the flower, dragged it up the side of the glass, whilst six others were hanging on to it. IV. I moved the middle box of one of jNIr. Nutt's Hives, into which a swarm had been put about a week, when most of the combs broke short off at the top, and fell down in a mass on the bottom HOW MENDED. 267 board, covered with Bees. The Queen remained clinging to the top of the box, among the few combs that were left. I was very sorry for this, as it was a mere piece of curiosity which made me lift up the box: I wanted to see how the Bees had gone on with their building. I soon made up my mind what to do ; I put the middle box by the side of the broken combs, and gently brushed the Bees towards it with a feather. I straightway had the pleasm-e of seeing them march away in a regidar sort of battle order, and, with a buzz of triumph, they joined their Queen in the middle box. I then examined the combs ; I found them with a great deal of honey in them, the fruit of one week's hard work, and what was worse, a large nimiber of eggs, which the Queen had laid, and grubs just hatched. I should have been sorry if my folly had weakened the Hive by killing these poor grubs, so I set the broken combs on end, by the side of the middle box, as neatly as I could, and covered them all over with a thick cloth. A^Tien I looked at them the next morning, I saw, to my great joy, that these Bees, like Hiiber's Humble Bees, had fixed the broken combs in their new position liy pillars of wax. I saw them clustering thick on the combs, and expected, that as they were such good nurses, they would stay by the grubs and keep them wann till they turned to perfect Bees. 268 LOVE, STRONG IN DEATH. The next morning, when I looked at them, I found the combs quite bare of Bees, and in my heart I began to blame them for deserting their helpless young ones : but I was in too great a hurry ; the Bees were wiser than I am, and kinder than I THOUGHT, for they had not only taken all the honey out of the broken comb, but had carried every EGG AND every GRUB INTO THE MIDDLE BOX, where, doubtless, in due time, they turned into perfect Bees, quite ignorant of the change of nursery which had happened in their childhood. How in the world they managed, with their hard jaws, to carry a tiling so soft as a Bee's grub, I never, to this day, have been able to find out. God, w^ho gave them the instinct which led them so to do, doubt- less did not leave them without the means of carrying out their good purposes. V. I will now give you a story of swarming tune. I noted it down on the same day, as it throws great light on the Love, strong in death, which the Bees show to their Queen, and the limit of their power, to make a fresh one from a Worker Grub when the old Queen dies. I had a stock which passed well through the winter, and in the spring was very healthy and strong. In the beginning of June, I hourly looked for a swarm. One glorious day they rose at eight in the morning ; THE aUEEN'S COURT. 269 some of them formed a cluster on an espalier pear tree, but they would not settle at all kindly: many remained hovering about the Hive. I looked on the ground, and there beheld a cluster of guards- men, who always attend the Queen; I should rather say of Amazons, for the Queen's guards are all of the gentler sex. I moved them softly with my finger, as though I loved them, which I do better than old Walton did his frog, and soon found pjff Srrati iiHajesti) ; I placed her on the back of my hand, and held her l)y the pear tree, where about one-tliird of the Bees were collected ; they soon found her out, and left the tree for my hand, on which they hung, in a long cluster, like a bunch of grapes ; it was quite curious to see how the Bees, on the back of my hand, stood in a circle round about the Queen without pressing upon her, just as they are shown in the wood-cut at the head of my first Letter : they let her move about wherever she pleased, never turning their tails upon her, but walking backward as she walked forward, like the court ladies at the Queen's drawing room ; whilst the vulgar herd, loyal subjects, though not cour- teous, hung in a cluster underneath. I held my hand steady, and thus carried all the Bees round the 2;arden. Had the swarm been com- 270 THE QUEEN FOUND DEAD. plete, I should have shaken them off at once into a new Hive ; but a great many Bees, who had doubtless been ordered by the Queen to meet her at the pear tree, (and I have no doubt the place where a swarm clusters is always settled before- hand,) when they found she did not come to the " try sting ■place,'"' as the Scotch would say, (that is, the place where they trusted to find her,) had re- turned back to their Hive : so I placed the Queen upon the lighting-board, she immediately went into the Hive, and the whole swarm followed at her heels. I consoled myself with the good old proverb. Better luck next time, and hoped the Queen would chime in with. Try again. In a few days she did try again, and they went to the old pear tree ; again the swarm went back, and I then began to think that there was something the matter with the Queen, which hindered her flying at first, and had perhaps since caused her death. I waited patiently for them to make another Queen. In about ten days they rose and went to the same tree; a cluster remained on the ground; Avhen it was opened, the Queen was found there, but DEAD. She was stiff and dry, as if she had been dead a week, or even more, and so the Bees, when they swarmed, must have carried her out with them ; just as you may see them carrying out the AVorkcrs who die in the usual way. Now DON'T THINK OTHERS WRONG. I would not have believed this without sifting the evidence very closely, even had I seen it written in a book. The Bees must have carried the dead Queen out with them, as the pear tree was twenty yards from the Hive. "SYhy, said I to myself, did not the Bees make a new Queen, as I beheved they have the power to do ? This, I am free to confess, rather shook my faith in what Hiiber had taught me. For why did the Bees swarm out with this dead Queen, instead of taking their oath to obey another ? It was altogether a puzzle ; so I did not give this stock a young Queen taken from another Hive, which I might have done, in order to be certain of saving it, but let things take their course. The stock seemed strong all the summer, but did not work very well; they dwindled away in the autumn, and were all dead before the winter was half over, though when I took up the Hive I found in it at least twenty pounds of honey. "SYliat then caused their death, and their strange conduct in swarming time ? It is clear to me that the old Queen had received a hurt some time back ; from that day forward she had laid no more eggs, and so, on her death, they were unable to get a new Queen to fill her place. This fully explained to me the whole matter; and I hope shows you HOW bad it is to think a man wrong WHO has studied a matter more than you have. 272 A HARD WORD MADE EASY. Had I blamed Huher first, I should have had to have blamed myself aftericards. VI. Look at the cut of the Honey Bee's comb ; each cell is a perfect pattern of neatness, beauty, and skill ; it serves most admirably as a nursery for the young Bees, and afterwards for a honey-pot, in Avhich they may store their food for the winter. There are no builders so clever as the heaven- guided Bees. Man's art rises and falls ; he some- times builds well ; oftencr very badly ; but the Bees know none of these changes, they have no seasons of decline in their art. Just observe how the cells are Iniilt ; they are six-sided, what is called regular licxagons ; every old woman in the land will be none the worse for learning this word, as it is the pattern to Avhich she cuts her patch-work, when she makes BEES, THE BEST ARCHITECTS. 273 a good quilt to keep her old bones warm. It is one of the few shapes which will fit together with- out leaving any spaces. Square or three-sided bits will indeed do so, if the three sides are cut equal ; but the six-sided bits look far neater. Old women have found tliis out by trying : but the Bees know it without trial, as they were taught IT BY God ; (I give you this hard word and explain it, because it will save me much trouble in what I have to say ; and you will, I trust, give me credit for not having over-burthened your memories with what an old poet once wittily called regular wag- gon-filling words.) Now the top of the Bees' hexagon is made by joining three four-sided pieces cunningly together, like the roof of a house, though our houses being square, have generally four ridges instead of three. Did the Bees go by our rule they would make six ridges, but they have been taught to make only three. They give a lesson to man by following GocVs teaching, without asking any questions; and, as I shall soon show, they find the benefit of this child-like mode of action, which, I am sorry to say, is more followed by Bees than by men. We ofttimes laugh at it, though it is the ride of the Bible. And what is the use of tliis style of building ? Hold up a piece of fresh comb, which has never had any honey in it, to the light, and you will soon see ; the point at the bottom of every cell comes exactly 274 BEES THE BEST MATHEMATICIANS. in the middle of six others, so every bit of space is saved; the cells are all closely packed together, and thus, like a loving family , strengthen and support each other. Fran9ois niil)cr asked one of his wise friends, " AVhat must be the pitch, so to speak, of the roof of a hexagon, to give the greatest strength with the least waste of room, whilst as little stuff is used up as possible ? He did not tell his friend why he asked the question, or give him any hint that the Bees had answered it before liim. His friend worked the matter fuUy out, and sent Hiiber the answer ; to his great joy he found that his friend had come to the same result as his pet Bees; and so Hiiber, the Bees, and this wise man, were, no doubt, greater friends even than they were before.* Some people have been silly enough to say there * The angles of tlie pa- rallelogram or four - sided figure are these:— 109" 28y ^ ,^ —and 70" 31'. This, which "" is the result of an exact mathematical calculation, agrees within a second or two of the actual work of the Bees. The suhject is fully entered into in Hiiher's second volume, pp. 33 and 191, ed. Paris and Geneva, 1814. I am indebted to this work for the figures, tlie rest are from original designs. ^d" FOLLY OF THIS WORLD'S AVISDOM. 275 is no wonder in all this. For, say thev, a regular hexagon is the shape which a number of little soft balls will take, though they be rounded at first, when squeezed close together; we see this is so in the little sacksful of water of which plants are made up ; if you take some corn and put it on end in a vessel, and then make each grain swell by pouring hot water upon it, they will, if they are packed closely to- gether at first, force each other into this shape. Now this is all very true ; but no people talk so much nonsense as those who refer all the beautiful works of God icMch they see round about their path, to ichat they are pleased to call nature. Ask them what nature means, and they are posed; all they can say is, that tilings are so, because they are ; and I trust this wise answer will satisfy you as little as it does me. All things that we see are indeed so, because God has willed that they should so be. He might have made them otherwise, if He pleased, but He has not ; and so we should rest satisfied with it, whether it regards our Bees or ourselves ; and if we must search further into the matter, should only look for traces of His wisdom. And ice shall mostly find, if ice look at His icorks in a humble spirit, that His wisdom, as icell as His kindness, is over cdl His works. Now after all that I have said of Bees' instinct, you cannot doubt that they have it in no low 27G AN INVITATION- TO DINNER. degree; but they have nl.lir»a «;+».♦«::. nnM^r,^ INDEX TO LETTERS I. & II. Age of Bees, 90, 290, 305. Air, Weight of, 93. Ants, 240, 296, 302. Architects, the best, 272. Aspect of Hives, 298. Atmospheric Pressure, 93. Balance of loaded Bee, 298. Barometer, 93. Bean-blossoms, piercing of, 296. Bee-bread, 90, 255, 290, 308. Murder, 60, 73. cruelty and hatefulness of, 61. Stealing, 81. House, 83. Bee-keeping, advantage of, 59, 86. old and new plan of, 60, 66, 73. in foreign parts, 62. Calendar for, 96. Bees, Honey, and Men, 236. reviving of, 84. tenacity of life in, 250. Borrowing a Swarm, 86. Bottom Boards, 76, 78, 82, 83. Boxes, 79, 82. Boxes, use of Middle and Side, 80. size of, 80. advantage of, 83. Breath of Bees, 84. glass &ring for condensing,85. Burning Bees, 61, 75. Butler, quotation from, 98. Calendar, Evelyn's and my own, 95. Capping, plan of, 74, 78. Board, 78. Caps, size of, 74. ventilation of, 79. Casts, joining of, 67, 73. Cells, order and beauty of, 272. form of, 272. roofing of, 273, 278. angle of, 274. formation of, 277. for Honey, sealed down, 278. place of, 279. Drone and Worker, 279. Royal, 280, 284, 287. Clustering of Bees, 251, 254. Cold in Winter, 64, 84. Colonization, 77. Coolness for Workers, 79, 84. Comb, 272. cause of the spoiling of, 90, 281, 307. spoiling of, prevented, 90, 282. formation of, 254, 292. joining of, 293. old used again, 297. Seven Ages of, 304. Coverings, Hackles, & Whitewa«h, 90. 366 Damp hurtful, 84, 85. Darkness of Hives, 78. in Winter, 85, 87. Deborah, (the Bee,) 249. Dring, Thomas, plan of, for room, 78. Drones, miserable end of, 244. a word about, 294. Eggs, 280. number of, 7&, 284. time of hatching, 281. Evelyn's notions about, 96. Enemies to Bees, 89. protection against, 91, 301. Evelyn, John, 95. Eyes and no Eyes, 239, 250. Fanning with wings, 84. Farina, carried by Bees, 87, 309. Feeders, 93. Feeding, when needed, 76, 91. plans for, 92. Evelyn's mode, 96. Floating Hives, 88. Flowers, use of Bees to, 87. for Bees, 89. Food for Bees, 92. Fungus, Putf Balls, and Frog's Cheese, 66, 91. preparation of, 66. use of, 67. Grubs, 280. instinctive care of, 76, 268. Grubs, sad end of, 92. rearing of, 281. time of Hatching, 281, 285. Guide Comb, 293. Handling of Bees, 98. Heat of Hives, 79, 81, 251, 296. of side Boxes, 79. of middle Box, 80, 83. for hatching, 79, 80, 279. Hexagon explained, 272. Hives, with moveable tops, 65. straw, 65, 74, 76, 79, 81, 84. storifying, 66. make of, 74, 78, 79, 80, 301. Hives, number of, 75, 299. wooden, 79. strength of, 83. Nutfs, 83. decay of, 90. Observatory, 263. Leaf, 293, 297. Suspended, 301. Honey, mode of taking, 60. Abroad, 62. — — at Chamouni, 63. in the Murgthal, 65. at Home, 66, 80. purchase of Foreign, 63, 86. quantity of, taken, 66, 75,80. carried out by New Swarm, 74,91. use of, in Flowers, 87. preservation of, 278. Wax made from, 91, 251. Honey-bags, 91, 251. Honey-dew, 7i, 80, 91. Huber, 250, 274, 284, 289. experiments of, in AVax, 255. Humble Bees, Hiiber's story of, 260. Hunter, John, 257. Instinct, 239, 258, 289. stories of, 259, 263, 265, 266, 268, 272. Instinctive Mind, 259. Kindness of Bees, 264. Jaws of Queen and Worker, 283. of Drones, 296. Leaf Hive, 293, 297. Legs of Queen and Worker, 283, 290. number of hairs on, 291. Lessons taught, 79, 240,273, 284, 300, 310. Letter from America, 301. Light, Bees will not work in, 78,265. Love of Bees to the Queen, 78, 268. Low, James, 304. Mahommedan Fable, 300. Mathematicians, the best, 274. 367 Memory of Bees, 276. Moths in a Hive, cure for, 91, 301. Nature, Law of, 93. how to study, 240, 242, 275, 310. Natural Theology, 241. misused by Hea- then, 243. Nests, building of, 259. Note-Book, Extracts from, 29G. Nutt, Mr. 83. Observatory Hive, 263. Old Bee, to know an, 90. Pain suffered by animals, 244. Pasture, change of, 75, 87. Patience of Bees, 260. Perseverance of Bees, 265. Pillars of Wax, 91, 263, 267. Pollen, 255, 290, 309. Proboscis, 283, 296. Proverbs, 62, 78, 286, 299. Queen Bee, to find the, 69, 78. number of the Eggs of, 76, 284. love of Bees to the, 78, Home of, 78, 80. Cell of, 280, 284, 287. Queen Bee, different from Worker, 282, 290. breeding of a new, 268, 284. Old, leads the New Swarm, 285, 286, 296. conduct of Old, 285. treatment of Young, 2 85. note of, 288. Queens, a number of Young, 285. Queen Grub, rearing of, 284. how soon hatched, 285. i?ajr,Linen, substitute for Fungus, 67. Removing of Hives, 88. Respect shown to the Queen, 269. Rising of Bees, when to expect the, 288. Robbery oi -weak Hives, 91. Room given by Caps, 74. by Side Hives, 76, 77. Rule, Bee Master's, 60, 66, 89. Sayings, old, 60, 72, 78, 80, 82, 86, 87, 238. Scales or plates of Wax, 91, 253, 297. Side Boxes, 66, 76, 82. size of, 80. Silk Cocoon, or Web, spun by the young Bee, 90, 281, 286, 305, 307. Smoking Bees, 64, 66—73, 79, 90. Tools for, 67. Sjirinkling with Honey, 71, 73. Slings, 97, 283. ■ remedies for, 97, 237. prevention of, 65, 98. barbed, 98. provocation to the use of, 236. loss of, 236. poison of, 258. Slocks, how to join, 67. treatment of weak, 73, 88, 91, 95. for Swarming, 74, 75. number of, 75. old, renewed, 90, 282. Stomach, 74,251,258. Storifying Hive, 66, 83. Straw Hive, 65, 74, 76, 79, 81, 84. Strength ofaBee, 266. Sun, protection against, 86, 298. Suspended Hive, 301. Swarming, Bees waiting for, 74, 287. prevention of, 75. story of, 268. Taking up oi Stocks, 67, 77, 80, 88. Thermometer, 79. Thorley, Mr., 74. Trysting-place, 270. United Stocks, 73. Uniting of Casts, and of Swarms, 67—73, 91. 368 INDEX. rentilation, 78, 80, 84, 302. W7ri/c,Rev.Mr., Side-Boxes of,76. 83. White, Gilbert, of Selboume, 309. Ventilator, 77, 83. Wings of Queen and Worker, 293. Virgin Comb, 281,305. Winter Quarters, and Treatment, 64, Vital Power, 258. 84. Bees buried in, 88. jrasps, 86, 91,92. Wooden Hives, 79, 84. Water necessary, 298. Wool, for ventilation, 79. Water, salt, preferred to fresh, 298. Worker compared with Queen, 282. Wax, formation of, 91, 251—257, 297 quantity of, imported, 86. 286—288. scales of, cemented, 254. Workers Hatched, and Fetted, 289. used twice, 297. pockets, 252. Young Bee distinguished from Old, Weight, and weighing of Hives, 67, 90, 289. 85, 87, 90, 92, 304. loss of, in Winter, 87 Zinc slides, 78. R. Clay, Prinlei; Diead Street HiU, itiE SO SWEETS BY THE CAR LOAI rno BvxmtJTD THovsAyj> rovjs^^i OF cAxiFoityiA noyLiT. Wlrore a Vast Tcrritoryt Hitherto Almo Worthless, has been [>land was tbouaht good enough f' sh'pp pasf.urine, but no on? dreamed thwt tl Eoii could be m (le to produce trratn in payit qu; ntilies. Timber was conuned to the botti r of riinninsr streams nnd to tbe cafions, the \ leys-;nd hillsiJes bein? covered with a gro\. of scunted brushwood from which sprantr a h' uri.int growth of white saae, sumac, and otii flowerins shrubs, which bloom there nil monrls of the vear. Wr. Harbison's first apinrv was started on mountain side, twenty miles easy of San Dieg He oirib;!rkPd for tbo West with seventy hiv of bees, hut tiieso were reduced to sixtyiwo I cssualties. From them he now has six aplirU ■and a total (if 8.000 hivet^. He employs flftei men constantly, nnd is reaping rich profits fro many thousands of acres that must otherwi have been a barren waste. He soon had maJi imitators, and now not less than three bundi| persons are taking honey along the " Bee BeB